Videos help set expectations for clients and educate new staff members. Consider this one for websites, blogs and newsletters. Link to it for new clients coming to your practice or use it during school or group presentations. Source: AVMA SmartBrief, July 27, 2016. Preventive care visits are an important part of keeping your pet happy and healthy. But what does a … [Read more...]
Scheduling secrets for veterinary receptionists
Wendy Myers shares tips about getting control of hospital scheduling. Effective scheduling techniques improve patient care, hospital revenue and client satisfaction. Reclaiming control of your appointments will also boost employee morale, she says. Source: Veterinary Practice News, July 12, 2016. Get your practice's schedule under control with these tips: Ask questions … [Read more...]
Research results, nothing to spit at
You just have to love our industry! Researchers recently shared the results of a meta-analysis to establish a reference range for dog salivary cortisol and to explore the relationship between cortisol and a variety of dog, experimental and environmental parameters. Source: Scientific American, July 27, 2016. (via AVMA Animal Health SmartBrief, July 29, 2016) This … [Read more...]
Wisconsin: strong in milk cows, stronger in milk goats
The growth in Wisconsin (as well as California, which is No. 2 in goat and sheep milk sales) is due to both existing infrastructure and growing appreciation for goat milk. In the U.S., chefs are using it more frequently, consumers are seeking out its unique taste. Growing immigrant populations from places like East Africa and Latin America are looking for the familiar products, … [Read more...]
Progress on foothill abortion disease
After more than 50 years of research, scientists have built a better understanding of the unusual biology of the disease pathogen and vectors for epizootic bovine abortion (EBA). The pathogen, transmitted by the Pajaroello tick, typically does not cause disease in cows or heifers, but does affect the developing fetus in pregnant females, resulting in abortions or … [Read more...]
Vaccines and pets: What clients need to know
Richard Ford, DVM, MS, DACVIM, DACVPM (Hon.), explains the importance of vaccination, addresses the challenges of over-vaccination and the resulting compliance difficulties. Source: AAHA Pets Matter, July 29, 2016. The core vaccines are the really, really important ones because the diseases that are prevented by the core vaccines are really serious diseases and they can … [Read more...]
Vaccination courses from Vetfolio fit with National Immunization Awareness Month
Vaccine topics are available at VetFolio as the CDC launches the National Immunization Awareness Month for humans. Source: VetFolio "In the Know," July 30, 2016. The veterinary healthcare team is the most vital link in dogs and cats getting the protection they need. Make the most of National Immunization Awareness Month by reinforcing the critical importance of protecting … [Read more...]
Renegotiate P & L expense agreements
Andrew Clark, DVM, MBA, uses insurance expense to illustrate action steps when managing some of the expenses on your balance sheet. He reminds us that getting competitive comparisons regularly is important. Source: Is My Practice Healthy, July 29, 2016. Veterinarians tend to be as loyal to vendors as we wish our clients were loyal to us. Insurance coverage is often provided … [Read more...]
Overview: AAEP Equine Veterinary Journal (EVE)
We received the printed July issue of EVE this week. Review the table of contents for this journal of the AAEP to determine if any of the studies are relevant to your work. Source: Equine Veterinary Education (EVE), July 2016, Volume 48, Issue 4. (partial link). Equine veterinary teams will find value in this article: Equine tapeworm infections: Disease, diagnosis and … [Read more...]
Staph: old problem, new threat
Staphylococcal infections have gained national media attention recently because of growing resistance to antibiotics. This lecture reviews the basics of staphylococcal pyoderma in dogs and cats. Resistance mechanisms are also discussed. Source: VetFolio, July 26, 2016. Broadcast Dates: August 1 - 14, 2016 (On Demand). Suggestions regarding how to answer your clients’ most … [Read more...]
Henry Schein leader shares global perspectives
Peter McCarthy oversees Henry Schein’s global animal health business. He shares perspectives about global commonalities, market shifts, alternative sources and corporatization. Source: Vet Advantage, July 2016, page 22. …the veterinarian running his/her practice has an increasing interest in what’s happening around the world, how consumers are looking after their animals … [Read more...]
Seneca Valley Virus; it isn’t over yet
Since January 2016, more than 60 positive accessions of the Seneca Valley Virus (SVV), or Senecavirus A, have been reported by labs across the United States. New cases appear to be showing up more rapidly as the summer goes on. An informative photo gallery about SVV is provided with this update. Source: National Hog Farmer, July 25, 2016. SVV is not a limited production … [Read more...]
Basic care videos are great educational tools
These client-friendly posts can be used as educational tools and for social media postings. We enjoyed the brushing and the nail trimming videos shared in this collection. Source: Veterinary Team Brief, July 2016. Many clients wanted to be veterinary team members at one time. Post behind the scenes content and satisfy their curiosity as vet-voyeurs. INSIGHTS: Sales … [Read more...]
Stretching benefits horse health
Jessica McLoughlin, registered equine massage therapist, shares stretching techniques that help horses stay in. This is great information to share with youth groups and horse owners. Source: Equine Wellness Magazine, July 20, 2016. Stretching is free! With everything costing so much these days, this versatile tool gives your pocketbook a welcome break. Stretching can and … [Read more...]
Do you know these youth leaders?
American Quarter Horse Youth Association regional directors and five national officers for the 2016-17 term were elected July 14 at the Bank of America Youth Excellence Seminar in Amarillo. See if one of these youths is a customer. If so, drop them a note or call with congratulations. Source: America’s Horse Weekly, July 18, 2016. Throughout the year, the officers and … [Read more...]
When veterinary clients spend the most—and the least
Dr. Ross Knippenberg, assistant director of economics with the American Veterinary Medical Association, and the association's economics intern Sean Barker have completed a deep dive into seasonality and client spending in veterinary clinics. They confirm that business is slowest in the winter. Their analysis quantifies this effect and shows what the national average looks … [Read more...]
FDA pilot program begins on-farm VFD inspections
A pilot program designed to help educate FDA auditors as they prepare for VFD implementation has been launched. Auditors are focusing on swine operations first since the pork industry has had a VFD requirement for more than a decade for tilmicosin, florfenicol and avilamycin. The main items producers should know how to answer prior to an inspector visiting their farm are shown … [Read more...]
The Veterinary Cooperative joins AHD Founders Circle
The Animal Health Digest team welcomes The Veterinary Cooperative to our Founders Circle group of companies. These companies support AHD, help grow our subscriber base and increase the value of AHD to subscribers and sponsors alike. Source: Animal Health Digest, July 18, 2016. The Veterinary Cooperative joins AAHA, Veterinary Study Groups, Inc., RPR Company and Forays Inc. … [Read more...]
Drug abuse and addiction in the veterinary workplace
Jon Geller, DVM, DABVP, writes about this serious issue in veterinary medicine. He cites veterinary team access to a large variety of mind-altering, potentially addictive drugs, including controlled and non-controlled substances. He also notes light or non-existent drug testing, light inventory access and control, and inconsistent employee assistance programs for substance … [Read more...]
Extensive horse health article library updated
The AAEP website has an extensive library of horse health related articles written by AAEP veterinarians. These articles are now updated and can be used for personal review and for customer education via websites, newsletters and blog posts. Veterinary teams can take five minutes during a staff meeting to review the information and help in-clinic staff understand its … [Read more...]
New AAEP external parasite and vector control guidelines
Developed by an AAEP task force chaired by Dr. Dennis French, new guidelines provide current information about the control of ticks, flies, lice, mites and mosquitoes. Source: Healthy Horses Newsletter, July 21, 2016. Download as a PDF; these guidelines will soon be available on www.aaep.org within the Guidelines section. INSIGHTS: This is a comprehensive set of guidelines … [Read more...]
Chicken consumption at 3-year high and growing
According to a new survey commissioned by the National Chicken Council, chicken is the choice protein for nine in 10 U.S. consumers. It revealed the demand for chicken in the U.S. shows no signs of slowing down as 21 percent of consumers anticipate eating more chicken from supermarkets and 14 percent from food service establishments over the next 12 months. Consumption of … [Read more...]
Dairying is a people business
It is easy to ignore the influence dairy production has in our world. The infographic here shows how many people are involved in dairy enterprises. It is worthwhile information. Source: Dairy Herd Management, July 2016, page 6. 6 billion of the 7.4 billion people in the world consume dairy products daily. 1 billion people are involved with production and processing … [Read more...]
The latest in JAVMA
Feedback from our subscribers has been positive about our postings of the tables of contents from industry scientific journals. Here are links to the latest issues of the Journal of the American Veterinary Association. Source: JAVMA, July 15, 2016 (Vol 249; No. 2: pp. 122-229). Note the special report: The Association of Shelter Veterinarians’ 2016 Veterinary Medical Care … [Read more...]
10 tips to help keep horses’ hooves healthy and strong
Farrier Chris Volk shares 10 tips and explanations on hoof care for horses: Pick out your horse's feet. Establish what's normal. When picking out the feet, look for signs of thrush, puncture, cracks or abscess. Schedule regular farrier visits according to your horse's individual needs. If your horse is shod, check his shoes each time you pick out his feet. Look … [Read more...]
Breed-standard surgeries influence how humans see dogs, study finds
Cosmetic ear cropping and tail docking "are not medically indicated nor of benefit to the patient," according to the AVMA. Plus, these practices may hinder dogs' ability to communicate. Such modifications also affect human perception, according to research published in PLOS One. It found people see surgically altered dogs of certain breeds as more aggressive and in many cases … [Read more...]
Functional dog, cat food and pet treat trends
As pet food manufacturers cater more to consumers’ desires to meet the individual needs of their pets, functional ingredients are more of a trend than ever. The infographic featured here shows consumer choice trends in an easy to understand visual. Animal health professionals at all levels will benefit from understanding how function is driving demand in the pet food … [Read more...]
The science behind reading and influence
Michael Hyatt says, “A readership crisis is really a leadership crisis.” Readers are likely to be leaders. With reading in decline, readers have a comparative advantage in today’s business and political environments. Source: MichaelHyatt.com. Here are five ways reading can uniquely develop and empower leaders: Reading Makes us Better Thinkers Reading Improves Our … [Read more...]
Isolate when canine flu hits
If you're seeing canine influenza in your practice, recent findings show it's best to suggest a 21-day isolation period. A study published in the Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association that tested shelter dogs with H3N2 canine influenza found that the virus was shed intermittently for up to 24 days after the initial positive test. Source: DVM 360, July 18, … [Read more...]
The truth about thyroid disorders and vaccines
W. Jean Dodds, DVM, felt compelled to write about two legends that persist about thyroid disorders and vaccines. She presents this as myth versus truth. Source: Veterinary Practice News, June 23, 2016. As the thyroid gland regulates metabolism of all body cellular functions, reduced thyroid function can produce a wide range of clinical manifestations, many mimicking those … [Read more...]