Includes Commercial References Unlike the challenges with AI in content development, in-clinic AI-powered tools hold vast potential to improve care for companion animals, from streamlining routine tasks to enabling accurate diagnostics. Authors from the Zoetis Global Diagnostics team share potential benefits from increasing access to care for diagnostic detection with … [Read more...]
What value do pet owners place on sustainable pet food?
Sharing data from recent research, Debbie Phillips-Donalds concludes that sustainability features have an impact on pet food purchasing, but which features and to what degree they affect purchasing matter a lot. She notes the challenges with defining sustainability and animal welfare in the context of product education and marketing. Source: PETFOOD Industry, September 17, … [Read more...]
5 tips to handle daily stress
Marc Brackett, founding director of the Yale Center for Emotional Intelligence, recently developed RULER. It’s a framework to handle the highs and lows life hands us daily. More than 5,000 schools are using this tool featured in his new book, ‘Dealing With Feeling: Use Your Emotions to Create the Life You Want.” They are: Recognize: pause, accept you feel something big … [Read more...]
Weight bias among veterinary professionals
Sharing research on weight bias, this article from Zoe Belshaw, Vet MB, MA, PhD, addresses the potential of relating an owner’s weight to their pets. The need to have proactive discussions with pet owners is often difficult and addressing potential bias is worth consideration. Belshaw shares tips for talking with clients about weight management just in time for World Pet … [Read more...]
IBPSA Fast Bites – September 23, 2025
Congratulations to everyone who was nominated for a Pet Care Business Excellence Award at this year’s Forum for your dedication to excellence and helping our industry continue to raise the bar for pet care. Winners of the 2025 Pet Care Business Excellence Awards! Category Winner Independent Provider Noosa Country … [Read more...]
Review: The risks of overusing hand sanitizer
Applying hand sanitizer to your hands is a quick and effective way to eliminate viruses, bacteria and other organisms that cause disease, but using too much of it can do more harm than good, shares Megan Nunn, PharmD. Her article is a good review for clinic and pet services teams. Key takeaways include: Alcohol-based sanitizers may eliminate more germs, but may also cause … [Read more...]
Review: Harmful algal blooms, red tides and their hidden dangers
As summer ends, it is time to review the potential of harmful algal blooms. These occur when environmental conditions like warm water, nutrient runoff and sunlight promote rapid algae growth, some of which produce dangerous toxins. These articles review the different types of harmful algae, symptoms when exposure occurs, health effects and prevention. Sources: Morris … [Read more...]
3 Ways to Strengthen the Feline Client Experience
We’re pleased to welcome the CATalyst Council™ as a sponsor of Animal Health Digest and to regularly share findings from the Catalyst Council Feline Market Insight Reports. Gina Fortunato and Kristin Wuhrman are working with us to pull actionable insights in support of growing the feline care segment of veterinary services. We’ll share them in Feline Findings at the link … [Read more...]
Dogs learn and remember how toys work
We know dogs are smart. They’re even smarter than we thought, according to a study recently published in the journal ‘Current Biology.’ In this study, Gifted Word Learner dogs showed they can distinguish between toys used for tugging versus fetching, even if the toys didn’t look alike. The study took place in dogs’ home environments with their owners using the words “pull” and … [Read more...]
Setting client expectations for canine infectious respiratory disease complex
CIRDC is a clinical syndrome caused by a range of pathogens, not a specific disease. Coinfections are common, writes J. Scott Weese, DVM, DVSc, DACVIM, FCAHS. Acknowledging the challenges of client conversations, he models communication scenarios in this article. Source: Clinician’s Brief, August 2025. Link. Providing clear information about the approach to treatment is … [Read more...]
Keeping rabbits safe from RHDV-2 in endemic areas
Complimentary Commercial Content Fall changes wild rabbits’ food sources, prompting them to seek new sheltered locations and spend more time foraging <Link>. This often brings the rabbits closer to farmsteads, acreages and suburban homes. In areas where rabbit hemorrhagic disease virus type 2 is endemic, the risk of domestic rabbits becoming infected increases (see … [Read more...]
For a harmonious herd, provide enough space
A new study from The Ohio State University Agricultural Technical Institute suggests that to fully benefit from being on pasture, horses need room to roam. The data showed horses kept in pens that allowed 342 square meters (about one-tenth of an acre) per horse had reduced levels of blood cortisol, a hormone associated with stress. Source: EQUUS, September 5, 2025. Link. The … [Read more...]
Zebra cows repel flies and win Ig Nobel Prize
Say what? Japanese researchers received the 2025 Ig Nobel Prize in biology for showing that black cows painted with white stripes repel flies better than their counterparts that didn’t look like zebras. Source: The Scientist, September 18, 2025. Link. Image credit: Tomoki Kojima et al., 2019, PLoS One, CC-BY 4.0 … [Read more...]
Advice for grazing beef-on-dairy calves
While beef-on-dairy calves outperform dairy calves for stocker and finishing systems, they require a different management and understanding when it comes to grazing. Unfamiliar with being a grazing animal, beef on dairy calves need to go through a two- to three-week receiving period, says Paul Beck, MS, MBA, PhD. This allows time for calves to adjust to new feeds, learn to … [Read more...]
Large litters, more pigs than teats; Is that a problem?
Pig survival to weaning age is challenging overall, but when a sow produces more pigs than she has teats, producers are challenged to keep pigs alive and doing well. The industry’s focus on increasing litter size has unintentionally led to an increase in the proportion of low birth-weight pigs and prewean death losses which approach 20 percent in some cases <Link>. In … [Read more...]
Rancher’s Lunch Time Series features Dr. Mark Johnson
Mark Johnson, an animal science professor at Oklahoma State University, will discuss “Selecting and managing replacement heifers for long-term success,” during a free webinar session at noon, Thursday, October 23. Source: OKState Animal & Food Sciences, Facebook, September 24, 2025. Register for the webinar series, ‘Cow Calf Corner Live,’ at this link. INSIGHTS: … [Read more...]
Tractor Supply launches its annual FFA Convention T-shirt fundraiser
For the 11th year, Tractor Supply is offering a limited edition tee shirt as a fundraiser for FFA. The 2025 theme is "Empower," a reference to the organization's commitment to helping young people find inspiration and direction to lead, making an impact on the world around them. The 98th National FFA Convention & Expo will take place October 29th through November 1st in … [Read more...]
Innovation is a state of mind. 2025 Veterinary Innovation Summit overview.
We selected Gene O’Neill’s insights from the recent Veterinary Innovation Summit <Link> from the many postings shared by attendees. He shares perspectives on big issues that are critically important to move our industry forward and demonstrate the true value of veterinary medicine. Source: Gene O'Neill, LinkedIn, September 12, 2025. Link. O’Neill summarized four major … [Read more...]
AAHA’s standards receive first-ever full refresh
AAHA has completed a comprehensive refresh of the accreditation standards to bring those benchmarks of excellence fully up to date for the first time in 90 years. Nearly 400 revisions were recommended to the 1,200 standards, of which more than 250 were implemented. The range of revisions included updates to clarify language, streamline categories, as well as strengthen the … [Read more...]
Conditions associated with HPAI spreading to farms identified
Kimbra Cutlip’s article is a reminder that 1) wild bird migration is underway, 2) colder weather means more infections, 3) biosecurity reduces risk to animals and their caretakers, and 4) prevention strategies are beneficial and reduce strain on production economics. Source: Feedstuffs, September 10, 2025. Link. A recently published study in the journal One Health compared … [Read more...]
Older workers still one of the more overlooked sources of skill and experience
Isaac Agbeshie-Noye, EdD, joins Nicole Belyna to share how HR teams can overcome biases, engage older talent and reimagine recruitment, retention and development strategies for the growing segment of the workforce - seniors. While digital and physical skills may not be places to deploy older workers, Agbeshie-Noye asserts that these workers are generally more socialized to work … [Read more...]
Job #1 – Getting results
As a mid-career leader, your development is well underway, but nowhere near complete. You are formed but not finished. Your employees want your time, guidance and recognition. Your boss wants your loyalty, diligence, and competence. Both groups want your leadership, but each toward different aims. Source: Giant Leap Consulting, August 2025. Link. Advancement as a mid-career … [Read more...]
Nassau County warns residents about spread of rabies among raccoons and cats
Rabies has been found in at least 25 animals since July of last year in mostly raccoons and three feral cats, according to Nassau County New York officials. Rabies had previously been eradicated in Nassau County in 2016 following aggressive control efforts. The resurgence is a stark reminder of the importance of vaccination, public education and wildlife baiting to manage … [Read more...]
There’s a bigger dryer fire hazard than the lint trap: How to clean it
In clinics, grooming spas and boarding locations, clothes dryers run most days if not many times a day. Lint traps are well-known fire hazards, but Mary Cornetta says the space just underneath the lint trap is a bigger fire hazard. She says for the type of laundry done in animal health businesses, the area beyond the lint trap needs to be cleaned every three to four … [Read more...]
Talking to clients about cats and major life changes
A major change, such as moving, the addition of a new animal or baby to the household, could induce significant distress even in the most adaptable cats, writes Meghan E. Herron, DVM, DACVB. She discusses elements of preparing a cat for change proactively in this article. Source: Clinician’s Brief, July 2025. Link. Feline patients could be better served if clients were … [Read more...]
Massage, heat and cold therapy in feline rehabilitation
Physical therapy and rehabilitation tailored specifically for cats can make a significant difference in the well-being of these felines, shared Michael H. Jaffe, DVM, MS, CCRP, DACVS, during the recent Fetch Kansas City. He shared how massage, heat and cold therapies are helpful for different situations and where pet owners can be included. Source: DVM 360, September 2, … [Read more...]
Turmeric a promising yet under-researched functional ingredient
Commentary If it hasn’t happened already, a pet owner is going to ask questions about turmeric or curcumin, a key compound in turmeric. Used historically in folk medicine, the compounds have a renewed modern appeal. Tim Wall shares essential information for pet food professionals about turmeric’s role in formulations. Turmeric is a promising yet under-researched functional … [Read more...]
How the Equine Disease Communications Center is changing the game
Since 2015, the EDCC has been working to capture and inform the equine community of communicable disease threats in horses. Sarah E. Coleman shares how the Center was created and provides warnings to reduce infectious disease risks in the equine population. Similar to the CDC, the EDCC seeks information about disease outbreaks, posts messages, and informs the equine industry … [Read more...]
Cheaper compounded omeprazole likely doesn’t work for equine ulcers
Includes Commercial References While not all compounded medications are bad, Sarah Reuss, VMD, DACVIM, says her biggest concern with compounded omeprazole is whether it actually treats the horse in the manner the owner or veterinarian intends. She explains the challenges with manufacturing and ensuring the compound gets to the site of absorption. Though compounded … [Read more...]
McDonald’s USA makes company’s largest-ever investment in regenerative agriculture through National Fish and Wildlife Foundation Partnership
Beef has been at the core of McDonald’s menu and identity since it first opened its doors 70 years ago. McDonald's USA just announced its participation in an initiative that helps demonstrate its continued commitment to responsible beef sourcing and stewardship of natural resources. This initiative will invest more than $200 million over the next seven years to help promote … [Read more...]