Strategy is one thing; execution is another, writes Greg Satell. He draws on multiple sources in this article on the gap between theory and practice, between strategy and execution and why the status quo always has inertia on its side. It’s a good read for those trying to advance while simplifying how to meet our ultimate customers’ needs. In the absence of strategy chaos … [Read more...]
How elite sports coaches make high-pressure decisions
The comparison between decision-making in sports and business has its limits. Still, for animal health pros leading and working with employees, staff, colleagues and clients, this self-management article is worth your time and consideration. Top coaches combine disciplined preparation with emotional control and social awareness during crunch time, then embrace accountability … [Read more...]
What if the mid-level practitioner role wasn’t clinical at all?
If you’re as comfortable seeing your nurse practitioner or physician’s assistant as you are with your doctor, this may resonate with you. We’ve not seen much recognition of this alternate concept to mid-level practitioners since April. See what you think. Registered veterinary technician Jodi Belongié suggests that the debate over mid-level practitioners in veterinary … [Read more...]
Professional burnout
It’s not whether we can train more veterinarians. We clearly can. The question is whether we are willing to change the machine before we build eight more of it. We have been trying to treat the wound. We have not touched the machine that makes it.” – Gershon Alaluf DVM, MBA, DBA Source: LinkedIn, June 25, 2026. Link. A person walks into veterinary school carrying something I … [Read more...]
Review: How to talk to clients about vaccinations
Commentary Articles like this one from Reagan Bugg, DVM, offer veterinary teams a quick way to review and adjust conversations about vaccination hesitancy with the whole team. She reinforces discussion of the pet’s lifestyle as interactive with the animal owner to increase transparency and allay any vaccine hesitancy. Repositioning the yearly exam as a whole health visit … [Read more...]
Veterinary nurses want growth. Doctors want relief. Clients want better patient care.
Elevating veterinary nurse use directly impacts patient care, team morale and practice revenue, writes Kenichiro Yagi, MS, RVT, VTS. He shares the benefits of high-level veterinary nurse engagement, reviews barriers to using them at the "top of their license" and provides a responsible utilization formula. Yagi says responsible utilization means establishing a safeguarded … [Read more...]
IBPSA Fast Bites – July 6, 2026
Passing on credit card fees? Yes or No? Check out the July webinars: Future proofing; Staffing systems On the road dates for IBPSA: SuperZoo, CANIS Conference Source: IBPSA, July 6, 2026. Link. Also see: Animal Health Digest Bulletin, July 2th. Link. Tick-borne diseases, when "we're like family" becomes a leadership problem, dog sunburns, and more! … [Read more...]
New pet-sitting data highlights strong career outlook, revenue growth
New data from Pet Sitters International’s 2026 State of the Industry Survey reveals that the average annual revenue for professional pet sitters continues to rise, and a majority of pet sitters expect revenues to continue to grow. According to the survey, the average gross revenue for U.S. pet sitters in 2025 was $112,423, a 12 percent increase from $100,537 in 2023. The … [Read more...]
91 percent of pet owners would go into debt to save a pet’s life, yet nearly half have delayed care due to cost, per new report
Pet owners would do almost anything to protect their pets, yet many continue to face difficult decisions when it comes to seeking care, according to the 2026 Lovet Checkup Report from Lovet Pet Health Care. The research results showed a majority of pet owners nationwide would be willing to take on debt to save their pet's life. At the same time, nearly half said rising … [Read more...]
CATalyst Council’s second edition of “Puppocalypse, Kitten Craze” Report confirms its veterinary visit forecast with updated Q2 2026 data
Cats have outpaced dogs in clinical visit growth every quarter since Q1 2023 and the CATalyst Council’s new report confirms the previous assertions, incorporating a full fiscal year of clinic visit data. The CATalyst Council’s second edition of “Puppocalypse, Kitten Craze” report was released July 15th. It confirms the bust is fewer puppy acquisitions each year, not just fewer … [Read more...]
Study: Cats readily accept, digest cultivated hamster cell-derived meat diet.
A published scientific study conducted in collaboration between BeneMeat and Ghent University evaluated the acceptance and digestibility of a complete feline diet containing cultivated meat as a novel pet food ingredient. Source: PETFOOD Industry, May 28, 2026. Link. The feeding trial demonstrated strong acceptance of the cultivated meat diet in domestic cats and found … [Read more...]
If you think your cat is being nice, think again
You may get warm fuzzies when you see one cat grooming another, but don’t be fooled. It could be an act of aggression. Researchers at Ghent University recently published findings in the journal Applied Animal Behavior Science showing the behavior could sometimes be classified as bullying or tormenting. Source: The New York Times, July 10, 2026. Link. The researchers suggest … [Read more...]
What horse hair can tell us
This article shares the latest knowledge about what horses’ hair can tell us. It contains abundant information about their health, welfare, breeding, drug intake and even ancient history, writes Christa Lesté-Lasserre, MA. The discussion of cortisol levels in hair as a noninvasive way to assess stress and welfare over time is noteworthy. Source: The Horse, July 13, 2026. … [Read more...]
Ticks and flies: Time to reapply
No fly control or tick control measure should be considered a “one-and-done” strategy, writes Beth Reynolds. With summer in full swing, now is an ideal time to review what strategies were used for prevention, if those strategies actually impact ticks or flies, and the effective window for each. Reynolds’ review of prevention methods, habitat modification and reproductive … [Read more...]
Hog numbers fall as pigs per litter increases to 11.87
Animal husbandry and improving genetics have raised the production bar from fewer than 10 pigs per sow per year in the 1930s to the current level north of 20 to 30 piglets per sow per year. Source: The Farmer, July 13, 2026. Link. The number of hog farms has diminished while the amount of production on those farms has improved in both quantity and quality. U.S. pork … [Read more...]
Monitoring medicator accuracy
Water medicators play a central role in delivering health products throughout swine production systems, yet their accuracy is often assumed rather than verified. This study highlights the substantial variations that can exist among medicators operating under commercial conditions and the implied costs of inaccuracy. Note: Only one in four medicators delivered within 10 … [Read more...]
Tick-borne parasite killing cats in Kansas City metro, veterinarians warn
Veterinarians in the Kansas City metro are urging cat owners to act quickly as cases of a deadly tick-borne disease known as bobcat fever (cytauxzoonosis) appear to be on the rise. Source: KCTV5, July 14, 2026. Link. Bobcat fever is caused by the parasite Cytauxzoon felis, which is spread through the bite of an infected tick, veterinarians say. Bobcats are the parasite’s … [Read more...]
Worth a Glance – July 17, 2026
Last week’s AHD Bulletin – Animal Health Digest Bulletin, July 9, 2026. Link. Most read posts from July 9, 2026 AHD Bulletin – Beyond exercise: The role of stretching routines for dog joint health. Link. Review: Understanding the three stages of laminitis in horses. Link. Tick, tick-borne disease - requires integrated One Health approach. Link. Most-read … [Read more...]
Tick, tick-borne disease management requires an integrated One Health approach
A new review <Link> emphasizes that tick and tick-borne disease control in the United States now requires a coordinated One Health strategy that accounts for changing tick distributions, wildlife and domestic animal hosts, environmental conditions and human exposure patterns. Kristen Coppock Crossley, MA, shares the rationales in this article. The expanding range of … [Read more...]
Private equity ownership of clinics draws scrutiny (video)
Geoff Bennett sets the stage for this content, saying, “As veterinary care prices rise, attention is turning to a major shift in the industry: private equity firms and large corporations buying up veterinary practices across the country.” Commentary The dialogue here is yet another public-facing discussion of price, ownership and practice objectives that animal owners are … [Read more...]
Most-read Malone posts: January 2026 through June 2026
If there’s one thing consistent with Animal Health Digest readers, it’s Patrick Malone’s posts. The writing, wisdom and advice he shares from his own experiences and from leaders in multiple industries are consistently among the most-read posts in any issue. In fact, they are often opened three times more than other posts. Here are his latest chart toppers. Source: Animal … [Read more...]
Hormone Friendly Vetmed campaign from Vet Empowered, LLC
Complimentary Veterinary medicine has one of the highest proportions of women and assigned female at birth (AFAB) individuals in any professional workforce, and yet conversations about how hormonal health intersects with work performance, mental health and team dynamics remain rare or are dismissed entirely, writes Katie Ford, MRCVS <Link>. Silently ignoring these … [Read more...]
When “We’re like family” becomes a leadership problem
In a June 2022 post <Link>, I commented, “A company employs you because what you do is valuable. Your value must be enough to justify your salary.” In the post’s article, Gloria Chan Packer gave guidance to deal with the “like family” paradigm, which can be destructive to teams and individuals. Marlene Chism addresses “like family” in depth in the article linked here. … [Read more...]
IBPSA Fast Bites – July 6, 2026
In this week’s Fast Bites: Two webinars scheduled for July: Future Proofing Pet Care Facilities, July 15th Staffing Systems to Protect the Business, July 30th 16 new members added in 2-Q-2026 Congratulations to the members who earned a Species Certification in Q2. NOTE: The IBPSA email communications calendar is changing effective August 3rd Source: … [Read more...]
The PACCC Insider – Summer 2026 Edition
The Summer 2026 PACCC Insider highlights important industry updates, celebrates newly certified professionals, shares upcoming educational opportunities and recognizes the continued growth of the PACCC community. The pet care industry continues to grow and evolve. Professionalism and education have never been more important. Third-party certification helps demonstrate a … [Read more...]
Handling the unruly patient
Commentary David Burger’s article reviews an apparent increase in fractious pets that increase injury risks for veterinary teams and pet owners alike. While “do more training” is advocated, it is clear that beyond veterinary teams adjusting their approach with problem pets, getting modern pet owners to establish basic behavior boundaries is difficult. Similarly, groomers … [Read more...]
Review: Dogs can get a sunburn, too
Includes commercial references It is typically not top of mind but sun protection is another important preventive consideration as dogs get sunburned as humans do. Barri J. Morrison, DVM, provides appropriate reminders in this article worth sharing with pet owners. Groomers can be a good source for sunburn education as dogs leave the salon with a fresh haircut. Key … [Read more...]
Beyond exercise: The role of stretching routines for dog joint health
Commercial source Exercise alone isn’t always enough to support your dog’s mobility, writes Britt Kascjak in this informative article. She shares five essential stretches for dog joint health, their benefits, safety and when it is best to help dogs stretch. Consider this article for newsletters, social media posts and for exam room information to help dog owners add … [Read more...]
Study: Outdoor access may help improve welfare in multi-cat homes
Zazie Todd, PhD, summarizes key points from a new correlational study in Applied Animal Behaviour Science <Link>. It reveals insightful welfare dynamics in multi-cat households with and without outside access. Many cats would prefer to be the only cat in the home. Having more than one cat is linked to poorer welfare*. In a study, when cats had outdoor access, … [Read more...]
10 Q&As about pet food for aging dogs and cats
Good read Despite the expanding population of senior pets, scientists observed that nutritional recommendations remain largely based on research conducted in younger animals. In a literature review published in the journal Animals, they examined what scientists know about nutrition for aging dogs and cats, identify the biggest gaps in current knowledge and outline the … [Read more...]