Melissa Evans, CVT, LVT, VTS (ECC), discusses vital parameters veterinary technicians should track during the unblocking process in cats with urethral obstruction.

Monitoring vitals in blocked cats

Melissa Evans, CVT, LVT, VTS (ECC), owner and founder of Melissa Evans, VTS (ECC) Veterinary Nurse Consulting, discusses patient monitoring during the unblocking process for feline urethral obstruction, a topic she presented on at the Fetch dvm360 Conference in Kansas City, Missouri, in late August. In this clip, Evans talks about how technicians can assist the veterinarian while also tracking vital parameters such as electrocardiogram (ECG), pulse oximetry, and blood pressure. She also discusses the importance of closely monitoring patients for pain, movement, or increased heart rate. Moreover, Evans notes that she pays particular attention to the ECG, as cats experiencing an obstruction are more prone to electrical conductivity.

Below is a transcript of the video, which has been lightly edited for improved clarity.

 During the unblock, when I'm monitoring, sometimes I'm doing 2 things at once, so I'm assisting the doctor as well as monitoring. So, I definitely want to make sure that my patient is hooked up to an ECG. I want to make sure they're hooked up to a pulse oximeter.

Blood pressure can get in the way sometimes of the unblock because we usually put it on a back foot. So if we have the ability to put it on a front leg, then we can get blood pressure on there.

And I'm going to be looking at [the patients] really closely and making sure that they're not showing signs of pain, moving, increased heart rate, anything like that. Because blocked cats can often have electrical conductivity issues with their heart, I'm also going to keep a close eye on that ECG.

And when the doctor doesn't need my hands, I will absolutely put my stethoscope in and listen because I really think that while all the monitoring tools in the world are great, that we are the best tool, and so we should use that as often as we can.

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Melissa Evans, CVT, LVT, VTS (ECC), discusses vital parameters veterinary technicians should track during the unblocking process in cats with urethal obstruction.

Melissa Evans, CVT, LVT, VTS (ECC), discussed these common endocrine conditions in a dvm360 interview.

Identifying diabetic emergencies

What are the most common diabetic emergencies in veterinary medicine? Melissa Evans, CVT, LVT, VTS (ECC), owner of Melissa Evans, VTS (ECC): Veterinary Nurse Consulting, discussed these endocrine conditions in a 

interview at the 2025 Fetch dvm360 Conference in Kansas City, Missouri.

Evans is an experienced emergency, intensive care unit, and critical care technician with additional experience in shelter, wildlife, and disaster medicine. She is a RECOVER CPR–certified instructor who has worked in referral and specialty hospitals in New Jersey and New York. Evans is also a relief technician for specialty hospitals throughout New York, New York.

At the Fetch conference, Evans presented a series of continuing education sessions, including on focused on diabetic emergencies. In the session, she discussed emergency diabetic conditions and the role of technicians in providing nursing care. In this video, she addresses the most common of these conditions.

Researchers study vitamin D metabolism in dogs with diabetes

The following is a transcript of the video:

 There are 2 that I see most commonly. The first one is hypoglycemia, where the blood sugar is too low. There's a couple of reasons for this, either the patient has gotten too much insulin, or the patient isn't eating the way they're supposed to, and they're still getting insulin. The other one is the opposite, hyperglycemia—so diabetic ketoacidosis, where the body isn't able to use glucose for energy, so it breaks down fatty acids and then uses ketones for that energy. This causes a wide range of problems, acidosis, the patient becomes lethargic, the patient becomes very sick, and they need a lot of care.

From needles to pills: transforming feline diabetes care

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On August 26, 2025, The HHS and the USDA confirmed the first human case of travel-associated New World screwworm (NWS). The case was first identified by the CDC on August 4, 2024, when the infected person from Maryland returned to the US after traveling to El Salvador. Currently this case is being investigated by the CDC and the Maryland Department of Health.

“As this is a human case, CDC is the lead response agency and is conducting an epidemiological assessment in coordination with local health authorities. Currently, the risk to public health in the United States from this case is very low. In support of CDC’s activities and out of an abundance of caution, USDA initiated targeted surveillance for NWS within a 20-mile radius of the affected area, encompassing portions of the District of Columbia, Maryland, and Virginia,” the USDA stated in its release.

“To date, all trap results have been negativing for NWS. There have been no detections of NWS in the U.S. in livestock or other animals since the last outbreak of NWS in the Florida Keys was resolved in 2017,” it continued.

The USDA also shared in its announcement that there have been previous cases of travel-associated cases in the US in past years, but all were isolated and designated as closed after precautionary targeted surveillance in the vicinity was negative. The USDA stated that there may be more cases of traveler-associated NWS but it will work with the HHS and CDC to conduct targeted surveillance to help make sure there is no active spread of it in the US. At this time, there is no cause for alarm because human risk remains low, and the several isolated cases the organizations have seen in recent years has not resulted in livestock transmission.

In April 2025, Brooke Rollins, US Secretary of Agriculture, announced that Mexico committed to eliminate restrictions on USDA aircraft as well as waive customs duties on eradication equipment to help the response to the spread of NWS. This agreement meant the ports will remain open to livestock imports, but if the terms are not upheld, port closures could be revisited.

In a letter Rollins addressed to Mexico Secretary of Agriculture Julio Antonio Berdegué Sacristan letter outlined the negative impact on efforts to curtail the spread of NWS from restrictions for aircraft operated by the USDA are “uniquely equipped to conduct the high-volume, precision aerial releases required to suppress and eliminate the NWS population” as well as “substantial import duties on critical aviation parts, dispersal equipment, and sterile fly shipments.

As the detection of NWS continued to increase in Mexico, the USDA issues a 5-part eradication plan, which included a $8.5 million sterile fly dispersal facility. The facility will be built at the Moore Air Base in Mission, Texas due to its proximity to the boarder, and is expected to be completed by the end of this year.

Buck Wehrbein, president of the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association, stated that having a sufficient supply of sterile flies is the only way the US can push NWS away from the border, meaning this facility is crucial to eradication efforts.4 In the 1960s, Moore Air Base was part of the eradication efforts, and will now be the cornerstone of the fight against NWS.

Besides the Moore Air Base, The USDA is reviewing other options for another facility in the US that can generate 300 million sterile flies a week, with a possibility of the agency building a modular sterile fly production facility along with different technologies to help provide faster construction and surge capacities in the future.

Besides inside the US, the USDA is investing $21 million to assist in the renovation of a sterile fly production facility located in Metapa, Mexico, is expected to be completed in in a little over a year from now. The facility is estimated to generate 60-100 million sterile flies weekly.

On a treatment level, HHS announced that the FDA can issue emergency use authorization for animal drugs to prevent or treat infestations caused by NWS. This authorization at this time only applies to animal drugs.

“We have been seeing [NWS] moving up from South America, through every single country in Central America, and has touched down into Mexico,” Christopher Lee, DVM, MPH, DACVPM, host of dvm360’s Vet Watch, said in a recent clip from the show.6 “Currently, we are looking at the numbers nearly doubling every couple of weeks.”

For veterinary professionals, NWSare similar in size to common house flies, or could be slightly larger according to the American Veterinary Medical Association.

 The flies will also have orange eyes, metallic blue or green bodies, and 3 dark stripes along their back. If a patient is infected with NWS, they will present with:

Wounds with bloody or purulent discharge and an odor of decay

Signs of pain like depression, irritability, inappetence, or isolating from other animals or people

After 3 days of the initial infestation, hundreds or thousands of larvae could be present. The larvae are normally positioned with their heads down, with their posterior ends will be visible at the surface of the wound. For wounds that are deep or more narrow, the only visible sign they are there may be subtle movement. 

 continues to cover NWS and its updates, which you can find on dvm360.com or wherever you listen to podcasts. dvm360 will also continue to monitor progress or advancements made for the eradication of NWS, or if more cases continue to pop up in the US.

HHS and USDA Confirm Singular Traveler-Associated New World Screwworm Case; Precautionary and Proactive Surveillance Ongoing. News release. US Department of Agriculture. August 26, 2025. Accessed September 3, 2025.

Coppock Crossley K. US-Mexico agreement allows screwworm eradication efforts to resume. D360. Published May 2025. Accessed September 3, 2025. https://www.dvm360.com/view/us-mexico-agreement-allows-screwworm-eradication-efforts-to-resume

Bautista-Alejandre A. Clinic center: USDA announces sterile fly facility at Texas base for screwworm eradication, and more. dvm360. Published July 9, 2025. Accessed September 3, 2025. https://www.dvm360.com/view/clinic-center-usda-announces-sterile-fly-facility-at-texas-base-for-screwworm-eradication-and-more

USDA unveils Texas screwworm facility, eradication strategy amid reopening of southern ports. American Veterinary Medical Association. July 2, 2025. Accessed July 9, 2025. https://www.avma.org/news/usda-unveils-texas-screwworm-facility-eradication-strategy-amid-reopening-southern-ports?utm_source=delivra&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=todays-headlines-news

Bautista-Alejandre A. US Department of Health and Human Services authorizes emergency use of animal drugs for New World screwworm. dvm360. Published August 19, 2025. Accessed September 3, 2025. https://www.dvm360.com/view/us-department-of-health-and-human-services-authorizes-emergency-use-of-animal-drugs-for-new-world-screwworm

Lee C, Alaburda R. Vet Watch update: New World screwworm. dvm360. May 16, 2025. Accessed August 19, 2025. https://www.dvm360.com/view/vet-watch-update-new-world-screwworm

American Veterinary Medical Association. New World screwworm (NWS). American Veterinary Medical Association. Published 2025. Accessed September 3, 2025. https://www.avma.org/resources-tools/one-health/veterinarians-and-public-health/new-world-screwworm

The first human case detected in US, plus a summary of how the US is responding to NWS

The latest on New world screwworm

Next week, a BluePearl hospital in California will be relocating to a larger facility. Moreover, last month, a specialty and emergency center in Georgia was purchased by a veterinary management and operations company, with the property being acquired by a real estate group specializing in veterinary properties. Meanwhile, in Oregon, a veterinary referral center has expanded its treatment offerings to include extracorporeal therapies.

Continue reading to learn more about these expansions and updates.

BluePearl Monterey Pet Hospital (Monterey, California)

BluePearl Monterey new location. (Image courtesy of BluePearl Pet Hospital)

A BluePearl Pet Hospital in Monterey, California, will be relocating to a new location in the same city on September 9, according to a recent announcement by the veterinary care provider. Currently, BluePearl operates the only 24-hour emergency veterinary hospital in the local community.

The relocation will allow the hospital to expand from 8000 to 15,000 sq ft and will contain a new computed tomography machine, among other equipment. Current BluePearl Monterey staff members will transition to the new location, and the company noted that additional positions are open.

“Our new hospital will allow us to provide industry leading specialty and emergency veterinary care to more pets in the Monterey area,” Bill Sullenberger, DVM, a specialist in emergency medicine at BluePearl, Monterey, said in the announcement.

 “We are delighted to continue providing the local community with 24-hour emergency veterinary care. We want all pet owners in the local area to know, if and when you need us, no matter the time or day, we are here, and our passionate team is ready to help.”

Dogwood Veterinary Specialty & Emergency (Marietta, Georgia)

Last month, Dogwood Veterinary Specialty & Emergency in Marietta, Georgia was sold in a dual transaction, with Terravet Real Estate Solutions purchasing the property for $3.33 million and Texas-based veterinary management and operations company, Innovetive Petcare, acquiring the practice. In the Marietta area, Dogwood is the only 24/7 emergency veterinary hospital.

According to Terravet, the transaction was a sign-and-close deal.

 The 12,726 sq ft building consists of 17 full-time veterinarians and a total of 70 staff members.

“Facilities like Dogwood play a critical role in their communities by providing the specialized expertise and round-the-clock availability that pet owners depend on during emergencies,” Daniel Eisenstadt, CEO of Terravet Real Estate Solutions, said in a company news release.

 “Expanding our partnership with Innovetive reinforces our commitment to supporting practices that deliver this level of essential care.”

Veterinary Referral Center of Central Oregon (Bend, Oregon)

In veterinary medicine, therapeutic plasma exchange is used to remove toxins from a pet’s plasma, which is then replaced with donor plasma. The therapy is especially useful for treating severe immune-mediated conditions.

 Meanwhile, hemoperfusion filters blood via a cartridge that contains activated charcoal or other materials that absorb toxins.

 Hemodialysis also filters blood, removing waste, toxins, and excess fluids when the kidneys are not functioning properly.

The Veterinary Referral Center of Central Oregon (VRCCO) is expanding its services with the addition of extracorporeal therapies. These new treatments include hemodialysis, therapeutic plasma exchange, and hemoperfusion. According to VRCCO, the facility uses the same dialysis machines used in human medicine.

In a news release announcing their addition of these therapies, VRCCO said it was “honored to be among the few facilities in the US” to offer these treatments that offer hope to patients with certain kidney conditions, immune-mediated diseases, and life-threatening toxicities.

“The Veterinary Referral Center's board-certified specialists encourage pet parents and referring veterinarians to consult with them to determine whether these therapies are appropriate for individual cases,” wrote VRCCO in the news release.

BluePearl Pet Hospital opens new location in Monterey. News release. BluePearl Pet Hospital. August 26, 2025. Accessed September 2, 2025. https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2025/08/26/3139349/0/en/BluePearl-Pet-Hospital-Opens-New-Location-in-Monterey.html

Terravet Real Estate Solutions acquires $3.33 million specialty emergency hospital in partnership with Innovetive in Marietta, Georgia. News release. Terravet Real Estate Solutions. August 7, 2025. Accessed September 2, 2025. https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250807606199/en/Terravet-Real-Estate-Solutions-Acquires-%243.33-Million-Specialty-Emergency-Hospital-in-Partnership-with-Innovetive-in-Marietta-Georgia

Veterinary Referral Center of Central Oregon expands life-saving treatment options with extracorporeal therapies. News release. Veterinary Referral Center of Central Oregon. August 12, 2025. Accessed September 3, 2025. https://www.newswire.com/news/veterinary-referral-center-of-central-oregon-expands-life-saving-22621476

The latest updates relating to animal care establishments and platforms.

Clinic center: BluePearl Pet Hospital in California to relocate, & more

A new awards program for veterinary technicians has been launched. The annual PRN Veterinary Technician Awards recognizes and financially supports remarkable veterinary technicians for their contribution to veterinary medicine.

The award program was created by Pegasus Laboratories, a pharmaceutical based in Pensacola, Florida that develops and manufactures animal health products for chronic conditions in cats, dogs, and horses. The company markets its products under the PRN Pharmacal brand.

“Vet techs play a vital and often underrecognized role in the health and well-being of animals, as well as in the efficient operation of clinics. They bring a diverse set of skills and understanding to every aspect of their work, providing essential nursing care and technical support to their patients,” wrote Pegasus in a news release.

 “Bridging the gap between veterinarians and pet owners, vet techs help communicate care plans and support emotional connections during challenging times. Their contributions are an integral part of the veterinary industry.”

The company said they launched the award to celebrate and honor veterinary technicians who represent professionalism, resourcefulness, and necessity (PRN) in their work.

 Award recipients will also receive financial support that can be used for continuing education, certification, attending conferences, or other career development opportunities. Credentialed technicians working in the animal healthcare industry in veterinary hospitals, shelters, and clinics will be eligible for the award.

Fetch shines the spotlight on 2025 Veterinary Heroes

Peers and supervisors can nominate a technician through an online nomination form. The program also allows technicians to nominate themselves. A $500 Visa gift card will be awarded to one recipient at each of 8 major veterinary trade shows across the United States throughout 2026.

Selected winners do not need to attend the trade shows to receive the award but those who wish to accept it in person will be contacted to confirm attendance.

"At PRN Pharmacal, we are proud to launch this awards program to honor the work vet techs do every day," Keith McGriskin, vice president of marketing at Pegasus, said in the release.

 "Vet techs are the unsung heroes of the veterinary world, providing expert care that keeps clinics running and pets healthy. Through this program, we want to highlight their dedication and bring awareness to the role they play in the lives of animals, pet owners, and the entire veterinary community."

PRN Pharmacal announces veterinary technician awards program to honor exceptional care. News release. Pegasus Laboratories/PRN Pharmaceutical. September 2, 2025. Accessed September 2, 2025. https://prnmedia.prnewswire.com/news-releases/prn-pharmacal-announces-veterinary-technician-awards-program-to-honor-exceptional-care-302542421.html

The PRN® Pharmacal Veterinary Technician Awards. PRN Pharmacal. Accessed September 2, 2025. https://www.prnpharmacal.com/VTA/

The annual PRN Veterinary Technician Awards will honor credentialed technicians who embody professionalism, resourcefulness, and necessity.

New veterinary technician awards program launched

The American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA) announced the release of its 2025 AAHA One Health Guidelines: Navigating Cross-Disciplinary Partnerships. These guidelines are a historic milestone because it is the first set of guidelines that bring human and veterinary medical professionals together to create a roadmap for collaboration.

According to an organizational release, this is the first time AAHA has assembled a task force of experts from public health, human medicine, and veterinary medicine to address communication barriers as well as create strategies that can benefit patients and families by considering pets and humans as a family unit. These new guidelines also address critical needs for veterinary and human medical teams to work side by side in a holistic, family-based approach to healthcare.

“The highest quality care—for individuals, families, communities, and our shared environments—depends on true interprofessional collaboration. Yet, despite this widely accepted principle, one of the most enduring gaps exists between human and veterinary medicine. The AAHA One Health Guidelines aim to bridge that divide—offering both inspiration and direction to support a more connected, effective, and comprehensive model of care,” Brian Sick, MD, MHA, FACP, FNAP, cochair of the AAHA One Health Guidelines, said in the release.

The guidelines give healthcare professionals practical solutions for scenarios that commonly intersect animal and human health, such as zoonotic diseases, mental health issues, disability accommodations, and family welfare concerns.

Clear criteria for determining when cases require a One Health approach

Standardized terms and definitions to establish a common language between professionals.

Structured protocols for reaching out to other professionals, like social workers, physicians, and medical specialists.

Another key component of the guidelines is case studies that cover critical topics in detail for ADA accommodations, cognitive function issues in older adult clients, infectious diseases transmissible between animals and people, recognition of intimate partner violence and animal abuse, and tick-borne diseases.

“I am excited to have contributed to the AAHA One Health Guidelines, which equip our veterinary healthcare teams with the essential tools and framework to collaborate with our colleagues in human healthcare,” said Cheryl Roth, DVM, DABVP (Canine and Feline), co-chair of the AAHA One Health Guidelines.

“By fostering connections between these two fields, we can more effectively address zoonotic diseases, share insights on preventive care for the whole family, and create comprehensive wellness plans that consider the health of both pets and their owners. This collaboration will not only enhance the care we provide to our animal patients but will also support the families that love them, promoting healthier communities overall,” Roth continued.

Through leveraging resources and responses that currently exist, the guidelines will help enable healthcare professionals to give more comprehensive care that can address the interconnected health care needs for human and animal family members.

The guidelines are available on the AAHA website and were made possible with support from Merck Animal Health.

Along with these new guidelines, AAHA announced the release of 4 other groundbreaking new Standards of Accreditation for nontherapeutic, devocalization, ear cropping, and feline declawing.

 These new standards also mark another historic milestone for the AAHA, because these are the first standards in AAHA’s history to touch on these topics. AAHA stated in its release regarding these releases that member practices are expected to now forgo these procedures unless there is an existing clear medical indication. 

The other new standard encourages AAHA-accredited practices to initiate conversations about microchipping at a patient’s first visit. These practices will also be expected to verify the functionality and location of the patient’s microchip annually.

“The American Animal Hospital Association was founded on the belief that small animals are deserving of the highest quality care from industry professionals. We continually assess our Standards to ensure they are aligned with current best practices across the profession. We are happy to share that our Board of Directors has approved these latest standards as part of our commitment to continuous improvement on the journey to excellence,” Jessica Vogelsang, DVM, AAHA chief medical officer, concluded.

AAHA Releases Groundbreaking One Health Guidelines to Bridge Human and Veterinary Medicine. News release. American Animal Hospital Association. August 27, 2025. Accessed September 1, 2025. https://www.aaha.org/news/aaha-releases-groundbreaking-one-health-guidelines-to-bridge-human-and-veterinary-medicine/

AAHA Launches New Standards of Accreditation. News release. American Animal Hospital Association. July 22, 2025. Accessed September 2, 2025. 

https://www.aaha.org/news/aaha-launches-new-standards-of-accreditation/

The latest guidelines from the American Animal Hospital Association aim to bridge gaps between human and veterinary medicine.
