Omnichannel shopping for pets has taken hold among all generations in the U.S., according to survey responses, shares Packaged Facts’ David Sprinkle in an analysis of pet food and pet product sourcing choices made by multiple generations of pet owners. Sprinkle also explains the cross-shopping dynamics, summarizing shopping trends as a competitive reality in the pet product … [Read more...]
Worth a Glance – February 13, 2025
Last week’s AHD Bulletin – Animal Health Digest Bulletin, February 6, 2024. Link. Most read posts from February 6, 2025 AHD Bulletin - High prevalence of veterinary drugs in birds’ nest materials. Link. Your comfort zone. Link. S. Equestrian Federation board adds to the prohibited substances list. Link. ================================= Budweiser won the … [Read more...]
Ceva launches Kesium® (amoxicillin and clavulanate potassium tablets) a generic bioequivalent to Clavamox® chewable tablets
Kesium® from Ceva Animal Health is a broad-spectrum oral antibiotic (amoxicillin) with an β-lactamase inhibitor (clavulanate potassium) for the treatment of bacterial infections in dogs and cats. Ceva is launching a portfolio of anti-infectives with the introduction of Kesium, the first chewable branded alternative to Clavamox® Chewable tablets. Source: Ceva Animal Health, … [Read more...]
New guidelines set for degrees in infection prevention
Infection preventionists work to prevent healthcare-associated infections across myriad healthcare settings. They isolate sources of infections to develop and implement evidence-based practices to prevent and contain the spread of dangerous organisms. The Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology (APIC) released the Curriculum Guidelines for … [Read more...]
Mycoplasma bovis: Tough to treat, difficult to prevent
Includes Commercial References Newport Laboratories’ Jason Anderson, DVM, writes about Mycoplasma bovis, calling it problematic, insidious and hard to control. M. bovis is found in many different disease presentations. Affected cattle may display nasal discharge, cough, labored breathing, drooped ear, head tilt, head shaking, difficulty moving, swollen joints, inflamed … [Read more...]
Managing hypothermia for newborn calves
The latest winter storm is descending on cow-calf locations and with it comes challenges for those whose cows are calving. Preventing hypothermia is vital to the survival of newborns, weather being responsible for more than 20 percent of early calf deaths. Lindsay Waechter-Mead, DVM, shares the importance of temperature regulation and ways to help hypothermic calves. Source: … [Read more...]
Sick sheep? Let us inspect their earwax.
Raye Walck, DVM, director of the Western Slope Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory at Colorado State University (CSU), shared a grim story with Lela Nargi. She recounts what Walck said happened in sheep from high-desert grazing lands in Grand Junction, Colorado. “I had a case a couple of years ago where these sheep came off the range and were brought into a dry lot situation, into … [Read more...]
Court rules USDA exceeds its authority in Horse Protection Act amendments
A U.S. District judge ruled the U.S. Department of Agriculture exceeded its authority in its final rule to amend the Horse Protection Act. Four of the five provisions contested were granted summary judgments. The four provisions are the prohibition of action devices and pads, the prohibition of substances, the dermatologic conditions indicative of soring, and the pre- and … [Read more...]
Opportunities for retailers who focus on oral care products
Includes Commercial Content What’s that old saying? “It takes a community . . . “ Glenn Polyn shares ideas for pet retailers in this article. He notes the oral health retail sector has grown with innovative and easy-to-use products designed to help address dental health in dogs and cats. Polyn mentions cross-merchandising opportunities and the importance of training store … [Read more...]
Time to review vaccine reactions
With the holidays eight weeks in the rearview mirror, those Christmas puppies are ready for vaccine boosters and rabies vaccination. Veterinary teams need to be prepared to discuss why undesirable post-vaccination reactions or complications may occur. Refreshing team knowledge from the 2022 AAHA Canine Vaccination Guidelines (2024 Update), Theresa Entriken, DVM, highlights … [Read more...]
Pet dental cleanings: What to expect (video)
Last week we asserted that client education was the main objective of National Pet Dental Month <Link>. Consider this video from the AVMA to support COHAT, help orient pet owners to the dental exam and treatment processes and reinforce the benefits of routine oral care in the home. Share it in social media posts or newsletters along with your own Dental Month message or … [Read more...]
How multitasking drains your brain
Whether applied to machines or human brains, “multitasking” is a misnomer, writes Richard E. Cytowic, MD, MFA. He debunks the myth that we only use 10 percent of our brain stating, “We do use 100 percent of our brain, just not all of it at the same instant.” He explains the energy requirements of today’s rich social environments, saying that keeping ourselves alert and … [Read more...]
Survey says unruly customers take a toll on frontline workers
Whether in person or on a call, customer impatience and retaliatory behaviors create difficulties for frontline employees and affect positive customer experiences. A survey by Perceptyx found more than half of public-facing workers have recently encountered customers who were verbally abusive, threatening or otherwise unruly. The report shares how frontline personnel are … [Read more...]
Could we be headed to a ‘manager crash’ in 2025?
Commentary Although sometimes suspect as subtle promotions for consulting groups, articles like this and the data they share are worth considering. The pandemic upset the proverbial apple cart and increased the need for excellent juggling skills at all levels of the animal health business, regardless of staff size and sophistication. A declining number of middle managers did … [Read more...]
Worth a Glance – February 6, 2025
Last week’s AHD Bulletin – Animal Health Digest Bulletin, January 30, 2024. Link. Most read posts from January 30, 2025 AHD Bulletin Making the case for clinical obesity vs. obesity in veterinary medicine. Link. Storm clouds on the horizon evident in next generation of students. Link. Leadership advice. Link. Bird flu enters a new phase . . . the … [Read more...]
Librela® (bedinvetmab injection) label update submitted to FDA by Zoetis
Zoetis has submitted a supplement to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to update the Librela label, incorporating post-approval experience since its launch in the U.S. in October 2023. The label has been updated to provide current information on real-world drug experience reporting. Source: Zoetis, February 4, 2025. Link. The updates to the label include: A … [Read more...]
Louisianna DVM named as Westminster’s 2025 Veterinarian of the Year
Launched in 2022, Sara K. Lyle, DVM, MS, PhD, DACT, was chosen as the fourth Westminster Kennel Club’s veterinarian of the year. The award celebrates veterinarians and also addresses the mental health challenges the veterinary community faces regularly in partnership with Not One More Vet. Source: Daily Paws, January 28, 20254. Link. … [Read more...]
Virbac expands its U.S. range of products with four cattle vaccines
Partnering with Diamond Animal Health, Virbac is marketing four modified-live viral cattle vaccines: Bovigen Platinum 5, Bovigen Platinum 5 L5, Bovigen Platinum 3 and Bovigen Platinum 3 LP Vaccines. All four vaccines protect against key respiratory viruses, while Bovigen Platinum 5 L5 and 3 LP vaccines add bacterial protection against leptospirosis. Source: Drovers, January … [Read more...]
Study shows thorough cleaning, disinfection protocols reduce livestock trailer contamination
Looking specifically at swine production systems, a study underscores the importance of thorough cleaning and disinfection protocols in enhancing biosecurity in them. The study compared different methods and their effectiveness. The findings suggest routinely cleaning and disinfecting all market haul trailers leaving terminal points of concentration by either of the water-based … [Read more...]
2024 lessons inform pig farmers for 2025 (video)
The past two years have been challenging for U.S. pork producers. Jennifer Shike shares four ways experts behind the State of the Pork Industry Report grew from their experiences in 2024. They discuss their people, consumer choices, improving oversight and preparing for the inevitable ebbs and flows in the markets. Source: PORK, January 29, 2025. Link. [55:34] … [Read more...]
3 things nobody has ever told you about colostrum
There has been a lot of new research published in the past five years about colostrum and its role in the newborn's survival and health, writes Kalyn Waters. Despite cow-calf experiences, she was surprised to learn three new things about colostrum: Timing matters on the cow's side, too, as the chemical composition of colostrum in the udder changes by the hour. Colostrum … [Read more...]
New version of the H5N1 bird flu virus spills into Nevada dairy herds
Known as D1.1, a new version of H5N1 is circulating in wild birds countrywide and causing mass die-offs. It’s different than the one currently circulating in dairy cows and has caused only mild illness in humans and killed scores of domestic and wild cats. It is the latest surprise and reminder that his flu does not behave like a typical flu virus. This new finding suggests … [Read more...]
U.S. Equestrian Federation board adds to the prohibited substances list
The substance additions ban certain injectable medications and other potentially deadly substances from being used in competition and also from being brought onto show grounds. The list of substances includes formaldehyde, oxytocin and pentobarbital, with an exception for veterinarians to use the latter in euthanasia. Source: The Chronicle of the Horse, January 29, 2025. … [Read more...]
Veterinarian warns cat owners about H5N1 risks amid rising cases
“Vigilance is key in preventing further bird flu infections,” said Susan Nelson, DVM, discussing the detection of H5N1 in cats. The article offers preventive measures to minimize the risk of infection in cats and other animals, including up-to-date rabies vaccinations, keeping cats indoors and avoiding feeding raw meat or unpasteurized dairy products. Source: PHYS.ORG, … [Read more...]
Mental stimulation matters
Includes Commercial Content Ongoing research has exposed the needs of dogs beyond physical exercise and continues to share the benefits of mental stimulation. A recent AHD post <Link> shared how dogs associate words and use soundboards. Mental stimulation doesn’t require fancy buttons or technology. Rather, there are DIY activities dog owners can implement to tap into … [Read more...]
FDA warns six sellers of unapproved seizure drugs for animals
Six companies selling unapproved products claiming to treat and control seizures in dogs and cats have been warned. The products named in the warning letters are not FDA-approved or conditionally approved and are being sold on the firms’ websites, social media pages and Amazon shops without a prescription or other veterinary oversight. Source: FDA, January 7, 2025. Link. The … [Read more...]
High prevalence of veterinary drugs in birds’ nest materials
A study published in Science of the Total Environment found high levels of veterinary insecticides in the nests of British songbirds and associated it with increased mortality in their offspring. Fipronil, imidacloprid and permethrin were detected in 100 percent, 89.1 percent and 89.1 percent of the nest material samples, respectively. Source: Science Direct, February 10, … [Read more...]
Understanding Feng Shui and its impact on animal spaces
Applying Feng Shui principles in animal spaces offers veterinary teams a holistic approach to enhancing well-being. Focusing on location, element balance, comfort, stimulation, cleanliness and organization enables practitioners to create environments that support physical health and emotional stability. Source: IVC Journal, January 28, 2025. Link. … [Read more...]
IBPSA Fast Bites – February 3, 2025
Iconic brands entering pet space, understanding today’s pet owners, AI and automation for pet care businesses, FDA urging pet food companies to revisit safety amid bird flu outbreaks, diabetic alert dog tracks five blocs to find child with low blood sugar and more - Source: IBPSA, February 3, 2025. Link. … [Read more...]
Cornell grad student shares guide to understanding ChatGPT in 5 minutes
Complimentary Content ChatGPT is a tool with seemingly limitless potential, but like any tool, its value depends on how you use it, says Jeremiah Pouncy. He says the best way to unlock the full potential of ChatGPT is through trial and error. Source: Bruce L. Truman, MBA, LinkedIn, February 1, 2025. Link. ChatGPT is about experimenting, learning, and exploring new ways to … [Read more...]