Vet Tech PRN

10/31/2026

A study published in the American Journal of Veterinary Research compared the pharmacokinetics of intact, split, and crushed extended-release levetiracetam (LEV-XR) tablets in seven healthy Beagles following administration of a 500 mg dose.

The findings revealed important differences between splitting and crushing:

- 𝗦𝗽𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴: No statistically significant differences were found in the evaluated pharmacokinetic parameters between split and intact tablets. Splitting may provide a practical option for dose adjustment in smaller dogs.

- 𝗖𝗿𝘂𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴: Crushed tablets produced a higher maximum plasma concentration (61.5 vs 46.0 µg/mL) but lower drug exposure during the final four hours of the 12-hour dosing interval (AUC₈₋₁₂ₕ: 30.0 vs 49.8 µg·h/mL).

- 𝗗𝘂𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗮𝗯𝗼𝘃𝗲 𝘁𝗮𝗿𝗴𝗲𝘁 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝗰𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻: Plasma concentrations remained above the study's target of 10 µg/mL for approximately 8.5 hours with crushed tablets, compared with 10.9 hours with intact tablets.

An exploratory pharmacokinetic model also estimated an earlier time to maximum concentration with crushed tablets, although the observed difference in time to peak was not statistically significant.

These findings suggest that splitting and crushing extended-release levetiracetam are not pharmacokinetically equivalent. Splitting may facilitate dose adjustment, whereas crushing alters the drug's concentration-time profile.

The authors proposed further investigation of crushed LEV-XR for managing cluster seizures when immediate-release levetiracetam is unavailable. However, clinical efficacy during seizures was not evaluated, and this potential application remains unproven.

𝗜𝗺𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁𝗮𝗻𝘁 𝗹𝗶𝗺𝗶𝘁𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀: The study included only seven healthy Beagles and evaluated one extended-release product. The dogs were fasted, and crushed tablets were suspended in water before administration. The 10 µg/mL target was based on human therapeutic reference values, as a validated therapeutic concentration range has not been established in dogs. Therefore, the findings should not automatically be generalized to other formulations or interpreted as evidence of clinical efficacy.

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Mondino A, Nettifee JA, Simon KE, Papich MG, Muñana KR. Tablet crushing, but not splitting, alters the pharmacokinetics of extended-release levetiracetam in dogs. American Journal of Veterinary Research. Published online October 23, 2026. doi:10.2460/ajvr.26.08.0360

10/20/2026

I just listened to this episode today. Worth a listen.

10/15/2026

09/19/2026

💡 💡

09/04/2026

09/04/2026

Aparently my stance on using low stress handling and not scruffing ferrets is getting a bit of attention at the moment, so here is my reasoning;

Correct handling methods-

Ferrets often respond best to minimal restraint. Minor procedures like blood sampling can
often be performed by distracting them with a small amount of wet food to lick.
To pick them up, scoop the ferret up with one hand under their chest, supporting their body with a second hand under the rump. Light restraint is performed by placing one hand over their neck and shoulder area and the other over their rump, or by gently wrapping them in a ‘towel burrito’; however, hyperthermia is a concern if wrapped for an extended period (Wolf, 2009).
Wash your hands and change your scrub top after handling prey animals to prevent exciting
their prey drive.

Outdated handling methods-

Historically, scruffing of cats was considered acceptable, because their mother carried them
this way as babies and it appeared to induce relaxation.
However, research has since demonstrated that scruffing is an unacceptable restraint method
in cats as it is associated with increased stress and fear responses (St. Denis, 2023).
Similarly, the literature currently describes scruffing ferrets as acceptable because mothers carried them this way as kits and it appears to make them relax and yawn. Yawning, however, can be a sign of several things including distress. Scruffing in mice has shown to cause significant behavioural and physiological effects, including third degree AV blocks!

Given the possible welfare implications, whether scruffing is appropriate for ferrets would benefit from further research.

I recommend avoiding scruffing restraint, using low-stress handling techniques
instead. If fear and stress (FAS) become too high in the animal or staff safety is at risk, sedation should be offered rather than scruffing.
Juveniles, lactating does, and less handled individuals are more likely to bite.
St. Denis (2023) described it well when he wrote, ‘aggression is not a personality trait, but rather a protective behaviour in response to fear, anxiety, pain or frustration’.

St. Denis, K.A. and Kelly, A. (2023). Stop scruffing that cat! The move towards zero restraint.
Proceedings for the OVMA. (26028 January 2023). Toronto, Canada

Wolf, T.M. (2009). Ferrets. Manual of Exotic Pet Practice. (Ed. Mitchell, M.A.)
https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-141600119-5.50016-0.

08/29/2026

Dogs and cats can live together but it's not all on the dog for it to be successful. Read more in this week's blog.

https://rescuedbytraining.com/2026/08/24/dogs-and-cats-living-together/

07/26/2026

😱60 minutes?!

How long do you wait after applying EMLA before venipuncture?

The application of Emla (2.5% prilocaine and 2.5% lidocaine) to the skin should occur between 60 minutes before an IV injection for the full effect, with dogs reacting more to needle insertion more at the 30 minute mark than the 60 minute mark (van Oostrom, 2026).

The recommendation for rabbits too, is application 30-60 minutes before venipuncture, for effect (Chung et al. 2022).

Chung GH, Di Girolamo N, John S et al. (2022). Effect of preemptive topical application of lidocaine or prilocaine-lidocaine on successful catheterization of ear veins in New Zealand White rabbits. Vet Anaesth Analg. Sep;49(5):452-457. doi: 10.1016/j.vaa.2022.06.004.

Oostrom, Hugo & Knowles, TG. (2018). The clinical efficacy of EMLA cream for intravenous catheter placement in client owned dogs. Veterinary Anaesthesia and Analgesia. 45. 10.1016/j.vaa.2018.03.009.

07/22/2026

Liquid biopsy, a less invasive way to detect cancer biomarkers through blood, urine, or other fluids, is gaining ground in human oncology and now veterinary medicine too. A new urine-based test may address key limitations of existing blood-based options for dogs.

Here's what pet owners and veterinarians need to know: jav.ma/liquidbiopsy1