Are you still doing non-essential surgery?October 31, 2023Evidence shows declaws and other cosmetic procedures can have long-term and lifelong effects on patient well-being.
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VPN Plus+ ExclusiveEthical criteria indicating euthanasia in canine aggressionMarch 10, 2022In this webinar, Dr. Rolan Tripp discusses ethical criteria when determining euthanasia as a result of canine aggression. Whether from a client query or as a lawsuit witness, veterinarians are often called on to make a life-or-death decision after a canine has attacked and seriously injured a human.
VPN Plus+ ExclusiveLaw & order: veterinarians in courtApril 29, 2021Understanding the responsibilities of being a professional veterinary witness are not limited to “telling the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth.” There are rights and responsibilities of being a witness in a criminal or civil trial. These include the proper collection of evidence, placing the facts of the case in perspective, and those facts are to be supported by the current scientific documentation and most reliable technology.
VPN Plus+ ExclusiveAbuse: What veterinarians should know, what they can doNovember 5, 2020Veterinarians are on the front lines of seeing abuse in both pets and people. What can they do? What should they do? And how has determining abuse or neglect in animals changed in a world of COVID?
Courageous conversations: Respond, don't reactFebruary 12, 2020Rather than reacting when a conflict occurs, learn productive ways to respond to sensitive conversations with coworkers, management, and/or clients.
What a country song teaches us about patient/client careFebruary 12, 2020Around 1990, Marty Becker, DVM, founder of Fear Free Pets, overheard the mantra: “Let’s remember to practice today like pet owners are right there looking over our shoulders.”
What to do with a bad online reviewJanuary 3, 2020Social media is both a blessing and a curse. Promoting your practice this way can be fast, fun, and inexpensive. But social media also provides disgruntled clients with a platform to complain publicly about you, even when the merits of their complaints are specious or entirely wanting. Negative reviews can damage your reputation, your practice's good name, and the bottom line. They also can be extremely stressful. This is especially so when the review botches your medical analysis, questions your compassion, or is otherwise just plain ugly. Here are some suggestions for handling bad reviews and for trying to prevent them altogether. 1) Provide a measured response One way to vindicate yourself and your practice is to provide a measured response to each negative review. The response might be along these lines: "We are sorry to hear you were not completely satisfied with your recent visit to our practice. We strive to provide top-notch service and the best possible care for your pet. We apologize sincerelyfor any misunderstanding and invite you to contact our practice manager so we may address your concerns." The idea is to show you are the voice of reason, the adult in the room. Keep …
Dealing with disruptive clientsOctober 28, 2019Disruptive clients are not necessarily angry or unruly. Sometimes, they come in a much calmer, yet needier format.
Fear Free launches shelter programAugust 27, 2019Rescued animals can now enjoy a less anxious shelter experience thanks to a new Fear Free initiative. The Fear Free Shelter Program is a free computer training course designed to help staff members and volunteers of animal shelters, rescue groups, and other animal welfare organizations to create a Fear Free experience for pets from intake to adoption and beyond. In addition, it provides resources adopters and foster homes can use to promote the emotional well-being of the pets in their care and ease the transition to a new environment. "We created the Fear Free Shelter Program to improve the experiences of animals by educating shelter personnel about the emotional needs of dogs and cats," says VPN columnist Marty Becker, DVM, founder and CEO of Fear Free. "This program will empower them to apply key concepts, strategies, and techniques designed to reduce the negative emotional states that are commonly experienced by shelter animals, including fear, anxiety, stress, and frustration." Brenda Griffin, DVM, MS, DACVIM, is lead author of the Fear Free Shelter Program. She is also co-instructor of courses in shelter medicine and animal behavior at both the University of Florida and the University of Georgia. Three board-certified veterinary behaviorists with …
Ethical issues for today's veterinarian in the digital ageFebruary 7, 2019Have you thought about ethical issues in the new digital age? The world we live in is vastly different from just a few years ago. Remember the days when getting a taxi meant hoping to see one drive by on the street and waving frantically to get the driver's attention? Not so today, given the various apps available literally at our fingertips. This digital revolution seems to have infiltrated every aspect of our lives, including the way we practice veterinary medicine, which raises several ethical and legal questions. What type of world will we practice in as we evolve in the digital age and adopt new technology allowing unprecedented generation and access to digital data? Will it be one in which people in animal health just obey the law, or one where they are obedient to the unenforceable: honesty, integrity, responsibility, respect, caring for others, and courage2? These are the universal elements of ethics to consider, as we encounter specific challenges of embracing and using technology in practice. The whole veterinary community is responsible for upholding its ethical norm now that veterinarians can digitally support "pet parents" at home and in between visits. Playing catch up with innovation Veterinary medicine …
