In a move to avoid counterfeiting Amazon is promoting a brand registry after abruptly cancelling routine merchandise orders from thousands of its long-time suppliers in early March. The cleaner the marketplace, the better the sales integrity and product integrity.” - Ryan Craver, CEO of Amazon’s Commerce Canal Amazon’s business platform operates similar to animal … [Read more...]
Why dogs smell each other’s butts
Butt sniffing is how dogs gather information about each other. It is normal and a necessary ritual that dogs do during greetings, writes Jill Breitner. She describes the 3-second dog greeting rule can keep everyone safe and happy in the event a dog goes overboard in its zeal for getting to know another dog. … [Read more...]
Crates can be a retreat for dogs if used properly
Crates are terrific tools to help manage dogs. Jennifer Messer talks about using them as training tools and for dog comfort. Her article will help pet owners understand how to use a crate with their pet. Consider it for social media posts, e-newsletters and as a resource for new pet owners. Source: Modern Dog, November 2018. Link. If a dog is properly introduced to a … [Read more...]
When a grooming goes bad
Charlotte Means, DVM, helps us understand how opportunistic bacteria can infect hair follicles after grooming pets. Her review includes good reminders about shampoo use, disinfecting equipment and mitigating risk of post-grooming furunculosis. The condition can occur after bathing at home, at professional groomers and at veterinary clinics. Means also provides good … [Read more...]
Time to focus on heartworm
Spring is six days away. With it the mosquito populations will build as will heartworm disease risks for pets. DVM 360 gathered a selection of articles, tips, tools and resources to help renew heartworm knowledge with team members. Consider these resources as you educate dog and cat owners on the importance of year-round heartworm prevention. Source: DVM 360, March 2, 2019. … [Read more...]
Pet nutrition important conversation starter AVMA survey says
Eighty two percent of veterinarians responding to a recent survey from the American Veterinary Medical Association, said said, “all the time,” in response to the question, “How often do you start conversations with clients about pet nutrition?” It’s a hot topic. When asked if pet owners inquire more about pet food than in the past, 48 percent of the responding veterinarians … [Read more...]
Texas Tech vet school effort reveals challenges
A recent ad we received reveals the critical shortage of veterinarians serving small, rural communities throughout Texas. We’re sharing it to help animal health pros gain knowledge and perspective about the challenges of serving animal owners in rural areas of the United States. Texas employs the second most veterinarians in the U.S., but more than 30 percent are 60 years … [Read more...]
The importance of elevating veterinary technicians
Dan Aja, DVM, sees the important work veterinary technicians do to support delivery of high-quality care for pets, engage clients and help hospitals run smoothly. Meanwhile, the veterinary industry still faces challenges developing a consistent model for veterinary technicians, despite multiyear educational, training, and certification requirements. Aja compares the roles of … [Read more...]
Loyal employees = loyal customers
Loyalty, in general use, is a devotion and faithfulness to a nation, cause, philosophy, company, group or person. According to research by Gallup, fewer than 30 percent of employees say they are loyal to their company. Frequent turnover has a negative impact on employee morale, productivity and company revenue. Source: LinkedIn Pulse, June 18, 2018. Link. The reality is that … [Read more...]
What keeps HR leaders up at night?
Ensuring employees remain engaged and productive continues to reign supreme in the minds of HR managers. According to a recent survey, 32 percent of the HR leaders cited employee engagement and productivity as their top challenges, compared to 29 percent a year earlier. Retaining key talent in today’s economy was cited by 32 percent as their top concern. . . . over half of … [Read more...]
Building trust and compliance
Christine Shupe writes about client trust, compliance and The Opportunity, a tool from Partners for Healthy Pets, to help with animal owner engagement. She reminds us that gaining trust requires effort and follow-through. At the core of any client/professional relationship is trust. As staff works to establish trust, the probability that the client trusts and listen to what … [Read more...]
Time change has many dragging
Moving our clocks in either direction changes the principal time cue (light) for setting and resetting our 24-hour natural cycle, or circadian rhythm. In doing so, our internal clock becomes out of sync or mismatched with our current day-night cycle. A rule of thumb is that it takes about one day to adjust for each hour of time change, but this varies by individual. If you … [Read more...]
Compare mastitis treatment products
Mike Opperman shares a table to assess products that can help prevent or treat mastitis during the dry cow period or lactation. This handy one-page guide is available in PDF to print and leave with dairy producers or in the veterinary truck. <link to .pdf> Source: Dairy Herd Management, February 28, 2019. Link. … [Read more...]
11 common-sense biosecurity tips help cattle operations
Commercial cattle producers should implement straightforward ways to improve biosecurity on their operations, according Brandi Karish, Mississippi State University Extension beef specialist. She shares 11 tips with Victoria Myers, Progressive Farmer senior editor. Source: Progressive Farmer, February 25, 2019. Link. Biosecurity does not have to mean a lockdown.” A few simple … [Read more...]
Call it welfare or well-being, it’s about proper husbandry
Portia Stewart tackles semantics that help non-ag persons comprehend the challenges of raising meat and being good animal stewards. Young consumers want to learn a lot more about their food. One of the problems we have today is a lot of young consumers are totally removed from the world of the practical.” - Temple Grandin, DVM. Source: PORK, February 28, 2019. … [Read more...]
Aggie drones work to reduce antibiotic use (includes video)
Texas A&M AgriLife Research scientists are testing drones equipped with thermal imaging cameras as a method to identify feverish animals. By singling out sick cattle for treatment . . . they can treat only the ones in need of medication instead of relying on the practice of injecting the entire herd with antibiotics. Source: Feedstuffs, February 28, 2019. Link. … [Read more...]
Coyotes going metro
The coyote (Canis latrans) is one of nature’s most adaptable wild animals. More and more cities are being invaded by these daring and crafty canids. As omnivores, coyotes enjoy a veritable smorgasbord in suburban areas. A study by the Urban Coyote Research Program analyzed over 1,400 scat samples from urban coyotes and discovered the most common food items were small … [Read more...]
Keeping special chickens healthy
Jeremy Chartier writes about biosecurity pertaining to show chickens. Considering the upcoming Easter season and the realities of inexperienced backyard chicken owners, his basic biosecurity tenants apply. Note his comments about bringing chickens home and to treat everything as suspect. This applies to new chicks coming from the local farm store too. Source: Countryside … [Read more...]
Top 5 diseases of domestic ferrets
Ferrets are popular as pets again. Kvin Lertpiriyapong, DVM, reviews specific diseases and conditions that are common in ferrets: Adrenal gland hyperplasia or neoplasiaPancreatic islet β-cell tumorForeign bodiesDental diseaseDiarrhea Source: Clinician’s Brief, February 2017. Link. Because of their curious nature, unique biology, and increased average lifespan due to … [Read more...]
Sponsored content from AAHA Red and AAHA NEWStat
Here is actionable, sponsored content from recent issues of NEWStat and Red you’ll find helpful: Cats take enough risks on their own. Why add adjuvanted vaccines to the list? January 21, 2019. Link. Content provided by Boehringer Ingelheim. Pet insurance 101 for veterinary hospital teams, December 21, 2018. Link. Content offered by Petplan. The itchy dog: short … [Read more...]
Dogs and their owners tend to act alike, including anxiousness
Whether through conscious training or day to day interactions, humans shape dog behavior—and they change as we change. "Our lifestyle changes trickle down," says William J. Chopik, a social psychologist at Michigan State University. He led a recent study that found that dogs resemble their owners in an entirely different way: their personalities tend to be similar. Source: … [Read more...]
Top 10 animal ailments exacerbated by obesity
To create a clear picture of how obesity affects a cat’s or dog’s overall health, Nationwide Pet Insurance analyzed its database of more than 700,000 insured pets to determine the top 10 medical conditions related to or made worse by obesity. Source: American Veterinarian, January 3, 2019. Link. The top 10 conditions related to obesity are: Most Common Dog Obesity-Related … [Read more...]
Dog with epilepsy? Ask about supplements!
Many dog owners add dietary supplements to their epileptic pet’s diet without consulting a veterinarian. Erin Y. Akin, DVM, DACVIM, shares information excerpted from a recent study on supplement use by owners of epileptic dogs. . . . less than one-fifth of owners sought advice from a clinician . . . clinicians need to actively engage with owners in discussion about epilepsy … [Read more...]
Cat food: what okay and what’s dangerous
Before indulging a family cat to the wide variety of foods in a home, consider what is good and what is dangerous. Dog food is a no-no, for example. There are human foods that cats can eat. There is a list of absolutely forbidden ones, as well. Any food not specifically formulated for cats can affect their digestive system, causing vomiting, diarrhea or loss of appetite. . . … [Read more...]
FDA investigating potential link between certain diets and canine dilated cardiomyopathy
Updating a collaboration that began in July 2018, the FDA believes that the potential association between diet and DCM in dogs is a complex scientific issue that may involve multiple factors. The FDA’s Center for Veterinary Medicine (CVM) and the Veterinary Laboratory Investigation and Response Network (Vet-LIRN) will continue to investigate this potential association of … [Read more...]
NEW – 2019 AAHA Dental Care Guidelines for Dogs and Cats
Created with the goals of decreasing oral pain and improving the quality of life for companion animals, the 2019 AAHA Dental Care Guidelines for Dogs and Cats help veterinary practitioners expand upon their current client education efforts. This will help pet owners better understand that periodontal disease can be prevented through regular dental examinations and proper home … [Read more...]
March JAVMA highlights
We’ve highlighted two articles from the current JAVMA below. Pet owners' knowledge of and attitudes toward the judicious use of antimicrobials for companion animals Link. Most (21/25 [84%]) pet owners expressed trust in their veterinarian to meet their pets' medical needs and prescribe antimicrobials appropriately. Musculoskeletal problems associated with lameness and … [Read more...]
Opinion – Persuade clients without using pressure
Veterinary team members must navigate an ethical tightrope when advocating for the needs of the patient and managing the rights of the animal owner. Lisa J. Hunter, MSW, LSW, and Jane R. Shaw, DVM, PhD, provide a thoughtful article. It includes scripting that merits consideration. This exercise is similar to triangulation psychology used by counselors, consultants and … [Read more...]
Bragging rights: Top veterinary universities
Rankings prepared by Quacquarelli Symonds ranks The University of California – Davis in the number 2 spot globally for 2019. The ranking makes it the top-ranked veterinary university in the United States. Eleven North American schools are ranked in the top 25 as shown below: University of California – Davis (#2)Cornell University (#5)University of Guelph (#7)The Ohio … [Read more...]
Manage your future career
Plan for your dream promotion, but be prepared to pivot because something will change. Source: Forbes, February 26, 2019. Link. Much of your career is outside your control, no matter how hard you’ve worked or how good your results are. Today, as industries get disrupted, jobs disappear and new jobs are created, this is truer than ever before.” INSIGHTS: Assumptions are … [Read more...]