Business

Almost three-quarters of veterinary practice owners and managers think theyve got a clear picture of their hospitals culture -- and roughly half think theyre doing a good job at managing team conflict. The rest of the team? Judge for yourself, but its like the bosses might be digging themselves a hole.

"I tell veterinary clients, 'If you don't come back for a recheck, even if the animal looks good, then you've wasted my time, your time and your money.'" CVC educator James Noxon, DVM, DACVIM, helpfully but truthfully addresses the real elephant in the room when a dog has otitis and needs medicine at home.

Hint: Most of the time, it's not on the pet. Educate veterinary clients about the role the environment plays in their flea infestation.

Are these clinical-focused tools at your fingertips handy, or should you even bother?

Heres what veterinarians think about difficult pet owners: how it feels when clients lash outand whos willing to show them the door.

Using prevalence maps from the Companion Animal Parasite Council, you can drive home the importance of year-round prevention to your clients.

Toxic veterinary teams are a problem, and the data shows its not just about bruised egos from the gossip and rudeness. It hurts patients too. And the damage caused by one pet's bad experience may never be reversed.

When conflict festers and communication is angry or chilled, patients, clients and team members suffer. If you dont believe its true, youre in the minority in veterinary practice. Look at the numbers, thoughts from your colleagues in the survey, and insights from our resident emotional intelligence guru Shawn McVey, MSW.

This veterinary team was concerned that a baby had been exposed to leptospirosisbut the pet owner was threatening to sue. Heres how it all went down.

Startling data proves that there is a link between toxic veterinary team angst and the care patients receive. Read these tell-all tales from veterinary professionals who've been there and have seen the very worst.

Get your storage game together and count on improved efficiency.

What Chinese zodiac animal are you, and what does that say about your personality?

Have you been following the cute animal extravaganza that’s been taking over Twitter?

You can't guarantee parasite preventives will work perfectly EVERY TIME. And you can't make pet owners use veterinary approved preventives and use them correctly EVERY TIME. But when a parasite outbreak happens, here's how to ask the right questions and remind everyone to educate clients EVERY TIME.

Hint: Youll have to look beyond the label.

Data from the 2017 dvm360 Toxic Teams Survey sheds light on the dysfunction.

Every loan is unique in its own way, and not every loan is right for every situation. Before jumping in, ask yourself these 5 questions to see what type of loan your business requires.

Many veterinarians dream of retiring early, but there are factors to consider before taking the plunge.

Some “investment” vehicles may not work as well as people might hope. Our advice, don’t bank on them for your future.

If you’re planning for your future, setting an actual date for your retirement may help.

Communicating effectively leads to managing exceptionally. Adopting these six habits will make you a better leader and put your practice on track for success.

Chatfield shares her tips on finding an alternative career in veterinary medicine, her worries about the next big zoonotic disease, and her all-American approach to pet ownership.

Short answer? Maybe. In triangulated communication, one person in the veterinary practice refuses to talk to another, forcing a third person (read: manager) to serve as a go-between. Let's take a look at data from the 2017 dvm360 Toxic Teams Survey to see how managers address toxic team environments.

Veterinarians seek to reduce the prevalence of inherited disorders in companion animals without condemning or stigmatizing specific breeds.

The 10 least business-friendly states in 2017 have earned this designation because of their complex tax codes and high tax rates, according to the Tax Foundation.

If you’re frustrated and confused by your student loans, you’re not alone. We may not be able to help you pay back a mountain of loans, but we can help you make sure you stay on top of it.

Can these relationships be saved? A choose-your-own adventure.

If you break your long-term goals into shorter and more easily measurable increments, saving for retirement won’t seem quite so overwhelming.

Traveling this year? Here are the 7 best cities to visit in 2017.

Believe it or not, millennials might not be the only problem here. If your veterinary practice is reminiscent of a current-day classic rock show, you may need to cut the leather and leopard print out of your act and get with modern times before your show gets cancelled.