VBJ articles

July 2018

Pet health plans: a ready remedy to keep your practice front of mind

Health care plans can be a great way of protecting pets, bonding with clients and marketing a veterinary practice. But the devil's in the detail when it comes to deciding what to put in, what to leave out and how much to charge ...

17 mins
Practice Profile: Northlands Veterinary Hospital

There is something very British and familiar about a high street veterinary practice based in a converted red brick house. Late Victorian and Edwardian era buildings often ooze character and charm, but also present some unique challenges to a growing business...

11 mins

June 2018

Choose your weapons: winning at germ warfare

Antimicrobial resistance has been described as one of the biggest threats facing both human and animal health. But there are steps all practice owners or managers can take to keep their own house in order and help beat the bugs.

12 mins

May 2018

When the chips are down: making the most of pet identification

Vets and VNs see the benefits of microchipping on a daily basis, but is this always the case for their clients? Madeline Haynes looks at what practices can do to overcome the barriers and maximise the business opportunities


21 mins
Playing the end game: a life of luxury – or life on the breadline?

Deciding when and how to exit your veterinary practice can be one of biggest decisions any owner or senior partner will make. Whether you’re wanting to put a succession plan in place, or considering a sale, a realistic strategy is needed to prevent you from ending up out of pocket.

18 mins
Buying or selling a vet practice, part 4

In the final part of this series, corporate finance expert Gary Baines discusses the period after completion – and the skills required to go with this.

7 mins

April 2018

Mum’s the word – part two: ‘D-Day’ and the perinatal period

In the second part of her groundbreaking series, Liz Barton discusses preparing for the ups and downs of delivery and the perinatal period.

26 mins

March 2018

Practice planning: build a business while avoiding growing pains

Tempted to discount? Can’t see where to tap into new revenue streams? When it comes to growing your business in the right way and at the right speed, Ernie Ward recalls he has been there, done that and got the T-shirt


26 mins
Senior pet clinics: using education to solve an age-old problem

Senior clinics allow clients to receive friendly and professional advice regarding the welfare of their pets. RVN Louise Olley explains how these clinics can be used to educate owners about their elderly pets – and increase footfall to your practice.

19 mins

Sally Clarke, director of vets, provides an overview of how Simplyhealth Professionals help practices make the most of their membership.

22 mins

February 2018

Buying or selling a vet practice, part 2

Acquisitions expert Alan Kelly talks paperwork as he describes the processes of due diligence and deal documentation, while offering key points for business owners to consider during each phase.

11 mins
CPD: delivering lifelong learning in the here and now

With the profession changing at such a rapid pace, it has never been more important to ensure your clinical staff get the CPD they need to stay up to date. Improve International’s David Babington looks at the mix of options open to practices.

19 mins

January 2018

Big 6: growing the market

One topic that kept coming up during the research phase of the Big 6 project was how the profession could expand the market for its products and services. So, we asked our panel to discuss ideas their colleagues in practices across the UK might adopt to generate growth in an increasingly competitive marketplace...

46 mins
Setting up a practice: laying firm foundations for success

Owning a practice is the dream of many working in the profession, but can remain a frustratingly elusive goal. Here, Whilmari Swift from Vet Dynamics explains the steps she takes with prospective practice owners to ensure they get it right.

22 mins
How watertight are your procedures in case of fire?

Fire safety in practices is governed by the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005, which covers general fire precautions and other safety duties designed to protect people in the case of a fire. Adam Bernstein explains.

14 mins

December 2017

CT, or not CT: just one part of the question


Choosing which modalities to offer – and how much and when to invest – can be business-critical choices, as VBJ discovered when we spoke to Julien Labruyùre at VetCT ...

30 mins

November 2017

Tips on small animal practice management and profitability

Peter Edmondson, in the second of a six-part article series, summarises an Australian Veterinary Association Annual Conference session on how to increase practice profit.

12 mins
Planes, trains and automobiles – a journey through complementary medicine

When it comes to complementary therapy, many options are available to get to the final destination. Here, Stephen Barabas identifies the correct multimodal therapies for your practice.

32 mins
Recruiting for veterinary teams – part 1: sorting the wheat from...

Recruiting new members to join your team is one of the most crucial processes in any veterinary practice. Here, in the first of a three-part series, Ed Newbould explains the process he undertakes when choosing new staff.

22 mins

October 2017

Pet care shaming: are we discouraging owners from seeking veterinary care?

Do we judge clients or roll our eyes at their never-ending excuses? Are we our clients’ worst enemy? Ernie Ward shares his experiences on “pet care shaming” and explains how your team can avoid inadvertently becoming a participant.

37 mins