Our team at Animal Health Digest extends best wishes to animal health professionals, their families and friends for Thanksgiving and the upcoming holiday season. Through floods, hurricanes, fires, drought, growing disease concerns, expanding vector threats and advancing technologies, animal health pros continue to find ways to serve animals and animal owners. THANK … [Read more...]
Opinion: Not my problem: A moral philosophy
I’m including this as food for thought. At first, I thought maybe Jessica Wildfire was on to something that made sense. And it does, but only to a certain point. That point for me was when Wildfire wrote, “Sure, he might cause a major disaster. But that disaster isn’t your problem.” Constantly bailing out others might help your boss, or your company. But it doesn’t help … [Read more...]
Opinion – Killer dog article misses a great story
The Dog, as he was known around West Valley, Utah, was a German shepherd mix that had no owner. He roamed the town’s streets for years. But he changed. At first, he killed chickens. He then killed goat at Roots Charter High school. Link. Then sheep. More chickens. Then pigs. 40 animals in all. All animals that belonged to Roots students. It appears none of the animals were … [Read more...]
Opinion – Exploration of veterinary shortages in the wake of the Veterinary Feed Directive
The findings in this report offer no great surprise. Many geographic areas were identified across the United States where food animal veterinary services may be inadequate to implement the Veterinary Feed Directive and meet other producer needs. Consider however, many animal health pros believe the VFD is the tip of the iceberg for antibiotic vigilance. What happens when … [Read more...]
Opinion – Determining how often sales reps should call on customers
J. Michael Marks tackles a frequently contemptuous topic about distribution sales representatives. . . . in my experience, most sales reps are market-servers, not market-makers. . . we’ve found that 95% of what customers buy from distributors they have bought before. The devil is in the details in this reference. How one defines sales really determines whether Marks’ … [Read more...]
Sponsored content from AAHA Red, AAHA NEWStat
We’re sharing sponsored content from recent AAHA Red and AAHA NEWStat issues, two media offerings available from AAHA Press, the publishing arm of the American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA). Stress less with the needle-less Bordetella protection, AAHA Red, October 22, 2018. Link. Forty percent of cat owners find veterinary visits personally stressful, AAHA Red, … [Read more...]
4 buzzwords we need to ban
Buzzwords – we all use them from time to time. They’re still meaningless, according to author and CNBC contributor Suzy Welch. She recommends immediately getting rid of: Let’s take this offline. Empower Ownership Bandwidth Source: CNBC, October 16, 2018. Link. But according to bestselling management author and CNBC contributor Suzy Welch, this indirect and … [Read more...]
Opinion – Pets are like family. But as health costs rise, few are insured that way.
Paul Sullivan takes a circuitous route through pet economics, market growth and the challenges of price versus value. References to pet owner attitude changes include contrasting the Snoopy generation of 30 years ago with the current Brian (Family Guy) generation. Sullivan’s perspectives are dashed with quotes, pet health examples, products and animal health companies. Two … [Read more...]
Gecko makes bazillions of calls from vet hospital
A rogue gecko lit up phones for an untold number of folks recently. Veterinarian Claire Simeone, director of Ke Kai Ola, a Hawaiian monk seal hospital, made the discovery as she and a phone company rep tried to figure out what was causing incessant outgoing calls. Source: Associated Press, October 9, 2018. Link. The gecko was perched on a phone, making calls to everyone in … [Read more...]
Opinion – Harassment is common at meetings, yet most men are not sexual predators
The curation functions of AHD bring published information to animal health pros to increase awareness and, more importantly, help start new discussions or change behaviors. Since the media has spent considerable time recently focusing on misconduct, a study released by Meetings and Conventions in January provides an insightful backdrop for our industry to consider. It stated … [Read more...]
Sponsored Content – Winter pinkeye infections increasing
Times have changed. Pinkeye outbreaks are now seen year-round due to the increased incidence of Moraxella bovoculi. Some have nicknamed this “winter pinkeye,” says Karlin Yaeger, global sales manager for Addison Biological Laboratory. He shared Addison’s 20-plus years of diagnostic lab experiences which reinforce Moraxella bovis as the primary cause of pinkeye. However, other … [Read more...]
2018 Comedy Wildlife Photography Awards Finalists Announced
They’re fun every year – the Comedy Wildlife Photography Awards. Sponsored by the Born Free Foundation, the competition is designed to raise awareness about wildlife conservation. Take a few minutes and have some laughs. Source: The Guardian, September 13, 2018. Link. Some of the finalists in this year’s competition . . . You can still vote for the People’s Choice award … [Read more...]
Store welcomes (leashed) horse inside (includes photos)
This will make you smile! A Tractor Supply store in Elk City, Oklahoma, welcomed a gentleman and his horse to the store. [The] gentleman walks into Tractor Supply and says, “I'm a senior, here to buy feed for my senior horse. Can he come in?’” Robin Morris said. Source: the dodo, September 7, 2018. Link. Tractor Supply allows any pet into the store as long as they’re on a … [Read more...]
Screens kill your eyeballs and now we know how
Here’s the latest information on blue light’s rap sheet. Beyond messing with circadian rhythms, it can kill photoreceptor cells, according to a new experiment. We believe all of us need to stay informed on this topic. Source: Popular Science, August 10, 2018. Link. Physicians have drawn attention to the relationship between our favorite devices and eye problems, ranging … [Read more...]
Grit: the power of passion and perseverance (includes video)
We know very little about developing grit, says Angela Lee Duckworth. “What if your ability to do well in school and life depends on much more than your ability to learn easily and quickly?” she asked. “IQ was not the only difference between my best and worst students.” In all those different contexts, one characteristic emerged as significant predictor of success: It was … [Read more...]
Opinion – Human hospitals will be required to post their prices online
I have no political agenda in posting this. However, I believe it is important for animal health pros to see this legal action and consider how it might play out in animal health. One thing for sure, the ability to differentiate services, skills and value-adds may become further homogenized in this environment. The rule, finalized Thursday by the Centers for Medicare and … [Read more...]
Signs of ulcers in horses often subtle
Boehringer Ingelheim’s Hoyt Cheramie, DVM, MS, DACVS, discusses equine stomach ulcers and reminds us that subtle changes can signal an ulcer condition. Clinical signs of equine gastric ulcer syndrome (EGUS) are not pathognomonic, meaning not very highly associated with the disease. Some signs of EGUS, such as behavioral issues or poor performance, can be so common that they … [Read more...]
2018 Audubon Society photo awards announced
Take a break and enjoy! The winners of the 2018 Audubon Photography Awards competition were announced this week. More than 8,000 images in professional, amateur and youth categories were entered. Plus, all 50 states and 10 Canadian provinces were represented. This year’s competition celebrates the 100th anniversary of the Migratory Bird Treaty Act and the species protected by … [Read more...]
Med students learn from zoo patients and vets in Harvard program
A rotation at the Franklin Park Zoo in Boston is demonstrating to Harvard Medical School students that animals and people share the same environment. Offered for the last three years, Harvard students work alongside zoo veterinarians monitoring animal health and collaborating in diagnoses and treatments. Source: New York Times (paywall). June 29, 2018. Link. “I would never … [Read more...]
Work is natural and good for dogs
I’m caring for one of my adult childrens' dogs this holiday week. At age 5, she’s a good girl with shades of narcissism golden retrievers possess. That said, she’s out of her element at Grandpa’s. I have decided she needs a job. So, I’m working with her on retrieving a heavy bumper on a long rope twice a day for fifteen minutes. The rope keeps the bumper from being a toy and … [Read more...]
Independence week tribute
Yesterday was the official Independence Day we celebrate. July 4th means many things to our country’s men, women and families. Baxter Black, DVM, is an icon <link>. He is a cowboy poet, former large animal veterinarian and entertainer of the agricultural masses. Baxter shared his perspectives on July 4th and the American Flag in the videos we’ve shared here. Photo by … [Read more...]
Enjoy winning photos from The Nature Conservancy
The Nature Conservancy recently announced the winning entries of its 2018 Photo Contest. Take a break and enjoy the majesty of nature. Source: The Nature Conservancy, June, 2018. Link. From the grand prize to the judges’ special recognition, you’ll like what you see. Be even more awed when you look at this year’s Judges’ Favorites. Link. … [Read more...]
Fly control around horses is important
Flies, fly control methods and fly products for horses are presented in this Equus advertising section . The material is worthwhile even though it may be promotional. Source: EQUUS, May 30, 2018. Link. Climate conditions vary every season, and different fly species can move into new areas with the changing weather. Here’s a quick rundown of the ways you can curb the insects … [Read more...]
Quarter horse history emphasizes one type of horse
Quarter horse enthusiasts will enjoy the history, debates and stories in this two-part article. The discussion unfolds in 1950. Source: AQHA Journal, June 8, 2018. Link. There has never been but one type of Quarter Horse since the breed’s inception so many years ago. That description is lost through the various interpretations. But there was a time, not so many years ago, … [Read more...]
The Phoenix Zoo: Diverse care for a diverse population (video)
For many veterinarians, zoo animals were part of their original dreams of becoming an animal doctor. It is at zoos that we encounter rare species, learn of captive populations held to preserve genetics and see species that pique our curiosities. The Phoenix Zoo is home to more than 3,000 animals, including 30 species that are endangered or threatened. This diverse population … [Read more...]
These dogs sniff cybercrime
The Connecticut State Police is training dogs to sniff out the hard-to-detect chemical in electronics. They’re helping law enforcement personnel find child pornography on hard drives, find hidden phones, even track calls on SIM cards. This is worth a read simply to be reminded how sharp dogs can be trained to be. Source: CNET, June 11, 2018. Link. Where we might smell … [Read more...]
Do dogs understand time?
Are dogs just very good at guessing, or do they really understand and keep track of time? Matt Soniak explores the topic in this interesting article. Source: Pet MD. Link. A review of research on the subject by psychologist William Roberts found ample evidence that many different animals are sensitive to time. “They can learn to go to a particular place for food at a … [Read more...]
Comedy Wildlife Photography Awards accepting entries
The Comedy Wildlife Photography Awards (link) is in its fourth year and is delivering goofy animal moments caught on camera. The deadline for entries is June 30. Take a few, fun minutes to look at the photos that have already been received at the link below. You may even want to enter your own shots. Source: Huffington Post, May 23, 2018. Link. The entries for the 2018 … [Read more...]
Opinion: Fly services have potential
There is historical rationale in the recommendation for veterinary practices to add a fly control service for their clients. More than 35 years ago, we had master fly-baiter contests and awards to help promote fly control at a time when our industry was just learning the science behind preventing production losses and transfer of diseases such as pinkeye and anaplasmosis. In … [Read more...]
Opinion – Manage maggots and bots in dogs and cats
Images of screwworm infestations in newly born kittens, ferrets and rabbits before 1966 still bring nightmares. Clear are the memories of tiny, near-hairless, days-old animals lying across my palm while we systematically removed screw worms from holes nearly the size of a pencil eraser. Fly control product stations were everywhere on our farm. We bought ducks to help clean … [Read more...]