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

IDEXX: Contributing to something bigger

When it comes to educating clients about their pet's dental health, finding a way to initiate the conversation can be tricky. According to an interview featuring Adam Christman, DVM, MBA, and Steve Dale, CABC, one way to help clients recognize the importance of dental health is by encouraging them to get their pet's teeth cleaned 

 twice a year. (This can also help them learn about preventative maintenance.)

"One place in which things can be found—although x-rays and radiographs are [really helpful]—is inside the mouth. Pet parents are not aware of what is going in [ithe mouth] in the first place," says Dale. 

"I don't think once a year even does it. I think twice a year because changes can happen and they do happen so quickly," he adds.

View the full interview below to learn more tips on educating clients about dental health, plus some resources that can help.

Videos

Learn some tips and tricks for broaching the topic of dental care to your clients from Dr Adam Christman and behavioral expert Steve Dale. 

Educating your clients on dental health: The first step

Veterinary practices are busier than ever, which is a good problem to have. But do you ever feel like you’re choosing between practicing high-quality medicine and simply managing your case load? Advances like point-of-care testing and digital radiography can be lifesavers, because they expand your capabilities and improve efficiency. But when making these purchases, it’s important that your choices fit your practice’s needs and help you maintain the high clinical standards your clients and patients deserve.

While veterinarians are busy juggling time management, patient care, and other aspects of practice, the demand for services can compete with the need to offer timely, affordable care. Artificial intelligence (AI) technology is just one example of how these goals can be pursued simultaneously. If you still think of AI as science fiction, you may be surprised to know that it’s already changing human medicine; and now, AI offers many of the same advantages to veterinarians.

How can artificial intelligence change how you practice?

Through AI platforms, computers can learn how to mimic human thought processes and cognitive functions, but with increased speed and learning capacity. Artificial intelligence has several subdisciplines, including machine learning, unsupervised learning, and deep learning. The versatility of AI makes it useful in a variety of medical disciplines. In human medicine, AI has already found applications in areas such as drug design, anesthesiology, cardiology, radiology, oncology, and infectious disease management.

In general veterinary practice, protocols for vaccination, parasite prevention, and many aspects of wellness care are well-established. But, comparable models for treating sick or injured patients are less standardized. AI bridges this gap, by creating protocols and algorithms for the care of sick and injured patients. In doing so, AI brings advanced technology to veterinary practices. It also allows veterinarians to focus more on patient care, by providing reliable, consistent, transparent answers in a timely fashion to clinicians and pet owners. One exciting example of AI that’s helping veterinarians right now is a platform called SignalPET.

SignalPET is a patented software platform that uses machine learning and AI to examine and interpret radiographs. SignalPET’s advanced technology was created using the largest database of annotated veterinary radiographs in the world. It was developed to “think” as a clinician thinks when analyzing information, distinguish normal radiographic anatomy from abnormal findings, and recognize 85% of common radiographic irregularities in dogs and cats. Most common causes of coughing, lameness, vomiting and diarrhea are readily discerned and interpreted. SignalPET calculates vertebral heart score and can describe things like pulmonary patterns, bone fractures, and organomegaly. SignalPET also continuously expands its knowledge base, adds new tests, and continues learning. Every time a user takes a radiograph, SignalPET’s machine learning system improves, which helps veterinarians everywhere. 

Two other AI platforms that can help transform your practice capabilities are SignalRAY and SignalSMILE. is a radiology platform that detailed. Thorax, abdomen, and bone and joint panels are available in minutes, providing you and your clients with fast, accurate diagnostic results. We all know that dental radiology is an essential tool for detecting periodontal disease and other oral pathologies that can adversely affect your patients’ health. SignalSMILE expands your practice’s capabilities by rapidly identifying dental anomalies, and generating a client-facing report that informs pet owners about their pet’s oral health. This helps your veterinary staff recommend the best follow up care for each patient.

What are the main benefits of using AI on your radiographs?

: SignalPET doesn’t require any new software or hardware, and works with your current digital radiology equipment and workflow. It is available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year and is accessible from any device and technical support is always available. It also integrates seamlessly with Keystone Omni’s platform, further streamlining radiographic capabilities.

: Radiology reviews take time. In some cases, results aren’t available for days. Artificial intelligence provides results within 10 minutes. This allows decisions to be made promptly, so treatment planning and other aspects of patient care aren’t delayed. SignalPET’s reliable, point-of-care technology streamlines workflows for veterinary team members. It also means that pet owners get results quickly, so they can work with clinicians to make timely treatment choices for their pet.

CASE: Henry (4 year-old, spayed, female, Domestic Shorthair)

Henry, a 4-year-old spayed female domestic shorthaired cat presented to the clinic limping. Her veterinarian says he initially couldn’t find anything wrong with her. After glancing at her x-rays, he gave Henry a steroid shot and sent her home with antibiotics. However, when he opened up SignalPET later, he saw that the system had identified a hairline fracture in her right rear leg and circled it, something he and his colleague had both missed. He called Henry’s owner and explained what was found. The precision of this tool allowed this pet to get the best possible care and provide transparent answers to the client.

: SignalPET adds value for clients, which helps bond them to your practice. It’s affordable and easy to use, and its AI technology is less expensive than paying for radiology consultants to review images, which reduces the cost of patient care at your practice.

: Wouldn’t it be helpful to have a consistent, objective, second set of eyes at your practice all day, every day, to support you and your staff when reviewing radiographs? SignalPET provides that, and more. For inexperienced clinicians or new graduates who need to build confidence reading radiographs, AI levels the playing field so that every radiograph receives an unbiased analysis. Regardless of experience level, anyone can suffer from tunnel vision or subjectivity, overlook a subtle radiographic abnormality, feel rushed to review radiographs quickly, or simply become distracted by other events happening at the practice at any given moment. SignalPET addresses those challenges by consistently and accurately reviewing every radiograph, 

: Any-one who’s ever taken radiographs knows that the films aren’t always perfect. Sometimes patients move or aren’t positioned perfectly at the moment of exposure. Even “normal” anatomy has inherent variations (eg, normal chest radiographs for a Bulldog, cat, and Greyhound will look different). AI recognizes these normal variations when deciphering radiographic images.

SignalPET’s functionality facilitates identification of pathology and efficiently gets clinicians to the next step, which is deciding whether further diagnostics are warranted, and choosing how to best care for the patient.

Decreases reliance on external radiographic review

: Some veterinarians consult with board-certified radiologists to interpret films and suggest a path forward. Normally, the clinician chooses which radiographs are submitted for review, and which ones aren’t. While there’s still a role for this, AI can help mitigate the need for external consults, for a fraction of the cost, only $10/study. Following examination of radiographs, if a veterinarian still wants a consult and review with a radiologist, SignalPET allows them to easily share test results and images. Having SignalPET at your practice offers the best of both worlds: a point-of-care platform that consistently and objectively reviews every radiograph, and an option to consult with a radiologist when you decide it’s necessary.

: By using SignalPET to read all the practice’s radiographs, every patient benefits from a higher standard of care. Instead of deciding which patients’ radiographs will be submitted for review by a radiologist and which ones won’t, offering the service to all pets ensures a complete review each time. This consistency promotes better patient care, while safeguarding against user subjectivity and clinician fatigue.

SignalPET’s software also generates a client-friendly radiology report that can be printed or emailed to pet owners for their medical records. This user-friendly report demonstrates the significance of the radiographic study, so the clients can see the value of what they paid for. This enhances customer engagement and satisfaction with the practice, which translates to increased compliance with your recommendations.

So, how can you get started with SignalPET? 

If you’re interested in seeing this AI radiology technology at your practice, SignalPET makes it easy for you. By signing up for a 1-week free trial, you can start getting your instant test results on all your x-rays and see the value first-hand.

The bottom line: What’s in your future?

 In-house and point-of-care diagnostics have become commonplace at many veterinary practices. Twenty-five years ago, it was probably hard to believe how heavily clinicians would rely on these advances, which have become our new normal in many ways. In a similar way, AI has already been incorporated into human medicine, and it appears to be part of the future for veterinary practice, too. 

Today, AI is already helping veterinarians improve efficiency and consistency when performing radiographic studies. 

AI innovations like SignalPET and SMILE are already taking veterinary practices to the next level, and represent the future of the industry. What’s in your future?

Noorbakhsh-Sabet N, Zand R, Zhang Y, et al. Artificial intelligence transforms the future of health care. 

Jiang F, Jiang Y, Zhi H, et al. Artificial intelligence in healthcare: past, present and future. 

Articles

Learn how these artificial intelligence platforms can help advance your veterinary practice's capabilities. 

Artificial Intelligence is revolutionizing veterinary medicine. Are you missing out?

Veterinary Heroes™ recognition program celebrates the achievements of leading veterinary professionals in today's industry that have helped propel the field forward.

"This is a very exciting time to launch our first ever Veterinary Heroes™ awards program," says Mike Hennessy Jr., president and CEO of MJH Life Sciences™, parent company of dvm360

 community of veterinarians, veterinary technicians, practice managers, and client service representatives to nominate a veterinary professional who truly makes a difference in the industry. We look forward to honoring the heroes at our celebration in winter," he adds. 

This special recognition is awarded to those who make a significant impact in improving patient outcomes. One honoree will be selected from each category listed below:

This year’s selected heroes will have the opportunity to partake in an interview with dvm360

 and be honored at a reception held on Wednesday, December 1, 2021.

If you are a veterinary professional who goes above and beyond or know someone who fits this standard, we are accepting inductee nominations for the 2021 Veterinary Heroes™.

Nominate a veterinary professional who has demonstrated the following

Aptitude to go above and beyond in patient care

knack for showing patience, compassion, and perseverance in the face of difficulties

Understanding of the science and how treatments are designed

Nomination entries will be judged on criteria including

Completed nomination form submitted by the end of the nomination period

In less than 500 words, a thorough and thoughtful description of how the nominee has recently demonstrated a significant impact in the veterinary field

Incomplete and/or inaccurate entries and entries not complying with all 

"We are delighted to celebrate and honor veterinary professionals who have gone above and beyond in caring for animals and their owners, especially during this pandemic," says Adam Christman, DVM, MBA, chief veterinary officer at dvm360

. "Being nominated by fellow peers will make this award even more special and gratifying."

The submission deadline is August 31, 2021, and inductees will be announced in the late fall of 2021. dvm360

thoughtfully selects the advisory board members who will choose the inductees. The board will be announced in September.

, who is a proud sponsor of the Veterinary Heroes™ program. Nationwide

 insures more than one million pets, making them trusted experts in the veterinary field. Their sponsorship has contributed to the success of the program thus far, with more exciting initiatives to come.

For more information about the program and to submit nominations, go 

Learn the ins and outs of this special recognition program, plus how to nominate exceptional veterinary professionals. 

dvm360® Veterinary Heroes™ recognition program: Honoring standout veterinary professionals

We are thrilled to announce that 8 new members have recently joined our 

. These members will use their areas of specialty to contribute content to our family of publications, including dvm360® and Firstline, as well as current and future multimedia opportunities.

Following are our new board members, including their areas of specialty and a few fun facts about them.

Dr Kelly Cairns graduated veterinary school from Colorado State University in 2004, completed a small animal rotating internship at Cornell University in 2005, and a small animal internal medicine residency with a master's degree at Ohio State University in 2008, at which time she obtained diplomate status. She enjoyed a rewarding career working at a clinical practice as an internist and medical director of a multi-specialty/ER hospital until joining Pathway Vet Alliance in January of 2018. Cairns currently serves as vice president of medical excellence and education for the 400 plus hospitals in the Pathway Vet Alliance family. She lives in the Chicagoland area with her 3 children (7, 9, and 11 years old), husband, 2 cats, and a very sweet but poorly mannered Great Dane/Lab mix!

Cairns is ridiculously afraid of heights to the point where she can’t go more than a couple of steps up on a ladder before having a panic attack and being paralyzed with fear. One time, she nearly got stuck near the top of the Eiffel tower when her husband suggested that they walk the outer stairs from the top elevator platform back down to the middle elevator platform.

Dr Jaclyn Dueñas is a small animal general practitioner in Miami, Florida. She obtained her bachelor’s degree in biology from Florida International University in Miami, Florida. She also attended Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine on the island of St. Kitts and graduated in August 2017. Following graduation, Dueñas returned to the Sunshine State to attend the University of Florida where she completed her clinical studies. Upon graduation, there was no doubt that Dueñas would return home to practice in Miami.

While being a veterinarian is a big part of her life, there is so much more to her! Dueñas is passionate about her family and her role as a new mom. She believes that you can have it all: a successful veterinary career and a flourishing home life. Her goal is to inspire and empower fellow veterinarians, veterinary students, and technicians to find balance and happiness in their work and personal lives.

Dueñas is of Cuban-American descent. Both sets of her grandparents fled Cuba and immigrated to the United States to pursue the American Dream.

Dr Amanda Dykstra completed her veterinary degree at Iowa State University in 2003. She practiced in Missouri as a shelter veterinarian and a city veterinarian before completing a Shelter Medicine Fellowship with the University of California, Davis, in 2013. While a faculty member at the University of Tennessee College of Veterinary Medicine, Dykstra completed her MPH with a concentration in veterinary public health and now works primarily as a shelter consultant. She is also the owner of a low-cost veterinary clinic with a mission to improve access to care in Appalachia. Additionally, Dykstra is certified as a diplomate of the American Board of Veterinary Practitioners, specializing in shelter medicine practice.

Dykstra was an army medic before attending veterinary school. There she learned suture patterns from her field medical commander who was a plastic surgeon in civilian life. Twenty years later, people are still impressed that her incision closures don't leave visible scars.

Ryan Frazier has been a credentialed veterinary technician since 2004. He has worked in general practice, emergency, and specialty medicine throughout his career. He also received his BS in marketing in 2019 and is working as a marketing and outreach coordinator at a specialty clinic in the Seattle area.

Frazier is dedicated to advancing veterinary technology through his work with professional associations, his Facebook group, Veterinary Support Staff Career Group, and planning continuing education that elevates veterinary technicians. He is currently the program chair for the Washington State Association of Veterinary Technicians, member at large for the National Association of Veterinary Technician in America, and a committee member of Education and Events for PrideVMC.

 Fraizer has well over 50 plants in his house (many in his office at work too) and wants that many yaks too!

Dr Boaz Man is the owner and medical director of Boca Midtowne Animal Hospital (BMAH), an AAHA accredited facility. He is a Fear Free certified professional, which allows his team to prioritize a pet’s emotional well-being. He grew up surrounded by medicine, with his father and both grandfathers being well-respected doctors. Man has 17 years of experience in private practice and opened BMAH in 2013. Being the sole practitioner, he often involves veterinary experts to help provide the most thorough veterinary care available.

Man was the only veterinarian in Florida to be selected as a Trademark Top Doctor in 2020. He earned his bachelor’s at the University of Miami and a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine from Ross University. He also enjoys using his Instagram page (@bocamidtownevet) as an education platform for pet owners. You can check it out 

Man starting volunteering at a veterinary clinic at age 12. The back story is quite unique, to say the least. The veterinarian at the clinic was bitten in the face by a dog during an exam. Man's father, a plastic surgeon, just so happened to be the doctor who repaired his nose! This dog bite, although unfortunate for the veterinarian at that time, helped Man get his first experience in veterinary medicine at a very early age!

Dr Charles McMillan received his BS degree in pre-veterinary medicine with a minor in biology from Delaware State University in Dover, Delaware, and later earned his Doctor of Veterinary Medicine from the Tuskegee University College of Veterinary Medicine (TUCVM) in 2012. McMillan served as TUCVM’s human-animal bond/animal behavior president and has a keen interest in the likeness and differences between human and nonhuman animal behavior. Shortly after graduating from TUCVM, McMillan earned a small animal medicine and surgery internship at Carolina Veterinary Specialists and went on to spend 4 years practicing both emergency and general veterinary medicine at 2 large referral hospitals in New Jersey. He later relocated to Georgia where he currently practices small animal medicine in Atlanta. 

McMillan and his wife Tara, a corporate attorney, share their home with their 2 sons, Luke and Isaiah, and their 2 puppies, Milo and Hugo. You can also find McMillan on Instagram @yourfavoritepetdoc.

: McMillan is a habitue of movie theaters and fancies himself a huge movie buff and sports fan.

Dr Christina V. Tran is a first-generation Filipino-American raised outside of Chicago, Illinois. After completing her undergraduate degree at the University of California, Davis, Tran received her veterinary degree from the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign. She has spent most of her professional career in small animal private practice, as a full-time associate, relief veterinarian, and house-call practice owner. Additionally, Tran has worked in shelter medicine and academia. She served as veterinary technology faculty at Portland Community College and as veterinary technology program director at Purdue University’s College of Veterinary Medicine. Currently, Tran is on faculty at the University of Arizona College of Veterinary Medicine as associate professor and clinical relations lead veterinarian. She also serves on the Board of Directors for Rarebreed Veterinary Partners.

Tran is the immediate past president of the Multicultural Veterinary Medical Association. She was also offered a job to become a  Blackjack dealer in Lake Tahoe but turned it down to pursue a career in veterinary medicine.

Fred Wininger, VMD, MS, DACVIM (Neurology)

New Jersey native Dr Fred Wininger earned his veterinary degree from the University of Pennsylvania College of Veterinary Medicine in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. After completing a small animal rotating internship at the University of Georgia, he finished his neurology/neurosurgery residency at Washington State University. It was there where he developed a love for neuroimaging and the development of a novel neuronavigation device. After joining the faculty at the University of Missouri, he applied these interests to develop therapies for both animals and children with the rare neurodegenerative disorder known as Batten disease (neuronal ceroid lipofuscinosis) and was awarded the young investigator award by the Batten Disease Support & Research Association for his work. He then moved to St Louis, Missouri, where he practiced for several years and developed the first hybrid private practice/academic neurology residency program, which continues today.

Wininger currently practices at Charlotte Animal Referral & Emergency in North Carolina. In addition to his clinical and teaching responsibilities, Wininger owns and operates 3D Veterinary Printing, LLC, which creates anatomic models and customized surgical tools to aid veterinary surgeons and neurosurgeons around the world. He also is the founding treasurer of the Veterinary Neurosurgical Society, an active member of the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine, and an adjunct professor at the University of Missouri. In his spare time, Wininger enjoys scuba diving, endurance sports, and exploring new places through their food.

: Wininger is a cyclist, diver, and chef. He has a standard poodle named Brae that opens up doors to their condo so he can spend time with Wininger’s neighbors!

To learn more about the rest of our advisory board members, go 

Learn about the 8 recently added members of our editorial advisory board including fun facts about their personal lives.

dvm360® welcomes new editorial advisory board members 

Vernard Hodges, DVM, co-star of National Geographic's 

, says he never thought he would be on television but is excited to use his unique platform to encourage aspiring veterinarians. In his talk with Adam Christman, DVM, MBA, Hodges explains the day-to-day life of being a veterinarian and a television star, plus offers guidance on diversifying the future generation of veterinary medicine.

“A day typically is [I] get in and I’m hiding from the guy who mikes me up because I’m trying to get my day started...so I’m miked up and then I go about my day. I’m doing surgeries with cameras in my face and that’s kind of the gist,” says Hodges on this episode of The Vet Blast Podcast.

Additionally, Hodges emphasizes an important effect of his show—how it's been inspiring other people from minority groups interested in pursuing veterinary medicine. 

“You see these kids who never seen a black veterinarian in their lives. They’re like, ‘I can do it.’ So that has definitely been a good thing,” he says. “It was the show that was so different and gave me a platform to be that person who’s a minority and show other minorities that you can do it.”

Listen below to learn more about Hodges' dual career, plus his efforts in inspiring diversity within the profession.

Podcasts

On this episode of The Vet Blast Podcast, Dr Vernard Hodges, Critter Fixers co-star, offers insight on what it's like practicing veterinary medicine on television, plus highlights his mission to encourage other minorities to pursue veterinary medicine.

Episode 59: Veterinarian TV-star uses his unique platform to inspire others

It is no secret that dental health plays a crucial role in pet wellness. That's why it is important to regularly educate clients about pet dental health. To help you navigate these sometimes murky waters, we have selected 3 articles that cover everything from how to have meaningful discussions about home dental care to when and how to talk about advanced dental treatments.

Make the conversation about dental health memorable

: Not sure where to start when it comes to discussing the importance of dental health with your clients? Here are some suggestions to help get you started.

Episode 41: Tips for educating veterinary clients about dental health

: On this episode of the Vet Blast Podcast, Adam Christman, DVM, MBA, is joined by Steve Dale, CABC, who discusses common dental myths and how to best broach the topic of dental health with your clients.

Advanced dental procedures for pets: What’s possible?

: As more technological innovations happen within the veterinary industry, more advanced dental care options become available. Here are detailed descriptions of these treatments, plus find out when a referral for an advanced dentistry referral is appropriate. 

Not sure how to best navigate the pet dental discussion? These articles will help boost your confidence when it comes to having those sometimes challenging pet dental care talks with clients.