Survey results from the National Association of Veterinary Technicians in America reveal the latest data about the profession of veterinary technology, including salary ranges, job satisfaction, and current challenges.
Drs. Erin Casey and Jim Weisman ran unopposed for seats on the AVMA Board of Directors and were declared elected in February. They will begin their six-year terms this July during AVMA Convention 2023.
A persistent and potentially growing concern, according to experts, is the running of unsanctioned, informal horse races. Unregulated horse racing is dangerous for horses and riders, and diseases such as equine infectious anemia and equine piroplasmosis can spread at these bush tracks.
The Food and Drug Administration is reminding stakeholders that certain over-the-counter antimicrobial products for animals are transitioning to prescription status, starting June 11.
The latest iteration of the Association of Shelter Veterinarians’ standard-of-care guidelines updates the original 12-year-old document and includes new sections on forensics and disaster response.
The pet aftercare industry remains largely unregulated, and veterinarians are often the only source of information that pet owners have when choosing pet aftercare providers. There are many considerations for a veterinarian when it comes to handling pet remains and interacting with the pet owner during this sensitive time.
ABSTRACT
Friction can occur between veterinarians and their clients when they are not aligned on the goals of care for a pet and what constitutes the best outcome of a case. Veterinarians frequently concentrate on providing the diagnostic and treatment protocol that is perceived to result in the best medical outcome for their patient. Pet owners frequently consider a myriad of factors relating to the pet as well as how different diagnostic and treatment recommendations will affect individual family members and the family as a whole in both concrete and subjective terms. This misalignment can lead to veterinarians experiencing moral distress and families feeling guilt and shame about their pet’s care decisions. In this paper we examine the interdependencies of families and their pets and the factors that pet owners may consider in making care decisions. These factors, adapted from the concept of Family Quality of Life as used in the human health field, can be divided into three domains including pet-centric factors, family-centric factors, and external factors. By better understanding that there are a multitude of considerations that influence owners’ care decisions and communicating with owners in a nonjudgmental manner, veterinarians can more holistically support families, decrease their own moral distress, and arrive at diagnostic and treatment plans that represent the overall best approach for the family and the patient.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE
An acceptance and commitment training (ACT) educational program targeting reaction to difficult client interactions recently demonstrated efficacy in reducing burden transfer, stress, and burnout in veterinary healthcare teams. The current noninferiority trial compared effectiveness of the original program with a self-paced version.
SAMPLE
Employees of 2 corporate veterinary groups were randomized to live (n = 128) or self-paced (124) conditions. The workshop and assessments were completed by 137 (55 live and 82 self-paced).
PROCEDURES
Asynchronous modules containing the same content as the original program were placed on in-house veterinary clinic learning systems. Participants of this parallel arms trial completed pretest measures of burden transfer, stress, and burnout. Following assessment, the 3-week ACT program was delivered via videoconferencing (live) or asynchronous modules (self-paced). At post-test and 1-month follow-up, measures were repeated, with added assessment of knowledge, helpfulness ratings, and usage of techniques. A subset (n = 33) of participants repeated measures 9 to 12 months as an extended follow-up.
RESULTS
Program helpfulness was rated more highly by live versus self-paced participants. Self-paced showed better program retention. No differences in knowledge or use of program techniques (> 5 times daily) emerged. Relative to pretest, both conditions showed reduced burden transfer, stress, and burnout at post-test and follow-up; no differences by condition emerged. Participants completing extended follow-up maintained improvement from baseline.
CLINICAL RELEVANCE
Findings suggest a learning system–based version of this program can improve occupational distress in veterinary healthcare teams, with gains maintained over time. The flexibility of this format promotes program completion and allows broader dissemination.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE
To determine the environmental persistence of Nannizziopsis guarroi on clinically relevant solid and aqueous substrates.
SAMPLE
2 molecularly confirmed isolates of N guarroi obtained from clinical cases of dermatomycosis in bearded dragons (Pogona vitticeps).
PROCEDURES
3 concentrations (1 McFarland, 1:10 McFarland, and 1:100 McFarland) of fungal suspension were exposed to 7 sterilized solid substrates (fabric aquarium liner, wood mulch, sand, hard plastic, glass, cotton, and stainless steel) and 2 sterilized aqueous substrates (distilled water, saline solution [0.9% NaCl]). Biological replicates were performed for the contamination of the solid substrates. On days 1, 3, and 14 after contamination, the substrates were sampled for fungal culture with technical repeat. Fungal cultures were incubated at room temperature for 10 days and then evaluated for fungal growth.
RESULTS
Data from wood mulch were not evaluated because of plate contamination. Overall, the ability to culture N guarroi from solid substrates was isolate, time, and fungal concentration dependent. Viable fungus was isolated from fabric aquarium liner and glass on day 1 and days 1 and 3, respectively. N guarroi was cultured from all other solid substrates at day 14 from at least 1 isolate and/or fungal concentration. Viable N guarroi was isolated from both aqueous substrates at day 14, regardless of isolate or fungal concentration.
CLINICAL RELEVANCE
The environmental persistence of N guarroi should be considered when treating lizards infected with this fungus. Fomites may contribute to the contagious nature of this pathogen and environmental disinfection should be performed to reduce transmission.
