Learn how IDEXX is enhancing the lives of animals, people, and the planet.

IDEXX: Contributing to something bigger

®, Claire Fellman, PhD, DVM, DACVIM (SAIM), DACVCP, spoke about the different options available when it comes to which clinicians should restrict carbohydrates for diabetic cats. Each case needs to be considered individually, as lower carbs might not always be "better" for a particular patient.

View the video below for the entire discussion. The following is a partial transcript.

Claire Fellman, PhD, DVM, DACVIM (SAIM), DACVCP:

 We know that carbohydrate restriction is an important part of management of diabetic cats, but I think the evidence is less clear in how aggressive you need to be in that...I think it's just important to recognize that there's not one right answer. If the cat won't eat a diabetic prescription diet, we do have alternatives."

Videos

Claire Fellman, PhD, DVM, DACVIM (SAIM), DACVCP, shares the pros and cons of low-carb vs "ultra" low-carb diets in cats with diabetes.

Just how low-carb should you go with diabetic cats?

According to data collected by Vet Set Go, veterinary professionals often decided they want to pursue a career in animal care by the time they were 13 years of age. Therefore, VCA Animal Hospitals and Vet Set Go have partnered to help foster a new generation of veterinary professionals by providing improved access to programs and education. 

This collaboration is especially noteworthy as there is currently a high demand for veterinary professionals due to the shortage of available talent. 

“We are thrilled to work with VCA to continue to help develop tomorrow’s generation of veterinarians. Together we are providing aspiring veterinarians with resources and opportunities that otherwise are not easily available to young people who are interested in veterinary medicine,” said Chris Carpenter, DVM, founder and president of Vet Set Go, in an organizational release.

The program will launch this year and offer a combination of hands-on learning experiences, shadowing, and education-based resources, including:

A national shadowing program where select VCA hospitals will invite aspiring veterinarians to visit their clinic for a day and gain direct experience. 

Vet Set Go Academy Content will provide online shadowing courses to VCA shadowing students to prepare them for going into the clinic and having a safe educational experience.

Vet Set Go and VCA will offer 3 aspiring veterinarians scholarships to the Auburn College of Veterinary Medicine’s Junior Vet Camp.

VCA and Vet Set Go are developing the first-ever volunteer app that will help aspiring veterinarians find mentors and volunteering opportunities near them.

Through the program's educational opportunities, Vet Set Go and VCA hope that younger people will consider a career in veterinary medicine early, plus they aim to help break down economic and social barriers that could inhibit students from pursuing the field. 

“We want veterinary medicine to be seen as a viable career option available to anyone interested, whether as a doctor, credentialed technician, or other support roles,​” said Timbrala Marshall, DVM, director of veterinary inclusion and diversity programs at VCA Animal Hospitals. 

“It’s our job to make our profession more inclusive and accessible to all," she added. 

VCA Animal Hospitals and Vet Set Go collaborate to build up the next generation of veterinary professionals. News release. VCA Animal Hospitals. January 18, 2022. Accessed January 21, 2022. https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/vca-animal-hospitals-and-vet-set-go-collaborate-to-build-up-the-next-generation-of-veterinary-professionals-301462936.html

Articles

This partnership will help grow and nurture the future of veterinary medicine by educating prospective students of all ages.

VCA and Vet Set Go collaborate to inspire next generation of veterinary professionals 

In an interview with dvm360®, Tasha McNerney, CVT, CVPP, VTS (Anesthesia and Analgesia), highlighted some of her ideas that came to fruition to advance veterinary medicine, plus she explained how others can do the same by finding the proper resources and like-minded colleagues. 

Tasha McNerney, CVT, CVPP, VTS (Anesthesia and Analgesia):

 Find your people, again, whether they be [clinical-path] people or behavior people or hospice people or practice management people. So find that group of people and get together with them and brainstorm ideas. If there's something that you think that [veterinary medicine] needs that we don't have yet again, whether it be a product [or] something [else]. [For example], look at the technicians that created the Doppler Band that we're using to make Doppler blood pressures easier. There's all kinds of things [and] technicians have these ideas and are capable of [creating].

During an interview with dvm360®, Tasha McNerney, CVT, CVPP, VTS (Anesthesia and Analgesia), encouraged veterinary technicians to be proactive and implement their ideas to accelerate the animal care field. 

How to make innovative change in veterinary medicine

As we enter the last full week of January, we remain committed to providing you the latest (and greatest) veterinary news and hot topics.

 with dvm360®, Chris Pachel, DVM, DACVB, CABC, urged veterinary professionals to educate clients on redirecting pet problem behaviors.

 of The Vet Blast Podcast, Kathleen Cooney, DVM, MS, CHPV, CCFP, CAETA founder and director of education, and Stephanie Messick, CAETA academy director, discuss how the right approach to euthanasia can make a big difference. 

Due to the success of its inaugural scholarship, Aurora Pharmaceutical 

 the program's return for 2022 and increased the award to $75,000. 

Leigh Clayton, DVM, DABVP (Avian Practice and Amphibian and Reptile Practice), eMBA, DVM, DABVP, 

 6 elements necessary for an optimal fish quarantine to reduce the risk of transmitting pathogens.

 a new molecular diagnostic test that may be veterinary medicine’s most sensitive for canine and feline intestinal parasites.

a Labrador retriever was diagnosed with serotonin syndrome after ingesting up to 600 dietary sleep supplement pills.

Stay tuned on social media and dvm360.com for more veterinary news.

News wrap-up: This week's veterinary headlines, plus new PCR test for internal parasites

Fear Free, LLC and the San Francisco Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SF SPCA) have partnered again for the second annual Fear Free Pet Behavior Symposium. This virtual event strives to prevent fear, stress, and anxiety in animals by providing those who care for them with scientific knowledge and necessary resources to promote pets' physical and emotional well-being.

The symposium will begin February 12 and continue through February 13, 2022. According to an organizational release, it will feature Fear Free experts from the veterinary and shelter realm, including Marty Becker, DVM, Fear Free founder, and chief professional relations officer; Jeannine Berger, DVM, DACVB, DACAW, CAWA, senior vice president of rescue and welfare at the SF SPCA; and Wailani Sung, MS, PhD, DVM, DACVB, director of behavior and welfare at the SF SPCA.

The speakers will present to 3 specific audiences: pet guardians, shelter personnel, and veterinary professionals.

“We received wonderful feedback from attendees of our first Fear Free Symposium, and we’re excited to offer it again this year,” said Berger, in the organizational release.

“This symposium has something for everyone, whether you’re a pet guardian or animal welfare professional. We will teach practical ways to incorporate Fear Free concepts, and what you learn at this symposium will have a real-life impact on the physical and emotional wellbeing of the animals in your life," she added.

This year’s symposium will include revamped content focusing on the practical and environmental concepts of Fear Free, plus it will showcase current strategies and processes displayed in veterinary clinics and shelters. Presentation topics will include common behavior problems, enrichment, the emotional well-being of pets, pointers for new adopters, and more. As for pet guardians, they will receive tips on helping their cats and dogs live happy, healthy, and full lives, according to the release. 

Shelter and veterinary professionals will discover how to incorporate Fear Free concepts into their daily work (eg, detecting stressed body language and gently handling animals). Additionally, they will obtain in-depth information on the latest scientific animal behavior research (eg, Fear Free dentistry, implementing Fear Free into animal anesthesia, decreasing stress in the shelter environment, and feline body language).

"We are so excited to once again connect and inspire communities that are highly intertwined and need to all be working together to ensure the emotional wellbeing of pets,” Becker said. “When shelters, the veterinary community, and pet parents all learn the most current tactics, tips, and strategies to keep pets happy and healthy, everyone wins."

RACE CE credit will be available for the shelter and veterinary sessions. Pricing for the various tracks is $9.99 for pet guardians, $149 for shelter personnel, and $295 for veterinary professionals.

Attendees can watch the sessions live or on-demand for 90 days after the event.

The Fear Free Pet Behavior Symposium hosted by San Francisco SPCA returns for its second year. News release. Fear Free. January 13, 2022. Accessed January 21, 2022. https://www.prweb.com/releases/the_fear_free_pet_behavior_symposium_hosted_by_san_francisco_spca_returns_for_its_second_year/prweb18431046.htm

The virtual symposium hosted by the San Francisco SPCA will raise awareness on reducing fear, anxiety, and stress in pets by informing and inspiring those who care for them.

Fear Free Pet Behavior Symposium returns for second year

Officials with the FDA have approved buprenorphine transdermal solution (Zorbium; Elanco Animal Health) for controlling postoperative pain in cats. This approval signifies an expansion of Elanco’s pain management offerings and addresses an unmet need for veterinary practices, according to the company.

Buprenorphine transdermal solution is a long-acting, topical medication indicated to control pain associated with feline surgical procedures. This solution provides up to 4 days of pain control from a single transdermal dose. Its’ formulation of buprenorphine, a commonly used opioid in cats, enables veterinarians to provide consistent, reliable pain relief to their post-op feline patients without relying upon owners to administer the medication after discharge and without the need for repeat injections.

“The simplification of dosing helps limit the movement of opioids, which can give clinics and pet parents alike peace of mind,” said Ellen de Brabander, PhD, executive vice president of innovation and regulatory affairs at Elanco, in a company press release. 

“The needleless transdermal application is met with sustained pain control, avoiding the potential for missed doses associated with repeat dosing protocols," she added.

Buprenorphine transdermal solution should not be administered to cats with a known hypersensitivity to buprenorphine hydrochloride or any inactive ingredients of the medication, or known intolerance to opioids, according to Elanco. Additionally, the medication should not be applied if the application site at the dorsal cervical area has diseased or injured skin, or to anatomic areas other than the dorsal cervical area because absorption characteristics may be different.

The cat’s body temperature should be monitored postoperatively since the most common adverse reactions during anesthesia were hypothermia, hypotension, and hypertension, and after anesthetic recovery were hypothermia, hyperthermia, and sedation.

Furthermore, the safety of buprenorphine transdermal solution has not been evaluated in debilitated cats, those with renal, hepatic, cardiac or respiratory disease, pregnant lactating, breeding, in cats younger than 4 months weighing under 2.6 lbs or over 16.5 lbs.

Elanco warned in a company press release that buprenorphine exposes humans to risks of misuse, abuse, and addiction, which can lead to overdose and death. Use of this opioid may lead to physical dependence, and the risk of abuse by humans should be considered when storing, administering, and disposing of the solution. The company also cautioned that serious, life-threatening, or fatal respiratory depression may occur with accidental exposure to or with misuse or abuse of buprenorphine transdermal solution. Accidental exposure to the medication, especially in children, can result in a fatal overdose.

The solution should only be administered by veterinarians or veterinarian technicians who are trained in the handling of potent opioids. Individuals applying buprenorphine transdermal solution should wear impermeable latex or nitrile gloves, protective glasses, and a laboratory coat, according to Elanco. A minimum drying time of 30 minutes after application to the cat should be allowed before direct contact with the application site.

The company anticipates buprenorphine transdermal solution reaching the United States veterinary community in mid-2022. This medication joins Elanco’s growing therapeutic portfolio, which includes solutions in the areas of pain management, internal medicine, oncology, and dermatology.

Elanco’s ZORBIUM™ (Buprenorphine Transdermal Solution) – the First Long-Acting Transdermal Buprenorphine for Cats - Gains U.S. Approval. News release. Elanco. January 20, 2022. Accessed January 21, 2022.

https://www.elanco.com/en-us/news/zorbium-for-cats-gains-us-approval

Elanco’s new prescription medication is indicated to control postoperative pain associated with surgical procedures.