dvm360's top clinical stories of 2019

No. 10: Do your heartworm protocols need an update?

Consider this your reminder postcard, folks. With new canine treatment guidelines out now, it's a perfect time to revisit your protocols to make sure your veterinary practice is current on heartworm prevention and treatment for cats and dogs.

More on current heartworm medicine

• Veterinary symposium reveals latest heartworm research

• What you don't know about heartworm treatment

• Get a handle on heartworm disease

• Avoid turmoil when testing for heartworm disease

No. 9: Just Ask the Expert: Is ace not so ace for examining patients with fear aggression?

This veterinary behaviorist says that while acepromazine may make patients more tractable in the clinic, it's likely doing nothing to reduce their anxiety.

 No. 8: 5 quick Q&As on cannabidiol use in veterinary practice

Get the lowdown on what conditions CBD has shown efficacy for, where to learn more about it, what supporting role you can play and more.

More on cannabidiols in veterinary medicine

• Veterinarians: Get involved in the cannabidiol conversation

• Wrangling the topic of CBD with your veterinary clients

• Letter to dvm360: Clashing concerns about CBD and veterinary medicine

• The CBD discussion: What veterinary professionals need to know

• Clearing up cannabis confusion for veterinary professionals

• How CBD is changing the pet treat industry

No. 7: Study finds new supplement supports muscle mass retention and earlier return to normal weight-bearing post-TPLO surgery

The compound, derived from fertilized egg yolk, was studied in a randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled study at Kansas State University's College of Veterinary Medicine.

No. 6: Urine luck: A new test for canine bladder and prostate cancer

Because the clinical signs of transitional cell carcinomas can mimic UTIs, some veterinary patients aren't benefiting from early detection, proper diagnosis and treatment. Use these tools when treating high-risk breeds and help these dogs live longer, happier lives.

No. 5: Clients feeding homemade or raw? Drop the judgment

You may not want to hear it, but clients' interest in unconventional diets isn't going away anytime soon. This veterinary nutritionist says it's time to listen to their reasons and work with them-not shut them down.

More on raw and homemade diets

• Book excerpt: Why no one should be feeding pets raw meat

• UC Davis study: Homemade feline diets nutritionally inadequate

• When it comes to homemade diets, tell and SHOW

• DIY recipes for diet trials

No. 4: Shelter Snapshot: 9 ways to up your spay/neuter game

Whether you perform five surgeries a day or 40, keeping up with surgical technique advancements and striving for more efficiency will benefit you and your veterinary patients.

Note: Interested in the debate over early spays and neuters? Read more about it here.

 No. 3: Vets don't let friends choose breeds: A dvm360 chart

Veterinary clients hear 'Frenchie,' you hear constant respiratory problems.

No. 2: The use of gabapentin to help manage anxiety in dogs

For some veterinary patients, the anti-anxiety effects of a single medication might not be enough. When monotherapy is insufficient, consider adding this drug to your treatment plan.

No. 1: Shedding light on the heart disease–grain-free pet food conundrum

Veterinary cardiologists from Washington State University offer insight and advice about the connection between grain-free diets and dilated cardiomyopathy.

 More on grain-free foods and nutrition

• FDA targets peas, lentils, potatoes in investigation of grain-free diets and DCM

• Grain-free pet food sales declining after FDA alerts

• Client handout: Are grain-free diets causing dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) in dogs?

• Vet confessions: Grain-free diets and overweight pets

• Insurance won't cover a DCM diagnosis?