Episode 23: Taking the bite...out of bites

Veterinarians have one of the top 10 most dangerous jobs in the country. Laura Catena, DVM, a small animal relief veterinarian and creator of The ArmOr Hand Glove, is all too familiar with the high injury risk associated with this profession.

“We are getting injured daily— bitten and scratched, “ she tells Dr. Christman in the latest episode of The Vet Blast Podcast.

For Catena, one serious cat bite nearly jeopardized her career in veterinary medicine. One day she says one of her cat patients bit her left hand. She went to the hospital and was sent home with antibiotics, but by the following morning, the infection had spread from her hand to the left side of her neck. Her joints had become septic, and she had to receive extensive surgery, along with 7 months of physical therapy to regain functionality in her left hand.

It was this harrowing event that prompted Catena to come up with a proactive solution to help prevent others from experiencing such serious work-related injuries: ArmOR Hand Protective Gloves. These innovative bite-proof gloves are machine washable and made with flexible, durable, and synthetic material. “It’s like another tool in our toolbox to protect us while providing the best care to our patients,” she says, adding that this product can also help to prevent life-threatening injuries among your elderly and immunocompromised clients.

Listen below to learn more about how to reduce work-related injuries, plus find out some surprising fun facts about Catena.