Dr. Jen the vet and Dr. Jason Chatfield are joined by Dr. Aaron Smiley to find out what is and isn't legitimate telemedicine. Smiley is one of the founders of the Veterinary Virtual Care Association and a champion of monetizing virtual care interactions. Telemedicine is not new. . . 140 years and going strong. What’s new is the expansion in technologies.” – Aaron Smiley, … [Read more...]
Still embarrassed about things that happened 10 years ago?
Most of us remember a red-faced moment that occasionally pops into mind and takes us right back there. An array of experts weigh in on what you can do to move past that moment and not let it embarrass you any longer. Embarrassment taps into dimensions of our core social identity, who we hope others see us as, and how we deviate from those aspirations.” - Dacher Keltner, … [Read more...]
Unplugged: embracing boredom
Disengaging from digital interference and being connected 24/7 requires commitment and practice. Going off the communication grid is considered healthy but is not without its challenges. In a recent blog post, Eric Garcia writes, “. . . in fact, the more I’ve unplugged, the more I’ve come to appreciate boredom.” He writes about the challenges of truly unplugging and allowing … [Read more...]
5 ways your workplace isn’t accommodating to fat people
The Centers for Disease Control estimate that 42.4 percent of the American public was obese, and 73.6 percent was overweight in 2017-2018. Being inclusive in a way that recognizes large people requires re-thinking how we think about thin and not-so-thin people*. Workplace culture comes from our larger culture, which certainly has a hierarchy around weight. Thinner people are … [Read more...]
Worth a Glance – July 15, 2021
Last week’s most read post Society ignores low-probability events that have far-reaching consequences, Source: Animal Health Digest, July 7, 2021. Link. Become the boss of your emotions Source: Healthline, April 28, 2020. Link. The ability to experience and express emotions is more important than you might realize. The felt response to a given situation, … [Read more...]
Cattle save premature babies
A lot of useful products come from cattle beyond the beef. By far one of the most amazing is that their pulmonary surfactant is used to save premature infants lives. Everything but the Moo is collected at slaughter - nothing is wasted” Source: Farmer Girl, Facebook, July 12, 2021. Link. … [Read more...]
Who, what, when where and why of calcium supplementation
Complimentary Sponsored Content Calving sets off a series of events in a cow’s body that impacts her entire system, including a steep spike in calcium demand due to colostrum production. Most second- and greater-lactation cows cannot maintain adequate calcium levels after calving, which often triggers clinical hypocalcemia, commonly known as milk fever, or subclinical … [Read more...]
The facts about bovine leukemia virus
Bovine leukemia virus is an “oncogenic retrovirus” common in cattle throughout the U.S. Cattle infected with BLV have the disease known to veterinarians as enzootic bovine leukosis or EBL, but it is most often referred to as leukosis. Michelle Arnold, DVM DABVP, says BLV indirectly allows other disease conditions to flourish, and until recently, recognition of its importance … [Read more...]
Porcine circovirus type 2; where do we stand?
First seen in the 1990s in swine, PCV2 has been observed to be involved in a wide variety of clinical presentations. Thirty years later with millions of dollars lost by producers and millions spent chasing this virus, it is still a conundrum. The most common form of the disease is considered to be subclinical, write the authors. The evolution of the virus has followed a … [Read more...]
How to recognize signs of heat stroke in horses
When outside temperature + relative humidity = <130, most horses can keep their body cool, with the exception of very fat or very muscular horses. When outside temperature + relative humidity = >150 or above, it's hard for a horse to keep cool because their ability to sweat is compromised — especially if the humidity contributes over half of the 150. Source: AAEP, … [Read more...]
6 questions that are effective for identifying cats with feline arthritis pain
The lack of recognition of arthritis pain in cats is severe enough that by one estimate, less than one percent of cats with arthritis pain are seen by veterinarians. Researchers came up with a six-question, one-minute survey with simple “yes” or “no” answers for cat owners to see if their cat might have arthritis and decide if the pet needs to see a veterinarian. Source: … [Read more...]
Does that dog need help?
Every dog handles heat differently. Those not properly conditioned could show signs faster than those that are fit and in good shape. A dog’s drive may override his ability to know he’s overheating . . . it’s up to every owner and handler to keep their dogs safe.” Source: Gray’s Sporting Journal, June 30, 2021. Link. When a dog’s activity causes his body to generate more heat … [Read more...]
The hurrier we go . . .
Sponsored Content Humans tend to become lazy, especially with repetitive tasks. We dislike wasting time on things that are unnecessary or monotonous. Add busy schedules operating at full capacity and even the most structured protocols lapse. The hurrier we go . . . the behinder we get!” – Lewis Carroll, Alice in Wonderland The news of the emerging Delta coronavirus … [Read more...]
Compression socks. Who needs them, how to choose a good pair
Compression socks can improve circulation as well as relieve swelling and discomfort. There are many reasons to consider compression including: Sitting or standing without much movement for long periods A way to protect tendons If you have venous in insufficiency seen as swelling in the legs, feet, ankles To support legs during pregnancy Source: Martha Stewart, … [Read more...]
Dead butt syndrome is a real thing
Dead butt syndrome, or gluteal amnesia, is a condition that occurs when your gluteus medius gets inflamed and forgets to function normally. Our glutes aren’t designed to bear weight for long periods. Sitting for extended periods of time has been shown in multiple studies to have a major affect on how well we can contract and use our glutes effectively. Source: Huffington … [Read more...]
Emotional intelligence and recognition
With all the challenges faced by leaders in today’s rapidly changing workplace, the idea of building emotional intelligence can seem overwhelming. Here is one simple idea that can jump start your efforts. Source: Fast Company, June 29, 2021. Link. One way that leaders increase their awareness of what their people are doing well is to spend more time working with … [Read more...]
Purchase growth plateaus, but still ahead of 2020, VetWatch™
Monitoring the scope, velocity and importance of developments in the U.S. veterinary care sector, VetWatch™ helps veterinary hospitals and the animal health industry stay on top of the ever-changing landscape affected by current events through multiple sources of real-time data. Source: VetWatch, week ending July 3, 2021. Link. For the week ending July 3, aggregate YTD … [Read more...]
Worth a Glance – July 8, 2021
AHD Archives provide quick access to posts by month. AHD Archives for June 2021. Link. AHD Archives for May 2021. Link. Extreme heat is becoming more frequent—and our infrastructure is going to need to adapt Source: Fast Company, July 2, 2021. Link. Engineers are being forced to rethink new standards and systems to become more resilient to deal with … [Read more...]
Scouring calves still need milk
Calves must maintain adequate fluid and nutrient consumption while dealing with diarrhea. Jesse Goff, DVM, reminded producers, “If you withhold milk from the calf, the calf starves. He says there is no scientific evidence supporting this common practice. Source: Hoard’s Dairyman, July 5, 2021. Link: Scouring calves still need milk. Goff also suggested feeding calves smaller … [Read more...]
Society ignores low-probability events that have far-reaching consequences
Vaccines are still beating the variants, but the unvaccinated world is being pummeled. Ed Yong shares three simple rules that underscore the danger of Delta, the name for the B.1.617.2. variant, a SARS-CoV-2 mutation <Link>. Source: The Atlantic, July 1, 2021. Link. Even highly vaccinated nations should continue investing in other measures that can control COVID-19 but … [Read more...]
Pets can catch Covid from owner, cats more susceptible than dogs
The more time a cat spent with its owner, the higher the risk of infection, new research finds.” Source: NBC News, June 30, 2021. Link. The researchers also found that the amount of time a pet owner spent with their dog did not have an effect on the pet’s chance of getting Covid-19, but that was not the case for cats. The more time cats spent with their human companions, the … [Read more...]
8 strategies to reduce dry period mastitis to improve reproductive efficiency (video)
Eight dry cow prevention strategies can help reduce the risk that new intermammary infections will develop post-calving, which, in turn, helps keep milk flowing on the dairy and improves reproductive efficiency. Dairy cows are most susceptible to new intramammary infections (IMIs) during the dry period.” - Brian Miller, DVM, Merck Animal Health Source: Progressive Dairy, June … [Read more...]
Songbirds dying in Mid-Atlantic states from mystery illness
Federal and state wildlife officials in the Mid-Atlantic region are asking people to stop feeding birds and filling bird baths amid dozens of reports of mysterious songbird deaths. “. . . what's especially challenging about this is that it's not localized . . . to one specific geographic area [and] it's not localized to one particular bird species," said Lisa A. Murphy, BS, … [Read more...]
Cookout food can be hazards for dogs
Neighborhoods were filled with smells of cookout smoke last weekend. Harriet Meyers reminds us that dog owners may be tempted to let their dog have a taste of grilled foods, but not all are safe for dogs to eat. She shares tips on the foods to watch out for. Source: AKC, June 23, 2021. Link. Meyers’ key points: Grilled steak bones, ribs, and chicken bones cause choking … [Read more...]
Defining how long is too long for a dog to be alone
Maybe we’ve been asking the wrong question all along, writes Nancy Tucker, CPDT-KA. Rather than trying to figure out how to best stretch the amount of time we can leave our dogs alone, we should be trying to help our dogs get more out of every day. 10 to 12 hours is too long for a dog to be alone in a single stretch.” - Nancy Tucker, CPDT-KA Source: Whole Dog Journal, January … [Read more...]
Ticks suck. A guide to identify them and avoid bites.
Tick-borne diseases are at an all-time high. About 50,000 cases are reported each year and far more go unreported. Sheila Eldred shares information for humans to help prevent tick bites. Source: NPR, July 4, 2021. Link. … [Read more...]
Encourage good dog behavior at work or when working from home
Whether or not you work remotely, these tips from Pamela Reid, PhD, CAAB, can help make work more pleasurable when including dogs. Consider this article for social media posts and newsletters. Source: Animal Wellness, June 25, 2021. Link. … [Read more...]
Personalized medicine for cats with heart disease
Veterinarians at the University of California, Davis have found that a cat’s DNA alters how it responds to a lifesaving medication used to treat hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, a heart disease that affects one in seven cats. A simple genetic test led to an actionable discovery. This study was about figuring out why some cats weren’t responding as expected to clopidogrel therapy … [Read more...]
The trap of caring too much about what other people think
YOU DO YOU!” - Gregg Vanourek It’s not that expectations are bad, writes Vanourek. They’re needed and can be helpful in many ways. The problem is becoming addicted to approval or fenced in by others’ expectations, he says. Source: Gregg Vanourek, June 30, 2021. Link. Vanourek’s sense is that we tend to overweight the external factors of approval and status early in life, … [Read more...]
Managing your energy
The science of stamina has advanced to the point where individuals, teams and whole organizations can, with some straightforward interventions, significantly increase their capacity to get things done. Source: Harvard Business Review, October 2007. Link. Improve your physical energy. Manage your emotions. Focus. Create meaning and purpose.” INSIGHTS: Stop multitasking. You … [Read more...]