i need some ideas

Re: i need some ideas

Zoe Davies RVN — Sun, 24 Apr 2011 10:30:38 GMT

My next reginal cpd is all about nurse clinics. were are you ? x

Re: i need some ideas

Nicola Jamieson — Thu, 21 Apr 2011 13:40:54 GMT

oh meant to say after we have done the weight check appointment i ususally book the follow up appointment myself in the consult room.

Re: i need some ideas

Nicola Jamieson — Thu, 21 Apr 2011 13:29:06 GMT

i do the same, rather than straight away say try hills or royal canin etc i discuss dietary options and i think owners don't feel like they are just being sold the food.

Re: i need some ideas

Sal the 1st — Thu, 21 Apr 2011 10:48:16 GMT

the bit I forgot to mention is I dont promote any one company and whatever diet the owner wants to use I will work round it but will point out alternatives

Re: i need some ideas

Katherine Spear — Thu, 21 Apr 2011 09:32:17 GMT

Royal canin do some good weight charts and booklet which is quite nice & the clients seem to like. I find that calling it like weightwatchers helps as they can then relate to it more, makes it sound like something they can tell their friends about or something. Making it a positive thing, joking that we all need to work on getting slim for summer this time of year, joking with a fat lab that she needs to work on her bikini body etc. makes it less of a consult where we are lecturing them and more of a positive fun thing the dog&family can do together?

Re: i need some ideas

Sal the 1st — Thu, 21 Apr 2011 09:22:23 GMT

when you ring them after they have missed an appt how about asking them when is a good time to rebook their appointment and making it for them then rather than asking them to call back and make an appt.

keep them light hearted it really does get results rather than making it a chore - I get away with more because I am overweight myself

comments like 'well dog/cat/name looks like you have got my problem - your ribs are hiding' - most clients will smile at that, get them on your side. Obviously you know your clients better than I do and you will find little phrases of your own.

have a go at making your own weight charts and use gold stars etc when an animal gets down to a mini target - clients love them and stick a photo of the pet on it at the start so they can see how far they have come when the animal starts to lose weight

do have r/d /obesity control biscuits/ bits of carrot/apple to use as treats (in moderation) get the animal on your side so it likes coming - if the client feels that their pet is enjoying the visit they are more likely to keep appts - (its a bit sneaky as well on my part because if you get a client who tells you their pet wont eat x, y or z and then eats it as a treat you can point that out to them and you can do this in different clinics with different foods ie mobility diets for mobility clinics renal diets etc are a good one to have around in golden oldies clinics)

have a board where you can show pictures of some of the weight loss pets - again clients love it

make it a social occ - how about running it like a slimming world club where a group of owners can get together and chat (this really works because you find owners become very competitive in a nice way

get a photo or two in the local paper - its not that difficult and you find local papers collect a number of these local stories to use on slow days, good advertising for the practice too

Basically if you can get your clients into the mindset that they want to show off their pet they will always keep their appointments - so always find something to compliment them on

I always round off with ' ok then, same time same place in (whatever time span)' and make the appointment for them and put it on their weigh in card (which they keep) I also add 'lets see what we can do - if we can lose a bit fantastic, if we stay the same well thats good as well and if we put a bit on well its not the end of the world we just try something else