It’s been said, “the poop rolls downhill.” In most vet clinics, the technicians catch it. But these talented professionals frequently make the day, save a case and step in to help animal owners understand what’s going on. Kudos to the dvm360 staff for collecting some real-life experiences as the 2019 National Veterinary Technician Week approaches October 13-19. Source: … [Read more...]
The real meaning of customer-centricity and how to develop it (includes video)
Like a well-written elevator speech, Denise Lee Yohn discusses how to implement a customer-centric operating model. She promotes cultivating a culture that embraces a customer-focused mindset and values. Beyond “a customer is always right,” customer centricity is about identifying your most valuable customers and then organizing and operating around them. Source: SmartBrief, … [Read more...]
Burdock plants and cows don’t mix
Eye problems in livestock can be caused by foreign material. One of the more challenging problems is burdock slivers, according to Heather Smith Thomas. A tenacious and invasive weed, burdock is readily spread to new areas by burrs stuck to animals or clothing. When ripe, the burrs release hundreds of microscopic barbed slivers that contain tiny seeds. If a sliver gets into an … [Read more...]
Feed tags offer nutritional information
Every bag of livestock feed and mineral sold has a tag attached that offers an analysis of the product, ingredients and feeding directions. This may seem like basic information. But, for youngsters or those starting out in the livestock business with no background, these labels are a good start to ensure their livestock get a sound nutrition regimen. Source: Noble Research … [Read more...]
Beef bulls + dairy cows can compromise milk production
Unable to return a surplus of female calves, dairies are assertively seeking to breed and sell surplus calves for meat production. However, many strongly antagonistic traits associated with calving performance and carcass merit can be detrimental to the cows’ ability to calve and re-establish pregnancy early postcalving without any compromise in milk production. Researchers … [Read more...]
A good bed can improve dogs’ health and well-being
Providing pets with a high-quality bed or blanket can be a crucial building block for health and well-being. The most important benefits of beds and blankets are: They improve sleep quality They speak to dogs’ nesting instincts They offer security on-the-go Source: Animal Wellness, September 6, 2019. Link. When choosing a bed for a pet, how the pet sleeps helps … [Read more...]
Farm-wise parasite control strategies
Mares midway in their second trimester makes them a top parasite control priority on horse farms. It is important to consider all the horses on the farm, but remember each horse has its own needs , writes Sarah Evers Conrad. Avoid blanket parasite control strategies. They have led to widespread drug resistance in parasite populations. There’s really no way to build a parasite … [Read more...]
Protect horses from lyme disease
Fall brings a fervent tick quest < link > that reinforces the need to limit horse exposure to ticks. There is no lyme vaccine approved for use in horses. However, some veterinarians have vaccinated horses with canine vaccine < link >. Laurie Bonner shares ways to reduce horse exposure to ticks including daily removal, pasture care and using tick repellent on … [Read more...]
CAPC Top Ten Cities Report for the month of August
The Top Ten Cities report for August 2019 shows the cities with the highest percentage increase in positive heartworm tests: Orange, CA Paul, MN Fontana, CA Cleveland, OH Omaha, NE Syracuse, NY Milwaukee, WI Tacoma, WA San Jose, CA Cary, NC Source: CAPC, September 10, 2019. Link. Although these cities are broadly disseminated across the United … [Read more...]
More helping – less selling = success
I have just alienated every sales manager out there. But, our industry needs less selling and more helping. Your customer is trying to decide whether to buy or not. HELP THEM. Stop regurgitating features and benefits in the hope that something sticks. Source: Veterinary Advantage – Companion Edition, August 14, 2019. Link. For too many distributor representatives, objections … [Read more...]
Opinion – Vet student communication skills training programs need help
Research from Colorado State University suggests support for communication skills training programs and recognition of their value continue to grow. However, a lack of resources, faculty expertise, validated methods for outcomes assessment and leadership remain as challenges. As animal health pros, this research confirms what we’ve known for years. Therefore, working with … [Read more...]
AAHA releases Implementing Preventive Care Protocols publication
AAHA’s newest publication will help more practices learn how they can increase benefits for clients, patients and themselves by implementing preventive care protocols, according to Janice Trumpeter, DVM and AAHA Deputy CEO. Developed with an educational grant from Idexx, the expanded set of preventive care protocols includes using routine diagnostic screenings. Expanding the … [Read more...]
Lead contamination risks in backyard poultry
Rearing backyard chickens carries some zoonotic concerns and potential risk for the birds being exposed to chemicals or heavy metals like lead. These can get passed on to consumers through eggs or meat. Birds may pick up lead from various sources, such as contaminated water and feed. But, the main source of lead exposure for backyard poultry is likely contaminated … [Read more...]
Pat Malone’s most favored 2019 posts
Posts that AHD’s contributor, Pat Malone, writes, are consistently opened at a high rate. He writes about leadership and productive communication. We thank him for sharing his expertise and translating his experiences to animal health. Most of all we appreciate his support and friendship. Source: Animal Health Digest. Link. We’ve featured five of the most-read posts … [Read more...]
Three possible pathways for African swine fever to enter US
How easy is it for African swine fever (ASF) to enter the U.S.? Patrick Webb, DVM and National Pork Board director of swine health Programs, explains three ways it can enter. Dr. Scott Dee’s studies on feed ingredients coming in from China are discussed, as well as the important role diagnostics play in trying to rule in or rule out a foreign animal disease. Source: The Pig … [Read more...]
Boosting immunity in cattle may mean more productivity
Barry Bradford with Kansas State University presented new information from his study of immunometabolism at the American Society of Animal Scientists in July. He researched inflammatory responses during times of stress, especially those that impact on liver health. The interactions between normal organ function and the immune system are becoming much tighter than we used to … [Read more...]
Climate change: Longer growing season bodes well for crops, feed supply
A researcher at the Institute of Water Security and Science at West Virginia University says one silver lining from climate change that he’s seen is a longer growing season which is more conducive to agricultural production. This could mean big changes. He explains why traditional crops are floundering while non-traditional crops could gain momentum. Source: The Cattle Site, … [Read more...]
Brace for a “polar coaster” this winter
According to the 2020 Farmers’ Almanac, this winter will be filled with so many ups and downs, it may be a “polar coaster.” Our extended forecast is calling for yet another freezing, frigid, and frosty winter for two-thirds of the country" – Philom Peter Geiger, Farmer’s Almanac Editor Source: Prevention, August 26, 2019. Link. People on the East Coast will endure the worst … [Read more...]
Ding! Dong! . . . calming frenzied, front door behaviors
Most dogs overreact to the ding-dong sound, writes Annie Phenix. Someone at the door can be really exciting or really scary for them. Phenix offers tips for training alternative, less disruptive behaviors when dogs hear the ding-dong sound. Dogs need our guidance. They do not arrive understanding the ways of their human families. Source: Dogster, July 31, 2019. Link. Here … [Read more...]
Catios, rabbitats create safe outdoor spaces
Animal welfare experts recommend that cats and rabbits remain indoors where they are safe from predators, accidental escape, and extreme weather. Heather Lewis shares options to create safe outdoor spaces for cats and rabbits. The old language of cages, kennels and coops had to be replaced by new nouns of course. Source: Fear Free Happy Homes, August 19, 2019. Link. When … [Read more...]
When ticks quest, researchers count
How do scientists actually track tick numbers? They use linen squares and lint rollers to capture ticks during three quests in their life cycle. Ticks only leave the underbrush on special occasions. “When they’re ready to look for a host, they go on top, and actively look,” David Allen said. This behavior is known as questing. Source: Atlas Obscura, August 28, 2019. Link. . … [Read more...]
Top 10 cities for heartworm disease; July results
Animal health pros will find a couple of unexpected cities in this the top 10 report. The evidence is clear. Heartworm is spreading. The top 10 list summarizes the metro areas across the United States that experienced the greatest percentage increase in positive parasitic disease tests during the month. They are: Moreno Valley, CA Washington, DC Newark, NJ … [Read more...]
Humility in the workplace is not a sign of weakness
Humility tends to be overlooked in the workplace. It is frequently misconstrued as a weak attribute. That is actually a far cry from the true meaning of the word. And, it is a further cry from the way it should be applied in leadership. It's about showing respect and recognizing truth in all situations, including in the workplace. Source: Inc., August 23, 2019. Link. Humble … [Read more...]
Hand-written notes make customers feel good
Re-evaluate marketing methods and consider some tactics that will genuinely connect with target audiences and create long-lasting customer relationships, advises Anaita Sarkar. Despite successes in customer engagement using social media, she believes in implementing strategies that make customers feel valued and more than just a cog in a big wheel. Source: SmartCompany, … [Read more...]
Pee mail tells all
Urine tells dogs much of what they need to know about each other. These two articles share the whys and hows dogs mark their spots. Things they can learn from marked spots include: The sex of the dog who left the urine and whether they are spayed or neutered. The health or illness status of the dog that urinated in that spot. The stress level of the dog that was in … [Read more...]
Veterinary telemedicine is a sticky legal wicket
Christopher J. Allen, DVM, JD, discusses the challenges of using non-face-to-face interactions in veterinary medicine. He calls the various segments of teledoctors a confusing jungle of legal fact, opinion and outright speculation. For each segment, primary concerns fall into three general categories: 1) malpractice liability, 2) licensing and 3) criminal … [Read more...]
Zoonotic diseases drive One Health approach
Seventy five percent of emerging infectious diseases of people are zoonotic, or originated with animals according to the CDC. John Maday reminds us that these diseases can pose a health risk to farm workers through animal contact, and potentially to the public overall, either through contact with animals or disease vectors such as mosquitos or ticks, or through contaminated … [Read more...]
Calming noise-phobic dogs
Sally J. Foote, DVM, provides a storm sangria for dealing with noise-phobic dogs. It is a metaphor and process for an intervention that includes both appropriate medications and safe-room training. The result can help anxious veterinary patients experience a measure of peace during thunderstorms and other noisy events. Foote says triggers present hours before a storm … [Read more...]
Kitten lady talks on Fresh Air
We introduced animal health pros to Hannah Shaw, the kitten lady, in a recent post < link >. In this interview with Fresh Air’s Terry Gross, Shaw talks about the challenges of fostering kittens younger than eight weeks old, the lack of nursery care for neonates at shelter facilities and the importance of finding the mother before rescuing. Shaw discusses her experiences … [Read more...]
Stop being complacent about Equine West Nile virus
Horses and humans are dead-end hosts for West Nile virus. In spite of the availability of effective vaccines, 2018 saw a rebound in the number of reported equine cases; the highest since 2012. The peak season for infection is late September to October, but it can occur any time mosquitoes are present. Source: Veterinary Medicine, August 3, 2019. Link. It’s up to … [Read more...]