dvm360 Leadership Challenge: Cyberbullying

When veterinary clients and internet trolls gang up on private practitioners, the effects can hurt business, harm reputations and damage psyches of those on the receiving end of cyberbullying.

In this series, experts share tools and plans to help avoid internet rampages, deal with them when they crop up, and help make veterinarians and veterinary team members more resilient when people go on the verbal attack.

The big picture

Facing the cyberbully: Handling trolls and other Internet haters without fear

Our dvm360 magazine take: Does the possibility of an online attack on your practice have you hiding under the covers? Come into the light! Establish and monitor your online presence to guard against online boogeymen.

The specter of cyberbullying

A harrowing story from the team perspective: Veterinary professionals are falling victim to vicious online attacks from pet owners and advocacy groups. Find out how to protect yourself from an attack-and what to do if one occurs.

Personal stories

When pet owners and rescues ATTACK

Ever had folks enlist small armies of online commenters and reviewers to spam your social media channels? Yeah. You're not alone. Two veterinary hospital managers share stories of freak-outs they faced.

Veterinary professionals deal with haters and internet trolls

Video: Insults! Defamation! Bullying! Pet owners and animal activists can misbehave on social media with the best of them.

Tools to help

Bad online review got you down? 4 steps to right a cyber wrong

Print this algorithm! You can't control what a veterinary client says about you, your team members or your practice online, but you can manage the damage. Here's how.

Protecting your veterinary practice from a cyberattack

Preventive care isn't just for your patients-it's for your online reputation as well. Communication issues, unexpected animal deaths and billing disputes cause the most problems for veterinary practices. So start crafting your message now for each of these eventualities.

Virtual bullies have real-world consequences

Cyberattacks are a form of psychological violence that cause serious damage to organizations and individuals. Address cyberbullying head on or risk disasterous impact on your veterinary staff and business. 

Self-care and wisdom

Veterinary vantage point: The reality of how cyberbullies tear us down

There are three things you never talk about online: Religion, politics-and apparrently pet food.

'Don't let the bastards grind you down'

It's a phrase I often find myself repeating when clients and pets both snap their fangs at the veterinary professionals that serve them. Here are other healthy ways of coping.