Vetology automated AI heart evaluation tech available nationwideSeptember 7, 2018Vetology Innovations LLC now offers automated heart evaluation tools to veterinarians as part of the company's artificial intelligence (AI) radiology software. In August, the San Diego-based company introduced its AI radiology software, designed to provide veterinary professionals with automated diagnostic analysis of patient radiographs. Individuals subscribing to the Vetology AI software suite will now gain full access to cardiac-specific tools, including automated heart-size evaluation and automated vertebral heart score calculations. These features work within the Vetology AI dashboard automatically when a clinic uploads an X-ray to the secure Vetology cloud. There, the software automatically evaluates an animal's heart size and the comparative size of the heart in relation to the vertebral body size. This process results in a Vetology AI heart evaluation report and vertebral heart score delivered to the veterinarian via email/fax in two minutes after the X-rays have fully uploaded. "The ability for a veterinarian to receive rapid heart analysis before they even begin evaluating a patient's radiograph is invaluable," said Seth Wallack, DVM, DACVR, founder of Vetology Innovations. "This technology leverages AI neural networks that are not yet available in human medicine. This new AI resource fulfills every attending doctor's hope …
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Should you say "I'm sorry?"September 7, 2018Not everyone agrees that veterinary professionals should apologize when they make a mistake. In fact, liability organizations discourage veterinarians from doing so. David Carser, BVSc, LLB, CML, president of the Veterinary Defence Association (VDA), shares his expertise on the art, science, and legalities of making apologies (or not) in the clinic setting.
20-plus clinics to participate in expanded osteosarcoma vaccine clinical trialSeptember 6, 2018Initial results of a pilot study for canine osteosarcoma vaccine are promising, prompting a larger study to test its safety and efficacy. Pharmaceutical company Aratana Therapeutics, which received conditional licensure for Live Listeria Vector (AT-014), has expanded its clinical trial to include more than two dozen veterinary oncology practice groups across the U.S. in order to receive full licensure. Conducted by the University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine, the pilot study tested the immunotherapy treatment in 18 dogs. Those that received the vaccine lived more than twice as long as the historical, matched control group, with median survival times of 956 days compared to 423 days. The expanded clinical trial is designed to collect additional safety data for the vaccine in dogs that have undergone amputation of the affected limb and have already completed chemotherapy. If the treatment is found to be as safe and effective as it appeared in the initial clinical trial, Aratana will be given full licensure, allowing it to make the drug commercially available. Live Listeria Vector (AT-014) is created by removing harmful genes from the Listeria bacteria and then attaching markers of osteosarcoma cells. It is designed to supplement standard osteosarcoma treatment of amputation …
VetMedTeam RACE-approved CE examines patient health trendsSeptember 6, 2018VetMedTeam, an online resource offering free continuing education to veterinarians, credentialed veterinary technicians, and practice team members, is hosting a RACE-approved, 1 interactive credit course on evolving patient health trends. "By the numbers: Examining top health risks for dogs and cats," led by Mary Rothlisberger, ACAS, MAAA, associate actuary at Trupanion pet insurance company, is scheduled to go live Sept. 19 at 2 p.m. Eastern. The webinar will highlight current medical condition trends for veterinary patients, including by age and size, as well as some popular purebred dog breeds, and shares how teams can incorporate this information into patient services, from diagnosis to client education. Further, Rothlisberger will share analytical data from Trupanion medical database records, including expected treatment costs. For those unable to attend the live webinar, VetMedTeam will notify members when a free self-study course becomes open for enrollment. All who enroll in the live webinar, regardless of live attendance, also will receive emailed information. Membership in VetMedTeam is free and open to all members of the veterinary practice team as well as veterinary and veterinary technology students. Click here to register for the webinar; click here to find answers to FAQs. Email …
Improving the veterinary experience for catsSeptember 6, 2018It's doubtful any kind of service business is capable of receiving a near-perfect satisfaction rate, including most veterinary practices—except for those that are certified as Cat Friendly Practices (CFP). In January, the American Association of Feline Practitioners (AAFP) announced the results of its 2017 Cat Friendly Practice Survey, which found a 99 percent satisfaction rate among participating veterinary clinics. 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. According to Elizabeth Colleran, DVM, MS, DABVP, AAFP co-chair of CFP, it was a long time coming. "There was recognition that the experience of cats and their owners just hasn't been good enough, and there are ways we can do better," Dr. Colleran said. "Seeing more cats and providing better healthcare, and thus a better quality of life for those cats, is possible." "Using low-stress handling techniques on cats minimizes high stress in the veterinary team. It's a safer and more effective way to practice," said Jan Yaroslav, RVT, VTS (dentistry), of Mangrove Veterinary Hospital in Chico, Calif. Most importantly, when cats panic and their cortisol levels skyrocket, the quality of the exam isn't …
AVMA helps veterinarians prepare pet owners in event of disasterSeptember 6, 2018With hurricane season in full swing, the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) has gathered resources that veterinarians can share with pet owners to help them prepare for the impact of these potentially devastating storms. The resources provided are made to help owners assemble a pet evacuation kit prior to an incident, deal with a lost pet, and figure out what to do after a disaster. Pet evacuation kit Assemble the kit well in advance of any emergency and store in an easy-to-carry, waterproof container close to an exit. Food and medicine Three to seven days' worth of dry and canned (pop-top) food* Two-week supply of medicine* At least a seven-days supply of water Feeding dish and water bowl Liquid dish soap *Rotate and replace these items to ensure they don't expire. First aid kit Antidiarrheal liquid or tablets Antibiotic ointment Bandage tape and scissors Cotton bandage rolls Flea and tick prevention (if needed in your area) Isopropyl alcohol/alcohol prep pads Latex gloves Saline solution Towel and washcloth Tweezers Sanitation Litter, litter pan, and scoop (a shirt box with a plastic bag works well for pan) Newspaper, paper towels, and trash bags Household chlorine beach or disinfectant …
LMU offers vet med-focused dual degree programSeptember 6, 2018Lincoln Memorial University (LMU) is now offering students an opportunity to earn a master of science in veterinary biomedical science (MS-VBS). Those enrolled in the MS-VBS program will be able to take specific professional courses that are facilitated by the LMU College of Veterinary Medicine and be fully integrated with first-year students at LMUCVM. "With only 30 colleges of veterinary medicine in the United States, admission is very competitive, and therefore it is essential that students acquire as much knowledge as they can throughout their undergraduate and graduate studies," said Holly Napier, director of Student Services and Admissions at LMUCVM. "Our program is specifically designed for students seeking advanced study in the veterinary biomedical sciences, to prepare them for admission into a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine program." If students complete these integrated courses with a final grade of B or better and are accepted to LMUCVM, they will not have to repeat the course during their first year of DVM studies. The MS-VBS program also provides students with an opportunity to pursue a thesis track of study, which is ideal for students who wish to enter the workforce as researchers or for those that hope to earn a doctorate in …
AAHA releases preventive care protocol publicationSeptember 6, 2018The American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA) has released a new publication, developed with the support of an educational grant from IDEXX—Promoting Preventive Care Protocols: Evidence, Enactment, and Economics. "A focus on preventive care can give pets a greater chance at longer and healthier lives. Pet owners are more receptive than ever to engaging in conversations on preventive care and innovation in diagnostics, diets, and treatments," said Janice Trumpeter, DVM, AAHA deputy CEO. Preventive care exams remain a veterinary professional's best chance to influence good outcomes throughout a pet's lifetime, according to AAHA. Through these hands-on moments with patients and regular consultations with pet owners, practitioners can provide advice, preventive care services, and additional recommendations tailored to individual pets, the association said. The new publication features results of various studies and concludes that regular health checks and screenings improve detection and allow for early therapeutic intervention. Notably, it includes findings from a landmark big-data analysis of preventive care profiles from IDEXX. Analysis from 268,817 patient samples across more than 5,000 North American veterinary practices revealed that veterinary professionals who screen pets regularly find significant results in all adult life stages that require further action. The publication also …
Alzheimer's drug used in cognitive dysfunction syndrome clinical trialSeptember 5, 2018Ropesalazine, a drug candidate for Alzheimer's disease (AD), has shown efficacy in a pilot clinical trial conducted for dogs with cognitive dysfunction syndrome (CDS), according to the drug's manufacturer, South Korea-based GNT Pharma. There currently is no cure for CDS, a progressive neurodegenerative disorder of senior dogs characterized by altered interaction with family, disorientation, sleep/wake cycle changes, increased house soiling, and activity change. It is accompanied by nerve cell death, amyloid plaques, and neurofibrillary tangles similar to AD, leading GNT Pharma scientists to design the pilot study to investigate whether Ropesalazine would alleviate signs of CDS, as well. "The companion dogs failed to recognize their owners before the treatment," said Jae Bong Moon, DVM, head of Irion Animal Hospital in Seoul, who led the study. "It was so amazing to see the dogs that wagged their tails for their owners and cuddled up to them within eight weeks of Ropesalazine treatment. [It] appeared to cure CDS." The study was conducted on six companion dogs age 10 or older who revealed severe cognitive dysfunction according to canine cognitive dysfunction and canine dementia rating scales. Within eight weeks following daily oral administration of Ropesalazine, all six dogs returned …
Veterinary Career Network to host first online career fairSeptember 5, 2018The Veterinary Career Network (VCN) is hosting its first online career fair, between 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time on Thursday, Sept. 27. The AVMA developed the VCN to allow veterinary associations and colleges to share job postings across their career centers. "The purpose of the online career fair is to provide an efficient and convenient way to connect employers and job seekers from the comfort of their own homes or offices," said Patricia Wohlferth-Bethke, DVM, manager of veterinary career services in the American Veterinary Medical Association Membership and Field Services Division. Employers will schedule chat times for all or part of the four-hour fair and job seekers who express interest in employers will wait in virtual lines to chat with those employers. Positions are available in the following categories: veterinarian, relief veterinarian, medical director, extern, intern, veterinary technician, veterinary assistant, practice manager, hospital administrator, and other. The individual associations hosting the fair are the AVMA; the American Association of Equine Practitioners; the American Animal Hospital Association, the Connecticut, Rhode Island, and Nevada VMAs; and the Veterinary Hospital Managers Association. CareerEco is holding the fair. Registration is $350 per employer and free for job …
