Includes Commercial References With an eye on eliminating falls and slippery surfaces, Heather E. Lewis, AIA, NCARB, AAA, discusses various slip-resistant surfaces for veterinary hospitals. Pet care services facilities have similar risks for humans and animals. Flooring is often discussed as part of Fear Free certification as well. Source: DVM 360, November 15, 2024. … [Read more...]
New definitions, recommendations for managing UTIs in dogs, cats
Kate Boatright, VMD, shares updated information related to antimicrobial stewardship, and the management of sporadic and recurrent urinary tract infections, including how the presence of bacteriuria should be interpreted and treated. Urine was once thought to be sterile, but new analyses have found numerous bacterial and fungal species exist in both human and animal urine, … [Read more...]
Veterinary technicians’ important roles in feline hospice and palliative care
It takes a clear strategy to help lead clients through the difficult stages of caring for a critically ill pet. Veterinary technicians are well-suited to helping establish an effective care plan for a hospice period and for clients after the pet’s death. Jamie Rauscher, LVT, outlined guidelines in five steps for hospital teams in a recent presentation worthy of review and … [Read more...]
Worth a Glance – October 31, 2024
Last week’s AHD Bulletin – Animal Health Digest Bulletin, October 24, 2024. Link. Most read posts from the October 24th AHD Bulletin – Study: dead animal disposal practices can put swine farms at PRRS risk. Link. Pet industry adapts to economic challenges, new trends. Link. Cattle traceability rule set to take effect November 5th. Link. Image … [Read more...]
Managing the shift as the growth of grain-free diets continues
Grain-free dog diets are a hot topic veterinary teams face routinely, shared Danielle Conway, DVM, CVA, VSMT, CCRP, during a session at the Fetch dvm360 Conference in Atlantic City. Austin Littrell summarizes her session here, including: Dietary carbohydrate requirements noting grains are carbohydrates, but not all carbohydrates are grains Gluten ≠ grains: gluten itself … [Read more...]
Theories on why dogs do what they do
Many dog behaviors are inexplicable, but they have meaning. Experts share some theories on why dogs tilt their heads, eat grass, lean on us and more. Animal health pros can use this article for social media or newsletters to help dog owners attempt to decipher and understand their dogs' idiosyncratic behaviors. Source: Better Help. Link. Related: Educating pet owners on … [Read more...]
Cat gut microbiome may help treat feline diseases
Sponsored Content Felines possess several unique gastrointestinal traits distinct from other companion animals, writes Hill’s Renea Creech, MS. She explores the role of some of the different bacterial species of the cat GI microbiome and their role in feline health and disease. Understanding the GI microbiome and its diverse microbial populations holds significant promise … [Read more...]
Communicating value for technician appointment fees
Wendy S. Myers, CVJ, shares ways to position veterinary technician appointments, including: Using a health assessment description for technician appointments versus exams for veterinarian appointments Listing the technician’s name on the invoice Educating front desk persons to clarify the reason for a visit to determine whether a technician or veterinarian visit is … [Read more...]
VetPulse survey seeks raw diet feedback
Nine multiple-choice questions about raw diets seek to understand preferences and choices in this expanding nutritional segment. A drawing is included to encourage participation. Source: DVM 360. Link. … [Read more...]
Smart ways to handle too much business
Tom Seeko, CExP, provides good food for thought for veterinary practices and other pet services businesses in this article. He discusses options for addressing the challenge of too much business or the alternative of the status quo. “Choices . . . most of the stress that veterinary professionals experience is due to the demands and unclear expectations they put on themselves … [Read more...]
Understanding FIP in cats
JoAnna Pendergrass, DVM, shares information for cat owners about feline infectious peritonitis, a viral disease caused by a mutated form of the feline coronavirus. She clarified the feline coronavirus is not related to the Covid 19 coronavirus. Since this article was published, a treatment for FIP has been making news <Link>. Jeanette L. Maucher, DVM, shares Stokes … [Read more...]
Addressing 7 common complaints practices face
Dissent and dissatisfaction are often masked by the historical statement, “If you can’t say something nice, don’t say anything at all.” Unfortunately, such experiences lead to customer loss. Marc Rosenberg, VMD, shares how routine preemptive troubleshooting with clinic staff members help to correct complaints heard before they rise to become points of contention. He shares … [Read more...]
Keeping the bees buzzing (video)
There are so many things that can kill honey bees, says Kaitlyn Krebs, DVM, MBA, DABVP. She lectured about common diseases that affect honey bees and their hives at the 2024 AVMA convention. Krebs speaks about viral diseases that veterinarians should be aware of in caring for honey bees and tips when answering questions from beekeepers in their communities in the video … [Read more...]
Beyond getting a yes, factors that restrict adherence
A recent pet experience allowed me to watch a dozen pet owners and their pets come and go from a veterinary office. Over half of the pet owners returned to their cars and sat in the parking lot for several minutes, displaying what could be described as a 1,000-yard stare. Others seemed to share the visit results with a passenger or via a phone call. THERE IS A LOT to process … [Read more...]
Veterinary medicine and substance use
Not One More Vet’s Dustin Kieschnick, PsyD, shares the experiences and perspectives from counseling veterinary team members on substance use. Substance use in this article encompasses alcohol, cannabis, illicit drugs and the overuse/misuse of over-the-counter and prescription medicines. Source: DVM 360, May 8, 2024. Link. When substance use becomes problematic there are a … [Read more...]
Services semantics. A new name for drop-off.
Sometimes referenced as the ‘Queen of Scripts,’ Wendy S. Myers, CVJ, says day admission appointment may be a better way to position drop-off services. She also offers alternatives for wellness testing in the form of five strategies to increase compliance. Source: DVM 360, April 18, 2024. Link. INSIGHTS: Whatever descriptive language you choose, be sure the entire staff … [Read more...]
Veterinarian says a receptionist has the hardest job in a hospital
The receptionist at a veterinary clinic has the most difficult job, writes Harris Fitzgerel, DVM, BS. They are the first face clients see when entering the clinic, the first voice they hear when calling, and the liaison between the back and the front of the hospital. Source: DVM 360, April 15, 2024. Link. INSIGHTS: Fitzgerel’s perspective is echoed by the recent launch of … [Read more...]
Practicing with care for the emotional well-being of animals
Slick floors, padding for exam tables and seeing posters from an animal’s perspective were among topics when Temple Grandin, PhD, MS and Fear Free’s Marty Becker, DVM addressed Fetch dvm360 conference attendees recently. Not everyone gets to attend these events, so we’re sharing an overview from Kristen Coppock, MA. Source: DVM 360, March 17, 2024. Link. “Creating and … [Read more...]
Worth a Glance – February 1, 2024
Last week’s AHD Bulletin – Animal Health Digest Bulletin, January 15, 2024. Link. Most read post(s) from the January 25th AHD Bulletin – Develop an opportunity mindset. Link. How dogs understand time. Link. An update on multi-drug-resistant parasites in horses. Link. ============================================ 8 Pet supply, service businesses on … [Read more...]
Tips for discussing weight management with pet owners (video)
Hill’s Karen Shenoy, DVM, shares advice for veterinary teams when discussing a pet’s weight with clients and addressing a case of obesity with animal owners. Her guidance about working pet owners’ behaviors into proactive feeding plans and considering the inclusion of treats is excellent counsel. We reminded veterinary teams to include food and treat information in pet … [Read more...]
CDC issues warning about cat-transmitted sporotrichosis
ICYMI. Cat-transmitted sporotrichosis has emerged in Brazil as a zoonotic epidemic and major public health threat and is a concern for the United States according to the CDC. The most common form of sporotrichosis is skin infections. Infected cats will present with lesions on their face, often around their nose. Source: DVM 360, May 2023. Link. This was the most read DVM 360 … [Read more...]
Social media calendars help plan clinic outreach
Consistency, relevance and authenticity are key to fostering lasting relationships with your audience in the digital landscape, writes Adam Christman, DVM, MBA. His article is good guidance for veterinary clinic teams to help them avoid knee-jerk posting. A content calendar serves as a road map, enabling veterinary hospitals to plan their social media content systematically.” … [Read more...]
How much automation is too much?
Commentary Self-service phone options offer streamlining for businesses and customers. BUT, when these options require multiple prompts, take two minutes or more and end without the ability to talk to a human, the customer service experience suffers. Digitization provides important advancements in providing better veterinary medicine and patient outcomes, but animal owners … [Read more...]
FDA issues warnings of unapproved antimicrobial animal drugs
Nine manufacturers and distributors received warning letters with concerns citing unapproved and misbranded antimicrobial animal drugs in violation of federal law. The animal products mentioned in the warning letters are marketed and labeled for minor species such as aquarium fish and pet birds. They contain antimicrobials that are important in human medicine, such as … [Read more...]
Marijuana is among the 2023 Top 10 pet toxins
Marijuana and carprofen were again among the Top 10 Pet Poisons for all species this year. They first appeared on the annual year-end list in 2022. In the 2023 case data, marijuana-related incidences accounted for the sixth-highest toxin overall for pets and was also sixth for dogs. The article includes the top 10 for cats and dogs. Chocolate was first for dogs and lilies was … [Read more...]
Improving bandaging efficiencies
Commentary Fans of the Nat Geo Wild veterinary shows frequently get to see animals bandaged. It is fascinating to see various veterinarians apply bandages and how they often explain what they are doing with layers and yards of materials. Michael H. Jaffe, DVM, MS, CCRP, DACVS, shares his tips for effectively using bandages for post-operative patients in this article and … [Read more...]
An overview of cannabis for pets
Includes Commercial Content* Ruth Fisher, PhD, covers topics that include the history of cannabis use in veterinary medicine, current laws on cannabis for pets, market size and segment, reported experiences from pet owners and veterinarians, and pet toxicology. The biggest threat cannabis poses for pets appears to be the same as that for children: unwitting consumption of … [Read more...]
Holiday gift ideas for pets and professionals
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...]
Time to face the music
Too much sound can be harmful to our health as we shared recently <Link>. The wrong sounds piped into the clinic’s sound system may be annoying and bad for business, writes Marc Rosenberg, VMD. He shares a realistic situation where staff and clients were negatively affected by the choice of clinic music. Source: DVM 360, November 7, 2023. Link. … [Read more...]
Worth a Glance – November 2, 2023
Last week’s AHD Bulletin – Animal Health Digest Bulletin, October 26, 2023. Link. Most read post(s) from the October 26th AHD Bulletin – The customer experience is the sales experience. Link. Body language. Link. How to know when it’s time to switch jobs. Link. Placekeeper: 2023 Veterinary Conferences provided by Galaxy … [Read more...]