QUARTERLY BEAT
JULY 2026
MARCH 31, 2026
Veterinary Prescriptions: The Practical Basics Dr. Natalie Young , PharmD, BCSCP, DICVP • Veterinary prescription errors are rarely caused by careless clinicians. Most occur when smart professionals are busy taking care of patients in a fast-moving clinical environment. Improving systems and verification processes prevents far more errors than blaming individuals. • Most medication errors in veterinary hospitals occur during dispensing and communication, not prescribing. The final safety checkpoint often happens when the medication is prepared, labeled, and explained to the client. • Prescription labels should be written for pet owners, not the medical record. Abbreviations such as BID, TID, and PO are commonly understood by veterinary staff but frequently misunderstood by clients. • One of the most common causes of dispensing errors is selecting the wrong patient when two animals share similar names. Confirming both the patient’s name and the client’s name before preparing the medication is one of the simplest and most effective safety checks. • Medication safety in veterinary practice is rarely determined by one big decision. It is the result of dozens of small verification steps performed consistently by the entire hospital team.
APRIL 8, 2026
The Dystocia Decision Framework: From Risk Assessment to Surgical Timing Dr. Emmanuel Fontaine , MSc, PhD, DECAR • Dystocia risk assessment starts long before labor begins. Breed, age, primiparity, body condition, litter size, and prior reproductive history can help identify which dams need a “watch closely” plan versus an “elective C-section” plan. • Ovulation timing provides a narrower and more clinically useful delivery window than breeding date alone. Mating date can leave you with a wide due-date window, while progesterone-based ovulation timing can better guide when intervention may be needed. • Provide clients with clear “call now” thresholds for whelping. Stage II labor begins with abdominal contractions, and a prolonged total whelping time or extended intervals between puppies should prompt veterinary reassessment before fetal or neonatal compromise increases. • Image before administering oxytocin! Ultrasound helps assess fetal stress by evaluating fetal heart rates, while radiographs assess fetal number, size, position, and evidence of obstructive dystocia, including transverse presentation. These findings can help determine whether oxytocin is appropriate or whether surgical intervention is indicated. • With many dystocia cases ending in emergency
APRIL 1, 2026
Practical Updates in Veterinary Ophthalmology Dr. Brett D. Story , DACVO
• Primary entropion in cats, particularly in geriatric patients, can be managed with cross-linked 2.4% hyaluronic acid for temporary lid augmentation. • Amniotic eye drops are available to practitioners and may provide antimicrobial, anticollagenase, anti-inflammatory, and antifibrotic properties that may aid healing in patients with deep, infectious ulcerative keratitis. • Ultraviolet-C therapy is now available for veterinary patients, mirroring human medicine and assisting in the treatment of infectious ulcerative keratitis, while aiding in the battle against antimicrobial resistance.
C-section, early risk assessment, clear client communication, and timely reassessment can help create a more controlled and proactive management plan.
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