Every veterinarian wants to have a successful practice that provides quality medical care while creating a professional reputation for excellence.

Marvin Beeman, DVM, of Littleton Equine Medical Center, in Colorado, veteran practitioner and keynote speaker at the 2014 American Association of Equine Practitioners (AAEP) Convention, held Dec. 6-10 in Salt Lake City, Utah, shared lessons he’s learned about veterinary practice and life that have helped him reach these goals. By paying attention to the doing the little things well in his veterinary career, he said, has identified ways to build a successful practice while also keeping his enthusiasm at a peak.

The legendary veterinarian recalled how 60 years ago most practitioners relied completely on observation and hands-on techniques for diagnoses, and on treatments limited to ice packs, rest, and sulfa drugs (antibiotics). The introduction of anti-parasitic drugs for treating intestinal parasites and preventing colic was a big turning point. He said he believes this development has greatly impacted horse longevity, especially considering that deworming practices form the foundation of today’s equine wellness care. The portable X ray machine then opened up countless diagnostic possibilities in field practice, and digital radiography, ultrasound, and myriad other sophisticated imaging options, such as MRI, CT scan, and nuclear scintigraphy, catapulted veterinarians’ abilities even further.

Beeman feels that inhalation anesthesia might be one of the most important modalities to become available in his professional life: “Horses could now survive difficult conditions due to the possibility of surgery for procedures that were previously too risky or too painful