Veterinary Vertex

Send us Fan Mail Ever notice how the smallest habits in surgery are the hardest to justify with data? We dig into one of those everyday choices—taper vs. reverse cutting needles for intradermal closure after TPLO—and unpack what the evidence actually says about early incisional healing, complication rates, and the subtle differences that might matter at the 18–24 hour mark. With surgeon-researcher...

Send us Fan Mail A fractured canine tooth tests more than a dog’s bite—it tests our choices as clinicians. We sat down with researchers Ethan Elazegui and Dr. Elias Wolfs to reexamine vital pulp therapy with new data, honest surprises, and practical guidance you can use on your next dentistry day. The conversation starts with what holds true: an ~80% success rate keeps vital pulp therapy squarely...

Send us Fan Mail Hyperkalemia in a blocked cat can feel like a five-alarm fire—until you remember what actually fixes the problem. We sit down with Drs. Stephanie Maciorowski and Elizabeth Rozanski to unpack fresh evidence showing that the simplest path is also the strongest: start IV fluids, give calcium gluconate to stabilize the myocardium, and prioritize rapid unobstruction. The headline findi...

Send us Fan Mail Ever wondered what we might be missing with traditional imaging techniques? Dr. Francesca Solari's groundbreaking research reveals a game-changing approach to diagnosing liver disease in dogs. Laparoscopic ultrasonography is transforming how veterinarians evaluate canine liver disease, detecting lesions that traditional methods miss. Dr. Solari takes us through a fascinating...

Send us Fan Mail Surgical options for our feline patients often lack the robust documentation available for canine procedures. Dr. Kristen Gabriel tackles this gap with her groundbreaking research on parasternal thoracotomy via sternocostal disarticulation in cats—a technique that offers promising results for thoracic exploration when traditional approaches fall short. The conversation delves into...

Send us Fan Mail Ever wondered how to master complex veterinary procedures without someone physically guiding you? Technical Tutorial Videos (TTVs) are revolutionizing veterinary education by providing visual demonstrations that text alone simply cannot convey. In this illuminating conversation, three-time TTV author Dr. Rebecca Bishop shares her journey creating peer-reviewed video manuscripts fo...

Send us Fan Mail Thermal glass bead disinfection could revolutionize how veterinary clinics manage instrument hygiene between patients. On this episode of Veterinary Vertex, we dive deep with researchers Steven Frederick and Dr. KP Spivey into their groundbreaking study showing how this technology effectively eliminates bacteria from suture scissors in just 60 seconds. The conversation reveals sur...

Send us Fan Mail What if your pet's habit of eating socks, furniture stuffing, or other non-food items isn't simply bad behavior, but actually a cry for help? Dr. Julianna Perez's groundbreaking research reveals that pica – the consumption of non-food items – may be a clinical sign of chronic enteropathy in dogs and cats. The discovery began in emergency rooms, where veterinarians n...

Send us Fan Mail Salmonellosis is far more than just a risk from undercooked burgers. In this eye-opening conversation, wildlife health experts Dr. Sonia Hernandez and Dr. Kim Perez reveal how everyday environmental exposures may pose significant yet underrecognized transmission hazards for this dangerous bacteria. The researchers unpack their fascinating studies of white ibises adapting to urban...

Send us Fan Mail Challenging conventional wisdom in equine reproduction, this episode explores revolutionary research about phenylbutazone's impact on embryo production in mares. When previous studies claimed mares on "bute" had zero successful embryos via intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI), Dr. Kristen Loncar and her team questioned these findings based on their own clinical s...

Send us Fan Mail Have you ever wondered exactly how much lavage solution is needed to effectively decontaminate a surgical wound? This question, so common in veterinary operating rooms, finally has an evidence-based answer. Dr. Vanna Dickerson and veterinary student Cody Westmoreland from Texas A&M University join us to discuss their groundbreaking research on subcutaneous tissue lavage. Their...

Send us Fan Mail Hypothermia during anesthesia represents one of veterinary medicine's most common yet preventable complications. While warming methods abound, which ones actually work? Dr. Rachel Kreisler and veterinary students Mahtab Khanezarrian and John Boules join us to challenge conventional wisdom and share evidence-based solutions. Their groundbreaking research reveals something surp...

Send us Fan Mail How long should it take to publish your veterinary research? What happens when a journal promises publication in just 40 days? And how have publication times changed across veterinary medicine in recent years? Dr. Mark Rishniw joins Veterinary Vertex to discuss his eye-opening research on publication speeds across veterinary journals. Drawing from his analysis of submission-to-pub...

Send us Fan Mail The battle against Rhodococcus equi , a devastating bacterial pneumonia in foals, continues to challenge equine veterinarians more than a century after its discovery. This fascinating conversation with Drs. Noah Cohen and Devynn Volding illuminates a previously unexplored aspect of a common preventive measure: the safety of hyperimmune plasma transfusions from an electrolyte persp...

Send us Fan Mail When traditional dewormers fail against resistant hookworms, veterinarians may turn to emodepside as a last resort. But are all formulations created equal? Not according to recently published research. Join us as Theresa Quintana and Drs. Jeba Jesudoss Chelladurai and Stephanie Martinez reveal critical findings about bioequivalence between different emodepside formulations. Their...

Send us Fan Mail The simple ice pack - a staple in both human and veterinary medicine for reducing pain and swelling. But what if this common therapy has unexpected consequences for healing? Soft tissue surgeon Dr. Vanna Dickerson and veterinary student Gabriella Hansen join us to discuss their fascinating research on how ice packs affect blood flow in canine skin. For years, surgeons have caution...

Send us Fan Mail Veterinary teams are complex systems where communication, shared goals, and mutual respect directly impact workplace satisfaction and staff retention. In this enlightening conversation, researchers Natasha Janke and Jason Coe reveal groundbreaking findings on the power of relational coordination in veterinary practice. Originally developed in the airline industry to understand Sou...

Send us Fan Mail Genetic prediction technology is revolutionizing how we understand disease risk in our pets, yet companion animal medicine lags behind similar advances in humans and production animals. Why? And what does this mean for veterinary medicine? In this fascinating conversation with Dr. Peter Muir and Dr. Mehdi Momen, we explore the emerging science of polygenic risk scores – statistica...

Send us Fan Mail Dr. Roy Madigan joins us to uncover the hidden danger of Chagas disease, a parasitic infection transmitted by "kissing bugs" that's far more prevalent than most veterinarians realize. Contrary to outdated beliefs that Chagas is a "third world disease," this silent killer affects up to 18% of dogs across the southern United States, with millions of cases go...

Send us Fan Mail Curious about what happens to your samples after they leave your clinic? Wonder why some tests come back with "no growth" despite clear clinical signs? This eye-opening conversation with microbiologist Kelli Maddock reveals the world of veterinary diagnostic laboratories and how you can leverage them for better patient outcomes. Kelli, Guest Editor of JAVMA's supple...

Send us Fan Mail Artificial intelligence is rapidly transforming veterinary diagnostic imaging, but are we ready? In this illuminating conversation with veterinary radiologist Dr. Ryan Appleby, we explore the joint position statement from the American College of Veterinary Radiology and European College of Veterinary Diagnostic Imaging on AI technologies. The eye-opening discussion reveals that no...

Send us Fan Mail "A wolf at the door" – that's how researchers describe the growing threat of Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever (RMSF), a potentially deadly tick-borne disease that's increasingly prevalent across the Americas. In this eye-opening conversation, Drs. Janet Foley and Andres Lopez-Perez challenge common misconceptions about this dangerous pathogen. Did you know the brow...

Send us Fan Mail Ever wondered if you really need to change that needle after drawing up a vaccine? In this eye-opening conversation, Julia Tawil and Dr. Rachael Kreisler challenge a decades-old practice that most of us have never questioned. Their meticulously designed study measured exactly how much a needle dulls after puncturing a vaccine vial—and the results might surprise you. Using precise...

Send us Fan Mail Curious about the scientific evidence behind treating joint infections in foals? This eye-opening conversation with Dr. David Wallace explores groundbreaking research validating common clinical practices while revealing surprising limitations. Septic joints in foals present a clinical challenge requiring both local and systemic antimicrobial therapy. Until now, veterinarians have...

Send us Fan Mail A groundbreaking approach to equine intestinal motility takes center stage as Drs. Barbara Delvescovo and Marta Cercone join us to discuss their pioneering research on ultrasound-guided celiac plexus blocks in horses. Their remarkable findings reveal that this technique not only restores but actually enhances intestinal motility beyond baseline levels in normal horses—without caus...