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As veterinary professionals, we know all too well that the signs of osteoarthritis (OA) can be missed or misinterpreted by pet owners. Many times, the subtler clinical signs associated with osteoarthritis are thought to be normal age-related changes. Because this leads to underdiagnosis of OA, we focused Banfield Pet Hospital’s 2019 State of Pet Health® Report on osteoarthritis, including how the condition is linked to excess weight.

One concern with weight-loss programs is that use of inappropriate diets and/or levels of caloric restriction can lead to inadequate nutrient intake, resulting in nutritional deficiencies. Severe caloric restriction can also have adverse metabolic effects that work against achieving successful, safe weight loss. This article provides guidance for calculating caloric requirements for an obesity management plan to avoid the adverse effects of severe caloric restriction, as well as for choosing an appropriate diet for weight-loss programs to avoid nutritional deficiencies.

Pancreatitis is common among cats, although its exact incidence is unknown. The disease can take several forms—acute, chronic, and acute on chronic (an episode of acute pancreatitis in a patient with chronic pancreatitis)—and differentiating among the forms clinically and making an antemortem diagnosis in cats remain challenging.

Roughly 1 in 5 veterinarians surveyed by the AVMA reported that they had themselves been victims or knew colleagues who had been victims of cyberbullying. In this electronic age, it’s all too easy to be targeted by this type of attack, but it’s not as easy to know what to do to protect against, prevent, and fight back against a cyberbully. “Enough is enough,” writes Editor-in-Chief Simon Platt.

Under California’s Veterinary Medicine Practice Act, veterinarians can have their license either revoked or suspended for discussing medicinal cannabis with a client. SB 627 would change that. “Veterinarians should be the ones giving people guidance on how to do this, not people with zero medical training like the guy working behind the counter at the recreational cannabis dispensary,” contends Dr. Gary Richter.

Personal health and wellbeing for veterinary professionals is one of the NAVC’s top priorities. That is why we are implementing many new wellness initiatives at VMX 2020, the world’s largest, leading veterinary conference. Mark your calendars for January 18-22 in Orlando, Florida where you’ll learn and grow alongside peers who motivate and inspire you.

Pain management is often at the heart of the vitally important veterinarian-client-patient relationship. This article focuses on select rehabilitation modalities that, when Incorporated into a multimodal pain management program, can help reduce pain, enhance tissue healing, increase patient function, and improve quality of life.

For centuries, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) have been used for pain control. However, their use has been associated with potentially life-threatening adverse drug events. Grapiprant is a novel drug for treatment of osteoarthritic pain in dogs. Approved in 2016, it is a non-cyclooxygenase (COX)-inhibiting NSAID.

Veterinary support staff are essential for a successful client experience and exceptional patient care. These valued team members hold many roles including client service representatives, kennel staff, veterinary assistants, and certified veterinary technicians or veterinary nurses. Despite their critical role in practice success, many team members feel undercompensated, underappreciated, and overworked.