Commentary Horse enthusiasts and owners will value Chelsie J. Huseman’s, MS, PhD, article on equine diagnostics. Embedded links for each disease make this a layperson’s guide to equine diseases and testing. If you work with horse owners, the article will likely influence discussions or come up in conversation about a problem horse. We recommend veterinary teams review it … [Read more...]
How smartphones fragment our attention span
Tom Johnson’s struggles to understand what had happened to his focus revealed that smartphones are wrecking our ability to focus. His systematic treatise on how smartphones effect our lives and attention is a worthy read. Source: I’d Rather be Writing, April 10, 2022. Link. Every incoming bit of information requires you to make a decision about it, removing you from your … [Read more...]
Americans perceive gaps in mental, physical healthcare
Three-quarters of Americans think mental health issues are identified and treated worse than physical health issues in the U.S., according to a new survey from West Health and Gallup. Critical for the animal health industry, these perceptions challenge how we provide benefits and support for animal health pros. Beyond the stigma, the metrics identify access and cost of care as … [Read more...]
Why we need fewer performance reviews and more check-ins
Leadership expert, author Ashley Goodall, argues that check-ins are a more personal way for teams to set goals. He shares when Cisco researchers looked at the relationship between frequency and effect, they found that a biweekly conversation had a clear, positive effect, and that a weekly conversation had a very big, indeed positive effect. Source: Fast Company, May 6, 2024. … [Read more...]
Follow your dreams and other terrible career advice
An industry leader shared Bonnie Hammer’s essay with us along with this comment, “This message needs to be sent to the new generation of animal health professionals.” Hammer, vice chair of NBCUniversal pulls no punches. She says: It’s no wonder that when young people start working, too many feel betrayed or bored having been told that they could do anything growing … [Read more...]
Nature can’t run without parasites. What happens when they start to disappear? (video)
Commentary Millions of dollars are spent annually to get rid of parasites. This article challenges much of the traditional thinking about parasites as bad things. In some ways, it reminds me of the microbiome discoveries and advancements of the last 50 years that continue to change how we think about the role of intestinal bacteria. Parasite ecologist Chelsea Wood … [Read more...]
Worth a Glance – May 2, 2024
Last week’s AHD Bulletin – Animal Health Digest Bulletin, April 25, 2024. Link. Most read post(s) from the April 25th AHD Bulletin – 9 Gen Z work trends, not new but hit differently now. Link. Employee engagement in the U.S. hits 11-year low. Link. Cull cows, beef value now important for dairy profits. Link. ===================================== The … [Read more...]
Virox celebrates 25 years
Congratulations to the teams at Virox Technologies, Inc. on their 25-year milestone! An incredible team doing remarkable things in a rivalry of legacy established companies and chemistries, Virox continues to change the rules of the game!” - Randy Pilon MBA. ICD.D CEO & Founder at ViroxTechnolgies Inc. Source: Virox Technologies, Inc., YouTube, February 27, 2024. Link. … [Read more...]
Horse health issues associated with different stabling types
Researchers in Sweden recently evaluated the health differences between horses stabled in open environments with social interaction and free movement and horses stabled in stalls, explains Nancy Loving, DVM. The study authors concluded it’s best to stable horses in group housing with sufficient space and minimize regrouping of horses when possible.” Source: EquiManagement, … [Read more...]
9 strategies to grow your loyal customer base
Commentary Considering how easy it is to quit doing the basics, Syed Balkhi’s nine ways to focus on your existing customers and explore ways to generate more revenue from them may be worth reviewing. After all, few of us ever dislike hearing ”dijuwanfrieswitdat?” at the drive-through window. Pursuing new prospects is great and all, but you shouldn’t disregard the … [Read more...]
Why vet bills are so high
Opinion article by Helaine Olen The circulation of The Atlantic is broad enough that Helaine Olens’ opinion piece will reach some clients of veterinary hospitals. She provides a well-informed opinion piece indicting Big Vet while recognizing pet owners’ inclinations to do whatever it takes to extend their pet’s lives. The emergence of Big Vet and the injection of cutthroat … [Read more...]
New program to open access to veterinary care to underserved animals nationwide
The Veterinary Innovation Council has announced the launch of new resources to address the nationwide problem of access to veterinary care and new comprehensive services to help veterinarians reach underserved patients. Through its Access to Care Resource Hub, veterinary professionals will find the tools, knowledge and resources they need to offer greater access to veterinary … [Read more...]
CDC’s new HeatRisk tool
The CDC and National Weather Service have teamed up to roll out two experimental tools nationwide that will help public health officials and citizens to better prepare for dangerous heat: HeatRisk Dashboard and HeatRisk Forecast. Given the challenges heat brings to livestock production and companion animal safety, these tools can help animal health pros stay safe and more … [Read more...]
Worth a Glance – April 25, 2024
Last week’s AHD Bulletin – Animal Health Digest Bulletin, April 18, 2024. Link. Most read post(s) from the April 18th AHD Bulletin – NAAVR launched to elevate, support veterinary client service pros. Link. Solitude. Link. Top beef cow counties in the U.S. Link. ===================================== Scientists say animal consciousness needs a … [Read more...]
Summer sores; prevention, causes, clinical signs, diagnostics and treatment
Summer sores are skin lesions in horses mostly seen during hot summer months when flies are active. The sores are a parasitic infection caused by specific types of nematodes in the family Habronematidae (roundworms). Flies play a primary role in the life cycle of Haronematidae worms, depositing the infective nematode larvae in the body, typically in moist regions such as lips, … [Read more...]
How pet owners define a “good death”
Sponsored Content End-of-life decisions are difficult for pet owners and veterinary teams alike. While much has been written about end-of-life conversations, much less is known about owners’ preferences when it comes to the actual procedure, writes Lori Kogan, PhD. Kogan shares what was learned from research investigating what factors matter most to pet owners when … [Read more...]
When procrastination is productive
When genuinely more important things interfere with side projects, procrastinating on the side project is the correct thing to do, writes Scott Young. He shares the important distinction between maintenance activities and aspirational goals asserting achieving goals is an optimization problem. Source: Scott H. Young. Link. Productivity isn’t throwing out all your existing … [Read more...]
Services semantics. A new name for drop-off.
Sometimes referenced as the ‘Queen of Scripts,’ Wendy S. Myers, CVJ, says day admission appointment may be a better way to position drop-off services. She also offers alternatives for wellness testing in the form of five strategies to increase compliance. Source: DVM 360, April 18, 2024. Link. INSIGHTS: Whatever descriptive language you choose, be sure the entire staff … [Read more...]
9 Gen Z work trends that aren’t new but hit differently now
We are starting to see old ideas manifest in new ways as the next generations enter the workplace and bring their unique perspectives, writes Leila Frankina. She shares trends and values that are getting revived in the workplace. Of note, yet familiar, are quiet promotion, proximity bias and productivity theater. As they enter the workforce, one in five Gen Zers hold more than … [Read more...]
Marketing bulls as feeder calves rather than castrating costs producers
Kellie Curry Raper shares numbers that reflect an overall increase in the proportion of bulls coming through feeder calf sales. She shares data showing that not castrating bull calves costs producers as much as $56/head on 500-pound animals. Raper also reminds us of research indicating multiple animal performance benefits linked to earlier castration* including shorter … [Read more...]
Evaluating fecal microbiota transplant for treating diarrhea in adult horses
Nancy S. Loving, DVM, shares the results of research that evaluated the efficacy of fecal microbiota transplants in equine enterocolitis cases. The technique involves feces collected from a healthy equine donor. After straining the material, the veterinarian administers fecal fluid to a recipient horse via a nasogastric tube. Conclusions from this retrospective study … [Read more...]
A calculator to determine colic risk in horses
EQUUS' 7-question survey can help determine a horse's chances of developing colic and provides ideas for what can be done to protect its health. The survey score will provide a rough estimate of colic risk and the content shares some management changes that may help reduce colic risks. Source: EQUUS, April 10, 2024. Link. INSIGHTS: Tools like this survey can improve the … [Read more...]
Addressing vaccine hesitancy with animal owners
Providing a commentary on vaccine hesitancy, Lori Kogan, PhD, shares research-backed cognitive biases that can affect pet owners’ vaccine decisions. Beyond the analytics, she reminds animal health pros vaccine-reluctant pet owners are not stupid; they simply make poor choices based on their fears and biases. She recommends veterinary teams learn to adapt their vaccine messages … [Read more...]
The hidden risk of letting AI decide – losing the skills to choose for ourselves (video)
Sharing dangers of outsourcing decisions to AI, Joe Árvai, PhD, says AI is mere keystrokes away from making people even less disciplined and skilled when it comes to thoughtful decisions. He recognizes the potential benefits in cybersecurity, health care and finance, where complex models and massive amounts of data need to be analyzed routinely and quickly. Still, Árvai warns … [Read more...]
Worth a Glance – April 11, 2024
Last week’s AHD Bulletin – Animal Health Digest Bulletin, April 4, 2024. Link. Most read post(s) from the April 4th AHD Bulletin – Let’s stop calling them soft skills. They’re interpersonal skills. Leadership skills. Link. Finding joy. Link. The role of vehicle movement in swine disease transmission. Link. ===================================== Smells … [Read more...]
Banfield survey reveals heartworm prevention rates are declining
Despite mosquitoes that transmit disease being present in all 50 U.S. states and increases in heartworm incidence in cats and dogs, a Banfield survey reveals nearly 40 percent of pet owners don’t believe their pet is at risk for heartworm disease and almost 30 percent have not put their pet on a preventive medication. Source: Today’s Veterinary Practice, April 8, 2024. … [Read more...]
Nebraska Range Short Course, NBLC Grazing School might offer DVMs time with clients
Commentary Quality time coupled with advancing learning could benefit DVMs and key clients. While fishing and golf might sound fun, the 2024 Nebraska Range Short Course combined with the Nebraska Grazing Lands Coalition Grazing School is an opportunity for veterinarians to participate alongside their producer clients. It’s something to consider especially if next-generation … [Read more...]
Focus on heifers to improve reproduction success, costs
The main reproduction challenge on dairies now lies in the heifer herd, according to the University of Wisconsin-Madison’s Paul M. Fricke, PhD. He said, “Now that we’re raising fewer heifers, it’s more important to be better with them.” Fricke believes attention to reproduction is an important element in lowering the cost to raise a heifer to calving. Source: Hoard’s … [Read more...]
Buckle down on biosecurity: HPAI, BIAV
Mindy Ward’s title says it all, “Buckle down on biosecurity!” We’ve assembled a group of articles referencing emerging HPAI infections in non-bird species. Most notable is AABP’s renaming of the emerging cattle disease as Bovine Influenza A Virus versus HPAI followed by assertions to keep pets away from birds. There’s significant media coverage but, as we’ve learned before, … [Read more...]
Navigating the new pet care landscape
Asserting that the modern pet owner demands a more engaged, transparent and responsive veterinary experience, Aaron Massecar MA, PhD, and Kelly O’Brien share perspectives about practicing veterinary medicine in this digital and advancing technology age. They cite a study indicating online searches can strengthen the veterinary-client relationship and share the importance of a … [Read more...]