Phase 2 of a study by John McCall, MS, PhD, further supports using a topical parasiticide to repel and kill mosquitoes, rather than relying solely on an oral heartworm preventive. His two studies combined send a powerful message regarding the efficacy of a double defense protocol. Ceva’s campaign website FightHeartwormNow.com now includes a series of videos featuring key … [Read more...]
Editorial – Seek clarity before condemning meat
“Is meat good for you?” continues to be a significant part of nutritional research. While moms still promote eating vegetables, modern media personnel have forgotten how to read research reports in their entirety. The result is that meat frequently gets condemned. Dan Murphy, a veteran food-industry journalist and commentator exposes the fallacies in much of the reporting … [Read more...]
Sponsored Content – Add mosquito control to heartworm protocol
In this special insert, veterinarians and parasite researchers discuss heartworm disease and a new multimodal approach that may help solve it. The research and roundtable were sponsored by CEVA, a supporting sponsor of Animal Health Digest. Source: DVM 360, July 2016. We still have to administer the preventative – that is foundational and critical – but we can also reduce … [Read more...]
Sponsored Content – Fly Control Center
Whether you live in the country or not, flies can be a problem. In town, the large dogs next door, garbage receptacles with soda or beer cans and even the barbecue grill can be attractors. In the country or in a stable flies reduce animal performance and comfort. Animal health professionals will find the information at the Fly Control Center worthwhile. Source: Farm Journal, … [Read more...]
Sponsored Content – Dairy heat stress
The combination of heat and humidity can compromise a cow’s ability to get rid of excess body heat. Cooling systems and heat abatement programs are important, but even with routine summertime diet and cooling techniques in place, a cow can experience physiological changes with which she cannot cope. Source: Dairy Herd Management, June 28, 2016. Link to TechMix – Dairy Heat … [Read more...]
Welcome CEVA Animal Health
Animal Health Digest welcomes Ceva Animal Health, LLC, as an official sponsor. Founded in 1999, it is the eighth largest animal health group worldwide. Its expertise centers on pharmacology and biology, supported by teams who meet specific demands of the livestock, poultry, swine, equine and pet sectors. Source: Animal Health Digest, June 15, 2016. With its sponsorship, … [Read more...]
Sponsored Content – Benefits of an isotonic protein drink for pigs
This piece offers high-level look at recent field trials conducted by Tonsity on the impact of incorporating an isotonic protein drink for pigs into today’s swine production practices. Source: National Hog Farmer, June 9, 2016. Very few studies have been published to show the benefits of oral rehydration therapy (ORT) in swine. Historically, the principles of ORT — simple … [Read more...]
Sponsored Content: The latest on the feline sarcoma controversy
A roundtable of experts discusses injection site sarcomas in Part 1 of this Clinician’s Forum overview. The experts include Sarah Boston, DVM, DVSc, DADVS; Audra Fenimore, DVM,DACVM; Shannon Vawter, DVM, MS and Nancy Welborn, DVM. Source: Clinician’s Brief, May 2016. KEY POINTS The most recent studies suggest that in the genetically predisposed cat the injection of … [Read more...]
Sponsored Content – Tick season is year-round
Year-round tick control, tick myths, discussing ticks with clients and even fleas are featured in this Vetfolio podcast. SimparicaTM (sarolaner) Chewables from Zoetis is presented as a solution. Source: VetFolio, May 8, 2016. Introducing safe monthly chewables that offer persistent protection from fleas and ticks. … [Read more...]
Sponsored Content – 100 years of horse history
We found this content and video fun. It also offers a historical pictorial. Source: Horse Network, May 3, 2016. Look back at how the events, horses and Absorbine® products that shaped the way we live and ride today. … [Read more...]
Editorial – Invest your energy wisely
I answered “busy” when asked about my schedule recently, but when asked if I was being productive, I hesitated and finally answered “hope so.” Many of us might respond the same way. Consider the five tenants of strategic energy application in this thought-provoking article where Peter Bregman suggests 89 percent of us are operating without much to spare. Source: Harvard … [Read more...]
Editorial – Questions are essential to successful workplaces
My grandfather often said, “the wisdom is in the question, not the answers.” He was not admonishing me for talking too much, rather, trying to get me to think more broadly and thoughtfully. Companies that view questions as a problem are missing out, writes Jay Steven Levin and Scott Mabry in these blog posts. Meaningful questions take time and consideration. They’re, intended … [Read more...]
Sponsored Content – Equine gastroscopy 101
Merial provides a primer on what to expect if an equine veterinarian suggests a gastroscopic examination. This was sent to AQHA Daily subscribers. Source: AQHA Daily, April 28, 2016. Two out of three non-racing competitive horses have stomach ulcers. Signs such as poor performance, decreased appetite, recurrent colic or poor body condition may point to stomach ulcers. … [Read more...]
Sponsored Content – 3 cybersecurity tips can help secure data
Securing clinic data is critical to general business practices and to ensure client, employee and third-party vendor data remain confidential. In our second installment about cybersecurity, Terrie Bonfiglio offers three, common-sense tips to keep data thieves out of your system. Source: Learn 3 cybersecurity tips in 10 minutes via InfoGPS Networks, April 2016. However, your … [Read more...]
Editorial – Re-examine your e-commerce strategy
"Digital channels have become the dominant medium for influencing decision-making and building a stronger relationship between the brand and the end user”, says a 2011 Oracle report. It is past time for veterinary hospitals to reassess and update their digital strategies to include product sales. While this article focuses on distribution, consider that for many consumer … [Read more...]
Editorial – Don’t ignore this take on canine health and wellness
The information on canine health and wellness in this issue falls short. Even the website references miss the basics of urban dog care. Published for specific cities, the articles do not cover basic vaccines, endo- or ecto-parasite control, dental tips or pain management. Information on the website is hardly a primer on canine wellness. Source: CityDog Magazine, Spring … [Read more...]
Sponsored Content – Voice of Sustainable Pork Debuts
Featuring a mix of original and contributed content, plus news aggregated from a variety of sources, Voice of Sustainable Pork aims to bring the global pork industry together to more effectively balance the needs of pigs, pork, people and planet — now, and for generations to come. The website is sponsored by Zoetis. Source: Voice of Sustainable Pork, email March 29, … [Read more...]
Sponsored Content – Only data security mitigates system breaches
Data breaches don’t happen quickly says Paul Hugenberg. They take weeks and months. Hackers are patient and spend all the time they need to get the data they want. They know 80 percent of your data is outside the view of existing controls. Applying proper classification to sensitive data can help you put proper controls around it to reduce risks. Source: InfoGPS Networks, … [Read more...]
Editorial – The annual physical questioned
We are fortunate in animal health in that we don’t deal with third-party pay and actuarial oversight of preventative care, yet. Annual physicals are the most common reason that U.S. residents see a doctor. Apparently, not all agree with their necessity or value. This information about human care decisions may signal a cloud of opportunity for our markets. Conversely, it may … [Read more...]
Sponsored Content – Hit heartworm with a one-two punch
Heartworm incidence in pets is increasing. John McCall, MS, PhD, Department of Infectious Diseases at the University of Georgia College of Veterinary Medicine, says it’s time for a new approach – fight the vector, or mosquitoes, as well as heartworms. Ceva Animal Health began an extensive campaign to educate the veterinarian community on McCall’s groundbreaking research … [Read more...]
Editorial – Home delivery still growing
Articles about opportunities in the pet retail business often make me scratch my head. How can retailers get so excited and veterinary hospitals remain blasé’. For nearly 15 years, veterinarians have been offered opportunities to use various home delivery platforms to auto-fulfill standing prescriptions, brand diversity in large categories and specialty products. Yet, these … [Read more...]
Editorial – Engage customers. Grow business.
Companies in the business-to-business (B2B) sector engage just 29 percent of customers, according to Gallup. In other words, we’re letting 71 percent go astray. This article calls all of us in the channel of influence to act. It means we must spend more time and resources to understand customers’ perspectives. This is true for veterinary teams and retail associates, as well as … [Read more...]
Editorial – Things that keep vets up at night
The results of dvm360’s triennial survey are out. The survey makes clear veterinarians are concerned. They feel the same changes we feel and more. Addressing their concerns with proper action remains a strong challenge. Enterprising reps will set aside the detail book and use these survey results to have solution-centered dialogues with their accounts. “B” accounts will … [Read more...]
Editorial – Generational overload
Media sources are full of information about boomers, gen Xers, millennials and recently the iGens, or Generation Z. Depending on which date ranges you use, I live with a boomer, a gen Xer, a millennial and an iGen. We’re all different, have different attitudes and approach communication, problem solving and planning differently. I’ve found that engaging in safe, open discussion … [Read more...]
Editorial – There are no food activists in blizzards
Jennifer Latzke occasionally sounds off in her editorials and blogs. This post is one of those. You’ll appreciate the pragmatic view she presents. Source: High Plains Journal, February 1, 2016. If photos of empty grocery shelves in towns up and down the East Coast are any proof, there must not be that many food activists in blizzards. Empty milk cases, naked produce … [Read more...]
Editorial – Understand the customer’s perspective
People often like to discover their own solutions. Technologies, processes and practices have tactically improved the business of people doing business with people. This doesn’t mean folks don’t want help at times. Too often, companies look at customers as cash machines that can satisfy shareholders and offer solutions without the customer in mind. When we approach business … [Read more...]
Editorial – Free range is not bug free
I have a small town rural background where chickens roaming free was common. We called it scratchin’ in the stuff and eatin’ the things. The free-range movement has been a growing concern of mine, especially for veterinary practices in urban or ruralpolitan areas. This story begs the question, “are small animal veterinarians or dealers ready to service Chicken Little and her … [Read more...]
Editorial – Millennials, here they come!
Millennials are those born between 1982 and 2004. They’re the focus of two recent articles. I initially thought, “Why are we going here again?” A better perspective is that the oldest millennials are now 32 to 33 and are part of the paying economy. It IS time to learn more about this generation. Source: Trends, January 2016, page 26. (direct link unavailable) This is the … [Read more...]
Editorial – Antibiotic resistance: perception or reality
It is good that humans continue to challenge antibiotic use out of the fear of superbugs. The press is often quick to condemn the negative resulting in a new wave of “I told you so” public opinion. Like it or not, this column in the Washington Post does not bode well for continuing antibiotic use. Worth noting is that printed circulation is upwards of 440,000 and there were … [Read more...]
Editorial – Serving seedstock producers
There is a hidden resource in this article for livestock veterinarians, livestock sales reps or dealers serving this market: the Beef Seedstock Top 100 listing. Sortable, it is easily managed for your area. If you already work with these producers, send them a note of congratulations. They’ll appreciate it. If not, then you have ample information to engage them as a … [Read more...]