Complimentary Sponsored Content from Merck Animal Health Dr. Nicola Pusterla, an equine infectious disease expert from the University of California, Davis, School of Veterinary Medicine, talks about coronaviruses and answers key questions in late February 2020. Can horses contract coronavirus? What is equine coronavirus? How is equine coronavirus spread? How … [Read more...]
AAHA’s NEWStat: Special COVID-19 edition
See what AAHA provides for member practices to deal with the impact of SARS-CoV-2 and COVID-19. Source: AAHA NEWStat, March 17, 2020. Link. How to communicate with staff and clients about COVID-19. AAHA responds to COVID-19 virtually What’s up with that dog in Hong Kong who keeps testing positive? Plus, visit NEWStat’s COVID-19 page for regular updates and new … [Read more...]
Leading and working through a pandemic
HBR is publishing daily articles and resources on how to manage yourself, your team, and your company through the coronavirus crisis. The resources are provided at a dedicated Coronavirus Special Coverage page < link >. HBR opened access for these resources to all visitors, so this content can be easily shared with your own teams, colleagues and network. Source: … [Read more...]
Owner contact guidelines algorithm for COVID-19 pandemic
Brief Media’s Chief Veterinary Officer, Indu Mani DVM, ScD, shares the algorithm developed by J. Scott Weese, DVM, DVSc, DACVIM, for the benefit of veterinary clinic teams, their clients and animals. It is a step-by-step COVID-19 protocol for receiving patients in small animal veterinary clinics. Keep disinfecting and be safe.” – Indu Mani, DVM, ScD Source: Clinician’s Brief, … [Read more...]
EPA expands COVID-19 disinfectant list
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency released an expanded list of EPA-registered disinfectant products that have qualified for use against SARS-CoV-2, the novel coronavirus that causes COVID-19. The new expanded list adds nearly 200 products. This includes 40 new products that passed through the agency’s expedited review process. Source: PORK, March 16, 2020. Link. To … [Read more...]
You, me, us, and them as SARS-CoV-2 disrupts our world
CORONA VIRUS PANDEMIC EDITION These days of myriad, progressing and conflicting COVID-19 articles, blog posts and news releases should be the stuff on which a curation business thrives. The AHD team will do our best to provide factual SARS-CoV-2 material that supports our objective to focus on sharing actionable information in the context of how animal health pros live, work … [Read more...]
Protecting your eyes in a screen-focused world
Modern demands on vision, especially our constant focus on close-up screens, is causing our eyes to make unhealthy adaptations. But you can do something about that! Marc Grossman, OD, Lac, shares steps that can keep your eyes healthier in a near-focused world. Grossman’s steps include: Keep neck muscles loose Avoid extremes of light/dark contrast Lounge consciously … [Read more...]
The state of high stakes learning
Intrepid Learning recently published an infographic to share the results of their 2020 learning and development survey. The results indicate little change compared to 2019 including weaknesses from the top down. The main findings are: Leadership is still the most critical topic Learning with and from others remains the best modality Learning cultures are still seen … [Read more...]
How now shall we house cows
Contemporary dairy cattle housing practices are at odds with societal perceptions of positive animal welfare. Non-dairy persons often emphasize the importance of naturalness for dairy cattle. Their expectations include pasture, freedom of movement and the ability to interact socially with other cows. In a symposium review, the authors share perspectives on animal welfare … [Read more...]
Phytochemical richness improves animal health
“There’s a big difference between a couple of beers and a case,” writes R.P. ‘Doc’ Cooke in his essay on how phytochemicals produced by plants, usually to help them thrive or to thwart competitors, predators or pathogens. He reminds us that they can be important nutrients for grazing animals as well. Source: BeefProducer, March 3, 2020. Link. Mineral rich soil (calcium is … [Read more...]
How and where marketers are spending
About 50 percent of companies now spend 10 percent of their budgets on B2B marketing. A report from Sagefrog Marketing Group shows the marketing mix trends from a recent industry cross-section survey. Digital marketing, website development, and trade shows and events dominate budget allocations. The author noted stagnancy represented by doing what was done in the past three … [Read more...]
Train the whole team on dentistry, oral care
Midmark’s Danielle Heberle, CVT, VTSH (Dentistry), provides sound reasoning for total clinic team dentistry training in this SPARK video. She discusses the practice development opportunities as well as Midmark’s training services. Traditionally we have seen that the client care people get left out of the education process. It is sad considering how integral these staff members … [Read more...]
Virox announces free webinar on COVID-19: Protecting People and Animals
Complimentary Sponsored Content from Virox Animal Health™ Webinar: Coronavirus (COVID-19) in veterinary and animal group settings: Protecting People and Animals TODAY: Thursday, March 19, 2020 - 2:00 p.m. Eastern time Top infection prevention and epidemiology experts will provide a brief summary of the current COVID-19 status in people and animals, along with specific … [Read more...]
Effect of insulin and fasting regimen on blood glucose concentrations of diabetic dogs during cataract surgery
Diabetic cataract is one of the more common complications of diabetes mellitus in dogs. It can be treated surgically but possible comorbidities such as kidney disease, systemic hypertension and peripheral neuropathies complicate anesthesia. The study referenced herein aimed to compare four protocols for preanesthetic insulin administration and fasting time with respect to … [Read more...]
Limit the spread of canine influenza during an outbreak
Jarod M. Hanson, DVM, DACVPM, discusses canine influenza virus outbreaks and methods that help in reduce its spread. The outbreaks were due to multiple virus introductions associated with the importation of rescue dogs from Asia. The use of contact tracing and longitudinal sampling, coupled with a 28-day quarantine period helped reduce the spread. Source: Clinician’s Brief, … [Read more...]
2019 Triennial Heartworm Symposium selective summary
Marisa Ames, DVM, DACVIM, provides an informative and actionable summary from the September 2019 heartworm symposium. The topics in the presentations and poster included: Heartworm vectors and transmission Heartworm prevention Heartworm pathology Heartworm diagnosis Wolbachia and heartworm treatment protocols . . . a strong correlation was noted between … [Read more...]
Watch for the PANDEMIC EDITION AHD Bulletin on March 20th
Tomorrow, we will deliver a special edition of the AHD BULLETIN covering a variety of important SARS-CoV-2, COVID-19 news. The posts offer information for animal health pros to use in the context of protecting yourselves, families, colleagues, communities and clients while maintaining the critical roles of prevention and treatment of animals in their purview and … [Read more...]
Marketing: no time, no money, no expertise
In a recent article and podcast, George B. Krueger, MBA, DBA, shares research that explores the theme of microbusiness marketing with no time, no money and no expertise. Microbusinesses were defined as small businesses that employ nine or fewer people, including the owner. Source: bizTimes, March 5, 2020. Link. White paper copy of article < link > The research … [Read more...]
Recycling is broken
Waste is an enormous problem. But, recycling is the wrong solution, writes Don Norman. The real culprit in the story of recycling is failure to identify the core, underlying problem. Recycling is the symptom, he says. The underlying problem is the design and manufacturing of so much stuff that must be discarded. Recycling is a poor attempt to solve this problem. Source: Fast … [Read more...]
Sometimes the wrong words just come out
Most people mean well. Veterinary teams often face clients whose prized animal should be put down or has died. It’s an emotional time for all. Despite best intentions during these times we end up eating our foot. The folks at CareBridge offer some perspective worth consideration. Source: CareBridge. Link. So why do insensitive and downright dumb things pop out of the mouths … [Read more...]
Wet hay, straw and grains create risk for animal owners
If you’ve ever dunged-out straw, shavings and manure-filled stalls or a chicken coop after a rainy week, you will recognize how easily mold, fungi and bacteria could be present in that substrate. Rob Riley, MD, shares how an allergic reaction to mold and bacteria in the lungs causes inflammation. This health issue is known as hypersensitivity pneumonitis or farmer’s lung. … [Read more...]
Stifle surgery and treatments: Guarded prognosis and more doesn’t help
Horses have been observed to have problems with the stifle joint for a long time. In recent years, these joints are getting noticed and treated more, yet remain an uncommon area from which lameness arises. The stile is a big joint and it’s an important one overall. Davey Ramey, DVM, discusses the challenges of stifle surgery, realistic outcomes and therapeutic options that … [Read more...]
Know calf vital signs
Jillian Bohlen, DVM, says evaluating the basic vital statistics of every calf catches sick animals early in the disease process and goes beyond visual appraisal. Her advice on measuring calf vital signs includes: Temperature: 100.0-102.5˚F Heart rate (pulse): 100-140 beats per minute Respiration rate: 36-60 breaths per minute Source: Dairy Herd Management, … [Read more...]
Rural Media Group announces new streaming service, RFD-TV Now (video)
Complimentary Sponsored Content RMG has just announced expanded streaming service under a new name: RFD-TV Now. It offers improved searchability, increased security, and added features such as the ability to “favorite” shows or binge watch them by season. This is good news for animal health pros who enjoy FarmHer, rodeos, horsemanship features, cattle topics like DocTalk, … [Read more...]
Dental tools for dogs
Dental month promotions are over, but oral health care and plaque control efforts remain a daily habit. Emily Watson writes about various dental tools and products available to help pet owners stay current with oral care. Her approach to using a dental toy as a reward is unique and worth sharing. From our idea files During a recent discussion with an industry colleague … [Read more...]
Video shows how to remove ticks
Pet owners will appreciate this video about removing ticks from pets. It could also lead to better tick testing if a pet gets sick after a bite. Share it on social media and in newsletters. Upload it to your website and re-share it routinely from now through fall. Source: PetMD. Link. Ticks can transmit deadly diseases to a pet within as little as 24 hours of latching on, so … [Read more...]
AVMA cautions outdoor enthusiasts about risks to their animals
The AVMA recognizes the need to increase awareness among other outdoor enthusiasts so that they are aware of the risks their pets face during outdoor adventures and what precautions they should take. The association offers excellent resources to guide animal owners to reduce risks to pets and competing animals. Source: AVMA. Link. Disease prevention quick tips … [Read more...]
NOT knowing it all
One of the skills veterinary team members possess is the ability to listen to their animal patients. They do it with their ears, their eyes, hands and even noses. These senses are critical to identifying both health and illness in critters. But when that attention is turned to an animal owner, the senses often turn off. Salespeople have similar problems and so do personnel at … [Read more...]
CDC to retail industry: dust off preparedness plans NOW
Whether it is COVID-19 or something else, proactive preparedness is important for businesses and communities. CDC recently highlighted four key preparedness areas for businesses and employers to consider during a conference call convened by the National Retail Federation: Continuity Protecting the workforce Customers Community Source: National Retail … [Read more...]
COVID-19 could be lemons or lemonade. We can make the difference.
March 2020: Update on SARS-CoV-2 and the COVID-19 it causes Hundreds of coronaviruses circulate among animals including cattle, camels, bats, pigs, cats and dogs. Sometimes these viruses jump to humans (a spillover event) and may cause disease. SARS-CoV-2 virus is a betacoronavirus, like MERS-CoV and SARS-CoV. All three have origins in bats. SARS-CoV-2 causes the disease … [Read more...]