Sometimes you need to take off your name tag and lab coat and put on your customer jeans and a tee shirt to fully understand your customer’s experience. Source: Today’s Veterinary Business, August 1, 2026. Link. Many “difficult” conversations became difficult because we waited too long to have them or avoided them altogether.” - Heather Prendergast RVT, CVPM, … [Read more...]
Archives for September 2026
Your performance counts, but your behavior counts more for a promotion
Employers want people who can read what the moment calls for rather than default to the technically correct response, writes Pamela Meyer. She shares leadership behaviors your bosses notice before they promote you. The ability to “read the room,” and make that room better for your presence is an important consideration. Source: Fast Company, September 21, 2026. … [Read more...]
IBPSA Pet Care Pro – September 2026
Highlights in this edition: How to weather disruptions in pet care services. Link. Survey request: Essential Oils in Pet Care: Survey deadline is October 5th Resource: Glossary of health care and health insurance terms <Link> Series continues: The Pet Industry Leaderboard: Benchmarks and Actionable Business Strategies. FREE for IBPSA Members, PocketSuite … [Read more...]
Free webinar: The Emotional Side of Behavior
Complimentary Join PACCC on Tuesday, September 29th, for The Emotional Side of Behavior with Jamie Engerdahl, CPACP, FFCP, owner of Kinder Canine Coaching and former PACCC board member. She will explore how understanding a dog's emotions can help pet care professionals respond with care and build trust. Get a practical look at recognizing fear, stress and anxiety, and how we … [Read more...]
FFA: Growing the future
Modern FFA programs are framing agriculture in familiar urban and suburban environments, writes Kristy Meyer. Students learn that agricultural careers can exist in stadiums, parks, school districts, golf courses, universities and professional sports facilities, in addition to traditional farm and ranch settings. Source: AgriLife, October 2026. Link. Leadership in FFA does … [Read more...]
Pet loss goes unacknowledged for many owners, survey finds
Includes commercial reference Many pet owners receive little acknowledgment after their animal dies, even though that is the support they most want. A recent survey found that 1,139 U.S. adults who had experienced a pet loss received less support than those who had experienced a loss of a person across every category measured. For veterinary practices, the results expose … [Read more...]
BioSphere Essentials: Enzymes in animal nutrition. From mode of action to impact.
Discover how enzymes interact with specific substrates, how conditions within the digestive system influence their activity, and how differences between animals, diets and production systems can shape their impact during this Novonesis webinar at 4:00 p.m. CDT on September 30th. (Check your time zone against Copenhagen time.) How enzymes work and why substrate specificity … [Read more...]
Cat owners asked to complete hairball survey
This survey request is an opportunity to communicate with cat owners without promoting in-clinic visits or preventative health topics. Simply share it with your cat owner contacts. Source: Worms and Germs, September 23, 2026. Link. … [Read more...]
Yes, regular play supports canine cognitive health
Researchers from Hungary found that dogs that engaged in a lifetime sports career or in joint activities with their owners had a lower chance of developing canine cognitive decline than dogs that did not. Most surprising to the team, and most important for dog owners, was that any joint activity between owners and dogs was significantly associated with lower CCD … [Read more...]
Making treatment decisions a two-way conversation (video)
Wendy Krebs, DVM, explains why horse owners should work with their veterinarians to navigate the many healthcare choices horses need over the years. She urges owners to invite their veterinarians into various discussions with other advisors sooner rather than later. Source: The Horse, September 17, 2026. Link. [2:52] Two-way conversations with your equine veterinarian about … [Read more...]
Fall foresight: Seasonal preventive horse care
Nancy S. Loving, DVM, urges horse owners to prepare for cooler days ahead. She reviews steps to prepare the barn and meet horses’ needs before the weather turns bad. This includes completing a preventive care checklist that covers vaccines, worming, body condition scoring and hoof care. Commentary Nearly every animal owner study we see identifies communication from … [Read more...]
Reminder: Late season pasture fly control
As fall work progresses, animal health pros can help producers manage horn flies and face flies while reducing resistance development in the overwintering fly population. Many fly control products used in spring and early summer are at the end of their useful life, allowing fly populations to rapidly increase. Insecticide resistance in fly populations tends to develop in late … [Read more...]
Low-cost swine trailer wash and disinfection produced positive results
Commentary It is important to see the study results here in their context. Some abbreviated wash and disinfection is better than nothing The study focused on winter freezing conditions Only PEDv and Delta Co-V were detected; not PRRS or TGE The gold standard is to wash and disinfect a trailer, then dry it at 160°F and maintain that temperature for 10 … [Read more...]
How genetics and management are redefining modern sow productivity
If we manage today’s sow genetics with yesterday’s habits, we should not be surprised when born-alive numbers look strong but weaned-pig numbers do not keep pace, writes Rachel Johnson. Despite advanced genetics, facilities, nutrition and management, producers know far too much margin opportunity is still leaving the farrowing house in a dead bucket instead of on the … [Read more...]
Names in the news
IDEXX Laboratories has acquired veterinary AI software company CoVet. Link. Patterson Veterinary launches Atlas AI assistant for practices. Link. Girl Scouts of the USA adds Patch Pals™ for dogs to cookie lineup. Link. The Farmer's Dog® becomes the NFL’s first Official Pet Food Partner. Link. Instinct Science announces Attending, a first-of-its-kind clinical AI … [Read more...]
Worth a Glance – September 24, 2026
Last week’s AHD Bulletin – Animal Health Digest Bulletin, September 17, 2026. Link.a Most read posts from September 17th AHD Bulletin – Malone: Leadership’s dark side. Link. Stop saying SORRY for who you are. Link. High school science students introduced to Fear Free. Link. Cat health care and deworming barn cats. Link. Credentials got you into the … [Read more...]
Credentials got you into the room. Will they get you through the next 90 seconds?
In his latest dive into what are innate challenges in veterinary medicine, Gershon L Alaluf, DVM, DBA, MBA shares more, much more, to consider when interacting with today’s digitally enabled clients. Now, be honest with yourself, “Don’t you check the internet when pricing a new car, widescreen TV, car repair or vacation rental?” In August, a survey of 15,428 adults across … [Read more...]
DOL clarifies when travel during meal periods is not compensable
Commentary Veterinary nurse, “So do I get paid for the hour I spent at the lunch-n-learn at the restaurant down the street?” While this report may open a veritable can of worms, it may address some questions about how employees are paid for in-house breaks, off-site lunches and lunch-n-learns. At minimum, double-check employee handbooks to be sure there is … [Read more...]
CatsOnly clinic opens in Aurora, Colorado to positive reviews, expectations
Congratulations and kudos to the CatsOnly.vet team who, over the past months have built anticipation, interest and curiosity. Of all the various posts we reviewed, Ken Lambrecht, DVM, captured the excitement of the event admirably along with expectations for success. “Founders Craig S. Wallace, Scott Maloney, Kristin Wuhrman, Jason Epstein and Alex Emerson have done their … [Read more...]
Leadership’s dark side
There is a darker side of the leadership perspective that is rarely discussed. The same strengths that attract others can become weaknesses that repel followers. Many leadership skills are amazing at their best, but at their worst, they can be painful and damage teams. Source: LinkedIn, September 8, 2026. Link. Any strength overused, on a bad day, becomes a … [Read more...]
I’m sorry! Apologizing before even knowing what for
Guilty as charged. Sorry! The word falls out of our mouths so quickly, so smoothly and most of the time it is not needed. It’s a reflex that is not sorting out what actually warrants an apology. It is running on autopilot, apologizing for YOU. The ego runs this because a pre-apologized presence cannot fail as loudly, asserts the author. The truth is the reflex is not … [Read more...]
IBPSA Fast Bites – September 14, 2026
This week’s FastBites provides updates for members including: Upcoming October launch of a new Learning Management System called GZLearn. Gallagher's insurance concierge services for U.S. members Ticket reminder for the IBBY Award Celebration at the CANIS Conference Source: IBPSA, September 14, 2026. Link. Survey results from Suburu-commissioned Talker Research … [Read more...]
CatCon 2026 comes to Pasadena October 10th and 11th
CatCon is a cat-centric, pop culture global event scheduled to take place in Pasadena, California, October 10th and 11th. It is dedicated to all things feline, with a community of cat lovers that spans the globe. Part expo, part symposium, CatCon engages, educates and entertains thousands of fans, featuring the latest in groundbreaking products and ideas for cats and their … [Read more...]
High school science students introduced to Fear Free
From everyday interactions with classroom animals to exploring future careers in animal care, a high school animal science teacher uses Fear Free education to help bring a more thoughtful approach to animal wellbeing into the classroom. Note how Ms. Carberry integrated the Fear Free Pet Sitter Certification into her curriculum. Source: Fear Free LLC., LinkedIn, September … [Read more...]
Calculating daily calorie and feeding needs for a patient
Laura Warcholek, CVT, VTS (nutrition), reviews the standard equation for calculating calorie and feeding needs, and walks through the calculations for an example patient in this informative video. Source: Today’s Veterinary Nurse, LinkedIn, August 27, 2026. Link. [1:37] Also see: Counting calories, treats, client education. Avoid the math. AHD Archives. Link. … [Read more...]
Cat health care and deworming barn cats
Cats are tough with hardy immune systems, writes Jon Geller, DVM, in this article from the Grist archives. Although written before Avian flu became a reality in the U.S., his guidance holds up today, considering the advancing status of cats. Commentary Call them barn cats, working cats, free-range, or semi-feral; whatever the label, but developing mutually beneficial … [Read more...]
Swirlology: as the whorls turn
Facial whorls, those distinctive swirls of hair on a horse’s forehead, have long intrigued horse owners and trainers. Hair whorl patterns are sometimes used to predict equine laterality, temperament and reactions to various environmental stimuli. In fact, hair whorls have been debated for centuries. More recently, Linda Tellingtone-Jones and Temple Grandin shared thinking and … [Read more...]
Virtual coworking equine session groups growing into a professional community
Building from a four-person Google Meet group that grew into more than 1,000 members on Facebook, Women in Equine’s membership spans countries, riding disciplines, students, C-suite executives, entrepreneurs and early-career professionals. Founded by Jillian Blades-Rice, the network of horsewomen has enjoyed the opportunity to connect and grow their careers and businesses … [Read more...]
Milking goats in Alaska
The need and desire for local dairy products (milk, cheese, kefir, etc.) is present across the U.S., even in Alaska. Dairy goats provide a viable option for small-scale farms in all 50 states. Having resources to share, compare and contrast helps producers make decisions for their herds, regardless of size. Raising livestock looks different in Alaska than it does anywhere … [Read more...]
Reminder: Livestock vaccine care and management critical to fall run success
A successful vaccination program begins long before a needle ever enters a calf and yet every year we learn of situations where vaccines have not been handled correctly. Paige Madison shares the importance of vaccine selection, handling, storage, equipment readiness and recordkeeping as the fall run gets going. Source: BEEF, September 15, 2026. Link. Storage, transport and … [Read more...]