From antifreeze to dishwasher detergents, our houses hold innumerable items that are poisonous to pets. Nationwide offers a high-resolution PDF and HTML code of an informative infographic that is perfect for e-newsletters, printed newsletters, social media, websites and counter handouts. Source: Nationwide. These common household chemicals can cause serious injury to your … [Read more...]
Search Results for: insurance
10 obesity related conditions in fat pets
Nationwide reports that its members filed 1.4 million pet insurance claims for conditions and diseases related to obesity in 2017. They sorted through its database of more than 630,000 insured pets to determine the top 10 most common dog and cat obesity related conditions. Source: DVM 360, January 26, 2018. Nationwide data from 2016 showed more than 51,000 pet insurance … [Read more...]
Your feelings about work-life balance are shaped by what you saw your parents do
A popular TV ad sponsored by an insurance provider depicts aging adults becoming their parents. Research published by Ioana Lupu found that our upbringing has enduring influence on our work and career decisions — and that what we subconsciously learn from our parents plays an important role in how we think about and manage work-life balance. Source: Harvard Business Review, … [Read more...]
Affordability is the hottest topic in veterinary medicine
Dr. Patty Khuly discusses the cost of care challenges and an assessment of pet insurance and other payment options. She opines that some animals from lower-income households will need to accept a lower standard of care. It is part of the conundrum she discusses. Source: Veterinary Practice News, October 23, 2017. We all know veterinary care has gotten pricier. And there are … [Read more...]
Steer clear of deer (includes video)
It is that time of year when deer and other wildlife are more apt to be on or near roadways. While the occasional collision is unavoidable, the basic safety tips to help avoid them have remained the same for years. Take time for a refresher with these tips. There’s no obligation to get an auto insurance policy quote, either. Source: Geico, September 2015. According to the … [Read more...]
Avoid things that kill or hurt cats
Client education is a continuous challenge in veterinary practice or in a retail environment. Many new pet owners have little or no awareness about common risks. Articles like this that review risks to cats at home make good content for websites, social media posts or new pet kits. Source: Catster, September 5, 2017. The three most common cat injuries are represented by … [Read more...]
Vomiting is not normal for cats
Most cat owners have experienced their pets vomiting. Jennifer Hawkins, DVM, uses routine history questions with clients when they bring their cats in for an exam. She details her response to one of those questions. Source: Nationwide One of those questions is whether vomiting is ever noticed. I received various responses. "No more than usual." How much is usual for a … [Read more...]
Horse wellness and medical coverage options expanding
Equine insurance policies have historically been used by sport and breeding horse owners. That changed this June when the Crum & Foster Pet Insurance Group began offering American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Pet Health Insurance to owners of horses that do not hold a high monetary value. Source: The Horse, July 31, 2017. There are many owners who … [Read more...]
Cesar shares good topics of interest
Cesar Milan’s team does a nice job of covering several topics in a recent newsletter. They include: Coyotes, an urban threat to dogs Choosing pet insurance Protecting pets from wild animals Camping with Canines Source: Cesar’s Way, June 21, 2017. While it’s good to be in touch with nature, sometimes nature can intrude in unwanted ways. Just because you live in … [Read more...]
9 ways to have a great road trip with pets
These tips will come in handy if you or your clients are about to take a road trip and take your pet(s) along. From pet-friendly hotels to pre-trip workouts, there are good tips here. Source: The Water Bowl by Embrace Pet Insurance, June 7, 2017. Always maintain your sense of chill and adventure. It might be a little challenging to travel together – especially at first – … [Read more...]
Start 2017 safe
Evaluating existing practices often kicks off the new year for animal health pros. Safety training for veterinary practice employees, as well as retail, distributor and manufacturer personnel is essential to reduce risks to ourselves and customers. AAHA has a resource for safety meetings. Source: AAHA Red, January 13, 2017. Regular safety meetings provide an opportunity to … [Read more...]
Editorial – Pet care goes to Mars
Mars will soon dominate corporate-owned pet hospitals with the purchase of the animal-hospital chain VCA Inc., that was announced Monday. Mars already owns Banfield Pet Hospital and BluePearl Veterinary Partners, as well as several pet food brands. Its combined marketplace clout is not expected to exceed 10 percent of the veterinary market after the merger. There will be a … [Read more...]
Top 5 feline genetic diseases
Genetic diseases should be recognized in practice because they must be treated as chronic illnesses — not episodic diseases. Source: Clinician’s Brief, December 2016. Insurance claims and centralized hospital databases monitor the most frequent disease presentations, which helps veterinarians understand the most frequent genetic diseases. The most frequent conditions are … [Read more...]
Rising prescription drug prices affect pets, owners, vets
Soaring prescription drug prices are hitting pet owners’ pocketbooks hard. And, giving a pet the medicine it needs can be more expensive than caring for a person since the owner may not have pet insurance or the pet may have a pre-existing condition. Los Angeles Times columnist David Lazarus recommends that pet owners shop for best prices, especially when a pet is prescribed a … [Read more...]
Renegotiate P & L expense agreements
Andrew Clark, DVM, MBA, uses insurance expense to illustrate action steps when managing some of the expenses on your balance sheet. He reminds us that getting competitive comparisons regularly is important. Source: Is My Practice Healthy, July 29, 2016. Veterinarians tend to be as loyal to vendors as we wish our clients were loyal to us. Insurance coverage is often provided … [Read more...]
Giving it away doesn’t work
“Giving discounts on the fly can backfire,” asserts Andy Roark, DVM. “Time and time again, it’s a habit that gets DVMs into trouble. Worse, it’s a practice that’s strangling struggling vet practices and damaging our profession as a whole.” Source: Dr. Andy Roark, May 21, 2016. Most vets understand that giving away products or services means the clinic makes less money. … [Read more...]
Top dog and cat medical conditions
Learn about the top 10 medical conditions affecting dogs and cats and their associated costs based on Nationwide claims data from 2015. Here are the top three in each category. Top three medical conditions in dogs: Allergic dermatitis Otitis externa Benign skin neoplasia Top three medical conditions in cats: Feline cystitis, or FLUTD … [Read more...]
Help keep pets safe during storms, disasters
Help clients keep their pets safe during storms and disasters. May 8 is National Animal Disaster Preparedness Day. It is a reminder to create a disaster plan for pets or include them in your personal disaster plan. Eight tips are featured here. Source: AAA Oklahoma. While pets can suffer from sickness or injury as the result of a natural catastrophe, we hope to minimize … [Read more...]
Keep pets safe during July 4th celebration
July 4th and its accompanying fireworks will be here soon. Help clients get ready for the noisy celebrations that often scare pets. The specialists at the VPI Pet HealthZone offer sound tips about dealing with noise, food toxicity and lost pets. Source: July 4th Pet Safety Tips, Veterinary Pet Insurance™, a Nationwide Insurance® company. If you include your pets at a 4th of … [Read more...]
Dr. Little looks at robots, genetics and Uber
Adam Little, DVM, tracks technology developments and their potential in animal health. In this issue, he looks at technology and the pet industry, genetics and provides some thoughts on Uber. Source: Exponential Vet, Issue 9, March 1, 2016. This week, we have a great overview by The Atlantic on the Future of Pets, a look at how robotics are being deployed in the home and … [Read more...]
Editorial – Things that keep vets up at night
The results of dvm360’s triennial survey are out. The survey makes clear veterinarians are concerned. They feel the same changes we feel and more. Addressing their concerns with proper action remains a strong challenge. Enterprising reps will set aside the detail book and use these survey results to have solution-centered dialogues with their accounts. “B” accounts will … [Read more...]
Marketing annual wellness plans
Most veterinary hospitals offer wellness plans or pet insurance brochures. A takeaway from this article is to support one or two of them and present them to clients from all points of contact in the practice. The article outlines strategic and tactical elements to consider. Remember that wellness plans positively impact compliance to veterinary recommendations and remove some … [Read more...]
Ups and downs of DIY wellness plans
When considering adding wellness plans to expand practice products and services, do-it-yourself (DIY) plans are frequently discussed by veterinarians and practice managers. While a DIY plans feel like an extension of independent practices, Don Jergler exposes pros and cons in this read. Source: Veterinary Practice News, December 2015, page 28. The popularity and upside of … [Read more...]