People in our networks are feeling the deepening fatigue of adjusting to the rigors of the initial pandemic period. Whether working from home or working with PPE restrictions, ongoing high stress takes a toll on the brain and body. Burnout happens gradually. You might not notice symptoms immediately. However, once it takes hold, it can affect your ability to function across … [Read more...]
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The 4 parasites horses hate
Sponsored Content from Bimeda U.S.A. Take a look at how modern deworming approaches are preventing the evolution of super parasites and the techniques to employ to keep horses healthy. This special edition covers: The four worst parasites for a horse What’s the future of parasite control? Know the most effective deworming techniques The most effective deworming … [Read more...]
Equine herpesviruses, we’re still learning
EHV-1 and EHV-4 are alphaherpesviruses that generally bring to mind respiratory disease, abortion and neurologic disease. Horses are also hosts of EHV-3, an alphaherpesvirus that causes equine coital exanthema. Kate L. Hepworth-Warren, DVM, DACVIM, reminds us of the often forgotten EHV-2 and EHV-5, gammaherpesviruses are quite prevalent in the equine population, as well. … [Read more...]
Horses: skin care, socialization and going swimming
Horse owners are inquisitive. They work hard to own and nurture horses for what may be relatively few days of riding enjoyment. The articles below help clear up some issues with aggression and ensure horses and riders enjoy time together. Sources: Why horses need social bonds, Horse Network, May 20, 2020. Link. Domestic horses spend more time in aggressive behavior and … [Read more...]
It’s hard to floss a horse
Research on periodontal disease in horses is limited. Matt Kane, DVM, he believes most periodontal disease in horses is secondary to food stasis, or organic debris lodged between two teeth against the periodontia. Discovery of the condition answers the what. The why requires further investigation. Source: DVM 360, March 17, 2020. Link. Owners can be difficult to convince, … [Read more...]
Feeding pets: dos, don’ts and dealing with poo
Dogs especially want to share what we’re eating. Not all human food is safe. But all food travels through at some level. Several resources what’s okay to share, what’s not and then what to do with the poo. This information may help first time pet owners make better decisions and avoid issues from deposits left unattended in the grass. The Environmental Protection Agency … [Read more...]
Properly prepare pets for travel
Whether cross-country, by air or locally, it is critical to ensure pets are prepared for a trip for their health and to prevent potential zoonoses. This brings an increased need for animal health certificates, especially certificates of veterinary inspection that show pets are healthy and free of transmissible diseases. Digital health certificates make it easy to keep patients … [Read more...]
Dairy topics: cow lying time, evaluating colostrum and virtual dairy tours
Keeping cows resting, improving measurements for failure of passive transfer and preparations for June Dairy Month are all actionable topics for animal health pros working with dairy producers. The Undeniably Dairy educational resources may interest people in your networks who plan to extend home education during summer. Take a few minutes to watch this virtual tour. < … [Read more...]
True or False? Ticks can jump.
Stephanie Lantry, DVM, shares how ticks get around and how they find and attach to their hosts. They are pretty handy at getting onto a new host but they do not jump and without wings, they cannot fly. Source: PetMd, May 8, 2020. Link. INSIGHTS: This is a good reminder for animal health pros to monitor the parasite prevalence maps available at PetDiseaseAlerts.org … [Read more...]
Help cat owners take care of their cats
There’s little doubt one of the big lessons of this pandemic has been the need to communicate more frequently with animal owners. Research has indicated this for some time. The rapid development of virtual care offerings underscores the importance of routine communication and interaction with pet owners. We collected articles below to share with cat owners on social media … [Read more...]
Understanding the power of the gut
An organization at the forefront of microbiome research, The Morris Animal Foundation provides general information about the microbiome in this article. It is good background information for animal health pros. Source: Morris Animal Foundation, May 6, 2020. Link. Scientists are just learning how these organisms interact with each other, how they work together to promote the … [Read more...]
Burnout and what to do about it
Burnout is real. It is difficult to reckon with because it is hard to know where the dividing line is between normal stress and a larger problem. Kat Boogaard shares signs of burnout and ways to deal with it. Burnout tends to be when you just don’t have any good days, and it goes on for a long period of time” - Alice Domar, PhD, director of the Domar Center for Mind/Body … [Read more...]
How to keep a remote audience engaged
What works for an in-person meeting won’t necessarily work on Zoom or other platforms, says Tim Calkins. He shares four tips for better remote presentations. They also equally apply to remote meetings. Set the stage Be brief Keep the meeting small Remember the best practices still work Source: HBR Ascend, May 8, 2020. Link. While remote presentations are … [Read more...]
Did you wash that egg?
Backyard chicken numbers continue to climb. Owners cite fresh, tasty eggs as one reason to have their own chickens. Bacteria can be a concern without proper care of the chickens and the eggs. Dianna V. Bourassa, PhD, shares ways to minimize bacteria risks. Source: Chicken Whisperer, Spring 2020. Link. INSIGHTS: This is a resource worth sharing with folks keeping chickens … [Read more...]
Arthritis in senior horses
SPONSORED CONTENT May is National Arthritis Month and horses are no stranger to damaging inflammation the disease causes. While there is no cure, there are ways to keep aging horses more comfortable. With proper diagnosis and treatment, all but the worst cases of arthritis can be managed well enough to preserve soundness” – Susan Kaufman Source: EQUUS Extra, Volume 24. … [Read more...]
Recent trending headlines from BEEF
BEEF offers a quick review of trending headlines from the last three weeks. Topics include: Improving returns on calves Dealing with environmental idiots The value of reproduction rates Proper timing is crucial for calfhood vaccinations Let calves grow or not? Source: BEEF, May 11, 2020. Link. Source: BEEF, April 27, 2020. Link. For a laugh see: … [Read more...]
Canine glaucoma is painful
Glaucoma is a painful disease. The pain can be expressed as blepharospasm (abnormal contraction of the eyelid muscles) or as general depression. Many owners report a dramatic improvement in the dog’s behavior after removal of a glaucomatous eye. Glaucoma may be classified in one of two ways, writes Ron Ofri, DVM, PhD, DECVO. The classifications have significant clinical … [Read more...]
Too much drool could signal a problem
Excessive salivation can be caused by happiness, hyperthermia or household cleaning products. Check these additional differentials for ptyalism and pseudoptyalism from Julie Allen, BVMS, MS, MRCVS, DACVIM (SAIM), DACVP. Source: Clinician’s Brief, April 2020. Link. … [Read more...]
How HR is writing the book on coronavirus
One of the most fascinating things about the pandemic and its global impact is that there is no book written about this situation” – Jason Averbook Averbook discusses three normal personnel processes and explores how they’re changing: Onboarding Performance Governance SOURCE: Human Resource Executive, May 8, 2020. Link. It’s scary when there’s no book. But, at … [Read more...]
Revisit the 3 Rs of client retention
This article is more current today than it was when Brenda Tassava, CVPM, CVJ, VLCE, wrote it in 2018. Communication diligence is one of the big lessons as we manage through a crisis. We cannot assume that one-and-done efforts will resonate or be remembered, let alone acted on. Tassava discusses the need to remind, recall and recheck, plus forward booking appointments with … [Read more...]
Tips to avoid malicious apps
With digital use at an all-time high, there are risks to consider with the convenience and fun some apps offer. Anthony Green reminds us that apps can be easy entry points for digital criminals who want to pirate your data and seize control of your accounts and devices. He offers some basic tips to avoid pirating. Never download from a third-party app outside of the App Store … [Read more...]
Somatic cell counts spike in spring
Bacterial and somatic cell counts are used by dairy farmers and processors as indicators of milk quality. In general, the higher the counts, the lower the milk quality. Warm, wet spring weather provides the perfect opportunity for bacteria to breed and wreak havoc on milk quality. In order to stay ahead of a springtime spike, producers should focus on cow comfort, cow … [Read more...]
Biosecurity for horse farms, stables and horse people
Biosecurity strategies are part of waging a war on equine infectious disease, not just on farm, but also around the country. While these efforts might seem labor-intensive, herd health is critical. Simple biosecurity steps can save horses and horse people great difficulty, expense and intensive labor. Source: US Rider, April 23, 2020. Link. The objective of good biosecurity … [Read more...]
Recognize and treat early dog arthritis symptoms early
Regardless of pet life stage, familiarity with common signs of arthritis in dogs can result in faster intervention. This, in turn, can lead to improved quality of life for everyone involved, writes Marybeth Bittel. Bittel collaborates with a veterinarian to share common signs of arthritis and what to do if a pet shows changes in behavior. Source: Dogster, April 8, 2020. … [Read more...]
Watery eyes may signal medical conditions in dogs
An overflow of tears, called Epiphora may indicate minor to major medical conditions. Christina Korb, DVM, and DJ Haeussler Jr, DVM, MS, DACVO, provide a diagnostic chart to help explain what all those tears might represent. Source: Clinician’s Brief, April 2020. Link. … [Read more...]
Pollen or cat allergy?
Watery eyes, runny noses and scratchy throats are symptoms of environmental allergies, as well as pet allergies. About twice as many people are allergic to cats as dogs. A truly hypoallergenic cat does not exist, even though some breeds are thought to be. Cat allergies are caused by a reaction to a protein in cat dander, urine and saliva. The author shares steps to lessen … [Read more...]
We ARE living the new normal – Part 3, biosecurity strategies ensure progress
COMMENTS Biosecurity is not new to animal health pros. It is central to successfully providing safe care for animals and their owners. Diseases such as rabies, distemper, parvovirus, hog cholera, bird flu, leptospirosis, PEDV, PRRS, salmonella and BVD have pushed us to focus on optimizing infection controls, using quarantine areas and hospital pens in concert with … [Read more...]
We ARE living the new normal – Part 2, communication strategies for moving forward
Comments Strategies are the how of moving forward. They are meaningless unless we know the why. Getting to why requires focus. The words of the veterinarian’s oath clearly identify the why. . . . I solemnly swear to use my scientific knowledge and skills for the benefit of society through the protection of animal health and welfare, the prevention and relief of animal … [Read more...]
We ARE living the new normal – Part 1, situation analysis
Comments Change management experts are returning to their themes of adaptability, including life and business always accepting change as a constant. In some ways it is refreshing. Yet the day-to-day strategy changes, coupled with statistical analysis have most people running in place awaiting what comes next. From what has been published in recent weeks related to … [Read more...]
Lead employees during a crisis
In times of crisis, there are two directions human nature can take us: fear, helplessness and victimization or, self-actualization and engagement. On the latter, if leaders have a clear way forward, human beings are amazingly resilient. There is a documented “rally effect.” Source: Gallup, March 23, 2020. Link. Research has found four universal needs that followers have of … [Read more...]