Opinion It has taken 30 or more years for calf preconditioning to become a household phrase. For any producer, preconditioning may have a different meaning than his neighbors’. Veterinarians and representatives working with producers must continue to discuss, educate and fine tune preconditioning programs for individual operations. Preconditioning’s value has been proven … [Read more...]
Heat, humidity factors in equine heat stress
Complimentary Commercial Content Horses need clean water, shade, moving air and exercise breaks to avoid overheating when temperatures and humidity combine to create heat stress. Source: Equine Wellness, June 24, 2021. Link. Evidence suggests that insulin action is a key component of the heat stress response. Chromium improves insulin function and results in efficient … [Read more...]
Presumed transmission of SARS-CoV-2 from a cat to a veterinarian
Scott Weese, DVM, shares strong evidence of cat-to-veterinarian transmission in an upcoming paper. He wasn’t surprised this could happen, but the circumstances serve as a safety warning to veterinary teams. Weese shares the cat from a SARS-CoV-2 owner home was healthy and the veterinarian collected nasal and rectal swabs for SARS-CoV-2 testing. In the process, the cat … [Read more...]
Salmonella and E. coli common in raw pet food
A Portuguese study sought to find out if raw dog food could be a source of Salmonella and/or E. coli, specifically strains that show resistance to critical antibiotics such as colistin. E. coli was detected in all 14 samples produced by two international brands. Furthermore, 71 percent of these samples, primarily those from products containing poultry, contained … [Read more...]
Fearful dog? Teach avoidance.
Victoria Stillwell shares ideas to help fearful dogs. She advocates to give the animal choices and proactively ensure it can avoid things that increase fearful responses. The dog who has the courage to walk away is much easier to handle than the dog who responds aggressively. Practicing avoidance promotes confidence, and repeated experience helps your dog be happier with the … [Read more...]
Why we owe it to ourselves to spend quiet time alone every day
Invisibly, almost without notice, we are losing ourselves, says physicist and writer Alan Lightman, PhD. He explains the need for a societal, mental attitude that values and protects stillness, privacy, solitude, slowness and personal reflection. This time should honor the inner self and allows each of us to wander about without schedule within our own minds. Source: … [Read more...]
People are quitting over in-person work and hiring younger workers gets harder
Seldom a week passes without articles about workforce shortages, challenges and changing candidate expectations appearing in multiple sources. Business owners and hiring managers struggle to remodel how work is done to retain current talent and meet prospective candidates’ desires. It is a veritable tightrope that must be walked. We’re sharing two articles about retention … [Read more...]
Juneteenth celebrates freedom this Sunday and all month
Juneteenth, the date marking the emancipation of enslaved Black Americans and now an official holiday, is this Sunday. The holiday commemorates June 19, 1965, when Maj. Gen. Gordon Granger arrived in Galveston, Texas, and read a federal order abolishing slavery in the state. Though the Civil War ended April 9 of that year, it took Union forces until June to reach Texas with … [Read more...]
Forage concerns and management in drought areas
A few of the recent storm systems have eased drought concerns in some areas. Still, without sustained moisture over the next three months, keeping livestock fed without depleting grazing forage will remain a hot topic for coffee shops, veterinary visits, machine sheds, bankers and regional extension specialists. Hay and Forage Grower Magazine stays abreast of grass and … [Read more...]
DVMs use goldfish to keep stock tanks clean
Marissa Hake, DVM, shares how goldfish help keep stock tanks clean. The goldfish stocking rate is one fish per 30 gallons of water. The fish do not need to be fed and can survive off chunks that fall in from cows’ mouths. Source: calfvet, Instagram, June 5, 2022. Link. Also see: Fish in the water trough, Dr Erik Johnson, Veterinarian, September 1, 2020. Link. By adding … [Read more...]
12 fascinating facts about roosters
Pam Freeman shares interesting facts about roosters. Even chicken enthusiasts may not know: Rooster reproduction is driven by the sun Roosters are not always in charge, but do keep order among the hens You can have more than one rooster Source: Backyard Poultry, May 31, 2022. Link. A rooster is not needed to have chicken eggs. Hens will lay eggs regardless of … [Read more...]
Court ruling deems horses naturally inclined to do mischief or be vicious
In May 2006, Anthony Vendrella’s 2-year-old son was bitten by a horse at Glendale Farms in Milford, Connecticut. The injury required corrective surgery and left a permanent scar. Vendrella sued the farm’s owner, lost his first lawsuit and won his appeal to the Connecticut Supreme Court in 2013. The court deemed horses as “inclined to do mischief or be vicious” and found the … [Read more...]
Dental pain in cats: A prospective 6-month study
This study from in a Portuguese veterinary hospital summarizes evaluations of 64 cats that randomly presented for different dental procedures. Researchers wanted to understand feline dental disease as a pain trigger during routine examination and whether disease severity correlates to the degree of pain. This study concluded that cats with dental disease feel pain during … [Read more...]
The quality of life question ALL DVMs should be asking
Certified in hospice and palliative care, Cherie T. Buisson, DVM, CHPV, faced agonizing thoughts and questions when her own dog’s quality of life reached a decision point. Her wrestling, rationales and emotions are expressed in her blog post. The decision point came in the form of a question Buisson now uses with clients when facing end of life decisions. What will he be … [Read more...]
4 ways to have cost conversations with clients
Sponsored Content Compiled from more than 1,200 veterinary professionals, results from the 2021 AAHA Financial Care Study* shine a spotlight on opportunities for practices to improve the way they discuss costs with animal owners. The four key takeaways and the associated statements shared in this article are worth reviewing with the entire veterinary team. These statements … [Read more...]
AAHA Connexity. Early bird pricing ends tomorrow.
Complimentary Reminder Connexity is for everyone in the veterinary industry. From veterinarians to vet techs, practice managers to medical directors, find your colleagues at Connexity. Recharge your energy. Rekindle your passion. Reconnect with friends and colleagues. September 14-17, 2022. Nashville, TN. Source: AAHA NEWStat, June 7, 2022. Link. … [Read more...]
PetSmart launches new veterinary service practice
Deploying an independent business ownership model, PetSmart Veterinary Services is positioned to provide a complete solution for veterinarians to open their own franchised practice. The more convenient vet hospital locations will connect pet owners with local, trusted veterinarians. To ensure the highest standard of care, every PVS hospital will be required to maintain … [Read more...]
Futile veterinary care is widespread, study finds
We’re confident some of you have seen the results of the new Cornell-led study that documents the prevalence of futile care. If not, the article from Cornell is a good place to gain some knowledge. Futile care is defined as continuing treatment when relevant goals can no longer be reached. The veterinarians’ sense of obligation to pet owners was reflected in the data, with 60 … [Read more...]
5 ways to stop overthinking and make faster decisions at work
Deliberation is an essential quality, especially when we have so many options. Yet, decision making can get stalled with overthinking. Melody Wilding shares five strategies to break the cycle of overthinking and make confident decisions in less time. Wilding focuses her strategies on a profile type she calls a sensitive striver. These are high-achieving persons who process … [Read more...]
Over 55, not retired after all
The pandemic created opportunities for many persons to leave the workforce as they had known it. Some took early retirement. Some quit to avoid Covid. Now they find themselves needing to make ends meet or being lured back for more flexible jobs and higher wages. The return of older workers has been concentrated among those in their late 50s and early 60s, people who were … [Read more...]
VetX International seeking input for 2022 VEER Study
VetX International recently launched a survey for veterinarians, nurses and students to assess the key drivers of career happiness, stress and mental wellbeing. More survey entries will enable deeper insight into the current landscape of veterinary medicine. Take 10 minutes to share your perspectives. Survey Link. Source: Brendan Howard, LinkedIn. June 1, 2022. Link. … [Read more...]
Email remains the cornerstone of many marketing initiatives
Myriad marketing efforts influence the buying behaviors of online shoppers. Emails have the most influence, from general mailings seen as influential among 44 percent of those who are part of the post-purchase communication flow. A recent Digital Commerce 360 survey reviewed buyer preferences and responses to different types of marketing communications. Saving shoppers money … [Read more...]
Chewy behind Amazon, ahead of Walmart in automatic reorders
Forty-four percent of Chewy’s customers are enrolled in its Autoship program, which lets customers specify when they want replenishment orders. Those customers spend considerably more than others who shop on Chewy.com. Autoship customers buy $820 per year on average from Chewy versus $423 for other Chewy customers. They buy 15.5 times annually versus 10.4 times and spend $53 … [Read more...]
Facts versus myth. Telling the story of beef sustainability.
Grilling season often elicits concerns about meat production. Sustainability, environmental perceptions and the lack of consumer education can escalate those discussions. The beef industry has responded to the criticisms assertively addressing fact versus myth and reminding consumers that beyond the meat, there are a lot of uses for cattle byproducts. We’re sharing two … [Read more...]
Worth a Glance – June 2, 2022
Last week’s most read posts Why is it so hard to shut up? Link. Last week’s AHD Bulletin Animal Health Digest Bulletin, Thursday, May 26, 2022. Link. =================================== The best (legal) site for free e-books, music, and movies Source: Fast Company, May 15, 2022. Link. Hoopla acts like a library, meaning that you’re “borrowing” content for a … [Read more...]
Performance impact of weaning pigs at older age
Raising pigs to meet market demands has required considerable research to manage pig health, sow fertility, genetics, nutrition, meat quality and production costs. Weaning age trials done by Pipestone Applied Research shows promising results across many factors. An older pig grew faster and was hardier, requiring less labor and overall production inputs on the finishing … [Read more...]
Horses don’t need glasses
Remembering the famous Mr. Ed from reruns of the 1960s television program, Rebecca Berry became curious about horses’ eyesight. She says horses rarely have issues with their eyes focusing light, which is why they don’t need glasses, contacts or a powerful light source. Source: Horse Network, May 17, 2022. Link. Horses are thought to have 20/30 to 20/60 vision. This … [Read more...]
Would your life improve if you just accepted it?
We received positive comments about including content from John P. Weiss in a recent AHD Bulletin. In his Saturday letter, Weiss shares his perspectives on the power of acceptance. He challenges us to avoid resignation and embrace acceptance. Imagine how your life could change if you embraced acceptance, let go of what’s not working, and started focusing on the areas where … [Read more...]
Negativity dominates daily thoughts. Why and what to do about it.
It turns out we humans might be built for negativity, making us our own worst enemy, writes Merilee A. Kern. She shares the perspectives of several professionals. Thoughts are powerful things, and both the positive and negative lead to our moods, our physiological symptoms and our behaviors. . . “ - Monica Vermani, B.Sc., M.A., Psy.D. Source: Fast Company, May 21, 2022. … [Read more...]
Did you smile or laugh a lot yesterday?
Jennifer Aaker and Naomi Bagdonas are on a mission to bring humor back into our lives. They say humor is a teachable skill and one of the most appreciated assets at work. . . . as far as our brains are concerned, laughing is like exercising, meditating and having sex . . . at the same time, but logistically easier.” Source: TEDMonterey, July 20, 2021. Link. (9 minutes) Our … [Read more...]