The Internal Revenue Service recently announced that for the calendar year 2025, the health savings account contribution limits for individuals with self-only coverage will jump to $4,300, up $150 from $4,150 for this year. For family coverage, the limit will increase to $8,550 next year from $8,300 in 2024. Source: Human Resource Executive, June 21, 2024. Link. … [Read more...]
Global Alliance for Rabies Control launches Dog Welfare Certificate course
GARC’s new Dog Welfare Certificate course is designed to provide essential knowledge for anyone involved or interested in canine care. Free and self-paced, the course offers foundational knowledge crucial for anyone looking to care for a dog whether it is their own, or a dog in the community. Source: Global Alliance for Rabies Control, June 23,2024. Link. The course is … [Read more...]
Tom Vilsack: Good biosecurity critical to mitigating the spread of H5N1
Ag Secretary Tom Vilsack’s opinion piece calls on producers to use USDA’s resources to enhance their biosecurity measures and for states and producers to opt into our support and herd monitoring programs designed to limit the spread of this H5N1 in dairy cattle. The most important step we can take today to contain HPAI is biosecurity.” Source: Agri-Pulse, June 21, 2024. … [Read more...]
Wild Thang is officially the world’s ugliest dog
It took him five tries, but Wild Thang was named winner of the World Ugliest Dog competition last week during the Sonoma-Marin Fair in Petaluma, California. He and his owner, Ann Lewis, will get $5,000 and an appearance on the Today show. Source: BBC, June 22. Link. (video, 1:00 minute) … [Read more...]
Preventing pink eye with autogenous vaccines
Includes Sponsored Content Before commercial pinkeye vaccines were approved, autogenous vaccines offered veterinarians and producers a way to protect against herd-specific strains of bacteria that cause pinkeye in cattle. In the article linked here, Gregg Hanzlicek, DVM, PhD, reintroduces the value of autogenous vaccines, the challenges with cross-protection and how pinkeye … [Read more...]
Iowa Great Dane, world’s tallest dog has passed away (video)
Measuring 3’, 2” from his feet to his withers and almost 7’ when he’s on his hind legs, Kevin was crowned the world’s tallest dog by Guinness World Records. The original story includes a fun video link from X. Sadly, Kevin passed away shortly after the receiving the tallest dog designation. Guinness World Records said Kevin, a Great Dane, became ill and underwent an unplanned … [Read more...]
The ROI of pet insurance according to HR professionals
Commentary, Commercial Content Petpartners shares case study results from a 2024 survey of human resources professionals. The study explored how pet-friendly benefits boost employee well-being, reduce stress and cultivate a more supportive work environment. The findings emphasize the importance of pet-friendly benefits and pet policies in today’s multi-generational … [Read more...]
Dr. Jen the Vet to implement Healthy Pet-keeping Seal program at Best Friends Fur Ever
Complimentary Commercial Content Elevating the standards of pet care facilities and bridging the gap between pet care and veterinary care is core objective of the Healthy Pet-keeping Seal program, shared Jenifer Chatfield, DVM, Dipl. ACZM, Dipl. ACVPM, last October <Link>. Best Friends Fur Ever recognizes the opportunities of implementing an industry-leading initiative … [Read more...]
IBPSA Fast Bites – June 24, 2024
CDC to implement new rules for any dogs entering U.S., leveraging pet trends, RedRover enables pets in homeless shelters, keeping local listings current, Consumer Financial Protection Bureau to hold buy now - pay later programs to the same consumer protection standards as credit card companies and more . . . Source: IBPSA Fast Bites, June 24, 2024. Link. … [Read more...]
Audubon’s 2024 Audubon Photography Awards
Animal health pros always enjoy great photos and video of the wildlife world around us. Audubon’s annual contest features stunning work from professionals, amateurs and young people that highlights the beauty of birds and the joy of capturing them through photographs and videos. Mathew Malwitz won the grand prize for his photo of Blackburnian Warblers, shared in this … [Read more...]
Enter the AAHA Trends Teams@Work annual photo contest
Our industry celebrates technicians with National Veterinary Technician Week in October. Now named the Teams@Work photo contest, AAHA seeks photos to reflect and feature veterinary assistants. Share your best photos of technicians and assistants working in the practice. Enter here <Link>. Source: AAHA NEWStat, June 17, 2024. Link. Also see: Winners from the 2023 … [Read more...]
NAVC and MFA seek to chart new course, define future animal health and pet care
The North American Veterinary Community and the Michelson Found Animals Foundation announced a partnership that will engage industry leaders and visionaries within and outside of the animal health and pet care sectors to define the future of animal health and wellbeing. The first event will form under the Compass brand and bring together industry leaders and mavericks from … [Read more...]
Adopt a Pet, Zoetis announce 1st round of 2024 Shelter Grant recipients
Adopt a Pet and Zoetis have named the inaugural group of animal welfare organizations selected as recipients of the 2024 Zoetis petcare product grant. Each grant recipient will receive flea, tick, and heartworm disease prevention for cats and dogs, along with core vaccines and antibiotics needed to support healthy shelter pets in their care. Source: Zoetis, June 5, … [Read more...]
Cheese now drives dairy growth
Consumption of dairy products has reached an all-time high driven by the consumption of cheese products worldwide. The size of the world cheese market is anticipated to grow by $39.1 billion by 2027. Dairy is not declining; dairy is growing. We’re simply eating more of our dairy than we’re drinking.” - Michael Dykes Source: STgenetics, June 12, 2024. Link. … [Read more...]
Human-animal bond: Dolly Parton on Captain Kangaroo (reel)
Animal health pros promote and witness the human-animal bond as part of daily life. We’re sharing a link to a reel highlighting that the human-animal bond was being celebrated 48 years ago. In a 1976 appearance on TV’s Captain Kangaroo Dolly Parton sang a song she wrote about her dog, Cracker Jack. Enjoy! Source: Our American Stories with Lee Habeeb, Facebook. Link. … [Read more...]
Get back to helping pets and their people
Sponsored Commercial Content Veterinarians explain how they use Talkatoo in their practices, saving time and energy and streamlining workflow. Shawn Wilkie shares how Talkatoo is revolutionizing veterinary practices with Auto-SOAP generator, dictation and AI Assistant. Talkatoo allows me several ways to get information inside my brain out into the world.” – Michelle Scott, … [Read more...]
Cat acne: causes, signs, treatment
A Google search of cat acne yields myriad options to learn about the common follicular keratinization that appears as tiny black open comedones along the chin and lips as if the cat had rubbed its chin in dirt or food. Cats generally develop acne when their hair follicles become blocked by an overproduction of keratin, writes Sarah Psaradelis. She shares information for cat … [Read more...]
Raw dog food, the big questions
Includes Commercial References Questions mount as the popularity of raw diets grows. Andrew Dickens posed some key questions to We Feed Raw’s Amy Zalneraitis. The article reveals how perception, processing and handling affect the quality and safety of commercially produced raw diets. Source: Dog Food Advisor, February 23, 2024. Link. INSIGHTS: Summer temperatures … [Read more...]
Best life jackets, vests for dogs
Includes Commercial Content Water safety experts recommend owners who take their dogs near water or boating invest in a dog life jacket to ensure buoyancy for those that swim and for those that don’t. The authors review top-ranked canine floatation devices. Source: AKC Retrievist. Link. Photo by Matt Seymour on Unsplash … [Read more...]
IBPSA Fast Bites – June 17, 2024
Fusing science and affection*, motion needed in websites, engagement culture, 82 percent of HR pros believe pets help mental health, connecting brand and demand**, and more. * Scritches used in this context refers to a scratching motion versus a harsh sound. Source: IBPSA Fast Bites, June 17, 2024. Link. Note the NEW IBPSA Master Business Academy, a cutting-edge program … [Read more...]
Walmart adds bonuses for hourly employees
In a move to improve retention and employee well-being, Walmart will offer a financial bonus of up to $1,000 to full- and part-time employees. The longer an hourly employee stays with the company, the higher the bonus. Source: SHRM, June 14, 2024. Link. Also see: Here's how much Walmart employees get paid in 2024, The Street, January 17, 2024. Link. The average hourly wage … [Read more...]
Worth a Glance – June 13, 2024
Last week’s AHD Bulletin – Animal Health Digest Bulletin, June 6, 2024. Link. Most read post(s) from the June 6th AHD Bulletin – Attitude, value, and talent. Link. What stool color could say about a dog’s health. Link. Do hay preservatives matter to horses? Link. ===================================== Summer hours. A way for small business owners to boost … [Read more...]
Mella Pet Care, Vetspire integrating real-time vitals data to PiMS
A new partnership between Mella Pet Care and Vetspire PiMS will automatically capture vital signs from Mella hardware. Using their existing workflows, veterinarians can integrate with the Mella Pet Care Desktop App to instantly collect vital signs from Mella devices. Source: Mella Pet Care, June 11, 2024. Link. … [Read more...]
Clear The Shelters celebrates 10 years
Celebrating 10 years and more than one million adoptions, Clear the Shelters is recruiting veterinary clinic participation to fulfill its mission. Sign up to receive a supporter kit including access to the social media toolbox and improve pet adoption. Source: Hill’s Pet Nutrition. Link. … [Read more...]
Recent graduates share their best practice tips
Four hard-working, dynamic bovine practitioners shared some practical ideas and recommendations during the final session of the AABP Recent Graduate Conference. While we work on animals, we work for and with people . . . so be prompt, be practical, be polite and practice one’s skills.” - Andy Harding, DVM Source: Bovine Veterinarian, June 11, 2024. Link. Related content: 5 … [Read more...]
Compounded, DVM Rx treatment for FIP now available in United States and Canada AHD Staff
Stokes Pharmacy, a compounding pharmacy, started selling a compounded prescription treatment for feline infectious peritonitis (FIP) on June 1. This allows veterinarians to prescribe medication for their patients and hopefully carry small amounts of the compounded drug on their shelves so that their sick patients can start treatment immediately. Source: AAHA NEWStat, June 5, … [Read more...]
CVT shares how she advocates for pet insurance including her own experiences (part 3)
Sponsored Content Certified veterinary technician Sarah Walsh is a strong advocate for pet insurance at Wignall Animal Hospital in Belvidere, Vermont. Her experiences with her own animals reinforce the benefits pet owners can expect when insuring their pets against illness, accidents and disease. Summarizing, Walsh shares these simple points: Why ASPCA® Pet Health … [Read more...]
Comedian: Taking my dog to the vet
Enjoy this video clip of Chris Martin talking about taking his dog to the veterinarian. While representative of perceptions pet owners may have, we think most animal health pros will get a chuckle from his bit. Being able to laugh at ourselves is a sign of resiliency and mental toughness.” Source: Chris Martin, Facebook. Link. … [Read more...]
IDEXX expands test menu for the Catalyst Platform for diagnosing pancreatitis
IDEXX announced the Catalyst® Pancreatic Lipase Test, a new in-clinic quantitative assay that measures pancreatic lipase in dogs and cats suspected of pancreatitis in less than 10 minutes. Diagnosing pancreatitis can be difficult due to its nonspecific symptoms and subtle clinical signs, including vomiting and weight loss, which are among the 10 most frequently recorded … [Read more...]
Angus Association speaks to genetic mystery confusion
The American Angus Association addressed some misperceptions about genetic abnormalities seen in calves that presented as bovine familial convulsions and ataxia within days of birth. Calves that died were from a single sire. The bull in question was isolated to a single herd and the condition was not spread to other herds. Source: Drovers, May 21, 2024. Link. This case is a … [Read more...]