Michael Dryden, DVM, MS, PhD, DACVM, often known as Dr. Flea, discusses strategic methods for avoiding ticks, shares tips for preventing secondary disease and offers insights into why tick strategies have changed. He speaks about tick range expansion that impacts how veterinary teams can help animal owners reduce the risks in different regions. Source: Clinician’s Brief, … [Read more...]
Advocacy from veterinary teams helps pet owners choose pet insurance – Part 4
Sponsor Content Our series on how veterinary teams position and share the benefits of pet insurance continues. ASPCA® Pet Health Insurance field representatives have continued seeking feedback from veterinary professional advocates as part of an initiative started during VMX and WVC <Link>. In addition to the new comments in the link below, we’re sharing the … [Read more...]
AI is a powerful tool, but not for small businesses
While AI's potential is vast, its practical applications and benefits for small businesses remain a contentious topic, writes Louis Mosca. He reminds us that significant human oversight and intervention are still needed when implementing AI. Source: Forbes, July 29, 2024. Link. The extent to which AI can drive revenue and enhance productivity varies widely depending on the … [Read more...]
SuperZoo preview
Flipping through Pet Business’ SUPERZOO preview gives animal health pros a look at consumer-facing marketing and product trends. Taking place in Las Vegas August 13th through 16th, the convention is where the retail pet industry comes together to discover the latest products, trends and innovations, along with well-rounded education sessions. Source: Pet Business, Link. … [Read more...]
IBPSA Fast Bites – August 5, 2024
Pet spending growing despite inflation, growing brands through partnerships, employee well-being program benefits, three qualities of a mindful leader and more . . . Source: IBPSA Fast Bites, August 5, 2024. Link. NOTE: The IBPSA Master Business Academy starts October 14th. The intensive 10-week program covers three core areas essential for business success: … [Read more...]
Five techniques to help negotiate with a bully
Communication is difficult enough without having to deal with a bully, especially when negotiating. Stephanie Vozza shares what the author of “For the Forces of Good: The Superpower of Everyday Negotiation,” suggests for training your brain to approach the conversation calmly and then work through the bully’s position and perspective hoping to deescalate the negative … [Read more...]
Adjusting to your customer
The ability to connect with customers in a meaningful way and offer solutions that meet their needs and solve their problems means you’ll be relevant to them. Source: Veterinary Advantage, December 2023. Link. Explore the challenges that each customer is facing and find ways to help.” INSIGHT: Every team member is a representative of your practice. … [Read more...]
Communicating value for technician appointment fees
Wendy S. Myers, CVJ, shares ways to position veterinary technician appointments, including: Using a health assessment description for technician appointments versus exams for veterinarian appointments Listing the technician’s name on the invoice Educating front desk persons to clarify the reason for a visit to determine whether a technician or veterinarian visit is … [Read more...]
Inflation pinching pet owners’ pocketbooks forcing pet spending decisions
This article appeared as the fifth article in the August 5 edition of IBPSA FastBites <Link>. NPR’s Lola Murti shares the challenges of rising costs for pet owners, how they are adjusting and what drives cost increases across the pet services industry. Source: NPR, July 30, 2024. Link. “<Re: price increases> It's higher ingredient, higher packaging, higher … [Read more...]
ICASA Award addresses antimicrobial stewardship for BRD
Multifactor bovine respiratory disease remains a major expense to producers who commonly treat the late stage pulmonary disease with antibiotics. ICASA, along with matching funds from other organizations, has funded a $2,446,948 research grant to Brad J. White, DVM, MS, who is building a multi-disciplinary team to research how the secondary diseases form in cattle infected with … [Read more...]
Dog import rules changed, but simplified
Effective today, the CDC is implementing new requirements for dogs arriving from countries that are canine rabies-free or low-risk. Beginning August 1, dogs that have spent at least the last six months in countries such as Canada and Mexico will need to meet these few requirements before U.S. entry: Be healthy on arrival Be at least 6 months old at the time of entry or … [Read more...]
Revolutionary tech for hog barn monitoring
Commercial Content Like big brother for hogs, NUtrack’s surveillance technology promises to help producers manage barns more efficiently from their phones. The NUtrack system uses full body recognition as facial recognition is difficult from cameras above the animals. The NUtrack system, developed by researchers at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, allows producers to … [Read more...]
AI powered app can recognize cows from 50 feet away
Commercial Content Agtech start-up 406 Bovine is working to simplify cattle identification using facial recognition technology and smartphones. The technology can be used anywhere which eliminates the short-distance restrictions of current RFID. Source: Dairy Reporter, July 22, 2024. Link. Anything that can be done with RFID tags can be done with facial recognition . . . … [Read more...]
When probiotics might help a horse
Gut health continues to be a frequent topic across all species. In this article, Christine Barakat and Melinda Freckleton, DVM, share situations where probiotics might be worth a try. Probiotics are designed to aid a horse’s digestion by restoring the balance of gut microflora disturbed as a result of illness, stress or medication.” Source: EQUUS, June 24, 2024. Link. Also … [Read more...]
New app helps pet owners book backyard space for their dogs
An new app, Sniffspot, connects pet parents with homeowners willing to rent out their private property as dog parks. The app is available nationwide, with Sniffspot reporting 20,000 listings and 100,000 guests. Prices vary depending on a yard's size, location and amenities. Designed for private play, only the people and dogs in each booking are allowed in the spot during a … [Read more...]
IBPSA Fast Bites – July 29, 2024
Niche markets in the pet industry, compliance for paying independent contractors, disaster preparedness, internet security and more . . . Source: IBPSA Fast Bites, July 29, 2024. Link. The IBPSA IBBY Committee has chosen the following finalists for this year’s Pet Care Business Excellence Awards from a record number of nominations. … [Read more...]
Trust your gut (with audio)
The connection between decision making and gut feelings has become a hot field for research, says Arthur C. Brooks. Our understanding of the mechanisms of “gut and brain" is still incomplete, but tests of the quality of decisions made from feelings as opposed to conscious analysis yield strongly suggestive and useful results. Source: The Atlantic, July 18, 2024. Link. Three … [Read more...]
Interested? Then ask.
While no one wants to be seen as rude, nosey, overbearing or insensitive, I believe the fear of asking some questions is often overblown. Source: Veterinary Advantage, August 2023. Link. How can we help others succeed if we don’t know where they want to go?” INSIGHTS: Ask “And what else?” until the answer is “nothing.” Also see: The power of questions, AHD Archives, … [Read more...]
Stop chasing vanity metrics
Our industry is full of new businesses and brands. Darian Shimy shares how some metrics are meaningful and others deflect business teams away from their purpose. His article, while focused on startups, is a good reminder to do the most meaningful things. Source: Entrepreneur, July 23, 2024. Link. . . . prioritize mission-driven growth levers over vanity metrics . . . focus … [Read more...]
Some change is necessary, some inevitable. Creating stability is critical.
Ashley Goodall explains the importance of the virtues of stability, together with an understanding of how to renew and practice creating stability, in this article. Underappreciated, constant change can become the enemy of performance, not its catalyst. “The science is clear: people do best at work when their environment is predictable, when they have some sense of control … [Read more...]
Worth a Glance – July 26, 2024
Last week’s AHD Bulletin – Animal Health Digest Bulletin, July 18, 2024. Link. Most read post(s) from July 18th AHD Bulletin – Facing declining interest in vet practice ownership. Link. Zoonotic web exposes complexity of disease transmission. Link. Biosecurity planning for secure beef supply. Link. ===================================== Managing equine … [Read more...]
VetPulse survey seeks raw diet feedback
Nine multiple-choice questions about raw diets seek to understand preferences and choices in this expanding nutritional segment. A drawing is included to encourage participation. Source: DVM 360. Link. … [Read more...]
First-Class Mail Forever stamps now 73 cents each
New postage rates went into effect on July 14th. First-Class Mail Forever stamps went from 68 cents to 73 cents. The approved adjustments raise mailing service product prices approximately 7.8 percent. There are no price changes for USPS retail or commercial prices for shipping services like Priority Mail and Ground Advantage. Source: Pitney Bowes. Link. … [Read more...]
Biting barn flies may be spreading mastitis-causing bacteria, study says
Researchers have tried to link pathogens spread by barn flies with the incidence of bovine mastitis on dairy farms, paving the way for potential disease prevention strategies. Altogether, <study> results identify biting flies as underrecognized carriers of bacterial taxa associated with environmental bovine mastitis and other opportunistic infection in vertebrates and … [Read more...]
Impact of hoof trimming on milk production
Like a house built on sand, dairy cows with hoof problems won’t stand up to the rigors of dairy life and production. Research shared in this article shows that dairy farms need to carefully consider the timing of trimming interventions to optimize production outcomes and affect cow behavior. “. . . the timing of preventive hoof trimming during lactation can significantly … [Read more...]
Cheese, butter and yogurt products fueling dairy market growth (slideshow)
Cheese, butter and yogurt are fueling dairy products category growth, along with new dairy-based products designed to capitalize on convenience, health and snacking trends. Source: Feedstuffs, July 18, 2024. Link. “U.S. consumers are drinking less milk with each year, but overall dairy sales are on a multiyear winning streak.” … [Read more...]
Is the annual pork price peak behind us?
The yearly pattern in hog prices is largely driven by the yearly pattern in pork production, writes Ron Plain. He shares an overview of hog prices on the farm, in the futures and at retail. Source: National Hog Farmer, July 22, 2024. Link. Weekly pork production is lowest in the summer and highest in the winter. “Lower costs contributed far more to profits than higher hog … [Read more...]
The cure for high prices could be high prices in beef cattle market
Market data suggests beef producers should brace for significant expansion in cow numbers in 2026. Wesley Tucker provides a historical perspective and reviews beef market and herd number projections in the coming years. Source: Missouri Ruralist, July 22, 2024. Link. … [Read more...]
One in 30 U.S. dogs test positive for Lyme
Valley Vet Supply’s Aimee Elyse Robinson reminds dog owners of the risks of Lyme disease, especially those that live and play in less manicured outdoor environments. The places dogs love to explore are the most likely environs for them to encounter ticks. These include farms, acreages and large urban green spaces. Consider this article for social media or newsletters, … [Read more...]
IBPSA Fast Bites – July 22, 2024
Improving employee exit experiences, fawn response in pets, reigniting the startup spark, Morgan Stanley predicts pet services will anchor continued spending growth, catering to traveling pets and more . . . Source: IBPSA Fast Bites, July 22, 2024. Link. NOTE: The FLOW Business conference housing deadline is August 19th. Current ticket prices are good through August 25th. … [Read more...]