Mark Cushing’s highly anticipated book, Pet Nation, is now available from a variety of sources. Cushing, heretofore best known for his work on animal policy as founder and managing partner of the Animal Policy Group, LLC, brings pets into new light and the big changes happening right in front of us NOW. Pet Nation shows us not only what our love of animals says about our pets, … [Read more...]
LuccaVet helps understand the importance of securing data
Commentary Every communication with Clint Latham, JD, seems filled with new information about his perspectives about the legal side of data security. In a blog post, he outlined items practice owners should consider, including jurisprudence considerations. The law calls for companies to implement and maintain reasonable security procedures” – Clint Latham, JD Source: … [Read more...]
Differentiate your practice
One of the biggest challenges facing veterinary practices today is how to differentiate the practice from every other one in the marketplace. It is a challenge for everyone in the business-to-consumer category. Sometimes the answer lies in getting outside ourselves. Source: Vet-Advantage, August, 2020. Link I am going to suggest that you might further differentiate yourself … [Read more...]
The vet’s office; an economic bright spot in the U.S. health system
Animal hospitals appear to have pulled off something human hospitals have struggled to do: make patients feel comfortable seeking routine care, writes Sarah Kliff. Fueled by more comprehensive observation of pets while working from home and the massive wave of pet adoptions, volumes have taxed clinic teams nationwide. Source: New York Times, August 10, 2020. … [Read more...]
KCAHC Digital Animal Health Summit was successful and challenging
This year’s KC Animal Health Corridor Summit was forward-looking, thought-provoking and even disturbing at times, living up to its sound reputation. Congratulations to the KCAHC team and thank you for all those who contributed as presenters, panel members and participants. The overarching takeaway was that, to meet consumer demand for environmentally friendly protein and pet … [Read more...]
Traditional direct mail campaigns still effective
Kiely Kuligowski says direct mail marketing still works in the mix of marketing options. Physical marketing by mail gives customers a unique, personalized experience that can help your business stand out from the crowd. She shares rationales and best practices for using direct mail. Source: Business News Daily, August 21, 2020. Link. Kuligowski says there are several reasons … [Read more...]
Keys to Leave no Trace trail riding
Randy Rasmussen outlines ways for trail riding groups to be environmentally responsible, especially in shared-use areas. He lists the following: Plan before proceeding Respect the environment Manage your horse’s manure Source: EQUUS, July 8, 2020. Link. INSIGHTS: Consider the number of youth groups that need volunteer hours as possible resources for beginning … [Read more...]
Facial, voice recognition coming soon to a farm near you
With accurate facial recognition technology for humans in almost 630 million facial recognition cameras throughout China, Chinese entrepreneurs see opportunity in applying the technology to livestock operations. Alibaba, China’s tech giant, is developing voice recognition technology for pigs to detect if they are in pain. Another company is working on an artificial intelligence … [Read more...]
Check out the top 21 value-added beef programs
Value-added beef marketing programs can be divided into two categories, consumer-based programs and calf-based programs. Consumer programs provide animals that fit specific criteria while calf-based programs focus on procurement of specific value requirements. These programs help increase beef quality, while producers remain more engaged in the total marketing process. Jamie … [Read more...]
Microchips that monitor temperature work, but not yet ready for primetime
The dairy industry has anxiously awaited a day when calves would pass through a gateway where RFID-enabled readers would record health metrics by individual animal. The technology exists and works to record temperature passively, but according to recent research the temperatures recorded do not yet correlate to traditional rectal temps. Source: Journal of Dairy Science, … [Read more...]
Pain management for livestock gets closer (video)
Banamine® (flunixin meglumine) is the only pain medication labeled for use in livestock, yet companion animals experience most medical procedures with the use of short- and long-term pain management medications. Getting FDA approval for pain medications for livestock is complex because of rules intended to keep drug residues out of the food supply. Kansas State University … [Read more...]
12 years of cat poop; parasites increasing
Beyond the obvious illnesses that parasites can cause in cats, there is also a zoonotic risk to consider. Nancy Vincent-Johnson, DVM, MS, DACVIM (SAIM), DACVPM, reviews a 12-year retrospective study that helps identify the prevalence and types of parasites seen in cats. This study showed that the prevalence rate of feline parasitism continued to increase over the 12-year … [Read more...]
Pet owners need more education about proper handling of pet food
Many Americans don’t wash their hands after feeding or playing with their dogs and cats. They aren’t aware of the risk of contracting a foodborne illness from those activities. Results from a recent Purdue University study showed 78 percent of people were not aware of recent pet food recalls or outbreaks associated with foodborne pathogens in those foods. They don’t really … [Read more...]
Pet owners realizing cost of pet ownership
Commentary Read this article with a pet insurance or wellness program mindset. It’s past time for animal health pros to redouble our efforts to help pet owners understand the value of having a pet on an insurance plan. The amortization math is simple when put against normal costs of veterinary care before special needs. Thirty-three percent of Americans have or have … [Read more...]
Wildfire smoke can affect healthy lungs
Meteorologists predict the smoke from wildfires could potentially affect air quality in one-third of the western and midwestern states. A combination of high temperatures and elevated levels of particles from fires can affect even healthy lungs. For someone with lung damage or respiratory illness, moderate levels of smoke particulate can exacerbate respiratory problems, writes … [Read more...]
Biosecurity: You condone what you don’t coach
While this article focuses on swine production, the lessons are applicable to any animal health facility and its personnel. Clayton Johnson, DVM, says the role of the veterinarian is “all-encompassing” when it comes to biosecurity. He compares biosecurity to insurance. Source: PORK, August 21, 2020. Link. If you . . . observe something, and you don’t comment on it or take … [Read more...]
Mayo Clinic leader speaks out on effect of Covid-19
Human medicine and animal medicine approaches have become more amalgamated than ever before. Covid-19 restrictions have similar effects on any business that historically required customers to enter a brick and mortar location to be provided services. Gianrico Farrugia, president and CEO of the Mayo Clinic, discusses how Covid-19 spurred rapid transformation there and issues … [Read more...]
Updated Veterinary COVID Guidelines
Canada’s Ontario province has been very proactive and successful in managing changes to the practice of veterinary medicine in the face of Covid-19 risks. The Ontario Veterinary Medical Association recently released its stage 3 set of recommendations for Ontario veterinary clinics. Scott Weese, DVM, says much of it applies more broadly as veterinary teams seek to balance the … [Read more...]
Back to school time . . . maybe?
Commentary Historically, the end of August includes the rush to finish vacations, prep children for school, fall sports practices and moving young adults onto college campuses. Animal health pros often find themselves with extra time as Labor Day arrives and animal owners are focused on other things. This year? Who knows? One of the traditional activities to occupy this … [Read more...]
Scientists reveal pheromones are key to harmonious pet relationships
Researchers discovered using dog and cat pheromones could be key to a happy household where both are living. Relationship challenges between a new pet and an existing pet is one of the main reasons for cats and dogs get taken to shelters for rehoming. Thought to be the first research of its kind, the results suggest that using the dog-appeasing pheromones had a more … [Read more...]
Well-trained dogs have more freedom, more fun
Karen London, PhD, rejects ideas that dogs live wild, free and unencumbered by constraints on their desires and inclinations. In fact, she argues that by setting boundaries through training, we enhance dogs’ happiness. Trained dogs have better lives precisely because they are allowed more freedom. Source: The Bark, August 2020. Link. London shares why well-trained dogs … [Read more...]
Utah mink test positive for coronavirus. Plague reported in Lake Tahoe.
Once again reports of zoonoses are in the news. While the source to this mink infection is not known, it seems likely small rodents or their fleas were involved with the plague case. Source: Associated Press, August 17, 2020. Link. High mortality in two mink ranches prompted testing for Covid-19 virus. Five live mink tested positive. The Utah mink farms have also reported … [Read more...]
Veterinary tech associations’ role in public education
Christen Puckett-Smith, BS, RVT, and Kenichiro Yagi MS, RVT, VTS (ECC, SAIM), have it right when they write, “. . . as credentialed veterinary technicians, we are walking billboards.” Their article focuses on association activities that help educate the public about the role veterinary technicians play in veterinary practice. Source: Today’s Veterinary Nurse, Spring 2020. … [Read more...]
VVCA inaugural summit sets the stage for virtual care
Congratulations to the Veterinary Virtual Care Association team on their successful Virtual Care Summit, which took place August 18. Concurrent with the summit, the organization launched an updated website <link>. A substantial set of educational options were offered. They included compelling speakers and animal health pros experienced in hands-off virtual medical care … [Read more...]
Business air travel is evolving
There is much conjecture, yet limited consensus about what air travel will look like in the next normal. Natasha Frost discussed the evolution of business travel with leaders in the travel industry, covering safety, costs and the efficiencies of digital communications. Flying seems to have lower transmission rates than inside dining or religious services, among other ‘risky’ … [Read more...]
Don’t scruff that cat and other things cat owners will appreciate
The articles gathered for this post are resources to help educate cat owners. Simple information can often improve the quality of life for a cat and its owners. The articles begin with a reminder that scruffing a cat is NOT a proper feline-handling skill. Source: Scruffing a cat is not the right way to restrain a kitty, Catster, August 3, 2020. Link. Scruffing can be … [Read more...]
Let them eat dirt
Eat dirt? That was an insult once upon a time. Fast forward to Emily Stein, PhD, who shares how a diverse diet, regular dental care and a little bit of dirt can help a dog’s gut microbiome thrive. She offers: Microbes from the mouth survive the stomach to impact gut function and gut health Growing friendly bacteria in the mouth leads to increased levels of friendly … [Read more...]
Keep older dogs fit with these activities
The aging German Shorthair-Labrador mix pictured here has earned a special place with a young dog lover. At 14, his routine still includes activities described in the article linked here. They have allowed him to live longer, live better and establish a bond with a growing boy. The authors share ideas on how to make a dog's senior years the best years of their lives: … [Read more...]
Birds and beef have a lot in common (video)
“The era of big conservation is over,” says Audubon’s Marshall Johnson. “It’s up to us to drive the outcomes for the next 100 years.” He explains the importance of cattle, grasslands and cattle ranchers participating in Audubon’s Conservation Ranching Initiative to conserve ecosystems and sustainability. Their efforts are third-party verified to bear Audubon’s “grazed on … [Read more...]
Identify what pasture plants are poisonous to cattle (slide show)
There are many plants that can cause illness, death, abortion, birth defects, metabolic disorders, photosensitization and other problems in cattle, writes Heather Smith Thomas. Her slide show includes photos of plants cattle producers should look for. Source: BEEF, March 2020. Link. … [Read more...]