Dairy veterinarians are often asked about cost reductions. Certainly, fuel prices now add more cost to equipment and cost of goods requiring transportation. Making small financial changes can certainly add up to big savings. The author shares where to focus to help shave some costs while maintaining production levels and producing high-quality milk. Source: The Bullvine, … [Read more...]
Before they buy that farm store goat
Local farm stores have added goats to the chicks and ducklings they sell this time of year. As cute as they are, there are important considerations before taking a goat home. The articles here speak to diligence, veterinary involvement and legal considerations for potential goat owners. Sources: What to Know Before You Buy a Goat, Backyard Goats. June 23, 2020. Link. … [Read more...]
Parasite control for mares and foals
Complimentary Sponsored Content Merck Animal Health’s Wendy Vaala, VMD, DACVIM, shares the importance of life-stage parasite control protocols for horses as well as two key takeaways: Avoid any unnecessary drug administration, including dewormers, during the first 60 days of pregnancy Although any worm can affect a foal, the most significant parasites are ascarids … [Read more...]
Texas A&M lab: Pets have been getting Covid-19, too
Research on 600 animals from homes where a person had Covid-19 shows about a quarter of the pets sampled since June 2020 tested positive for SARS-CoV-2. One quarter of those infected pets were symptomatic with what is described as a very mild illness that resolved without veterinary interventions. Gaining support from the CDC, the lab’s SARS-CoV-2 surveillance will continue, … [Read more...]
Chatfield’s chat about blood transfusions in dogs, cats
Complimentary Sponsored Content The Chatfields welcome Richard Stone DVM, DACVIM (SAIM), to the chat room. The Chatfields and Stone discuss blood transfusions, client reactions, risks and where the blood comes from. Stone and Dr. Jason were classmates at Texas A&M University. Source: Chats with the Chatfields, You Tube, February 27, 2022. Link. 56 … [Read more...]
IBPSA Fast Bites – March 21, 2022
Packaging recycling, sustainability and innovation plus feline health care and canine depression are key topics in this edition. Source: IBPSA Fast Bites, March 21, 2022. Link. IBPSA offers business resources, staff education, and legislative support. IBPSA Members include the owners and employees of pet boarding and daycare facilities, groomers, dog walkers, pet … [Read more...]
Amazon privacy settings you should enable
Many of us are not aware of our Amazon privacy settings. We could be sharing too much information with the company. Settings can be changed at any time. Charles Slocs shares the importance of privacy settings, browser history and more . . . Amazon has made it very easy for its users to view and change all of their privacy settings.” Source: Tech Source Online, December 5, … [Read more...]
How craving attention makes you less creative
This TED talk is good for introspection and consideration. Trying to gain followers and likes only to be left feeling inadequate and less creative can be addictive. In his candid TED talk, Joseph Gordon-Levitt explores how the attention-driven model of big tech companies affects our creativity. . . . <there is> a more powerful feeling than getting attention. . . it’s … [Read more...]
Ambulatory assistants add value for farm-call DVMs
Twenty-plus years ago, an equine veterinarian shared his troubles with keeping inventory, invoices, medical records and follow-ups current. The discussion led me to suggest he consider hiring a person to be his shadow. A few months later, he called to say thank you. He said the assistant had captured more than double the wages in lost charges alone in the first 90 days. Amy … [Read more...]
Prepare clients to be financially prepared from the start
Getting a pet has financial consequences that often surprise pet owners. Boo Larsen shares data from the recent Synchrony Lifetime of Care study along with three ways to help prepare clients for the cost of care: Prepare new pet owners for costs they may not anticipate. Recognize that an invoice of $250 or less may cause anxiety. Be upfront and open about the … [Read more...]
Galaxy Vets announce 24-hour work week, same as full-time
Galaxy Vets is introducing a 24-hour workweek. All employees, as well as the relief workforce, who commit to at least 24 hours over seven days in any of Galaxy Vets’ general practice, ER or telemedicine settings are eligible to receive a full benefits package and equity. We are taking this step because we want our people to be able to afford a better work-life balance and … [Read more...]
Help your employees be ambassadors
Many leaders and companies are facing consequences of the great resignation. New ways of hiring and retaining employees are being developed, tested and implemented. But are we engaging the old and new team members as ambassadors for our business? It is a good question for animal health pros at all levels. Think about it! “Engaging your employees as ambassadors goes beyond … [Read more...]
It’s National Pet Poison Prevention Week
In 2021, the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center saw a 22 percent increase in call volume. It’s team analyzed more than 400,000 cases they received. They’re now sharing the top 10 toxin groupings. It is also organized in an informative infographic suitable for social media, newsletters, bulletin boards and exam room posting. Download and share the Top 10 Pet Toxins of 2021 with … [Read more...]
Future bound: Dr. Eleanor Green
Complimentary Sponsored Content Mike McFarland, DVM, shares a discussion with industry icon, Eleanor Green, DVM, about her career path, women in veterinary medicine, becoming the first female dean of Texas A&M College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, her passion for horses and more. I don’t think it’s a women’s profession or a man’s profession . . .”- … [Read more...]
Worth a Glance – March 17, 2022
Last week’s most read post Gen Z wants this more than flexibility at work. Link. Last week’s AHD Bulletin Animal Health Digest Bulletin, Thursday, March 10, 2022. Link. =================================== Delta variant of COVID-19 found in cat Source: My Vet Candy, March 11, 2022. Link. This apparent interspecies transmission is the first published example … [Read more...]
Benefits and challenges with multi-species grazing
Land use and stewardship are two of the hot topics producers and landowners face. Adaptive grazing with more than one species of livestock can multiply regenerative benefits, shape landscape, and add income to operations. Source: Noble Research Institute. Link. Adaptive grazing uses higher livestock densities for short durations between long periods of rest to allow complete … [Read more...]
Scheduling castration for bull calves
For bull calves, there’s no good time for castration. In today’s market however, producers use castration as a key component to any preconditioning program. Neutering can greatly influence market price premiums or discounts. Despite common perceptions, numerous studies have shown weaning weights are similar for bulls and steers. 62 percent of commercial cow-calf herds used … [Read more...]
The bottle beats the bucket for winter watering
Simply feeding milk or milk replacer isn’t enough in developing calves. Their rumens need a separate source of pure water to feed the fermentation process that promotes rumen development. Research in a 5-week comparison period found calves getting water by a bottle consumed an average of 1.4 quarts of water per day, compared to 0.2 quarts for the bucket group. Source: Dairy … [Read more...]
Preconditioning starts when the calf hits the ground
Opinion Stocker operators and feedlots want matched sets of calves that are weaned, castrated, dehorned, familiar with water and feed sources and immunocompetent. Calves born now will be weaned in seven months, but could be weaned much earlier <Link>. Therefore, the colostrum intake first 48 hours after calving could be considered the first step to having … [Read more...]
Gene-edited beef cattle get regulatory clearance in U.S.
The cattle cleared by the FDA have genes altered with CRISPR technology giving them short, slick coats that let them more easily withstand hot weather. Cattle that aren’t stressed by heat might pack on weight more easily, making for more efficient meat production.” Source: ABC, March 7, 2022. Link. U.S. food regulators said short-haired cattle produced through gene editing … [Read more...]
Coccidia in dogs and cats
Coccidia are a major issue for puppies and kittens under eight weeks old and can even kill them. After the first exposure, Coccidia parasites may remain present in the animal's intestines, and they're just waiting to take advantage of any digestive upset, writes Marty Greer, DVM. The bacteria is rarely the initial cause of the diarrhea, but once diarrhea starts, the Coccidia … [Read more...]
How pets are helping Ukrainians cope with war
As Jake fled his hometown of Kharkiv, Ukraine, he took his two most prized possessions: his Nintendo Switch and Puzo, his pet pug. Score of other displaced Ukrainians have refused to leave their animals behind for good reason. Pets can provide companionship, help reduce feelings of loneliness and boost feel-good hormones, such as oxytocin, according to Laure Powell, … [Read more...]
Cruelty-free pet brands growing
More brands are coming to market that are certified as cruelty-free, making them an option garnering attention from animal owners. Source: Happy Puppy Tips. Link. When it comes to understanding what exactly qualifies a brand as “cruelty-free,” consumers are often left to fill in the gaps . . . . . . there is no “official” or government-sanctioned cruelty-free label” … [Read more...]
IBPSA Fast Bites – March 14, 2022
Pet industry mergers and acquisitions continue, uncommon digital marketing tactics, onboarding new staff, veterinary telehealth and more . . . Source: IBPSA Fast Bites, March 14, 2022. Link. Against the backdrop of the U.S. pet industry’s mostly pandemic-defiant performance, for those ready to sell, buy or expand . . . there may be no time like the present.” – Pet Product … [Read more...]
Upon further review
Online reviews for consumer-driven businesses increased in importance during the recent pandemic. Whether they are good, bad or indifferent, how you respond can affect the success of your business. Consider these suggestions. Source: Vet-Advantage, February 2022. Link. It is important here to remember that the negative review is not going away, and the real objective is to … [Read more...]
Veterinarians’ prognosis as pet food sellers uncertain
Citing data from MRI-Simmons market research, David Sprinkle shares the veterinary hospital segment sales of pet diets has slipped from 9 percent in 2016 to 7 percent of dog/cat owners in 2021. He shares the dynamics of online and direct-to-consumer sales and the analysis of still strong veterinary influence in diet decisions. Source: Petfood Industry, March 2022, page … [Read more...]
Beat the talent shortage
Too many job openings are chasing too few candidates. Employers must create a seamless recruitment experience to attract talent in a competitive environment, writes Pooja Maggon. In an increasingly competitive talent marketplace, recruiting needs to be faster, not slower. The longer jobs go unfilled, the more recruiting costs pile up. Plus, there’s the cost of lost … [Read more...]
Petco’s healthy strategy is paying off
Petco has expanded Vital Care wellness rewards program to include new services and added cats. References to growth from its customer experience and retention strategies makes this article informative reading for animal health pros. Vital Care members typically spend three times more with Petco than non-members” - Ron Coughlin, CEO Source: Forbes, March 8, 2022. Link. Seven … [Read more...]
Worth a Glance – March 10, 2022
Last week’s most read post Too many pets kept alive when it’s not the kindest option, say vets. Link. Last week’s AHD Bulletin Animal Health Digest Bulletin, Thursday, March 3, 2022. Link. =================================== Let’s cancel the online review culture Source: Today’s Veterinary Practice, February 11, 2022. Link. Dana Varble DVM, CAE, … [Read more...]
Fact sheet examines compounds to mitigate virus-contaminated feed
There’s no doubt we are more aware of biosecurity these days. One area of concern for livestock producers is whether feed and feed ingredients may also be routes of virus transmission and how to manage those risks. A new fact sheet from Iowa Pork Industry Center focuses on three research papers that evaluated compounds to mitigate virus-contaminated feed. Swine specialist … [Read more...]