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

IDEXX: Contributing to something bigger

Butterfly Network, Inc., a leader in point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS), and American Veterinary Group (AVG) have teamed up to equip all 

—the first and only single probe, whole-body ultrasound system designed for all animals.

According to a company release, UrgentVet is owned and operated by the American Veterinary Group and marks the first dedicated urgent care practice for pets. The partnership with Butterfly Network was finalized after UrgentVet staff first used an iQ Vet in its clinics.

“With COVID-related restrictions in our clinics, the volume of work has been felt by our team. We are a tech-focused, forward-thinking organization striving to continue to offer care in the way we always envisioned it—fast and expertly done," said Jim Dobies, DVM, UrgentVet founder, in the release.

"Prior to using the Butterfly iQ Vet, we were using an ultrasound that was more expensive and not as portable. The Butterfly technology was perfectly suited to what we do. In an acute setting, the Butterfly iQ Vet is fantastic. It can go anywhere," he continued. 

The Butterfly iQ Vet is user-friendly for staff with novice ultrasound experience and assists practice staff at UrgentVet with scans. Additionally, Dobie noted that the real-time diagnostics within the exam room have helped demonstrate to owners what their pet is experiencing. 

What's more, iQ Vet has also been adopted and used by a wide range of veterinarians to offer diagnostic insights and better care to all species. According to the release, with patented Ultrasound-on-Chip technology, Butterfly iQ Vet leverages the power of a semiconductor chip and pairs this with intuitive software accessible on a compatible mobile device or tablet (UrgentVet uses it most frequently with an iPad).

“Veterinary urgent care clinics are busier than ever. This is an important time to offer our powerful diagnostic tool, iQ Vet, that allows for fast and easy assessment,” disclosed Darius Shahida, Butterfly Network’s chief strategy & business development officer.

“The iQ Vet makes ultrasound as convenient as using a stethoscope, which is critically important for urgent care clinics. We are proud to support UrgentVet as the organization grows and expands,” he added.

For more information about Butterfly iQ Vet, go 

Butterfly Network, American Veterinary Group collaborate to equip all UrgentVet clinics with point-of-care ultrasound. News release. September 23, 2021. Accessed September 27, 2021. [email]. 

Articles

Butterfly iQ Vet is a first-of-its-kind single probe, whole-body ultrasound system for all species. 

Butterfly Network and AVG collaborate to provide breakthrough ultrasound to UrgentVet clinics

According to Quincy Hawley, DVM, cofounder of GetMotiVETed, avoiding burnout can differ between every veterinary professional. In a dvm360

interview, Hawley highlighted 3 methods every professional can use to structure their fight against burnout, starting with prioritizing and focusing on your personal needs. 

“The Number 1 [method for fighting burnout] is introspection, the ability to be self-aware and to know what things fill you up and what things deplete you,” Hawley disclosed to dvm360

“Spend time—whether it’s an hour, 2 hours, 3 hours, or a week—to do a process of self-discovery because [avoiding burnout] can be different for me than it is for a [another] veterinary professional,” he continued.

Hawley then shared that another key component to battling burnout includes not only understanding when to say no but when to say yes as well.

"I try to say yes to the things that make me come alive as a human and come alive as a veterinary professional," explained Hawley. "And I try to say no to more of the things that deplete me, irritate me, or just truly make me feel exhausted."

To learn more about fighting burnout, check out the full interview below.

Videos

In a recent interview with dvm360®, Dr Quincy Hawley explains his top 3 strategies veterinary professionals can harness to help prevent burnout and prioritize their personal needs. 

3 Methods for battling burnout in veterinary medicine

Dechra Veterinary Products—a global specialist in veterinary pharmaceuticals and related products business—recently announced its acquisition of an exclusive license from Hassinger Biomedical for equine ProVet APC (Autologous Platelet Concentrate) and ProVet BMC (Bone Marrow Concentrate). 

“ProVet APC has become the most highly sought-after regenerative system for equine athletes,” said Amy Hassinger, CEO of Hassinger Biomedical, in a company release. “We believe Dechra is especially poised through its experience in the veterinary sector to meet the growing global demand by veterinarians and their clients for the ProVet APC and BMC Regenerative Therapy System."

According to the release, the 2 patented medical devices concentrate platelets or bone marrow in 90 seconds with a processing time of 2.5 minutes from start to finish. The technology found within ProVet APC has been found to consistently deliver 6 to 8mls of a 7.8 higher concentration of platelet-rich plasma and can have a healing concentrate obtained from 54mls of whole blood in the 60ml system.

“The medical industry has long recognized that harnessing the growth factors found in platelets positively enhances healing results and reduces recovery time in soft tissue injuries,” said Mike Eldred, president of Dechra North America, in the release.

“These 2 products will be great additions to our equine product line and further strengthen our market position in veterinary regenerative medicine,” he continued.

Additionally, the acquisition of equine ProVet APC products will further accompany Dechra’s rthokine

 Vet IRAP joint therapy and offer veterinarians a comprehensive tool for their regenerative medicine needs.

Dechra Acquires Exclusive License from Hassinger Biomedical for Equine ProVet APC™. News release. Dechra Veterinary Products. September 22, 2021. Accessed September 27, 2021. [email].

The global specialist in veterinary pharmaceuticals will have an exclusive license for equine ProVet APC and ProVet BMC. 

Dechra acquires veterinary marketing and distributions rights for Equine ProVet APC 

As veterinary professionals, we have been using nutraceuticals and supplements forever. These products are intended to support (not treat) a function of the body or to promote healthy function of a particular physiologic system. There are many legal nuances that we must be aware of when using these products—so many that it is beyond the scope of this article to discuss them all.

Every year it seems we are introduced to another nutraceutical or supplement and are essentially left to fend for ourselves regarding the quality, efficacy, and proven dosing of these products. Unless you have been living under a rock, you likely have heard of or have had clients ask about a new “wonder” molecule known as cannabidiol (CBD). The fact is that CBD is only 1 of hundreds of molecules known as phytocannabinoids that are produced by both hemp and marijuana plants. However, it is important to understand the difference between hemp products and marijuana. Hemp products contain less than 0.3% Δ-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC; the main intoxicating compound in marijuana) and are widely available and legal in many states. Marijuana, on the other hand, is still illegal federally despite varying legal status’ at the state level. We also must be aware of another set of pharmacologically active molecules known as terpenes that can also be found in these products. Terpenes are aromatic molecules that deliver the classic aroma of hemp and marijuana and may also contribute to product efficacy.

Both hemp and marijuana are hot topics in the field of veterinary nutraceuticals/supplements, with many platforms offering continuing education on the topic. However, many fall short in helping practitioners with choosing a safe, effective and an economical product. With so many choices available at legal recreational dispensaries for marijuana products, to gasoline stations, online vendors, and now sales representatives hitting our clinics, the decision-making can be mind-boggling!

The first step in educating ourselves and helping our patients is knowing what is in these products. This can be achieved by locating a certificate of analysis (COA) by a third-party ISO/IEC 17025 certified laboratory by either directly contacting the company or by perusing a manufacturers website. Certification with the ISO (International Organization for Standardization) means the company has had its product analyzed to guarantee it contains what the company says it contains.

Myself and many colleagues familiar with cannabinoid containing products often say, “If the company is unwilling to give you a COA, walk away.” I take this to heart because this is one of the only ways to arm ourselves against poor-quality products until the United States Food and Drug Administration releases guidelines regarding cannabinoid-containing products' development and use. There is much information that should be included in a COA, including the cannabinoid levels in mg/mL format to help dose and determine the cost per mg. It also should provide information about what terpenes are present in the product and their concentration and whether there are contaminants such as residual solvents, bacteria, or mycotoxins. Finally, the COA should contain an elemental analysis looking for things like heavy metals. To see what a COA should look like visit, www.vetcannacademy.com.

Although a COA is not a silver bullet, it does beg the question, “Should we be asking for a COA for all of our supplement and nutraceutical products in house?” The answer is probably yes. Aside from a COA, it might also be best to consider using products, not just CBD, with clinical efficacy data, pharmacokinetics data, and safety studies. It is time that we, as the community of individuals selling these types of products, demand better science before carrying them in our practices.

Recently, I helped with a veterinary CBD product study

that illuminated the differences in product formulations and the ways in which some companies may deceive us. We found most products did not match what is on the label, with some having less CBD than what is claimed on the bottle and others containing more CBD than what was claimed. We also found heavy metal contaminants in some of the products, with one surpassing what is considered safe by the USP.

If you decide to carry hemp products in your practice, please consider some of the standards of how to assess these products. Your clients, patients, and licensure will thank you.

Wakshlag JJ, Cital S, Eaton SJ, Prussin R, Hudalla C. Cannabinoid, terpene, and heavy metal analysis of 29 over-the-counter commercial veterinary hemp supplements. 

As new veterinary CBD products continue to flood the market, understanding what they contain vs what is on the label can be daunting. Fortunately, with a little online legwork, clinicians can arm themselves with objective product information. 

Product comparison in an unregulated industry: Hemp

Happy Monday! To jumpstart the new work week, we're bringing you a robust mix of engaging content and industry news. 

Here's a quick glance at this week's headlines: 

, Quincy Hawley, DVM, cofounder of GetMotiVETed, shares his top 3 strategies to help veterinary professionals battle burnout. 

Butterfly Network and American Veterinary Group recently partnered to provide all UrgentVet clinics with a Butterfly iQ Vet, the first and only single probe, whole-body ultrasound system worldwide.

In honor of National Service Dog Month, learn more about Numa, a service dog for a child who suffers from seizures that experienced a seizure herself, plus how the veterinary team successfully treated her. 

Dechra Veterinary Products acquired the marketing and distribution rights to equine ProVet APC (Autologous Platelet Concentrate) and ProVet BMC ( Bone Marrow Concentrate) systems from Hassinger Biomedical.

Tune back in here throughout the week for more coverage of the veterinary industry.

A sneak peek look at this week's headlines.

This week on dvm360: 3 ways to combat burnout, plus more veterinary news

 (VBF) will kick off its free virtual weekly yoga series available to all company-wide employees on Wednesday, September 29, 2021. The yoga classes will be broadcasted on the company's Facebook and will be led by Desiree Roussin, a Massachusetts-based veterinary technician at VBF, who was also the mastermind behind the initiative. 

“Our mission ‘to take care of the people who take care of our pets’ means everything to us and now more than ever with the aftermath of the pandemic, we’re working with our teams to help combat burnout and exhaustion,” said Jeff Wilson, CEO of VBF, in a company release. “So working with Desiree to bring her passion to life while supporting our teams was a no-brainer.”

Roussin has worked with animals since age 15 and soon recognized the importance of engaging in hobbies outside of the practice. She discovered yoga years ago as a way for her to destress after a demanding day at the clinic. 

According to the release, her passion for the hobby inspired her to complete a 200-HR Registered Yoga Teacher Training and now she instructs weekly classes at a local yoga studio. After witnessing the benefits yoga had on her life, she believes her coworkers could greatly benefit from it as well.

The company classes will consist of slow flow vinyasa style yoga available to all ages and levels. They will be live-streamed on the VBF’s Facebook page (@VetsBestFriendOfficial) on Wednesday evenings starting at 7:30 pm. This provides participants the opportunity to partake from the comfort of their own homes while also allowing them to replay the class if they cannot make it at the given time or miss a class entirely.

“By being able to take time for myself for things like yoga, I am able to show up to work as my best self for my patients and teammates,” Desiree said.

"I’m so grateful to work for a company like VBF that puts such an emphasis behind wellness and work-life balance. Everyone at the home-office was so supportive of this idea and I’m really looking forward to the opportunity to introduce my peers to this amazing form of stress relief," she added. 

Learn more about Vet’s Best Friend and its mission 

Vet’s Best Friend prioritizes mental health with company wide yoga series. News release. Vet’s Best Friend. September 9, 2021. Accessed September 23, 2021. [email].

This free virtual weekly program launching next week will offer employees a chance to decompress and prioritize their mental health.  