Regardless of how long they’ve owned them, cat owners often wonder if they are feeding their cats enough or too much. They also inquire about what brand to feed, wet versus dry feed and when to feed it. The Catster editors answer these questions in the article below. Source: Catster, March 18, 2021. Link. Also see: Optimal nutrition calculators for cats and dogs, Animal … [Read more...]
What to know about dogs and onions
Avoid feeding onions and garlic to dogs, Jeff Werber, DVM, says. Onions contain a toxic ingredient called n-propyl disulfide, which is an oxidant that can do oxidant damage to red blood cells. AVOID offering a dog raw, cooked even foods flavored or cooked with onion . . . “ Source: Dogster, March 4, 2021. Link. Symptoms of onion toxicity are symptoms of anemia Look for … [Read more...]
Why dogs chew their feet and what to do about it
All dogs chew and lick their feet. Finding the cause of foot chewing can be complicated, says Christopher Pachel, DVM. Among the reasons are anxiety, boredom, injuries, allergies, cracked nails and even food allergies. He offers these tips to help avoid problems: Feed a high-quality, well-balanced diet. Make sure your dog gets plenty of physical exercise, mental … [Read more...]
Canine parvovirus varies geographically
Canine parvovirus first emerged in the United States, Europe, Asia and Australia in 1978, when a virus similar to feline panleukopenia virus crossed over from cats to cause a new type of disease among domestic dogs. An ongoing worldwide concern, CPV-2 has since mutated into three strains (CPV-2a, -2b, and -2c) that vary in prevalence geographically. Jonathan E. Fogle DVM, … [Read more...]
Doctor explains pandemic brain fog; shares 3 helpful tips
Pandemic brain fog is an umbrella term representing things happening in our heads, such as inability to focus, difficulty sleeping and feelings of negativity. Borna Bonakdarpour, MD, says brain fog can be caused by factors that include isolation, anxiety, lack of sleep, a decreased level of exercise and more. All these feelings can tire the brain, especially the frontal … [Read more...]
Worth a Glance – March 18, 2021
The 5 best TED Talks to watch today Source: Forbes, March 5, 2021. Link. Topics include work stress, side hustles, anxiety gaps, teaching girls, freelancing. Four causes for ‘Zoom fatigue’ and their simple fixes Source: Stanford News, February 23, 2021. Link. “Videoconferencing is a good thing for remote communication, but just … [Read more...]
Manage calf pain during disbudding and dehorning
Research shows that calves experience pain from disbudding and dehorning, so including pain management is critical to their health. It’s up to producers, but veterinarians need to educate them about the importance of pain management. Source: The Bullvine, March 15, 2021. Link. Every farm should have a standard operating procedure for these animal health practices, so that … [Read more...]
Jan Pol, DVM: 5 tips for hobby farmers to keep farm animals healthy
Nat Geo WILD’s Incredible Dr. Pol shares tips for hobby farmers. His perspective is multi-species and the tips focus on preventing health issues using vaccines, cleanliness and reducing animal interactions with new or wild animals. Source: Hobby Farms, January/February 2021. Link. The Incredible Dr. Pol is now in its 17th season on Nat Geo WILD <link>. … [Read more...]
Understanding beef implants
Let’s review. Growth-promoting implants in beef cattle production are used to increase muscle accretion and market weight by increasing daily gain and feed efficiency. Implants must meet stringent requirements to be deemed safe for consumers and animals. Implants have a minuscule effect on hormone content of beef.” Source: Progressive Cattle, March 8, 2021. Link. Implanted … [Read more...]
Simmons. Animal health is a game changer
Jeffrey Simmons, president and CEO of Elanco, says we aren’t going to eat our way out of climate change with plant-based foods. He emphasizes that animal health is a game changer, not just for the well-being of animals, but for society to obtain a stable environment, clean water, clean air and high-quality food. Source: LinkedIn, Elanco, March 11, 2021. (video) Link. Our … [Read more...]
Sick chicks: 7 common illnesses you may encounter
Recognized, quick treatment can save sick chicks. Most common illnesses are preventable if good practices are followed when caring for baby chicks. Clean coops and isolating new birds help prevent disease in the flock.” Source: Backyard Poultry, March 12, 2021. Link. … [Read more...]
4 things to do for horses before a weather emergency
Preparation can be the key to keeping your horses safe during a weather emergency or natural disaster says Jennifer Williams, PhD. Her list to be prepared includes: A list of farms that offer temporary stabling within 100 miles Ensuring you can catch, lead and load your horses so you don’t waste time Secure loose outdoor items so they don’t become projectiles in … [Read more...]
Why is that horse doing that?
A lot of content is still valuable years after its origin. Barb Crabbe, DVM, shared odd horse behaviors, how to tell if something is wrong and what to do about it in this article first published in 2015. She shares some examples when medical disorders were the underlying cause of aberrant horse behavior. . . . a horse can’t talk . . so he depends on you to listen to his … [Read more...]
Optimal nutrition calculators for cats and dogs available
OPINION Pet owners are responsible for their pets’ proper nutrition. Too often we hear questions about specific brands of pet food wanting a yes or no answer. The same goes for treat brands and then there are table scraps. Bottom-line, daily Kcal (calorie) calculations are important before brand discussion, although a proper assessment may identify the need for … [Read more...]
Five self-sabotaging habits and their healthy counterparts
Rebecca Rose, CVT, is a tireless champion for creating a healthy, sustainable career in veterinary medicine. She presents common self-sabotaging habits and their healthy counterparts. The topic is timely as animal health pros move into the next phases of Covid-19 recovery and whatever the next normal brings. Source: Veterinary Practice News, January 21, 2021. Link. … [Read more...]
Billions of cicadas may be coming soon to trees near you
Starting sometime in April or May, depending on latitude, one of the largest broods of 17-year cicadas will emerge from underground in a dozen states, from New York to Illinois and south into northern Georgia. Cicada exoskeletons are difficult to digest and can cause dogs to suffer serious consequences if eaten.” - AKC Source: The Conversation, March 12, 2021. … [Read more...]
Heartworm review and update
Whether living in endemic or nonendemic areas, heartworm remains a top priority parasite for dogs and cats. Andrew R. Moorhead, DVM, MS, PhD, DACVM (Parasitology), reviews the life cycle and strategies for prevention and treatment. It is crucial to test all dogs for microfilariae at the same time as antigen testing.” Source: Clinician’s Brief, March 2021. Link. Treatment … [Read more...]
Why vet med might really kill you: Dr. Jen’s Top 5 deadliest pathogens
Sponsored Content Dr. Jen the Vet recently shared her video presentation about zoonotic diseases. Sponsored by Virox Technologies® her presentation was part of the recent Viticus Animal Health Virtual Summit. . . . while this video is focused on veterinary medicine and those working in animal health, the information is just as useful for pet parents! - Jenifer Chatfield, … [Read more...]
Winnie the Pooh’s timeless resilience tips
Oh, bother!” – Winnie the Pooh Nearly 100 years since he was created, Pooh’s simple wisdoms still make us think about the importance of friendship, love and courage. Karen Nimmo shares the best of Pooh-isms still relevant in 2021. Source: Medium, January 21, 2021. Link. Could be worse. Not sure how, but it could be.” — Eeyore … [Read more...]
34 percent of Americans take daily naps – here’s how they can help
Research shows power naps are great stress buffers. They boost the immune system and reduce the level of cortisol in your blood, refreshing you and refueling your engine. 81 percent of employees experience the afternoon crash an average of 3.2 days per week” Source: Forbes, March 13, 2021. Link. Studies at the Salk Institute show that brain activity, memory, and the power … [Read more...]
March is National Sleep Month
Take this month to think about your sleep habits. Consider how much they affect your well-being and take a step to improve them. Sleep is an essential component of wellness, and there are innumerable factors that influence sleep and sleep patterns. Few things impact mental health more than sleep. Sources: National Sleep Foundation. Link. Sleep Foundation, One Care Media … [Read more...]
A year into the pandemic, the profession is feeling the strain
NOMV stands for Not One More Vet, the largest veterinary support group in the world. It has more than 28,000 members worldwide who provide peer-to-peer mental health support and suicide awareness. AAHA’s Tony McReynolds shares discussions following several recent suicides in the veterinary community. . . . the veterinary profession had significant struggles prior to the … [Read more...]
Study shows test results for PI BVDV calves not affected by age
Detection of persistently infected animals is an important control measure for bovine viral diarrhea virus, but persistence of maternal antibodies are thought to result in false-negative test results. New study findings suggest that testing for PI calves can be undertaken at any age. Source: Journal of Veterinary Diagnostic Investigation, March 5, 2021. (abstract only) Link. … [Read more...]
Managing parasite resistance; ‘set it and forget it’ no more
Ron Popeil popularized the 'set it and forget it' phrase in TV infomercials. The phrase could have been used to describe parasite control methods from past decades. Cattlemen and those who work with and educate them can no longer trust a one-and-done parasite control plan. Not unlike antibiotics, our industry needs to use parasite control products judiciously as a component … [Read more...]
Will removing dairy cows help stop climate change?
Researchers from Virginia Tech and the U.S. Department of Agriculture recently tested this hypothesis: Eliminate U.S. dairy cows and you’ll lessen climate issues. They found that if the dairy herd were somehow removed from the U.S., greenhouse gas emissions would only be reduced by about 0.7 percent. Milk production contributes approximately 1.3 percent of all U.S. GHG … [Read more...]
Knock out ketosis
Ketosis contributes to wide ranging losses. A single case of ketosis costs dairy producers an average of $298. The most common metabolic disease in cattle, two common, differing etiologies of early lactation ketosis are in play: the animal’s inability to adapt to an early lactation energy deficit – one to two weeks limited energy intake – three to six weeks The use … [Read more...]
Don’t play chicken with your health
The new influx of chicken flocks has put humans, as well as the poultry they care for, at risk of salmonella sickness. It is alarming that 28 percent of the reported salmonella infections are from children younger than 5 years of age. Seventy four percent of reported salmonella cases involved contact with poultry. Source: Hobby Farms, March 3, 2021. Link. The primary key to … [Read more...]
Colorado State University offers foaling course for owners, managers and students
Foaling and Foal Care is a continuing education course designed to provide horse owners, broodmare managers and foaling attendants an overview of normal foaling, dystocia, routine care of the newborn foal and other important topics. Recommended participants are those responsible for attending pregnant mares through the birth process. The virtual curriculum provides guidelines … [Read more...]
Legal guide to horse care for horse owners
There’s more to owning a horse than feed, water and housing. Horse care administration and documentation is also important. By having accurate and available emergency information, by having appropriate vaccination and health policies, by confirming insurance coverage, and by keeping a medication logbook, horse owners, barn owners, and trainers can protect themselves and their … [Read more...]
Equine asthma, taking their breath away
Equine asthma is an umbrella term to cover previously diagnosed conditions of inflammatory airway disease and recurrent airway obstruction. It is a non-infectious inflammatory disease of the lungs of horses and a lifelong condition for individual horses. The role of infectious diseases in equine asthma is still under review. Source: Veterinary Advantage, February 2021. … [Read more...]