Backyard chicken raising continues to grow. Owners love these chickens, too. In fact, they may love them too much. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported last week that an emerging public health trend in the form of increased outbreaks of salmonella. Source: The Washington Post, September 14, 2016. It doesn’t help that, according to the available data, a … [Read more...]
USDA Veterinary Services needs feedback
Emerging animal diseases have the potential to negatively affect animal health, public health, and trade. Continuing work begun in 2014, this week, the Veterinary Services (VS) division at the USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service released an update titled “Emerging Animal Disease and Preparedness Plan.” The agency seeks comments on the document, which expands on the … [Read more...]
Editorial – Keep the loop(s) closed
Multiple social media sources organize content for veterinary practices. The challenge is to keep the practice team up to date on what is being posted and the possible questions that could result from it. Knowing what practices are posting can also be a big help for sales representatives as they support their clinic customers. Similar dynamics exist for reps who service retail … [Read more...]
Booster vaccinations for beef calves questioned
Proven protocols, even booster vaccinations, are under full scrutiny these days. As vaccine technology advances, the need for these vaccinations is being questioned. Most protocols developed by marketing programs and manufacturers continue to include booster vaccinations as standard practice. However, more of today’s vaccines do not offer label instructions to repeat … [Read more...]
Dr. Little’s Exponential Vet
Dr. Adam Little tracks areas where technology and animal health intersect. This issue highlights some artificial intelligence, biotech news, profiles recent investments in pet care and shares his take on the KC Corridor Animal Health Investment Forum. Source: Exponential Vet, September 12, 2016. Here are the stories Little shares: Technology As lab-grown meat and … [Read more...]
How-to videos hack the way humans learn
According to Google, YouTube searches for the phrase “how to” grew 70 percent between 2014 and 2015. In the first half of last year alone, people in North America watched more than 100 million hours of how-to videos. In a recent issue of Nautilus, writer Tom Vanderbilt explained, “We are, in effect, simulating doing the task ourselves, warming up the same neurons that will be … [Read more...]
But, I don’t want to sell
Ed Blach, DVM, MS, MBA, reminds us that veterinarians don't believe that 'sales and marketing' should enter the decision process for providing care that patients need in any way. But, if this is true, how should veterinarians communicate what they have to offer and what they recommend to their clients? Source: Is My Practice Healthy?, September 5, 2016. To help make the … [Read more...]
Tail docking on the way out
The National Milk Producers Federation has confirmed that tail docking will not be permitted under the National Dairy FARM Program (Farmers Assuring Responsible Management) as of January 1, 2017. The American Association of Bovine Practitioners has opposed the practice for 20 years and California banned it in 2009. Yet, some owners still engage in it. The Journal of Dairy … [Read more...]
Novel approaches presented at Kansas City Animal Health Corridor Investment Forum
Seventeen companies were selected from 48 applicants to present their innovations and technologies to potential investors for the 9th annual Investment Forum. It offers the only opportunity in the world for early stage companies in the animal health sector to present their vision and business plan to potential investors. Competition was stiff and diverse this year. Forum … [Read more...]
Growth, opportunity continue in KC Animal Health Corridor
More than 1,100 animal health principles, investors and industry allies attended the 11th annual 2016 KC Animal Health Corridor Homecoming Dinner. It celebrated the progress and strength of the KC Corridor’s participation in global animal health markets. Companies with strategic locations in the region now represent greater than 56 percent of total worldwide animal health, … [Read more...]
All U.S. poultry is ‘antibiotic-free’
All poultry meat that enters the U.S. food supply is, by definition, antibiotic-free or, more specifically, it is free of antibiotic residues by the time it reaches consumers — regardless of how the birds were raised. “There is absolutely no nutritional difference in meat from poultry raised without antibiotics compared to poultry that receive antibiotics,” says Mike Lacy, PhD, … [Read more...]
The latest from the American Journal of Veterinary Research
We have linked to the table of contents in the latest issue of the American Journal of Veterinary Research. Fourteen studies cover a broad spectrum of animal health research. Source: AJVR, September 2016 (Vol 77; No. 9: pp. 916-1044) (Link to table of contents and abstracts only) … [Read more...]
The latest from JAVMA
We have linked to the table of contents in the latest issue of the Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association. The article Risk reduction and management strategies to prevent transmission of infectious disease among dogs at dog shows, sporting events, and other canine group settings provides a series of 64 recommendations focused on group settings from multi-dog … [Read more...]
The social (media) sweet spot
A busy infographic from a 2015 study shows how veterinary team members use social media. 78% say they use Facebook for both personal and professional reasons. 60% believe they are using social media to educate and connect with veterinary clinics. Source: Firstline, August 2016, page 20. INSIGHTS: Information such as this is important to study and monitor. Facebook and … [Read more...]
X-rays tell the story
The headline says it all, “They ate what?” The honorable mention images from the 2016 x-ray contest give a view of the challenges created when animals ingest things not intended for their consumption. We think you’ll enjoy the cases shown and could use some of them in client education as well. Source: Veterinary Practice News, September 2016, page 30. … [Read more...]
Feeding for the perfect (cow) pie
Dan Gary, an Amarillo, Texas, ranch consultant, suggests that you can use cow-pie-ology to monitor the nutritional status of a cow herd. He relates cow pie configuration to nutrient balance. If nothing else, we believe you’ll get a chuckle out of the discussion of the perfect cow pie. Source: Beef, September 2016. 'There is no better method of determining the nutritional … [Read more...]
Avoid problems smartphones cause
Smartphone technology can create problems for users of all ages. This article references four ways they could be harming you and what to do about it. The four problems are: Text neck Bum thumb Eyestrain Distractibility Source: The Kansas City Star, August 17, 2016. We spend five hours a day on our mobile phones. 'A whopping 90 percent of us text with our necks … [Read more...]
September is Animal Pain Awareness Month
The second annual Animal Pain Awareness Month is being sponsored this month by the International Veterinary Academy of Pain Management (IVAPM). The IVAPM is a multi-disciplinary organization dedicated to promoting, enhancing, and advancing pain management in animals. Scheduled to coincide with human medicine’s Pain Awareness Month, its theme is “Because their pain is our … [Read more...]
What you’re reading on AHD
See what your colleagues are reading in the trending posts. Animal Health Digest is a free content curation service for animal health professionals. It provides a trusted, easy to read, weekly compilation of the most relevant industry topics. Instead of you getting offers from hundreds of media sources, our team reads for you to: keep you up to date save you time … [Read more...]
Selfies and other images not proof of VCPR
Videos or photos cannot be used as a way to document the VCPR needed to obtain a veterinary feed directive, according to William T. Flynn, DVM, MS, deputy director for science policy, FDA Center for Veterinary Medicine. Source: Poultry Health Today, August 31, 2016. One key element of the federal VCPR definition requires veterinarians to have sufficient knowledge of the … [Read more...]
Wilting black (wild) cherry leaves pose livestock risk
As little as 1.2 to 4.8 pounds of wilted black cherry leaves could constitute a lethal dose for a 1,200 pound dairy cow, says Rory Lewandowski, Ohio State University Extension educator. Recent storms in Michigan and across the country make this reminder valuable. Veterinary teams and retailers can offer this information in posts, websites and newsletters for customers in areas … [Read more...]
Cat nutrition is top concern of feline owners
Nutrition is the number one topic that cat owners want to talk about with their veterinarian, according to a Royal Canin survey of 1,001 cat owners. However, the survey showed that three in five cat owners do not regularly take their cats to veterinarians. Compared to dogs, cats are three times as likely to be taken to the vet only when sick. Source: Petfood Industry, August … [Read more...]
Keep pets safe during Labor Day fun
Labor Day is this weekend. It’s great to include pets in the festivities, but remember to take precautions to keep them out of harm’s way. The folks at Pet Poison Helpline offer straightforward safety tips. Source: Pet Poison Helpline. Many people will gather with friends and families and enjoy games, picnics and BBQs outdoors. As always, our furry family members are … [Read more...]
Industry, not activists should establish cage-free definition
Chad Gregory, CEO of the United Egg Producers (UEP), told a group of producers and allied industry representatives that farmers should stop reacting toward cage-free demand. Rather, they should go on the offensive and define what a cage-free system should be. UEP estimates that 190.4 million hens, or about 66 percent of the current national flock, will be required to full … [Read more...]
JAVMA contents in latest issue
The table of contents for the September issue of the Journal of the American Veterinary Association is linked below. We are pleased to see the study, Impact of a chapter book and collectible cards describing the lives of seven veterinarians on third-grade students' career aspirations and expectations. The survey measured the response of 176 third graders to career education … [Read more...]
Routine use of dry cow therapy under investigation
USDA National Animal Health Monitoring Survey data shows more than 80 percent of U.S. dairy herds managers treat 100 percent of their cows’ quarters at the end of dry off. Plus, almost all herds treat a majority of all quarters. This practice is now undergoing a reexamination of the use of antibiotics on dairies with the goal of using them responsibility and only for animals … [Read more...]
Catheters suspect in hospital-acquired infections
Hospital-acquired bloodstream infections most commonly originate from IV catheters and should be suspected in any patient with an IV catheter that develops systemic inflammatory response syndrome without an extravascular infection source. Adoption of hospital-cleaning protocols and standard operating procedures for clinical tasks enables all members of the veterinary team to … [Read more...]
Tunes for dogs
Deezer, the on-demand digital music streaming service has assembled two playlists that dogs enjoy. Deezer worked with animal behaviorist Dr. David Sands to study how dogs hear and react to different kinds of music based on beats per minute. The results are these playlists that they claim are scientifically proven to help energize or calm your pup. Source: The Bark, August … [Read more...]
Alternatives to in-house product sales
Alan Newport reviews the trend of product sales moving to sources outside of clinics. Though directed to livestock veterinary practices, the key points are valid for all practices. Source: Beef Vet, Fall 2016, page 24. Newport addresses three choices: Stop actively marketing drugs and supplies Write prescriptions to be filled from an online pharmacy Partner with … [Read more...]
Apply customer service principles to your vet business
Glenn Muske, North Dakota State University, looks at a veterinary businesses as a combination of retail store and service center. He suggests that emphasizing customer shopping assistance and customer service outside the exam room is worthwhile. Source: Beef Vet, Fall 2016, page 14. Muske tells people that helping a customer who walks in the door is tough without asking the … [Read more...]