May is National Chip Your Pet Month and an excellent time to turn up attention to the benefits of placing microchips in pets. Once pets are chipped and registered in a national pet recovery database, services like the AAHA Universal Pet Microchip Lookup Tool < link > can reference the chip against hundreds of registries’ databases. Pets with microchips are up to 20 times … [Read more...]
Managing perfectionism
When your patients can’t talk to you, it is hard to not seek perfection. Rebecca Knight offers ideas of how to let go of a penchant for perfectionism. It is a double-edged sword, she writes. It can motivate you to perform at a high level and deliver top-quality work. Or, it can cause you unnecessary anxiety and slow you down. Many perfectionists have a proclivity to ruminate — … [Read more...]
False beliefs about introverts and extroverts (podcast)
Most people don’t fit neatly into one “introvert” or “extrovert” box. Even people who feel pretty solidly in one camp, can have traits that we often associate with the other, shares Kathleen Davis. This kind of dual behavior is pretty common. It’s not a black and white category. Susan Cain, author. Source: Fast Company, April 10, 2019. Link. How introverts can get noticed at … [Read more...]
Be aware of accounts that eat your lunch
Randy MacLean explains distributors’ challenges of big accounts and the financial consequences of servicing them. It is a familiar story of top-line revenue versus cost-to-serve, fixed-cost conundrums that have long-been prevalent in animal health markets. It is also a situation common to livestock veterinary clinics and retailers that is exacerbated by ongoing consolidation … [Read more...]
U.S – Mexican border cattle ranches dealing with tick fever, quarantine
Two closely related tick species, one called the cattle tick, Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) annulatus, and another called the southern cattle tick, R. microplus are responsible for bovine babesiosis in border counties in Texas. A disease without a cure, tick fever is managed with strict quarantines. Fever ticks can carry parasites that infect and destroy the red blood cells of … [Read more...]
Antibody versus antigen tests; let’s review
Mississippi State DVMs Claire L. Fellman and Todd Archer provide a brief introduction to immunodiagnostic tests, including immunofluorescence assays, ELISAs, immunohistochemistry and flow cytometry. The underlying principle of immunologic testing is antigen:antibody specificity. Source: Clinician’s Brief, May 2017. Link. Although antibodies can be used to detect antigens, … [Read more...]
Poisonous plants for cattle, horses, dogs, cats
Spring brings a flowery green up but, plants toxic t0 our critters may lurk among the blooms. We compiled some resources for cattle, horses, dogs and cats below. Use them on social media and to solve problems with animal owners. Source: Plants toxic to cats, ASPCA. Link. Source: Plants toxic to dogs, ASPCA. Link. Source: Poisonous plants that can kill cattle, BEEF, … [Read more...]
9 mosquito myths debunked
Jason Cameron and Amy Lawhorne tackle myths about mosquitoes and share ways to help protect you and your family. They share the 7 Ts of mosquito control. Tip Toss Turn Remove Tarps Take care Team up Treat Source: diy Network, link. INSIGHTS: This is good information for social media posts, e-newsletters and websites. Consider sharing it with … [Read more...]
250-plus unrivaled names for dogs
New pet owners might appreciate this set of unique names for dogs. These names include the least-common dog names in the world, creative dog names, and some which are a little exotic that offer an extra specialness that dog owners may find intriguing. Consider this for social media posts, e-newsletters or new pet kits. Source: All Things Dog, May 2, 2019. Link. … [Read more...]
Research reveals complex chicken intelligence and emotion
Tamsin Cooper’s article on poultry cognition reveals evidence about smart chickens. Neurologist Lori Marino is aware of how complex and intelligent chickens are. She collated evidence of their mental and emotional capacities to raise awareness of their need for good welfare as individual sentient beings. People who are not familiar with chickens are often amazed at how smart … [Read more...]
May is National Arthritis Month; remember pets, too
May is recognized annually as National Arthritis Awareness Month. Arthritis affects more than 50 million Americans, making it the number-one cause of disability in the country. Osteoarthritis is a very common problem in small animals, as well. It has been estimated that around 20 percent of dogs and 40 percent of cats will be affected by osteoarthritis at some point in their … [Read more...]
The power of thank you
A Portland State University study shows that being thanked more often at work predicted better sleep, fewer headaches and healthier eating, because it improved employees’ work satisfaction. Source: Science Daily, March, 13, 2019. Link. Many people inherently connect their identity to their job and feelings of appreciation within their roles. Employers who understand and … [Read more...]
It’s National Small Business Week
For over 50 years, the President of the United States has issued a proclamation announcing National Small Business Week, which recognizes the critical contributions of America’s entrepreneurs and small business owners. Many independent veterinary clinics and animal supply companies are included in this designation. More than half of Americans either own or work for a small … [Read more...]
Walmart opens news vet clinics, launches online pet pharmacy
Walmart is opening enough new, in-store vet clinics this year to grow its current 21 clinics to 100. The retail behemoth will also launch the online pharmacy, WalmartPetRx.com to rival Chewy.com. The company is also expanding online offerings for pet food, pet vitamins and supplements, including Walmart-branded products. Source: CNBC, May 7, 2019. Link. Walmart has seen a … [Read more...]
It’s National Pet Week
Since 1981, National Pet Week® has celebrated the human-animal bond. It encourages pet owners to be certain they provide their best friends with all they need for a happy, healthy life every week of the year. Everyone loves their pets, but not everyone is aware of what their pet needs to be happy and healthy long into their senior years, says the AVMA. It provides tools and … [Read more...]
Veterinary Hospital Managers Association partners with Animal Health Digest
Our AHD team welcomes the VHMA membership and looks forward to collaborating with this growing group of animal health professionals. The VHMA is a nationally recognized thought leader and innovator in providing training, education, and resources to more than 3,600 members. It is a trusted resource that the veterinary sector relies on for industry insights, research and advocacy … [Read more...]
Biosecurity beyond the farm is important
Kansas State University researchers are identifying if and how feed mill biosecurity could be involved with disease transmission. The efforts are important as U.S. swine producers brace for possible African swine fever challenges. Source: National Hog Farmer, April, 24, 2019. Link. A lot of what we have learned about how to assess biosecurity and personnel compliance has … [Read more...]
Spring can cause somatic cell counts to spike
The wet weather and warmer temperatures of spring provide the perfect opportunity for bacteria to breed and wreak havoc on milk quality, writes Taylor Leach. To stay ahead of a springtime somatic cell count spike; focus on cow comfort, cow cleanliness and precise milking protocols. Source: Dairy Herd Management, April 29, 2019. Link. Leach shares good reminders about cow … [Read more...]
Understanding sexlink hybrid chickens
Don Schrider delves into chicken breeds, crossbreeding and explains how sexlink chickens produce dependable gender offspring for retail locations to sell. He includes a good history of breeds and crossbreds to expand your chicken knowledge if you are unfamiliar with commercial or backyard chicken production. His information is useful for veterinary teams and retailers … [Read more...]
Coprophagia, pica and the funny eating habits of horses
David Ramey, DVM, offers information about horses’ eating habits and the many things they ingest. In the wild, horses eat in 23 of 24 hours during the day. Eating like a horse, indeed. Source: Horse Network, February 2019. Link. Equine nutritionists . . . have found that horses really only seek out energy, water, salt, and fiber. INSIGHTS: Equine veterinary teams as well as … [Read more...]
Equine rabies often insidious and vague in horses
We often picture unnaturally aggressive skunks, raccoons or dogs foaming at the mouth when we think of rabies. Although it isn’t widely found among horses in the United States, veterinarians diagnose about 40 cases per year. Betsy Greene relates that the potential risk of human exposure from even one infected horse is concerning. Source: The Horse, April 2019. Link. Greene … [Read more...]
Depression among customers hurts us all
Production agriculture can be isolating. This tends to intensify feelings like grief, depression, anger, blame, resentment and a feeling of failure, writes Amanda Radke. She curated a series of articles on mental health issues with farmers and ranchers. Beyond our own issues with high veterinary suicide rates, some of our better customers are also hurting. Mental health issues … [Read more...]
Formula, cat years x 7 = human years, no longer valid
The timeworn cat age formula no longer holds true, writes Elizabeth Vecsi. A cat celebrating his first birthday is actually the equivalent of a person who is 15 years old, a 10-year-old cat is the equivalent of 56 and a 17-year-old cat is the equivalent of 84. Source: Catnip, April 26, 2019. Link. New Feline Life Stages Guidelines developed jointly by the AAFP and AAHA … [Read more...]
Deal with canine noise phobias
Thunderstorm season is a challenging time for many dogs and their owners. Noise phobia describes the intense and irrational fear displayed to certain sounds by some dogs. Fear is a normal emotional response to a real or perceived threat or situation but they can escalate to a phobia that can emotionally cripple a dog. Nicholas Dodman, BVMS estimates close to 50 percent of dogs … [Read more...]
Fun, easy brain games for dogs help them bond with owners
John Wood provides some great games to help dog owners bond with their dogs. The dog-human social contract is all about our relationship with our dogs. Play builds relationships. Behavior training is important, but so is play. Source: Dogster, April 16, 2019. Link. Playing brain games for dogs can help to alleviate boredom and prevent destructive behaviors such as chewing … [Read more...]
Stevie the pit bull was likely high
Megan Stadler, DVM, and Julien Guillaumin, DVM, DACVECC, DECVECC, present the case of Stevie, a pit bull presented for an emergency examination approximately three hours after the owner noticed an acute onset of lethargic behavior. The owner affirmed that Stevie had the potential for recent marijuana exposure, but there was no way to confirm it. Stevie’s experience is a … [Read more...]
Experts weigh in on pet-safe houseplants
“Even just the fertilizer that the plant sits in can be a problem,” says Stephanie Liff, DVM. Liza Corsillo sought her arborist and educator Ben Team about pet safety with houseplants. She includes specific species and links to resources for acquiring them. This is informative fit for social media and e-newsletters to help educate pet owners. Source: New York Magazine, April … [Read more...]
Opinion – Pets becoming part of long-term eldercare
A Google search produces dozens of visiting pet organizations that provide pet therapy visits to elder care facilities. The results are positive and the organizations require visiting pets to be trained for such activities. Ramona Marek reviews a growing trend of allowing seniors to bring their pet from home when they enter a care facility. I’m supportive of fur, feathers … [Read more...]
Items of interest from JAVMA News
These items from the recent JAVMA News provide perspective for animal health pros: AVMA launches Axon, a new online CE platform < link >. This online learning platform provides a place for the entire veterinary team to access the AVMA's full library of digital learning, earn CE, and acquire skills for personal and professional development. The veterinary student … [Read more...]
Opinion – Adjust clinic visits to appeal to millennials
Architect Paul Gladyz offers thought-provoking ideas about how to adjust the veterinary visit to meet the experience-desiring millennials. As a father of millennials, his perspective is personal, as well as professional. Millennials want their experiences to work toward an enjoyable life. Source: Today’s Veterinary Business, April 2019. Link. The fact remains millenials are … [Read more...]