Nancy S. Loving, DVM, urges horse owners to prepare for cooler days ahead. She reviews steps to prepare the barn and meet horses’ needs before the weather turns bad. This includes completing a preventive care checklist that covers vaccines, worming, body condition scoring and hoof care. Commentary Nearly every animal owner study we see identifies communication from … [Read more...]
Names in the news
IDEXX Laboratories has acquired veterinary AI software company CoVet. Link. Patterson Veterinary launches Atlas AI assistant for practices. Link. Girl Scouts of the USA adds Patch Pals™ for dogs to cookie lineup. Link. The Farmer's Dog® becomes the NFL’s first Official Pet Food Partner. Link. Instinct Science announces Attending, a first-of-its-kind clinical AI … [Read more...]
Worth a Glance – September 24, 2026
Last week’s AHD Bulletin – Animal Health Digest Bulletin, September 17, 2026. Link.a Most read posts from September 17th AHD Bulletin – Malone: Leadership’s dark side. Link. Stop saying SORRY for who you are. Link. High school science students introduced to Fear Free. Link. Cat health care and deworming barn cats. Link. Credentials got you into the … [Read more...]
Credentials got you into the room. Will they get you through the next 90 seconds?
In his latest dive into what are innate challenges in veterinary medicine, Gershon L Alaluf, DVM, DBA, MBA shares more, much more, to consider when interacting with today’s digitally enabled clients. Now, be honest with yourself, “Don’t you check the internet when pricing a new car, widescreen TV, car repair or vacation rental?” In August, a survey of 15,428 adults across … [Read more...]
DOL clarifies when travel during meal periods is not compensable
Commentary Veterinary nurse, “So do I get paid for the hour I spent at the lunch-n-learn at the restaurant down the street?” While this report may open a veritable can of worms, it may address some questions about how employees are paid for in-house breaks, off-site lunches and lunch-n-learns. At minimum, double-check employee handbooks to be sure there is … [Read more...]
CatsOnly clinic opens in Aurora, Colorado to positive reviews, expectations
Congratulations and kudos to the CatsOnly.vet team who, over the past months have built anticipation, interest and curiosity. Of all the various posts we reviewed, Ken Lambrecht, DVM, captured the excitement of the event admirably along with expectations for success. “Founders Craig S. Wallace, Scott Maloney, Kristin Wuhrman, Jason Epstein and Alex Emerson have done their … [Read more...]
Leadership’s dark side
There is a darker side of the leadership perspective that is rarely discussed. The same strengths that attract others can become weaknesses that repel followers. Many leadership skills are amazing at their best, but at their worst, they can be painful and damage teams. Source: LinkedIn, September 8, 2026. Link. Any strength overused, on a bad day, becomes a … [Read more...]
I’m sorry! Apologizing before even knowing what for
Guilty as charged. Sorry! The word falls out of our mouths so quickly, so smoothly and most of the time it is not needed. It’s a reflex that is not sorting out what actually warrants an apology. It is running on autopilot, apologizing for YOU. The ego runs this because a pre-apologized presence cannot fail as loudly, asserts the author. The truth is the reflex is not … [Read more...]
IBPSA Fast Bites – September 14, 2026
This week’s FastBites provides updates for members including: Upcoming October launch of a new Learning Management System called GZLearn. Gallagher's insurance concierge services for U.S. members Ticket reminder for the IBBY Award Celebration at the CANIS Conference Source: IBPSA, September 14, 2026. Link. Survey results from Suburu-commissioned Talker Research … [Read more...]
CatCon 2026 comes to Pasadena October 10th and 11th
CatCon is a cat-centric, pop culture global event scheduled to take place in Pasadena, California, October 10th and 11th. It is dedicated to all things feline, with a community of cat lovers that spans the globe. Part expo, part symposium, CatCon engages, educates and entertains thousands of fans, featuring the latest in groundbreaking products and ideas for cats and their … [Read more...]
High school science students introduced to Fear Free
From everyday interactions with classroom animals to exploring future careers in animal care, a high school animal science teacher uses Fear Free education to help bring a more thoughtful approach to animal wellbeing into the classroom. Note how Ms. Carberry integrated the Fear Free Pet Sitter Certification into her curriculum. Source: Fear Free LLC., LinkedIn, September … [Read more...]
Calculating daily calorie and feeding needs for a patient
Laura Warcholek, CVT, VTS (nutrition), reviews the standard equation for calculating calorie and feeding needs, and walks through the calculations for an example patient in this informative video. Source: Today’s Veterinary Nurse, LinkedIn, August 27, 2026. Link. [1:37] Also see: Counting calories, treats, client education. Avoid the math. AHD Archives. Link. … [Read more...]
Cat health care and deworming barn cats
Cats are tough with hardy immune systems, writes Jon Geller, DVM, in this article from the Grist archives. Although written before Avian flu became a reality in the U.S., his guidance holds up today, considering the advancing status of cats. Commentary Call them barn cats, working cats, free-range, or semi-feral; whatever the label, but developing mutually beneficial … [Read more...]
Swirlology: as the whorls turn
Facial whorls, those distinctive swirls of hair on a horse’s forehead, have long intrigued horse owners and trainers. Hair whorl patterns are sometimes used to predict equine laterality, temperament and reactions to various environmental stimuli. In fact, hair whorls have been debated for centuries. More recently, Linda Tellingtone-Jones and Temple Grandin shared thinking and … [Read more...]
Virtual coworking equine session groups growing into a professional community
Building from a four-person Google Meet group that grew into more than 1,000 members on Facebook, Women in Equine’s membership spans countries, riding disciplines, students, C-suite executives, entrepreneurs and early-career professionals. Founded by Jillian Blades-Rice, the network of horsewomen has enjoyed the opportunity to connect and grow their careers and businesses … [Read more...]
Milking goats in Alaska
The need and desire for local dairy products (milk, cheese, kefir, etc.) is present across the U.S., even in Alaska. Dairy goats provide a viable option for small-scale farms in all 50 states. Having resources to share, compare and contrast helps producers make decisions for their herds, regardless of size. Raising livestock looks different in Alaska than it does anywhere … [Read more...]
Rood & Riddle announces partnership with Equine Care Group
Rood & Riddle Equine Hospital and Equine Care Group announced a long-term strategic partnership September 9th. It will create new opportunities for clinical collaboration, veterinary education, research and innovation while preserving Rood & Riddle’s identity, leadership, culture and clinical autonomy. Source: Paulick Report, September 9, 2026. Link. By connecting … [Read more...]
Stem cell advances bring lab-grown steaks a bite closer
Researchers have developed a new technique to create meat-like tissue using cow embryonic stem cells, which can differentiate into a wide range of tissue types indefinitely, and have shown that these cells can be directed to form complex tissues. These contained nerve, blood vessel, and muscle cells. The discovery, the authors write, is a “milestone toward self-organizing beef … [Read more...]
Worth a Glance – September 17, 2026
Most read posts from September 10th AHD Bulletin – Vertical integration is driving up patient costs, study finds. Link. Minimize costs by maximizing value. Link. The obedience fallacy. Link. We’re all talking less. That’s not good. Link. The late-game respiratory disease that’s costing feedlots big money. Also see: Good Rx saves on pet prescriptions, … [Read more...]
GoodRx Companion now helps families receive savings on pet prescriptions
A new $24.99 monthly plan from GoodRx includes a primary member and up to four dependents, including children, adults, and pets. More than 250 generic medications are available for free along with savings on dental, vision, lab and imaging services. Source: GoodRx, September 3, 2026. Link. … [Read more...]
Animal Health Summit spotlights 3 trends driving the industry’s next era
Congratulations to the Kansas City Animal Health Corridor for this year’s Animal Health Summit. Attendees report it offered insight on emerging practices and innovations. The themes that emerged included: Innovation that simplifies Greater focus on access and affordability A shift toward longevity and ‘health span’ Production animal draws new … [Read more...]
Vertical integration is driving up patient costs, study finds
This healthcare article is interesting in light of the ongoing debates surrounding veterinary access, costs and ownership. Despite differences in care delivery models, it is likely that high healthcare costs are extrapolated to anticipated veterinary cost perceptions. Over the past decade, the number of doctors working for hospitals rather than in private practice has more … [Read more...]
Minimize costs by maximizing value
An effective lunch-and-learn event can increase productivity and financials for sales teams. Consider a parallel “open house” approach to explain the value of your services to clients and prospects. It can produce the same results. Source: Veterinary Advantage, October 2023. Link. Time is an ingredient best used judiciously. Just as diners would be displeased with an … [Read more...]
It’s not just Gen-Z. We’re all talking less. That’s not good.
We’re talking much less than we did a few years ago, especially those younger than 25. A July analysis in Perspectives on Psychological Science covered more than 2,000 people and found daily speech dropped by about 300 words a year, a 28 percent decline from 2005 to 2019. Valeria Pfeifer, assistant professor at the University of Missouri at Kansas City, called it a “big and … [Read more...]
Compliance is not the same as ownership
Chris Williams is increasingly convinced that many of the issues we call training problems aren’t training problems at all. Sometimes people know exactly what they’re supposed to do. What they haven’t developed is a sense of ownership over what happens next. We will never write enough procedures to cover every situation. Eventually, someone has to exercise judgment, says … [Read more...]
2026 Audubon Photography Awards capture breathless bird shots once again
Amazing bird photos and videos from four countries make up double the traditional number of entries in the Audubon Photography Awards. Check out the photos and videos and you’ll walk away smiling and feeling relaxed. Source: The Audubon Society, September 2, 2026. Link. As in 2025, this year’s awards encompass two parallel contests: one open to photographers and … [Read more...]
“The worm ate our time.” Inside Mexico’s efforts to outbreed a flesh-eating fly.
Mexico is battling its worst New World screwworm outbreak in decades. Cases have topped 34,000 head across nearly all Mexican states and halted cattle imports to the U.S. until a phased reopening began last month. Even as authorities bring re-eradication efforts to full speed, ranchers must check all their animals daily. This article offers an in-country snapshot of the … [Read more...]
The obedience fallacy
Angie Barber repositions training, behavior and obedience in this blog post to help dog people understand how to work toward a mentally and emotionally stable well-adjusted dog. Her State of Mind Dog Training website includes some freebies worth considering for clients <Link>. She urges dog owners to take a step back, shift from a transactional/obedience-based mindset … [Read more...]
Cardiac library shares the heart beats
Complimentary The Clinician’s Brief Cardiac library features recordings taken with an electronic stethoscope on actual patients. The sound library complements a variety of cardiac resources to help animal health pros remain familiar with common and irregular heart sounds. Source: Clinician’s Brief. Link. INSIGHTS: As pet owners become more engaged in at-home … [Read more...]
Dog rehoming: When is it the right decision?
There are innumerable sad but legitimate reasons for giving up a dog. This article from the archives is as valid today as it was when Pat Miller, CBCC-KA, CPDT-KA, wrote it. She reviews valid reasons for rehoming or relinquishing a dog. Safety is number one. Consider the article for a team discussion or as content for a pet owner seeking a new situation for their … [Read more...]