CVMA VOICE
Today’s Voice, Tomorrow’s Vision
• Cat Health and Welfare
• CVMA Governance Model Update
• CVMA Convention 2017
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CVMA April 2016 - Overpaying_Final.indd 1 4/15/16 1:59 PM CVMA VOICE TABLE OF CONTENTS Inside CVMA Events and Deadlines
President’s Post ...... 4 July 20 Managing Bad Clients Briefings ...... 5 Webinar August 1 Of Note ...... 6 End of Life Communication Principles Webinar Pets Receive Complimentary Exams and Vaccinations through PetCheck 2017 . . . . 6 August 4/5 6 Introduction to External Skeletal Fixation Updates from the CSU DVM Program . . . . 8 Denver PetCheck 2017 What’s New and Exciting at CVMA August 17 Convention 2017! ...... 10 Golden Rules to Impress Callers Webinar The Biggest Lie We Tell Ourselves . . . . . 12 September 6 CVMA BIG Ideas Forum | Spring 2017 . . . . 13 PDS: Neurological Conditions in Small Animal Patients Denver Focus on the Feline . . . . . 14 September 21 The Challenges and Opportunities 10 Ways to Educate Clients about with Cats in Our Communities ...... 14 Dentistry Webinar Metro Denver C .A T...... 15 September 21–24 A “Tail” of TNR in Pueblo, Colorado . . . . 16 CVMA Convention 2017 Loveland 14 Making Every Pet Healthy and Wanted . . . 17 October 6–8 Advancing Cat Health and Welfare . . . . . 18 Power of Ten 2017 Initial Gathering A “Tail” of TNR in Colorado is Connecting Cats to Care . . . . 19 Breckenridge Pueblo, Colorado October 14–15 Pioneering Solutions in Cat Welfare . . . . . 20 CVMA CE Southwest Community Cats: CVMA Members Speak . . 21 Durango DFL Solutions—Cat Spay/Neuter October 18 PDS: What’s New in Veterinary Oncology Clinic Opens at 191 Yuma Street ...... 22 Denver DFL Solutions—Cat Spay/Neuter October 19 Clinic FAQs ...... 23 Own the Phone: How to Lead Conversations An Evaluation of Visual and Permanent Webinar Identification in Pet Cats ...... 24 October 20-21 Cats I Have Known ...... 26 CVMA BIG Ideas Forum | Fall 2017 20 Beaver Creek Confessions of a Not-so-crazy Cat Lady . . .28 DFL Solutions— Cat Spay and Neuter Government Affairs . . . . . 30 Clinic Opens 2017 Legislative Session ...... 30 Science Update ...... 32 Canine Distemper a Growing Threat to Animals in the Front Range ...... 32 Rats and Seoul Virus ...... 34 In Practice ...... 36 34 Helping Cats Live Happier Lives ...... 36 Cost Benefit 101: Employee Benefits Our Mission Rats and Seoul Virus Package ...... 38 Planning for Long Term Care ...... 39 To enhance animal Privacy & Network Security Liability . . . . 40 and human health CVMA News ...... 42 and welfare, and advance the knowledge Chapter Connections ...... 42 and wellbeing of CVMA Governance Model Update . . . . . 44 Colorado veterinarians. CVMA Student Chapter Updates . . . . . 45 2017, Issue #2 PRESIDENT’S POST Colorado Veterinary Medical Association 191 Yuma Street Sam Romano, DVM Denver, Colorado 80223 President
303 .318 0447. or 800 .228 .5429 I hope you were her during the day. A tail here, a nose Fax 303 .318 0450. able to attend the there. When asked how many cats she info@colovma org. spring Big Ideas Fo- thought were in the yard, her response rum, Advancing Cat was always the same, “Oh, just a few.” www.colovma.org Health and Welfare: Unfortunately, it turned out that “just a Issues, Solutions, few” was actually the same as the num- MANAGING EDITOR and Opportunities ber of neutrophils in a feline abscess- Cami Cacciatore this past March. Spring at the Cheyenne TNTC (too numerous to count). What to Mountain Resort is beautiful, and in do with the growing feline population? PUBLISHER typical CVMA fashion, the presentations As a veterinarian the solution should Ralph Johnson and discussion were topnotch. Experts be clear and simple, right? Not so fast. locally, and from across the country, These were not simply “feral” cats easily The CVMA VOICE is published presented information regarding feline treated or removed. They were her trea- quarterly to members (Core and health and behavior. Colorado veterinary sured friends, her community of cats, a Premium members will receive professionals are deeply committed to furry social network. a mailed print copy and Basic feline health and welfare. Many other To say I was a little embarrassed when members will have online access organizations, like Metro Denver C.A.T., making the call to a local feline rescue only) and once a year to non- which also presented at Big Ideas, work organization is an understatement. The members free of charge . at a grassroots level in our community. fear of judgment was high. How could a Information and advice Often operating with minimal resources, licensed Colorado veterinarian allow this presented in this publication do they help ensure community cats re- to happen? Is it a violation of the practice not necessarily represent the ceive basic veterinary care. I needed act to have so many cats? My mom was views of CVMA . help from such a group several years ago terrified the cats would be removed and as a practicing veterinarian in Denver. euthanized, regardless of condition. I My mom has always been a cat per- assured her they would not; rather, they Deadlines for Submission son. Raised as a first-generation Italian would be examined, tested, and spayed immigrant in Golden, she relied on cats or neutered. Although the exact name All articles, contributions, and for comfort and companionship since of the rescue organization escapes my display ads must be received in her early childhood. A genetic defect re- memory, what they did does not. Three the CVMA office by the dates sulting in calcification of the stapes (oto- members of their group arrived the fol- below . For more information sclerosis) in the middle ear rendered her lowing day, calm and completely non- or to obtain a rate schedule, essentially deaf from the age of 14, and judgmental. They came around the back contact the CVMA office at cats as playful, yet durable little animals, corner of the house and stood there ob- 303 .318 0447. or info@cvma org. . became her solace and comfort. Fast serving for a while. After several minutes forward to 1997, when my father died cats began appearing, almost as if they Issue #1 — January 15 unexpectedly following a lung biopsy knew feline sympathizers were present. Issue #2 — April 15 just short of their 50th wedding anniver- Eventually, they asked to speak to my Issue #3 — July 15 sary. Caring for her single, indoor calico mom directly. Sitting in her kitchen, we Issue #4 — October 15 cat, Patches, seemed to be the only thing received their professional verdict. There keeping her from deep depression and were likely 20+ cats living as a growing despair. If Patches was happy, she was community in her backyard and around happy. I credit her devotion to that one the neighborhood. It was the first time Follow CVMA on Facebook! little cat as keeping her active and mov- in my career I heard the term “commu- We invite you to follow our ing forward. At least I thought she was nity” used to describe a group of what I page and share it on your only caring for a single cat. thought were simply feral cats. practice page and website: Over the ensuing weeks I noticed an Over the ensuring weeks, live traps www .facebook .com/Colorado increasing number of empty food dishes, were placed around the yard. Cats were VeterinaryMedicalAssociation/ . blankets, and toys scattered across the carefully caught and taken for medical backyard at her home in Wheat Ridge. care. All were tested for FELV/FIV and Several eyes seemed to be peering at humanely euthanized if found posi- me from behind the storage shed and tive. Adult cats testing negative were bushes when I was doing yard work for vaccinated for rabies and FVRCP/FELV, President’s Post continued on page 9 PAGE 4 | CVMA Voice 2017:2 CVMA VOICE BRIEFINGS CVMA Executive Committee Ralph Johnson Dr . Sam Romano Executive Director President Dr . Will French Of Cats and Interestingly, CVMA at that time had President-elect Collaboration just completed a statewide survey of its Dr . Joy Fuhrman Secretary/Treasurer On Wednesday, members about perceptions and opinions March 8, we had surrounding community cats (see page Dr . Stacee Santi the pleasure of 21). Several key findings emerged from Secretary/Treasurer-elect hosting an open the survey. First, the majority of veteri- Dr . Curtis Crawford house for the Dumb narians believe that there is a community Immediate Past President cat problem in their area. Second, most Friends League (DFL) Solutions Cat Spay/ Dr . Melanie Marsden veterinarians believe that mitigating the Neuter Clinic. The Solutions clinic is AVMA Delegate housed within PetAid Animal Hospital problem is a responsibility shared by shelters, veterinarians, and the commu- Dr . Rebecca Ruch-Gallie space here in Denver, in the same facility AVMA Alternate Delegate that serves as headquarters for CVMA. As nity. Finally, and most importantly, 85% reported in eVOICE and in the article on of the responding veterinarians indicated Mr . Ralph Johnson page 22, we welcomed this new venture they would be supportive of a no-fee, cat- Executive Director* into our space in January of this year. In only spay/neuter service in their commu- attendance were leaders and staff from nity if they were not required to make an Chapter CVMA, PetAid, and DFL, as well as repre- investment of time or money. With those Representatives sentatives from the three organizations— findings, the CVMA leadership endorsed 1 – Dr . Kimberly Radway Animal Assistance Foundation, PetSmart the concept of the Solutions clinic and 2 – Dr . Wayne Jensen Charities™ and the American Society signaled the PetAid board to proceed. 3 – Dr . Hannah Klein What struck me the most, as I stood for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals 4 – Dr . Adam Tempel making my remarks to those in atten- (ASPCA)—that provided grants to DFL to 5 – Dr . Colleen Carnes dance, was that this was another ground- make this initiative possible. 6 – Dr . Heather Reeder breaking model of working together to The Solutions clinic is an important 7 – Dr . Debra Stirling improve the lives of animals in our com- new resource that advances the cause 8 – Dr . Dale Davis munity. On behalf of CVMA and PetAid all the organizations involved collectively 9 – Dr . Kayla Henderson Colorado, I extended our appreciation to embrace—to create better outcomes for 10 – Dr . Marguerite Flett be a collaborator in this important initia- animals in our community. The clinic is 12 – Dr . Randal Hays tive—and to welcome the DFL team as also a symbol of collaboration, something 13 – Dr . Connie Stapleton that Bob Rohde, president and CEO of the colleagues in the PetAid facility. The cats and the people of our community are al- 14 – Dr . Matt Braunschmidt Dumb Friends League, has championed 15 – Dr . Mark Ryan and nurtured over 40 years of work in ready benefitting from Solutions, and we wish it success on a magnificent scale! 16 – Dr . Mark Cowan animal welfare. 17 – Dr . Leon Anderson Indeed, there’s an interesting backdrop Of Cats and Community about the relationship between PetAid, Student Chapter CVMA, and DFL. When conversations CVMA’s BIG Ideas Forum | Spring 2017, began between PetAid and DFL about held April 1 in Colorado Springs, also fo- Representatives the possibility of using the PetAid spay/ cused on cats as we explored Advancing Fourth year – Madeline Anna neuter suite (which had been dormant for Cat Health and Welfare: Issues, Solutions, Third year – Courtney Mael Opportunities. We had a phenomenal some time) for the Solutions clinic, the Second year – Amy Zug PetAid Board of Directors quickly saw lineup of cat advocates, including repre- First year – Laurel Krause the benefits—but also quickly saw that sentatives from CATalyst Council, Pueblo the clinic might be of concern to private Animal Services, Merck Animal Health, * Ex-officio, non-voting practice veterinarians who could imag- Animal Assistance Foundation, Colorado ine a negative financial impact on their Federation of Animal Welfare Agencies, practices should sterilization surgeries be Metro Denver C.A.T., and Dumb Friends drawn away from those practices. So the League. While I won’t go into a summary PetAid board said to the leaders of CVMA of the day’s discussion—you can read the “Hey, PetAid thinks this is a great oppor- details in the special “Focus on the Fe- tunity to improve outcomes for animals line” section of related articles that start in our community. Would CVMA be sup- on page 14—I would like to comment on portive of such a clinic?” some notable takeaways from the day. Briefings continued on page 45 CVMA Voice 2017:2 | PAGE 5 2017, Issue #2
Nearly 1,000 Pets Receive cat or dog that they may not have otherwise Complimentary Wellness Exams been able to obtain . Thank you to all the gener- ous clinics that donated their time, staff, and re- and Rabies Vaccinations through sources . PetCheck 2017 This year, we continued to have great media coverage about the event and the importance of Lauren Gladu, MA CMVA Communications and Content Specialist preventive care, thanks to 9News KUSA, KOAA News 5, and print media outlets across the state, The eighth annual PetCheck was held April 8 including The Denver Post, Steamboat Pilot and and 9 throughout Colorado, and thanks to the Today, The Greeley Tribune, the Summit Daily generosity of CVMA members, nearly 1,000 News, the Daily Camera, the Longmont Times- pets received a much-needed wellness exam Call, the Canon City Daily Record, and the La and a rabies vaccination (if appropriate)! Junta Tribune-Democrat . Our social media efforts Through the collective effort of PetCheck, we were ramped up this year as well, with clinics are afforded an unparalleled messaging oppor- posting about PetCheck involvement and asking tunity that neither CVMA nor individual veteri- their community members to spread the word . narians could afford to undertake . Strategically, Through media coverage about PetCheck, PetCheck affords a tremendous public relations CVMA is able to educate a large audience about opportunity for Colorado veterinarians to posi- preventive care, and not just those receiving tively portray the profession and underscore exams through the program . Dr . Sam Romano the importance of preventive pet healthcare as (CVMA President), Dr . Randa MacMillan, Dr . well as the veterinarian’s crucial role in public Wendy Hauser, and Dr . Susan Bloss served health protection . The media coverage sur- as spokespersons for the event . These CVMA rounding PetCheck—before, during, and after member veterinarians utilized their on-air time the event—puts veterinarians on the air and in to discuss common health issues that often go the spotlight in a way we’ve only been able to undetected by pet owners, what veterinarians dream about! look for during an exam, and the importance of With 53 clinics across the state providing well- annual exams . ness exams and rabies vaccinations to almost We are overjoyed to hear the response from 1,000 pets this year, CVMA members have a lot the community members in need, who would to be proud of! Pets helped with the PetCheck not have been able to have their pets visit a program belonged to financially disadvantaged veterinarian had PetCheck not been available to pet owners . With PetCheck, these owners were them . We heard amazing stories from so many able to access and receive needed care for their caring pet owners that have warmed our hearts
PAGE 6 | CVMA Voice 2017:2 CVMA VOICE
and shown us how much this program means PetCheck possible, CVMA would like to thank to so many . our generous sponsor, Merial, who provided “Thank you so much for doing this,” said one rabies vaccine trays to each participating PetCheck client . “We wouldn’t be able to afford clinic . to take our little fur babies to the vet so we ap- CVMA also owes a heartfelt thank you to our preciate this so much . Thank you, thank you, 17 volunteers who donated their time for the thank you!” phone bank on April 3, and in less than three “We are so grateful that you do this,” said an- hours had filled nearly 1,000 appointments . other PetCheck client . “I lost my job earlier this This also could not have been a success with- year, so I’m having a hard time making ends out the wonderful assistance of the CVMA staff meet, but I want to make sure my little buddy team, who all helped make the program run is healthy—he’s my best friend and I can’t thank smoothly . We couldn’t have made the event you enough ”. successful without the help of our volunteers Clinics that participated reflected back on the and team! weekend, happy that they could participate in And a special shout out to the CSU students this wonderful community event . who came to Denver on Saturday to staff the “We met some wonderful people and dogs clinic at PetAid Animal Hospital . Their enthusi- today!” said one clinic . “It feels great to give asm was infectious and they served almost 100 back to the community and help those in pets in need . It was great to see the next genera- need ”. tion of veterinary medicine in action and the pet “Thank you to everyone who came out with owners were incredibly grateful for their service . their pet for the annual 9PetCheck this week- Last but not least, a big thank you to the end and to the wonderful team of volunteers news team at 9News KUSA, and the news team who helped make it possible,” said another . at KOAA News 5, for being our media spon- “We love our community and are so happy we sors . Both 9News and News 5 did a great job of can participate each year ”. highlighting the importance of wellness exams “Thanks to the CVMA for smooth event and rabies vaccinations for pets in need . Lynne coordination and to 9News, and Merial for Valencia at 9News and David Reeve at News 5 providing vaccines to help folks who need a little were invaluable resources to our CVMA team, assistance to keep their beloved companions and they both did an amazing job coordinating healthy!” said another clinic . “We are grateful to their second 9PetCheck and 5PetCheck events . have been a part of this effort ”. We hope you enjoyed participating in the Pet- In addition to the veterinarians, veterinary Check program in 2017, and here’s to another technicians, and administrative staff that made successful event next year!
CVMA Voice 2017:2 | PAGE 7 2017, Issue #2 OF NOTE
Looking Ahead, Educating Now: impactful opportunities resulting from a robust MD-DVM Updates from the Colorado State partnership were highlighted. DVM Program By mobilizing tremendous faculty and instructional re- sources within the CSU College of Veterinary Medicine and Melinda Frye, DVM, MS, PhD, DACVIM Biomedical Sciences, and in partnership with livestock Associate Dean for Veterinary Academic and producers, producer groups, the Colorado Veterinary Medi- Student Affairs, CSU–CVMBS cal Association, and State Veterinarian’s Office, we aim to develop robust training opportunities to reflect practical and Our students represent the future of veterinary medicine, current needs. Graduate tracking and outcomes assessment and at Colorado State University, we are constantly looking will provide data for continuous program improvement. ahead to anticipate the challenges and opportunities they will encounter once they graduate. Here are some of the Day-one Competencies ways we are equipping our graduates to thrive, both per- The Steering Committee of our DVM Program is taking a sonally and professionally: critical look at our curriculum, with the aim of optimally preparing our graduates for success in an evolving profes- Enhancing Rural Veterinary Services sional landscape. As each discipline identifies critical day- In response to the serious shortage of Food Supply Veteri- one competencies, that information will be interfaced with narians, the Veterinary Services Grant Program (VSGP) of the DVM curriculum map to identify gaps and redundan- the U.S. Department of Agriculture National Institute of cies. The Committee is using AVMA Clinical Competencies, Food and Agriculture (NIFA) seeks to enhance recruitment, work being done by the American Association of Veterinary educational opportunities, and retention of rural veterinar- Medical Colleges, and feedback provided in focus groups by ians in Colorado and elsewhere. Our DVM program recently veterinarians across the state to guide the project. received $230,000 in VSGP funding to support a four-year program called “A Holistic Approach to Expanding Rural Changes in Admissions Veterinary Services and Improving Retention of Rural Prac- Our DVM Program, established in 1907, had a record- titioners.” Highlights of the program include: breaking year in student applications. Our recruitment • Financial and practice management education efforts, led by Ashley Stokes, DVM, PhD, attracted 2,152 • Spanish language instruction applications for 138 spots, a 35 percent increase over the • Mentored experiential learning prior year, a 44 percent increase over five years, and the • Training in population analytics highest number of applications received by any veterinary • Wellness school in the country. In January, the DVM Program faculty and staff welcomed Additionally, an interesting aspect of the project is our about 350 applicants to campus for in-person interviews collaboration with the University of Colorado School of and campus tours, something we haven’t done since 2009. Medicine’s Rural Track program. An inaugural meeting in Numerous practicing veterinarians assisted in the interviews, April brought together 18 CSU veterinary students and 10 and we are very grateful for their time and expertise. CU medical students at the James L. Voss Veterinary Teach- This was the first time we have used the Multiple Mini In- ing Hospital. terview (MMI) format. The MMI model is a scenario-based Mark Deutchman, MD, founding director of the CU Rural interview format developed for medical school admissions; Track program, gave an overview of the challenges facing it has been increasingly adopted by other health-based health professionals in rural areas. “Colorado is a very rural professional schools as a lens on non-technical skills, such state. Two-thirds of our counties are rural or frontier, which as communication, critical thinking, and empathy. The in- is fewer than six people per square mile. Essentially the formation gained through this process will be considered whole state that is not in the urban corridor is a health pro- along with conventional application information to help us fessional shortage area,” he said. enroll diverse pools of highly qualified veterinary students. Second-year veterinary student Claire Tucker spoke Many candidates commented on the warm welcome and about One Health, the sphere that draws together human, the efforts to make them feel valued. The array of events animal, and environmental health. Associate Professor of scheduled for the interview day allowed them to experi- Animal Sciences Noa Roman-Muniz, DVM, who coordinates ence Fort Collins, the University, and the DVM Program. the VSGP, spoke about the project’s diverse stakeholders, Nearly all of the candidates indicated that the interview including students, rural health practitioners, producer process was not nearly as onerous as anticipated, and groups, and livestock operations. “We are creating some- many even said it was “fun” in that it allowed them to con- thing that is unique, combining Spanish language skills and vey their personality and perspectives. the cultural aspects of communication, epidemiology, well- We are in the process of finalizing the class of 2021, the ness and mentorship, and externships and continuing edu- first cohort of veterinary students selected using the new cation,” she said. Throughout the program, the unique and Continued on next page
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Continued from previous page Dr. Delcambre has participated in the Louisiana State Uni- MMI process. We plan a thorough outcomes assessment to versity admissions process as a packet reviewer since 2014. determine the impact of the MMI approach and ways that She looks forward to stepping into a progressive and robust we might improve it moving forward. recruitment and admissions program developed by her pre- decessors, including Dr. Ashley Stokes, who has moved on New Admissions Director to the Office of Engagement as Assistant Vice President for Gretchen Delcambre, DVM, is our new director of DVM Engagement and Deputy Director of CSU Extension. Admissions. She earned her veterinary degree at Louisi- As roles for veterinarians continue to evolve and broaden, ana State University, and her MS in Infectious Disease and we aim to actualize programmatic advances that will opti- Pathology at the University of Florida. She joined CSU in mally equip our graduates for personal and professional suc- 2014 as a Research Associate, and was promoted to As- cess. We are grateful for our DVM partners across Colorado sistant Professor in 2015. Dr. Delcambre has conducted who contribute to this effort by offering experiential oppor- research in the areas of infectious disease and immunol- tunities, externships, mentoring, and employment to our ogy, and continues this work at CSU. DVM students. If you are interested in learning more about Her teaching duties include Veterinary Physiology and these opportunities, or would like to be included in our ex- Histology, Microscopic Anatomy, Veterinary Neurobiology, periential/externship, mentoring, or employment lists avail- and Foundations of Veterinary Medicine. Known for her able to students online, please contact Adrienne Marcus at dedication to students, she serves on the Health and Well- [email protected] or 970.491.7054. I welcome ness Task Force, the Diversity and Inclusion Committee, your questions and feedback. I may be reached at Melinda. the DVM Orientation Committee and the DVM Curricu- [email protected] or 970.491.2009. n lum Committee, and as advisor to multiple DVM student organizations.
CVMA Voice 2017:2 | PAGE 9 2017, Issue #2 OF NOTE
What’s New and Exciting at CVMA Learning Labs and Life Skills Workshops provide optional Convention 2017! CE offered on Thursday for those who want to expand their learning, or who can’t attend convention but still want to Kristin Payne, CMP engage in excellent education. All courses require an addi- CVMA Director of Learning tional fee and pre-registration based on space availability. This year, we have seven to choose from: • Veterinary Spanish: Overcoming the Challenges of Language Divide in the Exam Room with Dr. Danielle Straatmann • Dental Radiology wet lab with Dr. Edward Eisner • Dental Extraction wet lab with Dr. John Huff and Dr. Larry Klima • Small Animal Basic Ultrasound wet lab with TBD • Practice Profitability: On the Trail to Success with Stith Keiser • Pathway to Excellence: Understanding Your Strengths with Therese Lask • Cracking the Perfectionism Code: How to Thrive in Veteri- nary Medicine with Dr. Betsy Charles CVMA Opening General Session with Andy Roark kicks off your convention experience on Thursday afternoon from 1:00–5:00 PM, followed by a “meet and greet” with Dr. Roark at in informal reception. Join us for an entertaining and in- formative day with Dr. Andy Roark, NAVC’s Practice Manage- ment Speaker of the Year two of the last three years! Learn why his popular Facebook page has over 125,000 fans and his humorous education videos have been viewed over a half million times! Open to all full convention paid registrations and Thursday daily and learning lab/workshops registrations. Sponsored by: PetPlan NEW! Morning Keynote Sessions kickstart your day with two outstanding offerings designed with all practitioners in CVMA Convention 2017 registration is now open. We are mind. Join us Friday morning for “Sharpen Your Axe” with ready to offer you 100+ hours of world-class continuing Dr. Andy Roark and Saturday morning for “Cracking the education to advance you, 7 pre-conference wet labs and Perfectionism Code: How to Thrive in Veterinary Medicine” life skills workshops to enrich you, and an array of social with Dr. Betsy Charles. These special sessions will leave you activities to engage and connect you. All of this located at a inspired and energized for the rest of the day! local venue, with a convenient schedule, and at an excep- tional value. What more could you ask for? Six Daily Tracks offer you endless options to customize Well . . . How about an Opening General Session with your learning experience. Choose by track or by topic to nationally renowned speaker, Dr. Andy Roark? How design your day around your interests and needs. Here’s about Morning Keynote Presentations on Friday and Sat- what we have lined up for you this year. We have so many urday mornings to go along with your morning coffee and great sessions, you might have a hard time deciding! light breakfast? All of this in addition to our outstanding Exhibit Hall, CVMA/CSU Reception, Celebration Luncheon, Agricultural Animal topics and Casino Night! • Bovine Sports Medicine and Bucking Bulls We look forward to welcoming you to Colorado’s premier • Poisonous Plants Case in Cattle: A Case Report gathering of veterinary professionals. • Food Animal Welfare • State Veterinarian Update Education with a Purpose • Sustainable Livestock Production Design your convention experience by selecting education • USDA Accreditation Renewal Modules (3) from whichever session or track piques your interest and • USDA Accreditation Renewal Module – International earn up to 27 hours of continuing education towards your Health Certificates license renewal in 2018. Our 2017 session and track high- lights include the following offerings. Continued on next page
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Continued from previous page
Beyond Medicine topics • Soft Skills • Assessing, Diagnosing, and Treating Practice Health • Wound Immobilization • Entrance and Exit Strategies • Pre-Purchase Exam • Financials of Practice Ownership • Endocrinology • Marketing Strategies for your Practice • Chiropractic • OSHA Regulations • Acupuncture • Drug Control: Pharmacy Regulations for your Veterinary Exotic/Zoo Practice • Power of Ten (P10) Ignite • Bee Medicine • SBVM Update • Exotics Update • Zoo Medicine Complementary Medicine topics Small Animal • Introduction to Integrative Medicine • Veterinary Botanicals and Nutraceuticals • Dermatology Symposium (full day) • Vitamin D: The Preventive Medicine Solution • Cardiology Symposium (full day) • An Integrative Approach to Chronic Kidney Disease • Feline Medicine • Integrative Gastroenterology • Nutrition Management of Lower Urinary Tract Disease • Medical Cannabis for Veterinarians: Risks and Benefits • Understanding Unconventional Diets • Leptospirosis Equine topics • IMHA • Joint Injection Techniques • ITP • PIP Ankyloses • IMPA n • Skin Grafting
Your CVMA Convention 2017 Registration Brochure has mailed! You can also visit colovma.org/cvma-convention for current information and to register.
President’s Post continued from page 4 spayed or neutered, and returned. Kittens were adopted to collaborate and find solutions. As veterinarians, we can out to new homes. In the end, only three adult cats were play an important role in helping further the work being returned, as many tested positive or had other serious done by the organizations like those represented at BIG medical conditions precluding them from humanely living Ideas Forum. Even if you don’t have the time to volunteer outdoors. But the greatest service the rescue group pro- or the means to provide resources, you can find out who’s vided was the time they spent talking with my mom. They working in your community on behalf of cats and share spent several hours over many days counseling her about that knowledge with your clients, colleagues, and neigh- how to prevent the same thing from happening again, and bors, so they know there is a resource out there to help how to care for those cats ultimately returned to her yard take care of the cats in our communities. and neighborhood. Thankfully, she listened to them. She Years have passed. The original Patches has been suc- trusted those that understood her deep emotional attach- ceeded by Patches II, a feisty calico. Only one aging cat ment to these animals. Although they were living outdoors, now lives in my mom’s backyard. It has a heated house, she still considered them valued pets. Once informed, eats well, and lives a peaceful life with several blankets and many neighbors also began caring for the remaining cats toys. I get daily updates on its eating and play habits. My and worked to prevent their neighborhood feline commu- mom, hopefully 93 years old as of the date of this publica- nity from growing. I’m amazed how those cats were the tion, spends her days looking out the back door watching catalyst (pun intended) in reconnecting neighbors. it play in the yard, or simply sleeping in the sun. She often Knowing that even back then there were groups in thanks God for that feline rescue group, and likes to tell her Colorado dedicated to treating community cats as, well, friends they helped her in a way that even her “son the vet” community, rather than a nuisance, reminds me again couldn’t. Thanks, mom. n how truly lucky we are to be here, in a place that wants
CVMA Voice 2017:2 | PAGE 11 2017, Issue #2 OF NOTE
The Biggest Lie We Tell Ourselves Listen, I’m not actually a bad cat owner. My pets receive great care not only because I’m a certifiable animal lover, but Andy Roark, DVM, MS because I’m a trained veterinary professional. That’s not the case for the vast majority of our clients. They love their pets, Sometimes we tell ourselves but they also love their kids, their jobs, their hobbies, the idea lies to make life easier. We say of retirement, and their teeth. Everyone has only so much things like, “I was walking in money, time, and energy, and no one thinks about pet health and out of exam rooms all day in their real lives as much as veterinary professionals do. long. That counts as exercise,” Let’s face it: Most people are about as consistent at keeping or “There’s a ban on cellphones up with pet care as I am with handling my car maintenance. in the office, but everyone will understand that it doesn’t apply What we’ve gotten wrong—and how we can to me.” We kid ourselves to feel get it right better, and it usually works. For years, I believed that if we just sat down and explained To be fair, most of these tall things to pet owners, they would do what was best for their tales are pretty harmless. How- pets. I’m sorry to say that I don’t believe this anymore. ever, some come back to bite While this idea is comforting and makes it easier for us to us. There’s one particular lie shake it off when we make recommendations people de- that undermines the way we practice, communicate, and cide not to follow, it’s simply not true. If we can come to provide patient care. It affects how we educate veterinar- grips with that, I think we can modify our approach in two ians and how we operate our clinics. Here’s the lie: ways to fix the problem: If we just tell average pet owners what’s best for their pets, 1. Innovate to communicate. Often, our idea of client edu- they’ll do it. cation is a single conversation between the pet owner and Isn’t this a wonderful idea? The problem is that, most of the veterinarian in the exam room. It’s an isolated inter the time, it’s not true. And we know it. action between a doctor and a person who may or may not Don’t get me wrong—this isn’t an attack on pet owners. be the patient’s decision maker. It’s also generally unstruc- I’m not saying people fail to follow doctors’ orders because tured, brief, and happening in front of a pet, a natural dis- they’re bad people or don’t love their pets. However, the traction. In short, it’s a frantic mess. question persists. Why? Educating pet owners in this fashion can yield only lim- ited success. If we are going to successfully compel people The case of the crappy car owner to take specific actions, the messages we send must be Sometimes in my lectures to veterinarians, I talk about the clear, focused and repeated through multiple channels. We type of car owner I am. (Spoiler alert: I’m awful.) I love my must help pet owners understand why we are making the car and use it extensively. I fully understand how much I recommendations and what they need to do. Conversation depend on it and what a bind I would be in without it. Yet I is one way to deliver these messages. Email, text messag- don’t take very good care of it. ing, videos, infographics, blog posts, interesting articles, When it comes to fixing problems, I head right to the and smartphone apps are just a few ideas. Effective client shop. I’m just not so great about the regular maintenance. communication is the single greatest opportunity for inno- The auto places always give me a list of what’s best for my vation in our profession today. car. It’s just that life/work/parenthood/finances/time keep 2. Stop abdicating our position. I have a friend who de- getting in the way. spises choosing a restaurant. In fact, it’s nearly impossible One day, after I made this confession in a talk, a feline to get her to weigh in on any sort of dinner-related decision. practitioner shared her candid feedback with me. She said, The reason is that she doesn’t want to feel accountable if “You know, you shouldn’t tell that story about your car.” the place we visit is underwhelming. She takes comfort in I asked her why not. “Because it makes you look like one always being able to say, “Well, it was your choice.” For a of those bad cat owners. The ones who never come in on friend and a dinner decision, this is fine. But what if every- time. You don’t want people to think that’s you.” one approached choices this way? But here’s the thing: That is me. And it’s probably you. Yes, we need to present pet owners with options, but we It’s almost all of us. cannot relinquish our responsibility to guide their decisions. How many people have cars that are due for mainte- Too often, we say “Well, you could . . . ” and then present nance? How many of us are past due for a physical or a a multiple-choice scenario with options that may seem per- dental appointment? Is anyone putting off funding a retire- fectly clear to us but are confusing to our clients. We feel ment account or college fund? good about putting the choice in their hands, but then we Don’t be THAT cat owner; visit your vet for annual wonder why they so often default to the cheapest option. checkups! Continued on next page
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Advancing Cat Health and Welfare: • What have we learned about effective strategies in cat Issues, Solutions, Opportunities population control? • What models are emerging that create “win-win- win” out- CVMA BIG Ideas Forum | Spring 2017 comes for cats, adopters, and veterinarians? Complex problems with polarized opinions are an essential • Are we collectively making progress in changing the value reason why CVMA created the BIG Ideas Forum—and our perception of cats? Spring 2017 meeting on April 1 in Colorado Springs, focus- We addressed these questions through presentations, ing on cat health and welfare, was no exception. panel discussion, and audience dialog, thanks to an all-star The landscape seems different today, reflecting changes in line-up of experts in cat health and welfare: perceptions of cats and experience gained through new strat- egies and collaborative approaches to cat health and welfare. • Lisa Pedersen, CEO, Humane Society of Boulder Valley Thanks to the participation of a stellar set of issue illumina- and President, Colorado Federation of Animal Welfare tors, we heard insights from experts and shared perspectives Agencies about cat health and welfare as we probed questions such as: • Katie Parker, Executive Director, Animal Assistance Foundation • Do Colorado communities have a community cat problem? • Anna Murrin, Project Manager, Metro Denver C.A.T. • Do we have a common understanding of what a commu- • Julie Justman, Director, Pueblo Animal Services nity cat is? • Aubrey Lavizzo, DVM (on behalf of Sarah Swanty, Execu- • Why are animal welfare professionals so passionate that tive Director) Fort Collins Cat Rescue & Spay/Neuter Clinic cats are THE animal welfare issue? • Apryl Steele, DVM, Chief Operating Officer, Dumb Friends • How are the special needs of cats addressed in the shelter- League ing environment? • Linda K. Lord, DVM, PhD, The Ohio State University • What do data tell us about trends in Colorado cat health • Jane Brunt, DVM, Executive Director, CATalyst Council and welfare? • What research exists to inform decision making about On the following pages, each of these presenters shares community cats? information and insights into some of the issues, solutions, • What innovative solutions have been implemented in and opportunities to advance cat health and welfare. n Colorado to advance cat welfare?
Continued from previous page (The one element that’s not confusing in all of this? Price. refuse to commit to any recommendation, we abdicate our You don’t need a medical degree to understand that part.) position as a guide, consultant and doctor. I believe that Instead, what if we presented options in the context of also means we fail our clients. making a strong recommendation? For example, we can Letting go of the biggest lie we tell ourselves in veteri- use statements like, “Based on what we’ve discussed, the nary practice means we have to make some changes. We plan I’d recommend is . . .” or simply, “To address your have to change how and what we communicate in order to concerns, we need to . . .” We can use these phrases and increase the odds that pet owners will take the best action still give people options. However, they offer clear direction for their pets. In that way, we can ensure that when we tell on how best to move forward and take advantage of our clients what’s best, they’re hearing it and doing it. We can education, training and experience. turn the lie into a truth. If we are acting ethically, listening to our clients and their I think I’m ready. Are you? n needs, and practicing a good standard of care, we should be able to give options while also making clear what path Reprinted with permission from drandyroark.com, August 27, we believe will best serve the pet and owner. When we 2016.
MEET DR. ANDY ROARK AT CVMA CONVENTION 2017! CVMA is excited to welcome NAVC Practice Management Speaker of the Year and host of the YouTube show, Cone of Shame, Dr . Andy Roark, to CVMA Convention 2017! Join us on Thursday for the Opening General Session from 1:00 to 5:00 PM for an improv-style event that will entertain, enlighten, and educate on issues you face every day like conflict resolution and finding commonality . The session will be followed by a meet-and-greet reception with Dr . Roark . Then start your Friday with our Morning Keynote Session “Sharpen Your Axe” as Dr . Roark inspires and encourages us to re-apply ourselves to the task of molding our careers into what we want them to be . See your CVMA Convention 2017 Registration Brochure that was mailed to you in early June, or visit colovma org. for more information and to register for the convention!
CVMA Voice 2017:2 | PAGE 13 2017, Issue #2 FOCUS ON THE FELINE
The Challenges and Opportunities risks of an indoor/outdoor lifestyle, shelters find that when with Cats in Our Communities these families then sometimes need to separate from their cats, the smaller, predictable home environment they have Lisa Pedersen enjoyed leaves them ill equipped to cope with the stress CEO, Humane Society of Boulder Valley of the shelter. Cats that arrive as strays or have had previ- President, Colorado Federation of Animal ous outdoor exposure are more likely to have encountered Welfare Agencies stressors in their lives (barking dogs, strangers, smells, and sounds) that sometimes help them to be less overwhelmed Animal welfare in Colorado has achieved a high level of by the unfamiliar and startling environment of the shelter. success through the collaboration of organizations from We also see a wide range of complicating medical is- shelters and rescues, to animal care and control, the vet- sues in cats in shelters; dental disease and ringworm are erinary community, and the people of Colorado who have very prevalent. Both concerns can be resource intensive to worked on addressing the needs and challenges facing address. In the case of ringworm, due to the highly conta- companion animals throughout the state. Through these ef- gious nature of the condition and the lengthy duration of forts we have greatly reduced the number of animals com- treatment, and in the case of dental disease, the expense ing in to the shelter system and have seen increased rates and specialized equipment and expertise needed. Addition- of adoption, especially in the canine population. In large ally, the cats with such conditions are often behaviorally part we no longer have a dog overpopulation issue in Colo- compromised, and the potential behavioral fallout of an rado and have begun reaching out to communities outside intensive or invasive treatment can be significant. of Colorado to meet the demand for families here. While So given all of these issues, what are the opportunities behavioral and medical issues are still a challenge with for cats in our community? We need to start by taking new dogs, we have comprehensive support and science to assist approaches to thinking about the challenges cats in shelters with management and rehabilitation of these conditions. and in our communities present. As demonstrated in many Our focus turns now to the increasing needs of our cat of the presentations at BIG Ideas that you will read about populations, and while we have seen attitudes shift slightly, on the following pages, we can find great success with roll- we still see traditional volume issues and pet overpopulation ing targeted projects, innovation, and veterinary practice in felines. In addition, the level of behavioral support and intersections. n science doesn’t exist to the same degree for felines as it does for canines. Add to this the fact that cats live their lives very differently than dogs—scent, familiarity with surroundings, and routines are more crucial and central to cats’ lives—and this poses a challenge in the shelter to maintain an ideal en- vironment for cats to thrive and remain healthy and happy while awaiting a new home. The presence of other cats and dogs in a shelter can be difficult for many cats, posing yet Neurology now at AESC! another barrier to success in the shelter environment. All of this exacerbates the stress cats experience and can lead to Curtis Probst, DVM, DACVS, DACVIM longer lengths of stay for the cats in our care. (Neurology)
Other trends affect the number of cats in the shelter sys- Former Michigan State University faculty tem as well. Studies have shown people tend to wait longer member looks forward to working with you to look for cats that go missing, leading to lower reclaim and your patients. rates, and many cats are simply abandoned rather than rehomed or surrendered to a shelter. Additionally, while we New 1.5T MRI installation Spinal Trauma have greatly increased the knowledge of people in our com- Neurosurgery Neuromuscular disorders, Seizure assessment and management including muscle nerve munities about dog behavior and ways to live successfully biopsies with canines, the public perception of cats has not reached Pain management Comprehensive imaging that same level. This affects the acceptance of normal cat Brainstem disorders Cervical and lumbar surgery modalities including myelogram, CT and MRI behavior and people are often less forgiving of cat behavior Head and brain trauma versus what they will tolerate with dogs. There is a wide spectrum of categories for cats that we 24-hour Emergency · Internal Medicine · Surgery don’t have complete consensus on identifying and support- Oncology · Neurology · Radiology/Ultrasound ing in the animal welfare community: feral, community Rehabilitation· Acupuncture · Cardiology · Dermatology cat, free-roaming, indoor/outdoor, and indoor only, and we 17701 Cottonwood Drive, Parker, CO 80134 may only be seeing the more easily handled populations (720) 842-5050 · (720) 842-5060 (FAX) of cats. Additionally, as many guardians shift to maintain- www.aescparker.com ing their pet cats in an indoor-only capacity to mitigate the
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Metro Denver C.A.T.— It’s All About often unpredictable circumstances of the people in the the People! community. It requires constant follow up to gain trust, ac- cess, and to ensure the cats get the services they need. Katie Parker, Executive Director After just one year, Metro Denver C.A.T. is proud to have Animal Assistance Foundation provided assistance to 1,577 cats, facilitated 1,072 spay/ Anna Murrin, Project Manager neuters, and removed 502 cats that have been placed with Metro Denver C.A.T. partners for adoption. Less than 3% (36) of the cats had to be euthanized due to serious medical issues that could not Metro Denver C.A.T. (Cats Around Town) is a collaboration be resolved. n of animal welfare groups working together to make metro Denver a place where cats are valued and cared for by an engaged community. The two main goals of Metro Denver C.A.T. are to improve the welfare of the entire cat popula- tion and to increase the value of cats, whether they are owned, feral, or fall anywhere on the spectrum:
The initiative works for cats that are owned, homeless in shelters or on the streets, and community or feral cats, providing services in underserved areas throughout metro Denver, with a focus on the 80219 zip code. Starting in April 2017, the focus was expanded to include the 80204 and 80223 zip codes. Metro Denver C.A.T. provides free spay/neuter resources and vaccines for pet and commu- nity cats, resources and supplies for outdoor management, and advice and resources for a variety of other cat related issues. Metro Denver C.A.T. works with the community it serves, as residents are key to finding and accessing cats. The biggest obstacle in the community is fear for the cats’ wellbeing; their caretakers fear they will be removed and euthanized. Bi-lingual community outreach coordinators help reach people and cats who would never access ser- vices otherwise. Metro Denver C.A.T. customizes solutions for each cat, whether it is part of a colony or a single stray being fed by many people. They have successfully put 502 kittens and social adults into adoption, often working through sensi- tive situations with the community members who are at- tached to the cats. They reduce pain and suffering where they can, provide extra care when necessary, and work with the community as a whole, seeing it as a community responsibility. The outreach also extends to education about spay/ neuter and regular veterinary care, which is not a priority in this community and is rarely considered. It’s more than just a lack of awareness that keeps them disconnected from services, it’s a lack of transportation, funds, know- ing how to handle and transport a cat, and the chaotic and
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A “Tail” of TNR in Pueblo, Colorado Since its inception in 2011, PAS has sterilized, vaccinated, and ear-tipped nearly 7,500 feral / community cats in the Julie Justman, Director, Pueblo Animal Services Pueblo area. The impact of this program has been evident in the lower intake numbers to the PAS shelter. Compar- Pueblo Animal Services (PAS), a division of the Humane ing 2012 to 2016 statistics, we have seen a 40% decrease, Society of the Pikes Peak Region, began serving Pueblo and or 730 fewer stray cat intakes, from all areas in Pueblo Pueblo County in 2002. In 2011, faced with high cat intakes County. Comparing specific targeted zip codes, there has per capita, they began changes to services and policies that been between a 42% and 53% (118 to 223 cats) decrease would dramatically raise the live release rate for cats in the in stray cats entering the shelter. The effect on cat eutha- area. PAS began with halting field impounds for cats, ex- nasia within the shelter has been dramatic. From 2003 to cept in cases of illness, injury, or bite quarantines. The next 2010, cats entering the Pueblo shelter were facing a 70% step was to close the after-hours drop off facility, which to 74% chance of being euthanized. In 2016, that percent- was responsible for 800 to 1,000 intakes annually, most age dropped to 30%. The percentages do not tell the entire without any information or identification. story however, because the number of cats entering the The next step was to begin developing a TNR program shelter at the highest year (in 2007), was 3,739. In 2016, by working with municipal leaders to make changes to the number of cats entering the Pueblo shelter was 1,283. the animal ordinances in the city of Pueblo. This process In 10 years, PAS had lowered the number of cats at risk of took about six months to accomplish. While the ordinance euthanasia by 66%, meaning 2,456 fewer cats were enter- revisions were in progress, PAS staff worked on program ing the shelter. design and process development. The model they decided Currently the Pueblo TNR program has 334 permitted was the best fit for the Pueblo community was one that colonies that contain 3,487 documented cats. The program- was both professional and grassroots. The program con- wide sterilization rate is now 77%. Over the last year, there sists of one FTE coordinator responsible for the documen- has been a reduced volume of applications to permit new tation, permitting, and management of community cat colonies. Many of the applications received now are a result colonies throughout Pueblo County. of contact being made by Animal Law Enforcement officers Funding was sought and approved from multiple grant- in the field or by the TNR Coordinator coming across colo- ing organizations, with Animal Assistance Foundation and nies in her day-to-day field activities. PetSmart Charities being the major funders. The program The success of the TNR program in Pueblo is attributed became fully operational in January of 2012 and immedi- to many things: supportive grant makers, participation ately launched a targeted initiative focusing on zip code from colony managers, guidance from HSPPR leadership, 81004, the area responsible for the highest number of stray dedication of the TNR coordinator and support staff, and cat intakes to the PAS shelter. To gain early support from also the overall acceptance and support from the commu- those providing care for community cats, PAS sponsored nity itself. The positive impact for cats this program has a contest with prize dollars being paid to the charity of the had in the Pueblo community is very significant, and we winner’s choice; whoever brought in the most cats won. continue work to sustain it into the future. n The contest program was used in the initial two years of the TNR program, then found to be unnecessary by year three. From 2012 through 2015, PAS targeted three zip codes, resulting in over 4,000 cats being sterilized through the TNR program. All targeted initiatives included between 150 and 200 owned cats from those areas being sterilized and vaccinated as well. In addition to the targeted initiatives, PAS was also per- mitting colonies throughout Pueblo County. Permitted colony managers (caretakers) are responsible for providing food, water, and shelter for their colony members. They are also responsible for making surgery appointments, trapping, transporting, recovering, and releasing the cats in their colony. Colonies may only be permitted on private property with landowner permission. Progress toward 100% sterilization must be made for them to remain per- mitted through the program, and annual census reports also are required. The TNR Coordinator provides mediation in cases of upset neighbors and offers trial cat deterrents, such as ultra-sonic devices, motion-activated water sprink lers, and both chemical and natural sprays and liquids.
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Making Every Pet a Healthy Community Cat Program and Wanted Pet Another hugely successful endeavor has been the Com- munity Cat Program, which provides assistance for feral Sarah Swanty, Executive Director, Fort Collins and outdoor cats and their caretakers. Of the 270 cats Cat Rescue & Spay/Neuter Clinic trapped in 2016, 101 were returned after spay/neuter, 107 Fort Collins Cat Rescue & Spay/Neuter Clinic (FCCRSNC) kittens were placed into foster care, and 62 adult cats were was founded in 2006 with a mission to prevent pet home- brought into the shelter. lessness and a vision that every pet is a healthy and Loveland-Windsor Free Roaming Cats Project wanted pet. They fulfill their mission by adopting out homeless cats, reducing unwanted animals through spay/ Also of note is the Loveland-Windsor Free Roaming Cats neuter, and helping struggling families care for their pets. Project, a two-year, grant-funded (primarily by PetSmart FCCRSNC serves Northern Colorado and Southeastern Charities) project that started in 2015, and has so far pro- Wyoming, primarily Larimer and Weld counties, with 35 vided spay/neuter and rabies and FVRCP vaccinations for paid staff members and about 475 volunteers, and an an- 1,400 cats. The services are offered to any cat that spends nual operating budget of $1.7 million. Dr. Gloria Matsushita any amount of time outdoors, whether owned or commu- is the full-time staff veterinarian, and they have other vet- nity cats. erinarians who also perform spay/neuters for them. They Results, Challenges, and the Future have developed partnerships with local veterinary hospi- tals and the CSU Veterinary Teaching Hospital and are one So are all of these programs working? Yes! In 10 years, of the few shelters that treats ringworm. Through their ef- FCCRSNC has seen an 84% decrease in euthanasia at our forts, over 45,000 spay/neuter procedures have been done local open-admission shelter! since 2006. Like any ambitious mission, the FCCRSNC and its pro- FCCRSNC adopts out cats that have come from owner grams face challenges, including medical, behavior, and surrenders, transfers from other shelters and rescue senior cats; ringworm treatment; and finding the resources groups, hoarding or abandonment situations, strays, and for Healthy Pet Clinics. They also see transportation barri- returns. They have a detailed adoption questionnaire, ers for pet owners needing services, and issues with build- and ask that the cats they adopt out be kept indoors and ing trust with cat colony caretakers. not be declawed. The shelter is based on an adoption- As FCCRSNC looks to the future and potential growth, guarantee, limited-admission structure, and all cats they would like to see a “Cats Indoors” partnership with are sterilized, vaccinated, microchipped, tested, and Audubon of the Rockies and the Larimer Humane So- dewormed. They offer a lifetime “return” policy to help ciety. They also want to work with veterinary partners ensure that the cats are not abandoned in the future and to emphasize the importance of regular veterinary care special adoption programs for “Working Cats” or those for cats, and to find ways to increase adoption of special with special needs. needs cats through exclusive, discounted veterinary care In 2014, the shelter started a low-cost spay/neuter clinic partnerships. n open to the general public that also provides wellness ex- ams, and they offer on-site and mobile vaccination clinics. Pet Retention Services FCCRSNC has created several programs to help pets and to keep cats in their homes. Through the Prevent A Litter Plus (PAL+) program, which offers financial assistance for spay/neuter and vaccines for low-income pet owners, 3,665 pets have been spayed/neutered since 2008. The Kibble Supply Pet Food Pantry helps low-income families feed their dogs and cats and has distrib- uted 160,000 pounds of food since 2010. They also have a Cat Retention Specialist who pro- vides behavior resources and guidance to pre- vent cats from being surrendered. Their Healthy Pet Clinics visited two locations in 2016, helping 554 at-risk pets receive services, and over 100 have since been altered in the clinic.
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Advancing Cat Health and Welfare: healthcare for cats and dogs into veterinary practices. The Issues, Solutions, Opportunities program has been designed to create collaborative relation- ships and enable diverse stakeholders to participate in pro- Jane Brunt, DVM, moting positive outcomes for problems in their individual Executive Director, CATalyst Council communities. The pilot program process starts at the shelter—when the Formed in 2008, CATalyst Council’s mission is to trans- pet is adopted, the new owner chooses a local veterinarian form the health, welfare, and value of companion cats. It who has agreed to participate in the program and offer a is the outcome of two grassroots efforts: Re-Branding Felix free new-pet examination (in some communities additional and the CATalyst Summit. Following these two meetings, services are provided). The shelter emails the pet’s health CATalyst Council, a non-profit entity, was created and in- records and adopter contact information to the chosen cludes three distinct groups: veterinary medicine, shelter/ veterinary clinic, who calls the adopter to schedule the ap- animal welfare, and related industry entities such as foun- pointment. CATalyst Council is developing software to auto- dations and cat fanciers, the media, and commercial com- mate and streamline the process. panies. By virtue of the open and inclusive structure of the In Colorado (Douglas County), this Return for Care pro- board, these bodies are able to represent a broad range of gram was piloted through CVMA and the Dumb Friends diverse stakeholders in feline healthcare and welfare. Many League Buddy Center. In the first year, of the 662 eligible of these stakeholders participated in the CATalyst Summit. adoptions, 87% selected a veterinarian at the time of adop- Working together, the Council intends to make a difference tion, 58% completed the free exam, and 84% of adopters in the way the United States sees and experiences cats. returned for additional care. The average cost to the vet- CATalyst’s purpose addresses our desire to change so- erinarian to acquire a new patient through the program? A ciety’s image of cats as aloof and not needing human little more than $16. The plan is to scale the program state- contact or care and our vision is to raise the level of care wide with other Colorado shelters in 2018 once the technol- and welfare of cats by cat owners—one that any owner ogy platform is finalized by CATalyst so that more data can will embrace through the human-animal bond and can be accumulated. achieve—supported by the highest quality veterinary care, In Portland, the Oregon Humane Society and Portland preventive medicine, and cat-specific products. “Connect- VMA data showed 10,767 dog and cat adoptions (during ing Cats to Care” is the foundational concept which drives the first year), with 180 practices visited as 20% of adopt- each of the evidence-based efforts and initiatives led by ers completed the free exam—and 60% of free exam users CATalyst Council. forward booked their next visit. CATalyst published Stats on Cats, a compilation of vari- In Columbus, the Capital Area Humane Society and the ous feline-related statistical resources in 2015, and it will Columbus Academy of Veterinary Medicine reported 2,835 be updated this year after the release of both AVMA and adoptions (266 for dogs and 470 for cats) where 758 own- American Pet Products Association (APPA) pet owner sur- ers selected a veterinarian. In the first six months, 42% vey data. Some of the more telling statistics show that only of cat adopters completed the free exam and 36% of dog 47% of companion cats visit a veterinarian, 3.2 million adopters completed the free exam. cats enter shelters every year, and 46% of cats are adopted In Wilmington, the Delaware Humane Association re- from animal welfare organizations. ported 1,255 adoptions during the first year with 21 prac- Catalyst Connection: Forever Homes. tices visited after 71% of owners selected a veterinarian at Forever Health the time of adoption, 5% scheduled their first appointment at the time of adoption, and 20% of adopters completed For years, shelters and veterinarians have often operated the free exam. independently with very little collaboration. Now, Catalyst Connection is helping to bridge that gap and develop a Connecting Cats to Care . . . or Care to Cats sense of community for the betterment of animals. Catalyst CATalyst helps the veterinary and sheltering community Connection’s mission is to enhance and protect the lives explore options to improve the lives of cats, whether they of animals by promoting successful adoptions and life- are in homes, in shelters, or in the community at large. But time veterinary care, which ultimately translates to better, innovation isn’t limited to the animal welfare arena. We longer-lasting relationships between pets and their owners. need to look at all the facets that affect cats, from encour- Resources, materials, and toolkits are available to those aging cat friendly housing (private and public), serving un- interested in developing a strong shelter-veterinary relation- derserved and at risk populations of pet owners, addressing ship in a community. behavioral issues that affect cats’ lives and wellbeing, to Iterations of the Catalyst Connection program piloted in studying and promoting enrichment and even consider- four communities (Portland, OR; Columbus, OH; Wilming ing telehealth as a vehicle to make sure more cats connect ton, DE; and Douglas County, CO) as a way to enhance with veterinary care. n shelter-veterinary relationships and place post-adoption
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Colorado is Connecting Cats to Care 3. Provide connected communication with both shelter and veterinary practice software systems Jane Brunt, DVM 4. Provide access to shelter pet health reports of adopted Executive Director, CATalyst Council pets to adopters and veterinary practices (no more “I left the records at home . . .”) 5. Allow more cats to be adopted into homes where, with an already great veterinary relationship established through the program, they will be able to receive much needed lifelong care Highlights of upcoming events in October 2017 This October, Denver will be the site of two feline-focused national meetings. On October 18–19, CATalyst Council will hold their Annual Board Meeting and Networking Event at the CVMA office and from October 19–22, the American Association of Feline Practitioners’ Annual Conference will be held at the Sheraton Denver Downtown Hotel, focusing on Feline Infectious Diseases and Pediatrics (www.catvets. com/education/conference/). Also during the AAFP confer- Colorado is for Cats and the CVMA, Dumb Friends League, ence, registrants will be able to learn more about AAFP’s and other members of the Metro Denver Animal Welfare Cat Friendly Practice program, how to elevate feline care Alliance have always been leaders in coalitions across the (www.catvets.com/cfp/veterinary-professionals), and earn state, the U.S. and North America. the Cat Friendly Practice designation for your practice. Many collaborative Colorado programs and initiatives In Colorado, It’s All About the CAT and Connecting have been designed to promote cat health, welfare, and Cats to Care! n value: Chip the Cat; Rebranding Felix; Dumb Friends Leagues—Solutions Cat Spay/Neuter Clinic; this spring’s Award Winning BIG Ideas Forum on Advancing Cat Health and Welfare: Veterinary Architecture Issues, Solutions, and Opportunities; and especially Return For Care, a cat (and dog) pilot program already being tested with the help of (and benefit for!) CVMA members in Douglas County. Return for Care is a CVMA program to promote veteri- nary visits to local practices immediately after adoption from participating animal shelters. In the first year of the pilot coordinated by CVMA and the Dumb Friends League Buddy Center, of the 662 eligible adoptions, 87% selected a veterinarian at the time of adoption, 58% completed the free exam, and 84% of adopters returned for additional care. The average cost to the veterinarian to acquire a new patient through the program was a little more than $16. The plan is to scale the program statewide with other Colorado shelters in 2018 once the technology platform is finalized by CATalyst Council so that more data can be accumulated. Catalyst Connection: Forever Homes. Forever Health (http:// catalystcouncil.org/connection) is a program with robust resources already available to help local communities com- municate about their animal issues and enhance coopera- tive relationships including and especially those involving architecture • animals • people cats. The Catalyst Connection cloud-based platform and data hub will: 800.332.4413 1. Implement, monitor and measure Connecting Cats to Care www.animalarts.com 2. Host CVMA’s Return for Care program
CVMA Voice 2017:2 | PAGE 19 2017, Issue #2 FOCUS ON THE FELINE
Pioneering Solutions in Colorado and the CVMA offices. This unique partnership—the only Cat Welfare one of its kind in the country—was undertaken after many discussions, much planning, and in collaboration with the Apryl Steele, DVM, Chief Operating Officer veterinary community. We surveyed CVMA members re- Dumb Friends League garding their input on a free cat spay/neuter clinic before moving forward. You can read a summary of the survey Bear with me while I reel off some numbers—because and results on page 21 and learn more about the clinic on these numbers tell a story that offers both inspiration and page 22, including FAQs. motivation: The Solutions clinic has been highly successful, with Metro Denver’s population in 1980 was 1,618,461, and 2,040 cat sterilization surgeries performed from early Janu- by 2015, it had almost doubled to 3,075,701. Back in 1983, ary through April 30. The cats we see at the clinic are a 84,250 animals were taken to animal shelters in the Den- mix of owned, loosely owned, community, and feral, and ver metro area, of which 48,651 were euthanized (57.75%). 84% of the patrons we’ve served so far report that the cat From the mid-1970s to the early 1980s, the Dumb Friends they brought in has never seen a veterinarian. League (DFL) was at times forced to euthanize as many Our ambitious goal is to perform 10,000 spay/neuter pro- as 250 cats and kittens a day. In looking at just one year cedures per year. Even coming close to that goal will make during that period—1982—DFL received 14,710 felines; a tremendous impact on our community and on the lives of those, 11,046 (78%) were euthanized. By comparison, of the cats that live here—none of which could happen in 2016 the shelter took in 10,057 cats, and only cats that without the collaboration and innovation we are so fortu- were suffering had to be euthanized, which equated to nate to enjoy here in Colorado. n 1,251 cats (12%). Something obviously has changed in the past 30-plus years. What has led to such a dramatic decrease in feline euthanasia? Collaboration Works! Colorado is exceptionally lucky to be so far ahead, in com- parison to other states, when it comes to collaboration in the realm of animal welfare. Not only do our shelters work together to tackle common issues and improve ani- EAT. mal care, but no other state that I’m aware of has shelters that work hand-in-hand with their state VMA, as we do with CVMA. We are very grateful for that partnership, and we are also extremely proud of it. As partners, we have SLEEP. come together to address numerous animal welfare issues, including ongoing veterinary care for shelter pets, the ac- cessibility of rabies vaccinations for shelter pets, and the NEUROLOGY. problem of cat overpopulation. And while the number of cats coming into shelters has declined, along with the num- THAT’S RIGHT—We’re the Only ber of cats being euthanized, we still have much more to Colorado Veterinary Neurology Clinic: do to resolve “the cat challenge.” s /PEN HOURS A DAY DAYS A WEEK DAYS A YEAR Part of the work that still needs to be done is around the issue of community cats—cats that are often not valued. s 3TAFFS NEUROLOGY EXPERIENCED TEAM MEMBERS Another part is addressing the underserved segment of cat s 4HAT ACCEPTS ALL REFERRALS EMERGENCIES CONSULTATIONS owners, many of whom take care of their cats’ needs be- AND WALK INSALL UNDER ONE ROOF fore their own. The cat in these individuals’ lives might be their only source of companionship—and yet they struggle Continuity of care matters. Come visit our to provide adequate care for that companion. We need to clinic to see what else makes us one of a kind. honor that bond and find ways to provide both these cats and their owners with the care and services they need. ROCKY MOUNTAIN Continuing to find strategies to do so is vital, and collabora- tion is key. VETERINARY NEUROLOGY One way DFL, with the help and support of so many, is 3550 SOUTH INCA ST. | ENGLEWOOD 80110 | 303.874.2081 addressing some of the ongoing challenges is through our WWW.ROCKYMOUNTAINVETERINARYNEUROLOGY.COM new Solutions – Cat Spay/Neuter Clinic that opened this A proud owner of VRCC, Veterinary Specialty & Emergency Hospital January 8 at 191 Yuma Street, home to PetAid Colorado
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Community Cats: CVMA Members Speak No-fee Clinic Concept When asked how they would feel about a no-fee, cat-only In an effort to gather more information about member spay/neuter service in their community in which they were perceptions of community cats in Colorado, CVMA under- not required to make an investment of time or money, took a member survey in 2016. Thank you for sharing your 84.3% of respondents indicated they strongly supported views on this complex issue. (33.3%), moderately supported (30.2%), or were neutral Respondent Characteristics (21%) about the question. There were no differences in answers based on the respondents’ gender, age category, A total of 96 CVMA members responded to the survey. Over practice location or role in practice. half of the respondents (54.2%) identified that they practice Supporters believe that this service could positively in a suburban location, with 24% identifying an urban and impact the quality of cat lives and decrease populations. 21.9% a rural practice location. General small animal prac- Those not in support worry about the impact on the profes- tice accounted for 56.3% of the respondents’ veterinary ser- sion, both the respect for services and business impact. vice with mixed practice the second most frequent response Concern for wildlife impacts and a lack of perceived need at 13.5%. Respondents were mostly female (71.9%) and were also reasons for non-support. ranged from veterinary students to veterinarians practicing for over 50 years covering a wide range of age categories. Perceptions Over half of respondents (53.1%) answered yes when asked if there is a community cat problem in their area; no statis- tical differences were found between age or gender when answering this question. Associates in practices were less likely to identify community cats as a problem than were those in education or government and retirees (p=0.02). Those in rural practice were more likely to identify com- munity cats as a problem than those in urban or suburban practices (p<0.01). Mitigating the Issue When asked who is responsible for mitigating the commu- Member Ideas nity cat problem where it does exist, citizens/community Survey respondents were asked “What great idea do you was most frequently selected (83.3%) followed by shelter have to help address the cat overpopulation problem?” (72.9%), trap-neuter-return groups (67.7%) and veterinar- Public education emerged as a theme, with focal points ians ( 51%). including responsible cat ownership and the impact of free- Fewer than half of responding veterinarians participate roaming cats on wildlife. The benefits of spay/neuter were in outreach or services around community cats. Providing mentioned by many respondents; others believe alternative education was the most common form of service reported contraceptive methods are needed. Multiple respondents (47.9%) and even fewer report that their practices provide suggested that free-roaming cats should be illegal, just like services to the community cat population. However, 61.5% free-roaming dogs. of veterinarians are aware of community cat programs within their area. Over half of veterinarians in practice Summary (54.2%) would be willing to provide spay/neuter services Similar to other regions, Colorado veterinarians responding for community cats at a reduced fee. to this survey are split in identifying community cats as a problem in their area and, if there is a problem, how to re- solve it. Education of the public through schools, media and one-on-one with clients were identified as key components in solving issues of community cats. n
CVMA Voice 2017:2 | PAGE 21 2017, Issue #2 FOCUS ON THE FELINE
Dumb Friends League Solutions— to assess the level of support for a fully subsidized, no-bar- Cat Spay/Neuter Clinic Opens rier spay/neuter clinic. The survey revealed strong support at 191 Yuma Street for such a cat-only spay/neuter clinic (see page 21). Conse- quently, the CVMA Executive Committee voted to fully sup- port the clinic as a way to reduce cat overpopulation and enhance the wellbeing of cats. The Dumb Friends League Cat Spay/Neuter Clinic is be- ing partially funded for a three-year period by generous grants from the Animal Assistance Foundation, PetSmart Charities™ and the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA), as well as by the Dumb Friends League. DFL will be working closely with other local organizations, including Denver Animal Protection, Metro Denver C.A.T., and a number of rescues and TNR groups, for trapping and transporting services. The new clinic will augment—not replace—the Dumb Friends League’s mobile spay/neuter program. The goal of the Dumb Friends League Cat Spay/Neuter Clinic is to help reduce cat overpopulation in metro Denver and beyond by spaying or neutering an additional 10,000 cats each year. CVMA is supportive of this effort, which is the right thing to do for the cats and people of our community, and we welcome the DFL clinic to 191 Yuma Street! n
The Denver area has a new resource focused on reducing cat overpopulation! With thousands of reproductively intact cats roaming Lower Your IT Cost. free within the Denver metropolitan area, animal welfare organizations are consistently overwhelmed with cats and Become More Efficient. kittens. The large number of cats living on the streets or Streamline Your Practice. waiting for homes in shelters and rescues is one of the big- gest challenges in animal welfare across the country and in Colorado. While the Dumb Friends League (DFL) per- Line of Business Support Help Desk forms approximately 4,500 spay/neuter surgeries on cats at their shelters prior to adoption each year, and another DVMAX Cornerstone Anti-Virus and Malware Protection 5,600 spay/neuter surgeries on owned and community AVImark ImproMed Vendor Management cats through its mobile spay/neuter clinics, there remains a 24/7/365 Remote Monitoring need to make fully subsidized spay/neuter services for cats Project Management more accessible in our community. Backup Disaster Recovery and Business Continuity Remote Access To help address this growing issue in our community, the Dumb Friends League (DFL) has opened a cat spay/neuter Patch Management Reporting clinic, operated by DFL and housed at PetAid Colorado’s facility at 191 Yuma Street. Appreciating the potential to Contact us today for a personalized, no cost, positively impact cat welfare through a more intensive ster- no obligation consultation ilization initiative, PetAid is pleased to be able to lease the space to DFL for this no-fee cat sterilization clinic. 720.583.7068 | [email protected]@cosaindata.com | cosaindata.com DFL also sought the input of Colorado veterinarians be- Supporting Colorado Vets since 2011 fore undertaking this effort. CVMA surveyed its members
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Dumb Friends League Solutions—Cat Spay/Neuter Clinic FAQs Q: Why is the Dumb Friends League opening a spay/neuter clinic for cats? A: The large number of cats living on the streets or waiting for homes in shelters and rescues is one of the biggest chal- lenges in animal welfare across the country and in Colorado. While the Dumb Friends League performs approximately 4,500 spay/neuter surgeries on cats at their shelters prior to adoption each year, and another 5,600 spay/neuter surger- ies on owned and community cats through its mobile spay/neuter clinics, there remains a need to make fully subsi- dized spay/neuter services for cats more accessible in our community. The goal of the Dumb Friends League Cat Spay/ Neuter Clinic is to help reduce cat overpopulation in metro Denver and beyond by spaying or neutering an additional 10,000 cats each year. Q: Why isn’t the clinic also open to dogs? Cat overpopulation is a much greater challenge than dog overpopulation in metro Denver, so the focus of this facility and program will be to spay and neuter cats. The Dumb Friends League will continue to offer reduced fee spay/neuter surgeries for dogs, subsidized by its donors, on its Lulu Mobile spay/neuter clinic. Q: What kind of cats are eligible for surgery at the clinic? The clinic is open to all Colorado cats, including feral cats, trap-neuter-return (TNR) cats and community cats (defined as free-roaming cats, whether tame or feral), and owned cats. Q. How will feral, TNR, and community cats get to the clinic? The Dumb Friends League will work closely with other local organizations, including Denver Animal Protection, Metro Denver C.A.T. and a number of rescues and TNR groups, for trapping and transporting services. Q: Will the cats get vaccinations along with their spay/neuter surgery? Yes, cats that undergo spay/neuter surgery at the clinic will receive age-appropriate vaccinations, including rabies. Q: Will any other services be available at the clinic? For cats admitted for spay/neuter surgery, the owners can elect to have them tested for Felv/FIV and/or microchipped for a fee. Q: Who performs the surgeries at the new clinic? Dumb Friends League veterinarians who are licensed to practice in the state of Colorado perform the surgeries, as- sisted by Dumb Friends League veterinary technicians. Q: Do clients need to have a low income in order to get cats spayed or neutered at the clinic? No, anyone can bring a cat(s) to be spayed or neutered at the clinic, regardless of income. There are no income qualifi- cations for clients who bring cats to the clinic. Q: How will you let people know about the clinic? As part of this proactive new program, the Dumb Friends League humane education staff will be going out into the community to teach the value of spaying and neutering to people in underserved areas that would be most likely to use the services of the clinic. In addition, the Dumb Friends League outreach staff will be canvassing neighborhoods and speaking to community groups. Q: Does the Colorado veterinary community support the new clinic? Yes, the Colorado Veterinary Medical Association (CVMA) surveyed its veterinarian membership to assess the level of support for a fully subsidized, no-barrier spay/neuter clinic. The survey revealed strong support for such a cat-only spay/neuter clinic. Consequently, the CVMA Executive Committee voted to fully support the clinic as a way to reduce cat overpopulation and enhance the wellbeing of cats. Q: Is the new clinic going to replace the mobile spay/neuter clinics operated by the Dumb Friends League? A: No, the new clinic will augment—not replace—the Dumb Friends League’s mobile spay/neuter program. The Dumb Friends League Meow Mobile and Lulu Mobile will continue to travel to underserved areas of metro Denver to provide free spay/neuter surgeries for cats and low-cost spay/neuter surgeries for dogs (Lulu Mobile only), subsidized by Dumb Friends League donors. Q. Who is funding the clinic? The Dumb Friends League Cat Spay/Neuter Clinic is being funded for a three-year period by generous grants from the Animal Assistance Foundation, PetSmart Charities and the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA), as well as by the Dumb Friends League. n
CVMA Voice 2017:2 | PAGE 23 2017, Issue #2 FOCUS ON THE FELINE
Cats Can Wear Collars! An Evaluation When asked how well they thought their cat would toler- of Visual and Permanent Identification ate wearing a collar, 17% responded extremely well; 25% in Pet Cats moderately well; 37% fairly well; and 21% poorly/not at all. In reality, the study showed 62% tolerated the collars Linda K Lord, DVM, PhD extremely well; 19% moderately well; 10% fairly well; and Academic and Allied Industry Liaison 9% poorly/not at all. Owners perceived cats wearing the Merck Animal Health adjustable nylon collar as having tolerated the collar much better than the other two collar types (78% for adjustable I’ve always had an interest in recovery of lost pets, and nylon vs. 60% for breakaway and 46% for stretch elastic especially identification, spurred by a personal experience for extremely well category). when my own two dogs ran away. One came home on its At the end of the study, overall 77% of the cats were own in four days, and the other was returned to us in five still wearing the collars, with the highest percentage of because of his ID tag. 88% for the adjustable nylon. When asked, 89% of own- This led me to my research interest in how owners ers said they plan to continue to keep collars on their cats. search for their lost pets and differences in people’s percep- Additionally, owners’ expected vs. actual assessment of tions between dogs and cats. In a public perception survey, their cat’s toleration of a collar improved for all three collar only 33% of people believe cats should be indoor only and types, but less for elastic stretch collar (78% for adjustable 63% believe stray cats can find their way home on their nylon and 75% for breakaway vs. 59% for elastic stretch). own. Owners themselves often believe that if their cat is For those owners that did not complete the study, they indoor-only, ID is unnecessary because their cat won’t get gave the following reasons: 38% said the collar was lost; lost in the first place. They also believe that cats won’t tol- 13% the collar kept coming off; 19% said the cat was erate wearing collars or that collars pose a danger to the scratching/rubbing at the collar, 8% said the cat caught its cat. Add into this the reality that cat owners, in general, foot/mouth in the collar; and 22% replied “other” reasons. wait longer to start searching for a lost cat and visit the As for the microchips, there has been only one failure to shelter less often than dog owners, and far fewer cats are date, one migration of chip to the elbow area, and no loss returned to their owners than dogs in shelters. In one Ohio of microchips reported. study, 41% of the cats that owners considered lost were At the end of the study, we found that 73% of the cats indoor-only. were able to successfully wear collars for the whole six Reactions are very different when people see cats out- months. There was a low incidence (3.3%) of issues—cats side (they belong there, they’re fine outside, they will find caught a forelimb in their collar or caught their collar on their way home) as opposed to when they see dogs running an object or in their mouth—and no injuries from wear- loose (it must be lost, it needs to be returned to its owner). ing collars. We were confident in concluding that cats can Only 14% to 18% of cats have visual identification and 3% successfully wear collars, and the vast majority of owners to 7% have microchips (which don’t offer an outwardly vis- thought their cats tolerated collars extremely well, espe- ible cue that this animal is owned and perhaps needs to cially those using the adjustable nylon collars. find its way back home). Dogs are far more likely to have What we would like veterinarians to know is that they proper identification, and to be wearing a collar and ID are key in educating cat owners on the importance of cat tags, or at least rabies tags, than cats. Why is that? collars and identification. Our study shows that cats can— That question led me to a research project to look at cats and will—wear collars and most of the misconceptions and collars, focused on the whole misconception there we’ve all had for years aren’t actually true. With this knowl- seems to be that cats can’t or won’t wear collars. With edge, our hope is that veterinarians will take the time to other colleagues interested in this topic as well, we enrolled show their clients how to properly put a collar on their cats 538 cats owned by veterinary students, other university and how much to tighten it for the cat’s comfort and secu- students, and the general public from four university com- rity. A simple demonstration in the exam room can go a munities to evaluate if cats would tolerate wearing collars, long way in getting more cats in collars with identification, if owners would continue to keep collars on cats, and to ensuring that more of them get home safely. n test for migration and functionality of microchips. We randomized cats to one of three collar types (break- away, elastic stretch, and adjustable nylon) and implanted the cats with microchips, then checked collars monthly and microchips at the end of the six-month study period. Own- ers could drop out of the study at any time for any reason. Before we started, we asked perception questions of the owners as well.
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A M E R I C A N A S S O C I AT I O N O F F E L I N E P R A C T I T I O N E R S
2017 CONFERENCE Feline Infectious Diseases and Pediatrics
Distinguished Speakers Elizabeth Bailey, DVM Jennifer Brandt, PhD, LISW Ellen Carozza, LVT Robin Downing, DVM, DAAPM, DACVSMR, CVPP, CCRP Mark Epstein, DVM, DABVP (Canine/Feline), DAAPM, CVPP Tammy Grubb, DVM, PhD Michael Lappin, DVM, PhD, DACVIM Justine Lee, DVM, DACVECC, DABT Annette Litster, BVSc, PhD, FANZCVS (Feline Medicine), MMedSci (Clinical Epidemiology) Susan Little, DVM, DABVP (Feline) Karen Moriello, DVM, DACVD Maryanne Murphy, DVM, DACVN Niels Pedersen, DVM, PhD Jessica Quimby, DVM, PhD, DACVIM Jane Robertson, DVM, DACVIM Kersti Seksel, BVSc (Hons), MRCVS, MA (Hons), FACVSc, DACVB, DECAWBM John Volk Craig Webb, PhD, DVM, DACVIM *Subject to change SAVE THE DATE! Conference Features Conference Education I Feline-specific material presented by expert speakers. Pre-conference Day Sessions: topics such as Neuropathic & I Sessions for veterinarians who see cats at all Neurogenic Pain Conditions, NSAIDs & Opioid Updates, Pain levels of their career. Modifying Drugs, Wellness & Compassion Satisfaction, Nutritional Management of Obesity & Arthritis and Local Anesthesia & I Two Veterinary Tracks and one Para-professional Loco-regional Techniques. Track. Infectious Diseases: topics such as FIP, Zoonosis, Flea & Tick I Lunch & Learns – additional CE is offered through Associated Illnesses, Dermatophytosis, Infectious Otitis, Bacterial & lunch with speakers. Attendance is limited. Yeast Overgrowth, Infectious Diarrhea, Upper Respiratory Infection, I Poster sessions presented in the exhibit hall. Emerging Feline Pathogens, Update on Diagnostic Tests, Clinical Uses of Probiotics, and more. I Networking and social activities with colleagues. Pediatrics: topics such as Preventive Healthcare, Pediatric I Meals and coffee breaks in our interactive Anesthesia, How to Treat the Small & the Sick, Kitten Development, exhibit hall. Problem Intervention, Socialization, Retrovirus Updates, and more. I Feline-friendly Handling Lab – attendance is limited. Sessions for para-professionals will also be offered on topics such as Kitten Kindy, Taming the Cantankerous Cat, Trouble Shooting Fading Kitten Syndrome, and the New AVTCP Technician Feline Specialty. October 19 – 22, 2017 Sheraton Denver Downtown Hotel Denver, CO For more information including the agenda, abstracts and to register, visit www.catvets.com/education. 2017, Issue #2 FOCUS ON THE FELINE
Cats I Have Known dust mop.” We even tried the dreaded 4-letter word, “d- i-e-t.” 8-Mile wouldn’t have anything to do with that. We Curtis Crawford, DVM store our extra dogfood inventory in the barn and every CVMA Past-president time 8-Mile sees the bottom of her food bowl between the pieces of kibble, she tears into a bag. And it ain’t the small, On a small family farm, everybody has a job. Even the least expensive bag either. cats. Mouse and gopher control topped the duties list for 8-Mile has made the barn her domain. People are wel- my mom and dad’s cats, followed by official fresh cow comed with a purr and a rub around their boots. Horses milk tasters and obligatory lap warmers. Our herd ran the and cattle are tolerated. Dogs and cats are loudly cursed gamut from the true feral ones that were never seen to with hisses and growls from her bed behind the pallets of “almost” pure house cats. Mom insisted that a farm wasn’t dog food. Since our radiograph machine is also in the barn, complete without a black tomcat named “Top Cat” around 8-Mile gets to practice her vocal complaining quite regu- and we had several of that ruling dynasty throughout the larly. But last month, something happened that shocked the years. However, there was usually an alpha female in the entire office. mix who would argue that designation by beating the tar We were trying to radiograph one of those rotten, large out of the current “Top Cat” on a regular basis. dogs with no manners. A quick x-ray that shouldn’t take My younger brother and I shared a fold-down couch as a anytime at all had become a major ordeal. The dog had bed in the living room until we started gradeschool. That to be muzzled and was fighting the whole way to the ma- arrangement had its pluses and minuses. On the plus side, chine. He finally balked at the table and went into an alliga- we kept each other warm on those cold winter nights. We tor death-roll on the end of the leash with fluid spewing out could double up that heat by bringing the dogs and cats of every secreting and excreting orifice. Kinda like one of to bed. On the minus side, sibling bladder control could those spinning firework pinwheels, but not near as pretty. be an issue, especially after eating a good, ripe water- Urine, stool, anal sac juice, saliva, tears, and ear wax flung melon with salt just before bedtime on a summer evening. far and wide as he shrieked like a stuck pig. Then over the One night, I woke to wetness spreading across the sheets dog’s vocalization, a low buzz-saw sound rose in a quick from my brother’s side of the bed. An exasperated cry of crescendo from 8-Miles’ boudoir (bet you didn’t think I “MOM!!!” brought her stumbling out of the bedroom to knew that word). Suddenly 8-Mile flew from her bed and turn on the light revealing that my brother was not the cul- over the stacks of dogfood like an Olympic pole-vaulter to prit (this time). Our favorite cat, Momma Kitty, had nested tear into that dog, slapping him multiple times across the and delivered her kittens there. I reckon it was her way of face quicker than Jackie Chan. The dog abruptly stopped showing us how much she trusted us. his panic attack as he crossed his eyes trying focus on the Another cat that has captured my affection is our current blur of cat paws whacking his nose. The techs were as flab- clinic cat. She is named 8-Mile because she was found on bergasted as the dog. No one knew that cat was capable of 8-Mile Road by a Good Samaritan. There are no shelters such explosive speed and agility. licensed to handle cats in our five-county area and we had Worried that 8-Mile was going to scratch this dog’s eyes recently lost our old clinic cat, so we got suckered into tak- out like a jilted prom date, they pulled her off and set her ing her. She was a moth-eaten, rangy, long-haired calico back on the dog food. The dog was now sitting stone still with no meat on her bones. A good deworming and excel- and subdued. But as they started to lift him onto the table, lent diet was prescribed to get her back into shape. But the stupidity synapse fired once again. This time there was after a month, it was evident that in spite of a great appe- no warning as 8-Mile swooped down to land in the middle tite and attitude and being kept in our indoor large animal of that dog with an audible thud and commenced to school- facility, this cat was not looking any better. She was as em- ing him on proper behavior in the Kingdom of 8-Mile. barrassing as a skinny cook in a truck-stop diner. The staff Chagrined for the second time, the dog relented to being should reflect the quality of the grub. picked up out of 8-Mile’s righteous wrath. A little blood worked revealed the issue to be diabetes. By With her tail high in the air and that little swagger that now we were too attached to her to give up on her and she only a cat can have, 8-Mile sauntered around the end of the proved to be a willing recipient of daily insulin injections. dog food back to her bed and began licking off all the dog And she blossomed! The ratty, greasy hair coat sleeked cooties from her paws. up and her eyes took on a beautiful green glow. We fed Why did I tell you the heroic tale of 8-Mile, Crouching the recommended diabetes diet and within a short time, Cat, Defeated Dog? Cats are the focus of this issue of the she started maintaining her blood sugar levels without in- VOICE. Our partners in animal control and welfare have sulin. Her muscles filled out, but that rotund belly didn’t done a fantastic job of addressing dog overpopulation in change. She looks like a long haired football on legs. She Colorado and are now taking steps to address the unique gets high-centered on the door threshold. It has become a issues that come with unowned cats. It requires some regular conversation with large animal clients coming into the barn, “No, she is not pregnant, she is our self-propelled Continued on next page
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Continued from previous page thinking outside the box and we as the CVMA have an op- portunity to make a significant impact in feline overpopula- tion once we fully understand the dilemma and grasp the programs that have the potential to reach cats that would probably never otherwise see a veterinarian in their life- times. Unlike Top Cat, Mama Kitty, 8-Mile, or our dogs, these cats may not have a home, but they are often still cared for by Good Samaritans and they do have a special place in their community. Will we make a difference? Go back to 8-Mile. Whatever possessed that crazy stray to whup up on that dog? Was she coming to our defense? I like to think that 8-Mile just wanted to let us know that we are important to her and she appreciates what we have done for her. But I could be wrong. Could be that she was just fed up with the noise and crap. Either way, we have made a difference in that cat’s life and she has in ours, too. CVMA, Welcome to the herd. n
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CVMA Voice 2017:2 | PAGE 27 2017, Issue #2 FOCUS ON THE FELINE
Confessions of a Not-so-crazy Cat Lady probably nine different doctors in that time. I may have been asked once if my cats were chipped. And a discus- Cami Cacciatore, MS, CVJ sion about identification? I don’t remember that ever CVMA Director of Communications and Marketing happening. I try to be a good cat owner. I take them for regular ex- I have three cats. My husband says more than that is ams. I get their teeth x-rayed and cleaned. I keep current grounds for divorce and if I want to bring home another on vaccinations and do yearly blood work as life-stage ap- one, I have to trade one in. I told him I might trade him in propriate. I feed them the prescription food (dental and for the right cat. He was not amused. My office at CVMA is kidney) they need. They have toys, a water fountain bowl, filled with beautiful cat photos that said husband has taken, and I get the soft food they love so much as treats. They as well as lots of cat kitsch I’ve collected over my nine years have endless scratchers and toys and boxes to play in. I here. While I’m pretty sure I’m not a crazy cat lady, I do love them unconditionally, even when they scarf and barf, love cats and can’t imagine my life without one (or three). scratch my stuff, or wake me up in the middle of the night There has literally been a cat in the house since the day (or way too early with a delicate little paw to the face). I was born. My parents were cat people and we had 3 over Part of this is my relationship with my veterinarian (you the 18 years I lived at home. My college roommate and I know who you are!). As I said earlier, it took me several adopted one. I always had cat-loving friends who rescued years, about nine different veterinarians, and four clinics and I helped corral and socialize my share of kittens over to find one that stuck. Why so many? When we first moved the years. From that first cat in college, over my adult life, here, I went to the one nearest my house (the less time in I’ve had nine, including the three we live with now. the car with a yowling cat the better). I liked the first doc- I always thought I knew a lot about cats. I’d lived with tor I saw, but he moved on. I liked the second a lot, and he so many, and had enough rescue friends, that I learned a was particularly kind when I lost my 18-year-old tabby in lot about feline behavior and needs. So much so that when 2007. But he, too, moved on. I finally ended up at a clinic any of my friends or family members had cat questions, I loved, owned by someone I really respected, and was they usually asked me. happy there—until the clinic was taken over by a corporate Once I started working with the veterinary community in chain. That wasn’t the issue so much as the fact that every my role at CVMA, I realized how little I actually knew. Like year when it was time to go back in, the doctor I’d seen many people (you know, the ones that make you sigh in before had left, and I had to start over with someone new. frustration), when I was younger, I hadn’t always taken them After about four different doctors, I gave up. I then went to see a veterinarian consistently unless they were sick. I had to a feline-only clinic. On the very first visit, the doctor put them front declawed. I didn’t think they needed ID because hands on my cat and pet him. Didn’t take a temperature. they were indoor-only cats that would never get outside. Didn’t weigh him. Didn’t ask me about diet or ID or any of In my defense, this was well over 20 years ago. I didn’t the things I’d learned during my time at CVMA were impor- know dental disease was common in cats until my child- tant parts of a good exam. Then they drew blood for test- hood cat had to be euthanized at the age of 18 because of ing, and sent me out to reception—where I was promptly severe dental disease (that one still breaks my heart). Then charged $450 for the exam and the blood work. When I again, back then, I don’t remember our family veterinarian questioned the practice manager on the cost, especially in taking x-rays or ever talking to us about dental care. light of how little “exam” was actually involved, I was told Of the three cats I have now, two are declawed. They are “The doctor knows cats, and can just tell if they are sick or 12 and 10. The veterinarians who performed the procedures have a temp.” So I said, “But the doctor didn’t even weigh (one in Arizona and one here) didn’t question my request my cat. Or ask me about diet.” Her response? “Oh, if the or talk to me about alternatives. Then, it was routine. Now, cat didn’t feel overweight, the doctor assumes you are feed- I would never do it. My youngest cat (he’s five) is a monu- ing it okay and it’s fine.” mental pain in the butt, very domineering, and he bullies Needless to say, I never went back. And it wasn’t even my tiny female mercilessly. He ignores his scratching post the cost of the bill I was given. Working at CVMA, I’ve and attacks my (fairly new) furniture when he’s mad at us. heard our members talk about clients who price shop and He sporks us on a regular basis with the claws he refuses to how hard it is to convince them of the value of veterinary keep to himself. Some areas of my carpet have seen better care and the services provided. I truly do understand the days. Would my life (and furniture and skin and other cats) value of wellness exams and preventive care and the ben- be easier if he was declawed? Yes. But now, knowing what I efit of partnering with my veterinarian to keep my cats know, after working here, I just can’t do it. healthy and happy. I just couldn’t find someone I felt I I didn’t even know about microchipping until about four could do that with. cats ago. Shortly after I started working here, we helped With my CVMA-educated standards firmly fixed in DFL launch the Chip Your Cat initiative, and I had all of my mind, I finally—happily—found one that I have that mine chipped. I’m on my fourth veterinary clinic since moving here in 2006 (more on that later) and have seen Continued on next page
PAGE 28 | CVMA Voice 2017:2 CVMA VOICE FOCUS ON THE FELINE
Continued from previous page I came home and found her sitting by the door, her back leg relationship with. He owns the practice and has only one stuck through the collar at her neck. That was the end of associate. I don’t have to worry about a revolving door of my collar days. I’m sure you’ve heard that story before from doctors, which keeps my care consistent. The staff is won- clients, or even thought yourself that cats and collars might derful and they truly treat me and my pets like family. I not always mix. But, according to the research, they do! know my cats are getting the best care possible and I know Who knew? I’m being charged fairly for that care and the services the It’s “ah ha” moments like this that make me feel incred- clinic provides. ibly grateful to be working within this amazing community Even with as much as I’ve come to understand about of veterinary professionals. I know so much more than I cats and veterinary care over the years, I’m happy to say did when I started nine years ago, and I am still learning that I’m still learning every day. This past BIG Ideas was a new things every day, from the articles we publish here in perfect example… I knew I’d enjoy it because, well, cats. the VOICE, from taking your calls and questions, and com- But I didn’t know I’d learn so much more, like the findings municating the “need to know” information each week in from Dr. Lord’s research (see page 18) on identification that eVOICE, from our staff, from you, from our industry and shows cats really do tolerate collars and there is very little collaborative partners. Working with CVMA has not only chance of harm to them from wearing them. I myself was made me a better professional, but, I hope, a better cat skeptical, having tried, once, to put a collar on an escape- owner. I’m not sure my cats would agree as they are foisted artist tabby I had in Chicago who liked to sneak out the into a carrier and driven to a clinic to be poked and prod- door and wander down the hall. I got her the cutest collar, ded. But I know I’m doing what’s best for them, and I have with the cutest little mouse ID tag. So perfect! Until the day you all to thank for that. n
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CVMA Voice 2017:2 | PAGE 29 2017, Issue #2 GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS
2017 Legislative Session: Thanks a bill that eliminated the restriction to companion animals to Members Who Accepted Calls contained in the 2016 bill. As a result, Colorado veterinar- to Action! ians can now treat all species with compounded medica- tions—including exotic animals, zoo animals, laboratory CVMA is committed to advocating effectively for the veteri- animals, and horses—in addition to companion animals. nary profession and animal health and welfare in Colorado. The bill was signed by the governor on June 6. During the 2017 session, CVMA’s legislative team was agile and responsive as it monitored, supported, or opposed 18 Rural Veterinary Education Loan Repayment bills. CVMA’s short list of bills covered many topics and Program (HB17-1282) promised varying degrees of potential impact to the vet- Together, CVMA and Colorado State University College of erinary community on animal health and welfare, public Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences took a lead protection, the scope of veterinary practice, professional role in sustaining the vitality of livestock producers and regulation, and the opioid epidemic. The session again communities in rural Colorado through House Bill 17-1282. demonstrated the reality that regulators, legislators, and By providing an education loan repayment incentive for citizen advocates all have the ability to quickly capture the veterinarians to practice in rural areas, the bill will benefit spotlight with a wide range of animal care perspectives that rural communities in Colorado that have underserved vet- demand attention. Through the combined efforts of CVMA’s erinary needs, and veterinary students who desire to prac- professional lobbyist, member connections, outreach and tice in those communities. House Bill 17-1282 establishes a testimony, staff engagement, and established relationships five-member council, on which CVMA will be represented, with key legislators, CVMA and its members fared well to administer the program, and provides funding for two representing the interests of the profession on behalf of veterinarians for four years each. its 2,300-plus members. Working together through CVMA, HB17-1282 passed on May 10 in the final hours of the ses- members have the benefit of legislation that protects both sion, and CVMA president Sam Romano, DVM and member veterinary practice and animal welfare in Colorado. Lora Bledsoe, DVM who testified in support of the bill, at- These three bills required most of CVMA’s attention in tended the signing ceremony with Governor Hickenlooper 2017: Veterinary Pharmaceutical Compounding Animal Patient (HB17-1274) Over two legislative sessions, CVMA has invested deeply to significantly improve the landscape for veterinary com- pounding in Colorado. In 2016, CVMA and its sponsors suc- cessfully passed House Bill 16-1324 that made a number of significant improvements in the compounding landscape for Colorado veterinarians, as it: • Provided access to controlled compounded medications • Provided access to resident and non-resident compound- ing pharmacies • Allowed practices to maintain office stock of compounded medications • Provided for limited dispensing from office stock To broaden the impact of compounding access improve- ments made in 2016, CVMA in the 2017 session requested on June 5. Sam Romano, DVM, testified, “We’ve heard far too many In concert, these two bills provide clarity and stories from disheartened young veterinarians whose “afford veterinarians a wider range of options dream has been to care for large and small animals in rural to treat patients effectively . CVMA is proud to communities, but whose dream evaporated because what they could earn in a rural practice is not adequate to cover lead the effort to improve veterinary medicine their basic needs and service their educational debt load. in Colorado and is grateful to sponsors in Their inability to pursue their dream has larger ripples too, both the Colorado House and Senate who from the farmers and ranchers who depend on having a commitment to enact these important veterinarian available to keep their herds healthy, to the changes ”. —Will French, DVM community children who rely on a veterinarian to treat Continued on next page
PAGE 30 | CVMA Voice 2017:2 CVMA VOICE GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS
Continued from previous page S = support, O = oppose, M = Monitor). For full bill de- scriptions, actions, and information, see the CVMA Bill their sick or injured furry friend. We support SB17-1282 Tracker, available at colovma.org/legislative/. because it provides a mechanism to support the wellbeing and vitality of rural Colorado communities. The investment • HB17-1112 Immunity Unauthorized Practice of Profession required is modest to fund loan repayment for veterinar- (Postponed Indefinitely) O ians willing to serve in rural Colorado—but the dividends • HB17-1121 Patient Safety Act (Postponed Indefinitely) S from that investment will be significant to the individual, • HB17-1158 Charitable Solicitations Regulation (Governor his or her animal patients, animal owners, the community, Signed 4/28/17) M and society at large.” • HB17-1165 DORA Boards Disciplinary Action Resolution Process (Sent to the Governor (5/18/17)) S Remove Medical Release Requirement for Animal • HB 17-1179 Immunity for Emergency Rescue from Locked Chiropractic (SB17-135) Vehicle (Governor signed 4/13/17) S In spirited testimony before the House and Senate Ag • HB17-1228 Pet Animal Care Technology Platform Regula- committees, CVMA countered an attempt to dismantle tion (Governor signed 6/5/17) M the unique and progressive veterinary medical clearance • HB17-1274 Veterinary Pharmaceutical Compounding (VMC) requirement for the legal practice of animal chiro- Animal Patient (Governor signed 6/6/17) S practic in Colorado. Animal chiropractors presented vigor- • HB17-1282 Rural Veterinary Education Loan Repay- ous testimony from 26 witnesses on perceived restraint of ment Program (Governor signed 6/5/17) S trade, denial of care, and protecting the rights of animal • HB17-1350 Pharmacist Partial Fill Opioid Prescription owners. CVMA experts spoke to protecting patients, own- (Postponed Indefinitely) M ers, care providers, and public health and cautioned about • SB17-030 Exempt Injectable Anabolic Steroids for Cattle potentially disastrous patient safety outcomes when contra- (Governor signed 3/16/17) S indications to chiropractic care are not identified. While the • SB17-032 Prescription Drug Monitoring Program Access bill passed the Senate, CVMA was able to halt its progress (Postponed Indefinitely) M in the House. CVMA appreciates the support of the many • SB17-033 Delegate Dispensing Over-the- counter Medica- members who reached out to their Representatives and tions (Governor signed 3/30/17) M Senators to oppose the bill. The bill was introduced without • SB17-054 Create Rotation Schedule for Tax Checkoff Pro- warning, and without the opportunity for stakeholder con- grams (Postponed indefinitely) O sultation. In anticipation of continued legislative interest in • SB17-109 Industrial Hemp Animal Feed (Governor signed this issue during the 2018 session, CVMA and the Colorado 3/20/17) M Chiropractic Association have agreed to conversations to • SB17-135 Remove Medical Release Requirement for improve mutual understanding of the VMC and to support Animal Chiropractic (Postponed Indefinitely) O pathways for collaborative patient care. • SB17-136 Reporting and Limiting Civil Forfeiture (Post- poned Indefinitely) M Other 2017 Legislation • SB17-146 Access to Prescription Drug Monitoring Program In addition to the three discussed above (and bolded be- (Governor signed 4/6/17) S low), CVMA was also carefully following the many bills • SB17-242 Modernize Behavioral Health Terminology in listed below (CVMA position on each denoted as follows: Colorado Revised (Governor Signed (5/25/17)) M n
CVMA | PAC Reception Friday, September 22 | 7:00 – 8:00 PM at CVMA Convention 2017 Join us for dessert, wine, and an evening of lively conversation to benefit the CVMA Political Action Committee (PAC) . Hear from CVMA Lobbyist Leo Boyle, CEO Ralph Johnson, and a partner in the state legislature about the critical advocacy work that takes place throughout the year to defend and advance veterinary medicine, and animal health and welfare in Colorado . A special invitation for the reception will be sent later this summer, so stay tuned for more information! If you have any questions or would like to join the host committee for the reception, please contact Katie Koch at katiekoch@colovma org. or 303 539. 7273. or visit colovma org/legislative/PAC. .
About CVMA | PAC The CVMA Political Action Committee (PAC) helps advance CVMA’s public policy initiatives in Colorado . CVMA | PAC pools campaign contributions from members and donates those funds to campaign for or against candidates, ballot initiatives, or legislation . Those pooled resources help elect candidates to public office who share CVMA’s interests and concerns about policy issues .
CVMA Voice 2017:2 | PAGE 31 2017, Issue #2 SCIENCE UPDATE
Canine Distemper a Growing Threat be run individually. Submission of urine with a conjunctival to Animals in the Front Range or preputial swab is indicated to increase sensitivity; these two samples may be pooled and run at the cost of one assay Anna Fagre, DVM, MPH, CSU Microbiology, Immunology plus a pooling charge. It is important to note that canine dis- and Pathology Veterinary Resident temper virus may be shed in the urine and other secretions for several months after resolution of clinical signs. Canine distemper virus (CDV), the etiologic agent of ca- nine distemper, may result in the rapid manifestation of Fluorescent antibody (FA). The second option for canine multisystemic clinical signs ranging from respiratory to distemper virus antigen detection is FA testing, which uti- neurologic disease and has been responsible for multiple lizes a fluorescent-labeled antibody to detect antigen within outbreaks across the United States.1 Canine distemper af- the cells of particular tissues or swabs from infected animals. fects all carnivores, and the disease is well-known for its This test is not as sensitive as rRT-PCR, as it relies upon ability to quickly attack the respiratory, gastrointestinal and the antigen’s presence in the specific area of submitted tis- neurologic systems. The virus is easily shed in respiratory sue. As a result, a false negative is more likely. Additionally, secretions and urine, and remains endemic in some loca- it should be noted that the only acceptable antemortem tions due to the presence of susceptible wildlife species sample type is conjunctival smear or swab. Lung, kidney, or contributing to transmission, including ferrets, foxes, most cerebellum may be submitted for post-mortem diagnosis. large cats, coyotes, badgers and otters. Indirect immunofluorescence antibody (IFA) serology. In 2015, the CSU Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory de- Utilizing the IFA assay, serum or cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) tected 166 canine distemper cases, of 833 submitted, via may be tested for the presence of IgG or IgM antibodies to real-time reverse transcription PCR (rRT-PCR). Since 2016, the virus. This assay requires a single serum/CSF sample, 272 of 995 submitted cases have been detected. Reports with results reported as an IgG/IgM antibody titer. IgM anti- of CDV nationwide have increased, and clinicians should bodies persist for about five to 12 weeks in natural disease, be aware of the diverse array of clinical signs animals may while IgG antibodies may be present for years. IgM titers in present with, as early identification and supportive treat- serum or CSF above 1:2 may indicate recent or active in- ment are essential for patient recovery. fection, aiding in the diagnosis of CDV. In a previously vac- Clinical Signs and Disease Progression cinated animal, the IgG serum titers should be interpreted cautiously due to long duration of antibody persistence. The Due to the rapid progression of clinical disease and fair to presence of IgG antibodies within a CSF sample is highly poor prognosis, CDV should remain a differential for any suggestive of exposure, as antibodies mounted during a febrile dog with systemic clinical signs. Unvaccinated dogs post-vaccine immune response should not traverse the are generally affected between 3 to 6 months of age, when blood/brain barrier. However, when looking for IgG antibod- maternal antibodies begin to wane. The disease is most ies in a CSF sample from a previously vaccinated animal, often diagnosed in areas with low vaccination rates or set- note that any trace amount of blood contamination occur- tings with high densities of naïve dogs, such as shelters. ring during collection may result in a false positive. The virus initially replicates in the respiratory epithelium before moving to the tonsils and lymph nodes. Following Serum neutralization (SN) serology. In using the SN assay, respiratory infection, viremia causes leukopenia and subse- CDV is incubated with serial dilutions of the patient’s serum quent immunosuppression. Subsequently, the virus spreads to quantify the titer of neutralizing antibody for the virus. systemically to the gastrointestinal, urinary and central This is the preferred assay for interpretation of acute and nervous system, should the dog not mount an immune convalescent titers. response sufficient to curtail the course of the disease. Titer Interpretation Neurologic signs generally occur weeks to months after the disease and may occur in the absence of previous clinical When using titer levels to detect disease, we recommend disease. “Old dog encephalitis” may result years later due to submitting paired titers, also referred to as acute and conva- the persistence of the virus within central nervous tissues. lescent titers. SN is the preferred assay for testing acute and convalescent titers, as it directly measures the concentration Diagnosis of Canine Distemper Virus of circulating IgG antibodies. A four-fold rise over the course The CSU VDL offers several assays to aid in the diagnosis of of two weeks is highly suggestive of active or recent infection. distemper in dogs, including both antigen/nucleic acid tests Due to our limited understanding of IgG titer levels and and antibody tests. They include: corresponding protection against CDV, it is difficult to de- termine an appropriate cutoff titer that may protect against Real-time reverse transcription PCR (rRT-PCR). Our rRT- disease. Further, titer levels fluctuate and lapses in protec- PCR is a highly sensitive and specific diagnostic assay used tion may occur in ill, stressed or immunocompromised to detect virus in tissues, respiratory secretions, urine or animals. Some clients may request CDV titers in lieu of re- whole blood. Certain sample types may be pooled together vaccination, and in these cases it is crucial to discuss risks in one rRT-PCR assay, not including whole blood, which must Continued on next page PAGE 32 | CVMA Voice 2017:2 CVMA VOICE SCIENCE UPDATE
Continued from previous page supportive care are critical to prevent disease progression. associated with unknown protection and the importance of Subsequent isolation of clinically affected animals, coupled annually checking titers. with close monitoring of susceptible dogs, helps reduce the chances of a shelter-wide outbreak. The variable incubation Case Control and Outbreak Prevention period also highlights the importance of quarantining all In the event a case of canine distemper is diagnosed, re- incoming animals, and maintaining barrier and isolation ducing contact with other dogs is critical to curb further precautions for affected animals due to potentially substan- spread of the disease. This disease is particularly devas- tial shedding periods. In light of the complex epidemiology tating in shelter situations, as an infected dog entering of distemper and the multiple species susceptible to the from the community may rapidly transmit the disease to virus, vaccination is crucial to maintaining herd immunity other naïve shelter dogs. Early diagnosis and treatment via and preventing future outbreaks. n
TURN- ASSAY DETECTION TARGET RESULT INTERPRETATION SAMPLE TO SUBMIT PRICE AROUND TIME rRT-PCR Antigen; detects presence Reported as positive, suspect or whole blood, 0 .5 mL urine, conjunctival, $45 3 business days of nucleic acid in tissue or negative preputial swab or nasal swab in 0 .5 mL sample sterile saline, cerebrospinal fluid, or lung tissue (postmortem diagnostic) . Fluorescent Antigen; detects presence Reported as positive or negative conjunctival smear; fresh lung, kidney, or $14 24 hours antibody (FA) of antigen in tissue of cerebellum tissue; or a swab of conjunctival sample cells IgM serology Detects presence of Reported as titer; indicates recent 0 .5 mL serum or CSF $18 24 hours (IFA*) antibodies in serum or CSF infection IgG serology Reported as titer; difficult to 0 .5 mL serum or CSF $18 24 hours (IFA*) interpret without both acute and convalescent samples IgG serum Reported as titer; preferable to run 0 .5 mL serum or 0 .3 mL CSF $17 1 week neutralization acute and convalescent samples (SN)
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CVMA Voice 2017:2 | PAGE 33 2017, Issue #2 SCIENCE UPDATE
Rats and Seoul Virus saliva, and possibly during mating. There is no treatment for rats infected with Seoul virus. There is a serological Leah Colton, PhD assay for the detection of Hantaan antibodies that cross- Medical Entomology and Zoonoses Epidemiologist reacts with Seoul virus. For additional information on test- Communicable Disease Branch ing including which assays have been validated by the CDC, Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment please visit www.colorado.gov/pacific/cdphe/seoul-virus. Background People contract Seoul virus from exposure to infected rats or contaminated materials such as used cage bedding. Pet rats, or more specifically fancy rats, are Norway rats You may or may not develop symptoms from a Seoul virus (Rattus norvegicus) bred to produce desirable physical traits infection following a one- to two-week incubation period. such as certain hair colors and textures, markings, dwarf- People with symptomatic illness will have a fever that may ism, tail-lessness, or ‘dumbo’ ears. Fancy rats are bred to be accompanied by headache, chills, nausea, back and/or conform to written standards and can have extensive lin- abdominal pain, blurred vision, flushing of the face, ocular eages. Breeders often spend time learning the genetics of inflammation or redness, or rash. Rarely, the illness may different traits so they can improve their lines. In addition, develop into Hemorrhagic Fever with Renal Syndrome, rattery owners may also breed their rats for temperament which is characterized by low blood pressure, acute shock, to ease their handling and care. and kidney failure. Rats are born without hair and with their eyes closed. Veterinarians concerned that their clients may have rats Their coat begins to grow in at about one week, and they infected with Seoul virus should wear appropriate personal will open their eyes after about two weeks. Babies can be protective equipment when examining these animals. The weaned as early as four weeks. Sexual maturity occurs Compendium of Veterinary Standard Precautions for Zoonotic around five weeks; however, female rats should not be bred Disease Prevention in Veterinary Personnel outlines standard at this early age. It is best to separate male young from precautions for aerosol (airborne and droplet) transmis- their sisters and mothers before five weeks of age to avoid sible infections. The compendium is available at http:// accidental litters. Male rats reportedly make better pets nasphv.org/documentsCompendia.html. Disinfection of than females, but like all animals, each rat will have its own surfaces, materials, and instruments following a visit is also personality. Male rats do have a stronger odor than females, recommended. somewhat musky, but this can be reduced by bathing the For questions about Seoul virus in rats in Colorado, you rat weekly or as often as necessary. Owners may also con- may call the state health department at 303.692.2700. n sider neutering male rats as an option to reduce odors. Rats are highly social and do best when housed with at least one other rat as a companion. Rats can be surprisingly finicky about which rats they will live with. Some males can- not live with other males; some females cannot live with other females. Pet rat owners should avoid co-housing males and females unless they want more rats. However, since some males will only tolerate female rats, you can neuter the male so it can live with females without breeding. Seoul Virus In December 2016, the Wisconsin state health department, with assistance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), confirmed Seoul virus infection in a rat- tery owner and one of the owner’s family members. Seoul virus is an Old World Hantavirus that is closely related to Hantaan Hantavirus. A public health investigation revealed that a significant proportion of the rattery’s rats were in- fected with Seoul virus. Like other Hantaviruses, Seoul vi- rus demonstrates little to no deleterious effect on its rodent host, the Norway rat. Infected rats do not display signs of infection, and following the acute phase of infection, rats can continue to intermittently shed virus in urine, feces, and saliva throughout their lives. Rats are exposed to Seoul virus through contact with infected rats including aggres- sive interactions (biting/scratching), via mucous membrane exposures to infectious virus contained in excreta and
PAGE 34 | CVMA Voice 2017:2 Advance Your Understanding
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Helping Cats Live Happier Lives cats that are hiding and not making full use of the available space, and one or more cats that are urine marking frequently. Suzanne Hetts, Ph.D., CAAB and Daniel Estep, Ph.D., CAAB Providing additional hiding places and easy access to more Both the animal welfare and veterinary communities in the raised perches can decrease social stress. Tall cat condos or United States have long recommended cats be kept indoors. a simple cushion on top of the refrigerator or tall bookcase, Contrast this with other countries, including the UK and Aus- and a clear pathway to reach these perches increase use- tralia, where almost half of cat owners allow their cats free able vertical space. Hiding places can easily be created using range access outside.1 Attitudes about allowing cats outdoor boxes or paper bags. Placing a cat bed under a chair or be- access in the U.S. vary by region, and are influenced by a hind a couch is another way to create a secluded spot. variety of factors including where the cat was acquired.2 When there are multiple cats in the family, it’s also impor- Unrestricted outdoor access exposes cats to risk of injury tant to have multiple locations for food, water, litterboxes, from fights with other cats, motor vehicles, and people, as scratching posts, hiding places, and vertical space to mini- well as contagious disease. Indoor-only cats are claimed to mize competition for these resources. Ideally these resources have a longer lifespan than those allowed outside. However should be strategically placed so that it is difficult for one cat the empirical evidence for this is elusive and there is anec- to “ambush” or trap another cat making use of them. dotal evidence to the contrary. It’s also being recognized that The goal of environmental enrichment is to increase be- an indoor-only lifestyle comes with its own risks including havior (and physiological) indicators of good welfare, and obesity and behavior problems. One author has made a case decrease the signs of poor welfare. From a practical stand- for emotional over-eating in animals, motivated by negative point, this means increasing the opportunities to display emotional states, which opens up the possibility that obesity species typical behaviors and decrease behaviors associ- in indoor cats has a behavioral and/or welfare component.3 ated with stress or distress. While increased aggression There is no question that the outdoors presents a more and urine marking can be signs of social stress as men- diverse and stimulating environment than indoors. In fact, tioned, cats often become less active and less engaged with studies have shown that spending time outdoors has men- their environment when stressed. A cat that spends most of tal health benefits for people.4 Given the behavioral biol- its time sleeping or hiding may not be just a mellow cat but ogy of cats, and the fact that their physical and behavioral instead be reacting to stressors in the environment. characteristics are much more similar to their wild ances- Providing enrichment means considering both species tors than those of dogs compared to wolves, it would make typical behaviors and individual preferences. Because cats intuitive sense that cats may not be well adapted to an are predators, toys that allow for expression of components indoor only environment. of predator behavior such as running, jumping, stalking, Much can be done, however, to configure an indoor envi- and grabbing are usually good choices. Appropriate outlets ronment to better meet the behavioral needs of cats. There for these normal behaviors can also prevent their inappro- are also options for providing cats outdoor access in a man- priate expression that result in behavior problems. ner that keeps them safe and minimizes or prevents potential Puzzle toys that require cats to work to access hidden food predation on song birds and other wildlife, while still allowing can provide mental stimulation and a bit of exercise. Cats for the enrichment that outdoor access can add to a cat’s life. seem to get bored easily with the same toys, so rotating play objects from time to time can help to keep up them engaged. A Quality Indoor Environment Training is another way to provide mental stimulation. Let’s start with the indoor environment. Aspects to con- Shaping simple behaviors such as sitting up, touching a sider include the density of cats; number of “resource sta- hand or object with a paw or nose not only engages cats tions” including food, water, litterbox, scratching posts, mentally but also increases social interactions. and perches relative to number of cats in the household; What About Outdoor Access as Enrichment? characteristics and location of litterboxes and scratching posts; and opportunities for mental stimulation and physi- What does the outdoors provide that an enriched indoor cal exercise or activity. environment may not? Indoors is a fairly static environment. The characteristics of scratching posts and litterboxes While there may be a few new odors that come in with the should be carefully considered and chosen to first meet owner, and sights that change a bit if a cat can look out win- the behavioral needs and preferences of cats in general. dows, by and large the indoor environment is unchanging. Characteristics can be adjusted based on the preferences of Outdoors on the other hand, is dynamic. Temperature, the individual cat. For more details, see our downloadable wind velocity, humidity levels, sights, noises, and odors handouts at CatBehaviorHelp.com. fluctuate. There are many options to give cats outdoor ac- One study of indoor cats found that indoor densities can cess in a safe way. Most cats can easily be acclimated to a be as much as 100 times greater than those of outdoor free- harness, allowing for supervised tethering or even walks. ranging cats.5 While cats vary dramatically in how much social The Kitty Holster and the Mynwood Cat Jacket are two pos- crowding they will tolerate, warning signs that densities have sibilities. Pet strollers allow cats to experience the outside reached an unhealthy level include frequent fights, one or more while riding in safety. Continued on next page PAGE 36 | CVMA Voice 2017:2 CVMA VOICE IN PRACTICE
Continued from previous page Conclusions Outdoor enclosures such as the KittyWalk® enclosures, It’s exciting and encouraging that more attention is being Habitat Haven®, Catio Spaces®, or even a do-it-yourself paid to cats, what they need, and what makes them happy. space can give most cats safe, stimulating outdoor options As we learn more about what’s best for cats, it may be time in all but the most urban high rises without balconies. to rethink how we can create an optimum habitat for them. For cat owners with more outdoor space, there is an- Rather than holding firm to the “indoor only” approach, other option, and that is a “virtual” electronic containment more thought can be given to the pros and cons of indoor system. We aren’t referring to “hot wires”, but instead the and outdoor environments for individual cats. We now systems consisting of a receiver collar the cat or dog wears have more options than ever for providing safe enrichment and the transmitter in the form of the boundary wire. to cats both inside and outside. n While long controversial, a new study evaluated the effect References of long-term exposure to an “invisible” (The Invisible Fence 1. Howell, T.J. , Mornement, K. and P.C. Bennett, 2016. Pet cat manage- Brand® was not the fence used in the study) or “virtual” ment practices among a representative sample of owners in Victoria, electronic containment system on the behavior and welfare Australia. J. of Veterinary Behavior 11: 42–29. of cats.6 The study was conducted in the UK where out- 2. Haydee, A.D., Atwill, R. Gardner, I.A., Miller, M.A. and P.A. Conrad, 2006. Outdoor fecal deposition by free-roaming cats and attitudes of cat owners door access for cats is much more accepted. Two different and nonowners toward stray pets, wildlife, and water pollution. JAVMA groups of cats were compared—one that had experienced 229:1, 74–81. the electronic containment system for more than one year, 3. McMillan, F. 2013. Stress-induced and emotional eating in animals: A and a group of control cats that had access outside (at least review of the experimental evidence and implications for companion one hour per day) and with no specific containment system animal obesity. JAVMA 8 (5): 376–385. 4. Bratmana, G.N.J., Hamilton, J.P., Hahn, K.S., Daily, G.C. and J.J. Grossc, in place. 2015. Nature experience reduces rumination and subgenual prefrontal While the methods are beyond the scope of what we can cortex activation. Proc. of the Natl. Academy of Sci. 112 (28): 8567–8572. talk about here, the bottom line is that the study concluded 5. Bernstein, P.L. and M. Strack, 1996. A Game of Cat and House: Spatial that an electronic boundary fence with clear pre-warning Patterns and Behavior of 14 Domestic Cats (Felis Catus) in the Home. cues does not impair the long term quality of life for cats. Anthrozoos 9 (1): 25–39. 6. http://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0162073
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CVMA Voice 2017:2 | PAGE 37 2017, Issue #2 IN PRACTICE
Cost Benefit 101: Employee insured. For hospitals paying 100% of the plan, the cost per Benefits Package dvm would be $8,000 per year and for hospitals splitting the cost with staff, the cost would be $4,000 per year. Darren Osborne, Director of Economic Research In 2016, hospitals that provided group benefits to their Ontario Veterinary Medical Association staff had higher revenues. Per dvm, revenues were 4.3% higher than average if there was a group benefits plan in Many veterinarians are directing their clients and patients the hospital. This means that hospitals that spend up to to wellness plans, and it is paying off both clinically and $8,000 on a group benefits plan earn an extra $23,800. financially. Some are even taking the wellness concept and Where is the causality? The folks at Limeade, who do the turning it on their staff. Focusing attention on improving research on staff wellness, would tell you that when em- the wellness of staff can have similar rewards; data from ployees are offered health and dental benefits, they recog- the recent economic survey shows that investing in staff nize the gesture as “caring for their wellbeing” and they try wellness not only improves the health of the staff, but also harder. Think of it as a quid-pro-quo; “you give me health decreases staff costs and improves revenue. and dental benefits and I will work harder, do more lab We know that wellness plans increase both clients and work in the same time, clean the exam room without being revenue (FOCUS: March / April 2014). Focusing more at- asked, try harder to book the appointment, close the sale tention on clients and their pets pays off because wellness on the parasite medication, and treat the clients better be- plan clients come back more often and are spending more cause I am being treated better”. than average. After the initial set-up, ongoing administra- Even more interesting is the fact that employment costs tion and e-commerce costs are marginal, so the benefit is did not go up for hospitals with group benefits plans. To obvious. account for different hospital sizes, we examined non- Trying to measure the effectiveness of a wellness plan dvm staff wages as a percentage of gross revenue and for your staff is not as easy. According to a 2015 Study by found that hospitals that provided group benefits paid out Quantum Workplace and Limeade (Source: limeade.com), 0.3% lower total wages. This does not mean hospitals with when employees feel like their employers actually care group benefits plans paid lower hourly wages. What it does about their wellbeing, they’re 38 percent more engaged mean is that hospitals with group benefits generally had and 18 percent more likely to go the extra mile. So how do fewer, more productive staff than hospitals without group you measure “care”? One method is to look at hospitals benefits. that provide a group health program (health and dental Other wellness type metrics we looked at were staff benefits) for their staff. If we assume that providing an op- discounts for veterinary services and products. There was tional group health plan is a metric to measure caring, we a lot of variation in discounts and considering veterinary should see a difference between hospitals with and without staff expect some form of discount, we wanted to focus on a benefits plan. a discount that represented “caring” the most. We decided Results from the 2016 Ontario Economic Survey show hospitals that offered a 100% discount to services (46% 43% of companion animal hospitals provided a group ben- of hospitals) and products at cost (20% of hospitals) fit efits plan for their staff. Of that group, the cost or contribu- this image. Similar to group benefits finding, hospitals that tion from the hospital varied from 100% (hospital paid for gifted their services to staff and sold them products at cost the total cost of the plan for all employees) to zero (em- had 5% higher revenues and lower staff costs. Admittedly, ployees paid Hospital Contribution for Group Benefits Plan a lot of the hospitals who offered group benefits plans entirely for were the same hospitals that offered the most generous 5% the plan). The 5% discounts. 100% most popular 38% Between 50% - 100% method was Change in Change in Revenue Staff Cost 50% for the hos- Group Benefits Plan +4% –0 .3% Between 0 and 50% pital to split 44% the cost of the 100% Discount on Services +5% –0 1%. 0% (Employee pays) 8% plan with em- Veterinary Supplies at Cost +5% –0 .3% ployees 50/50 with 44% of hospitals opting for this method. A close second (38%) was While there may not be a direct causality between for the hospital to pay 100% of the plan. offering group benefits and higher revenues, we had a According to the OVMA Insurance Program, providers of hunch that caring more for staff would create a more pro- the OVMA Group Benefits Program, the average cost for a ductive environment. After looking at the evidence, it is basic plan in a one-doctor hospital with five staff in total clear that the benefit from the benefit (plan) far outweighs n would be $8,000 per year. This cost would vary depend- the cost. ing on how many single staff, couples, and families are
PAGE 38 | CVMA Voice 2017:2 CVMA VOICE IN PRACTICE
Planning for Long Term Care Why Buy Long Term Care Insurance? Access Care Faster. If you need assistance and don’t have What is Long Term Care? long term care insurance, what do you do? You get help Long Term Care is defined as the inability to care for one’s from family and friends. Loved ones are essentially forced to self due to an illness, injury, or disability for an extended help, or you go without assistance. When family and friends amount of time. This care provides assistance with the can no longer provide the level of care you need, you spend activities of daily living (ADLs) and is provided in a home down your own assets to pay for care until you have little environment, assisted living, or nursing facility. It can last left, and at that point government assistance programs pick for just a few days to many years, or change from one level up the cost of your care in a qualified nursing facility. You of care or setting to another. Those requiring care can be are likely to access care faster when you have long term care of any age. Today’s modern approach through medical ad- insurance. This is one of the reasons people buy long term vances, new facilities, and new continuum of care commu- care insurance—so they have the ability to access care faster nities offers those in need with many choices. and use the insurance company’s money to pay for it. What Does Long Term Care Cost? Freedom of Choice. When you buy long term care insurance you will have the necessary resources to afford quality care, Long Term Care can cost between $60,000 to over and you will have the ability to choose how and where you $100,000 per year, depending on your location and care receive this care. Those without substantial resources of their required. Medical inflation, outpacing general inflation own, or those who did not buy long term care insurance, sim- rates, factors about 4% per year. Private health insurance ply won’t have as many choices. Does that mean everyone and Medicare are not intended to pay for Long Term Care. should run out and buy long term care insurance? No, like It is why traditional Long Term Care Insurance as well as any financial decision, you have to educate yourself, evaluate Hybrid Product solutions have surged to their present-day the pros and cons, and make a decision that is right for you. importance. How Do I Get More Information? Can It Happen To Me? To receive more information on the Long Term Care Insur- As we age, statistically, our chances of needing some type ance Solutions being made available to CVMA members of care in our lifetime increases. Three times as many and their families through LTC Global, please contact: females will require care, primarily a function of longer lives for women, as well as the traditional caregiver role of Gregory D. Peterson, AIF females. Hospitals have shifted recovery, even for the short [email protected] term, to other types of settings, such as Long Term Care 303.645.4713 facilities. We generally no longer rely upon family for even Paul Clifft short term care. All this leads to a 40% risk of needing care [email protected] sometime in our life. 303.645.4709 n Insurance vs. Self-Pay Insurance is not right for everyone. Some cannot apply due to existing medical conditions. Others would rather take the risk and pay for any Long Term Care costs out of their own assets. There is no right answer, only a personal choice and tolerance for risk. Cost of Waiting If the decision has been made to purchase a policy, when is the right time? Younger when premiums are lower? Later, saving the premium, yet risking acceptability to the carrier? The average age of a Long Term Care policy purchaser today is 56, which indicates people are thinking of this as a financial planning strategy. However, people of all ages apply for coverage. The only issue everyone shares is the ability to be accepted for coverage by a carrier based on health conditions. Waiting too long has a financial impact; however, waiting until a medical condition arises to con- sider purchase makes it impossible at any cost.
CVMA Voice 2017:2 | PAGE 39 2017, Issue #2 IN PRACTICE
Privacy & Network Security Liability: Consider the cost for notification for example. How Are You Prepared? many notices would you need to send (potential victims), how many different versions of the notification letter, and Mara T. Roberts, CLU, RHU, REBC, President, WDAISC the cost for both printing and postage of the notification? How will you handle in-bound calls once notification has Are you aware that businesses must be able to notify all gone out? Customer questions could tie up a considerable parties that were affected by a breach, communicate effec- amount of staff time and a source of considerable disrup- tively the scope of the possible damage, and provide credit tion for your practice. monitoring assistance and identity restoration case manage- If you are considering the use of cloud computing for ment to those affected by the breach? In addition, they may all or part of your business operations, you should care- also face legal defense and settlement costs in the event an fully review the contractual language prior to entering into action is brought against them because of a breach. any agreement. Many contracts have not been updated to You may believe you don’t have this exposure. If you are reflect new technology and the impact of cloud computing like most small business owners (an estimated 78 percent on current data security/privacy laws. per a recent Harris Poll on behalf of Nationwide insurance), you don’t have a cyber attack response plan. The same • Who owns your data once it resides in the cloud? Harris Poll survey found that 54 percent of small business • Does your cloud provider guarantee the security and pri- owners were victim to at least one type of attack: virus, vacy of your data? phishing, or malware. Other exposures include hacking, un- • Will you be alerted if there is a breach of your customer authorized access to customer or company info, software, data inside the cloud? data breach, and ransomeware. The U.S. Small Business • Will you have the right to investigate the breach? Administration claims that small employers are becom- • Who will notify your customers of a breach incident? ing an increasingly attractive target because they not only Everyone purchasing cloud services will need to address have valuable customer data but provide access to larger its unique requirements in the contracting process, and networks and lack the personnel to provide cyber security. each contract should be the result of due diligence and a Even if you outsource or have dedicated IT staff, it cannot negotiated transaction. protect you from lost or stolen devices or internal threats. If you have a breach, notify your broker or your insur- How you respond to and survive a breach depends upon ance company claims representative as soon as possible. whether you have given this exposure much thought and, if You should be sure to have your staff gather and document you have cyber coverage, how broad that coverage is. facts surrounding the incident. If you have an IT person, Take time to develop a response plan—just like an emer- they would be instrumental in working with the insurance gency response plan, knowing what to expect and how to company. Network security event logs are often vital in respond before an emergency ensures better outcomes for helping verify the date, time, and machine involved in an all involved. Develop policies for your practice that address incident. If you have a cyber liability policy, this will trigger mobile computing, personal devise use (BYOD), sensitive coverage and your carrier will step in to direct and assist. If information handling, and basic security of protected infor- you have any coverage under your business owner’s policy, mation. Do NOT wait for a data breach to happen. Inven- the carrier will again step in to direct and assist per the tory all of your stored Personal Identifiable Information policy language. If you do not have coverage, you will need (PII) and know what a “worst-case” breach scenario could to spearhead the recovery and notification process with the look like. Should a hacker get into your system, all of your assistance of specialists in this area—a privacy attorney or files (HR, clients, healthcare, communications, etc.) could breach response professional. be compromised at the same time and you won’t have the As wonderful as technology is, it exposes those who use advantage of calmness and time to respond. it to new and emerging perils. Awareness and mitigation of Questions will need to be answered in the event of a the inherent risks associated with our connected world are breach such as: critical to any well rounded risk management program. • How many records were exposed? • What type of data was exposed? Reprinted with permission from the author and the Wisconsin • Is this the organization’s first breach? Veterinary Medical Association. n • Was the data stored in a centralized system/location? • Is fraud expected? • Is a class action lawsuit expected? Common costs incurred with a data breach include In- cident Investigation costs, notification/crisis management costs, regulatory fines and penalties, and class action law- suit costs.
PAGE 40 | CVMA Voice 2017:2 Boone the border collie was referred to CSU after being hit by a truck. He suffered head injuries, lung damage, pelvic bone fractures, nerve damage affecting his right hind limb and elimination function, and a large skin wound. He was stabilized by emergency/critical care specialists in ICU, with consultations from neurologists, surgeons, and radiologists. He underwent multiple surgeries by orthopaedic and soft-tissue specialists with help from board-certified anesthesiologists. Our critical care team managed each post-operative recovery. With the help of our rehabilitation team, Boone slowly recovered much of his function and is now active and pain-free.
As the tertiary referral center for the Intermountain West, we house UNDER 79 veterinarians on clinics – representing 28 boarded specialties. They’re backed by leading technologies and a team of 650 additional ONE ROOF caregivers. All here for you, your clients, and your patients.
300 W. Drake Road, Fort Collins (970) 297-5000 csuvth.colostate.edu 2017, Issue #2 CVMA NEWS
C RA ETERINAR E ICA A CIA T I N C C
Welcome to your CVMA Chapter update page. If you have Thursday, July 13 | 5:30 PM anything you would like to see included here, please send Cat Yoga! | Denver Animal Shelter your items, information, or articles to camicacciatore@ 1241 W Bayaud Ave | Denver 80223 colovma.org. Hosts: Drs. Ashley Ackley and Louisa Poon Come do some yoga and hang out with cool shelter cats, all CVMA Chapter 6 | Denver Area while supporting Denver Animal Shelter. Join us for an hour of Follow Us on Facebook! yoga while socializing and loving some adoptable shelter cats. Who knows, you might come home with a new friend! A $10 We’re excited to announce we’ve created a page just donation to the shelter is requested. for Chapter 6 members! Join us to get event invites and
reminders and to keep in touch with your Chapter 6 Sunday, August 27 | 9:30 AM colleagues. Find us on Facebook at www.facebook.com Hiking at Matthew/Winters Park - Red Rocks Trail /CVMAChapter6DenverArea. Hosts: Drs. Ashley Ackley and Michelle Larson Join us for a family/dog friendly hiking event! We would like Upcoming Meetings and Social Events to meet at the Village Walk trailhead (turns into the Red Rocks Join other Chapter 6 members at an upcoming event to Trail) at 9:30. Brunch afterwards TBD if everyone is up for connect in a non-veterinary environment to just have it! Please RSVP to either Michelle Larsen (michellelarsen18@ fun and get to know each other! Have a suggestion gmail.com) or Ashley Ackley ([email protected]). for an event or location? Email Dr. Ashley Ackley at Sunday, September 10 | 12:00 to 3:00 PM [email protected]. Station 26 Bluegrass Brunch 7045 East 38th Ave | Denver 80207 SOCIAL EVENTS Host: Dr. Ashley Ackley Sunday, July 9 | 4:00 PM Lakeside Amusement Park TRIVIA NIGHTS 4601 Sheridan Blvd | Denver 80212 Thursday, July 6 | 7:00 PM Host: Dr. Jeff Fankhauser Nighthawk Brewery Bring family and friends to check out this blast from the past 2780 Industrial Ln | Broomfield 80020 amusement park in NW Denver! Host: Dr. Ashley Ackley Saturday, Aug 12 | 9:00 AM Wednesday, July 26 | 7:30 PM 4th Annual Wild Mushroom Foray | Hoosier Pass Stem Ciders Host: Dr. Jeff Fankhauser 2811 Walnut Street | Denver 80205 Please join me for our 4th annual Wild Mushroom Impaction. Host: Drs. Jennifer Garner and Ashley Ackley In past years we have collected a wide variety of species includ- Tuesday, August 22 | 8:00 PM ing Hawk’s Wings, Hedgehogs, Shrimp Russulas, Saffron Milky Lowry Beer Garden Caps, Puffballs, Sheep Polypores, the infamous Fly Agaric, and 7577 E Academy Blvd | Denver 80230 of course “the King” aka Porcini. We are targeting Hoosier Pass Host: Dr. Kasey Carter and will likely hit several spots in the area to try our luck. If you are interested in joining us, or for other possible forays in Au- Thursday, September 7 | 7:00 PM gust, please contact Dr. Jeff Fankhauser at jsfankhauser@gmail. Someplace Else Brewery com or 303.619.0112 for more details or to RSVP. 6425 W 52nd Ave | Arvada 80002 Host: Dr. Jeff Fankhauser Continued on next page
PAGE 42 | CVMA Voice 2017:2 CVMA VOICE CVMA NEWS
Continued from previous page CVMA CVA Program WELLBEING Grow Your Team—While Growing Your Bottom Line! Finding Meaning in Veterinary Medicine CVMA is proud to recognize and certify the designation FMVM meetings will continue in 2017 and will be held at of CVMA Certified Veterinary Assistant (CVA) . The CVMA 6:30 PM on the third Tuesday of each month and will be CVA program provides continuing education for veteri- hosted by Dr. H. Howells. For details and to RSVP, email nary medical personnel, enabling them to become more [email protected]. informed, skilled, and trusted members of the veterinary medical team . This program was designed to help staff to Tuesday, July 18 pursue veterinary medicine as a career, not just a job . In- 6:30 PM | Cultivate vesting in your employees saves your practice from hav- 10474 W 38th Avenue | Wheat Ridge 80033 ing to deal with less turnover for your practice and costly replacement and re-training efforts! To learn more and to Upcoming Meetings enroll today, visit www colovma. .4act com. . August 15 | September 19 | October 19 | November 16 | Now offering CVA Levels II, with level III coming soon! December 21 Contact Kara Basinger, CVMA’s manager of membership, at 303 .539 7275. for more information . Note: meetings are subject to change, so please check your Did you know? If you are a CVMA Premium or Core member, the $325 enrollment fee for the CVA program email for updates. n is waived as part of your membership level!
2017 CVA Graduates Please join us in congratulating the newest graduates of the CMVA Certified Veterinary Assistant program! Hollie Hardman, CVA I Alice Nye, CVA I A Pet’s Place Animal Hospital Alpine Veterinary Clinic, PC Longmont, CO Monte Vista, CO
CVMA Voice 2017:2 | PAGE 43 2017, Issue #2 CVMA NEWS
CVMA Members to Vote on Governance With the Leadership Council in place, the newly consti- Model Updates tuted CVMA Board of Directors will focus on association health, day-to-day decision making, policy formulation, The veterinary profession is evolving and dynamic, and oversight of the CEO, fiduciary responsibility, budget, CVMA must be strategic, efficient, and accountable to dues and rates, legal compliance, and the association serve its members well in such an environment. To ensure governance. that CVMA’s leadership team can be even more effective The CVMA Board of Directors will be composed of: and agile, the Board of Directors has unanimously recom- mended that members vote to approve updates to CVMA’s • 7 at-large voting positions elected by members governance model. • 1 CEO appointed by the board (non voting) In today’s fast-paced environment, decisions and policy The Advantages development require a nimble, responsive governance structure. CVMA’s Board of Directors has built a spirit of The proposed governance model clarifies authority, sup- unity, a rewarding social fabric, diverse perspectives, a ports agile decision making, sustains a connected com- grassroots communication flow, and encouraged the en- munity of chapter leaders and organizational liaisons, and gagement of chapter leaders and organizational liaisons. utilizes CVMA’s connected community in more engaging, In addition, CVMA’s dedicated and experienced Executive satisfying, and productive ways, while providing personal Committee has provided a strong, balanced foundation for development opportunities for members of the Leadership all the organization does. However, it can be challenging for Council. the current Board of Directors to be an effective fiduciary Next Steps for CVMA by meeting for only 90 minutes twice yearly. Act- ing on the Board’s behalf and between its two meetings, The current board discussed and approved this concept in the Executive Committee holds at least six full-day meet- October 2016 at CVMA BIG Ideas Forum | Fall 2016. The ings each year, and has exercised its leadership diligently, Executive Committee developed a narrative to describe the effectively, and without issue. model change to members and drafted appropriate bylaws amendments. The Board reviewed these materials at CVMA The Proposal BIG Ideas Forum | Spring 2017 and made the recommenda- To preserve the desirable attributes and benefits of the tion to approve the new model (and the attendant changes current Board and Executive Committee and to evolve to in both the Articles of Incorporation and the Bylaws), and a more agile decision-making model, the CVMA Board of to put the changes to a vote of the members. All voting Directors has unanimously recommended that the mem- members were sent a letter in late May outlining the vot- bership adopt a new governance model in which the cur- ing process, which will be conducted through a secure, rent Board of Directors will become the CVMA Leadership online voting platform this year. Voting opens June 15 and Council, and the current Executive Committee will become remains open through July 15. the Board of Directors. CVMA has posted the recommended changes to the In this new structure, the CVMA Leadership Council will Articles of Incorporation and Bylaws online for member have formal and informal opportunities for personal de- review. Please visit colovma.org/member-balloting/ to velopment and bi-directional communication with chapter see the documents. You may contact the CVMA office at representatives, while engaging in environmental scanning 303.318.0447 if you have any questions about the docu- for emerging issues, professional issue discussions, and ments, the member vote, or the proposed governance strategy formulation to provide advisory recommendations model changes. to the board. Meetings of the Leadership Council will be Conclusion focused on issues identified by the Leadership Council itself or referred by the Board of Directors and will occur twice a These discussions and decisions have been developed by year at CVMA BIG Ideas Forums. the Board through a deliberate, thoughtful, multi-year pro- The Leadership Council will be composed of: cess. This evolution began as a question at the 2014 CVMA strategy workshop as part of a larger consideration of how • Chapter representatives (17 total, appointed by each CVMA operates, including the shift to chapters and offer- chapter, equal vote) ing membership tiers. The driving force behind these types • Commission chairs (4 total, appointed by the board, of strategic initiatives is always “How can we work better? equal vote) How can we serve our members and the profession more • Organizational liaisons (appointed by the board, voice completely?” Based on the recommendation of CVMA’s but no vote) leadership, we strongly believe that this new structure posi- • Board of Directors (elected by members, voice but no tions CVMA for the future, ensures that your professional vote) association is relevant, agile, and responsive to the chal- lenges the future will bring. n
PAGE 44 | CVMA Voice 2017:2 CVMA VOICE CVMA NEWS
Briefings continued from page 5 with many partners in Colorado helps to drive positive In regard to cats in shelters and in communities, Colo- outcomes like a lower population of unwanted cats, more rado (no surprise here!) is a leader in efforts to create adoptions into lifetime homes, higher levels of identified better outcomes. We can be proud there are so many cats being returned to their owners when they stray, and a initiatives underway across the state that are doing highly generally higher level of health and wellbeing for ALL cats informed and incredibly effective work, such as providing whether they are owned or are community cats. behavioral enrichment for cats in shelters, and developing Governance Model creative population control efforts to reach cats that are loosely owned or free roaming or owned by individuals I hope that you’ve been unable to escape the cascade of who lack the economic resources to sterilize their feline communications from CVMA about proposed changes to friend. It was encouraging to hear updates on a range of the bylaws and Articles of Incorporation. I won’t repeat the cat initiatives, and also to hear from Dr. Linda Lord about rationale for these changes, because the case for change her research findings around cats wearing collars—you has been articulated in several different ways and there’s a might be surprised by what she found, presented in her summary on page 44. What I do want to reinforce, however, article on page 24. (Hint: After her presentation, one vet- is that your Board of Directors has thoughtfully and care- erinarian in the audience declared that her perspective fully considered these proposed changes since the concepts about cat collars had taken a 180 degree turn and that she emerged during the October 2014 strategy session—and would be discussing external identification with all of her as those changes have come to be reflected in the govern- cat clients!). ing documents, the Board of Directors has recommended, The first component of CVMA’s mission statement is “To unanimously, that members approve the proposed changes advance the health and welfare of animals and people in during the balloting process. If you haven’t exercised your Colorado.” Clearly that happens in veterinary practices vote just yet, move quickly—because voting concludes on every day as you address the medical needs of your feline July14. Thank you for taking the time to become informed patients and keep healthy cats bonded to the humans who about the issues, and to register your vote to guide CVMA love them. And just as clearly, CVMA’s collaborative work into the future. n
CVMA Student Chapter Update PetCheck at PetAid On Saturday, April 8, more than 20 CSU veterinary students woke Amy K. Zug, MBA early to volunteer during 9PetCheck in Denver at PetAid Animal DVM Candidate, Class of 2019 Hospital. Student teams interacted with clients, performed physical CVMA Student Representative exams on their patients, and administered vaccinations. Stephen The Student Chapter actively participates in CVMA events Pannone, a second year, noted that this experience was a great by attending convention and other CE opportunities, out- opportunity to work on client communications. “If you bombard reach programs, and learning lunches. These experiences owners with tons of detail on everything from heartworm to den- allow students to expand their understanding of organized tal disease to weight loss they get overwhelmed. Using our time veterinary medicine and opportunities in the veterinary with them to focus on a couple major issues allows us to maximize field. Here is a brief description of our recent involvement. our impact with the few minutes that we have with these patients and clients.” Participating in these outreach programs serves as a BIG Ideas reminder of our dedication to this field of work, especially towards The BIG Ideas Forum attracts many new students each fall the end of textbook-heavy semesters. and spring. First time registrants return from the week- Open House at the CSU Veterinary end with a new appreciation for CVMA. Jaemi Yoshioka, a Teaching Hospital second year CSU veterinary student, decided to attend the Spring 2017 BIG Ideas Forum in Colorado Springs based on Every spring, the CVMA student representatives join the the illuminating issue of community cats. She reflected on Open House festivities by setting up a booth. Visiting chil- her experience as “a fantastic insight into the various strat- dren get to identify animal skulls and then enthusiastically egies utilized by different professionals to achieve the same color their own certificates and business cards (it is never goal. 10/10! I would recommend this event to any student too early to start networking)! interested in catching a glimpse of the veterinary profes- CVMA’s Student Representatives sion outside of the clinic.” These great opportunities would not exist for veterinary students if not for the generous As our 2017 graduate, Dr. Madeline Anna, steps into the sponsorships from CVMA members! real world, Courtney Mael, Amy Zug, and Laurel Krause inch onwards to next year’s classes. We are excited to meet the Class of 2021 CVMA student representative after the upcoming class elections. n
CVMA Voice 2017:2 | PAGE 45 [theer-ee-oh-juh-nol-uh-jee] noun 1. the branch of veterinary medicine encompassing all aspects of reproduction.
Want to learn more about theriogenology and get up to date on the latest reproductive techniques? Want to attend CE sessions specifically geared towards the study of animal reproduction? Want to meet other theriogenologists, network among your peers and attend fun conference events? This is the conference for you! Join us for the 2017 Therio Conference and Equine Symposium August 2-5, 2017 | Hilton Fort Collins
Veterinarian Equine Embryo Transfer Symposium and Wet Lab Student Equine Wet Lab Small Animal Sessions Equine Sessions Production Animal Sessions Therio Conference Student Case Abstracts 2017 Fort Collins | August 2-5 Scientific Abstracts For registration and Educators’ Forum event information visit Exhibit Hall www.therio.org Student Quiz Bowl Fun Special Events for everyone We’re going back to our roots this year in historical Fort Collins, CO. The first official meeting of the group that eventually became known as The Society for Theriogenology was held in Fort Collins in February of 1954. Join us as we return to the place where it all started. Each year the Society for Theriogenology and the American College of Theriogenologists meet at the annual Therio Conference for cutting-edge CE sessions, abstract presentations, seminars, symposia and networking opportunities in addition to fun events. The abstract competition is always a favorite, and student case presentations and an educators’ forum round out the offerings. The Therio Conference is a great opportunity to learn, network, and enjoy visiting with colleagues in an intimate setting. Make plans to join us for this fun, educational event! Visit www.therio.org for registration information.
C OLLEGE OF AN
AMERIC theriogenology foundation
THERIOGENOLOGISTS The Future of Animal Reproduction
Society for Theriogenology | 761 Tiger Oak Drive | Pike Road, AL 36064 Phone: 334.395.4666 | Fax: 334.270.3399 | [email protected] Specialists you trust. When you need them.
CARDIOLOGY EMERGENCY & CRITICAL CARE
Carrie Ginieczki, DVM, MS, DACVIM Leilani Way, DVM, MS, DACVECC [email protected] [email protected]
DENTISTRY Shaila Raj, DVM, MS John F. Huff III, DVM, FAVD, DAVDC [email protected] [email protected]
DERMATOLOGY Molly Comiskey, DVM David Beadleston, DVM, DACVD [email protected] [email protected]
INTERNAL MEDICINE Jorge Alvarez, DVM [email protected] Douglas Santen, DVM, DACVIM (SAIM) [email protected] Gina Kettig, DVM Ji-Yeun Rha, VMD, DACVIM (SAIM) [email protected] [email protected]
Shana O’Donnell, DVM Katherine Scott, DVM, DACVIM (SAIM) [email protected] [email protected]
William Whitehouse, DVM, DACVIM (SAIM) Katherine Hebert, DVM [email protected] [email protected]
ONCOLOGY NEUROLOGY
Anne Skope, VMD, MS Kelli Kopf, DVM, MS, DACVIM [email protected] [email protected] RADIOLOGY Maggie Vandenberg, DVM, DACVIM Debra S. Gibbons, DVM, MS, DACVR [email protected] [email protected]
Benjamin Young, DVM, MS, DACVR Samantha Emch, DVM, MS, DACVIM [email protected] [email protected]
SURGERY CLIENT CARE COORDINATOR Diana Davila, DVM, DACVS Lori Amos [email protected] [email protected]
John S. Stephan, DVM, MS, DACVS Weston Buker [email protected] [email protected]
Specialty Line: 720.975.2804 vcaaevh.com Fax: 720.975.2854 www.facebook.com/vcaaevh 9770 E. Alameda Avenue, Denver, CO 80247 Presort Standard U .S . Postage PAID Jefferson City, MO Permit 210
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