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...]
Call it welfare or well-being, it’s about proper husbandry
Portia Stewart tackles semantics that help non-ag persons comprehend the challenges of raising meat and being good animal stewards. Young consumers want to learn a lot more about their food. One of the problems we have today is a lot of young consumers are totally removed from the world of the practical.” - Temple Grandin, DVM. Source: PORK, February 28, 2019. … [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...]
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...]
Sponsored content from AAHA Red and AAHA NEWStat
Here is actionable, sponsored content from recent issues of NEWStat and Red you’ll find helpful: Cats take enough risks on their own. Why add adjuvanted vaccines to the list? January 21, 2019. Link. Content provided by Boehringer Ingelheim. Pet insurance 101 for veterinary hospital teams, December 21, 2018. Link. Content offered by Petplan. The itchy dog: short … [Read more...]
Dogs and their owners tend to act alike, including anxiousness
Whether through conscious training or day to day interactions, humans shape dog behavior—and they change as we change. "Our lifestyle changes trickle down," says William J. Chopik, a social psychologist at Michigan State University. He led a recent study that found that dogs resemble their owners in an entirely different way: their personalities tend to be similar. Source: … [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...]
FDA investigating potential link between certain diets and canine dilated cardiomyopathy
Updating a collaboration that began in July 2018, the FDA believes that the potential association between diet and DCM in dogs is a complex scientific issue that may involve multiple factors. The FDA’s Center for Veterinary Medicine (CVM) and the Veterinary Laboratory Investigation and Response Network (Vet-LIRN) will continue to investigate this potential association of … [Read more...]
NEW – 2019 AAHA Dental Care Guidelines for Dogs and Cats
Created with the goals of decreasing oral pain and improving the quality of life for companion animals, the 2019 AAHA Dental Care Guidelines for Dogs and Cats help veterinary practitioners expand upon their current client education efforts. This will help pet owners better understand that periodontal disease can be prevented through regular dental examinations and proper home … [Read more...]
March JAVMA highlights
We’ve highlighted two articles from the current JAVMA below. Pet owners' knowledge of and attitudes toward the judicious use of antimicrobials for companion animals Link. Most (21/25 [84%]) pet owners expressed trust in their veterinarian to meet their pets' medical needs and prescribe antimicrobials appropriately. Musculoskeletal problems associated with lameness and … [Read more...]
Opinion – Persuade clients without using pressure
Veterinary team members must navigate an ethical tightrope when advocating for the needs of the patient and managing the rights of the animal owner. Lisa J. Hunter, MSW, LSW, and Jane R. Shaw, DVM, PhD, provide a thoughtful article. It includes scripting that merits consideration. This exercise is similar to triangulation psychology used by counselors, consultants and … [Read more...]
Bragging rights: Top veterinary universities
Rankings prepared by Quacquarelli Symonds ranks The University of California – Davis in the number 2 spot globally for 2019. The ranking makes it the top-ranked veterinary university in the United States. Eleven North American schools are ranked in the top 25 as shown below: University of California – Davis (#2)Cornell University (#5)University of Guelph (#7)The Ohio … [Read more...]
Signs of cancer in dogs vary greatly
Veterinary oncologist Dr. Stacy Binstock’s estimate of 25%-33% of dogs developing cancer at some point in their lives is sobering. Cancer is the number one cause of death in older dogs. Catherine Ashe, DVM, reminds us that annual or semi-annual exams are more than vaccine appointments. The physical exam is the most important function and helps identify any symptoms that might … [Read more...]
Rushing heifers to calve diminishes lifetime value
Cargill dairy consultant Shane Holt scrutinized records and found a correlation between calving age and lower lifetime output. The “sweet spot” for age at first calving was 23 or 24 months. Source: Hoard’s Dairyman, February 25, 2019. Link. I have convinced myself after five years of looking at this that there is nothing that will give you more milk than your age at … [Read more...]
Ranch level biosecurity goes beyond vaccination
Keeping diseases at bay requires a lot more than a good vaccination program, writes Caitlin Hebbert. She presents biosecurity beyond BQA requirements and engages Stephen Collett to describe a hierarchy of three levels of biosecurity: Conceptual StructuralProcedural Source: BEEF, February 19, 2019, page 48. Link. Be proactive. A little caution and awareness when it … [Read more...]
March brings more risk of rabies to horses
With winter soon ending, primary small mammal vectors of rabies, including raccoons, foxes, skunks and bats, will emerge from under buildings, leave hay bale nests and hunt assertively to regain body condition and feed newborns. Rabies is not frequently seen in equids, but the disease is invariably fatal and has considerable public health significance. Rabies vaccine is … [Read more...]
Mood-stabilizing medications can improve cats’ quality of life.
Stephanie Borns-Weil, DVM, discusses behavior challenges with cats, when drugs can help and the classes of drugs used with feline behavior problems. The anxiety- or fear-induced feline behavioral problems that most frequently call for the use of these medications are aggression toward other animals or toward a cat’s ownersurine spraying, the method that a cat uses to … [Read more...]
A forward look at pet grooming
Jennifer Higgins review trends, products and companies involved with changing the pet grooming industry. According to Transparency Market Research (TMR), “The pet grooming market has been segmented by product type into conditioners and shampoos, scissors and clippers, and combs and brushes.” We also noted the references to occupational safety. The grooming industry … [Read more...]
More pets than ever now travelling with owners who spend lots of money
For pet owners who travel, there are two choices regarding their pets: take them along or board them. Michael Goldstein shares information about advancing services from airlines and the impacts on the grooming and boarding business estimated at $6 billion in 2017. Source: Forbes, February 22, 2019. Link. Both the airline “carry or ship” pet transport business, and that … [Read more...]
Scottish terrier placed on at watch list
The Kennel Club has officially marked Scottish terriers at risk of disappearing. Last year an all-time low of 438 Scottish terrier pups were registered with the dog breeds organization, a decline of 38 per cent over the last five years. Source: iNEws, February 24, 2019. Link. There are now a record-breaking 29 native vulnerable breeds and nine that are at watch, which … [Read more...]
Trends important to B2B marketers in 2019
Discover the trends marketers are most likely to watch and adopt for their business this year in this unique report. Formats continue to be a huge topic of discussion and experimentation, with video, direct mail and experience-driven interactive content as a means to engagement. Meanwhile, chatbots and influencer marketing are really just a way to reach more people. Source: … [Read more...]
Use color to build your legacy
This new productivity technique can help you reverse engineer your day based on where you want to be many years down the line. Research has shown to be 91 percent effective. Source: Forbes, February 20, 2019. Link. He breaks down the groups into three colors: Red, Green and Gold. . . . he has come to understand that people are largely looking for function and meaning in … [Read more...]
Petco versus PetSmart: no clear winner in big box dog fight
The pet business is one of retail’s long-term bright spots. But the dynamics of alternate sourcing, internet sales and aggressive competition challenge two of the large big box retailers. Private-equity firms bought America’s two biggest pet-store owners within months of each other. One spent billions to boost its online business by acquiring the top internet pet … [Read more...]
Pet King Brands turns 20
Pet King Brands, Inc., celebrates 20 years in business this year. The company makes Zymox skin care and Oratene brushless oral care products. In addition, Debra Decker joins the company as marketing chief and Michaela Kosmis becomes veterinary channel manager. Source: Today’s Veterinary Business, February 2019. Link. Zymox and Oratene are sold through veterinarian practices, … [Read more...]
Avoiding cost does not create value in calving date plans
As the cattle market approaches some expansion slowdown <link>, consider options for where and when calves are born. Despite the greatest total cost, June calving provided the lowest unit cost of production and greatest net profit per calf, thanks to greater weaning and carcass weights. Source: BEEF, January 23, 2019. Link. Calving dates and management systems are … [Read more...]
Observe manure to monitor nutritional status
Texas cow-calf consultant Dan Gary recommends using cow-pie-ology, the visual observation of manure, to determine the nutritional status of cattle. (research) shows . . . as manure piles stack up, more protein is needed. That’s because passage rate through the digestive system slows down and instead of a cow pie, there’s a cow stack. Conversely, excess protein results in … [Read more...]
Methane potent but not long-lived (audio interview)
Methane produced by livestock is the most potent of the gases in question, BUT it simply does not stick around all that long of time compared to gases created by the use of fossil fuels. . . . the three greenhouse gases are not created equal. CO2 and nitrous oxide, have a lifetime of 1000 years. Methane however has a lifespan of only 10 years Source: Radio Oklahoma … [Read more...]