Whizy Kid’s article sparks memories of a 15th century saying, “Children should be seen not heard.” Fueled by the story of a California woman whose employer fired her because her children were allegedly too noisy, Kid discusses employment at will, just cause, gender discrimination and wrongful termination. Source: Refinery 29, July 10. Link. The pandemic has burst the dam on … [Read more...]
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Read this BEFORE you head out on vacation
Scott Edinger compares returning from vacation to a space shuttle on reentry. With the right preparation before a flight, the friction on reentry can be managed well with the right angles. Metaphors aside, he offers good counsel that may be more relevant now than in 2012. Source: Harvard Business Review, June 27, 2012. Link. Clear the decks Allow yourself to check … [Read more...]
Articles to help cat owners
Cat owners can be as curious as their cats. Many religiously participate in feline social media groups and share their experiences peer to peer. B-to-C publications also provide perspective on feline health, owner issues and wellness solutions, although the cover-to-cover reading habits for which cat owners are known has not drastically changed their habits with wellness … [Read more...]
Articles to help dog owners
Meeting the needs and curiosities of dog owners is part of what B-to-C publications seek to provide. Not all the material gets read thoroughly, so we assembled recent articles that can help dog owners better understand their canine pals. Source: How to satisfy your working dog’s instincts, Animal Wellness, July 6, 2020. Link. Satisfying a working dog’s instincts begins with … [Read more...]
Pet owner views during social distancing
Fewer than 40 percent of veterinarians are confident about how well they understand what pet owners think, according to Diggo research. There is a definite gap between what pet owners think and what veterinarians think they think. This gap is getting wider. The infographic in this article summarizes pet owner responses and includes their current intentions, thoughts about … [Read more...]
465 sick, 1 dead, 1/3 of sick are children – Chickens to blame
Backyard chickens can be fun and educational, but families have to be aware of how to safely manage the animals, according to the CDC. It's a little different than raising a dog or cat. The CDC sends out regular warnings about the salmonella risks from backyard flocks. Chickens should be outside animals only and while they may be cute please "don't kiss or snuggle backyard … [Read more...]
Beef industry paradigm shifts should continue
Seven innovations offered progress in genetics, efficiency and profitability in the beef industry also provide a “paradigm shift philosophy” for future management decisions, according to Bill Rishel, Nebraska Angus producer. He cited these innovations that helped everyone from ranchers to beef consumers: Performance record systems Artificial insemination Boxed beef … [Read more...]
Quiz: Boost your fly warfare expertise
Whether on the farm, in the stable, near the kennels or backyard patio, flies are a nuisance. Barb Crabbe, DVM, offers a 10-point quiz followed by the answers and some facts about each question. It’s likely there will be few perfect scores! Source: Horse and Rider, June 15, 2020. Link. INSIGHTS: At least half of the answers can be used in social media posts, newsletters or … [Read more...]
Solve the challenge of online pharmacies
Emily Shiver, CVPM, CCFP, provides a thought-filled article about competing with online pharmacies. She focuses on using in-clinic inventory, adjusting retail prices to market prices, abandoning umbrella markups and upping customer service elements, including reminders on refills. Shiver is correct when she identifies writing a prescription for little or no money as an … [Read more...]
Mentoring women is not about trying to rescue them
W. Brad Johnson, PhD, and David G. Smith, PhD, discuss cross-gender mentorships toward high-value reciprocal mentoring. These are essentially partnerships in which men and women play complementary roles leading to career and personal development for both parties, and ultimately, greater gender equality in the workplace. Source: HBR Ascend, June 23, 2020. Link. … [Read more...]
Keep pets safe during July 4th celebrations
Independence Day is Saturday and celebrations are already underway. While fun for us, the noisy festivities can scare pets and some run away. Plus, the foods we like can be unhealthful for them and firework debris can be dangerous. The American Veterinary Medical Association has helpful safety tips worth sharing. Source: American Veterinary Medical Association. Link. Make … [Read more...]
For hospital managers, numbers speak louder than words!
Veterinary practice managers generally track and report on a number of Key Performance Indicators. These critical figures provide valuable insights into how the practice is performing and specific factors that influence performance over time. This group of highly motivated animal health pros have received considerable support from their association in recent months. The VMHA … [Read more...]
Top 5 complications of gonadectomy
Clinicians must weigh the risks and benefits of gonadectomy with the pet owner and determine the most appropriate age to neuter different breeds and species. Although gonadectomy is considered a routine procedure, complications can arise. Karen M. Tobias, DVM, MS, DACVS, reviews five common complications of gonadectomy: Incisional complications Intra-abdominal … [Read more...]
Quiz: Exam room behavior cases (video)
Test your ability to spot the signs of anxiety in a patient with this video quiz. It is a timely review topic as animal health pros re-open after the first phase of Covid-19. Fear and anxiety are under-recognized and pervasive problems in veterinary medicine, says Leslie Sinn, CPDT-KA, DVM, DACVB. Common signs of distress include panting, lip licking, dilated pupils, avoiding … [Read more...]
When chickens cuss like sailors
For those who have not heard a chicken spout profanity, their expletives are best described as loud, long, harsh whines proclaiming that something has perpetuated grievous wrongs against them, writes Bruce Ingram. He shares common causes of chicken cursing. Step wrong around your poultry and they’ll let loose a string of chicken cursing that’ll make you blush! Source: Hobby … [Read more...]
5 clues to Cushing’s disease
Todd Archer, DVM, MS, DACVIM, shares the five most common findings seen on CBC, serum chemistry profile, and urinalysis results in patients with confirmed canine hyperadrenocorticism: Stress leukogram & thrombocytosis Elevated liver enzymes Hyperglycemia Hypercholesterolemia Dilute urine Source: Clinician’s Brief, October 2018. Link. Although most dogs … [Read more...]
Behavior problems are too common in dogs
Confirming what we already know, a Finnish study of 13,000 pet dogs found that nearly three-quarters of them have behavioral issues. The study focused on seven issues: noise sensitivity fearfulness compulsion fear of surfaces or heights inattention/impulsivity separation related behavior and aggression. Over a quarter of the dogs were fearful of fireworks … [Read more...]
Wildlife among us
Commentary A fecal deposit on my deck and a latrine under a tree recently are stark reminders that suburban backyards are frequented by an ever-increasing citified wildlife population. Animal health pros immediately think of rabies and ideally have been able to keep vaccinations current in pets that go outdoors. Beyond deer eating in our yards and predators like foxes, … [Read more...]
Don’t flush cat poop!
Cat poop is implicated for causing fatal toxoplasmosis in wild southern sea otters, according to a recent study published in Proceedings of the Royal Society B < link >. The Toxoplasma agents spread to the ocean from cat feces to land. Toxoplasma oocysts (eggs) accrue in kelp beds, where they are eaten by snails. Otters then eat the snails. Source: Catster, June 10, … [Read more...]
People find it hard to accept a compliment (podcast)
Suzann (Suzie) Pileggi Pawelski finds people typically respond to positive feedback in one of three unhealthy ways: Deflection (brushing it off) Reciprocation (repaying the compliment as quickly as possible) Discounting (providing reasons why the compliment isn’t really deserved). By refusing a compliment properly, people are missing out on a level of connection … [Read more...]
Focus on the lifetime value of the customer – always
Lifetime value (LTV) is the most important number in your business and the one to be obsessed with increasing, says Fernando Camacho. He shares perspective on building daycare and boarding businesses by prioritizing LTV in current customers, plus using LTV to measure return on investment of new customer acquisition efforts. Source: Pet Boarding and Daycare Magazine, May/June … [Read more...]
Employee engagement builds resilient teams
Business units are at an increased advantage and more resilient than their peers if employee engagement is strong. And they are at an increased disadvantage and less resilient if employee engagement is weak during a recession. Source: Gallup, May 20, 2020. Link. Clear expectations - during tough times, employees need managers who reset priorities, involve them in … [Read more...]
TODAY! Free webinar: Covid-19 & Companion Animal Setting
Content provided by Virox Animal Health. Thursday, June 18th, 2020 at 2:00 PM EDT Practical measures for protecting your team and your clients when returning to business. This webinar is aimed at veterinarians, animal technicians, office managers, employees and volunteers in clinical or group animal settings. Dr. Jose Ramirez will review the latest … [Read more...]
Dr. Ramey on the equine microbiome
When it comes to the equine microbiome, we don’t really know enough about what’s normal to make strong recommendations or have firm conclusions about what to do when things are abnormal. Happily, horses seem to do pretty well on their own, but there’s certainly a lot more to learn. David Ramey, DVM, discusses the nuances of the equine microbiome with researcher Dr. Carolyn … [Read more...]
Cat toys, catnip, cat eyes and moving with a cat
We continue to review articles targeted to animal owners. This helps ensure animal health pros know what various publications are telling animal owners and also to provide solid information to use in communications and social media. This selection of cat articles is worth your review. Source: Cat toys: How to keep them clean, when to throw them out, Catster, March 23, … [Read more...]
Cats need heartworm prevention too
A noticeable number of heartworm infections are found in indoor-only cats. This, along with limited treatment options, makes prevention important for every cat. Brian Calabro, DVM, discusses heartworm disease in cats. Source: DVM 360, June 8, 2020. Link. Cats are not small dogs making it good to review what we know about heartworm disease in cats and to refocus our efforts … [Read more...]
Reasons dogs eat grass
John Woods tackles why dogs eat grass. In spite of research efforts, there’s no explanation for this. There is one clear warning, however. Don’t let dogs eat grass that has been chemically treated with glyphosate and don’t let them eat toxic plants. Source: All Things Dog, March 18, 2020. Link. … [Read more...]
Dogs and hot summer weather
Heat and sunshine can be deleterious to the health of our dogs. The articles collected for this post all refer to taking precautions with dogs during summer. Given the number of new pet adoptions recently, reinforcing this information with pet owners is important. Source: Can Dogs Get Sunburned? PetMD, June 1, 2020. Link. It’s actually very important to put sunscreen on … [Read more...]
Dog life after WFH. Prepare for separation anxiety (video).
Once stay-at-home mandates end, pet owners won't be home as much. Prepare dogs for separation anxiety before it starts. Steve Dale shares concerns about upcoming separation stress. He shares proactive tools and ideas. Source: Good Morning America, May 2, 2020.Link. Also see: Separation anxiety training, The Bark, April 2020. Link. Also see: Pet separation anxiety … [Read more...]
Myths that stop people for asking for help at work
Comfortably and confidently asking for help requires refuting misperceptions that have been uncovered in research. These are myths likely to have been heightened as a result of the ongoing pandemic adjustments. Asking for help makes you look bad If I do ask for help, I’ll be rejected Even if someone agrees to help, they won’t enjoy doing so Source: Harvard … [Read more...]