There’s not always time to step away from the daily grind. But you can opt for right-where-you-are de-stress techniques, according to Katrina Davies. Try one of these 5 options: Ear massage Workplace reset Hand-trick Breathing technique Progressive relaxation Source: The Muse, June 26, 2017. Here are five tips to reduce stress at the office, perfect for … [Read more...]
Couple saves baby kangaroos orphaned on Australian highway
This piece will elicit innumerable “awes,” especially from those interested in animal rescue. Josephine and Terry Brenna-Kuss have run an orphanage for joeys on the lonely South Australian section of the long Stuart Highway since 2008. Most come from females that were struck by cars or trucks. The video clips will bring smiles, too. Source: New York Times, June 26, 2017 … [Read more...]
Why cats lick
Jane A. Kelly offers reasons cats lick their owners. She shares when your cats lick you, it can be a compliment, a sign of stress, or more. Consider using this information in social media posts, websites and newsletters. Cat owners will appreciate the perspective. Source: Catster, June 13, 2017. Kelly shares these reasons: Cats lick as a means of social When your … [Read more...]
Virtual farm tour increase understanding of how farms work
These videos about swine production are a must-see for all animal health pros. It is easy to get behind in our understanding of how today’s producers work. Consider linking to these virtual tours in blog posts, clinic websites, newsletters and social media. Source: Pork, June 26, 2017. The U.S. Farmers and Ranchers Alliance (USFRA) has been sharing a one-of-a-kind … [Read more...]
Speaking of BS, New York lawsuit is a pile of poo
It took researchers from Cornell to tell the real story of how much manure cows actually create. The comparisons also expose a paradigm that requires land mass to dispose of bovine waste that does not exist for human waste. Source: Hoard’s Dairyman, June 26, 2017. A lawsuit filed against the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation claimed that a herd of 200 … [Read more...]
Distinguish fact from fiction; call BS, BS
We decided to post this since there seems to be so much hype to sift through. We hope you’re not offended by the BS references. It can be hard to know what to do with the onslaught of fresh BS and when you can no longer distinguish fact from fiction. Source: Science of US, June 26, 2017. Inspired by two professors at the University of Washington, Science of Us talked to a … [Read more...]
Fear of disease transmission drives Yellowstone quarantine facility
Male bison must be quarantined for a year before they can be deemed free of brucellosis, which is feared by the livestock industry because it causes cattle to abort their offspring. More than half of Yellowstone bison are believed to have been exposed to the disease. Source: AgWeb, June 26, 2017. There has been no documented case of bison transmitting the disease to cattle … [Read more...]
Choose to thrive, not survive
I am consistently amused by the number articles focused on executive level leadership or women in leadership that have application throughout the ranks in an organization. This article is a good example. While written for executive women, it applies to both genders and across the entire spectrum of the organization. Source: Forbes, June 19, 2017. We have introduced … [Read more...]
The iPhone turns 10 (includes Steve Jobs historical video)
As the iPhone turns 10, we now know the technology that was supposed to bring us all together has isolated us instead. Smartphones now seem indispensable. They connect us to the internet, give us directions, allow us to fire off texts and much more. Yet research has shown that this convenience may be coming at a cost. Source: The Conversation, June 26, 2017. Smartphones are … [Read more...]
From beak to tail, a guide to digestive health in chickens
During our visit to the World Pork Expo, June 7 to 9, a chicken was strutting around a residential driveway west of the Iowa State Fair grounds. All things considered, the guide to digestive health could be helpful to veterinary teams or retail associates who are not confident with poultry care. Source: Hobby Farms, June 16, 2017. Sheri McGregor discusses keeping flocks … [Read more...]
Cage-free not necessarily better for hens
John Brunnquell runs Egg Innovations, the largest free-range layer operation in the industry. It didn’t come naturally. He grew up on a traditional chicken farm and can substantiate the benefits of caged egg production. However, he’s spent the last two decades perfecting his current operation. He and other industry experts admit that cage-free egg production still has a long … [Read more...]
Partnering with a trainer is a no-brainer (audio recording)
Though many studies have shown a link between pet behavior and health, most veterinary professionals don’t jump for joy at the thought of behavior consultations. Educator Mikkel Becke explains the Humane Hierarchy developed by Utah State University psychology professor Susan Friedman, PhD. This model incorporates the expertise of trainers and veterinary … [Read more...]
Cable reigns no more
The largest cable TV providers in the U.S. now have fewer combined subscribers than the single streaming service, Netflix. Cable TV had 48.6 million subscribers to 50.9 million for Netflix. The lead would be even greater if other streaming services were factored in. Source: Quartz, June 16, 2017. But Netflix’s subscriber base is still climbing, while the pay-TV market is … [Read more...]
Dr. Marty Becker talks cool cats
Dr. Becker offers tips for keeping cats cool in summer and how to prevent other seasonal hazards, such as bug bites, heartworm and sunburns. This makes good content for blogs, social media and newsletters. Source: Catster, June 12, 2017. While cats descend from desert animals and are more tolerant of heat than dogs, they have some special needs when the temperature rises. … [Read more...]
Ruthlessly evaluate your performance
The most effective leaders I know have their own set of key performance indicators and ruthlessly evaluate their performance so that they don’t fall into the trap of believing their own press clippings. Sometimes it can be as simple as asking yourself the right questions and then being brutally honest with your answers. Source: Marta Wilson, June 7, 2017. Great leaders … [Read more...]
5 important articles in NAVTA’s bi-weekly
Animal Health Bi-Weekly features five important articles for veterinary nurse members. Most interesting to our AHD team are: How 3D printing is changing veterinary cancer treatments Pharmacists begin receiving veterinary education Source: NAVTA Animal Health Bi-Weekly, June 20, 2017. … [Read more...]
Don’t punish a growling dog
This excerpt from a book being promoted has value for website content, newsletters, blogs or social media. Once again, we learn to control ourselves instead of the animal. Source: Whole Dog Journal, June 20, 2017. It's very common for dog owners to punish their dogs for growling. Unfortunately, this often suppresses the growl, eliminating his ability to warn us that he's … [Read more...]
OSU to host canine athletic program August 1 – 3
The number-one killer of all law enforcement canines in the U.S. last year was directly related to the lack of adequate conditioning and resistance to heat stress. To help address this, Oklahoma State University’s Center for Veterinary Health Sciences will offer its Advanced Canine Athletic Program August 1 through 3. Presenters include: Randel Roy; Sean Peck, DVM and Michael … [Read more...]
Dog owners walk more, are healthier than non-owners.
New research suggests that one benefit of owning a dog is walking more than if you don’t own one. In a study published last week in the journal BMC Public Health, dog owners walked an average of 22 minutes more per day compared to people who don’t own a dog. Plus, the exercise was at a moderate pace, getting and keeping heart rates up. Source: NPR, July 12, 2017. The … [Read more...]
Use your local megaphone
Representatives often hear their customers express, “I just wish my customers understood...” Nate Birt explains why letters to the editor can effectively educate consumers. Although you won’t reach everyone in print, newspaper editors often upload those letters to the internet, where you can share content you’ve written on your website or social media. Source: Top Producer, … [Read more...]
Time to rethink mites
Tufts veterinary dermatologist Lluis Ferrer, DVM, shares information on Demodex mites, including the recent confirmation of them taking up residence in dogs’ hair follicles. Demodex mites have been detected in the skin of all mammals and are considered part of what is called the cutaneous microbiome. He reminds us that Demodex mites are crawling on our faces all the time. Note … [Read more...]
Take steps to prevent workplace violence
Workplace violence can erupt unexpectedly. While we don’t believe it will happen in our workplace, as of June 13th, 2017, there have been eight workplace killings. Lynne Curry offers five things every employer should be doing: Don’t hire danger Uncover surprises Investigate Assess potential threats Source: Alaska Dispatch News, June 13, 2017. The many … [Read more...]
Opinion – Dogster: Heat stroke and other summer hazards
One reason we curate content from publications for pet owners is to be sure that animal health pros are aware of what is being pushed to their clients. Often, content like this article is complementary to veterinary recommendations. However, some information can be misleading from an animal health or population control perspective. We offer this article for your … [Read more...]
Communicate clearly during organizational change
For many animal health pros, this article represents something they wish their leadership would do. Still, we lead our organizations from many positions and many layers, so this information is valuable well beyond the C-suite. Source: Harvard Business Review, June 13, 2017. There are four questions that senior teams often skate through too quickly: Why do we need to … [Read more...]
39?, 49? and counting? Quit lying, embrace your 60s.
Lesley Seymour faced her fears and announced to her world that she had turned 60 years old. She shares some fears and perspective that many animal health pros face or will face in the next few years. She says her research suggests the “60s” is the happiest decade, yet for many it represents an uncharted path and a definite change in career paradigms. Source: The Muse, June … [Read more...]
Ditch postcard reminders, embrace digital
Wendy Myers asserts that it's time to ditch postcard reminders and look into texting and emails to communicate with patients. She references the dental business trends and suggests we abandon the status quo of “We’ve always sent postcards” and dip into the digital revolution. Source: Veterinary Practice News, June 14, 2017. Texts have a 99 percent open rate, and 95 percent … [Read more...]
Horse people and the hygiene hypothesis
There is much discussion currently about the microbiome. Rebecca Parker discusses why horse people seem to be made of tougher stuff and brings in the hygiene hypothesis, microbes and the inherent exercise in her article. She also references the benefits of being outdoors and the serenity it takes to work with horses. Source: Horse Network, June 13, 2017. Where do we find … [Read more...]
Fresno Humane Animal Services pros rescue hundreds
More than 900 birds, rabbits, piglets, guinea pigs and other small animals were discovered in the back of a truck last Friday in Fresno. The temperature hit 107 degrees in the truck where the animals had no access to water. Animal control officers acted quickly. Amazingly, they only found 18 dead animals. Source: Los Angeles Times, July 20, 2017 (paywall) and Fresno Bee, … [Read more...]
Best puppy photos in 2017 from Gun Dog (photo essay)
Just for fun! Gun Dog readers love to share puppy photos. The annual Gun Dog reader puppy photo essay is one of the more popular features of the year. Source: Gun Dog, June 13, 2017. Here are some of the best puppy shots received for 2017. INSIGHTS: I’ll bet you grin at least once! … [Read more...]
Take the “flea talk” quiz
All animal health pros will talk fleas as some point. Here’s a fun quiz to see if you are flea talk ready. Source: Veterinary Team Brief, April 2017. Fleas are probably the most common ectoparasite of companion animals, but many pet owners are ambivalent about flea infestations. Helping clients understand the importance of flea infestation prevention can be difficult, but … [Read more...]