News

For most adolescents it was a rite of passage. Signed and decorated by their friends, it was that itchy, white-plaster cast on his/her wrist, arm or ankle. It may have been acquired from a bike, skateboard or skiing mishap, a sports injury from football or hockey or just a fall on the ice.

Washington, D.C. - The American Veterinary Medical Association hired John W. Sullivan III to advance the group's agenda in Washington.

National Report - From Alabama to Wyoming, state legislatures opened 2007 with a flurry of bills potentially impacting veterinary medicine. With the help of the American Veterinary Medical Association, DVMNewsmagazine dusted off the bureaucratic minutia to offer this state-by-state analysis. It's anything but a clean bill of health.

The National Veterinary Medical Services Act (NVMSA) emerges from an obscure initiative in 2001 to passing in both congressional chambers two years later. The act, which amounts to a student loan repayment for veterinarians practicing in underserved areas, takes shape with a 2005 funding allocation.

We have found that pre-formed disposable bottle liners are a perfect covering for a bandage or cast on a small animal.

Ames, Iowa - A virus spreading among U.S. swine operations caused nearly three times the infection rates reported last year, inducing "devastating economic loss" for producers and calls for vigilance among veterinarians, Iowa State University (ISU) researchers say.

Excess cortisol may increase the risk of laminitis ...

If my practice pays less than market rent to the landlord-which is me-are my personal assets at risk if I get sued?

New Fairfield, Ct. - Focused on providing high quality, trustworthy veterinary medicine, Protect the Pets has recruited 32 DVMs nationwide who agree to uphold the group's code of conduct.

A veterinarian's relationship with the client should not end with the death of a companion animal.

Grand Island, Neb. - A state veterinary leader and trusted doctor challenges critics to "get both sides of the story" before drawing conclusions on charges that he injected vodka in horses before races - a practice rumored to soothe animal anxiety.

Washington - The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) found Salmonella in a sample of Wild Kitty Cat Food's raw product, and makers of the product have voluntarily issued a recall.

Springfield, Ill. - 2/28/07 - A bill that would prohibit the transportation of horses into Illinois for the purpose of slaughter for human consumption was introduced to the state legislature last week. Sponsored by Rep. Bob Molaro (D-Chicago), the bill was introduced Feb. 22, representing the state?s second try at an anti-slaughter bill. A similar bill was passed in the Illinois Senate in 2004, but was defeated in the house.

New York - 2/27/07 - Pfizer Animal Health donated $1.1 million to the Morris Animal Foundation (MAF) to establish a national canine tumor biospecimen bank. The bank is expected to be valuable in treating dogs and may provide insights into human cancer. Funds for the tumor bank are restricted to the Canine Comparative Oncology and Geriatrics Consortium (CCOGC), a group of veterinary and medical researchers who have determined that a well-described repository of canine-tumor tissues is an essential resource for progress in new cancer therapies.

First impressions last forever. It's an old adage that rings true, especially when heading into a job interview.

Pleasant Hill, Calif. - Veterinarians vulnerable to lawsuits and state board complaints must remain vigilant when it comes to liability in their practices, and graduates equally should beware the dangers of working in an unsound legal environment.

National Report - One-third of 2006 veterinary graduates pursued specialty studies via internships, residencies or formal education programs, almost doubling participation from 10 years ago, according to a recent American Veterinary Medical Association poll.

New graduates should disclose their ethical standards to prospective employers.

Finding a good mentor is key to a graduate's career success.

Dr. Jeffrey Jenkins illustrates how to handle and restrain a rabbit and how to perform a physical exam.

Baton Rouge, LA - 2/8/07 - The Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) presented an $800,000 check to the Louisiana State University School of Veterinary Medicine to launch a community companion animal health program.

Denver - Respected veterinarian and researcher Dr. Mark Morris Jr., who dedicated his life to improving those of companion animals through the Denver-based Morris Animal Foundation (MAF), died Jan. 14 at his home in Topeka, Kan. He was 72.

Many of us have heard the tip about spelling out colors to remember the number of drops needed for in-house tests.

Orlando, Fla.- Fort Dodge Animal Health reports it received licensure of CaliciVaxâ„¢, the only vaccine licensed and proven effective against the deadly virulent systemic feline calicivirus (VS-FCV), which has emerged in the United States.

Orlando, Fla. - Eli Lilly Co. is entering the companion-animal segment, contributing $250,000 to Purdue's Center for the Human-Animal Bond to show its commitment to veterinary medicine, company officials say.

Any practice or veterinarian who fails to pay a required installment faces penalties.

National Report - Ice storms pummeled parts of the country for six days last month, leaving in their wake several deaths, extensive power outages, highway closings, citrus crop damage and record-setting cold temperatures.

Nashville, Tenn. - Despite a reported debt of more than $130,000 for the 2006 fiscal year, the Tennessee Board of Veterinary Medical Examiners will not be raising fees.

Columbus, Ohio - Two studies at The Ohio State University show that a lost dog is more likely to be reunited with its owner than a lost cat.

Seek comfort from friends rather than stoically trying to push feelings aside.