News

Schaumburg, Ill. - The American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) will create a new series of podcasts for pet owners. It's the association's latest effort to inform the public about issues related to pet health, public health and veterinary medicine.

Camden, N.J. - Thousands of pet owners in the United States and Canada could be reimbursed for veterinary bills and pet burial or cremation costs they incurred following last year's massive pet-food recall, under terms of a $24 million settlement filed in U.S. District Court in New Jersey.

Santa Clara, Calif. - Eklin Medical Systems completed its acquisition of Ultrasource. The deal was announced in late May. Ultrasource is the U.S. veterinary distributor for Philips Medical Systems' ultrasound line, which includes Sonoscape and SIUI.

Check out the second installment of Dr. Kevin Fitzgerald's new blog to find out how you can keep it clean.

Schaumburg, Ill. - The National Commission on Veterinary Economic Issues (NCVEI) named Karen E. Felsted, CPA, MS, DVM, CVPM its new chief executive officer. Felsted leaves Los Angeles-based Gatto McFerson CPAs, a veterinary-focused financial and consulting firm.

Columbus, Ohio - Prescriptions and veterinarian-client-patient relationships are not needed for consumers to purchase therapeutic pet food.

Check out Dr. Fitzgerald's new weekly blog, which presents the practical side of veterinary practice with a personal touch.

Ames, Iowa - An Iowa State University researcher restored a 7-year-old dog's deteriorating sight by removing its cloudy cornea and inserting a plastic replacement.

West LaFayette, Ind. - A vaccine that could offer protection from highly pathogenic bird flu and its evolving forms is under development by Purdue University and Centers for Disease Control (CDC) researchers.

When I was veterinary school, summer meant RAGBRAI, the Register's Annual Great Bicycle Ride Across Iowa. While I never participated, I was in awe as legions of bicyclists made their way through Ames en route to a finish line on the state's eastern edge. There's even a veterinarian version of the famed race, which takes place during fall semester.

Denver - Gov. Bill Ritter is expected tomorrow to sign a bill that phases out swine gestation stalls and veal crates in Colorado.

Knoxville, Tenn. - 5/9/08 - There's plenty of extra space to accommodate patients and several new services at the University of Tennessee College of Veterinary Medicine's (UTCVM) small-animal teaching hospital, with the formal opening of a 32,000-square-foot addition.

Portland, Ore. - 5/8/08 - Sharon Harmon, executive director of the Oregon Humane Society, is expected to receive the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) Humane Award.

Yesterday was Cinco de Mayo, celebrating the end of the French occupation of Mexico in 1862. It also was a special day for my husband and me. We reached one year of wedded bliss.

Tallahassee, Fla. - 5/6/08 - Owners of Florida veterinary medical practices must buy pharmacy permits by Jan. 1, 2009, to be in compliance with a law passed on Friday.

Washington - 5-5/2008 - As Public Service Recognition Week kicks off today, officials at the American Veterinary Medical Association called on Congress to unlock funds to help veterinary educators recruit and train DVMs for this sector.

At this time last year, shortly before I married, I could not imagine doing full-time emergency medicine. Even now, it seems like a daunting task. Last year, our local emergency clinic was looking for two full-time veterinarians and recruited heavily for local DVMs. At the time, I was new to the area. I had no intention of switching jobs so soon, despite the monetary benefits.

College Station, Texas - 5/2/2008 - Texas A&M University's veterinary college received approval to build a veterinary imaging and cancer research center. Plans for the $4.5-million project include an 8,000-square-foot building for small-animal and equine patients.

Women are outnumbering men in the veterinary profession and dominating admissions at veterinary medicine schools.

The weather always can be counted on to influence parasite populations around the country, but it plays a lesser role these days compared to what humans are doing environmentally to affect the number and spread of disease vectors, entomology experts say.

According to USA TODAY, thousands of pets and their owners are spending time with the sick, the depressed or the distressed and with groups of children and adults in difficult straits for animal-assisted therapy.

A 2008 update on the newest and most important vector-borne diseases affecting companion animals.

Cheyletiella mites (walking dandruff) have become an epidemic in our Midwestern practice in the summer, with endemic numbers throughout the year.

The bacteria that cause Lyme disease reside in mouse tissue after a full round of antibiotic treatment, University of California-Davis (UC-Davis) researchers report.

Berrysville, ark. - What started as a vacation led an Arkansas veterinary clinic to set up operations temporarily in a rural Central American town, with staff members vowing to help improve the community's animal-control methods and veterinary care.

Topeka, Kan. - To demonstrate the state's commitment to housing a federal bio-security laboratory, the Kansas governor signed legislation to issue $105 million in bonds.

Montpelier, vt. - Organized veterinary medicine is going head-to-head with activists in an attempt to convince the Vermont Supreme Court that pet owners have no right to sue for loss of companionship and emotional distress in alleged malpractice cases.

Camden, N.J. - Another chapter in the lengthy pet-food recall saga is drawing to a close with the reported settlement of more than 100 class-action lawsuits brought on behalf of pet owners in the United States and Canada.

A study examines whether a risk of hemolysis exists in cats receiving intravenous vs. subcutaneous famotidine.

Bethesda, MD. - The Humane Society Veterinary Medical Association (HSVMA) is moving forward to develop the new group, including plans this month to announce leadership council members.