David Frabotta

Albany, N.Y. — Wedgewood Pharmacy says initial tests vindicate the compounder of allegations that it made its chloramphenicol palmitate product inconsistent with its label.

Norwalk, Conn. — He's no stranger to long shots. The 20-year track veterinarian took some flack for remedying an epiglottal entrapment on Alysheba one month before the 1987 Kentucky Derby. Alysheba went on to win the first leg of the Triple Crown despite 17-1 odds.

National Report — For the first time in history, scientists could be on the forefront of predicting an influenza pandemic.

Baton Rouge, La. — It's been dubbed the greatest pet rescue in history. When the levees broke in New Orleans following Hurricane Katrina, veterinary students found themselves at the heart of the recovery.

Baton Rouge, La.—Louisiana State University (LSU) wasn't part of the state veterinarian's hurricane response or contingency plan before Katrina was a household name. But shortly after the large Category 4 storm ravaged Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama, it became clear that unsolicited veterinary help would be needed on an unprecedented scale to rescue and relieve thousands of animals.

Washington — Legislation to terminate federal funding of inspections for U.S. horse slaughter facilities made its way into both cameral versions of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) appropriations bill. At presstime, Congress passed budget extensions for all U.S. agencies after missing the Oct. 1 deadline while House and Senate versions of federal spending bills are hammered out in conference, but observers expect the provision that would kill funding for inspection services at horse slaughter plants to make it into the final bill.

Columbus, Ohio — He spent his children's college fund on legal fees to ensure Ohio veterinarians are aware of medical licensing board inspections. His $100,000 victory came when the Ohio Supreme Court found that all inspections require a five-day written notice, even those related to investigations.

Eleven states reported 186 EEE cases in horses as of Aug. 23.

Washington — The "Puppy Protection Act" has a new life and new form as the Pet Animal Welfare Statute (PAWS), which would require high-volume breeders to be policed by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA).

Ever since the industry-reknowned Brakke Consulting study linking the corollary between economic acumen and income, the veterinary medical profession has been devising ways to create better small business owners. The National Commission on Veterinary Economic Issues was created, and veterinary colleges across the country are beefing up their business offerings.

Not every veterinarian can be a staff correspondent for a major media network. But every veterinarian can borrow a chapter out of Dr. Debbye Turner's book when it comes to local media presence and community involvement.

ST. PAUL, MINN. — Lay people are permitted to float equine teeth in Minnesota due to an amendment tied to the state's budget bill that passed prior to the July 4 recess.

Shards of metal and glass rifled through the air as she and her sister fell to floor. The intense heat from the explosion crippled them in the fetal position while everything went black, and she reached out with her left hand to grab hold of her sister.

St. Louis — Veterinarians expect demand and prices for in-clinic products to climb in the second quarter compared to the previous quarter.

Washington — The veterinary profession is battling federal proposals that would eliminate funding for slaughter facility inspections and nix funds that administrate the sale of federally managed mustangs.

Washington — The horse industry spends more than $2.3 billion on veterinary care and services each year, according to an American Horse Council Foundation (AHC) study released in June.

The recommended treatment is doxycycline and some sort of penicillin.

Baltimore — The American Heartworm Society (AHS) now calls for year-round prevention and annual testing for heartworm disease.

St. Louis — Demand for equine products are expected to taper a bit in this year's second quarter compared to the first quarter. Veterinarians cite macroeconomics, patient numbers and customer initiatives as the main influencers of market fluxuations. But in some cases, the same influencers are driving demand, too.

Cleveland — Age, experience, business orientation and practice maturity might explain why income disparities exist between the profession's men and women.

Washington — A national steering committee that will promote and monitor equine welfare is underway after a debut industrywide Unwanted Horse Summit.

Attendees can see, touch and test new products that can drive financial success.

There is an uptick in the number of people taking advantage of surgical visits.

DAVIS, CALIF. — The American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) restored the University of California at Davis' (UC-Davis) School of Veterinary Medicine to full accreditation after almost seven years. The school had been on limited accreditation since the summer of 1998, when the AVMA cited inadequate facilities for teaching, research and clinical care.

LAS VEGAS — The number of paid veterinarians rose 21 percent at this year's Western Veterinary Conference (WVC). The 77th-annual event grew for the fourth-consecutive year as more than 14,000 attendees convened on the Mandalay Bay Convention Center to take in more than 900 hours of lectures, symposia and wet labs. About 7,050 veterinarians, 1,850 technicians, 800 administrators and 2,850 exhibitors from more than 450 companies were present.

FORT COLLINS, COLO. - There doesn't appear to be a correlation between methods of manure handling and overall udder health, according to the United States Department of Agriculture's (USDA) recently released report "Nutrient Management and the U.S. Dairy Industry in 2002".

BIRMINGHAM, ALA. — The newest battle in the war for microchip market share is being waged via an antitrust lawsuit. The Crystal Import Corp. is demanding $10 million from AVID Identification Systems and Digital Angel Corp. for monopolistic behavior, including preventing competition and discouraging adoption of competing technologies.

ST. LOUIS — Veterinary product sales are expected to fall slightly in the first quarter of 2005 compared to the fourth quarter of 2004, but overall demand remains strong, according to the Animal Health Price & Demand Economic Report, a compilation by C.F. Grass Consulting.

DENVER — They've pulled buffalo, llama, elk, deer, squirrels, snakes and ferrets from the brink of disaster. They've helped cattle, horses, cats and dogs, too, so Code 3 Associates must stock supplies to reflect the diversity of animals that it might save during any given disaster.

DENVER—The American Association for Equine Practitioners (AAEP) is bringing industry groups together to discuss the welfare of the country's so-called unwanted horses.