Last week’s AHD Bulletin – Animal Health Digest Bulletin, June 19, 2025. Link. Most read posts from June 19, 2025 AHD Bulletin – Avoid confusion about pinkeye in cattle. Link. Calf vaccinations: You won’t find all the answers in a bottle. Link. Consumer sentiment rebounds sharply in June. Link. Sounds that can trigger aggressive behavior in cats. … [Read more...]
DVM discusses half-dosing vaccines
Scott Weese, DVM, shares the short answer to a common question about half-dosing vaccines, emphazing “we don’t know.” He covers these key elements in this article: a) half-dose efficacy, b) adverse reactions and c) liability. Source: Worms and Germs, May 28, 2025. Link. About client requests, Weese writes, veterinarians are expected to act professionally and reasonably, … [Read more...]
Neuroscience and perspective
Most people think reality is shaped by events, but it’s shaped by how those events are explained. Why does this matter? Because the stories people tell themselves shape the actions they take. Source: LinkedIn, June 13, 2025. Link. When setbacks are explained as permanent, pervasive, and personal, motivation disappears. But when reframed as temporary, isolated, and external, … [Read more...]
Lincoln Memorial sues AVMA over accreditation
VIN provided this brief: Lincoln Memorial University is suing the American Veterinary Medical Association eight months after its veterinary school was put on accreditation probation. The complaint filed today alleges the AVMA's Council on Education, which accredits veterinary schools primarily in the United States and Canada, is engaged in "a conspiracy to control, … [Read more...]
Speak up: Respectful rebels welcome
Commentary An industry colleague once reminded me that the best results are found after embracing dissension or disagreements. This perspective promotes embracing difficult experiences, rather than avoiding them so they can lead to growth, learning, and ultimately, better outcomes. This article by Deborah Grayson Riegel, MSW, PCC, reminded me of that conversation and the … [Read more...]
Consumer sentiment rebounds sharply in June
Commentary Okay, so the photos are unrealistic. But, economic indicators suggest that now there is a likely opportunity for veterinary clinics to bring back clients’ pets that are past due for wellness checks, oral health procedures and vaccinations. Consider the potential for a campaign to reach owners stretching their pets’ adherence timelines to return to the … [Read more...]
Nom Nom research reveals the impact of pup’s perceived happiness on pet parents
Complimentary Commercial Content We appreciate the efforts Nom Nom put forth to answer our questions* about the April 2025 survey findings they shared with us. Dogs crave mental and physical challenges that keep them engaged beyond toys, beds or long walks, shares Kristin Chenoweth, who promotes meal time as one place to improve experiences for dogs. Beyond the commercial … [Read more...]
AAHA announces leadership transition
Garth Jordan will step down as chief executive officer on June 30, 2025, after five years of distinguished service that transformed AAHA’s global reach and industry impact. Dr. Guylaine Charette, a past president of AAHA, will assume the role of interim CEO beginning July 1, 2025. Source: AAHA, June 17, 2025. Link. … [Read more...]
VMG and Inventory Ally partner to control inventory, costs
Inventory Ally, a comprehensive inventory management program for veterinary hospitals, has joined Veterinary Management Groups (VMG) as a Preferred Partner. They seek to help veterinary practices take control of inventory and costs. Source: Inventory Ally, June 16, 2025. Link. … [Read more...]
Keeping cows cool
We enjoyed the positive responses to last week’s post “Making dairy herds in the shade” <Link>. Recent studies show shade is important for growing beef cattle comfort and efficiency <Link>. Articles like this are reminders of the health and economic benefits of providing shade for cattle as temperatures move above 70°F. Because of that feedback, we’re repeating … [Read more...]
Calf vaccinations: You won’t find all the answers in a bottle
What a great title for Michigan State University veterinarian Angel Abuelo’s presentation he shared during the Great Lakes Regional Dairy Conference on February 6th and 7th in Mt. Pleasant, Michigan. Bev Berens shared information Abuelo reviewed, including immunology basics, passive immunity and vaccinating cows, vaccinating calves and vaccination programs. The article is a … [Read more...]
Tips for smaller cow-calf operations to optimize profit and build market appeal
Includes AHD Sponsor information A January AHD post shared that 79 percent of farms with beef cows have 49 or fewer cows <Link>. For smaller cow-calf operations, committing to profitability and understanding the market buyer’s needs is key to garnering increased interest in their calves, writes Bruce Derkson. He emphasizes that profit must be the number one goal if a … [Read more...]
EIA outbreak is reminder to keep Coggins testing updated
The AVMA reported an EIA outbreak that killed 21 horses in the Southwest U.S. <Link>. The incidents are an important reminder of the importance of strict biosecurity protocols and proper training of individuals who work in equine veterinary clinics to help prevent the spread of disease through contaminated medical treatment or equipment. Given the summer season of … [Read more...]
Avoid confusion about pinkeye in cattle
Sponsor Content with Commentary If one reads three or more of the articles* recently published about infectious bovine keratoconjunctivitis or, pinkeye in cattle, they may be confused about a) what conditions predispose calves to infection(s), b) what vector(s) are responsible for disease transfer and c) what bacteria cause pinkeye infections or may be present as cofactors … [Read more...]
AHD reader shares concerns and feedback
Occasionally, we get an animal-owner reader response (that isn’t spam) to one of our posts <Link>. We’re sharing it here. Reader comments from AHD post on website As a pet owner I find that my costs at the vet have tripled and the time I see the vet is now about 10 minutes instead of 30 minutes even though the time slotted for me was 30 minutes. I feel that the … [Read more...]
IBPSA Fast Bites – June 16, 2025
Pet industry sales normalizing but still climb post-pandemic, luxury lifestyles for pets booming in Japan, 100+ grants for small businesses, pet tech changing pet parenting, charity is promoting pensions for retired police dogs, franchising cat sitting and more . . . Source: IBPSA, June 16, 2025. Link. IBBY nominations are now open. They were established by the IBPSA to … [Read more...]
Worth a Glance – June 19, 2025
Last week’s AHD Bulletin – Animal Health Digest Bulletin, June 12, 2025. Link. Most read posts from June 12, 2025 AHD Bulletin – Forbes, Can the veterinary industry help with the rising cost of care? Link. A crate training discussion. Cruel or kind? Link. Logic, emotions and decisions. Link. Cattle technology trends that continue to push boundaries. … [Read more...]
Managing resistance
Resistance to change is a natural part of business, and your role when facing a customer’s objections is to facilitate that change and do it better than everyone else. The more you help your customers manage the concerns preventing them from reaching confidence, the sooner you will become more of a trusted adviser versus another person selling something. Source: Veterinary … [Read more...]
Veterinary nutrition residency funded at the University of Tennessee
Marking a notable development in the fresh pet food sector's involvement in veterinary science, The University of Tennessee College of Veterinary Medicine has launched a new veterinary nutrition residency program. The two-year program is backed by a sponsorship from The Farmer's Dog. The program meets board eligibility standards set by the American College of Veterinary … [Read more...]
Forbes, How can the veterinary industry help with the rising cost of care?
Commentary We held this article for a few weeks trying to best present the content for consideration. Aimee Gilbreath, president of PetSmart Charities, wrote it. She shares metrics seen routinely in various media and calls the rising cost of pet care a full-blown pet healthcare crisis. I disagree. I believe we have a pet parent spending problem veterinary hospitals are … [Read more...]
Cattle technology trends that continue to push boundaries
Cattle producers are interested in technologies that improve efficiency, reduce labor and provide useful data. Beyond the normal optimism and skepticism, new high-tech tools must be practical, user-friendly and offer a solid return on investment before cattle producers invest. Bruce Derksen reviews six cattle technology trends in this article. Source: BEEF, April 22, … [Read more...]
Dairy herds are made in the shade!
Research shows that dry cows and bred heifers are just as vulnerable to heat stress, even if the signs are less visible. When a dry cow or bred heifer experiences heat stress, her unborn calf does too writes Taylor Leach who shares the long term effects of heat stress on the dairy herd. Source: Bovine Practitioner, June 2, 2025. Link. While the lactating herd often gets the … [Read more...]
Poll reveals horse owner deworming behaviors
A June poll reveals how frequently a group of respondents deworms their horse(s). Information like this can help veterinary teams understand client behaviors and may provide opportunities to improve horse stewardship. The sponsored article below was linked with the poll results. In it, Christa Lesté-Lasserre, MA, shares what scientists are learning about equine parasite … [Read more...]
The business side of farriers and footcare
Data collected from the 2024 American Farriers Journal Business Practices Survey provides an interesting look into the business of equine footcare. In addition to what they charge and where they buy supplies, we noted how farriers communicate with their clients. The metrics on what work they are doing, the types of horses and metrics on laminitis and white line disease will be … [Read more...]
Recognizing and treating pain in cats
The signs of pain in cats are often subtle making recognizing them challenging and often overlooked. Recognizing subtle signs of pain is essential for the veterinary team and veterinary technicians to help be vital in teaching owners how to recognize pain in their cats, writes Wendy Davies BS, CVT, CCRVN, VTS. In addition to discussing types, signs and origins of feline … [Read more...]
Review: Diagnostic testing for tick-borne diseases; recommendations, interpreting results
Ticks are making the news across the U.S. as resident populations bloom and areas experience new tick species migrating into a region for the first time. A large percentage of vector-borne diseases reported are vectored by ticks, with dogs acting as sentinels for human exposure to concerning bacterial, protozoal and viral agents. In this article, Doctors Schlemmer and … [Read more...]
Does it pay to castrate, wean and vaccinate?
Includes Sponsor Content Studying the USDA Market News reports, Andrew Griffith, PhD, says it is clear that a good number of producers still find it easier to sell bull calves instead of castrating them prior to selling them. He shares the economics of selling calves straight off the cow versus after preconditioning and applying management protocols in this article. During … [Read more...]
Iconic cartoon cats
Commentary From mischievous antics to heartwarming charm, cartoon cats have etched themselves into pop culture. The author shares 14 famous feline characters that continue to delight audiences worldwide . . . anthropomorphisms included. The descriptions of these characters beg for some reflection on how cats are perceived as our industry seeks to provide more medical … [Read more...]
Website resource for when cat(s) stopping acting normally
Complimentaray Commercial Content Zoetis’ Cat Red Flags website advertisement caught our attention during a recent TV program on Nat Geo Wild. We’re sharing this in case you’re not aware of the website and it’s focus on behaviors that may indicate osteoarthritis or other issues that reduce cat wellness. Source: Cat Red Flags. Link. … [Read more...]
IBPSA Fast Bites – June 9, 2025
Diminishing veterinary care blamed on rising costs, small businesses need to consider risk management, harnessing AI for small business, law maker activities and more . . . Source: IBPSA, June 9, 2025. Link. … [Read more...]