Opinion The author got my attention with these opening sentences: Bringing home a dog means an addition to your existing family and your responsibilities. Being the owner, you will be responsible for the dog’s actions, behavior and health. What followed was a nice overview of some accessories to help make a dog’s life easier and strengthen his bonds with family … [Read more...]
AAFP releases new end-of-life toolkit
AAFP’s new End of Life Educational Toolkit provides information to help facilitate a peaceful and painless transition for a cat at the end of their life. This digital toolkit aids veterinary professionals in preparing a well-planned process to honor the life of the cat by offering guidance and valuable information. Source: American Association of Feline Practitioners. May … [Read more...]
The 3 Rs of tick-borne diseases
Reports from colleagues around midwestern U.S. states indicate tick populations are thriving. Tick distributions are dynamic and ever-changing, and practice protocols often need to evolve to meet the growing threat ticks pose to pet health, writes Holly Morss, LVT. Morss discusses teaching staff members to address tick borne disease using the 3-R’s: Review the topic of … [Read more...]
10 ways to have a better conversation
In this insightful TED talk, Celeste Hedley shares 10 useful rules for having better conversations. "Go out, talk to people, listen to people," she says. "And, most importantly, be prepared to be amazed." Headley has worked as a radio host for decades, and she knows the ingredients of a great conversation: Honesty, brevity, clarity and a healthy amount of … [Read more...]
Nutrition Coach Certification: Nutritional education for the pet, client and practice
Nutrition is one factor the veterinary healthcare team can affect, writes Kara M. Burns, MS, MEd, LVT, VTS (Nutrition). Burns advocates for involving veterinary nurses as nutrition counselors for pet owners and the practice team. She discusses the values of nutritional education, the challenges of misinformation and shares details on the NAVC Pet Nutrition Coach … [Read more...]
Why should I care?
In an ongoing crisis, clear communication is more important and more difficult than when things are normal. Employees and customers are hungry for information, so we are tempted to pull together presentations and communicate with urgency instead of with careful planning. Source: Harvard Business Review, May 6, 2021. Link. If they do not know why a new action is necessary, … [Read more...]
VVCA Lunch & Learn demonstrates importance of decision support
Opinion Kudos to Shadi Ireifej and Ali McIntyre for coordinating and producing the May 26 VVCA Lunch & Learn. The only disappointment was low attendance. Ireifej shared several video cases where clients needed support to decide if their animal warranted emergency care. It was impressive to see and hear how Ireifej: Engaged the clients comfortably and casually … [Read more...]
Forget everything you know about telemedicine
One might picture Jessica Vogelsang, DVM, stomping her feet as she discusses telemedicine and virtual care. Her blog post is a rally call aimed to raise the view of colleagues who are likely to meet a 2021 barrage of client appointments in the months ahead. We’ve spent the last five years arguing over the value of veterinary telemedicine because the assumption has always been … [Read more...]
Flexible workforces in veterinary practices might include aging boomers
Opinion Two recent articles prompted aberrant thought connections. Maybe for certain veterinary practices, geographies or situations the synergy between flexibility and aging boomers might be workable. In the first, Theresa L. Entriken, DVM, discusses purposefully building a schedule-flexible, diversely talented segment of your team. She says, “Imagine a team consisting … [Read more...]
Customer service is not customer experience
Customer service is only one aspect of the entire customer experience. Customer service needs to be put into context — which means putting customer experience first. Most customer service starts when a customer calls with a problem. By contrast, customer experience starts with hope — with the reason the customer chooses you in the first place.” Source: Strategy + Business, … [Read more...]
Worth a Glance – May 20, 2021
Last week’s top post Why constant learners all embrace the 5-hour rule Source: Animal Health Digest, May 11, 2021. Link. University of Minnesota researchers develop novel, field-deployable test for CWD Source: University of Minnesota, April 19, 2021. Link. The team is striving for a test that could be set-up at individual stations … [Read more...]
Target these goals for dairy steers
Dairy and crossbred steers are no longer thought of as subquality meat. However, there are some nuances to ensure quality. Daniel Schaefer, PhD, is quoted in this article from the May Hoard’s Dairyman webinar, “Capturing full value for Holstein and crossbred steers.” The ideal Holstein steer is the kind of steer that, in the right conditions, is both a dairy steer harvester … [Read more...]
Summer pneumonia is a concern in calves
Calves that struggled early and failed to get significant passive transfer of immunity through colostrum are eventually susceptible to pathogens that can cause respiratory disease. Mixing, sorting and some weather events create stressful conditions that may trigger an outbreak of summer pneumonia in nursing calves. Source: Bovine Veterinarian, May 12, 2021. Link. Vaccination … [Read more...]
4 Ss of pain management in cattle
In today’s cattle stewardship environment, pain management is an important consideration, especially for dehorning, injuries and surgeries. It is fundamentally important to address pain for the animal’s benefit, production efficiency, and for maintaining the confidence of the consumer.” - Johann F Coetzee BVSc, Cert CHP, PhD, DACVCP, DACAW, DipECAWBM Source: Bovine … [Read more...]
Know the signs of foot rot in livestock
Diagnosis of foot rot requires a thorough examination. Lesions usually infect both claws of the hoof, so if only one side is infected, the problem is likely not foot rot, says Barry Whitworth, DVM. His discussion is featured in SUNUP, an agricultural television program worthy of sharing with producers via social media or newsletters. SUNUP video Source: The Bullvine, May … [Read more...]
Managing how long beef producers keep cows
Doug Ferguson challenges the conventional cow management paradigm that a cow has 10 years to pay her way. Instead of being in the business of making old cows, he suggests a high turnover process that increases inventory value and improves gross sales. Other principles from Wally Olson’s marketing school are referenced as more examples of how high turnover methods increase … [Read more...]
New composting publication offers practical steps for livestock producers
Composting dead livestock has not been standard operating procedure on some farms because other processes are used. New or potential situation changes have led to renewed interest in composting. A new publication from Iowa Pork Industry Center offers information to start composting or updating on-farm composting methods. Source: pig333.com, May 5, 2021. Link. Two primary … [Read more...]
Baby birds. Rescue or not?
Benji Jones shares information to help determine if a baby bird needs help or not. Wandering from the nest is exactly what fledglings are supposed to do, says Melanie Furr. It's a normal part of a bird's development, and though these chicks might appear abandoned, they’re likely under surveillance by their parents nearby. It’s not uncommon to find young birds away from … [Read more...]
3 steps to stop chickens from pecking each other
Commercial content included from Purina Poultry Though hen pecking is a natural occurrence, the nature of this behavior can change when birds spend more time inside. Understanding the difference between curious and aggressive hen pecking is key to knowing when there is a problem. Pecking is a natural chicken behavior that allows them to check out their surroundings, … [Read more...]
Conversations about horse deworming
Complimentary Sponsored Content Kent Morgan, DVM, addresses deworming in adult horses including timing with grazing periods, geographic differences and the importance of annual fecal egg counts for every horse to optimize parasite control. Source: LinkedIn, May 11, 2021. Link. You Tube video. Link. The Zoetis dewormer information is fully aligned with the AAEP Parasite … [Read more...]
Why cats and dogs lick you
Getting licked is not always pleasant for owners. Two articles shed light on this common behavior which, for the most part, is an indication the owner is liked. Source: Catster, February 1, 2021. Link. When your cats lick you, it can be a compliment, a sign of stress or more says JaneA Kelly. She indicates anxiety, social bonding and trust are some of the reasons cats lick … [Read more...]
Study indicates canine cognitive dysfunction and periodontal disease seem linked
Recent research suggests that what is going on in a dog’s mouth may play an important role in canine cognitive dysfunction. Specifically, periodontal or gum disease has been shown to be an important factor in humans with Alzheimer's disease. Research done at Elemental Pet Vets in Freeville, New York recently generated data that suggests that what is going on in a dog's mouth … [Read more...]
Bluetooth-based smart tag for livestock launches
Complimentary Commercial Content The latest iteration of the DoggTags, DoggBone, and DoggHouse extends the range, consistency and adds cell phone enabled connection to individual animal data. Founder and CRO Melissa Brandão talks about the significance of the product launch. Source: HerdDogg. Link. INSIGHTS: We’re getting closer to the holy grail envisioned more than … [Read more...]
Research insights on telemedicine; changing pet owner expectations regarding accessing
Vet-AI and Joii Pet Care released new insights into the effectiveness and safety of remote prescribing. They are collected from tens of thousands of consults during the pandemic, as well as exclusive pet parent research which highlights owner expectations and needs. The insights were first shared in a live webinar called The Great British Data Show last week hosted by The … [Read more...]
Pandemic pets taking toll on vets, staffs
Veterinarians and their teams across the country are seeing more new pets and more sick ones than in pre-pandemic times. The Associated Press reports despite extending hours, hiring more staff and refusing new patients, the load is heavy. Some practices have hire counselors to help staff members deal with burnout and fatigue. The numbers support the burden. Approximately … [Read more...]
No, people aren’t giving up pandemic pets because they’re bored
Opinion Finally! Award winning journalist S. E. Smith speaks up on pandemic puppy surrenders, better ways to approach animal welfare, ways to handle hardship surrenders and social media posturing. While pets adopted during the pandemic period are being surrendered, data from Shelter Animals Count appear to indicate current relinquishments are not back to pre-pandemic, … [Read more...]
Worth a Glance – May 13, 2021
NOTE: When it is time to catch up on your reading or recall something you scanned, try the AHD Archives on the right side of the AHD website. Such as: Archives for April 2021. Link. Last week’s top post Eating less meat won’t save the planet. Here’s why. Source: Animal Health Digest, May 4, 2021. Link. What my Mother’s death taught … [Read more...]
Manage dry cows to reduce future mastitis
Two important factors related to dry cow management include proper procedures for drying off cows and a clean, dry environment. Turning them out with limited oversight doesn’t optimize the dry off resting period. Amber Yutzy with Penn State Extension presents the importance of proactive management of this stage in dairy cows’ life. Source: Dairy Herd Management, October … [Read more...]
Prepare for dairy cattle heat stress
Dairy cows are extremely sensitive to heat and begin experiencing heat stress at just 65°F to 68°F. We’ve already had days with higher temperatures. The author discusses the effect of heat stress and offers some tips to help heifers and cows: Provide forms of heat abatement that avoid direct solar radiation Provide 24/7 easy access to drinking water both in the barn and … [Read more...]
Could artificial insemination become illegal?
Artificial breeding might become illegal should a ballot initiative in Colorado be enacted by the state’s citizens says Corey Geiger. He reviews the legislation that would call an animal, “any living, nonhuman creature.” The revised definition would then state, “. . . not limited to, a dog, a cat, a horse, livestock . . ,” says Geiger. Source: Hoard’s Dairyman, May 10, 2021. … [Read more...]