Everything You Need to Know About Boarding Your Dog

We all love our furry friends. We would keep them by our side at all times if we could. However, we have to visit family for the holidays or go on a work trips. Thankfully, you can leave your dog in the hands of trained professionals. Dog boarding is an excellent option to ensure your pet is taken care of while you are away. In this video, you will learn all you need to know about dog boarding.


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The first thing you should determine is what kind of boarding you need. You can either choose kennel boarding or in-home boarding. This all depends on what type of dog you have. For example, puppies are better suited for in-home boarding where they are comfortable. This would be the same with senior dogs that may be overwhelmed by the noise in the kennel. However, you must be comfortable with a dog boarder living in your home while you are away. On the other hand, you could choose kennel boarding. Some kennel boarders even provide dog training during their stay. You should also make sure to provide medical information to your dog boarder as well as any other pertinent information. You can also ask how big your dog’s area will be and if they will be interacting with other dogs. It is also important to ask about what the boarder will be feeding your dog. Lastly, you may want to have your dog stay in the kennel a few days before you leave to make sure they get appropriately acclimated. Hopefully these tips will help you next time you are away from your furry friend.

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Answers to the Most Popular Doggie Daycare FAQs

Whether it’s your first or tenth time leaving your dog home for vacation, you will still worry about them. It’s very important to case your dog boarding company before you leave you best friend there overnight. Different boarding locations provide different services and have different amenities.


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Some may specialize in little dogs, while others have a mix of both small and little. Some are chain locations, and some are one-of-a-kind farm stays. In order to keep you confident in your dog boarding choice, this video gives you answers to many of the most frequently-asked questions regarding dog boarding companies.

A few decisions regarding your dog’s care rely solely on your dog’s personality. For example, some dogs are shy and reserved and prefer to play alone rather than with others. If this is the case, then sending your dog to a crowded doggie day care center all day would probably give them major anxiety and wouldn’t be a preferable option. Quiet dogs like this should be kept in their homes to avoid stress. In 2022, there are several apps that assist in finding in-house pet sitters. Both pet-sitters and dog boarding services are happy to take in your dog, but which will keep your dog happy is a whole separate decision.

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Should You Switch to Pine Pellet Horse Stall Bedding?

What type of horse stall bedding is best? There are a wide range of options including pine pellet horse stall bedding. This video takes you on a review of pine pellet horse stall bedding and how to activate the pellets to prepare the bedding. This step-by-step tutorial will take you through the entire process from how to cut the bags open to how to wet down the pellet while they remain in the bag.


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Having a bedding area in the horse’s stall is important. It provides them with a place to rest and makes cleaning the stall easier. The pellets turn to saw dust over time so after the first initial install, all you have to do is replenish the bedding area about once a week.

This in-depth video shows you how to handle the pellets, even how to get the pellets out of the bag. The presenter shows you how economical this type of bedding can be. It is amazing to watch how much volume can come out of one bag of bedding. Any horse owner would appreciate watching this video. It is chockful of information and shows you exactly what the benefits of pine pellets can be for your stall.
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How Important Is it To Spay and Neuter Your Pets


It’s shocking to hear that around three to four million cats and dogs are being euthanized each year. And they are not just the ones who have incurable diseases or are too old to continue bringing joy to families.

Based on a report by The Humane Society of The United States, the number of cats and dogs who end up getting euthanized even though they are healthy enough to be adopted is around one every 11 seconds. And if you don’t want to add your family pet to the number of euthanized animals, you might want to consider getting a spay and neuter operation for your furry friend.

With about 70,000 dogs and cats born each day, you can just imagine how many end up becoming homeless and getting booked into animal shelters each year. Experts say that the rounding up, housing, and euthanizing of homeless animals amount to over a billion dollars of taxpayers’ money annually.


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In this video by Jackson Galaxy, you’ll discover the importance of a spay and neuter operation.

Many pet owners don’t want their pets to undergo this procedure due to several reasons. Some are afraid that spaying and neutering can put their pets at risk of certain diseases, while others are concerned that their cats will gain weight after the procedure.

Watch the entire video as Jackson addresses all these common misconceptions and more.


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What Happens At a Pet Hospital

It’s best to have a veterinarian or animal hospital before you get a pet. What happens at an animal hospital? South Florida PBS took a tour of Emerald Hills Animal Hospital to find out.

You may need to fill out some paperwork about your pet before you can see a veterinarian. Keep your pet constrained in some way while in the pet hospital waiting room. Dogs should be on leashes or, if they are small enough, in a carrier.


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All other pets should be in carriers.

Pets and their owners then wait in an examination room for the vet. When the vet arrives, the pet is put on a table to help make it easier for the vet to thoroughly examine your pet. Large dogs need to climb onto a table that lifts like an elevator. Many dogs do not like this table, so you may need to hold on while your dog rides up and down.

Pet hospitals have separate rooms for operations. These rooms may also have diagnostic equipment like X-ray machines or ultrasounds. Each animal hospital is set up a little differently. Some animal hospitals offer grooming services like baths and hair and nail clipping.

What Happens When Your Bring Your Dog to the Groomer

Many people envision the job of a dog groomer as one being full of fluffy loving dogs that are grateful for a day of pampering. Who would not love a career where you get to pamper pets and return them to their owners relaxed and renewed? This video from a dog groomer sheds some light on the fact that many people do not realize exactly how hard this job is.

Grooming dogs for a living comes with a range of clean-up duties that no one looks forward to. It also is a dangerous job when the pooch is not fond of being groomed.


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This video is a compilation of many of the “darker sides” of dog grooming that people do not normally think about.

Pet grooming is a tough job and this quick compilation of grooming’s worth moments can really drive home the point about how tough it really is. If you take your groomer for granted you need to watch this video. It will create a new respect for the profession. Before you take your pup to the groomer and assume that it is all rainbows and sunshine take a look at this video and see what a groomer’s day can look like.

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how to keep my dog cool in the heat

Tips For Keeping Your Dog Cool This Summer

I have a dog, and the summer months can be an anxious time. After all, I began wondering how to keep my dog cool in the heat. How is this possible when it’s hot outside? As temperatures rise and days grow shorter, dogs are at risk for heatstroke. Thankfully, I found some simple things that pet owners can do to help their furry friends stay safe in the summertime.

Hydration

Dogs need water to stay healthy in the summer. They cannot sweat as humans do, so they need water to cool down when it is hot outside. How much water your dog needs will vary based on their activity levels, size, the thickness of their coat, and what conditions they’re exposed to during the day.

Whether your beloved dog spends most of its time in your home or outside, provide plenty of water (ideally divided into multiple bowls) to prevent dehydration. When looking for different ways to keep my dog cool in the heat, I increased the amount of water in his current bowl and placed out a few more for good measure.

Consider installing a running water fountain either indoors or outdoors. Make sure your plumbing gets fixed before you do this, as the water running through the fountain may create additional pressure or affect the current pressure your home has.

Multiple Fans

If your neck of the woods stays hot all the time and has no real break from the heat, your dog might not know how to deal with the heat, especially if you’ve just moved there from a different climate. I was fortunate enough to have found this out over my last two years at college, where there is a slight variation in weather from season to season.

Placing multiple fans around my home in safe places was another way I learned how to keep my dog cool in the heat. When you set them up, make sure they’re set up in areas where the dog’s tail or fur won’t become entangled in it and that the fan won’t be knocked over. Multiple fans will circulate the air, which may help cool them off. For those of us worried about our electrical bill, numerous fans can be plugged into power strips and timed to only turn on during extreme heat spells, such as a power-saving mode where the fan will only kick on when needed.

Veterinary Care

When I wondered how to keep my dog cool in the heat, I asked my veterinarian for more tips. I was surprised to learn that animals have a more challenging time staying cool in the summer because they can’t release heat from their bodies like humans. This inability leaves them vulnerable to heatstroke, which is an immediate emergency and requires veterinary care.

Animals need to see their veterinarian during the summer months to be checked for any underlying medical problems and advised on how best to keep cool. Various underlying health conditions can be irritated by hot weather, and your breed may need specialized care to avoid becoming overheated quickly. Other severe medical conditions that can be triggered by excessive heat include heat exhaustion and kidney failure.

Watch for Warning Signs

In addition to the excessive panting and lethargy that may indicate heat exhaustion and already overheated pets, there are some other warning signs that you should watch for if your dog is uncomfortable in the heat. I learned when exploring different ways on how to keep my dog cool in the heat that one sign of a pet that’s about to overheat includes a tongue that’s either bright red or blue-tinged because the blood isn’t getting sufficient oxygen. Excessive drooling is another common sign, as dogs try to cool their bodies through the evaporation of saliva. Teeth chattering, an increase in heart rate and abnormal behavior can also be symptoms as the heat overcomes them.

Time the Exercise

When learning different ways to keep my dog cool in the heat, I realized that the hottest parts of the day vary based on your physical location in the world. If you live closer to the equator or near places that experience high humidity, you may experience more extended periods of the day when the heat is more intense. One way to keep your pet from overheating in these situations is to make sure that you exercise them early in the morning or later at night when it’s cooler. You should also try not to exercise them during the peak hours of the day.

Make Sure Dogs Aren’t Overweight

One of my new colleagues informed me that her pet was overweight, causing him problems with staying cool in hot weather conditions. When looking to keep my dog cool in the heat, I considered my dog’s weight. The excess weight made him hotter when outside playing in the summer heat than other dogs his age who weren’t as heavy. It’s suggested regular exercise along with a diet change to reduce some of this extra weight.

Cooling Pet Clothing

While actively seeking methods on how to keep my dog cool in the heat, I learned about special cooling vests or bandanas. They’re especially helpful if your pup tends to overheat or already has medical concerns. These special cooling vests and bandanas use either water, gel packs, or a chemical reaction to absorb heat from your dog’s body and then release the cool air back into it. They’re designed to operate for several hours before needing to be recharged in some way. Outside of this specially made pet clothing, dogs shouldn’t be dressed too heavily, or their body temperature can increase.

Grooming

Regular grooming, including bathing, and brushing can help your dog’s fur to avoid becoming caked with mud or dirt, which acts as an insulator. If your dog likes to play in the soil and earth, but it’s going to be hot, you must clean your dog regularly. If the coat becomes matted with dried dirt or mud, the dog can become overheated.

Build Adequate Outdoor Shelter

Building an adequate outdoor shelter is perhaps one of the simplest but most important things you can do for your dog if temperatures rise above what they’re accustomed to and provides a cool place for them to rest. I considered precisely doing this for my fur baby when learning how to keep my dog cool in the heat. Everyone’s outdoor situation is different and careful consideration should be given to design and solutions. This type of solution might mean erecting a tarp over their favorite sleeping area, building an air-conditioned kennel, or even covering their kennel with shade cloths or sheets soaked with cold water and then left to evaporate.

  • Place the structure or shelter in an area where there will be shade for most of the day.
  • Build a larger doghouse or a dog run with a roof over it. Consult a qualified residential roofer to help with this if necessary.

Be careful with any do-it-yourself solutions and keep all wires, cords, and electronics out of the weather elements and away from chewing teeth.

Pool Play

Some people’s homes are fortunate enough to have a pool in their backyard. If this is the case, make sure you perform the necessary swimming pool maintenance with keeping in mind that your dog will be floating around. Having your dog in the pool may introduce additional contaminants into the pool, and this might cause other pool repairs.

When I wanted to know how to keep my dog cool in the heat, I took my dog to my friend’s backyard pool, and they informed me that their dogs wanted to be in the pool all the time. They also said that they had to empty the pool, drain it for maintenance once a month, and clean out all the bleach. This information was beneficial because I didn’t realize there could be so many chemicals from the dog’s hair, things shed into the pool, and even peeing in the water, that could increase the need for pool repair and the expense that it comes with.

If you don’t have a pool in your yard or above ground, then consider purchasing a small child-size pool and filling it with water from the hose. Your dog might enjoy getting to play in the water and cooling off. Just be sure that there is no unsupervised interaction with a pool while you are not watching, especially if your dog is not well-trained or isn’t familiar with a pool. Also, make sure there’s nothing dangerous around, such as sharp objects or poisonous plants that could be consumed accidentally.

Air Conditioning

The best way I learned how to help my dog stay cool in the heat is the time-tested usage of air conditioning. Air conditioning can be set slightly higher when you’re gone and cooler when you’re home, but it should still provide a comfortable temperature in your home for your pet at any time of day or night. If you don’t have one, consider getting an HVAC installation completed, giving your home an air conditioning unit. You can do many things to utilize the most efficient use of air conditioning to help keep your dog cooler.

  • Keep the windows closed so the air conditioning can run without competition from the outside air.
  • Have regular maintenance performed on the HVAC system.
  • Replace the filters at least monthly, more during high heat or high pollution seasons.
  • Consider getting an air conditioning system replacement if your current one is outdated or in significant need of repair.

Being a Wet Dog is a Good Thing

In the absence of having air conditioning, extra fans, or a pool to play in, simply getting wet and drying off naturally can help. Wet your dog down with a hose or in the bathtub and let them dry naturally. You’ll want to cover your furniture with protective materials to prevent your dog from wrecking your favorites.

Food Play

Consider giving your dogs cool food and snacks, like ice cubes or frozen yogurt topped with their favorite dog-safe flavorings. When you’re providing extra liquids for your dog, avoid any liquids containing added sugar because sugars remove the protective coating on the tongue and aren’t good for their health.

When exploring different ways on how to keep my dog cool in the heat, I learned that some pets prefer cold drinks over ice cubes or frozen treats because it’s easier on their teeth than chewing ice. Just like some humans choose to drink their water ice-cold, so might your pet. For finicky dogs, some people find it helpful to drop ice cubes in their water bowls, letting the ice melt, and this is enough to encourage their dogs to drink more liquids.

Flooring Awareness

Because dogs can spend a considerable amount of time lying on the floor, be aware that carpet flooring can become uncomfortably warm. Hardwood or tile can provide a cooling effect. If you are thinking about getting rid of your carpets and doing a hardwood floor install anyway, this is a great time to consider it.

Dogs also like being outside on decks. You’ll want to consider the type of deck you have. If it’s wood or outdoor tile, then a shaded area will be all that is needed. If it is a composite material that resembles wood, then it might cause the skin to react like it’s up against plastic in the heat. Consider adding a cooling cot for the dog to sleep on during the warmer months.

There may be other ways you can keep your pet safe this summer, but this list gives a surprisingly good start. Your four-legged friend depends on you to keep them happy and healthy!

Signs of Gum Disease in Dogs and Cats

A pet’s health is important to all pet owners. Unfortunately, it can also be difficult to stay on top of pet healthcare, as they can’t just tell their owner when something is wrong. One way in which it’s important to make sure that a pet is healthy is by ensuring that they’re free of gum disease.


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The first sign of gum disease is going to be bad breath from a dog or cat. From there, their owner should check their pet’s mouth for further signs of gum disease. It’s important to be careful doing this, as the pet may be sensitive around the mouth. If they’re sensitive here, then they likely have gum disease. If the pet does let someone take a look, check for brown on the teeth, irritated gums, and blood. All of these are more signs that a pet may be suffering from gum disease.

Once these signs of gum disease are known, it’s important to take a pet to the vet. There, they will be able to receive a professional cleaning to help fight that gum disease, while the vet will have more information on how to prevent gum disease at home.

How to Make Your Veterinary Practice More Efficient

Your vet clinic is more than a clinic. It’s also a veterinary business, and it’s important to make sure you’re running efficiently to keep your clients happy. When your clients are happy, they’ll be more likely to come back to your practice and introduce other potential clients to your veterinary clinic. But just how exactly can you improve the efficiency of your veterinary business? Check out some of our key tips to help you boost the efficiency in your own practice.

Invest in Cloud Hosting Services

Outsource services where possible. Any business not operating in the cloud is behind the times. Most companies today (87%) are running in the cloud. There is a good reason for that. Cloud hosting services help companies save money.

Cloud hosting services provide relief for a company’s IT department. One of the main ways cloud hosting services help companies is by alleviating the burden placed on their IT resources that maintain server hosting. Since cloud services are off-site, IT departments no longer need to worry about troubleshooting issues or maintenance work. Companies can then scale down the staffing hours of the IT Department or have them work on more profitable projects.

Cloud services also save companies money indirectly. With a faster, more streamlined infrastructure, companies become more efficient. According to a study reported by Forbes, more than half (55%) of companies saw an increase in efficiency after they started using the cloud. So while these companies are still spending the same amount of money on labor, the labor value increases. Companies get more done with the same amount of time.

Telephone Services Provided by the Cloud

Telephone services provided by a cloud-based service are another way a business can be more efficient and save money. Voice hosting services reside off-site and are managed by a third-party using the Voice over Internet Protocol via the Internet.

With faster, more streamlined infrastructure, companies get more done. According to a study, 55% of companies saw an increase in efficiency after they began using the cloud.
Utilizing cloud services also helps companies save money by conserving energy. If a company has its own IT Department, service needs to be done on-site. These powerful machines consume vast amounts of energy and need to be cooled, requiring more power. Plus, these machines need to run 24/7. By using cloud servers off-site, the energy bills for the companies come down.

Make Team Members Easy for Clients to Spot

One way of making team members easy to spot is with custom team shirts. With the help of this shirt, employees do not need to spend extra money on office clothes. The team shirt will also help to advertise your clinic’s name.

Some of the other reasons for having team shirts are:

  1. The shirt will play an essential role in the organization by acting as an identification mark for pet parents to spot clinic employees.
  2. It provides a professional image.
  3. It gives customers a sense of trust and confidence.
  4. It provides security and safety.
  5. It works as an effective marketing tool.

The veterinary team shirt will help employees look cohesive and disciplined. From a clinic standpoint, some of the reasons for the team shirt are:

  1. Secures employee protection
  2. Promotes team building
  3. Provides employee benefits
  4. Provides free advertising of business
  5. Creates awareness of the clinic

One of the facts about the team shirt or uniforms is that everyone would wear the same shirt throughout the clinic. Thus, the employees throughout the clinic would be seen as the same regardless of their position in the clinic.

A team shirt can serve as a form of identity for the clinic. It would make it easy for employees to take care of their work clothes, which is vital when working with animals. If unsure of how to proceed with the idea of a team shirt, poll the employees to get their opinions.

Perhaps have all the employees get the same shirt design but in the color of their choice. This way, the employee can choose a color that is flattering to them while at the same time, be cohesive by wearing the same shirt style.

Keep the Clinic at a Comfortable Temperature

Meeting the needs of a hospital is difficult, but when the patients are four-legged in most cases, shed fur or hair, come in various species, and emit all kinds of odors, difficult becomes almost impossible. It is challenging for the HVAC services of veterinary hospitals. Americans spent $72 billion on their pets last year. But money is tight in the facilities.

More demands are put on veterinary hospitals than human hospitals, and they do not have the budget to handle it. Typical project costs at a veterinary clinic are almost $300 per foot, and they are limited in how much they can charge for their services. Although there is pet insurance, it remains primarily a cash business.

MRI machines cost the same for both humans and animals, but the amount charged for their use will be much lower for animals. Another consideration is that the device produces as much heat as its human-scanning counterpart, so the clinic’s HVAC system needs to handle the large load at the lowest cost possible.

Often these pet hospitals require even more intense cleaning than a traditional hospital, which means high-intensity lighting is used for deep cleaning.

Humidity is another challenge for the HVAC system in a veterinary clinic. An HVAC system in a pet clinic needs to be designed to mitigate mold and provide comfort, challenging in high-humidity areas like Florida or Texas.

Each area of a veterinary hospital needs to be odor-free. This is most crucial in the front reception area. Not only do odors need to be controlled, but airborne pathogens need to be controlled. Kennel cough is common, and certain animals are very susceptible to this and other illnesses.

Some airborne illnesses, such as parvovirus, are hazardous for pets. Isolation rooms with 100% ventilation with UV filtering are required to treat this type of disease. A sneeze or cough from one dog could turn a business upside down. That is why sanitizing the air continually is so critical.

To ensure that the ventilation, heating, and air conditioning in your clinic operates at optimum efficiency, contact local heating contractors to inspect your system for your pet patients’ safety and the peace of mind of pet parents.

Cut Down on Energy Costs with Routine Maintenance

Roof inspections should be done twice a year to keep energy costs down and protect the clinic from structural issues and water damage. If your building requires many roof repairs, consider a TPO roofing product. It is a flexible product that is easy for roofing companies to install around roof penetrations such as chimneys, skylights, and vents. This type of roof is lightweight, flexible, weather and heat resistant, and environmentally friendly.

Bring in a roofing service to inspect your roof to ensure there are no missing shingles, holes, worn areas, etc. Many things can happen to a commercial roof during the year. Frozen gutter drains, roof leaks, and excessive buildup of snow can cause your roof to collapse, which would be catastrophic for the animals and the clinic employees.

Temperature changes can then cause the water to freeze within the tiny cracks, causing the roof to expand and contract. With seasonal weather, the changes such as ice melting, then freezing again further widens the cracks causing more damage.

Roofing Inspection

It is recommended that a detailed roof inspection be done to ensure your clinic’s roof is in good condition. A roofer will examine the following things.

  1. Decking – any rot or staining
  2. Surface membranes
  3. Roof vents
  4. Flashing
  5. Field tears
  6. Gutters
  7. Drainage pipes

A routine commercial roof inspection will uncover minor problems before they can become major problems. Many potential problems can be detected, but if you contact a commercial roofing specialist, they can handle these repairs before the repairs become more costly.

Clean the Rooftop

The inspector will check for debris that needs to be removed from the roof of your clinic. Debris such as branches, leaves, and other trash must be removed to make drainage possible from the rooftop.

Check for Standing Water

The roofing inspector will check for evidence of ponding by looking for areas that are blocked or looking for slow-draining lines. If there has been settling water on the roof for any length of time, there may be color stains or changes on the rooftop around the drains. A professional evaluation will need to be done to determine if any underlying damage has occurred due to standing water on the roof.

Check Flashing

The roofing inspector will also examine the flashing to find cracks or crevices to ensure they are repaired before the season’s change. There are typically more cracks and other failures around transition areas. This is particularly true where the flashing goes from flat to vertical because there is more stress on these areas. If flashing issues are found, they should be repaired before cold weather sets in.

Check Field for Tears or Cracks

A commercial inspection of the roof field will need to be done. If any debris is found, signs of tears or cuts in the roofing system will need to be fixed before structural damages appear. If the inspector feels there is an existing leak in the field but cannot find it, a “flood test” can be done to ascertain the damage.

Inspect Terminations in the Parapet Walls

The terminations in the parapet walls need to be adequately sealed. Your roofing professional will look at the base of the wall to make sure there are no signs of cracking or failure. These issues need to be addressed to prevent more extensive damages in the future.

Check the Edge Detailing

All the edge materials need to be secured tightly and terminated. If they are not, a professional needs to properly secure anything loose to close gaps that could allow the elements inside.

Inspect Roof Surface

The roofer will inspect the roof surface to ensure that nothing has lifted or shifted during a storm. Wind damage can cause lots of damage to a roof.

The Gutters and Drains

Drains and gutters can play a role in standing water and need to be checked. If your gutters are clogged, the water will pool on your roof. Do not allow standing water to remain on your roof. On asphalt-based roofs, standing water can quickly lead to roof failure, especially during the winter. To prevent this, remove any debris that has built up in the gutters.

Downspouts

The last step in the inspection will be to check the downspouts and the downspout terminations on the ground. These sections can become damaged or crushed from passing vehicles or lawn maintenance equipment. If they are damaged, they need to be replaced to avoid further issues developing.

Make Sure Your Roof is Prepared for Every Season

With the right roofing techniques and proper maintenance, expensive damages to your roof can be avoided as time goes on. If you schedule routine inspections on your roof, your building will be prepared for the freezing temperatures in the winter or the summer heat.
Many companies will provide a roofing inspection free of charge. But you will know you have roofing issues if there are leaks, excessive mildew or mold, or pooling water. If there was a recent hail storm or if it has been over six months since your last inspection, it is recommended that you get another inspection as quickly as possible by a professional roofing company.

Most will provide inspections on flat roofs, metal roofs, sloped roofs, membrane roofs, etc. Running a veterinary clinic cannot be easy. There are anxious pet parents to calm down, pacifying scared patients, and keeping your staff safe are your top priorities. But if the roof on your clinic building is in good repair, everyone and every pet will be safe and secure, something you will need if you offer boarding at your clinic. All your employees, pet parents, and cuddly patients will be glad you care enough to provide this safety and peace of mind.

7 Tips for Establishing a Respected Veterinary Business in Your Community

Owning a pet has tons of benefits, not the least of which include companionship, reduced stress, and an overall increase of satisfaction in life. Many people in the United States have at least one pet. In fact, there are over 89.7 million pet dogs in the country. With the prevalence of pets, owners need a reliable and reputable veterinary business that can help their animals live a long, healthy, and happy life.

If you are considering opening a veterinary business, you might not be quite sure where to start. Keep reading to find seven tips that will help you launch a successful veterinary business.

Rent Property in a Quiet but High-Traffic Area

You have probably heard the phrase that when it comes to real estate, it is all about location, location, location. If you are planning on opening a veterinary business and you need to buy or rent commercial property, the location you choose is absolutely crucial to the success of your business.

The right location will provide your business with valuable exposure and a number of organic marketing opportunities, while the wrong space could lead to slower growth or even struggling to stay open due to slow business.

When you are thinking about where to set up your veterinary business, there are a few things to keep in mind. First, consider both the vehicle and foot traffic the space receives. You want to be easily visible and recognizable, but you also want to choose an area that offers a quiet and peaceful atmosphere for both owners and animals.

Next, consider your commercial property from a growth standpoint. Will you be able to grow your business in this area? What are the surrounding businesses like? Are there any competitors, or are there likely to be competitors in the future? You want to reasonably distance yourself from any competition, but you don’t want to be so out of the way that customers forget you exist.

Lastly, you want to consider your customers. The ideal location for a veterinary business is the perfect blend of visibility and convenience. A busy intersection might seem like a great choice due to the high traffic, but it might not be the most convenient location for your customers to reach. You want to make sure your customers are not inconvenienced, while also making sure your business remains visible.

Make Sure the Entrance is Inviting

Curb appeal is important for both residential and commercial properties and if you plan on opening a veterinary business, you want to be sure you make a great first impression. With inviting storefront awnings, greenery, and professional commercial paving services, you captivate guests before they are even in the door.

Pets are often more than animals to owners, they are like children. As such, you want to create an entrance that is warm and inviting. Bells can be a helpful way to know you have a customer, but they can also lead to skittish cats and dogs, so you also want to be mindful of creating an entrance that is quiet and soothing.

You want to make getting in the door with an animal of any size as easy as possible for pet owners, so take into consideration the size of your entrance. Sliding doors can be very helpful for pet owners with their arms full of scared dogs or squirming cats, so having professionals install sliding doors can be a way to enhance convenience for your customers.

An entrance gives the guest a first impression of the business and you want to create an entrance that makes a great first impression of your veterinary business. Keep the area clean and clutter-free, and add personal touches like pet-safe plants or photos of your pet patients to welcome customers into your business.

Create an Outside Play Area for Animals and Pet Owners

Whether you are opening a veterinary business that will double as a place for customers to board their animals or not, an outside play area is a great idea. Not only is an outside play area a fun attraction for guests, but it also provides a perfect spot for dogs in the event they need to go to the bathroom.

When setting up an outside play area, the number one thing to keep in mind is the safety and security of pets and their owners. If your veterinary business is on a property that does not have fencing, get in contact with a local fence company. Their professionals can help you decide what type of fencing will be best for your needs, including your design aesthetic and budget.

Once you have the area fenced in, make sure you are properly equipped. Since dogs go to the bathroom outside, it is a good idea to keep waste bags and receptacles at the ready. You may also want to provide a few toys or tunnels for dogs and other animals to play with.

An outdoor play area is not just fun for animals and their owners, it is a practical addition. Most pets can sit comfortably in a waiting area without causing distress to other animals, but some cats and dogs are a bit more high-maintenance. Having an outdoor area where guests can take their pets is a way to provide a special area for animals that need a bit of isolation, and allows those waiting inside to do so more calmly.

Hire Local Companies to Keep Your Business Safe

If you want to become a trusted veterinary business within your community, it is crucial to be involved in your community. Getting to know local business owners and using their services for your veterinary business is a great way to network within your local area. Whether you need electrical services, commercial painting, or plumbers, nobody knows your market better than your fellow business owners.

As you consider working with local companies, do not be afraid to get creative. Want to provide beverages for your guests while they wait for their appointment? Why not contact a local coffee shop and see if they would be willing to supply beverages for your guests to enjoy as they wait? Love the look of fresh greenery? Talk to a local florist about a weekly delivery of pet-safe greenery and flowers.

The more involved you become in your local community, the more visible your veterinary business becomes. You can also partner with local businesses to host and sponsor events that will bring the community together.

Launch a Navigable Website

The first thing most people do when looking for information about local businesses is turn to the internet. Without a well-designed and consumer-friendly website, it can be hard to grab the attention of potential clients. What do customers look for in a website?

According to industry experts and reputable IT staffing solutions companies, the number one thing people want from a website is clear and easily accessible information. You want to provide enough information that your client feels they know what to expect from your business, but not so much information that they are overwhelmed and overloaded.

Keeping navigation near the top of the page is also a desirable function of a website. If people can easily see where certain information is located, they do not have to spend time hunting for things like contact information or hours of operation. Not only do people not like wasting time, but if your website is difficult to navigate, they may give up on your business and check out a competitor.

One critical thing businesses tend to overlook is how a website appears on mobile devices. With people more connected to their phones than ever before, many users will be viewing your page from a phone or tablet, so choose IT professionals who know how to format a site for optimal mobile usability.

You may also want to spend some time researching website speed and seeing how you can optimize yours. People lead busy lives, as do you, and when constantly on the go, people do not want to spend time waiting for images to load. In fact, nearly 40% of users will leave a website if images take too long to load. Anything that you can do to make information about your veterinary business easy to locate and quick to load will help your customers engage with your website, the content on it, and ultimately your business.

Install a Comfortable Waiting Room Area for Customers

A successful veterinary business depends on many things, one of which is the experience you provide to your clients. The experience should start with a smooth check-in process and a comfortable environment for guests who need to wait until their pet is called into an exam room.

An important part of creating a comfortable waiting room area is the front desk. You want to choose a piece that is both inviting and practical. Like kitchen granite countertops, your front desk needs to withstand daily use and frequent cleaning, so choose your materials wisely. Granite, porcelain, and quarts are good choices due to their durability.

Temperature is another vital component of keeping your guests comfortable, so make sure you have working heating and air conditioning prior to opening your veterinary business. If your system has any problems, call a local HVAC contractor to make any repairs or replacements, and sign up for a routine maintenance plan that comes with an annual checkup to prevent future problems.

You do not need a huge waiting area for your guests, but you should give guests a comfortable amount of space between seating areas. Rather than using medical-type waiting room chairs, why not choose a few cushy chairs or loveseats? This helps the animal owners coming into your veterinary business feel more at home and relaxed.

Provide Information for Other Local Businesses in the Community

A veterinary business with deep roots in the community will help other businesses in the community as well. While you do not have to list every single business in your immediate area, having a community board with information your guests may need can be very helpful, and help you spread goodwill to other businesses in your area.

Consider placing an information board near the reception area or seating area, as these are places where information is easily visible and guests congregate. You do not need to put a ton of effort into a community board. A simple bulletin board that is well thought out and eye-catching is all you need to help your customers find information that might be of interest to them. Of course, a fun and friendly pet theme is a bonus for your community bulletin board, but the main thing is to get accurate information readily accessible to customers.

What kind of businesses should you promote or provide information on? That is entirely up to you. You may want to offer contact information on automotive maintenance services, home companion care, or even your favorite local eatery.

Do you have a local dog bakery? Is there a specialty pet shop that provides toys, leashes, harnesses, and other items dogs, cats, and other small mammals need? Are local groomers looking to attract more customers? Promoting local businesses that are related to your veterinary business can be another great way to help your pet owners. Additionally, collaborating with other area businesses is an easy and effective way to increase the visibility of your veterinary business.

Running a successful veterinary business is easier when you know what your guests are looking for and how you can maximize their satisfaction. Hire knowledgeable veterinarians, vet techs, and other professionals who will take care of every animal that comes through the door as they would their own pet. Front desk staffing is also critical because a negative first impression will severely inhibit your ability to create repeat business. With a comfortable waiting area, clean and friendly front desk, and information to help your customers and their pets feel at ease, you will give your pet owners a great first impression.