Julia Burke shares ideas and favored items in the pet industry to add to your holiday shopping list from several categories, including health and wellness items. Source: DVM 360, November 24, 2023. Link. Also see: Choosing safe dog toys, AHD, December 21, 2021. Link. … [Read more...]
Study: More Americans seeking preventive care. Can animal health capitalize on the trend?
Commentary Animal health pros are familiar with the transitions from treatment to prevention that occurred in dentistry <Link>. Driven in part by advancements in technology, a modern general practice dentist is heavily focused on healthy oral care and preventing dental decay. A Health Affairs study indicates human patients are seeking similar care from their primary … [Read more...]
Looking back: most read posts from the November 2022 AHD Bulletins
Most read posts give us a sense of the priorities, problems and pain points animal health pros are experiencing when serving animal owners, their animals and each other. Despite what seems like a heightened sense of urgency, the most read posts from a year ago are grounding and remind us little changes. Animal health remains a repetitive business which benefits from educating … [Read more...]
WARNING! Choose rodent poisons wisely
Since rodents flock to buildings this time of year, we’re reposting this as a reminder that Bromethalin, second-generation rodenticides, have NO ANTIDOTE. The distinction between consumer retail and professional formulas remains a concern. The post contains several references about baits and toxicity. Source: Animal Health Digest, November 12, 2019. Link. Second generation … [Read more...]
3 takeaways from the Veterinary Innovation Summit
The annual Veterinary Innovation Summit, organized by NAVC, took place October 9th to 11th in Kansas City, Missouri. Animal Health Digest asked industry veteran Brendan Howard to attend on our behalf and to share takeaways from the presentations. We’re all in the same boat. Excited and wondering. Fearful and anxious. Exhausted at the speed of change and uncomfortable with the … [Read more...]
Pet owners delay veterinary care but may spend $700M on Halloween
Commentary An NRF survey shows $700M is projected in pet Halloween spending this month, yet last week we shared a report that found 72 percent of veterinary service providers are seeing owners delay pet care due to ongoing economic concerns <Link>. The juxtaposition of economic commitments is bizarre, not surprising, but mind-boggling.” Additionally, it is National … [Read more...]
Manure Expo featured research-backed innovation
Livestock producers are constantly challenged to improve the way manure is handled to protect land and water resources and maximize its value to farms. More than 900 people attended the North American Manure Expo to learn and discuss modern methods of improving the use and value of livestock waste. What’s really exciting is how quickly manure applicators and farmers are … [Read more...]
Cat treats evolving to become an important component of daily life
Includes Commercial Content For a cat treat to be considered functional, it must serve a greater purpose than a simple reward or snack given between meals, writes Dorothy Crouch. She says cat owners want to support the health of their cats through snacks that are tasty, satisfying and provide wellness benefits. Treats remain an integral tool to forging and cultivating the … [Read more...]
Most-read 2023 posts by Patrick T. Malone
Bringing the perspective and discipline from his work with leader and sales groups, Patrick T. Malones’ contributions frequently are among the top 10 AHD posts opened each month. This week, we’re sharing the most-read Malone posts from 2023. Source: Animal Health Digest Don’t be afraid to ask the sensitive questions. Link. Trust lost. Link. How to deal with an … [Read more...]
Head the warning . . . AI captures ALL
A recent discussion among media writers included a warning - artificial intelligence captures everything and does not discern what is real or fake. Therefore, heed the warning before jumping on your soapbox to bloviate before double-checking facts. Source: Media group discussion, Animal Health Digest team. … [Read more...]
Essential oils generally not safe for cats
There is a common misconception essential oils must be safe because they come from plants. Rather, many of them are toxic, writes Barri J. Morrison, DVM. For cats, essential oils are not safe and can quickly cause toxicity. They are rapidly absorbed by mouth and through the skin, where they accumulate in the liver. Cats do not have the liver enzymes needed to break down the … [Read more...]
Furniture pros pick furniture cats are less likely to scratch
Despite well placed scratching posts, many cats are clever about finding alternatives to them, writes Catherine Holm. Curious, she engaged furniture professionals to identify the most durable furniture materials for cat owners’ homes. Consider sharing this article with cat owners on social media and in newsletters. Other articles exist in the AHD archives*, including … [Read more...]
How to say “Thank You” for supporting your business
Every interaction with a customer or prospect is an opportunity to express gratitude for being chosen to address their wants or needs. Those words and phrases help build loyalty and leave the door open to serve the customers again. Annie Pilon shares ideas for saying thank you in person, online, with follow-up communications and more. Animal health pros consistently discuss … [Read more...]
Does dog food expire?
Economies of scale from big bags of dog food diminish when it is not used up within four to six weeks. While dog foods don’t technically expire, foods past their “best by” or “use by” label dates are not as nutritious and are more likely to become moldy or otherwise compromised, writes Cindy Foley. The “use by” or “best by” dates are important enough to be considered as … [Read more...]
Blister beetles in hay are a danger for livestock, horses
Got grasshoppers? Then it is likely blister beetles may be present as grasshopper eggs are a main food source for them <Link>. With drought causing more hay to be transported about the country, it is important for livestock producers and horse owners to monitor the hay and their animals for signs of blister beetles. Elizabeth Cronin shares some ways to reduce the threat … [Read more...]
More on blue-green algae
The term blue-green algae is a misnomer, as this organism is, in fact, a single-celled organism called cyanobacteria. Here are some key takeaways from an article by Angie Krause, DVM, CVA, CCRT: Cyanobacteria can have almost any color although many bodies of water affected by this toxic organism have a pea-green color. The toxic strains of blue-green algae contain … [Read more...]
Looking back while charging forward
As the third quarter of 2023 begins, the animal health industry continues to adapt to ever-changing new norms. Dr. Google’s influence may be diminishing as new information sources expand in the B2C sector capitalizing on major publications’ use of their databases from other markets. It is important to remember media sources still influence animal owners’ understanding and … [Read more...]
Guiness’ smallest bull in the world (video)
Humphrey is a miniature Zebu Bull who is about 26.6 inches tall and weighs around 85 pounds. He lives at a farm outside of Kalona, Iowa, and has been the Guinness Book of Records world record holder for five years. Source: Power 96, June 19, 2023. Link. Also see: Interest in miniature cattle continues to surge, AHD, April 11, 2023. Link. … [Read more...]
Appearance and animal owner perception
During a recent National Geographic Wild episode, a veterinarian purposely changed clothes between patients after a sick parrot decorated his scrub top. It reminded me of a post from 2021 that is worth repeating. . . . appearance influences animal owners’ first impressions of animal health professionals.” Source: Animal Health Digest, November 16, 2021. Link. … [Read more...]
Those dirty flies . . .
Warmer spring weather is also the start of fly season and no matter where you live, flies can be a problem. Our AHD archives offer many resources on fly control. Getting started now, can help keep fly populations from growing out of control. Source: Search results for fly control, AHD Archives. Link. … [Read more...]
The power of “What Else?” and other follow-up questions
Powerful follow-up questions, asked in a timely manner, will double the impact, yield faster and more accurate results during interactions with clients, customers and colleagues. Patrick T. Malone shares we often miss the opportunity for enormously powerful follow-up questions that demonstrate our genuine concerns while providing us with more information about our clients’ … [Read more...]
Work is NOT your family
Suggesting your team is "like a family" breaks down necessary boundaries, creates burnout and can affect your health. Gloria Chan Packer gives guidance to deal with this paradigm which can be destructive to teams and individuals. . . . see if you can find 1 way to empower mental health for yourself or others this year . . . avoid the stigma of working with experts like … [Read more...]
Calving season begins
Calving season brings promise and challenges to producers and the veterinary teams who support them. An early calf born in Missouri reminds us of the need to help producers get ready for late winter and spring calving. Here are several calving resources we’ve shared in AHD posts over the last seven years. Source: Search results for: calving, Animal Health Digest. Link. … [Read more...]
Oral care; a New Year’s resolution for veterinary teams, pet owners
Opinion and Sponsored Content Asserting the importance of oral care is as important as discussing vaccines and flea, tick and heartworm prevention. Pet oral care is a critical component of healthy pet stewardship. Comprehensive Oral Health Assessment and Treatment (COHAT) remains an opportunity for veterinary clinics to educate pet owners on the importance of oral care at … [Read more...]
Telemedicine veterinarian identified as new job type in TIME
Features Commercial Content TIME named telemedicine veterinarian as one of five jobs that didn’t exist five years ago. Brian Evans, DVM, from Dutch contributed information about the opportunity of telemedicine in the veterinary setting. He shared telemedicine is never going to replace real-life care. It’s always going to be an adjunct to in-person care, because telemedicine … [Read more...]
Worth a Glance – January 5, 2022
Top five most read posts from December 2022 - Middle managers are exhausted. Top teams need to listen. Link. Find happiness at work instead of quiet quitting. Link. What a cat friendly veterinary experience looks like. Link. The top pet products of 2022. Link. Thank you! Link. ================================================= Quiz: Surgical … [Read more...]
Force-free, fear-free nail trimming techniques for dogs
Nail trimming can be stressful for pets and their owners. The longer they wait, the more likely an untoward experience will occur. The resources below offer good guidance on conditioning pets to healthful nail care at home, where it care can be easily managed with proper education, training and patience. . . . the ability to trim a dog’s nails should be a prerequisite to being … [Read more...]
Pet parents are your teammates
“Pet parents may not be medically trained but they know their pets better than anyone,” asserts Dana Varble, DVM. “Listen to them when they have concerns.” She advocates treating owners as home healthcare providers who serve as an extension of your own clinic team every day. Source: Today’s Veterinary Practice, October 10, 2022. Link. Trust, communication, and education … [Read more...]
What drives colostrum yield, quality?
Researchers are working to uncover cow-specific and environmental factors associated with colostrum yield and quality. Colostrum yield was associated with a range of cow-specific factors including the sex of the calf, whether the calf was a stillbirth, gestation length, dry period length, parity, previous lactation length and previous lactation 305-day mature-equivalent milk … [Read more...]
Most read AHD posts
These posts meet our criteria for high readership. They reflect our readers’ interests, challenges and opportunities. Source: Animal Health Digest. Some most read posts from recent AHD Bulletins include: Confronting your biases (video) <Link> African swine fever . . . catching up <Link> Need to vent? <Link> Veterinarians shouldn’t do it all … [Read more...]