Carly Fox, DVM, offers good advice on the importance of collars and collar identification. Pet parents might believe that with the prevalence of microchips, their animals don’t need a collar but animals that wear them are typically perceived as being owned. Information on the collar makes contacting the owner easier than finding someone to read a chip. Source: Inverse, via … [Read more...]
IBPSA Fast Bites – December 4, 2023
Rover purchased by Blackstone, pet brain surgery may be an area of development, mind mapping, Veterinarians without Borders expands brand to include North America, actress Linda Blair’s efforts to save dogs, customer lifecycle automation, separation anxiety in pets and people, Purina’s grants for more human-animal bond research and more . . . Source: IBPSA Fast Bites, … [Read more...]
Responding to upsetting emails
How you respond to unsettling emails speaks volumes about your maturity, emotional intelligence and business savvy, writes Elizabeth Danziger. She shares a five-step process to follow to plan a reply beginning with avoiding taking it personally and delaying an immediate response. Source: HBR Ascend, November 29, 2023. Link. INSIGHTS: Danzinger’s process would make a good … [Read more...]
Worth a Glance – November 30, 2023
Recent posts from AHD’s weekly Bulletins – Animal Health Digest Bulletin, November 2023 archives. Link. Animal Health Digest Bulletin, October 2023 archives. Link. Place keeper: 2023 Veterinary Conferences provided by Galaxy Vets. Link. ============================================ Merriam-Webster's word of the year . . . Authentic Source: BBC, November 27, … [Read more...]
KPI alphabet soup: Defining acronyms of high-performance dairies
Chad Jenkins and Mark Hodge share key performance indicators as a quick gauge and to provide clarity to a plethora of dairy data. Acronyms often add to the confusion along with some of the mathematics when talking with dairy producers. Four KPIs that have considerable impact on dairy productivity and profitability are income over feed cost, dollars per pound of dry matter, … [Read more...]
Study examines livestock trailer cleanliness
Biosecurity remains a significant challenge in livestock production. Studies have shown visual inspection may be insufficient to ensure cleanliness and reduce disease transmission risk because viruses and bacteria are microscopic. The article shares a study where bioluminescence was used to determine if adenosine triphosphate bioluminescence could be used as an indicator of … [Read more...]
Nose twitches versus ear twitches – different impacts and welfare considerations
Twitching is used to help subdue horses and avoid using drugs. Twitching the upper lip causes endorphins that kick in as soon as the twitch is activated and subside once the twitch is removed without any sedative effect. An alternative method involves twitching the ear which likely involves fear or stress compared to lip twitching. … the use of a nose twitch could be … [Read more...]
An overview of cannabis for pets
Includes Commercial Content* Ruth Fisher, PhD, covers topics that include the history of cannabis use in veterinary medicine, current laws on cannabis for pets, market size and segment, reported experiences from pet owners and veterinarians, and pet toxicology. The biggest threat cannabis poses for pets appears to be the same as that for children: unwitting consumption of … [Read more...]
IBPSA Fast Bites – November 27, 2023
The importance of updating business listings, petflation declining, a bit more on the mystery K-9 respiratory illness, groomer helps shelter dogs, small business finance tips and more. . . Source: IBPSA Fast Bites, November 27, 2023. Link. … [Read more...]
Study: More Americans seeking preventive care. Can animal health capitalize on the trend?
Commentary Animal health pros are familiar with the transitions from treatment to prevention that occurred in dentistry <Link>. Driven in part by advancements in technology, a modern general practice dentist is heavily focused on healthy oral care and preventing dental decay. A Health Affairs study indicates human patients are seeking similar care from their primary … [Read more...]
Looking back: most read posts from the November 2022 AHD Bulletins
Most read posts give us a sense of the priorities, problems and pain points animal health pros are experiencing when serving animal owners, their animals and each other. Despite what seems like a heightened sense of urgency, the most read posts from a year ago are grounding and remind us little changes. Animal health remains a repetitive business which benefits from educating … [Read more...]
The Nature Conservancy Announces 2023 Photo Contest Winners
They’re in! The Nature Conservancy announced its 2023 Photo Contest Winners. Take the time to look at a variety of photos of birds, mammals, aquatic creatures, landscapes and more. Source: The Nature Conservancy, Link. The following photos submitted to our 2030 photo contest captivated our judges the most. … [Read more...]
AAHA publishes guidelines for the management of allergic skin diseases in dogs and cats
Managing allergic skin diseases in dogs and cats can be challenging. It requires a multimodal therapeutic approach and frequent, ongoing communication with the pet’s family members and caregivers. AAHA’s first-of-a-kind guidelines offer detailed diagnosis and treatment plans to help guide veterinary teams creating better patient outcomes and client satisfaction. Treating the … [Read more...]
How 15 minutes make or break your day (podcast)
Charlie Gilkey discusses small daily habits or practices that have an outsized impact on our productivity and well-being and how to identify the 15 to 20 minutes each day that make or break how we feel and function. It is a great topic as we head into the holiday season. Source: Sparked, November 7, 2023. Link. (30:10) … [Read more...]
Time to face the music
Too much sound can be harmful to our health as we shared recently <Link>. The wrong sounds piped into the clinic’s sound system may be annoying and bad for business, writes Marc Rosenberg, VMD. He shares a realistic situation where staff and clients were negatively affected by the choice of clinic music. Source: DVM 360, November 7, 2023. Link. … [Read more...]
Worth a Glance – November 9, 2023
Last week’s AHD Bulletin – Animal Health Digest Bulletin, November 2, 2023. Link. Most read post(s) from the November 2nd AHD Bulletin – Heartworm prevention nonadherence prevalent in U.S., study finds. Link. Want to move up? Link. Roundtable discussion: The performance impacts of cow gut health. Link. Place keeper: 2023 Veterinary Conferences … [Read more...]
New beef-on-dairy resources available from Iowa Beef Center
Usurping the traditional information about feeding mostly Holstein, dairy-bred calves, a new web resource now focuses on the growing beef-on-dairy segment. It will offer producers and animal health pros current research and information about beef on dairy cross cattle. Source: BEEF, November 1, 2023. Link. Beef-on-dairy is such a new space, and we are constantly learning … [Read more...]
Intra-articular antimicrobial use might not be needed with equine joint injections
For decades, equine veterinarians have been using antimicrobials intra-articularly but this route of administration is considered off-label and there are no established appropriate dosages for practitioners to reference. Despite research showing antimicrobials do not have a significant effect on post-injection infection rates intra-articular antimicrobial therapy usage appears … [Read more...]
Polyester halters, a biosecurity hazard
A new study from Sweden shows that extra effort is required to sanitize halters and other gear made of polyester webbing. The research showed bacteria responsible for strangles were more likely to persist on polyester-webbing halters than on leather ones. The article also references the importance of disinfecting other tack and clothing items. Source: EQUUS, October 25, … [Read more...]
Better cat visits. Carriers and caregivers are the key
Almost 40 percent of cat caregivers say just thinking about taking the cat to the vet causes them stress. Sherrie Yuschak, RVT, VTS (Behavior), KPA-CTP, shares methods, tools, handouts and ways to proactively communicate with pet owners to improve individual cat visits and increase the number of cats receiving appropriate veterinary care. Source: AAHA Trends® magazine, … [Read more...]
Age-specific products for senior companion animals
Commercial Content included Animal health pros will want to understand what is being presented to pet owners and retailers to evaluate and address aging pets. Glenn Polyn shares an analysis of the most common health issues facing elderly pets and an overview of products. . . . it is not unusual for a pet retailer to take on the responsibility of offering guidance to pet … [Read more...]
USDA drops vaccine treats from the sky to control rabies in wildlife
Five or fewer people in the U.S. die from rabies each year. Not that long ago, more than 100 died annually from the disease. All mammals are susceptible to rabies. A few species, however, act as hosts that allow the virus to spread. Since 1995, the U.S. Department of Agriculture has run a successful, yearly vaccination program that keeps rabies in check in raccoons. They … [Read more...]
Noise pollution harms more than your hearing
Sound that is extremely loud or frequent can harm the human body beyond our ears, writes Jason Bittel for National Geographic. Scientists are learning more about how sound impacts human health all the time. Chronic noise stimulates stress responses that can result in cardiovascular disease or mental health issues. The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health … [Read more...]
IBPSA Fast Bites – November 6, 2023
A public link to job openings at IBPSA Member facilities <Link>, 4th quarter media bundle, dogs on holidays lists, attracting customers, raising prices while keeping customers happy and more . . . Source: IBPSA Fast Bites, November 6, 2023. Link. … [Read more...]
Something strange happens to human brains during Zoom calls
New research at Yale University reveals our brains don’t process Zoom conversations the same way as face-to-face conversations, even though you are talking to real people. Brain scans of people having face-to-face conversations revealed higher levels of synchronized neural activity, which the researchers interpret as a sign of increased mutual exchange of social cues. Zoom … [Read more...]
Tips for implementing a triage system
The old adage, “The hurrier we go, the behinder we get,” comes to mind when reviewing the triage tips shared by Virginie Wurlod, Dr. Vet. Med., DACVECC, DECVECC. Organizing the veterinary ER and shoring up procedures ensures the hospital staff is ready for any emergency. Consider using the tips here to review and update criteria, the physical area, supplies and refresh staff … [Read more...]
Worth a Glance – November 2, 2023
Last week’s AHD Bulletin – Animal Health Digest Bulletin, October 26, 2023. Link. Most read post(s) from the October 26th AHD Bulletin – The customer experience is the sales experience. Link. Body language. Link. How to know when it’s time to switch jobs. Link. Placekeeper: 2023 Veterinary Conferences provided by Galaxy … [Read more...]
Livestock-related products make life simpler (slide show)
Veterinary teams and representatives should take note of this new livestock products review. It includes everything from handling equipment to waterers and more. Farm Progress editors share new products suited to serious livestock producers in this article and slide show. Source: Farm Progress, November 1, 2023. Link. … [Read more...]
USDA strengthens animal welfare requirements for organic label
ICYMI - Livestock and poultry farmers will face new animal welfare requirements to qualify for the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s “organic” label. Once published, producers will need to be in compliance within 60 days. New standards require animals to have year-round outdoor access, and shelter must allow livestock to lie down, stand up and turn around. Producers must also … [Read more...]
Roundtable discussion: The performance impacts of cow gut health
Sponsored Content Researchers in the dairy industry participated in a roundtable discussion on the impacts of gut health on overall cow performance. Key topics included how gut dysbiosis occurs, the negative ramifications of it and how feed additives can effectively restore gut health. It was noted that modes of action for feed additives vary depending on product type, dose, … [Read more...]