When animal-use approved drugs are not available, veterinarians can turn to a compounding pharmacy to meet the needs of individual animals. The authors share the various considerations, opportunities and challenges. Compounded medications can be useful when FDA-approved medications are not available, but they should not be selected on the basis of cost alone.” Source: Today’s … [Read more...]
Pilot program to promote mental health and wellness for veterinary teams
The Veterinary Wellbeing Alliance is launching a pilot program that aims to help veterinary professionals reduce stress and burnout. The Veterinary Wellbeing Alliance was created through a partnership between the Veterinary Medical Association Executives and the wellness platform Listeners On Call. The VWA has received generous support from 16 professional and industry … [Read more...]
Rituals at work: play together, stay together
Over time, group rituals create a sense of meaningfulness that team members transfer to their work, according to various research studies. Rituals, even seemingly silly ones, help employees bond and add meaning to their work, shares the author. It's not that we do rituals and then, magically, we like doing our work later that day. It's that over time, rituals themselves become … [Read more...]
Galaxy Vets’ Charity Foundation to help animals in Ukraine
The newly formed Galaxy Vets Foundation will raise funds, and collect and deliver supplies to organizations in need, as well as provide pet owners free access to professional veterinary care through its telehealth platform. Ukraine is my motherland. We want to aid the best way we know how, helping animals. We encourage individuals and organizations to donate to this good … [Read more...]
Worth a Glance – April 20, 2022
Last week’s most read posts The cute factor is almost too much to resist. Link. Your customers buy benefits. Link. Last week’s AHD Bulletin Animal Health Digest Bulletin, Thursday, April 7, 2022. Link. =================================== 7 causes of brain fog and how to regain your concentration and focus Source: Insider, March 24, 2022. Link. Brain … [Read more...]
How cattle vaccination and nutrition connect
Complimentary Sponsored Content Shelby Roberts, PhD, discusses the symbiotic relationship of sound nutrition and proper vaccination which helps to maintain healthy immune functions in cattle. Vaccinations and nutrition have a symbiotic relationship in terms of maintaining healthy immune functions in cattle.” - Shelby Roberts, PhD Source: Alltech, March 8, 2021. Link. … [Read more...]
Asian longhorned ticks are on the move
The Asian longhorned tick reached 17 states by last fall. In the United States, the tick has been found in or near counties with large horse, cattle and sheep populations. They do not discriminate however and will use a human or a pet as a host, just the same as livestock or wildlife. The Asian longhorned tick is known to carry the virulent Theileria orientalis Ikeda … [Read more...]
Spring grass and horses
Juliet M. Getty, PhD, provides guidance on fresh grass and the potential problems it can cause for horses. She continues with tips on monitoring grasses throughout the season. Source: Equine Wellness, April 15, 2014. Link. Tasty spring grasses can offer too much sugar and starch for the insulin resistant horse, thereby increasing the risk of laminitis. However, with careful … [Read more...]
Why cats eat grass
Some cats are drawn to eating grass which is often followed by vomiting up the greens. Tom Fish digs into this behavior with cat experts. There doesn’t seem to be much consensus, but some theories include: . . . eating grass makes the cats throw up less digestible parts of a protein-rich meal Grass is a source of needed trace minerals, micronutrients, and vitamins A, B … [Read more...]
Dealing with dog training sabotage
Behavior issues remain a top cause of dogs being relinquished. While sabotage might sound harsh, dogs need consistency to establish and keep behavior patterns. Kathy Callahan, CPDT-KA, discusses why a family needs to get on the same page to avoid confusing their pet. The pet’s confusion issues are often compounded when a being boarded or going to a daycare provider. No matter … [Read more...]
Safe encounters of the K-9 kind
A large percentage of dogs are not socially adept at meeting new dogs. Pat Miller offers tips on managing intentional get-togethers between dogs that haven’t met before. Few dog owners handle the frequent and often-tense encounter with another dog in a way that protects their dog, preserves his good behavior and supports positive feelings about other dogs.” - Pat Miller, … [Read more...]
The Bridge Club to talk about mental health, therapy
Complimentary Sponsored Content Mental health considerations remain a leading topic and challenge in the veterinary profession. The Bridge Club will lead a discussion answering questions about counseling stigma, finding the right therapist and what happens during your first appointment. Source: The Bridge Club. Link. Register to join the virtual event via TBC Zoom … [Read more...]
Who owns that pet? (podcast)
Hosts Dr. Ernie Ward and Beckie Mossor, RVT, tackle the tricky topic of how veterinary clinics determine who is a pet’s owner, who can make decisions, and, ultimately, who is responsible for paying. The situation is more common than you think and can be an issue for daycare and boarding locations, as well. Source: Veterinary Viewfinder podcast, April 6, 2022. Link. … [Read more...]
Counseling pet owners on pediatric nutrition
Choosing a pet food IS overwhelming with the number of commercial options available, a plethora of advertising, label vernacular and popular trends. Kate Boatright, VMD, shares three key areas in which veterinary team members should be competent discussing with owners of puppies and kittens: The best food for the new pet How much to feed When to switch to an adult … [Read more...]
First aid tips for pet owners
Spring and outdoor activities are wonderful but come with risks of injuries for pets. Pet owners need to be prepared to offer first aid to their pets when an injury occurs. First aid is not a substitute for veterinary care, but it can help save a pet's life until it gets veterinary treatment. The AVMA offers several resources suitable for social media, newsletters and … [Read more...]
IBPSA Fast Bites – April 20, 2022
Most popular pets in the United States, millennial pet owner shares how to talk to millennials, life stage planning including pets, small business grants and more . . . Source: IBPSA Fast Bites, April 20, 2022. Link. … [Read more...]
No quit
Emotionally intelligent people also understand that “not losing” doesn’t necessarily mean the same thing as “winning.” Instead, it means that you haven’t lost yet. The game isn’t over, even if some people think it is. The outcome isn’t set in stone. Source: Inc., April 3, 2022. Link. And it’s planting the seed in the other person’s mind, too – so that they might compare … [Read more...]
Veterinary app to provide education, real-time disease surveillance for rural practitioners
Real-time information, smart phone technology and artificial intelligence converge to support rural practitioners. The Veterinary Syndromic Surveillance System website and app are now live. The platform will provide veterinarians a tool to access and input disease information into a central database and more readily see local disease risks and trends. The new app is … [Read more...]
The veterinary team’s role in the human-animal bond
Veterinary care is anchored by relationships. Rebecca Rose, CVT, shares her belief supporting the human-animal bond as the center of the veterinary profession. She recommends reintroducing the importance of the human-animal bond with the entire team and ensure it appears in the values, vision, and mission of the practice. Source: Veterinary Practice News, March 15, 2022. … [Read more...]
Catering to clients – incorporate elements of concierge medicine
Wendy Hauser, DVM, believes any veterinary practice can implement key elements of concierge medicine. She references a fall 2021 Packaged Facts report which found high demand for concierge veterinary care resembling similar care in human medicine. The concierge approach allows physicians to limit their patient numbers and offer exclusive services in exchange for an annual … [Read more...]
The strongest predictor for success. Grit?
Opinion As new graduating classes of DVMs and veterinary nurses arrive in the market next month, identifying those candidates with grit and the growth mindset may be beneficial when evaluating new hires. An AHD subscriber recently shared a TED talk featuring Angela L. Duckworth, PhD, MA, MSc, in the context of the great resignation. Duckworth focuses on what it takes to … [Read more...]
Planned obsolescence in technology
Opinion Technology is responsible for driving more of the U.S. economy than any other profession than healthcare <Link>. The article revealing iPhone obsolescence prompted some juxtaposed thoughts about how often healthcare sustains dependence on fax machines in many situations. “All things must come to an end,” writes Cecily Mauran. Really? What’s the point for … [Read more...]
Worth a Glance – April 14, 2022
Last week’s most read posts Traditional recruiting is broken. 6 ways to reimagine it. Link. Last week’s AHD Bulletin Animal Health Digest Bulletin, Thursday, March 31, 2022. Link. =================================== How long is too long to leave a dog alone? Source: Whole Dog Journal, January 10, 2020. Link. 10 to 12 hours is too long for a dog to be … [Read more...]
Umbilical care, avoiding joint ill goats
Rebecca Sanderson shares the importance of umbilical care in newborn kids. Improper closure of the navel can result in bacteria transferring into the goat causing navel ill, also known as joint ill. If you do little else for your does at kidding time, do consider at least dipping the umbilical cord of the new babies to help prevent navel ill.” – Rebecca Sanderson Source: … [Read more...]
Turning manure into flowerpots
Poop-to-pots are not a gimmick. Freund’s Farm, a Connecticut dairy operation is using digested, then composted manure as the fiber component to make disposable flowerpots. The farm has sold millions of CowPots over the years. They make 14 different sizes, ranging from 3-inch starter squares to large round pots that are 17 inches in diameter. Source: American … [Read more...]
The cute factor is almost too much to resist
Janet Garman shares what to know when buying baby chicks, ducklings and bunnies. There is a lot to consider before making an impulse decision. Those cute little balls of fluff are a lifetime commitment, at least the expected lifetime of the animal.” – Janet Garman Source: Backyard Poultry, March 29, 2021. Link. INSIGHTS: Consider sharing this article on social media and in … [Read more...]
Guard donkeys, an experiment in the defense against wolves
Colorado ranchers and wildlife advocates are carefully watching Don Gittleson’s experiment with donkey as defenders. He would prefer to shoot the wolves which is illegal under federal and state law. The hope is the donkeys will make his herd a tougher target for local wolves. Source: CPR News, March 23, 2022. Link. INSIGHTS: Large breed dogs and llamas have been used for … [Read more...]
First cloned Przewelski horse preserves rare breed
The Przewelski horse was native to central Asia. Also known as the Mongolian wild horse, the cloning of Kurt, a stallion, will add diverse DNA to a small remaining population. Source: Wild Horse and Burro Diary, Fall 2020. Link. … [Read more...]
Poor saddle fit, shoeing-related problems, even riders can cause horse lameness
Farrier Steve Kraus shared perspectives on how lameness, gait faults, shoeing problems, and even personality problems can occur from poor saddle fit. He also writes riders can cause some of the same issues, even in a correctly fitted saddle. Source: Paulick Report, April 8, 2022. Link. . . . <horses> should not carry more than 30 percent of the horse's body weight.” … [Read more...]
Why cats’ eyes glow in the dark
The same thing that makes their eyes glow helps cats see better in dim light, writes Braidee C. Foote, DVM. Domestic cats can see in conditions that are only 16 percent as bright as what people require. Eyeshine comes from a tapetum lucidum located in the back of the eye behind the retina. It is a thin layer of tissue that receives light, converts the light to an electrical … [Read more...]