Jessica Tremayne

Tallahassee, Fla. — The Florida Veterinary Medical Association (FVMA) is working to stifle a bill that would allow non-human medications to be processed with only a faxed prescription.

Denver — The American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA) launched a public awareness campaign geared toward educating the public on AAHA-accredited hospitals.

Bellingham, Wash. — A successful stem-cell transplant was performed on a Golden Retriever with T-cell lymphoma, a milestone that has spurred hopes of making the procedure customary on a national level.

Columbia, S.C.—Revisions to South Carolina's practice act would allow plaintiffs to attend disciplinary hearings. A public push for open-hearings led to the compromise that could update the law for the first time in 30 years.

Students recommend a course of action for the owner.

The publications are one way the association addresses member needs.

Tallahassee, Fla. — The Florida Veterinary Medical Association (FVMA) reports its lobbying fund is almost depleted after countering legislation that allows an "independent contractor" to treat animals.

Pets mean different things to different people. Listening to what the owner needs and wants makes lasting relationships.

Austin, Texas — Texas House Bill 522, if passed, would require veterinarians to write prescriptions for client's pets on demand — an issue that creates numerous concerns for the Texas Veterinary Medical Association (TVMA) as well as practitioners.

Philadelphia — Drs. John Wolfe and Charles Vite of the University of Pennsylvania discovered a way to treat naturally occurring genetic disease of the central nervous system in cats.

RALEIGH, N.C.— In a first-of-its-kind procedure, osseointegration was used in a 1-year-old cat born without the lower half of its tibias at North Carolina State University (NCSU) College of Veterinary Medicine.

Baltimore — Recognizing veterinary technicians and specialists is one of Dr. Daniel Aja's goals as he takes the reins as the American Animal Hospital Association's (AAHA) 69th president at the annual conference in Baltimore.

Ames, Iowa — A non-traditional agreement between the University of Nebraska-Lincoln (UNL) and Iowa State University (ISU) has students split between schools, and signals the end of a 20-year partnership between UNL and Kansas State University (KSU).

Austin, Texas — Texas House Bill 522, if passed, would require veterinarians to write prescriptions for client's pets on demand — an issue that creates numerous concerns for the Texas Veterinary Medical Association (TVMA) as well as practitioners.

Denver — In a major push to streamline medical protocols, the American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA) is releasing a series of guidelines for veterinarians.

NASHVILLE, TENN. — Veterinarians clamoring about the lack of incoming DVMs with interest to practice in rural veterinary hospitals have pushed for legislation to remedy the problem.

Salem, Ore. — Oregon's Veterinary Medical Examining Board (OVMEB) came closer to gaining the power to question a suspect veterinarian's mental and physical health with passage of Senate Bill 318.

Cleveland — Treating wildlife poses its own set of legal risks, even if it conflicts with veterinary ethics, DVMs warn.

ITHACA, N.Y. — Behavior ranks as veterinary medicine's most inconspicuous specialty, often overlooked at academic and professional levels. No affliction treated is devoid of a behavior mechanism.

Orlando, Fla. - New graduates pay an average 5.3-percent more for student loans while starting salaries rose 3 percent in 2004.

SOUTHEAST ASIA — Veterinarians who traveled to Asia to help with disaster relief from December's tsunami now are combating a new problem as the Sri Lankan military threatens to eradicate thousands of dogs if rabies emerges.

COLUMBUS, OHIO — Although pediatric sterilization is not performed in most general practices, many veterinarians say shelter environments are the most plausible venue for the procedure.

CLEVELAND — "Designer mutts" are making their way into veterinary clinics and a leading geneticist says their long-term health risks are negligible.

CLEVELAND — Veterinarians often find themselves between a rock and a hard place, compelled morally to report abuse cases and bound legally with the possibilities of civil or criminal prosecution.

St. Paul, Minn.—The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) awarded University of Minnesota's (UM) College of Veterinary Medicine $4.4 million to study Johne's, thereby naming the institution the national research site for testing the disease in cattle.

Cleveland — The last legislative session in California passed a law binding veterinarians to report suspicion that a client is an animal hoarder, yet DVMs have no particular training to detect a problem.

Washington—In the wake of Agriculture Secretary Ann Veneman's resignation from her Cabinet post, leaders in organized veterinary medicine praise the Bush administration heavyweight for supporting the profession.

DENVER—Veterinarians outrank physicians in number of visits, according to the 2004 National Survey of People and Pet Relationships released by the American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA).

SCHAUMBURG, ILL.—In a historic move, AVMA has upended long-standing means for debating welfare protocols and instead, instituted an entire division.

Eight states currently have the umbrella policy, which combines practitioners in different fields.