Mike McCloskey says he didn’t think it would ever happen on their farm. Now, months after the allegations, he shares the changes made including more video oversight, intense animal welfare training and additional veterinarian resources. Fair Oaks Farms is a dairy and agri-tourism destination in Indiana. It prides itself on opening up its operation, being transparent and … [Read more...]
ASF: Full depopulation may be the only option (podcasts)
Veterinarians from Pipestone Veterinary Services discuss historical and future perspectives on swine disease elimination at the herd, regional and national level in two Swine Time podcasts. Sometimes hog producers have become better stewards, and sometimes just the change in the production systems has helped elimination, or at least have diminished the occurrences, of diseases … [Read more...]
Finding a doc for the flock
Ana Hotaling provides guidance for poultry raisers about finding an avian veterinarian. For veterinary hospitals or retailers, a little leg work will help good dog and cat clients who raise chickens find a DVM before they need one. If your veterinary team is ready to serve the poultry raising public, this article helps identifies five connections who need to know you service … [Read more...]
Control the herd, manage the horse (video)
Kimberly Brown shared a video via Linked In that features Martin Nielsen, DVM, PhD, discussing the dynamics of parasite control for one or two horses while still maintaining the population-control focus. Bottom line, he says to control the parasites in all the animals at a location using a herd approach first. Source: Linked In. Link. INSIGHTS: Share Nielsen’s message … [Read more...]
Equine workers risk respiratory problems
Not all horse work is done outdoors. Nancy Hoffman discusses the risks to horse people from dust, mold and allergens from hay, bedding and associated dirt. She makes a case for wearing dust masks and reviews the two main categories of masks, their features, functions and benefits. Source: Horse Network, December 2, 2019. Link. Remember, . . . you’re going to be breathing … [Read more...]
Skip the bran and other winter horse feeding tips
Christine Barakat shares simple tips to keep horses happy and healthy when the weather turns cold. Even seasoned horse owners will appreciate these reminders, including the snow saucer tip for hauling hay. Source: EQUUS, November 25, 2019. Link. INSIGHTS: Consider this for social media, newsletters and targeted mailings to horse owners. … [Read more...]
Cleaning the stuff dogs use daily (video)
Gear dogs use every day often harbor mold and bacteria. Here's how to clean dog bedding, toys, food and water bowls, collars and other dog stuff. The short video is very suitable for social media, newsletters and pet owner communications. A little effort from pet owners to maintain dog gear goes along ways to prevent the possibility of more serious issues. Source: Web MD. … [Read more...]
More cold weather tips for dogs and dog owners
Melissa Kauffman addresses keeping dogs comfortable during cold weather. Three of her tips prompted us to post the article: Don’t let dog nails get too long during winter Bathe your dog regularly during cold weather Use flea-and-tick protection during cold weather Source: Dogster, November 21, 2019. Link. While there are some dangers for dogs with winter, using … [Read more...]
CBD warnings by FDA to animal product companies
13 companies making cannabidiol (CBD) products for pets were among the 15 warned by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration on November 25, 2019. The companies’ sales of CBD-containing pet and human items violate the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act. (CBD pet product companies warned are listed in the references. Source: Pet Product News, December 2, 2019. Link. The FDA … [Read more...]
Favorite posts about ourselves
AHD readers continue to show interest in topics related to how we get along with other people, how we lead them and how we protect ourselves physically and emotionally to sustain our work in animal health businesses. Here are most read posts about human topics from June 1 through October 31, 2019: Things that make employees quit, AHD, October 25, 2019. Link. Invest one … [Read more...]
Most read livestock posts
Posts about poultry garnered remarkable readership by readers interested in food animals. Three of the most-read livestock posts from June 1 through October 31, 2019 were about poultry. Feed sows in late gestation to enhance colostrum, AHD, June 25, 2019. Link. DVM walks us through Fair Oaks Farms video (video), AHD, June 25, 2019. Link. In search of the perfect cow, … [Read more...]
Favorite equine posts
A horse is a horse, of course, of course, And no one can talk to a horse of course That is, of course, unless the horse is the famous Mr. Ed < link >. A lot has changed since Mr. Ed, the TV program about the talking horse, ran in the 1950s and 1960s. < … [Read more...]
7 most-read companion animal posts
Content about companion animals is expanding exponentially alongside the metamorphic consumer-retail market focus. Topics are varied, including how-tos, should-dos, opportunities and research. The seven most-read posts from June 1 through October 31, 2019 are listed here. Source: Animal Health Digest. Link. Snakebite dos and donts for dogs, AHD, June 25, 2019. Link. … [Read more...]
The evolution of metaphylaxis
Tom Latta, DVM, outlined the history and current trends in metaphylaxis for feedyard cattle during the recent AABP Conference. Since its beginnings in the 1970s, procedures have evolved with the availability of more effective antibiotics, more regulation of veterinary medications, greater emphasis on food safety, antibiotic residues and prevention of antibiotic resistance. … [Read more...]
Keep vets protected on the farm
We often bemoan the need to minimize veterinarian exposure to liability on farm. But, with growing numbers of veterinary students who grew up in the suburbs and have little to no real experience in handling livestock, the potential of injuries increases. Kenneth Brown, JD, DVM, shares steps for veterinarians to minimize the risk of liability and avoid problems. Source: … [Read more...]
Horses’ gum color tells health status
The color of the gums can reveal clues about a horse’s health. Any variation from the normal salmon pink could signal something requiring immediate veterinary attention: Yellow to yellowish brown can indicate liver problems when the organ is unable to filter the pigment from the bloodstream. Very pale pink, almost white, gums may be the result of decreased circulation, … [Read more...]
Revisiting equine cellulitis
When a horse’s leg swells to double or triple the normal leg size overnight, owners and vets must take immediate action. Cellulitis, while common, can be frightening for owners. Having a veterinary professional respond quickly and decisively is critical to avoid further injury. Source: EQUUS, March 2016. Link. Caused by bacteria penetrating the dermis and multiplying in the … [Read more...]
CBD special report
Cannabidiol here, CBD there! Various manufacturers tout a variety of benefits from their products. The FDA is currently drafting regulations for hemp and hemp-derived substances. The USDA released the final interim hemp farming rules on October 31, 2019 < link >. The Pet Product News insider’s report sheds light on where this new category is headed and gives perspective … [Read more...]
Questions about hand asepsis
Hand asepsis is one of the most critical components of surgical asepsis to lower the risk of nosocomial diseases. Phil Zeltzman, DVM, tackles four critical questions related to hand asepsis: Could you lose your driver’s license by scrubbing in? Should women who perform surgery wear nail polish? Are you scrubbing in long enough? How should you handle perforated … [Read more...]
5 reasons cats act weird
Angela Lutz shares reasons for sudden changes and weird behaviors cats display. Cat owners will value this list. Share it on social media, in newsletters or as problem-solving reference material. A cat acting weird: might signal depression could be caused by stress might be threatened because of an illness may mean the cat doesn’t like a person Source: … [Read more...]
Making cats share can cause trouble
Some situations in multi-cat households where asking cats to share may create stress and possibly lead to behavior problems, writes Pam Johnson-Bennett, certified cat behavior consultant. She recommends: Every cat should have their own food bowl and the bowls should be placed at a distance that allows everyone to eat securely The general rule of thumb for a multi-cat … [Read more...]
Age-related changes in canine brain structure and metabolism
Although cognitive decline and cognitive dysfunction may occur as pets age, neither should be accepted as simply a consequence of aging. This is the conclusion by the authors from a study at the Purina Institute. Nutritional interventions provide opportunities to slow cognitive decline, mitigate the behavioral signs of cognitive dysfunction and improve quality of life for … [Read more...]
Poop contains great information
Stool samples are telling of a dog’s health, writes Kyle Grusling, DVM. He reminds dog owners that parasites are not the only thing that can be seen on a fecal check. In addition to gastrointestinal parasites, stool samples may reveal diarrhea, mites and protozoa. Source: Whole Dog Journal, March 2019. Link. A great diagnostic or screening tool for any dog, routine poop … [Read more...]
Skin tags, lumps and bumps on dogs
No skin growth should be dismissed without veterinary attention, writes Melvin Peña. Common as dogs age, he says the most important thing you can do about skin tags on dogs is to be observant. Acknowledging he is not a veterinarian, he shares researched information on lipomas, fatty and mast cell tumors. The article is simplistic, but the messages are clear for dog … [Read more...]
Core travel safety tips
Holidays followed by veterinary conferences and national sales meetings will increase normal travel for animal health pros. Jessica Sager highlights the most important travel safety tips. Among them are: Keeping an emergency card accessible Making copies of important documents Ensuring you are <medically> insured Source: The Discoverer. November 18, 2019. … [Read more...]
Talk about it! Antibiotic Awareness Week
The U.S. Antibiotic Awareness Week (USAAW) is an annual observance that highlights steps everyone can take to improve antibiotic prescribing and use. The USAAW observance is November 18-24, 2019 and aligns with CDC’s educational effort, Be Antibiotics Aware: Smart Use, Best Care < link >, the year-round effort to improve antibiotic prescribing and use and combat … [Read more...]
Keeping dogs safe in cold weather (includes infographic)
Keeping dogs warm outside takes forethought. Pet owners need to make sure dogs maintain their body temperature to ward against hypothermia and have protection on their paws to help prevent frostbite. When temperatures drop below 20°F, all dogs are prone to developing hypothermia and frostbite.” Sally Jones Source: Canine Journal, October 23, 2019. Link. INSIGHTS: Sally … [Read more...]
Rough training has long-term effects on dogs
Dogs trained using positive reinforcement experience less short- and long-term stress than those in aversive training classes. This, according to a new study from Universidade de Porto in Portugal. Forty two companion dogs from schools that use reward-based training and 50 dogs from four school that use averse-based training were compared. Source: Sciencealert, November 7, … [Read more...]
5 important questions when choosing supplements for cats and dogs
Bill Bookout reminds us that supplements are either nutritional or health-related. He recommends reading product labels for answers to these questions: Are the product claims too good to be true? Does the product have a lot number? Are ingredients and amounts clearly listed? Is there contact information if I have questions? Does the supplement have the NASC … [Read more...]
WARNING! Choose rodent poisons wisely
Rodents flock to buildings this time of year. Laura Haggarty shares her experiences with rodents, bait and pets. She shares a warning about Bromethalin, second generation rodenticides, that have NO ANTIDOTE. We added information from the EPA to support her article. Second generation anticoagulants tend to remain in animal tissues longer than do first-generation ones. These … [Read more...]