Tag Archive for: veterinary practice

4 Safe and Healthy Foods Your Dog Can Eat for Thanksgiving Dinner

Thanksgiving is only a few days around the corner, which usually results in an uptick in vet visits. There’s nothing wrong with sharing food and celebrating Thanksgiving with your dog, as long as you remember that your fur babies rely on you to keep them safe. Before you give in to the puppy dog eyes peering at you from under the table this year, take some time to ensure that you understand what your dog can and can’t eat at Thanksgiving dinner.

4 Safe and Healthy Foods Your Dog Can Eat for Thanksgiving Dinner

 

  1. Skinless, white turkey meat. White Turkey meat–without bones–is a delicious dinner staple your dog will love, and it’s high in protein and low in fat. It’s best to avoid fatty snacks, so ensure that the turkey you share with your pet is turkey skin and gravy free. Fatty foods can overstimulate and inflame the pancreas, resulting in a life-threatening situation. Avoiding fatty foods is especially important to remember if you’re the proud owner of a Yorkshire Terrier, Miniature Schnauzer, or a Cocker Spaniel.
  2. Pumpkin. Pumpkin is a super healthy dog snack that’s also great for your pup’s skin and coat. Sugar-free canned pumpkin is safe to share with your pet, so feel free to place a dollop in Fido’s food bowl.
  3. Vegetables: Green beans, sweet potatoes, carrots, and broccoli. Most veggies are a great low-calorie snack choice for dogs. Raw green beans are full of iron and provide a satisfying crunch. A few chopped cubes of sweet potatoes are great for your dog’s digestive health.
  4. Apple Slices. Setting aside a few seed-free apple slices before baking your pie is a great way to spoil your dog while keeping them safe on Turkey Day. Apple slices are full of Vitamins A and C and are also a decent fiber source.

 

Please note that as long as your dog has no food allergies, it’s safe to feed them small amounts of the foods listed above. You know your pet best. 

 

4 Foods Your Dog Can’t Eat at Thanksgiving Dinner

 

  1. Turkey bones. We said it once, and we’ll repeat it: Do not feed your dog turkey bones. We know it’s tempting, but the bones can potentially harm your pet’s digestive tract, and the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) says it’s best to avoid it.
  2. Turkey dressing/Stuffing. Both options almost always contain onions and garlic, which are toxic for pets. It’s not worth the risk.
  3. Mashed potatoes. Everyone loves a healthy of mashed potatoes on the side during Thanksgiving dinner, but this side dish is a food your dog can’t enjoy with you. Mashed potatoes are often packed with butter and cream, which can cause diarrhea in dogs.
  4. Xylitol-containing products. Xylitol is often found in marshmallows, so if you’re thinking about sharing sweet potatoes with your fur baby, make sure you do so before the marshmallows or brown sugar is added to the dish (sugar isn’t good for your dog either).

 

Keep Your Dog Safe on Thanksgiving

If you’re hosting Dinner this year, remember to advise family and other guests on what they can and can’t feed your dog for Thanksgiving dinner. Keep an eye on your pets and follow the list of can and can’t share from above, and you’ll be well on your way to a memorable Thanksgiving holiday. For more information on Thanksgiving and how to keep your pet safe through the holidays, we recommend reading this article from the AVMA: Thanksgiving Pet Safety.

Vetrix is the leading provider of veterinary regenerative medicine, and we can help your practice thrive! To learn more, get in touch with us today.

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Greener Veterinary Medicine? How Veterinarians Are Being Asked to Adopt Environmentally Friendly Practices

“Going green” has been the goal of countless industries over recent years—but what about veterinary medicine? Healthcare industries don’t typically come to mind when you think of environmental improvements, but maybe they should! Keep reading for more information on how experts and professionals are turning their focus toward greener veterinary medicine. 

Environmentally Conscious Lifestyles: Where Do Pets Come In?

It’s pretty clear now—adopting greener practices and an overall more environmentally friendly lifestyle isn’t a trend. More and more people are looking for better ways to care for the planet in their everyday decisions and activities, and people who have been doing this for years are constantly looking for ways to improve. 

If you know anyone with a pet (or you have a pet yourself), you know that pets are important members of the family! So, when most people adopt these greener practices, they often extend to how they treat their pets as well. 

When you take into consideration the drastic rise in pet ownership over the last few years, the connection becomes quite clear. There are more households with pets than there are children! And with Gen Z and millennials making up the majority of these pet owners, environmentally friendly options for their pets is a must. 

How this Movement Affects Veterinarians

The demand for greener, more natural veterinary products is seriously on the rise, and the veterinarians who can keep up will notice the difference. Clients are now looking for more holistic treatment plans, natural diets, and more natural pharmaceuticals for their beloved pets. 

While your clients will still turn to you for medical advice, they’re likely to know more about the potential options than in recent years or decades. The modern pet owner is very educated, and willing to do what’s best for their furry children! 

When it comes to pharmaceuticals, clients are looking for effective, cutting-edge products that will work with their pet’s natural healing process. They want limited toxic chemicals, synthetic ingredients, preservatives, and more. The good news? The perfect mixture of science and nature is usually the most effective solution! 

Greener Veterinary Medicine with Vetrix

If you’re looking to harness the natural capabilities of your patients’ healing processes, it’s time to partner with Vetrix. We’re the leading provider of veterinary regenerative medicine, providing exceptional products to veterinarians all over the world—so they can provide exceptional care. 

Our BioSIS technology is a strong, pliable biological scaffold designed for patient cells to repair damaged tissue. This product harnesses the natural capabilities of the patient’s existing cells to result in fast, natural healing. Click here to learn more. 

Our EyeQ Amniotic Eye Drops are some of the best regenerative care has to offer. This non-surgical option allows you to treat corneal ulcers more naturally and with a less painful recovery time. Click here to learn more. 

Have any questions about us, our products, or how to incorporate greener veterinary medicine into your everyday practice? We’re all ears! Get in touch with us today.

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Everything You Need to Know About Cybersecurity For Your Veterinary Practice

The digital age has raised many questions about the internet and cyber security. Eager hackers target business computers intending to extract critical and sensitive information. A veterinary practice is not immune to attack and can stand to lose a lot of valuable data. Here is a quick guide to everything you need to know to keep your veterinary practice safe from cyber attacks. 

Veterinary Cyber Security Risks 

Veterinary practices often store sensitive client data that is valuable to the wrong people. Data such as home addresses, credit card information, and other personally identifiable information. Targeted data is often used to verify payments, and access banking is usually stored on business computers. This information in the wrong hands can be used to steal money from bank accounts or access other reports. 

Hackers can also use private data such as pet names to crack passwords and secret questions linked to accounts. Most security risks are caused by malware, and out-of-date software or a lack of digital security can open doorways for hackers to attack your business. 

Securing Your Data 

Keeping your data secure is vital for obvious reasons. There are many ways you can ensure that your information is left untouched and your veterinary practice clients are protected. Here are the best ways you can ensure that your practice is on top of its cyber security: 

  • Offsite data storage – Always keep a secondary offsite backup of data. Cloud or harddrive-based backups can help in cases where cyberattacks erase vital information. 
  • Secure firewalls – Don’t skimp on your firewalls and digital security. Opting for trustworthy software can secure your data and alert you to possible threats. 
  • A robust security plan – Setting out a robust plan to manage any data breaches is vital for any veterinary practice with any digital data. By ensuring that you have fail-safes and that your staff understands what is expected of them, you can circumvent most attacks. A shutdown plan in a breach can help save the business and vital information that you cannot operate without, lowering the risk of downtime. 
  • Regular auditing – Routine security audits and anti-malware scans can help you reduce the risk of sneaky ransomware hanging out on your servers or computers. Speak to a reputable computer company that can allow you to audit your data and offer you solutions to suit your business needs. A qualified technician can help you understand your weakest points and where you need to make changes. 
  • Use vetted vendors – Using vetted vendors and suppliers can help minimize your risk. Companies that have secure systems are less likely to act as a backdoor to your data. Always check your vendor’s cyber security policies and how they prevent attacks from happening. 

Prevention is better than managing an active cyber threat. By securing your data firsthand before it falls into the wrong hands, you can prevent a costly clean-up process that can take your systems offline for a considerable amount of time. 

Securing Your Veterinary Practice

If your veterinary practice falls victim to a cyber-attack, it is vital that you speak to your suppliers, operators, and clients. Acting fast can help your clients and operators reduce their own risk of financial and cyber attacks. Change all your passwords and get in touch with a computer security company to help you with the next steps.

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Simple Ways to Modernize Your Veterinary Practice

As culture advances, everything changes. Think about it: fashion, food, music, medical practices—the list goes on. As a veterinary practice, it’s important to be able to integrate some of these forms of change into your day-to-day life. Modernizing and improving can definitely get pricey, with things like new cutting-edge medicine to high-tech operating tables, but it’s important to remember that the majority of clients never walk past the front rooms of the reception and consultation rooms.

There are so many different cost-effective ways to modernize and improve your veterinary clinic that can make your practice more appealing to clients. Here are five quick and easy ways to do so. 

#1: Create Interactive and Communicative Platforms

Whether it’s through an app or an email subscription chain, being able to send updates of clinical cases can appeal to a large audience. Giving people the opportunity to easily access health information at the push of a button is quick and effective; that’s what people want.  

#2: TVs That Project Pictures and Play Music

It’s no secret—people love showing off their pets! TVs are a great way to have a carousel of quality images that people in the waiting room can look at. You could also have animal documentaries playing so people can learn about animals while waiting. Lastly, TVs typically have settings where you are able to play music. Having this feature can certainly create a warm and inviting atmosphere! 

#3: A Feature Wall is a Great Way to Spice up a Blank Wall

To spruce up blank walls, maybe throw up some pictures of the cute animals that come through your clinic—after all, your clients are animal lovers! This a great, low-effort way to add some interior decor and make an emotional connection with your clients.

#4: Keep a Coffee Station for Clients to Enjoy

While not all people are coffee lovers, it would be nice to still offer coffee, tea, hot chocolate, or even just water that clients can sip on while waiting for the vet or their pet to come out from the back. Having something comforting always makes any experience better.

#5: Encourage All Your Vets to Call for Medical Follow-Ups

We heavily encourage all your veterinarians to make time in their schedules to call patients regarding follow-ups. Perhaps you performed surgery on a cat or diagnosed a dog with cancer last week—call their owner to check on them. By going the extra mile, you can ensure customer retention. 

There’s No Need to Break the Bank!

Remember that sometimes the smallest changes can make the biggest difference! By integrating these five forms of modernization and improvement into your practice, we’re sure you’ll see success. If you’re curious about more ways to keep up with the latest veterinary technology, contact us today. 

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