VPN Plus+ ExclusiveWhy does no one want to be a practice owner anymore?March 18, 2021By Patty Khuly, VMD, MBABeing a practice owner is hard. But being a veterinarian is way harder than being a practice owner. Which makes me wonder why so many people willing to put in tireless hours to crown themselves animal doctor are subsequently unwilling to take this extra step?
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VPN Plus+ ExclusiveCurbside dilemmas: nine tips for troubleshooting the dreaded COVID protocolFebruary 11, 2021By Patty Khuly, VMD, MBAClient communication has taken a hit during COVID. Here are nine troubleshooting tips to help get your teams through the pandemic.
VPN Plus+ ExclusiveTo 'dental month' or not to 'dental month?' February 5, 2021Veterinary technicians sound off on whether National Pet Dental Health Month is something worth celebrating.
VPN Plus+ ExclusiveVeterinary medicine's shameful secret: Making it up as we go along?January 21, 2021By Brennen McKenzie, MA, MSc, VMD, cVMAMany experienced veterinarians would admit to themselves we often feel uncertain about our knowledge, training, and skill when performing infrequent requests we are rarely called on to perform and which we have minimal training or experience with.
VPN Plus+ ExclusiveThe year of angry clientsJanuary 14, 2021By Patty Khuly, VMD, MBADr. Khuly shares the challenges of angry clients in the year of COVID.
VPN Plus+ ExclusiveNew year, new you?December 23, 2020By Patty Khuly, VMD, MBAEight strategies and reslouctions for work/life balance in veterinary medicine.
VPN Plus+ ExclusivePlaying monopoly with real money: How veterinarians are losing the price warOctober 30, 2020By Patty Khuly, VMD, MBACompetition is alive and well in veterinary medicine. But as our industry confronts increased corporatization and consolidation, the word has acquired a new resonance for many of us.
VPN Plus+ ExclusiveFood is love—So why is nutrition a problem area for veterinarians?September 29, 2020By Brennen McKenzie, MA, MSc, VMD, cVMAAs a child, I was a big fan of the Peanuts cartoons. One of my favorite characters was Snoopy, a suave, bipedal beagle who wrote novels and engaged in breathtaking aerial combat with his nemesis, the Red Baron. Though Snoopy was unlike most other beagles I have known, he had one characteristic in common to others of his breed, and indeed most dogs. When suppertime arrived, all other activities were forgotten, and he often launched into an exuberant, joyful, food-induced dance. Every feeding was a celebration for Snoopy, not only of food but of the bond between dog and owner. Few subjects generate the same intensity of emotion in pet owners as the question of what to feed our animal companions. Feeding our pets is the quintessential act of caring and love. And based on how most dogs and cats act at feeding time, it certainly seems like a highlight of the relationship for them. There is also a deep sense in most pet owners that choosing a pet food has tremendous significance for the health and well-being of their pets. Everyone wants to give their pets the "best" food that will keep them active and happy and prevent illness …
VPN Plus+ ExclusiveSurviving a pandemic as a veterinary professionalJune 24, 2020By Patty Khuly, VMD, MBAIf you're a veterinary professional and you feel like you're being squeezed from every direction, welcome to my pandemic-warped world. It's gotten so bad that sometimes I feel like a Cuban sandwich, all thin slices of ham, cheese, baby pork, and pickles smushed between two halves of buttered baguette, which is then compressed by an industrial press so powerful the edges of the bread burn and the cheese sizzles while the bread soaks up the excess. Further indulge my Miami metaphor by envisioning our suppliers as the bottom half and elite specialty providers as toppers. We, the tender baby pig (arguably the least equipped to tolerate the pressures), are becoming but a smear of protein. To be sure, it's delicious in the end. Nevertheless, it's still kind of sad the bread ends up with more than its share of all the butter. Culinary fantasies notwithstanding, it's clear things are getting tougher for the average veterinary practice. Increased ER income is keeping specialty services humming, while as many as a third of the practices in my area have temporarily shuttered, possibly never to reopen. This rearranged game board has given an edge to the larger, more established practices, along with …
A veterinary meditation: Sources of hope in the midst of an outbreakJune 17, 2020In uncertain times, a fundamental human tendency is to project into the future and foresee the adversity that lies ahead. Some of us go straight to catastrophe, while others experience a more nebulous dread.
