Cash In On 2008 Tax DeductionsApril 17, 2009 Authorities say some practices are observing a decrease in revenue and profits for 2008 as clients defer discretionary procedures and delay bringing in their animals as a direct effect of the volatile economy. “If the decreasing revenue trend continues, practice profits may be down for the year as compared to 2007 results. Because many practice owners make quarterly estimated tax payments equal to their actual income and self-employment taxes from the previous year, the payments based on last year’s profits may result in overpaying estimated tax payments in 2008 and generating refunds next spring,” according to Lorraine List, CPA, CVA, of Summit Veterinary Advisors LLC. “Refunds are great, but wouldn’t you rather have the money now than later?” List asks. “Practice owners should speak with their certified public accountant to determine whether they can safely reduce their fourth-quarter estimated payments this year and still not incur penalties for underpayment of estimated tax.” List says practices that are growing and making higher profits than last year should consider accelerating deductions into 2008 to reduce income taxes this year. “Some expenses can be prepaid before year end and still be deductible, such as projected state tax …
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Webster Acquires Columbus SerumApril 17, 2009 Webster Veterinary Supply, a division of Patterson Companies Inc. of St. Paul, Minn., recently acquired Columbus Serum Co., a full service distributor of companion pet veterinary supplies, equipment and pharmaceuticals based in Columbus, Ohio. Webster has also acquired Odyssey Veterinary Software LLC, an early stage developer and marketer of Diagnostic Imaging Atlas software based in Plano, Texas. DIA is a client communication tool that includes more than 2,000 3D clinical animations and images that can help veterinarians explain and illustrate a pet’s diagnosis and recommended treatment to their clients. <HOME>
New York Blames Rat Poison On Contaminated FoodApril 17, 2009 Rat poison found in the pet food recalled by Menu Foods Inc. last week might be to blame for the recent deaths of dogs and cats across the United States, according to a report by the Associated Press today. Citing a N.Y. State Department of Agriculture and Markets spokesperson, the report said that state laboratory tests this week had turned up rodent poison in the food. The agency is expected to unveil its findings later today. Nearly 100 brands of pet food were affected by the March 16 recall, which has caused at least 16 confirmed pet deaths, a number expected to climb. For a complete list of pet food brands affected in the recall visit www.menufoods.com/recall. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is still investigating the situation. <HOME>
Maryland Adds Two Animal Health PositionsApril 17, 2009 The Maryland Department of Agriculture has added two animal health positions. The first position will be held by Nancy “Jo” Chapman, DVM, as assistant chief of animal health for operations and the regional veterinarian for southern Maryland. Dr. Chapman is responsible for managing routine animal-health field operations and readiness, regulation revisions and federal cooperative agreements, and is acting state veterinarian in the absence of State Veterinarian Guy Hohenhaus, DVM. The second position will be held by Claudia Osorio, DVM, as the director of the Salisbury Animal Health Diagnostic Laboratory. Dr. Osorio’s experience includes poultry laboratory and pathology research at New Bolton Center, several internships with commercial poultry companies and veterinary diagnostic labs and six years as diagnostic laboratory director with the Colombian Agriculture Institute. <HOME>
University Of Pennsylvania Launches Vet Leadership ProgramApril 17, 2009 The University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine and Penn’s Wharton School has launched the Executive Veterinary Leadership Program: Making an Impact as Public Health Leaders. The university says the program combines the knowledge and experience of a veterinary school with that of a business school to take a global view of the leadership roles veterinarians should be holding in the public health arena, not just in their own profession. “Veterinarians want to be—and need to be—partners for disease control and other major global health, biosecurity and food supply issues; this program is about helping them get a seat at the table,” said Joan Hendricks, VMD, The Gilbert S. Kahn Dean of Veterinary Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania. The program, which runs June 7-12, will include the following session topics: The Challenge of Critical Thinking and Peripheral Vision The Current State of Veterinary Medicine from a Business Context Rebranding the Veterinary Profession Leading Teams, Challenges and Opportunities for Veterinary Medicine Veterinary Public Health Click here for details. <HOME>
Vet Clinic In The Burn Zone Is SparedApril 17, 2009 Rancho Bernardo Veterinary Clinic, Robert Chung Rancho Bernardo lies in the heart of the burn zone of what is being called the Witch Creek fire in central San Diego County, Calif.Rancho Bernardo Veterinary Clinic lies in the heart of the of what is being called the Witch Creek fire in central San Diego County, Calif. Rancho Bernardo Veterinary Clinic lies in the heart of the burn zone of what is being called the Witch Creek fire in central San Diego County, Calif. The clinic is owned by Robert Chung, DVM, who only purchased the hospital a few months ago. He says he and his staff are back in the hospital after a three-day evacuation, trying to get reorganized. "Our clinic is in the middle of the whole evacuation area," he says. "There were lots of structures, homes and acreage that went up in flames. Our practice was spared." The reverse 911 call came in to the clinic and surrounding area about 3 a.m. on October 22 giving people just 15 minutes to get out of the fire's path. "Luckily we had no overnight patients in the hospital," Dr. Chung says, and there was …
Heska Promotes McGinley To PresidentApril 17, 2009Heska Corp. of Loveland, Colo., has promoted Michael McGinley, Ph.D., to the position of president and chief operating officer, to be effective Jan. 1. Dr. McGinley has been at Heska for 11 years, most recently serving as executive vice president of Global Operations and general manager of Heska's manufacturing operations in Des Moines, Iowa. In related news, Heska's companion animal health division reported revenue of $18.94 million for its third quarter ended Sept. 30, compared to revenue of $15.6 million in the year-ago period. Revenue from the company's blood chemistry instrument, the Dri-Chem Veterinary Chemistry Analyzer, and associated consumables, were a key factor in the strong revenue growth this quarter, said Robert Grieve, Ph.D., Heska's chairman and chief executive officer. Year to date, the division reported revenue of $53.62 million, compared to revenue of $48.83 million in the year ago period. The division that includes vaccine and pharmaceuticals reported revenue of $2.43 million for its third quarter, compared to revenue of $3.4 million in the year-ago period. Year to date, the division reported $11.58 million, compared to revenue of $12.26 million in the year-ago period. Heska's research and development reported revenue of $316,000 for its third quarter, compared …
California State Senator Introduces Spay/Neuter BillApril 17, 2009California State Sen. Dean Florez, D-Shafter, introduced new spay/neuter legislation on Feb. 24, which once again calls on pet owners to have their cats and dogs sterilized. SB 250 requires that dogs be spayed or neutered unless their owner gets an unaltered dog license, proponents said. It would also require that roaming cats be spayed and neutered. Judie Mancuso, founder of Social Compassion in Legislation (SCIL) and a sponsor of the similar AB 1634, which failed to pass out of the Senate in August 2008, said this new bill would reduce euthanasia rates as well as save taxpayer dollars. Bill Hemby of PetPAC, a group that helped defeat the previous bill, released a statement against the new bill, describing it as dangerous legislation because it arrives during financially tough times for the state, which would make enforcing the bill a challenge. "Here we go again," he said. <HOME>
Acupuncture For PainApril 17, 2009 Between 65 percent and 80 percent of humans experience back or neck pain at some point in their lives. The elderly complain of back pain more often than any other musculoskeletal ailment.1 Whether small animals experience spinal pain with similar frequency is unknown. Perhaps the majority of animals afflicted with back or neck pain recovers spontaneously within six weeks, as do humans.2 For animals that do not recover, the pain frequently remains untreated, undertreated or treated inappropriately.3 Clients may misinterpret alterations in their animals' behavior as "slowing down," "getting old and grouchy" or "being stubborn." Mapping the Course Determining the proper course of action for spinal pain requires in-depth knowledge of veterinary anatomy and pathology. Some clients are tempted to pursue treatment from non-veterinarian chiropractors or physical therapists in lieu of proper diagnostics. Doing so may cause irreparable harm to the animal because of delayed diagnosis and improper treatment, especially when back pain arises from neoplastic or infectious causes.4 Nevertheless, clients may prefer a nonpharmacologic approach for their animal's condition, given the potential adverse effects of conventional approaches. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs increase the risk of gastrointestinal bleeding and renal damage, especially in older …
Convenience Euthanasia? Just Say NoApril 17, 2009 His face was flushed and his ears were red. He was leading two big, beautiful German shepherd dogs toward the back of the clinic. I knew something was wrong. He was upset, exasperated, frustrated. He said that the owners of these dogs were going on a long vacation and they wanted the dogs put down. It was 1972, my first job, my boss. What could I say? What should I say? Something like this came from my heart: “You shouldn't do this if you don't want to. They can take their dogs to the pound where they might have a chance to be adopted. A pet hospital is not the place for healthy pets to be conveniently killed. If it is against your personal ethics, tell them to take their dogs elsewhere.” But he looked at me wistfully. Then he dutifully shrugged his shoulders and continued walking to the back, closer to the freezer. Death was in the air that day. Since foreclosure fever has added to the meltdown of the U.S. economy, more animals are being dumped in the nation’s shelters and veterinary hospitals. I will never forget that moment and the look in …
