Chris Edmonds presents workplace respect from a leadership development perspective and the importance of workplace culture. He says where respect is inconsistent across workplace interactions and relationships, three significant costs occur: Loss of talent Loss of reputation Loss of money Source: SmartBrief, February 24, 2021. Link. . . . the truth is that … [Read more...]
The most comprehensive guide to evaluating Veterinary PIMS
Sponsored Content In general, veterinary practice information management software features include appointment scheduling, electronic medical records, prescription processing, reminders, client database, invoicing, accounting, inventory tracking and reports based on the data acquired ,writes William Forsey. There is no very best veterinary practice management software, … [Read more...]
Worth a Glance – March 18, 2021
The 5 best TED Talks to watch today Source: Forbes, March 5, 2021. Link. Topics include work stress, side hustles, anxiety gaps, teaching girls, freelancing. Four causes for ‘Zoom fatigue’ and their simple fixes Source: Stanford News, February 23, 2021. Link. “Videoconferencing is a good thing for remote communication, but just … [Read more...]
Manage calf pain during disbudding and dehorning
Research shows that calves experience pain from disbudding and dehorning, so including pain management is critical to their health. It’s up to producers, but veterinarians need to educate them about the importance of pain management. Source: The Bullvine, March 15, 2021. Link. Every farm should have a standard operating procedure for these animal health practices, so that … [Read more...]
Understanding beef implants
Let’s review. Growth-promoting implants in beef cattle production are used to increase muscle accretion and market weight by increasing daily gain and feed efficiency. Implants must meet stringent requirements to be deemed safe for consumers and animals. Implants have a minuscule effect on hormone content of beef.” Source: Progressive Cattle, March 8, 2021. Link. Implanted … [Read more...]
Simmons. Animal health is a game changer
Jeffrey Simmons, president and CEO of Elanco, says we aren’t going to eat our way out of climate change with plant-based foods. He emphasizes that animal health is a game changer, not just for the well-being of animals, but for society to obtain a stable environment, clean water, clean air and high-quality food. Source: LinkedIn, Elanco, March 11, 2021. (video) Link. Our … [Read more...]
Why is that horse doing that?
A lot of content is still valuable years after its origin. Barb Crabbe, DVM, shared odd horse behaviors, how to tell if something is wrong and what to do about it in this article first published in 2015. She shares some examples when medical disorders were the underlying cause of aberrant horse behavior. . . . a horse can’t talk . . so he depends on you to listen to his … [Read more...]
Optimal nutrition calculators for cats and dogs available
OPINION Pet owners are responsible for their pets’ proper nutrition. Too often we hear questions about specific brands of pet food wanting a yes or no answer. The same goes for treat brands and then there are table scraps. Bottom-line, daily Kcal (calorie) calculations are important before brand discussion, although a proper assessment may identify the need for … [Read more...]
Five self-sabotaging habits and their healthy counterparts
Rebecca Rose, CVT, is a tireless champion for creating a healthy, sustainable career in veterinary medicine. She presents common self-sabotaging habits and their healthy counterparts. The topic is timely as animal health pros move into the next phases of Covid-19 recovery and whatever the next normal brings. Source: Veterinary Practice News, January 21, 2021. Link. … [Read more...]
Heartworm review and update
Whether living in endemic or nonendemic areas, heartworm remains a top priority parasite for dogs and cats. Andrew R. Moorhead, DVM, MS, PhD, DACVM (Parasitology), reviews the life cycle and strategies for prevention and treatment. It is crucial to test all dogs for microfilariae at the same time as antigen testing.” Source: Clinician’s Brief, March 2021. Link. Treatment … [Read more...]
Why vet med might really kill you: Dr. Jen’s Top 5 deadliest pathogens
Sponsored Content Dr. Jen the Vet recently shared her video presentation about zoonotic diseases. Sponsored by Virox Technologies® her presentation was part of the recent Viticus Animal Health Virtual Summit. . . . while this video is focused on veterinary medicine and those working in animal health, the information is just as useful for pet parents! - Jenifer Chatfield, … [Read more...]
Winnie the Pooh’s timeless resilience tips
Oh, bother!” – Winnie the Pooh Nearly 100 years since he was created, Pooh’s simple wisdoms still make us think about the importance of friendship, love and courage. Karen Nimmo shares the best of Pooh-isms still relevant in 2021. Source: Medium, January 21, 2021. Link. Could be worse. Not sure how, but it could be.” — Eeyore … [Read more...]
March is National Sleep Month
Take this month to think about your sleep habits. Consider how much they affect your well-being and take a step to improve them. Sleep is an essential component of wellness, and there are innumerable factors that influence sleep and sleep patterns. Few things impact mental health more than sleep. Sources: National Sleep Foundation. Link. Sleep Foundation, One Care Media … [Read more...]
Raising capable and empowered pet parents
The efforts to educate and raise capabilities in animal owners are as important as building capabilities in employees. In this context. compliance takes on a new, more appropriate meaning. Kudos to the MWI Animal Health team for providing this thoughtful article. Teach clients how to be better partners in their pet’s health care and THANK THEM!” Source: MWI Messenger Focus - … [Read more...]
Capability building should be a strategic weapon in business
OPINION Almost every week we see articles promoting using veterinary staff more effectively. It takes time and trust to progressively delegate tasks to professional or support staff. The real-world use of skilled professionals is not plug and play. It is a long-term effort to develop and improve skills of team members at all levels. Liz Hilton Segel discusses the … [Read more...]
Worth a Glance – March 11, 2021
Ionophores help control coccidiosis and more Source: Dairy Herd Management, March 4, 2021. Link. Ionophores promote calf health and performance through a combination of disease control and improved feed efficiency. They also have shown numerous benefits in dry, transition, and lactating cow rations. 5 signs indicate the time to consult a professional obedience … [Read more...]
Drafting heifer contracts that stick
Many handshake agreements have blown up over misunderstandings on what was said or what was agreed upon. Penn State University dairy Extension specialists recommend a full contract that sets a comprehensive fee for the grower to raise heifers for a specific length of time. Well-written legal contracts protect both parties in a business relationship by laying out the terms and … [Read more...]
Landrace Bankhar dogs being redeveloped to strengthen Mongolian nomad lifestyle
Varieties or types of plants or animals that have developed over time to suit the conditions of a local area are called landrace. For 15,000 years, Bankhar dogs protected livestock and livelihoods on the Mongolian steppe. Nearly lost, the revered dogs are making a slow and intentional comeback. Source: Atlas Obscura, February 23, 2021. Link. Also see: Bankhar Dog … [Read more...]
National Pet Dental Health month is over. What’s the message now?
Opinion A leading veterinary professional is focusing on oral care at home. But are clients getting the message? A recent experience indicates oral care is not top of mind*. Johnathon R. (Bert) Dodd, DVM, FAVD, DAVDC, shares the importance of oral health care for pets. He focuses on gingivitis, daily oral care at home and annual teeth cleanings by veterinarians. . . . … [Read more...]
Meeting inventory needs a year later
Opinion Looking ahead through July, can you trust purchase history and forecasts?” – Kirk Augustine ABSOLUTELY NOT! The pandemic shutdown began a year ago. Replenishment slowed to a near halt. Inventory items on hand were motionless until late May or June. Now a year later, our industry has adjusted through curbside services, tele-everything and animal owners have migrated … [Read more...]
Beyond burned out and beyond self-care
Today’s level of burnout is the result of an existing problem made exponentially worse, says Jennifer Moss. The pandemic was an accelerant. Combating burnout may feel like an impossible task, especially after months of emotional fatigue, but if you’re armed with the right tools, it can be easier than you might think. Despite how massive the burnout problem is, it’s never too … [Read more...]
E-Commerce leads 2020 channel growth in human, pet spaces
Before you label this post as more of the same, consider the information in the article. The top online searches related to pet products are: Calming products Digestive support Energy support Probiotics Source: Petfood Industry, February 2021. Link. Three pet food companies were among the top 10 e-commerce brands in 2020.” INSIGHTS: Whether you play in the … [Read more...]
More pets, fewer vets. Now what?
A staggering one in four employees plans to leave their employer after the Covid-19 pandemic subsides, according to a new survey. Already short of qualified workers, the veterinary practice industry faces big hurdles according to Bob Lester, DVM: Cost of care Cost of education Wellness in both people and pets AND The workforce shortage Source: Vet … [Read more...]
All segments of industry should agree – cruelty, neglect are NEVER acceptable
This blog post by Temple Grandin, PhD, MS, Colorado State University animal welfare specialist, is worth your time, no matter which segment of the industry you represent. It is time for us all to agree on these issues. Animal welfare and neglect are important considerations for all animal health pros regardless of the animal species involved.” It needs to be made very clear … [Read more...]
How to respond when an employee discloses a mental health condition
It takes a lot of courage for an employee to disclose they have a mental health condition. Navigate the conversation carefully. Start by thanking them for telling you, but don’t make a big deal about the disclosure. It’s important to treat it like you would any other medical issue. It’s important to keep in mind that the employee likely had to overcome a lot of fear to talk … [Read more...]
3 tips to prevent clostridial diseases on dairies
Mark van der List, DVM, shares information that refreshes our understanding of clostridial diseases. These insidious bacteria are opportunistic and may lie dormant for years before showing up usually in the form of a dead animal. van der list shares three key management practices to help combat the clostridial nemeses: Vaccination Maternal antibodies for calves … [Read more...]
Are farmers teaching cows bad habits?
It could be that slug feeding methods are forcing dairy cattle to eat too much too quickly causing a negative impact on the rumen environment. Management plays a role in feed bunk behavior, as farmers don’t have to just think about what feed animals consume, but also the manner in which they eat it. Source: Hoard’s Dairyman, February 25, 20212. Link. Factors to consider when … [Read more...]
Detecting transition cow problems
Overall production problems can usually be traced back to a cow’s dry/transition period. Virginia A. Ishler says it is helpful to know if that is really the issue before solving the problem. She shares information from the DHIA 202 summary report to help determine if a problem is occurring related to transition. Source: Dairy Herd Management, June 8, 2020. Link. If two out … [Read more...]
Effects of a mastitis treatment strategy with or without on-farm testing
We respect the assessment of hands-on experience in real daily farm settings that was part of this study. We’ve shared an excerpt of the summary verbatim. Using on-farm tests in farmers' decision-making process resulted in more treatments in accordance with the etiology of mastitis than without on-farm testing. A diagnosis and treatment strategy with on-farm testing is … [Read more...]
Understanding insulin resistance in horses
Complimentary Sponsored Content from Kentucky Performance Products, LLC. One of the more common metabolic problems horses develop involves insulin, the hormone that enables the body to use glucose. This edition of EQUUS Extra explores how insulin resistance develops in horses, what can be done about it and how this problem increases the risk of laminitis and other … [Read more...]