Dan Holland shares curbside care tips that are standing the test of time. He says for most clients, patients and veterinarians, this new treatment model has been a win-win-win. It also forced veterinary practices to rethink certain areas of their workflow to accommodate curbside care appointments. He shares recommendations for practices in the crucial areas of communication, … [Read more...]
Worth a Glance – April 29, 2021
20 Vacation Ideas for You and Your Dog Source: Daily Paws, April 5, 2021. Link. Top dog-friendly vacation destinations, a guide to exploring the world with your furry companion. Limping puppy: What should I do if my dog is limping? Source: Revival Animal Health, April 21, 2021. Link. Marty Greer, DVM, JD tips on what you should … [Read more...]
Antioxidant use is growing. Do they work?
Marilyn Iturri discussed antioxidants with several veterinarians to better understand if antioxidants are viable options for supporting animal health. There is no clear-cut answer except a complete and balanced pet food should supply a healthy amount of antioxidants, unless supplementation could potentially help. Everyone wants to group antioxidants together as … [Read more...]
Getting clients to opt for treatment
Phil Zeltman, DVM, shares 10 common reasons clients decline treatment for their animals and how to avoid the situation. Confidence and the development of trust is critical to handling most situations he says. Ultimately, our job is not to convince a client to do the right thing. We are not in the arm-twisting business. All we can do is educate them objectively, be their pet’s … [Read more...]
Five self-sabotaging habits and their healthy counterparts
Rebecca Rose, CVT, is a tireless champion for creating a healthy, sustainable career in veterinary medicine. She presents common self-sabotaging habits and their healthy counterparts. The topic is timely as animal health pros move into the next phases of Covid-19 recovery and whatever the next normal brings. Source: Veterinary Practice News, January 21, 2021. Link. … [Read more...]
Human grade dog chow may aid in digestion
Opinion We noticed this article in VPN and an industry colleague’s post. The second one made me look for something about consumable nutrients instead of fecal volume comparisons. It is important to review the study abstract <Link> to understand the study hypothesis. We did not access the full study. A new comparison study out of the University of Illinois has found … [Read more...]
73 percent of pandemic adoptions at risk to be surrendered
Sound the alarms and call in the techs! A recent survey of new dog owners conducted by Merck Animal Health found 73 percent of those who brought home a pooch this year are considering rehoming the animal once the pandemic ends. This decision, Merck says, likely stems from a lack of knowledge about animal care. 25 percent of respondents claimed they do not have enough … [Read more...]
Up to scratch: Topical treatments for skin conditions
When the overnight temperatures drop below 600F, furnaces across the country get turned on. By day 3 of heated air, indoor humidity has often fallen by 20 or more percent signaling a change in skin care needs for ourselves and our pets. Conditions we’ve ignored or accepted during the humid summer months exacerbate. Approximately 10 percent of cats and dogs suffer from some … [Read more...]
Don’t wait! Fix by 5 Months reduces feline issues.
Performing a spay or neuter before a cat reaches maturity has benefits beyond preventing unwanted pregnancy. Reiterating the value of the Feline Fix by Five initiatives launched in 2016, the author reminds us of best practices to help manage the health and welfare of cats, plus curtail the ongoing overpopulation in our country and the world. Source: Veterinary Practice News, … [Read more...]
Managing OA in all stages and ages
For most dog owners, canine osteoarthritis in not a consideration in the daily life of their animal until it has already affected function. OA is often not diagnosed until it is already in stage 3. Myths that exist about canine osteoarthritis include: OA is a geriatric disease Growing fast is a sign of health Exercise causes OA in dogs Dogs with OA should not … [Read more...]
Practical preventive care profitability detailed in resource
A new AAHA resource explores how veterinarians can up their profits while also offering optimal care. It builds on two previous documents, Implementing Preventive Care Protocols, published in 2019, and Promoting Preventive Care Protocols: Evidence, Enactment, and Economics, released in 2018. Preventive Care Protocols and Practice Economics < link > explores potential … [Read more...]
The importance of surgical instrument reprocessing
There is heightened vigilance now on infection control, including sterilization of instruments in veterinary settings. Dan McGinley reviews some of the dos and donts about surgical instruments veterinary teams need to consider. Source: Veterinary Practice News, April 2020, page 32. Link. Also see: How often do you clean your stethoscope, Virox Animal Health. Link. Note … [Read more...]
Which telemedicine bucket does your veterinary practice fall into?
When it comes to telemedicine platforms, there are three big buckets: basic/DIY, plug and play for human health-care providers, and premium plug and play for veterinary professionals, writes Stacee Santi, DVM. She breaks down each segment discussing functionality along with pros and cons. We’ve included references to the Veterinary Virtual Care Association along with Dr. … [Read more...]
82 percent of feline friendly practices reported visit increases in 2019
The 2019 Cat Friendly Practice (CFP) survey showed improving the veterinary experience for the cat and caregiver increases visits. The techniques for CFP practices are applicable during this pandemic once a cat is transferred to the veterinary team. Cat owners with cats seen for the first time in 2019 are a high priority for communication efforts during 2020. A simple call … [Read more...]
Early or delayed dog neutering? What to tell clients.
Neutering is an elective procedure for which there is still no definitive, universally accepted yes or no answer. While frustrating, it is more productive to use this subject as an opportunity to shape our expectations, and those of our clients, regarding medical decision-making writes Brennen McKenzie, MA, MSc, VMD, cVMA. Source: Veterinary Practice News, March 27, 2020. … [Read more...]
Ticks bite, suck, drink and spit
Ticks are waking up across most of the U.S. They require blood meals to survive, to develop to the next stage in their life cycle and to reproduce, shares Edward M. Wakem, DVM. It is primarily, though not exclusively, through blood feeding that a tick can harm its host by acquiring disease-causing organisms from one infected host and transmitting them to another host. Ticks … [Read more...]
Look out for misuse of ivermectin
What happens in a petri dish does not indicate efficacy or safety when used off label in humans warns, the FDA in reference to an Antiviral Research article. Animal health professionals should be on the lookout for the potential misuse of a human- and animal-prescribed antiparasitic drug thought to be a possible treatment for COVID-19. Source: Veterinary Practice News, April … [Read more...]
American Heartworm Society issues guidance for pandemic
Conditions under which a veterinarian can delay annual heartworm tests during the Covid-19 crisis is just one of the topics covered in new recommendations released by the American Heartworm Society. Source: Veterinary Practice News, April 7, 2020. Link. The recommendations explore: scenarios when a veterinarian can delay annual heartworm tests, but can still prescribe … [Read more...]
Tiny tapeworm mimics symptoms of liver cancer
Echinococcus multilocularis is well established in wild canids in southern Ontario. Researchers indicate the tapeworm is migrating, could enter the northern U.S. and is considered a zoonotic public health risk. Adult E. multilocularis infect wild carnivores, including foxes, wolves and coyotes, but may also affect dogs and cats. Rodents such as lemmings, voles, and deer mice … [Read more...]
Questions about hand asepsis
Hand asepsis is one of the most critical components of surgical asepsis to lower the risk of nosocomial diseases. Phil Zeltzman, DVM, tackles four critical questions related to hand asepsis: Could you lose your driver’s license by scrubbing in? Should women who perform surgery wear nail polish? Are you scrubbing in long enough? How should you handle perforated … [Read more...]
Equine stifle joint therapies frustrate equine practitioners
David W. Ramey, DVM, discusses a recent retrospective study on how horses affected with various conditions of the stifle fare after surgery. The research reveals that common post-operative therapies do not make any difference in whether the studied horses returned to their previous level of performance. Here is a list of the postoperative therapies used: intra-articular … [Read more...]
Identifying and treating gastric ulcers
There are many possible reasons why horses develop gastric ulcers, writes David Ramey, DVM. He says most of them are related to how people manage their horses. Diet, confinement and medication are three areas where horse management may induce ulcers. The most thoroughly tested ulcer treatment is omeprazole, which is absorbed into the small intestine and works systemically by … [Read more...]
2019 They Ate What?! X-ray contest winners
Judges had a difficult job as they viewed the entries for this year’s contest. It is amazing what animals swallow. DON’T FORGET TO VOTE! Voting for the People’s Choice award runs from October 1 to November 30. Review our winner, runners-up, and honorable mentions, then go to our voting page to make … [Read more...]
Cat virus could be linked to feline cancer
Domestic cat hepadnavirus (DCH) has been found in certain types of hepatitis and liver cancer in cats, suggesting it might be the cause of the diseases. DCH was identified last year by researchers at the University of Sydney < link >. The virus is similar to hepatitis B in humans. We don’t know what causes most types of cancer, but if we know it’s triggered by a virus, … [Read more...]
More reasons for an annual exam
Melissa Beall, DVM, PhD, explains why regular, comprehensive screening is critical and what veterinarians can do to help keep dogs healthy. All dogs need to be screened annually for exposure to infected ticks Source: Veterinary Practice News, June 20, 2018. Link. A new study . . . showed two key findings: 1) dogs with Ehrlichia antibodies in E. canis-endemic areas have a … [Read more...]
The skinny on pet supplements
Jackie Brown investigates pet supplements and finds a lot of questions remain. While certain supplements can have a place in joint disease management, some veterinarians are concerned about how they might be perceived by pet owners. Source: Veterinary Practice News, August 23, 2018. Link. Sam Franklin, MS, DVM, PhD, DACVS, DACVSMR, tells clients, “. . . if they can afford to … [Read more...]
AAFP survey finds successes for practices certified as Cat Friendly Practices
According to Elizabeth Colleran, DVM, MS, DABVP, AAFP co-chair of Cat Friendly Practices (CFP), this was a long time coming. The CFP program is a collaboration of feline experts who provide guidelines to ensure a more positive and less stressful veterinary experience for cats and their owners. . . . when cats panic and their cortisol levels skyrocket, the quality of the exam … [Read more...]
Purebred pet paradox
Patty Khuly, VMD, MBA, delivers a twisted take on the importance of purebred pets, puppy mills and irresponsible breeding methods to veterinary practices. Where would you be without your purebred patients? It’s true! If we waved a wand and eliminated purebreds, the economics of our profession would be instantly turned upside down. We’d see record unemployment among generalists … [Read more...]
Top considerations to soothe skin disease in cats and dogs
Whether it’s from allergies, bacterial infections, or external parasites, pruritus is easily among the top 10 problems veterinarians see in dogs and cats. Because meds for managing pruritus vary in mechanism of action, patient restrictions, and more, each individual case dictates which drug is used for treatment. Source: Veterinary Practice News, May 1, 2018. Link. Some … [Read more...]
Empathize with clients without sacrificing your sanity
Daniel C. Randall, DVM, reflects on an online veterinary forum discussion that exposes concerns about empathy in veterinary relationships. Without empathy, Randall writes, we resort to vilifying our clients, blaming them for our low morale, exhaustion, and job dissatisfaction. “We risk creating an “us versus them” mentality that seeps into our body language and our … [Read more...]