A survey conducted in 2023 by the American Association of Veterinary State Boards (AAVSB) found most veterinarians and technicians support better utilization of credentialed veterinary technicians (CrVTs) to as a solution to alleviate shortages in the veterinary workforce instead of creating a new midlevel practitioner (MLP).

According to a release from the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA), AAVSB is made up of members that are licensed in over 60 jurisdictions, including the entire United States, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the US Virgin Islands, and the 10 Canadian provinces. AAVSB released the survey to its members to better assess current roles and responsibilities of veterinary technicians as well as gauge the interest within North America for a MLP, whose duties would overlap those of veterinarians and technicians.

Almost 14,000 veterinarians and technicians responded to the AAVSB survey, with 61% of them being technicians. Most of the respondents also work in companion animal exclusive clinics and half work in suburbs, followed by urban and rural areas. Due to the findings of the survey, the AAVSB indicated it will not encourage legislative and regulatory attempts to create this midlevel position in veterinary clinics and will instead identify ways to expand the scope of practice for technicians.

"Our extensive survey revealed that while there is some interest in exploring the concept of a midlevel veterinary practitioner, there are significant concerns regarding implementation, such as training adequacy, regulatory impacts, and timing, especially considering that credentialed veterinary technicians are not being utilized fully at this time," said Kim Gemeinhardt, DVM, president of the AAVSB, in an organizational release.

 "Our commitment remains to public protection and ensuring accessible, quality veterinary care. The survey data demonstrates that veterinary technicians can and should be utilized more extensively to address gaps in veterinary care, before a midlevel veterinary practitioner can be considered."

A separate survey conducted by the Veterinary Management Groups (VMG), a membership organization made up of practice owners striving to improve the business aspects of their practice, asked members about the creation of a MLP. The respondents were ‘overwhelmingly’ opposed to the idea stating that they were afraid of nonveterinarians performing surgeries due to risks and potential complications, a decline in care quality resulting in improper diagnosis or malpractice, devaluing the veterinary degree, diluting revenue streams, and perception that MLPs are driven by interests in lower labor costs instead of actual need.

The VMG survey suggested alternatives such as to improve and properly leverage CrVTs in practices, push for universal licensure for technicians, focusing on enhancing and expanding technicians specialist programs, and increase pay and support for current technicians.

"The VMG survey revealed a spectrum of opinions on the proposed VPA degree program, from cautious optimism to strong opposition. While some members saw potential benefits in addressing labor shortages and supporting DVMs, the majority expressed significant concerns about the program’s execution, implications, and risks," Matthew Salois, PhD, president of Veterinary Management Groups, told dvm360 exclusively.

"The widespread apprehension, particularly regarding the involvement of VPAs in surgical procedures, highlights the need for careful consideration and potentially alternative approaches to addressing the workforce challenges within the veterinary profession," he concluded.

AAVSB, VMG surveys find lack of support for midlevel practitioner. American Veterinary Medical Association. July 17, 2024. Accessed July 18, 2024. 

https://www.avma.org/news/aavsb-vmg-surveys-find-lack-support-midlevel-practitioner?utm_source=delivra&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=todays-headlines-news

AAVSB Releases Conclusions of the North American Veterinary Team Delegation Survey. News release. June 26, 2024. Accessed July 18, 2024. https://www.aavsb.org/news/article/178

Articles

Surveys conducted separately by Veterinary Management Groups and American Association of Veterinary State Boards support better utilization of credentialed technicians as the solution to workforce issues

Surveys find a lack of support for midlevel practitioners in the veterinary industry

Zaza, the first tiger cub born in a zoo in Wales. (Photo courtesy of Manor Wildlife Park)

Manor Wildlife Park, a zoo in St Florence, Wales, recently announced the birth of Zaza, a Sumatran tiger. The occasion marks the first time a tiger cub has been born in a zoo in Wales and is a significant step towards global wildlife conservation efforts.

Born on May 25, 2024, Zaza is part of one of the most endangered tiger subspecies in the world. Her recent entrance represents a new achievement for Manor Wildlife Park and wildlife conservation in Wales as Sumatran tigers face grave threats from habitat loss and poaching. Her birth is an emblem of hope, bringing “renewed focus” to the urgency behind the protection of these animals and their natural habitat, according to Manor Wildlife Park.

"We are overjoyed to welcome Zaza to our family. This birth is a testament to the dedication and hard work of our team, who have worked tirelessly to create an environment where these magnificent animals can thrive. Zaza's arrival is a beacon of hope for the conservation of Sumatran tigers, and we are committed to ensuring she grows up healthy and strong," Rick Newton, animal manager at Manor Wildlife Park, expressed in an organizational release.

Manor Wildlife Park’s veterinary and animal care teams closely monitored the birth to ensure both the mother and cub received optimal care. According to the zoo, Zaza has been thriving under the attentive care of her mother, Terima, with the 2 of them developing a strong bond since the birth.

Mother and cub. (Photo courtesy of Manor Wildlife Park)

The zoo has a conservation program that is committed to advancing worldwide efforts in safeguarding endangered species through breeding programs, habitat conservation, and public education. It is also part of the Sumatran tiger European breeding program, whose objective is to safeguard the future of “the most enigmatic of species,” according to the organization.

 Currently, a male Sumatran tiger named Jaya resides in Manor Wildlife Park alongside Terima, a female counterpart. Both Jaya and Terima arrived from zoos—Chester Zoo in England in 2016, and Beauval Zoological Park in France in 2015, respectively.

According to Manor Wildlife Park, Sumatran tigers are indigenous to the island of Sumatra in Indonesia, preferring the thick forests of the lowland and highland regions. The population of Sumatran tigers in Sumatra, Indonesia has drastically declined due to habitat loss and deforestation, primarily caused by extensive logging and the expansion of agriculture, particularly palm oil plantations.

 From 1985 to 2014, the island of Sumatra faced a decline from 58% to 26% in its forest cover.

Additionally, illegal hunting poses a significant threat to these tigers given the desire of their skins and the perception of them as a threat to livestock.

 In fact, approximately 80% of Sumatran tiger deaths are caused by poaching for trade, a survey from TRAFFIC, a worldwide trade monitoring network, found.

 As a result, these animals are now critically endangered.

 The Sumatran tiger is the sole surviving tiger population in the Sunda Islands in Indonesia, where both the Bali tiger and Javan tiger are now extinct.

Wales’ first tiger cub. News release. Manor Wildlife Park. July 9, 2024. Accessed July 17, 2024. 

https://www.manorwildlifepark.co.uk/sumatran-tigers

Sunda Tiger. World Wildlife Fund. Accessed July 17, 2024. 

https://www.worldwildlife.org/species/sunda-tiger#:~:text=Illegal%20Wildlife%20Trade,least%2040%20animals%20per%20year

Born in Wales, the cub is a "symbol of hope" for wildlife conservation efforts

Birth of Sumatran tiger is a boost to critically endangered subspecies

Staff and students Mississippi State University's College of Veterinary Medicine analyzing radiology scans from Toast Malone. (Images courtesty of Grace Cockrell)

Toast Malone, a Kemp’s ridley sea turtle, has been successfully treated for specialized care at Mississippi State University’s College of Veterinary Medicine (MSU CVM). This turtle, among the world’s most endangered sea turtle species, received an endoscopy upon arrival where John Thomason, DVM, MS, DACVIM, identified and removed a fishhook from his stomach, saving his life.

The team at MSU CVM treated Toast Malone 2 other times prior to this one. The team has performed similar procedures to this latest one as well as microchipped the turtle to track and monitor its recovery. According to an organizational release,

 treatment efforts of the sea turtle are part of the university- based Global Center for Aquatic Health and Food Security (GCAHFS) and its Marine Mammal and Sea Turtle Health Program. This program is a joint effort between the MSU CVM and the Institute for Marine Mammal Studies in Gulfport.

“We are giving these animals the opportunity to recover and thrive,” explained Thomason.

 “It is inevitable that humans are going to come in contact with marine animals, and it should be our responsibility to help these animals if they need us—especially if we move into their environment.”

According to Thomason, sea turtles have great geographic navigational skills and likely return to familiar areas, regardless of any hazards they could encounter. The MSU CVM team has treated other turtles besides Toast Malone, including a loggerhead sea turtle now known as Mudpie. Mudpie presented to the MSU CVM veterinary team with 2 fishhooks, one lodged in his mouth and the other in his esophagus. Thomason successfully removed both with the help of CVM faculty and fourth-year students.

Students and faculty at Mississippi State University College of Veterinary Medicine staff working together to remove a fishhook from Mudpie's mouth and esophagus.

“This was the first time I have witnessed and assisted in using endoscopy to remove fishing hooks, it was an incredible learning experience,” said Kathryn Rapp, a fourth-year student at MSU CVM.

 “As a group, we reviewed anesthetic protocols for chelonians, learned how to safely restrain for the procedure and discussed the upper airway anatomy of sea turtles. It was amazing to see students, staff and doctors from so many departments of the hospital combine their knowledge and skills to help these endangered animals.”

CVM Faculty, staff, and students through the GCAHFS Gulf Coast Aquatic Health Program play a key role in the rehabilitation of these marine animals regularly. For the school’s students, they are exposed to these procedures and research opportunities through first-hand experience.

Mudpie and Toast Malone left the hospital based in Starkville on the same day as their procedures and returned to the GCAHGS faculty and staff to receive care on the Mississippi coast for further rehabilitation.

“They are not ready to be relThe MSU CVM case has treated other turtles besides Toast Maloneeased yet. We need to make sure these turtles are eating, gaining weight, able to swim and dive,” concluded Thomason. “We need to make sure they can hunt. They need to show us that they can survive in the wild. I am optimistic they will both be released.”

Kemp’s ridley sea turtles were named after Richard M. Kemp, a fisherman located in Key West, Florida after he became the first person to submit the species for identification in 1906.

 Primarily found in the Gulf of Mexico, these endangered sea turtles can be found in the Atlantic Ocean, Nova Scotia, and even North Atlantic. In the 1940s, and the mid 1980s the number of nests began to severely decline, with less than 250 nesting females nesting 702 eggs. Thanks to conservation efforts in the 1990s, Kemp’s ridley sea turtles slowly rebounded.

MSU to the rescue: Veterinary medicine college again saves rare sea turtle. News release. Mississippi State University. July 12, 2024. Accessed July 18, 2024. 

https://www.msstate.edu/newsroom/article/2024/07/msu-rescue-veterinary-medicine-college-again-saves-rare-sea-turtle

NOAA Fisheries. Kemp’s Ridley Turtle | NOAA Fisheries. NOAA. Published March 11, 2020. Accessed July 18, 2024. 

https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/species/kemps-ridley-turtle

The turtle had its third successful visit for special care after a fishhook was lodged in his stomach

Mississippi State University saves rare sea turtle 

On this week's episode of The Vet Blast Podcast, our host Adam Christman, DVM, MBA, welcomes first time guest Benjamin Carter, DVM, chief medical officer, Chewy Vet Care, and repeat guest Mita Malhotra, president of Chewy Health, to discuss Chewy's latest approach to veterinary care. This approach creates personalized medicine, digital integration, and prioritizing customer service to cater to the needs of pet parents, especially millennial and Generation Z pet owners. 

The pair also explains how Chewy is investing in the future of its veterinarians and future veterinarians with mentorship and scholarship programs through partnerships with other veterinary organizations. 

: So high quality care, again, we believe, has 2 dimensions. One is, you know, absolutely you need the the excellent care team. So that is a no brainer. We absolutely need that. But I think the other aspect is, you know, we're dealing with customers today's again, millennials and Gen z's. They're hyper aware. They have an opinion on their pet's care. They don't want to be told what to do one way they want to be part of this care journey, and I think that is very, very important. They want the education. 

So to enable this, what we've done is, if you walk into our clinic, you walk into our exam rooms, we have these giant touch screens, which effectively our care team uses to explain to pet parents and customers every aspect of the diagnosis that's happening. So, what is the diagnosis? What are the test results? We can show them images of... heartworms, sometimes even the fleas, broken bones, etc. All of those things basically allow [the client] to be part of the journey. They're educated. They believe like they're part of the care and the conversation. And then also allows them to say 'yes' to a lot of the care that we're delivering. So I think helps not only them, but I think also good outcomes for pets as well, so we love that. 

Podcasts

This week's episode educates listeners on Chewy Vet Care's innovative approach to veterinary care 

Convenient care for the modern pet owner

The American Heartworm Society (AHS) announced the launch of “Heartworms Unraveled,” a 5 video-based training series that will provide clinical staff members comprehensive education on heartworm biology, heartworm life cycle, and epidemiology.

“We see clinical training that equips veterinary technicians and other staff members to confidently speak with clients about the importance of heartworm management as one of our top priorities,” said Jenni Rizzo, DVM, AHS president, in an organizational release.

“Heartworm disease is a serious and complex disease in dogs and cats, and veterinary staff members play an invaluable role in educating clients about it. Not only do staff members interact with virtually every client in the practice, but as committed pet owners themselves, they have the passion—and the credibility—to talk about heartworm disease in ways that resonate with pet owners,” she continued.

The series will also offer attendees the chance to learn about heartworm testing, prevention, treatment, and feline heartworm disease. According to the release, the video series will include practitioners and specialists from the AHS board of directors and Paola Dominguez-Lopez, CVT, an AHS board member who provides education tips at the end of the training module.

According to the Companion Animal Parasite Council (CAPC), its 2024 forecast has found that very few regions are expected to have a lower-than-average prevalence of heartworm in 2024. Because of this, it is crucial for veterinary teams to be able to educate clients on how the changes in local environments can increase the risk of their pets getting infected with heartworm.

 Year-round preventative medicine is currently the best way to provide internal and external parasite control. CAPC also recommends annual testing to monitor compliance and preventive efficacy.

Each training module will last between 24 to 45 minutes and can be accessed by veterinarians and staff members once registered for the course. The courses are free of charge for professionals, but AHS is asking professionals that can afford to donate to defray program costs.

American Heartworm Society Offers New Staff Training Course. News release. American Heartworm Society. July 17, 2024. Accessed July 17, 2024.

2024 Annual Pet Parasite Forecasts. Companion Animal Parasite Council. Accessed July 17, 2024. https://capcvet.org/articles/2024-annual-pet-parasite-forecasts/

The series will provide comprehensive and staff-oriented education for heartworm management 

AHS announces new staff training course 

The proliferation of new veterinary health facilities nationwide is a step towards improving the accessibility of animal care and services. The rise in clinics and hospitals allows pet owners to access consultations, preventive care, and emergency services promptly, enhancing the overall health outcomes of animals.

Here are 3 recent clinic and hospitals opening across the United States:

CityVet clinic. (Photo courtesy of CityVet)

CityVet, a network of 40 veterinary-owned practices in the United States, announced the recent opening of a new clinic in Chamblee, Georgia, located at 5528 Peachtree Blvd. The clinic began welcoming clients on July 15, 2024, and provides a wide range of pet care services, including preventative care, diagnostics, surgery, grooming, dental care, and laparoscopic procedures. These services are delivered with a personalized approach designed to meet the specific needs of every pet and their owners, according to the company.

“As part of our broader launch into Atlanta, expanding into Chamblee, only 14 miles from downtown, represents a significant milestone for CityVet. As the 'Fastest Growing City in DeKalb County,' Chamblee's vibrant business district makes it an ideal setting. We are confident that our business model will resonate well here and that we will quickly become a trusted and integral part of the Chamblee community," expressed David Boguslawski, president and CEO of CityVet, in a news release.

The new clinic will be led by Kelly Bradley, DVM, an expert in laparoscopic procedures like spays and gastropexy. Bradley’s approach prioritizes cultivating strong relationships with clients and their pets, reflecting her belief that the clinic should always maintain a welcoming environment where both pets and their owners feel valued and supported. “I am absolutely thrilled to partner with CityVet. Their mission statement and core values resonate deeply with my own practice beliefs. CityVet isn't just a workplace; it's a supportive family environment,” said Bradley in the release.

Chewy Vet Care in Coral Springs, Florida; Denver, Colorado

Chewy Vet Care clinic. (Photo courtesy of Chewy Vet Care)

Chewy Vet Care opened the doors to a new location in Coral Springs, Florida, with another recent opening in Denver, Colorado. Earlier this year, they opened additional locations in Plantation, Florida, and Atlanta, Georgia. These openings mark Chewy's most substantial healthcare expansion to date, underlining their dedication to delivering high quality medical care with a personal touch, according to the company.

“This is one of the most significant moments in Chewy’s history as we open the doors to our Chewy Vet Care practices and physically become a part of our customers' lives and in their neighborhoods. Our team has worked relentlessly to create an experience that is extraordinary and memorable for pets, customers, and our veterinary teams. We can’t wait to take care of all the furry family members in South Florida, Denver and Atlanta!” said Mita Malhotra, president of Chewy Health, in an organizational release.

The newest locations feature separate waiting areas for pets uncomfortable with social settings and exam rooms designed to ensure pets do not feel confined, according to the company. From a veterinary standpoint, the new facilities include intentionally integrated spaces such as a break room, dedicated offices, and a wellness area for team members. The clinics offer in-person visits 6 days a week and round-the-clock virtual health guidance.

Red Bank Veterinary Hospital in Tinton Falls, New Jersey

Ethos Veterinary Health, a network of specialty and emergency hospitals in North America, expressed its excitement of the opening of its Red Bank Veterinary Hospital in Tinton Falls, New Jersey. The facility features more than 100,000 sq ft and offers more than 16 specialties and advanced capabilities, with approximately 400 professionals at the forefront.

“Our commitment to investing in our community hospitals is a top priority,” Ryan Buck, president of Ethos Veterinary Health, said in an organizational release.

 “This hospital sets the standard for world-class care, equipped with the best technology found in private practice.”

The hospital is equipped with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), computed tomography (CT), Variation Radiation Therapy and fluoroscopy. It also features a separate entrance and waiting area, a rehabilitation unit, 12 specialized surgery suites, training facilities, and separate feline-only waiting areas. Additionally, Red Bank is the sole veterinary hospital on the East Coast equipped with an onsite positron emission tomography (PET) CT GE Discovery 710-128 slice scanner, which enables early cancer detection in pet patients, according to the company.

CityVet, a leading network of veterinary-owned practices, expanding to Atlanta with its first clinic to officially open its doors in Chamblee, Georgia on Monday, July 15. News release. July 8, 2024.

Chewy Vet Care opens six locations in 2024. Chewy, Inc. July 16, 2024.

Chewy opens first brick-and-mortar veterinary practice. News release. Pet Business. April 24, 2024. Accessed July 17, 2024. https://www.petbusiness.com/chewy-opens-first-brick-and-mortar-veterinary-practice/article_f9956ef0-0255-11ef-90e0-3f3c48e7a843.html

Ethos unveils new state-of-the-art Red Bank Veterinary Hospital. News release. Ethos Veterinary Health. May 21, 2024.

Take a look at these 3 veterinary centers newly opened