Ann Hohenhaus, DVM, DACVIM (SAIM, Oncology), reviews recent research about vital signs and explains how pet owners can help their veterinarian obtain accurate vital sign measurements including home blood pressure, temperature and overcoming fears. Source: Schwarzman Animal Medical Center via AAHA NEWStat, August 17, 2022. Link. Tactile assessment of nose temperature is … [Read more...]
Stop the high turnover in the front office (video)
Author, speaker and advocate Amy Newfield, VTS (ECC), wants to stop the ongoing turnover of the front office heroes in veterinary practices. These positions have the highest turnover rates in hospitals. Most veterinary receptionists are treated poorly. They aren't paid well. There is limited to no career path for them. They take on the stress of clients, veterinarians and … [Read more...]
Client sticker shock (video series)
Complimentary Sponsored Content We’ve heard about sticker shock in the context of judging a client’s pocketbook for years. Recently, several sources have analyzed and shared cost of care information associated with pet ownership. The intent of these studies is to help veterinary teams understand the costs of caring for pets and to help them proactively discuss costs with pet … [Read more...]
Client trust, human-animal bond and meeting client concerns
The last article in a three-part series from Wendy Hauser, DVM, pulls together the challenges veterinary teams face when dealing with clients’ expectations and paradigms. Twenty four percent of dog owners and 35 percent of cat owners don’t seek regular health care for their pets according to the AVMA. The primary reasons were the expense and the lack of the perceived value … [Read more...]
Chats with Chatfields – Them’s the RULES! Behavior at the vet’s office.
Complimentary Sponsored Content Inspired by a TED Talk from Melanie Bowden, DVM, Drs. Jenifer and Jason discuss frustrated clients, depressed veterinarians and everything in between. They share three basic guidelines, aka rules, to help everyone on the animal care team to work together to take care of the pets we all love! Source: Chats with the Chatfields, Episode 30, … [Read more...]
Worth a Glance – August 18, 2022
Last week’s most read posts – 10 years and counting elevating care for cats. Link. Get ready! All livestock antibiotics will be prescription-only in 2023. Link. Changes coming to compounded animal health medication. Link. Last week’s AHD Bulletin - Animal Health Digest Bulletin, Thursday, August 11, 2022. Link. =================================== Dog … [Read more...]
Allen D. Leman Swine Conference slated for September 17-20.
The 2022 Leman Conference will feature sessions covering everything from foreign animal disease and biosecurity to Prop 12 and gene editing for porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome. Internationally acclaimed for bringing science-driven solutions to the complex challenges facing the industry, the event garners hundreds of participants from over 20 countries each … [Read more...]
2nd Annual IPVA Summit kicks off ahead of Fetch KC August 25th
Independent veterinarians represent a large portion of the animal health marketplace, are frequently multi-species practices and are supported by the Independent Veterinary Practitioners Association. The association has scheduled a day of learning to help independent veterinary hospital owners and managers improve efficiencies, leverage technology to their advantage and improve … [Read more...]
The Bridge Club to discuss ending the puppy mill battle
TBC live event on Zoom: August 24th, 7:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. CDT. Register here <Link>. Professionals in veterinary practices often see firsthand both inhumane and humane operations. This conversation with Mark Cushing, JD ,is about ending the puppy mill battles and why they can’t all be humane, along with what the future holds for puppy mills. Source: The Bridge … [Read more...]
National Dog Day is August 26
There is still time to promote National Dog Day. The National Today website offers fun facts about dogs and their owners. Source: National Today. Link. Scroll down to see the top 3 Dog Day survey insights. … [Read more...]
National Cat2VetDay is August 22
National Take your Cat to the Vet Day is promoted annually to help remind cat owners of the importance of veterinary care for their felines. Support the AAFP’s Cat Friendly Homes efforts by sharing #Cat2VetDay on social media, in newsletters and client communications. Also consider an interview or article with local media. Source: Cat Friendly Homes, August 11, 2022. Link. … [Read more...]
Still time to register and attend KC Animal Health Corridor Animal Health Summit
The KCAHC’s 2022 Animal Health Summit returns to a live venue August 29 through 30. The Summit offers two days of networking and one-on-one business partnering, plus presentations by industry thought leaders and panel discussions with emerging company personnel. Source: KC Animal Health Corridor. Link. Scroll down to view the full agenda. … [Read more...]
Preventing parasites from peaking this fall
Complimentary Sponsored Content Videos made by industry partners allow for a fresh approach to seemingly age-old discussions.” – Kirk Augustine Fall deworming can setup cattle for a healthier, more productive winter. Boehringer Ingelheim Cattle Health shares three tips for creating a successful, cost-effective program in an informative and easy to share You Tube … [Read more...]
U.S. hog production: Rising output and changing trends in productivity growth
Opinion Consider a quick scan of the latest hog production report from USDA’s Economic Research Service. Beyond reading the simple summary <Link>, scan the full report introduction and conclusions <Link> to better understand how this animal health segment has met challenges and continued to thrive. The report shows productivity growth and structural change, … [Read more...]
Keep horses’ feet healthy with these tips
Horse feet? Hooves to most. Regardless, the health of those four appendages makes or breaks the value and life quality of a horse. Horse and Rider shares three articles on hoof health, care and whether to shoe or not. Consider sharing these articles with horse owners on social media, in newsletters and with equine hobby groups. Sources: Why hoof cracks happen, Horse and … [Read more...]
Don’t forget to check the chip
Check the Chip Day was celebrated August 15th. By encouraging clients to have their pets microchipped, veterinary hospitals can improve the odds that a pet that goes missing while in their care will be found. . . . regularly updating contact information on the pet’s microchip is almost as important as implanting the chip itself.” Source: AAHA NEWStat, August 11, 2022. Link. … [Read more...]
Pit viper envenomation in a dog
A venomous bite is called an envenomation. Venomous snakes found in the U.S. include rattlesnakes, copperheads, cottonmouths/water moccasins and coral snakes. Each year, an estimated 7,000 to 8,000 people are bitten by venomous snakes in the U.S., and about five of those people die <Link>. According to the Morris Animal Foundation, approximately 150,000 dogs and cats in … [Read more...]
The three most common and preventable canine maladies
With simple observation and proactive management, dog owners can prevent the three conditions that most frequently compromise dogs' quality of life, writes Nancy Kerns. She says many dogs will suffer from one of these common disorders: Obesity Dental disease Over-long nails Source: Whole Dog Journal, August 9, 2022. Link. INSIGHTS: Note the cutlines under the … [Read more...]
IBPSA Fast Bites – August 15, 2022
Home Again celebrates 3 million lost pets being reunited, Hands2Paws app aims to match owners with their perfect dog breed, pet app engagement jumps 73 percent over previous year, Pets at Home sees omnichannel and subscription sales rise, Chewy expands insurance offering with launch of CarePlus and more . . . Source: IBPSA Fast Bites, August 15, 2022. Link. … [Read more...]
10 veterinary trends worthy of attention
Bob Lester, DVM, shares trends in the veterinary profession he is watching. He outlines 10 of the galvanizing issues facing veterinary medicine: The workforce shortage The rise of the connected pet Regulatory The bond Veterinary education Consolidation Work-Life Segmentation Preventive care Team health care delivery Source: Today’s Veterinary … [Read more...]
VHMA Insiders’ Insight KPI – August 2022
Noting revenue growth in July 2022 declined compared to July 2021, this month’s Insiders’ Insight addresses some key factors in veterinary practices. Revenue per client increased against dramatically declining new client numbers and increases in lapsing clients. It’s still not clear where the “veterinary economy” is going but I think it is definitely softening and practices … [Read more...]
Reasons for optimism in the animal health market
Based on recent industry figures, things are looking up for the animal health market, says Graham Garrison, who shares industry figures and estimates that bolster confidence in the pet care segment. <factors contributing to U.S. pet industry growth> include a heightened focus on pet health and wellness among pet owners in closer contact with their pets, a ramped-up … [Read more...]
Free webinar: Secrets for optimizing inventory and reducing inventory costs
Complimentary Commercial Content Inventory is one of the top expenses in veterinary medicine. Managed and replenished frequently it is an asset. Manage it poorly and it becomes a liability.” – Kirk Augustine Veterinary Care Logistics’ founder Nicole Clausen is ready to share some secrets for optimizing veterinary hospital inventory and reducing inventory costs. She’ll … [Read more...]
Best ways to help overweight dogs lose weight
Opinion The last paragraph of this article makes it shareworthy. The tips on ways to address obesity in dogs are good and worth reinforcing. There’s little doubt that a large percentage of U.S. dogs are overweight. Final words: It’s the responsibility of us to help our dogs maintain a healthy weight. It’s up to pet owners to feed nutritious and healthy foods and treats and … [Read more...]
Confronting your biases (video)
No one wants to believe they have biases, but we all do, even if we don’t realize it. Source: LinkedIn, July 18, 2022. Link. . . . learn about unconscious biases, plus how to recognize and disrupt them. INSIGHTS: Separate your biases from your helpful experiences. … [Read more...]
Tips for controlling flies in livestock herds
Includes Commercial References Flies are a problem wherever you find them. For beef producers, there are four types that impact livestock herd health and productivity: houseflies, horn flies, stable flies and face flies. These are the same flies drawn to garbage, pet feces, roadkill, compost bins, backyard chicken coops and our outdoor activities that include food. Kansas … [Read more...]
Health and comfort for the aging horse
Aging isn’t a disease process. Many conditions associated with older horses are simply natural changes. Christine Barakat writes about the five health attributes most affected by age and how to prepare for them: Weight loss Arthritis Weakened immune system Loss of fitness Dental troubles Source: EQUUS, May 27, 2022. Link. INSIGHTS: Share this with owners … [Read more...]
Seasonality and geography of diabetes mellitus in dogs
Sharing key points from a published research study involving nearly 1,000 dogs with diabetes mellitus, Vet Candy highlighted: Dogs were diagnosed with DM significantly more in the winter and northern USA compared to all other seasons and all other geographic regions, respectively. The prevalence of juvenile onset among dogs with DM was 2.8%. The proportion of dogs … [Read more...]
Understanding cats: a review
Learning why cats act as they do and how to adjust handling and management techniques can make all the difference between a positive experience and a negative one for everyone involved. We’ve come a long way since Ellen M. Carozza, LVT NOVA, wrote this article about cats in a clinical setting. She reviews body language and then provides guidance for veterinary team members in … [Read more...]
Free – Level Up: Pain Management virtual summit August 16th
Complimentary Content Veterinary professionals will have the opportunity to learn the most up-to-date and effective methods of pain management at NAVC’s Level Up: Pain Management Summit Tuesday, August 16, 2022. The summit features three, hour long sessions hosted on VetFolio at no charge. Participants will learn the most up-to-date and effective methods of pain … [Read more...]