Last week’s AHD Bulletin – Animal Health Digest Bulletin, February 19, 2026. Link. Most read posts from February 19, 2026 AHD Bulletin – Avoiding difficult conversations. Link. Yes, they really do make TV for cats and dogs. Link. Oral care at home helps pets stay healthy. Link. Command respect with your voice. Link. Most employees see their jobs as … [Read more...]
Software integration is key to greater veterinary AI adoption
Commentary Destined to become a clarifying pivot point in veterinary technology development, we’re sharing a new paper, Companion Animal Veterinary Software: Part I, Navigating Practice Challenges with Support of Technology and AI, authored by Jon Ayers, Jeff Dixon, Dr. Adam Little, and Adam Wysocki, with contributions from Andrew Luna. As might be expected given this … [Read more...]
General practice dental revenue remains behind, yet 90 percent of animals need dental care
Sarah Rumple, CVJ, shares tips from Monique Weldon, DVM, and Paul Camilo, CVPM, focused on building dental revenue in veterinary practices. The article shares ways to increase dental revenue through outreach, client education, standardizing codes, staff training, reassembling fee structures and promoting wellness plans. Source: Today’s Veterinary Business, February 1, 2026. … [Read more...]
Vetiquette: Elevate client service with simple habits
It’s not rocket science, says Stacee Santi DVM. But every interaction matters. She shares 10 ways to cultivate the most loyal clients. Her article includes tips for interacting on the phone, via text and email. We would add the importance of developing a unified team approach to client services to manage client experiences with each touch or interaction. Source: Today’s … [Read more...]
Benefits or features?
Features may describe the product or service, but benefits sell them. Caitlyn DeWilde’s article provides notable examples of applying benefits in a practice environment. Source: Today’s Veterinary Business, December 1, 2025. Link If better medicine is our goal, benefit-based communication is one of our most powerful clinical tools.” INSIGHTS: Your customers want to know … [Read more...]
The Great Compression, Year 3
The “Great Compression” has entered its third year, says Ryan Leech, and this time, the spotlight isn’t on who’s buying but on who’s holding on. He shares trends, surprises, displacements and challenges perplexing investors and large hospital groups from 2025: A hangover from the acquisition era. Easy arbitrage is gone. Balance sheets are strained. Shake-ups are … [Read more...]
It’s the process that counts
What’s the point of coming in and doing the same thing? What difference do we make if the problems we solve never end? In practice, there is no finish line, no graduation and no mission accomplished, says Andy Roark, DVM, in this thoughtful article. Source: Today’s Veterinary Business, August 1, 2025. Link. We can choose to embrace the process and find joy in our … [Read more...]
Feedback, a valuable part of the culture
What if feedback wasn’t something to fear but instead something to offer? A tool for growth. A sign of respect. “Silence doesn’t keep people,” writes Heather Prendergast, RVT, CVPM, SPHR. “It makes them feel invisible.” Source: Today’s Veterinary Business, August 1, 2025. Link. If production is the only thing you measure, you miss the big picture, and you will burn out your … [Read more...]
Cushing challenges AVMA Council on Education, calls for discussion and reform
Commentary Is it time to kill one of our industry’s sacred cows? Mark Cushing, J.D., challenges the system of accrediting new and existing colleges of veterinary medicine in this article. The COE’s mission is to establish standards for veterinary colleges, accredit or reject new programs, and reaccredit existing programs. He calls for a robust discussion and offers … [Read more...]
A case study in failed leadership
Wendy Hauser, DVM, applies the untoward experiences during a tour in New Zealand to the challenges of leadership in a veterinary hospital. She describes an intensely uncomfortable situation where leadership was broken and absent resulting in conflict and damaging the customers’ experience. From her observations, Hauser offers four strategies to fix leadership mismatches: … [Read more...]
Missing clients?
Lapsed patients are a concern for most veterinary practices. It might be time to consider a reactivation campaign. Source: Today’s Veterinary Business, August 1, 2024. Link. “Bringing back cats and dogs you haven’t seen in 14 to 18 months can mean big wins for your revenue and, even better, healthier pets.” INSIGHT: Personalize, personalize, personalize. … [Read more...]
Pet weight survey starts October 7th, includes horses
The Association for Pet Obesity Prevention will collaborate with veterinary practices and teaching hospitals to collect and report the weight and body condition scores of dogs, cats and, for the first time, horses. Veterinary clinics interested in recording the weights and scores of patients seen during routine examinations may register at bit.ly/APOPsignup. Source: Today’s … [Read more...]
The 5 levers of compliance
Commentary People ultimately do business with people they trust and respect. It is not a new phenomenon but requires exerting intentional effort. Clients want a practice team who treats them and their pets as individuals and then works to establish a services relationship. Last August, when sharing an article by Wendy Hauser, DVM, I asserted the priority of engaging … [Read more...]
RECOVER initiative issues new CPR guidelines
Aiming to standardize cardiopulmonary resuscitation practices and make outcomes more comparable to human cases worldwide, multiple discipline specialists collaborated to develop new recommendations when performing lifesaving CPR on pets, including: Chest compression techniques Chest depths and techniques Breathing support Medication dosages and … [Read more...]
Worth a Glance – July 26, 2024
Last week’s AHD Bulletin – Animal Health Digest Bulletin, July 18, 2024. Link. Most read post(s) from July 18th AHD Bulletin – Facing declining interest in vet practice ownership. Link. Zoonotic web exposes complexity of disease transmission. Link. Biosecurity planning for secure beef supply. Link. ===================================== Managing equine … [Read more...]
Cushing: We’re not doing enough for vet techs
The topic of non-DVM veterinary professionals will dominate the pet health care horizon over the next few years, asserts Mark Cushing in the article linked below. Noting the similarities between the time spent with nurses and the time pet owners spend with non-DVM pros, he lists issues surrounding the vet tech profession that deserve respect and attention. Source: Today’s … [Read more...]
Worth a Glance – May 30, 2024
Last week’s AHD Bulletin – Animal Health Digest Bulletin, May 23, 2024. Link. Most read post(s) from the May 23rd AHD Bulletin – A poor guide to dog allergy medications. Link. Spring health check for senior horses. Link. A dog walk temperature chart for every season. Link. ===================================== Can dogs ‘catch’ yawns from … [Read more...]
Worth a Glance – January 18, 2024
Last week’s AHD Bulletin – Animal Health Digest Bulletin, January 11, 2024. Link. Most read post(s) from the January 11th AHD Bulletin – Understanding active listening and distractions. Link. The pros and cons of servant leadership. Link. 22 team-building activities and games for 2024. Link. ============================================ Study: Antibiotics … [Read more...]
Worth a Glance – January 4, 2024
Last week’s AHD Bulletin – Animal Health Digest Bulletin, December 28, 2023. Link. A review of 2023’s highly viewed posts in 13 categories. Most read posts in 2023, all categories – Don’t be afraid to ask the sensitive questions. Link. Study: PRP gel accelerates skin wound healing in horses. Link. How to deal with an angry … [Read more...]
Discussing pet insurance with pet owners
Includes Complimentary Commercial content An AVMA policy encourages proactive pet insurance education, writes Ricky Walther, DVM. As more research is published on how the overall quality of pet care is enabled, practice teams need to be better prepared to get clients on board. In the articles below, Walther, the chief medical officer at Pawlicy Advisor, shares ways to … [Read more...]
Underutilized and underappreciated
Editor’s note. It is common to get a call from Wendy Hauser, DVM, to discuss a recent experience or something that has been on her mind. Using vet clinic staff to the fullest is often a part of those discussions. Improving the use of veterinary technicians requires helping them work at the top of their credentials, BUT without hospital leaders advocating for, cultivating … [Read more...]
Not all NDAs are equal
Nondisclosure agreements are common between animal health pros and the companies with which they work. Peter H. Tanella, Esq, shares important perspectives on protecting critical information about a business or services from being shared to the business’ detriment. His recommendations to incorporate a nondisparagement clause are important considerations between employers and … [Read more...]
AAFP releases 2023 Feline Palliative Care Guidelines
The guidelines provide a comprehensive summary of how to approach and support cats’ and caregivers’ needs. They emphasize the need for empathy, kindness and understanding during what is a challenging time for cats and their human caregivers. Source: Today’s Veterinary Business, October 16, 2023. Link. The guidelines resulted from collaboration between the American … [Read more...]
Medical waste can be risky business
Managing medical waste is the entire team’s responsibility. Team members should be aware of and follow specific guidelines when dealing with infectious waste, biohazardous waste and anatomical or pathological waste, writes Sandy Walsh, RVT, CVPM. She shares what constitutes hazardous waste, how to handle, store and dispose of it, liabilities and various resources available on … [Read more...]
Ways to increase productivity and provide more pet care
We shared this first-of-its-kind empirical study from IDEXX in February <Link>. It delved into how veterinary teams can keep up with the escalating demand for care and grounds anecdotal evidence in data to provide steps to help veterinary practices address capacity constraints. The Practice Productivity Index reveals that clinics can save nearly 1,700 to 2,000 hours a … [Read more...]
Hauser: Client relationships with veterinary team critical to positive practice experiences
Wendy Hauser, DVM, shares the importance of client relationships with the practice team. She says effective reminder systems and efficient hospital operations aren’t enough. Clients want a practice team who treats them and their pets as individuals and works to create a partnership. Hauser’s advocacy and guidance could be represented by CVRP instead of VCPR, denoting the … [Read more...]
How to deal with an angry client
Since you’re in business to serve your customers, you’ll likely encounter rude or angry individuals at one time or another. While this article suggests sympathy, I suggest it means empathy . . . an enormous difference. Source: Forbes, August 2, 2013. Link. After the situation has been resolved and the customer is on her way, it is helpful for you to take your own … [Read more...]
Worth a Glance – May 11, 2023
Last week’s AHD Bulletin – Animal Health Digest Bulletin, May 4th, 2023. Link. Most read post(s) from May 4th AHD Bulletin – Establishing rapport. Link. Shaping the onboarding experience. Link. Place keeper: 2023 Veterinary Conferences provided by Galaxy Vets. Link. 3 ways VMG is different from other veterinary membership organizations Source: … [Read more...]
Cushing, veterinary future so near, so far
“The only thing holding back the pet health care industry might be a fear of where the answers lead, and that’s understandable,” says Mark Cushing, JD. He discusses what he calls an “interesting” juncture in pet health care and shares areas of top priority: Younger generations Rules and regulations License portability Public policy Utilization of veterinary … [Read more...]
Hauser: Reverse the downward trend of pets missing vet care
There are many factors that cause pets to miss vital regular health care. Veterinary practices cannot afford to ignore trends showing fewer patient visits. Wendy Hauser, DVM, identifies three primary drivers for why patients don’t get needed veterinary care as: Client economic limitations The owner’s inability to access care A lack of communication Too many pet … [Read more...]