This commercial post is thought provoking for any animal health pro challenged to service an increasingly mobile pet population. A recent study reveals some behaviors among pet owners that present new opportunities for reaching pets and their owners. Source: Trone Brand Energy, May 4, 2017. Pet parents are on the go, but still want to spend as much time as possible with … [Read more...]
Squirrels were once one of America’s most popular pets
Just for fun, we include this history of the pet squirrel. In the 18th and 19th centuries, squirrels were fixtures in American homes, especially for children. Ben Franklin and President Warren Harding were especially fond of their pet squirrels. Source: Atlas Obscura, April 28, 2017. From the 1920s through the 1970s many states slowly adopted wildlife conservation and … [Read more...]
Adjust artificial insemination practices during heat stress
If hot weather arrives during the AI season, some management and breeding alterations may be helpful. Research with rumen temperature boluses has shown that the core body temperature of beef cows peaks at two to five hours after the highest daytime temperature. Elevated core body temperatures have been implicated from other research in reduced pregnancy rates in heat stressed … [Read more...]
Feral hogs: bad beasts, good treats
We continue to watch developing feral hog management challenges. They probably do more than $1.5 billion damage nationwide each year, according to the USDA. The problem is only getting bigger. From 1982 to 2012, the invasive species spread from 17 states to 36. It turns out that feral hogs are tasty. Their popularity is growing for a few slaughterhouses that supply chefs and … [Read more...]
Sponsored Content – 6 milestones for backyard chickens
The backyard chicken craze is growing rapidly. Veterinarians and retail associates are frequently challenged to help new chicken growers succeed. Purina offered this content promotionally, but we found the life stages information worthy of referencing. Source: Morning Ag Clips, April 25, 2017. As we get started on the journey with baby chicks, it’s important to look forward … [Read more...]
Ear tags profiled
This article is valuable to help industry pros understand non-electronic ear tag options. It is a good guide to compare various brands of ear tags. Source: American Dairymen, April 2017, page 32. … [Read more...]
Another reason for tick control
A tick-borne disease recognized since the 1950’s may become the new threat to humans. Powassan virus, which is a far rarer and more deadly pathogen than the bacterium that produces Lyme, is also transmitted by the deer tick. A flavivirus like mosquito-borne West Nile, it is not clear if the virus is a threat to pets. Still, the principles of tick population control and One … [Read more...]
The next crises in rural America may be mental health
Mental illness isn’t confined within city limits. One in five residents of nonmetropolitan counties in the U.S. had some form of mental illness in 2015, according to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Administration. Plus, 1.4 million non-metro residents had serious thoughts of suicide in the same year. Increased opioid addiction and prescription drug abuse are just two … [Read more...]
Scarce or abundant?
In today’s competitive society there are winners. If there are winners, there must be losers. Couple that mentality with the focus on “me” and you have the ingredients for the paucity of effective leadership in business, government and society. Effective leaders, while rare, exhibit a remarkable similarity in behavior. Source: LinkedIn Pulse, April 29, 2017. Collectively, … [Read more...]
Cows witnessing wolf attacks suffer PTSD-like symptoms
Cows that have witnessed wolf attack display physical signs associated with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). A new study from Oregon State University affirms this and is also the first study to reveal PTSD biomarkers in cattle. The findings have been published in the Journal of Animal Science. Source: Progressive Cattleman, May 4, 2017. Wolf attacks create bad … [Read more...]
Your customized news feed could make you dumber
Much of the information you consume on the internet is filtered. For example, Google and Facebook have algorithms that attempt to figure out what things you like and are most likely to click on. This affects the sorts of search results and newsfeed items you see. If we’re only served up stuff we like, could it mean that the internet increasingly massages our ideological and … [Read more...]
The future of equine parasite control
No new anthelmintics with newer modes of action have been introduced since the early 1980s. Anthelmintic resistance continue to increase in cyathostomin and Parascaris spp. parasites. While resistance is slow to develop, work by Dr. Gene Lyons clearly illustrates that once it appears in a parasite, it is there to stay. We can expect resistance to at least one drug class to … [Read more...]
Cleaning protocols promote calf health
Management practices impact overall herd health in any livestock operation. Cleaning procedures and written protocols are imperative to raising healthy calves and will lead to increased average daily gain and decreased disease incidence. Source: Dairy Herd Management, March 28, 2017. Although equipment may look clean, in reality it may be caked with invisible bacteria. … [Read more...]
Understanding the stocker
Stocker, or backgrounding, provides vital production and marketing system values to the beef industry. Stocker production happens in a variety of situations and environments throughout the country. As such, the stocker sector is an essential shock absorber for the beef industry but little data exists to analyze the segment. Source: Drovers CattleNetwork, March 29, … [Read more...]
Heat stress even affects unborn calves
Heat stress can have a huge impact on unborn calves that reaches well into their adulthood. “Cooling is pretty important for the fetus,” says Geoff Dahl, a dairy physiologist with the University of Florida. Source: Dairy Herd Management, March 30, 2017. Unborn calves of heat stressed dams will have lower birth and weaning weights, and might produce 2,500 lb. to 3,000 lb. … [Read more...]
May is Lyme awareness month
Steve Dale offers information about Lyme awareness month. He exposes the role mice have in the increased risk. 2017 will likely be a record Lyme year. We can do more to protect dogs than we can ourselves More than anyone or anything - blame increased mice for increased Lyme Source: Steve Dale Pet World, May 9, 2017. … [Read more...]
Parasites likely to win again in 2017
There’s that “c-word” again – compliance. Don Jergler indicates mild weather and lackluster client compliance continue to favor parasites. He discusses fleas, ticks and heartworm, including perspectives from the Heartworm Society and major manufacturers of for pets and parasite control products. Source: Veterinary Practice News, May 2, 2017. While part of the U.S. is under … [Read more...]
4 puppy biting survival strategies
Behavioral problems are a significant factor in pets not being retained. Biting and nipping complaints are among the more common ones. There are things you can do to manage a nippy puppy until your it outgrows this important developmental stage. Animal health pros can share these tips in blog posts, new pet kits, newsletters and social media. If you sell chew toys, consider … [Read more...]
Time-lapse cameras improve dairy feeding
“Moo,” you’re on candid dairy camera. It brings up silly images, but time-lapse photography is proving valuable for monitoring and correcting feed delivery to dairy cows. What Todd Franz has found isn’t pretty. “Only one out of 20 farms or one out of 30 is not letting cows run out of feed,” he says. “Our current on-farm record for cows with no feed is 11 hours.” Source: … [Read more...]
The top 10 sessions at CVC last year
Convention planners work hard to deliver great value from events that take you away from the clinic. This top 10 list from CVC sessions last year is interesting and informative. Source: Veterinary Medicine, April 28, 2017. The No. 1 CVC session was — Managing chronic otitis: Treating the difficult case and preventing recurrence (James Noxon, DVM, DACVIM) INSIGHTS: Sales … [Read more...]
CAPC issues first mosquito control guidelines
The first set of guidelines on mosquito control were issued in April. According to the CAPC Parasite Prevalence Maps, in 2016 more than 118,000 cases of canine heartworm were diagnosed in the United States. Heartworm infections are becoming more prevalent in areas previously considered to be at a low risk (see Heartworm disease in CAPC guidelines). In response, the … [Read more...]
Is marketing at fault?
This article is worthy of c-suite, marketing and sales management consideration. The finger-pointing on who is to blame is an age-old quandary, but author Bruce Scheer clearly exposes the opportunities being missed in marketing groups. He is also is spot-on regarding the issue with value connection. Source: Marketing Profs, May 3, 2017. That's one of the key reasons 37% of … [Read more...]
Basic cardiology exam in dogs
Wendy W. Mandese, DVM, and Amara H. Estrada, DVM, share the approach to a basic cardiology exam in this brief. They remind us that a thorough physical examination is valuable for diagnosing heart disease and should include extensive examination of all body systems. It is a good review for veterinary teams and their sales reps. Source: Clinician’s Brief, May … [Read more...]
Saturated fat does not clog the arteries
Unclogging pipes works wonders for a sink that doesn’t drain quickly. It’s next to useless in human medicine. So is the conventional wisdom that eating foods containing saturated fat and cholesterol inevitably lead to coronary heart disease. A meta-analysis of literature — such as the peer-reviewed journals Nature, the British Medical Journal and the American Journal of … [Read more...]
May is Mental Health Month
Animal health pros have seen a lot of information recently about mental health challenges, especially among veterinary practitioners. Throughout May, the National Alliance on Mental Illness and participants across the country are raising awareness of mental health. Each year, NAMI fights stigma, provides support, educates the public and advocates for equal care. Source: … [Read more...]
Stay positive. It helps!
Throughout history a litany of hucksters has been paid handsomely to deliver motivational messages that have half-lives measured in hours. Ups and downs are a natural part of life. But, when the downs start to dominate our lives, it negatively affects our performance and more importantly, our health. Here are some practical tips to keep you on an even keel. Best of all, they … [Read more...]
Considerations for controlling ketamine
Veterinarians and their team members need to be aware of the licit and illicit aspects of ketamine. They should also know how to deter and report theft associated with illegal demand and weak regulations, and the legal requirements about using this controlled substance. This article will make a good reference for a staff meeting about scheduled drug processes and … [Read more...]
Back to the future; the case for slow-growth chickens
In a world that is changing at breakneck speed, chicken producers are being pushed to raise chickens that take longer to grow and will cost more at the meat counter. The paradoxical situation parallels the consumer-driven animal welfare platform that is pushing the transition toward free-range or cage-free eggs. Source: New York Times, May 1, 2017 (paywall). The Global … [Read more...]
Wisconsin sees shortage in large animal veterinarians (includes video)
A true veterinarian shortage in rural areas remains. Dr. Lisa Hansen shared perspectives in a video interview from her practice in Barron, Wisconsin. She hopes the Veterinary Medical Loan Repayment Program can help students afford a veterinary degree and serve an area in need of their services. Source: WKOW, April 26, 2017. The United States Department of Agriculture is … [Read more...]
First the fires then snow: Kansas in distress
Recent blizzards have potentially devastated the western Kansas wheat crop. This is significant because Kansas grew one of every five bushels of U.S. wheat last year. Its farmers specialize in winter wheat, which is planted in the fall, goes dormant during the winter and sprouts again in the spring. Winter wheat accounts for two thirds, or more, of the U.S. crop each … [Read more...]