Communication

Failure to accurately assess a patient’s body language can lead to a petrified animal, an unproductive exam and poor owner compliance.

As a profession, we are making progress toward recognizing and treating our patients’ emotional health. We’ve implemented pheromones at home and in our practices, prescribed relaxation medications to give before a visit, added music and new color palettes to exam rooms, and introduced high-reward treats to enhance the patient experience. However, one incredibly important aspect […]

When client service falls short, remember the expression “Notice something, say something, do something.”

Something occasionally goes wrong at any business, but how employees respond to the situation can make the difference between losing and retaining a client. With planning and training, you can create a team that knows how to make things right when things go wrong. A significant part of the planning involves establishing that you have […]

Violating copyright law can cost your practice in more ways than one. Now is the time to scour your website, social networks and marketing materials for ill-gotten images.

The convenience of the internet is something we’ve all learned to enjoy in one way or another. Netflix, for example, makes for hours of satisfying home entertainment, especially when coupled with good popcorn. Google, as another example, allows us to index the entirety of the World Wide Web with just a keyword phrase and a […]

Modern-day pet owners, whether millennials or baby boomers, often have different needs and expectations. One thing they share is a desire for outstanding service.

After years of consulting with dozens of veterinary practices nationwide, I’ve become very familiar with the threads that tie us together. No matter where we’re born, our political preferences, age or gender, we love and adore pets from the bottom of our hearts. This singular thread allows people from every place and imaginable background to […]

A consistent message, outstanding education and the latest technology solutions can help bond a client to the practice.

For as long as I can remember, our profession has stressed the importance of communicating the value of our services and products to pet owners. Dad and I talked about it when I was growing up and working at his veterinary hospital. Practice management speakers discussed it with my senior veterinary class. In 2011, the […]

Clients can turn their dog or cat into a well-adjusted travel companion with a little help from you.

Many variables play a role in the formation of anxious or fearful behavior in traveling pets, but when clients receive good information about preparation, desensitization and stress-reducing products, our patients can have a safer and more comfortable experience. It Starts at Home For both dogs and cats, the key to reducing fear, anxiety and stress […]

An editorial calendar covering a full year and linked to seasonal events will provide ideas for fresh, relevant website content.

Blogging is a helpful way for veterinary practices to add fresh content to their websites and move up in internet search results. That’s because search engines value quality content, and for veterinary practices, this means helpful content for local pet owners. Need proof that blogging is worth it? Here’s one statistic reported by HubSpot: Business […]

Millennials are the largest pet-owning demographic and — listen here, practice owner — they value the latest communication tools.

To help more pets get the care they deserve, veterinary teams need to respond to trends in pet ownership. One of the biggest involves millennial pet owners. Check out these statistics: The millennial generation, also known as Generation Y, makes up about 29 percent of the U.S. population, having surpassed baby boomers, who are about […]

Easy-to-implement changes can take odontophobia out of your veterinary practice and your clients.

Odontophobia: the fear of going to the dentist. Millions of people have it and the human dental industry has spent years trying to overcome it, from allowing patients to customize music choices and sit in a massage chair to using less-painful nerve blocks and providing faster, more comfortable cosmetic choices. Still, a significant number of […]

Use technology to make a quick first impression with potential clients and win them over.

Veterinary practices of all types have more choices than ever when it comes to implementing technology solutions that are right for them. New apps and online services spring up each day. Finding the ones that are best for your practice can provide a huge competitive advantage. Veterinary professionals ask me all the time, “How can […]