Complimentary Commercial Content Don't ignore your pet's fear out of the mistaken belief you will reinforce it and make it worse, writes Marty Becker, DVM. The key is to stay calm and not get all worked up yourself, but instead provide calm attention like how you normally interact with him. Becker has updated his previously published article for 2021. Source: Dr. … [Read more...]
Archives for June 2021
Bright Minds nominations sought by The Bridge Club
Complimentary Content To honor the best thinkers, innovators and paradigm shifters in veterinary medicine, The Bridge Club is launching Bright Minds, an event celebrating innovation in veterinary medicine during the 2021 WVC Convention. Nominations end June 30, 2021. Source: The Bridge Club. Link. Nomination Categories: Out of the Box Thinker - an individual who … [Read more...]
Early registration ending for WVC Annual Conference
Complimentary Commercial Content The 2021 WVC Annual Conference is scheduled for September 6 – 9, 2021 in Las Vegas. Live and supplemental virtual opportunities will gather animal health pros to collaborate, network and learn. Early registration discounts end June 30, 2021. We are excited to get people back to learning in-person and celebrating the Veterinary Industry. Our … [Read more...]
Antelligence, ATS to reintroduce Animal Health Industry Training
Complimentary Commercial Content This unique educational opportunity is designed for individuals who are relatively new to animal health and will benefit from a comprehensive overview of the entire industry. Initially the program will be offered virtually. Live programs will be available as venues open post-Covid. Source: Antelligence, June 18, 2021. Link. The program … [Read more...]
Preparing for show season
For animal enthusiasts, livestock shows and fair events will kick off within the next six weeks. While veterinary teams provide health checks and certifications, animal health pros’ expertise will be valued beyond services and tactics. Given the increasing popularity of backyard rabbits, chickens and goats, the audience for show season preparation is not solely livestock … [Read more...]
Words and phrases to avoid in a difficult conversation
Sometimes it is hard to get out of our own way. When you’re in the middle of a difficult conversation, it’s common to focus solely on yourself: your ideas, your viewpoint, your feelings, writes James Detert. A “me-centric” approach can backfire. To achieve your goal, you need to think beyond yourself. Detert has found that people often forget when navigating a difficult … [Read more...]
Creating boundaries in our everyday work (podcast)
The animal health industry is rightly concerned about mental health and stress in the veterinary work environment. When you’re struggling with these issues, the day-to-day routines of a work environment can be a lot, but recognizing and enforcing boundaries help navigate work and stress. This podcast is a conversation with author and activist Roxane Gay about work and mental … [Read more...]
Responsible antimicrobial stewardship
It is unclear how recent FDA guidance for antimicrobial drug oversight may affect companion animal practices, yet stewardship of the right drug for the right bug remains a priority for all animal health professionals. Practicing responsible antimicrobial stewardship involves striving to prevent antimicrobial resistance and an unnecessary impact on the microbiome by … [Read more...]
Early heatwave a reminder to think about employee needs, too!
Heat stroke is the most serious heat-related illness in people. It occurs when the body becomes unable to control its temperature. The body’s temperature rises rapidly, its sweating mechanism fails and it is unable to cool down. Body temperature may rise to 106°F or higher within 10 to 15 minutes. You don’t have to be working outside all day to get too hot. The same goes for … [Read more...]
We’re colleagues. Sometimes friends, but not family.
Justin Pot says, “Your company isn’t a family, and I think pretending otherwise is unhealthy and unproductive. Family loyalty isn’t based on performance because that would be absurd.” Companies are different. They don’t employ people out of love or loyalty because companies, by definition, can’t feel those things. Your company employs you because what you do is valuable—at … [Read more...]
Manage or coach?
Somewhere along the way, we learned that giving employees free snacks, a meditation room and allowing a day to bring one’s pet to work was the new enlightened workplace. The result is that only 20 percent of fulltime employees worldwide are engaged in their work. Source: Gallup, May 27, 2021. Link. Imagine if all businesses worldwide could double real employee engagement … [Read more...]
CNN; Covid-19 pandemic magnifies workforce crisis in veterinary field
Opinion CNN’s Alec Snyder assembled a good situational summary of where the veterinary field is in 2021. Same story, different day? Yes. However, Synder combines different elements and challenges to end with some positivity. Between the lines and quotes are opportunities to embrace change, adapt, empower and leave a history of recalcitrant attitudes behind. Consider and … [Read more...]
Colorado Supreme Court rejects animal cruelty initiative
It is not over yet, but the Colorado Supreme Court on Monday rejected a ballot initiative that would have extended the state’s animal cruelty laws to cover livestock and poultry. The current law has an exception for animals raised on farms and ranches, as long as their owners follow accepted animal husbandry practices. The proposal would have added cows, pigs, chicken and … [Read more...]
Worth a Glance – June 17, 2021
Last week’s most read post 2021-2022 APPA National Pet Owners Survey reveals important post-pandemic changes for the pet care industry Source: Animal Health Digest, June 8, 2021. Link. U.S. bans importing of dogs from 113 countries due to rise in false rabies records Source: NPR, June 14, 2021. Link. Veterinarians are praising the decision. 36 … [Read more...]
Understanding summer pneumonia and pinkeye
Arnold Nagely, DVM, and Ray Shultz, DVM, are more likely to be associated with their veterinary supply business, Valley Vet Supply, than as practitioners. Both doctors spent years in veterinary practice before expanding their retail clinic business into the OTC catalog offerings known today. Nagely and Shultz discuss summer, or pasture pneumonia ,which infects calves as … [Read more...]
Udder conformation, increasing concerns for farmers
Opinion, including Complimentary Commercial Content Dairy cows are expected to last 10 seasons. But New Zealand dairy producers are culling cows that should have been in their prime. Their udders simply aren’t holding up. Udders are blowing out, and some cows have had poor suspensory ligaments which became evident when they got a bit of age, shared producer Reg … [Read more...]
Hot chicken: good on a plate, dangerous in the coop
Heat exhaustion, heat stroke or even death are real dangers to chickens when temperatures rise. They don’t sweat like humans and are limited in their ability to cool down. Lots of shade and cool water help immensely. The effects of heat exhaustion are cumulative, says Lisa Steele. Several days of temperatures above 80 degrees, especially with high humidity, can negatively … [Read more...]
No kidding. A review of caprine health concerns
As of January 2021, there were 2.58 million goats in the U.S. The 2012 map shown gives us a good picture of where the goats are. Herds of fewer than 500 animals make a majority of the numbers. Population disbursement, the popularity of goats in urban and ruralpolitan settings, as well as increasing numbers of pet goats make goat information important across the country. Here … [Read more...]
Debunking 7 equine deworming myths
The general rationale has been that all parasites are terrible and horse owners must do everything that they can to ensure horses are completely parasite-free at all times, writes David Ramey, DVM. Even with anthelmintics, ‘parasite-free’ is for all practical matters an oxymoron. The most important thing for you to do is to test your horses and monitor them. Horse owners need … [Read more...]
Vetting a boarding stable
Horse owners should complete their homework when looking for boarding facilities. If a stable does not have a boarding contract, writes Natalie Voss, it is a red flag. She adds boarding farm rules and a liability waiver to the list of first considerations. Source: Acreage Life, July 2021. Link. !! Voss adds these questions to help horse owners do their research before … [Read more...]
Why does my puppy growl at strangers?
At its core growling is about communication writes, Stephanie Gibeault, MSc, CPDT. It is a warning, a symptom of your puppy’s discomfort. Rarely an indication of aggression initially, growling at strangers is a sign that something is wrong. The most likely explanation is the puppy is fearful of people they don’t know. Source: AKC, January 19, 2021. Link. Whenever your puppy … [Read more...]
CIRDC. Does a new name make it easier?
Opinion Two excellent articles are included as Canine Infectious Respiratory Disease Complex sources for this post. Adjusting the nomenclature to represent a variety of cofactors is logical scientifically and diagnostically. Pragmatically, though, many of the known CIRDC pathogens are NOT included in core vaccines, including two well recognized pathogens: Canine … [Read more...]
Engage pet owners to monitor respiratory rates in dogs and cats
The animal health industry is finding value when owners become active participants in their pets’ care. The human–animal bond and client–veterinarian relationship is strengthened and pet patients are observed in a normal home environment. Brian A. Scansen, DVM, MS, DACVIM (Cardiology), shares pet owners can be trained to measure, record and track their pet’s resting … [Read more...]
Talkatoo wins VMX Pet Pitch Competition
Sponsored Content Congratulations to AHD Sponsor, Talkatoo, for being awarded as the winner of the Startup Pet Pitch Competition during VMX in a live pitch competition resembling an episode of the TV show Shark Tank. This is our industry; these are our people and now a lot more of them are going to know about Talkatoo and what we can provide them. It’s a big deal!” - Shawn … [Read more...]
WEBINAR TODAY! U.S. Veterinary telehealth data, WhiskerDocs
There’s still time to register for this VVCA Community webinar that takes place at 11:00 a.m. PDT/2:00 p.m. EDT today. Deb Leon, CEO of whiskerDocs and founding board member of VVCA, will share an in-depth analysis of their 90,000 U.S. interactions from 2020. Come and learn what they found! We'll be busting more industry and profession-wide myths. The webinar is free to VVCA … [Read more...]
How to bring your conscience to work (includes podcast)
Richard Shell, JD, tells students, “If you want to stay healthy, don’t go swimming in a dirty pond.” It is a vivid analogy for persons he calls ethics refugees. They are often young people who earned degrees and landed a great job only to fall into an ethical or moral trap set by a boss, a co-worker or the company culture. Sexual harassment, discrimination, fraud, lying, … [Read more...]
Confidence requires a PLAN
Without a plan, confidence is simply arrogance. While your arrogance will get you hurt, your confidence will inspire others to join you in pursuit of that common goal that will benefit everyone involved. Duke University’s Coach Mike Krzyzewski, or Coach K, shares a story of confidence with the plan. Source: Inc., June 4, 2021. Link. But when you do not believe in yourself -- … [Read more...]
FDA finalizes guidance for antimicrobial drug oversight
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has finalized guidance for industry #263 to outline the process for animal drug sponsors to voluntarily change the approved marketing status of certain medically important antimicrobial drugs from over the counter to prescription. With the successful implementation of GFI #213, approximately 96% of medically important antimicrobials used … [Read more...]
Be prepared, avoid being blown away
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Climate Prediction Center is predicting another above-normal Atlantic hurricane season. If you stand your ground instead of evacuating, there are a few things that you should have to keep yourself safe and to survive a hurricane: Bottled water and non-perishable food Tools and other supplies First aid and … [Read more...]
5 ways to use invoicing as marketing
Opinion Whether printed on paper or sent as a PDF, invoices are a way to market your services and products. Different than most collateral, invoices prompt a focused review from the recipient. Uwe Dreissigacker shares five ways to use invoices: Strengthen your branding Sell special offers, sales or promotions Encourage referrals Provide free resources Ask … [Read more...]