Vet Times

Tag: Clients

  • Connection: steps five and six

    Connection: steps five and six

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    The right intentions, a friendly smile, a warm introduction and appropriate touch – four easy ways to help you foster connection with your clients, as described in the previous post. This part will look at two more common-sense strategies to help you forge fast bonds with your clients and ensure problem-free consults: finding common ground with your…

  • The borrowers?

    The borrowers?

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    Having written on what I see as the perils of the popularity of “borrowing” pets via apps and websites, I was saddened to see that, with the COVID-19 puppy boom, these are now being seen as a “normal” alternative to doggy day care. A sad narrative of puppy farm dogs with behavioural issues and ill…

  • Connection: steps one to four

    Connection: steps one to four

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    In the previous post I told you about my mnemonic to help me remember the seven tools we can use to help us connect with our clients: IS IT CHE(esy). Intention, Smile, Introduction, Touch, Common ground, Humour and Empathy. Let’s look at the first four. Setting your Intentions Is it easy to always be the kind…

  • Connection: is it cheesy?

    Connection: is it cheesy?

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    In my previous post, I listed four key feelings that clients need to experience in their dealings with us if we want to achieve great client relationships. In this part, we’ll start by looking more closely at the first of these four feelings – connection. Foundations Connection serves as the foundation the entire relationship will…

  • The problem-free consult

    The problem-free consult

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    Earlier this month, I closed a big chapter of my career when I sold my shares in the emergency clinic I started almost a decade ago. Any big change lends itself to a period of reflection, and I’m enjoying looking back at what I’ve learned from the experience as an emergency veterinarian and team leader.…

  • Seaside welfare

    Seaside welfare

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    Warm weather and cool breezes mean living by the beach in summer can be a lot of fun. However, there is always an animal welfare situation to consider, and it’s not just about overheating pooches on the beach. A video of a child harassing a seal was shared online recently. Thankfully, many of the comments…

  • What would you do?

    What would you do?

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    Having returned from an equine visit, I clambered out of the car in the practice car park and started gathering some equipment that needed cleaning. A few parking spaces over, one of our other vets was stood with her back to me, sporting a visor, deep in conversation with a client via a rolled down…

  • Grieving as a professional

    Grieving as a professional

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    The pet of a close friend of mine has just passed away. Zilla the black Lab was the most beloved dog, who had a fondness both for rummaging through the bins and belly scratches. She’d had progressive problems with her health and, earlier this month, it became clear that, sadly, the time had come for…

  • Would you like some chlorine with your chicken?

    Would you like some chlorine with your chicken?

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    With the news being dominated by coronavirus over the past few months, other issues are slipping below the radar. With work currently being all-consuming, I am barely keeping up with the ever-changing rules of lockdown (are we still calling it that?), never mind anything else. As a result, news that MPs voted against an amendment…

  • Crazy pet myths

    Crazy pet myths

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    I’m hoping to move home soon, but it’s been a long time since I moved with a pet. I’m considering Prof Edward Coleman’s feelings in this far more than my own; he likes to wander to other gardens and, although he settled quickly here, I’m moving nearer a busy road, so I’m thinking of ways…