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...]
Understanding the mind of the horse
Robert Miller, DVM, knows horses. He explains that when working them, you have to understand the behavioral characteristics that are in the species’ DNA that was established through natural selection. Domestication might affect the characteristics, through artificial selection, but veterinarians and horsemen should attempt to understand the innate characteristics to better read … [Read more...]
Horses’ feet are miracles
Animal health pros who work with youth or new equine owners will appreciate this. Understanding the mechanics of the horse hoof helps horse enthusiasts better appreciate its complexity. The equine foot is a marvel of joints, cartilage, ligaments, tendons, blood vessels and bone encased within a horny capsule that is vital to the horse. See what Stephen O’Grady, DVM, likes to … [Read more...]
Cattle eat what humans don’t
Critics of beef production often point to pigs, poultry or fish as having better feed conversions than cattle. They frequently leave out a critical point; cattle eat things we cannot. They turn grass, corn stalks, wheat straw and byproducts such as distillers’ grains and cottonseed meal into high-quality protein for human consumption. At the recent Academy of Veterinary … [Read more...]
VFD, one year later
To explore firsthand experiences and client challenges through the first year of the VFD rules, John Maday asked a group of bovine veterinarians from around the country to summarize their experiences. Mike Appley, DVM, believes the VFD has helped generate collaboration between veterinarians and clients in developing better disease-prevention protocols including vaccinations, … [Read more...]
Separation anxiety – a comprehensive package
Veterinary Medicine Essentials packages cover diagnostic steps, treatment plan guidance and the latest updates, plus resources to share with team members and animal owners. This collection of articles focuses on veterinary teams, yet it offers solid information for animal health sales pros. Source: Veterinary Medicine, June 15, 2017. The DVM360 team curated the best, most … [Read more...]
Opinion – Local delivery may be an option
During a seminar explaining pet owner purchasing behaviors and confidence indicators, a colleague leaned over to me and said, “Florists deliver flowers locally, also pizza and now groceries, why don’t DVMs deliver pet supplies the same way?” His observation interrupted thoughts throughout the day alongside memories of how we used to do things before specialized small package … [Read more...]
Nearly all pet owners bought food in stores in 2017
Physical stores are not dead, despite industry fears of e-commerce taking over. 88 percent of dog owners and 93 percent of cat owners bought products in the category in a retail location in the past 12 months, according “Pet Food in the U.S., 13th Edition,” a report from Rockville, Md.-based market intelligence firm Packaged Facts, a division of MarketResearch.com. The … [Read more...]
Microchips turn 30; adoption still slow
Great efforts have been poured into microchip technology. One can argue the chronology, but microchip technology has settled with dependable standards and equipment. Still, under 30 percent of dogs and fewer than 15 percent of cats are chipped. Various sources indicate that lost pets with microchips are returned to owners at rates two or more times higher than non-chipped … [Read more...]
Attorneys fighting over sexed semen
A battle is brewing in the U.S. over new technologies designed to make sure only milk-producing cows are born. Most of America’s 9.4 million dairy cows are bred using artificial insemination from bulls with specific genetic traits, but there’s still a randomness about the sex of the offspring. So, more farmers are paying a premium for semen that contains only the X chromosomes … [Read more...]
NSAIDs are wonderful options (includes video)
The NSAID product category generally represents 12 percent to 18 percent of dispensed product revenue for veterinary practices. When it comes to pain relief tools in the veterinary practice, Matthew Brunke, DVM, CCRP, CVPP, CVA, sings the praises of the nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs class. Reminder! Given the number of prescriptions now filled outside the veterinary … [Read more...]
3 ways to improve your decision making
Walter Fricke shares that decision making requires prediction and judgment. He writes about the need to have a sense of two things: how different choices change the likelihood of different outcomes how desirable each of those outcomes is Source: Harvard Business Review, January 22, 2018. But how do you get better at either? Of the volumes published on this subject … [Read more...]
Flowchart helps you decide if meeting is needed
Our industry is plagued with meetings. In fact, most of us have been involved in meetings about whether we need a meeting. Elle Griffen offers an infographic to help decide if a meeting is worth throwing onto everyone’s schedule. Source: The Muse, January 24, 2018. Not only can meetings be a huge time and productivity suck, they’re also expensive! Add up the hourly wage of … [Read more...]
Opinion – 229 selling days left in 2018
For animal health pros who work five-day weeks, 21 selling days have already expired this year. That equals about 8.5 percent of your year already gone. Veterinary practices and retailers have 325 days remaining to reach goals. Now is a good time to assess whether you or your team(s) are working toward the main objectives and at the right pace. Our perfection drivers and … [Read more...]
Getting pets ready to move about the country
Brian A. DiGangi, DVM shares five top tips for traveling with animals. He recommends: Review travel regulations Explain the importance of preventative care Recommend permanent identification Identify and mitigate travel specific risks Discuss steps and protect behavioral health and welfare Source: Clinician’s Brief, January 2018. Clinicians play an … [Read more...]
11 common email mistakes everyone makes
Email etiquette is increasingly important! It's an integral part of how you communicate and develop relationships with people. Betty Liu compiled these tips to help avoid the most common email mistakes: Bad grammar/spelling Misdirected emails BCC too much Silence Saying 'To whom it may concern' Not changing the subject line Marking emails as unnecessarily … [Read more...]
5 email marketing trends to watch in 2018
Attention marketers and communicators! Email was the preferred communication method for brands to communicate with customers in 2017. It will be well into the future. Still, 2018 may hold some surprises for the 40-year-old communications standard that marketers should be aware of. Scott Heimes shares these five considerations for email in 2018. Personalization through … [Read more...]
Keep it clean
Disinfection is critical for biosecurity. In this article, Jennifer Ryan identifies these top tips for cleaning and disinfecting on location: Train employees on the farm standard for cleanliness Use the correct detergent for the job Select the appropriate disinfectant for target pathogens Consider the safety profile, environmental impact, cleaning properties (if … [Read more...]
Opinion – Defining telehealth in veterinary medicine
Telehealth, says the AVMA, has emerged as a prime opportunity for veterinarians to deliver health information and care to clients via technology. Emerged? Haven’t we been doing this for years? The key here is to define and segregate actions. Telehealth is an overarching term describing the delivery of health information, education or care REMOTELY. The AVMA has created an … [Read more...]
Don’t sell yourself short with merchandising
Dan Truffini brings his retail experiences back to the veterinary practice settings in which he grew up. He believes, many veterinary practitioners have incredible revenue potential sitting right in their waiting rooms. It’s not the patients. It’s the retail spaces they have yet to fully open for business. Source: Today’s Veterinary Practice, December 2017. Whether you like … [Read more...]
You may need to walk away from a passive-aggressive boss
A boss who is manipulative, passive-aggressive, credit-taking and overly critical adds to workplace challenges beyond the normal workload. We’re not talking Jekyll and Hyde but it is important to be clear on how to deal with immaturity in a person to whom you report. Source: Harvard Business Review, January 24, 2018. You have to decide if your job and your company hold … [Read more...]
2018 is the year of the dog flu
Steve Dale tackles the topic of Canine Influenza Virus (CIV) and the information that shows CIV is expanding across the country more rapidly than ever. This is a topic for team meetings with veterinary teams, retailers and sales groups. Source: Steve Dale’s Pet World, January 22, 2018. The partners tracking dog flu are doing it right. The problem is that most clients don’t … [Read more...]
Keep New Year resolutions going strong
By February 1, many persons’ New Years’ resolutions are either a) not started, or b) already abandoned. New Year’s resolutions, derided though they often are, present a big opportunity for self-improvement, according to research on human behavior. On New Year’s, we look back on past failures to change and feel an uncommon surge of optimism. If you’re ready for a resolution … [Read more...]
Puppy Bowl XIV, Animal Planet on February 4 at 3 p.m. ET. (includes video)
Team Ruff vs. Team Fluff airs ahead of Super Bowl LII (6:30 pm ET) for the 14th year. This year will feature more puppies than ever – 90 players – from 48 shelters and rescues from 26 U.S. states and territories. The teams will compete for the coveted Lombarki Trophy. For the first time ever, Animal Planet will also premiere Puppy Bowl Presents: The Dog Bowl. The Dog Bowl … [Read more...]
Opinion – Dental month; long in the tooth
While February is National Pet Dental Health Month, dental health should be a daily ritual for pet owners all year long. Yeah, right! For longer than the three decades I’ve been working in animal health, we’ve promoted dental care, regular oral exams and periodic cleaning. Yet, approximately 75 percent of dogs and cats over the age of three have periodontal disease. Despite … [Read more...]