Business

A recent government report raises the question: Is the end of U.S. equine slaughter helping horses or simply sheltering Americans from unpleasant realities?

Veterinary clients who've adopted from a shelter or rescue organization need a special approach. Here's how to foster a healthy relationship with these practice clients.

As a veterinarian, you wouldn't dream of missing out on regular continuing education?even if it wasn't required. Your team members should follow your lead. Here's why.

What characteristics make this species different from us or from dogs? By understanding our feline patients better, we can provide a better experience and environment for them. The basis of working cooperatively with cats is empathy based on an understanding of their nature and behaviours and trying to imagine what their experience is like.

Your inventory costs to gross should be 14-16%

Dental disease is a generic term used for exotic small mammals such as rabbits, chinchillas and guinea pigs who have acute or chronic abnormalities and overgrowth of the teeth, usually causing medical problems such as pain, anorexia, drooling, and ocular and/or nasal discharge to just name a few.

Ventilation is the act or process of supplying fresh air and moving gas in and out of the alveoli. Air that is being replaced in the lung has a higher partial pressure of O2 but a lower partial pressure of CO2.

Technology. Funny how this word can conjure up so many mixed emotions. Fear: "Technology changes every year, and sometimes more often than that. How can I possibly keep up with it?" Excitement: "The new gadget that came out this week will increase convenience and productivity!" Annoyance: "Technology just shortens attention spans. We're better off without it."

Internet pharmacies are well funded, very profitable and have cannibalized our customers and there's no sign of stopping. Metzger Animal Hospital has utilized several strategies to minimize the staffing problems and financial impact of this formidable threat to veterinary medicine. We will share our successes and failures in hopes to help practices with similar problems.

We're sure by now many of you have mastered certain techniques aimed at attracting clients into your offices. However, due to our current economic trends and an extremely competitive marketplace, these new clients are unfortunately not tearing our doors down.

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.

Most snakes can be easily captured directly out of the carrier or cage they are in. If the snake is aggressive, it may be necessary to use a towel along with leather gloves to safely capture it. In these cases, it is easiest to gently toss the towel over the snake and find the head.

When it comes to achieving financial success as practicing veterinarians, we are definitely our own worst enemies. I can't believe that according to national averages, a pharmacist and an optometrist earn more than a veterinarian! That is really sad! Why? Because most of us are afraid to charge what we are truly worth.

It's been a number of years now that your clients have alternatives to purchase their veterinary drugs and supplies. First it was the catalogue houses and then the internet. The first to feel the effects of the change in distribution channels were the large animal practitioners.

What makes the Ritz Carlton THE RITZ CARLTON? Why do they consistently provide the gold standard in customer service? Let's find out!

Veterinarians and their team members have been working for years to educate pet owners about the care their pets need in order for them to stay happy and healthy. Undoubtedly we've made some progress, but results from the recently released Bayer Veterinary Care Usage Study indicate we have a long way to go; many pet owners simply don't understand the need for what is generally accepted as routine care.

Cytology of common skin tumors.

Marketing in today's practice plays an important part of a practice way to generate new business and keep existing clients happy. If you look at the way at how new clients determine who to pick their veterinarian it comes from one of four main ways: referrals, location, signage and your internet presence.

Production is defined as fees generated and collected for services the doctor is formally involved in the delivering.

It isn't uncommon to find practices that, either formally or informally, offer technician appointments; i.e. patient visits in which certain services are provided to the pet and pet owner by a credentialed veterinary technician instead of by a veterinarian.

Advanced pain management techniques such as local and regional blocks, analgesic constant rate infusions and epidural anesthesia/analgesia can be incorporated into almost any clinical setting. You do not need to work in a specialty referral hospital or academic institution to utilize and effectively perform advanced pain management techniques.

It's easy to forget that our clients do not necessarily understand the jargon, acronyms and terms that we use every day and take for granted. Using plain language involves translating our language into language that the client can understand.

Pain management is more than the latest popular terminology. It is an important part of veterinary dentistry. Many of the procedures performed on animals are painful and it is our duty as technicians to ensure that our patients are as comfortable as possible.

Consider developing a monthly statistical analysis report for your practice. Take a pulse of your practice by understanding the monthly statistics that are important and track them in a comparative format; month to month, year by year.

Sedation and anesthesia is something that most of us administer and/or perform in practice on a daily basis. While we as technicians may not make the final decision on what drugs will be administered, we should be educated about the various drugs available and how each of them works alone and in combination with each other.

Veterinarians and their team members have been working for years to educate pet owners about the care their pets need in order for them to stay happy and healthy. Undoubtedly we've made some progress, but results from the recently released Bayer Veterinary Care Usage Study indicate we have a long way to go; many pet owners simply don't understand the need for what is generally accepted as routine care.

As a full-time practicing veterinarian with the typical type A personality, I haven't given myself ample time over my 27 years to actually venture out - to be adventurous. Adventurous to me?

You are being paid to make your place of employment the best it can be. Are you part of the problem or part of the solution?

Exotic small mammals (formally known as pocket pets) are challenging creatures to work with. When working with dogs and cats, it is usually easy to place an intravenous catheter, intubate, provide fluid therapy, hook up an ECG, place a blood pressure cuff, and keep track of the core body temperature.

Tax laws are forever changing and this year is no exception. Since taxes can take a significant amount of our earnings, it pays to know and understand the tax laws that are important for you and your practice. This clear understanding can save you money and keep you out of tax trouble.