These client-friendly posts can be used as educational tools and for social media postings. We enjoyed the brushing and the nail trimming videos shared in this collection. Source: Veterinary Team Brief, July 2016. Many clients wanted to be veterinary team members at one time. Post behind the scenes content and satisfy their curiosity as vet-voyeurs. INSIGHTS: Sales … [Read more...]
Stretching benefits horse health
Jessica McLoughlin, registered equine massage therapist, shares stretching techniques that help horses stay in. This is great information to share with youth groups and horse owners. Source: Equine Wellness Magazine, July 20, 2016. Stretching is free! With everything costing so much these days, this versatile tool gives your pocketbook a welcome break. Stretching can and … [Read more...]
Do you know these youth leaders?
American Quarter Horse Youth Association regional directors and five national officers for the 2016-17 term were elected July 14 at the Bank of America Youth Excellence Seminar in Amarillo. See if one of these youths is a customer. If so, drop them a note or call with congratulations. Source: America’s Horse Weekly, July 18, 2016. Throughout the year, the officers and … [Read more...]
When veterinary clients spend the most—and the least
Dr. Ross Knippenberg, assistant director of economics with the American Veterinary Medical Association, and the association's economics intern Sean Barker have completed a deep dive into seasonality and client spending in veterinary clinics. They confirm that business is slowest in the winter. Their analysis quantifies this effect and shows what the national average looks … [Read more...]
The Veterinary Cooperative joins AHD Founders Circle
The Animal Health Digest team welcomes The Veterinary Cooperative to our Founders Circle group of companies. These companies support AHD, help grow our subscriber base and increase the value of AHD to subscribers and sponsors alike. Source: Animal Health Digest, July 18, 2016. The Veterinary Cooperative joins AAHA, Veterinary Study Groups, Inc., RPR Company and Forays Inc. … [Read more...]
Drug abuse and addiction in the veterinary workplace
Jon Geller, DVM, DABVP, writes about this serious issue in veterinary medicine. He cites veterinary team access to a large variety of mind-altering, potentially addictive drugs, including controlled and non-controlled substances. He also notes light or non-existent drug testing, light inventory access and control, and inconsistent employee assistance programs for substance … [Read more...]
Extensive horse health article library updated
The AAEP website has an extensive library of horse health related articles written by AAEP veterinarians. These articles are now updated and can be used for personal review and for customer education via websites, newsletters and blog posts. Veterinary teams can take five minutes during a staff meeting to review the information and help in-clinic staff understand its … [Read more...]
New AAEP external parasite and vector control guidelines
Developed by an AAEP task force chaired by Dr. Dennis French, new guidelines provide current information about the control of ticks, flies, lice, mites and mosquitoes. Source: Healthy Horses Newsletter, July 21, 2016. Download as a PDF; these guidelines will soon be available on www.aaep.org within the Guidelines section. INSIGHTS: This is a comprehensive set of guidelines … [Read more...]
Chicken consumption at 3-year high and growing
According to a new survey commissioned by the National Chicken Council, chicken is the choice protein for nine in 10 U.S. consumers. It revealed the demand for chicken in the U.S. shows no signs of slowing down as 21 percent of consumers anticipate eating more chicken from supermarkets and 14 percent from food service establishments over the next 12 months. Consumption of … [Read more...]
Dairying is a people business
It is easy to ignore the influence dairy production has in our world. The infographic here shows how many people are involved in dairy enterprises. It is worthwhile information. Source: Dairy Herd Management, July 2016, page 6. 6 billion of the 7.4 billion people in the world consume dairy products daily. 1 billion people are involved with production and processing … [Read more...]
The latest in JAVMA
Feedback from our subscribers has been positive about our postings of the tables of contents from industry scientific journals. Here are links to the latest issues of the Journal of the American Veterinary Association. Source: JAVMA, July 15, 2016 (Vol 249; No. 2: pp. 122-229). Note the special report: The Association of Shelter Veterinarians’ 2016 Veterinary Medical Care … [Read more...]
10 tips to help keep horses’ hooves healthy and strong
Farrier Chris Volk shares 10 tips and explanations on hoof care for horses: Pick out your horse's feet. Establish what's normal. When picking out the feet, look for signs of thrush, puncture, cracks or abscess. Schedule regular farrier visits according to your horse's individual needs. If your horse is shod, check his shoes each time you pick out his feet. Look … [Read more...]
Breed-standard surgeries influence how humans see dogs, study finds
Cosmetic ear cropping and tail docking "are not medically indicated nor of benefit to the patient," according to the AVMA. Plus, these practices may hinder dogs' ability to communicate. Such modifications also affect human perception, according to research published in PLOS One. It found people see surgically altered dogs of certain breeds as more aggressive and in many cases … [Read more...]
Functional dog, cat food and pet treat trends
As pet food manufacturers cater more to consumers’ desires to meet the individual needs of their pets, functional ingredients are more of a trend than ever. The infographic featured here shows consumer choice trends in an easy to understand visual. Animal health professionals at all levels will benefit from understanding how function is driving demand in the pet food … [Read more...]
The science behind reading and influence
Michael Hyatt says, “A readership crisis is really a leadership crisis.” Readers are likely to be leaders. With reading in decline, readers have a comparative advantage in today’s business and political environments. Source: MichaelHyatt.com. Here are five ways reading can uniquely develop and empower leaders: Reading Makes us Better Thinkers Reading Improves Our … [Read more...]
Isolate when canine flu hits
If you're seeing canine influenza in your practice, recent findings show it's best to suggest a 21-day isolation period. A study published in the Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association that tested shelter dogs with H3N2 canine influenza found that the virus was shed intermittently for up to 24 days after the initial positive test. Source: DVM 360, July 18, … [Read more...]
The truth about thyroid disorders and vaccines
W. Jean Dodds, DVM, felt compelled to write about two legends that persist about thyroid disorders and vaccines. She presents this as myth versus truth. Source: Veterinary Practice News, June 23, 2016. As the thyroid gland regulates metabolism of all body cellular functions, reduced thyroid function can produce a wide range of clinical manifestations, many mimicking those … [Read more...]
Raising chickens for meat
There is a growing self-sufficiency movement in the U.S. Raising chickens for eggs and meat is an option within this movement. Brigid McCrea, PhD, Delaware State University, offers plain talk about raising chickens for meat. She discusses the nomenclature, hard costs and other considerations. Veterinary teams and retail associates may find her checklist valuable when working … [Read more...]
A summer reading list for animal lovers
Author Samantha Johnson shares a reading list from her Wisconsin dairy farm home. One or two of these might be just right for the end of a warm day. Enjoy! Source: Acreage Life, July 2016, page 43. AcreageLife is a resource for people who enjoy country living, whether it’s an annual visit to a distant property, summer weekends filled with hard work at a future retirement … [Read more...]
The ABC’s of regenerative medicine for horses
Stem cell therapy can help a horse's body repair diseased or damaged tissues. Veterinarians have come far in understanding and using regenerative medicine. Yet, they have more to learn about how and when to use it. Source: The Horse, July 2016. (article summary only). The full article includes explanatory graphics. Regenerative medicine has been referred to by many people … [Read more...]
Beware the beetle
Blister beetle poisoning is a rare but deadly threat. Blister beetles carry cantharidin, a toxic defense chemical that is a blistering agent. They are found in alfalfa hay with blooms or that contains other insects, especially grasshoppers, since blister beetles are attracted to both. There are several varieties, so the appearance of the beetles depends on the species, which … [Read more...]
Sponsored Content – Add mosquito control to heartworm protocol
In this special insert, veterinarians and parasite researchers discuss heartworm disease and a new multimodal approach that may help solve it. The research and roundtable were sponsored by CEVA, a supporting sponsor of Animal Health Digest. Source: DVM 360, July 2016. We still have to administer the preventative – that is foundational and critical – but we can also reduce … [Read more...]
Warriors of the West
Mustangs (wild horses) garner divergent attention now throughout range country. Brick Imerman and photographer Sheila Thompson provide an insightful pictorial on these remarkable animals that focuses on stallions. Source: Horse Illustrated, August 2016, page 52. (link unavailable). Nowhere is the hierarchy of the herd more evident than at the water hole. Stallions often … [Read more...]
AVMA persuades Petco to adjust ad’s messaging
Representing concerned members, the AVMA recently worked with Petco to clarify messaging about its “7-Point Pet Care Check” performed by groomers. Source: Pet Product News, July 13, 2016. Petco has assured us that appropriate and timely referral for veterinary services is a key pillar of training for their grooming staff in implementing Petco’s new 7-Point Pet Care Check,” … [Read more...]
Drones dispense M&Ms to help endangered ferrets
The U.S. government is set to unleash drones that fire vaccine-covered M&Ms in a bid to save the endangered black-footed ferret. It faces a plague epidemic across America’s great plains. Both black-footed ferrets and prairie dogs are susceptible to the sylvatic plague, a flea-borne disease spread from rats that were introduced from ships arriving in California in the … [Read more...]
Sheep view of Faroa Islands
One of our friends at AAHA sent this to us. We’re passing it along for fun! Enjoy the views. Source: Innovations and business of veterinary practice, July 13, 2016. Cameras are being fitted on sheep in Faroe Islands to create Google Street View. The project dubbed Sheep View 360 ,a team with the help of a local shepherd and engineer to build a harness, have been capturing … [Read more...]
Focused on felines
Roxanne Hawn investigates the challenges and opportunities of being a Cat Friendly Practice. In addition to a mindset adjustment, making changes to discussions with clients and the human behaviors while with feline patients are critical components. Source: AAHA Trends, July 2016. It’s going to take practice-wide, profession-wide efforts to get the quality of feline visits … [Read more...]
Expect success
Strategy, skill and execution are important factors in achieving success in most businesses. However, too often the mental side of the challenge is overlooked in leading your team to the ultimate goal and success. There are some things you can do to help your business team prepare mentally to reach and exceed expectations. Source: Harvard Business Review June 9, … [Read more...]
Felines are aging healthfully
Cats now live longer than ever before, with one-fifth of U.S. cats being at least 11 years old. Many live beyond 15 years old and even into their 20s. Veterinarians should consider the normal, physiological changes that occur with age and the appropriate monitoring of them. Source: Journal of Feline Medicine and Surgery, July 2016. This issue is dedicated to the issues of … [Read more...]
Practice management hacks: Advice to a new manager on standards of care
The Veterinary Hospital Managers Association (VHMA) shared exclusive data with Veterinary Economics which shares a series of practice management "hacks" or best-kept secrets from VHMA members. Source: Veterinary Economics, July 7, 2016. VHMA members spill their best kept secrets for better patient care. Treat your technician staff well and value their input. Tell them … [Read more...]