Technicians
8 ways to earn the respect you deserve (Proceedings)
May 1st 2011How often do you sit back and really think about what amazing things you do every day as a veterinary technician? How frequently do you pat yourself on the back acknowledging your education, training, and skills? Do you ever reflect at the end of the day on what you accomplished during that day?
When clients say no: difficult exam room conversations (Proceedings)
May 1st 2011You all know the feeling of walking into an exam room, proud of your skills as a veterinary technician, confident that you know what is best for the patient, happy to be greeted by that wagging tail, and excited to work together with the client to keep their family member at his healthiest.
Managing patients with parvoviral enteritis (Proceedings)
May 1st 2011Disease caused by parvovirus in dogs (destruction of intestinal crypt epithelium, lymphocyte depletion, neutropenia) is generally more severe than that caused by coronavirus (destruction of intestinal villi). Coronavirus enteritis is often characterized by mild and self-limiting clinical signs.
Managing cases of chronic small intestinal diarrhea (Proceedings)
May 1st 2011Chronic diarrhea (i.e., that which persists > 2-3 weeks) usually necessitates a systematic diagnostic approach (which may mean classic tests and/or therapeutic trials). The first question in the patient with chronic diarrhea is whether the patient has an obvious problem such as parasites or an obviously inadequate or poor quality diet.
Frequently asked questions about small-animal reproduction (Proceedings)
May 1st 2011The estrous cycle of the bitch consists of proestrus, estrus, diestrus, and anestrus. Proestrus is the first stage of heat, when the bitch first shows swelling of the vulva and exudation of serosanguinous vulvar discharge. Male dogs are interested but she does not allow mounting. Estrus, or standing heat, is characterized by softening of the vulva, a change from serosanguinous to a more tan-colored discharge, and flagging and standing by the bitch.
Compounding issues: quality, safety, and efficacy (Proceedings)
May 1st 2011Individualized drug therapy increasingly is being recognized as an important aspect of health care for both human and veterinary medicine. Consequently, veterinarians must reach beyond FDA-approved veterinary products to provide the current standard of veterinary care to their patients.
Complete blood count interpretation – cells and numbers (Proceedings)
May 1st 2011A complete blood count (CBC) is a useful and very often-used method of screening and diagnosing patients who present for a wide variety of conditions. It may include both quantitative information about cell numbers, sizes, variability, etc. as well as descriptive information based on evaluation of a blood smear and description of any morphologic abnormalities or infectious agents present. A CBC is probably the most useful when both types of information are reviewed.
3 ways to help cash-strapped clients
April 1st 2011Your patients didn't cause the recession, and they're not responsible for your clients' money woes. But they still need essential veterinary care. It's up to you to help your clients figure out how to pay for these services̬and sometimes that means thinking outside the box.