In veterinary medicine, professionals are steadfast witnesses to the enduring bond between humans and equines, a bond celebrated annually on World Horse Day. Join us in commemorating World Horse Day by reviewing the latest news and innovations within equine medicine that will help our equine patients live a long and happy life with their owners.

From an USDA funded study investigating reproductive abnormalities and sterility in horses to largest equine corneal transplant to date, there is something here for everyone. Check out the articles:

The largest equine corneal transplant ever reported

North Carolina State University College of Veterinary Medicine announced that its ophthalmologists helped Myra, a show-jumping Dutch warmblood horse, by successfully completing the most extensive resection and corneal transplant every document in an equine patient.

USDA is funding a study of reproductive abnormalities and sterility in horses

: Texas A&M School of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences in College Station received a $640,000 grant from the USDA for researchers to study abnormalities in sex development affecting reproductive capabilities of some horses.

Equine patients suffering from distal limb wounds of the pastern and the foot of the horse are commonly treated using an phalangeal cast. Allison A. Stewart, DVM, MS, DACVS, outlined effective treatment for stabilizing a horse’s wounded pastern or food region.

Articles

Check out these 3 article on the latest news in equine medicine 

3 must-reads for World Horse Day 2024

The American Association of Swine Veterinarians (AASV) announced during the 55th AASV Annual Meeting held in Nashville, Tennessee the recipient of the AASV Young Swine Veterinarian of the Year Award was Dylan Lape, DVM. The award is presented to an AASV member who graduated veterinary school within 5 years and who demonstrates the ideals of exemplary service and proficiency early in the recipient’s career.

"I am shocked and honored to be selected for this award! I 100% wouldn't be the veterinarian I am today without the mentorship I've received from many members of AASV, but especially my boss Dr Matt Ackerman!" expressed Lape.

Dylan Lape, DVM, 2024 AASV Young Swine Veterinarian of the Year Award recipient (Image courtesy50 of AASV)

According to an organizational release from Purdue University College of Veterinary Medicine,

 Lape is from Lebanon, Pennsylvania where he was raised exhibiting poultry along with his father and brother. He then attended the Pennsylvania State University (Penn State) in 2014 to pursue a Bachelor of Science Degree. After graduating, Lape then went to Purdue University College of Veterinary Medicine and earned his Doctor of Veterinary Medicine in 2018.

During his time at Penn State, Lape developed an interest in swine medicine at the Penn State swine farm, leading him to continue to foster his interest during his time at Purdue.

 He then joined Pork Veterinary Solutions in July 2018 and works with independent swine producers, contact growers, and large integrators. In this position, he oversaw the production of approximately 1 million pigs per year.

Lape participated in multiple foreign animal disease planning and preparedness exercises and finished the Swine Veterinarians Public Policy Advocacy Program that was through the National Pork Producers Council and AASV.

Those who nominated Lape for the award described his infectious positive personality as an ideal of exemplary service. The nominations said that despite situations being challenging or stressful, Lape continues to be happy, making him a crucial part of the team as well as a joy to clients and fellow colleagues.

Currently, Lape is raising exhibition poultry locally and in his spare time, enjoys showing across the Midwest.

AASV Honors Awardees at Annual Meeting. News release. American Association of Swine Veterinarians. February 27, 2024. Accessed March 1, 2024. 

https://www.aasv.org/news/story.php?id=16444

AASV recognizes Purdue Veterinary graduate as 2024 Young Swine Veterinarian of the Year. News release. Purdue University College of Veterinary Medicine. March 1, 2024. Accessed March 1, 2024. 

https://vet.purdue.edu/news/aasv-recognizes-purdue-veterinary-graduate-as-2024-young-swine-veterinarian-of-the-year.php

Dylan Lape, DVM, was honored during the American Association of Swine Veterinarians annual meeting

AASV announces Young Swine Veterinarian of the Year 

An equine veterinarian performs and exam on a ranch while the client holds the horse.

The American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) and the American Association of Equine Practitioners (AAEP) have partnered for a new resource for equine veterinary teams. The free 

 was created to help practice staff develop healthy lines of communication and positive partnerships with horse owners, according to an organizational release.

Launched today—World Horse Day—this single-page guide can be printed out and displayed in the clinic or provided to clients as a tip sheet. The 

 shows a column of client expectations for an equine practice next to a compatible list of complementary behaviors requested by the staff. “Be provided with contact information for veterinary emergency services when needed” is a client expectation. In response, the staff requests that clients “reserve after-hours calls for true emergencies [and understand] that [their] regular veterinarian may not be the one to see [their] horse.”

“The release of the Effective Equine Care Guide marks a significant step forward in the care of horses in the United States. This collaborative effort, at its core, is about nurturing the relationships between veterinarians, their teams, and horse owners to ensure the best possible care for these magnificent animals. Through open communication and mutual respect, this guide will empower both veterinary professionals and horse owners, leading not just to healthier horses, but also stronger, more positive relationships in our professional lives. This is essential in our mission to advance the health and wellbeing of animals and reflects our ongoing commitment to support the veterinary profession in all aspects of their invaluable work,” said Rena Carlson, DVM, president of the AVMA, in the release.

“When the relationship between an equine veterinarian and an owner is rooted in mutual trust and respect, it is the health and welfare of the horse that benefits the most,” added 2024 AAEP President Katie Garrett, DVM, DACVS-LA, in the release.

 “The AAEP is tremendously appreciative of this opportunity to partner with the AVMA on behalf of every horse doctor and client.”

 follows the release of recent data from the AVMA that found 9 of 10 veterinarians in companion animal practice indicated that they’ve experienced negative or escalated client interactions in the past year. When asked if a resource outlining shared expectations and responsibilities could help strengthen their relationship with clients, 7 of 10 replied affirmatively.

Meanwhile, a 2023 survey by Banfield Pet Hospital found that more than 80% of the 1000 responding pet owners value a strong and positive relationship with their veterinary team. This survey also found that nearly half of all clients have had a disagreement or heated interaction with their veterinary team.

The Effective Equine Care Guide will be housed within the 

. This toolkit is available to veterinary professionals throughout the industry on the AVMA’s website.

Better communication, better care: AVMA, AAEP unveil new guide for equine practices. News release. American Veterinary Medical Association. March 1, 2024. Accessed March 1, 2024. 

https://www.avma.org/news/press-releases/better-communication-better-care-avma-aaep-unveil-new-guide-equine-practices

Veterinarian-client agreement for effective equine care. 

. American Veterinary Medical Association. Accessed March 1, 2024. 

https://www.avma.org/sites/default/files/2024-02/mcm-effective-equine-care-guide-2024.pdf

After pandemic pet boom and rise in demand for veterinary care, good news: pet owners and veterinary professionals are ready for positive partnerships. April 11, 2023. Accessed March 1, 2024. 

https://www.banfield.com/about-banfield/newsroom/press-releases/2023/banfield-pet-hospital-avma-surveys-positive-pet-care-partnerships

The American Veterinary Medical Association and the American Association of Equine Practitioners collaborated to create the new resource for practices.

Client communication guide is released for equine veterinary teams

Good morning dvm360 readers! We are officially 2 weeks away from our upcoming Fetch conference in Charlotte, North Carolina, can you believe it’s almost here? Fetch Charlotte is currently approved for 111 continuing education credit hours in jurisdictions that recognize RACE approval. This means that attendees will be able to earn 17 hours during the conference! We still have some spots open to go 

 to learn more, see what speakers and exhibitors will be in attendance, and secure your spot today.

While you prepare for Fetch Charlotte, here is what was popular this week on dvm360.com:

The University of Maryland Eastern Shore 

 its plans to begin accepting its first class of veterinary students in 2026, making the university the first public historically black college or university in the nation to offer a DVM-earning opportunity.

Texas A&M University School of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences 

 an emergency response team to the Texas panhandle to treat patients who were pets affected by the wildfires.

, Ron Nelson, executive vice president, Covetrus Care Plans, and host Adam Christman, DVM, MBA, to debunk common misconceptions about care plans and how subscription economy is making it way into veterinary clinics across the globe.

 on Mark Humphris, BSc, BVMS (Hons), MANZCVS (Dairy), Dip HRM (Dairy), and his veterinary consultancy that is supporting farmers with business, leadership, human resources, and governance advice, plus how Bronwyn Orr, BVSc, MSc, PhD, MANZCVS, GAICD, is educating the general public on why the veterinary profession matters.

 the highs and lows of her life that pushed to pursue her dream of becoming a veterinarian. Harris also explains that the lack of mentorship for her encouraged her to become a mentor for others.

 editorial team is currently covering the 

 how to recognize eye emergencies and have a better understanding of when things could turn urgent.

Wrap up: University of Maryland Eastern Shore announces plan to admit veterinary students in 2026, and other veterinary news

Joya Griffin, DVM, DACVD, expressed her enthusiasm for our Fetch conference in Charlotte happening in 2 weeks

Excitement for our upcoming Fetch Charlotte conference

Our first Fetch conference of 2024 is happening in just 2 weeks, located in the Queen City of Charlotte, North Carolina and be sure to 

 if you haven't already done so. Faculty member, Joya Griffin, DVM, DACVD, shared what she is most looking forward to at the conference in a recent interview with 

. She also expressed what she hopes attendees take away from her sessions. 

 I'm really looking forward to Fetch Charlotte because I had such a good time last year. Fetch is such an intimate experience, I think you get to spend time more time than these mega conferences conversing with different attendees and colleagues. And so that's really enjoyable.

For my sessions, I try to present on topics that I think are going to be useful in your every day-to-day dermatology practice. So if you're a general practitioner who sees a lot of skin cases, which you probably do, I'm hoping that I can make, you know treating and diagnosing our kitties a little bit more fun and a little less daunting, and that you'll take a few tips and tricks back with you that you can utilize in your practice. And I think everybody needs an easier day.

Videos

Олеся Болтенкова / stock.adobe.com

Whether it’s human medicine or veterinary medicine, emergency cases are usually unexpected. Because of its unpredictably, emergency cases also create unexpected costs for owners. Elizabeth Rozanski, DVM, DACVIM (SAIM), DACVECC, associate professor at Tufts University in Medford, Massachusetts, explained that there are options to help owners afford the cost of emergency medicine. In her session at the 2024 Midwest Veterinary Conference, Rozanski discussed the common challenges in emergency medicine and how to best approach cases when clients cannot afford a wide expanse of diagnostics and treatments.

Frustrations for emergency care team members

Clients who can’t afford diagnostics or treatments can impede on potential solutions

“What’s our solution? It’s coming up with options that we can work with. And that’s spectrum of care. That’s emergency medicine—how we can help these people [and their pets],” Rozanski said.

Charlie is a 9-month-old mixed breed dog who came to see Rozanski after owners noticed black bruising on his neck and reported signs of lethargy over the previous 3 days. The owners had to wait a few days before coming into the emergency department (ED) because they couldn’t find a ride to the hospital and the area lacked convenient public transportation. “They couldn’t get to see us, there was no [ED] that they could get to. They knew he had been sick for a couple of days, now he shows up and he’s bruised…What do you think is wrong with him?” Rozanski asked attendees. “Rat bait. Yeah, he ate rat bait.”

Rozanski and her emergency team noticed Charlie’s prothrombin time (PT) was out of range high which is a common effect of rat poison toxicity. Rozanski explained that a case like Charlie’s can be frustrating for veterinary professionals because it could have been preventable and could have been taken care of sooner. If Charlie was brought to the ED a few days ago, he could have easily been treated with vitamin K for a low cost. However now his case is more dire, and treatment becomes more costly because he may need a transfusion and he is at risk of euthanasia.

Yet, if we take a spectrum of care approach and take into account the owner’s limitations, we can reevaluate the situation. Rozanski explained that a lot of time with rat poison ingestion, owners don’t know if they should call the veterinary clinic. They sometimes compare it to ant bait, which is harmless, and most of the time, dogs appear to be fine shortly after ingesting rat poison. Rozanski also mentioned that some clients don’t have easy access to their primary care veterinary clinic, so it’s harder for them to decide calling the emergency clinic when they are unsure of their pet’s condition. Keeping these circumstances in mind can help reduce frustration for veterinary professionals and help support the client.

Rozanski assured attendees that, in this particular case, Charlie did recover.

Rozanski shared the following things to keep in mind when approaching a client’s unique situation with access to veterinary care:

Veterinary practice type (primary, emergency, specialty, membership-only)

Community (where are you located and what is the average income?)

Presentation style (how are you presenting your veterinary care options to clients?)

Credit options (payment plans, CareCredit, discounts, etc.)

Treatment plans (keep the owner’s budget in mind with how aggressive treatment is)

“At the end of the day, if someone tells you ‘I don’t have the money for that’ then they don’t have the money for that. And then it becomes our job and our opportunity to help them figure that out. So what do you do with that? Is there a better way to pay? Do you need to be paid today or can you be paid over time? Can you make it cost less—not by not charging [for services], but by doing appropriately less tests. [For example], do you need a CBC chemistry before a spay in a cat? No, you don’t need that,” Rozanski said. Of course, doing a complete blood count doesn’t hurt and can be helpful, but this example is more for clients who specifically need to cut costs as much as possible.

Rozanski recommended being direct with clients and ask them what they are comfortable spending before starting your veterinary care. This can help everyone stay on the same page and allows you to clearly explain all their options within their limits. This also allows the client to be more prepared to pay for all the services needed at the end of the emergency visit.

As veterinary professionals, you can also give your personal recommendation to clients for what treatment you think would be best for the pet to let the client know what 

 be needed to properly treat a disease/condition. This way, clients are still aware of options that can offer their pet a full recovery if they have the ability to spend a little more above their budget.

However, Rozanski reminded attendees that catering to a client’s financial needs shouldn’t come at the cost of the hospital’s business and revenue. “You can do a good job and still make money…This is a business; we want to make sure we do OK. So, you have to make more money than you spend,” Rozanski said.

The end goal of better spectrum of care in emergency medicine is to reduce the amount of financial euthanasias that come from preventable or treatable cases. Rozanski stated that there is nothing more upsetting about having to euthanize an animal that could have been easily saved.

Rozanski E. Spectrum of care in emergencies. Presented at: Midwest Veterinary Conference; February 20-22, 2024.

What can you do to give clients more options in critical care cases?