My #1 vet tip isn't even medically related, and it's probably something Dr. Sophia Yin would say:

Promote good behavior--ask your dog to say "please" by sitting prior to giving him something he wants!

I wish everyone would abide by this rule! (My dogs do! Most of the time anyway...)

If you use it and want to provide credit (as you suggested), I'm Dr. JC Burcham from Olathe Animal Hospital in Olathe, KS. :) 

I love Twitter, though I try to limit the attention I pay to it, as it could easily eat up an entire day.

I Twitter to drive traffic to my blog, connect to other cat bloggers, share links, find links to great articles (especially about marketing & design, which is my other great love), make connections with people who provide services I need (I've tweeted about needing a Drupal programmer and a place to get business cards printed - both times, someone messaged me or followed me within the hour), get to know other bloggers in a less formal setting etc etc.

I have my blog set up to automatically post to Twitter when I've posted a new blog entry.

I think Twitter is a valuable tool - just keep it under control instead of letting it control you.

@anlinas

Thanks, Susan: Tough to get most reccs into 140 characters but I'll give it a try.

Here's a Vet Tip of the Day for you, Dr. Patty -- came up today on one of my breed bulletin boards.

Owner extremely distraught -- dog violently vomiting until nothing left but foam, next step is violent expulsions from other end which continue until bloody. Dog is lethargic, has no interest in food or water, is utterly miserable, and Owner has no idea what to do. At all. Has never heard of an emergency vet. Wouldn't know where to find one.

It's a very supportive and kind bulletin board and people help him find one in his area (as you would expect, there was one listed on his vet's answering machine), the pup was brought in, worked up, put on subQ fluids, is expected to be fine, PHEW.

Would it not make sense to incorporate into the initial client meeting an explanation of what an after-hours vet is, what they are for, where the nearest one(s) are (perhaps with some nice little maps and phone numbers, or even magnets for the fridge) so when that emergency happens -- and we KNOW  it will happen -- they will smack their forehead and say, "It's in Fido's File!" or "It's on the Fridge!" and go tearing off to get Fido or Kitty the help needed as soon as possible?

Maybe even a list of examples of symptoms which would justify a night visit. (with a "thisisnotexclusive" caveat)

Just thinking.

PJB: welcome back...I posted a few blogs for the CSI lawyer in you and all the CSI vet voyeurs too. I could never hone it down to a twitter without help!

Barb A's comments: http://walnut-hill.bravejournal.com

Nice try again dfgdfg. Rule number one is never "click" on a link or open an email from someone you don't know. And thats you.

Twitter: Another way to be flooded with sound bites (most useless and nonsensical) from a thousand sources.  No thanks.

Pete Twitter has a 40% retention rate of users, who tend to drop the service after a month.  The Technology behind Twitter is promising (still bridge technology) but the marketing is ultimately the achilles heel as in any tech product.  My take is get what you can out of twitter while it's hot because some new hot ap will come along to entertain the instant gratification and the wow neat kewl junkies that may render it obsolete overnight.  The problem I see as a business man myself is how in h*ll do I get someones serious undivided attention with this?  But thats always beens techs problem at least in the commerical main stream.

LOL

Ingrid: You are now being followed! Thanks!

The addicting nature of the Internet is having such a vast amount of information available.  The other side is connectivity with other people. We don't have sit home alone twiddling our thumbs now we can be social within the comrfort of our homes. Computing is a marvelous tool but I still feel we are somewhat in a rut right now, still stuck with a keyboard, monitor, and a handle, never quite getting to the point to where we can make a genuine and sincere and honest connection.  Real time high speed video just isn't there yet.  AT@T's video phone never took off, and no matter how hard I tried I could not get people comfortable with "being seen" via computer technology. Expecially women who insisted they would have to be made up and maxed out before entering a Video social platform. What I don't like about the internet is the dark side, and the fact so many young impressionable kids are exposed to it and all the wrong things at very young ages.

How did computers become so addicting? Just replaced the telephone & opened up to a huge community of contacts! I visited Twitter once or twice, have a page on Facebook--that is getting too confusing. I must need to work up to it.

As it is, I am totally revamping my web site to include all the learned updates & facts...that will take me forever as it is!

The best part is the non-intrusion...you connect & converse at your designated time/convenience.

My blog post for today: Drug Fraud is a felony or....what the he** were they thinking?

Tweet!  "~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~"

Tweet! "Okay already stop announcing what you're having for dinner."

Actually Twitter could be helpful. You could twitter a client and say "we're running a little late stop for a Latte".

Only problem there is you might have to send a Twit, a Blackberry, an Email, and a Cell Phone call all at the same time simultaneously to get the clients attention.  LOL . .  my oh my I'm in a fiesty mood today.

I tend to prefer Facebook but pass along a few tidbits and updates to my blogs. Mostly I am pretty busy and am not online as long these days.

Your idea is a good one and I find it useful. I had a series of daily PSAs that I got away from but think I am going to pick that effort back up again.

Not sure how Arden finds the time to keep up with all the social media--she is super active.

Find me blogging at Ark Animals

What sign are you Doc. I need to check your current astrological profile since today seems to be fun day at the Dolittler Ranch.

I didn't think I was going to like Twitter, but I quickly found that I enjoy the relationship building aspect of it, and I'm in awe of the really great information people offer on any and all subjects, and how helpful and generous most Twitter members are in terms of forwarding useful information.  Sure, there are spammers just like everywhere else online, but that's what the "unfollow" button is for.

My focus is on pet health, veterinary topics, conscious living for pets and their people, blogging and the publishing industry and there just aren't enough hours in the day to absorb all of the great information that people post. 

It can get addictive, and once my followers hit around 200, I felt overwhelmed and wasn't sure I could keep going with it and still have fun.  I looked at various desktop apps that are out there, and now that I found one that I like, I can keep up with it and enjoy it again.

And if it wasn't for Twitter, I never might have found Dolittler!

And to copy Dr. Khuly, feel free to follow me, too!

I do like the look of your Twitter page Doc. But I am extremely jealous of that lucky Cat.  LOL . . . . .

Your welcome got black coffee? LOL twit!

I hear you, Evet. Thanks.

Hello? Is there anyobdy out there?

Which way the crowd go? . . . LOL

Just keep the Twittering device locked up and turned OFF when your performing surgery thats all we ask Doc! Listen to soothing classical musical while operating.  No heavy metal.

Our sole purpose was to get you addicted Doc. I'm an ex 90's Tech Evanglist. LOL seriously I pray for my salvation now from my sins.

Anyway no I don't twitter.  Disruptions in my focus annoy me. Let alone constant interruptions. It's the reason I do no own a cell phone either.  I'm busy, I'm trying to accomplish an important task, leave me alone, so I can bring back the check to purchase your latest "twitter gadget" which you'll be bored with in one week before "needing" the next latest and greatest toy.  In fact, go out and mow some lawns for a change and buy your own stuff. The mowers in the garage.

Dr. Steggy: Interesting. For me, Twitter has taken more of a micro-blogging turn. Perhaps that's how I'm wired? I also use it to hear about new events/issues in pet health--sort of like putting a finger on the pulse of what's happening in the pet world in an organic sort of way. I like that, too, since I can source blog post ideas and content from these. Never used it to make travel purchasing decisions but that's a good thought--especially as I like to go to the Keys a lot. Thanks!

I don't think of Twitter as blogging.  I think of it as slow motion IM with a group of people.  That's how I treat it, at least--I have coversations on Twitter.  My blog is only open to people I know well so its a bit more intimate than how I use Twitter.  I do use it to opt in for marketing type stuff I am interested in too--I like to go to Las Vegas, so I follow a few casino hosts who let me know who is having specials and what not, very useful when I am in town!