For a long list of reasons, many pet owners do comply with recommended vaccine guidelines. Veterinary healthcare teams are the most critical link to get dogs and cats and the disease protection they need when they needed. August is National Immunization Awareness Month and is a great time to reinforce the importance of protecting pets against disease, just like we do our … [Read more...]
Archives for August 2017
AAHA/VMG Chart of Accounts now available for free
This free tool is a first success for the AVMA's Economic Advisory Research Council, which is tasked with "organizing and efficiently using the veterinary profession's scarce resources.” Kudos to all involved in providing this resource to all veterinary practices. Source: DVM 360, June 30, 2017. The chart of accounts will allow practitioners to better organize their … [Read more...]
Enjoy work more by caring less
For work-obsessed Americans, the thought of caring less about our work is practically heretical. Yet, many of us are working more than ever, enjoying it less and finding less fulfillment from the work we do. So, it might be time for a radical change in our attitude. Source: Quartz, August 9, 2017. There are many ways to train yourself to care less about work. Sure, you … [Read more...]
Fight mosquitoes, help fellow humans
Population control methods we now see as emerging practices in animal health are rooted in a lengthy history of reducing human risk from malaria and other mosquito-borne diseases. Since 2007, Bill Gates has been seeking solutions to age-old mosquito challenges. He remains hopeful we can eradicate malaria and the mosquitoes that carry it. Source: LinkedIn, August 16, … [Read more...]
Speaking of tapeworms
Sometimes there’s more to the human-animal bond than we want to admit. More interactions with wildlife as our cities expand into their habitat increase opportunities for new challenges, including a wide variety of Echinococcus spp. tapeworms. Dogs act as an intermediate host between wildlife and humans in some species. Source: Clinician’s Brief, July 2017. Surveillance in … [Read more...]
Ringworm calls for carpet and surface cleaning
Treating Microsporum canis in pets is straightforward. Veterinary teams frequently make recommendations for cleaning the home, but the efficacy of these recommendations has not been evaluated. Decontamination of hard surfaces involves thorough mechanical cleaning followed by disinfectant application. Less is known about successful decontamination of carpet with … [Read more...]
Environmentally friendly ways to dispose of dog poop
Stephanie Colman investigates the best ways to dispose of our dogs’ feces. She reviews bags, composting and multiple alternatives. Despite desires to contribute less overall product to landfills, the most realistic method for safe pet waste disposal is still putting it in the trash. Source: Whole Dog Journal, July 2017. For the health and safety of my family, my friends, … [Read more...]
Understand feline sexual aggression
There are good reasons to neuter a male cat during the first six months or so of his life. In addition to population control, neutering eliminates or at least reduces the occurrence of some undesirable sex-related behaviors. Source: Catster, August 2017. Nicholas Dodman, BVMS, notes that about 10 percent of neutered cats will continue to display unwanted behaviors. “Owners … [Read more...]
How much food to feed a cat
Feeding a cat is not complicated, but is based on many variables. These include its weight and age, food-type selection, its activity level, and whether it is pregnant or nursing. Source: Catster, June 19, 2017. Cat owners are often puzzled by the question: “How much should I feed my cat?” Catster unpacks information needed about feeding a cat. INSIGHTS: Animal health pros … [Read more...]
Richest salespeople share 5 key habits
Whether you sell in a traditional, carry-the-bag mode, a retail setting or a professional services business, there are key habits that most top-earning reps use regardless of industry: They prioritize quality over quantity They only sell to the top If it doesn't make them money, they don't do it They understand the difference between outcomes and to-dos They … [Read more...]
Sales is all about doing
You can apply Jeffrey Gitomer’s perspectives on acting on what you know. In sales, “thought conversion” is critical. Convert the lessons you hear, the things you observe, and the things you know and believe to be true, into positive action. He shares seen keys to convert listening and knowing into doing. Source: Ingram’s Magazine, November 2016. In your personal … [Read more...]
National Relaxation Day; did you know?
Who knew? Sean Moeller founded National Relaxation Day in 1985 as a fourth-grader. In an interview with Valerie Monson in The Des Moines Register, he suggested people shouldn’t do anything of real value. Cleaning and real work are not part of relaxation. This series of articles will give you ideas for relaxing. Source: Bottom Line Insider, August 14, 2017. Here are some … [Read more...]
Tackling antimicrobial resistance in livestock
Antimicrobial resistance is a hot topic worldwide. Helen Ward reviews recent research from the United Kingdom and discusses some of the issues and on-farm stewardship results. Source: Feed International, August/September 2017, page 24. Antimicrobial policies have been generated around four key principles: Disease reduction strategies Correct use of medicines … [Read more...]
Effective opening statements help make meetings matter
The number of producer meetings I have attended over the last two decades are innumerable. Unfortunately, most have been a waste of your time and a waste of your company’s money unless your sole objective was to create goodwill. If you have watched the mergers and acquisitions in our industry, you know that goodwill is the value of a business not related to assets or … [Read more...]
Animals can get bored
Animals can feel boredom, according to Charlotte C. Burn, a biologist at The Royal Veterinary Collge of the University of London. Her essay in the August issue of Animal Behavior, explains that boredom is felt by some animals left alone for long periods. Source: NPR, August 10, 2017. We need to look inward too, at our own homes. “As for the pets we live with,” Burn says, … [Read more...]
How to leave work on time
Jennie Maier shares her scheduling technique that helps manage time proactively. For those not into strict time planning, she also shares some easy-to-do starting steps. Source: The Muse, August 2017. The trick to making this work is sticking to the schedule after you’ve created it. To be honest: There have been plenty of days when I’ve had to change it up. But overall, … [Read more...]
Gain more experience in less time
We all recognize the importance of job and life experience. Yet, for many new leaders, experience can be hard to come by. Naphtali Hoff shares ways to shorten the normal timeline of gaining experience in today’s fast moving employment and leadership environments: Go for training Volunteer Find a mentor/peer group Read/watch leadership experts Reflect and take … [Read more...]
NAVTA bi-weekly topics
As lobbying continues for veterinary technicians to be called veterinary nurses, NAVTA returns to topics for its members in this edition. We found the reference to Should electronic pet records be accessible online? an interesting read and another issue-rich platform to discuss. Source: NAVTA Animal Health Bi-Weekly, August 15, 2017. … [Read more...]
Grain-free pet foods not healthier than others
If a pet is overweight, a grain-free food will not help it lose weight faster than another food. Animal nutritionists and veterinarians agree that there is no data to support the idea that grain-free diets are better for pets. “Claims like no gluten, no grains and no soy generally mean no science.” Source: Washington Post, August 15, 2017 (paywall). Some pet owners have a … [Read more...]
Beef’s trending headlines
Burt Rutherford shares five trending headlines. Senseless cattle killings in the Southwest have cattlemen and law enforcement concerned. On a lighter note, a new smartphone app helps you analyze manure to determine forage quality. Source: Beef, August 14, 2017. Also see: Beef’s 2017 lineup of mid-range tractors, and skid-steer and track loaders … [Read more...]
Social media included malware threats
As we integrate Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and other social media platforms into our daily routines, risks of malware attacks increase, as well. According to this author, faked profiles are sometimes deployed to encourage users to connect with what seems like a harmless individual. Instead, that connection opens the door for malware to enter your company’s network. Source: … [Read more...]
Next-gen malware may arrive in DNA
We have featured multiple posts about malware and the damage it can cause. A genius group of biohackers has demonstrated that strands of DNA can be manipulated to carry an infection to computers, not human or animals. Source: Wired, August 10, 2017. In new research they plant to present at the USENIX Security conference on Thursday, a group of researchers from the … [Read more...]
5 ways to detect a malicious phishing email
Since the time email first gained widespread popularity in the 1990s, phishing scams have been showing up in email accounts. They're called phishing emails because the cybercriminals who send them are fishing for victims. Source: Carbonite, July 19, 2017. Phishing emails may be more difficult to identify these days, but there are some important steps you can take to avoid … [Read more...]
Your dog’s as fat as you
Obviously, no animal health professional would ever say that. But many are afraid of offending obese clients in the process of discussing their pet’s obesity. Ernie Ward, DVM, presents the dynamics of discussing obesity and shares communication strategies to avoid possible client embarrassment. Source: Veterinary Practice News, August 9, 2017. Reframe the discussion in … [Read more...]
Avoid eclipse blindness on August 21st (includes video)
Thousands will look skyward on August 21, 2017 when the moon will pass between the earth and the sun creating a total solar eclipse. There's one thing you shouldn't do; look at the sun with your naked eye. Source: CNN, August 11, 2017. When you look directly at the sun, the intensity of the light and the focus of the light is so great on the retina that it can cook it," … [Read more...]
Research examines prejudging clients’ ability to pay
Veterinarians and their team members are renown for “judging the size of a client’s pocketbook.” This skill is often associated as a reason for a lack of compliance to product recommendations as well as routine visits. But, a study recently published in the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology posits that the face alone might provide clues to someone’s social class, … [Read more...]
Emoji is the new universal language
We definitely live in the digital age. Our lives are interconnected in a virtual world, with people we have often never met. The overwhelming majority of the world’s computer-literate users now use Emoji as a daily necessity. It adds levity, emotional expression and personality. Source: Linked In, August 5, 2017. Emoji is more than just happy or sad faces. It has real … [Read more...]
3 trends that will transform animal health
Animal health is an industry driven by two sectors, pets and livestock, that respond to very different market forces. Trends in these sectors need to be analyzed separately to get a clear view of the investment landscape. It is also important to pay attention to factors such as technology, that affect the industry as a whole. Source: Fortune, July 27, 2017. These four … [Read more...]
The art and science of starting new calves
To be successful at starting cattle, cattlemen must become as knowledgeable about animal behavior as about disease treatments and health products. Drs. Tom Noffsinger and Dee Griffin share perspectives on pre-conditioning and handling. Source: Drovers CattleNetwork, July 7, 2017. Weaning begins the day the calf is born,” says Noffsinger. “How you handle that momma cow is … [Read more...]
Animal Hospice and Palliative Care Certificate Program now available
With all the information published about millennials’ focus on pet life quality, this new certificate program will help participants meet these needs. During this program, participants will: Understand the unique field of animal hospice Learn how palliative care differs from conventional medicine Learn best practices in hospice care Understand what to expect in … [Read more...]