Complimentary content Katie Woodley, BVSc, cVMA, GDVCHM, brings a collaborative mindset to integrative veterinary medicine. She combines western and eastern approaches to improving the quality of life for pets. A frequent guest on The Bridge Club Pets*, she anchors on food being the foundation for health. She asserts five steps to implement into pet's lives for optimal … [Read more...]
Dr. Jen translates dog diarrhea and new puppy musts
Complimentary content Two new YouTube editions of Is this a Thing? are now available. Jenifer Chatfield, DVM, Dipl. ACZM, Dipl. ACVPM, talks about new puppies and dealing with diarrhea in her initiative to help pet owners understand veterinary jargon and be more comfortable communicating with veterinarians. Source: Dr Jen the Vet, YouTube. Link to YouTube channel. … [Read more...]
How to start a fight with a client
Louis Dunn turns customer experience training upside down from what to do to what not to do. She shares phrases staff members use that can kill your client service and make a client feel as if you are trying to make them angry and start a fight: Our policy is . . . We have been really busy . . . Press 1 for…Press 2 for…Press 9 to repeat these choices . . . … [Read more...]
The future of veterinary telemedicine
Complimentary Content Roger Redman, DVM, and president of American Association of Veterinary State Boards shares his perspectives on telemedicine. He believes telemedicine isn’t just a part of the veterinary future, but that it guarantees the profession has one. He discusses VCPR, the expanded use of telemedicine platforms to facilitate access and the potential for dedicated … [Read more...]
Disinfecting or just cleaning? Contact time MATTERS!
Commentary With news media reporting a resurgence of Covid-19 infections this fall, it is time to revisit contact time. Best practices say to remove dirt then disinfect. But if the disinfectant used does not remain wet for the duration of its contact time, we are essentially just cleaning. Considerations in your community Conversations this week with the head nurse of … [Read more...]
CDC updates information on Covid-19 airborne risks (with video)
Well duh! The CDC now says people should also avoid crowded indoor spaces and ensure indoor spaces are properly ventilated by bringing in outdoor air. This update is a result of mounting evidence from super-spreader events. The guidance for physical distancing remains in place and needs further emphasis as winter drives more personal interactions indoors. The balance of … [Read more...]
Celebrating veterinary technicians, nurses and assistants
Commentary This week our industry acknowledges the efforts of veterinary technician. Since 1993, National Veterinary Technician Week has taken place the third week of October. Its objectives recognize veterinary technicians are critical to the day-to-day function of veterinary practices and play vital roles in preserving animal health and welfare. Often tireless champions … [Read more...]
6 survival items everyone should have in their car’s glove compartment
Whether you are six blocks or 60 miles from home, situations occur where emergency kits in the trunk are not reachable. The authors assert that everyone needs to have these 6 items handy in the car: Flashlight First aid kit Gloves Seat belt cutting tool Multi-tool Poncho Source: The Outdoor Wear, November 2019. Link. Every single driver needs to have an … [Read more...]
Calves: Start them off right
How calves are fed and managed can affect their lifelong health and productivity. The Dairy Herd editors cover four early life areas to help calves now and throughout their lives: Tips to improve colostrum What to provide for calves so they can perform Keep scours down when feeding volumes go up Feeding transition milk; another tool in the toolbox Source: Dairy … [Read more...]
Resiliency trumps size on smaller dairies
Sometimes bigger is not better. That is one conclusion that can be drawn from a recent University of Minnesota study of small- to medium-sized dairies. The study data set combined animal health, production and farm financial data to help dairy farms create more financially sustainable operations. Financial resiliency was defined using the adjusted net farm income ratio. … [Read more...]
Equine asthma; don’t forget the fungi
The author presents the challenge of mold in bedding and forage and how it relates to equine allergies and respiratory challenges. Using his tracheal wash method, horses with fungal elements in their samples were two times more likely to have mild equine asthma when compared with horses without fungal elements in their samples. Source: Modern Equine Vet, Issue 9, 2020. page … [Read more...]
The 4 Cs of restraint-free grooming
Restraint-free grooming has allowed fearful and aggressive peta that hated to be groomed to feel calm and protected, writes Hannah Ziegler. Restraint-free means no extra people, no grooming loops, no muzzles or Elizabethan collars. She says that with dedicated time and repetitions, 98 percent of pets can be groomed without restraints using her approach. The 4 Cs to grooming … [Read more...]
SID feeding of indoor cats may improve health
Obesity is the most common nutritional problem affecting cats. In research likely to surprise veterinarians and cat owners*, cats that ate one meal a day were more satisfied, which could result in less food-begging behavior. The study results also suggest cutting back feeding frequency could help reduce the risk of obesity by controlling cats' appetite and potentially making … [Read more...]
The dilemma of pandemic pet pounds
The challenge of obesity in dogs has been exacerbated by the pandemic lockdown. The WFH messages promoted to date involve pets getting more exercise, but Kim Kavin’s Washington Post story indicates many dogs have packed on extra weight. On the other hand, dogs that have lost weight might have a few aches and pains from the increase in activity. Dog owners should work with … [Read more...]
Decoding vaccine titers in companion animal practice
Sara E. Gonzalez, DVM, MS, provides a literature-based review of the limitations and benefits of this type of testing and guidance for interpreting results. In the summary comments she shares: The gold standard laboratory techniques for detecting circulating blood antibody titers against the core canine vaccine antigens and FPV are VN and HI. Core vaccine titer testing … [Read more...]
7 steps to see if your webcam has been hacked
Things like snooping, webcam hacking and location tracking happen every day, but we are still not used to taking all the warnings seriously says Clint Latham, JD. He shares steps to ensure nothing phishy is going on. If you suspect someone is accessing your webcam without your consent, don’t ignore your sixth sense.” – Clint Latham, JD Source: Lucca Veterinary Data Security. … [Read more...]
Infection control. Back to basics.
Commentary What? Again? Yes, absolutely! The topic of infection control and disinfection products, protocols and methods dominated media and discussions starting in February 2020. Medical and veterinary hospitals hurried to update protocols, train staff and implement checks and balances to reduce the risk of Covid-19 transmission. Through all the confusion, animal health … [Read more...]
7 ways BtoB content can change everything
Guest contributor Brendan Howard educated and entertained dvm360 business section readers for years where he built a loyal following. He now freelances and agreed to share some of his business-to-business (BtoB) content expertise with animal health pros. Here’s a sample. You’ll find the rest of the article at the link. Source: 7 ways BtoB can change everything, October 8, … [Read more...]
Zooming as the norm
With more people than ever working remotely, it feels like we’ve been in more meetings than normal in 2020. The desire to sync up with our teams more often when we are all working from our homes makes sense. Source: Giant Leap Consulting, September 9, 2020. Link. That is, start your meetings by making sure everyone on the call understands the Purpose, the Outcomes, and the … [Read more...]
Improvements in overnight monitoring care
Complimentary Commercial Content from Kevin Maher, VetMeasure Overnight monitoring care is often necessary for a veterinary patient and can be difficult for the veterinary team, animal owner and the animal. Today, there are options for pet wearables that practices can use to monitor various vitals including: a patient’s axillary temperature, respiratory rate (range), and … [Read more...]
Goats, a decade-plus commitment
Expecting a goat to live a decade or more is part of an informed decision for potential goat owners, writes Janet Garman. She shares shelter requirements, hoof care, health maintenance, vaccination and nutrition. Source: Backyard Goats, September 15, 2020. Link. While goats are hardy little ruminants for the most part, they do not tolerate wet weather as well as cattle and … [Read more...]
Fall colors signal risks for horses
Fall leaves, especially red maple, can be toxic to horses, livestock and small ungulates. While we enjoy the colors and fall activities, a wind-cast limb from a maple could provide toxic leaves in the pasture. Toxins, especially those in red maple, damage the hemoglobin in horses’ red blood cells, so they can no longer carry oxygen. Affected cells may rupture, clogging the … [Read more...]
Choosing a feline behaviorist from 4 types of specialists
All cat behaviorists are not equal. In fact, there are four recognized types of them, each with their own credentials: Board-Certified Veterinary Behaviorist Certified Applied Animal Behaviorist International Association of Animal Behavior Consultants Karen Pryor Academy for Animal Training & Behavior Source: Tuft’s Catnip, September 18, 2020. Link. … [Read more...]
4 categories help cats thrive for 5 types of cat owners
September was Happy Cat Month, an event created by the CATalyst Council to improve cat wellness by focusing on happiness. The council promotes helping cats live their best lives by focusing on four major categories: health, enrichment, safety and value. The hunting behavior of cats is frequently a topic for songbird enthusiasts. However, understanding how cat owners view … [Read more...]
Why dogs eat rocks and how to stop it
Rock eating by dogs can be the result of a medical, behavioral or psychological problem, writes Kaitlyn Arford. While boredom is frequently the reason, she reviews eating disorders and possible medical reasons for this habit that is also hard on teeth. Teaching dogs and puppies two important basic commands, “leave it” and “drop it,” is the foundation of successfully destroying … [Read more...]
Proofing a dog’s training
The 3-D approach to proofing a dog’s training involves challenging the dog with what it does at home without distractions in a distracted environment. Kathy Santo explains the three major categories of proofing: Distraction Duration Distance The reality of dog training is that proofing is the way to take your training from “works at home, sometimes” to “works … [Read more...]
Dog training services are more important than ever
All the time we’ve spent at home with dogs isn’t as beneficial as we initially thought. Trainer Dale Buchanan is seeing an increase in adult dogs that are suddenly developing serious behavior issues related to stress and anxiety. He suggests these changes are likely coming from the stress and anxieties of their WFH owners. The dogs are most likely over-stimulated and … [Read more...]
Warm beer = bad vaccine?
Monitoring the performance of refrigeration units is critical to vaccines and pharmaceuticals labeled for temperature control. Older units may develop inconsistent temperature zones with items freezing in one area and getting too warm in another. The context for the article is dairy, but almost any veterinary clinic or on-farm drug storage area can have the issues shared in … [Read more...]
Dr. Jen launches Is this a Thing?
Complimentary sponsored content Jenifer Chatfield, DVM, Dipl. ACZM, Dipl. ACVPM, just launched the first episode in a unique YouTube series she calls, “Is this a thing? Veterinary Translations for Pet Owners!” Her new effort will serve to bridge the communication gap between pet owners, animal care professionals and veterinary medical teams. By addressing the basic … [Read more...]
5 essential reads on how coronavirus spreads through the air
Challenging the ongoing confusion and behavioral apathy many of us are witnessing, Stacy Morford turned to scientists to help explain what aerosols are, how airborne particles can transmit the coronavirus and how to protect yourself. The articles were recently published in The Conversation. Source: The Conversation, September 23, 2020. Link. The 5 essential reads … [Read more...]