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AnimalMatters Foothill College Quarterly Edition Spring 2018 In This Issue: Supplements? Are They the Right Choice for Your Pet? First Annual CaRVTA Symposium Becoming a Veterinary “Nurse”: A Quote from Ken Yagi Finding a Job at the Job Fair! Inspiring Techs Everywhere: An Interview with Nancy Ehrlich The Battle Against Canine Influenza Green Sea Turtle Fibropapillomatosis in the Spotlight Supplements: Are They The Right Choice for Your Pet? By: Sandy Gregory, M.Ed, RVT, CCRA Should you provide your dog with supplements? And if so, which ones, how much, how often? Let’s look at the scientific evidence… Supplement Suggestions: 1) Providing a supplement means that you believe that your dog is not getting sufficient amounts of that component in its diet. Vitamins and minerals in their natural forms often have better bioavailability and retention in tissues than their synthetic counterparts (1) so be sure that at least part of your dog’s diet consists of fresh (unprocessed) food. 2) Ask yourself: What is the scientific evidence that my dog should be getting this supplement? See list of recommended supplements and the scientific evidence below. 3) Many supplements have a mixture of components so that the manufacturer can claim their supplement as unique. Do you really need all of those additives? 4) Stack the deck in your favor – only buy supplements from manufacturers that: (a) provide data on all of the supplement’s nutrients and micronutrients in the packaging, and (b) are established and have a reputation to uphold. 5) Purchase supplements designed for and tested in dogs. Supplements designed for humans might not have the same bioavailability as those for dogs and some might even have ingredients, such as xylitol, that are unsafe or even fatal for dogs.

SCNAVTA Student Chapter Newsletter · could easily harm or kill a patient, from chocolate toxicity to marijuana toxicity. The client education lecture gave plenty of helpful tips

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Page 1: SCNAVTA Student Chapter Newsletter · could easily harm or kill a patient, from chocolate toxicity to marijuana toxicity. The client education lecture gave plenty of helpful tips

AnimalMatters

Foothill College Quarterly Edition

Spring 2018

InThisIssue:

• Supplements?AreTheytheRightChoiceforYourPet?

• FirstAnnualCaRVTASymposium

• BecomingaVeterinary“Nurse”:AQuotefromKenYagi

• FindingaJobattheJobFair!

• InspiringTechsEverywhere:AnInterviewwithNancyEhrlich

• TheBattleAgainstCanineInfluenza

• GreenSeaTurtle

FibropapillomatosisintheSpotlight

Supplements:AreTheyTheRightChoiceforYourPet?

By:SandyGregory,M.Ed,RVT,CCRA

Shouldyouprovideyourdogwithsupplements?Andifso,whichones,howmuch,howoften?Let’slookatthescientific

evidence…SupplementSuggestions:

1)Providingasupplementmeansthatyoubelievethatyourdogisnotgettingsufficientamountsofthatcomponentinitsdiet.Vitaminsandmineralsintheirnaturalformsoftenhavebetterbioavailabilityandretentionintissuesthantheirsyntheticcounterparts(1)sobesurethatatleastpartofyourdog’sdietconsistsoffresh(unprocessed)food.

2)Askyourself:Whatisthescientificevidencethatmydogshouldbegettingthissupplement?Seelistofrecommendedsupplementsandthescientificevidencebelow.

3)Manysupplementshaveamixtureofcomponentssothatthemanufacturercanclaimtheirsupplementasunique.Doyoureallyneedallofthoseadditives?

4)Stackthedeckinyourfavor–onlybuysupplementsfrommanufacturersthat:(a)providedataonallofthesupplement’snutrientsandmicronutrientsinthepackaging,and(b)areestablishedandhaveareputationtouphold.

5)Purchasesupplementsdesignedforandtestedindogs.Supplementsdesignedforhumansmightnothavethesamebioavailabilityasthosefordogsandsomemightevenhaveingredients,suchasxylitol,thatareunsafeorevenfatalfordogs.

Page 2: SCNAVTA Student Chapter Newsletter · could easily harm or kill a patient, from chocolate toxicity to marijuana toxicity. The client education lecture gave plenty of helpful tips

Reduce,ReuseandRecycle!

NeverRecycleAnotherGlassJar!

They’reeasytowash(dishwasher-friendly),haveanairtightseal,freezewelland

don’tleachtoxicslikeBisphenol-A(BPA).

Substitute:Storeleftoversanddrygoods(insteadofbuyingcontainers)orpackyourlunchinglassjars.Note:Dependingonthedistanceofyourworkcommute,youmightchoose

stainlesssteellunchcontainersbecauseglassisheavy.

RecommendedSupplementsforActiveDogs

(andtheEvidence)

1)Joint-ProtectiveNutraceuticals–Adoseofabout20mg/lbofglucosamineperdayisrecommended.ProductsdesignedfordogsincludeDasuquinAdvanced,GlycoflexIIorIII.Naturalsourcesofglucosamineincludetrachea(1oz=~1400mg)andchickenfeet(onefoot=~400mg).

• TheEvidence:A2018meta-analysisofpublicationsonavarietyofdietarysupplementsforosteoarthritisinhumanssuggestedimprovementofpainandfunctionwithglucoasamine,chondroitin,MSMandavocadosoybeanunsaponifiables,althoughtheystatedthattherewasalsoaneedformorehigherqualityevidence.

2)Omega-3FattyAcids–Therecommendeddoseis15mg/lbofDHA.Makesurethesourceistestedforheavymetals.GoodsourcesincludeGrizzlySalmonOilaswellasNordicNaturals,butthereareothersaswell.

• TheEvidence:Two2016metastudiesconcludedthatthereisevidenceforthesystemicanti-inflammatoryeffectsofomega-3fattyacidsupplementation

3)Antioxidants–Antioxidantsaremosteffectiveiffedintheirnativeform.Blueberriesareveryhighinantioxidants,andaneasywaytoprovidethemisbypurchasingfreeze-driedblueberries.Giveabout10blueberriesforasmalldog,20foramediumdogand30foralargedogonceadayintheirfood.AvailableatAmazon.

• TheEvidence:Twostudiesshowthatdietscontainingantioxidantsimprovedcognitivefunctioninolddogs,sowhynotprovideantioxidantstoalldogsthatneedoptimumcognitivefunction?

Page 3: SCNAVTA Student Chapter Newsletter · could easily harm or kill a patient, from chocolate toxicity to marijuana toxicity. The client education lecture gave plenty of helpful tips

TheVetcorder

TheVetcorderfromSentierisaECG/PulseOximeterdevice.This

smallpieceofequipmentwillallowthestudentstomonitorapatient’svitalswithoutevenhavingtobeintheroom!TheVetcorderconnectswirelesslytoanytablet,laptoporphone.Ittransmitstemperature,heartrateandoxygenrateofapatientunderanesthesiaor

recoveringfromsurgery.Thistoolcanevengohomewithclientstohelpthemmonitorhowtheirpetisdoing.Allvitalscanbesavedandloggedforlateruseandrecordkeeping.Oneofthesewonderfulthingshasbeendonatedtothe

program!Andstartinginthespringquarterwiththesenior’ssurgeryclass,theywillbeabletousethe

Vetcorder.

TheFirstAnnualCaRVTASymposiumBy:DaniFernandes

OnFebruary25thof2018,FoothillCollegeandtheVetTechProgramhostedthefirstannualCaRVTAsymposium.Manypeoplefromtheveterinaryfieldattended,aswellasseveralstudentsandteachersfromtheVetTechprogram.Atotalofeightspeakersgavelectures:StephanCital,NicoletteZarday,LeslieBoudreau,JeffBackus,AyllneMoon,KenichiroYagi,andtheprogramsveryownSandyGregory.ThewholeeventwassponsoredbyFoothillCollege,Mid-PeninsulaAnimalHospital,AdobeAnimalHospital,VCAAnimalHospitals,Sentier,HenrySchein,Abaxis,Purina,PetEmergency&SpecialtyofMarine,andCaRVTAitself.Withoutthetimeandeffortputinbythespeakersandthesponsors,thiseventcouldnothavetakenplace.

Severallecturestookplacerangingfromclientcommunicationtopainmanagementforouranimalfriends.Eachlecturewasincrediblyvaluable,openingtheeyesofallthepeoplewhoattended.Thetoxicitylecturetouchedonallthethingsthatcouldeasilyharmorkillapatient,fromchocolatetoxicitytomarijuanatoxicity.Theclienteducationlecturegaveplentyofhelpfultipsandpointersonhowaveterinarytechniciancanspeakwithaclientandhandlehardsituations.Anotherlecturefocusedonpassiverangeofmotion;givingatechniciannewskillsonhowtoworkwithpatientsrecoveringfromsurgeryandevengeriatricpatientswithintheclinicorinthehome.Thisinvaluableeventkickstartedthefirstofmanyjustlikethisone.Itbroughtpeoplewithintheveterinarycommunitytogether,creatingnewrelationships,inspiringspeeches,andnewfriendshipssuretolastalifetime.TheVeterinaryTechnicianprogramevengotanewpieceofequipmentdonatedtousbyRobertYoungfromSentier!Havingeventslikethesethathelpthestudentsandprofessorsnetworkwiththeveterinarycommunityalsocanleadtothingsthatcanhelptheprogramitself!

Page 4: SCNAVTA Student Chapter Newsletter · could easily harm or kill a patient, from chocolate toxicity to marijuana toxicity. The client education lecture gave plenty of helpful tips

ImportantUpcomingDates:

• VeterinarySocietyofSurgical

OncologyMeeting:April9th-11th(UCDavis)

• VMCSchoolofVeterinaryPracticeManagement:April16th–20th,2018(SanDiego,CA)

• SASD:April29th,2018(FoothillCollege)

• PetReadyEvent:May19th,2018(FoothillCollege)

• EthosVeterinarySymposiumbyVetBloom:May20th,2018(SanDiego,CA)

• WildWestVeterinaryConference:Oct3rd–7th,2018(Reno,NV)

BecomingaVeterinaryNurse:AQuotefromKenYagiBy:KenYagiBS,RVT,VTS(ECC,SAIM)

MyjourneywiththeVeterinaryNurseInitiativestartedwhenIwasappointedthestaterepresentativecommitteechairandconductedanationalleadershipsummit.Whenaskedthequestion"doweneedtounitetheprofessionunderasinglecredentialunderthetitleofveterinarynurse?"theanswerwasaresounding"Yes!!".Fastforward3yearsofconversationswiththestates,moreleadershipsummits,discussionswithstakeholders,aseriesofsurveysandreportstotheNAVTAboard,itwasannouncedonMay15th,2017thattheVeterinaryNurseInitiativewillpursuethestandardizationofthecredential,includingcredentialingrequirements,definedscopeofpractice,CErequirements,andproperuseofasingletitleforourprofession,RegisteredVeterinaryNurse,onlybycredentialedindividuals.The2016NAVTAdemographicsurveyrevealedthat56%ofrespondentschangedjobswithin5-7years,andofthat,halfofthemhadactuallyleftveterinarymedicinealtogether.Andwearecertainlynothappyaboutthis.Reasonscitedwerelowwages,lackofrespect,burnout,compassionfatigue,alackofvalueofcredentialing,poorutilizationinpractice,lackofreciprocity,andlackofpublicrecognition.PartofthesechallengesarisefromthepatchworkofcredentialswehaveintheUnitedStateswherewehaveLicensed,Registered,andCertifiedVeterinaryTechnicians,andonestatwithLVMT,onestatewithoutcredentialingatall,andseveral

Page 5: SCNAVTA Student Chapter Newsletter · could easily harm or kill a patient, from chocolate toxicity to marijuana toxicity. The client education lecture gave plenty of helpful tips

TechTip!

What’swrongwiththistag?Lookclosely….

ANSWER:Youcannotseeanyofthe

importantinformationforyourpet.

Youshouldcheckyourpet’stagseverycoupleofmonthsfor…

1. Legibility–engravingscanwearoffeasily

2. Updatedphonenumbers3. Changeofaddress

statesnothavingalicensuresysteminplace.Thepatchworkofcredentialsleadstoveterinarytechnicianshavingvariedtitles,withushavinginconsistentregulatedjobtasks,andinsomestates,wedon'texist,legally.TheVNIaimstobringasinglecredentialtotheUS,whichwilladdresstheseissues.AnotherpartoftheVNIistochangeourtitlefromveterinarytechniciantoveterinarynurse.Thekeyreasonforthischangeisbecausewhile"technician"istiedtobeingfocusedonthescienceandtechnologyusedintheworkweperform,theterm"veterinarynurse"willincludeourroleofprovidingpatientanddisease-focusedcareusingthescienceandtechnologytoactonourcriticalthinkingandjudgmenttobringapatienttohealing.Thefamiliarityofthetitlewillbringclearunderstandingandexpectationsofourroleintheveterinaryteambythepublicduetothefamiliarity."VeterinaryNurse"isalsothetermusedbythevastmajorityofthecountriesintheworldforourrole,addingtotheunderstanding.Throughoutthepastcoupleofyears,wehavebeenreachingoutthroughmediaoutlets,conferences,ournationaldistrictrepresentatives,andwebsessionsmuchlikethisonetodistributeinformationandgatheringfeedback.Atimelinewassettointroducenewlegislationinacoupleofstatesin2018tostarttheprocess.WearecurrentlyworkingwiththeveterinarytechnicianinthestateofOhiotosupportthegrassrootseffort.Thisfirstyearwillbealearningprocessforusinworkingwiththelegislaturefromanationallevel.

Page 6: SCNAVTA Student Chapter Newsletter · could easily harm or kill a patient, from chocolate toxicity to marijuana toxicity. The client education lecture gave plenty of helpful tips

SupportOurProgram!

OurnextfundraiserwillbeatChipotleinMountainView.Just

comeandeatandChipotledonates50%oftheproceedstoour

program.DateandTimeTBA.Wewouldlovetoseeyouthere!

FindingaJobatTheJobFair!By:DaniFernandes

OnFebruary7th,2018,studentsandgraduatesalikeattendedtheVeterinaryTechnologyJobFair.Thiseventismeanttoconnectstudentsandgraduateswithemployers.Theveterinarycommunitycomestogetheratthejobfairtoinspirestudentsandcreatealittlefriendlycompetitionamongpracticesandotherveterinaryemployersinhiringoutcurrentandformerstudents.Withthehelpoftheprofessorsofthevettechprogram,andallthewonderfulvettechs,staffanddoctorsthatputonthisevent,studentsaregiventherareabilitytosurveyjustasmallportionoftheveterinaryfield.Theclinicsandbusinessesthatattendedwere:SanFranciscoSPCA,SunnyvaleVeterinaryClinic,OakridgeVeterinaryClinic,LosGatosDogandCatHospital,SanJoseAnimalCareCenter,NorthPeninsulaVeterinaryEmergencyClinic,AlpineAnimalHospital,SiliconValleyVeterinarySpecialists,VeterinaryVision,AnimalCovePetHospital,HumaneSocietySiliconValley,AdobeAnimalHospital,BanfieldPetHospital,PinnacleAnimalHospital,PMI,VCAHospitals,SageCenters,AragenBioScience,-PeninsulaVeterinaryHospitalandPetEmergencySpecilatyCenterofMarin.Eachgroupcamewithgoodies,flyersandevengamestohelpenticestudentstojointhemintheirfieldofwork.Eachtablewasmoreenthusiasticthanthelast,talkingaboutwhattheirclinics/businesseshadtooffertoyoungmindsworkingtowardstheirfutures.Manypeoplewanderthroughtheirliveswithnorealdirection,andnorealhelptofigureouttheirpath.Butwithinthisprogram,surroundedbyprofessorsandstudentsthatwillstopatnothingtosupporteachotherandhosteventslikethisisamajorfactorinwhatmotivatesourstudentstostriveforwhattheyreallywanttodowiththeirlives.Evenpeoplewhoweren’tpartofthevettechprogramstoppedbytopartakeinthisevent,gainingsomenewfoundknowledge,andhopefullyeveninspiringthemtotrytheirhandintheveterinaryfield.Thankstoeveryone’spassionandeffort,ourfreshmenstudentsgotawonderfultasteofthehappinesstheveterinaryworldcanbringtothem,aswellastheknowledgethatcaneasilyexpandtheirhorizonsbeyondasmallgeneralpractice(eventhoughthosearejustasamazing!).Aspecialshoutoutalsogoesouttotheseniorstudents.Eachonewasincrediblyproudandexcitedtopullaroundthefreshmenstudents,introducingthemtoclinicstheyworkat,like

Page 7: SCNAVTA Student Chapter Newsletter · could easily harm or kill a patient, from chocolate toxicity to marijuana toxicity. The client education lecture gave plenty of helpful tips

ASpecial“ThankYou”ToNancy!

Nancyandherhusbandhavealsogreatly

contributedtotheFoothillVetTechprogram!Sincetheybothworkeddeeplywithinthedentalaspectoftheveterinaryfield,theyhavedonatedtowards,taughtandalmostperfectedthedentalclass!

orhaveattendedfortheirownneeds.Theyhelpedtomotivatethefreshmenandguidethemalongeachstation,hopingtogeteachstudentinterestedineachdifferentclinic.Byspeakingtoeachperson,theytriedtofigureoutwhattheywanted,andthenplacedthemintherightdirection.

InspiringTechsEverywhere:AnInterviewwithNancyEhrlich

By:DaniFernandes

NancyEhrichisanamazingwomanonanamazingjourneytohelpvettechsnotonlybetterthemselvesbutbeunderstoodproperlybythegeneralpublic.Shebeganintheearly1970s,aftermovingfromNewYorktotheBayArea,aftermeetingabeautifulveterinarianfromtheBerkleyHumaneSocietythathappenedtobeawoman.Atthetime,shewasasecretaryataDonutFactory,butaftermeetingher,shedecidedtheanimalpathwastherightpathforher.Shebegantakingmanyscienceclassestogaintheexperiencenecessarytofollowingtheveterinarypath.ShealsobeganvolunteeringinAlbanyatananimalhospitalonSundayswithaveterinarian.Theyendedupworkingalonemuchofthetime,gettingtoknoweachotherandspendlotsoftimetogether.Thatveterinarianendedupbecomingherhusband.Withhisloveandsupportandherendlessdetermination,sheappliedtovetschool.Sadly,becausethetimesweresodifferentbackthen,onlytenwomenwereallowedatatimetoentervetschool.Thecompetitionwastoogreat,andshedidn’tmakeitwhensheapplied.In1974,theCVMApassedabillcreatingthenewpositionofaRegisteredVeterinaryTechnician.Withthisbill,itcreatedthepropertitlefor

Page 8: SCNAVTA Student Chapter Newsletter · could easily harm or kill a patient, from chocolate toxicity to marijuana toxicity. The client education lecture gave plenty of helpful tips

Joanna’sJokeCorner

Whatisacat’sfavoritemovie?

TheSoundsofMew-sic

Whathasfourlegs,atrunk,andsunglasses?

AMouseofVacation

WhatdoWhalesEat?

Fish&Ships!

WhatisthedifferencebetweenandelephantandaZippo?

TheZippoisalittlelighter!

WhatdoyouCallanAlligatorinaVest?

AnIn-vest-igator

thepeoplewithinthetechniciancategory.Nancywaiteduntilthesecondexam;sincethefirsttookplaceinL.A.,andthesecondtookplaceintheBayArea.ShepassedinFebruary1976.Withhernewlicensure,Nancyandherhusbandbuilttheirownveterinarypractice.Herhusbandgreatlyenjoyedthedentalaspectofveterinarymedicine,whileshelovedthelaboratoryaspectofit.Theirhospitalhadanamazingdentalsuit,andaverysophisticatedlabforNancytoworkin.Shelovedhernewhome,aplacewhereshecouldworkindependentlyratherthanhavingtobeanassistant.Also,togetherwithsomecoworkers,shestartedtheAlamedaVetTechAssociation,whichlaterbecametheBayAreaVetTechAssociation.Thisbeganhertravelintothepoliticalworldoftheveterinaryfield.Shebecameaboardmember,andafterlaterleavingtheboard,continuedtoattendmeetingsandhasbeenformorethan40years.There,usinghervoice,shehasbeenabletohelpshapewhatwenowknowandunderstandasveterinarytechnicians.Shelovestomentorandhelppeopleandbeinginvolvedonthemedicalboardandwithpolitics,she’sbeenabletodojustthat.Suchaswiththenewestpushwithinveterinarymedicine;changingthetitleveterinarytechnician,toveterinarynurse.Eventhoughatfirst,shedidn’tquietagreewiththetitle,shefoundherselfusingthetitlenursemoreoftenthennot.Thetitledoesn’tfullydojusticetothepositionwefill,butitisprettyclose,andwedeservetohaveatitlethepubliccaneasilyappreciateandunderstand.Alongwitheventsanddecisionslikethisone,sheispushingtocreateabetterwordforveterinarytechniciansandveterinarymedicineingeneral.Nancy’sbiggestrecommendationtovettechs,andpeopleintheprocessofbecomingoneistogetinvolvedinpolitics.Byattendingmeetings,creatingactivistgroupsandgettingdivingintothepoliticalworldofveterinarymedicine,wehelpcreatealoudervoiceforthepeopletohear.Sincetheveterinaryfieldisfastgrowingandalwayschanging,havingpeoplestandupforwhattheybelieveinandwanttochangewillcreateawholenewaspectwithintheveterinaryfield.Somanypeoplestayquietandhideinthebackground,butthatwon’thelpchangetheworldweliveinnow.Shesuggestsfindingaplacewhereyouarehappy,aclinicyouknowyouwillthrivein.Bethebesttechyoucanbe!Useyourskills,specialorgeneral,andgrowwiththem.Takethoseskillswithyoutothemeetingsthemedicalboardholdsandshowthemwhatmakesvettechssogreat.Showthemwhythereneedtobechangesmade,andhowtobettershapetheworldofveterinarymedicine.EventhoughitseemsNancyhadagolden

Page 9: SCNAVTA Student Chapter Newsletter · could easily harm or kill a patient, from chocolate toxicity to marijuana toxicity. The client education lecture gave plenty of helpful tips

FieldtripFun!

SixFlagsDiscoveryKingdom

PaloAltoJunior

MuseumandZoo

CalAcademy

OfScience

situation,withahusbandthatcreatedtheperfectenvironmenttohoneherskills,shestillfacedmanyobstaclesandobstructionsthatcausedmajorbumpsintheroad.Everyonemuststartsomewhere,andthebestplacetobeginisinaclinicthatmakesyouhappy,surroundedbyanetworkofpeoplewhowillsupportyouthroughanyeventthatmaycomeacross.Don’tletanythingoranyoneholdyoubackandfollowyourdreamstonotonlybecomeandamazingperson,butasupervettech,andsomeonewhocanchangetheworldwithjusttheirvoice.Youropinionmatters,standupandfightforwhatyoubelievein!Andwhoknows,maybethenextarticlewillbewrittenaboutyouandyourachievements!

TheBattleAgainstCanineInfluenzaBy:KatieMurphy(2017FoothillGraduate)

Thepastfewmonthshavebeentoughforveterinaryprofessionals,asdogsaroundtheBayAreahavebeencatchingtheflu.Thehighlycontagiouscanineinfluenzaviruscancausecoughing,sneezing,nasaland/oroculardischarge,fever,lossofappetite,andlethargy.Thoughthesesymptomscanindicatethatadogisinfectedwiththeinfluenzavirus,alackofsymptomsdoesnotguaranteethatadoghasgoneunscathedbythisdisease,sinceclinicalsignsdon’tappearuntil2-8daysafterexposure.Infecteddogsmaybesheddingthevirusbeforetheyshowany

symptoms,andsomeinfecteddogsnevershowanysymptomsbutstillshedthevirus.Thevirusistransmittedthroughdirectcontactbetweendogs,throughaerosolsreleasedwhendogscough,bark,orsneezetheircontaminatedrespiratorysecretions

intotheair,throughthesharingofitemssuchasleashesorwaterbowls,andthroughcontactbetweendogsandhumans(i.e.whenhumanscomeintocontactwithinfecteddogsandthenspreadthediseasebyinteractingwithuninfecteddogs).Areaswheredogsarekeptinclosequarterswithoneanotherrepresentahigherriskforthespreadofinfection,placessuchasgroomingfacilities,shelters,andboardingfacilities. SheltersintheBayAreahavebeenhithardbytherecentinfluenzaoutbreak.AttheSanJoseAnimalCareCenter,acoughspreadlikewildfireamongtheresidentcanines,promptingthe

Page 10: SCNAVTA Student Chapter Newsletter · could easily harm or kill a patient, from chocolate toxicity to marijuana toxicity. The client education lecture gave plenty of helpful tips

AnimalFunFacts

ATasmanianDevilcanopenitsjaws80degreesandhasabiteforce3.6

timesitsbodyweight!

EverykickoftheRedKangaroohasaforceof759lbs!

Thereare150,00muscleunitsinanAsianelephant’strunk.Itsnosehasthestrengthandflexibilitytostoreandsprayagallonofwater—or

uprootatree.

Ittakes15millisecondsforanAfricansecretarybirdtogiveadeadlykick,whichhelpsthese

predatorscontrolreptilepopulations.

medicalstafftoimplementnewprotocolstocontainthevirusandpreventanyfurtherspreadoftheinfection.Roomshavenowbeenbrokenintothefollowingcategories:clean-breakrooms,whereuninfecteddogsarekept;quarantinerooms,wheredogswhoarepossiblyinfectedarekept;andisolationrooms,wherethedogsshowingsymptomsconsistentwithcanineinfluenzaarekept.Inalloftherooms,employeesarerequiredtochangeglovesaftereachinteractionwithanewdog,andtheyarealsorequiredtoweargownsandshoecoversinthequarantineandisolationrooms.Maddie’sFundwasgenerousenoughtosponsortestingofallthedogsintheshelterfortheinfluenzavirus.ThemedicalstaffandsomewonderfulvolunteerstookonthedauntingtaskofcollectingsampleseachweekfromallthedogsuntilthePCRtestscamebacknegativetwiceforeachdog.Thankstotheeffortsofeveryoneinvolved,thenumberofcoughingdogsintheshelterhasbeendrasticallyreduced,andpresentlyalltheroomsintheshelterareconsideredclean-breakroomsexceptforoneisolationroom.Hopefully,thestrategiesimplementedbysheltermanagementtocontrolthespreadofthediseasecanbeputtousebyotherfacilities.AndtheresultsofthetestingsponsoredbyMaddie’sFundmayhelpshapeourunderstandingofthisvirus,sowecanfightitmoreeffectivelyinthefuture.

Page 11: SCNAVTA Student Chapter Newsletter · could easily harm or kill a patient, from chocolate toxicity to marijuana toxicity. The client education lecture gave plenty of helpful tips

GreenSeaTurtleFibropapillomatosisintheSpotlight

By:TessaBuchin,RVT

Tessa graduated in 2016, and is a writer and editor of online veterinary and animal health content. She is working on a campaign to draw attention to GTFP and coastal

habitat conservation.

Thegreenseaturtlespecies(Cheloniamydas)issymbolicallysacred,andisoftenillustratedasasentineloftheseainstoriedoriginsoftheEarth.Althoughthespecieshasalifespanofnearlyacentury,itisboththreatenedand/orendangeredduetoanthropogenicimpacts.Beyondourunderstandingofmeasurabledangers,greenseaturtlealphaherpesvirus-associatedfibropapillomatosis(GTFP)isoneofthelargestthreatstotropicalandsubtropicalAtlanticandPacificpopulations.Thepathogenesisoftheconditionispoorlyunderstoodbyscientistsandveterinaryprofessionals.GTFPwasfirstnotedin1938inKeyWest,Florida,andmostlyaffectsnearshorehabitatsandjuvenilegreenturtlesata92%afflictionrateinsomepopulations.TheconditionhasturnedupinAustralia,Japan,Brazil,andisdocumentedintheCaribbean,theGulf,Texas,Hawaii,andFlorida.TheprevalenceofGTFPislowinpelagicturtles,whichsuggeststhatinvasivemicroalgae,poorhabitatquality,andeutrophicationmaybemultifactorialdrivers.Similarly,ectothermimmunefunctionisstronglyinfluencedbytemperature,sowarmingoceanandcoastalwatersareplausiblyimpactinggreenturtleimmunity;someresearchershypothesizethatparasitesserveasmechanicalvectorsofthevirus.

Page 12: SCNAVTA Student Chapter Newsletter · could easily harm or kill a patient, from chocolate toxicity to marijuana toxicity. The client education lecture gave plenty of helpful tips

Contact/Inquiries

SandyGregory12345ElMonteRoadLosAltos,[email protected]

NewsletterEditing/Design:HannahGreenspan,DaniFernandesandRichardNguyen

Afflictedturtlespresentwithbenignhyperplasiaaroundthearmpits,genitals,neck,eyes,andtails,andtumorswhichimpedetheheart,lungs,andkidneys.Thesegrowthsaffectthespecies’abilitytosurvivebyimpairingsight,compromising

foragingabilities,impairingmobility,andtriggeringinternalorganfailure,leadingtohighmortalityrates,secondaryparasiticinfections,malnutrition,eventualstarvation,andchronicanemia.Diagnosisofaffectedinternalorgansisdoneusingradiography,CTimaging,andlaparoscopy.Currenttreatmentmethodsincludetraditionalsurgery(scalpel),electrocautery,cryosurgery,andtheuseofCO2lasers.Afairlynewexperimentaltreatment,electrochemotherapy,incorporatesdrugsandshort,high-voltageelectricalpulsestodrivenon-permeantchemotherapyagentsintocancercells.Sowhatcanwedo?Managingandevaluatingourcarbonfootprintisagoodplacetostart.Asforveterinaryprofessionals,weshoulddirectourattentiontowardssupportingresearchandrehabilitationeffortsinthefield.TessaBuchin,RVT,attendedaseminarbyDr.DougMaderon

GTFPatthe2015WesternVeterinaryConferencewhilestudying

inFoothill’sveterinarytechnologyprogram.Lookingforwaysto

[email protected].

PhotoCredit:PeterBennett&UrsulaKeuper-Bennett