Vetgirl Veterinary Continuing Education Podcasts

In today's VETgirl online veterinary continuing education podcast, we interview Dr. Jennifer Song, who recently finished her surgical residency at the Ohio State University Veterinary Medical Center. Dr. Song, a board-eligible veterinary surgeon, discusses a retrospective study that she performed while at PennVet entitled "Retrospective evaluation of shortened prothrombin time or activated partial thromboplastin time for the diagnosis of hypercoagulability in dogs: 25 cases (2006-2011)" in the Journal of Veterinary Emergency Critical Care. Previously, we didn't pay much heed to a shortened PT/PTT; we generally only looked at prolongation as an indicator of hypocoagulability (the inability to clot). However, in recent human studies, there may be some evidence that a shortened PT/PTT is suggestive of hypercoagulability! While thromboelastography (TEG) is traditionally looked at - along with increased fibrin (or fibrinogen) and D-dimers - to evaluate hypercoagulability, Song et al's new evidence may prove otherw

In today's VETgirl online veterinary continuing education podcast, we interview Dr. Stijn Niessen, DVM, PhD, DECVIM, PGCVetEd, FHEA, MRCVS. Dr. Niessen is a Senior Lecturer at the Royal Veterinary College University of London, President of the European Society of Veterinary Endocrinology and the Head of Internal Medicine. He is also the Director of the Diabetic Remission Clinic.

In a study by Brannick et al entitled “Taking stock and making strides towards wellness in the veterinary workplace,” the authors highlight the fact that veterinary medicine attracts people with a drive to help others, as well as high levels of compassion and empathy. While these traits enable veterinary professionals to experience compassion satisfaction that is a joy or sense of achievement in helping others and providing high quality patient care, this can take its toll personally and professionally over time. With repeated exposure to traumatic events such as animal abuse, diagnosis of serious illnesses, or euthanasia, as well as moral dilemmas and occupational demands, compassion fatigue or burnout can occur.

In today's VETgirl online veterinary continuing education podcast, we interview Dr. Jane Quandt, DACVAA, DACVECC, on whether it's appropriate to "box" down cats with inhalant therapy alone. This is no longer considered standard of care and not recommended by anesthesiologists, with the exception of the rare exotic animal that cannot be easily intubated (e.g., gerbil, pocket pets, etc.). So, if you have a fractious cat, check out this veterinary podcast for some better, safer tips from Dr. "Q!"

How do you treat patients with pyothorax in your practice? Do you have a different protocol for dogs versus cats? Do you know they are likely to have different causes of pyothorax?

In today's VETgirl online veterinary continuing education podcast, Dr. Lisa Radosta, DACVB of Florida Veterinary Behavior Service discusses the role that supplements like Zylkene and Anxitane have in veterinary behavior. Do they work? Since supplements aren't regulated by the FDA, are they safe? Should you be recommending them? Tune into this podcast to find out more!

Treat a lot of working dogs? Well, this VETgirl online veterinary continuing education podcast is for you. Parr and Otto out of University of Pennsylvania wanted to evaluate the primary presenting problem of working German Shepherd dogs (GSD) presenting to the ER. What was the underlying etiology of illness? In a study called "Emergency visits and occupational hazards in German Shepherd police dogs (2008-;2010)," they retrospectively reviewed GSD presenting to the Penn emergency services from 2008-2010 (Shout out to the Penn Working Dog Center!). They wanted to be able to identify the number and underlying conditions of police dog visits and confirm the primary causes of illness in working GSD.

In today's VETgirl online veterinary continuing education podcast, we interview Dr. Michael Tokiwa, owner of Progressive Veterinary Care, a family of veterinary hospitals located in the Princeton, NJ area. Dr Tokiwa is also the host and medical consultant for the popular pet radio show, Your Pet Matters on 107.7 The Bronc. Here, Dr. Tokiwa discusses the pros and cons of small business ownership and what tips you should consider when considering purchasing that small animal clinic.

In today's VETgirl online veterinary continuing education podcast, we review how long you can keep your packed red blood (pRBC) cell transfusions around. 2-3 weeks? 4-6 weeks? What's the right answer? Does it depend on the patient, their disease, or the hospital's protocol?

In today's VETgirl online veterinary continuing education podcast,  we review prognostic factors in dogs with head trauma based off a recent study by Sharma et al entitled “Retrospective evaluation of prognostic indicators in dogs with head trauma.” Many of us in emergency practice see head trauma patients and would agree that the prognosis for these patients can be difficult to predict.  Some dogs or cats admitted with signs of traumatic brain injury make astounding turnarounds, whereas others do not seem to respond to therapy.  Studies investigating veterinary patients with head trauma are relatively sparse.  A study investigating the utility of a modified Glasgow coma scale score (MGCS) was published back in 2001 and showed an almost linear correlation between the score and mortality.  Alternatively, large studies investigating the utility of the Animal Trauma Triage (ATT) score have been published recently, but this score has not been specifically investigated in a population of head trauma patients.  The

In today's VETgirl online veterinary continuing education podcast, Dr. Steve Mehler, DACVS, reviews how to perform a splenectomy in dogs and cats. Not sure of the approach? Want some tips on how to manage a hemoabdomen surgically without getting it all over your surgical field? What type of suture should you use? Tune into this 30 minute podcast to learn it! Please note that this podcast is a modification from our Real-Life Rounds, so you won't be able to see the videos. Interested in seeing it? Join VETgirl ELITE and get access to our podcasts, webinars, Real-Life Rounds, videos and more!

In today's VETgirl online veterinary continuing education podcast, we interview Dr. Dorothy Cimino Brown, Professor of Surgery at University of Pennsylvania on the use of the Coriolus versicolor mushroom, known commonly as the Yunzhi mushroom. This mushroom, which has been used in Chinese medicine for more than 2,000 years, is thought to contain immune-boosting properties from polysaccharopeptide (PSP). The specific product being used is I'm-Yunity, made by Chinese Medicine Holdings LTD (NOTE: This product is manufactured in the USA in adherence to USP c-GMP guidelines). A preliminary University of Pennsylvania pilot study that was released in 2012 evaluated 15 dogs diagnosed with hemangiosarcoma that were treated with 25, 50, and 100 mg/kg/day of I'm-Yunity. While there wasn't a statistically significant difference in survival between the three dosage groups, the median survival time was highest in the 100 mg/kg/day group, at 199 days. As as result, a second clinical trial is currently being conducted to eva

In the last several years, the debate over the use of hydroxyethyl starch (HES) solutions in veterinary medicine has intensified. In human patients, HES products now have a boxed warning recommending against their use in critically ill patients, based on evidence that they contribute to coagulopathy, acute kidney injury (AKI), and increased risk of mortality.1 In veterinary patients, no studies of AKI or outcome in clinical patients receiving HES have been performed. So, Hayes et al out of Ontario Veterinary College set out to determine if HES administration was associated with outcome or AKI in canine ICU patients in a study called "Retrospective cohort study on the incidence of acute kidney injury and death following hydroxyethyl starch (HES 10% 250/0.5/5:1) administration in dogs (2007-2010)." Because many of these patients would already be considered critically ill based on their admission to the ICU, a retrospective cohort study was designed with an illness severity measure included.

In today's VETgirl online veterinary continuing education podcast, we review two studies that describe the transfusion practices used for the treatment of dogs hospitalized after trauma and for dogs undergoing splenectomy for splenic masses. These are both large retrospective studies out of Tufts University, a busy veterinary teaching hospital in Massachusetts.

In today's VETgirl online veterinary continuing education podcast, we review pulmonary hypertension (often called cor pulmonale) and the use of sildenafil (more famously known as Viagra). Pulmonary hypertension is classified is as an increase in either pre-capillary (pulmonary arterial ) or post-capillary (pulmonary venous) pulmonary resistance. In dogs, the disease occurs most commonly in older, small breed dogs as a result of chronic lung disease, chronic left-sided heart disease, heartworm infection, pulmonary thromboembolism, or left-to-right cardiac shunts (which is one of the reasons why it's so important that you treat underlying lung disease before it progresses to pulmonary hypertension!). The clinical signs of pulmonary hypertension may be indistinguishable from primary respiratory disease or congestive heart failure and includ tachypnea, cyanosis, dyspnea, increased respiratory effort, syncope, etc. Definitive diagnosis of pulmonary hypertension is made via echocardiogram by estimation of pulmonary

In today's VETgirl online veterinary continuing education podcast, we review the important topic of the prevalence of suicide in our field. Why do veterinarians and veterinary technicians have a higher rate of suicide as compared to other fields? In a recent publication in JAVMA by Nett et al, they review the field of mental health and wellness in the veterinary profession. This is an area receiving some much-needed attention recently, due to the occurrence of some widely publicized suicides amongst veterinary professionals during the last few years. (BTW, you can check out our free VETgirl webinar on suicide by Jeannine Moga here).

In today's VETgirl online veterinary continuing education podcast, we review whether or not there is an association between hypothyroidism and dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM). Doberman Pinschers are overrepresented among canine patients diagnosed with dilated cardiomyopathy (familial/genetic), as well as those diagnosed with hypothyroidism. So the question is, is there a link? This is a very controversial topic. After all, we know that thyroid hormone plays an important role in the systolic function of the myocardium and cardiac rate and rhythm via its effect on density of beta-adrenergic receptors and their sensitivity to catecholamines. A deficiency of thyroid hormone has been associated with reduced myocardial function and alterations in cardiac conduction and heart rate thus leading to the premise that the hypothyroid state may be a metabolic etiology for dilated cardiomyopathy. Studies to date have not supported that premise.

In this VETgirl online veterinary continuing education podcast, we interview Dr. Galina Hayes, PhD, DVM, DACVECC, DACVS (Hello, letters!), Assistant Professor in Small Animal Surgery at Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine. In her recent retrospective study performed at the Ontario Veterinary College, University of Guelph, she evaluated the incidence of acute kidney injury (AKI) and death following hydroxyethyl starch (HES 10% 250/0.5/5:1) administration in dogs (2007-2010). In this retrospective study, the authors evaluated 180 dogs receiving HES compared to 242 random dogs receiving just IV fluids. This is the first veterinary paper evaluating the risk of AKI with HES administration; however, be aware of the limitations of the study (e.g., retrospective, higher cumulative crystalloid dosing differences, higher transfusion rates, etc.). That said, before you reach for a bag of colloids, listen to this VETgirl podcast!

In today's VETgirl online veterinary CE podcast, we review a recent study titled Development of anemia, phlebotomy practices, and blood transfusion requirements in 45 critically ill cats. This study hypothesized that iatrogenic anemia occurs in hospitalized cats undergoing repeated venipuncture. This has been observed in people, especially critically ill children, and has been associated with the need for blood transfusions. Unfortunately, we know that transfusions can increase hospital cost to clients, risk of transfusion reactions, and risks of complications such as transfusion-associated circulatory overload (TACO) or transfusion-related acute lung injury (TRALI). Given that less is known about iatrogenic anemia in cats, the objectives of this study were to describe the incidence and development of anemia, to document phlebotomy practices and transfusion requirements in these cats, and to evaluate the association between these factors and duration of hospitalization and outcome in critically ill cats.

In today's VETgirl online veterinary CE podcast, we review the use of antivenom in dogs. Is it worth the $500/bottle? How many bottles should we use? Is it necessary in all cases? So, we interview Dr. Daniel Foy, DACVIM, DACVECC, who published a study called "Retrospective evaluation of the effect of antivenom administration on hospitalization duration and treatment cost for dogs envenomated by Crotalus viridis: 113 dogs (2004-;2012)." This was a retrospective study looking at a large case population (over 100 dogs) who were envenomated with Crotalus viridis, or more commonly known as the prairie rattlesnake (which isn't as bad as other types of Crotalid species). In this study, it appeared that the use of antivenom did not positively affect outcome or duration of hospitalization, and actually increased costs! So, test your envenomation knowledge here in today's VETgirl podcast.