The journal Research in Veterinary Science recently published a meta-analysis of functional foods research in which it summarized 17 peer-reviewed studies on dog and cat food ingredients. While there may be some benefits to pets from the ingredients, reviewers urge caution. Source: Petfood Industry, July 2017. The ultimate success of functional pet foods will depend on … [Read more...]
Petfood e-commerce IS changing the industry
STOP. LOOK. LISTEN. As the internet age matures, online pet food purchasing options are spurring growth as a legitimate retail channel. “The channel making the biggest strides is the internet channel, which now ranks as the fifth largest for pet products and as the third largest for pet supplies,” said Packaged Facts in its U.S. Pet Market Outlook report, published in May … [Read more...]
Got horse, got manure
Retailers and veterinary teams alike get questions from horse owners about manure issues. Beyond the flies and obvious olfactory complaints from neighbors, what do you do with the manure? Natalie Voss addresses how to deal with the manure challenge. Source: Acreage Life, July 2017, page 23. A single horse can produce as much as nine tons of manure each year. All of it has … [Read more...]
Pets and hot cars don’t mix
An Ontario, California woman was arrested last Sunday on suspicion of animal cruelty after allegedly leaving two dogs and a cat inside a parked car while record-setting heat blasted away. One dog died. The American Veterinary Medical Association offers an educational poster at its Hot Cars and Loose Pets page. It also offers a chart of how hot the inside of a car gets on its … [Read more...]
Remember Beef Quality Assurance guidelines
Dan Thomson, DVM, Ph.D., reminds us to remember BQA guidelines when doing injections. Beef Quality Assurance is a nationally coordinated and state-implemented program. It provides ongoing information to U.S. beef producers and beef consumers about how common-sense husbandry techniques, coupled with scientific knowledge, work together to raise cattle under optimum management and … [Read more...]
Sponsored Content: Addison Biological Laboratory featured
Congratulations to AHD sponsor, Addison Biological Laboratory, for being selected as a featured manufacturer for Spring 2017 by MWI Animal Health. The story featured Addison’s development of the first USDA conditional license for a commercial Moraxella Bovoculi Bacterin in early 2017. Moraxella bovoculi is frequently referred to as winter pinkeye. Source: Addison Biological … [Read more...]
Speaking of mosquitos
We’re learning more about vector control in animal health. AHD sponsor Ceva Animal Health has helped our industry understand the need for mosquito control to help prevent heartworm. Its Double Defense protocol focuses on repelling and killing mosquitos outside the dog while killing heartworm larvae inside the dog. But what about you and me? Not all of the mosquito prevention … [Read more...]
Seniors catching up on social media
A recent Nielsen report showed that the percentage of total media time spent on social media in the oldest demographic (50-plus) increased by a whopping 64 percent, to 20 percent. Grandparents and their peers are becoming social media converts as they use channels such as Facebook to keep in touch with their increasingly scattered families. Source: Adweek, June 26, … [Read more...]
Overweight pet population doesn’t mirror overweight owner population
You might think that states with the highest rates of overweight people would have the highest rates of overweight pets. This isn’t the case, according to a Banfield report about pet obesity that was mentioned in The Washington Post. Source: The Washington Post, June 27, 2017 (paywall). Not according to a new report based on the physiques of more than 2.5 million dogs and … [Read more...]
Dealing with July 4th fireworks and dogs
It is time to remember pets as July 4th celebrations get booming. We’ve gathered several posts about dogs and fireworks so you can review and share with staff and clients. Source: Animal Health Digest. See the posts revealed when AHD is searched for fireworks. … [Read more...]
Harness the cat and go for a walk
Sandy Robins shares ways to train a cat to walk on a leash. Doing so enriches the cat’s lifestyle by safely allowing her to enjoy the sights and sounds of the great outdoors. It’s also an excellent way of revving up her exercise routine. But, not all cats take to the harness and leash easily. Robins says kittens are easier to train than adults. Source: Catster, June 20, … [Read more...]
Research to help determine horse-to-rider weight guidelines
The Animal Health Trust (AHT) is launching a study this year that will help equestrian organizations create science-based guidelines for rider weight. According to AHT, an excessive weight burden can lead to horses with back problems, lameness, chronic pain and resistance to being ridden. The research promises to answer longstanding questions about rider-to-horse weight … [Read more...]
Why cats lick
Jane A. Kelly offers reasons cats lick their owners. She shares when your cats lick you, it can be a compliment, a sign of stress, or more. Consider using this information in social media posts, websites and newsletters. Cat owners will appreciate the perspective. Source: Catster, June 13, 2017. Kelly shares these reasons: Cats lick as a means of social When your … [Read more...]
Heat stress brings lasting impacts in dairy cows for years
Heat stress in dairy cows is a timely topic. Recent research coupled with dairy producer experiences show impacts on the milking cows’ milk production, as well as a developing calf inside a heat-stressed dry cow. Source: Dairy Herd Management, June 21, 2017. A phenomenon called fetal programming means the DNA of the calf born from a dam who was heat stressed is permanently … [Read more...]
Speaking of BS, New York lawsuit is a pile of poo
It took researchers from Cornell to tell the real story of how much manure cows actually create. The comparisons also expose a paradigm that requires land mass to dispose of bovine waste that does not exist for human waste. Source: Hoard’s Dairyman, June 26, 2017. A lawsuit filed against the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation claimed that a herd of 200 … [Read more...]
Partnering with a trainer is a no-brainer (audio recording)
Though many studies have shown a link between pet behavior and health, most veterinary professionals don’t jump for joy at the thought of behavior consultations. Educator Mikkel Becke explains the Humane Hierarchy developed by Utah State University psychology professor Susan Friedman, PhD. This model incorporates the expertise of trainers and veterinary … [Read more...]
Dr. Marty Becker talks cool cats
Dr. Becker offers tips for keeping cats cool in summer and how to prevent other seasonal hazards, such as bug bites, heartworm and sunburns. This makes good content for blogs, social media and newsletters. Source: Catster, June 12, 2017. While cats descend from desert animals and are more tolerant of heat than dogs, they have some special needs when the temperature rises. … [Read more...]
Don’t punish a growling dog
This excerpt from a book being promoted has value for website content, newsletters, blogs or social media. Once again, we learn to control ourselves instead of the animal. Source: Whole Dog Journal, June 20, 2017. It's very common for dog owners to punish their dogs for growling. Unfortunately, this often suppresses the growl, eliminating his ability to warn us that he's … [Read more...]
OSU to host canine athletic program August 1 – 3
The number-one killer of all law enforcement canines in the U.S. last year was directly related to the lack of adequate conditioning and resistance to heat stress. To help address this, Oklahoma State University’s Center for Veterinary Health Sciences will offer its Advanced Canine Athletic Program August 1 through 3. Presenters include: Randel Roy; Sean Peck, DVM and Michael … [Read more...]
Use your local megaphone
Representatives often hear their customers express, “I just wish my customers understood...” Nate Birt explains why letters to the editor can effectively educate consumers. Although you won’t reach everyone in print, newspaper editors often upload those letters to the internet, where you can share content you’ve written on your website or social media. Source: Top Producer, … [Read more...]
Time to rethink mites
Tufts veterinary dermatologist Lluis Ferrer, DVM, shares information on Demodex mites, including the recent confirmation of them taking up residence in dogs’ hair follicles. Demodex mites have been detected in the skin of all mammals and are considered part of what is called the cutaneous microbiome. He reminds us that Demodex mites are crawling on our faces all the time. Note … [Read more...]
Opinion – Dogster: Heat stroke and other summer hazards
One reason we curate content from publications for pet owners is to be sure that animal health pros are aware of what is being pushed to their clients. Often, content like this article is complementary to veterinary recommendations. However, some information can be misleading from an animal health or population control perspective. We offer this article for your … [Read more...]
Ditch postcard reminders, embrace digital
Wendy Myers asserts that it's time to ditch postcard reminders and look into texting and emails to communicate with patients. She references the dental business trends and suggests we abandon the status quo of “We’ve always sent postcards” and dip into the digital revolution. Source: Veterinary Practice News, June 14, 2017. Texts have a 99 percent open rate, and 95 percent … [Read more...]
Take the “flea talk” quiz
All animal health pros will talk fleas as some point. Here’s a fun quiz to see if you are flea talk ready. Source: Veterinary Team Brief, April 2017. Fleas are probably the most common ectoparasite of companion animals, but many pet owners are ambivalent about flea infestations. Helping clients understand the importance of flea infestation prevention can be difficult, but … [Read more...]
Biosecurity helps prevent disease on dairy goat farms
Small ruminants are susceptible to a long list of diseases. Holly Neaton, DVM, offers some practical tips for keeping diseases off of dairy goat operations. As she points out, getting rid of a disease is harder and more expensive than preventing it. Source: Progressive Dairyman, June 12, 2017, page 50. Try to avoid purchasing pregnant animals when you have pregnant animals … [Read more...]
Treating a dog with a severe spinal injury
Most of us enjoy a story about passionate pet owners and their efforts to return an ill or injured pet as close to normal as possible. It takes heart, collaboration and effort from the pet owner, the veterinary staff and others. Enjoy this heartwarming story of Chuckie and those who have improved his quality of life. Source: Washington Post, June 13, 2017. Chuckie … [Read more...]
Canine Influenza Virus questions in 2017
The million-dollar question about the current H3N2 outbreak is whether it will worsen or fizzle out — and how many dogs will be affected. Steve Dale discusses the challenges in the dog show world and beyond. Source: Veterinary Practice News, June 7, 2017. The H3N2 virus exhibits extremely high mobility and low mortality, and an estimated 3 to 5 percent of dogs infected die. … [Read more...]
When you get outsold by a competitor, learn from it
Paul Reilly writes from a field sales perspective, but his discussion applies to veterinary teams, retailers, telesales teams and field sales forces. Losing a customer or sale is normal. Frequently, salespeople will lose business and later justify that price was the cause. Blaming a loss on price is easy, less personal and lets the salesperson off the hook. But the fundamental … [Read more...]
Focus on feline health from AVMA
Sometimes the job of curation is already done for us. Multiple aspects of feline health are featured in this AVMA Animal Health SmartBrief. Topics include: Poll results on preventative care New health record system for pets Negative pressure therapy for healing Rabies in Tampa Update on whisker fatigue Source: AVMA Animal Health SmartBrief, June 14, 2017. … [Read more...]
Kids and pigs at World Pork Expo (photo gallery)
Many expo attendees never see this side of the World Pork Expo. If you’ve never been in a hog barn at the expo, a state or local fair, this is a good way to experience some of the sights. The senses for sounds and smells are left out, but the action is truly a testament to the next generation of hog producers. We dare you not to smile! Source: National Hog Farmer, June … [Read more...]