A module on diabetes advancement will be presented at the BSAVA (British Small Animal Veterinary Association) Congress 2024 in Manchester, England on Thursday, March 21. The module is expected to explore oral hypoglycemic therapy for cats and why these treatments are indicated for felines with diabetes, in many cases, but not canines with the disease.

Clinical investigators and specialists who have used these drugs will present information to delegates during the module. These speakers include Ellen Behrend, VMD, PhD, DACVIM, at Auburn University College of Veterinary Medicine in Alabama; Ian Ramsey, BVSc, PhD, DECVIM-CA, DSAM, at the University of Glasgow in Scotland; Stijn Niessen, at the Royal Veterinary College in London, England; and Anna Lena Kramer, DMV, MRCVS, DACVIM (SAIM), at the University of Glasgow. “Although not suited as a sole therapeutic for dogs, the current data suggests that a majority of cats [with diabetes] could be treated with once daily oral formulations of these drugs,” Niessen said, in a news release.

Advances in the monitoring of canine diabetes will also be addressed, and presenters will review recent developments and management practices for complicated cases. “Gone are the days that we saw diabetes mellitus as a disease; instead, it is the consequence of one or many diseases. As such we now ought to approach diabetes cases with a much more open mind and being willing to try and determine the exact aetiology of the diabetes mellitus, doing so can pay off and prevent a diabetic case from becoming a complicated one,” Niessen said in the release.

The BSAVA Congress 2024 is held March 21-23 at the Manchester Central Convention Complex. In addition to the educational module on diabetes, delegates will have an opportunity to purchase the new fifth edition of the 

BSAVA Manual of Canine and Feline Endocrinology

, at the Congress’ publications stand in the exhibit hall. Edited by Carmel Mooney, Mark Peterson and Robert Shiel, the book includes a chapter on feline diabetes that discusses SGLT2-inhibitors and other treatments.

“SGLT2-Inhibitors will be a game-changer for cats [with diabetes] and their owners. However, it is important that cats are diagnosed earlier in the disease process while some insulin secretory capacity is present, for these to be used as the sole drug therapy,” said Jacquie Rand, the chapter’s author, in the release.

New oral hypoglycemic agent for feline diabetes to be discussed at BSAVA Congress 2024. British Small Animal Veterinary Association. February 19, 2024. Accessed March 7, 2024. 

https://www.bsava.com/article/new-oral-hypoglycaemic-agent-for-feline-diabetes-to-be-discussed-at-bsava-congress-2024/

What’s on the at the BSAVA Publications Stand for Congress 2024? British Small Animal Veterinary Association. February 29, 2024. Accessed March 20, 2024. 

https://www.bsava.com/article/whats-on-at-the-bsava-publications-stand-for-congress-2024/

Articles

The program is expected to discuss a new oral hypoglycaemic agent (SGLT2-inhibitor) for management of feline diabetes

BSAVA Congress will feature a module on diabetes

Supervisory style can have a profound impact on workplace culture, team member engagement, and retention. You might readily recall a supervisor or manager who, through their words and actions, fostered in you a sense of trust, mattering, and loyalty—or had the opposite effect. A critical factor in helping teams thrive is determining which specific supervisory behaviors have a positive influence in the workplace.

Recent research provides some answers. An American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) study published in the 

Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association

 identified supervisory styles that influenced associate veterinarians’ likelihood to remain in their current positions. AVMA’s 2021 and 2022 census of veterinarians asked associate veterinarians to rate the frequency with which they experienced certain behaviors from their direct supervisor. Three behaviors were found to influence the associates’ intent to remain at their organization for the next 5 years, independent of compensation, burnout level, years of work experience, hours worked, and other factors. These 3 behaviors are as follows:

Facilitating psychological safety in the workplace

A sense of purpose comes when employees feel like their direct supervisor routinely shows them how they and their work matter. Employees believe that they are seen, valued, and needed, and that their work is meaningful. Beyond contributing to a greater likelihood of employees remaining at an organization, these beliefs can translate to higher job satisfaction, lower risk of burnout, greater productivity, and superior team well-being.

In the study, associates were asked how often their supervisor routinely shows them how they and their work matter. The more often this was perceived as happening, the greater the associates’ intent to remain at an organization for the next 5 years. Those who believed their supervisor did this a great deal were almost 3 times as likely to indicate a desire to stay as those who felt their supervisor never did. Fostering a sense of purpose is easier than you might think. Consider the following behaviors:

Take the time to regularly check in with each team member.

Ask each team member what work they find meaningful and delegate accordingly when possible, commensurate with their capabilities, credentials, and applicable law.

If you do not already have one, create a vision statement

 for your practice with the help of your team, and link their performance goals to that vision.

Discuss with each team member their potential for growth and invest in their professional development.

By taking deliberate action to provide team members with clear expectations, supervisors can help instill in them a sense of meaningful achievement. Giving them meaningful control over how to meet those expectations, as well the resources they need to succeed, can create a sense of empowerment among the team. These efforts often translate to greater work engagement, job satisfaction, team performance, and professional vitality.

The AVMA’s study findings support this premise. When associates were asked how often their supervisor takes deliberate action to provide them with clear expectations and meaningful control over meeting those expectations, those who experienced these actions a great deal were 2.5 times more likely to intend to remain at their jobs as those who never experienced them.

What are some steps supervisors can take to achieve this? Setting clear expectations requires 2-way communication, as follows:

Be transparent about expectations for your team and the rationale behind those expectations.

Ask each team member for their ideas about what your expectations for them should be. Partner with them in the expectation-setting process.

Trust team members to meet your expectations, and let them know you are there to help them.

Psychological safety can be thought of as a shared belief that the team is safe for interpersonal risk taking, such as speaking up with ideas, questions, or concerns— or making mistakes. Someone who feels psychologically safe may be willing to challenge the status quo at a team meeting because they believe their perspective will be heard and considered, rather than spurned.

 Those who enjoy this feeling report higher job satisfaction and lower burnout, among other benefits.

The study’s results support this supposition. Associates were asked how often their supervisor holds their shortcomings against them. Those who perceived this as never happening were almost 2.5 times as likely to intend to remain as those who experienced it a great deal.

It is human nature to perceive mistakes as negative and problematic, rather than as opportunities for growth and learning.

 Contributing to psychological safety in the workplace requires self-awareness and reshaping the team’s response to risk taking and mistakes toward the latter. Supervisors can help by modeling supportive behaviors, such as the following:

Regularly measure your team’s psychological safety, for example, through anonymous surveys.

 Encourage discussion about safety and culture.

Establish a foundational rule in the workplace that mistakes are not to be shamed or hidden but are opportunities for sharing, growth, and learning for everyone.

When things go wrong, avoid asking “why” questions that seek to place blame. Replace them with “what” questions like “What can we learn from this outcome?” or “What can we do differently next time?”

The study’s findings support other evidence that we can improve team engagement and retention by fostering psychological safety and a sense of purpose for our team members and providing them with clear expectations. Although practice owners, directors, managers, and team supervisors can lead the way, everyone on the team has an important role. That is particularly true in ensuring psychological safety and building community in the workplace.

In addition to the tips offered here, an effective starting point for the whole team is to make use of the complimentary tools offered through 

 (journeyforteams.org), an AVMA-hosted program supported by partnerships with other industry organizations. These tools include 15-minute learning modules the team can explore together on topics that include psychological safety, microaggressions, and creating brave spaces in our workplaces. There is even a module devoted specifically to the art of retention.

McKay CH, Vaisman JM. Psychological safety, purpose, path, and partnership reduce associate veterinarian desire to leave current employment. 

. 2023;261(10):1518-1524. Doi:10.2460/JAVMA.23.03.0158

Lamperski RJ. Work namaste: the importance of mattering at work, and how a leader can create an environment where employees feel they and their work matter. Master’s thesis. University of Pennsylvania; August 24, 2018. Accessed February 7, 2024. Https://core.Ac.Uk/download/pdf/219379095.Pdf

What is the difference between mission, vision and values statements? Society for Human Resource Management. Accessed January 19, 2024. www.Shrm.Org/resourcesandtools/tools-and-samples/hr-qa/pages/ mission-vision-values-statements.Aspx

Fear & creativity: Why psychological safety is crucial for success. Lean Learning Center. Accessed January 23, 2024. Https://leanlearningcenter.Com/blog/why-psychological-safety-is-crucial-for-creative-endeavors

Brandt JC. Psychological safety 3-2-1 discussion guide. Journey for Teams. AccessedJanuary23,2024.https:// www.Journeyforteams.Org/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/3-2-1-discussion-guide_topic-3_psychological-safety.Pdf

Setting a purpose, clear expectations, and psychological safety measures can help meet the bottom line with employee retention

3 secrets to team retention

David Dycus, DVM, MS, CCRP, DACVS-SA, discussed his lectures featured at Fetch

Orthopedic lectures from Fetch Charlotte 2024

David Dycus, DVM, MS, CCRP, DACVS-SA, interviewed with 

 and gave a brief summary of what his sessions at the recent Fetch dvm360 conference in Charlotte, North Carolina entailed. He mentions his topics on the diagnostic aspect of canine osteoarthritis and the management strategies, as well as, an overview of cruciate disease and a joint lecture with Fred Wininger, VMD, MS, DACVIM (Neurology).

Below is a partial transcript of the video.

 We've got 2 lectures that are really going to walk us through the diagnostic aspect of canine osteoarthritis, as well as, the management strategies depending on where on the aspect of the disease they are. We're also going to have a lecture on the orthopedic exam and I really want to focus in on not missing some of the subtleties, in particular, some of these soft tissue orthopedic injuries, but how to create a stress free environment so that you can get a diagnosis by using your hands. We'll also have a conversation on cruciate disease, which I know is a topic that gets discussed a lot, but I really want to break it into more tips and tricks on some of the diagnostic aspects as well as bring in my thought process on the usage of stifle orthotics and where they may or may not play a role.

Lastly, I get to pair up with Dr Wininger so we can look at orthopedic versus neurologic because it can sometimes be very tricky. Even for the specialist we can sometimes get fooled because there's such a close bridge between orthopedic issues and neurologic issues.

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David Dycus, DVM, MS, CCRP, DACVS-SA, discussed his lectures featured at the Fetch dvm360 conference in Charlotte, North Carolina

Every client will remember 2 appointments: their first visit with their puppy or kitten and their pet’s euthanasia. But Dan Bieck, DVM, an assistant professor at Lincoln Memorial University’s Richard A. Gillespie College of Veterinary Medicine in Harrogate, Tennessee, adds that regardless of how long it has been or what has transpired since, they will always recall how they were treated at these appointments. 

Bieck is trying to help by speaking at conferences to help veterinary professionals not only provide much-needed support and compassion for these patients but for themselves as well. From personal experience, he explained that these appointments can cause burnout for veterinary professionals because they have to go from a euthanasia appointment to a new puppy or kitten visit or a wellness check, giving them almost no time to process in the moment the sadness of what just happened.

“I think a lot of it comes down to [the fact that] medical professionals just don’t take care of [themselves]. That’s where I would love to be able to…help veterinarians and many others…and give a sounding board of what we can do to prevent and manage [burnout],” Bieck said. “Now, have I done research? No, but I’ve read a bazillion different articles to just try to help my own self…but also a lot of it I just tried to put into practical advice. I think all that ties into the euthanasia, especially for us.

“It’s really hard to stay compassionate when you have that day and you just euthanized 6 pets and then you jump into a puppy exam,” he continued. “You have to turn it off and put on the happy vet face, but the back of your mind is like, ‘Oh my God, the client, I can still hear the client wailing in the other room. I’m supposed to be upbeat and happy with this brand-new puppy.’ It’s a roller-coaster ride.”

Dr Bieck has traveled the world, aiming to build compassion for veterinary professionals and their clients.

Bieck is also pushing for a change in how some, though not all, veterinary professionals act with these clients. Bieck has noticed that pet parents sometimes do not feel like they can speak during the final moments of the euthanasia appointment. It is important to let them know it is OK to speak to their pet and get the closure that patient and client need. The key is to make a very upsetting situation as comforting and positive as possible.

Bieck encourages teams to train their client-service representatives (CSRs) to handle these calls. He explained that because this may be a CSR’s first time in a clinic, they may not know how to handle these calls; scheduling the euthanasia appointment is the first step in an already difficult process. Bieck encourages teams to collaborate on a script and be able to provide patients with the next steps for their appointment, because they may not be sure of what to do next. Bieck believes giving teams the chance to work together on these protocols will help staff leaders emerge.

“You guys develop a script…. You put the receptionist [who] has been there the shortest period and you task her to be the leader of that group.… You encourage each individual person to be a leader at different times. We are all leaders [and] there’s a difference between a leader and a boss,” Bieck explained.

“Some of the best leaders I’ve seen are receptionists…they just are fantastic work people. They [have] great people skills. They know how to de-escalate situations; they know how to get along with everyone. Because they are like, ‘OK, guys, you know we’ve got to get this going and step up.’ They don’t identify themselves as leaders and sometimes the best leader is the person who doesn’t view themselves as a leader. They don’t have the ego,” he concluded.

Bieck is working with veterinary students to help prepare them for when they enter the clinic and are faced with a euthanasia appointment. He is speaking at conferences across the country to help improve the well-being of veterinary professionals so that they can meet the needs of patients and clients during a very difficult time.

Dan Bieck, DVM, shares how he is working to improve euthanasia appointments for the patient, client, and veterinary team

A passion for compassion

The Boehringer Ingelheim Cares Foundation (BI Cares), an independent nonprofit organization, announced that through its Product Donation Program, it was able to donate 1.9 million doses of NexGard PLUS Chews to shelter dogs in need.

According to the organizational release, BI Cares partnered with Greater Good Charities to distribute these medications, worth $42.6 million to animal shelters in need.

 According to the UC Davis Koret Shelter Medicine Program, fleas are the most common external parasite found in animal shelters. As pets enter the shelters from areas that put them at high risk, such as coming off of the street, they may already be infected and become a risk to the others at the shelter.

"Boehringer Ingelheim is deeply committed to safeguarding the health and wellbeing of animals in shelters," said Randolph Legg, president and Head of Commercial Business, Boehringer Ingelheim Animal Health USA and board member of the Boehringer Ingelheim Cares Foundation. "Our mission is to ensure they receive the best care possible while they patiently wait for their forever homes. This donation is a testament to our commitment, and we hope it will make a significant difference in the lives of animals in need."

NexGard PLUS, an afoxolaner, moxidectin, and pyrantel chewable tablet that protects canines from fleas, ticks, heartworm disease, roundworms, and hookworms, received FDA approval in 2023. These monthly beef-flavored chews combine internal and external parasite protection to help promote adherence.

"NexGard PLUS is the one veterinarians will want to help keep dogs protected from parasites. It offers internal and external parasite protection in a single monthly chew that dogs will enjoy, is backed by our clinic support team, and is the latest innovation in our trusted parasiticide portfolio,” said Whit Cothern, DVM, executive director of veterinary professional services at Boehringer Ingelheim Animal Health, at the time of the approval.

 “Veterinarians tackle complex challenges in their clinics every day, so we are proud to offer the solutions you want and the customer care that you want — all in one place.”

The donation provided by BI Cares will help shelter animals by giving them a product that can protect them from harmful parasites. When these pets are kept healthy and parasite-free, they have a better chance of finding their forever homes.

1.9 Million doses of NexGard PLUS (afoxolaner, moxidectin and pyrantel chewable tablets): Donated by Boehringer Ingelheim Cares Foundation to Aid Shelter Dogs in Need. News release. Boehringer Ingelheim. March 15, 2024. Accessed March 19, 2024. https://prnmedia.prnewswire.com/news-releases/1-9-million-doses-of-nexgard-plus-afoxolaner-moxidectin-and-pyrantel-chewable-tablets-donated-by-boehringer-ingelheim-cares-foundation-to-aid-shelter-dogs-in-need-302089861.html

Flea Treatment in Animal Shelters. News release. UC Davis Koret Shelter Medicine Program. July 25, 2015. Accessed March 19, 2024. https://www.sheltermedicine.com/library/resources/flea-treatment-in-animal-shelters

Crossley K. Chewable tablet receives FDA approval for internal and external parasites in dogs. Published online July 20, 2023. Accessed March 19, 2024. https://www.dvm360.com/view/chewable-tablet-receives-fda-approval-for-internal-and-external-parasites-in-dogs

The medication will help protect dogs in the chosen shelter’s protection from fleas, and ticks, prevent heartworm disease, and more. 

Millions of NexGard PLUS doses donated to shelters in need 

Dayson Judd practices haltering a horse on a model with guidance from lead veterinary technician Abigail Matzdorff (Image courtesy of the University of Arizona).

Dayson Judd was 3 years old when his family welcomed home Tilly, a miniature schnauzer. Dayson, who was lonely now that his sister started kindergarten, found a new best friend in Tilly, and soon, the duo began playing together. Through Tilly, Dayson learned how veterinarians took care of animals, inspiring him at a young age to pursue a career in veterinary medicine.

Since then, Dayson Judd worked hard to complete steps toward his goal and now in his senior year, he will graduate from Tanque Verde High School and attend the University of Arizona. He hopes to enroll in the W.A. Franke Honors College to earn a degree in veterinary sciences with hopes of attending the University of Arizona College of Veterinary Medicine.

However, unlike most inspiring veterinarians, Dayson was diagnosed with cystic fibrosis when he was 8 months old after he presented to his doctors with a persistent cough, but his doctors were able to manage his symptoms, according to an organizational release.

 At age 7, his health took a turn and he began to have more frequent hospital visits and dozens of medications and treatment plans. According to Dayson Judd, he was in the hospital 15 times between the ages of 7 and 12 due to low lung function.

 Before his teenage years, Dayson Judd joined a drug trial for Trikafta, causing an immediate improvement in his health.

Now, as Dayson Judd prepares to begin his college career, Make-A-Wish Arizona, PAWS Veterinary Center, and the University of Arizona collaborated to grant his wish of becoming a veterinarian for a day.

"His first response was to give his wish away to help someone else," said Chet Judd, Dayson's father.

 "He's a very empathetic person. We support him in whatever career field he wants, but choosing veterinary medicine makes perfect sense to me, as far as his personality. He cares for animals. He's a great person."

Dayson Judd kicked off his day with a tour of the college, College of Veterinary Medicine, where he was given a stethoscope and scrubs. He then went on to meet with Julie Funk, DVM, MS, PhD, dean of the school, Alex Ramirez, DVM, MPH, DACVPM, PhD, associate dean for the academic programs and faculty affairs

and Shannon Salinas, JD, associate dean of student affairs. The school officials explained to Dayson Judd more about the profession, shared their own experiences, and answered questions he had about college. After this roundtable, he was invited to attend assistant professor Elaine Norton, DVM

MS, PhD, DACVIM-LA, class and reviewed coursework with a second-year veterinary student.

"The College of Veterinary Medicine is all about fulfilling our students' dreams of becoming veterinarians," Funk said.

 "We are so excited to share our college with Dayson and are excited to learn about his passion for veterinary medicine. I am hopeful that visiting the college further assured Dayson's interest in becoming a veterinarian, and through meeting our faculty and students, he feels that veterinary medicine is home, the place to build a career. We would love for Dayson to be a future University of Arizona VetCat."

In 2020, the College of Veterinary Medicine opened its doors and became the first and only public veterinary school within Arizona and differs from the normal curriculum of other veterinary schools because its curriculum spans 3 years not the traditional 4 years.

Dayson was also invited to meet and shadow Randy Aronson, VMD, CCRT, CVMA, co-owner of PAWS Veterinary Center where he met with patients, discussed treatment plans, and worked in the center’s lab. After all of these experiences, Dayson believes he is ready to begin his journey into veterinary medicine to help treat pets, like his childhood best friend Tilly.

"Today was better than I could have imagined, it's just amazing," he concluded. "The connections I have made, the people I have talked to, have all been amazing. It's helped a lot, and I am very excited."

UArizona partners with Make-A-Wish Arizona for “veterinarian for a day” experience. The University of Arizona. Published March 14, 2024. Accessed March 19, 2024. https://news.arizona.edu/story/uarizona-partners-make-wish-arizona-veterinarian-day-experience

First College of Veterinary Medicine class set to graduate. News release. The University of Arizona. Published August 16, 2023. Accessed March 19, 2024. https://news.arizona.edu/story/first-college-veterinary-medicine-class-set-graduate#:~:text=The%20state's%20first%20and%20only,the%20workforce%20one%20year%20sooner.

Seventeen-year-old Dayson Judd was able to experience veterinary school for a day