Veterinary Vertex

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When Is Research Ready to Publish? A Veterinary Cardiologist on Genetics, Negative Results, and Peer Review Aug 01, 2026

Show notes

A lot of researchers quietly struggle with the same question: when is a study truly ready to publish, and how do you write it so someone actually uses it? From the AVMA Convention 2026, we sit down live with Dr. Joshua Stern, a veterinary cardiologist and geneticist whose work bridges cardiovascular disease, genomics, and clinical impact.
We start with Joshua’s path into cardiology, sparked by working with “super athlete” animals like racehorses and sled dogs, then move into what he learned from publishing early in his career, including a genetic screening project in boxer dogs that came back completely negative. The twist: those results still mattered, and they taught him how to frame significance, define impact, and tell the truth clearly without overselling. We also talk about how to decide when to stop collecting “just one more” datapoint and instead share findings that can help patients, clinicians, and other researchers now.
From there, we get practical about scientific writing and peer review. We unpack how to distill complex datasets into an approachable manuscript, when to move tables and niche analyses into supplementary materials, and why a massive supplement can be a sign you’re trying to write two papers. Joshua also shares his go-to mindset for reviewing and responding to reviews, including the simple habit of reading critiques, walking away, and coming back with a clearer lens. We close with a research challenge he hopes the field tackles next: the optimal timing of medical or surgical intervention in dogs and cats as advanced therapies expand.
If you care about veterinary research, manuscript publishing, and clinician-scientist career skills, subscribe, share this with a colleague, and leave us a review with your biggest peer review lesson.

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What Journal Editors Actually Look For: A Veterinarian's Guide to Getting Published Jul 23, 2026

Show notes

Your research might be solid, your conclusions might be exciting, and you still may be setting yourself up for a rough peer review if the methods, statistical analysis, and journal fit aren’t dialed in. Recording live from the AVMA 2026 convention in Anaheim, we sit down with Dr. Jolle Kirpensteijn, a longtime veterinary surgeon and associate editor, to unpack what actually speeds up (or stalls) publication in veterinary journals like JAVMA and AJVR.
We get specific about the behind-the-scenes signals editors look for right away: study design clarity, sample size thinking, appropriate statistical tests, and whether the discussion stays relevant instead of inflating claims. Jolle explains why selecting a journal early and writing for a defined audience can prevent avoidable rewrites, and how improvements like faster time to publication can change an author’s entire submission strategy, especially for early-career veterinarians navigating deadlines and credentialing pressure.
We also dig into the emotional side of publishing: that first brutal review, the temptation to get defensive, and the simple habits that separate a strong revision from a red-flag response. You’ll leave with a practical writing workflow (starting with Materials and Methods), a reminder that good research can matter more than flashy results, and clear guidance on making your abstract and cover letter do real work.
If you found this helpful, subscribe for weekly conversations with the people shaping veterinary research, share this episode with a colleague who’s writing a paper, and leave a review telling us what publishing question you want answered next.

INTERESTED IN SUBMITTING YOUR MANUSCRIPT TO JAVMA ® OR AJVR ® ?

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AJVR ® :

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JAVMA ® and AJVR ® LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/company/avma-journals

Deep Digital Flexor Tenotomy: Pain Relief and Comfort for Horses with Chronic Laminitis Jul 17, 2026

Show notes

Chronic laminitis forces every equine clinician into the same hard question: when comfort keeps slipping and radiographs keep worsening, what can truly change the mechanics of the foot and the horse’s day-to-day life? We sit down with Dr. Jim Orsini to talk about deep digital flexor (DDF) tenotomy, a procedure many people still treat as “last resort,” and why the data argue it may deserve earlier consideration in the right chronic rotational laminitis cases.
We dig into what the surgery is actually trying to accomplish: reducing the pull of the deep digital flexor tendon on the coffin bone (third phalanx) so the foot can realign to the ground surface. Jim walks us through the patient selection details that matter, including the rotation versus sinking distinction, and why great farriery is not optional. We also discuss the practical, clinic-friendly ways to judge success, from owner-observed comfort and stable pain-medication needs to radiographic progression like lysis, sole penetration, and hoof wall separation.
Then we get into the findings that made us pause, including the striking improvement signal at three to six months and the nuance around age, underlying causes like equine metabolic syndrome, and why chronic cases can be recognized late. We close with the real-world conversation every veterinarian has to have: cost, expectations, and the truth that chronic laminitis care is a long-term commitment, not a one-and-done fix.
Subscribe for more equine veterinary surgery and lameness insights, share this with a colleague or farrier you trust, and leave a rating and review so more listeners can find Veterinary Vertex.

JAVMA article: https://doi.org/10.2460/javma.25.12.0839

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AJVR ® :

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FARVets: A Model for Global Competency in Veterinary Service-Learning Jul 09, 2026

Show notes

A veterinary “clinic” doesn’t always look like stainless steel tables and a wall of equipment. Sometimes it’s a town pavilion, a park, an old hotel lobby, or a host’s living room and that shift changes what students learn, what they notice, and who they become as clinicians. We’re joined by Dr. Paul Maza to talk about international veterinary service learning and why it deserves more recognition in veterinary education, not as a feel-good add-on, but as rigorous training that builds adaptability, confidence, and cultural humility.
We dig into the on-the-ground reality of providing animal care in low-resource settings: how teams adjust anesthesia protocols when the usual machines aren’t available, how students learn to problem-solve with different supplies and medications, and how interpreters often translate cultural context as much as language. Paul also shares what he’s observed after training hundreds of students over the years, including how the “clinical work” can become the backdrop for deeper learning about community, partnership, and the global nature of veterinary medicine and animal welfare.
Then we get personal with the stories that stick: setting up a clinic at a Buddhist monastery in Thailand and realizing a single monk was the essential partner for safely handling the dogs, and walking the streets of La Paz, Bolivia, only to find street dogs wearing child-sized puffy coats because people wanted them warm. If you’ve ever wondered what global veterinary service, externships, and community-based care can teach that a hospital rotation can’t, this conversation is for you. Subscribe, share this with a friend in veterinary medicine, and leave a rating and review wherever you listen.

JAVMA article: https://doi.org/10.2460/javma.26.04.0275

INTERESTED IN SUBMITTING YOUR MANUSCRIPT TO JAVMA ® OR AJVR ® ?

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AJVR ® :

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JAVMA ® and AJVR ® LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/company/avma-journals

Fluorescent Findings: Making Sentinel Node Mapping Accessible in Vet Med Jul 03, 2026

Show notes

A glow under blue light might be the difference between guessing and knowing where cancer has spread. We sit down with Drs. Elizabeth Maxwell and Veronica Perez to unpack a practical, low-cost approach to sentinel lymph node mapping in dogs using fluorescein sodium, a compound many veterinarians already recognize from everyday clinical use. Our focus stays on one big goal: expanding access to accurate cancer staging in veterinary oncology without requiring advanced imaging, specialized near-infrared camera systems, or a referral-only workflow.

We walk through the real surgical details: intradermal injections around the tumor, quick massage for lymphatic uptake, then watching the lymphatic channels appear in real time with handheld lights and blue light filtering glasses. Elizabeth and Veronica share why simplicity matters for adoption in general practice, what they learned about black light versus blue light clarity, and why “I can see it with my eyes” can reduce friction in the operating room.
Then we get into the stakes. In their pilot study of six client-owned dogs, the team identified at least one sentinel lymph node in every case, with rapid visualization after injection. Histopathology underscores the clinical value: metastatic mast cell disease showed up in sentinel nodes, including early nodal metastasis that palpation alone could miss, and even deeper second-tier nodes in some dogs. We also cover key limitations, including small sample size, qualitative assessment, and the need for head-to-head trials against standards like indocyanine green near-infrared fluorescence to define sensitivity, specificity, and false negative rates.
If you care about affordable veterinary cancer care, better surgical decision making, and practical tools that can move beyond specialty centers, this conversation is for you. Subscribe, share with a colleague, and leave a rating or review on Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen, then tell us what would help you adopt sentinel lymph node mapping in your own clinic.

JAVMA article: https://doi.org/10.2460/javma.25.11.0735

INTERESTED IN SUBMITTING YOUR MANUSCRIPT TO JAVMA ® OR AJVR ® ?

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AJVR ® :

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JAVMA ® and AJVR ® LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/company/avma-journals

What Actually Makes Nutrition Conversations Work Jun 27, 2026

Show notes

Pet food advice is everywhere, but the hardest part is what happens when an owner walks into the exam room already convinced they’ve found the “right” answer. We sit down with repeat guest Drs. Janice O’Brien to dig into what veterinarians say actually blocks effective pet nutrition communication during small animal appointments and what helps break through without shaming clients.
Janice shares insights from a large survey of 500+ veterinarians across the US and Canada, including why the top barrier often isn’t time, it’s owner preconceived notions. We talk behavior change and the pre-contemplation stage, why nuance is tough when people want certainty, and why veterinarians often feel like the last voice in a long chain of breeders, shelters, pet store conversations, online searches, ads, and influencers.
We also get highly practical: when handouts work and when they end up in the trash, how to start weight and obesity conversations with an invitation, and what “direct yet compassionate” sounds like in real life. We cover shared decision making, building trust in short visits, writing specific nutrition and calorie recommendations owners can follow, and how cost and prescription diets can affect adherence. We close with the growing impact of social media misinformation and why a whole veterinary team approach including technicians, nurses, assistants, and client service staff may be key to better outcomes.
Subscribe for more evidence-based veterinary communication conversations, share this with a colleague, and leave a review on Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen.

JAVMA article: https://doi.org/10.2460/javma.26.01.0077

INTERESTED IN SUBMITTING YOUR MANUSCRIPT TO JAVMA ® OR AJVR ® ?

JAVMA ® : https://avma.org/JAVMAAuthors

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AJVR ® :

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JAVMA ® and AJVR ® LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/company/avma-journals

When the Tests Disagree: The Diagnostic Gap Between Cytology and Histopathology in Canine Splenic Masses Jun 23, 2026

Show notes

A splenic mass shows up on ultrasound and the question hits like a brick: benign or malignant? We go straight at the uncomfortable truth behind canine splenic cytology. Even when splenic FNA feels like the “do something now” step, the match between cytology and histopathology is only moderate, and that has consequences for how we advise families, schedule rechecks, and decide when splenectomy is the safest path.
We talk with Drs. Janet Grimes and Matthew Aluisio about what their data means in the exam room: why a neoplastic cytology result tends to be more predictive than a non-neoplastic one, and why a benign aspirate does not rule out cancer. We unpack the spleen’s built-in complexity, including extramedullary hematopoiesis, mixed cell populations, and the sampling problem of trying to summarize a large, heterogeneous lesion from a tiny needle sample. We also get specific about the diagnoses no one wants to miss, including hemangiosarcoma and lymphoma, and how tumor exfoliation and overlap with reactive processes can blur the picture.
From there, we shift into action: when cytology is most useful, when serial ultrasound monitoring is a reasonable strategy for smaller, non-ruptured nodules, and when size and rupture risk should move the conversation toward surgery and definitive histopathology. We also dig into the “possibly neoplastic” gray zone and why calling your pathologist can be one of the most practical diagnostic tools you have.
If you work up splenic masses in dogs and want clearer owner conversations, better monitoring plans, and fewer false reassurances, this one is for you. Subscribe, share with a colleague, and leave a rating and review so more clinicians can find the show.

JAVMA article: https://doi.org/10.2460/javma.26.01.0006

INTERESTED IN SUBMITTING YOUR MANUSCRIPT TO JAVMA ® OR AJVR ® ?

JAVMA ® : https://avma.org/JAVMAAuthors

AJVR ® : https://avma.org/AJVRAuthors
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JAVMA ® :

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AJVR ® :

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JAVMA ® and AJVR ® LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/company/avma-journals

Skipping the Scope: Long-Term Results of HTO for Canine Cruciate Disease Jun 10, 2026

Show notes

Routine stifle exploration during canine cranial cruciate ligament surgery sounds like common sense, until you ask the uncomfortable question: what if “doing more” doesn’t reliably improve long-term function for most dogs? We sit down with Dr. Dan Low to unpack long-term outcomes after high tibial osteotomy procedures (TPLO and CCWO) performed without routine arthroscopy or arthrotomy and without proactive meniscal evaluation, a real-world approach many clinicians use but rarely see studied in depth.
We break down what high tibial osteotomy actually changes in the cruciate-deficient stifle, then get practical about evidence. Dan explains why this large case series matters, how uncommon events become easier to estimate with bigger numbers, and why validated owner-reported tools like LOAD (Liverpool Osteoarthritis in Dogs) and the Canine Orthopedic Index give us a more standardized view of recovery than vague “good” or “excellent” labels. We also discuss one of the most debated points in veterinary orthopedics: late meniscectomy. When a meniscal sparing strategy produces a low late-intervention rate that looks similar to rates reported in explored joints, it raises a bigger issue about which meniscal lesions are truly clinically meaningful.
We don’t pretend one study settles the debate. You’ll hear the strongest criticisms of this design, the patient groups where exploration still makes sense (uncertain diagnosis, revision cases), and the unanswered research questions that could reshape how we balance morbidity, time, and cost in dog knee surgery. If you treat CCL disease, refer cruciate cases, or counsel owners through surgical options, this conversation will sharpen how you explain risk-benefit decisions without defaulting to habit.
Subscribe for more evidence-focused veterinary conversations, share this episode with a colleague, and leave a rating or review wherever you listen.

JAVMA article: https://doi.org/10.2460/javma.25.11.0736

INTERESTED IN SUBMITTING YOUR MANUSCRIPT TO JAVMA ® OR AJVR ® ?

JAVMA ® : https://avma.org/JAVMAAuthors

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AJVR ® :

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JAVMA ® and AJVR ® LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/company/avma-journals

From Diagnosis to Recovery: Equine and Canine Rehabilitation Jun 03, 2026

Show notes

Rehabilitation isn’t a luxury line item at the end of a case anymore. It’s becoming the difference between “we fixed the lesion” and “this patient truly returns to function.” We’re joined by Drs. Heidi Reesink, Denise Marcellin-Little, and David Levine to unpack a first-of-its-kind JAVMA rehabilitation Technical Tutorial Video supplemental issue and what it signals about where veterinary rehabilitation and physical therapy are headed.
We talk honestly about what makes rehabilitation challenging and exciting in real clinical practice: plans that look totally different for dogs, cats, and horses; chronic cases like osteoarthritis that demand long-term strategy; and the reality that owner goals, time, and cost shape what care can actually happen. You’ll hear why a multidisciplinary rehab team matters, how technicians and assistants help deliver consistent protocols, and why listening to the patient over time can be just as important as any single test.
From there we get practical and tech-forward. We dig into objective gait analysis using wearable sensors and motion capture, the stubborn underuse of goniometry despite validation, and how ultrasound-guided injections and arthroscopy support both diagnosis and treatment while enabling longitudinal monitoring. We also explore major modalities clinicians ask about every day, including shockwave therapy and underwater treadmill aquatic therapy, plus what we still need to learn to tighten protocols. Finally, we tackle orthobiologics and regenerative medicine evidence, why big studies are so hard in veterinary patients, and how video tutorials can bridge the gap between research and day-to-day rehabilitation outcomes.
If you care about better mobility, clearer measurements, and more predictable recoveries, listen now, share it with a colleague, and subscribe so you don’t miss what’s next. After you listen, leave us a rating and review and tell us: which rehabilitation tool has changed your practice most?

JAVMA editorial: https://doi.org/10.2460/javma.264.s1.s3

INTERESTED IN SUBMITTING YOUR MANUSCRIPT TO JAVMA ® OR AJVR ® ?

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AJVR ® :

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