Farmers have started harvesting including cutting hay, wheat and oats and mowing field edges to allow for better air circulation. This is also time when manure can be broadcast on fields. Sara Brown previews an app that calculates a manure application rate, based on the choice of nitrogen (N) or phosphorus (P) limits and the N, P, and potassium (K) that will be applied to the … [Read more...]
Archives for July 2018
6 signs of a healthy chicken
Happy and healthy chickens are confident, strong and productive. They should also exhibit the six characteristics noted here. If they don’t, improper nutrition may be the culprit. Source: Rural Marketing News, July 30, 2018. Link. “As you get to know your birds, you’ll learn their personalities and habits. Strong hens are confident, alert and strut their stuff,” says … [Read more...]
AAHA welcomes new accredited practices
Congratulations to the latest group of veterinary hospitals to achieve AAHA accreditation from June 16 – July 13, 2018. This is a significant professional milestone for a veterinary team and strengthens the value of animal medicine they can deliver. Source: AAHA Red, July 19, 2018. Link. These teams have gone above and beyond to meet the highest standards in veterinary … [Read more...]
Zoomies, those random spurts of canine energy
Dog owners often experience their dog get sudden bursts of energy known as the zoomies. The frenetic random activity periods (FRAPS) are a normal way for dogs to relieve pent up energy. The Zoomies can happen out of nowhere but are usually triggered when a dog is really excited. Source: Yahoo News via Facebook. Link. In general, the zoomies are nothing to worry about, they … [Read more...]
Stable management topics
The Equine Network Newsletter topic for August 2018 is stable management. Content is provided from four different publications. Source: The Equine Network, August 1, 2018. The risks of poor arena air quality, EQUUS. Link. Fencing for the dressage facility, Dressage Today. Link. What to know during tick season, Practical Horseman. Link. Piles of grass clippings … [Read more...]
Help keep dog stress to a minimum
Dogs, like people, get stressed by a variety of experiences in their world, writes Sassafras Lowrey. She discusses stressors and options to address stressed dogs. Common reasons for a stressed dog: Changes in the home, which may include moving or home renovations. Introducing new people, like a roommate or a partner moving in, the addition of children such as the birth … [Read more...]
Experts share what human foods dogs can eat
As making homemade dog food becomes more common, ensuring dogs get balanced diets is important. Jennifer Berg, owner of Tribeca veterinary Wellness clinic and Debra Zoran, veterinary professor at Texas A&M University shared some human foods that are okay for dogs and ones to avoid. Source: Today, July 19, 2018. Link. “Fruits and vegetables can be included in a dog’s … [Read more...]
Opinion – Train new hires to give location directions
A recent family reunion and the return trip across new geography exposed the weakness of cell phone coverage, internet connectivity and the stark reality that many younger persons cannot give directions to their work location without the help of digital technology. Imagine the end of a 600-plus-mile day, traveling with a gracious but tired octogenarian and not being able to … [Read more...]
The harrowing tale of veterinary management service agreements
Christopher J. Allen, DVM, JD, looks at the fine print in veterinary management agreements and raises concerns about governance and oversight. This is a must-read for all animal health pros to gain perspective on clinic ownership and the dynamics of MSAs. Source: DVM 360, July 10, 2018. Link. The MSA/MSO structure has been widely adopted as acceptable and legal in myriad … [Read more...]
Keeping pace with veterinary technology and services
Veterinary care providers have been slow to adapt to the rapid growth and industry advancements, writes Lidia Staron. She predicts some will be left behind. She reviews some of this year’s top trends that practice owners can consider to help stay ahead of the competition. Source: Veterinary Money Digest, July 28, 2018. Link. In addition to revenue growth, the veterinary … [Read more...]
Walmart enters veterinary care market
Targeting pets that don’t see veterinarians, Walmart is entering the veterinary care market. Veterinary clinics are opening in Walmart stores. By April 5, the pet products company PetIQ had opened its first three Walmart-based clinics in the Oklahoma cities of Bartlesville, Duncan, and Edmond. Company officials plan to have opened 20 by the end of last June. It will then push … [Read more...]
The latest from NAVTA
There are at least 250 percent more veterinary nurses than veterinarians. While not primary decision makers, this professional work force is critical to animal health and our industry. The NAVTA’s Bi-Weekly reflects the interests and challenges of these animal health pros. Source: NAVTA Animal Health Bi-Weekly, July 31, 2018. Link. Note the upcoming events in addition to the … [Read more...]
AVMA announces activity by Committee on Veterinary Technician Education and Activities (CVTEA)
As we blast through our own busy schedules, committees like the CVTEA are toiling to update definitions and define pivotal elements of people managing animal care and health. Source: AVMA, July 31, 2018. Link. This newsletter serves to report on the accreditation actions and other activities of the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) Committee on Veterinary … [Read more...]
Comparison chart helps guide pet insurance decision making
There is consensus that pet insurance is good for the animal, the pet owner and for the veterinary care team. But, choosing a provider is confusing and likely a barrier for pet owners interested in buying pet insurance. Using this comparison chart along with individual hospital experiences could make a difference in getting pet insurance commitments from owners. Source: … [Read more...]
Can a lawn service replace flea and tick preventives?
It is well known that 80-plus percent of fleas are not seen. Tick infestations are similar. Lawn care companies heavily advertise their flea- and tick-repelling sprays this time of year. Michael Nappier, DVM, DABVP, asks, “Are your clients buying the hype?” Source: Veterinary Medicine, July 12, 2018. Link. Nappier shares client communication tips to use when clients refuse … [Read more...]
How mosquitoes use six needles to suck blood (includes video)
View the video for yourself and then decide how you might use this to help strengthen the heartworm and West Nile virus prevention positioning including the need to stop the mosquito before it seeks a blood meal. Seen up close, the anatomy of a mosquito bite is terrifying. The most dangerous animal in the world uses six needle-like mouthparts to saw into our skin, tap a blood … [Read more...]
A conversation can be positive or negative. It’s your choice.
Conversations are a critical part of conducting business, leading teams and interacting with others. Despite their obvious importance, how often do we think about them as a crucial skill? Imagine if everyone on your team became exceptional at having meaningful conversations. Source: skiprichard.com, June 2018. Link. Actually, conversation is powerful, period, whether it’s … [Read more...]
Interest grows for The Bridge Club (includes video)
The Bridge Club live and virtual venue platform now has over 800 paid subscribers. Kristen Peck, Zoetis was featured during the first live ICON event during the AVMA 2018 convention. <link to video>.A two-part discussion is scheduled with Kimberly Pope-Robinson beginning on July 31st to discuss the importance of being connected and present in this ever changing … [Read more...]
Selecting the ideal beef or dairy cattle breeds
The movement to growing your own food continues to grow. As new farmers make decisions, knowing about cattle breeds is helpful. Heather Smith Thomas reviews breed options with the smaller farmer in mind. Source: Countryside Daily, July 16, 2018. Link. Cattle farming for beginners requires researching dozens and dozens of beef cattle breeds and composites, and a half dozen … [Read more...]
Hot, humid days harder on cattle than winter
Heat and humidity are hard on cattle, especially when hauling them, says Sandy Stuttgen. She provides charts on loading capacity and the heat index as handy reference tools. Their well-being especially suffers during humid days followed by evenings that do not drop below 70°F, as under those conditions, cattle will not have a chance to recover before the next hot, humid day … [Read more...]
Understanding the cat
Ilona Rodan, DVM, offers animal health pros the opportunity to learn to recognize and prevent feline stressors surrounding veterinary visits. Regardless of practice type, these measures improve patient experiences, client acceptance of veterinary services and reduce injury rates. For some, this may be a review. For veterinary teams, the information is a valuable resource to … [Read more...]
Behaviorist advises against toilet training cats (includes video)
Beyond the obvious convenience of not having to deal with a litter box, Dr. Marci L. Koski is firmly opposed to training a cat to use the human toilet. She gives five reasons why this is not a good idea: Not natural You may miss indicators of changes in your cat’s health Physical stress It only takes ONE time to spook your cat off the toilet forever Your cat … [Read more...]
Let’s talk parasites
A consistent message about parasite prevention is important, and clear information is crucial, writes Kara Burns MS, MEd, LVT, VTS. She reminds us the importance of team skill training and a clear, consistent message on various parasite topics. To communicate effectively, veterinary team members must understand the connection between what they want to say and how they want to … [Read more...]
Insight into dog breed behavior helps to understand its personality
Genome sequencing has led researchers to try to understand behavioral traits in dogs. Humans have had 20,000 years to tinker with domesticated dogs, selecting for attributes that made good hunters, guards and herders as well as loyal companions. The author references Wisdom Panel as a way to learn more about individual dogs. Source: The Bark, July 2018. Link. knowing which … [Read more...]
Therapy dogs love their jobs
Nicole Audrey discusses a new study published in Applied Animal Behavior Science <link> that finds therapy dogs get as much joy from their jobs as they give. This is a win-win-win. The handler enjoys showing the dog off and volunteering, the [patient] enjoys the dog and the dog likes doing it. Source: Better, May 30, 2018. Link. Therapy dogs are happy because they are … [Read more...]
When, how and why to use a crate for dogs
Embrace the crate. It can be the best thing for a relationship with a dog, writes Laura Vorreyer. She reminds us that proper crating is not cruel and to avoid using the crate as punishment. This information is valuable to any dog owner. Source: Modern Dog. Link. The crate should be big enough for your dog to turn around in but NOT big enough for them to think the back … [Read more...]
Veterinarians are important to beekeeping
Gillian Kruskall, DVM, writes about the veterinarian’s role in beekeeping since te VFD regulations require site inspections to establish VCPRs. When a beekeeper contacts you, Kruskall’s article will help veterinary teams “bee” ready. Source: Veterinary Team Brief, July 2018. Link. Each state has a number of certified state apiary inspectors who are highly skilled at … [Read more...]
Equine vet techs deserve a seat
Kyle Palmer, CVT, addresses the benefits of having an equine veterinary nurse to aid in planning calls, scheduling, inventory checks, call records and billing, driving and helping with on-farm calls. He makes a solid case. Source: Equine 360, June 29, 2018. Link. Hiring a trained veterinary technician isn’t an expense—it’s an investment. … [Read more...]
And you thought role-play was challenging
Live role-play has always been a challenging training exercise in training, at least for those participants who get anxious being watched. Soft skills, regardless of one’s level in society, are key to effectiveness in life. From self confidence to communication skills and emotional intelligence, they all play a significant role in determining a person’s success and happiness. … [Read more...]
One simple question can help you break out of your bubble
A significant challenge for many leaders is that the higher they rise, the more insulated they become. In other words, they get trapped in a bubble. Subordinates tend to become overly compliant, telling them what they want to hear. And once candid conversations are now not so candid. By explicitly asking others, “What do you think?” leaders can break free of this … [Read more...]