Vetgirl Veterinary Continuing Education Podcasts

In today's VETgirl online veterinary CE podcast, Amy Newfield, CVT, VTS (ECC) of VETgirl, reviews a veterinary technician's role during cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) in veterinary medicine. Learn the updates on RECOVER and how vital the role of the veterinary technician/nurse is during CPR.

In this VETgirl online veterinary continuing education podcast, we review anticoagulant rodenticide (ACR) toxicity in cats. First off, let's have a quick refresher on ACRs in our small animal patients! Remember that ACRs interfere with the production of clotting factors II, VII, IX, and X by inhibiting an enzyme called vitamin K1 epoxide reductase (DeClementi). When these clotting factor levels drop low enough, the patient can develop clinical manifestations of disease (e.g., hemorrhage).

In this VETgirl online veterinary continuing education podcast, we review the clinical features of steroid-responsive meningitis-arteritis (SRMA) in dogs. First of all, let's have a quick refresher on what SRMA actually is! You may know this condition by another name, such as beagle pain syndrome, necrotizing vasculitis, or juvenile polyarteritis syndrome (Tipold).

In this VETgirl online veterinary continuing education podcast, we review urinary tract infections (UTIs) caused by Candida in dogs and cats. You may recall that Candida species are fungal organisms that form either small yeasts or pseudohyphae (Pappas). While typically considered a commensal organism, Candida can cause disease when normal host defenses fail. Have any of you ever received that surprise urinalysis report with yeast organisms identified? This VETgirl certainly has, and it always causes just a bit of a head scratch! Why did my patient get a yeast UTI? Is this a sign of something more serious? Do I approach this differently than bacterial UTIs? Well, Reagan et al wanted to evaluate this in a study entitled Risk factors for Candida urinary tract infections in dogs and cats.

In this VETGirl podcast, we review complications associated with esophagostomy feeding tube (E-tube) placement in cats and dogs. E-tubes are relatively quick and straightforward to place, which makes them a common procedure in small animal medicine. They are incredibly useful for providing nutritional support, hydration, and administering medications in patients with any number of conditions.

In today's VETgirl podcast, we interview Amy Newfield, CVT, VTS (ECC) on the importance of a closed urinary collection system (UCS). Can you use old sterile IV bags, or can they pose a threat to contamination? What's the significance of the anti-reflux valve (e.g., one way valve) in a UCS, and how should I maintain a UCS in the veterinary clinic?

In today's VETgirl online veterinary continuing education podcast, we discuss dosing intervals for desoxycorticosterone pivalate, better known as DOCP, in dogs with hypoadrenocorticism (more commonly called Addison's disease). As many of you have likely experienced, the cost of DOCP can be quite high, particularly for our larger patients.

In today's VETgirl online veterinary continuing education podcast, we review the use of telmisartan AGAIN. Just so you don't think you're losing it, we previously discussed telmisartan back a few months ago, but wanted to discuss a similar study but by a different author. And that's because yes -; hypertension is just that common in geriatric cats! If you're not seeing it, you have to ask yourself, are you not doing enough Dopplers on your geriatric feline patients? (If you don't take a temp, you won't find a fever).

In today's VETgirl online veterinary CE podcast, we interview Dr. Emi Barker, BSc(RVC), BVSc(Bristol), PhD(Bristol), DipECVIM-CA from Bristol Veterinary School on Feline Infectious Peritonitis (FIP). What causes FIP, and what cats get it? How do we veterinarians diagnose it, and is there a treatment or cure in the future?

In today's VETgirl online veterinary CE podcast, we interview Dr. Sheri Ross, DVM, PhD, DACVIM, the Coordinator of Hemodialysis/ Nephrology/Urology at the University of California Veterinary Medical Center -; San Diego on Feline Lower Urinary Tract Disease (FLUTD) in cats. Should we be prescribing antimicrobials? What do we do to work up FLUTD? What behavioral, environmental, and nutritional factors play a role in this common disease?

In this VETGirl podcast, we discuss the efficacy of the anti-epileptic medication, levetiracetam, when given rectally in dogs. There are few things more frightening for an owner than witnessing a seizure in their dog, and cluster seizures (CS) and status epilepticus (SE) are particularly scary! Unfortunately as veterinarians, we have somewhat limited emergency interventional options that we can offer to owners when CS or SE occurs at home.

How many of us dread having “the talk” with clients? That one where you brace yourself for the response you know these words are going to elicit from the client across you… “Your pet is obese.” Perhaps an angry client reaction is brought about out of shame for letting their pet get fat, or from the implication that their shower of love and affection in the form of kibble and treats is slowly killing their beloved pet.

In today's VETgirl online veterinary continuing education podcast, we will be reviewing a treatment that is often a bit controversial -; steroids! In particular, we will look at the use of steroids in the treatment of acute pancreatitis in dogs. Steroids may appear attractive to use in this inflammatory disease since glucocorticoids impart anti-inflammatory affects in the body. Glucocorticoids may theoretically improve pancreatic blood flow and in critically ill patients with refractory blood pressure concerns, glucocorticoids are sometimes used to treat suspected (or confirmed) CIRCI. But with the possibility of eliciting negative side effects from steroid use, owing to their unwanted gastrointestinal tract side effects and their immunomodulatory effects, are they worth the risk in treating these patients?

In today's VETgirl online veterinary continuing education podcast, we review the use of telmisartan for the treatment of systemic hypertension in cats. Systemic hypertension (SH) in aged cats is predominantly due to chronic kidney disease (CKD), hyperthyroidism, or considered idiopathic. Downstream end-organ effects of chronic systemic hypertension target the eyes, myocardium, central nervous system, and kidneys (specifically, worsened renal function and proteinuria). Activation of the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone (RAAS) system contributes to development of SH in many cases and drugs that inhibit this system have treatment potential. Angiotensin II receptor blockers (ARBs) specifically block the angiotensin II, subtype-1 receptor (AT1) therefore inhibiting angiotensin II, which causes vasoconstriction, volume retention, sympathetic stimulation, inflammation, and fibrosis.

In today's VETgirl online veterinary CE podcast, Amy Newfield, CVT, VTS (ECC) discusses the 12 days of Christmas that you should prepare for in time for the holidays! If you work ER, you'll likely be able to resonate… with the pancreatitis, gastroenteritis, linear foreign bodies in cats, pad lacerations and more in your veterinary patients.

In this VETgirl online veterinary continuing education podcast, we review the use of synbiotics as a therapeutic strategy in dogs with antibiotic-associated gastrointestinal signs (AAGS). As a quick reminder, synbiotics are a combination of probiotics and prebiotics. Probiotics are defined as products that contain viable microorganisms that are used with the intention of altering the host's microflora in order to confer some sort of health benefit, whereas prebiotics are a type of ingredient that is designed to benefit the host by stimulating the growth or the activity of bacteria (Schrezenmeir).

In this VETgirl online veterinary continuing education podcast, VETgirl's Chief Happiness Officer, Jeannine Moga, MA, MSW, LCSW, clinical veterinary social worker, discusses empathy versus sympathy, and why having compassion yet boundaries is so important in our veterinary field.

In today's VETgirl online veterinary CE podcast, we interview Dr. Sheri Ross, DVM, PhD, DACVIM, the Coordinator of Hemodialysis/ Nephrology/Urology at the University of California Veterinary Medical Center -; San Diego on chronic kidney disease in cats (and dogs). What's the prognosis?

In today's VETgirl online veterinary continuing education podcast, we interview Dr. Nyssa Reine-Salz, DVM, DACVIM on the economics of insulin in veterinary medicine. How important is it for veterinarians to better understand the pet owner's concerns and daily schedule/limitations as a way to help establish a successful insulin treatment protocol for their pet?

In today's VETgirl online veterinary continuing education podcast, we interview fellow criticalist, Dr. Armelle de Laforcade, DACVECC from Tufts Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine on the newest guidelines released by the American College of Veterinary Emergency and Critical Care called Consensus on the Rational Use of Antithrombotics in Veterinary Critical Care (CURATIVE).