Disbudding and Dehorning in Livestock: Best Practices for Welfare and Safety When you're raising livestock, you're always thinking ahead to keep animals safe and healthy, and sometimes that means making tough decisions about their care. A cow with horns is impressive, but horns can injure herd mates and handlers, especially in close quarters. Considering disbudding [...]
The Pet Weight Check That Matters Most: Understanding Body Condition Score Maybe you've noticed your dog slowing down on walks, or your cat thinking twice before jumping onto the couch. Weight changes can sneak up on us- humans and pets alike- and while it's easy to track the number on the scale, that number [...]
Rolling Eyelids and Droopy Eyes: When Pets Need Eyelid Surgery Chronic eye discharge, squinting, and redness often trace back to eyelid problems that medication can’t fix. Entropion turns lids inward so lashes rub the cornea. Ectropion lets lids sag outward, exposing tissues to irritation and infection. Both cause ongoing discomfort and can damage vision if [...]
Are You Cleaning Your Pet's Ears Too Much (Or Not Enough)? Healthy ears usually need minimal cleaning. But breed traits, lifestyle, and anatomy can set the stage for problems. Swimmers carry water deep into ear canals, floppy ears trap moisture, and allergies inflame skin, opening the door to yeast and bacteria. A simple routine of [...]
Healthy Hooves, Healthy Herds: The Importance of Regular Hoof Trimming What happens when your animal starts moving a little slower or seems reluctant to stand? You might immediately check for obvious injuries or illness, but often the root of discomfort lies in a place we tend to forget: their hooves. These structures are essential for [...]
Winter Skin Care for Pets: Combating Dryness and Itchiness Do you notice your animal scratching more as the weather gets cold? Have you spotted flakes on their coat that look suspiciously like dandruff? Winter brings cozy indoors, but when the heat is running, the dry air can quickly strip moisture from your pet's skin, leading [...]
Excellence in Every Procedure: Mid-Valley's Approach to High-Quality Pet Surgery When your veterinarian recommends surgery, questions immediately surface. What will happen during the procedure? How will my pet feel afterward? What makes one surgical facility different from another? These concerns are valid, and the answers matter. Quality surgical care requires more than technical skill- it [...]
The Power of Ultrasound: Enhancing Reproductive Efficiency in Livestock Ultrasound has transformed herd management, allowing producers to detect pregnancy, monitor fetal growth, and diagnose reproductive problems early. This technology improves breeding efficiency, reduces costs, and supports healthier, more productive animals. For livestock producers in Northern California's farming communities, every breeding season represents a significant investment. [...]
The Critical Role of Proper Nutrition in Livestock Health Healthy livestock begin with balanced nutrition. In Northern California’s diverse agricultural landscape, the right feeding program determines more than weight gain- it drives reproductive success, disease resistance, and long-term profitability. When cattle, goats, sheep, or swine receive complete and balanced diets, they maintain strong immune systems, [...]
Routine Dental Checkups: Protecting Pets from Hidden Oral Disease Most families notice dental problems only when their pet’s breath turns foul or they start avoiding food. What many don’t realize is that dental disease often begins quietly beneath the gumline, damaging teeth and spreading infection throughout the body long before obvious symptoms appear. At Mid-Valley [...]
