Client Relations & Marketing

Here are three ways to give without hurting your practice.

People have a hundred decisions to make every day: from what time to get up, the route to take to work, and what they'll focus on for the day to how and where they'll spend their hard-earned money. Many veterinary practice owners assume that clients' buying decisions for veterinary services are fairly logical.

Our moral imperative is to advocate on behalf of a being that cannot advocate for itself, and that means preventing and treating pain. Our patients at the end of their lives can (and often do) encounter both acute and chronic pain. We must keep our eyes, ears, and mind open to "see" pain in these patients, and leverage the many tools we have available, both drug and non-drug.

Acute abdominal pain is often associated with a variety of disorders in small animals. Abdominal pain can be the result of many different underlying diseases processes, many of which can be life threatening. Clinical signs can range from abdominal distension, prayer-type postures, vomiting and diarrhea, to more serious findings such as collapse, hypovolemic shock, hypothermia, and difficulty breathing. Acute abdominal pain thus requires rapid and efficient diagnostic evaluation with proper treatment to facilitate patient survival.

When practicing from the perspective of compassionate care, veterinarians and their health care teams dedicate themselves to always advocating for what is best for the pet - advocating on behalf of a being that cannot advocate for itself. By advocating for what is best for the pet, we are actually advocating on behalf of the Family-Pet Bond. Veterinary health care providers make choices daily about the level of care they provide. Every day you have the opportunity to choose compassionate care.

Creating a compassionate care clinic culture means paying attention to the team dynamics. It means accepting responsibility to be as effective a team member as possible. Here are some ideas for making a difference on your practice team.

This handy form helps team members review patient records before appointments.

Breed-specific wellness care could be a powerful addition to your practice curricula.

Take a personal approach when jogging clients' memories to boost practice visits.

The color-based profiling program isn't just for building more effective team relationships. You can also use it to improve your interactions with clients.

How can we convert price shoppers into clients?

You need to modify your behavior to the situation and build power relationships that help, not hurt

Dr. Obenski recounts how clients have unintentionally wrecked havoc on his practice-and sanity.

Faced with a severe case of denial, one veterinarian shows how client care doesn't end with the death of a pet.

Q&A: Talk clients through tough times to promote third-party payment plans

Don't let veterinary clients throw a fit over a bill. Here's how.

Clear your throat, put on your headphones, and make your voice heard. Appearing on the radio can educate pet owners and attract new clients.

One frame at a time: How to hang artwork in your practice

With a few preventive measures, clients can spend less and keep their dogs pain-free.

Don't squeeze everything into one visit-build a bond over time for patient care and client compliance

Pet owners stick around at this practice after receiving a $25 gift card.

Skin conditions and tooth extractions are among the most common surgical procedures, according to VPI.

What happens when cats and dogs aren't the "babies" in the family anymore?

Team members' interactions can be affective, yet remain professional.

Over a cat's lifetime, the costs can add up. Here are the most expensive breeds, based on industry data.

Researchers in the UK connect separation anxiety to pessimism in pooches.

The younger crowd gets all of the attention from marketers, but don't ignore your older clients-their online presence is increasing rapidly.

Veterinary practice owners found out that trust and dependability count and that real estate isn't a guarantee.

When clients try your patience, try this response.

Some human hospitals have come up with a new way for doctors to meet prospective clients. Could it work for your veterinary practice?