Mary Ann Evans, BS, CVT, VTS (ECC), discusses treatment for smoke inhalation in pets

Respiratory distress with smoke

Mary Anne Evans, BS, CVT, VTS (ECC), intensive care unit nursing supervisor at Mount Laurel Animal Hospital in New Jersey, has experience with cases of smoke inhalation in animals. In an interview with 

, she discussed how these patients are treated when they present with this type of emergency respiratory distress, including those escaping house fire or wildfire.

The following is a transcript of the video:

: Respiratory cases are one of the tougher cases for us to see, because that is something that we can outwardly see our patients struggle with, but we do see them often, and oxygen support is the main and most important part of that treatment.

It's tough to watch them go through that, because it's really just kind of time and supplying the oxygen and any other support they might need through the respiratory emergency. We do have large and small oxygen cages, and we have other ways to deliver oxygen. So we have the little prongs like you often see humans have in the hospitals.

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Mary Anne Evans, BS, CVT, VTS (ECC), discusses how veterinary care teams manage smoke inhalation in pets

Treating emergency respiratory distress

As an early career veterinarian, the vivid memories of stress and fear while beginning clinical practice are still on my mind. After a few years of practice and guidance from my own mentors, my comfort managing challenging cases has increased significantly. I have been able to start passing some of that experience I gained along to our externship students and new graduates. As I have begun moving into a position of teaching and mentoring, there are a few principles that I have upheld to create a safe space to facilitate clinical case-based teaching, professional development, and confidence building.

Setting clear expectations for the mentor-mentee relationship

Like many other aspects of medicine, mentorship strategies and goals are not one-size-fits-all and must be made on a case-by-case basis. Starting an open conversation with your mentee to determine areas of strength and where they wish to grow to help you guide them in the right direction. Similarly, it is crucial to be honest about what your limitations are. If you are still struggling with certain parts of medicine, let your mentee know and work with them to find the proper resources to answer their questions or gain experience.

Determining what level of mentorship your mentee wants is important to establishing a successful relationship. Do they want to just shadow you until they feel more confident, do they want to round with you on every case but handle the cases independently, or do they want you to be more hands off and be there for support when needed? As the relationship matures, it is important to commit to a regular bi-weekly or monthly check in with them to ensure they feel supported and evolve the level of mentorship with their needs.

In my opinion, we are very fortunate to be in a demanding field that reminds us every day that we do not know everything and are always learning. From our patients to clients, there is always a new obstacle to overcome. I use these opportunities to be vulnerable and open with the mentee to demonstrate to them that not only is it okay to not know everything, but it is normal! Once you become the clinician answering the questions rather than asking them, it is very easy to get a false sense of confidence. It is imperative to continue reading journals, textbooks, and attending continuing education opportunities to continue your own professional growth. As you continue to grow your own library of resources and information, you will be able to share them with your mentee.

Be supportive, and remind them to trust themselves

Recently being in their shoes, it is very easy for me to empathize with my mentees as they navigate their first stressful cases. Whether it is your first dog in a diabetic crisis, cat in heart failure, or bleeding pedicle, all these difficult situations add grey hairs to your head.

So much of providing mentorship to early career veterinarians is not just telling them what to do but supporting their thinking process and guiding them to the right resources to work through their cases. Having a calm, supportive mentor can really help them get through these situations. By reminding them to rely on their training and to trust but verify themselves they can think through the problem, and you can help them build their self-confidence. It is crucial to maintain close communication with them during these situations to ensure they don't feel abandoned and to be able to immediately step in or provide oversight if they become overwhelmed. In cases when the outcome is less than ideal, take time to debrief the case with your mentee. Discuss with them what went wrong, and how to potentially change case management strategies in the future to obtain better outcomes.

Good mentorship is vital to practice health and development of novice and veteran practitioners alike. We all share the responsibility of guiding the new classes of veterinarians into practice.

 is a 2021 graduate of The University of Tennessee College of Veterinary Medicine. He is currently a general practitioner of small animal medicine and surgery in Knoxville TN. He takes special interest in: mentorship and training, professional communication, internal medicine, and soft tissue surgery. 

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By following these principles, I have been able to cultivate many mentor-mentee relationships

Navigating the transition from mentee to mentor 

Karen Kline, DVM, MS, DACVIM (Neurology) talks about the process of neurolocalization 

Segmenting the spinal cord for neurolocalization

In an interview earlier this winter, Karen Kline, DVM, MS, DACVIM (Neurology) talked to 

about her lecture “Neurolocalization Two: The String Cheese Incident,” presented at the Fetch dvm360 conference in Long Beach, California. In the interview, Kline discusses why neurolocalization in the spinal cord and neuromuscular system is important. She also explains how the spinal cord is segmented, and how neurologic findings correlate with disease processes.

Below is the interview transcript. It has been lightly edited for clarity.

Karen Kline, DVM, MS, DACVIM (Neurology): 

This lecture is designed to help us determine where the problem is in our spinal cord and our neuromuscular systems. Very important, because when we have an animal who comes in that's not using their legs, it may just not be spinal cord, it may be a problem with the muscles and nerves themselves.

What we do with our spinal cord is divide it up into 4 segments—C1 to C5; C6 to T2; T3 L3, and L4 to S2—and we define how we're localizing based on the specific neurologic findings with each particular place within the spinal cord. So those findings correlate with disease processes, but also what that patient looks like on presentation. So, we try to break it down in a very efficient manner, but also make it easy to understand.

Happy Friday dvm360 readers! We hope everyone had a great first full week of 2025 and are ready to tackle the new year. If you want to begin scheduling your continuing education for the year, we have 5 Fetch conferences throughout the United States! Our first one of 2025 is a little over 2 months away in Charlotte, North Carolina. Fetch Charlotte is not one to miss so learn more and secure your spot 

Here is what was popular this week on dvm360.com:

 his insights into the trends that will be popular in 2025, such as the veterinary professional associate and the insurance marketing consolidation, and how it can impact veterinary professionals throughout the year.

, Karen Roach, RVT, VTS (ECC), a team trainer at Mount Laurel Animal Hospital, shared her experience with treating animals suffering from injuries caused by disaster situations to provide tips for those treating animals impacted by the fires in California.

 of The Vet Blast Podcast presented by dvm360, Joe Jesse Owens III, DVM, inventor and CEO of Enjoy-A-Bowl and executive producer of But I Love My Pet, and host Adam Christman, DVM, MBA, have a conversation on the importance of clear communication, plus how to balance client expectations and animal welfare.

 submitted by dvm360’s Strategic Alliance Partner, CityVet, explored common linear foreign bodies in cat patients by following the journey of Rusty, a 6-year-old tabby, that was brought to the hospital after ingesting a sparkly string.

The US Department of Agriculture, Animal Plant Health Inspection Service, and the Washington State Department of Agriculture 

 earlier this week that the northern giant hornet, 

Wrap up: Key trends to watch in 2025, and other veterinary news 

A new federal order issued by the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) is mandating that raw, or unpasteurized, milk samples nationwide now be collected and shared with the agency for testing. The new order adds to the USDA’s National Milk Testing Strategy (NMTS), which expands on efforts by the USDA and federal and state partners since the detection of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) H5N1 in dairy cattle in March 2024.

Per the USDA announcement, as part of the new federal order, it will now be required that

Raw milk samples be shared, upon request, from any entity responsible for a dairy farm, bulk milk transporter, bulk milk transfer station, or dairy processing facility that sends or holds milk intended for pasteurization.

Herd owners with positive cattle provide epidemiological information that enables activities like contact tracing and disease surveillance.

Private laboratories and state veterinarians report positive results to the USDA that come from tests done on raw milk samples drawn as part of the NMTS.

Mandatory testing of lactating cows before interstate shipment will still be required. Additionally, privately owned laboratories and state veterinarians must still report positive test results linked to the corresponding tests.

“Since the first HPAI detection in livestock, USDA has collaborated with our federal, state and industry partners to swiftly and diligently identify affected herds and respond accordingly. This new milk testing strategy will build on those steps to date and will provide a roadmap for states to protect the health of their dairy herds,” said Tom Vilsack, Agriculture secretary, in a USDA release.

According to the USDA, the NMTS was created to

increase USDA’s and public health partners’ understanding of the virus’ spread in the United States through a structured, uniform, and mandatory testing system that will help identify which states and specific herds within them are affected with H5N1

support the rapid implementation of improved biosecurity measures to decrease the risk of transmission to other livestock

inform critical efforts to protect farmworkers to help lower their risk of exposure

The NMTS will involve collaboration between USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) and each state in the contiguous US to carry out testing that meets the specific needs of each state while aligning with the strategy’s standards. Once a state begins testing, APHIS will place it into 1 of 5 stages based on HPAI H5N1 prevalence:

(Standing Up Mandatory USDA National Plant Silo Monitoring): involves testing milk silos at dairy processing facilities

(Determining a State’s H5N1 Dairy Cattle Status)

USDA will “stand up” bulk tank sampling programs to detect herds within the state that are infected with the virus

(Detecting and Responding to the Virus in Affected States): focuses on detecting cases of H5N1 and effecting rapid response measures like enhanced biosecurity, movement controls, and contact tracing

(Demonstrating Ongoing Absence of H5 in Dairy Cattle in Unaffected States):

involves regular sampling to ensure the disease has not re-emerged, with sampling frequency decreasing as long as the state remains free of the virus

(Demonstrating Freedom from H5 in U.S. Dairy Cattle):

Once all states pass Stage 4, periodic sampling will be conducted to confirm long-term absence of the virus in the national herd

States included in the initial rounds of testing, per the federal order comprise of both states with dairy cows affected by H5N1 and those with no reports.

 The first 6 states, announced December 6, 2024, are California, Colorado, Michigan, Mississippi, Oregon, and Pennsylvania.

Seven additional states were added thereafter: Indiana, Maryland, Montana, New York, Ohio, Vermont, and Washington.

 Eight of these states are also part of the top 15 dairy-producing states in the US, contributing to nearly half of the country’s dairy production.

“This testing strategy is a critical part of our ongoing efforts to protect the health and safety of individuals and communities nationwide,” Xavier Becerra, Health and Human Services (HHS) secretary, said in the release.

 “Our primary responsibility at HHS is to protect public health and the safety of the food supply, and we continue to work closely with USDA and all stakeholders on continued testing for H5N1 in retail milk and dairy samples from across the country to ensure the safety of the commercial pasteurized milk supply. We will continue this work with USDA for as long and as far as necessary.”

USDA announces new federal order, begins national milk testing strategy to address H5N1 in dairy herds. News release. US Department of Agriculture. December 6, 2024. Accessed January 9, 2025. 

https://www.usda.gov/article/usda-announces-new-federal-order-begins-national-milk-testing-strategy-address-h5n1-dairy-herds

USDA creates milk testing strategy to combat H5N1 in dairy cattle. American Veterinary Medical Association. December 30, 2024. Accessed January 9, 2025. 

https://www.avma.org/news/usda-creates-milk-testing-strategy-combat-h5n1-dairy-cattle?utm_source=delivra&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=todays-headlines-news

The USDA is collecting raw milk samples as part of its National Milk Testing Strategy to address bird flu

Unpasteurized milk will now be tested in effort to tackle H5N1 in dairy cattle

Being a first-generation immigrant in the United States comes with a host of challenges, particularly when you're an only child—and a daughter—in a family that holds deep cultural values. Growing up in a South Asian and Caribbean household often means navigating the expectations of my parents, who immigrated to the US from Guyana in pursuit of better opportunities for their children. For many, this journey is one of sacrifice and hard work with hopes pinned on their children's success in fields they deem prestigious or financially secure. For me, the struggle to forge my own path led me to veterinary medicine, a career that not only defied family expectations, but also tested my identity as an only child and a woman raised in a culturally complex household.

My mother, a Licensed Practical Nurse who spent years in the field, worked tirelessly to provide for our family, while my father, a quiet but equally hard-working man, supported us in every way possible. Growing up in such an environment instilled in me the values of hard work, perseverance, and that anything worth having must be earned through sheer effort. However, it also meant that my parents’ dreams for me were often shaped by their struggles and what they considered "stable" professions like careers in human medicine.

As an only child, the weight of these expectations felt particularly heavy. I wasn’t just their daughter; I was their only hope for upward mobility. My mother envisioned me following in her footsteps and becoming a doctor or pursuing some other career in human medicine. The narrative of becoming a physician was reinforced daily. “You’ll be a doctor one day,” she would say, a phrase that reverberated through my childhood and adolescence.

There was a part of me that always felt disconnected from this dream. The idea of working in human medicine didn’t excite me because I knew I wanted to somehow work with animals. That was the secret I had buried deep inside me, a passion that I didn’t know how to express—let alone pursue—when it seemed so out of place in my household.

It wasn’t until college that I began to understand my true calling. I entered college as a pre-med student, driven by the belief that this was the path my family envisioned for me. However, I quickly realized that human medicine wasn’t where my heart was. The pressure of trying to fit into a career that didn’t resonate with me made it harder to focus, and I was constantly questioning my choices. During this period of uncertainty, a simple comment from a friend shifted the course of my life, they said I should pursue veterinary medicine.

At the time, I wasn’t sure what veterinary medicine entailed beyond the basics, but when that friend suggested it a light bulb went off. I thought back to 2012 when my parents had given me a sun conure Brock, named after a character from Pokémon, and he became the light of my life. His cheerful personality and the way we connected on an emotional level was a reminder of my deep bond with animals. Everyone around me knew how much I adored Brock, and it clicked: I wanted to spend my life helping animals. The idea of becoming a veterinarian suddenly felt like an answer to a question I didn’t even know I was asking.

Brock, the sun conure  (Image courtesy of Ashley Lall)

Once I discovered my passion for veterinary medicine, the next hurdle was convincing my parents to accept this decision. In a South Asian and Caribbean household, where success is often measured by achievements in more conventional professions, the idea of becoming a veterinarian was met with skepticism. My parents thought veterinary medicine wasn’t a “real” career in the way human medicine was because it wasn’t prestigious or financially stable to them. In their world, animals weren’t seen as deserving of the same level of attention and care as humans. The emotional and financial investment of pursuing such a career seemed illogical and impractical.

I felt the weight of their disappointment keenly because I wasn’t just fighting for my career choice—I was fighting for my sense of self. I wanted to honor my parents’ sacrifices and make them proud, but I also needed to follow my own passion. It was an emotional tug-of-war that sometimes left me feeling isolated.

There were many difficult conversations—arguments, tears, and countless attempts to explain why I felt so strongly about becoming a veterinarian. My mother, especially, couldn’t understand why I would choose to work with animals when human lives were at stake. “What about helping people?” she would ask. It took a long time to explain that my desire to help others wasn’t exclusive to humans. I loved animals deeply, and felt a profound sense of purpose in caring for them, especially at their most vulnerable.

Despite these challenges, I pressed on. The more I learned about veterinary medicine, the more I knew it was the right path for me. Eventually, my parents began to see the dedication and passion I had for animals. It wasn’t an overnight change, but slowly, they began to accept that it was okay for my path to be different. I learned to advocate for myself, to communicate my desires clearly, and to show my parents that my happiness and fulfillment were worth the risk of a less conventional career.

Becoming a veterinarian wasn’t just about the animals; it was about finding my voice as a daughter in an immigrant family, and as an individual who refused to let anyone else dictate her path. It was a long and difficult journey, but in the end, I found a career that gives me purpose and allowed me to bridge the gap between my cultural heritage and my personal passions.

Today, as I work toward becoming a veterinarian, I am proud of my path. I know being a first-generation South Asian and Caribbean woman in this field is no small feat, but I hope my journey will inspire others who feel torn by family expectations and their own dreams. It’s a hard road, but it’s a road worth walking if it means creating a life that is truly your own.

is a 24-year-old first-generation New Yorker born to immigrant parents from Guyana. Lall is hearing impaired and currently attend veterinary school at the University of Bristol in the United Kingdom, with a passion for avian medicine. Her goal is to make a difference in animal care.

My journey finding veterinary medicine, and how it helped me learn to advocate for myself 