Jim Sears, DVM with Bayer Animal Health, reminds producers to review and train on the bovine respiratory disease protocols before a shipment of cattle arrives. He offers a few simple tips to simplify your protocol decisions and help operations be efficient in treating BRD: Make protocols as simple as possible. Be objective – when selecting products, evaluate why each … [Read more...]
A game plan for the difficult conversation you have been putting off
Carrying an issue without resolution is like carrying debt. You’ll eventually have to pay the principal (by having the difficult conversation), but the longer you wait, the more interest you’ll pay in anxiety and dread. Source: Harvard Business Review, April 12, 2017. Life is full of difficult conversations, particularly if you’re invested in having a great team at work. … [Read more...]
Reboarding existing employees
Robert David makes a strong case for continuous boarding of new and current employees. He discusses the ways technology has changed how we work, but also how employees approach their work and careers. Source: SmartBrief, July 31, 2017. Organizational effectiveness initiatives should be geared toward continuous onboarding of employees, and this is especially the case for … [Read more...]
Strategic errors affect long-term business success
Hugh Latif offers perspectives on strategies and tactics, which are frequently confused. Strategic errors can be fatal because they deal with business direction. Tactical errors are easier to fix, absorb and are less costly than strategic errors. Source: The Globe and Mail, September 5, 2017. Strategy is tied to the overall direction and represents the main highway taken to … [Read more...]
Quarter-by-quarter sales; a vicious, costly cycle
September has been a critical revenue month in animal health for decades. Companies seeking to grow by 10 percent to 15 percent annually race to achieve last year’s revenue numbers by the end of September. If they do, they draw closer to making their growth goal. Data shows that sales reps give better terms to customers who wait until the last minute — with both sides … [Read more...]
A quadrillion reasons those microbes matter
When cattle are fed, producers feed an ecosystem of bacteria, protozoa and fungi. Rumen microbes work together to break down what a cow eats, turning the feed into energy and protein. Keeping microbes flourishing can keep cows productive and in the herd. The numbers are mind-boggling. Source: Beef, August 24, 2017. Three main microorganisms are responsible for breaking down … [Read more...]
Sponsored Content – Fall equine wellness (includes video)
Zoetis has provided the American Quarter Horse Association with material about preparing horses for the risks of fall season. Annual spring vaccinations help offer disease protection and can activate an immune response. Now that it’s almost fall, the American Association of Equine Practitioners (AAEP) vaccination guidelines recommend at-risk horses be vaccinated for equine … [Read more...]
“Let cats scratch” says the AAFP
Revising its previous 2015 position statement on declawing, the American Association of Feline Practitioners (AAFP) now strongly opposes onychectomy as an elective procedure. The AAFP’s position stresses the need for veterinary teams to educate cat caregivers, as many are unaware that declawing is a surgical amputation of the third phalanx. Scratching is a normal feline … [Read more...]
AAHA Canine Vaccination Guidelines revised
The 2017 AAHA Canine Vaccination Guidelines were developed to help support veterinary teams as they determine protocols for each of their patients’ risk factors, life stage, and lifestyle. Published in the September/October edition of the Journal of the American Animal Hospital Association (JAAHA)—and for the first time, as an online educational resource for the veterinary … [Read more...]
Sleep better when dogs are in the bedroom, not bed
Mayo Clinic research scientists recently conducted a study to determine how sleeping with dogs impacts sleep quality. The findings of this small study indicate those who kept their dogs in their bedroom experienced better sleep, compared to those who didn’t. Those who slept with their pet in bed suffered from lower quality of sleep. Source: The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, … [Read more...]
Engage more clients, retain more clients
Customer engagement and experience management are key value drivers to client retention. Value delivery methods are critical to ensure clients keep your business top of mind. An engagement program with multi-touch messaging and a strategy to drive client loyalty will help create success. Source: MWI Messenger, September 2017, page 9. Client engagement creates loyalty. Equal … [Read more...]
Cat food variety growing rapidly
While kibble remains the mainstay, the cat food category is expanding with new options as manufacturers seek to meet customers’ varied demands. Nutritional science, as well as consumer and feline preferences, drive the trends and appear to be following the trends in dog foods for increased numbers of natural offerings and unique protein sources. Source: Pet Product News, … [Read more...]
30 behaviors that make you unstoppable
Benjamin Hardy shares that when you’re unstoppable, you will make sure to get what you want. Everything you need to know is already within you. All you need to do is trust yourself and act. Source: Thrive Global, August 30, 2017. Those who are unstoppable are in their own world. They don’t compete with anyone but themselves. You never know what they will do — only that you … [Read more...]
FDA urges veterinary caution when reading epinephrine labels
The FDA is alerting animal health pros about the potential for dosing errors when using human-labeled products such as epinephrine. To avoid dosing errors, veterinarians should carefully review the label on an epinephrine product to determine if the strength is expressed as mg/mL or as a ratio. The FDA ordered the removal of ratios expressing the drug’s strength (such as … [Read more...]
Bayer, 4-H promoting STEM education
Science, technology, engineering and math are the focus of a collaboration with Bayer and 4-H. They hope to address the concern that 26 million STEM related jobs go unfulfilled each year. The partnership seeks to engage youth and maintain their interest in STEM skills. Source: Ag Web, September 5, 2017. There are six million students in 4-H. Science Matters will extend the … [Read more...]
Regular bleach use linked to higher risk of fatal lung disease
Using disinfectants once a week could increase the risk of developing chronic obstructive pulmonary disease by as much as 32 percent according to a 30-year study by Harvard University and the French National Institute of Health and Medical Research (Inserm). The everyday use of bleach currently has no specific health guidelines, but the researchers hope this will be … [Read more...]
Your dog doesn’t need the gluten-free menu
Jackie Parr, DVM, discusses all things gluten, human and pet, in this Q/A article. She reminds us that dogs and cats do not get Celiac disease and generally don’t need a gluten-free diet. Source: Dr. Andy Roark, April 29, 2017. So when would I avoid feeding gluten: You happen to see a very rare case of gluten sensitive enteropathy in an Irish Setter puppy You are … [Read more...]
Zoonotic diseases quiz is timely
Among the current and future challenges of the Hurricane Harvey devastation is the risk of zoonotic disease exchanges. An entire underground population of rats, mice, feral cats, skunks, raccoons and who knows what else was forced to move along with people. Like humans, they will move back into the area carrying with them all sorts of zoonotic risks including leptospirosis, … [Read more...]
Raising adult children
Over the years, I have heard animal health pros talk about raising the young persons in their organizations. They add vigor and vitality to our organizations, but can also be a worry. Although written from a parental perspective, the references in this article can apply to the younger personnel in our organizations. Source: Bottom Line, Inc., September 1, 2017. The secret … [Read more...]
Therapy chickens help nursing home residents
The therapeutic value of taking dogs to visit hospitals, special needs centers, schools and nursing homes is well-known. Even docile cats are now sometimes used as therapy animals. But therapy chickens? Source: Backyard Poultry, August 30, 2017. Today therapy chickens are used around the world to help those in nursing homes improve their mobility and have fun. Residents are … [Read more...]
Preg-checking considerations for cow herds
Wyatt Bechtel shares pregnancy checking suggestions from Extension specialists in various parts of the U.S.: Pregnancy testing cattle to save money Have your breeding dates on hand Pregnancy check heifers early Cull those open heifers Source: Drovers CattleNetwork, August 31, 2017. It makes more business sense to sell the open heifers, rather than create more … [Read more...]
Biodiversity important for goat farming
Using lessons from the dairy producers, goat farmers are urged to maintain genetic diversity in their herds, rather than breed for production-specific traits. By not doing so, animals may become ill-equipped to adapt to changing conditions or fight new diseases. The United Nations is so concerned that more than 100 countries are already signed up to monitor genealogies and … [Read more...]
Lice season looms ahead
As fall comes on, it is time to readdress the lice populations that survived the summer and begin to infest cattle in October. By treating early, ranchers can avoid the deep infestations of January and February common in many areas. Source: Beef, August 31, 2017. Some animals, due to poor immune function or some other factors, are more vulnerable to extensive lice … [Read more...]
Feeding puppies for the best health possible
How much to feed new puppies is a common question of dog owners regardless of how many they have raised. Denise Flaim reminds owners to feed for slow, steady growth. Studies show that slow, steady growth – with no dramatic growth spurts – is ideal for puppy health, especially his developing skeletal system. Source: Whole Dog Journal, September 2017. Pet-nutrition consultant … [Read more...]
6 things that offend cats
Lauren Cheal provides insights into why cats are offended in home environments. This list makes one wonder who is really in charge, but then, we already know the answer to that. Source: Modern Cat, August 31, 2017. Are you guilty of these feline faux pas? Staring Over-petting Poor litter box placement Lazy litter box cleaning Cutting off play time at the … [Read more...]
B2B buying isn’t getting easier
Marketers, this one’s for you! The latest branding research from CEB, now Gartner, and conducted in partnership with Google and Motista, involved a cross-industry study of more than 3,000 B2B customers. It revealed the following findings, which have huge implications for B2B brands. Source: CMO, August 28, 2017. The data shows that personal value has twice as much impact as … [Read more...]
Opinion: Help for aging animal health pros
I offer this article on turning back time and dealing with our perceptions of aging in this industry. I found persons in their 30s eager to engage and discuss our industry at the recent CVC Kansas City. Instead of thinking “been there, done that” I found myself asking questions of these young pros to see how their todays resembled some of my yesterdays. The results were about … [Read more...]
Women lead in the KC Animal Health Corridor
A dozen women who hold leadership roles in the animal health industry talked about their careers, challenges and corporate life in a panel discussion during Global Animal Health Week in August. Different than discussions like this just a decade ago, the group agreed it is important to forget the gender differences and focus on showing team members what you can do or … [Read more...]
AVMA takes a stand on assistance animals
The AVMA House of Delegates passed a policy on "The Veterinarian's Role in Supporting Appropriate Selection and Use of Service, Assistance and Therapy Animals." Therapy animals are not covered under the ADA, FH, or ACAA. Source: JAVMA News, September 15, 2017. The AVMA encourages veterinarians to be familiar with the legal status and protections accorded to service, … [Read more...]
Have smartphones destroyed a generation?
In her new book, “iGen: Why Today’s Super-Connected Kids Are Growing Up Less Rebellious, More Tolerant, Less Happy—and Completely Unprepared for Adulthood—and What That Means for the Rest of Us,” Jean M. Twenge discusses the challenges of the iGen and shares start realizations about how smartphones are affecting a generation of young persons. Source: The Atlantic, September … [Read more...]