The joint American College of Veterinary Radiology and European College of Veterinary Diagnostic Imaging® position statement on artificial intelligence is now published in the AVMA Journals. The position highlights the current state of affairs in veterinary imaging AI and makes recommendations to ensure the safe and efficacious deployment of AI in the veterinary … [Read more...]
People buy benefits. Does your website share them?
Commentary Patrick Malone consistently coaches, “No one ever paid a dollar for a feature or function . . . they buy the benefit and what it will give to them.” Another way this can be expressed is we need to provide a “what’s in it for them” explanation. The results of a study published in JAVMA recently suggest that opportunities exist to increase communication of the … [Read more...]
Training the head dunk for hyperthermia and ocular/nasal flush first aid in dogs (video)
Our October 1st post <Link> shared the value of voluntary head dunks to effectively cool dogs when they are getting too hot. Voluntary is a key word. Using the video accompanying the study paper linked here, pet owners and handlers can learn to teach their dogs to head dunk and implement this first aid technique for exercise-related cooling or ocular/nasal … [Read more...]
JAVMA adding video transcripts
Keeping with the advancing digital communications, JAVMA is developing a space within their journals for articles that are centered around a clinical video, but also include the hallmarks of a scientific paper, such as an abstract, references and study objectives. As a clinician, I’ve often read peer-reviewed articles on a novel technique and wished for an easier way to … [Read more...]
Predatory journals: caution required, says veterinarian
Commentary Lisa A. Fortier DVM, PhD, DACVS, warns veterinary and readers about predatory journals and publishers noting hundreds of thousands of articles with questionable or nonexistent peer reviews are dumped into the scholarly market. NOTE: Knowledge is power but knowledge without action can be useless <Link>. The reality Dr. Fortier shares is a primary reason … [Read more...]
A one-health review on brucellosis in the United States
Commentary For this post, we focused on the risks associated with B. canis. The review presents Brucellosis sp., a potential storm cloud on the horizon. Our culture of saving non-endangered animals, transferring animals across the country, increasing backyard interactions with wildlife and the public’s ignorance of zoonotic risks make this review important reading for animal … [Read more...]
Gaps found in veterinary nutrition education
A recent online survey distributed by the American Animal Hospital Association received 403 responses from small animal veterinarians. The survey investigated whether formal veterinary school education and continuing education increased their confidence and the frequency of discussing nutrition with clients. Veterinarians with self-reported significant formal instruction and … [Read more...]
Vet techs contribute to shared decision making during companion animal vet appointments
Commentary While it should come as no surprise, this study in four practices shows the value of clients engaging with veterinary technicians and veterinarians. We rarely see this in human medicine and one might estimate that vet techs and vets rarely interact together with clients following an exam. In my experience, it is common to never see the veterinarian and vet tech … [Read more...]
Lepto on the rise
Michelle Evason, BSc, DVM, DACVIM (SAIM), says there is a global jump in the number of dogs diagnosed with leptospirosis, including some hot spots where lepto exposure and infections are likely to occur. Her article offers perspective on One Health concerns, hot spot areas and the ongoing need to embrace client education and use vaccine to prevent infections. . . . … [Read more...]
Survey: Attitudes regarding using analgesia in U.S. beef and dairy cattle
Many surveyed respondents indicated they were cognizant of the benefits of analgesia use in cattle, but perceived federal regulations and drug costs as impediments to the implementation of pain mitigation protocols on cattle operations. Source: JAVMA, January 15, 2021, Abstract only. Link. In general, frequency of analgesia use increased as cattle age increased, regardless … [Read more...]
Spectrum of care: more than treatment options
From the paper: Offering and providing an spectrum of care can be difficult but can also provide substantial benefits for all stakeholders in the veterinarian-client-patient relationship. In providing a SoC, veterinarians have a responsibility to provide context for each option, discussing the advantages, disadvantages, and most likely outcomes for each option; the … [Read more...]
Public agritourism and cuddly animals have inherent disease risks
Greg Cima provides a call to action for veterinarians working with clients whose operations or activities include sharing live animals in public settings. Pathogens are an occupational hazard in animal agriculture. Zoonotic risks are inherent in public venues and interactions. Animal shedding of E coli O157:H7 and Salmonella organisms is highest in the summer and fall, when … [Read more...]
Veterinary pros cannot rely on diagnostic tests alone
A new commentary paper warns veterinary clinicians and researchers that a diagnosis cannot rely on tests alone. The JAVMA article discusses the process of diagnostic test validation and the use of molecular diagnostic tests in clinical and regulatory veterinary medicine. Decisions should not be made solely on the basis of diagnostic test results, especially in the absence of … [Read more...]
Drug-resistant hookworms spreading in dogs, parasitologists warn
Veterinary parasitologists warn that multidrug-resistant hookworms are spreading in the U.S. and veterinarians should watch for persistent infections. Antoinette Marsh, PhD, cited study results that indicate dogs with suspected or confirmed drug-resistant hookworms are becoming widespread in the Southeast, and they have been documented in the Northeast and California. She said … [Read more...]
Manage web-side manners in telehealth to ensure client understanding
Verbal and nonverbal cues are as important during telehealth visits as when meeting face to face. Eye contact is especially important during virtual visits, writes Lori M. Teller, DVM, DABVP (canine/feline), CVJ. Source: JAVMA, August 1, 2021. Link. Dr. Teller recommends informing clients at the start of the visit that you may look away to consult records or to take notes. … [Read more...]
Pet pain points and tools for assessment
Pain! It’s one of the biggest challenges and important topics in veterinary medicine. Pets naturally avoid showing pain. Clients do not recognize pain and taking a pet to a practice likely masks pain even more with an adrenal response. Fortunately, there are now tools to identify and differentiate pain. Source: JAVMA, April 1, 2020. Link. Katie Burns shares these tools for … [Read more...]
How vet professionals juggle kids and work
More questions than answers remain for parents as we look to the upcoming school year. Companies and parents are bracing for more childcare conflicts. With schools not fully reopening and day-care centers struggling to survive the pandemic they just don’t know what the future holds” – WSJ, July 19, 2020. Link. Understanding how peers are handling the issues may be helpful as … [Read more...]
VFD forced beekeepers and veterinarians together
Since the 2017 implementation of the veterinary feed directive, beekeepers and veterinarians are learning from one another. It was a surprise to the bee community. They did not anticipate the rule, which restricts beekeepers from using certain antimicrobials in honeybees without a veterinary feed directive or prescription from a veterinarian. It won’t take many years to get us … [Read more...]
JAVMA, February 1 edition
It is always interesting to see what is being studied in our animal health industry. We noted the following: Tick paralysis in a free-ranging bobcat (Lynx rufus). Link. Tick paralysis has not previously been reported in felids outside Australia, according to the author. The cat recovered likely much to the chagrin of wild birds, small mammals and some small pets in his … [Read more...]
Ticks responsible for 7 of 17 U.S. vector-borne diseases
Thomas Mather, PhD, believes everyone should be better educated about ticks and able to identify the small number of tick species in the United States that threaten human health. “Different ticks carry different diseases in different parts of the country,” he explained. . . . if <people> saw how many ticks are waiting on twigs and leaves and in the brush . . . they would … [Read more...]
Vet clinics must address needs of dogs in lower-income households
The middle class is being hollowed out, because the less affluent are getting less affluent, shared Steve Ballmer during a Numbers Geek podcast <link>. He also noted single people without children account for 43 percent of all of the households in America. Meanwhile, the AVMA Veterinary Economics Division has been working to understand factors affecting veterinary visits. … [Read more...]
North American Veterinary Anesthesia Society focuses on team education
The American College of Veterinary Anesthesia and Analgesia along with the Academy of Veterinary Technicians in Anesthesia and Analgesia identified a need to elevate standards of care and practice for veterinary anesthesia and analgesia, as well as support those providing anesthesia and analgesia to animal patients. The NAVAS was created as a non-profit to engage anyone … [Read more...]
Age-related changes in canine brain structure and metabolism
Although cognitive decline and cognitive dysfunction may occur as pets age, neither should be accepted as simply a consequence of aging. This is the conclusion by the authors from a study at the Purina Institute. Nutritional interventions provide opportunities to slow cognitive decline, mitigate the behavioral signs of cognitive dysfunction and improve quality of life for … [Read more...]
Commentary on general practitioners; JAVMA
Educators address a paradigm that being “just a general practitioner” is a lower status veterinarian compared to those who seek to post-graduate specialties. Kudos to the University of Georgia authors for emphasizing the challenges and importance of general practitioners in our industry. Source: JAVMA, October 15, 2019. Link. (Abstract) Also see: Table of contents, JAVMA, … [Read more...]
Opinion – Vet student communication skills training programs need help
Research from Colorado State University suggests support for communication skills training programs and recognition of their value continue to grow. However, a lack of resources, faculty expertise, validated methods for outcomes assessment and leadership remain as challenges. As animal health pros, this research confirms what we’ve known for years. Therefore, working with … [Read more...]
When cats get fat
We’re highlighting one abstract from a recent JAVMA. Veterinary teams will find the information valuable in developing visit and retention activities for feline patients and their owners. Investigation of relationships between body weight and age among domestic cats stratified by breed and sex. Link A low frequency of repeated BW measurements suggested a low frequency … [Read more...]
AVMA’s latest veterinary census reveals important trends
An analysis of AVMA's electronic membership database of 113,394 veterinarians living in the United States in 2018 reveals important statistics that can help animal health pros better understand their customers. For example: women (61.7%) outnumbered men (38.2%), 9% of veterinarians were in private clinical practice the most prevalent generational group was … [Read more...]
Items of interest from JAVMA News
These items from the recent JAVMA News provide perspective for animal health pros: AVMA launches Axon, a new online CE platform < link >. This online learning platform provides a place for the entire veterinary team to access the AVMA's full library of digital learning, earn CE, and acquire skills for personal and professional development. The veterinary student … [Read more...]
JAVMA talks student debt, salaries
With nearly half of veterinary clinics seeking a new associate DVM in the next decade, <link> practice owners need to stay abreast of both salaries and indebtedness of students arriving on the job scene. Salary trends appear strong while debt continues to increase. Source: JAVMA, May 1, 2019. Link. (abstract only) . . . the mean full-time starting salary was $82,425 . … [Read more...]
2+2 programs expand the reach of veterinary education
Kaitlyn Mattson explains how veterinary colleges partner with universities to educate students across state lines. The approach may help states without a veterinary college retain their talent and meet the need for more veterinarians. Her article shows various 2+2 programs and participating schools. Prospective veterinary students from states that lack an AVMA Council on … [Read more...]