Dogs aren’t wired to instinctively love their crates. Kelly Conaboy shares advice from experts about helping them adjust and why some never will. Source: The Washington Post, March 20, 2024. Link. “<Crate> benefits are contingent on the crate being introduced correctly, and whether the dog truly feels calm and comfortable when inside.” - Kate Anderson, DVM, … [Read more...]
Ernie Ward, DVM, talks pet obesity and prevention
The increasing number of overweight and obese pets is far more complex than people offering too much table food and the effects on life quality, longevity and health. Ernie Ward, president of The Association for Pet Obesity Prevention, and Steve Dale, program host, discuss treating obesity as a disease, spay/neuter timing and the efforts addressing body conditioning. The … [Read more...]
New pet products earn top honors at Global Pet Expo
Global Pet Expo’s Best in Show awards were awarded across 13 product categories, including aquatic, bird, boutique, cat, dog, dog food/treats, natural, reptile, small animal, pet sustainability, pet tech innovation, point of purchase and the modern pet. Source: Pet Product News, March 2024. Link. … [Read more...]
Emerging cicadas shouldn’t be a problem for most pets
Billions of cicadas from two broods will emerge from the ground weeks after the April total solar eclipse across large swaths of the U.S. Chances are good pets will run into the bugs. It will be the first time in 221 years that both broods are above ground simultaneously. The AVMA’s Rena Carlson, DVM, addressed potential pet concerns with the likely cicada … [Read more...]
9 types of difficult colleagues, how to handle them
It takes extra effort to deal with the dynamics of situations involving difficult people. Sharing nine types of difficult colleagues or clients, Nick Robinson explains simple, direct strategies to deal with them. Among them were these three: The worrier The dark strategist The people pleaser Source: Fast Company, March 20, 2024. Link. “The best way to deal with a … [Read more...]
Practicing with care for the emotional well-being of animals
Slick floors, padding for exam tables and seeing posters from an animal’s perspective were among topics when Temple Grandin, PhD, MS and Fear Free’s Marty Becker, DVM addressed Fetch dvm360 conference attendees recently. Not everyone gets to attend these events, so we’re sharing an overview from Kristen Coppock, MA. Source: DVM 360, March 17, 2024. Link. “Creating and … [Read more...]
5 key pet industry trends to watch from 2024 to 2028
Sharing takeaways from an in-depth Packaged Facts webinar titled, “US Pet Market Outlook 2024: Opportunities in a Mixed Growth Landscape, Sarah Schmidt offers a summary of key trends: Impact of inflation on pet owner spending Economic challenges facing younger pet owners Shift to lower-cost products and services Decline in the dog population Continued pet … [Read more...]
IBPSA Fast Bites – March 25, 2024
Small business debt, retail employment segment, purpose-driven company culture, growing costs of owning pets, pet allergies and more . . . Source: IBPSA Fast Bites, March 25, 2024. Link. … [Read more...]
Re-entering practice after a hiatus (podcast)
We found the podcast discussion from Alyssa Watson, DVM, Beth Molleson, DVM, and guest Katie Berlin, DVM, especially timely and relevant as our industry deals with balance, equity and equality issues <Link>. Source: Clinician’s Brief: The Podcast, March 2024. Link. (46:21) … [Read more...]
A failure to communicate
Your paycheck may say you are a CEO, a senator, a manager, a teacher or a DVM. But you are really a communicator. Communication is a team sport. Clarity is everything. Source: AXIOS, March 14, 2024. Link. “When you are sick of hearing yourself say your big mission, it is just starting to sink in.” INSIGHT: Be direct. Say what you mean and mean what you say. … [Read more...]
When what’s possible isn’t an option, enter the spectrum of care
Not all veterinary clients can afford the gold standard and sometimes a pet’s health situation has limitations. Mark Thill reviews how the rising bar for “standard of care” comes with ethical and practical challenges. He shares perspectives from various leaders about “care creep” and how some veterinary students are being introduced and taught to deal with care … [Read more...]
Nearly 50 percent of women skip preventative health appointments
This article is appropriate for Women’s History Month 2024, especially for busy animal health pros. In it, Julia Ries shares disturbing results from recent Ipsos research. She prioritizes the most important checkups to avoid missing beginning with blood work and working to create a custom plan with the primary care physician. Source: Health, March 9, 2024. Link. “Nearly … [Read more...]
Nurses more successful than doctors in maintaining high ratings
Commentary The U.S. veterinary segment struggles with how to treat, promote and empower veterinary technicians <Link>. Meanwhile, human medical nurses get the highest ratings among doctors and other elements of the health care industry, according to the Gallup article linked below. The dynamics represented in this article are worth considering as we work to fully … [Read more...]
AAHA NEWStat shares data on the state of women in vet med
Providing a history of gender shifts, pay gaps and advancement challenges, Cara Hopkins shares an up-to-date situation analysis of gender equality issues for women in veterinary professions. She notes 87.3 percent of current veterinary school applicants identify as female, as well as 88 percent of veterinary technicians, but finds dissimilar ratios in academia and practice … [Read more...]
Worth a Glance – March 21, 2024
Last week’s AHD Bulletin – Animal Health Digest Bulletin, March 14, 2024. Link. Most read post(s) from the March 14th AHD Bulletin – Doing for others. Link. FDA proposes new regulations for animal drug labeling. Link. Dairy industry contraction trend continues. Link. ============================================ AI won’t replace B2B copywriters, because it … [Read more...]
1.9 million doses of NexGard® PLUS donated to animal shelters
The Boehringer Ingelheim Cares Foundation has partnered with Greater Good Charities to distribute the product to animal shelters in need. The NexGard® PLUS donation is expected to have a significant boost to protect shelter dogs from fleas and ticks, prevent heartworm disease, and treat and control roundworms and hookworms. Source: Boehringer Ingelheim Animal Health, March … [Read more...]
The first insulin-producing cow could mean a new era in insulin production for diabetics
A new Biotechnology Journal study describes the development of the insulin-producing cow, a proof-of-concept achievement that could be scaled up after additional testing and FDA approval. “The study’s goal was to make proinsulin, purify it out to insulin and go from there, said Matthew B. Wheeler, PhD, but the cow processed it herself. She makes about three to one biologically … [Read more...]
Upcoming industry conversations scheduled at The Bridge Club
Register to join The Bridge Club at no charge during these upcoming conversations: Understanding title protection for veterinary technicians, Zoom, April 24, 2024, 7:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. CDT. <Link to register> Revolutionizing veterinary education, May 02, 2024, 7:00 p.m to 8:00 p.m. CDT. <Link to register> Source: The Bridge Club, LinkedIn. <Link> … [Read more...]
No excuses to skip prevention with cash cattle markets nearing historic highs
Commentary We often hear about cattle producers who penny pinch on vaccines, dewormers and other practices that support cattle health. While every head has always counted, there is no better time to invest in advancing herd health than when cash markets are high. Cattle producers can realize even higher premiums for doing the right things at the right time when cattle … [Read more...]
One in 11.2 million: Central Nebraska cow has 4 live calves (fun video)
A Custer County Nebraska cow recently gave birth to four healthy, lively calves; quadruplets. Two of them weighed 30 pounds and two of them weighed 35. Quad mom and calves are all healthy and doing fine. Source: Sandhills Express, March 14, 2024. Link. (3:33) The widely accepted odds by veterinary experts of a cow having four calves in one pregnancy is one in 700,000. Those … [Read more...]
We geld stallions, but spaying may not be the way for mares
Sharing the perspectives and experiences of researchers at the Clinical Endocrinology Laboratory at the University of California-Davis, Megan Arszman covers the gamut regarding spaying of female horses in this article. Sudden changes in a horse’s behavior or performance can be many things besides hormones, explain the researchers. Source: The Paulick Report, March 15, 2024. … [Read more...]
Springtime checklist for horse owners, veterinarians
Spring sets the tone for the rest of the year, writes Lucile Vigouroux. She says the key to transition from winter to spring is to have a plan in place to tackle a horse’s various seasonal needs, including vaccinating and deworming, as well as rebuilding the horse athlete’s fitness after a winter hiatus. Beyond the comprehensive checklist note the take-home message for … [Read more...]
Most dog bites can be prevented by paying attention
Dog bites to humans are increasing in California and possibly other states. Unlike the often-stated human reason of, “The bite came out of nowhere,” there are almost always signs. Of the 4.5 million dog bites reported each year about 80 percent happen at home and involve a dog and human who’ve met before. Melonie San Pietro offers tips to avoid being bitten. Source: The Los … [Read more...]
Urban greening boosts rodent population and zoonotic disease risk
Commentary We have shared posts about the intersection of wildlife and our domestic animals <Link>. The risks are worth more attention and specifically, pet owner education. Margaret Davis shares the zoonotic drawbacks created by urban greening initiatives that beautify cities, support biodiversity and purify air by creating habitats for diverse flora and … [Read more...]
Annual leptospirosis vaccination NOW recommended by ACVIM
Leptospirosis sp. is a zoonotic risk in humans and other mammals. Leptospirosis is most frequently recognized in cattle, swine, dogs, horses and wildlife. Cats are also being considered as more investigation takes place. Modern canine vaccines offer four serovars of lepto to help protect dogs and the infection risks are not restricted to large-breed dogs, male dogs, or dogs … [Read more...]
AAFP updates position statements on the responsible breeding and indoor/outdoor lifestyle of cats
Seeking to provide evidence-based guidance to veterinary professionals and cat caregivers to ensure the highest standards of care for feline companions, the AAFP issued statements to more realistically address challenges with feline husbandry. Included in the statements were: The AAFP does not condone the breeding of cats with inherent malformations, and any breed with … [Read more...]
Kitten season is out of control. Are warmer winters to blame?
For more than a decade, animal shelters across the country have noted kitten season starting earlier and lasting longer. Scientists, conservationists and cat advocates all agree unchecked outdoor cat populations are a problem, but they remain deeply divided on solutions. Whether longer periods of warmer weather or an increase in food sources, a large number of feral cats around … [Read more...]
FDA warns cat owners certain topicals can be toxic if licked
Social grooming, also called allogrooming, is a sign of social bonding and is associated with security, trust and love when cats lick their humans. However, topical medicines can cause harm to cats who like to lick their people. The FDA recently warned people about the possibility of fluorouracil poisoning in pets <Link>. Catnip’s eStaff shares information about … [Read more...]
The rights and wrongs of dog treats
Commentary Recent statistics classify the majority of pets in the United States; about 56 percent of dogs and 60 percent of cats, as overweight or obese <Link>. Our team has been outspoken about how treats are positioned, kcals in treats and addressing pet owner feeding and treating behavior <Link>. As we see new treats introduced, we routinely check on the kcals … [Read more...]
Cat’s behavior out of control? Seek help.
Your first response to this article might be, “Cats being cats . . . how would you know?” Seek help sooner rather than later, writes Zazie Todd, PhD, as most problems will take action to resolve. Common behavior issues in cats include toileting in unapproved places, scratching where it’s not wanted, not getting on with other pets and aggressive behavior. Todd references … [Read more...]