News

I could almost hear the "twang" when Blitz hit the end of his leash and it stopped him short. The snapping sound of his big mouth almost catching my arm followed immediately. Mrs. Whiteflag was quick to apologize.

New Orleans - Whether even to discuss a ban on antimicrobials in livestock feed for growth promotion split the House of Delegates nearly in half at the annual American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) conference.

Megaesophagus is a condition in which the esophagus has reduced peristalsis, and has poor tone at rest. The esophagus can have a mild, focal motility problem, or the entire organ may be dilated and functioning poorly.

We keep a chart that lists incidents of adverse reaction to vaccination.

Impotent might be the best word to describe a law that would have required almost every cat and dog older than 4 months to be spayed or neutered before the measure was dramatically altered on the California Senate floor.

In 1981, calcium oxalate was detected in only 2 percent of feline uroliths submitted to the Minnesota Urolith Center, whereas struvite was detected in 78 percent. However, beginning in the mid-1980s, a dramatic increase in the frequency of calcium oxalate uroliths occurred in association with a decrease in the frequency of struvite uroliths (Figure 1) .

Washington - A team of reproductive experts performed what is believed to be the first reverse vasectomy on an equid at the Smithsonian National Zoo.

Equine doctors and the AVMA oppose the U.S. ban on horse slaughter. But small animal veterinarians are divided.

Heat stroke is a life-threatening condition characterized by an elevated core body temperature and central nervous system dysfunction. Despite aggressive lowering of core body temperature and treatment, the pathophysiologic changes associated with heat stroke can lead to multi-organ dysfunction, which can be fatal.

New Orleans -- The House of Delegates voted Dr. Larry R. Corry the 2008 president-elect of the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) during the group's annual convention in July.

Kansas City -- The North American Pet Health Insurance Association (NAPHIA) plans to locate its headquarters here.

Milwaukee, Wis. - The Wisconsin Humane Society (WHS) agreed to purchase one of the nation's largest dog-breeding facilities, then shut down the operation.

Moorpark, Calif. -- Dr. Al Schwartz was named president of the Association for Veterinary Family Practice (AVFP).

This week, Dr. Fitzgerald investigates whether the customer is always right.

West Odessa, Texas - Horse owners in West Odessa, Texas, are being warned of a telephone scam in which callers contact horse owners to report a strangles outbreak.

Schaumburg, Ill. -- The American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) is warning the veterinary community of a telephone scam being reported by its members.

Wellington, Fla. - The 12-year-old Equestrian Aid Foundation reached a milestone, announcing it has raised and distributed more than $1 million since its inception.

San Diego - Stephen M. Reed, DVM, Dipl. ACVIM, an expert in equine neurology, will deliver the prestigious Frank J. Milne State-of-the-Art Lecture Dec. 8, during the American Association of Equine Practitioners 54th annual convention in San Diego.

Columbus, Ohio - The American Society for Bone and Mineral Research (ASBMR) has selected Dr. Thomas Rosol, an Ohio State University College of Veterinary Medicine professor in the department of veterinary biosciences and former veterinary college dean, as the newest member of its Science Policy Committee.

New Orleans -- The human-animal relationship was a key point of discussion at the recent American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) annual conference, and one veterinarian who made it a focal point of her work was honored by the group for her efforts.

New Orleans - Delegates from across the country considered 16 resolutions - some contentious, such as the one to support changes in veal husbandry - at the AVMA House of Delegates (HoD) meeting in late July.

College Station, Texas - When the invitation came to take part in a special agricultural-veterinary mission to Iraq, Dr. William Moyer didn't need to ponder over his response.

Schaumburg, Ill. -- The Platinum Partner Program (P3), a joint effort between Fort Dodge Animal Health, Hill's Pet Nutrition and Merial, has secured $4.5 million for American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) programs and services.

Columbia, Mo. - While doing research on the Liberian orphanage where she adopted her two sons, veterinarian Carolyn Henry came across a photograph she couldn't easily ignore.

New Orleans -- A new council was formed to address feline health issues.

Studies show environmentally friendly buildings sell for larger amounts.

Raleigh, N.C. - Novartis Animal Health US Inc. contributed $625,000 to the College of Veterinary Medicine at North Carolina State University to help support the school's clinical trials program.

Lakewood, Colo. - A new online registry gives breeders and pet owners a new tool to determine whether their dogs and cats are free of congenital and adult-onset heart disease.

Washington - Adverse reactions to certain drugs can cause serious problems, but the Food and Drug Administration is trying to make identifying them a little easier.

Urbana, Ill. - A $400,000, three-year grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture to the University of Illinois College of Veterinary Medicine will help provide more clues about how the porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome (PRRS) virus evades the immune system.