Two things are at play this time of year: holiday gifting decisions and planning for the coming year. Each of these activities can stress budgets. In this article, rewards programs are presented as good ideas that work for rewards and may work for the holidays too. Source: Veterinary Team Brief, May/June 2013. Team members like to know they are doing a good job, so it is … [Read more...]
Surgeon’s Corner: Friction Knots & the Aberdeen Knot
Knots are basic to surgery. Friction knots are recommended to maintain extrinsic tension on the ligated tissues between the first and subsequent throws. The associated video demonstrates the proper technique to form three friction knots, along with the alternative Aberdeen knot used in subcutaneous and intradermal closures. Sometimes reviewing basic techniques is a good … [Read more...]
Wild pigs still rock agriculture
Wild pigs cause $1.5 million in damage in the U.S. according to 2013 USDA estimates. Jack Mayer is currently working on a project for the agency to estimate overall wild pig numbers. He places the U.S. wild pig population at 6.3 million, with a possible range of 4 million to 11 million. Source: Pork Network, November 30, 2016. The cost of wild pig damage to the agriculture … [Read more...]
Here’s the best way to ask someone for a favor
Asking someone for a favor can be awkward. We tend to avoid direct contact by using an email or text. Unfortunately, impersonal contact is less likely to get you what you want. Source: Science of Us, December 9, 2016. Based on two experiments, it seems that asking for a favor is a choice between two situations, each with its own ups and downs: Make things comfortable and … [Read more...]
Cesar’s short guide to shopping with your dog
U.S. businesses are increasingly accommodating to our pets, especially dogs. Dog owners have responsibilities when taking dogs into businesses. They need to make sure that dogs are calm, well-behaved and always on a leash. Cesar Millan shares tips on preparing dogs for shopping and where to shop. Source: Cesar’s Way, December 2016. Shopping with dogs can be a bonding … [Read more...]
Use a travel checklist to make horse transportation as easy as possible
Equo says this time of year is horse-hauling season with an estimated one million horses to be transported across the country. They offer a travel checklist for all items to consider for those cross-country jaunts. Source: Equo, November 14, 2016. Another ‘must-have’ for every trip is your documentation, make sure you contact your vet before your trip and ask him what … [Read more...]
Are you failing your patients in this major way?
Dawn Crandell, DVM, DVSC, DACVECC, calls for a shift in veterinary medicine. It isn’t about the medicine. It is about the way veterinary hospital teams view their patients. The shift, she says, is all about getting rid of dominance behavior. Source: Dr. Andy Roark, December 1, 2016. The pervasive silent influence of the dominance mindset is getting in the way of us doing … [Read more...]
Social media is meant to be social
Using social media effectively means much more than having an online presence. It means choosing content wisely and actually engaging with clients to build their confidence and trust in the practice. Source: Veterinary Team Brief, November/December 2016. Team take-a-ways: Veterinarians: As practice owners, the ROI of paying team members to spend time online likely is … [Read more...]
Humans and cats have a strange, complicated history
Alice Robb writes the humans’ relationship with cats is rife with paradox. There are an estimated 100 million pet cats in the U.S. and their ranks are growing. Cat culture flourishes online. The cat-less can get their fix at cat cafés opening across Asia, Europe and North America. The article features a Q & A session with journalist Abigail Tucker, author of The Lion in … [Read more...]
Quench winter thirst
“Water is key. I think we underestimate the effect water plays on the metabolic systems of the horse,” says Britt Stubblefield, DVM, of Rocky Top Veterinary Service in Guffey, Colorado. He explains that access to water is especially important for horses when there are extreme changes in the environment, such as fluctuating temperatures fall turns into winter. Source: Western … [Read more...]
Bigger is not better
Larger dairy cows don’t necessarily mean they will feed efficiently. Size and yield in dairy cows are not genetically correlated, says Lou Armentano, a University of Wisconsin dairy nutritionist. Source: Dairy Herd Management, December 8, 2016. But we are currently selecting for big cows, reducing positive [genetic] pressure on yield while selecting against feed efficiency. … [Read more...]
Verify clostridia before implementing prevention strategies
Sheila McGuirk, University of Wisconsin emeritus professor of veterinary medicine discussed clostridial disease during a recent Dairy Girl Network winter calf webinar. She explained that clostridial disease in calves almost always is caused by an overgrowth of Clostridium perfringens. She said calves sometimes die even before they develop diarrhea. If diarrhea does break, it … [Read more...]
Opinion – Antibiotics: man vs. animal
Staying neutral about the antibiotic resistance issue is difficult for those of us who have observed how slow adoption hurts the acceptance of proven animal health protocols. According to Rick Bergman, executive director for the Center for Consumer Freedom, physicians now frequently reach for “big gun or last resort” antibiotics, which likely contributes to antibiotic … [Read more...]
Blood test basics video
One of my best veterinary hospital experiences included the use of an educational video. In an AVMA video, Dr. Joyce Ashamalla covers the basics of why blood tests are needed and what they help find. Source: AVMA SmartBrief, December 1, 2016. … [Read more...]
Office toxicity can overwhelm you
If you are always on the listening end of the venting during the ever-present office bitch sessions, these authors offer perspective. They speak to the emotional toil the toxic handlers experience and suggest reframing the discussion. Source: Science of Us, December 6, 2016. In a terribly unsurprising finding, their research suggests that people in these roles “frequently … [Read more...]
Talk about feline heartworm limited
Veterinary technicians don’t talk about preventive care as much as they could, says Ciera Miller, CVT, VTS. Feline heartworm has been diagnosed in all 50 states. It was important enough that the American Association of Feline Practitioners crafted an entire campaign about it. But reluctance remains strong. Source: Vetted, November 22, 2016. Many veterinary staff members are … [Read more...]
2.6 million goats have special needs
Goats have special nutrition and care needs, according to Purina scientists. Two of them from the company’s St. Louis, Missouri, research farm recently shared information about goat nutrition. Others shared insight about youngstock, production costs, organic trace minerals and financial tools during a Clarissa, Minnesota, goat workshop. We’re sharing this information because … [Read more...]
Make local search engines work for you
One of the more common website recommendations is to optimize your local search engines for veterinary clinics. Here are a few tips to avoid overlooking the obvious, ignored or deliberate search engine tweaks. Source: Search Engine Land, December 5, 2016. Columnist Wesley Young of the Local Search Association looks back at 2016 to find the top 10 insights that local search … [Read more...]
Dr. Little talks disruption
Your AHD team enjoys sharing Dr. Adam Little’s Exponential Vet posts. His focus about disruptive technologies and their impact on the future of veterinary medicine continues. He expresses concerns about the lack of flexibility in the veterinary hospital model. Source: Veterinary Advantage, November Digital, 2016, page 16. Practices need to be able to adapt and that requires … [Read more...]
VFD, the law every DVM needs to know
The title,“VFD: The law every food doc needs to know,” is true. But, many suburban veterinarians will be affected by this law thanks to the many acreages and the increasing popularity of goats. Even beekeepers are subject to VFD regulations. Source: DVM 360, November 2016, page 18. The new regulations go into effect on January 1, 2017. INSIGHTS: The scramble to be … [Read more...]
Commit to really listening
We are more distracted than ever. Whether you are a veterinarian, retail associate, hospital staff member or sales representative, listening skills take effort and development. Too often, we get so busy or pushed that even skilled listeners just go through the motions. Dr. Moffett shares how to manage listening. Source: Veterinary Team Brief, April 2015. Genuinely listening … [Read more...]
Variable pig weight remains a challenge
Variability in pig weight at slaughter age is still a major issue in the swine industry. The challenge comes when trying to standardize the final product. We found this good article that can be used by veterinarians and salespersons when calling on swine producers. Consider it for targeted e-mails and posts as well. Source: The Pig Site, December 2, 2016. Big differences in … [Read more...]
B2B buyers want more than a discount
The mindset of B2C black Friday deals is pervasive. “This culture of cheap mindset also impacts the B2B world,” says Paul Reilly. “Buyers no longer request discounts, they demand them.” This culture-of-cheap mentality can make animal health pros believe they have little to no pricing control. They may believe that discounts are required to please customers. Source: … [Read more...]
The cost of convenience euthanasia
Your behavior could be costing you on many levels, writes Portia Stewart, editor of Vetted. About 10 percent of pet owners who relinquish their pets say it's because of behavior issues. Consider that 7.6 million pets end up in shelters each year and 2.7 million are euthanized, behavior is a high risk factor that can disrupt the human-animal bond. Source: Vetted, December 1, … [Read more...]
Thank you AAHA!
Your AHD team thanks our colleagues at AAHA for their support and input over the last year as we have developed Animal Health Digest. AAHA is a member of our Founder’s Circle and has a long history of communicating value to AAHA practices. Source: AAHA NEWStat, December 1, 2016. One of the tools AAHA uses to communicate is NEWStat. It covers current events that matter to … [Read more...]
DVM 360 shares its Top-Ten lists
The Top 10 List was a regular segment of the television programs Late Night with David Letterman and the Late Show with David Letterman. Our animal health colleagues at UBM Americas, Veterinary (DVM 360) have created their own versions of the top 10 lists from their readership. They sent the links for us to share. Source: DVM 360, December 2016. Top ten lists from UBM … [Read more...]
Help keep pets safe during the holidays
There are never too many reminders to help keep pets safe during the holidays. Purina makes the effort simpler with a quick video, five tips and a downloadable template to mark hazardous items as “non pet-friendly.” There’s something here for clinic websites, blogs, counters and literature racks. Source: Purina, November 30, 2016. Purina vet, Dr. Zara, shares her tips for a … [Read more...]
House soiling in senior pets
It is easy to assign “my pet’s showing his age” to soiling by a senior pet. But there are reasons beyond a break-down in the animal’s training. Adam Rudinsky, DVM, MS, DACVIM, reviews the top five reasons for fecal house soiling in senior pets: Behavioral disorders Colorectal and anorectal diseases Osteoarthritis Structural disease Neurological … [Read more...]
You’re probably a bad listener
Most people don’t think that they’re bad listeners — but they are. Are you? The first and most important step in overcoming bad listening habits is to become more aware of them. Source: Bottom Line Personal, September 15, 2016. Roger Flax, PhD, shares nine common bad listening habits, plus strategies for becoming a great listener. INSIGHTS: We especially liked how Dr. Flax … [Read more...]
The latest from JAVMA
We have been linking to the table of contents for JAVMA for your convenience. It is also easy to access an abstract of one of the articles. Check the box next to the article Then at the bottom of the table of contents page – click this link: View highlighted abstracts on one page The abstracts matching your selections will be visible to you for your review Source: … [Read more...]