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March 2024

Trends February 2024

In this issue:

  • Post-Pandemic Behavior Problems
  • Technology and Behavior Monitoring
  • What is Fear Free?
  • Angry Clients, Part 2


PDF of full issue

  • From the Editor

    The Chinese philosopher Mengzi believed that people are inherently good, while his counterpart, Xunzi, said that people are born bad. They agreed that moral teachings were the key to keeping people on the good side. What do Chinese philosophy and this issue of Trends have to do with each other? Read on to find out!

  • The Scoop, March 2024

    AAHA Director Gregory Carastro, LVT, CVBL, touts the benefits of the Fear Free practice. The AAHA Community responds to a request for resources to help boost confidence in veterinary assistants. This month's Scoop news articles include: AAHA Names First Veterinary Technician of the Year; North Carolina Requires Veterinarians Declare Gabapentin Use; Humans May Have Influenced Evolution of Dogs’ Eye Color; Study Evaluates Cannabis Product Use in US Cats and Dogs; and more!

  • Five Questions for a Behavior Specialist

    Amy Pike, DVM, DACVB, IAABC-CDBC, graduated from Colorado State University in 2003, and was soon after commissioned as a captain in the US Army Veterinary Corps, where she worked with dogs suffering from PTSD.

  • Employee of the Month, March 2024

    This month’s prize winner is Amanda Witkowski, CVT, of Berkeley Veterinary Center in Bayville, New Jersey!

  • Case Report of the Month

    Can a foreign body cause the condition known as sialadenosis, or enlarged salivary glands? New research in the Journal of the American Animal Hospital Association ( JAAHA ) says yes.

  • Behavior Issues in the Postpandemic World

    Behavior problems have come to the forefront of veterinary medicine, receiving a lot of interest amongst veterinary professionals and owners alike. Whether it is due to owners being more aware of problems or whether veterinary professionals are tackling them earlier, addressing the behavior of the pet is becoming standard of care.

  • 'Spying' on Pets with Clients

    Gathering these objective details is critical to evaluating behavior complaints a client may present. Data-collecting technology can act as a veterinarian’s behavioral spy, revealing the pet’s secrets to guide a diagnosis and treatment plan.

  • A Look Inside Fear-Free Practices

    By now you must have heard the phrase Fear Free or heard of Fear Free certified practices. But what exactly is Fear Free and what does it look like in practice?

  • Soft Skills in a Hard World

    Prior to the pandemic, employee development focused primarily on teaching technical skills, like how to operate the latest accounting software or inventory management system. But the pandemic showed us that skills such as communication and innovative thinking are what will enable a practice not only to survive but to thrive, especially in tough times.

  • The Art of De-Escalation, Part 2

    In Part 2 of this 2-part article, we'll explore strategies for calming down dealing with clients whose stress levels are high, who are showing behavior that ranges from anger to outright hostility.

  • What Energizing and Empowering Veterinary Teams Looks Like

    Alyssa Mages, BS, CVT, discusses her journey as a resilient veterinary educator, trainer, coach, and entrepreneur. Mages is the chief visionary officer of the company she co-founded, Empowering Veterinary Teams (EVT), where she oversees the content development, clinical skills training, and overall vision of the company.

  • In Practice

    Many signs of potential pet pain are revealed through changes in behavior. Help clients identify signs of pain in their pets with this chart.

January 2024

Trends January 2024

In this issue:

  • Natives in VetMed
  • Techs and Telehealth
  • What You Should Know About AI
  • Staff Retention Survey


PDF of full issue

  • From the Editor

    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.

  • The Scoop, January 2024

    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!

  • 5 Questions for a Dental Specialist

    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.

  • Employee of the Month, January 2024

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

  • Case Report of the Month

    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.

  • An Extra Wind: Natives in VetMed

    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.

  • Telehealth After COVID

    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.

  • Stay, Please

    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.

  • Artificial Intelligence in Vet Med

    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?

  • Elevating Veterinary Excellence: A Path to "Leveling Up"

    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

    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.

February 2024

Trends February 2024

In this issue:

  • blendVET Pathways
  • Working in Vet Med with Disabilities
  • Liquid Biopsy
  • Dental Tool Care


PDF of full issue

  • From the Editor

    In the veterinary world, we often note February as Dental Health Month. But in the larger scope, February is also Black History Month, and so we wanted to celebrate that by bringing you inspiration from our friends at blendVET™, who are creating pathways into the profession for students who may not otherwise see those opportunities.

  • The Scoop, February 2024

    AAHA Vice President Parva Bezrutczyk, DVM, shows how improvisational comedy techniques can be applied to the world of veterinary medicine. The AAHA Community answers the question: “How do you schedule and charge for sedated exams?” This month's Scoop news articles include: Disease Discovered in Orphaned Kittens; NAVTA, NAVC Join Forces to Educate Pet Owners About Vet Techs; FDA Approves Oral Solution to Treat Cats’ Anxiety and Fear; Pet’s Quality of Life Drives Owner Decision-Making in Emergency Situations; and more!

  • Five Questions for an Animal Welfare Specialist

    Steven Hansen, DVM, MBA, DACAW, DACVT, is boarded in animal welfare and veterinary toxicology. Hansen is also president and CEO of the Arizona Humane Society.

  • Employee of the Month, February 2024

    This month’s prize winner is Kerri Kenher, Client Service Representative at Hampstead Animal Hospital, in Hamstead, New Hampshire!

  • Case Report of the Month

    Ependymal cysts are rare in humans and even rarer in dogs—only three veterinary cases have ever been reported. These cysts are benign neuroepithelial cysts that develop in the central nervous system. In humans they are mostly small and cause no symptoms unless they become enlarged, in which case they are surgically removed.

  • Unlocking the Potential of the Next Generation

    As an underrepresented minority in veterinary medicine, Niccole Bruno, DVM, founder of blendVET, knows how important it is for kids with the dream of being a veterinarian to have support. Her organization creates programming that intentionally provides exposure and representation for students in underserved communities.

  • Support Matters

    More than 33 years after the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) became law, “reasonable accommodations” has become a byword in most sectors. But awareness, empathy, and support are still needed to overcome many challenges, including in the veterinary profession.

  • Liquid Biopsy

    Sometimes cancer is easy to diagnose and sometimes it takes months to arrive at an answer. To tackle an opponent as widespread and insidious as cancer, we need all the tools that modern science has to offer – and now, we have one more – liquid biopsy.

  • The Art of De-Escalation, Part 1

    In Part 1 of this 2-part article, we'll explore strategies for calming down annoyed clients whose stress levels are mild to moderate, and we’ll also discuss what can set people off in these situations. In Part 2, we will go over the more extreme cases of client anger, when stress levels are escalated and through the roof.

  • Keep Your Skills Sharp

    Maintaining dental instruments is critical to performing proper dental procedures. Sharp scalers and curettes are much more effective at cleaning teeth than dull instruments. Brook A. Niemiec, DVM, DAVCD, DEVDC, talks about taking the best care of your dental hand instruments.

  • What Can We Learn From Equine Veterinarians?

    Mike Pownall, DVM, MBA, practice owner, consultant, and fellow podcaster, joined Central Line to talk about what veterinary professionals in any corner of the field can take away from Synchrony’s 2023 Equine Lifetime of Care study.

  • In Practice

    It’s dental health month, so it’s a good time to brush up on your dental cleaning skills. This month’s In Practice shows the proper sequence for a dental cleaning using an ultrasonic scaler.