The air quality index is an important consideration for people with respiratory disorders throughout the year. Christine Barakat shares the importance of AQI measurements, color meanings and how to adjust horse and human activity accordingly. NOTE: Share this link with horse owners to check the AQI in their area <Link>. Source: EQUUS, July 17, 2026. Link. Image: … [Read more...]
Small ruminants are cool. Keep them that way. Especially during the fair.
Goats and sheep may be more heat-tolerant than cattle, but it’s still critical to reduce their exposure to heat stress as much as possible. It decreases dry matter intake, weight gain, milk production, body condition and overall performance. Temperature-humidity index, or THI, is the most accurate measure of animal heat stress in goats and sheep, which can be moderately … [Read more...]
Docility: Understanding pressure and selection
The selection processes used to improve herd outcomes take many forms. As an industry, culling practices receive plenty of attention <Link>. In recent years docility, often discussed as a behavioral or management trait, is now known to be moderately heritable. Neogen’s Kirk Ramsey, DVM, offers a view of where docile cattle behavior plays out in herd development and how … [Read more...]
Understanding Theileria (“TIE-leer-ee-uh” (thī-ˈlir-ē-ə)
Complimentary Content Podcast guest Dr. Gregg Hanzlicek provides the latest information on the emerging disease theileriosis, a growing protozoan threat to thousands of cattle, their owners and those who care for the health of the herds. Most frequently associated with long horn ticks, it is often confused with anaplasmosis. Source: EAHAO podcast, Medgene, July 29, 2026. … [Read more...]
New World screwworm field guide now available
Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service released a field guide for beef cattle producers to help guide operators through the detection, reporting, collection, submission, treatment and prevention processes. It is available online at AgriLife Extension’s New World screwworm resource hub at https://tx.ag/screwworm (4th bullet on the left). Fact sheets and the latest news about … [Read more...]
What milk can tell us about heat stress
New analysis suggests milk mid-infrared spectrometry could become an unexpected tool for selecting dairy cows that are better equipped to cope with heat stress. Rather than relying on environmental measurements such as temperature-humidity index, the approach estimates an individual cow’s physiological response using information collected through routine milk … [Read more...]
Popular X-ray contest closes August 2nd
Over the years, this highly anticipated contest has surfaced some of the most talked-about radiographs in the field: hardware, jewelry, toys, and everything in between. The deadline for submission is August 2nd to have those hard to believe radiographs entered. Source: Veterinary Practice News. Link. Here’s how the panel of veterinary judges scores each entry: 40 … [Read more...]
Worth a Glance – July 30, 2026
Last week’s AHD Bulletin – Animal Health Digest Bulletin, July 22, 2026. Link. Most read posts from July 22nd, 2026 AHD Bulletin – Malone: The power of questions. Link. Nurses consistently ranked as America’s most trusted profession. Link. Pets are one of the most important relationships in people’s lives. Link. How sleep shapes canine behavior. Link. … [Read more...]
Nurses consistently ranked as America’s most trusted profession
Commentary Clarifying why nurses are trusted more than doctors, Angela Haupt’s article provides veterinarians and practice managers important realities to consider when empowering veterinary nurses and technicians. Consider her statements when entrusting veterinary practice teams with increased responsibility for owner engagement and patient care. Doctors and nurses do … [Read more...]
2026 Veterinary Inventory Manager Wage and Compensation Survey results
As budgeting takes shape for 2027, this report may be helpful. It benchmarks the wages and compensation of veterinary professionals who manage inventory. The data is broken down by region, number of locations managed, practice type, job title, experience and how compensation is provided. The median hourly wage for veterinary inventory managers has grown from $18.00 in 2020 to … [Read more...]
Pets are one of the most important relationships in people’s lives
Complimentary – includes commercial content A new survey from Lillie&Lee called Pet Wellness Consumer Trends Report 2026 puts data behind what many already feel: the bond between people and their pets isn't just emotional, it's a genuine wellness lifeline. The findings are timely, human and another confirmation of the value found in the human-animal bond. The graphic … [Read more...]
IBPSA Fast Bites – July 6, 2026
In this week’s FastBites: IBPSA on the road: see the dates and locations Legislative updates from the U.S., Canada and the European Union Webinar: Staffing systems to protect your business, July 30th. Registration <Link> Travel advisory: New World Screwworm. Advise clients to check on requirements using USDA’s searchable database of individual state … [Read more...]
How sleep shapes canine behavior
Understanding why sleep affects dog behavior starts with understanding how they actually sleep, writes Colette Kase, citing a recent literature review. She covers sleep’s effects on behavior, what good sleep looks like, stimulation timing, environmental factors and how cognitive decline disrupts the sleep-wake cycle as dogs age. Kase’s article is written for veterinary … [Read more...]
What normal aging looks like in cats, when to worry
With the increasing focus on cat health and the need to educate cat owners evident, Dan Seymour’s article gives you a good start for prepping owners on senior cat care. Consider using it to set the stage for senior cat wellness, which typically begins at age 10. Knowing the difference between normal ageing and signs of an emerging health crisis is one of the most useful things … [Read more...]
How exercise can change a dog’s core strength and fitness
Complimentary The muscles that support the spine play an important role in overall movement, stability, and performance in especially active dogs. Cynthia M. Otto, DVM, PhD, DACVECC, DACVSMR, and her team at the Penn Vet Working Dog Center are examining how an exercise regimen changes core muscle structure and performance scores in healthy dogs in a Canine Health Foundation … [Read more...]
Dog poop is not fertilizer
Dog poop is not fertilizer. It is harmful to vegetation and likely contains harmful bacteria, parasites and pathogens that pose risks to people and other pets. The EPA classifies dog waste as a “nonpoint source pollutant,” which is the same technical category as motor oil, chemical runoff and acid drainage from abandoned mines. Source: Whole Dog Journal, July 3, 2026. Link. … [Read more...]
Study: Horses may not consume enough salt, even with free-choice access
A new Colorado State University study provides experimental data finding that nine of the 16 horses studied failed to voluntarily consume enough salt to meet recommended sodium requirements. More than half of the horses in the study voluntarily consumed less salt than recommended. Individual horse preferences had a much greater influence on consumption than the form in which … [Read more...]
Headbutting gives goats brain damage
It’s often assumed goats must be protected against head injury by the shape of their skull and strong neck muscles but a new study challenges that assumption. Researchers have found early signs of neurodegeneration in headbutting goats at just one year old <Link>. Three, 6-month-old male goats were acquired for the study. They were recorded for six months to track the … [Read more...]
Finding hidden fly breeding sites (video)
Successful fly control starts long before producers reach for an insecticide, says David Prentice, DVM. “Fly populations are like icebergs. The flies that we’re actually seeing are only about 20 percent.” In this article, he discusses prioritizing premise and environmental management, different fly species and matching insecticide use to individual farm situations. Our July … [Read more...]
#$@!% feral hogs
Kevin Schulz tagged the growing feral hog population as potential disease vectors for African swine fever and New World screwworm last fall. His article suggests that feral hogs can carry the NWS parasite and deliver it to animals that mainly live outdoors, such as horses, cattle, wildlife and even pasture-raised swine. Source: The Farmer, November 10, 2025. Link. It has … [Read more...]
2026 is a reality check for swine health
2026 is proving that viruses don’t take vacations, writes Jennifer Shike. She shares a conversation with three swine health experts* who share their biggest health surprises of the year so far and the specific, high-stakes gaps in biosecurity that are leaving herds vulnerable. These topics are among those discussed: Early and repeated viral sequencing is an essential … [Read more...]
Cyclospora and pets: Reservoir, bystander or red herring?
Cyclospora cayetanensis has been in the news a lot lately. Despite the parasite headlines, veterinary teams do not need to worry about dogs or cats as carriers, reservoirs or patients with C cayetanensis. Other Cyclospora species in primates and reptiles are a legitimate veterinary parasitology footnote, but they are a different story. Source: DVM 360, July 15, 2026. … [Read more...]
CVS announces new pharmacy option for pet owners
CVS Health announced Tuesday that CVS Pharmacy is now dispensing select prescription medications for dogs and cats, including antibiotics, allergy medications, flea and tick treatments, insulin and pain relievers, making it easier for pet owners to access medications for their animals. Source: ABC News, July 21, 2026. Link. Eligible pet prescriptions can also take advantage … [Read more...]
Sylvester.ai launches Connect to Care to help veterinary practices grow feline visits
Sylvester.ai is launching Sylvester Connect to Care. The new program is designed to help veterinary practices capitalize on feline growth opportunities. The program uses geo-targeted ads to reach local cat owners, encourages them to complete Cat Comfort Checks through the Sylvester app, and directs them to a participating veterinary practice to book an appointment if … [Read more...]
Worth a Glance – July 23, 2026
Last week’s AHD Bulletin – Animal Health Digest Bulletin, July 16, 2026. Link. Most read posts from July 16th, 2026 AHD Bulletin – How the ‘Knowing-Doing Gap’ undermines even the best ideas. Link. What if the mid-level practitioner role wasn’t clinical at all? Link. Professional burnout. Link. If you think your cat is being nice, think again. Link. … [Read more...]
How elite sports coaches make high-pressure decisions
The comparison between decision-making in sports and business has its limits. Still, for animal health pros leading and working with employees, staff, colleagues and clients, this self-management article is worth your time and consideration. Top coaches combine disciplined preparation with emotional control and social awareness during crunch time, then embrace accountability … [Read more...]
What if the mid-level practitioner role wasn’t clinical at all?
If you’re as comfortable seeing your nurse practitioner or physician’s assistant as you are with your doctor, this may resonate with you. We’ve not seen much recognition of this alternate concept to mid-level practitioners since April. See what you think. Registered veterinary technician Jodi Belongié suggests that the debate over mid-level practitioners in veterinary … [Read more...]
Review: How to talk to clients about vaccinations
Commentary Articles like this one from Reagan Bugg, DVM, offer veterinary teams a quick way to review and adjust conversations about vaccination hesitancy with the whole team. She reinforces discussion of the pet’s lifestyle as interactive with the animal owner to increase transparency and allay any vaccine hesitancy. Repositioning the yearly exam as a whole health visit … [Read more...]
Veterinary nurses want growth. Doctors want relief. Clients want better patient care.
Elevating veterinary nurse use directly impacts patient care, team morale and practice revenue, writes Kenichiro Yagi, MS, RVT, VTS. He shares the benefits of high-level veterinary nurse engagement, reviews barriers to using them at the "top of their license" and provides a responsible utilization formula. Yagi says responsible utilization means establishing a safeguarded … [Read more...]
IBPSA Fast Bites – July 6, 2026
Passing on credit card fees? Yes or No? Check out the July webinars: Future proofing; Staffing systems On the road dates for IBPSA: SuperZoo, CANIS Conference Source: IBPSA, July 6, 2026. Link. Also see: Animal Health Digest Bulletin, July 2th. Link. Tick-borne diseases, when "we're like family" becomes a leadership problem, dog sunburns, and more! … [Read more...]