Dog reproductive emergencies identifiedOctober 20, 2022Congrats! Your canine patient is pregnant—now what? While a smooth birthing process is ideal, it is key to know how to identify potential problems in case early intervention is needed to help save the life of the birthing dog and her puppies.
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Cystotomy tips for challenging casesOctober 20, 2022There is something gratifying about doing a cystotomy and removing uroliths from the bladder.
How a vet tech found her niche in dentistryOctober 20, 2022No longer is a veterinary technician merely responsible for restraint and drawing up vaccines. There are specialization opportunities, academic opportunities, lab animal medicine, authorship opportunities, and leadership roles within every practice.
What veterinarians can learn from hummingbirdsSeptember 28, 2022From the time of James Herriot to modern 24/7 practice, some aspects of veterinary medicine will never change. Then as now, we do not know what will walk in the door, what surgical skills will be required of us, what complicated treatments must be instituted, or what conclusions must be determined and deftly explained. This makes for interesting work days. Alas, performing at the ragged edge of ability, efficiency, performance, and limitation as we do, it is no overstatement to say we experience hard days.
Lower-stress care for dogs starts at homeSeptember 28, 2022Recent years have seen veterinary clinics make great strides to alleviate patient stress during routine exams and procedures. Notably, many clinics have taken measures to provide stress alleviation for pets through various desensitization and counterconditioning techniques. This may include having treats on-hand as a positive distraction, providing separate waiting areas for dogs and cats, and timing appointments to allow nervous pets to bypass waiting areas and go directly into an exam room.
Exploring alternatives to scruffing catsSeptember 27, 2022Scruffing refers to a restraining technique involving firmly grasping the loose skin of a cat’s back, located between the shoulder blades. While scruffing is often meant for safely controlling and settling a cat, research shows the contrary. The scruffing method is often counterproductive, causing many cats to resist or even fight back more aggressively than when alternative handling is performed.
Getting to the root of nutritional allergiesSeptember 27, 2022It is very common for pet owners to believe their itchy pet has a "food allergy." While cutaneous adverse food reactions (cAFR) are certainly not rare, when it comes to pruritic pets, atopic dermatitis (AD) is actually more prevalent than cAFR. Sadly, however, a physical exam is insufficient to distinguish atopic disease from a food-associated dermatopathy.
Early detection key in hip dysplasia casesSeptember 26, 2022Puppies are born with normal hips, but changes associated with dysplasia can develop rapidly with earliest changes noted as soon as 30 days after birth. In developing puppies, joint incongruity or malalignment prevents normal development of the acetabulum and femoral head, perpetuating the development of dysplasia.
Spectrum of care: How it is helping vets be their best and ensure optimal patient healthSeptember 23, 2022Consider presenting treatment options aligned with evidence-based medicine, respect for client finances, a do-no-harm approach, and a commitment to non-judgmental, transparent, and thorough owner education.
Lasering in on a better approach to BOASSeptember 19, 2022Brachycephalic dog breeds have increased in popularity over the last 15 years while suffering from multiple well-documented health problems. Despite increased general awareness of their conformation-related problems, their appeal continues to grow. The result is increasing numbers of dogs selectively bred for shorter noses, wider faces, and predisposition to brachycephalic obstructive airway syndrome (BOAS).
