Kim Allen was introduced to me for the first time more than 20 years ago. Her demeanor was friendly, focused and it was apparent she was destined to be a leader in our industry. Today, Allen is keenly aware of helping the next generation of female executives within the industry. She is optimistic about a newly formed organization called Women in Leadership and Management in … [Read more...]
Wallace talks KC and the KC Animal Health Corridor
Craig Wallace, CEO, Ceva, U.S. Holdings, Inc. recently talked about the value of the Kansas City area to life sciences, especially animal health companies. As 2017 chairman of the KC Animal Health Corridor, Wallace invites animal health pros and investors to attend Global Animal Health Week in Kansas City, August 28-29. Source: KC Animal Health Corridor, March 3, … [Read more...]
Editorial – Resist setting goals you don’t care about
Animal Health Digest was born out of my desire to serve the industry that has been my career home for more than 30 years. Frustrated that I never seemed to have enough time to read what was being published on animal health topics spawned this idea nearly two decades ago. Ms. Saunders explains why my passion to read for an industry gave birth to a key focus are that aligned with … [Read more...]
Middle management is so exhausting
People are fascinated with the dynamics of power in organizations. They often focus on top leaders or how to deal with and motivate the more powerless workers. The reality is that most employees possess a middling amount of power and must repeatedly alternate between interacting with higher- and lower-power colleagues. The experiences discussed in this article are prominent … [Read more...]
Avoid pitfalls with email campaigns
Despite increasing use of social media and texting, email marketing is still effective to reach prospective and existing customers. To ensure your emails do not end up in the trash, avoid these 14 email marketing mistakes. Source: CIO, December 14, 2017. Email marketers and small business owners share their tips on how to decrease the likelihood of your emails being … [Read more...]
There is no replacement for direct interaction
One of the primary reasons to get teams together has to do with the hardwiring of the human brain. Yes, our technology is constantly improving, which allows for more virtual meetings and geographically diverse teams. But, “building trust is a multisensory experience,” says Valérie Berset-Price. “Only when people are physically present together can they use all of their senses” … [Read more...]
Top 5 diseases of domestic ferrets
Ferrets are playful, curious and relatively docile — characteristics that have made them popular as pets. Because of their curious nature, unique biology and increased lifespan due to improved care, ferrets are prone to diseases that can be debilitating. Source: Clinician’s Brief, February 2017. Ferrets are likely to encounter one or more of these clinical problems in their … [Read more...]
Universal canine vaccination eliminates human exposure to rabies
MSD Animal Health/Merck Animal Health has announced the publication of a new study in the journal Vaccine. It demonstrates that universal canine vaccination is an effective public health policy for eliminating human rabies exposure. The study reviewed examples of a successful One Health collaborative strategy that focused on elimination of canine rabies as the most expedient … [Read more...]
Spring horse care checklist
Spring is here and summer will follow quickly. Here’s a list of important health care reminders animal health pros can share with horse owners before summer gets into full swing. Source: Horse Channel, March 18, 2015. 7 things to do to prepare horses and barns for the season ahead: Spring vaccines Dental care Coggins Pasture management Physical exam Barn … [Read more...]
New chart helps find the right dental treats
The treat market gets more crowded every day. Differentiating one dental treat from the next is challenging. Not all canine dental treats are created equal. The chart in this article will help dog owners find the best chews for their pets. Source: Firstline, March 16, 2017. Eleven canine dental treats have been awarded the Veterinary Oral Health Council’s (VOHC) Seal of … [Read more...]
Not my circus, not my monkeys (includes video)
CVC educators, Drs. Sarah Wooten and Kimberly Pope-Robinson, offer some perspective to help veterinary professionals stop personally owning every team and client problem. Source: Vetted, March 15, 2017. As members of a giving profession, veterinarians sometimes struggle to learn that dirty little word: NO. INSIGHTS: Animal health pros will recognize the situations and some … [Read more...]
Air out the office now!
Study after study has shown that the amount of ventilation, or fresh outdoor air brought inside, is a critical determinant of health. A research team from Harvard and Syracuse Universities dug deeper to find out if better air influences a worker’s ability to process information, make strategic decisions and respond to crises. The results show it is time to air out the office … [Read more...]
Customer context important in demand generation efforts
Marketing and sales persons will find this Important. A customer has many different interactions with a company, their buying process is just one of many touch points. If marketers make the mistake of thinking about demand generation in isolation, this could lead to a poor customer experience. Marketers responsible for generating demand need to think of their demand generation … [Read more...]
Differentiate or die
Staying competitive in the face of non-traditional sources is a real market situation for many traditional businesses, including animal health clinics and retailers. Ace Hardware’s president and CEO, John Venhuizen, compared competing with the massive online retailer Amazon to warfare and encouraged Ace store owners to identify areas where they can beat Amazon. They can’t … [Read more...]
Remind outdoor enthusiasts about disease risk for them and their companion animals
The AVMA provides a reference guide about diseases that outdoor enthusiasts such as, campers, canoers, kayakers, backpackers and hikers and their companion animals may encounter. It is the time of year when pets and their owners take to the field. Source: AVMA, March 17, 2017. This document is by no means intended to discourage people from enjoying outdoor activities; … [Read more...]
Effectiveness of animal testing being compared to other methods
All drugs and some chemicals must be tested on animals before humans, but no one is certain how well such tests predict the toxic effects on people. A Johns Hopkins University team hopes to find out by comparing standard animal tests with more modern scientific methods that use human cells or computer models. Source: The Baltimore Sun, March 16, 2017 via AAHA NEWStat. Data … [Read more...]
FDA regulates stem cells
The American Association of Equine Practitioners (AAEP) is encouraging its members to comply with a recent FDA guidance document that outlined regulatory requirements for animal cell-based products (ACPs). Source: Modern Equine Veterinarian, Issue 2, 2017, page 8. There is considerable concern about the impact on the equine veterinary industry,” Said Christopher E. Kawcak, … [Read more...]
WVC recaps 2017 conference
The WVC 2017 program and conference was attended by more than 6,000 veterinarians. Plus, more than 1,400 veterinary technicians and 360 practice managers were among the 14,000 veterinary professionals who attended. W. Mark Hilton DVM, PAS, DABVP (beef), assumed the position as the WVC 2017 president. He is a technical consultant for the Elanco Animal Health beef team and a … [Read more...]
Trichomonosis cat-roversy brewing
Tritrichomonas foetus has been recognized as a cause of chronic colitis in cats in the last 20 years. The protozoan is now considered a common infectious causes of large bowel diarrhea. Dr. Jody Gookin and colleagues at the College of Veterinary Medicine, North Carolina State University, explain that one of the more pressing challenges is that feline trichomonosis is resistant … [Read more...]
Changing behavior requires awareness and determination
The amount and pace of transformation around us is overwhelming. Change is the new normal. According to scientists we are living in a VUCA world; one that is heavily impacted by increasing levels of volatility, uncertainty, complexity and ambiguity. Yet, even if we see the benefit and understand the need for change and although we have the knowledge, skills and resources to act … [Read more...]
68.2 percent fewer dairies since 1992
The number of dairies needed to produce adequate milk supplies continues to decline. The dairy industry is on track to have only half as many farms as it does today. The only question is which year during the 2030s it will happen. Source: Hoard’s Dairyman, March 20, 2017. The biggest statewide declines have occurred in North Dakota (-94.4 percent) and Arkansas (-93.1 … [Read more...]
Did my phone just buzz?
Have you been convinced that you felt your phone vibrate in your pocket or heard your ringtone? Yet, when you check your phone, no one tried to reach you. More than 80 percent of college students recently surveyed have experienced the phantom buzz. If it’s happening more than once a day it could be a sign that you’re psychologically dependent on your cellphone. Source: The … [Read more...]
More than 1 million acres burned; photo essay
Ron Smith captures the devastation of the recent wildfires that have burned much of the Southern Plains. At a time when green grass should replace hay and rations, cattlemen and farmers are back at winter-like protocols to keep the remaining livestock alive. Source: Beef, March 13, 2017. Fires burned across thousands of acres of rangeland, leaving a blackened landscape for … [Read more...]
Ceva becomes Sustaining Sponsor of AHD
Our team at AHD is pleased to announce Ceva has committed to a Sustaining Sponsorship for 2017. You will note that we have exchanged Ceva’s logo for their Double Defense Heartworm Protocol program logo. Double Defense represents Ceva’s approach to fighting the rising incidence of heartworm infection in dogs. The Double Defense approach, which includes using … [Read more...]
The white horses of Camargue
At some time in most animal health pros’ lives, a love of animals is born. It may have been a puppy or kitten, but for some, the horse was their inspiration. For renowned photographer Drew Doggett, a passion for horses developed, particularly with breeds that have overcome difficult circumstances or have an interesting lineage. The horses of Camargue fit that perfectly. We … [Read more...]
Backyard chicken revolution struts onward
Chicken raising is experiencing unprecedented popularity. The backyard-chicken movement is recapturing some of the agricultural legacy lost to golf courses, sprawling estates and business campuses. Source: Pet Product News International, March 2017. The guesstimates of the number of backyard chicken owners in the U.S. is anywhere from 1 million to 10 million households. … [Read more...]
Pet industry supported 1.3 million jobs in 2015
We’ve seen pet spending numbers year after year. Now, a study conducted by George Mason University has examined the total economic impact of the pet industry on the economy. Dr. Terry Clower shared that the industry contributes more than $221 billion to the economy including an impressive $23 billion in federal, state and local taxes. Source: Pet Product News International, … [Read more...]
Spooking is not a natural reaction
“The message we hear is constant and insistent,” write Francesco De Giorgio and José De Giorgio-Schoorl. “‘Why does a horse spook? He spooks because it is the most natural thing for him to do.’ But it is not.” Challenging popular beliefs, the authors describe how those who define themselves as horse people need to be willing to change. Source: Horse Network, March 6, … [Read more...]
Dosages differ between prostaglandin products for estrous synchronization
Kalyn Waters, University of Florida Extension, wants to make producers aware of the risk of confusion about dosage and administration of different estrous synchronization products. The addition of a new product in this category increases the need to avoid issues in synchronization successes she says. Source: Drovers CattleNetwork, March 7, 2017. One common trade name is the … [Read more...]
Delegate meeting leadership to gain effectiveness
Well-run meetings allow you and your team to clarify issues, set direction and move objectives forward. Yet, meetings are seldom planned or executed well. Paul Axtell says it’s time to rethink whether you should even lead your own meetings. Source: Harvard Business Review, December 23, 2016. Letting other people lead meetings has three key benefits: Development of your … [Read more...]