Vetgirl Veterinary Continuing Education Podcasts

Diabetes mellitus is a common endocrine disease in dogs and cats. Unfortunately, while diabetes mellitus alone is often easy to manage, complications such as diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) can occur. DKA is a serious complication which can lead to significant morbidity and mortality. In the emergency room, we often use regular insulin for the treatment of DKA patients. However, with recent drug shortages and backorders, regular insulin is less readily available. What do you do if you no longer can obtain regular insulin? In this veterinary podcast, VetGirl evaluates the use of a new, short acting insulin, Lispro™, in the treatment of ketoacidotic patients to help determine if this is a reasonable alternative to regular insulin therapy.

Albumin is the primary determinate of colloid osmotic pressure (COP). Albumin plays key roles within the body. Hypoproteinemia has been associated with a poorer outcome in numerous diseases (e.g., sepsis, etc.). For this reason, the use of albumin transfusions has become more popular in the past 5-10 years. Due to the side effects of human serum albumin (HSA) administration in veterinary medicine, canine specific albumin (CSA) has been developed. In this veterinary podcast, VetGirl evaluates the usefulness of canine specific albumin in dogs with septic peritonitis.

Oncology cases can be challenging. Something as simple as knowing when to remove a slow growing mass versus when to perform a fine needle aspirate (FNA) prior to biopsy are important tips to know. Dr. Sue Ettinger, DACVIM (Oncology), discusses some important management tools to implement into your oncology patients. Check out this VetGirl veterinary podcast to find out when to start prednisone!

Intermittent hemodialysis (IHD) is an accepted method for acute kidney injury (AKI) in both human and veterinary medicine. It is often considered in patients with severe azotemia, hyperkalemia, fluid overload, or severe clinical signs. While it can be a life-saving therapy, most current publish information only evaluates the short-term outcome following IHD. In this veterinary podcast, VetGirl discusses common reasons to consider intermittent therapy, and also evaluates IHD's use on long-term outcomes based on underlying diseases.

This VetGirl veterinary podcast tells you how you can implement asthma inhalers and chambers in your clinic and for your patients with feline asthma or canine chronic bronchitis. The use of inhaler steroids (e.g., fluticasone) and/or beta-agonists (e.g., albuterol) can be life-saving in patients with acute respiratory distress. However, appropriate use and medical management (including oral systemic drug therapy) is imperative!

Just made a blood smear? Not really sure what you're looking at? In this VetGirl veterinary podcast, Dr. Ashleigh Newman (clinical pathology resident guru who evaluates blood smears all day long!) gives us a few hints on how to approach blood smear evaluation. Don't forget to focus on red blood cell morphology, platelet clumps, parasites and more!

Glucagon is a hormone secreted by the pancreas that raises blood glucose levels. It has an opposite effect of insulin in the body. An injectable form of glucagon is available and can be considered in hypoglycemic patients (e.g., insulin overdose). In this veterinary podcast, VetGirl discusses the use of subcutaneous glucagon in veterinary medicine.

Diagnosing congestive heart failure (CHF) in dogs and cats can be challenging. In this VetGirl veterinary podcast, Dr. Anna Gelzer, DACVIM, provides some simple tips - found on physical exam - in diagnosing CHF. That way, you can figure out how to treat it sooner!

The impedance threshold device (ITD) is a device which attaches to the end of an endotracheal tube; it is used in human medicine to enhance circulation during CPR. You can find great information here about it's use in human medicine. This device works by regulating the influx of gases into the chest during the chest wall recoil phase. In this veterinary podcast, VetGirl discusses the ITD and how it affects the outcome of patients during CPR. Should we be using this in veterinary medicine?

Think you're all over that poisoning case? Just going to induce vomiting and give it some charcoal? Well, before doing that, don't forget about those contraindications for emesis induction. More importantly, make sure you're using the appropriate emetic agent to begin with. In this VetGirl podcast, find out all the pros and cons of emesis induction in this veterinary podcast. It's full of vomitus.

In this VetGirl podcast, we discuss the use of cathartics, when to use them, and potential side effects (e.g., hypernatremia) seen with their use. Decontamination is still the mainstay treatment of the poisoned veterinary patient. While activated charcoal is commonly used as an adsorbent, there are several forms of activated charcoal: those containing a cathartic (e.g., sorbitol) and those that do not contain a cathartic. Find out all you need to know about accelerating defecation with cathartics!

It is well documented that human trauma patients with low levels of ionized calcium at admission are at increased risk for death. As calcium has many important functions in the body, hypocalcemia can lead to numerous systemic abnormalities. In this veterinary podcast, VetGirl evaluates the importance of calcium in the body -; particularly in veterinary trauma patients - and evaluates how calcium levels may affect overall treatment plan and outcome in veterinary medicine.

Questions? You can always contact us via our Contact Us page. Suggested reading: 1. Lee JA, Drobatz KJ, Koch MW, et al. Indications for and outcome of positive-pressure ventilation in cats: 53 cats (1993-2002). J Am Vet Med Assoc 2005;226(6):924-931. 2. Hopper K, Haskins SC, Kass PH, et al. Indications, management, and outcome of long-term positive-pressure ventilation in dogs and cats: 148 cases (1990-2001). J Am Vet Med Assoc 2007;230(1):64-75. 3. Edwards TH, Coleman AE, Brainard BM, et al. Outcome of positive-pressure ventilation in dogs and cats with congestive heart failure: 16 cases (1992-2012). J Vet Emerg Crit Care 2014;24(5):586-593. 4. Campbell VL, King LG. Pulmonary function, ventilator management, and outcome of dogs with thoracic trauma and pulmonary contusions: 10 cases (1994-1998). J Am Vet Med Assoc 2000;217(10):1505-1509.

The impedance threshold device (ITD) is a device used to enhance circulation during cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR). This device works by regulating the influx of gases into the chest during the chest wall recoil phase. In this podcast, VetGirl discusses the ITD and how it affects the outcome of patients with hemorrhagic shock.

In this VetGirl podcast, we review baclofen toxicity, a centrally-acting muscle relaxant used commonly in human medicine. Unfortunately, ingestion by veterinary patients can cause significant morbidity and mortality. Clinical signs of baclofen toxicosis include severe dysphoria, agitation, profound sedation, bradycardia, hypoventilation, coma, and death. In this VetGirl podcast, we discuss common clinical signs when ingested by dogs and cats, treatment options, and prognosis.

In today's VETgirl online veterinary continuing education podcast, we review the use of intravenous lipid emulsion (ILE), otherwise known as intravenous fat emulsion (IFE), in veterinary medicine. ILE has been documented now in both human and veterinary medicine as an antidote for fat-soluble drug toxicities such as macrocylic lactones (e.g., ivermectin, moxidectin), local anesthetics, baclofen, cholecalciferol, etc.). In this VetGirl podcast, we discuss how ILE works, what toxins it is effective for, and how to use this exciting antidote option.

Questions? You can always contact us via our Contact Us page. Suggested reading: 1. Waddell L. Blood gas analysis. Clinicians Brief 2012.

Questions? You can always contact us via our Contact Us page.

Transfusion of packed red blood cells (pRBCs) is a common treatment for anemia. Transfusion to a normal PCV is unnecessary and may result in fluid overload due to the volume needed to return the PCV back to the normal range. The goal of pRBC transfusion is to alleviate the clinical signs associated with anemia or decreased oxygen content (CaO2). The question is: how much blood do you have to give to achieve the “desired packed cell volume (PCV)?” In this veterinary podcast, VetGirl will examine transfusion formulas to help you determine how much blood you need to give for these anemic patients.

Chylous effusions are produced when lymph escapes lymphatic vessels to enter the body cavities, commonly the pleural space. In this veterinary podcast, VetGirl evaluates the causes of chylothorax, the species we commonly see this disease in, treatment options, and the outcome with treatment.