Barry Bradford with Kansas State University presented new information from his study of immunometabolism at the American Society of Animal Scientists in July. He researched inflammatory responses during times of stress, especially those that impact on liver health. The interactions between normal organ function and the immune system are becoming much tighter than we used to … [Read more...]
The Bridge Club LIVE at NAVC E-Summit, plus Feline Health Week
E-Summit speakers, organizers and attendees are invited to join Bridge Club members for networking and discussion, accompanied by a nightcap at Rieger Distillery. The meet-up will take place Tuesday, September 17, from 8:30 to 10:30 p.m. CDT. To register < click here >. The Bridge Club will recognize Feline Health Week September 23 through 27. Virtual events are … [Read more...]
VHMA to gather in Arizona (includes video)
Veterinary hospital managers will meet in Glendale, Arizona, for the 2019 VHMA Annual Meeting and Conference, September 26 through 28. The theme, Embracing the Future of Veterinary Management, will focus on education, innovation and technology. VHMA 2019...it's all about embracing the future of best practices to ensure that individuals and practices thrive. < video link … [Read more...]
Top 10 cities for heartworm disease; July results
Animal health pros will find a couple of unexpected cities in this the top 10 report. The evidence is clear. Heartworm is spreading. The top 10 list summarizes the metro areas across the United States that experienced the greatest percentage increase in positive parasitic disease tests during the month. They are: Moreno Valley, CA Washington, DC Newark, NJ … [Read more...]
Opinion – Pharmaceutical industry ranks poorly in Gallup poll
OUCH! . . . The pharmaceutical industry has hit a new low. It now ranks last of the 25 industry sectors Gallup tests annually. Source: Gallup, September 3, 2019. Link. Americans are more than twice as likely to rate the pharmaceutical industry negatively (58%) as positively (27%), giving pharma a net-positive score (-31). Joining it in the net-positive negative numbers are: … [Read more...]
Discussing what “ethical” and “unethical” look like
It’s a slippery slope when you begin to rationalize actions and tell yourself and others, “This is an exceptional situation,” or, “We have to bend the rules a little to get things done here,” writes Merete Wedell-Wedellsborg. No matter how principled you are, you must recognize that, over time, the bearings of your moral compass will shift toward the culture of your … [Read more...]
E-Commerce Summit features speakers from Chewy, Nestle-Purina
Ornel Cotera from Chewy and Thomas Schwarztrauber from Nestlé Purina North America lead a list of speakers that highlight the value of the E-Commerce Summit that will take place September 17 and 18 in Kansas City, MO. The summit is designed for senior executives, national account and channel teams from animal health manufacturers, distributors, hospital consolidators and … [Read more...]
Hand-written notes make customers feel good
Re-evaluate marketing methods and consider some tactics that will genuinely connect with target audiences and create long-lasting customer relationships, advises Anaita Sarkar. Despite successes in customer engagement using social media, she believes in implementing strategies that make customers feel valued and more than just a cog in a big wheel. Source: SmartCompany, … [Read more...]
Pee mail tells all
Urine tells dogs much of what they need to know about each other. These two articles share the whys and hows dogs mark their spots. Things they can learn from marked spots include: The sex of the dog who left the urine and whether they are spayed or neutered. The health or illness status of the dog that urinated in that spot. The stress level of the dog that was in … [Read more...]
Veterinary telemedicine is a sticky legal wicket
Christopher J. Allen, DVM, JD, discusses the challenges of using non-face-to-face interactions in veterinary medicine. He calls the various segments of teledoctors a confusing jungle of legal fact, opinion and outright speculation. For each segment, primary concerns fall into three general categories: 1) malpractice liability, 2) licensing and 3) criminal … [Read more...]
Zoonotic diseases drive One Health approach
Seventy five percent of emerging infectious diseases of people are zoonotic, or originated with animals according to the CDC. John Maday reminds us that these diseases can pose a health risk to farm workers through animal contact, and potentially to the public overall, either through contact with animals or disease vectors such as mosquitos or ticks, or through contaminated … [Read more...]
Calming noise-phobic dogs
Sally J. Foote, DVM, provides a storm sangria for dealing with noise-phobic dogs. It is a metaphor and process for an intervention that includes both appropriate medications and safe-room training. The result can help anxious veterinary patients experience a measure of peace during thunderstorms and other noisy events. Foote says triggers present hours before a storm … [Read more...]
Stop being complacent about Equine West Nile virus
Horses and humans are dead-end hosts for West Nile virus. In spite of the availability of effective vaccines, 2018 saw a rebound in the number of reported equine cases; the highest since 2012. The peak season for infection is late September to October, but it can occur any time mosquitoes are present. Source: Veterinary Medicine, August 3, 2019. Link. It’s up to … [Read more...]
Pet owners still still clueless about heartworm prevention
A small, Florida-based questionnaire exposes the relatively poor understanding owners may have of the biology and risks for heartworm transmission. Claiming veterinarians as their primary source for information about heartworm, respondents did not realize that yard vessels capable of holding water also serve as mosquito-breeding sites. . . . only 61% of dog-owning and 18% of … [Read more...]
New product awards showcased at SuperZoo by WPA
Revamping the New Product Showcase Award categories, the WPA named a winner in each of seven categories: Innovative (never-before-seen solutions) Lifestyle (products designed to improve pets’ health and well-being) Shelf Appeal (packaging that stands out and clearly conveys the product’s benefits) Point of Purchase (in-store displays that grab shoppers’ … [Read more...]
Billions being spent on convenience services, including pets
Americans love convenience services. A recent Finder.com survey shows a massive increase in spending across convenience categories. Although fewer reported spending on pet services, 29 percent of Americans spent $50.8 billion per year on pet services such as dog walking and grooming. This averages $703 per person, according to survey findings. Source: Pet Product News, … [Read more...]
NRF finds consumers expect innovation from retailers
Katie Jordan shares results from a National Retail Federation survey of consumers to better understand their expectations about technology, and what they hope to see in the future. She says it’s important to note which shopping technologies customers value. . . . more than three out of five consumers feel retail technologies have improved their shopping experiences . . . when … [Read more...]
KC hosts a who’s who of animal health pros
More than 1,000 people networked and celebrated during the 14th annual 2019 KC Animal Health Corridor Homecoming last Monday. Animal health leaders were challenged to consider the importance of their companys’ corporate souls. Attendees recognized Linda Rhodes, VMD, PhD, with the Iron Paw Award < link > for her contributions to our industry. New Horizon Ranch < link … [Read more...]
When dentals cause back pain (includes video)
Dental procedures can place extensive stress and strain on the bodies and minds of veterinary team members. These may lead to musculoskeletal disorders and chronic pain. Poor posture and improper ergonomics cause repetitive strains that begin with nerve compression and inflammation. Over time they manifest trauma with accompanying aches, pains and fatigue. Veterinarians and … [Read more...]
The search for the ideal starter stem cell
Stem cell therapies continue to advance. The holy grail, however, is to be able to regenerate failing organs and tissues. Tobias Deuse, MD, and his research group believe they now know why some transplanted cells are rejected. He believes the solution is to engineer stem cells lacking any immune features. Source: The Conversation, August 19, 2019. Link. INSIGHTS: Animal … [Read more...]
A horse is like a bar of soap; examining hyaluronic acid data
Practicing evidence-based veterinary medicine is all well and good when the evidence is clear-cut, but the data on use of hyaluronic acid in horses are often ambiguous. Emma Adam, DVM, discusses the research, methods and challenges of managing cartilage health in equine joints. She wrestles with the data and implications of using corticosteroids, hyaluronic acid and … [Read more...]
Fall foliage toxic to some animals (includes video)
Autumn is nigh. While fall foliage is popular, the science behind the leaves changing color isn’t widely known and often misrepresented. For some animals, fall leaves can be toxic as they break down. Source: Smithsonian, August 14, 2019. Link. Owen Reiser’s time lapse video depicts the pigments within the plant matter as they break down and transform from green to color. . … [Read more...]
Strategic deworming important to cattle management
“Controlling parasites is a proven practice to improve performance in all stages of cattle production while also giving a significant return on investment,” says Boehringer Ingelheim’s Joe Gillespie, DVM. He reinforces the importance of understanding parasite life cycles and strategic treatment to improve cattle performance in all stages of production. Source: Feedstuffs, … [Read more...]
Temperature-humidity index heavily affects dairies
Research from dairy scientist Sha Tao reveals two important takeaways about the negative impact of heat stress on milking cows and growth performance in dairy calves: When cows are exposed to a temperature-humidity index above 68, milk production levels begin to decrease Feeding large amounts of milk replacer twice per day, may not be a valid option to improve calf … [Read more...]
Back to basics: air, water, feed
Jon DeJong, PhD, reminds us that pigs have three basic needs: feed, water and air. These apply universally to all types of livestock and pets. These basics have not been firmly imprinted in some animal owners. One or more may go unnoticed. Source: PORK, August 13, 2019. Link. Also see: Follow these tips to succeed as a newbie pet parent, Inside Pet’s World, August 7, … [Read more...]
Age not a factor with dog owners trying newer dog food brands
EVERYONE tries new pet food brands summarizes the findings presented in this article. Marketing towards a specific pet owner age group may reduce a campaign’s effectiveness, according to research published in the Journal of Retailing and Consumer Services. The key message is to not target narrowly and that brands should sell to all buyers of the category.” - Peilin … [Read more...]
E-Commerce Summit reconvenes in KC
Following the success of its 2018 inaugural gathering, NAVC Media will host the second annual E-Commerce Summit at The Westin Crown Center in Kansas City, Missouri, September 17-18, 2019. The dynamic two-day conference will focus on changing consumer dynamics, retail trends, blending channels, emerging care models and best practices affecting business strategy. Source: … [Read more...]
Opinion – Transforming business; what and why
Animal health businesses have traditionally grown with a more-better-faster mindset. We’ve integrated computer, telephone and internet advancements to extend existing brick and mortar platforms. Now, a new generation of boundary-breaking entrepreneurs are following disruptive models that turn the way we traditionally ran businesses on its head, writes Rebecca Livesey. They … [Read more...]
Beyond heartworm treatment fundamentals
The American Heartworm Society offers heartworm disease treatment guidelines that consist of combination therapy with melarsomine, doxycycline and a macrocyclic lactone. Brian Herrin, DVM, PhD, recently shared treatment tactics recommended by veterinary experts and gave an overview of less extensive and less expensive alternatives. Source: Veterinary Medicine, July 26, 2019. … [Read more...]
3 economic trends affecting veterinary clinics (video)
Matt Salois, AVMA chief economist, reviews economic issues that challenge the veterinary profession. He offers perspective on three trends for veterinary hospitals, teams and owners: • Increasing demand for veterinary services • More pets, higher prices, but fewer visits • Increases in debt to future income ratios for graduating veterinarians Source: NAVC SPARK, August … [Read more...]