Just a few short months ago, I was looking forward to a vacation in Puerto Rico and wondering how the Michigan Spartans would fare in the March Madness NCAA basketball tournament. But the harsh reality of a pandemic would soon put a huge dent in all my plans.

At the start of the COVID-19 crisis, I reassured my clients that our team would be available for them and their pets, but pet owners were flocking to the practice in such large numbers that we had to put strict measures in place to help prevent the spread of this deadly virus.

Handshakes were replaced with elbow bumps, and doorknobs, phones, and other surfaces were disinfected every 15 minutes. We also cut down on appointments to reduce the number of clients in the lobby and eventually started curbside service.

All staff members wore PPE throughout the day, and our team was split to two in order to comply with social distancing recommendations. We also delayed routine appointments and surgeries, and prioritized essential services.

Although the experience made my head spin on more than one occasion, for me there is a silver lining in this pandemic: gratitude. I appreciate being in a profession that is deemed essential, and I’ve been so grateful to observe how much our patients are loved and the important place they have in their families’ hearts.

Although Michigan was one of the first states to issue mandatory stay-at-home orders, I have overall been impressed with how clients are catering to their pet’s wellbeing throughout all of this. Whether they are seeking help for their pets via telemedicine or risking their own health to drop off their pet curbside, I’ve noticed that the human-animal bond has strengthened during these tough times.

I’ve also been fascinated by how committed people are in this field. The high quality of care, compassion, and positive attitude that our kennel staff, receptionists, technicians, and doctors have displayed time and time again have been exceptional. With clients unable to enter the building, another upside is that we’ve had more vulnerable and fun moments together as a team.

Overall, these challenging and unprecedented times have taught me that while it’s easy to get depressed with all the negativity, gratitude is key. I’m thankful to be in the veterinary profession, to have the clients that I do, and to work with such an amazing team.

Dr. Andrew Rollo is an associate at Madison Veterinary Hospital in Madison Heights, Michigan.

Articles

For this veterinarian, the COVID-19 pandemic has reaffirmed his love and appreciation for the veterinary profession.

The power of gratitude during a pandemic

Congratulations to all of this year’s veterinary school graduates! If you haven’t yet started searching for your first associate position, now’s the time. We know it can be stressful, but fear not, new grads, here are some tips from Eric Miller, senior specialist of talent acquisition at Banfield Pet Hospital, to help you land the perfect job.

Miller provided these insights during the dvm360 virtual career fair held last month in partnership with Banfield Pet Hospital. In addition to learning about opportunities at Banfield, several speakers offered advice and guidance for aspiring veterinary associates embarking on their career, with topics including resume writing and interview tips, strategies for managing student debt, maintaining health and wellbeing, and diversity and inclusion in the workplace — plus graduation greetings from a host of “stars” from stage, screen, and within the veterinary profession. Click 

Before you apply for any associate position, Miller advises, to do your research. Understanding what you are looking for in terms of hospital size, location, culture, work-life balance, and other factors will lead you to the practices that are right for you. Look for as much information as you can find about each hospital’s:

Miller feels strongly about cover letters. “You should always attach a cover letter unless the job specifically says not to,” he says. Your cover letter, which briefly outlines your professional work experiences, should be broken into three paragraphs. But first, make sure all of your contact information is correct. “If we can't get a hold of you, we can't interview you,” Miller says.

The first paragraph of your cover letter should include your name, the name of the hiring practice and the position for which you are applying. This paragraph should be customized for every job you apply for. Unlike a generic cover letter, adding these details shows that you are interested specifically in this hospital and this position.

The middle section is where you really get to showcase any achievements or experience that makes you a good fit for this role. Highlight anything that will help you stand out from other applicants.

In your closing paragraph, mention again your interest in the hospital and how ready you are for the position.

Like your cover letter, your resume must be up to date. And be sure to include your name in your phone’s outgoing message so a recruiter or hiring manager will know they have reached the right person.

Make sure you have a professional email address on your resume. If you are using your veterinary school email address, be sure to check how long it will stay active.

Avoid nonessential “filler” information on your resume. “If you're applying for a role as a veterinarian, we probably know you're really good with clients,” says Miller.

Instead, he recommends, mention your achievements, such as volunteer work, research, publications, and successes from previous jobs. This is the type of information that makes you stand out, he says.

Finally, reach out to the employer or recruiter when you submit your resume to reiterate your interest in working at the practice. Another option: reach out to practices that aren’t actively hiring. They might just think of you when they are.

Before the interview, whether it’s on the phone or in person, learn as much as you can about the practice, and prepare questions to ask during the interview. This shows employers you are very interested in the job.

For in-person interviews, Miller recommends bringing five copies because you never know who you will run into. “It would be better for you to return home with four resumes rather than be short one when you need it,” he says.

When the interview ends, politely ask about next steps. And be sure to follow up with a thank you note or email restating your interest in the position. If they give you a timeline for when to expect someone to reach out and it does not happen, follow up.

Be sure to send a thank you note anyway, and let the practice know if you are open to other positions that may become available. Also consider asking why you didn’t get the job. Any feedback may help your interview process in the future.

If you receive an offer, Miller recommends taking a few days to consider it, and reach out to the recruiter or employer with any specific questions you have. Let them know when they can receive an answer.

Miller says it’s OK to negotiate at this point, just be prepared that the practice may not accept your counter-offer.

Congratulations to the class of 2020! As you prepare to enter the workforce, consider these tips to make your job search more fruitful.

Tips for landing your first veterinary associate position

dvm360 is thrilled to announce the launch of The Vet Blast Podcast, a weekly audio program hosted by Chief Veterinary Officer Adam Christman, DVM, MBA.

This new multimedia offering was developed to promote the advancement of veterinary medicine and highlight key industry leaders, everyday veterinarians and students who are making a difference in the field. 

"Join us as we explore all the wonders veterinary medicine has to offer," says Dr. Christman, adding that he hopes this new platform will create networking opportunities for veterinary professionals and students alike.

In this inaugural episode, Dr. Christman offers a sneak peek into his personal life and shares his unique path to veterinary medicine, including his experience undertaking a major career shift during the COVID-19 pandemic.

In upcoming episodes, the show will feature an exciting line-up of guests discussing topics ranging from cinical medicine and self-care, to fitness, diversity in veterinary medicine and much more!

If you’re interested in being featured on the podcast, contact us 

Take a listen to the full first episode below. And stay tuned for episode 2, "Meet the president of SAVMA!"

Podcasts

In this inaugural episode of The Vet Blast podcast, our Chief Veterinary Officer and podcast host Dr. Adam Christman opens up about changing careers in the midst of a pandemic and shares some of his goals for this new platform. 

Introducing dvm360's The Vet Blast Podcast

Royal Canin has expanded its line of gastrointestinal (GI) veterinary diets to include products for kittens and puppies. Last month, the global pet nutrition company officially launched GI Kitten wet and dry, as well as GI Puppy — “the first and only diet formulated exclusively for the immature gastrointestinal system of growing cats and dogs,” according to a company release.

“These diets are targeted toward young cat and dog patients and feature texture options including rehydratable kibble and an ultra-soft mousse texture to help facilitate food intake,” said Catherine Lenox, DVM, DACVN, Royal Canin regulatory veterinary manager.

According to Royal Canin, these new diets offer these benefits:

High-energy formulas with adapted nutrient levels promote optimal growth.

Kibble can be easily rehydrated to facilitate food intake for puppies and kittens.

The mousse texture helps to ease the transition from milk to solid food.

“In addition to this exciting innovation, we have created a more user-friendly packaging design to help consumers understand the benefits of the product their veterinarian recommends,” said Dr. Lenox.

Royal Canin has also revised the classification of its products around six core health needs: urinary, gastrointestinal, weight management, dermatology, vital support and health management.

In addition, a new packaging design is aimed to facilitate the veterinarian’s recommendation “by reinforcing the nutritional message and communicating the product benefits to the pet owner along with easy-to-read feeding guidelines,” according to the release.

The company recently introduced three new veterinary gastrointestinal diet products, two for kittens and one for puppies.

Royal Canin announces expansion of GI diet line

View the video below for this week's top veterinary headlines:

Colombian third-year veterinary student Juan Orjuela shares how and why  the 

Latinx Veterinary Medical Association was formed

BluePearl Specialty and Emergency Pet Hospital has announced 

the launch of its year-long wellness and mental health program

“ElleVan” — a 38-foot RV turned mobile relief vehicle 

has arrived in San Diego to begin a two-month journey to provide free veterinary care and supplies for pets of homeless and otherwise vulnerable people in California communities. 

Videos

Check out this week's top veterinary headlines.

News wrap-up: This week's veterinary headlines, plus remember to register for our first ever virtual Fetch dvm360 conference

Seizures and epilepsy, among the most common neurologic conditions in dogs, are typically treated with anti-seizure medications. Because many anti-seizure drugs come with significant adverse effects, it can be difficult to balance the need for seizure control while maintaining the dog’s quality of life. Additionally, about a third of dogs continue to have seizures despite anti-seizure drug therapy.

Dietary modification for seizure management has been studied extensively in humans. A new veterinary study analyzed whether a diet high in medium-chain triglycerides (MCTs) would help control seizures in epileptic dogs currently treated with anti-seizure medication.

Twenty-eight pet dogs with idiopathic epilepsy were included in the randomized, double-blinded, multicenter, placebo-controlled, crossover study. The dogs had no bloodwork abnormalities, had previous normal cerebrospinal fluid analysis and magnetic resonance imaging findings, had at least three seizures in the previous three months, were currently being treated with at least one anti-seizure drug and were categorized as resistant to at least one of those drugs.

Dogs in the study group received a daily oil-based supplement high in MCT, while those in the control group received regular olive oil. Seizure frequency was then monitored for three months, after which the study dogs received the placebo and the placebo group received the MCT supplement for another three months.

Study dogs had a significant reduction in seizure frequency (number of days per month on which a seizure occurred) vs the control group. Two dogs were seizure free, three had a 50% or greater reduction in seizure frequency, and 12 had a reduction in seizure frequency. However, 11 dogs showed no response.

A diet high in MCTs may be a useful tool for managing seizures in dogs. While the response does not appear to be as striking as for first-line anti-seizure drugs, a high-MCT diet has significantly fewer potential side effects and appears to be well tolerated.

1. Berk BA, Law TH, Packer RM, et al. A multicenter randomized controlled trial of effect of medium‐chain triglyceride dietary supplementation on epilepsy in dogs. 

Dr. Nappier is assistant professor of community practice in the Department of Small Animal Clinical Sciences at the Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine in Blacksburg, Virginia.

A new study shows that dogs fed a diet high in medium-chain triglycerides had a significant reduction in seizure frequency compared with control dogs.