Prepping calves for next fall’s market starts now with a herd vaccination program for cows, bulls and calves. Annual operational objectives should include 100 percent healthy cattle. Herd vaccination programs are proactive and implementing vaccines recommended by local veterinarian help protect against known viral and bacterial issues in the area. The upside of processing … [Read more...]
Hoof-care diagnostic tool is cool (slide show)
Zinpro’s new Step Up program has neat tools for cattle lameness identification and management. They were developed in collaboration from Kansas State University's Beef Cattle Institute. The materials combine as much knowledge from the beef and dairy industries as possible, then makes it somewhat specific for beef or dairy animals, says Zinpro’s Connie Larson. It is available … [Read more...]
Trim dogs’ toenails in a stress-free way
Searching “dog nail trimming” on Google reveals a plethora of information. Most of it focuses on our reluctance to routinely trim nails because of unruly animals or the fear of cutting into the quick. Dr. Karen Gellman reminds us that long toenails have consequences on the pet: Long toenails cause painful feet Overgrown nails often create an abnormal compensatory … [Read more...]
Stop pets’ progression to aggression
Mikkel Becker discusses the challenges of avoiding scratches, bites and wrestling with animals needing veterinary care. She references the Fear Free approaches that use multimodal practices. They address fear, anxiety and stress in ways that reduce distress while keeping pets and veterinary teams safer. Source: Firstline, April 10, 2018. (Link) When you use tools to offer … [Read more...]
April ends strong at The Bridge Club
Two intriguing Bridge Club topics are left in April: Hurricane Harvey: Lessons Learned by from Gulf Coast Veterinary Specialists Thu, April 19, 2018, 10:00 AM – 10:30 AM CDT Ryan Buck, president of Houston’s Gulf Coast Veterinary Specialists, shares lessons from Hurricane Harvey’s devastation of the 54,000-square-foot facility and rebuilding for employees, the … [Read more...]
Bony changes in the equine neck
Neck pain and stiffness are common problems in performance horses. Scientists recently showed that even horses without obvious signs of neck pain or stiffness might have abnormal bony changes there. Older and taller horses had an increased prevalence and severity of disease in the research. Source: The Horse, April 3, 2018. (Link) In the study, “Characterization of Bony … [Read more...]
GlobalVetLINK honored by Technology Association of Iowa
Congratulations to the GlobalVetLINK team for being awarded a 2018 Prometheus Award naming it as the software company of the year. This award makes the sixth Prometheus Award from various categories since the company was founded in 1999. GlobalVetLINK’s has become the world’s most trusted, secured and independent repository of animal health data. Source: GlobalVetLINK, April … [Read more...]
Treat burned cattle properly
Upwards of 300,000 acres have been burned by recent Oklahoma wildfires. As AHD reported during the Kansas wildfires last year, getting burned cows and calves healthy again can be tough. The advice from Kansas State Research and Extension is as worthwhile this spring as last spring. Sources: High Plains Journal, March 20, 2017. (Link) For calves, heifers and bulls, there can … [Read more...]
First Fear Free Practice certified
The Pet Doctor in O’Fallon, Missouri, became the world’s first Fear FreeSM Certified Veterinary Practice this month. Owner Dr. Marcy Hammerle became individually certified in 2016. She was also the first veterinary hospital owner to apply for practice certification when that program launched on April 2, 2018. Hammerle was determined her practice would be the first Fear Free … [Read more...]
Dealing well with annoying co-workers
Working on a team can be tough. Coworkers have an undeniable knack for driving us up a wall. To make the most of it, teamwork, the Muse team offers its favorite tips for successfully working with annoyances. Source: The Muse, April 5, 2018. 3 things you need to remember when you coworkers are driving you insane This RBG quote proves you can be friendly with … [Read more...]
Perfectionists and business days dwindle
Alice Boyes, PhD, discusses perfectionists, their strengths and how their tendencies sometimes lead to self-sabotage in the workplace. She offers practical solutions for minimizing the downsides of these tendencies and to keep things moving. Procrastination or decision paralysis is one of the perfectionist traits that slows progress. Source: Harvard Business Review, April 2, … [Read more...]
Farts: funny, diverse and sometimes lethal
Little did Dani Rabaiotti, a PhD zoology student at the Zoological Society of London, know that a simple question by brother would propel her into the literary world. She didn’t know the answer to, “Do snakes fart,” so she turned to Twitter. And, as quickly as a gaseous dog can clear a dining room, she had the answer and then some. Virginia Tech ecologist Nick Caruso saw the … [Read more...]
Working cats need veterinary care
Outdoor cats, or barn cats are important to some property owners’ rodent control. They are not to be considered feral. Janet Garman appropriately describes barn cats as working ones. She says barn cats deserve to be treated like other high-performing work animals and to feed them adequate nutrition, so they have the energy and stamina to perform. Remember to provide consistent … [Read more...]
A guide to shots for cats
Steve Dale, CABC, provides a well-positioned discussion of feline vaccination needs, challenges and the impact of not vaccinating. Most cat owners need this reinforcement to keep their cats vaccinated. Share it on websites, in newsletters and in social media posts. Source: Catster, March 28, 2018. After reviewing literature regarding feline vaccines, Dr. Margie Scherk comes … [Read more...]
Street nails: an equine emergency
Nails or other objects that have punctured the bottom of a horse’s hoof, sometimes called street nails, require careful veterinary inspection. Veterinarians should only remove a nail after he or she has thoroughly evaluated the its location in the hoof and collected radiographs, if necessary. It is important to determine if there is any involvement with deeper structures of the … [Read more...]
Research suggests equine influenza virus is zoonotic
Duke University researchers recently sought to answer a longstanding question about the equine influenza virus (EIV). Can it infect people? Their answer is “yes.” Their ongoing work may lead us to better understand human-to-horse infections, as well as horse-to-human transfers. Source: Equus, March 22, 2018. As for what individual horse owners can do to protect themselves … [Read more...]
Backyard chickens may pose health risks to humans
Zoonotic diseases that backyard poultry may spread to humans include salmonellosis, campylobacteriosis and avian influenza viruses. Widespread outbreaks of human Salmonella spp. infections linked to contact with backyard chickens have been documented in the United States since the 1990s. Source: Clinician’s Brief, March 2018. Veterinarians should advise owners of backyard … [Read more...]
Control flies, prevent disease
Fly control warrants concern from every animal health professional. John Maday discusses the cattle perspective, including VFD restrictions to historical practices. Producers can benefit by working with their veterinarians to focus more on parasite control and less on medicated feeds for preventing diseases associated with flies. Source: Drovers, April 4, 2018. Effective … [Read more...]
Latest Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association
The April 15, 2018 issue of JAVMA has three papers that caught our eyes. We’ve linked to the abstracts below: Rabies surveillance in the United States during 2016 Outcomes of and risk factors for presumed canine H3N2 influenza virus infection in a metropolitan outbreak Case-control study to determine herd-level risk factors for bovine respiratory disease in nursing … [Read more...]
Zombie raccoons; 200 new viruses in reptiles, amphibians, fish
These two articles expose the reality of living with wildlife. Distemper is likely the cause of strange-acting raccoons in Ohio. Meanwhile, researchers indicate viruses that infect amphibians, reptiles and fishes are studied little compared to the ones that affect mammals and birds. Source: The Washington Post, April 5, 2018 (paywall). Residents in Youngstown, Ohio, … [Read more...]
Surprising side effects from using technology
The repetitive motions from texting and typing, plus poor posture can lead to aches and pains. This article reviews the side effects and offers some fixes: Hand pain Hand numbness and tingling Neck and back pain Hand and wrist fixes Back and neck fixes Source: Harvard Health Letter, April 2018. … [Read more...]
Is technology driving pets insane?
Brian Cooley suggests that advances in technology could be causing undue stimulation and stress for pets. Their senses are tuned differently than our own. They may detect a cacophony of noise and strobe effects that we don't, particularly as we fill homes with technology. Source: CNet, April 4, 2018. Unless you're planning to move off the grid, you aren't going to banish … [Read more...]
Beef vets release statement on raised without antibiotics programs
The American Association of Bovine Practitioners (AABP) released its position statement on programs that tout that animals were raised without antibiotics. In short, the AABP encourages producers and practitioners using these programs to always put the health and welfare of cattle FIRST. Source: Beef, March 28, 2018. The pressure on beef producers and their veterinarians to … [Read more...]
Presenting euthanasia as a reasonable option may benefit DVMs, owners and pets
Euthanasia and end-of-life considerations are predictable stressors for veterinary professionals, says Katherine Goldberg, DVM. What follows is a rational and strategic discussion of euthanasia from both the DVMs’ perspectives and the pet owners. She thoughtfully suggests we rethink euthanasia from something we must or should consider to something we might or could … [Read more...]
Urban poultry needs more regulation to protect human and animal health (includes video)
Backyard chickens are increasingly popular throughout the U.S. Nearly one percent of all U.S. households surveyed by the U.S. Department of Agriculture reported owning backyard fowl in 2013, and four percent more planned to start in the next five years. This is more than 13 million Americans flocking to the backyard poultry scene. Researchers from University of California - … [Read more...]
Sentinel chickens keep us safe from disease
Chickens do more than lay eggs and develop protein. Throughout California, 139 sentinel chicken flocks work hard to help ecologists and disease prevention specialists predict when human cases of West Nile Virus and St. Louis Encephalitis may occur. They’re sitting in coops throughout neighborhoods waiting to get bitten by mosquitoes. But, they don’t get sick from the diseases. … [Read more...]
Prevent lameness in dairy cows
Recent research findings published in the Journal of Dairy Science suggest that lameness prevention merits a strong focus on dairy farms. Michael Cox reviews the prevention issues and opportunities. Source: American Dairymen, April 2018, page 14. Like many animal health issues, lameness is a multi-factorial problem. Dairymen need to review their facilities and people … [Read more...]
Back to basics with equine ulcers
Up to 90 percent of performance horses and up to 50 percent of foals develop ulcers. Even with successful treatment, odds are that the ulcers will reoccur, sometimes repeatedly, according to Frank M. Andrews, DVM, professor and director of the Equine Health Studies program at Louisiana State University. He reminds readers that horses produce gastric acid throughout the day … [Read more...]
Cats may experience placebo effects
Cat, or other pets, may experience placebo effects, according to a study at North Carolina State University evaluating a novel approach for cats with degenerative joint disease. Though conducted in 2014, interesting results were aired this week. Source: KPCC, April 4, 2018. Results? In Part One, all owners said their pets were better – so there was a definite placebo … [Read more...]
Hoppy days; tips for a rabbit’s best life
A surprising number of pet house rabbits live with fear every day because their families, though they may love their rabbits, just don’t understand their needs, writes Steve Dale. He reviews eight rabbit facts from persons at the House Rabbit Society, the Rabbit Center and the National House Rabbit Society. This list can be used for new rabbit owners in print form and is ready … [Read more...]