Talking with veterinary clients about money.

Successfully discussing financial issues with clients is integral to delivering optimal patient and client care. Fostering patient health, promoting client satisfaction, and maximizing financial revenues are compatible and attainable goals. Enabling clients to make informed decisions and approaching financial conversations with confidence are rites of passage in the journey toward becoming a true professional.     

Communicating with special populations: children and older adults.

Veterinary professionals must meet the growing expectations of a diverse range of clients to sustain success in veterinary medicine. Few veterinarians, however, receive comprehensive skills training for communicating effectively with clients, particularly among special populations, such as children and older adults. An increasing number of veterinary professionals have recognized a need to master requisite skills for effectively interacting with pet-owning families. This article highlights the importance of the human-animal bond for children and older adults, addresses issues of pet loss, and provides suggestions for meeting the communication needs of both populations.     

Amphibian oncology.

Spontaneous neoplasia is rare in all three orders of Amphibia.Tumors are documented in most major organ systems, and some have various underlying etiologies, including viral infection, environmental contaminants, and genetic predisposition. Currently,treatment options are limited to removal of the predisposing condition(s), palliative care, surgical excision, and, when necessary,humane euthanasia may be elected. Neoplasia must be distinguished from common infectious, nonneoplastic conditions that can negatively impact population health. This article is a review of the more common types of neoplasia in amphibians, and includes clinically relevant information, such as biologic behavior,anatomy, associated etiologies, major differential diagnoses, and clinical management.     

Effectively communicating with your clients

The successful ability to efficiently collect diet histories, convey appropriate health messages, and discuss client concerns about the safe feeding of pets requires excellent communication skills. In addition to understanding what the client wants for their pet, thorough nutritional interviewers gather information pertaining to animal factors, dietary factors, and feeding management factors. With the expansion of the Internet, increasing advances in medical care, and the health concerns associated with pet food recalls, small animal clients are looking to veterinarians for guidance and information on dietary recommendations in ever increasing numbers. Evaluating current information on changes in the pet food industry should be a periodic learning objective for all members of the veterinary health care team. Consistent, effective communication between veterinarians, their staff, and their clients can improve compliance, increase satisfaction levels, and improve patient outcomes.     

Comparative oncology today.

The value of comparative oncology has been increasingly recognized in the field of cancer research, including the identification of cancer-associated genes; the study of environmental risk factors, tumor biology, and progression; and, perhaps most importantly, the evaluation of novel cancer therapeutics. The fruits of this effort are expected to be the creation of better and more specific drugs to benefit veterinary and human patients who have cancer. The state of the comparative oncology field is outlined in this article, with an emphasis on cancer in dogs.     

Difficult interactions with veterinary clients: working in the challenge zone.

As veterinarians, effective interactions with clients and coworkers are fundamental to our professional satisfaction and success. This article first reviews the basis of a difficult interaction and provides specific communication skills to help the veterinarian more successfully manage situations that he or she may find difficult. Then, the authors offer exercises to assist veterinarians in practicing these skills. The information in this article relies closely on the work provided through the Bayer Animal Health Communications Project.     

Surgical oncology of exotic animals.

This article reviews the initial management of exotic patients with amass. The important principles of the initial workup, including how to get a definitive diagnosis and how to stage the extent of the disease are covered. There are many biopsy instruments currently available, and the advantages and disadvantages of these are presented. Principles of tumor excision and marking the tissue sampled are also discussed. It is important to submit all of the tissue excised and evaluate the surgical margins for the presence of neoplastic cells, even if the tumor seems too small to put in the sample vial. Follow-up for patients that have had cancer surgery is also reviewed, along with the effects of adjunct therapies on wound healing.     

Current therapies in exotic animal oncology.

The majority of information on oncology therapies has been reported in humans, canine, and feline patients, and laboratory animals with experimentally induced tumors. A variety of treatments,including radiation therapy, chemotherapy, photodynamic therapy, and others have been used with exotic animals. There are many species of exotic pets, and anatomic differences, as well as husbandry and nutritional requirements, must be taken into account to provide optimal care. By providing a broad overview of therapies and considerations for treatment, this article is intended to provide the practitioner with an overview of approach and options when addressing oncology cases in exotic animals.     

饲料企业有效拓展新客户及留住老客户的策略

企业追求客户满意的种种实践活动,最终都归于一个中心:如何提升现有客户的忠诚度?而这也是饲料企业有效拓展新客户及留住老客户的根本策略!为什么这么说?开发客户不是目的,留住客户才是目的!如果一家饲料企业一月内丢掉10个客户,同时又拓展了10个客户,那么企业的销售水平还是应     

Reproductive oncology

The actual incidence of reproductive tract tumors is difficult to ascertain, presumably because a significant percentage of dogs and cats are neutered, particularly in the United States. Data from European countries, where elective neutering is less common, provides insights. Several studies document the relative frequency of reproductive tumors. Larger studies of the more common tumors, e.g., testicular tumors, provide a substantial amount of information on the clinical presentation and response to treatment of dogs, but overall there is less information available on cats. Numerous case reports document the less commonly reported tumors and will be included in the following discussion.     

Ocular oncology

Neoplasia can affect all ocular tissues. The clinical appearance of ocular neoplasia can vary considerably depending on the specific tissue involved. Intraocular neoplasia may mimic or incite ocular inflammatory disease in addition to causing hyphema or secondary glaucoma. Intraocular neoplasms can be primary tumors or may be secondary to metastatic disease or systemic neoplasia. Primary neoplasms, metastatic tumors, tumors extending from adjacent structures, and systemic neoplasms can also affect the adnexal tissues. Many ophthalmic tumors are histologically benign but are locally invasive and, within the confined space of the eye or orbit, can produce significant tissue distortion. Certain ocular neoplasms, such as many canine eyelid tumors, are amenable to simple excision and can be adequately managed in general practice. The evaluation and treatment of other ophthalmic neoplasms, however, may require the additional equipment available only in larger specialty practices, such as computed tomography and radiation therapy. Early diagnosis of ocular neoplasia is an important aspect of successful management.     

Increasing adherence in practice: making your clients partners in care.

Clients may appear compliant but may not fully adhere to recommendations made by the veterinarian or veterinary technician for many reasons. Client adherence is directly related to one's communication skills, which can be practiced by all members of the health care team in each client encounter. The four habits approach to enhancing communication skills has been tested in a large human health care organization and shown to result in greater satisfaction between patients and doctors as well as in improved adherence to recommendations. This model is easily adapted to small animal practice and provides the foundation for a relationship-centered approach to care.