SPONSORED CONTENT May is National Arthritis Month and horses are no stranger to damaging inflammation the disease causes. While there is no cure, there are ways to keep aging horses more comfortable. With proper diagnosis and treatment, all but the worst cases of arthritis can be managed well enough to preserve soundness” – Susan Kaufman Source: EQUUS Extra, Volume 24. … [Read more...]
Recent trending headlines from BEEF
BEEF offers a quick review of trending headlines from the last three weeks. Topics include: Improving returns on calves Dealing with environmental idiots The value of reproduction rates Proper timing is crucial for calfhood vaccinations Let calves grow or not? Source: BEEF, May 11, 2020. Link. Source: BEEF, April 27, 2020. Link. For a laugh see: … [Read more...]
Canine glaucoma is painful
Glaucoma is a painful disease. The pain can be expressed as blepharospasm (abnormal contraction of the eyelid muscles) or as general depression. Many owners report a dramatic improvement in the dog’s behavior after removal of a glaucomatous eye. Glaucoma may be classified in one of two ways, writes Ron Ofri, DVM, PhD, DECVO. The classifications have significant clinical … [Read more...]
Too much drool could signal a problem
Excessive salivation can be caused by happiness, hyperthermia or household cleaning products. Check these additional differentials for ptyalism and pseudoptyalism from Julie Allen, BVMS, MS, MRCVS, DACVIM (SAIM), DACVP. Source: Clinician’s Brief, April 2020. Link. … [Read more...]
Discerning normal or not with canine stomach noises
Eric Barchas, DVM, weighs in on borborygmi <link>, the sounds that come from dogs’ gastrointestinal (GI) tract. Often simply called stomach growling or stomach rumbling, these sounds can come from either the stomach or the small or large intestine. These gurgling sounds are produced when gas moves from one portion of the intestines to another. Source: Dogster, February … [Read more...]
Pandemic realities forcing some pets back to shelters
Pet shelters and rescue organizations experienced rapid increases in adoptions and fosters since the Covid-19 pandemic began. Now, some shelters are preparing for a large influx of pets as the realities of owners’ jobs and home losses hit hard. It hasn’t happened yet, but Brenda Barnette, general manager of the Los Angeles Department of Animal Services, expects more pets will … [Read more...]
If your life was a movie
Ever feel like you’re stuck when you need to make a decision and don’t know what to do? Unfortunately, our emotions often cloud our thinking when faced with the pressure of making a big decision. Source: Purpose Unlimited. Link. To make wise choices and avoid acting on impulse we need to engage in a logical thought process. If your life was a movie how would you write the … [Read more...]
How HR is writing the book on coronavirus
One of the most fascinating things about the pandemic and its global impact is that there is no book written about this situation” – Jason Averbook Averbook discusses three normal personnel processes and explores how they’re changing: Onboarding Performance Governance SOURCE: Human Resource Executive, May 8, 2020. Link. It’s scary when there’s no book. But, at … [Read more...]
Pandemic may be turning point for workplace mental health
Experts say mental health issues and stress were already on the rise among employees before the coronavirus pandemic, and they certainly won’t just disappear post-pandemic. The disaster finds more employees struggling and employers playing catch-up in the rush to help. Source: Human Resource Executive, May 11, 2020. Link. “The pandemic has forced us to make changes and to … [Read more...]
Guidance for expanding veterinary care during the pandemic
Ontario inadvertently became a laboratory for implementing telemedicine and adjusted VCPR practices during the pandemic < link >. Scott Weese, DVM, shares the Guide to reopening veterinary medicine in Ontario, as a resource for veterinary teams as they prepare to provide more veterinary services while still minimizing the risk of COVID-19 transmission. We’re going to … [Read more...]
Goats get foot rot, too
All hoofed animals risk foot rot and related foot scald. The reason for hoof rot in goats is commonly wet, moist ground and damp weather, according to Janet Garman. Two organisms cause foot rot: Fusobacterium necrophorum and Bacteroides nodusus. Fusobacterium necrophorum lives in the soil and is anaerobic. That’s the situation in deep, muddy pastures or stalls. If F. … [Read more...]
Training and education available for backyard poultry raisers
With growing interest in backyard hens, and with some towns and cities allowing residents to raise chickens in their backyards, Alberta Farm Animal Care is hosting a Backyard Chicken webinar series for beginner poultry raisers. The series covers information on flock health, handling, costs, bylaws, breeds, coop design, diseases and more. Cassandra Kirkpatrick, Urban Hen … [Read more...]
Somatic cell counts spike in spring
Bacterial and somatic cell counts are used by dairy farmers and processors as indicators of milk quality. In general, the higher the counts, the lower the milk quality. Warm, wet spring weather provides the perfect opportunity for bacteria to breed and wreak havoc on milk quality. In order to stay ahead of a springtime spike, producers should focus on cow comfort, cow … [Read more...]
Pest buster listing for 2020
With resistance building among parasites that attack livestock and horses <link>, it is important to have a resource to identify options for pest and parasite management. BEEF magazine shared an updated listing for 2020 compiled from company supplied information and websites. Source: BEEF, April 2020. Link. INSIGHTS: This is a good tool for retailers, … [Read more...]
Keep the value of your vaccine dollars
Producers cannot afford to overlook the importance of how they store vaccines and handle them prior to injection, states Glenn Selk, PhD Biological products should be stored under refrigeration at 35⁰F to 45⁰F unless the nature of the product makes storing at a different temperature advisable (APHIS 2007). Producers cannot afford to overlook the importance of how they store … [Read more...]
Hornets from hell. Bee-ware! (video)
The Asian giant hornet has been found in the Pacific Northwest and North American honey beekeepers are notably alarmed. Asian hornets feed on other insects including honeybees and are capable of quickly destroying hives. They nest in the ground and can be distinguished by their yellow heads, body length of nearly two inches length and a wingspan of up to three inches. Dormant … [Read more...]
Feral-to-friendly tips for transitioning a cat
Bringing a feral, or community cat, into a home involves committing to a gradual socialization process, writes Sally Bahner. It’s important to understand that there’s no guarantee you’ll end up with a cuddly lap cat. Bahner shares six steps for making friends with a stray. Source: Animal Wellness, May 4, 2020. Link. In many cases, feral cats can be socialized and transformed … [Read more...]
Pet insurance acceptance growing
Pet insurance fits younger pet owners’ lifestyles as they learn about the modern costs of pet ownership, writes Rachael Zimlich, BSN, RN. It is evolving toward wellness from its beginnings as accident and emergency protection. The trends favoring subscription services also favors the pet insurance benefits of complete care, one month at a time. Source: DVM 360, March 16, … [Read more...]
Sunscreen protection for dogs
Dogs are just as prone as humans are to sunburn and related health conditions, such as skin cancers. Dogs should NOT wear human sunscreen, writes Sally Jones. They need to use a sunscreen specially formulated for dogs, especially considering how much they like to lick themselves. Common ingredients found in human sunscreens, such as zinc oxide or para-aminobenzoic acid (PABA), … [Read more...]
Morris Animal Foundation launches Stop Cancer Furever campaign
The Morris Animal Foundation launched its seventh annual pet cancer campaign, Stop Cancer Furever, on May 1 < link >. The two-month campaign raises awareness of, and funds for, research leading to new understandings about how to prevent, diagnose and treat animal cancers. The campaign will provide pet owners and animal lovers free downloadable cancer prevention … [Read more...]
Temple Grandin: Big is not bad. It is fragile.
Temple Grandin, Colorado State University animal science professor and autism advocate, weighs in on the current state of meat processing, the overwhelmed supply chain and possible animal welfare effects. Big operations are extremely cost efficient. That’s why they’ve been built this way, she says. The downside is the fragility of the supply chains, as Covid-19 proves. This … [Read more...]
Interactive Covid-19 maps to help with practice decisions
FASCINATING! The AVMA is providing interactive maps to present different lenses to view the Covid-19 outbreak and its impact on veterinary medicine and veterinary professionals. The maps allow users to zoom in and out and hide or show specific data layers when more than one variable is shown. It is especially important to communicate proactively with clients about various … [Read more...]
VCPR limits vet care during pandemic
The Veterinary Innovation Podcast hosted a frank discussion May 5th about difficulties vets face when navigating unclear, inconsistent, and rapidly changing VCPR regulations in the face of a global pandemic. Covid-19 has been the impetus for a temporary relaxation of current VCPR laws in some states. Those changes have been the catalyst for some heated conversations about … [Read more...]
Equations for a happy life, even during a pandemic
The involuntary new pace of Covid-19’s social distancing has slowed lives and allows us an opportunity to think a little more deeply about life, writes Arthur C. Brooks, Ph.D. In our go-go-go world, we rarely get the chance to stop and consider the big drivers of our happiness and our sense of purpose. Brooks shares three equations for well-being to start managing your … [Read more...]
Herd immunity in pigs: A case study for getting America back to work
Swine vets are working with medical doctors to apply the principles of her immunity practiced on farm to populations of workers in packing plants. Herd immunity is everyday language for swine veterinarians and managers. The synergies with the current Covid-19 pandemic are evident and algorithms from swine production provide strong skeletons for building human herd immunity … [Read more...]
Reasons pets may act weirdly during quarantine
Pet owners worldwide are reporting some of their pets are acting weird while under quarantine. They’re getting clingy, running on countertops and shooting evil stares at humans. It’s not known if the quarantine is causing pet anxieties, but displacement behaviors, the tics pets develop to cope with new stressors, may be the result. Source: Vox, April 24, 2020. Link. In dogs … [Read more...]
Disease detection technology developing in the toilet
Say what? Tests for number 1 and number 2 are being developed and tested to use in smart toilet technology for humans. A paper describing the bathroom device research was recently published in Nature Biomedical Engineering. The smart toilet automatically sends data extracted from any sample to a secure, cloud-based system for safekeeping. The flush lever uses a … [Read more...]
Biosecurity for horse farms, stables and horse people
Biosecurity strategies are part of waging a war on equine infectious disease, not just on farm, but also around the country. While these efforts might seem labor-intensive, herd health is critical. Simple biosecurity steps can save horses and horse people great difficulty, expense and intensive labor. Source: US Rider, April 23, 2020. Link. The objective of good biosecurity … [Read more...]
Good guidance on equine supplements
Supplements are designed to help support the normal structure and function of a horse’s body rather than correct an abnormal condition or disease. Today’s horse owners find they benefit from taking supplements personally and want their equine companions to experience these benefits, too. But, they need a careful eye to identify supplements from suppliers that disregard … [Read more...]
Uncover hidden opportunities to save time and money in dairy operations
Pauly Paul shares the benefits of taking time to work alongside dairy workers. He says he routinely finds five areas where he commonly uncovers opportunities for saving time and money: Herd checks Breeding Hoof trimming Foot bathing Fresh and treated cow pens Source: Progressive Dairy, April 3, 2020. Link. Spending time working alongside employees can help … [Read more...]