Nancy Kerns reminds us that when our dogs are overweight, it’s our fault. They don’t have any understanding of caloric intake and are dependent on us to access exercise. Therefore, their body weight and condition are completely up to us. Source: Whole Dog Journal, August 17, 2022. Link. Kern shares tips for owners to use to help dogs lose weight beginning with an accurate, … [Read more...]
Touring a veterinary hospital with Temple Grandin, PhD, Marty Becker, DVM (video)
Watch Temple Grandin, PhD, take an observational tour of a veterinary hospital with Fear Free founder Marty Becker, DVM. She describes what she sees, hears and experiences. Learn through Grandin’s firsthand observations to better see things from animals’ perspectives. . . . even small improvements can make a world of difference for cats and dogs.” Source: Fear Free, YouTube. … [Read more...]
Forget mentors. Build a circle of advisors.
Swap the term mentor for adviser, then build a circle of people with varying specialties who can support you throughout your career. Mimi Aboubaker shares her personal adviser scorecard which covers four categories that capture the most essential attributes you should consider in an adviser: Operating style: support type, engagement method and communication style … [Read more...]
The upside to dissatisfaction
Some people get addicted to the dramas and disappointments of life. It becomes part of their identities, says Gregg Vanourek. They use them to rile up their ego with outrage or grievance. It can give them a strange sort of satisfaction in the moment. But overall, they’re making themselves miserable for large swaths of their life. Last week Patrick T Malone’s post addressed … [Read more...]
Social workers finding a niche in veterinary field
Victoria Welland with the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, reports on the emerging need for veterinary social work. The skills are applicable to pet owner grief, as well supporting veterinary staff with workplace stress and burnout. Source: CBC News via AVMA SmartBrief, September 2, 2022. Link. Our relationship to animals has evolved and now many people view their pets as … [Read more...]
Get to the point
And by the way, the point is the benefit that is important to your customer, not you.” Source: Vet Advantage, August 2022. Link. Avoid a data dump instead of an invitation to look at data is important to this practice. This behavior hopes something will resonate because the rep has no idea what is important in this practice INSIGHTS: In addition to reps, this applies to the … [Read more...]
Article raises concerns from AHD team
We believe veterinary teams will be asked to confirm the information in this article on using human CBD oil in pets. The article includes dosages and other assertions that are red flags for our team. Consider reviewing it, then decide if your team needs to discuss what is asserted in this article or how to address CBD use in pets. Source: Is human CBD oil safe for pets? Top … [Read more...]
The Vet Watch™ Weekly Insight Report
Opinion We’re fortunate to have indices and dashboards like VetWatch™ to help monitor and understand trends in veterinary practices. Top line revenues are positive while client and patient numbers are weakening and likely an indication of retention challenges. Weekly hospital client and patient trends show revenue growth for the week ending September 3, 2022, at +4.7 … [Read more...]
Worth a Glance – September 1, 2022
Last week’s most read posts Stop the high turnover in the front office (video). Link. Wendy Hauser, DVM: Client trust, human-animal bond and meeting client concerns. Link. Last AHD Bulletin - Animal Health Digest Bulletin, Thursday, August 25, 2022. Link. =================================== 28 pet food industry mergers and acquisitions 2022 Source: … [Read more...]
The nearer the bone, the sweeter the meat
Commentary My first thought reading this was, “don’t forget to invite me to dinner!” The authors explain the lack of research evaluating the impact of bone on beef palatability and whether it depends on quality grade as the impetus for a taste study. Their findings are shared in the article linked here. . . . bone status had minimal impact on palatability traits. … [Read more...]
Dog food myth-busting
Nancy Kerns addresses the seven most common dog food myths and misconceptions. Source: Whole Dog Journal, January 2021. Link. . . . read the fine print on the labels. Which nutritional adequacy standard does each candidate meet? How much fat and protein do they contain? What ingredients are they made of?” Also see: Do dogs have taste buds? Pet MD. Link. … [Read more...]
IBPSA Fast Bites – August 29, 2022
Benefits and care in pet condos, pet inflation 2022 over 2021, marketing plus ecommerce in the pet market, monkey pox, business scams and more . . . Source: IBPSA Fast Bites, August 29, 2022. Link. … [Read more...]
Bubble Wrap® was originally designed to be what?
Packaging, refrigerated storage plus shipment and cost containment were topics of presentations at the KCAHC #AHSummit 22. One common packaging product used is Bubble Wrap®, first created in 1957 as a product that started life as 3D wallpaper. Source: The Packaging Company, January 2018. Link. Sealed Air Corporation was formed in 1960, with Bubble Wrap® as the cornerstone of … [Read more...]
The latest VIP Podcasts. Listening, learning from industry leaders and innovators
Complimentary Content Ivan “Zak” Zakharenkov, DVM, and Shawn Wilkie have produced 34 podcasts this year. Their discussions with industry leaders and innovators cover some of the challenges they’re facing and how to address them. The podcasts are easily accessed on the VIP website. Source: Veterinary Innovation Podcast. Link. … [Read more...]
When is it time to apologize at work?
In professional settings, apologies can get complicated. You don’t want to apologize too often for minor mistakes, but you don’t want to be the one who refuses to apologize for anything. Context of the mistake is important when considering an apology. This post offers guidance on when to apologize and alternative statements for, “I’m sorry.” Source: Grammarly blog, August … [Read more...]
The road to fulfilment can be curvy (podcast)
The road to leadership often is murky instead of straight. Often open and light instead of intense and full of hustle. However, it is always focused on meaningful relationships instead of the next rung on the ladder. Source: Linked In, August 12, 2022. Link. You’ve got to figure out your recipe for fulfillment. It’s not the same as anyone else’s. So, it’s your job to … [Read more...]
September is National Preparedness Month
To help get ready for National Preparedness Month, The American Veterinary Medical Foundation created a downloadable guide to disaster preparedness, Saving the Whole Family. No one is immune from a natural or man-made disaster. Planning and preparation are critical to ensure the well-being of you, your family and your animals. Source: American Veterinary Medical … [Read more...]
Each time you place an order for a product, the labor cost is $17.25
Complimentary Commercial Content In a recent post, Nicole Clausen, CSSGB, CCFP, CVBL, takes a non-traditional approach to calculating cost per SKU when replenishing inventory in an animal hospital. Using a loaded cost of $23 per hour for inventory personnel, she estimates 45 minutes to order, unpack, receive, record, pay the invoice and keep track of an item each time it is … [Read more...]
2022 AAHA Canine Vaccination Guidelines focus on what’s essential for each individual dog
Complete with a mascot, infographic and guidelines-at-a-glance poster, the newly published 2022 AAHA Canine Vaccination Guidelines will help veterinarians and their teams create personalized and comprehensive vaccination plans for individual patients. The guidelines contain updates on recommended vaccination protocols based on age, lifestyle, and the increasing prevalence of … [Read more...]
Worth a Glance – August 25, 2022
Last week’s most read post Confronting your biases (video). Link. Last AHD Bulletin - Animal Health Digest Bulletin, Thursday, August 18, 2022. Link. =================================== Help bring the dairy farm into the classroom Source: Discover Dairy. Link. The Adopt-a-Cow opportunity for this year closes on September 15th so there’s still time to let … [Read more...]
Those may be tears of joy from your dog
New research from Japanese scientists suggests that a dog’s eyes may well up with tears of happiness when reunited with its owner after a period of absence. Tears in dogs have not been linked with emotion before. We found that dogs shed tears associated with positive emotions . . . oxytocin was discovered as a possible mechanism underlying it . . . “ - Takefumi … [Read more...]
Unidentified parvo-like virus killing dogs in Michigan
All animal health pros need to be aware of this situation. The unidentified virus affects puppies and older dogs. When the animals are tested by veterinarians, the initial test for parvo is negative. Usually, the dogs die within three to five days. Dogs have been sent to The Michigan State University Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory for necropsy, which did show parvo. The … [Read more...]
IBPSA Fast Bites – August 22, 2022
Inflation fears, global pet care trends, rude pet owners stressing professionals, making videos for your business, leading pet resort rebranding and more . . . There is still time to register for the IBPSA Flow Business Conference (for the pet care industry) to be held in Orlando, Florida September 22, 2022 - September 24, 2022. <Link>. Source: IBPSA Fast Bites, … [Read more...]
Some sugar substitutes affect blood glucose and gut bacteria
In a new study, human participants who consumed sugar substitutes showed an altered microbiome and spikes in blood glucose. However, the effects of the sweeteners on blood glucose are likely highly personalized, Eran Elinav says. But the results suggest these compounds don’t just pass through the body, as some originally thought. Source: Scientific American as seen in AAHA … [Read more...]
Screen apnea? Learning how we breathe. (video,podcast)
The term screen apnea was coined in 2007 by a former Apple executive who realized she was holding her breath when it came time to check her inbox. She learned she wasn't alone. Musicians, power lifters, sharpshooters, moderators and yes, animal health pros, often take a deep breath and hold it anticipating the next action. We breathe 25,000 times a day. How we breathe has … [Read more...]
Why thinking hard exhausts you and what can be done about it
Should you keep pushing yourself when your mind is telling you to slow down? Scientists believe they’ve found what’s happening in your brain after a hard day of thinking <Link>. What is happening, writes Jason Feifer, is not pretty. It's not an energy problem. It's a brain problem. They are not computers that work forever . . . our minds need a rest.” When our brains … [Read more...]
Mandatory vacations may be in order
Despite their elevated stress levels, more than 50 percent of American workers end up leaving paid vacation days unused. Source: BBC, July 31, 2022. Link. The goal of mandatory time off is to foster a working culture that encourages rest, removing barriers – both perceived and overt – that prevent workers from leaving the office. In this way, companies hope they can … [Read more...]
Client sticker shock (video series)
Complimentary Sponsored Content We’ve heard about sticker shock in the context of judging a client’s pocketbook for years. Recently, several sources have analyzed and shared cost of care information associated with pet ownership. The intent of these studies is to help veterinary teams understand the costs of caring for pets and to help them proactively discuss costs with pet … [Read more...]
Client trust, human-animal bond and meeting client concerns
The last article in a three-part series from Wendy Hauser, DVM, pulls together the challenges veterinary teams face when dealing with clients’ expectations and paradigms. Twenty four percent of dog owners and 35 percent of cat owners don’t seek regular health care for their pets according to the AVMA. The primary reasons were the expense and the lack of the perceived value … [Read more...]
The Bridge Club to discuss ending the puppy mill battle
TBC live event on Zoom: August 24th, 7:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. CDT. Register here <Link>. Professionals in veterinary practices often see firsthand both inhumane and humane operations. This conversation with Mark Cushing, JD ,is about ending the puppy mill battles and why they can’t all be humane, along with what the future holds for puppy mills. Source: The Bridge … [Read more...]