As I sit here waiting for my 14-year-old son to emerge from a tonsillectomy surgery, I received a message from a close friend, “Hope the surgery goes well for all of you. I bet he has a big growth spurt after this.” Growth spurt? I started to relate the idea of child growth to a cattle feeding strategy called compensatory gain. The premise behind this idea is if you limit feed a calf, once you feed it properly, it will compensate by gaining the weight back with extra.
Animal Health Information
Managing At-Risk Piglets Part 1: Colostrum Intake
Heritage Animal Health
Several factors are related to piglet survival immediately post-farrowing. However, colostral management has the biggest influence on whether or not the piglets will survive during the first few hours to days or even through the first few months. Colostrum, the first milk produced by the sow, is full of invaluable antibody proteins called immunoglobulins that are paramount to the function and strength of the piglet’s immune system.
The Struggle is Real: Stage One of Parturition
Heritage Animal Health
I know this may sound weird, but cows are stealthy. Cows try to hide their difficulties and shield their struggles in order to stay safe from predators. Calving is no exception. I can walk into the calving barn and all cow eyes will be on me; nobody moves; they all act as if I caught them doing something sneaky. They do not want me to know what they are up to, especially if they are calving. Rear ends are spun away from me, hiding their surprises. They just want me to go away, so they can get back to whatever it is they were doing. With the installation of video surveillance cameras, I can secretly watch them as they behave more normally, thinking they are alone. Who is stealthy now? So, what are we really watching for in a normal versus an abnormal calving? Let’s start with the three stages of parturition, followed by a focus on stage one problems.
Full Thickness Skin Injuries in Horses
Heritage Animal Health
Every full thickness skin injury is different, yet all share the need for attention. Immediate attention may be required to control bleeding, but there are other not-so-obvious reasons to begin wound treatment as soon as possible. As a rule of thumb: full thickness wounds require antibiotics to prevent infection. These medications are given either orally or as an injection. If a wound is causing pain or discomfort, pain medications are important as well. Injuries can keep a horse from eating or drinking sufficiently or cause rubbing and further injury. Pain medications can help to prevent rubbing and keep a healthy appetite in check to promote wound healing. Prompt repair of skin wounds, within 24 hours, will minimize pain and severity of scar tissue formation as well. Lacerations that are surgically repaired will usually require less long term wound care than untreated wounds.