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To make it easy for us to identify which ear an otic sample was taken from, we smear the sample into the shape of an R or an L directly on the slide.

If you wash slides for reuse, try adding about a teaspoon of Jet-Dry Rinse Agent (Reckitt Benckiser), made for automatic dishwashers, to the rinse water.

Over the last two decades, embryo transfer has grown in acceptance and is now performed in many horse breeds. The majority of embryo transfers in the United States each year are performed on Arabian and Quarter horses. The American Quarter Horse Association allows multiple foal registrations per year, and the high-dollar Quarter horses are boosting the embryo transfer industry. The embryo transfer technique has not undergone significant innovations for the past few years, but there has been an increasing trend to have embryos shipped to a reproductive facility that manages a large recipient herd. This trend has been supported by encouraging pregnancy rates following embryo transfers from shipped embryos.

Olympia, Wash. - State Rep. Kathy Haigh, DVM, retained her seat for a fifth term with a solid election win, but she's still shaky about the stereotypes of being a politician.

National Report - With at least 24 DVMs now calling state legislators their colleagues, the profession has never been more poised to bolster veterinary medicine's voice and initiatives.

The puzzled looks on our faces were replaced with wide-mouthed, eye-squinting laughter.

Oakland, Calif. - The nation's 29th veterinary medical program appears on the horizon.

At her last office visit, Mrs. Dimbulb was very anxious to share her latest theory concerning her cat's behavior. "You know, Doctor," she said. "I think I know why Pierce misbehaves when he's here. It's those heavy gloves you people wear when handling him. Those gloves scare him. My sister, Mrs. Tranquil, brings her cat here, and she told me that her cat, Honey Pie, behaves just fine. I think it's because you don't use those scary gloves on her cat."

National Report - As the new democratic-dominated Congress promises to the raise the federal government's minimum wage to perhaps $7.25 from $5.15, voters in six states approved referendums Nov. 7 to relieve a 10-year gap in the hourly pay.

Peggy Killewald, LVT, business manager of Killewald Small Animal Hospital in Amherst, N.Y., knows personally what it's like to mourn the loss of a beloved pet in public. Before she and her husband, Dr. William Killewald, opened their practice in 1980, she was at another practice after her dog was euthanized.

Resources and knowledge merge to mutually benefit both

I always assumed that the success of my practice was due to diligence, integrity, and dedication to service.

Denver, Colo. -- A New Jersey DVM hopes a petition threatening Denver's image as a tourist attraction will encourage city council to overturn its 15-year ban on Pit Bulls.

Making sure ... there is passive transfer of antibodies (IgG) is critical to maintain immunity.

Schaumburg, Ill. - Research and disaster initiatives received $400,000 from the American Veterinary Medical Foundation (AVMF), with Veterinary Medical Assistance Teams (VMAT) claiming more than half.

Dr. Thomas Burns, owner of a six-doctor practice in Yarmouth, Mass., dives with sharks about once a year.

There are no efficacy studies yet available to indicate the value of tramadol for treating pain in animals.

Mt. Vernon, Mo. - Although disappointed in his election loss for a state representative seat, Charles Dake, DVM, says he looks forward to returning to the local veterinary practice he shares with his son.

Xylitol's ability to cause hypoglycemia in dogs has been recognized for almost 40 years, but a recent study has found that xylitol also can cause acute hepatic necrosis.

This pioneering surgeon sees a promising future for veterinary medicine. Someday, he hopes, "We will develop...a genetic system in which hereditary diseases have been bred out and resistance to infectious diseases has been bred in."

When you unwrapped this month's issue, you also found the peer-reviewed supplement Answers to Your Questions About Digital Radiography.

To easily store and dry endotracheal tubes, we mounted a pegboard to the wall and inserted screwdriver holders to hang the tubes from.

Phoenix - Arizona voters banned gestation stalls that restrict sows from turning and extending their extremities.

How can we best use our freedom to make choices in context of responding to blame?

Many of our team members have the same style and color of stethoscope.

For years I was troubled by artifacts on slides stained with Diff-Quik (Dade Behring) when I used the standard three-jar dip method.

When I perform a feline onychectomy, after the tourniquet is loosely placed on the proximal part of the limb, I squeeze the paw with one hand and milk the rest of the limb toward the body several times before the technician tightens the tourniquet.

National Report -Though many veterinarians fret about student loans prohibiting them from buying a practice, the real killer is revolving credit, such as credit cards and car loans.