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One could argue that all our pets, all "pack and carry" animals, and all the meat and fiber-producing animals – in other words, all our domesticated animals – are "working" animals.

Periapical abscess of incisor and cheek teeth are common in pet rabbits. Penetration of bacteria into the alveolus occurs most commonly secondary to acquired dental disease and is often associated with fracture.

Esophagitis may be caused by chemical injury from ingested substances, gastroesophageal reflux (secondary to general anesthesia, hiatal defects, persistent vomiting, malpositioned nasoesophageal/pharyngostomy tubes), or esophageal foreign bodies.

Increasingly, the veterinary practitioner will find that the favorite drug of choice is no longer a viable option.

Only 7 percent of what we say is actually heard--our bodies do the most important communicating without saying a word.

Dr. John Rossi questions his decision to become a veterinarian.

According to USA TODAY, family pets, their lives altered by the ravaged finances of their owners, are turning up in animal shelters in large numbers in some parts of the country.

Cats are the most popular modern pet, according to the American Veterinary Medical Association's (AVMA) latest "U.S. Pet Ownership and Demographic Sourcebook." But even though they outnumber dogs in homes, it's a different story when it comes to veterinary care.

Today, with the 2007 tax year ended for most veterinarians, all that can be done before the filing deadline is to make the most of existing tax rules - all the while keeping an eye on the practice's potential tax bill for 2008.

Topeka, Kan. - An unprecedented study about drug shopping and "doc-hopping" in veterinary medicine hinges on the passage of a pending Kansas bill aimed at tighter prescription oversight.

Indianapolis - Indiana lawmakers are seeking to alter the definitions of patient, indirect and direct supervision and registered veterinary technician, among others terms in the state's Veterinary Practice Act.

Sacramento, Calif. - Longstanding disputes between the California Veterinary Medical Association (CVMA) and California Veterinary Medical Board (CVMB) came to a head last month, with the introduction of a bill designed to curb the power of regulators.

Veterinarian Richard M. Linnehan went out for a walk the other evening. Make that way, way out -- as in outer space, 200 miles above the Earth. Better known to the world as a veteran astronaut than a DVM, Linnehan was the lead spacewalker on the U.S. Space Shuttle Endeavour in March. Photo: Courtesy of NASA

But you'll need the owners in your corner.

We needed a way to support dogs that are nonambulatory or very weak in the hindlimbs, so I made slings by rolling up the main torso parts of old surgical gowns and wrapping them in Vetrap (3M).

Columbia Heights, Minn. - Charges are pending against a Minnesota veterinary technician suspected of trying to fill bogus veterinary prescriptions for pain killers, the Minneapolis Star Tribune reported.

They say that most things in life swing like a pendulum from extreme to extreme. We know the business economy follows a boom-and-bust cycle that is mitigated only marginally through government intervention. Also, the political inclinations of society vacillate between conservative and liberal thought and from intolerance to excessive political correctness.

I was about halfway through my brilliant explanation of spinal disc disease when, suddenly, the exam room filled with the thrilling sounds of the William Tell Overture.

The 2-pound Yorkie was carrying a huge mountain oyster. It was hanging out both sides of his mouth, and he was proud as a peacock.

Dr. James Brooks turned over in bed and looked at the clock. It was 8:05 a.m. He was a little late but thought he could make it to the clinic on time. He quickly headed to the bathroom to wash up and brush his teeth. He looked in the mirror - same face, different day. He laughed nervously because it really wasn't the same face. It was a suddenly aging facade marred by the daily stress of being a solo practitioner in a changing veterinary world. He had never married. His apartment usually was a mess - cleaned only when circumstances dictated.

This month's Diagnote contains two true-life tales, one of them written in response to the October 2007 Diagnote entitled, "When others need help, will you make a difference?"

The following tip is brought to you by a member of the Veterinary Leadership Group (VLG), a group of 20 management-savvy practitioners and hospital managers from across the country who meet twice a year to discuss business improvement, personal growth and social development issues for their practices.

This internist has a passion for teaching and sees great changes ahead in the realm of veterinary education. "The future of veterinary medicine lies in subcertification, meaning students being trained only in small-animal or large-animal medicine."

We keep the cages of our laterally recumbent patients heavily padded, but these patients are hard to keep dry and clean.

Madison, Wis. - About half of all dogs that enter shelter facilities have not been vaccinated or built natural immunity to at least two common canine ailments, according to an ongoing shelter-medicine study.

Cheyenne, Wyo. - Veterinary researchers at the University of Wyoming are working with the state's Game and Fish Department (G&F) to identify lichen toxins believed to be sickening elk, leaving them unable to stand.

Denver, Co. - A stalled state bill moved ahead after a provision was removed allowing pet owners to seek non-economic damages against veterinarians.

No is the abbreviation for Norway and the element Nobelium.

In the item "A tip for laser tips" in the December 2007 "Idea Exchange," plastic needle covers are used as containers for sterilizing laser tips.

Hartford, Conn. - Veterinary medicine's leaders oppose a bill that seeks to outlaw non-therapeutic cat declawing in Connecticut and strip the licenses of DVMs caught violating the ban.