Researchers have restored circulation and cellular activity in the vital organs of pigs, such as the heart and brain, one hour after the animals died. The findings aren’t yet clinically relevant, but the research raises ethical questions about the definition of death. Source: Nature, August 3, 2022. Link. INSIGHTS: Animal research continues to search for ways to improve … [Read more...]
Tips for controlling flies in livestock herds
Includes Commercial References Flies are a problem wherever you find them. For beef producers, there are four types that impact livestock herd health and productivity: houseflies, horn flies, stable flies and face flies. These are the same flies drawn to garbage, pet feces, roadkill, compost bins, backyard chicken coops and our outdoor activities that include food. Kansas … [Read more...]
Health and comfort for the aging horse
Aging isn’t a disease process. Many conditions associated with older horses are simply natural changes. Christine Barakat writes about the five health attributes most affected by age and how to prepare for them: Weight loss Arthritis Weakened immune system Loss of fitness Dental troubles Source: EQUUS, May 27, 2022. Link. INSIGHTS: Share this with owners … [Read more...]
Seasonality and geography of diabetes mellitus in dogs
Sharing key points from a published research study involving nearly 1,000 dogs with diabetes mellitus, Vet Candy highlighted: Dogs were diagnosed with DM significantly more in the winter and northern USA compared to all other seasons and all other geographic regions, respectively. The prevalence of juvenile onset among dogs with DM was 2.8%. The proportion of dogs … [Read more...]
Understanding cats: a review
Learning why cats act as they do and how to adjust handling and management techniques can make all the difference between a positive experience and a negative one for everyone involved. We’ve come a long way since Ellen M. Carozza, LVT NOVA, wrote this article about cats in a clinical setting. She reviews body language and then provides guidance for veterinary team members in … [Read more...]
Free – Level Up: Pain Management virtual summit August 16th
Complimentary Content Veterinary professionals will have the opportunity to learn the most up-to-date and effective methods of pain management at NAVC’s Level Up: Pain Management Summit Tuesday, August 16, 2022. The summit features three, hour long sessions hosted on VetFolio at no charge. Participants will learn the most up-to-date and effective methods of pain … [Read more...]
Otitis externa cheat sheet
Complimentary Sponsored Content from Dechra U.S. Ear problems are frequently in the top 10 reasons pet owners see a veterinarian. Darin Dell, DVM, DACVD, created a handy guide full of useful information for examination, cytology and treatment options for dealing with otitis externa. Source: Dechra U.S. Download here <Link> … [Read more...]
Diabetes is not a death sentence
Complimentary Sponsored Content Richard Stone DVM, DACVIM (SAIM), returns to the Chatfield Show to discuss diabetes in pets. The conversation covers information for pet owners who need to know about their diabetic pet and the differences between dogs and cats. Source: Chats with the Chatfields, YouTube, May 11, 2022. Link. (47 minutes) Diabetes in dogs and cats is … [Read more...]
Tear stains, eye boogers and gunk
Allergies, infections, hairs, blocked tear ducts and yeast are reasons dogs eyes can get gunky or stained. The author explains the reddish stains are caused by iron released from the breakdown of red blood cells which becomes part of a pigment-containing molecule called porphyrin. Porphyrin is in dogs’ tears and causes the actual staining. The author shares a few tips to … [Read more...]
Pet food growth may outstrip animal protein supply
Demand from dog, cat and other pet food industries for animal proteins may surpass supply from the United States’ agricultural system, according to researchers from Kansas State University. The units of pet food produced in the U.S. have been growing at a faster rate than animals slaughtered for human consumption. This is significant because if these growth rates continue … [Read more...]
IBPSA Fast Bites – August 8, 2022
Pet-related franchising is thriving, Dr. Poop’s health analysis for owners, leveraging small business press releases, the whys of zoomies, Mars seeking to make pet travel easier and more. . . Source: IBPSA Fast Bites, August 8, 2022. Link. Also see: Help! Why does my dog eat poop? Whole Dog Journal, May 23, 2022. Link. Stopping poop eating it is more a matter of managing … [Read more...]
You may be genetically programmed to work with animals
Empathy for animals could be hardwired into your DNA, according to a study by researchers at the University of Edinburgh’s Roslin Institute and Scotland’s Rural College. The 2018 study, published in the journal Animals, showed that people who display a greater-than-average compassion for animals are genetically different than those who don’t. This is the first study to show … [Read more...]
Dealing with despair
Despair comes quietly in our heads, hearts and bodies, but if we don’t handle it well, it can have negative impacts on our entire organization. Source: Forbes, July 12, 2022. Link. It is the leader's job to acknowledge differences and enable others to hold them, if those views do not conflict with the organization's vision, mission, and values. INSIGHTS: The pandemic, … [Read more...]
Customer education is an important competitive differentiator
Commentary We routinely see articles promoting BtoC engagement and education in the retail sector. Veterinary teams can benefit from similar activities and from engaging those who are actively educating pet owners. Working with active influencers can help promote the importance of regular veterinary care and improve education efforts by those advocates engaging animal owners … [Read more...]
IVPA Summit takes place August 25
The Independent Veterinary Practitioners Association has scheduled a day of learning tailored to helping independent veterinary hospital owners and managers improve efficiencies, leverage technology to their advantage, and improve the bottom line. The 2nd Annual IPVA Summit will kick off Thursday, August 25, the day before Fetch KC Registration is $125 for IVPA Members and … [Read more...]
Changes coming to compounded animal health medication
Complimentary Content Thank you, Nicole Clausen, Veterinary Care Logistics, for bringing this to our attention. FDA's Guidance for Industry (GFI 256) will affect how you order and prescribe compounded medications, according to Wedgewood Pharmacy. We noted these statements in its document: Veterinarians are responsible for understanding all applicable state regulations … [Read more...]
Get ready! All livestock antibiotics will be prescription-only in 2023.
The clock is ticking. Start now to educate producers ahead of this important transition to livestock antibiotics being available by prescription-only status. The new rule covers injectable tylosin, injectable and intramammary penicillin, injectable and oral tetracycline, sulfadimethoxine and sulfamethazine, and cephapirin and cephapirin benzathine intramammary tubes. Also, … [Read more...]
10 years and counting elevating care for cats
The Cat Friendly Practice® program is a global initiative. It is a team education approach for veterinary teams to ensure an entire staff is educated and knowledgeable about cats’ needs and behaviors. Developed by the AAFP and leading feline experts, the program seeks to improve the improves the overall delivery of care to cats. All clinic staff who work with cats must meet a … [Read more...]
Worth a Glance – August 4, 2022
Last week’s most read posts The oral microbiome, new in the clinical practice of dentistry. Link. Grief balloon ends up scaring a pony. Link. The all-important pre-purchase exam of a horse. Link. Last week’s AHD Bulletin - Animal Health Digest Bulletin, Thursday, July 28, 2022. Link. ========================================= AVMA delegates pass policies … [Read more...]
Heat stress negatively affects bull fertility
It’s hot and it hurts bulls’ fertility. A bull’s ability to produce quality quantities of semen is important to successful breeding and rebreeding programs. If heat stressed, bulls could have lower sperm concentrations than normal. Plus, heat stressed bulls produce semen of lower quality than bulls who weren’t heat stressed. Source: Progressive Cattle, July 19, 2022. Link. … [Read more...]
Anthrax confirmed in Colorado
The Colorado State Veterinarian's office has confirmed the first cases of anthrax in cattle in Colorado since 2012. The herds were located in Sedgwick County in the northeast corner of the state. Anthrax can occur naturally in Colorado's soil. Bacterial spores can lie dormant in the ground for decades and can emerge in greater concentrations after rainstorms, flooding or … [Read more...]
Protecting the swine herd
Complimentary Commercial Content Companies serving the swine industry take pig health as seriously as producers. The resources and industry support they collectively provide is important to animal health, production profitability, food safety as well as many One Health concerns. We’re sharing a recent YouTube video from Boehringer Ingelheim Swine Health, U.S. We believe … [Read more...]
Anaplasmosis: not “if” but “when” in some cattle herds
Anaplasmosis is a common disease with worldwide distribution in cattle. It is transmitted through tick and fly bites , as well as blood contaminated instruments like needles, tattoo tools, castration equipment and dehorning instruments. Once an animal becomes infected, it is infected for life. Successful antibiotic therapy curing the clinical signs of infection results in a … [Read more...]
Destroy a dairy cow in three months
A dairy cow can be destroyed in three months with worn or incorrect milking system liners and poor hygiene. Aging liners are the single biggest cause of chronic mastitis in herds. Multiple studies prove if dairy farmers use old liners on fresh cows, the damage to teat-ends starts immediately.” Source: The Bullvine, August 2, 2022. Link. The liner is the interface between the … [Read more...]
Tips for traveling with chickens
It is fair season and chicken owners will be traveling with their chickens. Mia McGregor offers tips on housing, maintaining a comfortable environment, health check-ups, keeping things familiar and likely behavior changes. Source: Hobby Farms, July 27, 2022. Link. INSIGHTS: Consider sharing this article in social media posts, newsletters and targeted emails to chicken … [Read more...]
Goat hoof problems
Caprines, like their bovine cousins, can have hoof issues and lameness causing a reduction in food intake and weight gain, reduced milk production, lower reproduction rates and pain. Kate Johnson shares causes, treatments and prevention for common hoof challenges. Source: Backyard Goats, July 17, 2022. Link. Three of the most common goat hoof problems are: hoof … [Read more...]
Why horses kick
Horses kick to deliver different messages to their herd mates, writes Jennifer Williams, PhD. She shares what a horse's kicking means and what can be done to deal with this potentially dangerous behavior. Source: EQUUS, July 23, 2022. Link. Some situations will compel practically any horse to lash out–to protect himself or to relieve pain. Yet in other cases kicking is a bad … [Read more...]
How to safely travel with horses
Whether horses travels by road or by air, owners must be aware of the complications that may occur due to transportation, including traumatic injuries, diarrhea, muscular problems, respiratory problems, overheating, colic and even laminitis. The AAEP encourages equine veterinarians and horse owners read Practical Guidelines to Assess Fitness for Transport of Equidae to … [Read more...]
The price of canine cancer treatment stunned her
Kim Kavin’s 12-year-old mutt, Blue, was diagnosed with a tumor. An oncologist offered hope, but it would be expensive. Kavin had already $2,000 in three days and the next CT scan was going to be $2,500. Radiation therapy after that would be $9,500. Blue received stereotactic radiation, a gold-standard radiation treatment for humans. Fortunately, Kavin held a pet insurance … [Read more...]
Cat health from the south end of a northbound cat
Poop is important to your cat’s health, so it stands to reason that the place where it exits would be, too. Caroline Golon shares ways to help care for a cat. . . tail end first. Source: Catster, March 10, 2021. Link. Golon shares common health issues associated with a cat’s rear including dingleberries, scooting and when to help the cat clean its rear end. INSIGHTS: For … [Read more...]