On-Call / Vet Archives - Ozarks Farm & Neighbor Newspaper

On Call

On-Call / Vet Melissa Fuller - July 14, 2008 0

It is showering and cool as I write this column, but as all Southwest Missouri natives know, we are only “two weeks away from a drought." It is summertime, and with rising temperatures combined with rising humidity, heat stress will play an important factor in all cattle operations for the next couple of months. I would like to give an overview of heat stress and some recommendations for control of this profit robber.

On Call

On-Call / Vet Melissa Fuller - October 19, 2009 0

I recently made a trip to the Missouri Humane Society farm in Union, Mo., to attend a continuing education course on equine dentistry. Veterinarians are becoming more knowledgeable on the subject of dentistry in horses and are developing more advanced equipment and techniques for the proper care of the teeth and oral cavity of the horse.

On Call

On-Call / Vet Melissa Fuller - May 12, 2008 0

Someone I know recently became very sick with diarrhea, and was diagnosed with cryptosporidiosis. Cryptosporidiosis is caused by a protozoal parasite similar to coccidia. This parasite causes diarrhea in calves that leads to untold millions in lost production in both the dairy and beef industries. Since this disease has zoonotic potential, that is, it can be transmitted from animals to people, I think a discussion of the disease and control measures is needed.

On Call

On-Call / Vet Melissa Fuller - August 25, 2008 0

As I prepare this column, it would appear there is at least a small reprieve from some of the economic gloom and doom of the past 6 months. Now I understand that this does not take away from the fact that everyone’s input costs have jumped drastically over the past couple of years. But it should get you to thinking of ways to maximize your production and more efficiently use your resources.

On Call

On-Call / Vet Melissa Fuller - August 30, 2010 0

Most horse owners I know have at least one "easy keeper". These horses seem to require very little in terms of nutrition to maintain their body condition. Often the battle is in keeping them from becoming obese and horse owners go to great lengths, even what seems like near starvation to prevent these "easy keepers" from getting fat. As with all species, unchecked obesity comes with great health risks and for horses, Equine Metabolic Syndrome (EMS) is a condition not too uncommon for the overweight horse.

On Call

On-Call / Vet Melissa Fuller - April 13, 2009 0

Spring calves have been hitting the ground all over the Ozarks lately and veterinarians stay busy this time of year assisting cows and heifers that are having difficulty. This provides a good opportunity to address the appropriate management of dystocia, or difficulty of birthing, the equipment to have on hand and when to call on professional assistance.

On Call

On-Call / Vet OFN Admin - September 12, 2011 0

In a previous issue we discussed an emerging disease in Missouri cattle known as trichomoniasis or ‘trich’. This issue provides an excellent opportunity to bring producers up to date on recent changes in Missouri state regulations.

On Call

On-Call / Vet OFN Admin - August 26, 2013 0

Testing for persistent infected bovine viral diarrhea in cattle can be beneficial.

On Call

On-Call / Vet OFN Admin - January 16, 2012 0

The harsh conditions of winter can present a challenge to some horses in maintaining an adequate body condition. Colder temperatures require increased calorie intake to maintain body warmth. Loss of body condition is often a very gradual process, occurring over several weeks to months, the problem can "sneak up" on horse owners if they are not proactively observing and maintaining their horse’s body condition.

On Call

On-Call / Vet OFN Admin - July 15, 2013 0

Once again this year we are seeing a rise in the number of cases of rabies in our state. This year according to the Missouri Department of Health, the state has had 23 cases compared to 17 cases at this same time last year. Currently, four counties are on alert those counties are Bollinger, Howell, Oregon and Wayne. Alerts are issued when the disease has been reported in domestic animals. The majority of cases this year has been in skunks, with 15 positive. The remainder of these cases have been in domestic animals including horses, dogs and cats.