Technicians are tops: The changing role of this critical team memberOctober 12, 2020It’s National Veterinary Technician Week, a time when we honor these tireless professionals who have never been more critical to animal health than over the last eight months or so.
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VPN Plus+ ExclusiveFood is love—So why is nutrition a problem area for veterinarians?September 29, 2020By Brennen McKenzie, MA, MSc, VMD, cVMAAs a child, I was a big fan of the Peanuts cartoons. One of my favorite characters was Snoopy, a suave, bipedal beagle who wrote novels and engaged in breathtaking aerial combat with his nemesis, the Red Baron. Though Snoopy was unlike most other beagles I have known, he had one characteristic in common to others of his breed, and indeed most dogs. When suppertime arrived, all other activities were forgotten, and he often launched into an exuberant, joyful, food-induced dance. Every feeding was a celebration for Snoopy, not only of food but of the bond between dog and owner. Few subjects generate the same intensity of emotion in pet owners as the question of what to feed our animal companions. Feeding our pets is the quintessential act of caring and love. And based on how most dogs and cats act at feeding time, it certainly seems like a highlight of the relationship for them. There is also a deep sense in most pet owners that choosing a pet food has tremendous significance for the health and well-being of their pets. Everyone wants to give their pets the "best" food that will keep them active and happy and prevent illness …
Five ways a loan can improve your practice amid COVID-19September 1, 2020 As the coronavirus pandemic continues to impact the nation, veterinary practice owners have been challenged to change existing procedures or find completely new ways of providing animal care while ensuring the safety of their staff and pet owners. Even with these additional burdens, veterinarians remain focused on keeping their practices going. Despite the uncertainty veterinary professionals face, there are also new opportunities to make meaningful improvements to their practices. Whether you seek to make an immediate impact on your day-to-day operations or pave the path for long-term success, a business loan can help you achieve your goals. 1) Understand the value of cash flow It's true: Cash is king. When cash is tight, it can be distracting, but having working capital can empower you to stay focused on providing excellent care and ensuring business success. A cash flow injection can help you cover immediate operational and overhead costs including rent or mortgage, insurance, utilities, and payroll. Cash can be set aside into an emergency fund to cover any unexpected costs that may arise. And having extra cash on hand can help you get through any delays in client payments. 2) Consolidate debt It might seem counterintuitive to get a …
Could the webcam be an eye to the future of veterinary medicine?August 13, 2020As we ponder what the new normal will be, telemedicine is likely to play an integral role in how veterinary care is offered.
VPN Plus+ ExclusiveThe pee line: How to plan for and respond to leg lifters in your practiceJuly 9, 2020As industry professionals, you do everything you can to keep your clinic sparkling clean. However, there is one particular situation that poses a unique challenge... dealing with those notorious little leg lifters! Everybody knows accidents happen, but whether the patient is large or small, urine of any kind is still extremely damaging to certain materials, interacting negatively with your floors, walls, and other areas. This article provides tips, tricks, and methods on how you can protect your clinic against the damages of pet urine... because let's face it, when you've got to go, you've got to go! A smelly situation Dog urine poses a significant threat to surfaces due to its chemical makeup. While all urine is primarily water (with inorganic salts and nitrogen-rich by-products, such as uric acid and creatine), dog urine is highly concentrated, and therefore, much more destructive. (Did you know dog urine can even etch stone?). To make things worse, pee can soak through wall and floor materials, and get trapped out of reach of your cleaning efforts. Through absorption, it penetrates the core of porous surfaces, and that is where the real problem begins. As urine breaks down and dries, it becomes more challenging to …
VPN Plus+ ExclusiveWhy creating a good flap mattersJuly 2, 2020A flap is tissue that is raised from its bed and left attached on at least one side. The base through which the attachment and circulation is maintained is called the pedicle. In oral surgical procedures, flaps allow exposure of the underlying alveolus and root surface, while preserving attached gingiva to facilitate suturing in a fashion that reduces or eliminates the periodontal pocket and promotes reattachment to the root surface in cases of mucogingival surgery. Extracting teeth due to advanced periodontal disease is undoubtedly the most common surgical procedure performed in companion animal practice. As such, a solid understanding of flaps is warranted. Classifying flaps Partial- or split-thickness (mucosal) flaps leave the periosteum at the donor site, avoid larger blood vessels, and allow suture placement in the periosteum. Partial-thickness flaps are indicated where there are thin bony plates; in areas of dehiscence or fenestration where bone must be protected; and in areas where bone loss is permanent. Full-thickness flaps gain visibility and access for osseous surgery, root planing, and pocket elimination. A full-thickness flap, which includes the periosteum, can be elevated by blunt dissection using a periosteal elevator in a rocking motion until the periosteum is peeled away from …
VPN Plus+ ExclusivePhoto op: How thermal imaging is helping keep pets healthyJune 30, 2020Thermal imaging devices are in use for many applications where quick identification of temperature change is helpful. Thermography is used in industry, outer space, the military, by your local HVAC guy, and for medical screening. Currently, thermal imaging is in the news because of temperature-screening devices used in airports. As businesses, social venues, and event and travel spaces develop safer protocols for gathering people, temperature screening has become widespread. Temperature screening thermography uses a variety of devices ranging from low-end handheld scanners up to medical-grade devices with the same detailed specifications required for evaluation of human and veterinary patients. High-end temperature screening systems use facial recognition software to calculate body temperature from the medial canthus of the eye, which is the most accurate superficial point for evaluating core body temperature.1 These systems measure temperatures from six feet away, allowing for safe, contactless use. Further, they "flag" elevated temperature; the person then undergoes a secondary screening protocol. Medical thermography is more than 70 years old. Early devices were expensive, cumbersome, and not practical for widespread clinical application. In 1980, reports began validating thermal imaging as a tool for the evaluation of musculoskeletal conditions in horses.2,3 By 2001, multiple publications had established …
VPN Plus+ ExclusiveIs immunotherapy the key to wiping out canine cancer?June 24, 2020An intact and functional immune system is essential to protect an organism against invading pathogens and infectious disease. However, the immune system also plays a pivotal role in identifying and eliminating transformed cells that, if left unchecked, would progress to cancer. Clinical evidence of the immune system's ability to control cancer comes from a number of observations in both the veterinary and medical settings. Consider the following examples: Cats receiving chronic immunosuppression following renal transplant have a higher incidence of lymphoma compared with the general feline population1,2 Spontaneous regression of transmissible venereal tumor is associated with an increased proportion of tumor-infiltrating cytotoxic CD8+ T cells3 Canine osteosarcoma patients that develop bacterial infections after limb-sparing surgery experience significantly prolonged survival times.4 The presence of tumor-specific, cytotoxic T cells within tumors, such as ovarian carcinoma, confers a favorable prognosis,5 whereas infiltration with regulatory or suppressor T cells confers a worse prognosis6 These observations, coupled with two decades of experimentation in murine cancer models, indicate that finding ways to initiate, augment, and broaden a patient's antitumor immune response holds promise for the treatment and possible prevention of cancer. Indeed, this is the aim of cancer immunotherapy, and recent advances in this field have …
VPN Plus+ ExclusiveCBD or CBD and THC combined?May 29, 2020While cannabidiol (CBD) and delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) are both phytocannabinoids derived from cannabis plants, differences in their chemical structures allow each to interact with unique receptors, resulting in distinct molecular targets and physiological effects. Namely, THC shows high affinity toward CB1 receptors, which are present in central and peripheral neurons, resulting in the euphoric effect commonly attributed to cannabis intoxication. In contrast, CBD does not bind CB1 at relevant concentrations and is nonintoxicating. Instead, CBD interacts, to various degrees, with other receptors (agonism at TRPV1 and 5-HT1A, antagonism at TNFα, GPR55, and GPR18), which may be relevant for its suggested therapeutic effects. Practical considerations Recently, CBD- and THC-containing products for people and pets have become more widely available, especially in jurisdictions that have passed legislation allowing the sale of such items intended for human use. Evolving regulatory frameworks and social perceptions have also renewed interest in the potential therapeutic properties of cannabinoids for animals. Importantly, there are no authorized veterinary drugs containing cannabinoids in the U.S., and any state laws permitting the use of medical cannabis do not apply to use in animals. Increasingly, the veterinary profession is being asked to weigh in on the potential roles of CBD and …
Digital imaging equipment—Show, don't tellApril 27, 2020Digital imaging can help better communicate health issues and treatment plans to pet owners. And when it comes to patients getting the care they need, shouldn’t you use every tool at your disposal?
