Market Trends

Poland, Ohio-It's been eight years since Dr. John Daugherty's face-off with other practitioners in his town. He's been badmouthed, backstabbed and even called a quack.

Springboro, Ohio-There are plenty of positive and negative routes to coping with market saturation, and most practitioners respond to increased competition in one of three basic ways, says Karyn Gavzer, a consultant with KG Marketing and Training, Inc.

Cleveland-The majority of veterinarians say the most competitive business pressure is coming from Internet sales of veterinary products.

Solo practitioners could become a rare breed. As Baby Boomer veterinarians near retirement, their younger, supposed successors are resisting added responsibility, experts say.

There's one person Dr. Dave Richards must confront every time he prepares to raise fees in practice - himself.

Legal liabilities lie in virtually every veterinary hospital, but there are plenty of ways to reduce practice vulnerability.

Santa Ana, Calif.-Robert Newman knows his Chihuahua suffers a slight heart murmur. Yet instead of informing his new veterinarian of the previously diagnosed condition, he waits to see test results, occasionally entertaining treatment recommendations he knows the dog doesn't need.

Cleveland-Numbers of active clients and revenue are both on the upswing, veterinarians say. But a disparity still exists in pay between men and women.

The down economy of late appears to have run a hit-or-miss course among practices nationwide.

Experts estimate labor costs and benefits rank as top income eaters among the nation's veterinary practices.

Cleveland--The economic cap on veterinary care is rising, DVMs say.

An estimated 5 million cats and dogs are euthanized in U. S. shelters each year, and while reliable statistics are scarce, experts predict they sharply contrast death tolls recorded as late as 1995.

Euthanasia has been likened to the best gift one can give an animal afflicted with chronic pain - a humane way to halt suffering.

Pomona, Calif.-Western University of Health Sciences (WesternU) opens its doors this fall not only as the nation's newest veterinary college, but as the only program boasting a 15 percent male class.

When Dr. Peter Eyre graduated from veterinary college in 1960, three of his classmates were female.

Washington-Veterinarians top the list of 10 occupations where women's involvement has increased most in the past decade, according to a new analysis by the Employment Policy Foundation (EPF).