Someone recently said that milk replacers are more nutritionally consistent than fresh milk. Ioannis Mavromichalis, PhD, takes on the statement and discusses the value of fresh milk and milk replacer use in calf supplementation. Source: Feed Strategy, April 20, 2020. Link. . . . the notion that cow’s milk is unsuitable because it is too variable in composition simply makes … [Read more...]
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Correcting dehydration is always job 1 with calf scours
Calf scours are complex, multi-factorial and expensive in the immediate and mid-term life of the animal. Alan Newport discusses calf scours causes, interventions and consequences. Prevention of scours requires the combined experiences of veterinarians and the calf care team. Source: Beef Producer, April 14, 2020. Link. The calf’s age is as important as the color of the … [Read more...]
How to manage pinkeye
Fly season is well underway. It marks the beginning of pinkeye infections to come by mid-summer. Infectious bovine keratoconjunctivitis (IBK, or pinkeye). Pinkeye costs the beef industry an estimated $150 million annually. Historically, Moraxella bovis was considered the primary IBK pathogen. More recently, mixed cultures of M. bovis, Moraxella bovoculi and Mycoplasma … [Read more...]
It is fly season again!
EQUUS Extra sponsored content Nothing can ruin a nice ride or antagonize a horse quite like the multitude of flying pests that emerge this time of year. More than an annoyance, they can also cause a host of health issues, including allergic reactions, skin infections and viral diseases. This article reviews the insects most likely to pester horses and how to stop … [Read more...]
Debunking 4 common horse-feeding misconceptions
Clair Thunes, PhD, acknowledges that knowing what and how to feed a horse can be confusing with the options available these days. She says to read and follow the manufacturers’ labels. . . . be sure to measure feeds by weight, not volume.” – Clari Thunes, PhD Source: Horse and Rider, April 8, 2020. Link. INSIGHTS: Thunes offers concise counsel that horse owners will … [Read more...]
Dog personality strongly linked to human personality
The human-animal bond works both ways. People and dogs have shared a relationship for at least 15,000 years, so it is no surprise that dog personality has been affected, say researchers. Conversely, the benefits of the human-animal bond are frequently expressed as dogs helping people. Paula Fitzsimmons shares how dogs and humans benefit. Source: PetMD, Link. Dogs and people … [Read more...]
They bought Easter baby chicks. Now what?
Chicks and bunnies are a great project for youngsters. The key word is project. Many families have added pets during this 2020 pandemic. Some of them are baby chicks. With the newness now gone, the questions start. We chose some resources that can be shared on social media, in newsletters or directly with individuals having chick questions. Sources: How to tell the … [Read more...]
Strategies that get pet owners in the door
Eighty percent of pet owners choose their veterinarian based on two primary factors: their perception of the DVM as caring, honest and trustworthy recommendations from other pet owners Research reinforces the power of word-of-mouth referrals for veterinary practices.” – Kimberly Ness, Diggo Source: DVM 360, April 6, 2020. Link. INSIGHTS: Diggo is a subscription … [Read more...]
Deciding who should stay and who should go
Michell Evans shares ideas with groomers for culling a client list. She addresses groomer safety, pet owner dependability and using waiting lists. Source: Groomer to Groomer, April 2020, page 48. Link. Consider implementing a weight limit. Large dogs take a toll on equipment, utilities and supplies. A waiting list is a useful method of telling people no without really … [Read more...]
Anaplasmosis, here to stay
Often forgotten anaplasmosis is now in 48 states. It is a bacterial pathogen that lives within the red blood cells of cattle and is spread by Dermacentor species ticks, the American dog tick and the Rocky Mountain wood tick. Cattle who survive the first round of infection become persistent carriers and therefore a reservoir for additional infections. Source: BEEF, April 6, … [Read more...]
Coaching pet owners through unrelenting flea infestations
Joan Capuzzi, VMD, discusses how a comprehensive approach to stubborn flea infestations is needed to help clients gain control over their pet and the pet’s environment. The pet is the easy part. She shares ways to coach pet owners to treat the pet, treat the other pets and treat the environment. Source: DVM 360, April 7, 2020. Link. INSIGHTS: Attention sales … [Read more...]
Check the tone of your message before hitting send
Did you just send THAT? When we are working remotely and stress levels are high, it’s easy to miscommunicate. Even well-intentioned messages can be misconstrued. The authors share tips for avoiding digital misnomers. Source: Harvard Business Review, March 27, 2020. Link. Most digital miscommunication happens because we don’t have access to the non-verbal cues, including … [Read more...]
Fomites, pets, and transmission
Information and risk messaging about pet-to-human transmission may change as more information is collected. For now, there is no evidence that pets can serve as fomites for SARS-CoV-2. However, measures to prevent a pet becoming a fomite are important. Source: Clinician’s Brief, April 8, 2020. Link. Also see: COVID-19 in animals: Living systematic review, Worms & … [Read more...]
10,000 steps a day is B.S., say experts
Social distancing efforts restrict some from hitting their daily steps goals. New research shows you can walk less and still rake in the health benefits. Here’s the information, so you can determine what’s right for you. Source: Prevention, April 3, 2020. Link. 7,500 is the lowest number of steps with the highest level of health benefits, making it an ideal daily goal. Any … [Read more...]
Floating horses’ teeth. Needed or not?
David Ramey, DVM, presents the pros and cons of teeth floating in horses. Getting a horse’s mouth examined periodically, to look for signs of oral disease is a good idea. Floating a horse’s teeth once in a while probably isn’t a bad idea either. But need? Well, that’s a subject for a good bit of discussion.” – David Ramey, DVM Source: Horse Network, April 3, 2020. Link. … [Read more...]
Puppy socialization when sheltered in place
Socialization for new puppies and for newly adopted dogs is critical to help them adapt to their surroundings. Mary Schwager shares ideas for exposing puppies and dogs to new things, even while social distancing. Source: Dogster, April 3, 2020. Link. When you help a dog through difficult things using clear criteria and communication, they learn to trust and believe in you. … [Read more...]
What scientists know about immunity and the novel coronavirus
It is too early to tell how well humans will mount effective antibodies, writes Katherine J. Wu. She shares information on challenges to immune development, viral replication and antigenic drift. If nothing else, her article is a decent review of virology and the challenges of protection. Source: Smithsonian, March 30, 2020. Link. Complicating matters further is the biology … [Read more...]
H-E-B shows what crisis planning should be
H-E-B, the famed Texas grocery chain founded in 1905, has steadfastly served customers through tornadoes and hurricanes, thanks to crisis planning unmatched by its rivals. This foundational ethos is a key component of the company’s pandemic and influenza planning it started in 2005 and has refined since. Texas Monthly reporters talked with employees, executives and customers to … [Read more...]
Digitization affects our happiness, health, and wisdom
Food for thought Technologies fueling our media consumption are outpacing the rate of scientific inquiry, making real or verifiable effects hard to understand and perhaps harder study appropriately, share these authors. They express concerns and assert a call to action to establish new disciplines about media. American adults now spend over 11 hours per day listening to, … [Read more...]
Opinion – Meditate on the go to relieve stress
After seven minutes in a prompt tree and on-hold time, the on-hold message suggested I try the company’s website. I hung up and surfed the website for the answer to my question. Twenty-five minutes later, I was back on hold waiting for a live person. During that hold time, I stumbled on this meditate on-the-go article. Like the 15 second TV spots by CALM, Avik Chanda shares … [Read more...]
Electric fencing benefits goat keeping
Along with baby chicks and rabbits, some farm stores offer goats during Easter. Traditional fencing has its challenges. Electric netting fencing is a good option for keeping goats in and predators out. Source: Backyard Goats, August 23, 2019. Link. Potential owners often ask about goat fencing. Goats can be impressive escape artists. Give a goat a mountain and it will most … [Read more...]
Equine depression is real
Long-term exposure to inescapable or repeated stressors can lead to depression for horses, according to a French study published in 2016 < link >. Justine Harrison revisited it. She examines some of the causes, lists signs to watch for, and give tips on how to help alleviate equine depression. The study focused on two elements: the spontaneous expression of “behavioral … [Read more...]
Addressing coprophagia
Dogs eat poop for a variety of reasons, most of which signal an underlying issue. Dog owners with poop eaters devour information and tips to stop this disgusting behavior. Wailani Sung, MS, PhD, DVM, DACVB, discusses the whys of coprophagia and ways to stop the behavior. Source: PetMD. Link. Also see: Why do dogs eat poop? Animal Health Digest, August 31, 2016. … [Read more...]
Swine disease management and COVID-19
THANK YOU, Jennifer Shike and Cassandra Jones, PhD, for sharing the challenges of managing swine PEDV and PRRS in the context of our current COVID-19 pandemic. Jones believes suppression should be the strategy. “Even then, we’re looking at June or July as peak of this thing, and 8X more critical care beds needed than we have available.” Cassandra Jones, PhD, Kansas State … [Read more...]
Flea and tick wars: the time is NOW
Leigh Hofmeister, DVM, provides a short history of flea and tick challenges before the modern-day preventatives hit the marketplace. She compares oral and topical forms and reinforces the need for clients to use them to protect their pets. Let’s try to keep the flea and tick wars between brands and not return the battleground to the environment versus the pet. Reports in … [Read more...]
Isolation, distancing and PPE protocols ‘old hat’ to livestock production
It is easy to marvel at how under-appreciated, yet familiar and expected biosecurity is to the livestock community: Swine producers learned to shower in and shower out of facilities years ago as part of their efforts to reduce swine disease and stop massive death losses due to farm-to-farm fomite exchanges < link > Progressive dairies manage mastitis incidence … [Read more...]
Gilt management is key to more pigs born, saved
Litter size increases from better genetics have challenged hog producers to keep piglets alive from birth to the ready-to-market stage. Uniformity is also a consequence, although the genetics have produced more efficient pigs. Ron Ketchem and Mark Rix share results from analyzing data from 407 farms in North America where production was >25 pigs weaned per mated female per … [Read more...]
Shepherd discusses birth position and lambing problems
Lyn Brown has 20 years’ experience with lambing. His herd averages about 50 lambs each year. He discusses birth position knowledge as a proactive learning measure for shepherds. His suggestions are positioned as stopgap measures for emergencies when veterinary care is unavailable or delayed in response to lambing problems. . . . the most important thing you need to be able to … [Read more...]
New releases on EQUUS film channel
Got a horse person home from school? The EQUUS film channel offers lots of films covering many topics for horse people - after chores are done. You will need to subscribe after a 7-day trial period. Link. Source: Horse Network. March 20, 2020. Link. … [Read more...]
6 Reasons for Hair Loss in Cats
With few exceptions, alopecia is a symptom of a disease or condition in cats. Kellie B. Gormly talked with veterinarians and shares common reasons cats lose their hair. Cat owners will appreciate information like this during the social distancing period. Share it on social media and in newsletters. Source: Catster, March 3, 2020. Link. Common reasons for hair loss in cats … [Read more...]