Researchers from the Arizona Canine Cognition Center at the University of Arizona put 375 eight-week-old puppies through four tests, designed to establish whether even such tiny pups were receptive to human communication. The results suggest that communication abilities must be inherited instead of being learned. Source: AKC, July 26, 2021. Link. The researchers now seek to … [Read more...]
Helping canine boredom
Complimentary Content The market for toys and puzzles to ward off boredom by pets is exploding as pet caregivers return to work outside the home. Hardly a day goes by without seeing another article about what to do now that the dog is home alone. While resources are plentiful, it is hard for owners to choose what works for their pet. Plus, finding the best choices may result … [Read more...]
Basic job search tips that are easy to forget
Searching “job search advice” on Google gives you 1.4 billion results. Jenny Foss boils things down to a short list of sound, timeless job searching tips to help fine-tune processes and hopefully remove frustrations and wasted time. Source: The Muse. Link. Foss shares these 6 tips: Make yourself an obvious fit Don’t limit yourself to online applications Remember … [Read more...]
Jonathan Ayers to chair Panthera board of directors
Panthera, the global wild cat conservation organization, announced this week that Jonathan Ayers, conservationist and former chairman, president and CEO of IDEXX Laboratories, has been appointed as the organization’s new chair of the board of directors. An absolute game-changer in the field with the largest-ever commitment made to small cat conservation, I am thrilled to see … [Read more...]
First Telehealth Awareness Week happening NOW
The American Telemedicine Association is bringing together leaders in telehealth service delivery, hospital systems and medical practices, technology solution providers, patient advocacy organizations, policymakers and other stakeholders during the first-annual Telehealth Awareness Week™, September 19-25, 2021. Virtual care is moving & shaking! Kudos to the ATA for making … [Read more...]
Basics of canine hydration
There are pet caregivers who do not know dogs’ hydration needs are different than our own. This author provides relevant resources, including a consumption chart (Table 1) and discusses variables that influence hydration needs. Source: Animal Wellness, August 10, 2021. Link. All dogs need adequate water to survive, and in most cases, water absorption is enhanced with the … [Read more...]
The power and freedom of saying, “NO” (includes podcast)
Sometimes, the best answer is "no," and doesn’t have to come at the cost of your workplace relationships or reputation. Thea O’Connor discusses how to push back to contain your workload without threatening your career or being labelled difficult. Speak from a place of knowing your value and competence, rather than from a place of weakness or being a victim,” - Cynthia Hickman, … [Read more...]
Man 2.0: Men need more rest and how they can get it
We feel better, perform better and are kinder to others when we’re taken care of, writes Dan Doty. He suggests most men are simply conditioned to run on fumes and need to intentionally create time to relax and recharge. Source: Healthline, December 22, 2020. Link. When we don’t rest enough, we put our bodies and nervous systems into overdrive mode. We operate on cortisol. . … [Read more...]
A learning mindset
It’s a blend of feeling confident that you can do the project you’re taking on while simultaneously being okay with making mistakes along the way and learning from them. Source: Linkedin Pulse, August 29, 2021. Link. I find that I’m more efficient and better at my work if I allow the time and space to improve myself. Without judgement. INSIGHT: Mistakes are only bad if … [Read more...]
Worth a Glance – September 9, 2021
Last week’s . . . . . . most read post Success starts with followership, AHD. Link. . . . AHD Bulletin Animal Health Digest Bulletin - Sept 2, 2021. The surprising upsides of spite and how to harness them Source: New Scientist, September 1, 2021. Link. Spiteful behavior, harming another at some cost to yourself, is a psychological game where no … [Read more...]
60 percent more milk from 30 percent fewer cows
Dramatic changes have unfolded in the dairy industry during the last five generations. They include more ore milk production occurring on fewer farms, plus large-scale operations expanding into non-traditional markets. Karen Bohnert examines the top dairy states in the next decade. Source: Dairy Herd Management, August 31, 2021. Link. The June 2021 USDA’s Milk Production … [Read more...]
History of the Bantam chicken
At about a third the size of an average chicken, Bantam chickens have sometimes caused people to question if Bantams are real chickens. Don Schrider shares the history of Bantams and says they are indeed real chickens. Source: Backyard Poultry, August 31, 2021. Link. Bantams are about a third the size of large fowl, eat much less, need smaller pens, and more of them can be … [Read more...]
Nutrigenomics: the future of feeding horses
Nutrigenomics is the scientific study of how nutrients can interact, directly or indirectly, with an animal’s genome. This interaction influences how genes are expressed, which can affect health, disease and performance, writes Marty Adams, PhD, PAS. The goal of equine nutrigenomics is to tailor a horse’s diet based on their genetic information, so they grow in a healthy state … [Read more...]
VO2 Max, the secret to canine field performance
Kurt Venator, DVM, PhD, talks about getting peak performance out of working dogs. “The key thing is to define what VO2 Max is,” Venator said. “It’s not some odd scientific term. It’s simply the rate of maximum oxygen use. And obviously that’s important because oxygen is going to fuel endurance, performance, and energy. That’s both in dogs and in humans. . . . the higher that … [Read more...]
Select the right food and dietary plan for cats with urinary issues
Any cat at any age can develop urinary stones or crystals, urinary infections and blockages. Catster writers reached out to two of the nation’s leading authorities on cats and feline nutrition to help cat caregivers come up with a food game plan to keep felines healthy. Source: Catster, March 2021. Link. No single diet and no individual pet food company makes the best food … [Read more...]
New study adds evidence for canine “‘theory of mind”’
Researchers studying the cognitive ability known as theory of mind in dogs believe dogs have some insight into what we’re thinking. Their findings indicate dogs can figure out whether we’re doing something on purpose or by accident. Source: Science, September 2, 2021. Link. Also see: New study examines whether dogs understand intent, Treehugger, September 2, 2021. … [Read more...]
Martha Stewart discusses pet CBD, Canopy Growth partnership
Stewart entered the CBD market in 2019 when she collaborated with Canopy Growth to develop a line of CBD-infused gummies, soft gels and tinctures for people. This partnership now also includes a line of CBD pet products that launched early in 2021. Source: Pet Age, September 1, 2021. Link. Based on Stewart’s business savvy and passion for pets, combined with Canopy Growth’s … [Read more...]
Top 7 most popular dog breeds
We’re always curious about lists like this. Here’s the top seven most popular dog breeds in 2021: Golden Retrievers Goldendoodles French Bulldogs Beagles Yorkshire Terriers Australian Shepard Poodle Source: Puppies and Pooches, January 21, 2021. Link. … [Read more...]
Pause, reflect, refocus, reignite
Entire organizations are in ongoing redefinition, old and new worlds recombined. Dan Oestreich describes it as a state of permanent, turbulent white water. What many need is a fundamental reset of some kind, or a breather of major proportions. The point is that human beings are tired, confused, angry, anxious and something has to give. To avoid doing the same thing and … [Read more...]
Worth a Glance – September 2, 2021
Last week’s most read post Communicating without words, Link. Last week’s Animal Health Digest Bulletin, August 26, 2021. Link. On my worst mental health days, my 3 dogs get me out of bed Source: The Lily, June 27, 2021. Link. Gemma Correll shares a pictorial story of how her dogs help to improve her mental and physical health every … [Read more...]
Migration Alert: high intensity bird migration in progress
Large numbers of birds are migrating over the central U.S. Some nights have more migratory birds passing through than others. To protect migratory birds, turn off all unnecessary lighting between 11:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m. The strong yellow and pink in the map illustrates high intensity. Source: BirdCast, September 1, 2021. Link. Bird migration forecasts show predicted … [Read more...]
Horse heaves: symptoms and treatment
Lung health is a common health topic as wildfires, smoke and dry, dusty drought conditions blanket parts of the country. Heaves is an allergic-based disease that compromises a horse's ability to breathe, similar to the way asthma affects humans writes, Barb Crabbe, DVM. Horse heaves is chronic and can threaten a horse's long-term health and performance.” – Barb Crabbe, … [Read more...]
Tips for caregivers of skinny horses
Knowledge continues to increase about affects that obesity and emaciation have on animal health. This makes it important to strive to keep horses at an optimum body condition including how to body condition score (BCS) them. The authors share photos and tips to help horses with a BCS of 4 gain weight. Think about calories first!” Source: The Horse, January 28, 2019. … [Read more...]
Drug-resistant hookworms spreading in dogs, parasitologists warn
Veterinary parasitologists warn that multidrug-resistant hookworms are spreading in the U.S. and veterinarians should watch for persistent infections. Antoinette Marsh, PhD, cited study results that indicate dogs with suspected or confirmed drug-resistant hookworms are becoming widespread in the Southeast, and they have been documented in the Northeast and California. She said … [Read more...]
Smart cat scat is now here
Complimentary Commercial Content Health monitoring technology is now available in cats’ litter boxes and by monthly subscription. It promises to provide cat owners a visible health monitoring opportunity which is important as cats instinctively hide any illnesses. The company has engaged Martha Stewart as a Pretty Litter brand ambassador. It has been featured in media such … [Read more...]
Petabyte to partner with NVA to transform pet care experience for doctors, patients and their families
Complimentary Commercial Content The newly formed Petabyte consortium and partnership with National Veterinary Associates’ veterinary community of 1,200 independently managed veterinary hospitals and more than 100 pet resorts allows for software development collaboration. Petabyte smooths patient management for veterinary hospitals through its software, … [Read more...]
Make-a-Wish, Addie is ‘veterinarian for a day’ at OSU
You've gotta' watch the video! Addie, an 8-year-old cancer patient from Tulsa, Oklahoma, dreams of being a veterinarian. Thanks to Make-a-Wish Oklahoma and the Oklahoma State University College of Veterinary Medicine, she’s one step closer to realizing that dream. Last April, Addie spent a day with faculty, staff and students at OSU’s Veterinary Teaching Hospital. From a … [Read more...]
Winners of the 2021-2022 Retailer of the Year awards
Pet Product News editors selected one standout store as its Retailer of the Year: Animal Connection in Charlottesville, Virginia. The pet supply store won the 2019-2020 Marketing Award and managed to top itself this year, snagging the top honor for PPN’s 2021-2022 awards. The list of award categories reveals the efforts and complexities of the pet retail … [Read more...]
New report: pet caregivers anticipate their largest expenses in the next 12 months
Most pet owners anticipate necessities like food and healthcare will rule their budgets next year, according to a recent report. Results show 84 percent of dog and cat owners expect to spend the most on food. Most pet parents will spend that on standard dry or wet food, with 80 percent confirming this is what they already feed their pets. 17 percent said that they cook for … [Read more...]
“Other” pet market growing
In the wake of Covid-19, according to a new Packaged Facts report on Fish, Small Mammal, Herptile and Bird Products, 12.2 percent of all U.S. households own one or more type of pet other than dogs and cats, up from 10.8 percent five years ago. This was one of the pet population reset trends Packaged Facts’ David Sprinkle discussed during the Veterinary Innovation Summit + … [Read more...]