Breathing Easier: How Standard Perioperative Protocols are Changing Brachycephalic Surgery
Send us a textBreathing new life into brachycephalic airway surgery practices, this eye-opening conversation with Drs. Vanna Dickerson and Mason Hill reveals how implementing standardized protocols can dramatically reduce post-operative complications in our flat-faced canine companions.The surge in popularity of brachycephalic breeds like French Bulldogs has brought increased attention to the challenges these dogs face during surgical procedures. Through collaborative efforts between surgery, anesthesia, and critical care specialists at Texas A&M University, the team developed a comprehensive perioperative management strategy that's making a real difference in patient outcomes. Their research demonstrated significant improvements in respiratory distress events, though dogs with pre-existing regurgitation issues remain a high-risk population requiring special consideration.What makes this episode particularly valuable for veterinary professionals is the practical approach to implementation. Rather than complex interventions, the team created an accessible one-page protocol guide that practices can adapt to their specific environments. As Dr. Dickerson emphasizes, "The surgery isn't the hard part—it's managing the perioperative period that can go wrong." For dog owners, this research offers both reassurance about improving surgical outcomes and practical guidance about what questions to ask their veterinarians before procedures.Whether you're a surgeon, general practitioner, or a devoted brachycephalic breed owner, this episode provides crucial insights that could potentially save lives. JAVMA article: https://doi.org/10.2460/javma.24.09.0598INTERESTED IN SUBMITTING YOUR MANUSCRIPT TO JAVMA ® OR AJVR ® ? JAVMA ® : https://avma.org/JAVMAAuthors AJVR ® : https://avma.org/AJVRAuthorsFOLLOW US:JAVMA ® : Facebook: Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association - JAVMA | Facebook Instagram: JAVMA (@avma_javma) • Instagram photos and videos Twitter: JAVMA (@AVMAJAVMA) / Twitter AJVR ® : Facebook: American Journal of Veterinary Research - AJVR | Facebook Instagram: AJVR (@ajvroa) • Instagram photos and videos Twitter: AJVR (@AJVROA) / Twitter JAVMA ® and AJVR ® LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/company/avma-journals
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17:25
Vitamin E Deficiency in Horses
Send us a textCould your horse be vitamin E deficient without you knowing it? New research suggests this vital nutrient deficiency might be far more common than we realize, even in horses with access to fresh pasture.Drs. Amy Johnson and Megan Palmisano join Veterinary Vertex to discuss their groundbreaking study examining vitamin E concentrations in hospitalized horses. They share a stunning revelation: approximately 17% of adult horses and 5% of foals arrived at their hospital already deficient in vitamin E, despite coming from the nutrient-rich mid-Atlantic region. Most surprising, these deficiencies occurred across different management styles, suggesting this problem transcends typical risk factors.As Dr. Johnson explains, vitamin E deficiency has serious implications, particularly for neurological health. Her work as a neurologist revealed connections between vitamin E deficiency and devastating conditions like equine motor neuron disease, equine neuroaxonal dystrophy, and equine degenerative myeloencephalopathy. The researchers initially hypothesized that hospitalization might worsen vitamin E status by restricting access to green forage, though their findings suggest short hospital stays don't significantly impact levels.The conversation delves into practical aspects every horse owner should know: the importance of testing individual horses rather than assuming herd status, proper handling techniques for blood samples to prevent false readings, and recommendations for seasonal testing schedules. Perhaps most critically, they emphasize that horses at the same farm eating identical diets can have dramatically different vitamin E statuses.For veterinarians and owners alike, this episode offers vital perspective on an often-overlooked aspect of equine nutrition that could prevent serious neurological disease. Understanding your horse's vitamin E status through regular testing and appropriate supplementation when needed provides a simple but potentially life-changing intervention for their long-term health.Listen, share, and leave us a review to help more horse owners discover this essential information about equine vitamin E requirements!Open access JAVMA article: https://doi.org/10.2460/javma.24.09.0590INTERESTED IN SUBMITTING YOUR MANUSCRIPT TO JAVMA ® OR AJVR ® ? JAVMA ® : https://avma.org/JAVMAAuthors AJVR ® : https://avma.org/AJVRAuthorsFOLLOW US:JAVMA ® : Facebook: Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association - JAVMA | Facebook Instagram: JAVMA (@avma_javma) • Instagram photos and videos Twitter: JAVMA (@AVMAJAVMA) / Twitter AJVR ® : Facebook: American Journal of Veterinary Research - AJVR | Facebook Instagram: AJVR (@ajvroa) • Instagram photos and videos Twitter: AJVR (@AJVROA) / Twitter JAVMA ® and AJVR ® LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/company/avma-journals
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Insights for Antimicrobial Stewardship in Small Animal Medicine
Send us a textDr. Jennifer Granick takes us deep into her groundbreaking research on antibiotic prescribing patterns in companion animal practice, revealing both challenges and opportunities for improvement.This conversation unveils the complex reality of veterinary prescribing. Perhaps most surprising is the finding that preventive antibiotic treatments typically last the same duration (10 days) as those targeting confirmed infections—a practice without scientific justification.What makes this discussion particularly valuable is Dr. Granick's practical approach to creating change. Rather than overwhelming practitioners with an insurmountable challenge, she advocates starting small: "Pick one common condition, check prescribing guidelines, and make one small change." This accessible strategy empowers veterinarians to contribute meaningfully to antimicrobial stewardship without complete practice overhauls. Meanwhile, pet owners gain crucial perspective on when antibiotics truly help versus when they might cause harm.As Dr. Granick's team explores innovative methods using electronic health records and AI to gather prescribing data while maintaining privacy, the future of veterinary antimicrobial stewardship looks promising. Her parting wisdom serves as both warning and hope: antibiotics are indeed life-saving, but only if they continue to work. Join us for this essential conversation at the intersection of companion animal medicine, public health, and our shared responsibility to preserve these precious medications for generations to come.Open access JAVMA article: https://doi.org/10.2460/javma.24.11.0716INTERESTED IN SUBMITTING YOUR MANUSCRIPT TO JAVMA ® OR AJVR ® ? JAVMA ® : https://avma.org/JAVMAAuthors AJVR ® : https://avma.org/AJVRAuthorsFOLLOW US:JAVMA ® : Facebook: Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association - JAVMA | Facebook Instagram: JAVMA (@avma_javma) • Instagram photos and videos Twitter: JAVMA (@AVMAJAVMA) / Twitter AJVR ® : Facebook: American Journal of Veterinary Research - AJVR | Facebook Instagram: AJVR (@ajvroa) • Instagram photos and videos Twitter: AJVR (@AJVROA) / Twitter JAVMA ® and AJVR ® LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/company/avma-journals
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AI in Vet Med: From Bark to Bytes
Send us a textArtificial intelligence is no longer the future of veterinary medicine—it's very much the present. In this captivating discussion with guest editors Casey Cazer, Parminder Basran, and Renata Ivanek, we explore the groundbreaking AJVR supplemental issue "From Bark to Bytes: Artificial Intelligence Transforming Veterinary Medicine." The conversation reveals how AI applications already extend far beyond the clinical notes scribes that many practitioners might be familiar with. Veterinarians are now using AI-assisted stethoscopes to detect bovine respiratory disease, employing machine learning algorithms to predict Lyme disease risk patterns, and leveraging artificial intelligence to fill gaps in antimicrobial resistance surveillance data. Each application demonstrates how this technology can enhance clinical decision-making while accelerating vital research.Our guests emphasize that successful AI implementation requires multidisciplinary collaboration, quality data, and thoughtful integration. "Garbage in, garbage out" remains a fundamental principle—without standardized, high-quality data, even the most sophisticated AI tools will produce unreliable results. The ethical dimensions of AI in veterinary medicine also take center stage in our discussion, from ensuring data privacy and informed consent to recognizing inherent biases and maintaining the veterinarian's ultimate responsibility for patient care.For practitioners curious about incorporating AI tools into their workflow, our experts recommend starting with well-researched technologies, implementing them gradually, and evaluating how they affect the veterinarian-client relationship. As this field continues its rapid evolution, staying informed through resources like this supplemental issue becomes increasingly crucial for veterinarians who want to harness AI's potential while navigating its challenges. Join the conversation at the second Symposium for Artificial Intelligence in Veterinary Medicine at Cornell University (May 16-18, 2025) to explore how these technologies can help shape the future of animal healthcare.INTERESTED IN SUBMITTING YOUR MANUSCRIPT TO JAVMA ® OR AJVR ® ? JAVMA ® : https://avma.org/JAVMAAuthors AJVR ® : https://avma.org/AJVRAuthorsFOLLOW US:JAVMA ® : Facebook: Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association - JAVMA | Facebook Instagram: JAVMA (@avma_javma) • Instagram photos and videos Twitter: JAVMA (@AVMAJAVMA) / Twitter AJVR ® : Facebook: American Journal of Veterinary Research - AJVR | Facebook Instagram: AJVR (@ajvroa) • Instagram photos and videos Twitter: AJVR (@AJVROA) / Twitter JAVMA ® and AJVR ® LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/company/avma-journals
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Beyond the Surface: Rethinking Fish Wound Care with Naltrexone
Send us a textWe take a fascinating dive into aquatic medicine as Drs. Anthony Cerreta and Karisa Tang share groundbreaking findings on fish wound healing. Their study reveals that topical naltrexone in iLEX ointment significantly accelerates cutaneous wound healing in black belt cichlids—a discovery with profound implications for aquatic veterinary care.Anthony and Karisa explain how fish wounds present unique challenges due to the constant exposure to water-borne pathogens, making effective treatments critically important yet notoriously difficult to develop. What makes their findings particularly remarkable is the simplicity of the approach: applying naltrexone ointment just once every 3-4 days produced visible healing by day 19, much faster than untreated wounds. Even more surprising was how effective the treatment proved despite minimal contact time with the wounds—challenging conventional wisdom about topical treatments in aquatic animals.This work builds on previous clinical observations at major aquariums where naltrexone showed promise treating head and lateral line erosion (HLLE). Anthony and Karisa meticulously designed their study to provide the aquatic veterinary community with solid evidence of naltrexone's efficacy. They're now expanding their research to chronic wounds across various species, potentially revolutionizing treatment protocols for fish in both professional and home aquarium settings. Their message to veterinarians and aquarists alike is refreshingly practical: this treatment is inexpensive, easy to apply, and remarkably effective despite the aquatic environment—making it a valuable addition to the limited toolkit available for fish wound management.Have you encountered challenging wound healing cases in your aquatic patients? Try incorporating this evidence-based approach and share your experiences with the growing community of aquatic veterinary practitioners.AJVR article: https://doi.org/10.2460/ajvr.24.04.0099INTERESTED IN SUBMITTING YOUR MANUSCRIPT TO JAVMA ® OR AJVR ® ? JAVMA ® : https://avma.org/JAVMAAuthors AJVR ® : https://avma.org/AJVRAuthorsFOLLOW US:JAVMA ® : Facebook: Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association - JAVMA | Facebook Instagram: JAVMA (@avma_javma) • Instagram photos and videos Twitter: JAVMA (@AVMAJAVMA) / Twitter AJVR ® : Facebook: American Journal of Veterinary Research - AJVR | Facebook Instagram: AJVR (@ajvroa) • Instagram photos and videos Twitter: AJVR (@AJVROA) / Twitter JAVMA ® and AJVR ® LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/company/avma-journals
Veterinary Vertex is a weekly podcast that takes you behind the scenes of the clinical and research discoveries published in the Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association (JAVMA) and the American Journal of Veterinary Research (AJVR). Tune in to learn about cutting-edge veterinary research and gain in-depth insights you won’t find anywhere else. Come away with knowledge you can put to use in your own practice – along with a healthy dose of inspiration to remind you what you love about veterinary medicine.
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