News

Dealing with people is the part of veterinary medicine that one can never truly say they are good at. Some may profess to be comfortable with it, but most will agree that it is the hardest part of the job.

Auburn, Ala. - Auburn University ordered an internal investigation after allegations of animal abuse and fund misappropriation stemmed from a nine-month undercover PETA operation in the veterinary college.

St. Paul, Minn. - Minnesota cattle owners paying for bovine tuberculosis (TB) testing for their cattle can offset testing costs with a new tax credit.

Despite years of experience, even veterinarians can be caught off guard by aggressive dogs, experts say. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), dogs bite 4.7 million people each year with 800,000 Americans seeking medical attention. Of those injured, 386,000 require treatment in an emergency department and about a dozen die. The rate of dog bite-related injuries is highest for children ages 5 years to 9 years, and the rate decreases as children age. Almost two thirds of injuries among children ages 4 years and younger are to the head or neck region.

Not long ago, I received a promotional piece in the mail that touted the benefits of natural healing and alternative medicine for dogs.

Take a look at veterinary student Cristina Hansen's photos taken during the caribou project in Arctic Alaska.

St. Paul, Minn.- American Association of Bovine Practitioners' (AABP) board members voted during the group's annual meeting in September to establish a charitable foundation.

Bel Air, Md. - The American Association of Feline Practitioners (AAFP) threw its endorsement to parasite control guidelines from the Companion Animal Parasite Council (CAPC).

Trenton, N.J. - The New Jersey Department of Agriculture is back in court defending its "Humane Treatment of Domestic Livestock" standards against an animal rights group's claims the principles don't go far enough.

How would you define learning? Webster's dictionary defines "learning" as acquiring knowledge or skill by study or experience, while "study" is the act or process of applying our mind in order to acquire knowledge by reading or investigating. Unfortunately, Webster's definition of the term study emphasizes acquisition of knowledge without properly emphasizing the importance of acquiring wisdom. What's the difference?

When I was 2 years old, my mom read a book to me called The Doctor in the Zoo. That's when I decided to be a veterinarian, but not one who just sees dogs and cats.

Orlando, Fla. - The 24th annual NAVC Conference Jan. 13-17, 2007 promises to provide a variety of learning formats.

Shawnee, Kan. - Bayer HealthCare named Lykele van der Broek global head of its animal health division.

Fort Collins, Colo. - The United States Department of Agriculture's (USDA) National Animal Health Monitoring System (NAHMS) seeks DVM input for its Dairy 2007 national study.

Advances in veterinary transfusion medicine and development of canine and feline blood donor programs have increased the availability of blood products to the veterinary market. An increasing number of small animal practices are routinely using commercial blood banks and providing their patients with valuable transfusion medicine services. It is important when administering these products to understand and recognize the most-common signs of a reaction. Side effects such as vomiting, fever and urticaria have been well described in veterinary patients.

Baton Rouge, La. –– The Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry is investigating the cases of two horses administered counterfeit clenbuterol to determine if the unapproved drug is responsible for their deaths.

This practitioner, behavior consultant, lecturer, and author thinks television shows such as Dog Whisperer may give pet owners unrealistic expectations about the time and commitment needed for behavior modification.

Ithaca, N.Y. - He hopes his legacy will be upheld through the continued encouragement of Cornell's future veterinarians to be diverse in thought and practice, and open to challenges and change.

Dr. Nancy Matthews didn't cry. She didn't run. After a short fight, she curled into the fetal position and remained still, trying to keep her neck, face and the back of her legs unexposed.

Biosecurity is no joke. Most practitioners are aware of its significance considering the media focus on bovine viral diarrhea (BVD), bovine spongiform encephalopathy and agroterrorism. Yet veterinarians who are known to make a host of producer safety recommendations often omit some security suggestions because they appear excessive.

Washington, D.C. - A study monitoring the success of weight loss for people and animals showed better results when owners and pets worked together.

St. Paul, Minn.- American Association of Bovine Practitioners' (AABP) board members voted during the group's annual meeting in September to establish a charitable foundation.

Pomona, Calif. -Western University's (Western U) veterinary college broke ground on its veterinary clinical center.

Louisville, Ky. - At 3:45 a.m. Dec. 20, Louisville Metro Council members passed a dangerous dog ordinance that rejected an original version calling for the ban of seven large breeds including Pit Bulls.

Annapolis, Md. - The Maryland Republican Party named a 58-year-old mixed animal practitioner as spokesman for its agenda.

Chicago - The American Veterinary Medical Association's annual leadership conference agenda appears ordinary apart from an administrative rules rewrite.

I finished the surgery with feelings of pride and accomplishment. There were enterotomies in four places. The abdomen was closed, the skin was closed, and the drain was in place.

Englewood, Colo. - A $30-million cancer program aims to foster research, treatment and, hopefully, a future cure for canine and human cancer.