News

Dallas - Far from television characterizations as a city filled with cowboy hats, bolero ties and society debutantes, the reality is that the Dallas area is economically strong, with a thriving job market and stable housing.

In the January 2008 issue, the article "Toxicology Brief: Sodium hypochlorite bleach ingestion in two dogs" states that lactated Ringer's solution was used to treat hypernatremia and hyperchloremia. It seems that a fluid such as dextrose 5% in water may be more appropriate, as well as something without sodium to replenish bicarbonate.

Sacramento, Calif. - West Hollywood City Council promises to fight California Veterinary Medical Association (CVMA)-backed legislation that would bar local governments from criminalizing state regulated and sanctioned procedures.

Chronic renal disease is one of the most common ultra-sonographic findings in older cats. If you're doing ultrasounds on cats, you're sure to see signs of chronic renal changes daily.

Tallahassee, Fla. - A deal between Florida officials and Google Inc. soon will allow the public easy access to licensee records in all state-regulated professions, including veterinary medicine.

As an aspiring veterinarian, I spend a great deal of time reading your informative journal.

Baton Rouge, La. - Louisiana State University School of Veterinary Medicine launched a program that trains students in underserved area animal shelters.

Schaumburg, Ill. - 4/1/08 - The National Commission on Veterinary Economic Issues (NCVEI) now offers live-action video created to help veterinarians better communicate with clients.

Lexington, Ky. - The Thoroughbred racing industry will look for ways to attract and retain more regulatory veterinarians, improve track surfaces to reduce injuries and develop a research and development plan for drug testing.

As discussed previously, the emergence of a "reasonable physician" standard of care affects both human and veterinary practitioners, defining our approach to error management. Under this standard, adverse events previously defensible by deference to custom might now result in decisions of negligence if it is determined that such events were easily preventable.

National Report - Real-estate foreclosures for February were up nearly 60 percent from the same period a year ago, and pet relinquishments aren't far behind, officials report.

We have adapted NBC's hit reality show "The Biggest Loser" for our canine patients.

Gainesville, Fla.- Canine flu has been circulating in the United States canine population since at least 1999, according to a recent University of Florida (UFL) College of Veterinary Medicine (CVM) study.

We have always had trouble using ink to label the plastic bottles in our exam rooms and lab areas (e.g. alcohol, peroxide, lubricant).

Hershey, Pa. - The Pennsylvania Veterinary Medical Association (PVMA) honored Dr. Michael A. Obenski with the association's 2007 Dr. A. Wayne Mountan Memorial Media Award.

This legal threat, as with so many others, leaves us as veterinary practitioners with a "to-do" list. Actually two "to-do" lists, and they are as follows:

College Station, Texas- 3/31/08 - The Texas A&M University Board of Regents has approved the College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences to begin construction on a veterinary imaging and cancer treatment center.

Northampton, Mass. - 3/29/08 - Fleeced by a payroll scam, a Haydenville veterinary clinic had more than $90,000 stolen by its former bookkeeper.

Tucson, Ariz. - 3/28/08 - After following a suggestion from her veterinarian, a woman's tip to local authorities led to the discovery of almost 900 animals in a triple-wide mobile home.

Boston - 3/27/08 - Health officials in Massachusetts and New Hampshire already are preparing to go on the attack this summer against mosquitoes that cause Eastern equine encephalitis (EEE) and West Nile virus, because of several localized cases in both states during the last three years.

The next morning started as all those before it, with my cell phone ringing to inform me it was time to get out of bed. The unwelcome sound is the single part of my day that I never look forward to, even if it could be signaling that this is the day my husband and I will become homeowners.

Washington - 3/25/08 - Five veterinarians are weighing in on what legal experts consider one of the biggest capital punishment cases to face the U.S. Supreme Court in a generation.

The new list of houses for sale arrived in my inbox sometime over the weekend. I perused the list with little interest, focusing instead on the house for which we already had a bid entered. My husband, however, saw something in one of the listings that sparked his interest.

Columbia Heights, Minn. - 3/24/08 - Charges are pending against a Minnesota veterinary technician suspected of trying to fill bogus veterinary prescriptions for pain killers, the Minneapolis Star Tribune reports.

Lexington, Ky. - 3/22/08 - The Thoroughbred racing industry will look for ways to attract and retain more regulatory veterinarians, improve track surfaces to reduce injuries and develop a research and development plan for drug testing.

Baton Rouge, La. - 3/21/08 - The Louisiana State University (LSU) School of Veterinary Medicine (SVM), with the help of a Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) grant, has launched a community-based companion-animal health program that will use local shelters to help train students.

Washington - 3/20/07 - The nation's largest Internet pet pharmacy reports no debt, no legal woes and stock selling at $12.47 a share at press time.

Sacramento, Calif. - 319/08 - The 2008 National Conference on Animals in Disaster, sponsored by the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS), will be held in Sacramento, Calif. June 2-6.

New York - DVM Newsmagazine captured two Jesse H. Neal National Business Journalism Awards for its state-board series and comprehensive coverage of last year's pet-food recall. The Neal Awards are considered the Pulitzer Prize for business-to-business journalism.

Middletown, Conn. - 3/18/08 - The Connecticut Veterinary Medical Association (CVMA) has created a jobs and recruiting section on the group's Web site.