The veterinarian shortage is portrayed in myriad ways as our industry works to meet rising demand for qualified professionals. Deploying veterinary technicians at the top of their licensed skills is a common theme in shortage discussions. We were pleased to hear from Dr. Meghan Wells, DVM, MPH, who serves as an instructor for the Veterinary Technology program at Penn … [Read more...]
Survey: 62 percent of puppy owners overwhelmed by pet food choices
Commercial Content Differentiating pet food choices is increasingly difficult. Royal Canin’s recent survey found that more than half of puppy owners feel overwhelmed by the number of choices in puppy food and, more importantly, struggle to figure out what ingredients are important. Commentary The survey results are familiar, as is the challenge of leading pet owners to … [Read more...]
Promotions. Ready or not?
Managing so veterinary clinic employees work at the top of their education is a frequent topic in animal health media. Yet, not all employees are ready to advance or be awarded a promotion. Luis Velasquez shares ways to turn a potentially negative situation into a constructive, forward-looking dialogue when a promotion is not yet warranted. Discussing a promotion with an … [Read more...]
Underutilized and underappreciated
Editor’s note. It is common to get a call from Wendy Hauser, DVM, to discuss a recent experience or something that has been on her mind. Using vet clinic staff to the fullest is often a part of those discussions. Improving the use of veterinary technicians requires helping them work at the top of their credentials, BUT without hospital leaders advocating for, cultivating … [Read more...]
The lameness exam in three acts, and an intermission (video)
Thinking through the general principles of a lameness exam, David Ramey, DVM, advises clients and veterinarians to avoid getting overwhelmed by the process. He says to approach lameness from a fundamental level then pause to think and avoid unnecessary actions that often don’t produce a better outcome. Source: David Ramey, DVM, September 11, 2023. Link. Video (0:57) I think … [Read more...]
Worth a Glance – August 10, 2023
Last week’s AHD Bulletin – Animal Health Digest Bulletin, August 3, 2023. Link. Most read post(s) from August 3rd AHD Bulletin – Weight stigma infiltrates work. Link. Addressing relentless licking by dogs. Link. Covetrus® expands GreatPetCare™. Link. Place keeper: 2023 Veterinary Conferences provided by Galaxy … [Read more...]
5 pet food brands being talked about
Includes Commercial Content Surveys of independent pet store owners revealed the top pet food brands they say are doing well in their stores: Fromm Family Foods Stella & Chewy’s Primal Pet Foods Zignature Northwest Naturals Goat milk received an honorable mention. Source: Pet Product News, May 2023. Link. INSIGHTS: Pet food questions are … [Read more...]
Pet community page warns of secondary drowning
Note: We reached out to Wendy Hauser, DVM, to address a new term seen on Facebook. A recent post to a Facebook pet community page highlights the dangers of ‘secondary drowning’, or non-fatal drowning, which occurs when dogs aspirate water into their lungs. This can happen in many ways, says Hauser. Pets that don’t swim well can inadvertently inhale water during their … [Read more...]
2022 AAHA Canine Vaccination Guidelines focus on what’s essential for each individual dog
Complete with a mascot, infographic and guidelines-at-a-glance poster, the newly published 2022 AAHA Canine Vaccination Guidelines will help veterinarians and their teams create personalized and comprehensive vaccination plans for individual patients. The guidelines contain updates on recommended vaccination protocols based on age, lifestyle, and the increasing prevalence of … [Read more...]
Telemedicine is as old as the telephone. Getting paid IS NEW!
Opinion We’re referencing four complementary sources in this post. Virtual veterinary care is advancing at warp speed. Still, some veterinary clinics struggle with moving from a courtesy service approach to charging for telemedicine services as clients embrace the convenience. Creating clear boundaries between “courtesy services” and what is considered a "paid service" is … [Read more...]
Worth a Glance – May 13, 2021
NOTE: When it is time to catch up on your reading or recall something you scanned, try the AHD Archives on the right side of the AHD website. Such as: Archives for April 2021. Link. Last week’s top post Eating less meat won’t save the planet. Here’s why. Source: Animal Health Digest, May 4, 2021. Link. What my Mother’s death taught … [Read more...]
Updating clinic materials yields a new book for pet owners
Complimentary Commercial Content Sometime last spring, Marty Greer, DVM, JD, shared she was working on updating her clinic materials for pet owners while her practice was closed during the early days of the pandemic. She offered the same Bridge Club networking group a welcome surprise in early December. Her materials updating work had expanded into a new book for puppy … [Read more...]
Mares and the challenges of heat cycles
David Ramey, DVM offers two articles to address heat in mares. Part 1 describes how the heat cycle works. Part 2 discusses many of the different treatments that people use to try to keep their mare’s heat cycle under control. Folks try to keep mares from coming into heat in any number of ways, some of which work, and many of which don’t . . .but still get used. Source: Help! … [Read more...]