In our third installment of prion diseases, we will discuss the oldest of the TSEs: scrapie. First described in Great Britain in the 1750s, scrapie can now be found worldwide, expect for Australia and New Zealand. Scrapie affects sheep, goats, and their close relatives. Scrapie received its name from the intense pruritis that affected animals exhibit.
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 blinds. Many families rely on this meat through the winter. Proper food handling practices make this a good source of protein. However, in some areas of the US, there is a potentially zoonotic disease lurking in the deer population.
Is vaccinating your backyard goats in the US today a waste of time and money? What exactly are the risks to rabies in the US? Let's jump into the VetZone and explore this important topic!
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 against.
This podcasts conclude the review on the core vaccine of goats known as CDT. Learn about tetanus and the vaccine used to protect us.
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 contaminated with manure.
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.
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.
An overeating vaccine? Sound too good to be true? Well, if you are interested in a way to reach your personal weight goal, it is too good to be true - this isn't for you. This vaccine can save your goat's life though - so for them and their producers, it is amazing. Learn about the "C and D" in the CDT vaccine.
Can you really use St. John's Wort to tan your goats? Yes, but you shouldn't try it. Learn about this peculiar type of toxin and let's finish up on goat toxins with some miscellanous risks.
What do mouse brains and hamster kidneys have to do with vaccines? Let's look take a look back at history as well as peak into the present day methods of vaccine production.
Can I give my goat a sheep vaccine? Isn't it for sheep? Let's explore this common question as to why some vaccines can be 1) labeled for several species at once, 2) can be used in some species that aren't on the label, and 3) why you can use sheep vaccines in a goat but NOT a human.
A horse is only as good as the feet he has to travel upon. Proper hoof care remains the foundation of soundness in any horse, no matter his occupation. What happens when feet are neglected, or environmental conditions are less than ideal? The hoof is under constant assault from arid conditions, wet conditions, bacteria, and physical trauma. We will cover some of the basics of hoof disease in this series.
Few people have been affected first hand by disaster like the residents of California right now. Because of the extremely rapid movement of the fires, not everyone was able to evacuate with their animals to safety. Many pets, both large and small, have been rescued and treated for injuries and burns. Some have been reunited with their owners. Some still wait. Would you believe that there is a cheap, one-time insurance currently available to prevent this? What is this small miracle?...
In the last segment, we introduced ICS. In this post, we will cover the day-to-day workings of the ICP. This is the facility where the Command and General Staff work.
No one wants to experience a disaster. But, disasters happen every day. A successful response aids the victims, while keeping the safety of the responders at the forefront. None of this is possible without an organizational structure in place. This structure is the Incident Command System (ICS).
In part two of goat toxins, we look at alkaloids and their peculilar position in history and medicine: both poison and antidote. You probably ate a plant from this group of plants this week, but no fear - there are some edible portions to some of these plants. Learn more here.
Sea lions in California are once again battling a debilitating and fatal disease. This disease affects multiple species, including humans. It may sound like the next zombie apocalypse heading our way, but in truth, it’s a very old disease.
May seem like a weird question but the answer is fascinanting. Learn about the goat toxin that links Nazis, van Gogh, cherry leaves, and Frankenstein!
We have discussed many aspects of agriculture and food safety. There remains one species of food producing animals who rarely get the credit they deserve. This group forms the backbone of many sectors of agriculture, and often go unnoticed. While they do give their lives to provide subsistence for humans, we do not eat them. A highly infectious disease is sweeping across multiple continents, threatening the very existence of these animals.
Bloat is a common, deadly disease that many times can be avoided. Learn about what bloat is and how to avoid it in your goat! This podcast could literally save your goat's life!
The US is currently battling another foreign animal disease (FAD) outbreak. Virulent Newcastle Disease (VND) made its way into southern California and continues to spread.
Can't you feed goats everything? Surprisingly, no. While goats have a wide dietary range, they also have a specific needs. Learn the three main options to feed your goat along with some tips to keep them healthy!
The weather around the globe continues its unpredictable pattern. Many areas of the US are experiencing unusual flooding for this time of year. With flood waters, come hordes of tiny vectors, harboring many infectious diseases.
It has been a very active summer for emerging disease outbreaks across the globe. The US has had two outbreaks thus far and is bracing for a third. Currently, African Swine Fever is sweeping across China and moving into western Europe.
How do you turn simple leaves in a goat? The amazing ruminant system! In seven and a half minutes, we cover how this complex system works! And you learn some fun other facts along the way.
The world of goats, like every other passion, has its own set of terms. Learn twenty common goat terms in this short fun podcast.
If you have spent any time with goats, you probably love them. Goats are awesome! In this brief intro, we will cover the value of goats and why they might have been the first livestock species to be domesticated.
In the previous post, we introduced the Old World (OWS) and New World (NWS) screwworms. Both species have many common characteristics. Here, we discuss lifecycles and methods of eradication.
Maggots are gross. No two ways about it. Tiny little creatures with a voracious appetite consuming flesh. But, did you know that there are different types of maggots?
