As small business owners, we're always looking for ways to make improvements without budging our bottom line. Replacing less-efficient products with newer, more effective ones is something everyone should be doing. Creating more in-house content like handouts, website posts and videos is also a good idea. But what about your 

 space? Here are some useful tips to help make that small space feel larger.

Do you have a scale in every exam room? Some clinics do, but it's really unnecessary. Put one scale in a corridor and have a team member check patient weights upon arrival. Or, the technician can check the patient's weight on the way to the exam room. Cats can be weighed right in their carrier. Once the cat is removed for the exam, weigh the carrier and subtract the difference to get the cat's weight. Removing excess scales can give you more floor space in your exam room for an extra chair, a retail display, a handout rack or something else. 

It's a bird, it's a plane, it's … retail space

Horizontal shelving is a wasted opportunity. Instead, take those shelves straight up to the ceiling, and provide a method of retrieval like a gliding ladder or even a foldable step stool. Don't want to climb? Place empty boxes on the higher shelves, keeping the actual stock out of sight. When customers see those boxes at checkout, it might prompt them to make a purchase. And that new open wall space can be a great place for a product ad or even a television.

Please fold up your tray table before we … operate?

We installed a wall-mounted workstation (Bjursta from IKEA) in a hallway at our clinic and we're loving it. We use it to sort paper records, stamp envelopes, arrange waiting area poster installations and more. Installation only took about six minutes with a level and a hand drill. The best part is that it only sticks out about three inches off the wall. With a workstation like this, you can easily add a wall-mounted computer screen to access patient records while examining paper client packets.

Is your waiting area getting full? If so, try kindly asking if clients would like to wait in the car with their pet. Many pets are more comfortable, and may even be safer, when they aren't in the middle of an animal-infested panting party. Offer to call your clients when you're ready for them, or take it to the gold-star level and meet them outside to escort their dog or carry their cat carrier in. Just be sure to let clients who enter the reception area after them that there’s a customer ahead of them.

Talk to your team. Ask them to tell you what isn't working well with the layout of your rooms. Sometimes it makes more sense to have a smaller room for examinations and a larger one for staff operations, like pharmacy and treatment areas. Improvements need not be reserved for your customers—your staff will work more efficiently in the right environment. While you're at it, submit yourself to a game of "what's wrong with this picture?" Take photos of your rooms and view them later when you're at home. You'll notice clutter better this way and will want to go in the next day and clear it out.

Just like at home, we tend to save things we think we'll use or things we have weird emotional attachments to. But the truth is that if you haven't touched it in a year, you likely won't any time soon. If you're cleaning and even have to pose the question "should we keep this?" then you probably don't need to. Chuck it and bask in the glory of your newly open space.

Do you have cabinets loaded with files you rarely touch but sometimes need, like, every few months or years? Consider scanning and organizing them electronically. Back them up to a cloud-based system. Google Drive is free with an email account, and extra space is cheap. Then, dump the paper files and loose the cabinet. You know you'll just fill it back up again!

We’ve never sold dog and cat food products at our clinic because of space, but home-delivery programs like 

 have helped us get prescription diets and nonprescription foods to our customer's homes without the heavy lifting, expired bags and occasional cat (or even mouse) holes punched in the sides. Take advantage of these programs. The profits aren't much different, and the headache and space constraints are nonexistent. Your team can help older customers set up auto shipments using the clinic's email address for updates.

Brent Dickinson is practice manager at Dickinson-McNeill Veterinary Clinic in Chesterfield, New Jersey.

Articles

Easy, budget-friendly ways to make your small veterinary practice appear larger.

Sizewise, reach for the stars—not your wallet

The coronavirus outbreak that originated in China in late December has caused great concern throughout the world—with reports of animals being abandoned or killed because their owners fear they might carry the virus—and many questions about the virus’s spread among people and animals remain unanswered.

To help veterinary professionals answer questions from clients about the virus, initially named 2019-nCoV and now known as 

, the World Small Animal Veterinary Association (WSAVA) has created an advisory document that includes frequently asked questions.

Coronaviruses are a large family of viruses that can be found in both animals and humans, but each type is different. According to 

, while COVID-19 can be transmitted between people, there is no evidence at present that any animals have been infected or have spread the virus, although admittedly “this is a rapidly evolving situation.”

Much about COVID-2019 remains unknown, said WSAVA President Shane Ryan, BVSc (Hons), MVS, CVA, GradDipAnimChiro, MChiroSc, MRCVS, in a 

, “and while the priority is to bring the outbreak of the infection caused to people under control as soon as possible, we are concerned for animal welfare.”

To help ease fear and confusion among pet owners, WSAVA calls on veterinarians to urge pet owners not to panic and to reiterate that it is highly unlikely that COVID-19 will be transmitted through their pet.

WSAVA One Health Committee Chair Michael Lappin, DVM, recommends that veterinarian offer clients this advice:

Keep your pet with you if you are self-quarantined.

If family or friends become hospitalized due to COVID-19 infection, arrange for pets to be cared for outside the home.

Contact your veterinarian at any time if you have questions or concerns.

WSAVA also notes that veterinarians should not use vaccines against canine enteric coronavirus, which are available in some global markets, as there is no evidence that these offer cross-protection against COVID-2019.

 to have on hand when clients raise concerns about coronavirus. You can also direct them to online resources such as 

 for the most up-to-date information about COVID-19 related to animal health, or the 

, which contains breaking news and regional reports, maps and trackers, a timeline of events, social media tracking and another FAQ resource.

“We urge our members to ensure owners follow our guidance and keep themselves and their companion animals safe,” Dr. Ryan said.


The advisory document provides veterinarians with answers to questions they may receive from clients about this potentially deadly viral infection.


WSAVA offers guidance about pets and the coronavirus outbreak

, the golden retriever featured in WeatherTech’sSuper Bowl ad that survived a grave cancer prognosis thanks to the efforts of the University of Wisconsin-Madison School of Veterinary Medicine.

It seems that WeatherTech’s Super Bowl homage to the university’s veterinary team is having the intended effect: Petco announced 

In an open letter to WeatherTech CEO David MacNeil, Petco CEO Ron Coughlin wrote, “Together with our long time partners in fighting pet cancer at Blue Buffalo, we’re humbled and proud to answer your call to action…. What inspires me the most about your story is the unapologetic way you’re using your position and platform to raise awareness for something that affects so many pets 

Coughlin’s dog Yummy also survived a cancer diagnosis thanks to “remarkable vets” who cared for Yummy and the dedicated research behind the treatment.

“By joining forces,” he concluded, “our hope is that more Scouts and Yummys get lucky, too.”

WeatherTech’s Super Bowl ad compels Petco’s CEO to help fund further cancer research at the school. 

Petco donates $250,000 to University of Wisconsin veterinary school 

 magazine asked Emily Shiver, a certified veterinary practice manager and certified compassion fatigue professional) to answer your questions about life in practice for managers, technicians, client service representatives and other team members. Got a question for her? Email us at 

 Hey, we’ve all been there—young, fearless and just landed our dream veterinary job. There is nothing I like better than a confident youngster. I do my best to take all the eagerness and fearlessness and channel it in the right direction. But even with my best efforts, ambitious new hires sometimes test their boundaries. What is the best way to tackle this issue?

At hire, give the new team member an up-to-date job description and start them with your preferred style of training. Phase training is most successful for me.

If you have a concern, address it immediately.

Teach them to “stay in their box.” You can say something like this: “I am so excited to have you on the team, and I know you have what it takes to be successful. Your eagerness is contagious. Let’s review what you have learned up to this point. Right now we are laying the foundation to make you a solid part of the team and providing you with the tools you need to succeed. It is vital you follow this step-by-step process.”

Disciplinary order goes as follows—no exceptions: discussion, warning/probation, then termination.

Let the employee know that the handbook clearly defines the steps of disciplinary action. When I have my first disciplinary discussion, I make sure to explain that, “I am excited about the improvement you will make moving forward. Our next discussion will be much different if there’s no improvement in your performance.”

Try pairing them up with a senior team member for consistent coaching (for a minimum of 30 days, although 90 days is preferable).

Keep them challenged by getting them involved in different projects.

"Reforming" these youngsters is not for the faint of heart. It takes grit, determination and a firm but understanding hand. Often, the best team members are the ones who push the boundaries and, frankly, they are often the ones who will become my next managers. But when young employees are just getting started at your practice, keep them in check and keep them challenged, and it should be smooth sailing.

Emily Shiver, CVPM, CCFP, is practice manager at Cleveland Heights Animal Hospital in Lakeland, Florida.

How to address young employees who aren’t staying in their lane.

Ask Emily: Overstepping boundaries

Last month, global chemical and pharmaceutical manufacturer Ishihara Sangyo Kaisha and its U.S. subsidiary ISK Animal Health (collectively, “ISK”) announced the launch of a pivotal clinical trial to evaluate a new treatment for acute canine pancreatitis (ACP) that “addresses the unique cascade of inflammatory response in ACP,” according to company release.

ACP is common and potentially deadly, and can affect dogs of any breed. As there is no FDA-approved treatment for ACP, the current standard of care is limited to treating clinical signs (dehydration, vomiting, painful abdomen, inflammatory leukogram) rather than the primary disease. Recurrent or severe cases can lead to diabetes and other complications, including organ damage.

In 2018, ISK announced the approval in Japan of 

 (fuzapladib sodium hydrate) for the “reduction of clinical signs associated with acute pancreatitis in dogs.” The investigational drug in the current study, which is similar to BRENDA but with differences in formulation and treatment duration, targets the leukocyte function–associated antigen 1 (LFA-1) pathway to aid in reducing inflammation within the pancreas and help to prevent systemic complications and multi-organ failure associated with ACP.

New Jersey–based AlcheraBio, a contract research organization and animal health consultancy, is actively recruiting veterinary practices to participate in the trial. Ideal practice sites will meet the following criteria:

Experience in diagnosing and treating ACP (currently diagnosing at least six to eight cases per year)

Ability to provide 24-hour care for hospitalized study patients

Experience as a clinical investigator site, or a commitment to training to become one

Benefits for participating practices include the following:

Covered testing and treatment for enrolled study dogs

Compensation for each evaluable case, plus a training honorarium and clinic incentives

 if you are interested in enrolling your practice in this trial.

If successful, this study could lead to the first treatment that addresses the root cause of acute pancreatitis in dogs.

Clinical trial for acute canine pancreatitis treatment now enrolling 

The most ambitious canine health study in the world is seeking help from veterinary practitioners across the country. The ultimate goal of the 

is to “understand how genes, lifestyle and environment influence aging.” And while nearly 80,000 dogs have already been nominated to participate, researchers say there is no limit to the number of dogs it will enroll.

To that end, veterinarians are encouraged to invite their clients to “join the pack.” Any dog is eligible to participate, regardless of age, breed or health.

Study dogs will be followed for at least 10 years with the goal of identifying “the biological and environmental factors that maximize healthy longevity.” Participating owners will become citizen scientists, filling out surveys about their dog’s health and life experience, taking saliva samples for genetic testing and potentially completing special activities with their dog and reporting on performance.

“We know from previous work done with dog owners that they are motivated to help their dogs live longer, healthier lives, but the response [to the study] has been positively overwhelming,” said Audrey Ruple, DVM, MS, PhD, DACVPM, MRCVS, assistant professor of One Health Epidemiology in the Department of Public Health at the Purdue University College of Health and Human Sciences in an article about the project on the 

. Dr. Ruple is one of more than 40 researchers participating in the study.

Study dogs must receive regular veterinary exams, and veterinarians may be asked to provide blood, urine or other samples from their patients.

Some participating dogs may be selected for further clinical study, such as an exploration of whether the drug 

But the project goes beyond canine health and longevity.

“Dogs are good models for humans,” Dr. Ruple said. “They have similar genetics, share our environment, and they also have similar diseases and health issues.”

So, while the Dog Aging Project will attempt to discover some secrets to canine health and longevity, they will also be learning how humans can age more healthily—a One Health approach focused on accelerating medical breakthroughs for both species.

“By studying aging in dogs, we hope to learn how to better match human health span to lifespan so that we can all live longer, healthier lives,” Dr. Ruple said.


Practice teams are urged to share details with clients about this canine longevity study, whose long-term goal is to help pets and people live longer, healthier lives.