What to know about the latest trend in ectoparasite control

Ticks and Isoxazalines

Kathryn E. Rief, MSPH, PhD, explains how veterinarians seeking reliable month‐long ectoparasite control can benefit from understanding isoxazoline pharmacodynamics, with lotilaner demonstrating rapid kill rates against hard‐to‐kill ticks such as 

 (lone star tick). By maintaining consistent systemic concentrations throughout the dosing interval, lotilaner may reduce the risk of tick‐borne pathogen transmission in canine patients.

 Thanks for having me. My name is Dr Kathryn E. Rief, and I’m an associate professor at Auburn University in the Department of Pathobiology. I love anything and everything that has to do with parasites, and my favorite parasite to study is definitely ticks and their associated pathogens. In my research program, we study parasites that affect anything from rodents to companion animals to food animals. One of the things we really like to do is link the public health aspects of parasites that commonly affect our...companion animals with potential public risk as well.

I’m really excited to share my presentation on kicking parasites to the curb. In this presentation, we will review common parasites that plague our pets and discuss the strategies and drugs we have to manage and treat those parasites. We’ll also talk about some newer innovations for broad parasite protection in our dogs. Specifically, we’ll discuss one of the newer isoxazolines, lotilaner, and some unique features of lotilaner—particularly its tick speed of kill against one of our hardest‐to‐kill tick species, the lone star tick.

One of our newer classes of ectoparasite control products is the isoxazolines. Isoxazolines are a bit different from some of our historic flea and tick control products; they are systemically distributed. In order for the flea or the tick to come into contact with an isoxazoline, it must start the bite. If we use a product where the parasite actually initiates the bite to contact the drug, we expect that drug to work fast enough to kill the tick, for example, before it has an opportunity to transmit any pathogens it’s carrying. Some pathogens transmit faster than others, but the faster we kill the tick, the lower the risk of transmission.

Now, many of the different isoxazoline‐containing products on the market may have similar labels, but our lab has done a deep dive over the past couple of years to see how quickly some of these different isoxazoline drugs—including drugs like lotilaner—actually start to work to kill ticks and whether they kill ticks at that same rate throughout the monthly dosing period. I’m excited [about] this presentation [and] to share the results of that study and discuss some of the other classes of drugs we have available to protect against or manage other parasite concerns for our dogs.

Videos

Kathryn E. Rief, MSPH, PhD, discusses how lotilaner’s systemic distribution and consistent efficacy throughout the dosing period make it a reliable option for targeting ticks, including the lone star tick, before pathogen transmission occurs.

Isoxazolines in canine parasite control

In this video interview with dvm360, veterinary oncology Craig Clifford, DVM, MS, DACVIM (Oncology), shares signs veterinary professionals could look out for to indicate cancer in a patient.

Video interview with Craig Clifford, DVM, MS, DACVIM (Oncology)

Ahead of his lectures at this weekend's Fetch Nashville conference, Craig Clifford, DVM, MS, DACVIM (Oncology), shared some tips and tricks that general practitioners can utilize when they have a patient in the clinic to determine if their symptoms could indicate an oncology concern or not. Throughout the interview, Clifford explains why he loves the expression, "Don't Wait, Aspirate," coined by Sue Ettinger, DVM, DACVIM (Oncology), what weight loss can do to help determine oncology cases or not, and more!

What makes a patient a good ELIAS Cancer Immunotherapy candidate?

Below is a full  transcript, edited lightly for clarity

Craig Clifford, DVM, MS, DACVIM (Oncology): 

Sure. My name is Craig Clifford. I am a medical oncologist at Blue Pearl Malvern. I did my veterinary training at Mississippi State University. My internship and residency were at Penn. After that, I was at Red Bank Veterinary Hospital, which at the time was the largest privately owned referral hospital in the country for about 11 years, had the opportunity then to buy into a hospital hope veterinary specialist were able to grow that dramatically. And about 5 years ago, we sold to the Mars network, and now we are under Blue Pearl.

I think, part of it's going to be history, you know, is the owner describing a lump that's been there for a period of time. All lumps should be aspirated. You know, Sue Ettinger, who is an oncologist in New York, has a big thing, "Why wait, Aspirate," and I completely agree with that. If you feel something, you can easily stick a needle in it. You can look at it in-house, or send it off for cytology to see whether it's cancer.

So unexplained weight loss, if a case comes in for weight loss that doesn't make sense and it's an older patient understanding the breed, we know that there are certain breeds that are more predisposed to cancers that can lend to it the history. How long has it been going on for? If a patient has been losing weight for 2 or 3 years, that's probably not going to be cancer, because of the fact that ideally, you would have assumed it would have reared its ugly head. So I think the primary care doctor not blowing off a historical or a finding due to the fact that maybe it's an older patient. Always look at it that there are diagnostics that can be done that can help us get to the answer.

Articles

When patients come in the clinic, what red flags could general practitioners be on the look out for to indicate cancer? 

Oncology red flags for general practitioners

Kenichiro Yagi, MS, RVT, VTS (ECC) (SAIM), discusses how RECOVER is helping to standarize how CPR is performed around the world.

Standardizing CPR in veterinary medicine

Kenichiro Yagi, MS, RVT, VTS (ECC) (SAIM), chief nursing officer for Veterinary Emergency Group and program director for the RECOVER Initiative, explains the importance of CPR certification in veterinary medicine and why it is important to standardize this type of training with evidence-based guidelines, in a 

 interview. Yagi is leading a RECOVER workshop May 28-29, 2025, hosted by North American Veterinary Community (NAVC) during the NAVC SkillShop event in Orlando, Florida. The workshop aims to have attendees earn CPR certification and CPR instructor certification.

The following is a transcript of the video:

Kenichiro Yagi, MS, RVT, VTS (ECC) (SAIM):

 If you think about the human medicine field, it's actually a legal requirement for medical professionals to go through CPR training. And there are certification processes out there that [are] based off of evidence-based guidelines. Even nonmedical professionals that [work] with the public a bit, like teachers, would need to be certified in performing CPR. There's no such regulation or standard in veterinary medicine yet, and should there be? It is a really good question, but the RECOVER guidelines and the certification process is really an attempt to standardize how we perform CPR, based on an evidence-based guideline, which should improve the outcomes and spread that globally.

Kenichiro Yagi, MS, RVT, VTS (ECC) (SAIM), discusses how RECOVER is helping to standardize how CPR is performed around the world.

Julia Miller's path to dermatology

Veterinary professionals often grapple with the decision to pursue a specialty. The experience of Julia Miller, DVM, DACVD exemplifies how embracing change and following one’s genuine interests can lead to both personal fulfillment and clinical excellence.

My name is Julia Miller. I am a board‐certified veterinary dermatologist. When I was in veterinary school, I was actually on an equine track, so I ended up completing a large-animal internship. I then stayed in mixed-animal general practice for about 4 years before returning to Cornell to complete my dermatology residency. The path to my residency was a little askew, but I loved every step. After finishing my dermatology residency at Cornell, I stayed on the faculty there for a few years, then realized that I was very interested in private practice life—I still wanted to “do,” not just teach.

For the last three years, I’ve been in private practice at Animal Dermatology Clinic in Louisville, Kentucky. What I love about private practice is that it gives me the opportunity to lecture at Fetch conferences and other meetings. It also allows me to continue educating through continuing‐education programs for veterinarians, because I’m passionate about spreading the dermatology “love” and getting everyone to enjoy their dermatology cases a little more. Dermatology is a cult, and I love it—I will gladly be one of its leaders if I’m allowed to be.

The goal of my keynote speech is to talk about my journey into dermatology, because it isn’t a linear, easy path. I was kind of all over the place, and it took me some time to decide that specialization was what I wanted to do with my life. I hope to inspire others who haven’t taken the traditional route—perhaps those in private practice who have fallen in love with a specialty, even if it’s not dermatology. That’s okay—I’ll allow you to like cardiology or neurology too—but I hope I can serve as an inspiration for people who haven’t followed the vet school→internship→residency path straight through. There are still options to return to specialization and find what you truly love about veterinary medicine so that you can continue to thrive and remain passionate about what we do as veterinarians.

Toward the end of the keynote, I’ll also share some of my favorite dermatology tips, and there may or may not be a catchy tune I’ll sing with fun veterinary lyrics. I’m hoping people leave with a bit of dermatology knowledge and a tune in their head that helps them remember how to better work up their dermatology cases.

Finding dermatology was a slow burn for me. I did large-animal work, then mixed-animal general practice, and I found myself really enjoying my small-animal cases in mixed practice—much to my surprise. At first, I thought I was a “horse girl”: give me every goat in the country. But I didn’t expect to like dogs and cats as much as I did. Over time, I realized I simply liked being a small-animal general practitioner, period. I then found myself gravitating toward dermatology cases.

My dad is a dermatologist, and I tried very hard not to follow that path—I did not want to be the apple that fell from that tree. But it took me a while to realize dermatology was in my blood. When I was working at a low-cost spay-neuter clinic, I discovered that I also loved surgery and even considered specializing in surgery. However, my hands couldn’t tolerate that career—I have occlusive hand dermatitis—so I wasn’t able to continue in surgery. At that point, I was talking to my dad on the phone and said, “What am I going to do? I can’t continue this.” He reminded me how much I loved dermatology and suggested I try for a dermatology residency. That conversation was a light-bulb moment. I asked, “Do you really think I could do that?” and he said, “Julia, do it. You’ve experienced it, you know it’s what you love doing—why not try and see if you love it?” That was a turning point that sent me back onto my specialization path.

I’d like to say people should not be afraid of change and should follow what makes them happy, even though it’s not easy. I’ve moved jobs—Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Virginia—before returning to Cornell. For me, the change of moving and switching jobs brings anxiety; it’s comfortable to stay where you are. But change can lead you to your endpoint and help you find what truly brings you joy in veterinary medicine. Had I been too anxious or unwilling to make those changes, I never would have ended up where I am today. So follow your heart, believe in yourself, and don’t be afraid to make the changes you need to find your happiness in veterinary medicine.

The journey of Julia Miller, DVM, DACVD, from equine intern to board‐certified veterinary dermatologist proves that passion and perseverance can reshape your professional destiny

The secret to happiness in veterinary medicine? Don't be afraid of change

Being a practice manager, although a rewarding career, can also be a challenging one. Between managing employees, clients, patients, and anyone else who steps foot into your clinic, learning how to be a great communicator and leader can take time and practice. But what if you had some tips to help? 

, Lazaro Lopes and our host, Adam Christman, DVM, MBA, discuss how Lopes manages his practice by understanding employees and how he is improving access to care by getting a better understanding of his clients' cultures and languages.

Below is a partial transcript, edited lightly for clarity.

 What's your approach to keeping communication strong and making sure that everyone stays on the same page?

That very much falls on me, because every team member is different, and a one-size-fits-all approach is not going to work. There's always a learning curve. I tailor communication based on how each person best receives information. Some prefer direct conversations, while others do better with written updates, like an email or a text. I do very informal touch bases, and, like I said, that may work for some [but is not] enough for others. You learn your way through, but the point is to hold regular check-ins to make sure everyone is aligned and encourage open feedback, whether it's about workflow, schedules, or team dynamics. Clear communication keeps things running smoothly and helps prevent misunderstandings. 

It's great, it really is. And I love that you have this open-door policy...to chat with you, because you're leading by example. You're in the trenches with them. You get them. You understand them. That all speaks to your authenticity and your character, which is great.

Podcasts

Discover effective communication strategies for veterinary practice management as experts share insights on enhancing team dynamics and client care.

Building strong teams and cultural competency in veterinary practices

La'Toya Latney, DVM, DECZM (ZHM), DABVP (Reptile & Amphibian), CertAqV, explains the most frequent cause of reptile visits to the veterinarian.

Understanding the role of husbandry in reptile medicine

What are some of the most common conditions in small lizards, snakes and chelonians? La'Toya Latney, DVM, DECZM (ZHM), DABVP (Reptile & Amphibian), CertAqV, explains the most frequent cause of reptile visits to the veterinarian and why good husbandry matters, in a 

interview at the NAVC SkillShop in Orlando, Florida.

La'Toya Latney, DVM, DECZM (ZHM), DABVP (Reptile & Amphibian), CertAqV

: A common thread—and I would say this is very unique to reptiles, because there's so many things that need to go in to setting them up for success, with regards to their husbandry. But I'd say, overwhelmingly—most practitioners would agree with me—80% of their husbandry is the reason why they come to see a veterinarian. There's some flaw in the way that they're kept, not because owners don't want to do the best for them, but unfortunately, there's a myriad of sources, definitely more than there used to be, and there's almost like this disconnect.

We want to make sure we're trying to set up these ecologically niche species in a tiny environment that would be reflective largely of where they come from. But then there's certain things that when we put them in captivity, when we're trying to meet those measures, sometimes they can result in harms or the potential for diseases to develop because we put something in a box. It's just really that simple. Captive species that we deal with don't have the same diseases as the diseases we see in the wild. It's just a completely different cohort.

So, overwhelmingly, we have a bunch of well doing owners coming in, not aware that there's something about their [pets’] diet that they've been giving [or] there's something about the light that should have been changed. There's something about a manufacturer saying one thing when they went to purchase an item for their pet, and then it results in a process. So usually it's because there's some type of flaw in husbandry.

I think even in private practice, academia, general practice and specialists, we're all unfortunately dealing with an explosion of infectious diseases that are also impacting their health.

La'Toya Latney, DVM, DECZM (ZHM), DABVP (Reptile & Amphibian), CertAqV, explains common conditions in small lizards, snakes and chelonians, as well as thei most frequent causes.