A new alternative to the cone-shaped Elizabethan collar has been introduced on the veterinary market for helping companion animals heal from surgical incisions and wounds. The prescription topical wound product (KeraVet Gel, KeraVet Bio) contains keratin protein and is used to improve the management of partial thickness wounds that are dry, light, and moderately exuding. The gel promotes accelerated healing time and discourages wound licking with an added lick deterrent.

A study by KeraVet Bio looked at 34 healthy dogs and 12 healthy cats that underwent ovariohysterectomy or orchiectomy procedures, and 6 healthy dogs who received a repeat tape-strip insult to both forelimbs. The animals were randomly assigned to receive either KeraVet Gel or a triple antibiotic ointment. The clinical findings showed that in dogs, wounds treated with KeraVet Gel exhibited notably reduced wound edema, chronic inflammation, and more than an 85% reduction in wound licking compared to the dogs treated with the triple antibiotic ointment. In cats, wounds treated with KeraVet Gel showed significantly less edema than wounds treated in the control group. With a 

 value of 0.07, a decrease of chronic inflammation in cats was insignificant. Both dogs and cats the received KeraVet Gel application demonstrated decreased licking behaviors—85% and 87%, respectively.

A video by KeraVet Bio revealed that approximately 65% of veterinary visits involve wound assessment or care. “Clients can struggle with multistep treatment plans that decrease compliance,” Natalie Marks, DVM, CVJ, FFCP,-Elite, a KeraVet Bio advisor and animal health expert, said in the video.

In the video, Marks outlined the instructions for KeraVet Gel use, which consists of applying a thin layer of the gel to the wound, ensuring the entire wound is covered, and reapplying every 4 to 6 hours. “For some excessive lickers, more applications may be necessary,” Marks said. “KeraVet Gel can be applied as needed on day 1 to break the licking behavior. With a safe toxicity profile, no harm is anticipated with additional applications to stop the lick.”

Cherice Roth, DVM, MS, and author, talked about how pets that wear a cone are distressed and depressed, leading to similar feelings among the pet owners. As a result, aftercare compliance tends to taper off, causing wounds to linger.

 "This product will put the pet and the pet parent out of their misery," Roth said in a news release. "By minimizing the use of the cone, we will change the wound healing standard of care for veterinarians and pet owners."

New wound care product aims at eliminating the dreaded cone of shame. News release. KeraVet Bio. May 23, 2024. Accessed May 23, 2024. 

https://prnmedia.prnewswire.com/news-releases/new-wound-care-product-aims-at-eliminating-the-dreaded-cone-of-shame-302154348.html

Introducing the next generation of wound care – KeraVet Gel

. YouTube. January 13, 2024. Accessed May 23, 2024. 

https://youtu.be/GbAaJc79dnU?si=fXvuiMzL0lk2WobO

https://keravetbio.com/keravet-gel/clinical-studies/

KeraVet Gel Clinical Studies. KeraVet Bio. Accessed May 24, 2024. 

Articles

KeraVet Bio's new topical therapy for cat and dog wounds contains an added bitterant that reduces licking   

Prescription gel aims to replace Elizabethan collar

 readers! Did you know that nominations for our 2024 Veterinary Heroes awards are still open, until May 31, 2024. That means you have 3 days left to nominate the veterinarian, technician, client-service representative, and other crucial members of the clinic to show your appreciation for them and all they do within the veterinary industry. You can learn more and submit your hero, or yourself, 

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

Elanco announced that its 3-NOP (Bovaer; Elanco) the first-in-class methane-reducing feed ingredient for the United States Dairy Industry, completed reviews performed by the FDA.

In his latest installment of Veterinary Scene Down Under, 

’s Australian correspondent Phil Tucak, BSc, BVMS, shares the 2 hospitals receiving VetCOT Trauma Center preliminary accreditations, and how a pocket guidebook on cattle medicine is helping early career veterinarians.

,Sebastian Gabor, co-Founder and chief executive officer of 

, joins host Adam Christman, DVM, MBA, to discuss how the veterinary industry can best utilize artificial intelligence.

KeraVet Bio disclosed that its new prescription gel for cats and dogs containing keratin protein can be used to improve management of partial thickness wounds that are dry, light, and moderately exuding, making it a potential alternative for Elizabethan collars

The USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service announced a mandate on electronic identification tags for certain cattle and bison moving interstate to prevent disease outbreaks

Here is a sneak peek at this week’s headlines 

Sneak peek: FDA completes review of Bovaer, and other veterinary news 

Beyoncé accepts the Innovator Award onstage during the 2024 iHeartRadio Music Awards at Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles, California, on April 01, 2024.

Beyoncé is one of the greatest artists of our time (don’t worry, Swifties—I have an article on Taylor coming up!) In case you were not aware, Beyoncé recently dropped her latest album, “Cowboy Carter.” That’s right: a country album with a twist—lots of twists. It instantly became the No. 1 country album on the Billboard charts and is Spotify’s most streamed album in 2024—a whopping 76.13 million times in 1 day—making it the first time a country album has earned that title on the platform.

Beyoncé was awarded iHeartRadio’s Innovator of the Year Award for 2024 and her acceptance speech has been touted as one of the best ever. Beyoncé spoke about what being an innovator means to her: “Innovation starts with a dream,” she said. “But then you have to execute that dream, and that road can be very bumpy. Being an innovator is seeing what everyone believes is impossible. Being an innovator often means being criticized, which often will test your mental strength. So to all the record labels, every radio station, every award show, my hope is that we’re more open to the joy and liberation that comes from enjoying art with no preconceived notions.”

In the world of veterinary medicine, there’s a prevailing sentiment to “stay in your lane.” Why? Veterinarians are often expected to stick to traditional practices and approaches, adhering strictly to established norms and protocols. However, this mentality can stifle innovation and hinder progress in the field. Just like the icon Beyoncé, who constantly pushes boundaries and challenges the status quo, veterinarians, too, can break free from these constraints and embrace innovation to better serve their patients and clients. Can you imagine how much pushback she must have received by innovating her music and moving “outside her lane” of music? We can do the same.

Beyoncé is renowned for her fearless approach to her craft, constantly reinventing herself and pushing the boundaries of what is possible in the music industry. Similarly, veterinary professionals have the opportunity to break free from the constraints of conventional thinking and explore new ideas, technologies, and treatment modalities that can revolutionize the way we care for animals. Perhaps you want to change from small animal to large animal? Maybe you want to implement an entire new service and provide physical therapy to your patients? Go for it! The versatility of our profession is truly remarkable.

One area where this mentality can have a profound impact is in the realm of veterinary technology. From advanced imaging techniques to artificial intelligence, technology has the potential to transform the way we diagnose and treat diseases in animals. By embracing innovative technologies, we can provide more accurate diagnoses, improve treatment outcomes, and enhance the overall quality of care for our patients. Perhaps you have a new method of checking in and invoicing out your clients? Maybe you want to implement a new point-of-care service to better provide timely outcomes to your patients? Go for it!

Veterinarians can also push boundaries by challenging conventional treatment protocols and exploring alternative therapies. From acupuncture and herbal medicine to rehabilitation therapy and nutritional and genetic counseling, there are a plethora of holistic approaches that can complement traditional veterinary care.

Pushing boundaries in veterinary medicine is not without its challenges. It requires a willingness to step outside one’s comfort zone, take risks, and embrace failure as an opportunity for growth. It also requires a commitment to lifelong learning and professional development as new technologies and treatment modalities continue to emerge. One personal innovation idea I challenged our dvm360 team with was to provide a clinical approach to learning without any slides in the media space. Hence, the birth of 

, where we bring our film crew out to one of your hospitals and film your team, focusing on a therapeutic topic—dentistry, cardiology, surgery, etc. The response has been tremendous, but it did come with logistical inquiries and challenges. Just as Beyoncé had her struggles in bringing her innovation to fruition, we leaned on our team to help make this educational dream come to light.

The rewards of embracing innovation in veterinary medicine are immense. By challenging the staying-in-your-lane mentality and adopting a Beyoncé-like attitude toward pushing boundaries and embracing innovation, veterinarians can truly make a difference in the lives of animals and their owners. Here are key lessons Queen Bey can teach us in our veterinary careers:

Thank you, Beyoncé, for showing the world that genres have no creative limits and innovation is the fuel that propels humanity forward, transforming challenges into opportunities and shaping a future limited only by our imagination.

Adam Christman, DVM, MBA, chief veterinary officer at dvm360, draws inspiration from a pop music superstar turned country singer.

Be the Beyoncé and innovate away

Ash Phipps, BVSc (Hons1), GradCertVPH(EAD), MVS, MVSc (Clinical), FANZCVS (Dairy Cattle Medicine and Management), standing with cattle (Image courtesy of Phipps) 

For new and recent graduate veterinarians, becoming familiar with the vast array of veterinary knowledge about a variety of species can be challenging. Recognizing this through his own early career experience, Ash Phipps, BVSc (Hons1), GradCertVPH(EAD), MVS, MVSc(Clinical), FANZCVS (Dairy Cattle Medicine and Management) set about developing his own cheat sheets containing clinical information about production animals. He decided to then go further, and self-published a dairy medicine pocket guide for veterinarians which has proved to be a valuable reference resource.

“Upon graduating, I compiled a folder of 'cheat sheets', categorized by species – and these handy guides became a staple in my work vehicle, aiding me during fieldwork. As I progressed through memberships and later fellowship examinations with the Australian and New Zealand College of Veterinary Scientists, I diligently utilized a plethora of resources, including textbooks and research papers, to assemble comprehensive study manuals tailored to the exam syllabus,” explained Phipps to 

“I envisioned creating a succinct yet comprehensive field guide, accessible to both veterinary students and practitioners. Guided by the expertise of alpaca veterinarian Jane Vaughan, renowned for her self-published ‘Glove Box Guide to Alpacas’, I took the initiative to self-publish the ‘Veterinary Field Guide to Cattle Medicine’ which I launched in May 2023.”

Phipp’s guide has since garnered significant traction, with over 300 copies so far sold nationwide in Australia, and positive feedback received from both veterinarians and veterinary students.

“Many have praised its utility and user-friendly for-mat, acknowledging it as a valuable resource for practitioners in the field. Recently, my endeavors have extended to the development of the Cattle Vet AU website and accompanying social media channels. Through these platforms, my aim is to build valuable resources for both aspiring and practicing veterinarians,” said Phipps.

“This includes disseminating updates on clinical research, issuing alerts about emerging diseases, and providing comprehensive documents on various diseases. I’m also engaged in the creation of instructional videos aimed at enhancing the catalogue of resources on my website.”

The pocket guide to cattle medicine contains easily navigable sections of common diseases, including clinical signs, differential diagnoses, treatment and management options, medication details, diagnostic guidance, and farm checklists covering welfare, farm biosecurity, and calf management.

It offers step-by-step approaches to various farm investigations, ranging from general disease investigations to specific issues like lameness, reproduction, mastitis, and nutritional concerns. Additionally, the guide book features treatment decision flowcharts, such as those outlining fluid therapy for both calves and adult cattle; as well as comprehensive instructions on common field surgeries.

Phipps, a partner at Rochester Veterinary Practice in the state of Victoria, also teaches final year veterinary students, and is 1 of only 3 Fellows of the Australian and New Zealand College of Veterinary Scientists in the discipline of Dairy Cattle Medicine and Management.

“Having grown up on a mixed enterprise farm, my inclination toward a career in veterinary medicine and a focus on cattle care was deeply ingrained from an early age. Upon completing my veterinary degree in 2011, I embarked on a path of continuous learning and specialization, which led me to undertake a 3-year residency program followed by completing my Membership and then Fellowship examinations through the Australian and New Zealand College of Veterinary Scientists,” shared Phipps.

“I’m committed to contributing to the education of the next generation of veterinarians, and with the feedback I’ve received on how useful the pocket guide to cattle medicine has become, this is not only rewarding, but has also motivated me to expand the range of educational resources such as through the use of videos, regularly updating the image bank, generating downloadable farm checklists and also frequently producing clinical case articles.”

First Australian veterinary specialist hospitals receive VetCOT Trauma Centre preliminary accreditation

A dog being treated at the Small Animal Specialist Hospital (Image courtesy of Small Animal Specialist Hospital) 

With animal trauma cases one of the most common emergencies to be seen at veterinary emergency hospitals, 2 veterinary specialist hospitals in Sydney, Australia have become the first to be granted preliminary Trauma Centre status by the Veterinary Committee on Trauma (VetCOT) supported by the American College of Veterinary Emergency & Critical Care (ACVECC).

Small Animal Specialist Hospital (SASH) is one of Australia's leading veterinary hospital networks, providing a range of specialist and emergency veterinary care for dogs, cats, and other companion animals. SASH North Ryde and SASH Western Sydney both achieved the Australian-first Trauma Centre preliminary accreditation status by VetCOT.

“SASH is committed to improving trauma care standards in Australia and our North Ryde and Western Sydney hospitals are the first and only in the country to receive this status. Having met a list of criteria outlined by VetCOT, SASH has proven capabilities to deliver a high level of care to trauma patients, while also contributing to improving global trauma case management,” saidJames Carroll BVSc (Hons), PG, SAP, MBA, SASH North Ryde Hospital Director, exclusively to 

“Prior to SASH North Ryde and Western Sydney, Trauma Centres were based exclusively in North America and the United Kingdom. At SASH, everything we do is dedicated to providing the full spectrum of care, which includes the best possible treatment and outcomes for our patients and supporting our clients. It is rewarding to be recognised for the commitment and capability of our clinical teams in this important clinical space.”

The criteria for VetCOT accreditation of Trauma Centres outlines a set of standards including a team based approach to trauma care - including emergency and critical care specialists, internal medicine, surgical, anesthesia and diagnostic imaging specialists, and as well as access to extensive patient care facilities such as multiple operating rooms, intensive care unit, and advanced imaging equipment.

By participating in the VetCOT program, SASH joins the company of world-class institutions such as the Royal Veterinary College, Tufts Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine, Colorado State University Veterinary Teaching Hospital, and the University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine. Together, Trauma Centres collaborate in case and data sharing, with the combined goal of defining high standards and improving the outcomes of trauma patients.

“SASH’s approach to care not only involves our Emergency and Critical Care Specialists, Vets and Nurses who provide Intensive Care, but also commonly involves Diagnostic Imaging to understand the trauma, Anaesthesia to facilitate safe and effective anesthesia, and frequently surgical and medical interventions from our other departments in the hospital,” explained Carroll.

“It is common for us to tap into the expertise of more than five different specialty disciplines to ensure we are providing the best possible care for our patients and advice for our clients. This is particularly important when we are treating critical and rapidly evolving cases like trauma. The entire SASH family is very proud that our SASH North Ryde and Western Sydney facilities are now internationally recognized VetCOT Trauma Centres - the only animal hospitals in Australia to be recognized as such.”

Updates on the dairy medicine specialist who’s educational materials are supporting new graduates; and the first veterinary specialist hospitals in Australia to receive VetCOT Trauma Centre preliminary accreditation.

Veterinary scene down under: First hospitals to receive VetCOT Trauma Centre preliminary accreditation announced, and more news

Weave is a software platform for small- and medium-sized human and animal healthcare practices, offering automated solutions for staff and client interactions. It streamlines marketing, scheduling, appointment reminders, and payment processes across various user-friendly platforms. In October 2023, a 

 feature using artificial intelligence (AI) was added to the Weave offerings. This feature, specifically, can automatically transcribe voicemails from patients for an easily readable format.

Weave also enables veterinary clinics to automate more tasks, improve data accuracy, and provide seamless care to clients. The platform utilizes VoIP phone systems to unlock powerful Weave features like” Call Pop,” “Missed Call Texts,” “Practice Analytics,” and more.

Patterson Veterinary Supply Inc, has now added Weave to its client offerings portfolio. This veterinary company connects animal health customers in North America and the United Kingdom to the latest products, technologies, services, and innovative business solutions in the veterinary space.

“We believe Weave will provide tremendous value for our customers, as both Patterson Veterinary and Weave understand the critical nature of efficiency-driven technology solutions in the companion animal market,” said Christal Hahn, director of commercial software development with Patterson Veterinary, in a news release.

“We are committed to providing unparalleled support and innovative solutions to veterinary practices,” said Marcus Bertilson, chief operating officer of Weave. “Our experience platform combined with Patterson Veterinary practice management software and related solutions give veterinary practices everything they need to grow their practice and elevate client experiences.”

Coppock K. Voicemail transcription feature launched for practice platform. 

. October 31, 2023. Accessed May 28, 2024. 

https://www.dvm360.com/view/voicemail-transcription-feature-launched-for-practice-platform

Patterson Veterinary keeps pets (and pet owners) happy with improved client experience. News release. Patterson Companies Inc. May 23, 204. Accessed May 28, 2024. https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240522651815/en/Patterson-Veterinary-Keeps-Pets-And-Pet-Owners-Happy-With-Improved-Client-Experience

Patterson Veterinary Supply adds Weave to its client offerings

Simplifying the client experience with software platforms

How the Veterinary Hope Foundation is bringing light back into the profession

Finding hope in the veterinary career

Elizabeth Chosa, DVM, is the cofounder of Veterinary Hope Foundation. She sat down with 

 for an interview at the Fetch conference in Nashville, Tennessee, to discuss what this organization does for veterinary professionals. Through the foundation, Chosa is aiming to change the narrative of despair for the veterinary career and find the joy in this amazing work.

Below is a partial transcript of the video.

 So my friend, Blair McConnel, VMD, MBA, and I cofounded the Veterinary Hope Foundation in the spring of 2021. We did that in response to, what I've come to call, this collective sense of despair in our profession. 

There is a changing narrative over the years and we noticed that things are trending toward the negative when we're talking about mental health. And we're talking about veterinarians who are struggling with their mental health. This narrative has become sometimes almost like we're victims of our profession, that if we enter veterinary medicine, it's inevitable that we're going to suffer and be miserable. And we knew that wasn't true. I love being a veterinarian. I have worked in a lot of different sectors and I have found a place to belong in all of them. And so we knew people were really suffering and struggling, but we also knew that there had to be a way to empower veterinarians and to start to focus the narrative back toward positive change.