Keystone Veterinarian Volume 2

keystone

veterinarian

OFFICIAL PUBLICATION OF THE PENNSYLVANIA VETERINARY MEDICAL ASSOCIATION

VOLUME II, 2013

www.pavma.org

pvma

pennsylvania veterinary medical association

advancing animal welfare and human health while ensuring the vitality of the profession

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pvma

pennsylvania veterinary medical association

pennsylvania veterinary medical association

8574 paxton street hummelstown, pa 17036

advancing animal welfare and human health while ensuring the vitality of the profession

phone: 888.550.7862 fax: 717.220.1461 email: pvma@pavma.org website: www.pavma.org

what’s featured 12

The Moral of the Story … Don't Kiss Your Chick

14

Doctor, Have You Checked the Pulse of Your Website Lately?

in this issue

2013 EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE Kenton Rexford, VMD President Sherrill Davison, VMD, MS, MBA, DACPV President-Elect

3

Golden Retriever Lifetime Study: Join Research History in the Making

7

AVMA Updates Euthanasia Guidelines

9 2013 AVMA Veterinary Workforce Report Confirms Excess Capacity in US Veterinary Profession 15

Build the Importance of Preventive Healthcare With Partners For Healthy Pets Power Tools

26

What's the Value of Your PVMA Membership?

27

Free Online Training for National Animal Health Emergency Response Corps

James Holt, VMD Vice President

29

PVMA Fact Sheet: Hot Weather Tips to Keep Pets Healthy and Cool

Ronald M. Kraft, DVM Secretary-Treasurer

30

Answering Client Questions About the Dangers of Zoonotic Diseases

34

Practice Spotlight: Unionville Equine Associates

Robert P. Lavan, DVM, MS, MPVM, DACVPM Immediate Past President Mary A. Bryant, VMD AVMA Delegate Charlene Miller Wandzilak Executive Director

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Quarterly Columns 6

Observations

“Making Women Into Leaders”

8

The President’s Two Cents

"Who is the State Board of Veterinary Medicine”

10

16

18

by Heather Berst, VMD

by Kenton Rexford, VMD

From Where I Sit

by Charlene Wandzilak

“Exciting PVMA Opportunities on the Horizon for Pennsylvania Veterinary Practices”

Practice Pearls

by Wendy S. Myers

"Explaining Finances With Confidence”

Inside PADLS

by Donna Kelly, DVM, MASCP, DACPV

22

"4th Annual Bark in the Park 5k Run and 1 Mile Dog Walk”

28

35

"Summertime Problems for Pond Fish”

PVF Cornerstone Veterinary Technology Corner

by Vicki Byard, CVT, VTS (Dentistry)

"Technician Despair: The Most Prevalent Disease in Veterinary Medicine”

Member News

"PVMA Remembers to Dr. Harry Rozmiarek"

38

What’s Happening

40

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“Events and Education”

Advertising Index

The Grand Finale

27

Allied Veterinary Cremation

“Cat Bathing as a Martial Art”

11

Atlantic Coast Veterinary Conference

9

AVMA-PLIT

38

Burzenski & Company, PC

17

Communication Solutions For Veterinarians

7

DoveLewis

IRC

Highmark

37

Nate Lynch & Associates, LLC

4

On-Hold Specialists

19

Partners For Healthy Pets

39

Pet Memorial Services

25

PNC Bank

5

PulseVet Technologies

20

pvmaAssure Insurance Agency, Inc.

21

Simmons Veterinary Practice Sales and Appraisals

33

Standard Process Veterinary Formulas

IFC

Thompson Wood Realty

RC

Total Practice Solutions Group

32

TransFirst

15

VetCor

11

Zoetis

36

Classifieds

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Top Veterinary Participants Thank you to the veterinarians and their teams who have multiple patients participating.

FIVE PATIENTS Dr. Scott Carpenter, Arvada West Veterinary Clinic, Arvada, CO FOUR PATIENTS Dr. Michael Lappin, The Animal House, Buzzards Bay, MA Dr. Deborah Pickett, Bernville Veterinary Clinic, Bernville, PA THREE PATIENTS Dr. Douglas Davies, Broadview Animal Clinic, Denver, CO Dr. Tracey Jensen, Wellington Veterinary Clinic, Wellington, CO Dr. Renee Leton, El Camino Animal Hospital, El Camino, CA Dr. Margaret Levy, North Kingstown Animal Hospital, North Kingstown, RI Dr. Kari Swenson, Gallatin Veterinary Hospital, Bozeman, MT

Golden Retriever Lifetime Study: Join Research History in the Making

By Michael Guy, DVM, MS, PhD

I

n September 2012, Morris Animal Foundation launched the largest prospective research study ever conducted in veterinary medicine. The Golden Retriever Lifetime Study is recruiting 3,000 purebred Golden Retrievers, their owners and their veterinarians into a lifelong observational study to evaluate the influence of genetics, diet and environment on the incidence of cancer and other diseases.

We are pleased that so many veterinarians have already joined the study in both roles— as veterinarians and as dog owners. Michael Lappin, DVM, owner of The Animal House in Buzzards Bay, Massachusetts, has four patients in the study and also enrolled his own dog Isaac.

“It has been heartbreaking in my 40 years as a practicing veterinarian to see young, seemingly healthy Golden Retrievers struck down in what should be the prime of their lives,” he says. “I have been driven by the need to do as much as I can to help this wonderful breed enjoy a longer, healthier life.”

Build Long-Term Relationships With Your Clients

In addition to helping to improve canine health, the Golden Retriever Lifetime Study provides an opportunity for veterinarians to build long-term relationships with dedicated clients. The Morris Animal Foundation study WWW.PAVMA.ORG

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team has observed that owners who enroll their dogs in this study are extremely committed to canine health. Many have, unfortunately, already lost a dog to cancer and are, therefore, even more dedicated to advancing veterinary medicine to benefit their current and future pets.

“I enrolled my Golden Retriever Journey in the study because I have always wanted better health for my dogs,” says Nancy Bishop, a veterinary technician who is also participating in the study. “I can’t thank Morris Animal Foundation enough for taking on this pioneering study to help my beloved breed and other dogs.”

Every year, for the lifetime of their enrolled dog, owners will complete a detailed online questionnaire about their dog’s diet, travel, reproductive history, living environment, exercise, and behavior. Owners must also take their dogs to their veterinarian annually for a physical examination and collection of blood, urine, feces, hair and nail clippings.

The veterinarian enters the exam results into an online database and ships samples to a biorepository for long-term storage, where they will be made available to future researchers for additional studies. Samples are also submitted to Antech Diagnostics for a serum chemistry panel, a total T4 test and complete blood cell count as well as urinalysis, fecal analysis and a heartworm antigen

test. Antech Diagnostics sends test results to the veterinarian at no cost.

Clients are also expected to bring their dog to their veterinarian for all other health events that take place while the dog is in the study, and the veterinarian must provide Morris Animal Foundation with a brief online summary of the findings from these additional visits. If a dog develops cancer during the study, the veterinarian will collect samples for evaluation and submission to the biorepository.

Southern States Lead Enrollment

The aim is for participating dogs to be evenly distributed among the four gender groups— intact females, spayed females, intact males and neutered males—and across five geographic regions of the continental United States: Northeast, South, Midwest, Mountain and Pacific.

As of May 1, 378 dogs were enrolled in the Golden Retriever Lifetime Study, and more than 1,200 additional dogs were completing the application process. The Southern states are leading enrollment with 24 percent of dogs.

Dogs Eligible For Enrollment

• Must be a healthy, purebred Golden Retriever • Have a verifiable three-generation pedigree

keystone veterinarian

continued on page 39 VOLUME II 2013

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keystone

veterinarian

2013 Board of Trustees

(A= Alternate Trustee, T=Trustee)

District I

Adam Hoover, VMD, Trustee Beth Piersol, DVM, Alternate

District II

Editor: Heather Berst, VMD Staff Editor & Graphic Designer: Lori Raver Staff Editor: Charlene Wandzilak Editorial Correspondence Letters to the Editor should be sent to PVMA, Attn: Lori Raver, 8574 Paxton Street, Hummelstown, PA 17036, fax 717.220.1461, or by email at lraver@pavma.org.

District III

Advertising keystone veterinarian is published quarterly by the Pennsylvania Veterinary Medical Association. Inquiries about display advertising should be directed to Lori Raver at the address and phone number listed above. Advertising information is also available on our website, www.pavma.org. Contracts and insertion orders should be sent to the address listed above by the appropriate submission deadline.

District IV

Submission Deadlines All articles, classifieds, and display advertisements must be received by the deadlines listed to be considered for inclusion in the respective issue:

Lloyd Reitz, Jr., DVM, Trustee Stacia McMahon Gilbert, DVM, Alternate

Mary-Lynn McBride, DVM, Trustee Dawn Fiedorczyk, VMD, Alternate

Michael Q. Bailey, DVM, DACVR, Trustee John Showalter, DVM, Trustee Amanda Glass, DVM, Alternate Sean Smarick, VMD, DACVECC, Alternate

District V

Dan Zawisza, VMD, Trustee Alternate—Vacant

District VI

Andrea Honigmann, DVM, Trustee John Simms, VMD, Trustee Nathan Kapp, VMD, Alternate Jeff Steed, DVM, Alternate

District VII

Heather Berst, VMD, Trustee Christina Dougherty, VMD, Trustee Casey Lynch Kurtz, VMD, Trustee Theodore Robinson, VMD, Trustee Kimberley Hershhorn Galligher, VMD, Alternate Kim Kovath, VMD, Alternate Steven Prier, VMD, Alternate Tom Garg, VMD, Alternate

Volume III, 2013—September 1, 2013 Volume IV, 2013—October 1, 2013 Subscriptions keystone veterinarian is mailed to all PVMA members at no charge as a member benefit. Subscriptions are available to non-members for $30 a year or $10 for a single issue.

Notice to Readers Neither this publication nor PVMA assume responsibility for material contained in articles and advertisements published, nor does publication necessarily constitute endorsement or approval of the advertiser, product, service, or author viewpoint by the keystone veterinarian, its editors and publishers, or the Pennsylvania Veterinary Medical Association. In addition, neither this publication nor PVMA guarantee the accuracy, reliability, or completeness of any facts, views, opinions, recommendations, information or statements contained within this publication.

Reproduction in whole or in part is prohibited without the permission of the Pennsylvania Veterinary Medical Association.

Copyright 2013: Pennsylvania Veterinary Medical Association.

District VIII

Susan Ackermann, DVM, Trustee Ferdinand Visintainer, VMD, Trustee Meg Alonso, VMD, Alternate Carlos Hodges, DVM, MS, PC

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observations

Making Women Into Leaders

By Heather Berst, VMD, Editor

H

ave you read the New York Times Best seller Lean In by Facebook COO Sheryl Sandberg? The book discusses the lack of women as leaders in business and solutions to this deficiency. It has received a lot of press and brought up many differing opinions among both women and men, so I decided to read it. I finished it in two days and I'm hoping many veterinarians decide to read it. I found the book very solution-oriented and that Ms. Sandberg had done her research and remained fact-based. You may be wondering how this relates to the keystone veterinarian. In a profession where 78% of current veterinary students are women, it's extremely relevant. In 2009, the AVMA reported that for the first time, women veterinarians exceed male veterinarians by a margin of 44,802–43,196. The future of veterinary medicine will need women leaders.

There have been numerous articles published over the past five to ten years about why there is a trend towards more female veterinarians and what this may mean for the profession. Common theories include more women are getting higher degrees than men, and that men are pursing alternative careers with higher salaries. The future of the profession may include more part-time veterinarians, flexible work schedules, and an increase in corporately-owned veterinary hospitals. We can discuss all these items for years to come. The fact remains, a large portion of our profession is made up by women, and the numbers will continue to grow over the next 10-20 years.

I was surprised when I looked at the 2013 AVMA Executive Board members. It includes 18 people, two of which are women. In my current role, I get to visit a large number of small animal veterinary hospitals, and a large proportion of practice owners are men. I wonder if this will change going forward? Typically, practice owners, veterinary school professors, and AVMA Executive Board members are in the latter part of their career and are part of the generation that had more male veterinarians. Is it just the same as in other professions that there are not as many women leaders? I really hope it is the former.

Lean In had a few key concepts we all should think about in order to make sure there are more women leaders in the profession. Key thoughts include: finding a supportive partner, believing in yourself, sitting at the table, don’t leave before you leave, and my favorite— what would you do if you weren't afraid?

In Pennsylvania, we have great women role models. We have PVMA's Executive Director Charlene Wandzilak and the University of Pennsylvania, School of Veterinary Medicine's Dean Hendricks. There are also great resources for women veterinarians who want to be leaders to take advantage. There several training courses available to be effective leaders. There is the Penn Executive Veterinary Leadership Program, AVMA Veterinary Leadership Conference, and Veterinary Leadership Experience.

I have chosen an "alternative” career as a veterinarian, working as a Practice Development Veterinarian for Hill’s Pet Nutrition. I have been fortunate that Hill’s provides veterinarians with training that makes us better leaders.

After reading Lean In, I am prepared to sit at the table and lean in to my career as a veterinarian. I hope that many women veterinarians who are graduating now will decide to do the same. l

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keystone veterinarian

WWW.PAVMA.ORG

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AVMA Updates Euthanasia Guidelines New Guidelines Offer Expanded Advice For Veterinarians on Preferred Methods Provided courtesy of the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA), Schaumburg, Illinois

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he American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) published the 2013 edition of the AVMA Guidelines for the Euthanasia of Animals. Led by a 13-member panel, more than 60 experts—including veterinarians, animal scientists, behaviorists, physiologists, psychologists and an ethicist—deliberated more than three years to create the 2013 guidelines.

Since the first Panel on Euthanasia was convened 50 years ago, the AVMA Guidelines have helped veterinarians protect the welfare of animals by setting criteria for euthanasia and specifying appropriate methods and agents. As the guidelines have become increasingly influential (and in some cases recognized as a legal standard), their specificity and scope have increased.

Specifically, the 2013 guidelines acknowledge euthanasia as a process that involves more than just what happens to an animal at the time of its death. In addition to providing more information about techniques used for euthanasia across a broader range of species, this edition includes attention to ethical decision-making, provides detailed information about animals’ physiologic and behavioral responses to euthanasia, considers euthanasia’s effects on those performing and observing it, and takes into account the practicality and environmental impacts of various euthanasia approaches.

“As we learn more about animals—their physiology and psychology—it’s important to update and sometimes change our approaches to euthanasia to ensure we continue to protect their welfare as best as possible,” explained Dr. Steven Leary, chair of the AVMA Panel on Euthanasia. “This was the most professionally diverse panel on the euthanasia of animals ever assembled. As a result, the latest update of our euthanasia guidelines offers much more depth and breadth of expertise in the affected species and the environments in which euthanasia is performed. Panel members take their responsibility extremely seriously because we recognize the AVMA Guidelines are used by everyone from veterinarians in private practice, to caretakers on farms and researchers in biomedical facilities, to law enforcement, to governmental regulators.”

The first edition of the AVMA’s highly respected, authoritative euthanasia guidelines was issued in 1963. With each update, the guidelines have reflected knowledge gained through advancements in research and practical experience. New in the 2013 edition are: • Euthanasia methods for invertebrates and other lower-order species; • Advice on humane handling of animals before and during euthanasia; • Information on collection of animals for scientific investigations, handling injured wild animals, and removal of animals causing property damage or threatening human safety; • Additional information about confirmation of death and disposal of animal remains; and • Flowcharts, illustrations, tables and appendices that clarify recommendations. l

WWW.PAVMA.ORG

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the twotwo cents thepresident’s president’s cents

Who is the State Board of Veterinary Medicine

By Kenton Rexford, VMD, President

M

any veterinarians seem to be uncertain about the Pennsylvania State Board of Veterinary Medicine. For starters, let’s look at their mission statement:

"The State Board of Veterinary Medicine regulates the licensure and practice of veterinary medicine in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Among its other functions, the board licenses veterinarians; certifies veterinary technicians and approves schools and colleges of veterinary medicine and veterinary technology programs. The board protects the public from being misled by incompetent, unscrupulous and unauthorized persons and from unprofessional or illegal practices by persons licensed to practice veterinary medicine."

It is important to understand that the board is neither your friend nor your enemy. It is the duty of the board to investigate complaints; to determine if the complaint is valid; and to determine if any disciplinary action is required.

Almost every complaint received by the board is sent by a disgruntled client. Many of the complaints seem to have their genesis as a result of miscommunication and poor recordkeeping. The most common reasons veterinarians are investigated by the state board are: 1. Criminal proceedings against a veterinarian, e.g. DUI, misuse of drugs, etc., 2. Failure to maintain licensure, 3. Failure to attend appropriate CE, 4. Death of a patient allegedly due to malpractice, 5. Alleged misdiagnosis, and 6. Alleged Dishonesty Obviously, the best way to avoid being investigated by the board is not to have a complaint filed against you. So, how do you do that? Here are some recommendations: 1. Obey all state and federal laws, 2. Keep your licensure current, 3. Complete at least 16 hours of approved CE annually, and keep your CE certificates, 4. Always practice the highest standard of care, 5. Always be honest with your clients, 6. Recommend referral to a specialist when appropriate, 7. Keep thorough written records, including, a. Conversations with clients b. Tests or procedures that were offered c. Tests or procedures that were declined d. Tests or procedures that were performed e. Test results f. Patient monitoring g. Referral recommendations 8. Remember to maintain open and compassionate communication with clients.

If a complaint is filed against you, here is what to expect: 1. An investigator (not a veterinarian) will contact you, 2. The investigator will visit and inspect your hospital, 3. The investigator will allow you to read the complaint, 4. The investigator will not allow you to photocopy the complaint, 5. You will be required to provide copies of all medical records, 6. You will be required to write a letter that summarizes the case and addresses the complaint(s), 7. If the board elects to pursue the case*, you will have a hearing. A lawyer is recommended, 8. You will receive a verdict from the board.

After reviewing your letter and your records, the board may elect not to pursue further action. In this case you will be informed of the board’s decision. It may take several months for you to receive notification. *

I hope this is helpful and, perhaps, alleviates some confusion or stress. If you have questions and would like to contact the State Board of Veterinary Medicine, you can call 717.783.7134 or email st-veterinary@pa.gov. l

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keystone veterinarian

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2013 AVMA Veterinary Workforce Report Confirms Excess Capacity in US Veterinary Profession Provided courtesy of the American Veterinary Medical Association, Schaumburg, Illionis

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major study by the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) and conducted by IHS Healthcare & Pharma in partnership with the Center for Health Workforce Studies at the State University of New York estimates an excess capacity of veterinary services in the United States. Specifically, the report indicates that the supply of veterinarians in the United States in 2012 was 90,200, and that supply exceeded the demand for veterinary services by about 11,250 full-time equivalent veterinarians.

The excess capacity estimated in the report does not mean that 11,250 veterinarians were unemployed during the study period, but that 12.5 percent of veterinarians’ capacity to provide services was going unused. If current conditions continue, the study projects that this is likely to persist into the foreseeable future.

A veterinary workforce survey used as a part of the study asked respondent veterinarians working in clinical practice to characterize their local veterinary market and their practices’ capacity and productivity.

Fifty-three percent of those surveyed said that they believed they were working at less than full capacity. One question the AVMA hopes to answer going forward is why some clinical practices are working at full capacity and others are not.

The workforce study was conducted using expert analysis and the best available existing data collected by the AVMA, federal agencies and other organizations, as well as the aforementioned veterinary workforce survey. However, during the study, major gaps in data were identified.

As a result of the national study, the AVMA also announced that it has developed a new computer software model that will help paint a clearer picture of the current and future veterinary workforce.

The Veterinary Workforce Simulation Model, an AVMA-owned, proprietary software, will play a key role in helping the AVMA and its recently established Veterinary Economics Division produce ongoing updates that will enable the association, veterinarians, veterinary educators, and other key stakeholders to better understand issues pertaining to the supply and demand for veterinarians and veterinary services, as well as overall veterinary economics. The improved ability to collect, measure, track, and analyze this data will help fill long-existing gaps in important information that affected this study and others in the past.

The president of the AVMA warned, however, that the efforts to seek more insights into the issues surrounding the profession should not diminish the importance of this study and its implications. continued on page 39

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from where I sit

Exciting PVMA Opportunities on the Horizon for Pennsylvania Veterinary Practices

By Charlene Wandzilak, Executive Director

I

n my last article, I talked about the many challenges that face the profession and how PVMA is addressing those challenges. From profitability to non-profit organizations’ competition with the veterinary community to non-veterinarians infringing on the scope of practice, we are working on your behalf to help you with the day to day struggles of veterinary medicine in 2013.

I am happy to report that the Taskforces on Non-Profit Organizations/Veterinary Practice Relations and Scope of Practice will be meeting on Thursday, September 12 in Harrisburg. If you are interested in these efforts, I invite you to email me at cwandzilak@pavma.org and participate. Also meeting that day will be a Young Veterinarians Advisory Council that we have created to help us identify ways we can help veterinarians as they transition from school and begin their careers. If you are a veterinarian who graduated in the last seven years, I encourage you to participate or, if you can’t, give us your input on how we can help you. I am excited about this new council and the ways that this group of individuals will help us shape PVMA to ensure we are here for the veterinary profession in the future.

In addition to those efforts, PVMA is getting ready to launch a number of new opportunities for veterinary practices across the state that will help you with profitability.

The Member Services Committee and Board of Trustees have approved two new member benefits that will help practices with their day to day operations.

As you most likely know, we partnered with Community Veterinary Partners (CVP) this summer to conduct a survey on business behaviors to provide regional data on some of the issues related to managing a practice. The results of the survey will be published in the keystone veterinarian in Volume 3 and the information used to identify ways we can help you with some of your needs in these areas. Our ongoing partnership with Community Veterinary Partners (CVP) is moving into a new dimension as we partner together to offer a discounted rate for practices who want to join their Member Network. The Member Network services include: • Digital marketing and client communications • New client generation through social media marketing, • Website and search engine management, • Access to group purchasing discounts that significantly subsidizes membership costs. (Estimated annual savings of more than $1,000, depending on practice size) • Practice development workshops and peer groups, and • Preferred access to the industry’s leading practice management consultants and service providers.

These services, which enable even small practices to effectively market themselves to the public and receive group buying advantages, will be offered to PVMA practice owners at a savings of $500-$1,700 off the prices offered to other practice owners who are not PVMA members. That more than pays for your annual dues! More information will follow in early fall after the launch of this new benefit at the Keystone Veterinary Conference.

Watch for more details in the coming weeks!

In addition, another tremendously valuable service has been approved that we are excited to offer because it will help practices work smarter, generate more income, and help improve client loyalty. Coming this fall, we will be offering practices the ability set targets for appropriate staffing levels, scheduling, and appropriate fees, and identify client satisfaction levels and how to improve. Specifically, we will be offering the following services: • Practice Fee Guide: this is approved for use in the United States and provides suggested fees that make sense to clients and optimize practice income. A unique fee guide is developed for each participating practice and continued on page 21 10

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keystone veterinarian

WWW.PAVMA.ORG

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The moral of the story …

Don’t Kiss Your Chick Provided courtesy of the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture, the Pennsylvania Department of Health, and the United States Department of Agriculture, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania

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hickens wearing clothes, sleeping on the couch, and getting kissed.

It seems to be a growing niche for animals that used to be raised only for the eggs or meat they produce. Along with rural families, suburbanites and even city dwellers are buying baby poultry at feed stores or ordering them from hatcheries for the experience of raising their own food. And many people can’t resist a cute baby chick or duckling around Easter, buying them for young children to cuddle.

Baby poultry can be purchased online from mail-order hatcheries and shipped directly to a private residence. They can also be found at many feed stores, where customers and children can see them displayed in small pens or even in livestock water troughs. These adorable fuzzy creatures are hard to resist, and in some stores, children can reach into the enclosures and handle them.

Unfortunately, reports of human Salmonella cases linked to baby poultry have increased over the past year and this highlights the ongoing risk for human salmonellosis linked to backyard flocks and pet poultry. Salmonellosis can often result in a mild diarrheal disease, but in some people can be life-threatening.

The Center for Disease Control (CDC) discovered several outbreaks of human Salmonella infections linked to contact with live chicks 12

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and ducklings in 2012. A single mail-order hatchery was linked to many of the cases, and several different Salmonella subtypes were identified as a result of the investigation. Additional cases are being investigated this year.

Prevention of human salmonellosis associated with baby poultry requires cooperation among the veterinary community, public health agencies, feed stores, hatcheries, and consumers. The CDC has made available a poster to increase awareness of the risk of Salmonella wherever baby poultry are sold. The poster highlights information such as the importance of proper handwashing after handling poultry.

This poster, which is featured on page 13, can be printed and distributed by veterinary offices to clients interested in raising poultry, or be made available at feed stores where chicks and ducklings are sold. The information can also be sent out from mail order hatcheries willing to participate. The CDC also provides posters on prevention of salmonellosis from handling of reptiles and from handling of pet food which may be contaminated.

Hopefully this educational initiative on simple steps to reduce the risk of salmonellosis from baby poultry will result in a reduction of the number of cases in the future. More information can be found on the CDC website at http://www.cdc.gov/salmonella/. l

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ith the ever increasing population of backyard or hobby poultry flocks, veterinarians in all types of practices are fielding questions about poultry and seeing them as patients. The personnel of the University of Pennsylvania, Laboratory of Avian Medicine and Pathology, New Bolton Center are ready and willing to advise veterinarians concerning differential diagnoses and appropriate diagnostic testing related to these poultry cases. Bird owners tend to look for information on the internet, but some is misinformation and can be detrimental to the health of the birds.

Over the past several years, the number of cases of birds presented to the diagnostic lab for postmortem examination has increased dramatically.

The most common problems have been Marek’s disease, Mycoplasma gallisepticum, infectious bronchitis, E. colirelated salpingitis, and grass impaction.

We are seeking a list of veterinarians throughout Pennsylvania who will see birds from these backyard/hobby flocks in their practices. Please send the information to Dr. Sherrill Davison at sdavison@vet.upenn.edu or call 610.444.4282. l WWW.PAVMA.ORG

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Doctor, Have You Checked Your Website’s Pulse Lately?

Provided courtesy of Partners For Healthy Pets

6. Does most of the content associated with each Doctor on the “About Us” page talk primarily about school of graduation, special medical/surgical interests, involvement in associations, awards received and the like?

7. If you have a photo gallery on your website, are there any pictures of rooms or areas of the practice in which the rooms are empty?

(That is, pictures without people and animals?) If you do not have a photo gallery, answer “no” to this question.

8. Do you have a Facebook and/or Twitter logo on your site?

Scoring

• The answers to questions 1, 3, 4, 5, and 8 should be Yes • The answers to questions 2, 6, and 7 should be No

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or the most part, the Yellow Pages (as a source for finding a veterinarian) are on life support. Internet search engines are now responsible for the majority of searches for virtually all service providers. Even people who use the Yellow Pages often follow up by reviewing a practice’s website before calling for an appointment.

So, assuming you have a web site, you probably feel this article is not for you. If so, you may be wrong. A random review of many veterinary web sites found that at least 85% of all companion animal practice websites have room for significant improvement in terms of being attractive to pet owners.

That’s not to say that 85% are not attractive.

Indeed, many are very professional and “attractive.” The problem is that most are attractive to other veterinarians, not pet owners!

Here are some simple steps and questions you can answer to see if your website is in need of help.

First, is your website coming up near the top of Internet searches? Here’s a simple test: 14

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Using Google (or your favorite search engine) type in “veterinarians [insert the name of your town].” Hit “search” and see what happens.

Is your practice one of the first 3-5 practices that are listed in the search results? If not, your condition is “serious.” If your practice’s name doesn’t come on the first page, your condition requires “intensive care.” You don’t have a website? Condition: “critical.”

Next, look at your website and answer these simple questions: 1. What appears in the upper left-hand corner of the home page? Is it a specific call to action, such as “call us for an appointment at [followed by your phone number]”?

2. Is a picture of your building a prominent feature on the homepage?

3. Is the “About Us” tab clearly and prominently displayed? (If there is no “About Us” tab on your site, answer “no” to this question.)

4. Does the “About Us” tab lead to a photo gallery of your doctors and key staff?

5. Does each picture of the doctors and staff include the team member with a pet?

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If you scored perfectly, congratulations! Your website is probably in good shape and you can shift your priority to other potential areas of need for your practice. Frankly, anything less than a 100% correct score means that there are opportunities for you to make improvements.

The Good News

The Partners for Healthy Pets website (www.partnersforhealthypets.org) has an entire category of helpful tools on Internet Marketing and Social Media. These free tools come in the form of fun video modules, which in turn are accompanied by downloadable step-by-step instructions that even technologically challenged practices can understand and follow.

These tools will help you craft a message for your website that will attract clients and result in them calling you for an appointment.

They will tell you what it takes to create a truly client attracting website and help ensure that your practice rises to the top of search engine results. The tools will guide you the steps to get you engaged in social media, including Facebook and Twitter.

Finally, sites such as Yelp are giving your clients an opportunity to comment on your continued on page 15 WWW.PAVMA.ORG

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Build the Importance of Preventive Healthcare With Partners For Healthy Pets Power Tools Provided courtesy of Partners For Healthy Pets

P

eople have a special relationship with their pets, and most recognize that visiting a veterinarian enhances that relationship. But you see it every day in practice – pet owners who have been bombarded with incorrect and incomplete information and are confused about what’s best for their pets. So much so that they may not follow your clinical advice, and may not bring their pets to critical preventive care appointments at all.

Make the decision to be a voice for vitality … of the veterinary profession, of your practice, and of our nation’s pets!

As a profession, we have a great opportunity to help pets and pet owners enjoy a longer and healthier life together.

• Focus on communicating the value and benefit of preventive pet healthcare to pet owners at all points of contact, from receptionist to technician to veterinarian.

Veterinary professionals work hard to provide the best possible care to pets so that they and their owners can enjoy long and healthy lives together. Partners for Healthy Pets was founded to help you make the preventive healthcare you provide even more powerful. We’ve developed tools and resources – available at no charge - that can help you build better relationships with owners and help them understand the value of preventive healthcare so that more patients can benefit from what you do best.

Individual practice involvement is key

The Partners for Healthy Pets Practice Resources Toolbox was conceived to provide the profession with a sound mix of information and materials that collectively elevate the level of preventive care offered across the country. Each of the tools and resources provide dynamic ways to reinforce a practice-wide focus on preventive pet healthcare.

Used collectively, they can help healthcare teams enhance communications with pet owners about the value of and need for routine care and take preventive pet healthcare to an optimum level within your own individual practice.

It’s easier than you might think.

• Adopt and widely communicate Preventive Healthcare Guidelines to pet owners through your newsletters, website, and within each preventive care visit.

• Use the tools and resources available from Partners for Healthy Pets to help find communication gaps, train staff, and gather new ideas that will compliment current programs and plans.

Partners for Healthy Pets is dedicated to ensuring that pets received the preventive healthcare they deserve through regular visits to a veterinarian and is committed to working with you to enhance the health of your patients and your practice. Learn more about Partners for Healthy Pets and explore the Resources Toolbox at www.partnersforhealthypets.org. l

Website's Pulse

continued from page 14

practice – both in positive and potentially harmful ways. The tools will help you understand how you can monitor the online comments being made about you and your practice, and give you helpful ideas on how to respond to comments made by others.

Don’t Put this Off!

Every day that your website is not optimized for client attraction costs you new clients. Take the first step today – visit the Internet Marketing & Social Media section of the Partners for Healthy Pets Resources Toolbox. l Partners for Healthy Pets is dedicated to ensuring that pets receive the preventive healthcare they deserve through regular visits to a veterinarian and is committed to working with you to enhance the health of your patients and your practice. Learn more about Partners for Healthy Pets and explore the Resources Toolbox at www.partnersforhealthypets.org.

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Explaining Finances With Confidence

By Wendy S. Myers, Owner, Communication Solutions For Veterinarians, Highlands Ranch, Colorado

W

hen Tyson, a 14-week-old pit bull puppy was playing with another dog, he fell off the couch and fractured his leg. The pet owner had funds available on his MasterCard for the $1,000 surgery but didn’t want to max out his card. Maureen Lovett, front desk supervisor at Rutland Veterinary Clinic and Surgical Center in Rutland, Vermont, explained financing through CareCredit. The client put $500 on his MasterCard and financed the remaining balance.

“About 25 percent of our clients need a little extra help beyond their credit cards,” Lovett says. Having access to financing was a win-win outcome for the client and clinic. In 2012, Rutland Veterinary Clinic’s clients financed $208,550 through CareCredit. The AAHA-accredited general practice with four veterinarians also offers emergency care and orthopedic surgery.

When you communicate with confidence about finances, more clients will accept the level of care that their pets need. Here are favorite tips when I coach teams on communicating about finances: Choose the right words. Say “treatment plan” instead of “estimate.”

Treatment plan emphasizes needed medical care, while estimate is simply about money. Also update forms in your practice-management software so they echo the term “treatment plan.” If “estimate” appears on paperwork, you may slip back into old phrases.

Pick the right location to discuss finances. During an onsite consult, I observed a veterinarian diagnose Grade 3 dental disease in a cat and tell the client a receptionist would give her an estimate at the front desk. The receptionist collected payment for today’s services and then handed the client an estimate without explanation. The client didn’t schedule her cat’s procedure. Poor dental compliance of 15 percent could be a result of where financial conversations were being held.

Always present treatment plans in the privacy of exam rooms where clients can ask questions and apply for financing if needed. At Animal Hospital Specialty Center in Highlands Ranch, Colo., two private checkout desks are next to the lobby where each exam hallway begins. Each checkout desk has a computer with Internet access and phone in case clients need to apply for financing. “Keep the conversation positive and private,” advises Jill Edwards, client services and marketing manager at the 10-doctor AAHA-accredited referral practice offering surgery, internal medicine, oncology, specialty dentistry, emergency and critical care. “I let clients know that we do financing all of the time.” continued on page 17 Top photo: AHSC checkout desk: Financial conversations occur at two private checkout desks at Animal Hospital Specialty Center. Jill Edwards, client services and marketing manager, explains CareCredit to clients. Second photo: Body language: At Animal Hospital Specialty Center, Kathy Pershing, CVT, (right) uses a smile book to explain a dental procedure to Vicki Heimer for her 6-yearold Boston terrier, Macy. Dr. Ed Eisner, Diplomate AVDC, performs specialty dentistry at the 10-doctor AAHA-accredited referral practice. Third photo: Financing at checkout: Always keep financial conversations private. Jill Edwards, client services and marketing manager, explains payment choices to clients at Animal Hospital Specialty Center’s checkout desk. Bottom photo: Payment methods: Jill Edwards processes a client’s check with Certegy Check Services, a check authorization and guarantee service. Terminals for CareCredit and credit cards also are located at the checkout desk at Animal Hospital Specialty Center.

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Explaining Finances

continued from page 16

Delegate financial conversations to staff. Veterinarians make medical recommendations based on patients’ needs—not cost. It’s best to have employees present treatment plans to clients, removing doctors from money conversations. Doctors and technicians may need to collaborate on creating the treatment plan, but team members deliver financial details to clients. Present the treatment plan as “This is what your pet needs,” instead of “Which services do you want?”

Use positive body language. Body language accounts for 55% of face-to-face communciation.1 Don’t stand behind the exam table and talk across it. Clients might perceive this faceto-face posture as confrontational. Instead, stand at the end of the exam table, forming an L-shape between you and the client. Even better: Stand on the same side of the exam table, shoulder-to-shoulder with the client.

This body language is collaborative rather than confrontational. The technician would then say, “Let me explain the treatment plan that your pet needs.”

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Cover the price with your thumb or an educational brochure. The client needs to understand services before seeing the price.

Explain each item, pointing to the left column that lists medical services. Lastly, slide away the brochure or lift your thumb to reveal the price. Present service first, price last.

“When explaining financing, I smile, maintain good eye contact, lean forward, and communicate my compassion by touching the client’s arm or hand,” Edwards says.

Teach with visual aids. At Animal Hospital Specialty Center, staff point to digital photo frames as they explain procedures. If you have computers in exam rooms, create slideshows or PowerPoint presentations.

When computers hibernate, a slideshow can promote services. Another option is to create photo books using websites such as www. costco.com, www.shutterfly.com and www. apple.com.

Match the order of photos to your treatment plan so you can advance pictures or pages as you describe each service. For example, show a photo of a technician running in-house blood work while explaining preanesthetic testing. Share pictures of a pulse oximeter

and EKG when describing monitoring. Images help clients better understand procedures, and educated clients are more likely to accept doctors’ recommendations.

Provide treatment plans for surgery, dentistry and hospitalized cases. A treatment plan accomplishes three goals: 1) Explains needed medical care, 2) Estimates the cost of care, and 3) Gives you permission to treat. Always get signatures—even from favorite clients. Say, “To get your permission to admit your pet to the hospital, I need your signature on the treatment plan. We will keep a copy in your pet’s medical record, and I’ll also give you a copy to take home so you have information on the services and fees we discussed today.”

Treatment plans should state financial policies such as “Payment is due when services are provided. Deposits may be required for emergencies, infectious disease cases and new clients. For your convenience, we accept cash, checks and major credit cards. We offer CareCredit, a payment plan for qualifying clients.”

Accept everything. The more choices, the more likely you’ll get paid right now. A client

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inside padls

Summertime Problems for Pond Fish

By Donna Kelly DVM, MASCP, DACPV, New Bolton Center, University of Pennsylvania, School of Veterinary Medicine, Kennett Square, Pennsylvania

S

ummertime can bring severe problems for pond fish. The majority of these are water quality issues. They can be severe enough to cause dramatic losses to stock or can cause stress that leads to secondary bacterial, fungal, and parasite infections.

Most of the summertime aquatic referrals to PADLS are due to oxygen depletion. This can cause catastrophic losses in the pond, sometimes up to 100%. There are several different causes. Over-crowding and low water levels are the primary causes. Summertime heat causes water to lose its ability to hold oxygen.

Ninety degree water in a pond will drop the

Drought brings water loss. No addition of water and increased evaporation lead to decreased pond water volume and fish and plant crowding.

The water quality changes as a result, usually concentrating ammonia, nitrite and carbon dioxide levels. If these are not at levels high enough to kill the fish out right, they cause stress. Secondary infections set in and can lead to death.

The addition of new fish can lead to overcrowding and problems with biomass/carrying capacity of the pond. Fish of the current population need to be assessed for new growth size before additional fish are added to the pond.

Fish can out grow a pond’s capacity. If the cur-

are no natural predators in this instance to help the natural balance of the pond, so overcrowding and expanded biomass create problems.

Fish aggression and injury can occur. Stress and secondary infections are common.

Rapid, heavy rains can quickly change the water’s condition, making the environment unpleasant. Depending on the amount of rain, pH changes and temperature changes can occur. Heavy rains can disturb the bottom sediment stirring up heavy particulate matter in the water that makes fish respiration difficult. Displacement of secondary bacterial pathogens to overwhelming burdens can be detrimental to fish. Rain water run-off can introduce chemicals, such as pesticides, herbicides, and petroleums, into the pond which can be toxic to the fish. Run-off can bring in excessive dirt, causing increased organic material and particulate matter.

Hot summer heat waves cause the water temperature rise. This can be extremely bad with small, shallow ponds and ornamental container ponds. Temperatures can get high enough to kill fish. Factor in lack of aeration and it is a perfect situation for causing fish mortality.

Events to watch for that hint to impending problems are: a sudden stop in fish that feed, fish breathing at the surface of the water especially in the early morning, a rapid color change in the pond water to brown/black/ gray, a sudden putrid odor to the water, extended hot and overcast weather, die-offs of algae, and periods after heavy rains. Additional signs for secondary diseases would include abnormal fish behavior and skin lesions.

dissolved oxygen to about 7 ppm, which can kill some ornamental fish breeds, especially when combined with other dissolved oxygen lowering problems. Ponds that are located high above sea level can be hit harder because they normally have lower dissolved oxygen content.

Most frequently, these losses occur in large fish and happen overnight. Powder and liquid algae treatments can deplete oxygen and can cause overnight die offs. Larger set ups should have a back-up plan for aeration should there be power outages brought on by summer storms.

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rent fish have grown in size, there may not be adequate space (water volume) in the pond to support additional new fish. The same is true for plants. Addition of new plants can overcrowd the pond and lower its oxygen carrying capacity. Plants can add oxygen during the day, however, at night they use oxygen.

Overfeeding fish during times of heat can cause excessive organic material resulting in increased plant growth, increased fish growth, and a decrease in the amount oxygen present. Overfeeding ornamental fish, without harvesting or thinning, can lead to excessive fish growth. There

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Prevention of these items includes using a good water chemical assay kit to test the pH, nitrates/nitrates and sulfates, proper functioning aerators, water replacement, and avoidance of using chemicals in the area around the pond. A back up plan for power outages is beneficial depending on the size and type of fish rearing operation. Washed in organic debris (leaves and sticks) should be removed as soon as possible. Water run-off route should be diverted. Any questions or submissions can be directed to PADLS-NBC 610.444.4282.l Donna Kelly is a staff veterinarian with the University of Pennsylvania, School of Veterinary Medicine, New Bolton Center in the Laboratory of Avian Medicine and Pathology. She is board certified in poultry medicine and pathology with the American College of Poultry Veterinarians and microbiology with the American Society of Clinical Pathologists.

She is the aquaculture specialist for the Pennsylvania Animal Diagnostic Laboratory System.

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pvmaAssure’s dental plan gives you something to smile about Affordable Rates and Great Coverage!

You can’t help but smile with pvmaAssure’s dental plan! We offer a statewide dental program through United Concordia which offers excellent coverage at affordable rates.

For under $400 a year or approximately a $1.00 a day, you can enjoy comprehensive individual dental coverage which includes some of these benefits: • 100% coverage for all diagnostic and preventive services including cleanings, X-rays, and exams • 100% coverage for basic services like fillings, simple extractions, endodontics, and oral surgery • 70% coverage for major surgical and non-surgical services • 50% coverage for inlays, crowns, prosthetics, and repairs • 50% coverage for orthodontics In addition, there is no medical underwriting or waiting period for benefits to become effective.

To check out more information on specific coverages and rates, scan the QR code with your mobile device or go to www.pvmaassure.com and click on “Products” and select “Dental Insurance.”

To talk with one of our representatives about getting started on a quote or to answer any questions, please contact info@pvmaassure.com, call 1.888.612.7659, or visit www.pvmaassure.com and click on “Request for More Information.”

pvmaAssure Insurance Agency, Inc. is the official in-house, full-service insurance agency created by the Pennsylvania Veterinary Medical Association (PVMA) to serve its members. pvmaAssure is an integral

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Assure

our promise

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and the veterinary profession.

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part of PVMA’s continuing promise to deliver the highest level of service and loyalty to our members

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Exciting PVMA Opportunities continued from page 10

comes with a projection of how it can improve the practice’s income and stimulate the demand for services.

• Practice Diagnostic Reports: this report will help practice owners analyze revenue and expenditure numbers. It will also identify how much you could earn if you adjust your fees or reduce your expenses. The average savings or increased earnings actually achieved by other practices utilizing these reports have been $30,000-$100,000+ range.

• Client Satisfaction Surveys: These are utilized within a single practice to determine what their clients’ experiences are like. This helps nip problems in the bud so that you can proactively make changes that make clients happy and as a result, loyal to your practice. The final report can also be used as a baseline for the practice to determine if the service level improves from year to year. In this economy, it is essential for clients feel that they are getting value for their money.

Price only becomes an issue in the absence of perceived value.

As an associate veterinarian, you may say "how does this help me?"

If practices are successful, everyone wins. Owners are in a better position to make improvements, pay better salaries, and team morale improves.

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Another exciting change that I am very encouraged by is the inclusion of all members of the veterinary team in our association. In 2014, if approved by our members in a few weeks at our Annual Business Meeting, we will be bringing the entire veterinary team under the PVMA umbrella when we create new membership categories for veterinary technicians and veterinary assistants. We already have a category for practice managers and, obviously, we were founded with veterinarians at the core of everything we do. This change will enable us to offer something to everyone in the veterinary team. The entire practice team will be able to be PVMA members and enjoy the many benefits and services targeted to each group and to the team as whole. From targeted continuing education to making CVTs, veterinary assistants, and practice managers even bigger assets to practice to discount programs which save everyone money, this inclusive approach to membership will help both the veterinary community and the association become stronger.

These are just a few of the new initiatives underway that will be coming soon. We are also evaluating practice membership models, other benefits and services that can help practices save money, and evaluating other partnerships to help us help you better. Keep your eyes open for more details on these exciting opportunities. In the meantime, please feel free to share your ideas, suggestions, and input with me by emailing me at cwandzilak@pavma.org or calling me at 1.888.550.7862.

Enjoy these last days of summer. I look forward to speaking with you all in the fall and the new things to come! l

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8/7/2013 2:06:24 PM

Bark in the Park

4th Annual Bark in the Park 5k Run & 1 Mile Dog Walk

Sunday, October 27, 2013, City Island (Riverview Pavilion), Harrisburg, PA 7:00am—Registration; 8:30am—5k Run . 9:00am—Dog Walk 9:30am—Costume Contest Bark in the Park, the annual 5k Run and 1 Mile Dog Walk of the Pennsylvania Veterinary Foundation (PVF), raises money for The Last Chance Fund (TLC), a fund which raises money through donations to help ensure a source of funding for the veterinary care of abused, neglected, or injured unowned companion animals that might otherwise be euthanized or surrendered to an animal shelter that is already overburdened. Bark in the Park is a fun way to get the word out about TLC and to gain community awareness about such an important cause. To learn more about TLC and PVF, visit www.pavetfoundation.org. To become a participating practice in TLC, email us at vmiller@pavma.org.

Pre-Registration • $25 per person (includes t-shirt) • $10 per child (11 & under)

Follow these Easy Steps:

Pre-register by October 15, 2013

Register online at www.pavetfoundation.org or by mail using the form on back with your payment. After October 15, please register on race day for $30 (adults), $15 (children); t-shirts are not guaranteed but may be available on a first-come, first-served basis.

1. Register at www.pavetfoundation.org. It’s fast, easy and efficient.

You are also welcome to register by mail using the form on back or in person on race day.

2. Set a goal and start collecting pledges in honor of your dog, cat, or other favorite pet. Every dollar you raise goes directly to support The Last Chance Fund.

3. Celebrate with us on event day! Walk or run with your dog. Wear a photo of your cat or other favorite pet. Enjoy a fun-filled morning honoring all the animals in our lives.

Registration Options—Something for All Motivation Levels 5K Run—8:30am

Fetch your sneakers, dog, and dog leash or come alone and run! If you and your dog are both able to comfortably go the distance, dogs are welcome to join their owners on the 5k run. Please see Event Guidelines for specific rules.

One Mile Dog Walk—9:00am

Registrants may choose to participate in the one mile walk and may bring their dog along for the fun.

Event Guidelines • • • •

Water will be provided for both you and your dog along the course Walk or run with only one dog per person Run only if your dog (and you) can comfortably go the distance Use a 6-foot or shorter, non-retractable leash

• • •

Make sure your dog has current ID and rabies vaccination tags Bring bags and clean up after your dog Bring dogs that are 6 months or older only. Unaltered dogs may attend if they have previously been in group settings with other dogs.

Prizes Prizes will be awarded to top overall fastest male and female runners and the top three male and female runners in the following age groups: • 11 and under

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• 12-19

• 20-39

• 40-59

• 60 +

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Meet Pearl

Pearl was a young Shih Tzu who was brought to Trooper Veterinary Hospital with a proptosed eye (eye out of the socket) that was horribly infected. It was imperative that she have an eye enucleation (surgical removal of the eye) as quickly as possible. Her infection was severe and the eye could not be saved. Her family loved her but could not provide for her medical needs or her future veterinary care. In addition to the surgeries, pain medications, and follow-up care, she needed vaccines, heartworm testing, parasite treatments, and still needed to be spayed. Pearl's family made the difficult decision to relinquish her in hopes that she could receive surgery, recover to good health, and have a new loving family who could provide for her needs in the future. Thanks to the TLC Fund, Pearl has a happy ending!

Help PVF by Getting Pledges Pledges may be made online at www.pavetfoundation.org or by using the form on page 24..

Collect Pledges for Great Prizes

Pledge Level Prizes

Want to help more? Participants can help raise even more money for The Last Chance Fund (TLC Fund) by getting pledges from their friends, family, and co-workers. Make sure your name is on all pledge forms and checks to ensure you are given credit for pledges! The more pledges, the more prizes you can receive and more help for homeless animals in need of veterinary care! Pledges can be made online or a pledge form can be downloaded at www.pavetfoundation.org.

• $150—Bark in the Park water bottle • $250—Bark in the Park baseball hat • $500—Bark in the Park fleece vest (be sure to supply your shirt size) • $1,000—Apple iPod Touch 8GB • $3,000—Wii Console with Wii Fit • Top Fundraiser (exceeding $3,000)—Everything above plus you will be recognized as Top Dog at the Bark in the Park 2012 and be featured in 2013’s promotional materials!

Dress Up For Our Halloween Costume Contest!

Have even more fun on race day when you and/or your dog dress up in costume and participate in our costume contest! Prizes in several categories will be awarded to individuals, dogs, individuals with dogs, and groups. Prizes will be provided for all contest winners! Costume Contest details will be posted on PVF’s website, www.pavetfoundation.org, by September 1.

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Bark in the Park

4th Annual Bark in the Park Pledge Form Use this form or visit www.pavetfoundation.org to use our online fundraising tool.

ALL PLEDGES SHOULD BE COLLECTED AND PROVIDED ON THE DAY OF THE EVENT OR ONLINE BY OCTOBER 15, 2013.

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SPONSOR’S NAME

STREET ADDRESS

CITY/STATE/ZIP

PLEDGE AMT

Example: Pet Lover

123 Beagle Lane

Harrisburg, PA 17111

$50.00

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what's the

VALUE

$ $$

of Your PVMA Membership

educational discounts (based on non-member vs. member veterinarian full conference registration rate) • Winter Conference—$50 • Spring Clinic—$50 • Keystone Veterinary Conference—$80 • 3 Rivers Veterinary Symposium—$65 • Practice Management Webinars and other CE opportunities—$30-500

Total Potential Annual Educational Discount Savings: $545

other benefits • keystone veterinarian (official publication of PVMA)—$30 • 20% discount on display ads in keystone veterinarian—$45-385 • Free classified ads in keystone veterinarian—$35-300 • Free VetBytes weekly e-newsletter—$500 • Free Around the Capitol weekly e-newsletter—$200 • Discounted legal services/consultation—up to $500 (10% discount up to $5000 in services annually) • Free new graduate employment contract review (within first three years of graduation)—$300 • Free classified ads for relief veterinarians on website—$35-300 • Discounted classified ads on Veterinary Career Network— $25-200 • Reduced Cost Book Program with Priority Press— $14-55 (includes: Contracts, Benefits, and Practice: Management for the Veterinary Profession, Legal Consents for Veterinary Practice, Law and Ethics of the Veterinary Profession, and Job Descriptions and Training Schedules for the Veterinary Team)

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?

additional savings for practice owners!

• Energy Plus Buying Group average annual energy savings for practices—$500 • Discounted on-hold messaging systems—$25-125 • Discounted bank card processing services—$200-1,000+ • Insurance savings through pvmaAssure, PVMA's insurance full-service, in-house agency—$500-$1,000 + (includes employee benefit packages and business property and casualty)

Additional total savings for practice owners: $3,525

• Discounted website advertising—$300 • Insurance savings through pvmaAssure, PVMA's insurance agency—$50-$500+ (includes long-term care, disability, life, and health, dental and vision) • Energy Plus Buying Group average annual energy bill savings for homeowners—$225 • Discounted Hersheypark tickets (average savings for family of four)—$40 • Discounted custom imprinting for cards and stationery (10% discount)—$25-100+ • 24/7/365 exclusive advocate to represent you and your interests with the legislature and regulatory agencies and with you in mind in everything we do!—PRICELESS

Total Potential Other Discount Savings: $3,735

If you have questions regarding any of the benefits or services listed or have an idea for a new benefit, contact Charlene Wandzilak at cwandzilak@pavma.org.

8/7/2013 2:06:30 PM

Free Online Training for National Animal Health Emergency Response Corps

W

hen an animal health emergency occurs, an immediate

response is necessary to protect both animals and people. The United States DEpartment of Agriculture's (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) will look to many sources to obtain the veterinary personnel needed to help meet the criticial staffing outbreaks and other disasters which affect livestock, poultry, companion animals, and wildlife. More volunteers are urgently needed to assure a decisive response to any potential animal health crises.

PVMA FACT SHEETS Current USDA NAHERC staffing: Veterinarians 955 Animal Health Technicians 3,102 Total Members 4, 057 Free NAHERC Veterinarian and Technician Training Online No NAHERC number is required and no continuing education hours are awarded for this training. The training is available to you includes: Incident Comman Systems Biosecurity Cleaning and Disinfection Exotic Avian Diseases Health and Safety PPE FAD PReP/NAHEMS AI-EMD Vesicular Diseases To access this free online training, visit http://naherc.sws.iastate.edu/. * NAHERC training does not count as APHIS Approved Supplemental Training towards renewal in the National Veterinary Accreditation Program. l WWW.PAVMA.ORG

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Sometimes even the best clients need reminded.

Visit www.pavma.org/factSheets.aspx to download our client fact sheets. keystone veterinarian

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veterinary technology corner

Technician Despair

The Most Prevalent Disease in Veterinary Medicine

By Vickie Byard, CVT, VTS (Dentistry), President, PetED Veterinary Education and Training Resources, Warminster, PA; www.PetEDVeterinaryTraining.com

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ery recently, I was charged with the task of speaking to a group of technicians to outline ways that they, as technicians, could support their dentistry patients during anesthesia. We discussed things like balanced anesthetic protocols, protocols tailored to the specific patient, anesthetic monitoring, proper endotracheal tube cuff inflation, pop-off occlusion safety valves, calculating your emergency drugs ahead of time, regional nerve blocks,etc ... Half-way through this lecture, I clearly felt that I was losing them. All of a sudden, there was no light, no spark in their eyes. When I asked what this discomfort was about, one attendee said, “The lecture was good, but it just made me really sad.” Across the country, I have met this technician over and over.

They share with me that they go to continuing education but they are never allowed nor empowered to effect changes within the practice. What they are all experiencing is a learned helplessness.

A researcher by the name of Seligman (1975) was studying escape learning and found that dogs, forced to stay in a box where they were repeatedly shocked, soon gave up and stopped trying to escape. Not surprising!

Moreover, 65% of the dogs didn't try to escape the next day when the box was modified so they could easily leave. They just lay down and whined. They had learned helplessness.

With the words; “it just made me really sad”, fresh on my mind, I thought I would remind us of something very important. Whether we chose to be veterinarians or veterinary technicians, we chose veterinary medicine as our vocation. Notice that I intentionally use the word vocation. To some, that word may conjure a career with religious overtones.

Instead, let’s consider the origin of the word; Latin vocation-, vocatio summons, rom vocare to call, from vox: voice.

Most of us chose veterinary medicine as our vocation. Technicians chose to pursue this field despite the warnings of low income and in many cases; less than stellar benefits, challenging working environments, crazy hours and personal risk. Those that pursued their doctorate in veterinary medicine did so despite many of the same the realities, plus a huge personal debt due to the education required. We all chose to walk this path despite these sacrifices. We did so because the voice inside of us called louder than those warning us. That means we are all chasing a dream.

That dream was to help those that cannot help themselves, our animal friends.

I recently read that “the practice team is the greatest asset the practice has. Each person matters, regardless of title or role. It is through the recognition and understanding of each position in the team, as well as respect and admiration for the part each position plays in the delivery of medical care, that the team can

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begin to make a difference in the lives of their patients and in lives each other.” I would be so bold as to go one step further and say that the most undervalued asset is the spark in the hearts of the technicians. With careful tendering, that spark will ignite a fire that can fuel each practice to unexpected growth.

So, I would ask the practice managers and owners reading this; do you think you are utilizing your technicians to their fullest capacity? If not, why? I will bet it is based in fear. The truth is that veterinary technicians are an often untapped resource within your practices. When you empower a technician to perform the duties that they are trained and quite capable of providing, you increase their job satisfaction, you maintain an environment of change and growth, you increase their confidence, and it speaks volumes about your belief in their talents.

How does one make the leap to allow their technicians to blossom fully into their rightful roles within the practice? It takes training, mentorship and appropriate feedback. Training is always available in one form or another.

Mentorship is usually the greatest challenge.

We can easily slip into the rut of; it is just easier if I do it myself. But, the reality is, this leaves the team unbalanced and stagnant.

The veterinarian is assuming both their own responsibilities and those of the technician. Then half the team is overstressed and burned out, and the other half is frustrated and demotivated.

I, for one, have been blessed to work for a practice owner that has had unwavering belief in me. When I think back to an experience when he demonstrated that, it takes me back 30 some years. He was on rotations at Penn as a student, and I was on my externship through Harcum College. He had to get a bone marrow sample from the iliac crest of an Old English Sheep Dog. He wandered into the wards and asked if I could help him. I

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When you empower a technician to perform the duties that they are trained and quite capable of providing, you increase their job satisfaction, you maintain an environment of change and growth, you increase their confidence, and it speaks keystone veterinarian WWW.PAVMA.ORG volumes about your belief in their talents.

8/7/2013 2:06:32 PM

pvma fact sheet

Hot Weather Tips to Keep Pets Healthy & Cool Beware of heartworms It’s heartworm medication time. If your dog hasn’t been tested for heartworm this year, see your veterinarian. Heartworm is transmitted by mosquitoes, but it can be prevented by administering a monthly preventive between June and November.

Grooming Keep your pet well-groomed. Daily brushing or combing lets you check for fleas and ticks. Fleas can cause allergic reactions and ““hot spots” in dogs. Hot spots are large, wet lesions that appear suddenly in areas where the dog has scratched. See your veterinarian for flea and tick preventives or if a “hot spot” appears.

Keep ‘em leashed!

Leashes save dogs’ lives! Keep your dog on a leash when you are walking him so he can’t run into traffic or chase cats and squirrels or other wildlife.

Fireworks

Do not leave your pet alone in your car Vehicles heat quickly in the sun, and animals left in them can succumb to heat stroke in a very short time. Heatstroke is life threatening for both dogs and cats. Signs to watch for are: heavy, loud breathing, a staggering gait, and a bright red tongue or gum tissue. If heat stroke is suspected, get the animal to a cool place, put cold compresses on his belly, or wet him down. This is a medical emergency—take him to your veterinarian as quickly as possible.

Limit exercise To prevent him or her from overheating, don’t let your dog exercise in hot weather. If you want to run with your dog, do it in the cool hours of the early morning or late evening.

Keep cool Dogs and cats need a cool, shady place to sleep during hot weather, as well as plenty of clean, fresh water, accessible at all times. Feed your dog or cat in the cooler hours of the day. Older animals have a hard time in hot weather, so be extra sensitive to their needs during the hottest hours of the day.

Vaccinate!

Be sure that your pet’s vaccinations are up to date. Parvo virus, an illness that flourishes in hot weather, can be fatal to dogs that have not received their vaccinations. Also, be sure your pet’s rabies vaccinations are current.

During the summer months, pets often spend more time outdoors, and the chances of encounters with wildlife (possible rabies carriers) increase.

Play with your pet instead of stroking him to fend off July 4th firework fears. Playing a game with your pet when he shows early signs of anxiety, like pacing or trembling, can distract him from the stressor and, in the long term, teach him to associate that same stressor with positive things such as play and treats. Petting him is likely to make no difference—and, in fact, it may reinforce that attention-seeking that comes with nervousness.

Keep a lid on the picnic food Keep dogs away from picnic garbage. Ingesting corncobs and chicken and other bones can be life-threatening. Also, according to the ASPCA animal poison control center, the peels, fruit, and seeds of citrus plants such as lemons, oranges, limes, and grapefruits contain varying amounts of citric acid, limonin, and volatile oils that can cause gastrointestinal irritation and result in vomiting and diarrhea. The stems, leaves, and seeds of apples, cherries, peaches, and apricots contain cyanogenic glycosides that can cause vomiting and loss of appetite when eaten in large amounts. In severe cases, weakness, difficulty breathing, hyperventilation, shock, and even death can occur.

Guard the pool If you have a swimming pool, do not leave your dog unattended in the pool area. Not all dogs can swim—they can drown if they fall into the water.

Keep windows secure Use a heavy screen on windows or keep them closed if you have cats.

During the summer, the number of cats suffering from “high rise” syndrome, or falling from windows, increases dramatically. Contrary to myth, cats do not land on their feet when falling from heights. The most severe injuries occur when cats fall from second or third floor windows.

pvma

pennsylvania veterinary medical association advancing animal welfare and human health while ensuring the vitality of the profession INFORMATION PROVIDED COURTESY OF THE MATTHEW J. RYAN HOSPITAL OF THE UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA, SCHOOL OF VETERINARY MEDICINE

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Answering Client Questions About the Dangers of Zoonotic Diseases Provided courtesy of the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA), Schaumburg, Illinois

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t's common knowledge that wild animals can spread diseases like rabies, but many clients are unaware that zoonotic diseases can be spread to their family by pets. The following Q&A can be used to answer client questions about zoonotic diseases and how to help prevent them in their households.

Q: What is the risk that I or my children will become infected?

A: The risk is low, if you use common sense and good hygiene and keep your pet healthy.

Q: Are certain people more likely to catch these diseases and become sick?

A: Yes. People whose immune systems aren't working normally are at higher risk of catching these diseases and becoming sick because their immune systems can't fight off infections as well as healthy people.

Very young or very old people, people with diseases such as cancer or HIV infection, and people who are receiving medical therapy or medications (such as chemotherapy or steroids) that can affect their immune systems should be especially careful around animals.

Q: Are certain animals more likely to carry these diseases?

A: Yes, but any animal (or pet) can carry disease if they become infected. For example, birds (including chicks) and certain species of reptiles and rodents may be more likely to carry Salmonella, a type of bacteria that can cause intestinal problems and other infections. Salmonella can also be carried by other animals (including dogs, cats, and horses) and people. Hamsters can carry a virus that can cause nervous system disease. Cats can infect people with an organism that causes toxoplasmosis, a disease that can cause problems for pregnant women or people with poorly functioning immune systems. Dog roundworms can infect people and cause skin problems, blindness, or organ damage. Healthy pets of any species are less likely to be infected and pass the infection to you.

Q: Should I even get a pet, if there's any risk it could give me a disease?

A: Pets provide many benefits for people, including companionship and protection, and pet ownership is a very rewarding experience. Many pet owners consider their pets to be members of their families.

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The decision to get a pet is a personal decision, and should be based on a number of factors, including your family's lifestyle, living arrangements, and others. Although the possibility of disease is an important factor to think about, the risk is low and often considered to be outweighed by the benefits of pet ownership. Additionally, there are many simple things you can do to minimize your risk.

Q: How can I prevent my pet from making me sick?

A: There are many simple steps you can take to prevent your pet and your family from getting sick.

• First of all, healthy pets are much less likely to carry diseases that can infect you. Taking your pet to the veterinarian for regular check-ups, vaccinations, and deworming is a simple way to keep them healthy. Keeping your pets free of fleas and ticks is also important. If you are buying a pet, don't purchase a pet that looks ill or unhealthy.

• Don't handle your pet's stool or urine. Wear disposable gloves (or gloves that can easily be disinfected) when cleaning the cat's litter box, and use a scooper or something to cover your hand when picking up after your dog.

• Clean up after your pet. Keep your cat's litter box clean, and keep your yard free of dog waste.

• After handling your pet, or its food or bedding, or cleaning up after your pet (even if you were wearing gloves), thoroughly wash your hands. This is especially important before you eat anything.

Make sure children know to wash their hands after contact with any animal, or wash your children's hands for them if they are not able to do it.

• Don't let your pets (or children, for that matter) come in contact with stray or wild animals. These animals are much more likely to have diseases that can infect your pet and possibly infect you.

• Don't let your pets lick you in the mouth, and teach children not to put their mouths on animals or put any part of the animal's body in their mouth.

• Keep your family healthy. If the people in the family are healthy, they are less likely to be infected, even if the pet becomes infected, because their immune systems are healthy.

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Q: I just read a news article that says families with children under 5 years of age shouldn't own pets like hamsters, lizards, turtles, hedgehogs, etc. We already have one of these as a pet. Should we get rid of it?

A: Although that decision is up to you, we encourage you to discuss it with your veterinarian. Often, there are simple things you can do, such as following the guidelines listed above, that will keep your family safe and allow you to keep your pet. If you decide that you cannot keep your pet, please find your pet a suitable home. Turning a pet loose outside is not good for the animal or the environment.

Even though many species kept as pets were originally wild animals, they no longer have the instincts that allow them to survive in the wild. Your veterinarian's office, local animal shelter, pet rescue, or other organization can help you find a new home for your pet.

Q: I'm thinking of getting a pet, but I have young children. What's the best pet to get?

Should I get a pet at all?

A: Getting a pet is not a decision that should be made lightly. It is a big responsibility. It is very important to get a pet that best fits your family's lifestyle and needs. In some cases, the best decision is to postpone getting a pet until the children are older. However, many families have young children and pets and have not had any difficulties. Veterinarians are very good source of information on pet selection. In addition, the AVMA has a number of brochures about pet selection: they can be viewed at https://ebusiness.avma.org/EBusiness50/ProductCatalog/productcategory. aspx?ID=132.

Q: What are "nontraditional" pets?

A: Many people consider domestic cats and dogs to be traditional pets; any other species kept as a pet is considered nontraditional.

Examples include amphibians (frogs, toads, etc.), fish, reptiles (turtles, lizards, snakes, etc.), birds, ferrets, rabbits, rodents (rats, mice, gerbils, hamsters, guinea pigs, chinchilla, hedgehogs, etc.).

Q: Do "nontraditional" pets make good pets?

A: They certainly can make good, even great, pets for responsible pet owners. Some of these animals require special care or housing, so it's important to thoroughly research any animal you consider getting for a pet—this includes cats and dogs, too. Some people have allergies to cats and/or dogs, and nontraditional pets offer these people options for having a pet that doesn't trigger their allergies. In addition, many of these nontraditional pets can form strong bonds with their owners, and owning a nontraditional pet can be very rewarding.

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Q: What animals do not make good pets?

A: Wild animals are not good pets; they can be dangerous and are more likely to carry diseases. Skunks, raccoons, foxes, squirrels, coyotes, wild birds and other wild animals should be left in the wild; if they are injured, they should be cared for by licensed wildlife rehabilitators.

Zoo animals (including lions and tigers) are not good pets, either; these animals require special care and diets, and can be dangerous. Nonhuman primates (monkeys, chimpanzees, etc.) are not good pets because they can be dangerous and are more likely to carry diseases that can infect you and your family.

Q: I have questions about a specific type of pet. Where should I go?

A: Your veterinarian is the best source of information about pets.

Q: What about the animal kept in my child's classroom? Should I tell my child not to handle it? Should I tell the school to get rid of the animal?

A: Classroom pets provide very valuable learning experiences for children, and keeping the pet healthy is just as important for classroom pets as it is for family pets. Children should be taught how to handle the pet(s) and taught proper hygiene (such as washing their hands after handling the pet). If you have concerns about the classroom animals, you should discuss them with the school and a veterinarian.

Q: Should I keep my child away from petting zoos or any other activities that involve animals until they are older?

A: This decision is up to you and your family to decide. Please keep in mind that animals offer valuable educational opportunities. Animals offer companionship and teach children responsibility and respect for all living things, and stimulate their curiosity and interest in learning. If you choose to allow your young children to participate in these activities, adult supervision is necessary to ensure that the children are exposed to the animals in a safe manner and good hygiene practices are followed. l

OTHER RESOURCES Visiting Animal Exhibits

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) have guidelines for families visiting animal exhibits.

These guidelines, including directions for washing hands, can be viewed at http://www.cdc.gov/Features/ AnimalExhibits/.

Healthy Pets, Healthy People http://www.cdc.gov/HEALTHYPETS/

World Health Organization http://www.who.int/zoonoses/en/

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member news

Welcome New Members

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VMA welcomes the following new members and thanks them for joining PVMA! (April 12– July 31, 2013)

Active-Recent Graduate

Nicole Carolla, DVM, Turtle Creek, PA Michelle Sobieray, VMD, Hazleton, PA Lauren O'Connell, DVM, Pleasant Gap, PA Christopher Corrado, DVM, Saylorsburg , PA Brittany Zeitlin, DVM, Holland, PA Roberto Gonzalez, DVM, Lansdowne, PA Jaime Morey, BVM, Mohnton, PA Anna Leppien, DVM, York, PA Nicole Sczypiorski, DVM, Philadelphia, PA Aaron Raski, DVM Laura Pollock, DVM, Port Matilda, PA Andrew Heller, DVM, Philadelphia, PA Amy Gealy, DVM, Warren, PA Ellen Haynes, DVM, Penndel, PA Jordan Assenmacher, DVM, Pittsburgh, PA Chelsea Cameron, DVM, New Cumberland, PA

Active

Tracey Brown, DVM , Tionesta, PA Salvador Galindo, DVM, Center Valley, PA

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William LaSota, VMD, Heidelberg, PA Michelle Krosnar, Harrisburg, PA Craig Clifford, DVM, Malvern, PA Megan Garrison, BVSc, Cheswick, PA Jeanie Donahue, CVT, Wilkes Barre, PA Carolyn Sutor, VMD, Gladwyne, PA Fernando Motta, DVM, Grantville, PA Kathryn Papp, DVM , Harrisburg, PA Meredith Maczuzak, DVM, Philadelphia, PA Donna Riddle, VMD , Blue Bell, PA Kate Vickery, VMD, Malvern, PA

Associate

Carol-Anne McPeek , DVM, Ewing, NJ Philippe Coudrai, VMD, Sicklerville, NJ

Industry Partner

Alaine Kalder, VIP Pet Care, Windsor, CA Chris, Konell, Konell Insurance, Inc., Phoenixville, PA Phyllis Shaw, CVT, Zoetis, Upper Darby, PA

Practice Manager

Lisa Malkin, Mechanicsburg, PA Katina Palm, Stewartstown, PA

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Eileen Ferragame, Mohnton, PA Mary McCarty, State College, PA

Practice Manager

William Ehrig, Dunkirk, MD Rachael Gross, Elizabethtown, PA

We want to know!

Do you have a marriage, a birth, or other event in your life or practice you want to share? Tell us! We love to share member news within the PVMA family. Email Lori Raver at lraver@pavma.org.

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8/7/2013 2:06:35 PM

Explaining Finances

Now Lovett shares her personal experience when clients face financial decisions.

may pay a portion in cash and split the balance between Visa and American Express. Another pet owner may choose financing through CareCredit. While American Express, Discover and third-party financing companies may charge slightly higher merchant rates, would you rather have 95% of the income or zero dollars? To limit risks when accepting checks, use a check authorization and guarantee service such as Certegy Check Services (www.askcertegy.com).

When bills reach $500, check out in exam rooms. Imagine a client checking out at the front desk with a $1,500 orthopedic surgery bill and a new client waiting in the lobby overhears the conversation. The newcomer might assume you’re expensive and decide not to return for future care.

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Present financing. When Lucie, a 6-year-old chocolate Labrador retriever had a life-threatening bloat at 3 a.m., the pet owner brought her to Animal Hospital Specialty Center. Dr. Rob Vonau, a board-certified surgeon, performed emergency surgery. “Clients are thrilled when they learn we offer access to financing,” Edwards says. Besides helping Lucie’s family get life-saving surgery, third-party financing also enhances the fiscal health of practices. Clients at Animal Hospital Specialty Center financed $477,544 through CareCredit last year.

Don’t reserve financing for emergencies. Having access to payment options significantly improved pet owners’ ability and willingness to pay for veterinary services, according to a CareCredit study.2 Clients who used CareCredit spent 93% more per year and 47% more per pet at their veterinary practices than clients without CareCredit.2 Multi-pet families may need to finance preventive care. A dog owner spends $248 per year on routine veterinary care, while a cat owner spends $219.3 In a family with two dogs and two cats, annual veterinary spending would average $934. Let’s say both cats also need dental cleanings. According to the AAHA Veterinary Fee Reference, 7th edition, the average dental case is $427. Now spending for preventive care and dentistry totals $1,788. The family could choose six-month, no-interest CareCredit payments of $298 each, or opt for extended payments with interest.

Another client’s credit card gets declined at the front desk and people waiting in the lobby eavesdrop. The embarrassed client could fall victim to neighborhood gossip.

Just as you check out clients in exam rooms for euthanasia, do the same when a bill is $500 or greater. Explain services first and price last.

Conclude with, “For your convenience, we’ll take care of payment in the exam room today. We accept cash, checks, major credit cards, and CareCredit. Which payment method will you use today?” When the client hands you his credit card, walk to the front desk to swipe the card and return with the receipt to be signed. You also could use computers in exam rooms with card swipes or mobile devices such as Square Up (www.squareup.com).

Train your team to have confident financial conversations. Wendy Pringle, practice manager at Rutland Veterinary Clinic & Surgical Center, enrolled employees in my Phone Skills Coach (www.csvets.com/training. htm) and a webinar on “Explaining Finances With Confidence” (www. csvets.com/webinars.htm). “We train for communication skills during staff meetings,” says Pringle. “We have clear guidelines for employees on our financial policies so clients get the same answers no matter who they talk with.”

Role-playing and scripts build skills. “Lead by example,” advises Lovett.

“Employees feel more confident when they see another employee do it professionally and successfully.” l

Remember, the first no is not the final no. If a client can’t afford care, present financing as well as the option of co-applicants. Say, “I understand you’re concerned about the cost of Sophie’s dental procedure, which is $600. We offer CareCredit, a payment plan for qualifying clients, which has six months of deferred interest. Would $100 per month better fit your family’s budget?”

References: 1. Psychologist Albert Mehrabian. Wikipedia website. http://en.wikipedia.org/ wiki/Albert_Mehrabian. Accessed February 4, 2013.

2. Brakke Consulting. The Impact of CareCredit Payment Options on Veterinary Hospitals. July 2011. Access at www.carecredit.com on 11-04-12.

3. Felsted, K. Do wellness plans make financial sense? Partners in Wellness supplement to DVM Newsmagazine, April 2012.

When Lovett’s 10-year-old German shepherd was diagnosed with degenerative myelopathy and cancer, she was able to afford specialty care thanks to financing. “Raina got a lot of supportive care thanks to CareCredit, and it also helped keep my bills under control,” she says.

Wendy S. Myers owns Communication Solutions for Veterinarians and is a partner in Animal Hospital Specialty Center, a 10-doctor AAHA-accredited referral practice in Highlands Ranch, Colorado. She helps teams improve compliance and client service through consulting, seminars, and webinars. You can reach her at wmyers@csvets.com or www.csvets.com.

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member news

Practice Spotlight: Unionville Equine Associates

U E A U

nionville Equine Associates, P.C. or UEA has provided service to the equine community for over 30 years. The practice was founded in 1978 by John W. Lee, Jr., DVM as an equine-small animal practice. Originally located in Chadds Ford, Pennsylvania the practice quickly grew and in 1984 the small animal portion was sold, Dr. Steven Berkowitz joined Dr. Lee and the equine section of the practice to moved to West Grove. Patricia E. Blakeslee, VMD joined them shortly after in 1989. Then in 1994, the three partners purchased UEA’s current location in Oxford, PA. The one time family dairy farm was converted into much needed office space and an outpatient facility. The practice continued to grow over the next few years adding several additional partners, Susan A. Crane, VMD, Christine M. Foster, DVM, and Mark T. Donaldson, VMD DACVIM. After many years of discussion, UEA began the official planning of a new state of the art equine clinic and surgical facility in 2007. The first step in construction was the careful dismantling of the old dairy barn so the beams could be recycled and used in the construction of the new building. The ground breaking ceremony was held in the Fall of 2011 and the official grand opening of UEA was held on August 17, 2012. The new facility features a business office, an outpatient section or exam hall that includes spacious, private exam rooms and a surgical suite. The surgical suite contains a monorail system to move a horse through induction, surgery and recovery. In addition, several bio security measures were taken such as separate Hepa airflow filtration system and sealed rubber mat floors.

Also included are spacious stalls for postsurgical cases including a mare and foal stall. A reproduction center was also constructed which includes four stalls each having their own private turn out.

Additional outdoor facilities were added which include an outdoor riding arena with all-weather footing and a round pen, which can be utilized during pre-purchase and performance evaluations.

UEA’s staff has grown over the years to now include ten veterinarians, including their own equine surgeon Ricardo Loinaz, VMD, four veterinary technicians and six office professionals. To read more about Unionville Equine go to ueavet.com. l 34

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member news

PVMA Remembers Dr. Harry Rozmiarek

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r. Harry Rozmiarek passed away unexpectedly on Saturday, June 15, 2013. He graduated the University of Minnesota with his veterinary degree in 1962 and from The Ohio State University with his PhD in 1976. In the military for 20 years, he was first stationed in Fort Meyer, VA, where he tended to John F. Kennedy's family dog and Irish deer. He also worked in Thailand where he conducted infectious disease research with the Southeast Asia Treaty Organization (SEATO). He was later the director of the US Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases (USAMRIID in Frederick, MD, before retiring from the Army with the rank of Colonel.

After the Army, Dr. Rozmiarek spent the next two decades in academia as a professor of laboratory animal medicine. In 1983 he went to The Ohio State University where he served as Professor of Laboratory Animal Medicine and Director of University Laboratory Animal Resources through 1986. In 1987 he joined the University of Pennsylvania as University Veterinarian and Professor and Director of University Laboratory Animal Resources. He retired from the University of Pennsylvania in 2004. He was the Director of Laboratory Animal Medicine and Facilities at the Fox Chase Cancer Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania from 2004 until his death.

Dr. Rozmiarek was the recipient of numerous awards during his career, including the PVMA Lifetime Achievement Award in 2009. He is survived by his wife Jane, children Edward, Daniel, Carol, and Andrew, as well as five grandchildren and four brothers. Donations in his memory may be made to the harry Rozmiarek Animal Science Scholarship Fund and mailed to Salem Five Bank, 495 Cabot Street, Beverly, MA 01915. PVMA extends its deepest sympathies to Dr. Rozmiarek's family and friends. l

PVMA Says Goodbye to Dr. Laura Smiley Rogatz

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r. Laura Smiley Rogatz passed away on May 15, 2013, from kidney cancer.

She and Bill co-owned Gwynedd Veterinary Hospital in Lansdale, Pennsylvania. Laura’s life was centered on family, friends, and animals. She grew up in Riverdale, New York (she remained a loyal Yankees fan), surrounded by cats, dogs, and other small animals. Her love of animals led her to Montana, where she graduated from Montana State University and owned a horse named “Snipe”. She received a Master of Science degree in Ethology (animal behavior) at the University of Connecticut and then studied Molecular and Developmental Genetics at Fox Chase Cancer Center in Philadelphia.

She graduated from the Cornell School of Veterinary Medicine in 1987, receiving the highly coveted “Gentle Doctor Award“. After graduating, Laura did an internship and residency at the Animal Medical Center in NYC, culminating in her attaining Diplomate status in the Specialty of Internal Medicine (ACVIM), with particular interest in complex internal medicine cases and critical care medicine.

Wherever Laura was, she had the uncommon ability to develop extraordinarily deep and loyal friendships. She is survived by her husband Dr. William P. Rogatz, her son Aiden, her mother Lois, and her sister Andrea. Donations in her memory may be made to Stray Cat Blues, Inc., PO Box 8, Colmar, PA 18915, or World Wildlife Fund, 1250 24th Street, NW, Washington, DC 20037. PVMA extends its deepest sympathies to Dr. Smiley Rogatz's family and friends. l

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PVMA Welcomes Henry Berger Congratulations to new parents PVMA member Dr. Stephanie Berger and husband, Brad, and grandparents PVMA Past President Dr. Larry Gerson and wife, Barb, as they welcome Henry . Henry arrived on Saturday, July 13 weighing 8 pounds, 12 ounces. Henry joins older sister, Ellie.

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Classified Ads Veterinarians SEEKING EMPLOYMENT—Senior citizen veterinarian, still hardworking and conscientious is seeking parttime employment in southcentral Pennsylvania. Dr. Deborah Stone. 717.334.9549.

DO YOU LIKE weekends off and no on call time?

Busy 4-doctor small animal practice seeking a full/part-time, friendly, energetic, well-rounded veterinarian who wants to practice quality medicine and surgery. Potential to earn $100,000 plus per year, 401k, health insurance and many other benefits. New graduates welcome. Ultrasound experience a plus. Call Dr. Beth Crombie at 570.523.3640 or email lvh@dejazzd.com.

FULL-TIME ASSOCIATE veterinarian—buy-in potential. 3-doctor, full-service small animal hospital in scenic Berks County. Practices high-quality standard of care. Exceptional doctor/support staff ratio. Excellent benefit and compensation package.

Visit www.antietamvet.com. Email resume to avah@ dejazzd.com or fax to 610.779.6079.

ASSOCIATE VETERINARIAN wanted for fast-paced, full service companion animal practice recognized for exceptional compassionate medical and surgical animal care (James Herriott philanthropic philosophy). Duck Hollow Animal Hospital, established in 1981, also provides services to numerous humane societies and shelters including several facilities in the Caribbean as well as care for local service and police dogs. Located in Uniontown, PA, one hour from Pittsburgh, we are close to Ohiopyle State Park, Seven Springs, and Nemacolin Woodlands Resort providing a wide variety of recreational activities. Recent graduates considered.

Buy-in potential. Salary based on experience. Fax 724.437.7850; email dogtor@atlanticbbn.net.

PEACEFUL PET Passage, a pet end-of-life service in southcentral Pennsylvania, is seeking caring veterinarians to join us in our mission of bringing professionalism and dignity to the end-of-life passing of companion animals in the comfortable environment of their homes. Please view our website at www.peacefulpetpassage.com and if interested in learning about opportunities, email your resume to secretary@peacefulpetpassage.com or phone 717.691.9214.

VIP PETCARE is seeking licensed veterinarians to work as independent contractors to provide affordable, high-quality care to improve the lives of pets and the people who love them! We are hiring veterinarians for our non-emergency clinics in Pennsylvania. Duties include providing vaccinations, microchips, blood draws and deworming. Our highly-trained staff is responsible for the general clinic operations and record keeping, allowing the veterinarian to focus on the patient. This is a great opportunity for a veterinarian to gain field experience, increase client communication and education skills and earn lucrative supplemental

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income. Please contact Alaine Kalder at alaine@ vippetcare.com for more information.

Adams, Lancaster, Dauphin, Cumberland, and Franklin Counties. Allan Hill, VMD, 717.723.6559.

Practice Consultant

BONNIE J. MILLER DVM. Veterinarian with 25+ years experience in small animal, pocket pets, avian, reptile and exotics. Licensed in MD and PA. APHIS certified and have a current DEA certification.

Proficient in surgery as well. York, Lancaster, Gettysburg, Harrisburg, and surrounding areas in PA. Northern Baltimore County and some parts of Hartford and Frederick Counties. 717.739.8400.

PRACTICE SALES and appraisals—Why pay 8-10% in commissions to help you sell your practice? Our company has the knowledge and experience to produce significant savings for you. Call to inquire about our rates.

No obligation. Practice valuations starting at $2500. Ark Business Consulting. Alan Glassman, VMD; David Cherst, CPA, MBA. 610.283.3476.

Relief Veterinarians RELIEF VETERINARIAN needed for busy, state-ofthe-art, 6-doctor small animal general practice in Bucks County, PA. Practice has digital radiographs, ultrasound, full in-house laboratory, electronic medical records, and experience support staff.

Practitioner must be a skilled small animal clinician with excellent communication skills and be licensed in the state of Pennsylvania and carry AVMA-PLIT insurance. Please contact Dr. Wood at dr.wood@ newtownvet.net for more information.

ENERGETIC VETERINARIAN relocated to the area looking for part-time or relief work in small animal practices in Lancaster, Berks, and Lebanon areas, as well as portions of Dauphin, York, Schuylkill, and Lehigh counties. Comfortable providing both routine and emergency care to small animals, including birds and pocket pets. Please contact David J. Henzler, DVM, PhD, at 717.341.4357, henzlerdvmphd@aol. com.

SMALL ANIMAL relief veterinarian needed for our small animal practice located in beautiful South Central PA. We are currently a one Doctor practice who is seeking a Relief Vet for about 6 months beginning in September 2013. If interested please contact us at 717-573-4569 or email your CV to needmorevet@frontiernet.net.

S. RAE BRAUDAWAY, DVM. OSU 2007, internship trained (University of Minnesota), 4+ years in small animal referral emergency practice. Available for relief and part-time work in small animal clinics within 100 miles of the Wilkes-Barre/Plains area.

Competent medical and surgical skills, practices progressive high-quality medicine. 517.599.1221, rae.braudaway@gmail.com.

RAJU KACHAM BVSc, veterinarian with 5 years of experience in small animal medicine and surgery.

Licensed and available for relief veterinarian services in both Pennsylvania and New Jersey states. Please contact me at 484.560.7714 (cell) or by email at rajunaveen@yahoo.com.

SAFI CHAND, DVM. Compassionate, productive small animal veterinarian, strong interpersonal, medical and surgical skills, >5 year experience in referral/ ER,exotics, available weekends, weekdays and nights.

413.636.9209; safi_c2000@yahoo.ca.

EXPERIENCED, SURGICALLY-COMPETENT veterinarian available for relief employment. York,

keystone veterinarian

DONALD W. STREMME, VMD. Experienced veterinarian (35+ years) available for small animal and exotic (birds, pocket pets, reptiles) relief work in Philadelphia area and South Jersey. Will consider other areas where licensed, too. Licensed (including DEA and USDA-APHS) in PA, NJ, NY, FL and CA. Email to CCACDWS@aol.com.

KATHRYN WEST, DVM, UF ‘94. Small animal and exotic/non-traditional pet work, including sx.

Central and SE PA. kswdvm@comcast.net.

EXPERIENCED VETERINARIAN, 1987 Penn grad seeks part-time employment within 30-45 minutes of the Pottstown/Quakertown area. Special interests in surgery, diagnostic imaging, exotics. Professional, reliable, neat appearance. Call Jacqueline Burke, VMD at 610.754.1155 or email jacquib@dejazzd.com.

LOOKING FOR relief: Veterinarian needed for Tuesday and or Thursday evenings. Approximate hours are 4 hour weekly with opportunity for further relief (vacations) Contact: Providence Veterinary Hospital, Chester, PA. 215.620.2407.

MJ POTTER, UP 97. Experience in small animal internal medicine, critical care, oncology, and general surgery. Available for long or short term relief in Delaware, Chester, Lancaster, and surrounding counties. 610.357.5275 or drmjpotter@hotmail.com.

WILLIAM KEER, DVM, Wisconsin ‘99 Providing veterinary relief services and improving colleagues’ quality of life in eastern Pennsylvania. Please contact me via email at bkeer@ptd.net or phone at 484.560.4338 for more information.

THE VISITING VET! Experienced relief veterinarian available for quality coverage in Chester County, Northern Delaware, southern Lancaster County and southern New Jersey. Small animal and pocket pets. Soft tissue surgery and emergency coverage. Licensed three states and DEA current certificate. One day or regular short-term parttime. References available. Contact: Sandra Fargher, VMD '91, at 610.299.8593 or sandraatmillrd@aol.com.

HOW DO you spell relief? Jerry Godfry, DVM! I have been a veterinarian for 38 years and have owned my own practice in Chester County for the past 30 years. I have sold my practice recently and I am currently available to work as a relief veterinarian in Philadelphia and the surrounding areas. I am an experienced, reliable doctor that would fit your needs.

My experience ranges from cats and dogs to birds and reptiles. I am licensed and accredited in PA as well as continued on page 37 WWW.PAVMA.ORG

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Classified Ads

continued from page 36 federally-accredited. I work well with new staff and am able to work a busy schedule.

Available for day and evening shifts in addition to Saturdays and some holidays. Will travel 45-1 hour if needed. Please contact if interested. 610.506.6494.

Equipment For Sale BOWIE ULTRA 6. Very good condition. Fits short bed Silverado. $5500. For more information, email westpavet@aol.com.

VINTAGE OPERATING TABLE for sale. Square pedestal base with tilting, swivel and height adjusting stainless steel “V” table. The wheeled pedestal is the classic turquoise green color. The table measures approx. 58” in length and 25” high. Must be picked up, located in central PA. For more information, please call 804.895.1632.

Equipment For Sale CENTRAL BUCKS COUNTY: new 56-stall equine training/rehab facility on 58 unpreserved acres with indoor and outdoor riding arenas, ADA compliant main barn with $300K sprinkler system and 7 drive-in, roll-up doors for easy access.

Features include multiple paddocks, 1 acre pond, 1.5 mile training track along perimeter, wash bays, tack rooms, offices, additional outdoor stalls and pastures.

Other uses could include rescue operation, camp, boarding. Land is sub-dividable or can be preserved. Website: http://4506newhope.epropertysites.com/indexGo2. htm. For more details contact Linda Emerson, Coldwell Banker Hearthside, Realtors, 186 Main Street, Hellertown, PA 18055. Office: 610-838-0440; Cell: 610.291.3841; or l.emerson@cbhearthside.com.

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Practices For Sale NORTH OF PITTSBURGH—great location! Healthy, solo established practice with no after hours calls. Well-maintained real estate also for sale. For more info, contact www.simmonsinc.com or 888.881.7084 (listing number PA211C).

SMALL ANIMAL practice in northcentral Pennsylvania for sale. Rural yet growing area. Uncludes hospital facility and large boarding facility. Excellent opportunity for one or two doctor practice. Owner wishes to retire. Please contact through email at zoebooker@yahoo.com.

PRACTICES FOR SALE nationwide: Covington County, AL: SA, 3,000sf on +1 acre; Collier County, FL: SA, 2-exam rooms w/room to grow; Manatee County, FL: Well-established, Solo SA w/RE; Palm Beach County, FL: SA, 2,500sf, 3-exam rooms; Dawson County, GA: SA, 3,200sf, 2-exam rooms w/RE; Warrick County, IN: SA, 2,200sf, 2-exam rooms w/RE; Onondaga County, NY: Profitable ER 3-exam rooms; Piedmont Area, NC: SA, 4,000sf, 4-exam rooms w/RE; Winston Salem, NC: Start-Up. 5,500sf w/RE; ElPaso County, TX: SA, 2,500sf, 3-exam rooms w/ RE; Cabell County, WV: Profitable SA. 3-exam rooms w/RE; Our services include Buyer Representation, Seller Representation and Valuations. PS BROKER, INC. 1.800.636.4740. PSBROKER.COM. LOWER ALLEN Veterinary Clinic for sale. All small animal. Owner retiring. Located in Lower Allen Shopping Center, Camp Hill, PA. Please call Edgar Loy, VMD, at 717.975.9711.l

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what’s happening

Events & Education septmeber 2013

owned companion animals. Full details and online registration will be available at www.pavetfoundation.org/BITP.aspx.

September 18, 2013

november 2013

PVMA District 2 Dinner Meeting Pine Barn Inn, Danville, PA 1.5 HOURS OF CONTINUING EDUCATION CREDIT Christopher Weisner, DVM, will speak on "Another Itchy Dog: New Understanding of the Pathophysiology of Allergic Skin Disease". Recent information regarding the pathophysiology of allergic skin disease will be discussed and case example of canine pruritic skin diseases and their differential diagnosis will be presented. There is no cost to attend but you must pre-register. District 2 includes Potter, Clinton, Lycoming, Columbia, Northumberland, Union, Cameron, Tioga, Montour, and Snyder Counties. Online registration is available at www.pavma.org.

November 2-3, 2013 6th 3 Rivers Veterinary Symposium Omni William Penn Hotel, Pittsburgh, PA 12 HOURS OF CONTINUING EDUCATION CREDIT 3 Rivers Veterinary Symposium will return to Pittsburgh in November. The program will include the following tracks: companion animal dentistry, critical care, orthopedic, surgery, internal medicine, bovine, equine, veterinary technician, and practice management. Full details and online registration will be available at www.pavma.org.

february 2014

october 2013 October 27, 2013

Bark in the Park

Saturday, February 8, 2014

4th Annual Bark in the Park 5k Run & 1 Mile Dog Walk City Island, Harrisburg, PA

10th Annual Winter Conference ACE Conference Center, Lafayette Hill, Pennsylvania

Fetch your sneakers, dog, and dog leash or come alone and run!

If you and your dog are both able to comfortably go the distance, dogs are welcome to join their owners on the 5k run. Get pledges prior to race day to benefit The Last Chance Fund (TLC) of the Pennsylvania Veterinary Foundation. The TLC Fund provides funds for the care of abused or neglected un-

The 10th Annual Winter Conference will return to the Philadelphia area in 2014. Multiple tracks will be offered, including companion animal, equine, practice management, bovine, veterinary technician, and more!

Full details and online registration will be available at www.pavma.org.l

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9 HOURS OF CONTINUING EDUCATION WILL BE OFFERED

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Technician Despair

continued from page 28

followed him to the treatment room where the dog stood. He asked if I had ever provided local anesthesia for a bone marrow aspiration. I said that I had not. He then proceeded to explain the process to me: the materials, the drug, appropriate needle selection, etc. Then he walked me through the procedure. He stood there and guided me while I did it. He then performed the aspiration, telling me what to expect and then showed me how to make the slide once the sample was obtained. It is important to note that that very memory brings back those feelings of the racing heart and nervousness of the challenge to the resultant exhilaration of success. It has also been a roadmap I follow to this day as an instructor and trainer.

That experience probably took 10 minutes longer because he was teaching. But, I walked away from that experience feeling challenged, trusted, and self-confident. That guidance and mentorship have been provided for me throughout my career by that man, Dr. Mark Fox, and, it has not been only given to me. He has supported both veterinarians and technicians alike to stretch and grow. Dr. Fox laid down a foundation of trust and responsibility that has enabled the practice to grow and change, and it has always reflected back as a higher standard of care for our patients.

The good news about this most prevalent disease in veterinary medicine is that it is curable. As with all diseases, we first need to identify it. Look into the eyes of your technicians and see if they are excited to be at work. Does he or she look like they are living their dream?

Once diagnosed, the treatment requires a deep breath of trust and the awareness that someone once trusted you when you were new to any

Veterinary Workforce continued from page 9

“As a veterinarian, I would hope policy makers across the profession, including those responsible for existing veterinary colleges and those planning future educational programs, closely study the report and carefully consider its implications,” said AVMA President Dr. Douglas G. Aspros.

“When we say there’s 12.5 percent excess capacity in the system, we can take that as a reliable finding. What we don’t know is what that practically means in various sectors of the profession,” said Aspros, adding that the association is fully committed to conducting further research on the profession and veterinary economics.

The AVMA emphasized that the report and its findings are a starting point and not the end of its efforts to ensure adequate access to veterinary services and the economic viability of the veterinary medical profession.

Golden Retriever Study continued from page 3

• Be younger than 2 years of age • Reside in the contiguous United States Ruth M. Roberts, DVM, owner of the Sun Dog Cat Moon Veterinary Clinic in Johns Island, South Carolina, says she is participating with her client because she admires what Morris Animal Foundation is doing.

“We can finally compare apples to apples and have an opportunity to stack up what we WWW.PAVMA.ORG

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skill, whether it was a teacher, an employer or even an unsuspecting client. l

“The AVMA conducts studies and gathers information to inform stakeholders in the veterinary medical profession and veterinary medical education,” said Dr. Link Welborn, chair of the AVMA’s Workforce Advisory Group. “The collection of more accurate information leads to a more informed profession making the best possible decisions necessary to serve the profession, animals and society. As the AVMA continues its efforts to inform the profession on the development of a robust workforce, it will also seek the active participation of key veterinary stakeholders. A continued effort will be critical to better understand the complex dynamics and trends associated with the veterinary workforce and veterinary economics.”

The 2013 U.S. Veterinary Workforce Study, as well as a companion report issued by the AVMA Workforce Advisory Group, titled “Implications of the 2013 Veterinary Workforce Study and Recommendations for Future Actions,” are available on the AVMA’s website. l

believe may influence each dog’s chances of developing a disease, or not developing a disease, and see if those theories hold up,” she says.

You Can Help in Many Ways

Morris Animal Foundation still needs the help of dedicated veterinarians to reach the recruitment goal of 3,000 dogs. You can register yourself as a veterinarian willing to participate, and you can also increase awareness with the following steps:

1. Review your client database for owners of Golden Retrievers younger than 2 years of age 2. Contact those owners and encourage them to apply to the study 3. Help us spread the word – tell your clients and colleagues about the study and provide brochures in your waiting room Be part of research history. Join us at www.

CanineLifetimeHealth.org or email us at 4Dogs@CanineLifetimeHealth.org if you have questions. l

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the grand finale

Laughter Is the Best Medicine

SAY CHEESE!

S

ome people say cats never have to be bathed. They say cats lick themselves clean. They say cats have a special enzyme of some sort in their saliva that works like new and improved Wisk—dislodging the dirt where it hides and whisking it away. I've spent most of my life believing this folklore. Like most blind believers, I've been able to discount all the facts to the contrary; ie: the kitty odors that lurk in the corners of the garage and dirt smudges that cling to the throw rug by the fireplace.

The time comes, however, when a person must face reality; when he must look squarely in the face of massive public sentiment to the contrary and announce: "This cat smells like a port-a-potty on a hot day in Juarez."

When that day arrives at your house, as it has in mine, I have some advice you might consider as you place your feline friend under you arm and head for the bathtub: • Know that although the cat has the advantages of quickness and utter disregard for human life, you have the advantage of strength. Capitalize on that advantage by selecting the battlefield. Don't try to bathe him in an open area where he can force you to chase him. Pick a very small bathroom. If your bathroom is more than four feet square, I recommend that you get in the tub with the cat and close the slidingglass doors as if you were about to take a shower. (A simple shower curtain will not do. A berserk cat can shred a three-ply rubber shower curtain quicker than a politician can shift positions.)

• Know that a cat has claws and will not hesitate to remove all the skin from your body. Your advantage here is that you are smart and know how to dress to protect yourself. I recommend canvas overalls tucked into high-top construction boots, a pair of steel-mesh gloves, an army helmet, a hockey face mask and a long-sleeve flak jacket.

• Prepare everything in advance. There is no time to go out for a towel when you have a cat digging a hole in your flak jacket. Draw the water. Make sure the bottle of kitty shampoo is inside the glass enclosure. Make sure the towel can be reached, even if you are lying on your back in the water.

• Use the element of surprise. Pick up your cat nonchalantly, as if to simply carry him to his supper dish. Cats will not usually notice your strange attire. They have little or no interest in fashion as a rule. If he does notice your garb, calmly explain that you are taking part in a product testing experiment for JCPenney.

• Once you're inside the bathroom, speed is essential to your survival.

In a single, liquid motion, shut the bathroom door, step into the tub enclosure, slide the glass door shut, dip the cat in the water and squirt him with shampoo. You have begun some of the wildest 45 seconds of your life. Cats have no handles.

• Add the fact that he now has soapy fur, and the problem is radically compounded. Do not expect to hold on to him for more that two seconds at a time. When you have him, however, you must remember to give him another squirt of shampoo and rub like crazy. He'll then spring free and fall back into the water, thereby rinsing himself off.

(The national record is three latherings, so don't expect too much.)

• Next, the cat must be dried. Novice cat bathers always assume this part will be the most difficult, for humans generally are worn out at this point and the cat is just getting really determined. In fact, the drying is simple compared to what you have just been through.

That's because by now the cat is semi-permanently affixed to your right leg. You simply pop the drain plug with your foot, reach for your towel and wait. (Occasionally, however, the cat will end up clinging to the top of your army helmet. If this happens, the best thing you can do is to shake him loose and to encourage him toward your leg.) After all the water is drained from the tub, it is a simple matter to just reach down and dry the cat.

• In a few days the cat will relax enough to be removed from your leg. He will usually have nothing to say for about three weeks and will spend a lot of time sitting with his back to you. He might even become psychoceramic and develop the fixed stare of a plaster figurine.

• You will be tempted to assume he is angry. This isn't usually the case. As a rule, he is simply plotting ways to get through your defenses and injure you for life the next time you decide to give him a bath. But, at least now he smells a lot better. l

final words of wisdom "One of the keys to happiness is a bad memory.

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—Rita Mae Brown keystone veterinarian

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PVMA 8574 Paxton Street Hummelstown, PA 17036

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PRSRT STANDARD US POSTAGE PAID HARRISBURG, PA PERMIT NO. 533

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