Findlaytor Fetch KC Q3 iMovie

, Andrew Findlaytor, DVM, talked a bit about relief medicine—a topic he discussed during Fetch dvm360 conference in Kansas City, Missouri. Here, he shares some ways clinics can incorporate relief veterinarians into their practices, and shares some of the benefits that relief medicine offers, such as helping businesses grow.

Findlaytor will be presenting another lecture on relief medicine at our upcoming Fetch Coastal conference, to take place in Atlantic City, New Jersey from October 14-16. There, he will discuss how the rising trend of relief medicine will affect practices, and more. To learn more about this growing topic, register 

Relief really can and should be integrated into every practice out there. It's great for helping clinics grow. If you want to make the offer for a full-time associate, but you're a little worried, well we have enough client volume, or we have enough volume for our practice, relief is great. You can have a relief veterinarian come in 1 day a week, 2 days a week, kind of on a part time basis, which will help you build that confidence, so eventually [you can] transition that role to full time.

And likewise, relief is great for interviewing candidates. We all know workplace culture is a very important topic. Instead of having to put out an offer and hoping that a 1 hour, or in some cases, a 30 minute interview is enough to really get to know someone, you can have a relief veterinarian come by and work with you for a week, for a month, whatever you like, until you’re confident that this is the right person for helping you grow your business.

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Andrew Findlaytor, DVM, shares why clinics should use relief veterinarians

Integrating relief medicine into practices

Taylor Lashlee (left), an intern at Cornell University, and Nicola Di Girolamo, DMV, PhD, DECZM (Herp), DACZM, DACVPM (right), use a new method to measure the pulse rate of a bearded dragon. 

Researchers from Cornell University’s College of Veterinary Medicine in Ithaca, New York, have discovered an easy-to-reach spot on the back of reptiles’ head where pulse rate can consistently be measured. The pulse rate can be recorded using an ultrasonic Doppler flow detector, and corresponds with heart rate, allowing for more complete cardiovascular evaluations. The researchers found the pulse in the same place on other species of reptiles, including leopard geckos, turtles, tortoises, and snakes.

Photo: Nicola Di Girolamo/Cornell University

Researchers measure the pulse rate of a ball python

In the past, measuring the pulse rate of reptiles has been a difficult process. Stethoscopes are not a reliable instrument, as scales interfere with sound transmission, and scared tortoises and turtles tend to hide behind their legs, hiding their hearts. In pythons, specifically, there is a well-established location to obtain their heart rate, but not their pulse rate.

Investigators set out to establish a standardized technique to obtain reptiles’ pulse rate. They obtained temporoorbital pulse rates in 40 healthy ball pythons (

), weighing between 0.05 kg and 2.2 kg, to determine whether their measurements agreed with heart rates. The pulse rates were obtained on the dorsal aspect of the pythons’ heads, at the level of the temporoorbital artery.

The research group was successful in their study, obtaining pulse rates and heart rates for all 40 of the snakes. The median pulse rate and heart rates were both 60 bpm, and both had ranges from 48 bpm to 88 bpm. The mean difference between pulse rate and heart rate was 1.2 beats, and the rates were synchronous when measured simultaneously.

Investigators measure the pulse rate of a bearded dragon

The study was initiated by a bearded dragon with an aneurysm, which caused the temporoorbital artery in the back of its head to become enlarged. It was in this location that they found a pulse. “You could put the Doppler there, and you would hear the pulse rate very well,” Nicola Di Girolamo, DMV, PhD, DECZM (Herp), DACZM, DACVPM, associate professor of exotic animal medicine corresponding author of the study, said in a 

 “We thought it was only happening because the vessel was so distended, but then we checked another bearded dragon kind of randomly in the same area, and we realized that it had the pulse there.”

The discovery of this method is a significant step forward in exotic animal medicine. With this new technique, veterinarians can treat reptiles in a way that is significantly less stressful for the animal, which results in better treatment overall. 

Hartigan H. Researchers find a place to take a python’s pulse. 

. September 5, 2024. Accessed September 6, 2024. 

https://news.cornell.edu/stories/2024/09/researchers-find-place-take-pythons-pulse

Ito M., Levitskiy A., Di Girolamo N. Temporoorbital pulse rate can be obtained in ball pythons (

) of any size and age and agrees with heart rate. 

Articles

A Cornell University study found an easily accessible spot to measure reptiles’ pulse rate, and that pulse rate corresponds to heart rate

The ideal place to take reptiles’ pulse

Recognizing and treating feline pain was the focus of a presentation by Tasha McNerney, BS, CVT, CVPP, VTS (Anesthesia) during the 2024 Fetch dvm360 Conference in Kansas City, Missouri. The primary objective of her session was to ensure all veterinary staff were capable of consistently recognizing feline pain. She covered identifiable differences in acute and chronic pain, physical and behavioral indicators, and how to help a patient that is in pain.

McNerney began her presentation by addressing the veterinary technicians in the audience, explaining the crucial role that they play in pain recognition. Technicians should monitor patients for any overt signs of pain, while also paying attention to the owner’s account of their day-to-day activity for any hints of possible pain. She advised that practices assign 1 technician as their dedicated pain advocate, responsible for communicating with both clients and clinicians. They should also follow up with clients following visits, adjusting treatment as necessary.

There are several external signs to note when a patient is experiencing acute pain, including growling, vocalizations, reduced activity, hiding, decreased grooming, decreased appetite, and self-inflicted wounds. Chronic pain, on the other hand, can be harder to recognize as the pain scales are not the same. McNerney attributed this to animals adapting to chronic pain, displaying fewer external signs over time. She also noted that, in the same way it impacts the lives of humans, living with chronic pain can affect animal’s personality, behavior, emotions, stress levels, and more. She encouraged the use of the feline musculoskeletal pain index (FMPI) as a pain-scoring tool for cats with chronic pain.

She discussed osteoarthritis (OA) more in-depth, as a common catalyst for feline chronic pain. Some signs of pain in patients with OA might include joint effusion, swelling, and muscle atrophy.

 “This is not usually where I go to touch the cat and then they hiss at me, right?” McNerney explained. “That’s usually more [of] an acute pain, or where a chronic neuropathic pain has now changed their behavior.”

Cats with untreated chronic pain can become increasingly territorial, they might feel more threatened, and they might display marking behavior. It’s also likely that they show less interest in hunting and playing, and become less active around their normal play times, because it’s difficult for them to move around. McNerney pointed out that most pet owners falsely attribute signs of stiffness and slowing down to natural aging, when they’re in fact signs of chronic pain.

She explained that any noted changes in a cat’s behavior should set off a red flag for technicians. If a pet owner mentions their cat’s sudden bad behavior, including urinary or fecal "accidents,” increased aggression, or sudden refusal to follow commands, technicians should begin inquiring further. The following are some key questions that should be asked

Is your pet using the litterbox normally?

If short on time, she encouraged asking owners to fill out the 

 for assessing pain in cats. Answers could indicate that further investigation is required to determine whether their pet is experiencing pain.

 Pet owners should also be provided with resources so they can access additional information if needed.

“So, ‘she’s cranky because she’s old,’” McNerney said. “No, most of the time, they’re not ‘cranky because they’re old,’ they’re cranky because they have some underlying, painful condition that we are not appropriately managing.”

McNerney encouraged a multimodal approach to pain management regardless of whether it’s acute or chronic pain. She explained the importance of providing analgesics and stresses the importance of using multiple types of drugs that target different mechanisms of pain. Different medications used to treat pain act on different parts of the pain pathway, with several drug classes acting on multiple parts of the pathway, which illustrates the importance of using multimodal analgesia.

By combining analgesic drugs from different classes and employing analgesic techniques that target different mechanisms of pain, relief can be maximized at lower analgesic doses, which also reduces the risk of adverse effects. Additionally, she recommends the use of local blocks, as they are effective at the source of the nerve signal in transduction. 

“Now, if we give drugs like buprenorphine or some opioids, that’s going to change our perception and modulation of those pain signals, but nothing is really going to cut that transmission of those pain signals like a local anesthetic,” McNerney said. “So, that’s why I challenge all of you guys, any surgery, any dentistry, anything that is going to be painful, I want you to provide a local block to those patients… and that’s going to make a huge difference.”

For chronic pain specifically, pain management should be the priority, to reduce discomfort and improve quality of life. Although non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs can be used, she advised cautions regarding long-term adverse effects in cats. Alternatively, she recommended anti nerve growth factor (NGF), which has been proven effective for treating OA. Frunevetmab injection (Solensia; Zoetis) is also endorsed, though she acknowledged not all pet owners can bring their cats in for injections. Amantadine works as an NMDA receptor antagonist and can be used to break up breakthrough pain.

McNerney explained the importance of regulating a feline patient’s stress levels during visits. When a cat is stressed, their stress catecholamines surge and occupy the same receptors that are targeted by the drugs. To counter this, more drugs are administered, which results in more adverse effects. For that reason, it’s important to keep stress levels low throughout veterinary visits.

She recommended quiet rooms and ensuring separation of cats and dogs in waiting areas. Cat should be placed directly on the counter, or another elevated surface, never on the floor, and towels sprayed with pheromone spray can be placed over carriers. To ensure comfort, patients should be provided comfortable beds, recovery rooms should be kept generally warmer, and she recommended hanging on to old cardboard boxes for use as hiding spaces. Gabapentin can be used as a sedation option, either during a visit, or sent home with pet owners to be administered prior to visits. Gabapentin can be used in combination with trazadone, and occasionally clonidine, for pets with severe behavioral challenges.

McNerney recommended the University of Colorado Pain Scoring System, which is commonly used despite not being validated, for analysis of acute pain during the post operative period. The system uses a numerical rating to assess pain. She also endorsed the Glasgow Feline Composite Measure Pain Scale (CMPS-Feline), which has been validated with multiple studies. This scale comes in the form of a questionnaire, assessing the patient’s behaviors with a numerical value, with results above a predetermined threshold indicating that the patient is technically painful.

Her favorite recommendation, however, is the Feline Grimace Scale (FGS), which is also validated, and available in the form of a smartphone app. The scale evaluates feline facial characteristics—ear position, orbital tightening, muzzle tension, whisker positioning, and head positioning—and should be used to assess acute pain. Similar to the CMPS-Feline, any score above a threshold (4/10, in this case) advises intervention with analgesia.

McNerney reiterated that technicians are key to successful recognition and treatment of feline pain. It’s crucial to be able to recognize the presence of either acute and chronic pain in a patient, and the difference between the two, before establishing a multimodal treatment method for the patient’s comfort. Following visits, it’s important to communicate with clients to create comprehensive plans to manage the animal’s pain and maintain a good quality of life.

She advocated for the International Veterinary Academy of Pain Management (IVAPM) for those interested in learning more about pain management. McNerney also recommends IVAPM’s program to become a Certified Veterinary Pain Practitioner (CVPP), which can be completed in 2 to 3 years.

McNerney T. Recognizing and treating feline pain. Presented at: Fetch dvm360 Conference; August 23-25, 2024; Kansas City, MO.

OA Checklist. Is your cat showing signs of AO-related pain? Zoetis. Accessed September 6, 2024. 

https://www.zoetispetcare.com/checklist/osteoarthritis-checklist-cat?utm_source=google&utm_medium=paid_search&utm_campaign=pos_00038_006118&utm_content=oa_checklist&gad_source=1&gclid=Cj0KCQjw0Oq2BhCCARIsAA5hubXcG_wC_He9kMX7kxjp47YdFr7arlLrQh95JT97FAtNOEMpwhKGFsAaAmDfEALw_wcB

Tips for veterinary professionals were discussed during a session at the Fetch dvm360 Conference in Kansas City 

A tech's guide to feline pain: recognition and management

Good morning dvm360 readers! We hope you all had an amazing weekend and are ready to tackle another work week. Did you see last week dvm360 announced the veterinary professionals nominated and selected to be the 2024 Veterinary Heroes? Congratulations to all 11 of this year’s winners and we look forward to honoring all of you at Fetch Long Beach! You can learn more about each winner 

 and if you want to see them in Fetch Long Beach, along with all our other amazing faculty and attendees, you can learn more about the conference 

Here is what you can find this week on dvm360.com:

The US Fish and Wildlife Service and Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) launched the Wildlife Confiscations Network in October 2023, giving law enforcement officers in Southern California a point of contact to help trafficked animals find safety and receive needed care.

During an interview at Fetch Kansas City, Kelly Detweiler and Peter Weinstein, DVM, MBA, exclusively shared common myths surrounding DEA regulations at veterinary clinics, and what the truth really is.

North Carolina State University announced it added a state-of-the-art dairy barn to its College of Veterinary Medicine, which will include a waste-disposal system, hydraulic gates, and new data collecting technology, right next to its original barn that was built in the 1930s. 

On this week’s episode of The Vet Blast Podcast presented by dvm360, Adam Christman, DVM, MBA, and special guest Greg Echols, DVM, to discuss how to go from internship to entrepreneurship as well as Echols' experiences with powerlifting.

Parliament in the United Kingdom shared legislation had been presented to them that calls for banning 21 dangerous drugs, including the veterinary sedative xylazine, to prevent drug related deaths and crack down on those dealing drugs.

Here is a sneak peek of this week’s headlines 

Sneak peek: Britain proposes new legislation banning xylazine, and other news

In the animal care and veterinary sector, strong leadership is vital for ensuring operational efficiency. Moreover, effective leadership contributes to better pet care and animal health products, and supports the professional growth of team members.

Recently, several veterinary organizations have introduced new leaders. Some of these individuals advancing in their careers include:

Scot Cave, field veterinary business development manager at PetVivo Holdings, Inc

Scot Cave, field veterinary business development manager at PetVivo Holdings, Inc. (Photo courtesy of PetVivo Holdings, Inc)

Scot Cave will be joining PetVivo Holdings, Inc—a biomedical device company for companion animals and animal athletes—as the new field veterinary business development manager in the United States’ northwest region. Cave has more than 25 years of experience in animal health sales and management. Moreover, Cave began his career in the US Army as an officer. Prior to his new position, Cave worked for Covetrus, Medivet, KindredBIo, and Merck.

“Joining PetVivo as a new Field Veterinary Business Development Manager is an incredible opportunity for me to continue my passion, leverage my industry knowledge, and positively impact the quality of life for horses and companion animals. I am excited and honored to be a part of this valuable team,” said Cave in a news release.

“I am thankful for the opportunity to be able to promote and sell a veterinary medical device that addresses joint related afflictions caused by the loss or damage of cartilage rather than simply treating the symptoms of pain and inflammation. I truly believe Spryng has the ability to improve the medical outcomes of animals suffering from lameness and other joint related afflictions, such as osteoarthritis, thereby enhancing the lives of animals and their owners,” he continued.

Gordon Comfort, MA, chief operations officer at American Kennel Club

The American Kennel Club (AKC) recently announced the appointment of Gordon Comfort as its new chief operations officer (COO). His position will be based in Raleigh, North Carolina. According to the organization, Comfort has experience in CEO or COO roles, leading large teams, implementing IT systems, and building partnerships that have helped his organizations.

Comfort also a history in growing and improving organizational efficiency with organizations in domestic and international markets.

"I am honored to take on this role at such a prestigious organization," Comfort said in a news release.

 "I look forward to working with the talented people at the AKC to drive innovation and operational excellence, ensuring that we continue to support the canine community and expand the brand in meaningful ways."

Comfort has been part of the board of directors for Richland School District in Richland, Washington and Tool Bank of Phoenix, where he is the current vice president. He has also offered pro bono board development, strategic planning, and KPI consultancy for Goodwill Industries, Habitat for Humanity, and ToolBox.

Nitay Gold, MBA, chief commercial officer; and Roee Zeiler, MBA, chief operating officer, at SignalPET

SignalPET, a medical veterinary technology innovator, announced 2 changes to its leadership team. The recent appointments are part of its expansion initiative, according to the company.

Nitay Gold will be the organization’s new chief commercial officer. Gold has a wealth of experience and a history of achieving commercial success in the veterinary sector, as well as a deep understanding of market dynamics, according to a news release.

 Nitay has been a dedicated member of SignalPET since the company’s beginnings, and he brings executive experience from several successful technology ventures, according to the company.

The company’s 2nd appointment is Roee Zeiler, who has experience in operations management and scaling technology-driven businesses. According to SignalPET, Zeiler’s new appointment will play a crucial role in optimizing operational efficiencies and boosting the company’s expansion through mergers and acquisitions (M&A) strategies.

 Prior to his election, Zeiler worked for financial strategy and operations for technology startups like Wiliot, Blue Dot, and Beamr.

"SignalPET is thrilled about the leadership changes and the forthcoming expansion," Lior Kuyer, CEO of SignalPET, said in the release.

 "Their combined expertise, coupled with our talented team and dedication to innovation, will be instrumental in propelling our growth trajectory and delivering enhanced value to our customers."

Gabriel Millan, chief financial officer (CFO) at Mars Petcare

Earlier this week, Mars Inc announced their appointment of Gabriel Millan as its chief financial officer for the organization’s pet health, services, and nutrition business. Millan will assume his position in December. He will oversee the global finance operations for Mars’ Petcare division. Millan has more than 25 years of experience in corporate finance, strategy, strategy, M&A, and information technology at Fortune-500/FTSE-100 firms in the consumer goods and life sciences sectors, according to Mars.4 Moreover, Millan has a history of leading global finance companies, driving transformation, and enhancing talent and diversity within the function.

"Mars is an organization I've aways admired, especially the company culture and Principles. I'm eager to contribute to the continued growth of the Petcare business and to help transform the experience of pet ownership for the better," said Millan in an organizational release.

"We're thrilled to welcome Gabriel. His combination of deep finance experience, proven impact and passion for talent development will be real assets to our team. We are confident he will make a significant contribution to our business and in driving our purpose: A Better World for Pets," expressed Loïc Moutault, president of Mars Petcare Global, in the release.

Scot Cave joins PetVivo Holdings, Inc. as a field veterinary business development manager. News release. PetVivo Holdings, Inc. September 3, 2024. Accessed September 6, 2024. 

https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2024/09/03/2939879/0/en/Scot-Cave-Joins-PetVivo-Holdings-Inc-as-a-Field-Veterinary-Business-Development-Manager.html

The American Kennel Club appoints Gordon Comfort chief operations officer. News release. The American Kennel Club. September 3, 2024. Accessed September 6, 2024. 

https://prnmedia.prnewswire.com/news-releases/the-american-kennel-club-appoints-gordon-comfort-chief-operations-officer-302236658.html

SignalPet elevates leadership team and announces strategic expansion. News release. SignalPet. August 14, 2024. Accessed September 6, 2024. 

https://www.globenewswire.com/en/news-release/2024/08/14/2930003/0/en/SignalPET-Elevates-Leadership-Team-and-Announces-Strategic-Expansion.html

Gabriel Millan joins Mars as chief financial officer for Petcare business. News release. Mars Inc. September 4, 2024. Accessed September 6, 2024. 

https://prnmedia.prnewswire.com/news-releases/gabriel-millan-joins-mars-as-chief-financial-officer-for-petcare-business-824319256.htm

Check out the latest news in the veterinary industry with these 5 recent position promotions

Paws and profits: New veterinary industry appointments 

Photo: Wesley/peopleimages.com/Adobe Stock

The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced a $17.6 million investment to advance agricultural research that safeguards the health and welfare of agricultural animals. The investment will fund high-priority research on the highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) and African swine fever (ASF), according to the USDA.

“Protecting the health and welfare of agricultural animals is integral to ensuring a safe, sustainable, resilient and ethically-sound food system,” Manjit Misra, PhD, director of USDA’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA), said in an organizational release.

 “Healthy livestock are more productive and less likely to harbor and spread diseases that can affect humans. In addition, properly managed livestock systems help maintain biodiversity and sustainable land use.”

The investment includes $12.7 million for 27 projects from various universities across the US under NIFA’s ‘Diseases of Agricultural Animals’ program that are conducting research in whole-animal health, as well as disease prevention and control. The program is part of the Agriculture and Food Research Initiative (AFRI), which awards grants for agricultural sciences.

 The program’s objective is to maintain healthy agricultural animals for a safe food supply.

Many of these projects are centered on developing vaccines to help control the spread of HPAI and ASF. According to the USDA, 

 poses a significant risk to global animal health, trade, and economies. Meanwhile, ASF, a deadly disease that affects both domestic and wild pigs, poses a serious threat to the swine industry if it is introduced to the US.

The following will be 3 of the 27 projects funded by the USDA

: Researchers are working on creating mass vaccination strategies for a common HPAI subtype. This project could also facilitate similar studies for other respiratory viruses impacting poultry and livestock.

: Scientists will design and assess engineered vaccine antigens for ASF with the goal of developing a vaccine to improve the disease’s control and swine health.

 This team aims to develop safer and more effective vaccines for swine influenza, potentially reducing infections in both animals and humans and preventing zoonotic transmission from swine to humans.

Moreover, $4.8M from the $17.6M investment will fund 10 projects through AFRI’s Welfare of Agricultural Animals program, which focuses on bolstering animal agriculture production practices and/or development of novel management strategies that protect animal welfare and the adaption to climate change.

The following projects will be among the 8 receiving funding

: Researchers will study the best indicator traits and breeding methods to improve heat tolerance in ducks. They aim to create guidelines for optimal management and breeding strategies to improve heat tolerance in poultry. This research may provide a potential long-term solution for climate change effects on poultry production worldwide.

: Scientists will explore how early-life management of calves affects their long-term behavior development, emotional state, and physiological stress. Findings are expected to help the dairy industry by boosting cattle longevity and ameliorating animal welfare and care standards.

According to the USDA, the investment is part of the organization’s “One Health” efforts to address issues affecting the health of humans, plants, animals, and ecosystems.

“This research investment underscores USDA’s commitment to strengthening our food supply while protecting human, animal and environmental health,” wrote the USDA in a news release.

USDA invests $17.6M to protect the health and welfare of agricultural animals. News release. National Institute of Food and Agriculture. September 4, 2024. Accessed September 5, 2024. https://www.nifa.usda.gov/about-nifa/press-releases/usda-invests-176m-protect-health-welfare-agricultural-animals?utm_content=&utm_medium=email&utm_name=&utm_source=govdelivery&utm_term=

Agriculture and Food Research Initiative (AFRI). National Institute of Food and Agriculture. Accessed September 5, 2024. https://www.nifa.usda.gov/grants/programs/agriculture-food-research-initiative

The investment includes funding for high-priority research initiatives on zoonotic infectious diseases, vaccines, animal welfare, and more