contents FEATURES
8 THE NEONATAL GUT MICROBIOME By Holly H. Ganz, PhD And Katherine Dahlhausen, PhD
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How to set up your canine and feline patients for a lifetime of health.
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THE IMPORTANCE OF AIR DECONTAMINATION IN A VETERINARY HOSPITAL
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By Gary Tashjian
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By Sara Fox Chapman, MS, DVM, VetMFHom, CertiAVH How to use current research to help individualize your recommendations for canine sterilization.
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NUTRITION NOOK
EDUCATING CLIENTS ABOUT DIETS FOR PUPPIES AND KITTENS By Miraida Rivera-Viera, DVM
Why offering a healthy diet very early in life — and helping your client make an informed choice — will set a solid foundation for an animal to thrive.
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USING ESSENTIAL OILS IN YOUNG ANIMALS
By Jared Mitchell, DVM, CVMA Many medications in everyday practice are designed for older animals. Alternative treatment options such as essential oils, when used properly, can be safe and effective for young animals.
AN EARLY, PROACTIVE APPROACH TO KEEPING CANINE JOINTS HEALTHY When identifying at-risk individuals for osteoarthritis, it’s important to consider ways to help protect their joints, and find formulations that best suit each patient’s needs.
By Sungwon Lim, PhD
CANINE STERILIZATION
By W. Jean Dodds, DVM
By Robin Downing, DVM, MS, DAAPM, DACVSMR, CVPP, CCRP
AI: THE NEWEST TOOL IN VETERINARY SCIENCE Artificial Intelligence is a valuable tool that can help veterinarians do their jobs with greater speed and precision.
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VACCINE CONSIDERATIONS FOR PUPPIES AND KITTENS While vaccines are needed to protect against infectious disease, they are not innocuous. The timing and benefits/risks need to be carefully assessed.
By Julie Lie, DVM
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HOW TO ATTRACT AND RETAIN OWNERS OF PEDIATRIC PETS Because of the strengthening human-animal bond, the best way to attract and keep new clients is to provide extraordinary service from the very first pediatric appointment.
BEYOND CUDDLES AND VACCINES: HOW TO CREATE A FEAR FREE™ EXPERIENCE FOR PUPPIES & KITTENS By adopting Fear Free practices and educating clients, we can make a huge impact on our patients’ emotional and physical health.
INNOVATIVE PRACTICE By Laurie Jones, BA, RVT
Strategies that improve the safety of indoor air is vital for infection prevention in veterinary hospitals.
NUTRITIONAL SUPPORT HELPS CANINE PATIENTS MAINTAIN HEALTHY WEIGHT
By Julie Anne Lee, DCH, RCHOM The science behind speciesspecific probiotics.
By Lucas Pantaleon, DVM, MS, DACVIM, MBA
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THE EVOLUTION OF GUT HEALTH — PART 2
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CLASS 3B VERSUS CLASS 4 LASER SYSTEMS By Roger Dumoulin-White
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advisoryboard Dr. Richard Palmquist, DVM GDipVCHM(CIVT) CVCHM (IVAS), graduated from Colorado State University in 1983. He is chief of integrative health services at Centinela Animal Hospital in Inglewood, California, former president and research chair of the AHVMA, and an international speaker in integrative veterinary medicine. Dr. Palmquist is a consultant for the Veterinary Information Network (VIN) and a past president of the AHVM Foundation. He has published two books, one for conventional veterinarians and a second for clients discussing how integrative thinking works.
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COLUMNS & DEPARTMENTS
7 Editorial 24 From the NASC 29 From the VMAA 42 Industry innovations 43 From the AVH 44 Profitable Practice — AminAvast 49 From the VBMA
Michelle J. Rivera, MT, VDT, is an instructor at the University of Wisconsin and The Healing Oasis Wellness Center, a post-graduate educational institution offering state-approved programs. She is co-owner of The Healing Oasis Veterinary Hospital, offering massage, rehabilitation, chiropractic and Chinese and Western Herbology. Michelle completed the Chinese Herbal Medicine program from the China Beijing International Acupuncture Training Center, and is certified in Chinese Medicine by the Wisconsin Institute of Chinese Herbology.
Dr. Joyce Harman, DVM, MRCVS, graduated in 1984 from Virginia Maryland Regional College of Veterinary Medicine. Her practice is 100% holistic, using acupuncture, chiropractic, herbal medicine and homeopathy to treat horses to enhance performance and those with a variety of chronic conditions, with an emphasis on Lyme Disease. Her publications include the Pain Free Back and Saddle Fit Books, and numerous articles in lay and professional magazines. She maintains an informative website: www.harmanyequine.com. Dr. Steve Marsden, DVM, ND, MSOM, Lac. Dipl.CH, CVA, AHG lectures for IVAS, the AHVMA, the AVMA, and numerous other organizations. He is co-founder of the College of Integrative Veterinary Therapies and is a director emeritus of the National University of Natural Medicine in Portland OR. He authored the Manual of Natural Veterinary Medicine (Mosby); and Essential Guide to Chinese Herbal Formulas (CIVT). Dr. Marsden is extensively trained in alternative medicine, including Chinese herbology, acupuncture and naturopathic medicine. He has holistic veterinary and naturopathic medical practices in Edmonton, Alberta. In 2010, Dr. Marsden was named Teacher of the Year by the AHVMA; and Small Animal Veterinarian of the year by the CVMA in 2009. Dr. Jean Dodds, DVM, received her veterinary degree in 1964 from the Ontario Veterinary College. In 1986, she moved to Southern California to establish Hemopet, the first non-profit national blood bank program for animals. Dr. Dodds has been a member of many national and international committees on hematology, animal models of human disease, veterinary medicine, and laboratory animal science. She received the Holistic Veterinarian of the Year Award from the AHVMA in 1994.
55 From the IVAS 56 Profitable Practice — NutriSource 66 News bites
Dr. Barbara Fougere, DVM, CVAA graduated in 1986, and was named the American Holistic Veterinary Medical Association Educator for 2011. Dr. Fougere is the principal and one of the founders of the College of Integrative Veterinary Therapies. She has continued studying over the last 26 years, and has three Bachelor degrees, two Masters degrees, three post Graduate Diplomas, several Certifications and numerous other courses under her belt.
Dr. Christina Chambreau, DVM, CVH, graduated from the University of Georgia Veterinary College in 1980. She is a founder of the Academy of Veterinary Homeopathy, was on the faculty of the National Center for Homeopathy Summer School and has been the holistic modality adjunct faculty liaison for the Maryland Veterinary Technician Program and is the former Associate Editor of IVC Journal. Dr. Chambreau teaches classes in homeopathy for animals, lectures on many topics, speaks on Radio and TV, and is the author of the Healthy Animal’s Journal among other titles. She is now on the faculty of the Holistic Actions Academy, which empowers members to keep their animals healthy with weekly live webinars.
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THE NEONATAL GUT
MICROBIOME: how to set up your young canine and feline patients for a lifetime of health
HD USEN, P
A E DAHLH ATHERIN K D N A , PHD H. GANZ BY HOLLY
Every surface of our world is covered in microbes. While we can’t see them, bacteria, viruses, fungi, and other microorganisms are inextricably linked to nearly every aspect of the health and well-being of all living things. Thanks to new scientific advances, we now know more about microbes than ever before. This is especially important for veterinary medicine, because research on the microbiome has introduced a whole new framework for diagnosing and treating the root causes of numerous common health conditions in pets. The majority of a dog or cat’s microbes are found throughout the intestinal tract; this community is collectively called the gut microbiome. Many researchers, doctors, and veterinarians think of and treat the gut microbiome as a metabolically active organ. This article touches on the importance of the microbiome in the overall health of pets, how it develops
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in young animals, and the methods veterinarians can use to support the microbiome health of patients from the very beginning of life.
THE IMPORTANCE OF THE GUT MICROBIOME You’ve likely heard about the gut microbiome; the term refers to the non-host genetic material of bacteria, viruses, fungi, and protozoa (or protists) found in the intestinal tract of an animal. The microbial community that makes up the gut microbiome is an ever-changing ecosystem, with the most profound changes occurring in the first year of a pet’s life. The microbiome development during this first year is significantly correlated to a pet’s overall health, which we will cover in more detail in the next section. However, it is
important to emphasize that the microbiome health of puppies and kittens can dictate health outcomes throughout their entire adult lives. If the gut microbiome becomes imbalanced or lacks the microbial diversity typically acquired in the first year of life, it can lead to adverse clinical signs and conditions later in life. This connection between the microbiome and long-term wellness arises because the gut microbiome and immune system are intricately linked; it’s estimated that approximately 80% of immune regulation occurs in the gut.
IMBALANCED MICROBIOMES IN ADULTHOOD As with most health conditions in pets, it’s important to catch microbiome imbalances early because they can be harder to resolve as time goes on. These issues can easily become a selfperpetuating cycle of imbalance that becomes increasingly harder to resolve. Numerous microbiome-associated conditions are found in cats and dogs, such as atopic dermatitis,1 obesity,2 inflammatory bowel disease (IBD),3,4 diabetes,5,6 and even mood disorders.7,8 How does the gut microbiome develop in puppies and kittens? The best way to support the lifelong microbiome health of cats and dogs is to understand how they develop their gut
microbiomes in the first place. The first exposure to microbes a puppy or kitten experiences is during birth, but major gut microbiome changes also occur during the nursing process, and during the transition to a diet beyond the mother’s milk.
Birth Both puppies and kittens are enclosed in amniotic sacs within their mother’s uterus. In dogs, these sacs are usually broken during birth. When a litter of puppies is delivered naturally, microbes that line the birth canal are the first to colonize the gut microbiomes of the puppies. If delivered by Caesarean section, the mother’s skin microbiota are the first to colonize the puppies’ gut microbiomes. Kittens are typically born in their amniotic sac, which is removed by their mother, who will then stimulate them to breathe by washing them with her tongue. The mother’s microbes are transferred to her kittens during this process, thus introducing them to her microbiome. Studies have shown that delivery mode significantly affects gut microbiome colonization,9 with infants delivered by Caesarean section having more adverse health outcomes later in life.10 These findings suggest that exposure to vaginal microflora
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Beyond cuddles and vaccines
How to create a Fear FreeTM experience for puppies & kittens BY JULIE LIU, DVM
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hen we see an adorable puppy or kitten for their first visit, it’s a reminder of why we love this profession. They’re often friendly, exploratory, and playful, and can be easily distracted with treats. So how do we go from those trusting puppies and kittens to adult pets who are terrified of us? When we think of vet visits from their perspective, it’s no wonder. Car rides, being handled by strangers, and needle pokes are stressful, and without intervention, can produce pets that have an overwhelming fear of the vet. Fear Free™ was founded in 2016 and strives to protect the emotional health of pets. Not only does this approach show more compassion for our patients; it also provides more compassion for us as veterinary caregivers, because patients with a lower fear of the vet are easier for us to handle, resulting in better patient care. Getting puppies and kittens started with a Fear Free experience takes an active approach at home and at the vet clinic.
THE BODY LANGUAGE OF FEAR, ANXIETY, AND STRESS Think back to the first time you got bitten or scratched by one of your patients. Did it seem to happen out of nowhere? Pets are communicating to us all the time, whether we realize it or not, often nonverbally. When we fail to recognize the signs of
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fear, anxiety, and stress (FAS) and adjust our handling, injury to us or the pet can result. FAS also has numerous negative effects on a pet’s physical health,1-5 and understanding body language will help us minimize it. Similar to learning a foreign language, learning the body language of FAS in dogs and cats is eye-opening. You’ll start to see pets broadcasting their FAS all the time, on your TV screen and at the dog park, and wonder why everyone else seems oblivious. Puppies and kittens don’t often growl or hiss, but it’s not uncommon for them to freeze, move away, or stop eating treats when they get stressed. Taking a few minutes to learn about subtle signs of FAS is vital for a Fear Free puppy and kitten visit, and provides valuable feedback about when to change our approach. These signs are encapsulated wonderfully in the illustrated posters created by the late Dr. Sophia Yin6, 7 and through Fear Free Pets,8 and should be handed out with all puppy and kitten kits.
INCORPORATING BEHAVIOR INTO PUPPY AND KITTEN VISITS Between discussions about vaccines, preventatives, diet, and spaying/neutering, it can be hard to find time to think about behavior. But as with adult pets, everything and everyone a
young pet encounters at the vet influences them in some way, often negatively. If we want to counteract that stress and set them up for success for future vet visits, we must consider behavior and emotional health during puppy and kitten visits. Those happy-go-lucky puppies/kittens may not stay that way if they encounter scary and aversive experiences at the vet, and already fearful puppies/kittens will likely get worse. Here are some steps you can take towards ensuring a Fear Free experience during appointments:9 • U se positive reinforcement during every visit. Positive reinforcement helps lower FAS and allows us to bond with our patients. It’s not enough to have a jar of giant dog biscuits in exam rooms. Stock a variety of delicious treats10 for both cats and dogs, and create a toy drawer to help encourage play. From the moment a pet enters the clinic until the moment they leave, offer a small (pea-sized or smaller) treat every few seconds, especially during handling. Better yet, ask the client to feed treats so you can demonstrate the value of Fear Free while continuing your exam and vaccines. Clients love giving treats as much as pets love eating them, and most puppies and kittens can be easily distracted for vaccines while eating a blob of squeeze cheese or Churu. • M inimize pain and practice compassionate handling. No one likes being poked with needles, and a 22g needle can seem gigantic to the two-pound puppy or kitten you’re vaccinating. Pain is a huge contributor to FAS, so use fresh 25g needles and apply a thin layer of a lidocaine numbing cream such as Supernumb to planned vaccination sites or blood draw sites for feline retroviral testing at the beginning of the visit. Similarly, handling patients roughly increases their FAS, so use a less-ismore approach and adjust your technique if signs of stress are seen. IVC Fall 2021
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