Veterinarian pushes for "four-eyes" system in clinicsJune 27, 2019More and more veterinarians are speaking up on how to tackle the high rate of suicide in the veterinary profession.
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Purina offers supplements for dogs experiencing anxious behaviorsMay 24, 2019Purina Pro Plan Veterinary Supplements has introduced a new management option for canines that experience anxious behaviors. Calming Care is a probiotic supplement that helps dogs cope with external stressors like separation, unfamiliar visitors or sounds, and changes in routine and location. The supplement also aids in maintaining positive cardiac activity during stressful events, promoting a positive emotional state. According to Jason Gagné, DVM, DACVN, director of veterinary technical communication for Pro Plan Veterinary Diets, a veterinarian should be sought out if a dog is displaying undesirable behaviors. "What might be perceived as just a characteristic of a particular breed or part of a dog's personality could really be an anxious behavior that needs attention." Pro Plan Veterinary Supplements surveyed 826 owners about anxious behaviors in dogs and found: • 62 percent have witnessed excessive barking, compulsive jumping and shaking, or trembling. • 35 percent believe their dog's personality is among the primary causes of one or more of its concerning behaviors. • 25 percent said these behaviors have impacted their lifestyle or caused a change in their routine. Further, with summer fast approaching, Purina notes that canine anxiety often intensifies during this period. "The summer …
AVMA offering new well-being certificateMay 10, 2019Veterinarians and clinic staff are now able to improve their knowledge of and skills in well-being, thanks to a new certificate program offered by the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA). The Workplace Wellbeing certificate program was created with the help of an educational grant from Merck Animal Health. The program will be taught by experts from the veterinary community. According to the AVMA, the purpose of the certificate is to provide resources for problem solving to create a work culture focused on well-being. Those who participate will be eligible to receive up to four continuing education (CE) credit hours. The courses can be taken individually and do not have to be done as part of the program. To receive the certificate there are five units one must complete: Creating a culture of wellbeing How to request, receive, and give feedback effectively Transforming conflict Question, Persuade, and Refer (QPR) assessment Diversity and inclusion
AVMA and industry groups work to fight suicide among veterinariansDecember 27, 2018Animal health organizations are partnering to combat suicide among veterinarians in the U.S. According to a study by the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), female veterinarians were 3.5 times as likely to die from suicide as the general population from 1979 through 2015. For male veterinarians, that number was 2.1 times. "Too many of our colleagues have either contemplated, attempted, or died by suicide," said AVMA president John de Jong, DVM. "Working with our colleagues throughout the veterinary community will help us find solutions more quickly. This issue is affecting not only our profession, but society as a whole, in numbers greater than ever before." AVMA is working with a number of groups to help address the issue, including: Allied veterinary medical associations Independent veterinary communities Representatives of private and corporate practices Suicidology experts North American Veterinary Technicians Association (NAVTA) Association of American Veterinary Medical Colleges (AAVMC) Veterinary Information Network (VIN) American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP) The association and partners are creating resources to facilitate outreach, such as question, persuade, refer (QPR) training, a free online program put in place to help veterinarians identify …
Purina donation helps U.S. military veterans adopt rescue dogsDecember 14, 2018A program supporting veterans living with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and other brain injuries through rescue dog adoption has received a significant donation.
Six tips to keep pets safe during the holidaysDecember 5, 2018To ensure pets remain healthy and safe during the holidays, Leni Kaplan, DVM, MS, from Cornell University’s (CU’s) College of Veterinary Medicine, shares six tips for veterinarians to pass along to clients.
Veterinary gratitude in the age of incivilityNovember 21, 2018If you’ve been alive to the machinations of our society’s contentious culture wars this season, you might admit to feeling sustained pressure on that part of your brain that normally makes you feel like part of a greater whole. It’s as if we’ve all been barnacles on a boat enduring an extended mooring in murky marina waters, sluicing through liquids increasingly gloomy and often downright filthy, feeling acutely like some of us must be riding an alien hull across an impenetrably gray divide.
PenFed Foundation donates $50,000 to program providing assistance dogs to veteransNovember 20, 2018PenFed Foundation donates $50,000 to support the launch of Canine Companions for Independence’s post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) program.
Petco Foundation donates $2.5 million to provide veterans with support dogsNovember 19, 2018The Petco Foundation is donating more than $2.5 million to train and place former shelter dogs to support veterans with physical or emotional disabilities, including post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
WSAVA launches global mental health surveyNovember 12, 2018The World Small Animal Veterinary Association (WSAVA) is conducting a worldwide survey to assess levels of mental health and well-being in veterinary professionals.
