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The Pumpkin Spice Approach To Vet Care

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I’m going to admit it right here: I’m a Pumpkin Spice Guy. Even more, I’m a Fall Season Guy. I love the changing leaves, the crisp air, the outdoor activities, and a good cozy sweater after a humid South Carolina Summer. It makes me happy to smell cinnamon and sandalwood when walking into a store, to drink apple cider and to grab a slice of pumpkin pie for dessert. I just love all of that… but you know what I love most? A limited-time break from the established norm.

The Limited-Time Appeal

Let me be honest for a second. I don’t really care about apple cider. Cinnamon flavored coffee is fine, but I wouldn’t drink it every morning. And if I had crisp weather for a few consecutive months, I’d be more than ready to escape to a warmer climate whenever I got the chance. You get the point.

I love the Fall because it brings new experiences, it’s only around for a limited time, and it has distinct activities tied to it that I enjoy (even if only in small doses). It’s one of the things that keeps this marathon called life interesting. In modern veterinary medicine, keeping ourselves and our teams engaged is one of the greatest challenges we face. 

If you’ve been a leader in vet medicine for more than a year, your team has already heard your pep talks. They know your passion, purpose and your “why.” They understand what standard of care is expected and have shown up day after day and delivered it. So now, when their motivation is waning, how do you get them to re-engage and look at the work we do with fresh eyes?

I think we can draw some inspiration from those of us who love the Fall.

Limited-Time Themes Create Interest

Sometimes the best way to breathe new life into something well known is to switch up its theme. Just think, how many stores, products, books, streaming shows, escape rooms, putt-putt courses, and magazines change their look and feel for different seasons? How many restaurants, coffee shops and breweries change up menu items for pumpkin time or throwdown to decorate for Christmas? Even Crossfit gyms roll out special workouts just for holidays! Why? Because themes (seasonal, holiday or other) are fun ways to get people to re-engage. 
The fact that Fall will soon be over makes me more excited to try Fall flavors and do Fall activities because the stakes are low (e.g. if I don’t like pumpkin bagels, they won’t be taking up space on the grocery shelf for very long) and scarcity is high (if I love pumpkin bagels, I better get them before they are gone!).

Themes Can Re-engage Veterinary Practice Teams

So what do themes look like in veterinary clinics? Simple. They inject elements of fun related to a holiday, season, event, etc. that tie firmly to the educational piece you want to re-prioritize. Think of a focus on (black) cat health for Halloween or senior pets for the Fall. Consider new beginnings and puppy love in the Spring or a focus on heart health for Valentine’s Day (I’m serious! Think heartworms!).

You and your team spend a good portion of your time at the clinic. Changing up themes throughout the year in your practice can be fun. It can shake up your staff meetings with a new focus or offer opportunities to try new educational and therapeutic programs. Even a change in appearance can make a difference. Most of all, themes are a way to break up the grind that so many teams find themselves in. 

When you’re deciding what themes to have in your clinic, it’s important to remember that you’re not doing it for the clients (although they will appreciate them). Instead, do them for your team. Do them for mental stimulation, to break monotony, to make things fresh, and to give people a different daily experience. Inject some pumpkin spice into your clinic, or some Halloween horror, or some peppermint mochas and wintergreen… Keep your practice fun, and keep it changing with the seasons.

How to Stay Positive When Your Practice is Tortured by Souls of the Damned

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Ever since the portal to hell opened in downtown Manhattan six weeks ago, veterinary medicine has been on its heels. Many of us feel frightened, overwhelmed by the changes, and completely exhausted. Surviving a global pandemic was tough, but to go from that right into a soul-obliterating apocalypse has been especially challenging. At first, the dramatic decrease in caseload was a welcome thing, but now… I suspect most of us are having a hard time staying upbeat.

As civilization crumbles and the living are dragged to hell by spirits of the damned, I’d like to share three quick positivity tools that I am finding really helpful. Here goes:

  1. Look at the bright side. Sure, no one likes to see their friends and co-workers possessed and manipulated like meat puppets to do the bidding of an unholy force. Still, I think we can all admit that Carol wasn’t exactly crushing it at the front desk before a malevolent soul entered her body. She let the phones ring, took forever to check people out and was a total pushover when clients demanded special exceptions. Well, the phones aren’t ringing, there’s no line to check out, and nobody makes demands of a CSR who vomits and spins her head around 360 degrees whenever she gets stressed.
  1. Assume good intent. It’s easy to see our demonic attackers as “the bad guys,” but do we really know that’s true? Has anyone gotten their perspective? I’ve heard as much as everyone else about how terrible hell is and about how none of us want to go there… but what do we really know? Maybe these dark spirits are trying to show us a neat place that has an undeserved bad reputation (like Des Moines)!
  1. Lean into Community. Have you joined up with a local survivor group yet? Before the apocalypse, many of us were lonely and looking for a sense of purpose. Now, it’s not hard to become part of a tight knit group of interdependent people who have a clear and common focus: survival. Whether it’s a team of demon slayers, survivalists, or cultists who have thrown in with hopes of appeasing the demonic horde, opportunities to make new friends are everywhere!

With these three powerful tools, I know you’ll be able to keep your chin up as long as your soul remains intact! Good luck everybody! 

Vet Med Music Videos: They’re a thing.

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We’re currently celebrating #HappinessWeek on all the Dr. Andy Roark sites. Our team was in need of a smile or two, and figured you could use some as well! Today, we’re sharing some of our favorite music videos that have come out of the Vet Med community. Yes, this is a thing, and we’re here for it.

Who knew heartworm prevention could be so…FUN?

Written, directed, and even performed by Brynn of Brynn Zittle Cinema, this video might actually make you wish heartworm prevention came in human form.

The (vet student) struggle is real.

This is one of our favorites from Trusten of DrMoore.StudentVet. I mean, who HASN’T been up at 2am the night before a test stress-eating cheez-its to Adele?

If you’ve never worn an e-collar in a field and sang about it, well…then you’re not in this music video.

Kelsey Beth Carpenter brings us an ode to all the non-compliant post-surgical pet owners out there. Are we allowed to embed this video into all discharge instructions? Asking for a friend.

We hope these made you laugh, smile, smirk, or whatever it is you do when you’re entertained. Check out more fantastic content from these Vet Med creators in the links above!

The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the position of the DrAndyRoark.com editorial team.

More Elves on Vet Clinic Shelves!

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It’s an epidemic no one’s talking about. But it’s time to expose the reality of what Vet Clinics across the continent are experiencing. We’re beginning to suspect the infiltration of Veterinary Hospitals is only Phase 3 in their plan to take over the world. Some have even begun to acclimate by posing as employees! Below, we expose more of the elves caught on Vet Clinic shelves!

It seems cats aren’t all that fond of Elves on Shelves. We’re not entirely sure why…

Photo by Laura Foster

Even elves – or Elvis peppermintus familiaris – need dental care, too. Especially with their well-balanced diet of sugar and more sugar.

Photo by Samantha Maietta

A prime example of an Elf trying to “blend in” and “look helpful”. Really he was prank calling pizza stores and giving them the name “Pepe Roni”.

Something looks suspicious in this elf’s belly. May want to refer to a specialist for this one.

Again, don’t be fooled. This elf appears to be doing something productive. Really, he lost a mini marshmallow and is determined to find it.

We highly recommend using a rabies pole when capturing elves. They are unpredictable and fear free handling has not proven successful.

Photo by Woodstocks Page

Even elves get neutered if they hang around the hospital too long. Let that be a warning to the rest of you!

Photo by Kristi Orizaga

Typical. Owner drops a pet off with a special diet but doesn’t provide it! Ugh!

Photo by Sara D Morrison

Like we said, cats and elves just don’t seem to mix. Sissy, the clinic cat, has made her demands clear.

Photo by Jenny Drescher

Never seen that kind of urinary crystal before…?

Photo by Michelle Hogan

Teamwork makes the dreamwork.

Photo by Carrie McGuire-Loveall

Ok, remember that thing we said about teamwork? Scratch that.

Photo by Carrie McGuire-Loveall

Ok fine, they’re not all bad. This is hands down our FAVORITE Elf on a Shelf!

Photo by Carol Marusak

This post was inspired by the original article “These 5 Veterinary Elves on Shelves Will Make Your Day” by Danielle Lambert.

The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the position of the DrAndyRoark.com editorial team.

QUIZ: If You Were a Dog, What Would You Eat?

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This content is sponsored by Petplan. 

Every day 3 trillion dogs (estimation) are hospitalized for the ingestion of different toxins. Sometimes it’s food items, like chocolate, which we can’t really blame them for (hashtag SAME). Other times it’s assorted objects, like diapers and rocks, which maybe aren’t quite as relatable. Depending on what your dog eats, it could warrant anything from a disappointed glare all the way to an extended ICU stay! So, let’s get down off our human high-horses and really think about this for a second: If you were a dog, what would YOU eat?

 

 

While DrAndyRoark.com has received compensation for this post from Petplan, all opinions expressed are those of the DrAndyRoark.com editorial team.

QUIZ: Which medical condition describes the kind of day you’ve had?

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This content is sponsored by Petplan. 

We’ve all had THOSE days. The ones where everything goes right. The ones where everything goes wrong. The ones where you wonder how long it would take people to notice if you just left work early and went home and ate ice cream for dinner? We totally feel you. Sit down, put your feet up, and take this quiz to figure out which acute medical diagnosis best describes the kind of day you’ve had today! And then come back tomorrow and try it again. You know…if you’re not too busy with the ice cream…
 

 

While DrAndyRoark.com has received compensation for this post from Petplan, all opinions expressed are those of the DrAndyRoark.com editorial team.