Sometimes the simplest solution is the best course of action. Source: INC, February 16, 2023. Link. …sometimes tiny changes really do seem to significantly improve how we think about things, leading to more and better solutions.” INSIGHT: Challenges may come dressed differently today but at their core they have changed little over the years. … [Read more...]
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Are modified rabies PrEP recommendations for people backed by the latest findings?
Erica Tramuta-Drobnis, VMD, MPH, CPH, addresses the question, “Does scientific evidence support this decision, or is the basis made due to healthcare cost concerns, accessibility, and poor compliance?” in this article. Rabies pre-exposure prophylaxis recommendations were recently amended by the CDC. They replace the previous three-dose PrEP schedule with a two-dose … [Read more...]
Key trends driving veterinary care’s future
Bret Schiller shares three trends he believes will continue to drive the future of the veterinary care segment. It is critical veterinary hospitals, clinics, and offices understand the issues and opportunities, and most importantly, how to adapt their practices to ensure continued success.” Bret Schiller Source: Veterinary Practice News, March 17, 2023. Link. Schiller says … [Read more...]
Impacts of commingling preconditioned and auction-derived beef calves with BRD
Commentary Cattle science continues to study ways to decrease morbidity, mortality and reduce use of antiinfectives as cattle move around the country. The study referenced reinforces the value of preconditioning and addresses the effects of comingling auction-derived calves with the preconditioned ones. Preconditioning reduced BRD and antimicrobial use in the feedlot, in … [Read more...]
5 steps for using care to unlock employee happiness and health
MetLife’s 21st annual U.S. Employee Benefit Trends Study found a connection between employee health and caring employers. Eighty percent of employees who feel cared for at work describe themselves as holistically healthy compared with 40 percent who feel an absence of care from their employer. Fifty-eight percent of employees overall feel cared for when working. Missy … [Read more...]
7 things to know to keep rabbits healthy and hopping
Morris Animal Foundation shares seven things to know before adopting a rabbit. Bunnies are often sold alongside chicks during spring. Like dogs and cats, they need special care, attention and training. Source: Morris Animal Foundation, January 19, 2023. Link. Also see: Search results for bunnies, AHD. Link. RHDV, rabbit math, abandonment, cute factor and more about … [Read more...]
Fighting foot funk
Heather Smith Thomas shares the importance of regular hoof care. Mud and moisture can soften and impair the hoof’s structural integrity, making it vulnerable to hoof infections like thrush, white line disease and abscesses she says. Source: The Horse, March 13, 2023. Link. Keeping the hoof clean and dry is important, rather than just using various hoof-strengthening paints … [Read more...]
Domestication of cats and why they are like us
Recent experiments suggest that cats are more socially intelligent and attuned to familiar humans than we realize. These studies even indicate that cats like us. . . . there is no reason to suppose that humans deliberately domesticated cats . . . if anything, cats domesticated themselves.” - Danijela Popovic, PhD Source: New Scientist, March 7, 2023. Link. Also see: Why … [Read more...]
Dogs, special brownies and more
“What to do if your dog eats marijuana,” by Jennifer Bailey, DVM, addresses a growing issue in homes with pets. Whether edibles, weed or vape cartridges, many of these familiar options are also attractive to dogs. Marijuana was ranked 9th in top Toxin Trends <Link>. Consider this article for social media posts and newsletters to keep pet owners informed of the safety … [Read more...]
Social media management in 1 to 3 hours per week
Cheyanne Flerx took on the job of social media in addition to her duties as a veterinary assistant. She shares a few tips to help work within a limited time frame. Social media doesn't have to be a chore . . . but it does take planning ahead.” Source: AAHA NEWStat, February 23, 2023. Link. Flerx’s basic tips are: Plan ahead and be proactive Work in task batches … [Read more...]
3rd annual burnout study released by Galaxy Vets
Results from the third Galaxy Vet burnout study indicate an overwhelming majority of veterinary professionals don’t feel support from peers, supervisors or hospital owners. Not being heard had a direct correlation with the burnout rate. Galaxy Vets shared these key findings summary with AHD: Burnout returned to pre-pandemic level Practice managers, CSRs, assistants … [Read more...]
Worth a Glance – March 9, 2023
Last week’s AHD Bulletin – Animal Health Digest Bulletin, March 2, 2023. Link. Most read post(s) from March 2nd AHD Bulletin – Vet Watch Insight Report. 8.5 percent YTD practice revenue growth, other improvements. Link. Place keeper: 2023 Veterinary Conferences provided by Galaxy Vets. Link. 10 most popular articles of 2022 from HBR’s Working Knowledge … [Read more...]
Vaccines need a boost, especially for calves
Commentary Seen through animal health pros’ eyes, Abby Bauer’s article is basic. However, seen through a younger producer’s first experiences, it is a reminder and a reinforcement of the importance of vaccine booster timing especially since producers often do their own vaccinations. Boosters should be administered one to two months after the initial vaccination to build … [Read more...]
The best way to store dog food may surprise you
In recent dog food recall announcements, we noted comments about how dog food is stored. Storage information is not readily found on several brands’ websites. After a bit of digging here’s what we found. Key points: store dog food inside in original bags for best results, refresh monthly.” We reviewed packaging and labels from more than 12 brands for storage instructions, … [Read more...]
Your success will be determined by 3 things
Our recent post on slowing down to write better emails <Link> received a fair amount of attention. In the article linked below, Justin Bariso shares parts of a compelling lecture given by the late MIT professor Patrick Winston who asserted no one should go through life without being armed with the ability to properly communicate. Your success in life will be determined … [Read more...]
Worth a Glance – March 2, 2023
Last week’s AHD Bulletin – Animal Health Digest Bulletin, February 23, 2023. Link. Most read post(s) from February 23rd AHD Bulletin – How old is too old for dentals? Link. Place keeper: 2023 Veterinary Conferences provided by Galaxy Vets. Link. Very few veterinarians are black in the U.S. This is what it’s like to be one. Source: HuffPost, February … [Read more...]
10 common cat sounds and what they mean
A cats’ vocabulary is just as rich and subtle as cat body language, writes JaneA Kelly. She shares her favorite cat sounds and what they mean. Source: Catster, August 12, 2019. Link. Also see: Caterwauling, what and why, AHD, September 18, 2018. Link. INSIGHTS: Consider using this content for social media or a feline newsletter. Since regular cat visits are … [Read more...]
Millennial and Gen Z professionals have high expectations for B2B ecommerce
Millennials and Gen Z zoomers constitute 64 percent of business buyers, according to a report from Forrester Research Inc. In the next two years, more than a third of millennial and Gen Z business buyers will purchase through self-guided digital channels.” Source: Digital Commerce 360, February 15, 2023. Link. Younger buyers are more demanding, engaging in more buying … [Read more...]
Addressing veterinary attrition through storytelling
Veterinary Visionaries 2023 Spring Solving Event is asking veterinary professionals to record short video testimonials that puts human experiences into the profession’s statistics. Using crowdsourced videos, 60 or more industry organizations support this effort to help the veterinary industry reverse the declining employee satisfaction and retention trend. How do we get people … [Read more...]
Vet Watch Insight Report. 8.5 percent YTD practice revenue growth, other improvements
Commentary Growth in core vaccines, kennel cough vaccine and surgery at this point in the new year is good news. While invoices, patient and client numbers are still negative, these results are much improved over what was seen mid-November <Link>. Prevention medicine requires proactive communication.” Consider sharing this market information as part of employee … [Read more...]
5 key principles for composting farm waste
Spring weather will soon thaw frozen manure piles leaving producers with decisions about handling the manure effectively. Beyond a simple pile of manure, composting should be thought of as the biological decomposition of organic matter under controlled conditions, says Brian Dougherty. He explains the nuances of getting moisture, oxygen level, particle size, … [Read more...]
5 key issues for the U.S. pork industry
The National Pork Producers Council latest pork industry economic update summarizes five key pork industry market indicators through January 2023: Consumer pork demand Projected growth Labor shortages Production costs Ripple effect Source: National Hog Farmer, February 14, 2023. Link. . . . data on hog farm employment specifically shows that average wages … [Read more...]
For cows, time is money
Too simple? Maybe. Yet, Rick Grant reminds us of the importance of giving cows time to rest and eat. Cows need to spend about 70% of their day eating and resting. . . We have to get that right and allow cows to do cow things.” Source: Hoard’s Dairyman, February 20, 2023. Link. If cows are eating four to five hours a day and resting 12 to 14 hours, that does not leave much … [Read more...]
7 amazing facts about insects
Ants, honeybees, a 22-inch walking stick, ladybugs and more . . . Mosquitoes are the world’s deadliest animal.” Source: Interesting facts. Link. INSIGHTS: Consider using one of these examples as a conversation starter when you need to break the ice with a new person or group. … [Read more...]
How old is too old for dentals?
It is important to recognize that oral and dental disease often increases in incidence in older pets. Heidi Lobprise, DVM, DAVDC, asserts since resolving these issues can improve the patients’ overall quality of life, managing the anesthetic risks of these patients, and concerns of their owners is critical. Seldom will a pet be too old to benefit from optimal care.” Source: … [Read more...]
A cup is a terrible way to measure how much we feed a dog
There are too many variables to effectively use volume as an accurate measurement of how much a dog gets to eat. Reminding us that dog food labels are challenging for pet owners to interpret, if not misleading, Nancy Kerns addresses feeding enough or too much. Kerns’ frequent articles about pet food make good posts for animal health pros to share with pet owners … [Read more...]
IBPSA Fast Bites – February 20, 2023
Women in the pet business, making the most of pay-per-click, promoting small business methods, preventing PTSD after pet loss, tax and insurance tips for small business, working smarter not harder and thoughts on the culture of <pet> domestication. Source: IBPSA Fast Bites, February 20, 2023. Link. … [Read more...]
Make meetings places for honest conversations
Permission to say or ask anything is priceless, writes Paul Axtell. Giving permission and creating safety are two key areas that can increase freedom, candor and quality of conversation in your meetings. People don’t just want to belong, they want to contribute. Source: Harvard Business Review, April 11, 2019. Link. The quest for better meetings ultimately lies in leading … [Read more...]
Time to review the 2019 AAHA Dental Care Guidelines for Dogs and Cats
As National Pet Dental Month promotions end, animal health pros need to consider how pet oral care and dentistry will be presented during exams and in client communications. The AAHA Dental Care Guidelines for Dogs and Cats were updated in 2019 to outline a comprehensive approach in improving the oral health and often, the quality of life of their canine and feline … [Read more...]
Storytelling and the narrative in good patient care
Commentary Context can rarely be achieved in a 10-minute exam . . . period. The ability of a veterinary professional to understand a patient’s health status and determine treatment options requires the story of an event or life circumstances. Engaging the pet owner to share their observations and specifics is an important element in what is described as narrative … [Read more...]