Charlie Gilkey discusses small daily habits or practices that have an outsized impact on our productivity and well-being and how to identify the 15 to 20 minutes each day that make or break how we feel and function. It is a great topic as we head into the holiday season. Source: Sparked, November 7, 2023. Link. (30:10) … [Read more...]
Time to face the music
Too much sound can be harmful to our health as we shared recently <Link>. The wrong sounds piped into the clinic’s sound system may be annoying and bad for business, writes Marc Rosenberg, VMD. He shares a realistic situation where staff and clients were negatively affected by the choice of clinic music. Source: DVM 360, November 7, 2023. Link. … [Read more...]
Unconscious fear leads to productivity losses in the billions
Most managers aren’t aware they’re leading with fear, writes Hailey Mensik. Sharing the results from a leadership survey that indicates a third of corporate leaders are primarily motivated by fear. This creates less efficient and less psychologically safe work environments that cost nearly $36 billion annually in lost productivity. Source: DIGIDAY, November 8, 2023. Link. … [Read more...]
Worth a Glance – November 9, 2023
Last week’s AHD Bulletin – Animal Health Digest Bulletin, November 2, 2023. Link. Most read post(s) from the November 2nd AHD Bulletin – Heartworm prevention nonadherence prevalent in U.S., study finds. Link. Want to move up? Link. Roundtable discussion: The performance impacts of cow gut health. Link. Place keeper: 2023 Veterinary Conferences … [Read more...]
New beef-on-dairy resources available from Iowa Beef Center
Usurping the traditional information about feeding mostly Holstein, dairy-bred calves, a new web resource now focuses on the growing beef-on-dairy segment. It will offer producers and animal health pros current research and information about beef on dairy cross cattle. Source: BEEF, November 1, 2023. Link. Beef-on-dairy is such a new space, and we are constantly learning … [Read more...]
Despite grumblers, finger-pointers and naysayers, the beef industry is solid and growing
Nevil Speer offers a look at the fed cattle market over the past four decades to reveal that the trends over time are positive and clear. Beef IS winning in the marketplace. Consumers are voting in favor of beef and the result is the fed market is stronger than ever” – Nevil Speer Source: Drovers, November 1, 2023. Link. … [Read more...]
Fall wellness exams can help prevent horse problems in winter
Christine Barakat’s article is a reminder to horse owners and veterinarians. Beyond the list of seven wellness topics and health checks, the toughness discussion deserves consideration when calling on equine owners. If the clinic has facilities on site, having a series of all health checks could make the process smoother and uncover issues horses have when trailered to the … [Read more...]
Intra-articular antimicrobial use might not be needed with equine joint injections
For decades, equine veterinarians have been using antimicrobials intra-articularly but this route of administration is considered off-label and there are no established appropriate dosages for practitioners to reference. Despite research showing antimicrobials do not have a significant effect on post-injection infection rates intra-articular antimicrobial therapy usage appears … [Read more...]
Polyester halters, a biosecurity hazard
A new study from Sweden shows that extra effort is required to sanitize halters and other gear made of polyester webbing. The research showed bacteria responsible for strangles were more likely to persist on polyester-webbing halters than on leather ones. The article also references the importance of disinfecting other tack and clothing items. Source: EQUUS, October 25, … [Read more...]
Rottweiller gives birth to huge litter. Surprise!
Jessie, a two-year-old Rottweiler, surprised her owners who expected her to have five or six puppies at best. She ended up giving birth to a litter three times bigger. Although not a litter-size record, Jessie delivered 15 healthy puppies on her own. Source: PUPvine, November 4, 2023. Link. … [Read more...]
Better cat visits. Carriers and caregivers are the key
Almost 40 percent of cat caregivers say just thinking about taking the cat to the vet causes them stress. Sherrie Yuschak, RVT, VTS (Behavior), KPA-CTP, shares methods, tools, handouts and ways to proactively communicate with pet owners to improve individual cat visits and increase the number of cats receiving appropriate veterinary care. Source: AAHA Trends® magazine, … [Read more...]
WARNING! Choose rodent poisons wisely
Since rodents flock to buildings this time of year, we’re reposting this as a reminder that Bromethalin, second-generation rodenticides, have NO ANTIDOTE. The distinction between consumer retail and professional formulas remains a concern. The post contains several references about baits and toxicity. Source: Animal Health Digest, November 12, 2019. Link. Second generation … [Read more...]
IBPSA Fast Bites – November 6, 2023
A public link to job openings at IBPSA Member facilities <Link>, 4th quarter media bundle, dogs on holidays lists, attracting customers, raising prices while keeping customers happy and more . . . Source: IBPSA Fast Bites, November 6, 2023. Link. … [Read more...]
Get better at thinking on your feet
A sudden request can give even the most confident person a jolt of panic. The challenge for most people in all communication, planned or spontaneous, is anxiety, says author Matt Abrahams. He offers six steps to become better at thinking on your feet. Source: Fast Company, October 4, 2023. Link. Many of us ramble when we speak spontaneously because we’re discovering what we … [Read more...]
Something strange happens to human brains during Zoom calls
New research at Yale University reveals our brains don’t process Zoom conversations the same way as face-to-face conversations, even though you are talking to real people. Brain scans of people having face-to-face conversations revealed higher levels of synchronized neural activity, which the researchers interpret as a sign of increased mutual exchange of social cues. Zoom … [Read more...]
Where do the sharps go?
Regardless of why the animal received a shot, it is important to dispose of the needle in a safe way, writes Russ Daly. He reminds us that outside of our medical facility, protecting ourselves and others from needles, scalpel blades and more items used to perform medical procedures requires proper handling and disposal. This article focuses on livestock but applies equally to … [Read more...]
Livestock-related products make life simpler (slide show)
Veterinary teams and representatives should take note of this new livestock products review. It includes everything from handling equipment to waterers and more. Farm Progress editors share new products suited to serious livestock producers in this article and slide show. Source: Farm Progress, November 1, 2023. Link. … [Read more...]
USDA strengthens animal welfare requirements for organic label
ICYMI - Livestock and poultry farmers will face new animal welfare requirements to qualify for the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s “organic” label. Once published, producers will need to be in compliance within 60 days. New standards require animals to have year-round outdoor access, and shelter must allow livestock to lie down, stand up and turn around. Producers must also … [Read more...]
Roundtable discussion: The performance impacts of cow gut health
Sponsored Content Researchers in the dairy industry participated in a roundtable discussion on the impacts of gut health on overall cow performance. Key topics included how gut dysbiosis occurs, the negative ramifications of it and how feed additives can effectively restore gut health. It was noted that modes of action for feed additives vary depending on product type, dose, … [Read more...]
Shallow versus deep bedding methods for goats
Patrice Lewis discusses bedding preferences, pros and cons of depth and materials and ultimately reminds goat owners of keeping things clean and dry. Note her comments about using lime and stall fresheners between the floor and bedding. Make sure you’re using BARN lime (also called ag lime or dairy lime), which is gray. Do NOT use hydrated lime (sometimes called mason’s lime … [Read more...]
Mineral blocks may not be ideal for mules
Madeline Boast, MSc, offers concerns about using mineral blocks to supplement mule nutrition. She says the gold standard recommendation for mules is to provide them with their required vitamins and minerals in their diet, then simply allow additional salt blocks to be free choice. Source: The Horse, October 30, 2023. Link. … [Read more...]
Grooming pet ferrets
Grooming pet ferrets includes bathing, drying, nail trimming, coat brushing, ear cleaning and teeth brushing writes Lianne McLeod, DVM. She explains the various processes while ensuring the mustelid remains as calm as possible. Formal attire is optional. 😉 Source: The Spruce Pets, May 23, 2022. Link. … [Read more...]
Dogs versus cats: Which is most loved?
Even with striking differences between countries, scientists found that people appeared to care more about their dogs than their cats in all countries across all measures. The study appeared in Frontiers in Veterinary Science. Source: Vet Candy, October 31, 2023. Link. … [Read more...]
A new type of skin hypersensitivity in dogs
A recent retrospective study looked at dogs with skin lesions in high grass contact areas to establish if they have a version of a pruritic condition found in humans. Contact dermatitis is a type IV hypersensitivity reaction that occurs when chemicals known as haptens come into contact with skin. Dogs that develop reactions to contact with grass may experience a similar … [Read more...]
Extension cord safety
Cold weather brings out the space heaters and heat lamps in many animal housing locations. Karen Kopf shares safety measures for barns that also apply to coops, kennels and other animal enclosures. She says permanent use of extension cords is not advised for safety reasons. Source: Backyard Goats, November 27, 2022. Link. Cords usually fail in one of these ways: … [Read more...]
10 common dog behavior problems and solutions
Thoroughly understanding the most common dog behavior problems is the first step to solving and preventing them. A solid foundation of obedience training will help dog owners prevent or better control many of these issues, writes Jenna Stregowski. Source: The Spruce Pets, February 22, 2022. Link. INSIGHTS: Articles like this help pet owners identify and address behavior … [Read more...]
Scientist says body language has surprising influence in job interviews
A recent post from Patrick T. Malone reminded us of the importance of body language individually and as an observer <Link>. Tomas Chamorro-Premuzica says a fundamental component of social and political skills involves displaying the right kind of verbal and nonverbal communicational signals to improve how we come across to others. Source: Fast Company, October 26, … [Read more...]
Only the tough veterinary practice managers survive
Wendy Hauser, DVM, says the job of practice managers has become infinitely harder than it used to be. She shares factors that are impacting these valuable team members and some ideas to deal with the challenges. Source: Animal Health News and Views, October 1, 2023. Link. Often overlooked is the need for practice managers to step in for missing team members, sometimes as … [Read more...]
IBPSA Fast Bites – October 23, 2023
Personalized pet tech for anxiety, getting more reviews, 1st employee-owned vet clinic, the importance of follow-up, sales cycles and more . . . Source: IBPSA Fast Bites, October 23, 2023. Link. … [Read more...]
Worth a Glance – October 26, 2023
Last week’s AHD Bulletin – Animal Health Digest Bulletin, October 19, 2023. Link. Most read post(s) from the October 19th AHD Bulletin – Study: Grain-free diets, no negative impact on canine heart health, DCM. Link. 3 takeaways from the Veterinary Innovation Summit. Link. MWI Animal Health’s integration with Shepherd Veterinary Software. Link. … [Read more...]