Severely neglected or mistreated dogs may have suffered any number of abuses: constant physical restraint or confinement, lack of appropriate nourishment, endless environmental stressors, even outright physical punishment. Marybeth Bittel shares some of the challenges of preparing these animals for their new lives. Source: Dogster, November 9, 2017. Potential adopters may … [Read more...]
Dogs can smell human fear and mirror our moods
A new study, "Interspecies transmission of emotional information via chemosignals: from humans to dogs (Canis lupus familiaris)," in the journal Animal Cognition, confirms what many have known. Dogs do smell human fear using chemosignals and they, too get scared. A dog's nose is an organ that's evolved to be an incredibly sensitive to odors. Source: The Bark, November 15, … [Read more...]
Embed customer-centricity into your DNA
Customer-centered focus becomes part of the DNA of a business or practice when its customers are at the center of every decision. This article is the 11th in a series of 12 on this subject. Animal health pros closest to customers’ needs often find themselves in conflict with leadership. But focused, customer-centric behavior is a primary context to the most successful … [Read more...]
Content marketing set to change
Just as content marketing seems to come of age, John Ellett challenges marketers to quit developing content marketing strategies and start developing plans that address how content supports marketing strategies. Studies indicate two of marketers’ biggest challenges in addressing changing buyer behaviors are: lack of buyer insights developing content that satisfies … [Read more...]
Understanding the decision makers
Pat Malone writes about the decision makers in this thoughtful article. It is a must-read for animal health pros. He writes: When your customer goes into decision-making mode, he/she is being influenced by two considerations: What do I know? This is the logical side of our brain calling up all the data and facts that we have that pertain to the decision at hand. How … [Read more...]
Beef Quality Assurance launches new transportation program
“The BQA Transportation (BQAT) training and certification program has been a long time coming,” said Chase DeCoite, director of BQA for the National Cattlemen's Beef Association. “By educating cattle haulers and producers on the best practices in cattle transportation, BQA is helping make improvements in cattle care and beef quality.” Source: Beef, November 16, 2017. Online … [Read more...]
Don’t forget the salt
The growing trends toward the small farm or urban livestock production comes with great educational needs. Many urban or suburban schools have abandoned ag-related classes and FFA or 4-H options are limited. Parents, grandparents and family members may remember raising poultry, rabbits or small ruminants but those memories may not reflect today’s realities. Rhonda Crank … [Read more...]
Fake leadership is not leading
Leadership is about people and only people. Many people are blessed with both management and leadership skills but more are not. Steve Keating’s comments are actionable, especially if you are in the process of hiring new persons or making advancement decisions. Source: Lead Today, November 13, 2017. If you want to know if someone is a leader don’t look at the leader, look … [Read more...]
Headbutting shows affection
Watch most team sports and you’ll see a common cat behavior exhibited after a great play, the headbutt. Similar to our human use of this action, cats have used head butting for eons for bonding and social purposes. More appropriately, this action is called head bunting. Source: Catster, November 8, 2017. Cat behaviorist Pam Johnson-Bennett says, “For the cat to place his … [Read more...]
Reintegration into society difficult for veterans
Veterans Day was celebrated Saturday, November 11th. Honoring those who served is important, but it may be more important to help them reintegrate into society. Benjamin Sledge writes from his own experiences and shares perspectives about how today’s society is not tuned to support the returning veteran. Source: Medium, November 10, 2017. Realistically, I think a lot of … [Read more...]
Biosecurity takes a team
Diligence, teamwork, research, technology and collaboration are required to maintain biosecurity on farm and within the collective U.S. swine populations. Kevin Shultz distilled the frequently cacophonous elements of biosecurity efforts in this article. It truly takes a team willing to be cooperative, even though they are often competitive. Together, biosecurity remains a key … [Read more...]
Opinion – Immune response and nutrient metabolism swine research evolving rapidly
This research information should interest to any animal health pro as whose focus is on prevention and managing disease. The immunes system has high biological priority. When pathogens are detected, the immune response becomes the animal’s energetic priority and changes how dietary nutrients and calories are utilized. Source: National Hog Farmer, October 2017. Any energy … [Read more...]
Women’s leadership Q/A: Never let them see you sweat
This Q/A with Kimberley Bennett, senior director of Kentucky Beam Bourbon Experiences at Beam Suntory will resonate with the increasing number of female animal health pros. Bennett has always worked in male-dominated industries and learned early on to "never let them see you sweat." She says women "need that network of strong-minded women to cheer for your success and share … [Read more...]
No kidding, goats are smart
As the number of homestead-like farms grows so does the number of goats. Researchers continue to study how they are affected by the production environment and how they see and interact with us. Goats may appear to have one-track minds, but they devote a lot of thought to social issues, too. Source: Countryside Daily, November 6, 2017. In 2017, we have seen published results … [Read more...]
Impostor syndrome sneaks up on everyone
It’s likely every animal health pro feels like a fraud from time to time. Ciera Miller, CVT, VTS, speaks to us all in her article on the imposter syndrome. Source: Firstline, October 26, 2017. Impostor syndrome, a concept where an individual is marked by an inability to recognize their accomplishments and lives with a constant fear of being a “fraud,” is extremely … [Read more...]
Your feelings about work-life balance are shaped by what you saw your parents do
A popular TV ad sponsored by an insurance provider depicts aging adults becoming their parents. Research published by Ioana Lupu found that our upbringing has enduring influence on our work and career decisions — and that what we subconsciously learn from our parents plays an important role in how we think about and manage work-life balance. Source: Harvard Business Review, … [Read more...]
New video series promotes understanding of dairy management systems
A series of six new videos from Iowa State University Extension and Outreach have been created to help beginning dairy farmers learn about different types of dairy operations and management systems. Each video features a dairy farmer who discusses the different aspects of their operation. We agree these videos will also help generational succession changes required as older … [Read more...]
Pork facts (slideshow)
Pork is big business today. More than 2 billion pounds of it is produced annually in the United States. As the most versatile meat, it can be marinated, roasted, barbecued, pan-fried, stir-fried, grilled, dry rubbed, boiled and baked. No matter how you fix it, pork is a protein-packed treat. Cheryl Day shares some facts about pork that animal health pros may find useful and … [Read more...]
Peek inside a hoop beef facility (slideshow)
Progressive practices are best viewed in person, but when you can’t, articles like this one help animal health pros understand new approaches. Here, a Missouri father-son team shares experiences from their hoop feeding facility and the benefits they are seeing. Source: Beef, May 19, 2017. By taking the weather off their back, cattle are improving gains and feed … [Read more...]
DVM posts dairy bull calf care tips on social media (includes videos)
Kudos to veterinarian Marissa Hake for using social media to share how to keep male dairy calves on a successful path of health. The series of videos were posted on the Facebook site of Mackinson Dairy Farm on October 27. Source: Drovers CattleNetwork, October 30, 2017. Dr. Hake shares videos and photos of her day caring for veal calves. In the posts Hake offers tips on … [Read more...]
AAHA accredits 17 new practices in September-October
Congratulations to the newly AAHA-accredited practices. These practices worked hard to meet the highest standards in veterinary medicine. Check this list for colleagues or customers: The Cat Hospital of Media, Media, PA Pikes Peak Veterinary Clinic, Colorado Springs, CO Aina Haina Pet Hospital, Honolulu, HI Germantown–Farmington Animal Hospital, Germantown, TN … [Read more...]
Carbon paw-print from feeding meat to pets
We’ve studied the environmental impact of cow flatulence, water source contaminations from livestock and myriad other environmental effects of animal production. Now a 2014 study in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences has surfaced to expose the carbon paw-print from feeding meat to pets. Source: Los Angeles Times, August 4, 2017. In short, Gregory Okin … [Read more...]
Been there, done that
On any day, at any level of an organization, an idea can surface to solve a problem, meet a need or generate value. It is easy to get discouraged if it seems like the idea is not new or revolutionary. Charlie Gilkey proposes that if novelty is what you are after, you’ve already lost the opportunity. Source: Thrive Global, October 30, 2017. Service trumps novelty. Rather … [Read more...]
Ask a Cat Lady belts out feline distemper (includes video)
Sarah Donner, the Ask a Cat Lady personality, shares feline distemper facts, including a song she composed and performs on video. Sometimes known as ataxia or the cat plague, FPV spreads through fluid or fecal contact, in utero or via fleas. This virus can survive years in a stable environment, and it can be devastating when it breaks out. Source: Catster, October 26, … [Read more...]
Check smoke and carbon dioxide alarms as Daylight savings time ends
Seasonal changes have many furnaces already running. These changes can also alert animal health pros to check the functionality of smoke alarms and CO2 sensors. If you haven’t changed batteries or tested your alarms, now is the time to do so. Combine the alarm checks with resetting your clocks. Daylight Savings time ends Sunday, November 5, 2017, 2:00:00 am. Clocks are … [Read more...]
Affordability is the hottest topic in veterinary medicine
Dr. Patty Khuly discusses the cost of care challenges and an assessment of pet insurance and other payment options. She opines that some animals from lower-income households will need to accept a lower standard of care. It is part of the conundrum she discusses. Source: Veterinary Practice News, October 23, 2017. We all know veterinary care has gotten pricier. And there are … [Read more...]
Neglect allegations force dog blood bank closing
The Pet Blood Bank, a Cherokee, Texas, supplier of canine blood for veterinary transfusions has closed following allegations by an animal rights group that the company neglected about 150 greyhounds for which it was caring. The San Saba County Sheriff’s Office, along with the Texas Greyhound Association found no evidence of abuse or neglect. Source: Washington Post, October … [Read more...]
Sponsored Content – New product redirects destructive cat scratching
“Veterinarians now have a way to stop destructive scratching in the home without declawing procedures or ineffective alternatives,” said Dr. Valarie V. Tynes, DVM, Dipl. ACVB, Veterinary Services Specialist at Ceva Animal Health in a statement released November 1, 2017. FELISCRATCH by FELIWAYTM, is clinically proven to stop and prevent both vertical and horizontal destructive … [Read more...]
Don’t fear Dr. Google
In a recent study, Trone Brand Energy found only 31 percent of pet owners highly trust online information sources. This compared to 81 percent of pet owners who highly trust their veterinarians. Forty seven percent of them highly trust their family and friends, which was the second most trusted source of information. In a related study, pet owners who rank in the top 25 … [Read more...]
Opinion – Unlearn toxic masculinity
There is no doubt the Harvey Weinstein revelations have pulled discussions of sexual assault and harassment to the front of water cooler discussions. These stories emphasize the negative consequences of what some call toxic masculinity. Left without context that is presented this article, mindsets are cemented and generalizations get perpetuated. Source: The Cut, October 23, … [Read more...]