Laila Proença, DVM, PhD, MV, MSc, DACZM explains that affordable intraoral cameras plus mandatory pre- and post-extraction imaging let general practitioners perform safe, complete dental extractions.

Quick tips for rabbit cheek teeth extractions

Laila Proença DVM, PhD, MV, MSc, DACZM, founder and CEO of VetAhead, highlights practical steps that make oral surgery attainable for general practitioners. She emphasizes inexpensive cameras as the clinician’s eyes, explains why preoperative and postoperative imaging is essential, and makes the case that complete tooth removal is the only way to prevent future complications.

: My name is Laila Proença. I am the founder and CEO of VetAhead, where we have everything you need to learn and to see patients by Zoom or in person. This is definitely for our general practitioner colleagues. They can absolutely do it. They are already doing complicated procedures in dogs and cats. This is just adapting to a new mouth with a new space, which is a little different.

One must have that sometimes discourages people but is much simpler than it sounds is a camera. Right now, we are using a camera. Cameras are everywhere. People worry they need expensive equipment and they do not. The camera is our eyes. The mouth is so small that we cannot really see back there, and the camera helps us reach places we cannot get to with our naked eye. It makes a world of difference. In many of these systems your phone becomes your monitor because the camera connects via Wi-Fi or Bluetooth to a computer, a tablet, or a phone. It is that easy.

What we need most is light because it is a dark tunnel and the camera gets us there. Today there are many affordable options you can buy online, and veterinary instruments are far more accessible than they were 10 years ago. I want people not to be discouraged by the idea of new equipment.

For diagnostics and for extractions we need imaging. That means skull radiographs or a CT scan, sometimes both, but we must have imaging. One thing people forget is to take imaging after an extraction. You need to document by radiograph or CT that you removed the entire tooth or teeth. Fractured teeth will leave small pieces behind. It is not if this will happen, it is when. Diseased teeth are abnormal and they fracture much more easily.

Here is the trick with the camera. You have the dark tunnel and a little hole where a fragment sits, and you need to dig and find it. The camera is your best friend. You cannot see those fragments without the camera. Even if you look with the camera and do not think you see anything, there may be blood or tissue covering a fragment. That is why post-extraction imaging is essential. If the image shows a fragment, you need to go back in and remove it. Doing that prevents future episodes and ensures you removed the entire tooth. Do not skip post-extraction radiographs or CT no matter how certain you are that the tooth is complete.

To read more news and view expert insights from Fetch Long Beach, visit 

’s dedicated site for conference coverage at 

https://www.dvm360.com/conference/fetch-long-beach

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Quick tips for rabbit cheek teeth extraction

On December 15, 2025, the US Department of Justice filed a statement of interest in the lawsuit Lincoln Memorial University (LMU) filed against the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) challenging its accreditation standards and procedures. The Department of Justice said in its press release that professional accreditation societies, such as the AVMA, cannot “erect anticompetitive hurdles” that reduce competition by restricting the number of veterinary providers entering the profession.

“Pets and animals give us so much in life and form the backbone of American food security, but their healthcare needs can add up over time,” said Dina Kallay, Deputy Assistant Attorney General in the Department of Justice's Antitrust Division. 

“The Justice Department is committed to supporting pet owners, livestock farmers, and aspiring veterinarians by ensuring that accreditation standards and procedures do not unnecessarily restrict competition in veterinary education and services. Free markets succeed when there is robust competition unhindered by unnecessary restrictions. Veterinary services are no exception to this rule.”

According to the release, the Department of Justice is taking no position on the plaintiff’s claims. Its statement of interest claims that when accreditation standards are created and assessing conformance with them, any professional association must comply with antitrust laws.

 Accreditors tend to be made up of interested market participants who develop standards behind closed doors and then later one, face inherent conflict of interest when regulating admission into a profession.1 Because of this, their professional and occupational restrictions can unnecessarily stop market entry, stymie innovation, increase costs, and at the core of it, harm American citizens and in this case, their pets.

To protect people from anticompetitive practices, the antitrust laws emphasize the importance of procedural safeguards when it comes to creating standards and have long scrutinized self-regulation by trade associations and professionals. In this case of LMU vs AVMA, accreditation practices are not exempt from antitrust laws because each state requires veterinarians to graduate from accredited schools, and under federal law, the AVMA has been recognized as an accreditor.

For clients and livestock farmers, the rising costs of veterinary care is threatening their ability to afford the care the animals they care for need. According to the Department of Justice, the US has only had around 34 accredited veterinary colleges for the last few decades, all accredited solely by the AVMA.

The Antitrust Division of the Department of Justice routinely files amicus briefs and statements of interest in federal court to help protect competition and consumers. These filings, which also encourage development of antitrust law, are available on the Antitrust Division’s website.

On June 18, 2025, Lincoln Memorial University announced that it filed a lawsuit against the AVMA for allegedly hindering competition in educating future veterinary professionals, which then hurts patients in need of veterinary care. The university stated in its release that it is suing to challenge its anticompetitive accreditation practices that "illegally restrict the number of accredited schools of veterinary medicine," the output of students, and the number of veterinarians in the United States.

"These insurmountable barriers to entry for new veterinary schools limit the number of available veterinary schools, which limits the number of graduates, which limits the veterinary options for pet owners in America," said Jason McConnell, DBA, LMU president, in the organizational release.

 "This is the essence of an antitrust violation. One economically interested group controlling the market to the detriment of consumers."

Within the lawsuit, LMU also claims that the AVMA is using its monopoly power to restrict new and existing schools from obtaining accreditation through the AVMA’s Council on Education by imposing requirements the university says are unnecessary to graduate competent veterinarians. LMU alleges these requirements include mandates for research resources, facilities, and faculty that may not be financially feasible for some schools or essential to the practice of veterinary medicine.

Justice Department Reaffirms Veterinary Accreditation Standards and Procedures Are Subject to Antitrust Scrutiny. News release. United States Department of Justice. December 15, 2025. Accessed December 16, 2025. https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/justice-department-reaffirms-veterinary-accreditation-standards-and-procedures-are-subject

McCafferty C. Lincoln Memorial University sues American Veterinary Medical Association. June 18, 2025. Accessed December 16, 2025. https://www.dvm360.com/view/lincoln-memorial-university-sues-american-veterinary-medical-association

Largest U.S. veterinary school takes legal action to protect consumers and their pets. News release. Lincoln Memorial University. June 18, 2025, Accessed June 18, 2025. 

https://prnmedia.prnewswire.com/news-releases/largest-us-veterinary-school-takes-legal-action-to-protect-consumers-and-their-pets-302484550.html

Articles

The lawsuit filed by Lincoln Memorial University alleged that the American Veterinary Medical Association was in violation of antitrust laws. 

US Department of Justice files statement of interest in LMU lawsuit

Lisa Freeman, DVM, PhD, DACVIM (Nutrition), of Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine at Tufts University, has been named the winner of the AKC Canine Health Foundation’s inaugural Canine Health Discovery of the Year Award for her research into diet-associated dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM), the foundation announced on December 16, 2025.

Image Credit: © Shutter2U | stock.adobe.com

The discovery offers a biologically plausible mechanism for further study and a way for veterinarians to prioritize early detection, referral, and reporting. Freeman’s work had been a finalist for this award, a recognition that highlights the potential clinical impact of this finding.

Freeman’s team identified a urinary lipid metabolite that is elevated in dogs with diet-associated DCM, and that is consistent with phospholipidosis, a cellular accumulation of phospholipids that can damage tissue. The finding offers a biologically plausible mechanism linking certain diets that include high amounts of pulses, such as peas and lentils, to cardiac injury in some dogs.

The Discovery Award recognizes a single research advance each year that has strong potential to change canine health. The prize for the winner includes up to $75,000 in potential research funding plus a $10,000 cash award, which Freeman intends to apply to continued study of diet-associated DCM. Freeman was honored alongside 2 other finalists at the AKC Canine Health Foundation Canines & Cocktails gala on December 11, 2025.

Freeman said she was honored to have the research recognized by the inaugural award and expressed appreciation for the AKC Canine Health Foundation’s support. Foundation leadership said the project exemplifies the type of bold, rigorous work the award was created to spotlight.

In the study described in dvm360’s earlier coverage, the research team measured higher normalized urine concentrations of a lipid metabolite known as di-22:6-bis(monoacylglycerol)phosphate, or di-22:6-BMP, in dogs with DCM that had been eating pulse-rich diets. Elevated di-22:6-BMP is compatible with phospholipidosis, which gives researchers a testable hypothesis about how diet might contribute to myocardial damage in susceptible animals. The urinary test is currently research only, but it provides a measurable signal to guide future investigations and prioritization of diagnostic efforts.

Urinary biomarker links diet-associated DCM to phospholipidosis

Veterinarians have been urged to include a detailed nutritional history and body and muscle condition assessment when evaluating patients for cardiac disease, because diet-associated DCM has been reported across a variety of breeds and dietary formulations.² Freeman’s findings support that practical advice by supplying a molecular link that could help distinguish diet-associated cases and guide next steps in prevention and treatment.

The AKC Canine Health Foundation said it will use the award and its publicity to stimulate further research and collaboration across the veterinary research community.

 For clinicians, the immediate takeaway is to take a thorough diet history and consider diet as one potential factor when evaluating dogs with DCM.

AKC Canine Health Foundation announces Dr. Lisa Freeman as recipient of inaugural Canine Health Discovery of the Year Award. News release. AKC Canine Health Foundation. December 16, 2025. Accessed December 16, 2025. https://www.akcchf.org/press-release/akc-canine-health-foundation-announces-dr-lisa-freeman-as-recipient-of-inaugural-canine-health-discovery-of-the-year-award/

Alaburda B. Urinary biomarker links diet-associated DCM to phospholipidosis. dvm360. December 11, 2025. Accessed December 16, 2025. https://www.dvm360.com/view/urinary-biomarker-links-diet-associated-dcm-to-phospholipidosis

Lisa Freeman’s team identified a urinary biomarker linked to phospholipidosis that may explain how pulse-rich diets contribute to dilated cardiomyopathy in dogs.

Tufts researcher wins AKC award for diet-associated DCM discovery

To help readers stay up to date with the latest innovations in the veterinary and pet care spectrum, 

 has curated a list of recent product and technology launches.

The following were highlighted in dvm360’s November/December magazine issue:

Ingelvac CircoFLEX AD by Boehringer Ingelheim is the first vaccine to protect against the most common genotypes of porcine circovirus type 2 (PCV2). The vaccine combines PCV2a and PCV2d antigens in 1 dose. The vaccine is approved for healthy pigs at least 2 weeks old and is administered intramuscularly through a single, 1-mL dose. Immunity begins 2 weeks after vaccination and lasts for at least 6 months.

PetPace V3.0 by PetPace is a smart collar that allows users to share data with veterinarians. The collar provides clinical-grade vital signs and biometric monitoring, allowing veterinarians to monitor chronic disease, treatment protocols, and postprocedure recovery. It also supports virtual consultations and telemedicine services. Using artificial intelligence (AI), the product also can detect and quantify pain, and PetPace is piloting a feature for epilepsy episode monitoring.

Skin + Allergy by Spirited Paw, a Standard Process brand, is a supplement for dogs and cats that supports skin health. It fights itching, redness, and irritation caused by seasonal and environmental allergies. The product contains a blend of non-GMO bovine colostrum, licorice root, zinc, biotin, and vitamin E. According to Spirited Paw, the liver-flavored supplement provides support to pets against environmental irritants such as pollen, mold, dust mites, and indoor allergens.

Filaquin by Nutramax Laboratories Veterinary Sciences, Inc, is an anal gland supplement for dogs that is formulated with NMXFBR4, a proprietary blend of ingredients that contain soluble and insoluble fiber to support normal stool consistency. The product also contains prebiotics and postbiotics for anal gland health, as well as β-glucan, which helps support immune health.

AKC Reunite launched a temperature-sensing microchip. The ISO standard 134.2 kHz microchip, which identifies the pet with a unique microchip ID number, can read the pet’s temperature when scanned by a compatible temperature-sensing microchip scanner.

ZyVet Animal Health launched the first FDA-approved generic formulation of furosemide tablets. The medication, which is indicated for cats and dogs, is available in multiple strengths for patient-specific dosing. Furosemide is the most widely used veterinary diuretic for reducing edema and pulmonary congestion caused by cardiac, renal, or systemic disease.

A roundup of the latest products and innovative technology in veterinary medicine.

Products+Services360: Temperature-sensing microchip & other products

In this episode of The Vet Blast Podcast presented by dvm360, Adam Christman, DVM, MBA, welcomes Nicole Westfall, MBA, to talk more about noninvasive pain management options from Zomedica.

Modern therapies for patients with chronic pain

This episode of The Vet Blast Podcast presented by dvm360 is sponsored by Zomedica.

During this live podcast recording from dvm360’s Fetch Kansas City conference, our host Adam Christman, DVM, MBA, welcomes special guest Nicole Westfall, MBA, Senior Vice President of Marketing at Zomedica, to the show. They discuss PulseVet Shock Wave Therapy, The Assisi Loop, and how both products offer noninvasive pain management options for patients with chronic pain.

Throughout the episode, Westfall and Christman take a deep dive into how each product works, their clinical benefits, and a walkthrough of what at-home sessions look like for clients.

Below is a partial transcript, edited lightly for clarity.

And how many minutes per session? And how many do you get out of a loop? 

Sure. So the loop is 15 minutes per session. Again, all you do is turn it on, the lights go on, and then it goes off when it's done, you get 150 treatments out of each loop. And then the [Loop Lounge], you actually get over 6000 treatments, which is fantastic, right? And it too, is 15 minutes, and all you do is turn it on.

: And the research has been in the human literature for many years, and then started coming over to the veterinary space, right?

 Yeah, the Assisi products were really started in the human field, and then with the founders of Assisi, they worked on those products and then adapted it to the pet space. And so then we have a couple of great studies, one by [Leilani Alvarez, DVM, DACVSMR] who I think is your keynote coming up from AMC, and a couple of other ones in the animal space. But then there's a ton in the human space.

Yeah, there really is a ton in human space. So using that coupling that with shock wave therapy, what are some trends that you're seeing going forward when we're looking at multimodal pain management?

Well, we're really seeing that pet owners don't want to drug their dogs every day if they don't have to. It's expensive, it's hard to do. I mean, I'm sure you can tell me more on that. So we're seeing that they want to do non invasive treatment therapies, right? And so doing coupling shock wave and the Assisi Loop is an easy way to do that, because unlike some of the other non invasive therapies, they don't have to come quite as often. For shock wave, right? It's 1-3  treatments, depending on what the vet recommends. 

And then the Assisi loop is so easy to do at home, it's really minimal effort, and they're loving that, and they're not having to use nearly as many NSAIDs or things like that that could harm the pets on the inside.

Podcasts

Explore noninvasive treatment options for chronic pain patients in this episode of The Vet Blast Podcast presented by dvm360.

With hazards around every corner during the holidays, veterinary teams should remind clients of the risks seasonal foods and decorations can pose to pets. With extra vigilance this season, pet owners can help their animal companions avoid emergency visits.

“Holiday celebrations often mean delicious foods, beautiful decorations, and friends and family, which can be wonderful for us but may pose unexpected risks to our pets," Michael Bailey, DVM, DACVR, AAAS, president of the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA), said in a news release by the organization. "The best gift you can give your pet this holiday season is the gift of good health and safety, which means keeping seasonal hazards out of reach, providing a quiet space away from the hustle and bustle, and ensuring emergency plans are in place in case the unexpected happens."

Chocolate, baked goods (especially sweets with the sugar substitute xylitol), table scraps, and seasonal plants like lilies, holly, and mistletoe are all dangerous to pets. When it comes to decorations, tinsel, candles, electrical cords, and Christmas trees can also pose a risk, the AVMA said.

 Keeping these items out of reach is key to a safer holiday season.

Chocolate remains a leading toxic ingestion for dogs

In fact, according to the pet insurance provider Pumpkin, between 2020 and 2025, chocolate was the No. 1 most ingested toxic item for dogs, averaging a veterinary bill of $1100.

 The incident is not exclusive to dogs, as Pumpkin has also seen multiple claims related to chocolate ingestion in cats.

Dogs and cats are not able to metabolize chocolate like humans, with the toxic components of this food, caffeine and theobromine, stimulating these animals’ central nervous system and heart.

 The darker the chocolate, the higher the risk to pets. According to Cornell College of Veterinary Medicine, 1 oz of milk chocolate per lb of a dog’s weight can be lethal, whereas only 0.1 oz per lb of a dog’s body weight of unsweetened baking chocolate can be deadly.

For cats, string ingestion is a top foreign-body emergency

Although chocolate ingestion is a hazard for cats, string-related ingestion remains the No. 1 case of foreign body emergencies for these animals. Oftentimes, these ingestions can lead to linear foreign body obstruction, where the gastrointestinal obstruction leads to intestinal plication and potential perforation. On average, it costs $2500 to treat a string ingestion.

"Because cats love to hunt, their instinctual hunting behavior will take over when they see an object like a string moving," Mondrian Contreras, DVM, a veterinarian based in Illinois and founder of the VetBros Pet Education Charitable Fund, said in a news release.

 "Objects like these are always a concern because they can cause serious gastrointestinal issues, which may require surgery."

Cats playing with string or ribbon should always be supervised, and owners should ensure no part of the item is chewed or swallowed, Pumpkin said. If the string is swallowed, owners should not attempt to pull it out, and a veterinarian should be contacted immediately.

Toys and other items also pose an ingestion risk

Beyond food and décor, other commonly ingested items by dogs and cats include torn or chewed up toys. Holiday guests, excitement, and stress can lead to higher risk of ingesting toy parts, such as Legos and doll heads, during unsupervised playtime. Inspecting pets’ toys before holiday parties and throwing away anything that is damaged can help keep pets safe. Pumpkin also recommends checking toys children at home may have to ensure they are not a hazard to pets.

Socks, corn cobs, cooked bones, sticks, and rocks are also common foreign ingestions, according to Pumpkin. “Holidays can pose several dangers for pets due to various factors. The combination of increased foot traffic, the temptation of delicious but dangerous foods, and the potential for unintentional feeding can create a hazardous environment for our furry friends during the holiday season,” Contreras said.

 "If pet parents suspect that their pet has swallowed something dangerous, such as a sock or part of a toy, the first step is to contact their veterinarian for a thorough evaluation."

Safer ways to include pets in holiday celebrations

For veterinary teams counseling clients who want to include pets safely in holiday traditions, the AVMA recommends pet-appropriate gifts, such as

Toys that support exercise and mental stimulation

A microchip or updating existing chip information

“Even something as simple as a microchip can be a lifesaving gift if your pet ever becomes lost," concluded Bailey.

 "It's a gift that lasts a lifetime, and helps to ensure that you will be reunited if you and your pets become separated."

Keep pets safe and happy this holiday season: Tips from the AVMA. News release. American Veterinary Medical Association. December 10, 2025. Accessed December 16, 2025. https://www.avma.org/news/press-releases/keep-pets-safe-and-happy-holiday-season-tips-avma

Pumpkin warns pet parents of holiday hazards as new data reveals the top things pets swallow—and the surprising vet costs behind them. News release. Pumpkin Pet Insurance. December 2, 2025. Accessed December 16, 2025. https://prnmedia.prnewswire.com/news-releases/pumpkin-warns-pet-parents-of-holiday-hazards-as-new-data-reveals-the-top-things-pets-swallow--and-the-surprising-vet-costs-behind-them-302630537.html

Chocolate toxicity: What should I do if my dog eats chocolate? Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine. Accessed December 16, 2025. https://www.vet.cornell.edu/departments-centers-and-institutes/riney-canine-health-center/canine-health-topics/chocolate-toxicity-what-should-i-do-if-my-dog-eats-chocolate#:~:text=emergency%20veterinarian%20immediately.-,Cause,can%20quickly%20lead%20to%20dehydration.

Top toxic ingestions in cats and dogs and average cost of treatment, according to a pet insurance provider. 