Rachael Zimlich, BSN, RN

Des Moines, Iowa - Lawmakers are calling for certification for pregnancy testing using ultrasound and embryo-transfer services by mandating that non-DVMs performing such duties be certified by the board of veterinary medicine and work under the supervision of a licensed veterinarian.

Nashville, Tenn. - A fatal car accident involving a woman and her dog triggered new legislation in Tennessee aimed at keeping pets in the back seats of vehicles.

Austin, Texas - Texas legislators hoep to tackle the issue of compensation for the loss of a pet, including non-economic damages.

National Report - While repots within the veterinary profession are signaling an alarm that visits are down, a new poll from the American Pet Products Association indicates that 16 percent of dog owners and 13 percent of cat owners say their pets' health takes as much priority as their own.

Montgomery, Ala. - Alabama lawmakers introduced a bill March 29 that would require veterinarians and veterinary technicians to report torture or cruelty to animals.

Carson City, Nev. - Nevada Sen. Valerie Weiner is asking that pet owners be allowed to donate unused medications to animals in need, much like human-health facilities do.

Athens, Ga. - Large breeds don't just have shorter life spans than smaller dogs-they are also more likely to die of muscoskeletal and gastrointestinal diseases and cancer.

Schaumburg, Ill. - Clarifying earlier advice that practices need to carry workers' compensation insurance for relief veterinarians, the American Veterinary Medical Association's (AVMA) Professional Liability Insurance Trust (PLIT) says that's not the case.

Oklahoma City, Okla. - New rules that passed last August to allow lay persons in Oklahoma to float horses' teeth have been reversed by the State Board of Veterinary Medical Examiners.

Denver, Colo. - Anyone convicted of animal abuse in Colorado will now also have to reimburse the animal's owner for any costs of care of replacement.

Little Rock, Ark. - Horseshoeing, training, the selling of equine medications and certain equine reproductive procedures are no longer a part of the veterinary practice act in Arkansas.

Just 37 percent of dog owners purchase heartworm medication from veterinarians.

As the cost of owning a pet-and running a veterinary practice-rises, more pet owners are turning to insurance to keep their animals healthy.

College Station, Texas - Researchers at Texas A&M University College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences are leading studies on Bovine Respiratory Disease, funded through $14.2 million in grants from the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

Honolulu, Hawaii - A bill originally aimed at preventing animal abuse has turned into something entirely different and now suggests that Hawaii stop the sale of intact cats or dogs.

Secondary exposures now make up about half of all confirmed equine herpes virus cases.

Strategies to build employee engagement can help, veterinarians say.

Pet ownership and spending are up, but not enough to keep pace with a surge of new DVMs.

National Report -- An outbreak of equine herpes virus (EHV-1) continues to spread with at least 29 cases now confirmed in eight Western states, veterinary officials report.

National Report -- The number of new veterinarians entering the market is up 2.92 percent over last year, with a total of 2,638 earning degrees from the nation's 28 veterinary colleges this spring.

Three equine herpes virus (EHV-1) cases have been confirmed, and others are feared in multiple Western states.

Injunction bars two veterinary specialists from competing with Iowa State.

National Report - While the Bureau of Land Management is going to increase attempts at using birth control to keep wild-horse populations in check this year, an internal report reveals that much more is needed to make the program sustainable.

National Report - Expect client backlash if you decide not fax prescription authorization to 1-800-PetMeds.

Schaumburg, Ill. - Whether a veterinarian has helped animals impacted by disaster or lost it all in a catastrophe, the American Veterinary Medical Foundation has several resources at the DVM's disposal.

National Report - Re-emergence of foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) on American farms may be inevitable, reports a public health expert.

Durango, Colo. - About 150 dogs in Durango, Colo., have fallen ill with one local veterinarian can only call a "mystery."

National Report - The search for new deans of Oklahoma State University's Center for Veterinary Health Sciences and the University of California-Davis' (UC-Davis) School of Veterinary Medicine are well underway.

Nashville, Tenn. - Crossing your fingers and hoping it never happens to you is not an effective disaster management plan.

Magnolia, Ark. - Southern Arkansas University officials are talking about a new veterinary school.