Natalie Marks, DVM, CVJ, CCFP, Elite FFCP-V, explains how educating pet parents on recognizing stress signs and body language in their pets fosters better patient care

Educating pet owners on animal communication 

 on her Fetch Kansas City conference lecture, Natalie Marks, DVM, CVJ, CCFP, Elite FFCP-V, emphasized the importance of patients’ emotional health in veterinary care. Marks underlined the importance of recognizing and addressing fear, anxiety, and stress; and discussed strategies for creating a more supportive environment for pets and their owners. She also explained the role veterinarians play in educating pet parents about their companion’s needs and behavior.

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

I think just very broadly in general, we as educators—veterinarians and veterinary technicians—it's our job to teach pet parents what stress looks like in our pets. I think it's urban myths all over the internet about what a stressed dog or cat looks like, and the subtle signs, the first signs that we need to notice, are almost always missed. So being able to talk to them about body language and being able to tell them, you know, cats don't want to be messed with when they sleep, like leave them alone and don't follow them when they wake up. That's a cat, and that's what a cat prefers. Don't touch a cat in the belly. Don't grab a cat by its tail. I know this sounds very remedial to a lot of our industry, but there are so many first-time cat parents that came out of COVID. Literally millions of people that have never had a pet in their life and chose a cat, sometimes because they thought a cat was an easier pet as far as husbandry goes, but really not understanding cat enrichment and what a cat likes and doesn't like in the home, and how do we understand through their body language, how they're communicating with us so we can have the most positive human-animal bond.

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Foltz outlines why multimodal analgesia is so important in feline patients

Kelly Foltz Multimodal analgesia

 about her recent session, "Me-OUCH! Feline Pain Assessment," at the 2024 Southwest Veterinary Symposium in Forth Worth, Texas, Kelly Foltz, CVT, LVT, RVT, VTS (ECC), explained that cats feel pain in many of the same ways that humans and dogs do. Additionally, because of their smaller size, feline trauma patients often experience polytrauma. For these reasons, it's optimal to have a multimodal approach to feline analgesics, addressing any and all sources of pain.

So, when we're approaching pain in the small animal patient, we really want to make sure that we are able to address all types of pain and all causes of pain that we may have in our small animal patients. If we think about the feline trauma patient, they're often going to experience what we call polytrauma, right? Given their small size, in comparison to, for example, dogs, something like being attacked by an animal or hit by a car is going to be more impactful for them because they are smaller. So we might actually see orthopedic injuries, soft tissue injuries, injuries that may potentially cause nerve damage, and those are different kinds of pain, right? Soft tissue pain, bone pain and neuropathic pain. So we want to adopt a multimodal approach.

Kelly Foltz, CVT, LVT, RVT, VTS (ECC), explains why it's important to have a multimodal approach to analgesics in the management of feline pain

The importance of multimodal analgesics in feline pain

The US Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) recently rejected a petition from People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) and other advocacy groups seeking to list long-tailed macaque monkeys—

—as endangered under the Endangered Species Act (ESA).

The decision concludes a review by USFWS, which determined that the petition lacked credible information of any impacts on long-tailed macaque populations or the species overall from potential threats, whether individually or collectively, that would justify listing the species as endangered.

The USFWS decision comes after the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) decided to reevaluate the "Endangered" designation of long-tailed macaques in response to a petition from the National Association for Biomedical Research (NABR) that challenged the IUCN's original listing. The IUCN directed the authors of the previous status review, Hansen et al 2022, to reconsider their assessment in light of scientific concerns raised by the NABR.

The long-tailed macaque was listed as Endangered in 2022 following the IUCN’s March 2022 assessment report, which reported that a primate specialist from the IUCN had proposed in 2008 that the conservation status of long-tailed macaques needed to be more urgently reviewed to focus on the threats these animals faced.

According to the New England Primate Conservancy, the specialist mentioned threats from high demand in trade and rapid development in Southeast Asia, comparing the species' potential decline to that of the passenger pigeon, which went from abundant to extinct in just 50 years due to intense hunting and persecution in the mid-1800s.

The possibility of this happening to the long-tailed macaque was raised given the high demand for the species in global and domestic trade, as well as the hunting and persecution they were facing.

However, the petition from the NABR contended that the 2022 review by Hansen et al misrepresented existing scientific data.

 Additionally, a separate petition currently pending with the IUCN claims that the authors of the Hansen et al 2022 review have conflicts of interest that “require further investigation by the IUCN.”

In a recent news release, the NABR expressed support for the USFWS’ decision to reject the petition to list the long-tailed macaque as Endangered. “NABR is pleased that the USFWS has declined to accept the petition filed by PETA and other advocacy groups based upon its consideration of the best available scientific information," Matthew R. Bailey, president of the NABR, said in the release

 "Available scientific information clearly shows that this species is not at risk and does not warrant a further status review. NABR looks forward to working with USFWS to ensure the integrity of its scientific processes."

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Services rejects petition to list long-tailed macaques under the Endangered Species Act. News release. National Association for Biomedical Research. October 7, 2024. Accessed October 7, 2024. 

https://prnmedia.prnewswire.com/news-releases/the-u-s-fish-and-wildlife-service-rejects-petition-to-list-long-tailed-macaques-under-the-endangered-species-act-878733830.html

Long-tailed macaque. New England Primate Conservancy. July 2022. Accessed October 7, 2024. 

https://neprimateconservancy.org/long-tailed-macaque/

Articles

The decision marks the end of a US Fish and Wildlife Service review amid status listing controversy

US Fish and Wildlife Service rejects Endangered listing for long-tailed macaque

Emilee Lacey, VMD, with Kiergen (Image courtesy of Margie Christianson for Virginia Tech) 

Kiergen, a 19-year-old Akhal-Teke stallion, was brought to the Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine’s Veterinary Teaching Hospital after his caretakers noticed he appeared to be in distress. Kevin Matthews and Patricia Johnson, Kiregen’s owners, and owners of the Akhal-Teke Foundation, and his caregivers noticed Kiergen was lethargic, and his neck was stiff and swollen. Matthews noted that Kiergen’s neck was, “Almost like a caterpillar, swollen and bulging.”

Kiergen’s caretakers were referred to the Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine’s Veterinary Teaching Hospital where Kiergen was diagnosed with clostridial myositis, a painful bacterial infection. According to the release, with clostridial myositis, bacteria enters the body through an intramuscular injection, and would then quickly turn muscle tissue necrotic.

 The infection can then cause skin to slough off and can turn fatal without treatment. At the hospital, an ultrasound showed the veterinary team Kiergen had pockets in his neck where the bacteria had released gas.

Kiergen received around-the-clock care, antibiotics, anti-inflammatories, fluids, and pain reliever intravenously to fight the pain and infection. However despite treatment, the team was very concerned about the amount of swelling in close proximity to Kiergen’s trachea.

"The constant monitoring during those first 48 hours was crucial to make sure the swelling wasn't cutting off his airway,” said Emilee Lacey, VMD, a large animal internal medicine resident at Virginia-Marlyand College of Veterinary Medicine, in the organizational release.

 "He really is a fighter. He's defied the odds and responded well to the high doses of antibiotics and the really good support from our staff, too."

Matthews shared that, by the third day in the hospital, there was a tentative schedule for surgery, and Kiergen healed to the point where there wasn’t enough of a pocket to drain. Then, after 9 days, he was discharged and returned home to the Akhal-Teke Foundation where he regained his appetite and energy over time. The Akhal-Teke Foundation was created to help continue the legacy of Phil and Margot Case who are credited for bringing the breed to America in the 1970s, to preserve and promote the breed.

The Akhal-Teke’s are originally from Turkmen, the southern region of modern day Turkmenistan and are considered one of the rarest horse breeds with only 3,000 registered purebreds in North America.

 Commonly referred to as the most beautiful horse on earth, this breed is athletic, sensitive, and excels in endurance.

 Kiergen’s great-grandfather, Absent, is one of the most famous Akhal-Teke’s who also brought home 4 Olympic medals in dressage.

Boudreau S. Rare stallion fights dangerous infection at Veterinary Teaching Hospital. Virginia Tech. Published October 2, 2024. Accessed October 8, 2024. https://news.vt.edu/articles/2024/10/vetmed-vth-success-story-kiergen.html

Akhal-Teke Horses - Oklahoma State University. breeds.okstate.edu. Published January 21, 2021. 

https://breeds.okstate.edu/horses/akhal-teke-horses.html

Akhal-Teke Foundation. The Akhal-Teke Breed - Akhal-Teke Foundation. Akhaltekefoundation.org. Published 2020. Accessed October 8, 2024. https://www.akhaltekefoundation.org/akhal-teke.html

The rare stallion is being treated for clostridial myositis after presenting to the hospital with concerning vital signs 

Akhal-Teke stallion battles dangerous infection 

Daniel J. Burba, DVM, DACVS, explains his approach to hoof wall injuries in horses

Dr Burba Hoof Wall Injuries

Hoof wall injuries are relatively common, occurring in varying degrees and including vertical tears and subtotal avulsions, usually when a horse steps on a stationary object. In an interview with 

, Daniel J. Burba, DVM, DACVS, a professor of equine surgery at Oklahoma State University's College of Veterinary Medicine, shared his approach to the injuries, as outlined during his session, "Treatment of Equine Foot Injuries," at the 2024 Southwest Veterinary Symposium. 

 So, with the hoof wall injuries, a lot of times that hoof wall injury deals with the coronary band. And the coronary band is, as we all know, where the hoof starts its growth. And it's important that with hoof wall injuries, a good portion will [involve] the coronary band... So, one of the things I always check is [to] make sure [that] none of the deep structures, like the tendons or the joints in that area, like the coffin joint, is involved, and if it's not, then my goal is to try to get that coronary band back into [the] best apposition and alignment from where that where that injury is, so that when that hoof wall regrows or grows, [it will] be as... normal as possible.

Daniel J. Burba, DVM, DACVS, outlines his typical approach to equine foot injuries

Hoof wall injuries

Veterinary care provider Bond Vet and Cubex, an automated medication management solution service, have announced a partnership to help simplify veterinary teams' operations. The companies are collaborating to bring automated medication management to Bond Vet clinics.

Veterinary practices must adhere to federal and state regulations. Cubex’s automated DEA logs and Prescription Monitoring Program (PMP) reporting ensure that Bond Vet clinics maintain compliance with no need for manual entry, according to a news release. Additionally, laborious and time-consuming processes such as inventory tracking and reordering of medications are eliminated, which leaves Bond Vet practitioners more time to care for patients.

“While patient care is always our top priority, tasks like DEA logging and inventory management can take up valuable time. With Cubex’s automated cabinets, these time-consuming tasks are greatly reduced, allowing our team to dedicate more time to caring for patients,” Renee McDougall, DVM, MPH, DACVS, head of medicine at Bond Vet, said in a news release.

Thus far, smart cabinets have been installed in the treatment areas at 50 Bond Vet clinics. The technology is helping to ensure smoother workflows and improved compliance for veterinary teams caring for patients.

In September 2024, Cubex also announced a partnership with Digitail, a cloud-based veterinary software provider. This collaboration includes inventory and practice management. “Cubex’s innovative approach perfectly complements our vision of driving the industry’s transition to technology-enabled veterinary care,” Sebastian Gabor, CEO of Digitail, said in a news release.

 “This partnership ensures our clients can manage their practices with greater efficiency and focus more on delivering exceptional care. By integrating with Cubex, we’re taking our all-in-one PIMS to the next level, enhancing our ability to streamline controlled substance safety and inventory management.”

According to Sid Anderson, VP of Product Management at Cubex, the integration with Digitail ensures a more cohesive and efficient workflow for veterinary professionals with integration that facilitates accurate transfer of patient, client and medication data. “At Cubex, we are committed to delivering technology that enhances the veterinary care process,” Anderson said in a release.

At Bond Vet, Joseph Altobelli, chief financial officer, is excited to integrate Cubex into the company’s financial, business intelligence, and control processes. “According to the American Animal Hospital Association, manual protocols miss approximately 17% of client charges, leading to an estimated $25,000 in lost profit per doctor annually. Cubex’s integrated software solution consistently captures missed charges, helping to avoid human errors, waste, and theft—ultimately increasing the profitability of Bond Vet practices,” Altobelli said in the release.

Bond Vet’s partnership with Cubex is a significant step towards improving operational efficiency, compliance, and safety within its clinics and communities, according to the release. The company will have a medication management cabinet located in the treatment area at each of its 50 clinics. This collaboration reinforces Bond Vet’s commitment to providing high-quality veterinary care while leveraging innovative solutions to enhance practice management.

Bond Vet joins forces with Cubex to simplify medication management for clinics. News release. Bond Vet. October 1, 2024. Accessed October 1, 2024. [email]

Cubex partners with Digitail: revolutionizing veterinary practices with seamless inventory management. News release. September 9, 2024. Accessed September 17, 2024. 

https://cubex.com/cubex-partners-with-digitail/

Bond Vet and Cubex are collaborating to create a safe practice environment through automated drug logging and dispensing