PRACTICE STEP BY STEP |
discuss them, and create your own. You could go "viral" and be watched thousands of times. That's ad- vertising you can't buy.
10
BLOG YOUR WORLD Blogs are sweeping the profession as one of the best ways to share information. The abil-
ity to attract new clients and increase interaction with current clients makes it an excellent tool, especial- ly since you can update blogs frequently. Get started now by checking out wordpress.org or blogger.com for user-friendly blog templates. Blogging is inexpensive, easy to start doing, and
surprisingly fun once you get going. For ideas on topics and ways to enhance your blog, check out social-savvy-pets.com or petblogs.com.
IN SUMMARY You now have the tools to create and leverage social media and maximize client communication. Step by step you will grow in confidence, strengthen your plan and message, and take advantage of the opportunity the future holds with regard to social media resources. ■
References
1. forbes.com/sites/yec/2011/11/02/5-ways-to-make-a-killer-first- impression
2. socialmediaexaminer.com/26-promising-social-media-stats-for-small- businesses
3. entrepreneur.com/blog/220421 4. huffingtonpost.com/2012/01/25/facebook-ads-small- business_n_1216703.html
5. mashable.com/2011/02/19/youtube-facts (Mitral Valve continued from page 26)
References 1. Buchanan JW. Chronic valvular disease (endocardiosis) in dogs. Adv Vet Sci 1977; 21:57-106.
2. Buchanan JW, Bucheler J. Vertebral scale system to measure canine heart size in radiographs. JAVMA 1995; 206:194-199.
3. Borgarelli M, Savarino P, Crosara S, et al. Survival characteristics and prognostic variables of dogs with mitral regurgitation attributable to myxomatous valve disease. J Vet Intern Med 2008; 22:120-128.
4. Lord PF, Hansson K, Carnabuci C, et al. Radiograhic heart size and its rate of increase as tests for onset of congestive heart failure in Cavalier King Charles spaniels with mitral valve regurgitation. J Vet Intern Med 2011; 25:1312-1319.
5. Kvart C, Haggstrom J, Pedersen HD, et al. Efficacy of enalapril for prevention of congestive heart failure in dogs with myxomatous valve disease and asymptomatic mitral regurgitation. J Vet Intern Med 2002; 16:80-88.
6. Atkins CE, Keene BW, Brown WA, et al. Results of the veterinary enalapril trial to prove reduction in onset of heart failure in dogs chronically treated with enalapril alone for compensated, naturally occurring mitral valve insufficiency. JAVMA 2007; 231:1061-1069.
7. Atkins CE, Bonagura J, Ettinger S, et al. Guidelines for the diagnosis and treatment of canine chronic valvular heart disease. J Vet Intern Med 2009; 23:1142-1150.
8. Haggstrom J, Boswood A, O'Grady M, et al. Effect of pimobendan or benazepril hydrochloride on survival times in dogs with congestive heart failure caused by naturally occurring myxomatous mitral valve disease: The QUEST study. J Vet Intern Med 2008; 22:1124-1135.
9. Bernay F, Bland JM, Haggstrom J, et al. Efficacy of spironolactone on survival in dogs with naturally occurring mitral regurgitation caused by myxomatous mitral valve disease. J Vet Intern Med 2010; 24:331-341.
Find the best veterinary clinical and practice resources any time you need them!
tvpjournal.com or todaysveterinarypractice.com July/August 2012 Today's Veterinary Practice 67
Tired of looking through stacks of books and journals to find
what you need? Every article published since the July/August 2011 inaugural issue is available online—free.
Sheila Grosdidier, RVT, PHR, is a partner/consultant with Veterinary Management Consultation, Inc, and spe- cializes in staff training/utiliza- tion, client service excellence, and technical proficiency within veterinary practices. She is also an editorial advi- sory board member for To-
day's Veterinary Practice. Ms. Grosdidier conducts extensive on-site consultations and has developed a seminar series directed toward taking practices to their next level. She has authored numerous book chapters and journal articles, lectures nationally and internationally, and has been named Speaker of the Year by the NAVC Conference and International/Aus- tralia Veterinary Nurses Association. Prior to her cur- rent position, she was a senior veterinary educator with Hill's Pet Nutrition, Inc, and also a director of in- formation technologies and certified systems admin- istrator in both Unix and Microsoft operating envi- ronments. Ms. Grosdidier received her BS in human behavioral science from New York Institute of Tech- nology and her AA in veterinary technology from Maple Woods College in Kansas City, Missouri. She has also completed postgraduate work in psychol- ogy and adult learning.
Leveraging Social Media Communication