Vetgirl Veterinary Continuing Education Podcasts

In today's VETgirl online veterinary continuing education podcast, we discuss urosepsis in dogs. Urosepsis simply refers to sepsis that occurs due to an infectious process originating within the urogenital tract. While urosepsis may not be your first differential in the typical septic patient, one study actually found that 35% of septic dogs had an infectious focus identified within either the urinary or genital tract (deLaforcade). There are various origins for urogenital infections that can lead to sepsis, including pyelonephritis, urogenital abscesses, pyometra, infectious prostatitis, septic uroabdomen, tumor necrosis within the urogenital tract, or infections associated with indwelling devices (King, Aronson). Unfortunately, there are few studies characterizing urosepsis in our canine patients. So, Perry et al wanted to evaluate this in a retrospective study entitled Clinical features, outcome, and illness severity scoring in 32 dogs with urosepsis (2017-2018). In this study, the authors evaluated 32 dog

In today's VETgirl online veterinary CE podcast, we will be evaluating two methods of pericardiocentesis based off a study by Cook et al entitled Prospective evaluation of pericardial catheter placement versus needle pericardiocentesis in the management of canine pericardial effusion. Pericardial effusion in dogs is a condition we see with some degree of frequency in the ER. The urgency of this condition arises from the buildup of trapped fluid in the small sac surrounding the heart, located between the pericardial lining and the myocardium. Normally this space is so small that you can't really see it on an emergency ultrasound scan without a cardiologist and a diagnostic ultrasound. When enough fluid builds up in the pericardial sac, this space becomes easier to see on emergency ultrasounds. But more importantly, as the fluid accumulates, the pressure in this trapped space compresses the heart chambers, preventing adequate filling of the heart, and results in less blood exiting the heart, and so less blood a

In this VETgirl online veterinary continuing education podcast, we interview Dr. Marisa Brunetti (IndeVets Chief Veterinary Officer) and Dr. Maria Botinas (IndeVets Area Medical Director) on how to work more efficiently in veterinary medicine. Tune in for some veterinary tips to gain some work-life balance back in veterinary medicine!

In this VETgirl online veterinary continuing education podcast, we interview Dr. Hazel Carney, DVM, DABVP (Canine and Feline Practice) on what you need to know about urinary health in aging cats. First, how do we get cat caregivers to be more proactive about feline healthcare, and how do we get cat owners to notice lower urinary tract signs such as PU/PD more? What are major signs and causes of lower urinary tract disease in the aging cat, and what steps can we help cat owners implement both nutrition-wise and environmental-wise to improve feline health? How can we take a more proactive role in feline urinary health? Learn it in this VETgirl podcast!

In this VETgirl online veterinary continuing education podcast, we discuss atrial fibrillation (AF) in dogs. AF is a common arrhythmia in our canine patients, characterized by that classic “tennis shoes in a dryer” sound on auscultation. This arrhythmia is caused by disorganized, rapid electrical activity of the atria (Pedro). After identification of this abnormality on physical examination, it is important to confirm the arrhythmia with an electrocardiogram (ECG) and consider a full cardiac assessment to better understand the cause and severity of this finding. AF can itself lead to structural remodeling, and in humans with AF, an increased risk of sudden cardiac death (SCD) is observed (Waldmann). However, it is unclear whether this risk for SCD is also true in dogs. So, Borgeat et al wanted to evaluate this in a study entitled "Prevalence of sudden cardiac death in dogs with atrial fibrillation." In this study, the authors hypothesize that a higher proportion of dogs with AF suffer from SCD tha

In this VETgirl online veterinary continuing education podcast, we interview Dr. Andrew Heller (IndeVets co-founder and IndeVet #1) and Dr. Samantha Cantor (Veterinary Success Manager) at IndeVets. Find out how to hire veterinarians and what some red flags are that you should look for when interviewing a veterinarian. What are some green flags when hiring? Often veterinarian owners aren't specifically trained in hiring so this podcast will provide some key tips!

In today's VETgirl podcast, we interview Dr. Deb Greco, PhD, DACVIM about diabetes mellitus in cats. Is there anything we as veterinary professionals can do better at identifying and monitoring cats that are either at risk or have preclinical diabetes? What can we do to work with our pet owners to keep cats from progressing to diabetes mellitus? Is there anything we can implement early - or even preemptively - to minimize the predisposition for insulin resistance? What are the odds of diabetic remission in cats? Learn long-term management - including dietary management, monitoring and tapering of insulin - in this VETgirl podcast!

In today's VETgirl online veterinary continuing education podcast, we interview Dr. Marc Seitz, DVM, DACVR, DABVP (Canine and Feline Practice), Assistant Clinical Professor of Diagnostic Imaging at Mississippi State University on a recent study he published entitled "Sedation with dexmedetomidine is associated with transient gallbladder wall thickening and peritoneal effusion in some dogs undergoing abdominal ultrasonography." If you're doing point-of-care ultrasounds (AKA FAST ultrasounds) on your patients sedated with dexmedetomidine, you'll need to be on the look out for gallbladder edema or the "HALO" sign. Tune in to learn all the important differentials you should be keeping in mind when you see the HALO sign on veterinary ultrasound!

In this VETgirl online veterinary continuing education podcast, we interview Dr. Kelly St. Denis, MSc, DVM, DABVP (feline practice) will review feline urinary disease. What's the classic signalment for cats with Feline Lower Urinary Tract Disease (FLUTD), and what are the clinical signs? What we can do to help cat owners identify it sooner, and how do we diagnose and manage cats with urinary disease? How can we take a more proactive role in feline urinary health? Learn it in this VETgirl podcast! Today's VETgirl podcast is sponsored by Royal Canin. Recommend multifunction Royal Canin Urinary SO® + Calm complete and balanced adult cat food to help support a healthy urinary tract while providing calming nutrients for cats facing stress. Learn more at my.royalcanin.com.

In this VETgirl online veterinary continuing education podcast, we interview Dr. Kathryn Slaughter-Mehfoud, DVM, MPH, on a few equine problems seen by a large animal/equine surgeon. Tune in to learn everything from angular limb deformities in foals, esophageal obstructions ("choke"), septic joints to OCD lesions to when you should refer a horse to a veterinary specialist or not! Plus, this is great info for veterinary students for board review!

In this VETgirl online veterinary continuing education podcast, we discuss the treatment of refractory coccidioidomycosis in dogs. Coccidioidomycosis, also known as Valley Fever, is a common fungal infection in the southwestern United States that is caused by the organisms Coccidioides immitis and Coccidioides posadasii. We review the study by Shubitz et al entitled "Posaconazole treatment of refractory coccidioidomycosis in dogs."

In today's VETgirl online veterinary continuing education podcast, we interview Dr. Meghan Vaught, DACVECC, Criticalist and ECC Service Director at the Maine Veterinary Medical Center on cyberbullying in veterinary medicine. What do we do when our veterinary staff and clinic undergo the vitriol of pet owners or veterinary professionals in general?

In this VETgirl online veterinary continuing education podcast, we review echocardiographic predictors of first onset of atrial fibrillation in dogs with chronic valvular heart disease (CVHD) AKA myxomatous mitral valve disease (MMVD) using speckle tracking. The onset of atrial fibrillation (AF) is a negative prognostic indicator in dogs with underlying structural heart disease, and the likelihood of onset of atrial fibrillation is higher with increases in left atrial size and body weight. Furthermore, the greater the patient's ventricular response rate, or ultimately heart rate, in atrial fibrillation, the worse the prognosis is known to be. As a result, pharmacologic heart rate control is a major goal of treatment in dogs with atrial fibrillation secondary to structural heart disease. Early detection of onset of atrial fibrillation, if possible, would reduce the amount of time during which a dog may be experiencing as-yet undetected rapid atrial fibrillation. Data in humans have determined that certain mark

In this VETgirl online veterinary continuing education podcast, we interview Dr. Margie Scherk, DVM, DABVP on all things lower urinary tract in our feline patients! What do we do with our FLUTD / FIC cases? What do we do when we see cats presenting with these clinical signs, and is antimicrobial therapy warranted? Should I do a urinalysis on these feline patients, and what's the diagnostic approach to hematuria in cats?

In today's VETgirl podcast, we interview Dr. Lisa Radosta, DACVB about anxiety management in dogs and cats, including what potential causes or triggers contribute towards pet anxiety. How is anxiety manifested in dogs versus cats, and what screening questions should we veterinary professionals ask our pet owners to best screen for these common behavior problems? Tune in to know what medications and supplements are available and how to best treat anxiety in our feline and canine patients. Learn it in this VETgirl podcast!

In today's VETgirl online veterinary CE podcast, we interview Dr. Tamara Grubb, DVM, PhD, DACVAA about what's new with peri-operative pain management in veterinary medicine. Tune in to learn how and why we should address pain at multiple different levels in the pain pathway, and what veterinary professionals need to know about effective perioperative pain management.

In this VETgirl online veterinary continuing education podcast, we review Heterobilharzia americana (HA) infections in dogs. HA is a trematode parasite that can infect our canine patients, causing a condition known as schistosomiasis and potentially severe granulomatous disease. We know that specific snails are the intermediate host, and that dogs swimming in freshwater lakes or streams are often exposed to the free cercariae that have been released by an infected snail. The organisms infect the dog by dermal penetration, and can then migrate via the bloodstream to cause damage elsewhere and eventually to mate. Specifically, the organisms move to the liver and to the lungs, where they sexually mature into adult parasites. These adults can move via the portal system, and they mate and release fertilized eggs in the mesenteric veins. Enzymes facilitate transport of the eggs into the intestines, and they are ultimately excreted in the feces. To round out this process, a new stage of the organism, the flagellated

In this VETgirl online veterinary continuing education podcast, we interview Dr. Sarah Ozawa, DACZM, Clinical Assistant Professor in the Exotics and Zoo department at NSCU, on the incidence of congestive heart failure (CHF) in rabbits. Based off her recent study Clinical and pathological findings in rabbits with cardiovascular disease: 59 cases (2001-2018), we discuss if rabbits develop cardiovascular disease, and if so, what are the clinical signs that we need to recognize? How do we identify and work up rabbits with CHF and what is the treatment? Tune in to learn it with our first VETgirl rabbit podcast ever!

In this VETgirl online veterinary continuing education podcast, we discuss a point-of-care (POC) antibody assay for Coccidioides in dogs. Coccidioides is a systemic fungal infection also known as Valley Fever, common in the southwest United States and parts of northern Mexico (Brown). The fungal organisms live in the soil, but unfortunately can become aerosolized and inhaled, leading to disease. Affected dogs often suffer from respiratory disease, but a quarter of cases can result in more serious, disseminated infections (Davidson). In a study entitled "Clinical performance of a point-of-care Coccidioides antibody test in dogs" by Reagan et al, the authors dive into the diagnostic options available for detecting Coccidioides, and they offer a quick and helpful review of the available options. Briefly, several diagnostic options are available, though cytology, histopathology, or fungal culture represent the gold standards. An agar gel immunodiffusion (AGID) assay is used commonly in dogs to detect IgM or IgG a

In this VETgirl online veterinary continuing education podcast, VETgirl's Chief Happiness Officer, Jeannine Moga, MA, MSW, LCSW, clinical veterinary social worker, chats with Dr. Justine Lee, DACVECC, DABT on Mental Health Awareness month. How do we lose the guilt when it comes to self-care, and what can we as veterinary professionals do to take better care of ourselves and our colleagues? What's the difference between a life coach and a therapist, and how do I find out?