Hugh Latif offers perspectives on strategies and tactics, which are frequently confused. Strategic errors can be fatal because they deal with business direction. Tactical errors are easier to fix, absorb and are less costly than strategic errors. Source: The Globe and Mail, September 5, 2017. Strategy is tied to the overall direction and represents the main highway taken to … [Read more...]
A quadrillion reasons those microbes matter
When cattle are fed, producers feed an ecosystem of bacteria, protozoa and fungi. Rumen microbes work together to break down what a cow eats, turning the feed into energy and protein. Keeping microbes flourishing can keep cows productive and in the herd. The numbers are mind-boggling. Source: Beef, August 24, 2017. Three main microorganisms are responsible for breaking down … [Read more...]
Sponsored Content – Fall equine wellness (includes video)
Zoetis has provided the American Quarter Horse Association with material about preparing horses for the risks of fall season. Annual spring vaccinations help offer disease protection and can activate an immune response. Now that it’s almost fall, the American Association of Equine Practitioners (AAEP) vaccination guidelines recommend at-risk horses be vaccinated for equine … [Read more...]
“Let cats scratch” says the AAFP
Revising its previous 2015 position statement on declawing, the American Association of Feline Practitioners (AAFP) now strongly opposes onychectomy as an elective procedure. The AAFP’s position stresses the need for veterinary teams to educate cat caregivers, as many are unaware that declawing is a surgical amputation of the third phalanx. Scratching is a normal feline … [Read more...]
Groom advice, stop feeding horses treats
Megan Withers offers advice to horse owners about feeding too many treats. In her experiences, horse owners train horses to exhibit some bad behaviors by over-treating. This is good content for clients with unruly critters, new horse owners or young people just getting involved in horsemanship. Source: Horse Network, September 9, 2017. When your horse nickers for you as you … [Read more...]
Avoid things that kill or hurt cats
Client education is a continuous challenge in veterinary practice or in a retail environment. Many new pet owners have little or no awareness about common risks. Articles like this that review risks to cats at home make good content for websites, social media posts or new pet kits. Source: Catster, September 5, 2017. The three most common cat injuries are represented by … [Read more...]
AAHA Canine Vaccination Guidelines revised
The 2017 AAHA Canine Vaccination Guidelines were developed to help support veterinary teams as they determine protocols for each of their patients’ risk factors, life stage, and lifestyle. Published in the September/October edition of the Journal of the American Animal Hospital Association (JAAHA)—and for the first time, as an online educational resource for the veterinary … [Read more...]
AAHA calls for photos
Need a break from the everyday race? Consider a photo shoot in your practice showing your team using AAHA Press products. Then submit them for consideration in the AAHA Press Catalog. Source: AAHA Red, September 8, 2017. Get creative! Ask one of your favorite reps to help you. The deadline for submissions is September 21, 2017. … [Read more...]
Evaluate and simplify leadership
Ask 100 experts to define leadership and you will get 100 answers. Ask them what constitutes effective leadership you will get 100 answers with 100 different nuances. There is no question that effective leadership is a complex subject with multiple facets. Sometimes, the simplest solution is the best. Here are three steps to evaluate your leadership effectiveness. Source: … [Read more...]
Flood resources now available
A new pamphlet for preparing, responding and recovered from flooding is now available from the University of California’s vet school. You can get it here. A second pamphlet deals more with dairy farms and evacuations due to flooding. Get it here. Source: Dairy Herd Management, September 8, 2017. Following one of the wettest seasons on record in California, the University of … [Read more...]
Sleep better when dogs are in the bedroom, not bed
Mayo Clinic research scientists recently conducted a study to determine how sleeping with dogs impacts sleep quality. The findings of this small study indicate those who kept their dogs in their bedroom experienced better sleep, compared to those who didn’t. Those who slept with their pet in bed suffered from lower quality of sleep. Source: The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, … [Read more...]
Engage more clients, retain more clients
Customer engagement and experience management are key value drivers to client retention. Value delivery methods are critical to ensure clients keep your business top of mind. An engagement program with multi-touch messaging and a strategy to drive client loyalty will help create success. Source: MWI Messenger, September 2017, page 9. Client engagement creates loyalty. Equal … [Read more...]
Household cleaning products that are not safe for dogs
As the human-animal bond strengthens, our homes can become risky, especially with cleaning products . Furniture wax, cleaning wipes, even disinfecting sprays are part of the products reviewed in this article. Consider using the information on websites, blogs or in social media posts. New pet owners need this information, as well. Source: Dogster, August 23, 2017. Several … [Read more...]
Help pet owners prepare a disaster plan
Before tropical storms Jose, Katia, or Lee arrive, Pet Sitters International is offering tips for to pet owners so they can prepare for disaster and remember that “no pet left behind” is the best policy to avoid potential injury and death. September is National Preparedness Month. Source: Pet Product News, September 6, 2017. Creating a disaster plan is an important step … [Read more...]
Help clients build recordkeeping systems
We liked this article which begins with the reality of “fire truck” rural practice. Jake Geis shares how the fire truck calls can become opportunities to show clients how to keep better health records. He recommends the veterinarian take the initiative to do some of the recordkeeping to help increase profitability and provide more job satisfaction. Source: Beef, September 1, … [Read more...]
Cat food variety growing rapidly
While kibble remains the mainstay, the cat food category is expanding with new options as manufacturers seek to meet customers’ varied demands. Nutritional science, as well as consumer and feline preferences, drive the trends and appear to be following the trends in dog foods for increased numbers of natural offerings and unique protein sources. Source: Pet Product News, … [Read more...]
Zombie dogs or mangy coyote? (graphic image)
Chicago residents are reporting mangy coyotes as zombie dogs. Sarcoptic mange causes the coyotes to lose hair and develop infections. The infections can degrade their eyesight, which may cause these normally nocturnal animals to become active during the day. Source: Bellevue News-Democrat, August 31, 2017. Police are warning persons that mange is contagious to animals. It … [Read more...]
30 behaviors that make you unstoppable
Benjamin Hardy shares that when you’re unstoppable, you will make sure to get what you want. Everything you need to know is already within you. All you need to do is trust yourself and act. Source: Thrive Global, August 30, 2017. Those who are unstoppable are in their own world. They don’t compete with anyone but themselves. You never know what they will do — only that you … [Read more...]
FDA urges veterinary caution when reading epinephrine labels
The FDA is alerting animal health pros about the potential for dosing errors when using human-labeled products such as epinephrine. To avoid dosing errors, veterinarians should carefully review the label on an epinephrine product to determine if the strength is expressed as mg/mL or as a ratio. The FDA ordered the removal of ratios expressing the drug’s strength (such as … [Read more...]
Bayer, 4-H promoting STEM education
Science, technology, engineering and math are the focus of a collaboration with Bayer and 4-H. They hope to address the concern that 26 million STEM related jobs go unfulfilled each year. The partnership seeks to engage youth and maintain their interest in STEM skills. Source: Ag Web, September 5, 2017. There are six million students in 4-H. Science Matters will extend the … [Read more...]
Regular bleach use linked to higher risk of fatal lung disease
Using disinfectants once a week could increase the risk of developing chronic obstructive pulmonary disease by as much as 32 percent according to a 30-year study by Harvard University and the French National Institute of Health and Medical Research (Inserm). The everyday use of bleach currently has no specific health guidelines, but the researchers hope this will be … [Read more...]
Your dog doesn’t need the gluten-free menu
Jackie Parr, DVM, discusses all things gluten, human and pet, in this Q/A article. She reminds us that dogs and cats do not get Celiac disease and generally don’t need a gluten-free diet. Source: Dr. Andy Roark, April 29, 2017. So when would I avoid feeding gluten: You happen to see a very rare case of gluten sensitive enteropathy in an Irish Setter puppy You are … [Read more...]
Zoonotic diseases quiz is timely
Among the current and future challenges of the Hurricane Harvey devastation is the risk of zoonotic disease exchanges. An entire underground population of rats, mice, feral cats, skunks, raccoons and who knows what else was forced to move along with people. Like humans, they will move back into the area carrying with them all sorts of zoonotic risks including leptospirosis, … [Read more...]
Therapy chickens help nursing home residents
The therapeutic value of taking dogs to visit hospitals, special needs centers, schools and nursing homes is well-known. Even docile cats are now sometimes used as therapy animals. But therapy chickens? Source: Backyard Poultry, August 30, 2017. Today therapy chickens are used around the world to help those in nursing homes improve their mobility and have fun. Residents are … [Read more...]
Preg-checking considerations for cow herds
Wyatt Bechtel shares pregnancy checking suggestions from Extension specialists in various parts of the U.S.: Pregnancy testing cattle to save money Have your breeding dates on hand Pregnancy check heifers early Cull those open heifers Source: Drovers CattleNetwork, August 31, 2017. It makes more business sense to sell the open heifers, rather than create more … [Read more...]
Temple Grandin celebrates her 70th birthday (with her own beer)
World-renowned animal behaviorist, autism activist and author Temple Grandin, PhD, celebrated her 70th birthday last month at Colorado State University where she is a professor in the Department of Animal Sciences. Hundreds of current and former students, industry leaders, university personnel, plus the director of the award-winning 2010 movie, “Temple Grandin,” attended. A … [Read more...]
Biodiversity important for goat farming
Using lessons from the dairy producers, goat farmers are urged to maintain genetic diversity in their herds, rather than breed for production-specific traits. By not doing so, animals may become ill-equipped to adapt to changing conditions or fight new diseases. The United Nations is so concerned that more than 100 countries are already signed up to monitor genealogies and … [Read more...]
Protecting chickens from aerial predators (includes video)
Free-ranging and backyard chickens are easy prey for animals like foxes, raccoons, skunks and neighbors’ free-roaming cats and dogs. In addition, the lack of protection overhead makes them a likely meal for hawks. Pam Freeman offers ways to protect backyard chickens from aerial predators. Source: Backyard Poultry, August 30, 2017. To protect backyard, free-ranging chickens … [Read more...]
Lice season looms ahead
As fall comes on, it is time to readdress the lice populations that survived the summer and begin to infest cattle in October. By treating early, ranchers can avoid the deep infestations of January and February common in many areas. Source: Beef, August 31, 2017. Some animals, due to poor immune function or some other factors, are more vulnerable to extensive lice … [Read more...]
Feeding puppies for the best health possible
How much to feed new puppies is a common question of dog owners regardless of how many they have raised. Denise Flaim reminds owners to feed for slow, steady growth. Studies show that slow, steady growth – with no dramatic growth spurts – is ideal for puppy health, especially his developing skeletal system. Source: Whole Dog Journal, September 2017. Pet-nutrition consultant … [Read more...]