Mike Cavanaugh, AAHA CEO, emphasizes using resources in the supply chain and communicating with clients in this Q and A piece. Source: Veterinary Advantage, January 2016 Digital Issue, page 12. The vehicles we use for communicating with clients offer incredible opportunities for us to stay in touch in between appointments and educate our clients on the importance of … [Read more...]
Lead in water is dangerous
Experts report that lead content in some municipal water systems is high. This article on human risk begs for a reference about pet risk. It’s not only a problem in cities. Lead also occurs in some rural systems where urban sprawl has created the need to tap old well water and rural water delivery systems. We offer two references for veterinary hospital teams to … [Read more...]
Use travel time productively
Animal health pros are on the move during the first quarter of each year attending conventions, national sales meetings, CE events and the like. Maintaining productivity while traveling is challenging. This article offers ideas on how to use wisely use travel time. Source: Harvard Business Review, November 5, 2015. Travel has become a standard part of many professionals’ … [Read more...]
Hire a cat sitter or not?
Veterinary hospital teams will find this article valuable for newsletters, websites or blogs. Team members will want to have this as a resource for owners looking to responsibly leave their cat at home. Source: Tufts Catnip, January 25, 2016 newsletter. Ideally, the visit to a cat’s home shouldn’t just be for feeding and emptying the litter box. The pet sitter should spend … [Read more...]
Editorial – Understand the customer’s perspective
People often like to discover their own solutions. Technologies, processes and practices have tactically improved the business of people doing business with people. This doesn’t mean folks don’t want help at times. Too often, companies look at customers as cash machines that can satisfy shareholders and offer solutions without the customer in mind. When we approach business … [Read more...]
ED hits horses, too
I was stopped in my tracks by this article. Stallions may lose interest in breeding or have trouble impregnating mares. Foaling season is underway so breeding season is about to start. David Ramey, DVM, walks readers through broad categories of stallion problems in this article. Source: Veterinary Practice News, January 2016, page 55. Things to think about if it appears … [Read more...]
Deer herd population declining
Deer seem to be everywhere. However, in some areas herd populations are in decline. Hemorrhagic disease tops the list of five reasons for this according to Quality Deer Management Association’s Kip Adams. Source: Whitetail Journal, February 2016, page 8. Top 5 reasons for deer herd decline. 10 year data comparisons note regional differences. INSIGHTS: Veterinarians and … [Read more...]
Help stop canine brucellosis
The U.S. Department of Agriculture is urging veterinarians to play a major role to help stop the spread of canine brucellosis, a contagious and incurable bacterial infection most often found in breeding kennels. The agency’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service released best practices for veterinarians and kennel operators who may encounter the disease, which causes … [Read more...]
Where do dogs really come from?
A new study may help us understand the origin of modern dogs as we know them. Scientists have some consensus but many hypothesis are still at odds. Source: The New York Times, January 18, 2016. One reason for the conflicting theories, according to Greger Larson, a biologist in the archaeology department at the University of Oxford, is that dog genetics are a mess. In an … [Read more...]
Zoobiquity at NAVC
Aratana Therapeutics hosted Dr. Natterson-Horowitz and Kathryn Bowers, co-authors of Zoobiquity for a live presentation of their experiences linking connections between human and animal health. Natterson-Horowitz referenced pathologies shared by non-humans and people which are not explicitly infectious such as breast cancer, heart failure, obesity and self-injury. Source: … [Read more...]
NAVC notes
The 33rd annual NAVC Conference drew 17,328 attendees setting a new attendance record. The 2017 conference will take place at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, February 4 – 8. Source: Inside NAVC, January 19, 2016. INSIDE NAVC is the official newspaper of the NAVC Conference. This tabloid, published on-site and distributed on Sunday, Monday and Tuesday … [Read more...]
Prep now for Pet Dental Month
Progress slowly continues in realizing the potential of the dental market. Multiple barriers remain, yet the health benefits are widely accepted. February is National Pet Dental Health Month. Veterinary teams and sales personnel getting ready for the event will appreciate these two articles. Source: True Prophylaxis, JAVMA News, January 15, 2016, page 130. There is a long … [Read more...]
Solving equine skin problems
Equine skin problems are uncomfortable and perplexing. Anna O’Brien, DVM, reviews common skin problems and what to do about them in this article. Equine veterinary hospital teams and the reps who call on them will benefit from reviewing this article and discussing the various treatment options. Source: Horse Illustrated, February 2016, page 57. (direct link unavailable) The … [Read more...]
Toenail trim tips
Proper, routine nail care is emphasized in this well-illustrated article. Groomers, vet technicians and hospital team members will benefit from understanding the biomechanics of nail care in dogs. The information is also good for clinic websites and newsletters. Source: Dog Naturally Magazine, January/February 2016. Trimming nails does not have be a traumatic event … [Read more...]
WSAVA updates vaccination guidelines
The World Small Animal Veterinary Association guideline changes reflect the growing attitude that a one-size-fits-all approach is impractical. The guidelines redefine core vaccines from a global perspective and supports an adjustment to boosters based on scientific evidence, such as maternal anti-bodies. Source: Veterinary Practice News, January 12, 2016. . Compared with … [Read more...]
Defusing emotional conversations
Opinion differences are inevitable when working together. Ron Friedman, Ph.D. shares a strategy for times when conversations become so emotionally charged they have nothing to do with the issues at hand. Source: Harvard Business Review, January 12, 2016. What do you do when a conversation is spiraling out of control? When you’ve tried all the patient listening you can … [Read more...]
Skills for safety trainers
Where there are people doing jobs, safety training is critical. Learn some best practices in this article supported by the National Agronomic Environmental Health and Safety School. Source: AgProfessional, January 2016, page 46. “Captivate your audience, but don’t treat them like captives,” says Fred Whitford, PhD, Purdue. “A trainer always has to provide the key message he … [Read more...]
Editorial – The bright side of sleep
The infographic caught my attention in this blog. It reminds me of a video once presented by a health insurer during a company meeting. If you have not discussed the importance of sleep with your hospital team or your representatives, consider this as a reminder. (No commercial intention in this post.) Source: Nuyu Blog, 12/22/15. Sleep is a natural part of life and … [Read more...]
Holding people accountable
Peter Bregman hones in on five areas of clarity that foster accountability in those around us. Whether you’re the president or dog walker, these help. Source: Harvard Business Review, January 11, 2016. Accountability is not simply taking the blame when something goes wrong. It’s not a confession. Accountability is about delivering on a commitment. It’s responsibility to an … [Read more...]
If a cat poops in the bed…?
Cat poop and Aristotle? Not two references you would expect to see in an article. However, the author uniquely correlates behavior to philosophy to discuss a common problem. Veterinary team members will value the perspective. Consider this content for clinic websites, blogs or newsletters. Source: Catster, January 5, 2016. Aristotle’s concept of the “four causes” provides a … [Read more...]
Curling lips mean what?
Sent by a subscriber, this is a serious, yet comical look at lip curling. The links are fun, too. Veterinary team members will enjoy sharing this with clients via websites or blogs. Enjoy! Source: Slate, January 12, 2016. The flehmen response is a scent-sucking mechanism employed by many mammalian species. It’s easy to mistake the behavior for aggression, since the animal … [Read more...]
Coupon use trending to digital
Goodbye cut-out and print coupons. Welcome digital point-of-choice incentives. This article follows our recent references to millennials and their mobile-based preferences. More concerning than a change in point-of-sale promotions is the reference to no planning and the “get-it-now” mentality. Clearly changes are underway. Animal health retailers, dispensing DVMs and … [Read more...]
Editorial – Free range is not bug free
I have a small town rural background where chickens roaming free was common. We called it scratchin’ in the stuff and eatin’ the things. The free-range movement has been a growing concern of mine, especially for veterinary practices in urban or ruralpolitan areas. This story begs the question, “are small animal veterinarians or dealers ready to service Chicken Little and her … [Read more...]
A dog’s life and death – illustrated
Social media strikes again. This time in the form of a cartoon about a dog’s life here and beyond. Sent by a subscriber, we share this especially with veterinary teams in mind. This will be useful in dealing with the natural deterioration of health as a client’s animal ages. Take a look, then you can decide. Source: PawMyGosh.com. Nothing brings us more joy in life than … [Read more...]
Red urine
Winter snowfall makes changes in urine color easier to spot. Dr Ben Character, DVM, walks through what changes in urine color mean and what to do about it in this issue. Source: The Retriever Journal, December/January 2015, page 32. (direct link unavailable) The more common cause of red colored urine is the presence of blood – and in this case whole blood vs. just the … [Read more...]
Editorial – Hunting dogs need vets, too
Awareness for the roles of companion animal veterinarians in multi-species or mixed practices is increasing. Veterinarians hiring new associates will find this article valuable. Chuck Johnson references the American College of Veterinary Sports Medicine and Rehabilitation in Ft Collins, CO. He presents a set of questions for working dog owners to use in the process of choosing … [Read more...]
Dogs bloat
Concise and scary is how I describe this article about bloat in dogs or, gastric dialation-volvus complex, GDV. The key to survival is quick recognition. Approximately 180,000 owners of AKC-registered animals will receive this information. It is also good content for veterinary hospital websites, blogs or client newsletters. Source: AKC Family Dog, January/February 2016, … [Read more...]
Myth Buster: corn edition
Reading dog food labels is beyond challenging. The proliferation of specialty veterinary and commercial diets coupled with myriad ingredient choices is confusing for most pet owners. This article and the resources it references will help veterinary teams and reps servicing owners’ pet diet choices sift through the confusion. Source: Trends, January 2016, page 40. (direct … [Read more...]
Editorial – Millennials, here they come!
Millennials are those born between 1982 and 2004. They’re the focus of two recent articles. I initially thought, “Why are we going here again?” A better perspective is that the oldest millennials are now 32 to 33 and are part of the paying economy. It IS time to learn more about this generation. Source: Trends, January 2016, page 26. (direct link unavailable) This is the … [Read more...]
12 houseplants that are dangerous to dogs (and cats!)
Veterinary teams will find this infographic valuable. Placing it on veterinary websites, in blogs or newsletters is a good use. Local florists will appreciate getting this from a staff member to raise awareness of risks to pets, as well. Source: The Bark, January 8, 2016. This infographic is a good reminder that we should consider our dogs when picking plants for both … [Read more...]