News

To keep caged animals warm without generating loads and loads of laundry, place a layer of bubble wrap under a towel.

When aspirating a large volume of fluid during thoracentesis, try this method.

When the veterinarian euthanizes a horse at our clinic, I take a small, clean piece of the tail hair.

We have found that Epi-Otic (Virbac) works well to get rid of the smell associated with anal gland expression.

If Disney Ran Your Hospital: 9½ Things You Would Do Differently by Fred Lee

Hypercalcemia is defined as a serum or plasma total calcium level exceeding the normal level. Reference ranges vary considerably among laboratories however a serum calcium concentration > 12mg/dl is considered to be a clinically important elevation and a repeated calcium elevation warrants clinical investigation. Routine calcium levels reported on chemistry profiles are Total calcium, of which 50% is ionized (the metabolically active form) , 40% is protein bound (to albumin) and 10% calcium complexes. In the dog serum calcium concentration is adjusted for albumin level by subtracting the albumin level from the total Ca++ level and adding 3.5.;this yields a corrected calcium level in mg/dl. This method is not accurate in cats. Recently, (2005) it has been suggested that ionized calcium must be measured directly in order to obtain the most accurate level and prevent misdiagnosis of disease especially in dogs with chronic renal failure.

There are many different causes of skin defects in both cats and dogs. Traumatic wounds such as degloving injuries, dog or cat bites, burns, deep fungal infections, and extensive wounds caused by surgical removal of neoplastic disease are examples of clinical situations where reconstructive surgical techniques may be necessary.

An acute abdomen is defined as the acute onset of abdominal pain. Possible underlying etiologies are broad ranging, and include the gamut from trauma to infectious and neoplastic causes.

If Disney Ran Your Hospital: 91/2 Things You Would Do Differently by Fred Lee

Because antidotes are rare, plant-induced diseases in horses can be irreversible and sometimes lethal.

Greenwich, Conn.- A new york practice combining general veterinary medicine, specialty services and a 24-hour, emergency-care unit is a private equity firm's first acquisition toward its goal of creating a nationwide network of pet hospitals focused on advanced treatment, diagnosis and research.

Increasing numbers of veterinarians could find themselves drawn into the jaws of dog-fighting investigations -- to provide expert testimony, treat injured animals or both -- if the violent activity continues to escalate as it has recently, especially in urban areas.

Editor's Note: As the delivery of veterinary care becomes more sophisticated, the need to better use the skills of registered veterinary technicians increases, some veterinarians say.

In March, The California Veterinary Medical Association (CVMA) co-sponsored a bill mandating the sterilization of all owned dogs and cats in the state, but has changed its support to take a neutral position because of its members' negative reaction.

Los Angeles - West Hollywood's declaw ban is legal and enforceable, according to an appellate ruling that's headed for the state Supreme Court if the California Veterinary Medical Association (CVMA) has its way.

In his inaugural address as president of the American Veterinary Medical Association, Dr. Greg Hammer called on members of the House of Delegates to pledge not to deter students from entering the profession by warning of long hours and low pay, and to help bolster DVM strength in biomedicine and public health.

Schaumburg, ill. - Attendees of the 2008 American Veterinary Medical Association's (AVMA) annual convention in New Orleans will pay higher registration fees, expected to bring in an additional $138,000 of revenue.

Schaumburg, Ill. - The American Veterinary Medical Foundation (AVMF) expects to raise more than $1 million this year and promises to work toward changing its poor reputation as an aid organization.

National Report - An increasing number of practices are appraising lower than expected, management experts report. If that trend holds true, it signals a need to closely scrutinize profitability, according to the Valuation Issues Committee of the Association of Veterinary Practice Management Consultants and Advisors (AVPMCA).

Washington - In his final speech before the American Veterinary Medical Association's House of Delegates, Dr. R. Tracy Rhodes commended the American Veterinary Medical Foundation's (AVMF) disaster relief, research and scholarship programs and chastised his colleagues for failing to fuel the nonprofit's initiatives.

Washington - Five sites are under consideration for the relocation of the famed Plum Island Animal Disease Center, according to the Department of Homeland Security's (DHS) Science and Technology (S&T) directorate.

Editor's Note: DVM Newsmagazine's newest column, "Offbeat," gives veterinarians the opportunity to share stories of humor, inspiration, sadness and peculiarity that cross paths daily with veterinary medicine.

One day after the federal indictment of Atlanta Falcons quarterback Michael Vick on dog-fighting charges, the American Humane Association (AHA) urged the National Football League to make a strong statement against animal fighting.

Hepatic portal-vein hypoplasia has been suggested as better terminology, better reflecting the cause.

Seeking to become the nation's first governing body to ban non-therapeutic feline onychectomies, west hollywood mayor john duran authors the ordinance that passes unanimously and criminalizes the procedure. the california veterinary medical association (cvma) denounces the ordinance and responds by seeking government opinions on its legitimacy.

A California Veterinary Medical Association-backed bill to mandate pet sterilization statewide has garnered significant opposition by local and national breeding organizations who feel they are being punished by having to pay abstention fees.

Washington - More minorities are studying veterinary medicine, but the Association of American Veterinary Medical Colleges' (AAVMC) latest enrollment data show the increase at just 0.4 percent.

Washington, D.C. - The United States is not as prepared as it could be to handle an avian-influenza pandemic, reports a federal audit of USDA efforts.