Veterans Day was celebrated Saturday, November 11th. Honoring those who served is important, but it may be more important to help them reintegrate into society. Benjamin Sledge writes from his own experiences and shares perspectives about how today’s society is not tuned to support the returning veteran. Source: Medium, November 10, 2017. Realistically, I think a lot of … [Read more...]
Biosecurity takes a team
Diligence, teamwork, research, technology and collaboration are required to maintain biosecurity on farm and within the collective U.S. swine populations. Kevin Shultz distilled the frequently cacophonous elements of biosecurity efforts in this article. It truly takes a team willing to be cooperative, even though they are often competitive. Together, biosecurity remains a key … [Read more...]
Backyard chicken trend causes spike in infections, 1 fatal
This article explains why we have focused heavily on backyard chicken trends. The growth of raising backyard chickens in U.S. cities and suburbs brings a soaring number of illnesses from poultry-related diseases, some of them fatal. Since January, more than 1,100 people have contracted salmonella poisoning from chickens and ducks in 48 states, according to the Centers for … [Read more...]
Human food trends are mirrored in 2018 pet food market
Knowing what is trending in pet foods or pet owners’ minds is important for animal health pros to understand since we seek to proactively help manage pet health. Debbie Phillips-Donaldson reviews the first of many trend predictions released by Mintel. Trends that have been in play for a few years now, such as transparency, health and wellness, and personalization will take on … [Read more...]
3 tips to start your day right
Since we turned our clocks back over the weekend, these tips may help the chronological confusion for some of us. The first few minutes of waking up can set the tone for the rest of the day. Adding mindful habits to the start of the day can help you to feel more in sync with the sunrise. Source: Mindful, November 6, 2017: Elisha Goldstein shares 3 mindful actions to start … [Read more...]
No kidding, goats are smart
As the number of homestead-like farms grows so does the number of goats. Researchers continue to study how they are affected by the production environment and how they see and interact with us. Goats may appear to have one-track minds, but they devote a lot of thought to social issues, too. Source: Countryside Daily, November 6, 2017. In 2017, we have seen published results … [Read more...]
Work/life balance benefits work performance
One’s mind and the body health are optimized by balancing work life with personal life. Finding this balance is becoming harder, not easier. We no longer leave our work in the office. It follows us everywhere we go. The growth of 24/7 connectivity – impossible a decade ago, but normal now – brings with it challenging problems. Source: LinkedIn, November 6, 2017. Where … [Read more...]
Helmet saves equestrian’s life (graphic pictures)
Animal health pros often support the equine sports. Noel Williams shares her close call with death and reminds riders to wear a helmet. It’s a universal truth that if you’re going to ride horses, you’re going to fall off horses. You just never know when a young horse, or any horse really, is going to overreact or when their antics might cause them to lose their balance and … [Read more...]
Satisfy cat hunting instincts appropriately
Lisa Radosta DVM, Dipl. ACVB, reminds us that predatory behaviors that cats exhibit outside do not go away when they are kept indoors. She says indoor cats need stimulation and environmental enrichment. Some cats simply become bored at home, while others become frustrated by the inability to do what comes naturally: explore, exercise and hunt. That frustration can lead to … [Read more...]
Canine body language important for health, safety
Reading canine body language accurately is important for patient health and comfort, veterinary team safety and proper client education and consultation. Clues such as proximity preference, food acceptance, postures and expressions improve understanding of patient emotions. Source: Veterinary Team Brief, September 2017. The more relaxed a patient is, the more likely an … [Read more...]
Chicken anatomy 101: digestion (includes video)
Here’s a resource you can use to review your chicken knowledge. It also can be used to help educate new chicken owners, 4-H or FFA groups or staff members. Patrick Biggs, PhD, a flock nutritionist with Purina Animal Nutrition explains the journey from feed to egg. Source: Countryside Daily, November 6, 2017. Chickens are excellent converters of chicken feed, channeling … [Read more...]
Move sales conversations from safe to serious
Adam Kipnes shares a process for managing the innumerable contacts in our reach and move them toward becoming clients. The objective is not to sell everyone, rather move them progressively toward becoming a prospect instead of leaving them as a contact or suspect. Source: Forbes, November 5, 2017. The goal of the 4,3,2,1 model is to categorize each contact you have … [Read more...]
10 things to double-check on facilities before working cattle
Every large animal veterinarian has at least one story about arriving at a client’s location to work cattle only to find out the client had not prepared. So, here’s a great list for DVMs to send to clients before making those time- consuming farm calls. Make sure your alleyway is the proper width so that cattle can’t turn around. Have your working facilities set up in a … [Read more...]
Ceva supports pet victims from hurricanes, helps mitigate heartworm risks
Craig Wallace, CEO & North America/Pacific Zone Director at Ceva USA & at CevaSante Animal tweeted information last week about one of his company’s latest relief efforts in support of pet victims of Hurricane Harvey. Ceva has proactively supported gulf coast pet victim relocations and heartworm prevention efforts. The areas of the country hit hardest by Hurricanes … [Read more...]
Telehealth; adjusting veterinary care to technology (video content)
I first experienced telehealth in the home of a Southwest Kansas feedlot veterinarian in 1996. The vet stood in his breezeway for 30 minutes questioning a producer about four potloads of light calves arriving 12 hours early after nearly 22 hours, 1,300 miles and a 50-plus degree reduction in ambient temperature during their trip. Fast forward 20 years and the topic of … [Read more...]
Prevent holiday hazards from harming family pets (photo essay)
As Halloween night turned to dawn, Christmas appeared in stores the world over. It is a reminder to prepare for our homes for guests and prepare to keep our pets safe. The AVMA offered the following tips to keep pets safe in 2013. They still resonate today. Source: DVM 360, December 18, 2013. For some pets, house guests can be scary. Pets shy or excitable around new people … [Read more...]
November is Adopt-a-Senior-Pet Month
Older pets are just as loving and loyal as their younger counterparts. Plus, adopting a senior animal companion comes with some cool advantages: Grown-up pets don’t require the constant monitoring and training that puppies and kittens do. Many are already housetrained. Since senior pets are fully grown, you’ll be immediately aware of important information like … [Read more...]
Pork facts (slideshow)
Pork is big business today. More than 2 billion pounds of it is produced annually in the United States. As the most versatile meat, it can be marinated, roasted, barbecued, pan-fried, stir-fried, grilled, dry rubbed, boiled and baked. No matter how you fix it, pork is a protein-packed treat. Cheryl Day shares some facts about pork that animal health pros may find useful and … [Read more...]
Peek inside a hoop beef facility (slideshow)
Progressive practices are best viewed in person, but when you can’t, articles like this one help animal health pros understand new approaches. Here, a Missouri father-son team shares experiences from their hoop feeding facility and the benefits they are seeing. Source: Beef, May 19, 2017. By taking the weather off their back, cattle are improving gains and feed … [Read more...]
Natural remedies for treating hock pain in horses
Arthritis is a commonly diagnosed problem of the hock and many vets recommend joint injections to treat the problem. But, joint injections carry the risk of infection and joint degeneration, among other things. Neutraceutical options aren’t miracle workers, but they can make a difference for horses with mild to moderate hock pain. Source: Horse Network, October 26, … [Read more...]
Carbon paw-print from feeding meat to pets
We’ve studied the environmental impact of cow flatulence, water source contaminations from livestock and myriad other environmental effects of animal production. Now a 2014 study in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences has surfaced to expose the carbon paw-print from feeding meat to pets. Source: Los Angeles Times, August 4, 2017. In short, Gregory Okin … [Read more...]
The internet is mobile. Period.
We now spend about 70 percent of our time on the internet using our mobile phones. That percentage will only grow. Source: Quartz, October 31, 2017. . . . based on estimates and forecasts for more than 50 countries covering two-thirds of the world’s population. By 2019, Zenith says this will rise close to 80%.” INSIGHTS: We all need to remember that the internet, social … [Read more...]
Ask a Cat Lady belts out feline distemper (includes video)
Sarah Donner, the Ask a Cat Lady personality, shares feline distemper facts, including a song she composed and performs on video. Sometimes known as ataxia or the cat plague, FPV spreads through fluid or fecal contact, in utero or via fleas. This virus can survive years in a stable environment, and it can be devastating when it breaks out. Source: Catster, October 26, … [Read more...]
Training cats (includes podcast)
Animal health pros often get questions about the validity of training cats. Feline behavior specialist Sarah Ellis explains how you can train your kitty to come on command, take medicine and stop waking you up in the middle of the night. Source: NPR, October 27, 2017. The common wisdom about pets is that you can train a dog, but you can't train a cat. Today's guest says you … [Read more...]
Check smoke and carbon dioxide alarms as Daylight savings time ends
Seasonal changes have many furnaces already running. These changes can also alert animal health pros to check the functionality of smoke alarms and CO2 sensors. If you haven’t changed batteries or tested your alarms, now is the time to do so. Combine the alarm checks with resetting your clocks. Daylight Savings time ends Sunday, November 5, 2017, 2:00:00 am. Clocks are … [Read more...]
Affordability is the hottest topic in veterinary medicine
Dr. Patty Khuly discusses the cost of care challenges and an assessment of pet insurance and other payment options. She opines that some animals from lower-income households will need to accept a lower standard of care. It is part of the conundrum she discusses. Source: Veterinary Practice News, October 23, 2017. We all know veterinary care has gotten pricier. And there are … [Read more...]
Neglect allegations force dog blood bank closing
The Pet Blood Bank, a Cherokee, Texas, supplier of canine blood for veterinary transfusions has closed following allegations by an animal rights group that the company neglected about 150 greyhounds for which it was caring. The San Saba County Sheriff’s Office, along with the Texas Greyhound Association found no evidence of abuse or neglect. Source: Washington Post, October … [Read more...]
Sponsored Content – New product redirects destructive cat scratching
“Veterinarians now have a way to stop destructive scratching in the home without declawing procedures or ineffective alternatives,” said Dr. Valarie V. Tynes, DVM, Dipl. ACVB, Veterinary Services Specialist at Ceva Animal Health in a statement released November 1, 2017. FELISCRATCH by FELIWAYTM, is clinically proven to stop and prevent both vertical and horizontal destructive … [Read more...]
7 things to help with Halloween safety for pets (includes video)
Trick or treat! You can already hear the dogs barking and neighbors yelling for their cats to return and Halloween’s not here yet. The AVMA offers tips for pet safety when the spooks, ballerinas, superheroes and goblins press against your door in the coming days. Source: AVMA, web content. Former AVMA EVP/CEO Dr. Ron DeHaven is featured in a Halloween safety video available … [Read more...]
Sustainably manage parasites in goats
Managing parasites in goats often loses effectiveness over time. Lisa Seger shares how to keep worm treatments effective with these three valuable tools: FAMACHA scoring, fecal flotations/eggs counts, and body condition scoring. Used alone, any one of these markers is inadequate for gauging parasites. Used together, however, they provide the best picture of what … [Read more...]