NAVC’s Spark team captured situational stories from veterinarians that reveal how laughable some situations become when dealing with people and their animals. You’ll find these enjoyable and worth a few minutes for some comic relief. Source: NAVC Spark, March 27, 2019. Link. INSIGHTS: Kudos to the Spark team for capturing the stories and the expressions as veterinarians … [Read more...]
7 strategies to manage a micro-manager
Micromanagement is a big driver of dissatisfaction and attrition in the workplace, writes Victor Prince. He typifies a micromanager as someone who focuses more on how you do a job than the results. He offers seven strategies to manage a micromanaging manager: Diagnose the situation Channel their energy Focus on the future Build trust through transparency Demand … [Read more...]
Dingoes are unique, Australian species, not feral dogs
The latest findings from a study published in Zootaxa provide further evidence of specific characteristics that differentiate dingoes from domestic dogs, feral dog, and other wild canids such as wolves. There is no historical evidence of domestication once the dingo arrived in Australia . . .” Source: Vet Practice Magazine, March 19, 2019. Link. “In fact, dingoes play a vital … [Read more...]
Quiz: Are you a cat at heart?
Just for fun, see if you have the personality of a cat. Tally your answers to five questions to determine what kind of cat personality you possess and what type of cat would be your best match! Source: Modern Cat, March 21, 2019. Link. Also see: Video: Cats Chasing Shadows! Link. Check out this funny compilation of cats playing with shadows! … [Read more...]
Explaining cat behavior problems and how to handle them
Cats, like us, have their good days and not-so-good days. Cat behavior problems almost always have an underlying cause, writes Angela Lutz. She identifies frequently seen cat behavior problems and offers ideas to handle them. Aggression toward humans or other cats Litter box problems Excessive vocalization Urine marking Source: Catster, March 13, 2019. … [Read more...]
8 tips for year-round dog paw health
Mother Nature designed dog paws to take a licking and keep on ticking, but they can still get cuts, scrapes, burns and frostbite, writes Marty Becker, DVM. He shares tips for optimal dog paw health year-round. Do a weekly dog paw check Watch out for burrs Do regular dog paw trims Keep dog paws dry Treat painful dog paw cracks Ban the burn Salt on dog paws also … [Read more...]
Labrador retriever most popular dog for 28th year
The American Kennel Club (AKC®) has announced that the loveable Lab remains the most popular breed in the United States. Additionally, AKC registration continues to expand for the sixth consecutive year. The dogs in the top 10 remained the same in positions one through eight. Yorkies and German Shorthaired Pointers flip-flopped their 2017 ranking in 2018. Source: … [Read more...]
Leadership abounds during March Madness
There is a reason only four of the 68 coaches in this year’s NCAA Division 1 tournament were once regular-season NBA team players. It is because coaching requires a different skill set AND mind-set than playing. Source: Purpose Unlimited. Link. Great leaders model the behavior they expect from their followers. . . . A great leader invests in others and they in turn … [Read more...]
It’s spring. Clear the clutter.
“When our space is a mess, so are we,” writes Libby Sander. Her research and that of others has shown that our physical environments significantly influence our cognition, emotions and behavior, affecting our decision-making and relationships with others. Cluttered spaces can have negative effects on our stress and anxiety levels, as well as our ability to focus, our eating … [Read more...]
Flooding could surpass 1993, 2011
Most of the country is expected to experience above-average precipitation this spring, increasing the flood risk. According to NOAA’s U.S. Spring Outlook issued March 21, nearly two-thirds of the lower 48 states face an elevated risk for flooding through May, with the potential for major or moderate flooding in 25 states. Source: BEEF, March 21, 2019. Link. … [Read more...]
Data breaches are inevitable – protect yourself
There are some simple ways to protect your personal data that can still be effective, say W. D. Salisbury and Rusty Baldwin. They involve changing how you think about your own information security: specifically, assuming you are a target and thinking defensively about how you can protect yourself. In terms of online data, the most important information to protect is … [Read more...]
Is this fish sick? (image gallery)
Colin McDermott, VMD, offers a visual guide to recognizing several types of fish diseases. Veterinary care is often complicated by owners missing early signs of illness and seeking veterinary care later in the course of disease. Many diseases of fish are subtle until the infection or pathologic process is more advanced. Source: Clinician’s Brief, December 2018. … [Read more...]
AQHA launches microchip pilot project (includes video)
While more than 20,000 horses in the AQHA database have microchip IDs on their records, this represents only about half of one percent of the live population of American Quarter Horses. Microchipping allows for permanent identification of horses in commercial and sporting environments, as well as in lost animal recoveries during natural disasters and theft. Source: AQHA, … [Read more...]
CAPC initiative aims to spread heartworm awareness, action
The Companion Animal Parasite Council (CAPC) now offers the Top 10 Cities Heartworm Report, a monthly compilation of the U.S. metropolitan areas that have experienced the highest percent increases in positive heartworm tests that month. The group <link> expects this new report, in conjunction with its monthly parasite forecast maps < link >, will spark conversations in … [Read more...]
Upcoming events at The Bridge Club
Taking advantage of internet video tools, The Bridge Club virtual community continues to engage professionals in conversations. Co-founder Brenda Andresen references the learning experiences and professional nuggets she and founding partner Catherine Haskins capture with each live event. The Bridge Club was featured in a recent article in Vet Advantage as the team prepared for … [Read more...]
Myths and facts about strangles, Strep equii
Many horse owners don’t understand strangles, says Reese Hand, DVM. Strangles is an infection of the upper respiratory tract caused by the bacteria Streptococcus equi, and spreads predominately by nose-to-nose contact. It is sometimes known as equine distemper. Source: Western Horseman, September 2014. Link. While strangles is easily treatable and rarely fatal, … [Read more...]
A technique every horse owner needs to know (includes video)
Horse owners young and old need to know how to remove a shoe from a horse’s hoof, says farrier Lee Olsen. He shows the best way to complete this task in a video. Consider this video for social media posts, e-newsletters and in training classes for horse owners. Source: Western Horseman, February 1, 2019. Link. … [Read more...]
Time change has many dragging
Moving our clocks in either direction changes the principal time cue (light) for setting and resetting our 24-hour natural cycle, or circadian rhythm. In doing so, our internal clock becomes out of sync or mismatched with our current day-night cycle. A rule of thumb is that it takes about one day to adjust for each hour of time change, but this varies by individual. If you … [Read more...]
Comparing meat and poultry cash prices
If your grocery expenses seem to be increasing, a current year compared to last year cash price review may be enlightening. Perhaps packaged goods are hitting your budgets harder than food animal products. Source: Feedstuffs, February 28, 2019. Link. … [Read more...]
Bragging rights: Top veterinary universities
Rankings prepared by Quacquarelli Symonds ranks The University of California – Davis in the number 2 spot globally for 2019. The ranking makes it the top-ranked veterinary university in the United States. Eleven North American schools are ranked in the top 25 as shown below: University of California – Davis (#2)Cornell University (#5)University of Guelph (#7)The Ohio … [Read more...]
Corrections
Two posts did not link properly in the February 28 AHD Bulletin. They are: Work on yourself first, to improve your team <link>Rushing heifers to calve diminishes lifetime value <link> Source: Animal Health Digest Bulletin, February 28, 2019. Link. … [Read more...]
Stress is your brain trying to avoid something
Tom Kelley discusses stress, where it comes from and how it works. Stress is frequently a negative emotion, which functions from our motivational system. He describes two motivational system subcomponents that lead to distinct sets of emotions. Source: HBR Ascend, February 23, 2019. Link. Once you understand how stress works, you can begin to take steps to deal with it, so … [Read more...]
Six tips for the hiring process (Video)
Marian Rowland, BS, CVPM, discusses six tips in an informative video that have improved her hiring practices. Source: VHMA, February 22, 2019. Link. Rowland shares the following six main tips: Create a hiring process and follow itDon’t rushUse your core valuesUse a training program from the ground upLook over staff benefit percentageBe open to changing your hiring process … [Read more...]
Ranch level biosecurity goes beyond vaccination
Keeping diseases at bay requires a lot more than a good vaccination program, writes Caitlin Hebbert. She presents biosecurity beyond BQA requirements and engages Stephen Collett to describe a hierarchy of three levels of biosecurity: Conceptual StructuralProcedural Source: BEEF, February 19, 2019, page 48. Link. Be proactive. A little caution and awareness when it … [Read more...]
Encouraging horses to drink
We’ve all heard the adage, “you can lead a horse to water, but you can’t make him drink.” While possibly true, the authors suggest the following to help a horse drink water: Make sure the horse can access clean water at all timesGive him some spaceTry electrolytes Source: EQUUS, February 15, 2019. Link. INSIGHTS: Horses need water in winter, too. Be sure to keep water … [Read more...]
Scottish terrier placed on at watch list
The Kennel Club has officially marked Scottish terriers at risk of disappearing. Last year an all-time low of 438 Scottish terrier pups were registered with the dog breeds organization, a decline of 38 per cent over the last five years. Source: iNEws, February 24, 2019. Link. There are now a record-breaking 29 native vulnerable breeds and nine that are at watch, which … [Read more...]
Do dogs get headaches?
Giz Asks reached out to experts in canine medicine and behavior to find out. There was not general agreement on the answer, but it appears that a majority of the five DVMs interviewed believe dogs can get headaches. Source: GIZMODO, February 25, 2019. Link. Dogs with brain tumors tend to push their head against walls and furniture as though their head hurts, and anti- … [Read more...]
Pet King Brands turns 20
Pet King Brands, Inc., celebrates 20 years in business this year. The company makes Zymox skin care and Oratene brushless oral care products. In addition, Debra Decker joins the company as marketing chief and Michaela Kosmis becomes veterinary channel manager. Source: Today’s Veterinary Business, February 2019. Link. Zymox and Oratene are sold through veterinarian practices, … [Read more...]
Avoid poisonous plants for goats
Goats eat everything, right? Apparently not. Knowing what to feed goats involves education. Katherine Drovdahl reviews toxic plants and acknowledges there is not a comprehensive list of toxic or poisonous plants for goats. Even good plants can develop into a dangerous toxic condition called enterotoxemia if goats overeat on any plant they are not used to Source: … [Read more...]
Acute feline urethral obstruction – a quiz
Test your blocked cat management skills with this interactive quiz. After reviewing the case information see how you score on which drugs are appropriate for the patient. Source: Clinician’s Brief, October 2018. Link. INSIGHTS: Quizzes like this are popular with animal health pros. They make great team meeting or lunch topics to reinforce knowledge and discuss choices … [Read more...]