World-renowned animal behaviorist, autism activist and author Temple Grandin, PhD, celebrated her 70th birthday last month at Colorado State University where she is a professor in the Department of Animal Sciences. Hundreds of current and former students, industry leaders, university personnel, plus the director of the award-winning 2010 movie, “Temple Grandin,” attended. A … [Read more...]
Biodiversity important for goat farming
Using lessons from the dairy producers, goat farmers are urged to maintain genetic diversity in their herds, rather than breed for production-specific traits. By not doing so, animals may become ill-equipped to adapt to changing conditions or fight new diseases. The United Nations is so concerned that more than 100 countries are already signed up to monitor genealogies and … [Read more...]
Protecting chickens from aerial predators (includes video)
Free-ranging and backyard chickens are easy prey for animals like foxes, raccoons, skunks and neighbors’ free-roaming cats and dogs. In addition, the lack of protection overhead makes them a likely meal for hawks. Pam Freeman offers ways to protect backyard chickens from aerial predators. Source: Backyard Poultry, August 30, 2017. To protect backyard, free-ranging chickens … [Read more...]
Feeding puppies for the best health possible
How much to feed new puppies is a common question of dog owners regardless of how many they have raised. Denise Flaim reminds owners to feed for slow, steady growth. Studies show that slow, steady growth – with no dramatic growth spurts – is ideal for puppy health, especially his developing skeletal system. Source: Whole Dog Journal, September 2017. Pet-nutrition consultant … [Read more...]
Everyone should see themselves as a leader (includes podcast)
Pat Malone often writes for AHD about leadership and communication. His assertions that you need not possess a title to lead are part of what is discussed in this podcast and article where Sue Ashford, a professor at the University of Michigan’s Ross School of Business, breaks down her decades of research on leadership; who achieves it and how a group grants it. Source: … [Read more...]
6 things that offend cats
Lauren Cheal provides insights into why cats are offended in home environments. This list makes one wonder who is really in charge, but then, we already know the answer to that. Source: Modern Cat, August 31, 2017. Are you guilty of these feline faux pas? Staring Over-petting Poor litter box placement Lazy litter box cleaning Cutting off play time at the … [Read more...]
B2B buying isn’t getting easier
Marketers, this one’s for you! The latest branding research from CEB, now Gartner, and conducted in partnership with Google and Motista, involved a cross-industry study of more than 3,000 B2B customers. It revealed the following findings, which have huge implications for B2B brands. Source: CMO, August 28, 2017. The data shows that personal value has twice as much impact as … [Read more...]
Journal of the AVMA
We linked you to the table of contents for this issue of the Journal. Two papers caught our team’s attention: Comparison of clinical findings between dogs with suspected anaphylaxis and dogs with confirmed sepsis Movement patterns of exhibition swine and associations of influenza A virus infection with swine management practices Source: Journal of the AVMA, … [Read more...]
Vomiting is not normal for cats
Most cat owners have experienced their pets vomiting. Jennifer Hawkins, DVM, uses routine history questions with clients when they bring their cats in for an exam. She details her response to one of those questions. Source: Nationwide One of those questions is whether vomiting is ever noticed. I received various responses. "No more than usual." How much is usual for a … [Read more...]
Flying cowboys help save cattle from Harvey
Helicopters and their pilots, long used to round up cattle on sprawling ranches, have been hard at work since Hurricane Harvey hit Southeast Texas August 25. This article features Ryan Ashcraft, a helicopter pilot who has been helping rescue cattle in since the storm let up. Ten percent of the Texas cowherd is in the 54 counties declared disaster areas. Source: New York … [Read more...]
Ways to help Harvey victims
It is natural to want to help those affected by Hurricane Harvey’s destruction. Following are links that will help you determine how you can help. If you can help, please do. If you can’t now, please do so when you can. Help will be needed for a long time. American Veterinary Medical Association: This compilation features multiple ways to help veterinarians, clients and … [Read more...]
Opinion: Help for aging animal health pros
I offer this article on turning back time and dealing with our perceptions of aging in this industry. I found persons in their 30s eager to engage and discuss our industry at the recent CVC Kansas City. Instead of thinking “been there, done that” I found myself asking questions of these young pros to see how their todays resembled some of my yesterdays. The results were about … [Read more...]
Women lead in the KC Animal Health Corridor
A dozen women who hold leadership roles in the animal health industry talked about their careers, challenges and corporate life in a panel discussion during Global Animal Health Week in August. Different than discussions like this just a decade ago, the group agreed it is important to forget the gender differences and focus on showing team members what you can do or … [Read more...]
AVMA takes a stand on assistance animals
The AVMA House of Delegates passed a policy on "The Veterinarian's Role in Supporting Appropriate Selection and Use of Service, Assistance and Therapy Animals." Therapy animals are not covered under the ADA, FH, or ACAA. Source: JAVMA News, September 15, 2017. The AVMA encourages veterinarians to be familiar with the legal status and protections accorded to service, … [Read more...]
Have smartphones destroyed a generation?
In her new book, “iGen: Why Today’s Super-Connected Kids Are Growing Up Less Rebellious, More Tolerant, Less Happy—and Completely Unprepared for Adulthood—and What That Means for the Rest of Us,” Jean M. Twenge discusses the challenges of the iGen and shares start realizations about how smartphones are affecting a generation of young persons. Source: The Atlantic, September … [Read more...]
Leaders ask the right questions
One skill that every effective leader has mastered is asking the right questions. Obviously, this is very helpful when you need information to make a well-informed decision. It is also helpful to check your assumptions when you think you have all the information before deciding. A simple acronym can insure you ask the right questions. Source: Evan Carmichael, September … [Read more...]
National Beef Quality Audit shows its value (includes video)
NBQA auditing processes have improved over the past 25 years, leading to an increasingly meaningful set of results. The 2016 National Beef Quality Audit observed a decrease in cattle with hide brands, horns and an increase in the frequency of Prime and Choice carcasses. Still, continuous improvement is indicated including how to tell consumers the story of beef’s … [Read more...]
Pig show persons stay connected to the industry
The show pig business is a world where people love their pigs. Those who fall short of the prizes try harder the next year. These farmers are not disconnected from the industry production practices, however. Our team wanted to share this site to share with you, especially these entries: Pig show 101 and Top 5 reasons why showing pigs is the best. Source: Real Pig … [Read more...]
What you wear at the clinic matters
Veterinary teams will appreciate the discussion presented in this article. Consider using this for a team meeting to discuss dress codes and what professional attire means. Source: Vetanswers, August 10, 2017 via NAVTA. At the end of the day, you are a veterinary professional, working with your clients in a well-equipped veterinary practice where you deliver a professional … [Read more...]
Stress leads to bad decisions
Our brains are wired to be more reactionary under stress, according to decision-making research This can mean that stressed persons resort to binary choice-making, limiting the options available to them. Often, says Ron Carucci, we revert to the “it’s just easier to do this myself” by impulse. Source: Harvard Business Review, August 29, 2017. There are no complex challenges … [Read more...]
Why technicians leave—and what you can do about it
Julie Carlson’s overview of veterinary technician work dynamics is important, especially in with the new veterinary nurse direction and how salespersons interface with technicians and office staff. Practice owners and managers need to look at this from a retention management perspective. Sales and marketing persons will find opportunities in the comments on respect, inclusion … [Read more...]
6 steps to effective communication
We’ve included many posts dealing with interpersonal connections recently. So, how can we communicate more effectively in the myriad ways we exchange information? Denise Yosefat offers an acronym CHOICE to represent the six steps to being effective communicators. Source: leadercommunicator™ blog, February 1, 2017. Here are the six steps Yosefat offers: C is for … [Read more...]
Spike in Salmonella comes from backyard chickens
As we noted in this post last June, hugging and kissing chickens can cause exposure to Salmonella, which has killed one person in the U.S. this year. Young children are the most vulnerable to this bacteria. Source: NBC News, August 22, 2017. Nine hundred sixty one people have tested positive for Salmonella this year. That’s more cases than in all of 2016. It’s been found in … [Read more...]
Chickens becoming beloved family pets
It won’t be long before chickens are the new family dog, according to Kathy Shea Mormino, aka the Chicken Chick. She may be on to something. More than one percent of U.S. households now raise chickens. Plus, the USDA estimates that by 2019, urban chicken flocks will increase by 400 percent. Mormino is attuned to this growth as she answers questions for her 743,000 followers on … [Read more...]
Respect a cat’s hiss
Jane A Kelly shares perspectives on why cats hiss. Some feline behavior experts believe that the cat learned how to hiss by imitating the sound of snakes. Mimicking the sound of other species is a survival technique used by many animals, and there’s no mistaking the distinct warning given by a hiss. Source: Catster, August 21, 2017. Ultimately, the cat hiss is designed to … [Read more...]
Lone star tick is rapidly migrating
Lone star ticks have been implicated in a handful of zoonotic illnesses (not Lyme disease) that are serious to humans and animals. Experts in human allergy, parasitology, and entomology joined to discuss the lone star tick, its geographic spread and the zoonotic diseases it can transmit during the AVMA 2017 convention in Indianapolis. Source: Veterinary Practice News, August … [Read more...]
Dog pee: normal or not?
Arden Moore goes through everything from urine color to frequency to how to obtain a pee sample from a dog. It is light but informative content. Consider using it for websites, newsletters or social media. Source: The Bark, August 28, 2017. The liquid gold stream exiting from a dog contains priceless clues on just how healthy the dog is. Snicker if you will, but any … [Read more...]
Working with bad listeners
It’s a challenge to work with people — peers, junior colleagues, customers, or even bosses — who just don’t listen. Rebecca Knight offers some dos and don’ts in this discussion of distracted and distracting communications. Source: Harvard Business Review, August 24, 2017. Here are some strategies for working with colleagues who never seem to be listening: Consider work … [Read more...]
Put down the phone
Wendy Myers suggests ways to get clients and staff members to hang up their phones and listen. Addictive cellphone use is a growing problem and contributes to declining listening and retention skills. Try a collaborative rather than confrontational approach when dealing with smartphone use. Source: Veterinary Practice News, August 23, 2017. Distracted clients may be … [Read more...]
“1” can change everything; KC Animal Health Corridor
Global Animal Health Week kicked off in the Kansas City area Friday, August 25. Supported by the commitments to the KC Animal Health Corridor, a series of events garnered record participation from around the world. Check out the “goings on” at #KCAnimalHealth Source: KC Animal Health Corridor. Events included: 1st “Women in Animal Health” panel discussion Market … [Read more...]