Veterinarians are the ultimate generalists. From oncology to cardiology and more, our oath is to care for pets and their owners in the best way possible. As general practitioners, we have an obligation to provide excellent medical care. Over the last 20 years, I have built my own American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA)-accredited veterinary practice and have learned a few things.
#1 Embrace new technology
Pets have shorter lives than humans and our goal is for them to live their best life. That’s why we seek the best tools to provide excellent care. I’ve had a 3M™ Littmann® Stethoscope for most of my career, so when 3M launched the 3M™ Littmann® CORE Digital Stethoscope, I was excited to try it. Pets are just as susceptible to heart and lung diseases, so the ability to capture heart and lung sounds, especially any abnormalities, make my Littmann CORE stethoscope a critical tool for me. I once brought my electronic stethoscope to a practice where I was helping and had the doctor listen to a heart murmur I heard with my new stethoscope. The doctor could not hear a heart murmur with his stethoscope and after he listened with my stethoscope the murmur became obvious to him.
#2 Educate pet parents
Pet owners like to be informed and engaged so it’s important to communicate openly with them. That’s part of the reason I love the 3M™ Littmann® CORE Digital Stethoscope’s ability to visualize sounds. Not only can I capture these sounds visually, but when connected to Eko software, I can share those sounds and images with pet owners who appreciate being part of their pet’s care.
#3 Build connection
As technology to support pets evolves, so does the way we care for them. Because we have learned to recognize that pets experience stress during a vet visit, we use a variety of techniques to mitigate their fear and anxiety that aid us in providing them with a “Fear Free” vet visit. In our “Fear Free” model, we might wrap an animal in a warm towel to make them feel safe while using treats like cheese whiz on a tongue depressor to calm them. I’ve enjoyed pairing new technologies with new techniques to ensure our pets get the best possible care. The stethoscope is often the first point of contact between a human patient and their clinician, helping build a connection that is essential to the patient-provider relationship. It’s no different for veterinarians: physical contact, and by extension, the way we use our stethoscopes is all part of the way we establish an unmistakable connection known as the human-animal bond.
#4 Do what you love
I knew I wanted to be a veterinarian from a young age. With help from my team, I’ve built a practice that serves pets and pet parents, ensuring they live a happier, longer life together. To me, there’s nothing more gratifying than being part of that process.
About Dr. Boaz Man
Dr. Boaz Man, a South Florida native, has been passionate about caring for pets’ needs since childhood. Dr. Man completed his Bachelors from the University of Miami in 1999 and earned his Doctorate of Veterinary Medicine from Ross University in 2004. Over the past 20 years, Dr. Man has been serving pets and pet parents in South Florida and is now the medical director and owner of Boca Midtowne Animal Hospital,