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 …
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Developing Your Clinic’s WebsiteJune 9, 2009 When Rick Wall, DVM, graduated from veterinary school three decades ago, he had no idea that blogs and tweets would occupy his consciousness alongside spays and neuters. Now that he’s six months into the redevelopment of his four practices’ Web presence, the Woodlands, Texas, practitioner says, “I’m fascinated by this whole process. When I first started, we didn’t even have computers. Now we’re talking about a blog on our site, posting things regularly, …
Surviving Recession Bonus: Lenders Like VetsMay 7, 2009 Follow Veterinary Practice News on Twitter at @vetpetnews. James “Chip” Mahan, CEO of Live Oak Bank in Wilmington, N.C., has good feelings about the veterinary field. “I don’t know of any other industry that made more in 2008 than in 2007 outside of veterinary medicine,” Mahan says. “Although veterinary loan applications were slow at the end of 2008, there has been an uptick in the first quarter of 2009. …
Uses Of Therapeutic Laser ExpandApril 17, 2009Uses of Therapeutic Laser ExpandUses of Therapeutic Laser ExpandBy Dennis Arp03-10-2009education-series Eye protection must be worn when administering treatment. Here, an aide keeps a patient from looking at the laser. Because her therapeutic laser operates outside the visible light spectrum, Robin Downing, DVM, has to trust what her eyes can’t see. Luckily for her and for the patients in her pain-management referral practice, the consistently positive reactions are as clear as day. “We see results …
What Staff Should Know About Blood Typing And Cross-matchingApril 17, 2009Canine Blood Types DEA System (Dog Erythrocyte Antigen) Dogs currently have 13 known erythrocyte antigens, nine of which are listed below. Dogs do not have naturally occurring antibodies to DEA 1.1, and 1.2, the most antigenic subgroup, but studies do show they do have naturally occurring antibodies to 3, 5, and 7. Because of the lack of antibodies to DEA 1.1 or 1.2 it is often said that the “first transfusion is …
Racing To Save Pets At WVCApril 17, 2009 The human-animal bond went way beyond our expectations this year at the Western Veterinary Conference in Las Vegas. Many thanks to WVC’s tireless staff, President Dr. Jim Furman, Chief Medical Officer Dr. Steve Crane; and Executive Director Dr. Guy Pidgeon. WVC celebrated its 80th anniversary this year. The very first meeting was held in Utah in 1928 as the Western States Sanitation Conference. Then it morphed into Western States Veterinary Conference and moved …
When Corporate Practice CallsApril 17, 2009 Follow Veterinary Practice News on Twitter at @vetpetnews. When Brian Harpster, VMD, MS, owned a practice, his wife claimed he worked 90 hours a week, though he says it was actually 60 to 70. His West Shore Veterinary Hospital in New Cumberland, Pa., had a staff of 30 and grossed $1.7 million annually. At 51, he wanted to reduce his hours and still practice while eliminating “the headaches and …
Convenience Euthanasia? Just Say NoApril 17, 2009 His face was flushed and his ears were red. He was leading two big, beautiful German shepherd dogs toward the back of the clinic. I knew something was wrong. He was upset, exasperated, frustrated. He said that the owners of these dogs were going on a long vacation and they wanted the dogs put down. It was 1972, my first job, my boss. What could I say? What should I say? Something …
To Protect And ServeApril 17, 2009 Follow Veterinary Practice News on Twitter at @vetpetnews. Travel Service Opportunities World Vets Home base: Deer Park, Wash. Selected upcoming trips: Loreto, Baja California, Mexico, May 31-June 7; Belize in Summer ’08; Ecuador from Nov. 3-12; Gambia in winter ’08-’09. Contact: info@worldvets.org, 509-276-8387 More info: www.worldvets.org Spay Panama …
Home Testing Helps Owners, Vets Regulate Diabetic PetsApril 17, 2009 When Shelby developed diabetes several years ago, it was difficult for her owner to regulate the cat’s blood glucose level between visits to the veterinarian. Subsequently, Shelby, an 18-year-old female domestic shorthair, failed to show any signs of improvement and disease management while at home. Much like human diabetics, dogs and cats can benefit from daily monitoring to ensure proper blood glucose levels are maintained and to catch any potentially dangerous fluctuations …
