Providing corrective feedback is challenging but it becomes more difficult when it gets emotional. Defensiveness, crying or yelling create an environment that most would rather avoid. However, it is part of the real world. So, tips on handling these types of situations are helpful. Source: LinkedIn Pulse, September 22, 2016. Remember the “why.” Focus on all the good reasons … [Read more...]
Archives for October 2016
7 tips to keep pets safe this Halloween
Halloween is Monday, October 31. The American Veterinary Medical Association offers seven, common-sense tips to keeps pets safe during this ghoulish time. It also offers a free client handout to AVMA members here. Source: American Veterinary Medical Association. Don’t feed your pets Halloween candy Make sure your pet is properly identified (microchip, collar and ID … [Read more...]
Ear cytology illustrated
Ear cytology provides an abundance of useful clinical information that is easily obtained with in-house testing. When combined with otoscopic examination findings, cytology is an efficient tool that help clinicians make a diagnosis and assess treatment response. Source: Clinician’s Brief, June 2016. Utilize these photo images to review common findings present on ear … [Read more...]
Fetal programming affects how beef calves perform
“If cows have less stress during pregnancy, they have a better calf crop,” Ron Scott, director of beef research for Purina Animal Nutrition, says. “And, not only does it affect the calf crop right then, but close-outs at the feedyard, it influences fertility of the replacement heifers. And all of that has to do with the type of environment that calf had when its mama was … [Read more...]
Senior dogs can turn into puppies
Dogs often revert to puppy like problems as they age. Teoti Anderson reviews some issues pet owners may find coming back as their canine friends age. The core areas of anxiety, housetraining accidents, destructive behavior and grooming struggles are all considerations. Source: Modern Dog, October 13, 2016. As a dog ages, hearing and other senses diminish. Remember that … [Read more...]
Studies help define human relationships with dogs
Karen B. London, PhD, shares her perspective about the direction of anthrozoology studies. She references recent research published in the Applied Animal Behavior Science Journal; Measuring dog-owner relationships: Crossing boundaries between animal behaviour and human psychology. Source: The Bark, October 15, 2016. Referencing the study London relates some suggestions … [Read more...]
Training an older dog
Pat Miller says training an older dog requires some accommodations, but it can be done. She discusses a number of factors that influence how much and what mature canines can learn. She recommends talking with a veterinarian before starting a senior dog in a physically vigorous training program. Source: Whole Dog Journal, October 16, 2016 (repurposed from December 2007 … [Read more...]
Dogs and horses don extreme Halloween costumes
Just for fun! It is almost Halloween. Whether your customers are having a barn party or attending a holiday horse show, some of the most creative horse and dog costumes are about to emerge. Source: Horse Network, October 13, 2017. Photo essay of 28 Halloween horse (and dog) costumes that prove you aren’t trying hard enough. … [Read more...]
Pig virus with polio-like symptoms discovered
A novel sapelovirus that Iowa State University researchers had not previously encountered was found in microscopic lesions in two pigs’ central nervous tissues. The 11-week-old pigs displayed a polio-like weakness in their hind legs that prevented walking. Source: Pork Network, October 13, 2016. Paulo Arruda, an assistant professor of veterinary diagnostic and production … [Read more...]
Backyard flocks are big risk for spreading Gumboro in U.S. chickens
Infectious bursal disease (IBD), commonly known as Gumboro, is an immunosuppressive disease in chickens caused by infectious bursal disease virus (IBDV). A wide range of IBDV pathotypes exist in nature. They have been generally classified into subclinical IBDV (variant), classic virulent IBDV and very virulent IBDV (vvIBDV) groups. Although vvIBDV does not exist in some … [Read more...]
Long-forgotten research unearths new mystery about Lyme disease
Nearly two years before Willy Burgdorfer discovered the bacteria that causes Lyme disease, he stumbled upon another obscure tick-borne bacterium, Rickettsia helvetica, which he called the Swiss Agent. But, Burgdorfer put those results aside. His 1980s-era papers on the forgotten research were recently discovered, raising new questions about the diagnosis and treatment of Lyme … [Read more...]
11 states where veterinarians earn great salaries
Insider Monkey, an evidence-based investment resource, recently released statistics about the 11 highest-paying states for veterinarians, based on the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ Occupational Employment Statistics report. Source: AAHA NEWStat, October 12, 2016. To select the 11 highest paying states for veterinarians, Insider Monkey referred to the Occupational Employment … [Read more...]
Hispennials represent tremendous opportunity
Almost 60 percent of the 55 million Hispanics in the United States today are millennials or younger. Their shopping and buying habits are different than their non-Hispanic counterparts, according to the latest HispanicLink™ findings from IRI, a marketing research firm. Convenience and ease of shopping are important, as are online deals and in-store engagement associated with … [Read more...]
Warmth and competence critical to first impressions
When you put people into decision-making mode they are being influenced by logic and emotion. Additionally, the bigger the decision, the more emotion influences the final outcome. So, very often your technical competence as a DVM or vet tech will work against you when dealing with increasing customer compliance. Source: Business Insider, January 16, 2016. If someone you're … [Read more...]
Understanding accountability
Accountable. The word conjures up visions of bad annual reviews, pink slips, punishment or harder work. Jonathan Raymond suggests thinking about accountability in five steps: The mention The invitation The conversation The boundary The limit Source: Harvard Business Review, October 13, 2016. At work as in life, we all need the people who care about us to … [Read more...]
Fall can be hazardous for pets
Sarah Young reminds us that fall weather also brings some seasonal hazards for pets. These simple reminders make good material for newsletters, posts and websites. Source: Consumer Affairs, October 12, 2016. Before heading outdoors, pet owners should keep in mind that fall brings with it certain risks to dogs. Some of these risks are made by mother nature while others are … [Read more...]
Dog-centric practices benefit dogs, vet teams
Progress is being made in all animal care segments to reduce the stress on animals when visiting a veterinary hospital or treatment environment. This article, the first of two, presents proactive thinking and preparation for animals that respond negatively to practice visits. The guidance includes people safety and reminds us that some preparations need to start at … [Read more...]
Understand negotiations, don’t kill them
Negotiations are a part of professional life whether you’re a veterinarian, a marketer, a salesperson or even a farmer. Top Producer’s Sara Schafer brings together the advice of three negotiators who offer worthwhile tips to use when negotiating anything you can imagine. Source: AgWeb, October 10, 2016. 'When people get in the heat of the moment during a negotiation, they … [Read more...]
Young folks like to read their news, not watch it
Lest you think millennials only watch news, think again. New findings from Pew Research show that only 38 percent of Americans ages 18 to 29 name video as their preferred way to get the news. In fact, 42 percent of that group prefer to get their news by reading it online in a text format. Folks older than 50 years prefer watching the news. Source: NeimanLab, October 6, … [Read more...]
Water dangers for dogs
Ben Character, DVM, reviews the risks of dogs getting in the water in this Q & A. He says there are five major infectious organisms considered as waterborne. He also references chemical runoff. While this e-blast targets hunting dog owners, the warnings are similar for urban animals. Water features are common in suburbia and on golf courses. While pretty, they may not be … [Read more...]
APHIS pet travel tool
When travelling with pets, there may be animal health requirements specific for a destination. Factors to consider may include meeting timeframes for obtaining a health certificate, updating vaccinations, diagnostic testing or administration of medications or treatments. USDA APHIS recently launched a handy tool for veterinary teams and animal health pros dealing with pet … [Read more...]
Select the right bull
Bulls can rapidly change a herd. However, it is important to select the right bulls to make sure progress is made, says Burke Teichert. Bull selection, combined with choosing cull cows can positively or negatively impact operation profit so it needs to be done strategically. Source: Beef, October 6, 2017. Teichert offers 5 tips when selecting bulls: Cull the right … [Read more...]
50th World Dairy Expo ends
Here are some photos and moments from the World Dairy Expo that took place last week in Madison, Wisconsin. If you could not attend or have never been there, these will help you experience it minus the ice cream, milk and cheese samples. Source: Dairy Herd Management, October 7, 2016. There are plenty of sights to take in while attending the 50th World Dairy Expo in … [Read more...]
Updated Journal of Dairy Science
We’ve linked to the most recent issue so you can view abstracts. Note the issue is divided into sections to guide you through the studies. Consider reviewing the interpretive summaries to get an overview of key content. Cow characteristics and their association with udder health after different dry period lengths is worth reviewing in the Production: Health, Behavior, and … [Read more...]
Researchers determine if mutts are healthier than purebreds
Researchers at the University of California-Davis challenged the theory that purebred dogs are more prone to genetic disorders than mixed breed dogs. They studied 27,254 dogs with inherited disorders over a five-year period. The theory that purebred dogs are more susceptible to inherited diseases only holds true for 10 out of the 24 disorders studied. Source: Dogs Naturally, … [Read more...]
Fly control essential to pinkeye prevention
Fall’s short days and cool nights combined with the grouping of cattle, increases the risk of pinkeye. Fly control is essential to reduce the risk of pinkeye, says A.J. Tarpoff, Kansas State University beef veterinarian. Effective fly control plans may include insecticide sprays, special ear tags or cattle rubs. “Flies work to cause pinkeye in two different ways,” he said. … [Read more...]
Culling open cows effectively
Cull cow weight and price are two of the top factors of profitability in any cow-calf operation. Justin Rhinehart, University of Tennessee Beef Cattle Extension specialist, provides good perspective on the economic importance of open cows in cow-calf operations. Cull timing is presented in detail. Source: Drovers CattleNetwork, October 4, 2016. Open cow revenue generally … [Read more...]
Dogs may have better social filter than humans
Researchers at Yale University’s Canine Cognition Center provide perspective on human social learning by testing dogs in a similar environment. This information and video are intriguing. Source: AAHA NEWStat, October 3, 2016. Yale researchers concluded that dogs will leave out irrelevant actions when there is a more efficient way to solve a problem, even when a human … [Read more...]
Newest edition of JAVMA
Three papers piqued our interest in this issue (abstract access only): Overdiagnosis. Misdiagnosis is understood in veterinary medicine. However, there seems to be little discussion of the problem of overdiagnosis and the risks it poses to veterinary patients. Together. Federal directive will bring veterinarians and beekeepers together. Honeybee drugs will require a … [Read more...]
Spending on pet supplies drops
Pet owners were spending more on their pets last year. However, the supplies category suffered. Now, treat and premium food spending bodes well for assertive veterinary practices and retailers who focus on engaging their customers about nutritional value and overall wellness for animals. Source: Pet Product News, October 5, 2016. John Gibbons speculates that the big rise in … [Read more...]