Veterinarians

Chuteside Diagnostics

What is it? Chuteside diagnostics are tests that can be performed while the cattle are in the chute. These rapid diagnostics tests typically use body fluid samples, such as blood, urine, or saliva to detect infections or diseases [1]. They typically provide fast and accurate results and are easy to use requiring little on-site equipment […]

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Categorization of Drugs

What is it? Health Canada classifies antimicrobials based on their importance in human medicine as follows [1]:   Category I: Very High Importance  These antimicrobial drugs have no or limited alternatives available and are essential for the treatment of serious infections.   Category II: High Importance   These antimicrobial drugs often gave an alternative available but are still

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Veterinarian Client Patient Relationship

What is it? A Veterinarian Client Patient Relationship (VCPR) is the foundation of any interactions that occur between a veterinarian, the client (i.e., owner, operator, rancher), and the patients (i.e., the livestock).   A VCPR must exist before a veterinarian can provide services, such as prescribing or administering drugs. The conditions of a valid VCPR include

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Wastewater Tracking

What is it? Wastewater tracking, or wastewater surveillance, is the detection and measurement of a certain indicator or target from the wastewater system. Anywhere from 30-90% of antibiotics are excreted in waste, often still in a biologically active form [1]. This waste can also contain antimicrobial resistant bacteria. Monitoring trends in antimicrobial use (AMU) and

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Canadian Antimicrobial Resistance Surveillance System 

What is it? The Canadian Government created the Canadian Antimicrobial Resistance Surveillance System, or CARSS, in response to the growing global concern about antimicrobial resistance (AMR) [1]. The first CARSS report was issued in March 2015.   CARSS monitors antimicrobial use (AMU) and AMR in Canada by integrating data from various surveillance systems, including CIPARS [1].

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Antimicrobial Drug Disposal

What is it? The safe disposal of unused or expired antibiotics is an essential component of antibiotic resistance management. Improper disposal can cause traces of pharmaceutical drugs in the environment, including both the soil and water [1]. The trace concentrations can build up over time and have adverse effects on human, animal, and environmental health.  

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Auto-Dosing Gun

What is it? An Auto-Dosing Gun, also referred to as a Smart Dosing Gun, is a tool used to administer veterinary medicines to livestock. Administration methods such as injection, oral drenching, or pour-on may be used with different attachments to the device. The aim of the device is to deliver accurate and consistent doses.   To

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Phage Therapy

What is it? The Bacteriophage. Video produced by Kurzgesagt – In a nutshell and created with scientific advice and editing by James Gurney. Bacteriophages, or phages, are viruses that infect bacteria [1]. Phages are smaller and more abundant than bacteria and can be found all around the globe.   Similar to viruses, phages are species-specific and

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Gut Health

What is it? Gut health refers to the health of one’s digestive system, as well as the ability to properly digest food, absorb nutrients, and excrete waste.  Cattle are ruminants and have a four-chambered stomach [1]:  Rumen: contains a large community of microbes that help aid in digestion and fermentation processes,  Reticulum: this is where

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Oregano

What is it? Oregano is a herb, and its oils have broad-spectrum antimicrobial, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory properties [1], [2]. These properties can be attributed to the carvacrol found within oregano, which also has uses in the food and cosmetic industries. Supplementing feed with oregano has been shown to improve growth performance and feed efficiency, and

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