Dog snoring is something that can be funny or annoying. It is often perfectly normal, even in healthy dogs. It can also be a symptom of a range of health issues, especially if a dog makes snoring sounds when awake. Source: The Labrador Site, May 6, 2019. Link. When something disrupts the normal flow of air along the dog’s airway, snoring occurs. Here the author shares some … [Read more...]
Archives for October 2019
5 ways to handle the 5 main causes of seizures in dogs
Marcelle Chastain offers some coaching for pet owners when should their dogs experience seizures: Stay calm and do not panic Make a space by moving furniture, etc. that might injure the dog Remove other pets from the area Do not try to force it to open its mouth Call a veterinarian Source: Inside Pet’s World, October 4, 2019. Link. Detecting the root cause … [Read more...]
Spayed, neutered dogs more likely to become overweight or obese
New research published in PLOS ONE < link > found that de-sexing large-breed dogs increases their risk of becoming obese and/or suffering from non-traumatic orthopedic injuries. Using data from the Morris Animal Foundation’s Golden Retriever Lifetime Study, researchers found that spayed or neutered dogs were 50 to 100 percent more likely to become overweight or obese. The … [Read more...]
More vaccine options create more confusion
As we learn more about diseases, vaccine technology continues to evolve. Subunit vaccines, recombinant vectored vaccines and DNA vaccines are examples of new DIVA (differentiating infected from vaccinated animals) vaccines. JoAnna Pendergrass, DVM, shares an update on vaccinology from a presentation by Laurel Gershwin, DVM, PhD, DACVM. Gershwin covered the following topics: … [Read more...]
What to do when Fido gets high
Fido is finding the gummies and he likes them. So far this year, the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center has observed a 765 percent rise in calls about animals ingesting marijuana than for the same time last year. The Pet Poison Helpline reports a 448 percent increase in calls over the past six years. Veterinary and animal health professionals share what to do when dogs eat … [Read more...]
“Just Do It,” the cure for what really ails you
You’re not lazy. You’re not bored. You’re not unmotivated. What you are, what all of us are, is afraid, writes Niklas Göke. He describes Nike’s marketing slogan, “Just Do It,” as a tactic to refuse letting everyday hurdles get to you, while relentlessly focusing on the next, smallest action you can control. “Just Do It” isn’t an elegant solution, writes Göke. It’s not … [Read more...]
Problems don’t exist in the present
Problems are not real, they are simply projections of your mind, writes Brian Penne. Problems are grounded in time, past or future. Challenges are different and are grounded in the present moment. These you can act upon. Life is now. Think about it. Is it ever not now? Is it ever not the present moment? - Brian Pennie Source: The Startup, February 28, 2019. Link. Nothing ever … [Read more...]
What if…?
What if I fail? Oh, but my darling, what if you fly?” These two brief sentences speak to both the fear that paralyzes so many of us, as well as the unlimited potential should we allow ourselves to imagine. Source: Forbes.com, October 15, 2019. Link You can’t successfully go after what you want until you can clearly articulate what that is. Challenge yourself to dig deep … [Read more...]
Women at work podcast series
Amy Bernstein, Amy Gallo and Nicole Torres are into season 4 of the Women at Work podcast series featuring conversations about the workplace, and women’s place in it. The list of topics from previous seasons is impressive. Transcripts are also available. Source: Women at Work, HBR. Link. INSIGHTS: Topics such as competing, being a working parent, issues with eldercare, … [Read more...]
Veterinary euthanasia: the last act of love
Mike Paul, DVM, has always viewed euthanasia as one of the greatest responsibilities entrusted to veterinary professionals and a gift some veterinarians take for granted. He shares his experiences and perspective about euthanasia and leading the decision process, accounting for all involved. Source: DVM 360, August 20, 2019. Link. For veterinarians, humane euthanasia is a … [Read more...]
Pet Leadership Council announces the launch of Be Dog Smart
Be Dog Smart is a new consumer education initiative designed to help people make informed decisions about getting a new dog, whether from a professional breeder, shelter or rescue, pet store, friend or family member. Proper education about pet acquisition was identified as an area of importance for consumers in Pet Leadership Council (PLC) research. Responsible dog acquisition … [Read more...]
Still time to celebrate National Make a Dog’s Day
In its ongoing support of adoption efforts and general welfare, Subaru established National Make a Dog’s Day <link> that took place last Tuesday. However, the celebration goes through October 31. There’s still time to make a connection with a local dealership, make a contribution and make plans for next year’s National Make a Dog day. Source: Media Post, October 6, … [Read more...]
USP 800 deadline looms (videos)
USP <800> was created to help protect workers, patients and others in veterinary environments. It was published February 1, 2016 with an implementation date of December 2019. USP <800> involves facility changes, such as adding additional rooms to prepare hazardous drugs. It also involves a change in operations and how veterinary teams deal with drugs in their … [Read more...]
Cat snoring: normal or not?
Eric Barchas, DVM, offers simple guidelines for determining whether a cat’s snoring is a medical problem or not. The most basic and common health issue that leads to cat snoring is being overweight or obese. Source: Catster, September 27, 2019. Link. Cat snoring that becomes progressively louder or is linked to other symptoms such as sneezing, coughing or changes in appetite … [Read more...]
Things that make employees quit
Losing an employee is costly, writes Jon Christiansen. He says the reasons people quit are deeply rooted and complex. He offers eight common leadership mistakes that help explain the “why”: Setting inconsistent goals or expectations Having too many process constraints Wasting your resources Putting people in the wrong roles Assigning boring, or overly easy, … [Read more...]
People want their employers to talk about mental health
Mental health conditions affect more than 200 million workdays each year, yet mental health remains a taboo subject. About 60 percent of employees have never spoken to anyone at work about their mental health status. Mental health is becoming the next frontier of diversity and inclusion, and employees want their companies to address it. Source: Harvard Business Review, … [Read more...]
Adults get bullied, too!
Mark Goulston, MD, says about one-third of American adults has been bullied during adulthood. They experienced stress, depression, diminished confidence and/or lost sleep as a result. Bullies don’t attack because something is wrong with their victims. They do so as a strategy to prevent people from noticing their own inadequacies, such as incompetence or … [Read more...]
Take ownership of the review culture
Online reviews have the power to grow or hinder your business. Eighty four percent of consumers read and trust online reviews, and consumers have never been more open—or vile—with their opinions. Consider the results of a recent Brightpearl study to fine tune your customer experience and response to online reviews. The study found that 77 percent of one- to three-star reviews … [Read more...]
Chasing customer experience excellence
Experience is everything. Here’s how to get it right, according to PWC research. Its team dived deeply into customer experience development. Consider this information in the context of developing services and support for animal owners and animal health stakeholders. Today, 64% of U.S. consumers and 59% of all consumers feel companies have lost touch with the human element of … [Read more...]
Managing our attention
Wish there were more hours in the day? Sorry. Everyone gets 24 – no more, no less. If you’re serious about personal productivity, time is not the most critical issue. Personal productivity is mainly about attention. Source: Forbes, October 8, 2019. Link. The first person we will break an appointment with is always ourselves, requiring us to spend time “dragging” tasks from … [Read more...]
Fall foliage, while pretty, can be toxic
This interactive map predicts the timing of color changes in leaves across the continental United States. Created to promote fall tourism reasons, the map is also a good tool for animal health pros to know when to warn animal owners about the potential for leaf toxicity. Fall leaves can be toxic to horses, livestock, small ungulates Source: smokymountains.com. Link. Experts … [Read more...]
Pinkeye in cattle poses challenges more than 100 years after arrival
Pinkeye was first identified in the U.S. in the 1890s. Face flies, sometimes thought to cause it, entered this country from Nova Scotia in 1952. “M. bovis tends to be just in the conjunctiva in the lubricating fluid. Unless there is trauma to the eye, the bacteria can’t bind to the cornea,” says Annette O’Connor, DVM. Some of the things suspected of causing trauma include … [Read more...]
62,000 attend World Dairy Expo, Delilah wins again
It will take a few more days for Madison, Wisconsin, to recover from the successes of the 2019 World Dairy Expo. Jim Dickrell shares information on the 53rd Expo which ended October 6. Cutting Edge T Delilah, a Brown Swiss, was named the Supreme Champion for the second year in a row. Source: Dairy Herd Management, October 10, 2019. Link. Also see: 2019 World Dairy Expo … [Read more...]
Getting ready for snow
Snow across the northern plains signals the need to consider snow removal tools. If you already have a snowblower it is time to get it out and perform regular maintenance to keep it in top shape. Make sure couplings, hydraulics and lights are serviced and working on blades and snowplows. Do any blade repairs now before snow starts to accumulate. For those looking at getting … [Read more...]
Toxic algae a concern as hunters hit the fields (videos)
One area of pet safety concerns is the growing challenge of toxic blue-green algae. While not actually algae at all, they are types of bacteria called cyanobacteria. The bacteria are normally present in many lakes and stagnant waters. Not all states report where the cyanobacteria have been found, some do. The risk is that these bacteria form poisonous toxins, microcystins, … [Read more...]
What dogs see (video)
Enjoy this video clip that shows what the world looks like through the eyes of a canine. Use it on social media and link it in newsletters. Source: Healthy Pets, WebMD. Link. Dog’s eyes pick up on fewer colors than human eyes. A lot of things appear grayish brown but dogs see yellows and blues. Reds and greens are colors dogs don’t spot. … [Read more...]
Field research looks at what affects canine pulse rate during walks
Karen B. London, PhD, shares preliminary results from a recent field study < link > which explored the pulse rate of dogs on walks. Researchers found some interesting results related to leash length, sniffing and shaking-it-off behaviors. Longer leashes allowed more sniffing Sniffing and shaking-it-off both correlate with lowering pulse rates Source: The Bark, … [Read more...]
7 human foods that are good for dogs
In contrast to all the warnings about table scraps, Marcelle Chastain shares seven human foods that can be shared with dogs since they are high in nutrients and low in calories. She notes which fruits and vegetables require seed removal or cutting into chewable portions. Pears Watermelon Cucumbers Blueberries Celery Fresh peaches Carrots Source: Inside … [Read more...]
11 people foods that are OK for cats
Elizabeth Scott shares healthy treats using these human foods for cats: Lox Spinach Sardines Beef or chicken broth Blueberries Melon Cheese Chicken or turkey gizzards Fresh or frozen peas Nutritional yeast Eggs, cooked Source: Modern Cat. Link. INSIGHTS: Cat owners appreciate tips like this since so many felines are considered finicky. … [Read more...]
When the fur flies and how to stop cat fights
Cat fights are natural feline behavior. The key to stopping them lies in understanding why they are fighting in the first place. The author shares common causes for cat fights and how to address them: Hormones New cat smell Jealousy Territorial Proximity caging and positive behavior rewards Source: Catster, September 19, 2019. Link. Never reach in and try … [Read more...]