Only 10 percent of dogs born in the U.S. will find a permanent home <Link>. Alyssa Watson, DVM, and Beth Molleson, DVM, discuss the nuances, challenges and inequities of pet ownership. The discussion is as relevant today as when they recorded the podcast. Source: Clinician’s Brief, December 2022. Link. … [Read more...]
Animal shelter best practices provide tips for clinic boarding facilities
Commentary We liked the premise of this article. Staci Cannon, DVM, MPH, DACVPM, DABVP, shares evidence-based guidelines for standards of care in shelters can be applied to a clinic boarding setting, noting the shared similarities. Source: Clinician’s Brief, August 2024. Link. Whether clinic or shelter, intentional boarding strategies help reduce patient stress during … [Read more...]
Perianesthetic medication errors in general practice
Much like carpenters who measure twice and cut once, veterinary teams can benefit from developing a culture of safety that normalizes double-checking each other’s work. Erik H. Hofmeister, DVM, DACVAA, DECVAA, MA, MS, shares results from a study examining the number and type of medical errors during the perianesthetic period in private veterinary clinics. Workloads increase the … [Read more...]
Review: Conjunctivitis medications: topical and oral solutions
There are almost as many medication options to treat conjunctivitis as there are reasons for inflammation of the conjunctiva. Renee Carter, DVM, DACVO, outlines different treatment options for the various causes of infections in the eyes of cats and dogs. Source: Clinician’s Brief, August 2022. Link. Image credit: PetSure … [Read more...]
Webinar: 2024 Therapeutic Update and year-in-review
Consider this webinar to get the latest therapeutic updates as Clinician’s Brief and Plumb’s Pro authors recap which drugs debuted in 2024 and how to use them. Source: Clinician’s Brief. Link. Webinar is available on demand. Registration required. RACE approved (1 credit hour) INSIGHTS: This offering would be good preparation for animal health sales/marketing pros ahead … [Read more...]
Bottom line versus best practices. A delicate balancing act.
The business–care paradox is an emotional drain in veterinary medicine. This is not a phenomenon but rather a situational, everyday challenge veterinary teams experience daily. The current economic conditions exacerbate this long-standing challenge. Zenithson Ng, DVM, MS, DABVP, shares a study overview that explores how practices can successfully balance the financial realities … [Read more...]
The nonprofit veterinarian shortage: Who will care for the pets most in need?
Statewide studies suggest that shelters and nonprofit clinics have been especially hard hit by the veterinary workforce shortage. A study sought to determine the effect of this shortage on veterinary care provided at two types of public practice: veterinary care for cats and dogs housed temporarily in animal sheltering organizations veterinary clinics aimed at … [Read more...]
Cannabis product use in cats, dogs in the U. S.
Understanding how pet owners think and use cannabis products gives animal health pros a look at their motivations for and perceptions of cannabis-derived product use. Whether treats, chews and oil-based tinctures are used, Trina Hazzah, DVM, DACVIM, CVCH, emphasizes that using correct terminology is essential. CBD is not synonymous with cannabis; CBD is one of the 150 … [Read more...]
Tracking veterinary technicians. 116 years of development.
Clinician’s Brief’s historical snapshot of the developing role of veterinary technicians is a good read and offers perspectives as our industry continues to struggle to define how these important pros are considered and positioned in veterinary teams and regulatory systems. This week is the 31st National Veterinary Technician Week and our AHD Team acknowledges the critical … [Read more...]
Are antibiotics necessary for oral surgery?
Bacteremia is a recognized sequela of dental scaling and oral surgery in patients with severe periodontal disease. A small study sought to assess whether transient bacteremia developed after dental scaling, root planing and dental extractions, as well as whether the amount of bacteremia warranted antibiotics. Perioperative use of systemic antibiotics for dental procedures in … [Read more...]
Eyeworm emergence in cats, dogs in the U.S.
Muscoid flies like the house fly and stable fly, along with drosophilid flies like fruit flies, can transmit eye worm nematodes in the genus Thelazia. Many eyeworm species have been identified in the United States in dogs, wildlife, horses and cattle. Heather D.S. Walden, MS, PhD, shares the discovery of Thelazia callipaeda infections in cats and explains the importance of … [Read more...]
Tangible tick tactics with Dr. Dryden (podcast)
Michael Dryden, DVM, MS, PhD, DACVM, often known as Dr. Flea, discusses strategic methods for avoiding ticks, shares tips for preventing secondary disease and offers insights into why tick strategies have changed. He speaks about tick range expansion that impacts how veterinary teams can help animal owners reduce the risks in different regions. Source: Clinician’s Brief, … [Read more...]
Sharing cases can create confusion
Sarah Wolff, BVM&S, provides two strategic approaches to manage client experiences when more than one veterinarian can service a client. “Worst-case scenarios occur when colleagues have conflicting approaches and clients are caught in the middle.” Source: Clinician’s Brief, May 2024. Link. Wolff shares the benefits and drawbacks of a) clinician-bonded strategies and b) … [Read more...]
Fresh pet food market in flux
The fresh pet food market is evolving rapidly. David Lummis’ article will be interesting for students of the explosion of pet food options. E-commerce is projected to increase its share of overall pet food sales to about two-fifths in 2028. The share will likely be closer to two-thirds for fresh pet food. Source: Pet Product News, May 2024. Link. Closing in on $3 billion at … [Read more...]
Top 5 uses for gabapentin in dogs and cats (podcast)
A survey of clinicians found that gabapentin use in veterinary medicine is similar to use in human medicine; 69 percent of respondents indicated they prescribe gabapentin on a daily or weekly basis, most commonly for acute and chronic pain (extra-label). Rebecca Reader, DVM, DACVAA, reviews her top five recommended uses for gabapentin based on mechanism of action and physiology … [Read more...]
It is important to count dogs’ teeth
Michael Jennings, VMD, DAVDC, writes about dentigerous cysts which are often seen in young brachycephalic dogs. They develop around an unerupted tooth when the epithelial lining covering the enamel produces fluid, causing expansion and destruction of surrounding bone. Jennings shares the importance of counting teeth, determining if a tooth is missing or unerupted and … [Read more...]
Top 5 short procedure sedation scenarios
General anesthesia isn’t the only choice when it comes to minor procedures. Khursheed Mama, DVM, DACVAA, shares her top five scenarios involving sedation for short procedures. Source: Clinician’s Brief, March 2019. Link. Dr. Mama discussed short procedure sedation on Clinician's Brief: The Podcast <Link>. Sedation is not without risk and requires monitoring vigilance … [Read more...]
Re-entering practice after a hiatus (podcast)
We found the podcast discussion from Alyssa Watson, DVM, Beth Molleson, DVM, and guest Katie Berlin, DVM, especially timely and relevant as our industry deals with balance, equity and equality issues <Link>. Source: Clinician’s Brief: The Podcast, March 2024. Link. (46:21) … [Read more...]
Random drug testing not recommended to curtail drug abuse and misuse
Jon Geller, DVM, DABVP, summarizes a survey study of United Kingdom veterinarian perceptions of the potential for veterinary prescription medication misuse or abuse in this article. Strict pharmacy controls, monitoring repeat prescription requests and pre-employment drug testing testing were the key takeaways to manage drug abuse and misuse. Source: Clinician’s Brief, … [Read more...]
Pet owner handout emphasizes the importance of pet oral health
Reinforcing the importance of home care and oral exams by veterinarians, this handout is built as a take-home to reinforce discussions in the veterinary hospital or for use in newsletters or social media. Source: Clinician’s Brief, February 2024. Link. The handout refers to different types of oral care products for at-home use and refers to the VOHC lists of approved … [Read more...]
Are veterinarians obligated to discuss pet insurance? (podcast)
Alyssa Watson, DVM, and Beth Molleson, DVM, debate the role of the veterinary team when it comes to pet owner education and discuss if pet insurance is an obligation. Their consensus: Pet insurance is not an obligation. Educating pet owners on the lifetime costs of veterinary pet care is important. Source: Veterinary Breakroom, Clinician’s Brief. February 2024. … [Read more...]
Worth a Glance – February 15, 2024
Last week’s AHD Bulletin – Animal Health Digest Bulletin, February 8, 2024. Link. Most read post(s) from the February 8th AHD Bulletin – Groundhog day again? Link. Cunning chameleon, M. bovis contributes to calf pneumonia. Link. Paragon’s new digital dog grooming guide. Link. ============================================ Service and honor are the fabric … [Read more...]
Instinct Science acquires VetMedux
ICYMI. Instinct Science, a leading software provider for veterinary hospitals, announced this week that it acquired VetMedux, a trusted education and point-of-care information company that owns Clinician's Brief and Plumb’s Veterinary Drugs. Instinct is on an ambitious path to provide game-changing software tools to the veterinary caretakers of today and tomorrow,” said Caleb … [Read more...]
Cannibis? Keep aware of pet owner choices
Commentary We’re reposting these resources after learning that a neighbor’s 8-year-old terrier spent nearly four days recovering after ingesting cannabis during a visit from guests. The family thought the dog had ingested an Rx tablet but questions from poison control led them to discover one of the guests had dropped a marijuana bud. “Avoiding CBD discussions won’t stop … [Read more...]
Cannabis product use in cats and dogs in the U.S.
Sharing the results from a pet owner survey, Trina Hazzah, DVM, DACVIM, CVCH, offers a view of how pet owners are using cannabidiols, their perceptions of its efficacy and attitudes about trying cannabis or cannabidiols. The results underscore the need for veterinary education and the legal ability to discuss administering cannabis in companion animals. . . . only 21 percent … [Read more...]
New in 2022-2023: Drug approvals, indications and generics
NOTE: It is difficult to keep track of what’s coming, what got approved in other countries and what has been approved for use in the U.S. When reviewing the 2023 approvals, we thought a few were missing only to find them on the 2022 list. Both years are linked here. Jim Budde, PharmD, RPh, DICVP, highlights some of the key drugs recently approved for the treatment of small … [Read more...]
Altering a colleague’s treatment plan without judgment is an art (podcast/video)
Alyssa Watson, DVM, and Beth Molleson, DVM, discuss the often delicate subject of altering long-term treatments or medications for patients without implying previous approaches weren’t consistent with the current evaluation. . . . re-evaluating a pet's treatment plan requires tact and consideration for the client and the owner . . .” Source: Clinician’s Brief, Veterinary … [Read more...]
A new type of skin hypersensitivity in dogs
A recent retrospective study looked at dogs with skin lesions in high grass contact areas to establish if they have a version of a pruritic condition found in humans. Contact dermatitis is a type IV hypersensitivity reaction that occurs when chemicals known as haptens come into contact with skin. Dogs that develop reactions to contact with grass may experience a similar … [Read more...]
Ever persistent canine parvovirus. DVM 360 panel discussion.
Complimentary Commercial Content A panel of experts discusses the ongoing challenges when treating canine parvovirus including sharing how prevalent the disease remains and the emotional toil on staff members. The panel digs into parvo treatment options across the spectrum of veterinary medicine as well as their limitations. The discussion continues to introduce an … [Read more...]
Prevalence of GI ulcers in dogs treated with long-term NSAIDs
The prevalence of chronic GI injury associated with NSAID administration in dogs is unknown, therefore regular recheck examinations are needed for dogs receiving chronic NSAID therapy, writes Sue Hudson Duran, RPh, MS, PhD, DICVP, FSVHP, FACVP. She emphasizes educating owners about NSAID risks and only prescribing NSAIDs specifically labeled for use in dogs. Source: … [Read more...]