We can’t assume horses will break through a thin layer of ice or be willing to drink water that contains chunks of ice. Some will not do either. The authors share three ways to reduce the risk of dehydration even in the coldest weather. Keep buckets and troughs ice-free Check all automated waterers daily Mix up some mashes Source: EQUUS, January 8, 2021. … [Read more...]
While late, horses still need a fall wellness exam
Winter is in full swing, but with all the confusion from Covid-19, not all horses received their normal exams. Christine Barakat, DVM, stresses the importance of comprehensive wellness exams to help prevent problems. She shares a partial list of the topics likely to be addressed in them and why. With mares foaling now, veterinarians receive calls to assist. Performing exams … [Read more...]
The dentistry gap
Dawn Singleton-Olson reinforces the importance of comprehensive oral healthcare assessment and treatment (COHAT) to address the nearly 70 percent of cats and 80 percent of dogs over the age of 3 have some form of periodontal disease. “Pet owners truly want what is best for their animals, but often don’t understand how critical dental care is to the overall health of their pet … [Read more...]
VVCA seeking study participants; please help
Take 20 minutes to support a study that will provide data and insights needed to drive innovations and access to care in the veterinary profession. Debbie Sigesmund, BSc DVM, asked the VVCA to support data collection from small and mixed animal practicing veterinarians. The research team from the Ontario Veterinary College is studying veterinarian and pet owners’ perceptions … [Read more...]
We bungled. Consolidate That! is from Veterinary Integration Solutions
Sometimes we learn as much from our errors as our successes. The importance of proofreading was reinforced for our AHD team in last week’s Bulletin. It is a stark reminder that errors can be easily made even with a structured process in place. Last week we announced Consolidate That!, the new podcast from Veterinary Integration Solutions < link >. However, we bungled … [Read more...]
The 2021 employee experience
To create a best-in-class workplace, leaders need to consistently deliver on the fundamental, unchanging elements of a great employee experience. At the same time, leaders must ask smart questions in response to pressing demands and strategically adapt their employee experience to accommodate those challenges. Source: Gallup.com, January 8, 2021. Link. Onboarding new … [Read more...]
To overcome vaccine hesitancy, we need a better patient experience
HBR’s summary led me to review this article first in the human context and again thinking about animal health vaccination experiences. By thinking of the vaccine as a consumer product, vaccination as a service, and a high NPS (net promoter score) as a goal, we can better design the end-to-end vaccination process and bring this pandemic to a close as quickly as … [Read more...]
Cut seasons short for more profits
Jordan Thomas tackles human nature’s influence on the cow-calf operation. He says the focus on calf numbers likely keeps cows in the herd that don’t belong. Extended calving and hay-feeding seasons are a symptom of this tendency. Long hay-feeding seasons and long calving seasons are really just manifestations of the same fundamental problem” - Source: BEEF, January 2020. … [Read more...]
Milk filters, teat dips really matter
In order to help prevent infection to dairy cows, dairy pros must address cleanliness practices in barns and parlors. Greg Strait, Penn State extension educator, addressed milk filters as an indicator then emphasized teat dipping, cow prep, cleanliness of free stalls, and cleanliness of bedded pack and more during a recent discussion. Source: Hoard’s Dairyman, January 11, … [Read more...]
Titers and other vaccine considerations for horses
David Ramey, DVM, wishes discussions about equine vaccines were easy. Instead of being a simple linear vaccine equation, it has a lot of +/- variables in it. This makes discussions about vaccines fraught with all sorts of nuance and complications, he says. The result is that many throw up their hands rather than talk about them. Not simple, the horse vaccine equation looks … [Read more...]
Rescue animals, TIME’s 2020 pet of the year
Pets will return to the White House when president-elect Joe Biden takes office. One of them is the rescue dog, Major. Rescues, rehomes and adoptions peaked during the pandemic and it’s a trend likely to continue. TIME shares stories, trends and metrics. Source: TIME, December 9, 2020. Link. … [Read more...]
Poultry owners seek qualified veterinary practices
Backyard poultry continues to increase in popularity. Poultry owners often find it difficult to secure veterinary services and guidance as most poultry DVMs are deployed in large operations. Companion animal practitioners can take poultry under their wing by incorporating into their practice medical care for these birds and by counseling clients on proper fowl husbandry.” - … [Read more...]
What B2B buyers rely on to make purchase decisions
Whether buyer or seller, David Dodd offers perspectives on decision making in a series he started in September 2020 < link >. “The pace of change in some aspects of B2B marketing has been so rapid over the past fifteen years that it’s far too easy to lose sight of the fact that many of the core principles of marketing and buyer behavior have changed very little. The tools … [Read more...]
The fallacy of more education
Far too often we believe that more education will solve every problem. It will not. If it did, we would have achieved 100 percent compliance years ago and this entire column would be unnecessary. Source: Vet-Advantage, December 2020. Link. When you mention vaccines or preventatives, your customer will begin to formulate an attitude about that subject. The attitude they adopt … [Read more...]
Veterinary Integration Solutions introduces Consolidate That! podcast
Complimentary Content Consolidate That! is a new podcast from Veterinary Integration Solutions that is hosted by Dr. Ivan Zak and Ryan Leech. It focuses on critical corporate topics in the veterinary business. The episodes will center on improving clinical care, customer and employee experience, combining proven processes with modern technology, and ways to expand … [Read more...]
Word of mouth still important despite AT&T TV ad
For as long as I can remember, animal owners have chosen friends or family members as the first persons they contact when they have a question about their animals, because of trust. These interactions encompass unintentional word of mouth. A current TV ad from AT&T ends with likely sarcasm with the statement, “Word of Mouth advertising. . . it’s what they did before … [Read more...]
VetWatch’s week 52 report shows continued promise
Complimentary Content The final week for 2020 reporting for VetWatch shows the canine and feline core vaccine indices ended at a robust 9.0 percent YTD growth across the 32,000+ practices and shelter locations in the Animalytix Marketplace. Other key findings include: Revenue growth year to date for the week remained positive in all areas of the country, averaging … [Read more...]
Pet retailers adjusting for 2021
Countless pet retailers shifted to online sales during the last year. Three articles from Pet Business contain considerations for veterinary practices, as well. Source: Prepare your pet store for 2021 (and beyond), Pet Business, November 30, 2020. Link. Invest in an eCommerce platform eCommerce platform seamlessly integrated with the point of sale platform and … [Read more...]
Dairy farming; being cruel to animals is a perception and sometimes a reality
Multiple animal activists groups have argued for years that dairy farming is no less than animal cruelty. Despite their actions being denounced by dairy owners, industry groups and the American Association of Bovine Practitioners, activists are making headway. Market forces and the coronavirus pandemic are helping their cause, too. Scientists are working to show ways the … [Read more...]
Global leaders take action to control ASF
Disease surveillance is table talk today, but most of it is not actionable. The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations and World Organization for Animal Health united in late October to launch The Global Control of ASF Initiative to keep African swine fever at bay. The program helps swine professionals in multiple capacities to coordinate and strengthen control … [Read more...]
Don’t forget the bulls this winter
Their seasonal work may be done, but bulls need attention to recover body conditioning and breeding soundness during winter months. Cassidy Woolsey shares information from a December Beefwatch webinar series featuring Kacie McCarthy, cow-calf specialist at the University of Nebraska – Lincoln. Source: Progressive Cattle, December 29, 2020. Link. “Coming off the breeding … [Read more...]
Equine coronavirus: An emerging enteric virus of adult horses
Dr. Nicola Pusterla, DACVIM (LA), reviews equine coronavirus (ECoV) and what we need to know about this enteric virus. There is no need to panic about zoonoses. She says ECoV is genetically distinct from the human SARS-CoV-2 and there is no evidence to indicate that horses could contract SARS-CoV-2 or that horses may be involved in the spread of SARS-CoV-2 to other animals or … [Read more...]
Dr. Jen demystifies vaccinations
Jenifer Chatfield, DVM, Dipl. ACZM, Dipl. ACVPM, tackles myths about pet vaccines in the latest edition of Is This a Thing? My pet got all of its shots Cats don’t need vaccines The internet says lepto vaccine is not needed It’s better to titer first so vets don’t just give vaccines to make money My pet is so old it doesn’t need vaccines any … [Read more...]
Disagreement doesn’t have to be divisive
Rather than engaging in potentially difficult or uncomfortable conversations, many of us try to avoid them altogether. But there may be a more effective approach. . . “ Source: Harvard Business Review, November 16, 2020. Link. When someone has a sharply different point of view than your own, the natural tendency is to either avoid a conversation with that person or to try to … [Read more...]
What to do when your boss favors a colleague over you
Today, the leading reason people quit their companies is feeling a lack of appreciation. A recent study showed more than half of executives admit to having a favorite when deciding on internal promotions. Once you catch your breath from being kicked in the gut, the authors share four strategies to protect your career and sustain your motivation to succeed: Test your … [Read more...]
Q-4-2020 Veterinary Innovation Podcasts now available
Here is the latest list of podcasts since our October 6, 2020 post. < link >. Shawn Wilkie and Ivan Zakharenkov, DVM, continue to provide animal health pros access to discussions with animal health innovators. Listening to podcasts is an excellent way to learn from progressive animal health who are inventing the next iterations of animal health. Wilkie and Zakharenkov … [Read more...]
Beef on the TV for the holidays
Checkoff-funded “Beef. It’s What’s for Dinner” is running its famous holiday Drool Log as a TV commercial series during the Hallmark Channel’s Countdown to Christmas. Several commercial versions will air more than 50 times ending at New Year's. The campaign is funded with joint monies from national and state checkoff programs and fulfills members’ requests for better consumer … [Read more...]
NEW app for the puppies!
Complimentary Content from Purina Purina announced a new app for puppies, well, for their owners. 😉 The My Pup app promises to help pet owners train, learn and grow with their puppy, offering week‑to‑week guidance, articles, videos and expert tips. Source: Purina, December 21, 2020. Link. INSIGHTS: We’ve not yet reviewed this app. However, it may help to fill some of … [Read more...]
Nearly 4 months to get into flow with new pet
New research commissioned by Royal Canin® indicates it takes three months and 23 days to finally get the hang of things with a new pet, according to new research. The OnePoll survey found 80 percent asserted the first year of owning a pet is the most important. It also revealed that year isn’t easy as 64 percent believe the first year is the most difficult. Source: 72point. … [Read more...]
Steve Dale’s holiday safety tips
For more than two decades, Steve Dale, certified animal behavior consultant, has been communicating with more pet owners than any other pet journalist in America. He’s not E.F. Hutton, but when Steve speaks, pet owners listen. Organizing his list in holiday fashion, Dale provides 12 Christmas pet safety tips to ensure a safe howliday. Source: Steve Dale’s Pet World, December … [Read more...]