A comprehensive plan with goals, initiatives, and budgets is comforting, BUT starting with a plan is a terrible way to make strategy, says Roger Martin, MBA, author and Thinkers50 Number One Management Thinker in 2017. Martin’s YouTube video, A Plan Is Not a Strategy, was the most watched in 2023. What most strategic planning is in the world of business has nothing to do with … [Read more...]
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Benefits of colostrum for dogs
Includes product reference Colostrum is most often used to help dogs with allergies, but it has other benefits, too.The author lists 14 different uses for colostrum including: Repairing gut damage from pharmaceuticals Improving immune systems Preventing upper respiratory diseases and the canine flu Source: Modern Dog, January 4, 2024. Link. Bovine colostrum … [Read more...]
Some types of plastics should never be microwaved
Before you throw holiday leftovers into the microwave, know if it is safe to reheat your lunch if stored in a plastic container. Safety depends on the type of plastic used. In an article about plastic, we found some warnings pertinent to our own safety when using those convenient microwaves. Heating some plastics can cause the materials to release additives, aka chemicals … [Read more...]
Benefits, risks of chew treats
The AHD team has vigilantly shared content about treats and chews, especially when it comes to the calories these mostly non-essential products add to an already overweight pet population <Link>. Discussing chews specifically, Laura Gaylord DVM, DACVIM, and Donna Raditic DVM, DACVIM, CVA, share an overview of the three types of chews and potential benefits and risks when … [Read more...]
2023 was a record year for Global Alliance for Rabies Control
Rabies surveillance and prevention is everyone’s job. World Rabies Day 2023 was the most impactful event to date. The GARC hopes to build on the participation success and move closer to eliminating rabies deaths in humans by 2030. The widespread participation in World Rabies Day 2023 is a testament to the growing global awareness surrounding rabies prevention and … [Read more...]
Controlling livestock diseases could reduce GHG emissions
Sick critters increase greenhouse gas emissions. Vaccination and better management increase production outcomes and ease burdens on the environment, according to a study, published in One Health Outlook. Researchers analyzed emissions caused by some of the most damaging, but preventable, livestock diseases around the world, including foot and mouth disease and PRRS. . . . … [Read more...]
Lapsing client numbers increasing
ICYMI. Lapsing patients, defined as patients who haven’t been to a veterinary practice in 14 to 18 months, increased significantly per practice between January 2020 and July 2023. Rising overall prices, housing costs and interest rates have resulted in lower consumer confidence which may be reasons pet owners are delaying veterinary health care. Findings from the forthcoming … [Read more...]
Taming the anxious horse
You can’t control what a horse has learned in his lifetime, especially if you didn’t raise him. What can be controlled, however, is the situation the horse is in and how handlers react to the horse. Most horses don’t really want to be to be bad or good, they just want to be safe and comfortable, writes Heather Smith-Thomas. In this edition of EQUUS Extra, authors explain how … [Read more...]
Holiday food safety guide for pets
Its time again for the annual reminders about holiday treats and cuisine that simply should not be fed to pets. Also with all the hustle and confusion of guests and gatherings, being mindful of table or counter surfing is also important. From a DVM’s perspective, almost everything on the holiday menu can be irresistible and sometimes dangerous to our <pets>” - Rebecca … [Read more...]
Etiquette guide will improve your email communication
Speaking of email, here is help you can use. Since the pandemic, we now regularly video conference, use instant messaging and text. Still, email is the primary tool for connecting, often for the first time. Like it or not, it’s important. Three experts offer tips for getting the most from office email. Source: The Washington Post, November 1, 2023. Link. Take a few seconds … [Read more...]
For better results, focus on creating happiness
Commentary My first gut response to this article could be described as bah, hum-bug. Reading the context, I remembered some tough personal times when entering my workplace felt like a relief, a place where I was acknowledged and a place where something could happen almost predictably. Reflecting, I remain connected to some of the people from those past places and remember … [Read more...]
Body language
At parties, speaking with friends and at work meetings, some people are oblivious to real communication going on around them without words. Source: AXIOS, October 12, 2023. Link. Become a student of people in small group settings, be it card games, parties or work. I mean actively trying to spot human ticks, tells and patterns.” INSIGHTS: Almost 90 percent of in-person … [Read more...]
Catster, Dogster media brands acquired by Pangolia
Pangolia, a digital media and e-commerce startup, has announced an all-cash acquisition of the Catster and Dogster brands from Belvoir Media Group. Pangolia is a digital-first content producer, which allows them to keep costs low and talk to pet families in places they wouldn't otherwise be able to reach. Acquisitions like this mean beloved brands can be sustainable for … [Read more...]
Bird flu is back among commercial poultry flocks in U.S.
We shared concerns about the potential for highly pathogenic avian influenza infections to return as this fall’s bird migration began <Link>. It appears HPAI took a summer break but has returned to commercial turkey flocks in South Dakota and Utah. Fears are mounting that HPAI may possibly become a regular seasonal event. The virus may be present in wild birds and … [Read more...]
Pet owners are NOT prepared to pay for veterinary care
Commentary including Sponsored Content “They didn’t say anything about this in the books,” wrote James Herriott in his 1972 bestseller, “All Creatures Great and Small.” Herriott introduced readers to the amazing variety and never-ending challenges of veterinary practice. He also introduced us to unrealistic expectations of animal owners. We submit that while the practice of … [Read more...]
What is written on a dog’s face?
Boarding and daycare personnel often spend as much or more time with pets than their owners. These persons focus on animal-to-animal interactions and behaviors routinely. However, but it is also important that we understand how dogs communicate with people. Linked below is a research paper that evaluates the impact of facial phenotypes on communication between humans and … [Read more...]
A one-health review on brucellosis in the United States
Commentary For this post, we focused on the risks associated with B. canis. The review presents Brucellosis sp., a potential storm cloud on the horizon. Our culture of saving non-endangered animals, transferring animals across the country, increasing backyard interactions with wildlife and the public’s ignorance of zoonotic risks make this review important reading for animal … [Read more...]
Battling the equine sarcoid
Sarcoids are the most common tumor in equids worldwide. However, no perfect treatment exists, writes Elizabeth Collar, DVM, PhD, DACVS-LA. She reviews possible treatment options for the wide range of variables that are present with each tumor. The article includes pictures that demonstrate tumors, treatments and treatment complications. Source: DVM 360, May 2023. Link. … [Read more...]
Worms without borders
Complimentary Commercial Content When cattle move about the country so do the worms and germs they carry. Boehringer Ingelheim’s David Shirbroun, DVM, shares the challenges of worm management and how extended release dewormers can benefit producers with cattle pastured more than a month. One thing producers might not realize is that the peak level of larvae in the pasture … [Read more...]
Pause to say, “Good Job” to veterinary teams
Commentary – Complimentary Content While already into 2-Q-2023, the most recent Vet Watch Monthly Insight report shows veterinary teams have stayed the course to meet the demands of pet owners and rebalance some of the previous negative trends. Vet Watch numbers remain consistent down to a regional level. Individual practices are advised to look at their own practice results … [Read more...]
2 stages of puppy fear and how to get them through it
All puppies go through stages of development. Two of them are often referred to as the fear period or stage. The author explains each stage and ways to help a pup mature into a confident, happy, socialized dog. For most dogs animal health pros see, stage 1 has already passed during weeks three through twelve. Stage two generally arrives at about four to six months and can … [Read more...]
How much food to feed a dog
“How much do I feed my dog?,” is one of the most common questions animal health pros hear from new and seasoned dog owners. John Strassburger reminds dog owners that food volumes are different for every dog. He offers some calorie guidance and suggestions. Bottom line, dog owners will read this so animal health pros need to be aware of the guidance. Source: Whole Dog … [Read more...]
The gender pay gap in vet medicine is real
More women in veterinary medicine does not equal gender equality, writes Kristen Green Seymour in the latest issue of AAHA Trends. She covers gendered expectations, pay transparency, negotiating salary from day 1, abolishing the motherhood penalty, adjusting KPIs, practice ownership and more. Despite the field skewing strongly female, the average male income is significantly … [Read more...]
Got spiders? An overview of potential invertebrate patients
Among the most common invertebrates available in the pet trade are the arthropods which include large spiders such as the tarantulas and wolf spiders, scorpions, and land hermit crabs. All are relatively inexpensive and readily available writes Douglas R. Mader, MS, DVM, DABVP (C/F, R/A), DECZM (herpetology). His article offers a primer for the most common invertebrates … [Read more...]
Cows benefit from cud chewing
Too basic? Maybe. However, considering the current challenges with forage because of the drought the key takeaways are about particle size and length plus cow observation. Cud chewing is the regurgitation of feed that has already been consumed and swallowed. The regurgitated feed is re-chewed to an acceptable particle size and then re-swallowed. But wait . . . there’s … [Read more...]
On the lookout for JEV
Jennifer Shike shares industry’s concerns that Japanese encephalitis virus could migrate to the U.S. establishing the disease in domestic and feral swine populations. Transmitted similar to West Nile, aircraft and cargo ships are the most likely pathways of JEV introduction via infected adult mosquitoes. Source: PORK, January 13, 2023. Link. Vigilance is essential . . . the … [Read more...]
No silver bullet to solve the nationwide livestock vet shortage
Reinforcing what most animal health pros already know, Sarah Coleman provides subscribers of Hobby Farms magazine with an in-depth review of the livestock veterinarian conundrum. We’re sharing it considering the publication’s reach to more than 100,000 rural and ruralpolitan subscribers. Source: Hobby Farms, November/December 2022. Link. A number of factors are creating … [Read more...]
Foal pneumonia requires aggressive management to avoid long term effects
We’ve assembled three articles addressing pneumonia for consideration during the foaling season now underway. Pneumonia is very common in foals and can affect up to 10 percent of all foals, writes Nimet Browne, DVM, MPH, Dipl. ACVIM1. Although foal pneumonia can be quite severe, with aggressive management foals can recover and go on to lead normal lives. A foal’s immune … [Read more...]
Umbilical infections taking a toll on dairy calves
David Renaud, DVM, PhD, considers navel infections to be the most under-diagnosed disease in dairy calves, particularly in the first two weeks of life. Sharing research and on-farm experiences, Renaud and Matthias Wieland, DVM, say the symptoms of diarrhea and pneumonia are often readily seen but umbilical infections are rarely noticed. Renaud encourages veterinarians and … [Read more...]
Good hydration linked to healthy aging, better health
As we age our body’s regulation of fluid intake and thirst declines. As little as a two percent water deficit can produce fatigue, confusion or mood changes. Recent study results suggest that proper hydration may slow down aging and prolong a disease-free life. About half of people worldwide don’t meet recommendations for daily total water intake, which starts at six … [Read more...]