The Veterinary Virtual Care Association announced the installation of Jessica May, BVetMed, as president of its board of directors, succeeding founding Board Chair Mark Cushing. May has served on the VVCA board of directors since 2022, where she chaired the Association's European Committee. Source: VVCA, August 13, 2026. Link. May will work alongside the Board of Directors, … [Read more...]
Worth a Glance – August 20, 2026
Last week’s AHD Bulletin – Animal Health Digest Bulletin, August 13, 2026. Link. Most read posts from August 13th, 2026 AHD Bulletin – When pain changes more than movement. Link. Emotionally intelligent leaders consistently exhibit 6 habits. Link. Malone: AI in your hospital? Link. Role of the veterinary nurse in Spectrum of Care. Link. 7 ways … [Read more...]
Spectrum of care in veterinary medicine; the role of the veterinary nurse
Commentary Every week we see articles on various barriers to veterinary care. Cost consistently tops the list. Empowering veterinary professionals and clients to consider a wide range of treatment strategies, from technologically advanced and expensive to more traditional and less expensive, can potentially improve access to medical care all pets need, writes Julie Ann … [Read more...]
7 ways veterinary practices can boost their revenue
Commentary Smart systems, better communication and expanded services can all make a meaningful difference, say the authors of this article. Of the seven strategies listed, staff training, empowerment and client education are known to provide value for clients at points of service. Patient no-shows take on a different meaning in the current vet visit environment. Industry … [Read more...]
Retailers’ wish list for SUPERZOO 2026
Retailers are on the hunt to find products that will help them stand out in their local markets at SUPERZOO 2026. Animal health pros can get a sense of where retailers expect to capture pet owners’ OTC spend by reviewing the list, such as new supplements, interactive toys and unique durables. Source: Pets+, August 10, 2026. Link. … [Read more...]
AI in your hospital?
The manufacturers’ reps who call on you are using AI to better serve your hospital. Why aren’t you using it to better serve your customers? Brian Sullivan’s suggestion could also apply to pet service businesses or retailers. Source: Veterinary Advantage, June 2025. Link. AI can help you send a message that earns a response. Think of it as your ghostwriter – minus the … [Read more...]
Emotionally intelligent leaders consistently exhibit 6 habits that help them become exceptional
The workplace has changed. Success is no longer determined solely by what you know. It’s increasingly determined by how well you work with people, writes Marcel Schwantes. He shares six practices that consistently set emotionally intelligent employees and leaders apart. They pause before reacting They display authenticity They think before they speak They handle … [Read more...]
America’s future depends on the health of its animals
Animal health pros can use the positive messages from Holger Lehmann’s article. Each of us contributes to an infrastructure that sustains people, environments and the animals that support us. Take a minute from fighting the daily fires to appreciate all we do to provide the various segments of society. Lehmann writes, “When our agricultural and veterinary systems work as … [Read more...]
When pain changes more than movement
Maggie Creamer, PhD, is exploring if pain in dogs may reach beyond mobility, shaping how a dog thinks, learns, and experiences the world. A dog who seems less interested, struggles to learn something new or begins behaving differently may be communicating more than we realize, says Creamer. In people, chronic pain can interfere with everyday cognitive functioning and ability … [Read more...]
Review: What’s new in canine and feline vaccination guidelines
Commercial references Kaitlyn Krebs, DVM, MBA, and Kirsten White, DVM, break down the latest vaccine changes for canine and feline patients in this interview summary. Whether working in a clinic, grooming salon, shelter or boarding/daycare business, knowing vaccination guidelines can help keep narratives on the same page. Source: dvm360, August 3, 2026. Link. Updated … [Read more...]
A complete rabbit feeding guide
Knowing which foods are safe and which should be avoided can help prevent digestive problems and keep rabbits healthy for the long term. Clients who show rabbits at fairs may have new questions in the coming weeks. Erin Snyder’s article is good information to share. Key takeaways: Hay should make up the majority of a rabbit’s daily diet. Rabbits need plenty of fiber … [Read more...]
Raccoons bring more than bite risks
We’re sharing this article after seeing several social media posts of people feeding raccoons. Single sow raccoons that ate cat food and birdseed on porches are now bringing their litters and teaching them their opportunistic “trash panda” ways. Beyond the obvious bite risks, most people don’t realize that you do not need to touch a raccoon to be exposed to harmful diseases. … [Read more...]
Understanding livestock guardian dogs
Modern homesteads and small farms with livestock face mounting pressure from predators, including coyotes, feral dogs, bobcats, mountain lions and bears, as well as aerial threats. Livestock guardian dogs can serve as full-time protectors and reduce livestock losses and support nonlethal predator management. Unlike traditional pet dogs bred primarily for companionship, LGDs … [Read more...]
Brain games dogs (and DVMs) love
Physical exercise is important for canine health, but it only addresses part of what dogs need. Mental stimulation is just as important for behavioral health. Dan Seymour shares low-cost ways dog owners can mentally engage their dogs. Structured tug-o-war, hide ‘n seek and name that toy are examples dog owners can implement easily. Consider sharing this article in social … [Read more...]
Dogs know when we’re happy or sad, new study shows
Researchers have discovered canine brains may understand human emotions more than previously thought. With awake and unrestrained dogs in an MRI scanner, researchers showed the dogs pictures of human facial expressions. Scans showed the dogs made distinctions between fear and anger, and fear and sadness. This indicates dogs can tell the difference between nuanced emotions. … [Read more...]
Separation-related distress during back-to-school season
Back-to-school season can escalate separation-related distress for cats and dogs. As household routines shift this fall, veterinary teams are well-positioned to help clients recognize separation-related distress early and build a plan that supports both patient welfare and the human-animal bond. Taking pet owners through a thoughtful assessment can reveal opportunities to … [Read more...]
The biology behind why dogs and cats palatability preferences differ
Cats and dogs taste things differently. As pet food aisles expand, understanding these differences can help explain why pets prefer certain foods and treats. This helps manufacturers develop alternative proteins, therapeutic formulations and sustainable ingredients pets want. Tim Wall shares the biology of taste differences and what it means for the pet food industry and animal … [Read more...]
Antibiotic resistance threatens vision in pets and horses
Sight-threatening antibiotic-resistant eye infections are becoming a significant threat to vision in dogs, cats and horses, according to a review published in Veterinary Ophthalmology. Researchers examined global trends in antimicrobial resistance in animal eye infections and warn that multidrug-resistant bacteria are becoming more common in referral veterinary … [Read more...]
Let horses drink right after exercise but not too much
Anthony Blikslager, DVM, PhD, DACVS, says a sweaty, hardworking horse needs to be rehydrated quickly. However, he reminds us that horses have relatively small stomachs that only hold about two to three gallons, so once full, the stomach needs to empty before taking in any more water. Source: EQUUS, July 31, 2026. Link. Offer horses a drink at every possible opportunity but … [Read more...]
How much hay will a horse eat in 1 year?
An equine nutritionist shares how to calculate a horse’s annual hay intake and how to reduce hay waste to help stretch the costs through the year. Consider this article and topic for horse enthusiast groups and youth presentations or workshops. Source: The Horse, August 9, 2026. Link. When calculating how much hay to purchase, consider hay wastage during storage and feeding. … [Read more...]
Thermal image-based approach to mastitis detection in Holstein dairy cattle
A study examining whether thermal images taken from cow udders during milking can be used to detect mastitis using AI produced promising results. The consistent performance of the model to distinguish between healthy and mastitis-affected udders showed that it could reliably analyze new data without overfitting. These results indicate that thermal imaging combined with AI is … [Read more...]
Dry-off deserves a bigger role in transition cow management
Dry-off is more than the end of one lactation; it is the first major biological event of the next one. Challenging the dairy industry’s long-held assumptions, Erminio Trevisi, MS, PhD, asserts dry-off transition deserves the same attention as calving because it marks the first stage of the next transition period. Trevisi’s research findings suggest dry-off does not reset the … [Read more...]
Bull fertility begins long before puberty
Research over the past two decades suggests one of the most influential periods in a bull’s reproductive life occurs during the first few months after birth, when endocrine signals are programming how the testes will develop for the rest of the animal’s life. Andrea Bedford shares key takeaways from The Bovine Vet Podcast featuring John Kastelic, DVM, MS, PhD, who explained … [Read more...]
CLiK™ Extra (dicyclanil topical suspension) Wound Spray receives FDA Emergency Use Authorization
Elanco Animal Health Incorporated announced it has received Emergency Use Authorization from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for CLiK Extra (dicyclanil topical suspension) wound spray for application on or around wounds to prevent infestations of New World screwworm (Cochliomyia hominivorax) larvae (myiasis) in sheep, cattle, goats, swine and camelids, as well as captive … [Read more...]
Worth a Glance – August 13, 2026
Last week’s AHD Bulletin – Animal Health Digest Bulletin, August 6, 2026. Link. þ Most read posts from August 6th, 2026 AHD Bulletin – The 23-hour horse: What confinement costs. Link. 30 studies show vegan dog and cat food generally well digested. Link. Summer pinkeye: A frustrating foe on pasture. Link. Malone: It’s the journey, not the destination. … [Read more...]
6 pet owner personas help segment dog and cat food, treat marketing
Understanding why pet owners choose one product over another may be as important as developing the product itself, writes Tim Wall, summarizing information presented by Anderson Conejo at the July Petfood Forum in Mexico. Conejo presented six distinct consumer personas with different motivations, shopping habits and decision-making processes derived from the proprietary Loop … [Read more...]
Table Talk: A candid conversation about accreditation
Accreditation is one of the most important and likely misunderstood topics facing veterinary medicine today. In this edition of Table Talk, Catherine Haskins welcomes Dr. Jim Lloyd and Mark Cushing for an honest, thoughtful discussion about what accreditation is, why it's receiving so much attention and what it could mean for the future of veterinary education and … [Read more...]
It’s the journey, not the destination
The brain is wired to propel pursuit, not to celebrate arrival. It is a navigation system, not a destination. What René Rodriguez questions here is the premise underneath the ambition, the belief that the point of all this striving is to eventually feel good enough, long enough, to call it a life well-lived. Source: LinkedIn Pulse, June 30, 2026. Link. The goal of a life . … [Read more...]
Pressure test your priorities with 3 questions
The old decision-making frameworks assumed urgency was a leadership failure. It was not, writes Karen Walker. It is the condition today. Research shows that the quality of decisions degrades sharply under high-volume, high-pressure conditions. The question is whether you will prioritize consciously or reactively. Walker says to run priorities through three tests to make … [Read more...]
IBPSA Fast Bites – August 3, 2026
In this week’s FastBites: Legislative updates: New York, Massachusetts, Colorado OraStrip coming soon Crisis care reminders PLUS book offer: Hairy Situations by IBPSA member Sonya Wilson; one of the first books on crisis management and disaster planning specifically written for the pet care industry <Link>. New Communications Schedule Fast Bites … [Read more...]