July/August 2024 Dear Colleagues,
President's Message
Newsletter
Dear Colleagues, It's hard to imagine, but summer is upon us. As the warm embrace of summer approaches, I wanted to take a moment to reach out and thank you for your support thus far. Our CE meetings have been well attended with great discussions during and after the talks. That being said, remember that summer is a time of rejuvenation, both for ourselves and for our beloved animal companions. It's a season filled with sunshine, outdoor adventures, and cherished moments with family, friends, and furry companions. Remember that as veterinarians, we play a crucial role in ensuring the health and well-being of animals during this time of year. Whether it's providing preventive care to keep pets safe and healthy during outdoor activities, offering guidance on summer hazards such as heatstroke or parasites, or simply offering compassionate care to animals in need, our dedication and expertise are essential for them and their owners. I encourage you to recharge this summer and reconnect with the things that bring you joy outside the clinic. Whether it's spending time outdoors, going to the beach, fishing, enjoying a leisurely stroll with your pets, or simply relaxing with loved ones, remember to take care of yourselves so that you can continue to provide the best possible care to your patients. As we embark on this summer season together, let us also take a moment to reflect on the importance of our profession and the impact we have on the lives of animals and their human companions. Let's continue to support and uplift one another, sharing knowledge, experiences, and camaraderie as we work towards our shared goal of improving the health and well-being of all creatures, great and small. Wishing you all a wonderful summer filled with joy, laughter, and endless opportunities for growth and fulfillment. Warm regards J Armando Villamil, DVM, PhD, DACVIM (Oncology) President Broward County Veterinary Medical Association
JOIN OR RENEW TODAY! Enjoy the camaraderie and top-notch continuing education offered by the BCVMA! We offer 10 great CE meetings per year, including Florida Pharmacy and Rules, a newsletter, and the best Holiday Party in South Florida! Membership is Only $130 yearly. You can join or renew online by visiting https://poynt.godaddy.com/ checkout/afa689cc-149b-4060-8441- 56e98875a44c/2024-membership
Executive Board 2024
President Armando Villamil, DVM drv@petcancergroup.com Immediate Past President Stephanie Jones, DVM drstefni@gmail.com Secretary Stefeny Pollack, DVM szpollack@gmail.com Treasurer Claudia Valderrama, DVM claudia67v@aol.com Education Chair Simon Kornberg, DVM drkornberg@sevneurology.com Social Chair Jason Horgan, DVM jason081977@aol.com Newsletter Chair Yolanda Ochoa, DVM dr.yolanda@vet2yourpet.com
Dr. James Anderson II` 954-347-3557 doctor_anderson98@gmail.com Dr. Peggy Carlow 954-341-9552 pmcarlow@att.net Dr. Doris Caraballo 786-410-9462 doriska32@yahoo.com Dr. Ursula Dell 965-696-0642 drdell03@gmail.com Dr. Fumiko Miyamoto 352-339-2207 www.theasiandoctorllc.com Dr. Cindy Rigg 305-968-8345 csrigg@yahoo.com Dr. Dan Selvin 954-604-0084 dcselv4@gmail.com Dr. Mark Steele 954-942-7193 mdsteele@bellsouth.net Dr. Ana M. Tassino 305-335-3111 tassino@bellsouth.net Dr. Claudia Valderrama 305-297-8893 claudia67v@aol.com
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Medical Article
Veterinary Ophthalmology – Reimagined and Refreshed Robert Swinger, DVM, DACVO
Over the years, I have written and spoke on many ophthalmology topics…..glaucoma, corneal ulcers, dry eye, etc.And while these subjects are the pillars of my discipline, they can become a bit monotonous and dull!Do not get me wrong - you need to recognize that glaucoma can blind an eye, that topical steroids should not be used in the face of a melting corneal ulcer, and that tacrolimus is a great tear stimulant – but there are many more things in veterinary ophthalmology that offer a bit more flare.In this article, I want to share with you a random collection of interesting cases and new therapies that may reenergize your thoughts and feelings towards Veterinary Ophthalmology! Tissue Filler / Entropion Repair After seeing the stunning and often interesting results of tissue filler use in people, we decided that these products could have a use in Veterinary Ophthalmology!The most practical application in our realm is to correct inferior entropion in cats (and more mild cases in dogs).The advantages of this procedure include safety (sedation only), cost, and speedy recovery (no incisions or sutures).Many cats return to normalcy after a few days.Disadvantages may include the necessity to repeat due to resorption of the filler (to date, I have only repeated one in 5 years) and potentially, implant reactions.It is important to remember that severe cases do better with traditional surgical intervention and most superior eyelids are not candidates due to the weight of the filler material.
Veterinary Ophthalmology (continued)
Collagen Crosslinking (CXL) The normal cornea is comprised of collagen fibers; these fibers remain aligned and strong due to natural covalent crosslinks between the fibers.In certain corneal diseases where the stability of the cornea is compromised, additional crosslinks can be introduced using UV-A/Riboflavin corneal crosslinking.This procedure also has an antimicrobial effect and increases the resistance of collagen fibers to enzymatic degradation.In our patients, we are primarily using this procedure to assist in the treatment of keratomalacia (melting ulcers).To receive this treatment, patients are generally sedated and topically anesthetized.The corneal surface is aggressively treated with topical Riboflavin (1 drop every 2 minutes for 30 minutes); the cornea is then irradiated using UV-Q light.Following this procedure, patients are often treated medically and/or surgically as they normally would.
Veterinary Ophthalmology (continued) Gonioimplant/Laser Cyclophotocoagulation Historically, patients with primary glaucoma (generally speaking, our canine patients) were given a grim prognosis for the long-term medical management of their disease.Primary glaucoma commonly strikes at young ages (3-6 years old) and medical therapy alone is rarely successful for more than 2-3 years.This said, most, if not all, primary glaucoma patients will be blinded in the later portion of life.But new advancements in surgical procedures are allowing patients a better prognosis for long term treatment and maintenance of vision.There are two basic goals of glaucoma treatment for both medical and surgical cases: 1) to increase outflow of ocular fluid and 2) to decrease production of ocular fluid.To increase the outflow surgically, we can install a gonioimplant (glaucoma shunt or valve) and to permanently decrease the production of fluid, we perform laser cyclophotocoagulation (CPC) (either via a transscleral or intraocular approach).Gonioimplants seem to offer better short-term benefits but often require maintenance (scar resection) to remain functional. Laser CPC offers better long-term results but creates more postoperative inflammation and thus requires more aggressive therapy for several weeks after surgery.In my hands, I prefer to combine the procedures.By performing these procedures together, the shunt often provides glaucoma control while the inflammation from laser therapy is resolving.While this is not a panacea for all cases, many of these patients remain visual for years after the procedure, which is a much better prognosis than guaranteed blindness.
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Amnion The use of amnion tissue to help facilitate healing of corneal ulcers has been appreciated for several years.Recently, amniotic eye drops (EyeQÔ) have become available; these have been game changing for many severe cases.Amniotic eye drops require reconstitution prior to use.They mimic corneal basement membrane structure to enhance the growth of corneal epithelial cells; concurrently, due to added heavy-chain hyaluronic acid (HC-HA), they provide long-lasting lubrication and protection of the corneal surface during healing.They are also thought to reduce corneal scar formation by suppressing fibroblast growth factors.These drops are not necessarily replacements for other supplemental products, such as autologous serum, but offer yet another tool in your ophthalmology tool-belt! Marine Mammal I cannot write up a summary of “cool” things in veterinary ophthalmology and not share some of my special patients that break up the monotony of day-to-day work in the office.Over the past few years, I have been given opportunities to perform more ophthalmic work on marine mammal eyes, primarily sea lions and dolphins.These animals have adapted to both water and air environments by having more viscous tear films to protect their corneas and having both flatter corneas and rounder lenses to provide for better visual accommodation.While ocular diseases occur in both wild and captive animals, those housed in facilities may be at greater risks of ophthalmic problems, primarily due to excessive exposure to sunlight and poor water quality.Clinically, I see mostly corneal disease in dolphins.The most common lesion is a form of nasal keratopathy; often there is a lipid or mineral component that ulcerates, similar to degenerative lesions seen in older dogs.Sea lions most commonly present with two ocular diseases: 1) keratitis with or without ulceration and 2) cataracts with lens instability.Their keratitis is often seasonal and seems to be most prevalent in summer months (more sun exposure and breeding season; stress).
This inflammation, coupled with other environmental factors and a longer lifespan in captivity, allows for most sea lions to develop vision threatening cataracts that require surgical intervention.Unlike humans and most of our small animal patients, the lens of the sea lion is removed in its entirety while still encapsulated in the lens capsule; this is secondary to a lack or degradation of zonules that hold the lens capsule in place.Because of this, sea lions following cataract surgery are aphakic (without a lens) – this is not as problematic as it may seem since their “flattened” cornea is designed to better facilitate refraction.As many sea lions present with both corneal and lenticular diseases concurrently, it is not uncommon for them to require combined surgical procedures (such as a lensectomy and conjunctival graft).
Contact: info@petshelptheheartheal.org
July 1, 2024 I hope this note finds you all well!The summer fun and sun is well among us – I hope you are all living your best lives! Legislatively, it has been a busy spring with several things developing that have an impact on each of you. On May 17, 2024, Governor DeSantis signed SB 382 into law.This new legislation exempts certain licensees, regulated under the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulations (DBPR), from continuing education (CE) requirements.As of today, if you have held an active license for at least 10 years with no disciplinary actions, you are exempt.Unfortunately, this was not the intention and was secondary to oversight; we are the only medical profession not regulated by the Department of Health (where this exemption does not apply).As professionals in an industry that demands the brightest minds, the FVMA and I strongly encourage you to continue fulfilling your CE requirements just as you always have.We expect an amendment to this bill to pass next year that will reinstate our CE requirement; it is unclear at this time how the State Veterinary Board will handle this one-year lapse. Another bill, HB 849, effective today, allows Florida-licensed veterinarians to establish a veterinarian-client-patient relationship (VCPR) using real-time, synchronous audiovisual communication, such as Facetime or similar platforms.If telemedicine is used for the initial establishment of a VCPR (meaning this is a new client), several protocols must be adhered to, including: 1)Veterinarians must provide their name, license number, a local physical clinic in the vicinity for emergencies, and a script if desired for medications (this must be in a form that is signed by the client). 2)Veterinarians must comply with all federal and state laws, including any federal VCPR requirements that apply. 3)Veterinarians can only prescribe FDA-approved animal drugs in a manner consistent with labeling; no off-label use is allowed. 4)Drugs can only be prescribed for a 14-day duration, except for flea and tick control (these allow 30-days); no refills are allowed without an in-person visit. 5)Controlled drugs cannot be prescribed unless the veterinarian has conducted an in-person visit or physical exam within the past year. 6)Veterinarians must hold a valid Florida license. 7)No health or travel certificates can be issued without an in-person exam. 8)Telehealth does not allow veterinarians to prescribe to horses engaged in racing or training at a facility.
While the FVMA was opposed to establishing a VCPR remotely, we feel that the guardrails will ensure that: 1)We take appropriate steps to prevent overprescribing of antibiotics. 2)Prevent illegal prescription drug distribution and abuse. 3)Prevent mass out-of-state prescription drug sales via “pill mills.” 4)All animals will have access to local resources in case of an emergency. The Gulf Atlantic Veterinary Conference (TGAVC) is coming to FORT LAUDERDALE this year! Unparalleled learning and relaxation, this is the FVMA’s premier gathering for small animal and exotic veterinary professionals. Experience over 200 hours of RACE-approved continuing education (CE) sessions and interactive wet labs, all set against the backdrop of a stunning, seaside destination, at the Marriot Harbor Beach Resort and Spa.Sign up soon as the wet labs are filling fast. For those of you interested in Equine Medicine, the Promoting Excellence Symposium (PES) will be held from October 10-13 at the Naples Grande Beach Resort.This is the Florida Association of Equine Practitioners (FAEP) flagship conference, loaded with world-renowned speakers, topics, and wet labs.This year’s exclusive wet lab will be led by the esteemed Dr. Jean-Marie Denoix, one of the world’s foremost equine musculoskeletal system anatomists. Wishing you all the best, Robert Swinger, DVM,DACVO District VI Representative
Upcoming Continuing Education Meetings Look in your email for more information!
Broward County Animal Care
DANIA BEACH, FLA. (WSVN) - A Broward County animal shelter is asking the public for help in adopting their pets as they reach their maximum capacity. Officials at Broward County Animal Care’s shelter in Dania Beach said 30 of their current sheltered dogs have been there for at least 100 days, while others have been there longer. “We’re really trying to concentrate on getting our population of dogs reduced,” said Broward County Animal Care spokesperson Doug Brightwell. “Thirteen of them have been with us over 200 days. Some of them close to 300 days.” The shelter is a no-kill shelter, but officials are looking for potential adopters to take the dogs into their homes. To sweeten the deal, the shelter is willing to make it cheap for potential adopters. The shelter is a no-kill shelter, but officials are looking for potential adopters to take the dogs into their homes. To sweeten the deal, the shelter is willing to make it cheap for potential adopters. The shelter said they are willing to provide free adoption, shots and food for the rest of the dog’s life. “They go home with lifetime provision of preventive care, their annual shots and with food,” said Brightwell. Now that’s something to bark about. The shelter said that while it can be loud inside the kennels, they do have quiet areas where potential adopters can spend time with the dogs. One of the dogs a person can meet is May. She has been living in the shelter for over 100 days, so she is part of the pet project. As part of the pet project, those who are willing to adopt could be helped with vet services to make sure the dog goes to their forever home safely. In Miami-Dade, the shelters are full as well.One of the shelters in Medley suffered through a heat wave in the past weeks, and a popular fan company came in and donated fans.“It’s gonna make a huge difference bringing the temperature down. They have misting elements that will make it cooler for the dogs” said Miami-Dade Animal Services spokesperson Annette Jose.
Click The Dog to See Our Interview
Dr. Alyssa Dayton, Medical Director
The Humane Society of Broward County is a private, non-profit animal shelter that has been open since 1944. We adopt out about 4,500 animals every year – this includes dogs, cats, and small mammals. As the access to veterinary care becomes more challenging for low-income families, we have continued to expand our programs to help provide care when possible. One of the largest services we provide to the community is our low-cost vaccine clinic. We see thousands of pets in the clinic for walk-in services that include vaccines, heartworm testing, FeLV/FIV testing, and preventative product sales. We educate our clients on any health concerns we may notice and encourage them to establish relationships with primary veterinarians to provide annual exams and for any care the animal may need now or in the future. Our goal is to help them save money when they can so that there are funds for when they may need a full-service clinic. We are also striving to build the herd immunity for Broward county to help the animal population as a whole.Another area that we can help your clients and the community is our spay/neuter program. We know many clients cannot afford the cost of spay and neuter at animal clinics, so we offer an alternative lower cost option for them. We limit our services to animals under the age of 7 years old, as we do not offer pre-operative bloodwork and they must have no known underlying conditions. It is important to note that our neuters are performed with a scrotal approach instead of pre-scrotal technique. Clients are warned of a small amount of drainage for 48hrs, but if you see one of our surgeries post-op, there can be some confusion regarding the partially open incision and some drainage. Our surgeries can be scheduled on our website, but they are booking out months in advance. For the community members that are experiencing homelessness, or at risk of it, we have partnered with Street Dog Coalition to offer clinics every other month at local parks or churches. These special events provide free preventative care, spay/neuter vouchers, and limited treatments for the owners that cannot afford care at all for their pets. The clinics are only for a few hours, so they fill up very quickly, but we also have a food pantry monthly to provide support. For people that can find transport, we have food available for pick-up in our admissions lobby through a feeding program on a first-come first-served basis.
Fresh scrotal incision with a single deep suture to keep the incision opposed.
Internally, any animal that comes through our shelter is given a wellness exam, vaccines, monthly preventions, and heartworm(canine) or retroviral(feline) testing. Any medical conditions noted during their stay with us are given medical care and diagnostics to the best or our ability, and given written waivers to make owners aware of any chronic conditions the animals may have. We want to educate adopters as much as possible on the specific health needs of their animals, most frequently heartworm disease or chronic skin conditions. Here at the HSBC, we want to be a support net for the community to help get animals the care they need and keep them out of the shelter system whenever possible. If you have any questions about any of our programs or our shelter, do not hesitate to reach out to info@hsbroward.com
A veterinary student getting surgery experience on shelter owned animal.
A shelter dog being treated for Demodex and secondary ryoderma.
This newsletter is published bi-monthly by the Broward County Veterinary Medical Association, Inc., 200 NE 12th Avenue Apt 8 B Hallandale, Fl 33009. Editorial Guidelines: Letters and articles are welcome. All submissions must be signed and the author's name will be published. Entries must be received 14 days prior to the publication date. Display Ads: Please e-mail all submissions to mreyesnye5115@gmail.com. The views and opinions expressed herein are not necessarily those of the officers of the BCVMA or its representatives. Products and services advertised herein are not necessarily endorsed. Membership Cost: $130.00 per year. Includes all CE meetings and invitation to all social events. Pay online : https://poynt.godaddy.com/checkout/afa689cc-149b-4060-8441-56e98875a44c/2023-membership
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