Typical Veterinary ServicesNovember 11, 2015Whether you’re thinking about getting a new pet, you’ve probably wondered what happens on their first vet visit. Let’s discusses what typically happens on your new pet’s first veterinary visit. Veterinary Services on a Puppy’s Initial Visit First, you need to establish your puppy’s health profile. That’s often established by filling out a questionnaire and talking with a veterinary technician along with your veterinarian. Starting with a questionnaire, your veterinarian will document basic information about your puppy. Typical information includes the puppy’s: Breed Name Gender Weight Body temperature Your veterinarian will also ask your basic contact information. The next step includes a more hands-on approach to evaluate your new puppy’s physical well-being in the exam room. A stool sample for analysis is needed to determine if your puppy needs treatment for internal parasites such as roundworms, hookworms, tapeworms and whipworms. How do these internal parasites affect your puppy? Purdue School of Veterinary Medicine says: “Roundworms look like spaghetti noodles when seen in the stool. Puppies may contract these worms from their mother prior to birth. Infection causes …
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How to Use Digital Tools to Enhance Your Veterinary BusinessNovember 2, 2015Originally published in the October 2015 issue of Veterinary Practice News. Enjoyed this article? Then subscribe today! Digital media aren’t simply a pastime for kids thumbing their way across an iPhone screen. Technological advents like iPhones and easily accessible Wi-Fi have caused a major shift for people of all ages. Sure, businesses that choose to market toward millennials have a huge user base to do so. But when we look at who is using social media with the highest rate of growth, it’s actually the baby boomers. Nielsen, a world leader in information measurement and analytics, notes that “Internet users over the age of 55 are driving the growth of social networking through the mobile Internet.” While this statistic might at first be surprising, it’s a concentrate indicator of the multigenerational impact that the Internet truly has. Regardless of media portrayal or common misconception, new forms of digital media like emailing, social media and even texting aren’t media and even texting aren’t only being used by younger demographics. Nielsen and top-performing veterinary practices know the same thing: Digital media are tools for people of all ages. While some might argue that …
The Power of a Phrase: How are YOU doing?October 29, 2015We are talking again today about the power of words, and how just a simple phrase can mean so much to your clients. We are all well aware of, and used to, those clients who are considered “high maintenance.” They ask a lot from us of our time, our energy and our patience at times. They ask a lot of questions, outwardly display their negative emotions, and assumedly do not realize we have five other clients waiting on us. They can be exasperating. As I like to kid around and say, they "suck the life out of us." When they finally leave the exam room, we take a big deep sigh of relief, and often vent our feelings of frustration to the nearest coworker. But it might be time — or way past time — to look at why these veterinary clients act the way they do. They are reaching, stretching, pulling our resources from us, yes. But maybe, just maybe, that is because they have not been willingly GIVEN our resources, or those of our colleagues, in the past. Perhaps …
Go Pink?October 27, 2015Originally published in the October 2015 issue of Veterinary Practice News. Enjoyed this article? Then subscribe today! Chico quivered pitifully under the stainless steel exam table, peeking furtively in my general direction every few seconds––probably to be sure I hadn’t suddenly altered course. He was clearly calculating his escape options. As if my patient’s disapproval wasn’t enough, his person appeared equally dissatisfied with where this particular veterinary visit was headed. “Good thing Chico’s colorblind, Doc, otherwise he’d be out the door by now for sure.” Nice. Original, too. It was one of many statements I’ve come to expect from a certain contingent of my clientele. But that’s OK. I’ve learned to accept these ill-mannered remarks as the cost of doing business. Too bad I didn’t elect enormous breast implants instead, I’ve often mused. Those demand a degree of verbal prudence my pink hair is unlikely to ever recruit. Let me explain. A few years back I submitted a column on the pedestrian topic of shoes. Another time it was tattoos. Even more recently I tackled certain management gurus’ politically objectionable fashion …
Why Veterinarians Expect More From Diagnostic EquipmentOctober 21, 2015Originally published in the October 2015 issue of Veterinary Practice News. Enjoyed this article? Then subscribe today! Veterinarians today expect sophisticated diagnostic technology that gets results quickly, those who sell the technology say. Jane Robertson, DVM, Dipl. ACVIM, director of medical affairs at Idexx Laboratories Inc. of Westbrook, Maine, said most practitioners are accustomed to collecting a pet’s blood sample for in-office and reference laboratory testing and quickly getting results. “The modern veterinarian wants the best for her clients and pets, and as a result, relies heavily on sophisticated diagnostic testing and technology capable of quickly and accurately identifying health conditions,” Dr. Robertson said. In-clinic testing, in particular, continues to gain popularity because it enables veterinarians to provide real-time care, experts like Robertson say. Robertson pointed out two products that build on this standard practice: Idexx’s Total T4 Test, which enables in-clinic thyroid testing by adding the test to existing panels, and its Symmetric dimethylarginine (SDMA) test, a kidney test that permits earlier diagnosis of kidney disease in dogs and cats than existing methods. “The classic clinical signs of hyperthyroidism in cats include …
Does Your Service Match Your Medicine?October 19, 2015Originally published in the October 2015 issue of Veterinary Practice News. Enjoyed this article? Then subscribe today! Because pet owners choose where to seek veterinary care, your clinic operates in both health care and service industries. Pay attention to details the next time you go shopping and see which experiences you could copy in your veterinary hospital. Here are easy-to-implement ideas from the service industry. 1) Step Out From Behind the Counter When I bought mascara at Nordstrom department store, the associate walked around the counter and delivered my shopping bag with a smile that communicated, “We appreciate your business.” At most veterinary hospitals, receptionists sit behind tall counters and computers block eye contact with clients. For a service-centered approach, the receptionist should stand to greet clients when they approach the desk. Body language communicates that you’re eager to help. When clients pay for prescriptions or other items, walk around the counter to deliver the medication and receipt. Close with an appreciation statement: “Thanks for visiting us …
How to Put Fear Free Practices to Use During ProceduresOctober 14, 2015Originally published in the October 2015 issue of Veterinary Practice News. Enjoyed this article? Then subscribe today! Previously, we discussed ways to reduce the stress level of patients during the car ride and their visit to the veterinary hospital. This month, we review Marty Becker’s Fear Free techniques to reduce stress around hospitalization, anesthesia and surgery. Restraint is becoming more and more archaic. It is designed to protect us without much regard for the physical or emotional well-being of the patient. If you are not successful in your “stress-less” or gentle control techniques, then consider sedation. The board-certified anesthesiologists and behaviorists who are part of the Fear Free movement have two interesting sayings: “Think of sedation early and often.” “If you can’t abate, you must sedate.” Asking five technicians to sit on a fearful patient during a nail trim, blood draw or X-ray should be considered taboo. Would you do it …
Why You Need to Walk a Mile in a Pet Owner’s WalletOctober 13, 2015Originally published in the October 2015 issue of Veterinary Practice News. Enjoyed this article? Then subscribe today! I recently had to have a plumber and an electrician out to our Almost Heaven Ranch to work on our well — on, of course, a Sunday night. I live in a very rural area where both of the service professionals were friends, but let me tell you, I expected the bills to be high, and I wasn’t wrong. We knew we’d be able to pay the bill, or at least put it on a credit card, but I admit I swallowed hard when they handed me the invoices at the end of a long night. The experience made me think about what clients must experience at the veterinary hospital. Like electricians and plumbers, we, too, are service providers whose services don’t carry a visible price tag for easy consideration of value. Also like them, veterinary bills very seldom add up to less than expected! However, problems with the plumbing or wiring don’t carry the emotional impact of those with the beloved pet on your exam …
No Obamacare for Pets EitherOctober 9, 2015You’ve probably heard it before: Veterinarians accused of only being in it for the money. But as we all know, medical care for pets is costly, and most veterinarians are barely breaking even. (Which sucks when you have vet school bills to pay.) It’s hard for people to understand the true cost of healthcare period, since we’re mostly unaware of the cost of our own healthcare, thanks to insurance companies and Medicaid/Medicare. It’s led to a popular joke around here: “Too bad there's no Obamacare for pets.” It’s no different over in the United Kingdom, as Veterinary Care Assistant Tracey Morgan writes in her opinion piece "There Is No NHS for Animals" over on the Huffington Post's UK website. Morgan says nothing we’ve haven’t already said before, but she does make a point of breaking down the real cost of human healthcare: “As humans in the UK we are incredibly lucky to have the [National Health Service], so let's look at how much human care actually costs. Well for a ten minute consult with a GP we cost the NHS between £45-70 (without taking anything away from GP's who …
Are You a Financial Slacker?October 8, 2015We are financial slackers. Such is the sad conclusion of a poll conducted by HSH.com, a mortgage information resource. It reveals that many of us are slackers when it comes to managing money and financial planning. Although Americans claim to strive for financial security, many of us did nothing to improve our credit profiles in 2014. Furthermore, a lot of us admit that we have no plans to do any better in 2015. Questions asked by HSH to about 2,000 participants included: Did you save money for retirement in 2014? Did you refinance a mortgage? Did you prepay part of a mortgage? Did you pay off credit card debt? Did you take any steps to improve our credit score? Results are concerning — to say the least. Here is what respondents said they did in 2014: 15% refinanced their mortgage. 27% saved money for retirement. 3% prepaid their mortgage. 24% paid off credit card debt. 24% improved their credit score. How about in 2015? Are people more willing to improve their financial health? 9% want to refinance their mortgage. 33% want to save money for retirement. 12% want to …
