Veterinary Clinics of North America. Small Animal Practice

Sensory processing sensitivity (SPS) is a personality trait described in humans and dogs that mediates how individuals are affected by experiences. It involves being aware of subtle stimuli, high emotional intensity and empathy, and deeper processing of information. Recognizing individuals scoring higher in SPS is likely to help better diagnose, treat, and prevent both psychological (behavioral) and physical problems, leading to increased welfare and quality of life of the animal and its surroundings.

The health of the skin and coat of a cat is connected to the behavioral health of the animal. Stressed animals can cause lesions to their skin and coat such as alopecia, ulcers, and self-mutilation. On the other hand, localized or systemic health problems can cause stress, or pain, and therefore can increase overgrooming and poor skin health. When treating overgrooming and related skin lesions, all the physical and behavioral causes must be addressed through a multimodal approach.

Like many physical disorders, the clinical signs associated with metabolic diseases affecting thyroid, adrenal, and pancreatic function are reflective of nonspecific changes in behavior. Additionally, patients who have underlying disorders associated with fear, anxiety, stress, conflict, and/or panic may be under treatment with medications that alter basal thyroid, glucose, and cortisol levels. Through reinforcement and punishment of behaviors associated with clinical signs caused by organic or iatrogenic endocrine disease, behaviors can be perpetuated and become persistent patterns...

Inappropriate elimination or behavioral periuria/perichezia is likely the most reported feline behavioral problem worldwide. A change in behavior is often one of the early signs of physical disease and in addition can aggravate an existing behavioral response. An initial determination of causation is essential; is it medical or behavioral, or a combination of both? Stress activates both the sympathetic adrenomedullary system for short-term responses and the hypothalamic pituitary adrenal axis for long-term responses...

Stereotactic radiotherapy (SRT) involves the precise delivery of highly conformal, dose-intense radiation to well-demarcated tumors. Special equipment and expertise are needed, and a unique biological mechanism distinguishes SRT from other forms of external beam radiotherapy. Families find the convenient schedules and minimal acute toxicity of SRT appealing. Common indications in veterinary oncology include nasal, brain, and bone tumors. Many other solid tumors can also be treated, including spinal, oral, lung, heart-base, liver, adrenal, and prostatic malignancies...

Clinical care of osteosarcoma (OSA) in dogs has seen little change during the past 2 decades, relying on amputation and platinum-based chemotherapy for pain control and survival. Recent advancements offer hope for improved outcomes. Genomic research reveals shared genetic abnormalities between canine and human OSA. Multidimensional imaging provides valuable staging and prognostic information. Limb-sparing approaches including stereotactic body radiation therapy are routine. Ablative therapies such as microwave ablation and histotripsy show promise...

The enhanced understanding of immunology experienced over the last 5 decades afforded through the tools of molecular biology has recently translated into cancer immunotherapy becoming one of the most exciting and rapidly expanding fields. Human cancer immunotherapy is now recognized as one of the pillars of treatment alongside surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy. The field of veterinary cancer immunotherapy has also rapidly advanced in the last decade with a handful of commercially available products and a plethora of investigational cancer immunotherapies, which will hopefully expand our veterinary oncology treatment toolkit over time...

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There are many actions a practice can take to improve its profitability but the management team must first know what the profitability of the practice actually is. Fortunately, there are multiple resources available to practice owners and managers to get this information. Understanding not only the profitability of the practice but the kinds of factors that lead to this state is critical. Until the practice has an idea of the root causes of the problem, it is difficult to determine what the correct solution is...

Building a successful veterinary team is foundational and a driving force to having an all-around accomplished veterinary practice, one that provides quality customer service and medical care while being financially healthy and creating an environment for team members to thrive and be happy, highly productive employees. This article focuses on new and innovative approaches to cultivating a practice personality and culture that is employee centered. This article provides a road map to assist in implementing and achieving the next big steps needed to have an employee-focused business...

Retaining and attracting talent in VetMed has become an increasingly difficult challenge and applies to all roles in the veterinary practice. Culture, leadership, training and development, and full role utilization are key factors in retaining current talent, as well as attracting future team members. These elements must work synergistically together to create an environment that team members do not want to leave while also being able to deliver exceptional patient care (fulfilling each team member's sense of purpose)...

No abstract text is available yet for this article.

Accessing veterinary care is increasingly challenging for US pet families. Although there are many contributing factors, the cost of care presents the greatest challenge. This article explores the ways in which payment options, a spectrum of care approach, and the stratification of care might improve access to care.

The veterinary profession has long struggled with inefficiency. The challenges of the pandemic and the increase in case load have truly highlighted how significant the in-efficiencies were. By working on more efficient use of the physical plants where veterinary care is delivered; more efficient use of the inventory that is sold; more efficient use of the people that deliver service and care; and more efficient use of systems, processes, and checklists, the veterinary profession can improve its efficiency, its profitability, and even the enjoyment of working in the profession...

Many believe that the era of independent veterinary practice ownership is over but evidence suggests that now is a great time to be a practice owner. Corporate consolidation is becoming more prevalent but this presence in the industry provides benefits for independent owners. For those willing to learn and develop the necessary business skills, practice ownership has numerous advantages, and individuals who decide they want to own their own practice have several routes they can take to reach their goal. The future of veterinary medicine has never been brighter, and now is a wonderful time to invest in yourself...

This article provides an overview of the factors that lead to veterinary practice value. People do not enter veterinary medicine with the primary goals of owning and operating a small business. However, those who spend their careers in private practice may start or purchase a veterinary practice. To maximize value, the business must be profitable and carry as little risk to a potential buyer as possible. This article discusses the adjustments a professional valuation analyst is likely to make to calculate profits, the elements that measure risk, and how to mitigate that risk to increase value...

This comprehensive article on digital marketing in veterinary medicine guides practice members through the process of developing an effective online presence. Focusing on strategic planning, it explores the importance of understanding the purpose and target audience when implementing a multimodal digital marketing strategy. Specific platforms, like Facebook, Instagram, and others, are examined, alongside email marketing, texting, online review platforms, Web sites, and search engine optimization. Paid digital advertising, content creation, tracking metrics, and streamlining marketing efforts for efficiency are discussed...

Disney sets the bar very high when it comes to customer service and employee engagement. There are many parallels that align with the ways in which we deliver client service in veterinary medicine. This article will share the quality standards that can be easily implemented into every day practice for veterinary professionals. Learning the customer psychographic will empower the veterinary team to exceed client expectations.

Contrary to popular belief, not only is traditional marketing alive and well but also it is making a comeback. The right marketing mix typically includes a variety of both traditional and digital tactics. By understanding your practice's key differentiators and ideal client, you can target just the right combination of messages to thrive.

A positive culture is important to team retention and a successful business. Building a culture is not a fast process, but it is worth the hard work and time. Building up and supporting leaders is necessary to building a good team and a great culture. Team leadership must be courageous and open to communication as it is key to a successful and positive culture. The practice must be a psychologically safe workplace that encourages the team to learn from mistakes and take risks. The team needs to be involved in building and maintaining a great culture...