Vetgirl Veterinary Continuing Education Podcasts

Fluid therapy

In this VetGirl podcast, we discuss Sudden Acquired Retinal Degeneration (SARDS), a condition in dogs in which total blindness occurs acutely, usually over days to weeks.  Diagnosis of SARDS is made in cases of acute vision loss with an otherwise normal eye exam, and a flat-line electroretinogram (or ERG) recording is confirmatory.  Multiple investigations into the pathogenesis of SARDS have failed to identify an underlying cause.1-4 The average age at diagnosis is about 8 years, and approximately 60% of cases are female dogs.5 The Dachshund, Miniature Schnauzer, and mixed-breed dogs are most commonly affected. 4 The blindness from SARDS is considered permanent, with no reported successful therapy.

In addition to blindness, about 40% of dogs with SARDS demonstrate systemic clinical signs of polyuria/polydipsia, polyphagia, and weight gain.   These signs may develop prior to the onset of blindness, or shortly thereafter.5,6  Serum biochemical abnormalities including elevated cholesterol, AST, ALT, and ALP are

In today's VetGirl podcast, we'll discuss the prevalence and risk factors for growing methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus -; what we'll call MRS from now on - from dogs with pyoderma. Clinically, what do we see with dogs that have a superficial pyoderma? Classic lesions include pustules, papules, epidermal collarettes, and crusts.

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In this VetGirl podcast, we review treatment for canine leptospirosis, including aggressive intravenous (IV) fluid therapy, appropriate antibiotic therapy, gastrointestinal support, supportive care, and monitoring.

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In this VetGirl podcast, we review the clinicopathologic testing for leptospirosis. The diagnosis of canine leptospirosis is based on clinical suspicion, clinical signs, and clinicopathologic results consistent with leptospirosis. Clinicopathologic findings consistent with leptospirosis include the presence of: neutrophilia, a left shift, lymphopenia, a mild to moderate non-regenerative anemia, hemoconcentration (seen with dehydration), hemolysis (seen with cattle), thrombocytopenia (seen in up to 58% of dogs), azotemia (seen in > 80-90% of dogs), increased liver enzymes (including increases in ALT, AST, ALP, and total bilirubin; these changes are almost always seen with concurrent azotemia with leptospirosis), electrolyte abnormalities (e.g., hypokalemia, hyponatremia, hypochloridemia, hyperphosphatemia), and increased creatinine kinase. Additional findings consistent with leptospirosis include isosthenuria, bilirubinuria, hematuria, glucosuria, proteinuria, and evidence of coagulopathy (e.g., increased f

Today's VetGirl podcast features Dr. Craig Webb, PhD, DVM, DACVIM of Colorado State University, who discusses his research supported by Morris Animal Foundation on the use of probiotics in cats. Do probiotics survive the gastric acid, and should you be using veterinary probiotics versus what's over-the-counter? Do they play a role in gastrointestinal disease? Tune into this VetGirl podcast for more info!

In this VETgirl podcast, we interview Dr. Stacee Santi of Vet2Pet on the importance of veterinary apps for pet owners and clients. Think you need one? Listen to this podcast to find out if it's worth the investment for your clinic!

Today’s VetGirl podcast is on food trials. I’m particularly passionate about this podcast since my own pit bull just went on his first ever food trial. Not knowing anything about dermatology, I learned quite a bit from our VetGirl dermatology expert, Dr. Amy Haarstad. So, today’s podcast is going to focus on food trials… and whether or not it’s appropriate to use over the counter foods as dietary elimination trials!

In this VetGirl podcast, we review the transmission and clinical signs seen from canine leptospirosis. When it comes to leptospirosis, there are both saprophytic and pathogenic leptospires. Pathogenic leptospires are shed from renal tubules of both domestic and wild animals, and can remain viable in the soil and environment for weeks to months. That said, leptospires are inactivated by UV radiation and freezing. Infection can also occur through intact mucous membranes or abraded skin with direct or indirect exposure to urine. Rarely, leptospirosis can be transmitted via bite wound, ingestions of infected tissue (e.g., eating raw meat), or by venereal or placental transfer).

In this VetGirl blog, we review the basics about leptospirosis, a thin, motile spirochete with a hook-shaped end that results in zoonotic disease in veterinary medicine. With canine leptospirosis, infection with certain serovars are thought to be associated with certain types and severities of clinical disease, although this is not definitive (Goldstein et al). L. pomona appears to result in more severe renal disease and worse outcome (50% as compared to 78-81%) as compared to other serogroups (Goldstein et al).

Pronunciation help from Dr. Ashleigh Newman!

In this VetGirl podcast, we interview Dr. Greg Lisciandro, DABVP, DACVECC about ultrasound techniques in small animal medicine.

When it comes to treating skin disease, we know that Staphylococcus pseudintermedius is a common cause of canine pyoderma. Previous dermatology studies have found that dogs with superficial or deep bacterial pyoderma respond well to clindamycin administration, with success rates of approximately 71-100%. As a result, dermatologists often recommend using clindamycin hydrochloride as an antibiotic for systemic therapy to treat canine pyoderma, with a dosage ranging is 5.5-11 mg/kg once a day to twice a day. In this VetGirl podcast, we discuss whether or not you can use clindamycin at 11mg/kg once-aday versus 5.5 mg/kg twice-a-day when it comes to dosing in dogs.

In today's VetGirl podcast, we interview Dr. Hilary Hu, PhD candidate at Iowa State University. Dr. Hu and Dr. Nick Jeffery are conducting a clinical study on the experimental use of chondroitinase, which may improve outcome in dogs after spinal cord injury.

In this final Lyme VetGirl podcast, we review 3 clinical cases. Decide if you want to treat or not, and see if you learned all you need to know about both acute and Lyme disease and chronic Lyme nephritis.

Did your patient just ingest a toxic amount of acetaminophen (commonly called paracetamol in other countries)? Acetaminophen toxicosis is commonly seen in dogs and cats, and can result in liver failure, keratoconjunctivitis sicca (KCS), oxidative injury, methemoglobinemia, and Heinz body anemia. In dogs, the toxic dose is > 100 mg/kg, while in ferrets and cats, the toxic dose is as little as 10 mg/kg. This VetGirl podcast reviews all you need to know about acetaminophen toxicity. Thankfully, this toxicity has an antidote, n-acetylcysteine (NAC).

In this VetGirl podcast, we review initial treatment of chronic Lyme nephritis, focusing specifically on antihypertensive therapy, ACEi therapy, nutritional support, and possible immunosuppressive therapy. For chronic Lyme disease, appropriate monitoring for proteinuria or microalbuminuria should be performed q. 3-6 months. In patients that have continued proteinuria (after 4-6 weeks of antibiotic therapy), a renal biopsy should be considered (to rule out an immune-mediated glomerulonephritis), along with a low-protein diet, angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor (ACEi) therapy, and an additional course of antibiotic therapy. If evidence of immune-mediated glomerulonephritis is seen, the use of immunosuppressive therapy is warranted (e.g., azathioprine, cyclosporine, mycophenolate, etc.).