Meditation opportunity for veterinary professionals

The VetYogi Collective, an online on-demand yoga and meditation subscription service for individuals, practices, and associated businesses, announced it is offering a free opportunity for veterinary professionals to try meditation, in recognition of the unique stressors that veterinary professionals are exposed to, such as long work hours, emotional fatigue, and the mental health impact of involvement in life-and-death decisions.

The VetYogi Collective’s founder, Chloé Hannigan, BVetMed, MRCVS, explained to 

® that individual coping strategies like meditation can offer immediate relief and boost long-term resilience to stress.

"Meditation can offer immediate relief to an overwhelmed mind and boost long-term resilience to stress, anxiety, and insomnia. Meditation is not just a wellness trend; it’s a scientifically supported practice that can enhance mental well-being, focus, and resolve,” Hannigan said. “The VetYogi Collective 10-Day Meditation Challenge offers a free opportunity to journey through a variety of meditation and breath work techniques in just 10-minute bursts, providing practical tools that can be applied by busy veterinary professionals in some of our unique day-to-day stressful scenarios.”

Meditation encompasses various practices aimed at training attention and awareness, fostering mental clarity, and promoting emotional calmness. The 10-day challenge has been designed to help participants feel calmer, clearer, and more grounded in just 10 minutes a day.

During each day, the event will feature a 10-minute guided meditation focused on a different theme for each session, with each meditation audio delivered directly into the participant's email inbox. Anyone interested can learn more and register on the VetYogi Collective website.

Biosecurity program exceeds expectations in remote Indigenous communities

AMRRIC Biosecurity Pilot Project  (image courtesy of The Animal Management in Rural and Remote Indigenous Communities)

A 3-year biosecurity pilot project that set out to improve companion animal health surveillance in 25 remote Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities across Northern Australia has been a resounding success and achieved all its anticipated project outcomes, exceeding expectations in key areas, according to a recently released evaluation report.

The Animal Management in Rural and Remote Indigenous Communities (AMRRIC) Biosecurity Pilot Project strengthened collaboration between Indigenous organizations, local governments, and health agencies while also enhancing community animal health and biosecurity surveillance capacity.

“It's clear that this pilot project not only strengthened biosecurity surveillance but also delivered real improvements in animal health and Indigenous employment opportunities,” Bonny Cumming, BVSc (Hon I), MVS (Cons Med), AMRRIC’s head of innovation and strategy, told 

. “It’s particularly pleasing to see our vision reflected back by our partners, who told us the combination of on-the-ground training, biosecurity surveillance. and animal health services—all founded on trusted relationships—is what made the model so effective.”

Building on more than 20 years of experience delivering culturally appropriate animal health services, AMRRIC’s project was centered on a "no survey without service" model, which combined door-to-door companion animal census surveys with on-the-job training in biosecurity surveillance and animal health.

Working alongside AMRRIC staff, community organization trainees collected data using AMRRIC’s custom app while the AMRRIC’s veterinary staff provided preventive treatments and first aid to companion animals in the remote communities.

“This integrated approach not only delivered tangible animal health benefits and strengthened local biosecurity capacity but also strengthened the trusted relationships that are central to AMRRIC’s work in remote Indigenous communities,” Cumming said.

AMRRIC Biosecurity Pilot Project on the Tiwi Islands

Extraordinary philanthropic gift to benefit veterinary school

The Murdoch University School of Veterinary Medicine in Perth will undergo a complete redevelopment, thanks to an unprecedented AUD $100 million philanthropic gift from Ted Powell, a long-term supporter of the university.

The philanthropic gift will upgrade and expand the aging veterinary school to support next-generation, world-class teaching and research at Western Australia’s only veterinary school and animal teaching hospital.​

According to a statement on the Murdoch University website, Andrew Deeks, vice chancellor at Murdoch University, said Powell’s extraordinary act of generosity would help ensure Western Australia continued its role as a leading hub for animal research, teaching, and training.

“On behalf of Murdoch University, I cannot thank Ted Powell enough for his generosity, support, and foresight. He will leave a legacy for the Western Australian veterinary profession, animal research, and for animals great and small, which will resonate for generations to come,” Deeks said.

In the redevelopment, the existing veterinary school will be replaced by a 9600 square-meter state-of-the-art facility, large enough to support a 50% increase in the number of veterinary students who can be trained in Western Australia.

Articles

Updates on a meditation opportunity for veterinary professionals, outcomes of a biosecurity project in remote Indigenous communities exceeds expectations, and more.

Veterinary scene down under: Australian veterinary school receives massive philanthropic donation, and other news

Explore the fascinating world of ear mites as a veterinarian reveals the differences between male and female Otodectes cynotis and their impact on pets.

A microscopic look at live ear mites

As Itchy Pet Month comes to a close, Christopher Lee, DVM, MPH, DACVPM, takes viewers into a live, microscopic look at the ear mite, 

, differentiating male from female and highlighting features that distinguish this species from other mites.

, which can be found on cats, dogs, and ferrets, is a common culprit of ear disease and infection, and pruritus.

 Clinical signs may vary, but can include

Ear irritation that leads to scratching at the ears

Discharge from the ear that is dark, waxy, or crusty

Alopecia caused by excessive scratching or grooming

Crusting dermatitis in and around the ear.

Aural hematoma, caused by scratching at the ears—a blood-filled swelling of the ear pinna resulting from the rupture of small vessels between the skin and cartilage

: How often do you find these beautiful creatures hiding out in a cat's ear? How sure are you with what species they are? And what makes a boy mite and a girl mite different? Let's take a look.

Look at these little guys go. They're so cute and so beautiful sitting in that oil. Meet Miss 

, the glamorous gal of the ear canal. She's single and ready to mingle. Better catch her quick, as she only lives 2 to 3 weeks and wants to lay up to 20 eggs inside of your cat's ear.

We can see here the tick's head. And if we look close at these arms, we can see suckers. We zoom in a little bit, we'll see these suckers, also called caruncles, situated on a very short stalk. By having a short stalk, we know that this is not 

Now, if we look at the posterior end, we will see these legs that extend beyond the body outline. That tells us that this is likely a non-burrowing mite, rather than a burrowing mite, such as 

, which would be another mite that we may see in cats.

We take a look at this, we also will recognize that this is a female, partly because we have on these long setae on the third set of legs, and we have a vestigial set of fourth legs. We can compare that to a male.

Here we will see the male. Here is the head with 4 forearms, and we will have 4 legs with suckers. Yes, these guys are arachnids. They are closer to ticks and spiders than they are fleas or flies.

So here we can see a very active, wiggling male in the oil, next to a more sedentary female at 5 o'clock. And that, my friends, is 

Barnes C, Weir M, Ward, E. Ear mites in cats and dogs. VCA Animal Hospitals. Accessed August 27, 2025. https://vcahospitals.com/know-your-pet/ear-mites-otodectes-in-cats-and-dogs

A crash course video on Otodectes cynotis with Christopher Lee, DVM, MPH, DACVPM. 

Taking a microscopic look at live ear mites

In this episode of The Vet Blast Podcast presented by dvm360, host Adam Christman, DVM, MBA, welcomes Alexa Romano, DVM, to the show to discuss her life as a veterinarian, plus her new business venture outside of the industry

An entrepreneurial veterinarian

, welcomes special guest Alexa Romano, DVM, to discuss navigating what it was like entering veterinary medicine during the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as her passions within the industry. Host Adam Christman, DVM, MBA, and Romano also take a deep dive into her new business venture, Cool Beans Coffee Company, and what it is like to work as a veterinarian while also having a business on the side outside of the industry. 

Below is a partial transcript, edited lightly for clarity. 

What do you think of the profession [and] where it is now? What are some things that you're seeing that we could do better? What are your thoughts?

That's a tough one. I shadowed and "teched" before I went to vet school, so I got to see [experience vet medicine before] COVID-19.... I don't know what changed it, but I think work-life balance and setting boundaries [are things] people are getting better at, but I also think it's something that not all clients are used to.... So, I feel like that's been the hardest thing. 

The old-school vets would stay all night, tell you to come in, [and] give you their personal phone numbers, and I think [that's] shifted a lot. I think that's something that, in vet school, they're...making [work-life balance and mental health] more known, which is great. But I think that it's getting people used to that, too.

I think it's great that this newer generation of veterinarians knows how to do work-life balance. If I had to tell the younger Adam Christman, I'd be like, "What were you thinking?" ...I find that [with] the new graduates, they work smarter in the sense that they know how to be more efficient. 

I think their communication skills are outstanding. Their ability to relay to the pet owner...[is] just incredible. And to your point, I think a lot of the new graduates, too, have worked as technicians, so they have [an] appreciation for all aspects within the field of vet med.

Podcasts

Discover how Alexa Romano, DVM, balances veterinary medicine and entrepreneurship with her new business, Cool Beans Coffee Company.

Client education, both in and out of the exam room, is an essential component of providing comprehensive veterinary medicine. Providing pet owners with accurate and accessible information not only elevates the quality of care for patients but also fosters strong partnerships between the veterinary team and the client. By educating your clients, you are empowering them to take an active role in their pet’s care, creating compliance and buy in to treatment plans, along with advocating for their pets’ health and their needs as well.

However, incorporating robust client education into an already demanding clinical workflow can be challenging. Developing educational material and ensuring consistent communication may feel like an added burden for busy teams. The following strategies can help integrate client education seamlessly into daily operations with the goal of keeping pet owners informed and engaged while supporting, rather than overwhelming, your team.

Prioritizing education, while safeguarding the wellbeing and bandwidth of your team, creates meaningful benefits for both clients and patients.

If you don’t provide it, they will find it. Pet owners increasingly seek credible, accessible information that empowers them to keep their pets healthy and thriving. The time you are investing now saves time in the future when difficult or challenging conditions occur. Well-designed educational materials can help clients: 

Understand the value of preventative and proactive care including vaccine protocols, nutrition, and behavioral health. Clients might not fully understand the value of preventative medicine, but they seek to understand daily scenarios they see every day, like whether their pet should be eating kibble, or understanding why their dog is chasing their own tail.

Recognize early signs of illness and facilitate timely veterinary intervention. Better informed clients are more likely to invest in annual examinations and to trust your care first when they see conditions they don’t understand.

Improve the ongoing management of chronic conditions through consistent monitoring and adherence to treatment plans.

Supplementing in-clinic discussions with at-home resources reinforces key messages, improves the retention of information, and encourages proactive engagement in their pet’s healthcare. Client education fosters trust, confidence, and provides peace of mind to pet owners who know they are 

making informed decisions in partnership with their veterinary team.

 “Buddy,” a 7-year-old Golden Retriever



 Dr Martinez has completed team training on effective client communication, including how to explain chronic conditions in plain, relatable terms. During Buddy’s exam, she notices early signs of arthritis and gently walks Ms Smith through what arthritis means for dogs, using a visual joint diagram available in the exam room.


Before Ms Smith leaves, Dr Martinez hands her a printed arthritis care handout (kept stocked in-clinic) that covers symptoms, treatment options, and home comfort tips.


In Buddy’s discharge notes, Dr Martinez includes direct links to reputable online resources like a PetMD article on arthritis and a short video on at-home exercises for senior dogs.


Ms Smith leaves the clinic feeling informed and empowered. She starts Buddy on a recommended joint supplement immediately and schedules a follow-up in 3 months. This proactive approach reduces repeated questions, improves patient care, and strengthens Ms Smith’s trust in Dr Martinez.

While client education directly supports the pet owner’s confidence and the health of their pet, it can also deliver measurable advantages for your veterinary team. Providing effective client education material can help with:

 Educated clients are more likely to trust your recommendations, follow through with treatment plans, and arrive prepared for their pet’s appointment. When clients have access to accurate information in advance, it can encourage collaboration and reduce their skepticism and some repetitive questions. This ultimately supports a healthier work environment for the veterinary team by decreasing the frequency of emotionally taxing visits.

 Establishing a standardized process for delivering accurate pet healthcare information, before, during, and after appointments can streamline communication across channels. By providing vetted resources, you can minimize the back-and-forth phone calls, emails, and free up time for direct patient care and other essential tasks.

Education strengthens the veterinary-client relationship through shared understanding and transparency. Trust built in the exam room drives client loyalty leading to long-term relationships that benefit both the patient, veterinary team, and practice.

Many veterinary professionals enjoy the opportunity to share their knowledge with clients. This allows them to have fulfillment in their roles and encourages positive relationships with their clients.

Streamlined workflows, stronger client relationships, and a happier team are compelling goals, but dedicating time to education can be challenging when resources are already stretched. Although not every practice has the capacity to create accurate, engaging, and accessible materials from scratch, there are effective solutions that exist.

However, before rolling out client-facing educational materials, it’s essential to ensure the team itself is prepared and confident in using them. Simply handing staff a packet or link isn’t enough. Consider that the way these resources are introduced, explained, and reinforced directly impacts client understanding and trust.

Start with baseline behavioral and communication training:

Make sure every team member understands the “why” behind each resource.

Provide role-playing or guided practice for introducing materials to clients in a clear, empathetic way.

Reinforce active listening skills and strategies for addressing common follow-up questions.

This initial training builds a foundation of confidence so staff can focus on the client’s needs rather than worrying about what to say or how to say it. Once those fundamentals are in place, the practice can layer in in-clinic educational materials in the form of handouts, videos, and visual aids to encompass a consistent, proactive education plan.

baseline behaviors, communication confidence

refreshers, team discussions, peer feedback

that support conversations and reinforce the guidance provided during the appointment

When team readiness and educational tools work together, the result is a smoother workflow, better-informed clients, and fewer post-visit calls, thus creating a cycle of trust and efficiency that benefits everyone.

Make a list to identify essential content

Begin by outlining the foundational content your clients need the most. Time estimates set clients’ expectations, make the resources feel approachable and helps you frame them as a small investment now that saves time later.

are the questions that are quick to answer individually, but highly repetitive across appointments. Providing clear, consistent resources can save time and ensure accuracy. Examples include:

Nutrition basics (5-10 minutes to review):

 Recommended diets for life stages (puppy/kitten, adult, senior), feeding guidelines, and portion control.

Behavioral concerns (10-15 minutes to review):

 House training, excessive barking or meowing, scratching, chewing, and socialization strategies for pets of all ages.

Parasite prevention basics (5 minutes to review):

 How and when to administer flea, tick, and heartworm preventives.

Routine visit expectations (5 minutes to review):

 Why annual or biannual exams are important, even for seemingly healthy pets.

are topics that frequently arise during visits and can be supported with supplemental educational materials to reinforce at-home care. Examples include:

 Allergies, hot spots, seasonal skin irritation, and proper bathing routines.

 Vomiting, diarrhea, constipation, and dietary changes.

 Cleaning techniques, how to recognize signs of infection, and understanding recurrence risks.

 Recognizing early symptoms, pain management strategies, and safe exercise recommendations.

topics help clients understand the value of proactive health management, which can reduce the risk of serious illness. Examples include:

 Core vaccinations, parasite prevention, microchipping, and spay/neuter guidelines.

 Core vs. non-core vaccines, timing, and the importance of boosting vaccinations.

 Monitoring body condition scores, appropriate exercise routines, and feeding plans.

 The role of annual bloodwork, urinalysis, and dental exams in early disease detection.

 Proactive behavioral education around creating feline-friendly spaces, canine socialization, and leashing walking.

are particularly important for first-time clients or those unfamiliar with veterinary protocols. These resources can reduce anxiety and improve compliance. Examples include:

 Check-in procedures, examination steps, and how diagnostic tests are performed.

 How to choose a pet insurance plan, what is typically covered, and how to file claims.

 When to call for help, what constitutes a veterinary emergency, how tele-triage works, and a list of trusted local emergency clinicians.

 What to expect after surgery or sedation, pain management, and follow-up instructions.

are areas that often have significant impact on health but are commonly overlooked or underemphasized during appointments due to time constraints. Examples include:

 The link between oral health and systemic disease, signs of dental pain, and proper home dental care (brushing, dental chews, rinses).

 Why prevention is important even in colder climates, risks of heartworm and tick-borne diseases, and the importance of consistent dosing.

 Mental stimulation, safe toys, training games, and environmental modifications to reduce stress.

 Special dietary needs, mobility support, cognitive health, and routine screening for age-related diseases.

Maximize client engagement with educational materials you provide and offer resources in a variety of formats.

 Use printed articles, care sheets or illustrations during appointments to support explaining complex conditions or treatment plans.

 Ensure information discussed during the visit is available after the appointment by providing printed handouts or digital follow-ups via email, patient portals, or apps.

 Clients will inevitably search online for educational materials. Reduce the spread of misinformation by linking clients to reputable veterinary-reviewed educational content on your website or social media channels.

Client education is most effective when the entire team is equipped to participate.

Ensure every team member understands the educational tools available and knows how to share them with clients.

 Ask clients what topics they want to learn more about. Ask questions when the client arrives, use short post-visit surveys or in-person conversations to guide educational content priorities.

Utilize existing tools to streamline the work

The veterinary team’s priority is patient care, not necessarily content creation. Leveraging professionally developed resources can ensure accuracy without adding to your workload.

Platforms like PetMD offer a wide range of veterinary-written and reviewed educational materials, including:

Medical illustrations and care sheets to use in the exam room.

Articles across a variety of species and conditions that are ready to be printed or shared digitally.

By using trusted, vetted resources, the team can deliver consistent, reliable information while focusing on patient outcomes and building client relationships.

With the right systems in place, client education becomes a seamless part of the practice workflow by enhancing efficiency, strengthening trust, and most importantly, improving patient outcomes.

Ensure accessibility to educational resources in both the clinic and at home, reducing reliance on unverified online sources.

Leverage vetted external tools to provide high-quality, veterinary-reviewed resources without requiring your team to develop materials from scratch.

Empower pet owners with knowledge to be proactive partners in their pet’s healthcare. Ultimately, well-informed clients lead to healthier pets as well as a more sustainable and satisfying practice environment for veterinary teams.

, is the learning & development manager for Chewy Vet Care, leading content creation and professional development. Bledsoe brings years of small-animal practice experience and advanced certifications as a certified hospice and palliative care veterinarian and in veterinary acupuncture. Previously, she supported the development of Connect with a Vet, Chewy’s tele-triage platform, and has a special interest in effective communication and client experience. A 2012 graduate of Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine with a clinical year at Auburn University, Bledsoe earned the Gentle Doctor Award for outstanding patient care and client communication. She lives in Florida with her sweet cats, Ottley and Saba.

The views and recommendations expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of dvm360®. References to external resources are provided for educational purposes only, and dvm360 does not endorse any specific companies or services.

Veterinary-reviewed articles and pet health resources. PetMD. Accessed August 6, 2025. 

Effective client education improves veterinary care, empowering pet owners and improving patient outcomes while fostering strong relationships between clients and veterinary teams.

How veterinary teams can effectively implement client education in the practice

Eight veterinary practices received merit awards for their innovative and patient-focused spaces in 

’s 2025 Hospital Design360 Competition. They are being recognized in addition to 3 grand prize winners in categories for facilities greater than 8000 sq ft, between 3500 and 8000 sq ft, and under 3500 sq ft. Read on to learn more about the merit winners.

BluePearl Pet Hospital (Grand Rapids, Michigan)

One of the goals of this relocated hospital was to “cultivate a bright and spacious environment that encourages healing for patients and well-being for staff,” according to the competition application. With the former hospital location considered outdated and undersized, the new facility allowed for an expansion of services and advanced care.

Notably, one of the hospital’s goals was to minimize noise within the facility to encourage patient healing and human well-being. Walls and ceilings were designed with that objective in mind. Designers used a multilayered approach, with full-height walls that extend to the underside of the structural deck, a double-ceiling system over holding spaces, and sound-attenuating batt insulation.

Additionally, BluePearl considered sterile surgery protocols in the hospital’s design by creating a dedicated sterile supply room. “This design element minimizes the risk of cross contamination by providing staff with immediate access to necessary surgical supplies without breaching the sterile environment,” hospital officials noted.

The hospital was also designed to promote staff comfort and rejuvenation. A break room and mothers’ room designed for mental well-being are aesthetically nonclinical, and an outdoor staff area was incorporated into the new facility.

Stitches Veterinary Surgery (Long Beach, California)

This specialty hospital was newly renovated with an objective to “redefine the veterinary surgical experience,” according to the competition application. The hospital’s design blends advanced surgical capabilities with calming elements aimed at mitigating anxiety for patients and clients while also preserving historical charm in the preexisting structure.

A prominent feature of the open-concept facility is a staircase spanning 1.5 floors, which allows for a seamless flow of movement between spaces for staff and patients. Acoustic baffles are installed throughout the facility to help manage sound and create a more tranquil environment.

State-of-the-art technology is installed throughout Stitches, but patient comfort and staff efficiency were also top of mind for designers. One example is open-top recovery bays that allow staff to observe patients from a bird’s-eye view without disturbing them, which helps promote a healing environment.

Veterinary Healthcare Associates (Winter Haven, Florida)

Architect: Paul Gladysz, AIA, CSI; BDA Architecture

Veterinary Healthcare Associates’ project was a 20,000-sq-ft facility dedicated to specialty and emergency care. The goal was to combine advanced medicine with deep connections to patients and clients. “This building isn’t just a space; it’s a statement about what veterinary medicine can be when innovation meets empathy,” the practice noted in the competition application.

Unique features include a covered portico for all-weather access, a saltwater aquarium, and an on-site café for a calming experience. The facility incorporated separate spaces for intensive care, intermediate care, and feline-focused wards, as well as centers dedicated to internal medicine and oncology, featuring 2 quiet infusion rooms and a hyperbaric oxygen suite with a window for client viewing, along with a rehabilitation and regeneration space equipped with an underwater treadmill. Throughout the practice, many advanced technologies and tools are incorporated.

The staff was also considered in the facility’s design. Team members have access to a fitness center, a meditation pod, and a “party patio” with an outdoor firepit and waterfall.

Owner: Benjamin Bergstrom, DVM, MS, DACVO

Comfort and happiness for clients and staff, as well as efficiency, were priorities for The Eye Vets specialty hospital’s design. Notably, a board with funny and inspiring messages serves as a focal point and generates positivity and staff engagement, according to the practice.

Two of the exam rooms feature electric lift tables to aid staff and allow patients to be brought to eye level. Pass-through cabinets in all exam rooms contain supplies that can be used by team members on both sides. “This not only reduced the footprint for storage but also allowed us to purchase less equipment to outfit 8 exam rooms,” hospital officials wrote.

The waiting room is intentionally large to allow for space between patients and features a treat bar for dogs and cats, as well as in-floor scales to minimize exam stress. To reduce sound, insulation was placed between exam rooms, and doors between the front and back treatment areas further limit noise from carrying. Outside, The Eye Vets offers a large, fenced-in dog park with turf and a fire hydrant.

Doors between the front and back treatment areas are keyed to provide security for staff. Team members also have access to a comfortable break room with a coffee and cappuccino maker, a television, and food preparation tools.

The Animal Neurology Center (St Louis, Missouri)

Owner: Fred Wininger, VMD, MS, DACVIM (Neurology)

Photo courtesy of The Animal Neurology Center

The state-of-the-art Animal Neurology Center is grounded in 3 core pillars: advanced neurology care that is accessible to all, a global training ground (in collaboration with the University of Missouri), and innovation through industry partnership. The facility’s design expertly reflects those pillars.

Exam rooms, built at twice the standard size and without built-in cabinetry and tables, are designed to feel more like a playground to patients rather than a clinical space. Partnerships have brought in orthopedic beds and toys for patients, and rubber flooring in patient areas provides traction. A gait evaluation hallway is also incorporated.

“Our sterile, positive-pressure surgical wing houses oversized neurosurgical suites [purposely] built to accommodate visiting clinicians and educational observers alike. Each suite is plumbed for oxygen, nitrogen, and suction, with modular infrastructure for various procedural needs,” ANC wrote in its competition application.

The facility also houses a conference room with high-top tables for hosting seminars and immersive training sessions. Staff and students can observe surgical procedures with a horoscope, and the entire facility is monitored with a comprehensive camera system. A staff kitchen, outdoor lounge, and quiet workspaces enhance team members’ well-being.

The reception area is designed for clients with a lounge aesthetic that includes a calming saltwater aquarium, pleasant aromas, and soothing music. It also provides accessible workspaces, high-speed Wi-Fi, and a full coffee and tea bar with snacks.

Windsong Veterinary Hospital (Prosper, Texas)

At the center of Windsong Veterinary Hospital is “the fishbowl,” the office for veterinarians that provides 360° visibility of treatment areas and core hallways. This feature allows doctors to oversee practice activity while remaining accessible to team members and connected to patients.

In the competition application, owner Lindsay Kline, DVM, wrote that Windsong was purposely built to be different. “Clients aren’t numbers in a database. Patient care isn’t done on an assembly line. We designed this hospital with heart, with soul, and with deep intentionality—blending warmth and comfort with medical excellence,” Kline said.

Additionally, design elements cater to the hospital’s priorities: noise management, sterile surgery, and infectious disease and isolation controls. Acoustic control was achieved with sound-dampening ceiling materials and wall tiles strategically placed in high-traffic areas, and by creating separate areas for cats and dogs to minimize patient stress. In the surgical suite, a filtration system reduces airborne contaminants, and supplies are housed in closed cabinets. A preparation space outside the suite is used to maintain sterility inside it. An independent exhaust system sends air outside to minimize disease transmission in the dedicated isolation ward.

Natural light was another priority of the hospital’s design. Large windows throughout the facility and a trio of oversized skylights allow daylight to flood in. Other wellness features include a comfort room with a separate entrance for grieving clients with end-of-life care cases.

Like some of the larger hospitals, Ivy Veterinary Care prioritized noise control and sterile areas. Treatment spaces and kennel wards are separated from the quieter exam rooms and lobby, whereas acoustic tiling and insulation further reduce sound in support of Fear Free principles. Dental and surgery suites maintain sterile protocols and are separate from nonsterile areas to limit the risk of contamination.

Throughout the clinic, intentional storage spaces help with inventory control. An efficient heating and cooling system allows for comfortable temperature control as well as infection control.

In the front of the practice, an accent wall of felt and wood was incorporated for natural warmth, and the space uses built-in benches with planters and green paint to align with signature “ivy” branding. In the back, green and teal shades are used for a less clinical aesthetic.

“By using design as a storytelling tool, Ivy Vet stands out in an industry where new practices often default to cold, minimal spaces. Our project is unique in that it was led by veterinarians, designed with community revitalization in mind, and built with an eye toward beauty, functionality, and emotional wellness—on a start-up budget,” the competition application said.

Treeline Veterinary Cancer Care (Boulder, Colorado)

Owners: Karen Oberthaler, VMD, DACVIM (Oncology); and Kubs Lalchandani, Esq

Treeline Veterinary Cancer Care was created with the purpose of reducing anxiety for clients. “We wanted to offer pets and their families a veterinary oncology experience that felt more like a spa than a hospital—one that honored the emotional journey as much as the medical one,” the owners said in their competition application.

The practice prioritized clean lines, natural materials, soft lighting, and music to create a calming atmosphere. It also reimagined communication and flow by forgoing traditional front desk systems and landlines in favor of cellular devices.

Within the 1100-sq-ft footprint, the suspended ceiling was opened to create a more vertical space, and strategic acoustic elements, including soft-close cabinetry, noise-dampening floor coverings, and separation between exam and treatment areas, were added to help maintain a peaceful atmosphere. The modified open-concept layout features a glass window that allows clients to view pets undergoing chemotherapy treatments.

One patient is seen at a time, and Treeline does not schedule overlapping appointments, which has eliminated bottlenecks for clients and increased customer satisfaction, according to the practice. “This level of focus has allowed us to provide deeper continuity of care, reduce both caregiver and patient anxiety, and improve decision-making conversations with families,” the owners said.

Merit winners have been recognized by dvm360.

Practices around the country are honored for hospital design

Increasing numbers of dogs and their owners are impacted by extreme heat and adverse weather events. We conducted a national survey of 421 US dog owners to better understand how dog owners perceive and respond to these challenges.

 Our findings revealed several gaps in owners’ knowledge and preparedness around heat-related illness (HRI) and disaster planning; highlighting ways in which veterinary professionals can help.

What owners do (and don’t) know about heat risks

We know from prior research that HRI is one of the leading causes of preventable death in dogs, particularly among brachycephalic, obese, and older animals.

 In our study, nearly all participants lived in regions where summer temperatures exceeded 80°F. Despite this, many owners reported minimal changes to their dogs’ routines during the summer months. For example, a third of owners reported no change in the length of their dog walks during the summer. Furthermore, owners of brachycephalic dogs, who face triple the odds of fatal outcomes from HRI,

 were no more likely to alter their outdoor activities with their dog when compared to other owners.

When asked about warning signs of HRI, most participants could identify obvious indicators such as stiffness (86%) or ataxia (83%). However, fewer recognized more subtle early markers of severe HRI like depression or slow responsiveness (64%). Furthermore, while most owners knew they should move an overheated dog to a cool area, fewer understood that active cooling (e.g., cold-water immersion, sprays, or fans) is more effective than passive methods like cold towels.

What this means for veterinary teams: during wellness visits, veterinary teams have an opportunity to share with clients how to spot subtle signs of HRI, stress the vulnerabilities of high-risk breeds, and explain the benefits of active cooling techniques.

Another finding in our study was how heat changes the way owners interact with their dogs. Over 80% of participants reported spending less time than they would like training or playing outside during hot weather, nearly two-thirds worried about their dogs becoming bored or stressed when kept indoors, and 40% feared that indoor confinement could lead to behavior problems.

 This is a reminder that extreme heat isn’t just a physical health issue; it also affects mental well-being for both dogs and owners.

Veterinary professionals can support clients by recommending indoor alternatives, shaded outdoor play areas, or early morning and evening walks. Normalizing these seasonal adjustments can help reduce owners’ guilt and worry about these necessary changes.

Dog owners face challenges with heat and disasters, lacking knowledge on heat-related illness and emergency preparedness, making veterinary guidance essential.