Medication Reminders

Normally, the medications prescribed for boarding or hospitalized patients are kept in a basket on the patient’s cage, but controlled substances and refrigerated medications can get left behind when the pet goes home. We solved that problem with laminated signs (red for controlled substances, blue for refrigerated), which we hang on the front of the cage. Now our patients go home with all the medications they were prescribed.
Elizabeth Lannon, LVT
Reston, Virginia

Test Results in a "Snap"

To quickly interpret results of in-house, rapid-result tests—such as those for FeLV, FIV, and heartworm—I cut out the instructions, laminate and hole-punch them, and keep them all together on a large hole-punch ring for handy reference. This allows anyone performing the tests to quickly interpret the results without having to rummage around for the correct sheet.
Chanda Fulkerson, CVT
Caring Hands Veterinary Hospital
Billings, Montana

Preventing Breakage of Shipped Vials

When sending multiple serum samples to an outside laboratory, I place sample tubes inside plastic syringe casings to help protect vials from breaking within shipping bags. I find that 3-mL, plain, red- and lavender-top vials fit well inside a 3-mL syringe casing, and most serum separator tubes will fit in a 6- or 12-mL syringe casing. Once the casings are taped closed, they provide a cushion between two or more sample vials, reducing the chance that vials will arrive at the laboratory broken.
Angie Smith
West Lake Animal Hospital
Springfield, Illinois