The arrogance of sexist business beliefs (part 2)October 3, 2022While women dominate current veterinary school classes, they still represent a paltry number of leadership positions.
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Boost your income without losing your mindSeptember 29, 2022As veterinary professionals, we are fortunate enough to work in an industry that currently offers plenty of opportunity for upward mobility. While getting ahead may mean significant change for some of us (a geographic move, a change in employer, new hours, or even heading back to the classroom), veterinary medicine currently remains in the spotlight as an industry with an upward trend.
What veterinarians can learn from hummingbirdsSeptember 28, 2022From the time of James Herriot to modern 24/7 practice, some aspects of veterinary medicine will never change. Then as now, we do not know what will walk in the door, what surgical skills will be required of us, what complicated treatments must be instituted, or what conclusions must be determined and deftly explained. This makes for interesting work days. Alas, performing at the ragged edge of ability, efficiency, performance, and limitation as we do, it is no overstatement to say we experience hard days.
Lower-stress care for dogs starts at homeSeptember 28, 2022Recent years have seen veterinary clinics make great strides to alleviate patient stress during routine exams and procedures. Notably, many clinics have taken measures to provide stress alleviation for pets through various desensitization and counterconditioning techniques. This may include having treats on-hand as a positive distraction, providing separate waiting areas for dogs and cats, and timing appointments to allow nervous pets to bypass waiting areas and go directly into an exam room.
Exploring alternatives to scruffing catsSeptember 27, 2022Scruffing refers to a restraining technique involving firmly grasping the loose skin of a cat’s back, located between the shoulder blades. While scruffing is often meant for safely controlling and settling a cat, research shows the contrary. The scruffing method is often counterproductive, causing many cats to resist or even fight back more aggressively than when alternative handling is performed.
Getting to the root of nutritional allergiesSeptember 27, 2022It is very common for pet owners to believe their itchy pet has a "food allergy." While cutaneous adverse food reactions (cAFR) are certainly not rare, when it comes to pruritic pets, atopic dermatitis (AD) is actually more prevalent than cAFR. Sadly, however, a physical exam is insufficient to distinguish atopic disease from a food-associated dermatopathy.
Why treating CID is so complicatedSeptember 26, 2022With pet owners increasingly opting to pursue treatment after a cancer diagnosis, the field of veterinary oncology sees consistent growth and investment into better cancer mitigation. As developments in cancer treatment continue, understanding adverse effects of these treatments is expanding. One such common effect is chemotherapy-induced diarrhea (CID) in dogs. While CID is likely already on every veterinary professional’s mind, knowing the specific impact of CID on canine patients’ health outcomes and potential treatment options is crucial for all who treat cancer or provide supportive care for dogs with CID.
Early detection key in hip dysplasia casesSeptember 26, 2022Puppies are born with normal hips, but changes associated with dysplasia can develop rapidly with earliest changes noted as soon as 30 days after birth. In developing puppies, joint incongruity or malalignment prevents normal development of the acetabulum and femoral head, perpetuating the development of dysplasia.
What can cause pet tooth resorption?September 23, 2022The cause of tooth resorption likely resides in an environmental change or aspect of domestication that 1) has increased in popularity since the 1960s, and 2) is capable of causing changes to the entire periodontium of multiple, if not all, permanent teeth.
Spectrum of care: How it is helping vets be their best and ensure optimal patient healthSeptember 23, 2022Consider presenting treatment options aligned with evidence-based medicine, respect for client finances, a do-no-harm approach, and a commitment to non-judgmental, transparent, and thorough owner education.