A recent study conducted by Deborah Knapp, DVM, MS, DACVIM-Oncology, and a team of investigators that published in 

found Scottish terriers exposed to cigarette smoke were at a higher risk of developing bladder cancer. The study found that Scottish terriers exposed to cigarette smoke were 6 times more likely to develop bladder cancer than those who were not exposed.

“We know that Scotties’ genetics play a huge role in making them vulnerable to cancer,” said Knapp, in an organizational release.

 “If we were to do this study with mixed breeds of dogs, it would take hundreds and hundreds of dogs to uncover this same risk, which is probably there, just more difficult to discern because those dogs are not already inclined genetically to get bladder cancer.”

Knapp’s team studied a cohort of 120 Scottish terriers over 3 years. The team assessed the activity, environment, food, health, locations, and anything else they could think of that could affect the pet’s cancer risk.

 The research team also joined forces with Marcia Dawson, DVM, Purdue alumna, and Scottish terriers breed champion, to learn more about these dogs to help understand what the research could reveal.

According to the release, when dogs, or even humans, are exposed to tobacco smoke whether licking it off clothes or breathing it in, the body takes the chemicals found in the smoke and then eliminates them through urine. Because of this, it can lead to the development of cancer in the urinary tract as well as a way researchers can assess smoke exposure. The study researchers analyzed the urine of the Scottish terriers for nicotine metabolite, cotinine, and its presence indicated that the canine was exposed to significant amounts of tobacco smoke.

“Cancer is a combination of what you are born with — your genetics — and what you are exposed to — your environment,” Knapp explained.

 “In this case, we studied these dogs for years at a time, and then we went back and asked, ‘What was different between those that developed cancer and those that did not develop cancer? What were the risk factors?’”

Knapp and her team stressed that this discovery is not new, it just provided new information that can be used to better protect pets moving forward. One interesting finding the study brought to light was there was no link between lawn chemicals and bladder cancer, which previous studies have found to be true. Knapp believes that the results reached this conclusion because pet owners are more aware of the lawn chemicals risk, so they took necessary precautions.

“What we hope pet owners will take from this is that if they can reduce the exposure of their dogs to smoke, that can help the dogs’ health,” Knapp concluded. “We hope they stop smoking altogether, both for their health and so they will continue to be around for their dogs, but any steps to keep smoke from the dogs will help.”

The study's researchers hope that these findings find more ways that pet owners can protect their dogs by reducing the amount of smoke around the dog, smoking outside, or even changing their clothes before coming home from a smoky environment. They also wanted to remind readers that the results are not black and white with some dogs living with someone who smokes not developing cancer and vice versa.

The study was funded by the Scottish Terrier Club of America, National Institutes of Health’s National Cancer Institute, and gifts made to Purdue in the name of canine bladder cancer research.

Knapp DW, Dhawan D, Ruple A, et al. Association between cigarette smoke exposure and urinary bladder cancer in Scottish terriers in a cohort study. 

. 2024;303(106044):106044. doi:10.1016/j.tvjl.2023.106044

Exposure to cigarette smoke increases cancer risk in dogs. News release. Purdue University. January 3, 2023. Accessed January 4, 2023. https://www.purdue.edu/newsroom/releases/2024/Q1/exposure-to-cigarette-smoke-increases-cancer-risk-in-dogs.html?utm_source=cision&utm_medium=referral&utm_content=unsuns&utm_campaign=240103caninecancerknappbs

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Researchers concluded that cigarette smoke exposure can increase odds of Scottish terriers developing bladder cancer by 6 times


Study finds cigarette exposure to Scottish terriers can increase risk of bladder cancer 

The National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) is a relatively new organization established within the US Department of Agriculture in 2009 as part of the 2008 Farm Bill. Its mission is to find innovative solutions to challenging problems facing agriculture. It does this in collaboration with scientists in the United States and around the world, contributing to discussions and establishing new science-based policies.

One of NIFA’s many roles is to administer the Veterinary Medicine Loan Repayment Program (VMLRP). NIFA enters into direct agreements with veterinarians in shortage situations to provide financial loan repayment assistance up to $25,000 per year for a predetermined period. It is a contract, not a grant, and requires that the awardee commit at least 3 years of service to the shortage situation. Between 2010 and 2022, more than 600 veterinarians have been awarded contracts through the VMLRP. The maximum award amount of $75,000 must be applied to either government or commercial loans taken while the veterinarian was in veterinary school. The veterinary college must have been a school approved by the American Veterinary Medical Association with a DVM or equivalent degree. The veterinarian must also be established in a practice within the designated shortage area at least 90 days following the award. Veterinarians who have existing federal liens or are obligated with work agreements within governmental organizations are ineligible for the program. Similarly, veterinarians who do not have the minimum threshold of at least $15,000 of debt burden are ineligible to apply for this program. Because the VMLRP contracts are not grants, the designation and review process is unique and includes a review of a personal resume as well as financial records.

Each year, designated shortage situations can be nominated by a state animal health official (SAHO) or their designee. These shortage descriptions are reviewed by an external panel of food animal veterinarians and the nominations are approved and published for applicants. NIFA awards the maximum number of shortage situations possible using the data from the National Agriculture Statistics Service to support its review of shortage situations. Shortages are divided into 3 categories as follows:

Those shortages that may or may not be in rural areas, requiring a minimum of 32 hours devoted to the shortage work description, and are specific for a private practice.

Those in private practice but also in a rural area and requiring a minimum of 12 hours devoted to the shortage work description.

Those shortages that are for public practice and require a minimum of 19.6 hours dedicated to the shortage work description.

The SAHO can increase the requirements beyond the minimum standard that NIFA sets.

At the beginning of each application cycle, a request for applications is advertised. Applicants can access the VMLRP website and find the shortage descriptions that may apply to them, the total dollar amount for the award in the competition areas, and important application deadlines. The total dollar amount is determined by the amount appropriated by congressional funds each year and the cutoff amount may change based on the availability of such funds. Unless otherwise noted, each shortage situation is limited to 1 awardee and not all shortage situations are filled. In some special situations, an award may be split by 2 equivalent veterinarians in 1 shortage area.

In public practice, awards cannot exceed 10% of the overall funding award cutoff, to prioritize private food animal practice. This is a competitive process, and each application is reviewed by a panel of peers selected by NIFA. These panels are trained to review the applications uniformly and must disclose any possible conflicts of interest, and it is for that same reason that panelists do not live in the same state as the applicants that they review. Applications should include references, resumes, and a written statement describing how the applicant will meet the shortage situation as posted by the SAHO.

Despite NIFA’s ongoing efforts to support this nationwide problem, access to veterinary care in agriculture and rural communities continues to be one of the largest problems cited by producers. Those graduates and current veterinarians serving or considering food animal practice or mixed practice should be encouraged to seek financial support by applying for the VMLRP and see whether they qualify for assistance. This is an excellent way to help increase access for producers to veterinarians by giving incentive for veterinarians to consider career paths serving agriculture.

NIFA will be hosting a listening initiative for stakeholders on January 24, 2024. Questions and comments will be considered at that time and can be submitted. The next application cycle is expected to open in March 2024. For more information, please visit the VMLRP 

”A pocket of prevention” is a recurring column brought to you by the American College of Veterinary Preventive Medicine (ACVPM). The ACVPM is an American Veterinary Medical Association-recognized veterinary specialty organization offering board certification in preventive medicine with the option of a specialty in epidemiology. Becoming a diplomate of the ACVPM means joining some of the most distinguished veterinary professionals in preventive medicine and public health at national and international levels. For more information, go to acvpm.org.

The financial assistance is provided through the National Institute of Food and Agriculture

Loan repayment program aids veterinarians in shortage areas

Abnormal cell growth results in the formation of tumors and, for dogs in particular, skin tumors are the most prevalent, with this abnormal cell growth happening in the tissue just beneath the skin.

 Discovering skin tumors in pets can sometimes be easier than internal tumors because of the visibility on the outside. Skin tumors can also be more common for pets because of exposure to various environmental factors, such as chemicals, solar radiation, and viruses. Additionally, the development of skin tumors may be affected by hormonal imbalances and genetic factors.

In a session at the Directions in Veterinary Medicine symposium in Nashville, Tennessee, Kate Baker, DVM, DACVP (Clinical Pathology), CEO of Pocket Pathologist and VetHive, presented on common skin tumors in pets and how veterinary professionals can use cytology to identify and diagnose them.

3 common skin tumors and their cytologic features

Lipomas are benign lumps that form because of an overgrowth of fat cells. These dermatological tumors can vary from very small to very large in size and can feel soft or firm. Lipomas are also usually well circumscribed and freely movable when touched, according to Baker.

Greasy or oily material may come out when this tumor is aspirated; however, Baker warned veterinarians to be cautious about automatically diagnosing a tumor as lipoma just because it shows greasy material. “It’s tempting to just look at a slide, see greasy material, and call it a lipoma. Most of the time they are, but I really want you to take a quick peek under the microscope just to make sure there isn’t anything hiding, because any kind of other pathology can hide in fat. Because two tumor types that I see most commonly hiding in fat are mast cell tumors and soft tissue sarcomas,” she said.

For those worried that a benign lipoma could be a liposarcoma during physical examination, Baker stated that these 2 tumors look different cytologically. Liposarcomas under the microscope typically have spindled borders and large, prominent nuclei. Baker also shared that in her experience, liposarcomas tend to be less common than lipomas. Overall, she emphasized that this is one of many reasons cytology can be crucial in tumor diagnoses.

Mast cell tumors are often involved in allergic reactions and are the most common malignant tumor seen in dogs. They release histamine, which causes irritation and itching, and other chemicals that may cause shock.

These mast cell tumors can sometimes look like other types of tumors during initial examination and can vary from a small discrete mass or plaque to generalized swelling of a large area of the body. Cytologically, they have a moderate to large amount of cytoplasm that contains uniform purple granules and round, centrally located nuclei that are often obscured by granules. This unique granulation makes mast cells identifiable with cytology.

 “They can be poorly granulated, so be aware of that. And if you’re moving too fast through your cytology interpretations, you can sometimes miss [something]...so spend a little bit of time with your cytology,” Baker said.

Sarcomas consist of skin’s connective tissue (fat, muscle, nerves, blood vessels, etc). Sarcomas on the surface of the skin tend to be benign, whereas deep-seated sarcomas lean toward malignancy. The larger the tumor, the more likely it is to be malignant.

 As previously mentioned, soft tissue sarcomas can often mimic lipomas physically but look different cytologically under the microscope.

“Very common, soft tissue sarcomas. Soft tissue sarcoma is a big category; [there] are lots of different types of soft tissue sarcomas,” Baker said. However, most soft tissue sarcomas have long tails or tentacles branching off and are often called spindle cell sarcomas.

Baker also stated that these tails can get tangled and stuck together. “Anytime you’re looking at dense cellular samples, be careful not to just hop right in the middle of that superdense area. I don’t even look in that area; I can’t tell what those cells are, because I can’t see their borders [or] I can’t see how they’re interacting with each other. So, I’m looking around that periphery and saying, ‘Oh, these are long, wispy tails; this is a spindle cell tumor [with] features of a soft tissue sarcoma—specifically those 2 types because of how long those tails are.’”

These were just 3 examples of dermatological tumors but, overall, the benefits of cytology used in diagnosing skin tumors in pets lies in its ability to provide quick and relatively noninvasive insights into the nature of the tumor. In some instances, a histopathological examination of a biopsy may be recommended for a more comprehensive evaluation. The combination of cytology and other diagnostic methods allows veterinarians to gather a comprehensive understanding of the nature of a skin tumor in pets, facilitating more informed treatment decisions.

Villalobes AE. Tumors of the skin in dogs. Merck Veterinary Manual. Updated October 2022. Accessed November 15, 2023. https://www.merckvetmanual.com/dog-owners/skin-disorders-of-dogs/tumors-of-the-skin-in-dogs#v3207674

Baker K. Cytology of 12 common skin problems. Presented at: Directions in Veterinary Medicine; September 15-16, 2023; Nashville, TN.

An overview of some common skin tumors in pets and how cytology can improve an accurate diagnosis

Cytology for 3 common dermatological tumors

Now that we have officially wrapped up the holiday season, families who received pets for Christmas will be making their way into clinics looking for care and guidance. With new patients entering clinics, are teams prepared or comfortable bringing pet insurance discussions to these new parents?  

On the very first episode of The Vet Blast Podcast in 2024, host Adam Christman, DVM, MBA, sat down with Ricky Walthers, DVM, chief medical officer at Pawlicy Advisor, to take a deep dive into trends and misconceptions surrounding pet insurance, plus how veterinary teams can educate clients on pet insurance to help them better understand the importance of having it. 

: One of the things that we're seeing in veterinary medicine in general is increased stress and anxiety of owners due to finances, right? So people are coming in more are aware of the money that's in their pocket given the way that the world has been recently, and the veterinary prices are increasing, kind of with that inflation, and medical inflation is even higher than standard. And so because of those things that we're seeing where owners are coming and asking for these financial solutions. So as veterinary team members, right, like we ultimately want what's best for the pet and so helping owners financially prepare allows us to do our part and make sure that pet gets the care that they need in the future. 

So I think having these conversations in puppy visits [and] annual wellness visits for young healthy pets are extremely important so the people here at multiple times. A couple of other reasons why I recommend that veterinarians and veterinary teams have something prepared to say about insurance is because when AVMA did their study on pet insurance, a couple of years ago, they found that 65% of pet owners who purchased insurance did so because the vet recommended it.

Williams A, Coble KH, Williams B, et al. Consumer preferences for Pet Health Insurance. Published online 2016. doi:10.22004/AG.ECON.230144

Podcasts

Start the new year off right when it comes to discussing pet insurance with your clients 

Kicking off the new year with pet insurance

The North American Veterinary Community (NAVC) officially announced the 3 companies that were selected as finalists for its 7th annual Pet Pitch Competition. Each of the finalists will compete in an event similar to Shark Tank where they will pitch their idea during the Veterinary Meeting & Expo (VMX) in Orlando, Florida. The finalists will then be judged by industry leaders, entrepreneurs, and other professionals to select a winner.

“The VMX Pet Pitch Competition is more than a friendly contest. It gives inspired minds and entrepreneurs the opportunity to bring their inventive ideas to life, network with global leaders in the animal healthcare industry, and receive mentorship and critical feedback necessary to position them for success and help accelerate their ideas into a thriving business,” said NAVC CEO Gene O’Neill, NAVC chief executive officer, in an organizational release.

According to the release, the winner of this year’s competition will receive $5,000, a membership to Purina’s Pet Care Innovation Network, and an invitation to Purina’s annual Innovation Summit held at the Nestle-Purina headquarters in St. Louis, Missouri. Each of the finalists were selected out of 55 startup companies that will exhibit their products at the conference.

The following companies are this year’s finalists:

: A veterinary radiology service that is powered by artificial intelligence (AI). The service provides accurate and rapid AI assessments and specialist consultations for X-rays. Radimal also includes live support, customizable delivery options, and board-certified reports.

An AI-powered documentation tool that enables veterinarians to dictate hours’ worth of appointment notes within minutes. Scribenote works to help enhance the efficiency of veterinary practice documentation time by cutting it in half. The tool is user-friendly containing features that teams can learn and master within an hour and is accessible online, iOS, or Android apps.

Inventory Ally, an inventory management program that was created to optimize inventory costs, cut down on shortages, and decrease time spent managing a clinic's inventory.

“The NAVC is thrilled to support these startup companies and help raise visibility for their exciting new products and creative solutions that will help our veterinary professionals deliver even better health care to our animals. Looking back over past winners of this tremendous program, many have gone on to lead successful businesses that continue to impact the industry today,” O’Neill continued.

In last year’s competition, TEEF For Life beat out PDX Biotech and GekkoVet and was declared the winner of the 2023 Pet Pitch Competition. TEEF For Life is a companion animal product brand launched by Primal Health, which leverages expertise in immunology and microbiology to create dental technology, strengthening good bacteria in animals’ mouths all while weakening the harmful bacteria.

The event will be hosted live in the VMX Expo Hall in the Learning Theater East on Monday, January 15, 2023, from 4-5:30 PM EST.

NAVC Announces VMX 2024 Pet Pitch Competition Finalists. News release. North American Veterinary Community. January 3, 2023. Accessed January 3, 2023.

NAVC names a winner in the 2023 VMX Pet Pitch Competition. 

. Published January 26, 2023. Accessed January 3, 2024. https://www.dvm360.com/view/navc-names-a-winner-in-the-2023-vmx-pet-pitch-competition

Three finalists were chosen to go head-to-head at the upcoming VMX conference 

2024 Pet Pitch Competition finalists announced 

 explains how an oncological surgery case may be different with post-operative recovery compared to other surgical cases

Differences oncological surgery cases may pose for recovery

While at the Fetch conference in Long Beach, California, Michael Jaffe, DVM, MS, CCRP, DACVS, sat down with 

 for an interview and explained what makes oncological surgery cases unique and how post-op could be different for these patients. He also shared what he likes about veterinary conferences like Fetch and what he takes away from these learning experiences.

The following is a partial transcript of the video.

Post-op surgical oncology cases can sometimes be challenging because, more often than not, we feel comfortable that we've completely removed whatever tumor we're trying to remove (if it's, say, a skin tumor). But oftentimes, we don't know that completely until we get our histopathology back. So when we're dealing with these post-op cases, we're always assuming that we've gotten clean margins, and we're moving from there. But sometimes we still don't know. 

And then the other part of that is, we don't know in all cases, how malignant or whether it is a malignancy that we're dealing with. And many of those cases—they may turn out to be more aggressive than we originally thought they were. So we kind of have to plan for those things in advance.

Videos

Michael Jaffe, DVM, MS, CCRP, DACVS, explains how an oncological surgery case may be different with post-operative recovery compared to other surgical cases