In the park, at the beach, in the backyard, along the sidewalk and in the lake, many serovars of Leptospira sp. bacteria can be found in soil and water. They are spread through the urine of infected animals, including wildlife and even birds such as starlings. Lepto is zoonotic, adding significance to reinforcing the benefits of vaccination and preventative measures. Recent … [Read more...]
Plenty of reasons for dog wellness visits
The spring season creates endless opportunities for wellness visits. In addition to protecting dogs from vector-borne diseases, these visits actively screen for conditions dogs may mask or owners choose to ignore. This lists eight common diseases that can affect dogs and are important reasons to urge dog owners to make semi-annual visits. Actively promoting wellness visits … [Read more...]
IBPSA Fast Bites – March 17, 2025
Pet obesity an ongoing problem, small business economic and policy concerns, women owned pet brands, game meat from Africa in pet food and more . . . Source: IBPSA, March 17, 2025. Link. … [Read more...]
Beyond paychecks: Building a culture of recognition in veterinary practice
Complimentary Commercial Content Randy Hall’s guidance here focuses on veterinary hospitals but can be applied in pet services businesses and retail settings. Money and the chance for stable employment may bring people to a veterinary practice, but they rarely keep them there long-term, writes Randy Hall. He says to build a habit of noticing good work, asserting that … [Read more...]
3 phrases no one should ever say in a negotiation
Negotiation is a reality for most in their work and personal lives. Lydia Fenet shares phrases that show a lack of experience or maturity during negotiations that will likely kill any potential to achieve a winning result. Source: Fast Company, March 5, 2025. Link. A negotiation is not done until the contract is signed—so make sure to take the initiative to follow up … [Read more...]
Ego management
One must never lose sight of the fact that you’re just a tiny speck in an infinite universe, like every other human being who ever lived and died. Source: Giant Leap Consulting, February 2025. Link. Hubris appears when you let your leadership power go to your head and you become enamored with your own specialness.” INSIGHT: Real leadership requires you to be in service to … [Read more...]
MWI Animal Health unveils enhancements to Repleni-Trac Vault solution
MWI Animal Health, a part of global healthcare company Cencora, unveiled an enhanced version of its Repleni-Trac Vault solution, designed to help companion animal and equine veterinary practices store and dispense controlled substances. The upgraded solution facilitates the digitalization of Drug Enforcement Administration logs and prescription drug monitoring program … [Read more...]
Gaming expert shares simple exercises to keep you active during long periods at your desk
This article fits most animal health pros as our dependency on computers and smartphones grows daily. Sedentary behavior can lead to stiffness, poor circulation and decreased energy levels over time. Making a habit of frequent, minor exercises can enhance posture, mental clarity and long-term health. Neal Taparia shares five simple, yet effective exercises you can do without … [Read more...]
Worth a Glance – March 13, 2025
Last week’s AHD Bulletin – Animal Health Digest Bulletin, March 6, 2024. Link. Most read posts from March 6, 2025 AHD Bulletin - Pork industry optimistic despite disease, labor challenges. Link. Save a swamp. Sauté a nutria. Link. A cat is a cat, BUT, lifestyles, environments, their natures are a conundrum. Link. S. heartworm risks increase as mosquito … [Read more...]
You likely don’t understand what your dog is telling you
A new study shows most of us, including dog owners, don’t perceive dogs’ emotions accurately, if at all. Researchers presented people with videos of a dog reacting to positive and negative stimuli. When asked their opinions of the dog’s emotions, participants paid more attention to situational cues than the dog’s behavior. Source: The New York Times, March 10, 2025. Link. … [Read more...]
Inventory Ally joins Vertical Vet as preferred partner
Inventory Ally has established a preferred partnership with VerticalVet. The collaboration brings exclusive benefits to VerticalVet’s more than 2,000 member clinics, including special pricing on Inventory Ally and enhanced opportunities for inventory optimization. Source: Inventory Ally, March 11, 2025. Link. … [Read more...]
Veterinary donation tournament unites veterinary hospitals, local communities to support affordable pet care
The myBalto Foundation has partnered with the ASPCA® Pet Health Insurance program to launch the first-of-its-kind March Veterinary Donation Competition. Its goal is to raise awareness about accessible veterinary care while adding to Angel Funds in 32 participating veterinary practices. “We are excited to partner with ASPCA® Pet Health Insurance for this donation competition and … [Read more...]
Beyond plant milk: Real dairy proteins without the cow
Lab-grown milk is no longer science fiction. The launch of Brown Foods’ UnReal Milk signals a new competitor for cow-derived milk. MIT-validated and launching by 2026, Brown Foods’ “UnReal Milk” contains all eight key dairy proteins while using 82 percent less carbon, 90 percent less water, and 95 percent less land. Scaling from the proof of concept lab to be commercially and … [Read more...]
New study shows H5N1 is more widespread in cows than reported to date
Researchers and scientists are ringing alarms after identifying a genetic mutation in four dairy cow herds. The change is one researchers dread because it is associated with increased mammal-to-mammal transmission and disease severity. It’s the mutation that was found in the first human case and is extremely pathogenic in ferrets. Finding the same mutation in cows is … [Read more...]
Cornell launches website for bird flu information
Seeking to aggregate up-to-date information on avian influenza, Cornell University has launched a one-stop clearinghouse for the most current and trustworthy information on bird flu. The new Avian Flu Resource Center provides reliable and accessible information for members of the public, farmers, wildlife professionals, state and public health agency partners, and … [Read more...]
Skipping fecal egg counts does NOT save money
The most important reason for determining parasite fecal egg counts today is to test for resistance shared Martin Nielsen, DVM, PhD, DVSc, DACVM, DEVPC, when questioned about the importance of fecal egg counts. He addresses drug resistance, parasite species variability and tapeworms as growing concerns. Source: EQUUS, March 2, 2025. Link. We owe it to our horses to make … [Read more...]
Redirect chewing behaviors and avoid harsh punishments
Chewing is a completely natural behavior for puppies that owners CAN manage proactively. To do so, owners need to understand why puppies chew and redirect that behavior to appropriate chew toys. Guiding pups toward better habits without using harsh punishments is best for the pup and helps it be a better citizen in the family. Source: Happy Puppy Tips. Link. Positive … [Read more...]
Dog humping: Why it happens and how to stop it
Humping is a natural and normal dog behavior that happens for a variety of reasons, explains Cathy Madson, MA, FDM, CBCC-KA, CPDT-KA. She discusses the whys and how to manage the behavior in this article, which dog owners will appreciate receiving via social media or in newsletters. Pet boarding employees can also gain insights on these behaviors to avoid issues in play areas … [Read more...]
Dog owner invents improved way to feed short nosed, senior dogs
Complimentary Commercial Content After getting an offer to try Fluff Trough, I was intrigued. Debra Mastic’s journey to help her pug gain easier and more comfortable access to his food rang true with the articles we see about pet food bowls, elevated platforms and challenges experienced by older and brachycephalic dogs. AHD’s office dog, Lil’ Buddy, often removed kibble … [Read more...]
Study: Cat attachment style impacts behavior, hormone levels
In this article offered by a colleague, researchers share study outcomes indicating emotional attachments have a noticeable impact on cats’ lives. They discovered that a cat’s attachment style, categorized as secure, anxious or avoidant, is linked to how they behave around their owners, how likely they are to exhibit problem behaviors and fluctuations in their oxytocin … [Read more...]
IBPSA Fast Bites – March 10, 2025
Raw cat food recall, web hosting or small business, small business tax, corporate transparency act updates, R and D programs and more . . . Source: IBPSA, March 10, 2025. Link. Note public webinar: Using personalization to build trust and grow revenue in pet business: Wednesday, March 26th, 1:00 p.m. CST. Register here <Link>. … [Read more...]
AAHA working, assistance and therapy dog guidelines certificate
Working, therapy and assistance dogs have unique needs requiring individualized care. This specialized course will help veterinarians adjust wellness and treatment plans for the various roles and health requirements of dogs working with their human counterparts. Source: AAHA. Link. INSIGHTS: Working, therapy, and assistance nomenclature encompasses multiple breeds outside … [Read more...]
8 tips to extend post-conference experiences
The guidance from Wendy S. Myers, CVJ, in this article is spot on. However, the devil is in the details as it takes discipline and planning to effectively capture and carry conference learnings back to home practices and businesses. Source: Veterinary Practice News, March 5, 2025. Link. Go home with more than a conference bag . . . you should be motivated, wiser, and have … [Read more...]
Facts and feelings
At its core, influencing is about understanding human behavior. What makes people trust, decide or act? Source: LinkedIn Pulse, February 25, 2025. Link. While we like to believe we make factual decisions, the reality is that feelings dominate.” INSIGHT: Acknowledge feelings first, then address the facts. … [Read more...]
2024 drug roundup: updates, highlights, practical considerations
Jim Budde, PharmD, RPh, DICVP, shares an overview of new drugs along with label extensions and new dosage forms for dogs and cats. He includes key information required for safe and effective use. Source: Clinician’s Brief, January 2025. Link. … [Read more...]
Employer-provided FSA grace period ends Saturday
A majority of people enrolled in Flexible Spending Accounts had a deadline of December 31, 2024, BUT over a third of enrollees get an employer-provided grace period. They have until THIS SATURDAY, March 15, to spend what's left in their accounts. Remind them of the deadline and reinforce the breadth of expenses FSA dollars cover. Source: ebn, March 11, 2025. Link. … [Read more...]
89 percent of corporate workers are facing mental health challenges
In a new report from mental-health-benefits provider Lyra Health, 89 percent of 7,500 employees surveyed said they had faced at least one mental health challenge over the past year. Stress and anxiety were their primary issues. Nearly all employees surveyed said they strongly consider mental health benefits when looking for jobs. Source: Fast Company, March 5, 2025. … [Read more...]
Menopause and veterinary medicine: Challenges, opportunities, and solutions (video).
Our January 15th post <Link> included this metric, “By 2025, there will be over 1 billion people worldwide experiencing menopause.” The topic has come of age in the female-dominated veterinary profession where addressing menopause and perimenopause is an important priority that affects all team members. Liz Barton, MA, VetMB, MRCVS, MCIPR, is championing the need for … [Read more...]
Partnering with clients improves cat visits
Preparation before cats leave their home and assertive client education spell success for achieving better cat visits. In this article, Kathryn Primm, DVM, CVPM, provides perspectives on what derails cat visits, ensuring the clinic environment is comfortable and the opportunity to actively involve clients. She acknowledges the time investment required while affirming its value … [Read more...]
Viticus Group expansion in Nashville to add new conference, facility
Viticus Group’s expansion to Nashville adds WVC Nashville, a new national veterinary continuing education conference and a state-of-the-art, hands-on education center. WVC Nashville is scheduled for August 16th to 18th, 2026 at Music City Center. The new training facility is targeted to be fully operational in the summer of 2026. Source: Viticus Group, March 2, 2025. Link. … [Read more...]