Influencer dogs with their own LLC, pet food label modernization, creating an inbound marketing strategy, affiliate marketing in pet industry, pet parents grappling with pet expenses and more . . . Source: IBPSA Fast Bites, April 17, 2023. Link. … [Read more...]
Be on the lookout for grass tetany
In cattle country, the lush green grasses emerging are generally known to be low in magnesium. Producers need to be reminded to watch for symptoms of grass tetany as forage grasses flourish. Symptoms of grass tetany often include going off feed, nervousness, muscle spasms, convulsions, irritability, and aggressiveness. Severe cases may result in a comatose state or … [Read more...]
Spring is gas colic season
Lush green grass is showing up in pastures across the country. Cattle, goats, sheep and horses seek out the juiciest clumps of grass which are high in sugar. For horses, that can cause colic as excessive fermentation occurs in the gut creating a buildup of gas which doesn’t always find a way out of the horse. The result? Gas colic. Consider sharing this article with horse … [Read more...]
How much food to feed a dog
“How much do I feed my dog?,” is one of the most common questions animal health pros hear from new and seasoned dog owners. John Strassburger reminds dog owners that food volumes are different for every dog. He offers some calorie guidance and suggestions. Bottom line, dog owners will read this so animal health pros need to be aware of the guidance. Source: Whole Dog … [Read more...]
Stimulating more milk fat production
Increasing milkfat and protein components of milk can raise the value of milk for producers. Milkfat comes from two sources. Preformed fat comes from fat present in the diet or body reserves. Other fat results from synthesis in the udder, and this is called de novo or “new” fat. Mike Hutjens, PhD, shared ways feeding and management can affect de novo fatty acid synthesis in … [Read more...]
Why pets do (fill in the blank)?
Addressing pet owner inquiries, the authors share answers to dog and cat owners’ most commonly searched questions. Source: Happy Puppy Tips. Link. INSIGHTS: Share this and discuss with your team to see if they have a consistent answer for these common questions. … [Read more...]
IBPSA Fast Bites – March 27, 2023
October PetCare Conference details, small business grants, risk management, Freshpet and Petco launch fresh food home delivery, women in the pet industry and more . . . Source: IBPSA Fast Bites, March 27, 2023. Link. … [Read more...]
Gaps found in veterinary nutrition education
A recent online survey distributed by the American Animal Hospital Association received 403 responses from small animal veterinarians. The survey investigated whether formal veterinary school education and continuing education increased their confidence and the frequency of discussing nutrition with clients. Veterinarians with self-reported significant formal instruction and … [Read more...]
Artie wins 2023 Pet Care Innovation Prize at Global Pet Expo
Five pet care startups from across the U.S. and Canada pitched their businesses to pet industry influencers in a bid to win the 2023 Pet Care Innovation Prize powered by Purina. Artie presented a unique countertop appliance system used to prepare artisan-inspired, home-cooked Artie Harvest Bowls meals for dogs at the touch of a button. The four other competing companies … [Read more...]
Pet-owning households on decline while spending remains strong
Richard Kestenbaum shares he was shocked with numbers from the APPA summary of its annual report on pet ownership that shows a decline in pet households. The percentage of households with pets declined from 70 percent in 2021 to 66 percent in 2022. In contrast to the households decline, the dollars spent on pets in 2022 were up 10.8 percent over 2021. Recent reports from Chewy … [Read more...]
Worth a Glance – March 23, 2023
Last week’s AHD Bulletin – Animal Health Digest Bulletin, March 16, 2023. Link. Most read post(s) from March 2nd AHD Bulletin – 7 things to know to keep rabbits healthy and hopping. Link. Place keeper: 2023 Veterinary Conferences provided by Galaxy Vets. Link. ===================================== Fake ChatGPT Chrome extension stealing Facebook … [Read more...]
Unraveling the mysteries of recurrent colic
While scientists are starting to get a better handle on recurrent colic and recognize new aspects of its multifaceted complexity, it requires a team approach to manage it. Christa Lesté-Lasserre, MA, discusses causes, prevention and treatment of this painful and challenging condition that sometimes ends with euthanasia. Source: The Horse, March 21, 2023. … [Read more...]
Protein quality of freeze-dried foods
Linda Case shares the results of a published study seeking to determine if freeze-dry processing results in reduced nutrient damage. She notes the study uniquely compares processing temperature and clarifies the products studied were from one manufacturer. Measuring reactive lysine, this study found that the amino acids in three forms of a freeze-dried food were highly … [Read more...]
Pet food recalls
Anne Norris of the FDA’s Center for Veterinary Medicine monitors recalls sharing what happens “when a product violates federal laws and needs immediate legal action.” Recalls can happen in three ways: the company pulls the product on its own the product is pulled by formal FDA request the product is pulled by an FDA order under the agency’s mandatory recall … [Read more...]
Decoding dog gas: When is it a problem?
A small amount of stomach gurgling, burping or even farting is normal for most dogs, but excessive dog gas may signal a problem. Excessive gas may be caused by a less-than-ideal diet or could be signs of issues like inflammatory bowel disease or intestinal parasites. Source: Whole Dog Journal, August 10, 2020. Link. … [Read more...]
IBPSA Fast Bites – March 23, 2023
Human-animal bond during crisis, culturing proteins for sustainability, blogging tips, more pet households than households with children in America, toxic recreational drugs, ChatGPT, franchisee is a first and more . . . Source: IBPSA Fast Bites, March 23, 2023. Link. … [Read more...]
Veterinarians and the pet food industry: Building bridges
Includes Commercial Content Strengthening the relationship and communication between the veterinary space and the pet food industry is a win for everyone, writes Lindsay Beaton. The challenge is to ensure veterinarians and veterinary technicians have relevant tools that support the nutrition discussions with clients. Beaton shares some of what companies are doing to bridge … [Read more...]
Impacts of commingling preconditioned and auction-derived beef calves with BRD
Commentary Cattle science continues to study ways to decrease morbidity, mortality and reduce use of antiinfectives as cattle move around the country. The study referenced reinforces the value of preconditioning and addresses the effects of comingling auction-derived calves with the preconditioned ones. Preconditioning reduced BRD and antimicrobial use in the feedlot, in … [Read more...]
Practical advice for assessing newborn calf vigor
Spring calving is well underway. March storms stress cattle and cattle producers alike. Logically, there is a focus on ensuring calves get a good start and that dams recover quickly to care for and feed calves. While an APGAR test for calves would give cattle producers a clue when to intervene in a newborn’s life, Barry Whitworth, DVM, shares practical advice from studies about … [Read more...]
Rebuild pastures in 2023 ahead of rebuilding herds
Sponsored Content Grazing lands have taken a beating. They need recovery. And that takes time. Source: BEEF, March 1, 2023. Link. Emphasizing the rebuilding of pastures during 2023 will pay off as market opportunities arise in the coming years. INSIGHTS: This is a good coffee shop topic for animal health pros working with beef producers and their veterinarians. It presents … [Read more...]
Understanding immediate and long-term effects of wildfires
Writing about the effects of 90 or more wildfires in the western U.S. during 2022, Corey Geiger reminds us how smoke and fine particulate matter stress cows and calves. Mature cows are impacted immediately which is seen in reduced milk production. Calves however may be affected for their production lives. . . . the preweaning period is critical in future performance . . . … [Read more...]
What veterinarians were talking about at AASV
The American Association of Swine Veterinarians annual meeting is an important event for swine practitioners and the swine industry. The swine health topics discussed at the March 7 meeting included biosecurity, African swine fever, traceability, porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome and more, writes Jennifer Shrike. She provides an overview of the information speakers … [Read more...]
Worth a Glance – March 9, 2023
Last week’s AHD Bulletin – Animal Health Digest Bulletin, March 2, 2023. Link. Most read post(s) from March 2nd AHD Bulletin – Vet Watch Insight Report. 8.5 percent YTD practice revenue growth, other improvements. Link. Place keeper: 2023 Veterinary Conferences provided by Galaxy Vets. Link. 10 most popular articles of 2022 from HBR’s Working Knowledge … [Read more...]
Properly test water sources before turnout
Producers need to check water sources for total dissolved solids and levels of sulfates, pH and nitrates before turning cattle out this spring. Routine testing is advised as water quality fluctuates throughout the growing season. Drifting snow and topsoil during winter also affect water quality. Low-quality water can reduce animal health and productivity, while high-quality … [Read more...]
Animal health efforts DO reduce need for antibiotics
Animal health and nutrition companies are constantly working on ways to improve animal health and provide antibiotic-free alternatives for use in animal feed. Global sales of antibiotics for veterinary use are down nearly one-third since 2011, according to the World Organization for Animal Health with some major livestock-producing countries in Europe, as well as the United … [Read more...]
The best way to store dog food may surprise you
In recent dog food recall announcements, we noted comments about how dog food is stored. Storage information is not readily found on several brands’ websites. After a bit of digging here’s what we found. Key points: store dog food inside in original bags for best results, refresh monthly.” We reviewed packaging and labels from more than 12 brands for storage instructions, … [Read more...]
IBPSA Fast Bites – March 6, 2023
Mars study of CBD safety and efficacy, Hootsuite tips, the search for ecofriendly products, could startups reduce pet care costs, Mars’ investment in pet tech, safeguarding against scammers and cybercrime and more. Source: IBPSA Fast Bites, March 6, 2023. Link. … [Read more...]
Ingredients to look for in dog food and treats
What do I feed my dog? This is one of the more routinely asked questions in veterinary clinics and retail. A well-balanced diet is vital to a dog’s health and well-being. Well balanced means matching nutrition and calories. Sydney Yankowicz shares perspective on helping clients make food decisions. . . . in general, pet owners can be advised to choose recognizable, whole-food … [Read more...]
IBPSA Fast Bites – February 27, 2023
Growth in the pet daycare and housing market, pet food and treats more than 50 percent of spend on pets in 2021, pet toy trends to watch, realizing the power of tech, pet owners of all ages focused on pet nutrition and more . . . Source: IBPSA Fast Bites, February 27, 2023. Link. … [Read more...]
For cows, time is money
Too simple? Maybe. Yet, Rick Grant reminds us of the importance of giving cows time to rest and eat. Cows need to spend about 70% of their day eating and resting. . . We have to get that right and allow cows to do cow things.” Source: Hoard’s Dairyman, February 20, 2023. Link. If cows are eating four to five hours a day and resting 12 to 14 hours, that does not leave much … [Read more...]