Business

Dogs, cats, and wildlife should have warm, fuzzy feelings for the home of the Golden Gate Bridge.

Monument, Colo. - A nationwide DVM survey is targeting the single largest expense to veterinary practices - inventory management - to better understand challenges and opportunities to improve business performance.

Despite the financial incentives, most students enter practice right after graduation.

'Betty, call Junior. I think I want to start a dispensary.'

Probably not, but I learned better client care when my dad ignored my advice and picked a pet with his heart-not his head.

The wife of one of my dairy clients recently refused to buy milk from a local convenient store.

I'd like to get the name of my practice mentioned in the media. What's the best way to figure out who to contact in the local media?

Washington - Mediation can be a useful conflict-resolution tool in veterinary medicine, a management expert advises.

The world of veterinary medicine is changing, but how? We see these themes in 2007.

We know from the feedback we get that you see this special data-driven issue land on your desk with anticipation. ...

Having a family absolutely affects my earning potential.

The top trend globally is pet product marketing that reflects the human-pet relationship.

You can probably look down the street and see someone you know doing a job similar to the one you do every day. The only difference: The patients at your practice are pets, and theirs are people.

Seventy percent of Firstline readers say they need in-house training to take the next step in their career, according to the 2007 Firstline Career Path Study. And about 68 percent say they also require formal training to grow in their jobs.

What's the difference between a job and a career, and which would you use to describe the work you do? While some team members deliberately take the veterinary path, others just stumble across it by accident. Regardless of how or why, let's see what the label you've chosen means.

Yes, but it takes practice. Firstline readers who are 46 to 55 years old are most likely to work more than three hours of overtime, while those who are 56 or older report they're most likely to work no overtime.

Veterinarians are trusting souls - some perhaps too trusting for their own good, according to an expert on practice-safety issues.

Janet definitely is a busy veterinarian – busy doing everything at once.

Janet Gilmore peeked through the door into the small waiting room. She could see Harold, holding two cats and Harry, his pet Beagle. She saw several other clients she knew quite well and one new client, who looked a bit uneasy as she sat with a small mixed-breed dog.

The time has come for a consultant to come clean.

Dr. X has a 25-year-old practice that is having trouble meeting expenses. Payroll is covered, but what's left over is about $5,000 short of last year.

Phoenix, Ariz. - Veterinary medicine is stressful. The workday is filled with responsibilities, decision-making and time constraints. Staff meetings can be extremely stressful, especially when they turn into gripe sessions. Humor will help alleviate stress, and the result is a more productive meeting.

In this video, Dr. Dennis Cloud shares the advice he gives his associates to help them get clients on board with recommendations for care.

Customize this sample Word document to start engaging your own team of consultants today.

Even if your practice doesn't need to be rescued, wouldn't it be nice to have these three management angels in your corner?

Doctors tend to hang on to bad habits and attitudes from their first job. Seeking out mentors-or mentoring a new grad at your practice-can help.

All of our workstations have Internet capability, so we use instant messaging to communicate with each other while in the exam or treatment rooms.

Re-energizing your staff isn't easy, but it can be achieved with a little determination.