Cattle pain management is at long last a viable topic when it comes to taking care of beef and dairy cattle. Two commentaries in Bovine Veterinarian are worth reading. The first, by editor John Maday, calls on veterinarians to advocate for animal welfare and consumer preferences, even though clients may resist. The second was written by Brandon Treichler, DVM and quality … [Read more...]
Don’t believe what China says about ASF
Betsy Freese, executive editor of Successful Farming, recently spent a week in China on a market study tour with U.S. farmers, swine and beef producers and other agricultural business people. She focuses on four points about African swine fever (AFS) shared, seven items a U.S.-based company she was not allowed to name stated and nine statements Chinese officials put … [Read more...]
Feds seize 1 million pounds of pork from China
Agents with the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) seized about 1 million pounds of pork imported from China last week at the Port Newark-Elizabeth Marine Terminal in New York . There are fears the products could contain African swine fever. CBP and USDA authorities are still investigating. No charges had been filed as of last Friday. Sources: The Hill, March 16, 2019. … [Read more...]
Learn how to manage the gut
Prebiotics and probiotics are frequent considerations for multimodal therapies in monogastrics, regardless of species It can be difficult to remain objective about their benefits, but the growing body of work indicates that considering the microbiome will become more prevalent in managing disease risk and potential treatments. We gathered several references for … [Read more...]
Is this fish sick? (image gallery)
Colin McDermott, VMD, offers a visual guide to recognizing several types of fish diseases. Veterinary care is often complicated by owners missing early signs of illness and seeking veterinary care later in the course of disease. Many diseases of fish are subtle until the infection or pathologic process is more advanced. Source: Clinician’s Brief, December 2018. … [Read more...]
Reexamining the early spay-neuter paradigm in dogs
Veterinarians must always be open minded and ready to challenge the status quo when new information challenges how we practice, writes Mark Goldstein, DVM. Goldstein and Michael Petty, DVM, CVPP, CVMA, CCRT, CAAPM, respectfully discuss their disagreements about the medical and societal need for early spays and neuters in America's pets. In the end, it really falls on the … [Read more...]
JAVMA: Defining antimicrobial use; paradigms shifting in behavioral medicine
There’s something for everyone in most issues of JAVMA. We’re highlighting the abstracts of two papers representing changes in our industry. Evidence-based paradigm shifts in veterinary behavioral medicine. LinkThe AVMA's definitions of antimicrobial uses for prevention, control, and treatment of disease. Link. Source: JAVMA, April 1, 2019. Link. Review the table of … [Read more...]
AQHA launches microchip pilot project (includes video)
While more than 20,000 horses in the AQHA database have microchip IDs on their records, this represents only about half of one percent of the live population of American Quarter Horses. Microchipping allows for permanent identification of horses in commercial and sporting environments, as well as in lost animal recoveries during natural disasters and theft. Source: AQHA, … [Read more...]
Groups eye Santa Anita Park horse track fatalities (video)
The deaths of 22 horses since Dec. 26, 2018 at Santa Anita Park in Southern California has the attention of several groups and investigation teams trying to figure out why the horses died. A new set of regulations, including a plan to impose a to restrict the use of Lasix on race days has the track closed. The Lasix plan has to first be approved by the Thoroughbred Owners of … [Read more...]
Some anti-vaxxers don’t vaccinate pets, creating danger
Anti-vaccine proponents are increasingly making the same unfounded claims about pets and vaccines they have been repeating about children and vaccines for the past 20 years: that vaccines are unnecessary, dangerous and that they can cause diseases. According a TIME magazine article, the negative attention on vaccines is growing globally. Looking at the circulation demographics, … [Read more...]
USA Today – Obesity in dogs and cats
It is common knowledge have too many overweight cats and dogs; 59.5 percent of cats and 55.8 percent of dogs. What is increasing is the percentage of obese pets according to new research from the Association of Pet Obesity Prevention. In 2018, 18.9 percent of dogs and 33.8 percent of cats were obese compared to 2013 where 16.7 percent of dogs and 27.4 percent of cats … [Read more...]
CAPC initiative aims to spread heartworm awareness, action
The Companion Animal Parasite Council (CAPC) now offers the Top 10 Cities Heartworm Report, a monthly compilation of the U.S. metropolitan areas that have experienced the highest percent increases in positive heartworm tests that month. The group <link> expects this new report, in conjunction with its monthly parasite forecast maps < link >, will spark conversations in … [Read more...]
Understand the Family and Medical Leave Act
Getting sandwiched between a growing family and aging parents is a challenge for all generations. The Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA) is an employment law that allows employees to take job-protected, unpaid leave for specific family and medical reasons. This is important, because most of us are considered at-will employees. There are some criteria that need to be met for FMLA … [Read more...]
Swine vets highly valued, need more diagnostics
It may be a sign of swine producers’ growing expectations of technology, but fewer than 45 percent rated their vet as “excellent” at diagnosing problems in a study conducted by CF Grass Consulting. With high scores overall, the diagnostic metric reveals the continual need to educate producers on preventative production practices and to develop better diagnostic tools. … [Read more...]
Myths and facts about strangles, Strep equii
Many horse owners don’t understand strangles, says Reese Hand, DVM. Strangles is an infection of the upper respiratory tract caused by the bacteria Streptococcus equi, and spreads predominately by nose-to-nose contact. It is sometimes known as equine distemper. Source: Western Horseman, September 2014. Link. While strangles is easily treatable and rarely fatal, … [Read more...]
A technique every horse owner needs to know (includes video)
Horse owners young and old need to know how to remove a shoe from a horse’s hoof, says farrier Lee Olsen. He shows the best way to complete this task in a video. Consider this video for social media posts, e-newsletters and in training classes for horse owners. Source: Western Horseman, February 1, 2019. Link. … [Read more...]
High nitrate in hay can kill cows
More than 200 cows in Missouri died last month from nitrate poisoning, according to the University of Missouri Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory. Unusual weather the last couple years likely set up this problem with nitrogen entering plants as nitrate during wet periods and remaining as raw nitrate because of dry weather. This may result in too much raw nitrate in plants … [Read more...]
Genetics could reduce bovine respiratory disease
Genetic selection could be a new tool to thwart bovine respiratory disease (BRD) in cattle, according to research at University of Wisconsin-Madison. Focused on the genetic analysis of BRD and lung consolidation in dairy calves. BRD incidence has not changed in the past 20 years, despite producers’ proactive calf management processes. BRD has only short-term effects on … [Read more...]
Crates can be a retreat for dogs if used properly
Crates are terrific tools to help manage dogs. Jennifer Messer talks about using them as training tools and for dog comfort. Her article will help pet owners understand how to use a crate with their pet. Consider it for social media posts, e-newsletters and as a resource for new pet owners. Source: Modern Dog, November 2018. Link. If a dog is properly introduced to a … [Read more...]
When a grooming goes bad
Charlotte Means, DVM, helps us understand how opportunistic bacteria can infect hair follicles after grooming pets. Her review includes good reminders about shampoo use, disinfecting equipment and mitigating risk of post-grooming furunculosis. The condition can occur after bathing at home, at professional groomers and at veterinary clinics. Means also provides good … [Read more...]
Time to focus on heartworm
Spring is six days away. With it the mosquito populations will build as will heartworm disease risks for pets. DVM 360 gathered a selection of articles, tips, tools and resources to help renew heartworm knowledge with team members. Consider these resources as you educate dog and cat owners on the importance of year-round heartworm prevention. Source: DVM 360, March 2, 2019. … [Read more...]
Time change has many dragging
Moving our clocks in either direction changes the principal time cue (light) for setting and resetting our 24-hour natural cycle, or circadian rhythm. In doing so, our internal clock becomes out of sync or mismatched with our current day-night cycle. A rule of thumb is that it takes about one day to adjust for each hour of time change, but this varies by individual. If you … [Read more...]
Compare mastitis treatment products
Mike Opperman shares a table to assess products that can help prevent or treat mastitis during the dry cow period or lactation. This handy one-page guide is available in PDF to print and leave with dairy producers or in the veterinary truck. <link to .pdf> Source: Dairy Herd Management, February 28, 2019. Link. … [Read more...]
11 common-sense biosecurity tips help cattle operations
Commercial cattle producers should implement straightforward ways to improve biosecurity on their operations, according Brandi Karish, Mississippi State University Extension beef specialist. She shares 11 tips with Victoria Myers, Progressive Farmer senior editor. Source: Progressive Farmer, February 25, 2019. Link. Biosecurity does not have to mean a lockdown.” A few simple … [Read more...]
Aggie drones work to reduce antibiotic use (includes video)
Texas A&M AgriLife Research scientists are testing drones equipped with thermal imaging cameras as a method to identify feverish animals. By singling out sick cattle for treatment . . . they can treat only the ones in need of medication instead of relying on the practice of injecting the entire herd with antibiotics. Source: Feedstuffs, February 28, 2019. Link. … [Read more...]
Coyotes going metro
The coyote (Canis latrans) is one of nature’s most adaptable wild animals. More and more cities are being invaded by these daring and crafty canids. As omnivores, coyotes enjoy a veritable smorgasbord in suburban areas. A study by the Urban Coyote Research Program analyzed over 1,400 scat samples from urban coyotes and discovered the most common food items were small … [Read more...]
Keeping special chickens healthy
Jeremy Chartier writes about biosecurity pertaining to show chickens. Considering the upcoming Easter season and the realities of inexperienced backyard chicken owners, his basic biosecurity tenants apply. Note his comments about bringing chickens home and to treat everything as suspect. This applies to new chicks coming from the local farm store too. Source: Countryside … [Read more...]
Top 10 animal ailments exacerbated by obesity
To create a clear picture of how obesity affects a cat’s or dog’s overall health, Nationwide Pet Insurance analyzed its database of more than 700,000 insured pets to determine the top 10 medical conditions related to or made worse by obesity. Source: American Veterinarian, January 3, 2019. Link. The top 10 conditions related to obesity are: Most Common Dog Obesity-Related … [Read more...]
Dog with epilepsy? Ask about supplements!
Many dog owners add dietary supplements to their epileptic pet’s diet without consulting a veterinarian. Erin Y. Akin, DVM, DACVIM, shares information excerpted from a recent study on supplement use by owners of epileptic dogs. . . . less than one-fifth of owners sought advice from a clinician . . . clinicians need to actively engage with owners in discussion about epilepsy … [Read more...]
Cat food: what okay and what’s dangerous
Before indulging a family cat to the wide variety of foods in a home, consider what is good and what is dangerous. Dog food is a no-no, for example. There are human foods that cats can eat. There is a list of absolutely forbidden ones, as well. Any food not specifically formulated for cats can affect their digestive system, causing vomiting, diarrhea or loss of appetite. . . … [Read more...]