Top Stories
Can Cats get Bird Flu?
Source: USA Today A recent bird flu outbreak in Texas and Kansas has prompted investigations after reports of one human case and infections in dairy cows. The virus, identified as avian influenza A (H5N1), affected cows and one person, causing conjunctivitis. The CDC...
Banfield Foundation Releases 2023 Impact Report
Source: PR Newswire The Banfield Foundation's 2023 Impact Report reveals how $3.3 million in grants facilitated Veterinary care, disaster relief, and preventive care initiatives. The Foundation prioritized underserved communities, providing free preventive care,...
Livestock Respiratory Issues Expected Following Texas Wildfires
Source: Bovine Veterinarian After wildfires in the Texas Panhandle, the Texas A&M Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory warns livestock owners of potential respiratory issues in surviving animals due to smoke inhalation. Dr. Alexis Thompson anticipates...
Genetic Mutation Could Cause Severe Reactions from Feline Parasite Preventives
Source: dvm360 A study by WSU's Program for Individualized Medicine revealed that cats with the MDR1 genetic mutation face severe risks from eprinomectin, found in some parasite preventives. The mutation hampers protective mechanisms against the drug, leading to...
Milestone Made: 1000 Veterans Paired with Service Dogs
Source: dvm360 K9s For Warriors celebrates a significant milestone of matching 1,000 veterans with trained service dogs, aiming to prevent veteran suicide by supporting individuals with PTSD, traumatic brain injury, or military sexual trauma. Retired Army Staff...
Wood Pushing for Legislation Giving Rural Veterinarians More Grant Opportunities
Source: KMA Land House File 2428, sponsored by State Representative Devon Wood, aims to address the shortage of veterinarians in rural Iowa counties. The legislation, recently passed by a House Appropriations Subcommittee, proposes the creation of a rural Veterinary...
Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza Detected in Dairy Cattle
Source: High Plains Journal The U.S. Department of Agriculture, Food and Drug Administration, and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have detected highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) virus in laboratory samples from older dairy cows in Texas, Kansas, and...
New Mentorship Program Launches for New ACVIM Diplomates
Source: dvm360 The American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine (ACVIM), in collaboration with Chewy Health and MentorVet, launched MentorVet Lead, a program designed to support ACVIM diplomates who received their certification within the last 5 years. Sponsored...
Researchers Carry Out First Peer-Reviewed Study of Fecal Microbiota Transplants in Dolphins
Source: Phys.org A collaborative effort between the National Marine Mammal Foundation, the U.S. Navy Marine Mammal Program, and the Gilbert Lab at UCSD School of Medicine and Scripps Institution of Oceanography successfully conducted fecal microbiota transplantations...
U.S. Detects Avian Flu in Milk, Says Dairy Supplies Are Safe
Source: Reuters The U.S. Department of Agriculture confirmed avian flu in milk samples from sick cattle in Kansas and Texas, but assured the public of the safety of the milk supply. The virus, typically affecting birds, has now reached mammals. Investigations are...
Veterinary Cancer Test Now Available in Japan
Source: dvm360 VolitionRx Limited has partnered with Fujifilm Vet Systems Co. Ltd to launch the Nu.Q Vet Cancer test for veterinarians in Japan. The agreement allows Fujifilm Vet Systems to sell and perform cancer screenings using the test across its network of...
The State of Women in Vet Med—According to the Data
Source: Newstat There are ongoing gender disparities in Veterinary medicine despite the predominance of women in the field. While 87.3% of current Veterinary school applicants and 88% of Veterinary technicians are female, there remains a lack of gender equality in...
Consumers Identify Health and Wellness for Pet Food
Source: FOOD Engineering The pet food market has witnessed significant growth in new product launches, with about one-third of introductions coming from new companies or brands, surpassing trends in human food. Lynn Dornblaser, Mintel Consulting's director of...
Researchers Use an Edible Blue-Green Algae to Protect Honey Bees Against Viruses
Source: Phys.org Scientists at the USDA's Agricultural Research Service have devised an edible antiviral treatment to safeguard honey bees from deformed wing virus (DWV) and other viral threats. DWV and similar viruses have been linked to mass bee colony deaths...
The Veterinarian Shortage vs. Maximizing Practice Efficiency
I have written on multiple occasions about the current shortage of veterinarians in the Veterinary profession, including for this very publication. However, since the shortage has continued (and more than likely will continue), I’d like to address it once again in...
Update on New Veterinary Schools and Other Tools to Solve Our Shortages
How many ways can America address the acute shortage of Veterinary professionals? I count five (5), and while we list these, let’s explore what it takes to make this happen. #1—Increase class sizes of current accredited Veterinary schools. We have 33 accredited...
Innovative Solutions for Animal Health Problems at AHNTI 2024
Who among us doesn’t love a good solution for a nagging problem? At this year's Animal Health, Nutrition, and Technology Innovation (AHNTI) event in London, experts, researchers, and industry leaders exchanged knowledge and fostered collaboration to drive forward the...
Nurturing Longevity in Your Veterinary Technician Career: Strategies for Growth and Sustainability
According to data from The NAVTA 2022 Demographic Survey, the average lifespan of a Veterinary technician/nurse has increased in the last several years (up from 5-7 years as reported in 2016), though it’s difficult to obtain an accurate range, as most of the responses...
Unleashing Potential: The Importance of Acting on Wild, Crazy Ideas
In a world that constantly chants the mantra of innovation, the wildest, craziest ideas often light the paths to the most groundbreaking achievements. History is littered with examples of visionaries who were initially dismissed as dreamers or eccentrics, only to be...
Lasers . . . They Aren’t Just for Dr. Evil
As a Gen Xer, I cannot think of the word “laser” without hearing the voice of Dr. Evil from the Austin Powers movies. I have yet to figure out how to attach any of my work lasers to a shark, but I most definitely know how I would use them on a shark! If you do not...
Paw Patrol: Dallas Mavericks Are the First NBA Team with an Emotional Support Animal
Source: CBS Sports Heather Mau, assistant athletic trainer for the Dallas Mavericks, noticed players grabbing extra breakfast not due to increased appetite but to lure in Bailey, the team's two-year-old mini Bernedoodle emotional support animal. The Mavericks are the...
New ASPCA Report Shows USDA Failed to Act in Response to 90 Percent of Animal Welfare Violations in FY23
Source: PR Newswire The ASPCA released a report critiquing the USDA's enforcement of the Animal Welfare Act in licensed facilities during the 2023 fiscal year. Despite over 1,000 violations found at more than 400 dog dealers, only four faced consequences. Problematic...
UK Intensifies Probe of Veterinary Competition, Pricing
Source: VIN News The United Kingdom's Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) is considering measures to address concerns about lack of competition in the Veterinary sector. This includes capping prescription fees and potentially forcing large companies to sell...
Finnish Dog Food Maker Lets Dogs Sample Before Buying
Source: Good News From Finland Finland's Hau-Hau Champion has introduced a groundbreaking automatic dispenser, a global first, enabling dogs to sample pet food. Resembling a traditional dog house, the dispenser employs AI-driven image recognition and blue-light...
How FDA Effort to Limit Veterinary Compounding is Unfolding
Source: VIN News The FDA's recent approval of Vetmedin Solution, a liquid version of the Veterinary heart drug pimobendan, was followed by the removal of pimobendan solution from a list of drugs allowed to be compounded for Veterinary clinics. This signals a vigorous...