Who knew? North America’s smallest rabbits, the state and federally endangered Columbia Basin pygmy rabbits in Washington now number in the hundreds, but they remain far from a resilient and healthy population. Their story will interest many animal health pros who value biodiversity. Source: Atlas Obscura, June 7, 2019. Link. Columbia Basin pygmy rabbits are far better off … [Read more...]
Booker T. Pug, reading tutor (includes video)
An Award of Merit at the 143rd Westminster Dog Show was a stage for Booker T. to make a difference in the lives of children, specifically by supporting reading and learning. Enjoy the coverage of this pug and his role in education. Source: University of West Georgia, June 10, 2019. Link. “Booker offers a nonjudgmental environment for kids to practice reading,” said Meghen … [Read more...]
EQUUS pop quiz: horse terms
Revisit horse-related terms and information with SAT-style analogy questions. It’s a fun way to be sure your knowledge of terms is current and where you have gaps. Have fun! Source: EQUUS, May 3, 2019. Link. … [Read more...]
Calf rescued from badger hole (includes ‘feel-good’ video)
In what he calls the most bizarre incident in his career, Brad Osadczuk, an Alberta, Canada, rancher rescued a calf that had fallen into a badger hole. The cow kept telling him something was wrong. Source: Drovers, May 21, 2019. Link. “She kept on going back to this spot. When you walk up, you couldn’t see anything. It just was prairie grass. I happened to walk up to a … [Read more...]
Tech ad parody almost too real to believe it’s not real
We had to share this 'spoof' in light of the attention to cell phone overuse; a phone camera that looks up, so you can keep looking down. Too real for sure! In a new parody ad, designer Alex Cornell makes fun of our ever-increasing smartphone dependency, using the language of tech advertising so precisely that some viewers might not even realize it’s a parody. Source: Fast … [Read more...]
10 cutest parts of cats
What? Made you look? The Modern Cat team shares its list but also gives you more information on the importance of each of these body parts. Can you guess which of these three is number 1? Socks Teeny tiny teeth Toe beans Source: Modern Cat, April 18, 2019. Link. Also see: Feng Shui for felines, Modern Cat, April 2018. Link. 5 tips to create positive energy in … [Read more...]
100-year-old lady milks a cow on her birthday (includes video)
It had been nearly 90 years since Ann Randazzo milked a cow. For her 100th birthday, residents in her community helped her milk a cow once again. This is another great example about the human-animal bonds that are so important to us. Source: The Bullvine, April 10, 2019. Link. Milking her family’s pet cow Cherry was Ann’s childhood chore. For her, milking a cow was like … [Read more...]
Gorillas, snakes and sharks provide close encounters for veterinarians (Spark videos)
The veterinary community’s love for animals isn’t restricted to cats and dogs. The Spark crew shares stories from DVMs whose experiences went beyond everyday practice and landed them in some unpredictable situations. Source: NAVC Spark, April 2019. Link. Videos feature the following DVMs: Sonia Hernandez meets a Bushmaster snake Doug Mader encounters a Whale shark … [Read more...]
When you need a good laugh (SPARK videos)
NAVC’s Spark team captured situational stories from veterinarians that reveal how laughable some situations become when dealing with people and their animals. You’ll find these enjoyable and worth a few minutes for some comic relief. Source: NAVC Spark, March 27, 2019. Link. INSIGHTS: Kudos to the Spark team for capturing the stories and the expressions as veterinarians … [Read more...]
The (dark) origins of Valentine’s Day
In its modern context, Valentine’s Day is mostly about romance, love, gifting and the celebrating of relationships. Yet, this holiday has much different origins. Searching for something meaningful and unique for a sweetheart often makes one question “why are we doing this valentine’s thing anyway?” With efforts by Chaucer and Shakespeare and most recently Hallmark, … [Read more...]
Lipstick and red rocket sightings
Dr. Eric Barchas has directly and tactfully addressed the issue of male dog arousal. The appearance of a dog’s penis is often disgusting to animal owners. To avoid unnecessary trips to the veterinary clinic, Barchas describes the exception, a condition called paraphimosis where the lipstick is showing for an extended period of time. Source: Dogster, January 17, 2019. Link. … [Read more...]
Animal science major uses “rogue taxidermy” as art form
Kady Rose is an animal science major at Cal-Poly Pomona in Pomona, California. A self-taught taxidermist, she blends her passion for art and biology into unique creations. Rather than using animals that were hunted, she takes the remains of animals donated from petting zoos, veterinarians or friends to create stuffed critters that are pliable and soft, not rigid like … [Read more...]
Join Audubon’s Christmas Bird Count
Wildlife vigilance is not new to animal health pros. Did you know that the Audubon Society has conducted a bird count for more than 100 years? Audubon and other organizations use data collected in this long-running wildlife census to assess the health of bird populations and to help guide conservation action. Beginning on Christmas Day 1900, ornithologist Frank M. Chapman, an … [Read more...]
Holy cow! Australian steer tops 3,000 pounds
Knickers, a 7-year-old Holstein steer in Australia is 6’ 4” tall and weighs nearly 3,100 pounds. In other words, he’s two inches shorter than former basketball player Michael Jordon. The oversize steer has become somewhat of a social media phenomenon. He’s much too big for packing house machinery, so he’ll live out his life in a pasture. Source: Insider, November 17, 2018. … [Read more...]
4 buzzwords we need to ban
Buzzwords – we all use them from time to time. They’re still meaningless, according to author and CNBC contributor Suzy Welch. She recommends immediately getting rid of: Let’s take this offline. Empower Ownership Bandwidth Source: CNBC, October 16, 2018. Link. But according to bestselling management author and CNBC contributor Suzy Welch, this indirect and … [Read more...]
Gecko makes bazillions of calls from vet hospital
A rogue gecko lit up phones for an untold number of folks recently. Veterinarian Claire Simeone, director of Ke Kai Ola, a Hawaiian monk seal hospital, made the discovery as she and a phone company rep tried to figure out what was causing incessant outgoing calls. Source: Associated Press, October 9, 2018. Link. The gecko was perched on a phone, making calls to everyone in … [Read more...]
2018 Comedy Wildlife Photography Awards Finalists Announced
They’re fun every year – the Comedy Wildlife Photography Awards. Sponsored by the Born Free Foundation, the competition is designed to raise awareness about wildlife conservation. Take a few minutes and have some laughs. Source: The Guardian, September 13, 2018. Link. Some of the finalists in this year’s competition . . . You can still vote for the People’s Choice award … [Read more...]
Store welcomes (leashed) horse inside (includes photos)
This will make you smile! A Tractor Supply store in Elk City, Oklahoma, welcomed a gentleman and his horse to the store. [The] gentleman walks into Tractor Supply and says, “I'm a senior, here to buy feed for my senior horse. Can he come in?’” Robin Morris said. Source: the dodo, September 7, 2018. Link. Tractor Supply allows any pet into the store as long as they’re on a … [Read more...]
2018 Audubon Society photo awards announced
Take a break and enjoy! The winners of the 2018 Audubon Photography Awards competition were announced this week. More than 8,000 images in professional, amateur and youth categories were entered. Plus, all 50 states and 10 Canadian provinces were represented. This year’s competition celebrates the 100th anniversary of the Migratory Bird Treaty Act and the species protected by … [Read more...]
Med students learn from zoo patients and vets in Harvard program
A rotation at the Franklin Park Zoo in Boston is demonstrating to Harvard Medical School students that animals and people share the same environment. Offered for the last three years, Harvard students work alongside zoo veterinarians monitoring animal health and collaborating in diagnoses and treatments. Source: New York Times (paywall). June 29, 2018. Link. “I would never … [Read more...]
Work is natural and good for dogs
I’m caring for one of my adult childrens' dogs this holiday week. At age 5, she’s a good girl with shades of narcissism golden retrievers possess. That said, she’s out of her element at Grandpa’s. I have decided she needs a job. So, I’m working with her on retrieving a heavy bumper on a long rope twice a day for fifteen minutes. The rope keeps the bumper from being a toy and … [Read more...]
Independence week tribute
Yesterday was the official Independence Day we celebrate. July 4th means many things to our country’s men, women and families. Baxter Black, DVM, is an icon <link>. He is a cowboy poet, former large animal veterinarian and entertainer of the agricultural masses. Baxter shared his perspectives on July 4th and the American Flag in the videos we’ve shared here. Photo by … [Read more...]
Enjoy winning photos from The Nature Conservancy
The Nature Conservancy recently announced the winning entries of its 2018 Photo Contest. Take a break and enjoy the majesty of nature. Source: The Nature Conservancy, June, 2018. Link. From the grand prize to the judges’ special recognition, you’ll like what you see. Be even more awed when you look at this year’s Judges’ Favorites. Link. … [Read more...]
Quarter horse history emphasizes one type of horse
Quarter horse enthusiasts will enjoy the history, debates and stories in this two-part article. The discussion unfolds in 1950. Source: AQHA Journal, June 8, 2018. Link. There has never been but one type of Quarter Horse since the breed’s inception so many years ago. That description is lost through the various interpretations. But there was a time, not so many years ago, … [Read more...]
The Phoenix Zoo: Diverse care for a diverse population (video)
For many veterinarians, zoo animals were part of their original dreams of becoming an animal doctor. It is at zoos that we encounter rare species, learn of captive populations held to preserve genetics and see species that pique our curiosities. The Phoenix Zoo is home to more than 3,000 animals, including 30 species that are endangered or threatened. This diverse population … [Read more...]
These dogs sniff cybercrime
The Connecticut State Police is training dogs to sniff out the hard-to-detect chemical in electronics. They’re helping law enforcement personnel find child pornography on hard drives, find hidden phones, even track calls on SIM cards. This is worth a read simply to be reminded how sharp dogs can be trained to be. Source: CNET, June 11, 2018. Link. Where we might smell … [Read more...]
Do dogs understand time?
Are dogs just very good at guessing, or do they really understand and keep track of time? Matt Soniak explores the topic in this interesting article. Source: Pet MD. Link. A review of research on the subject by psychologist William Roberts found ample evidence that many different animals are sensitive to time. “They can learn to go to a particular place for food at a … [Read more...]
Comedy Wildlife Photography Awards accepting entries
The Comedy Wildlife Photography Awards (link) is in its fourth year and is delivering goofy animal moments caught on camera. The deadline for entries is June 30. Take a few, fun minutes to look at the photos that have already been received at the link below. You may even want to enter your own shots. Source: Huffington Post, May 23, 2018. Link. The entries for the 2018 … [Read more...]
29 dogs sleeping in hilarious positions (includes slideshow)
Animal health pros and their customers love their dogs. Dog owners are often seen showing pictures of their dogs to friends and family sometimes before they show photos of their children. Pawsome compiled some photos of canines whose need for sleep has them in funky positions. Source: Pawsome, May 2018. Link. Dogs will nap literally anywhere they want as long as they are … [Read more...]
Outdoors not possible? Bring nature to your desk. (videos)
For some, it's not always possible to take a midday hike or a break in the park during the workday. But there’s good news. Studies show that just looking at pictures or videos of nature can boost our health and happiness. The effects aren't as strong as the outdoors, but a few positive cognitive benefits are better than none. Haley Goldberg rounded up eight relaxing nature … [Read more...]