Poor leadership manifests itself in many ways. Micromanagement is often intertwined with other unconscious or unacknowledged flaws, writes Jim Clemmer. You may think you're being helpful by frequently checking in with your team on their progress, but it can be perceived as micromanaging. Focus more on helping your team develop their skills instead of directing them to do tasks … [Read more...]
Body language
At parties, speaking with friends and at work meetings, some people are oblivious to real communication going on around them without words. Source: AXIOS, October 12, 2023. Link. Become a student of people in small group settings, be it card games, parties or work. I mean actively trying to spot human ticks, tells and patterns.” INSIGHTS: Almost 90 percent of in-person … [Read more...]
A perspective on telehealth from medical
As telehealth grows in animal health, the perspectives from human health implementations can provide perspective. Telehealth has proven its value and is clearly here to stay. However delivering healthcare digitally has many nuances and challenges, especially for medical coding professionals, writes Angela Comfort, MBA, RHIA, CDIP, CCS, CCS-P. Source: ICD10monitor, October … [Read more...]
Is payroll an expense or an investment in your business?
Sabrina Starling, PhD, asks an interesting question worth thoughtful consideration. She says “Payroll is an expense if team members are unaware of the importance of the business they work for being profitable and their ability to impact profitability. When they understand why it should matter to them that the business is profitable and how they can impact profit, payroll … [Read more...]
The customer experience is the sales experience
Twenty-five percent of the purchasing decision is determined by the overall sales experience, writes Scott K. Edinger citing a McKinsey study. He reminds us that frontline sales and customer-contact professionals are in a position to directly affect decisions about services and products. And, they may be the only one if the customer does not perceive value in the … [Read more...]
Not all NDAs are equal
Nondisclosure agreements are common between animal health pros and the companies with which they work. Peter H. Tanella, Esq, shares important perspectives on protecting critical information about a business or services from being shared to the business’ detriment. His recommendations to incorporate a nondisparagement clause are important considerations between employers and … [Read more...]
Worth a Glance – October 19, 2023
Last week’s AHD Bulletin – Animal Health Digest Bulletin, October 12, 2023. Link. Most read post(s) from the October 12th AHD Bulletin – Pet owners delay veterinary care . . . may spend $700M on Halloween. Link. Stop giving advice. Link. National Veterinary Technician Week turns 30 (video). Link. Place keeper: 2023 Veterinary Conferences provided by … [Read more...]
FDA approves first treatment for Giardia duodenalis in any animal species
Ayradia (metronidazole oral suspension) has been approved for the treatment of Giardia duodenalis infection in dogs. Ayradia is the first FDA-approved treatment for Giardia duodenalis for any animal species. <the> approval means there is an approved product for dogs that has known safety and effectiveness for this species and is manufactured to quality … [Read more...]
Yelloh, formerly Schwanns, to offer frozen pet food delivery
Carnivore Meat Company’s Vital Essentials brand partnership with Yelloh! will provide pet owners with options to buy high-quality, premium butcher-cut protein for their pets. Yelloh and Vital Essentials share the same commitment to superior food quality and safety standards. Source: Vital Essentials, October 16, 2023. Link. … [Read more...]
MWI Animal Health completes integration with Shepherd Veterinary Software
Industry News MWI Animal Health, part of Cencora (formerly AmerisourceBergen), today announced that Shepherd Veterinary Software, which offers a veterinary practice information management software, is now fully integrated with MWI’s AllyDVM client engagement platform. Shepherd users can now take advantage of AllyDVM’s expansive service offerings including robust client … [Read more...]
Covetrus® partnership with AVMA to provide scholarships for vet techs
Industry News Marking the 30th anniversary of Veterinary Technician Week, Covetrus is collaborating with the American Veterinary Medical Association and Pets Best to provide mentoring scholarships for 35 veterinary technicians through MentorVet Tech. Source: Covetrus®, October 16, 2023. Link. … [Read more...]
Merck Animal Health, novel canine oncology therapy now available to board-certified veterinary oncologists
Industry News Gilvetmab, which previously received conditional license approval for the treatment of dogs with mast cell tumors and for treatment of dogs with melanoma, is now available to board-certified veterinary oncologists across the United States. Gilvetmab is a caninized monoclonal antibody used to treat dogs with MCTs and melanomas. It is an ideal systemic … [Read more...]
Study: Grain-free diets had no negative impact on canine heart health, didn’t lead to DCM
With so many new pet diet approaches, researchers are investigating whether new or limited-ingredient diets increase specific health risks. A 7-month study of grain-free diets conducted by veterinarians and nutritionists found no dietary correlation to dilated cardiomyopathy. Source: Frontiers in Animal Science, October 6, 2023. Link. . . . we encourage our peers to perform … [Read more...]
AAFP releases 2023 Feline Palliative Care Guidelines
The guidelines provide a comprehensive summary of how to approach and support cats’ and caregivers’ needs. They emphasize the need for empathy, kindness and understanding during what is a challenging time for cats and their human caregivers. Source: Today’s Veterinary Business, October 16, 2023. Link. The guidelines resulted from collaboration between the American … [Read more...]
Catster, Dogster media brands acquired by Pangolia
Pangolia, a digital media and e-commerce startup, has announced an all-cash acquisition of the Catster and Dogster brands from Belvoir Media Group. Pangolia is a digital-first content producer, which allows them to keep costs low and talk to pet families in places they wouldn't otherwise be able to reach. Acquisitions like this mean beloved brands can be sustainable for … [Read more...]
IBPSA Fast Bites – October 16, 2023
FLOW conference post-mortem, social media bundle, best places to work in pet industry, small business tips, pet care more stressful than parenting, MARS to help with veterinary shortage, scaling small business and more . . . Source: IBPSA Fast Bites, October 16, 2023. Link. … [Read more...]
The benefits of continuous education for career advancement: A perspective for adults
Updating skills and knowledge is a key factor noted by human resource leaders, especially as technology advancements are imbedded in how business is done. Investing in continuous education is investing in yourself. In a rapidly changing work environment, your commitment to learning can be your most valuable asset, providing benefits that resonate throughout your career and … [Read more...]
Teens spend average of 4.8 hours on social media per day
Social media scrolling is a growing problem for all ages but especially teens. The need to put the phones down is also consistent with Forbes’ article on time blindness <Link>. Gallup’s data is consistent with the literature on digital addiction. It shows that teens who spend more time on social media rate themselves as being less conscientious. A second, upcoming part … [Read more...]
Signs of time blindness and how to cope with it
Some people have difficulties accurately perceiving passing time. Those challenged with regulating their internal clock may have what psychologists refer to as time blindness. Although usually a common indicator of ADHD, studies show that our perception of time is closely related to our well-being and emotional states, and changes in these can influence how we perceive how time … [Read more...]
Get to the point
The most popular and fastest-growing type of meeting is the brief and efficient 15-minute block. Source: AXIOS, October 2023. Link. 90 percent of people admit to daydreaming during long meetings, and 75 percent say they are doing other work.” – Harvard Business Review INSIGHTS: Be ruthless with starting and finishing on time. … [Read more...]
Employers say they value their own older workers, but overlook older applicants
There is plenty of evidence that workers aged 45 years old and older can thrive in the workplace. Employers can fill needed roles and boost organizational performance by changing hiring practices to embrace candidates of all ages. But hiring managers seem to ignore how well older workers perform, learn and stay with a company*. . . . about 89 percent of employers said their … [Read more...]
Veterinary forensics comes of age; veterinarians not prepared to handle animal abuse
Florida International University's master’s degree program in veterinary forensic science investigation is the second degree program of its type. Veterinary forensics deploys veterinary medicine to investigate possible crimes against animals, such as abuse and neglect. Animal violence is often linked to domestic violence and abuse. VIN’s two-part series on veterinary … [Read more...]
3 takeaways from the Veterinary Innovation Summit
The annual Veterinary Innovation Summit, organized by NAVC, took place October 9th to 11th in Kansas City, Missouri. Animal Health Digest asked industry veteran Brendan Howard to attend on our behalf and to share takeaways from the presentations. We’re all in the same boat. Excited and wondering. Fearful and anxious. Exhausted at the speed of change and uncomfortable with the … [Read more...]
National Veterinary Technician Week turns 30 (video)
National Veterinary Technician Week is October 15 through 21 and it’s the 30th anniversary of the event. All next week, veterinary technicians will be celebrated for their continued contribution to veterinary medicine and the veterinary team. Vicky Ograin, MBA, RVT, VTS, shares the origins and meaning of vet tech week and this year’s theme, Pearls of Wisdom … [Read more...]
Stop giving advice
Have you ever given someone the best advice and they completely ignored it, or they got defensive and angry with you? Advice requires permission . . . and aggressive listening.” – Suzie Price Source: LinkedIn Pulse, September 18, 2023. Link. Through the art of asking questions, you develop and strengthen the relationship. INSIGHTS: Seek first to understand. … [Read more...]
Danish entry systems: What steps are we skipping?
In a recent study, Abby E Schuft, PhD, and her team evaluated three educational methods to teach protocols for a biosecure barn entry and exit. They evaluated the number of errors, length of time to complete and how the education method affected compliance over time. Biosecurity takes constant training, continual reminding and frequent auditing to reduce errors. Source: … [Read more...]
Bird flu is back among commercial poultry flocks in U.S.
We shared concerns about the potential for highly pathogenic avian influenza infections to return as this fall’s bird migration began <Link>. It appears HPAI took a summer break but has returned to commercial turkey flocks in South Dakota and Utah. Fears are mounting that HPAI may possibly become a regular seasonal event. The virus may be present in wild birds and … [Read more...]
Is CBD a better option than NSAIDs?
Narda G. Robinson, DO, DVM, MS, CRPM, FAAMA, presents evidence that indicates CBD is safer and demonstrates a more diverse spectrum of beneficial mechanisms than some of its pharmaceutical counterparts. In short, dogs and cats do not die from CBD and generally do not develop other common side effects that can happen with NSAIDs and corticosteroids. Source: Veterinary … [Read more...]
Chewy’s PetMD launches symptom checker
Complimentary Commercial Content Chewy launched Symptom Checker, a free digital tool that helps pet parents get answers to some of the most common questions related to pet health symptoms. The goal is two-fold: deliver expert veterinary advice simply and quickly, alleviating pet parents’ stress and panic during times of need help better educate pet parents so they … [Read more...]
Zoetis innovations to improve canine OA, ease of administration of pruritus treatment
Complimentary Commercial Content Zoetis has announced the recent U.S. commercial launches of Librela™ (bedinvetmab injection) and Apoquel® Chewable (oclacitinib chewable tablet). The products are the first and only FDA-approved treatment formulations in their respective categories and address individualized care and health needs of dogs with specific and diverse … [Read more...]