Complimentary Commercial Content Zoetis For Shelters is a program that connects animal shelters with animal care through savings on Zoetis’ products to help save more pets. Acknowledging the 10th anniversary of Apoquel® (oclacitinib tablet), a grant program was announced in May for shelters that met eligibility criteria, including an annual intake of at least 100 dogs and … [Read more...]
Does the world need another dental treat? The inventor of Greenies™ says, “Yes.”
Complimentary Commercial Content Why would the well-known inventor of GREENIES™ return to the treat market after selling to MARS? Curious, we asked veterinary-publishing veteran and podcast host-for-hire Brendan Howard to interview Joe Roetheli, PhD, to find out and learn about Yummy Combs® dog treats. The result is the podcast linked here. Two things are clear. Roetheli’s … [Read more...]
Share this with pet owners when asked for a pet insurance recommendation
Complimentary Commercial Content Veterinary teams often dread the question, “Which insurance do you recommend?” Pawlicy Advisor is a tool that provides accurate and transparent information about multiple pet insurance companies to help pet owners compare and choose the insurance benefits that best fit their pets specific needs and budgets best. Regardless of the insurance … [Read more...]
SUPERZOO’s new logo represents business with fun
We are delighted to unveil SUPERZOO’s new logo, which perfectly captures the vibrant spirit of the event and our dedication to continually elevate the pet retail experience.” - Mike Karsting, WPA Source: Pet Business, August 15, 2023. Link. SUPERZOO is underway August 15th through 18th at Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas. … [Read more...]
Animal rights groups bring in more than $800M annually
Nearly one-third of animal rights extremist attacks documented in 2022 targeted farmers and food workers, putting them and animals in danger, according to reports from the Animal Agriculture Alliance.* The major animal rights extremist groups like PETA are effective fundraisers and acquire millions of dollars annually to support lobbying efforts, public relations campaigns and … [Read more...]
IBPSA Fast Bites – August 14 , 2023
Animal actors idled by Hollywood strike, pet expense inflation growth, cost-cutting strategies during slow economy, overcoming small business challenges and more . . . Source: IBPSA Fast Bites, August 14, 2023. Link. … [Read more...]
Health economist; increasing number of drugs in short supply (video)
No drugs at any price? Geoffrey Joyce, PhD, believes the escalating drug shortage problem illustrates a major shortcoming of capitalism. He says the problem boils down to the nature of the pharmaceutical industry and how differently the markets for brand and generic drugs operate. Current shortages include widely known drugs such as the antibiotic amoxicillin; the heart … [Read more...]
Discourse on rewarding A performers while hoping for Bs
James Heskett lobs a topic for consideration in this article. He expresses the hypocrisies that occur when leaders hope for collaboration and teamwork for the benefit of the organization but provide incentives for individual performance. . . . we speak of the desirability of good long-term business performance, but almost all incentives, especially those imposed by markets, … [Read more...]
Highlights from the Agricultural Media Summit
The Agricultural Media Summit took place July 30th through August 2nd in Palm Springs, Calif. The nation’s largest gathering for ag media is a joint meeting of Agricultural Communicators Network, Livestock Publications Council and Ag Media Council. A few highlights from the event mirror the challenges animal health pros face. First, the panel discussion, “How Different … [Read more...]
Understanding the role of the practice manager
Carolyn Becker CVPM, SPHR, SHRM-SCP, CVT, brings her own experiences to this overview of the complexities of being a veterinary practice manager. She asserts the role of a practice manager varies wildly between hospitals, and from day to day. Plus, any task that does not clearly fall to someone else usually lands on the practice manager’s shoulders Balancing the needs of the … [Read more...]
Building rapport with questions
When the customer has answered that initial question and you have acknowledged their response, the next appropriate follow-up question is, “And what else?” Source: Vet Advantage, December 2022. Link. By asking “what else” you are demonstrating that you really do care, and the customer is more likely to reveal the real issue. INSIGHT: ALWAYS acknowledge the customer’s … [Read more...]
Yellow’s exit predicted to raise overall shipping rates
Commentary The cost of fulfillment is a considerable factor in what veterinary clinics and retailers pay at the point of sale especially when measured as a percent of net income versus gross sales. In recent weeks we have urged animal health pros to consider improving replenishment planning, adjust inventory levels and to better understand how the cost of moving products … [Read more...]
New pet food label guidelines approved by AAFCO
Under new dog and cat food label guidelines pet food will soon have nutrition labels similar to human food. The labels approved by the Association of American Feed Control Officials will list ingredients, nutrition facts, plus handling and storage instructions to improve consistency and inform consumers. Source: Pet Food Processing, July 31, 2023. Link. The association is … [Read more...]
Pet benefits a desired trend in employee retention
Nearly half of Gen Z and millennials would be more likely to stay at an employer that offered pet benefits according to a survey by Nationwide. The benefits they want include: 40 percent: Pet insurance 29 percent: Paid time off to care for a pet 27 percent: A pet-friendly office 14 percent: Leave to care for a new pet, sometimes called “paw-ternity” Source: … [Read more...]
Predatory journals: caution required, says veterinarian
Commentary Lisa A. Fortier DVM, PhD, DACVS, warns veterinary and readers about predatory journals and publishers noting hundreds of thousands of articles with questionable or nonexistent peer reviews are dumped into the scholarly market. NOTE: Knowledge is power but knowledge without action can be useless <Link>. The reality Dr. Fortier shares is a primary reason … [Read more...]
Worth a Glance – August 10, 2023
Last week’s AHD Bulletin – Animal Health Digest Bulletin, August 3, 2023. Link. Most read post(s) from August 3rd AHD Bulletin – Weight stigma infiltrates work. Link. Addressing relentless licking by dogs. Link. Covetrus® expands GreatPetCare™. Link. Place keeper: 2023 Veterinary Conferences provided by Galaxy … [Read more...]
Summer bugs cost farmers and ranchers
Bug populations reach their high points this time of year. Cassandra Olds, PhD, shares the economic costs of various pests, current control methods, pesticide resistance and reminds us that sanitation is key. Summer flies, grubs, bots, deer flies, ticks, plus mosquitoes can create all sorts of problems for livestock producers. Source: Successful Farming, July 29, 2023. … [Read more...]
Super Zoo schedule set for August 15th through 18th
North America’s largest pet retail event in Orlando, Florida, will draw as many as 20,000 attendees and more than 1,100 exhibitors. Produced by the World Pet Association, it is a comprehensive marketplace to debut products, reveal bestsellers, as well as management and e-commerce solutions for pet retailers. Source: World Pet Association. Link. Includes video (0:46) With … [Read more...]
PIDA’s board approves new strategic plan, value proposition
The Pet Industry Distributors Association has set new goals for the coming years that include retailer education and advocacy on behalf of everyone in the pet care community. The plan is to provide ways to connect manufacturers, distributors and retailers in the supply chains. Source: Pet Product News, August 2023. Link. INSIGHTS: We noted the strategy names smaller … [Read more...]
IBPSA Fast Bites – August 7, 2023
Postbiotics making inroads in pet foods and supplements, AI use by European pet techs, bonus programs for small business, approves new label regulations for pet food and more . . . Source: IBPSA Fast Bites, August 7, 2023. Link. … [Read more...]
Kudos for Texas A&M University Veterinary Emergency Team’s pop-up vet clinic results
A free pet clinic manned by a staff of about 80 was part of the annual Operation Border Health Preparedness in the Rio Grande Valley of Texas. It is a sparsely populated area and one of the more economically-distressed regions where high unemployment rates and low per capita income make the expense of pet care hard to meet. One thousand, twenty-two house pets, mostly dogs, … [Read more...]
Hauser: Client relationships with veterinary team critical to positive practice experiences
Wendy Hauser, DVM, shares the importance of client relationships with the practice team. She says effective reminder systems and efficient hospital operations aren’t enough. Clients want a practice team who treats them and their pets as individuals and works to create a partnership. Hauser’s advocacy and guidance could be represented by CVRP instead of VCPR, denoting the … [Read more...]
Viticus Group announces time-sensitive WVC Annual Conference early registration price
Complimentary Commercial Content Early registrants for the 2024 WVC Annual Conference can take advantage of a limited time $96 registration price. Registration sales open on September 6th. The 96th WVC Annual Conference will be held February 18th through February 21st, 2024 at the Mandalay Bay Convention Center in Las Vegas. Source: Viticus, WVC press release, … [Read more...]
Building trust from the start: Why first impressions matter
Commentary We’re all selling something although not all of it goes onto an invoice. Perhaps it is seeking a raise or better hours, an extra day of PTO, trading for a new car, finding qualified buyers for the last three puppies out of a litter, getting support for a service club event or helping our child sell the last two cases of cookies, we’re all selling … [Read more...]
Worth a Glance – August 3, 2023
Last week’s AHD Bulletin – Animal Health Digest Bulletin, July 27th, 2023. Link. Most read post(s) from July 20th AHD Bulletin – 6 signs YOU are the bully at work. Link. 12 plants and herbs that naturally repel mosquitoes. Link. Goal setting made easy. Link. Place keeper: 2023 Veterinary Conferences provided by Galaxy … [Read more...]
New antibiotic regulation shines a light on the need for veterinarians
It has been almost 60 days since USDA’s GFI #263 rule on over-the-counter antibiotics was implemented. The key elements are establishing a VCPR and obtaining a prescription. Courtney Love interviewed two veterinarians to see how the rules change has impacted their practices noting the need for rural veterinarians. Source: Successful Farming, July 28, 2023. Link. … [Read more...]
Livestock producers reminded to protect against anthrax
Two confirmed cases of anthrax in North Dakota are a reminder to livestock producers to take action to protect their animals from the disease, especially in areas with a history of the disease. Effective anthrax vaccines are readily available, but it takes about a week for immunity to be established and must be administered annually for continued protection. Source: BEEF, … [Read more...]
Equine network debuts brand for new horse owners
The Equine Network announced My New Horse for equestrians just getting into horse ownership or riding. Partners Kent (aka Kent Feeds) and W.F. Young assert the brand will deliver a community and resources to new horse persons at the beginning stages of ownership. The website will feature content created by industry experts, Kent nutritionists and editors of respected … [Read more...]
Livestock guard dogs growing in popularity
Livestock guard dogs are an increasingly popular tool in livestock management, writes Terri Queck-Matzie. Most weigh more than 100 pounds and are bred to live outside with livestock and not as a pet for people’s homes. Anatolian shepherds, Akbash, Great Pyrenees, Kuvasz, and Central Asian shepherds are breeds recognized by the AKC. Source: Successful Farming, July 11, 2023. … [Read more...]
Essential oils generally not safe for cats
There is a common misconception essential oils must be safe because they come from plants. Rather, many of them are toxic, writes Barri J. Morrison, DVM. For cats, essential oils are not safe and can quickly cause toxicity. They are rapidly absorbed by mouth and through the skin, where they accumulate in the liver. Cats do not have the liver enzymes needed to break down the … [Read more...]