Small Business Saturday tips, pet industry growth projected to continue, outside investors wild about online pet industry opportunities, CBD more mainstream, pet owners seeking healthy pet food attributes and more. Achieving certified pet care status has become increasingly important and acts as a differentiator for pet care community businesses and for advancing the skills … [Read more...]
Best practices for legal and ethical issues with delivering virtual care
The Veterinary Virtual Care Association provides a free resource for veterinary practices considering or implementing virtual care and navigating legal and ethical considerations. The free resource covers topics like: VCPRs Licensing Medical Record Keeping Malpractice Insurance Client Communication Prescribing Source: VVCA, June 2020. … [Read more...]
60 percent more milk from 30 percent fewer cows
Karen Bohnert shares some of the drivers changing the future of U.S. dairy including areas where cows will be milked in the future. Source: Dairy Herd Management, August 31, 2021. Link. Sponsored Content Our industry’s researchers have investigated all aspects of individual cow health during, ahead of and at the end of milk production. Early detection of infection at … [Read more...]
Dogfight over pet prescriptions AND a Bridge Club discussion
OPINION Market share is determined by where and WHY customers spend their dollars. Chewy’s investment into telemedicine and compounding is yet another event in the ethical versus OTC dynamics of the animal health supply business. An extension of the historic catalog business, online pet supply options increase convenience, avoid visits to the veterinary clinic and are … [Read more...]
New business formed to help independent veterinary practices
Complimentary Commercial Content A team of industry veterans began working as Veterinary Practice Performance with independent veterinary practices in August. Led by founder and president Rob Conn, people, resources and services have been assembled specifically for independent veterinary practices. A proprietary AI inventory system is among the services available. Conn … [Read more...]
Loyalty programs: 8 levers to turn customers into fans
Loyalty programs are an often-overlooked area for performance improvement that can help offset the ongoing willingness among consumers to try new brands and retailers, writes José Carluccio. He shares three key takeaways along with eight drivers of loyalty program value. Source: McKinsey and Company, October 12, 2021. Link. Key takeaways: More than three-quarters of … [Read more...]
Fast Bites – October 18th edition from IBPSA
2021 holiday shopping season trends, biggest dog companies and their popular brands, retailer Pets at Home adds video interaction with store experts, grain-free food trends, the IBPSA Rebate Program launches and more. Source: IBPSA Fast Bites, October 18, 2021. Link. … [Read more...]
Hannah Lau, DVM next on VVCA Lunch and Learn
Complimentary The VVCA Lunch and Learn series continues Wednesday, October 27 at 12:30 p.m. EDT. Hannah Lau, DVM, will share telehealth cases from her practice. She has been practicing veterinary telemedicine and telehealth fulltime since 2019, along with a small team of remote veterinary technicians and assistants. Although living in southwest Virginia, Lau practices … [Read more...]
New resources to discuss the cost of care from ASPCA® Pet Health Insurance now available
Sponsored Content Discussions with clients about the cost of veterinary care are often avoided until services are needed. This is a missed opportunity to help pet owners understand and prepare for their pets’ future health care needs, and how to pay for them. The ASPCA® Pet Health Insurance’s “Cost of Care Wheel” tool makes it quick and easy to have these conversations … [Read more...]
October is Cybersecurity Awareness Month
Halloween goblins are nothing compared to the scare a security breach can bring. October is Cybersecurity Awareness Month and from ransomware to email hacks to scams, the risks are real. The cybersecurity pros at the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency and National Cyber Security Alliance have assembled resources anyone can use including social media posts, … [Read more...]
Worth a Glance – October 7, 2021
Last week’s. . . . . . most read post Highlights from the 31st Carthage Swine Conference. Link. . . . AHD Bulletin Animal Health Digest Bulletin - Sept 30, 2021. Link. Goodbye Google: 7 privacy-first search engines everyone should try Source: Fast Company, September 29, 2021. Link. Jared Newman offers search engine options that remove the … [Read more...]
LED technology helps locate cows needing attention
Complimentary Commercial Content Allflex Livestock Intelligence, a livestock portfolio of digital products within Merck Animal Health, introduced new ear tag technology featuring a light-emitting diode last week. The AllFlex V2 monitoring ear tag allows for precision cow management in the pen. Different LED light patterns indicate individual cow needs based on critical data … [Read more...]
Stalkerware apps are stealing personal data from smartphones, maybe yours
Stalkerware is the term for rapidly expanding group of smartphone apps that may look like useful calculator or calendar apps. Instead, they record every keystroke users make and gather personal data, including location, passwords and photos. They lurk in the Apple App store and Google Play. Source: New York Times, September 29, 2021. Link. It’s extremely invasive, it’s a … [Read more...]
Worth a Glance – September 30, 2021
Last week’s. . . . . . most read post More effective communications. Link. . . . AHD Bulletin Animal Health Digest Bulletin, Sept 23, 2021. Link. But for a genetic parasite, humans might have tails Source: New Scientist, September 24, 2021. Link. Bo Xia’s tail bone injury led to a genetic investigation of why apes, and therefore humans, do not … [Read more...]
Worth a Glance – September 23, 2021
Last week’s. . . . . . most read post Survey: Workers ages 18 to 44 want payday more flexible. Link. . . . AHD Bulletin Animal Health Digest Bulletin - Sept 16, 2021. Link. Forget a pre-flight drink. Pet an airport therapy dog. Source: Washington Post, September 17, 2021. Link. Sure, you could drown your travel anxieties at the airport bar or … [Read more...]
11 million-plus animals may be affected by ransomware attack
NEW Cooperative in Fort Dodge, Iowa, was recently hit with a ransomware attack that forced the farm and feed supply operation to take systems offline. Blackmatter, the group allegedly behind the attack, is demanding $5.9 million to provide a decryptor. NEW Cooperative claims its software powers grain production and feed schedules for 11 million animals. Source: ars TECHNICA, … [Read more...]
First Telehealth Awareness Week happening NOW
The American Telemedicine Association is bringing together leaders in telehealth service delivery, hospital systems and medical practices, technology solution providers, patient advocacy organizations, policymakers and other stakeholders during the first-annual Telehealth Awareness Week™, September 19-25, 2021. Virtual care is moving & shaking! Kudos to the ATA for making … [Read more...]
Dangling a dozen endangered rhinos upside down, researchers earn Ig Nobel (video)
Researchers from Cornell University and Namibia's Ministry of Environment wanted to find out how rhinos fare upside down. Apparently, no one had ever checked to see if the health of a tranquilized rhino was compromised when being airlifted upside down. As it turns out, the rhinos cope very well and better in this unusual position than simply lying on their side or … [Read more...]
Where is retail headed?
Back to normal? NOT! Retail will continue changing. From customer preferences and expectations to the payment ecosystem to last-mile delivery, the retail industry showed it can evolve and adapt during 2020 disruptions. Now the National Retail Federation focuses on how retailers are improving the customer experience, preparing for the consumer of the future, the future of the … [Read more...]
Veterinary pros cannot rely on diagnostic tests alone
A new commentary paper warns veterinary clinicians and researchers that a diagnosis cannot rely on tests alone. The JAVMA article discusses the process of diagnostic test validation and the use of molecular diagnostic tests in clinical and regulatory veterinary medicine. Decisions should not be made solely on the basis of diagnostic test results, especially in the absence of … [Read more...]
Pros and cons of 3 key pricing strategies
There are three key strategies to pricing anything, writes Michael Stanisz. All three apply to B2B, B2C, a product or a service: Cost-based or cost-plus pricing. Note, this includes margin and markup methods. Market-based pricing. Note, minimum MSRP guidance plays a role here. Value-based pricing. Pricing challenges are frequently discussed when animal health pros … [Read more...]
GlobalVetLink introduces the Pet TravelPass™ for international pet travel
Complimentary A new tool from GlobalVetLink promises to save veterinarians time and worries when clients want to travel internationally with their pets. GVL Pet TravelPass is available now at http://www.globalvetlink.comand offers an easy sign-up and get-started process, with no subscription fee or monthly minimums. Source: GlobalVetLink, August 7, 2021. Link. The GVL … [Read more...]
Migration Alert: high intensity bird migration in progress
Large numbers of birds are migrating over the central U.S. Some nights have more migratory birds passing through than others. To protect migratory birds, turn off all unnecessary lighting between 11:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m. The strong yellow and pink in the map illustrates high intensity. Source: BirdCast, September 1, 2021. Link. Bird migration forecasts show predicted … [Read more...]
Top e-collars for dogs
Often controversial, e-collars are used as training aids. The author reviews e-collar pros and cons for various brands. Dog trainers sometimes train dogs with e-collars to try and remedy unwanted behaviors. Some trainers say e-collars can be valuable to get dogs to obey when they are off leash, help keep them safe and locate a dog that is out of sight. Source: Puppies and … [Read more...]
Smart cat scat is now here
Complimentary Commercial Content Health monitoring technology is now available in cats’ litter boxes and by monthly subscription. It promises to provide cat owners a visible health monitoring opportunity which is important as cats instinctively hide any illnesses. The company has engaged Martha Stewart as a Pretty Litter brand ambassador. It has been featured in media such … [Read more...]
Petabyte to partner with NVA to transform pet care experience for doctors, patients and their families
Complimentary Commercial Content The newly formed Petabyte consortium and partnership with National Veterinary Associates’ veterinary community of 1,200 independently managed veterinary hospitals and more than 100 pet resorts allows for software development collaboration. Petabyte smooths patient management for veterinary hospitals through its software, … [Read more...]
Talkatoo raises new capital to support continued growth in veterinary segment
Complimentary Congratulations to AHD supporting sponsor Talkatoo! The easy-to-use, efficient dictation software for animal health professionals announced it closed a new, oversubscribed round of funding, led by Klick Ventures. Talkatoo is one of only 12 companies selected to the exclusive Google for Startups Accelerator program’s Voice AI cohort. Talkatoo's … [Read more...]
Winners of the 2021-2022 Retailer of the Year awards
Pet Product News editors selected one standout store as its Retailer of the Year: Animal Connection in Charlottesville, Virginia. The pet supply store won the 2019-2020 Marketing Award and managed to top itself this year, snagging the top honor for PPN’s 2021-2022 awards. The list of award categories reveals the efforts and complexities of the pet retail … [Read more...]
Nicole Clausen opens Inventory 911 Toolkit course
Complimentary Commercial Content Using her experiences and those of industry inventory managers, Nicole Clausen, CSSGB, CCFP, CVBL, has opened enrollment in the Inventory 911 Toolkit. The methods, tools and tips have helped countless inventory managers take the first step of getting their inventory under control. It is an inventory manager's go-to, step-by-step blueprint to … [Read more...]
Thoughts from the Veterinary Innovation Summit + NAVC Media eCommerce Summit
Opinion Among myriad thoughts captured during the Veterinary Innovation Summit, these present the most opportunity and challenges for veterinary teams in the next three to five years. Some are trends we see routinely as we curate content, but others are coming faster than previously perceived: Pet caregivers will drive how they wish to interact with veterinary clinics . … [Read more...]