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IDEXX: Contributing to something bigger

Happy National Pet Dental Health Month! To start the month-long campaign to raise awareness of dental health in veterinary medicine, Curt Coffman, DVM, FAVD, DAVDC, national specialty director of dentistry at Thrive Pet Healthcare, joins Adam Christman, DVM, MBA, to discuss all things dental. The duo discusses everything from the importance of dental care to new treatments and care happening.

Below is a partial transcript. Listen to the full podcast for more.

: The mouth is the entrance to the body and so if it doesn't work correctly or if it's inflamed or uncomfortable, then the pet can't get the nutrients properly that they need. And so that's the first thing you know, and because it's a it's a portal to the insides, it's also for the good things like nutrients. If if there if it's infected or inflamed, then it's an avenue for that infection or inflammation to go to other organ systems or other places in the body. So if we don't take care of it, then it's going to lead to other problems, not just locally in the mouth, but you know, regionally and systemically.

Podcasts

Kick off National Pet Dental Health Month with this dentistry episode of The Vet Blast Podcast

What's new with the "Dentistry Lane" across the veterinary profession?

 interview, Ian Kanda, RVT, VTS (Exotics), described what a packed cell volume (PCV) tests for, plus offers advice on obtaining an accurate measurement. 

The following is a partial transcript of the video.

The main thing is avoid old samples, you know, you can have like blood cell lysis, which will decrease it or blood cell swelling, which will increase it, so try to use a fresh blood sample. Also, probably most important is avoid dilution. So you're going to put your blood into a tube with anticoagulant and make sure you fill that tube right up to the fill line.

Videos

In a dvm360® interview, a registered veterinary technician outlines tips and tricks for collecting packed cell volume tests

Performing and calculating a PCV

Today marks the first day of Black History Month. Throughout the month, 

 is joined by veterinary professionals to discuss its importance in veterinary medicine and beyond. To begin the month, Tierra Price, DVM, MPH, founder and CEO of the BlackDVM Network, offers the 

 audience insight into what the BlackDVM Network is, and its goal within veterinary medicine. 

BlackDVM Network is an online platform for the empowerment of Black veterinary professionals. Our vision is really to elevate Black veterinary professionals to their full potential through individual coaching, networking, and providing resources. 

During this interview with dvm360®, Dr Tierra Price sheds light on the BlackDVM Network

Meet the BlackDVM Network

A newly published study supports a general recommendation to start screening all dogs for cancer at the age of 7 years and starting as early as age 4 years for certain breeds to increase the chance of early detection and treatment.

 Funded by PetDx, a liquid biopsy company for pets, the study was published today in 

, a peer-reviewed journal from the Public Library of Science.

The authors—who are all employed by PetDx—examined data from more than 3000 dogs with cancer to determine the typical age at which dogs of various breeds and weights developed the disease.

 They noted in the publication that cancer is the leading cause of death in adult dogs. The lifetime risk of cancer in canines as well as mortality from the disease varies significantly by breed.

“Veterinarians already know that cancer risk is influenced heavily by age and breed, and that dogs of certain breeds or sizes are at risk of developing cancer earlier in life than others,” said Andi Flory, DVM, DACVIM (Oncology), chief medical officer for PetDx, in an organizational release.

 “Importantly, this study lays the foundation for an evidence-based recommendation for when to start cancer screening for individual dogs based on their breed or weight.”

The results of the study are in line with the company’s recommendations for when to begin annual screening with the multi-cancer early detection (MCED) liquid biopsy test for dogs (OncoK9; PetDx). This test was earlier shown to detect 30 different types of canine cancer with a simple blood draw using next-generation sequencing (NGS) in the 

, which was the largest clinical validation study ever performed in veterinary cancer diagnostics, according to PetDx.3 The findings of this new study also underpin the company’s online calculator that allows users to easily find out the recommended age to start screening any dog for cancer (OncoK9 Cancer SAFE).

“Until recently, cancer screening options in dogs were limited,” said Jill Rafalko, MS, CGC, lead study author and director of scientific communications for PetDx, said in the release.

 “With the widespread availability of next-generation sequencing-based liquid biopsy testing, the question is shifting from 

 to screen dogs for cancer. Our study helps to answer that question.”

Dogs should be screened for cancer beginning at age 7, as early as age 4 for certain breeds, PetDx study shows. News release. PetDx. February 1, 2023. Accessed February 1, 2023. 

https://petdx.com/press-release/2023-02-01-press-release/

Rafalko JM, Kruglyak KM, McCleary Wheeler AL, et al. Age at cancer diagnosis by breed, weight, sex, and cancer type in a cohort of more than 3,000 dogs: Determining the optimal age to initiate cancer screening in canine patients. 

. 2023;18(2): e0280795. https://doi.org/10.1371/ journal.pone.0280795

PetDx announces publication of landmark clinical validation study for OncoK9®, its pioneering multi-cancer early detection test for dogs using next-generation sequencing. News release. April 26, 2022. Accessed February 1, 2023. 

https://petdx.com/press-release/2022-04-26-press-release/

Articles

Investigators made an evidence-based recommendation to start screening for cancer in canines based on when dogs tend to develop the disease

Study finds certain canine breeds should be screened for cancer at young ages

The lobby of the original Left Hand Animal Hospital. (Photo courtesy of Animal Arts)

This is the dream: to own your own hospital and practice medicine in a way that’s best for you, your clients, and your patients. As you step out to become an entrepreneur, that first hospital could be a springboard to bigger things or your practice’s forever home. Either way, it will set the tone for the future of your practice. You want it to reflect your values and your mission. It should communicate your identity and practice style to potential clients from the moment they walk in the door. This could be a daunting task or an exciting step into the future. Here are some tips to make it the latter.

Everyone on your team needs to understand your goals and be committed to helping you achieve them, from your banker and business consultant to your design and construction teams. Interview, check references, and get recommendations from trusted colleagues. Your team members’ experience and credentials are extremely important, but so is their fit with you and your needs. If a contractor who has built 30 veterinary hospitals wants to do things their way, without your input, they’re not the contractor for you. 

The original treatment space. (Photo courtesy of Animal Arts)

Draw up a business plan to help determine how much you can afford to finance and build. In today’s market, it might not be as much as you hoped for, but there are creative ways to conserve space and save on materials and finishes that will stretch your budget. At minimum, you will need to build 2 exam rooms per full-time doctor, a back-of-house area with 1 table per exam room (a surgery table and 2 treatment tables for a 3–exam room hospital, for example), and the support spaces required for staff, equipment, and clients (eg, bathrooms, break room, pack/prep area, laundry room, x-ray room, lab/pharmacy, isolation room, information technology room, and medical gas storage).

Choosing the right location for your first hospital is essential to building a thriving practice. The first step is to find a growing community with the pet population to support your hospital. Once you’ve identified a general area, consider these 3 factors: visibility, ease of access, and opportunities for expansion. You don’t need to build your hospital on the busiest corner in town; instead, is there an available lease space next to the grocery store that will provide high visibility? In urban areas, is the location close to public transportation? Can you find a location that is currently on the edge of town but will be in the middle of an expansion within a few years?

Just as you are looking for your community to expand, you want to give your hospital that opportunity as well. Is there an adjacent lease space you could acquire and expand into a few years later? If you are fortunate enough to build a new construction, is there enough room on your property for an addition?

The lobby at the new hospital. (Photo by Tim Murphy / Foto Imagery)

Work with someone who has designed a veterinary hospital before. Their experience will be invaluable when you are building for the first time. Your mother’s second cousin may give you a great price for the drawings, but you may end up paying for the things they didn’t know about down the line. Acoustic control; medical gas systems; equipment coordination; heating, ventilation, and air conditioning; and hose-down spaces are just some of the things a knowledgeable architect can ensure are designed correctly.

Design is where you make the hospital yours. Before you start working with your architect, think about what’s important to your practice and how it should affect the building. Do you want it to meet Fear Free standards? Do you want full transparency for your clients so they can be with their pet at every step of their visit? Are clean and uncluttered spaces important to you, necessitating appropriate and easily accessible storage spaces? Make sure you discuss all these things with your architect before they begin the design process.

Don’t be afraid to inject your personality into the design. If you want your hospital to be warm and homey, paint the walls in deep jewel tones, select living room–type furnishings, and consider adding a fireplace to the lobby. If you prefer sleek and modern design, go with grays and soft pastel colors, glossy countertops, and minimalist design in the waiting area. Your architect can help you choose the right materials for performance and durability, but colors and patterns can and should reflect your style and personality.

This can be the most exciting part of the process: seeing your dream manifest before your eyes. It can also be frustrating. Trust your contractor and architect to oversee the work is being done correctly and on schedule, but be present when you can. You have made a huge investment in your career and future; see it through from day 1 to the final punch walk so you know everything meets your expectations. 

The dedicated dental area at the new hospital. (Photo by Tim Murphy / Foto Imagery)

Two of our clients are wonderful doctors in our own backyard of Niwot, Colorado. When they went out on their own about 10 years ago, they identified a community that could support a new practice. They rented a small 2750-sq ft storefront, hired an experienced architect, gave it character, filled the lobby with Ikea furniture, and used that small hospital to build a thriving practice.

They grew quickly, and before their first lease term was up, they acquired a larger property around the corner from the storefront. It had been a private home, but it soon became the 6400-sq ft home to their hospital, Left Hand Animal Hospital. The added space gave them a more open hospital, with more procedure space, a dedicated dental area, more office and charting space, larger wards, the ability to separate dogs and cats in waiting and exam rooms, and a quiet break room for staff on the second floor away from the hubbub.

Opportunity awaits when you decide to open your own practice and build that first hospital. Be conscientious with your decisions, make sure your team members see your vision, and be creative. This is your chance to explore the possibilities that veterinary medicine can have for your future, your clients, and your patients.

Vicki J. Pollard, CVT, AIA, NCARB, AAA, as a partner at Animal Arts, brings unique experience to the animal care design world as an architect and certified veterinary technician. She is the coauthor of Practical Guide to Veterinary Hospital Design published by AAHA Press and a frequent speaker at national veterinary conferences.

Learn how to design a hospital that aligns with your mission, values, and culture

Build your first veterinary hospital

The American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) is sponsoring National Pet Dental Health Month this February to raise awareness of the importance of pet oral care. In an association release,

 AVMA president Lori Teller, DVM, DABVP, shared regular dental exams are critical to a companion animal’s overall health care and can help prevent more serious health problems.

"Dental disease is one of the most frequently diagnosed health problems for our dogs and cats, and it can have serious consequences for our pets' health," expressed Teller in the release. "Left untreated, dental disease isn't just bad for your pet's teeth; it causes your pet pain. And dental disease is more likely to exacerbate heart, liver or kidney disease, as well as make it more difficult to regulate diabetes. These are just a few reasons why regular dental checkups are so important."

Most dogs and cats have some evidence of periodontal disease by the age of three.

 To address this problem and help promote at-home dental care, the AVMA has unveiled 2 new videos: The first—

—features insight on making your dog or cat comfortable with tooth brushing as a regular routine; the second—

—provides a step-by-step explanation veterinary dental cleanings.

Daily toothbrushing is recommended for dogs and cats, however research published in the 

 demonstrated that only 2% of dog owners engage in this practice.

 Also a survey of pet parents displayed that only 14% of dogs and 9% of cats receive dental care at the veterinarian's office.

 Pet owners and veterinarians should collaborate so the pets have an at-home oral care routine as well regular dental exams and professional dental cleanings.

Teller advises that a pet's teeth should be checked twice a year by their veterinarian or a board-certified veterinary dentist for early signs of a problem and to maintain a healthy mouth. However, if a pet's teeth display these signs, they should be taken in immediately: 

Teeth that are discolored or covered in tartar

Abnormal chewing, drooling, or dropping food from the mouth

Swelling in the areas surrounding the mouth

AVMA: "Doggie breath" could be a sign of serious disease. News release. American Veterinary Medical Association. January 31, 2023. Accessed February 1, 2023. https://www.avma.org/news/press-releases/avma-doggie-breath-sign-serious-disease

Pet dental care. American Veterinary Medical Association. Accessed February 1, 2023. https://ebusiness.avma.org/files/productdownloads/petdentalcare_brochure.pdf

Quest BW. Oral health benefits of a daily dental chew in dogs. 

. 2013;30(2):84-7. doi: 10.1177/089875641303000203. 

The 2017 - 2018 APPA National Pet Owners Survery Debut. American Psychological Association. 2017-2018. Accessed February 2, 2022. https://www.almendron.com/tribuna/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/gpe2017-npos-seminar.pdf

In honor of National Pet Dental Health Month the resources detail dental procedures and at-home oral care

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