Vet Times

Tag: Behaviour

  • Physician agency – striking the right balance

    Physician agency – striking the right balance

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    I was terrified when I started my consulting career. As I walked out to call in my first client, I was full of doubt, just as everyone is. Could I do it? I wasn’t very good in most social situations – was this the right career for me? In the end, consulting actually came naturally…

  • The only way is ethics part 4: zoos

    The only way is ethics part 4: zoos

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    The black-furred creature shifts and turns, and its brow furrows as it meets my gaze. Its deep brown eyes seem to convey hidden depths and, for a moment, I am electrified from a connection that reaches across millions of years of evolution. I’m awed by the knowledge another mind is looking back at me, trying…

  • Calling in consults (reprise)

    Calling in consults (reprise)

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    This is a sequel of sorts to my post from early December, where I talked about the different strategies for calling in clients for consultations – the pitfalls, the advantages. It was well-considered and logical. Here’s an example of why, in general practice, logical and well-considered can be about as useful as the Dalai Lama…

  • Abusive clients

    Abusive clients

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    I’ve read some of the reports of vets suffering abuse from clients and it’s upset me on many fronts. First is the misuse of the term “abuse”, but that’s something I’ll leave for another blog. My main issue today is that, as veterinary practices, we have it within our control to resolve many of the…

  • Cats versus dogs – the ultimate speciesism?

    Cats versus dogs – the ultimate speciesism?

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    It seems ages ago now, but the August bank holiday brought many treats this year – it was sunny, I didn’t have to pick up a dead cat from the gutter and a special edition of This Morning aired. For anyone who has had to recuperate from surgery like me then This Morning becomes a…

  • Aggressive patients

    Aggressive patients

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    I’ve discussed before the massive emotional shift that seems to occur in the transition from a student to a new graduate – namely due to the responsibility – but the transition to being an actual vet also means being on the front line when it comes to aggressive patients. As a student, you are often…

  • Professional conduct

    Professional conduct

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    “Profession” – here’s what the Oxford English Dictionary has to say about the subject: “[noun] A paid occupation, especially one that involves prolonged training and a formal qualification.” And on “professional”, it says the following: “[adjective] Worthy of or appropriate to a professional person; competent, skilful, or assured.” That doesn’t cover all of it, of…

  • Freebies: do you need them all?

    Freebies: do you need them all?

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    I’m still recovering from #BSAVA17. My first time of going for all four days. I paced myself well and avoided the dual pitfalls of only eating free sweets and drinking free alcohol too early in the day. All went pretty well. Now it’s the post-congress time, the pictures of how much free stuff people got…

  • Stunning at slaughter

    Stunning at slaughter

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    I’m going to get straight to the point: this is not a religious post. It’s not a post about politics, or freedom of expression, either. It is a post about animal welfare. I prelude with this simple statement because there is a dark tide of intolerance spreading across the world, and I have no desire…

  • Good mental health – not just for humans

    Good mental health – not just for humans

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    Hollie has had a big month. She’s had surgery and now we’ve started behavioural therapy. To be fair, she’s generally a bit anxious as she hadn’t really been socialised at all until we got her at six years old – so she’s always been a bit behind the usual socialisation time frame. We cope with…