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

IDEXX: Contributing to something bigger

Running a veterinary clinic is no easy feat and as a practice manager, your onus is to do just that every day. From dealing with a robust mix of personalities to maintaining the highest quality of patient care and client service, finding a routine that works best for you and your practice can pose a challenge. To help, we've selected 3 articles chock full of creative initiatives to help streamline staff efficacy, amplify the volume of clients, and beyond.

From 8 reasons to reconsider implementing a same-day surcharge to tips and tricks on keeping client phone calls to 2 minutes—there’s something for everyone. Happy reading!

: Bash Halow, LVT, CVPM, suggests making these considerations before raising prices on same-day appointments, walk-ins, new clients, or urgent cases.

: Discover the benefits of wellness plans, plus learn tips on choosing the best plan for your practice as they are offered at various levels and price points.

: Emily Shiver, CVPM, CCFP, CVBL, shares 4 simple tips for coaching your team on the “2-minute phone call” to increase the number of calls to your clinic while enhancing client service.

Articles

Are you a practice manager? Check out these 3 informative articles highlighting various aspects of veterinary practice management. 

3 Must-reads on veterinary practice management 

Wendell Animal Hospital is opening in just a few days in Wendell, North Carolina (Photo courtesy of Vets Pets). 

Vets Pets—a North Carolina cooperative group of veterinary hospitals—is expanding with the opening of Wendell Animal Hospital on September 20, 2021, at 2961 Wendell Boulevard in Wendell, North Carolina.

This small and exotic veterinary clinic will offer care to a range of pets from dogs to cats to pocket pets in Wendell and surrounding areas. According to a company 

, the free-standing facility with open featuring Kimberly Foca, DVM, MS, as the primary veterinarian.

"I'm beyond excited! It's an honor to serve this wonderful community and its pets," said Foca in the release. "It has always been my dream to open up on a hospital, and I can't wait for Wendell to see our new home."

Foca is a New Jersey native who began working as a veterinary technician in 2003. She completed her Bachelor’s in biology at Rutgers University and received a Master’s in developmental and reproductive biology with a focus on human amnion during preterm-premature births at the University of Hawaii. She then achieved her veterinary degree at Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine and concluded with her clinical year at North Carolina State College of Veterinary Medicine.

"Wendell is growing so fast, and we want to make sure everyone has access to veterinary care," said Steve Thomas, BBA, MBA, CEO of Vets Pets. "Dr Foca is the perfect partner to provide high-quality, convenient, and affordable care to the area's pets."

Vets Pets and the Wendell Chamber of Commerce are hosting a grand opening event to celebrate on Saturday, October 9, 2021, at 12:00 pm EDT. The family and pet-friendly event will include live music by Apples & Airplanes, food trucks, a bouncy house, tours, and beyond. Additionally, Vets Pets representatives, Foca, team members, and other local officials will also be in attendance.

Vets Pets to open new hospital in Wendell. News release. September 17, 2021; Vets Pets. Accessed September 17, 2021. 

https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/vets-pets-to-open-new-hospital-in-wendell-301379328.html

This small and exotic veterinary clinic will serve pets in Wendell and surrounding communities starting on September 20, 2021. 

Vets Pets unveiling brand-new hospital in Wendell, North Carolina 

TriviumVet, an Ireland-based animal health research and development company, announced that the Food and Drug Administration's (FDA) Centre for Veterinary Medicine (CVM) has deemed it can pursue the expanded conditional approval pathway for its feline hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) therapeutic candidate, Felycin—a patented, delayed-release rapamycin formulation.

Under the 2018 reauthorization of the FDA's Animal Drug User Fee Act (ADUFA) program, the US Congress permitted the FDA a limited expansion of the conditional approval pathway for certain new animal drugs. According to a company 

conditional approval allows drug sponsors to legally market a product after proving the drug is safe, manufactured in accordance with rigorous standards, and there is a reasonable expectation of effectiveness for use while completing the critical clinical studies.

As TrviumVet was granted permission to pursue conditional approval, CVM understands there is no existing approved animal drug in the US for treating feline HCM—a serious and life-threatening disease that affects about 15% of cats.

"We are very pleased with this positive response from CVM as it establishes a pathway to first conditional and then full approval, potentially expediting access to the drug for millions of at-risk patients. We are excited to share results of our clinical work early next year and intend to submit our final study report to CVM once these results are available,” said Louise Grubb, MBS, BSc, CEO of TrviumVet, in the release.

"At TriviumVet we strive to produce treatments for clinical unmet needs and feline HCM is one of the diseases that must urgently be addressed. The interest in this treatment was highlighted in our December 2020 survey of US veterinarians carried out by Brakke Animal Health where 80% of respondents were likely to prescribe a novel product to their HCM patients," she added.

TriviumVet is conducting clinical research in client-owned cats to analyze Felycin's effectiveness in treating HCM. Previous results from laboratory animal studies and effects demonstrated in human organ transplant patients imply Felycin has the potential to slow or reverse the adverse cardiac remodelling underlying the disease process in HCM, according to the release.

 Preclinical investigations have demonstrated repeated dosing with Felycin is well tolerated by healthy cats, at multiples of the intended therapeutic dose.

Learn more about TriviumVet and its feline HCM study 

FDA's Centre for Veterinary Medicine deems TriviumVet's feline HCM program eligible for expanded conditional approval pathway. News release. September 16, 2021; TriviumVet. Accessed September 17, 2021. https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/fdas-centre-for-veterinary-medicine-deems-triviumvets-feline-hcm-program-eligible-for-expanded-conditional-approval-pathway-301378597.html

NC State Veterinary Hospital. Client information sheet: Feline hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. https://cvm.ncsu.edu/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Feline-Hypertrophic-Cardiomyopathy-client-handout-6.29.2020.pdf#:~:text=Feline%20Hypertrophic%20Cardiomyopathy%20(HCM)%20is,pressure%20or%20an%20overactive%20thyroid. Accessed September 17, 2021.

Editors note: All veterinary technician content for this month is supported by Banfield Pet Hospital.

The company was granted to pursue conditional approval as the CVM recognizes there is no current approved animal drug in the US for treating feline HCM.

 FDA’s CVM determines TriviumVet’s feline HCM program eligible for expanded conditional approval pathway 

This article is sponsored by Standard Process Veterinary Formulas

Omega-3 fatty acids such as alpha-linolenic acid (ALA), eicosapentanoic acid (EPA), and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) are needed for proper growth and development. In fact, studies have revealed that omega-3s have anti-inflammatory properties in many species and can be used to help manage canine osteoarthritis.

ALA can be considered an “essential” fatty acid as several of its long chain derivatives such as EPA and DHA have important metabolic consequences. Essential fatty acids are those the body cannot make in sufficient amounts— they must be provided through diet. EPA and DHA can be synthesized from ALA, however the conversion process is inefficient in dogs and nearly nonexistent in cats. Therefore, they both require and benefit from foods containing EPA and DHA.

This article will take a closer look at omega-3s including some key dietary sources, their mechanism of action, and much more! Let’s start with sources.

Sources of omega-3s include fish, krill, calamari, green-lipped mussel, and algae. Fish do not produce omega-3 oils directly— omega-3s accumulate from their foods, either plant material or smaller prey. Active omega-3s in marine sources are DHA and EPA. Nuts and seeds also contain omega-3 fatty acids; however, they have a higher content of ALA. Only about 10% of ALA converts to the more active EPA and DHA; therefore, using marine sources is preferred.

Understanding omega-3’s mechanism of action 

After digestion and absorption, omega-3s incorporate into body tissue and organ system cell membranes altering metabolic pathways and result in “inflammation resolving” activity.

How much is enough? A closer look at dosing and dietary plans 

The Association of the American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO) sets minimal requirements for DHA content in pet foods for growth (.08% ALA and .05% EPA/ DHA, Dry Matter Basis) and the ratio of total PUFAs to ALA, EPA, and DHA in adult maintenance diets (maximum 30:1). Typical over-the-counter pet foods have minimal amounts of EPA and DHA. Veterinary therapeutic diets for disease conditions offer higher levels and should be evaluated for the type and amount of omega-3 (ALA, EPA, and/or DHA).

Since each patient may have multiple and varying concerns, identifying a range of omega-3 intake for each pet and monitoring for adverse effects is highly recommended. Treatment may include both a therapeutic diet and a specific supplementation dose. Experts consider the combination of all supplements and medications given and the potential for interactions and dosing can be modified according to each pet’s tolerance and concerns. This plan will safely achieve the maximal benefits of omega-3s for pets to support their health.

Omega-3 supplementation: What you need to know 

While optimal dosing has not been determined for pets, general guidelines have been offered from a compilation of studies for many health conditions. Supplementation is considered safe when given at appropriate levels under veterinary supervision. Safe upper limits have also been established as higher dosing may infrequently cause adverse effects. Veterinary input is recommended to determine the optimal omega-3 fatty acid supplementation plan for your pet’s unique needs.

Standard Process Veterinary Formulas™ VF Omega-3 is a fish oil supplement providing long-chain omega-3 fatty acids, EPA and DHA, to support canine and feline pet health. Through a combination of anchovy and sardine oil, VF omega-3 provides DHA and EPA in softgel form to bridge the nutritional gap and help support:

As each patient is a unique individual and may have a combination of concerns, identifying a specific range of omega-3 intake for each dog or cat is best. This might include a combination of a therapeutic diet and a specific supplementation dose. Monitoring for adverse effects is very important. Experts recommend considering the combination of all supplements and/or medications being given and the potential for interactions. Dosing can be modified according to each pet’s tolerance and individual concerns. This plan will safely achieve maximal benefits of omega-3s for pets and support their health. 

Bauer JE. The essential nature of dietary omega-3 fatty acids in dogs. 

Bauer JE. Responses of dogs to dietary omega-3 fatty acids. 

Bauer JE. Metabolic basis for the essential nature of fatty acids and the unique dietary fatty acid requirements of cats. 

Bauer JE, Dunbar BL, Bigley KE. Dietary flaxseed in dogs can result in differential transport and metabolism of (n-3) polyunsaturated fatty acids. 

Bauer JE. Therapeutic use of fish oils in companion animals. 

Studies have revealed that omega-3s have anti-inflammatory properties in many species and can be used to help manage canine osteoarthritis.

Exploring the role of omega-3 supplementation in cats and dogs

Happy Friday! As we transition to the weekend, we strive to keep you updated with our latest coverage of the veterinary industry.

Here's a look at some of this week's highlights:

shed light on the history of the Hispano, Latino, and Latinx population, statistics related to their culture, veterinary medicine, and much more.

Animal Medical Center (AMC) recently appointed its 

 (CVT), marking it 1 of the first animal hospitals to establish this role nationwide.

 and learn why choosing design-build is optimal when remodeling or building your dream hospital.

, Phil Tucak, BSc, BVMS, shared an update on the strides Australian organizations are making to 

The American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) announced its 

, which would require food containing xylitol to feature a warning label describing its toxic effects.

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

News-wrap up: This week's veterinary headlines, plus an update on Australian wildlife impacted by 2019-2020 wildfires

Monique Y. Wells, VMD, MS, was set on being a veterinarian from a young age, but when she began her journey at the University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine,  doubts of this pursuit began surfacing. However, when she persevered into her second year, she instantly fell in love with the niche field known as pathology. 

On this episode of The Vet Blast Podcast, Wells shared with Adam Christman, DVM, MBA, what ignited her passion, plus the nuts and bolts of being a toxicologic pathologist. 

“[What resonated with me in pathology] was getting to the bottom of things, so the exploration of the ‘final answer’ as to what was making an animal ill or dead, but also...what I knew about pathology at the time which was doing biopsies and necropsies and things like that. Just the visual aspect of it was so compelling to me," Wells said. 

Wells then touched upon the toxicology aspect of her career and how she focuses on understanding harmful chemicals. 

“Toxicology in the industry is focused on the development of chemical products…and all of those things that have a potential of causing harm, the toxicologic pathologist is looking at those entities—those chemicals—and seeing how much of them are required to cause harm, how they cause harm, and whether those harmful things can be reversed after a certain period of time.”

Listen below to hear more about Well's fascinating career and discover how she has been using it as a platform to help propel veterinary medicine in developing countries.

Podcasts

On this episode of The Vet Blast Podcast, Monique Y. Wells, VMD, MS, shares what inspired her to pursue veterinary toxicologic pathology, what her career entails, and more. 