From a distance, no one would think that 11-year-old Labrador retriever Beau looks different from any other dog. Yet earlier this year, the dog underwent a nasal planectomy, a rare type of facial reconstruction surgery, to remove a squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) from inside his nose, significantly altering his appearance.

Nasal planectomy is performed to remove neoplasia within the nasal planum. During surgery to remove the cancer, the fleshy, non-haired tip of the nose is removed and the patient’s lips are used to create a new covering. This procedure is often necessary for survival because this type of cancer typically does not respond to any other treatment. Yet many veterinarians and pet owners are reluctant to choose this option due to fears about potential complications or the animal's post surgical appearance.

While Beau’s owner, Air Force Master Sergeant Charlie Morse, was stationed in California, he was alerted by his dog sitter in Wasilla, Alaska, that Beau was bleeding from his nose. When Morse returned home to Wasilla, the bleeding appeared to be getting worse. Morse took Beau to Tier 1 Veterinary Medical Center in Palmer, Alaska, where the dog was diagnosed with a SCC and given just months to live.

The team at Tier 1 decided the best course of action was to perform a nasal planectomy. “Nasal planectomy is used primarily to remove SCC, which is locally invasive but rarely spreads and is generally not responsive to any type of treatment other than surgery,” says Bradley Schmidt, DVM, DACVIM, the only board-certified oncologist in Alaska, and one of Beau’s caregivers. “It is a technique to help remove the tumor it the entirety.” Schmidt has only referred 3 of these surgeries in over 20 years, but he knew it was Beau’s best hope. Without surgery, the dog was likely to live just a few months.

For Morse, the decision to move forward with the procedure was an easy one. “From 1 to 2 months realistically for him to be with me to hopefully years left. [Beau has] been there for me through thick and thin and has been that constant in my life, and I owed it to him.”

The surgery was a resounding success. The cancer was removed fully, and Beau can still breathe and smell without difficulty. “He works his new nose the same way he did with his nostrils,” Morse says. “He uses the muscles on the side of his face and kind of flares open what I call the ‘mega-nostril’ now.”

In a multi-institutional, retrospective case study published last year, 25 client-owned dogs, most with SCC, underwent radical nasal planectomy and 1 underwent resection of the nasal planum. Complications, including dehiscence, occurred in 19 dogs, 9 required revision surgery, and 1 did not survive to discharge. Median survival was 1542 days (range, 3-2010 days). Among 11 owners interviewed, 10 were satisfied with their dog's appearance, and 8 said they would consent to the surgery again.

Given the poor prognosis with other treatment options and the minimal associated long-term complications, the study authors concluded that nasal planectomy is a viable option for dogs with neoplasia of the nasal planum. They noted, however, that preoperative client education is crucial to ensure that the owner understands how different the pet will look after surgery.

To learn more about Beau’s surgery, click 

Dickerson VM, Grimes JA, Vetter CA, et al. Outcome following cosmetic rostral nasal reconstruction after planectomy in 26 dogs. 

. 2019;48(1):64-69. doi:10.1111/vsu.13120

Articles

An uncommon but life-saving surgery gave a Labrador retriever and his grateful owner much more time together.

Rare surgical procedures give man and dog a new lease on life

With high volumes of anxiety, depression, compassion fatigue, and burnout, it’s no question that veterinary technicians jump through hoops daily to ensure their clinic’s success. Taking the brunt of the entire practice protocol from beginning to end, they work tirelessly around the clock to save their patients every day.

For emergency technician Marlaina Hrosch, LVT, RVT, a training manager at Veterinary Emergency Group in White Plains, NY, it’s a tough job but a labor of love.

“I love not knowing what’s going to walk in the door. I love that rush that you get when that critical patient comes in,” she tells Dr. Christman in the latest episode of The Vet Blast Podcast.

“You see a lot of not so happy things— but when those cases come in that are supercritical— bite wounds— something along those lines and you get to take care of them and see them go home a couple of days later—there’s nothing better than that to me,” she says.

Hrosch also offers some insight into what it means to be a veterinary technician. In the emergency setting, she says technicians are generally responsible for triaging new cases, helping to stabilize critical cases, and taking care of the in-patients. Hrosch is also responsible for training all the technicians within her company throughout the US.

Another key technician role: client communication, especially in emergency clinics, says Hrosch, adding that building repour and trust with clients makes it easier to ask those tough questions.

“You can learn a lot from [your] veterinary technicians,” says Hrosch, “So, don’t overlook the value in veterinary technicians. There are different levels of knowledge…. but for the most part, we can be incredibly helpful.”

Listen below to learn more about this veterinary technician’s journey through emergent care, along with her advice for new graduates.

Podcasts

On this episode of The Vet Blast Podcast, Dr. Christman, speaks with Marlaina Hrosch, LVT, RVT, who explains the ins and outs of the emergency technician role.

Episode 22: What it takes to be an emergency care veterinary technician

October 11 to 17 marks the 27th annual National Veterinary Technician Week, a time to honor you! We join in celebrating all that you do every day to care for animals of all shapes and sizes, and in both traditional and nontraditional ways. So, take time this week to celebrate your accomplishments large and small, and take the opportunity to educate pet parents everywhere about all you do to care for their animal companions. 

 offer loads of great ideas to help you and your practice make the most of this week. While we acknowledge and appreciate all technicians (and other team members), this year we asked veterinary technician specialists to share what they love about working in the veterinary field. Their comments follow.

There are currently 16 recognized veterinary technician specialties: anesthesia and analgesia, behavior, clinical pathology, clinical practice, dentistry, dermatology, diagnostic imaging, emergency and critical care, equine nursing, internal medicine, laboratory animal medicine, nutrition, ophthalmology, physical rehabilitation, surgery, and zoology. Each specialty academy has specific requirements for credentialing, but all applicants must complete a formal process of education, training, experience, and testing to qualify. You must be able to show mastery in the core skills specified by the academy. Requirements for demonstrating mastery typically include 3 to 5 years of hands-on experience in your chosen discipline, a log of 30 to 70 cases related to the specialty field from the year preceding the application, detailed case reports on several of these cases, and letters of recommendation. Once your application is accepted, you must pass the specialty exam to become a VTS. To learn more about becoming a veterinary technician specialist, visit navta.net or the individual specialty academy websites.

“Caring for zoo animals comes with challenges, but it can also be extremely rewarding. The best thing about my job is that every day is different. Because zoo vet techs work with all species, most days require a lot of creativity and flexibility. I am continually inspired to learn new techniques and treatment methods for the benefit of my patients. I love having the opportunity to work with a variety of creatures, and the knowledge and professional growth that come with it.”

Erica Campbell, AAS, LVT, VTS
(Zoo) Detroit Zoological Society 
Royal Oak, MI

“Being a veterinary technician means I get to help improve the lives of not only our patients but their owners as well. I love when clients come back and tell me how much happier, playful, and joyful their pets are since starting treatment. Our patients deserve the best quality of life we can give them. Skin disease is more than skin deep!”

Juliann London, AAS, RVT, VTS (Dermatology)
Animal Dermatology & Allergy,
Rocklin, CA

“Becoming specialized in veterinary dermatology was a lifelong dream for me. I have been focusing solely on dermatology for 17 years and have loved every minute of it. I have always been drawn to the “pop!” I love to watch an abscess being drained, and being able to express a cyst is always the highlight of my day. In academia, we see a variety of species with a variety of diseases. It is very satisfying to be a part of the team that can help a miserable patient become a happy lovable pet again.” 

Amanda Friedeck, BS, LVT, VTS (Dermatology)
Texas A&M University,
College Station, TX

“Being a veterinary technician boils down to soul searching and being a steward of the Earth and all of the creatures that live here. My path started back in the 1980s and has led me to finding my niche as a VTS (Dermatology). This allows me to be an advocate for my patients and to improve their quality of life, which in turn improves their owners’ quality of life. Being a veterinary technician has allowed me to do good in this world, while touching the lives of many.”

Jennie Tait, AHT, RVT, VTS (Dermatology - Charter)
Yu of Guelph Veterinary Dermatology
Guelph Veterinary Specialty Hospital Guelph,
Ontario, Canada

“Being a veterinary technician is exciting and rewarding. I started bringing stray animals home when I was a small child. I had every small animal possible. I took care of them all on my own. It taught me about responsibility and husbandry. And it is never boring. Every day is a new adventure. Working in academia is extremely fulfilling as we continue to help teach and guide the veterinarians of the future. I absolutely love my job and couldn’t imagine doing anything else. Being a veterinary technician specialist has given me the tools and confidence to excel in my career. I am extremely proud to be a veterinary technician.“ 

Christopher Rizzo, LVT, VTS (EVN, LAIM)
University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine
New Bolton Center, Kennett Square, PA

“I have been a veterinary technician for 42 years. To me, being a technician means that the research I am a part of every day will help not only humans but also animals. Working in primate research can be very rewarding in so many ways, from providing enrichment to anesthesia to study paradigms. I love being in the forefront of science ready to tackle the next unknown, and paving the way for future generations of veterinary technicians!”

Victoria Elam, CVT, VTS (LAM) Kalin Lab,
University of Wisconsin Department of Psychiatry,
Madison, WI

Being a veterinary technician in a zoological facility means having the good fortune to work with remarkably diverse species and constantly learning through daily experiences with the animals. In addition, it means being in the company of incredible keepers, curators, zoological managers, and veterinary staff at my facility and within the profession as a whole. As a member of the Association of Zoo Veterinary Technicians, I can say that my colleagues at other facilities are some of the best caretakers in the country. Basically, I am surrounded by amazing animals and people all the time, and I can’t ask for anything more.

Joe Ullmer, BS, RVT, CVT
Kansas City Zoo,
Kansas City, MO

“I am a zoo veterinary technician, which means I get to provide care for some of the world’s most charismatic animals and help in the conservation process for these incredible species. This career path can be stressful, but it is extremely rewarding! My day can start in one direction and completely swing in another direction within a few hours, which provides the variability and challenges that I love.”

—Dewey Maddox, CVT
White Oak Conservation,
Yulee, FL

“A veterinary technician’s job, at its core, is service. Not only do we support and assist our veterinarians, we actively work to improve the lives of the animals around us. For a zoo tech, this responsibility means not only developing and maintaining a skill set that can medically accommodate a wide range of species, but also advocating for all the creatures who share our world through conservation and field work. It is an honor and a privilege to be entrusted with these rare and vulnerable patients, and I enjoy rising to the challenge.”

Lisa Bonanni, CVT, BS, VTS (Zoo)
Buttonwood Park Zoo,
New Bedford, MA

“Being a veterinary technician means collaborating with other veterinary professionals to provide the best possible animal care. Networking to share knowledge and experience is essential in zoo medicine to keep current with evolving medical, husbandry, and voluntary training techniques. Excellent resources for me include organizations like the Association of Zoo Veterinary Technicians and the Academy of Veterinary Technicians in Anesthesia and Analgesia.”

Angie Sutton, BS, CVT, VTS (Anesthesia and Analgesia)
Henry Vilas Zoo,
 Madison, WI

As I wind down my career after 38 years, I am beaten up, arthritic, and have no retirement to fall back on, BUT I would not have changed a single thing about my life as a veterinary technician. I have loved, lived, and lost with my clients and their companions, and I have done it with a glad heart. If anyone asks if they should pursue a career as a vet tech, I wholeheartedly tell them to do it and hang on for a hell of a ride.

Sara Sharp, AAS, CVT, VTS (Dentistry)
Bel-Rea Institute of Animal Health Technology,
Denver, CO

 During Tech Week and every week, we salute technicians everywhere for the hard work, dedication, and indomitable spirit that makes you an integral part of the veterinary team. 

For the love of veterinary technicians

Editor's note: This article includes a discussion about domestic violence. If you're experiencing domestic violence of any kind, please call the National Domestic Violence Hotline (1-800-799-SAFE [7233]; 

). It's 24 hours a day, seven days a week. All calls are free and confidential.

In honor of Domestic Violence Awareness Month (in October), PetSmart Charities has committed $2.1 million towards keeping domestic violence survivors and their pets together during these unprecedented times. The funding supports pet-friendly 

, pet deposits for pet-friendly housing, emergency pet boarding, and other initiatives.

While quarantine protocols are designed to protect the public from spreading the coronavirus, domestic violence victims are now trapped with their abuser, 

. Every minute, an estimated 20 people suffer from abuse — and with as few as 10% of domestic violence shelters accepting pets— survivors are faced with heartbreaking and dangerous decisions. In fact, nearly half of all domestic violence victims remain in abusive relationships in fear of what may happen to their pets if they’re left behind.

“Not only are pets a common reason why victims delay leaving their abusers, [but] animal abuse is also often the first indicator of domestic violence within a household,” says PetSmart Charities president Aimee Gilbreath. “As an Arizona- based organization, we’re proud to not only support our community, but communities across the US and Canada to provide resources that bridge the gap to a safer environment for both people and pets — especially during the pandemic.”

PetSmart Charities has administered grants to various organizations throughout the US and Canada including:

(URI), located in New York City, received a $100,000 grant to help transform the lives of domestic violence survivors and homeless families, with a special focus on communities of color and vulnerable populations. URI says the grant will be used to expand its People and Animals Safely (PALS) program. Two new shelter facilities will be added to serve an additional 140 clients and their pets.

 (SOAR), located in Indianapolis, is using its $65,000 grant to support the Crisis Response Program, providing emergency placement and services to an estimated 670 pets and people experiencing domestic violence, homelessness, medical/mental conditions, or other displacements.

, located In Toronto, received a $50,000 grant to support its pet-friendly program, which provides case management, services, and supplies to people and pets fleeing domestic violence.

To learn more about PetSmart Charities, go 

The organization has distributed grants to animal welfare organizations and social services agencies throughout the US and Canada to help people fleeing domestic violence during COVID-19.

PetSmart Charities commits $2.1 million to keep domestic abuse survivors and their pets together 

Anxious dogs can pose as a problem for not only their owners, but also for themselves. Anxiety in dogs is linked to many unwanted behaviors, including aggression and hyperactivity, that can sometimes land these pets in shelters.

Previous studies have found the most common canine behavior issues to be excessive barking, inappropriate elimination, aggression, fear, and destructiveness.

 About 1 in 5 dogs display a fear of strangers, dogs, or new situations,

 while 20% to 50% exhibit excessive sensitivity to noise.

 Comorbidity between noise sensitivity and separation anxiety has been reported.

Although extensive previous research has laid the foundation for the epidemiology of canine behavior problems, that work is hobbled by small sample sizes, meager breed representation, and limited numbers of traits studied.

The current study, conducted by genetics researchers in the University of Helsinki’s Department of Veterinary Biosciences, provides a broader picture by collecting 13,715 responses from owners of 264 canine breeds to questions regarding 7 anxiety traits.

The data were harvested through an online questionnaire that inquired about noise sensitivity, (delineated into fireworks, thunder, and gunshots), fear (of dogs, of strangers, of novel situations), fear of surfaces/heights, hyperactivity/impulsivity/inattention, compulsive behavior (self-biting, surface licking, excessive drinking, pacing, fly snapping, staring, tail chasing), aggression (toward family members, toward strangers), and separation-related behavior (destroy/urinate, vocalize/salivate/pant).

The gender ratio of the dogs was roughly 50-50, with the following breed types predominating: Bernese mountain dog, border collie, Finnish Lapponian dog, German shepherd, Labrador retriever, Romagnolo, Lapponian herder, miniature schnauzer, rough collie, smooth collie, Shetland sheepdog, soft-coated wheaten terrier, Spanish water dog, Staffordshire bull terrier, and mixed-breed dog.

In total, 72.5% of dogs reportedly displayed some type of troubling behavior. Noise sensitivity was among the most prevalent anxiety trait, with 1 in 3 dogs exhibiting excessive fear of at least 1 sound; reaction to fireworks was most common. Fear was the second most common trait, with a rate of 29%; within this realm, fear of other dogs predominated.

The scarcest traits were separation-related behavior and aggression; aggression toward human family members was more common than aggression toward strangers. Ironically, previous studies showed aggression to be the most polarized behavioral problem reported among patients referred to veterinary behavior clinics,

 perhaps because many owners consider aggression serious enough to warrant professional consultation.

Comorbidities for different anxiety-related attributes were prevalent in this survey. Fear and noise sensitivity, perhaps because of their individual universalities among domestic dogs, were often annexed to other anxiety disorders. The most common comorbidity was fear, especially in aggressive and hyperactive/impulsive dogs. The second most common was noise sensitivity, particularly in fearful dogs. Separation-related behaviors, hyperactivity/impulsivity/inattention, and compulsive behavior are also tightly joined. The connection between impulsivity and compulsion may be due to a failure of response control mediated by basal ganglia.

Because of comorbidity patterns, relative risks for different behaviors can be determined by the presence of other traits. For instance, dogs exhibiting separation-related behavior were over 4 times more likely to be hyperactive/impulsive and 3.4 times more likely to be inattentive. Likewise, aggressive dogs were fearful 3.2 times more often, while those showing separation-related behavior were 2.8 times likelier to be fearful.

Male dogs were more prone to aggression, hyperactivity/impulsivity/inattention and, to a lesser extent, separation-related behavior. Females had a higher prevalence of fearfulness.

The rate of noise sensitivity—particularly to thunder—increased with age, as did aggression and fear of surfaces/heights. Conversely, hyperactivity/impulsivity/inattention, tail chasing, and self-biting declined with age.

Significant breed differences and predispositions were evident across all behavioral traits. Notably, nearly 11% of miniature schnauzers had a history of aggression toward strangers, compared with less than 1% of Labrador retrievers. Over 9% of Staffordshire bull terriers engaged in tail chasing, but none of the lagotto Romagnolos in the study displayed this habit. Fear was the most common behavior issue in Spanish water dogs, Shetland sheepdogs, and mixed breeds, but was seldom reported in Labrador retrievers.

Hyperactivity/impulsivity were most commonly reported by owners of German shepherds, Staffordshire bull terriers, and mixed breeds, but were rarely seen in rough collies and miniature schnauzers.

Some traits were shared by several breeds but expressed differently in each. For instance, compulsive behavior was trademarked by German shepherds and Staffordshire bull terriers, but the former manifested it by pacing and excessive drinking, while the latter engaged in tail-chasing. In border collies, compulsiveness took the form of light chasing and staring. Likewise, mixed-breed dogs showed their separation anxiety by destroying or soiling the house when left alone, whereas wheaten terriers were more likely to vocalize, salivate, or pant.

Breed-specific patterns also came to light. For example, border collies showed only moderate behavioral impairment across the board, except for compulsive staring and fly snapping, which they manifest at high prevalence. The behavioral landscape of the Staffordshire bull terriers in the study overwhelmingly consisted of compulsive behavior and hyperactivity/impulsivity/inattention.

The findings in this study are consistent with those of previous research, and the sheer number of dogs in the present report lends further credence to past work. The obvious limitation of the study herein is that the sample is self-selected and, therefore, may not be representative of the Finnish canine population at large. Secondly, traits were categorized into low, moderate, and high brackets, but these were based on frequency of signs rather than severity, except in the cases of aggression, separation-related behavior, and hyperactivity/impulsivity/inattention.

The breed trends in behavioral properties of the study group highlight the genetic governance over the way a dog behaves.

Dr. Capuzzi is a small animal veterinarian and journalist based in the Philadelphia area.

1. Fatjó J, Ruiz-de-la-Torre J L, Manteca X. The epidemiology of behavioural problems in dogs and cats: a survey of veterinary practitioners. 

2. Col R, Day C, Phillips CJC. An epidemiological analysis of dog behavior problems presented to an Australian behavior clinic, with associated risk factors. 

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3. Hsu Y, Serpell JA. Development and validation of a questionnaire for measuring behavior and temperament traits in pet dogs. 

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4.Khoshnegah J, Azizzadeh M, Mahmoodi Gharaie A. Risk factors for thedevelopment of behavior problems in a population of Iranian domestic dogs:Results of a pilot survey. 

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5.Bamberger M, Houpt KA. Signalment factors, comorbidity, and trends in behavior diagnoses in dogs: 1,644 cases (1991–2001). 

6.Martínez ÁG., Santamarina Pernas G, Diéguez Casalta FJ, Suárez Rey ML, De la Cruz Palomino LF. Risk factors associated with behavioral problems in dogs. 

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7.Tiira K, Sulkama S, Lohi H. Prevalence, comorbidity, and behavioral variation in canine anxiety. 

2016;16(Nov-Dec):36-44. doi:10.1016/j.jveb.2016.06.008

8.Blackwell EJ, Bradshaw JWS, Casey RA. Fear responses to noises in domestic dogs: Prevalence, risk factors and co-occurrence with other fear related behaviour. 

 2013;145(S1-2):15-25. doi:10.1016/j.applanim.2012.12.004

9.Storengen LM, Lingaas F. Noise sensitivity in 17 dog breeds: Prevalence, breed risk and correlation with fear in other situations. 

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Firework Fears and Phobias in the Domestic Dog

. Scientific Report for the Royal Society for the Prevention of Creulety to Animals, University of Bristol, UK; 2005.

11. Overall KL, DunhamAE, Frank D. Frequency of nonspecific clinical signs in dogs with separation anxiety, thunderstorm phobia, and noise phobia, alone or in combination. 

2001;219(4):467-473. doi:10.2460/javma.2001.219.467

12. Salonen M, Sulkama S, Mikkola, S. et al. Prevalence, comorbidity, and breed differences in canine anxiety in 13,700 Finnish pet dogs. 

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13. Dalley JW, Everitt BJ, Robbins TW. Impulsivity, compulsivity, and top-down cognitive control. 

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A large study sheds light on anxious behaviors in dogs by evaluating their penetrance within the domestic canine population, the patterns by which certain traits occur in tandem, and the genetic stronghold for these behaviors.

 Prevalence, comorbidity, and breed differences for anxious dogs

 want to take a moment to celebrate all of the amazing veterinary technicians, veterinary assistants, client service representatives, hospital managers, and other team members who work hard every day to help their hospitals run efficiently. One week is simply not enough time to celebrate their contributions to the field, says behavior expert Steve Dale, CABC

"Veterinary technicians are the lifeline of our clinic. They balance so much on a daily basis, and there is no way we could function without them. Also, veterinary technicians make my job more fun and keep me on my toes," says Ashley Bourgeois, DVM, DACVD. 

Fear Free founder Marty Becker, DVM, echoes these sentiments. "I believe veterinary technicians (nurses) are the single most important team members in a veterinary practice," he says. "They have the most face time with pets and pet parents, they develop strong relationships with the family, work as partners with veterinarians in healthcare, and are often the heart that fuels the practice, and the glue that holds it together."

Here are some Tech Week greetings from veterinarians and a veterinary behavior expert who also wanted to express their deep gratitude for veterinary technicians. Check out the video below. Happy Vet Tech Week 2020!

Videos

Vet techs: You have a tough job, and you do it with strength, grace, and humor. Enjoy your week!