The American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA) and management consulting firm The Coffman Organization (TCO), announced a collaboration to study and build stronger, healthier workplaces within the veterinary profession. AAHA and TCO are committed to bring meaningful, lasting improvements to veterinary workplace culture and enhance the overall well-being of veterinary … [Read more...]
Regain the lost art of reflection
This article has value for almost every animal health pro because of the levels of decisions we make daily. An intense focus on information processing, reaction and execution causes the quality of our thoughts to suffer, even though it may feel productive. In reflective thought, a person examines underlying assumptions, core beliefs and knowledge, while drawing connections … [Read more...]
Diversity training infuriates men and fails women
Tracing the history of diversity training to the 1950s, Joanne Lipman tackles the issue from all directions in this excerpt from her book, "That’s what she said." She covers a half century of terms and biases that still need resolution through improved strategies to understand and act equitably. Source: Time, January 25, 2018. A recent Harvard study found that corporate … [Read more...]
Feedyard sector featured in March 23 New York Times
Antibiotic resistance in cattle is the focus of, “Hamburger Central, Antibiotics for Cattle That Aren’t Sick,” an article posted online by the New York Times and in print with the headline, “Drugs Go to Healthy Cattle. Should Consumers Worry?” on March 23. The article features three officers of Cactus Feeders, Dr. Martin J. Blaser, a scientist at a Manhattan, New York, Veterans … [Read more...]
Chicken farming: evolving or returning to its roots?
Over the past 160 years, consumers and poultry farmers have changed the way we care for and eat chickens. The 19th-century fancier valued the beauty of the various breeds. Most consumers now value low prices more. Kenny Googan traces the evolution of the chicken industry. Source: Countryside Daily, March 27, 2018. The evolution of the chicken industry over the past century … [Read more...]
Bacon: America’s meat candy (includes slides)
For bacon’s sake! For years, we’ve been in the age of bacon mania where consumers can’t get enough of delicious cured pork belly and bacon-flavored foods. Sara Brown shares a slide deck that shows bacon’s rise to fame. Source: Pork, March 26, 2018. America's favorite meat has a long history of making people smile. … [Read more...]
Public support for animal rights goes far beyond dogs in overhead bins
Garrett M. Broad is a researcher who studies how society treats animals. While public outrage clings to the death of a French Bulldog in an airplane bin, Broad has been investigating what the public thinks about animals and their rights. The results show that a clear majority of people identify as animal lovers. But, not every self-professed animal lover supports full legal … [Read more...]
The vaccinations horses need
Vaccines are the most effective weapons for protecting horses against the ravages of disease. The editors at EQUUS provide an overview of how vaccinations work and how best to use them to protect horses. Articles like this are valuable for social media posts, websites and to help reinforce lifestyle protocols for horse owners. Source: Equus, March 19, 2018. The American … [Read more...]
Feline heartworm discussions are important
Our feline friends are true masters at falling asleep any time, any place and under any circumstances writes JaneA Kelly. She offers some perspective about them: All that sleeping is in your cat’s genes Cats aren’t always sound asleep Cats do sleep deeply and even dream Some cats do snore when they sleep A change in your cat’s sleeping habits could be a sign … [Read more...]
AAHA accreditation IS a BIG deal
AAHA accreditation serves two purposes. First, it recognizes and objectively certifies great veterinary practices. Second, it helps good veterinary hospitals become great ones by coaching their teams and bringing out the maximum potential and value of the practices. Since 1933, the association has charted the course for approximately 3,700 practices to achieve accreditation. … [Read more...]
A different perspective helps
I write a regular sales column for distribution reps. It recently occurred to me animal health pros, especially associates in a veterinary practice may benefit from what that I share with distribution reps. My February 2018 column in Vet-Advantage magazine is a good example. Source: Vet-Advantage, February 2018. Act like a customer Act like a marketer Act like an … [Read more...]
Create a growth culture, not a performance-possessed one
Tony Schwartz discusses the challenges of performance cultures, the impact on employees and challenges to sustaining success. Instead he advocates a growth culture that blends individual and organizational components: An environment that feels safe, fueled first by top by leaders willing to demonstrate vulnerability and take personal responsibility for their shortcomings … [Read more...]
New study says social media doesn’t isolate people
A new study from the University of Kansas finds that spending time on social media networks doesn’t leave users feeling isolated or lonely. Published in the journal, “Information, Communication & Society,” the study concludes that using social media offers no evidence of losing face-to-face communication with friends and family. The KU researchers followed this with a … [Read more...]
Demographic shift in pet ownership
Millennial pet ownership has surpassed baby boomers, according to a December 2017 Packaged Facts report on pet food in the U.S. The report also states that millennials account for 35 percent of all pet owners. Approximately 66.8 million households, which is more than half of U.S. households at 54.6 percent, owned pets in 2017. Source: Petfood Industry, March 8, 2018. … [Read more...]
Engagement, experience and relevancy highlight Bridge Club activities
We posted the sell-out results of the Bridge Club event that focused on the Veterinary Nurse initiative last week. Bridge Club founder, Catherine Haskins, summarized audience interactions and Ken Yagi’s responses for AHD: The big question asked by the community was “why?” According to Yagi, the effort started with many veterinary technicians asking how the profession could … [Read more...]
PetIQ, Inc., opening 20 veterinary clinics in Walmart
This recent announcement begins PetIQ's plan to expand veterinary services to leading retailers following the acquisition of VIP Petcare this past January. PetIQ has plans to open more than 1,000 additional veterinary services clinics, in retail-partner locations, through 2023. Today, PetIQ and VIP serve more than 40 retail partners representing more than 60,000 … [Read more...]
Self-management is a long-distance race
This is the work of self-management: building the intellectual, emotional and behavioral muscles to modulate our thoughts, emotions and reactions to triggers that lead to ingrained behaviors. This change doesn’t happen overnight after our big epiphanies. Source: Key Step Media, February 2018. With the right skill-building, supports, and self-discipline, we can build new … [Read more...]
Lead from where you are
It is time to update our thinking, asserts Christina Folz. She offers some tips to help you succeed as a leader: Accept failure Accept who you are Build relationships early Question everything Find people who challenge you Take initiative Source: HR Magazine, December 12, 2017. We live in a world where “traditional authority has less and less currency, … [Read more...]
Dogs favor baby talk
A new study by researchers at the University of York in England shows that the way we talk to our dogs plays an important part in building relationships with them, similar to the way that talking baby talk to infants helps them bond with adults. Source: AAHA NEWStat, March 7, 2018. Previous studies on how humans communicate with dogs suggest that using dog-directed speech … [Read more...]
A look at the most common life mistakes young people make (infographic)
Our industry is being challenged to address suicide and job satisfaction challenges previously unrecognized. James Altucher asserts, Here’s the truth: you can’t fail as a kid. He sometimes gets messages like, “I’m 23 and I failed and now I don’t know what to do.” No, you didn’t fail. Yes, you do know what to do. Just do the next thing. That’s all you have to … [Read more...]
Leopards help keep rabies in check in Mumbai
Mumbai residents can likely thank leopards for reducing the number of potential rabies cases and perhaps even saving lives according to a paper publishing in the Ecological Society of America Journal last week. Researchers suggest that leopards roaming the nearby Sanjay Gandhi National Park hunt and kill dogs in and around villages; enough so that dogs make up about 40 percent … [Read more...]
Old kangaroo gets cryotherapy
A 15-year-old Kangaroo in the Bronx Zoo is getting some pricey cryotherapy treatment for arthritis. Zoo director Jim Breheny says the treatment is but one course of healing the 200 medical experts at the zoo use to treat 7,000 species. Source: Associated Press, March 11, 2018. Dave’s saga with localized cryotherapy treatment will be documented by Animal Planet’s latest … [Read more...]
How to tell a coworker their personal habits are disgusting
It’s inevitable. Bad habits creep into workplaces. Liz Ryan addresses a question from a reader whose coworker uses her desk as an extension of the bathroom. Maybe it is time for all of us to double-check our habits. Source: Forbes, March 9, 2018. Speak up, regardless of how socially awkward the situation., Ryan says. She shares 10 things never, ever to do at your … [Read more...]
New style bee hive is attractive to old and new beekeepers
Solving the challenges of harvesting honey without donning an uncomfortable bee suit, smoking out the bees and going through steps that could kill bees in the process, the popular Flow Hive is bringing bees and beekeepers to backyards. Considering bees fall under the VFD rules, understanding this technology is important for animal health pros. Source: Fast Company, March 9, … [Read more...]
Pay attention to antibiotic use in bees
Beekeepers and their veterinarians must pay close attention to how they use antibiotics in bees, says the FDA. The agency released recommendations for using antimicrobial drugs in question-and-answer form last year. The document is written to help DVMs and beekeepers in using approved VFD prescription products. Source: Infectious Disease Special Edition, January 12, … [Read more...]
Amazon embraces chaos for its efficiency
Amazon is an eight-ton gorilla that animal health pros watch, fear; yet use for personal purchases. Sara Kessler writes about the company’s elaborate systems that have completely redefined warehouse efficiency and customer convenience. Much of the efficiency is supported by technology, robotics and ultimately moving product to people, rather than moving people to the products … [Read more...]
Nasal discharge in dogs could be more than one thing. (diagnostic guide)
Douglas Palma, DVM, DACVIM (SAIM), has a special interest in respiratory medicine. He trains interns and residents in internal medicine and is residency director for ACVIM. His educational experiences show in this diagnostic chart to help animal health pros move quickly toward a diagnosis when a dog is presented with nasal discharge. Source: Clinician’s Brief, February … [Read more...]
Opinion – The era of the buyer is underway
Consider this article in the context of telehealth and telemedicine for both B2B and B2C entities in animal health. But, think about B2C telemedicine in the digital context of voice-activated systems on counters in homes instead of a phone on your desk. Once again, I ask veterinary team members to accept sales as the creation of a transaction. Jay Malowney asserts, … [Read more...]
Bridge Club sells out with veterinary nurse initiative topic
The Bridge Club’s March 12th topic, Veterinary Technician or Veterinary Nurse: Answers to why the credentials and title are evolving, drew a sell-out crowd to listen to Ken Yagi, MS, RVT, VTS (ECC, SAIM) and Heather Prendergast, RVT, CVPM, SHPH, co-chairs of The Veterinary Nurse Initiative. They presented rationales for changing the professional titles and an overview of the … [Read more...]
Loyalty is a two-way street
Employers seek loyalty and dedication from their employees. However, they sometimes fail to return their half of the equation. This can leave millennial workers feeling left behind and unsupported. Professional relationships are built on trust and commitment. Working for a boss who supports you is vital to professional and company success. Source: Forbes, December 8, … [Read more...]