Private Veterinary Practice Research Articles

2024 AAHA Community Care Guidelines for Small Animal Practice.

Community care is a creative way of thinking about health care that mobilizes resources within a community and consists of four core principles: recognition of the urgency of access-to-care for the veterinary profession, collaboration within community networks, family-centered health care, and redefining the gold standard of care. The AAHA Community Care Guidelines for Small Animal Practice offer strategies to help busy veterinary practitioners increase access to care within their practice and community by optimizing collaborative networks. While these guidelines do not claim to provide exhaustive solutions to access-to-care issues, they propose a starting point from which private practices can explore and implement workable solutions for their community and their practice. Broadening the scope of care to reach all people with pets requires multimodal, collaborative, and creative solutions both within and outside of the veterinary profession. These solutions can begin with greater communication and collaboration between private veterinary practices and nonprofit veterinary practices, with the goal of keeping pets in their homes with their loving families as much as reasonably possible.

Veterinarian Use of and Sentiment Regarding Standard of Care for Feline Ovarian Pedicle Tie.

Ligation of the feline ovarian pedicle is commonly performed via autoligation ("pedicle tie") by high-quality high-volume surgeons. It is not commonly taught in veterinary school, resulting in general practice veterinarians who are not comfortable with the technique, despite being faster than double ligation with suture, having very low risk of hemorrhage-related complications, and no increased risk for student surgeons. This study aimed to determine the use of and opinions regarding standard of care (SOC) related to the pedicle tie for feline ovariohysterectomy. An anonymous 23-question survey was targeted to private practice veterinarians via social media from September to November 2021. There were 142 respondents, with 77 indicating the use of the pedicle tie and 65 indicating no use. Of those who used the pedicle tie, most reported learning the technique from either a dedicated high-quality high-volume facility (32%) or a colleague/mentor (32%). Nearly half used it in all cases. They had used it for a median of 5 (IQR 3,8) years, and 99% were comfortable teaching the technique to others. Of those who did not use the pedicle tie, 60% reported that it meets SOC, 14% reported that it does not, and 26% reported that it sometimes meets SOC. Over half of the respondents reported using the pedicle tie. Absence from the veterinary curriculum was the most frequently cited reason for not using the technique.

Quantification of antimicrobial use on Irish dairy farms: A comparison of three recording methods

Antimicrobial use (AMU) data are essential for monitoring usage over time, facilitating reduction strategies to combat the threat of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) to both human and animal health. The objective of this study was to measure and describe AMU over a 12-mo period in Irish dairy herds and compare 3 different recording methods to a reference method. A sample of 33 Irish dairy herds were randomly selected from 6 private veterinary practices across Ireland. The herds were followed for a 12-mo period and their AMU was monitored using 3 recording methods: 1. Veterinary prescription data (VET), 2. The inventory of medicine bins on the farms (BIN), and 3. Farmer treatment records from herd recording software (APP). Each recording method was compared with a previously developed reference method for AMU. The reference method used was based on pre- and poststudy medicine stock on the farms combined with veterinary prescription data. Antimicrobial use was analyzed using both mass- and dosed-based metrics, including mass (mg) of antimicrobial active ingredient per population correction unit (mg/PCU), defined daily doses for animals (DDDVET) and defined course doses for animals (DCDVET). Median AMU was 16.24, 10.47, 8.87 and 15.55 mg/PCU by mass, and 2.43, 1.55, 1.19 and 2.26 DDDVET by dose for VET, BIN, APP, and reference method data, respectively. Reliability of the agreement between each pair of methods was quantified using the concordance correlation coefficient (CCC). When compared with the reference method, VET data had excellent reliability [95% confidence interval (CI) of CCC: 0.992-0.998]. The BIN data had good to excellent reliability [95% CI of CCC: 0.776-0.936]. The APP data had poor reliability when compared with the reference method [95% CI of CCC: -0.167-0.156]. Our results highlight that a small number of herds were contributing most to overall use and farmers showed varying levels of consistency in recording AMU. Veterinary data were the most reliable approach for assessing AMU when compared with a reference method of AMU. This is an important finding for the future monitoring of AMU at a national level.

2024 Survey of Shelter Medicine Veterinary Compensation

Compensation in the field of shelter veterinary medicine is not well understood. Two previous surveys (2011 and 2018) have been conducted. In 2018, full-time shelter veterinarians employed in a clinical capacity had a median salary of $92,000 (IQR 80,000 - 110,000), while part-time shelter veterinarians had a median wage of $48/hour (IQR 36-66) for a median of 26 hours of work; academic shelter veterinarians had a median salary of $108,000 (IQR 90,000-120,000), while veterinarians employed in shelter leadership had a median salary of $120,000 (IQR 110,000-198,000). In 2018 the AVMA reported the median salary of all private practice veterinarians was $92,000 ($95,000 companion animal exclusive), and in 2022, it was $137,000 ($140,000 companion animal exclusive). The anonymous survey was distributed through various channels, including social media, message boards, and specialty listservs, similar to the 2018 survey. The survey was open for participation from January 4th to 31st 2024. Shelter veterinarians primarily working in the United States were categorized into four employment groups: part-time shelter-employed veterinarian, full-time shelter-employed veterinarian (35 hours per week or more), academic shelter medicine faculty, and shelter leadership/consultants. Salaries of interns and residents (2 respondents) were excluded from the analysis. There were 314 responses, with 299 from veterinarians working in/with shelters in the United States. Among these, 258 were engaged in clinical work with/for one or more shelter organizations, with 198 working full-time and 60 part-time. Eighteen respondents were from academia, and 23 were in shelter leadership or consulting roles. The median salary for full-time veterinarians in clinical roles was $122,500 (IQR 105,000 - 140,000; range 65,000 - 246,000), a 25% increase from 2018. Part-time veterinarians in clinical roles reported a wage of $85/hour (IQR 63 - 104; range 27 - 313) for a median of 24 hours (IQR 16 - 31), reflecting a 77% increase in hourly wage and an 8% decrease in hours. Academic shelter medicine veterinarians had a median salary of $130,000 (IQR 108,000 - 140,000; range 70,000 - 150,000), a 20% increase. The median salaries for different academic ranks were: Instructors $103,000, Assistant Professors $116,000, Associate Professors $134,000, and Professors $150,000. Veterinarians in consulting or leadership positions had a median salary of $168,000 (IQR 145,000 - 200,000; range 105,000 - 254,000), a 40% increase. All salaries increased, with the full-time salary for veterinarians employed in leadership or consulting increasing the most and salaries for veterinarians in academia increasing the least. The per-hour rate increased dramatically for part-time veterinarians, and they reported working a median of two fewer hours per week. Similar to the 2018 results, shelter veterinarians in leadership positions had the highest income, followed by academic shelter veterinarians. Salaries for clinically employed shelter veterinarians were 5% less than AVMA-reported 2022 salaries for all private practice veterinarians and 7% lower than for companion animal veterinarians.

The effects of hyperbaric oxygen therapy on snake-bite-associated wounds in dogs.

To assess the effect of hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) on Crotalinae envenomation-induced wound swelling and severity and pain in dogs, and to describe the safety and complications of HBOT. Prospective, randomized, controlled, blinded study (2017-2021). University teaching hospital, private veterinary practice. Thirty-six client-owned dogs presenting within 24hours of a confirmed or suspected naturally occurring Crotalinae snake bite injury were enrolled between 2017 and 2021. In addition to the standard of care treatment, dogs received 2 interventions with either HBOT (n=19) or control (n=16) within 24hours of hospital admission. Dogs receiving HBOT were pressurized over 15 minutes (1psi/min), maintained at a target pressure of 2 atmosphere absolute (ATA) for 30 minutes, and decompressed over 15 minutes. Control dogs received 1 ATA for 1hour. Local wound swelling, wound severity score, and pain score were assessed at admission, before and after each intervention, and at hospital discharge. There was no significant difference in wound swelling (P=0.414), severity score (P=1.000), or pain score (P=0.689) between HBOT and control groups. Pain decreased significantly over time regardless of the study intervention (P<0.001). There were no major adverse effects associated with either study intervention. HBOT did not significantly alter the short-term recovery from Crotalinae envenomation in this study population. However, the study might be underpowered to detect a significant treatment effect.

Psychological safety, purpose, path, and partnership reduce associate veterinarian desire to leave current employment.

To identify demographic and employment variables associated with an associate veterinarian's intent to remain at their organization in the next 5 years and to assess the impact of positive leadership in the practice and on veterinarians' well-being. 2,037 associate veterinarians in private practice who participated in the 2021 and 2022 AVMA Census of Veterinarians surveys. Associate veterinarian demographic and employment information was used in regression analysis to determine the likelihood of remaining employed at their organization in the next 5 years and the impact leadership has on an associate veterinarian's employment. Higher levels of burnout, living in an urban community, and working in corporate practice were associated with lower odds of remaining in the next 5 years. Associates who worked in a practice in which they believed their leaders practiced positive leadership had higher odds of remaining in the next 5 years. An increase in a practice's leadership index was associated with a likelihood to remain employed over the next 5 years. Decreases in the leadership index were associated with higher burnout levels among associates, more work experience, working more hours, and specialty/referral practices. Findings supported anecdotal evidence that lack of positive leadership in a private practice may lead to higher odds of retention issues in a practice, as well as lower job satisfaction, organizational commitment, and workplace well-being among associates. Positive leadership practices might provide protective factors to critical veterinary business outcomes like team member retention and engagement.

Endodontic Treatment Outcome of 45 Incisor Teeth in Dogs Determined by Intraoral Radiography.

A retrospective study was conducted to determine the outcome of endodontic treatment of incisor teeth in dogs. Medical and dental records from four private veterinary specialty practices over an 8-year period (2013-2021) were reviewed. Forty-five incisor teeth from 41 dogs with ages from 1 to 11-years-old were included in the study. The indications for endodontic treatment were complicated crown fracture in 23 incisors (51.1%), non-vital tooth in 15 incisors (33.3%) and complicated crown-root fracture in seven incisors (15.5%). Evaluation criteria included availability of complete medical and dental records, patient demographics, and at least one follow-up visit as recent as 6 months after the initial root canal therapy. Endodontic treatment outcome was defined as successful, no evidence of failure, or failure. Root canal therapy was successful in 42 teeth (93.3%), no evidence of failure was found in three teeth (6.6%), and none of the cases showed failure of the treatment. Duration of follow-up ranged from 6 to 64 months. Only three variables appeared to have statistical significance: presence of preoperative periapical lucency (PAL) (P = .01), postoperative PAL (P < .001) and postoperative external inflammatory root resorption (P = .014). Based on this study, following "loose criteria" (success and no evidence of failure combined), 100% of the treatments were successful, making this option an excellent therapy choice in a veterinary specialty dentistry practice.

Success of different therapy concepts for bacterial endometritis in stud farm practice

Bacterial endometritis is among the major problems in equine reproduction and is usually treated with antibiotics. Data on clinical success rates of antibiotic as well as non-antibiotic treatment is scarce. The study aimed to collect data of mares diagnosed with intrauterine growth of facultative pathogenic bacteria and compare the outcome of different therapies for bacterial endometritis in stud farm practice. Data on mares (different breeds) with positive uterine culture results was collected retrospectively in private veterinary practices (n=5) from 2018 to 2022. Information relating to 30 factors (mare, diagnostics, therapy and pregnancy rate) of cases with bacterial endometritis (Endometritis, n=1005) were recorded and analysed. Possible effects on treatment success (negative control swab or positive pregnancy result in the first heat after treatment) were tested by binomial logistic regression. For comparison of pregnancy rates, data on mares with negative uterine culture and without any treatment (Control; n=446) was also collected and compared with Endometritis group by chi square testing. In group Endometritis, uterine swabbing (technique: 72% double-guarded swab, 28% low-volume lavage) revealed presence of β-hemolytic streptococci in most cases (n=918). Pseudomonas aeruginosa (n=21), Klebsiella pneumoniae (n=15), Staphylococcus aureus (n=13) and Candida sp. (n=10) were observed less frequently. Results positive for E. coli were not included. In group Endometritis, treatment occurred regardless of the cycle stage either with trimethoprim-sulfonamides (n=532), procain-penicillium (n=277),marbofloxacin (n=71), other antibiotics (n=66) or without antibiotics (n=59) after susceptibility testing (performed in 549/1005 cases). Antibiotics were administered rather intrauterine (n=34) than systemically (n=911). Uterine lavage was reported in 46% of mares. Additional local treatment with different substances (e.g., n-acetylcysteine, dimethyl sulfoxide or Coca Cola) was performed in 164 mares. Uterotonic drugs were administered in 39.9% of mares. A control uterine culture was not obtained in most cases (n=677). Different breeding programs in this study included artificial insemination (AI) with chilled semen (n=667), AI with frozen semen (n=169), transfer of fresh (n=112) or cryopreserved (n=27) embryos and natural cover (n=27). In the control group, AI with chilled semen (n=230), AI with frozen semen (n=106), embryo transfer (fresh: n=49; cryopreserved: n=58) and natural cover (n=2) were used. After the first breeding after treatment, pregnancy rate was 47% in group Endometritis and 54% in the control group (p<0.05). End of season pregnancy rate was 72% in treated mares and 76% in the control group (p>0.05). Treatment success was affected significantly by duration of antibiotic treatment, usage of uterotonic drugs, veterinary practice, and mare's age, but neither by the chosen antibiotic drug nor administration route nor covering method. In conclusion, end of season pregnancy rate did not differ among mares treated for bacterial endometritis vs. mares with negative uterine cultures.

Prevalence of Dental and Skeletal Malocclusions in Mesaticephalic and Dolichocephalic Dogs-a Retrospective Study (2015-2018).

Medical records of dogs with dolico- or mesaticephalic conformation who were presented to a private veterinary referral dental practice with malocclusion of the deciduous or permanent dentition were retrospectively reviewed from a 3-year period (2015-2018). Records were evaluated to determine the type(s) of malocclusions and 198 dogs were evaluated with permanent malocclusions. Of the dogs with deciduous malocclusions, 45 (60%) had variations of a MAL1, 28 (38%) had a MAL2, 13 (17.6%) had a MAL3, and four (5.4%) had a MAL4, with 19 (26%) having more than one type of malocclusion. Poodles, Labrador Retrievers, and Cavalier King Charles Spaniels consisted of 37 (50%) of the dogs with deciduous malocclusions. Fifty-five (74%) dogs proceeded with interceptive orthodontics. Of the dogs with permanent malocclusions, 128 (65%) had a variant of a MAL1, 60 (30%) had a MAL2, 75 (38%) had a MAL3, and 11 (5.6%) had a MAL4, with a MAL1 occurring concurrently with 49 (82%) MAL2 cases. The most common type of MAL1 was linguoversion of one or both mandibular canine teeth in 92 (72%) dogs. The five most commonly affected breeds with permanent malocclusions were Poodles, Labrador Retrievers, Chihuahuas, Pit Bull Terriers, and Cavalier King Charles Spaniels. Overall, 39 (18%) dogs presented with malocclusions observed in this study were associated with the Poodle breed and 20 (9%) dogs were associated with the Labrador Retriever breed. This trend among Poodle mixes and Labrador Retrievers supports a familial pattern to malocclusions.

Benefits of practice ownership among US private practice veterinarians extend to professional quality of life.

To estimate the effects of practice ownership on wellbeing of US private practice veterinarians. 1,217 practice owners and 1,414 associate veterinarians (ie, nonowners) who participated in the 2021 AVMA Census of Veterinarians and Practice Owners Survey. A professional quality of life instrument was used to measure compassion satisfaction (CS; a positive attribute), burnout (BO), and secondary traumatic stress (STS) in practice owners and nonowners both as scores and as score categories (low, moderate, and high CS, BO, and STS). For hypothesis tests, propensity score matching was used, with owners (n = 595) matched to nonowners (595) on several demographic and employment factors. Owners had significantly (P < .001) higher CS scores (mean ± SE, 34.1 ± 0.3) and lower BO scores (26.1 ± 0.3) than nonowners (32.8 ± 0.3 and 26.9 ± 0.3, respectively), but STS scores were comparable between groups (27.4 ± 0.3 and 27.5 ± 0.3; P = .55). The prevalence of low CS scores and high BO scores was significantly (P < .001) higher for nonowners versus owners (53.8% vs 42.7% and 51.6% vs 46.4%, respectively). Both owners and nonowners had a high prevalence of high STS scores (81.8% and 83.2%, respectively; P = .53). Results suggested that practice ownership confers a benefit to private practice veterinarians in terms of CS and BO, but not STS. The prevalence of poor CS, BO, and STS scores was higher than reported previously for 2016 to 2018, suggesting an impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. The high prevalence of high STS scores in both groups warrants attention and action to protect the welfare of the veterinary workforce and support optimal patient care.

Success of Occlusal Aperture Access for Endodontic Therapy of Canine Teeth in Dogs.

The objective of this study was to determine the success of the natural crowns of endodontically treated canine teeth in pet dogs, instrumented and obturated using rotary driven non-taper nickel titanium files, through an occlusal access preparation, without the placement of a prosthetic cast metal crown. A search of medical records at a private veterinary dental referral practice was conducted to identify pet dogs having had endodontic treatment of one or more canine teeth over an eleven-year period (2007-2018). Follow up, performed by the same veterinary dental specialist, included a complete oral health assessment under general anesthesia and included intraoral radiography thereby allowing close visual examination of the crown and restoration as well as assessing endodontic success. Time to follow up was between two and nine years after treatment with a mean of 4.5 years. Analysis revealed that 29/29 (100%) of the treated crowns maintained their stability and did not require extraction. 5/29 (17.2%) of the treated teeth had an enamel fracture requiring additional treatment to the crown after the initial treatment; 1/29 (3.4%) had additional abrasion but did not require treatment and 23/29 (79.3%) were found to have sustained no additional damage. This study supports endodontic treatment without the placement of a prosthetic crown in canine teeth in pet dogs when an occlusal access site is used as described in this paper. Further study is required on the increased risk of fracture of the remaining unaltered canine teeth.

Seasonality and geography of diabetes mellitus in United States of America dogs.

The diagnosis of type 1 diabetes mellitus (DM) in humans is associated with high altitude, few sunshine hours, cold climate, and winter. The goals of this study were to investigate seasonal and geographic patterns of DM diagnosis in United States of America (USA) dogs with juvenile and mature onset DM. Data were collected by means of an online survey widely distributed in the USA through breed clubs, academic veterinary institutions, private veterinary referral practices, social media outlets, and the American Kennel Club. Juvenile DM (JDM) and mature onset DM were defined as DM with an age of onset <365 days and DM with an age of onset ≥365 days, respectively. Meteorological seasons were defined as: winter from December through February, spring from March through May, summer from June through August, and fall from September through November. Four geographic regions were also defined as the West, North, South, and Central regions of the USA. Nonoverlapping 95% confidence intervals (CI) for season, geographic region, and breed specific proportions of dogs with JDM were considered statistically significantly different. The study included 933 dogs with mature onset DM and 27 dogs with JDM. Dogs were diagnosed with DM significantly more in the winter and northern USA compared to all other seasons and all other geographic regions, respectively. The prevalence of JDM among dogs with DM was 2.8%. The proportion of dogs with JDM among pure breeds was not significantly different than the proportion of JDM in mixed breed dogs. It is concluded that winter and cold climate could be shared environmental factors influencing DM expression in dogs and humans. Additionally, pure breed dogs do not appear to be at increased risk for JDM compared to mixed breed dogs, indicating that factors other than genetics could influence spontaneous JDM development in dogs.

First report of imported canine visceral leishmaniasis cases in Panama, Central America: Public health implications.

According to the last leishmaniasis report from the Pan American Health Organization (2021) so far Panama is considered free of visceral leishmaniasis (VL). Although the presence of potential vectors and reservoirs involved in the VL transmission cycle have been described in some rural regions of the country, no cases have been reported in humans and domestic or wild animals. Dogs play an important role in the urban transmission of VL; therefore, it is important to detect possible cases of canine visceral leishmaniasis (CVL) in the country. In this sense,this study reports for the first time the Leishmania (Leishmania) infantum infection in imported dogs in Panama. Eleven dogs with clinical suspicion of CVL were evaluated by parasitological (bone marrow aspirate smear), serological (indirect immunofluorescence and/or reference immunochromatographic rapid test) and molecular tests (conventional PCR). The dogs included in this study were analyzed during the period from 2013 to 2020. All dogs presented clinical manifestations compatible with CVL. The samples were initially evaluated by smears and/or rapid serological tests by private practice veterinarians, and later confirmed by serological and/or molecular tests at the national reference laboratory for Leishmania diagnosis. The diagnosis was confirmed in 5/11 dogs by serological, parasitological and/or conventionals PCR targeting kDNA minicircle and Hsp70 gene. Leishmania (L.) infantum species was identified in 3/5 dogs by PCR-RFLP and by sequencing Hsp70-PCR products. This study evidenced the need to increase awareness of private practitioners as well as public health veterinarians on visceral leishmaniasis (VL), and to consider this parasitosis in the differential diagnosis of dogs with clinical and epidemiological characteristics compatible with the disease.

A prospective multicenter study of the efficacy of a fiber-supplemented dietary intervention in dogs with chronic large bowel diarrhea

BackgroundChronic large bowel diarrhea is common in dogs and can have a significant impact on their overall health and well being. We evaluated the safety and efficacy of a therapeutic food with select dietary plant fibers known to contain antioxidant and polyphenol compounds on clinical signs in dogs with chronic diarrhea.MethodsA prospective clinical study was conducted in 31 adult dogs currently experiencing chronic diarrhea from private veterinary practices in the United States. Enrolled dogs were switched to a complete and balanced dry therapeutic food containing whole grains and polyphenol-containing fiber sources for 56 days. Veterinarians evaluated changes from baseline in overall clinical signs, recurrence of clinical signs, and stool parameters at Days 2, 3, 4, 28, and 56. Dog owners evaluated stool consistency daily and nausea/vomiting, quality of life (QoL), and stooling behaviors at Days 1, 14, 28, and 56. Statistical analysis was performed using a mixed-effects model with Day as a fixed-effect.ResultsAssessments of overall clinical response and stool parameters indicated that diarrhea improved significantly within 1 day of initiating the therapeutic food. Veterinarians reported that 68% of dogs had complete resolution of their clinical signs by Day 56 and the remaining 32% experienced improvement (P < 0.05), with no cases of recurrence. Veterinarians also reported improvement in stool consistency (P < 0.001) and reductions of blood and mucus in stool (P < 0.001). Significant improvements in nausea/vomiting, stooling behaviors, and quality of life (QoL) were reported by dog owners after 28 days and were sustained through day 56 (P < 0.05). The therapeutic food was safe and well tolerated.ConclusionsIn dogs with chronic large bowel diarrhea, the therapeutic food rapidly improved stool consistency, resolved clinical signs, and improved stooling behaviors and QoL. Therapeutic foods supplemented with fiber sources rich in antioxidant and anti-inflammatory compounds contribute to rapid resolution of chronic diarrhea without recurrence and may contribute to long term health.

Microbiome function underpins the efficacy of a fiber-supplemented dietary intervention in dogs with chronic large bowel diarrhea

BackgroundChronic large bowel diarrhea is a common occurrence in pet dogs. While nutritional intervention is considered the primary therapy, the metabolic and gut microfloral effects of fiber and polyphenol-enriched therapeutic foods are poorly understood.MethodsThis prospective clinical study enrolled 31 adult dogs from private veterinary practices with chronic, active large bowel diarrhea. Enrolled dogs received a complete and balanced dry therapeutic food containing a proprietary fiber bundle for 56 days. Metagenomic and metabolomic profiling were performed on fecal samples at Days 1, 2, 3, 14, 28, and 56; metabolomic analysis was conducted on serum samples taken at Days 1, 2, 3, 28, and 56.ResultsThe dietary intervention improved clinical signs and had a clear effect on the gut microfloral metabolic output of canines with chronic diarrhea, shifting gut metabolism from a predominantly proteolytic to saccharolytic fermentative state. Microbial metabolism of tryptophan to beneficial indole postbiotics and the conversion of plant-derived phenolics into bioavailable postbiotics were observed. The intervention altered the endocannabinoid, polyunsaturated fatty acid, and sphingolipid profiles, suggesting a modulation in gastrointestinal inflammation. Changes in membrane phospholipid and collagen signatures were indicative of improved gut function and possible alleviation of the pathophysiology related to chronic diarrhea.ConclusionsIn dogs with chronic diarrhea, feeding specific dietary fibers increased gut saccharolysis and bioavailable phenolic and indole-related compounds, while suppressing putrefaction. These changes were associated with improved markers of gut inflammation and stool quality.

Owner-reported long-term outcomes, quality of life, and longevity after hospital discharge following surgical treatment of pyometra in bitches and queens

Investigate long-term complications, survival times, general health and quality of life (QoL) outcomes, and longevity in female dogs and cats (bitches and queens, respectively) following hospital discharge after ovariohysterectomy (OHE) for pyometra. 306 pet-owner-completed surveys and corresponding medical records for 234 bitches and 72 queens treated with OHE for pyometra at the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Animal Hospital between January 1, 2017, and December 31, 2019. A telephone and online survey was conducted to gather data about pet owners' perception of pet health and QoL following OHE for pyometra, and potential associations between survey results and medical record data were evaluated. Median survival time at a given age at OHE for pyometra was calculated with the use of maximum likelihood estimation of a survival-time regression model. 72 of the 121 (60%) eligible owners of queens and 234 of the 390 (60%) eligible owners of bitches completed the survey. Most owners reported that at the time of the survey, their pet's health and QoL were better or the same as before pyometra. Reported health and QoL outcomes were similar for pets > 8 versus ≤ 8 years of age. Our findings indicated that bitches and queens undergoing OHE for pyometra at older ages and without other severe health issues can expect to live their full life span. Veterinarians in private practice could expect similar outcomes.

The Economic Cost of Burnout in Veterinary Medicine

The purpose of this study is to estimate the economic cost of burnout in the veterinary profession and highlight the financial reasons why the industry should address the burnout crisis from an organizational perspective. Using data from 5,786 associate veterinarians in private practice, information was obtained using employment information related to compensation, work hours, hour preferences, and job turnover. Burnout was measured using the Professional Quality of Life Scale and used to calculate conditional probabilities on turnover and reduced working hours due to burnout. Lost revenue from each outcome (turnover and reduced working hours) was then used to calculate the economic costs to the veterinary services industry. The attributable cost of burnout of veterinarians to the US industry is between $1 and 2 billion annually in lost revenue, though there is a large amount of uncertainty. The cost is dependent on whether veterinary technicians are included in the analysis. The highest economic cost per veterinarian is among food animal practitioners, while the lowest is among equine. This study demonstrates that there are significant economic costs due to burnout among veterinarians and veterinary technicians. We suggest pursuing organizational interventions as these have shown the most impact in decreasing burnout and increasing satisfaction among human health physicians.

Survey of current trends in the management of traumatic subcutaneous emphysema in dogs.

Subcutaneous emphysema (SCE) is a common occurrence in emergency veterinary practice, but published information regarding treatment and management strategies is lacking. This study examined trends in diagnostic and treatment recommendations. An internet-based survey with cross-sectional analysis. There were 129 respondents: board-certified and nonboard-certified veterinarians in private practice and university settings. Significant differences in the choice of diagnostics and treatment were found based on the etiology and severity of SCE and between respondent groups. Computed tomography (CT) was selected more frequently for SCE resulting from blunt or penetrating traumas by the board-certified veterinarians practicing in a teaching hospital (VTH group; P<0.001). All veterinarians were more likely to select tracheobronchoscopy as part of their workup for SCE as a result of endotracheal intubation trauma (P=0.0093 [penetrating traumas]; P=0.0002 [blunt force traumas]). Intermittent SC drainage and ventral cervical exploratory surgery were more likely to be chosen as treatments when SCE was classified as severe generalized (P<0.0001). There is significant variation in the treatment of SCE in veterinary medicine as well as associated diagnostics to determine severity and treatment options. Further studies are indicated to determine the optimal approach and provide guidance to clinicians.

Hemiepiphysiodesis for the Correction of Distal Femoral Valgus in Growing Dogs.

The aim of this study was to describe hemiepiphysiodesis for the treatment of distal femoral valgus in immature dogs and to evaluate its effect on the anatomical lateral distal femoral angle (aLDFA). Skeletally immature dogs with distal femoral valgus deformities that had undergone hemiepiphysiodesis between November 2012 and March 2020 at two private veterinary practices were included. Criteria for inclusion in the study were a preoperative aLDFA below the previously published reference range (94 ± 3.3 degrees) and radiographs of the femur taken preoperatively and at growth plate closure. A total of 11 dogs fulfilled the inclusion criteria, and a total of 17 limbs were treated. The mean aLDFA was 82.1 ± 3.2 degrees (range: 76-87 degrees) preoperatively and 93.1 ± 5 degrees (range: 76-99 degrees) at the final re-evaluation. The mean difference between the preoperative and final aLDFA was +11 degrees, which was significant. Undercorrection occurred in 2/17 cases, whereas overcorrection was not recorded. The implants were removed in 12/17 cases, and rebound growth occurred in 3 of these. Hemiepiphysiodesis for the treatment of distal femoral valgus is a technique that allows for increase in aLDFA and should be considered as an early treatment in affected immature dogs. Monitoring for possible overcorrection using serial radiography is important. Implant removal when the desired aLDFA has been achieved is recommended because the incidence of rebound growth is uncommon in dogs.

Incursions of rabbit haemorrhagic disease virus 2 in Canada—Clinical, molecular and epidemiological investigation

Rabbit haemorrhagic disease virus 2 (RHDV2) is a newly emerging Lagovirus belonging to the family Caliciviridae. After its first discovery in 2010 in France, this highly pathogenic virus rapidly spread to neighbouring countries and has become the dominant strain, replacing the classical RHDV strains. RHDV2 was first reported in North America in 2016 in Mont-Joli, Quebec, Canada, and it was reported again in 2018 and 2019 on Vancouver Island and the southwest mainland of British Columbia (BC). The whole genome sequence of the RHDV2 Quebec isolate resembled the 2011 RHDV2-N11 isolate from Navarra, Spain with 97% identity at the nucleotide level. The epidemiological investigation related to this outbreak involved three hobby farms and one personal residence in Quebec. In February 2018, high mortality was reported in a large colony of feral rabbits on the Vancouver Island University Campus, Nanaimo, BC. The virus identified showed only 93% identity to the Quebec RHDV2 isolate at the nucleotide level. Additional cases of RHDV2 on Vancouver Island and on the BC mainland affecting feral and captive domestic, and commercial rabbits were reported subsequently. Vaccination was recommended to control the outbreak and an inactivated bivalent vaccine was made available to the private veterinary practices. In June 2019, an isolated RHDV2 outbreak was reported in pet rabbits in an apartment building in Vancouver, BC. This virus showed only 97% identity to the RHDV2 isolates responsible for the BC outbreak in 2018 at the nucleotide level, suggesting that it was an independent incursion. The outbreak in BC killed a large number of feral European rabbits; however, there were no confirmed cases of RHD in native rabbit species in BC.