We covered the basics of transmissible spongiform encephalopathies in our previous post. We will delve a little deeper into the three economically significant diseases in the remaining posts. White tail season closed last week. Hopefully, the season was successful for those who endured endless hours of scouting, fine tuning scopes and bows, and freezing in […]
Continue ReadingWhy Should I Vaccinate My Goat for Rabies?
Have you been recommended to have your goat vaccinated for rabies? Perhaps you don’t have a goat but own other livestock or even pets. Have you wondered if rabies vaccines are just a bit silly in today’s age? After all, where are these rabid goat herds? Could this all be a money scam? Nearly into […]
Continue ReadingIntroduction to TSE
A family of diseases caused by a little known agent is making a steady march across the US. One form of this disease is centuries old in Europe, while another is only a few decades old here in the US. Only mammals are affected, which includes humans. The disease can neither be treated or vaccinated […]
Continue ReadingWhy Being the Most Powerful Can Be a Weakness
“Thou shouldst say regarding him: ‘One having a gaping wound in his head penetrating to the bone, perforating the sutures of his skull; he has developed ‘ty,’ his mouth is bound, (and) he suffers from stiffness in his neck. An ailment not to be treated.’” This is an excerpt from the oldest known surgical treatise […]
Continue ReadingFoot Rot Prevention
It has been raining here for almost 36 hours. This has been one of the wettest fall/winter seasons in recent years. While good news for pasture regrowth, any livestock in confinement are at risk of foot rot. Similar to thrush or white line disease in horses, foot rot in ruminants results from a wet environment […]
Continue ReadingDon’t Share the Orf!
Hopefully after Dr. Lee’s series of Goatcasts, you are seriously entertaining the thought of adding goats to your operation. There are many benefits to having goats, ranging from pasture management to home-raised milk. However, there is a particular zoonotic disease to remember.
Continue ReadingEquine Hoof Care, Part 2
What happens when equine feet are neglected, or environmental conditions are less than ideal? The hoof is under constant assault from arid conditions, wet conditions, bacteria, fungi, and physical trauma. We will continue to address common hoof diseases here. In the previous post, we introduced the basics of hoof anatomy and care. The first ailment […]
Continue ReadingDo You Overeat? There’s a Vaccine for That!
I’ve always loved the story about the tortoise and the hare. Born a glacial thinker, the story gave me hope. As a child, I worried that it was a mark of stupidity; as a teenager, I believed it to be proof as philosopher material, and today, well, I think it just means that I take […]
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