Rover purchased by Blackstone, pet brain surgery may be an area of development, mind mapping, Veterinarians without Borders expands brand to include North America, actress Linda Blair’s efforts to save dogs, customer lifecycle automation, separation anxiety in pets and people, Purina’s grants for more human-animal bond research and more . . . Source: IBPSA Fast Bites, … [Read more...]
Responding to upsetting emails
How you respond to unsettling emails speaks volumes about your maturity, emotional intelligence and business savvy, writes Elizabeth Danziger. She shares a five-step process to follow to plan a reply beginning with avoiding taking it personally and delaying an immediate response. Source: HBR Ascend, November 29, 2023. Link. INSIGHTS: Danzinger’s process would make a good … [Read more...]
Pay attention to others. They’re not thinking of you.
We all spend way too much time stewing about what other people are thinking about us — when they're not thinking about us at all. Source: AXIOS, November 16, 2023. Link. …paying attention to others is very different from worrying about what others think about you.” INSIGHT: You are not as bad as some say nor are you as good as others say. … [Read more...]
Becoming an agile learner
Learning agility is an essential skill for individuals and capability for organizations, but it doesn’t happen by accident. Agile learners can approach the uncertainty and change in their roles and careers with confidence, knowing their insights and talents will help them succeed in new situations. Learning agility is the skill of learning from experiences so you can succeed … [Read more...]
Lapsing client numbers increasing
ICYMI. Lapsing patients, defined as patients who haven’t been to a veterinary practice in 14 to 18 months, increased significantly per practice between January 2020 and July 2023. Rising overall prices, housing costs and interest rates have resulted in lower consumer confidence which may be reasons pet owners are delaying veterinary health care. Findings from the forthcoming … [Read more...]
Stop assuming introverts aren’t passionate about work
Introverts are equally capable of experiencing passion as extroverts, they just express it differently. The authors of new research found that regardless of their actual level of passion, extroverted employees are perceived as more passionate than introverts which often drives substantial inequities in the workplace. Society often assumes that the only way to be passionate is … [Read more...]
‘Tis the season. Kindness counts.
A big part of the holiday season is dictated by unrealistic expectations. It is full of hustle and bustle along with emotional ups and downs for some. We received this along with a note of appreciation from an AHD reader. Random acts of kindness can be a real lift for many people whether we know them or not. Consider the ideas in the full calendar from our AHD … [Read more...]
Worth a Glance – November 30, 2023
Recent posts from AHD’s weekly Bulletins – Animal Health Digest Bulletin, November 2023 archives. Link. Animal Health Digest Bulletin, October 2023 archives. Link. Place keeper: 2023 Veterinary Conferences provided by Galaxy Vets. Link. ============================================ Merriam-Webster's word of the year . . . Authentic Source: BBC, November 27, … [Read more...]
KPI alphabet soup: Defining acronyms of high-performance dairies
Chad Jenkins and Mark Hodge share key performance indicators as a quick gauge and to provide clarity to a plethora of dairy data. Acronyms often add to the confusion along with some of the mathematics when talking with dairy producers. Four KPIs that have considerable impact on dairy productivity and profitability are income over feed cost, dollars per pound of dry matter, … [Read more...]
Essential upgrades for lackluster cattle-handling facilities as winter threatens
Bruce Derksen shares the importance of keeping cattle handling facilities in the best condition as winter settles in. He identifies the most important areas for producers to focus their attention. The article is a good reminder to share with producers, especially those who always seem to wait until the veterinarian arrives to realize they aren’t prepared to easily handle … [Read more...]
Study examines livestock trailer cleanliness
Biosecurity remains a significant challenge in livestock production. Studies have shown visual inspection may be insufficient to ensure cleanliness and reduce disease transmission risk because viruses and bacteria are microscopic. The article shares a study where bioluminescence was used to determine if adenosine triphosphate bioluminescence could be used as an indicator of … [Read more...]
How old is too old to breed a mare?
Most broodmares are generally past their reproductive prime as they approach about 15 or 16 years old, writes Anna O'Brien, DVM, answering a horse owner’s question about a 20-year-old mare. She explains a variety of considerations beyond the mare’s health. The best thing to do to properly evaluate the mare’s reproductive health and capacity is have your veterinarian perform a … [Read more...]
What scents are dangerous to cats and dogs?
Includes Commercial Content Many pet owners are not aware that some scents are toxic to animals until after a disturbing trip to the vet with an ill pet. Pets can become sick from essential oils due to compounds called phenols that are easily absorbed through the skin, nose and mouth. Toxic scents and essential oils to avoid include tea tree, clove, citrus, cinnamon, … [Read more...]
Reasons why cats eat grass
Eating grass is a common behavior in cats and doesn’t mean they are sick, writes Jamie Lovejoy, DVM. She shares some science-based theories held by veterinary professionals as to why cats eat grass. Owners can also buy cat grass, Lovejoy notes. Source: Pet MD, November 3, 2023. Link. Also see: How and why to grow cat grass, Rover. Link. Many retailers now offer cat grass … [Read more...]
Dogs can tell if you’re bad or good (video)
An investigation by Neuroscience and Biobehavioral Reviews found dogs can separate a decent individual from a not-very-great person. This includes dogs avoiding another person who treats its owner poorly. The study illustrated that dogs do not always act only in their self-interest.” Source: The Irfo, May 31, 2019. Link. INSIGHTS: Consider this video for social media or … [Read more...]
An overview of cannabis for pets
Includes Commercial Content* Ruth Fisher, PhD, covers topics that include the history of cannabis use in veterinary medicine, current laws on cannabis for pets, market size and segment, reported experiences from pet owners and veterinarians, and pet toxicology. The biggest threat cannabis poses for pets appears to be the same as that for children: unwitting consumption of … [Read more...]
Mystery canine respiratory virus has growing footprint
Eleven states have now reported a mystery respiratory illness in dogs <Link>. The mysterious illness was described as an atypical canine infectious respiratory disease that presents similar to kennel cough, but doesn’t respond to normal medication. Plus, the cough lasts longer than the normal seven to 10 days. Source: CNN, November 28, 2023. Link. At least two-hundred … [Read more...]
Holiday gift ideas for pets and professionals
Julia Burke shares ideas and favored items in the pet industry to add to your holiday shopping list from several categories, including health and wellness items. Source: DVM 360, November 24, 2023. Link. Also see: Choosing safe dog toys, AHD, December 21, 2021. Link. … [Read more...]
A deep dive into holiday spending trends
While millennials lead in pet ownership, they allocate less money to their pets compared to their counterparts in Generation X and baby boomers, according to BLS data. On average, pet owners plan to allocate $122 for their pets during the 2023 holiday season. The intricacies of the millennial trends, particularly in the context of holiday spending, unveil a nuanced narrative … [Read more...]
IBPSA Fast Bites – November 27, 2023
The importance of updating business listings, petflation declining, a bit more on the mystery K-9 respiratory illness, groomer helps shelter dogs, small business finance tips and more. . . Source: IBPSA Fast Bites, November 27, 2023. Link. … [Read more...]
Be curious
One of the simplest and more effective ways to brighten someone’s day is by asking them a question. Being asked about ourselves and our lives makes us feel listened to, understood, cared for and validated. Source: Axios, November 7, 2023. Link. INSIGHTS: Be interested and others will find you interesting. … [Read more...]
Build relationships with local pharmacies
Using community pharmacies may offer cost and convenience benefits to animal owners, writes Kate Boatwright, VMD. However, many veterinarians resist using external sources for pet medications. The two major factors contributing to this concern include frustrations in communicating with pharmacies and concern for prescription errors. Alternate sources of pet prescriptions are … [Read more...]
Study: More Americans seeking preventive care. Can animal health capitalize on the trend?
Commentary Animal health pros are familiar with the transitions from treatment to prevention that occurred in dentistry <Link>. Driven in part by advancements in technology, a modern general practice dentist is heavily focused on healthy oral care and preventing dental decay. A Health Affairs study indicates human patients are seeking similar care from their primary … [Read more...]
Looking back: most read posts from the November 2022 AHD Bulletins
Most read posts give us a sense of the priorities, problems and pain points animal health pros are experiencing when serving animal owners, their animals and each other. Despite what seems like a heightened sense of urgency, the most read posts from a year ago are grounding and remind us little changes. Animal health remains a repetitive business which benefits from educating … [Read more...]
Worth a Glance – November 16, 2023
Last week’s AHD Bulletin – Animal Health Digest Bulletin, November 9, 2023. Link. Most read post(s) from the November 9th AHD Bulletin – Age-specific products for senior companion animals. Link. Better cat visits. Carriers and caregivers are the key. Link. The value of teamwork. Link. Place keeper: 2023 Veterinary Conferences provided by Galaxy … [Read more...]
Treating digital dermatitis
Acknowledging that digital dermatitis is likely to become endemic once it gets into a dairy, Doerte Doepfer, DVM, MSc, PhD, shares the importance of good detection, prompt treatment, strategic use of disinfecting foot baths and including hoof trimmers as part of the health management team. Source: Hoard’s Dairyman, November 9, 2023. Link. Also see: Search results for: … [Read more...]
Cows are picky about their stalls
Multiple factors, such as lameness and pecking order, influence where cows rest. Maggie Gilles writes about the proclivity dairy cows have for specific locations and stalls based on research from the Miner Institute. Her article is short and offers a worthy topic to bring up during calls on dairies. Source: Hoard’s Dairyman, November 10, 2023. Link. … [Read more...]
USDA, only 6 strains of African swine fever virus
Accurate classification of viruses is paramount for epidemiological investigations and the development of cost-effective countermeasures, including designing vaccines for unique strains of ASFV. Researchers have reclassified the number of African swine fever virus strains from 25 to only six unique genotypes. Reclassifying ASFV from 25 to 6 genotypes is important . . . it may … [Read more...]
Copper sulfate use by farriers raises concerns
While there is no ban on the use of copper sulfate in the farrier industry, a professional and educated approach should be used as the common thrush treatment can be dangerous to farriers, horses and the environment. Source: American Farriers Journal, September 19, 2019. Link. … [Read more...]
The evolution of poultry farming in America
Large-scale and backyard poultry farming oscillate every couple of generations. Kenny Coogan provides a short history of poultry farming in the U.S. as backyard birds are gaining popularity once again. Source: Backyard Poultry, October 2021. Link. … [Read more...]