Phone etiquette is important, says Jeremy Keen, DVM. Presenting a relaxed, positive and service-minded personality regardless of how busy we are is critical to client satisfaction. The same goes for retail associates, dealers and telephone persons in distribution or manufacturer call centers. Any phone call we handle is the image of our company in that moment. Source: … [Read more...]
Prep for career changes
Mergers, acquisitions, buyouts, downsizing and ladder-climbing all cause career changes. Whether you are 25 or 55, this piece presents solid reminders for all animal health pros. Source: Money, April 2016, page 24. (direct link unavailable) Whether you have sought change or have been forced to make a change it can strain your finances at least in the short term. The … [Read more...]
What’s the buzz?
Barb Crabbe, DVM, discusses the three main threats mosquitoes pose to horses: Eastern equine encephalomyelitis Western equine encephalomyelitis West Nile virus These diseases are part of five diseases recommended for annual vaccinations from the AAEP core vaccination guidelines. The others are rabies and tetanus. Source: Horse and Rider, April 2016, pages 52-59. … [Read more...]
Vets + nutrition ≠ lack of knowledge
Amy Farcas, DVM DACVN takes on perceptions that veterinarians do not know much about nutrition. She presents a strong case that veterinarians’ nutrition deficiencies are not knowledge-based. Instead they represent a communication issue. Source: Dr. Andy Roark, March 10, 2016. While nutrition is absolutely present in the veterinary curriculum in the US, talking about … [Read more...]
4 gifts from veterinary medicine
It takes time to see where Dr. Andy Roark is going with this metaphor. Considering we’re nearing the end of the first quarter of 2016, we need to see how well we have been taking care of our dog team. All animal health pros should heed the wisdom here and consider if it is time to rotate our dogs. Source: Dr. Andy Roark, September 15, 2015. On your first day working with … [Read more...]
Laminitis – special report
Horse owners will read and mull over the information shared in this laminitis special report. Two main articles discuss 1) the increasing prevalence of the endocrine form and its relationship to grass and forage and 2) keys to preventing laminitis. There’s no doubt that many questions could be asked of veterinary teams, dealers and retailers as a consequence of reading and … [Read more...]
Equine vaccination Q and A
Horse owners have questions about vaccines. Nancy Loving, DVM addresses common questions from magazine readers in this article. Veterinary teams, dealers and representatives will find value in understanding the horse owner perspectives. The questions remind us that our knowledge when not shared leaves our customers with questions. Source: The Horse, March 2016, page 16. … [Read more...]
Beef and pork no longer need to be COOL (labeled)
Beef and pork producers got confirmation March 2nd that COOL regulations would no longer apply to their production processes. COOL regulatory requirements for chicken, lamb, goat, farm-raised and wild-caught fish and shellfish, perishable agricultural commodities, peanuts, pecans, macadamia nuts and ginseng remain in effect. Source: Beef Producer, March 3, 2016. Under this … [Read more...]
Editorial – Home delivery still growing
Articles about opportunities in the pet retail business often make me scratch my head. How can retailers get so excited and veterinary hospitals remain blasé’. For nearly 15 years, veterinarians have been offered opportunities to use various home delivery platforms to auto-fulfill standing prescriptions, brand diversity in large categories and specialty products. Yet, these … [Read more...]
Academic institutions called to lead change in veterinary technology
Dr. Little explores: additive manufacturing applications in healthcare, the disconnect between data and our healthcare system, a big milestone in artificial intelligence and a new series of blog posts on what DVMs can do to build the future he has presented in recent posts. Source: Exponential Vet, March 15, 2016. In some circles, academia is seen as the anti-thesis of … [Read more...]
Thyroid treatment shake-up
The first brand of veterinary levothyroxine sodium to receive FDA approval has created a shake-up in long-standing treatment protocols for hypothyroidism in dogs. Nine out of 10 brands of levothyroxine sodium can no longer be manufactured or distributed due to a federal initiative to lower the number of unapproved animal drugs on the market. Acknowledging this disruption, FDA … [Read more...]
All saleable milk is antibiotic free
Antibiotic testing is part of milk collection and management. According to the National Milk Drug Residue database, dairy producers increased the number of antibiotic free milk loads to 99.988% of all loads of milk delivered in 2015. Source: Hoard’s Dairyman, March 7, 2016. Every load of milk delivered to dairy processing plants is tested for the presence of antibiotics. … [Read more...]
Why do dogs groan when they lie down?
I never would I have thought to share my dog’s lying-down habits when asked about any changes in his behavior. However, his groaning may signal something. Veterinary hospital teams can use this article to discuss expanding patient intake questions to reflect potential behaviors that indicate discomfort or other issues. Source: Dogster, March 1, 2016. Groans, moans, sighs, … [Read more...]
Train dogs to look at you
Celebrity trainer, Cesar Millan shares that besides housebreaking, training dogs to look at you or their owner may be the most important lesson to teach them. It can be immensely helpful at home, as well in public, as gaining attention is very important for a dog’s safety. Source: Cesar’s Way, March 9, 2016. Follow these steps to get your dog to look at you on cue: … [Read more...]
Use best nutritional practices for liver disease patients
Liver disease affects animals differently. Jennifer L. Garcia, DVM, discusses common clinical signs associated with liver disease and individualized dietary plans to consider. Senior veterinarians can use this article when mentoring associate DVMs and technicians. Source: DVM 360, March 7, 2016. Patients with liver disease will require special dietary considerations, but … [Read more...]
Undiluted essential oils can be dangerous for dogs
Rita Hogan, co-founder of Farm Dog Naturals, calls the use of essential oils a movement among pet owners. There is no regulatory system in place for essential oil standards. Veterinary hospital teams can use this information proactively in blogs, websites, social media and newsletters. Source: Dogs Naturally, March 11, 2016. Good intentions, marketing and misinformation … [Read more...]
Farm Journal Media acquires Vance Publishing
Farm Journal Media announced the acquisition of the agricultural assets of Vance Publishing last December. Publications from both companies with new looks and names are now hitting our mailboxes. Some magazine titles have closed. Details about the acquisition and the future of those titles are presented in this article. Source: AgriMarketing, January/February 2016. The … [Read more...]
Feline anesthesia and analgesia: recent developments
Products approved by the FDA for use in felines are historically sparse. Recently, there have been a few new approvals. Source: Today’s Veterinary Practice, March/April 2016, page 20. In this peer-reviewed article, Kristen Messenger, DVM, North Carolina State University, reviews current and new options for our feline friends. … [Read more...]
Insufficient sleep costs business
Animal health pros burn the candle at both ends this time of year. Veterinary team members often get little sleep during calving season, managing emergency visits or keeping track of post-surgery animals. Reps put in a full day making calls, then travel after hours only to find two hours of email work waiting when they get to the motel. This article explores the link between … [Read more...]
AVMA offers help with VFD
As the Veterinary Feed Directive (VFD) becomes reality, AVMA offers expertise. Veterinarians wanting help filing VFDs can use a model form and instructions the association offers. VFD regulations require veterinarian oversight of antimicrobials in drug classes considered important to human medicine. Source: JAVMA News, March 2, 2016. The AVMA published the model form in … [Read more...]
Cargill receives Secretary of State’s 2015 Award for Corporate Excellence
The transition from traditional corporate social responsibility to a shared-value framework, sustainability, brand identity and the challenges of consumer perceptions are discussed in this Q and A piece. We often are unaware of the commitment a corporation may make to long-term improvement of our industry and allied industries. Congratulations to Cargill and the other award … [Read more...]
Spring in to parasite control
Spring’s greening grass brings opportunities to cow-calf producers and the channels that supply and advise them. Prevention remains a primary objective. Spring parasite control is near the top of the to-do list as cows calve and move to grass. In this article, Joe Darrington, South Dakota State University extension associate, presents a good review of parasiticide compounds and … [Read more...]
Breaking rules creates conflict
When asked to break the rules at work, most of us experience conflict. We can face the challenges of fine lines, gray areas, ethics, morals and legality with more confidence using principled rebellion, a strategy for being rationally and systematically unreasonable at work when absolutely necessary. Source: Harvard Business Review, January 7, 2016. When asked to break the … [Read more...]
Top 5 puppy behavior tips
There’s nothing like a new puppy. But the new wears off fast if the puppy isn’t taught to behave well. All animal health professionals get questions about “my new puppy” from friends and colleagues. The tips featured here help set proper expectations when dealing with a new puppy. Source: Clinician’s Brief, February 2016. Puppies are primed to learn, and veterinarians are … [Read more...]
Two-thirds of managers are uncomfortable communicating with employees
This article was uncomfortable to read. Our successes require leaders who can effectively communicate with individuals and teams. People thrive on feedback. Still, managers and leaders shy away from giving direct feedback about their employees’ performance if they think employees may respond negatively. Source: Harvard Business Review, March 9, 2016. Survey results showed … [Read more...]
Airborne transmission suspected in human M. bovis cases
The human-animal bond takes on a different meaning when zoonotic diseases are involved. Cases like these underscore the importance of best management practices in production protocols, food safety and disease prevention. Source: Bovine Veterinarian, March 09, 2016. Investigations into two human cases of Mycobacterium bovis infection resulting in tuberculosis (TB) in … [Read more...]
GMO debate gets weirder
If you follow GMO discussions, you’ll enjoy John Phillips’ take on this controversy. His viewpoint clearly outlines the challenges inherent with advancing science. A few tongue-in-cheek references are worth a chuckle too. Source: Top Producer, March 2016. Any definition you can come up with to identify a GMO can be rapidly nullified because of new technology or because it … [Read more...]
Dogs and us are at risk for leptosprirosis
Veterinary hospital teams and sales representatives who support them need to read articles like this one that support leptospirosis vigilance. It reviews the lepto sources, vaccination and other preventative measures pet owners can implement. Source: Dogster, April/May 2016, page 38. (direct link unavailable) Even if the dog lives 24/7 indoors or wears protective booties on … [Read more...]
Ethics important when deciding on rebates, incentives
Doctors Messer, Peterson and Morgan provide perspective on the influence of animal health company rebates or incentives on product choices in this article. It reviews ethics and professional guidelines from AAEP and the AVMA plus the need for clinical diagnoses and VCPR. Source: Equine Veterinary Education, AE, February 2016, page III. (direct link unavailable) Certainly … [Read more...]
Editorial – Engage customers. Grow business.
Companies in the business-to-business (B2B) sector engage just 29 percent of customers, according to Gallup. In other words, we’re letting 71 percent go astray. This article calls all of us in the channel of influence to act. It means we must spend more time and resources to understand customers’ perspectives. This is true for veterinary teams and retail associates, as well as … [Read more...]