Reports from the Iowa, Minnesota and Missouri State Fairs indicate the popularity of goats is not diminishing. While popular as 4-H and FFA projects, goats are the fastest-growing animal agriculture enterprise in the U.S. <Link>. Commonly referred to as chevon or mutton, the high demand for goat meat is frequently linked to ethnic buyer demand on special occasions and … [Read more...]
Preventing gastric ulcers after colic surgery
Stress can predispose a horse to develop gastric ulcers, and surgery is definitely stressful for any animal says Janice L. Holland, PhD. She shares diet and management recommendations can help reduce the incidence of gastric ulcers which also may decrease the incidence of colic. Source: The Horse, August 21, 2023. Link. Recovery from colic surgery is difficult enough … [Read more...]
How much should a dog drink?
Healthy dogs need to drink about an ounce per pound of their body weight daily, but many factors can affect their consumption, writes Eileen Fatcheric, DVM. Regardless, the chart shown here is a good resource to share with dog owners on social media, in newsletters or with local reporters, especially during hot periods. It’s also helpful for owners when their dogs’ diets are … [Read more...]
Education affects acceptance of insects in pet food
Humans may be more willing to accept insects in their pets’ food than their own. Introducing insect-based pet foods relies on the education of pet owners about the sustainability and healthiness of insect-based pet food ingredients. Tim Wall shares results from a study showing pet owners identified capsule, powder/flour and sachet/snack as their most preferred methods to … [Read more...]
Veterinarians reach for software to build practices and expand their customer base
Complimentary Commercial Content Stretched to their limits, rural veterinarians are seeking better ways to serve their clients and build their practices. Growing herd sizes and geographic distances are opportunities for those practitioners who understand the value of supporting producers remotely instead of running the proverbial fire truck practice. Waylon Wise, BSc, Ag, … [Read more...]
Practice Camp event offered free online
Complimentary Invitation “If you think you don't have time, then you likely NEED to make the time more than anyone else,” shares Amy Hayek, DVM, CAC, CVA, in her invitation for veterinarians to invest three hours in a virtual practice camp. Practice Camp is hosted by Animal Chiropractic Education Source and is dedicated to help empower veterinary professionals overcome the … [Read more...]
What pet food manufacturing contributes to the U.S. economy
The direct contributions made by pet food manufacturers to the U.S. economy include nearly $11 billion in added value, including $2.9 billion in labor income representing 32,938 jobs. That’s almost $35 billion in sales according to research detailed in the American Feed Industry Association’s April 2023 report <Link>. Source: PETFOOD Industry, August 15, 2023. … [Read more...]
Dog brains are tuned to dog-directed speech spoken by women (video)
Dogs show greater brain sensitivity to the speech directed at them than to adult-directed speech, especially if spoken by women, according to a new study in Communications Biology. The study shows that dog auditory brain regions responded more to dog- and infant-directed than to adult-directed speech, which is the first neural evidence that dog brains are tuned to the speech … [Read more...]
Prevent the spread of disease in the grooming salon
In addition to the pets, groomers and their staffs also have high exposure to many of the same diseases and infections veterinary teams encounter. For that matter, some of the risks are inherent in pet sitting and boarding businesses, too. Cliff Favor, DVM, shares ways to manage the risks of zoonotic infections. He says the most significant risks come from the bacteria and … [Read more...]
IBPSA Fast Bites – August 28, 2023
Poop scooping as a money maker, rescue organizations saving pets from wildfires, the dogs of Chernobyl, speeding up payment processes, managing social media and more . . . Source: IBPSA Fast Bites, August 28, 2023. Link. FLOW business conference early registration rates and conference group hotel block access ends September 1st. … [Read more...]
Empathy – the secret sauce
Empathy is one of the building blocks of healthy business relationships. Source: headspace, July 2023. Link. Being able to recognize and relate to the feelings of others does not come in degrees. Like any skill, it is there, or not. INSIGHT: The ability to suspend your own point of view for the moment is confidence. Also see: Search results for: Empathy, AHD. Link. … [Read more...]
Bored and brilliant. The lost art of spacing out.
Commentary Even before the pandemic attention deficits, Manoush Zomorodi was challenging us for being distracted by our phones. Her TED talk is worth 16 minutes of an animal health pro’s time. She has included the knowledge, voices and stories from various professionals. Consider watching the video with team … [Read more...]
KCAHC Summit emerging companies, 2023 Innovation Award recipient
Akston Biosciences, which specializes in bringing protein therapeutics through major phases of development, was selected as the 2023 Innovation Award recipient. Animal health pros who are curious about future services and advancements will find plenty to consider from the 13 companies selected to present and seek investments during the Summit. Coaches from KCAHC companies … [Read more...]
Fabian Kausche, M.S., Dr.med.vet. awarded the 2023 KCAHC Iron Paw Award
The Iron Paw award is given to an individual from research, academia, industry or government regardless of title or years of service who has provided a significant impact on or contribution to the global animal health industry. Dr. Fabian Kausche is no exception although many animal health pros may not be aware of how his leadership has driven culture, diversity, inclusion and … [Read more...]
KCAHC Summit 2023 key takeaways
In the press release linked here, the KC Corridor’s supporting team provides a summary of the #AHSummit23 including the emerging companies presentation results, the Iron Paw award, as well as key takeaways from the Insights from Top Leaders panel. The vision to develop industry potential was unscored by a focus on the health and welfare of our industry’s people. Animal health … [Read more...]
Everything’s up to date in Kansas City!
Commentary A line in the 1955 lyrics from Rodgers’ and Hammerstein’s stage show Oklahoma says, “They’ve gone about as fer as they c’n go!” They were wrong. Each year, a few more animal health pros are missing from the original group of about 100 of us that met in 2003 in a fall gathering sponsored by the Kansas City Area Development Council. From those SmartCities … [Read more...]
4 health issues for calves on pasture
Includes Complimentary Commercial Content Norbrook’s Eric Moore, DVM, shares four calf health problems for calves on pasture. His proactive assertions about preventing pinkeye, parasites, scours, and pneumonia are as applicable now as they were in the spring. Source: Successful Farming, December 28, 2022. Link. INSIGHTS: Producers in drought-affected areas are likely … [Read more...]
An integrated approach to older cat care
Includes added content referencing animal chiropractic Relating aging care approaches for humans to aging cats, Narda Robinson, DO, DVM, MS, FAAMA, shares why integrative geriatrics using patient-centered, primarily non-pharmacological approaches makes sense for felines in their twilight years. The practice of integrative geriatrics is rooted in lifestyle interventions, … [Read more...]
Pheromone diffusers can help calm cats
Pheromone diffusers can be helpful for pet owners, veterinary teams and pet services personnel to help calm cats of all ages in various scenarios. While not an end-all-be-all, pheromones can be used to help ease aggression and social tension. Pheromones are not a substitute for providing a safe, secure, and enriched environment for cats. Especially in multicat households, … [Read more...]
IBPSA Fast Bites – August 21, 2023
Report on pet insurance inflation/overall value* via NBC News video (4:33), pet prenups, creating marketing videos, little known small business tax incentives/credits and more . . . Note: 2023 Flow Business Conference registration pricing increases September 1st and the conference hotel block closes on the same day. Register here <Link>. Source: IBPSA Fast Bites, … [Read more...]
Customer experience thoughts for managers
Managing and coaching a group of people hasn’t really changed over the years. Today, however, customer experience is at the forefront of every interaction and transaction. Source: Repertoire, October 2023. Link. You just have to find out what is important to that customer and how your product/service meets that need.” – Patrick T. Malone INSIGHTS: Malone shares the best … [Read more...]
Considerations for fresh pet food diets
Pet food choices are not simple anymore. Variations include kibble size, shape, nutrition sources, canned diets and, more recently, fresh options all making calorie control a challenge for pet owners and veterinarians. Cailin Heinze, VMD, MS, DACVIM (Nutrition), shares her perspectives on some of the terms, delivery methods, marketing efforts and more in this opinion … [Read more...]
Fireside Chat with AVMA CEO Dr. Janet Donlin (video)
ICYMI. Discussing the next 40 years of veterinary medicine, Janet Donlin, DVM, and Sean Callanan, MVB, MRCVS, CertVR, Ph.D., DipECVP, FRCPath, cover wide-ranging opportunities for those entering the veterinary profession. Source: Adtalem Global Education, July 5, 2023. Link. (9:27) … [Read more...]
AAHA expanding certification standards in Asia
The American Animal Hospital Association announces the international extension of the AAHA Standards and Guidelines with new partnerships in Asia. AAHA and the Korean Veterinary Medical Association jointly announced a licensing agreement to accredit veterinary clinics throughout South Korea. AAHA also welcomed five institutions in Japan that were recently accredited after … [Read more...]
Ways to increase productivity and provide more pet care
We shared this first-of-its-kind empirical study from IDEXX in February <Link>. It delved into how veterinary teams can keep up with the escalating demand for care and grounds anecdotal evidence in data to provide steps to help veterinary practices address capacity constraints. The Practice Productivity Index reveals that clinics can save nearly 1,700 to 2,000 hours a … [Read more...]
The inside-out approach to customer centricity
Being customer-centric sounds easy but it is tough to execute well. These authors share five customer centricity models indicating there is more than one way to be customer-centric. The article is good perspective as strategies are modeled for 2024 and beyond. You can’t transform your customers’ experiences unless you align the organizational culture—especially the day-to-day … [Read more...]
Worth a Glance – August 16, 2023
Last week’s AHD Bulletin – Animal Health Digest Bulletin, August 10, 2023. Link. Most read post(s) from August 3rd AHD Bulletin – Hauser: Client relationships with veterinary team critical to positive practice experiences. Link. Less is more – Patrick Malone. Link. Work-life balance is the wrong goal. Link. Place keeper: 2023 Veterinary Conferences … [Read more...]
Foreign animal disease outbreaks on minds of producers
More than 65 percent of persons interested in swine health and production are concerned about foreign animal disease getting into the U.S. hog population based on this snapshot of a National Hog Farmer reader poll. Qualitative measurements help animal health pros identify opportunities to support producers’ prevention efforts to keep animals and the food chain safe. Source: … [Read more...]
Marketing cull cows
Cull weight and cull cow price are significant elements of profitability for cow-calf producers. Other factors amount to decisions, decisions, decisions. Do we: Buy hay? Pray for rains so pastures hold out? Sell cull cows early? Find an alternative feed source? The cull cow market is variable from one year to the next, and producers need to be flexible and innovative.” - David … [Read more...]
Insect control strategies for horse owners
Includes Commercial Content Owning and keeping horses healthy requires a significant commitment beyond time to train and ride. Alayne Blickle shares the importance of an integrated, multitiered insect control plan to combat flies, mosquitoes, midges and other insects that create nuisance and health issues for horses and their owners. Source: The Horse. Link. A successful … [Read more...]