Stem cell therapies continue to advance. The holy grail, however, is to be able to regenerate failing organs and tissues. Tobias Deuse, MD, and his research group believe they now know why some transplanted cells are rejected. He believes the solution is to engineer stem cells lacking any immune features. Source: The Conversation, August 19, 2019. Link. INSIGHTS: Animal … [Read more...]
A horse is like a bar of soap; examining hyaluronic acid data
Practicing evidence-based veterinary medicine is all well and good when the evidence is clear-cut, but the data on use of hyaluronic acid in horses are often ambiguous. Emma Adam, DVM, discusses the research, methods and challenges of managing cartilage health in equine joints. She wrestles with the data and implications of using corticosteroids, hyaluronic acid and … [Read more...]
Fall foliage toxic to some animals (includes video)
Autumn is nigh. While fall foliage is popular, the science behind the leaves changing color isn’t widely known and often misrepresented. For some animals, fall leaves can be toxic as they break down. Source: Smithsonian, August 14, 2019. Link. Owen Reiser’s time lapse video depicts the pigments within the plant matter as they break down and transform from green to color. . … [Read more...]
Handle MLVs with care (includes video)
Modified-live vaccines must be handled and stored properly if they are to be efficacious. This article and a YouTube video cover basics that are helpful for newbies and old hands alike. Source: Bovine Veterinarian, July 3, 2019. Link. Incorrect storage, exposure to sunlight and delayed administration all can reduce or even eliminate the effectiveness of an MLV, cautioned New … [Read more...]
Back to basics: air, water, feed
Jon DeJong, PhD, reminds us that pigs have three basic needs: feed, water and air. These apply universally to all types of livestock and pets. These basics have not been firmly imprinted in some animal owners. One or more may go unnoticed. Source: PORK, August 13, 2019. Link. Also see: Follow these tips to succeed as a newbie pet parent, Inside Pet’s World, August 7, … [Read more...]
Age not a factor with dog owners trying newer dog food brands
EVERYONE tries new pet food brands summarizes the findings presented in this article. Marketing towards a specific pet owner age group may reduce a campaign’s effectiveness, according to research published in the Journal of Retailing and Consumer Services. The key message is to not target narrowly and that brands should sell to all buyers of the category.” - Peilin … [Read more...]
E-Commerce Summit reconvenes in KC
Following the success of its 2018 inaugural gathering, NAVC Media will host the second annual E-Commerce Summit at The Westin Crown Center in Kansas City, Missouri, September 17-18, 2019. The dynamic two-day conference will focus on changing consumer dynamics, retail trends, blending channels, emerging care models and best practices affecting business strategy. Source: … [Read more...]
Opinion – Transforming business; what and why
Animal health businesses have traditionally grown with a more-better-faster mindset. We’ve integrated computer, telephone and internet advancements to extend existing brick and mortar platforms. Now, a new generation of boundary-breaking entrepreneurs are following disruptive models that turn the way we traditionally ran businesses on its head, writes Rebecca Livesey. They … [Read more...]
8 tips for Facebook business pages
Make the most of your business presence on Facebook. The site is evolving quickly. It now treats business pages as mini-websites. If you invest the time to understand the complexity of business pages, you can increase exposure and grow your business. This list can help keep owners and site managers on track. Source: Park Marketing Link. Facebook is the most popular search … [Read more...]
Beyond heartworm treatment fundamentals
The American Heartworm Society offers heartworm disease treatment guidelines that consist of combination therapy with melarsomine, doxycycline and a macrocyclic lactone. Brian Herrin, DVM, PhD, recently shared treatment tactics recommended by veterinary experts and gave an overview of less extensive and less expensive alternatives. Source: Veterinary Medicine, July 26, 2019. … [Read more...]
New interactive rabies law map available
Rabies laws vary by state and change often. With more pets traveling and being relocated, animal health pros can use the new rabies law map to view what the laws are in the 50 U.S. states and District of Columbia. Source: Policy Surveillance Program. Link. The map includes data on state-level pre-exposure rabies vaccination laws for domestic dogs, cats, and ferrets across … [Read more...]
Study shows veterinary teams are stressed out
If you’re feeling stressed, you aren’t alone. A new study conducted by the World Small Animal Veterinary Association, included a survey completed by more than 4,000 veterinary professionals. It shows that stress and diminished well-being are issues for all members of veterinary teams around the world. Source: Veterinary Practice, August 17, 2019. Link. “Our research – the … [Read more...]
3 economic trends affecting veterinary clinics (video)
Matt Salois, AVMA chief economist, reviews economic issues that challenge the veterinary profession. He offers perspective on three trends for veterinary hospitals, teams and owners: • Increasing demand for veterinary services • More pets, higher prices, but fewer visits • Increases in debt to future income ratios for graduating veterinarians Source: NAVC SPARK, August … [Read more...]
The power of thought
From the moment we awake until we fall sleep, we’re bombarded with a chatter inside our head that permeates our waking life. It’s the voice inside, the internal narrator that, if you pay attention, never really stops talking. Source: The Turknett Leadership Group, August 15, 2019. Link. The research here is robust: those who are happiest are not those with the most money, … [Read more...]
From “suits” to Luddites – the demise of office attire
Most any attire goes in some offices. This author attributes this to the rise of young founders commandeering successful tech companies, an increase in both remote work and flexible hours and the freelance economy. A recent study found that nearly half of managers said they were concerned employees dressed too casually, while 32% of supervisors named “too much skin” as one of … [Read more...]
Drinking is a big problem, but not for all big drinkers
David Freedman tackles the challenging subject of what can now be called “alcohol use disorder.” This diagnosis spans the two categories of problem drinking commonly known as alcoholism and alcohol abuse. A 2017 study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association found that 13 percent of adults suffer from “alcohol use disorder,” although the number could be … [Read more...]
National park data helps determine best times to visit
Some animal health pros may make plans to cross national park locations off their bucket lists of places to visit before year-end. Jordan Vincent’s new infographic uses visitor data from 54 national parks between 2013 and 2019 to show the peak visiting times for people using different types of lodging < link >. Source: Fast Company, August 12, 2019. Link. One way to … [Read more...]
Time savers that can add hours to a week
The headline is misleading. We actually have only 168 hours in any given week. There are only 120 hours if we try to get seven hours of sleep nightly. Kristen Granero asked experts to share ways they shave time in their weeks. Source: NBC Better, August 12, 2019. Link. Here are a few tips that caught our attention: Set a strict start time Do a brain dump every Monday … [Read more...]
Kitten Lady launches book, promotes kitten fostering
Hannah Shaw’s passion for fostering kittens spawned ongoing and time-saving video projects that caught the attention of kitten lovers on the internet. She added an Instagram profile and a YouTube page for potential kitten adopters, then discoveredthere was little information about fostering kittens available. Shaw realized that the animal advocacy world was missing a champion … [Read more...]
Teach dogs to be calm and collected on walks
Tonya Wilhelm adds yet another resource to retraining dogs to stop lunging and barking on walks. The key, she says, is to identify his triggers and re-rain him not to react to them. She offers six steps to help committed owners set their dog up for success and suggests a ways to establish a training protocol. Buy the right walking gear Provide healthy treats and small … [Read more...]
A step-by-step guide to pet CPR
Pet owners need to know how to perform pet CPR. Only a few of them have taken a pet first aid class, writes Allison Faulkner. Her guide to performing CPR includes a video link from Pets America < link >. Faulkner’s guide is one of many videos about pet CPR. Consider using these resources in social media, newsletters and clinic websites. . . . emergencies like natural … [Read more...]
The Bridge Club continues community engagement
Bridge Club founders Brenda Andreson and Catherine Haskins have found a niche in building value from adding a visual dimension to a conference call setting. By combining live events at industry conferences with live video conferencing, The Bridge Club is growing in reach and participation, creating a virtual community for learning and sharing animal health pro experiences and … [Read more...]
Commercial content from AAHA NEWStat
We captured recent commercially sponsored content below as featured in the newly reformatted AAHA NEWStat. Source: AAHA NEWStat. Link. Pet diabetes and the role of insulin pens, Merck Animal Health, 8/1/2019. Link. The evolution of pain management in pets brings better options for relief, CareCredit, 8/1/2019. Link. Pet owner compliance a barrier to heartworm … [Read more...]
IPPC report does not say, “eat less meat” (includes video)
Recent media buzz (see second source below) claimed the newest Intergovernmental Panel for Climate Change (IPPC) suggested consumers eat less meat in order to curb climate change. The report < link > focused on land use and land use change, it didn’t tell consumers to eat less meat. Frank Mitloehner, UC Davis, says by focusing on eating less meat, consumers are being … [Read more...]
Teach aseptic technique in the kitchen, reduce salmonellosis
“The most formidable challenges of my veterinary career in food safety can be boiled down to the two primary foodborne pathogens of poultry: Salmonella and Campylobacter. I consider them my professional nemeses,” writes Foster Farms’ Robert O’Connor, DVM, MAM. He explains his approach to avoiding these pathogens in the kitchen. O’Connor reminds us that while chicken and other … [Read more...]
Consumers not coming through with animal welfare cash
Consumers often say they are willing to pay more for meat from animals raised with heightened welfare standards. Reality proves otherwise. This was one key finding during the 12th Expert Forum on Animal Well-Being, sponsored by Boehringer Ingelheim. Participants also noted the likelihood that farm assurance programs did not meet consumers’ expectations for animal … [Read more...]
The importance of county fairs
It is fair season. County fairs are a part of the livestock industry history. For some kids, the county fair may be the only show they participate in all summer. For others, it might be a stepping stone to state level contests or more. The common threads fair participants all share are lessons learned that include hard work, perseverance, sportsmanship, public speaking, animal … [Read more...]
Change or transformation?
Futurist Daniel Burrus describes the difference between change and transformation like this, “Change comes from the outside in, forcing us to react and manage crises. Transformation, on the other hand, whether it is business or personal, always comes from the inside out. This and that gives us far more positive control while allowing us to actively shape the future.” Being … [Read more...]
Aging workforce seen as problematic by younger workers
Younger employees are far more likely than older workers to have a negative view of the aging American workforce. This is according to a poll, of 1,400 adult workers conducted by the Associated Press and NORC Center for Public Affairs Research. Respondents were asked whether they thought people staying in the workforce longer was mostly a good thing or a bad thing for … [Read more...]
Opinion – Helping multiple decision makers purchase
Selling to businesses often means proving to multiple decision makers that your product can make their jobs more efficient, provide a significant return on investment and outdo competitors in functionality and price. Kison Patel shares what he calls five tips for streamlining the decision-making process when multiple stakeholders are involved. They outline considerations when … [Read more...]