The next season in upon us...

Hope everyone enjoyed their summers, we are onto fall and all the busyness that brings.

SMALL ANIMAL

The bugs are terrible right now! With the cooler nights, make sure to keep your pets on flea and tick preventatives. This time of year is when we see the most pets with flea infestations. Also, if you have been outside, you know the mosquitoes are horrible. Which means heartworm prevention still needs to be given! Year round preventative is the best practice!

Allergies have been a problem for the last month. If your pet has seasonal allergies, you are probably aware the environment is causing itchy pets. Our top defenses for allergies are the Jax inhibitors, these products on the market are Apoquel, Cytopoint and Zenrelia. Other things that can help, medicated shampoos, Fatty Acid supplements and food that is formulated to help improve the skin barriers. Some pets can benefit from one of these treatments, many require combinations of treatments to keep your pet comfortable. The allergy season usually lets up a little once we've had a frost.

SMALL RUMINANTS

Many are underway with breeding. A ewe or doe bred today, would be lambing/ kidding middle of February. Good nutrition is important throughout pregnancy. They should be 2.5 to 3.0 BCS (body condition score) at breeding and be closer to 3.0-3.5 at lambing. Those carrying multiples need more nutrition to prevent against pregnancy toxemia in late gestation. Ultrasounding ewes between 45-65 days bred, is the easiest time to get fetal counts. This can allow for grouping ewes and does for different nutritional needs.

EQUINE

Fall is a good time to think about deworming. After the first frost, it would be a good idea to use a broad spectrum product to target tapeworms and bots. Something with praziquantel, like Quest Plus or Zimecterin Gold.

BOVINE

Lots of things going on if you have a cow-calf herd. Anything bred today would be calving beginning of July. Hopefully the bulls have been pulled for a while. We are happy to get you on our schedule for ultrasounding if the bulls have been out over a month. These pregnancies that are 30-90 days, are much easier to age. When we are confirming pregnancies later in the gestation, it is harder to get a more accurate due date.

On the calf side, consider getting vaccinations into calves 2-4 weeks prior to weaning. We want to booster their immune systems before they become stressed. Another product to help with stress is FerAppease. This product is a synthetic analogue of Maternal Bovine Appeasing Substance (mBAS). This can be given before stressful events and starts to work immediately. It lasts up to 14 days. Can be used at weaning, castrating, vaccinating. Many of these calves had vaccines before going out to pasture. Boostering with modified live covering Bovine Rhinotracheitis-Viral Diarrhea-Parainfluenza-Respiratory Syncytial Virus Vaccine with Manhemimia Haemolytica-Pasteurella Multocida as well a clostridial vaccine covering Clostridium chauvoei, septicum, novyi, perfringens Types C&D, haemolyticum +/- tetani. Vaccines should not be given when sick or stressed.

On the feedlot side, boostering vaccines and implanting when entering the yard. With new regulations on implant protocols, it is worth having a conversation about different strategies to maximize gain. Depending on co-mingling and sources of calves, metaphalaxis can be administered on arrival (giving antibiotic to everyone on arrival). This is usually based on risk of cattle. Deworming is recommended on arrival as well, either macrocyclic lactones (Eprinex, Dectomax, Cydectin) or white drench worm (Synanthic, Panacur, Safeguard).

SWINE

According to Swine Health Information Center, PRRSV overall case positivity decreased over the summer, but still remains higher than expected in MN and IA. PEDV remains low, but has seen a slight increase in the wean-to-market pigs. Swine Influenza reports are also low at this time. As we get into cleaning out pits, remember safety and biosecurity practices!!!

Have a safe and happy harvest season!