Whether at work, in relationships or at home Mike Schultz’s productivity tips make sense. See which ones will improve progress to your key objectives and goals. Source: Marketing Profs, January 21, 2019. Link. There are thousands of time-management and productivity tips and systems out there, but with so much information available, it's hard to know what works and what … [Read more...]
Archives for January 2019
Beating procrastination can be tough
Researchers no longer consider procrastination as a basic time-management problem. They now view it as a complex and highly individual phenomena; a complicated failure of self-regulation. Experts define it as the voluntary delay of some important task that we intend to do, despite knowing that we'll suffer as a result. Source: Entrepreneur, January 21, 2019. Link.The … [Read more...]
2019 is going fast!
It may seem like we’re just getting started on 2019, yet 6.3 percent of the year has already passed as of this morning. 2019 offers us 251 working days, 104 weekend days and 10 public holidays. Twenty percent of the public holidays are behind us and we’ve already used eight weekend days. Source: Working days.US. Link. INSIGHTS: Planning and tracking progress … [Read more...]
Veterinarian suicides continue to be a growing problem
In January, the Centers for Disease control released the first study to examine veterinarian mortality rates in America. The results showed that between 1970 and 2015, male and female veterinarians committed suicide between two to three and a half more often than the national average, respectively. Further, one in six veterinarians have considered suicide, indicating a growing … [Read more...]
What to expect from Gen Z (includes infographic)
The oldest Gen Zers are now entering the workforce. Here are five tips on engaging them through learning and development programs: Go mobile or go homeFeed their bite-sized learning appetiteFocus on soft-skills developmentEncourage collaborationUse mixed-media formats Source: HR Technologist, December 28, 2018. Link. By designing learning experiences tailored to the … [Read more...]
Innovetive Petcare receives VETTY awards at VMX
Congratulations to the Innovetive Petcare marketing team for being chosen for 2019 VETTY awards. They won a gold medal for a new logo and the 60th anniversary logo for the Animal Hospital of Wilkes in Wilkesboro, North Carolina. Plus, this logo earned a prestigious judges’ award. Innovetive Petcare’s website design for Animal Emergency & Specialty Center of Knoxville, … [Read more...]
The Bridge Club to honor Cavanaugh and Stephanus at WVC
Dr. Michael Cavanaugh, CEO of the American Animal Hospital Association, and Julia Stephanus, founder and president of Avviare, will be honored by The Bridge Club and be presented with a lifetime Bridge Club membership February 18th in Las Vegas, Nevada. The Bridge Club's ICON Series live event will take place during the Western Veterinary Conference and will take place from … [Read more...]
Make the best of networking events
The trade show season is in full swing. For animal health pros, networking is a common activity that accompanies trade show duties. Zack Friedman reminds us of things NOT to do when networking. Source: Forbes, January 15, 2019. Link. Make sure you don't do these 5 things at networking events: Give a hard copy of your resume to everyone you meetBrag about how amazing … [Read more...]
Safety concerns when cats fight
Industry information shows homes with cats are likely to be multi-cat homes. Bringing a new cat into the mix can easily erupt in caterwauling and flying fur. The Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine offers cat fight knowledge to keep cat owners safe. Source: Catwatch, February 2018 via Catster, January 23, 2019. Link. Most cat fights center around coveted … [Read more...]
Watch for these changes in cat behaviors
Cats are excellent at masking illness or health issues. Jo Singer discusses seven shifts in cat behavior which indicate a potential health problem that warrants veterinary attention. Source: Catnip, August 2017. Link. Domestication and indoor lifestyles have required pet cats to adjust to our surroundings, a habitat that is by nature quite alien to them. As a result, … [Read more...]
Chickens and cats don’t mix
Chicken owners need to become familiar with three types of cats, writes Ana Hotaling. Whether housecat, barn cat or feral/stray cat, chickens are not enrichment activities. They are prey in the cat mind. Larger breed birds may be less likely to fall to feline predation given their size and protective tendencies. Source: Hobby Farms, January 16, 2019. Link. INSIGHTS: … [Read more...]
Lipstick and red rocket sightings
Dr. Eric Barchas has directly and tactfully addressed the issue of male dog arousal. The appearance of a dog’s penis is often disgusting to animal owners. To avoid unnecessary trips to the veterinary clinic, Barchas describes the exception, a condition called paraphimosis where the lipstick is showing for an extended period of time. Source: Dogster, January 17, 2019. Link. … [Read more...]
Reduce dogs’ cancer risks
Veterinary oncologists say that cancers in humans and in dogs are incredibly similar, in terms of growth and prognosis writes Cynthia Foley. She suggests four ways to lessen the odds of cancer in dogs: Reduce exposure to carcinogensTime spay/neuter surgery appropriately when possibleProvide dogs a healthy lifestyleExamine dogs’ bodies to enable early detection Source: … [Read more...]
Worm bacteria may help control mosquitoes
The chemical DEET has been our first and best line of defense against mosquitoes since the 1940s. Now a strain of bacteria that lives inside a common parasitic worm could play an important role in the fight against mosquitos. A study published in Science Advances < link > has found that a compound derived from these bacteria is three times more potent than DEET in repelling … [Read more...]
The customer is always right . . . NOT!
This is a must-read for animal health pros. Robert Sollars and others challenge age-old paradigms about how to manage customer relationships. Customers aren’t easy to come by or retain these days, but they’re also not always right. Here’s how to keep them happy without giving away too much. “The customer is always right” is wrong but “the customer always believes they … [Read more...]
Pitching veterinary products in the clinic (includes video)
Of all the actions that take place in exam rooms, presenting products often frustrates clinic team members. Bash Halow, LVT, CVPM, emphasizes that recommendations shouldn't be the first things and to pay attention to body language. Source: Veterinary Economics, January 16, 2019. Link. Halow shares a comment from one of his sessions where an attendee told the class how she … [Read more...]
This list can help you be an effective manager
A couple of years ago I read a post on the Harvard Business Review Blog Network by Joseph Grenny titled, “4 Ways Leaders Can Create a Candid Culture.” It was the inspiration for my column in Vet-Advantage’s December issue. Upon review I think this column has equal application in practices and hospitals. Source: Vet-Advantage, December 2018. Link. Some veterinarians and many … [Read more...]
Retailers get guidance on dental care
Simplicity is key with oral hygiene, according to industry insiders—and brushless options have become very appealing to pet owners, writes Jen Sotolongo. The low-hanging fruit in the modern dental market for animals is centered on home care options that are alternatives to the long-touted brushing. It is important to start conversations. Note the article does not suggest … [Read more...]
Video calls becoming as popular as voice calls
Live video calling has reached near-universal adoption for social use. It's quickly growing as the preferred method for consumers to connect with businesses, according to the results of the Vonage Video Chatterbox Nation Study. The study notes that video calling is on track to become the main form of consumer to business communication. Source: BusinessWire, January 17, … [Read more...]
This list can help you be an effective manager
This article is titled “15 Tips for New Managers,” but it could just as easily be titled “Checklist for Managers.” Whether you are in your first month of management or a grizzled veteran, it holds a great deal of value for you. Source: the balance careers, August 21, 2018. Link. Use the Four Magic Words: “What Do You Think?” This is a favorite quote from management guru Tom … [Read more...]
Reading is essential for a healthy brain
Reading books can exercise your brain and even boost your emotional intelligence. Despite this, about a quarter of all Americans haven’t read a book in the last year and our overall book-reading time is on the decline, writes Dan Seitz. He offers some ways to fit in more reading. Source: Popular Science, January 1, 2019. Link. While paper is still the clear winner in … [Read more...]
Animal science major uses “rogue taxidermy” as art form
Kady Rose is an animal science major at Cal-Poly Pomona in Pomona, California. A self-taught taxidermist, she blends her passion for art and biology into unique creations. Rather than using animals that were hunted, she takes the remains of animals donated from petting zoos, veterinarians or friends to create stuffed critters that are pliable and soft, not rigid like … [Read more...]
Agents of abortion; why pregnant mares abort
Sarah Evers Conrad reviews more common infectious and noninfectious causes of equine abortion. Abortion can be a devastating emotional and financial blow to a horse owner. To add insult, pathogens frequently cause abortion storms in facilities containing multiple mares. Source: The Horse, January 15, 2019. Link. Understanding the cause of an abortion can help breeders … [Read more...]
Hoof trimming important in goat care
Goat hoof trimming is a necessary part of keeping and raising goats. The trick is to teach the goats to be cooperative. Gail Damerow shares hoof trimming equipment, ideas and diagrams to make the job easier. Source: Countryside Daily, December 10, 2018. Link. A goat’s four hooves don’t necessarily all grow at the same rate, and back hooves tend to grow faster than the … [Read more...]
The 10 most important things to teach a puppy
Far too many people don’t have a clue about how to properly raise a puppy, says Pat Miller. She offers a refresher course on important things for puppies to learn. Behavior problems are the number-one reason pets are relinquished. Use this information to help a new puppy owner develop their role with the pup. Source: Whole Dog Journal, December 5, 2017. Link. Also see: … [Read more...]
Raised hackles are not always aggression
Raised hackles (medically called piloerection) do not qualify as a behavior, as they are an involuntary reflex triggered by something that put a dog into a state of arousal, writes Jill Breitner. Pet owners with a new pet may appreciate this article as they get to know their pets’ responses to various stimuli. Consider sharing it in social media posts, e-newsletters and with … [Read more...]
Cats groom each other for good reasons
Grooming each other, called allogrooming, is one of three ways cats express cohesion in colonies. The other two ways are allorubbing and transmitting scent signals. . . . scientists have studied allogrooming behaviors in domestic cats, lions, primates and many other species. Source: Catster, January 1, 2019. Link. Allogrooming appears to be a sign of social … [Read more...]
Cold season and cats
Its cold and flu season. The sneezing, congestion, runny nose and watery eyes that make us miserable are also symptoms of cat colds or upper respiratory infections. Dr. Arnold Plotnick reminds us that feline herpesvirus (FHV) and the feline calicivirus (FCV), both viruses, cause 80 percent of feline upper respiratory infections. He discusses cat colds using relatable language … [Read more...]
Treats with meat attract cat owners
Cat owners want options and they are looking for treats with high-quality ingredients with a focus on meat. Retailers and manufacturers agree that cat owners are willing to try new treat ideas if they meet their nutrition expectations, including protein. Source: Pet Product News, January 2019, page 54. Link. Cats are carnivores, and a healthy treat or food choice must … [Read more...]
Tracking migratory ungulates
Scientists are mapping more herd migration routes than ever before in the western U.S. While the efforts are aimed at conservation of primary migratory routes, animal health pros will readily see the benefits for managing and predicting CWD and other potential disease risks. Source: Smithsonian, January 8, 2019. Link. There are some similar things for bird migration,” … [Read more...]