Heart disease is the number one cause of death for women in the U.S. Regardless of your gender, knowing heart attack symptoms in women and men is important. Source: Health, June 2023. Link. Chest pain is the most common symptom of a heart attack in men and women, but there are distinct symptom differences between the sexes. Females are more likely to experience a variety of … [Read more...]
Why dogs sniff each other’s butts (video)
While humans experience the world through their five senses, dogs predominantly do so through their sense of smell. Samantha Randall explains butt sniffing allows dogs to gather information about other dogs, including recognizing each other. Source: TopDogTips, March 8, 2024. Link. INSIGHTS: Consider this article for social media or newsletters. Butt sniffing behavior … [Read more...]
When procrastination is productive
When genuinely more important things interfere with side projects, procrastinating on the side project is the correct thing to do, writes Scott Young. He shares the important distinction between maintenance activities and aspirational goals asserting achieving goals is an optimization problem. Source: Scott H. Young. Link. Productivity isn’t throwing out all your existing … [Read more...]
Logic and emotion
A better understanding of the dynamics of decision making will lead to more productive client conversations. Source: Vet Advantage, October 2023. Link. Attitudes are the road map for decisions. <BQ> “The good news is that attitudes translate into actions, and that is something you can see in your customer’s body language, hear in your customer’s voice, and … [Read more...]
Services semantics. A new name for drop-off.
Sometimes referenced as the ‘Queen of Scripts,’ Wendy S. Myers, CVJ, says day admission appointment may be a better way to position drop-off services. She also offers alternatives for wellness testing in the form of five strategies to increase compliance. Source: DVM 360, April 18, 2024. Link. INSIGHTS: Whatever descriptive language you choose, be sure the entire staff … [Read more...]
9 Gen Z work trends that aren’t new but hit differently now
We are starting to see old ideas manifest in new ways as the next generations enter the workplace and bring their unique perspectives, writes Leila Frankina. She shares trends and values that are getting revived in the workplace. Of note, yet familiar, are quiet promotion, proximity bias and productivity theater. As they enter the workforce, one in five Gen Zers hold more than … [Read more...]
How to build (and rebuild) trust
Harvard Business School Professor Frances Frei gives a crash course in trust: how to build it, maintain it and rebuild it. She shares her experiences dealing with a large corporate team and how to apply that learning in organizations. If we can learn to trust one another more, we can have unprecedented human progress.” Source: TED2018. Link. (14:56) … [Read more...]
Worth a Glance – April 18, 2024
Last week’s AHD Bulletin – Animal Health Digest Bulletin, April 11, 2024. Link. Most read post(s) from the April 11th AHD Bulletin – Words are important. Link. Insects on farm animal menus. Link. whiskerDocs® 2nd patent: Integrated animal health records. Link. ===================================== 16 compliments you didn’t realize are actually pretty … [Read more...]
Blain’s Farm and Fleet announces online system for direct ordering of prescriptions AHD Staff
A new online product, AnimalRx, is a direct result of FDA Guidance for Industry No. 263 and offers access for livestock producers with a prescription. Source: Successful Farming, April, 15, 2024. Link. The website shares the following about how they handle livestock prescriptions <Link>. "If you have a prescription from your veterinarian, simply add the item(s) to … [Read more...]
USDA approves Pradalex (pradofloxacin injection) solution for certain respiratory diseases in cattle and swine
Pradalex (pradofloxacin injection) is a 3rd-generation fluoroquinolone ranked as a critically important antimicrobial. The labeling of the drug includes a statement that it should be used only after considering other, non-fluoroquinolone therapeutic options. Pradalex is approved in certain ages and classes of cattle for the treatment of bovine respiratory disease associated … [Read more...]
Halo collar named to Fast Company’s 2024 fastest-growing private companies
Halo is a wireless GPS dog safety system and wireless fence that keeps dogs protected everywhere they go. Fast Company's list of the World's Most Innovative Companies of 2024 shines a spotlight on businesses, like Halo Collar, that are shaping industry and culture through their innovations. Source: Pet Business, April 2024. Link. … [Read more...]
Merck launches new activity monitoring technology, SENSEHUB Dairy Youngstock
Merck announced the launch of its new activity monitoring system, SENSEHUB Dairy Youngstock <Link>, the industry’s first monitoring technology for dairy calves from birth through the first 12 months of life. The product makes it easier for dairy producers and calf managers to detect and locate calves and heifers who need attention based on animal behavior monitoring. An … [Read more...]
Majority of U.S. dairy cows live on big dairies
The big dairies are getting bigger with 834 farms having more than 2,500 cows, an increase of 120 farms versus the 2017 census. The recently released 2022 census reveals there were 24,082 dairy operations with off-farm milk sales, down from 39,303 in 2017. These herds are producing five percent more milk from 9.4 million cows, a number which remained nearly unchanged from … [Read more...]
Marketing bulls as feeder calves rather than castrating costs producers
Kellie Curry Raper shares numbers that reflect an overall increase in the proportion of bulls coming through feeder calf sales. She shares data showing that not castrating bull calves costs producers as much as $56/head on 500-pound animals. Raper also reminds us of research indicating multiple animal performance benefits linked to earlier castration* including shorter … [Read more...]
Cull cows more valuable than ever
Cull cow weight and cull cow price have always been keys to profitability for beef producers. Culls are often forgotten. Gene Johnston shares tips for getting more money for old cows. About 20% of the total revenue of a cow herd comes from cull animals.” - Patrick Linnell, CattleFax Source: Successful Farming, April 12, 2024. Link. INSIGHTS: We noted Wayne Morgan's … [Read more...]
Top beef cow counties in the U.S.
Answering the question “Where’s the beef?” this list of counties with the most beef cows is also insightful when we consider the effects of drought. The list represents 20,687 producers with 2,253,482 cows, for an average herd size of 109 head. Together these 34 counties account for 7.7 percent of the nation’s 29.214 million beef cows. Source: Drovers, April 15, 2024. Link. … [Read more...]
USDA: Test for bird flu before interstate transport of cattle
The USDA strongly recommends testing before cattle herds are moved between states, which should give more testing information and should mitigate further state-to-state spread between herds. Source: Successful Farming, April 15, 2024. Link. HPAI doesn’t affect dairy cows the same way as it does poultry. With proper veterinary care, cows are recovering.” - Nora Wineland, … [Read more...]
The survivor species
The camels had thump-thumped for seven days across northern Kenya, ushered by police reservists, winding at last toward their destination: less a village than a dusty clearing in the scrub, a place where something big was happening. People had walked for miles to be there. Soon the governor pulled up in his SUV. Women danced, and an emcee raised his hands to the sky. When the … [Read more...]
Evaluating fecal microbiota transplant for treating diarrhea in adult horses
Nancy S. Loving, DVM, shares the results of research that evaluated the efficacy of fecal microbiota transplants in equine enterocolitis cases. The technique involves feces collected from a healthy equine donor. After straining the material, the veterinarian administers fecal fluid to a recipient horse via a nasogastric tube. Conclusions from this retrospective study … [Read more...]
A calculator to determine colic risk in horses
EQUUS' 7-question survey can help determine a horse's chances of developing colic and provides ideas for what can be done to protect its health. The survey score will provide a rough estimate of colic risk and the content shares some management changes that may help reduce colic risks. Source: EQUUS, April 10, 2024. Link. INSIGHTS: Tools like this survey can improve the … [Read more...]
Essential nutrients cats need in their diets
We often hear, “a cat is not a small dog.” That phrase is especially meaningful when delivering the main things cats need in their diets. Rachel Giordano shares six vet-verified, nutrient essentials cats need in their diets, what they do and where they are found: Animal protein Fat Carbohydrates Water Vitamins Minerals Source: Catster, April 12, 2024. … [Read more...]
American Heartworm Society updates heartworm guidelines
After thoroughly reviewing the latest research, the American Heartworm Society has updated its canine heartworm guidelines on heartworm prevention, diagnosis and treatment AND added a new section with "spectrum of care" information. Source: American Heartworm Society. Link. Download the summary here <Link>. AHS recommends annual antigen and microfilaria testing as well … [Read more...]
The AAFP and ISFM release new guidelines on the long-term use of NSAIDs in cats
The 2024 ISFM and AAFP Consensus Guidelines on the Long-term Use of NSAIDs in Cats from the American Association of Feline Practitioners and the International Society of Feline Medicine supports practitioners with decision-making around prescribing NSAIDs in situations of chronic pain to minimize adverse effects and optimize pain management for their feline patients. The … [Read more...]
It is important to count dogs’ teeth
Michael Jennings, VMD, DAVDC, writes about dentigerous cysts which are often seen in young brachycephalic dogs. They develop around an unerupted tooth when the epithelial lining covering the enamel produces fluid, causing expansion and destruction of surrounding bone. Jennings shares the importance of counting teeth, determining if a tooth is missing or unerupted and … [Read more...]
Vet technician shares honest thoughts on French Bulldogs
Frenchies are adorable, hilarious and highly social dogs, so their popularity is no surprise. But the health problems associated with the breed are discouraging, writes Jenna Stregowski, RVT. She shares pros and cons of the breed. The high demand for Frenchies means that more people are breeding them. Unfortunately, some lack the knowledge and experience to do so ethically and … [Read more...]
Addressing vaccine hesitancy with animal owners
Providing a commentary on vaccine hesitancy, Lori Kogan, PhD, shares research-backed cognitive biases that can affect pet owners’ vaccine decisions. Beyond the analytics, she reminds animal health pros vaccine-reluctant pet owners are not stupid; they simply make poor choices based on their fears and biases. She recommends veterinary teams learn to adapt their vaccine messages … [Read more...]
Amazon Pet Day is back to celebrate National Pet Month
Amazon Pet Day will return for its third year in celebration of National Pet Month with 48 hours of deals on pet products and supplies. The two-day sales event will take place on Tuesday, May 7th and Wednesday May 8th. Pet owners can start saving early, with deals beginning on April 23 including savings on pet-loved brands. Source: Pet Business, April 2024. Link. … [Read more...]
Working past retirement age is not easy
Americans over 75 are the fastest-growing age group in the workforce, more than quadrupling in size since 1964, according to the Pew Research Center. Forecasters expect that cohort of older, working Americans to double over the next decade. Source: CNN, April 14, 2024. Link. As more people than ever need to work longer to support themselves, workplaces will need to begin to … [Read more...]
IBPSA Fast Bites – April 15, 2024
Shelter crowding causes moratorium on dog breeding licenses in L.A., Gen Z impact on pet business being felt, minimum wages not a growth factor for small businesses, ways to combat feeling overwhelmed in business and more. . . Source: IBPSA Fast Bites, April 15, 2024. Link. … [Read more...]
The hidden risk of letting AI decide – losing the skills to choose for ourselves (video)
Sharing dangers of outsourcing decisions to AI, Joe Árvai, PhD, says AI is mere keystrokes away from making people even less disciplined and skilled when it comes to thoughtful decisions. He recognizes the potential benefits in cybersecurity, health care and finance, where complex models and massive amounts of data need to be analyzed routinely and quickly. Still, Árvai warns … [Read more...]