A new federal requirement effective December 1, 2016 raises the minimum salary needed to exempt most employees to $47,476 per year. Beyond the doubling of the current level, there are specific job categories or exemptions where overtime rights are considerations. Source: Veterinary Practice News, November 2016. Cover page, continued on page 28. It is important to review the … [Read more...]
Archives for October 2016
Building a non-emergency clientele
Animal health pros have historically talked about large animal veterinarians who were in fire truck practices. To change from a proactive environment instead of reacting to emergencies takes effort. Dr. David Van Metre, Dr. James England, Dr. Dee Whittler and John Hall share ideas about how to make this transition and get paid for it. Source: Beef Vet, Winter 2016, page … [Read more...]
Workplace mood management starts early
Paying attention to the morning moods of your employees can pay dividends, according to Nancy Rothbard, Professor of Management at the Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania. A recent research effort showed employees who started out each day happy or calm usually stayed that way throughout the day. Interacting with customers tended to further enhance their mood. Source: … [Read more...]
Knowledge gap looms on FDA antibiotic rules
With big changes to rules governing antibiotic use in animal agriculture pending at the end of this year, producer opinions range from cautious support to skeptical opposition. Some are taking a wait-and-see approach. John Maday, Bovine Veterinarian editor, shared producer survey feedback that indicates the education process is far from finished. Source: Bovine Veterinarian, … [Read more...]
Modify canine humping behaviors
Non-sexual mounting in pre-adolescent and neutered dogs is generally a byproduct of physiologic arousal – an inappropriate response triggered by sensory stimuli, motor activity and/or emotional reactivity. The longer a dog practices his mounting behavior, the harder it is to change, shares Pat Miller. Source: Whole Dog Daily, October 30, 2016. Recommendations to address … [Read more...]
Curbing cribbing in horses
Cribbing is a compulsive behavioral disorder in which a horse habitually bites down on a horizontal surface with its incisors and sucks in air, often making a grunting or gulping noise. Interventions address concerns that cribbing wears down the incisors and is linked to issues of unthriftiness, poor performance, dental issues, gas colic and strangulating lesions such as … [Read more...]
Emotional agility can help you at work and in life
Emotional agility is the ability to be with yourself in a way that is courageous and curious and compassionate, says Susan David, PhD. But in a fast-paced world, we often get derailed or stuck. She says the things that we are upset about or angry about often contain information of what’s of value. People will often push these emotions and, with them, the learning … [Read more...]
High times for pets a-comin’
Pets in states where marijuana use has become legal are getting high. Accidental consumption is generating some pretty lofty veterinary bills, too. Plus, veterinarians are increasingly concerned about the potency of today’s edibles, many of which contain highly concentrated tetrahydrocannabinol. Source: Washington Post, October 28, 2016. In the year after pot became legal … [Read more...]
Livestock aren’t destroying the planet
We hear it and read it all the time – that agriculture and livestock production are destroying the planet because of all the greenhouses gases they produce. This is simply not true. Michelle Miller, aka Farm Babe, puts livestock production in perspective in this post. Source: AGDAILY, October 25, 2016. When you compare the 8 percent greenhouse gas figure of agriculture to … [Read more...]
Pigs infect humans, says CDC
Pigs are responsible for infecting children with a type of swine flu not previously seen in humans, according to a report published by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. None of the 18 persons infected from the variant virus infections were severely ill. The positive message here is that the CDC’s surveillance methods are working and we have “eyes” on variant … [Read more...]
How the VFD applies to anaplasmosis
Anasplasmois is caused by Anaplasmo marginale, a blood parasite. The parasite is transferred between animals by blood contamination, often caused by blood-sucking insects. It is common in the South and in some parts of the country, clinical anaplasmosis can occur year-round. The new Veterinary Feed Directive allows for treatment. Source: Progressive Cattleman, November, … [Read more...]
Being nice wins
The nastiness of this year’s Presidential campaign is often excused by observing that “politics is a contact sport.” Plus, reality shows with the highest ratings seem to involve the nastiest people. Despite society’s current love affair with verbal thuggery, research proves you can win while being nice and you can disagree without being disagreeable. Source: Wall Street … [Read more...]
Holistic veterinarians say congestive heart failure is sometimes reversible
Congestive heart failure in dogs, as in humans, can be classified in four functional phases. Combining conventional treatments with complementary approaches may improve whatever underlying imbalances or deficiencies the dog may be experiencing, which can help to slow or stop the progression of disease. Source: Whole Dog Journal, October 23, 2016. (via Whole Dog Daily … [Read more...]
Robotics make milking easier in Kansas dairy
A Palmer, Kansas, family dairy operation spent five years researching robotics and deployed a system a year ago. Duane Meier reflects on the positive results of the effort. Source: Dairy Herd Management, October 21, 2016. Now, six people are taking care of 720 cows with more time to actually manage the cows and take care of 600 acres of crops. Milk production increases are … [Read more...]
Understand why cats puke so much
An excerpt from a book by Justine A. Lee, DVM, challenges the reality that cat owners often just tolerate how much their cats vomit. The guidance suggests that if there is no hair in the vomit there may be a reason to take the cat to a veterinarian. Source: Tufts Cat Talk, October 24, 2016. Chest and abdominal x-rays, some basic blood work, and a sterile lung fluid wash … [Read more...]
TNR works to control feral cats
Challenges with feral cats spans centuries. Estimates on their numbers range from about half as many as there are owned-cats to one and a half times as many owned cats. With 74 million owned-cats, there could be 32 million to 106 million feral cats. Feral cats are both beneficial and problematic. Historically, they were tied to superstitions in medieval Europe when the Great … [Read more...]
Dogs dig pot, dude
Voters in eight states are voting on various forms of marijuana legalization next month. No matter your position, keep your pets in mind. Veterinarians are seeing more dogs suffering from highs from marijuana smoke and edibles. It’s not pretty, either. Source: The Boston Globe, October 21, 2016. 'With the increase in all these recreation products, we saw the number of … [Read more...]
Wildlife comedians make you hoot and howl
The finalists for the second annual Comedy Wildlife Photography Awards have been announced. Check out this fun slide show and the captions. Read the rules – no PhotoShop was allowed. Enjoy. Source: NPR, the two-way, October 21, 2016. A grinning owl. A fish slapping a bear in the face. An unfortunate interaction between a buffalo and a bird. At least two eagles with very … [Read more...]
Youth swine exhibitors VFD guide available
The Pork Checkoff has released “Youth Swine Exhibitors’ Guide to New Antibiotic Rules” and it is available at no charge. Source: The Pork Checkoff. As of January 1, 2017, youth swine exhibitors, parents and project advisors will face major changes regarding access to feed and water medications for show pigs. INSIGHTS: In addition to this guide, there are more resources in … [Read more...]
6 steps to take before VFD becomes effective
Much has been written about VFD including these five posts on Animal Health Digest: More on VFD FDA pilot program begins on-farm VFD inspections VFD tools for clients available for free Apiary owners must bee ready for VFD Common VFD form format part of FDA final guidelines This great infographic reminds producers of the steps that need to be taken pretty … [Read more...]
More controversy over dog kisses
Mouth to mouth dog kisses may feel like the ultimate display of affection, but when it comes to such kisses, several experts caution: beware of dogs. Source: New York Times, October 21, 2016. Dr. Nandi, University of Pennsylvania, says a dog’s saliva has proteins that may help cleanse or heal its own wounds, but in a paragraph titled “Why Not to Make Out With Your Pet,” he … [Read more...]
Being helpful at work can make you worse at your job
The title seems to fly in the face of logic. But University of Florida business professor Klodiana Lanaj recently outlined a major downside to this approach. Helping your colleagues is exhausting. In two recently published studies she and her colleagues discovered that helpfulness at work is something of a tightrope walk: It can boost your energy, but it can also leave you … [Read more...]
Breakers, boners, leans and lights
Cull cows, bulls and cull dairy cows make up about 20 percent of the beef available for consumption in the United States. About half of this group, or 10 percent of the beef supply, comes from cull beef cows. The USDA market news service reports on four classes of cull cows (not destined to be replacements). Learning a bit more about these classifications can impact overall … [Read more...]
Top 5 reasons veterinary nurses are essential
Veterinary nurses, or veterinary technicians, bring special skills and attributes to a practice. Few persons have a longer job description. Practices that learn to use them to their full potential realize increases in efficiency and improvements in client service and patient care. Veterinary nurses, with all their special skills, knowledge and attributes, are the gears that … [Read more...]
Being bold and making tough decisions
LaRae Quy was an FBI undercover and counterintelligence agent for 24 years. She is the author of “Secrets of a Strong Mind” and “Mental Toughness for Women Leaders: 52 Tips To Recognize and Utilize Your Greatest Strengths.” She says, “It’s no secret that business and life are not as simple as they were, either. Executives, business owners and entrepreneurs need to take a bold … [Read more...]
Research helps identify quitting behaviors
The basic tenet of managing turnover is that everyone eventually leaves. But the “when” can feel like a mystery. Recent research shouldn’t be considered the only way to identify an employee on the verge of quitting, but it does point to a set of behaviors that, taken together, can provide a clue—and it discounts behaviors that have mistakenly been seen as tells. Source: … [Read more...]
Stallions with steady jobs behave better
Jim Brinkman, owner of Pitzer Ranch in Ericson, Nebraska, and equine behaviorist Sue McDonnell, Ph.D., with the University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine, share their experiences about helping a stallion behave well. Source: AQHA Daily, October 19, 2016. Give him a job. “A stallion is a lot like an 18-year-old-boy. If he’s got a steady job, and he’s a little … [Read more...]
AAHA transitioning to accredited-only hospital membership model
AAHA is bolstering its strategy to clarify and support the accredited AAHA practices with membership changes. Over the next two years, it will transition to an accredited-only hospital membership model. The transition will be completed by June 30, 2018. Non-accredited practices have until July 1, 2017 to enter into an agreement to become AAHA accredited. Any non-accredited … [Read more...]
How to recommend pet foods
Fritz Wood, CPA, CFP, often reminds his audiences that 100 percent of the dogs and cats that visit a veterinary practice EAT. The same is true of shoppers’ pets seen by retail associates. With this in mind, the free VetFolio web conference will be valuable to veterinary teams and reps who serve them. Consider attending this free web conference as a team. After the … [Read more...]
Speaking up to supervisors is a two-way street
Corporate leaders often say they want employees to speak up and offer new ideas, challenge processes and call out unethical behavior. However, research shows that those same leaders generally react negatively to employees who challenge them, even when done constructively. Source: Harvard Business Review, October 18, 2016. Building speaking up cultures is, on the whole, a … [Read more...]