FDA approves new drug for diabetic dogsFebruary 12, 2019A new drug for managing diabetes mellitus in dogs has been approved for use in the U.S.
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Trupanion expands coverage to offer pet enrollment at birthFebruary 12, 2019Pet insurer Trupanion is removing age restrictions from its policies, a change the company says is a result of its promise to deliver lifelong support to animals and pet owners.
How to improve client compliance for dental proceduresFebruary 11, 2019This month, veterinarians are being encouraged to raise awareness of oral care as a component of general health for animals and increase routine dental checkups.
Veterinary gender wage disparities—Why planet Venus pays less (and what to do about it)February 8, 2019Last July, the principal flutist at the Boston Symphony Orchestra filed a lawsuit alleging it had discriminated against her "by paying her an amount less than other comparable males." Though she records and performs more solos than the principal oboist (a comparable position in any symphony orchestra), she's paid 75 percent of what he makes. When I heard about this lawsuit, my brain veered directly toward veterinary medicine. Of course there's a wage gap, but surely there's more to it than that. As the French say, men and women are equal… yet different. No one can deny the biological, the cerebral, and the societal differences separating us. Our bodies differ, our brains vary, and our culture therefore perceives us in very disparate ways. This, it's clear, forms the basis for fundamental unfairness when it comes to compensation. Yet, there's more to it than that. This is what we'll have to grapple with if we're going to change things. And change them we must for our profession's sake. Mind the veterinary wage gap There's no arguing the fact of the gap. The 2013 American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) Report on Veterinary Compensation shows us that in 2011, female veterinarians in …
If I knew then what I know nowFebruary 8, 2019If you had the chance, what would you tell your younger self? For that matter, what would you tell an aspiring veterinarian or recent graduate? I asked several colleagues from a variety of backgrounds and niches one simple question: What do you wish you knew when you were younger? There were three categories of answers: personal advice, business advice, and medical advice. Here's what our panelists had to say. (See the box at the bottom right for who they are.) Personal advice Rebecca Tudor recommends finding people to whom you can delegate tasks. "You can't do it all, so find people who can help you run errands, shop, and do anything you need to get off your to-do list." Of course, you don't have to be a millionaire to do that. You can get just about anything delivered to your doorstep these days, from a book of stamps to prepared meals for a week. Peter Pelissier encourages you to "be willing, at the end of every day, to walk away and leave all the anxiety and frustration at the practice. Spend quality time with your family and friends, and be emotionally present. All the pressure will be waiting for you …
AVMA urges Congress to act on horse abuseFebruary 8, 2019The American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) is asking Congress to pass the Prevent All Soring Tactics (PAST) Act, which would help end the cruel and inhumane practice of soring horses. AVMA says soring continues to be a pervasive issue, especially in Tennessee's walking horse industry, where deliberate pain is inflicted to exaggerate a horse's gait and gain advantage in horse shows. "From a veterinary viewpoint, it's indisputable that soring causes horses an unacceptable and unnecessary level of pain," said AVMA president John de Jon, DVM. "Unfortunately, soring practitioners have become experts at hiding evidence and even working with horse show inspectors to avoid detection. The PAST Act would provide the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) with the resources and enforcement mechanisms necessary to finally end this cruel and inhumane practice." Soring methods include the long-term application of harsh chemicals to horses' legs, the grinding of their soles to expose sensitive tissue, the insertion of hard objects such as nails between horses' shoes or pads and their soles, and the use of chains or other "action devices." Although soring was made illegal in the 1970s, AVMA reports violations often go undetected because trainers and owners are able to exploit loopholes in …
Covetrus launches as newly formed companyFebruary 8, 2019Henry Schein Animal Health and Vets First Choice, two unique and complementary businesses in the animal-health industry, have combined to form Covetrus. Under the newly formed company, Covetrus says it will provide veterinary practices with a more comprehensive set of integrated services and technology solutions, tools to strengthen client relationships and growth, and improved workflow and cost-effectiveness through efficient delivery of next-generation solutions. The new company will trade under the NASDAQ stock market under the symbol CVET. "[This] marks an important new chapter in the world of veterinary medicine, as we launch Covetrus as a new company listed on NASDAQ," says Benjamin Shaw, president and chief executive officer. "We look forward to strengthening our customer relationships and expanding our veterinary practice partnerships worldwide, as we bring more comprehensive and powerful solutions to market to meet their evolving needs and improve health and financial outcomes." As part of the spin-off, Henry Schein received approximately $1.1 billion in what is expected to be tax-free proceeds that will be used to pay debt.
Before you change the diet…February 7, 2019Naughty Girl is a healthy six-month old terrier puppy who is being fed a complete and balanced commercial growth food. She lives with Bad Boy, a four-year old beagle-spaniel cross who is fed an adult maintenance dog food. Bad Boy is brought to your clinic for a two-day history of vomiting and acting sluggish (or punky). Your physical exam reveals some pain on abdominal palpation and a lab test for canine pancreas-specific lipase is "abnormal," suggesting an elevated lipase level. Your suspicion of pancreatitis is high and, after rehydrating the dog with fluids, you send him home on a fat-restricted therapeutic diet. Is a diet change warranted in this situation? Nutrition textbooks and veterinary nutritionists refer to dietary fat as a "nutrient of concern" or "key nutritional factor" when talking about nutritional management for patients with pancreatitis. However, before automatically switching a patient's diet, conduct a thorough nutritional assessment to get the whole picture of what's happening in the home environment. Performing a nutritional assessment involves collecting information about the patient, the diet, and feeding management (Baldwin, et. al. 2010). This is not a process that involves extra time or work—a nutritional assessment begins with routine information collected about …
Ethical issues for today's veterinarian in the digital ageFebruary 7, 2019Have you thought about ethical issues in the new digital age? The world we live in is vastly different from just a few years ago. Remember the days when getting a taxi meant hoping to see one drive by on the street and waving frantically to get the driver's attention? Not so today, given the various apps available literally at our fingertips. This digital revolution seems to have infiltrated every aspect of our lives, including the way we practice veterinary medicine, which raises several ethical and legal questions. What type of world will we practice in as we evolve in the digital age and adopt new technology allowing unprecedented generation and access to digital data? Will it be one in which people in animal health just obey the law, or one where they are obedient to the unenforceable: honesty, integrity, responsibility, respect, caring for others, and courage2? These are the universal elements of ethics to consider, as we encounter specific challenges of embracing and using technology in practice. The whole veterinary community is responsible for upholding its ethical norm now that veterinarians can digitally support "pet parents" at home and in between visits. Playing catch up with innovation Veterinary medicine …
AAFP survey finds Cat Friendly Practice program growing in popularityFebruary 7, 2019Ninety-eight percent of members of the Cat Friendly Practice (CFP) program say they would recommend it to other veterinary professionals. That's one of the findings of the American Association of Feline Practitioners' (AAFP's) 2018 Cat Friendly Practice survey. The program's main purpose is to cater to the unique behaviors and needs of cats, and to help decrease the stress of the veterinary visit for the cat and the caregiver by providing the veterinary team with tools and resources needed to treat feline patients. "The survey results tell the story that CFPs, and their clients and cats, are benefiting from the program in vital ways," says Heather O'Steen, CAE, chief executive officer of the AAFP. "They're improving treatment of cats in their care and helping to advance feline medicine. We encourage any practice that has feline patients to learn more about becoming a Cat Friendly Practice. The program is an AAFP membership benefit with no additional charges, and there are many resources to walk you through the process. Implementing just a few cat-friendly strategies can make a huge difference in the experience for the cat, caregiver, and your entire veterinary team." The survey—which included 460 respondents—also found the following: 99 percent …
