Vetgirl Veterinary Continuing Education Podcasts

In this VETgirl online veterinary CE podcast, we review a common plant toxicosis seen in both dogs and cats: insoluble calcium oxalate containing plants. We'll also review the less common plant toxicant soluble calcium oxalate containing plants and discuss the difference between the two types.

In this VETgirl online veterinary CE podcast, we review patent ductus arteriosus (PDA). Left-to right patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) is the most common congenital heart defect in dogs. PDA also occurs in cats but with much lower incidence. If PDA is left untreated, it results in left-sided volume cardiac overload, with a high incidence of congestive heart failure (CHF) within the first year of life. Definitive treatment usually carries a good prognosis and consists of attenuation of flow across the PDA by either surgical ligation (e.g., via thoracotomy) or placement of occlusion devices (e.g., such as coils, plugs or occluders) from within the vascular space via a transcatheter/transvascular approach. Both methods are highly successful in dogs, with transvascular methods preferred as they are less invasive and have a lower rate of major complications. So what about cats? Unfortunately, these approaches can both be more difficult in cats due to their small size. To date, minimal data exists in veterinary liter

In this VETgirl online veterinary CE podcast, we review Transfusion Related Acute Lung Injury (TRALI). In veterinary medicine, the use of transfusions has become more prevalent, particularly in the field of emergency and critical care. Transfusion medicine is important to help improve oxygen delivery, provide coagulation factors, and provide hemoglobin. That said, the benefits of transfusions must outweigh the risks - albeit rare - from the product itself.

In this VETgirl online veterinary CE podcast, we review updates in treatment for canine parvovirus (CPV). As parvovirus can result in severe dehydration, secondary hypovolemia, hypoglycemia, sepsis, and DIC, rapid identification, recognition of clinical signs, and treatment should occur to ensure the best outcome. In this Part 2 of 2 podcasts, we review the clinicopathologic results of parvovirus and focus on treatment of the critically ill pediatric patient.

In this VETgirl online veterinary CE podcast, we review updates in treatment for canine parvovirus (CPV). As parvovirus can result in severe dehydration, secondary hypovolemia, hypoglycemia, sepsis, and DIC, rapid identification, recognition of clinical signs, and treatment should occur to ensure the best outcome. In this Part 1 of 2 podcasts, we review the etiology, pathophysiology, and clinical signs of parvovirus.

In today's VETgirl online veterinary CE podcast, we review the significance of pulmonary hypertension in dogs with myxomatous mitral valve disease (or what we'll call MMVD from now on). Pulmonary hypertension (PH) is thought to commonly occur in dogs with MMVD due to passive elevations in pulmonary venous and capillary pressures; this can progress to pulmonary arterial vasoconstriction and remodeling of pulmonary vasculature (with the latter considered an irreversible stage).

In today's VETgirl online veterinary CE podcast, we interview Dr. Deborah Silverstein, DACVECC, Associate Professor of Critical Care at the University of Pennsylvania's School of Veterinary Medicine. (She's also one of the co-editors for the fantastic book Small Animal Critical Care Medicine). She talks about all the scary acronyms of critical care: SIRS, MODS, sepsis, and septic shock. So, if you don't think you see Systemic Inflammatory Response Syndrome (SIRS) or multi-organ dysfunction syndrome (MODS), think again. Tune in to learn what you need to do to treat your critically ill patient.

In today's VETgirl online veterinary CE podcast, we review Herring et al's recent publication in Journal of Veterinary Emergency Critical Care called "Intravenous lipid emulsion therapy in three cases of canine naproxen overdose." Naproxen, an OTC or prescription human NSAID, has a narrow margin of safety in dogs and cats. As little as 5 mg/kg can result in gastrointestinal distress (e.g., vomiting, diarrhea, etc.) while doses > 10-25 mg/kg can result in acute kidney injury (AKI). Doses > 50 mg/kg can result in central nervous system signs (e.g., tremors, coma, etc.).

Who likes treating dyspneic cats?

In this VETgirl online veterinary CE podcast, we interview Dr. Kelly Hall on what the Veterinary Committee on Trauma (VetCOT) Veterinary Trauma Center (VTC) network is. The goal of VETCOT is to create a network of lead hospitals that seed development of trauma systems. There are three different levels (1 through III) of Veterinary Trauma Centers. This is different from VECCS Facility Certification. These hospitals will work collaboratively to define standards of care and disseminate information that improves trauma patient management efficiency and outcome. Find out more about VetCOT here!

In this VETgirl online veterinary CE blog podcast, we interview Dr. Allison Sande, DACVIM, DACVECC on her JVECC publication on acute liver failure in dogs and cats. What are the underlying causes of acute hepatic necrosis in dogs and cats, and what is the overall treatment and prognosis? Learn more in this VETgirl podcast!

In today's VETgirl online veterinary CE podcast blog, we interview Dr. Lindsey Nielsen, DACVECC on her study that she conducted retrospectively at Angell Animal Medical Center on the the use of fenoldopam. Fenoldopam is a selective D1 receptor partial agonist used to help attempt to vasodilate the renal vessels in acute kidney injury (AKI) patients. So, does fenoldopam help increase urine output and improve the outcome with AKI (No.)? Here, a review of AKI, fluid therapy, dopamine, mannitol, or other unique drugs like fenoldopam.

In this VETgirl online veterinary continuing education podcast, David Liss, RVT, discusses how to best utilize your veterinary technician in helping you manage emergencies in daily practice. Are you not taking the time to do "doctor things" during an emergency? Check out this podcast to learn what you can do to improve your efficiency thanks to the help of your team!

In this VETgirl podcast, we review the clinical utility of Holter monitoring in dogs with advanced myxomatous mitral valve disease with or without a history of syncope. Syncope - or fainting - is characterized by a transient loss of consciousness and is generally considered of cardiac or non-cardiac etiology (e.g., neurologic, pulmonary, etc.). Syncopal episodes typically have short duration, rapid recovery, and lack of aura or post-ictal phase. Causes for syncope secondary to cardiac causes is believed to be due to reduced blood flow/nutrient delivery to the brain and can occur for a variety of reasons in patients with cardiac disease. Arrhythmias (either bradyarrhythias or tachyarrhythmias) represent one category of etiologies of cardiac syncope. Determining the exact etiology of syncope via Holter monitoring can be challenging due to the sporadic nature of syncope as a clinical sign and the relatively short duration (24 hours) of most Holter monitor recordings. In other words, it's often hard to catch, eve

In this VETgirl online veterinary CE podcast, we interview Dr. Lauren Sullivan, DACVECC, an Assistant Clinical Professor at CSU. She reviews this common infectious disease affecting immunocomprised, poorly vaccinated puppies, and discusses etiology, clinical signs, treatment, and some new updates in veterinary medicine. In a recent study at CSU, the use of outpatient therapy with canine parvovirus can still yield a good prognosis. Check out this VETgirl podcast for more information and get your street medicine on!

In this VETgirl online veterinary continuing education podcast, Dr. Lisa Radosta, DACVB from Florida Veterinary Behavior Service discusses litterbox size preference in domestic cats. As inappropriate urination is the #1 feline behavioral disorder, help your clients by educating them on what exact size box is appropriate for the average-sized cat.

In today's VETgirl podcast, we review the importance of performing a venous blood gas in the vomiting patient. Why? Because when we see a hypochloremic, hypokalemic metabolic alkalosis, we should be ruling out an obstructive gastrointestinal (GI) foreign body. Previously, the presence of a metabolic alkalosis has been associated with a upper GI (e.g., pyloric) foreign body. Why? Because of protracted vomiting and loss of chloride, which deletes the body of an anion. In order to maintain electroneutrality, when a sodium (Na+) moves, a negatively charged anion must exchange with it. While this is typically chloride, if the body is chloride deplete, it absorbs bicarbonate (HCO3-) instead, resulting in the classic metabolic alkalosis. Normally, dogs reabsorb 98% of their gastrointestinal secretions per day. Once a GI obstruction is present for more than 24 hours, resorption in the bowel proximal to an obstruction results in increased secretion of Na+, K+, and water into the lumen. Historically, proximal GI obstru

In this VETgirl podcast, Dr. Lisa Powell, DACVECC reviews a study out of Tufts University assessing the time of antimicrobial administration in the treatment of septic peritonitis and overall survival. Does it matter when you reach for a vial of antibiotics in your emergent or critically ill patients? The goals of this study were to determine whether creation and implementation of a canine abdominal sepsis protocol decreased time to antimicrobial administration in dogs with septic peritonitis. What did this study find? Overall, the median time from diagnosis of septic peritonitis to antimicrobial administration was 6 hours in the preprotocol group (PRE), and 1 hour in the postprotocol group (POST) (P = 0.001). 25% of the culture and sensitivity results were negative in the PRE versus the POST group (17.6%). 15% of the time, the wrong empirical antimicrobial was selected in the PRE group (compared to 8.8% of the time in the POST group). Overall, the survival to discharge was 60% in the PRE and 70% in the POST,