In this article, Brianne Skien establishes when to challenge the “we’ve always done it this way” mindset. While the topic is swine production, the lessons apply to all animal health businesses. Skien writes there are good reasons we build systems around doing things the same way every day, BUT there is a difference between consistency and complacency. Consistency means we … [Read more...]
Archives for August 2026
Gen Z is rewiring the pet health experience through technology
“Gen Z is raising the bar for pet healthcare,” says Mita Malhotra, president of Chewy Healthcare, in her latest article for Forbes Business Council. Noting that this generation is shifting how they navigate pet ownership, she says their use of digital resources is driven by wanting to feel better prepared to make informed health decisions on behalf of their pets. Gen Zs are … [Read more...]
SuperZoo 2026: Words most heard at this year’s show
Lisa Cleaver shares a few buzzwords and phrases from SuperZoo 2026, along with a few examples of new commercial products supporting them. Longevity Proactive not reactive Active adventure pets Lickables Functional Will these become commonplace in animal health pro vocabularies? Source: Petfood Industry, August 19, 2026. Link. … [Read more...]
It’s all about trust
The people in front of you size up whether to trust you in the first few seconds, before your logic ever arrives, and everything you say afterward gets filtered through that verdict. René Rodriguez describes that gap: the one between what you project and what you actually deliver. The gap was doing all the talking, and it was saying, Don't trust this yet.” Source: LinkedIn, … [Read more...]
Your humanity is not your greatest gift, rather your greatest exposure
“Your humanity is not your greatest gift. It is your greatest exposure,” asserts Gershon L. Alaluf, DVM, DBA, MBA, in the latest edition of his pursuit to research and understand why the veterinary profession breaks its best people. Commentary In this post, Alaluf introduces an in-the-works theory called the Safe Base Paradox where the workplace falsely becomes a safe … [Read more...]
U.S. health department seeks public feedback on vaccine guidelines after POTUS order
Animal health professionals are uniquely qualified to lend feedback on vaccination strategies. Consider offering feedback if you are so moved. The U.S. health department said on August 21st it was seeking public feedback on federal vaccine recommendations, including how they are categorized and communicated, after President Donald Trump's executive order calling for fewer … [Read more...]
IBPSA Pet Care Pro – August 2026
IBPSA’s former quarterly digital magazine relaunched this week as Pet Care Pro Monthly. The shorter, more frequent read is built for the way pet services pros check email throughout their busy days, says Carmen Rustenbeck, IBPSA founder and CEO. Highlights in this edition: Pet Care Business Excellence Award finalists CANIS Conference reminder OraStrip dental … [Read more...]
Split your barn or kennel network from your office network
Automatic feeders, cameras and climate controllers in the barn, kennels or other secondary locations often share the same network as the accounting software and email running in the office. One hacked device is all it takes to reach the operation's financial records. Splitting the secondary locations and office onto separate Wi-Fi networks, with a firewall between them, … [Read more...]
Experience isn’t expiration: rethinking age in hiring and promotion
When it comes to reviewing candidates for open positions or promotions, business owners and hiring managers often make unfair assumptions based on an applicant’s age. While ageism is widespread across all industries, the situation is even more dire in the pet industry, writes Sheryl Green. She offers several steps to ensure the right person is hired for the job regardless of … [Read more...]
Autumn migration underway
There were 200 million birds flying above the U.S. on Monday night, August 17th, a sign that autumn migration is well underway. The BirdCast Migration Dashboard can compute an estimate of migration traffic for every county in the Lower 48 states. Source: Cornell Lab eNews, August 23, 2026. Link. INSIGHTS: Migration traffic is an important component of biosecurity efforts … [Read more...]
September is Happy Cat Month. Are you ready?
Happy Cat Month was started by the CATalyst Council* to help spread awareness and education in support of the health, welfare and the important value of felines. Their work shows that cats are incredibly social animals and they require the same level of care and attention that we give our dogs. Tamkeen Kiani’s article offers links and tips for social media, the likelihood of … [Read more...]
Demonstration in the exam room can improve adherence
In this short video, Jan Bellows, DVM, DAVDC, DABVP, demonstrates using MAXI/GUARD® Oral Cleansing Wipes on a patient’s teeth. Incorporating everyday oral care tools into practice reinforces the importance of preventive dental health with every patient’s owner.” Source: Addison Biological Laboratory Inc., Instagram, May 28, 2026. Link. [25 seconds] Also see: Demonstration … [Read more...]
Veterinarians hesitant to recommend CBD for pets
CBD use in dogs continues to grow. A 2025 survey found 7.3 percent of 47,000 dog owners had given their pets CBD, mainly for arthritis, seizures or dementia. In fact, Dr. Jennifer Quammen, AVMA president, says she gets asked about it every day. Research remains limited, short-term and sometimes company-funded. Despite these conditions, sales of CBD pet products are expected to … [Read more...]
Regenerative medicine, lameness and equine joint health
Includes Commercial Content Effective management requires close collaboration between veterinarians and farriers to support a horse’s long-term soundness. Identifying the various causes of lameness, including how structures higher up in the leg can affect the farrier’s job, was addressed by Zoetis’s Holly Helbig, DVM, during the 2026 International Hoof-Care Summit. Helbig … [Read more...]
A separate water tank costs far less than losing cattle
Tanks and equipment that have been used to haul urea- or nitrate-based fertilizers should not be used to transport drinking water for cattle even if they have been thoroughly washed. Not a new problem, but it is one worth repeating. Veterinary toxicologists are again seeing cases of cattle deaths associated with water hauled in tanks or equipment previously used for … [Read more...]
Heifers: Keep some or not?
It’s weaning and shipping time in cattle country. With markets wavering slightly, Mexico opening up and a U.S. herd to rebuild, there has been considerable discussion of how to handle heifers*. Whether to retain or sell them is a long-term decision that depends on market conditions and the resources available on an operation. From the perspective of an animal health pro … [Read more...]
“Ask a Cowboy” panels set for Husker Harvest Days and Sunbelt Ag Expo
Stockmanship & Stewardship sessions give producers and veterinarians opportunities to interact with a panel of experts and ask questions about best management practices. Everyone can benefit from learning about cattle movement habits, top-notch facility design, and tips for training others who handle your cattle.” Source: NCBA. Link. Husker Harvest Days, September … [Read more...]
Manure identified as hotspot for antibiotic resistance genes
A 14-year analysis across 26 countries finds livestock manure is a major harbor of antibiotic resistance genes that could threaten human health. The research team examined more than 4,000 manure samples from pigs, chickens and cattle and found signs that efforts to reduce farm antibiotic use are paying off. Source: The Dairy Site, August 17, 2026. Link. What happens on … [Read more...]
Webinar: Review the new AAHA Diabetes Management in Cats Guidelines
Join Patty Lathan, VMD, MS, DACVIM (SAIM), for practical updates on insulin therapy, glucose monitoring, dietary management, diabetic remission, and client communication from the 2026 AAHA Diabetes Management Guidelines for Cats. There are still seats available: September 1, 2026, 5:00 p.m. MDT. Registration <Link> Source: AAHA, LinkedIn, August 26, 2026. … [Read more...]
Worth a Glance – August 27, 2026
Last week’s AHD Bulletin – Animal Health Digest Bulletin, August 20, 2026. Link. Most read posts from August 20th, 2026 AHD Bulletin – The Platinum Rule overcomes differences and gets things done. Link. Sound therapy for dogs and cats. Link. Nutraceuticals in K9 osteoarthritis: A clinical comparison with NSAIDs. Link. Study: AI-powered camera predicts 95% … [Read more...]
Busy August for animal health pros ends in Kansas City
Complimentary By all reports from AVMA, Groomer Expo, SUPERZOO and the new WVC Nashville, animal health pros have renewed old contacts, made new ones, shared meals and beverages, and viewed the latest topics and products. Fetch KC takes place August 28 to 30 and the month is bookended by the KC Corridor’s 2026 Animal Health Summit August 31 to September 1. There’s still … [Read more...]
2027 pay raises expected to hold mostly flat amid cost pressures
Data from WTW and Gallagher surveys suggests that salary increases in 2027 will decline modestly from 2026 levels but remain largely stable. Employers are taking a more cautious approach to salary planning, citing cost management pressures, a tight labor market and inflationary concerns, according to the surveys. Experts say employers are becoming increasingly strategic in … [Read more...]
AI’s effect on workplace culture
According to Gallup’s Q1 2026 workforce study, AI adoption is pushing organizational cultures in equally positive and negative directions on average, with managers playing a decisive role in how technology-related changes are perceived by employees. Leaders clearly see AI transformation as a priority, yet AI adoption alone does not consistently correspond with employees … [Read more...]
U.S. home to all top 10 North American pet food companies by 2025 revenue
All of the top 10 North American pet food companies in Petfood Industry’s Top Companies database are headquartered in the United States. Measured by 2025 revenue, the U.S. dominance reflects more than the size of the U.S. pet market, writes Tim Wall. U.S. manufacturers operate within an economy that combines large supplies of grains and animal proteins with extensive … [Read more...]
The Platinum Rule overcomes differences and gets things done
One of the wake-up calls of the business world is the realization that some people are not like us. Different values and different drivers. Bill Treasurer uses a boss/employee relationship to demonstrate adapting without losing yourself. As a coach, his first question is always, “Have you figured out what kind of communication lands with this person?” Source: Giant Leap … [Read more...]
We got the smoke. See how it travels.
Hundreds of fires have burned in Canada and the northwestern U.S. A NASA visualization tracks how wildfire smoke traveled in North America from mid-July to early August, showing the sprawling size of the impact. Source: Fast Company, August 17, 2026. Link. Unlike larger dust particles, tiny smoke particles can stay suspended for days. A typical smoke particle might last in … [Read more...]
AVMA’s Jennifer Quammen, DVM, shares veterinary challenges with Steve Dale
Complimentary New AVMA president Jennifer Quammen, DVM, tackles some of the biggest issues facing pet owners and veterinary professionals today in this conversation with Steve Dale. They discuss why veterinary care costs continue to rise, whether corporate ownership and Wall Street are reshaping the profession and how credentialed vet techs can be used more … [Read more...]
IBPSA Fast Bites – August 10, 2026
In this week’s FastBites: Upcoming webinar: Add-On Revenues: Part 3 of our Pet Industry Leadership webinar series: August 27th at 1:00 p.m. CDT. <Registration Link> OraStrip information as add-on service Legislative updates: Washington (King County), Massachusetts Medicare enrollment, key dates and ways to avoid penalties Source: IBPSA, August 17, 2026. … [Read more...]
Sound therapy for dogs and cats: how healing frequencies support health
Sound therapy uses the concept of resonate frequencies to restructure dis-ease and dis-harmony in the body. It creates harmony and coherence within the system to facilitate healing using the power of frequencies to support physical, emotional and spiritual well-being in humans and animals. Barrie Sands, DVM, CVA, HMCT, EMP, explains how vibroacoustic and psychoacoustic sound … [Read more...]
Scientists claim you SHOULD let your cat roam outside; it makes them less destructive
Commentary This article references a paper, published in Applied Animal Behaviour Science <Link>. It describes how researchers discovered that cats that were allowed unsupervised time outside had lower levels of disruptive behavior. Considering how controversial this topic is and the likelihood that cat owners will not read the whole article or study, animal health … [Read more...]