VBJ articles

October 2023

Since the COVID pandemic there has been a significant increase in the number of people looking to set up their own veterinary practice. But much needs to be considered for those thinking of taking the plunge, as Adam Bernstein discovered when he spoke to some of the experts…

31 mins

This Practice Building Insight discusses laying the foundations for successful veterinary practice with ACD Projects.

15 mins

Tax changes that came into force earlier this year could have a big impact on many businesses, including veterinary practices. And those impacts will be even greater for those who have not noted the warnings from HMRC…

20 mins

Most young people struggle to get on the housing ladder these days, let alone self-fund their own veterinary practice. But that’s exactly what Alex Hirst did when he opened River Veterinary Care near Newcastle earlier this year…

35 mins

September 2023

With many veterinary teams hard-pressed and short on time, tech solutions from the likes of PetsApp have never been more needed. Far from resting on its laurels, those behind the client communication tool are taking things to a whole new level, as Thom Jenkins explains…

12 mins

Pickles became the UK’s first members-only vet practice when the doors of its Fulham clinic opened late last year. At launch, founders talked of fixing “a broken system” and of creating a £1 billion business - but is Pickles living up to the hype? VBJ headed to west London to find out…

34 mins

Many routes to practice ownership exist, so it stands to reason there’s no “one size fits all” exit strategy, either. Vicky Robinson looks at the best options in this fast-changing landscape...

25 mins

Referring patients and clients away from your practice’s care is sometimes the best solution in terms of patient and client care, as well as clinical outcome. However, it can also be a minefield, with some of the most complicated client complaints resulting from referrals…

24 mins

August 2023

Balancing the needs of all stakeholders is a crucial judgement to make before deciding to invest in new diagnostic equipment. It can be all too easy to waste a lot money on equipment that clinicians won’t use and clients won’t pay for, as Nacho Mérida Isla explains…

26 mins

Running a successful veterinary practice requires a myriad of different skill sets and it can be a real headache identifying staff training needs. By using an analytical approach, however, finding training that boosts both your profits and your people can be a relatively painless process…

20 mins

This month’s VBJ Diagnostics Insight feature sees Zoetis explain how, by leveraging AI in dermatology, veterinary professionals can optimise their workflow and provide advanced health care for their patients.

12 mins

Harrison Family Vets in Kingswinford may look like any one of hundreds of newly built veterinary clinics from the outside. But on the inside, things really are rather different, as VBJ discovered when we paid a visit to the West Midlands last month…

27 mins

July 2023

Practice management systems have come a long way since first emerging in the veterinary world 20 years ago. A plethora of systems now exist to choose from, offering a range of features, but some are more useful than others, as Oli Viner explains…

38 mins

Agria has been protecting animal health for more than 130 years by providing insurance products that are trusted by owners and veterinary professionals around the world. And that position of trust and respect is not something Agria takes for granted, as head of channel operations Nick White explained…

12 mins

It may be a risky gambit, but starting a new business from scratch and growing it can be very rewarding. Of course, nothing in life that’s worthwhile is easy, and setting up a practice is no different – but with thought and planning, it’s perfectly possible…

21 mins

The climate can play havoc with the workplace and the wrong temperature can affect productivity. But with extreme weather apparently becoming more common, employers need to understand the impact that different conditions can have on their employees…

18 mins

A lot has changed in the decade since Keith Leonard and his wife Julie set up their Companion Care practice in a Pets at Home store near Leeds. But this year, the pace of change has increased faster than the Bank of England’s base rate, as VBJ discovered when we paid a visit…

39 mins

June 2023

One of the biggest names in veterinary referrals has just got bigger – a whole lot bigger. Dick White Referrals in Cambridgeshire tripled in size following the completion of an expansion project in February, and last month VBJ was invited in to take a look around…

34 mins

From 10 June 2024, new rules in England mean owned cats must be implanted with a microchip before they reach the age of 20 weeks old. Tammie O’Leary reviews the new legislation and looks at how veterinary practices can benefit from this animal welfare initiative…

The Government’s “Build Back Greener” strategy sets out a series of policies and proposals for making the UK economy carbon neutral by 2050. It’s a massive challenge, but by changing the way it constructs and operates its buildings, the veterinary sector can do its bit to hit that ambitious target, writes Chris Copeman.

21 mins