News & Information

Yes, There is a
Rattlesnake Vaccine!

Rattlesnake bites are an emergency, but there is a vaccine to help protect your dog in this situation. The vaccine helps defend your dog against the rattlesnake venom by creating an immunity that works right away to help neutralize the toxins.

This does not mean your dog doesn't need to see a veterinarian if bitten. Snakebites are always an emergency. It does mean that the cost for treating your dog could be considerably less. Treatment with antivenom can cost hundreds of dollars, when it's available, and treatment without vaccination is associated with an increased risk of adverse effects which can complicate a dog's recovery. Vaccination is safer than treatment and can reduce the overall side effects of snakebites.

Remember the benefits of deworming your cattle in the spring with injectable Dectomax!!!

How, Now, DOWN Cow!

Polioencephalomalacia, or POLIO for short, is neurological disease of cattle. The disease is brought about by too little thiamine (Vitamin B1) or by too much Sulfur consumption. Signs of polio include blindness, head-pressing, grinding teeth, twitching muscles, down unable to rise, and death. Until recently, polio in cattle was mostly caused by thiamine deficiency. Within the last century, more producers and especially feedlot owners are having polio caused by too much Sulfur. So, why the change?

While corn is still a staple in feeding cattle, it has also been in demand to make ethanol. The process of making ethanol requires a cleansing of pipes and sulfur acid is primarily used because it is a cheap source. The sulfur acid is discarded with the by-products from the corn (example is distillers grains). There is no standard on the amount of sulfuric acid used; each plant and each batch may be different. Even if you don’t feed distiller’s grains, be careful! Some areas around here have increased levels of sulfur in the water, this combined with increased levels in the forage or supplements (made from by-products) may cause polio.

The treatment in both causes is to give thiamine. There is no clear understanding of the effects of increased sulfur in the body, but some researchers believe the sulfur may cause the destruction of thiamine. Most of the treatments for down cattle also involve steroids to help relieve the inflammation of the brain and nerves. We can help you test feed or water samples for sulfur as well as help treat polio if you suspect you have a problem. There are other diseases, such as coccidiosis, somnus, lead poisoning (usually from a battery in the pasture), and others, that can present as down or blind cattle, let us help you make a diagnosis.

Achooo! Dog, Bless You

Dog flu is a contagious respiratory disease in dogs caused by a specific Type A influenza virus referred to as a “canine influenza virus”. The dog flu is influenza A H3N8 that was originally an equine (horse) influenza virus. This virus has spread to dogs and can now spread between dogs. It is important to note that this is not a disease of humans, nor is it the “swine flu”.

The symptoms of this illness in dogs are cough, runny nose, and fever, however, a small proportion of dogs can develop severe disease. Some dogs have asymptomatic infections (no symptoms), while some have severe infections. Severe illness is characterized by the onset of pneumonia. Canine influenza virus can be spread by direct contact with respiratory secretions from infected dogs, by contact with contaminated objects, and by people moving between infected and uninfected dogs.

A canine influenza vaccine has recently come onto the market. It can be given to healthy dogs older than six weeks of age and is administered in two injections 2 to 4 weeks apart, then is given annually. More information on canine influenza can be found at: www.cdc.gov/flu/canine. Currently our state diagnostic lab has had NO POSITIVE tests for this flu. We’ll keep you posted….

Diabetes in Animals

NOTE: We have had several dogs and cats diagnosed recently. We suspect the incidence of diabetes in dogs and cats is on the rise!

Diabetes is a disorder caused by insulin deficiency. Like humans, animals can get Type I or Type II diabetes. Lack of their own insulin prevents the animal from being able to utilize glucose, so the body mobilizes its stores of sugar. This in turn affects the liver and kidneys, these most often causing signs of weight loss and thirst.

The incidence of diabetes in dogs and cats is about 1 in 400. The average age of onset is 8 years, but can be from 4 to 14 years. In dogs, females get diabetes more often and in cats, it is more common in males. Obesity with recent weight loss is typical along with muscle wasting and an oily coat with dandruff.

Diabetes is fairly simple to diagnose with a blood glucose test. It's important to run tests to get a comprehensive look at the animals’ health. Treatment of diabetes nearly always involves therapy with injectable insulin. It is easy for the owner to do at home. Several glucose curves are needed to get the patient regulated. These are day-long serial glucose checks to adjust the insulin dosage. Diet and weight management are very important in diabetic animals, just as in people. Cataracts are a very common complication in dogs. Others are seizures, anemia, and urinary tract infections.

There are several insulins that work well in dogs and cats. “Vetsulin” has been the insulin of choice for several years, but its future supply is questionable, so other alternatives are being used more.

Planning on getting a health certificate for your cattle? Read this!

With the emergence of new diseases and the movement of wildlife, biosecurity is more of a concern than it was back in the "open range" days. Everyday there are new regulations required for cattle to be moved and shipped across state lines. Most of the requirements for a health certificate are simple, if you plan ahead. Testing non-virgin bulls for Trich is required by many states and is always a good idea. Some states require the testing of all bulls prior to entry, even if you are only shipping cows. Trich testing can be done with fertility testing prior to breeding time. The good news is that within the past year, the newer PCR test has been approved by most of these states. Because it is more accurate, one test can be done instead of the 3 that used to be required.

Other requirements for the movement of cattle that may include having individual indentifications listed on the health certificate. Identification would include a bangs tag number or USDA tag number. Commuter permits are available for Wyoming and South Dakota, which makes movement between those states easier. It simplifies the process to have an up-to-date inventory of your herd, including the USDA ID matched up with the ranch tag. Once you have the inventory, you can keep it current by adding or subtracting losses, sales, or additions.

YOU RAISE THE BEST BEEF IN THE WORLD!
KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK!

Horse Vaccination

It IS still important to vaccinate for sleeping sickness and west Nile. The diseases are still around, and the insects that transmit them are here EVERY summer. The incidence is low BECAUSE we vaccinate.

Supplies

As always, we a stocking a complete inventory of calving and branding supplies. We appreciate your business. We try to have everything you need in stock, but a vaccine order a few days ahead of time is appreciated.