IBPSA Fast Bites is back this week with more news for those working in pet care and boarding, pet walkers and sitters, trainers, holistic pet care providers and veterinarians. The industry is evolving to meet the needs of modern pet ownership, resulting in a shift toward more convenient and tech-forward services, as well as more sustainable and environmentally friendly … [Read more...]
A better approach to networking
In the next five weeks, many animal health pros will start the convention attendance gauntlet. Networking is one of the benefits of industry gatherings. Still, meeting strangers is uncomfortable for most people especially in the context of work. Christie Hunter Arscott shares the importance of: Focusing on what you’re going to ask, not what you’re going to say Moving … [Read more...]
Hire a misfit
Culture fit is the idea of recruiting individuals whose value systems, beliefs and everyday behaviors align well with the hiring organization. Source: Gallup, October 11, 2022. Link. While this might seem reasonable and harmless, hiring decisions based on an individual's perception of culture fit can be unfair and influenced by unconscious bias. INSIGHTS: Remember … [Read more...]
WHO cites antimicrobial resistance as one of the top 10 threats to humanity
Reinforcing the messaging of the World Antimicrobial Awareness Week the senior animal health officer for FAO, discusses the impact antimicrobial resistance is having on animal health. Misuse and overuse of antimicrobial drugs in human medicine, veterinary medicine, and food production have put our future at risk.” Source: News Medical, November 24, 2022. Link. Responsible and … [Read more...]
Outbreaks are inevitable, but pandemics are optional (video)
Experts suggest a new era of zoonoses and elevated risks demands new thinking and approaches, shares Krissa Welshans referencing “Zoonotic Diseases in Animal Agriculture and Beyond: A One Health Perspective,” a new paper from the Council for Agricultural Science and Technology. It focuses on zoonotic diseases and the importance of One Health. Source: FEEDSTUFFS, November 23, … [Read more...]
Students turning meat processing co-products into potential pet treats
Graduate students at Auburn University have been conducting research to study various aspects of developing treats from poultry co-products such as wing tips, broiler carcass frames, woody breasts and organs, in addition to organs and other parts from beef and swine. Palatability and sensory trials along with economic production models will follow. Upcycling parts of livestock … [Read more...]
The skinny on fat
Beef eaters enjoy well-marbled meat. For feedlot operators, fat in cattle increases revenue potential. Haley Zynda shares some fat facts and the importance of calf health and nutrition before terminal feeding practices in the feedlot. These statements are important considerations: . . . intramuscular and subcutaneous fat begin to deposit well before the calf is even born . … [Read more...]
AVMA Humane Slaughter Guidelines now available for comment
Dr. Robert Meyer says expanded guidelines have been made more user-friendly via organization by species, rather than by techniques. More species are also cited. This includes the slaughter of animals not primarily designated for the food chain, such as animals raised for fur. Every stage of the slaughter process is addressed, from an animal’s arrival at a facility, when … [Read more...]
Thousands of pet cats may have been infected with SARS-CoV-2
Swabs taken from a broad sample of 2,309 cats in the United Kingdom between April 2020 and February 2022 were analyzed by virologists and veterinarians from the University of Glasgow. The researchers found 3.2 percent of all the samples were positive for Covid antibodies, with the highest levels of infection occurring at the end of 2021 and at the start of 2022, with one in 20 … [Read more...]
Old cats: 3 vet visits each year
Tufts Catnip staff reviews updates to the 2021 Feline Senior Care Guidelines including moving cats over 15 years of age to three visits annually. Senior cats 11 through the age of 15 should continue having vet visits twice a year. Source: Tufts Catnip, September 14, 2022. Link. … [Read more...]
Beware of rock salt and other ice melting products
As winter snow and ice season advances, we use more ice-melt to clear streets, driveways and sidewalks. C.J. Puotinen cautions pet owners about potential ill effects from these products. It is good content to share on social media and in newsletters this time of year. The ASPCA’s Animal Poison Control Center classifies all ice-melting products as chemical irritants and warns … [Read more...]
Peace of mind medicine: The importance of telehealth and virtual care in veterinary medicine
Complimentary Content Guest Jessica Trimble, DVM, explains the importance of offering virtual services, and how they can affect both clients and staff in this edition of The Vet Blast Podcast. She discusses benefits and challenges of implementing virtual care and telehealth. Source: The Vet Blast Podcast, DVM 360 , November 17, 2022. Link. (18 … [Read more...]
Not One More Vet – November 2022
NOMV’s latest newsletter shares efforts to support the transformation of mental health wellness in the veterinary profession. Source: NOMV, November 2022. Link. … [Read more...]
IBPSA Fast Bites – November 21, 2022
With content relevant to owners and employees of pet boarding and daycare facilities, groomers, dog walkers, pet sitters, veterinarians, trainers and holistic pet care providers, the IBPSA weekly Fast Bites is one of the member benefits for these pet care services businesses. We’re pleased to share our Animal Health Digest with IBPSA members and to include Fast Bites for our … [Read more...]
Most read AHD posts
These posts meet our criteria for high readership. They reflect our readers’ interests, challenges and opportunities. Source: Animal Health Digest. Some most read posts from recent AHD Bulletins include: Confronting your biases (video) <Link> African swine fever . . . catching up <Link> Need to vent? <Link> Veterinarians shouldn’t do it all … [Read more...]
Archives help animal health pros catch up on their reading
There are plenty of demands on animal health pros during fall and holiday periods. It is easy to get behind on reading. The Animal Health Digest archives offer a quick way to scroll through posts. We’ve provided links to the posts for August through November here: Archives for August 2022 <Link> Archives for September 2022 <Link> Archives for October 2022 … [Read more...]
Seek consent, not consensus; accelerate decisions
Researchers share how to make effective decisions across teams of different sizes, experiences, locations and with varying amounts of data. Identifying the type of decision helps calm fears. Clarity on the outcome is foundational to effective decision-making.” Source: Fast Company, November 18, 2022. Link. Majority approval often leads to minority decisions. Achieving … [Read more...]
Antibiotic versus antimicrobial: What’s in a name?
Acknowledging World Antimicrobial Awareness Week, Scott Weese, DVM, shares his perspective on when to say antimicrobial versus antibiotic, noting they are pretty much interchangeable. . . . antibiotics are a subset of antimicrobials.” Source: Worms and Germs Blog, November 21, 2022. Link. Weese shares generalized definitions: Antimicrobials: substances that inhibit or … [Read more...]
The power of 15 minutes of focus
“Small habits done repeatedly truly do add up.” Sara Shafer shares culture building tips from Eric Termuende applicable to any workplace team. A healthy, vibrant culture is the new competitive advantage. Your biggest opportunity to fuel business growth likely has to do with creating a great culture.” – Eric Termuende Source: PORK, November 11, 2022. Link. Also see: Follow … [Read more...]
Worth a Glance – November 17, 2022
Last week’s most read posts – Horse owners’ survival guide for fall. Link. Last AHD Bulletin - Animal Health Digest Bulletin, Thursday, November 10, 2022. Link. ================================================================= 45 days remain in 2022 Source: time and date.com, November 17, 2022. Link. 43 days remain excluding holidays but only 30 days … [Read more...]
“Letters to Chewy Claus” promises food and product donations (video)
Complimentary Commercial Content The “Letters to Chewy Claus” program will give extra love and care to some of the most vulnerable pets living in shelters and rescues this holiday season with the help of Greater Good Charities. For every letter submitted to Chewy Claus before December 15, Chewy will donate one pound of food to one of their non-profit partners, up to … [Read more...]
African swine fever . . . catching up
Commentary It is a rare day without some media reference to ASF. Foreign countries are experiencing active infections in domestic herds and wild hogs. We believe it is important to expose all animal health pros to the efforts in the U.S. to block ASF from entering the country. ASF is a potential One Health issue paralleling HPAI and FMD in its potential effect on food … [Read more...]
Hemp may get cows high, THC found in milk raises concern
Commentary This caught my attention along with a comedic image of stoned cows and memories of cutting and burning hemp along horse pasture fence lines. This Science article notes hemp is cheap, widely available and a nutritious (possible) feed alternative comparable to alfalfa. But tetrahydrocannabinol concentrations in the milk are concerning. Source: Science, November … [Read more...]
USDA updates National Bovine Brucellosis Surveillance Plan
Brucellosis has been eradicated from domesticated cattle herds in all U.S. states. However, B. abortus is still present in wild bison and elk in the greater Yellowstone area. The updates seek to increase the ability to detect brucellosis with a high degree of confidence and avoid potential zoonoses. Source: Feedstuffs, November 11, 2022. Link. Also see: Brucellosis: … [Read more...]
Equine anaplasmosis easily confused with Potomac horse fever
Darned ticks! Anaplasmosis is a tick-borne disease caused by the bacterium Anaplasma phagocytophilum* that infects white blood cells. The Anaplasma organism typically infects horses from late fall to early spring and is spread by Ixodes ticks* which also spread Lyme disease, says Jean-Yin Tan, DVM, Dipl. ACVIM. *previously known as Ehrlichia phagocytophila and Ehrlichia … [Read more...]
Raccoons, distemper, dogs, cats and us
Commentary As winter approaches, raccoons seek to fatten up in preparation for torpor, a semi-hibernation. They group together in what is called a gaze or nursery. In 2016, John Hadidian told National Geographic, “Raccoons have adapted to urban living. They've figured out how to cope with these environments just as well or better than they used to do in the wilderness." … [Read more...]
Factors that affect the decision whether to groom a cat . . . or not
Embracing various arguments about cat grooming, Ellen Carozza, LVT, VTS (CP-Feline), confirms that a cat’s physiology is built for self- grooming. There are cats that will need some help grooming regardless of coat length to keep them clean and comfortable, she says. Each cat’s grooming needs is case dependent . . . many cats need help due to comorbidities, age, and coat … [Read more...]
Keep your eye on the coconut . . . oil
Includes Commercial Information Jackie Jurchenko, MSc, shares information about using coconut oil with pets in this article and infographic. She explains the different types of coconut oil, their properties and potential uses such as: Is coconut oil safe for dogs' skin? Coconut oil for dogs' itchy skin. Coconut oil for dogs' skin allergies. Source: Top Dog … [Read more...]
Senior pets deserve individual care plans
Mary Gardner, DVM, advocates for individual care for senior pets versus the cookbook approach too often adopted by medical professionals. These factors provide context for each pet’s story: its ailments, its personality, and the pet owner’s four budgets: financial, physical, time and emotional. Source: AAHA Trends, November 2022. Link. Also see: Search Results for: Mary … [Read more...]
Canine Leishmaniasis: Update on epidemiology, diagnosis, treatment and prevention
Commentary We’re providing this paper as an update on the status of leishmaniasis. We captured these statements for animal health pros to consider: Canine leishmaniasis is expanding to the Northern Hemisphere, where it is barely known, due to climate change and the importation of dogs. Sandflies are the only proven vectors of Leishmania infantum, but direct … [Read more...]