Weekly Veterinary Industry Review: Round #9

 

It’s Friday, September 25th, 2020. Welcome to round nine of the Weekly Veterinary Industry Review, brought to you by GeniusVets. This week we share tips on how to avoid toxicity in the workplace, we reveal a pivotal role the veterinary industry could play in the fight against COVID, and we offer some important reminders for clients on disaster preparedness and more. So let's get to it…

 

Veterinary Business News

Keeping you at the forefront of veterinary news regarding products, personnel, and conferences...

 

MSU Vet Lab Has Been Tapped to Test Human Samples For COVID-19

  • Experts at the Michigan State University College of Veterinary Medicine and the Michigan State University Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory began monitoring SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19 in humans, towards the end of January.
  • As the situation progressed, this group developed a test for animals.
  • From the article: “‘Personnel at the MSU VDL have deep expertise and experience with many methods to rapidly identify diseases of high consequence and has proven capabilities to provide high-volume testing in outbreak situations,’ says VDL’s outgoing director Rachel Reams.”
  • While veterinary medicine might not be what many consider to be on the front lines of this fight, these healthcare professionals have the skills to make an impact.
  • Article posted by MSU Today

     

 

How to Create a Healthy Working Environment at Your Hospital or Clinic

  • While no one wants to admit it, there are some clinics and hospitals where gossip is commonplace as is criticizing employees in front of peers, making these toxic work environments.
  • Today’s Veterinary Practice addresses this issue in this article, noting that it’s all the more crucial considering veterinary professionals spend approximately one-third of each week at work.
  • From the article: “When it’s a healthy, well-balanced environment, it can contribute to an employee’s overall quality of life. But when it’s not, it can contribute significantly to a person’s stress, and have a negative impact on the workplace, its employees, the clients, and more.”
  • The article goes into how to change communication, workload, and workplace culture to improve the work environment.
  • If you missed Dr. Michele Drake’s commentary on the need for positivity and strong company culture, watch the replay from our “Coming Back From COVID” webinar. Dr. Michele Drake talks about how crucial having a positive workplace and culture is to any vet practice’s success, such as during our Coming Back From COVID webinar.
  • Article posted by Today’s Veterinary Practice

     

 

Another Article in Our Continuing CBD Series On the Fact That This is Still Considered “Black Market”

  • The hype surrounding the use of CBD oil on pets is anything but dying down, but those in the field want to provide yet another reminder that the safety of doing so hasn’t been established as of yet.
  • The products are widely available on the internet and rules surrounding this are not enforced.
  • From the article: “‘Sometimes they have contaminants like pesticides or heavy metals, sometimes they have THC in them and they’re not supposed to, sometimes they have more CBD, sometimes they have less CBD than what’s on the label,’ said Silcox [Sarah Silcox, president of the Canadian Association of Veterinary Cannabinoid Medicine], who urged those intent on administering their pets CBD to purchase products through government stores.”
  • The article notes that veterinarians won’t prescribe it but they still recommend consulting with them if you’re even considering it, as you can be advised on safe usage.
  • Article posted by TorontoSun.com

     

 

Valuable Pet News For Your Clients

Topical stories your clients will want to hear...

A Good Reminder For Clients About Common Household Items That Are Toxic to Pets

  • The article contains a video that will be helpful to clients who don’t know much about items that can be toxic to their pets.
  • While the mention of avocados is fairly well known, the article also points out that ethanol produced by the yeast cells in raw bread dough can also be poisonous for dogs.
  • From the article: “Every year the Animal Poison Control Center receives more than 200 thousand cases concerning potential poisonings of pets.”
  • The article goes on to note that 37 percent of the calls made to veterinary poison control are about pets swallowing medications.
  • Article posted by KSAT.com

     

 

Tropical Storm Beta is a Good Reminder to Clients to Have Family Members AND Pets Ready

  • Due to the threat of this storm to parts of Texas and Louisiana, the Humane Society of the United States is urging people to make a disaster preparedness plan that includes fur babies, too.
  • From the article: “‘Making a pet disaster preparedness plan is even more essential during the COVID-19 crisis because some services may be limited and families likely need to give extra consideration to their plans to align with social distancing recommendations,’ said Diane Robinson, disaster services manager for the Humane Society of the United States. “‘Even amid the pandemic, it is imperative to heed evacuation orders from local officials and remember: If it isn’t safe for you, it isn’t safe for your pets.’”
  • The article says to have a disaster preparedness kit ready at all times, and that it should contain items such as masks, five days of food and water, a pet first aid kit, five days of medication, current photos of your pet along with descriptions of them, and much more (read the article for this very comprehensive list).
  • Article posted by KATC.com

     

 

A Possible Increase in Aggression and Dog Bites During the Pandemic

  • We reported on an article last month that puppies and dogs have been showing signs of increased aggression during the pandemic, and many posit that it’s because they’re not being socialized with anyone but immediate family members.
  • This most recent article put out by Top Gun Dog Training in South Florida confirms this, along with increased dog bites.
  • From the article: “A pediatric emergency department in Colorado saw nearly three times as many children with injuries from dog bites this spring compared to last year at the same time, prompting concerns that stay-at-home orders and other COVID-19-related lifestyle changes may be to blame.”
  • The article suggests three things: getting your pup a lot of exercise, providing enough mental stimulation, and ensuring your dog gets socialized.
  • Article Posted By TopGunDogTraining.com

 

Not-So-Human-Interest

Lighter pet stories to provide much-needed cheer in difficult times...

Cats As Therapy Pets? Furrrrrr Sure

  • Therapy animal nonprofit group Pet Partners has teamed up with Purina to shine a light on the therapeutic benefits of cats.
  • From the article: “‘While most people tend to associate therapy animals with dogs, cats also provide a variety of mental and physiological benefits,’ says Annie Valuska, PhD, a senior pet behavior expert with Purina. “Cat owners often have lower stress levels than non-pet owners, which can improve blood pressure and cardiovascular health over time. Cats can also boost our mental health, decreasing feelings of loneliness and increasing a sense of purpose.’”
  • The article shares information on how to apply, and reminds those who want to partake to make sure to keep the therapy cat healthy with good nutrition, rest between visits, and plenty of love and affection.
  • Article Posted By Veterinary Practice News

 

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Have something newsworthy in the veterinary field? Reach out to us at [email protected]. Enjoy our weekly veterinary industry review, coming to you each Thursday afternoon.