Christa Lesté-Lasserre, MA, helps support horse owner education with this Zoetis sponsored article. Consider it for social media posts, e-newletters and website content. The high mortality rate, human risk, and vaccine efficacy have led veterinarians to identify five vaccines they consider “core:” West Nile virus, Eastern and Western equine encephalomyelitis, tetanus, and … [Read more...]
AHD – focused on you for three years
We’ve been honored to bring actionable information to animal health pros for three years. Using your feedback, we added resources that help us get along with each other and develop our own interpersonal skills. This edition of the AHD Bulletin focuses on challenges animal health pros experience in day-to-day interactions with human beings. We define animal health … [Read more...]
6 most read posts from the last 6 months
Providing you a way to quickly sift through industry media is the main objective of Animal Health Digest. We believe informed animal health pros create more opportunities when you’re up to speed on what’s out there. With reading in decline, readers have a comparative advantage in today’s business, Michael Hyatt. Link. We’ve captured a few of the most read posts from Q1 and 2Q … [Read more...]
Fall leaves can be toxic to horses
As fall colors paint the countryside, remember that falling leaves can pose a potentially deadly threat to horses. Dr. Tania Cubitt reviews trees whose leaves are dangerous in this article sponsored by Standlee Forage. Source: Horse Network, October 10, 2018. Link. Do not dispose of your raked leaves into your pasture Also see: Red maple leaves dangerous for horses, Animal … [Read more...]
Understanding customers and decision makers
Two posts featuring Pat Malone, AHD’s weekly contributor, were opened at exceptionally high rates. Malone's focus on leading a customer to decide is evident in his writing and in his daily interactions with colleagues, customers, seminar participants and friends. These posts and the associated articles are relevant in today's business environment. Source: Understanding the … [Read more...]
Weaning, a ‘house of horrors’ for young calves
With a Halloween mindset, Blaine Corners compares weaning a calf to sending a small child into a house of horrors alone. . . . weaned calves face frightening new surroundings. This can include unfamiliar feed, new water sources, exposure to different cattle and harmful pathogens, and increased stress. Source: Progressive Cattleman, September 11, 2018. Link. Producers can … [Read more...]
Sponsored content: Recently seen in AAHA NEWStat
We’re sharing sponsored content from NEWStat, one of several publications available from AAHA Press, the publishing arm of the American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA). New study shows link the evolution of feline hypertension, Boehringer Ingelheim, September 1, 2018. Link. New study shows link between ticks and kidney disease, September 1, 2018. Link. Guide to … [Read more...]
Sponsored Content – Home dental care now in WSAVA Global Dental Guidelines
The World Small Animal Veterinary Association Global Dental Guidelines were updated August 1, 2018. They now include a section on dental home care. The two major types of home plaque control are active and passive. Both types can be effective if performed correctly and consistently. Active homecare is currently the gold standard. Active homecare involves the … [Read more...]
Pet medical insurance is growing, group says
Whether as a member of a veterinary team or as a pet owner, pet insurance is becoming a more prevalent consideration in managing both life quality and financial risk when owning a pet. The number of insured pets increased climbing to 1.83 million last year, up about 16% from the previous year. That’s only 1% of dogs and cats, but insurers expect the expansion to … [Read more...]
Pinkeye challenges NC region
Cattle in Catawba County, North Carolina, are experiencing the worst year for pinkeye ever, according to North Carolina State University Extension agent Glenn Detweiler. He references late rains and fly populations as part of a perfect storm for pinkeye infections. Source: Hickory Record, August 17, 2018. Link. The group called face flies seem harmless since they do not … [Read more...]
Opinion – Chew on this blast from the past
AHD editor, Rick Purnell, found a dental care brochure in a media kit from 2007. See the images of the Hartz® brochure at the link below. While the graphics show how far we’ve come in presenting products in the last 10 plus years, the messages are alarmingly similar. A Google search for the study referenced indicates its results have been referenced by as many as 20 or more … [Read more...]
Opinion – Train new hires to give location directions
A recent family reunion and the return trip across new geography exposed the weakness of cell phone coverage, internet connectivity and the stark reality that many younger persons cannot give directions to their work location without the help of digital technology. Imagine the end of a 600-plus-mile day, traveling with a gracious but tired octogenarian and not being able to … [Read more...]
B-Lyme-y! (infographic)
The DVM 360 staff put together an informative infographic that highlights findings from a new study conducted by The Harris Poll on behalf of Merck Animal Health. Data shows pets aren’t getting complete protection against fleas, ticks and Lyme disease. Source: DVM 360, June 22, 2018. Link. The good news: Pet parents of all ages want to protect their pets from parasites, with … [Read more...]
Water consumption crucial to horse health
Getting enough water sounds elementary doesn’t it. But for horses, and cattle, as well, . . . water is the most important nutrient, especially in hot weather. Without it, horses die within a few days, whereas they may be able to go weeks without food. Source: BEEF, June 25, 2018. Link. Ambient temperature affects water intake, and horses typically drink less water in cold … [Read more...]
Update, anaplasmosis in dogs
Prompted by the Dogster article linked below, we reviewed recent information about anaplasmosis in dogs, in addition to ruminants, horses, people and wildlife species. White-tailed deer and small rodents are considered the primary reservoir hosts. Canine anaplasmosis is caused by one of two gram-negative, obligate, intracellular bacterial agents, Anaplasma phagocytophilum or … [Read more...]
How women can succeed by rethinking old habits
Sally Helgesen and Marshall Goldsmith discuss self-limiting behaviors that are simply part of being human. Their combined experiences with women in virtually every sector taught them that even women at the highest levels can undermine themselves with specific self-sabotaging or self-limiting behaviors that are different from those that most frequently undermine men. Not all … [Read more...]
AHD welcomes Jim Whitt
The AHD Bulletin welcomes Jim Whitt as a contributor to our team. Jim is a professional people provoker and one who believes and lives the transformational power of purpose. Source: Animal Health Digest. Jim helps people reach their full potential scientifically, psychologically and spiritually. We have no doubt you’ll enjoy and benefit from his contributions. Reach him … [Read more...]
The world needs you to love reading
Niklas Göke is young, a German grad student and prolific contributor to Medium. In this post, he addresses the importance of reading and the need to fight to read even when you enjoy it. Explaining his perspective on reading and its link to culture he writes, Despite both the subjective and objective evidence, the demise of reading is not a very public issue. In the age of new … [Read more...]
Heed new pinkeye management protocols
Articles from AHD sponsor Addison Biological Laboratories provide information about how we should now manage pinkeye. Starting with a historical perspective helps. This is what we know: Pinkeye is a painful cattle disease that can reduce weaning weights as much as 17 lbs. to 65 lbs. per animal. Pinkeye is a multifactor disease. Once it begins to spread through a … [Read more...]
Trim dogs’ toenails in a stress-free way
Searching “dog nail trimming” on Google reveals a plethora of information. Most of it focuses on our reluctance to routinely trim nails because of unruly animals or the fear of cutting into the quick. Dr. Karen Gellman reminds us that long toenails have consequences on the pet: Long toenails cause painful feet Overgrown nails often create an abnormal compensatory … [Read more...]
Presenting euthanasia as a reasonable option may benefit DVMs, owners and pets
Euthanasia and end-of-life considerations are predictable stressors for veterinary professionals, says Katherine Goldberg, DVM. What follows is a rational and strategic discussion of euthanasia from both the DVMs’ perspectives and the pet owners. She thoughtfully suggests we rethink euthanasia from something we must or should consider to something we might or could … [Read more...]
Prevent lameness in dairy cows
Recent research findings published in the Journal of Dairy Science suggest that lameness prevention merits a strong focus on dairy farms. Michael Cox reviews the prevention issues and opportunities. Source: American Dairymen, April 2018, page 14. Like many animal health issues, lameness is a multi-factorial problem. Dairymen need to review their facilities and people … [Read more...]
Create a growth culture, not a performance-possessed one
Tony Schwartz discusses the challenges of performance cultures, the impact on employees and challenges to sustaining success. Instead he advocates a growth culture that blends individual and organizational components: An environment that feels safe, fueled first by top by leaders willing to demonstrate vulnerability and take personal responsibility for their shortcomings … [Read more...]
Back-to-back conventions offer learning and conversation opportunities
Convention season is here. Many industry personnel will be crisscrossing the country for convention activities, continuing education, customer interactions or group meetings aligned with the events. The same is true for AHD team members. Rick Purnell, AHD editor will join AHD founder/president, Kirk Augustine at the Cattle Industry Convention and Trade show January 31 … [Read more...]
Opinion – Eliminating declaws adds nail challenges
First, I support eliminating declaw surgeries. I’ve been there, done that and wished I hadn’t. But, indoor cats just don’t wear down claws as easily as indoor/outdoor or outdoor-only cats. During a recent visit with a Ceva colleague, I asked about nail trimming guidance beyond the benefits of FELISCRATCH™ and dedicated scratching poles. We did a quick Google search and I was … [Read more...]
Clicks matter
We are excited to capture the content and ideas that shape our daily conversations and objectives in the animal health industry for an exciting new year. Thanks to cooperation from our Founder’s Circle companies and sponsors, we now read and analyze material for an audience of more than 20,000 animal health professionals. For AHD, an animal health professional is any employed … [Read more...]
Editor’s Viewpoint
There is clarity as AHD begins its third year. This lucidity that is there is an equal, enthusiastic desire for solid industry information by entry level clinic clerks to extended-career executives. You tell us this when you click on posts, read articles and send us emails. Your ongoing readership helps guide the media sources we review for you. You’ve encouraged us to … [Read more...]
Getting along with others: popular posts with animal health pros
After peppering some human-to human-interaction posts in the AHD BULLETIN early 2017, we learned that animal health pros are just as interested in getting along with each other and clients as they are with keeping animals healthy. In fact, this reality added more than 20 media sources for our team to scour routinely. Source: Animal Health Digest, July-December 2017. Facing … [Read more...]
Most popular posts: animal topics and issues
AHD was founded to support animal health pros with content in the context of how they interact with animals and animal owners. Articles posted in this genre’ remain the most opened posts of all categories. Seven posts topped the opened metrics in the last two quarters of 2017. Topics like these become support materials during sales calls with representatives as well as topics … [Read more...]
Pat Malone’s posts: highly favored
Posts written by AHD’s weekly contributor, Pat Malone, are consistently opened at a high rate. He writes about leadership and productive communication. We all thank Mr. Malone for sharing his expertise, leadership and training experiences. Most of all we appreciate his support and friendship. Source: Animal Health Digest, July-December 2017. We captured the eight most-opened … [Read more...]