News

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.

New York - The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved the first drug for managing canine obesity, a common health-threatening condition in millions of dogs in the United States.

Knoxville, Tenn - The University of Tennessee College of Veterinary Medicine (UTCVM) is the first college to receive funds from the Global Initiatives in Veterinary Education (GIVE) program, designed to help develop partnerships with foreign veterinary schools.

Analysis: 1981 to 2006

Sometimes the fewest words last the longest.

An office call with Mr. Sidetrack is always a little frustrating. So, since he was 10 minutes early for last week's office call, I decided to postpone my grief as long as possible.

St. Louis, Mo. - Chiropractic treatment for animals has become so popular that the nation's largest directory publisher now gives the term its own heading.

I wonder if the loss of camaraderie and fellowship in the profession is due to the diminishing role of the auxiliary.

Washington - A dedicated proponent of racial and ethnic diversity in veterinary medicine has won the 2007 Iverson Bell Award.

Washington - The public continues to rate veterinarians high when it comes to honesty and ethics.

National Report - A horse imported from Germany and treated for fever at a USDA facility has been connected to an outbreak of Equine Herpes Virus – type 1 (EHV-1) affecting 14 horses, half of which have died.

Washington - The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) updated its guidelines on occupational exposure to avian influenza from infected birds.

This bioethicist and philosophy professor is on a mission to improve the lives of all animals and emphasizes communication as key in this process. "People skills can make the difference between life and death for an animal."