News

Austin, Texas - Fever ticks are making a resurgence in Texas. In fact officials fear the outbreak of the parasite could kill livestock and wildlife. The fever tick can survive winters as far north as Washington D.C.

National Report - The Chihuahua could become even more popular as a result of the current Disney movie "Beverly Hills Chihuahua."

Brookings, S.D.- The South Dakota Veterinary Medical Association chose an attorney as its new executive director.

Schaumburg, Ill. - AVMA members and leaders differ on association roles in education and animal welfare, according to recent AVMA survey.

Kennett Square, Pa. - Is this country ready for an agroterrorism attack? The FBI recently worked with the veterinary school at the University of Pennsylvania's New Bolton Center. Six Penn veterinary students participated.

Bravo to Dr. David Robbins for his article in the October 2008 issue titled "Leading Off: Why the physical exam is still really necessary." I could not agree with him more.

In four videos, Dr. Jayce Lineberger demonstrates how to apply a spoon splint on a dog.

While there is some evidence of Mycoplasma species infection associated with vaginitis and pregnancy loss in bitches and poor semen quality in male dogs, studies have demonstrated that Mycoplasma species are as likely to be cultured in samples from healthy animals as they are to be cultured in samples from animals with reproductive tract disease.

There was a note of regret, mixed with relief, in Dr. Mark Justice's voice when he called to relate the events of the previous night.

In four videos, Dr. Jayce Lineberger demonstrates how to apply a spoon splint on a dog.

Veterinary leaders discuss the long- and short-term implications of this year's election on practice, academia and the economy.

Q: Please review management of temporomandibular joint problems in dogs and cats.

Sacramento, Calif. - Veterinary technicians with five years of clinical experience and a minimum of 24 hours of education can now take the California State Registered Veterinary Technician Exam.

Boston - Veterinarians' opinions in Massachusetts are mixed on the subject of dog racing, but voters have spoken and two Greyhound racetracks will shut down by 2010.

While some vets are convinced that emulating medical doctors is the salvation of veterinary medicine, some medical doctors aspire to practice like veterinarians.

Several factors determine whether they're subcontractors or employees.

Knoxville, Tenn.- A $5 million federal grant will help the University of Tennessee develop training programs for animal-related disasters.

We once had a cluster of renal failure patients that received maintenance fluids twice a week. We scheduled all the patients at the same time, and the clients became a support group.

Peer review is essential to ensuring the quality and integrity of the articles that appear in Veterinary Medicine and are posted on its Web site. Every manuscript submitted to the journal is reviewed by at least two acknowledged experts, usually specialists, on the paper's topic.

The modes of transportation for equine veterinarians are changing. Take a look through the decades.

National Report - Veterinarians are protesting a state proposal to tax veterinary services in California. Hundreds of letters were sent to the California Veterinary Medical Association. Currently, only three other states tax veterinary services - Hawaii, New Mexico and South Dakota, according to the American Veterinary Medical Association.

Talk about last-minute changes in tax laws that will affect veterinarians.

National Report - State licensing boards are waging war against lay persons performing veterinary medicine, but with attorneys unwilling to prosecute the problem continues to grow. Some believe lay persons are pushing the boundary by offering therapeutic massage, reproductive and chiropractic services.

New research demonstrates that probiotics may improve gastrointestinal­ health in dogs.

Lexington, Ky. - A retrospective study of 57 horses treated for proliferative enteropathy aims to help equine practitioners make a timely diagnosis.

The Payment Card Industry Security Standards Council recently updated its guidelines for veterinary practices and other businesses.

To prevent a difficult dog from removing its muzzle during an exam, I thread one of the muzzle straps under the dog's collar and then snap the muzzle clip closed.

Chicago - A millionaire spinal surgeon with an affinity for animals hopes to step up research on finding a viable nonsurgical method of sterilization for cats and dogs by offering $75 million in incentives.

National Report - AVMA pledges to help affected food-animal producers by providing information on alternative production systems.

Having newly elected U.S. Rep. Kurt Schrader in Congress means veterinarians have a representative in government who understands issues specific to the veterinary community, officials say.