Katherine Dobbs, LVT, CVPM, PHR, says paying attention to these regulations would be wise as employment laws get reviewed by the new administration: Fiduciary rule CEO pay ratio Affordable Care Act Overtime rule Pay equity Parental leave Predictable scheduling Source: Clinician’s Brief, March 2017. Employment law has never been easy to keep up with, … [Read more...]
Grain-free pet foods: fact or fiction?
Many pet owners believe grain-free diets are better for their pets because they assume they are more natural, carbohydrate-free and less likely to result in health problems. This is not the case. No credible evidence has been found showing grain-free diets are better for pets, nor do any nutritional foundations support this claim. Source: Clinician’s Brief, March 2017. Pet … [Read more...]
There are diets for pets at each life stage
Nutrient needs of dogs and cats change with age, so veterinarians should consult established guidelines and give clients clear direction to help them select the appropriate pet food at each life stage. Deborah E. Linder, DVM, DACVN, shares the Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO) guidelines and considerations at various ages. Source: Clinician’s Brief, … [Read more...]
Top 5 diseases of domestic ferrets
Ferrets are playful, curious and relatively docile — characteristics that have made them popular as pets. Because of their curious nature, unique biology and increased lifespan due to improved care, ferrets are prone to diseases that can be debilitating. Source: Clinician’s Brief, February 2017. Ferrets are likely to encounter one or more of these clinical problems in their … [Read more...]
Coprophagia season coming
As temperatures warm in parts of the U.S. so do the winter deposits of fecal material in yards and parks. For some dogs who are coprophagic, this is akin to an Easter egg hunt for tasty treats. This article offers some insight on the subject. Source: Clinician’s Brief, July 2015. (partial access) Coprophagia, the consuming of fecal matter, is a frequent complaint by dog … [Read more...]
Look at the ears
Ear infections and ear troubles almost always top the list of common pet ailments. Louis Norman Gotthelf, DVM, offers a photo tour of ear examinations and discussion of managing for healthy ears. Consider using this article for discussion during a veterinary team meeting. Source: Clinician’s Brief, December 2016. Dr. Gotthelf says a thorough physical examination of the ear … [Read more...]
Top 5 genetic diseases of cats
The most frequent conditions are complexly inherited and involve combinations of multiple genes and environmental factors. Jerold S. Bell, DVM, Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine, discusses: Feline lower urinary tract disease (FLUTD) Diabetes mellitus Lymphocytic or plasmacytic inflammatory disease Polycystic kidney disease Hypertrophic … [Read more...]
Top 5 genetic diseases in dogs
From allergies to airway disease, heart disease to hip dysplasia, this article explores common genetic disorders in dogs. Source: Clinician’s Brief, December 2016. … [Read more...]
Clinician’s Brief, best reads of 2016
Veterinary hospital teams and the representatives who call on them should find at least one topic from this “best of” list worthy of a team meeting or sales call discussion. Source: Clinician’s Brief, December 29, 2016. … [Read more...]
New flow chart helps teams deal with nasal discharge in cats
Respiratory conditions rank in the top issues feline patients face. Douglas Palma, DVM, DACVIM (SAIM), has created an impressive flow chart to help veterinary teams deal with both acute and chronic signs of nasal discharge. Consider using it in staff meetings as a training tool. Source: Clinician’s Brief, December 2016. … [Read more...]
Surgeon’s Corner: Friction Knots & the Aberdeen Knot
Knots are basic to surgery. Friction knots are recommended to maintain extrinsic tension on the ligated tissues between the first and subsequent throws. The associated video demonstrates the proper technique to form three friction knots, along with the alternative Aberdeen knot used in subcutaneous and intradermal closures. Sometimes reviewing basic techniques is a good … [Read more...]
Top 5 feline genetic diseases
Genetic diseases should be recognized in practice because they must be treated as chronic illnesses — not episodic diseases. Source: Clinician’s Brief, December 2016. Insurance claims and centralized hospital databases monitor the most frequent disease presentations, which helps veterinarians understand the most frequent genetic diseases. The most frequent conditions are … [Read more...]
Top 5 reasons veterinary nurses are essential
Veterinary nurses, or veterinary technicians, bring special skills and attributes to a practice. Few persons have a longer job description. Practices that learn to use them to their full potential realize increases in efficiency and improvements in client service and patient care. Veterinary nurses, with all their special skills, knowledge and attributes, are the gears that … [Read more...]
Ear cytology illustrated
Ear cytology provides an abundance of useful clinical information that is easily obtained with in-house testing. When combined with otoscopic examination findings, cytology is an efficient tool that help clinicians make a diagnosis and assess treatment response. Source: Clinician’s Brief, June 2016. Utilize these photo images to review common findings present on ear … [Read more...]
Review canine influenza
Canine influenza virus (CIV) is diagnosed worldwide. The rapid spread of the H3N2 virus in Asia and the United States indicates this virus is capable of regional epidemics and potentially worldwide pandemics. A lot has been written about CIV. This article provides a solid scientific perspective. Source: Clinician’s Brief, September 2016. The introduction of the H3N2 virus … [Read more...]
East meets West with cancer care acupuncture
Complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) treatment modalities such as, acupuncture, massage techniques, nutritional counseling and dietary supplements are used in human medicine to complement conventional cancer care. They are commonly integrated into treatment plans to decrease pain, anxiety and fatigue and to combat side effects of chemoradiation therapy. As research … [Read more...]
Top 5 causes of ADR in older cats
ADR? This new acronym is soooo animal health! It means, Ain’t doing right. What follows from Glenn Allen Olah, DVM, PhD, DABVP, is a realistic view of the top five ADR causes in his practice. Dr. Olah reminds us that certain disease conditions are more common in cats more than 10 years old and are frequently a different mix than those conditions in kittens and younger adult … [Read more...]
Catheters suspect in hospital-acquired infections
Hospital-acquired bloodstream infections most commonly originate from IV catheters and should be suspected in any patient with an IV catheter that develops systemic inflammatory response syndrome without an extravascular infection source. Adoption of hospital-cleaning protocols and standard operating procedures for clinical tasks enables all members of the veterinary team to … [Read more...]
Egg binding in pet birds
Cockatiels, budgerigars (e.g. parakeets) and finches are the most popular pet birds worldwide and the species most commonly affected by egg binding. These birds tend to present with more severe clinical signs, possibly because of their small size. Egg binding is the failure of an egg to pass within a normal period of time. Although there can be variability and numerous … [Read more...]
5 parasites that cross the placenta
Parasites that infect the fetus transplacentally in dogs may cause life-threatening disease in the fetus and newborn. Review these parasites and management approaches for each: Toxocara canis Neospora caninum Babesiosis Leishmaniasis Dirofilarial microfilariae Source: Clinician’s Brief, July 2016. Transplacental transmission also allows vector-borne … [Read more...]
Help owners save dogs from heatstroke
Learn what owners and team members can do to save dogs suffering from heatstroke. Studies show that dogs cooled by their owners before arriving at the hospital have a lower mortality rate than those whose owners do not attempt to cool them. Source: Clinician’s Brief, June 2016. The key take-home points: The mainstays of therapy for heatstroke patients include rapid … [Read more...]
Sponsored Content: The latest on the feline sarcoma controversy
A roundtable of experts discusses injection site sarcomas in Part 1 of this Clinician’s Forum overview. The experts include Sarah Boston, DVM, DVSc, DADVS; Audra Fenimore, DVM,DACVM; Shannon Vawter, DVM, MS and Nancy Welborn, DVM. Source: Clinician’s Brief, May 2016. KEY POINTS The most recent studies suggest that in the genetically predisposed cat the injection of … [Read more...]
Top 5 puppy behavior tips
There’s nothing like a new puppy. But the new wears off fast if the puppy isn’t taught to behave well. All animal health professionals get questions about “my new puppy” from friends and colleagues. The tips featured here help set proper expectations when dealing with a new puppy. Source: Clinician’s Brief, February 2016. Puppies are primed to learn, and veterinarians are … [Read more...]
Top 5 Topical dermatologic therapies
What goes around comes around. This peer-reviewed article discusses a renaissance for topical therapies. Veterinarians and sales personnel will appreciate its content. Source: Clinician’s Brief, December 2015. Topical therapy is of renewed interest in veterinary dermatology, both as primary short-term treatment and as an intervention that can prevent or reduce the frequency … [Read more...]
Top 5 maintenance insulins
This peer-reviewed article is great material for a veterinary hospital staff meeting. Ruth Gostelow, BVetMed(Hons), DACVIM, DECVIM-CA, MRCVS, Royal Veterinary College, provides perspective on treatments of diabetes mellitus in dogs and cats. Representatives can lead the discussion as a service to the veterinary team or use this information to become more aware of the variances … [Read more...]
Sponsored Content – Canine Bordetella vaccine: now easy to administer
Richard Meadows, DVM, DABVP, offers perspectives on Bordetella vaccination delivery options from the position of teaching veterinary students the practical aspects of vaccination. A sidebar reviews the four clinically important facts about Bordetella bronchiseptica. Source: Clinician's Brief, October 2015 print issue, page 26. As a veterinarian charged with teaching … [Read more...]
Feline Calicivirus + Cats, Cattle & M. Bovis
If it has been awhile since you refreshed your knowledge on calicivirus in cats, Dr. Lister’s peer-reviewed article contains a nice blend of science and situational factors worthy of reading. For this writer who grew up in a small southern Iowa farming town, the cats that “just did not seem right” were a near every week occurrence. Source: Clinician’s Brief September 2015, … [Read more...]