Commentary Growth in core vaccines, kennel cough vaccine and surgery at this point in the new year is good news. While invoices, patient and client numbers are still negative, these results are much improved over what was seen mid-November <Link>. Prevention medicine requires proactive communication.” Consider sharing this market information as part of employee … [Read more...]
Worth a Glance – February 23, 2023
Last week’s AHD Bulletin – Animal Health Digest Bulletin, February 16, 2023. Link. Most read posts from February 9th AHD Bulletin – Cost of Care Wheel is now 24/7 digital resource. Link. Work is NOT your family. Link. New test strip quickly detects periodontal disease before it is visible. Link. Dos and don’ts of recognition. Link. Place keeper: … [Read more...]
7 amazing facts about insects
Ants, honeybees, a 22-inch walking stick, ladybugs and more . . . Mosquitoes are the world’s deadliest animal.” Source: Interesting facts. Link. INSIGHTS: Consider using one of these examples as a conversation starter when you need to break the ice with a new person or group. … [Read more...]
AAEP Commission on Veterinary Sustainability: Compensation Matters
1,378 respondents completed a survey from the compensation subcommittee of the AAEP's Commission on Equine Veterinary Sustainability. This article shares some of the survey results and opportunities. The average salaries for those in the graduation years 2016–2019 was $88,973 for example. The charge of the committee is “To ensure that members understand what current … [Read more...]
Budweiser Clydesdale accident at San Antonio rodeo (video)
The lead team turned the wrong way during a performance at the San Antonio Rodeo causing a pileup. After some time, the scene ended with all the horses on their feet. Kudos to the handlers and to the way the announcers handled the scene for the audience. Source: Citizen Free Press, February 18, 2023. Link. (10:41) It’s hard to say what went wrong, but the lead horses … [Read more...]
6 best practices for workplace wellness
Steven Van Yoder says most employers are not following best practices when designing and implementing their workplace wellness efforts. He references the Workplace Wellness: Best Practices Study 2022 and a set of practices for designing and implementing effective employee wellness initiatives. <the study> findings are a first step in reframing workplace wellness from … [Read more...]
Make meetings places for honest conversations
Permission to say or ask anything is priceless, writes Paul Axtell. Giving permission and creating safety are two key areas that can increase freedom, candor and quality of conversation in your meetings. People don’t just want to belong, they want to contribute. Source: Harvard Business Review, April 11, 2019. Link. The quest for better meetings ultimately lies in leading … [Read more...]
How to answer, “What are your salary expectations?” (video)
Amy Gallo offers practical strategies for how to approach the salary expectation question along with sample answers to use as a guide. The article also includes a video from Tori Dunlap, founder of Her First $100K (5:26) on the topic. Source: Harvard Business Review, February 13, 2023. Link. You don’t have to give a number. Some states and localities have outlawed the … [Read more...]
Attitude, teamwork and resiliency
Characteristics of success for a world champion football team or in a multi-national, multi-billion-dollar corporation also apply to a two-doctor practice in South Carolina. Source: LinkedIn Pulse, February 8, 2023. Link. Whether we think we can or think we can’t, we’re right.” – Scott Bormann, Merck Animal Health INSIGHTS: Add in a culture of continual improvement and … [Read more...]
Time to review the 2019 AAHA Dental Care Guidelines for Dogs and Cats
As National Pet Dental Month promotions end, animal health pros need to consider how pet oral care and dentistry will be presented during exams and in client communications. The AAHA Dental Care Guidelines for Dogs and Cats were updated in 2019 to outline a comprehensive approach in improving the oral health and often, the quality of life of their canine and feline … [Read more...]
Storytelling and the narrative in good patient care
Commentary Context can rarely be achieved in a 10-minute exam . . . period. The ability of a veterinary professional to understand a patient’s health status and determine treatment options requires the story of an event or life circumstances. Engaging the pet owner to share their observations and specifics is an important element in what is described as narrative … [Read more...]
IDEXX study reveals opportunities to increase veterinary practice productivity
Addressing ongoing veterinary practice capacity constraints, the IDEXX study, “Finding the Time: Empowering Veterinary Teams to Get the Most Out of Every Day,” sheds light on staffing challenges throughout the veterinary industry. The study provides strategies for creating additional capacity and ultimately supporting a happier, healthier veterinary team <the study> … [Read more...]
Worth a Glance – February 16, 2023
Last week’s AHD Bulletin – Animal Health Digest Bulletin, February 9, 2023. Link. Most read post(s) from February 9th AHD Bulletin – Studying PRRS virus and its ability to percolate through soils. Link. Place keeper: 2023 Veterinary Conferences provided by Galaxy Vets. Link. Zoetis provides perspective, resources to transition OTC antimicrobials … [Read more...]
Merck Animal Health receives U.S. FDA approval of expanded indication for Banamine® Transdermal (flunixin transdermal solution)
Complimentary Commercial Content BANAMINE® TRANSDERMAL (flunixin transdermal solution) is now indicated for the control of pyrexia (fever) due to acute mastitis with a short milk withhold of 48 hours. This new indication means BANAMINE TRANSDERMAL can be given with confidence to lactating cows. With simple, pour-on administration along the animal’s back, it saves time and … [Read more...]
Chicken physiology creates unique vision traits
Chicken vision is substantially different from ours. Understanding the hows and whys can help explain some unique chicken behaviors. Daniel Johnson explains their monocular vision, separated eye functions, third eyelid, perception of ultraviolet light and more. . . . each eye sees different views and is designed for different uses . . the left eye excels at focusing on distant … [Read more...]
Effect of pre-appointment gabapentin in hyperthyroid cats
Handling or restraining noncompliant, fractious cats can make drawing blood and completing procedures difficult. Doing so may result in increased patient stress or anxiety and potential injuries for veterinary technicians and DVMs involved. Paul DeMars, DVM, DABVP, reviews a study on the use of gabapentin sharing these key pearls: Gabapentin (20 mg/kg PO) given to … [Read more...]
Step-by-step guide to abdominal palpation in dogs and cats
If you’ve ever wondered what a veterinarian is feeling for when examining a dog or cat, this guide helps explain it. A good abdominal palpation can catch all kinds of hidden problems but it takes practice and skilled hands to know which organs are normally palpable or nonpalpable and to identify abnormalities. Source: Clinician’s Brief, November 2022. Link. … [Read more...]
Cost of Care Wheel is now 24/7 digital resource
Sponsored Content The popular veterinary practice-based Cost of Care Wheel tool from the ASPCA® Pet Health Insurance program is now available in an enhanced client-based online version that can be used anytime, anywhere. Discussing money is never easy but it is important to educate and urge pet owners prepare for their pet’s future health care needs, and how to pay for … [Read more...]
How stress affects your brain
During the recent Animalytix Market Update, Travis Meredith, DVM, MBA, Dip ACT, shared his perspectives on the challenges veterinary teams have with meeting demand while also playing catch-up from the client and pet services following the 2020 pandemic delays. What he outlined were the ongoing stressors and how hard it has been on practice personnel. Continuous stress can … [Read more...]
What ChatGPT means for the future of work
Your work future could depend on how well you can talk to AI.” Last week we shared the announcement from AskVet about its Virtual Engagement and Relationship Agent (VERA) powered by AI, ChatGPT and AskVet’s database <Link>. The future of work is discussed in the articles below. Source: ebn, January 23, 2023. Link. You won't have to train people to do certain things … [Read more...]
Work is NOT your family
Suggesting your team is "like a family" breaks down necessary boundaries, creates burnout and can affect your health. Gloria Chan Packer gives guidance to deal with this paradigm which can be destructive to teams and individuals. . . . see if you can find 1 way to empower mental health for yourself or others this year . . . avoid the stigma of working with experts like … [Read more...]
Worth a Glance – February 9, 2023
Last week’s AHD Bulletin – Animal Health Digest Bulletin, February 2, 2023. Link. Most read post(s) from February 2nd AHD Bulletin – How to stop overthinking when you’re about to spiral. Link. Place keeper: 2023 Veterinary Conferences provided by Galaxy Vets. Link. Cow numbers drop to 61-year low Source: Farm Progress, February 6, … [Read more...]
Changing our 10,000-year relationship with cattle
Author and livestock enthusiast Roger Morgan-Grenville is working to rewrite the narrative on cows. After spending 14 months helping out on a farm and diving deep into bovine research, Roger Morgan-Grenville found “an industry at once scared for its future yet alive with ideas and experiments, not to mention good practices.” Morgan-Grenville’s research and experiences were … [Read more...]
P-22 memorial: Thousands gathered to remember LA’s famous mountain lion (video)
When P-22 was euthanized in December, Los Angeles showed an outpouring of grief and love for the lone cat and all he represented. That was reflected in last Saturday’s memorial, which had been scheduled to last two hours but stretched to nearly three and a half hours. Source: LAist, February 5, 2023. Link. Editor’s note: During the 12 years of his life, P-22 captured the … [Read more...]
Horse eye blink rates and stress
In the absence of stress, horses blink eight to nine times per minute. Eyelid twitches occur two times per minute, writes Nancy Loving, DVM. She shares key details from a study at the University of Guelph that monitored eye blinks and eyelid twitches as a non-invasive measure of stress in horses. Several stressors were used to test the validity of using blink rate as an … [Read more...]
AAFP’s Guideline Briefs, an exclusive member benefit
AAFP’s new Guideline Briefs have been designed to help convey the major tenets of past guidelines into a short, easy-to-read format that can be easily printed and posted in veterinary practices and help educate staff. Source: American Association of Feline Practitioners, Link. Future Guidelines Briefs will be included as supporting materials when new practice guidelines are … [Read more...]
Cost, convenience or optionality? Best fit or gold standard?
Kate Boatright, VMD, reviews new research that suggests that most pet owners do not want their options presented using a gold-standard first approach rather a judgement free spectrum of care set of options. Identifying whether the pet family’s primary concern is cost, convenience, or optionality is key to finding the “best fit." Source: AAHA NEWStat, February 6, 2023. Link. … [Read more...]
Trends to future proof the veterinary profession
Complimentary Content Longtime AHD subscriber Portia Stewart shares her take on the future of the veterinary profession. She reviews nine of the key trends facing veterinary professionals and what they could mean for the future of veterinary medicine. Source: Curious Plot, January 9, 2023. Link. Also see: 7 Trends to Watch From the 2023 Veterinary Meeting & Expo, … [Read more...]
Stop workplace gossip before it spreads
Workplace gossip can easily start conflict, as well as disrupt and distract team members. Karin Hurt shares ways to squash workplace gossip she and others use. The truth is, we get more of what we tolerate and less of what we ignore. If you’re working to build a high-performing, human-centered team culture, it’s worth the effort to stop the rumors and workplace gossip.” - … [Read more...]
People, power and burnout
Recognizing burnout and taking the steps needed to address it is difficult, especially for leaders. Realizing and acting on our individual mental and emotional limitations is a strength, not a weakness. Source: LinkedIn, January 20, 2023. Link. All too often we see politicians and chief executives who are unwilling to loosen their grasp on power, even when it may well be … [Read more...]