and login or create a free CE account and claim your credit after listening to this episode.

This podcast will delve into the critical importance and limitations of population-based reference intervals in veterinary diagnostics. Hear directly from a clinical pathologist and Medical Director of Zoetis Reference Laboratories on best practices for interpretating chemistry and hematology data and common errors to avoid.

What defines a population-based reference interval?

How should a reference interval be used when evaluating a laboratory result?

Rationale for laboratory-specific intervals

Define a population-based reference interval in veterinary medicine

Compare the potential problems with intervals that are too broad and too narrow

Explain the limitations of reference intervals when interpreting individual patient results

Identify the need for proper quality regulation in veterinary reference laboratories

Podcasts

Adam Christman, DVM, MBA, chats with Carolyn Grimes, DVM, DACVP (Clinical), to learn more about population-based reference intervals in veterinary medicine and the potential drawbacks to this approach. 

Podcast CE: What's in a Number? How a Clinical Pathologist Approaches Results

With many veterinary practices facing staffing shortages and the demand for animal health care outpacing the incoming veterinary professional workforce, new strategies to combat workloads may be needed to keep clinics in business. Even with the new veterinary graduates expected to begin working in the profession over the next 10 years, a shortage of up to 24,000 companion-animal veterinarians will likely still exist by 2030.

Artificial intelligence (AI) is one way to streamline clinic tasks and offload work from staff members. Joining this effort, Modern Animal has updated its software system, Claude, to now have AI capabilities. Claude is designed to streamline administrative tasks and is already integrated across 20 clinics nationwide.

The initial phase of this software includes the following functions

 Instantly provides veterinarians with a concise summary of a patient's entire medical history, ensuring they are well-prepared before appointments.

 Converts appointment notes into an easy-to-understand summary for clients. This summary is reviewed by the veterinary professional before being shared through the Modern Animal app, which clients can then access.

Interpretation and summarization of lab work:

 Automatically generates an initial analysis of diagnostic results for the veterinarian’s review. Approved findings for clients are also translated and shared via the Modern Animal app.

"With AI streamlining tasks like records review, lab result interpretation and post-visit summary generation, our veterinarians can now dedicate more time to what truly matters: caring for pets and their families," Christie Long, DVM, chief medical officer of Modern Animal, said in a news release.

 "This newfound efficiency enables veterinarians to deliver care they feel proud of while also enhancing clinic productivity and, most importantly, their own quality of life."

AI-generated snapshot of a patient's medical record by the Claude software. (Photo courtesy of Modern Animal)

Modern Animal's technology team collaborated with nearly 40 clinicians to review beta-tested features, provide feedback, and participate in shadowing, where Modern Animal tech team members could observe and identify real-time areas of improvement. Claude demonstrated it could save veterinary professionals up to 2 hours daily by handling administrative tasks.

 This time savings can help create more manageable work hours, improve veterinarian-pet owner relationships, and address the burnout faced in the veterinary profession.

With the initial success seen with the first phase of Claude, Modern Animal is looking to expand the software’s capabilities to support veterinarians with more clinical needs beyond administrative tasks. Founder and CEO of Modern Animal, Steven Eidelman, stated, "The early investment we made to build our technology platform from scratch has uniquely positioned us to rapidly iterate and learn about AI's potential on our own terms. While so far we've used this advantage to augment our team's administrative efficiency, we have started to envision a world where AI becomes a reliable collaborator that increases confidence in medical decisions for doctors at all levels. I look forward to the continued impact of this important work on our network of practitioners and beyond."

At this time, Claude is only available for Modern Animal veterinary clinics.

Tackling the veterinary professional shortage. Mars Veterinary Health. August 2023. Accessed January 30, 2024. 

https://www.marsveterinary.com/tackling-the-veterinary-professional-shortage/

Modern Animal unveils AI-assisted tools, roadmap for next generation of veterinary care. News release. Modern Animal. May 22, 2024. Accessed May 23, 2024. 

https://prnmedia.prnewswire.com/news-releases/modern-animal-unveils-ai-assisted-tools-roadmap-for-next-generation-of-veterinary-care-302153167.html

Articles

Modern Animal has launched new software for veterinary practices

Streamlining administrative tasks with AI tools

The Tuskegee University College of Veterinary Medicine's 2024 Class with Ruby L. Perry, DVM, MS, PhD, DACVR, dean of the College of Veterinary Medicine, and Ebony Gilbreath, DVM, PhD, DACVP, associate dean for Academic Affairs

The Tuskegee University College of Veterinary Medicine (TUCVM) in Alabama celebrated its class of 2024 on May 4, 2024, marking the university’s 75th graduating class of veterinarians. This year’s graduates consisted of 63 new Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) degree earners, whose achievements were celebrated in the Chappie James Arena during the graduate and professional schools’ formal ceremony. Following the commencement, the Veterinary Medicine Oath and Hooding Ceremony took place, where graduates took their oath as official veterinarians before friends and family.

Continuing an annual tradition of a veterinary professional delivering the challenge address to the DVM graduates, this year’s Veterinary Medicine Oath keynote speaker, Tuskegee Veterinary alumna Carla Gartrell, DVM, JD, DACVIM, presented to the graduating class.

 In her address, Gartrell shared 3 stories that marked a visible difference in her experience as a veterinarian. She also highlighted 6 core principles, all starting with the letter ‘C’, and encouraged the graduates to follow them. The core principles were as follows:

Compassion – be compassionate and care deeply

Curiosity – stay curious and committed to life-long learning

Courage – be bold because you grow through what you go through

Community – you are a vital part of a larger community so be involved in it

Champion – be a champion for yourself, your patient, and others

Celebrate – “You have earned this moment so embrace your journey to get here and look forward to your futures,” Gartrell said.

Ruby L. Perry, DVM, MS, PhD, DACVR, dean of the College of Veterinary Medicine and professor of veterinary radiology, also spoke during the ceremony. "I am honored to have served as the dean to this Class of 2024 and it is with gladness of heart that I look forward to engaging with my colleagues as they now join me in a most distinguished group of veterinary professionals and veterinary alumni," Perry said during the oath and hooding ceremony. “The College of Veterinary Medicine family is extremely proud of each graduate, and we look forward to hearing about the accomplishments they will make as veterinary professionals, as leaders, as educators, and as researchers. They are well-equipped to make significant contributions and play vital roles in protecting and enhancing human and animal welfare as they embark on their various career paths on a journey of lifelong learning beyond the DVM degree. Congratulations Class of 2024!"

One of two accredited veterinary programs in Alabama, TUCVM is the sole veterinary medical professional program whose location lies on the campus of a Historically Black College or University (HBCU) in the United States. It has now granted more than 3000 veterinary medicine degrees since its first graduating class in 1949.

TUCVM educated over 70% of the nation’s Black veterinarians and has been recognized as the most diverse school of all colleges of veterinary medicine in the US. Its main objective is to “provide an environment that fosters a spirit of active, independent, and self-directed learning, intellectual curiosity, creativity, critical thinking, problem-solving, ethics, and leadership; and promotes teaching, research, and service in veterinary medicine and related disciplines.”

63 Doctors of Veterinary Medicine recognized during Tuskegee University 2024 spring commencement, oath and hooding ceremony. News release. Tuskegee University College of Veterinary Medicine. May 20, 2024. Accessed May 22, 2024.

https://www.tuskegee.edu/news/63-doctors-of-veterinary-medicine-recognized-during-tuskegee-university-2024-spring-commencement-oath-and-hooding-ceremony

The Alabama school recently celebrated its 63 new doctors of veterinary medicine in its 2024 spring commencement, and oath and hooding ceremony.

Tuskegee University College of Veterinary Medicine holds 75th graduation ceremony

, host Adam Christman, DVM, MBA, welcomes back guest Michael Natale, LVT, to talk about his best practices for placing a catheter in your patients after a social post he shared on his social media account went viral on the topic. Within the episode, Natale shares his personal "dos and don'ts" to hopefully make this process easier for veterinary teams and patients. 

: So we have the restraint, and then talk to us about clipping.

See, you have to be very, very careful when you're clipping. I see a lot of people being really rough with the clippers on the skin, and we get a lot of razor burn that way, right? We don't want to mess up the skin any more than it already is, especially if there are older patients. So you want to be very gentle with that. You want to make sure that those clippers are also clean, because I've seen people leave some blood on there and that is not okay.

Let's talk about that. That is a great tip, by the way, because we're so busy, Mike, and I have seen this happen and what the heck, it just takes a few seconds to clean off those clippers. Talk about transferring bacteria or trying to create a sterile field! And having clippers like that, it's certainly not helping the situation right?

Yeah, no, for sure. I mean, I know at the end of my clipping I always cleaned them out with a brush, some gauze pads, and disinfectant.

Adam Christman, DVM, MBA, and Michael Natale, LVT, sit down to discuss various techniques and tips for catheter placement

Best practices for placing a catheter

Owing to the potential presence of loose metal pieces in certain bags, Mars Petcare US issued a limited voluntary recall on May 17, 2024, for 315 bags of Pedigree Adult Complete Nutrition Grilled Steak & Vegetable Flavor Dry Dog Food. Only the 44 lb (19.9 kg) bag size has been affected, according to the company.

The limited recall involves bags sold by Walmart in Arkansas, Louisiana, Oklahoma, and Texas, which account for all 315 bags. The Pedigree food bags in question have a ‘best by’ date of March 4, 2025, and lot code of 410B2TXT02, which can be found on the bottom back of the bag.

According to the FDA, Mars Petcare US is collaborating with Walmart stores in Arkansas, Louisiana, Oklahoma, and Texas to guarantee that the impacted items are no longer available for sale and have been taken out of stock. Additionally, no pet injuries or illnesses attributed to the potentially affected Pedigree bags have been reported. However, it is strongly advised to refrain from using this product if it has been purchased.

The possible existence of loose metal fragments in the bags may present a health risk to pets. Monitoring for any unusual behavior is urged if there is any suspicion that a pet has ingested this product. Moreover, if concerns arise, pet owners should promptly contacting a veterinarian.

Although not all dogs exhibit physical symptoms, some signs to watch out for that may signal foreign body ingestion include

Pawing at the mouth, frequent lip licking, or drooling

If a dog is experiencing stomach pain, they may also bend forward and raise their rear end to alleviate pressure on their abdomen. Other signs of discomfort involve grunting, whining, or moaning.

Consumers who have purchased the 44 lb bag of Pedigree Adult Complete Nutrition Grilled Steak & Vegetable Flavor Dry Dog Food from Walmart in the affected states can contact Mars Petcare US consumer care with any questions or to begin a return at 1-800-525-5273 from 8:00 AM to 8:00 PM Central Standard Time (CST) Monday through Friday and 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM (CST) Saturday and Sunday.

Mars Petcare US, Inc. voluntarily recalls 315 bags of PEDIGREE Adult Complete Nutrition Grilled Steak & Vegetable Flavor dry dog food, 44 lb bag size. News release. FDA. May 18, 2024. Accessed May 21, 2024. 

https://www.fda.gov/safety/recalls-market-withdrawals-safety-alerts/mars-petcare-us-inc-voluntarily-recalls-315-bags-pedigreer-adult-complete-nutrition-grilled-steak

Foreign body ingestion threatens pets. Nationwide Pet Insurance. Accessed May 21, 2024. 

https://www.petinsurance.com/healthzone/pet-health/health-conditions/foreign-body-ingestion-threatens-pets/#:~:text=Symptoms%20of%20Foreign%20Body%20Ingestion,digestive%20foreign%20bodies%20exhibit%20vomiting

Rowlands R. Signs your dog ate something bad. AKC Pet Insurance. September 8, 2022. Accessed May 21, 2024. 

https://www.akcpetinsurance.com/blog/top-7-signs-your-dog-is-sick-from-something-they-ate-in-the-yard

Mars Petcare US recalled 315 bags of Pedigree products that were purchased through Walmart

Voluntary recall of dry dog food in certain US states

Monica Tarantino, DVM, MBA, is the cofounder of the Senior and Geriatric Dog Society (nicknamed SAGDS) which trains veterinary professionals and hospitals to enhance their senior dog care and produce better outcomes for geriatric patients. She was also previously the chief of staff for the Veterinary Medical Center of Fort Mill in South Carolina. Tarantino sat down with 

 in an interview during the Fetch dvm360 conference in Nashville, Tennessee. Additionally during the conference, Tarantino gave several lectures focusing on veterinary geriatric medicine, as well as, a joint lecture on advice for new veterinarians coming into the profession.

During this exclusive interview, Tarantino shared her insights on canine cognitive dysfunction, client communication and resources, and more. Learn more about Dr Tarantino in this Q&A style interview.

Can you tell us a bit about the Senior and Geriatric Dog Society?

I cofounded the Senior and Geriatric Dog Society (SAGDS) alongside two amazing veterinarians, Lauren Adelman, DVM, DACVIM (SAIM), and Lisa Lippman, DVM. Together, the 3 of us, really wanted to figure out if there was a way to target and enhance the care of elderly dogs above and beyond what we're currently doing in our profession. Senior dogs are the true “underdogs” of veterinary medicine! They are up against diseases of age, comorbidities, chronic pain and quality of life issues to name a few and taking a more focused approach with them will allow us to enhance the quality of life of more older dogs out there. For our fellow vets, we're really interested in creating a space for those that are interested in this area of medicine to become 'geriatricians' for these elderly dogs and also help vet techs, vet professionals and clinics who want to be known for their senior dog management and care in their area. There is so much opportunity here and we can't wait to help practitioners enter this exciting area of medicine!

Can you share some tips on identifying canine cognitive dysfunction?

Canine cognitive dysfunction (CCD) is a really difficult disease, because it's a disease of quality of life. And it's not just quality of life for the pet, but also for the pet parents. Oftentimes, if you're thinking about those pet parents that come into the exam room to see you, many of them are exasperated, they're frustrated, they’re feeling guilty because they're getting frustrated with their pets at home because they're not acting like they normally do. So, it can be a really challenging disease.

Screening dogs age 10+ in practice is one place to start and that can be done with any of the scales DISHAA, CADES etc. In addition, when talking to pet parents if you are hearing things like 'he's just more senile' or 'you can tell he's getting older' that's a sign to dig a little deeper and see if these pets are displaying any of the behavioral signs that we typically see with CCD.

What are your best practices for client communication about making adjustments at home with senior pets?

When our dogs first enter their senior years, they often still look pretty spry! So many people aren't picking up on some of the small behavioral changes in their older dogs or are even just chalking things up to old age. I think one of the most important things to do as far as that goes, is to start having a conversation earlier with parents about the fact that their dog is a senior now and what that means for their pets even if they are still 'acting like a puppy'! Alerting them to common ailments that are missed in senior dogs and what to look out for in terms of common diseases older dogs are prone to can be helpful in getting these pets in to see us sooner. It really does take a lot of teamwork, with a veterinary team and a senior dog pet parent to help manage that pet as they get older and make sure they’ve got a good quality of life as they age.

What resources are available to help support clients with anticipatory grief and caretaker exhaustion?

Both anticipatory grief and caretaker exhaustion truly impact pet parents of a senior pet and there are some resources that are online. For example, at 

 we have anticipatory grief handouts and free resources for folks to download. We also have anticipatory grief support groups for pet parents that are just struggling with that intense feeling of fear of losing their pet, even when they still have their pet right now in their life. 

Any other thoughts on geriatric medicine in general?

I think one of the best ways that you can help a senior and geriatric dog is really dialing in more on chronic pain management. Establishing chronic pain management plans for patients and looping pet parents in that these plans will evolve and require constant reassessment can really help our older patients. Setting expectations for what comes on for dogs as they age will only help everyone feel more prepared and focused on best supporting that pet's quality of life.

What is your biggest piece of advice for a new veterinary student graduating this year?

I think my biggest piece of advice for a veterinary student who has just graduated is to not be scared to say “I don’t know” when it comes to cases or walking into the exam rooms. When I was a brand-new vet, because I was so hypersensitive about being brand new, I never wanted to make it seem like I didn’t know what I was talking about. But here's the thing: brilliant vets say 'I don't know.' Because there's no shame in being at a place where we're working on the diagnosis, but we're not there yet. That's a part of the practice.

Monica Tarantino, DVM, MBA, sat down with dvm360 for a Q&A interview