Includes Commercial Content Suture knots and skills can always be updated and reviewed. As veterinary technicians are empowered to practice at the full level of their training, these skills offer veterinarians more flexibility to move on to another patient. At the link below is a large library of webinars, videos and resources covering suturing and knots. Source: … [Read more...]
You are in charge
Your reality is formed from what you read, see, listen to and experience. It's no longer mostly shaped by the "news.” Source: AXIOS, February 10, 2026. Link. It's possible, if not likely, that the biggest threat to future happiness and success is landing on the right side of information inequality.” INSIGHTS: You can choose to do nothing but at what personal cost. … [Read more...]
IBPSA Fast Bites – March 2, 2026
In this week’s Fast Bites: Participation sought for Pet Care Services Industry Financial Survey. Link. Request to update any job postings in member portal Legislative news from Virginia Source: IBPSA, March 2, 2026. Link. Also see: Do you have a minors policy for your pet business?, Pets+, December 17, 2024. Link. Readers share whether they do or not and … [Read more...]
Adopters love their shelter pets, but 78 percent of dog owners report behavior challenges
Conclusions from a landmark new study indicate high satisfaction ratings, while more than three-fourths of adopters faced behavioral or care challenges. These findings suggest that general satisfaction measures may obscure important challenges as animals settle into their new homes. Species-specific counselling, proactive veterinary engagement, and further microchip … [Read more...]
World’s oldest horse supported by superior care, nutrition, devotion
When Paige Blumer, hospital manager for an animal dentist and oral surgeon in Leesburg, Virginia, got her first horse, Fancy, at age 5, she had no idea it would become a lifelong friendship. Today, they are still side by side. Now 37, Fancy was recognized by Guinness World Records as the World’s Oldest Horse and her 38th birthday (and Blumer’s) is April 1. Blumer credits expert … [Read more...]
Scoring system reveals impact of parasites on equine skin and coat condition
A recent study published in the Journal of Equine Veterinary Science marks an advancement in understanding the relationship between parasites and horse health and a scoring system projected to improve welfare outcomes in equine populations. Researchers evaluated the parasitic loads of horses at the University of Connecticut while simultaneously applying the new skin and coat … [Read more...]
Failing forward: Why swine vets look at obstacles as opportunities
Learning from failure and not avoiding it was the context of the 2026 American Association of Swine Veterinarians annual meeting. Jennifer Shrike captures the various perspectives of speakers in this article. Many of the comments could be applied to other species, such as: “Don’t be afraid to fail because of uncertainty; it’s always present. It’s not about getting it … [Read more...]
PAC Beef Summits planned for April
Complimentary, Commercial Bringing producers and veterinarians into a room for half a day for joint benefit has value and two opportunities are coming soon. The PAC Beef Summit is where feedyard professionals, veterinarians and industry leaders come together for real conversations and forward-thinking solutions. PAC personnel say these are more than meetings. They’re … [Read more...]
KCAHC seeks innovators in companion animal, ag tech and food animal sectors
The KC Animal Health Corridor is now accepting Emerging Company applications for the 2026 Animal Health Summit, taking place August 31st to September 1st. The Summit provides a global platform for early-stage companies in companion animal health, ag tech and food animal production to present their technologies and business plans to investors, strategic partners and industry … [Read more...]
FDA approves Merck Animal Health’s NUMELVI™ (atinvicitinib tablets) for dogs
NUMELVI™ (atinvicitinib tablets) is the first and only second-generation Janus kinase (JAK) inhibitor indicated for the control of pruritus associated with allergic dermatitis in dogs six months of age and older. The product is expected to be available at veterinary clinics and hospitals nationwide in spring 2026. Source: Merck Animal Health, February 27, 2026. … [Read more...]
2026 YTD Dechra approvals
Dechra’s recent approvals reflect their commitment to the sustainable improvement of local animal health and welfare and veterinarians. Sources: Dechra Announces Veterinary Oral Health Council (VOHC®) acceptance of VETRADENT® Dental Wipes for Dogs, recognizing proven tartar control performance, February 26, 2026. Link. Dechra Announces FDA approval of Zygolide® … [Read more...]
Worth a Glance – March 5, 2026
Last week’s AHD Bulletin – Animal Health Digest Bulletin, February 26, 2026. Link. Most read posts from February 26, 2026 AHD Bulletin – Most common Gen Z, Gen Alpha terms now circulating in workplaces. Link. Is staffing eroding customer experience? Link. Designing the visit before the patient arrives. Link. Decision goals. Link. Start NOW to reduce … [Read more...]
Cats grow to 25 percent of visits, signals $34 billion market opportunity
According to new data from the CATalyst Council Feline Veterinary Market Insights: Volume V, the overall companion-animal veterinary market continued to contract throughout 2025. But feline clinical visits grew in every quarter of the year, extending an outperformance streak to 12 consecutive quarters and fundamentally reshaping the veterinary landscape. The report, … [Read more...]
Client satisfaction stays strong according to AVMA data
Data from the AVMA’s 2025 Pet Ownership and Demographic Sourcebook offer reassuring and actionable insights into how U.S. pet owners feel about their regular veterinary practice. Kudos to the teams working hard to deliver every day. Source: AVMA, February 19, 2026. Link. Small, incremental changes—paired with intentional communication—can reinforce client satisfaction, … [Read more...]
Start NOW to reduce barriers to heartworm prevention
A growing body of evidence-based protocols can help more pets get the care they need, while also supporting practice efficiency and revenue, writes Kristin Jankowski, VMD, CCRP, and Jenni Rizzo in this article. The key lies in understanding and removing barriers at every step of care: prevention, diagnosis and treatment. Consider this article as a reminder and resource to … [Read more...]
Is staffing eroding customer experience?
Commentary It is easy to ignore a Gallup survey as something that doesn’t apply to your business. Still, the imbalances reported here are concerning, especially since experiences even before AI made finding an employee in a business a challenge. This article begs for attention as more and more self-service options eliminate human connections. In Q3 2025, 43 percent of … [Read more...]
Decision goals
Every meeting should have a clear, concise DECISION goal and that is the responsibility of the person calling the meeting. Source: LinkedIn Pulse, February 6, 2026. Link. The meeting organizer is responsible for keeping the meeting focused on the DECISION goal.” INSIGHTS: Only invite those with direct decision-making responsibility and expect them to gather input from … [Read more...]
IBPSA Fast Bites – February 23, 2026
In this week’s Fast Bites: How to be a good listener, TED Talk. Link. [11:42] Listening experts unpack the four different ways to listen, sharing a practical framework that could change how you respond, build trust and get results — starting with just one simple question. Social media posts are telling hackers everything. Link. What can Southwest Airlines teach us … [Read more...]
Debunking the cat lady stereotype
Katie Lever, PhD, addresses the harmful origins of negative “cat lady” stereotypes and why the data suggests that cat owners are far from lonely, childless or “crazy.” The roots of the cat lady trope are much more harmful than the common stereotype initially suggests. Source: AAHA Trends, April 18, 2025. Link. Today’s cat ownership statistics paint an entirely different … [Read more...]
Designing the visit before the patient arrives
Most inefficiency in small-animal practice occurs before the client walks through the door, writes Natalie Marks, DVM, CVJ, CCFP, Elite FFCP-V. She shares elements of proactive preparation that can improve practice flow, client engagement and enable veterinary teams to practice medicine at their highest skill levels. Source: Fountain Report, February 6, 2026. … [Read more...]
Avian flu outbreak crisis in Pennsylvania; snow geese blamed, bovine spillover concerns
Top ag officials in Pennsylvania are calling the current avian flu outbreak unprecedented and “a crisis.” More than 7 million birds from 11 commercial flocks and nine backyard flocks have tested positive for highly pathogenic avian influenza, or H5N1, since early February. Wild birds, including snow geese that are overwintering in the area, are believed to be the source of … [Read more...]
The power of “I don’t know”
Commentary Thank you, Andrea Bedford for this article and its assertions. It should be a must-read for all animal health pros. She shares the power of a confident “I don’t know” statement. Veterinary medicine, particularly production medicine, is built on probability, not certainty. Complex herd systems rarely offer immediate clarity. And sometimes, the most professional … [Read more...]
Keeping noses and ears warm
Commercial Content We learn something new almost every day. In a short Facebook conversation, an industry colleague shared this photo of cows and their calves. Somehow, the existence of ear and face protectors had not hit my radar. Ear muffs for calves; what a great idea. Ensuring the comfort and protection of calves’ tender, damp ears is a top priority in Arctic cold, … [Read more...]
Worth a Glance – February 25, 2026
Last week’s AHD Bulletin – Animal Health Digest Bulletin, February 19, 2026. Link. Most read posts from February 19, 2026 AHD Bulletin – Avoiding difficult conversations. Link. Yes, they really do make TV for cats and dogs. Link. Oral care at home helps pets stay healthy. Link. Command respect with your voice. Link. Most employees see their jobs as … [Read more...]
FDA issues emergency use authorizations for drugs to treat New World Screwworm in dogs and cats
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration issued two Emergency Use Authorizations: one for NexGard (afoxolaner) chewable tablets for the treatment of New World screwworm infestations (myiasis) in dogs, and the second for NexGard COMBO (esafoxolaner, eprinomectin, and praziquantel topical solution) for the treatment of NWS myiasis in cats. These EUAs will be effective until they are … [Read more...]
Lubbock Feeders set to close
Citing the restrictions on importing Mexican cattle because of potential New World Screwworm presence, Clint Peck shares the upcoming closing of Lubbock Feeders, a 50,000-head custom cattle feeding operation near Lubbock, Texas. Source: BEEF, February 22, 2026. Link. … [Read more...]
Most employees see their jobs as “situationships”
Commentary According to a Glassdoor Community poll, 93 percent of workers stay in jobs they do not love for stability, with 63 percent describing their relationship with work as "complicated" or "ready to break up," a concept the company calls "job situationships." While the term may be new, the profiles of employee tolerances are worth considering as management and teams … [Read more...]
World class VMX 2026 attendance, dates set for VMX 2027
Complimentary NAVC reports VMX 2026 saw more than 28,500 veterinarians, veterinary nurses/technicians, support staff, students, exhibitors and guests in attendance from 78 countries. During the five-day event, attendees could select from 1,200+ hours of continuing education credits, interact with over 720 exhibiting companies and attend nightly entertainment and network with … [Read more...]
9 insider tips to drive dental product sales
Wendy S. Myers, CVJ, shares ways to introduce dental products to improve patients' health and bolster retail revenue. Her tips include eye-level displays and placing carefully selected products in animal owners’ hands. Ideas from Mary L. Berg, BS, LATG, RVT, VTS (Dentistry), FVTE, are also included. Source: Veterinary Practice News, February 6, 2026. Link. Berg suggests … [Read more...]
Avoiding difficult conversations
Conflict avoidance thrives in a fast-paced digital world, where it's easy to push off a text, ghost someone or outsource writing to AI. Avoidance is destructive in the long term to relationships, shared Colette Jane Fehr. Source: AXIOS, February 3, 2026. Link. Repair by owning your part, clearing up misunderstandings, and apologizing when needed.” INSIGHTS: Conflict … [Read more...]