The “Outbreak: Epidemics in a Connected World” exhibit <link> in the Smithsonian Museum of Natural History explains the perfect storm that we’ve brought upon ourselves: The more of the planet humans take over, the more we inadvertently make it a viral paradise, and a dangerous place for us to live. The exhibit shows that our vulnerability to viral infection depends on … [Read more...]
Ticked off: America’s quiet epidemic of tickborne diseases
Animal owners are becoming more aware of their own risks in addition to their animals’ when it comes to ticks and mosquitoes. Sharing this article may help animal owners understand the need for prevention for themselves as well as their animals. Source: Harvard Health Publishing, May 25, 2018. Link. If infections spread by ticks have increased steadily, infections spread by … [Read more...]
Don’t break the chain, the science behind lasting change
Do you remember your New Year’s resolution? Did you keep it? Aytekin Tank writes about how to keep your changes moving forward. He quotes what Jerry Seinfeld once said about his writing work. “Don’t break the chain.” “He said for each day that I do my task of writing, I get to put a big red X over that day. After a few days you’ll have a chain. Just keep at it and the chain … [Read more...]
Opinion: Generation Z; Chasing butterflies
If you spent any time trying to understand millennials, then this article series will bring perspective about the next generation, Gen Z. The series focuses on brand practitioners, but since each of us manages our own brand, some of the information applies to every animal health pro. The authors compare Gen Z metaphorically to a butterfly. Some are in a state of metamorphosis … [Read more...]
Sponsored Content – Pinkeye cofactors reprint
We recently posted a Progressive Dairyman article discussing pinkeye in terms of primary and co-factor infections. Link. The article featured the experiences of Bruce Addison and Austin Springer with Addison Biological Laboratories. it is now available as a one-page reprint that makes it handy to share with beef and dairy producers. Source: Addison Biological Laboratories. … [Read more...]
Common skin masses in veterinary patients (image gallery)
The phrase "one look is worth a thousand words" is attributed to Frederick R. Barnard. Link. Elizabeth R. May, DVM, DACVD, presents an image gallery of skin masses that proves the old idiom, “a picture is worth 1,000 words.” She prefaces her comments with the following: Although most skin tumors encountered in veterinary patients are benign, malignant tumor types do occur. … [Read more...]
Canine flu risks affected by lifestyle
Southwest Airlines’ tagline, “You’re now free to move about the country,” may represent the reality of canine influenza risks. Catherine Ashe, DVM, shares her perspectives on diagnosing, testing, treatment, transmission and vaccine decisions. She reinforces the AVMA’s lifestyle vaccination designations. Source: Whole Dog Journal, July 2018. Link. Overall, while canine … [Read more...]
Have dog, will travel
To help veterinary professionals protect the health of their patients and their pet communities, the American Heartworm Society (AHS) and the Association of Shelter Veterinarians (ASV) have formulated evidence-based best practices for minimizing transmission of heartworms in relocated dogs, according to Karen S Walsh, LVMT, CFE, CAWA. These recommendations apply regardless of … [Read more...]
Vacation – just do it
Right now is a good time to plan some well-deserved time away from the office. The team at the Muse pulled together some vacation-related articles to help you get ready for time off—and even return to work feeling relaxed, recharged, and ready to tackle anything. Source: The Muse, June 21, 2018. 6 really good reasons you should stop what you're doing and plan a vacation. … [Read more...]
Marty Becker, DVM, speaks to fireworks fears
Medication has its place, but it’s not the only tool I recommend to help pets cope with this noisy and often frightening time of year. Here are the tips I recommend to my patients’ owners, and use on my own fearful dog: Get outta town Create a pet cave Strike up the band Hug the fears away Take a chill pill Something in the air Get out the big … [Read more...]
Email is stressful, but not that time consuming
A recent study showed the average professional spends 4.1 hours per day responding to work messages, says Dorie Clark, who undertook a project to determine why email seemed so burdensome. She shares three important lessons learned from the process, which may be valuable as you think about how to make the time you spend on email more efficient: Each “yes” leads to more … [Read more...]
July 2018, Journal of Dairy Science
One of the easiest ways to stay in touch with dairy research is by skimming the Interpretive Summaries section. We’ve linked that section for you. Here are some interesting studies: A role for serotonin in lactation physiology—Where do we go from here?, Link. Comparison of adhesion characteristics of common dairy spore formers and their spores on stainless steel and … [Read more...]
30-year milestone for World Pork Expo in the books
“It’s hard to believe Expo has been around for 30 years,” says Jim Heimerl, NPPC president and producer from Johnstown, Ohio. “Just as the U.S. pork industry has evolved over the years, so too has Expo.” In search of new ideas and solutions for today and tomorrow, more than 20,000 producers, employees and industry professionals attended the 2018 World Pork Expo. Among the … [Read more...]
Beef business is marathon, not sprint
BEEF’s annual State of the Industry survey shows that while short- and long-term optimism have diminished, most respondents accept the roller coaster challenges of raising beef. Source: BEEF, June 2018., page 8. Link. When analyzing the responses to the short-term and long-term questions, it becomes a glass-half-full outlook versus a glass-half-empty worldview. Indeed, how … [Read more...]
The Bridge Club to launch ICON Series
Expanding on its video-based community platform and live event strategy, The Bridge Club will launch the first event of a new ICON series during the AVMA Convention in Denver. The ICON event, featuring honoree Kristen Peck of Zoetis, will take place July 16, 2018. Advance ticket purchase and registration are required. Tickets are available now. <Ticket Link> Source: … [Read more...]
Understand why cats fight to stop fights
At least 55 percent of cat homes in the U.S. are multi-cat homes. So, it is no wonder that cat fights occur. A cat fight is actually a natural behavior, and the key to get cat fighting to stop is to understand why the cats are fighting in the first place. How cat owners handle the fighting can determine lack of trust and aggressiveness vs. harmony. Source: Catster, June … [Read more...]
A guide to pets’ body language
Dogs and cats display common non-verbal gestures and postures. This article provides a downloadable, pictorial guide to help animal owners understand what a pet is trying to convey. Source: American Lifestyle, April 1, 2016. Link. Canines are usually very expressive, but their messages can get lost in translation. Felines can be a bit more mysterious with their body … [Read more...]
AAHA recognizes 2018 veterinary students for excellence in primary care
AAHA has announced the 2018 recipients of the AAHA Awards for Proficiency in Primary Care. Our team at Animal Health Digest congratulates these students who have shown outstanding clinical proficiency in primary care. Source: AAHA. June 19, 2018. Link. “Primary care is the foundation of excellent veterinary medicine. The AAHA Awards for Proficiency in Primary Care … [Read more...]
Veterinary professionals share concerns in Veterinary Confessionals Project
The Veterinary Confessionals Project (Link) allows veterinary professionals to express themselves freely, without being judged, and encourages creativity and solidarity within the veterinary community. The DVM 360 staff assembled some of the secrets veterinarians and team members have shared via the project. Sometimes I feel like a way better vet than a mom or wife. :( Most … [Read more...]
Lead with medicine, not money
Naomi Strollo, RVT, addresses money in the veterinary hospital. She says it is important to lead with medicine and then empower your client service representative to manage some cost conversations. She offers some tips for these conversations, including emergencies: Explain what you want to do. Don’t assume price is the problem. Focus on consent, not cost. Offer … [Read more...]
Marketers need to focus on relevance, not loyalty
If your customer retention strategy relies on buying loyalty with rewards, rebates or discounts, it is coming at a high cost. And these days, it could also mean that you’re giving up something priceless: your relevance. That’s because the loyalty era of marketing, as we’ve known it, is waning. Instead, in this new era of digital-based competition and customer control, people … [Read more...]
Team member discounts and the IRS
Practices can determine the discount provided to their team member. Even though discounts are a popular benefit, practice management must follow Internal Revenue Service regulations or owners, managers and team members may face hefty fines. Source: Veterinary Team Brief, May 2018. Link. Veterinary team members have always considered discounts a substantial benefit, but they … [Read more...]
HR and the #MeToo movement
We believed this topic required a longer post than normal. Workplace sexual harassment is not new and efforts to stamp it out have not made much of an impact. One analysis indicates “much of the training done over the last 30 years has not worked as a prevention tool—it’s been too focused on simply avoiding legal liability.” Human Resource Executive® reached out to five of … [Read more...]
Women can overcome being interrupted and talked over
Women are interrupted twice as often as men in meetings, writes Eleanor Beaton. She provides seven tips for women to get their voice heard: Interrupt back. Sit in the power seat Speak in shorter sentences Get feedback on your meeting style Cultivate allies Take credit Make direct eye contact and lean in Source: Inc., June 6, 2018. Link. No one likes … [Read more...]
When hungry becomes hangry
There’s no question we are obsessed with food. We track what we eat, avoid eating, eat irregularly, eat like mice or eat like a ravenous dog. When we get hungry, we sometimes get grumpy, which leads to becoming hangry. Many people feel more irritable, annoyed, or negative when hungry – an experience colloquially called being “hangry.” The idea that hunger affects our feelings … [Read more...]
Accommodate clients with disabilities
Beckie Mossor, RVT, shares the attitudes necessary to interact with animal owners who have disabilities. The way pet owners are treated at the practice or at a retail facility directly affects their understanding, compliance and overall satisfaction with their pet’s care. It affects customer retention as well. Source: Veterinary Team Brief, June 2018, page 29. … [Read more...]
Food label claims consumers are more likely to buy
Food labels impact the animal health industry overall. This survey shows how labels affect purchase intentions. More than half of shoppers surveyed say antibiotic claims have an impact on their purchase intent. With almost 30% saying such claims have a strong or high impact. Source: State of the plate, May 22, 2018. Link. Issues surrounding food animals and the protein they … [Read more...]
Vaccine protocols, protocol shifts and immune status
Robert Lynch, DVM, writes The area of most confusion related to herd health management on dairies continues to be the vaccine program. It is rare to find just one vaccine protocol for any farm. The protocol at the vet clinic is different from the copy in the main farm office, which is different from the copy back in the manager’s office. Lynch blames a lack of understanding … [Read more...]
Corralling pasture brush: A systems approach
Regardless of what kind of brush or overgrowth producers must manage, it has to be done properly to achieve desired results. Brush and trees are beneficial as shade for livestock and cover for wildlife, but dense infestations from fence to fence erode ranch profits due to limited forage production. Brush control is an expense against income in a changing economy, so its … [Read more...]
Fly control around horses is important
Flies, fly control methods and fly products for horses are presented in this Equus advertising section . The material is worthwhile even though it may be promotional. Source: EQUUS, May 30, 2018. Link. Climate conditions vary every season, and different fly species can move into new areas with the changing weather. Here’s a quick rundown of the ways you can curb the insects … [Read more...]