Veterinary Education's Role in the Opioid Epidemic: Integration of an Online Safe Opioid Prescribing Course into the Core Curriculum.

As the COVID-19 pandemic continues, the opioid epidemic has worsened. Opioid-related deaths continue to rise, and many of these deaths can be traced to a prescription opioid. Because veterinarians prescribe opioids, many organizations and federal agencies have called for increased veterinary education on the topic. In this teaching tip, we review the current literature surrounding the veterinary profession's link to the opioid epidemic and one potential way that educational institutions can successfully and efficiently incorporate safe opioid prescribing training into the curriculum using an online course.

Effectiveness of Supplementary Materials in Teaching the Veterinary Neurologic Examination.

Clinical neurology can be difficult for veterinary students to comprehend, and part of understanding the clinical aspect is performing a proper neurologic examination. In this study, first-year veterinary students in a Small Animal Physical Exam and Anatomy rotation were given supplemental learning activities to determine their effect on student procedural knowledge and motivation in performing a neurologic examination. Students were randomly assigned to one of three groups: the first watched a video of a clinician performing the neurologic examination, the second read a handout about the neurologic exam, and the third was the control group, where students were not provided any supplemental activities. At the start and end of the rotation, students participated in a survey assessing their overall procedural knowledge and motivation to learn about the neurologic exam. No notable improvement occurred in overall student knowledge from the beginning to end of the rotation, nor when using supplemental material (p > .05). However, there was a significant difference in quiz scores between the three condition groups (p < .01), suggesting the type of learning activity did influence student learning. Additionally, students in the video and reading groups showed a significant increase in motivational scores compared with those in the control group (p < .05), demonstrating supplemental learning activities do improve student motivation in learning about the neurologic examination. This study provides evidence that while supplemental materials may not immediately help veterinary students learn to perform the neurologic examination, they do have a positive impact on students' learning motivation.

Noise-Induced Hearing Loss in 3 Working Dogs.

Three working dogs were diagnosed with noise-induced hearing loss following exposure to loud noise. Physical and neurologic examinations in each case revealed no significant findings. Brainstem auditory evoked response (BAER) demonstrated bilateral sensorineural deafness. One dog did not regain hearing but continued working with adjusted protocols utilizing hand signals. One dog was lost to follow-up. The last dog was treated with oral Vitamin B complex (daily), Vitamin E (400 IU daily), and N-acetyl-cystine (600 mg daily) and regained hearing 2 months later, based on repeat BAER testing.

Client perceptions of the value of veterinary anesthesiologist involvement with anesthesia and pain management, benefits of a preanesthetic consultation, and quality of care for dogs undergoing elective orthopedic surgery.

OBJECTIVE: To compare perceptions related to veterinary anesthesiologist involvement with anesthesia and pain management, benefits of a preanesthetic consultation (PAC) with an anesthesiologist, and quality of patient care between clients who did and did not participate in a PAC prior to their dogs' elective orthopedic surgery. SAMPLE: 80 dog owners. PROCEDURES: Owners of dogs undergoing elective stifle joint surgery participated in the study. Participants were randomly assigned to PAC and control groups (n = 40 participants/group). The PAC group participated in a PAC with an anesthesiologist and completed a written survey (12 items with Likert-type response options). The control group completed a similar survey (identical except for 2 statements related to the PAC experience) without participating in a PAC. Results were compared between groups by statistical methods. RESULTS: The proportion of clients in the PAC group who strongly agreed with the statements that a PAC was beneficial, their questions about the pet's anesthesia and pain management plan were answered, they knew who would perform anesthesia and what safeguards were in place, veterinary specialty hospitals should have an anesthesiologist on staff, they were willing to pay more to have an anesthesiologist supervise the anesthesia and pain management, and a PAC with an anesthesiologist should be standard of care in veterinary medicine was greater than that for control group clients. Responses to quality-of-care items did not differ between groups. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Participating in a PAC was associated with more positive perceptions of anesthesiologists and knowledge about the anesthesia plan. Further research with a validated survey instrument is needed to confirm these findings.

The Carle-Illinois (Urbana, Illinois USA) Transport Protocol for LEK9s: Guidelines for Emergency Medical Service Providers.

Three states and one county now allow Emergency Medical Services (EMS) providers to transport injured law enforcement K9s (LEK9s) as long as no human needs the ambulance at the time. Several other states either have pending legislation or are in discussions about this topic. As additional states ponder these laws, it is likely that the EMS transport of LEK9s will become legal in many states. In the wake of this legislation, a significant void was created. Currently, there are no published protocols for the safe transport of LEK9s by EMS providers. Additionally, the transport destination for these LEK9s is unlikely to be programmed into vehicle Global Positioning Systems. The authors of this report convened a Joint Task Force on Working Dog Care, consisting of veterinarians, EMS directors, EMS physicians, and LEK9 handlers, who met to develop a protocol for LEK9s being transported to a veterinary facility. The protocol covers the logistics of getting the LEK9 into the ambulance (eg, when the handler is or is not available), appropriate restraint, and the importance of prior arrangements with a veterinary emergency facility. A LEK9 hand-off form and a Transport Policy Form are provided, downloadable, and customizable for each EMS provider. This protocol provides essential information on safety and transport logistics for injured LEK9s. The hope is that this protocol will assist EMS providers to streamline the transport of an injured LEK9 to an appropriate veterinary facility.

The Carle-Illinois (Urbana, Illinois USA) Treatment Protocol for Law Enforcement K9s: Guidelines for Emergency Medical Services.

This document is a resource for Emergency Medical Services (EMS) treating an injured law enforcement K9 (LEK9) in the field and/or during transport by ambulance to a veterinary hospital. A Joint Task Force on Working Dog Care was created, which included veterinarians, EMS directors, EMS physicians, and canine handlers, who met to develop a treatment protocol for injured LEK9s. The protocol covers many major life-threatening injuries that LEK9s may sustain in the line of duty, and also discusses personnel safety and necessary equipment. This protocol may help train EMS providers to save the life of an injured LEK9.

Severe propofol-associated dystonia in a dog.

A 2-year-old castrated dog was presented for chronic coughing that was evaluated with bronchoscopy following intravenous boluses of propofol. During recovery the dog developed severe rigidity of muscles of the neck and thoracic limbs, which was unresponsive to treatment but subsided over 25 minutes. A presumptive diagnosis of propofol-associated dystonia was made. The clinical characteristics and theorized pathophysiology of propofol-associated dystonia are discussed.

Dystonie grave associée au propofol chez un chien. Un chien castré âgé de 2 ans a été présenté pour une toux chronique qui a été évaluée par bronchoscopie après des bolus intraveineux de propofol. Durant le réveil, le chien a développé une grave rigidité des muscles du cou et des membres thoraciques, qui n'a pas répondu au traitement mais qui s'est apaisée sur une période de 25 minutes. Un diagnostic présumé de dystonie associée au propofol a été posé. Les caractéristiques cliniques et la théorie de la pathophysiologie de la dystonie associée au propofol sont discutées.(Traduit par Isabelle Vallières).