Last week’s AHD Bulletin – Animal Health Digest Bulletin, April 6th, 2023. Link. Most read post(s) from March 30th AHD Bulletin – Hauser: Reverse the downward trend of pets missing vet care. Link. JVECC makes a case for quality improvement in vet med. Link. Finding the optimal pattern of a customer journey. Link. Place keeper: 2023 Veterinary Conferences … [Read more...]
Why white-tailed deer don’t get Lyme disease
White-tailed deer are important to the survival of deer ticks but they are not involved with transmitting the Lyme bacteria. The serum component of white-tailed deer blood kills Lyme bacteria. Whatever it is in the deer that’s killing the germ is part of the innate immune system, a part that precedes antibodies, shares Stephen Rich, MS, PhD. Although deer, such as white-tailed … [Read more...]
U.S. bans big cat ownership
A bill outlawing unlicensed people from owning, breeding and transporting big cats in the United States was signed last December. The Big Cat Public Safety Act, which identifies lions, tigers, leopards, cheetahs, jaguars, cougars and hybrids of these species, goes one step further, banning licensed exhibitors from allowing public petting of big cats and their cubs. Source: … [Read more...]
Prioritize canine influenza vaccines based on animals at risk during shortages
Scott Weese, DVM, shares ways to determine which dogs need the canine influenza vaccines most since our industry continues to see shortages in flu vaccine supplies. Dogs considered to have increased risk of severe disease include seniors, pregnant, immune compromised, brachycephalic and those with significant cardiac or respiratory disease. Canine influenza is one potential … [Read more...]
How to spot a fake website
Even if one is a cautious user of digital technology, fake websites often catch us off guard. Spotting a fake website is quite easy but many people still fall for these scams every day. This article explains some of the different ways you can tell if a website is fake. Source: Simply Geeky, July 2022. Link. … [Read more...]
414 short inspirational quotes when motivation is needed
Whether you want to find a new perspective on a challenging problem, stop procrastinating and do the important work in front of you, or light an inner spark to start something new and magical, this list may have the right words for yourself or the situation. Source: Four Minute Books, April 2023. Link. … [Read more...]
You don’t have to be the boss to be a leader
Matt Mayberry shares three actions that hone leadership skills to help become a highly respected and influential team member: Devote time to daily growth Discover and embrace your personal strengths Improve your ability to connect with people Source: Harvard Business Review, February 13, 2023. Link. Introverts, ambiverts, extroverts . . . anyone can learn how to … [Read more...]
Documentary highlights life and work of Temple Grandin
A documentary film about the world-renowned Dr. Temple Grandin recently completed shooting. The film, Open Door, features interviews with Grandin, her colleagues, industry professionals and those she has influenced throughout her career as a champion of human treatment of livestock, autism rights and inclusive neurodiversity. The production team includes eight current Colorado … [Read more...]
Managing compassion fatigue
The reality for most people working in the animal healthcare industry is that you will get compassion fatigue. The only question is do you manage it or allow it to control you? Source: AVMA. Link. . . . build a self-care plan that charts the path you think is best designed to help bring your life back into balance.” INSIGHT: Be compassionate with yourself first. Then your … [Read more...]
The gender pay gap in vet medicine is real
More women in veterinary medicine does not equal gender equality, writes Kristen Green Seymour in the latest issue of AAHA Trends. She covers gendered expectations, pay transparency, negotiating salary from day 1, abolishing the motherhood penalty, adjusting KPIs, practice ownership and more. Despite the field skewing strongly female, the average male income is significantly … [Read more...]
LSU develops patent-pending wild pig bait
Commentary Feral hog control is an issue for ALL animal health pros. Wild pigs reproduce rapidly and cause damage to farms and suburban properties from the southern U.S. and into Canada <Link>. They also pose a growing threat to the environment, people and other animals. If an animal disease like African swine fever or hoof-and-mouth gets into these animals, it will be … [Read more...]
Photographer captures elk antler growth
In the category of something you don’t see every day, photographer, Craig Miller captured the growth an elk bull’s antlers from buds to maturity in 2021. It is a unique pictoral accompanied by an explanation of what is occurring. Source: Craig Miller, Facebook, March 22, 2023. Link. … [Read more...]
Snoopy was a rescue (video)
We saw a post about Snoopy on the Texas Weimaraner Rescue Facebook page. A cultural icon for the human-animal bond, Snoopy was a rescued puppy having been returned to Daisy Hill Puppy Farm according to some accounts. Snoopy made his debut his debut in Charles M. Schulz’s Peanuts comic strip in October 1950. The black and white beagle didn’t have a name until more than a … [Read more...]
Gaps found in veterinary nutrition education
A recent online survey distributed by the American Animal Hospital Association received 403 responses from small animal veterinarians. The survey investigated whether formal veterinary school education and continuing education increased their confidence and the frequency of discussing nutrition with clients. Veterinarians with self-reported significant formal instruction and … [Read more...]
Accepting compliments, upgrade your relationships with praise
Christopher Littlefield addresses why compliments often make us uncomfortable. He says a majority of people cringe when given a complement instead of acknowledging it and feeling good about being recognized. Source: HBR Ascend, April 2021. Link. Littlefield shares three ways to help transform our relationship with praise: Know it’s about the giver, not you (the … [Read more...]
Different consequences, same skills
While consequences in business are decidedly less dire than in the military, we face similar challenges in trying to determine the best way to achieve our goals. Source: IndustryWeek, November 10, 2022. Link. There are too many variables in today’s world for a leader to have all the answers.” - Kathy Widmer INSIGHT: Shoulder the blame, share the credit. … [Read more...]
Pet-owning households on decline while spending remains strong
Richard Kestenbaum shares he was shocked with numbers from the APPA summary of its annual report on pet ownership that shows a decline in pet households. The percentage of households with pets declined from 70 percent in 2021 to 66 percent in 2022. In contrast to the households decline, the dollars spent on pets in 2022 were up 10.8 percent over 2021. Recent reports from Chewy … [Read more...]
Worth a Glance – March 30, 2023
Last week’s AHD Bulletin – Animal Health Digest Bulletin, March 23, 2023. Link. Most read post(s) from March 2nd AHD Bulletin – 5 steps for using care to unlock employee happiness and health. Link. Key trends driving veterinary care’s future. Link. Place keeper: 2023 Veterinary Conferences provided by Galaxy … [Read more...]
Gene-edited pigs another tool in PRRS fight
Minnesota-based Acceligen announced in late February that the company is using protein modifications developed by Kansas State University to breed pigs that are naturally resistant to PRRS. This advancement is another tool in producers’ toolbox. One cannot disregard the tools of tight biosecurity, filtration and more in the fight against PRRS and other viral infections that can … [Read more...]
Soft tissue therapy opening new doors in equine wellness (video)
Soft tissue therapy is proving to be a powerful tool in the fight for animal wellness. It is increasingly becoming an important part of the conversation about how to care for horses and help them reach their full potential. Well-known for his viral TikTok videos, Christian Langeder explains how massage and other soft tissue treatments can help horses feel better physically … [Read more...]
Pet food recalls
Anne Norris of the FDA’s Center for Veterinary Medicine monitors recalls sharing what happens “when a product violates federal laws and needs immediate legal action.” Recalls can happen in three ways: the company pulls the product on its own the product is pulled by formal FDA request the product is pulled by an FDA order under the agency’s mandatory recall … [Read more...]
Chill protocol to manage aggressive and fearful dogs
Renata S. Costa, DVM, MPhil, MANZCVS, et al share a Chill Protocol which is a combination of orally administered medications to facilitate procedural management of animals that exhibit signs of anxiety and/or aggression. The Chill Protocol can be prescribed to healthy patients that are known to be aggressive, fearful and/or anxious during hospital visits. Source: Clinician’s … [Read more...]
Dog helps parents raise twins by grabbing milk, blankets, diapers, toys (video)
Lucy seems to have a complex understanding of words and unique item recognition abilities making her the best big sister ever. Source: Good Morning America, YouTube, March 20, 2023. Link. … [Read more...]
Enhancing safety and efficient grooming webinar offered
Complimentary Sponsored Content Gingr will lead a discussion about tools and processes that enhance safety and allow for more time for groomers in a webinar hosted by PACCC. PACCC certified professionals attending the webinar will earn one CEU. Topic: Gingr/PACCC Webinar via Zoom Description: How to use technology in the grooming salon to enhance safety and allow for … [Read more...]
Many clinical trials need patients; here’s how you can help
Clinical trials are critical to discover new treatments and deepen our understanding of diseases. The AVMA Animal Health Studies database connects you with veterinary clinical trials reported by researchers. There are a wide variety of opportunities to contribute as a veterinarian or as an animal owner with veterinarian support. Source: AVMA. Link. … [Read more...]
Veterinarians and the pet food industry: Building bridges
Includes Commercial Content Strengthening the relationship and communication between the veterinary space and the pet food industry is a win for everyone, writes Lindsay Beaton. The challenge is to ensure veterinarians and veterinary technicians have relevant tools that support the nutrition discussions with clients. Beaton shares some of what companies are doing to bridge … [Read more...]
Two ears, one mouth. Are you a bad listener?
Listening is an active process. It is not something you can do while mentally multitasking. If, while someone is talking, you're actively thinking about what you're going to say next, you may be hearing the person in front of you—but you are not listening.” Source: MindBodyGreen via AVMA Animal Health SmartBrief, March 19, 2023. Link. Also see: Search results for … [Read more...]
Words matter
Sometimes the simplest solution is the best course of action. Source: INC, February 16, 2023. Link. …sometimes tiny changes really do seem to significantly improve how we think about things, leading to more and better solutions.” INSIGHT: Challenges may come dressed differently today but at their core they have changed little over the years. … [Read more...]
Are modified rabies PrEP recommendations for people backed by the latest findings?
Erica Tramuta-Drobnis, VMD, MPH, CPH, addresses the question, “Does scientific evidence support this decision, or is the basis made due to healthcare cost concerns, accessibility, and poor compliance?” in this article. Rabies pre-exposure prophylaxis recommendations were recently amended by the CDC. They replace the previous three-dose PrEP schedule with a two-dose … [Read more...]
Worth a Glance – March 16, 2023
Last week’s AHD Bulletin – Animal Health Digest Bulletin, March 9, 2023. Link. Most read post(s) from March 9th AHD Bulletin – Pet owners feeling the sting of inflation. Link. Place keeper: 2023 Veterinary Conferences provided by Galaxy Vets. Link. New York City rats can catch the coronavirus that causes Covid-19, study finds Source: CNN, March 9, … [Read more...]