It was refreshing to hear several stories from animal health professionals about their career pathways, decisions and challenges during interactions during AVMA 2018. The career stories highlight was shared by Kristen Peck of Zoetis during The Bridge Club’s first industry ICON live event <link>. To summarize the input from participants, routinely reinventing ourselves is … [Read more...]
I have a wart on my fanny older than you
While attending AVMA 2018, the aspects of experience versus age were discussed several times. The only consensus seemed to be that changes are already here and they won’t be comfortable for most of us. Bo Brock, DVM, offers a realistic, but light perspective on newbies and calls for patience with new doctors. I would add that the newbies must also be patient with the … [Read more...]
Don’t assume results speak for themselves.
While good results might be the price of admission, do not assume they are enough to get you recognized. This is where the skill of managing “up” in your organization is a necessary and effective to get you where you would like to go. Source: Wall Street Journal, April 10, 2018. Link. (Paywall. Also see: PDF of article. Link.) Employees also need to understand the boss’s … [Read more...]
New checklist helps kids stay safe on the farm
It’s natural that parents and grandparents want to protect their children. Because each agricultural setting is unique, as is each child, addressing child safety requires an individual approach. The new Child/Youth Agricultural Safety Checklist from the National Center for Rural and Agricultural Health and Safety helps parents perform customized safety checks. It is free and … [Read more...]
2018 Audubon Society photo awards announced
Take a break and enjoy! The winners of the 2018 Audubon Photography Awards competition were announced this week. More than 8,000 images in professional, amateur and youth categories were entered. Plus, all 50 states and 10 Canadian provinces were represented. This year’s competition celebrates the 100th anniversary of the Migratory Bird Treaty Act and the species protected by … [Read more...]
Reconnect with your prospects without being annoying
There is an article written nearly every day about the challenges of getting prospective customers’ attention and consideration. Vanessa Nornberg shares four ways to reach out with purpose. Include specific things about his/her business in your initial contact Offer meaningful insight Call Set up an introduction to someone who might be helpful to the prospect in a … [Read more...]
Increase your resilience when you’re going through hell
Going through hell is different for each person, but each of us must move through these temporary disruptions. Marissa Levin shares five ways to move through your challenge and rise again stronger. Unless we live in a bubble, no one moves through life without pain. When the world begins to close in around us, what can we do to push through the darkness? Practice … [Read more...]
When your boss isn’t your advocate
Having a great boss (Link) is a potentially life-changing gift. On the other hand, many of us know firsthand that having a bad boss (Link) can cause a lot of drama, headaches, and stress. While it’s easy to love the great bosses and flee the bad ones, there’s one kind of boss that’s much less straightforward to navigate: the boss who doesn’t advocate for you. Source: Harvard … [Read more...]
Open offices make you less open
Our team found this interesting since some new offices use open floor plans. New, in-depth research indicates that open office configurations likely do not create the interactive results originally expected. Source: Cal Newport, July 6, 2018. Link. When you remove any semblance of structure to human interaction, people get overloaded and withdraw into private, electronic … [Read more...]
NAVTA’s Animal Health Bi-Weekly, July 5
Genetic disorder database, heartworm grant, email goofs and canine cancer survivors. These and more are in the July 5 edition. Source: NAVTA Animal Health Bi-Weekly: July 5, 2018. Link. Check out the upcoming NAVTA education sessions and events. <link> … [Read more...]
Tips for traveling with horses
Traveling with a horse comes with multiple challenges, so it’s important to be prepared. Here are five tips to share with horse owners via social media, websites and targeted communications. Plan Your Route (and Your Breaks) Ahead of Time Know What Documentation You Need Practice Makes Perfect Keep Your Trailer in Tip-Top Shape Know the Hidden Health Risks of … [Read more...]
Water consumption crucial to horse health
Getting enough water sounds elementary doesn’t it. But for horses, and cattle, as well, . . . water is the most important nutrient, especially in hot weather. Without it, horses die within a few days, whereas they may be able to go weeks without food. Source: BEEF, June 25, 2018. Link. Ambient temperature affects water intake, and horses typically drink less water in cold … [Read more...]
How gut health promotes animal welfare in monogastrics
Jackie Roembke reviews how changes in production systems and animal welfare expectations challenge nutritionists and producers to maintain healthy animal populations. Focusing on immunity first to reduce antibiotic use requires a gut health perspective. With 70 percent of an animal’s immunity concentrated in the gut, fostering a strong gastrointestinal system will improve its … [Read more...]
Missouri wildlife veterinarian does more than fix broken wings
Sherri Russell, DVM, explains her role in wildlife education and health, population medicine, One Health, conservation research projects, agriculture and education for varied interests in Missouri. This article is a unique look at how veterinary medicine is integrated within the concerns of residents where they and wildlife intersect. Source: Missouri Conservationist … [Read more...]
Catego® for cats helps raise more than $10,000 for Virginia cat rescue
AHD sponsor Ceva Animal Health, maker of Catego®, helped the Chris Griffey Memorial Feline Foundation raise more than $10,000 through a popular video on Facebook. Catego SpokesCat Benedict, “Benny” Cumbercat, and his owner, Ellen Carozza, a veterinary technician, were featured in video highlighting the Chris Griffey Memorial Feline Foundation that cares for at-risk kittens. It … [Read more...]
9 tips to keep kitties cool
JaneA Kelley shares tips about keeping cats cool and comfortable when the weather gets hot: Cool your cat down with ice Add a home-made air conditioner to the cat’s favorite lounging spot Elevate the cat’s bed Provide a fan for the cat Pet cats with a wet towel Close curtains Avoid cooling gel packs Postpone play time Never, never, never leave a cat … [Read more...]
Dogs get sunburned just like us
Dogs’ coats protect against a lot, except the sun’s UVB and UVA rays. Yes, they can sunburn enough to warrant emergency treatment. Our friends at Nationwide offer tips on sunburn prevention and low- and high-res graphics that help create great reminders for bulletin boards, clinic counters, blogs, websites and take-home material. While these fair-colored and thin-furred dogs … [Read more...]
Hot pavement burns paws (includes video)
Hot pavement can have gruesome and painful consequences for dogs’ paws. Sarah Schweig offers burnt paw information worth sharing with pet owners in social media, blogs and on websites. Source: the dodo, June 11, 2018. Link. Put the back of your hand on the pavement, and if you can't keep it there for five seconds, it's too hot for your pup's feet. Also see: 9 tips on how … [Read more...]
Electroceuticals reduce anxiety, stress in pets (includes video)
"Electroceuticals are, as a prescription medical device, approved for anxiety," says Ava Frick, DVM. Because of how electroceutical microcurrents function throughout the brain, animal stress levels can be reduced. Source: American Veterinarian, July 3, 2018. Link. Microcurrents are introduced to the body through little clips that go on the ears. The low frequency, … [Read more...]
Canine Confidential: Why dogs do what they do (book review)
In his new book, “Canine Confidential,” Marc Bekhoff gathered up the latest research from canine cognitive/behavioral fields, as well as his own, and presents the information in an inviting, conversational mode that makes complicated topics much easier to grasp. This volume covers much ground, from canine cognition and their rich emotional lives and behavioral proclivities to … [Read more...]
Update, anaplasmosis in dogs
Prompted by the Dogster article linked below, we reviewed recent information about anaplasmosis in dogs, in addition to ruminants, horses, people and wildlife species. White-tailed deer and small rodents are considered the primary reservoir hosts. Canine anaplasmosis is caused by one of two gram-negative, obligate, intracellular bacterial agents, Anaplasma phagocytophilum or … [Read more...]
Pet food transparency: telling stories to reach consumers
As consumers demand more transparency, are pet food companies learning to better tell their stories and communicate what they make, but why and how they make it, and what they stand for? Debbie Phillips-Donaldson, editor-in-chief of Petfood Industry, says, “Yes.” She writes a commentary about her experiences at Super Zoo 2018 and the changing approach to … [Read more...]
Consumer media offers dog flu guidance
Real Simple is one example of consumer media that offers thousands of topics to millions of homes. Lauren Phillips presents information about dog flu in this article. Consider sharing the article with pet owners via your own social media, website and blog posts. Instagram-famous pooch Manny (@manny_the_frenchie) visited the Real Simple offices as part of a partnership with … [Read more...]
U.S. veterinary services changing, consolidating
The U.S. market for veterinary services is undergoing transformation, according to Packaged Facts’ new report, “Pet Industry Outlook: Veterinary Services and Pet Product Retailing.” The industry has long been the domain of independent practitioners, but recent years have seen significant consolidation in the industry, with veterinary practices being bought up under one … [Read more...]
Supreme Court ruling provides sales tax victory for veterinarians
Since 1992, online retailers have been able to skirt sales tax laws because of a statute established prior to today’s thriving e-commerce market. The U.S. Supreme Court ruled in favor of veterinarians June 21, allowing states to require online retailers to collect sales tax. Source: AVMA, June 21, 2018. Link. The ruling allows, but does not require, states to begin having … [Read more...]
The secret price of pets
“The care and feeding of America’s fur babies has grown increasingly baroque,” Peter Halderman says. His commentary describes the lifestyles of the most pampered pets with economics added for effect. The opportunities for treating our pets like Ferraris, or at least like high-maintenance children, would seem to be as plentiful as those for coddling ourselves. Maybe more … [Read more...]
You’re never done transitioning, so get good at it
We all have transitions, or changes, in life whether we make them ourselves or they’re made for us. Aviah Wittenberg-Cox, author of Seven Steps to Leading a Gender-Balanced Business, says mapping out transitions on a timeline from zero to 100 years will give you an idea of how many transitions you’ll experience. Source: Harvard Business Review, July 5, 2018. Link. Longevity … [Read more...]
Help others succeed
How can you help others succeed if you don’t know how they define success? How do you know which benefits to highlight if you don’t know what they value? How can you help others get better if you don’t know where they are struggling? How can you have a successful sales call if you don’t talk about your product? The answer to the first three questions is “You … [Read more...]
Hold tax records long enough for comfort
This article will help reduce what is often a closet full of old tax records. When you boil it all down, keeping tax returns to seven years after filing is good – generally. Source: DVM Management, June 19, 2018. Link. Important note: Although you can discard backup records, do not throw away the filed copies of any tax returns or W-2s. Often, these returns provide data … [Read more...]
How women can succeed by rethinking old habits
Sally Helgesen and Marshall Goldsmith discuss self-limiting behaviors that are simply part of being human. Their combined experiences with women in virtually every sector taught them that even women at the highest levels can undermine themselves with specific self-sabotaging or self-limiting behaviors that are different from those that most frequently undermine men. Not all … [Read more...]