Technicians

An exclusive, brand-new look at cutting-edge thinking on low-stress patient care for beginners, intermediate experts and Fear-Free gurus.

A family dog made her realize there's a better way to work with animals.

Some clients' behavior becomes clinic legend. But how do you react when it's actually happening?

Proof positive that no pet is a lost cause

A Maryland veterinary clinic tapped the undeniable pop-powerhouse Taylor Swift for this parody song about the importance of flea prevention. Cheesy? Yes. Awesome? Totally.

Shawn McVey counsels a team member who cant afford to continue working in the veterinary profession

Use this form to promote regular dental checkups at your veterinary practice.

What the heck is a pheromone diffuser? And how do you explain it to clients?

Bridge the gap in your dental knowledge and brush up on this amalgam of mystery dental instruments. Then brace yourself to make a great impression during the next dental appointment.

Even if you try to regularly thank your team for a job well done, people still enjoy a few minutes of solely hearing praise. In this exercise, you can learn more about how team members view themselves in contrast to how their fellow teammates view them. It's all positivity--no calling out weaknesses--making it fun for all involved.

Actionable steps to make stepping away from your veterinary clinic actually work.

Use this handout to build pet owners' awareness about pain in their pets.

The pitfalls of trying to be everything to everyone in your veterinary clinice

Walk off your stressand give a pooch a chance to stretch her legs.

Watch as Tasha McNerney talks with Kenichiro Yagi about his career path from introvert to national speaker.

Help clients do the best they can for their pets.

When pet owners struggle with the choice of deciding when it's time to euthanize, suggest this exercise.

Team grateful for community support as it cares for animals in need.

Heres a cats-eye-view of a feline fine exam where the cat gets the power to choose how he experiences a visit to the veterinarian.

"Help clients who make the difficult choice to euthanize their pet by approaching the associated costs with sincere consideration," says Sharon DeNayer, a Firstline Editorial Advisory Board member and the clinic manager at Windsor Veterinary Clinic in Windsor, Colo.

Recognizing your VIPs-Very Important Pets-with a VIP greeting is a great way to connect with clients from the minute they step into your veterinary practice.

Veterinary practice managers, use this quick quiz from the VHMA to check your role in managing the money at your practice. (Psst. You can also ask your practice owners to take the quiz to remind them of the valuable financial skills you can bring to the table.)

When you give the veterinary profession all youve got, it can be exhausting if you dont feel like its making a difference. I didnt realize the depths of what I was feeling until the symptoms hit.

When I turned 70 in 2011, people started asking me if I was going to retire. Now that I am 73, friends ask when Im going to retire.

Diagnosing the source of your frustration at your veterinary practice can lead to the right treatmentand even a cure for whats ailing you.