According to the recent study, Efficacy of major anthelmintics for reduction of fecal shedding of strongyle-type eggs in horses in the Mid-Atlantic region of the United States published in Veterinary Parasitology odds are high that some commercially available dewormers – fenbendazole, oxibendazole, and pyrantel pamoate – showed poor efficacy on the majority of farms … [Read more...]
Social media opens doors, helps clients
Social media presents exciting opportunities for veterinary clinics to get personal and let their culture shine. Their Facebook feeds, YouTube videos, and Instagram pics are often intimate make clients feel like a member of the family. Social media opens new doors for communication – and client services – by allowing clients to ask questions, voice concerns, provide feedback … [Read more...]
New rabies regulation can save lives
This consumer information is important to veterinary teams and the company representatives who call on them. Rabies vaccinations remain critical to incidence control in all mammalian populations. Read the info, follow the links and determine hospital protocols. Once decisions are complete and vet team members on are all on board, assertively communicate your rabies protocols to … [Read more...]
Dr. Little looks at robots, genetics and Uber
Adam Little, DVM, tracks technology developments and their potential in animal health. In this issue, he looks at technology and the pet industry, genetics and provides some thoughts on Uber. Source: Exponential Vet, Issue 9, March 1, 2016. This week, we have a great overview by The Atlantic on the Future of Pets, a look at how robotics are being deployed in the home and … [Read more...]
Activate inactive clients
Learn how a free program from Partners for Health Pets (PHP) can help recover the ~50 percent of clients who become inactive in a three-year period. Source: AAHA NewStat, February 25, 2016. Partners for Healthy Pets (PHP), an alliance of 100+ veterinary associations, veterinary colleges, and animal health companies focused on preventive care led by AAHA and the American … [Read more...]
Fly resistant cattle make for good discussions
Fly resistance is a heritable trait, say researchers. It’s often overlooked. Researchers continue to identify specific genes, but in the meantime selecting for bulls and cows that carry fewer flies can work. Source: Beef Magazine, February 25, 2016. Today, cattle breeding and selection focuses on many things, but heritability of fly resistance is often overlooked. “All the … [Read more...]
What statistical significance really means
Here's an excellent layman's explanation of what it means when analysts or scientists say that something is statistically significant. This article offers detailed descriptions of the three components of significance: mean difference, variance and sample size. Source: Harvard Business Review, February 16, 2016. When you run an experiment or analyze data, you want to know if … [Read more...]
A veterinarian’s secret life
Kudos to High Plains Journal for this well-rounded, fact-filled look at what it takes to be a veterinarian. HPJ readership includes 49,000 paid and audited subscribers plus another 70,840 persons in pass-along readership. It is likely your customers will have seen this frank depiction of veterinarians. Source: High Plains Journal, February 15, 2016. Going to vet school is … [Read more...]
Cheap petroleum helps animal health
Current low gasoline prices may soon be the norm, according to investor and economist Dennis Gartman. Whether commuting to work or paying for fuel related to livestock production, lower fuel prices eases the challenges of paying for animal care. Source: Agriculture.com, February 8, 2016. Two years ago crude oil stayed consistently around $110 per barrel. Last year prices … [Read more...]
Spending on pets up in 2015
Americans spent almost $61 billion on pets in 2015 – a 4.4 percent increase from 2014. This article notes cautious optimism about the future of the pet industry and cites areas of success and others that are experiencing challenges. Source: Reuters, February 22, 2016. The amount of money being spent on pets has increased every year since 1994, according to the American Pet … [Read more...]
Swine Disease Matrix prioritizes pathogens of threat
Much is written about disaster planning. Yet, producers and veterinarians are seldom prepared for disease outbreaks or disasters. The Center for Food Security and Public Health at the College of Veterinary Medicine of Iowa State University announced a comprehensive set of tools to address this. Fact sheets offer information about each disease are ready for immediate use in the … [Read more...]
VFD – repeat after me
We at AHD believe it is important to continue to offer quality resources about the Veterinary Feed Directive (VFD). Each time people review something important, there evidence that they achieve a new level of understanding. Thus, repetition helps. VFD is important, requires mutual engagement between veterinarians and clients. It will take time to get a VFD in place with each … [Read more...]
Editorial – Things that keep vets up at night
The results of dvm360’s triennial survey are out. The survey makes clear veterinarians are concerned. They feel the same changes we feel and more. Addressing their concerns with proper action remains a strong challenge. Enterprising reps will set aside the detail book and use these survey results to have solution-centered dialogues with their accounts. “B” accounts will … [Read more...]
Second bacterium linked to Lyme disease
Researchers at the Mayo clinic have discovered a second bacterium, related to Borrelia burgdorferi that can cause Lyme disease in humans. Borrelia mayonii infections do not act quite the same as B. burgdorferi which is associated with a bulls-eye rash. Source: NPR, February 10, 2016. The new species hadn't appeared during routine tests on thousands of other samples over the … [Read more...]
Stay ahead of new tech
Adam Little, DVM, tracks technology developments and their potential in animal health. 3-D printing is on his radar. AAHA also featured 3-D in the article below. Veterinary teams and companies that serve them will want to keep track of these advancements to be ready to apply the technologies when they’re ready for daily practice situations. Source: Exponential Vet, Issue 8, … [Read more...]
Trader Joe’s going cage-free by 2015
Trader Joe's has thrown its weight behind the growing cage-free egg movement, making it one of few grocery chains to do so. Our AHD team checked egg pricing at a Kansas City grocer, then compared price increases between regular eggs and cage-free. Store brand Eggland’s Best Store brand – cage free Eggland’s Best – cage free Grade A Large Grade A Large Omega 3 … [Read more...]
Understand the milk replacer label
Learn about five areas on the milk replacer tag or label to understand milk replacer choices and their value. Adam Geiger, walks through label sections and their meaning in this article. It is a good reference for sales representatives and veterinary teams who service dairy producers. Source: Hoard’s Dairyman, January 25, 2016, page 62. (direct link unavailable) Consider … [Read more...]
Editorial – Generational overload
Media sources are full of information about boomers, gen Xers, millennials and recently the iGens, or Generation Z. Depending on which date ranges you use, I live with a boomer, a gen Xer, a millennial and an iGen. We’re all different, have different attitudes and approach communication, problem solving and planning differently. I’ve found that engaging in safe, open discussion … [Read more...]
Prevent winter colic
Colic tops the list of winter equine health challenges. Water, diet and movement are critical. Equine veterinary teams and dealers will appreciate this resource when working with horse owners. The content is also appropriate for websites, newsletters and blogs. Source: EQUUS, February 8, 2016. Cold weather may conspire against your efforts to keep water flowing to your … [Read more...]
Free winter travel app is chillin’
If you travel across wintry landscapes, this app’s for you. Learn how the Winter Survival Kit smartphone app can help during risky winter driving conditions. Source: High Plains Journal, January 9, 2016. “The Winter Survival Kit app can be as critical as a physical winter survival kit if you find yourself stuck or stranded in severe winter weather conditions,” said Mary … [Read more...]
Meat market
Review trends in meat consumption domestically and globally in this easy to understand infographic. As animal health pros, knowing the facts helps us speak to issues when challenged with anti-meat proponents. Source: Top Producer, February 2016. In the past few decades, U.S. consumers have cut back on protein and picked new favorites, but that’s only half the story. … [Read more...]
Build more profitable relationships with small customers
Pareto’s economic law or, the 80/20 rule, when applied across account analytics often places good, small customers into a “call less often” category. In essence, we call on the 20 percent of the customers whose historical contribution was 80 percent of the revenue. Source: Modern Distribution Management, February 2, 2016. Making money with smaller customers is possible, if … [Read more...]
Animal health and technology intersect
Exponential Vet is the brainchild of Adam Little, DVM. Adam met with Animal Health Digest during NAVC to discuss his approach to the curation of articles focused to explore the intersection of animal health and technology. He is passionate about technology and his profession. AHD is proud to provide our subscribers a link to his bi-weekly Exponential Vet newsletter. Source: … [Read more...]
Heartworm prevention requires compliance
While exercising today, I heard a familiar buzzing sound. It was a mosquito. In February. It’s a a stark reminder that heartworm prevention needs to be in place 12 months a year. This article and handout linked to it can help restart compliance discussions. Source: DVM 360, February 2, 2016. Whether your clients just don't realize the risk and serious implications of … [Read more...]
Use technology to manage business cards
If you return from a conference and were at least half-engaged, you brought back a stack of business cards. Follow-up is a challenge as we return to our regular jobs and catch up on work that piled up while we were gone. Alexandra Samuel shares her seven-step strategy for using social media to turn conference introductions into ongoing connections. Source: Harvard Business … [Read more...]
Young people moving away from social media
Thank you to the subscriber who sent this article. We may be seeing the next evolution in digital media. Young people were the first to use social media platforms such as Facebook and Twitter. They may now be the first to leave and move on to something new, explains Felicity Duncan, assistant professor of digital communication and social media with Cabrini College. This … [Read more...]
Heads up, sales! Change is nigh!
To be successful in the future, sales departments will have to understand that the sales process has taken a back seat to the buying process, writes Carlos Hidalgo. Sellers must understand the perspectives of leads and become subject matter experts, he adds. Finally, sales and marketing departments must understand the importance of working together to generate and define … [Read more...]
Livestock wearables now reality
The art of reading a cow is being augmented by actual measurements from wearable digital technology. Herdsmen with cellphone technology can monitor body temperatures, heat cycles, rumen conditions, GPS locations and more. Source: Modern Farmer, January 28, 2016. The market for wearable technology for animals is expected to grow from around $1 billion currently to $2.5 … [Read more...]
Help producers prep for VFD implementation
During last week’s Cattle Industry Convention and Trade Show, Kerry Keffaber, DVM, advisor for scientific affairs at Elanco Animal Health, shared four ways producers can get ready to implement the Veterinary Feed Directive (VFD). Presented to members of the Livestock Publications Council, you’ll soon see more information in livestock media. There is opportunity in each of the … [Read more...]
9 new pickups for 2016
If you are in animal health, trucks are part of discussions. Here’s a look at what’s available for 2016. Source: Beef, January 14, 2016. Today’s pickups give you jaw-dropping technology, stylish, comfortable interiors plus plenty of horsepower under the hood teamed with muscle in the powertrain to haul the livestock and get the job done. Whether it’s fixing fence, moving … [Read more...]