Social grooming, also called allogrooming, is a sign of social bonding and is associated with security, trust and love when cats lick their humans. However, topical medicines can cause harm to cats who like to lick their people. The FDA recently warned people about the possibility of fluorouracil poisoning in pets <Link>. Catnip’s eStaff shares information about … [Read more...]
The rights and wrongs of dog treats
Commentary Recent statistics classify the majority of pets in the United States; about 56 percent of dogs and 60 percent of cats, as overweight or obese <Link>. Our team has been outspoken about how treats are positioned, kcals in treats and addressing pet owner feeding and treating behavior <Link>. As we see new treats introduced, we routinely check on the kcals … [Read more...]
Cat’s behavior out of control? Seek help.
Your first response to this article might be, “Cats being cats . . . how would you know?” Seek help sooner rather than later, writes Zazie Todd, PhD, as most problems will take action to resolve. Common behavior issues in cats include toileting in unapproved places, scratching where it’s not wanted, not getting on with other pets and aggressive behavior. Todd references … [Read more...]
Can French Bulldogs swim?
Dispelling the myth that all dogs can swim, John Strassburger shares why certain breeds need help in the water. Not all dogs have the coordination or the physique to swim. He shares advice on teaching a dog to swim beginning with a life jacket. We also noted the reference affirming dogs don’t do the doggie paddle. Source: Whole Dog Journal, March 11, 2024. Link. INSIGHTS: … [Read more...]
IBPSA Fast Bites – March 18, 2024
Zoetis shifting perceptions toward pet healthcare, direct-to-consumer pet food, tax websites for small businesses, Blue Pearl™ partners with U.S. Army, HSAs for small business, tips to prepare for National Small Business Week at end of April and more . . . Source: IBPSA Fast Bites, March 18, 2024. Link. National Pet Care for All Day on April 24 celebrates the efforts of … [Read more...]
2,200 give feedback in Purdue’s Sales Excellence Survey of agribusiness reps
We once thought exceptional salespeople possessed an innate gift, but recent data highlights the impact of today's sales managers in nurturing and refining this gift to unlock its fullest potential, writes Scott Downey, PhD. He shares results showing knowledge across industry, technical and product domains was the significant differentiator among top sellers. Stressing the … [Read more...]
Silent communication
In person, words make up less than 10 percent of your communication. Non-verbal clues will aid in understanding. Here are tips to help you read body language effectively. Source: HelpGuide.org, August 2023. Link. Consider all the nonverbal signals you receive, from eye contact to tone of voice to body language.” INSIGHTS: Trust what you see. Also see: How to … [Read more...]
NASDA adopts policy in support of federal pet food label and opposes PURR Act
Opposing the PURR act, the National Association of State Departments of Agriculture board of directors adopted a new policy supporting the Food and Drug Administration’s Center for Veterinary Medicine to establish a national rule for pet food and specialty pet food labeling. The policy advocates for consistency and transparency on pet food and pet food labels. Source: … [Read more...]
Bottled water is full of tiny plastics
Commentary Water quality issues have long been a concern in animal health. The two articles here reinforce the need to consider if the water we drink is safe and by association reminds us that our animals need similar considerations. A recent study found there are roughly 240,000 detectable plastic fragments in a typical liter of bottled water. About 90 percent of the … [Read more...]
Gender stereotypes hold women back in the workplace, kill self confidence
Women’s History Month is celebrated annually in March in the United States. Reading some of the bios featured on the site, it seems meeting the challenges of stereotypes is part of most of the stories of women who made contributions to our history and culture. Research by Katherine B. Coffman, PhD, et al, shares how the gender gap is due in part to occupational sorting but … [Read more...]
Worth a Glance – March 14, 2024
Last week’s AHD Bulletin – Animal Health Digest Bulletin, March 7, 2024. Link. Most read post(s) from the March 7th AHD Bulletin – Data from 36 years: 20 dog breeds that attack people most. Link. Home delivery, autoship important offerings for veterinary clients. Link. 9 pet companies listed as fastest-growing U.S. private companies. Link. AHD Archives for … [Read more...]
USDA restricts use of ‘Product of USA’ label to U.S.-grown meat, poultry and eggs
Under a new rule, food processors will be able to put “Product of USA” on packages of meat, poultry and egg products only if the animals were born, raised, slaughtered and processed in the United States. The new rule takes effect in 60 days. Compliance becomes mandatory on Jan. 1, 2026. Source: Successful Farming, March 12, 2024. Link. … [Read more...]
Dairy industry contraction trend continues
There were 1,642 dairies that milked cows for the last time in 2023, bringing the number of dairy farms with a permit to sell milk in the United States to 26,290, a reduction of 5.9 percent of the nation’s dairy farms. Overall, herd size has grown 382 percent over the past 32 years keeping cow numbers relatively steady. Source: Hoard’s Dairyman, March 11, 2024. Link. … [Read more...]
Purina’s $30 million investment in people, pets
Purina's charitable giving in 2023 focused on key areas that included connecting pets with youth to support mental health, and funding programs designed to keep people and pets together in times of crisis. Source: Pet Business, February 2024. Link. … [Read more...]
Don’t throw away extra milk
It is the most common disease in dairy cattle. Twenty percent to 40 percent of cows develop clinical mastitis each lactation. This article shares perspectives on mastitis treatment, choosing which cows to treat, culturing milk samples to determine the treatment pathway and economic considerations as presented by Pamela Ruegg, DVM, MPVM. Source: Hoard’s Dairyman, March 8, … [Read more...]
Unraveling patterns of swine pathogen co-infections
Pig health is continually challenged and conditions vary from farm to farm. Multiple pathogens influence effective prevention strategies frustrating producers and veterinarians. To evaluate co-infections and their impact on farms and to better understand the consequences of pathogen challenges, a collaborative project of Iowa State University and Boehringer Ingelheim studied … [Read more...]
Overcoming the Stress Response Cascade to get more productive cows
Includes Commercial Content This article explains the results of stressors on cows and a trio of negative effects including reduced feed intake, development of leaky gut and systemic inflammation. It offers perspective on proactively using additives to reduce stress effects. Source: Feedstuffs, March 1, 2024. Link. With proper use, additives can be an effective and … [Read more...]
Cleaning the coop regularly is essential for protecting chicken health
A stroke of the obvious? Maybe . . . but backyard chicken raisers will appreciate this article from 20-year veteran Erin Snyder who shares tips on keeping the coop and accessories clean. Consider the article for social media, newletters or chicken enthusiast groups in your region. Source: Hobby Farms. Link. Regularly cleaning the coop, run, waterers and feeders may seem … [Read more...]
The great American llama (and ostrich and emu) collapse
Where have all the emus gone? We have about a quarter as many as we did two decades ago. Llama and ostriches plunged even more precipitously. Classic farm animals are doing fine. Unconventional animals aren't. The analysis by Andrew Van Dam shows population maps, charts and the often shaky economics of these unconventional animal markets. Source: The Washington Post, … [Read more...]
Pros and cons of vaccinating a horse against EHV-1
The debate continues about the validity of equine herpes virus vaccines despite consensus that vaccination is an important tool for reducing EHV-1 spread and the severity of clinical signs. Dr. Klaus Osterrieder shares the history, challenges and concerns about EHV-1. Source: The Horse, January 18, 2024. Link. INSIGHTS: Osterrieder urges researchers to continue working … [Read more...]
Feeding milk replacer when a foal needs extra nutrition
When a mare is not providing enough milk for her foal, owners can supplement with a milk replacer designed for horses, writes Clair Thunes, PhD. Plenty of early suckling is important so the mare can support the foal’s needs as she grows. If the issue is that the foal does not have much drive to nurse, a veterinarian will need to determine the cause. Source: The Horse, May … [Read more...]
Spring cleaning? Beware the toxic risks.
With warmer temperatures and increased daylight, homeowners get busy cleaning windows, washing decks, treating yards . . . generally freshening up their homes and yards. Those with pets need to be reminded many cleaning products contain chemicals that, in large enough amounts, can be toxic to humans and animals. Veterinary toxicologists share what and how much can be … [Read more...]
How cats see the world. Let’s review.
Paul Miller, DVM, DACVO, explains how cat vision works, from the way they see the world to how it shapes their behavior. Like dogs, cats are red-green color blind. Their night vision is about 5.5 to 7 times better than humans in dim light but humans are more than 10 times better at detecting motion in daylight. Miller shares some signs of eye problems in cats owners may notice … [Read more...]
Fix this diarrhea!
Veterinarians see dogs with diarrhea much quicker than physicians see their patients with diarrhea and are conditioned to do something about it. The question though is, “Did the dog get better because of what we did or despite it?” writes Scott Weese, DVM. Weese references a study in Veterinary Journal, 2024 and upcoming canine acute diarrhea antimicrobial use guidelines. … [Read more...]
Dogs with epilepsy found with altered levels of trace elements, heavy metals
Dogs with epilepsy exhibit distinct alterations in trace elements and heavy metal levels in their blood and fur compared with healthy counterparts according to findings from research being done by Sarah V. Rosendahl, DVM. The results showed that dogs diagnosed with idiopathic epilepsy had significantly higher levels of selenium and copper and lower levels of chromium in the … [Read more...]
Long-term cannabinoids deemed safe to give to healthy dogs, study finds
Results from the first-of-its-kind peer-reviewed safety study of cannabidiol products in healthy dogs demonstrated hemp-derived cannabinoids are well tolerated in healthy dogs at a dose of 5mg/kg of body weight per day and do not pose a significant risk to dogs in long-term use. Source: Pet Product News, March 2024. Link. The study was published in Frontiers in Veterinary … [Read more...]
So much drivel ! – How brachycephalic health issues are discussed on social media.
COMMENTARY We had to share this research paper. Something new? NO. Still, a published paper on the influences of social media groups discussing the health issues, real or perceived, that challenge brachycephalic dogs seems important to highlight. Misinformation continues to rule these narratives and emphasizes the need for professional education for pet … [Read more...]
Is the 5-Second Rule real?
Inquiring minds wanted to know if food that fell on the floor and was there fewer than five seconds, was it still acceptable to eat. Under ideal conditions . . . maybe. Source: Interesting Facts, March 12, 2024. Link. When in doubt, throw it out!” … [Read more...]
Finnish study shows noise sensitivity tops anxiety-related traits in dogs
Using an online questionnaire given to pet parents of mixed-breed and purebred dogs, researchers concluded that 72.5 percent of the dogs exhibited a behavior related to seven traits. Noise sensitivity was first, fearfulness second. Note: Aggression and separation-related behavior were the least common anxiety traits among the 37,715 dogs involved in the study. Source: … [Read more...]
A look inside Fear Free practices
International in scope, Fear Free methods are being adopted by veterinarians, veterinary technicians, groomers and trainers. One might say, Fear Free is a behavior modification program where people adjust to what makes animals comfortable in facilities retrofitted to reduce pets’ triggers and inherent fears. As such, Fear Free is a verb, denoting focused actions. As a noun, … [Read more...]