Cloacitis, commonly referred to as vent gleet may also be called pasting or nasty chicken butt. Regardless it is the inflammation of the chicken's cloaca. Vent gleet isn't a specific disease but more of a gastrointestinal condition that can be caused by a number of different reasons, including many types of organisms such as fungi, protozoa, parasites, yeast, and bacteria. … [Read more...]
Worth a Glance – May 22, 2025
Last week’s AHD Bulletin – Animal Health Digest Bulletin, May 16, 2025. Link. Most read posts from May 16, 2025 AHD Bulletin - NAPHIA’s 2025 State of the Industry Highlights Report. Link. Dog trainer’s graphic explains dog park risks. Link. A review of respiratory viruses and performance horse health. Link. Let’s review: Foot rot. Link. Medgene … [Read more...]
Tractor Supply launches service to streamline pet prescriptions
Tractor Supply launched Tractor Supply Rx in a bid to enhance convenience for customers ordering pet and animal medications. Its features include automatic delivery through the Autoship program, access to expert pharmacy advice and a price match guarantee. The objective is to provide an easy, one-stop shopping destination for the 38 million Neighbor’s Club members, of whom 75 … [Read more...]
Improving productivity key to reducing antibiotic use in livestock
Commentary Seeing research and projections like these are important in managing the effects of livestock production practices domestically and globally. The information in this article is likely to elicit a “well duh” response from many animal health professionals. Regardless of species or country, improving adherence to best practices requires continual education and … [Read more...]
Considerations for refrigerators and freezers
Includes Commercial Content Summer temperatures often bring questions about refrigerator temperatures. Whether in the feedlot drug shed, a retail location or the veterinary clinic, many animal health products require temperature-controlled environments. We downloaded the refrigeration guide linked here from The Scientist. It provides expert advice on choosing the right cold … [Read more...]
Minding the microbiome podcast
Focusing on the GI microbiome, Jenessa A. Winston, DVM, PhD, DACVIM, shares simple strategies practitioners can use to manipulate the microbiome and manage GI disease. She discusses the early research efforts to identify the gut–(specific organ) axes work. Winston shares concerns about the longer-term impact of prescription courses on the microbiome. She shares some Rx … [Read more...]
Smart antibiotic kills deadly bacteria while sparing the microbiome
Animal health pros will enjoy learning about the possibilities synthetic lolamicin might provide. In a new study, researchers identified a compound that kills pathogenic bacteria while sparing friendly gut microbes. The last time a gram-negative selective antibiotic was introduced for human use was in the 1960s. Bringing lolamicin to market will take several years, but … [Read more...]
Loncor® 300 (florfenicol) joins Zoetis cattle anti-infective portfolio
Zoetis recently acquired the marketing rights for Loncor® 300 (florfenicol) from Elanco giving producers another option to treat BRD. Loncor 300 adds a fourth class of antibiotic to Zoetis’ cattle anti-infective portfolio. Source: BEEF, February 13, 2025. Link. Loncor 300 (florfenicol) is a broad-spectrum antibiotic active against many Gram-negative and Gram-positive … [Read more...]
Ceva launches Kesium® (amoxicillin and clavulanate potassium tablets) a generic bioequivalent to Clavamox® chewable tablets
Kesium® from Ceva Animal Health is a broad-spectrum oral antibiotic (amoxicillin) with an β-lactamase inhibitor (clavulanate potassium) for the treatment of bacterial infections in dogs and cats. Ceva is launching a portfolio of anti-infectives with the introduction of Kesium, the first chewable branded alternative to Clavamox® Chewable tablets. Source: Ceva Animal Health, … [Read more...]
Mycoplasma bovis: Tough to treat, difficult to prevent
Includes Commercial References Newport Laboratories’ Jason Anderson, DVM, writes about Mycoplasma bovis, calling it problematic, insidious and hard to control. M. bovis is found in many different disease presentations. Affected cattle may display nasal discharge, cough, labored breathing, drooped ear, head tilt, head shaking, difficulty moving, swollen joints, inflamed … [Read more...]
Does bacteremia always need to be addressed in dentistry?
This article from Samuel G. Babbitt, DVM, DAVDC, is timely as National Pet Dental Month starts next week. He shares the results of a small study aimed to assess whether transient bacteremia developed after dental scaling, root planing and dental extractions, as well as whether the amount of bacteremia warranted antibiotics. The study authors concluded perioperative use of … [Read more...]
Updated Beef Quality Assurance National Manual now available
An updated BQA National Manual has been released by by National Cattlemen’s Beef Association. Information in the manual can help producers raise high-quality cattle. In addition to online availability, the manual and related resources, state BQA coordinators offer them at no charge. SOURCE: NCBA, December 19, 2024. Link. More than 30 cattle producers, industry leaders and … [Read more...]
Review: Conjunctivitis medications: topical and oral solutions
There are almost as many medication options to treat conjunctivitis as there are reasons for inflammation of the conjunctiva. Renee Carter, DVM, DACVO, outlines different treatment options for the various causes of infections in the eyes of cats and dogs. Source: Clinician’s Brief, August 2022. Link. Image credit: PetSure … [Read more...]
Lameness comes with a hefty price tag
When thinking about the effects of lameness, most managers typically consider the cost that goes into preventative measures or treatments such as trimming, bandages, blocks, and antibiotics, Eric Ronk shared recently. He describes these as direct costs but asserts the importance of considering the economic impact on other areas of the operation, including fertility, culling and … [Read more...]
Preventing antimicrobial resistance in horses
Diane E. Rice shares what equine veterinarians are doing and suggesting to improve antimicrobial stewardship and avoid improper antibiotic use. J. Scott Weese, DVM, DVSc, Dipl., ACVIM, and Wendy Vaala, VMD, Dipl. ACVIM, provide three commitments for horse owners that will impact AMR in a positive way: Do all you can to prevent disease and, therefore, antibiotic use … [Read more...]
New definitions, recommendations for managing UTIs in dogs, cats
Kate Boatright, VMD, shares updated information related to antimicrobial stewardship, and the management of sporadic and recurrent urinary tract infections, including how the presence of bacteriuria should be interpreted and treated. Urine was once thought to be sterile, but new analyses have found numerous bacterial and fungal species exist in both human and animal urine, … [Read more...]
BQA practices now saturate every phase of the beef industry
Today, approximately 85 percent of U.S. beef comes from BQA-certified producers, writes Clint Peck. He shares the history of capturing the value, challenges and opportunities BQA certification presents. We noted the comments about involving smaller producers and the need for continuously educating cattle producers about best practices. Source: BEEF, October 18, 2024. … [Read more...]
Blueprint for receiving new feeder calves
The objective of a receiving strategy is to make the transition from calf origin into the feedlot or backgrounding yard as seamless as possible. Jessica Sperber says the first 14 days upon feedlot arrival are critical in calf development and set the performance trajectory of the calf for the remainder of the feeding period. The main concerns are feed intake and water … [Read more...]
Medical-grade honey’s superior antibacterial activity
Honey is known as a natural, effective and safe alternative to traditional antiinfectives. But not all honey is alike. Researchers have discovered that medical-grade honey, particularly manuka honey, exhibits significantly stronger antibacterial properties compared to non-medical-grade honey. Source: Vet Candy, October 21, 2024. Link. … [Read more...]
Improving deer health on cervid livestock farms
The cervid livestock business is one of the fastest-growing industries in rural America, writes Brian Consiglio. He shares what University of Missouri researchers are doing to improve deer health so cervid farm managers can make better-informed decisions on antibiotic use and disease management practices. Source: Show Me Mizzou, October 30, 2024. Link. Infections, such as … [Read more...]
Waste milk fed to calves may be creating resistant bacteria
Feeding non-salable milk from antibiotic-treated cows to calves is a common practice. Now, the presence of antimicrobial residues in waste milk raises significant concerns within the scientific community. Researchers assert that waste milk’s use poses a risk by exerting selective pressure, fostering the emergence and spread of resistant bacteria in the intestinal microbiota of … [Read more...]
Non-antibiotic approaches to canine recurrent UTIs
Various non-antibiotic measures show promise in managing canine UTIs and reducing the amount of antibiotics used to fight infections. The authors assert combining conventional veterinary medicine with complementary therapies may offer a more holistic approach to managing UTIs in dogs. Source: Innovative Vet Care, September 27, 2024. Link. A combination of approaches may … [Read more...]
Study estimates superbug crisis could get worse, killing nearly 40 million people by 2050
A recently published study <Link> projects the challenge of antimicrobial resistance into the future. AMR, one of the top global public health and development threats, is expected to get worse. It is driven by the misuse and overuse of antimicrobial medications in humans, animals and plants. Source: CNN, September 16, 2024. Link. … [Read more...]
Are antibiotics necessary for oral surgery?
Bacteremia is a recognized sequela of dental scaling and oral surgery in patients with severe periodontal disease. A small study sought to assess whether transient bacteremia developed after dental scaling, root planing and dental extractions, as well as whether the amount of bacteremia warranted antibiotics. Perioperative use of systemic antibiotics for dental procedures in … [Read more...]
Virtual BEEF experience promises context
Complimentary Consider this opportunity to engage with producers or advance your understanding of production issues and practices. BEEF’s free online event September 18th features updates related to market trends and forecasts, cattle health and new technology. Among the presenters are: Glynn Tonsor, PhD Dan Thompson, PhD, DVM Russ Daly, DVM, MS, DACVPM Grant … [Read more...]
Busting biofilm on tissues
Natalie Voss’ article addresses why endometritis is difficult to combat in broodmares. However, the discussion of biofilms on tissues is interesting. Of particular note, some drug treatment combinations are counterproductive, effectively canceling out the benefits of the individual drugs. Bacteria can’t “think” but can behave as though they have a herd mentality in a biofilm … [Read more...]
New guidance for AMR gram-negative infections
Actions by our human counterparts affect how antimicrobials are considered in animal health and, therefore, become relevant for animal health pros. The Infectious Diseases Society of America recently updated guidance for treating antimicrobial-resistant gram-negative infections <Link>. The guidance updated recommendations for treating pathogens that cause various … [Read more...]
Culling ratios reveal the value of a herd’s health
Commentary One of three cows you see on a dairy farm will be culled. It is a shocking figure and represents many factors that impact individual cow and overall dairy performance. Preventative strategies help reduce losses to death and sickness and allow dairies to cull voluntarily to improve genetics and eliminate poor doers. Understanding culling rates and reasons is … [Read more...]
ICASA Award addresses antimicrobial stewardship for BRD
Multifactor bovine respiratory disease remains a major expense to producers who commonly treat the late stage pulmonary disease with antibiotics. ICASA, along with matching funds from other organizations, has funded a $2,446,948 research grant to Brad J. White, DVM, MS, who is building a multi-disciplinary team to research how the secondary diseases form in cattle infected with … [Read more...]
Do pathogens come with the ability to develop resistance?
A study published in nature communications <Link> demonstrated that the within-host diversity of pathogen populations plays a key role in shaping the emergence of resistance in response to treatment. This in contrast to the traditional view that antimicrobial resistance emerges from pathogens that acquire new mutations. Source: IDSE, July 17, 2023. Link. “Study … [Read more...]