Wrap up: Pet Poison Helpline reports rise in Apoquel calls, and other news

Happy Friday, dvm360 readers! October is here, and this week brought a busy mix of clinical, regulatory, and practice news, from a toxicology trend worth sharing with clients to a skull reconstruction that ended in a return to herding trials. Here's a look at what you may have missed.

Leading things off, Pet Poison Helpline has seen an uptick in calls involving oclacitinib (Apoquel) overdoses. The cause is accidental ingestion, not a drug defect. The FDA has received 259 overdose reports in dogs and 64 in cats since June 2023, and the pork liver–flavored chewable formulation is a particular risk. Cats face a greater chance of severe complications. Renee Schmid, DVM, DABT, DABVT, senior veterinary toxicologist and director of veterinary medicine at Pet Poison Helpline, explains what veterinarians should tell multipet households about storing the medication securely.

Here is what else came out this week on dvm360.com:

• Otsuka ICU Medical LLC is recalling 1 lot of 100-mL 0.9% sodium chloride injection after bags of concentrated potassium chloride turned up inside saline overwraps. The manufacturer warns the mix-up could cause serious or fatal adverse events. The recall notice doesn't say whether veterinary facilities received the affected lot.
• A Mather Institute survey of 900 older adults who live alone found that pet owners reported better emotional wellbeing, less stress, and more physical activity. Dog owners were the most active of all. Read more here.
• Surgeons at UC Davis used 3 titanium miniplates and 16 screws to reconstruct the skull of Tessa, a 5-year-old border collie whose skull, orbit, and midface were fractured by a horse kick. She has since gone back to competing in herding trials.
• On this week's episode of The Vet Blast Podcast, host Adam Christman, DVM, MBA, talks with Bridget Rollins, EMBA, about the "red zone." She explains how veterinary teams can spot their triggers and turn heated conflict into conversations that build trust.
• In the latest Veterinary Scene Down Under, dvm360's Australian correspondent Phil Tucak, BSc, BVMS, reports on growing membership under the Australian Veterinary Association's new model, and on proposed New South Wales legislation that would recognize veterinary nurses and technicians for the first time.
• Tami Lind, BS, RVT, VTS(ECC), shares a technician's framework for trauma cases: triage first, stabilize before diagnostics, communicate in closed loops, and debrief afterward. She also explains why composure comes from preparation. Read more here.
• And more!