January 2024

We have been planning a re-design for a couple of years, but the pandemic put things on hold. But now, after months of hard work and planning, we are proud to offer our readers a new look and feel (in the print version), as well as some new contents.

AAHA board member Gregory Carastro, LVT, CVBL, discusses the power of the team in the first View from the Board of 2024. This month’s Scoop news articles include: First dog-fox hybrid ; 11 technologies veterinary practices can adopt today; FTC chair discusses veterinary trends at AVMA economic meeting;  Amazon considers offering veterinary telehealth as it looks to compete with Walmart; and more!

In this new series, we ask a different specialist 5 questions about their specialty and what it means to them. This month we talk to Jan Bellows, DVM, DAVDC, DABVP, owner of Hometown Animal Hospital & All Pets Dental in Weston, Florida, who is one of the few board-certified veterinary dentists in the country.

This month’s prize winner is Customer Care Representative Supervisor Jillian Shenkel, of Rose City Veterinary Hospital, in Portland, Oregon!

In an attempt to avoid the systemic side effects associated with oral steroids for chronic bilateral uveitis, a bichon frise was given oral cyclosporine after discontinuing the oral steroid. However, the cyclosporine was also discontinued one month later, because of severe vomiting. Read on to find out if oral leflunomide is a viable treatment option for canine idiopathic immune-mediated uveitis.

A new group offers camaraderie and support for Indigenous veterinary students and professionals. With help from the nonprofit Companions and Animals for Reform and Equity (CARE), Natives in VetMed is rapidly expanding. Already, members represent 33 tribes from the United States and Canada.

Virtual care offers huge benefits for your patients, clients, staff, and bottom line. These include increased workflow efficiency, improved work-life balance, better and more thorough care for patients, and added convenience value for clients. It is no surprise that the lynchpin of well-implemented virtual care begins and ends with veterinary technicians, assistants, and care coordinators.

A new AAHA survey on staff retention got a massive response. People had a lot to say—and they wanted to be heard. After months of sorting through the data, consulting with data analysts, and looking at these findings from various angles, we’ve landed on some illuminating findings.

The rapid progression of AI has been facilitated by the enormous increase in data capture and availability, computer storage and processing capabilities, and neural network architectures. As governments, businesses, and organizations are struggling to keep up with the pace of developments, it begs the questions: What is on the horizon for veterinary medicine, and what will be the impact of AI?

Amanda Shelby RVT, VTS (Anesthesia & Analgesia) joined Central Line: The AAHA Podcast at AAHA Con 2023 in San Diego, to share her insights and passion for the veterinary field, discussing her unique journey as a VTS and the importance of pushing the boundaries of knowledge and expertise.

In Practice is a new feature in our newly redesigned Trends. Each month the final page of Trends will feature a useful and practical graphic that can be downloaded from the Trends website. This month, we have an infographic on the ins and outs of telehealth.