A stabled horse spends the better part of his day in direct contact with his bedding. It’s worth the time to periodically reassess bedding choices, according to the authors. Chances are the current bedding it still suitable, but horse owners will never know for sure until they take the time to consider other options. Source: EQUUS, April 20, 2022. Link. The purpose of … [Read more...]
Daily hydration key to top animal care
The best animal care begins with providing daily hydration. We focus on it more during the warmer months, but it remains a daily need. Jared Mitchell, DVM, CVMA, shares why keeping dogs and cats hydrated is so important and how to help ensure enough water is being consumed. He also writes about recognizing dehydration and what to do about it. Water is known as the forgotten … [Read more...]
Farm Bureau Farm Dog of the Year nominations now open
Farmers and ranchers have until July 1 to nominate their dogs to become the Farm Bureau Farm Dog of the Year. The contest celebrates farm dogs and how they support farmers and ranchers in producing food for families and pets. The grand prize winner will win a year’s worth of Purina dog food and $5,000 in prize money. Source: American Farm Federation, April 12, 2022. Link. … [Read more...]
Do prescription dog foods really help?
Opinion One of the main objectives for Animal Health Digest remains to provide animal health pros with information animal owners may read, take to heart or better understand. In this article, Nancy Kerns focuses on prescription diets and admits to some peeves and challenges of educating pet owners. She says change is coming and the newly crowded veterinary diet market … [Read more...]
How cattle vaccination and nutrition connect
Complimentary Sponsored Content Shelby Roberts, PhD, discusses the symbiotic relationship of sound nutrition and proper vaccination which helps to maintain healthy immune functions in cattle. Vaccinations and nutrition have a symbiotic relationship in terms of maintaining healthy immune functions in cattle.” - Shelby Roberts, PhD Source: Alltech, March 8, 2021. Link. … [Read more...]
Spring grass and horses
Juliet M. Getty, PhD, provides guidance on fresh grass and the potential problems it can cause for horses. She continues with tips on monitoring grasses throughout the season. Source: Equine Wellness, April 15, 2014. Link. Tasty spring grasses can offer too much sugar and starch for the insulin resistant horse, thereby increasing the risk of laminitis. However, with careful … [Read more...]
Why cats eat grass
Some cats are drawn to eating grass which is often followed by vomiting up the greens. Tom Fish digs into this behavior with cat experts. There doesn’t seem to be much consensus, but some theories include: . . . eating grass makes the cats throw up less digestible parts of a protein-rich meal Grass is a source of needed trace minerals, micronutrients, and vitamins A, B … [Read more...]
Counseling pet owners on pediatric nutrition
Choosing a pet food IS overwhelming with the number of commercial options available, a plethora of advertising, label vernacular and popular trends. Kate Boatright, VMD, shares three key areas in which veterinary team members should be competent discussing with owners of puppies and kittens: The best food for the new pet How much to feed When to switch to an adult … [Read more...]
Worth a Glance – April 14, 2022
Last week’s most read posts Traditional recruiting is broken. 6 ways to reimagine it. Link. Last week’s AHD Bulletin Animal Health Digest Bulletin, Thursday, March 31, 2022. Link. =================================== How long is too long to leave a dog alone? Source: Whole Dog Journal, January 10, 2020. Link. 10 to 12 hours is too long for a dog to be … [Read more...]
Dirty pet food bowls common, full of pathogens
Researchers from North Carolina State University surveyed dog owners about their animal feeding habits and swabbed pets' food dishes for bacteria. The findings suggest a need to educate pet owners about pet food handling and hygiene to minimize bacterial contamination of dishes, especially for high-risk populations. Source: HealthDay, April 6, 2022. Link. Also see: … [Read more...]
Avocado. Toxic for pets or not?
This new research may create confusion as avocado meal is used as a pet food component. Avocados contain a chemical called persin, a natural fungicide, which could be toxic to dogs that eat the fruit. However, in an experiment, persin seemed to be destroyed and inactivated during kibble production, leaving the resulting product safe for dogs. The Journal of Animal … [Read more...]
IBPSA Fast Bites – April 11, 2022
Pet retailer’s guide to animal healthcare, OSHA resources required, wearable pet tech, pet industry advocacy, work force issues and more . . . Source: IBPSA Fast Bites, April 11, 2022. Link. … [Read more...]
Top-searched product attributes for pet food according to NielsenIQ
Pet owning consumers are seeking specific product attributes, and they are changing the way they shop for products. There is an increasing shift toward omnichannel options and e-commerce outlets, writes Jordan Tyler. The NielsenIQ researchers dug into frequently searched terms that will interest animal health pros. In the top-searched attributes for dog food and treats, the … [Read more...]
Burst the myths about raw food diets for dogs and cats
Raw feeding isn’t new, but it is widely misunderstood. This author looks at five common falsehoods about feeding dogs and cats a raw food diet. He touts the raw dietary option as one of the more nutritionally beneficial choices but also acknowledges challenges. Proper raw diets for dogs and cats are made up of meat, bone, organ meats, vegetables, and supplements. All these … [Read more...]
Healthy pastures are the foundation for health herds
Complimentary Sponsored Content Providing abundant, quality grazing influences productivity in ways both obvious and subtle. Sound pasture management is as important as a good vaccine protocol or feed and mineral program. Yet it is often overlooked.” - Jeff Clark, Corteva Source: The Bullvine, March 2, 2022. Link. Nutrition to support body condition can come from a bale or … [Read more...]
Worth a Glance – March 17, 2022
Last week’s most read post Gen Z wants this more than flexibility at work. Link. Last week’s AHD Bulletin Animal Health Digest Bulletin, Thursday, March 10, 2022. Link. =================================== Delta variant of COVID-19 found in cat Source: My Vet Candy, March 11, 2022. Link. This apparent interspecies transmission is the first published example … [Read more...]
Benefits and challenges with multi-species grazing
Land use and stewardship are two of the hot topics producers and landowners face. Adaptive grazing with more than one species of livestock can multiply regenerative benefits, shape landscape, and add income to operations. Source: Noble Research Institute. Link. Adaptive grazing uses higher livestock densities for short durations between long periods of rest to allow complete … [Read more...]
The bottle beats the bucket for winter watering
Simply feeding milk or milk replacer isn’t enough in developing calves. Their rumens need a separate source of pure water to feed the fermentation process that promotes rumen development. Research in a 5-week comparison period found calves getting water by a bottle consumed an average of 1.4 quarts of water per day, compared to 0.2 quarts for the bucket group. Source: Dairy … [Read more...]
Best metabolism boosting behaviors (video)
Three changes to your daily routine can boost your metabolism and help prevent weight gain. Your physical activity, diet and sleep habits can help or hurt your metabolism. Our metabolism peaks at 1 year of age . . . “ Source: Today, March 11, 2022. Link. From age 20 to 60 . . . maximize the caloric burn from exercise, increase energy-burning muscle mass, adjust diet and get … [Read more...]
Fact sheet examines compounds to mitigate virus-contaminated feed
There’s no doubt we are more aware of biosecurity these days. One area of concern for livestock producers is whether feed and feed ingredients may also be routes of virus transmission and how to manage those risks. A new fact sheet from Iowa Pork Industry Center focuses on three research papers that evaluated compounds to mitigate virus-contaminated feed. Swine specialist … [Read more...]
Beware of nursing calf BRD
Complimentary Sponsored Content* Outbreaks of nursing calf BRD, also called summer pneumonia, do occur, writes Brent Meyer DVM, MS. He shares a list of factors that can lead to BRD in nursing calves. Most all are well known and routinely covered in the media. Yet, producers still have deaf ears and often maintain elevated expectations of dams’ natural abilities. Note the … [Read more...]
Pets afflicted with pandemic pounds just like us
Veterinarians blame extra treats and table scraps given to pets since the coronavirus pandemic began as the primary reason for a whopping increase of pet obesity. Banfield Pet Hospital found nearly 40 percent of cats and almost 35 percent of dogs were diagnosed as overweight in 2020, up from less than 20 percent a decade ago. Source: The New York Times, March 4, 2022. Link. … [Read more...]
Worth a Glance – March 3, 2021
Last week’s most read post Alert! Highly pathogenic avian influenza now identified in 13 states and counting. Link. Last week’s AHD Bulletin Animal Health Digest Bulletin, Thursday, February 24, 2022. Link. =================================== Fake meat is bleeding money Source: PORK, February 23, 2022. Link. “Beyond Meat has been lauded as a disruptor … [Read more...]
Listeriosis often found in silage fed in winter
Listeriosis is caused by the bacteria Listeria monocytogenes. The bacteria is present everywhere in the environment and survives well in moist soil for about one year. In domestic animals the disease is most important in ruminants and most seen during winter months when they are being fed silage. As winter conditions persist, cattle producers often find themselves scraping … [Read more...]
New report: drivers of U.S. dairy productivity and efficiency
Dairy veterinary teams, marketing personnel and sales representatives servicing dairy producers understand some of the national trends causing consolidation of dairy operations into larger and fewer farms. Still, milk production for the domestic market continues to increase steadily. A new report by Eric Njuki with USDA’s Economic Research Service presents the substantial … [Read more...]
Consuming water helped people reduce stress
A large study found people who drink five cups or more of water per day were at lower risk of depression and anxiety. In comparison, drinking fewer than two cups per day doubles the risk. The link between dehydration and anxiety is also observed in children, who are a group at risk of dehydration. Researchers have also found people who usually drink lots of water feel less … [Read more...]
How equine supplements complement forage
Sometimes hay just isn’t enough, says Clair Thune. She shares how equine supplements can help horses get the nutrients they need to thrive. Source: Equine Wellness, February 2, 2022. Link. Look for products that provide at least 50 percent of the National Research Council guidelines for copper and zinc and 100 percent of the guidelines for vitamin E. Note that the amounts … [Read more...]
Food puzzles for cats
Most, if not all, cats can adjust to food puzzles, given time, patience and proper staging of difficulty. The overriding objective should be to provide all food from puzzles. Food puzzles are considered important as part of a multimodal enrichment plan. Source: AAFP, LinkedIn, February 18, 2022. Link. This 2016 clinical review article presents puzzles of all kinds and their … [Read more...]
Worth a Glance – February 17, 2022
Last week’s most read post Emotions – make them work for you. Link. Last week’s AHD Bulletin Animal Health Digest Bulletin, Thursday, February 10, 2022. Link. =========================== Dog breeds that shed the most Source: Puppies and Pooches, February 10, 2022. Link. Prospective dog owners not prepared for the constant vacuuming and brushing … [Read more...]
February 2022 is Responsible Pet Owners Month
Responsible Pet Owners Month highlights the key components of responsibility about pet ownership and how owners meet their animals’ needs including*: Food quality and portions Getting enough exercise, love and attention Proper identification Pet proofing and safety in home and yard Socialization beyond the home Regular veterinary check-ups * Our additions … [Read more...]