During this week's episode of The Vet Blast presented by 

, our host Adam Christman, DVM, MBA, joined by Jessica Vogelsang, DVM, CVJ, Chief Medical Officer, the American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA), sit down to discuss the benefits of telemedicine and social media when it comes to helping pet parents in need by providing them a safe space to ask questions. The duo also explore how telemedicine can help provide veterinary support to those living in areas where there is not a lot of access to care, and Vogelsang's work with the Veterinary Virtual Care Association and AAHA. 

: What got you so involved in that space, because I think it's fantastic.

: So actually, it was sort of this weird interplay between the work I had done on on social media, and at the right time before COVID, I was working for an in home hospice and euthanasia practice. So I was doing that at the same time that my own mother was going through hospice, and I was trying to look at these analogies. Thinking, gosh, you know, these these pet owners need support 24/7, just like we do with people, and we haven't quite figured out how to do that. So how do we do a better job leveraging these platforms? And I think that's still a conversation that veterinary medicine struggles with, is that I think people are so focused on this idea of we don't want technology to take over the importance of the work that we do, instead of looking at it as a tool and a way to be there for people in a way that doesn't ruin your boundaries. We're not asking people to be on call all the time, but how do you trust other people who can help out? 

So that was sort of the impetus for all of that, and the telemedicine group led to joining the veterinary virtual care association. So it's still something I feel super passionately about because when you go on TikTok, that's telehealth. It's providing advice, and all of those things that impact how pet owners take care of of their pets is part of that umbrella, and that's what I think people miss because we're so hyper focused on, well, you can't diagnose bloat and treat it over telemedicine, therefore telemedicine stinks. That's not how it works.

Podcasts

Adam Christman, DVM, MBA, and Jessica Vogeslang, DVM, discuss the role of social media and telemedicine in this week's episode

Providing care everywhere

A member of the Provincial Parliament (MPP) in Ontario, Canada, has introduced a new bill aimed at safeguarding captive wildlife in the country. The new proposal seeks to fill a gap in provincial regulations of wildlife animals in zoo settings. The new bill—the Captive Wildlife Protection Act, 2024—was announced earlier this month by Lucille Collard, MPP for Ottawa-Vanier; Dolf DeJong, CEO of Toronto Zoo in Toronto, Ontario; and the World Animal Protection, a Canada-based animal welfare non-profit.

Currently, anyone in Canada can acquire wild animals and operate their own zoos as there is no licensing requirement for keeping non-native wild animals in a zoo. Additionally, there are no consistent standards in place, which leaves municipalities relying on inconsistent bylaws.1 Still, almost 50% of municipalities in Ontario have no bylaws overseeing the keeping of wild animals. This lack of regulation has led to the rise of “roadside zoos,” where animals are kept in substandard conditions, according to a news release.

“Keeping exotic wild animals in inadequate conditions is not only harmful to the animals but also dangerous for the public. Owning and caring for wild animals should be restricted to qualified individuals and organizations who are subject to proper government oversight,” said Collard in the release.

“It is long past time for Ontario to implement a regulatory framework for the keeping of wild animals in order to ensure the well-being of the animals and keep the public safe."

The Captive Wildlife Protection Act, 2024 would mandate licensing for all zoos in addition to yearly inspections to ensure high standards of care and safety. Facilities would be required to meet strict licensing criteria like having proof of financial resources and emergency preparedness plans. The bill would also ban the use of wild animals for entertainment activities like petting sessions, photo ops, and performances that are detrimental to their wellbeing.

"The safety and well-being of both animals and people depend on these regulations. This act sends a clear message: substandard conditions and neglect have no place in Ontario. As a leader in wildlife conservation and education, the Toronto Zoo strongly supports these first steps to protect animals and communities alike,” said DeJong in a news release.

According to the World Animal Protection, Ontario has approximately 30 roadside zoos running without provincial regulation, making Ontario the province with the highest number of these facilities in Canada.

 Moreover, the province lacks a central registry to track the locations and numbers of exotic animals in captivity.

"Ontario has a troubling history of unregulated facilities keeping wild animals in unsafe and inhumane conditions. The Captive Wildlife Protection Act is a critical step to protect animals and safeguard our communities,” Colin Saravanamuttoo, executive director of World Animal Protection, said in the release.

According to the organization, 88% of people in Ontario support provincial licensing and regulation of zoos. The bill is backed by animal welfare organizations, municipalities, and members of the Ontario legislature across different political parties.

Landmark bill introduced in Ontario to protect captive wildlife and regulate zoos. News release. World Animal Protection. December 4, 2024. Accessed December 11, 2024. 

https://prnmedia.prnewswire.com/news-releases/landmark-bill-introduced-in-ontario-to-protect-captive-wildlife-and-regulate-zoos-895315585.html

Articles

The Captive Wildlife Protection Act, 2024 would require licensing for zoos, ban the use of wildlife animals for certain activities, and more

Ontario introduces new bill to protect wildlife amid lack of zoo regulation in Canada

Covetrus has expanded its’ pharmaceutical compounding facility in Phoenix, Arizona, nearly doubling its’ footprint to 50,000-sq ft. The expansion's goal is to increase the company’s pharmacy capabilities for producing compounded products for use in veterinary clinics and in the homes of pet owners across the country, from a centralized location.

A provider of animal health technology and services, Covetrus has made pharmaceutical compounding an important part of its’ portfolio. According to the company, it recognizes that customized medications can enhance pet well-being, while offering a variety of flavor and dose form options.

"Through our expanded facility, we are not only extending our product portfolio to meet the needs of veterinarians and pet parents, but also contributing to the local Arizona economy. We are committed to fostering growth and training among the local pharmacy programs, while delivering exceptional products to the pets we serve," Abby Kaplan, senior vice president, compounding at Covetrus, said in a news release.

The expansion news follows the October 2024 announcement by the US Attorney’s Office of 

 over allegations that the company violated the Controlled Substances Act and other related United States Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) regulations. Covetrus and the DEA entered a 1-year Memorandum of Agreement as part of the settlement that requires the company to keep improving its suspicious order monitoring system, while allowing the federal agency to freely inspect and monitor it, as well as employee training, and overall compliance with federal, state, and local controlled substance statues and regulations.

The expanded pharmacy compounding space features modern, automated equipment and enhanced facilities that meet the industry's regulatory compliance standards, according to Covetrus. The facility now allows capability for more products and customization, and allows for improved supply reliability.

In addition to the Phoenix facility expansion, Covetrus opened a new, 80,000 sq-ft distribution center in Grimes, Iowa, earlier this year that employs more than 40 individuals. Aimed at serving veterinarians and practices throughout the Midwest region, the facility provides access to more than 5000 products used by veterinary teams that care for large and small animals.

“When it comes to providing veterinarians with the supplies and solutions they need to thrive, Covetrus is there for them,” Todd Worthington, senior director of operations and logistics at Covetrus, said in a news release.

 “Whether the veterinarian is treating large animals, such as horses, or small ones like dogs and cats, the products they need can be found at Covetrus.”

Like the Grimes distribution center, the expansion of the new facility in Phoenix has created new jobs and is projected to contribute positive economic benefit to the local community. Additionally, Covetrus is investing in pharmacy schools and students in the Phoenix area.

First, 2 of Covetrus’ compounding supervisors are working with students at local pharmacy schools. Matthew Cheung, PharmD, is as an adjunct associate professor for the Midwestern University College of Pharmacy in Glendale, Arizona, and co-advises the school's Compounding Club. Courtney Morales is introducing students to the practice of pharmacy compounding through externships at the Covetrus facility, while serving as a preceptor in the pharmacy technician training program at GateWay Community College in Phoenix.

The company is also providing opportunities to pharmacy students for hands-on experience with technology and practices used in its’ expanded compounding facility. Several pharmacy programs in the Phoenix area offer a strong pipeline of graduating students, according to the company.

Covetrus unveils newly expanded state-of-the-art pharmaceutical compounding facility in the Phoenix area. News release. Covetrus. December 10, 2024. Accessed December 10, 2024. 

https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/covetrus-unveils-newly-expanded-state-of-the-art-pharmaceutical-compounding-facility-in-phoenix-area-302326365.html?tc=eml_cleartime

McCafferty C. Animal health company agrees to $1.1M settlement for lapses in opioid oversight and recordkeeping. 

https://www.dvm360.com/view/animal-health-company-agrees-to-1-1m-settlement-for-lapses-in-opioid-oversight-and-recordkeeping

Covetrus opens new state-of-the-art distribution center to meet growing demand for products and services. News release. Covetrus. May 2, 2024. Accessed December 10, 2024. 

https://covetrus.com/covetrus-opens-new-state-of-the-art-distribution-center-to-meet-growing-demand-for-products-and-services/

Covetrus announced the expansion of its' site in Arizona, increasing the company’s pharmacy capabilities for producing compounded products for use in veterinary clinics and pet owners' homes throughout the US

Size of Phoenix pharmacy compounding facility has nearly doubled

In any thriving organization, employee performance plays a pivotal role in achieving overall success. However, there may be instances when certain team members face challenges meeting performance expectations. To address these situations constructively, practice managers often turn to performance improvement plans (PIPs).

A PIP is a structured process designed to help employees enhance their performance and align with business goals. It is not intended to be punitive but rather serves as a road map for improvement, fostering a culture of continuous development and growth. Key components of a PIP include the following:

Outline specific, measurable, and achievable performance expectations. Clearly communicate what success looks like in terms of job responsibilities, goals, and objectives. 

The fictional ABC Animal Hospital does not tolerate absenteeism without excuse. Employees who will be late to or absent from work should notify a supervisor in advance or as soon as practicable in the event of an emergency. Chronic absenteeism may result in disciplinary action. 

Pinpoint the areas where the employee is falling short. Whether it’s related to skills, behaviors, or specific tasks, a precise understanding of the performance gaps is crucial for creating a targeted improvement plan. 

During the past 4 months, you were scheduled to work 88 shifts and you were late 18 times (20% of scheduled shifts). Additionally, you never notified a supervisor that you would be late.

Initiate a transparent and open dialogue with the employee. Allow them to share their perspective on the challenges they are facing. This collaborative approach ensures that the plan is tailored to address both organizational expectations and individual needs. 

I wanted to discuss these late arrivals with you. Can you share any reasons or challenges you may be facing? (Pause to let the employee discuss their tardiness. The manager must be listening for any hints that it may involve the Family and Medical Leave Act or the Americans with Disabilities Act.) 

Establish specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound (SMART) goals. These goals should be realistic and attainable and provide a clear road map for improvement within a defined time frame. The goals may depend on the root cause. 

To successfully complete this 90-day PIP, you will be expected to reduce the number of days you arrive to work late by 50%.

If you are late more than 2 times during this 90-day PIP, you must have perfect attendance for the remaining time of your 90-day PIP. 

Identify the resources, training, or support required for the employee to meet the goals. This could include additional training sessions, mentorship, or access to specific tools and resources. 

 Depending on the goals and the resources available, options may include additional in-house or online training to acquire the necessary skills, providing coaching and regular feedback on how to improve performance, adjusting workload or responsibilities, assessing equipment or technology needs, promoting an employee assistance program, or considering flexible work arrangements or accommodations. 

Schedule regular check-ins to monitor progress and provide constructive feedback. These meetings offer an opportunity for ongoing communication and adjustments to the plan if needed. Recognize and acknowledge improvements along the way. 

 “To help you complete your PIP, we have arranged for you to meet with ___ every Thursday at 3:30 PM to discuss your progress and resolve any issues that may impede it.” Note that recognition and positive reinforcement play a large role in this step. Recognize and celebrate small victories and improvements during the PIP period. 

Clearly outline the consequences of not meeting the goals. Although the intention is improvement, it is essential to have a plan in place for further actions if the performance does not meet the standards. Consequences may include additional disciplinary action, loss of opportunities for advancement, impact on compensation and benefits, reassignment of duties or responsibilities, and loss of employment. 

 It is imperative to take proactive steps to address performance issues outlined in this improvement plan and actively collaborate with your manager to achieve the desired level of performance. Failure to do so will result in termination of employment. 

Record the PIP in writing, ensuring that the employee has a clear understanding of the expectations, goals, and support mechanisms in place. Create a template for your practice so that management remains consistent for any PIP. 

When the employee has made genuine progress, the PIP is closed and kept in the employee’s file. Depending on the situation and the employee’s efforts to improve, the PIP may be extended a few weeks. Finally, it may be necessary to terminate the employee who is not improving. 

PIPs are a crucial tool for the success of the business. Having a clear method of documenting an employee’s performance deficiency, the specific areas needing improvement, and the expectations for improvement can provide evidence that the employee was given opportunities to address the performance issues before termination. Having a structured PIP demonstrates that the business followed fair and consistent procedures, which can mitigate the risk of potential legal challenges, such as claims of unfair dismissal or discrimination. A well-designed PIP that includes SMART goals provides a basis for evaluating whether the performance has improved to an acceptable level. The PIP process facilitates open communication and establishes regular feedback and progress reviews during the PIP period. In addition, PIPs allow the business to take corrective action before the performance issue escalates and impacts productivity, client satisfaction, or team dynamics. 

Creating a PIP is a proactive and positive approach to addressing performance challenges. By focusing on clear communication, collaboration, and providing the necessary support, employees can be empowered to overcome obstacles and contribute to a culture of continuous improvement. When approached with empathy and a commitment to growth, PIPs become powerful tools for fostering a motivated, high-performing workforce.

A PIP can be a constructive way to help address challenges for employees having trouble meeting expectations

Creating a successful performance improvement plan

Brittany Lancellotti, DVM, DACVD, talks about available treatment options for flea allergies, environmental allergies, and more 

Choosing the right treatment for allergic dermatitis

 at the 2024 Fetch Long Beach conference in Long Beach, California, Brittany Lancellotti, DVM, DACVD, talked about various current treatment options for allergic dermatitis in animal patients, talking about options for flea allergies, environmental allergies, food allergies, and more. She emphasized, however, the importance of weighing in patients’ individual clinical signs, as their response to different treatments will vary depending on what symptoms they are experiencing. Considering this, the veterinary professional should come up with specific plans tailored for individual patients.

The treatment options that are available for allergic dermatitis are much more now than we had just a few years ago. In terms of different treatments, we need to think about how the disease presents, so I always like to start by talking to owners about what are the primary triggers, and how am I going to treat those primary triggers? So parasiticides are really important treatment in flea allergies.

Elimination diet trials are the most effective way for diagnosing and managing food allergies, so understanding the different prescription diets that are available is really important as a treatment option for food allergic animals.

And then for environmental allergies, the only treatment that we have that actually addresses the primary disease is allergy-specific immunotherapy, which is best implemented by a board-certified veterinary dermatology specialist who has an understanding of the regional allergens and how to interpret those allergy tests and implement immunotherapy.

But then we have a lot of other symptomatic allergy treatment tools, things like antibiotics, antifungals, as well as antipyretic and ant inflammatory medications like glucocorticoids, cyclosporine, Janus kinase inhibitors and monoclonal antibodies.

So, we've got a lot of different options available to give an animal relief, but it's important to understand what that individual animal’s clinical signs are and how they would best respond to the different treatments that are available, so that you can come up with a specific plan for that patient.

Videos

Seeking Truth & Unleashing Unpopular Perspectives in Shelter Medicine and Animal Cruelty, 

Kris Otteman, DVM, ABVP, CAWA, shared with attendees multiple perspectives in shelter medicine as well as animal cruelty that can be considered unpopular, and why they are important for veterinary professionals to know the truth about. Throughout the lecture, Otteman helped attendees tackle uncomfortable truths and the status quo to help them be better prepared for the tough cases that walk through the clinic doors.

The human animal bond is not dependent on socio economic status

Cost of care is affecting every part of veterinary medicine in some capacity, and shelter medicine is no exception. In shelter medicine, there are pets that are surrounded to the shelter for euthanasia because of financial hardship. Otteman shared that because of this, those who do not work in shelter medicine, but sometimes within, believe that if a client cannot financially care for their pet, then they should not have one. Some veterinary professionals Otteman explained to attendees will even link the strength of the client and patients human-animal bond and how much they love their animal by their willingness to pay.

“We all know because we're those experts with those insights and that voice, remember the benefits of the relationships with animals cross every demographic we can all think of. We know the benefits to mental health, physical well-being. We know how important animals are and what they're seen as family members today, right?” explained Otteman.

“We also know how animals now are helping out in long term care. They come into the courtroom and comfort victims. We also know, and we've all heard stories of that person that's homeless, like if you heard [

] say yesterday, and they are willing to put their own safety and security on the line, or give it up for their dog or their cat,” she continued.

Although it would be easier for clients if they had more money to provide the care pet needs, that is not a definition of their love and connection to the pet. Otteman also shared that in recent research, there have been cases that pets are even more important to those within lower socioeconomic status because some may not have close family, friends, or anyone at all besides that pet. That pet becomes their world and their support system. Otteman urged the attendees to not be judgement when these clients come into the clinics or shelters to get help for their pet or give them up, because the situation may be something others will never be able to understand or experience. Shelters are the safety net for those in need, and Otteman believes veterinary medicine is as well because clients come to them in their time of need to save the animal they love so dearly, and it is important to put aside personal thoughts and feelings to give their pet the standard of care they deserve.

Animal abuse is occurring in your community, and it will present in your practice

It may seem weird to veterinary teams to think that a person who has abused their pet will bring them into the clinic for care, but they do and will. Normally, Otteman shared, the pet will be brought into the clinic by the person who inflicted the abuse, or someone close to the abuser, who could also be a victim of violence themselves.

“One study found that animal abusers are 5 times more likely to commit a violent act toward a human,

and so there's this association in all my years in practice, though it never occurred to me that I needed to consider things like differential diagnosis, including non accidental injury, work force trauma, like repetitive non accidental injury, or something like intentional starvation, I was like nowhere on my radar, but working in the shelter environment, as I mentioned, that's where I saw that law enforcement engaged with the veterinary community and brought cases in, and I learned how important it was.” Otteman said to attendees.

A sign of an animal abuse case you be that the history does not match the findings. She shared the story of a feline domestic short hair that she treated who presented to her with broken teeth, zygomatic arch fracture, and other injuries. Her owners, a male and female companions, told Otteman that the patient injured herself this way from bathing. However, she said, anyone who has bathed a cat knows that most injuries during this process are scratches and clawing toward the one giving the bath, not receiving it. 

If you suspect animal abuse in your clinic, you are required to report it to the authorities. Otteman shared during her Q&A portion of the Fetch Finale that there are cases across the United States where law enforcement may be too short staffed or not willing to really go investigate due to other obligations deemed more important. If this is an issue in your area, she encouraged you to take extremely indepth notes and photos, more than you would do in a normal examination, and to write everything out in an easy non medical way to understand. This way, if things progress or someone is arrested for the abuse, there is a clear documentation for law enforcement.

There are plenety of other unpopular truths out there about shelter medicine. Otteman shared with attenees that she tends to have a rose colored glasses aspect on life, but she has plenty of setbacks and tears throughout he career. By sharing these truths and understanding how they can present in your clinic or how to help those in need, pets who are suffering in some capacity can find a safe space and support for treatment in your clinic, and their owners might need it as well.

“I really want to thank you for all your kind attention. Most importantly, I want to thank you for being such an important part of what I believe is the best profession on Earth,” she concluded. “We have such a unique opportunity. We're the only ones that can do this work. We make such a difference. So thank you for all you knew to make this profession so bright and beautiful for being so wise and wonderful.”

Otteman K. Seeking Truth & Unleashing Unpopular Perspectives in Shelter Medicine and Animal Cruelty. Presented at: Fetch dvm360 Conference; Long Beach, CA. December 6-8, 2024.

Luke C, Arluke A, Levin J. Physical Cruelty Toward Animals in Massachusetts, 1975-1996. 

. 1997;5(3). doi:https://doi.org/10.1163/156853097x00123

To close out day 3 of Fetch Long Beach, Kris Otteman, DVM, ABVP, CAWA, shared with attendee’s common unpopular opinions within shelter medicine 