FIRSTLINE, Sep 1, 2009

Client Relations

Extend hours to keep clients happy and patients healthy

Extend hours to keep clients happy and patients healthy.

Clients' No. 1 complaint

What's the best way to minimize the cash clash?

Connect with your community online and off

The Web offers all sorts of new ways to reach out and touch your clients. But are all of these new technologies boons or boondoggles for your practice? They can be useful, says Dr. Ernest Ward Jr., owner of Seaside Animal Care in Calabash, N.C., if used with care.

Real clients reveal why they love their veterinary practices

By Portia Stewart

Real clients share what keeps them going back to their practices.

Professional Development

Should your practice install video surveillance?

By Sheila Grosdidier, BS, RVT

Managers: Consider state laws, as well as employee response, to make sure the practice and its team are equally protected by video surveillance.

Video surveillance: Who's watching you?

By Sheila Grosdidier, BS, RVT

More and more practices are using video surveillance. Here's what you need to know about being filmed at work.

Employees' privacy rights

Can your boss check your online activity? Read this before you send another e-mail at work.

By the Numbers

America's 5 most wanted dogs

By Liz Nartowicz

The most popular dogs in America can teach you a thing or two about how to become the pick of your practice.

Pearls of Practice

Give cremations a personal touch

Give cremations a personal touch.

Free dental exams increase client awareness

Complimentary tooth checks increase the number of dental cleanings—and thus healthy pets.

How to confront co-workers without the drama

Putting issues on the table and talking about them openly isn't easy, but if you want a healthy work environment, it's necessary. To get you started, Shawn McVey, MA, MSW, shares this example.

Shower pets with security

Use shower curtains to keep caged animals anxiety levels low.

Skill Builder

Rehabilitation defined

This glossary provides the definitions of terms used in the article Creature Comfort.

How rehab helps pets

By Kathy Coffman, CCRT, CMT

A quick Q&A to get you up to speed on rehabilitation.

A splashy way to rehabilitate pets

Underwater treadmills help pets recover.

Ask the Experts

Why your food trumps pet stores'

Here's your script for talking to clients about the importance of buying therapeutic pet food at your clinic—not a pet store.

Ask Amy: Veterinary assistant asks what to do about irresponsible pet owners

A veterinary assistant in a college town seeks advice about how to educate young pet owners.

Your role with referrals

What can team members do to help veterinarians as they refer more cases?