Referring veterinarians' opinions and veterinary teaching hospital veterinarians' perceptions of those opinions regarding communication and nutritional product recommendations.

Objective: To compare opinions of referring veterinarians and perceptions of veterinary teaching hospital (VTH) veterinarians of those opinions regarding nutritional product recommendations made by VTH veterinarians.

Design: Survey.

Sample Population: VTH veterinarians from 10 US colleges of veterinary medicine and referring veterinarians within a 160-km (100-mile) radius of each of those colleges.

Compliance: crafting quality care.

The concept of compliance involves the consistency and accuracy with which a client follows the regimen recommended by the veterinarian or other veterinary health care team member. Contrary to common belief, most compliance failures are not the direct result of a client's unwillingness to comply. This article will help the reader better appreciate the critical importance of effective communication by the entire veterinary health care team in achieving compliance.