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Policyholders who choose preventive care coverage will receive a Zoetis parasiticide directly from the company.

The $1.5 billion-a-year U.S. pet health insurance market has a new player: Zoetis Inc., the world’s largest manufacturer of animal drugs and vaccines. Zoetis’ insurance subsidiary, Pumpkin, is competing against more than a dozen providers, from industry leader Nationwide to upstarts Spot and Prudent Pet. One feature that sets Pumpkin apart is Preventive Essentials, a […]

The Veterinary Virtual Care Association wants to take telemedicine to the next level — and beyond.

The Veterinary Virtual Care Association wants to do for veterinary medicine what the 27-year-old American Telemedicine Association has accomplished in human medicine. That is, as the ATA says, “change the way the world thinks about health care.” The newly established veterinary organization aims to make virtual care — a term encompassing telemedicine, teletriage and everything […]

Conserving cash is a smart move during these trying times even as the government steps in with relief for borrowers.

The coronavirus pandemic is forcing a lot of people to rethink their monthly budget. As more Americans deal with or anticipate unemployment or reduced income, many face hard decisions. The uncertainty is prompting folks to take a close look at their spending. This is a great time to distinguish between wants and needs. You want […]

You can’t afford to skip any critical steps when buying a veterinary practice.

As the coronavirus pandemic grinds the U.S. economy to a halt, putting downward pressure on demand for pet health care services, acquisitive veterinarians should wait for conditions to stabilize. When the pandemic lifts, however, many smart acquisition opportunities will be available. Acquiring a practice is a complex and potentially competitive process — acquirers range from […]

E-consultations might be just what your practice needs — or maybe not. First, you have to assess the situation.

Is telemedicine the right solution for you? Well, that depends on the problem you are trying to solve. With COVID-19 putting the brakes on the traditional client experience, veterinarians are pushing the limits on innovation through new options like exams with a curbside wait and local home delivery for same-day product needs. Many are scrambling […]

Paid sick leave is an employee right, but veterinary practices can take advantage of new payroll tax credits.

Approved by Congress on March 18, the Families First Coronavirus Response Act consists of two parts of particular interest to employers and employees: Emergency Paid Sick Leave Act Emergency Family and Medical Leave Expansion Act Under the provisions, small and midsize employers can take advantage of two new refundable payroll tax credits from April 1 […]

We can always be confident in the value and importance of veterinary care to society, no matter how stormy the economy.

For many veterinary practice owners, the last few days have represented the most significant and rapid period of change they have ever experienced. In a matter of days, practices are converting to curbside service, implementing telemedicine initiatives, adjusting staffing protocols, and responding to the latest government stay-at-home and PPE orders. As one who has worked […]

COVID-19 has compelled us to reimagine veterinary medical education. We’re learning to do it differently and more efficiently. The best is yet to come.

Prior to COVID-19, higher education dabbled in e-learning. Accessible, engaging electronic content was the exception. In the past week and a half, I have witnessed every institution of higher learning in the veterinary space begin to move their content to e-learning modules. In fact, all were forced to do this, as every class was canceled […]

Salary advances? Paid sick leave? Unemployment compensation? Here’s what veterinary hospital administrators need to know.

Today’s Veterinary Business “Legal Lingo” columnist Peter H. Tanella, Esq., and his law firm, Mandelbaum Salsburg, are working with veterinary practice owners and managers faced with employment issues during the COVID-19 pandemic. Tanella chairs the firm’s National Veterinary Law Center. What follows is a series of questions and answers, courtesy of Mandelbaum Salsburg. Many veterinarians and […]

Tough times need tough people. This is a great time for caution tempered with common sense. 

Listen to Podcasts Pandemics and Economics: Two Words Not Used in Veterinary School Pandemics & Economics: A Blip or a New Normal? The economic challenges, pandemic challenges and panic response have all come together to impact your veterinary practice. Fast and immediate action can help mollify the worst of things. Here are some actions you […]