Unlike large commercial dairies, micro-diaries focus on managing a small number of cows to produce high quality, responsibly raised dairy products for family use and often as an income-producing product for the local food market as well. Because of their small size, most micro-dairy owners quickly learn to handle many of their animals’ health needs on their own, such as treating common infections and basic wound care. If you are operating a micro-dairy or plan to open one soon, the Veterinary Feed Directive (VFD) is a piece of new legislation that goes into effect in 2017 that may affect how you handle veterinary care of your animals in the future.…
If you’re looking to get a new pet, a dog is an amazing option. They’re playful and loyal, and since you’ll be getting a puppy, you’ll have a chance to train them up properly. However, the first step to getting a puppy is finding the right breeder. The field of puppy breeding can be very difficult to navigate if you’ve never had to deal with it before, and you may not know how to find a good breeder.…
If you’re a dog owner, chances are you’ve done everything to puppy-proof your home to prevent your furry friend from getting into your cleaning products or chowing down on your chocolate stash. While it’s pretty much common knowledge that dogs need to stay far away from poisonous substances such as antifreeze and pest control baits, the reality is that there are also a variety of seemingly harmless everyday items that can pose a risk to your precious pooch.…
It’s way too common for people to decide to adopt a pet when they are unable to provide care. After the initial awe wears off and finding that it’s too difficult to care for the pet, they get rid of it or let it loose. This is one reason animal shelters are overpopulated and approximately 4.5 million pets are euthanized each year. The fact is, adopting a pet is a huge decision.…
If your animal is experiencing pain in their body, then you of course want to make this pain stop for them as soon as you possibly can. A great way to do this is going to be to take them in for pet acupuncture. Pet acupuncture has the same basic concept as it does for humans, in that the acupuncture is done to stimulate the area that is in pain, thus releasing the painful toxins in it and helping it to feel better.…
If you’ve just purchased a male puppy, you might be wondering about the neutering process—specifically the benefits of having your puppy neutered. If you’ve decided to leave your puppy intact—avoid neutering—you might want to rethink your decision. If you’re worried about the surgical procedure, there’s no need to be. When it comes to neutering your pup, the benefits far outweigh any discomfort your dog might experience during the process. Here are four health benefits to having your pup neutered.…
As the “parent” of a female dog, you may be wondering if breeding your bitch is right for you. There are many factors you should take into consideration before breeding your female, including age, breed, and characteristics of your dog, that you should discuss with your veterinarian. Here are these three factors in detail and why they are so important to the breeding process.
Age
Once a bitch comes into her first heat, she is of breeding age and can successfully produce a litter of pups provided she is in good health and has a safe environment in which to raise them.…
When ticks start coming out in the springtime, they can easily get inside of your home. Your children or your pets can bring in ticks that lay eggs and create a tick population inside of your home. If you want your home and pets to be tick-free, here are three steps that you can take to fight ticks that have gotten into your house.
Address Your Pets
Ticks can easily catch a ride a ride by hitching onto your pets’ fur, especially if you have pets that are both inside and outside animals.…
Tartar buildup can negatively affect the health of a dog by causing swelling of the gums and loss of teeth. Dog owners often try to counter this buildup of tartar by taking their pets for dental cleanings, but the intervals between cleanings can be lengthy. That’s why you should explore additional options for keeping your dog’s teeth clean between cleanings. Fortunately, there are ways you can keep your dog’s teeth clean of tartar and help protect their health.…
Pyrexia, better known as a fever, is defined as the state in which your pet’s body temperature is higher than the normal range. A fever in itself is not a specific illness. A fever is a symptom of illness. Think of it as one piece of the puzzle, and you and your veterinarian work together to collect the other pieces of the puzzle to determine what is causing your pet’s fever.…
