We are fortunate in animal health in that we don’t deal with third-party pay and actuarial oversight of preventative care, yet. Annual physicals are the most common reason that U.S. residents see a doctor. Apparently, not all agree with their necessity or value. This information about human care decisions may signal a cloud of opportunity for our markets. Conversely, it may … [Read more...]
Archives for March 2016
15 signs a dog is in pain
Pain and pain management remains a significant topic in animal health. Clients have received immeasurable amounts of information over the years. Still, new is often perceived as better. Here’s a blurb with 15 pain symptoms from Dr. Petty’s Pain Relief for Dogs. Source: Modern Dog, Spring 2016. (direct link unavailable). Pet owners are urged to see their veterinarian if they … [Read more...]
Shy and boisterous dogs warrant attention
This pair of articles will catch dog owners’ eyes. Thus, both are important to animal health pros who service dog owners, offer behavior training or support training classes. Chronic timidity limits a dog’s life quality and can become dangerous for others if the dog acts out of aggression. Incessant barking, jumping up and destructive chewing are on the other end of the dog … [Read more...]
Sponsored Content – Hit heartworm with a one-two punch
Heartworm incidence in pets is increasing. John McCall, MS, PhD, Department of Infectious Diseases at the University of Georgia College of Veterinary Medicine, says it’s time for a new approach – fight the vector, or mosquitoes, as well as heartworms. Ceva Animal Health began an extensive campaign to educate the veterinarian community on McCall’s groundbreaking research … [Read more...]
Clipper blade contamination studied
Infections acquired during a hospital visit (nosocomial infections) and the objects that are contaminated with infectious organisms and serve in their transmission (fomites) led researchers to study clipper blades. Contaminated clipper blades have been cited as potential fomites in veterinary and human medicine. The study also reviewed cleaning, disinfection and storage … [Read more...]
Flexible endoscopy useful in some dogs
Scientists researched flexible endoscopy in awake dogs to determine if the instrument is effective, safe and tolerated in dogs with swallowing problems. Note the study used large and giant breed dogs. Source: American Journal of Veterinary Research, March 2016. Page 294-299. (direct link unavailable) Conclusions and Clinical Relevance: FEES appeared to be a feasible … [Read more...]
Internet dog food myths debunked
Recent pet food recalls have caused significant chatter around the worldwide web. Caroline Coile, PhD, addresses eight common topics where misinformation dominates. Source: AKC Family Dog, March/April 2016, Page 14. (direct link unavailable) While the internet can be a great source of information, using trustworthy sources backed with scientific research is important. Here … [Read more...]
Pet insurance important to revenue
Pet insurance is often considered as revenue insurance for veterinary hospitals. It cushions perceived high costs and may actually improve compliance. This article reviews how one practice saw nearly a five-fold increase in the number of clients with pet insurance. We’ve also included a comprehensive story from AAHA Trends, Veterinary Preventive Care Plans. Source: … [Read more...]
Give good phone
Phone etiquette is important, says Jeremy Keen, DVM. Presenting a relaxed, positive and service-minded personality regardless of how busy we are is critical to client satisfaction. The same goes for retail associates, dealers and telephone persons in distribution or manufacturer call centers. Any phone call we handle is the image of our company in that moment. Source: … [Read more...]
Prep for career changes
Mergers, acquisitions, buyouts, downsizing and ladder-climbing all cause career changes. Whether you are 25 or 55, this piece presents solid reminders for all animal health pros. Source: Money, April 2016, page 24. (direct link unavailable) Whether you have sought change or have been forced to make a change it can strain your finances at least in the short term. The … [Read more...]
What’s the buzz?
Barb Crabbe, DVM, discusses the three main threats mosquitoes pose to horses: Eastern equine encephalomyelitis Western equine encephalomyelitis West Nile virus These diseases are part of five diseases recommended for annual vaccinations from the AAEP core vaccination guidelines. The others are rabies and tetanus. Source: Horse and Rider, April 2016, pages 52-59. … [Read more...]
Vets + nutrition ≠ lack of knowledge
Amy Farcas, DVM DACVN takes on perceptions that veterinarians do not know much about nutrition. She presents a strong case that veterinarians’ nutrition deficiencies are not knowledge-based. Instead they represent a communication issue. Source: Dr. Andy Roark, March 10, 2016. While nutrition is absolutely present in the veterinary curriculum in the US, talking about … [Read more...]
4 gifts from veterinary medicine
It takes time to see where Dr. Andy Roark is going with this metaphor. Considering we’re nearing the end of the first quarter of 2016, we need to see how well we have been taking care of our dog team. All animal health pros should heed the wisdom here and consider if it is time to rotate our dogs. Source: Dr. Andy Roark, September 15, 2015. On your first day working with … [Read more...]
Laminitis – special report
Horse owners will read and mull over the information shared in this laminitis special report. Two main articles discuss 1) the increasing prevalence of the endocrine form and its relationship to grass and forage and 2) keys to preventing laminitis. There’s no doubt that many questions could be asked of veterinary teams, dealers and retailers as a consequence of reading and … [Read more...]
Equine vaccination Q and A
Horse owners have questions about vaccines. Nancy Loving, DVM addresses common questions from magazine readers in this article. Veterinary teams, dealers and representatives will find value in understanding the horse owner perspectives. The questions remind us that our knowledge when not shared leaves our customers with questions. Source: The Horse, March 2016, page 16. … [Read more...]
Beef and pork no longer need to be COOL (labeled)
Beef and pork producers got confirmation March 2nd that COOL regulations would no longer apply to their production processes. COOL regulatory requirements for chicken, lamb, goat, farm-raised and wild-caught fish and shellfish, perishable agricultural commodities, peanuts, pecans, macadamia nuts and ginseng remain in effect. Source: Beef Producer, March 3, 2016. Under this … [Read more...]
Editorial – Home delivery still growing
Articles about opportunities in the pet retail business often make me scratch my head. How can retailers get so excited and veterinary hospitals remain blasé’. For nearly 15 years, veterinarians have been offered opportunities to use various home delivery platforms to auto-fulfill standing prescriptions, brand diversity in large categories and specialty products. Yet, these … [Read more...]
Academic institutions called to lead change in veterinary technology
Dr. Little explores: additive manufacturing applications in healthcare, the disconnect between data and our healthcare system, a big milestone in artificial intelligence and a new series of blog posts on what DVMs can do to build the future he has presented in recent posts. Source: Exponential Vet, March 15, 2016. In some circles, academia is seen as the anti-thesis of … [Read more...]
Thyroid treatment shake-up
The first brand of veterinary levothyroxine sodium to receive FDA approval has created a shake-up in long-standing treatment protocols for hypothyroidism in dogs. Nine out of 10 brands of levothyroxine sodium can no longer be manufactured or distributed due to a federal initiative to lower the number of unapproved animal drugs on the market. Acknowledging this disruption, FDA … [Read more...]
All saleable milk is antibiotic free
Antibiotic testing is part of milk collection and management. According to the National Milk Drug Residue database, dairy producers increased the number of antibiotic free milk loads to 99.988% of all loads of milk delivered in 2015. Source: Hoard’s Dairyman, March 7, 2016. Every load of milk delivered to dairy processing plants is tested for the presence of antibiotics. … [Read more...]
Why do dogs groan when they lie down?
I never would I have thought to share my dog’s lying-down habits when asked about any changes in his behavior. However, his groaning may signal something. Veterinary hospital teams can use this article to discuss expanding patient intake questions to reflect potential behaviors that indicate discomfort or other issues. Source: Dogster, March 1, 2016. Groans, moans, sighs, … [Read more...]
Train dogs to look at you
Celebrity trainer, Cesar Millan shares that besides housebreaking, training dogs to look at you or their owner may be the most important lesson to teach them. It can be immensely helpful at home, as well in public, as gaining attention is very important for a dog’s safety. Source: Cesar’s Way, March 9, 2016. Follow these steps to get your dog to look at you on cue: … [Read more...]
Use best nutritional practices for liver disease patients
Liver disease affects animals differently. Jennifer L. Garcia, DVM, discusses common clinical signs associated with liver disease and individualized dietary plans to consider. Senior veterinarians can use this article when mentoring associate DVMs and technicians. Source: DVM 360, March 7, 2016. Patients with liver disease will require special dietary considerations, but … [Read more...]
Undiluted essential oils can be dangerous for dogs
Rita Hogan, co-founder of Farm Dog Naturals, calls the use of essential oils a movement among pet owners. There is no regulatory system in place for essential oil standards. Veterinary hospital teams can use this information proactively in blogs, websites, social media and newsletters. Source: Dogs Naturally, March 11, 2016. Good intentions, marketing and misinformation … [Read more...]
Farm Journal Media acquires Vance Publishing
Farm Journal Media announced the acquisition of the agricultural assets of Vance Publishing last December. Publications from both companies with new looks and names are now hitting our mailboxes. Some magazine titles have closed. Details about the acquisition and the future of those titles are presented in this article. Source: AgriMarketing, January/February 2016. The … [Read more...]
Feline anesthesia and analgesia: recent developments
Products approved by the FDA for use in felines are historically sparse. Recently, there have been a few new approvals. Source: Today’s Veterinary Practice, March/April 2016, page 20. In this peer-reviewed article, Kristen Messenger, DVM, North Carolina State University, reviews current and new options for our feline friends. … [Read more...]
Insufficient sleep costs business
Animal health pros burn the candle at both ends this time of year. Veterinary team members often get little sleep during calving season, managing emergency visits or keeping track of post-surgery animals. Reps put in a full day making calls, then travel after hours only to find two hours of email work waiting when they get to the motel. This article explores the link between … [Read more...]
AVMA offers help with VFD
As the Veterinary Feed Directive (VFD) becomes reality, AVMA offers expertise. Veterinarians wanting help filing VFDs can use a model form and instructions the association offers. VFD regulations require veterinarian oversight of antimicrobials in drug classes considered important to human medicine. Source: JAVMA News, March 2, 2016. The AVMA published the model form in … [Read more...]
Cargill receives Secretary of State’s 2015 Award for Corporate Excellence
The transition from traditional corporate social responsibility to a shared-value framework, sustainability, brand identity and the challenges of consumer perceptions are discussed in this Q and A piece. We often are unaware of the commitment a corporation may make to long-term improvement of our industry and allied industries. Congratulations to Cargill and the other award … [Read more...]
Spring in to parasite control
Spring’s greening grass brings opportunities to cow-calf producers and the channels that supply and advise them. Prevention remains a primary objective. Spring parasite control is near the top of the to-do list as cows calve and move to grass. In this article, Joe Darrington, South Dakota State University extension associate, presents a good review of parasiticide compounds and … [Read more...]