> Articles by: ChristpinaYou never forget your first pandemic. Mine was in 1978, when feline panleukopenia mutated into canine parvovirus. Because this was a brand-new disease, there was zero immunity in the global canine population. Overnight, parvo swept around the world. At the time, I was in junior high school working as a weekend kennel attendant when disaster struck.
Patients with cardiac murmurs identified during the pre-anesthetic examination often prompt heightened concern because of the potential for underlying cardiovascular disease. While cardiovascular disease is common in the dogs and cats we care for, anesthesia requires the cardiovascular system to do something it may no longer do well: compensate. Many of the sedatives and anesthetics we use can alter heart rate, contractility, preload, or afterload. The art of anesthetizing the cardiac patient lies in minimizing these impacts and tailoring our plans to fit the patient’s unique requirements.
Feline brachycephaly is a multifactorial syndrome leading to various clinical syndromes. Endoscopy and advanced imaging are required to fully characterize brachycephalic syndrome in cats. Recognized brachycephalic anatomy in cats includes stenotic nares, aberrant nasopharyngeal turbinates, elongated soft palate, aberrant nasolacrimal ducts, and exophthalmos.
I have an early memory of our family Cocker Spaniel named Candy who developed diabetes. Our family couldn’t afford to treat her and I remember how upset my mother was when she made the decision to euthanize. I was too young to fully understand the medical or financial side of things, but the emotional piece definitely resonated with me and sparked my curiosity about the veterinary field.
The UC Davis ophthalmology service manages a diverse caseload of small and large animals. Fellows are exposed to a wide spectrum of ocular diseases, including cataracts, glaucoma, corneal ulcers, neoplasia, and eyelid abnormalities. The diversity keeps each day exciting and interesting. During the fellowship, I was involved in exams from patient intake up to their final discharge. Each case included a minimum of three ocular exams performed by the student, resident, and faculty. This allowed for repetition that increased my confidence in performing a comprehensive ophthalmic exam. I received training in using various diagnostic tools, primarily slit-lamp biomicroscope and indirect retinal lenses. I had the added benefit of seeing advanced diagnostic techniques, such as CT, MRI, ocular CT, and ocular ultrasound, to name a few.
The new VISC logo was designed to better represent VISC’s mission and essential value to the veterinary profession. We wanted the logo to directly indicate VISC’s relationship with veterinary practitioners; thus, we decided early on to incorporate animals into the design.
Like most veterinarians, I have always dreamed of a job in veterinary medicine. It’s an age-old tale, dreaming of being a “doctor of animals” as a young child and working hard to make that dream a reality. What is different about my story is that it takes a turn into nutrition and integrative medicine that I didn’t expect or plan.
I am one lucky President. Why, you say? Well, the CVMA Board of Governors has decided to change the Board year term from a business year (July 1 to June 30) to a simple calendar year (January 1 to December 31). We have made that change for several reasons. First, this aligns with the legislative year. State Senate and Assembly Bills are filed in February, run through committees over the next several months, finish off on each floor in the summer, and then end up on the governor’s desk by October. So, for bills we support, the Board can see those bills through their whole journey. For the legislation that we hope to stop, the same team stays locked in to fight them.
What was the certification process like for you? Hard! VTS applications are demanding and require a significant commitment. Being accepted as a candidate is an accomplishment in itself, and completing the casework and successfully passing the exam requires even greater dedication. However, the structured guidelines and high level of detail inherent in the application process align well with technicians who work in surgery.
In April, the CVMA conducted its annual membership survey, reaching member and non-member veterinarians, registered veterinary technicians, practice managers, and veterinary staff across California. The results help us understand what’s working, where we can improve, and how to better serve the veterinary community. Thank you to all who participated. Your feedback is invaluable! The clearest takeaway from our member surveys is that the vast majority of CVMA members are satisfied with their membership and plan to renew—a strong affirmation that the core value of membership is resonating.
