Leading counter-cyclically in tough times means knowing when to stop pushing, knowing when to lead with empathy and make things lighter, not heavier. Source: Medium, May 3, 2022. Link. The best way to communicate difficult news is to be straightforward. INSIGHT: You don’t have to wait a lifetime to leave people better than you found them.” … [Read more...]
Archives for May 2022
VetWatch™ Commentary, for Week 19 – thru May 14, 2022
Complimentary Content Trends from more than 32,000 practices and shelters help animal health professionals understand shifts in our industry’s business. The data captures purchasing trends reported for practices & shelters of core therapeutic and supply categories. The VetWatch™ weekly report provides the option to see trends by geographies, a significant benefit for … [Read more...]
CDC: Test before you travel
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has updated its domestic travel recommendations and now advises all travelers to consider taking a Covid-19 test as close as possible to the departure time of a trip, but no more than three days prior to the trip. Source: Northstar Meeting Groups, May 17, 2022. Link. The CDC continues to recommend that all people . . . properly … [Read more...]
5 employer strategies to help with rising inflation
Includes Commentary Inflation rose 8.5 percent year-over-year in March, the highest inflation rate since 1981, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Employees are now looking to their employers for help as inflation challenges their lives, says Kathryn Mayer. She offers five ways employers might address inflation challenges. Coupled with the current … [Read more...]
KC Animal Health Corridor announces dates, speakers for 2022 Animal Health Summit
Gathering live again, the Kansas City Animal Health Corridor will welcome industry leaders and guests at the 2022 Animal Health Summit August 29th through August 30th at the Arvest Bank Theatre at the Midland in Kansas City, Missouri. The Summit theme, The Way, represents the answer to the question, “Where do we go from here?” The summit will feature industry thought leaders … [Read more...]
Worth a Glance – May 12, 2022
Last week’s most read posts The Great Resignation is becoming a great midlife crisis. Link. Last week’s AHD Bulletin Animal Health Digest Bulletin, Thursday, April 28, 2022. Link. =================================== The cost of pet care for cats is often underestimated Source: Catster, April 22, 2022. Link. Cost findings for annual and lifetime spending are … [Read more...]
Disease outbreak in BLM facility: Wildfires, dust storm and wind indicated
Source: Paulick Report, May 7, 2022. Link. A highly contagious, equine respiratory disease outbreak began on April 23 at the Cañon City Bureau of Land Management's Wild Horse and Burro Facility in Colorado. We noted the explanation of outside horses being brought into a vaccinated herd during relocation caused by fire and drought. … [Read more...]
Record-breaking temperatures, raging fires, drought. It’s just NOT GOOD!
Source: CNN, May 9, 2022. Link. We believe it is important to consider the potential consequences and get prepared for challenges now and through the second quarter of 2022. … [Read more...]
Hybrid approach helps maximize colostrum quality
Achieving high levels of circulating IgG in newborn calves may be easier by boosting maternal colostrum with commercial colostrum replacer. It give calves the best of both worlds when it comes to maximizing passive transfer of immunity. Source: Dairy Herd Management, May 6, 2022. Link. With excellent dry-cow vaccination and colostrum protocols in place, supplementing … [Read more...]
Sound hospital pen strategies can improve outcomes
Good hospital pens are crucial for effective, efficient treatment of sick cattle to get them back to their home pens quickly, writes Heather Smith Thomas. One size doesn’t fit all. After interviewing different veterinarians, she shares different ways hospital pens are managed to meet the universal objective of reuniting sick livestock with their pen mates. Antibiotics are … [Read more...]
Keep manure samples cold
Research suggests the way horse manure samples are stored can have a significant impact on the accuracy of fecal egg counts. Comparing various preservation techniques, the researchers found the egg counts in refrigerated samples remained more stable than others. They recommend storing samples for no longer than a week before testing. Source: EQUUS, April 26, 2022. Link. … [Read more...]
Hives in horses may not need treatment
Horses encounter skin conditions as do other animals. Urticaria is one of the more common skin diseases in horses. A healthy immune system normally keeps the barrage of ever present of microorganisms at bay, writes Nancy Loving, DVM. Hives are a clinical sign rather than a specific disease, she explains. But when a horse’s immune response overreacts to a noninfectious cause, … [Read more...]
Project Hive Pet Company ties pet toys to saving bees
Project Hive Pet Company has a line of five treats and five toys that generate revenues and associated company donations to the Bee & Butterfly Habitat Fund. To date, the partnership has resulted in more than 2 million square feet of healthy bee habitat planted, with a goal of planting 50 million square feet over the next five years. Source: Pet Food Industry, April … [Read more...]
Plant insectary strips of pollinator-friendly plants
Our April 26 post about mason bees drew a lot of attention <Link>. Leah Smith shares ideas for insectary strips in Hobby Farms. Looking at the plants listed, apartment dwellers with an outside deck or window can also provide nectar yielding plants that contribute to feeding the bees. Gardeners should plan to add a row of flowers alongside their veggies as well. In … [Read more...]
Dog behaviors are strongly inherited (1 of 2)
Researchers believe they have found 11 DNA regions associated with dog behavior. Their research is one of the first papers to include impressive dog genomics work using mixed breed dogs. On average, breed accounts for only about 9 percent of the variations in any given dog’s behavior . . . heritability for the behaviors studied was 25 percent . . .” Source: New York Times, … [Read more...]
Crum & Forster Pet Insurance Group and PSIvet announce partnership
Crum & Forster Pet Insurance Group™, provider of the ASPCA® Pet Health Insurance program has established a partnership with PSIvet which services more than 5,500 independent veterinary practice members. The partnership will help support the mission of helping pets live longer, healthier lives. With our pet insurance partnership, PSIvet member practices will have additional … [Read more...]
Dog daycare: What you should look for
Not all dog daycare facilities are created equal, writes Stephanie Colman. She shares ways for dog owners to determine if a dog daycare business is right for their dog. The guidance about group play, arousal, stress, collar use and downtime are notable. The information is also applicable for owners using sitting services like Rover.com. Anyone can open a daycare. Just because … [Read more...]
IBPSA Fast Bites – May 9, 2022
Understanding consumers across the generations, top 7 things to know about the U.S. pet industry, diminishing mycotoxin risks, groups celebrate community efforts, Camp Bow Wow off to a great start in 2022, credit card swipe fees, and more . . . NOTE the CDC information and infectious disease guidance, IBPSA website. Link. Source: IBPSA Fast Bites, May 9, 2022. Link. … [Read more...]
The best mentorships help BOTH people grow
Opinion We’re living in a time where change comes at breakneck speeds. Rapid changes require us to learn new skills and ways to work, meet the desires of four generations working together and likely radically remodel infrastructures. One might say our future successes will be dependent on how well we engage, share, collaborate and learn from one another. We’ll need … [Read more...]
Pandemic lessons for all
Your attitude determines how you approach opportunities and ongoing success. Source: Vet Advantage, April 2022. Link. The key to capitalizing on the current situation is in your attitude, the value you bring, and your talent. INSIGHT: Business history is replete with organizations and individuals that have grown and prospered in challenging times. … [Read more...]
30 is not the new 20
Opinion Graduation season is a time to celebrate endings and new beginnings. Amid the gaiety, clinical psychologist Meg Jay’s message from 2013 could not be more timely or more important for our relationships, families, new employees and our future. As our animal health industry grapples with employee shortages, work-life balance, work ethic perceptions, aging … [Read more...]
In case you missed the 148th Kentucky Derby
Coming from way back in the field, late entry Rich Strike wins at 80:1. Watch his incredible Run for the Roses. Source: BLOODHORSE, May 7, 2022. Link. … [Read more...]
A dog’s breed tells little about his behavior (2 of 2)
In last week’s “Worth a Glance” section, we featured an article from The Washington Post with the headline, “Looking for a well-behaved dog? Breed may not tell you much.” An observant AHD Bulletin subscriber who works for Best Friends Animal Society pointed out a supportive article in The Atlantic and the worthwhile reading of the original study to put things in greater … [Read more...]
Celebrate graduations
The AHD team acknowledges the commitments made by students, their families, sponsors, faculty members and institutions for these achievements. We also want to remind graduates to reflect on how you got to this point. Consider the importance of influencing those who come behind you over the next four or more decades of your career, in your communities and as you develop your … [Read more...]
Worth a Glance – May 5, 2022
Top five most read posts in April 2022 Pet owners unaware of vet technicians’ roles during vet visit. Link. Traditional recruiting is broken. 6 ways to reimagine it. Link. Asian longhorned ticks on the move. Link. Your customers buy benefits. Link. The 411 on fetch. Link. Last week’s AHD Bulletin Animal Health Digest Bulletin, Thursday, April 28, … [Read more...]
Valley Vet Supply DVMs talk calf care
Across cow-calf country, the 2022 calf crop is becoming visible on rapidly greening pastures. Tech services veterinarians Tony Hawkins, DVM, and Ray Shultz, DVM, share some tips looking toward the months ahead: Umbilical infections are a real thing Scours is one of the gravest challenges affecting young calves Check right away for calf vitality During springtime, … [Read more...]
The impact of genomics in dairy
Animal production has always sought to find and duplicate the best of the best. In the past 13 or more years, genomics in the dairy business has been transformational. Most striking is the rate of genetic progress for essentially all traits of importance has increased due to genomics. Genetic evaluations provide increased accuracy, especially for young animals, offering the … [Read more...]
Bovine vaccine study reveals role of genetics in immune response
Computer science researchers in the Department of Computer Science at John Hopkins Whiting School of Engineering set out to answer an age-old question, “Why are some individuals within the population of black Angus cows responding very differently to the same vaccine?” Their research examined a distinguishing feature of bovine immunity: the long complementarity-determining … [Read more...]
Evaluate bedding choices for horses
A stabled horse spends the better part of his day in direct contact with his bedding. It’s worth the time to periodically reassess bedding choices, according to the authors. Chances are the current bedding it still suitable, but horse owners will never know for sure until they take the time to consider other options. Source: EQUUS, April 20, 2022. Link. The purpose of … [Read more...]
Tips for making fly spray bottles and sponges last longer
Sponges and fly spray bottles need to be maintained properly like all equipment. EQUUS shares some tips for making these items last the entire season. Sharing them on social media or in newsletters will be appreciated by horse owners and may save them some money, too. Source: EQUUS, April 20, 2022. Link. … [Read more...]