Resistance to change is a natural part of business, and your role when facing a customer’s objections is to facilitate that change and do it better than everyone else. The more you help your customers manage the concerns preventing them from reaching confidence, the sooner you will become more of a trusted adviser versus another person selling something. Source: Veterinary … [Read more...]
Veterinary nutrition residency funded at the University of Tennessee
Marking a notable development in the fresh pet food sector's involvement in veterinary science, The University of Tennessee College of Veterinary Medicine has launched a new veterinary nutrition residency program. The two-year program is backed by a sponsorship from The Farmer's Dog. The program meets board eligibility standards set by the American College of Veterinary … [Read more...]
Forbes, How can the veterinary industry help with the rising cost of care?
Commentary We held this article for a few weeks trying to best present the content for consideration. Aimee Gilbreath, president of PetSmart Charities, wrote it. She shares metrics seen routinely in various media and calls the rising cost of pet care a full-blown pet healthcare crisis. I disagree. I believe we have a pet parent spending problem veterinary hospitals are … [Read more...]
Review: Diagnostic testing for tick-borne diseases; recommendations, interpreting results
Ticks are making the news across the U.S. as resident populations bloom and areas experience new tick species migrating into a region for the first time. A large percentage of vector-borne diseases reported are vectored by ticks, with dogs acting as sentinels for human exposure to concerning bacterial, protozoal and viral agents. In this article, Doctors Schlemmer and … [Read more...]
The emotional toil of unheeded advice
“Darn it! <my friend> didn’t act on what their new pet needed. Now it’s ill.” The situations described here by Shannon Nowak, BS, LVT, RVT, will be familiar to many animal health pros. It does sting when people seek your professional advice then promptly ignore your recommendations. Her guidance to show up but with boundaries is good advice. Put your time, energy and … [Read more...]
The enemy of customer service is pride
Right or wrong, the goal isn’t to win an argument, rather it is to win the customer, writes Shep Hyken. When we let go of pride and focus on helping, we create better outcomes for everyone involved. Source: Veterinary Advantage, April 2025, Link. The next time you find yourself in a situation where you know the customer is wrong, ask yourself, “What’s more important, being … [Read more...]
Logic, emotions and decisions
Our logical brain and our emotional brain are always at work in any decision-making process. The importance of the decision determines which one drives the decision. Source: Veterinary Advantage, October 2023. Link. The “decision tree” dynamic is constantly in play and creating decision-making attitudes within the customer.” INSIGHTS: Attitudes are situational and … [Read more...]
A natural approach to the #1 problem in pet shelters
Commentary, Sponsor Content The challenges with animals in a shelter environment are well-known. Helping them during this very stressful transition period is critical to them advancing toward a healthier existence and successful adoption. Steven Lerner, PhD, and Davey Stone recently shared a webinar to introduce and refresh animal health pros’ knowledge of the benefits of … [Read more...]
WILMAH to launch mentoring platform, plans Leadership Summit in November
The Women in Leadership and Management in Animal Health group’s May newsletter urges members to consider mentorships ahead of a new mentoring platform soon to launch. In addition to a June 26th webinar, remember to mark calendars for the 2025 Wilmah Leadership Summit will take place scheduled for November 5th-7th in St. Petersburg, Florida. WILMAH also just launched a new … [Read more...]
World Milk Day is Sunday, June 1st
World Milk Day is a movement that highlights milk as a vital, accessible food source that nourishes billions. With economic conditions front-of-mind, it’s good news that recent studies show that the inclusion of animal-source foods like dairy can limit the cost of the total diet while providing essential nutrients necessary for good health. Let’s raise a glass of milk for … [Read more...]
Reminder: Beware of possible harmful algae bloom
As families seek recreation near water and the edges of ponds fill with that green slime, it’s a good time to revisit safety measures to avoid harmful algae. Harmful algae are found in both freshwater and marine environments. They are caused by a variety of toxin-producing microalgae, including prokaryotic blue-green algae (also known as cyanobacteria) and eukaryotic … [Read more...]
How to stop people from interrupting you at work (video)
One of our regular readers shared this video. In it, Ann offers four simple tips to use when someone is trying to interrupt the speaker in an online or in-person meeting. She also shares thoughts on changing the culture around interrupting in the workplace. Source: Lighthouse Communications, January 2023. Link. [4:18] INSIGHTS: Consider using this video during a team … [Read more...]
Why we forget and how to fight it
Research shows we forget about 50 percent of what we learn within an hour, 75 percent within a day, and up to 90 percent within a week. Described as the forgetting curve, Ruth Gotian EdD, MS, offers some simple and effective strategies to strengthen your retention. She says learning isn’t just about consumption. It’s about repetition, reflection and action. Source: … [Read more...]
Building rapport key to getting a decision (video)
The fundamental question of whether someone likes you or doesn't drives a significant portion of how your customer's decision process will go. In this article, Mike Shultz shares the Rain Group’s 4 Principles of Rapport: empathy, authenticity, similarity and shared experience. Rapport is the foundation for building relationships. Source: Rain Group, December 21, 2023. Link. … [Read more...]
Cushing challenges AVMA Council on Education, calls for discussion and reform
Commentary Is it time to kill one of our industry’s sacred cows? Mark Cushing, J.D., challenges the system of accrediting new and existing colleges of veterinary medicine in this article. The COE’s mission is to establish standards for veterinary colleges, accredit or reject new programs, and reaccredit existing programs. He calls for a robust discussion and offers … [Read more...]
Worth a Glance – May 29, 2025
Last week’s AHD Bulletin – Animal Health Digest Bulletin, May 22, 2025. Link. Most read posts from May 22, 2025 AHD Bulletin – Continuous improvement. Link. Top 10 wild animals most likely to attack pet cats. Link. Spay/neuter: It’s time for a discussion. Link. Tick-borne diseases of concern in U.S. horses. Link. Public comments sought on acupuncture, … [Read more...]
Worth a Glance – May 22, 2025
Last week’s AHD Bulletin – Animal Health Digest Bulletin, May 16, 2025. Link. Most read posts from May 16, 2025 AHD Bulletin - NAPHIA’s 2025 State of the Industry Highlights Report. Link. Dog trainer’s graphic explains dog park risks. Link. A review of respiratory viruses and performance horse health. Link. Let’s review: Foot rot. Link. Medgene … [Read more...]
Memorial Day 2025; lest we forget when and why we celebrate it
May you have a meaningful weekend and Memorial Day! Source: Readers Digest, April 1, 2025. Link. Originally known as Decoration Day, Memorial Day began as a way to honor the fallen soldiers of the Civil War. The first celebration was on May 30, 1868. In 1971, Decoration Day became officially known as Memorial Day, and Congress passed an act declaring it a national holiday … [Read more...]
Continuous improvement
Even small enhancements to your customers’ experiences can add up to big wins for your practice or pet services business. Source: Veterinary Advantage, April 2024. Link. It doesn’t matter how long you’ve been doing something that works, come back on a regular basis – annually – and take a closer look.” INSIGHTS: Good today, average tomorrow, can lead to mediocre next … [Read more...]
Simplicity equals success for parasiticide compliance
Recent metrics from Vetsource show year-over-year parasiticide purchases remain in the negative <Link>. The April 2025 VetWatch® commentary echoed the decline <Link>. Across the industry, client adherence to preventatives remains a primary concern. Jamie Lyn asked three veterinarians to identify the practical insights and tactics some practices use to … [Read more...]
Mental health stigma. There’s still a lot of work to do
The pandemic blew the door wide open on mental health, but the intensity of the efforts to reduce stigma that the early pandemic prompted has leveled off, stated Deb Smolensky, CWP, CLP, WELCOA. In this article, Jen Colletta provides considerations from an HR perspective and how HR can drive a more supportive mental health culture. Source: HR Executive, May 8, 2025. Link. … [Read more...]
Let’s review: Foot rot
Foot rot, also known as interdigital necrobacillosis, is an infectious disease that affects the sensitive tissues of the feet in cattle. Foot rot can affect cattle of all ages, with increased incidences during or following wet, muddy and humid conditions. Fusobacterium necrophorum is the primary agent responsible for foot rot. Although a common skin bacterian, F. … [Read more...]
Choosing the best hay for horses
Horse hay has its own set of standards that are exclusive to equine, writes Amber Friedrichsen. She reviews grass types, how to cut the best hay and more. Source: Hay & Forage Grower, May 13, 2025. Link. Regardless of hay type, the best forage for horses must be free of weeds, mold, and dust. Weeds can be unpalatable, toxic, or painful to eat. Also see: Search Results … [Read more...]
Top U.S. States where cats can safely explore the outdoors (video)
The folks at FelineFam share insightful information in this video about where U.S. cats can safely roam. Well-narrated and filled with images of cats in the wild, it’s worth the time to view and consider for an industry integral to One Health, animal health, and wellness. Source: Feline Fam, April 2025. Link. [8:42] Commentary Shown on January 30, 2000, during Super … [Read more...]
When it’s too late to prepare for the unknown and catastrophic
Whether you are a business owner or managing your personal life being prepared for those events that can’t be predicted is critical. Tom Seeko, CexP shares the various elements of preparedness in this article. It is a good read. Source: DVM 360, May 12, 2025. Link. The best gift to give yourself is to remove the “might-be-okay” and add certainty to your life so you can live … [Read more...]
Being present
When communicating in-person, more than 90 percent of the message is in something other than the words used. Pay more attention to how something is said rather than focusing on what is said. Source: LinkedIn, April 23, 2025. Link. When someone feels seen and understood, not just heard, they're more likely to trust, engage, and respond. Be interested in others and others … [Read more...]
How to better utilize vet techs
Commentary Yes, it’s another article on using veterinary technicians at the top of their license. We have found each iteration of this topic is helpful for animal health pros at all levels as we gain more understanding of opportunities and barriers in practices and various regions. Adrienne Kruzer, BBA, RVT, LVT, tackles this topic covering pros, cons, economics and more. … [Read more...]
Worth a Glance – May 8, 2025
Last week’s AHD Bulletin – Animal Health Digest Bulletin, May 1, 2025. Link. Most read posts from May 1, 2025 AHD Bulletin – Chewy Health president shares 3 trends revolutionizing pet healthcare. Link. Extended colostrum feeding adds $500 per heifer, slashes treatment costs, boosts lifetime milk. Link. New lifestage infographics-pet owner education, identify … [Read more...]
Three 3 rules of three for successful communications
When you convey information, don’t rattle off a list of 47 things the listener must understand. All good things come in threes, writes Mike Figliuolos. Communicating in threes like “stop, look, and listen” from childhood makes remembering easier. Source: thoughtLEADERS, LLC®, LinkedIn, May 7, 2025. Link. Threes work. They’ll help your communications. They’ll make your ideas … [Read more...]
Sovereignty comes from behind to win muddy Kentucky Derby
Sovereignty charged past race favorite Journalism down the stretch to win a muddy 151st Kentucky Derby by 1 1/2 lengths in front of 147,406 onlookers at Churchill Downs in Louisville. The victory was a first for all of Sovereignty’s connections <Link>. All 19 of those horses are descended from Secretariat <Link>. Source: NBC Sports, Facebook. Link. … [Read more...]