Scientists have long believed a queen honeybee was made almost entirely by diet: feed an ordinary larva enough royal jelly and a ruler emerges. But new research published in Nature suggests queens are created through a more elaborate process and food is only part of the story. Researchers found that wax chambers where future queens develop, called queen cells or royal cribs, … [Read more...]
Worth a Glance – June 4, 2026
Last week’s AHD Bulletin – Animal Health Digest Bulletin, May 28, 2026. Link. Most read posts from May 28, 2026 AHD Bulletin – New insights on the hidden impact of veterinary care: global survey. Link. Malone: Bad and good pain. Link. Just trying to save lives and survive! (video). Link. Role ambiguity is the top workplace stressor, not workload. … [Read more...]
New insights on the hidden impact of veterinary care: global survey
Commentary I often promote the benefits of veterinarians and veterinary technicians talking out loud with clients and sharing what they look for and feel during exams when working with clients’ animals. This kind of vet talk reveals the expertise and depth of veterinary care owners often take for granted. Yet, it is this expertise that is essential to protect animals, people … [Read more...]
Vetmed. Just trying to save lives and survive!
No commentary required. Walter Brown, BS, RVTg, VTS, tells it like it is. When it comes to veterinary medicine, he says, “Love don’t keep the lights on.” Listing many of the fixed operational costs to keep a clinic available for animal owners, he says, “The same inflation that is affecting groceries, housing, gas and health care is also affecting veterinary medicine.” The … [Read more...]
Bad and good pain
Hard days if you stay in a safe job. Hard days if you leave. Hard days if you keep doing what drains you. Hard days if you try to build something better. Source: The 1 Minute Read, May 14, 2026. Link. Which kind of suffering is worth it? Some suffering only takes from you…but some suffering builds you.” INSIGHTS: Stop expecting life not to hurt. Choose the pain … [Read more...]
Role ambiguity is the top workplace stressor, not workload
A meta-analysis published in the Journal of Applied Psychology identified role ambiguity as the most damaging of three foundational workplace stressors by far: Role overload refers to having too much to do. Role conflict involves competing or contradictory demands, such as receiving conflicting direction from supervisors. Role ambiguity is the absence of clarity … [Read more...]
CX is a leadership issue, not a service issue
Research from Forrester finds companies that prioritize proactive customer experience achieve 41 percent faster revenue growth and 51 percent better customer retention than their peers. Author Jeannie Walters asserts that customer experience is the responsibility of leadership. She shares three behaviors of leaders who consistently drive strong customer experience outcomes: … [Read more...]
IBPSA Fast Bites – May 26, 2026
Financial survey results, IBBY nominations, webinars for members. Source: IBPSA, May 26, 2026. Link. Also see: Animal Health Digest Bulletin, May 21st. Link. Fear Free, making decisions, why clients don't book, are you ready for summer, using Reddit for pet marketing, and more! … [Read more...]
U.S. consumer sentiment hits record low amid rising costs
Consumer sentiment has hit an all-time low. Spiking energy prices renewed inflation fears and pushed consumer confidence down 10 percent from a month ago and more than 14 percent from a year ago. Source: Washington Express, May 22, 2026. Link. The cost of living continues to be a first-order concern, with 57 percent of consumers spontaneously mentioning that high prices … [Read more...]
Some ticks can survive longer in your home than previously believed, new study finds
Must read A study from The Ohio State University provides the first quantitative evidence that two tick species can survive for weeks on common household flooring. This underscores the need for veterinarians to reinforce year-round tick prevention and home risk mitigation strategies with clients. Gulf Coast tick and Lone Star tick survival minimums exceeded seven days … [Read more...]
Making the pet food to pet health connection
Pet owners are turning to pet food to boost their pets’ health and wellness, writes David Sprinkle. His takeaways from the January 2026 Packaged Facts survey data show the priority of pet food as a pet health product rises up the generational ladder, tied to a greater likelihood of populations owning more senior pets than ever before. Source: PETFOOD Industry, May 11, 2026. … [Read more...]
The science behind red light therapy for horses
Red light therapy, or photobiomodulation, has become one of the most talked-about modalities in modern equine wellness. PBM uses specific wavelengths of red and near-infrared light to stimulate cellular activity, particularly in the mitochondria. This article shares B to C content that supports educating animal owners. It covers professional and at-home use of PBM, areas … [Read more...]
Worth a Glance – May 28, 2026
Last week’s AHD Bulletin – Animal Health Digest Bulletin, May 21, 2026. Link. Most read posts from May 21, 2026 AHD Bulletin – What Fear Free actually built in 10 years. Link. Producer-veterinarian relationships matter. Link. Deciding is the first step. Link. How research is helping solve equine pregnancy mysteries. Link. Free webinar: Why clients … [Read more...]
What Fear Free actually built in 10 years
The principles that shape how animals experience professional care have lived in the apprenticeship layer of the pet industry—passed mentor to mentor, shop to shop, with no shared curriculum. Fear Free was built to close that gap, writes Collin Armstrong. The organization grew from Dr. Marty Becker’s conviction of, “Fear, anxiety, and stress in animals are not just welfare … [Read more...]
Veterinarian perception of professional conduct
In this study, a convenience sample of 98 veterinarians in Australia were surveyed on their perceived importance of professional conduct statements based on standards listed in the Australian Veterinary Association’s code of professional conduct. The statement with the highest mean score of perceived importance was, “Veterinarians must hold the health, welfare, and … [Read more...]
Producer-veterinarian relationships matter
A lot has been written about access to veterinary care lately. We’ve professed the need to adjust the relationship view to consider CVRP instead of VCPR <Link>. Whether we have it backwards or not, Andrea Bedford’s article reveals the value communication and trust with producers as an important and often overlooked component of VCPR. She describes the C-V-R as part of … [Read more...]
Deciding is the first step
The fear of making the wrong decision creates a barrier to acting because we falsely believe there is only one right answer. That belief is the trap. We don't develop judgment skills by waiting for the perfect decision to practice on, shares Andy Williams. We develop it by deciding, observing, learning, and deciding again. Source: LinkedIn, April 24, 2026. Link. You don't … [Read more...]
Free webinar: Why clients don’t rebook and what to do
Complimentary Pet owners still want care for their animals, but they now return to practices based on total client experience. In this evidence-based webinar, you’ll learn: What today’s digital-first clients expect from veterinary practices Where common breakdowns in communication and education occur How aligning the client experience leads to more consistent … [Read more...]
IBPSA Fast Bites – May 18, 2026
TODAY! Financial Survey Results webinar, 12:00 p.m. MDT. Registration Link. Also consider: Member Webinar: Introducing Preventive Vet, Tuesday, May 26th, 1:00 p.m CDT. Link. Remember to submit your IBBY Nominations. Link. Source: IBPSA, May 18, 2026. Link. Also see: Animal Health Digest Bulletin, May 14th. Link. Pet brands using AI, employee sabbaticals, … [Read more...]
Is your pet business ready for summer?
Beginning with freezer and cooling maintenance, Pets+ staff writers offer a readiness schedule for store locations to run through the first summer months. We would add checking air conditioning units, servicing any air filtration units and pressure washing entry sidewalks to the schedule. Source: Pets+, May 18, 2026. Link. Image: Link. … [Read more...]
Why Reddit is quietly becoming one of the most powerful forces in pet marketing
Ronn Torossia extends his AI marketing theme we posted last week <Link> and explores Reddit’s ability to generate community validation at scale. He says the implications for marketers are profound as brands consumers naturally discuss become the brands AI systems naturally retrieve. Source: Pets+, May 17, 2026. Link. As AI increasingly intermediates consumer … [Read more...]
Application and use of a continuous glucose monitor in cats and dogs
In the article linked here, Thomas Schermerhorn, VMD, DACVIM, and Jose Estrada, DVM, MS, share the pros and cons of using CGM systems, how to attach them and the importance of educating clients about results. The article includes instructional photos that will help explain CGM use with clients. Source: Clinician’s Brief, June 2025. Link. The CGM most commonly used in … [Read more...]
Study finds more than 84 percent of dogs show signs of fear, anxiety
A study published in Veterinary Research Communications examined behavioral responses in more than 43,000 animals, creating one of the most comprehensive datasets to date on canine fear and anxiety. The findings from owner-observed behaviors reflect how dogs behave in real-world environments rather than controlled settings. Researcher Bonnie Beaver, DVM, MS, DSc, DPNAP, … [Read more...]
Frailty: An important emerging concept in veterinary medicine
Health span, the period of life an animal spends in good health and free of chronic disease and disabilities related to aging, should be prioritized over simply extending lifespan. Frailty, well-defined in human health, is increasingly important to recognize and assess in pets, as it negatively affects both health span and quality of life. Frailty is not synonymous with … [Read more...]
How research is helping solve equine pregnancy mysteries
With support from the Grayson-Jockey Club Research Foundation, researchers are reshaping the understanding of equine pregnancy loss. They are shifting the focus beyond the mare alone to include the biology of the embryo and placenta. While genetic abnormalities play a critical role early in gestation, placentitis remains one of the leading causes of later-term pregnancy … [Read more...]
Chicken droppings reveal a lot about flock health
From bloody droppings linked to coccidiosis to green diarrhoea associated with Newcastle disease or septicemia, regular observation of chicken droppings is a simple but powerful tool in poultry health management. Florence E. Jerono’s chart is a good resource to share with poultry raisers. Source: Jessica Fitzgibbon, LinkedIn, May 19, 2026. Link. … [Read more...]
Petland Charities advancing animal welfare, breeder education initiatives
Petland Charities is reporting strong progress in advancing its renewed focus on animal welfare, breeder education and strengthening the human-animal bond. A key milestone to this advancement includes the launch of an enhanced website, petlandcharities.org, which shows real-world examples of breeder practices and animal care. Source: Petland Charities, May 19, 2026. … [Read more...]
More potent bird flu strain emerging
H9N2 avian influenza demonstrates significantly greater ability to replicate, spread and infect chickens, with more spillover potential. Source: Feedstuffs, May 15, 2026. Link. The study underscores the need for continued surveillance of avian influenza viruses, stronger biosecurity measures in poultry production and ongoing monitoring of viral evolution and gene exchange. … [Read more...]
Worth a Glance – May 21, 2026
Last week’s AHD Bulletin – Animal Health Digest Bulletin, May 14, 2026. Link. Most read posts from May 14, 2026 AHD Bulletin – Words + Action = Trust. Link. 1 common skin bacteria, 2 outcomes. Link. These pet brands dominate ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini and Perplexity. Link. Turn feline visits into lasting relationships. Link. Vesicular stomatitis … [Read more...]
Vesicular stomatitis outbreak confirmed in Colorado
A new VSV-positive equine premises has been identified in Montezuma County, Colorado. VSV circulates annually between livestock and insect vectors in southern Mexico and only occasionally results in incursion into the U.S. The contagious virus is transmitted by biting midges and therefore is seasonal. Source: The Horse, May 11, 2026. Link. There is no specific treatment for … [Read more...]