Veterinary Vertex

Send us a textA spike in feline H5N1 cases has many of us asking the same question: how did bird flu end up in our living rooms? We sit down with author and clinician Dr. Jane Sykes to map the path from migratory birds to household pets, spotlighting the two biggest drivers of risk for cats—predation on infected wildlife and contaminated raw diets. The conversation is candid, practical, and rooted in current data, with clear guidance for veterinarians and pet owners who want to reduce danger without fear or hype.We break down the clinical pattern that should trigger suspicion: a rapidly worsening illness with fever, lower respiratory signs, neurologic changes like ataxia or seizures, hypersalivation, and even sudden vision loss. Jane shares a step-by-step plan for what to do next: preserve the suspect diet for testing, notify local public health partners, and coordinate diagnostics through NAHLN labs with NVSL confirmation. We also unpack why household cases typically arise from common exposure rather than cat-to-cat spread, and why ending raw feeding across the home is the first and most effective intervention. The oseltamivir question comes up too; Jane weighs the risks, pharmacologic unknowns, and stewardship concerns around antivirals in cats.Listeners get concise takeaways: cooked diets are safer, indoor life or secure catios cut exposure, and detailed dietary histories matter more than ever because many raw products look like pasteurized foods. We touch on the evolving clade 2.3.4.4b, the possibility of reassortment in cats, and why dogs appear more resistant yet still susceptible to infection. Jane points to the research we still need—serology to find silent infections, better food-chain surveillance, and communication tools that help us talk about diet without blame. Subscribe, share with a colleague or pet-loving friend, and leave a quick review to help more people find evidence-based guidance on companion animal health.JAVMA article: https://doi.org/10.2460/javma.25.06.0388Washington Post article: https://wapo.st/49isM8MINTERESTED IN SUBMITTING YOUR MANUSCRIPT TO JAVMA ® OR AJVR ® ? JAVMA ® : https://avma.org/JAVMAAuthors AJVR ® : https://avma.org/AJVRAuthorsFOLLOW US:JAVMA ® : Facebook: Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association - JAVMA | Facebook Instagram: JAVMA (@avma_javma) • Instagram photos and videos Twitter: JAVMA (@AVMAJAVMA) / Twitter AJVR ® : Facebook: American Journal of Veterinary Research - AJVR | Facebook Instagram: AJVR (@ajvroa) • Instagram photos and videos Twitter: AJVR (@AJVROA) / Twitter JAVMA ® and AJVR ® LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/company/avma-journals

Send us a textA small structural “bump” on a molecule might be the big breakthrough EPM care has been waiting for. We sit down with researcher and clinician Izabela de Assis Rocha to unpack how bumped kinase inhibitors exploit a tiny difference between parasite and mammalian kinases to hit Sarcocystis neurona where it hurts—motility, invasion, and replication—while sparing the horse. It’s a molecular strategy with practical promise, and the conversation bridges the stall, the lab, and the future of equine neurology.We break down the science behind CDPK1, the gatekeeper residue that drives selectivity, and why unique parasite structures like the apical complex and apicoplast open new therapeutic lanes. Then we move into what really matters for care: pharmacokinetics and clinical fit. BKI-1708 shows strong systemic distribution that positions it as a prophylactic candidate, while early data on BKI-1553 suggests better CNS penetration and a path toward active EPM treatment. Isabella explains how EPM’s dead-end host biology may lower the risk of widespread resistance, a rare bright spot in the antiparasitic landscape.Clinical trials are the hard part. With no robust experimental infection model and fewer than 1% of exposed horses developing disease, enrolling enough cases takes patience and teamwork. We talk about building pragmatic, clinician-led studies, harmonizing diagnostics and neurologic scoring, and tracking relapse to find outcomes that matter to horses and owners. The One Health angle also shines through: BKIs show activity against equine piroplasmosis and have potential roles in toxoplasmosis and cryptosporidiosis, linking equine research to human and livestock health.If you care about evidence-based equine neurology, new antiparasitic strategies, and turning elegant biochemistry into barn-side change, this is your roadmap. Subscribe, share with a colleague who manages EPM cases, and leave a review to help more veterinarians find the show. What question would you ask about bringing BKIs into practice?AJVR article: https://doi.org/10.2460/ajvr.25.07.0270INTERESTED IN SUBMITTING YOUR MANUSCRIPT TO JAVMA ® OR AJVR ® ? JAVMA ® : https://avma.org/JAVMAAuthors AJVR ® : https://avma.org/AJVRAuthorsFOLLOW US:JAVMA ® : Facebook: Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association - JAVMA | Facebook Instagram: JAVMA (@avma_javma) • Instagram photos and videos Twitter: JAVMA (@AVMAJAVMA) / Twitter AJVR ® : Facebook: American Journal of Veterinary Research - AJVR | Facebook Instagram: AJVR (@ajvroa) • Instagram photos and videos Twitter: AJVR (@AJVROA) / Twitter JAVMA ® and AJVR ® LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/company/avma-journals

Send us a textA calmer patient isn’t just a kinder visit—it’s a safer workplace. We sit down with researchers Drs. Gene Pavlovsky and Ellen Everett to unpack new data showing that veterinary teams see decreases in bites and scratches when every staff member completes low-stress handling certification. Partial participation helped culture in pockets, but it didn’t move the needle on injuries. The lesson is clear: safety is a system, not a solo skill.We trace where stress truly starts, from the parking lot to the waiting room, and why early moments—carrier handling, first touch, body language checks—set the tone for the entire appointment. Gene and Ellen explain how teams identified high-risk scenarios and compare practices that rely on pre-visit medications or sedation to those built on consistent, low-stress workflows. The surprise? More drugs alone did not equal fewer injuries. Instead, shared training and peer accountability turned the tide: a receptionist who redirects a nervous dog to a quiet space, a certified veterinary technician who swaps scruffing for treats and positioning, and a veterinarian who uses “drive-by” sedation for severely fearful patients.Along the way, we challenge a stubborn myth that heavier restraint makes staff safer. Data and lived experience point the other way—restraint escalates fear, and fear drives defensive aggression. We talk practical tools like Churu for cats, environmental tweaks, and stepwise protocols that protect staff while preserving patient welfare. We also cover the business case: fewer missed days, lower workers’ comp exposure, smoother procedures, and clients who notice the difference and come back.If you lead a small animal practice, teach vet students, or simply want better outcomes without bruises or burned-out teams, this conversation maps a path from intention to implementation. Subscribe, share with your team, and leave a rating and review—then tell us what’s helped your hospital make low-stress care the norm.JAVMA article: https://doi.org/10.2460/javma.25.05.0325INTERESTED IN SUBMITTING YOUR MANUSCRIPT TO JAVMA ® OR AJVR ® ? JAVMA ® : https://avma.org/JAVMAAuthors AJVR ® : https://avma.org/AJVRAuthorsFOLLOW US:JAVMA ® : Facebook: Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association - JAVMA | Facebook Instagram: JAVMA (@avma_javma) • Instagram photos and videos Twitter: JAVMA (@AVMAJAVMA) / Twitter AJVR ® : Facebook: American Journal of Veterinary Research - AJVR | Facebook Instagram: AJVR (@ajvroa) • Instagram photos and videos Twitter: AJVR (@AJVROA) / Twitter JAVMA ® and AJVR ® LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/company/avma-journals

Send us a textWhat if the “gold standard” isn’t the only standard that delivers real results? We sit down with guest editor Dr. Emma Read to explore Spectrum of Care, the evidence-based approach that empowers veterinarians to present a range of medically sound options tailored to each client’s budget, lifestyle, and ability to follow through. Instead of treating alternatives as compromises, we show how tiered choices reduce moral distress, expand access to care, and still protect outcomes for pets.Emma takes us inside the new JAVMA supplemental issue, where educators and clinicians map out how to teach Spectrum of Care so graduates don’t have to learn it the hard way. We dig into student takeaways, from recognizing privilege to practicing clear, empathetic conversations that align treatment with client goals. We also spotlight practical tools like communication frameworks and a Spectrum of Care video toolkit that make it easier to identify options, set expectations, and document decisions without shame or confusion.Research is the next frontier. Many effective, lower-cost protocols live only in clinics and memories. We talk about turning those real-world methods into published evidence, partnering with veterinary schools to design studies, and building a shared knowledge base that separates tradition from what truly works. Along the way, we touch on business models that support tiered care, strategies to track outcomes, and the mindset shift that helps teams feel capable rather than constrained.Curious how to bring Spectrum of Care into your practice or your classroom? Press play, then subscribe, share with a colleague, and leave a review to help more veterinarians find these tools and stories.JAVMA editorial: https://doi.org/10.2460/javma.263.s3.s4INTERESTED IN SUBMITTING YOUR MANUSCRIPT TO JAVMA ® OR AJVR ® ? JAVMA ® : https://avma.org/JAVMAAuthors AJVR ® : https://avma.org/AJVRAuthorsFOLLOW US:JAVMA ® : Facebook: Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association - JAVMA | Facebook Instagram: JAVMA (@avma_javma) • Instagram photos and videos Twitter: JAVMA (@AVMAJAVMA) / Twitter AJVR ® : Facebook: American Journal of Veterinary Research - AJVR | Facebook Instagram: AJVR (@ajvroa) • Instagram photos and videos Twitter: AJVR (@AJVROA) / Twitter JAVMA ® and AJVR ® LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/company/avma-journals

Send us a textThink draft horses “do worse” with colic? We put that belief on trial and let the data speak. With equine practitioner and researcher Dr. Jennifer Burns as our guest, we unpack why survival isn’t about breed status—it’s about when the horse arrives and how quickly we act. Drafts are famously stoic, which can mask early pain and delay referral. By the time they reach the hospital, heart rate, lactate, and abdominal protein often paint a sicker picture. The takeaway is both practical and hopeful: intervene early, educate owners on subtle signs, and don’t let draft status stop a surgical plan when it’s indicated.We walk through the study’s design, the variables that could and couldn’t fit the model, and the nuance behind “more complications” without worse overall outcomes. Jennifer shares the conversations she has with clients who fear that surgery is a Hail Mary, and we spotlight a compelling number—60% of admitted horses were discharged—that reframes expectations. From clear displacement cases to managing two-thousand-pound athletes, we connect field realities with hospital strategy and discuss where targeted anesthesia, fluid plans, and postoperative monitoring might chip away at complication risks.You’ll also hear candid stories from the road, the lessons that stuck, and the research questions we’re chasing next: is delayed care driven by recognition, logistics, or cost, and how can we fix it? If you care for draft horses—or love one—this conversation offers a sharper lens for spotting trouble sooner and a stronger voice when advocating for timely referral. If this episode helps you rethink colic in stoic breeds, follow the show, share it with a fellow horse person, and leave a quick review to help others find us.JAVMA article: https://doi.org/10.2460/javma.25.05.0320INTERESTED IN SUBMITTING YOUR MANUSCRIPT TO JAVMA ® OR AJVR ® ? JAVMA ® : https://avma.org/JAVMAAuthors AJVR ® : https://avma.org/AJVRAuthorsFOLLOW US:JAVMA ® : Facebook: Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association - JAVMA | Facebook Instagram: JAVMA (@avma_javma) • Instagram photos and videos Twitter: JAVMA (@AVMAJAVMA) / Twitter AJVR ® : Facebook: American Journal of Veterinary Research - AJVR | Facebook Instagram: AJVR (@ajvroa) • Instagram photos and videos Twitter: AJVR (@AJVROA) / Twitter JAVMA ® and AJVR ® LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/company/avma-journals