Business

Where does Rover sleep? How much do pet owners spend every year? For answers to these questions and more, explore this list of fun facts about pets and the people who love them.

Art batch for August 2007

The dogs, cats, birds, fish, gerbils, and hamsters you see today might look like the same animals that walked into your practice 10 years ago, but they're different. A sign of their status change might be the number of companies that cater to four-legged consumers, including Old Navy, Harley-Davidson, Origins, and Paul Mitchell, just to name a few. You can also look to what their human companions are spending on these and other products-an estimated $40.8 billion in 2007.

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

Just as the Memorial Day holiday was about to begin, as lawmakers prepared to flee Washington for vacation, agreement was reached to continue funding the war in Iraq. That funding bill also raised the minimum wage.

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.

Denver - The Colorado Veterinary Medical Association (CVMA) wants to know what practice-owning members are paying their employees.

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.

Communication is part of being a great employee. This means you need to know who to talk to when you have a problem. Consider this example.

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

Use this sample nutrition questionnaire to learn more about what your clients are feeding their pets--and how much.

Drs. Jeffrey and Randy Schuett got rid of the large animals, but they needed a bigger facility for small ones.

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

University Park, Penn. - 7/24/2007 - The Penn State Equine Identification Program, to be held over the next year, will assess the the impact of microchipping horses for identification and tracking for the National Animal Identification System (NAIS).

A breakdown of communications step by step at a clinic.

Week two of Dr. Ward's training plan did kick the intensity up a notch ...

2007 Editorial Calendar

The 2001 Hospital of the Year increased traffic with a larger facility, better hours, and nearby stores.

Customize and print this handy checklist of what a new receptionist needs to learn and when.

Customize and print this handy checklist of what a new technician or assistant needs to learn and when.

Let these lessons keep you out of a business nightmare of your own.

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

This California equine practice brightened its future by changing its fees and billing policy in the present.

What marketing endeavors can I undertake to get the name of my emergency hospital out there?

Blogging can help bring back that loving feeling-in your work life.

A client handout on the benefits of microchipping

Safety and workplace hazards: Here's what to teach your veterinary team's wide-eyed, innocent new recruits, and how to teach it effectively.

After the death of two wonderful dogs over the past several years, my family decided to take a few years off from being dog owners. Well, we're back in action now, puppy classes and all.