Banfield launches phone interpretation service pilot programJune 7, 2019Banfield Pet Hospital has launched a 60-day, over-the-phone interpretation service pilot program at its California hospitals and Vancouver, Wash., call center. The service offers interpretation in 350 languages, including Spanish, Mandarin, French, Portuguese, Vietnamese, Korean, Creole, Arabic, and Russian. Banfield has partnered with Lionbridge Technologies to offer these services to its non-English speaking clients who require help understanding their pet's diagnosis and treatment needs. The California hospitals participating in the program are: Glendale, Los Angeles Midtown, La Cienega, Culver City, Oxnard, and Bakersfield. All of Banfield's clients across the U.S. and Puerto Rico will be able to phone in and use the service. Banfield says as it is dedicated to inclusion and diversity for its clients and associates and it hopes to expand the pilot to other areas of the country in 2020.
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New bill would allow California veterinarians to recommend cannabisApril 22, 2019A new bill introduced to the California legislation could repeal an original ban on veterinarians recommending cannabis to their clients. The bill, SB 627, would allow licensed veterinarians to discuss the use of and recommend medicinal cannabis or related products on an animal patient for any condition for which these products provide relief. The bill would also prohibit a veterinarian who makes a recommendation under these provisions from being punished, or denied any right or privilege, for recommending these products. Currently, The Veterinary Medicine Practice Act authorizes the board to revoke or suspend the license of a person to practice veterinary medicine, or to assess a fine, for discussing medicinal cannabis with a client while the veterinarian is employed by or has an agreement with a Medicinal and Adult-Use Cannabis Regulation and Safety Act (MAUCRSA) licensee and is distributing advertising for cannabis in California. Further, the bill would permit pet owners to purchase medicinal cannabis or medicinal cannabis products on a veterinarian's recommendation.
CVMA and California veterinarians clash over blood banksApril 4, 2019A showdown is brewing between the California Veterinary Medical Association (CVMA) and a group of veterinarians over whether closed-colony blood banks should continue to operate. Known as the California Pet Blood Bank Modernization Act, AB 366 bill is aimed at changing the existing law requiring animal blood banks collect blood exclusively from so-called "closed colonies." Critics say donor animals are confined to cages and kennels for months or years. Instead, the bill looks to allow blood banks to collect animal blood in a community-based, voluntary setting, similar to programs in place in other states. The bill is getting support from 72 veterinarians, including practitioners and medical directors at some of California's largest veterinary hospitals, and faculty and clinicians at the University of California, Davis. "The current situation in California is egregiously unbalanced," they say in a letter to California's assembly agriculture committee. "Hundreds of dogs—including many who have already endured months or years of suffering in the greyhound racing industry—are kept confined for months or years in situations that range from inadequate to appalling. Lack of sufficient oversight and inspection, coupled with a lack of transparency, has resulted in years of suffering by dogs in California's closed colonies. There …
Hill's facing class-action lawsuit over excessive vitamin D levelsFebruary 22, 2019A lawsuit has been filed against Hill’s Pet Nutrition for selling dog food containing too much vitamin D.
California clinic embraces hydrotherapy with third water treadmillJanuary 10, 2019A Southern California-based clinic has now installed a third water treadmill and a full-sized pool to its recovery resources.
Paw-protecting socks donated to pets injured in California firesDecember 18, 2018A California-based pet accessory brand is helping dogs and cats in need following the state’s devastating wildfires.
American Humane to send rescue team for animals displaced by California wildfiresNovember 23, 2018American Humane’s rescue team and animal emergency vehicle will be deployed to aid animals at the Butte County Fairgrounds in Gridley, Calif., displaced by the deadly wildfires.
AVMF donates $20,000 to help veterinarians impacted by California wildfiresNovember 22, 2018The American Veterinary Medical Foundation (AVMF) has donated $20,000 to help California veterinarians and animals affected by the wildfires.
Henry Schein offers hotline for veterinarians affected by California wildfiresNovember 13, 2018The Henry Schein Disaster Relief Hotline is open for dentists, physicians, and veterinarians who may experience operational, logistical, or financial issues as a result the wildfires in northern and southern California.
California to test pilot program for injured police dogsSeptember 13, 2018California Governor Jerry Brown signed Assembly Bill 1776 on Sept. 6, establishing a pilot program that would authorize medical technicians to provide emergency, ground-based transportation to a veterinary facility for police dogs injured in the line of duty. This bill would authorize the County of San Bernardino to work with the Inland Counties Emergency Medical Agency to conduct a pilot project starting Jan. 1, 2019, in which they collect specified data about the results and submit a report to the Legislature by Jan. 1, 2022. As an exception, there must be no person requiring medical attention or transportation at the scene when the request is made, and the ambulance must have a policy permitting the transportation of an injured police dog. The canine handler must accompany the dog and remain in full control during transport. Additionally, the canine handler remains responsible for any first aid given to the injured police dog during transport.
