The American Kennel Club recognizes the health and safety of pets when outside of their owner’s care remains a genuine concern for pet owners. Supporting continuing education for groomers, the AKC has expanded its AKC S.A.F.E. Grooming Certification Program < link > with a Safety in the Salon Recertification Course. . . . recertification gives grooming professionals an … [Read more...]
25 top feline-friendly cities
Real estate technology company, Redfin and pet insurance carrier, Trupanion recently announced the 25 most feline-friendly cities of 2019. The list includes cities in 18 states. Here are the top 5 cat-friendly cities: Corvallis, Oregon Spokane, Washington Orlando, Florida Bellingham, Washington Tulsa, Oklahoma Source: DVM 360, September 23, 2019. Link. … [Read more...]
Lenders offer varying options to help clients pay
When veterinary care challenges animal owners’ ability to pay, third party lenders have products to bridge the gap between an owners’ cash on hand and veterinary fees. Brendan Howard compares third-party loans and credit card options to veterinary clients. Source: VETTED, February 8, 2019. Link. Also see: A nay-sayer’s guide to pet insurance and third-party payment plans, … [Read more...]
Know the risks of mixing chickens, ducks, rabbits and goats
Animals have been kept in mixed flocks for centuries. Being aware of inherent risks or problems in mixed-animal operations is the best way to avoid problems before they occur. It is also the best way to fix problems if they happen. Source: Backyard Poultry, September 16, 2019. Link. Parasites and bacteria are easily transferred between barnyard species. Contaminated … [Read more...]
House plants cats love
Many cat owners claim their cat “never goes outside.” This author offers a fun idea for cat owners with green thumbs whose cats are stuck indoors: Cultivate safe house plants that cats enjoy. This article is good for social media, newsletters and for office visit discussions about lifestyle. Source: Tuft’s Catnip, September 2019. Link. Consider these plants for indoor cats … [Read more...]
5 questions for the first day of work (infographic)
One of the most important, yet toughest things to do while moving into a new job or role is letting go of assumptions. This makes it extremely important to ask the right questions and be open to unlearn and relearn even seemingly trivial things. Source: HBR Ascend, September 12, 2019. Link. Every workplace has its own culture—how things are done, what is valued, and how … [Read more...]
Embarrassment is fuel. Use it.
Anthony Moore says most people are living on someone else’s terms. They live to avoid fear, risk and embarrassment. He offers ideas to stop being afraid of looking stupid and consistently live the life you want. Source: The Ascent, May 20, 2019. Link. Just because you fail doesn’t make you a failure. So much of this life is process; getting a little better/smarter every … [Read more...]
Eating healthy for busy pros
Laura Baltodona, DVM, describes the challenges busy professionals face getting proper nutrition . Whether practitioner, veterinary technician, sales representative or office worker, animal health pros may spend more time ensuring their pets’ eat than themselves. Batodona says the key for healthy eating is: 1) set an intention and 2) know it doesn’t need to be fancy. Despite … [Read more...]
A good bed can improve dogs’ health and well-being
Providing pets with a high-quality bed or blanket can be a crucial building block for health and well-being. The most important benefits of beds and blankets are: They improve sleep quality They speak to dogs’ nesting instincts They offer security on-the-go Source: Animal Wellness, September 6, 2019. Link. When choosing a bed for a pet, how the pet sleeps helps … [Read more...]
8 tips to help get your video game plan on
Eighty percent of Internet traffic comes from people streaming videos. As video has exploded, so have the tools to create and share them. Have you got your video game plan down? Falcon.io’s Maxwell Gollin shares pro tips on eight video formats. Source: Falcon.io. August 13, 2019. Link. With live video, "build anticipation by leading into something you’ll … [Read more...]
Cows really do benefit the planet!
People still think it’s cows that are causing climate change, writes Amanda Radke. She offers resources to help continue to offset the false 2006 claim made by the United Nations and marketing claims made by makers of of plant-food products. Source: BEEF, August 31, 2019. Link. INSIGHTS: More ammunition for meat vs. meatless diet debates. … [Read more...]
Brace for a “polar coaster” this winter
According to the 2020 Farmers’ Almanac, this winter will be filled with so many ups and downs, it may be a “polar coaster.” Our extended forecast is calling for yet another freezing, frigid, and frosty winter for two-thirds of the country" – Philom Peter Geiger, Farmer’s Almanac Editor Source: Prevention, August 26, 2019. Link. People on the East Coast will endure the worst … [Read more...]
Ding! Dong! . . . calming frenzied, front door behaviors
Most dogs overreact to the ding-dong sound, writes Annie Phenix. Someone at the door can be really exciting or really scary for them. Phenix offers tips for training alternative, less disruptive behaviors when dogs hear the ding-dong sound. Dogs need our guidance. They do not arrive understanding the ways of their human families. Source: Dogster, July 31, 2019. Link. Here … [Read more...]
Catios, rabbitats create safe outdoor spaces
Animal welfare experts recommend that cats and rabbits remain indoors where they are safe from predators, accidental escape, and extreme weather. Heather Lewis shares options to create safe outdoor spaces for cats and rabbits. The old language of cages, kennels and coops had to be replaced by new nouns of course. Source: Fear Free Happy Homes, August 19, 2019. Link. When … [Read more...]
When ticks quest, researchers count
How do scientists actually track tick numbers? They use linen squares and lint rollers to capture ticks during three quests in their life cycle. Ticks only leave the underbrush on special occasions. “When they’re ready to look for a host, they go on top, and actively look,” David Allen said. This behavior is known as questing. Source: Atlas Obscura, August 28, 2019. Link. . … [Read more...]
35 tips to make email soar
Email communication with clients is as important to the small veterinary practice as it is to a corporation. It allows regular interaction, client education and promotion of services. Ann Gynn’s list of 35 email mistakes offers meaningful tips to get the most from your email marketing efforts. Source: Content Marketing Institute, August 13, 2019. Link. Taking advantage of … [Read more...]
Interactive map highlights lesser-known endangered animals by state
Natasha Daly highlights lesser-known endangered species across America in an interactive state-by-state map. According the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, more than half of the species listed as endangered in the U.S. live on private property. . . . it's only been through the help of people [that we’ve] been able to bring them back.” – Christina Meister, U.S. Fish and Wildlife … [Read more...]
Stressed? Pet it away.
Washington State University scientists conducted the first study that shows a reduction in cortisol levels during a real-life interaction rather than in a laboratory setting. Students in our study that interacted with cats and dogs had a significant reduction in cortisol, a major stress hormone." Source: Salon, August 14, 2019 via AAHA NEWStat. Link. What we wanted to learn … [Read more...]
Kitten lady talks on Fresh Air
We introduced animal health pros to Hannah Shaw, the kitten lady, in a recent post < link >. In this interview with Fresh Air’s Terry Gross, Shaw talks about the challenges of fostering kittens younger than eight weeks old, the lack of nursery care for neonates at shelter facilities and the importance of finding the mother before rescuing. Shaw discusses her experiences … [Read more...]
475 attend Animal Health Investment Forum
Early and mid-stage companies seeking to develop new solutions and technologies for animals met last Tuesday for the Animal Health Investment Forum < link >. Eleven companies were selected to share their innovations involving biotechnologies, long-acting options, digital technology and devices to improve animal care. The Innovation Award for the best presentation went to … [Read more...]
Realistically unplugging
Rashan Dixon, a senior business systems analyst at Microsoft, says being plugged in at all hours comes with a cost. Our addiction to technology can be so overwhelming that it jeopardizes everything from our health to our relationships, even our careers and businesses. He shares five reasons he distanced himself from technology: Tech increased the amount of stress and … [Read more...]
How-to videos educate dairy personnel
A series of how-to videos from Dairy Herd Management is available to help educate dairy personnel about key practices. Titles include: Culture to achieve a bacteriological cure Identify cows with mastitis Protect the cow after milking Properly attach milking units Prepare a cow for milking Get anovular cows pregnant Pay attention to injection … [Read more...]
8 tips for Facebook business pages
Make the most of your business presence on Facebook. The site is evolving quickly. It now treats business pages as mini-websites. If you invest the time to understand the complexity of business pages, you can increase exposure and grow your business. This list can help keep owners and site managers on track. Source: Park Marketing Link. Facebook is the most popular search … [Read more...]
New interactive rabies law map available
Rabies laws vary by state and change often. With more pets traveling and being relocated, animal health pros can use the new rabies law map to view what the laws are in the 50 U.S. states and District of Columbia. Source: Policy Surveillance Program. Link. The map includes data on state-level pre-exposure rabies vaccination laws for domestic dogs, cats, and ferrets across … [Read more...]
From “suits” to Luddites – the demise of office attire
Most any attire goes in some offices. This author attributes this to the rise of young founders commandeering successful tech companies, an increase in both remote work and flexible hours and the freelance economy. A recent study found that nearly half of managers said they were concerned employees dressed too casually, while 32% of supervisors named “too much skin” as one of … [Read more...]
Hot topics in bovine veterinary medicine
Citing constant changes in bovine medicine, Brittany Bowman assembled past article on topics worthy of sharing again: Coccidiosis affecting young calves, Bovine Veterinarian, June 7, 2017. Link. Cattle rabies is no laughing matter, Bovine Veterinarian, November 12, 2018. Link. Prime the pump, Bovine Veterinarian, April 22, 2019. Link. “Purple gut” in calves can … [Read more...]
Kitten Lady launches book, promotes kitten fostering
Hannah Shaw’s passion for fostering kittens spawned ongoing and time-saving video projects that caught the attention of kitten lovers on the internet. She added an Instagram profile and a YouTube page for potential kitten adopters, then discoveredthere was little information about fostering kittens available. Shaw realized that the animal advocacy world was missing a champion … [Read more...]
Teach dogs to be calm and collected on walks
Tonya Wilhelm adds yet another resource to retraining dogs to stop lunging and barking on walks. The key, she says, is to identify his triggers and re-rain him not to react to them. She offers six steps to help committed owners set their dog up for success and suggests a ways to establish a training protocol. Buy the right walking gear Provide healthy treats and small … [Read more...]
Commercial content from AAHA NEWStat
We captured recent commercially sponsored content below as featured in the newly reformatted AAHA NEWStat. Source: AAHA NEWStat. Link. Pet diabetes and the role of insulin pens, Merck Animal Health, 8/1/2019. Link. The evolution of pain management in pets brings better options for relief, CareCredit, 8/1/2019. Link. Pet owner compliance a barrier to heartworm … [Read more...]
The importance of county fairs
It is fair season. County fairs are a part of the livestock industry history. For some kids, the county fair may be the only show they participate in all summer. For others, it might be a stepping stone to state level contests or more. The common threads fair participants all share are lessons learned that include hard work, perseverance, sportsmanship, public speaking, animal … [Read more...]