New research commissioned by Royal Canin® indicates it takes three months and 23 days to finally get the hang of things with a new pet, according to new research. The OnePoll survey found 80 percent asserted the first year of owning a pet is the most important. It also revealed that year isn’t easy as 64 percent believe the first year is the most difficult. Source: 72point. … [Read more...]
Steve Dale’s holiday safety tips
For more than two decades, Steve Dale, certified animal behavior consultant, has been communicating with more pet owners than any other pet journalist in America. He’s not E.F. Hutton, but when Steve speaks, pet owners listen. Organizing his list in holiday fashion, Dale provides 12 Christmas pet safety tips to ensure a safe howliday. Source: Steve Dale’s Pet World, December … [Read more...]
Updating clinic materials yields a new book for pet owners
Complimentary Commercial Content Sometime last spring, Marty Greer, DVM, JD, shared she was working on updating her clinic materials for pet owners while her practice was closed during the early days of the pandemic. She offered the same Bridge Club networking group a welcome surprise in early December. Her materials updating work had expanded into a new book for puppy … [Read more...]
Covid’s holiday surge requires vigilence to disinfection protocols
Commentary with Commercial Sponsored content from Virox® Animal Health Veterinary clinic owners and managers frequently reference staff members who are worn down, tired and near exhaustion. Pandemic safety protocols have added much more diligence beyond 24/7 mask wear. Disinfecting protocols have been adjusted and remain a primary measure in curbing pathogen transfers. In … [Read more...]
Maybe we should go to bed angry
Recently, some colleagues shared relief at not having the BIG holiday gathering, “. . . maybe this year we won’t have to listen to <obstinate person> grouse about this and that!” One of the more common pieces of relationship wisdom shared is, “Don’t go to bed angry.” Indi Samarajiva disagrees. He says a fight is a feeling , often of not being heard, seen or tended to. … [Read more...]
How to sharpen your mind and tune up your brain in 15 minutes daily
Fifteen minutes may seem like a short time to improve your brain, but doing it consistently can have a significant effect long-term. Mental exercises improve your mind and are great for protecting your brain, retrieving information, recalling what you learn quickly and sharpening your focus. Numerous studies reveal the importance of mental activities as we age. Source: … [Read more...]
Drought! Is it time to worry?
For those east of the Mississippi River, drought is not a great concern. However, areas west of there are experiencing a growing drought footprint. Currently, 67% of the country is afflicted with varying levels of drought, with 22% in the two most severe categories – “extreme” and “exceptional.” Source: Feedstuffs, December 16, 2020. Link. Forecasters are concerned that soil … [Read more...]
Covid fatigue is winning at the worst possible moment
Covid-19 fatigue is manifesting in an alarming number of people shrugging off safety measures and consuming less news about the pandemic, according to a new Harris Poll conducted exclusively for Fast Company. 27 percent of Americans say they’re less likely to engage in certain safety precautions than they were six months ago, curtailing things like frequent handwashing, … [Read more...]
Another new virus is coming. So, scientists study bats.
The coronavirus outbreak is nowhere near over and researchers are already trying to discover what will hit us next. Their goal is to identify other viruses that may be highly contagious to humans and use that information to stop them. It may seem early to study this, but scientists say that its highly likely another novel virus will jump from animal to human host and spread as … [Read more...]
6 tips to identify calves susceptible to BRD
John Richeson typifies BRD as the most difficult mammalian diseases to manage in the world. He shared a more focused approach to managing feeder cattle risk and six things feeders can look for to identify high-risk calves. Targeted metaphylaxis is using certain metrics to try to predict whether an animal is going to be at greater risk for BRD, so we can make individual animal … [Read more...]
75 days to prep for calving
Say what?! It’s time to plan for calving season as the first of the 2021 crop will start dropping around March 1. Greg Henderson provides tips to help producers prepare: Assess the body condition of your cows and heifers Review the herd health plan Conduct an inspection of your calving facilities to make sure everything is in working order Check your calving … [Read more...]
Chip your pet, dammit!
King, a Chihuahua mix, disappeared from his San Antonio, Texas, home in 2014. Owner Debi Vazquez searched high and low and found no trace of him. This October, she got a call from the Broward County Humane Society in in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Animal health pros there found King, thanks to his microchip. Source: New York Post, November 5, 2020. Link. “It took nearly 23 … [Read more...]
Trained dogs provide emotional support to first responders in inaugural program
Last week, the San Diego Fire-Rescue Department rolled out a program that pairs dogs with chaplains to provide emotional support to first responders as part of an overall wellness support program. Two Labrador retrievers, and a mini Goldendoodle are paired with chaplains to provide emotional support for first responders. Source: Los Angeles Times, December 14, 2020. Link. He … [Read more...]
Take care of dogs during winter
Winter’s weather increase the risk for dogs to experience hypothermia and frostbite just as we do. Different breeds tolerate winter better than others, but age and overall health are important factors, too. Snow and ice can cause problems for some dogs. However, ice melts on pavement and sidewalks have own toxicity issues. Here are three resources to help address winter safety … [Read more...]
Signs and treatment of dog tooth infections
John Huff, DVM, FAVD, Dipl. AVDC, shares his perspectives on dog tooth infections, what causes them and things for owners to watch for. He names chewing on objects that are too hard for your dog’s teeth, which could be common dog-chew items like tennis balls, deer antlers, pig’s ears and rawhide as common culprits that can cause teeth to break and become susceptible to … [Read more...]
MaxiGuard® Oral Cleansing Wipes now available in 10 packs
Sponsored Commercial Content Responding to requests from veterinary clinics, Addison Biological Laboratories announced a new package size for the popular MaxiGuard® Oral Cleansing Wipes. The 10 packs are packaged in a convenient foil pouch < link >. Source: Addison Biological Laboratories, December 14, 2020. Link. There has been consistent, strong demand from … [Read more...]
Building trust in the emergency setting
Trust is pivotal in the emergency setting writes Monica Sterk, DVM. Normally not the primary veterinarian, emergency teams must quickly gain the client’s trust, so they can make difficult decisions based on the findings and guidance in the moment. Sterk shares simple building blocks that lead to a successful relationship during an emergency visit. Source: DVM 360, … [Read more...]
Opportunities, optimism for veterinary hospitals into 2021
Complimentary content from IDEXX Jay Mazelsky, president and CEO at IDEXX, recently shared his thanks and optimism in a LinkedIn post citing important trends from his company’s data insights. “Veterinary hospitals are providing more care for pets,” he said. A recent IDEXX study showed 77 percent of pet owners agreed that taking care of their pet’s health is as important as … [Read more...]
Apathy or pandemic burnout?
Nearly everyone is suffering from mental fatigue right now, says psychologist Yvonne Thomas. She shares some of the key signs of mental fatigue: You’re inefficient You don’t feel compassion for others You’re procrastinating more than ever You’re struggling with sleep and appetite Thomas also shares some coping methods: Create countdown strategies … [Read more...]
National Pork Board launches AgView to respond to disease outbreaks
The National Pork Board launched AgView, a tool to help the pork industry respond quickly to a foreign animal disease outbreak. The voluntary system is designed to enable producers to input premise identification data, diagnostic data and pig movement data for pig contract tracing in the event of a disease outbreak. Source: The Pig Site, November 11, 2020. Link. “AgView is … [Read more...]
Animal welfare through an animal activist’s eyes
Dairy farmers met an activist during a recent Dairy Cattle Welfare Council webinar. Taylor Leach reports on the discussion, including the biggest three concerns from activists’ point of view: Individual calf housing Tie-stall barns Bull calf treatment Source: Dairy Herd Management, December 2, 2020. Link. Being aware of what animal welfare is – that it’s going … [Read more...]
The never-ending parasite dilemma
John Gillam, DVM, discusses parasites in ungulates including types, life cycles, treatments, testing and slowing down resistance. . . . understanding parasite treatment and the worms that can plague cattle is critical to developing healthy herds.” - John Gilliam, DVM Source: High Plains Journal, December 2, 2020. Link. “We actually select those parasite populations for … [Read more...]
Water: the forgotten nutrient
Water is known as the forgotten nutrient. Google it and you’ll find references to many species. Pedro E. Urriola shares perspectives from discussions at the recent Lehman workshop on water’s importance in pig production. . . . water can absorb a lot of heat before it starts to get hot. . . it is essential to thermal homeostasis of pigs, and all living species . . … [Read more...]
Manna Pro Products launches “YolkTube” YouTube channel for chicken aficionados
Manna Pro Products launched “YolkTube by City Folks,” a YouTube series that helps teach first-time and established chicken owners basic and advanced care for chickens in backyard poultry setups. The channel is Manna Pro’s latest resource to expand its community of urban and suburban chicken owners can connect and share tips. Source: AgriMarketing, December 8, 2020. Link. … [Read more...]
Preparations now will ease winter on chicken flocks
Shelby Stone shares tips on winterizing coops and preparing chickens for colder months. Her guidance covers bedding, heated waterers, care with heat lamps and updating diets. Note the tip for protecting combs and waddles using a coating of Vaseline. Source: Acreage Life, November 2020, page 23. Link. INSIGHTS: Chicken keepers will appreciate getting this article from … [Read more...]
Barn cats need care, too
Sarah Peakheart, DVM, shares tips for caring for barn cats. Her recommendations are especially applicable to cats who are easily handled. Tips related to improving the cats’ environment and safety are also beneficial, even for cats that are more feral. Source: The Bullvine, November 16, 2020. Link. Make plenty of noise before starting up your vehicles or farm equipment, … [Read more...]
50% of dog owners believe their pets have separation anxiety
Commentary To most animal health pros, study results revealed in People will come as no surprise. If anything, the WFH months has increased visibility to issues many pets were already experiencing and now owners want to address the issues. Results from the survey found that 53 percent of dog owners overall and 60 percent of hybrid workers believe that their dogs has … [Read more...]
Not all scents safely make sense
The holiday season brings new visual stimuli to our environments. It also is commonly accompanied by a variety of seasonal smells in diffusors, candles and sprays. Some of these are toxic to pets. Source: Catnip, November 19, 2020. Link. Common essential oils that could prove toxic in the wrong dose include: Tea tree, citrus, pine, pennyroyal, eucalyptus, peppermint, sweet … [Read more...]
Dr. Jen’s top 5 holiday dangers for pets
Jenifer Chatfield, DVM, and twin brother Jason Chatfield, DVM, discuss holiday dangers for pets in a new edition of Is this a Thing? They discuss these top 5 holiday dangers: Out of town guests; people and their pets Holiday decorations; tinsel, ornaments and seasonal plants Holiday travel; microchipping and registration reminders Holiday foods Weather … [Read more...]
Fences revisited, this time without wire
Last week we shared an article about the ecological impact of fences < link >. In ongoing research in Nevada, ranchers are experimenting with virtual fences using technologies that work like pet fencing but use GPS technologies instead of a wire in the ground. They hope to use the technology to improve rotational grazing and restrict cattle from grazing areas where toxic … [Read more...]