Grain-free dog diets are a hot topic veterinary teams face routinely, shared Danielle Conway, DVM, CVA, VSMT, CCRP, during a session at the Fetch dvm360 Conference in Atlantic City. Austin Littrell summarizes her session here, including: Dietary carbohydrate requirements noting grains are carbohydrates, but not all carbohydrates are grains Gluten ≠ grains: gluten itself … [Read more...]
It may be fall, but mosquitoes are still buzzing
While fall tends to reduce mosquito populations, days above 50oF will prompt activity by those genera that hibernate. Emily Singler, VMD, says the uptick of heartworm-positive cases in unusual locations makes educating and encouraging clients about year-round heartworm prevention more important than ever. Source: AAHA NEWStat, April 9, 2024. Link. Related: 10 cases of … [Read more...]
How veterinary practices can accommodate growing payment options
Complimentary Commercial Content Businesses that cannot meet the demand for modern payment methods risk missing out on revenue by not supporting consumers' preferred payment methods. Research predicts half of cashless transactions will be made with debit and credit cards by 2028, followed by instant payments and credit transfers. Rudimentary features offered by legacy … [Read more...]
Keeping our canine companions healthy
Includes Commercial Content Dom Naish’s consumer-facing article about fall health tips for dogs includes: A check-up at the veterinary clinic Grooming, brushing and trimming of the animal’s coat, paws and nails Continuing monthly use of flea and tick preventatives Keeping dogs away from antifreeze Source: Top Dog Tips, November 278, 2023. … [Read more...]
IBPSA Fast Bites – October 28, 2024
Recognizing K9 Resorts, dog walker dies in UK from mauling by pack of dogs she was walking, leaders determine culture, FDA advises caution on Darwin’s Pet Food, state of pet food, treats in 2024 and more . . . Source: IBPSA, October 25, 2024. Link. … [Read more...]
WSU veterinary chaplain is one of few
There are few university veterinary chaplains, but Scott Cambell is the nondenominational chaplain at the Washington State University College of Veterinary Medicine. His role reflects a growing recognition of the grief associated with a pet’s death and the toll veterinary care can take on people in the profession. He visits with clients, attends euthanasia proceedings and … [Read more...]
AAHA’s Teams@Work Photo Contest
AAHA Trends readers submitted photos of their teams and team members at work. For those servicing these practices, take a look to see if any of your customers are pictured. For practices, if your staff or clinic was chosen, consider sharing the photo on social media and local media. Include a link to the contest results article. Congratulations to the winners and the … [Read more...]
Bringing value
It doesn’t matter if it is a distributor rep talking to a practice decision-maker or the vet tech talking to a customer; the question is the same – Are you bringing value? Source: Veterinary Advantage, May 2023. Link. Ask yourself, “How do I differentiate ourselves and our practice from every other practice?” INSIGHTS: “Be curious, not judgmental.” - Ted Lasso … [Read more...]
Debunking 3 top misconceptions about HR
Cheryl Swirnow addresses persistent misconceptions and clarifies HR’s critical role in modern organizations in this article. Asserting HR plays an increasingly strategic role in shaping company culture, driving DEI initiatives and managing flexible work policies, she focuses on these three myths: Myth 1: HR is all about micromanagement Myth 2: HR is responsible for … [Read more...]
Infection control, prevention and biosecurity. Is your plan current?
AAHA’s Infection Control, Prevention, and Biosecurity Guidelines have been available since 2018. Having an ICPB plan is critical to ensure the safety of pets, pet owners and clinic staff. A lot has happened in the six years since the guidelines were published, making updating any current plans important. Emily Singler, VMD, reviews the steps to create an effective ICPB and its … [Read more...]
Worth a Glance – October 24, 2024
Last week’s AHD Bulletin – Animal Health Digest Bulletin, October 17, 2024. Link. Most read posts from the October 17th AHD Bulletin – Vet Techs play a critical role in pet healthcare. Link. Shelter dog behavior after adoption. Link. How to use dog food toppers. Link. A horse owner’s final act of care. Link. Facial recognition app recognizes cows … [Read more...]
Leave the leaves!
Leaves, brush piles, fallen logs, plant stems and flower heads might not be growing anymore, but they aren’t trash. They are natural homes that support pollinators and other invertebrates and provide them with the shelter they need to survive the winter. Source: Xerces Society, October 5, 2024. Link. The authors share tips for autumn cleanup that still leaves space for … [Read more...]
Water-soaked hay improved asthma in horses
Hay and bedding are a common source of airborne particles in horse barns. In a study published in the Journal of Veterinary Internal Medicine, researchers found that soaking hay with water before feeding was effective in reducing the clinical signs of asthma. To be effective, a specific protocol must be followed. The hay must be soaked for 45 minutes and any dried hay that … [Read more...]
Research: Cushing’s treatment improves quality of life, but does not prolong life
Research by Hal Schott, DVM, PhD, DACVIM, provides evidence that long-term treatment of PPID with pergolide, an oral medication, over a period of five years or greater produced clinical improvement in nearly all affected horses. His study examined 15 PPID positive horses over 9.5 years, with seven of those receiving a dosage increase from years 1.7 to 4.7. His research showed … [Read more...]
Mizzou’s Mule-lennials
The Missouri mule team has been a fixture at the University of Missouri since 1984. To be considered a mule has to be a cross between a draft horse and a mammoth donkey, the world's largest breed of ass. This specific cross creates what is known as a Missouri Mule. Honoring National Mule Day taking place on October 26th, Brian Consiglio shares seven facts about Mizzou’s equine … [Read more...]
Horse Week is happening now
Complimentary Sponsored Content Horse Week is a free weeklong online film festival dedicated to horses. It takes place October 20–26, 2024. Films range from documentary features to quick training tips and include a lineup of brand new exclusives and award-winning favorites. Source: RIDE TV. Link. … [Read more...]
3 reasons pet owners stop feeding raw meat-based dog food
Research on why pet owners stop feeding raw diets revealed these main reasons: Gastrointestinal intolerance The onset of disease Lack of interest from the dog in eating raw food Source: PETFOOD Industry, October 16, 2024. Link. Upon discontinuing RMBDs, 65 percent of owners switched to dry food, followed by wet food (44 percent) and home-cooked diets (26 percent). … [Read more...]
The alliance between human and cat was probably the cat’s idea
As cat popularity grows, understanding the history of the house cat is interesting if you’ve never considered it. It’s believed they evolved from wild cats roughly 12,000 years ago when humans moved to an agricultural lifestyle. Researchers suspect that all domestic cats descended from a subspecies of the Eurasian and African wildcat Felis silvestris, as well as Silvestris … [Read more...]
Training the head dunk for hyperthermia and ocular/nasal flush first aid in dogs (video)
Our October 1st post <Link> shared the value of voluntary head dunks to effectively cool dogs when they are getting too hot. Voluntary is a key word. Using the video accompanying the study paper linked here, pet owners and handlers can learn to teach their dogs to head dunk and implement this first aid technique for exercise-related cooling or ocular/nasal … [Read more...]
The science of species-specific music (video)
Ann Hohenhaus, DVM, DACVIM, shares some of the science and benefits of music for dogs. Researchers have found that dogs spend significantly more time lying and significantly less time standing when music was played, regardless of genre. Soft rock and reggae genres seem to help dogs relax most. Source: Schwarzman AMC, October 16, 2024. Link. Photo credit: RCA … [Read more...]
IBPSA Fast Bites – October 21, 2024
October pet trends, marketing triggers for the new years ahead, optimizing retailer relationships with distributors, unconventional support animal use in complementary therapy for humans, euthanasia decisions, spring water for dogs and more . . . Source: IBPSA, October 21, 2024. Link. … [Read more...]
Prioritize these 5 self-care habits
Taking care of yourself regularly is important for success, whether you run a store, serve clients or host a podcast, writes Joey Wilder. The tendency to focus on work, forgetting about self-care is problematic whether one is an entrepreneur or a professional. With the holidays approaching, his business boundaries comments are good counsel. Source: Entrepreneur, October 16, … [Read more...]
Successful leaders are great followers first
In the most effective and successful practices, leadership occurs at all levels—from the DVM to the vet tech to the receptionist—and at every level in between. Source: Repertoire, April 2024. Link. Influential leaders, no matter what title they have or role they play, are those with willing followers.” INSIGHT: Exceptional leaders intuitively recognize momentary changes in … [Read more...]
Elanco’s Canine Parvovirus Monoclonal Antibody shows improved survival rates for puppies
Complimentary Commercial Content Data collected over the first year of CPMA availability shows improvements in survival rates for puppies battling the deadly virus, enhanced operational efficiency and high satisfaction within veterinary clinics. Our recent real-world data shows that the Canine Parvovirus Monoclonal Antibody is giving puppies and veterinary clinic staff a … [Read more...]
Pet industry adapts to economic challenges, new trends
The pet industry has become accustomed to steady, consistent growth at high levels throughout the range of products and services offered. Richard Kestenbaum says that's over. There will still be growth, but it will be more choppy and more selective. Certain product classes will grow. Others will shrink. Certain marketing channels will be an opportunity. Others not. Consumers … [Read more...]
Worth a Glance – October 17, 2024
Last week’s AHD Bulletin – Animal Health Digest Bulletin, October 10, 2024. Link. Most read posts from the October 10th AHD Bulletin – How to stop making excuses. Link. Larval therapy decreases layup time for coffin bone infection. Link. Oak mites join chiggers, mosquitos . . . big annoyance for pets, humans. Link. Explaining why cats chatter. Link. … [Read more...]
Russian scientists claim world’s first anti-aging pet food
Russian researchers have developed a pet food said to support longevity and combat age-related issues in pets. “The pet food is comprised of a combination of geroprotective substances such as epigallocatechin gallate, silymarin, curcumin, resveratrol and naringenin. Geroprotectors act by regulating some signaling pathways and molecular markers associated with aging and life … [Read more...]
Allogrooming serves an important function in horses
It’s believed that grooming areas on the body that they can’t reach establishes and maintains social relationships, and may also foster trust and cooperation in horses. It also helps remove sweat, dirt, mud, lice, fleas and ticks and distributes natural oils throughout the coat. Sources: More than scratching an itch, The Paulick Report, October 4, 2024. Link. A … [Read more...]
Euthanasia. A horse owner’s final act of care.
Some of the more difficult horse ownership decisions come as the animal nears its end of life. Saundra Tenbroeck, University of Florida Extension horse specialist, provides reasoning for euthanasia or natural death, carcass disposal and thinking with your head and heart. Source: UF|IFAS Extension Panhandle Ag e-News, October 4, 2024. Link. Tenbroeck offers: Euthanasia, … [Read more...]
How to use dog food toppers
Includes Commercial Content It seems every trip to the pet retailer reveals an ever-expanding inventory of pet food toppers. It is challenging to understand how to use them effectively to enhance dogs’ diets and not disrupt their basic nutritional needs. Toppers can enhance a dog’s meals, offering additional flavor, variety and nutritional benefits. Renee Streeter, DVM, … [Read more...]