Last week’s AHD Bulletin – Animal Health Digest Bulletin, September 19, 2024. Link. Most read posts from the September 19th AHD Bulletin – Subtle leadership. Link. Study: superbug crisis could get worse, kill nearly 40 million people. Link. Injectable iron – New science on a routine practice. Link. 10 reasons to love sticky ichthammol ointment. Link. … [Read more...]
USDA launches network to support financially distressed farmers and ranchers
The Distressed Borrowers Assistance Network is a USDA initiative to provide personalized support to financially distressed farmers and ranchers nationwide. Through a series of cooperative Agreements, this national network will connect distressed borrowers with individualized assistance to help them stabilize and regain financial footing. USDA's Farm Service Agency will … [Read more...]
ImpriMed expanding its precision medicine services from pets to humans
Building on its success in veterinary oncology, ImpriMed’s pioneering human oncology services will provide drug response predictions for common blood cancers, including newly diagnosed multiple myeloma and acute myeloid leukemia. Source: ImpriMed, September 23, 2024. Link. … [Read more...]
Midwest Veterinary Supply agrees to purchase Victor Medical Company
Acquiring Victor Medical Company, based in Irvine, California, will allow Midwest Veterinary Supply to expand its market reach and offer the veterinary community a more diverse product offering. Source: Midwest Veterinary Supply, September 16, 2024. Link. … [Read more...]
Changing weather patterns call for a change in deworming habits
Sponsored Content Lice over-summer instead of over-winter like many parasites. They hide on cattle in folds between the legs and body and the dewlap. One type of louse can even over-summer in the ear. Once they get cold, they wake up and start reproducing. If cattle are treated too early, the lice don’t become an issue until several months into an endectocide product’s … [Read more...]
The story no one talks about: the cost to produce food
John Nalivka shares an opinion piece that speaks to the pinched wallets consumers are experiencing. The overall costs costs of livestock production, have increased 28 percent from 2019 to 2023. The cost of energy posted a 35 percent increase over the same years while the cost of labor rose 24 percent from 2019 to 2023. Land values have also risen significantly, making … [Read more...]
Mizzou’s next-generation anaplasmosis vaccine shows promise
University of Missouri researchers are developing a new* vaccine proven to protect cattle from a devastating tick-borne cattle disease, bovine anaplasmosis. Roman Reddy Ganta, MSc, PhD, led the study that created the new vaccine. The work involved genetically modifying the pathogen Anaplasma marginale in a lab. By deleting a specific gene and then injecting the modified … [Read more...]
Breeding soundness exams give 20:1 ROI
The lack of breeding soundness exams keeps Joe Dalton, PhD, awake at night, writes Becky Mills. He shares concerns about data on the low percentage of producers who test bulls already in their bull battery for at least two breeding seasons. He emphasizes a complete breeding soundness exam, not just a semen test, as critical to the value of reproduction. Source: Angus Beef … [Read more...]
Analgesia trends in exotics
Discussing analgesia in rabbits and rodents, Olivia A. Petritz, DVM, DACZM, provides an overview of recent studies. She also refers to the development of grimace scales for rabbits, rats and mice. Source: Veterinary Practice News, September 20, 2024. Link. Clinical signs of pain in rodents are similar to rabbits and include a hunched posture, lack of or increased grooming, … [Read more...]
World Rabies Day is September 28th
On September 28th, we celebrate the 102nd birthday of Louis Pasteur by honoring his pioneering work in developing a vaccine against rabies. The anniversary of his birth has been designated World Rabies Day in remembrance of Dr. Pasteur and the millions of lives he continues to save with the rabies vaccine. Source: Global Alliance for Rabies Control. Link. Rabies is an … [Read more...]
United Veterinary Service Association panelists discuss access to care
UVSA leaders and members outlined ways they can take a proactive role in the animal health industry to improve access to veterinary care. Graham Garrison outlines interview topics from the recent USVA annual conference, the importance of access to care, the association’s upcoming initiatives and the commitment to NextGen leadership education. Source: Veterinary Advantage, … [Read more...]
IBPSA Fast Bites – September 23, 2024
FLOW Business Conference underway in Tucson, Arizona, pet startup funding slower, dogs on airplanes, pet night on Capitol Hill, loyalty programs have value, marketing on a small budget, ownership transition plans, and more . . . Source: IBPSA Fast Bites, September 26, 2024. Link. … [Read more...]
Understanding the differences between transactional and relational salespeople
Commentary Anthony Iannarino’s article fits the ongoing content focused on client retention and loyalty. To appreciate his comparison, one must accept that we are all in the transaction business at some level. How we go about it differs by the situation, business category, and, in some cases, the business’s strategies. The differences between transactional and relational … [Read more...]
Missing clients?
Lapsed patients are a concern for most veterinary practices. It might be time to consider a reactivation campaign. Source: Today’s Veterinary Business, August 1, 2024. Link. “Bringing back cats and dogs you haven’t seen in 14 to 18 months can mean big wins for your revenue and, even better, healthier pets.” INSIGHT: Personalize, personalize, personalize. … [Read more...]
For consideration: It’s the things you learn after you know it all that count
While scrolling through Facebook recently, a video reel of Bill Walton, former pro basketball player and sportscaster, popped up. He describes phrases from famed NCAA basketball coach John Wooden and closes with the title of this post. The short reel and Walton’s delivery of Wooden-isms may be enjoyable, if not thought provoking. It was for me. Source: Facebook. Link. Among … [Read more...]
Federal bill seeks to expand HSA, FSA eligibility to include veterinary care expenses
The People and Animal Well-being (PAW) Act aims to support pet owners by making veterinary care more affordable under Health Savings Accounts (HSAs) and Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs). Source: Veterinary Practice News, September 17, 2024. Link. … [Read more...]
Study estimates superbug crisis could get worse, killing nearly 40 million people by 2050
A recently published study <Link> projects the challenge of antimicrobial resistance into the future. AMR, one of the top global public health and development threats, is expected to get worse. It is driven by the misuse and overuse of antimicrobial medications in humans, animals and plants. Source: CNN, September 16, 2024. Link. … [Read more...]
Injectable iron – New science on a routine practice
Complimentary Commercial Content To prevent iron deficiency in pigs and avoid the heavy losses this can cause, iron supplementation is necessary during the first three days of life. Since the 1950’s iron supplements have been common practice, albeit with some arguments about how much and whether one dose or two is best. In this article, Wesley Lyons and Chris Olsen, of … [Read more...]
Mosquitos bug pigs, too
Mosquitos! Animal health pros often associate the pesky biting bugs with dogs and horses, but they are a problem for swine producers too. Jennifer Shike’s two articles address issues with mosquitos and controlling them around swine production sites. Sources: 9 ways to fight mosquitos on the farm, PORK, September 9, 2024. Link. Mosquitos are on the rise: Why pork … [Read more...]
4 considerations for more efficient, productive farm calls
Veterinarians tell some of the most comical stories about making farm calls when producers have told them they’ll “have everything ready” . . . NOT! Laura Meier, DVM, shares the importance of preparation at the farm and veterinarian level in this reminder article. Communication, preparation and patience are key to helping farm calls run smoothly and quickly . . . there’s … [Read more...]
To preg-check or not . . . an economic decision
Dean Kreager relates the importance of checking beef cows for pregnancy to the potential costs of overwintering an open cow. He shares only 20 percent of cow-calf producers in the eastern U.S. preg-check beef cows. Noting drought conditions in some areas, Kreager estimates the overwintering feed costs, and compares that to preg-check costs and the relative value of a cull cow … [Read more...]
It’s not Old McDonald’s dairy farm anymore
Beef-on-dairy has become a cash cow for many dairy farmers, writes Fran O'Leary. But making it all work takes some experimentation, time and planning. She shares some producer experiences and the economics in this article. Source: Wisconsin Agriculturist, September 5, 2024. Link. INSIGHTS: O’Leary’s article is good context for veterinary teams and sales representatives … [Read more...]
10 reasons to love sticky ichthammol ointment
Next to the jar of pine tar in my grandfather’s horse barn was a jar of drawing salve called ichthammol. I remember the stinky salve when it got slapped on a bumblebee sting while removing old hay and chaff from an idle stall bunk. A derivative of coal tar, it is used to reduce inflammation, draw out infection, kill germs and soothe pain. EQUUS editors share 10 uses for … [Read more...]
Are antibiotics necessary for oral surgery?
Bacteremia is a recognized sequela of dental scaling and oral surgery in patients with severe periodontal disease. A small study sought to assess whether transient bacteremia developed after dental scaling, root planing and dental extractions, as well as whether the amount of bacteremia warranted antibiotics. Perioperative use of systemic antibiotics for dental procedures in … [Read more...]
Vet care costs are skyrocketing. 8 people share their vet bill horror stories.
Commentary Deborah Vankin’s story relating pet owner experiences with veterinary care costs from survey results is not surprising. What is concerning is the bent toward negative experiences. Sadly, there is only one reference to pet insurance, especially when this month is National Pet Health Insurance Month which is promoted every year in September <Link>. Source: … [Read more...]
Explore different facets of empathy to improve client communication, earn CE
Jennifer Sperry, DVM, leads this online CE webinar and shares the different facets of empathy through storytelling, real-world examples and academic publications. She identifies some tools any clinic or practitioner can employ to activate and improve empathetic practice. Source: ASPCA® Pet Health Insurance. Link. Earn 1 Hour of RACE-Approved CE Credit. Related: Search … [Read more...]
Advocacy series popular with clinic teams
Feedback shared with ASPCA@ Pet Health Insurance field representatives reveals our advocacy series <Link> has sparked attention from clinic teams over the past several months. We’re sharing two resources available to help clinic teams engage pet owners and share the value of pet insurance with pet owners. Source: ASPCA® Pet Health Insurance. Pet insurance … [Read more...]
Top 3 retail trends driving industry transformation in 2024
Commentary Retailers are facing fundamental shifts in the rules and relationships that define the consumers’ purchase paths. At its core, retail is about delivering the right product at the right price to the right customer. The same goes for services businesses. Like it or not, digitalization empowers business models like marketplaces, direct-to-consumer and social … [Read more...]
IBPSA Fast Bites – September 16, 2024
The People and Animals Well-being Act, rising costs threaten pet ownership, Pak Social seeks to redefine pet care, what works in marketing now and more . . . Source: IBPSA Fast Bites, September 16, 2024. Link. … [Read more...]
The best managers are like great coaches
Author Roy Williams asserts great coaches are great, not because they were superstars, but because they know how to awaken the star that sleeps in each of the team members around them and they're not afraid to hire people better than they are. Williams suggests that managers spend the next 21 days complimenting a team member for every correct action they make. "Then prepare … [Read more...]