Veterinary Today Podcast

Emerging developments surrounding the spread of avian influenza (H5N1) into our nation’s dairy supply are ongoing and ever-changing. Meanwhile, Illinois has a new invasive species of tick, the Asian longhorned tick, confirmed by entomologists at the National Veterinary Services Laboratory. The species is capable of carrying tick-borne diseases, first identified in beef cattle. Advisories on each of these topics were recently issued by the Illinois Department of Agriculture. The most recent podcast of Veterinary Today addresses the background of each subject and current practices in monitoring and handling cases of both H5N1 and Asian longhorned ticks that may develop. Mark Ernst, DVM, State Veterinarian, Illinois Department of Agriculture, joins Debbie Lakamp, CAE, ISVMA Executive Director, in a factual conversation about each development, their current status (as of podcast issue date) and how Illinois veterinarians can manage cases if they are encountered.

When you consider wildlife … specifically wildlife medicine and research … that’s a world as big as all of the outdoors! Dr. Matthew Allender, Clinical Associate Professor at the University of Illinois College of Veterinary Medicine’s (UI-CVM’s) Diagnostic Lab, Director at the Wildlife Epidemiology Lab at the UI-CVM’s Department of Veterinary Clinical Medicine, and Clinical Veterinarian at the Chicago Zoological Society-Brookfield Zoo joins Veterinary Today Podcast host Dr. Joanne Carlson to discuss his intriguing field research with Illinois’ wild turtle population. Land turtles are Dr. Allender’s personal and professional passion, and he discusses how he conducts this research with the aid of specially trained dogs! He also addresses the critically important work regarding zoonotic disease spread, his career in zoo medicine and his role at the Brookfield Zoo.

An innovative veterinary pharmaceutical clinical trials program has been operating at a central Illinois pet clinic for more than 10 years, allowing pet owners to enroll their dogs and cats in breakthrough drug treatment research. Pets benefit from potential life-changing and life-saving medicines being developed, treating such conditions as flea infestations and osteoarthritis afflictions, in addition to a wide range of other medical conditions. In the meantime, a pet owner can benefit from free-of-charge attentive medical care for their pet when options for treatment for a medical condition may be non-existent. Veterinary Today Podcast host, Joanne Carlson, DVM, talks with Larry Baker, DVM, DAVDC, FAVD, owner/operator of Northgate Pet Clinic in Decatur, about the clinical trials program that partners with both pharmaceutical companies and pet owners.

Social media is a free marketing tool in which any veterinary clinic or hospital can easily use! Instantaneous outreach and promotion are important to any business, and engaging in social media as part of your hospital's overall marketing strategy is essential to keep in touch with clients and the community. There are also challenges with social media engagement, including what and when to post, the need to continuously maintain your hospital's public image and dealing with potential negative comments from the public. Dr. Caitlin DeWilde is a practicing veterinarian who is also the owner of The Social DVM, a company that assists veterinary clinics and hospitals across the country with their social media marketing strategies. In this episode, she talks with podcast host, Dr. Joanne Carlson, about the "ins and outs" of understanding and planning a social media marketing strategy, and how to deal with negative situations if they should arise.

Work/Life balance, and how we handle stress in both personal and professional worlds is always present and, for some, can be a constant challenge. In the veterinary profession, overcoming personal struggles combined with the pressures related to providing animal health care can reach critical levels of anxiety, depression and burn out. Renowned veterinarian and traveler, Brad Ryan, MSc, DVM, MPH, shares an inspiring message of his mental health journey in veterinary medicine … recovery … and resilience through intergenerational support systems. Dr. Ryan has gained world-wide attention for his message of healing, and who has also taken his 94-year-old grandmother, Joy, on a years-long trek to visit every U.S. National Park, part of the recovery process. In fact, both he and Grandma Joy are still traveling, blazing the trail for others to realize what is important in life. Tune in to ISVMA’s Veterinary Today Podcast’s latest episode to learn more about Dr. Ryan’s healing journey and how his message may resonate with your life.

Illinois veterinarians have a significant role as mandated by state regulation in reporting suspected rabies cases in pets and humans. Reported rabies exposure cases have been on the increase in the state over the past several months, specifically involving exposure from the native brown bat. That is why Dr. Connie Austin, Illinois Department of Public Health’s State Veterinarian, shares her knowledge and expertise as she explains the risks of exposure, proper reporting procedures, and how animal’s suspected of rabies are to be managed by animal lab personnel. Listen today to ISVMA’s Veterinary Today Podcast latest episode and get caught up on what to do when, and how.

The use of antimicrobials in veterinary medicine is prevalent in teaching hospitals, general veterinary practices, field operations and emergency referral clinics every day. Dr. Alexandria Gochenauer, Clinical Staff Pharmacist at the University of Illinois College of Veterinary Medicine Teaching Hospital in Urbana, explains the reasons behind antimicrobial stewardship and why it’s important to have protocols in place. She also reviews how hospital owners/operators can establish and maintain these procedures to ensure the safety for those who provide animal healthcare, for the animals they treat, and for their human caretakers. Dr. Joanne Carlson, ISVMA President, hosts the conversation.

The US Food and Drug Administration Guidance for Industry #263, or GFI 263, goes into effect nationally in the US in early June 2023. The new mandate changes the approved marketing status of certain antimicrobial drugs from over the counter to prescription status. Drugs that were commonly found on retail shelves and through online sources will no longer be available for purchase by the public and will only be accessible by veterinarian prescription. In this episode, Dr. Michael Costin, Associate Director in the Division of Animal and Public Health at the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA), explains the background and reason for GFI 263's enactment. Dr. Costin also talks about how it impacts not only the veterinary profession but also consumers who raise, breed and care for companion and large animals. Dr. Joanne Carlson, ISVMA President, hosts the conversation.

Inaugural Podcast: The ISVMA has been working closely with the State of Illinois regarding appropriate language within the update of the Veterinary Medicine and Surgery Practice Act of 2014. Joanne Carlson, DVM, ISVMA President, Loving Care Animal Hospital, Palatine, interviews Stephen Dullard, DVM, DABVP, Ancare Veterinary Clinic, Mendota, and Ancare Veterinary Hospital in LaSalle, ISVMA's Legislative Chair and an AVMA Delegate, on specific language updates regarding the Practice Act and where it currently sits in the Illinois Senate. Drs. Carlson and Dullard also discuss HB1533, which the ISVMA is strongly opposed. HB1533 removes decisions about a cat's well-being from highly trained veterinarians charged with their care. As of podcast release, the bill is in the Illinois Senate awaiting action.