Women in the pet business, making the most of pay-per-click, promoting small business methods, preventing PTSD after pet loss, tax and insurance tips for small business, working smarter not harder and thoughts on the culture of <pet> domestication. Source: IBPSA Fast Bites, February 20, 2023. Link. … [Read more...]
6 best practices for workplace wellness
Steven Van Yoder says most employers are not following best practices when designing and implementing their workplace wellness efforts. He references the Workplace Wellness: Best Practices Study 2022 and a set of practices for designing and implementing effective employee wellness initiatives. <the study> findings are a first step in reframing workplace wellness from … [Read more...]
Make meetings places for honest conversations
Permission to say or ask anything is priceless, writes Paul Axtell. Giving permission and creating safety are two key areas that can increase freedom, candor and quality of conversation in your meetings. People don’t just want to belong, they want to contribute. Source: Harvard Business Review, April 11, 2019. Link. The quest for better meetings ultimately lies in leading … [Read more...]
Attitude, teamwork and resiliency
Characteristics of success for a world champion football team or in a multi-national, multi-billion-dollar corporation also apply to a two-doctor practice in South Carolina. Source: LinkedIn Pulse, February 8, 2023. Link. Whether we think we can or think we can’t, we’re right.” – Scott Bormann, Merck Animal Health INSIGHTS: Add in a culture of continual improvement and … [Read more...]
The Bridge Club honors veterinary medicine’s Brightest Minds
Partnering with Blue Buffalo and the Viticus Group, The Bridge Club gathered votes from more than 5,000 veterinary professionals who voted in three categories. The winners are: Game Changer award winner – Dr. Fred Wininger Industry Influencer award winner – Dr. Adam Christman Wellness Champion award winner – Dr. Ashley Bourgeois Source: The Bridge Club, February … [Read more...]
Time to review the 2019 AAHA Dental Care Guidelines for Dogs and Cats
As National Pet Dental Month promotions end, animal health pros need to consider how pet oral care and dentistry will be presented during exams and in client communications. The AAHA Dental Care Guidelines for Dogs and Cats were updated in 2019 to outline a comprehensive approach in improving the oral health and often, the quality of life of their canine and feline … [Read more...]
3 things to know about consumer spending
At NRF 2023: Retail’s Big Show, National Retail Federation’s Mark Mathews and Jonathan Silver, CEO, founder of Affinity Solutions, discussed the forces propelling consumers to spend. Affinity’s data showed consumers didn’t curtail discretionary spending as prices for everyday items increased. Instead, they drew on savings and other sources of income to continue spending at … [Read more...]
Storytelling and the narrative in good patient care
Commentary Context can rarely be achieved in a 10-minute exam . . . period. The ability of a veterinary professional to understand a patient’s health status and determine treatment options requires the story of an event or life circumstances. Engaging the pet owner to share their observations and specifics is an important element in what is described as narrative … [Read more...]
IDEXX study reveals opportunities to increase veterinary practice productivity
Addressing ongoing veterinary practice capacity constraints, the IDEXX study, “Finding the Time: Empowering Veterinary Teams to Get the Most Out of Every Day,” sheds light on staffing challenges throughout the veterinary industry. The study provides strategies for creating additional capacity and ultimately supporting a happier, healthier veterinary team <the study> … [Read more...]
Worth a Glance – February 16, 2023
Last week’s AHD Bulletin – Animal Health Digest Bulletin, February 9, 2023. Link. Most read post(s) from February 9th AHD Bulletin – Studying PRRS virus and its ability to percolate through soils. Link. Place keeper: 2023 Veterinary Conferences provided by Galaxy Vets. Link. Zoetis provides perspective, resources to transition OTC antimicrobials … [Read more...]
Merck Animal Health receives U.S. FDA approval of expanded indication for Banamine® Transdermal (flunixin transdermal solution)
Complimentary Commercial Content BANAMINE® TRANSDERMAL (flunixin transdermal solution) is now indicated for the control of pyrexia (fever) due to acute mastitis with a short milk withhold of 48 hours. This new indication means BANAMINE TRANSDERMAL can be given with confidence to lactating cows. With simple, pour-on administration along the animal’s back, it saves time and … [Read more...]
Effect of pre-appointment gabapentin in hyperthyroid cats
Handling or restraining noncompliant, fractious cats can make drawing blood and completing procedures difficult. Doing so may result in increased patient stress or anxiety and potential injuries for veterinary technicians and DVMs involved. Paul DeMars, DVM, DABVP, reviews a study on the use of gabapentin sharing these key pearls: Gabapentin (20 mg/kg PO) given to … [Read more...]
Dos and don’ts of recognition
Recognition, celebration and appreciation are powerful and renewable energy sources. It starts with valuing people. The next step is how you express this appreciation. Source: The Clemmer Group, January 18, 2023. Link. Don’t make promotions a reward. You’re creating the Peter Principle. INSIGHTS: Spend more time looking for what’s right and recognize that. … [Read more...]
Advocate for dental health all year long
Oral pet care is no longer merely a revenue booster. It has become an important consideration in the overall health of pets. Marshall Beggs, DVM, asserts the need to include a detailed update on pets’ dental health with owners during exams and to assist with decision making. Source: Veterinary Practice News, February 9, 2023. Link. Seeing is believing, and nothing motivates … [Read more...]
New test strip quickly detects periodontal disease before it is visible
Complimentary Commercial Content OraStripdxTM, a revolutionary rapid test, was launched at VMX 2023 by PDX BIOTECH LLC. It was created to detect active periodontal disease in dogs and cats with no anesthesia or sedation required. In peer-reviewed studies, OraStripdx was found to be significantly more effective than visual awake exams in detecting active periodontal disease. … [Read more...]
Cost of Care Wheel is now 24/7 digital resource
Sponsored Content The popular veterinary practice-based Cost of Care Wheel tool from the ASPCA® Pet Health Insurance program is now available in an enhanced client-based online version that can be used anytime, anywhere. Discussing money is never easy but it is important to educate and urge pet owners prepare for their pet’s future health care needs, and how to pay for … [Read more...]
Mental stimulation and enrichment matter to dogs
Mental stimulation is key help develop dogs’ cognitive behavior, as well as their overall well-being. Physical exercise is great and necessary for a dog, but it’s only half of the equation. It doesn’t take complex toys, it’s mostly just simple, fun games with its owner.” Source: AKC, January 2009. Link. Many of the hyperactivity and destruction problems dog owners struggle … [Read more...]
IBPSA Fast Bites – February 13, 2023
TODAY looks at the booming pet industry (video), results from 2023 Pet Care Innovation Prize for start-ups, challenges with supporting assistance animals, transitioning to franchise ownership, social media for small business, amplifying online marketing, avoiding burnout and more . . . Source: IBPSA FastBites, February 13, 2023. Link. INSIGHTS: The landing page for … [Read more...]
How stress affects your brain
During the recent Animalytix Market Update, Travis Meredith, DVM, MBA, Dip ACT, shared his perspectives on the challenges veterinary teams have with meeting demand while also playing catch-up from the client and pet services following the 2020 pandemic delays. What he outlined were the ongoing stressors and how hard it has been on practice personnel. Continuous stress can … [Read more...]
Report: Animal health industry experiencing highly competitive labor market
Scott Nolen highlights excerpts from a 2022 report shared by Brakke Consulting during its presentation, "2023 Animal Health Industry Overview" on January 16th at VMX. More than half the U.S. animal health industry saw a higher employee turnover rate in 2022 . . . whether it's a pharmaceutical company or a veterinary practice, all sectors of the industry are experiencing … [Read more...]
Rodent control as we know it may change
Upcoming legislation could cause agriculture to lose access to important products that control rodents throughout production, processing, storage and retail phases of food production. PORK editor Jennifer Shike shares the viewpoints of industry spokespersons. EPA’s proposal is quite wide-ranging, and it is going to impact any user of rodenticides and how rodenticides are … [Read more...]
What ChatGPT means for the future of work
Your work future could depend on how well you can talk to AI.” Last week we shared the announcement from AskVet about its Virtual Engagement and Relationship Agent (VERA) powered by AI, ChatGPT and AskVet’s database <Link>. The future of work is discussed in the articles below. Source: ebn, January 23, 2023. Link. You won't have to train people to do certain things … [Read more...]
Work is NOT your family
Suggesting your team is "like a family" breaks down necessary boundaries, creates burnout and can affect your health. Gloria Chan Packer gives guidance to deal with this paradigm which can be destructive to teams and individuals. . . . see if you can find 1 way to empower mental health for yourself or others this year . . . avoid the stigma of working with experts like … [Read more...]
Worth a Glance – February 9, 2023
Last week’s AHD Bulletin – Animal Health Digest Bulletin, February 2, 2023. Link. Most read post(s) from February 2nd AHD Bulletin – How to stop overthinking when you’re about to spiral. Link. Place keeper: 2023 Veterinary Conferences provided by Galaxy Vets. Link. Cow numbers drop to 61-year low Source: Farm Progress, February 6, … [Read more...]
Changing our 10,000-year relationship with cattle
Author and livestock enthusiast Roger Morgan-Grenville is working to rewrite the narrative on cows. After spending 14 months helping out on a farm and diving deep into bovine research, Roger Morgan-Grenville found “an industry at once scared for its future yet alive with ideas and experiments, not to mention good practices.” Morgan-Grenville’s research and experiences were … [Read more...]
Studying PRRS virus and its ability to percolate through soils
Swine researchers have noticed that PRRS pathogens tend to increase incidence in breeding farms between October and December which is concurrent with manure application is happening in the fields. It is known PRRS virus can be found in pig feces and pig barn manure pits. Whether the virus can survive and percolate in various soils became the objective of University of Minnesota … [Read more...]
Horse eye blink rates and stress
In the absence of stress, horses blink eight to nine times per minute. Eyelid twitches occur two times per minute, writes Nancy Loving, DVM. She shares key details from a study at the University of Guelph that monitored eye blinks and eyelid twitches as a non-invasive measure of stress in horses. Several stressors were used to test the validity of using blink rate as an … [Read more...]
AAFP’s Guideline Briefs, an exclusive member benefit
AAFP’s new Guideline Briefs have been designed to help convey the major tenets of past guidelines into a short, easy-to-read format that can be easily printed and posted in veterinary practices and help educate staff. Source: American Association of Feline Practitioners, Link. Future Guidelines Briefs will be included as supporting materials when new practice guidelines are … [Read more...]
Does spaying or neutering change behavior?
Don’t think spaying or neutering a dog is going to prevent or solve all his or her behaviors that you find problematic, writes Pat Miller, CBCC-KA, CPDT-KA. Statistical analysis of a huge population of spayed and neutered dogs says that it won’t. Source: Whole Dog Journal, September 21, 2022. Link. Also see: The latest on age and gonadectomy, AHD, March 29, 2022. … [Read more...]
Cost, convenience or optionality? Best fit or gold standard?
Kate Boatright, VMD, reviews new research that suggests that most pet owners do not want their options presented using a gold-standard first approach rather a judgement free spectrum of care set of options. Identifying whether the pet family’s primary concern is cost, convenience, or optionality is key to finding the “best fit." Source: AAHA NEWStat, February 6, 2023. Link. … [Read more...]