Fox hunting or riding to the hounds is a long-held tradition of the fall. Riders gather, don stock ties, jackets and tall boots, then tote traditional whiskey flasks to ward off chills or the discomfort of a spill. Many hunts no longer chase live animals. They instead follow a pre-determined drag scent trail. Source: Horse Network, August 24, 2016. It may sound extreme, but … [Read more...]
Alternatives to in-house product sales
Alan Newport reviews the trend of product sales moving to sources outside of clinics. Though directed to livestock veterinary practices, the key points are valid for all practices. Source: Beef Vet, Fall 2016, page 24. Newport addresses three choices: Stop actively marketing drugs and supplies Write prescriptions to be filled from an online pharmacy Partner with … [Read more...]
Apply customer service principles to your vet business
Glenn Muske, North Dakota State University, looks at a veterinary businesses as a combination of retail store and service center. He suggests that emphasizing customer shopping assistance and customer service outside the exam room is worthwhile. Source: Beef Vet, Fall 2016, page 14. Muske tells people that helping a customer who walks in the door is tough without asking the … [Read more...]
What’s trending at Animal Health Digest
Every market creates its version of the top five or 10 list. Our Animal Health Digest team uses views and clicks to understand what our subscribers read. The results shape the focus of what we “read for animal health professionals.” AHD is a free service for all levels of personnel in our industry. The AHD Bulletin is published weekly and delivered on Thursdays via email. We … [Read more...]
Mitigate mistakes
Tracy Dowdy, CVPM, discusses prevention and management of the inevitable mistakes that happen, particularly in a fast-paced veterinary practice. Creating a better working environment for team members and clients includes these actions: Ensure the practice does as much as possible to help team members avoid making wrong decisions or acting inappropriately Acknowledge … [Read more...]
Facts on CBD treats for dogs
Sources vary on the exact number, but cannabidiol, or CBD, is one of among 60 to over 100 distinct chemical compounds — called cannabinoids as a group — that can be derived from the plant we know as marijuana. This author reviews what CBD is, clarify what it is not, how it functions and the kinds of medical conditions that it might be useful in treating. The Food and Drug … [Read more...]
After visits to vets, cats smell funny to cats left at home
Marilyn Krieger, certified cat behavior consultant, offers tips for multi-cat owners to help return cats to a peaceful home after a visit to the clinic or grooming shop. Clients will appreciate these tips if they receive them ahead of an office visit or grooming appointment. Source: Catster, August 19, 2016. Cats carry scents from places such as vets' offices, which can … [Read more...]
Fall brings risk of red maple poisoning in horses
As fall approaches, it is important to remind horse owners about the dangers posed by leaves from some maple trees. Horse owners who board horses or have just found new stable accommodations may not remember to check on tree varieties. The green leaves from fallen limbs are also toxic as they wilt and dry. Source: Equus, September 2016, page 30. Wilted or dried red maple … [Read more...]
Healthful eating updated
Staying abreast of nutritional guidelines is challenging. The U.S. Department of Agriculture updates dietary guidelines for Americans every five years. Women’s needs vary from men’s and age plays a role, too. Source: Repertoire, August 2016. Four main areas receive focus in this article referencing Harvard Medical Publications: Vary food choices Rethink fats Curb … [Read more...]
Sponsored Content – Procedure lighting quality critical
Lighting technology has evolved immensely in the past decade. There are new terms to understand and more options to consider. Lighting needs vary by practice, location and procedure. Source: Repertoire, August 2016. Consider this checklist before you invest in new or upgraded clinic lighting: Intensity Color Heat generation Shadow reduction Positioning … [Read more...]
Pinkeye remains a challenge in the fall
The main cause of pinkeye in cattle is the ever-changing bacteria, moraxella bovis. Many subtypes of the bacteria can be found even in one infected animal. This can make it difficulty to treat and preventing. Pinkeye can rob producers of weight gain in addition to the labor costs of treatment. Source: Drovers CattleNetwork, August 17, 2016. Vaccination, fly control, … [Read more...]
Egg binding in pet birds
Cockatiels, budgerigars (e.g. parakeets) and finches are the most popular pet birds worldwide and the species most commonly affected by egg binding. These birds tend to present with more severe clinical signs, possibly because of their small size. Egg binding is the failure of an egg to pass within a normal period of time. Although there can be variability and numerous … [Read more...]
Apiary owners must bee ready for VFD
New Veterinary Feed Directive regulations are will apply to beekeepers’ apiaries. Yes, bees are considered livestock by the federal government. European foulbrood is a bacterial disease that affects honeybee larvae before the capped state and is characterized by dead and dying larvae in the hive. It is treated with oxytetracycline sold under the trade name Terramycin and is … [Read more...]
Type A designation to go up in smoke?
In the category of “WHAT?” we offer this piece on how the origin of Type A personalities has research funding origins from tobacco companies. As the old saying goes, “put that in your pipe and smoke it.” Source: Science of US, August 22, 2016. Detail-oriented as they are, the Type A’s among us may be interested to know three curious facts concerning the origin story of … [Read more...]
NAVTA now recognizes 13 veterinary technician specialties
The Academy of Veterinary Ophthalmic Technicians has been recognized as an official specialty by NAVTA as of August 16. The NAVTA Committee on Veterinary Technicians Specialties (CVTS) was formed in 1994 and is recognized by the American Veterinary Medical Association. The CVTS provides guidelines to veterinary technician organizations to facilitate the formation of a specialty … [Read more...]
Sponsored Content – Parasitology experts discuss vector control
Ceva recently announced the second phase of a study by John McCall, MS, PhD, which examines the effects of topical repellent-insecticide plus oral heartworm preventive on development of heartworm disease. The results support using a topical parasiticide to repel and kill mosquitoes, rather than relying solely on an oral heartworm preventive. Ceva’s educational campaign elements … [Read more...]
Travel with the right horse papers
It takes a handful of documents to travel across the country with horses. In addition to health certificates and Coggins tests, this author outlines equine and personal documents critical when crossing state lines. It is a good reference piece to share with horse owners. Source: The Trail Rider. Rebecca Gimenez, PhD, shares information about each travel document: what … [Read more...]
AAEP risk-based vaccinations
This article provides a refresher for equine veterinary teams. Veterinarians are uniquely positioned to understand the risks posed to individual horses because of where they live, the lifestyles to which owners expose them and the diseases that are active in a practice area. Reviewing the facts about equine diseases that can be prevented or minimized through vaccination is … [Read more...]
Cure tail rubbing in horses
The main causes of tail rubbing in horses are presented in this article. It also offers ways horse owners might treat the issue(s), Including involving veterinarians. Bugs Pinworms Dirt, sweat, dry skin Other allergies Habit Source: Horse and Rider, August 14, 2016. Tail rubbing can be a frustrating problem. Sometimes the cause of a horse’s itching isn’t … [Read more...]
Sponsored Content – The importance of mosquito control and repellency
Phase 2 of a study by John McCall, MS, PhD, further supports using a topical parasiticide to repel and kill mosquitoes, rather than relying solely on an oral heartworm preventive. His two studies combined send a powerful message regarding the efficacy of a double defense protocol. Ceva’s campaign website FightHeartwormNow.com now includes a series of videos featuring key … [Read more...]
Mosquitos and horse health from AQHA sponsors
The AQHA Daily health archive contains two articles about mosquitoes and West Nile virus provided by AQHA sponsors. Horse owners should read these. Animal health pros who interact with horse owners should be familiar with information like this. Source: AQHA Daily, July 2016. Equine west nile threat increases during peak mosquito season, July 31, 2016. What horse … [Read more...]
3 tips stop chaotic barking when the doorbell rings
Jennifer Mauger, certified dog trainer, offers tips to help silence dogs when the doorbell rings. She references classical conditioning methods to redirect a dog’s associations with the doorbell. Consider using this article for blog posts, websites or as a pet owner handout. Source: Petcha.com, August 16, 2016. Mauger’s tips require practice and repetition but work: … [Read more...]
Janet Donlin to succeed Ron DeHaven at AVMA
Congratulations to Janet Donlin, DVM, CAE, as she assumes the day-to-day leadership of the American Veterinary Medical Association. Donlin replaces Ron DeHaven, DVM, MBA, as executive vice president and CEO of the 88,000-member organization. Dr. DeHaven is retiring September 12 after nine years in the post. Source: AVMA@Work, August 11, 2016. Retiring CEO DeHaven said … [Read more...]
The impact of pet food purchase frequency
Veterinary teams and retailers often struggle with managing pet food marketing opportunities. In addition to space and inventory concerns, ensuring the product moves out is critical to getting margin on sales. David Sprinkle shares that the frequency of pet food purchasing is a key factor to pet food retailing and target marketing. Frequency of purchasing affects everything … [Read more...]
Anaplasmosis becoming more prevalent across the U.S.
Anaplasmosis, associated with the bacteria Anaplasma marginale, is a tick-vectored disease that can be spread by biting insects, such as flies and ticks, and mechanically from syringe needles. Infection occurs through blood transfer, primarily from ticks, which serve as the primary vector. The disease has spread from its traditional area in the Gulf coast into the Midwest and … [Read more...]
Latest Journal of Swine Health and Production
For your convenience, we have linked to the table of contents from the latest issue of the Journal of Swine Health and Production. You will find the article titled Raising pigs without antibiotics near the bottom of the page. It includes a position statement about the practice the AASV board has adopted. Source: Journal of Swine Health and Production, July/August … [Read more...]
How to have a great one-on-one
Often there’s a problem that needs discussing, but your boss always seems too busy. So, you keep it quiet and hope it goes away. Sound familiar? Without regular one-on-ones, team members' work might be overlooked and development opportunities forgotten. Other workplace problems, such as team disputes or mistakes, could also get ignored. Good one-on-ones are the cornerstone of … [Read more...]
Handling scheduled drugs requires teamwork
Team accountability sums up this article about scheduled drug handling. Too frequently, we forget that inventory is managed best by a trained, knowledgeable team. Source: Veterinary Team Brief, August 2016, page 13. Team Takeaways: Veterinarians: Each veterinarian should carry his or her own individual DEA license, as well as any required state licensure, to ensure … [Read more...]
Antibiotic resistance: a human health perspective
Our AHD team urges all animal health professionals to read this three-page overview of the inherent challenges we will deal with as the threat of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) grows. Source: National Institute for Animal Agriculture, August 11, 2016. Sustainable solutions to the AMR problem are required because the “arms race” between human efforts to find magic bullets to … [Read more...]
New dog breeder certification program verifies standards
The Pet Leadership Council, an organization comprised of pet industry leaders, animal welfare advocates, veterinarians and academia, announced its support for Canine Care Certified, a new national, voluntary program that sets rigorous, science-based standards for professional breeders. The program is built on five pillars of care for dogs and puppies in a professional breeding … [Read more...]