Animal husbandry and improving genetics have raised the production bar from fewer than 10 pigs per sow per year in the 1930s to the current level north of 20 to 30 piglets per sow per year. Source: The Farmer, July 13, 2026. Link. The number of hog farms has diminished while the amount of production on those farms has improved in both quantity and quality. U.S. pork … [Read more...]
Monitoring medicator accuracy
Water medicators play a central role in delivering health products throughout swine production systems, yet their accuracy is often assumed rather than verified. This study highlights the substantial variations that can exist among medicators operating under commercial conditions and the implied costs of inaccuracy. Note: Only one in four medicators delivered within 10 … [Read more...]
U of A College of Veterinary Medicine receives full accreditation
The University of Arizona College of Veterinary Medicine has achieved full accreditation from the American Veterinary Medical Association Council on Education. It is the state's first and only fully accredited public veterinary school. Source: University of Arizona, July 9, 2026. Link. Located in Oro Valley, Arizona, the college began enrolling students in 2019 and graduated … [Read more...]
Tick-borne parasite killing cats in Kansas City metro, veterinarians warn
Veterinarians in the Kansas City metro are urging cat owners to act quickly as cases of a deadly tick-borne disease known as bobcat fever (cytauxzoonosis) appear to be on the rise. Source: KCTV5, July 14, 2026. Link. Bobcat fever is caused by the parasite Cytauxzoon felis, which is spread through the bite of an infected tick, veterinarians say. Bobcats are the parasite’s … [Read more...]
Worth a Glance – July 17, 2026
Last week’s AHD Bulletin – Animal Health Digest Bulletin, July 9, 2026. Link. Most read posts from July 9, 2026 AHD Bulletin – Beyond exercise: The role of stretching routines for dog joint health. Link. Review: Understanding the three stages of laminitis in horses. Link. Tick, tick-borne disease - requires integrated One Health approach. Link. Most-read … [Read more...]
Tick, tick-borne disease management requires an integrated One Health approach
A new review <Link> emphasizes that tick and tick-borne disease control in the United States now requires a coordinated One Health strategy that accounts for changing tick distributions, wildlife and domestic animal hosts, environmental conditions and human exposure patterns. Kristen Coppock Crossley, MA, shares the rationales in this article. The expanding range of … [Read more...]
Private equity ownership of clinics draws scrutiny (video)
Geoff Bennett sets the stage for this content, saying, “As veterinary care prices rise, attention is turning to a major shift in the industry: private equity firms and large corporations buying up veterinary practices across the country.” Commentary The dialogue here is yet another public-facing discussion of price, ownership and practice objectives that animal owners are … [Read more...]
Most-read Malone posts: January 2026 through June 2026
If there’s one thing consistent with Animal Health Digest readers, it’s Patrick Malone’s posts. The writing, wisdom and advice he shares from his own experiences and from leaders in multiple industries are consistently among the most-read posts in any issue. In fact, they are often opened three times more than other posts. Here are his latest chart toppers. Source: Animal … [Read more...]
Hormone Friendly Vetmed campaign from Vet Empowered, LLC
Complimentary Veterinary medicine has one of the highest proportions of women and assigned female at birth (AFAB) individuals in any professional workforce, and yet conversations about how hormonal health intersects with work performance, mental health and team dynamics remain rare or are dismissed entirely, writes Katie Ford, MRCVS <Link>. Silently ignoring these … [Read more...]
When “We’re like family” becomes a leadership problem
In a June 2022 post <Link>, I commented, “A company employs you because what you do is valuable. Your value must be enough to justify your salary.” In the post’s article, Gloria Chan Packer gave guidance to deal with the “like family” paradigm, which can be destructive to teams and individuals. Marlene Chism addresses “like family” in depth in the article linked here. … [Read more...]
IBPSA Fast Bites – July 6, 2026
In this week’s Fast Bites: Two webinars scheduled for July: Future Proofing Pet Care Facilities, July 15th Staffing Systems to Protect the Business, July 30th 16 new members added in 2-Q-2026 Congratulations to the members who earned a Species Certification in Q2. NOTE: The IBPSA email communications calendar is changing effective August 3rd Source: … [Read more...]
The PACCC Insider – Summer 2026 Edition
The Summer 2026 PACCC Insider highlights important industry updates, celebrates newly certified professionals, shares upcoming educational opportunities and recognizes the continued growth of the PACCC community. The pet care industry continues to grow and evolve. Professionalism and education have never been more important. Third-party certification helps demonstrate a … [Read more...]
Handling the unruly patient
Commentary David Burger’s article reviews an apparent increase in fractious pets that increase injury risks for veterinary teams and pet owners alike. While “do more training” is advocated, it is clear that beyond veterinary teams adjusting their approach with problem pets, getting modern pet owners to establish basic behavior boundaries is difficult. Similarly, groomers … [Read more...]
Review: Dogs can get a sunburn, too
Includes commercial references It is typically not top of mind but sun protection is another important preventive consideration as dogs get sunburned as humans do. Barri J. Morrison, DVM, provides appropriate reminders in this article worth sharing with pet owners. Groomers can be a good source for sunburn education as dogs leave the salon with a fresh haircut. Key … [Read more...]
Beyond exercise: The role of stretching routines for dog joint health
Commercial source Exercise alone isn’t always enough to support your dog’s mobility, writes Britt Kascjak in this informative article. She shares five essential stretches for dog joint health, their benefits, safety and when it is best to help dogs stretch. Consider this article for newsletters, social media posts and for exam room information to help dog owners add … [Read more...]
Study: Outdoor access may help improve welfare in multi-cat homes
Zazie Todd, PhD, summarizes key points from a new correlational study in Applied Animal Behaviour Science <Link>. It reveals insightful welfare dynamics in multi-cat households with and without outside access. Many cats would prefer to be the only cat in the home. Having more than one cat is linked to poorer welfare*. In a study, when cats had outdoor access, … [Read more...]
10 Q&As about pet food for aging dogs and cats
Good read Despite the expanding population of senior pets, scientists observed that nutritional recommendations remain largely based on research conducted in younger animals. In a literature review published in the journal Animals, they examined what scientists know about nutrition for aging dogs and cats, identify the biggest gaps in current knowledge and outline the … [Read more...]
Review: Understanding the three stages of laminitis in horses
Regardless of how long laminitis takes to manifest, or what initially caused it, the illness tends to follow three key stages, says Chris Pollitt, BVSc, PhD. The article here reviews the laminitis stages from when it’s most obvious and destructive in the chronic stage, back to the acute stage and finally the initial developmental stage. Pollitt adds that decades of research … [Read more...]
Keep water clean on dairies for cows’ safety
Reinforcing the importance of clean water, Russ Cavanaugh addresses the potential of water as a fomite. He contrasts how most poultry and hog producers approach water treatment with a relative lack of water treatment systems on dairies. His article is a call to action for dairy operators to know what is in their water and to devise a treatment and monitoring system to ensure … [Read more...]
Build cows that stay: Smarter heifer development for long-term productivity
Early conception during the first breeding season is one of the most important predictors of lifetime productivity and retention in heifers. Kacie McCarthy explains that long-term cowherd performance comes from managing heifer development as part of the whole system. Early conception, environment, nutrition, age at first calving and body condition all work together to influence … [Read more...]
Start with foot baths to reduce lameness
Some dairy producers gauge the impact of lameness by the number of cows requiring treatment, but Abbie Goldenberg with Farm Inc. believes that measure misses the bigger picture. Experts say better hoof bath management is what keeps cows healthy in the first place as noted in this article about proper footbath design and maintenance. Aerica Bjurstrom with the University of … [Read more...]
Merck Animal Health announces EXZOLT® (fluralaner oral solution) for northern fowl mites in backyard chickens
EXZOLT® (fluralaner oral solution) is now available for the treatment and control of northern fowl mites (Ornithonyssus sylviarum) in laying hens and replacement chickens in backyard settings. Each dose of the product is given in two administrations via drinking water, seven days apart, providing an effective option without the need for injections or individual bird … [Read more...]
Worth a Glance – July 9, 2026
Last week’s AHD Bulletin – Animal Health Digest Bulletin, July 2, 2026. Link. Most read posts from July 2, 2026 AHD Bulletin – Choose thriving. Link. Pet owners seeking help sooner; telehealth becoming the first step. Link. A new framework for assessing dog bite risk. Link. Behavior and health problems during short-distance transport. Link. Pet vaccine … [Read more...]
A history of veterinary medicine as America celebrates its 250th anniversary
This evolution of the veterinary profession is a good read to accompany the United States’ 250th anniversary celebration this year. Julie A. Jacob shares resources from the American Veterinary Medical History Society that show great support for the profession from our country’s founding to current times. Source: AVMA, June 1, 2026. Link. Our country's founding fathers … [Read more...]
Chewy Health with NAVC: Building the future of veterinary medicine
Complimentary Mita Malhotra, president of Chewy Health, and Gene O’Neill, NAVC CEO, discuss how technology, AI, better team support and expanded education contribute to and reshape veterinary medicine by reducing burnout, improving efficiency and strengthening trust between care teams and animal owners. Source: Life At Chewy, YouTube, June 10, 2026. Link. [27:13] … [Read more...]
New data: Pet owners seeking help sooner; telehealth becoming the first step
Complimentary whiskerDoc’s analysis of 2026 pet health interactions suggests that telehealth is increasingly becoming the first step in a pet parent's care journey. The data reinforces the power of early intervention: timely access to professional advice helps owners make more informed decisions, potentially reduce unnecessary treatment and incur lower pet health care … [Read more...]
The leadership skill no one teaches
In this world focused on immediacy, the hardest leadership skill isn’t deciding. It’s recognizing when the urgency you feel is yours, not the situation at hand. That gap between your own anxiety and what the situation requires is where most reactive decisions get made. In this article, Tony Martignetti distinguishes between responsive and reactive leadership. He emphasizes … [Read more...]
IBPSA Fast Bites – June 29, 2026
Registration is still open for the 6-part webinar series, Pet Industry Leaderboard: Benchmarks and Actionable Business Strategies. Free for members. <Register here> Source: IBPSA, June 29, 2026. Link. Also see: Animal Health Digest Bulletin, June 25th. Link. Killing innovation, when to disengage, stopping interruptions, the growing pet wellness market, and more! … [Read more...]
A new framework for assessing dog bite risk
A new approach, beyond the “point-in-time” method, may provide veterinary professionals, behaviorists and caregivers with objective tools they can use to understand, assess and potentially manage a dog’s bite risk. Colette Kase shares these key factors: The importance of improving bite assessments The potential of a structured professional judgment approach used in … [Read more...]
Pet vaccine compliance important to groomers
Groomers aren’t just haircutters. We care for dogs. We are paid to be professional with the pets we care for, which makes vaccination compliance an important detail of any grooming business, asserts Jennifer Bishop Jenkins. She references legal and insurance considerations, specifically noting zoonotic risks from rabies and leptospirosis. Source: Groomer to Groomer, July … [Read more...]