News

Remember Pet Rocks? They might have been a short-lived fad, but I think they're still alive and well in the U.S.

Richmond, Va. - Virginia lawmakers are takin gnote of the animal-welfare movement and have decided to create a new subcommittee to give greater attention to the state's welfare issues.

National Report - Vector-borne diseases have the attention of the nation's parasitologists this year. And they are watching for signs of migration and disease spread.

Happy associates deliver great customer service. Pay them right.

While new laws are closing puppy mills, they also are putting reputable breeders out of business.

Manhattan, Kan. -- Steven Henry, DVM, is the 2010 Kansas State University College of Veterinary Medicine Alumni Fellow.

Orlando - How insidious is escalating veterinary student debt?

It's a whole new set of challenges.

Albany, N.Y. - A sharp increase in "dog-nappings" recorded by the American Kennel Club (AKC) last year has resulted in the introduction of two new laws in New York that would make pet theft penalties more harsh.

DO NOT LINK. This is the PDF for crediting doctor production.

Seattle - Researchers at the University of Washington have scanned the genomes of 275 unrelated dogs to discover what role human selection has had in purebred dogs. In the process, they identified 155 regions that they believe have been affected by selective breeding.

Schaumburg, Ill. - Many changes were made by the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) Executive Board during its fall and winter meetings, though most of the changes were of the minor "housekeeping" variety.

Ear edge dermatoses in dogs can consist of alopecia, seborrhea, crusting, ulceration and necrosis.

National Report - In Arizona, skunk rabies is on the incline, despite notd decreases in reported cases for the rest of the country.

Atresia ani is a congenital embryological anomaly in which the hindgut fails to fully communicate with the perineum.

When performing tests that require three drops of blood (heartworm or FeLV/FIV tests), we use a standard U-100 insulin syringe to draw 15 units of blood, the equivalent of three drops.

Lexington, Ky. - Monitoring the use of medications in performance horses is no easy task.

Port-au-Prince, Haiti - In the good times, before the earthquakes pounded the impoverished island, thousands of dogs roamed free.

The cost of an advanced degree is becoming nearly impossible for graduates to pay in a reasonable time.

DO NOT LINK. This is an XLS for Opperman article on ProSal

Vet schools have lost up to $50 million in state funding, and now Penn faces a new 30 percent cut.

An author once suggested that neither gender was indigenous to Earth, each having arrived from a different planet with divergent philosophies. My observation suggests a similar dichotomy between groups of pet owners and veterinarians.

Dr. Cathy Lund discusses how building bridges between the two fields will help to strengthen primary care for both animals and humans.

It must be written on my forehead: "Small town." Trips to big cities always leave me feeling stupid.

Dover, Del. - The Delaware state veterinarian now will have greater power over the ownership, sale, display and rehabilitation of exotic animals.

2011 Hospital Design Competition entry form

At last count, 287,000 dogs crossed U.S. borders, and officials fear importation problems are getting worse.

Guidelines for entering the 2010 Veterinary Medicine Pet Picassos Contest

Birmingham, Ala. -- A new study conducted by psychologists at the University of Alabama at Birmingham is evaluating whether a computer software program can improve the way children behave with dogs in an effort to reduce the chances of dog bites.

Open and airy