Jackie Brown’s article, “Dog tooth infection signs and treatments,” includes information about home remedies. He engages the expertise of John Huff, DVM, FAVD, Dipl. AVDC, to discuss dental challenges. Huff explains, “If you think your dog might have a tooth infection, don’t try to treat it at home. All the brushing in the world doesn’t correct the infection. Instead, make … [Read more...]
Second annual Veterinary Emerging Topics® (VET) Report
Kudos to Banfield Pet Hospital® and The NAVC® for collaborating on The 2018 VET Report. It focuses on feline antimicrobial usage and the mounting public health issue of antimicrobial resistance (AMR). The 2017 VET Report addressed AMR in dogs. A lack of awareness about existing guidelines for antimicrobial usage in veterinary medicine has contributed to discordance between … [Read more...]
Sponsored Content – My MAXI/GUARD® surprise in Better Homes and Garden
During a recent visit to the grocery, I picked-up a copy of Better Homes and Gardens magazine. A one-page article featuring a Pug titled, “Happy Teeth” caught my eye. It referenced Jan Bellows, president of the Foundation for Veterinary Dentistry. My surprise was under the heading, “The Right Tools” in the right-hand column. Number 1 called out MAXI/GUARD® Oral Cleansing … [Read more...]
GlobalVetLINK, investment announcement to fuel regulatory compliance
GlobalVetLINK (GVL®), a leader in digital animal health compliance solutions, today announced a significant investment led by Lead Edge Capital. “GlobalVetLINK is the leader of the veterinary compliance space, and we see huge opportunities for their technology on an even broader scale,” Nimay Mehta, partner at Lead Edge Capital, said. The GVL platform connects animal health … [Read more...]
Up next on The Bridge Club
Join The Bridge Club virtual event, Mind full or mindful? Maintaining a peaceful presence in a hectic world: Expert: Jeff Thoren, DVM, PCC, BCC, VetPartners president and Gifted Leaders founder Topic: The practice of mindfulness. Dr. Thoren will share a very real look at challenges and benefits including suggestions to help take positive first steps. Date/Time: … [Read more...]
The Bridge Club, new platform for veterinary community (includes video)
Whether you meet over cards, a beverage or meal with industry colleagues, the conversations can be valued and cherished. Brenda Andresen and Catherine Haskins have developed The Bridge Club as the first video-based, professional community. The video conference platform promises to return to face-to-face discussions on topics relevant to veterinary professionals. Andresen and … [Read more...]
The best leaders are teachers
SuperBowl LII is in the books. Much of the discussion surrounding the results encompassed leadership and coaching legacies. Sydney Finkelstein has studied leadership in organizations for over a decade. He shares his surprise on the extent to which star managers emphasize ongoing, intensive one-on-one tutoring of their direct reports, either in person or virtually, in the course … [Read more...]
Ketamine: let’s review
Ketamine continues to be extensively used in the anesthetic management of horses, nonhuman primates and other non-domesticated species. However, its popularity as an anesthetic induction agent in dogs and cats continues to decline in the United States. Khursheed Mama, DVM, DACVAA, Colorado State University reviews ketamine with this outline: Pharmacokinetics and clinic … [Read more...]
Opinion – Weaning age variations in pig production
The quotes below are from two excellent articles demonstrating options in pig production. Data aside, economics frequently override what’s best for piglets and sows. Part of this stems from how the swine industry has been vertically integrated and where revenue is created in the process. In beef production, calves that do not survive or are sick are often charged back on the … [Read more...]
How to launch and profit from a rewards program
As a veterinary practice and its client base grows, employees turn over and team member roles get fragmented. Identifying top clients and consistently rewarding and reinforcing their behavior becomes increasingly difficult. Practices want to be sure these loyal, trusting best clients feel appreciated and valued. This is where a loyalty rewards program can come into … [Read more...]
10 obesity related conditions in fat pets
Nationwide reports that its members filed 1.4 million pet insurance claims for conditions and diseases related to obesity in 2017. They sorted through its database of more than 630,000 insured pets to determine the top 10 most common dog and cat obesity related conditions. Source: DVM 360, January 26, 2018. Nationwide data from 2016 showed more than 51,000 pet insurance … [Read more...]
AVJR, February 2018
Research about obese cats continues. The study titled Effects of weight loss with a moderate-protein, high-fiber diet on body composition, voluntary physical activity, and fecal microbiota of obese cats will be of interest to companion animal practices as they deal with obesity in cats. Source: AVJR, February 2018. (limited access) … [Read more...]
“Hey,” “Hello,” “Hi” and other ways to start emails
The salutations we use to start an email affects the response rate, according to a recent analysis of 300,000 emails. While omitting a salutation on follow-up replies seems to be increasingly common, you are best off including an opening, at least in your initial email. Source: Quartz, January 22, 2018. Perhaps we should move past the era of formal salutations, as … [Read more...]
Transition cow diagnostics: 5 areas to focus
Dr. Mark Thomas returns to the basics when he works with veterinary students or on-farm staff. He focuses on five major areas that can be checked with limited equipment: Udder Uterus GI system (abomasum) Lungs Metabolic Source: Dairy Herd Management, January 3, 2018. Some might argue this oversimplifies the many organ systems and diseases that can affect a … [Read more...]
When to feed the good hay
Cows require additional nutrients during the month before calving. Crude protein needs increase as they move closer to calving, so feeding the highest quality hay just ahead of that time is best. Amy Radunz, University of Wisconsin associate professor, discussed hay quality and quantity with Sara Brown for this article. She shared two main take-homes for producers and their … [Read more...]
Always use enough gun
It is a sad reality, writes Paul Biagiotti, DVM, but every dairy producer is a big game hunter at some point in their everyday work. While euthanasia protocols prefer the use of captive bolt pistols to kill cows, bulls and calves, the cost and training needs coupled with farm turnover makes captive bolt euthanasia problematic. What remains is using a gun. Gunshot is fully … [Read more...]
Treat cat bites and bite infections properly
It’s inevitable that those working or living with cats will need to deal with cat bites and the likely infection of the bite wounds. Andee Bingham offers perspective on cats that bite and treatment options for bite wounds. Source: Catster, January 26, 2018. Cat bites are exceptionally dangerous and prone to infection because a cat’s needle-like teeth can push bacteria deep … [Read more...]
Cats’ eyes reveal moods
The model for marbles since the 1940s, cat’s vertical slit pupils are fascinating. JaneA Kelley shares perspectives about how reading a cat’s eyes can be helpful in getting along with the feline. She says: Narrow pupils signal an aroused cat Wide pupils signal an excited or scared cat Pupils of different sizes signal the need to see a DVM Veterinary teams and … [Read more...]
Chickens and owls don’t mix
While not the most likely of chicken predators, owls can sometimes pose a threat. Unlike skunks, raccoons, foxes and other four-footed mammals, owls and raptors are not easily discouraged by a vertical fence. Since destroying hawks, owls, falcons, eagles and kites is illegal, finding ways to discourage aerial predation remains an important management practice. Pam Freeman … [Read more...]
New formulation of HyperRAB approved for rabies post-exposure prophylaxis
Grifols announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved a new higher potency formulation of HyperRAB (rabies immune globulin [human]) for rabies post-exposure prophylaxis. The new formulation has twice the potency (300 IU/mL) of currently available rabies immune globulin options. This allows for fewer injections, along with a significantly lower volume of the … [Read more...]
Get better at being jealous
Kristin Wong likely has classmates and friends who envy her successes as a writer, just as animal health pros may feel jealousy or envy as colleagues receive honors, awards or get jobs they aspire to. Animal health has always been competitive at the DVM level. Competition is evident in manufacturers, suppliers and distributors and is now accentuated by mergers, acquisitions and … [Read more...]
Look for third-party certifications of pet food
Nancy Kerns speaks to the growing source verification and ethical source standards that are now part of pet food decisions. Suspicious of claims, she recommends looking for certification by a legitimate third-party auditor and references the number of companies that provide verification and certification of organic, socially, environmentally, and/or humanely responsible … [Read more...]
Lepto: important but potentially misleading
Suspected cases of leptospirosis deserve a comprehensive investigation, writes John Maday. Infertility issues are typically multi-factorial and may be difficult to diagnose, but the causes usually involve non-disease issues such as bull fertility, cow nutrition, genetics, toxins or others. Some producers can mistakenly assume they have a lepto problem and focus on that while … [Read more...]
Take stock of your inventory
Inventory is frequently the second-largest expense in veterinary practices. Now that year-end counts are completed and new promotions are launched, it is a good time to review Brian Conrad’s approach to getting inventory under control. He takes a pragmatic approach to eliminating duplications, applying usage reports and establishing parameters for stocking top items. He also is … [Read more...]
New parvovirus discovered within equine tetanus antitoxin
A recent report in the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Emerging Infectious Diseases journal detailed the discovery, genetic characterization and transmissibility of equine parvovirus-hepatitis (EqPV-H)—a new virus associated with equine serum hepatitis. EqPV-H was discovered when a horse in Nebraska developed clinical signs of liver failure and died approximately … [Read more...]
Not all shedding is normal (includes handout)
Animal health pros frequently get questions about excessive pet hair shedding. It is generally normal or seasonal, but there are times to be concerned. Darin Dell, DVM, shares perspectives on causes of shedding. Source: Vetted, January 16, 2018. The first step when faced with an exam for “excessive shedding” is to determine if there is obvious alopecia or true thinning of … [Read more...]
Osteoarthritis management update (includes video)
David Dycus, DVM, urges veterinary teams to consider multi-modal options for dealing with osteoarthritis. He recommends establishing a baseline through joint supplements, diet and especially, routine exercise. Each patient needs to be considered individually instead of using a standard plan. This is good material to review as a veterinary team to uncover different perspectives … [Read more...]
It’s up to you to create a civil workplace
According to Georgetown University researcher Christine Porath, more than 40 percent of employees say they hesitate to show civility at work because they fear people will take advantage of them. The workplace, with its reliance on technology as a primary means for communication, increasingly distances us from face-to-face interactions. This, in turn, makes many of us a rusty on … [Read more...]
The high cost of low action
Few things grow as effortlessly as a problem ignored, writes Steve Keating. Realistically, the things that aren’t working out well now only tend to get worse over time, and issues that remain unaddressed grow larger, not smaller. Doing nothing is easier, faster and cheaper until the bill comes due. And it always comes due. Source: Lead Today, January 22,2018. Problems … [Read more...]
Smartphone addiction, social media and our mental health
This may not be easy to read. The typical cell phone user touches his or her phone 2,617 times every day, according to a study by research firm dscout. And that’s just the average user. The study found that extreme cell phone users in the top 10 percent touch their phones more than 5,400 times daily. Our mental health is a factor of various variables. One such variable today is … [Read more...]