When individuals see free-range chicken at the supermarket, the assumptions include envisioning chickens free to roam grassy pastures. This is not always reality. This author attempts to explain the term and the difference between conventionally raised and free-range poultry. Source: The Outdoor Wear, July 29, 2021. Link. INSIGHTS: We’re sharing this after visiting … [Read more...]
Playing tug with dogs. Good or bad?
Speak to any top dog sports competitor or qualified trainer, and they will tell you that well-managed tug games have many benefits. Even scientific studies confirm they don’t promote aggressive or dominant behaviors. I love the description of “shared holding” when it comes to tug. Allowing a dog to win means they can celebrate with their prize, but it also presents them with … [Read more...]
Summer skin issues affect pets
Complimentary Content Just when it is time to buy school clothes and start fall sports practices, the cumulative effects of spring and summer activities routinely show up in pets’ skin. Although dermatological issues can be yearlong, pet parents may discover specific problems in the summer. Whether caused by allergies, swimming, fleas and mosquitoes, or sunburn, … [Read more...]
Important questions to ask dog breeders before deciding on a new puppy
The Muddy Paws team shares a list of questions potential owners should ask dog breeders. They should be able to easily answer these questions. Finding the right breeder can be complicated, however having meaningful conversations with then can be beneficial and help focus the puppy search. . . . a good breeder should be trying to improve the breed. A quality breeder should … [Read more...]
Are cats social eaters?
Stephanie Borns-Weil, DVM, has doubts that eating is socially facilitated or triggered by the sight of cats in their social group eating with others to signal a social bond. That is not to say that cats do not learn from other cats. Source: Tufts Catnip, November 20, 2020. Link. Cats are solitary hunters. Social eating among them is highly unlikely.” … [Read more...]
AAFP Cat Friendly Certificate Program wins the VMAE 2021 Best in Business Award
The Best in Business Award from Veterinary Medical Association Executives adds further credibility to the value of the Cat Friendly Certificate Program, which was awarded the 2021 Gold Circle Award from the American Society of Association Executives. The Cat Friendly Certificate Program consists of three uniquely designed certificates for each person in the practice: … [Read more...]
VIS Leading with Purpose series to present partnership models
Ivan Zak, DVM, invited Dr. Beth Davidow and Dr. Karen E. Felsted to talk about partnership models and discuss what changes in conversations must take place between independent practice owners and consolidators when it comes to selling businesses. They will address how to make it a win for both practices and associates at noon EDT, Tuesday, August 17. Source: Veterinary … [Read more...]
Micro-fulfillment centers. New idea or blast from the past?
Opinion Maximizing fulfillment capabilities in smaller spaces has become big business, writes Kim Hart. What she describes is not new or innovative. It was a business practice common in the 1960s and 1970s. Retailers with catalog divisions like Sears, Montgomery Ward and J.C. Penny placed small stores with backroom, mini warehouses in selected geographies where retail … [Read more...]
Q and A about the new advanced degree option for veterinary professionals
The introduction of a Master of Veterinary Clinical Care pilot <Link> from Lincoln Memorial University raised a lot of questions. As promised, they are addressed in this second video from The Bridge Club. Source: The Bridge Club, July 27, 2021. Link. … [Read more...]
New from Chats with the Chatfields
Complimentary Sponsored Content The Chatfield veterinarian twins have been busy. We’re sharing recent podcasts here: What happens in vet school? Link. Veronica List, a first-year vet student, is not your everyday, run-of-the-mill aspiring veterinarian though! Veronica will be featured in "V's View from Vet School," a recurring segment to share all there is going on … [Read more...]
Worth a Glance – July 29, 2021
Last week’s most read post 5 ways your workplace isn’t accommodating to fat people Source: Animal Health Digest, July 20, 2021. Link. Obstacle course training for a puppy. LOL, what a hoot! Source: IBPSA Fast Bites, You Tube, July 21, 2021. Link. Puppy does a flop during obstacle course training. Dogs can tell if you’re lying more than … [Read more...]
Too big, too small or not at all? The future of dairy consolidation.
Consolidation is not a new phenomenon in the dairy industry. But, in the interest of what is most desirable, this author looks at dairy farms from the perspective of size. He notes the number of cattle is not getting smaller even as the number of farms is dropping dramatically. Dairy farms in the U.S. are consolidating at a faster rate today than any other agricultural … [Read more...]
National Pork Board seeks producer input on survivability
Improving Pig Survivability is a 5-year project to reduce overall mortality in the U.S. commercial swine industry. The National Pork Board encourages producers to participate in the survey to generate information about the motivations and barriers to reducing pig mortality. The results will direct research and university extension efforts and producer training topics. Help … [Read more...]
Listeriosis in goats, moldy hay and zoonoses
Listeriosis, also known as circling disease or silage sickness, is a life-threatening disease primarily caused by the bacteria Listeria monocytogenes. It is commonly associated with feeding moldy hay but can be found in the feces of infected birds, animals, fish and insects, as well as sewage. It can contaminate water, milk and food. Listeria is a zoonotic disease. Source: … [Read more...]
Dealing with the equine gut
There’s a lot to consider when dealing with the equine gut. The staff at The Horse compiled 10 articles about gut functions and issues from nose to tail. An unhealthy gut can cause poor performance, behavioral issues, malabsorption of nutrients and even colic.” Source: The Horse, July 27, 2021. Link. INSIGHTS: Confidently share this resource to help orientate equine … [Read more...]
New thinking about cribbing
Also called wind sucking, cribbing is a stereotypy, a repetitive, compulsive activity that serves no purpose for a horse and it poses health risks. Current thinking is that an individual horse might have a genetic predisposition to crib, but the behavior isn’t triggered until he is subjected to stressors related to his lifestyle. Source: EQUUS, July 20, 2021. Link. Horses … [Read more...]
That darned cat
Sharing some of the reasons a cat might display a little Jekyll and Hyde behavior, Pam Johnson-Bennett, CCBC, says to rule out pain or illness before assuming this is merely a behavior issue. She says to figure out the cause of the cat’s change in mood and don’t just label the cat as grumpy, moody or irritable. Don’t overlook pain or illness as a reason for a behavior change. … [Read more...]
Why dogs stare at you when pooping
Don’t you just love animal health topics? Amy Morford says dogs look at you when they’re pooping because they’re vulnerable, not because they are embarrassed. . . . they are counting on you to give them a heads-up to possible dangers should they arise during their pooping time.” Source: German Shepard Country. Link. … [Read more...]
Rabid puppy exposes dozens in Georgia and South Carolina
Opinion If you’ve not read this recent account of rabies exposures, please do so. We still have gaps in rabies management and prevention. . . . only 39 states mandate rabies vaccination for dogs; 11 states have no statewide legal requirement for rabies vaccination of any species. Feline rabies vaccination is required in 34 states, and vaccination of ferrets is required in … [Read more...]
Communication is key
Remote, in-person or some combination of both, the pandemic has taught us a valuable lesson about the importance of timely, honest, and effective communication. Source: Gallup, June 28, 2021. Link. The Gallup study on the effect of communication in organizations also found that employees who work in an environment where communication is open, timely and accurate are more … [Read more...]
Employees blamed for a problem created by employers
Peter Cappelli asserts it is time for a sharp realization by the human resources profession. He says employers are trying to hire a lot of people to fill their earlier layoffs, and they struggle to hire the people with the skills and experience they want fast enough at the wages they want to pay. That is not a labor shortage. Cappelli believes there are just under 22 million … [Read more...]
Ageism in the workplace is alive but unwell
Ageism is alive and unwell in the workplace, according to Michael North and Ashley Martin. Their research found workers who openly oppose racism and sexism were still prejudiced against older workers. Older women are spared from some of these expectations compared with older men. There's this sort of subtle tension where older adults are expected to step aside and get out of … [Read more...]
Lincoln Memorial University pilots new advanced degree option for veterinary professionals
A pilot degree program that offers a Master of Veterinary Clinical Care degree was the focus of The Bridge Club discussion July 22. Following a study of needs and opportunities, the Veterinary Innovation Council recommended that accredited colleges and schools of veterinary medicine explore the development of pilot master of science training programs as discussed during the … [Read more...]
Back to school, but with unprecedented challenges (podcast)
LaVerne Evans Srinivasan joins Mohamed Younis to discuss the barriers students and parents face when going back to school and the resources they can seek. Despite differences in the quality of educational opportunities, this is a unique moment where this disruption hit everyone. Pandemic recovery challenges will affect students in employee and client families alike." Source: … [Read more...]
Worth a Glance – July 22, 2021
Last week’s most read post The hurrier we go . . . Source: Animal Health Digest, July 13, 2021. Link. Germany reports first ASF case in farm pigs Source: The Pig Site, July 16, 2021. Link. Asian swine flu was found in pigs on one organic farm with 200 animals and on a smallholding with only two pigs. All have been slaughtered. Pet dog brain banking … [Read more...]
Flies: Nature’s nuisance, costly pests
Just 200 horn flies start to hurt cattle production. It is not unusual to find 3,000 flies per cow, writes Curt Arens. Fly prevention is one of the basic animal stewardship practices. Horn flies can suck as much as a gallon of blood per month per cow. Face flies feed on proteins from the eyes often becoming vectors for pinkeye. Stable flies are just a plain nuisance. They feed … [Read more...]
PRRS defense from the gut
Last week we shared a status update on porcine circovirus type 2 commonly considered to be subclinical. It is also seen as a co-infection with porcine respiratory and reproductive syndrome. For both viruses, first and second line defense strategies are the same; biosecurity and vaccination. Researchers are now investigating how to influence the microbiome as a new defense … [Read more...]
Decision: Creep feed calves or not?
Discussing benefits versus the returns from creep feeding calves, David Lalman, PhD, says in most cases, the value of added weight gain will not cover the added feed, labor and equipment costs. Calf weaning weights can be increased anywhere from about 20 to 80 pounds by creep feeding, but for the most part don’t generate additional returns. Lalman also shared creep feeding … [Read more...]
Cows’ stomachs could hold the key to recycling plastic
Harvesting fresh rumen liquid from a slaughterhouse Australian researchers incubated it with samples of three types of plastic in powder and film form: polyethylene terephthalate which is the type of plastic that’s used in soda bottles, food packaging, and synthetic fabrics polyethylene furanoate, a biodegradable plastic that’s common in compostable plastic bags; and … [Read more...]
It takes a murder to raise a mongoose
Females in banded mongoose groups give birth all at the same time in an underground den. What’s interesting is that none of the parents know which pups belong to them. What transpires is what researchers call a veil of ignorance according to new study findings, writes Mary Jo DiLonardo. Females give care to the babies based on which ones need it most, not based on which ones … [Read more...]