Handbook of Veterinary Communication Skills [Paperback]

This is the first definitive textbook on veterinary communication, written specifically for students and veterinary professionals by a group of international experts. Communication is a core clinical skill, and is now taught as a compulsory part of most veterinary degree courses. Good communication is crucial to the veterinarian-client-patient relationship, to patient health and ultimately to the success of any veterinary business.

The book covers all the key areas of communication including: the basic framework for the veterinary consultation; professional, ethical and legal aspects; communication with clients and colleagues; and coping with end-of-life and other difficult situations. It combines the most up-to-date research with a wealth of practical information, such as:

• Real-life case studies to help you apply your learning to real scenarios
• Simple step-by-step guidelines showing you how to deal with specific situations
• Examples of written resources you can use in practice

This valuable textbook has been written and edited by a carefully chosen group of specialists, comprising veterinary communication lecturers, veterinary practitioners, training managers and counsellors.

Contributors vii

Foreword ix

Acknowledgements xi

Introduction xiii

Chapter 1 Basic communication skills 1
Mary Kirwan

Introduction 1

Background and origins 1

The importance of communication 2

Definition of key terms 3

Models of communication 4

Verbal and non-verbal communication 7

Listening 15

The cultural context of commulƒÐ