Expert Interviews

W. Preston Stubbs, DVM, DACVS, staff surgeon and owner of Mile High Veterinary Surgical Specialists, talks about the most exciting things going on in diagnosing and treating veterinary orthopedic conditions.

There's no question that the mental health and suicide rates are increased for those in the veterinary profession, but the real numbers are up to debate. Jason Sweitzer, RVT, DVM, chief financial officer and board member of Not One More Vet, Inc., talks about why mental health and suicide statistics in the veterinary profession have varied widely.

Marie Holowaychuk, DVM, DACVECC, critical care specialist and veterinary wellness advocate for Critical Care Vet Consulting, explains how to implement and maintain a self-care plan.

Oliver Knesl, BSc, BSc (Hons), MSc, BVSc, MRCVS, director of major accounts for veterinary professional services in the US Companion Animal Division for Zoetis, explains the 3 most common situations where veterinarians will have to deal with emotional support animals.

Julie Shaw, RVT, VTS (Behavior), owner and director of Stepping Stone Animal Training, LLC., in Lafayette, Indiana, explains when a case handled by a mental health care team for pets should be referred to a veterinary behaviorist.

At the 2017 American Veterinary Medical Association Convention, Amanda Landis-Hanna, DVM, senior manager of veterinary outreach for PetSmart Charities, attended a session that focused on the mental health and wellbeing of veterinary practitioners — specifically, burnout risk.

Panelists B. Duncan X. Lascelles, BVSc, PhD, DACVS; Mark Epstein, DVM, DABVP, CVPP; Bryan T. Torres, DVM, PhD, DACVS-SA, DACVSMR; Margaret Gruen, DVM, MVPH, PhD, DACVB; and Sheilah Robertson, BVMS, PhD, DACVAA, DACAW, discuss different approaches to treating dogs and cats with osteoarthritis in early versus advanced disease.

Huisheng Xie, DVM, PhD, clinical professor of small animal clinical science at the University of Florida, founder of the Chi Institute of Traditional Chinese Veterinary Medicine, explains the basics, history, and uses of acupuncture.

Moral stress is a huge proponent of compassion fatigue. Jen Brandt, PhD, LISW-S, assistant director of veterinary student affairs at Ohio State University College of Veterinary Medicine, talks about ways veterinarians can relinquish control and beat moral stress.

Oliver Knesl, BSc, BSc (Hons), MSc, BVSc, MRCVS, director of major accounts for veterinary professional services in the US Companion Animal Division for Zoetis, talks about why fraudulent emotional support animals are becoming more visible.

Marvin Meinders, DVM, MPVM, veterinary epidemiologist, describes a "prospective" resume and why you should create one.

Mark Epstein, DVM, DABVP (Canine/Feline), CVPP, medical director of TotalBond Veterinary Hospitals and Carolinas Animal Pain Management in Gastonia, North Carolina, explains that changing the culture and awareness of local anesthetics in veterinary medicine will come through several different avenues.

Tony Bartels, DVM, MBA, consultant for the Veterinary Information Network, talks about the importance of saving for retirement while simultaneously paying off student loans.

Margaret Gruen, DVM, MVPH, PhD, DACVB, researcher at Duke University's Canine Cognition Center and adjunct professor at North Carolina State University, talks about some of the most interesting findings in current behavioral research.

Gary Vroegindewry, DVM, MSS, DACVPM, director of One Health at Lincoln Memorial University, explains the two types questions you will be asked during a job interview.

Christopher Cripps, DVM, owner of Betterbee, talks about how there needs to be more training for veterinarians who want to learn how to care for bees.

Jen Brandt, PhD, LISW-S, assistant director of veterinary student affairs at Ohio State University College of Veterinary Medicine, discusses a few ways to foster resilience.

Panelists B. Duncan X. Lascelles, BVSc, PhD, DACVS; Bryan T. Torres, DVM, PhD, DACVS-SA, DACVSMR; Margaret Gruen, DVM, MVPH, PhD, DACVB; Mark Epstein, DVM, DABVP, CVPP; and Sheilah Robertson, BVMS, PhD, DACVAA, DACAW, review different questionnaires available to assess pain in companion animals and the importance of validation of these questionnaires.

Elizabeth B. Strand, PhD, LCSW, director of veterinary social work at the University of Tennessee College of Veterinary Medicine College of Social Work, says almost all veterinary colleges in the United States have a mental health professional on staff.

W. Preston Stubbs, DVM, DACVS, staff surgeon and owner of Mile High Veterinary Surgical Specialists, expresses that performing efficient orthopedic exams and getting the proper diagnosis hinges a lot on your support staff.

Tracy Dowdy, CVPM, managing director of MRG Consulting and founder of the Relationship Centered Practice Academy, says many veterinarians may feel isolated, but they need to understand that they're not alone.

Panelists B. Duncan X. Lascelles, BVSc, PhD, DACVS; Mark Epstein, DVM, DABVP, CVPP; Margaret Gruen, DVM, MVPH, PhD, DACVB; Sheilah Robertson, BVMS, PhD, DACVAA, DACAW; and Bryan T. Torres, DVM, PhD, DACVS-SA, DACVSMR, share their views of practical assessment tools to determine pain level in companion animals, including the use of diary, video, and photo documentation to assess quality of life.

Dani McVety, DVM, co-founder of Lap of Love Veterinary Hospice, shares a few tips for appearing more confident when performing veterinary exams.

Amanda Landis-Hanna, DVM, senior manager of veterinary outreach for PetSmart Charities, says veterinarians need to do a better job with behavioral disorders to help prevent euthanasia.

Staci Alonso, founder of Noah’s Animal House, talks about the PAWS Act — a federal bill being considered that would recognize pets in protection orders.

Matt Brunke, DVM, CCRP, CVPP, CVA, staff veterinarian at Veterinary Orthopedic & Sports Medicine Group, advises veterinarians to do their research before buying lasers for their practice.

Steven Marks, BVSc, MS, MRCVS, DACVIM, associate dean at North Carolina State College of Veterinary Medicine, talks about how morbidity and mortality, which is common in human medicine, is different in veterinary medicine.

Kris Bannon, DVM, FAVD, DAVDC, veterinary dentist at Veterinary Dentistry & Oral Surgery of New Mexico, LLC., explains another important part of a pet's wellness package—home care.