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Improve Wound Healing and Patient Recovery

By Dr. Natalie Marks, DVM, CVJ, Elite FFCPAs a practicing veterinarian and previous practice owner for more than two decades, I’ve witnessed quite a bit of evolution within our industry. There continue to be advances in diagnostic technologies, telemedicine, novel therapeutics for dermatology and osteoarthritis, and a dramatic shift from independent practice ownership to corporatization. However, one of the most important discoveries and initiatives has been the concept of Fear Free, the initiative dedicated to the physical and emotional health of our patients and clients through the reduction of fear, anxiety, and stress.

However, Fear Free is, and can be, more. It is a lifestyle and guide on how to practice and manage and educate. Client trust and compliance is key to a successful veterinary-client-patient relationship, and that’s difficult to achieve when fear, anxiety, and stress surround exam room interactions and associated communications. This is never more evident than when trying to manage wound care. The aftercare associated with an incision, a laceration repair, a skin lesion, or a superficial burn can be extensive and complicated, often with multiple medications, bandage care, an Elizabethan collar, and an incredibly stressed patient and pet parent. This negatively affects patient care and the veterinary team as frustrated pet parents call and email frequently, taking veterinary professionals away from patient care in hospital.

There’s now a single solution for improved wound healing for patients, reduction of the home care burden for pet parents, and preservation of emotional health for patient, pet parent, and the veterinary health care team. KeraVet® Gel is a first-of-its-kind wound care product.  As a scientist, safety and efficacy of any new product is top of mind.  I’ve been impressed with the initial studies with this product, which has a keratin-based patent-protected technology to promote a moist wound environment and barrier to the environment as well as a bitterant to deter licking behavior, enabling us to send a patient home without that collar that so often leads to increased stress for both the patient and our client. That said, it is important to note that there can be a risk to the human-animal bond when we frequently apply something to our pets that tastes unpleasant, and for some pets that can be more stressful than protective clothing, bandages, or an Elizabethan collar. Each animal is an individual and their needs should be taken into account when deciding on the best solution for wound healing.

In the right circumstances, though, this product can be a game changer. One of the tenets I lived by as a practice owner was “best medicine leads to best business.” Our clients want to see the value in the care they are investing in, that it’s convenient and safe, and that it addresses their family member’s physical and emotional health. When we choose to use KeraVet® gel, we give our clients a single effective solution addressing both of their needs, thus building trust and compliance, and strengthening the human-animal bond. These are the clients who return and refer and stay lifelong members of our hospitals.

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

Natalie Marks is a veterinarian, consultant, educator, media expert, an advisor for KeraVet Bio, on the Executive Committee of VANE (Veterinary Angel Network), and an Elite Fear Free Certified Professional. She is passionate about working with colleagues and mentees and moving the needle forward with innovation with companies like KeraVet Bio. Learn more about Dr. Marks at marksdvmconsulting.com and KeraVet Bio at https://keravetbio.com/

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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.

Tail Wagging Treatments: Fear Free in Veterinary Rehab Settings

Tail Wagging Treatments: Fear Free in Veterinary Rehab Settings

There are a wealth of opportunities after graduation, one of those being veterinary rehabilitation. Whether you become a rehabilitation veterinarian or weave rehabilitation into your general practice treatment plans, join us as we discover how to reduce fear, anxiety, and stress in pets during their rehabilitation. This webinar will discuss the possibilities of veterinary rehabilitation post-graduation, common stressful events for pets during their rehabilitation treatments, and methods to reduce FAS within your treatment plans.

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.

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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.

Fear Free Practice Certification: How to Get Started & What You Need to Know

Fear Free Practice Certification:
Are you looking to take Fear Free to the next level at your practice? Interested in learning how the practice certification process works, what your practice needs to be eligible, and how it can benefit you and your patients? Curious about creating a more positive work environment and team culture? Join Dr Jennifer Merlo, Director of Veterinary Affairs, and hospital as we discuss all things Practice Certification. Come armed with questions about the process, benefits, and how to get started!

To The Rescue: Five Tips For Stopping The Spread of Canine Influenza

To The Rescue: Five Tips For Stopping The Spread of Canine Influenza

Canine influenza is becoming a hot topic within all pet professional spaces, particularly within the veterinary medicine space. Join us as Dr. Natalie Marks shares the top facts every veterinary professional should know about canine influenza. Not only will important medical and transmission highlights be discussed, but also the role disinfection plays in disease prevention and the creation of an emotionally healthy practice. Dr. Marks will share the anatomy of the respiratory system and its role in physical and emotional health, as well as client messaging around respiratory disease and prevention.

Brought to you by our friends at Virox.
https://virox.com

How to Make Exam Rooms Fear Free and Friendly for Cats

Julie Liu, DVMSeveral years ago, when I was still a staff vet, I would routinely walk into the doctors’ office in the morning to see one of my associate-mates typing away at her computer with the overhead light turned off. The exterior wall to the office was a large window that faced east so there was always some early morning light coming through, but still, I didn’t get it. Wasn’t it always better to have more light? Why toil away in the dark like a cave creature?

After a few mornings, I started getting used to only having natural light in the office and noticed that I felt a lot calmer. If another doctor turned the light on, it felt way too bright and jarring. I realized that something as simple as decreasing the intensity of the light source in my environment could magically decrease my stress levels without me even noticing.

When it comes to our feline patients, many of the surroundings in a vet hospital can seem similarly disruptive, and may even lead to fear, anxiety, and stress (FAS). By reimagining the veterinary environment and catering to the feline senses, we can promote relaxation and a less stressful experience for both cats and humans. Here are some simple, budget-friendly tips for creating Fear Free feline exam rooms.

Provide a Safe Place

In 2022, the AAFP/ ISFM released an update of their guidelines for a Cat Friendly Veterinary Environment, in which they reference the 5 Pillars of a Healthy Feline Environment. While you may not be able to achieve all 5 Pillars in every exam room, being mindful of them will go a long way towards keeping your feline patients calm.

Pillar 1, “Provide a Safe Place”, is paramount. So what makes cats feel safe? When cats are experiencing FAS, hiding becomes a major way in which they cope. Think of all of those patients you’ve seen hiding under their bedding or overturned litterbox in the treatment area, or hiding under a chair in the exam room–they’re trying to cope with the stress of being in a scary place. Ensuring that every exam room is stocked with towels and a cat bed with high sides will facilitate hiding and comfort during the visit. You can even go next level and place a towel warmer outside the exam rooms. The thermoneutral zone for cats is 86-100.4℉ (30-38°C), so grabbing a warm towel as you’re heading in will allow your feline patient to feel even cozier.

Cats also feel safer when they can be elevated. If the cat chooses to explore the exam room, non-slip cat shelves, perches, and cat cubby holes mounted onto the wall will allow them to survey their surroundings from a height while also remaining hidden. Just ensure that any cubby can be opened easily to access the patient for their exam, as removing a cat from their “safe” place will increase FAS. Along the same lines, if budget allows, replace any exam room chairs with a bench that extends to the floor so cats don’t have to be pulled out from their hiding spot when it’s time for handling.

It can also take several minutes for cats to acclimate to a new area, so if you’re taking all feline appointments to “the back” where it’s noisy and full of dogs to collect samples, expect their FAS levels to escalate. Instead, treat each exam room like a private, “safe”  treatment area for that kitty and stock it appropriately with everything you might need for samples: tubes, syringes, smaller gauge needles, butterfly catheters, slides, and EMLA cream to reduce the pain of needle pokes. If your team members aren’t comfortable collecting samples in front of the cat parent, I’ve found that most clients are more than willing to hang out in the waiting area and drink a coffee or play on their phones until you’re done.

Considerate Approach

As Fear Free professionals, we should always use Considerate Approach with our patients, which means we want to consider how our felines are experiencing their environment during care.

  • Touch. Exam tables are slippery, cold, and uncomfortable. To provide stability and extra warmth, ensure all exam tables have a non-slip surface such as a yoga mat to act as a base under your warm towel. Every room should also have a non-tippable cat scale with a non-slip surface, which could be a Feliway-sprayed towel that you “tare” prior to weighing the cat.
  • Taste. Does your clinic have treats for dogs, but not cats? While many cats will be too fearful to eat treats, others can readily be distracted by catnip, Temptations, Churu, squeeze cheese, tuna, whipped cream, and other delicious snacks during interactions. Also be mindful of taste the next time you’re dousing your feline patients with alcohol to collect samples–unless you wipe the alcohol off of their fur with a damp washcloth, you’re contributing to their negative experience when they groom themselves after the visit. Consider using water instead of alcohol.
  • Visual. Photorealistic depictions of cats or other animals may cause cats to react, so abstract art often works best. If you’re lucky enough to have a quiet exam room with a window, consider making that a feline-only room. Many cats will explore the room and gaze outside during a visit, which works great as a distractor. Cats are also better able to see in lower light than people, so try installing a dimmer switch to decrease the light intensity.
  • Auditory. Vet clinics are loud. Dental scalers, cage doors slamming, and dogs barking can significantly increase FAS during a feline visit. Installing soft closers on cabinets and doors and hanging a “Shhh….feline appointment in progress!” sign on the treatment area side of the door will remind team members to use their inside voices and keep environmental noises low. You can also hook a speaker up to the exam room computer and play soft, cat-specific music. A 2019 study published by the Journal of Feline Medicine and Surgery found that cats listening to cat-specific music in a veterinary clinical setting had lower cat stress scores and lower mean handling scale scores than cats that were exposed to silence or classical music.
  • Olfactory. Pets leave behind lots of scents during visits, and smelling them may increase FAS, particularly if a dog was just in that room. Having a cat-specific exam room helps prevent olfactory stressors, and Rescue will allow you to disinfect and remove traces of the previous patient while minimizing harsh smells from scented cleaners.
  • Pheromonal. When your cat rubs their cheek against your leg or the furniture, they’re depositing the feline facial pheromone that marks an area as “safe”. Feliway Classic mimics this pheromone and comes in user-friendly diffusers that can be plugged into every exam room. You can also pre-spritz your scrubs at the beginning and middle of each shift and room towels with Feliway spray at least 15 minutes before your first appointment, then reload for afternoon kitties since it wears off in four to five hours. Don’t forget to label your diffuser with some client education so cat parents see the Fear Free value.

The exam room can be a scary place for many cats, causing them to experience FAS even before handling. Adding some Fear Free tools and considering the feline senses will help turn your exam rooms into kitty havens.

Resources 

https://fearfreepets.com/cat-friendly-exam-room/#:~:text=Avoid%20chairs%20cats%20can%20get,Choose%20light%20colors 

https://fearfreepets.com/top-10-treats/

https://fearfreepets.com/helping-our-feline-friends-feel-fear-free-with-dr-tony-buffington/

https://fearfreepets.com/providing-the-optimum-environment-for-cats/

https://fearfreepets.com/creating-a-comfortable-environment-in-the-clinic/

JFMS: https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/1098612X221128763

JFMS: https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/1098612X19828131

Cat music: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vGyElqvALbY

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

Julie Liu is a veterinarian and freelance writer based in Austin, Texas. In addition to advocating for Fear Free handling, she is passionate about felines and senior pet care. Learn more about Dr. Liu and her work at www.drjulieliu.com.

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.