Heidi Goethert, ScD, presents an image gallery showing the ticks of the northeast United States, though their range may extend throughout much of North America. The ticks were photographed on the author's hand to show scale. A close-up view is included to show details useful for identification. Source: Clinician’s Brief, April 2008. Link. A clinician's ability to make an … [Read more...]
A pictorial journey of the effects of heartworm infection
It just takes one bite. Still clients and veterinary teams struggle with year-round heartworm prevention. Stephen Jones, DVM, challenges animal health pros to understand how heartworm disease begins long before clinical signs develop and progresses as long as heartworms are present. Source: Veterinary Medicine, April 19, 2018. Link. Remember: by the time a dog is diagnosed … [Read more...]
Separation anxiety: The worry over worry
The market reentry of Reconcile® (fluoxetine hydrochloride) from PRN Pharmacal™ prompted research by AHD staff about separation anxiety. Most recently, Fear Free Happy Homes offered context in the article, “Shadow effect: is it closeness or anxiety?” Link. The writer states, “Separation anxiety rarely gets better on its own and, in fact, often escalates.” John Ciribassi, … [Read more...]
Keep vaccinating. Dogs can’t get autism.
The anti-vaxxers simply won’t let science get in the way of senseless fearmongering. In fact, the fear they spread prompted the British Veterinary Association to issue a statement last week: Dogs cannot develop autism. Their message is that dog owners should keep vaccinating their pets against diseases because fear that animal would develop autism is unfounded. The theory … [Read more...]
Bad dog breath; Szabo’s home remedies
Julia Szabo is a frequent contributor of content to Dogster. Bad dog breath is a sign of an unhealthy mouth, she states and offers eight home remedies for it. We’re sharing her list and explanations for consideration by animal health pros when discussing dog halitosis with pet owners. Because this list includes some spices, we added spices and neem oil references. Source: … [Read more...]
Make routine dentals digestible
Making dental care easier to swallow for pet owners requires some modeling choices. Karen Felstad, DVM360 conference educator, speaks to bundling, economical basic pricing and more. For practice managers and clinic owners, his information presented is a worthwhile topic for discussion at a management meeting. Source: Veterinary Economics, April 18, 2018. Link. “A lot of … [Read more...]
Help pets stay calm during storms
Spring thunderstorms are daily reality right now and they strike fear in some pets. This fear can manifest as hiding, whining, scratching, slobbering or tearing down door frames in a state of panic, according to animal behaviorist Patricia McConnell. It can worsen with age. This brief item article offers some useful tips to help keep pets calm and understand their … [Read more...]
5 myths about first aid
Human injuries are inevitable at veterinary hospitals, retailers or with representatives. While first aid certifications have improved, not everyone is current or trained with best practices. In a medical emergency, the right response can save lives – but many of us still do things wrong. Source: BBC, April 20, 2018. Link. Claudia Hammond shares common myths, also what to … [Read more...]
Animal welfare tops list of American causes
Americans say they care more about animal welfare than children’s education and hunger. That’s according to the findings of the “Causes Americans Care About,” a new study that gathered responses from 1,000 adults: 41% chose animal welfare number one. Children’s education ranked second with 38% of respondents. Hunger, chosen by 33% of respondents ranked number … [Read more...]
This animal kills more people in a day than sharks in a century (videos)
Bill Gates, Microsoft founder, has come to fear mosquitos. He discusses the global consequences of mosquito-borne disease in humans, fears and shares a clever video that reinforces mosquitos as a vector. The video’s mosquito character says, “I don’t want to kill, it’s just something inside me.” For animal health professionals, mosquitos are most notably vectors for dog … [Read more...]
AAHA offers parasite counselor program
The American Animal Hospital Association now offers the Parasite Counselor Program for veterinarians and veterinary staff. The online modules are designed for all staff of companion animal veterinary practices and can be accessed at VetFolio. Source: Vetfolio, April 27, 2017. Link. The specially tailored courses in this program will provide training on fleas, ticks, … [Read more...]
Ways to reduce fear, stress and anxiety in pets
When Steve Dale talks, people listen. In a recent newsletter he discusses: Destress Your Pet Month from Ceva Animal Health and the American College of Veterinary Behaviorists. From Fearful to Fear Free: A Positive Program to Free Your Dog from Anxiety, Fears and Phobias, Dr. Marty Becker, Dr. Lisa Radosta, Dr. Wailani Sung, Mikkel Becker, edited by Kim Campbell … [Read more...]
Reconcile® joins Animal Health Digest as Sponsor
AHD welcomes Reconcile® (fluoxetine hydrochloride) as our newest Supporting Sponsor. Manufactured by PRN PharmacalTM, a PBI-Gordon company, Reconcile provides veterinarians with a clinically tested, FDA-approved, selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) labeled for dogs. When combined with the BONDTM Behavior ModificationTraining Program, Reconcile® has been shown to … [Read more...]
Communicate, connect for health’s sake
The number of people who identify as lonely has doubled from 20 percent to 40 percent in the past 30 years. In that same time, the average number of close friends that people identify having has gone from three to one. Having weak social ties is as harmful to health as alcoholism. It’s also equivalent to smoking up to 15 cigarettes a day. Thus, having techniques to effectively … [Read more...]
Outdoors not possible? Bring nature to your desk. (videos)
For some, it's not always possible to take a midday hike or a break in the park during the workday. But there’s good news. Studies show that just looking at pictures or videos of nature can boost our health and happiness. The effects aren't as strong as the outdoors, but a few positive cognitive benefits are better than none. Haley Goldberg rounded up eight relaxing nature … [Read more...]
New calf killer in town
Salmonella Heidelberg, a disease identified fewer than two years ago, can quickly claim the lives of dairy calves. The disease is a risk for any dairy and has become a multi-state risk due to the frequent transport of dairy animals across the U.S. Additionally, S. Heidleberg is resistant to antibiotics and was linked to human cases in 15 states. Source: Hoard’s Dairyman, … [Read more...]
30-plus years of pork industry milestones, issues
Neil Dierks, CEO of the National Pork Producers Council, reflects on the development of the pork industry. He highlights these issues as the most memorable: Mandatory pork checkoff Pseudorabies eradication program H1N1 flu pandemic of 2009 Application of technology Animal ID/premise ID Growth of exports Porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome … [Read more...]
Quiz: Implementing wellness plans
Test your knowledge with this quiz on the key elements of a successful wellness plan, as well as some common misconceptions. Consider engaging your entire staff to take this quiz. Questions 9 and 10 may be revealing. Source: Veterinary Team Brief, January/February 2018, Link. Wellness plans are not only beneficial for pet owners and pets, they also provide veterinary … [Read more...]
Warm-up exercises for horses
Traci Johnting shares warm-up exercises she uses for to get a horse soft and supple before a show. These exercise disciplines apply to any horse we intend to ride. After all, the minute a rider mounts, the animal is asked to perform athletically. Source: The American Quarter Horse Journal, April 18, 2018, Link. I like these exercises because you don’t need any special … [Read more...]
Night owls may die early, study says
The early bird gets the worm and may also be healthier than night owls whose biological clocks prefer late nights and wee morning hours. Research by Knutson and von Shantz shows night owls’ behavior is associated with a range of health problems that include obesity, high blood pressure, cardiovascular disease and early death. Source: The Conversation, April 12, 2018, … [Read more...]
Pet foxes; now what?
Jenifer Chatfield, DVM, and Olivia Petritz, DVM, share different perspectives on all things pet fox with Sarah Wooten, DVM. There are different kinds of domesticated foxes that people buy. Chatfield shares, “It’s not our job to judge whether it’s right or not for a client to have a pet fox. It is our job to provide adequate healthcare and education to that client. With the … [Read more...]
Research for biomarkers and slow-kill protocol for heartworm disease summarized
Animal health pros frequently challenge the status quo. In the face of a heartworm infection, melarsomine has received the American Heartworm Society recommendations along with steroid and antithrombotic agents, as needed. But melarsomine sometimes has limited availability or is unavailable in many countries. Thus, many slow-kill protocols have been circulated as possible … [Read more...]
Annual screening for dogs’ exposure to infected ticks is vital
Melissa Beall, DVM, PhD, reinforces that dogs don’t always show clinical signs of tick exposure. Therefore, annual screening is critical to discovery of tick-borne diseases. Pet-side test kits and research reinforce her assertions. Source: Veterinary Practice News, April 18, 2018, Link. The study, found at idexx.com/tickrisk, showed two key findings: dogs with Ehrlichia … [Read more...]
Puppies and kittens with diarrhea can be biohazards
Puppies and kittens can be fuzzy little biohazards, writes Maureen Anderson, DVM. It’s a paradoxical picture. She outlines different roles and responsibilities, sharing what each team member should and should not do to help control the spread of infection when handling diarrhea cases. Source: Veterinary Team Brief, April 2018, Link. Veterinary practices should have an … [Read more...]
Scam alert: Beware of callers impersonating the DEA
The Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) reports that some registrants are getting calls and emails from con artists. According to the agency, “The impersonators inform their victims that purchasing drugs over the internet or by telephone is illegal, and that enforcement action will be taken against them unless they pay a fine. If victims refuse to send money, the impersonators often … [Read more...]
Cornell research: moderate cost for no antibiotics in dairy
A new Cornell University study pinpoints the financial toll that eliminating antibiotic use would have on dairy farms. The team took a systems approach that involves researchers in epidemiology, development sociology, and agricultural and health economics. Source: Dairy Herd Management, April 19, 2018, Link. To examine the effect of limiting the use of antibiotics in dairy … [Read more...]
Heed new pinkeye management protocols
Articles from AHD sponsor Addison Biological Laboratories provide information about how we should now manage pinkeye. Starting with a historical perspective helps. This is what we know: Pinkeye is a painful cattle disease that can reduce weaning weights as much as 17 lbs. to 65 lbs. per animal. Pinkeye is a multifactor disease. Once it begins to spread through a … [Read more...]
April is De-Stress Your Pet Month
Hiding, scratching, crying or chewing on chairs by pets are likely signs of stress. And, they’re natural reactions to stress. Most pet owners don’t know it. This is one reason why AHD sponsor Ceva Animal Health and the American College of Veterinary Behaviorists have teamed up to create De-Stress Your Pet Month in April. Look for this news in industry media, local newspapers … [Read more...]
National Park Week is next week
National Park Week runs April 21 through 29 and Earth Day is Sunday, April 22. Parks across the country will host special programs and events, including a fee-free day, Saturday April 21. Take some time to enjoy what our park system has to offer. Source: National Park Service. (Link) The theme for National Park Week is “Park Stars,” celebrating everything from starry skies … [Read more...]
Handle cattle vaccines properly for greatest efficacy
We all need basic reminders now and then. Basic vaccine protocols are worth discussing more than once a year. This quick read is a good reminder of recognized handling practices. Source: Progressive Cattleman, April 9, 2018. (Link) Vaccines need to be stored between 35°F and 45°F at all times and maintaining consistency within this temperature range is critical. Do not … [Read more...]