Getting Sick On A Tropical Island = Rip OffOctober 15, 2012 During a recent tropical vacation, one young member of our group became acutely ill the night of our arrival. Hallucinations, ADR and high temperature (Note to self: Bring a digital thermometer along next time – it weighs less than a couple of ounces). Please note that Veterinary Practice News is rated PG 13, so rest assured that no drugs or alcohol were involved in this story. The next morning, we headed to the local physician. After a cursory exam and a $100 tab, he decided that to be on the safe side, we should see a pediatrician. We asked how much it might cost, but he claimed to have no idea. Since nobody could in good conscience take a chance with some strange exotic disease, some well-known current local microbe or something like meningitis, we decided to follow his advice. We hopped into a cab to the local hospital, with which the local doctor was affiliated. It looked like several Americans were in the same sad situation during their vacation. Among them, a few stood out in the waiting room. One lady, who had had a knee replacement, slipped on a wet floor, fell, and apparently …
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Examples Of Laser Therapy Success, Inside And OutOctober 10, 2012 All year we at K-Laser USA have presented you with scientific evidence of laser therapy, from fundamental biochemistry to the physics of laser penetration. You have heard from the experts in this field, but the most important story-tellers are the owners of the pets whose lives have been forever changed. Below are two polar opposite examples (one superficial and the other deep-seated) to illustrate the enormous diversity of Class IV laser therapy applications. Monte Carlo Dosimetry Simulation Bryan J. Stephens, Ph.D., is the director of research and development for K-Laser USA. He is an expert in radiation’s interaction with biological matter, specifically in radiation dosimetry and photobiology. Treating From the Inside Out Laika, 3-year-old, 15-pound female intact French bulldog February-March 2011: Laika developed a chronic head tilt and became unstable on her feet going upstairs and around the home. Following treatment a total ear canal ablation (TECA) was performed. Final CT showing marked improvement in para-aural and tympanic bulla with no evidence of abcessation. CT scans provided by Clerkenwell Veterinary Hospital in London—Dosimetry Calculations by Dr. Stephens On April 28, 2011, a CT scan was made of …
When Sally Met Her BankerOctober 10, 2012 Sally’s life just changed quite radically. She had moved to a new town and got a new job at a wonderful vet clinic. She walked into Hometown Bank, where she wanted to open a checking account to deposit her future paychecks. The smiling bank teller proudly informed her that she was in luck: Hometown Bank now offers free checking. “What do you mean, free checking? Everything is free? Where’s the catch?” asks Sally. She’s no dummy; she works in the veterinary profession after all. She knows there’s no such thing as a free lunch. She also had just read in a journal quoting Bankrate.com that only 45 percent of banks offer fee-free, noninterest-bearing checking accounts. That’s down from about 75 percent in 2005! The teller answered with a big smile: “Free checking means free checking. Everything is free! No minimum opening deposit, free deposits, free debit card, free withdrawals, free ATM cards, no minimum balance, free online banking, free online “Bill Pay,” free monthly online statements, free balance alerts, I’m telling you Sally, everything is free.” “What is the interest rate on this account?” wondered Sally. The teller answered with a big smile: “Oh, you …
Therapeutic Lasers Are Used In Variety Of Clinical ApplicationsOctober 9, 2012 In the last few years, there has been a dramatic increase in the use of therapeutic lasers in veterinary medicine. Industry leaders estimate that 20 percent of veterinary practices in North America use a therapy laser, and they report that its use is rapidly expanding overseas. Additionally, veterinary distributors uniformly say that therapy lasers are one of their fastest-growing product categories. The therapeutic effect of lasers has been studied for almost 40 years, and most of the work to understand its mechanisms of action has been accomplished with in-vitro research. Thousands of papers have been written on the subject, and there does seem to be consensus that lasers of an appropriate therapeutic wavelength that deliver effective doses of laser energy stimulate a photobiochemical cascade of events at the cellular level which relieves pain, reduces inflammation and increases microcirculation. These three effects result in an accelerated healing. Armed with this understanding, clinicians have treated a growing and remarkable range of conditions; any patients in pain or patients with inflammation benefit from laser therapy. In addition to treating dogs and cats, laser therapists have treated small birds, reptiles and pocket pets. Veterinarians report the laser assists …
How To Integrate Hydrotherapy Into A Veterinary PracticeOctober 9, 2012 Find out how you can integrate an underwater treadmill into your veterinary practice and the key essentials you should consider in choosing the system that is ideal for you. Treatments One of the first things to consider is how to use the underwater treadmill in your facility. The most common reason is for post-operative rehabilitation due to orthopedic or neurologic issues, such as cranial cruciate ligament tears or intervertebral disc disease. The water can be raised to a certain height, which minimizes the weight of the patient, allowing him/her to exercise in a controlled environment. The underwater treadmill also allows pets with degenerative diseases, such as hip dysplasia or degenerative myelopathy, to walk with stability and confidence from the support of the water. Another way the treadmill can be incorporated into your practice is by implementing conditioning and weight loss programs. Extra resistance can provide an additional challenge for the canine athlete, while overweight patients can comfortably work out to improve their cardiovascular fitness and shed pounds. Fitting In Understanding the amount of floor space required by an underwater treadmill is very important in the planning …
'Needy' Staff?October 2, 2012 Bridging generation gaps in the workplace is never easy. But like it or not, practice owners and managers are tasked with adapting to the style and needs of the new generation of veterinarians and support staff. One of the most prevalent attributes of the latest generations entering the workforce—and the one causing great lament among supervisors who were brought up under a different regime—is the expectation of continual praise and encouragement. Many young people entering the workforce today count themselves among what the mainstream media has dubbed the “over-praised” Me Generation. They also include the Millennial generation and Generation Y. “Today’s employees require more hand-holding and recognition,” says Alyce D’Amato, CVT, CVPM, vice president and executive director of Horizon Veterinary Services Inc. in Appleton, Wis. “Unfortunately, they want to be rewarded for simply being at work and fulfilling their job duties. I see fewer employees who understand what it means to go above and beyond. We certainly have young employees who work very hard—they are just difficult to find. Today’s young employees seem to think that working between 38 and 42 hours in a week is extreme.” Such attitudes may have significant implications for …
Hiring And Firing To Get The Vet Staff You WantOctober 2, 2012Recruiting and retaining dedicated, competent employees and knowing how to let go of employees who are not the best fit for your veterinary practice are significant management challenges. Practices that develop an effective hiring and termination process are more likely to hire outstanding team members and retain employees who are the right fit for the practice culture. Take the following steps to improve recruitment efforts: What You Need When recruiting employees, don’t just look for a warm body to fill the position. Instead, focus on finding job candidates who have the skills and attitude to become an outstanding member of your team. To recruit the right candidates, define the requisite skill set for the position and what kind of employee you need to adhere to the core values of your veterinary practice. In addition, focus on what potential employees want from employers. Make sure the wages and benefits you offer are competitive for your region and with other area practices. Understand that while compensation and benefits are important, these are often not the only deciding factors when people choose a job. Employees want to work in a positive environment. They value flexible work schedules, training and development opportunities, supportive …
Treating And Preventing Dental Disease In Geriatric PetsOctober 2, 2012 We all know that our patients suffer from the same dental problems that we all do. Dogs and cats feel dental pain and discomfort just as we do, and yet it is far more common for them to have significant dental problems because they don’t get regular dental care. The biggest reason that pets often do not receive the dental care they need is because they rarely show obvious signs of pain or problems, which means that they suffer in silence. Oral/dental disease is by far the No. 1 medical problem in dogs and cats. It is estimated that more than 70 percent of dogs and cats have some form of periodontal disease by just two years of age. Research suggests these shocking numbers actually underestimate the incidence of dental disease. To find out if your patient has periodontal disease, lift his/her lip and look for tartar or redness and swelling of the gums (Figures 1). If the breath smells, it is a sure sign of an oral infection. A new method for determining the level of gum disease in animals is provided by a simple technology called Orastrip QuickCheck Canine. This quick …
Introducing Veterinary CO2 Laser Surgery In JapanOctober 2, 2012 I am an owner of a busy small animal veterinary hospital in Nagoya, Japan. One day I encountered a book on CO2 laser surgery and became fascinated with the technology that brings less bleeding, less swelling, less pain and less risk of infection. It goes without saying that less stress during and after surgical treatment is the best for humans and for animals. I decided to learn more about small animal soft tissue laser surgery in the USA, and did so for two years at various private practices and at Louisiana State University. At the same time I studied to become a diplomate of the American Board of Laser Surgery (ABLS). Learning the art of laser surgery from the best veterinary laser surgeons in the U.S. and through ABLS allowed me to select the best surgical laser for my hospital back home. Figure 2 Types of Medical Lasers It is important to select the type of surgical laser by its wavelength and how it interacts with the tissue. Medical lasers can be assigned to one of three categories: WYSIWYG stands for “What you see is what you get.” This type is suitable …
Brave New World Of St. George’s University School Of Veterinary MedicineOctober 1, 2012 The world is rapidly changing, with shifting demographics, fluid borders, widespread travel, new medical advances, new diseases and fewer medical personnel per patient, both human and animal. Worldwide, there is an urgent need for new thinkers and leaders, those who are experts in veterinary medicine but who also have the experience to quickly and accurately apply it in the real world. Our different world demands a different way of learning veterinary medicine, and St George’s University in Grenada, West Indies, is providing it. Trisha Doswell, third-year vet student at St. George’s. “St. George’s not only provides a unique educational experience but unique life experiences,” says Trisha Doswell, a third-year veterinary medical student at St. George’s University. Originally from Melbourne Beach, Fla., Trisha earned her undergraduate degree at the University of Florida. Trisha doesn’t shy away from raving about the quality of education she’s receiving at St. George’s University. “Our veterinary medical program is challenging and rigorous, but the faculty truly care about us, and when we graduate, we have the opportunity to work all around the world,” Trisha explains. A Global Education Founded in 1999,
