During this interview with Renee Schmid, DVM, DABT, DABVT, she discusses the dangerous affects that THC and cannabis products can have on a pet's health ahead of the cannabis holiday 4/20 this Sunday.

Video interview with Renee Schmid, DVM, DABT, DABVT

Every year on April 20, cannabis and THC consumers across the United States celebrate it as the unofficial cannabis holiday. However, with the celebration comes some warnings from veterinary professionals because cannabis and THC can be a massive threat to pets if ingested. Each year, marijuana has been climbing up the list of Top Toxins at Pet Poison Helpline after making its first appearance on the list in 2022.

 Pets can be affected by ingesting edibles or the owner's supplies, and even second-hand smoke from the owner, but another concern for these pets is other factors that can be tied to the products, such as chocolate edibles or xylitol filed gummies.

To help spread awareness and educate on the dangerous postions pets can be in if they ingest these products, Renee Schmid, DVM, DABT, DABVT, senior toxicology and director of veterinary medicine at Pet Poison Helpline, shares the different risk these products can have on pets ahead of April 20. 

Below is a full transcript, edited lightly for clarity 

I'm Dr Renee Schmidt. I'm the director of veterinary medicine and senior veterinary toxicologist for Pet Poison Helpline. Yeah, so cannabis itself, any of the THC marijuana products, are going to be dangerous. I think that some of the things that we get more called on more frequently are going to be the edibles. They typically are a little bit more appealing to animals, so they often contain chocolate or other good tasting foods with that, and so that might encourage the animal to ingest more than if it was just...kind of the traditional joint or plant material.

The other one might be gummies. So a lot of the THC gummies, they are flavored, and they're again, enticing to animals to ingest. And so while they may not be more problematic in the sense of the amount of THC or cannabis that's there, but just more problematic in the sense that they are more appealing and tasty, and so animals may ingest more of them.

Videos

Renee Schmid, DVM, DABT, DABVT, shares a warning on the dangers of cannabis and THC products to pets ahead of 4/20 day.

Risks of THC and cannabis products for patients

This podcast discusses HT Vista, a cutting-edge cancer detection tool for dogs, focusing on lumps and bumps, which account for 30% of all tumors in pets. 

Non-Invasive Cancer Screening for Dermal and Subcutaneous Masses

In this episode of The Vet Blast Podcast presented by dvm360, Adam Christman, DVM, MBA, and Natalie Marks, DVM, CVJ, CCFP, Elite FFC-V, discuss how HT Vista, a cutting-edge cancer detection tool for dogs, is revolutionizing cancer screening in dogs. Specifically, the technology uses thermal imaging to quickly assess cancer risk, helping veterinarians avoid unnecessary, costly procedures like FNAs. HT Vista can flag specific tumors like Mast Cell Tumors and Lipomas, offering high accuracy and early detection, which leads to better outcomes and reduced costs for both vets and pet owners. It’s transforming veterinary practices by making cancer diagnosis faster and more efficient, ultimately improving pets' lives.

This cancer detection tool is for lumps and bumps, correct? What are the trends that people should think about?

Natalie Marks, DVM, CVJ, CCFP, Elite FFC-V: 

Yes, this is for lumps and bumps in dogs, which make up 30% of all tumors. Most of these are actually benign, something like 20%, and because of this and the cost of diagnostics, more of them are going undiagnosed, which is bad.

When it comes to diagnosing lumps and bumps, veterinarians rely on traditional methods like cytology or biopsies. Does HT Vista make it so you don't have to do that anymore?

In cases where you can rule out cancer, you can safely save the client the stress of the FNA, but when the system tells you there is higher cancer risk, you're guided to do the diagnostics. It basically tells you when to do the diagnostics and when sending home to monitor is ok.

Podcasts

Natalie Marks, DVM, CVJ, CCFP, Elite FFC-V, reacts to the ability to utilize thermal imaging to detect mast cell tumors in dogs with high confidence.

Advanced Thermal Imaging for High Confidence Diagnoses of Mast Cell Tumors

Steven Marks, BVSc, MS, MRCVS, DACVIM, discusses the future of the Harvey S. Peeler Jr. College of Veterinary Medicine at Clemson University

Advancing the veterinary profession and agricultural care

The Harvey S. Peeler Jr. College of Veterinary Medicine (CVM) at Clemson University is poised to become the first veterinary school in South Carolina. The university is currently 

 in Pendleton, South Carolina, near its main campus that includes classrooms, research facilities and hands-on laboratories. In a 

interview, Steven Marks, BVSc, MS, MRCVS, DACVIM (SAIM), founding dean of the CVM, discussed why the new school is important to the State of South Carolina, the local agricultural community, potential students and the veterinary profession across the region and the US.

Clemson University’s future veterinary school is making progress

The following is a transcript of the video:

: What is the significance of South Carolina’s first veterinary college to animal health care?

To South Carolina. It's very important, because there is [currently] no college of veterinary medicine in South Carolina. We are the first. So it's important to produce veterinarians for a state that has a lack of veterinary care. It's also a priority to produce some agricultural veterinarians, and what I mean by that is large animal veterinarians, so [those caring for] equine, bovine, poultry. And we hope to do that.

We hope to attract students from underserved areas of the state to return to underserved areas of the state. And then most people are aware that there's a national lack of veterinarians. So not all our veterinarians will be from South Carolina. We'll have some students come from out of state. So the hope is not only improving veterinary care within the state and improving the agricultural animal population, but also across the United States.

Steven Marks, BVSc, MS, MRCVS, DACVIM (SAIM), dean of the Harvey S. Peeler Jr. College of Veterinary Medicine at Clemson University, discusses why the future school is important to South Carolina and the veterinary profession.

Ellen Behrend, VMD, PhD, MS, DACVIM explains the differences between bexagliflozin and velagliflozin, and how to determine if a patient is a good candidate

Veterinarian discusses the 2 FDA-approved SGLT2 inhibitors for cats

Ellen Behrend, VMD, PhD, MS, DACVIM (SAIM), a consultant at Veterinary Information Network, talks about the 2 FDA-approved sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 (SGLT2) inhibitors available for treating type 2 diabetes in cats, in this interview with 

. Behrend also outlines which patients are ideal candidates for this new class of oral medications and discusses off-label use.

Ellen Behrend, VMD, PhD, MS, DACVIM (SAIM): 

There are 2 SGLT2 inhibitors that are now FDA-licensed in the United States for treatment of diabetes in cats as a sole agent. Those are Bexacat [bexagliflozin] and Senvelgo [velagliflozin].

I, at this point, look at them very similarly. Until someone does a study that compares one to the other, head on, we're not going to know if there's any real differences between them. So right now, I think about them interchangeably.

The basic difference to me is that Bexacat is a pill. It is given 1 pill per cat for any cat that is greater than 3.3 kilograms in weight, or whatever that is—7 pounds-ish.

Senvelgo is a liquid that is based on weight for the dose at one milligram per kilogram. So to me, it really comes down to what the owner prefers at this point, whether they would rather give their cat a pill or whether they would try and give their cat a liquid.

I think that SGLT2 inhibitors should be considered in any newly diagnosed diabetic cat. They are one of the first line treatments in type 2 diabetics in people. And remember that we think the majority of cats are type 2 diabetics.

Basically, in order to be a candidate for either one—an SGLT2 inhibitor—there's a few guidelines. One is the cat has to be happy or healthy, meaning that it is eating fine, drinking fine, urinating well, no vomiting, no diarrhea. It's a happy cat, with the exception that it's a diabetic.

Number 2, according to the FDA, these drugs should not be used in a cat that has ever gotten insulin before. I do use the SGLT2 inhibitors off-label and cats that have had insulin before, but that is off-label.

We also want to make sure that the cat doesn't have any ketones in its urine or an elevated beta hydroxybutyrate blood level. And by elevated, that typically means—depends who you ask—greater than 2.4 millimoles per liter, for sure. Once it gets above 1 millimole per liter, you're getting into a gray zone [of] whether or not you should start the drug...

Ellen Behrend, VMD, PhD, MS, DACVIM (SAIM) explains the differences between bexagliflozin and velagliflozin, and how to determine if a patient is a good candidate

Exploring the FDA-approved SGLT2 inhibitors for cats

With 30 years of experience and a great bedside manner, our practice owner has loyal—yet sometimes demanding—clients. Our client service team struggles with what to tell clients when their favorite doctor isn’t available for 2 or more weeks. What should we say?

Saying, “Sorry, the doctor can’t see your pet for 2 weeks,” could disappoint clients and delay patients’ medical care. Although the right words will improve the client experience, you also need to consider strategic scheduling techniques. Follow these 7 tips: 

Before blurting out that Dr Favorite isn’t available, ask, “What is the reason for [pet name]’s visit?” A patient with vomiting and diarrhea for 3 days should be seen today, whereas a wellness appointment can be booked a week or more out.

Rather than risk a negative conversation, express empathy and share options for care. For a sick patient, say, “Based on [pet name]’s symptoms, a veterinarian needs to examine your pet today. Although Dr Favorite has a full schedule today, Dr Next has urgent care appointments available at [time 1] and [time 2]. Which do you prefer so we can help [pet name] feel better?”

If the client requests Dr Favorite for a wellness appointment, offer the option of seeing the requested veterinarian or another doctor. Say, “Dr Favorite’s next available wellness appointment is [date, time 1], or Dr Next can see your pet sooner on [date, time 2]. Which do you prefer?”

3. Maintain a compassionate, understanding tone.

Use empathetic statements, such as “I understand that you want [pet name] to feel better. Let’s see what options we have.”

4. Preblock urgent care slots for same-day appointments.

Each veterinarian should have 4 to 6 urgent care slots reserved in their daily outpatient schedules. Most practices have higher sick patient demands on Mondays because they were closed over the weekend, Fridays because clients had sick pets earlier in the week but took a wait-and-see approach, and Saturdays when clients may be off work. Preblock 6 urgent care appointments on Mondays, Fridays, and Saturdays, while you should have 4 slots on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays. Stagger urgent care blocks by 1 hour in multidoctor hospitals to avoid traffic jams in the treatment area, laboratory, and radiography when several patients need workups (

Six urgent care blocks with 2 outpatient doctors

Urgent care is reserved for same-day appointments—don’t be tempted to steal slots from the next day’s schedule or you won’t have any urgent care slots available tomorrow. Book the next available sick patient appointment and encourage clients to call tomorrow as soon as you open about urgent care appointments. You can say, “Let’s schedule [pet name] for the next available appointment on [date, time]. We also reserve several urgent care slots for same-day appointments and fill them on a first-come, first-serve basis. Call us tomorrow morning as soon as we open at [time] to check on availability.”

Book the next available appointment but also offer to place the client on a wait-list. For example, for a client who has a pet with a possible ear infection, say, “Let’s schedule [pet name]’s appointment this week for [date, time]. I will also add you to our wait-list in case we have a cancellation and can see your pet sooner. Is [cell number] the best number to contact you if an earlier appointment becomes available?”

6. Be strategic if you double-book patients.

Avoid saying you can “squeeze” the patient into the schedule. Check with the veterinarian before making promises. If the doctor agrees, have the client arrive when other wellness appointments are scheduled. Checkups are shorter and more predictable appointments.

Have the client complete an online history form so the doctor can zero in on the chief complaint and ask follow-up questions. Explain this by saying, “Although the doctor’s schedule is full today, I explained your pet’s symptoms and they asked for you to arrive at [time] and wait to be seen. I will text/email you an online form to complete now so [Dr Name] can review it before you arrive. You also may want to bring a book or tablet with headphones while you wait. Are you able to be here at [time]?”

The doctor may be able to examine the pet between 2 wellness appointments, explain needed diagnostics to the client, and have the inpatient technician team begin workups. The client will wait in the lobby while the inpatient team performs diagnostics and the doctor continues seeing appointments. Once the results are ready, the doctor will review them with the waiting client between other appointments. Charge the client for an urgent care exam for this work-in appointment.

7. Forward book progress exams and wellness appointments.

If a veterinarian sees a patient today that requires follow-up care, book it now to ensure appointment availability and continuity of care. Whether checking out in the exam room or at the front desk, say, “[Dr Name] will need to see [pet name] for a progress exam in 10 days on [date]. Do you prefer [time 1] or [time 2]?” Use the term “progress exam” to communicate you are moving forward to resolve the health issue. Never say “recheck,” which clients may misinterpret as optional or free care.

If clients want the same veterinarian for wellness appointments, forward book them when the next care will be due 6 or 12 months from today. Compare the preappointment strategy to that of dentists, which clients already understand. Use the yes-or-yes technique and say, “Just as your dentist has you schedule your next appointment at checkout, we do the same to proactively manage your pet’s health. By scheduling today, you will get your first choice of doctor, day, and time. Do you prefer to see [Dr Name] at [date, time 1] or [date, time 2]?”

Setting clear expectations with clients and implementing proactive scheduling strategies will help your team provide timely care with their favorite providers.

Need a script for a client conversation? Submit your scenario to info@ csvets.com for consideration in future columns.

is best known as the “Queen of Scripts.” She knows that the right words will lead clients to accept your medical advice, driving patient and practice health. As founder of Communication Solutions for Veterinarians, Myers teaches practical skills through online courses, conferences, and onsite consulting. Myers’ experience as a partner in a specialty and emergency hospital helped her understand issues that owners and managers face. Learn how Myers can train your team at csvetscourses.com.

Articles

These scripts for confident client conversations are compassionate and provide options to help ease pet owners’ concerns

How Do I Say...? When clients can’t see their favorite doctors

On this week's episode, Karl Maritato, DVM, DACVS-SA, shares his diagnosing and treating tips and tricks for veterinary professionals dealing with canine cranial cruciate ligament patients 

Vet Blast Podcast Epsiode: Approach to the CCL dog

On this week's episode of The Vet Blast Podcast presented by dvm360, Adam Christman, DVM, MBA, welcomes Karl Maritato, DVM, DACVS-SA, and a 2024 Veterinary Hero award winner, on the show to chat all about cranial cruciate ligaments (CCL) in canine patients. Throughout the episode, Maritato and Christman go over the surgical options for these patients, the importance of proper techniques, the use of braces and rehabilitation protocols, and how he encourages pet owners to consider long-term care as well as the benefits of timely surgery. 

: Where do you begin in terms of physical exam on your approach, when you're thinking, 'Oh, this one might have torn their CCL'?

Well, the first thing I do is try to not think that. I try to be unbiased, and I try to do the same exact physical exam every single time that I do it, when it's the hind limb, I always start in the toes, and I start just pushing and moving every digit through range of motion. And I'll be honest with you, if I do think the ACL is the problem, I'll actually kind of skip over that joint, because I don't want to run out of doggy minutes before they get upset with me. So I'll guide my hands up and down their legs. I just try to feel for symmetry. I try to feel for muscle atrophy. The biggest thing that I'm feeling for, if I'm feeling for an ACL just by when I'm rubbing my hands on their legs, is I'm feeling for a medial buttress in comparing the 2 sides. 

The biggest trick, I think, or thing that tricks most of the veterinarians, is the partial tears, and especially when they're somewhat early. You know, I certainly get a lot of texts saying I'm going to send you a dog. I'm not getting any drawer. So I don't know if it's an ACL. And then when I feel it, you know, I know immediately it is an ACL, because you can feel that medial buttress just really sticking out compared to the other side. So start at the toes, work my way up, just feeling muscle mass, manipulate the ankle, make sure that's all good. Another thing that can trick people is when they think it's an ACL, particularly if it's an Australian shepherd or breed like that, is luxation of the superficial physical flexor tendon. So I always try to feel the ankle to make sure that there's no popping going on down on the caudal aspect of that calcaneus. And then I run my hands up, and then that's where I start to feel for buttresses, as well as for muscle atrophy in general.

Learn more on diagnosing and treating canine patients with cranial cruciate ligament tears on this episode of The Vet Blast Podcast presented by dvm360