Today's Veterinary Practice provides comprehensive information to keep every small animal practitioner up to date on companion animal medicine and surgery as well as practice building and management.
Issue link: http://todaysveterinarypractice.epubxp.com/i/75883
TODAY'S TECHNICIAN | UÊ iÛilo«Ê>Ê`>Ì>L>ÃiÊoÀÊLookm>ÀkÊÜiLÃiÌiÃÊÌoÊloV>ÌiÊ V>loÀiiÃÊinÊ«iÌÊvoo`ÃÊÃiiÊTable 1). 4. Carry wellness foodsÊinÊÞoÕÀÊ«À>VÌiVe—m>nÞÊ VliinÌÃÊÜillÊLÕÞÊ ÌhiiÀÊ«iÌÊ voo`ÃÊ vÀomÊÌhiÊ«À>VÌiViÊ ivÊ ÞoÕÊ V>ÀÀÞÊ ÞoÕÀÊ ÀiVommin`i`Ê «Ào`ÕVÌÃ°Ê /hiÃÊ inVlÕ`iÃÊÌÀi>ÌÃÊ>n`ÊÃÕ««liminÌð 5. Train team members thoroughlyÊ >LoÕÌÊ ÌhiÊ voo`ÃÊ ÃÌoVki`Ê >ÌÊ ÌhiÊ «À>VÌiVe—LoÌhÊ ÌhiÀ>«iÕÌiVÊ >n`ÊÜillniÃÃÊ«Ào`ÕVÌÃ°Ê UÊ/>kiÊ >`Û>nÌ>}iÊ ovÊ vÀiiÊ ÌÀ>inin}Ê ovviÀi`Ê LÞÊ «iÌÊ voo`Ê Vom«>niiÃÆÊmoÃÌÊ Ã>liÃÊ Ài«ÀiÃinÌ>ÌiÛiÃÊ >ÀiÊ moÀiÊ Ìh>nÊh>««ÞÊ ÌoÊ«iÀvoÀmÊÌi>mÊ mimLiÀÊÌÀ>inin}° UÊ nVoÀ«oÀ>ÌiÊ ÛiÌiÀin>ÀÞÊ VonviÀ- inViÊ ÃiÃÃionÃÊ onÊ nÕÌÀiÌionÊ inÌoÊ Ìi>mÊmimLiÀÊ VonÌinÕin}Ê i`ÕV>- ÌionÊ ÃiiÊ -iliVÌin}Ê Continuing Education for Your Practice Team]Ê«>}iÊ36). UÊ vÊnÕÌÀiÌionÊiÃÊovÊ«>ÀÌiVÕl>ÀÊinÌiÀ- iÃÌÊ ÌoÊ ÛiÌiÀin>ÀÞÊ ÌiVhniVi>nÃÊ inÊ ÞoÕÀÊ«À>VÌiVi]Ê inVoÕÀ>}iÊ ÌhimÊ ÌoÊ«ÕÀÃÕiÊVÀi`inÌi>lin}ÊÜiÌhÊÌhiÊ V>`imÞÊovÊ6iÌiÀin>ÀÞÊ ÕÌÀiÌionÊ /iVhniVi>nÃÊnutritiontechs.org). 6. Encourage team members to feed the prac- tice's recommended pet foods.Ê/hiÀi½ÃÊnoÊLiÌ- ÌiÀÊin`oÀÃiminÌÊÌh>nÊÌillin}ÊVliinÌÃÊÞoÕÊvii`ÊÞoÕÀÊ «iÌÃÊ ÌhiÊ voo`ÃÊÞoÕÊÀiVommin`°Ê nÊ>``iÌion]Ê«iÌÊ voo`Ê Vom«>niiÃÊm>ÞÊ ovviÀÊ «Ào}À>mÃÊ Ìh>ÌÊ >lloÜÊ Ìi>mÊmimLiÀÃÊ ÌoÊ«ÕÀVh>ÃiÊvoo`Ê>ÌÊ>Ê`iÃVoÕnÌi`Ê À>Ìi° 7. Maintain up-to-date information on current recalls and product concerns;Ê Õ«`>ÌiÊ ÞoÕÀÊ ÜiLÃiÌi]Ê >ViLookÊ «>}i]Ê >n`Ê /ÜiÌÌiÀ°Ê /hiÊ Ê h>ÃÊ >Ê ÜiLÃiÌiÊ Ìh>ÌÊ «ÀoÛi`iÃÊ ÌhiÃÊ VÕÀÀinÌÊ `>Ì>\Ê accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/newpetfoodrecalls 8. Provide a list of alternative recommendations ÌoÊ ÌhiÊ voo`Ê V>ÀÀii`Ê inÊ ÞoÕÀÊ «À>VÌiVi]Ê inVlÕ`in}Ê }ÀoViÀÞÊÃÌoÀiÊo«ÌionðÊ/hiÃÊ>``ÀiÃÃiÃÊ ÌhiÊnii`ÃÉ `iÃiÀiÃÊ ovÊ Ê VliinÌÃÊ >n`Êm>kiÃÊ ÌhiÊ «À>VÌiVi½ÃÊ nÕÌÀiÌionÊÃiÀÛiViÊhil«vÕlÊ>n`ÊinVlÕÃiÛi°ÊÊ UÊ/hiÃÊ vliÝiLiliÌÞÊm>kiÃÊ ÀiVommin`>ÌionÃÊ >««li- V>LliÊÌoÊÌhiʺÀi>l»ÊÜoÀl`Ê>n`ÊÃhivÌÃÊÌhiÊvoVÕÃÊÌoÊ ÜillÊ«iÌÊV>ÀiÊÛiÀÃÕÃÊ>Ê«iÀViiÛi`ʺÃ>liÃÊ«iÌVh°»Ê UÊ/i>mÊ mimLiÀÃÊ ÃhoÕl`Ê Õn`iÀÃÌ>n`Ê ÜhÞÊ ÌhiÊ «À>VÌiViÊ ÀiVommin`ÃÊ ViÀÌ>inÊ voo`ÃÊ >ÃÊ ÜillÊ >ÃÊÜhÞÊ ÌhiÊ in-hoÕÃiÊ `iiÌÊ iÃÊ ÃÕ«iÀioÀ°Ê /hiÃÊ iÃÊ >noÌhiÀÊÜ>ÞÊ«iÌÊvoo`ÊVom«>niiÃÊV>nÊhil«ÊhoniÊ ÞoÕÀÊmiÃÃ>}i° Table 2. Effective Client Communication Be Complete Make sure to collect the entire diet history, including treats, table scraps, items mixed in with food, what is used to administer medications, and dietary supplements as well as feeding and treat schedules. Be Considerate Do not judge or lecture: Clients will not be honest if they feel they will be admonished. Always approach issues with the intent to find healthier alternatives rather than criticize choices made. Any conversation about nutrition should be considered an opportunity for education— educated clients follow recommendations because they understand their purpose. Be Sensitive to Client Needs Be Sensitive to the Pet's Needs Be Specific Many clients derive great pleasure from giving their pets special treats. Often, they associate limiting treats or specific foods with punishment of the pet. Successful nutritionists recognize this, and help the client make healthier choices rather than asking them to abstain completely from behaviors that affect the owner–pet bond. A diet needs to be designed so the pet agrees to eat it and does not initiate undesirable behav- iors, such as begging, vocalizing, and food seeking. If the pet appears unhappy to the owner as a result of the nutrition plan, the owner will likely not comply with it. Be willing to modify a plan in order to keep the pet and owner content and be patient while they both adjust. Give the owner specific, ideally written, instructions that include: UÊ Specific diet recommendations—which foods are recommended, how much to feed, and how often UÊ Provide a measuring cup—using an agreed upon measurement is important for subse- quent visits when making diet adjustments or evaluating diet efficacy. UÊ In lieu of a measuring cup, clients can use a kitchen scale for portioning food. Recent studies have shown that measuring cups can be inaccurate, which is an issue when accuracy is important. Be Available It is imperative to be available to pet owners to answer questions or help them address issues that arise as they put a nutrition plan into action. If they can't reach someone for help, they may simply abandon the plan. Therefore, be proactive—check-in with clients regularly to provide support when necessary. July/August 2012 Today's Veterinary Practice 77 Developing a Nutrition Program in Your Practice