This report confirms much of what we suspected. The cost of veterinary care ranked as the number-1 perceived pet ownership expense or that two-thirds of Americans say vet care costs directly influence their decision to adopt a pet. Three of the top five barriers to pet adoption are financial reasons: veterinary care, the initial cost of the pet and ongoing pet food expense. … [Read more...]
Ken Coleman on Chewy and recurring moments (video)
In this Instagram video, Ken Coleman discusses how Chewy’s recurring moments strategy secures customer retention. He asserts the strategy is there for any business to execute. Source: Ken Coleman, Instagram. Link. INSIGHTS: Consider sharing this ahead of a team meeting and then identify three recurring moments and how to act on them every time for a designated period. … [Read more...]
The best defense against rats and leptospirosis is a good trash can
The scene? Urban Boston where One Health researchers sought to better understand the risks from leptospirosis. Rats, being typically asymptomatic carriers of leptospirosis, can be an important source of exposure to humans (and pets) in urban environments. Since the organism is shed in the urine, common methods of exposure include direct contact with rat urine or with … [Read more...]
The ABCs of dog blood work: What the results really mean
It is common when reviewing articles on client feedback for pet owners to express confusion about test results and to indicate veterinary teams sometimes don’t take time to explain the results. In this article from AAHA’s Your Pet, blood work results are explained in the context of helping pet owners understand the numbers, their importance and why doing bloodwork is part of … [Read more...]
It’s (past) time to rethink gun use when handling cattle (video)
Trey Patterson shared 2022 National Beef Quality Audit data that revealed a significant problem: 100 percent of non-fed slaughter plants reported finding foreign objects in beef, with half experiencing customer complaints about items like shotgun pellets. This is an all-cattle issue happening predominantly in the production phase, whether it be cattle gathering techniques or … [Read more...]
Dairy calf production practices offer insights to beef calf producers
Comparing the management approaches between beef and dairy calves, Kansas State University experts revealed opportunities for beef calf producers to learn from how dairy calves are raised. Regardless of the production system, early digestive development is key to future performance, shared Billy Brown, MS. “Whether a calf is on pasture or in a hutch, getting the rumen … [Read more...]
Proposition 129: One year later
Join the conversation. Membership not required. It’s time to explore what has transpired since Colorado passed Proposition 19, what lies ahead, and what it ultimately means for veterinary medicine. Source: The Bridge Club. Join the virtual conversation here: Link. … [Read more...]
Counting calories for cats
Includes commercial links Sources have indicated that today’s cat owners are more invested in their cats’ health, including seeking out resources like this article. BtoC content like this does affect pet owner perceptions between clinic visits. Consider sharing this article in newsletters, on social media or directly with specific pet owners to set up the discussions … [Read more...]
Buzz off! Deer flies irritate horses and pester riders, too!
Gina Fortunato, MBA, shared a recent horse riding experience with disruptive, biting deer flies that aggravated her horse despite fly shields. She shares her experience and some facts about deer flies, including feedback horse owners offered via social media. Gina (right) and a friend are pictured with their horses. Source: Gina Fortunato, Animal Health Digest, July 28, … [Read more...]
The stares we can’t ignore
The “Gen Z stare,” a long, blank and expressionless stare in a variety of social situations is getting a lot of attention. Bryan Robinson, PhD, shares some of the reasons this may be occurring with these digital natives. He advises leaders to move beyond snap judgments to look closely at how they interpret employee behavior. Wanting mentorship versus micromanagement, Gen Zs … [Read more...]
How influencer marketing lost its edge
Commentary Influencer marketing, Chris Gadek explains, is an unintended consequence of the social media revolution. For those of us entrenched in the sales and marketing spaces before 2000, influencer marketing had long been associated with branding efforts and endorsement-styled adverts. Still, Gadek’s assertions about what constitutes an advert and influencer fatigue are … [Read more...]
Difficult customers
Sometimes there are customers you cannot seem to please, no matter how hard you try. You know the type; the folks who never seem satisfied even when they get exactly what they ask for. Source: Veterinary Advantage, August 2023. Link. Every successful conversation is a give-and-take between two or more people . . . Showing respect when respect has not been received sounds … [Read more...]
Hunter ticks and pathogen transmission variables
The quest to better understand ticks continues. We shared longhorned tick information in the July 17 AHD Bulletin <Link>. Speaking at the AVMA conference last week, Susan E. Little, DVM, PhD, DACVM, shared a range of tactics that affect how quickly ticks can spread disease. The overview differentiates the methods tick species use to find a host and factors that influence … [Read more...]
Decoding pet insurance: Navigating policies and client questions (podcast)
Confused about pet insurance? You are not alone, and veterinary clients probably are, too. In this podcast, Jennifer Sperry, DVM, breaks down key differences between accident, illness, and wellness policies. She demystifies deductibles and highlights what veterinary professionals need to know when talking with pet owners. Although recommending specific policies … [Read more...]
Mud therapy shows potential for canine osteoarthritis, skin and coat health
Clean-up in treatment room 3! It’s hard to imagine the time and energy it takes to provide mud therapy for pets, but some veterinary teams are finding mud therapy to be effective. This article explains the potential, focusing on avoiding treatments for OA and skin conditions where Rx therapies have side effects. Source: Innovative Veterinary Care, June 16, 2025. Link. Mud … [Read more...]
Enteroliths in horses: Causes and prevention
Enteroliths develop when mineral deposits form in concentric layers around a central nidus, such as a piece of wire, small stone, twine or other foreign body in the large colon, writes Alicia Long, DVM, Dipl. ACVIM, Dipl. ACVECC. She shares what is known and what is not known about these strange rocks that form and could weigh up to nine pounds*. Each article here discusses … [Read more...]
Calving difficulty and earlier age at first calving reduce milk yield
Commentary Production research and measurements are tedious and fascinating. Research often allows producers to fine-tune their animal management processes to optimize production and animal welfare. With a little help from veterinarians and animal health pros, dairy producers will appreciate learning about the research shared here. Two takeaways stand out. Heifers … [Read more...]
Worth a Glance – July 23, 2025
Last week’s AHD Bulletin – Animal Health Digest Bulletin, July 17, 2025. Link. Most read posts from July 17, 2025 AHD Bulletin – ½ of moms in sandwich generation left jobs due to caregiving roles. Link. Above all else, Integrity. Link. Longhorned ticks here to stay. Let’s review. Link. Applying the kitten checklist. Link. Cat panting. A concern or not? … [Read more...]
IMPORTANT! Animal health references missing in World Health Organization’s pandemic agreement
Viruses jumping from animals to humans are increasing around five percent annually, meaning these pathogens are forecast to cause four times the number of spillover events in 2050 than in 2020, according to article authors Carel du Marchie Sarvaas and John de Jong. Zoonotic disease incidence represents 60 percent of infectious diseases in humans. Although much of the world … [Read more...]
2nd Catalyst report exposes emotional, operational barriers to $20 billion feline opportunity
The Feline Market Insights Report Volume II goes beyond market sizing to deliver actionable insights to veterinary and business stakeholders on the emotional, behavioral and operational forces shaping the future of feline care. The results identify the demand for feline care is there and important. But, many veterinarians are not adequately prepared to address the unique needs … [Read more...]
Tips for preventing ear infections in dogs after swimming
A summer outing at the lake or beach is fun for pets and their people. Many dogs enjoy swimming in backyard pools as well. But those romps often result in swimmer’s ear problems or otitis externa. This Dogster article shares the importance of getting dogs’ ears dry and protected from potential infections. It also offers tips on avoiding infections caused by swimming. Source: … [Read more...]
Applying the kitten checklist
There is a lot of information to share with first-time and repeat kitten clients. As our industry seeks to engage and service more cats, the best overall opportunities exist when starting with kittens. The kitten-specific talking points shared in this article are taken from the 2021 AAHA/AAFP Feline Life Stage Guidelines. Practice owners and managers need to consider … [Read more...]
Scientists discover what’s driving record die-offs of U.S. honeybees
Researchers believe a bee virus spread by Varroa mites’ resistance to amitraz is likely a main contributor to startling honeybee losses. Other factors, such as less food in the form of pollen and nectar as monocrop farming proliferates, are also indicated. Many U.S. beekeepers now expect to lose 30 percent of their colonies or more every year. Source: The Guardian, July 8, … [Read more...]
Dairy industry’s “efficient” calf feeding gospel is flawed logic and costly to future profits
This Bullvine article challenges long-held beliefs about early calf feeding and how changes to the approach in the first 60 days make a significant long-term gain in lifetime revenue. The audio discussion is helpful to understand the various benefits from the article. Modern genetics and strategic nutrition can cut feed costs by $251 per cow.” Source: The Bullvine, July 6, … [Read more...]
Rural versus well water: What’s the impact on nursery pig performance?
Pipestone researchers found striking differences between rural and well water when used in pig nurseries. The use of rural water resulted in better health outcomes and more efficient growth. Pigs on rural water showed a 5 percent higher full-value rate and had a mortality rate of just 2.3 percent, compared to a 6 percent mortality rate in the group on well water. Source: … [Read more...]
Texas flash floods add to growing disasters list, concerns
Commentary We should appreciate the people working to secure lives and property in Texas following the rampant flooding of the Guadalope River. Opportunists may use events like this to advance agendas on global warming or budget cuts. Instead, we were moved to consider the cumulative effect of disasters and the resulting economic burdens on the individuals and businesses … [Read more...]
Stop PI calves before they start: 2 key tips
Commentary and Sponsored Content PI calves are animals that become infected with bovine viral diarrhea virus in utero. For more than 40 years, our industry has worked to reduce or eliminate BVDV. Wayne Bechtel’s article shared here is a stark reminder that animal health pros must keep working to educate every producer on the importance of biosecurity and proper … [Read more...]
Day-old calf nonnegotiables
We know colostrum is the key to healthy calves and quality makes a difference. Kimberly Egan and Catherine Thrasher stress the importance of nonnegotiable protocols essential for ensuring effective colostrum handling and for getting calves off to a healthy start. They share their top five non-negotiables in this article: Follow proper cleaning and drying protocols … [Read more...]
Here are the 40 least obedient dog breeds
Agree or disagree, at minimum, the approach to develop this list is interesting and may be revealing to some. Sharing the list internally, on social media and in newsletters might help a pet owner decide on a second or replacement dog. A December 2024 study published in the Journal of Veterinary Behavior found that a staggering 99 percent of dogs in the U.S. have a behavior … [Read more...]
The feline factor: gaps, opportunities and paradigm shifts
Commentary: article includes commercial references If you skimmed Graham Garrison’s article and you believe in helping develop the feline veterinary business, it is worth another read or two. This would be a fun article to discuss and workshop with a veterinary team. It’s more than a 10-minute read, so we asked CoPilot to create a summary page as an experiment. Source: … [Read more...]