The National Association of Veterinary Technicians (NAVTA) announced the   theme for this year's National Veterinary Technician Week (NVTW), which takes place annually during the 3rd week of October. This year, the celebration will take place from October 13-19, 2024.

NVTW was instituted to celebrate, recognize, and promote the valuable contributions credentialed veterinary technicians make to the veterinary profession and society, according to NAVTA.

 This year, the theme of NVTW is ‘Credentialed Veterinary Technicians Change Lives.’ The theme is meant to highlight the profound impact credentialed veterinary technicians can have on the lives of their patients, clients, colleagues, and the community, whether this impact is known or unknown.

Veterinary technicians play a crucial role in the veterinary healthcare team, constantly working on the front lines. These professionals provide dedicated care to animals and offer compassionate support to clients. They use their broad professional and personal skills, as well as their technical and scientific knowledge to work in exam rooms, laboratories, and operating rooms.

 “They do it all with love and a smile daily,” wrote NAVTA, in a news release.

NVTW is being sponsored by Hill’s Pet Nutrition. According to NAVTA, the 2024 theme came to fruition after the NAVTA board suggested the theme to Hill’s, explaining that the theme would encompass not only the impact these technicians have on clients and patient care, but also on colleagues and others through mentoring and teaching.

One example of a veterinary technician embodying the 2024 NVTW theme is Melody Martínez, CVT, president of the Multicultural Veterinary Medical Association; and consultant, trainer, coach, and speaker. At the 2022 American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) Convention in Austin, Texas, Martínez delivered a 

 on nontraditional job options available to veterinary technicians, helping these professionals learn more about the various paths available to them.

“I remember the mentors and teachers who helped me when I was new to the profession, and I hope that I can fill those shoes for the new team members I work with today,” said Jamie Rauscher, NAVTA president,  in an organizational release.

 “Every day, we have a chance to positively impact and change the lives of those around us, even if we never [knew] we did. How are you going to change a life?”

Hill's Pet Nutrition will fund social media and public relations outreach for the celebratory week. Additionally, Hill’s field representatives will dispatch NVTW posters and goodies to Hill’s clients throughout the country. This will ensure almost 5,000 practices in the United States know about and are thanked for the work  credentialed veterinary technicians do, according to NAVTA.

“On behalf of Hill’s Pet Nutrition, I want to express my sincere appreciation for everything [veterinary technicians] do for pets and for the families that love them. Veterinary technicians are the heart of the veterinary profession. Thank you for your expert knowledge, your unwavering caring approach, and your dedication. Credentialed veterinary technicians do change lives!” Vicky Ograin, MBA, RVT, VTS (Nutrition), scientific communication senior specialist at Hill’s, said in a news release.

Moreover, NAVTA will be hosting contests, offering members a chance to win gift cards, and more, in celebration of NVTW, according to the organization.

“Our entire team appreciates and celebrates you during National Veterinary Technician Week and beyond. Enjoy your week!” said Ograin, in the release.

Celebrating National Veterinary Technician Week 2024. National Association of Veterinary Technicians. September 6, 2024. Accessed September 6, 2024. 

https://navta.net/news/celebrating-national-veterinary-technician-week-2024/

NAVTA report on major initiatives and activities — May and July 2024. National Association of Veterinary Technicians. August 19, 2024. Accessed September 6, 2024. 

https://navta.net/news/navta-report-on-major-initiatives-and-activities-may-and-july-2024/

Coppock K. A vast amount of nontraditional jobs provide options for veterinary technicians. 

. June 24, 2024. Accessed September 6, 2024. 

https://www.dvm360.com/view/a-vast-amount-of-nontraditional-jobs-provide-options-for-veterinary-technicians

Articles

This year’s theme will focus on the impact veterinary technicians have on more than just clients and patients

NAVTA announces 2024 theme of National Veterinary Technician Week 

The Atlantic Veterinary College (AVC) at the University of Prince Edward Island (UPEI) announced the launch of its new clinical trial aiming to treat cardiac tumors in canines. The trial will focus on using a propranolol, which is prescribed to treat similar conditions in children. The study will be led by Lynne O’Sullivan, DVM, DVSc, DACVIM, Abigail Martin, DVM, BSc, cardiology resident at AVC, and Etienne Côté, BSc, VM, DACVIM

"Propranolol has shown great success in treating hemangiomas in infants,” said Martin, in an organizational release.

 “We want to see if it can have a similar effect on dogs, as treatment options for this condition are limited and often result in end-of-life-conversations.”

Cardiac tumors typically affect larger breeds of dogs and are not diagnosed until after a pet is admitted to an emergency hospital with fluid around their heart. When it comes to cardiac tumors, they are considered rare and their symptoms are usually nonspecific, creating a low level is suspicion of it actually being at tumor and delays diagnosis. Owners could report their pet is experiencing neurologic signs, abdominal distention, lethargy, and weakness.

According to the National Health Service,

 propranolol is a beta blocker used to treat heart problems, help with some anxiety symptoms, and prevent migraines in humans. It works by slowing down the patient’s heart rate to make it easier for the heart to pump blood throughout the body.

“Right now, we can help the patient in the short term by relieving the fluid around the heart, so it helps the dog feel better,” said Côté.

 “However, the underlying issue is the tumor, and surgery is often not viable. We want to know if this medication will help shrink the tumor and enhance the quality of life for these animals.”

In order to participate in the study, eligible dogs must be referred to AVC by their veterinarian and meet particular criteria. Once enrolled in the study, patients will receive trial medication that will be administered orally for one month and they will be monitored by AVC’s specialists. AVC shared in the release that it encourages dog owners to consult with their veterinarian for referral and eligibility information.

The study will be supported by the Arthur L. Irving Foundation, the ACVIM Cardiology Pacemaker Fund Research Grant, and AVC’s Companion Animal Fund and will continue for up to 2 years.

Atlantic Veterinary College initiates clinical trial for treatment of cardiac tumours in dogs. News release. Atlantic Veterinary College. August 27, 2024. Accessed September 6, 2024. 

https://www.upei.ca/communications/news/2024/08/atlantic-veterinary-college-initiates-clinical-trial-treatment-cardiac

Köster L, Lawson PB. Cardiac tumors in dogs and cats. dvm360. February 12, 2021. Accessed September 6, 2024. https://www.dvm360.com/view/cardiac-tumors-in-dogs-and-cats

Propranolol. National Health Service. Published 2021. Accessed September 6, 2024. 

https://www.nhs.uk/medicines/propranolol/

Atlantic Veterinary College is investigating the use of a commonly prescribed children’s medication to treat these cardiac tumor canine patients  

Veterinary college launches clinical trial to treat cardiac tumors in dogs

This podcast covers the rising trends and common causes of Veterinary Professional Liability (Malpractice) and Veterinary Board Complaints. We will also discuss what veterinarians can do to help avoid claims and how to protect themselves if they are faced with a Malpractice claim or License Complaint.

Learn about the most common causes of veterinary malpractice and Board complaints and what can be done to help avoid claims.

Recognize that good medical record keeping and documentation is the most important defense if you are faced with a claim.

Podcasts

Linda Ellis, DVM, sits down with Adam Christman, DVM, MBA, to talk about common liability claims in the veterinary profession.



Podcast CE: veterinary professional liability - common claim drivers

Luca the Shiloh shepherd with his 2024 Hambone Award

Luca, a Shiloh shepherd from Massachusetts, was crowned as the 2024 Hambone Award Winner for completely dismantling his owner’s kitchen cabinet. The 16th-annual award, presented by Nationwide, raises awareness about the surprising things that can happen to pets, and the importance of having pet insurance.

“I looked up the stairs and I see my cabinet gone,” Lori, Luca’s owner, said in a Nationwide news release.

 “He pulled the entire cabinet out, track and everything. The barrel and the front of the cabinet was flung over into my dining room.”

Luca, like many dogs, has never loved spending time in his crate. He had been behaving lately, so Lori granted him the run of the house while she quickly ran out to pick up her daughter. She was shocked when she arrived home to the aftermath of Luca’s hour of independence. By destroying the cabinet, Luca found himself with easy access to the concealed trash can, and he tried to eat everything inside.

“Lori did an amazing job being able to overlook the damage to their home—at least temporarily—and focus on Luca’s health,” Jules Benson, BVSc, MRCVS, vice president, pet health and chief veterinary officer at Nationwide, said in the news release.

 “The corn cobs that Luca had eaten posed an immediate risk of intestinal obstruction and her quick action was critical to a good end result. Credit for this Hambone’s happy ending is also due to the efforts of Luca’s veterinary care team, and his family’s decision to protect him with Nationwide pet insurance.”

Lori, who has more than 20 years of experience rescuing German shepherds, decided she wanted her next dog to be a little bit different. That was when she found Luca on Facebook, and instantly knew that she had to have him. After years of experience with her dogs, Lori expressed the importance of having pet health insurance. “It gives you the freedom to be prepared for emergencies if they come up, and [the ability to] just care for your pet,” she said.

Nationwide hosted a public vote in August 2024 to determine the official Hambone Award Winner out of 8 finalists. The 2 runners-up for this year’s award were Lambeau, a mixed-breed dog from North Carolina, and Archie, a mixed-breed pup from New Jersey.

Lambeau’s claim-to-fame was eating more than 250 jigsaw puzzle pieces when his owners, Emily and Matt, ran out on an errand. Upon realizing what Lambeau had gotten into while they were gone, they immediately called their veterinarian, who advised that they either wait for it to pass or induce vomiting. They chose the latter, were able to recover all of the pieces without any surgery, and Lambeau made a quick recovery.

Archie, on the other hand, was a vigilant protector of his household, defending his owners, Troy and Briana, from a dog’s worst enemy: the mailman. Troy was relaxing at home when he heard glass shatter in the other room. When he checked it out, he found that Archie had jumped through their plate-glass front door. Troy brought him to the emergency veterinarian, and despite an initially scary scene, Troy said that when they picked him up from the veterinarian, he “walked out of there wagging his tail like nothing happened,” according to Nationwide.

The Hambone Award was named after a dog who got stuck in a refrigerator and ate an entire holiday ham while waiting to be rescued. The dog was found, and rescued, along with a ham bone and only a mild case of hypothermia. According to Nationwide, all pets that received nominations for the Hambone Award have recovered from their injuries and received reimbursements for eligible veterinary expenses.

Cabinet-crushing shepherd earns Hambone Award for most unusual pet story. News release. Nationwide. August 27, 2024. Accessed September 5, 2024. 

https://news.nationwide.com/cabinet-crushing-shepherd-earns-hambone-award-for-most-unusual-pet-story/?utm_source=NWNewsroom&utm_medium=Newsroom&utm_campaign=NWNewsroom

Puzzling snack for mixed-breed dog. Nationwide. Accessed September 5, 2024. 

https://www.petinsurance.com/hamboneaward/nominees/2024/lambeau/

Excited pup goes postal on the front door. Nationwide. Accessed September 5, 2024. 

https://www.petinsurance.com/hamboneaward/nominees/2024/archie/

Nationwide’s 16th-annual Hambone Award recognizes the year’s most uncommon pet insurance claim

Shepherd wins Hambone Award for destroying kitchen cabinet

This article was originally published by 

One of the ongoing, major issues associated with antimicrobial resistance is that massive amounts of antibiotics are used in agriculture. In 2020, approximately 160,000 tons of antibiotics were fed to farm animals in the United States alone.

Along with the sheer numbers that the agricultural industry is utilizing, the other aspect is the potential misuse, which can lead to resistance. A majority of the time, antibiotics are administered indiscriminately through animals’ feed and water supplies.

According to the FDA’s 2019 summary report on Antimicrobials Sold or Distributed for Use in Food-Producing Animals, the domestic sales and distribution of medically important antimicrobials approved for use in food-producing animals for 2019 included:

“An estimated 41% was intended for use in cattle, an estimated 42% intended for use in swine, an estimated 10% intended for use in turkeys, an estimated 3% intended for use in chickens, and an estimated 4% intended for use in other species/unknown.

Tetracyclines accounted for 67%, penicillins for 12%, macrolides for 8%, sulfas for 5%,aminoglycosides for 5%, lincosamides for 2%, cephalosporins for less than 1%, and fluoroquinolones for less than 1%.

An estimated 81% of cephalosporins, 65% of sulfas, 45% of aminoglycocides, and 42%of tetracyclines were intended for use in cattle.

An estimated 85% of lincosamides and40% of macrolides were intended for use in swine. An estimated 66% of penicillins were intended for use in turkeys.”

“We can't just stop farming without antibiotics tomorrow, because we still have to eat every day and without antibiotics, food prices would go up, and productivity would go down,” said Jen Ronholm, PhD, associate professor, McGill University and Canada research chair in agricultural microbiology. “We'd have shortages of a lot of things that we need. So, it's really bridging that gap to come up with the novel technologies that don't currently exist to be able to farm effectively and not affect human health through over consumption of antibiotics.”

Looking for novel ways to reduce antibiotics in the agricultural industry has been an area of study for Ronholm. She has been looking at the microbiome and how it can help reduce the need for antibiotics in animals.

“What we're trying to do is come up with ways that we can still farm effectively without using those antibiotics,” Ronholm said. “And we're trying to do this through manipulating the microbiome of animals so making it really resist to infections so we don't need those antibiotics in agriculture, and that would have the effect of lowering usage and saving the antibiotics for human use.”

Ronholm says she and her co-investigators are looking to identify what a “healthy” microbiome is, and what a microbiome that might be susceptible to bacterial infections looks like. They are exploring down to the species level, which means they are looking to identify members of the microbiome that are protective against different types of infection so that these bacteria can be investigated as potential probiotics to prevent these types of infections.

In humans, studies have been ongoing looking at the gut and how the microbiome can affect overall health. One area of study has been around the microbiome and treatment for 

. And newer therapies using this concept have been FDA approved to help patients with recurrent bouts of the infection.

, Ronholm made a presentation titled, Precision Microbiome Engineering as an Alternative to Antibiotics to Prevent Bacterial infections in Agriculture. She sat down with 

 to discuss her ongoing work in this area. (see 

She believes there is a lot of potential to understanding the microbiome in agriculture with better benefits.

“It has a lot of potential in agriculture, specifically because you control everything about the animals: you control their environment, you control their food. So, it might actually be more effective in agriculture than in humans.”

Jennifer Ronholm, PhD, discusses the novel concept of microbiome protection to create healthier animals and reduce antimicrobial usage.

Trying to protect agriculture and preserve antibiotics

dvm360®, the leading multimedia provider of animal health care communications, education and research for veterinary professionals, is honored to announce the winners of the fourth annual Veterinary Heroes® recognition program. In honor of the inductees, an award ceremony will be held during the 

, where the winners will be recognized for their unwavering commitment and extraordinary efforts within the veterinary profession. The ceremony will take place at the Long Beach Convention Center in Long Beach, California, on Sunday, December 8, 2024, at noon PST. All Fetch Long Beach registrants may attend the award ceremony for no additional fee.

This year’s Veterinary Heroes program is supported by corporate sponsor Schwarzman Animal Medical Center and category sponsors Blue Buffalo Natural, MedVet, Banfield Pet Hospital, Thrive Pet Healthcare and PRN Pharmacal. The program recognizes those who have positively impacted animal care, demonstrating leadership, expertise and a commitment to improving the health and well-being of animals. These recognized individuals have excelled in their professional roles and influenced the broader veterinary community, setting new standards and inspiring others to continue evolving the practice of veterinary care.

“As their colleague, I’m truly honored to congratulate all of the winners of the fourth annual Veterinary Heroes award program and shake their hand,” Adam Christman, DVM, MBA, chief veterinary officer at dvm360 and the Fetch veterinary conferences, said in a news release. “It is my sincere pleasure to be part of an incredibly passionate and compassionate profession that goes above and beyond the call of duty for animals.”

: Geraldine Sprague — Tabernacle Animal Hospital (Tabernacle, New Jersey)

: Camia Tonge, M.S., LVT, VTS (SAIM) — Schwarzman Animal Medical Center (New York, New York)

: Jan Bellows, DVM, DIPL, AVDC, ABVP — Hometown Animal Hospital and All Pets Dental (Weston, Florida)

: Meghan Solc, DVM, DACVD — Dermatology for Animals, A Thrive Pet Healthcare Partner (Catonsville, Maryland)

: Dennis Tim Crowe Jr, DVM, Ph.D., DACVS, DACVECC, DACHM, NREMT-I, CFF — Veterinary Surgery, Emergency, and Critical Care Services and Consulting (Ventura, Thousand Oaks, California, and Bogart, Georgia)

: Susan V. Whittred, DVM — Patricia H. Ladew Foundation, Inc./The Paw Project (Oyster Bay, New York)

: Patricia Kennedy Arrington, DVM, CVFP — Jefferson Animal Hospital Regional Emergency Practice and Trauma Center (Louisville, Kentucky)

: Ann E. Hohenhaus, DVM, DACVIM (Oncology, SAIM) — Schwarzman Animal Medical Center (New York, New York)

: Valerie J. Parker, DVM, DACVIM (SAIM and Nutrition) — The Ohio State University Medical Center (Columbus, Ohio)

: Adrianne Hiller, BS — CityVet – MidCities (Bedford, Texas)

: Karl Maritato, DVM, DACVS-SA — MedVet Cincinnati (Fairfax, Ohio)

Veterinary Paraprofessional (non-credentialed support staff)

: Khalfani Carr — VCA Woodbridge (Woodbridge VA), Regional Veterinary Referral Center (Springfield, Virginia)

To learn more about the conference and to register, please visit the 

dvm360 announces winners of the prestigious Veterinary Heroes program. News release. dvm360 and MJH Life Sciences. September 6, 2024.

This year’s event is supported by corporate sponsor Schwarzman Animal Medical Center and category sponsors Blue Buffalo Natural, MedVet, Banfield Pet Hospital, Thrive Pet Healthcare and PRN Pharmacal.