Rising competition from online and non-specialty retailers companies on the 2023 list added more than 200 stores to top retail competitors. Store conversions and acquisitions along with organic growth helped them avoid contraction and optimize economies of scale. NOTE: Consider reading the comments from four top growth companies who share their experiences in managing for … [Read more...]
Fire doesn’t discriminate. Neither do these vets.
Dr. Deb Zoran, a veterinarian and leader of Texas A&M’s Veterinary Emergency Team, faces long days and short nights as the Texas wildfires rage on. Originally on a narrow mission to aid the search dog sent with A&M’s search and rescue team, Shelton and other volunteers heeded officials’ pleas for help from more veterinarians. They’re still there. The veterinarians … [Read more...]
Home delivery, autoship important offerings for veterinary clients
ICYMI. Ordering online is rapidly becoming an expectation. Already, convenience is table stakes. Malinda Larkin shares takeaways from survey results presented by Brakke Consulting. The survey looked at consumer preferences and behaviors in pet medicine purchasing, customer satisfaction with different channels and service expectations, and the competitive landscape versus major … [Read more...]
Decontamination guidelines for dogs developed by Texas A&M VET
A newly developed set of protocols from the Texas A&M School of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences’ Veterinary Emergency Team aims to educate disaster management teams across the country about the kinds and quantities of resources needed to clean external contaminants, such as toxic chemicals, off dogs. Providing information about other common pet species … [Read more...]
Worth a Glance – February 29, 2024
Last week’s AHD Bulletin – Animal Health Digest Bulletin, February 22, 2024. Link. Most read post(s) from the February 22nd AHD Bulletin – And, “What else?” Link. 8 restaurant etiquette tips, explained. Link. Skipping the dog walk IS a big deal. Link. ============================================ A major solar storm could be devastating to our … [Read more...]
Employee Appreciation Day is March 1st
Employee appreciation is directly tied to job satisfaction. Various sources indicate more than one-third of employees say personal recognition would encourage them to be more productive. The articles here share various ideas to celebrate employees. It is crucial to avoid giving the impression that your expressions of employee appreciation are merely perfunctory gestures … [Read more...]
TSCRA urges donations amid devastating Texas and Oklahoma wildfires
As wildfires continue to rage in the Texas panhandle and Western Oklahoma, the Texas & Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association is urging donors to give to the TSCRA Disaster Relief Fund. Donations will to aid victims of the ongoing natural disasters. The TSCRA Disaster Relief Fund is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that provides support for cattle raisers in Texas and Oklahoma who … [Read more...]
Are veterinarians obligated to discuss pet insurance? (podcast)
Alyssa Watson, DVM, and Beth Molleson, DVM, debate the role of the veterinary team when it comes to pet owner education and discuss if pet insurance is an obligation. Their consensus: Pet insurance is not an obligation. Educating pet owners on the lifetime costs of veterinary pet care is important. Source: Veterinary Breakroom, Clinician’s Brief. February 2024. … [Read more...]
The latest from GARC
The work continues to eliminate human deaths from dog rabies by 2030. Learn about GARC's surveillance tools, advocacy and the latest free, downloadable resources on GARC's website. Source: Rabid Bytes, GARC, February 2024. Link. GARC's mission is to prevent human deaths from dog-mediated rabies and relieve the burden of rabies in other animal populations, especially dogs. … [Read more...]
Veterinarians launch pet treats and chews certification program
In an industry where pet owners seek the best for their furry companions, VetEvaluated aims to be a trusted authority, offering a rigorous certification process that involves expert evaluation by experienced veterinarians. Current certification is available for consumable pet treats and chews at this time. VetEvaluated Certification assessments cover: Digestibility … [Read more...]
Webinar to address cutaneous adverse food reactions
AAHA and Hills will offer a free CE webinar to update veterinary teams confronting skin issues from 6:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. MDT, March 14, 2024. Presenter Sara Hoff, DVM, MPH, Dip. ACVD, expects to cover novel proteins plus: Latest data on CAFR prevalence and risk factors Advanced diagnostic techniques for accurate identification Proven strategies for managing … [Read more...]
Veterinary Assistant, Veterinary Assistant Scribe programs launched to enhance pet care
The American Healthcare Documentation Professionals Group introduces the Veterinary Assistant and Veterinary Assistant Scribe online training programs. They are designed prepare learners for careers in veterinary medicine. Participants will gain insights about the care of animals as well as how to recognize signs of illness and disease in a variety of animals from common pets … [Read more...]
Reminder: Watch Mella Pet Care on Shark Tank Friday, March 1st
Mella Pet Care’s pitch to the sharks will air on @sharktankabc on Friday, March 1st. Tune in to @abcnetwork at 8:00 p.m. Eastern/7:00 p.m. Central to see if any sharks bite. Source: Mella Pet Care, Facebook. Link. … [Read more...]
The various ways birds blink
Birds have various ways of blinking depending on the species and the circumstances. Like us, they have upper and lower eyelids, though the upper lid only moves down in parrots, owls, pigeons, and a few others. The lower lid rises with drowsiness and when the bird is preening. Birds blink when they turn their heads using a ‘third eyelid’, the nictitating membrane that moves … [Read more...]
USDA chief veterinarian says alert remains high for HPAI cases
While the number of wild bird detections are lower, they are still happening, “so as long as the migration comes back… I think we should be prepared for that as we move into the spring.” Source: Feedstuffs, February 27, 2024. Link. … [Read more...]
The role of technology in reducing stress for cats in veterinary medicine
Innovative solutions are emerging to minimize stress and create a more comfortable experience for cats during veterinary visits writes Craig Wallace. He shares the potential of incorporating telemedicine, AI, calming interventions, and other innovative solutions. With these, veterinary professionals can create a more compassionate and stress-free environment for cats, … [Read more...]
Chatfields and Joseph J. Wakshlag, DVM, PhD, share updates on using hemp, CBD for pets
Commercial Content included It seems everyone is talking about hemp and CBD for pets and there are several considerations for veterinarians. Studies are showing CBD and CBDA can be helpful in certain conditions common to pets and potentially with livestock. Topics include pain, stress, anxiety, inflammation, itching plus dosing and quality issues with so many sources of … [Read more...]
Traceability divides U.S. cattle producers
Traceability conversations continue to dominate livestock policy. Electronic identification is being promoted by the USDA currently in the middle of a rulemaking process. The battle over data ownership, disease preparedness, technology, cattle inventories, big-brother oversight and more has been present for more than two decades. Betty Haynes shares excerpts of discussions from … [Read more...]
Social studies for dairy calves
The best way to house dairy calves has been a recurring discussion topic over the last decade or so among dairy producers. With industry standards changing faster than ever, the idea of paired housing has been getting more consideration. Not a new topic, a post from 2016 referenced a Journal of Dairy Science study on paired housing benefits <Link>. In this article, … [Read more...]
U.S. dairy farms progressing on most environmental metrics
The dairy industry's carbon intensity has improved since 1971, USDA research says, but water use, a key metric, has worsened. It's not clear exactly why the dairy industry's use of water has increased by 42 percent, or 28 percent per unit of milk produced. Source: Feed Strategy, February 22, 2024. Link. The environmental gains are a result of dramatic improvements in … [Read more...]
Help producers transition to beef on dairy with these tips
CattleFax predicts U.S. beef-on-dairy cattle numbers will reach between 4 million and 5 million head as early as 2026. That translates to roughly 15 percent of the cattle harvested annually. Mitch Hockett, PhD, says veterinarians can help producers establish the value of beef-on-dairy calves and continue that long-term in the industry. Hockett outlined four key steps and … [Read more...]
Shifting feeding time may influence calving labor
The time of day when females are fed can influence when they go into labor. Writing about elements of calving, Kacie McCarthy, PhD, said producers can shift their feeding time to between 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m., two to three weeks before calving and females will give birth more often during the daytime. She writes several studies have shown this can shift calving time to between … [Read more...]
10 gallons a day to keep a horse hydrated
Regardless of the season, the average adult horse should drink about one gallon of water for every 100 pounds of body weight; a 1,000-pound horse would need 10 gallons of water each day. Horses prefer to drink water that is between 45° F and 65° F will drink the most water within three hours of consuming a meal. Horses may struggle to get enough water during colder … [Read more...]
Seeing more pets with marijuana/THC intoxication?
The legalization of marijuana in 41 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico for medicinal or recreational use has given more pets access to THC-containing products. It can happen to any pet owner as we referenced in a recent post <Link>. Tina Wismer DVM, MS, DABVT, DABT, shares current information to help veterinary teams deal with THC intoxication … [Read more...]
Employee retention strategies for younger generations
Keeping employees engaged, productive and loyal is a challenge that’s becoming more difficult, particularly as more members of Gen-Z join the workplace. Dubbed as the "restless generation," Gen Z research shows as much as 50 percent are disengaged from their jobs, 40 percent want to leave within two years and 35 percent even say they would leave their current job without having … [Read more...]
IBPSA Fast Bites – February 26, 2024
Best pet care apps, NerdWallet survey shows pet insurance in 24 percent of pet owners, elements of scaling in small business, American Healthcare Documentation Professionals Group introduces two new online training programs for veterinary assistants, franchise or independent choices and more . . . Source: IBPSA Fast Bites, February 26, 2024. Link. … [Read more...]
Benefits of changing how we think about stress
Stress has been made into a public health enemy but research suggests that stress may only be bad for you if you believe that to be the case. Psychologist Kelly McGonigal urges us make stress a friend in this TED talk. Source: TED Global 2013, YouTube, June 2013. Link. (14:16) INSIGHTS: Consider this video for a team meeting. … [Read more...]
What really matters? Meaning beyond the noise.
We noticed a Facebook post referencing the philosophy of Charles Shultz, the creator of the Peanuts comic strip. In today’s world so caught up in celebrating and chasing the superficial, it’s important to remember what truly matters . . . the people who show up, who listen and who care. They make life meaningful. We’ve shared the link to the Facebook post and a link to the … [Read more...]
Managing online reviews
If there are positive online reviews, they should be followed by an acknowledgment from the hospital thanking that customer within a week. Source: Vet Advantage, February 2022. Link. If there are negative reviews, they should also receive a response, but within 48 hours. INSIGHTS: The real objective is not to prove you are right, but rather to minimize the … [Read more...]
Partnerships advancing Petco’s transition from transaction to engagement focus
Like it or not, pet owners seen by veterinary teams two or three times per year may visit a pet retailer a dozen or more times per year. Petco is tapping into the inherent emotion of the pet sector to create a sense of shared experience and loyalty in its customers, shares Nicole Silberstein. She shares a look at Petco’s strategies, partner alignments, services roster and … [Read more...]