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National Report - While many veterinarians shun convenience euthanasia, problems associated with pet relinquishment live on.

Study groups can negotiate significant benefits from better-known vendors.

Cleveland - Rising costs, tighter profit margins and price-shopping clients are all key issues for veterinarians in this economy.

In 1936, Cameron Animal Hospital opened as the first standalone veterinary building servicing dogs and cats in the Northeast United States.

Cleveland - Every three years, DVM Newsmagazine conducts a national State of the Veterinary Profession survey among veterinarians in companion animal practice. The results will appear in subsequent DVM Newsmagazine editorial articles.

National Report - Veterinary practices are trending toward higher-quality medicine that serves higher-quality clients.

San Diego - Pet spending is expected to reach an all-time high this year of $38.4 billion with $9.4 billion going toward veterinary care.

Schaumburg, Ill. — The National Commission on Veterinary Economic Issues (NCVEI) plans to tackle income disparities between male and female veterinarians.

Ask Dr. Shirley Johnston to describe her life's successes, and her roles as a wife and mother immediately come to mind.

Davis, Calif.-On Oct. 18, the Court of Appeal of the State of California, Third Appellate District, dismissed Dr. Carol Mandell's accusations of gender discrimination and national origin discrimination, but it said there is sufficient evidence to pursue an age discrimination case.

On average, veterinarians say they would prefer to devote more time to personal activities than work.

At some point, female owners must develop a balance between the business and their families.

CLEVELAND-Almost half of women associates surveyed cite an interest in practice ownership/partnership despite speculative fear that the next generation will avoid the management headaches.

Dr. Nancy Katz says she's never been to a job interview where the practice owner didn't ask, usually in a roundabout way, whether or not she planned to have kids.

Poland, Ohio-It's been eight years since Dr. John Daugherty's face-off with other practitioners in his town. He's been badmouthed, backstabbed and even called a quack.

Springboro, Ohio-There are plenty of positive and negative routes to coping with market saturation, and most practitioners respond to increased competition in one of three basic ways, says Karyn Gavzer, a consultant with KG Marketing and Training, Inc.

Cleveland-The majority of veterinarians say the most competitive business pressure is coming from Internet sales of veterinary products.

Solo practitioners could become a rare breed. As Baby Boomer veterinarians near retirement, their younger, supposed successors are resisting added responsibility, experts say.

There's one person Dr. Dave Richards must confront every time he prepares to raise fees in practice - himself.

Legal liabilities lie in virtually every veterinary hospital, but there are plenty of ways to reduce practice vulnerability.

Santa Ana, Calif.-Robert Newman knows his Chihuahua suffers a slight heart murmur. Yet instead of informing his new veterinarian of the previously diagnosed condition, he waits to see test results, occasionally entertaining treatment recommendations he knows the dog doesn't need.

Cleveland-Numbers of active clients and revenue are both on the upswing, veterinarians say. But a disparity still exists in pay between men and women.

The down economy of late appears to have run a hit-or-miss course among practices nationwide.

Cleveland-Veterinarians say they are doing more dentistry, behavior and nutritional consulting today than three years ago.

Experts estimate labor costs and benefits rank as top income eaters among the nation's veterinary practices.

Cleveland--The economic cap on veterinary care is rising, DVMs say.

An estimated 5 million cats and dogs are euthanized in U. S. shelters each year, and while reliable statistics are scarce, experts predict they sharply contrast death tolls recorded as late as 1995.

Euthanasia has been likened to the best gift one can give an animal afflicted with chronic pain - a humane way to halt suffering.

Pomona, Calif.-Western University of Health Sciences (WesternU) opens its doors this fall not only as the nation's newest veterinary college, but as the only program boasting a 15 percent male class.

When Dr. Peter Eyre graduated from veterinary college in 1960, three of his classmates were female.