VPN Plus+ ExclusiveThe muzzling of science and the veterinarian's roleSeptember 16, 2020By Patty Khuly, VMD, MBAAn acceptance of “un-science” is happening despite the fact most of us carry the bulk of this planet’s available information on our person at all times. The facts are literally at our fingertips.
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VPN Plus+ ExclusiveThe corporatization of veterinary practices in America—Will you be a part of it?September 15, 2020While the corporatization of veterinary medicine might be a cause of concern for you as an independent practice owner, the right guidance can help you succeed in this rapidly changing marketplace.
VPN Plus+ ExclusiveHow AI is helping get veterinary radiology results fasterSeptember 10, 2020 It's no secret most veterinarians are swamped with more work than they can complete in a day. Specialty radiologists face the same problem. As more and more veterinarians send radiographs to specialists for interpretation, the workload keeps growing and there aren't enough specialists in the field to handle it. In fact, one study predicted by 2022, 66 percent of the teleradiology caseloads won't be met.1 What if computers could be trained to think like humans, creating an extension of the veterinary team to get more done in less time? That's the power of artificial intelligence (AI). Why add AI to veterinary medicine? AI is increasingly being used in other industries to get more done with less, so we see the same promise for veterinary medicine. Having an AI-based tool in the veterinary practice to assist with radiology reads is like having a personal radiologist on staff to review cases in real-time and provide analysis and recommendations within five minutes. How does AI work? What makes it exciting? Today, when veterinarians take radiographs, they typically send out for results and receive analyses back in 10 to 15 days or more – sometimes up to 30 days. Treatment is delayed – if …
VPN Plus+ ExclusiveWhy unions matter to the veterinary professionAugust 25, 2020 Liz Hughston: President, National Veterinary Professionals Union, explains why unions have a role to play in the veterinary industry. The topic of unions has always been a controversial one in the veterinary practice community and beyond. In America, the first unions were organized in the late 1700s and the first recorded worker strike occurred in 1768, when journeymen tailors protested wage reductions. Since then, employees and employers have been debating wages, working conditions, workers' rights, and much more, but consensus has been hard to reach. We sat down with Liz Hughston, president, National Veterinary Professionals Union (NVPU), and asked her why the time has come for the veterinary profession to join the union movement.
VPN Plus+ ExclusiveIn the Navy: How veterinarians are keeping military-trained mammals healthyAugust 18, 2020For six decades, the Navy has relied on trained marine mammals to assist and protect its personnel and assets in the water.
VPN Plus+ ExclusiveRemoving blind spots: Conflict resolution in veterinary practicesAugust 11, 2020Conflict is a natural part of the human condition and occurs in any environment where people spend an extended amount of time together. It arises as a result of unmet needs and expectations, when one person’s desires, wishes, and feelings do not match another’s.
VPN Plus+ ExclusiveA gentle rant on medical infantilization and the "pet parent" trapAugust 6, 2020By Patty Khuly, VMD, MBASmack in the thick of Miami's COVID spike, I had to have minor surgery to correct a bony defect caused by Rottweiler skull-induced trauma to my nose. The timing was technically elective. It needed to be done eventually, but the sooner the better, cosmetically speaking. I chose vanity over safety weeks in advance, not knowing my zip code would zoom to the top of COVID's bell curve of casualties on that exact day. At least it was an excuse to test myself ($350 for a 24-hour "concierge" negative) and take a much-needed mental break––a two-week staycation––after powering through the first full half of 2020 without so much as one whole day off (Sundays included). Despite the pain I anticipated, and the unsightly bruising, I was looking forward to the propofol and midazolam. Sweet, medically sanctioned oblivion! Sadly, I suffered a rough night during my required stay at the surgical center. The food was inedible, the meds made me vomit, and the nurse was on my case. Let's just say I wouldn't wish her on anyone. Among other transgressions, she blamed me for vomiting on my blankets when she didn't lift a finger to bring me a receptacle, constantly woke me …
VPN Plus+ ExclusiveAntimicrobial stewardship: What it is and why it mattersAugust 4, 2020By Brennen McKenzie, MA, MSc, VMD, cVMAAntimicrobials have tremendous therapeutic benefits in human and veterinary patients. After vaccination, antibiotics are probably the most important medical intervention of the 20th century in terms of reducing suffering and death. Of course, antimicrobials can also have significant adverse effects. And any use of antimicrobials, including appropriate therapeutic use, creates a selection pressure that can result in emergence of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) or an increase in the abundance of resistant bacteria. Adverse effects and the development of resistance reduce the potential benefits of antibiotics. Antimicrobial stewardship is the concept of using antibiotics in a manner that maximizes their benefits, minimizes risks, and conserves the effectiveness of these important drugs.1 Changing when and how we use antibiotics is the key to achieving these goals. Antimicrobial stewardship involves three general strategies: 1) Preventing infectious disease occurrence 2) Reducing overall antimicrobial use 3) Using antimicrobials in ways that maximize the benefits, minimize the adverse effects, and reduce the development of antibiotic resistance Preventing infections Preventing bacterial infections automatically reduces the need for, and hence the use of, antimicrobials. This involves encouraging clients to provide appropriate husbandry and preventive care, including vaccination, proper nutrition, isolation of sick animals, and other prophylactic measures. Prevention of …
VPN Plus+ ExclusiveBright ideas in veterinary ophthalmologyJuly 23, 2020The field of veterinary ophthalmology is always evolving, uncovering new theories, diagnostics, treatments, and surgeries. The Vision for Animals Foundation (VAF) is funding various ophthalmology studies, including one led by University of Missouri Veterinary Health Center resident Kayla Banks, DVM, that is comparing cleaning and sterilization protocols for diamond burr tips used in diamond burr debridement for canine superficial chronic corneal epithelial defects. Another study, led by Maggie Jinks, DVM, a resident at the Ohio State University Veterinary Medical Center, is looking at the role of extrinsic forces on lens cell mitosis. Lionel Sebbag, DVM, DACVO, assistant professor of veterinary clinical sciences at the Iowa State University College of Veterinary Medicine, says there are continued efforts in the veterinary ophthalmology community to find new diagnostic tools and therapies to improve patient comfort and vision. "For instance, there are task forces working on glaucoma and sudden acquired retinal degeneration syndrome (SARDS), two devastating diseases resulting in vision loss," he says. "Further, the recent advances in genetics are exciting, and it is only a matter of time before they fully benefit veterinary patients. "A better understanding of genetics will help reduce the prevalence of serious inherited ocular diseases, such as progressive retinal …
VPN Plus+ ExclusiveImproving the outlook for brain tumor patientsJuly 21, 2020The path to discover and perfect new cancer treatments is long and expensive. It can take more than a decade and cost over $2 billion to demonstrate the safety and efficacy of a new therapeutic before it reaches the marketplace. To expedite the process, researchers are thinking outside the box—or rather, outside their own species. The concept of comparative medicine (i.e. One Medicine) has great potential to accelerate the development of new cancer treatments. By examining the similarities and differences in biology among different species (e.g. dogs and humans), we gain increased understanding of the mechanisms of disease in each. This comparative medicine model, as demonstrated in the field of neuro-oncology by the Comparative Brain Tumor Consortium (CBTC), has already shown promising results. Launched by the Comparative Oncology Program (COP) of the National Cancer Institute (NCI) in 2015, CBTC comprises veterinarians, physicians, and basic researchers who have joined forces to improve outcomes for dogs and humans affected by brain cancer by using more predictive and accurate preclinical models. Laboratory animal models don't always adequately mimic the complex genetic, biologic, and environmental conditions of the human experience. Dogs get many of the same spontaneous cancers as humans, and their genome is …
