Opinion Stocker operators and feedlots want matched sets of calves that are weaned, castrated, dehorned, familiar with water and feed sources and immunocompetent. Calves born now will be weaned in seven months, but could be weaned much earlier <Link>. Therefore, the colostrum intake first 48 hours after calving could be considered the first step to having … [Read more...]
Gene-edited beef cattle get regulatory clearance in U.S.
The cattle cleared by the FDA have genes altered with CRISPR technology giving them short, slick coats that let them more easily withstand hot weather. Cattle that aren’t stressed by heat might pack on weight more easily, making for more efficient meat production.” Source: ABC, March 7, 2022. Link. U.S. food regulators said short-haired cattle produced through gene editing … [Read more...]
Q&A: Caring for the emotional needs of a healing horse
Recovery from injuries, disease or other conditions affect a horse’s well-being. It’s also important to consider horses’ emotional needs during these times of stress, writes Stephanie Sawtelle. It is often necessary to modify a horse’s normal routine of feeding, turn out and exercise to accommodate physical healing. These changes to the routines can cause stress and have a … [Read more...]
Coccidia in dogs and cats
Coccidia are a major issue for puppies and kittens under eight weeks old and can even kill them. After the first exposure, Coccidia parasites may remain present in the animal's intestines, and they're just waiting to take advantage of any digestive upset, writes Marty Greer, DVM. The bacteria is rarely the initial cause of the diarrhea, but once diarrhea starts, the Coccidia … [Read more...]
The 7 habits of highly effective dog owners
Complimentary Commercial Content Those who appreciate Stephen Covey’s seven habits will enjoy this special edition. Tiffany Lovell, CPDT-KA, CSAT, AAI, shares how the seven habits apply toward more successful relationships with dogs. Source: Whole Dog Journal. Link. … [Read more...]
Cruelty-free pet brands growing
More brands are coming to market that are certified as cruelty-free, making them an option garnering attention from animal owners. Source: Happy Puppy Tips. Link. When it comes to understanding what exactly qualifies a brand as “cruelty-free,” consumers are often left to fill in the gaps . . . . . . there is no “official” or government-sanctioned cruelty-free label” … [Read more...]
Multitasking or rapid task-switching?
Call it what you may, dividing your attention between two or more tasks to fit them all in at once, whether from external pressure or internal need is familiar. Sadhbh O’Sullivan shares perspectives on going through your day bouncing between tasks, competing priorities and interests. The important thing here is the context in which you are multitasking . . . it can be a … [Read more...]
Best metabolism boosting behaviors (video)
Three changes to your daily routine can boost your metabolism and help prevent weight gain. Your physical activity, diet and sleep habits can help or hurt your metabolism. Our metabolism peaks at 1 year of age . . . “ Source: Today, March 11, 2022. Link. From age 20 to 60 . . . maximize the caloric burn from exercise, increase energy-burning muscle mass, adjust diet and get … [Read more...]
Fact sheet examines compounds to mitigate virus-contaminated feed
There’s no doubt we are more aware of biosecurity these days. One area of concern for livestock producers is whether feed and feed ingredients may also be routes of virus transmission and how to manage those risks. A new fact sheet from Iowa Pork Industry Center focuses on three research papers that evaluated compounds to mitigate virus-contaminated feed. Swine specialist … [Read more...]
Beware of nursing calf BRD
Complimentary Sponsored Content* Outbreaks of nursing calf BRD, also called summer pneumonia, do occur, writes Brent Meyer DVM, MS. He shares a list of factors that can lead to BRD in nursing calves. Most all are well known and routinely covered in the media. Yet, producers still have deaf ears and often maintain elevated expectations of dams’ natural abilities. Note the … [Read more...]
Don’t cut corners. Those first 48 hours are critical.
Includes Commercial Content Do we need to hear it and share it again and again? Yes Redundant? Yes. Same message over and over? Yes. Different for dairies versus beef? NO Can we cut corners in the first 48 hours after a calf is born? NO Invest in maintaining normal digestive health and a healthy immune system from day one by developing proper protocols to help … [Read more...]
Every eye injury merits immediate veterinary attention
This article merits a review by animal health pros who already know horses have big eyes which can lead to medical problems. Injuries leading to bleeding, swelling, weeping or squinting indicates the horse may an eye injury. If this happens, horse owners should not self-treat and call the vet without delay, advises Christa Lesté-Lasserre, MA. She reminds horse owners that a … [Read more...]
When a chicken tests positive for diseases
The context shared in this Hobby Farms article is the testing of show chickens. However, the information is relevant as animal health pros monitor avian flu risk and incidence. Birds whose rapid whole-blood plate tests yield positive results are called reactors and are subject to quarantine, including the whole flock. Even if a chicken looks perfectly healthy, it still … [Read more...]
Avian flu on the move, discovered in 3 new states
HPAI has now hit nearly 1.9 million chickens and turkeys across the country. New reports in South Dakota, Missouri and Maryland elevate the numbers of birds effected by avian flu. HPAI has now been confirmed in all North American flyways <Link> The USDA is encouraging consumers to fully cook poultry and eggs to 165˚F to kill bacteria and viruses. . . No human HPAI cases … [Read more...]
A curious case of equine compound odontoma; too many teeth
Sharing a rare occurrence, Katie Navarra offers details of a gelding with a swollen jaw and 288 disorganized tooth roots. Source: The Horse, February 15, 2022. Link. … [Read more...]
From fat to fit; help for overweight cats
Encouraging cats to exercise is a two-pronged approach. First, schedule in mini sessions of active play in the morning and the evening. Keep exercise sessions short and sweet, about five to 10 minutes at a time, several times a day. . . . to really accelerate a cat’s weight loss, you need to add in some exercise.” Source: Catster, February 25, 2022. Link. Also see: Apps … [Read more...]
Exercise guide for dogs
There’s more to making sure dogs get exercise than Just Do It. Audrey Pavia shares ideas, options and warnings for dog owners as they set out to get their dogs more exercise. Source: Dogster, January 10, 2022. Link. INSIGHTS: This is a good resource for social media and newsletters especially as the weather warms up. … [Read more...]
Better cat care, includes inside-outside cat perspectives
Includes Commercial Content The Chatfields visit with Margie Scherk, DVM, DABVP (Feline), about benefits and risks of indoor-only versus outdoor-access cat care and stewardship. The discussion challenges the indoor-only advocacy now prevalent in the U.S. . . . indoor only cat behavior resembles human cabin fever. . . “ Source: Chats with the Chatfields, You Tube, February … [Read more...]
Dealing with the top 5 deadliest bugs in veterinary practices
Sponsored Content Animal health pros routinely deal with zoonotic diseases and risks. New cheat sheets that break down the best practices for preventing the transmission of these pathogens were developed by Virox in collaboration with Jenifer Chatfield, DVM, Dipl. ACZM, Dipl. ACVPM. Source: Virox® Technologies Inc., February 14, 2022. Link. Cheat sheets are available … [Read more...]
How mosquitoes avoid pesticides designed to kill them
Scent memories could make mosquito populations trickier to manage.” Source: Science, February 23, 2022. Link. Researchers exposed hundreds of mosquitoes to five common pesticides at doses strong enough to knock them down but not kill them. After one day of recovery, the experienced mosquitoes didn’t enter pesticide-laced areas even when tempted with food. INSIGHTS: Will … [Read more...]
Talks for when you feel like no one appreciates you
TED shares a playlist for those times when you feel underappreciated or unrecognized. Source: TED. Link. … [Read more...]
Toxicologists debunk common myths about pet poisons
The internet, word of mouth and possibly breed correlations spread inaccurate information about toxins says Renee Schmid, DVM, DABVT, DABT. Pet proofing helps. Safety checks of homes and garages needs to be done every year to remain pet friendly. Schmid recommends veterinary professionals let clients know where they can find reliable information, like the poisons list … [Read more...]
2022 CAPC annual pet parasite forecast
Confirming many concerns about disease discovery in new areas, CAPC says ticks and mosquitoes remain the principal transmitters of pet and human vector-borne diseases. The 2022 CAPC forecast warns that vector-borne diseases will all pose higher-than-average risks across much of the country this year. CAPC’s 30-day Pet Parasite Forecast Maps complement the annual forecast and … [Read more...]
Adding value to heifer calves
Black and white is tough to beat when it comes to logic and commercial cattle, writes Wes Ishmael. He shares how Hereford bulls build and fill increasing demand for black baldy replacements in cow/calf herds and the benefits producers are realizing from crossbreeding. Most are buying baldy females because they wean heavier calves, have a nicer disposition and because … [Read more...]
Listeriosis often found in silage fed in winter
Listeriosis is caused by the bacteria Listeria monocytogenes. The bacteria is present everywhere in the environment and survives well in moist soil for about one year. In domestic animals the disease is most important in ruminants and most seen during winter months when they are being fed silage. As winter conditions persist, cattle producers often find themselves scraping … [Read more...]
New report: drivers of U.S. dairy productivity and efficiency
Dairy veterinary teams, marketing personnel and sales representatives servicing dairy producers understand some of the national trends causing consolidation of dairy operations into larger and fewer farms. Still, milk production for the domestic market continues to increase steadily. A new report by Eric Njuki with USDA’s Economic Research Service presents the substantial … [Read more...]
3 Ways telemedicine improves veterinary care for livestock
Opinion It is no secret livestock owners, farmers and ranchers have challenges accessing qualified veterinary care. The Veterinary Feed Directive put added requirements on available food animal veterinarians. Many equine and livestock veterinarians have used the telephone effectively for years. Now, new digital tools offer potentially more efficiency and effectiveness for … [Read more...]
FAQ: California EHV-1 Outbreak
Despite prevention efforts, disease outbreaks occur. The transfer of animals across geographies and in and out of facilities adds to the risks, regardless of compliance to protocols. Competitive horse events frequently mix horses from a variety of origins. Eighteen horses have been confirmed positive for EHV-1 in southern California’s Riverside County. Some of these horses … [Read more...]
Dr Jen the Vet talks rabies, ticks and horses for THJ Season 2 premiere
The Horsemanship Journey is a monthly video series that streams on demand through the THJ website. Launched in 2021, a new episode is released each month. Episodes are about one hour long and are advertising free. Every episode has 3 parts: Part 1 features an amazing story about horses and people. Part 2 is the informational segment with top equine professionals and … [Read more...]
Study predicts marijuana toxicity will overtake chocolate toxicity by 2023
BluePearl recently released its 2021 Pet Health Trends Report. One key takeaway from it is that marijuana toxicity cases have quickly risen to be the second leading cause of animal toxicity, behind chocolate. Marijuana toxicity cases remain constant as more states move toward legalization and/or decriminalization. We have a responsibility to utilize our medical data for the … [Read more...]