For Veterinary Professionals

Historically, veterinary medicine has primarily approached respiratory and gastrointestinal clinical signs as independent problems. However, given the shared anatomy of the upper respiratory tract and gastrointestinal tract, it is impossible to separate these disorders.

When a local zoo veterinarian called to request a tooth extraction for a North American black bear, Jan Bellows, DVM, DAVDC, DABVP (Canine & Feline), and his team discovered the bear had a fractured right lower canine tooth, common in bears due to their powerful jaws and the demands of their natural foraging behaviors.

This algorithm from the 2021 AAHA Nutrition and Weight Management Guidelines for Dogs and Cats can help your team know when an extended nutritional evaluation is required. The full guidelines are available at aaha.org/nutrition.

A new case report in JAAHA describes how surgeons managed a painful tibial nerve neuroma that developed relatively quickly after the nerve was damaged during a previous medical procedure.

We could define an “Exotic Pet Care Desert” as an area where there are no veterinarians with skills or interest in exotic animal medicine and surgery. In such an area, how can a general practitioner provide compassionate care to an animal they are not familiar with? Let’s start with some basics.

According to statistics, animal control officials across the country see a 30%–60% increase in lost pets each year between July fourth and sixth. In fact, July 5 is traditionally one of the busiest days of the year for animal shelters.