Dogs in isolation are not happy, says Stephanie Borns-Weil, DVM. She shares three rules for improving the pairing of dogs: Generally speaking, don’t shoot for female-to-female.Activity similarity is more important than breed similarity .Similar age doesn’t matter as much as similar health status. Source: Dogster, February 2019. Link. . . . the new pet does need to be … [Read more...]
7 sales trends to help you dominate in your industry
John Hall has seen more change in sales recently than ever. He says shifts like AI technology and a rapidly declining sense of trust have made it incredibly important to stay educated about best practices and evolution in the way prospects buy. . . . unless you can piece everything together to see the big-picture changes that are underway, you’re going to have a hard time … [Read more...]
Find value in every customer (includes podcast)
Customer centricity is the current thinking about seeing customer value beyond their revenue potential. There are high-value customers, low-value one, and plenty who fall in the middle. But they all matter for businesses that want to make the most out of them say Wharton's Peter Fader and Sarah Toms. The authors discuss their new book, The Customer Centricity Playbook < link … [Read more...]
Pet statistics questioned
Pet ownership statistics vary between sources and methodologies. Karin Brulliard and Scott Clement review the challenges and discrepancies in the numbers from several sources. . . . a prominent survey shows a rise in pet ownership, three others suggest stability Source: Washington Post, January 31, 2019. Link. “For me, as an academic, I’m offended by the fact that … [Read more...]
Oral ulceration diagnosis needs proper etiology (slide show)
Jan Bellows, DVM, FAVD, DAVDC, DABVP, provides a comprehensive look at oral ulcers and a diagnostic flow chart to help with diagnosis. As National Pet Dental Health Month helps bring clients to veterinary hospitals, oral abnormalities may be discovered during exams. Oral ulcers have several causes ranging from physical trauma to malignancy and are characterized by a loss of … [Read more...]
Firm dental recommendations nearly tripled compliance
John Jeffreys, RVT, CVPM, < link> took the initiative to adjust how dental recommendations were being presented. By moving from low-pressure suggestions to a more needs-based dialogue, the practice grew dental revenue in a short time. . . . it is our job to educate the client and make a firm recommendation for what their pet needs. Source: DVM 360, January 10, 2019. … [Read more...]
Things to know about DMSO
Dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) in an industrial solvent turned anti-inflammatory therapy. It is approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for topical use on horses. However, veterinarians regularly use the chemical off-label in other ways to treat an array of inflammatory conditions from laminitis to neurological problems, writes Christine Barakat. She shares some history … [Read more...]
Engage cattle handling strategies that improve postweaning calf health
Whit Hibbard & Dawn Hnatow discuss working with postwean calves and teaching them to be manageable and happy. . . . in order for our calves to perform well and stay healthy, they not only need enough water, feed, rest, exercise and a comfortable environment, but they also need to be healthy emotionally. Source: Drovers, January 24, 2019. Link. Low-stress handlers … [Read more...]
Calf care videos now available online
Iowa State University Extension and Outreach and the University of Nebraska-Lincoln are making video resources available to provide training in calf management. The videos are available in English and Spanish and include: newborn calf carecolostrum managementanimal handlingautomatic calf feeder management hygiene and sanitation Source: Dairy Herd Management, January 25, … [Read more...]
Trick cows to calve in the daylight
Few cattle producers like to get out of bed to check the cows at 2:00 a.m. It’s cold and dark then. When late-day feeding is implemented, field studies and researchers all report 80 percent or more of cows calve in the daytime. . . . to have more cows and heifers calve in daylight hour, try to delay putting out hay and cubes until late in the day. . . The class of … [Read more...]
Opinion – Livestock producers still facing nuisance laws
As the noise increases about non-traditional-sourced 'meat' proteins, increasing pressure on source and production practices, the livestock industry remains under fire. Urban sprawl and the conversion of farm property to acreages encroach on buffer areas next to livestock production facilities. Iowa attorney Eldon McAfee says agricultural nuisance lawsuits in Iowa are … [Read more...]
Help educate clients about tick-borne diseases
The risks of tick-borne infections are worth noting and you don’t need to sell from a zoonotic risk standpoint to get the point across. Both dogs and humans can be sequentially or simultaneously infested with more than one tick species, according to Edward B. Breitschwerdt, DVM. He shares basic information that can help veterinary and retail teams address tick risks … [Read more...]
Cats need their claws
Research about the negative effects of declawing cats is becoming more widely known. All cats, even indoor cats, need their claws for balance, mobility, protection, grooming and gripping prey and objects. Studies show declawed cats often experience pain from remaining bone fragments; nail regrowth, reluctance to move or play, lameness and chronic pain. All of these factors … [Read more...]
Study: We’re finding new feline viruses faster than we can figure them out
The authors of a recent review in the Journal of Feline Medicine and Surgery < link > say, “the rate at which novel [or previously unknown] viruses are being discovered now exceeds our understanding of their clinical relevance.” (The researchers) also raised important questions because the potential pathogenic role of novel viruses can be difficult to … [Read more...]
7 secrets to choosing the best food for cats
Elizabeth Pask and Laura Scott discuss cat food secrets and present information for cat owners to help them make the best choices for their individual animal(s). Their topics cover: Tinned food versus dry foodRead the ingredient listWhat’s the deal with grain?Good fats vs. badFiber versus fillerAdd fresh foodsConsider your cat’s life stage and activity level Source: … [Read more...]
Stop buying grain-free pet food!
Grain-free dog food, accounted for 44 percent of pet food sold in specialty stores in 2017, according the New York Times. Along with pet foods that are vegan, organic, raw and you name it, consumers continue to increase spending on specialty pet food. However, veterinarians are concerned that grain-free diets pose health risks to dogs, especially if consumed long-term. FDA … [Read more...]
Rethinking osteoarthritis: findings from the 2019 VET Report
Successful management of osteoarthritis (OA) requires a multifaceted approach, according to findings in the 2019 Veterinary Emerging Topics (VET) Report from Banfield Pet Hospital. The report considers 3 areas of concern for pets with OA—weight gain, reduced mobility, and the progress of arthritic changes—and offers veterinarians a means to better manage and treat these … [Read more...]
Connecting buying style to clients
In a recent presentation about self-awareness and self-management, Betsy Charles, DVM, related self-awareness to dealing with animal owners’ choices. She shared perspectives about over buyers and under buyers at a recent conference. Self-awareness is the ability to accurately perceive your own emotions and stay aware of them as they happen and if you don’t know yourself … [Read more...]
Mind tricks keep us addicted to our phones (includes video)
Zip, whoosh, boink, Ta-dah, ding! Add red dots, alert boxes and brightly colored notices and our cell phones tinker with the habit-forming parts of our brains to keep us coming back to them. Nicole Bayes-Fleming explains how those trigger-action-reward systems are integrated in persuasive design to be habit-forming. The average person spends a combined total of one … [Read more...]
Manage flu in swine and you
Whether it’s the neighbor’s pot-bellied pig, the large swine operation nearby or your family, flu season is here, and we all need to pay attention. Since the 2009 H1N1 pandemic, research has been conducted to better understand human and pig influenza. Because flu viruses can be transmitted between pigs and people, biosecurity is important to prevent the spread of influenza from … [Read more...]
Good news for veterinary technicians
Enhancing the use of veterinary technicians was a core topic during the recent AVMA House of Delegates business meeting. Clearly the value of veterinary technicians is unquestioned. The consensus was that efforts need to be made across the profession to increase technician use and boost job satisfaction. Source: AVMA@work, January 25, 2019. Link. Additionally, the AVMA … [Read more...]
How to follow up with people after a conference
Dorie Clark provides a framework for structuring post-conference follow-up to increase chances that new connections turn into meaningful professional relationships. What matters is capturing the data and making a list of people you spoke with whose cards you didn’t obtain. Source: HBR Ascend, January 2019. Link. Most new relationships will fall into three categories, … [Read more...]
Test tube horses becoming more common
We found this article on intracytoplasmic sperm injection informative and the science discussed educational. It is remarkable how modern science is extending blood lines using both mares and stallions despite some medical impediments. Source: Ranch Horse Journal, January 2019. Link. The benefits to this are that you are able to breed a mare that has always been an … [Read more...]
Focus on what you can control
Clint Schwab* reminds swine producers to remember to let technology take a backseat to good old-fashioned execution. Regardless of individual species focus, any animal health pro will capture something useful in his article about human and animal resources and maximizing production. He discusses training, feed quality, biosecurity, breeding and stress reduction. . . . … [Read more...]
Researchers bust antimicrobial-resistance myth
It would seem logical to assume beef from cattle treated with antibiotics would carry more resistant bacteria than beef from “antibiotic-free” production systems. Testing this hypothesis researchers with the USDA’s Agricultural Research Service (ARS) have shown shows similar levels of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in ground beef raised with and without antibiotics. The … [Read more...]
Vegetarian-fed animals: Good marketing, bad for industry
Finding the right balance between science and marketing is an everyday challenge for animal health pros. Nutritionist Ioannis Mavromichalis, Ph.D., offers perspectives on why all-vegetable diets may not be best for animals or the animal protein industry: It’s not true to the consumerIt’s not true to the animalWhat about vitamin B12?Do not drive your customers to decide … [Read more...]
Beating procrastination can be tough
Researchers no longer consider procrastination as a basic time-management problem. They now view it as a complex and highly individual phenomena; a complicated failure of self-regulation. Experts define it as the voluntary delay of some important task that we intend to do, despite knowing that we'll suffer as a result. Source: Entrepreneur, January 21, 2019. Link.The … [Read more...]
2019 is going fast!
It may seem like we’re just getting started on 2019, yet 6.3 percent of the year has already passed as of this morning. 2019 offers us 251 working days, 104 weekend days and 10 public holidays. Twenty percent of the public holidays are behind us and we’ve already used eight weekend days. Source: Working days.US. Link. INSIGHTS: Planning and tracking progress … [Read more...]
The Bridge Club to honor Cavanaugh and Stephanus at WVC
Dr. Michael Cavanaugh, CEO of the American Animal Hospital Association, and Julia Stephanus, founder and president of Avviare, will be honored by The Bridge Club and be presented with a lifetime Bridge Club membership February 18th in Las Vegas, Nevada. The Bridge Club's ICON Series live event will take place during the Western Veterinary Conference and will take place from … [Read more...]
Make the best of networking events
The trade show season is in full swing. For animal health pros, networking is a common activity that accompanies trade show duties. Zack Friedman reminds us of things NOT to do when networking. Source: Forbes, January 15, 2019. Link. Make sure you don't do these 5 things at networking events: Give a hard copy of your resume to everyone you meetBrag about how amazing … [Read more...]