VETgirl Veterinary Continuing Education Podcasts

In today's VETgirl online veterinary CE podcast, we discuss the veterinarian’s attire in the emergency hospital and how our clients perceive what we wear. As we all know, first impressions are powerful. And in the emergency setting, one of our more challenging goals is to gain the trust of the client (as we've never seen them before!). How we stand in the room, the tone of our voice, our eye contact, and how we look to the client are all tools that can be just as powerful as the medical information in our heads when it comes to connecting with our client. So do you like to don a white coat and business casual clothes for your ER shift? Or perhaps, you’re like me, and enjoy not having to think beyond putting on a pair of scrubs before each shift? So, McGiffon et al wanted to evaluate this in a study called "Clients’ attitudes toward veterinarians’ attire in the small animal emergency medicine setting."

In today's VETgirl online veterinary continuing education podcast, we interview Dr. Melina Zimmerman, DVM, DAVCAA, a board-certified anesthesiologist at Red Bank Veterinary Hospital. If anesthesia isn't your think, you want to tune in. In this podcast, we review how to manage the canine or feline veterinary patient while under anesthesia, including what to do when that patient is having arrhythmias, hypotension or hypercapnia. We also review pain management and oral analgesics, oral sedation and sedation options for aggressive patients.

In today's VETgirl online veterinary continuing education podcast, we review liver toxicity secondary to azathioprine administration in dogs. Azathioprine is an immunosuppressive medication that has been gaining popularity in the veterinary community. It is a purine analog that can take up to 6 weeks to take effect (Plumb), and it is often used as a treatment for immune-mediated hemolytic anemia (IMHA), immune-mediated thrombocytopenia (ITP), immune-mediated polyarthritis, inflammatory bowel disease, and other immune-mediated conditions. Some practitioners express discomfort using azathioprine due to its potential for adverse effects, such as hepatotoxicity and bone marrow toxicity. But how worried should we be?

In today's VETgirl online veterinary continuing education podcast, we interview Dr. Deborah Silverstein, DACVECC, Professor in Critical Care at PennVet on the use of central venous jugular catheters in critically ill dogs and cats. How hard are they to put in, what do they cost, and are there complications associated with placement?

In today's VETgirl online veterinary continuing education podcast, we discuss the effect of refrigeration on clinical canine urine samples and quantitative bacterial culture.

In today's VETgirl online veterinary continuing education podcast, we interview Dr. Lisa Radosta, DACVB, Board-certified Veterinary Behaviorist at Florida Veterinary Behavior Service on the use of trazodone in cats. Most veterinary professionals advocate for sedation for stressed cats as a modality to help with "Fear Free;" however, what drugs should we be reaching for, and what the pros and cons are of some of these sedatives? Should we be reaching for gabapentin or trazodone?

In today's VETgirl online veterinary continuing education podcast, we review the use of fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) as an exciting new treatment for diarrhea secondary to canine parvovirus (CPV). You may be wondering, what is an FMT? It is actually a fairly simple procedure that is being performed with increasing frequency in both human and animal medicine. The procedure involves transferring fecal material from a healthy donor dog to a recipient patient in order to restore a healthy microbial population (Chaitman). We know that there is a vast and complex array of microorganisms populating the gastrointestinal tract, and maintenance of this microbiota is critical for overall intestinal health (Khanna). A number of primary gastrointestinal diseases, medications (particularly antibiotics), and other systemic health issues can disrupt this complex population, contributing to clinical decline in our patients.

In today's VETgirl online veterinary continuing education podcast, we review the use of D-dimers in predicting the presence or absence of pulmonary emboli in dogs. Pulmonary embolism (PE) refers to an obstruction of a pulmonary vessel, which could be caused by a blood clot, tissue, infectious material, parasites, foreign bodies, or other material (Goggs). There are a variety of diseases known to increase risk for PE's in our canine patients, including immune-mediated diseases such as IMHA, protein-losing nephropathies, hyperadrenocorticism, neoplasia, sepsis, and cardiac disease, as well as the use of certain medications like steroids. Unfortunately, the diagnosis of PE can be challenging due to non-specific clinical and radiographic changes. Probably many of us have seen an IMHA patient become acutely dyspneic with minimal radiographic changes, a situation where you may highly suspect a PE! In human medicine, CT or pulmonary angiography are the gold standard for antemortem diagnosis (Torbicki), but there have been various studies in both humans and in dogs evaluating the use of D-dimers as a tool to rule out a PE.

In today's VETgirl online veterinary continuing education podcast, we review the diagnostic utility of cytologic examination of renal fine-needle aspirates from dogs and the use of ultrasonographic features to inform cytologic diagnosis. When we do renal aspirates while we're ultrasounding our veterinary patients, is it useful and helpful?

In today's VETgirl online veterinary continuing education podcast, we interview Dr. Andrew Hillier, BVSc, MANZCVS, DACVD, Medical Lead for Dermatology at Zoetis on the diagnostic approach for itchy dogs (particularly those with atopic dermatitis!). Tune in to learn how we should be communicating with our pet owners, what mistakes we want to avoid with the atopic dog, and the diagnostic and therapeutic approach to atopy.Sponsored By: Zoetis

In today's VETgirl online veterinary continuing education podcast, we review the incidence of hospital-acquired anemia in the hospitalized canine and feline patient. In the veterinary patient, the presence of anemia results in decreased oxygen carrying capacity, which directly affects all tissues by diminishing function and impairing tissue healing. It other words, it results in decreased oxygen deliver (DO2).

In today's VETgirl online veterinary continuing education podcast, co-founders Dr. Justine Lee, DACVECC, DABT and Dr. Garret Pachtinger, DACVECC discuss a few life hacks for new veterinary graduates. Just graduated from veterinary school and need some advice? Here, we share all, from living like a broke vet student, how to pay off your veterinary student debt faster, why it's important to make (some) money, how to work on work-life balance, and more!

In today's VETgirl online veterinary continuing education podcast, we interview Dr. Valerie Parker, DACVIM, DACVN on what's new in veterinary nutrition. Is there a role for Vitamin D with chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients? Should we be supplementing calcitriol in our canine and feline patients with CKD? What's new?

In today's VETgirl online veterinary continuing education podcast, we interview Dr. Sharon Grayzel, DVM, MPH, DACVPM about canine leptospirosis. What's new? Is it that "classic" icteric, azotemic farm dog that comes down with lepto now? Or is it the smaller, 15 pound terrier that gets it? How prevalent is it and what do we do about this zoonotic disease? What's the best way to test for it? Learn it in this VETgirl podcast!Sponsored By: Zoetis

In today's VETgirl online veterinary podcast, we review the use of steroids and whether or not steroids truly have detrimental effects on the heart. We’ve been taught since our early years in veterinary school to have a healthy respect for glucocorticoid use. Understandably, there are many unwanted side effects to steroids such as weight gain, immune system suppression, and polyuria, to name the most commonly encountered. But there are also many medical uses for steroids such as intentional immune suppression and to combat inflammatory processes. In cats, we have produced evidence that long-acting glucocorticoid use can precipitate development of congestive heart failure (CHF). To date, we do not have published supportive evidence for this in dogs. So, Masters et al out of Iowa State University wanted to evaluate this in a prospective study called "Effects of short-term anti-inflammatory glucocorticoid treatment on clinicopathologic, echocardiographic, and hemodynamic variables in systemically healthy dogs." to see what cardiovascular effects anti-inflammatory doses of glucocorticoids would have on canine patients with no preexisting structural heart disease.

In today's VETgirl online veterinary continuing education podcast, we interview Dr. Marc Seitz, DABVP on his recent publication about feline urethral obstruction called "Evaluation for association between indwelling urethral catheter placement and risk of recurrent urethral obstruction in cats." Does outpatient FUO therapy work (e.g., sedation, unblocking, etc.) and when do we see increased risk of recurrent FUO in cats?

In today's VETgirl online veterinary continuing education podcast, co-founders Dr. Justine Lee, DACVECC, DABT and Dr. Garret Pachtinger, DACVECC discuss OPP: outpatient parvovirus. First, how do we ideally treat canine parvovirus? What is the "Colorado protocol?" Does outpatient parvovirus work? Learn from two criticalists who have seen a lot of parvo!

In today's VETgirl online veterinary continuing education podcast, we interview Dr. Richard T. Marconi, PhD about canine Lyme disease. Are we seeing an increased prevalence of tick spread and Lyme disease? What can we as veterinary professionals be doing about it in terms of recognition and prevention (e.g., preventative and vaccination)? Learn it in this VETgirl podcast!Sponsored By: Zoetis

In today's VETgirl online veterinary continuing education Part 2 podcast, Dr. Garret Pachtinger, DACVECC and Dr. Justine Lee, DACVECC, DABT review what you should have learned if you didn't go to the Hill's Global Symposium 2018 (HGS2018) this year. From improving our pet owner compliance, to avoiding common myths about geriatric nutrition, to social media and Dr. Google, find out more in this VETgirl podcast. Better yet, get over 30+ hours of free, RACE-approved CE by viewing the HGS2018 here, thanks to Clinician's Brief. Check out last week for Part 1!

In today's VETgirl online veterinary continuing education podcast, Dr. Garret Pachtinger, DACVECC and Dr. Justine Lee, DACVECC, DABT review what you should have learned if you didn't go to the Hill's Global Symposium 2018 (HGS2018) this year. From advances and updates in nutritional management of chronic kidney disease, to diabetes mellitus updates, to refreshing your brain on Vitamin D and RAS, find out more in this VETgirl podcast. Better yet, get over 30+ hours of free, RACE-approved CE by viewing the HGS2018 here, thanks to Clinician's Brief. Tune in next week for Part II!

In this VETgirl online veterinary continuing education podcast, we review total prostatectomy for the treatment of prostatic carcinoma in dogs.

In today's VETgirl online veterinary continuing education podcast, we interview Dr. Annette Litster, BVSc, MACVSc Senior Veterinary Specialist at Zoetis, on Canine Influenza (CIV) H3N2 and H3N8. Learn what clinical signs are seen with CIV, and how to diagnose it (e.g., serology vs. PCR). Learn if your canine patient population should be vaccinated for it, and if this vaccine is for just "social dogs." This VETgirl is brought to you, thanks to sponsorship from Zoetis, makers of Vanguard CIV H3N2/H3N8 bivalent vaccine.Sponsored By: Zoetis

In this VETgirl online veterinary continuing education podcast, we review the prevalence of subclinical bacteriuria, bacterial cystitis and pyelonephritis in dogs with chronic kidney disease (CKD).

In today's VETgirl online veterinary continuing education podcast, we interview Dr. Erica Behling-Kelly, DVM, PhD, DACVP from Cornell University, on her recent publication entitled "A commercial soy‐based phospholipid emulsion accelerates clot formation in normal canine whole blood and induces hemolysis in whole blood from normal and dogs with inflammatory leukograms." Does the use of lipid in the form of total parenteral nutrition (TPN), partial parenteral nutrition (PPN), or intravenous lipid emulsion (20%) potentially cause detrimental adverse effects in dogs - particularly those with inflammation - when used? Check out this VETgirl podcast to learn more!

Ah, the mucocele. The disease that internists want to surgical treat, and the ones that surgeons want to medically manage.

In this VETgirl online veterinary continuing education podcast, we review thoracic trauma in dogs. In the emergency room, we criticalists frequently see patients that have sustained both blunt and penetrating thoracic trauma from a variety of causes, with the most common being vehicular trauma and bite wounds. Thankfully, the prognosis for trauma is generally fair to good, with a reported 90% survival (Hall). However, in patients requiring thoracic surgery, the prognosis is worse. Previous studies have shown a range of short-term mortality rates ranging from 10-44%.

In this VETgirl online veterinary continuing education podcast, we review uroabdomen in dogs. We've also talked about how to diagnose uroabdomen in a previous VETgirl blog here.

In this VETgirl online veterinary continuing education podcast, we interview Dr. Julien Guillaumin, DACVECC, DECVECC, on his recent study entitled "Influence of hang time and location on bacterial contamination of intravenous bags in a veterinary emergency and critical care setting." We all hang bags of fluids around the veterinary clinic and ER/ICU so we can use it as a flush or to dilute drugs. However, should we be doing this? In this study, the authors wanted to evaluate the risk and rate of bacterial contamination of fluid and ports in intravenous bags. Overall, the authors looked at 90 bags of LRS, punctured them daily 3X/day for 10 days. They found bacterial growth in 31.1% of the 198 injection ports overall, and 6.7% of the fluid bags hung in ER were contaminated by Day 7. Listen to find out just how long you should be hanging that bag of fluids, and why hanging it near the veterinary sink isn't ideal!

In this VETgirl online veterinary continuing education podcast, we review the characteristics and risk factors for intervertebral disk extrusions (IVDE) in Pekingese dogs. If you're about to see a Pekingese dog with back pain, check out this VETgirl podcast to learn what you need to know about in this breed of dog.

In this VETgirl online veterinary continuing education podcast, we review the use of ultrasound for the diagnosis of cardiogenic pulmonary edema in dogs and cats. Nowadays, we're doing more and more FAST (Focused Assessment of Sonography in Trauma) ultrasounds in the ER setting, and it's great (and easy) for diagnosing cavital effusion (e.g., hemoabdomen, pleural effusion, pericardial effusion, etc.). But can it be easily used for lung ultrasound (LUS) to detect pathology (or water) in the lung? Does it work to diagnose cardiogenic pulmonary edema?

In this VETgirl online veterinary continuing education podcast, we review the prevalence of thrombocytopenia in cats. Before you blame it "platelet clumping," let's make sure it's not from something else!

In this VETgirl online veterinary continuing education podcast, we review the use of tramadol in dogs. Does it work? Well, you may have heard over recent years that tramadol has been put on the hot plate, receiving much attention for its role as an analgesic in canine patients. The reason for doubting tramadol’s pain relief properties stems from the pharmacokinetics of the drug and differences between human and canine pain receptors. Tramadol is a weak pure-mu opioid agonist. It is metabolized to O-desmethytramadol, which is the metabolite responsible for tramadol’s ability to inhibit the reuptake of noradrenaline and serotonin in nerve endings, thus making these two neurohormones more available to continue blocking pain signals. However, dogs produce very little of this active metabolite. Perhaps this difference in metabolism is why clinicians have trended towards recommending higher doses of tramadol (doses ranging from 1 to 10 mg/kg). Previous studies have been complicated by a placebo effect when measuring analgesic outcomes, and the placebo effect is a difficult bias to overcome when creating a study design. So, Budsberg et al out of University of Georgia (Go, Dawgs!) wanted to evaluate tramadol as an analgesic in the treatment of chronic osteoarthritis in a study entitled Lack of effectiveness of tramadol hydrochloride for the treatment of pain and joint dysfunction in dogs with chronic osteoarthritis. In this study, the authors aimed to evaluate objective measurements of pain relief in orthopedic dysfunction associated with tramadol use in dogs suffering from osteoarthritis.

In this VETgirl online veterinary continuing education podcast, we interview Dr. Leah Cohn, PhD, DACVIM, on the approach to the infectious coughing dog. In this podcast, she reviews what Canine Infectious Respiratory Disease (CIRD) is, what the diagnostic work up is, and how to treat these patients. She'll also review what vaccines are available for the different etiologies, and how it's more than "just kennel cough." Check out this important Guideline and Recommendation from the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine here:

In this VETgirl online veterinary continuing education podcast, we discuss whether certain breeds are more predisposed to aspiration pneumonia or not.

In this VETgirl online veterinary continuing education podcast, we review short-term and long-term outcomes for overweight dogs with cranial cruciate ligament rupture - do they all need surgery?

In this VETgirl online veterinary continuing education podcast, we review whether or not brief echocardiographic training is beneficial for noncardiology veterinarians. Will it help house officers or general practitioners in the ability to diagnose cardiac emergencies like pericardial effusion, congestive heart failure, cardiomyopathy and more?

In today's VETgirl online veterinary continuing education podcast, we discuss whether you detect pericardial effusion and cardiac tamponade on chest radiographs in veterinary medicine.

In this VETgirl online veterinary continuing education podcast, we discuss anemia in veterinary patients. Anemia is a common, yet frustrating disease process and is defined as a deficiency of red blood cells or hemoglobin (Hb). Anemia can be categorized as regenerative or non-regenerative, and it is important to obtain a thorough history and a careful and systematic diagnostic approach to anemia. In this podcast, we review the 3 major causes of anemia:

In this VETgirl online veterinary continuing education podcast, Dr. Garret Pachtinger, board certified emergency and critical care specialist and co-founder of VETgirl, reviews the diagnostic approach to hypoalbuminemia in dogs and cats. Hypoalbuminemia is a common problem seen by the small animal veterinarian. It is important to understand that albumin is the major determinant of oncotic pressure (i.e., otherwise known as colloidal osmotic pressure or "COP"). This pressure is the main force that holds fluid within the vascular space.

In this VETgirl online veterinary continuing education podcast, we review whether or not you can thaw your unit of Fresh Frozen Plasma (FFP) in the microwave versus in the more traditional warm-water bath.

In this VETgirl online veterinary continuing education podcast, VETgirl Co-Founder Dr. Garret Pachtinger, DACVECC reviews part 2 of treatment of the endocrine emergency in dogs and cats: hyperglycemic hyperosmolar syndrome (HHS). In the previous VETgirl podcast on HHS, we reviewed the subtle differences of patients with HHS as compared to diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA), HHS criteria, and common clinical signs.

In this VETgirl online veterinary continuing education podcast, VETgirl Co-Founder Dr. Garret Pachtinger, DACVECC reviews hyperglycemic hyperosmolar syndrome (HHS) in dogs and cats.

In today's VETgirl online veterinary continuing education podcast, we review the use of compounded itraconazole in cats - can you use it?

In this VETgirl online veterinary continuing education podcast, we review Dr. Jim Dahle, MD, FACEP of White Coat Investor. VETgirl has to admit: we're addicted to his podcasts (for iOs or Android). In this podcast, we interview him on how to tackle the debt-to-income ratio in veterinary medicine, whether you should consider buying a small business or starting a corporation, how to live like a broke resident, how to set up a backdoor ROTH IRA, and whether or not you should charge to that credit card versus max out your employer's 401K match! Tune in to get financially savvy!

In this VETgirl online veterinary continuing education podcast, Jeannine Moga, MA, MSW, LCSW, clinical social worker and veterinary social worker, discusses the prevalence of suicide in veterinary medicine. Why is our veterinary field so predisposed, and what can we do to increase our resilience and self care?

In this VETgirl online veterinary continuing education podcast, Dr. Garret Pachtinger, DACVECC (VETgirl, COO) discusses common reproductive emergencies.

Lidocaine is a sodium channel blocker that is widely used in both large and small animal medicine as a local anesthetic, analgesic, and as a class 1B antiarrhythmic. A perhaps less common application for this medication in small animal medicine is as a gastrointestinal promotility agent in cases of ileus. The effects of lidocaine on improving the clinical signs of ileus in post-operative horses (1) and humans (2) have already been documented. However, what about dogs? So, Johnson et al out of the University of Wisconsin School of Veterinary Medicine wanted to evaluate the effect of lidocaine on gastrointestinal motility in dogs. The authors aimed at measuring the effects of lidocaine CRI’s at two different doses on the gastrointestinal transit times of healthy adult canines as compared to saline CRI controls (3).

In today's VETgirl online veterinary continuing education podcast, we review the effect of venipuncture quality on thromboelastography. Now, if you've never heard of thromboelastography or TEG, you'll need to know that it's the best way to detect for hypercoagulability. Keep in mind that your PT/PTT test for hypocoagulability, not HYPER-coagulability. Unfortunately, TEG is really only available at academic (e.g., veterinary school) settings. So, if you have a TEG machine (or you're an emergency critical care or internal medicine resident), pay careful attention!

In this VETgirl online veterinary continuing education podcast, we review atrial fibrillation in medium- to large-sized dogs. Are there any other prognostic factors can we look at when it comes to heart disease? Is the presence of atrial fibrillation a prognostic indicator in certain dogs with Myxomatous Mitral Valvular Degeneration (MMVD) and congestive heart failure?

In today's VETgirl online veterinary CE podcast, we review whether or not venous blood gas parameters (such as anion gap, base excess, lactate, etc.) predict survival in veterinary patients. When animals are initially presented to the emergency room, the extent of their condition often cannot be fully assessed without additional diagnostics. Is there a way we can handle questions from pet owners regarding the financial investment in their pet’s medical treatment (such as prognosis and anticipated costs of medical care) based on evidence-based medicine? We strive to look for indicators in our physical examination findings and in our initial diagnostic work up (e.g., preliminary lab work or quick assessment tests) to help bolster our understanding of the patient’s prognosis, but presently veterinary medicine is greatly lacking in these indicators of mortality and disease severity. In the veterinary emergency room, blood gases are a quick and easy piece of lab work that can be obtained relatively quickly at the time of triage for cats and dogs. So, Kohen et al out of University of California at Davis wanted to look at the information that can be obtained off a simple blood gas analysis for possible predictors of mortality. In this retrospective study, they looked at plasma lactate concentrations, pH, base deficit, and anion gap in both cats and dogs, and looked for any correlation of these values to an increased in mortality risk.