Like it or not, pet owners seen by veterinary teams two or three times per year may visit a pet retailer a dozen or more times per year. Petco is tapping into the inherent emotion of the pet sector to create a sense of shared experience and loyalty in its customers, shares Nicole Silberstein. She shares a look at Petco’s strategies, partner alignments, services roster and … [Read more...]
Tax benefits of hiring your children, plus IRS rules to follow
Family members are often seen in the Nat Geo Wild veterinary shows performing work for their veterinarian parents. Adding children to veterinary clinic staff can help build skills and ensure veterinarians get home at a decent time. These articles explain the tax benefits of hiring family members. Sources: Kiplinger, October 16, 2023. Link. Missouri Ruralist, … [Read more...]
Worth a Glance – February 22, 2024
Last week’s AHD Bulletin – Animal Health Digest Bulletin, February 15, 2024. Link. Most read post(s) from the February 15th AHD Bulletin – Creating a Fear Free toothbrushing experience for pets (video). Link. Consistent ordinary produces extraordinary. Link. Improve the narrative with diagnostic listening. Link. … [Read more...]
And, “What else?”
Most communication failures occur when we do not fully understand the customer’s point of view. Source: Vet Advantage, December 2022. Link. When the customer has answered your initial question, and you have acknowledged their response, the next appropriate follow-up question is, “And what else?” INSIGHT: Feeling nosey? Do not worry as leaders are naturally … [Read more...]
Yes to testing! Yes to preventatives!
Commentary Resources from the American Heartworm Society include a waiver for when a client declines heartworm testing and heartworm prevention. Use this AHS form to educate clients when they won't choose prevention. Whether they sign or not, it provides an opportunity to educate them on how important heartworm prevention really is! And it is a role most veterinary … [Read more...]
The Bridge Club, sponsors, contributors raise $10K for Veterinary Industry Giving Tree
A primary step in advancing veterinary medicine is to recognize and support those in the profession. Congratulations and THANK YOU to those who supported The Bridge Club’s VIGT effort during WVC! Source: The Bridge Club, February 20, 2024. Link. You can still donate $$ here <Link>. … [Read more...]
Free Free’s revitalizes branding and tools signaling a broadening focus
Conventioneers attending Viticus’ WVC were introduced to a fresh look and promising improvements to the Fear Free platforms. According to the company’s press release, providing the best physical and emotional care for animals remains the core objective, along with making certification and training easier for animal pros. Source: Fear Free, February 19, 2024. Link. Working … [Read more...]
Biosecurity is center of best farrow to finish performance
Biosecurity procedures that are implemented on-farm can be different in how they are performed but the principles remain the same. Success depends on ensuring biosecurity protocols are understood by everyone involved in the process. To be successful, multiple layers of protection should exist between the pigs and the outside. For sure, the best protocols don’t mean much without … [Read more...]
Managing for the profitable cow
Producers young and old need our help to optimize profitability. Sometimes the decisions seem counterintuitive but productive isn’t always profitable. Taliah Danzinger shares how the use of herd management data insights to monitor cow performance can help keep costs in check and maintain a profitable herd. Source: AgProud, January 25, 2024. Link. It is important to … [Read more...]
Winter break? Not for parasites or control plans.
Commercial Content Some ectoparasitism slows in winter but parasites such as mites and lice prefer the cooler time of the year, writes Elanco’s David L. Prentice, DVM, MS. He reviews the five primary types of mites in cattle, two types of lice and offers tips for effective mitigation and control of mange and lice. Source: Progressive Dairy, January 19, 2024. … [Read more...]
Mesenchymal stem cell use helps promote recovery in suspensory injuries
Includes Commercial Content Seventy one percent of racehorses treated with MSCs returned to racing following treatment and rehabilitation according to the results of a re prospective study. Source: Paulick Report, February 19, 2024. Link. INSIGHTS: Platelet-rich plasma is used in regenerative medicine and often in conjunction with stem cell treatments <Link>. AHD … [Read more...]
Over-the-counter meds & pet poisoning perils
Renee Schmid, DVM, DABVT, DABT, joins Drs Jenifer and Jason Chatfield to discuss the often-overlooked dangers of common over-the-counter medications for pets. Pain medications like Advil, Tylenol, Aleve and aspirin top Dr. Schmid’s list of OTC medications that frequently cause issues for pets. Schmid notes that a high number of calls they receive at the Pet Poison Helpline … [Read more...]
Banfield, more than half of dogs and cats have periodontal disease
Commentary Research from Banfield’s expansive, granular veterinary visit records has been invaluable as our industry seeks to understand the metrics of our business. Their recent report on oral health issues, while not surprising, quantifies the challenges veterinary teams face in making oral health an integral part of managing a pet's overall health and … [Read more...]
How to retain employees during the great resignation and beyond. Earn CE.
Sponsor Content Recruiting and hiring are critical in the veterinary job market but so is the retention of current employees. Qualified candidates are scarce and to many, often seem non-existent. Stacy Pursell, CPC/CERS, presents ideas to keep current staff on board which stabilizes veterinary clinics’ ability to provide consistent levels of service. Source: ASPCA® Pet … [Read more...]
Cost of Care tools drive interest, conversations at VMX and WVC 2024
Veterinarians and technicians kept ASPCA® Pet Health Insurance field representatives busy at their booth during VMX 2024 and WVC 2024. Booth personnel sought to learn about the interactions veterinary staff have with pet owners about pet insurance from attendees. Those discussions exposed the values an informative cost of care tool provides when sharing ways to plan for the … [Read more...]
IBPSA Fast Bites – February 19, 2024
Active shooter training, nose length may hint at dog longevity, progress on pet adoption crisis, year-round dental care, curing animals with cannabis, getting ready for falling interest rates, SEO, social media and more . . . Source: IBPSA Fast Bites, February 19, 2024. Link. … [Read more...]
8 restaurant etiquette tips, explained
Commentary Observing a 20-something professional in a business suit meeting in a restaurant with a manager-type recently, it was apparent the young person needed help with restaurant etiquette. Notable at that table were open-mouth chewing, speaking with a mouthful, what to do with a cell phone and using a napkin. Source: Interesting Facts. Link. INSIGHTS: Reviewing … [Read more...]
Being more open about mental health could be making us feel worse
Lucy Foulkes, PhD, says therapy speak and over-psychologizing could be doing more harm than good. She asserts “concept creep” and “therapy speak” are doing people a disservice when it comes to mental health. Source: New Scientist, September 19, 2023. Link. <mental health> labels may be helpful . . . but in other respects they can make people believe they have a … [Read more...]
Pathways to retention in veterinary medicine
We’re re-posting AAHA’s invitation to download a new whitepaper on retention in the veterinary industry. The days of more than 10 candidates for every job are gone. The veterinary profession cannot graduate its way out of this labor shortage: retention is a keystone. The Stay, Please survey and analyses, provide critical insight into what veterinary professionals … [Read more...]
Worth a Glance – February 15, 2024
Last week’s AHD Bulletin – Animal Health Digest Bulletin, February 8, 2024. Link. Most read post(s) from the February 8th AHD Bulletin – Groundhog day again? Link. Cunning chameleon, M. bovis contributes to calf pneumonia. Link. Paragon’s new digital dog grooming guide. Link. ============================================ Service and honor are the fabric … [Read more...]
“Enshittification” is coming for absolutely everything
Providing a somewhat off-color, but witty read, the person who coined the phrase "enshittification," offers a commentary. Cory Doctorow explains what his phrase describes, the circumstances in society that enabled it to happen and what can be done to reverse it. Source: Financial Times, February 7, 2024. Link. There are four constraints that prevent enshittification: … [Read more...]
IBPSA Fast Bites – February 12, 2024
Affiliate marketing, Y or N? outsourcing HR, market budgeting, outreach methods by SMS or email and more . . . Note the information about IBPSA’s new membership health insurance benefit. Source: IBPSA Fast Bites, February 12, 2024. Link. An interesting interview with Royal Canin’s Kira Best is included. … [Read more...]
Creating a Fear Free toothbrushing experience for pets (video)
Fear Free specialists explain how pet owners can make the often stressful task of brushing their pet’s teeth into something Fear Free. The video is good to repost on social media, link in newsletters or use in exam rooms. Source: Fear Free Pets, YouTube. Link. (3:25) Sponsored Content. Dental wipes make oral care easy and convenient. MAXI/GUARD® family of oral care … [Read more...]
CBD in Dr. Marty Beckers’ 2024 five tips for dogs
Marty Becker, DVM, shared five tips to do for dogs in 2024 in his recent newsletter. They include nutrition, parasite control, supplements, CBD and enrichment. Source: DrMartyBecker.com, February 13, 2024. Link. Related content: Long-term CBD for dogs caused few health problems, PETFOOD Industry, February 6, 2024. Link. … [Read more...]
Unique Bridge Club Veterinary Virtual Care events slated for February 28th
Listen as a group of industry insiders shares data from more than two million data points gathered from more than half a million virtual care interactions. The virtual conversations will cover country specific data and address: The need for virtual veterinary care: Tackling access concerns Global insights: Virtual veterinary care data from the US, Canada, Europe … [Read more...]
New WHO medically important antimicrobial list
Sharing what he considers a foundational document for considering how we use and monitor antimicrobial use in animals. Scott Weese, DVM, shares the who, what and why of the latest version of the WHO’s Medically Important Antimicrobial List. Source: Worms and Germs, February 13, 2024. Link. … [Read more...]
Respecting the cow: What does it cost you?
Ensuring comfort and calmness in the parlor can only benefit your bottom line, writes Jason Reid who frequently sees cows being negatively affected by the drive for speed and efficiency in dairy operations. He shares economic pros and cons of working too quickly and focusing on efficiencies that ignore what can put cows in a state of stress. Source: AgProud, January 25, … [Read more...]
USDA updates defense against African swine fever
AFS has not entered the U.S., thanks to continuing efforts to prevent this deadly swine disease from breaching the country’s borders. Yet, it is getting closer and shows no sign of stopping. This article gives an update on the global situation and USDA, APHIS and state efforts including surveillance of feral hogs. Source: National Hog Farmer, February 12, 2024. Link. The … [Read more...]
If we don’t keep reminding, educating – WHO will?
Commentary The American Heartworm Society routinely provides images like these on X, Instagram and Facebook. The amount of likes and forwards of the posts does not reflect the number of followers, nor how many animal health pros there are. It’s our job to keep the educational efforts of AHS in front of pet owners. The posts are easy to forward and can be copied for all … [Read more...]
Your money personality. Learning yours may help with spending habits
Talking about money benefits all of us. We all have pain points when it comes to our finances and different ways of dealing with them. When you know where you stand with your money, and why you behave in the way you do, it is easier to sort through what you need to do. Source: Refinery 29, February 7, 2024. Link. … [Read more...]