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Medicine

They Say It’s a Toxin, I See Vestibular (HDYTT)

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This week on the Cone… Neurology goddess Dr. Carrie Jurney is with us to sort out a 7yo MN Labrador Retriever who might or might not have eaten something they shouldn’t have.

We are supported by PSI Vet!
The PSIvet Healthcare Initiative hopes to introduce new ways to ensure all Veterinary Professionals get the healthcare coverage they need. Learn more at www.psihealthcareinitiative.com/

The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the position of the DrAndyRoark.com editorial team.

ABOUT OUR GUEST:

Dr. Carrie Jurney is a veterinary neurologist in the San Francisco Bay Area and owner of Jurney Veterinary Neurology. When she’s not in the clinic, she’s the president of Not One More Vet, a global mental health support group and charity for veterinary professionals. In her spare time, she is a metal artist, Burning Man Camp lead, and podcaster on the Veterinary Superfriends Podcast.

The Diabetic Cat (HDYTT)

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In this episode of the Cone of Shame, Dr. Andy Roark talks with Rachel Poulin RVT, VTS (SAIM) on stabilizing the acute presentation of diabetes in a cat.

Want a shout-out from Dr. Andy Roark for a friend or co-worker? Rate this podcast on iTunes and then send an email telling us who we are shouting out and WHY. The email address is podcast@drandyroark.com.

The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the position of the DrAndyRoark.com editorial team.

ABOUT OUR GUEST:

Rachael Poulin graduated from the Veterinary Technician Program at Columbus StateCommunity College in 2007. She did her internships at The Ohio State Universityand became specialized in internal medicine in 2013. She was the 2016 president of the Academy of Internal Medicine Veterinary Technicians. In 2017, she continued to work on the floor as a supervisor/manager until 2018 when she transitioned to Director of Operations for Amerivet. She spent two years in that role before transitioning to People Department, where she focuses on learning and development, recruiting, retention and engagement.

She is now focused on education and empowerment of the veterinary team and continues to be passionate about elevating the roll of the veterinary technician/nurse in our industry!

The Lethargic Guinea Pig (HDYTT Essentials)

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This week on the cone…

We are back with the amazing Dr. Laurie Hess! She and Dr. Andy Roark discuss the basics of treating Guinea Pigs and how to approach this common presentation.

Want a shout-out from Dr. Andy Roark for a friend or co-worker? Rate this podcast on iTunes and then send an email telling us who we are shouting out and WHY. The email address is podcast@drandyroark.com.

The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the position of the DrAndyRoark.com editorial team.

ABOUT OUR GUEST:

Originally from New York City, Dr. Laurie Hess is one of approximately 150 board-certified avian specialists worldwide. After graduating from Yale University, she earned her veterinary degree at Tufts University and completed an internship & residency in avian/exotic pet medicine at the world-renowned Animal Medical Center in New York City where she practiced for more than a decade. She is Director of Pet Health & Nutrition for the pet food company ZuPreem and owns a bird and exotic pet specialty hospital – the Veterinary Center for Birds & Exotics – in Westchester County, New York, where she treats birds, rabbits, ferrets, rodents, reptiles, sugar gliders, hedgehogs, and other non-traditional pets, as well as wildlife. She is the author of Unlikely Companions: The Adventures of an Exotic Animal Doctor – a memoir about her life as an exotic animal veterinarian. Dr. Hess is the Social Media Chairperson for the Association of Avian Veterinarians and an active member of this association, the Association of Exotic Mammal Veterinarians, the Association of Reptile & Amphibian Veterinarians, and the Association of Zoo Animal Veterinarians. She also is a frequent contributor to websites, radio broadcasts, and TV shows about exotic pets, as well as a lecturer on exotic pet care internationally.

Mistakes I’ve Made – Bulldog Anesthesia

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Dr. Andy Roark talks to Tasha McNerney BS, CVT, CVPP, VTS about the day she wishes she could re-do and the anesthesia case that went badly.

The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the position of the DrAndyRoark.com editorial team.

ABOUT OUR GUEST:

Tasha is a Certified Veterinary Technician from Glenside, PA. She is also a certified Veterinary Pain Practitioner and works closely with the IVAPM to educate the public about animal pain awareness. Tasha loves to lecture on various anesthesia and pain management topics around the globe. In her spare time Tasha enjoys reading, spending time with her son.

COVID-19 and Your Pet

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It has been a life-changing week in Northern Minnesota. Less than a month ago, COVID-19 was known only as “The Corona Virus” and thought to be a disease of foreign countries on the other side of the world. We were warned but didn’t really believe that it would make its way to the United States. Suddenly it’s here and our lives have changed dramatically overnight – schools and restaurants are closed, events are canceled, and everyone is urged to keep a six-foot social distance from each other.

As we slowly adjust to this new normal, many will start to wonder what this means for their four-legged companions. The truth is, at this time, we don’t know exactly how our pets will be impacted. Here is what we do know:

Both dogs and cats can become infected with strains of coronaviruses. But these coronaviruses are not COVID-19. COVID-19 is a novel virus, meaning that it is a virus that we have never seen before. The coronaviruses that commonly affect dogs and cats are not the same and they do not cause disease in people. Although COVID-19 is believed to have originated in an animal (some reports say a bat), there is no evidence as of yet that the virus is transferred from dogs or cats to people.

There has been one report of a dog testing positive for COVID-19 after his owner became sick with the disease. The dog never showed signs of illness. Further testing is in process to determine if the dog was just exposed or if his immune system produced antibodies to COVID-19, meaning his body was infected with the virus. Another dog who was also exposed repeatedly tested negative for COVID-19. On March 13, 2020, Idexx, a veterinary reference laboratory, announced that it has tested thousands of dogs and cats for COVID-19 and has not obtained any positive results.

There is a possibility that COVID-19 may transfer from a person to a pet, but the primary mode of transmission is person to person spread. However, until more is known about COVID-19, if you are infected with the virus, the American Veterinary Medical Association recommends to avoid contact with your pet. The website states:

“Have another member of your household take care of walking, feeding, and playing with your pet. If you have a service animal or you must care for your pet, then wear a facemask; don’t share food, kiss, or hug them; and wash your hands before and after any contact with them.”

A bigger concern to pet owners is that pet fur may act as a fomite, an object capable of carrying an infectious agent.  If an infected person coughs on their pet, the virus may be present on the pet’s haircoat. How long it will survive there is not known at this time, but it could potentially be hours or more. Collars and leashes can also act as fomites and carry the disease. This is another reason why it is strongly advised to avoid taking care of your pet if you are sick.

There is still so much we are learning about COVID-19 and new information is coming out daily. If your pet is showing any respiratory signs, the best thing to do is to contact your veterinarian for guidance.

The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the position of the DrAndyRoark.com editorial team.

“Help! I Think My Cat Just Died!” HDYTT

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This week on the Cone of Shame…

We’ve all heard those terrible words as a technician bursts into the treatment room “This cat died on the way here!” That’s when the crash cart comes out and CPR gets started. But what, exactly, should we be doing? And how long should we go on for before we call it? Let’s get into this.

The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the position of the DrAndyRoark.com editorial team.

ABOUT OUR GUEST:

David Liss has an incredibly rich and diverse background in the field of veterinary technology. A registered veterinary technician in California, David holds a Bachelor’s in Sociology and an Associate’s Degree in Veterinary Technology. He also holds double board-certifications as a veterinary technician specialist in emergency/critical care and small animal internal medicine and has diverse background in emergency and critical care nursing in addition to being a certified veterinary practice manager (CVPM) and professional in human resources (PHR). He has been a technician manager at two different twenty-four-hour referral/specialty facilities in the Los Angeles area, has contributed to numerous veterinary texts and was awarded the Veterinary Technician Educator of the Year award by Western Veterinary Conference. David also holds a Master’s in Biomedical Science. David currently is the director of operations for Amerivet in Los Angeles, runs his own consulting business: Veterinary Training and Consulting, Inc., and lectures worldwide.