Stem cell therapy can help a horse's body repair diseased or damaged tissues. Veterinarians have come far in understanding and using regenerative medicine. Yet, they have more to learn about how and when to use it. Source: The Horse, July 2016. (article summary only). The full article includes explanatory graphics. Regenerative medicine has been referred to by many people … [Read more...]
Sponsored Content – Add mosquito control to heartworm protocol
In this special insert, veterinarians and parasite researchers discuss heartworm disease and a new multimodal approach that may help solve it. The research and roundtable were sponsored by CEVA, a supporting sponsor of Animal Health Digest. Source: DVM 360, July 2016. We still have to administer the preventative – that is foundational and critical – but we can also reduce … [Read more...]
Journal of Dairy Science
The amount of research going on in animal health at any given point in time is amazing. It points to how much work goes into keeping animals healthy which creates a safer food supply chain. For your convenience, we have linked to the table of contents from the latest issue of the Journal of Dairy Science. Source: Journal of Dairy Science, August 2016, Volume 99, Issue 8, … [Read more...]
Expect success
Strategy, skill and execution are important factors in achieving success in most businesses. However, too often the mental side of the challenge is overlooked in leading your team to the ultimate goal and success. There are some things you can do to help your business team prepare mentally to reach and exceed expectations. Source: Harvard Business Review June 9, … [Read more...]
Felines are aging healthfully
Cats now live longer than ever before, with one-fifth of U.S. cats being at least 11 years old. Many live beyond 15 years old and even into their 20s. Veterinarians should consider the normal, physiological changes that occur with age and the appropriate monitoring of them. Source: Journal of Feline Medicine and Surgery, July 2016. This issue is dedicated to the issues of … [Read more...]
Practice management hacks: Advice to a new manager on standards of care
The Veterinary Hospital Managers Association (VHMA) shared exclusive data with Veterinary Economics which shares a series of practice management "hacks" or best-kept secrets from VHMA members. Source: Veterinary Economics, July 7, 2016. VHMA members spill their best kept secrets for better patient care. Treat your technician staff well and value their input. Tell them … [Read more...]
Backyard Chickens 101: A quick guide for small-animal veterinarians
Backyard poultry raising is increasing in suburban and urban areas. As a result, veterinarians may be asked to provide veterinary care for chickens. This may present challenges for those who have rarely worked with them or have not dealt with them since veterinary school. Source: AVMA, July 13, 2016. (via AVMA SMARTBrief). To help veterinarians in these situations, the AVMA … [Read more...]
NAVTA, Merial expand CE for vet technicians
In addition to heartworm disease, the Merial Tech Champions program now includes intestinal parasites, dental health and flea/tick CE courses. These additional courses will debut at the upcoming AVMA convention in San Antonio, August 5 -9 , 2016. Source: NAVTA, July 14, 2016. CE course attendees can expect informative and thought-provoking content from some of the … [Read more...]
Create a veterinary office culture you’ll love
Steve Pearson, DVM, reminds us of the challenges of hiring new persons into the mix of current staff and cultures. While this information focuses on veterinary teams, the thinking can be applied to other teams, as well. He provides questions for the employer and candidate to consider during the hiring process. Source: Veterinary Practice News, July 7, 2016. It’s not enough … [Read more...]
What good listeners actually do
Researchers dug into what makes a great listener and grouped the qualities identified into four main findings along with identifying six levels of listening: Good listening is much more than being silent while the other person talks. Good listening included interactions that build a person’s self-esteem. Good listening was seen as a cooperative conversation. Good … [Read more...]
JAVMA contents
For your convenience, we have linked to the table of contents in the latest issues of the Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association. Source: JAVMA, July 1, 2016. … [Read more...]
What to do when you don’t know what to do
Michael Hyatt offers three steps to follow when you're tired of feeling uncertain. Forget about the ultimate outcome. Focus on the next right action. Do something now! Source: MichaelHyatt.com, via AVMA SmartBrief, July 11, 2016. Feelings of uncertainty can quickly transform into a sense of being overwhelmed, Hyatt writes. In those situations, try to forget the … [Read more...]
AAHA releases 2016 Oncology Guidelines for Dogs and Cats
It is difficult for practitioners to keep up with new research, trend, and practices related to oncology. There is new resource to help. AAHA released its 2016 Oncology Guidelines for Dogs and Cats (“Guidelines”), a go-to resource general practitioners can use with oncology patients. The Guidelines are broken down into 14 areas. Sections include basic diagnostic tests and … [Read more...]
AVMA launches clinical studies database
The AVMA has launched an animal health studies database as a resource for researchers looking for animals animals to use in clinical studies and for veterinarians and owners exploring treatment options. Source: AVMA SmartBrief, July 8, 2016. Veterinarians and animal owners may search the site to find studies that might be relevant to their patient or pet, either for a … [Read more...]
Control impostor syndrome
Many of us fear being discovered as a poser when we move away from our comfort zones. We fear that we’re not worthy and that that we aren’t qualified to do whatever we aim to do. It’s a fear that strikes many of us: impostor syndrome. Source: Harvard Business Review, July 7, 2016. To overcome these feelings of inadequacy consider these tips: Recognize the benefits of … [Read more...]
Communication and Leadership
Most breakdowns in communication within a business initially seem like success to the communicator. They get their perception of the facts and come up with solutions that make sense to them. The problem is they didn’t get the other person’s perception of the facts. Thus solutions are not sensible to the person receiving the communication. Source: Finance Global Info, May 29, … [Read more...]
Help your team succeed
Avoid procrastinating For many people, procrastination is a strong and mysterious force that keeps them from completing the most urgent and important tasks with the same strength as trying to bring like poles of magnets together. It's also a potentially dangerous force, causing victims to fail out of school, perform poorly at work, put off medical treatment or delay saving … [Read more...]
Being a millennial: I expect more
Jill Heggen, public relations counsel, millennial and animal health communicator, shares how veterinary practices can effectively reach her and her counterparts. Her personal perspective mirrors how successful firms are reaching this important audience. Source: Swanson Russell. I grew up before the internet and digital media and on-demand TV. I grew with digital media as it … [Read more...]
Help your team succeed
Strategy, skill and execution are important to achieve success in most veterinary hospitals and practices. However, the mental side of the challenge is too often overlooked in leading the practice team to ultimate goals and successes. There are things you can do to help your hospital team mentally prepare to reach and exceed expectations. Source: Harvard Business Review, … [Read more...]
A nudge can change behavior
Can a small, simple adjustment, or nudge, change our behavior for the better? Richard Thaler, a University of Chicago professor who studies behavioral economics and finance, in addition to decision-making psychology believes it can. He’s even written a book titled, Nudge. Source: TED Radio Hour, June 24, 2016, first segment. If you want to encourage people to do something, … [Read more...]
Steps to take when feeling burned out
Research shows that burnout occurs when the demands people face on the job outstrips the resources they have to meet them. Certain types of demands are more likely to tax people to the point of burnout, especially a heavy workload, intense pressure and unclear or conflicting expectations. Source: Harvard Business Review, June 20, 2016. If you think you might be experiencing … [Read more...]
Stereotypes impact older workers
Older workers are generally seen as less motivated, less willing to engage in training and career development programs, more resistant to change, not as trusting, more likely to have health problems that affect their work and more vulnerable to work-family conflicts. In addition, there’s evidence older workers are likely to further stereotype themselves on the basis of what … [Read more...]
Get up again
In case you haven’t noticed, life in the real world is a series of ups and downs. Life in a veterinary practice is a microcosm of the world around us. It too, has a series of good days and others we would just as soon forget. Most of us handle the good days with grace and thankfulness. The real test is how we react on the really bad days. Source: Laurie Joyce, LinkedIn, June … [Read more...]
10 things never to say in an email
Email is a great tool, but live conversations or meetings in person are better ways to communicate lengthy points of view or work through emotionally charged discussions. The 10 tips here will come in handy, especially when biting one’s tongue is in order. Source: Forbes, June 12, 2016. There is always a better way to communicate your strong feelings than to dash off an … [Read more...]
A big ego could make you less successful
Having an inflated ego can harm your career by reducing your connection to others and stunting your ability to maintain relationships, writes Ryan Holiday. "Confidence is based on what is real — it is earned," Holiday writes. "Ego is based on delusion and wishful thinking — it is artifice." Source: 99U, June 2016. The idea that only the swaggering, all-knowing, and … [Read more...]
Effective hot spot treatment
Paul Bloom, DVM, compares pyotraumatic dermatitis and pyotraumatic folliculitis/furunculosis. The article includes good images, as well. Source: Animal Health Solutions, June 2016. Page 22. Skin scrapings should be performed to rule out demodicosis with a secondary bacterial folliculitis and furunculosis as the cause of the lesion. Treatment involves completely removing the … [Read more...]
The right way to cut people off in meetings
Learn how to use the word “jellyfish” to keep meeting discussions from drifting. Our team likes this concept knowing how easy it is to stray off topic in meetings, sales calls and general conversation. Source: Harvard Business Review, April 8, 2016. The conversation begins, but after 10 minutes of good discussion on the first agenda item, someone goes off on a tangent that, … [Read more...]
Recovering from rejection
Rejection is a universal and universally disliked experience. It’s also one that each of us experiences differently. Sometimes, getting rejected hurts more than we expect, especially if our immediate response is to become self-critical. Source: Harvard Business Review, April 6, 2016. I think a lot of us have a gut instinct to question ourselves in the face of rejection,” … [Read more...]
World Pork Expo photo gallery
Networking, showcasing innovation and educating are the mainstays of the World Pork Expo. This year was no exception. This photo gallery offers a flavor of the festivities. You may see some folks you know. I did. Source: National Hog Farmer, June 10, 2016. World Pork Expo’s extensive trade show makes it easy to shop and compare new products and technologies for use on the … [Read more...]
AJVR contents
For your convenience, we have linked to the table of contents in the latest issue of the American Journal of Veterinary Research. Source: AJVR, June 2016. … [Read more...]