Complimentary Commercial Content Paw Protector enhances paw health without disrupting the beneficial bacteria essential for healthy skin. It is certified as Microbiome Friendly by MyMicrobiome. It is clinically shown to dramatically improve the overall condition of dog paws within the first three days of use. Source: Pet Age, September 26, 2024. Link. … [Read more...]
Mental Health and Suicide Prevention in Rural America course debuts
A new resource aims to boost practical support to help people navigate mental health resources in rural communities. The course, “Mental Health and Suicide Prevention in Rural America,” targets veterinarians. Rural Minds has partnered with Cornell University’s College of Veterinary Medicine and NY FarmNet to provide the service. Rural Minds and Cornell staff think veterinarians … [Read more...]
Nonmedical pet services: A tangled web of competition
The high cost of pet food and of veterinary services top the list of significant challenges that pet owners currently face, writes David Sprinkle, referencing Packaged Facts’ February 2024 data. The high cost of nonmedical pet services such as grooming, boarding, daycare and training weigh in at a lower level, but these services remain part of the picture for a robust pet … [Read more...]
The Bridge Club discussion of challenges, solutions for veterinary technicians
In a virtual conversation, The Bridge Club facilitated a lively discussion about what is an age old topic of using veterinary technicians fully, defining their roles, legal issues and working toward more national governance. Catherine Haskins and Shannon Norwalk, RVT, welcomed Sam Geiling, CVT, Becky Mosser, RVT, and Mark Cushing, JD, to share perspectives and opportunities in … [Read more...]
FDA establishes four Animal and Veterinary Innovation Centers
University of Wisconsin-Madison, University of California at Davis, Kansas State University and University of Arkansas are the recipients of funding for work to advance regulatory science and further develop innovative products and approaches to better support animal health and veterinary interventions. Source: National Hog Farmer, September 20, 2024. Link. … [Read more...]
USDA launches network to support financially distressed farmers and ranchers
The Distressed Borrowers Assistance Network is a USDA initiative to provide personalized support to financially distressed farmers and ranchers nationwide. Through a series of cooperative Agreements, this national network will connect distressed borrowers with individualized assistance to help them stabilize and regain financial footing. USDA's Farm Service Agency will … [Read more...]
ImpriMed expanding its precision medicine services from pets to humans
Building on its success in veterinary oncology, ImpriMed’s pioneering human oncology services will provide drug response predictions for common blood cancers, including newly diagnosed multiple myeloma and acute myeloid leukemia. Source: ImpriMed, September 23, 2024. Link. … [Read more...]
Midwest Veterinary Supply agrees to purchase Victor Medical Company
Acquiring Victor Medical Company, based in Irvine, California, will allow Midwest Veterinary Supply to expand its market reach and offer the veterinary community a more diverse product offering. Source: Midwest Veterinary Supply, September 16, 2024. Link. … [Read more...]
Changing weather patterns call for a change in deworming habits
Sponsored Content Lice over-summer instead of over-winter like many parasites. They hide on cattle in folds between the legs and body and the dewlap. One type of louse can even over-summer in the ear. Once they get cold, they wake up and start reproducing. If cattle are treated too early, the lice don’t become an issue until several months into an endectocide product’s … [Read more...]
The story no one talks about: the cost to produce food
John Nalivka shares an opinion piece that speaks to the pinched wallets consumers are experiencing. The overall costs costs of livestock production, have increased 28 percent from 2019 to 2023. The cost of energy posted a 35 percent increase over the same years while the cost of labor rose 24 percent from 2019 to 2023. Land values have also risen significantly, making … [Read more...]
Mizzou’s next-generation anaplasmosis vaccine shows promise
University of Missouri researchers are developing a new* vaccine proven to protect cattle from a devastating tick-borne cattle disease, bovine anaplasmosis. Roman Reddy Ganta, MSc, PhD, led the study that created the new vaccine. The work involved genetically modifying the pathogen Anaplasma marginale in a lab. By deleting a specific gene and then injecting the modified … [Read more...]
Conservation advocacy soars in the 2024 Bird Photographer of the Year Competition
Bird Photographer of the Year has announced the winners of the 2024 competition, selected from a pool of more than 23,000 submissions. Soaring into the top spot is Canadian conversation photojournalist Patricia Homonylo’s powerful image of thousands of birds that died after flying into windows in Toronto.  Source: COLLOSAL, September 24, 2024. Link. … [Read more...]
Holiday hazards for pets
Fall’s arrival welcomes gatherings for sports events and holidays. Many holiday hazards can harm pets. Determining what will harm pets makes it confusing. Pet owners are advised to prepare in advance. Source: Great Pet Care, September 20, 2024. Link. Photo by K E on Unsplash … [Read more...]
World Rabies Day is September 28th
On September 28th, we celebrate the 102nd birthday of Louis Pasteur by honoring his pioneering work in developing a vaccine against rabies. The anniversary of his birth has been designated World Rabies Day in remembrance of Dr. Pasteur and the millions of lives he continues to save with the rabies vaccine. Source: Global Alliance for Rabies Control. Link. Rabies is an … [Read more...]
NRF Foundation launches Customer Conflict De-escalation Training for front-line workers
The latest offering from NRF is part of the RISE Up educational training program and focuses on fostering a safe and positive environment for both retail employees and the millions of customers they serve. Source: NRF, September 23, 2024. Link. The Customer Conflict De-escalation program provides customer-facing employees with the knowledge and training to identify … [Read more...]
Survey: Only 1/3 of Americans have natural disaster plans for pets
Hurricane Helene is in the news <Link>. Floridians are prepping for her effects. Preparations for natural disasters should include pets, but as the August ’24 Talker survey reveals, many pet owners have no plans in place for their animals. This article outlines important elements of a comprehensive disaster plan for pets. It is suitable for sharing on social media, in … [Read more...]
United Veterinary Service Association panelists discuss access to care
UVSA leaders and members outlined ways they can take a proactive role in the animal health industry to improve access to veterinary care. Graham Garrison outlines interview topics from the recent USVA annual conference, the importance of access to care, the association’s upcoming initiatives and the commitment to NextGen leadership education. Source: Veterinary Advantage, … [Read more...]
Understanding the differences between transactional and relational salespeople
Commentary Anthony Iannarino’s article fits the ongoing content focused on client retention and loyalty. To appreciate his comparison, one must accept that we are all in the transaction business at some level. How we go about it differs by the situation, business category, and, in some cases, the business’s strategies. The differences between transactional and relational … [Read more...]
For consideration: It’s the things you learn after you know it all that count
While scrolling through Facebook recently, a video reel of Bill Walton, former pro basketball player and sportscaster, popped up. He describes phrases from famed NCAA basketball coach John Wooden and closes with the title of this post. The short reel and Walton’s delivery of Wooden-isms may be enjoyable, if not thought provoking. It was for me. Source: Facebook. Link. Among … [Read more...]
Mentoring: The key ingredient to successful onboarding
Commentary Onboarding has been a regular topic in AHD posts <Link>. Whether a new employee or an employee in a new location, having and implementing onboarding strategies is more than orientation. It is a valuable process that supports the time, effort and costs of finding the right person for the job. Wendy Brenes shares ways to improve new employee experiences, … [Read more...]
Pet weight survey starts October 7th, includes horses
The Association for Pet Obesity Prevention will collaborate with veterinary practices and teaching hospitals to collect and report the weight and body condition scores of dogs, cats and, for the first time, horses. Veterinary clinics interested in recording the weights and scores of patients seen during routine examinations may register at bit.ly/APOPsignup. Source: Today’s … [Read more...]
Federal bill seeks to expand HSA, FSA eligibility to include veterinary care expenses
The People and Animal Well-being (PAW) Act aims to support pet owners by making veterinary care more affordable under Health Savings Accounts (HSAs) and Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs). Source: Veterinary Practice News, September 17, 2024. Link. … [Read more...]
Study estimates superbug crisis could get worse, killing nearly 40 million people by 2050
A recently published study <Link> projects the challenge of antimicrobial resistance into the future. AMR, one of the top global public health and development threats, is expected to get worse. It is driven by the misuse and overuse of antimicrobial medications in humans, animals and plants. Source: CNN, September 16, 2024. Link. … [Read more...]
JBS to transform renewable gas to sustainable fuel at US beef and poultry plants
JBS and GreenGasUSA are collaborating to collect methane from wastewater streams at JBS facilities using GreenGasUSA’s on-site upgrading systems, which can purify biogas into pipeline-quality renewable natural gas. Source: AgricultureDive, September 18, 2024. Link. … [Read more...]
Injectable iron – New science on a routine practice
Complimentary Commercial Content To prevent iron deficiency in pigs and avoid the heavy losses this can cause, iron supplementation is necessary during the first three days of life. Since the 1950’s iron supplements have been common practice, albeit with some arguments about how much and whether one dose or two is best. In this article, Wesley Lyons and Chris Olsen, of … [Read more...]
4 considerations for more efficient, productive farm calls
Veterinarians tell some of the most comical stories about making farm calls when producers have told them they’ll “have everything ready” . . . NOT! Laura Meier, DVM, shares the importance of preparation at the farm and veterinarian level in this reminder article. Communication, preparation and patience are key to helping farm calls run smoothly and quickly . . . there’s … [Read more...]
Vet care costs are skyrocketing. 8 people share their vet bill horror stories.
Commentary Deborah Vankin’s story relating pet owner experiences with veterinary care costs from survey results is not surprising. What is concerning is the bent toward negative experiences. Sadly, there is only one reference to pet insurance, especially when this month is National Pet Health Insurance Month which is promoted every year in September <Link>.  Source: … [Read more...]
Explore different facets of empathy to improve client communication, earn CE
Jennifer Sperry, DVM, leads this online CE webinar and shares the different facets of empathy through storytelling, real-world examples and academic publications. She identifies some tools any clinic or practitioner can employ to activate and improve empathetic practice. Source: ASPCA® Pet Health Insurance. Link. Earn 1 Hour of RACE-Approved CE Credit. Related: Search … [Read more...]
Advocacy series popular with clinic teams
Feedback shared with ASPCA@ Pet Health Insurance field representatives reveals our advocacy series <Link> has sparked attention from clinic teams over the past several months. We’re sharing two resources available to help clinic teams engage pet owners and share the value of pet insurance with pet owners. Source: ASPCA® Pet Health Insurance. Pet insurance … [Read more...]
Top 3 retail trends driving industry transformation in 2024
Commentary Retailers are facing fundamental shifts in the rules and relationships that define the consumers’ purchase paths. At its core, retail is about delivering the right product at the right price to the right customer. The same goes for services businesses. Like it or not, digitalization empowers business models like marketplaces, direct-to-consumer and social … [Read more...]