The range of ticks carrying Lyme continues to expand, making it important to be able to forecast patterns of risk to exposure in order to target those areas for vaccines, preventives measure and educational campaigns. Researchers with the Companion Animal Parasite Council (CAPC) published an open access article in May in PLOS One that describes the methods taken to create the … [Read more...]
Effectiveness of animal testing being compared to other methods
All drugs and some chemicals must be tested on animals before humans, but no one is certain how well such tests predict the toxic effects on people. A Johns Hopkins University team hopes to find out by comparing standard animal tests with more modern scientific methods that use human cells or computer models. Source: The Baltimore Sun, March 16, 2017 via AAHA NEWStat. Data … [Read more...]
Kids prefer pets to siblings
While many families have pets, there hasn’t been much research done on the importance of child-pet relationships. Researchers with the University of Cambridge wanted to shed more light on these relationships by developing a system to test them. The study was published online in the Journal of Applied Developmental Psychology and will appear in the March 2017 print … [Read more...]
Thank you AAHA!
Your AHD team thanks our colleagues at AAHA for their support and input over the last year as we have developed Animal Health Digest. AAHA is a member of our Founder’s Circle and has a long history of communicating value to AAHA practices. Source: AAHA NEWStat, December 1, 2016. One of the tools AAHA uses to communicate is NEWStat. It covers current events that matter to … [Read more...]
New I-9 form required for all employees
A new Form I-9, Employee Information and Verification, is now available, according to the Society for Human Resource Management. It is required by law for employees to work in the United States. A new version of that form hopes to make this process more straightforward for practice owners and managers. Practices have until Jan. 21, 2017 to start using the new form. Previous … [Read more...]
AAHA transitioning to accredited-only hospital membership model
AAHA is bolstering its strategy to clarify and support the accredited AAHA practices with membership changes. Over the next two years, it will transition to an accredited-only hospital membership model. The transition will be completed by June 30, 2018. Non-accredited practices have until July 1, 2017 to enter into an agreement to become AAHA accredited. Any non-accredited … [Read more...]
11 states where veterinarians earn great salaries
Insider Monkey, an evidence-based investment resource, recently released statistics about the 11 highest-paying states for veterinarians, based on the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ Occupational Employment Statistics report. Source: AAHA NEWStat, October 12, 2016. To select the 11 highest paying states for veterinarians, Insider Monkey referred to the Occupational Employment … [Read more...]
Dogs may have better social filter than humans
Researchers at Yale University’s Canine Cognition Center provide perspective on human social learning by testing dogs in a similar environment. This information and video are intriguing. Source: AAHA NEWStat, October 3, 2016. Yale researchers concluded that dogs will leave out irrelevant actions when there is a more efficient way to solve a problem, even when a human … [Read more...]
September is Animal Pain Awareness Month
The second annual Animal Pain Awareness Month is being sponsored this month by the International Veterinary Academy of Pain Management (IVAPM). The IVAPM is a multi-disciplinary organization dedicated to promoting, enhancing, and advancing pain management in animals. Scheduled to coincide with human medicine’s Pain Awareness Month, its theme is “Because their pain is our … [Read more...]
AAHA releases 2016 Oncology Guidelines for Dogs and Cats
It is difficult for practitioners to keep up with new research, trend, and practices related to oncology. There is new resource to help. AAHA released its 2016 Oncology Guidelines for Dogs and Cats (“Guidelines”), a go-to resource general practitioners can use with oncology patients. The Guidelines are broken down into 14 areas. Sections include basic diagnostic tests and … [Read more...]
45% of practices increase fees annually
According to AAHA’s Financial and Productivity Pulsepoints: Vital Statistics for Your Veterinary Practice, nearly half of practices increase fees annually to stay profitable as the cost of goods, services and labor increases. Pulsepoints is a unique resource that enables practices and those who service them understand factors that influence practice successes. Source: AAHA … [Read more...]
Canine and feline preventive healthcare guidelines now available
Partners for Healthy Pets, an alliance of more than 100 veterinary associations, veterinary colleges and animal health companies focused on preventive care led by AAHA and the American Veterinary Medical Association, is offering complimentary canine and feline preventive healthcare guidelines. Source: AAHA NewStat, May 11, 2016. A one-page, double-sided, easy to use set of … [Read more...]
Feline hyperthyroidism guidelines released
AAFP has issued new guidelines for managing feline hyperthyroidism. They include: Distill current research into simple, testing sequence recommendations to avoid misdiagnosis. Organize a FHT diagnosis into six clinical categories with associated strategies. Outline the currently available disease treatments. Explain how to monitor the patient to minimize co-morbid … [Read more...]
Culture affects veterinary practice success
Animal health professionals will be eager to see the results of the much-anticipated, annual AAHA 2016 State of the Industry survey. AAHA President Michael Cavanaugh, DVM, shared results about studies of organizational culture in veterinary practices. Researchers surveyed more than 1,000 veterinary hospitals to study the qualities of organizational culture in practices, … [Read more...]
Canine influenza confirmed in felines
The first confirmed report of multiple cats testing positive for H3N2 canine influenza virus in the U.S. shows the virus can affect cats. Researchers hope that infections and illness in felines will be rare. An H3N2 vaccine is now available for dogs, but no vaccine is currently approved or recommended for cats. Source: AAHA NewStat, April 7, 2016. Suspicions of an outbreak … [Read more...]
Activate inactive clients
Learn how a free program from Partners for Health Pets (PHP) can help recover the ~50 percent of clients who become inactive in a three-year period. Source: AAHA NewStat, February 25, 2016. Partners for Healthy Pets (PHP), an alliance of 100+ veterinary associations, veterinary colleges, and animal health companies focused on preventive care led by AAHA and the American … [Read more...]