There it was on a cough lozenge label . . . birch sugar. It took a minute to correlate birch sugar to xylitol despite knowing that sugar-free often means xylitol is an ingredient. So, since it is cough and cold season and many folks are dieting, it is a good time to share warnings with animal health pros and their pet owner networks that Xylitol is poisonous to dogs. Dogs … [Read more...]
Archives for January 2025
Cleaners to avoid around pets
Holiday cleaning, followed by spring cleaning, puts pets at risk from common household cleaners. Consider this article for social media, newsletters and local community media to help pet owners avoid risks to their pets’ health. Source: Better Homes and Garden, January 9, 2025. Link. When cleaning around pets, it’s important to avoid certain cleaning agents due to their … [Read more...]
IBPSA Fast Bites – January 13, 2025
Active and empathetic listening skills, bird flu found in raw pet food, measuring stress in therapy dogs, luxury pet care segment growth, OSHA 300 reminder and more . . . Source: IBPSA, January 13, 2025. Link. … [Read more...]
Modern tech reshaping relationships and what we can do to rebuild meaningful connections
Commentary We believe this short article is worth consideration. Our animal health industry has long been underpinned by its collegial connections, the daily interactions with animal owners and the guidance around VCPR. Anthony Iannarino is increasingly concerned about how our technologies have rewired adult relationships. He asserts asynchronous tools sacrifice the … [Read more...]
Questions – rude or helpful?
We succeed when we help others succeed, and that is the role of every animal healthcare professional. Source: Repertoire, October 2024. Link. How can we help others succeed if we don’t know where they want to go?” or “Where are they now?” or “What is standing in the way? INSIGHTS: Move from “intrusive” to “interested” by acknowledging every response. Every interaction, … [Read more...]
Managing your own expectations
New products in a clinic cause excitement. However, your clients may not express the same enthusiasm. So, managing expectations is important for every team member. Source: LinkedIn, December 9, 2024. Link. … [Read more...]
Perianesthetic medication errors in general practice
Much like carpenters who measure twice and cut once, veterinary teams can benefit from developing a culture of safety that normalizes double-checking each other’s work. Erik H. Hofmeister, DVM, DACVAA, DECVAA, MA, MS, shares results from a study examining the number and type of medical errors during the perianesthetic period in private veterinary clinics. Workloads increase the … [Read more...]
The punctuality predicament (video)
Chris Edmonds outlines four steps to help chronically late staffers be on time. He says lateness is not something to tolerate. Source: SmartBrief, September 24, 2024. Link. INSIGHTS: A sales manager once coached that if you’re not five minutes early, you’re always late. Good advice. … [Read more...]
Worth a Glance – January 16, 2025
Last week’s AHD Bulletin – Animal Health Digest Bulletin, December 12, 2024. Link. Most read posts from January 9, 2025 AHD Bulletin - Water: Critical, undervalued nutrient in dairy calves. Link. Vaccination protects ratter dog from disease. Link. Lead when not in charge: leverage influence when you lack authority. Link. … [Read more...]
Worth a Glance – January 8, 2025
Animal Health Digest Bulletin Archives from December 2024. Link. AHD Archives from January 2024. Link. Scroll through articles and topics from last January as you renew efforts for 2025. ================================================ Real ID set to go into effect on May 7, 2025 Source: Daily Passport. Link. REAL ID is currently optional but it will soon be a … [Read more...]
Updated Beef Quality Assurance National Manual now available
An updated BQA National Manual has been released by by National Cattlemen’s Beef Association. Information in the manual can help producers raise high-quality cattle. In addition to online availability, the manual and related resources, state BQA coordinators offer them at no charge. SOURCE: NCBA, December 19, 2024. Link. More than 30 cattle producers, industry leaders and … [Read more...]
The Dog Stop building on record 2024 to bring services to more pet lovers in 2025
The Dog Stop continues its mission to make exceptional dog care accessible to more communities nationwide. The company plans to double its 2024 store openings this year, bringing The Dog Stop to major markets in Arizona, California, Colorado, Massachusetts, Nevada, Oregon, Utah, Texas, Washington and all NFL metros nationwide. Source: vmsd, January 7, 2025. Link. With over … [Read more...]
National 4-H Council receives a $15 million grant from Lilly Endowment
The grant will help advance its 4-H Beyond Ready initiative, a comprehensive program that will equip 10 million youth by 2030 with essential career and character development as fundamental elements for work and life. Lilly Endowment's investment shines a light on the importance of character development in youth programs. We can provide more outreach, programs and support to … [Read more...]
Bird flu may be reaching the boiling point
Scientists are increasingly worried about bird flu based on four key signals. The H5N1 virus has spread uncontrolled in animals, including cows frequently in contact with people. Additionally, detections in wastewater show the virus is leaving a wide-ranging imprint, and not just in farm animals. Some experts say they have lost faith in the government's ability to contain the … [Read more...]
The small producer’s impact on the beef business
Seventy-nine percent of farms with beef cows have 49 or fewer cows, writes Bryan Sanderson. Small producers are not just suppliers of beef. They are important parts of rural economies, ag supply chains and local job markets. Small beef producers help sustain a resilient and dynamic beef industry by contributing to local economies, maintaining agricultural diversity, creating … [Read more...]
Water: Critical, undervalued nutrient in dairy calves
Optimizing water intake for calves and cows is important, especially as winter temperatures are consistently below freezing in some areas. Beyond keeping water sources open and clean, Alison Pfau emphasizes the importance of providing warm water to calves, which reduces the amount of energy their bodies would need to warm colder water to rumen temperature. Source: Wisconsin … [Read more...]
Adaptive multi-paddock grazing makes a difference (video)
We introduced our readers to adaptive grazing in a recent post <Link>. Carbon Cowboys films explores how working with nature can improve our soils, foods and rural communities. In this excerpt, Don Jackson shares the changes seen in the first six months, including the amount of forage produced, the improved health of their cattle and the increase in beneficial … [Read more...]
Encouraging equine hydration in winter
Horses prefer to drink water that is between 45°F and 65°F and drink the most water within three hours of consuming a meal. The author shares things to encourage horses to drink since winter environments often create situations that reduce horses’ desires or access to water. The average adult horse should drink about 1 gallon of water for every 100 pounds of body weight, so … [Read more...]
Senior horse health perspectives
While weight loss and chronic diarrhea are common clinical challenges in senior horses, Nanna Luthersson, DVM, focuses on the importance of dental health and regular checks in this article. She offers tips to help prevent dental issues in senior horses as they age. Source: My Senior Horse, January 3, 2024. Link. INSIGHTS: This is good content to share with horse owners … [Read more...]
5 tricks to help clients develop healthy treat-giving habits
It is important for veterinarians to adopt a proactive approach when counseling owners about treats, writes Raj Naik, DVM, DACVIM. Acknowledging the emotional factors, it is possible to get poor treat-giving habits under control by understanding the behavior behind them and working with the client to develop a personalized plan that satisfies both owners and pets. Source: … [Read more...]
Vaccination protects ratter dog from disease
Katie weighs 12-ish pounds, is four years old and is a mix of at least four breeds. She’s a tough native Texan thriving in Brooklyn, New York, ridding it of more rats than you can imagine. Her trip from Texas to the Big Apple was unremarkable, but one night at a playground, she revealed her calling – killing rats. She recently got her 364th rat kill in a year. Sarah Darby, her … [Read more...]
Study: Button dogs DO understand words recorded on soundboards
Research conducted at the University of California, San Diego, shows that dog participants successfully associated words their owners had recorded onto soundboards with the correct outcomes in real life and responded to those words without any other cues. Noting the research as a comprehension study, Federico Rossano, PhD, shared some of the dog participants are currently using … [Read more...]
Spasms or tremors in dogs and when to call a veterinarian
Minor dog muscle spasms are generally not an emergency. But spasms accompanied by other symptoms or a change in behavior or level of alertness can be serious or worse, shares Barri J. Morrison, DVM. Dogs returning to boarding routines or puppies coming for the first time may exhibit spasms. Morrison’s article is a good review for pet services and veterinary teams as the new … [Read more...]
Dog Aging Project offers insights on how dogs are being fed
Includes Sponsored Content Janice O'Brien, PhD, joins Jenifer Chatfield, DVM, Dipl. ACZM, Dipl. ACVPM, to share some early findings from the Dog Aging Project’s large database. The conversation focuses on the latest data about dog owners and their nutritional decisions for their pets. Source: Chats with the Chatfields, YouTube, October 21, 2024. Link. The Dog Aging … [Read more...]
Crate size decisions for those new puppies as they grow
Includes Commercial References “There are three crate sizes in my garage, shared a friend, but I’m not sure I have the right size for this new, larger-breed puppy my son received at Christmas.” Mary Cope, PhD, shares how to choose crates for dogs as they grow and develop. Her guidance makes good content to share with new pet owners and clients on social media. Source: … [Read more...]
IBPSA Fast Bites – January 6, 2025
Feline Pet Care Provider Certifications raise the bar, pet industry M&As on the horizon, perceived benefits of limited ingredient foods and treats, AI prompts for small business, bird flu and more . . . Source: IBPSA, January 6, 2025. Link. Note: Webinar: Comfort-driven enrichment for pet lodging facilities, January 22, 2025. 1:00 p.m. - 2:00 p.m. (CST) Link. … [Read more...]
How to lead when you’re not in charge: leveraging influence when you lack authority
Clay Scroggins and Andy Stanley provide a practical and empowering framework for developing the skills and mindset needed to lead effectively, even when you're not in charge, writes PM Kimemia. He highlights seven things he learned from reading the book. Source: PM Kimemia, Facebook, December 23, 2024. Link. Influence is not about climbing the corporate ladder; it's about … [Read more...]
Complaining rewires the brain to stay negative and depressed (video)
Recent research shows that the act of complaining goes beyond simply releasing frustration; it can actually rewire the brain, making negativity a default setting and even setting the stage for prolonged feelings of sadness and depression. Negativity can be contagious and spending time around people who frequently complain can significantly affect our own mental health and … [Read more...]
When the climb slows
For those who’ve been at the top of their game for a while, the inevitable truth is this: cresting happens. Source: Giant Leap Consulting, December 2024. Link. The true test of a seasoned leader isn’t how high you climb or how hard you fight to stay at the top, but how you respond when the climb slows down, when the world no longer expects you to be the one with all the … [Read more...]
California fires sending deadly smoke for miles
Air quality is suffering in a widespread area in California. Wildfires fueled by the Santa Ana winds are devasting property and pushing smoke into the atmosphere. Beyond the immediate wildfire crises, the smoke will increase risks to people and animals over the next several days locally and likely spread across the U.S. in time. Consider educating animal owners about reducing … [Read more...]