AARV Newsletter - October 2019

OCTOBER 2019 | NEWS & UPDATES

In this issue ... heading to VMX? $5,000 grant for alternative-track ACVSMR resident, New Hampshire practice acts, Happy National Vet Tech Week, and more!

President's Message

It's Time for VMX 2020!

Our VMX lineup is fantastic for VMX 2020, and we hope you can join the AARV on Monday, January 20th, 2020. Our lecture track includes:

Leilani Alvarez, DVM, DACVSMR

Translational Medicine: What We Can Learn from Human Physical Medicine

Kristin Kirkby Shaw, DVM, MS, PhD, DACVS, DACVSMR

Why Do We Do What We Do: Physiologic Principles for Rehab Post CCL Surgery
From Cells to Steroids: What Should We Inject Into Joints?

Joe Wakshlag, DVM, PhD, DACVN, DACVSMR

Canabidiol: Just Another Pop Star With an Entourage!

In addition, our 2018 grant winners will present their research:

Gabriella Varcoe, DVM

Effect of Tibial Plateau Leveling Osteotomy and Rehabilitation on Muscle Function in Cruciate-Deficient Dogs Evaluated with Acoustic Myography

Cara Blake, DVM, DACVS

How Cavaletti Pole Height Affects Weight/Load Distribution During Therapeutic Exercise in Dogs

Andrea Henderson, DVM, DACVSMR

Effects of a 9-Week Physical Program on Performance and Physiological Parameters for Military Working Dogs

The AARV will also host our annual membership meeting during the lunch break. We hope to see you there!

In other news, we received several submissions for our two $2,500 grants (sponsored by Purina and the AARV), and the winners will be formally announced in the November newsletter. We thank all of you who submitted grants. Our AARV-sponsored grant of $5,000 is still available for the alternative-path ACVSMR resident. Final submissions are due by December 1st with the winner presenting at VMX in 2022.

As always, we welcome any questions, comments or suggestions.

Happy Fall,

Amber Ihrke, DVM, CCRT, CVA, CVSMT (Chiropractic), CVPP

Heading to VMX?

by Katie Neforos, CVT, CCRVN, CVPP

Membership Chair

Hello, AARV members ... please join us in Orlando, Florida for VMX January 18-22, 2020.

If you would be willing to spend 8 hours at the booth during the conference, the AARV will pay for your convention registration! Please email Katie Neforos, Membership Chair, at info@rehabvets.org if you are interested. We look forward to seeing everyone in Orlando!

Apply for the $5,000 Grant For Alternative-Track ACVSMR Residents

AARV is sponsoring one $5,000 grant available to alternative-track ACVSMR residents who are AARV members. Grant submissions must have a focus related to the field of veterinary sports medicine/rehabilitation. Grant winners must be available to present their research findings at VMX 2022.

Grant submission deadlines:

October 15: Second call for grant submissions
November 15: Final call for grant submissions
December 1: Grant submission deadline
January 15: Decision notified to authors
VMX 2022: Presentation of study results

For more information, please see the Grant Opportunities page in the Members Area of the website.

New Website Launched to Help You Care for Dogs With OA

Canine Arthritis Resources and Education (CARE, www.CanineArthritis.org) was recently launched by AARV past-president, Kristin Kirkby Shaw, DVM, MS, PhD, CCRT, DACVS, DACVSMR. The mission of CARE is to improve the health and well-being of dogs by educating those who care for them. CanineArthritis.org provides free, evidence-based educational resources for veterinary professionals and dog owners caring for dogs with osteoarthritis (OA).

At CanineArthritis.org, you will find two "sides" to the website: the Dog Owner site and the Veterinary Professional site. All information is free, but as a veterinary professional, you will need to sign in to get access to materials designed specifically for you. Here you will find tools to help you with every step of arthritis management, from OA screening tools and physical examination forms to comprehensive information to help with developing a treatment plan. You will find overviews of developmental orthopedic diseases, dosing guidelines for pain medications, calorie trackers, lifestyle and home modification tips for clients, and much more. There are downloadable forms and educational videos that can be shared with clients, which will hopefully save you time in your day by providing trusted information that clients can read at home after your consultation. You will also find tools that Dr. Kirkby Shaw uses in her own practice to help with client compliance, including nutrition trackers, activity logs, and daily journals. There is an extensive reference library with links to each article on PubMed. Finally, CanineArthritis.org provides a direct link to AARV to help veterinary professionals and dog owners find a rehabilitation professional near them.

Visit www.CanineArthritis.org to become a free, lifetime member, and please share the site with colleagues and clients.

ACVSMR Residents: Interested in a Study Group?

Hello, ACVSMR residents! We may be starting a second study group for ACVSMR residents if there is enough interest. Our first group has nine residents and had been a great success in helping to share the workload needed to tackle the ACVSMR board exam as well as being a support system during the residency. If you have an interest in being part of a group, please email Amber Ihrke, AARV president, at president@rehabvets.org.

Are You Willing to Be a Mentor to Students?

by Jessica Bunch, DVM, CCRT, CVA

University Liaison

Attention, AARV members: Are you interested in furthering and influencing the field of veterinary rehabilitation? How about making an impact on a student's (veterinary, technician or physical therapy) future career? There are many students who are interested in rehabilitation and sports medicine, but have no idea how to get started or simply want to know more.

The AARV is attempting to create a database of certified rehabilitation veterinarians, technicians, and physical therapists who are willing to mentor students or allow them to shadow at their clinic.

If this is something that interests you and you would like to make an impact in a student's future career, please contact our university liaison, Jessica Bunch, at university@rehabvets.org with questions or to add yourself and clinic to our database.

SPOTLIGHT PRACTICE

TOPS Veterinary Rehabilitation

TOPS Veterinary Rehabilitation is a full-service exclusively rehabilitation and sports medicine facility, which truly pioneered the field of veterinary rehabilitation. Founded in 1998, TOPS offers a full list of rehabilitation services including therapeutic exercises, passive range of motion, massage, NMES, TENS, Therapeutic Laser Therapy, and Acoustic Compression Therapy. In addition to these rehabilitation options, TOPS offers acupuncture and chiropractic services, as well as nutritional counseling, to supplement the rehabilitation services and provide a holistic approach to rehabilitation.

When it comes to their success, Dr. Christine Jurek, TOPS medical director and AARV member, is quick to point to the staff: "Although our list of equipment is extensive and cutting edge, it's really our experience and commitment to both staff and client education that has led to our success. Our veterinarians and technicians work hand in hand to truly take a team approach to rehabilitation."

Continue reading about TOPS Veterinary Rehabilitation ...

LEGISLATIVE UPDATE

Focus on State Practice Acts: New Hampshire

by Theresa Pancotto, DVM, MS, MS, DACVIM(N), CCRP

Legislative Liaison

Now that all of the AARV links to practice acts are updated, I'm going through each state at random and providing an interpretation of the acts to better guide individuals in managing physical rehabilitation as it pertains to their practice and state.

Interpretation
"Physical Therapist" and "Physical Therapy" are protected terms in the state of New Hampshire covered by the Physical Therapy Practice Act. Both the Physical Therapy Act and the Veterinary Practice Act protect the terms "Animal Physical Therapist" and "Animal Physical Therapy" and requires that an individual practicing "animal physical therapy" be licensed according to the Physical Therapy Act AND obtain certification in animal physical therapy approved by the veterinary board. Those practicing Animal Physical Therapy must have a referral from a veterinarian. Veterinarians performing physical medicine should not use the terms physical therapy/therapist or animal physical therapy/therapist. Specific certification is not required for veterinarians performing physical medicine on animals.

Veterinary Practice Act
332-B:20 Animal Physical Therapy Certification
I. Any physical therapist practicing physical therapy on any animal shall meet the requirements of this section and any additional requirements set by the board of veterinarians pursuant to RSA 332-B:7-a, XIV and shall be certified by the board of veterinary medicine.
II. Before treating an animal, an animal physical therapist shall receive a referral from a veterinarian licensed under RSA 332-B. Such referral shall be oral or written and an oral referral shall be followed by a written referral filed within 7 days of the first treatment by the animal physical therapist. The written referral shall contain the following:

The name of the animal;
The name of the owner;
A description of the animal;
A veterinary diagnosis; and
The referring veterinarian's signature.

III. An animal physical therapist treating an animal shall provide to the referring veterinarian:

A written evaluation within 7 days after initial evaluation;
Any additional progress notes every 30 days; and
Notice of discharge or termination of treatment.

Source. 2010, 170:1, eff. June 17, 2010.

Physical Therapy Practice Act
328-A:2 Definitions
XIV. "Animal physical therapist" means a person who is licensed to practice physical therapy in New Hampshire pursuant to this chapter and has obtained a certification to practice animal physical therapy.
XV. "Animal physical therapy" means the practice of physical therapy on animals.

Source. 2002, 237:1. 2003, 310:5. 2009, 311:1, eff. Jan. 1, 2010.

328-A:15-b Animal Physical Therapy Certification. - [Repealed 2010, 170:3, eff. June 17, 2010.]

See the State Practice Acts page on the AARV website for links to state practice acts for every state.

Have questions or know of updates to practice acts? Please contact me at legislative@rehabvets.org.

AARV Has 484 Articles of Interest in Its Database!

AARV's searchable Articles of Interest Database has expanded to include 484 articles! The database now includes Articles of Interest from January 2017 through August 2019 and is available to AARV members in the Members area of its website.

AARV will keep adding journal articles to the database each month to develop its usefulness as a research tool. We also will continue to include links to our past Articles of Interest from 2010 to the present in PDF format. All Articles of Interest have been selected by AARV founder Dr. Julia Tomlinson because of their relevance to the field of veterinary rehabilitation.

To search the database, log in to the Members Area of the website and go to the Articles of Interest Database page. Enter a keyword, author's name, or other search term to begin your search. A list of matching article abstracts will be displayed. A link to the full version of the journal article will be provided if available.

Our thanks to Dr. Julia Tomlinson for selecting relevant journal articles each month and AARV Secretary Dr. Andrea Henderson for preparing the articles for the database.

We've Updated Our Pet Insurance Summary!

AARV has just released a newly updated version of its summary of pet insurance coverage for rehabilitation services, current as of July 2019. Please see the updated Pet Insurance Summary chart on the AARV website. The Pet Insurance Summary is available as a printable PDF. Our thanks to AARV Industry Liaison Dr. Pedro Rivera for coordinating this update.

Check the AARV Calendar for Upcoming Events

Want to learn which courses are coming up at Canine Rehabilitation Institute (CRI), Healing Oasis, and CuraCore? Check the AARV Calendar of Events on our website, which contains upcoming rehabilitation classes and other continuing education events. You can also visit the Canine Rehabilitation Institute, Healing Oasis, and CuraCore websites directly to learn more about their courses.

Do you have an event to add to the AARV calendar? All calendar posts are now free for AARV members. Please send your calendar event to info@rehabvets.org and be sure to include the name of the event, speaker, topic, date, time, location and URL. Rehabilitation related events/classes only, please.

Achieved Anything Lately?

We want to feature YOU, AARV member!

Your new accreditation, training course completion, announcement, board exam, etc. could be featured on our Instagram and Facebook pages if you let us know!

Contact our Social Media Consultant Caitlin King with your milestones. You provide photos and details. We make the bragging rights to the AARV community happen!

Connect with the AARV on LinkedIn!

Let's network! Connect with the AARV on LinkedIn by clicking on this link or the LinkedIn logo at right.

TECHNICIAN CORNER

Happy National Vet Tech Week!

by Sandy Gregory, M Ed, RVT, CCRA
AARV Technician Liaison


	Sandy Gregory, M Ed, RVT, CCRA, with Daisy

National Vet Tech Week started in 1993. Since then it is celebrated the third week in October. While our coworkers are thankful for what we do, sometimes our work goes unnoticed. Each day we care endlessly for our patients. We cry tears of happiness when they have overcome difficulties, and we cry when we have to say good-bye. We stay longer on our shift if needed; we might miss lunch or wolf down a few bites to get back to work. We have so many talents in the clinic. We have a sympathetic ear, a shoulder to cry on, an eye to watch a dog walk, a voice to help a patient, and arms to hold a geriatric pet. Vet techs can be counselors, dietitians, advocates, educators, and trainers. We can recognize pain, handle any size animal, handle difficult owners, deal with all temperaments, and end the day with a good snuggle. We are compassionate, forgiving, kind, thoughtful, hard working, endlessly patient, and very knowledgeable. Oh, and don't forget all the other nursing skills like anesthesiologist, phlebotomist, radiologist, dental hygienist, and behaviorist. The list goes on and on.

Every veterinary technician should be proud of what you do. "We might not be able to change the world, but we can change the world for one animal at a time." Thank you to each and every veterinary technician out there.

Learn More About APRVT

The technicians on the Organizing Committee of the APRVT would love to speak at your clinic or local conference! Contact us at vetrehabtechs@gmail.com to find someone in your area!

Please visit the APRVT website and social media sites to learn more about us and don't forget to subscribe to our newsletter!

Facebook - Academy of Physical Rehabilitation Veterinary Technicians-APRVT
Instagram - APRVT_vetrehabtechs
Twitter - APRVT @vetrehabtechs

Do you have an article in mind for the Technician Corner? Contact Sandy Gregory, M. Ed, RVT, CCRA, AARV Technician Liaison, at technician@rehabvets.org to submit an article (suggested length of 200-300 words) or suggest a topic.

CLASSIFIED AD

Rehabilitation Veterinarian, Rochester Hills, Michigan

Pawsitive Steps Rehabilitation & Sports Medicine is growing! Our newly expanded, well-equipped facility provides premier level rehabilitation care in beautiful southeastern Michigan. We seek the rare unicorn, a compassionate rehabilitation veterinarian, to join our fantastic rehabilitation team. Acupuncture and VSMT (chiropractic) training considered a plus.
Learn more about us at www.pawsitivestepsrehab.com. For more information or to apply, contact Dr. Tari Kern at frontdesk@pawsitivestepsrehab.com or 248-564-0309. BTW, Rochester Hills made the Top 10 Places to Live in America in 2014 and has lots to offer all interests! For your convenience:
https://issuu.com/jeribits/docs/gra-lifestyle-2019cg-web?e=1013715/67898315

CLASSIFIED AD

Rehabilitation Veterinarian, Wheat Ridge, Colorado

Wheat Ridge Animal Hospital is seeking a rehabilitation veterinarian to join our well established, 24-hour emergency and specialty hospital. The ideal addition to this team will have a deep passion for client education and empathy, as well as a strong interest and belief in an evidence-based clinical approach. They will thrive in and foster an environment of collaboration, support for the individual as well as the entire hospital team, and patient welfare. This candidate will possess an unwavering commitment to the highest level of quality medicine as well as client service. If this describes you, then this is your hospital. Interested candidates can send their resume/CV and letter of intent to Dr. Chris Blum at cblum@ethosvet.com.

CLASSIFIED AD

Rehabilitation Veterinarian, Los Angeles, California

California Animal Rehabilitation (CARE) is adding to our growing team! We provide the gold standard in comprehensive rehabilitation care. Our talented team includes dedicated veterinarians certified in both acupuncture and rehabilitation. We practice a combination of Eastern and Western medicine, in and out-patient rehabilitation and we partner with physical therapists. It is an exciting and dynamic workplace with dedicated and experienced support staff. Our well-equipped facility includes underwater treadmill, therapy pool, large open gym for rehab and more.
To learn more about us visit www.calanimalrehab.com. For more information or to apply contact kim.scott@nva.com or 805-404-3581.

Interested in submitting a classified ad or becoming a sponsor?
See the Submit an Advertisement or Sponsorship page on our website.

Please take a moment to visit our sponsors!

We've learned that some email programs may cut off the end of our newsletter. If you don't see the AARV mailing address at the end of the newsletter, click on "View Entire Message" to see our complete newsletter including special offers from our sponsors.

TIER 1: EDUCATION AND RESEARCH SPONSORS