When we dive deep into innovative customer service, Brian Sullivan underscores the necessity of breaking free from self-imposed limits. Source: Veterinary Advantage, June 2024. Link. Embrace what many might consider ‘stupid’ – creative, unconventional, and seemingly absurd strategies that could lead to breakthroughs in satisfying clients and establishing new … [Read more...]
Test your knowledge: Communicating choices under pressure
Complimentary Calm, confident guidance and listening is critical to addressing animal owner perceptions, questions and decisions. Because high stress can temporarily narrow a client’s ability to absorb information or weigh choices, it helps to acknowledge their emotions first. Doing so supports more thoughtful participation and lowers chances that decisions made under … [Read more...]
Four stoic rules to master your emotions at work
Stoicism is staying calm when life isn’t, focusing on what you can control, and not wasting energy on what you can’t, writes Thomas Oppong. He shares four Stoic teachings that can help make the most of the gap between feeling and action and become your best self at work. They are: You control the response Name the emotion before it names you See the obstacle as the … [Read more...]
IBPSA Fast Bites – April 27, 2026
Fast Bites will return as soon as website updates and repairs are corrected. The link below provides members with an alternate way to sign in to the member hub. Source: IBPSA, April 27, 2026. Link. NOTE: IBPSA is pausing the Annual Conference in 2026. However, the IBBY Award Celebration will be held during the inaugural Canis Conference in October. Register to attend … [Read more...]
CDC: Tick season off to a fast start
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issued an early advisory to the public this week to guard against ticks. The CDC’s tracking system shows that weekly rates of emergency room visits for tick bites are the highest for this time of year since 2017. The warning is a reminder to communicate with animal owners about the need to protect their animals and themselves … [Read more...]
Banking PTO, self-preservation in an era of job insecurity
New data highlights just how pervasive unused PTO has become, and how it could be a major red flag for costly employee well-being issues. Source: HR Executive, April 27, 2026. Link. Time off is becoming more and more about self-preservation or job insurance, says Michael Baynes. Employees are holding onto time off as a buffer to use for possible job searches, as well as … [Read more...]
An update on canine influenza virus vaccine options
Canine influenza virus vaccines TruCan Ultra by Elanco and Nobivac NXT by Merck, were introduced in 2025. Each of these elicit significant disease-sparing responses in experimentally infected dogs, as measured by reduction in CIV-induced pulmonary lesions, writes John Ellis DVM, PhD, DACVP, DACVM. His article focuses on new additions to the prophylactic armamentarium for CIV, … [Read more...]
NEW 2026 AAHA Diabetes Management Guidelines for Cats
For veterinary teams managing diabetic patients, this is a meaningful update. The LinkedIn post below shares a high-level look at how care is evolving. Source: AAHA, LinkedIn, April 27, 2026. Link. Full version of 2026 AAHA Diabetes Management Guidelines for Cats <Link>. Also see: Guidelines at a glance <Link>. … [Read more...]
Laser therapy for the veterinary cancer patient: a modern approach to supportive care
Lisa Miller, DVM, CCRT, and Chelsea Tripp, MS, DVM, DACVIM(O), share how laser therapy or photobiomodulation can be used in veterinary oncology to reduce treatment side effects and improve healing, pain control and quality of life in this informative article. Current evidence supports the safe and judicious use of photobiomodulation in cancer patients when dosing and tumor … [Read more...]
The 3 most common skin-compromising conditions in horses (audio)
Includes commercial links This article and recording reinforces the importance of staying alert to conditions that can compromise dermatological health. Moisture, sun and insects are the primary categories to monitor. The content is a good review for veterinary teams and provides a timely educational opportunity to share on social media or in newsletters. Source: EQUUS, … [Read more...]
Review: Timing BRD vaccination for better outcomes
BRD is considered to be a disease of management. Yet, despite more than four decades of research, programs and education, we’re still fighting to convince some producers that calves do better when receiving BRD vaccines and the resulting immunity before going through stressful events. Understanding the major benefits of vaccinating calves on the farm before they undergo the … [Read more...]
Nothing beats “eyes on animals” when monitoring for NWS
With New World screwworm getting closer to the U.S., experts are telling producers to quit worrying and take action. A panel of representatives from East Foundation, Florida Department of Agriculture, Texas Animal Health Commission, Texas and Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association and USDA-APHIS, recently shared ways to manage for NWS arrival from revamping breeding and … [Read more...]
Flesh eating Vibrio vulnificus found in Long Island Sound
In recent years, scientists have documented Vibrio sp. expanding into places that were once too cold to support the bacteria, pushing as far north along the U.S. East Coast as Maine and appearing with more prevalence in temperate seas around the world. A small number of Vibrio sp. can sicken and even kill people and pets. Vibrio is reportedly present in water bodies across … [Read more...]
Worth a Glance – April 30, 2026
Last week’s AHD Bulletin – Animal Health Digest Bulletin, April 23, 2026. Link. Miss something? Here’s a link to all of April 2026 AHD posts. Link. ========================== The hardest-working staff at the airport? These two good boys. Source: The Washington Post, April 26, 2026. Link. Five days a week, and sometimes weekends, the herding dogs punch the clock … [Read more...]
Done. Delegated. Deferred: Ending rumination key to professionals’ health
Rumination is relatively easy to manage in cows, but failed structures and processes create debilitating issues for veterinary professionals. Gershon L Alaluf, DVM, MBA, DBA (c), shares what not being able to turn off work does to veterinarians in this thought-filled article. It reminds one of the adage, “In the absence of strategy, chaos prevails.” Studies show rumination … [Read more...]
Speaking with conviction
There is a particular kind of silence that falls in a meeting room when a leader speaks with genuine conviction. Rene Rodriguez explains why conviction is more powerful than your recommendations. Source: LinkedIn, March 20, 2026. Link. Small adjustments heighten confident communication, writes Rene Rodriguez. He outlines these elements: Reframe your internal definition … [Read more...]
Nick Saban: Three lessons to keep you grounded (video)
Nick Saban shares habits to help you stay grounded, focused, and at peace, even when life gets tough. Source: LinkedIn, October 2025. Link. [1:01] … [Read more...]
17 polite habits most people secretly dislike
Plenty of etiquette rules have changed in the past decade. And sometimes, the behaviors you think are polite can backfire. This interesting read may help interactions with customers, clients, colleagues and family. Source: Reader’s Digest, September 29, 2024. Link. Image: Link. … [Read more...]
IBPSA Fast Bites – April 20, 2026
IBPSA is pausing the Annual Conference in 2026. However, the IBBY Award Celebration will be held during the inaugural Canis Conference in October. Register to attend <Link>. This week’s Fast Bites: BARK Rangers at National Parks. Link. Service dogs interpret the needs of their humans. Link. First-ever pet-centric private aviation terminal. Link. … [Read more...]
Two industries, one mission, mostly disconnected
There is something about pets that overrides conventional career logic, writes veterinary nutritionist Megan Sprinkle, DVM. She shares her observations from a trip to Global Pet Expo 2026 and contrasts parallel industries with a common customer commenting on the opportunity of shared purpose. Source: Animal Health News and Views, April 2026. Link. Diverse perspectives and … [Read more...]
CBD for cats is increasingly popular
This article looks at the feline CBD market, and how the brands that focus on feline-specific data are the most well-placed to build market entry barriers. Compared to CBD for dogs, the efficacy and safety data behind CBD for cats is very thin. Cats have a different metabolism than dogs making it hard for cat owners to find CBD supplements they can trust for pain or … [Read more...]
Chicken bone guidance for dogs and cats
Picnic and grilling season puts cats and dogs at more risk of being tempted by bones in garbage containers or tossed near park shelters. These two articles address bone safety for cats and dogs. Pet owners and their families need to understand the danger of feeding bones reinforced to avoid an incident. Consider sharing these on social media and in newsletters. Sources: … [Read more...]
Dog breed influences how dogs communicate with humans
New research looked at whether all dogs were equally sensitive to verbal instructions. It shows that it all depends on the breed. Cooperative breeds bred to rely on human guidance outperformed independent breeds in the research trials. Discussing obstensive communications*, the researchers say it’s easy to gain the attention of cooperative dogs but independent dogs may need … [Read more...]
Jackson transitions to barefoot
Jackson’s case continues to reinforce a central principle in chronic care: Successful outcomes are rarely the result of a single intervention but rather the thoughtful sequencing and integration of multiple approaches. Source: American Farrier’s Journal, April 15, 2026. Link. Following the previous phase of Jackson’s management, in which mechanical simplification was paired … [Read more...]
Laminitis risk assessment survey
This 8-question survey helps identify the likelihood a horse will develop laminitis. The survey has educational content accompanying each question and answer. Consider reviewing the survey as a tool, then communicate about it with horse owners. Individual results can be downloaded making them shareable and easy to discuss. Source: EQUUS, April 2026. Link. Horses who have … [Read more...]
Reminder: Cattle need fly relief NOW!
Horn flies, stable flies, house flies or horse flies must be controlled NOW, writes Mark Z. Johnson. It’s not rocket science as flies multiply rapidly and dead ones don’t reproduce. He reviews fly species and how to get after them before they take over. Source: BEEF, April 22, 2026. Link. The beef cattle industry loses millions of dollars each year due to external parasites. … [Read more...]
Rethink milk fever: The immune-calcium connection in transition cows
New research is helping reframe hypocalcemia through what is being called the calci-inflammatory network which is a model that links calcium dynamics directly to immune function during the transition period. It offers a more integrated way to understand milk fever; one that connects metabolism, inflammation and mineral dynamics. Calcium is not simply a nutrient to maintain but … [Read more...]
Livestock euthanasia delays caused by lack of recognition and failure to act
Euthanasia is often thought of as a single act, but in practice, it is a process shaped by how quickly problems are recognized, how clearly decisions are made and how reliably systems support follow-through. Farm systems do not consistently support acting at the right time, even when the need is recognized. Andrea Bedford describes the two-clock model which is especially … [Read more...]
The Bird Bath launches “Terminal,” a new veterinary market intelligence platform and practice database
The Bird Bath, an animal health information and insights provider, launched Terminal, a new veterinary market intelligence platform designed to help business-side stakeholders in veterinary medicine access, analyze and act on industry data in one place. To view Terminal and the subscription model click here <Link>. Source: PR Newswire, April 21, 2026. Link. The dataset … [Read more...]
Free guide to win visibility in AI search
AI tools like ChatGPT are changing how pet owners find veterinary care. Gain an edge in online visibility using LifeLearn’s free guide to optimize AI discovery: 5 Minutes to Winning Clients in the Age of AI Search. Source: LifeLearn Animal Health, April 21, 2026. Link. … [Read more...]