Citing insights from a rare online survey with 8,069 horse owner participants, David Rame, DVM, shares horse owner perceptions regarding equine veterinary care. The treatment received by the horse was overwhelmingly the most satisfying part of the veterinary visit (64.91 percent), followed by the veterinarian’s skill (50.16 percent), the veterinarian’s bedside manner (38.12 … [Read more...]
Stop talking and listen
The best way to sway others is not to tell them your answer, but to arrive at an answer — together. Listening is the key pathway to go from your idea to our idea. Listening reshapes the idea as needed, and ultimately creates the kind of shared ownership that is needed for any idea to become a new reality. Source: Harvard Business Review, February 6, 2018. To listen is to … [Read more...]
8 new trucks for 2018
“The 2018 lineup of trucks combine technology, style and plenty of muscle,” says Burt Rutherford, senior editor. Whether you use a truck to pull trailers or haul hay or just want a fancy ride that’s not a luxury sedan, there’s plenty for everyone in 2018. Source: Beef, February 2018. Check out the lineup of full size and heavy duty trucks for this year. We think you’ll … [Read more...]
50 best horse movies
It’s not always possible to go riding, so horse enthusiasts often watch horse movies. Many of these have captured imaginations and were catalysts for dreams. Source: Horse Network, 2014. See where your favorite movie(s) rank in this list. Here’s the top 5 of 50: War Horse Seabiscuit The Man from Snowy River Spirit: Stallion of the Cimarron National … [Read more...]
Men are afraid to mentor women
Adam Grant speaks to reality. In a survey just released by Lean In and SurveyMonkey, nearly half of male managers report being uncomfortable mentoring women, socializing with them, or working alone with them. In the wake of #MeToo, the number of men who are afraid to mentor women has tripled. Source: LinkedIn, February 6, 2018. Grant addresses what we can do about it … [Read more...]
Couples who work (podcast)
Two-career couples may be the modern norm, but they’re a relatively new one—a norm still under construction. In this episode of Women @ Work, three experts help paint a picture of what a truly supportive dual-career relationship looks like, and understand how to get relationships closer to that ideal. Source: Harvard Business Review, February 1, 2018. … [Read more...]
Sponsored Content: Colorado no longer requires import entry permit for GlobalVetLINK customers
KUDOS to GlobalVetLink (GVL) and the Colorado Department of Agriculture (CDA) – Animal Health Division for their successful collaboration to integrate record-keeping platforms to streamline paper trails and data entry for livestock entering Colorado. The integration migrates data from the GVL system directly into USAHERDS in real time. It allows for efficient and accurate … [Read more...]
Update your LinkedIn pages yearly
William Arruda, cofounder of CareerBlast, advises updating your LinkedIn page annually. December or now, his seven most important recommendations still apply: Update your photo. Revise your summary. Update your current experience entry. Add multimedia. Record accomplishments. Evaluate your groups. Make your contacts current. Source: Forbes, December … [Read more...]
Use criticism to your advantage
Honest feedback is one of the more valuable tools we have for self-improvement. Yet, it is a catch-22, according to Mel Robbins. Researchers from the University of Michigan and the Gottman Institute concluded that in order to keep a relationship or work team performing well, five or six positive interactions were needed for each criticism or negative interaction. Source: … [Read more...]
Survey shines light on pork industry’s biosecurity investment
A new survey study from Iowa State University (ISU) reveals the challenges of biosecure swine production and the variations of adoption of biosecure measures. It also highlights opportunities to help increase biosecurity measures. For animal health pros, the challenges in these results further underscore the themes of compliance across all species. Specifically, note the … [Read more...]
Horse personalities affect training and riding
Horses can display traits that qualify them as social, aloof, fearful and challenging. In addition to noting specific temperament traits that best match an individual horse, it is important to notice how loudly or quietly (aggressively or passively) the horse displays his personality. The more aggressive the personality traits are, the more they become a factor in the training … [Read more...]
Incorporating equine learning principles in the veterinary practice
To help veterinary team members reduce fear and problem behaviors while promoting positive veterinary care, Robin Foster, PhD, CAAB, CHBC, described behavior modification techniques based on principles of equine learning at the 2017 American Association of Equine Practitioners convention. Incorporating learning principles into equine practice all starts with addressing the … [Read more...]
Customer service is the new marketing
People have lost their faith in gimmicky and overstated mass marketing campaigns, shares Micah Solomon. Today, they place more stock in what they experience directly with your company, what their friends experience and what the people they listen to online experience. He says adding emotional transportation to your customer’s experience makes it marketing. Source: Forbes, … [Read more...]
AVMA, Merck collaborate on veterinarian mental health study
Veterinarians younger than 45 years old are more likely to experience serious psychological distress, according to a new survey conducted in collaboration with the American Veterinary Medical Association and Merck Animal Health. According to the Merck Animal Health Veterinary Wellbeing Study, younger veterinarians are more affected by the financial and emotional stresses of … [Read more...]
GlobalVetLINK, investment announcement to fuel regulatory compliance
GlobalVetLINK (GVL®), a leader in digital animal health compliance solutions, today announced a significant investment led by Lead Edge Capital. “GlobalVetLINK is the leader of the veterinary compliance space, and we see huge opportunities for their technology on an even broader scale,” Nimay Mehta, partner at Lead Edge Capital, said. The GVL platform connects animal health … [Read more...]
Up next on The Bridge Club
Join The Bridge Club virtual event, Mind full or mindful? Maintaining a peaceful presence in a hectic world: Expert: Jeff Thoren, DVM, PCC, BCC, VetPartners president and Gifted Leaders founder Topic: The practice of mindfulness. Dr. Thoren will share a very real look at challenges and benefits including suggestions to help take positive first steps. Date/Time: … [Read more...]
The Bridge Club, new platform for veterinary community (includes video)
Whether you meet over cards, a beverage or meal with industry colleagues, the conversations can be valued and cherished. Brenda Andresen and Catherine Haskins have developed The Bridge Club as the first video-based, professional community. The video conference platform promises to return to face-to-face discussions on topics relevant to veterinary professionals. Andresen and … [Read more...]
The best leaders are teachers
SuperBowl LII is in the books. Much of the discussion surrounding the results encompassed leadership and coaching legacies. Sydney Finkelstein has studied leadership in organizations for over a decade. He shares his surprise on the extent to which star managers emphasize ongoing, intensive one-on-one tutoring of their direct reports, either in person or virtually, in the course … [Read more...]
Ketamine: let’s review
Ketamine continues to be extensively used in the anesthetic management of horses, nonhuman primates and other non-domesticated species. However, its popularity as an anesthetic induction agent in dogs and cats continues to decline in the United States. Khursheed Mama, DVM, DACVAA, Colorado State University reviews ketamine with this outline: Pharmacokinetics and clinic … [Read more...]
How to launch and profit from a rewards program
As a veterinary practice and its client base grows, employees turn over and team member roles get fragmented. Identifying top clients and consistently rewarding and reinforcing their behavior becomes increasingly difficult. Practices want to be sure these loyal, trusting best clients feel appreciated and valued. This is where a loyalty rewards program can come into … [Read more...]
“Hey,” “Hello,” “Hi” and other ways to start emails
The salutations we use to start an email affects the response rate, according to a recent analysis of 300,000 emails. While omitting a salutation on follow-up replies seems to be increasingly common, you are best off including an opening, at least in your initial email. Source: Quartz, January 22, 2018. Perhaps we should move past the era of formal salutations, as … [Read more...]
When to feed the good hay
Cows require additional nutrients during the month before calving. Crude protein needs increase as they move closer to calving, so feeding the highest quality hay just ahead of that time is best. Amy Radunz, University of Wisconsin associate professor, discussed hay quality and quantity with Sara Brown for this article. She shared two main take-homes for producers and their … [Read more...]
New formulation of HyperRAB approved for rabies post-exposure prophylaxis
Grifols announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved a new higher potency formulation of HyperRAB (rabies immune globulin [human]) for rabies post-exposure prophylaxis. The new formulation has twice the potency (300 IU/mL) of currently available rabies immune globulin options. This allows for fewer injections, along with a significantly lower volume of the … [Read more...]
Get better at being jealous
Kristin Wong likely has classmates and friends who envy her successes as a writer, just as animal health pros may feel jealousy or envy as colleagues receive honors, awards or get jobs they aspire to. Animal health has always been competitive at the DVM level. Competition is evident in manufacturers, suppliers and distributors and is now accentuated by mergers, acquisitions and … [Read more...]
Lepto: important but potentially misleading
Suspected cases of leptospirosis deserve a comprehensive investigation, writes John Maday. Infertility issues are typically multi-factorial and may be difficult to diagnose, but the causes usually involve non-disease issues such as bull fertility, cow nutrition, genetics, toxins or others. Some producers can mistakenly assume they have a lepto problem and focus on that while … [Read more...]
Take stock of your inventory
Inventory is frequently the second-largest expense in veterinary practices. Now that year-end counts are completed and new promotions are launched, it is a good time to review Brian Conrad’s approach to getting inventory under control. He takes a pragmatic approach to eliminating duplications, applying usage reports and establishing parameters for stocking top items. He also is … [Read more...]
New parvovirus discovered within equine tetanus antitoxin
A recent report in the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Emerging Infectious Diseases journal detailed the discovery, genetic characterization and transmissibility of equine parvovirus-hepatitis (EqPV-H)—a new virus associated with equine serum hepatitis. EqPV-H was discovered when a horse in Nebraska developed clinical signs of liver failure and died approximately … [Read more...]
AAEP publishes updated infectious disease guidelines
Most of the changes in existing guidelines highlight updated sampling and control measures. The AAEP’s Infectious Disease Committee also amended suspected case guidelines for respiratory, neurologic and clostridial diarrhea to outline appropriate actions and steps for suspected cases, along with several resource documents for sampling and equine herpesvirus. Additionally, … [Read more...]
Animal Health Digest receives Bronze VETTY Award
Our AHD team is pleased to be recognized with a 2018 Bronze VETTY in the category of Digital Education Tool, B2B/Trade. The VETTYS are the first and only animal health marketing awards competition created by NAVC. The competition focuses on products and services available through veterinarians or that support the veterinary profession, including pharmaceuticals, pet foods, … [Read more...]
Logic’s Grammy performance triple calls to suicide prevention line
1-800-273-8255 is the National Suicide Prevention Line and the title of rapper Logic’s latest hit song. His powerful set of this tune during the January 28th Grammy Awards is credited with creating three times the normal call volume in the two hours following his performance. He, along with pop stars Allessia Cara and Khalid, who were featured in the performance, received … [Read more...]