Marilyn Iturri discussed antioxidants with several veterinarians to better understand if antioxidants are viable options for supporting animal health. There is no clear-cut answer except a complete and balanced pet food should supply a healthy amount of antioxidants, unless supplementation could potentially help. Everyone wants to group antioxidants together as … [Read more...]
How often to take a kitten or cat to the vet
Daily Paws writer Austin Cannon shares basic guidelines for veterinary visit frequency written for pet owners. From an animal health pro perspective, she exposes the opportunities with new cat owners who are usually bound by agreements with shelters or breeders to take their kittens to see a vet soon after adoption. Source: Daily Paws, August 24, 2020, updated April 24, … [Read more...]
5 tips for anesthetizing and recovering aggressive dogs
Careful planning, communication and preparation can facilitate a safe and productive appointment for fractious patients that need to be sedated or anesthetized, says Katherine Bennett, DVM, and Christine Egger, DVM, MVSc, CVA, CVH, DACVAA. They share tips for safe handling of for diagnostic or surgical procedures in these areas: Owner communication Pre-appointment … [Read more...]
Triaging vehicular trauma
There are very few ambulances and EMTs in animal health. That role is handed to veterinary teams for an animal that has been hurt in an automobile encounter. Cassandra Gilday, DVM, and Adesola Odunayo, DVM, MS, DACVECC, provide an extensive decision tree resource for animal patients who have experienced vehicular trauma. Source: Clinician’s Brief, March 2021. … [Read more...]
VetWatch Commentary thru April 17, 2021, Week 15
Complimentary Sponsored Content For the week ending April 17, 2021, the canine and feline core vaccine indices combined and expanded with the inclusion of the lifestyle vaccines for Lyme, Lepto, and FeLV shot up to a robust +29.3 percent YTD across the more than 32,000 practices and shelter locations in the Animalytix Marketplace. The growth in unique patients was up at … [Read more...]
Upcoming events at The Bridge Club
The conversations continue and audiences expand for The Bridge Club and its extended platforms. We’ve linked to upcoming conversations here. Source: The Bridge Club Vet. Link. Note: TBC+ Member Exclusive: Speed Networking Event, May 06, 2021: 6:00 PM – 8:00 PM Source: The Bridge Club Pet. Link. Virtual network for pet parents offering topics on Tuesday evenings. … [Read more...]
6 habits of the most innovative people
We live among and are dependent on myriad innovations in 2021. But what drives the people and teams behind innovative advancements? Winston Ibrahim and Bill Nottingham share the six qualities they have observed that all great innovators share. These are the things that keep them motivated, engaged and passionate about continuously pushing the creative boundaries of what the … [Read more...]
Do you really need to drink 8 glasses of water a day?
A one-size-fits-all fluid replacement strategy, such as drinking eight glasses of eight ounces of water per day, is inappropriate for everyone, writes Tamara Hew-Butler. How much water each person needs to drink mainly depends on three factors: Body weight Environmental temperature Physical activity levels Source: The Conversation, April 21, 2021. Link. Unless … [Read more...]
15-minute checklist to prepare for a job interview
In just a few minutes you can make sure that you’ll nail your first impression, says Rich Bellis. Here’s what he suggests you do: Confirm everyone you’ll be meeting with Checkout the interviewers’ LinkedIn and Twitter Line up your about me answer Source: Fast Company, July 2018. Link. … [Read more...]
Refining leadership skills
No doubt 2020 was challenging for everyone. What was projected as 14 days to flatten the curve will soon morph into 14 months and counting. One lasting lesson is the need for the constant fine-tuning of leadership skills, as Melissa Daimler points out. Source: Forbes, November 24, 2020. Link. It has demanded an evolution of how we work and what we learn. The shifts in these … [Read more...]
Beyond wellness plans, bundling can work
Wendy Hauser, DVM, and Lucas Pantaleon, DVM, MS, DACVIM, MBA, tackle the challenge of chronic illnesses that frequently fall outside of wellness plan coverage. The authors position bundling beginning with common bundles already in place in veterinary practices. By leveraging bundling, treatment packages offer four major advantages: Bundling helps clients understand the … [Read more...]
Getting clients to opt for treatment
Phil Zeltman, DVM, shares 10 common reasons clients decline treatment for their animals and how to avoid the situation. Confidence and the development of trust is critical to handling most situations he says. Ultimately, our job is not to convince a client to do the right thing. We are not in the arm-twisting business. All we can do is educate them objectively, be their pet’s … [Read more...]
Medical community telehealth concerns are opps for DVM community
OPINION Two articles outline some of the challenges medical entities and doctors see as telehealth capacity expands. With human medicine already a few years into telehealth development, it is important to monitor the progress, challenges and perceptions. In this era of tele-everything, it is likely animal health pros can integrate telehealth more effectively, efficiently … [Read more...]
7 types of rest we need!
Sleep is a bodily function. Rest is more than that. Rest is to help you grow out of your exhaustion and thrive at what keeps you going. Rest should equal restoration in seven key areas of your life, explains Saundra Dalton-Smith, MD, If you get tired, learn to rest, not quit.” - Bansky Source: Thrive Global, April 21, 2021. Link. … [Read more...]
Worth a Glance – April 22, 2021
Feeding cattle seaweed reduces their greenhouse gas emissions 82 percent Source: My Vet Candy, April 19, 2021. Link. "We now have sound evidence that seaweed in cattle diet is effective at reducing greenhouse gases and that the efficacy does not diminish over time.” - Ermias Kebreab Even Moses knew about biosecurity Source: Watt … [Read more...]
Listening without getting defensive
Hearing is physiological. Listening is psychological. We listen to acquire knowledge and receive information. But it is easy to get distracted. One of the main distractions is how we respond to something we hear. Are we triggered? Are we half-listening while preparing to talk about our agenda? Or are we listening on autopilot? Jennifer Wolkin says we need to practice … [Read more...]
Equine influenza virus – a review
EIV is rarely fatal, it is highly contagious and can lead to significant performance impairment and economic loss when outbreaks occur. Similar to influenza in other species, EIV is spread primarily via the respiratory route. The AAEP considers equine influenza virus a risk-based disease, meaning it is not necessarily warranted for every horse. For horses considered at risk, … [Read more...]
Horse cost calculator helps owners understand true ownerships costs
Beyond the initial purchase price, horse care costs accumulate daily. Helping owners budget for all the costs minimizes the cost of veterinary prevention and maintenance. Veterinary teams can use this calculator to position how pet health insurance or wellness plans fit into a horse care budget. Source: Horse Illustrated, May 2019. Link. INSIGHTS: The calculator is a good … [Read more...]
Communal dog water bowls: safe or not?
Communal water bowls come with some hidden risks, says Kaitlyn Arford. It is possible for dogs drinking out of communal bowls or fountains to be infected with diseases or parasites. Source: AKC, April 6, 2021. Link. INSIGHTS: Consider this article for social media and newsletters. While basic, Arford presents an easily understood message. … [Read more...]
Barn dogs
Realizing it would be beneficial to take a more methodical approach to her barn dogs’ health maintenance, Katie Frank created basic guidelines for keeping her dogs as happy and healthy as her horses. Source: EQUUS Extra. Link. INSIGHTS: This resource addresses the realities of acreage or farm life where species interact daily. Kudos for addressing dogs in the equine … [Read more...]
K-9 kibble enhancement guide
Adjusting dog diets with fresh, raw and organic foods is popular. This article is a guide, compares fresh foods as supplemental versus kibble elimination and reminds pet owners to balance portions to manage weight gains. Whether raw or lightly cooked, a mostly fresh food diet yields outstanding results, with clear eyes, beautiful coats, great teeth, sweet breath, calm … [Read more...]
Cats 101 resources, Fear Free Happy Homes
Complimentary Content More than 55,000 professionals have become Fear Free Certified and there are now more than 140 Fear Free Certified Practices. In addition to animal health professionals’ efforts, Fear Free Happy Homes provides resources directly to pet owners. One example is the Cats 101 kit created to help cat owners learn feline fundamentals. Source: Fear Free … [Read more...]
Let’s review NSAIDs
NSAIDs are commonly used in veterinary practice. Like most routine behaviors, it is good to routinely review the why and. Natalie Smith, DVM, and Claire L. Fellman, DVM, PhD, DACVIM, DACVCP, provide their top five situations for judicious NSAID use, along with important considerations for patient safety. Source: Clinician’s Brief, March 2021. Link. NSAIDs are important … [Read more...]
Dogs needed for dog aging research, new studies
The Dog Aging Project is looking for more canine participants to include in ongoing community science research projects dedicated to understanding the biological and environmental determinants of canine aging. Researchers seek dogs, preferably puppies of both purebred and mixed breeds, in the following categories from a variety of geographies: Large breed dogs Giant … [Read more...]
IAMS launches first-of-its-kind NOSEiD app
Complimentary Content In honor of National Pet ID Week, April 17 through 23, IAMS is launching the beta version of the new NOSEiD mobile app, available throughout Nashville and the surrounding area. The NOSEiD app uses first-of-its-kind nose-scanning smartphone technology to help identify lost dogs by their unique nose print. Source: PR Newswire, April 19, 2021. Link. The … [Read more...]
National Pet Week is May 2 through 8
National Pet Week takes place the first week of May and there is a lot to celebrate. From cats, dogs and fish to lizards, snakes and tarantulas, there’s room for all. Enjoy! Source: National Pet Week 2021. Link. No matter how tough things may seem, pets eagerly provide comfort, sympathy and unquestioned understanding when we most need it. … [Read more...]
World Veterinary Day is April 24
World Veterinary Day is this Saturday! This year’s theme is The Veterinarian Response to the Covid-19 Crisis. Thrown into the pandemic, veterinarians worldwide stepped up to receive animals differently and still treat them according to proven protocols. Click the link below and you’ll find nine ways to celebrate World Veterinary Day. Source: World Veterinary Day 2021. Link. … [Read more...]
Lest we forget . . . productive inactivity
The 2021 return to something considered more normal threatens some of what society has learned during pandemic challenges, WFH and forced pauses. In a recent blog post, Cal Newport contrasts our current states where ambition is intertwined with overload against how John Steinbeck embraced a sort of heroic inactivity. Source: Cal Newport, February 21, 2021. Link. Steinbeck … [Read more...]
Rural broadband plagued by poor mapping, high costs
Weaknesses in broadband coverage in rural areas were highly evident in 2020. House Agriculture Committee members heard from those who expressed the need to update maps on areas that remain underserved, as well as offer flexible funding to spread out costs to extend broadband coverage. Extended broadband coverage is important to extend the value of telehealth for all species, … [Read more...]
How to generate more clients at your veterinary practice
Opinion We held this article to position it now, one year post-Covid-19 shutdowns and the anniversary of the first wave of pet adoptions that followed. Robert Sanchez is no stranger to veterinary practices and his article is purposeful and valuable. He applies sales terminology to new customer acquisition tactics. Considering the timing, we believe it is important to … [Read more...]