Monitoring the development and use of telemedicine between human doctors and patients is important to animal health pros who seek to implement telemedicine approaches to animal care. Once animal owners begin using telemedicine with their doctors it will become easier to engage them regarding their animals’ health. Although telemedicine visits have increased sharply in the U.S. … [Read more...]
Double-check broodmares in early winter
Up to 15 percent of broodmares who were checked safe-in-foal at 45 to 60 days lose their pregnancies by late fall, says Thomas Lenz, DVM. It’s a good idea this time of year to recheck all of your mares by ultrasound or palpation to confirm that their pregnancy is progressing normally, he says. Too often, a mare owner doesn’t know a mare lost her pregnancy until she doesn’t … [Read more...]
Texas landowners get feral hog reporting tool
Texas A&M Natural Resources Institute has released a new online tool <link> to help in the growing effort to control the feral hog population in the state. The wild pig website offers Texas landowners and homeowners an easy-to-use tool to report sightings of feral hogs and the damage they may have caused. Source: National Hog Farmer, November 29, 2018. … [Read more...]
Why dogs slobber
Catherine Ashe, DVM, explains what drool is and why dogs do it. She also discusses normal and abnormal drool in a format that can be used on social media, in e-newsletters and with clients whose dogs slobber. Source: Whole Dog Journal, November 28, 2018. Link. Unfortunately, if you’ve adopted a large or giant breed dog with floppy lips, slobber is going to be a regular part … [Read more...]
How to exercise an overweight cat
Marty Becker, DVM, reminds us to introduce exercise to obese cats gently and gradually. He recommends nocturnal activity and the simple method of splitting food into four or more places. This article is timeless and can be used with social media posts, e-newsletters and directly with clients whose felines are past pudgy. Source: Vetstreet, March 2014. Link. The easiest cat … [Read more...]
Pheromones effective at decreasing feline aggression
Hiss, yowl, sphftt, thump, pow, schzip! In multi-cat households the sounds often remind owners of superhero TV. Owners now have a stress-reducing options. A recent study in the Journal of Feline Medicine and Surgery looked at the effectiveness of using pheromone diffusers for aggression in multi-cat households. They discovered that cats exposed to feline-appeasing pheromones … [Read more...]
Declaw free practice reviews results
Four things impressed me about this article: Going declaw-free was done more than four years ago before negative press about declaw issues was prevalent Amy Zellweger made the decision after engaging the practice team to gather evidence about declaw issues The practices have continued to grow financially Because of the educational focus, the practice now has … [Read more...]
New invasive tick threatens humans and animals
The Asian longhorned tick is the first invasive tick in the U.S. in about 80 years. It was found on an Icelandic sheep in New Jersey and has since been found on pets, livestock, wildlife and people in Arkansas, Connecticut, Maryland, New York, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Virginia and West Virginia. The CDC reports there is no evidence the tick has spread pathogens to humans, … [Read more...]
Would you treat your mother that way? (includes podcast)
As a customer service expert, Jeanne Bliss has spent her career helping major companies learn how to behave in the best interests of the consumer. She recently explained how increased competition makes customer service more important than ever for businesses that want to grow. “We’re finding that the more high-tech we get, the more humanity we need.” Source: Knowledge at … [Read more...]
FDA approves Pexion for canine noise aversion
Prescription help for dogs with noise aversion challenges is on the way. The FDA has announced approval of Pexion® (active ingredient: imepitoin) by Boehringer-Ingelheim to treat noise aversion in dogs. The drug was approved in 2013 in the EU for reducing the frequency of seizures associated with idiopathic epilepsy. Imepitoin is similar to Valium (diazepram) and other … [Read more...]
Join Audubon’s Christmas Bird Count
Wildlife vigilance is not new to animal health pros. Did you know that the Audubon Society has conducted a bird count for more than 100 years? Audubon and other organizations use data collected in this long-running wildlife census to assess the health of bird populations and to help guide conservation action. Beginning on Christmas Day 1900, ornithologist Frank M. Chapman, an … [Read more...]
Late season rains increase risk for mycotoxins
The swine team at the University of Minnesota provides a review of mycotoxin risks in fed grains following late season rains and regional storage issues. Mycotoxins produced by fungi molds in grains are particularly problematic for swine, poultry and dairy cattle. Source: PORK, November 23, 2018. Link. Broken and damaged kernels are generally highest in mycotoxin … [Read more...]
Daisy is a leftie, Flower is a rightie
Laterality (sidedness) is commonly observed with dairy cows. Really? Apparently, cattle express laterality naturally when choosing which side to lie down on or which side of the milking parlor to enter, according to Rick Grant. He says behaviorists believe that expression of a side preference is related to the cow’s emotional state and what they perceive as stressful or even … [Read more...]
Dry period: important phase for dairy cows
Anna Bradmueller and Donna M. Amaral-Phillips discuss the importance of managing dairy cows during the dry period. They provide good reminders for discussions with dairy producers. Source: Dairy Herd Management, November 26, 2018. Link. Drying off cows abruptly, administering veterinarian-recommended dry cow therapy, and using a teat sealant will help protect cows from … [Read more...]
Dairy how-to: pay attention to injection sites (educational video)
Even though dairy cows are raised for milk production, nearly all dairy animals end up in the beef supply chain at some point. That makes proper animal handling and drug administration important to avoid injection site lesions that can damage the carcass. Source: Dairy Herd Management, October 20, 2018. Link. We want to try and do all of our injections in the neck,” says … [Read more...]
Dog food: guidelines for how much and when
There is no universal dog feeding guide calculator, writes Melvin Peña. With more than half of U.S. dogs overweight or obese, it is important for dog owners to better understand some guidelines for how much to feed their four-legged friends. People have trouble making the distinction between need and desire for food . . . Source: Dogster, October 12, 2018. Link. Suggested … [Read more...]
Upgrading client reminders
Reminders remain a significant component for ensuring veterinary clients return to the practice. Brenda Tassava, CVPM, CVJ, VLCE, discusses mixing the old with the new methods and provides a refreshed reminder strategy complete with tactical elements and timelines. She also discusses the value of forward bookings in the context of reminders. Source: Veterinary Team Brief, … [Read more...]
The 9-Minute Rule for customer satisfaction (includes video)
Improving animal owner experiences is important to increasing customer satisfaction and retention. Jessica Molina, PHR, CVPM, CCFP, shares the 9-Minute Rule that aims to improve customer relations and increase positive performance reviews on social media. Customers look for instant gratification and often feel forgotten if they are waiting too long. Source: VHMA, Practice Tip … [Read more...]
Clearing up cancer treatments for cats
Dr. Kristine E. Burgess believes that some misconceptions about cats and cancer that need to be cleared up. While there are several treatment options available, it’s important to know that not all types of cancer respond well to treatment and some treatments are only available at specialty hospitals. Quality of life comes first. Source: Catnip, December 2018. Link. There … [Read more...]
5 wisdoms that rule the herd
Raising cattle happens in many different ways. Sarah Brown shares five rules of wisdom to keep in mind: Work with a good veterinarian and be fanatic about animal health. You get what you pay for Cull out the crazy cows Good fences make better neighbors Plan for tomorrow today. Source: Drovers, November 7, 2018. Link. INSIGHTS: Consider these five wisdoms … [Read more...]
6 tips for managing canine and feline diabetes
Even though diabetes is treatable, pet owners are asked to do a lot to manage their pet's disease, making communication with the veterinary team essential, writes David Bruyette, DVM, DACVIM. He shares six ways you can help your clients manage their insulin-challenged pets. Source: DVM 360, November 18, 2018. Link. Explain the goals of therapy for diabetic pets. Go … [Read more...]
Dog DNA tests, valuable or just more confusion
A growing number of veterinary clients bring DNA reports with them to appointments. These tests are not subject to standards or regulations to ensure they are accurate or reliable. Finding a veterinarian that can interpret the reports is yet another issue. Sarah Zhang has written a situation analysis that has value for animal health pros. Source: The Atlantic, November … [Read more...]
Working with people who lack self-awareness
Self-awareness, knowing who we are and how we’re seen is important for job performance, career success and leadership effectiveness. It is in remarkably short supply in today’s workplace, writes Tasha Eurich, PhD. She offers perspectives and ways to deal with challenges caused by self-awareness issues. . . . although 95% of people think they’re self-aware, only 10 to 15% … [Read more...]
VetPartners; Benefits of a loyalty program
Managing the client churn rate is important to develop and maintain practice income. Loyalty programs can be effective retention vehicles. Existing customers have the potential to spend more. A lot more!” Stacee Santi, DVM Source: VetPartners Blog, October 11, 2018. Link. Not all loyalty programs are created equal, and if you aren't strategic about it, you can easily build a … [Read more...]
Keeping working dogs safe on hunts and outings
Hunting dogs encounter more risks than backyard pets, including toxins that we want everyone to avoid. Every year, hunting dogs in the U.S. die as a result of drinking from contaminated sources, ingesting harmful substances, trauma and getting lost, writes Toinette Strusinski-Broschay, DVM. Her tips for hunting dogs apply to dogs who go camping and hiking . Source: The … [Read more...]
Feeding weed by-products to pigs
No! the pigs don’t get high but some say the market for legal cannabis by-products may add value to pork production. What I do taste is juicier pork, and a more resistant texture – there’s no mushiness involved.” Source: PORK, November 2, 2018. Link. Feeding byproducts of the legal marijuana industry is of interest to many in the pork industry,” says Anna Dilger, associate … [Read more...]
Eye-in-the-sky hired help works for cattle producers
Drones provide potential for practical applications beef producers, according to Amanda Radke. She discusses four ways that a drone could enhance management practices on ranches. Collect more data with much less labor Aerial maps can improve land management practices Monitor livestock, fences and water sources Collect data on individual animals While drones … [Read more...]
Tame aggressive rooster behavior
Roosters can challenge chicken raisers. Beyond the crowing at odd hours, there’s the normal dominance behavior that translates to “rooster attack” for us humans. Beaks, flopping wings and spurs may be used when a rooster sees a person as an intruder. To a rooster, one who runs away, walks away, or hides is the loser. These behaviors are acts of surrender to him. Teaching … [Read more...]
People foods OK for cats and dogs
Elizabeth Scott, Elizabeth Pask and Laura Scott collaborated to write two articles about which people foods are okay for cats and dogs. Share these on social media, websites and in e-newsletters. Source: Modern Cat and Modern Dog, October 2018. Links below: 11 people foods for cats. Link. Get snack-tastic! Creative, healthy treats for cats. 10 people foods for dogs. … [Read more...]
Challenges for antibiotics continue in ag (includes videos)
The pressure on antibiotic use in agriculture continues to rise. Veterinarians are seeing more cases of antibiotic resistance and are rushing to find ways to manage animals effectively without using antibiotics unless absolutely necessary. . . . the future of effective antibiotics isn’t certain for humans nor animals, says Bob Smith, DVM. Source: Drovers, November 5, 2018. … [Read more...]