is taking a look at content that provides information and inspiration for practicing sustainability in veterinary medicine. These articles feature a unique initiative by Mars Petcare, a study on how sustainability practices in the pet food industry can influence consumers, and technologies that can be used by clinics to help save money and the environment.

Pet food manufacturing facility will become Australia’s first 100% renewable steam plant

Written by Abi Bautista-Alejandre, Assistant Editor

Mars Petcare’s Wodonga site will implement a fully renewable energy system for both electricity and steam production by 2026. The initiative, which requires a $39.9 million investment, was inspired by Mars’ “net zero emissions by 2050” commitment.

Written by Miranda Morman, BS, PharmD Candidate

A recent study explored how large companies producing meals for animals communicate their sustainability practices. Using sustainability to advertise products influences consumer behaviors and brand perception.

Creating an affordable eco-friendly clinic

Many technologies provide a quick return on investment, ultimately saving money. Beyond saving money, focusing on a sustainable design can help veterinarians provide a better standard of care for their patients.

Articles

Read these articles to learn about eco-friendly initiatives and environmentally conscious methods that can be incorporated into clinical practice

3 must-reads on sustainability in veterinary medicine

Gianluca Bini, DVM, MRCVS, DACVAA, discusses his lecture now available online through dvm360's Fetch On-Demand platform.

Making procedural sedation easy

Gianluca Bini, DVM, MRCVS, DACVAA, owner and founder of the Safe Pet Anesthesia teleconsulting and training company and assistant professor of anesthesiology and pain management at Oklahoma State University in Stillwater, shared his expertise with veterinary professionals at the 2025 Fetch dvm360 Conference in Charlotte, North Carolina. He presented multiple continuing education (CE) sessions on anesthesia and pain management during the conference.

Bini provided additional insights about his CE session, "Just a Quick Stitch-Up: Procedural Sedation Made Easy," in an interview with 

. This session is now available to virtual CE attendees through the Fetch On-Demand online platform. In this video, Bini explains what information will be presented to virtual attendees in the lecture and a key takeaway from the session.

The following is a transcript of the video:

 For this particular session, we're going to go over some practical tips and techniques to ensure that your procedures can be safe and effective, and we are going to give you some tips and tricks to enhance both patient care and procedural sedation.... One of the key takeaways for this session is definitely the patient's monitoring is key. They can lose their ability to protect their airways, and so you definitely need to be ready to intubate and have all the supplies ready to secure those airways and make sure that your patient is safe.

 delivers expert-led veterinary continuing education on your schedule. With 

, you can access top-tier sessions anytime, anywhere—whether at home, in the clinic, or on the go. Ready to earn CE credits? Watch this session and more on 

Videos

Maintaining a lean body condition is the only proven method of delaying and reducing the severity of osteoarthritis, says Kristin Kirkby Shaw, DVM, PhD, MS, DACVS-SA, DACVSMR in this interview

3 things to know about canine osteoarthritis

Multiple factors contribute to the development of osteoarthritis (OA) in dogs, with obesity being one. Excess body weight places additional strain on joints. Moreover, fat cells produce inflammatory mediators that accelerate the progression of OA, according to the Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine.

 This makes it especially important for veterinary professionals to talk with clients about the role of exercise and weight management in preventing OA.

As Canine Fitness Month comes to a close, 

 is taking a closer look at OA in dogs. Earlier this spring, Kristin Kirkby Shaw, DVM, PhD, MS, DACVS-SA, DACVSMR, founder of Canine Arthritis Resources and Education (CARE), presented a session on canine OA during the Fetch dvm360 Conference in Charlotte, North Carolina. In this interview, Kirkby Shaw shares 3 key takeaways from that lecture.

Below is the interview transcript, which has been lightly edited for clarity:

Kristin Kirkby Shaw, DVM, PhD, MS, DACVS-SA, DACVSMR: 

Hi, I'm Dr Kristin Kirkby Shaw. I'm a small-animal surgeon and rehabilitation specialist. I did all of my training at the University of Florida, and I've practiced in Seattle, Washington, for 12 years. I have a passion specifically for osteoarthritis [OA]. I've spent my career both in the surgical suite and managing rehab patients. I'm actually excited that the next step of my career is going to be as an orthopedic surgeon at Colorado State University. [As] my passion project on the side, because I've been involved with [OA] for so long, I started the website caninearthritis.org. Check it out; it's a website full of practical, free, evidence-based tools to help you and your clients manage dogs with [OA].

There are 3 important points that I want people to take away from this lecture:

Dogs typically develop secondary arthritis, meaning they have an underlying developmental orthopedic disease or condition in their joint, which typically starts to develop in young dogs. This means we need to be screening for and identifying joint disease as early as possible so we can take a proactive approach to management. And that doesn't necessarily mean lifelong pharmaceuticals.

OA pain changes not only a dog's mobility but also their behavior, mood, and personality. So, if you have a patient that is showing problem behaviors, it's important to make sure that they're not actually in pain.

Maintaining a lean body condition is the only proven method of delaying and reducing the severity of [OA]. There [are] no other treatments that have been shown to have the dramatic impact that weight management alone can have. So, dogs with or [who are] at risk of joint disease should maintain a body condition score of 4.5 of 9.

Osteoarthritis. Cornell Richard P. Riney Canine Health Center. Accessed April 29, 2025. https://www.vet.cornell.edu/departments-centers-and-institutes/riney-canine-health-center/canine-health-information/osteoarthritis

Maintaining a lean body condition is the only proven method of delaying and reducing the severity of osteoarthritis, says Kristin Kirkby Shaw, DVM, PhD, MS, DACVS-SA, DACVSMR, in this interview.

Three things to know about canine osteoarthritis

A voluntary recall of a prescription sedative and analgesic for companion animals has been issued by Cronus Pharma. One lot each for 2 products containing dexmedetomidine hydrochloride injection 0.5 mg/mL (Dexased, Aspen; and Dexmedvet, Cronus Pharma) are being recalled as a precautionary measure because of the presence of visible particulate matter.

“The health and well-being of animals is the foremost priority at Cronus Pharma. We place the utmost emphasis on product quality at every step in the manufacturing and supply chain process,” the company noted in a news release.

The recalled dexmedetomidine hydrochloride injection products are used for feline and canine patients to help facilitate clinical examinations and procedures as well as minor surgical and dental procedures. Additionally, dexmedetomidine hydrochloride injection is indicated for use in dogs and cats as a preanesthetic to general anesthesia, according to the FDA.

Particulate matter was observed as crystal-like particles or “white stuff floating” during visual inspection of control samples for Dexased and Dexmedvet, according to the FDA. Identifying information for the recalled lots are as follows

Dexased: Dexmedetomidine Hydrochloride Injection 0.5mg/ml (Aspen), NDC No: 46066-088-13, Batch No: C24041AV1. Manufacturing date: November 2024. Expiration date: October 2026. Distribution dates: December 2024 to April 4, 2025.

DexmedVet: Dexmedetomidine hydrochloride Injection 0.5mg/ml (Cronus Pharma LLC), NDC No: 69043-038-10, Batch No: C24041AV2. Manufacturing date: November 2024. Expiration date: October 2026. Distribution dates: March 2025 to April 4, 2025.

Pet owners who have received recalled lots of the affected dexmedetomidine hydrochloride injection products should be advised to stop using them. Administration of an injectable product that contains particulate matter may result in serious adverse events. Potential complications include inflammation, granuloma, fibrosis, and blockage of blood vessels in the heart, lungs, or brain, which can cause stroke or life-threatening blood clot events, including death. The overall risk depends on factors such as the route of injection, the composition of the particulate matter, and patient comorbidities.

Possible signs and symptoms of an adverse event include pain, weakness, swelling, paralysis, fever, labored or fast breathing, vomiting, decreased activity level, vocalization, or loss of consciousness, according to the FDA. If these or any other concerning signs are observed in an animal that may have been administered this recalled product, a veterinarian should be contacted as soon as possible. Adverse reactions or quality problems experienced with the use of this product may also be reported to the FDA at 1-888-FDA-VETS or online at 

Cronus Pharma—a division of Cronus Pharma Specialties in Hyderabad, India—is working with distribution partners to help ensure that unused product is no longer being distributed or with customers. Cronus Pharma is also notifying its distributors and customers directly and is arranging for the return of the recalled product.

Pet owners in possession of the affected products with recalled lots should refer to the recall notification with instructions for returns or contact their point of purchase for details. Pet owners with technical questions regarding the recall should call 1-844-227-6687 and send an email to pv@cronuspharmausa.com.

Cronus Pharma LLC initiating voluntary recall for (Dexased-Aspen and Dexmedvet\-Cronus Pharma LLC) of dexmedetomidine hydrochloride Injection 0.5 mg/mL for veterinary use due to presence of particulate matter. News release. April 23, 2025. Accessed April 29, 2025. 

https://www.fda.gov/safety/recalls-market-withdrawals-safety-alerts/cronus-pharma-llc-initiating-voluntary-recall-dexasedtm-aspen-and-dexmedvettm-cronus-pharma-llc

Visible particulate matter was observed in 2 products containing dexmedetomidine hydrochloride injection 0.5 mg/mL for dogs and cats.

Prescription sedative and analgesic is voluntarily recalled

The American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) has created guidelines for veterinary internships specifically in large animal hospitals and those in a primarily ambulatory setting. The new policy is an adaptation of the AVMA’s Veterinary Internship Guidelines, which were created more than a decade ago.

According to the AVMA, committee members of the Veterinary Specialty Organizations Committee (VSOC) agreed that the original document did not adequately address issues specific to interning at large animal practices, especially for internships in predominantly ambulatory settings, prompting the development of the Veterinary Large Animal Hospital Internship Guidelines. Following a review of the internship guidelines, VSOC members devised new guidelines and recommended minor edits to the existing internship policy.

The draft and recommendations were subsequently approved by the AVMA Board of Directors as a policy specific for small animal internships and both large animal hospital and large animal ambulatory internships. Together with the Veterinary Small Animal Internship Guidelines and the Large Animal Ambulatory Internship Guidelines, the new Veterinary Large Animal Hospital Internship Guidelines help establish reasonable expectations for internship providers and participants, said the AVMA.

According to the 3 internship guidelines, veterinary internship programs should be a 1-year educational experience that focuses on clinical training that covers a variety of clinical disciplines. The guidelines also maintain that the main purpose of internships is educational, and not a source of labor for the benefit of the institution offering the internship.

“The internship should help to prepare veterinarians for high-quality service in practice or advanced specialty training,” wrote the AVMA in its guidelines.

“The internship should emphasize mentorship, direct supervision, and didactic experiences.... The key to providing or completing a successful internship experience is establishing a clear, mutual understanding of what is being provided and what is expected in return.”

Examples of training include teaching rounds, seminars, and journal clubs, according to the AVMA.

 The guidelines also recommend detailed orientation programs, regular performance reviews that use several assessors, and assigning interns a mentor who is an experienced veterinarian.

The policy also offers guidance for employment arrangements, stating that interns should be offered clear contracts that detail duties, schedules, and benefits. Benefits and salary should be representative of the intern’s level of training and their responsibilities.

Noncompete clauses should not be part of the employment agreement, according to the AVMA policy.

 Additionally, internship programs should underscore work-life balance that aligns with the Accreditation Council of Graduate Medical Education standards for residency programs.

The policy also highlighted the role of interns assisting with surgeries. “Internships should provide the opportunity to be the primary surgeon on a broad range of elective and entry-level procedures to ensure appropriate progress is made after appropriate supervised surgeries,” read the guidelines.

Moreover, interns must not be the only veterinarians at satellite sites.

 The guidelines also call for adequate caseload, as well as access to faculty, facilities, and essential diagnostic and surgical tools.

“Internship providers should collect and utilize appropriate outcome measures to monitor program quality, identify areas for improvement, and assist candidates in the selection process,” states the policy document.

Large animal internship guidelines emphasize mentorship, supervision, outcomes. News release. American Veterinary Medical Association. April 28, 2025. Accessed April 29, 2025. https://www.avma.org/news/large-animal-internship-guidelines-emphasize-mentorship-supervision-outcomes?utm_source=delivra&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=todays-headlines-news

Veterinary large animal hospital internship guidelines. American Veterinary Medical Association. Accessed April 29, 2025. https://www.avma.org/resources-tools/avma-policies/veterinary-large-animal-hospital-internship-guidelines

Internships should help prepare veterinarians for high-quality service in practice or advanced specialty training, according to the new guidelines.

AVMA releases veterinary large animal hospital internship policy

Steven Ringold, DVM, DACVR, discusses his Fetch dvm360 Conference lecture on pulmonary patterns in thoracic radiology, in an interview

Understanding pulmonary patterns in thoracic radiology

Steven Ringold, DVM, DACVR, a veterinary radiologist with VetRad, discusses the significance of pulmonary patterns in thoracic radiology, in a 

interview at the 2025 Fetch dvm360 Conference in Charlotte, North Carolina. Ringold presented a continuing education (CE) lecture on the topic during the conference, and discusses in the interview the key takeaway. The lecture can now be virtually accessed for CE credit at 

: Pulmonary patterns abound in thoracic radiology, and there's a number of different pulmonary patterns, and many of them exist at the same time. And I think that it's really important for people to be able to recognize these individual patterns and break down the causes of these patterns, and by learning the fundamentals that will enable them to better pinpoint the pathology that's occurring in their particular patient. I would like attendees to bring [away] with them an understanding of the different pulmonary patterns and how that understanding could allow them to better help their patients.

Steven Ringold, DVM, DACVR, discusses his Fetch On-Demand lecture and what attendees can learn from it.