Animal owners frequently seek solutions for their horses and pets online. Some lay people are exposing themselves to liability by giving advice as if they are veterinarians. It happens all the time in chat rooms, Facebook groups and various internet venues. If a layperson is giving information about a specific condition, they’re diagnosing. That’s practicing without a license, … [Read more...]
STOP being nice at work. Kindness trumps nice.
Nice and kind are not the same thing, writes Kelly D. Parker. Though similar, kindness is the clear front runner, with the power to motivate teams, boost productivity and foster a culture that attracts and retains top talent. She shares three reasons to ditch nice in exchange for kind: Niceness breeds uncertainty Nice people want to be liked Niceness slows … [Read more...]
Best of Pat Malone 2021
Pat Malone’s posts consistently rank near the top of those you read each week. Here are this year’s most popular. Spoiler alert. They’re as relevant in 2022 as they were in 2021. Source: Animal Health Digest. 2021. updated 12/23/2021 Top 10 most-read posts from Patrick T. Malone: Be interested. Link. Communicating without words. Link. Complex … [Read more...]
5 retention strategies for combatting the Great Resignation
OPINION Retention has not been a common term in the employment marketplace and only occasionally considered in customer strategies in recent years. Peter Corless says, “It is imperative that we get creative with retention strategies and cater to the needs and wants of today’s workforce.” Organizations need to shift from a work-life mindset to a life-work mindset and place … [Read more...]
“Farmers thrive when their animals thrive.”
That’s what fourth-generation, Iowa dairy farmer and TikTok sensation Dan Venteicher said in a recent conversation with Kristen Peck, chief executive officer at Zoetis. The pair talked about the importance of taking care of the cows so they produce more milk and remain healthy. Venteicher also shared the reality of using technology and data to help care for and in this case, … [Read more...]
Worth a Glance – December 16, 2021
Last week’s most read post Toxic positivity. Link. Last week’s AHD Bulletin Animal Health Digest Bulletin, December 9, 2021. Link. AHD posts one year ago Archives for December 2020, Animal Health Digest. Link. Zoonotic infection from household aquarium Source: Worms and Germs, November 30, 2021. Link. Scott Weese, DVM, reminds us to use some … [Read more...]
Dry cow rest may equal more live calves
The old method of putting cows into a dry pen and forgetting them is being debunked by research. Getting cows started off right in the dry period, keeping them healthy and ending it fully rested means more calves, more milk and happier dairy persons. Research from Ohio State University shows improving the factors that encourage close-up cows and heifers to lie down and rest … [Read more...]
Is your cat happy? There’s an app for that.
For those who like to take photos of their cats, there’s a new reason to do so. Sylster.ai, a Calgary, Alberta, Canada, animal health technology company, developed an app calledTably that uses a phone’s camera to determine whether a cat is feeling pain. Source: Yahoo!news, July 27, 2021. Link. An app that learns patterns from images o cat faces can be helpful but cat owners … [Read more...]
Top 10 tips for caring for senior dogs or cats
Complimentary Commercial Content November is when we celebrate National Senior Pet Month. . . . once a pet becomes a senior, every day is senior care day.” Keeping a senior pet happy is all about paying attention, shares Katherine Carbanaro. As dogs’ or cats’ needs change with age, owners need to learn about accommodating them and adjusting routines when needed. Among the … [Read more...]
How to raise a barn cat right
Barn cats deserve to be treated like other high-performing work animals. If you want an animal to perform work for you, then you should feed it adequate nutrition, so it has the energy and stamina to perform, asserts author Janet Garman. She addresses spay and neutering, veterinary care, shelter, nutrition, feeding locations, collars, microchips and monitoring working cat … [Read more...]
Do cats get separation anxiety?
Little work has been done to assess potential separation-related problems in cats. Using canine questionnaire studies as a model, researchers investigated the topic with cat owners. The results suggest that pet cats are social and develop bonds with their owners and about 13 percent of cats may have signs of separation-related problems. Source: Vet Candy, November 27, 2021. … [Read more...]
Treat nutrition: The why, how and what of proper treating
Treating is a rapidly growing subcategory of pet nutrition. Jessie Nelson AAS, CVT, VTS, and Kara M. Burns MS, MEd, LVT, VTS, VTS-H, discuss the importance of understanding treat use and their nutritional value when working with pet owners. <treats> are intended to be given in moderation. However, many clients may be unaware of this distinction.” Source: Today’s … [Read more...]
Zoetis horse video emphasizes human-horse bond
Complimentary Commercial Content Horses recognize care and dedication and they return it tenfold. Zoetis Equine’s Facebook video shows horses and their caregivers in everyday settings and relationships with people of all ages. Source: Zoetis Equine, December 10, 2021. Link. INSIGHTS: Kudos to the Zoetis equine team. Well done. Nice video! … [Read more...]
No college degree? More employers than ever just don’t care.
Most U.S. working age adults do not have a 4-year college degree. New growth in apprenticeship programs that lead to jobs are resulting in paid, on-the-job training, benefits, coaching and access to employee and alumni networks. Over the past five years, employers have been trying to solve for two things: the long-predicted skilled labor shortage; especially in … [Read more...]
IBPSA FastBites – December 13, 2021
Pet training apps, 2021 U.S. pet food and treats update, less is more mindset, five points for small business advertising, reminder to submit for IBPSA rebate program, the latest from AHD and more . . . If some new holiday employees plan to stay into 2022, don’t forget the species-specific education and certification programs available for enrollment in the IBPSA online … [Read more...]
Top 4 workplace trends for 2022
The undercurrent of 2022 will be a hot jobs market, and that has implications for every decision that employers make, employers need to be responsive to what employees want.” - Daniel Zhao, Glassdoor Source: Employee Benefit News, December 8, 2021. Link. Glassdoor predicted four trends they expect to emerge next year: Hiring will get harder Remote work will increase … [Read more...]
Leveraging digital communications and chats
Svetlana Stavreva shares feedback and discovery from moderating a Twitter chat about communications and public relations in the digital era that gathered experts from all over the world. In Question 2 she asked, “Is the constant repetition of the same message a friend or a foe?” Stavreva shared surprise from feedback indicating same-messages repetition is a must for brands and … [Read more...]
The difference between disinfecting and sanitizing, according to the CDC
Sponsored Commercial Content Cleaning can mean everything from straightening up to scrubbing down. When it comes to disinfecting and sanitizing, the definitions, as set by the Centers for Disease Control, are more clear-cut. Sarah Showfety shares the definitions and actions from a home environment perspective. The step-by-step guidance is appropriate for veterinary clinics, … [Read more...]
Worth a Glance – December 9, 2021
Last week’s . . . . . . most read November 2021 post Study suggests health benefits by feeding dogs once a day. Link. . . . AHD Bulletin Animal Health Digest Bulletin. Link. . . . AHD posts one year ago Archives for December 2020, Animal Health Digest. Link. Amazon exec says Black Friday sales broke records Source: The Hill, November 28, … [Read more...]
Pen-side BRD test may save industry millions, reduce antibiotic use
Researchers at Purdue University have developed an on-site bovine respiratory disease test that give results within an hour. BRD causes half the cattle deaths in North American and costs the beef industry $900 million a year. Current testing takes several days, so farmers must treat before knowing what pathogen caused the disease which can lead to ineffective or overuse of … [Read more...]
Survey: Attitudes regarding using analgesia in U.S. beef and dairy cattle
Many surveyed respondents indicated they were cognizant of the benefits of analgesia use in cattle, but perceived federal regulations and drug costs as impediments to the implementation of pain mitigation protocols on cattle operations. Source: JAVMA, January 15, 2021, Abstract only. Link. In general, frequency of analgesia use increased as cattle age increased, regardless … [Read more...]
Just fat, hay belly or getting on in years?
These two articles about horse obesity will be useful to horse owners. Poor-quality feed can fool horse owners when their horse looks like it’s getting fat. Feeding low-quality hay that lacks adequate protein and fiber is the cause of a horse’s belly hanging low and out to the sides. Called “hay belly,” the condition happens when poor-quality feed sits in the large … [Read more...]
Survey says pets are as costly as a child
According to a new survey by OnePoll in partnership with MetLife, 40 percent of pet parents believe that having a pet is just as expensive than raising a child, if not more. The findings show that the average pet owner spends over $4,500 on their pet’s basic needs each year. Sixty-one percent of owners said that owning a pet is more expensive than they initially thought. … [Read more...]
What to do with pets’ itches
Complimentary Sponsored Content Itching is one of the most common reasons pet owners seek veterinary care. In this episode, Dr. Jen the vet and Jason Chatfield, DVM, are joined by Dr. Millie Rosales, a board-certified veterinary dermatologist. They discuss common reasons pets itch. From skin testing for most popular environmental allergens to serology, veterinary medicine … [Read more...]
Top pet products of 2021
The 20th annual Pet Business Industry Recognition Awards celebrate the most innovative products and companies in the pet care category. Among the products are several treats, diets and supplements. With obesity issues affecting over half of all dogs and cats, veterinary teams and OTC retailers are advised to monitor the Kcal levels in these offerings. Source: Pet Business, … [Read more...]
IBPSA Fast Bites, December 6, 2021
Leveraging 2021 shopping trends, Mark Cushing on advocating for animals, veterinary backlogs, top pets names for 2021 and more. Source: IBPSA Fast Bites, December 6, 2021. Link. … [Read more...]
Toxic positivity
If you are overworked and underpaid in an organization that does not match your values or permit you to achieve your goals, thinking positive thoughts is not going to change the situation. Source: Inc. November 20, 2021. Link. This "let's all be positive no matter what" attitude is depressingly common throughout the business world. INSIGHTS: Reality requires logic … [Read more...]
High debt load versus post-graduation salary ratios common to veterinarians, dentists and chiropractors
Rising student debt is doing more than harming individual borrowers, according to some professional associations and professors. It is also hurting the occupations the borrowers are entering. The Wall Street Journal’s analysis of nearly 500 programs classified as professional degrees found roughly 76 percent of professional programs left recent students with higher debt loads … [Read more...]
Fidu, Hill’s partner on free veterinary nutrition teleconsultation service
Complimentary Content Nutritional evaluation, the fifth vital assessment, constitutes a core component of every pet’s veterinary examination. Proper nutrition promotes wellness and helps manage illness, and pet parents crave specific diet recommendations for their canine and feline family members. Now nutrition consultations, which often cost more than $200, are being … [Read more...]
Curbside check-in. A new standard in veterinary medicine?
Effective communication techniques, efficient clinic workflows and virtual platforms that streamline client services help define a new level of service for animal owners at veterinary practices. Mary Lopez, MSOL, shares how commitment to curbside service as a new standard of care can positively impact operations, workflows, speed, convenience and safety regulations at … [Read more...]