Taking a pet to a dog park, groomer or boarding business can put dogs at risk in areas where canine flu outbreaks occur. Businesses that group dogs together are requiring owners to get their dogs vaccinated with a canine flu vaccine. Source: KOCO-TV via AVMA Animal Health SmartBrief, January 3, 2023. Link. INSIGHTS: Canine influenza vaccine is a lifestyle vaccine … [Read more...]
IBPSA Fast Bites – January 9, 2023
Gaining animal owner trust, 2023 in pet nutrition, transforming the pet care industry marketing, incorporating sustainable methods, Invoxia’s smart collar launch and more. . . Source: IBPSA Fast Bites, January 9, 2023. Link. … [Read more...]
The top 5 skills you need to get hired in 2023
Technical skills found on a résumé are no longer the most appealing traits that employers are seeking, writes Nicky Garcea. Instead, hiring managers are keen on identifying skills that build out other skills. She says hiring managers are the most impressed by these five behavioral skills: Curiosity Learning agility Growth mindset Critical analysis … [Read more...]
Successful manager traits
Becoming a successful manager is not easy; it requires their developing trust with their team members and continuous development to become better. Source: Inc, December 12, 2022. Link. When micromanagers do not let go and trust their team members to perform their work the employee experience is demoralizing. INSIGHT: Clear, concise and measurable expectations is a great … [Read more...]
VetWatch shows more dollars YOY, fewer pets, fewer invoices
VetWatch year end report for the ~3,000 reporting practices shows: For the month ending December 31, 2022, aggregate YTD practice revenues are at + 4.5 percent net growth versus YTD 2021 Period performance growth in unique patients (pets) is at (-1.9 percent) Unique client and invoice growth posted (-2.0 percent) and (-3.1 percent) growth respectively vs PYTD … [Read more...]
Employee retention replaces talent acquisition as top HR priority for 2023
Phil Albinus shares key findings from a Lattice report showing human resource teams will focus on retaining valuable talent this year. He notes employee engagement and the growing pay transparency laws as factors for consideration. Absent the ability to hire talent from the outside, HR teams are investing in the people they already have.” Source: Human Resource Executive, … [Read more...]
Telemedicine veterinarian identified as new job type in TIME
Features Commercial Content TIME named telemedicine veterinarian as one of five jobs that didn’t exist five years ago. Brian Evans, DVM, from Dutch contributed information about the opportunity of telemedicine in the veterinary setting. He shared telemedicine is never going to replace real-life care. It’s always going to be an adjunct to in-person care, because telemedicine … [Read more...]
Social media users more inclined to browse than post content
A recent Gallup survey reveals Americans use social media more as information sources to find out what is happening with others and to hear what others think than to share their own experiences and opinions. Sharing original content is an exception. Younger adults are far more active than older adults across almost all social media platforms. The one exception is Facebook, for … [Read more...]
AVMA House of Delegates rejects midlevel practitioner idea, favors support for CVTs
The AVMA House of Delegates’ Veterinary Information Forum addressed the topic, The veterinary healthcare team—Is there a need for a mid-level position? during the AVMA Veterinary Leadership Conference, January 5-7 in Chicago. The consensus from conversations was that a mid-level practitioner would not be a smart solution to workforce or access-to-care concerns. Rather, time … [Read more...]
Worth a Glance – January 5, 2022
Top five most read posts from December 2022 - Middle managers are exhausted. Top teams need to listen. Link. Find happiness at work instead of quiet quitting. Link. What a cat friendly veterinary experience looks like. Link. The top pet products of 2022. Link. Thank you! Link. ================================================= Quiz: Surgical … [Read more...]
AAHA releases new 2023 AAHA Senior Care Guidelines for dogs and cats
Noting 44 percent of the pet population is senior dogs and cats, the new senior care guidelines offer actionable strategies for adoption by veterinary teams. These can create senior-friendly environments that welcome senior pets, including modification of physical environments, prioritizing care to keep families together and taking different approaches to healthy and unhealthy … [Read more...]
For better health this year, keep it simple
The less time you are required to spend on healthy behaviors, the better. When we eliminate or reduce the struggle, we are far more likely to succeed. If something is fast, convenient and easy, we’ll keep doing it.” Source: The Washington Post, January 1, 2023. Link. Also see: When life is busy, focus on a few key habits, Harvard Business Review, May 2019. Link. Daily or … [Read more...]
Good hydration linked to healthy aging, better health
As we age our body’s regulation of fluid intake and thirst declines. As little as a two percent water deficit can produce fatigue, confusion or mood changes. Recent study results suggest that proper hydration may slow down aging and prolong a disease-free life. About half of people worldwide don’t meet recommendations for daily total water intake, which starts at six … [Read more...]
Limited-ingredient diets, beyond food allergies and sensitivities
Commercial references included The health benefits of limited-ingredient products go beyond pinpointing food allergies and sensitivities, writes Pamela Mills-Senn. She recommends pet specialty retailers strive to emphasize other benefits from limited-ingredient diets. Source: Pet Business, December 1, 2022. Link. Pet specialty retailers need to scrutinize the ingredients … [Read more...]
8 techniques to assertively keep others from interrupting you
Constant interrupting can lead to feeling dismissed, belittled and even rejected. You can be assertive. And still be nice.” Galina Hitching Source: Science of People. Link. Hitching shares five main reasons people keep interrupting you: They are just too excited Interrupting can show connection and relationship Sometimes interrupting is a power play It is a part … [Read more...]
Take a break
A well-timed and well-planned break can get us back on track — and boost productivity. Source: AXIOS, December 13, 2022. Link. Use breaks to boost your mental and physical health no matter what you're doing. INSIGHTS: Managers: encourage your people to take micro-breaks. … [Read more...]
Anthropomorphism, a threat to animal welfare
Commentary Anthropomorphism, giving human characteristics to a non-human entity, has long been a part of the human experience. In this article from Protect the Harvest, the authors discuss consequences from expecting an animal to emulate human traits. Just as we should not expect a human child to act like a dog, we should not expect a dog to act like a human child, as they … [Read more...]
Handling tardy clients
Opinion Staying on schedule is a multi-faceted challenge in all medical professions. Ben Spinks, MBA, CVPM, SPHR, addresses chronically late clients and ways to appeal to them. The written policy, grace period and early arrival for check-in are all good guidance. However, being on time and on schedule is also the responsibility of practices’ scheduling commitment. It can … [Read more...]
Worth a Glance – December 21, 2022
Last week’s most read posts – Happiness and meetings. Link. Last AHD Bulletin - Animal Health Digest Bulletin, December 15, 2022. Link. ==================================================================== U.S. warns of escalating ransomware attacks Source: Security Affairs, October 2022. Link. U.S. government agencies warned that the Daixin Team cybercrime … [Read more...]
Dairy cows need to lay down
If you notice very few cows lying down during a farm call, it may be time to discuss the importance of sternal recumbency and recumbent rumination. Rick Grant says in a cow’s perfect world over 80 percent of rumination should occur when the cow is lying down. Resting with the sternum, or breastbone, on the ground and a slight left-side preference is the cow’s optimal resting … [Read more...]
5 tips to winter cattle through a drought
How cattle owners in drought-affected regions graze and supplement cattle in dry spells have long-lasting economic and ecological effects. Noble Research Institute’s Ranch Manager Clark Roberts offers five tips to consider before making winter management decisions. 1) Consider culling 2) Know the quality and quantity of your forages 3) Know each animal’s demands 4) … [Read more...]
Prepare winter pigs to be summer hogs
Proactively thinking about pig management now will go a long way to having full-value hogs during warm weather and traditionally strong market periods, says Jordan Graham, DVM, MS. Pigs born from the late weeks of November through January have historically been the highest value weaned pigs and subsequent market hogs for the year, making how we manage health important to … [Read more...]
FDA approves revised Micotil 300 labeling
To decrease the risk of accidental human injection and other potential routes of exposure, Micotil 300 is now packaged inside a tamper-proof shroud. Access to the product requires a quick-connect device, which is provided with a tube-fed safety syringe by Elanco or its distributors. Safe use and handling instructions are attached to the shroud so that the user can review … [Read more...]
FDA releases 2021 report on antimicrobial use in livestock
The FDA instituted elements of veterinary oversight of antimicrobials in 2017. The recent 2021 Summary Report on Antimicrobials Sold or Distributed for Use in Food-Producing Animals shows that compared to 2015 (peak year of sales), 2021 sales decreased 38 percent. Sales in 2021 versus 2020 decreased by less than 1 percent between 2020 and 2021. Source: National Hog … [Read more...]
Nearly 100 U.S. horses suspected ill with botulism, 45 have died
Horse owners are being asked to not feed Top of the Rockies alfalfa cubes as U.S. Food and Drug Administration, along with state departments of agriculture in Colorado, Louisiana, New Mexico and Texas, continue to investigate the illness and deaths of horses suspected to have contracted botulism from it. Source: The Paulick Report, December 16, 2022. Link. … [Read more...]
Excess vitamin D may be to blame for feline tooth resorption
The resorption-vitamin connection is only a hypothesis about feline tooth resorption. There may be other environmental factors that prove to be the triggers. The best way to handle a resorbing tooth is to extract it as soon as it’s noticed.” Source: Tufts Catnip, November 14, 2022. Link. Also see: Search results for: tooth resorption, AHD. Link. There are three types of … [Read more...]
Some dogs need a flu shot
Dogs can get the flu just like we can, and it spreads easily like our own strains says Kaitlyn Tullio, LVT, who told the dodo canine flu is highly contagious. She shared information about viral transfer risks, symptoms and vaccination. . . . for dogs social with other dogs, up to date flu vaccination could help keep them healthy and safe, especially during flu … [Read more...]
Manuka honey and silver in animal wellness and wound care
Commercial Content included It is common for pet owners to use over-the-counter antibiotic creams when their pet has a skin infection or a wound which often leads to overuse of antimicrobials. Lucas Pantaleon, DVM, MS, DACVIM, MBA, shares ways medical-grade manuka honey and silver are used as a first line defense for treating skin microbiome issues. Source: Pet Age, … [Read more...]
Key ingredients to look for in dog food and treats
Nutritional problems occur most often when dogs are fed imbalanced homemade diets or certain human foods. Dog foods or homemade diets derived from a single food item are inadequate to an overall balanced diet Source: DVM 360, August 25, 2022. Link. The 6 basic nutrients needed for a canine diet include water, proteins, fats, carbohydrates, minerals, and vitamins.” – VCA … [Read more...]
Effective ways to treat pet behavior problems
Regardless of a pet’s age, the holidays have potential for behavior issues. Many of them can be avoided with consistent human behavior and proactive training. We’ve curated seven behavior articles from professional and lay sources that can be used to refresh knowledge of and approaches to behavior issues. The sudden onset of a new behavior or worsening of a previously … [Read more...]