Minimum advertised pricing is one of the positive outcomes of a more aggressive OTC retail environment. While veterinarians may dislike having to change their focus from cost-based margin, MAP offers a much improved and level playing field at the customer’s pocketbook. Source: Veterinary Advantage, March 2020. Link. In today’s world, vendors need to have their products … [Read more...]
Subscription wellness plans: a long-term answer?
Bob Lester, DVM, shares his experiences and perspectives on subscription wellness plans. Subscription preventive care plans are not discount or loyalty programs. They are not pet insurance. Instead, they are a fundamental way of approaching veterinary practice. They empower clients and the veterinary team with a laser focus on delivering preventive care so that pets can live … [Read more...]
Renewal and recovery after Covid-19 (podcast)
Industry consultants Peter Weinstein, DVM, MBA, and Karen Felstad, DVM, CPA, MS, CVPM, CVA, discuss the tectonic shifts the veterinary profession is going through. They explore what the profession is learning, what habits should remain broken and which replacements should become entrenched in the daily routines of veterinary practices. They cover nine areas : … [Read more...]
The life of a fire ant queen (video)
Speaking of fire ants, here’s a short animation from TED-Ed that explains the lifecycle of a fire ant queen. From mating to death, it details the queen’s life in a way that is memorable for adults and youngsters alike. Source: YouTube, January 16, 2020. Link. Mating frenzies, sperm hoards, and brood raids: the life of a fire ant queen – Walter R. Tschinkel. Also see: … [Read more...]
They’re back and it’s gonna’ be loud!
In parts of southwestern Virginia, North Carolina and West Virginia, it's nearly time for a once-in-17-year emergence and mating season. As many as 1.5 million Brood IX cicadas could emerge per acre. Source: NPR, May 23, 2020. Link. Also see: Cicada Mania. Link. Also see: House Beautiful, May 21, 2020. Link. These periodic broods typically last four to six weeks before … [Read more...]
Equine herpesviruses, we’re still learning
EHV-1 and EHV-4 are alphaherpesviruses that generally bring to mind respiratory disease, abortion and neurologic disease. Horses are also hosts of EHV-3, an alphaherpesvirus that causes equine coital exanthema. Kate L. Hepworth-Warren, DVM, DACVIM, reminds us of the often forgotten EHV-2 and EHV-5, gammaherpesviruses are quite prevalent in the equine population, as well. … [Read more...]
Horses: skin care, socialization and going swimming
Horse owners are inquisitive. They work hard to own and nurture horses for what may be relatively few days of riding enjoyment. The articles below help clear up some issues with aggression and ensure horses and riders enjoy time together. Sources: Why horses need social bonds, Horse Network, May 20, 2020. Link. Domestic horses spend more time in aggressive behavior and … [Read more...]
It’s hard to floss a horse
Research on periodontal disease in horses is limited. Matt Kane, DVM, he believes most periodontal disease in horses is secondary to food stasis, or organic debris lodged between two teeth against the periodontia. Discovery of the condition answers the what. The why requires further investigation. Source: DVM 360, March 17, 2020. Link. Owners can be difficult to convince, … [Read more...]
Feeding pets: dos, don’ts and dealing with poo
Dogs especially want to share what we’re eating. Not all human food is safe. But all food travels through at some level. Several resources what’s okay to share, what’s not and then what to do with the poo. This information may help first time pet owners make better decisions and avoid issues from deposits left unattended in the grass. The Environmental Protection Agency … [Read more...]
Cooperative care in cats (podcast)
Host Beckie Mossor, RVT, visits with Monique Feyrecilde, LVT, VTS, to discuss how—and why—to provide cooperative veterinary care. Podcasts are sometimes grueling. This one is not. In fact, I found myself replaying segments to review the thoughts and approaches being shared. It presents a lesson in leadership so important to veterinary engagement with animal owners. What is … [Read more...]
Expectations and cat behavior (video)
Catvocate Liz Bales, DVM, talks on WJLA’s The Pet Show with Dr. Katy about adjusting owner expectations to meet cat needs in homes. Cat owner dissatisfaction remains one of the primary reasons cats are relinquished for adoption. Being aware of Bales and her recommendations may make answering cat owner questions easier. The cat living outside is genetically identical to cats … [Read more...]
Dairy topics: cow lying time, evaluating colostrum and virtual dairy tours
Keeping cows resting, improving measurements for failure of passive transfer and preparations for June Dairy Month are all actionable topics for animal health pros working with dairy producers. The Undeniably Dairy educational resources may interest people in your networks who plan to extend home education during summer. Take a few minutes to watch this virtual tour. < … [Read more...]
Beef topics: anaplasmosis, water and pandemic processing
Anaplasmosis, availability of water and its quality, and keeping processing teams aligned to limit coronavirus transmission concerns were among recent beef production discussions. Producers may have skimmed this information and need help with answers. It is also important to support the National Cattlemen’s Association’s Beef Quality Assurance trainings to help raise the … [Read more...]
Pet telehealth making news
Beyond the recent announcement and buzz surrounding the Veterinary Virtual Care Association (VVCA) platforms and methods, connecting veterinary teams and animal owners is fast becoming a positive outcome from pandemic limitations. Whether pet or human, telehealth is quickly moving from obscurity to mainstream. Elaine K. Howley shares perspective from three veterinarians … [Read more...]
How to talk to clients about CBD (video)
Offering clients advice about the use of CBD as a treatment can be like walking a tightrope. Molly McAllister, DVM, offers practical examples and tips on how to navigate this tricky topic with clients. In addition to McAllister’s suggestions, the topics of second-hand smoke and various edibles beg for attention during the discussion. Source: NAVC Spark. Link. We don’t … [Read more...]
There go the bunnies! Literally.
In other, non-corona virus concerns, rabbit hemorrhagic disease Virus type (RHDV) reemerged in New Mexico in March and has spread to Texas, Arizona, Colorado, Nevada, California and Mexico. RHDV poses a fatal threat to pet rabbits, as well as wild animals. To be safe, rabbits, like people, need to be isolated. There are also other precautions to take because the virus can … [Read more...]
Understanding the power of the gut
An organization at the forefront of microbiome research, The Morris Animal Foundation provides general information about the microbiome in this article. It is good background information for animal health pros. Source: Morris Animal Foundation, May 6, 2020. Link. Scientists are just learning how these organisms interact with each other, how they work together to promote the … [Read more...]
Dogs’ noses do more than sniff
Recent research at Lund University in Sweden suggests dogs live in an even richer sensory world than we expected. They can directly detect the warmth of a body from several feet away, and they do it with their cold, wet black noses that contain a set of nerves researchers believe to be responsible. It seems that the cool, black skin on a dog’s nose can absorb the tiny amount … [Read more...]
Spring cleaning is for pets, too
Cleaning and disinfecting have been on everyone’s mind during the pandemic. Tonya Wilhelm provides tips to clean up pet spaces and accessories. Pet owners will appreciate the guidance. Source: Animal Wellness, March 29, 2020. Link. INSIGHTS: Consider this for social media posts and newsletters. … [Read more...]
Burnout and what to do about it
Burnout is real. It is difficult to reckon with because it is hard to know where the dividing line is between normal stress and a larger problem. Kat Boogaard shares signs of burnout and ways to deal with it. Burnout tends to be when you just don’t have any good days, and it goes on for a long period of time” - Alice Domar, PhD, director of the Domar Center for Mind/Body … [Read more...]
McKinsey: Beyond contactless operations: Human-centered customer experience
COMMENTARY Before you roll your eyes at the MBA speak or consider this item to be only for big companies, remember that every business serves people. Whether in B2B, B2C or S2S (stakeholder to stakeholder), servicing people and their priorities are common denominators and always have been. While Covid-19 risks have exacerbated customer service optimization efforts, the … [Read more...]
Advice for businesses in the next normal
As pandemic guidance is relaxed, there are considerations for personnel at all levels. Three articles offer guidance as people return to workplaces: Source: The legal dos and don’ts of returning to workplaces, Human Resource Executive, May 7, 2020. Link. Many employers are wading into uncharted legal territory as they aim to keep the workplace and their employees safe, all … [Read more...]
We won the sprint. Now comes the marathon
Using foot races as hyperbole, Erin Greilick, PhD, describes the last pandemic-influenced weeks. Sharing results from a recent survey of industry supervisors, she exposes success and concerns. The longer we maintain a “sprint” like pace, the faster employees will burn out. . . social distancing only further fans the burnout flame. Our best leaders will remember the sprint we … [Read more...]
Malone: Customers buy BENEFITS
This article is pure Malone. For those who cringe at the topic of selling, please remember that if any of your work activities support the generation of an invoice . . . you do sell! I recall courses Patrick led and the challenge of learning to stay out of my own way. The importance of focusing on benefits to get and keep your customer’s attention is critical to today’s … [Read more...]
We are what we say YES to
Benjamin Hardy, PhD, has a new book, Personality Isn't Permanent. In it he seeks to debunk myths about personality that prevent us from learning and provide bold strategies for personal transformation. We follow Hardy’s blog. This excerpt from his book will intrigue you as we face the next normal. Source: Benjaminhardy.com. Link. Every second of every day, you are saying … [Read more...]
CAPC’s Christopher Carpenter, DVM, talks mapping on The Bridge Club
Chris Carpenter, DVM, shared how the Companion Animal Parasite Council is using big data to help track and map parasite incidence. He emphasized the need for practices to report their findings and urged them to accept parasite migration is now multifactorial, specifically citing pet travel. Additionally, he urged practice teams to become more vocal in helping pet owners and … [Read more...]
Veterinary practice in a pandemic: 6 experiences
Brendan Howard shares a close-up look at how Covid-19 is affecting U.S. clinic finances and operations. The article underscores the diverse nature of veterinary practices, even during ordinary times. Source: VIN News Service, May 1, 2020. Link. INSIGHTS: It is good to see Brendan Howard’s byline again. … [Read more...]
What’s next from Veterinary Innovation Podcasts
AHD is collaborating with VIP to inform you of upcoming podcasts about animal health industry innovations and strategies. You can find recent podcasts on the VIP website < link >, on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts and Spotify Podcasts. Here’s a schedule of what’s coming up soon. Source: Veterinary Innovation Podcasts. Link. May 21, 2020. Reducing canine anxiety … [Read more...]
Some of the best advice, boiled down into one-liners
Condensing truths into pithy aphorisms, Jessica Wildfire quips, “Why quote other people, when you can quote yourself?” Three we like are: Emotions are criminals you have to interrogate for the truth. You should have a sense of how you matter to someone besides yourself. Brooding over what you deserve but didn’t get is the most effective and most lethal form of … [Read more...]
Arthritis in senior horses
SPONSORED CONTENT May is National Arthritis Month and horses are no stranger to damaging inflammation the disease causes. While there is no cure, there are ways to keep aging horses more comfortable. With proper diagnosis and treatment, all but the worst cases of arthritis can be managed well enough to preserve soundness” – Susan Kaufman Source: EQUUS Extra, Volume 24. … [Read more...]