In-House Lab Equipment Passes TestAugust 31, 2009 What could be more important than making your clients’ clinic experience as convenient as possible? How about better protecting the health of their pets by adding capabilities to your practice? Of course, nothing says you can’t do both, notes Gary D. Norsworthy, DVM, Dipl. ABVP (feline practice). Convenience and cutting-edge care are at the heart of his clinic’s shift to in-house lab analysis. Dr. Norsworthy’s hospital, Alamo Feline Health Center in San Antonio, sees cases of hyperthyroidism and kidney disease every day. That’s a key reason he and his colleagues added an in-house blood analysis system six or seven years ago, he says. The clinic still uses a commercial lab for some of its more comprehensive profiles, but it now does the bulk of its lab work in-house, “And the biggest advantage of our equipment is I can get answers from tests in less than 15 minutes,” Norsworthy adds. That means clients get the convenience of swift test results and a diagnosis without having to make a follow-up trip to the veterinary office. With three doctors and six exam rooms, Alamo Feline Health Center prides itself on its efficiency as well as its …
SPONSORED CONTENTYear-Round Tick Control is ImportantEmpower dog owners to protect their dogs with protection approved by the FDA for the prevention of Lyme infections in dogs as a direct result of killing black-legged ticks. + Learn More
Dealing With Daily DilemmasAugust 21, 2009 I received some responses regarding my August column about “Food Inc.,” a documentary film released this past summer. No doubt, there are animal welfare issues in the field of food animal production that will put some veterinarians at odds with other veterinarians. Part of my job is to raise awareness of issues that affect our profession and how we serve society. The information quoted in my article came from the documentary. The first Bustad Award Winners’ Reunion took place during the AVMA convention. It was organized by Dr. William McCulloch and hosted by Larry Norvell, president of the Delta Society. No other single event has attracted as many Bustad recipients in one room. From left are: Drs. Jane Shaw from the Argus Center at Colorado State University, James Harris from Tasmania, Brian Forsegren (this year’s recipient) from Cleveland, Caroline Shaffer from Tuskegee, Marv Samuleson with VARL, Dr. Alice Villalobos, Bill McCulloch from Washington, Gen Kato from Japan and Marie McCabe from Arkansas. I recommend that all veterinarians see the movie because some of your clients most likely will see it. California had …
Some Disturbing Food For ThoughtAugust 6, 2009 The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that food-borne illness affects 76 million Americans annually; 325,000 adults and children become sick enough to be hospitalized and 5,000 die. Reading List “Fast Food Nation,” . “The Omnivore’s Dilemma” and “In Defense of Food,” . “Stuffed and Starved: The Hidden Battle for the World Food System,” Daily headlines often include stories about: Food poisoned with e. Coli and Salmonella. . Pesticides and feedlot runoff causing pollution by methane and greenhouse gas emissions. . Food animal and immigrant labor abuses. . World hunger, malnutrition, obesity and the diabetes epidemic becoming rampant. The documentary film “Food Inc.” shows how industrial food is making people sicker, fatter and poorer, and how it negatively affects the environment, the economy and workers’ rights. David Servan-Schreiber, MD, Ph.D., in his well-documented book “Anticancer,” confronts the hazards of our traditional Western diet. Thirty million Americans are …
Foods Can Play Role In Allergy CareAugust 5, 2009 From elimination diets to hydrolyzed foods, novel proteins to Chinese therapy, many tools serve the quest to identify and treat food allergies in pets. But in the end, doesn’t solving the riddle of a pet’s allergic reactions really come down to the uncertainties of trial and error? Hana, a 7-year-old female Leonberger, was presented to Dr. Signe Beebe in March. Hana was covered with bald patches and sores caused by constant scratching. Beebe treated her using food therapy, Chinese herbs and acupuncture. “I prefer the term ‘therapeutic trial,’ ” says Paul Bloom, DVM, Dipl. ACVD, ABVP (canine and feline specialties). “With such trials in human medicine, aren’t you guessing?” Whatever the terminology, practitioners and pet owners alike agree that the road to a food allergy solution can be twisty and trying. The end place is often a special diet designed to curb the inflammation, itching, biting and scratching that are the telltale signs of allergic reaction. Finding the most effective diet can take more diligence and detective work. “What’s so difficult is that people, including veterinarians, want answers right now,” says Dr. Bloom, owner of the Allergy, Skin and Ear Clinic …
Planning Pet Care Can Help Clients Pay BillsJuly 10, 2009 Follow Veterinary Practice News on Twitter at @vetpetnews. Most veterinarians didn’t go to school to become financial planners. Yet, many spend lots of time discussing finances with their clients. After all, veterinary care costs money, and when that money isn’t available, the pets ultimately suffer. Making a Case for Insurance On the surface, pet insurance may seem like a monthly expense that pet owners could trim in lean times. But Chris Edgar of The Hartville Group Inc., says clients should be reminded that they’ll be even less likely to afford sudden, significant expenses during an economic recession. “The most compelling aspect of pet insurance value remains its service as a means to prevent unexpected veterinary costs, which can total hundreds or thousands of additional dollars,” Edgar says. Jules Benson of Petplan says veterinarians can encourage customers to plan for the health of their pets—and their pocketbooks—in many ways. For example, he says, reminding owners of healthy pets about common conditions that could arise years into the future can help set expectations and …
Why Is Deception So Common?June 30, 2009 It has always bothered me when doctors and nurses blandly tell dying human patients that they will be “OK.” I am also bothered when I hear veterinarians and their support staff tell pet owners that their pet is going to be “all right” despite a poor prognosis looming overhead. We may feel guilty if we take away a person’s hope, but should we lie about reality? Deception is all too common a habit in the human health care field, but should veterinarians also support the false hopes of their clients? Should frank lies come straight from health care professionals who encourage terminal patients to thrash in the gears of the “mindless machinery” of medicine? Is there harm in giving clients the truth about their pet’s actual condition and probable prognosis, at least as a reality check? If veterinarians follow the pediatrician model, we need to inform the “parents” about their pet’s condition. Are physicians and veterinarians too blunt when they inform us with the statistical prognosis? Is there a more compassionate way to say, “You have six months to live”? How can this difficult information be gently delivered to the family without ripping their hearts out and …
Vets Offer Tips On Keeping Pets Calm For July 4 FireworksJune 26, 2009With the Fourth of July around the corner, a day of energetic festivities often involving fireworks and loud noises, veterinarians are promoting tips on how to keep pets calm during the holiday. For instance, Rolan Tripp, DVM, founder of the Animal Behavior Network, has made available to veterinarians free lobby posters and hand outs outlining canine fireworks noise phobia. Dr. Tripp defines noise phobia as “an excessive, unreasonable fear response to specific loud noises. It is more common in dogs than cats and the most common noise phobias are to fireworks and thunder.” For mild cases (somewhat anxious) or as prevention to fireworks phobia, Tripp suggests what he calls a “Fireworks Party.” Starting around July 2 to 3 either fast, or feed only ¼ of the early meal. Then at the first faint of fireworks, pet owners respond with a happy, “It’s a fireworks party!” The pet owner then gets a treat for the dog. From there on out, every boom triggers a “party snack” until the dog “happily” waits for the next boom. “The idea is to turn the fear into joy,” Tripp said. A dog appeasing pheromone collar can also be added, he said. For …
80% Reimbursement: A Straightforward Model For Pet Health InsuranceJune 25, 2009Pets Best Insurance In an 80:20 insurance plan, the insurance carrier reimburses 80 percent of eligible veterinary costs to the insured client after the deductible. The client is responsible for his 20 percent co-payment and deductible. There may also be per-incident, annual and lifetime limits, and the client is responsible for payment if these are exceeded. An 80:20 plan provides all parties with easy to understand rules regarding how much is being covered by the insurance provider. Only then can insured pet owners adequately plan and make prudent decisions regarding pet care based on their current financial situation. This simple approach avoids surprises on reimbursement to the client and the care giver supplying the veterinary services. “Out of pocket” payments by the insured, in the form of the deductible, co-payment and over-policy limits, is necessary and vital to the entire process. Otherwise, the insured would not care about cost. A financial involvement by the insured is critically beneficial to curbing the amount and cost of services. The insured becomes a partner in the financial transaction. If, as with some human HMOs, the doctor or hospital bills the HMO provider and the patient has little or no out-of-pocket expense, there is …
Learn About Continuing EducationJune 10, 2009 When it’s time for veterinarians and staff members to log required continuing education hours, they have multiple options and even more opportunities for professional development in their areas of interest. Large national and regional conferences are wonderful places to acquire a lot of CE in a short time while networking with peers. But for those who can’t get away from the practice, there are other options as well. Short Hops Most state veterinary medical associations schedule annual conferences that may be close to home. In larger states, local associations bring the information even closer, often with evening sessions. Variety may be somewhat limited, but if your interest fits the agenda, you can spend an evening or a day or two absorbing some good education. Click here for a directory of links to state veterinary groups. Across Town Local referral practices can be a good place for CE. Emergency and specialty practices often host monthly events for their referring community, bringing in experts from sponsor companies or spotlighting their emergency clinicians and specialists. These are often evening or afternoon sessions that can easily fit the schedule of the veterinary team. John Thompson, CEO …
Praising Our DVM Authors And IconsJune 10, 2009 The world fell in love with veterinarians as they read James Herriot novels, but today things are different. In fact, life in the fast lane and in cities worldwide finds many pet owners seeking help at larger veterinary hospitals with multiple associates who often refer them for specialty care at mega-practices. The contemporary sick-pet story no longer has the quaint James Herriot-style feeling. Pet owners who encounter high-tech veterinary medicine have a quite different experience. But the human-animal bond remains the same. The bond is the mortar, grout and glue that holds together the foundation of our profession. Modern veterinary authors are stepping up to tell today’s story. We can wistfully look back to the good old days, but we must read the new DVM authors, inspired by Herriot, who write about our evolving profession. We need to acquaint ourselves with the newest generation of veterinary authors who address their books to the public, such as Nancy Kay, Nick Trout, Tami Shearer, Debra Eldredge, Robin Downing, Shannon Nakaya, Elizabeth Hodgkins, Baxter Black, Marty Becker, Robert M. Miller, yours truly and many others too numerous to mention here. Our clients have the opportunity to witness the …
