The year was 1989. I was a new grad working in a private practice, small animal medicine and surgery rotating internship. We had rotations working with different specialists (internal medicine, surgery, cardiology, ophthalmology, etc.), lots of overnight emergency shifts, and plenty of primary outpatient care responsibilities, too. I was merely 3 or 4 months into my internship and on a rotation that included a mix of seeing outpatient appointments and working alongside specialists at the flagship referral hospital. One day I was presented with a 12-14 year old female, indoor cat whose owner complained of a lump on the cat’s neck. She lived in a multi-cat household and the owner was suspicious of a cat bite abscess (as she’d experienced these with her cats in the past). This cat was pretty docile but the owner claimed there was a feisty male in the household who often beat up on the others.  Sure enough, this patient had a cat bite abscess (the size of a small apricot) on the dorsal midline over the caudal cervical spine. This was my first cat bite abscess. The owner knew exactly what would be recommended (based on past experiences) and consented to leave her cat for treatment. Back then, the standard of care for treating a cat bite abscess was to lance the abscess, establish drainage (with a penrose drain), prescribe a course of oral antibiotics (amoxicillin or amoxi/clavulanate), and owner care at home (flush the drain and apply warm, moist compresses). And so, that’s what was done. The owner was advised to return in 5-7 days for a recheck and possible drain removal. The owner adhered to all recommendations and the drain was removed at the follow up visit. Unfortunately, that is not the end of the story. The cat died. That cat bite abscess recurred two more times and that third recurrence prompted surgical exploration and debridement (by a board certified surgeon). A drug resistant, L-form bacteria was cultured from the tissue and she was subsequently euthanized due to the extensive necrotizing process (subcutaneously) along her entire dorsum and down her body walls.  Imagine what it felt like to be a new grad dealing with your first “simple” case of a cat bite abscess and the patient dies. Now, she had a really bad disease process (which was not my fault), but I don’t mind admitting that this case and the outcome rattled my self-confidence. I’m not sure that my mentors handled that event as well as they might have, either. If hospital leadership / senior doctors had been more proactive in debriefing about the case and outcome, I might have been left with a different feeling and mindset about all that transpired (as would other staff who assisted me in the care of that patient).  Adverse medical events and medical mistakes that result in "near misses" or patient death are an unfortunate reality in the challenging world of veterinary medicine. Examples of these types of events include: communication failures, diagnostic errors, medication errors, surgical complications, anesthesia-related errors or complications, device or equipment failures, and the ever-dreaded patient identification error. Sometimes, there are just bad outcomes and we wonder, is there something I could / should have done differently?  Any of the aforementioned examples can carry profound consequences for the patient, their owner / family, as well as the veterinary care team. In the case of mistakes, they may go unreported (if the patient doesn’t die) but adverse events can ripple through hospital teams and affect morale, trust, and confidence. Addressing medical errors not only requires a commitment to improving systems and practices but also fostering a culture of transparency, accountability, and support. Understanding the multifaceted repercussions of these events is essential to cultivating safer healthcare environments and resilient care teams.  In addition to my personal experiences (e.g. the cat bite abscess example), I’ve seen adverse medical events impact others. In fact, I worked as a Medical Director of a multi-specialty referral and emergency practice for 9 years and suspect that I did not support some of those individuals as well as I could have at the time. I / we didn’t have an awareness or insights into the impacts of these types of situations nor systems in place for best addressing them. I’m super excited to be teaming up with Dr. Lori Kogan – a Professor of Clinical Sciences at Colorado State University and Chair of the Human-Animal Interaction section of the American Psychological Association – to present a workshop that we’ve titled “Debriefing Adverse Medical Events.” Throughout 2025 we’ll be presenting this 2 hour virtual presentation and interactive workshop (via ZOOM), for small groups of veterinary professionals, to create an understanding of the potential impacts of medical mistakes and adverse medical events on individuals and how hospital teams can create a safe environment to support all involved. I hope that my colleagues will embrace this unique opportunity and join us (this is pending approval by AAVSB RACE for 2 hrs of CE credit)! Workshop dates*: - Thursday, April 24, 2025  (1p PT / 4p ET) - Thursday, November 6, 2025  (1p PT / 4p ET) Read More & Register *A minimum of 15 participants is required for this workshop (maximum of 30 participants per session). 

During Session 2 of the Mastering IMHA program we had some discussion regarding the costs associated with diagnosing, monitoring, and treating dogs with IMHA.   Our presenters shared the average costs associated with care at their institution - which is a veterinary teaching hospital. They went on to say that their fees might not be aligned with the costs of veterinary care around the country. I subsequently reached out to my contacts at ASPCA Pet Health Insurance and asked if they had claims data for pets with immune-mediated hemolytic anemia. They graciously shared the following:  >>>We're happy to share some claims data with you.  The ASPCA Pet Health Insurance program has seen ranges of prices for IMHA of $1,910.84 to $30,233.00 within the past four years*.  The ASPCA Pet Health Insurance program has paid claims for IMHA ranging from $1,528.67 to $27,209.70 within the past four years*.  *This data includes claims filed under Complete Coverage for Dog and Cat species between January 1, 2020 - present date.  <<< Bottom line, and as we've said time and again, all pet owners should get their pets covered with pet health insurance EARLY in life ... before they need it! This post was edited by Sheri Berger at August 2, 2024 8:21 PM EDT

These are troubling times and, while I have always been one to try and “think positive” and maintain the belief that a blessing or lesson awaits me on the other side of a tough situation, I am truly finding myself challenged as I tune in to the news of the day ... day after day. Every which way I turn there seems to be a plethora of negativity in the world. I’m emotionally exhausted and, at times, find myself feeling sad and hopeless. So, where do I find solace? In nature and my nurturing relationships with animals (of the non-human variety). Thank goodness for beautiful sunsets, catching a glimpse of migrating waterfowl, song birds that choose my yard to do their thing, and the unwavering companionship of my bestie, my dog. I’m also mindful that there are GOOD people in this world and I am grateful for the relationships I have with the ‘good-doers’ / humans on this planet. People who I may or may not agree with on all things, but people who I do respect. The universe must have picked up on my vibe. Just last week I was introduced to a couple of people who are working to make the world a better place for others. Inspired by their personal experiences and misfortune of having lost dogs to cancer, they are transforming their heartbreak into purpose to support others navigating a similar journey. I can’t tell you how heartwarming it was to listen to their stories and learn how they are turning their sadness into trying to do something to benefit others. We were introduced shortly after the release of VetVine’s most recent webinar produced in partnership with Ethos Discovery, and it is that disease (canine hemangiosarcoma) that inspired them to create a nonprofit organization that is committed to driving awareness and research and to supporting all who care for dogs with hemangiosarcoma. November is designated as National Pet Cancer Awareness Month and VetVine is working to do its part to improve awareness and share exciting news about the ongoing work and advances in pet cancer care. We are thrilled to have recently partnered with Ethos Discovery to help spread the word about their ongoing nationwide clinical trial for dogs with ruptured splenic tumors and hemangiosarcoma. They are roughly half way towards meeting their patient accrual goal and we recently learned that their work, to date, is showing promise that they are on the road to finding a cure for canine hemangiosarcoma. Dr. Chand Khanna is a veterinary oncologist and serves as Chief Science Officer of Ethos Discovery. He shared these inspiring words during his discussion about this clinical trial, “based on the research we’re doing, we are already seeing hints that we are on the right track towards delivering curative outcomes for dogs with hemangiosarcoma.”  We’re also excited to point our followers to the recently launched nonprofit and website - Hemangio.com - founded by Mr. Jason Redlus. I had the pleasure of speaking with him earlier this week and learned more about the inspiration behind his newest passion project. Stemming from his personal experiences and loss of his American Cocker Spaniel, Mr. Redlus is dedicating his efforts to supporting others navigating the hemangiosarcoma journey and ensuring that caregivers of affected dogs are guided and empowered with accurate information when dealt with a hemangiosarcoma diagnosis. Additionally, he is committed to promoting innovation in the world of pet cancer diagnosis and treatment. This resource is going to be of great benefit and have a positive impact on many caregivers of "hemangio" dogs. Lastly, I’m so pleased to report that our efforts to bring awareness to these endeavors are already having an impact. Just this week we were able to connect the Ethos Veterinary Health team with one of our followers who reached out to us regarding their 8 year old dog diagnosed with oral hemangiosarcoma. We are all hopeful that this introduction leads to a positive outcome for everyone involved. Keep the faith and never, ever stop believing! Our Premium Membership subscribers can learn more about the Ethos Discovery hemangiosarcoma clinical trial by registering here (access to the video is free as part of Membership).  For non-subscribers, and in honor of National Pet Cancer Awareness Month, we are pleased to offer a discount on registration to view this presentation.  Folks can save $3 with PROMO Code:  HSA23 **For a limited time only, our friends at Hemangio.com are generously sponsoring free registrations to access Dr. Khanna's presentation. To take advantage of this opportunity please follow this link:    

I recently had the honor and pleasure of reconnecting with a veterinary colleague from the past. Though our paths did not cross with much frequency then (some 30 years ago when we were pursuing our respective residencies - me in ophthalmology and he in oncology), he impressed me as being particularly driven, uniquely brilliant, and a special kind of person. Here we are now, nearly three decades later, and I've discovered that my initial impressions of Dr. Chand Khanna were spot on and have been validated!VetVine recently partnered with Ethos Discovery in an effort to showcase some very important work that's being spearheaded by Dr. Khanna. Never in my lifetime did I think that I'd ever speak the words that, perhaps, a cure for canine hemangiosarcoma was within sight or even possible. This week (and in advance of Pet Cancer Awareness Month) we will be releasing Dr. Chand Khanna's discussion on New Insights on Canine Hemangiosarcoma, in which he will share information about an ongoing, nationwide clinical trial for dogs with ruptured splenic tumors.I hope that each and every one of our Members will take the opportunity to learn about this important work and to let others know about it, too! In the meantime, I invite you to learn more about Ethos Discovery and their work. Their approach to finding a cure for canine hemangiosarcoma is modeled after work that was done to combat childhood leukemia (a disease that used to be fatal, but that now has very high survival rates).  And that, my friends, is what's buzzing and your daily dose of good news! :)  **For a limited time only, our friends at Hemangio.com are generously sponsoring free registrations to access Dr. Khanna's presentation. To take advantage of this opportunity please follow this link:       

I spent the last week of December splitting my time between some necessary year-end work and much-needed rest and relaxation. Like many, I have to actually work at keeping that balance. As the holidays were approaching I was very much aware that I was in a state of imbalance. A brief road trip was also in my future, so I decided to spend the holidays in a fair-weathered, low-key destination that would permit some time out of doors in fresh air and to take in some beautiful vistas. I landed on Sedona, AZ. I was intrigued by the thought of 'getting away' with my dog to experience some "nature and nurture" that Sedona offers. I had an experience (the day after Christmas) that served as a reminder of the importance of establishing boundaries and ensuring that we all maintain space for those things that nurture our psyche and soul (aka work-life balance)! Mind you, this experience was in a "destination location." I had spent the better part of the morning and early afternoon working in front of my computer. When I realized there were just a few hours of daylight remaining, I decided to power down and take a short ride into town to browse a small marketplace - a grouping of different types of shops that cater to visitors and tourists. I had no particular agenda as I went from one shop to the next. One of the storefronts caught my interest - it was a shop dedicated to 'mystical' and 'spiritual' things. You name it, they sold it. Crystals, incense, sound bowls, etc. The place was beautiful and had a nice, peaceful vibe. It felt good being in that space. Except for one thing. I walked in at around 4:40 p.m. and, as I entered, I noticed the sole employee in the shop glance at her wristwatch. Closing time was 5:00 p.m. Within a few moments the employee asked if she could help me find something. I thanked her and indicated that I was just browsing. We started making small talk - mostly about her - and it quickly became apparent to me that she was sour and miserable. Engaging with her was a real "buzz kill." I remained in that shop for maybe 7 or 8 minutes, and in that time frame she must have looked at her watch another 3 or 4 times. Everything - from her physical demeanor to the words that she spoke - was a 'downer.' She killed the vibe of what that shop offered. Instead of promoting a sense of welcome and endearing the notion of a making a purchase, her bad energy pushed me to prematurely exit the establishment. The irony is that I was there to escape, and here I found myself feeling like I needed to escape the escape!   This all happened the day after Christmas. Now, she may have worked a heavy holiday schedule and, perhaps, was exhausted. Maybe she was irritated to be working the day after Christmas. The holidays may very well be an unhappy or sad time for her. I do not know and I do not believe that any of those are excuses; Any one of them, however (understandably), could be a reason for her demeanor. So why am I taking the time to write about this experience? We are well aware of the shortages that the veterinary profession is facing. Practices are busy and frequently understaffed. Some feel like there aren't enough hours in the day. Unfortunately, these issues can adversely impact the individuals who are working in those environments - their attitude, their interactions, their performance, and how they come across to co-workers and clients. Last year we surveyed a cross-section of our Membership regarding their feelings about their work and role in the profession. Here are a couple of direct quotes from those surveys:"Those of us who work in this field are likely to become stressed and overwhelmed owing to the volume and nature of the work. It often feels like the world is on our shoulders—no time to rest, eat, or use the bathroom; constantly ringing phones; very ill pets; very upset and high-strung owners; and what seems like little appreciation and support from owners, coworkers, family members, and friends."  "We have often had to cancel plans in our personal life to take care of a sick animal, thus leading to resentment of those things we once cared for so highly: animals, their well-being, their family, and the field of veterinary medicine." How are you feeling? Are you energized when coming to work? Is your loving, caring, and compassionate self evident to others by your body language and communicating? This new year offers an opportunity for a freshening and rebooting of our mindset and approach to each and every day - how we do things and how we think. It doesn't matter where in the world you live or how grand your workplace. Now's a perfect time for all of us to be thinking about how we take care of ourselves and each other. Caring for ourselves and coming together as cohesive and supportive teams spills over into our outward displays to clients and the empathy we bring to our patients and their caregivers. Without self-preservation and keeping our "vessel" full (instead of perpetually depleted) we cannot fully enjoy our work or contribute to the better good of our workplace or relationships. If we as veterinary caregivers are not "whole," then we cannot be good providers of service to our clients, care to our patients, and support to our co-workers. There are truths and ideals toward which we all may aspire, but to actually achieve them we must "walk the talk." Achieving anything requires effort - we must take deliberate action steps to achieve any goal. If you are feeling burned out or resentful about work, finding your way toward work-life balance or a little more "me time" may very well be the key to resolving those feelings. Awareness and a simple acknowledgement of any problem or frustration is a critical first step to addressing it. VetVine has put together a survey for our veterinary professional colleagues regarding some wellness initiatives we're considering for 2023. Please help us and share your feedback / take the brief survey.  Time for me to power down. I need to go enjoy today's sunset before it's gone and buy that lottery ticket for this weekend's Mega Millions. Can't win it if I'm not in it.