VETgirl Veterinary Continuing Education Podcasts

In today's VETgirl online veterinary continuing education podcast, Dr. Lisa Radosta, DACVB of Florida Veterinary Behavior Service discusses the role that supplements like Zylkene and Anxitane have in veterinary behavior. Do they work? Since supplements aren't regulated by the FDA, are they safe? Should you be recommending them? Tune into this podcast to find out more!

Treat a lot of working dogs? Well, this VETgirl online veterinary continuing education podcast is for you. Parr and Otto out of University of Pennsylvania wanted to evaluate the primary presenting problem of working German Shepherd dogs (GSD) presenting to the ER. What was the underlying etiology of illness? In a study called "Emergency visits and occupational hazards in German Shepherd police dogs (2008-;2010)," they retrospectively reviewed GSD presenting to the Penn emergency services from 2008-2010 (Shout out to the Penn Working Dog Center!). They wanted to be able to identify the number and underlying conditions of police dog visits and confirm the primary causes of illness in working GSD.

Treat a lot of working dogs? Well, this VETgirl online veterinary continuing education podcast is for you. Parr and Otto out of University of Pennsylvania wanted to evaluate the primary presenting problem of working German Shepherd dogs (GSD) presenting to the ER. What was the underlying etiology of illness? In a study called "Emergency visits and occupational hazards in German Shepherd police dogs (2008-;2010)," they retrospectively reviewed GSD presenting to the Penn emergency services from 2008-2010 (Shout out to the Penn Working Dog Center!). They wanted to be able to identify the number and underlying conditions of police dog visits and confirm the primary causes of illness in working GSD.

In today's VETgirl online veterinary continuing education podcast, we interview Dr. Michael Tokiwa, owner of Progressive Veterinary Care, a family of veterinary hospitals located in the Princeton, NJ area. Dr Tokiwa is also the host and medical consultant for the popular pet radio show, Your Pet Matters on 107.7 The Bronc. Here, Dr. Tokiwa discusses the pros and cons of small business ownership and what tips you should consider when considering purchasing that small animal clinic.

In today's VETgirl online veterinary continuing education podcast, we interview Dr. Michael Tokiwa, owner of Progressive Veterinary Care, a family of veterinary hospitals located in the Princeton, NJ area. Dr Tokiwa is also the host and medical consultant for the popular pet radio show, Your Pet Matters on 107.7 The Bronc. Here, Dr. Tokiwa discusses the pros and cons of small business ownership and what tips you should consider when considering purchasing that small animal clinic.

In today's VETgirl online veterinary continuing education podcast, we review how long you can keep your packed red blood (pRBC) cell transfusions around. 2-3 weeks? 4-6 weeks? What's the right answer? Does it depend on the patient, their disease, or the hospital's protocol?

In today's VETgirl online veterinary continuing education podcast, we review how long you can keep your packed red blood (pRBC) cell transfusions around. 2-3 weeks? 4-6 weeks? What's the right answer? Does it depend on the patient, their disease, or the hospital's protocol?

In today's VETgirl online veterinary continuing education podcast, we review prognostic factors in dogs with head trauma based off a recent study by Sharma et al entitled “Retrospective evaluation of prognostic indicators in dogs with head trauma.” Many of us in emergency practice see head trauma patients and would agree that the prognosis for these patients can be difficult to predict. Some dogs or cats admitted with signs of traumatic brain injury make astounding turnarounds, whereas others do not seem to respond to therapy. Studies investigating veterinary patients with head trauma are relatively sparse. A study investigating the utility of a modified Glasgow coma scale score (MGCS) was published back in 2001 and showed an almost linear correlation between the score and mortality. Alternatively, large studies investigating the utility of the Animal Trauma Triage (ATT) score have been published recently, but this score has not been specifically investigated in a population of head trauma patients. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to determine whether clinical and laboratory variables or scoring systems such as the modified Glasgow coma scale, mentation, or ATT scores recorded at hospital admission have prognostic value in dogs with head trauma.

In today's VETgirl online veterinary continuing education podcast, we review prognostic factors in dogs with head trauma based off a recent study by Sharma et al entitled “Retrospective evaluation of prognostic indicators in dogs with head trauma.” Many of us in emergency practice see head trauma patients and would agree that the prognosis for these patients can be difficult to predict. Some dogs or cats admitted with signs of traumatic brain injury make astounding turnarounds, whereas others do not seem to respond to therapy. Studies investigating veterinary patients with head trauma are relatively sparse. A study investigating the utility of a modified Glasgow coma scale score (MGCS) was published back in 2001 and showed an almost linear correlation between the score and mortality. Alternatively, large studies investigating the utility of the Animal Trauma Triage (ATT) score have been published recently, but this score has not been specifically investigated in a population of head trauma patients. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to determine whether clinical and laboratory variables or scoring systems such as the modified Glasgow coma scale, mentation, or ATT scores recorded at hospital admission have prognostic value in dogs with head trauma.

In today's VETgirl online veterinary continuing education podcast, Dr. Steve Mehler, DACVS, reviews how to perform a splenectomy in dogs and cats. Not sure of the approach? Want some tips on how to manage a hemoabdomen surgically without getting it all over your surgical field? What type of suture should you use? Tune into this 30 minute podcast to learn it! Please note that this podcast is a modification from our Real-Life Rounds, so you won't be able to see the videos. Interested in seeing it? Join VETgirl ELITE and get access to our podcasts, webinars, Real-Life Rounds, videos and more!

In today's VETgirl online veterinary continuing education podcast, Dr. Steve Mehler, DACVS, reviews how to perform a splenectomy in dogs and cats. Not sure of the approach? Want some tips on how to manage a hemoabdomen surgically without getting it all over your surgical field? What type of suture should you use? Tune into this 30 minute podcast to learn it! Please note that this podcast is a modification from our Real-Life Rounds, so you won't be able to see the videos. Interested in seeing it? Join VETgirl ELITE and get access to our podcasts, webinars, Real-Life Rounds, videos and more!

In today's VETgirl online veterinary continuing education podcast, we interview Dr. Dorothy Cimino Brown, Professor of Surgery at University of Pennsylvania on the use of the Coriolus versicolor mushroom, known commonly as the Yunzhi mushroom. This mushroom, which has been used in Chinese medicine for more than 2,000 years, is thought to contain immune-boosting properties from polysaccharopeptide (PSP). The specific product being used is I'm-Yunity, made by Chinese Medicine Holdings LTD (NOTE: This product is manufactured in the USA in adherence to USP c-GMP guidelines). A preliminary University of Pennsylvania pilot study that was released in 2012 evaluated 15 dogs diagnosed with hemangiosarcoma that were treated with 25, 50, and 100 mg/kg/day of I'm-Yunity. While there wasn't a statistically significant difference in survival between the three dosage groups, the median survival time was highest in the 100 mg/kg/day group, at 199 days. As as result, a second clinical trial is currently being conducted to evaluate dogs diagnosed with hemangiosarcoma. This will evaluate dogs treated with I'm-Yunity alone, dogs treated with I'm-Yunity + chemotherapy, or dogs treated with I'm-Yunity + a placebo.

In today's VETgirl online veterinary continuing education podcast, we interview Dr. Dorothy Cimino Brown, Professor of Surgery at University of Pennsylvania on the use of the Coriolus versicolor mushroom, known commonly as the Yunzhi mushroom. This mushroom, which has been used in Chinese medicine for more than 2,000 years, is thought to contain immune-boosting properties from polysaccharopeptide (PSP). The specific product being used is I'm-Yunity, made by Chinese Medicine Holdings LTD (NOTE: This product is manufactured in the USA in adherence to USP c-GMP guidelines). A preliminary University of Pennsylvania pilot study that was released in 2012 evaluated 15 dogs diagnosed with hemangiosarcoma that were treated with 25, 50, and 100 mg/kg/day of I'm-Yunity. While there wasn't a statistically significant difference in survival between the three dosage groups, the median survival time was highest in the 100 mg/kg/day group, at 199 days. As as result, a second clinical trial is currently being conducted to evaluate dogs diagnosed with hemangiosarcoma. This will evaluate dogs treated with I'm-Yunity alone, dogs treated with I'm-Yunity + chemotherapy, or dogs treated with I'm-Yunity + a placebo.

In the last several years, the debate over the use of hydroxyethyl starch (HES) solutions in veterinary medicine has intensified. In human patients, HES products now have a boxed warning recommending against their use in critically ill patients, based on evidence that they contribute to coagulopathy, acute kidney injury (AKI), and increased risk of mortality.1 In veterinary patients, no studies of AKI or outcome in clinical patients receiving HES have been performed. So, Hayes et al out of Ontario Veterinary College set out to determine if HES administration was associated with outcome or AKI in canine ICU patients in a study called "Retrospective cohort study on the incidence of acute kidney injury and death following hydroxyethyl starch (HES 10% 250/0.5/5:1) administration in dogs (2007-2010)." Because many of these patients would already be considered critically ill based on their admission to the ICU, a retrospective cohort study was designed with an illness severity measure included.

In the last several years, the debate over the use of hydroxyethyl starch (HES) solutions in veterinary medicine has intensified. In human patients, HES products now have a boxed warning recommending against their use in critically ill patients, based on evidence that they contribute to coagulopathy, acute kidney injury (AKI), and increased risk of mortality.1 In veterinary patients, no studies of AKI or outcome in clinical patients receiving HES have been performed. So, Hayes et al out of Ontario Veterinary College set out to determine if HES administration was associated with outcome or AKI in canine ICU patients in a study called "Retrospective cohort study on the incidence of acute kidney injury and death following hydroxyethyl starch (HES 10% 250/0.5/5:1) administration in dogs (2007-2010)." Because many of these patients would already be considered critically ill based on their admission to the ICU, a retrospective cohort study was designed with an illness severity measure included.