News

Schaumburg, Ill. - 12/11/07 - More dog owners than cat owners exist in the U.S. but more cats than dogs live in homes. Nearly half of those pet owners consider their animals family members, and on average, spent $366 per household on veterinary care in 2006.

St. Augustine, Fla. - 12/12/07 - The Veterinary Hospital Managers Association, Inc. is holding its annual Management Retreat Feb. 1-3 at the Casa Monica Hotel in St. Augustine, Fla.

San Francisco - 12/12/07 - The American Veterinary Society of Animal Behavior (AVSAB) released a position statement and guidelines last month titled "Use of punishment for dealing with behavior problems in animals."

New Delhi - 12/11/07 - The United States has pledged another $195 million to internationally fight avian influenza, bringing the country's total donations since 2005 to $629 million.

Topeka, Kan. - 12/4/07 - With oral disease marking the most frequently diagnosed health problems for pets, National Dental Health Month kicks off in February.

Q How do you manage acute renal failure?

When expressing anal glands, I double-glove.

We often had difficulty finding the metal and ceramic tips for our laser after sterilization.

Using preprinted paper and animal stickers, we make eye-catching scrapbook pages featuring our flea control and heartworm preventive products.

Patients receiving IV fluids always get the line wrapped around their legs the second I leave them alone.

Denver - The Colorado Veterinary Medical Association (CVMA) met with the state's physical-therapy board to debate formal rules under a new statute that allows licensed therapists to work on animals if a veterinarian approves. Both groups are governed by the Colorado Department of Regulatory Agencies, which drafted the rules and will implement them.

Alachua, Fla. - Veterinarians could be losing tens of thousands of dollars each year by leaving one clinic position unfilled - practice manager.

I don't want you to go broke. And I want to teach you how to avoid it now and through your eventual retirement.

Denver - Colorado Veterinary Medical Association (CVMA) leaders plan to gather soon to consider enacting broad-based ani mal-welfare principles. The draft prin ciples, developed by a task force earlier this year, are not species-specific, officials say. n

Columbia, Mo. - A new orthopedic device co-developed and tested at the University of Missouri's (MU) veterinary school received Food and Drug Administration approval for the human market.

Madison, Wis. - A new $12.5 million University of Wisconsin (UW) facility slated to open next spring will focus on the study of influenza viruses to better understand the disease and possibly help prevent a future avian-flu pandemic. The two-story, 27,000 square-foot Institute for Influenza Viral Research initially will house 24 employees and grow to 35 when fully staffed, says Daryl Buss, DVM, PhD and dean of the UW School of Veterinary Medicine.

Atlanta - The Southeast's worst drought in more than a century seems to have caused few problems so far for veterinary hospitals, other than some browned-out lawns.

Raleigh, N.C. - A newly enacted state law allows veterinarians to report suspected animal abuse without fear of retaliatory lawsuits.

Kansas City- Luring three companies and a trade association, the KC Animal Health Corridor says it's poised to make even deeper tracks into the market next year.

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.