Heather Thomas went coast to coast to gather information from professors and producers about calf dehydration. Dehydration, loss of electrolytes and decrease in blood pH (metabolic acidosis) are the three biggest problems with scouring calves, says Geof Smith, DVM. “Rehydrating those calves is critical,” he says. George Barrington, DVM, says that means supportive treatment … [Read more...]
7 signs calves are headed down a bad health path
Ann Hoskins might have used the term mindful in explaining the “look, listen, smell and feel” strategy to help identify those calves with subtle signs of sickness. The key is to closely observe calves in the moment without making assumptions or overlooking small signs. Source: Progressive Dairyman, March 1, 2018. It’s easy to miss these simple signs when you rush through … [Read more...]
How to tell a coworker their personal habits are disgusting
It’s inevitable. Bad habits creep into workplaces. Liz Ryan addresses a question from a reader whose coworker uses her desk as an extension of the bathroom. Maybe it is time for all of us to double-check our habits. Source: Forbes, March 9, 2018. Speak up, regardless of how socially awkward the situation., Ryan says. She shares 10 things never, ever to do at your … [Read more...]
New style bee hive is attractive to old and new beekeepers
Solving the challenges of harvesting honey without donning an uncomfortable bee suit, smoking out the bees and going through steps that could kill bees in the process, the popular Flow Hive is bringing bees and beekeepers to backyards. Considering bees fall under the VFD rules, understanding this technology is important for animal health pros. Source: Fast Company, March 9, … [Read more...]
Amazon embraces chaos for its efficiency
Amazon is an eight-ton gorilla that animal health pros watch, fear; yet use for personal purchases. Sara Kessler writes about the company’s elaborate systems that have completely redefined warehouse efficiency and customer convenience. Much of the efficiency is supported by technology, robotics and ultimately moving product to people, rather than moving people to the products … [Read more...]
Veterinary Medicine Essentials: diabetes mellitus
By assembling articles on cat and dog diabetes, the dvm360 team provides a package that covers diagnostic steps and treatment plan guidance. Along with the latest updates, they offer resources to share with your veterinary team and clients. Source: Veterinary Medicine, February 15, 2018. The package includes tips on which insulin to use, how to best monitor glucose … [Read more...]
Nasal discharge in dogs could be more than one thing. (diagnostic guide)
Douglas Palma, DVM, DACVIM (SAIM), has a special interest in respiratory medicine. He trains interns and residents in internal medicine and is residency director for ACVIM. His educational experiences show in this diagnostic chart to help animal health pros move quickly toward a diagnosis when a dog is presented with nasal discharge. Source: Clinician’s Brief, February … [Read more...]
Chickens are now elite status symbols
We share this article so that we all better understand backyard chicken market challenges, especially those in Silicon Valley. Peter Holley references birds in diapers, deluxe coops outfitted with solar panels, automated doors and electrical lighting, as well as video cameras that allow owners to check on their beloved birds remotely. Source: The Washington Post, March 2, … [Read more...]
9 phrases to avoid that will help you look more professional
It’s not always easy to write exactly what you want to say. We, yes even those of us at AHD, often fall back on words and phrases that come easily. Unfortunately, these often make us look weak and unprofessional. Danny Rubin offers nine words and phrases to avoid in our writing. Source: Ladders, March 2, 2018. As you compose emails, documents (and in conversation too), … [Read more...]
Equine law for 2018 and beyond
Julie Fershtman, one of the nation’s most experienced equine law practitioners, offers suggestions for horse industry persons. She warns against handshakes and to update working knowledge of equine activity liability acts. Source: Arabian Horse Couture Magazine, February 2018, page 64. Make 2018 a year of attention to legal matters to stay safe and protect yourself, says … [Read more...]
Opinion – The era of the buyer is underway
Consider this article in the context of telehealth and telemedicine for both B2B and B2C entities in animal health. But, think about B2C telemedicine in the digital context of voice-activated systems on counters in homes instead of a phone on your desk. Once again, I ask veterinary team members to accept sales as the creation of a transaction. Jay Malowney asserts, … [Read more...]
Bridge Club sells out with veterinary nurse initiative topic
The Bridge Club’s March 12th topic, Veterinary Technician or Veterinary Nurse: Answers to why the credentials and title are evolving, drew a sell-out crowd to listen to Ken Yagi, MS, RVT, VTS (ECC, SAIM) and Heather Prendergast, RVT, CVPM, SHPH, co-chairs of The Veterinary Nurse Initiative. They presented rationales for changing the professional titles and an overview of the … [Read more...]
22 ways to critique your customer interactions
Since most animal health pros are in the business of creating or enabling transactions, then the sales meeting description used in this headline can be more universally understood as interactions. Sean McPheat relates being asked the question, “. . . what do you do after a sales meeting that ensures the next one will be even better?” Source: MTD Sales Training, February 12, … [Read more...]
USDA offering $75K for 3 years in designated DVM shortage area
The U.S. Department of Agriculture National Institute of Food and Agriculture announced 2018 veterinary shortage areas for the Veterinary Medicine Loan Repayment Program last January, NIFA has designated 187 areas as having inadequate access to livestock and public health veterinarians. Now, NIFA is accepting applications for veterinarians who want to apply for a VMLRP award to … [Read more...]
Sponsored Content: Pheromones; the nose knows.
Our recent post about the Flehman response in cats led me to further investigate the pheromone topic. Googling produced several references on semiochemicals and their use in insect control. Most important was information provided by AHD sponsor, Ceva Animal Health, which helps clarify some of the confusion about pheromones and pheromone products: Pheromones are naturally … [Read more...]
Bridge Club gains momentum
No playing cards are needed to be part of this club. Participants join from their desks, living rooms and kitchen tables using their computers and cell phones. The venue replicates the roundtable discussions familiar to animal health pros at conventions and meetings. The Bridge Club has attracted interest and support from community partners. Dr. Dani McVety recently shared … [Read more...]
7 powerful things you should always be able to say about yourself
There are elements within ourselves that can either sabotage our success or lead us to greatness, shares Lolly Daskal. Whatever your role or aspirations in leadership, you should always be able to look at yourself in the mirror and voice these statements as truth, she writes. I am confident. I trust my intuition. I am honest. I am courageous. I am … [Read more...]
Dairy calves are naturally optimistic or pessimistic
Some calves are inherently optimistic or pessimistic, as are humans, a University of British Columbia study has found. The study also assessed fearfulness through standard personality tests and found that it and pessimism are closely related. Source: Science Daily, February 18, 2018. Sometimes we are tempted to see only the herd, even though this herd consists of different … [Read more...]
Stem cell therapy has potential, but with cautions
Meredith Rogers, MS, CMPP, reviews the advances in stem cell therapies in veterinary medicine. She notes that clinical trials are few and most evidence of efficacy comes from anecdotal reports. Rogers says the biggest obstacles preventing more frequent use of stem cell therapy are access and cost. Beyond this, no guidelines currently exist with respect to stem cell therapy, … [Read more...]
Telehealth, is reality
Telehealth, or telemedicine, is not a specific service. It is a collection of resources to enhance care and education delivery. The term, telemedicine is often used to refer to traditional clinical diagnosis and monitoring that is delivered by technology. However, the term, telehealth is now more commonly used. It better describes the wide range of diagnosis and management, … [Read more...]
Feral cattle creating issues in California national monument
Sand to Snow National Monument lies approximately 50 miles north, northwest of Palm Springs, California, and about 50 miles east of San Bernardino, California. Rising from desert lowlands, its mountainous high desert and cascading streams create panoramic views, tranquility and solitude. But, recent visitors have been surprised by members of a herd of 150 feral cattle that are … [Read more...]
Size doesn’t matter; pigs are still pigs
Sara Brown addresses the teacup, or miniature pig fad. Some people bought the pets, not realizing that miniature pigs can grow to be 40 lbs. to 300 lbs. And they still have natural pig instincts. Rooting and raiding cabinets were just two examples of pig behavior for which people weren’t prepared. Source: Pork, February 27, 2018. The Humane Society of Missouri is asking … [Read more...]
One-health approach addresses obesity in pets, people
Obesity is a tough subject for human and veterinary doctors. This article highlights the findings of "Preventing Obesity in People and their Pets: A One Health Approach," from November 2016. The conference paired speakers from human and veterinary medicine to discuss obesity in humans and companion animals. These statements stuck in our review of the content: Physical … [Read more...]
Microfiber towels are favorites for chemical-free cleaning
Look beyond the commercial messaging in this article and you will likely improve your understanding of microfiber towels. We were surprised to find so many variables in microfiber types. Source: Today, March 1, 2018. From windows to bathtubs to floors, cleaning experts continue to recommend this specific cleaning tool. With millions of fibers, microfiber lifts and holds … [Read more...]
Survey shows what horse owners want from veterinarians
Citing insights from a rare online survey with 8,069 horse owner participants, David Rame, DVM, shares horse owner perceptions regarding equine veterinary care. The treatment received by the horse was overwhelmingly the most satisfying part of the veterinary visit (64.91 percent), followed by the veterinarian’s skill (50.16 percent), the veterinarian’s bedside manner (38.12 … [Read more...]
Raise the cull line to match the falling milk price
If a cow cannot pay for her own feed, then there is no return to your land or crop enterprise. A cow should also be paying for her own replacement. Jim VanDerlinde challenges the majority on culling decisions and explains his rationale. He shares a quick, user-friendly template to find the culling sweet spot for a dairy. Source: Progressive Dairyman, February 22, 2018. The … [Read more...]
Veterinarians may be liable if they certify support animals for travel
As the popularity of traveling with support animals increases, so too have instances of travel with apparently fraudulent ones. By claiming their pet is a support animal, people avoid the rules and fees imposed on ordinary pets. United Airlines and Delta Airlines have implemented policies that ask veterinarians to vouch for an animal's behavior before it is allowed on board. … [Read more...]
The price is not always right
“If you don’t know the difference between margin and mark-up,” says Daniel Truffini, “Your revenue might be taking a hit. Don’t let anyone tell your otherwise, it’s all about the margin at the end of the day.” Trufinni makes the cost compared to. value distinction and offers three formulas to help animal health pros calculate them. Source: Today’s Veterinary Business, … [Read more...]
Gut check for sales managers
Sean McPheat offers sales managers eight quality questions to ask themselves. The questions will help them concentrate as they seek to maintain a semblance kind of control and bring about the results for which they are responsible. Use McPheat’s questions to produce insight into whether you spend the right amount of time on tasks and responsibilities that are most important to … [Read more...]
Inconvenient truth: sterilization increases dog obesity
Patty Khuly, VMD, MBA, addresses our decades-old position on sterilization and the inconvenient truth that dog sterilization leads to fatter dogs. Agree or disagree, this is content that animal health pros need to read, discuss and consider. Source: Veterinary Practice News, February 16, 2018. Khuly asserts that health and overpopulation are two separate issues and need … [Read more...]