Citing results from a PwC Pulse survey, Diane Youden discusses the need for upskilling among current employees. Only 28 percent of domestic workers reported upskilling initiatives as something their business was pursuing, compared to 40 percent of global respondents. Thirty nine percent of respondents are concerned their employers aren’t providing enough digital and … [Read more...]
Study finds small acts of kindness can have big impacts on recipients
Research published in the Journal of Experimental Psychology shows that small kind gestures can have a significant impact on recipients, even if givers don’t typically realize it. Performing random acts of kindness increases happiness in both givers and receivers, but we find that givers systematically undervalue their positive impact on recipients. … those performing a random … [Read more...]
Worth a Glance – March 2, 2023
Last week’s AHD Bulletin – Animal Health Digest Bulletin, February 23, 2023. Link. Most read post(s) from February 23rd AHD Bulletin – How old is too old for dentals? Link. Place keeper: 2023 Veterinary Conferences provided by Galaxy Vets. Link. Very few veterinarians are black in the U.S. This is what it’s like to be one. Source: HuffPost, February … [Read more...]
Researchers discover overlooked antimicrobial resistance gene is involved in antimicrobial resistance in livestock disease treatments
Veterinarians rely on macrolides to treat livestock diseases such as bovine respiratory disease. University of Sakatechewan researchers discovered the gene can break the ring structure of the antibiotic through hydrolysis which destroys the antibiotic's structure. Inactivation is concerning because it reduces the effective amount of antibiotics that are being delivered during … [Read more...]
New sustainable bedding inhibits environmental mastitis-causing organisms
Complimentary Commercial Content ARM & HAMMER’s™ patented CERTILLUS™ Eco Dairy Bedding was developed to safely and effectively control pathogens in recycled manure solids. The product safely and effectively uses beneficial bacteria to reduce pathogen loads in bedding, reduce bulk tank SCC and ultimately reduce incidences of mastitis. It also reduces some of the risks … [Read more...]
Identifying American foulbrood in honeybee colonies
American foulbrood is considered the most devastating honeybee disease, asserted Britteny R. Kyle, DVM, MSc, during her WVC session. She shared multiple factors that lead to colony collapse and a simple matchstick method of diagnosing AFB and what to do if it is discovered in a colony. She noted many states have regulations in place for exactly how to deal with AFB. Source: … [Read more...]
Got spiders? An overview of potential invertebrate patients
Among the most common invertebrates available in the pet trade are the arthropods which include large spiders such as the tarantulas and wolf spiders, scorpions, and land hermit crabs. All are relatively inexpensive and readily available writes Douglas R. Mader, MS, DVM, DABVP (C/F, R/A), DECZM (herpetology). His article offers a primer for the most common invertebrates … [Read more...]
RHDV update for practitioners
Rabbit hemorrhagic disease is endemic in eleven states. Cases appeared in two non-endemic states during 2022. The first case in Iowa was reported in August 2022. Ingrid Taylor, DVM shares what practitioners need to know as well as updates the status of the Medgene Labs emergency use RHDV2 vaccine. Source: AAHA Trends, December 2022. Link. … [Read more...]
Dental issues can cause horses to act up
Anna Mykkanen, DVM, PhD shares the results from a study to determine the type, number, and degree of cheek tooth findings that cause behavioral signs associated with dental pain. Regular oral examinations are key to the early recognition of equine dental disease and preventing the development of painful conditions.” Source: The Horse, February 26, 2023. Link. … [Read more...]
10 common cat sounds and what they mean
A cats’ vocabulary is just as rich and subtle as cat body language, writes JaneA Kelly. She shares her favorite cat sounds and what they mean. Source: Catster, August 12, 2019. Link. Also see: Caterwauling, what and why, AHD, September 18, 2018. Link. INSIGHTS: Consider using this content for social media or a feline newsletter. Since regular cat visits are … [Read more...]
Toxocara cati infection in cats
Toxocara cati infection is a common, non–life-threatening condition of kittens and adult cats. Recognizing and treating toxocariases is important because they represent a human health hazard, as well, and because infective eggs are difficult to eradicate after an environment has been contaminated. Many drugs are available for treatment and some prevent vertical transmission of … [Read more...]
Health data of short-muzzled breeds aims to inform personalized care
Complimentary Content Data from more than 50,000 brachycephalic dogs in the Nationwide canine database has been published as a pair of white papers. The results reveal how brachycephalic and “extreme” brachycephalic dog breeds are at severely increased risk for comorbidities, including respiratory, gastrointestinal and spinal diseases. Our results highlight the need for … [Read more...]
Virox® Technologies, NAVTA launch Infection Prevention Leader program
To advance infection prevention best practices, the National Association of Veterinary Technicians in America in partnership with Virox Technologies, have launched an online program designed to provide animal care professionals with the knowledge needed to reduce the risk of spreading infection and create a safer workplace for their team, patients and clients to help animal … [Read more...]
Amazon Super Bowl commercial, not a good example of dealing with behavior issues
Commentary If you gritted your teeth at the Amazon ad depicting a family dealing with their dog’s separation anxiety during the Super Bowl, you are not alone. Daily Paws’ Jenna Stregowski, RVT addresses why a second dog may not be a good idea and what to do when dogs are not coping well with being alone. Getting a second dog is not the solution to fixing behavioral issues … [Read more...]
Ingredients to look for in dog food and treats
What do I feed my dog? This is one of the more routinely asked questions in veterinary clinics and retail. A well-balanced diet is vital to a dog’s health and well-being. Well balanced means matching nutrition and calories. Sydney Yankowicz shares perspective on helping clients make food decisions. . . . in general, pet owners can be advised to choose recognizable, whole-food … [Read more...]
Discussing the importance of puppy socialization with clients
Brie Blakeman, CBCC-KA, CPDT-KA, urges veterinary professionals to educate owners on the importance of adequate socialization for puppies so they learn what is safe and not safe when interacting with humans and other animals. Proper socialization helps to prevent unwanted behaviors like fearfulness, anxiety, and aggression which are not easily modified. Source: DVM 360, … [Read more...]
IBPSA Fast Bites – February 27, 2023
Growth in the pet daycare and housing market, pet food and treats more than 50 percent of spend on pets in 2021, pet toy trends to watch, realizing the power of tech, pet owners of all ages focused on pet nutrition and more . . . Source: IBPSA Fast Bites, February 27, 2023. Link. … [Read more...]
How to increase your worth by 50 percent, according to Warren Buffett
You can have all the brainpower in the world, but you must be able to transmit it. The one easy way to become worth 50 percent more than you are now, at least, is to hone your communication skills . . . both written and verbal." – Warren Buffett Source: BENZINGA, February 23, 2023. Link. … [Read more...]
Feedback as a gift
Annual performance reviews are controversial. Some people praise them in public, but most hate them in private. Source: Fearless Culture, April 25, 2018. Link. Regardless of how much training they receive, some managers don’t like telling people the truth.” INSIGHT: When people get used to ongoing feedback, it feels more human, less threatening, and dialogue becomes part … [Read more...]
PAW Program provides aid to cancer patients with pets
The C-word diagnosis often devastates people and their families. Many face changes that tap their finances, energy and make it difficult to pay for pet food, veterinary care or pet services to support their pets’ health. CancerCare provides assistance for cancer patients. For pet owners in cancer crisis its Pet Assistance & Wellness Program offers a variety of resources … [Read more...]
Addressing veterinary attrition through storytelling
Veterinary Visionaries 2023 Spring Solving Event is asking veterinary professionals to record short video testimonials that puts human experiences into the profession’s statistics. Using crowdsourced videos, 60 or more industry organizations support this effort to help the veterinary industry reverse the declining employee satisfaction and retention trend. How do we get people … [Read more...]
Worth a Glance – February 23, 2023
Last week’s AHD Bulletin – Animal Health Digest Bulletin, February 16, 2023. Link. Most read posts from February 9th AHD Bulletin – Cost of Care Wheel is now 24/7 digital resource. Link. Work is NOT your family. Link. New test strip quickly detects periodontal disease before it is visible. Link. Dos and don’ts of recognition. Link. Place keeper: … [Read more...]
5 key principles for composting farm waste
Spring weather will soon thaw frozen manure piles leaving producers with decisions about handling the manure effectively. Beyond a simple pile of manure, composting should be thought of as the biological decomposition of organic matter under controlled conditions, says Brian Dougherty. He explains the nuances of getting moisture, oxygen level, particle size, … [Read more...]
5 key issues for the U.S. pork industry
The National Pork Producers Council latest pork industry economic update summarizes five key pork industry market indicators through January 2023: Consumer pork demand Projected growth Labor shortages Production costs Ripple effect Source: National Hog Farmer, February 14, 2023. Link. . . . data on hog farm employment specifically shows that average wages … [Read more...]
For cows, time is money
Too simple? Maybe. Yet, Rick Grant reminds us of the importance of giving cows time to rest and eat. Cows need to spend about 70% of their day eating and resting. . . We have to get that right and allow cows to do cow things.” Source: Hoard’s Dairyman, February 20, 2023. Link. If cows are eating four to five hours a day and resting 12 to 14 hours, that does not leave much … [Read more...]
7 amazing facts about insects
Ants, honeybees, a 22-inch walking stick, ladybugs and more . . . Mosquitoes are the world’s deadliest animal.” Source: Interesting facts. Link. INSIGHTS: Consider using one of these examples as a conversation starter when you need to break the ice with a new person or group. … [Read more...]
AAEP Commission on Veterinary Sustainability: Compensation Matters
1,378 respondents completed a survey from the compensation subcommittee of the AAEP's Commission on Equine Veterinary Sustainability. This article shares some of the survey results and opportunities. The average salaries for those in the graduation years 2016–2019 was $88,973 for example. The charge of the committee is “To ensure that members understand what current … [Read more...]
How old is too old for dentals?
It is important to recognize that oral and dental disease often increases in incidence in older pets. Heidi Lobprise, DVM, DAVDC, asserts since resolving these issues can improve the patients’ overall quality of life, managing the anesthetic risks of these patients, and concerns of their owners is critical. Seldom will a pet be too old to benefit from optimal care.” Source: … [Read more...]
A cup is a terrible way to measure how much we feed a dog
There are too many variables to effectively use volume as an accurate measurement of how much a dog gets to eat. Reminding us that dog food labels are challenging for pet owners to interpret, if not misleading, Nancy Kerns addresses feeding enough or too much. Kerns’ frequent articles about pet food make good posts for animal health pros to share with pet owners … [Read more...]
Chewy expands private label mix with new wellness line
Commercial Content Vibeful is Chewy’s first pet wellness brand. It features 20 supplements and vitamins crafted to complement a wide range of daily wellness needs to meet the growing consumer demand. These supplements boast no artificial ingredients and come in a variety of soft chews, liquids and powders, and in flavors like chicken, salmon and peanut butter. Source: … [Read more...]