This month, the digital edition of both the April Journal and the High-Point supplement are free because we want these accomplished winners to share their awards with friends and family. Whether you’re a die-hard competitor, recreational rider, a horse breeder or just love horses, you’ll enjoy this look at the quarter horse. Source: AQHA, April 2017. Read the free April … [Read more...]
Cool, clear water
Thomas R. Lenz, DVM, reminds us of the most important nutrient for horses, or all animals for that matter. He discusses the water needs of horses in many common situations. There is significant variability in the amount required based on activity, feed, weather and more. Source: AQHA Journal, April 2017, page 10. All horses need clean, good-quality water at all times. … [Read more...]
AAHA accredited practice count grows
AAHA has welcomed 41 new veterinary hospitals that have achieved AAHA accreditation in 2017! These teams have met the highest standards in veterinary medicine. Check out the lists in the links below and be sure to congratulate your colleagues or customers on this achievement: Practices evaluated from January 15–February 14, 2017 – 13 new accreditations Practices … [Read more...]
Balance empathy and authority
Effective communication skills are essential to achieve effective leadership results. Sending mixed signals creates confusion and often creates paralysis within the organization. Remember, words make up 10 percent of our in-person communication. Thus, it is important to ensure our voice and body language are in concert with the words we choose and that all three are appropriate … [Read more...]
4 things YouTube makeup tutorials taught me about vet med
Lauren Smith, DVM, relates learning how to use makeup applies to veterinary medicine. She shares a solid, cross-topic reference worthy of reading past the whimsical title. She talks about: A solid base is key Use the right tools Personalize your colors Loosen your grip Source: Dr. Andy Roark, April 18, 2017. There are lessons to be found everywhere, even in … [Read more...]
Shortage of approved medications for turkeys continues
A shortage of effective, FDA-approved medications is still the top health issue for the U.S. turkey industry, according to a survey conducted by Steven Clark, DVM. “And it has remained No. 1 since the survey began 16 years ago,” he said. Source: Poultry Health Today, April 25, 2017. The ability to control and prevent animal disease and/or treat those that are sick is … [Read more...]
NAVTA’s Animal Health Bi-weekly
Each new resource brings more content and flavor to the role of our curation team at AHD. See which content NAVTA selected for its members in this edition. Source: NAVTA, April 25, 2017. Here is a sampling from the posts: Midwest dogs at risk of fungal infection Can probiotics help obese cats? MRI helps providers diagnose horse ligament … [Read more...]
ATV-UTV round-up for 2017
Whether you farm, ranch, live on an acreage or play in the outdoors, the ATV-UTV is a workhorse to consider. See the lineup for 2017 in this “toys for boys” review. Girls love them, too! Source: Beef, May 2017, page 10. When it comes to getting around the ranch quickly and inexpensively, light-duty vehicles such as ATVs and utility vehicles are the perfect answer. … [Read more...]
How to work with non-team players
Carolyn O'Hara shares perspectives on the dynamics of a team member who acts as if they are not on the team. This isn’t simply frustrating. It can affect your entire group’s performance. Source: Harvard Business Review, April 21, 2017. Ignoring the issue often ends up only making it more acute. When working with the person and team here are some principles to … [Read more...]
Location, location, location and litter box placement
Never put the litter box near a cat’s food and water. This is one primary rule, according to Pam Johnson-Bennett, author of Think Like A Cat. She discusses litter box placement options in this excerpt from her book. Source: Tufts Catnip, April 24, 2017. Pick a spot in your home away from heavy traffic to provide your cat with a feeling of privacy and safety. However, don’t … [Read more...]
Remake your commute time
The average American worker has a commute of 25 minutes each way. Psychology researchers recently explained the key to a pleasant commute isn’t just finding ways to fill the time. A better strategy is to change the way you think about the time. A commute can be something you have to endure, or it can be what the researchers call a “pocket of freedom.” Source: Science of Us, … [Read more...]
35th anniversary of National Pet Week®
The first week of May brings National Pet Week®. It celebrates the special bonds between pets and people, and encourages pet owners to ensure they provide all of their animal companions a complete lifetime of love. For the 35th anniversary, the AVMA spotlights seven specific needs every pet owner must consider to ensure that their pet lives the longest, healthiest life … [Read more...]
No kidding? When to help a goat in labor.
We found this article informative. Lisa Seger shares her labor-assisting approaches. Source: Hobby Farms, April 17, 2017. Most times, a doe in labor will successfully kid on their own, but occasionally they do require help. There is also a middle zone, where they may not technically need help, but will have a better experience and outcome with it. … [Read more...]
Trichobezoars debunked
Hairballs are disgusting, especially when you step on one with a bare foot. Dr. Eric Barchas discusses hairball myths and fallacies. This article would make good content for a website, newsletter, social media or blog post. Source: Catster, April 23, 2013. Swallowing hair in and of itself is not what causes hairballs. They’re occurring because the gastrointestinal tract … [Read more...]
Don’t overlook pain management for gastrointestinal conditions
Gastrointestinal conditions are common, but associated pain management in these patients is often overlooked. Refresh your memory about treatment options with this article. Consider using it as a team exercise at an upcoming staff meeting. Source: Clinician’s Brief, September 2015. The clinical manifestations of abdominal pain in dogs and cats can be subtle and easily … [Read more...]
Rabbits, ferrets, sugar-gliders, hamsters and ? – oh my!
I often wonder how veterinarians serve animals considered in exotic. The relatively few encounters has to be a limiting factor. But, my eyes were opened by this article about preparing a practice specifically for the exotic companion mammal sub-group. The numbers of alternative pet types is growing and with it a new specialty from the Association of Exotic Mammal … [Read more...]
$580 million of pet food supplements sold in 2016
Dog owners purchase the majority of pet supplements, buying three times as much as cat owners. Packaged Facts identified these five trends as factors shaping the pet supplements market beyond what we already know: Joint health, digestive health and condition-specific supplements have opportunity to compete with formulated pet foods and treats Supplement marketers … [Read more...]
Don’t wait to be asked: Lead
Leadership skills are needed at all levels of interactions inside companies as well as with customer engagement. It is easy to point a finger at what is wrong or needs improvement. The real solutions to problems come when the finger-pointers start offering solutions. Professor Harry Kramer says leadership doesn’t require direct reports or a long tenure at an organization. You … [Read more...]
What’s in the latest JAVMA
Here’s a quick look at the May 1, 2017 JAVMA. Our AHD team found the article titled Bovine colostral cells—the often forgotten component of colostrum interesting from the perspective of the DVM, the producer and sales representatives. Source: JAVMA, May 2017. Although the role of colostral antibodies in the protection of neonates against disease has been well documented, … [Read more...]
Carprofen: fast facts
The history of carprofen dates back to January 1997 when Pfizer Pharmaceuticals first introduced Rimadyl® (Carprofen) to veterinarians. The generic for Rimadyl, Carprofen, was marketed much later. Consider the number of veterinarians, vet technicians and staff persons in your location that graduated after 2007. Then share this information and your experiences with them at a … [Read more...]
Steaks and burgers make inexpensive grilling
Animal health pros and their customers who enjoy grilling beef will benefit from increased beef production this summer. This surge in output means the U.S. is headed for a meat bonanza. Steaks and burgers will likely rival prices of pork and chicken this summer. Source: AgWeb, April 17, 2017. Ground beef in grocery stores has dropped about 9 percent from a year ago, the … [Read more...]
The equine vaccination guide
Horse owners can vaccinate their horses against a variety of infectious diseases. Unfortunately, they’re also confronted with a mix of advice from a plethora of sources — most of them sound and somewhat persuasive. David W. Ramey, DVM, writes about vaccination options for horses. Source: Horse Channel, April 7, 2017. ‘Core vaccinations’ is a term that the American … [Read more...]
10 inventory myths and mistakes
Phil Zeltman, DVM, tackles 10 myths and mistakes about inventory. Of his 10, these are true in almost every practice or inventory dependent business: Being reactive rather than proactive I know how much of each product we need Not having someone in charge Source: Veterinary Practice News, March 27, 2017. Having more inventory than needed costs your veterinary … [Read more...]
Train dogs to drop it
“Drop it,” can be one of the most useful things we can teach dogs to do. It can save them from illness or injury if they grabs something harmful. At minimum, dog owners will be happy if they can reduce the sometimes endless keep-a-way games. Source: Petcha, April 18, 2017. Most dogs learn early that the best way to gain attention is to take things they shouldn’t have. It is … [Read more...]
Lilies are toxic to cats
Spring brings lily season inside and out and with it dangers for cats. Every part of the plant is toxic. A cat who walks through lily pollen and then grooms his paws is at risk. The toxin (or toxins — there may be more than one) is unknown. Share this with clients. Source: Catster, April 11, 2017. The lily’s toxin(s) appear to be rapidly absorbed, so affected cats might … [Read more...]
Dealing with canine zoomies
Did zoomies catch your eye? It did ours. The picture it paints is recognizable to most dog people. Also known as "frapping," or frenetic random activity periods, zoomies are not limited to puppy energy, nor to the most energetic dogs. Dogs need play time, and they'll get it one way or another! Source: The Bark, April 11, 2017. Canine behavior specialists and trainers have … [Read more...]
Stop apologizing for delayed email responses
“With email, we treat everything as if we’re in a hurry,” behavioral economist Dan Ariely explained. “There’s a huge difference between important and urgent.” Source: Science of US, April 18, 2017. How many people who email you are truly expecting an instant reply? Sometimes people make this clear, explicitly noting that they need an answer by the end of the day, or week, … [Read more...]
Timing euthanasia and hospice (includes videos)
Mary Gardner, DVM, discusses the educational needs for pet owners as pets reach the time for hospice or euthanasia. “You have to make sure you educate the owner about the disease the pet is facing and the progress that the disease is going to present to the family and to the pet,” she says. Source: Firstline, April 12, 2017. Remember clients are experiencing an emotional, … [Read more...]
Leaders also follow
The roles of leader and follower are interchangeable and depend entirely on the situation at hand. In most successful practices, the person closest to an issue at hand regularly provides the leadership when it falls into their area of expertise. In other situations, that same person is the follower. Effectiveness at both disciplines is one of the keys to a practice’s overall … [Read more...]
Dogs, kids and the hygiene hypothesis
A new study by Anita Kozyrskyj a pediatric epidemiologist of the University of Alberta in Edmonton, Canada, found further evidence of the dog-human linkage and how this lessens the development of everything from asthma to obesity. Source: The Bark, April 11, 2017. What they found was that within the households with pets, the children had a higher diversity of microbes in … [Read more...]