Pulse - December 2024 - 16

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Association, dogs that ingest or inhale
marijuana do not experience a " high " but
instead suffer from illness and a loss of
coordination, which can be distressing for
both pets and owners.
Dr. Faeh emphasizes the importance of
clients informing veterinarians about what
the dog has been exposed to.
" Treatment is typically simple, affordable,
and most dogs recover quickly once we
know the cause, " she explained.
Mentoring Scholarships
Available to Vet Techs
Applications are now open for a new
scholarship program offering free mentoring
to 300 veterinary technicians,
sponsored by the American Veterinary
Medical Association in partnership with
the National Association of Veterinary
Technicians in America, MentorVet, Merck
Animal Health and Royal Canin.
The program, MentorVet Tech, is designed
to promote both the professional development
and wellbeing of veterinary technicians.
Scholarship recipients will receive full
funding for the five-month, entirely online
program, which is structured to fit into a
busy professional schedule.
Eligible applicants must be veterinary technicians
based in the United States and able
to commit three to four hours per month
over the course of the program. Those
selected will join one of several cohorts,
with the first set to begin in February 2025
and others starting later in the year.
AVMA supports veterinary technicians in
enhancing their skills and finding long-term
satisfaction in the field. More information
on the program, including application
instructions, can be found on the MentorVet
Tech website.
'Wet-Dog Shake' Isn't
Unique to Our Pooches
Whether adorable or frustrating, a dog's
vigorous shake after getting wet is a familiar
sight, especially after a swim or bath.
But this " wet-dog shake " behavior isn't just
unique to dogs; it's actually deeply rooted
in the nervous systems of many mammals,
from small mice to large bears, according
to new findings published in Science.
In their study, researchers introduced mice
to different conditions that might provoke
shaking, like blowing air on them, spraying
16
them with water, and even giving them a
full bath. Placing just a tiny drop of oil on
the back of a mouse's neck triggered the
same shaking response.
To understand this reaction further, the
team used optogenetics-a technique that
uses light to control specific neurons-to
locate the responsible nerves. They identified
the C-fiber low-threshold mechanoreceptors
(C-LTMRs), specialized sensory
neurons that respond to gentle touch, as
the source. Signals from these neurons
travel from the neck to a region of the
brainstem associated with processing pain
and itch.
Since all mammals possess C-LTMRs, the
researchers suggest that this pathway may
explain similar water-shedding behaviors
across different species. However, they are
still investigating why the same nerves that
detect light touch also initiate the intense
shaking response.
Registration Open for NAVC
Hands-On Workshops
Participants at the 2025 SkillShop can
choose from various one- or two-day
courses, extended three- to four-day
courses, or a combination of both.
Veterinarians attending SkillShop 2025 will
have the chance to engage in hands-on
workshops across topics such as ultrasound
and orthopedic surgery techniques.
This practical workshop series, offered by
the North American Veterinary Community,
is designed to help veterinarians
develop and refine new skills.
NAVC SkillShop, formerly known as
NAVC Institute, provides multiple-day
courses focused on specific veterinary
skills. For the first time, participants have
the flexibility to select from shorter oneor
two-day sessions, longer three- to fourday
options, or both.
" This preserves the best aspects of the
NAVC Institute-the chance for veterinary
professionals to gain new skills they can
use right away-while allowing for added
customization to match their schedules
and goals, " said Dana Varble, DVM, CAE,
chief veterinary officer at NAVC. " Attendees
can tailor their experience to fit their
needs, whether that means staying for two
days or a full week, focusing on one course
or several. "
The first NAVC SkillShop will take place
May 25-30, 2025, at Disney's Coronado
Springs Resort in Orlando, Florida. For
details, go to navc.com/skillshop/.
American Heartworm Society
Updates Feline Guidelines
The American Heartworm Society (AHS)
has updated its Feline Heartworm Guidelines
for veterinarians, which were last
revised in 2015. The updated guidelines
aim to address the ongoing issue of underdiagnosis
and poor management of heartworm
disease in cats, and provide more
comprehensive data on prevention, testing,
and treatment options.
This revision was led by a committee of
AHS board members and followed a thorough
scientific review by experts in parasitology,
cardiology and clinical practice. Key
updates include new recommendations for
heartworm screening, mosquito control,
and treatment strategies for heartwormpositive
cats.
Feline heartworm disease can be fatal. It
begins with a mosquito bite that transmits
the parasitic worm Dirofilaria immitis into
the cat's bloodstream. The larvae then
develop in the subcutaneous tissues before
moving to the heart, lungs and arteries.
The arrival of immature worms in the
small arteries of the lungs triggers a severe
inflammatory response that damages not
only the arteries but also the bronchioles
(small airways) and alveoli.
Dr. Dwight Bowman, DVM, Ph.D., a parasitology
professor at Cornell University, said
signs of pathology can appear 60 to 100
days after initial infection, even before the
parasites mature.
The revised guidelines emphasize the
importance of routine heartworm screening
for cats. The four primary reasons for
screening include:
* To help diagnose heartworm infection
when clinical signs are present.
* To monitor the condition of cats already
diagnosed with heartworms.
* To establish a baseline before starting
heartworm prevention.
* To assess the relative risk of heartworm
in a given practice area.
The feline guidelines may be seen at heartwormsociety.org/guidelines.
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- Compiled by Marilyn Iturri
DECEMBER 2024
PULSE
http://www.navc.com/skillshop/ http://www.heartwormsociety.org/guidelines http://www.heartwormsociety.org/guidelines
Pulse - December 2024

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