Therapeutic Lasers Are Used In Variety Of Clinical ApplicationsOctober 9, 2012 In the last few years, there has been a dramatic increase in the use of therapeutic lasers in veterinary medicine. Industry leaders estimate that 20 percent of veterinary practices in North America use a therapy laser, and they report that its use is rapidly expanding overseas. Additionally, veterinary distributors uniformly say that therapy lasers are one of their fastest-growing product categories. The therapeutic effect of lasers has been studied for almost 40 years, and most of the work to understand its mechanisms of action has been accomplished with in-vitro research. Thousands of papers have been written on the subject, and there does seem to be consensus that lasers of an appropriate therapeutic wavelength that deliver effective doses of laser energy stimulate a photobiochemical cascade of events at the cellular level which relieves pain, reduces inflammation and increases microcirculation. These three effects result in an accelerated healing. Armed with this understanding, clinicians have treated a growing and remarkable range of conditions; any patients in pain or patients with inflammation benefit from laser therapy. In addition to treating dogs and cats, laser therapists have treated small birds, reptiles and pocket pets. Veterinarians report the laser assists …
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How To Integrate Hydrotherapy Into A Veterinary PracticeOctober 9, 2012 Find out how you can integrate an underwater treadmill into your veterinary practice and the key essentials you should consider in choosing the system that is ideal for you. Treatments One of the first things to consider is how to use the underwater treadmill in your facility. The most common reason is for post-operative rehabilitation due to orthopedic or neurologic issues, such as cranial cruciate ligament tears or intervertebral disc disease. The water can be raised to a certain height, which minimizes the weight of the patient, allowing him/her to exercise in a controlled environment. The underwater treadmill also allows pets with degenerative diseases, such as hip dysplasia or degenerative myelopathy, to walk with stability and confidence from the support of the water. Another way the treadmill can be incorporated into your practice is by implementing conditioning and weight loss programs. Extra resistance can provide an additional challenge for the canine athlete, while overweight patients can comfortably work out to improve their cardiovascular fitness and shed pounds. Fitting In Understanding the amount of floor space required by an underwater treadmill is very important in the planning …
'Needy' Staff?October 2, 2012 Bridging generation gaps in the workplace is never easy. But like it or not, practice owners and managers are tasked with adapting to the style and needs of the new generation of veterinarians and support staff. One of the most prevalent attributes of the latest generations entering the workforce—and the one causing great lament among supervisors who were brought up under a different regime—is the expectation of continual praise and encouragement. Many young people entering the workforce today count themselves among what the mainstream media has dubbed the “over-praised” Me Generation. They also include the Millennial generation and Generation Y. “Today’s employees require more hand-holding and recognition,” says Alyce D’Amato, CVT, CVPM, vice president and executive director of Horizon Veterinary Services Inc. in Appleton, Wis. “Unfortunately, they want to be rewarded for simply being at work and fulfilling their job duties. I see fewer employees who understand what it means to go above and beyond. We certainly have young employees who work very hard—they are just difficult to find. Today’s young employees seem to think that working between 38 and 42 hours in a week is extreme.” Such attitudes may have significant implications for …
Hiring And Firing To Get The Vet Staff You WantOctober 2, 2012Recruiting and retaining dedicated, competent employees and knowing how to let go of employees who are not the best fit for your veterinary practice are significant management challenges. Practices that develop an effective hiring and termination process are more likely to hire outstanding team members and retain employees who are the right fit for the practice culture. Take the following steps to improve recruitment efforts: What You Need When recruiting employees, don’t just look for a warm body to fill the position. Instead, focus on finding job candidates who have the skills and attitude to become an outstanding member of your team. To recruit the right candidates, define the requisite skill set for the position and what kind of employee you need to adhere to the core values of your veterinary practice. In addition, focus on what potential employees want from employers. Make sure the wages and benefits you offer are competitive for your region and with other area practices. Understand that while compensation and benefits are important, these are often not the only deciding factors when people choose a job. Employees want to work in a positive environment. They value flexible work schedules, training and development opportunities, supportive …
Treating And Preventing Dental Disease In Geriatric PetsOctober 2, 2012 We all know that our patients suffer from the same dental problems that we all do. Dogs and cats feel dental pain and discomfort just as we do, and yet it is far more common for them to have significant dental problems because they don’t get regular dental care. The biggest reason that pets often do not receive the dental care they need is because they rarely show obvious signs of pain or problems, which means that they suffer in silence. Oral/dental disease is by far the No. 1 medical problem in dogs and cats. It is estimated that more than 70 percent of dogs and cats have some form of periodontal disease by just two years of age. Research suggests these shocking numbers actually underestimate the incidence of dental disease. To find out if your patient has periodontal disease, lift his/her lip and look for tartar or redness and swelling of the gums (Figures 1). If the breath smells, it is a sure sign of an oral infection. A new method for determining the level of gum disease in animals is provided by a simple technology called Orastrip QuickCheck Canine. This quick …
Introducing Veterinary CO2 Laser Surgery In JapanOctober 2, 2012 I am an owner of a busy small animal veterinary hospital in Nagoya, Japan. One day I encountered a book on CO2 laser surgery and became fascinated with the technology that brings less bleeding, less swelling, less pain and less risk of infection. It goes without saying that less stress during and after surgical treatment is the best for humans and for animals. I decided to learn more about small animal soft tissue laser surgery in the USA, and did so for two years at various private practices and at Louisiana State University. At the same time I studied to become a diplomate of the American Board of Laser Surgery (ABLS). Learning the art of laser surgery from the best veterinary laser surgeons in the U.S. and through ABLS allowed me to select the best surgical laser for my hospital back home. Figure 2 Types of Medical Lasers It is important to select the type of surgical laser by its wavelength and how it interacts with the tissue. Medical lasers can be assigned to one of three categories: WYSIWYG stands for “What you see is what you get.” This type is suitable …
Brave New World Of St. George’s University School Of Veterinary MedicineOctober 1, 2012 The world is rapidly changing, with shifting demographics, fluid borders, widespread travel, new medical advances, new diseases and fewer medical personnel per patient, both human and animal. Worldwide, there is an urgent need for new thinkers and leaders, those who are experts in veterinary medicine but who also have the experience to quickly and accurately apply it in the real world. Our different world demands a different way of learning veterinary medicine, and St George’s University in Grenada, West Indies, is providing it. Trisha Doswell, third-year vet student at St. George’s. “St. George’s not only provides a unique educational experience but unique life experiences,” says Trisha Doswell, a third-year veterinary medical student at St. George’s University. Originally from Melbourne Beach, Fla., Trisha earned her undergraduate degree at the University of Florida. Trisha doesn’t shy away from raving about the quality of education she’s receiving at St. George’s University. “Our veterinary medical program is challenging and rigorous, but the faculty truly care about us, and when we graduate, we have the opportunity to work all around the world,” Trisha explains. A Global Education Founded in 1999,
Compounding Pharmacists Think Big To Meet Vet Clients' Specialized NeedsSeptember 27, 2012 When compounding pharmacists say that they provide targeted solutions, it seems that they really mean it. After all, if your 5,000-pound rhinoceros balks at taking his antibiotics, who else are you going to call? The Rio Grande Zoo in Albuquerque, N.M., called Michael Blaire, R.Ph., co-owner of Diamondback Drugs, a Scottsdale, Ariz.-based national veterinary pharmacy with an emphasis in compounding. One of the zoo’s rhinos had an infection, and 150 ground-up antibiotic tablets were making his food extremely bitter. “We needed something sweet and chewable,” Blaire said. The answer? A Rice Krispies treat the size of a car hood. It took two technicians 21/2 hours and two dozen boxes of cereal to prepare the prescription and cut it up into 21 doses. “But 21 days later, we had a cured rhino,” Blaire said. Not all compounding solutions have quite so much snap, crackle or pop. But the case of the sweet-toothed rhino does illustrate both the depth of the problems compounders sometimes face and the creativity they can bring to their work. On the horns of a dilemma, a specialized response can mean the difference between wasted effort and welcome relief. The …
Treat Your Clients Like FriendsSeptember 24, 2012Well, you’ve probably figured out that now I’m on the “other” side of the exam table, as a pet owner rather than as a technician, and it’s been quite an eye-opening experience. Here’s the latest. I took one of my cats in to update her vaccinations (yes, she was overdue), and just happened to see the technician who saw Minnie the one other time she’d been to this vet, back in 2008 for an aspirate of a lump in her “belly waddle” (you know, that thing that hangs down from every cat’s belly, and waddles when they walk). I remembered her, but she didn’t give me any indication of knowing me … and I know that a quick glance at her chart would have clued her in that we had met before. I don’t why it bothered me so much. I guess because I know it can be done SO much better, and I just don’t think it’s very hard to give a client the best experience ever. It’s simple, in fact, you just have to become aware and put a little bit of thought into it. Here are some quick tips for making your client feel like your …
What It Takes To Be An Effective LeaderSeptember 24, 2012 A leader can both use and exploit different forms of power to assist herself in her position, but many of these forms can have some pretty problematic side effects. For example, while the power of position, the power to give rewards, the power to punish and the power to control information may have some strength in limited situations, they ultimately place the people being led in an unhealthy position of weakness. Leaders who use coerciveness and threats to accomplish their objectives are seen as autocratic and out of touch, and rarely succeed in exerting any positive influence over their organization or people. Societies have changed tremendously over the last 50 years, and today individuals are encouraged to create their own power and take responsibility for their own decisions. Few of us enjoy having power exerted over us and will do what we can to undermine those who try to use these powers on us. As Mahatma Gandhi said, “I suppose leadership at one time meant muscle; but today it means getting along with people.” The Art of Power Today’s effective leaders have found a tremendous amount of power in knowledge, and that pursuing the …
