UK study suggests pet owners bully veterinarians.

UK study suggests pet owners bully veterinarians. Nearly 90 percent of British veterinarians and team members say they’ve felt harassed by a client—often over cost of care. Here are the statistics and some tips on dealing with it.The statistic makes for sad reading, according to the British Veterinary Nursing Association (BVNA). A full 89 percent of small-animal and mixed-animal veterinarians surveyed by the British Veterinary Association (BVA) say they or their team have felt intimidated by a client's language or behavior. The survey also revealed that pet owners' intimidating language and behavior is often related to the cost of treatment. No surprise—98 percent of all veterinarians said they've felt pressure to waive fees or accept late payments. The survey results inspired the two UK associations together to jointly publish shared "Advice to deal with intimidating clients" online at bva.co.uk. Some of the tips include: In the heat of the moment ... • Try to remain calm, at all times. Be confident but never aggressive. • If you feel intimidated by a client, try to not be alone with them. If you are concerned about your safety, politely ask the client to leave. If you see other team members facing difficult clients, do not leave them alone; remain within sight so you can go get help or step in and support your colleague.