Last week’s AHD Bulletin – Animal Health Digest Bulletin, September 26, 2024. Link. Most read posts from the September 26th AHD Bulletin – The story no one talks about: the cost to produce food. Link. Changing weather patterns call for a change in deworming habits. Link. Conservation advocacy soars in ‘24 Bird Photographer competition. Link. USDA network … [Read more...]
Got weeds? Sheep and goats being used in urban areas (video)
Using sheep for prescribed grazing is not a new landscaping method, but more urban communities are opting for it to handle land management concerns such as invasive species, wildfire risks, protection of native vegetation and animal habitats and maintaining historic sites. Kristin M. Hall shares the story of the Chew Crew grazing near downtown Nashville along with other places … [Read more...]
Worth a Glance – July 26, 2024
Last week’s AHD Bulletin – Animal Health Digest Bulletin, July 18, 2024. Link. Most read post(s) from July 18th AHD Bulletin – Facing declining interest in vet practice ownership. Link. Zoonotic web exposes complexity of disease transmission. Link. Biosecurity planning for secure beef supply. Link. ===================================== Managing equine … [Read more...]
Worth a Glance – June 6, 2024
Last week’s AHD Bulletin – Animal Health Digest Bulletin, May 30, 2024. Link. Most read post(s) from the May 30th AHD Bulletin – Glyphosate in dog food. Link. Microbial metabolites in feline anal glands aid cat communication. Link. Veterinary team advocacy helps pet owners choose pet insurance (2). Link. ===================================== She’s the … [Read more...]
RIP Bobi, world’s oldest dog
Bobi, the dog recognized by The Guinness World Records as the oldest dog, has died. Bobi, a purebred Rafeiro do Alentejo passed away in Portugal at the age of 31 years and 165 days. The previous record holder for the oldest dog was Bluey, an Australian cattle dog who lived to be 29 years old in 1939. Source: Associated Press, October 23, 2023. Link. … [Read more...]
Bird flu is back among commercial poultry flocks in U.S.
We shared concerns about the potential for highly pathogenic avian influenza infections to return as this fall’s bird migration began <Link>. It appears HPAI took a summer break but has returned to commercial turkey flocks in South Dakota and Utah. Fears are mounting that HPAI may possibly become a regular seasonal event. The virus may be present in wild birds and … [Read more...]
Worth a Glance – June 29, 2023
Last week’s AHD Bulletin – Animal Health Digest Bulletin, June 22nd, 2023. Link. Most read post(s) from June 22nd AHD Bulletin – Quiet quitting or setting boundaries. Link. New graduates may have no idea how to behave in the office. Link. 11 signs a cat needs to see a veterinarian immediately. Link. Demand for Yaks growing. Link. Place keeper: 2023 … [Read more...]
Fall migration signals increased risk for avian flu outbreaks
Arriving earlier than experts predicted, Avian flu has been detected in two commercial turkey flocks in western Minnesota and a hobby flock in Indiana. HPAI is here and biosecurity is the first line of defense to protect domestic birds.” – Shauna Voss, DVM. Spread of the disease is largely blamed on the droppings of wild birds, such as ducks and geese, which often show no … [Read more...]
USDA scattering rabies vaccines for wildlife in 13 states
The U.S. Department of Agriculture has begun scattering millions of packets of oral rabies vaccine from helicopters and planes over 13 states from Maine to Alabama. The major aim is to keep raccoons from spreading their strain of the deadly virus to states where it hasn’t been found or isn’t widespread.” - Jordona Kirby. Source: Associated Press, August 26, 2022. … [Read more...]
Worth a Glance – August 18, 2022
Last week’s most read posts – 10 years and counting elevating care for cats. Link. Get ready! All livestock antibiotics will be prescription-only in 2023. Link. Changes coming to compounded animal health medication. Link. Last week’s AHD Bulletin - Animal Health Digest Bulletin, Thursday, August 11, 2022. Link. =================================== Dog … [Read more...]
Worth a Glance – April 28, 2022
Last week’s most read posts Asian longhorned ticks are on the move. Link. Last week’s AHD Bulletin Animal Health Digest Bulletin, Thursday, April 7, 2022. Link. =================================== Love is the key to career success: Marcus Buckingham Source: Harvard Business Review, April 15, 2022. Link. (video) Buckingham says you don’t have to love all … [Read more...]
Bird flu confirmed in wild duck in South Carolina
A wild American wigeon, a species of dabbling duck, was discovered with the highly pathogenic Eurasian H5 variant avian influenza. The virus was considered to pose a low risk of infection to humans, but APHIS issued warnings to poultry producers. Anyone involved with poultry production from the small backyard to the large commercial producer should review their biosecurity … [Read more...]
Worth a Glance – December 9, 2021
Last week’s . . . . . . most read November 2021 post Study suggests health benefits by feeding dogs once a day. Link. . . . AHD Bulletin Animal Health Digest Bulletin. Link. . . . AHD posts one year ago Archives for December 2020, Animal Health Digest. Link. Amazon exec says Black Friday sales broke records Source: The Hill, November 28, … [Read more...]
Cows can be potty trained
Cows can be potty trained as easily, if not more so, than toddlers, according to researchers at the University of Auckland in New Zealand. This is good because urine, mixed with feces becomes ammonia, which is an environmental concern. Source: Associated Press, September 13, 2021. Link. If it could be done, toilet training makes it easier to manage waste products and reduce … [Read more...]
Rabid dog imported into U.S. sparks multi-state investigation
One of 33 dogs and one cat imported by an animal rescue organization from Azerbaijan to O’Hare International Airport in Chicago on June 10 has tested positive for rabies. Health officials are checking on the other animals in the shipment and are still tracking down the pets’ new owners. Tthe investigation is focused on Pennsylvania, Illinois, Indiana, New Jersey and New … [Read more...]
Pandemic pets taking toll on vets, staffs
Veterinarians and their teams across the country are seeing more new pets and more sick ones than in pre-pandemic times. The Associated Press reports despite extending hours, hiring more staff and refusing new patients, the load is heavy. Some practices have hire counselors to help staff members deal with burnout and fatigue. The numbers support the burden. Approximately … [Read more...]
Covid found in western lowland gorillas at San Diego Safari Park
“The discovery of Covid-19 infections in gorillas is not at all surprising,” says Scott Weese, DVM. “We have assumed gorillas (and other non-human primates) that are relatively closely related to humans would be very susceptible to the SARS-CoV-2 virus, just like we are.” Sources all point the transfer to an asymptomatic staff member who had been following safety … [Read more...]
New Labor Dept rule clarifies ‘joint employer’ standard
Does your business use outsourced services such as cleaning, maintenance or temporary workers? The Labor Department issued a final rule that clarifies when a worker is employed by more than one company. Source: Associated Press, January 13, 2020. Link. Taking effect on March 16, 2020, the new rule provides a four-part test to determine whether a company is a “joint … [Read more...]
Second dog? Be ready for something different.
Here are tips that single-dog owners need to read BEFORE they become a multi-pet household. Commitment, pet matching, second pet age and schedule adjustments are presented. Two can be trickier than one . . . unless you prepare. Source: Associated Press, October 5, 2019. Link. For many pet owners and pets, the process can be challenging. The cheerful bonding they’d hoped for … [Read more...]
Treat-training works better than praise, punishment
Dogs respond best to food treats instead of petting praise or punishment, according to researchers. Erica Feuerbacher has found that dogs will stay near a person who’s praising them for the same amount of time as if they’re being ignored. Punishment also works to change behavior, but can have serious side effects including damaging the human-animal bond. Source: Associated … [Read more...]
Pheasants, horses, turkey in 3 Pennsylvania. counties infected with EEE
Eastern equine encephalitis (EEE)was found in pheasants, horses and a wild turkey in Pennsylvania's Erie, Carbon and Monroe counties, according to state health and agriculture officials. The mosquito-borne disease is carried by birds, can also infect people and equids, and can be fatal. Source: Associated Press, September 22, 2019. Link. So far this year, nine deaths in the … [Read more...]
Keep pets away to prevent foodborne illness
Animal waste tainting fresh produce is one of the major causes of foodborne ailments. So, farmers’ markets and pick-your-own growers are increasingly guarded about tolerating pets near their edibles. Home gardeners should be cautious, too, writes Dean Fosdick. Source: Associated Press, April 30, 2019. Link. Whether human, dog, cat, cow or deer — all animals can be the … [Read more...]
And on the 7th day, FedEx delivered
FedEx will start delivering packages seven days a week next January. It is also taking back nearly two million home deliveries currently handled by the post office. Source: Associated Press, May 30, 2019. Link. Consumers want packages over the weekend,” President and Chief Operating Officer Raj Subramaniam said in an interview. “As soon as we went to 6-day, we started … [Read more...]
Paws down, deformed puppy getting better after surgery
A puppy born with his front paws facing up rather than down is on the mend after surgery at the Oklahoma State University’s Center for Veterinary Health Sciences. Source: Associated Press, January 25, 2018. Link. Clary says Milo, apparently part beagle and coon hound, suffered from congenital elbow dislocation. Clary inserted pins into Milo’s elbows to realign the joints … [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...]
Old kangaroo gets cryotherapy
A 15-year-old Kangaroo in the Bronx Zoo is getting some pricey cryotherapy treatment for arthritis. Zoo director Jim Breheny says the treatment is but one course of healing the 200 medical experts at the zoo use to treat 7,000 species. Source: Associated Press, March 11, 2018. Dave’s saga with localized cryotherapy treatment will be documented by Animal Planet’s latest … [Read more...]
Backyard chicken trend causes spike in infections, 1 fatal
This article explains why we have focused heavily on backyard chicken trends. The growth of raising backyard chickens in U.S. cities and suburbs brings a soaring number of illnesses from poultry-related diseases, some of them fatal. Since January, more than 1,100 people have contracted salmonella poisoning from chickens and ducks in 48 states, according to the Centers for … [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...]
Wisconsin: strong in milk cows, stronger in milk goats
The growth in Wisconsin (as well as California, which is No. 2 in goat and sheep milk sales) is due to both existing infrastructure and growing appreciation for goat milk. In the U.S., chefs are using it more frequently, consumers are seeking out its unique taste. Growing immigrant populations from places like East Africa and Latin America are looking for the familiar products, … [Read more...]
From snowstorm to firestorm
Areas the east of winter storm Goliath’s worst impact are being scorched by the Anderson Creek wildfire. The combination of the two events in the past 90 days means much of the South Central region, where livestock grazing dominates, faces more challenges. This area has been hit by severe drought in recent years, as well. Source: Associated Press, March 28, 2016. The fire … [Read more...]