10 Recommendations Clients Want Veterinarians to Make
By Roxanne Hawn
When surgeons decide they are ready to build their orthopedic capability, the training provider matters as much as the procedure itself. With more than 12 years of orthopedic training experience, more than 1,000 delegates trained, small group learning, and post-course support, Securos has become a trusted option for veterinary professionals across the U.S and the U.K.
Here are seven reasons surgeons choose Securos when they are ready to take the next step.
1. Learn from a provider with long experience in veterinary orthopedic training
Experience matters in surgical education. Securos has delivered orthopedic training for more than a decade and has trained more than 1,000 delegates across a range of procedures.
That experience shapes the course. Delegates are not stepping into a new program. They are learning through a training model shaped over years of teaching veterinary professionals with different levels of surgical experience and different clinical goals.
For surgeons investing time and money in professional development, that can offer real reassurance.
2. Build clinical judgment, not just procedural knowledge
A successful TPLO depends on more than learning the steps of the surgery. Surgeons also need confidence in case selection, planning, and managing challenges before, during, and after the procedure.
Securos courses are designed to cover both the technical side of TPLO and the thinking behind it. Delegates learn how experienced orthopedic surgeons approach decision-making in practice, including case selection, planning, common pitfalls, and problem-solving.
Just as importantly, the goal is not to encourage every case to stay in-house. It is to help surgeons understand which cases are appropriate to manage within the practice and when referral is the better choice.
3. Learn in small groups with direct access to instructors
One of the main advantages of a surgical course is the chance to get direct guidance while you are learning.
Securos courses are built around low delegate-to-instructor ratios, with classes typically limited to around 14 delegates and supported by multiple instructors. That gives delegates more opportunity to ask questions, talk through specific challenges, receive feedback, and spend meaningful time developing practical skills.
For many surgeons, that level of interaction is hard to get in larger training settings, and it can make a real difference to confidence.
4. Hear different perspectives from experienced surgeons
There is rarely only one way to approach a clinical case. Securos courses give delegates access to instructors who may approach parts of a procedure differently. That gives participants a broader view of how experienced surgeons think through clinical decisions.
Understanding why one surgeon chooses one approach, and another chooses something slightly different can help delegates build better judgment and become more adaptable in practice.
For surgeons who are newer to TPLO, that can be just as valuable as learning the procedure itself.
5. Get support when you start applying the training in practice
For many surgeons, the real test begins after the course ends. Training may build confidence, but the first cases back in practice often raise new questions. That is where continued support matters.
Securos offers post-course support that can include guidance on case selection, pre-operative planning, post-operative management, and radiograph review.
That access to instructor support can help delegates apply what they have learned with more confidence when they begin managing cases in practice
6. Strengthen your practice’s orthopedic offering
For many practices, TPLO training is not only about individual development. It is also about what the practice can offer clients.
Building in-house orthopedic capability can help practices manage a wider range of suitable cases themselves, improve continuity of care, and give clients access to advanced treatment closer to home.
In some situations, it can also help practices retain cases that might otherwise be referred because the required skills are not yet available within the team. The result is a stronger surgical offering built on sound clinical judgment and appropriate case management.
7. Support long-term professional development
For surgeons with a growing interest in orthopedics, TPLO training can be an important step in long-term development. Some take the course because they want to widen the range of procedures they can perform now. Others see it as part of a longer path toward a more advanced orthopedic caseload.
The course also gives delegates the chance to connect with peers who share similar goals. Those relationships often continue after the training ends.
For both individual surgeons and practice leaders, investment in advanced clinical skills can support confidence, career development, and future growth.
Ready to take the next step?
When you are considering TPLO training, the goal is not only to learn a procedure. It is to build the judgment, confidence, and support needed to use that training well in practice.
With more than 12 years of training experience, more than 1,000 delegates trained, hands-on learning in small groups, access to experienced instructors, and post-course support, Securos has become a trusted training partner for veterinary professionals looking to strengthen their orthopedic capability.
5. Pet trainers and training services
While clients certainly can do a lot of DIY pet training at home, training classes run by professional trainers can be a key part of wellness and retention—at any stage in a pet’s life.
Compile a list of trainers of whose methods you approve for everything from puppy training on through competitive dog sports. Particularly for board-and-train options, be sure you know how the dogs are trained and kept during their stays.
A couple of organizations also now award “titles” for dogs doing tricks. Even if the pet (or the client) isn’t particularly athletic, there are fun options to take dog training beyond things like sit, down and stay.
Also, there is a growing trend for so-called “adventure cats” who walk on leash, do tricks, go hiking and boating and many other activities. People like to joke about cats being homebody hermits, but the potential to give cats a much broader experience—with proper training for safety and fun—is bigger than many people think.
6. Groomers or DIY grooming
People want to know their pets will be well cared for and handled properly during grooming so, especially for breeds that require regular grooming care by a professional, be sure to have at least five grooming recommendations you can make confidently.
Other pets, though, just need a quick bath and brush, so scope out the DIY options in your community, or be ready with instructions on how best to bathe pets at home as needed.
Keep a list of shampoos, brushes and other grooming tools you recommend as well.
There is even a whole movement in dog training circles to teach “cooperative care,” meaning that dogs are specifically trained to tolerate (and even enjoy) grooming and even some types of veterinary care. For pets who really struggle with being handled, a specific recommendation for teaching cooperative care may be a good idea.
7. Daycares, boarding kennels and pet sitters
Know which kennels, sitters and walkers do a good job. Ask clients who they use to start building a list. You’ll still want to send a team member out to tour kennels in person and to invite individual providers to meet with you at the practice so that you can screen them for being a good match for you and your clients.
8. Pet exercise
With the increase in numbers of pets who are overweight and obese, making recommendations for pet exercise is more important than ever. The length, type and intensity of exercise will depend on the pet’s age and other factors.
Specific recommendations matter at both ends of the age spectrum. Some active clients may be eager to take young dogs on longer walks, runs or hikes than are best for a growing puppy.
9. Pet toys and enrichment products
Pet toys and enrichment products have exploded in growth in recent years. From activity feeders and interactive toys to all manner of fetch and tug options, there are so many ways to make pets’ lives more fun and stimulating. It might be worth a trip to one of the huge annual pet expos every few years to see what’s new.
10. Pet tech products
Pet tech is another growing field. With apps and smartphone integrations and activity monitors and remote play and video options, people can go wild using tech to engage with and care for their pets.
Some of the products may seem frivolous, but others may have lifesaving uses. Even if you aren’t particularly into tech yourself, think about which specific kinds of tech may be useful for specific pets.
As I’m writing this article, a border collie is missing in the huge wildland park near my rural home. She broke loose from her leash more than two weeks ago. I cannot help but think how much it would help if she had a GPS monitor on her collar so that we could track her movement and increase chances of her being at the right place at the right time for recovery.
Your expert opinions matter
Yes, the primary role of veterinary teams is to recommend and provide medical services to pets. Fundamentally, though, veterinary teams are knowledge professionals who bring expertise and technical talents to the job of caring for pets.
Clients appreciate and value your input on all manner of pet-care topics. The demand for your input comes from both younger and newer pet owners as well as others who like to stay on the leading edge of pet care. Meet those needs, and you can encourage client loyalty and compliance on many fronts.
