Top Stories
Holy Mole-y: A Sniffer Dog Helps Rediscover a Rare Mole
Source: NPR Scientists in South Africa have rediscovered 11 De Winton's golden moles, a species not seen since 1936, using a trained border collie named Jessie and DNA analysis. The tiny, blind moles with an iridescent coat live underground and move through sand using...
FDA Determines Drug for Lifespan Extension in Large Dogs to Have a Reasonable Expectation of Effectiveness
Source: dvm360 The FDA has granted support for the development of LOY-001, a drug aimed at extending the lifespan and improving the quality of life for large- and giant-breed dogs. Loyal, the biotech company behind the drug, received approval for the "Reasonable...
Pet Insurance Company Shares Tips for a Safe Holiday Season
Source: dvm360 Nationwide Pet Insurance has cautioned pet owners and Veterinary professionals about common holiday hazards for pets, based on the analysis of over 1.2 million insured pets. The top five risks include the ingestion of foreign objects (average claim cost...
How to Know if Your Dog Has the Mysterious Canine Illness—and When to Worry
Source: New York Post A mysterious respiratory illness affecting dogs across the United States has raised concerns among pet owners and veterinarians. The illness, resistant to antibiotics, has led to deaths in some cases. Little is known about the unidentified...
A Great Candidate Experience Does Not End When They Accept Your Job Offer
First, there was the Great Depression. Then, many years later, there was the Great Recession. More recently, there was the Great Resignation. However, in today’s competitive hiring environment—especially within the Veterinary profession—the most important “great” is...
It All Comes Down to Access to Care
2023 ends in a few weeks. Was this the greatest year ever for Veterinary medicine? Probably not, still not the worst for sure. Let’s call it a mixed bag. The dynamics of pet healthcare are stable, but the future isn’t blooming with clarity. Let’s list the dynamics:...
New Normal . . . or Return to the Old Normal?
Are practices seeing a new normal or a return to the old normal? There seems to be a little bit of both going on right now. Prior to the pandemic, average annual revenue growth in companion animal practices was about 4%-8%, depending on the study, along with small...
Does Your Strategic Plan Include These 2 Key Areas for Success Today and Into the Future (Part 2)?
This two-part series presents ideas for upgrading your strategic plan to help your practice achieve success today and into the future. Part one of this series addressed access to care. In part two, the focus will be on ways to improve the experience of your clients...
The Psychologically Safe Co-Worker: Teamwork, Not Silos
Routine, daily mental checks, attitude adjustment, and perspective. Gratitude, positivity, foresight, and perpetual resilience. What if your new co-worker could share their thoughts? Would you hear some of those same words, knowing they were preparing to be the best...
Sacramento’s Mercer Clinic Giving Holiday Baskets and Sweaters to Pets of Homeless People
Source: CBS News Sacramento The Mercer Veterinary Clinic is spreading holiday cheer by assembling pet baskets containing warm coats, toys, and treats for the pets of individuals experiencing homelessness. Set to take place on December 9 at the Loaves and Fishes campus...
The Evolving Mission of the Center for Veterinary Social Work
Source: American Animal Hospital Association The Center for Veterinary Social Work at the University of Tennessee, established in 2002, has evolved its mission from addressing human needs at the intersection of Veterinary and social work to a broader focus on the...
Post Holdings to Inject Up to $100 Million into Pet Food Operations in 2024
Source: Pet Food Processing Post Holdings, Inc. has reported positive outcomes from its recent entry into the Pet Food sector, contributing to a 71.5% year-over-year increase in Post Consumer Brands' net sales to $1.01 billion in Q4. Pet food sales accounted for...
Custom Showers and Designer Crates: Welcome to the ‘Barkitecture’ Boom
Source: The Guardian "Barkitecture," a trend dubbed by Pinterest in 2021, is gaining popularity in the U.S. as pet owners invest significant resources in designing homes with a focus on their pets' needs. Fueled by social media, magazines, and home renovation shows,...
ISU Searches for Genetic Links to Improve Crop, Livestock Breeding
Source: National Hog Farmer Iowa State University researchers seized an opportunity presented by a devastating derecho storm in August 2020 to conduct a natural experiment on corn crops. The storm provided insights into the genetic factors affecting corn root...
Veterinary Starting Salaries Rise in 2023, Educational Debt Holds Steady
Source: American Veterinary Medical Association The graduating class of 2023 in Veterinary medicine is experiencing positive trends, with increasing starting salaries and a steady level of educational debt. The mean debt-to-income ratio for new veterinarians has...
AAHA Releases Veterinary Technician Utilization Guidelines
Source: American Veterinary Medical Association The American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA) has introduced the 2023 AAHA Technician Utilization Guidelines to address challenges in the Veterinary field, particularly in the recruitment and retention of skilled team...
ACVIM Offers a New Fellowship Opportunity
Source: dvm360 The American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine (ACVIM) has introduced a Fellowship Program to advance expertise in Veterinary internal medicine. The program encourages professional development for ACVIM diplomates seeking to elevate their...
Pet Food Recall Linked to Seven-State Salmonella Outbreak
Source: American Veterinary Medical Association The FDA is investigating a Salmonella Kiambu outbreak across seven states, potentially linked to pet food from Mid America Pet Food. The company expanded its October 30 recall, including additional products with a...
Pet Health Partnership Focuses on Shelter Animals
Source: dvm360 Animal health company Zoetis and Adopt a Pet have joined forces in a nearly $1 million partnership to enhance care for animals in shelters. The collaboration aims to improve access to care, provide educational resources for shelter staff and pet...
Binghamton University Speech and Language Therapists Use Horses to Help Kids Communicate
Source: BingUNews The Kali’s Klubhouse: iTalk with Horses program, a community initiative through Decker College of Nursing and Health Sciences, utilizes equine-assisted therapy to aid speech and language development in children. The six-week program, entirely...
Cats Have 276 Different Facial Expressions, Study Finds
Source: WLWT5 A recent study, published in the journal Behavioural Processes, reveals that domesticated cats display 276 different facial expressions during social interactions. Conducted by U.S. scientists Lauren Scott and Brittany Florkiewicz, the study aimed to...
Increasing Efficiency, Salaries Can Help Practices Retain Employees
Source: American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) This article by the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) discusses employee turnover rates in Veterinary practices in 2022, with companion animal exclusive practices having the highest rate at 19.4%. Dr....
It’s Time to Break Out Calf Jackets on the Dairy
Source: Bovine Veterinarian A recent study in the United Kingdom demonstrated the benefits of calf jackets in improving the health and growth of young calves during winter. The study compared 40 Holstein calves, half of which received calf jackets from 2 to 12 weeks...
Aboard ‘Chuffed,’ Sailing Veterinarian and First Mate Aid Animals in Remote Locales
Source: TheSandPaper.net Veterinarian Sheridan Lathe and her partner James Brown, operating under the moniker Vet Tails, provide free or low-cost Veterinary care to pets and wildlife aboard their boat, SV Chuffed. The couple, based in Ship Bottom, engages in their...
Macy’s Window Displays Come to Life with Adoptable Pets
Source: KTVU Fox 2 Macy's in Union Square, San Francisco, is hosting its 37th annual Holiday Windows event in collaboration with the San Francisco SPCA to facilitate pet adoptions. Shoppers and passersby can view adoptable puppies and kittens in the store windows,...