Nutrition is the number-1 topic cat owners want to talk about with their vet, according to a survey of 1,001 cat owners by Royal Canin. The survey also found that three in five cat owners do not take their cat to the vet regularly. Encouraging cat owners to take their pets to the vet can help address diet-related medical conditions. Source: Petfood Industry, August 22, … [Read more...]
Fast Bites – October 18th edition from IBPSA
2021 holiday shopping season trends, biggest dog companies and their popular brands, retailer Pets at Home adds video interaction with store experts, grain-free food trends, the IBPSA Rebate Program launches and more. Source: IBPSA Fast Bites, October 18, 2021. Link. … [Read more...]
Worth a Glance – October 14, 2021
Last week’s. . . . . . most read post LED technology helps locate cows needing attention. Link. . . . AHD Bulletin Animal Health Digest Bulletin - Oct 7, 2021. Link. 7 animals that can harm dogs Source: Outside Resource, July 28, 2021. Link. Good reminders for fall as food resources begin to diminish and young animals strike out on their … [Read more...]
Advising pet owners on nutritional adequacy
Addressing questions from owners about whether a food is safe and meets their pet’s needs can be challenging and time-consuming, as there is a significant amount of misinformation available, writes Deborah E. Linder, DVM, MS, DACVN. She shares examples of the criteria and questions from the WSAVA Global Nutrition Committee’s nutrition toolkit to determine high-quality pet … [Read more...]
Grain-free? Grain-ful? The Chatfields discuss pet food choices.
Complimentary* Dr. Jen the vet and Dr. Jason Chatfield discuss the confusing pet food ingredients marketplace with Dr. Joseph Wakshlag, a veterinarian board-certified in nutrition and sports and rehabilitation medicine. They pragmatically differentiate what is marketing and what is nutrition. They also effectively addresses the differences between what dogs need and what … [Read more...]
Beef up your momma cows
Feeding pregnant cows with a balanced ration will yield calves with more muscle mass. The nutrition part of gestation is critical! It matters the entire time due to fetal changes throughout gestation.” - Ruel "Buzz" Iliff, DVM Source: BEEF, October 5, 2021. Link. Cows can’t handle fetal development entirely on their own. They need a balanced ration for the entire gestation to … [Read more...]
5 supplements dogs need or don’t
NOTE: The word SHOULD in this article is strong and potentially dangerous language for pet owners. There is also a link to “top” supplements to help with everything from anxiety, digestion and joint health to dental and immune support. Ugghh! Turmeric, coconut oil, probiotics, glucosamine and fish oil are supplements Jennifer Yau says dog owners SHOULD give their dogs. At … [Read more...]
Worth a Glance – September 30, 2021
Last week’s. . . . . . most read post More effective communications. Link. . . . AHD Bulletin Animal Health Digest Bulletin, Sept 23, 2021. Link. But for a genetic parasite, humans might have tails Source: New Scientist, September 24, 2021. Link. Bo Xia’s tail bone injury led to a genetic investigation of why apes, and therefore humans, do not … [Read more...]
Getting started with goats for milk
The popularity of self-sustaining food production on small acreages or large backyards includes rabbits, poultry and goats. Heather Smith Thomas writes about raising goats for milk and how their short generation makes goats a great project for 4-H kids. Dwarf goats don’t produce the volume of milk of large goats but their milk is high in butterfat and makes good cheese she … [Read more...]
Helping neglected, abused or abandoned horses
It’s important that you know what to do to stay within the law before reporting a horse in trouble, writes Jennifer Williams, PhD. Neglect, abuse and/or abandonment are considered cruelty to animals and are a criminal offense in many states. . . . it’s important to understand how terms like “abuse” and “neglect” are defined in your local and state laws. And then you need … [Read more...]
Proactive nutrition for the healthy indoor cat
Nutrition is especially important for indoor cats, which depend solely on their owners for what, when, and how they eat. Indoor cats are at greater risk for becoming overweight or obese and for developing behavior problems." From the summary: Recommending that clients weigh daily food portions and monitor the cat’s BCS and body weight will help them maintain a healthy weight … [Read more...]
World Dairy Expo starts Sunday
Complimentary Content World Dairy Expo kicks off Sunday and runs through October 2 in Madison, Wisconsin. Animal health pros will be among the representatives of the 650 companies exhibiting this year. Educational sessions and one of the world’s best-known dairy cattle shows will also take place. Safe travels to those attending. Source: World Dairy Expo. Link. World Dairy … [Read more...]
Mycotoxins threaten calves and heifers, too
The 2021 harvest season will no doubt include the dangers of mycotoxins. These toxic substances are produced by molds growing on crops, either before harvest or in storage. Mycotoxins have long been associated with cow problems. New research has quantified the effects on calves and heifers. Source: Dairy Herd Management, August 4, 2021. Link. Researchers identified the … [Read more...]
Fall checklist for horses’ health
Fall is a good time to arrange veterinary care, assess horses’ conditions, secure winter forage and restore pastures in preparation for winter. Katie Navarra shares fall horse keeping tasks broken down into four areas with checklists. Source: Horse and Rider, September 23, 2019. Link. The fall-health checklist includes: Provide optimal veterinary care Evaluate horse … [Read more...]
Cattle feed can be deadly for horses
A long-running court case serves as a reminder to be vigilant about the source and content of a horse's grain. Twenty horses there were poisoned by a mistaken delivery of cattle grain laced with the antibiotic lasalodic in 1999. All the horses colicked and five died. Source: EQUUS, July 25, 2021. Link. Lasalodic and monensin are two common cattle-feed additives that are … [Read more...]
Dogs will eat just about anything but their own food
A survey of 2,000 American dog owners found dogs will get ahold of just about anything. Pet caregivers shared they experience this at least once per week. The One Poll survey also revealed the average pet parent says that it’s hard to find dog food that is nutritious and delicious. Source: 72POINT, September 20, 2021. Link. … [Read more...]
Advancements in regenerative agriculture
The agriculture industry is under constant scrutiny. This includes animal health, crops, chemical use and overall resource stewardship. Even the pet side of animal health is a consideration as so many ag product components feed a growing pet population. We’re sharing an example of how Cargill’s decade-long investment in sustainable agriculture supports partnerships to enable … [Read more...]
Country of origin labeling to be reinstated for U.S. beef
The latest legislation will reinsert “beef” and “ground beef” into the current mandatory country of origin label law that requires country-of-origin labels on many food commodities, including meat from chickens, sheep, goats and deer. Source: BEEF, September 13, 2021. Link. “Only with MCOOL for beef can cattle producers compete in their own domestic market where packers and … [Read more...]
Basics of canine hydration
There are pet caregivers who do not know dogs’ hydration needs are different than our own. This author provides relevant resources, including a consumption chart (Table 1) and discusses variables that influence hydration needs. Source: Animal Wellness, August 10, 2021. Link. All dogs need adequate water to survive, and in most cases, water absorption is enhanced with the … [Read more...]
Ditch your pandemic diet habits once and for all (includes video)
A recent report found 61 percent of Americans are trying to break unhealthy habits they created during the pandemic. University of Minnesota Medical School researchers looked at the associations between stress, psychological distress, financial difficulties and changes in eating behaviors during Covid-19. They found six key themes of eating behavior changes: Mindless … [Read more...]
Nutrigenomics: the future of feeding horses
Nutrigenomics is the scientific study of how nutrients can interact, directly or indirectly, with an animal’s genome. This interaction influences how genes are expressed, which can affect health, disease and performance, writes Marty Adams, PhD, PAS. The goal of equine nutrigenomics is to tailor a horse’s diet based on their genetic information, so they grow in a healthy state … [Read more...]
Select the right food and dietary plan for cats with urinary issues
Any cat at any age can develop urinary stones or crystals, urinary infections and blockages. Catster writers reached out to two of the nation’s leading authorities on cats and feline nutrition to help cat caregivers come up with a food game plan to keep felines healthy. Source: Catster, March 2021. Link. No single diet and no individual pet food company makes the best food … [Read more...]
Horse heaves: symptoms and treatment
Lung health is a common health topic as wildfires, smoke and dry, dusty drought conditions blanket parts of the country. Heaves is an allergic-based disease that compromises a horse's ability to breathe, similar to the way asthma affects humans writes, Barb Crabbe, DVM. Horse heaves is chronic and can threaten a horse's long-term health and performance.” – Barb Crabbe, … [Read more...]
Winners of the 2021-2022 Retailer of the Year awards
Pet Product News editors selected one standout store as its Retailer of the Year: Animal Connection in Charlottesville, Virginia. The pet supply store won the 2019-2020 Marketing Award and managed to top itself this year, snagging the top honor for PPN’s 2021-2022 awards. The list of award categories reveals the efforts and complexities of the pet retail … [Read more...]
New report: pet caregivers anticipate their largest expenses in the next 12 months
Most pet owners anticipate necessities like food and healthcare will rule their budgets next year, according to a recent report. Results show 84 percent of dog and cat owners expect to spend the most on food. Most pet parents will spend that on standard dry or wet food, with 80 percent confirming this is what they already feed their pets. 17 percent said that they cook for … [Read more...]
Fall alfalfa decisions have repercussions
Drought continues to be a concern for farmers and livestock producers. Forage availability and quality are integral to sustaining herd numbers and health. Kim Cassida shares alfalfa management tips. For animal health pros working directly with producers, consider using this article to open new discussions about nutrition and herd health decisions. You might find a local … [Read more...]
Equine supplements: Look closely, they may not be needed.
Horse owners are always trying this or that to get more out of their animals. Sarah Voss reminds us that supplements are not regulated by the FDA or USDA. She says: Make sure any supplement is something a horse truly needs Contact a veterinarian familiar with the horse’s history first Look at the packaging to determine the quantity of each ingredient provided Ask … [Read more...]
There are now lab-grown mouse-meat cookies for cats
There will soon be cultured meat for pet food. Say what? Current pet foods use some of the worst meat and a market for it helps keep conventional agriculture afloat. Enter biotech startup Because, Animals. It touts a reduction in carbon pollution by focusing on cultured, lab grown meat starting with cat treats. The first snack, called Cultured Mouse Cookies for Cats, has … [Read more...]
Worth a Glance – August 12, 2021
Last week’s most read AHD post Relief Rover raises $10K from virtual 5K event benefitting NOMV. AHD, Link Last week’s Animal Health Digest Bulletin - August 5, 2021. Link. Scientists have worked out how to send viable mouse sperm on postcards Source: New Scientist, August 5, 2021. Link. This study raises the intriguing idea that human spermatozoa could … [Read more...]
6 criteria for culling cattle during drought
Drought conditions throughout cow country eventually force culling decisions. Multiple factors should be considered when deciding culling strategies, and there’s no one-size-fits-all set of criteria that will work for every producer. The process begins with an inventory of available feed resources. Source: BEEF, August 5, 2021. Link. The author shares some options for where … [Read more...]