原文

https://vet-advantage.com/vet_advantage/summer-season-for-veterinarians/

Summer Season For Veterinarians

对于兽医来说，夏季意味着什么？

COMPANION | June 2023

Written by: Graham Garrison

What does the summer season mean for veterinary clinics? Vet-Advantage asked.

夏季对兽医诊所意味着什么? Vet-Advantage问道。

Holland Veterinary Care gets started on summer season preparations early. They’re the busiest months of the year for the Pennsylvania-based clinic, so they boost their workforce with students in anticipation of the uptick in client visits.

荷兰兽医中心很早就开始了夏季的准备工作。对于这家位于宾夕法尼亚州的诊所来说，这是一年中最繁忙的几个月，因为他们预计客户访问量会增加，因此他们增加了一些学生的劳动力。

Summer fun also brings more outdoor time, putting pets at higher risk for exposure to fleas, ticks, and mosquitoes. “We certainly see an increase in demand for flea, tick, and heartworm preventions in the summer months,” said Dr. Carey Guise, owner of Holland Veterinary Care.

夏天的乐趣也带来了更多的户外时间，使宠物暴露于跳蚤，蜱虫和蚊子的风险更高。荷兰兽医护理中心的老板凯里·吉斯博士（Dr. Carey Guise）说:“我们当然看到夏季对跳蚤、蜱虫和心丝虫的预防需求有所增加。”

Indeed, among the several veterinary clinics, Vet-Advantage reached out to, lots of prep work, advanced planning, and inventory considerations go into making the summer months successful.

事实上，在Vet-Advantage接触的几家兽医诊所中，大量的准备工作、提前计划和库存考虑都是为了让夏季的这几个月取得成功。

In the following stories, these veterinary clinics share what’s top of mind and what they need from their supplier partners to make the summer season flow smoothly.

在下面的故事中，这些兽医诊所分享了他们最关心的事情，以及他们对供应商合作伙伴的需求，以使夏季顺利进行。

Holland Veterinary Care Anticipates a ‘Busy Season’

荷兰兽医护理迎来“旺季”

Dr. Carey Guise and her team at Pennsylvania-based Holland Veterinary Care get started on summer season preparations in April. The busiest months of the year tend to be June, July, and August. Then it starts to slow slightly as clients go away on vacation and prepare for back to school. For instance, June of 2022, the busiest month, had 20% more patient visits than February 2022, the slowest month). “We try to offset this variability in seasonal workload by employing students in the summer months.”

凯里·吉斯博士（Dr. Carey Guise）和她在宾夕法尼亚州荷兰兽医护理中心的团队在4月份开始了夏季的准备工作。一年中最忙的月份往往是6月、7月和8月。然后，随着客户外出度假和准备返校，业务量开始略有放缓。例如，2022年6月(最繁忙的一个月)的就诊人数比2022年2月(最慢的一个月)多20%。“我们试图通过在夏季聘用学生来抵消这种季节性工作量的变化。”

With more people vacationing in summer months, pets must be current on immunizations to stay at boarding facilities, Dr. Guise recommended. In addition to core vaccinations, most boarding facilities require kennel cough and influenza vaccinations. Influenza vaccines have recently been in limited distribution. News stories of localized flu outbreaks have made these vaccines a hot commodity. “As of March, we were already seeing an increase in demand for immunizations.”

吉斯博士（Dr. Guise）建议，随着越来越多的人在夏季度假，宠物必须及时接种疫苗才能留在寄宿设施。除了核心疫苗接种外，大多数寄宿设施还要求犬舍接种犬窝咳和流感疫苗。流感疫苗最近只有有限的分发。局部流感爆发的新闻报道使这些疫苗成为热门商品。“截至3月份，我们已经看到对免疫接种的需求有所增加。”

Summer fun brings more outdoor time, putting pets at higher risk for exposure to fleas, ticks, and mosquitoes. When owners find these ectoparasites on their pets, it heightens their awareness of the necessity for prevention. “We certainly see an increase in demand for flea, tick, and heartworm preventions in the summer months.”

夏天的乐趣带来了更多的户外时间，使宠物暴露于跳蚤，蜱虫和蚊子的风险更高。当主人在他们的宠物身上发现这些体外寄生虫时，这提高了他们预防的必要性的意识。“我们当然看到夏季对跳蚤、蜱虫和心丝虫的预防需求有所增加。”

The summer months also bring more gastrointestinal illnesses. Pets are outside eating inappropriate things or being boarded and exposed to parasites or infectious diseases. “We go through more probiotics and gastro diets during the summer.”

夏季也会带来更多的胃肠道疾病。宠物在外面吃了不合适的东西，或者被寄养，暴露在寄生虫或感染性疾病中。“我们在夏天会售出更多的益生菌和肠胃饮食产品。”

Close contact in boarding facilities and at dog parks brings an increase in respiratory illness, Dr. Guise said. It’s essential to have a good supply of appropriate antibiotics and cough medications.

吉斯博士（Dr. Guise）说，在寄宿设施和狗狗公园里的密切接触会增加呼吸道疾病的发病率。适当的抗生素和止咳药的充足供应是至关重要的。

During the summer, Holland Veterinary Care treats many ear and skin infections secondary to allergies or in dogs that swim frequently. Shampoos, topical therapies, and newer allergy drugs are in high demand throughout the season.

在夏季，荷兰兽医护理中心治疗许多继发于过敏或经常游泳的狗狗的耳朵和皮肤感染。沐浴液、局部疗法和较新的抗过敏药物在整个季节都有很高的需求。

Distributor reps can help during the busy season by providing access to essential vaccinations and medications. “Backorders and shipping delays can be detrimental to the high-volume workflow in the summer months.”

经销商代表可以在繁忙季节提供必要的疫苗接种和药物。“在夏季的几个月里，订单延期和发货延误会对大批量的工作流程造成不利影响。”

Easy access to client educational materials is also very helpful when high patient volumes necessitate technicians to be more efficient with their time. Providing resources for clients to read after their visit frees technicians to provide other more urgent care in the office.

当大量客户需要技术人员更有效地利用他们的时间时，能够方便地给予客户的一些教育材料也非常有帮助。为客户提供访问后阅读的相关资源，使技术人员也可以在办公室就提供其他更紧急的护理。

“It is difficult to find time to meet with reps during these months, as drop-off/fit-in appointments tend to creep into previously scheduled breaks in appointments. Promotional materials and new products would ideally be introduced before April when the clinician’s time doesn’t allow activities outside of managing a higher patient caseload.”

“在这几个月里，很难找到时间与销售代表见面，因为事先安排好的客户预约时间往往会挤掉与他们（销售）的会面时间。促销材料和新产品最好在4月份之前推出，因为临床医生的时间很难在管理更多的病例量之外的时间进行其他活动。”

Danville Family Vets Focuses on High-Demand Services

丹维尔家庭兽医专注于高需求服务

Dr. Jeff Smith, medical director at Virginia-based Danville Family Vet (powered by Galaxy Vets), said summer season can begin as early as late April in their state. “This is when we start seeing an increase in cases of flea infestation, tick-borne illnesses, and other seasonal conditions, such as allergies and skin infections.”

总部位于弗吉尼亚州的丹维尔家庭兽医(由Galaxy Vets提供支持)的医学主任杰夫史密斯博士（Dr. Jeff Smith）说，他们州的夏季最早可以在4月底开始。“这是我们开始看到跳蚤感染、蜱媒介疾病以及过敏和皮肤感染等其他季节性疾病病例增加的时候。”

Three services are in high demand during the summer season: vaccinations, parasite prevention, and dental cleaning.

在夏季，有三项服务需求量很大：接种疫苗、预防寄生虫和清洁牙齿。

Vaccinations are essential to protect pets from infectious diseases such as rabies, leptospirosis, and Lyme disease, Dr. Smith said. With warmer weather, pets are exposed to fleas, ticks, and mosquitoes, which elevates the risk of heartworm disease, Lyme disease, and other parasitic infections. Sought-after treatments are various parasite preventive, such as topical or oral medications.

史密斯博士（Dr. Smith）说，接种疫苗对于保护宠物免受狂犬病、钩端螺旋体病和莱姆病等感染性疾病的侵害至关重要。随着天气变暖，宠物会接触到跳蚤、蜱虫和蚊子，这就增加了患心丝虫病、莱姆病和其他寄生虫感染的风险。最受欢迎的治疗方法是各种寄生虫预防，如局部或口服药物。

“We can also see a spike in pet dental care appointments along with a summertime increase in client visits, which leads to diagnosis and treatment of dental and periodontal disease.”

“我们还可以看到宠物牙科护理预约的激增，以及夏季客户就诊的增加，这导致了牙齿和牙周病的诊断和治疗增多。”

Another popular service Danville Family Vet offers is boarding and daycare. With summer vacations and travel, pet owners seek a fear-free, safe, and comfortable environment for their furry companions when they are away. “Of course, boarding and daycare pets need to be protected through vaccination for contagious diseases like Bordetella and Canine Influenza.”

丹维尔家庭兽医提供的另一项受欢迎的服务是寄养和日托。随着暑假和旅行的到来，宠物主人们会为他们的宠物寻找一个没有恐惧、安全、舒适的环境。“当然，寄养和日托宠物需要通过接种疫苗来预防传染病，如犬窝咳/波氏杆菌（Bordetella）和犬流感（Canine Influenza）。”

In the summer, Danville Family Vet sees an increase in some types of cases related to seasonal changes and activities. Some of the most common types of cases Dr. Smith noted include:

在夏季，丹维尔家庭兽医看到与季节变化和活动有关的某些类型的病例增加。史密斯博士（Dr. Smith）指出了一些最常见的病例类型，包括:

• Heatstroke. Pets can quickly become overheated during the summer months, mainly if they are left in a car, or a hot room or are over-exercised.

• 中暑。宠物在夏季会很快变得过热，主要是如果它们要么被留在车里，或要么呆在炎热的房间里，或要么过度运动。

  
  

• Allergies. Many pets experience seasonal allergies during the summer months, which can cause itching, sneezing, and respiratory problems. Common allergens include grasses, pollen, and dust.

• 过敏。许多宠物在夏季会出现季节性过敏，这会导致瘙痒、打喷嚏和呼吸系统问题。常见的过敏原包括草、花粉和灰尘。

  
  

• Parasites. Fleas, ticks, and mosquitoes are more active during the summer months, which can lead to an increased risk of heartworm disease, Lyme disease, and other tick-borne illnesses.

• 寄生虫。跳蚤、蜱虫和蚊子在夏季更加活跃，这可能导致心丝虫病、莱姆病和其他蜱媒介疾病的风险增加。

  
  

• Skin problems. The warmer temperatures and increased humidity can exacerbate skin conditions such as hot spots, skin infections, and allergic dermatitis.

• 皮肤问题。温度升高和湿度增加会加剧皮肤状况，如皮肤红斑、皮肤感染和过敏性皮炎。

  
  

• Gastrointestinal problems. Pets are more likely to consume foreign objects or ingest toxic substances during the summer months, leading to gastrointestinal problems such as vomiting and diarrhea.

• 肠胃问题。在夏季，宠物更容易吃进异物或摄入有毒物质，导致呕吐和腹泻等胃肠道问题。

• Trauma. Pets are more active in the summer, leading to an increased risk of trauma, such as fractures and lacerations.

• 创伤。宠物在夏天更活跃，导致受伤的风险增加，比如骨折和撕裂伤。

  
  

Summer is probably the busiest time, along with the Christmas season, Dr. Smith said. “The combination of increased outdoor activity, more frequent contact with other animals and subsequent risk of injuries or bites, heat-related illnesses, and elevated exposure to parasites are the reasons for the surge in the caseload.”

史密斯博士说，夏季可能是最繁忙的季节，此外就是圣诞季。“户外活动的增加、与其他动物接触的频繁以及随后受伤或咬伤的风险、与热有关的疾病以及与寄生虫接触的增加，这些因素加在一起，是病例数量激增的原因。”

When working with suppliers, Danville Family Vet’s team pays special attention to client education, which is critical in preventing diseases and reducing healthcare costs over the long term. Vendors can offer educational materials on how to prevent and treat common summer-related issues in pets, such as heatstroke and dehydration.

在与供应商合作时，丹维尔家庭兽医团队特别关注客户教育，这对于预防疾病和长期降低医疗成本至关重要。供应商可以提供一些教育材料，告诉宠物主人如何预防和治疗与夏季有关的常见问题，如中暑和脱水。

“Distributor reps and vendors can also provide cooling products such as mats or vests and offer a range of flea and tick preventives to help protect pets from these common summertime pests,” Dr. Smith said. “Additionally, they can offer special promotions or discounts on products in high demand during the summer, such as flea and tick preventatives or grooming supplies.”

“经销商代表和供应商也可以提供一些有助于降温的产品，如垫子或背心，并提供一系列防跳蚤和蜱虫的产品，以帮助保护宠物免受这些常见的夏季害虫的伤害，”史密斯博士（Dr. Smith）说。“此外，他们还可以为夏季需求量大的产品提供特别促销或折扣，比如防跳蚤、防虱子或美容用品。”

Distributor reps and vendors can relieve some of the stress on busy hospital teams in the summer with a cool treat like an impromptu ice cream social or a lunch and learn on the human side of the business. “Offer tips on stress management, communication, and burnout prevention.”

经销商代表和供应商可以通过即兴的冰淇淋社交或午餐来缓解忙碌的医院团队在夏天的一些压力，并了解业务的人性化方面。“提供一些压力管理、沟通和倦怠预防方面的建议。”

Animal Care Center Navigates a Fluctuating Population Base

动物护理中心应对波动的群体基数

For the Animal Care Center of Green Valley, the summer season in southeastern Arizona is typically the reverse of what you would consider in the more northerly states. It typically starts around April and May, with a decline in summertime residents due to pet parents (aka “snowbirds”) migrating back to their cooler summer home states, said Otto Siegler, practice manager.

对于绿谷动物护理中心来说，亚利桑那州东南部的夏季通常与更北部的州相反。诊所经理奥托·西格勒(Otto Siegler)说，通常从4月和5月左右开始，夏季居民数量减少，因为宠物的家长(又名“雪鸟”)会回到凉爽的夏季家乡。

“There is a roughly a 5% to 10% drop in patient volume during the summer,” he said. “Our summer season used to be far less busy due to the winter-only residents heading back to their other residences in cooler climate states. Over the past five years, there has been less variance between our client/patient count during the summer months.”

他说:“夏季的病患数量大约下降了5%到10%。” “我们的夏季过去远没有那么繁忙，因为避寒居民会回到气候较凉快的州的其他住所。在过去的五年中，在夏季，我们的客户/病患数量之间的差异较小。”

Heartworm prevention and yearly preventive health exams are at the top of the list for preventive services. “Our clients are very compliant with the recommended yearly exams as the main tool for preventive care,” he said. “This way, we can catch any problem early on. We have a lot of concerns about preventing valley fever, so many clients do ask when the vaccine will be available.”

预防心丝虫和年度预防性健康检查是预防性服务的首要内容。他说:“我们的客户非常遵守建议的年度检查，将其作为预防保健的主要工具。”“这样，我们就可以及早发现任何问题。我们对预防山谷热有很多担忧，所以很多客户都问疫苗什么时候能上市。”

The diseases and types of cases the Animal Care Center team sees in the summer do not vary much from what they see year-round. “Since we do not have drastic climate changes/seasons, we don’t see much variation,” Siegler said.

动物护理中心团队在夏季看到的疾病和病例类型与他们全年看到的没有太大差异。西格勒（Siegler）说:“由于我们没有剧烈的气候变化/季节，我们看不到太大的变化。”

One big difference in southeastern Arizona from other areas of the country would be snake bites, toad intoxications, and heat stroke. Rattlesnake bites are the most prevalent of those three.

亚利桑那州东南部与美国其他地区最大的不同是蛇咬伤、蟾蜍中毒和中暑。响尾蛇咬伤是这三者中最常见的。

When working with suppliers, vendor special pricing offers and rebates help to keep client engagement and improve compliance by owners to take the best care possible of their pets, Siegler said. “Free CE (Continuing Education) offerings to help staff with CE requirements and morale are helpful,” he said. “Especially beneficial are in-person/ dinner CEs.”

西格勒（Siegler）说，在与供应商合作时，供应商的特价优惠和回扣有助于保持客户的参与度，并提高主人对宠物的依从性，让他们尽可能地照顾好自己的宠物。他说:“提供免费的继续教育课程，有助员工达到继续教育的要求，并鼓舞士气。”“面对面交流或共进晚餐的交流尤其有益。”

Photo credit: istockphoto.com/al_louc

Photo credit: istockphoto.com/xavierarnau

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