Trichomoniasis could be the most economically damaging disease cow-calf producers face. The trich pathogen, Trichomonas foetus, is a single-cell protozoa, transmitted through sexual contact. Bulls are the primary sources for spreading the disease. Thus, testing bulls is the most effective means of controlling or eliminating trich from cow-calf herds. Source: Bovine … [Read more...]
Archives for August 2016
Best price does not guarantee best value
Andrew R. Clark, DVM, MBA, details the cost of shopping for the best price. His calculations are worth reviewing. Beyond the cost of shopping, there is also the cost of a separate purchase order, another check needed to pay an extra invoice and the likelihood of a separate box to receive, verify and stock with the “deal” purchased. Source: Is My Practice Healthy?, August 12, … [Read more...]
Inventory availability critical to distributor relationships
Eric Jensen shares his thoughts on how customers value distribution based on a survey of wholesale distributors. The results place inventory availability nearly as important as relationships. Technical support ranked third, while delivery time and price ranked fourth and fifth, respectively. Source: Industrial Distribution, August 12, 2016. If you are a distributor, while … [Read more...]
OSU veterinarians save 6-month old Marley
Marley, a six-month old Golden Retriever needed a life-saving procedure. Trouble was, it had never been done before at Oklahoma State University. However, Marley’s owners, Marcene and Fred Warford of Muskogee, OK, had full faith in the OSU team. It was a faith rewarded. Source: NewsOK, August 15, 2016. They found a shunt, a diversion of blood, in Marley’s liver that wasn’t … [Read more...]
Are you really listening?
“They’re not listening to me.” This is one of the more common complaints I hear when working with individuals and groups to enhance their communication and leadership skills. Listening to be polite, listening to respond or listening just to let them vent, are just a few of the reasons for the breakdown in communication today. Source: Vet Advantage: June, 2016. Respecting … [Read more...]
5 alternatives to cat declaws
It is tremendously frustrating for clients if their cat scratches everything, but there are alternatives to surgical declawing. This author shares simple things cat owners can do to prevent unwanted scratching and avoid a major surgery: Make the objects of inappropriate scratching unattractive Get some good scratching surfaces Provide distractions Trim cat’s … [Read more...]
Reality TV comes to the Vet University
Life at Vet U, a new docu-series will soon air on Animal Planet. The program follows a group of fourth-year veterinary students as they complete their training while learning from pioneers of veterinary medicine at Penn Vet's Ryan Hospital and New Bolton Center. A premiere date has not been announced. Source: Veterinary Practice News, August 1, 2016. View a special trailer … [Read more...]
Embracing the open pet pharmaceutical transition
Results from the 2015 Pet Pharmaceutical Market Study, a collaboration of Brakke Consulting, Inc., and Trone Brand Energy are summarized in three main areas: Tracking the portable pet prescription movement Diminishing veterinary pharmacy revenues Veterinary pharmacy revenue loss coping strategies The study collected responses from U.S. companion animal … [Read more...]
TV schedule for equestrian events at the 2016 Olympics
Viewing options for Olympic equestrian events are provided for network, cable and streaming sources. Source: HorseChannel.com, August 1, 2016. There’s good news and less-good news for equestrian sports fans in the United States as the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro approach. The good news is that pretty much everyone, no matter how they consume television, will get … [Read more...]
Preparing for IRS Section 179 tax deductions
The end of the year will be here before you know it. Now is a good time to look into those capital equipment options to help take advantage of the IRS Section 179 tax deductions. Pam Foster shares information targeted for distribution representatives in this two-part series. The information is applicable to veterinary teams as well. Source: Vet Advantage Blog. Starting … [Read more...]
Dr. Little’s students write for Exponential Vet
Summer participants in the Veterinary Student Innovation Program write about what might be coming. The veterinary students have been working alongside early stage animal health companies to help bridge the gap between technology and the veterinary practice. See their contributions on the following topics: Turning suture material into biological sensors Starving cancer … [Read more...]
Eggs are a victory for the animal welfare movement
In recent years, public attention to eggs and the chickens that make them has grown beyond logical expectations. In fact, nearly 200 companies that include every major grocery and fast food chain have pledged to use only cage-free eggs by 2025. This doesn’t mean life for hens is getting better. In fact, the opposite may be true. Source: Washington Post, August 6, 2016. The … [Read more...]
Some NSAIDs work better than others for osteoarthritis
As mainstay treatment for osteoarthritis, NSAIDs inhibit one or more steps in arachidonic acid metabolism, including inhibition of prostaglandins by cyclooxygenase (COX). Sales representatives and veterinary teams will find this review of drugs and supplements valuable. Consider using it to lead a discussion in a veterinary team meeting or during a lunch and learn … [Read more...]
Anthrax spreads from reindeer to humans in Siberian heat wave
For the first time since 1941, there is an anthrax outbreak. One child has died, and almost 100 other persons have been hospitalized, with dozens of confirmed cases. More than 2,300 reindeer have succumbed to the disease. “There is no epidemic in Yamal. Only a small area was quarantined,” the region’s governor told the Associated Press. Yamal is a subdivision of … [Read more...]
Sponsored Content – Multimodal approach needed in heartworm prevention
Phase 2 of a groundbreaking study by John McCall, MS, PhD, demonstrates a great need to change the approach to fighting the rising incidence of heartworm infection in dogs. New data shows that blocking transmission from dogs to mosquitoes and from mosquitoes to dogs, using repellents/insecticides and macrocyclic lactone preventives are part of a multimodal approach. McCall's … [Read more...]
Self-awareness key to improvement
Working in the leadership development industry for more than 25 years, I have found that unconscious incompetence is the starting point for most positive interventions. We often get in our own way and have no idea that we are the problem. So, this article attracted my attention. Source: Source: LinkedIn Pulse, July 20, 2016. Self-awareness, one of the four key components of … [Read more...]
Quitting is not failure
Andy Roark, DVM, MS, shares an experience and perspectives with a veterinary technician working in a challenging practice environment. Source: Dr. Andy Roark, August, 4, 2016. That’s why the goal in life should never be to overcome all obstacles, but rather to recognize which obstacles should be overcome, and which ones you should just turn and walk away from. We have three … [Read more...]
Canine carrier crash testing
The Center for Pet Safety (CPS) tested crates and small-dog carriers. Some have been sold as crash-tested, even though you can see from CPS’s videos that the products clearly could not have PASSED any crash test. Source: Whole Dog Journal, July 27, 2017. Only one crate for large dogs survived the crash tests intact, and only a few carriers for small dogs kept the small-dog … [Read more...]
Editorial – Seek clarity before condemning meat
“Is meat good for you?” continues to be a significant part of nutritional research. While moms still promote eating vegetables, modern media personnel have forgotten how to read research reports in their entirety. The result is that meat frequently gets condemned. Dan Murphy, a veteran food-industry journalist and commentator exposes the fallacies in much of the reporting … [Read more...]
Dry first. Then wash clothes to kill ticks.
Put the clothes in the dryer on high heat for six minutes to kill ticks on clothing, then wash if the clothes are dirty. Why? Ticks love water. In a recent study, 94 percent of ticks survived cold-water washes and 50 percent survived hot-water washes. Once the clothes were wet, it took 70 minutes to kill the tick in the dryers on low heat and 50 minutes in dryers on high … [Read more...]
Exploring the equine biome
Researchers are working to better understand the role of various species of microorganisms throughout the equine intestinal system. The collective groups of microbes, their genomes and how they interact is referred to as the microbiome. Source: The Horse, August 2016, page 26. Studying the equine intestinal microbiome is important because horses are hindgut fermenters," … [Read more...]
Reduce fear aggression in dogs
Pat Miller, CBCC-KA, CPDT-KA, discusses dog aggression in the context of fear. She shares ways to reduce a dog’s fear and adjust the resulting aggressive behavior. Fear related aggression frequently appears as a young dog matures, between eight and 18 months. These behaviors get unwittingly reinforced as humans (the most common scary stimulus) back off. Source: Whole Dog … [Read more...]
Canadian wood bison reproduced in vitro
Four wood bison calves were born at the University of Saskatchewan Western College of Veterinary Medicine’s Native Hoofstock Center in July. Three of the calves were born using in vitro fertilization. The fourth calf was produced from a frozen embryo that was taken from a bison cow in 2012 and transferred to a surrogate mother in 2015. Both are reproductive firsts for the bison … [Read more...]
Minimize distractions
The Mind Tools editorial team offers the 10 most common distractions faced at work and examines strategies for managing or eliminating them. Implementing these measures should mean that you, and your team members, get more done. Source: Mind Tools, August 2, 2016 via newsletter. Dr. Gloria Mark, Professor of Informatics at the University of California, Irvine, says that … [Read more...]
Finding a rhythm at work
Rhythm on a monthly, weekly and daily basis can create the order and flexibility you need for your work and time to flow in harmony. Elizabeth Grace Saunders suggests, “it’s time to discover your cadence.” This piece will appeal to those of us who are challenged with time management, energy management and juggling of priorities. Source: Harvard Business Review, April 14, … [Read more...]
AJVR – research continues
I often wish consumers could understand the amount of research that goes into keeping animals healthy. This issue of the American Journal of Veterinary Research is a reflection of our industry’s commitments to discovery and understanding. Source: AJVR, August 2016 (Vol 77; No. 8: pp. 792-912). (Link to table of contents only) … [Read more...]
New from JAVMA
The latest issue of the Journal of the American Veterinary Association is linked below. Source: JAVMA, August 1, 2016 (Vol 249; No. 3: pp. 246-324). Learn “What’s in this issue” including an insightful send-off for AVMA executive vice president and CEO, Ron DeHaven as he retires. INSIGHTS: Congratulations to Dr. Ron DeHaven who will end his responsibilities on … [Read more...]
Combat chronic stress with breathing
Media sources are full of articles these days about suicide in the veterinary profession. Intense experiences are commonplace and stress is inevitable. But, with awareness and a little skill, its negative impacts are not. The authors share perspective and outline a technique called intentional breathing. Directed at those in leadership positions, we recognize that all animal … [Read more...]
Beef bacon alternative growing
Bacon! Schmacon! “Schmacon is delicious and different than anything else on the market,” shared Howard Bender, owner of Schmaltz Deli in Naperville, Ill. “It has about half the calories and half the fat, and it tastes great.” The beef bacon product was launched in 2015 and comes from the underbelly of cattle. Source: Drovers CattleNetwork, July 24, 2016. It is a new way for … [Read more...]
The routine exam video
Videos help set expectations for clients and educate new staff members. Consider this one for websites, blogs and newsletters. Link to it for new clients coming to your practice or use it during school or group presentations. Source: AVMA SmartBrief, July 27, 2016. Preventive care visits are an important part of keeping your pet happy and healthy. But what does a … [Read more...]