What livestock vets need to know about new VFD rulesDecember 7, 2016The Veterinary Feed Directive (VFD), which kicks in January 1, 2017, regulates the use of medically important antibiotics in the feed and drinking water of U.S. livestock.
SPONSORED CONTENTHELP THEM FEEL COMFORTABLE IN THEIR OWN SKIN.Could the key to managing the constant itching and inflammation of canine atopic dermatitis be at the bottom of a bowl? + Learn More
Ohio State vet team discover CRE in livestockDecember 6, 2016Ohio State University is reporting the first discovery of transmissible carbapenem-resistant enterobactericeae (CRE) in U.S. livestock. Normally, these multidrug-resistant bacteria can produce serious life-threatening disease and are found primarily in hospitalized patients, so they are considered an "urgent" public health threat by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. To find the bacteria is livestock presents a serious threat both to animal and human health through fresh meat products. "Finding CRE at a livestock farm in the U.S. is definitely a concern, and represents another escalation of the antibiotic resistance threat", said Thomas Wittum, MS, Ph.D, professor and chair of Veterinary Preventive Medicine at Ohio State University (OSU). He led the research team that discovered the CRE in a swine farrow-to-finish operation. Specifically, the CRE were discovered in the farrowing and nursery barns at a 1,500 sow, farrow-to-finish swine farm. Several species of bacteria with the same resistance gene known as IMP-27 were repeatedly found by researchers during regular visits to the farm. Carbapenems are never used in animals intended for food, but other types of beta-lactam antibiotics, such as ceftiofur, are commonly used on farms to treat sick animals. …
This vet drove 900 miles to help horses at Standing RockNovember 23, 2016As the Standing Rock Sioux protest against the Dakota Access Pipeline continues, it has drawn nationwide attention. It also drew the attention of Charmian Wright, DVM, owner and operator of Mountain Horse Medical in Park City, Utah. When she heard about horses getting injured at Standing Rock, she was motivated to reach out to the Sioux on Facebook to see if they needed help.
Why ultrasound is not just for horse tendons, breedingNovember 9, 2016Since its introduction into equine medicine in the latter part of the 20th century, ultrasound has been enthusiastically adopted by practitioners—both hospital-based and in the field—as a noninvasive way to glean information about tissues lying beneath the skin.
USDA, NIFA award $4.3 million to 48 veterinariansNovember 3, 2016The U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) announced today that they will be awarded $4.3 million to 48 veterinarians. In exchange for serving in areas that lack sufficient veterinary resources, the USDA and NIFA will pay a portion of their school debts.
What you need to know about omega-3 fatty acid supplements for horsesOctober 17, 2016Some say beauty is only skin deep, and that beauty is in the eye of the beholder. But what horse lover doesn’t notice (and perhaps drool a little) when confronted with another horse on the course with way healthier skin than their own horse’s and a coat so dazzling it's nearly blinding?
Researchers discover novel virus associated with polio-like symptoms in pigsOctober 17, 2016A team of veterinary researchers recently discovered a novel virus in the central nervous tissues of young pigs with polio-like weakness in their hind legs.
UC Davis-led organic farming project receives $2MOctober 12, 2016A nearly $2 million grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture Organic Research and Extension Initiative will fund an organic farming research project led by the UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine. Specifically, the grant will support studies needed to develop national guidelines and best practices for using animal-based manure to improve soil quality and nourish crops.
Henry Schein to celebrate large animal vets on Oct. 12October 6, 2016Henry Schein, Inc., wants to recognize the efforts of large animal veterinarians, so they are launching the inaugural National Livestock Veterinary Day on October 12.
Safety measures vets should take around horsesSeptember 29, 2016If you are reading this story, you’re probably deeply embedded in the equine industry and already know that horses and humans go together like peas and carrots. Although the relationship between the two species has changed dramatically over the past century, shifting from a working relationship to one based primarily on companionship in many parts of the world, the bond between the two remains strong.
