Our industry is plagued with meetings. In fact, most of us have been involved in meetings about whether we need a meeting. Elle Griffen offers an infographic to help decide if a meeting is worth throwing onto everyone’s schedule. Source: The Muse, January 24, 2018. Not only can meetings be a huge time and productivity suck, they’re also expensive! Add up the hourly wage of … [Read more...]
Opinion – 229 selling days left in 2018
For animal health pros who work five-day weeks, 21 selling days have already expired this year. That equals about 8.5 percent of your year already gone. Veterinary practices and retailers have 325 days remaining to reach goals. Now is a good time to assess whether you or your team(s) are working toward the main objectives and at the right pace. Our perfection drivers and … [Read more...]
Alexander Hamilton’s deep advice
Alexander Hamilton sent his son Philip the following letter in 1800. It laid out a set of rules that Philip should follow to make the most out of his legal training after his graduation from college. Impractical in society today? Maybe. But it is worthy of consideration for our children and for ourselves. Note the focus Monday through Friday and the weekend freedom from … [Read more...]
Vets must be part of decision to use supplements to help cats with arthritis
Arthritis is inevitable as cats’ life expectancy increases. In one study, researchers analyzed X-rays of the spines and limbs of 100 middle-aged or elderly cats living in U.S. homes. The images revealed that 90 percent of those cats over the age of 12 showed radiographic signs of arthritis. A variety of over-the-counter nutraceuticals have gained widespread popularity for … [Read more...]
Getting pets ready to move about the country
Brian A. DiGangi, DVM shares five top tips for traveling with animals. He recommends: Review travel regulations Explain the importance of preventative care Recommend permanent identification Identify and mitigate travel specific risks Discuss steps and protect behavioral health and welfare Source: Clinician’s Brief, January 2018. Clinicians play an … [Read more...]
46th annual Iowa Pork Congress sells out (slide show)
Iowa Pork Congress, one of the first livestock events of year takes place annually. The activities and seminars address the issues of the pork market, production challenges and often set the tone for the upcoming year. Among the notable topics Cheryl Day highlights are: Are we manure poor? Increasing the Pork Checkoff rate Trade and exports Pork and table fare … [Read more...]
11 common email mistakes everyone makes
Email etiquette is increasingly important! It's an integral part of how you communicate and develop relationships with people. Betty Liu compiled these tips to help avoid the most common email mistakes: Bad grammar/spelling Misdirected emails BCC too much Silence Saying 'To whom it may concern' Not changing the subject line Marking emails as unnecessarily … [Read more...]
5 email marketing trends to watch in 2018
Attention marketers and communicators! Email was the preferred communication method for brands to communicate with customers in 2017. It will be well into the future. Still, 2018 may hold some surprises for the 40-year-old communications standard that marketers should be aware of. Scott Heimes shares these five considerations for email in 2018. Personalization through … [Read more...]
Don’t sell yourself short with merchandising
Dan Truffini brings his retail experiences back to the veterinary practice settings in which he grew up. He believes, many veterinary practitioners have incredible revenue potential sitting right in their waiting rooms. It’s not the patients. It’s the retail spaces they have yet to fully open for business. Source: Today’s Veterinary Practice, December 2017. Whether you like … [Read more...]
You may need to walk away from a passive-aggressive boss
A boss who is manipulative, passive-aggressive, credit-taking and overly critical adds to workplace challenges beyond the normal workload. We’re not talking Jekyll and Hyde but it is important to be clear on how to deal with immaturity in a person to whom you report. Source: Harvard Business Review, January 24, 2018. You have to decide if your job and your company hold … [Read more...]
Why people quit
People are more likely to quit when they have a horrible boss. But in a recent study, most people who left a job said they were mostly okay with their manager. The decision to exit was because of the work. They left when their job wasn’t enjoyable, their strengths weren’t being used and they weren’t growing in their careers. Source: Harvard Business Review, January 11, … [Read more...]
2018 is the year of the dog flu
Steve Dale tackles the topic of Canine Influenza Virus (CIV) and the information that shows CIV is expanding across the country more rapidly than ever. This is a topic for team meetings with veterinary teams, retailers and sales groups. Source: Steve Dale’s Pet World, January 22, 2018. The partners tracking dog flu are doing it right. The problem is that most clients don’t … [Read more...]
Keep New Year resolutions going strong
By February 1, many persons’ New Years’ resolutions are either a) not started, or b) already abandoned. New Year’s resolutions, derided though they often are, present a big opportunity for self-improvement, according to research on human behavior. On New Year’s, we look back on past failures to change and feel an uncommon surge of optimism. If you’re ready for a resolution … [Read more...]
Puppy Bowl XIV, Animal Planet on February 4 at 3 p.m. ET. (includes video)
Team Ruff vs. Team Fluff airs ahead of Super Bowl LII (6:30 pm ET) for the 14th year. This year will feature more puppies than ever – 90 players – from 48 shelters and rescues from 26 U.S. states and territories. The teams will compete for the coveted Lombarki Trophy. For the first time ever, Animal Planet will also premiere Puppy Bowl Presents: The Dog Bowl. The Dog Bowl … [Read more...]
Get ready for Gen Z
Patricia M. Buhler and Nicole Evans offer five keys to becoming Generation Z’s employer of choice. More than 61 million of them born after 1999 are poised to enter the workforce. These are not younger millennials, say the authors comparing the millennial entitlement to Gen Z expectations. One-size-fits-all career paths won’t appeal to Gen Z. These individuals won’t be … [Read more...]
7 ways to show customers you care
Members of Forbes Business Development Council share seven strategies for doing a better job of empathizing with customers. Their assertions are good. Still, it is important to avoid the words, “I understand,” as if you know the customers’ feelings. Remaining respectful, acknowledging and aligning with where the customer is in the decision process is critical. Stating what … [Read more...]
How to fly with cats
Catnip addresses air travel with felines and offers tips to help make this experience as worry-free as possible. The most important things are to plan ahead and arrive early at the airport on travel day. Source: Tufts Catnip, March 2017. Airlines have a wide range of different policies concerning cats traveling in the cabin, so it is essential to contact the carrier well in … [Read more...]
Space, a new frontier in nursery pig management
There has been significant research studying the effects of space allowances on grow-finish pigs. But little information is available regarding the effects on them. With increasing concerns for animal welfare and getting weaned pigs off to a good start, finding appropriate space allowances based on animal behavior, health and performance considerations will be … [Read more...]
Adolescent brain development is misunderstood
Our recent post, How working parents can feel less overwhelmed and in control captured excellent readership. In that spirit, we offer this look at the growing appreciation of adolescence as a time of rapid growth, learning and change. “A decade of research studying adolescence makes clear to me the importance of clarifying the truth about this crucial stage of human … [Read more...]
Before running a photo contest
Many veterinary hospitals and retailers promote pet photography. Some of these photos are used in files and some end up on bulletin boards or social media. Jeff Wignall offers tips on taking adorable pet photos in this article. Pet owners will appreciate getting these, along with a photo contest announcement via social media, websites and newsletters. Source: BottomLine Inc, … [Read more...]
Lack of sleep can make you sick
Researchers believe that improving sleep habits could help reverse conditions influenced by disrupted sleep schedules, such as insomnia. The article shares the top six damaging side effects caused by lack of sleep: Sleep disorder Low vitamin D Weight gain High triglycerides High cholesterol Source: University Health News, January 17, 2018. Our circadian … [Read more...]
Queens are righties, Toms are lefties
Female cats are more likely to be right-handed than males, research suggests. Research published in the Journal Animal Behavior, January 2018 presented these highlights: Lateralized spontaneous behavior in the domestic cat was explored for the first time. Cats showed a lateral bias for behaviors of stepping down and stepping over. Animals showed no significant … [Read more...]
Cesar: Your dog is an addict
Our brains and our dogs’ brains have been designed to reward us for experiences that release certain chemicals that make us feel good. Whether we’re consciously aware of it or not, dogs and humans return to those experiences for the pleasure we get. Cesar discusses unhealthy habits and how to address them with our canine companions. Source: Cesar’s Way, January 21, … [Read more...]
Ideas for cats who won’t eat
Finicky cats were made famous by 9 Lives’ spokescat Morris in the 1970s. JaneA Kelley offers some tips for getting today’s Morrises back on feed. Information on this common issue will be appreciated in social media posts, newsletters or as website content. Source: Catster, January 17, 2018. Here are some things to try when a cat won’t eat: Make sure the cat is healthy … [Read more...]
Dealing with change is a universal constant
Why is becoming more adaptable so crucial to success in business and life? Jeff Bogaczyk gives three quick reasons: Circumstances are always changing People are always changing We are always changing Source: Medium, January 18, 2018. Typically, people dislike and don’t want to change or adapt to new environments. Changes disrupt our autopilot habits. This … [Read more...]
Hilarious chicken questions; or not
These questions make it easy to see that most folks are generations away from on-farm poultry experiences. On the one hand, they are amusing; on the other, disturbing at best. Animal health pros have a long way to go to educate people about the animals in our food chains. Easter is Sunday April 1, 2018. Before the eggs hatch and the chicks get delivered to the local farm … [Read more...]
Keep the pressure on lice
Whether or not it’s been a warm or cold winter in your area, winter lice infestations can be a problem. There are two types of lice that infect cattle and both spend their entire lifecycle on cattle hosts: Biting lice - feed on the skin and secretions on the outside of the animal Sucking lice - these species are blood feeders and pierce the skin Source: Beef, January … [Read more...]
Avoid meetings that waste your time – if you can
One of the bigger time sucks for professionals is meetings. According to Atlassian, we spend 31 hours a month in unproductive meetings. Author Dorie Clarke offers some realistic ways to manage meeting requests and tips about participating in those must-attend meetings. Source: Harvard Business Review, January 3, 2018. A secondary, but acceptable, reason to join a meeting is … [Read more...]
Time for some fresh air
A new study joins a growing body of research linking indoor pollution to negative impacts on cognition, mood and worker productivity. This is not new. The recognition of the negative impact of poor indoor air quality dates back to the 18th century. Indeed, Benjamin Franklin once stated, “I am persuaded that no common air from without is so unwholesome as the air within a closed … [Read more...]
Canine fecal transplants; phut, sputter, gag.
Coprophagic dogs are bad enough. Still, there may be some benefit to fecal microbial transplantation to aid in adjusting the microbiome of our canine friends. And we thought veterinary nurses had it bad enough doing stool floats! This area of microbiome science is advancing, so we share the information with you for your consideration before a dog owner comes to you with a … [Read more...]