For every piece of good guidance out there, there's plenty of bad advice too. Author Mel Robbins shared some of the worst tips she hears — and what you might do instead. Source: AXIOS, October 9, 2025. Link. We need to learn to do the things we want for ourselves — whether that's waking up early, hitting the gym, or changing our diets — even if they don't feel … [Read more...]
Soft skills matter more now than ever
In an age when technical expertise can become irrelevant in just a few years, foundational skills matter more than ever. Abilities like collaboration, problem-solving and a solid grounding in math transfer across jobs and help teams adapt to new challenges. Source: Harvard Business Review, August 26, 2025. Link. Foundational skills (like reading comprehension, basic math, … [Read more...]
AI writing hasn’t overwhelmed the web yet
New, online articles generated by AI are now roughly equal to those written by humans, according to a recent report from SEO firm Graphite, writes Megan Morrone. She notes that distinguishing between machine and human-written content is increasingly hard. Commentary As curators, we can spot AI-written content fairly easily. We suspect some of the poor writing is due to a … [Read more...]
Beware the newer pet supplements
Sharing the potential fatal effects of pet supplements during the recent AAHA Convention, Renee Schmid, DVM, DABT, DABVT, indicated the Pet Poison Helpline has experienced more calls about toxic effects from the supplements now being marketed. She also shared details about what to look for in pets that ingest these supplements. Source: AVMA, October 8, 2025. Link. It's … [Read more...]
Dog behavior is shaped by life experiences when they are puppies
Jordan Joseph’s article shares insights from a paper published in the journal, Scientific Reports. While adversity does not seal a dog’s fate, training, enriched environments and appropriate care can move behavior in a better direction. The early stages of life can set a lifelong tone for a dog’s behavior. Source: earth.com via AVMA SmartBrief. Link. Experiences in the … [Read more...]
Considerations when talking about pet insurance
We recently introduced a non-commercial Pet Insurance Guide to help animal health pros easily share the “who, what, when, where and why” of choosing pet insurance policies. Confused pet owners considering pet insurance and those with existing policies they don’t understand often seek advice from veterinary teams. The guide is designed as a conversation aid to help discuss pet … [Read more...]
Direct-to-consumer genetic tests can be problematic, require education
Faced with a genetic test report from a direct-to-consumer company, veterinary teams may be challenged to interpret or use the report to a client’s or pet’s benefit. Genetic testing has gone direct-to-consumer, so veterinarians must understand the types of genetic tests available, as well as how to use and interpret them properly, said Jerrod Bell, DVM, in a related article … [Read more...]
Let’s review: Prevalence of GI ulcers in dogs treated with long-term NSAIDs
The author summarizes a prospective study that sought to determine the prevalence of GI mucosal erosions in client-owned medium- and large-breed dogs treated with an NSAID for ≥30 days. The article offers veterinary teams an opportunity to update their team approach to client education and review the clinic materials to be shared with clients. Source: Clinician’s Brief, … [Read more...]
Cats can get dementia, too
Commentary As animal health pros address the needs of aging pets, feline cognitive dysfunction syndrome becomes a consideration for cat owners and their veterinarians. The sources shared here address cat dementia and are worth veterinary teams’ reviews in support of cat owners as their cats age. Share both on social media or in newsletters. Feline dementia is a condition … [Read more...]
Palpating a horse’s back for soreness (video)
Providing a teaching moment video, Sina Parsaye, DVM, shares how horse owners can palpate a horse's back for soreness to see if there are issues that a veterinarian needs to address. Consider this video for social media, newsletters and training for equine groups. Source: My Senior Horse, June 15, 2025. Link. Video [1:26] … [Read more...]
America Palominos likely descend from six sires
TV horses like Roy Rogers’ Trigger captured people’s interest in palomino horses. Researchers from Mississippi State University studied palomino inheritance patterns and discovered six foundation sires for the modern stock-type horses registered with the Palomino Horse Breeders Association. Fifty-eight percent of PBHA horses trace back to Old Fred, a palomino Quarter Horse … [Read more...]
Preparing chickens before winter coops them up
Offering guidance to backyard poultry raisers, veterinarians recommend fall health checks as insurance for chickens’ winter survival. They highlight four common health issues that affect chickens in the fall: Mites and lice Internal parasites Respiratory issues Abnormal molting Source: Chicken Whisperer. Link. INSIGHTS: This is a good article to share with … [Read more...]
Vaccinating calves early pays off later
Despite producer pushback on the economics of strategic vaccination, preconditioned calves are table stakes, especially with the current market conditions. Timed vaccination can also support reduced antibiotic use. Vaccines against BRD pathogens (such as IBR, BVD, PI3, BRSV, Mannheimia haemolytica and Pasteurella multocida) are widely available. Still, their effectiveness … [Read more...]
Bluetongue in the Midwest
Vince Collison, DVM, shares recent experiences with Bluetongue virus infections in northwest Iowa in this article. He reviews the virus, how it is transmitted and how it affects animals who contract the disease. In the U.S., the biting midge Culicoides sonorensis is the primary vector of the virus that most frequently infects sheep and whitetail deer. Source: The Stockman, … [Read more...]
Windrow grazing provides nutrition, cost advantages
Here’s an idea that has caught on in row crop country. Aaron Berger shares how windrow-grazing annual forages allows producers to cut the crop at an optimum time for quality in late summer or early fall and increase harvest efficiency through strip-grazing the windrows. With crop harvest progress more than 80 percent complete, this method may be a good discussion topic with … [Read more...]
Don’t overlook heifer fertility
Commentary Acquiring, raising and developing heifers is one of the highest expenses of milk production. Managing them intentionally and separately provides an opportunity for veterinary teams to educate dairy teams about heifer development and improve herd performance. In many cases, heifer care, feeding and reproductive programs are not held to the same standards and … [Read more...]
Beware tall fescue toxicosis
Fescue toxicosis is commonly seen in cattle grazing endophyte-infected tall fescue. Most often associated with spring and early summer grazing, tall fescue toxicosis is a threat in the fall, especially to new bulls and cattle grazing pastures to the ground. Heather Smith Thomas shares many considerations when dealing with tall fescue to reduce the incidence of toxicosis in this … [Read more...]
Asian longhorn tick found in Kansas
The Asian longhorn tick has spread through more than 20 states, including the most recent identification on a dog in Franklin County. Ottawa is the county seat. Source: Bovine Practitioner, October 10, 2025. Link. Image: Link. … [Read more...]
Honoring and celebrating veterinary technicians
Call them veterinary technicians, veterinary nurses or even “you there,” but call them and involve them fully in veterinary practice services. There’s a clear link between practice revenue, veterinarian satisfaction and the work of veterinary technicians. When deployed to the full extent of their knowledge and skills, clients’ experiences are enhanced and veterinary … [Read more...]
RECOVER Initiative releases first-of-its-kind newborn resuscitation guidelines
The RECOVER Initiative recently released its ‘Newborn Resuscitation Guidelines for Puppies and Kittens.’ This first-of-its-kind resource for veterinary professionals addresses ways to help puppies and kittens survive during the critical post-birth period. In the guidelines, veterinary professionals can find everything from appropriate warming and drying techniques, positive … [Read more...]
4 consumer packaged goods giants dominate pet food market share across price points
The pet food segment is noisy as the continued evolution of pet owner preferences toward premium, science-backed and fresh offerings creates opportunities for emerging brands. Still, Nestlé, Mars, General Mills and Colgate-Palmolive dominate the pet food industry, having captured significant market share in nearly every category of pet food. These CPG companies outperform … [Read more...]
Ways to help cats and their caregivers prepare for veterinary visits
We continue our collaboration with Gina Fortunato and Kristin Wuhrman to share actionable insights from Catalyst Council research to support growth in the feline care segment. Thank you for reading the first edition posted September 23rd <Link>. Feline care is a current industry growth segment. However, barriers, especially stress and uncertainty, still suppress … [Read more...]
Competitive rivalries
Nursing a rivalry, whether it's with a colleague, friend or sibling can sound stressful, but the right kind of competition can be a powerful motivator and push us to be better. Source: AXIOS, September 10, 2025. Link. Warning - people may be more likely to be unethical or cutthroat when competing against a rival because they really want to win.” INSIGHTS: Constant … [Read more...]
Understanding the rise of career dysmorphia and what you can do about it
Career dysmorphia, a newly coined non-medical term, deals with one’s obsession with their career. This occurs when professionals struggle to realistically perceive the career progress they have made. The problem is worsened by the constant comparison of their situation with those around them, fueling self doubt. Source: The HR Digest, via AVMA SmartBrief, October 5, 2025. … [Read more...]
The science of defiance: Why we comply; plus how to resist successfully
Commentary This article is appropriate for this time in our industry and society. Dr. Sah’s perspectives are worth considering as we are asked to act, accept and adopt at what often seems like warp speed. Her framework is based on behavioral science research that defines ways to act intentionally, effectively and true to your values. She shares her simple, actionable guide … [Read more...]
IBPSA Fast Bites – October 6, 2025
Congratulations and welcome to the 25 new members who joined the association in Q3. Check the list for these members in your area and consider giving them a call. Two upcoming webinars available: How to Hold Staff Accountable with Love. Wednesday, October 15th at 1:00 p.m. Central Time <Register here> Tofu litter: A clean, green kennel solution. October 29, … [Read more...]
Foxtail woes. Be warned.
From mouth sores to infections, foxtails aren’t just annoying; they are painful for horses and pets. But the potential secondary problems are even worse. If a foxtail enters the skin, respiratory tract or urinary tract of a dog or cat, it can result in infection, inflammation or worse. Once inside, foxtails can migrate to different areas of an animal’s body. Note the … [Read more...]
If dogs designed tables
This is just too fun and ridiculous not to share. Source: 60secondstonapoli, Instagram, August 20, 2025. Link. [30 seconds] … [Read more...]
Best practices for safe, efficient body temperature in cats, dogs during veterinary procedures
Sharing current recommendations about warming and cooling in dogs and cats during anesthesia and surgery, Walter L. Brown, RVTg VTS (ECC), provides a review of updated methods from new research and techniques. He shares how to implement them correctly. Source: AAHA Trends, October 6, 2025. Link. Even with techniques and devices considered to be safe and efficient, frequent … [Read more...]
The best dog exercises for canine conditioning
Exercise is an important component to weight and obesity management. But rarely do we hear that exercising a dog is more than a walk around the block. Debby McMullen, CDBC, shares ways to physically condition dogs in this article. She advocates activities that cover cardio, stretching, balancing and strengthening to benefit a dog’s conditioning and stimulate them … [Read more...]