Self Indulgence Seeks CommiserationMay 23, 2011Why I’ll take teeth and claws over clients any day. As any self-respecting service worker well knows, there’s nothing worse than an angry customer. Our veterinary workplaces are no different except that our customers come in a variety of species. Given the choice, though, I’ll always choose to take my chances with the ones baring teeth and claws over the ones wielding checkbooks. Irate clients are the stuff of any service industry. And just because we’re animal-loving doesn’t mean the occasional client’s entrance doesn’t provoke the staff to yell, “Incoming!” ... at which point everyone dives for cover while the angry person unleashes vitriol and generally makes a nuisance of him- or herself. Most of the time these are belligerent rants aimed at no one and everyone alike. And, as most of you reading this well know, the downtrodden reception staff gets it 99 percent of the time. What gets me about these people is that their issue is usually something maddeningly trivial like, “How could you not have my cat’s food in stock?” (though we specifically ask our clients to pre-order) or the occasional grief over a dearly departed patch of fur the clippers …
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Websites Offer A Window Into The PracticeMay 23, 2011 According to Nielson Net-Ratings, 85 percent of consumers say a quality website is fundamental to earning trust. More than 77 percent said they were more likely to make a purchase from an unfamiliar business with a quality website than a poor website from a known business. Some website developers say veterinarians can expect 30 new clients per month, but a more typical outcome is six to 12 new clients a month. The increased traffic depends on local competition and level of Web marketing. “On the Web, perception is usually reality,” says Chris Plueger, director of sales for Internet Matrix Inc. in San Diego. “Like a storefront, a website can be indicative of a business’s professionalism, experience and attention to detail. Consumers are constantly evaluating the websites they visit and shopping only with the ones they trust.” Branding A website also serves as a way to perpetuate a practice’s brand. Incorporating the same business logo onto a website, business card, mailings and social networks makes a practice more identifiable to potential clients. “Veterinarians often don’t know what to include on a website because they’re not in marketing,” says Mark Feltz, DVM, owner of VetNetwork LLC in …
UF’s CVM Recognized In Gainesville’s Beautification Awards ProgramMay 20, 2011 The University of Florida (UF) College of Veterinary Medicine’s new small animal hospital was recognized April 27 with one of the top awards given by the city of Gainesville as part of the its annual Beautification Awards program. The 104,000-square-foot hospital which opened for business in November 2010, received the Outstanding Institutional Award. The building features three stories of state-of-the-art clinical and teaching space as well as faculty offices and a 140-seat conference room. The building is the first veterinary facility in the country to achieve Gold Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification. The new facility provides enhanced patient care and serves as a model for environmental and energy efficiency. See related story: U of Florida Plans Grand Opening for Small Animal Hospital <Home>
May Is Foster Care Awareness MonthMay 20, 2011 May is foster care awareness month and VCA Animal Hospital is promoting the importance of pet foster care. Recent natural disasters in the U.S. increased the number of displaced and homeless animals. According to the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, 5 to 7 million pets are taken into animal shelters in the U.S. every year. VCA labels animal fostering as paving the way to successful adoption for an animal in need. VCA Animal hospital says to serve as an animal foster caregiver, a person must have time, room and resources to dedicate to a foster pet in order for it to be a positive experience for all parties involved. Foster care tips from VCA Having the ability to say goodbye is an essential quality, according to Donna Spector, DVM, DACVIM, VCA. Fostering is a temporary situation until the pet finds a permanent home or is returned to its owner. Patience is needed because animals in shelters or those who have been moved from home to home are often under tremendous stress. Animals might not be accustomed to cages or other animals. It is important that a foster care provider is …
Yamamoto Receives UF Research Foundation ProfessorshipMay 20, 2011 Janet Yamamoto, PhD., professor of immunology at the University of Florida’s College of Veterinary Medicine, today received the University of Florida Research Foundation professorship. The university’s division of sponsored research sponsors the professorship, which awards professors for a three-year term to tenured faculty for distinguished research and scholarship that is expected to lead to continuing distinction in their field. The award includes a $5,000 salary increase each year for three years and a one-time $3,000 award for research support. Yamamoto is a co-discoverer of the feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) in cats and also developed the first FIV vaccine, a dual-subtype vaccine that was the first for any lentiviral disease. She holds patents on key practical technologies related to the FIV virus. “As Dr. Yamamoto’s department chair, I have had the opportunity to observe her intense focus on advancing her basic research findings to the point that they constitute practical advances in feline medicine, which is how she conceptualizes and pursues her research goals,” says John Dame, Ph.D., chairman of the immunology department. “Her research is at the molecular level, but she has never lost sight of her goal of translating her research findings into practical products.” …
Massachusetts Vet Hospital Raises Money For Animal Oxygen MasksMay 20, 2011 Bulger Veterinary Hospital, a 24-hour emergency, general practice and specialty referral facility in North Andover, Mass. is raising money to provide local fire stations with oxygen masks for pets. The fundraiser began in March and will continue through June. The practice’s goal is to raise enough funds to donate 134 oxygen mask kits to fire stations in surrounding towns and cities that have declared a need. To date, the practice has raised enough money to purchase more than 75 oxygen mask kits. Bulger initiated the fundraising because effects of smoke inhalation can be fatal if not treated quickly, yet fire stations are often not equipped to treat the animals they save from fires, according to the hospital. The fundraiser began at Bulger Veterinary Hospital then expanded to the Methuen Massachusetts Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals and the Lowell Humane Society, which assisted by donating a raffle basket and hosting fund raising drives on behalf of Bulger. Beneficiaries of oxygen mask donations include fire stations in 19 Massachusetts towns and six towns in New Hampshire. To make a donation to the Bulger Veterinary Hospital fundraiser, call (978) 682-9905.
Nominations Invited For 2012 WSAVA AwardsMay 20, 2011 The World Small Animal Veterinary Association (WSAVA) is accepting nominations for the 2012 veterinary awards, which will be presented April 12-15, 2012 during the 2012 WSAVA World Congress in Birmingham, UK. Presented by the British Small Animal Veterinary Association, the awards recognize achievements of veterinarians internationally in advancing the care of companion animals. Nominations are invited for the following awards: • The WSAVA Hill’s Pet Mobility Award This award recognizes the work of a clinical researcher in the field of canine and feline orthopedic medicine and surgery through improvements in the mobility and quality of life of pets. The research should have contributed significantly to the well-being of pets’ lives and to the human-animal bond worldwide. • The WSAVA Hill’s Excellence in Veterinary Healthcare Award This award recognizes the work of a veterinarian in promoting companion animal health care and the human-animal-veterinary bond through leading edge clinical nutrition and advanced medical and surgical techniques that enrich relationships between people and pets. • The WSAVA International Award for Scientific Achievement This award recognizes the contribution of a veterinarian who has furthered the advancement of knowledge of the cause, detection and management of disorders in companion …
World Vet Education Conference Pushes For Animal WelfareMay 19, 2011 The second World Conference on Veterinary Education took place May 13 to 15 and focused on animal welfare and the competencies graduating veterinarians should achieve regardless of their location and training.The second World Conference on Veterinary Education took place May 13 to 15 and focused on animal welfare and the competencies graduating veterinarians should achieve regardless of their location and training. More than 250 people from veterinary faculties around the world, as well as students and industry representatives, gathered in Lyon, France. “Vets can have a direct impact on the attitudes and behaviors of the general public towards animals as advisers to owners as well as to governments and corporations,” said Ruth De Vere, head of education at the World Society for the Protection of Animals International (WSPA). “After this conference, where the world’s veterinary elite came together globally, I am hopeful that animal welfare will become an integral part of veterinary training.” The WSPA praised a World Animal Health Organization (OIE) committee for helping recommend basic standards for all graduating veterinarians and including animal welfare as a fundamental element of a veterinary curriculum. The recommendations are subject to the approval of the OIE General Assembly. …
Garfield Joins Fight Against Feline Kidney DiseaseMay 19, 2011 A campaign was launched today to educate cat owners about the risk of chronic kidney disease their aging pets may face. An animated video featuring the cartoon character Garfield and an educational website were developed to help pet owners understand the importance of caring for cats as they reach the typical middle age of 7. The website features a range of cat care tools including Renalzin, a dietary supplement by Bayer Healthcare AG, and free downloadable advice. The video is licensed by Paws Inc. and features Garfield in the midst of a midlife crisis. Kidney disease is common but often an unseen health problem for cats, especially those 7 or older. One in three has the disease by age 10. “Middle-aged cats may be suffering from gradual, irreversible kidney damage even if they don’t show any signs of the disease,” says Sarah Caney, BVSc, Ph.D., Dipl. SAM (Feline), the CEO of Cat Professional Ltd. “If your cat is 7 years of age or over, ask your veterinarian about screening for kidney disease. The tests are simple, and the earlier kidney disease is detected, the better supporting treatments such as Renalzin [may] help to limit the …
More Pig Ears Recalled Due To Salmonella ConcernsMay 18, 2011 Another pet product company is recalling its pig ear treats for dogs after a supplier, Keys Manufacturing Co. Inc., detected salmonella in one batch. Blackman Industries Inc. of Kansas City is recalling its PrimeTime brand two-count and five-count premium pig ears and KC Beefhide brand 20-count premium pig ears because they have the potential to be contaminated with salmonella. The PrimeTime products come in clear plastic packages with yellow printed headers and are marked with the UPC codes 7-48976-18316-6 (two-count), 7-48976-09040-2 (five-count) and 7-48976-19040-9 (five-count). The KC Beefhide product is packaged in a red mesh nylon bag with a green and white header and the UPC code 7-48976-09065-5. These products were distributed in Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska and South Dakota from Jan. 4 to April 29 and sold in many of these grocery stores: Price Chopper, Hy-Vee, Hen House Market, Bag N Save, Dahl’s, Baldwin City Market, SunFresh, Apple Market, Brookside Market, Franklin Food Store, No Frills, Alps, Big V, Country Mart, Thriftway, County Fair, Super Saver and Russ’s and Feldman’s Farm and Home. The pig ear supplier, Keys Manufacturing, issued a recall this month after a dog in Missouri was reported sick. …
