As we approach the end of 2023 (can you believe it?), I find myself reflecting on the remarkable year that has passed in the field of veterinary medicine. It has been a year filled with innovative and educational initiatives that have truly enriched our community of veterinary professionals. Hopefully, you close out this year with new knowledge, additional network connections, and successful patient stories to share.

I am extremely proud of our team here at 

. They have worked tirelessly in providing you with tools, skills, and knowledge you need to better yourselves and your patients. Now, I want to highlight 5 outstanding developments in 2023 and express my heartfelt gratitude for the unwavering loyalty of our dedicated veterinary professionals.

Favorite thing #1: Continuing education galore

Continuing education (CE) is the backbone of our profession, ensuring that veterinarians stay at the forefront of medical and personal well-being advancements. In 2023, we were thrilled to host a total of 7 live CE events, collectively providing more than 1000 hours of invaluable education. These events included our newly revamped symposia, Directions in Veterinary Medicine, which each brought a therapeutic focus to the forefront (critical care, pain management, and nutrition and oncology).

What made this year truly special was our expansion into 4 new cities: Arlington, Virginia; Miami, Florida; Nashville, Tennessee; and Long Beach, California. Each of these cities brought its unique charm, and our presence there allowed us to connect with an even wider network of veterinary professionals. To add a modern twist, we rebranded the Atlantic Coast Veterinary Conference as Fetch Coastal, complete with marketing materials generated by artificial intelligence that were informative and visually appealing.

Our commitment to providing high-quality CE remains unwavering, and we are grateful for the enthusiastic participation of our colleagues who made these events a resounding success, especially our phenomenal Fetch faculty. Thank you for taking time out of your busy schedules to share your knowledge and insight with our colleagues. We also want to thank all our outstanding sponsors and exhibitors who helped raise the bar in the advancement of veterinary medicine. You are part of the education team.

One of the most exciting initiatives of 2023 was the introduction of 

, an in-studio 30-minute recording designed to bring subject matter experts to the forefront for CE credit. These sessions have allowed us to delve deep into critical medical topics, providing a platform for experts to share their insights and knowledge directly with our audience. It is a dynamic format that has proven highly effective and engaging.

 demonstrates our commitment to fostering innovative ways of learning and exchanging knowledge within the veterinary community. 

 takes viewers into a veterinary hospital showing actional education, procedures, and sound bites that they can easily replicate or perform themselves. This has been a huge lift that we are excited to be rolling out. It is also another fun way of learning and minimizing fatigue by PowerPoint.

Favorite thing #3: dvm360’s Flex CE articles

 publication has long been a trusted source of information and insights for veterinarians. In 2023, we took this a step further by housing Flex CE articles in print and online with a strong focus on medical content. This addition allows readers to earn valuable CE credit while keeping up with the latest developments in veterinary medicine. We understand the value of efficient learning, and these Flex CE articles are tailored to meet the needs of our busy professionals. We are excited to have this resource available and believe it is a significant step toward enhancing the accessibility of CE materials.

Favorite thing #4: Flexible live webinars

Acknowledging the busy schedules of veterinary professionals, we aimed to be as accommodating as possible in 2023. That is why we provided more than 100 hours of live webinars at various times, including evenings, lunch hours, and mornings. We understand the importance of meeting our audience where their needs and schedules align. All these live webinars live on demand through our 

 flex website for colleagues to obtain additional CE opportunities, for free. The flexibility of our live webinars allowed us to cater to a broader audience and ensure that veterinary professionals could access high-quality CE at their convenience.

 continued to be a valuable resource in 2023, allowing our listeners to learn while driving to and from work or even during their workouts. This past year, we expanded our podcast offerings, enabling listeners to earn 0.25 to 0.50 CE credits while staying updated on a wide range of topics. The convenience of podcast-based CE is undeniable, and we have been thrilled to see its growing popularity. 

 serves as an accessible and engaging platform for continuous learning for all.

Before we wrap up this year-end celebration of veterinary excellence, we want to express our heartfelt gratitude to our dedicated audience. Your unwavering loyalty and commitment to advancing the field of veterinary medicine have been our driving force. Without your support and active participation, none of these initiatives would have been possible. Thank you for being an integral part of our community and for your continuous pursuit of knowledge and excellence.

As we approach the holiday season, we want to extend our warmest wishes to all veterinary professionals. The dedication, compassion, and expertise you bring to your work are commendable, and we hope you take some well-deserved time to celebrate and recharge. May the coming year be filled with even more discoveries, achievements, and shared knowledge in the world of veterinary medicine.

As we look forward to a new year, we remain dedicated to providing the best educational resources and fostering a sense of community within our profession. Together, we will continue to achieve great things and make a positive impact in the lives of animals and their owners. See you in 2024.

Articles

Reflecting on a year of exceptional growth in veterinary medicine with dvm360

Celebrating veterinary education excellence: My favorite things in 2023

#6: Coming out: Better than ever in veterinary medicine

On this special Pride Month episode of The Vet Blast Podcast, Jennifer Evans and Dr Christman discuss what life has been like for them in veterinary medicine as members of the LGBTQ+ community. They share personal stories, good and bad, on experiences they faced with family, clients, and other professionals.

Podcasts

We have compiled a countdown of our top Vet Blast Podcast Episodes in 2023, here is number 6

Top Vet Blast Podcast episodes of 2023: #6

6. Using gabapentin to reduce feline stress

Gabapentin, an anticonvulsant commonly for managing pain and seizures in animals, has shown effectiveness in calming cats during veterinary visits. Commonly reported adverse effects include drowsiness, muscle relaxation, and impaired balance, but these usually resolve within 10 hours.

We have compiled a countdown of our top 15 content in 2023, here is number 6

The most popular pet names and naming trends of 2023 are revealed

Digital imaging and artificial intelligence (AI) are rapidly growing factors in veterinary medicine. Dermatologic cases are the most common nonvaccine presenting complaints to small animal veterinarians based on the latest pet insurance–based study.

Dermatology is a visual science. To make an accurate diagnosis and to get the best possible treatment outcome, you will need to use all your senses. But your eyes will be the most important of all. Sometimes they will not be enough to gather all the information you need.

A good quality microscope will be necessary for the successful practice of dermatology. It should be binocular with a variety of objectives. A new option recently developed is the digital microscope, which can help document lesions for owners and medical records. The author is using Zomedica’s Truview digital microscope in his dermatology practice. Unlike other digital scopes, Truview can use an unstained slide and perform all the staining and preparation for you, thus freeing technicians to accomplish other tasks. The stained images are then scanned and available to be viewed on the screen and via the internet at MyZomedica.com. These digital images can be shared with a clinical pathologist for expedient results/ second opinion. New platforms are also available to interface AI with this clinical data for rapid, accurate results.

Superficial and deep skin scrapings are commonly performed in clinical cases, especially those with alopecia and folliculitis. The skin is squeezed and then abraded with a mineral oil–coated dull scalpel blade or skin spatula. The skin should show evidence of capillary oozing when complete. The sample is placed on a glass slide and viewed on ×4/power. It may be easier to view mites if the condenser is lowered slightly. For cases of demodicosis, the author likes to record mite counts, percentage of live vs dead mites, and percentages of the various life stages. Evidence of a single sarcoptic mange mite or egg is all that is needed to diagnose sarcoptic mange. Hair plucks may be substituted for skin scrapes, especially in difficult areas to scrape, such as the interdigital spaces.

Cytology of the skin and ear is helpful in clinical dermatology cases. Skin cytology samples are obtained either by direct smear or clear tape preparation. Be certain never to use frosted tape. The author frequently uses tape impressions on dry, scaly lesions and impression smears on moist lesions. Staining the samples with Diff-Quik or Wright-Giemsa stain kit is the most used in North America. Heat-fixing the slide prior to staining is up to the individual’s preference. Evaluation for the presence of bacteria and yeast is then done using 4×100 magnification. The morphology of the bacteria and whether they are intracellular or extracellular should be noted. The most common bacteria seen are cocci 

, with their characteristic bowling pin shapes, should be evaluated for numbers per field.

Tzanck preparations (named for French hematologist Arnault Tzanck, MD) are cytology of material aspirated from an intact pustule or from under a moist crust. They are helpful in diagnosing pemphigus diseases with their hyper-segmented neutrophils devoid of bacteria and positive for acantholytic cells.

TRUFORMA can accurately check canine and feline thyroxine, free thyroxine, thyrotropin, and canine cortisol and corticotropin (ACTH) levels.

Bacterial cultures and dermatophyte cultures must be properly implemented when working up difficult clinical dermatology cases. Dermatophyte cultures can be routinely done in-house. Dermatophytes preferentially metabolize protein in the culture medium and their alkaline metabolites turn the media red. Scale and hair plucks are inoculated into the media. A sterile toothbrush can be used to comb an entire cat (especially a suspected carrier) to obtain samples. The colonies are usually white or tan when mature. Identification of the species is recommended using lactophenol cotton blue stain to look at the macroconidia/ microconidia of the fungal species. The author recommends sending fungal cultures to a reference laboratory for more accurate diagnosis and speciation. The newer polymerase chain reaction (PCR) panel detects 

 with greater than 95% sensitivity and 99% specificity, respectively. A positive PCR test can be the result of active infection, fomite carriage, or nonviable fungal organisms from a successfully treated infection.

In clinic hematology, serum chemistry and urinalysis are now commonly utilized in small animal practices. Dermatologic cases may show changes seen with analyzers including anemia of chronic disease, eosinophilia, hypoalbuminemia, hyperglobulinemia, and proteinuria. Many cases will have elevated alanine aminotransferase/alkaline phosphatase levels with many medications, especially corticosteroids.

An exciting new addition to small animal practice is Zomedica’s Truforma for point-of-care endocrine assays. Truforma can accurately check canine and feline thyroxine, free thyroxine, thyrotropin, and canine cortisol and corticotropin (ACTH) levels. This can be especially helpful in differentiating between sick euthyroid syndrome and hypothyroidism in canine patients. This is the first analyzer that will provide accurate, in-house measurement of canine ACTH levels. This is an excellent screening test for hyperadrenocorticism that can be accomplished in less than 1 hour. 

There is an art and science of taking good samples for dermatopathology. It is always preferable to take non-traumatized primary lesions such as papules and pustules. Always try to give the dermatopathologist more than one sample. The sample should never be scrubbed prior to biopsy, and always grasp the biopsy plug from the base to avoid crushing artifacts.

Proper use of your clinical laboratory is essential for the accurate diagnosis and treatment of canine and feline dermatoses. Many new diagnostic tools have become available in recent years that can aid in your efforts to make the pet and owner happy and healthy.

Moriello KA, Coyner K, Paterson S, Mignon B. Diagnosis and treatment of dermatophytosis in dogs and cats.: Clinical Consensus Guidelines of the World Association for Veterinary Dermatology. 

. 2017;28(3):266- e68. doi:10.1111/vde.12440

, has practiced veterinary dermatology since 1986 and he became the first board-certified veterinary dermatologist in Atlanta, Georgia. Schick completed both his bachelor’s degree and DVM at the University of Florida. He completed a small animal internship at Oradell Animal Hospital and his residency at The University of Pennsylvania. Schick has practiced in multiple locations recognizing the extreme needs of dermatologic care across the country. He began serving the needs of the Florida panhandle in 2015. Schick, who is also a commercial pilot, volunteers his time with the Veteran’s Airlift Command to help transport military personnel in times of special need. Schick is very passionate about Gator Sports and loves to scuba dive in his spare time, taking special interest in under water photography. 

Examining the growing role of digital imaging and artificial intelligence in veterinary dermatology

Dermatologic clinical pathology for dummies

#7: Touching the untouchables: The first reactive referral center for pets with behavioral challenges

Tracy Paukette, DVM, shared more about the Reactive Referral Center, a first-of-its-kind place to treat pets with special needs. In this episode, she also discusses with Dr Christman how she came to create the center, all it does, and some success stories.

We have compiled a countdown of our top Vet Blast Podcast Episodes in 2023, here is number 7