Last week’s AHD Bulletin – Animal Health Digest Bulletin, January 15, 2026. Link. Most read posts from January 15, 2026 AHD Bulletin – Feline veterinary care at pivotal point to drive future practice growth. Link. Benefits or features? Link. Understanding pet parents’ concerns about their pets. Link. Beyond the SEO algorithms, AI is changing “search”. … [Read more...]
Beyond the SEO algorithms, AI is changing “search”
Includes Commercial Content* This isn’t just an update to an algorithm; it’s a fundamental shift in how pet owners find and choose veterinary care, writes Rachel Null. She explains the two types of pet owner search and preparing for AI citation to ensure your practice is not only visible, but actively quoted and positioned. Source: AAHA Trends, January 9, 2026. Link. The … [Read more...]
Feline veterinary care at a pivotal point to drive future practice growth, feline medicine
Findings from the CATalyst Council’s 2025 Key Feline Market Insights report point to a market at an inflection point. Shifting demographics, economics and innovation are converging to elevate feline care. The report identifies this period as one of sustained growth and rising strategic importance, even as overall U.S. veterinary visits declined. Source: businesswire, January … [Read more...]
NAVC’s 2025 VETTY Award winners
The 2025 VETTY Awards® Grand Prize winners include: BEST IN SHOW (FOR PROFIT) AWARD: “Galliprant - Playing with Fire” by Elanco Animal Health and BarkleyOKRP. Category: Campaign - B2B/Trade. BEST IN SHOW (NONPROFIT) AWARD: “KC Animal Health Corridor WORKFORCE Campaign” by Animal Health Corridor and JNA Advertising. Category: Campaign - New Product, Program or Service … [Read more...]
Mastering cat grooming
Cat grooming isn’t just about doing, it’s also about watching, listening and getting real-time feedback, says Lynn Paolillo, a master cat groomer. While teaching cat grooming to students, she shares that having another experienced cat groomer in the room doesn’t mean they are there to help you, but to increase the amount of brain power available for problem-solving. Source: … [Read more...]
Understanding pet parents’ concerns about their pets
Calling it “petuition,” December 2025 work from Talker Research has found the average pet parent worries about how happy their pets are 11 times per day, and worries about their pets’ health 10 times per day. Key findings included: Ignoring meals (35 percent) Having mobility issues (34 percent) Scratching or self-grooming more often (25 percent) The research, … [Read more...]
FIP study finds coronaviruses may hide and persist in immune cells
The prevailing belief has been that the feline infectious peritonitis virus infected just one type of immune cell. New research published in Veterinary Microbiology found FIP infects a broader range of immune cells, including those critical for fighting infection. Scientists also found evidence that the virus was actively replicating itself inside these immune cells, rather … [Read more...]
Top 10 Clinician’s Brief articles of 2025
Covering a broad range of topics, this special issue’s content is a must-review. We note articles on commonly missed drug interactions, feline atopic skin syndrome and using a continuous glucose monitor. Enjoy. Source: Clinician’s Brief, Link. … [Read more...]
New AI tool can take a cow’s temperature with only a photo
With potential to help cattlemen detect temperatures before visible signs of illness, a new tool from the Artificial Intelligence and Computer Vision Lab at the University of Arkansas uses artificial intelligence and thermal cameras to estimate the body temperature of cattle. Source: University of Arkansas, January 2, 2026. Link. The system, called CattleFever, is the first … [Read more...]
Looking ahead to CattleCon26, Nashville, February 3rd – 5th
As animal health pros wrap up VMX and head to IPPE, Nashville is prepping for cowboy hats, boots and all things beef. Check out five new things to enjoy at CattleCon26 <Link.>. AHD Sponsor Novonesis is on the program Tuesday, February 3, to discuss the “Effects of a direct-fed microbial in finishing cattle.” Experts on applied microbiome science will also be available … [Read more...]
Worth a Glance – January 15, 2026
Last week’s AHD Bulletin – Animal Health Digest Bulletin, January 8, 2026. Link. Most read posts from January 8, 2026 AHD Bulletin – Uncertainty. Link. Opportunity flows from where you focus your intentions and attention. AAHA issues NEW guidelines for treating pets with cancer. Link. ============================= More than 1,200 feral, rescue cats … [Read more...]
HBR editors share their favorite management tips of 2025
Here’s a good article for animal health pros traveling to VMX. HBR editors list 10 of their favorites from 2025’s Management Tip of the Day newsletters. They cover topics like how to manage overwhelm before it spirals into burnout, how to set up your own AI assistant, how to boil your strategy down to one slide, how to be an inspiring leader and more. Source: Harvard … [Read more...]
Opportunity flows from where you focus your intentions and attention
Commentary This new year is not a fresh start. It’s the next chapter of continually improving the health and welfare of our animals and those who care for them. For many animal health pros, the horizon may be foggy as new annual plans are implemented, territories realigned, new management introduced and teams face staffing and goal changes. As we begin this year, we can … [Read more...]
AAHA issues NEW guidelines for treating pets with cancer
Understanding the common types of cancer in dogs and cats is essential for early detection, timely diagnosis and appropriate treatment. The American Animal Hospital Association’s new 2026 AAHA Oncology Guidelines for Dogs and Cats for general practice veterinarians treating dogs and cats with cancer cover diagnosing, staging, treating and providing supportive care for pets with … [Read more...]
Avian influenza outbreaks confirmed in 5 states
Confirmed avian flu outbreaks have hit another five U.S. states, affecting more than 128,000 birds, according to APHIS. The recent outbreaks occurred at commercial poultry farms and in backyard flocks in Arkansas, Kansas, Maryland, Nebraska and New York. The virus is also suspected in the deaths of wild birds in Florida and Iowa. Source: CIDRAP, December 30, 2025. … [Read more...]
Uncertainty
From global pandemics and economic shifts to industry disruption and technological transformation, professionals across all sectors have faced waves of unpredictability. Source: LinkedIn Pulse, December 15, 2025. Link. Those who acknowledge, adapt, and evolve will move forward with clarity, connection, and courage.” – Stacy Pursell INSIGHTS: Uncertainty is uncomfortable, … [Read more...]
IBPSA Fast Bites – January 5, 2026
CONGRATULATIONS to the IBPSA professionals who earned 139 Species Care Certifications last year! These individuals represent 40 facilities/independents. 18 new members and 3 vendor partners were added in 4-Q-2025. Also, 239 IBPSA Species Certification exams were completed by learners in correctional facilities through rehabilitation and reentry programs. Don’t forget to … [Read more...]
LifeLearn’s updated 2026 Pet Owner Communications Inspiration Guide
Complimentary Commercial Content To simplify things, LifeLearn’s freshly groomed 2026 Pet Owner Communications Inspiration Guide is filled with timely, engaging and fun ideas (with examples) to use through 2026. It shares ideas each month to engage and attract clients through social media, email and other channels, making communications feel less challenging or … [Read more...]
Promoting regular vet visits for cats, even the healthy-looking ones
Commentary Few would argue this statement, “No matter their age or lifestyle, regular vet care matters and it can help cats thrive.” But getting owners of ostensibly happy cats to establish routine veterinary visits is a challenge our industry faces in 2026 and beyond. Communicating with cat owners is an important element of moving toward routine veterinary visits and … [Read more...]
Veterinarians encouraged to participate in 2025 heartworm survey
The American Heartworm Society is calling on veterinarians nationwide to participate in the 2025 AHS Heartworm Incidence Survey, now open and accepting submissions. The survey provides critical data used to track heartworm disease trends across the United States and support effective client education and prevention strategies. Source: AAHA, January 5, 2025. … [Read more...]
Potential dangers of hot shoeing
While studies on hot‑shoe smoke are scarce, farriers often report symptoms reminiscent of chronic smoke exposure, including persistent coughs, sinus irritation and breathlessness. The absence of published data on hoof‑smoke composition forces a look toward surgical‑smoke research, says Lisa Nealen. She breaks down the risks to farrier health from hot shoeing in this … [Read more...]
This blog’s for you
Commentary There are numerous factors to consider as animal health pros work to improve and grow our industry. Each week, your AHD team focuses on delivering published content that has the potential to advance and improve narratives critical to serving animal owners, their animals and the people working in our industry. Last week we shared Stephen Covey’s Circles of … [Read more...]
When your teams resist change, it’s time to “painstorm”
When teams are slow to adopt changes, instead of calling it resistance, Jeffrey Yip recommends using "painstorming" to identify the underlying emotional and structural pain points associated with change. More than another 2x2 matrix, Yip explains painstorming as a practice of identifying the emotional and structural pain points associated with change. It reframes discomfort as … [Read more...]
The Great Compression, Year 3
The “Great Compression” has entered its third year, says Ryan Leech, and this time, the spotlight isn’t on who’s buying but on who’s holding on. He shares trends, surprises, displacements and challenges perplexing investors and large hospital groups from 2025: A hangover from the acquisition era. Easy arbitrage is gone. Balance sheets are strained. Shake-ups are … [Read more...]
Music as medicine
Scientists are learning how music can do more than lift our mood — from easing anxiety to helping experimental drugs reach the brain. Source: AXIOS, December 8, 2025. Link. Music has the power to stimulate our body’s reward system, like the way that warmth, food, and social connection do. Music may relieve stress for your patients, customers, and animal healthcare … [Read more...]
Growth in kitten adoption continues: changing lifestyles reshaping demand for feline veterinary care
Kitten adoptions remain above pre-COVID levels and provide positive opportunities for veterinary practices, according to Volume IV of the CATalyst Council 2025 Feline Market Insights Report <Link>. New kittens also mean many first-time cat owners who may not understand the importance of regular visits or how veterinary teams can help make those visits as low-stress and … [Read more...]
Alternatives to antibiotics for wounds in horses
Commentary, Sponsor Content We appreciate the intriguing review of One Health, natural/herb and gut-enhancing options for equine wound care in this article. It brings to mind the vast number of wound care products that are branded, licensed and manufactured without containing antibiotics or steroids. MAXI/GUARD® Zn7® Derm, manufactured by Addison Biological Laboratory, is … [Read more...]
Early allergen introduction overrides allergy predisposition in offspring of horses with Culicoides hypersensitivity
The findings from a Cornell study of Icelandic horses support the idea that early exposure to an allergen* can prime an individual’s immune system to tolerate it and not become allergic later in life. The study results were published on October 21st in Frontiers in Immunology <Link>. Source: Paulick Report, December 11, 2025. Link. Training of the immune system to … [Read more...]
New study reveals where conservation can deliver for birds, communities and climate
A new study in Scientific Reports identifies places in the continental United States where conservation efforts would provide a triple benefit to protect bird habitat, naturally store carbon and improve the well-being of local communities that have been underrepresented in conservation efforts. A novel study, it represents an important opportunity to direct conservation toward … [Read more...]
No needles needed
Promising research at the Roslin Institute has demonstrated a needle-free, solid-dose vaccine can protect pigs against PRRS; the first time that needle-free, solid-dose vaccine technology has been shown to work in any species. Source: PORK, December 11, 2025. Link. The development of needle-free vaccination could lower the risk of spreading diseases via reused needles, … [Read more...]