Client Relations & Marketing

Its no secret that cats don't like going to the veterinarian. They've never liked it. Unfortunately, cat owners are giving up the battle and fewer cats than ever before are visiting a veterinarian regularly.

"All of a sudden, the price just skyrocketed. You could go when it was 60 bucks, now I can't get out for less than $150"; so said a pet owner interviewed for the recently released Bayer Veterinary Care Usage Study. Sound familiar? Are your clients complaining more about price than ever before? We all know the recession has impacted spending at veterinary practices but is it more than that?

Q. Why is it important for veterinary practices to engage in social media sites like Facebook and Twitter?

New research points to major psychological benefits among pet owners.

Profession confirms, expands on findings of previous pet owner survey.

This brochure and how-to video on acclimating cats to carriers help remove barriers to visits to your veterinary practice.

Make your veterinary practice better, one step at a time, by implementing a way to track systems, procedures, and client preferences.

Seizure activity chart

Click on the blue highlighted links below for ready-made forms in Word and Excel formats.

Download this form to help clients recognize signs of illness early.

Enhancing your delivery of feline veterinary care isn't complicated.

Sometimes clients need a shoulder to cry on. That's when you can go beyond your role as a medical expert and offer much-needed emotional support.

Notice that silence? It's the calm before the storm-a storm that threatens to turn into a disaster if the Internet keeps stealing your clients. But those dark clouds don't necessarily mean doom. After all, no computer can provide the level of service your practice can offer.

Kick off a kitty crusade to get cats into your clinic.

Q: How can I find the perfect pet for my client's lifestyle?

For those of you keeping score at home, cats are winning the standoff with veterinarians. Here's how to get cats out of combat mode and into your clinic.

Guiding clients through end-of-life issues cements the bond forged since their first visit.

We can't let fear keep us veterinarians from broaching this taboo topic with pet owners.

Teach clients to recognize signs of illness early to help you treat feline patients.

Are your client interactions productive and educational, or could your communication skills use some work? Either way, make sure you touch on all of these issues during appointments.

Share this advice with clients to help make sure their pets arrive safely at their destination.

A new survey details how your clients care for their pets-and may offer clues about how you could serve them better.

Sometimes clients need a few words of advice. Here's how to respond when they ask for your personal opinion.

Dr. Jim Guenther offers guidelines for discussing equine herpesvirus with clients.

Make sure you and your clients are prepared for the next catastrophic storm.

Have your clients fill out this form very time they visit and track your patients' anxiety from the start.

Share these tips with clients during Adopt-A-Cat Month and you may receive a few new patients.

Some highly scientific types may disagree, but I'm convinced it was no coincidence that my dog's skin condition relapsed afer her companion's death.

8 keys for calming cranky clients

As a caring, compassionate veterinary team member, it makes sense that you want to offer discounts to needy or deserving clients. But a little here and there can add up-perhaps to the point of hurting your practice's bottom line.