January is National Train Your Dog Month, so to celebrate and to help you share some resources with clients, we are spotlighting 3 articles on canine behavior. Everything from positive reinforcement training to distinguishing between normal vs abnormal behaviors, check out our related content below:

 by Denise Pancari, DVM, co-owner and Partner Doctor with Heart + Paw at Animal Medical Hospital of Centereach on Long Island, NY. This article dives into how new owners can positively enforce their pets’ household behavior and enrich the environment their pets are in.

 by our Editor, Caitlin McCafferty. This article tackles understanding what works best for pets and clients through communication to help treat behavioral issues. 

Distinguishing normal vs abnormal behaviors in dogs

 by our former Associate Editor, Julia Burke. This article takes a look at how to address and correct normal behaviors that are still a nuisance.

Articles

Highlighting 3 canine behavior articles for National Train Your Dog Month

3 must-reads for National Train Your Dog Month

Outside the Kansas City Convention Center for our Fetch Central conference.

After a successful year of veterinary conferences, dvm360 is looking forward to a new year filled with adventures and career developments as we host our conference favorites in some familiar cities across the country. This year will offer attendees more continuing education (CE) opportunities and networking prospects.

We plan to bring back great events such as Fetch dvm360 conferences in Charlotte, North Carolina; Nashville, Tennessee; Kansas City, Missouri; Atlantic City, New Jersey; and Long Beach, California.

“Having the privilege to hang with friends and making new ones in the new year is always a pleasure. Our Fetch vibe creates an atmosphere of community, connections, and collaborations. 2024 is going to be a fantastic time in the world of veterinary continuing education with the evolution of new advancements, products, and technology. I can't wait to see you there!” said our chief veterinary officer, Adam Christman, DVM, MBA.

Our regular round of Fetch dvm360 conferences comes back in 2024 with a new location in Nashville, Tennessee! Returning cities include on the East Coast, in Charlotte, North Carolina, happening March 15 to 17. For the Midwest, the Fetch conference will be headed to Kansas City, Missouri, August 23 to 25. On the Jersey Shore, Fetch Coastal will be in Atlantic City, New Jersey, October 14 to 16. Wrapping up the year will be our West Coast conference in Long Beach, California, December 6 to 8.

Join us at any of these Fetch conference locations for an engaging educational experience. Earn CE credits and network with peers, friends, faculty, and exhibitors. We provide interactive sessions that help attendees walk away retaining more information and clinical knowledge, as well as sessions that focus on well-being and communication skills.

In a previous interview, Fetch keynote speaker Tasha McNerney, BS, CVT, CVPP, VTS (Anesthesia & Analgesia), said, “I like Fetch conferences because I’m kind of laid-back and I feel like Fetch conferences are pretty laid-back. And that’s not to say that they don’t have some really good science and medical information... That’s what I like, is that not only are we going to talk about the medicine, and the research, and the science, but we’re also going to talk about, how does this actually look in the real world? In practice? How is this actually attainable? I think that’s where Fetch does a really good job of not only the science but also the practicality of implementing some of these things in real life.”

Fetch conferences will also feature engaging Lunch & Learn sessions including Lunch with a Legend and Peer to Peer Luncheon. 

 for more information and to register for one of these upcoming conferences.

An inside look at our upcoming veterinary conferences for the new year

Conference forecast for 2024

As pointed out by Carrie Jurney, DVM, DACVIM (Neurology), CCRP, president of Not One More Vet, Inc (NOMV) and owner of Remedy Veterinary Specialists in San Francisco, California, no veterinary practice manager wants their work environment to be toxic. One important responsibility of a practice manager is to make sure their employees are happy and feel comfortable at work. However, sometimes toxic work cultures creep up into a practice if you do not stay vigilant in preventing negative habits. 

In her session sponsored by Boehringer Ingelheim Animal Health at the 2024 Veterinary Meeting & Expo in Orlando, Florida, “Four toxicities of a team,”

 Jurney explained how even the best-intentioned managers can fall into some of the common traps of veterinary culture. She stated the 4 team toxicities as ambiguity, stagnation, sacrifice, and authority.

Ambiguity is the first toxic trait Jurney discussed, and she explained how a team that is unsure of direct expectations or rules can cause confusion and chaos. Jurney even mentioned that ambiguity can cause well-being issues for veterinary professionals.

To combat ambiguity, Jurney recommended to start at your practice or company’s mission statement. “It actually does matter because this is the concise statement that discusses why this company even exists,” she stated. “What makes you different from other practices? What is your intention and goal here? These are the ideas we talk about in a mission statement. And when you think about it, you’re really talking about your values.”

Combined with your mission statement, clearly stating your clinic’s values can help ease any ambiguity in the work culture. Jurney suggested writing down the values and keeping the list less than 10 items, but to tailor your values to the specific needs of the practice and ask your employees what they would like to see on the list. She also recommended ranking your values so everyone knows which ones are the most important.

To reduce ambiguity with roles and responsibilities, Jurney recommended having concise documents that outline each role in the practice and what responsibilities relate to that role. This also helps increase clarity with career development within the practice so employees can see what responsibilities they would have at the next level. Along with this, Jurney recommended holding regular staff meetings to maintain clear communication with the team in case anything changes, or updates need to be made. Regular meetings can also offer an open discussion for feedback or clarification on tasks.

“Our experiences in burnout can be our own worst enemy when we need to make progress in team well-being. Because it’s really hard to be creative and innovative when you are grinding through over-booked days, day after day,” Jurney said. “There is a lot of comfort in routine, I find comfort in routine, but we need to make sure we don’t sink too far into that [place of stagnation].” Jurney explained that a culture with stagnation often causes employees to feel that new ideas will not be well received from management. Jurney went through some common responses given in a stagnate mindset and how they can be harmful for veterinary teams:

According to Jurney, compensation is significantly correlated with burnout and 54% of RVTs reported that low compensation affected their job satisfaction. Research found that 94.6% of technicians are making under a “living wage.”

The busy schedule of the veterinary profession can often make it seem like there isn’t time for a focus on well-being. However, Jurney stressed the importance of making time for wellness because it can negatively affect patient outcomes. In human medicine, there has been a 50% reduced standard of care when work-related stress is present.

Outdated operational practices are not the best standards to be running a successful clinic on. Jurney advised managers to check in with their standard protocols and reevaluate what can be updated.

One area that can be updated is staffing numbers. Research shows that having more technicians in the practice was associated with job satisfaction and higher engagement.

 However, Jurney recognizes the current veterinary profesional shortage and suggested thinking outside the box with hiring and viewing potential candidates. oIf someone has a strong background in customer service, they may be a great client service representative at the front desk.

Sacrificing your well-being for the good of the practice can potentially impact your mental health if done over a long period of time. Having weak or no boundaries at work can lead to sacrifice and leaves little room for any down time during the day. Jurney stated, “To be a complete human being, you need to be more than your job. To have a healthy work environment, you need to recognize that your employees are more than their jobs.”

Jurney conducted surveys from her own employees at NOMV to find out what time veterinary professionals felt they had to themselves outside of work. She found that 44% of participants never have time to take a lunch break and 33% feel that their personal time is never their own when not at work (ie, they are still receiving phone calls, answering questions, filling out paperwork, etc.).

To combat a sacrificial mindset, encouraging healthy boundaries is a must. Practice managers can schedule specific times for staff to take breaks throughout the day by blocking off time. Jurney even suggested that managers should check in with each team member to make sure they had time to take lunch each day.

When there is a very distinct line of command and the doctors of the practice seem to be on a high pedestal, all other members of the team can feel intimidated. Jurney expressed that, in her opinion, lower-level staff members will sometimes not speak up in a situation they feel a mistake has been made because of feeling intimidated by the authority in the practice.

To combat an intimidating authority mindset, Jurney recommended letting team members have some autonomy of small tasks. This can help employees feel they have a say in a portion of the work they do.

Another way is to cultivate a culture of 2-way respect. Staff members at any skill level should be respectful to each other, no matter the hierarchy. This can simply start by leading by example and showing that respect first and allowing others to follow in your footsteps.

Another way to dismantle toxic authority is to not point the blame on anyone specific when a mistake is made, and instead make sure everyone is involved in finding the solution. Any mistake made can be a learning lesson for the entire practice and it helps all staff better comprehend what needs to happen moving forward to avoid any future mistakes.

To wrap up her points, Jurney stated, “These problems are not easy, but they are [also] not insurmountable. So, go back to your practices, clarify, innovate, enforce boundaries, and work on building a team. A happy, healthy team is totally worth the effort.”

If you are still unsure of where to start with your own practice culture, NOMV has resources available on their website.

Jurney C. Four toxicities of a team. Presented at: Veterinary Meeting & Expo; Orlando, Florida; January 13-17, 2024.

Mastenbroek NJ, Jaarsma AD, Demerouti E, Muijtjens AM, Scherpbier AJ, van Beukelen P. Burnout and engagement, and its predictors in young veterinary professionals: the influence of gender. 

Panari C, Caricati L, Pelosi A, Rossi C. Emotional exhaustion among healthcare professionals: the effects of role ambiguity, work engagement and professional commitment. 

. 2019;90(6-S):60-67. Published 2019 Jul 8. doi:10.23750/abm.v90i6-S.8481

Kogan LR, Hellyer PW, Wallace JE, et.al. Veterinary technicians and occupational burnout. 

. 2020 Jun 12;7. doi.org/10.3389/fvets.2020.00328

Halbesleben JR, Wakefield BJ, Wakefield DS, Cooper LB. Nurse burnout and patient safety outcomes: nurse safety perception versus reporting behavior. 

. 2008;30(5):560-577. doi:10.1177/0193945907311322

Liss DJ, Kerl ME, Tsai CL. Factors associated with job satisfaction and engagement among credentialed small animal veterinary technicians in the United States. 

. 2020;257(5):537-545. doi:10.2460/javma.257.5.537

The president of Not One More Vet explains common downfalls of veterinary teams and how to fix your toxic clinic culture

Combating 4 harmful workplace mindsets

There are an estimated 900 dogs diagnosed daily with canine parvovirus (CPV), and those that do not receive aggressive care in a timely manner face a mortality rate as high as 91%. Yet, investigators with Elanco Animal Health have found that many dog owners do not know what this virus is and about 20% are unaware of its existence at all.

Highly contagious, this virus affects dogs by causing acute gastrointestinal disease. Most-often associated with puppies ages 6 to 20 weeks, CPV can also affect older dogs. The infection can damage the small intestine, cause myocarditis in puppies, and lead to death, according to Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine in Ithaca, New York.

At the 2024 Veterinary Meeting & Expo (VMX) in Orlando, Florida, Michael Lappin, DVM, PhD, DACVIM, director of the Center for Companion Animal Studies at Colorado State University in Fort Collins, and chair of the World Small Animal Veterinary Association One Health Committee, lectured on CPV, among other infectious diseases, to an audience of veterinarians and other industry professionals. He opened his talk, “Hot Topics in Canine Infectious Disease,” by addressing the optimal ways to prevent the transmission of infectious diseases in dogs by first discussing the notion of keeping pets indoors at home to avoid exposure.

 “We put ourselves at risk every time we leave the house,” he said. “But who enjoyed being the house for 15 months [during the COVID-19 pandemic]?”

Other methods of lowering the risk of Infectious disease transmission in dogs Lappin listed include controlling transport hosts and vectors, strategic deworming, controlling fleas and ticks, owning only 1 animal, and vaccination.

 “I’m a big pro-vaccinator because you never know when the next H3N2 dog is going to walk off the plane… and lead to outbreak,” he said.

In his talk—sponsored by Elanco Animal Health—Lappin also included discussion specific to vaccination for parvovirus.

 “Parvo vaccines work. If you live to be 26 weeks or so [with vaccination], you’re not going to die of parvo,” he told attendees.

A CPV vaccine is typically administered by veterinarians to puppies starting at age 6 weeks, as a combination inoculation with preventives for distemper, canine adenovirus and parainfluenza viruses. Administered every 3-4 weeks, the CPV vaccine is given to puppies until at least age 16 weeks with recommended boosters given a year later, then again in 3 years.

Dogs that do become infected with parvovirus may exhibit common symptoms that include lethargy, depression, inappetence, high fever, vomiting and diarrhea. Notably, CPV is one of only several causes of bloody diarrhea or vomiting, and testing by a veterinarian can diagnose an infection with this virus.

Multiple treatment options are available to manage CPV, with the course of treatment determined by the severity of the disease. Dogs with parvovirus may need to undergo a hospital stay while receiving intravenous (IV) fluids and nutrients through a drip solution. Other treatment options include blood transfusion for increasing low blood cell counts, a course of antibiotics or monoclonal antibodies to fight the virus, and medications that can help manage nausea and diarrhea.

Elanco launches multi-year mission to save 1 million puppies from canine parvovirus. News release. Elanco Animal Health. January 17, 2023. Accessed January 18, 2023. 

https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/elanco-launches-multi-year-mission-to-save-1-million-puppies-from-canine-parvovirus-302036358.html

Baker Institute for Animal Health. Canine parvovirus. Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine. Accessed January 18, 2024. 

https://www.vet.cornell.edu/departments-centers-and-institutes/baker-institute/our-research/canine-parvovirus

Lappin M. Hot topics in canine infectious disease. Presented at: Veterinary Meeting & Expo (VMX); Orlando, Florida; January 13-17, 2024.

The virus was one of the ‘hot topics’ in infectious diseases discussed during a session at the 2024 Veterinary Meeting & Expo

Preventing canine parvovirus infection

Happy New Year, colleagues! Wishing you and your team a healthy and happy 2024! With 12 months ahead of us, I’m hoping we understand the significance of content strategy for our hospitals. In the digital age, establishing an active and strategic presence on social media has become a key way for veterinary hospitals to connect with pet owners, foster engagement, and showcase expertise. Let’s face it—Instagram was created for our pets (and food)!


Feb 1st: Pets’ pearly whites (or not so much)! Show us your pets being happy and whether they can smile to kick off National Pet Dental Health Month!

Feb 9th: Video on how to brush your cat’s teeth (turn into a blog for the
website).

Feb 15th: LIVE Q&A, Tooth Be Told: Your veterinary team answers your dental questions!

 4 fun facts you didn’t know about groundhogs.

 Cutest golden retriever and golden mix photo contest!

 Education post on the importance of microchipping, collars, GPS tracking, etc.

 Education post on the benefits of pet parents and dogs walking together.

One invaluable tool in this realm is the social media content calendar, a blueprint that outlines and organizes content strategies, particularly leveraging pet-friendly days. Let’s delve into why these calendars are essential for veterinary hospitals.

A content calendar serves as a road map, enabling veterinary hospitals to plan their social media content systematically. It provides a bird’s-eye
view of each month, allowing for strategic planning around important pet-related events, health awareness days, or holidays. This structure
ensures consistent and timely communication with your audience. 

I recommend having your strategy for the following month done by the 15th of the previous month. This can change, but the concept gives you a solid foundation to your social media arm.

This is an aspect of social media that truly resonates with your clients and community. February is brimming with pet-friendly occasions that present prime opportunities for engagement. Highlighting events like National Pet Dental Health Month, Love Your Pet Day, and Responsible Pet Owners Month allows veterinary hospitals to craft tailored content that resonates with pet owners. From sharing dental care tips to encouraging pet owners to show their love for their furry companions, these days offer diverse content possibilities.

Enhanced engagement and community building

By aligning content with specific days or events, your veterinary hospital can spark conversations, share valuable information, and foster a sense of community among pet owners. Engaging posts, whether they’re informative, heartwarming, or interactive, prompt followers to interact, share, and participate, thus expanding the hospital’s reach.

A content calendar streamlines marketing efforts by allowing hospitals to coordinate various types of content across different platforms. Whether it’s educational blog posts, engaging videos, client testimonials, or promotional offers, a calendar ensures a cohesive narrative and prevents redundant or scattered messaging. I invite you all to collaborate with other creators, pet parents in your community, and local rescue groups. You’ll be surprised by the number of ideas you come up with and the very high levels of engagement your content will provide.

When I speak about this topic at conferences around the country, this is the No. 1 answer I always hear: “I don’t have the time to do this!” With a predefined schedule in place, your veterinary team (or an individual) can plan, create, and schedule content in advance. This proactive approach saves time, reduces last-minute rushes, and allows for better content quality. It also offers flexibility to tweak or adjust content based on real-time engagement metrics or unforeseen events.

By tracking the performance of scheduled content, your hospital can measure the effectiveness of its social media efforts. Analyzing metrics like engagement rates, reach, and conversions provides valuable insights to refine future content strategies and adapt to what resonates best with the audience. Converting a follower to a client is a very big deal. Be sure to thank them with perhaps a gift certificate to your practice.

Social media content calendars are indispensable tools for veterinary hospitals aiming to establish a robust digital presence. Particularly in leveraging pet-friendly days like those in February, these calendars enable hospitals to craft meaningful and timely content that engages, educates, and connects with pet owners on a deeper level. Embrace the power of planning and strategy through a content calendar to elevate your hospital’s social media presence and impact.

Remember, consistency, relevance, and authenticity are key to fostering lasting relationships with your audience in the digital landscape. Now go forth and soar in 2024!

A note on practice marketing from our chief veterinary officer, Adam Christman, DVM, MBA

Let’s paws and post—helping you create your social media calendar in 2024!

Elanco Animal Health Incorporated announced the launch of its multi-year campaign, Defend Puppies. Defeat Parvo, to save 1 million puppies from the highly contagious canine parvovirus (parvo). The campaign wants to increase education to pet parents about this disease and increase access veterinarians have to its USDA conditionally approved Canine Parvovirus Monoclonal Antibody. 

"Parvo doesn't have to be a death sentence. Our innovative treatment for parvovirus can help veterinarians and pet owners alleviate the emotional toll associated with parvo," said Jennifer Miller, DVM, technical veterinarian with Elanco, in an organizational release.

 "Elanco's Canine Parvovirus Monoclonal Antibody is redefining how we treat the disease, but we can't defeat parvo alone. We're calling all veterinarians and dog lovers to join our mission and help us save more dogs, more quickly. Together, we can save 1 million puppies by 2030."

The campaign is working to reach more puppies quickly by:

A newly established Elanco’s Defenders Fund offers up to $1 million in rebate incentives from Elanco to veterinarians who purchase the Canine Parvovirus Monoclonal Antibody to help veterinarians treat more parvo cases. Veterinarians can track rebates via myElanco rewards. 

The creation of Parvo Defenders Task Force is made up of industry leaders and advocates such as Mars Veterinary Health, IDEXX, Kristin Zersen, DVM, MS, DACVECC, Hunter Finn, DVM, Fred Metzer, DVM, MRCVS, DABVP, and more bringing awareness to parvo and its treatment options. The companies and veterinarians will work to bring awareness to this disease and its treatment options as well as share insights on pain points associated with diagnosing and treating parvo.

A grassroots campaign enlisting and empowering dog owners, pet lovers, and veterinarians, to take the Defend Puppies. Defeat Parvo's pledge to stop puppies from dying from parvo and promise to do their part to save 1 million puppies by 2030.

"I'm hoping that the canine parvovirus monoclonal antibody will become the standard of care," expressed Metzger.

 "If we make it our first line of therapy, I think you could divert cases away from the ER and back to the private practitioner, where we can treat a large number of parvo puppies that are not even being looked at right now. I'm hoping it will free up emergency clinics a little bit more to really handle the cases that need more immediate care. I see no reason why the canine parvovirus monoclonal antibody wouldn't be the standard of care moving forward."

To learn more about the campaign’s missions and Elanco’s Canine Parvovirus Monoclonal Antibody, check out DefeatParvo.com.

Elanco launches multi-year mission to save 1 million puppies from canine parvovirus. News release. Elanco Animal Health. January 17, 2024. Accessed January 18, 2024. https://prnmedia.prnewswire.com/news-releases/elanco-launches-multi-year-mission-to-save-1-million-puppies-from-canine-parvovirus-302036358.html

Elanco’s Defend Puppies. Defeat Parvo. mission is working to increase education and increase use of its conditionally approved treatment for parvovirus