Citing data from MRI-Simmons market research, David Sprinkle shares the veterinary hospital segment sales of pet diets has slipped from 9 percent in 2016 to 7 percent of dog/cat owners in 2021. He shares the dynamics of online and direct-to-consumer sales and the analysis of still strong veterinary influence in diet decisions. Source: Petfood Industry, March 2022, page … [Read more...]
Archives for March 2022
Beat the talent shortage
Too many job openings are chasing too few candidates. Employers must create a seamless recruitment experience to attract talent in a competitive environment, writes Pooja Maggon. In an increasingly competitive talent marketplace, recruiting needs to be faster, not slower. The longer jobs go unfilled, the more recruiting costs pile up. Plus, there’s the cost of lost … [Read more...]
Petco’s healthy strategy is paying off
Petco has expanded Vital Care wellness rewards program to include new services and added cats. References to growth from its customer experience and retention strategies makes this article informative reading for animal health pros. Vital Care members typically spend three times more with Petco than non-members” - Ron Coughlin, CEO Source: Forbes, March 8, 2022. Link. Seven … [Read more...]
Worth a Glance – March 10, 2022
Last week’s most read post Too many pets kept alive when it’s not the kindest option, say vets. Link. Last week’s AHD Bulletin Animal Health Digest Bulletin, Thursday, March 3, 2022. Link. =================================== Let’s cancel the online review culture Source: Today’s Veterinary Practice, February 11, 2022. Link. Dana Varble DVM, CAE, … [Read more...]
Fact sheet examines compounds to mitigate virus-contaminated feed
There’s no doubt we are more aware of biosecurity these days. One area of concern for livestock producers is whether feed and feed ingredients may also be routes of virus transmission and how to manage those risks. A new fact sheet from Iowa Pork Industry Center focuses on three research papers that evaluated compounds to mitigate virus-contaminated feed. Swine specialist … [Read more...]
Beware of nursing calf BRD
Complimentary Sponsored Content* Outbreaks of nursing calf BRD, also called summer pneumonia, do occur, writes Brent Meyer DVM, MS. He shares a list of factors that can lead to BRD in nursing calves. Most all are well known and routinely covered in the media. Yet, producers still have deaf ears and often maintain elevated expectations of dams’ natural abilities. Note the … [Read more...]
Don’t cut corners. Those first 48 hours are critical.
Includes Commercial Content Do we need to hear it and share it again and again? Yes Redundant? Yes. Same message over and over? Yes. Different for dairies versus beef? NO Can we cut corners in the first 48 hours after a calf is born? NO Invest in maintaining normal digestive health and a healthy immune system from day one by developing proper protocols to help … [Read more...]
Every eye injury merits immediate veterinary attention
This article merits a review by animal health pros who already know horses have big eyes which can lead to medical problems. Injuries leading to bleeding, swelling, weeping or squinting indicates the horse may an eye injury. If this happens, horse owners should not self-treat and call the vet without delay, advises Christa Lesté-Lasserre, MA. She reminds horse owners that a … [Read more...]
When a chicken tests positive for diseases
The context shared in this Hobby Farms article is the testing of show chickens. However, the information is relevant as animal health pros monitor avian flu risk and incidence. Birds whose rapid whole-blood plate tests yield positive results are called reactors and are subject to quarantine, including the whole flock. Even if a chicken looks perfectly healthy, it still … [Read more...]
Avian flu on the move, discovered in 3 new states
HPAI has now hit nearly 1.9 million chickens and turkeys across the country. New reports in South Dakota, Missouri and Maryland elevate the numbers of birds effected by avian flu. HPAI has now been confirmed in all North American flyways <Link> The USDA is encouraging consumers to fully cook poultry and eggs to 165˚F to kill bacteria and viruses. . . No human HPAI cases … [Read more...]
A curious case of equine compound odontoma; too many teeth
Sharing a rare occurrence, Katie Navarra offers details of a gelding with a swollen jaw and 288 disorganized tooth roots. Source: The Horse, February 15, 2022. Link. … [Read more...]
From fat to fit; help for overweight cats
Encouraging cats to exercise is a two-pronged approach. First, schedule in mini sessions of active play in the morning and the evening. Keep exercise sessions short and sweet, about five to 10 minutes at a time, several times a day. . . . to really accelerate a cat’s weight loss, you need to add in some exercise.” Source: Catster, February 25, 2022. Link. Also see: Apps … [Read more...]
Exercise guide for dogs
There’s more to making sure dogs get exercise than Just Do It. Audrey Pavia shares ideas, options and warnings for dog owners as they set out to get their dogs more exercise. Source: Dogster, January 10, 2022. Link. INSIGHTS: This is a good resource for social media and newsletters especially as the weather warms up. … [Read more...]
Pets afflicted with pandemic pounds just like us
Veterinarians blame extra treats and table scraps given to pets since the coronavirus pandemic began as the primary reason for a whopping increase of pet obesity. Banfield Pet Hospital found nearly 40 percent of cats and almost 35 percent of dogs were diagnosed as overweight in 2020, up from less than 20 percent a decade ago. Source: The New York Times, March 4, 2022. Link. … [Read more...]
Better cat care, includes inside-outside cat perspectives
Includes Commercial Content The Chatfields visit with Margie Scherk, DVM, DABVP (Feline), about benefits and risks of indoor-only versus outdoor-access cat care and stewardship. The discussion challenges the indoor-only advocacy now prevalent in the U.S. . . . indoor only cat behavior resembles human cabin fever. . . “ Source: Chats with the Chatfields, You Tube, February … [Read more...]
Evaluating grief in dogs
Italian researchers have increased our understanding of grief in dogs. Whether the changes are behavioral or actual grief are not clear, but the research indicates dogs are affected by the loss of a canine companion in multi-dog homes. Knowing that dogs likely experience changes due to grief can help both researchers and pet owners. Source: Treehugger, March 2, 2022. Link. … [Read more...]
The Bridge Club awards veterinary medicine’s brightest minds
The Bridge Club honored the profession’s Brightest Minds during the 2022 WVC Convention in Las Vegas, recently. More than 20,000 veterinary professionals nominated and voted on the industry’s brightest minds in three categories. The winners and respective categories were: Game changer: 1 Life Connected, Kimberly Pope-Robinson, DVM, CCFP, pictured Paradigm shifter: … [Read more...]
Dealing with the top 5 deadliest bugs in veterinary practices
Sponsored Content Animal health pros routinely deal with zoonotic diseases and risks. New cheat sheets that break down the best practices for preventing the transmission of these pathogens were developed by Virox in collaboration with Jenifer Chatfield, DVM, Dipl. ACZM, Dipl. ACVPM. Source: Virox® Technologies Inc., February 14, 2022. Link. Cheat sheets are available … [Read more...]
How mosquitoes avoid pesticides designed to kill them
Scent memories could make mosquito populations trickier to manage.” Source: Science, February 23, 2022. Link. Researchers exposed hundreds of mosquitoes to five common pesticides at doses strong enough to knock them down but not kill them. After one day of recovery, the experienced mosquitoes didn’t enter pesticide-laced areas even when tempted with food. INSIGHTS: Will … [Read more...]
Top 25 pet retailers in North America
17 retailers on this year’s list have added at least one store since March 2021, including 12 chains that grew by three or more locations during that period. The number of stores represented by the Top 25 list finally increased by 106 stores after two consecutive years of declines. Source: Pet Business, March 1, 2022. Link. Total # of stores as of March 1, 2022: … [Read more...]
IBPSA Fast Bites – March 7, 2022
IBPSA’s education module updated, pets and our mental health, celebrity brand range expansions, researching sporting dog routines, women in the pet community and more. . . Source: IBPSA Fast Bites, March 7, 2022. Link. … [Read more...]
Talks for when you feel like no one appreciates you
TED shares a playlist for those times when you feel underappreciated or unrecognized. Source: TED. Link. … [Read more...]
Toxicologists debunk common myths about pet poisons
The internet, word of mouth and possibly breed correlations spread inaccurate information about toxins says Renee Schmid, DVM, DABVT, DABT. Pet proofing helps. Safety checks of homes and garages needs to be done every year to remain pet friendly. Schmid recommends veterinary professionals let clients know where they can find reliable information, like the poisons list … [Read more...]
Balancing performance and compassion
In a recent worldwide survey of 300 senior business leaders across industries ranging from hospitality to automotive to biotech, 61 percent reported they’re struggling to balance employees’ need for support with their company’s drive for high performance. Source: Harvard Business Review, February 16, 2022. Link. Leaders need to find out what employees really care about … [Read more...]
Gen Z wants this more than flexibility at work
There are four generations in the workplace and each has its own idea of the ideal job situation; winning the lottery aside of course. Ryan Jenkins discusses the generational dynamics of the last two or more years, and that virtual work may not be the best option for Gen Z. They ranked four items higher than remote work and three of them are in-person activities. Source: … [Read more...]
2022 CAPC annual pet parasite forecast
Confirming many concerns about disease discovery in new areas, CAPC says ticks and mosquitoes remain the principal transmitters of pet and human vector-borne diseases. The 2022 CAPC forecast warns that vector-borne diseases will all pose higher-than-average risks across much of the country this year. CAPC’s 30-day Pet Parasite Forecast Maps complement the annual forecast and … [Read more...]
CVPM turns 30
This year, the Certified Veterinary Practice Manager program marks 30 years of credentialing the knowledge and experience of veterinary management professionals. Congratulations to the original visionaries, the VHMA and all those who went the extra mile to advance the business side of veterinary medicine. In the three decades since this program was created, the CVPM credential … [Read more...]
Worth a Glance – March 3, 2021
Last week’s most read post Alert! Highly pathogenic avian influenza now identified in 13 states and counting. Link. Last week’s AHD Bulletin Animal Health Digest Bulletin, Thursday, February 24, 2022. Link. =================================== Fake meat is bleeding money Source: PORK, February 23, 2022. Link. “Beyond Meat has been lauded as a disruptor … [Read more...]
Adding value to heifer calves
Black and white is tough to beat when it comes to logic and commercial cattle, writes Wes Ishmael. He shares how Hereford bulls build and fill increasing demand for black baldy replacements in cow/calf herds and the benefits producers are realizing from crossbreeding. Most are buying baldy females because they wean heavier calves, have a nicer disposition and because … [Read more...]
Listeriosis often found in silage fed in winter
Listeriosis is caused by the bacteria Listeria monocytogenes. The bacteria is present everywhere in the environment and survives well in moist soil for about one year. In domestic animals the disease is most important in ruminants and most seen during winter months when they are being fed silage. As winter conditions persist, cattle producers often find themselves scraping … [Read more...]