“Do your veterinary team members know how to respond when pet owners ask about titers?,” asks Brian Stewart, DVM, medical director at Woodstock Veterinary Clinic in Woodstock, Illinois. He discusses the pros and cons of using titers as a good way of establishing protection against disease. Source: Firstline, April 25, 2016. Titers can have a place in veterinary medicine. … [Read more...]
Cat scratching explained
Cats aren’t trying to be destructive when they scratch things, despite how it appears. Cat guru Tony Buffington, DVM, offers reasoning for why cats scratch like they do. Source: Huffington Post, May 2, 2016. Don’t be offended if your cat scratches your brand-new couch to shreds. She’s just following the way of her ancestors. INSIGHTS: This article features a TED-Ed video … [Read more...]
Over-supplementing horses can cause problems
Horses get all of the minerals they need from good quality forage and/or a balanced commercial ration. Over-supplementing them can cause a lack of absorption of necessary nutrients in the small intestine. It should be avoided. Source: The Horse Over-supplementation can lead to problems with proper absorption and nutrient balance. Good quality forage contains many essential … [Read more...]
Are corticosteroid injections ethical?
Corticosteroid joint injections have long been used to treat joint pain and inflammation in horses. Recently, there have been questions regarding their ethical usage, predominantly in the racing industry. While many professionals use the drugs in moderation and as a last resort, some still use them to keep potentially unsound horses racing. Several states have tightened … [Read more...]
Bounce back from service mistakes
How you react to service mistakes can determine whether the customer stays long term or is just lost. Source: Repertoire Magazine, April 2016. If you make a mistake, don’t despair. Most people remember the recovery more than the misstep and often appreciate when you go above and beyond to correct a situation. Treat every problem as a customer service opportunity, and you … [Read more...]
Vitamin D is good for all
Vitamin D is good for all of us, according to this article. Changes in the daily dose guidelines will interest all animal health professionals. Source: Repertoire Magazine, April 2016. Vitamin D is not only known for its ability to help maintain healthy bones and teeth. Research has suggested it also: Supports the health of the immune system, brain and nervous … [Read more...]
Cesar Millan’s tips for picking up dogs
Cesar reminds pet owners of a dog’s perspective about being picked up. The perspective is interesting to consider. “Stay calm, and leave the dog on the floor,” is his guidance. Source: Cesar’s Way, May 1, 2016. We always have to remember that dogs are different than people, no matter how much we consider them to be a part of our lives and families. Their psychology is … [Read more...]
Scan every pet, every visit
This is a good reminder during National Pet Week. Routine scanning of individual microchips ensures their reliability. To be effective, the microchip, scanner and the registration databases must all in good order. Routine scanning is essentially quality control and supports the value of the recovery systems should an animal become lost. Source: MWI Messenger, May 2016, page … [Read more...]
National pet week
National Pet Week is in full swing through Saturday, May 7. With the theme, “Lifetime of Love,” each day focuses on a special topic. They are: Sunday, May 1: Choose well, commit for life. Monday, May 2: Socialize now. New doesn't have to be scary. Tuesday, May 3: Exercise body. Exercise mind. Wednesday, May 4: Love your pet? See … [Read more...]
5 ways to keep small teams efficient
John Rampton shares how he works to make small teams as efficient as they can be. These are five key areas: Get everyone square on the team’s goals Give people freedom, then preserve it Automate and outsource wherever you need to Keep check-ins regular and meetings small Craft an unbelievable culture Source: Fast Company, April 25, 2016. In many ways, small … [Read more...]
Editorial – Questions are essential to successful workplaces
My grandfather often said, “the wisdom is in the question, not the answers.” He was not admonishing me for talking too much, rather, trying to get me to think more broadly and thoughtfully. Companies that view questions as a problem are missing out, writes Jay Steven Levin and Scott Mabry in these blog posts. Meaningful questions take time and consideration. They’re, intended … [Read more...]
Is your vet making your dog sick and charging you for it?
With the headline, Dangerous over-vaccination is on the rise, Patricia Jordan, DVM, challenges annual vaccination protocols, duration of immunity and profit motives. She makes no reference to the regulatory oversight required to get a vaccine approved or the ongoing testing continually underway in manufacturing. Source: Dogs Naturally, April 26, 2016. Today I’m writing … [Read more...]
9 things to know about animal vaccine development
Drs. Richt, Rowland and Shi share the goal of developing rationally designed vaccines that are safe and efficacious. Their vaccine development and testing projects are in various stages and all of them guard animal health. Each of them are pursuing Differentiation of Infected from Vaccinated Animals (DIVA) or marker vaccines that allow for vaccination while retaining the … [Read more...]
Lighthearted viral lemur video has serious undertone
Everything about this video—the lemur, its incessant demands and the young boys —is adorable. However, the real story of lemurs and domestication is quite different according to Tara Clarke, assistant professor at Duke University and co-director of a nonprofit called Lemur Love. Source: Slate, April 27, 2016 via AVMA SmartBrief, April 29, 2016. Lemurs (Lemur catta) are not … [Read more...]
Sponsored Content – Equine gastroscopy 101
Merial provides a primer on what to expect if an equine veterinarian suggests a gastroscopic examination. This was sent to AQHA Daily subscribers. Source: AQHA Daily, April 28, 2016. Two out of three non-racing competitive horses have stomach ulcers. Signs such as poor performance, decreased appetite, recurrent colic or poor body condition may point to stomach ulcers. … [Read more...]
Find Fido’s perfect rawhide chew
Nancy Kern provides an informative essay on the subject of rawhide chews. It includes the who, what, when where, how and why of chews. She shares how to identify the best ones. This is good information for veterinary teams to discuss at staff meetings and to use on websites, blogs and newsletters. Source: Whole Dog Journal, February 19, 2016 via May 1, 2016 … [Read more...]
New York issues guidelines for avoiding conflicts with coyotes
Coyotes are adaptable and have invaded urban and suburban spaces. Their normal behaviors often put pets at risk. The New York Department of Environmental Conservation has issued coyote guidelines that could be used in any part of the U.S. It is good information for websites, blogs and newsletters. Source: AgriPulse, May 2, 2016, link to WBNG News. The state Department of … [Read more...]
Run meetings that are fair to introverts, women and remote workers
The title says it all. Diversity and geographic separation make meetings challenging. Those challenges get deeper if biases are not mitigated. Source: Harvard Business Review, April 29, 2016. By overcoming the biases, organizations can elevate their collective thinking, giving them a much greater chance of realizing the full potential of their entire workforce, not just the … [Read more...]
Improved environments stop cats from eating non-food items
Pica or wool-sucking is common in oriental cat breeds. Nicholas Dodman, BVMS, director of the Animal Behavior Clinic at Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine at Tufts University shares an experience with a pica cat and discusses the disorder. Source: Cat Talk, March 2012. These days, wool-sucking/pica is regarded as a form of feline compulsive disorder and, as such, has … [Read more...]
Sponsored Content – 3 cybersecurity tips can help secure data
Securing clinic data is critical to general business practices and to ensure client, employee and third-party vendor data remain confidential. In our second installment about cybersecurity, Terrie Bonfiglio offers three, common-sense tips to keep data thieves out of your system. Source: Learn 3 cybersecurity tips in 10 minutes via InfoGPS Networks, April 2016. However, your … [Read more...]
CEVA increases commitment to heartworm education
Ceva Animal Health is stepping up its commitment to the American Heartworm Society by becoming a Platinum sponsor along with Bayer, Elanco, Merial, Virbac and Zoetis. “This is an especially appropriate time for Ceva to show our support, as we believe the emphasis on the importance of fighting both heartworms and the vectors that carry them is more important than ever … [Read more...]
5 steps to become an equine technician
Beyond the love of horses, this article provides a reality check and roadmap for persons wanting to become an equine technician. Source: NAVTA Journal, Apr/May 2016, page 55. (direct link unavailable) To become a Veterinary Technician Specialist in Equine Nursing (VTS-EVN) candidates must work three or more years on the job to gain experience before beginning a yearlong … [Read more...]
Veterinary nurse title confuses human RNs
The movement to register veterinary nurses compared to the more commonly used term of veterinary technician was the focus of a perception study of a small sample of human registered nurses. This article is detailed, yet clearly shows the veterinary nurse or technician role is not understood at an educational level. The term is just as confusing to similarly titled persons in … [Read more...]
Story telling as a Sales Skill
Almost every sales expert will extol the virtues of storytelling in the sales process. But, not every story is effective. It must be relevant to the listener. (Answer the question “why should I care?” in your opening.) It must connect emotionally with the listener first, then analytically with a payoff that describes what the listener will have as a result of your … [Read more...]
The impact of training recommendations on patients and clients
Behavior-related issues are cited as determining factors in more than half of all pets relinquished to shelters. This AAVSB RACE-accredited article helps reset expectations for what modern dog training should be and the importance of veterinary team members’ knowledge of training approaches and local trainers. Source: NAVTA Journal, Apr/May 2016, page 36. (direct link … [Read more...]
Here come the bugs!
The Companion Animal Parasite Council (CAPC) gazed into the future and doesn’t like what’s coming. Its computer models for 2016, released April 19, predict growing threats to dogs and cats from multiple vector-borne diseases. Source: Veterinary Practice News, April 19, 2016. For the entire year, CAPC predicts: Growing risk of Lyme disease in Illinois, Iowa, Indiana and … [Read more...]
3 tips help keep pets safe during storms
Storm season will be around for a few more weeks. These three, common-sense tips will help keep your pets as safe as possible during severe weather. Source: White Oaks Veterinary Clinic. You can increase the chances that your pet will survive a storm by following these tips from our Edmond, OK, veterinary team... … [Read more...]
Local DVM recommends year-round prevention
Lawrence Gerson, VMD, shares his perspective and recommendations for heartworm and other parasites. He references the recent attention to mosquitoes and the Zika virus, the need for year-round prevention and its benefits on other parasite threats to pets and humans. Source: Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, April 23, 2016. (via AVMA SmartBrief, April 25, 2016) Dogs can be bitten by … [Read more...]
Steps to a more satisfying life
There is at least one tip for everyone in this article. Here are four of eleven tips offered: Set appropriate expectations at home, at work and in the community. Spend 10% of your time creating and monitoring your life plan. Be present in all that you do. Multitasking is not being present. Measure accomplishment by results rather than by hours worked. Source: … [Read more...]
Editorial – Re-examine your e-commerce strategy
"Digital channels have become the dominant medium for influencing decision-making and building a stronger relationship between the brand and the end user”, says a 2011 Oracle report. It is past time for veterinary hospitals to reassess and update their digital strategies to include product sales. While this article focuses on distribution, consider that for many consumer … [Read more...]