Sponsored Content “Digital technology is allowing the reinvention of decades-old con jobs as online scams. Fraudsters continue to tap the power of technology,” says Clint Latham, JD. Unfortunately, people are still falling for these updated versions of rip-offs resulting in loss of property, privacy and sometimes freedom. Common scams also target veterinary practice owners, … [Read more...]
Archives for January 2021
VVCA seeking study participants; please help
Take 20 minutes to support a study that will provide data and insights needed to drive innovations and access to care in the veterinary profession. Debbie Sigesmund, BSc DVM, asked the VVCA to support data collection from small and mixed animal practicing veterinarians. The research team from the Ontario Veterinary College is studying veterinarian and pet owners’ perceptions … [Read more...]
We bungled. Consolidate That! is from Veterinary Integration Solutions
Sometimes we learn as much from our errors as our successes. The importance of proofreading was reinforced for our AHD team in last week’s Bulletin. It is a stark reminder that errors can be easily made even with a structured process in place. Last week we announced Consolidate That!, the new podcast from Veterinary Integration Solutions < link >. However, we bungled … [Read more...]
The 2021 employee experience
To create a best-in-class workplace, leaders need to consistently deliver on the fundamental, unchanging elements of a great employee experience. At the same time, leaders must ask smart questions in response to pressing demands and strategically adapt their employee experience to accommodate those challenges. Source: Gallup.com, January 8, 2021. Link. Onboarding new … [Read more...]
To overcome vaccine hesitancy, we need a better patient experience
HBR’s summary led me to review this article first in the human context and again thinking about animal health vaccination experiences. By thinking of the vaccine as a consumer product, vaccination as a service, and a high NPS (net promoter score) as a goal, we can better design the end-to-end vaccination process and bring this pandemic to a close as quickly as … [Read more...]
Covid vaccines: fact versus fiction
University of Kentucky’s Vince Venditto, PhD, is busting myths about vaccines to help inform your decision to get vaccinated. I would personally get any of the approved vaccines, absolutely. I will also wait for my turn to ensure that those at highest risk can get vaccinated first. . .” - Vince Venditto, PhD, assistant professor in the University of Kentucky College of … [Read more...]
We’re underselling the Covid-19 vaccine
David Leonhardt explains why the vaccine news is better than you may think. He parallels the growing vaccine reluctance with the near mass confusion on mask-wearing. He admonishes the experts who don’t seem to trust the public to hear the full truth. . . . We should be greeting < the vaccines > with the same enthusiasm that greeted the polio vaccine.” - Paul Offit, … [Read more...]
SARS-CoV-2 virus drift and shift raises concerns
For animal health pros born before 1990, antigenic drift and antigenic shift are not mere terms. Rather, they have been part of life experiences. Canine coronavirus, bovine viral diarrhea and equine herpes virus are among viruses our industry has chased with vaccines and vaccine updates. Rapid advancements in genotyping and mass spectrum technologies have been helpful as we … [Read more...]
Vaccination in this pandemic time and before
Commentary Throughout this last year, we have seen more information on vaccines than ever. A plethora of it continues to be spewed on vaccine development, virus science and immunity. Much of it lacks the basic context for why vaccines work and why they are critical to disease management and population safety. Jenifer Chatfield, DVM, DACZM, DACVPM, wrote a revealing … [Read more...]
Face masks cause problems for dogs that eat them
There’s a new problem in town, obstructing dogs’ stomachs and intestines: the face mask” – Jennifer Woolf, DVM, MS Woolf reminds us that dogs can smell the lovely bouquet of odors trapped in the fibers of the mask, and that bouquet smells like food so the dog eats the mask. Once inside, the mask becomes a foreign body, will not act like food and can cause multiple … [Read more...]
Covid found in western lowland gorillas at San Diego Safari Park
“The discovery of Covid-19 infections in gorillas is not at all surprising,” says Scott Weese, DVM. “We have assumed gorillas (and other non-human primates) that are relatively closely related to humans would be very susceptible to the SARS-CoV-2 virus, just like we are.” Sources all point the transfer to an asymptomatic staff member who had been following safety … [Read more...]
Cut seasons short for more profits
Jordan Thomas tackles human nature’s influence on the cow-calf operation. He says the focus on calf numbers likely keeps cows in the herd that don’t belong. Extended calving and hay-feeding seasons are a symptom of this tendency. Long hay-feeding seasons and long calving seasons are really just manifestations of the same fundamental problem” - Source: BEEF, January 2020. … [Read more...]
Milk filters, teat dips really matter
In order to help prevent infection to dairy cows, dairy pros must address cleanliness practices in barns and parlors. Greg Strait, Penn State extension educator, addressed milk filters as an indicator then emphasized teat dipping, cow prep, cleanliness of free stalls, and cleanliness of bedded pack and more during a recent discussion. Source: Hoard’s Dairyman, January 11, … [Read more...]
Taking the temperature of big game
This title begs a comedic question, “How do you take the temperature of a moose?” The answer is, of course, “Very carefully!” But to Jeff Martin, PhD, and Dan Thompson, PhD, how large game responds to rising temperatures provides key insights into the future sustainability of moose and bison populations on landscapes where increased warming is a concern. Source: Drovers, … [Read more...]
Titers and other vaccine considerations for horses
David Ramey, DVM, wishes discussions about equine vaccines were easy. Instead of being a simple linear vaccine equation, it has a lot of +/- variables in it. This makes discussions about vaccines fraught with all sorts of nuance and complications, he says. The result is that many throw up their hands rather than talk about them. Not simple, the horse vaccine equation looks … [Read more...]
Rescue animals, TIME’s 2020 pet of the year
Pets will return to the White House when president-elect Joe Biden takes office. One of them is the rescue dog, Major. Rescues, rehomes and adoptions peaked during the pandemic and it’s a trend likely to continue. TIME shares stories, trends and metrics. Source: TIME, December 9, 2020. Link. … [Read more...]
Building rapport with cats; the eyes have it
The human animal bond continues to generate more questions and research. A recent study, “The role of cat eye narrowing movements in cat-human communication,” < link > has shown for the first time that it is possible to build rapport with a cat by using an eye narrowing technique with them. Source: PHYS.ORG, October 7, 2020. Link. This study is the first to … [Read more...]
Can cats and dogs get along?
William, 7, got his dog. Now, sister Violet, 5, wants a cat. Their parents have heard for ages that dogs and cats don't get along. Yet, many homes have cats and dogs living peaceably together. The authors offer tips and a deliberate process for a multi-species household. Source: Puppies & Pooches, December 22, 2020. Link. INSIGHTS: This article is suitable for social … [Read more...]
Burial records reveal most popular pet names
Analysis of 115 years of pet burial records reveals the changing trends in how Americans name and relate to their best friends. Princess is the most popular overall pet name in the U.S. and is in the top-10 most popular dog names since the 1960s, but has never been the number 1 name in any single decade. Tiger is the most popular cat’s name of the last 115 years. Max was the … [Read more...]
The Bridge Club announces new platform, new format
Complimentary Commercial Content For some, the absence of traditional conventions creates a void in keeping up with industry colleagues, customers and meeting new persons in new roles. The Bridge Club’s networking event has been developed to virtually fill the gap that you would experience at a conference. To kick off the event, three influential organizations will … [Read more...]
Cyber security and data protection updates from Lucca Veterinary Data Security
Sponsored Content Clint Latham, JD, champions managing data security and cyber security for veterinary practices. As our society continues increase dependency on data and internet technology, staying informed and acting to increase security is critical. We’ve linked the most recent updates from the Lucca Vet blog. Source: Lucca Veterinary Data Security blog. Link. … [Read more...]
Rationales for a dry January (includes videos)
Dry January began in 2012 as an initiative by Alcohol Change UK, a British charity, to ditch the hangover, reduce the waistline and save some serious money by giving up alcohol for 31 days. Dry January is a useful tool in determining to what extent we have become dependent on alcohol during the COVID-19 pandemic," Sharon Wilsnack, PhD. Source: Today, January 7, 2021. Link. … [Read more...]
Poultry owners seek qualified veterinary practices
Backyard poultry continues to increase in popularity. Poultry owners often find it difficult to secure veterinary services and guidance as most poultry DVMs are deployed in large operations. Companion animal practitioners can take poultry under their wing by incorporating into their practice medical care for these birds and by counseling clients on proper fowl husbandry.” - … [Read more...]
What B2B buyers rely on to make purchase decisions
Whether buyer or seller, David Dodd offers perspectives on decision making in a series he started in September 2020 < link >. “The pace of change in some aspects of B2B marketing has been so rapid over the past fifteen years that it’s far too easy to lose sight of the fact that many of the core principles of marketing and buyer behavior have changed very little. The tools … [Read more...]
The fallacy of more education
Far too often we believe that more education will solve every problem. It will not. If it did, we would have achieved 100 percent compliance years ago and this entire column would be unnecessary. Source: Vet-Advantage, December 2020. Link. When you mention vaccines or preventatives, your customer will begin to formulate an attitude about that subject. The attitude they adopt … [Read more...]
Veterinary Integration Solutions introduces Consolidate That! podcast
Complimentary Content Consolidate That! is a new podcast from Veterinary Integration Solutions that is hosted by Dr. Ivan Zak and Ryan Leech. It focuses on critical corporate topics in the veterinary business. The episodes will center on improving clinical care, customer and employee experience, combining proven processes with modern technology, and ways to expand … [Read more...]
Word of mouth still important despite AT&T TV ad
For as long as I can remember, animal owners have chosen friends or family members as the first persons they contact when they have a question about their animals, because of trust. These interactions encompass unintentional word of mouth. A current TV ad from AT&T ends with likely sarcasm with the statement, “Word of Mouth advertising. . . it’s what they did before … [Read more...]
VetWatch’s week 52 report shows continued promise
Complimentary Content The final week for 2020 reporting for VetWatch shows the canine and feline core vaccine indices ended at a robust 9.0 percent YTD growth across the 32,000+ practices and shelter locations in the Animalytix Marketplace. Other key findings include: Revenue growth year to date for the week remained positive in all areas of the country, averaging … [Read more...]
Pet retailers adjusting for 2021
Countless pet retailers shifted to online sales during the last year. Three articles from Pet Business contain considerations for veterinary practices, as well. Source: Prepare your pet store for 2021 (and beyond), Pet Business, November 30, 2020. Link. Invest in an eCommerce platform eCommerce platform seamlessly integrated with the point of sale platform and … [Read more...]
AVMA seeking comments on educational criteria for technicians
The AVMA Committee on Veterinary Technician Education and Activities is considering changes to three educational standards and accepting public comment on the proposed edits through March 1, 2021. Changes to the following standards are under consideration: Standard 1 - Institutional Accreditation Standard 2 – Finances Standard 3 - Organization and … [Read more...]