Vetgirl Veterinary Continuing Education Podcasts

In today's VETgirl online veterinary CE podcast, we discuss the use of flash glucose monitoring systems (FGMS) in the management of dogs with diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA). Emerging evidence has promoted the use of FGMS devices for measuring interstitial glucose (IG) levels in diabetics, and using this information as a patient management tool. In fact, you may have even noticed commercials for such devices, which are becoming increasingly popular for humans with diabetes mellitus. Essentially the FGMS consists of a small, disc-shaped sensor that is placed on a shaved patch of skin, typically near the base of the neck in dogs. Interstitial glucose concentrations are read, and the data is stored and made available through a reader device, such as a smartphone. The ability to obtain more frequent glucose assessments without repeated blood draws is clearly appealing! While this device has been investigated in dogs with diabetes mellitus, there is little information about its performance specifically in the setting

In today's VETgirl podcast, we interview Dr. Raj Naik, DACVN on the use of probiotics in dogs and cats. Do probiotics work, and what specific type should you be reaching for and when? Learn it in this VETgirl podcast! Today's VETgirl podcast is sponsored by Purina Pro Plan Veterinary Supplements, a leader in therapeutic nutrition. Purina Pro Plan Veterinary Supplements develops innovative, targeted products backed by research, as well as offers online education, home delivery and other resources to support your staff and business. To learn more, visit PurinaProPlanVets.com.

In this VETgirl online veterinary continuing education podcast, we discuss the gastrointestinal (GI) microbiome in puppies. Lately it seems that microbiome talk is all the rage! We are inundated with commercials for probiotics, catchy news articles about the microbiome, and news of novel medical treatments like fecal microbiota transplants (FMTs). In parallel to the newsworthy buzzwords, we are also seeing a tsunami of research being released about the microbiome, ranging across a broad spectrum of animal species, environmental ecosystems, and states of health and disease. Small animal veterinarians have joined this conversation as well, with plenty of exciting research being published regarding various aspects of canine and feline microbial communities. However, the development of the gut microbiome in puppies after birth and before doggy adulthood is one area where our research is lacking. So, Blake et al wanted to evaluate this in a study entitled Developmental stages in microbiota, bile acids, and clostri

In this VETgirl online veterinary CE podcast, we discuss the clinical presentation, cardiovascular findings, etiology, and outcome of myocarditis in dogs. Myocarditis, or inflammation of the myocardium, is not well studied in dogs but can occur secondary to infectious and noninfectious etiologies. Lakhdhir et al out of Iowa State University and NCSU wanted to describe the clinical and diagnostic findings in dogs with both presumptive and confirmed myocarditis, as well as to identify etiologies and evaluate treatment, and report outcome in a study entitled "Clinical presentation, cardiovascular findings, etiology, and outcome of myocarditis in dogs: 645 cases with presumptive antemortem diagnosis (26 confirmed postmortem) and 137 cases with postmortem diagnosis only (2004-2017)."

In today's VETgirl online veterinary CE podcast, we interview Dr. Ryan Gouptil and Dr. Megan Davis, DACVECC on the use of percutaneous biliary drainage and octreotide (injectable milk thistle) for dogs with Amanita mushroom poisoning. In a recent publication entitled Clinical recovery of 5 dogs from amatoxin mushroom poisoning using an adapted Santa Cruz protocol for people, the co-authors review the dangers of mushroom, general approach to poisoning, how Amanita mushroom toxicity needs to be rapidly recognized and treated, and how to implement percutaneous biliary draining and the use of octretide (called the Santa Cruz method in human medicine) to help increase survival.

In today's VETgirl online veterinary continuing education podcast, we interview Dr. Wayne Rosenkrantz, DACVD of Animal Dermatology Group. If you see patients with canine otitis (which you do!), find out why it's so important to find the primary cause of otitis, tips for performing a good otoscopic exam, whether or not to use topical versus systemic therapies for otitis externa, or whether to perform a culture/sensitivity on that ear! Today's VETgirl podcast is sponsored by Merck Animal Health, makers of makers of Mometamax.

In today's VETgirl podcast, we interview Dr. Carolina Medina, DACVSMR, CVA, CVCH, CVPP about osteoarthritis (OA) in our canine and feline patients. What mistakes should we avoid when it comes to diagnosis, management and treatment of osteoarthritis in veterinary medicine? Learn it in this VETgirl podcast! Today's VETgirl podcast is sponsored by Elanco, makers of Galliprant. Provide relief from canine osteoarthritis for the moments that matter! For more information, visit galliprantvet.com.

In today's VETgirl online veterinary CE podcast, Amy Newfield, CVT, VTS discuss blood pressure in veterinary medicine. Learn how we measure it, what it means or represents, and when we should be concerned about hypotension or hypertension in our veterinary patients!

In this VETgirl online veterinary continuing education podcast, we discuss the CARPODIEM study in veterinary medicine, which looks at how well oral torasemide works in dogs with degenerative mitral valve disease and new onset congestive heart failure. If you're still 'scipting out furosemide to your heart murmur patients, listen up. Torsemide (aka Torasemide) is a loop diuretic with greater potency, longer duration of action, and smoother diuretic effect than furosemide. Recent data in dogs has indicated that the dose correlation of torsemide to furosemide is nonlinear -; at doses less than 0.2 mg/kg/day, torsemide is approximately 10X more potent than furosemide, but at doses greater than 0.2 mg/kg/day, that potency factor is closer to twenty. Torsemide's duration of action is twelve hours in oral form in dogs compared with six hours for furosemide.

In today's VETgirl podcast, we interview Dr. Amy Pike, DACVB on separation anxiety, COVID, cognitive dysfunction syndrome (CDS) and all things behavior! With COVID, what should we veterinary professionals do with the spike in separation anxiety once pet owners return to work? Tune in to learn all about all things behavioral, including natural and prescription behavioral medications to reach for, and how to identify, recognize and treat behavioral problems in veterinary medicine. Finally, are you recognizing cognitive dysfunction syndrome (CDS) in dogs and cats? An often under-diagnosed medical condition, find out what we can do to help recognize CDS more readily and monitor its progression in dogs. As CDS affects an estimated 14% of dogs over 8 years of age, tune in to learn what you can do to combat age-related neurodegeneration.

In today's VETgirl online veterinary CE podcast, Amy Newfield, CVT, VTS discuss superstitions in veterinary medicine. Why are we so superstitious as veterinarians and veterinary technicians within our field? Does commenting on the vein prior to catheterization or saying ""Have a slow night?" and "It's a full moon" really jinx us?

In today's VETgirl podcast, we interview Dr. Audrey Cook, BVM&S, MSc Vet Ed, MRCVS, DACVIM, DECVIM, DABVP (Feline Practice), Professor at Texas A&M University on weight loss during chronic diseases in our canine and feline patients. We see so many diseases chronically that affect nutritional intact -; cancer, CRF, cardiac cachexia. In this podcast, we'll discuss the biggest mistakes that veterinary professionals make with long term management of chronic diseases? Learn it in this VETgirl podcast! Today's VETgirl podcast is sponsored by Elanco, makers of Elura and Entyce. Don't wait for weight loss in your patients with chronic diseases! For more information, visit virtual.elanco.com.

In this VETgirl online veterinary CE podcast, we interview Dr. Lindsey Bullen, DACVN, on all things new in veterinary nutrition. Find out what the most important nutrient level is to manipulate in your renal patients, and what the differences are between therapeutic renal diets. Should we be supplementing or using omega-3 fatty acids for our kidney patients, and how do we help educate pet owners on the importance of nutrition, particularly with our renal patients? Tune into this VETgirl podcast to learn more! Today's VETgirl online veterinary CE podcast is sponsored by New Royal Canin Vital Support, the science-based diets made especially for aging pets. Learn how you can proactively address the renal, mobility and cardiac needs of your patients at royalcanin.com/vitalsupport.

In today's VETgirl online veterinary CE podcast, we're excited to have Amy Newfield, CVT, VTS discuss what a veterinary technician specialist is. Is it worth those extra initials? What does the training entail?

In this VETgirl online veterinary CE podcast, we interview Dr. Richard T. Marconi. You're probably wondering why we're interviewing him, but Dr. Marconi has given numerous Zoetis-sponsored VETgirl podcasts on Lyme disease. The main reason why? To introduce you to the scientist behind the Lyme disease vaccine and all the research!

In today's VETgirl online veterinary CE podcast, we discuss when heartworm patients face complications. Most dogs with adult heartworm infection can be treated and recover without serious complications, particularly if their infections are diagnosed early. But what about those patients with more advanced infection? Today, our guest is Dr. Marisa Ames, DACVIM, a veterinary cardiologist and Associate Professor at the UC Davis. Dr. Ames serves on the board of directors of the American Heartworm Society. Tune in to learn what factors put dogs at increased risk of experiencing complications during heartworm treatment, what some of the more common complications of canine heartworm infection are, how to treat pulmonary hypertension, and what you need to know about caval syndrome.

In today's VETgirl online veterinary CE podcast, we discuss what the best treatment protocol for your heartworm-positive patient is. Here's something no veterinarian wants to tell a client: “Your dog has heartworm disease.” We know the pet is headed for a multi-step, expensive regimen of medications as well as months of cage rest and exercise restriction. Given these challenges, it's not surprising that many owners ask their veterinarians about alternative treatment protocols. Today we are joined by Dr. Andy Moorhead, who is a veterinary parasitologist and an assistant professor on the faculty of the University of Georgia. He also serves on the board of directors for the American Heartworm Society. Tune in to learn what the AHS heartworm treatment protocol entails and why it includes the steps it does. Find out about "slow kill" treatment, and how it differs from traditional protocols with melarsomine.

In today's VETgirl online veterinary CE podcast, we discuss you need to know about heartworm disease in cats. We know cats contract heartworms just like dogs, through the bite of an infected mosquito. We know that heartworms can be deadly in cats. And that heartworm preventives are highly effective in preventing disease. Yet there are many differences and much that veterinarians simply don't know about heartworm disease in cats. Today, our guest is Dr. Tom Nelson, who is Medical Director of the Animal Medical Centers of Northeast Alabama in Anniston, Alabama, and Research Chair on the board of directors for the American Heartworm Society. Tune in to learn how heartworm disease itself is a very different disease in cats versus dogs, and why the American Heartworm Society recommend that ALL cats be protected from heartworms even if they live indoors? Learn when and how cats should be tested, and what the AHS guidelines say about treatment of adult heartworms in infected cats.

In today's VETgirl online veterinary CE podcast, we discuss diagnostic dilemmas with heartworm disease. The diagnosis of heartworm disease may seem like a straightforward issue, thanks to the availability of accurate, easy-to-use patient-side tests that detect the presence of heartworm antigen in the blood of pets being screened annually for heartworm disease. But is heartworm testing foolproof? Today we're joined by Dr. Lindsay Starkey, a veterinary parasitologist and an assistant professor on the faculty of Auburn University. Dr. Starkey also serves on the board of directors for the American Heartworm Society. Tune in to learn what the AHS recommends for heartworm screening and why, along with how to interpret “weakly” or “borderline” positive antigen tests. She'll discuss when additional screening tests are warranted, and how often to re-test positive dogs. But don't forget about cats! Find out what the AHS recommends for heartworm screening in cats, and whether you should use antig

In today's VETgirl online veterinary CE podcast, we discuss transport of the heartworm-positive dog. Heartworm disease has been diagnosed in all 50 states, over the years moving from traditionally endemic areas to areas of the country where heartworm infection was once considered uncommon. Today, we're joined by Dr. Brian DiGangi, a diplomate of ABVP in canine and feline practice as well as shelter medicine. Dr. DiGangi is a senior director of Shelter Medicine with the ASPCA, a past-president of the Association of Shelter Veterinarians and a current officer on the American Heartworm Society board of directors. Tune in to learn how shelter veterinarians are addressing heartworm in their day-to-day work, what standards they are following in reducing the spread of infectious diseases such as heartworm disease, and what we can do to help protect pets from heartworm infection.