The other day I saw supernumerary teats in the middle or intercalary position — between the normal teats on an udder — on a bred heifer close to calving and it got me thinking. Are these of much significance and what have I done with them in practice? Are there many negatives or can we […] Read more
Tag Archives Animal Health column
Sustainability becomes critical factor in vet medicine
Without a doubt, environmental issues such as pollution, climate change and habitat loss impact animal health. Our collective future depends on finding new and better ways to tread lightly on our delicate planet. Environmental stewardship is a key pillar of the veterinary profession. The Canadian veterinary oath even includes the provision that “I will strive […] Read more
Cache Valley Virus can be difficult to prevent in sheep flocks
In the past few weeks, Prairie Diagnostic Services in Saskatoon has had some confirmed cases of stillborn and aborted sheep fetuses diagnosed with Cache Valley Virus, a mosquito-borne disease. The virus is widely distributed in mosquito populations throughout North America and in parts of Central America. It was first identified in 1956 in mosquitoes collected […] Read more
Horses’ complex sinuses make them susceptible to disease
The head of a horse contains a shockingly small brain. There is far more space dedicated to teeth, a muscular tongue, long nasal passages and the sinuses. The massive, complex sinuses in horses are prone to disease. Sinuses are like a series of interconnected caves that occupy the front and sides of the face in […] Read more
Low cow herd pregnancy rates should be investigated
Many producers have finished or will soon finish pregnancy testing their cattle herds this fall. Anecdotally, it seems pregnancy rates are improved compared to the last few years, when many areas were affected by drought, and poor-quality feed affected body condition and pregnancy rates. This year it seems many herds have returned to normal levels […] Read more
Producers must take their bulls’ health by the horns
Bulls can be hard to handle, but there are good facilities for examining and treating them. They should be vaccinated for most things you give to cows, with the exception of scours vaccines. Deworming and lice control should always be considered, since bulls get the highest load of flies in summer. When handling bulls, get […] Read more
New stress reliever has many uses on cattle operations
A new product released into the cattle and swine market has strong potential to help cattle producers in many ways. Its main premise is calming cattle for a considerable period of time. Making cattle calmer in the most stressful stages of their life can go a long way toward reducing sickness and improving weight gains. […] Read more
Multipronged strategy can prevent gastric ulcers in hogs
Gastric ulcers are commonly found in pigs. Severe cases causing death account for one to two per cent of finisher farm mortality. These ulcers, also known as stomach ulcers, are not a new phenomenon, first being reported in swine literature as early as 1897. However, the recent prevalence of mild to moderate cases showing some […] Read more
Feed testing the first step in planning winter feeding program
It’s that time of year, when you will see lots of articles about the importance of feed testing. I would certainly agree that feed testing is an important step in planning winter feeding programs for our cow herds. However, it is just the first step of the process. We need to take the information from […] Read more
Producers can manage a change in their health protocols
Producers are sometimes forced to change the medications they use because of availability. Other times, a change is prompted by bad experiences or adverse drug reactions. As well, new products will enter the market that need to be considered. How new medications enter the market depends on whether they are generic or a new standalone […] Read more
