For the general world population, rabies remains a key global public health threat

Published January 31, 2023 on https://www.veterinarypracticenews.com

By Erica Tramuta-Drobnis, VMD, MPH, CPH

Rabies pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) recommendations were recently amended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC); they replace the previous three-dose PrEP schedule with a two-dose one. They, in part, base this decision on various risk categories, now divided into five subtypes. Further changes in the recommendations include titer monitoring, how often and for whom, and the minimum acceptable titer limit.

Are these recommendations medically sound? Are they in the best interest of those at risk of exposure? What does the evidence say?

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The fungal organism Microsporum canis is primarily spread through close contact

Published January 18, 2023 on https://www.veterinarypracticenews.com

By Lena DeTar, DVM, DACVPM, DABVP

There were only a few percentages we were told to “memorize for boards” in veterinary school, a dozen years ago now. These included odds of malignancy in dog/cat mammary masses (50 percent/90 percent); canine splenic mass diagnoses (33 percent hematoma/hemangioma/ hemangiosarcoma); failure rates of TPLO versus TPP versus. lateral band in canine cruciate disease (now debunked); and, in dermatology, the sensitivity of the Wood’s lamp in diagnosing dermatophytosis: less than 50 percent.

Where did “50 percent” come from, and why has it been lodged so firmly in our heads? So firmly that I recently ran across this same number in the crisp 2022 edition of a small animal textbook. That number is wrong, and my veterinary friends, colleagues, students still quote it. It is also possible the first percentages quoted here need updating—they probably do (See: “When in doubt cut it out! But by how much?” by Brennen McKenzie, MA, MSc, VMD, cVMA on VPN Plus+).

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In considering if an article is valid, there is no alternative to reviewing the Materials and Methods sections of an article for the methodology used in the study

Published December 2, 2022 on https://www.veterinarypracticenews.com

By David W. Ramey, DVM

It is important for veterinarians to constantly strive to improve their knowledge of diagnostic and therapeutic interventions, so they remain consistent with new findings. To do otherwise puts them at risk of failing to keep up with the latest clinical advancements.

The most accessible means of obtaining the latest information is usually in clinical journals. However, the readily available sources of biomedical literature are expanding rapidly, while the time to read them is becoming increasingly more difficult to find. If a veterinarian wants to try to stay current with developments in veterinary medicine without getting overwhelmed, it is important to develop a system for reading and evaluating scientific papers.

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