Treatment options include more than metronidazole, writes Craig B. Webb, PhD, DVM, DACVIM. She reviews five antibiotics that address gastrointestinal and hepatobiliary disorders: Enrofloxacin Metronidazole Tylosin Amoxicillin–clavulanic acid Neomycin Source: Clinician’s Brief, March 2018. Link. Webb considers enrofloxacin, metronidazole, and tylosin to be … [Read more...]
Equine shipping fever may indicate something more serious
Travel is stressful for horses. A horse’s environment during transport may not be dustier than his home barn, but if he can’t readily lower his head, airborne particles may take a greater toll on his health. If horses get a respiratory infection after transport, like people with colds, they usually just get over it. Sometimes, however, a fever and cough that start soon after … [Read more...]
How to end your four most common work conversations
Too often we hesitate when it comes to the “ask.” We let our words hang in the air–and hope that our listeners pursue the next steps. Source: Fast Company, August 17, 2018. Link. Judith Humphrey shares how to tell your listeners how you want your message to be acted upon. She covers the call to action in the following scenarios: Networking conversation Corridor chat … [Read more...]
Grit: the power of passion and perseverance (includes video)
We know very little about developing grit, says Angela Lee Duckworth. “What if your ability to do well in school and life depends on much more than your ability to learn easily and quickly?” she asked. “IQ was not the only difference between my best and worst students.” In all those different contexts, one characteristic emerged as significant predictor of success: It was … [Read more...]
Survey shows digital-native Gen Z prefers in-person interaction with brands
Just when we thought we were catching up, research shows Gen-Z actually has a complex relationship with technology. And the lesson not to rely on generalities hold true. Some that marketers associate with millennials are not true for Gen-Zers. Research . . . reveals Gen Z’s paradoxical relationship with social media. As the latest survey shows, they don’t overshare and are … [Read more...]
Pet medical insurance is growing, group says
Whether as a member of a veterinary team or as a pet owner, pet insurance is becoming a more prevalent consideration in managing both life quality and financial risk when owning a pet. The number of insured pets increased climbing to 1.83 million last year, up about 16% from the previous year. That’s only 1% of dogs and cats, but insurers expect the expansion to … [Read more...]
Key items that make a successful lunch and learn
Whether working to advance team skills or increase knowledge about a topic, engaging team members is critical. An effective Lunch & Learn involves more than an introduction and a demonstration over lunch. No team member will leave lunch feeling confident about performing a new skill without actually performing the skill him- or herself. Source: Veterinary Team Brief, … [Read more...]
What’s good for GM may be good for you
Everyone in all General Motors offices is banned from walking and talking or texting. This includes CEO Mary Barra. There’s no looking at a phone en route to a meeting, taking calls on the way to the bathroom nor checking email when getting coffee. Safety is one reason, but awareness is another. Source: Fast Company, August 23, 2018. Link. For GM, the smartphone concern is … [Read more...]
Strong sales managers coach well
A friend who is a sales manager recently sent me an article titled, “There are too many bad salespeople,” with the suggestion that this could serve as an inspiration for a future column. My friend will be pleased to discover that it worked, but perhaps not in the way she intended. Source: Vet-Advantage – Companion Edition, August, 2018. Link. Real coaching occurs when … [Read more...]
Mad cow disease discovered in Florida cow
The U.S. Department of Agriculture personnel have discovered a cow in Florida infected with bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE), commonly known as mad cow disease. Agri-Pulse first reported this news Tuesday evening, August 28. Drovers reported it shortly thereafter Source: Drovers, August 28, 2018. Link. The infected Florida cow was not slaughtered for human consumption … [Read more...]
Opinion – Human hospitals will be required to post their prices online
I have no political agenda in posting this. However, I believe it is important for animal health pros to see this legal action and consider how it might play out in animal health. One thing for sure, the ability to differentiate services, skills and value-adds may become further homogenized in this environment. The rule, finalized Thursday by the Centers for Medicare and … [Read more...]
Understand your market, but set your own price points
Kara Perez offers realistic guidance on establishing price points with knowledge of but independent of competition. Focusing too much on the competition can prove to be a distraction. Source: DUE, August 19, 2018. Link. Knowing your market rate is powerful knowledge, but only to a point. If you base your prices off of someone else’s business model and someone else’s work, … [Read more...]
33 dos and don’ts for equine colic
“Any horse has the ability to experience colic,” states Dr. Michael N. Fugaro. “The disorder is indiscriminate of age, sex, breed, occupation, or environment.” The term “colic” refers to abdominal pain rather than a specific disorder. Conditions that commonly cause colic include gas, impaction, grain overload, sand ingestion, and parasite infection. Marcia King offers dos and … [Read more...]
September at The Bridge Club
Brenda and Catherine recently sought topic feedback from all-access members and past participants. The result is a robust set of topics for upcoming months. Here’s a look at what’s coming. August 30th, Noon MST, VMAE Member Exclusive Event: Momentum Book Club – Part 1. This is a closed event for VMAE Members. For more information, contact Catherine Haskins @ … [Read more...]
VHMA annual meeting and conference kicks off October 18
VHMA principles are finalizing the 2018 VHMA annual meeting and conference, “Discovering, Transforming, and Progressing Together.” It will take place October 18 – 20 in Baltimore, Maryland. Great managers understand that progress is dependent on a thorough and deliberate process. At VHMA 2018...discover the practices that the best practice managers rely on to thrive! Note … [Read more...]
Opinion – Chew on this blast from the past
AHD editor, Rick Purnell, found a dental care brochure in a media kit from 2007. See the images of the Hartz® brochure at the link below. While the graphics show how far we’ve come in presenting products in the last 10 plus years, the messages are alarmingly similar. A Google search for the study referenced indicates its results have been referenced by as many as 20 or more … [Read more...]
Keep dogs from getting carsick
Labor Day is almost here and folks are rushing to take the last road trips of the season. If taking the dog along, it helps to ensure you and he are prepared for the possibility of motion sickness. The exact mechanism of motion sickness it not well understood, but it is likely linked to the centers of the brain that control balance and process motion, according to Daniel Edge, … [Read more...]
Canine influenza virus can survive on surfaces for days
Although nearly all dogs that have the H3N2 influenza virus can transmit it, only about 80 percent of infected dogs show symptoms. The virus can survive in the environment for days. This means a dog can catch it without direct contact with another dog, says veterinary epidemiologist Yvette Johnson-Walker. Source: Herald & Review, August 18, 2018. Link. Vaccines are … [Read more...]
9 things to know about dogs in heat
Writer Jackie Brown presents some facts about dogs in heat and the importance of spaying female dogs. Her article helps answer some questions new owners of female dogs may have about heat and reproduction. A dog heat cycle only happens once or twice a year. A puppy can go into heat sooner than you think. Dogs in heat should stay away from intact male dogs for 3 to … [Read more...]
Infections from a dog lick are a risk but very rare
Jennifer McQuiston is one of the nation’s leading experts on capnocytophaga, the bacteria at the center of recent news stories revealing amputations and deaths from these bacteria. According to the CDC, 74% of dogs have capnocytophaga detected in their mouths The bacteria are often found in dog and cat saliva "and on occasion, you can even find this bug in human saliva." When … [Read more...]
GlobalVetLINK and UC-Davis form diagnostics partnership
The integration of two software solutions, LabLINK HIMS™ and Disease BioPortal®, will enable veterinarians and livestock production personnel to manage diagnostic lab results and improve the speed of health-based decision making. GVL’s LabLINK HIMS software has been used by swine veterinarians and integrated producers for more effective herd health management. With the UC … [Read more...]
Weekly meetings rejuvenate practice culture (includes video)
Tracy Dowdy, CVPM, explains why it is important for veterinary practice to hold weekly meetings. They should be spent rejuvenating your practice culture and creating an open line of communication. Source: Veterinarian’s Money Digest, April 30, 2018. Link. Veterinarians work in such a fragmented industry where they don't have a roadmap on how to run their practices or train … [Read more...]
Learn from your mistakes by reacting appropriately
Every business makes mistakes. As a leader, you’ll be responsible or at least accountable for most of them. The best leaders don’t let their bad decisions define them. A simple way you can accomplish this is by not reacting right away to every mistake, but reacting in the right way, whether that means rectifying the issue immediately or learning a valuable lesson and moving … [Read more...]
FDA releases new tools to help veterinarians fight opioid abuse
Keeping opioids secure in the veterinary practice while retaining access for patients who need pain control is more important than ever. The FDA’s Center for Veterinary Medicine recently published a list of online resources to help veterinarians comply with federal and state regulations for prescribing, storing and disposing of these products; understand how to help overdosed … [Read more...]
Mosquito emoji to benefit public and researchers
The AHD team has presented posts about mosquitoes and how they affect animals and humans five times in past two years. Link. Our friends at QUARTZ did a great job summarizing how the 3,000 known mosquito species are the deadliest animals in the world. They also note the importance of an upcoming mosquito emoji that will help researchers communicate via social media about the … [Read more...]
Opinion – KC Animal Health Corridor; biggest year ever (includes videos)
As an attendee beginning with the the first KC Homecoming event, it has been great to experience the phenomenal growth and reach of the KC Animal Health Corridor initiatives over the past decade. The addition of the KC Animal Health Investment Forum has created a future-focused pulse to the celebration. And, for the past three years, animal health pros have received market … [Read more...]
Phone addiction; stop the cycle
Phone time affects everything from our memories and attention spans to our creativity, productivity, relationships, stress levels, physical health and sleep, says Catherine Price. We have become like Pavlov’s famous dogs, trained to salivate when they heard the sound of a bell. And when we can’t check our phones, our bodies release stress hormones such as adrenaline and … [Read more...]
4 conversations every overwhelmed working parent should have
Working parents sometimes struggle with the feeling that they are either letting down their family or not meeting their career goals. It can be hard to strike the right balance, write Joseph Grenny and Brittney Maxfield. If you are a parent looking to establish and sustain a healthier balance — for yourself, your children, and even your organization — there are four specific … [Read more...]
Tips for reading the room before a meeting or presentation
Meeting rooms often have feelings or conversations going on that are not fully in the open. Yet, paying attention to the cues can reveal where there is tension, fear or even recalcitrant participation. Rebecca Knight offers these principles to remember that any meeting attendee, presenter or salesperson can use to keep a group headed toward the positives: DO: Consider the … [Read more...]
Opinion – Animal healthcare market trends and major industry players
Key points and trends in the press release from Global Market Insights, Inc. will interest animal health pros. It notes various growth drivers including: Growing trend of adopting pet animals Rising prevalence of food borne and zoonotic diseases Favorable government initiatives Rapidly increasing demand for animal protein in human food Technological … [Read more...]