Tell us about your background. I was raised in the industrial, rainy northwest of England near Liverpool, and got my veterinary degree from Cambridge University in the somewhat snooty, sunny, and much-less-wet southeast. My veterinary education was relatively slow paced (over 6 years) and very enjoyable after the very challenging first two years. I particularly...
Controlled substance regulations can frequently seem confusing. However, I find that thinking about the main purpose of the regulations can help you determine compliant but practical methods for meeting the requirements. For recordkeeping, the goal is to document everything that happens to a controlled substance from the time it is ordered until it is administered,...
Above: Xylazine, a veterinary drug used as a sedative with analgesic and muscle relaxant properties, is often used in horses. Xylazine (Rompun®, Sedazine®, AnaSed®) is a medication that is FDA approved for animals only. It is a non-opioid sedative and painkiller. Recent reports indicate that it is increasingly being mixed with illegal drugs, such as...
Foot pain is a common presenting complaint in Warmblood horses worldwide. Our research group recently completed a large retrospective, cross-sectional study to determine the most common foot lesions diagnosed by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in Warmblood horses used for dressage, jumping, and eventing. The study represented the largest population of Warmblood horses with foot pain...
Deceased patients submitted for necropsy should be presented to the Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory (VDL), not to the Veterinary Teaching Hospital. VDL requires a submission form signed by the referring veterinarian for every necropsy specimen. The form can be brought by the owners or faxed/emailed by the clinic; it establishes a VDL account for the referring...
The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) has developed a list of hazardous drugs of concern in healthcare settings. The list is split into three groups: Chemotherapy drugs. Non-chemotherapy drugs that meet one or more of the NIOSH criteria for a hazardous drug. This includes drugs that exhibit one or more of the...
Tell us about your background. I am originally from Pontiac, Ill., and am the youngest of three children. As my family will gladly tell you, I’ve had a passion for taking care of animals since I can remember. As a child growing up in the country, I was frequently taking in sick, stray animals and...
Information abounds to help veterinarians develop and improve their dental diagnostic and treatment skills. This article, however, describes devices and techniques that can make the practice of dentistry more ergonomic, comfortable, and easy. Loupes and Lights Loupes provide illumination and fixed magnification. The adjustable-brightness lamp may be tilted for optimal viewing. Loupes are fitted to...
Frequently, we get asked if it’s okay to split Clavamox chew tabs. These tablets are scored, which seems to indicate splitting is okay, but they are individually packaged, and the manufacturer indicates they should be dosed using the whole tablet. To figure out the best recommendation, we first need to consider what the risks are...
Tell us about your background. I am originally from northern Ohio, but I have lived in many states due to being in a military family. I grew up showing rabbits in 4-H and spent a lot of my time as a kid outdoors. I have always had a love for animals, and there was at...