CPV emerged in the 1970s and is still a menace to unvaccinated dogs.The virus itself is small and nonenveloped, making it one of the most robust viruses affecting animals. Because of its environmental persistence, both indirect and direct contact can efficiently spread the virus. When protected by organic matter, the virus may remain infectious for months. Source: … [Read more...]
Baxter Black on farriers (video)
There are a lot of skilled people cowboy poet Baxter Black admires. He’s fairly skilled in some areas (he is a veterinarian and rancher), but he lacks in others. One talent that always alluded him was horseshoeing skills. Source: Drovers, January 15, 2018. In addition to veterinarian, rancher and poet, Baxter Black is an agricultural entertainer. For over 25 years he has … [Read more...]
Seedstock 100 shows bull influence
The 4th annual edition of Beef Magazine's Seedstock 100 (S100) lists the biggest seedstock producers in the beef industry, including bull sales volume and contact information. The list of breeds and composites that these S100 operations offer speaks to the genetic diversity borne by customer need and demand, as well as breed concentration. Source: Beef, December 28, … [Read more...]
“Leave it,” an important K9 training basic
One of our objectives for curating content for animal health pros is to support behavior training. Annie Phenix is a force-free trainer who addresses the “leave it” training dog owners find challenging. This article is suitable for printing for puppy classes or as social media content. Source: Dogster, January 10, 2018. There are some cues we must teach our dogs that could … [Read more...]
Consistent evidence still needed on bugs
Microorganisms, such as bacteria or yeast, that are administered to prevent or treat disease are known as probiotics. A very lucrative industry emerged to produce and sell these particular organisms. However, despite well-established basic science showing the importance of the microbial flora to health, it is not a simple matter to produce safe and effective probiotic … [Read more...]
AAHA updates diabetes guidelines
Diabetes management can be overwhelming and time-consuming for pet owners and practitioners. To help with this challenge, AAHA has released its newly revised Diabetes Management Guidelines. Created with an additional focus on empowering veterinary technicians to be a primary source of education and support for owners of diabetic pets, the 2018 AAHA Diabetes Management … [Read more...]
AQHA’s 2017 highlights
2017 was filled with incredible moments for our industry, according to AQHA Executive Vice President Craig Huffhines. The American Quarter Horse Association is the world’s largest equine breed registry and membership organization. Its headquarters are in Amarillo, Texas. Source: AQHA Daily, January 8, 2018. The summary of activities and events shows an active membership and … [Read more...]
Keep pre-weaned dairy calves healthy and warm
The pre-weaning period is when calves are highly susceptible to cold stress with a lower critical temperature of 50°F for newborn calves and 32°F for older calves. In other words, calves are very easily stressed right now. Those that experience cold stress will have compromised immune systems, affecting them for life. Tracey Erickson with South Dakota State University … [Read more...]
Horse body clipping basics are important
Though it’s often an essential part of good horse management, clipping can be a daunting task. The authors offer questions and tips to help horse owners when clipping is required. Consider this article for a social media post or as information when educating horse owners and horse enthusiast groups. Source: Horse Network, October 2017. Topics cover: considerations … [Read more...]
New directory aims to make reporting animal abuse easier
The lead post in the January 16, 2018 NAVTA Animal Health Bi-Weekly references information on a new national directory of agencies that investigate animal abuse. The directory represents more than 6,500 counties, cities and towns across the U. S. and identifies which agency follows up on reports of suspected animal cruelty, abuse and neglect, according to a release from the … [Read more...]
Geese make good flock guardians
Duck, duck, goose is not just a kids’ game revitalized by end zone hijinks of the Minnesota Vikings. Geese make excellent guardians against predators common to backyard poultry flocks. They are naturally loud alarms and don’t require any training or behavior modification to protect. A threat, sign of trouble or intruder will cause them to call loudly, alerting their flockmates … [Read more...]
The top 10 funnies of 2017
Just for fun, the DVM 360 crew reviewed its content to bring you the top cartoons and articles of this year. Source: DVM 360, January 2, 2017. We especially liked No. 3: The anatomy of a veterinary nurse. Also see: DVM360’s top 17 of 2017, January 2, 2017. See the articles that captured the attention of industry professionals across the country. INSIGHTS: Sales … [Read more...]
Cross-matching is important for first blood transfusion (includes video)
Kenichiro Yagi, MS, RVT, VTS (ECC, SAIM), discusses cross-matching and blood transfusion perceptions and myths. If transfusion records are not appropriate, or if a new veterinary practice assumes a patient has never received a transfusion and they do another mismatch, that could result in very serious consequences or even death. Source: American Veterinarian, January 15, … [Read more...]
Wheek! Good info on guinea pig care
Wheeking is what excited guinea pig vocalization is called. They are the second-favorite rodent kept as pets in the U.S. Guinea pigs are docile, social animals that enjoy interaction with their caretakers. Their husbandry needs are relatively simple. However, they have specific dietary and housing needs. Improper at-home care can result in illness or injury. Source: … [Read more...]
Sales people: necessary or obsolete?
Salespersons who focus on selling as hard and fast as possible, with a goal of doing business now, may be obsolete, says Richard Libin. He asserts today’s salesperson job profile can be defined by three simple functions: helping customers find and select the right product or service assisting the customer to fall in love with his choice convert customers to … [Read more...]
New cannabis resource from AVMA
A new document for AVMA members provides comprehensive background information to help understand the legal aspects of cannabis use in animals; field questions and advise clients who are interested in marijuana therapies for their pets; and identify toxic exposures. Source: AVMA, January 10, 2018. Cannabis: What Veterinarians Need to Know addresses a broad range of important … [Read more...]
Donating a pet’s body is alternative to burial, cremation
The passing of a cherished pet is something every pet owner dreads. Yet, it is something most of eventually face. In addition to burial or cremation, educational memorial programs or willed body programs are offered at several veterinary universities in the United States. Modeled similar to human cadaver donation programs, pet owners can donate the body of their beloved dog … [Read more...]
Autopsies by general practitioners can help owners (photographic guide)
Many pet owners want to know why their pet passed away. A limited cosmetic necropsy may produce a reason, add closure and potentially alert the veterinary staff of local risks. Source: Clinician’s Brief, December 2017. The term “autopsy” is widely preferred in the pathology community, particularly to emphasize the primary goal of unifying human and veterinary medical … [Read more...]
Close, but not closed
One of the more common questions I am asked when conducting sales development classes is, “What do I do when a customer commits but doesn’t follow through?” It usually spurs a lengthy discussion about the difference between close and closed. Source: Veterinary Advantage Magazine, December 2017. At commit, your customer, or the Decider, co-owns the outcome with you and that … [Read more...]
Back to school on heartworm
The American Heartworm Society (AHS) is strengthening efforts to bring the latest heartworm information directly to veterinarians and veterinary nurses via scientific symposia and proceedings. Heartworm University, a traveling four- to six-hour symposium taught by AHS faculty, provides practical clinical information in an interactive format that enables presenters to address … [Read more...]
Alternatives to declawing becoming mandatory
The tide is turning against cat declawing, writes Steve Dale in a piece for Fear Free Happy Homes. Denver recently became the first city outside California to ban declawing surgery. When cats scratch (an innate behavior), they send an aromatic message via the pheromones delivered by glands in the paws, as well as a visual message: those long claw marks. The ability to offer … [Read more...]
Sponsored: Sample water supplies properly
Water quality affects animal health from the backyard to the largest confined operation. Jesse McCoy of Neogen Corporation writes about how to properly sample a water supply. Source: National Hog Farmer, November 30, 2017. Several considerations must be taken when sampling the site. The first is the sample must be the best representation of the water coming in to the … [Read more...]
Good stuff in OSU’s Equine News
The January issue of Oklahoma State University’s Equine News has some great information about getting horses in good shape, controlling environmental challenges and managing Equine influenza virus. Source: Oklahoma State University, January 2018. If your horse hasn’t had much activity in a while, it is a good idea to take a baseline assessment. First, does your horse need … [Read more...]
What you can’t do with a VFD
Some livestock producers are feeling pinched by what a VFD can’t do. However, these new rules can do one very valuable thing: give livestock producers an opportunity to interact with local veterinarians who can best guide them through health-related decisions about their animals. Source: Drovers, November 23, 2017. Since the VFD’s implementation, many of the … [Read more...]
High-functioning alcoholics are not long-term winners
Animal health pros can likely identify at least one individual whose “low alcohol” light comes on sometime late afternoon. These individuals function dependably at high levels all day long. However, their reality is a core biological and psychological issue that will never go away. In this rare, revealing story Ward Richmond shares his discoveries and story as a recovering … [Read more...]
Help bees get through winter
Angi Schneider shares it’s a good idea to give domestic bees extra help to survive the winter, especially if you are bee farming in areas that have severe winters. She discusses hive types and winterization protocols. Veterinary teams and retailers may want to keep information like this handy for new beekeepers. Source: Countryside Daily, January 8, 2018. Keeping the queen … [Read more...]
Opinion – The wisdom is in the questions
My paternal grandfather would occasionally profess, “Remember, the wisdom is in the questions, Kirk.” While this sometimes a kind way of saying I was talking too much, Ryan Holiday asserts a similar theme in his article, “12 questions that will change your life.” It is always a good time for questioning, resolutions and sound decisions. Source: Thrive Global, January 1, … [Read more...]
Study suggests more than half of lameness goes undetected
“Producers are aware of lameness as an issue in dairy herds and almost all monitor lameness as part of their daily routine. However, producers underestimate lameness prevalence, which highlights that lameness detection continues to be difficult in in all housing systems, especially in tie stall herds,” according to researchers who studied dairy farms. Source: Dairy Herd … [Read more...]
Insulin resistance and cold weather laminitis in horses
Eleanor Kellon, VMD, says cold-induced hoof pain strikes horses with insulin resistance (IR). IR is a well described risk factor for laminitis. Even when a horse is not glaringly lame it is causing damage to the laminae. We haven’t uncovered all the mechanisms behind laminar damage from high insulin levels but one known factor is elevated levels of endothelin-1. Source: … [Read more...]
These are horses, not teddy bears
Thomas Gumbrecht shares a story of horse care, animal temperament and a momentary lapse of judgement that resulted in getting kicked by an old friend. It is a good reminder to be present around horses or any animal. Source: Horse Network, January 3, 2018. As she passed, I noticed something on her underside and instinctively reached out to touch it. I forgot for a moment … [Read more...]