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...]
Head the warning . . . AI captures ALL
A recent discussion among media writers included a warning - artificial intelligence captures everything and does not discern what is real or fake. Therefore, heed the warning before jumping on your soapbox to bloviate before double-checking facts. Source: Media group discussion, Animal Health Digest team. … [Read more...]
Yes, animal chiropractic is a thing
Commentary Having a conversation* with Dr. O (William Ormston, DVM) is mind-expanding. He is a veterinarian with a passion for exploring, learning, teaching and sharing the benefits of animal chiropractic, a branch of physical medicine. We are pleased to share this recent article. For a four-legged animal to move correctly, it requires every bone, muscle, ligament, tendon … [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...]
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...]
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...]
The Bridge Club to launch Bright Minds UK award at London Vet Show
The first Bright Minds UK award this year will be awarded at the 2023 London Vet Show. This distinguished honor recognizes the brightest minds, wellness champions and game changers in veterinary medicine, shared Catherine Haskins. In partnership with the London Vet Show, VetCT and IDEXX, the prestigious award will celebrate innovation in the field of veterinary … [Read more...]
IBPSA Fast Bites – July 31, 2023
Target, CoComelon launch pet-centered toys and videos for toddlers, Chewy’s Katy Nelson, DVM, profit tips for small business owners, business insurance basics, shifting to digital payments and more. . . Source: IBPSA Fast Bites, July 31, 2023. Link. … [Read more...]
Covetrus® expands GreatPetCare™
Complimentary Content Covetrus announced the expansion of GreatPetCare July 20th. Access to GreatPetCare is offered for free to veterinarians and their clients in the U.S. to help enable vet practices' ability to realize workflow efficiencies, improve outcomes and enhance animal owners’ experiences. . . . 64 percent of pet parents consider veterinarian-recommended … [Read more...]
Want loyal customers? Teach them something new.
Research indicates consumers are 131 percent more likely to buy from a brand after they engage with early-stage educational content. Meanwhile, 70 percent of customers in a groove study say understanding how to use products and services is important to winning their business. Customer education programs are important differentiators for nearly any business.” Source: … [Read more...]
Telehealth can benefit small private practices
Erica Jain shares reasons small medical practices can benefit from telehealth technologies. These benefits also apply to veterinary practices. Telehealth technologies level the playing field between large and small medical practices.” – Erick Jain Source: Medical Economics, July 27, 2023. Link. Jain asserts telehealth services help: Overcome staff shortages Streamline … [Read more...]
VVCA announces new platform for members
The Veterinary Virtual Care Association unveiled an upgraded membership platform on August 1. According to executive director Graysen Gilbraith Biensch, members can expect an enhanced user experience to improve access to care through education, best practices and advocacy of veterinary virtual care. Former members will need to re-register to gain access to new resources … [Read more...]
Data-driven decision making for pet care professionals
Sponsor supported content Gingr’s Alison Fisher joins Jamie Engerdahl, CPACP, to discuss using pet services data to increase customer experiences, use staff more efficiently and drive revenue. Engerdahl also shares what PACCC does for pet care professionals and their employers. Source: PACCC, YouTube, July 26,2023. Link. … [Read more...]
4 things to bring ROI to cattle operations
Animal health pros who work with or call on cattle producers benefit from understanding how producers make money. Wesley Tucker explains how to use herd income generated from drought-induced downsizing to consider making strategic investments in forages, fence or water, irrigation, feed storage and handling in lieu of paying higher taxes. Source: MissouriRuralist, July 24, … [Read more...]
Is culture always the answer when treating bite wounds in dogs?
Dogs with bite wounds from other dogs are commonly presented in companion animal practices, but use of culture and susceptibility testing and antimicrobial agents varies, writes Joshua B. Daniels, DVM, PhD, DACVM. The frequent prescribing of less than the recommended dosage observed in this study should prompt re-evaluation of dosages in clinic formularies as well as dosage … [Read more...]
7 myths of veterinary oncology
Sharing her own experiences, Sarah Beedle, BS, CVT, offers perspectives on what some clients may fear when learning their pet has cancer. Just because a pet patient is diagnosed with cancer doesn’t mean the end is here.” Source: Patterson Veterinary, July 2023. Link. … [Read more...]
IBPSA Fast Bites – July 24, 2023
Nationwide's new digital platform, Pet HealthZone©, human mental health benefits depend on balancing with the commitments to pet care, Bowie Barker opens national franchise for self-service grooming, SME research shows hiring inexperienced staff is costly to business, mental health tips for entrepreneurs and more . . . Source: IBPSA Fast Bites, July 24, 2023. Link. … [Read more...]
Customer trust in supply chains overestimated
Commentary Last week we urged veterinary clinics to consider adjusting their quantities on hand and reorder points ahead of the possibility of a UPS strike <Link>. While the strike appears to have been averted <Link>, our assertions were based on information similar to that shared in this article. Many of the Covid-19 pandemic-era supply chain challenges remain … [Read more...]
Veterinarians, nutritionists find value when working together
Swine production practices have advanced considerably in the last two decades. The historical large divide between veterinarians and nutritionists is progressively closing. AMVC swine veterinarian, Jason Hocker, and swine nutritionist, Trey Kellner, shared perspectives on finding value at the intersection of veterinary medicine and swine nutrition in pork production during the … [Read more...]
The bovine nasal fungal community and associations with bovine respiratory disease
Commentary Consider the end of a cow’s nose. Picture what it encounters throughout the day. A variety of environmental conditions exist when cows inhale dirt, pond water, silage, grasses, baled hay, another cows’ behind, cow manure, wildlife feces and so on. Effective identification and treatment of bovine respiratory disease is an ongoing health and economic issue for … [Read more...]
What dog owners are learning about acupuncture for their dogs
Non-pharmaceutical treatments continue to be grow in animal health. Laser, red light, chiropractic, massage and acupuncture are physical medicine methods being used as treatments or adjunct support for animals with injuries. In this article, five styles of acupuncture for dogs are explained. Acupuncture is used to decrease pain, promote faster healing time, increase mobility … [Read more...]
Brief Media is now VetMedux™
Brief Media has a 20-year history serving the veterinary business. Its anchor brands, Clinician’s Brief® and Plumb’s™ have consistently met the needs of veterinarians and veterinary teams. Acknowledging the changing needs of its constituency, VetMedux represents the evolution of a media company into a point-of-care partner operating alongside veterinarians to guide the most … [Read more...]
Straight talk about veterinary workforce issues
Dr. Lori Teller, AVMA president, addressed some of the major issues affecting the veterinary workforce during the AVMA convention. The article here provides a summary of her comments, including perspectives on what is termed as an abundance of misinformation currently driving conversations about veterinary supply and demand. Teller notably mentioned: Normalizing trends … [Read more...]
UPS is preparing contingencies ahead of looming strike. ARE YOU?
Commentary The impending UPS strike is a signal for veterinary hospitals to plan ahead. While we can hope the strike ends without delivery disruptions, adjusting inventory levels sooner rather than later is a solid strategy ahead of the August 1st strike date. For “A” and “B” products critical to day-to-day functions, moving reorder points to create a 30-day to 45-day … [Read more...]
Worth a Glance – July 13, 2023
Last week’s AHD Bulletin – Animal Health Digest Bulletin, July 6th, 2023. Link. Most read post(s) from July 6th AHD Bulletin – Check your assumptions at the door to avoid medical gaslighting. Link. The hard truth. Link. Bear cam livestream returns for salmon run. Link. Place keeper: 2023 Veterinary Conferences provided by Galaxy … [Read more...]