News

Schaumburg, Ill. - 11/27/07 - The American Veterinary Medical Association's Executive Board passed a policy designed to steer local municipalities away from regulating veterinary procedures.

Washington - 11/20/07 - In an effort to get the bogged down Farm Bill passed with its veterinary-related amendments, the American Veterinary Medical Association's political arm wants DVMs to contact their senators.

Schaumburg, Ill. - 11/20/07 - Dr. Lyle Vogel is the American Veterinary Medical Association's new assistant executive vice president, replacing Dr. Jan Donlin, who left the job in July. He now ranks second-in-command behind Dr. Ron DeHaven, executive vice president.

Rockville, MD - 11/19/07 - It's official. Charles Raker, VMD, Dipl. ACVS is a legend in veterinary surgery.

Use this sample advance directive for hospice patients or clients who request it.

Edison, N.J. - 11/15/07 - Nintendo is the latest platform to enhance veterinary medicine education, allowing players - whether they're pet owners, kids or DVMs looking for more practice - to diagnose and treat animal medical cases.

Baton Rouge - 11/14/07 - The first-time procedure for professors in the Louisiana State University School of Veterinary Medicine (LSU) has saved the life of a colleague's German Shepherd that had been suffering from congestive heart failure.

Austin - 11/13/07 - 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 cat ownership rises nationally.

San Francisco - 11/12/07 - San Francisco Bay's worst oil spill in nearly two decades has already claimed the lives of at least 100 birds, while veterinarians and staff at a local wildlife center work to treat hundreds more for contamination.

Washington - 11/9/07 - With 70 percent of the Medical Reserve Corps units lacking veterinarians, the national network is looking for DVMs to join the local community ranks as volunteer physicians, nurses, pharmacists and dentists, among other professional health positions.

Veterinary Economics was on the search for a singing veterinarian. And we found three!

Denver, Colo. - 11/8/07 - The Morris Animal Foundation (MAF) is now accepting 2008 Veterinary Student Scholar (VSS) applications to help address a critical need for veterinary science research and professionals in the field.

Atlanta - 11/8/07 - The United States is officially free of the type of rabies found in dogs -- the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) formally declared it in September -- but that doesn't mean canine rabies is no loger a matter for concern

College Station, Tx. - 11/7/07 - A horse owner is showing his appreciation to the Texas A&M University College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences by donating a hand-made saddle for auction to benefit the school's equine program.

I am absolutely convinced that veterinarians will be faced with more intrusive government rules and regulations than ever before. I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but it's going to get worse.

Washington - 11/6/07 - The Farm Bill is scheduled to hit the U.S. Senate floor this afternoon, opening up a policy debate on farming issues and a handful of topics related to veterinary medicine.

West Lafayette, Ind. - 11/6/07 - National certification has been awarded to a Purdue University School of Veterinary Medicine program aimed to prepare veterinarians in case of a major animal health emergency.

St. Peter, Minn. - 11/2/07 - University of Minnesota (UM) veterinary students now have a new way to gain hands-on experience during their education -- the Davisco Foods dairy processing facility.

It started as a payment issue - something common and relatively minor - but by the time it ended the board-certified veterinary surgeon felt so much heat from the media he closed his practice and left town.

We never let clients leave their pets' collars and leashes in the hospital because they could accidentally become lost.

If you have an animal that is already comfortably hooked up to fluids and you see an air bubble or bubbles in the line, instead of disconnecting the fluids, stick a needle (any gauge) into one of the ports below the bubble and let the bubble run out through the needle.

In addition to providing constipated animals with appropriate fluid therapy and medications, perform an enema to remove stool when appropriate by inserting a red rubber tube (8 to 12 F) in the center of the stool mass and applying suction and gentle traction on the tube.

Our local human hospital upgraded its equipment, and we purchased several of its old patient bedside tables.

Columbia, Mo. - A ringing bell stops the conversation, capping the get-to-know-you questions and exchange of contact information. On cue, the participants get up and greet another stranger seated at an adjacent table.

National Report - Sending a resume via e-mail can be as easy as clicking a button. But so can deleting it.

A 13-month-old intact male boxer weighing 57.2 lb (26 kg) was presented to the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki Companion Animal Clinic for evaluation of a one-day history of vomiting.

I don't understand the controversy over taking a stand on foie gras production.

To prevent clogs and debris from blocking the hoses and lines of our central vacuuming system, I take 5 lb of uncooked rice to the various vacuum ports and let the rice get sucked through the hoses.

A leader in shelter medicine, Dr. Miller cares for the underserved, often-forgotten animals and trains others to follow in her footsteps. She says a good veterinarian "doesn't lose sight of doing what is right for the patient even though it isn't always possible."

When the average person thinks about a "trust fund," he envisions Paris Hilton or some filthy-rich kid from college days who wouldn't recognize a hard day's work if it bit him.