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Exploring the Benefits of Veterinary Telemedicine: A Fear Free Future

Exploring the Benefits of Veterinary Telemedicine: A Fear Free Future

Veterinary telemedicine holds tremendous potential for improving animal welfare by increasing veterinary access for pet owners, reducing unnecessary pet fear, anxiety, and stress, and enhancing shelter programs. While federal and state laws have expanded access to telemedicine for people, telemedicine for pets remains limited, so the ASPCA is working with state lawmakers across the country to expand access to veterinary care, which can help bridge gaps in care caused by workforce shortages and help keep pets in loving homes. Join ASPCA experts for a special webinar hosted by Fear Free to learn about the ASPCA’s work to improve access to veterinary care through telemedicine and how you can get involved to help pass laws that effectively empower veterinarians to use telemedicine technology to help more animals in need.

Pheromone Use in Veterinary Clinics: A Fear Free Approach

Pheromone Use in Veterinary Clinics: A Fear Free Approach
In the world of veterinary care, creating a stress-free environment is not just a goal; it’s a necessity for the health and wellbeing of our furry patients. The integration of pheromones into veterinary practices has revolutionized the way we approach animal stress, aligning perfectly with the Fear Free initiative’s mission to prevent and alleviate fear, anxiety, and stress in pets. bSerene™ is at the forefront of this movement, offering science-based pheromone products specifically designed for dogs and cats.The Power of Pheromones in Creating Calm
Pheromones are chemical communicators that play a crucial role in animal behavior and emotional regulation. These odorless signals are key to social bonding, territorial marking, and many other aspects of animal life. bSerene™ harnesses the power of these natural communicators to create a sense of security and calm in stressful environments such as veterinary clinics.

How Calming Pheromones Enhance Veterinary Care

Immediate Detection and Response: Animals detect calming pheromones through the vomeronasal organ, leading to an immediate calming response processed by the brain. This natural mechanism is why pheromone-based products are so effective in reducing stress in clinical settings.
Evidence-Based Success: Research supports the efficacy of pheromone use in veterinary practices. Studies show that feline facial pheromones can increase comfort and wellbeing, evidenced by behaviors like increased food intake and grooming. Similarly, canine pheromones have been shown to reduce stress during examinations, making the veterinary visit smoother for both pets and practitioners.

The Power of Pheromones in Creating Calm
bSerene’s partnership with the Fear Free program underscores its commitment to improving the veterinary health care experience. Here’s how you can integrate bSerene™ pheromone products into your practice to support this mission:

Pheromone Diffusers in High-Stress Areas

Exam Rooms: Create a calming atmosphere that facilitates smoother assessments.
Waiting Rooms: Reduce the anticipation stress often experienced by pets.
Kennel Areas: Promote a sense of calm for pets staying for extended periods.

Pheromone Sprays for Direct Contact

On Scrubs: Help staff soothe pets through their touch.
In Travel Carriers: Ease the stress of transportation.
On Towels in Kennels: Provide a comforting chemical message for resting pets.

Pheromone Collars and Valerian Spot-On Treatments
Sending pets home with bSerene™ collars can extend the calming effect beyond the clinic visit. Additionally, advising pet owners to use bSerene™ Valerian spot-on treatments before visits can make a significant difference in managing veterinary visit stress.

A Comprehensive Approach to Stress Management
It’s crucial to remember that stress management in veterinary care requires a holistic approach. bSerene’s innovative use of pheromones, combined with their Fear Free partnership, offers a scientifically backed strategy to enhance the wellbeing of pets. By adopting these practices, veterinary clinics can foster a tranquil environment that benefits pets, pet owners, and clinic staff alike.

Implementing bSerene™ pheromone products in your practice is a step toward a more compassionate and effective approach to veterinary care, ensuring that every visit is as stress-free as possible.

The Dual Benefit: Calmer Pets, Happier Owners
When pets are calm, the entire veterinary experience is transformed. Less stress for pets means:

Quicker, More Efficient Visits: Calm pets are easier to examine and treat, leading to shorter and more productive appointments.
Reduced Owner Anxiety: Seeing their pets calm can significantly ease owners’ stress, making them more cooperative and receptive during visits.
Improved Safety: Stress can lead to aggression. By reducing stress with pheromones, the risk of bites or scratches is minimized, protecting staff, pets, and owners.
Enhanced Clinic Reputation: Satisfied clients are more likely to return and recommend your clinic to others, thanks to the positive experiences facilitated by pheromone use.

Clinic Checklist for Implementing Pheromone Solutions
Incorporating pheromone-based solutions into your veterinary practice is a strategic move toward a Fear Free environment. This checklist is designed to guide clinics through the process of integrating bSerene™ pheromone products effectively, ensuring a calm and stress-reduced setting for all pets.

Initial Setup

Evaluate Your Clinic Space: Identify areas where pets commonly show signs of stress, such as the waiting room, exam rooms, and kennel areas.
Choose Appropriate Pheromone Products: Select bSerene™ diffusers, sprays, and collars based on the specific needs of your clinic’s layout and the common stressors for pets in your care.

Pheromone Diffuser Placement

Install Diffusers in High-Stress Areas: Strategically place diffusers in the waiting area, exam rooms, and kennel or holding areas.
Check Diffuser Functionality Regularly: Schedule weekly checks to ensure that diffusers are working correctly and refill them as needed.

Pheromone Spray Usage

Integrate Sprays into Daily Routines: Use bSerene™ sprays on items that come into direct contact with pets, such as scrubs, towels, carriers, and examination tables.
Educate Staff on Proper Spray Application: Provide training on how and when to apply pheromone sprays to maximize their effectiveness. For instance, allow alcohol-based sprays to dry for a minimum of 15 minutes before a patient comes in contact with sprayed items.

Pheromone Collar and Valerian Spot-On Implementation

Stock Pheromone Collars for Post-Visit Stress Management: Offer bSerene™ collars to pet owners as a take-home solution to help pets recover from the stress after a procedure.
Recommend Valerian Spot-On Treatments: Advise pet owners to apply bSerene™ Valerian spot-on treatments before visits or in other stressful situations.

Staff Training and Education

Conduct Fear Free Training: Ensure that all staff members are familiar with Fear Free principles and how to use pheromone products as part of this approach.
Create a Protocol for Pheromone Product Use: Develop clear guidelines for when and how to use each pheromone product in your clinic.

Monitoring and Adjusting

Observe Pet Behavior: Pay close attention to how pets respond to the pheromone products and adjust their use as needed to achieve the best results.
Gather Feedback from Pet Owners: Regularly ask clients about their pets’ behavior and stress levels following visits to assess the effectiveness of Fear Free interventions, including pheromone use.

Maintenance and Restocking

Maintain an Adequate Inventory: Keep a regular inventory of all bSerene™ pheromone products to ensure you never run out.
Review Product Usage and Effectiveness: Every few months, evaluate the effectiveness of the pheromone products and consider any necessary adjustments or additions.

Community and Client Education

Inform Pet Owners About Pheromone Benefits: Use newsletters, social media, and in-clinic displays to educate pet owners about the benefits of calming pheromones and how they’re being used in your practice.
Offer Guidance for At-Home Pheromone Use: Provide instructions and recommendations for pet owners interested in using bSerene™ products at home to extend the stress-reducing benefits.

By following this checklist, your clinic can successfully implement bSerene™ pheromone solutions, creating a more peaceful environment for pets, improving their overall experience, and aligning with the Fear Free initiative’s goals.

This article was reviewed/edited by board-certified veterinary behaviorist Dr. Kenneth Martin and/or veterinary technician specialist in behavior Debbie Martin, LVT.

Want to learn more about Fear Free? Sign up for our newsletter to stay in the loop on upcoming events, specials, courses, and more by clicking here.

Brought to you by our friends at bSerene.

Alleviate Communication Anxiety

Alleviate Communication Anxiety

Finding Connections with Colleagues and Clients Communicating effectively with others is often challenging and stress-inducing. During this webinar, Dr. Maryse Osborn-Doser, DVM, Insights Discovery Client Practitioner with IDEXX, will walk through the value of a deeper understanding of psychology preferences in communications, along with tools to adapt and connect more effectively in conversations with your colleagues and clients. In this webinar, we will: Discuss how perceptions and preferences influence attitudes and decisions Describe the value of recognizing and adapting to personality preferences in communications Identify your psychology of preferences Evaluate how color preferences look in real life

Brought to you by our friends at Idexx.

Marketing Your Fear Free Certification in the Digital Age

Our friends at Latah Creek Animal Hospital displaying their certifications at their clinic.

So, you’ve completed your Fear Free® Certification or Fear Free®Veterinary Practice Certification. First and foremost, congratulations, and thank you! You have taken a huge step in alleviating fear, anxiety, and stress for your clients, their pets, and even your team. Now it’s time to start spreading the word!

As you move through your Fear Free marketing journey, keep in mind that like all of us, pet owners are busy, and their attention is demanded by many other businesses as well as personal obligations. However, as their trusted Fear Free Certified Professional, the messages you share are often held in their highest regard. To get the most out of this benefit, always ensure that you are crafting your content and messaging in a way that addresses how your Fear Free Certification benefits your clients and their pets as quickly as possible. Align your goals with theirs and you’ll end up with happier, healthier, more relaxed pets and, in turn, happier pet parents.

Whether you have achieved your individual Fear Free Certification, or your clinic has achieved Fear Free®Veterinary Practice Certification, we recommend starting by choosing a few goals, defining specifically what success looks like to you, and then outlining and deploying your marketing plan.

As you work on developing your goals and success measures, here are some tips for getting started:

Marketing Your Individual Fear Free Certification

Your individual Fear Free Certification is a powerful tool that can be used to market not only your personal brand, but also elevate the work you do.

Display Your Fear Free Certified Professional Badge. We recommend adding your certified professional badge to your team member bio on your company’s website and updating it to include more about Fear Free, your certification, and the difference it brings for the pets in your care.Additionally, add a homepage spotlight on your company’s website highlighting the presence of Fear Free Certified Professionals on your team. We encourage you to take that a step further and link the spotlight to another page where you explain what Fear Free is, how having Fear Free Certified Professionals on your team benefits your clients and their pets, and links to where they can learn more (here’s a great page to send them to).
Educate Clients Directly. Weave Fear Free principles into your touch points when preparing clients for appointments, during their visit, and in follow-up communications. Let clients know you are a Fear Free Certified Professional and what that means for their pet by walking them through what to expect and following up with them on that education throughout their Fear Free visit. If they have a pet who experiences fear, anxiety, or stress in the veterinary, grooming, training, or boarding & daycare environment, discuss how their Fear Free visit will be a different and a more positive experience for their pet and themselves than what they may have experienced in the past. Discuss how your team will allow their pet to tell them if they’ve had enough and stop the treatment or appointment if their FAS level becomes too high. Continuing that education from your marketing messaging through to their in-person visit can have a significant impact.
Shine a Spotlight on Your Certification. Ask your company’s marketing team to create a team member spotlight about your Fear Free certification. This can be shared on social media or even in an email newsletter. Have someone snap a photo of you in action practicing Fear Free techniques and pair it with a brief write-up about you, your certification, what it means for pets in your care, and where clients can find more information.
Be a Fear Free Champion in Your Professional Community. Odds are, you are one of many Fear Free Certified Professionals in your community. Use the Fear Free Online Directory to find other Fear Free Certified Professionals in your area. Reach out to them, build relationships, and discuss how you can promote and refer clients to each other to strengthen the Fear Free ecosystem in your community.
Grow Your Professional Brand. Are you working on amplifying your professional brand on social media? Map out your goals for your brand and utilize your certification to support them. We recommend developing a campaign across all the social media channels you use with a few different posts highlighting Fear Free, what it means to be Fear Free Certified, and how that certification can benefit your audience. Use photos of you in action, share success stories, and include calls to action for your audience to take on each post. Our Fear Free Marketing Toolkit, which can be found on the left side panel of your member homepage on our website, includes several social media posts and cover photos to help you get started spreading the word.
Achieve Your Career Goals. Are you looking to move to the next level in your career, find a new role, or build your network? Share regular posts on LinkedIn about the work you put in to become certified, how it is helping you in your everyday practice, and the difference it makes for the pets in your care. Add your certification to your resume and utilize the Fear Free network to find a company that aligns with your professional goals. Find and connect with like-minded Fear Free Certified Professionals through our private member community on Facebook to further work toward your professional goals.

Marketing Your Fear Free Veterinary Practice Certification

Fear Free Veterinary Practice Certification allows you to not only bring a higher level of Fear Free care to your patients but also opens the door to many new opportunities for marketing Fear Free to your clients and community.

Define Your Differentiators. One of the first steps in your clinic’s marketing strategy should be developing and advertising your clinic’s differentiators. If you haven’t already, gather your team and brainstorm 3 to 5 things that make your clinic unique from others nearby. Fear Free Veterinary Practice Certification is a built-in differentiator and a great place to start. Once you define some additional differentiators, highlight them on your website’s homepage, on social media, and in client communication. Tell the story of not just what you do differently, but how you do it differently. Looking for a great example of highlighting Fear Free as a differentiator within a Fear Free Certified Veterinary Practice group? Check out PetVet365’s homepage and Fear Free Experience page.
Display Your Certified Practice Badge. Add your certified practice badge to your clinic’s website homepage with a brief write-up on what it means to be certified and what it means for your clients. Couple your homepage highlight with an additional page on your website that dives deeper into your Fear Free Certified Veterinary Practice designation, the hard work your team completed to get there, and how it will positively affect your clients’ experience with your clinic. Need some inspiration? Check out how Family Pet Health in Murfreesboro, Tennessee, showcases their veterinary practice’s certification on their homepage and an additional Fear Free page.Additionally, your team’s professional certification badges should be included on their website biographies. Spotlight them on social media or in your clinic’s newsletter to continue spreading awareness. Our Fear Free Marketing Resources page, which can be found on your member homepage on our website, also includes social media graphics and client-facing videos you can share to spread the word.
Walk the Walk, Don’t Just Talk the Talk. Marketing can fall flat when it isn’t backed up by your clients’ experiences. Make sure clients and their pets can recognize your differentiators, especially your Fear Free Veterinary Practice Certification, in every interaction, from their search online to the preparation for their appointment, from their time inside your clinic to the follow-up after their visit. Don’t let the initial marketing of your certification be the end; keep reminding, educating, and impressing your clients with the Fear Free principles your team practices every single day.Also, remember that word of mouth is one of the most powerful marketing tools you have at your disposal, so arm your clients with the education they need to shout your clinic’s name from the rooftops to their families and friends!
Attract and Retain Qualified Team Members. We all know that attracting strong candidates and retaining them is a pain point many practices are experiencing right now. Recruitment marketing is just as important as client marketing and can make a big difference in the types of applications you receive for open positions. Being a Fear Free Certified Veterinary Practice is a powerful recruiting tool that you should use to elevate your practice above the rest. Include that you are a Fear Free Certified Veterinary Practice in your job ads, the careers page on your website, and on your clinic’s LinkedIn page, explaining how that designation improves your team’s experience, safety, and medical standards, as well as delighting your clients.
Network, Refer, and Cross Promote Within Your Fear Free Ecosystem. There are likely many other Fear Free Certified Professionals in your community who are looking to ensure that their clients have a Fear Free experience everywhere they go. Use the Fear Free Online Directory to find certified groomers, boarding and daycare facilities, trainers, and pet sitters in your area. Connect with them, build relationships, and develop strategies for referring clients and cross promoting each other. This could look like a postcard or flyer you each give out to new clients that includes a special gift or discount, highlighting each other on social media or on your websites, and referring clients who are looking for a new professional service to a fellow Fear Free Certified Professional.

As with any new marketing endeavor, failing to ensure that you have the resources you need can result in missing goalposts. The great news is that our Fear Free team is here to support you and provide those tools you need to achieve your goals and alleviate fear, anxiety, and stress for not just pets, but people too.

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Since 2016, Fear Free has helped to change the way pets receive care from both veterinary and pet professionals. By closely listening to the needs of pet care professionals, Fear Free has built a robust catalog of certification programs and courses that focus on emotional wellbeing, enrichment, and reduction of fear, anxiety, and stress in pets. Over 100,000 Fear Free Certified Professionals are working to change the standard of animal care across the world. We thank you for being an important part of this initiative.

To learn more about Fear Free, register for a new membership, renew your membership, or learn more about Fear Free Veterinary Practice Certification, visit www.fearfreepets.com.

At-Home Veterinary Visits: How Fear Free makes visits even better!

At-Home Veterinary Visits: How Fear Free makes visits even better!

At-home veterinary care is a growing market that provides personalized care in the comfort of the patient’s home. This unique veterinary setting can present it’s own set of challenges, unique experiences, and gratifying wins. During this webinar, Dr. Jennifer Merlo, Elite-FFCP, and Dr. Lyndsey Kingsley from BetterVet, discuss how Fear Free techniques are integrated into at-home care and why pet owners are choosing this veterinary option with increasing frequency. As a bonus, we will talk about how at-home and house call veterinary practices will soon have the opportunity to become Fear Free Certified Veterinary Practices – you don’t want to miss this part!

Fear Free Spaces: Designing your Fear Free Environment

Fear Free Spaces: Designing your Fear Free Environment

Do you want to create a space that better reduces fear, anxiety, and stress (FAS) in pets? Join us as Roger Layman, Elite FFCP, AIA, NCARB, discusses how Fear Free can enhance your clinic or shelter design, whether you are rearranging, remodeling, or building a brand new space. A new building or remodel provides the perfect opportunity to interweave FAS-reducing design into your plans, but your current space can also be reimagined to reduce FAS. Register now to learn how to create a safe and serene space for pets, pet parents, and your team!

Basket Muzzle Training

Link to Schoox Content

Muzzle training is essential training for a new dog. Creating comfort and ease with wearing a muzzle can help build confidence and make treatments easier for both you and the dog. Mikkel Becker, CBCC-KA, KPA CTP, CDBC, CPDT-KA, CTC, and Debbie Martin RVT, CPDT-KA, KPA CTP, VTS (Behavior), will show you how to safely and effectively muzzle train.

You must be a Fear Free member and logged in to view this webinar

Addressing High FAS About Switching to Cloud-Based Veterinary Software

By Shepherd Veterinary Software

Fear, anxiety, and stress (FAS) are not exclusive to our veterinary patients. For some practice owners, the mere thought of switching to a cloud-based software triggers a similar negative spiral. Fear of change can prevent them from appreciating how a serverless system could optimize their workflow and support future practice growth.

Like any fear, apprehension about changing software is best conquered with knowledge. Let Shepherd Veterinary Software address the most common fears and stressors. Learn about the comfort and peace of mind that comes with being in the cloud.

Fear: Data migration will be an enormous hassle

This is perhaps the biggest concern among veterinary practice owners and managers—for good reason. In the past, transferring inventory and patient records was painstakingly inefficient, not only because of data loss during the transfer, but also due to the financial loss from closing the practice during the process.

Reality: Modern cloud-based veterinary practice management systems (PIMS) such as Shepherd Veterinary Software provide step-by-step assistance that streamlines the data migration process. Shepherd’s experienced team understands the implications of switching from server to cloud-based software and provides a wealth of resources and advice to ease the transition and help you anticipate and minimize potential challenges.

Anxiety: My team will struggle to learn the new system and be less productive

No matter how inefficient or frustrating your current PIMS, most team members will find switching to a new, entirely unfamiliar software daunting.

Reality: Modern software options have intuitive, user-friendly designs that reduce errors and increase productivity for all skill levels. With the help of self-paced training modules, ongoing software support, and skill-building resources, most veterinary staff can feel confident using a new PIMS like Shepherd in as little as a few hours. And, if the team hits a snag during the learning process, Shepherd’s support team is only a call or click away.

Stress: My practice data will not be secure stored in the cloud

When it comes to practice data, on-site servers can provide practice owners with false peace of mind. A physical unit in your clinic or hospital may feel well protected, but server-based PIMS are often more vulnerable to cyber attacks and malware, not to mention physical threats such as fire and water damage.

Reality: Remote cloud-based storage safeguards your practice’s data through expert monitoring that will identify and address any threat. Automatic security updates and patches keep the system one step ahead of hackers and cyber threats, and automatic syncing ensures access to the latest patient and practice information. There’s also no costly downtime waiting for IT or the release of a system-wide update.

Fear: The benefits won’t be worth the effort

Cloud-based veterinary software is a significant investment of a practice’s finances and resources. It’s only natural to question its proposed benefits and value.

Reality: As veterinary teams quickly discover, serverless software delivers powerful, game-changing advantages that extend beyond practice management to elevate patient care, enhance the client experience, and shape future growth.

Improved accuracy — Automated charge capture ensures consistency across all documents, including the patient chart, estimate, and invoice.
Increased revenue — Smooth workflows and quick-fill SOAPs mean you can fit in more appointments and care for more patients without staying late.
Easier oversight and case management — Remote access allows you to view the practice dashboard, inventory, and patient records from any location with an internet connection.
More time to spend with patients and clients — Automated features and powerful integrations eliminate the need for time-consuming repetitive tasks so you can focus on patient care.
Stronger client relationships — Enhanced communication tools, such as messaging and pet portals, help develop the veterinarian-client-patient bond.
Better job satisfaction — Increased efficiency and smooth workflow put the joy back in veterinary medicine, resulting in a healthier practice culture.

Anxiety: Team members fear that remote access will blur the work-home boundary

Many professionals have discovered that working remotely has an unexpected downside—an “always available” mentality that erodes the work-home life boundary. As a result, some practice owners and veterinary team members may hesitate to embrace remotely accessible cloud-based PIMS. They fear that because of the flexible software, they will be pressured to always be available.

Reality: Remote access can re-envision rather than add to the workload. It allows veterinarians and practice leaders to check in on daily operations, review the schedule, answer questions about a specific case, and take much-needed breaks without losing touch—or control—of the practice.

Stress: Clients won’t understand the change, especially if service is disrupted

Successful software transitions rely on careful planning. It’s important to notify clients as early as possible about anticipated schedule changes or closures. Instead of explaining that your practice is “changing software,” talk in terms of client benefits (e.g., better communication, reduced wait times, simplified check-in).

Reality: This change can build excitement! Upgrading your software demonstrates your practice’s commitment to exceptional client and patient service. With the right approach, you can help anxious clients understand that the temporary inconvenience will result in long-term gain.

Change is never easy, but the transition to cloud-based software is nothing to fear. Discover how veterinarian-designed Shepherd Veterinary Software can elevate your practice’s performance, increase efficiency, and help you rediscover the joy of veterinary medicine. Contact the Shepherd team to schedule a personalized demo and let your software-switching fears float away in the cloud.

Reclaim Your Spark: Identifying & Managing Emotional Triggers

Reclaim Your Spark: Identifying & Managing Emotional Triggers

As pet professionals, we often battle compassion fatigue, burnout, and overwhelm. In this webinar, we will discuss emotional triggers, how to identify these triggers in ourselves, teammates, and clients, and how to address and manage said triggers. You no longer have to choose between your passion for your work, the welfare of animals, and your own well-being. Join Kari Knutson, MA, to learn about tools that will support you in being your best self at work, working more effectively, and loving what you do again.

Rethinking Diabetes Mellitus Treatment in the Cat Using SGLT2 inhibitors successfully

Rethinking Diabetes Mellitus Treatment in the Cat Using SGLT2 inhibitors successfully

Have you ever wished for an alternative treatment to insulin for diabetes in cats, one that is as easy as a once-daily pill? Dive into this feline-focused webinar discussing the latest innovative diabetes treatment for cats! In this webinar, Dr. Cynthia Ward will discuss the need-to-know information surrounding the recently released drug, SGLT2 inhibitor Bexacat. This presentation will share the unique features of Bexacat and how to use it successfully in clinical patients including optimal patient selection, monitoring guidelines, and relevant adverse effects.

Brought to you by our friends at Elanco.

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