News

After taking two key steps toward gaining full accreditation, the University of Calgary veterinary school can open its doors next fall to an inaugural class of students.

Baton Rouge, La. - State Rep. Mike Strain will become Louisiana's agriculture and forestry commissioner on Jan. 14.

Columbia, Mo. - University of Missouri researchers have developed an in vitro joint model that replaces laboratory animals, cuts costs and improves safety when studying human and canine arthritis.

Austin, Texas - The American Association of Feline Practitioners (AAFP) plans to launch what's tentatively titled The Catalyst Summit, an invitation-only conference charged with exploring how to reverse the trend of decreasing feline visits among practices while ownership rises nationally.

Frederick, Md. - Two years of scientific collaboration yields a nearly complete decoding of the feline genome, a step that will aid in the continued fight against both cat and human diseases.

After reading your interview with Dr. William J. Kay in the September issue, I felt compelled to write about this outstanding veterinarian, administrator, author, and teacher.

OCEANPORT, N.J. - When an equine injury or death occurs at a racetrack, especially during a high-profile event like the Breeders' Cup Championships, accurate reporting of health-status issues to the public is critical - perhaps as important as dealing with the injury itself, says one of the nation's leading equine veterinarians.

Schaumburg, Ill. - The American Veterinary Medical Association replaced its "informed consent" policy last month to safeguard the profession from a guardianship distinction tied to human health care.

San Francisco Bay's worst oil spill in nearly two decades claimed the lives of at least 100 birds. Veterinarians and staff at a local wildlife center are treating hundreds more.

Springdale, Pa. - "Thick, black smoke blinded me," recounts Mark Jasmine, DVM, of his last desperate attempt to save his burning clinic. He escaped only with his family and two patients.

It was Feb. 14, Valentine's Day. Because of a raging snowstorm, appointments were being cancelled left and right. With the slow schedule, I was entertaining thoughts of enjoying a second jelly doughnut. Unfortunately, a telephone call interrupted me.

To help confirm a diagnosis of canine leptospirosis, veterinarians today must rely on serologic testing with the microscopic agglutination test. Interpreting the test can be problematic, though, especially early on in the disease or in a recently vaccinated dog.

Leesburg, Va. - Dr. Jennifer G. Barrett joined Virginia Tech's Marion duPont Scott Equine Medical Center as an assistant professor of equine surgery.

SURPRISE, ARIZ. - Four years of patience and politics have paid off in what Dr. Lorna Lanman calls "vindication." The one-time Veterinary Medical Assistance Team (VMAT) member whose unit was expelled by the American Veterinary Medical Association in 2003, is now reinstated by the federal government.

After several years in small-animal practice and a lengthy stint in industry work, I recently began working as a contributing technical editor for Veterinary Medicine.

College Station, Texas - A horse owner whose mare was treated at Texas A&M University's College of Veterinary Medicine & Biological Sciences decided to show his appreciation in a unique way.

Ithaca, N.Y. - 12/1/07 - The New York State Veterinary Medical Society (NYSVMS) and Cornell University's veterinary college have teamed up to produce the New York State Veterinary Conference.

We were constantly scrambling to find a syringe to inflate or deflate the cuffs of our endotracheal tubes, so we created this cuff blower-upper, which we nicknamed CBU, to keep track of the syringes.

Recognized as a pioneer in small-animal emergency and critical-care medicine, Rebecca Kirby, DVM, Dipl. ACVIM, Dipl. ACVECC, offers advice to practitioners on handling emergency situations. She sat down with DVM Newsmagazine for a recent Q/A session.

For any veterinary practice, maintaining good hygienic standards these days is much more than just a good idea.

I've compiled these tips to help practitioners deal with common problems or situations in a manner that will help improve a patient's outcome, simplify the diagnosis, and minimize complications in daily practice.

Gag order issued in disgruntled equine surgeon's settlement against veterinary college

Do you sometimes detect protein in a sick patient's urine or even on routine testing in a seemingly healthy patient and you're not sure what to make of it?

The Wisconsin Veterinary Examining Board (WVEB) dumped a proposal to implement an informed-consent law panned by critics as the "most restrictive" version established in the United States.

National Report - 11/30/07 - With veterinarians reporting that 47 percent of their clients are overweight, the National Canine Weight Check seeks to fight back, offering pet owners free weight assessments for their animals.

Reno, Nev. - 11/29/07 - This year's pet-food crisis points to a need for more efficient means of finding, evaluating and halting any future food-supply contamination.

Use this letter to uncover the reason a client stopped visiting your practice.

Use a feline lifestyle review form to tailor your recommendations for cat owners.

A canine lifestyle summary will help you tailor your message to fit each dog's needs.

Baton Rouge - 11/28/07 - Louisiana State University and University of Georgia researchers will head two equine laminitis-focused projects, with the more than $100,000 total costs to be funded by donations from the National Thoroughbred Racing Association (NTRA) in memory of Kentucky Derby winner Barbaro.