Separation anxiety is a common dilemma for dog owners. Amber L. Drake shares tips to keep dogs busy and mentally stimulated while home alone. Consider including the article in newsletters or social media posts along with behavior management services or products you recommend when appropriate. Source: LoveToKnow, September 2023. Link. … [Read more...]
Could dogs have ADHD?
Many problem behaviors in dogs are anxiety-related, but some appear due to inattention or hyperactivity, says Deirdre V. Lovecky, PhD. She presents ADHD-like behaviors in two articles here using her own dog as an example. Rating scales and other methods of assessment that can help determine canine ADHD are included. Source: Psychology Today. Link. In part one, the literature … [Read more...]
Pet owner handout emphasizes the importance of pet oral health
Reinforcing the importance of home care and oral exams by veterinarians, this handout is built as a take-home to reinforce discussions in the veterinary hospital or for use in newsletters or social media. Source: Clinician’s Brief, February 2024. Link. The handout refers to different types of oral care products for at-home use and refers to the VOHC lists of approved … [Read more...]
AAFP announces new chronic pain educational toolkit
Developed by individuals at the forefront of treating pain in domestic cats, the AAFP Chronic Pain Educational Toolkit provides veterinary professionals with an easy-to-access and easy-to-use resource for understanding, diagnosing and managing chronic pain in cats. It adds to existing resources and provides guidance on improving the quality of life for cats with chronic … [Read more...]
13 things dogs hate that humans do (video)
Inconsistencies, forcing dogs into uncomfortable situations, changing food too quickly and ignoring dogs’ health needs are included in the items in this informative video. Use video content like this to engage pet owners on social media or in newsletters. Add assertive comments or pet care reminders from your own hospital or pet services business. For example: “Puppy classes … [Read more...]
Data from 36 years: 20 dog breeds that attack people most frequently (slide show)
Stacker looked at data collected by ANIMALS 24-7, which logged serious attacks by dog breeds from September 1982 to December 31, 2018, to see what trends emerged in the most serious attacks. Only pure dog breeds with 10 or more attacks doing bodily harm were ranked, and any ties were broken by the number of deaths. Source: MSN, Stacker, March 3, 2024. Link. … [Read more...]
Hercules, Yeager Airport’s working Border Collie
Working and service dogs come in all shapes and sizes. In this video, Hercules and his dual roles at Yeager Airport in Charleston, West Virginia, are featured. He and his handler patrol the runways and taxiways to chase wildlife away and take time to greet passengers. Enjoy! Source: MotionMasters, YouTube, April 11, 2019. Link. (2:45) … [Read more...]
Environments cats find friendly
A cat’s behavioral responses are directly related to its emotions. A cat-friendly environment minimizes the cat’s protective emotions and improves the experience for the cat, the caregiver, and the team, writes Kelly St. Denis MSc, DVM, DABVP, who focuses on the veterinary hospital in this article. The information is also applicable to boarding, daycare and pet services … [Read more...]
IBPSA Fast Bites – March 4, 2024
Petflation outpacing national inflation rate, Door Dash to deliver pet supplies, nurturing vendor relationships for growth, little things that count, AI in small business and more . . . Source: IBPSA Fast Bites, March 4, 2024. Link. … [Read more...]
Survey: The best 3 things to say when offering support
About 1,000 Americans between the ages of 18 and 76 were surveyed to find the expressions of support they most appreciate hearing. Three simple phrases topped the list of words they like to hear: “I’m proud of you,” “You’ve got this,” and “I believe in you.” Source: Nice News, March 2, 2024. Link. Also see: Empathy – the secret sauce, AHD Archives. Link. … [Read more...]
Overcome the stigma and move forward when older and unemployed
Ofer Sharone, J.D., PhD, shares the stigma of unemployment for educated professionals in the middle or end of their careers. He discusses the perceptions employers have regarding the length of unemployment, being seen as over-qualified and age-biased. Source: Yahoo! Finance, February 17, 2024. Link. Assumptions that drive age bias have been rebutted by research . . . we … [Read more...]
Thank you notes after an interview? Yes or No?
You don’t need to send a handwritten card, but a thank-you note is likely your final chance to seal your good impression before the hiring manager makes their decision. Source: Fast Company, February 28, 2024. Link. . . . a few brief sentences in an email will do . . . send it within 24 hours . . . “ … [Read more...]
Longevity’s secret
Many people don't put thought and intent into optimizing the one thing most do more than anything else . . . work. Source: AXIOS, February 22, 2024. Link. Worldwide sixty-two percent of employees are indifferent to their work lives. Eighteen percent are downright miserable. INSIGHT: Note the quote from Hal Buell obituary, “I had the greatest job in the whole … [Read more...]
9 pet companies listed as fastest-growing U.S. private companies by region
Inc. magazine’s 2024 Regionals list honors the fastest-growing privately held U.S. companies by region over a two-year period which includes emerging veterinary hospitals, pet franchises, pet insurance and other product manufacturers. Source: Pet Product News, March 2024. Link. … [Read more...]
2023’s top 25 pet retailers
Rising competition from online and non-specialty retailers companies on the 2023 list added more than 200 stores to top retail competitors. Store conversions and acquisitions along with organic growth helped them avoid contraction and optimize economies of scale. NOTE: Consider reading the comments from four top growth companies who share their experiences in managing for … [Read more...]
Fire doesn’t discriminate. Neither do these vets.
Dr. Deb Zoran, a veterinarian and leader of Texas A&M’s Veterinary Emergency Team, faces long days and short nights as the Texas wildfires rage on. Originally on a narrow mission to aid the search dog sent with A&M’s search and rescue team, Shelton and other volunteers heeded officials’ pleas for help from more veterinarians. They’re still there. The veterinarians … [Read more...]
Home delivery, autoship important offerings for veterinary clients
ICYMI. Ordering online is rapidly becoming an expectation. Already, convenience is table stakes. Malinda Larkin shares takeaways from survey results presented by Brakke Consulting. The survey looked at consumer preferences and behaviors in pet medicine purchasing, customer satisfaction with different channels and service expectations, and the competitive landscape versus major … [Read more...]
Decontamination guidelines for dogs developed by Texas A&M VET
A newly developed set of protocols from the Texas A&M School of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences’ Veterinary Emergency Team aims to educate disaster management teams across the country about the kinds and quantities of resources needed to clean external contaminants, such as toxic chemicals, off dogs. Providing information about other common pet species … [Read more...]
Worth a Glance – February 29, 2024
Last week’s AHD Bulletin – Animal Health Digest Bulletin, February 22, 2024. Link. Most read post(s) from the February 22nd AHD Bulletin – And, “What else?” Link. 8 restaurant etiquette tips, explained. Link. Skipping the dog walk IS a big deal. Link. ============================================ A major solar storm could be devastating to our … [Read more...]
Employee Appreciation Day is March 1st
Employee appreciation is directly tied to job satisfaction. Various sources indicate more than one-third of employees say personal recognition would encourage them to be more productive. The articles here share various ideas to celebrate employees. It is crucial to avoid giving the impression that your expressions of employee appreciation are merely perfunctory gestures … [Read more...]
TSCRA urges donations amid devastating Texas and Oklahoma wildfires
As wildfires continue to rage in the Texas panhandle and Western Oklahoma, the Texas & Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association is urging donors to give to the TSCRA Disaster Relief Fund. Donations will to aid victims of the ongoing natural disasters. The TSCRA Disaster Relief Fund is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that provides support for cattle raisers in Texas and Oklahoma who … [Read more...]
Are veterinarians obligated to discuss pet insurance? (podcast)
Alyssa Watson, DVM, and Beth Molleson, DVM, debate the role of the veterinary team when it comes to pet owner education and discuss if pet insurance is an obligation. Their consensus: Pet insurance is not an obligation. Educating pet owners on the lifetime costs of veterinary pet care is important. Source: Veterinary Breakroom, Clinician’s Brief. February 2024. … [Read more...]
The latest from GARC
The work continues to eliminate human deaths from dog rabies by 2030. Learn about GARC's surveillance tools, advocacy and the latest free, downloadable resources on GARC's website. Source: Rabid Bytes, GARC, February 2024. Link. GARC's mission is to prevent human deaths from dog-mediated rabies and relieve the burden of rabies in other animal populations, especially dogs. … [Read more...]
Veterinarians launch pet treats and chews certification program
In an industry where pet owners seek the best for their furry companions, VetEvaluated aims to be a trusted authority, offering a rigorous certification process that involves expert evaluation by experienced veterinarians. Current certification is available for consumable pet treats and chews at this time. VetEvaluated Certification assessments cover: Digestibility … [Read more...]
Webinar to address cutaneous adverse food reactions
AAHA and Hills will offer a free CE webinar to update veterinary teams confronting skin issues from 6:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. MDT, March 14, 2024. Presenter Sara Hoff, DVM, MPH, Dip. ACVD, expects to cover novel proteins plus: Latest data on CAFR prevalence and risk factors Advanced diagnostic techniques for accurate identification Proven strategies for managing … [Read more...]
Veterinary Assistant, Veterinary Assistant Scribe programs launched to enhance pet care
The American Healthcare Documentation Professionals Group introduces the Veterinary Assistant and Veterinary Assistant Scribe online training programs. They are designed prepare learners for careers in veterinary medicine. Participants will gain insights about the care of animals as well as how to recognize signs of illness and disease in a variety of animals from common pets … [Read more...]
Reminder: Watch Mella Pet Care on Shark Tank Friday, March 1st
Mella Pet Care’s pitch to the sharks will air on @sharktankabc on Friday, March 1st. Tune in to @abcnetwork at 8:00 p.m. Eastern/7:00 p.m. Central to see if any sharks bite. Source: Mella Pet Care, Facebook. Link. … [Read more...]
The various ways birds blink
Birds have various ways of blinking depending on the species and the circumstances. Like us, they have upper and lower eyelids, though the upper lid only moves down in parrots, owls, pigeons, and a few others. The lower lid rises with drowsiness and when the bird is preening. Birds blink when they turn their heads using a ‘third eyelid’, the nictitating membrane that moves … [Read more...]
USDA chief veterinarian says alert remains high for HPAI cases
While the number of wild bird detections are lower, they are still happening, “so as long as the migration comes back… I think we should be prepared for that as we move into the spring.” Source: Feedstuffs, February 27, 2024. Link. … [Read more...]
The role of technology in reducing stress for cats in veterinary medicine
Innovative solutions are emerging to minimize stress and create a more comfortable experience for cats during veterinary visits writes Craig Wallace. He shares the potential of incorporating telemedicine, AI, calming interventions, and other innovative solutions. With these, veterinary professionals can create a more compassionate and stress-free environment for cats, … [Read more...]