Affordable veterinary care introduced in pharmacy chainSeptember 9, 2019Pet owners in Florida now have improved access to veterinary care services, thanks to a new partnership between EZ Vet and Benzer Pharmacy.
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Moreno Valley, Calif., top heartworm city for AugustAugust 16, 2019Moreno Valley, Calif., is the number one city for heartworms in August, the Companion Animal Parasite Council (CAPC) reports.
Petco names new regional partnersAugust 13, 2019Petco has expanded its in-store hospital footprint into more than 20 states across the country with the addition of three new regional veterinary partners.
Cities receive certification for pet friendlinessJuly 10, 2019Twenty-five North American cities have been included in the first-ever list of “Better Cities for Pets”-certified municipalities.
New bill allows Florida veterinarians to report suspected abuseMay 7, 2019The Florida Senate has passed a criminal justice bill allowing veterinarians to report suspected animal cruelty to authorities without notice to or authorization from the client. Bill 7125 would permit veterinarians to notify law enforcement officers; animal control officers who are trained in animal cruelty investigations, search and seizure, animal handling, courtroom demeanor, and civil citations; or agents dedicated to protecting animals and preventing any act of cruelty, of signs of mistreatment. Currently, veterinarians are required to inform an owner if they are suspicious of animal abuse before going to law enforcement. Under the new bill, the only time veterinarians would be required to inform the client first is if suspected cruelty occurred at a commercial food-producing animal operation on land classified as agricultural. The next step is for the bill to be signed or vetoed by Florida governor, Ron DeSantis.
Canadian RVT wins Petplan's 2019 Veterinary Nurse of the Year awardMarch 26, 2019Canadian registered veterinary technician Katie Berry was named the 2019 Veterinary Nurse of the Year at the Petplan Veterinary Awards in Orlando, Fla. When she went to the Veterinary Meeting and Expo (VMX) conference in January, Berry says she unaware she had won the award. Accepting the award was a blur she explains. "I don't know if I took a single breath. The amount of gratitude and love I felt was beyond belief." The Petplan Veterinary Awards recognize the industry's best in the U.S. and Canada. The award highlights veterinary professionals who go above and beyond to provide pets with exceptional care and clients with outstanding customer service. Berry says a co-worker nominated her for the award. According to Berry, the most fulfilling part of her job is the patients and the clients. "When I have clients I have a good relationship with, it makes this job worth it," says Berry who has been an RVT at Montgomery Village Veterinary Clinic in Calgary, Alberta, Canada, since the clinic opened in November 2017. "I love seeing my patients thriving and I like my clients knowing I am there for them when they need me." Berry believes veterinary technicians everywhere need recognition. …
Petcurean donates pet food to rescue shelters affected by Hurricane MichaelOctober 19, 2018Petcurean says it is donating 1,000 lbs of pet food to two animal rescue organizations in Florida in the wake of Hurricane Michael.
Dog defies death three times after treatment at UF Small Animal HospitalMarch 21, 2018Rupert, a young dachshund run over by a golf cart in Ocala, Fla., last month, is now living a charmed life after being resuscitated three times by University of Florida (UF) veterinarians. Rupert was discharged Feb. 27 from UF's Small Animal Hospital after being treated for eight days in the hospital's intensive care unit. His owner, Jamie McAllister, couldn't be happier. "To say Rupert is a miracle is an understatement," McAllister said. "If it weren't for the doctors and staff at UF, I don't know where we would be." McAllister said Rupert had jumped off a friend's golf cart while she was driving and rolled under one of the vehicle's tires. She immediately took him to her veterinarian, who advised her that Rupert be taken to the UF Small Animal Hospital due to the severity of his injuries. "His veterinarian called me in Gainesville to say Rupert's family wanted to bring him to UF for treatment of severe pulmonary contusions, but he was not stable enough for transport," said Ashley Allen, DVM, a clinical assistant professor of emergency and critical care at the UF College of Veterinary Medicine. "So we teamed up," Dr. Allen said. "Dr. Gareth …
Florida manufacturer develops rapid animal diabetes testingMarch 20, 2018Tallahassee, Fla.-based Baycom Diagnostics has developed A1Care, a cost-effective kit for monitoring and testing for both feline and canine diabetes. Much like with humans, cases of diabetes in dogs and cats have increased steadily over recent years. According to research released by Vancouver, Wash.-based Banfield Pet Hospital, instances of dog diabetes have increased from 13.1 cases per 10,000 in 2006 to 23.6 cases per 10,000 in 2015—a 79.7 percent jump in less than 10 years. While previous tests for detecting the disease in dogs and cats have been largely expensive and time consuming, A1Care is neither, the company stated. The test allows veterinarians to mail a patient's dried blood sample to Baycom's labs; the sample is analyzed and results are returned to the clinic within two weeks—all with a fee of $49 per test. "For the vets, it is super easy to use," said Gus Ray, Baycom's CEO. "Blood, information, mail, and you're done. All of the magic happens once we get the sample." Ray developed A1Care after he was hired to conduct at-home glycated hemoglobin (A1C) testing for diabetic persons. Initially, he thought the same test could be effective when testing for the disease in …
Canine influenza virus rears its head in FloridaJune 1, 2017The H3N2 strain of canine influenza virus that affected Chicago pets in 2015 has been reported in 12 dogs in Florida, according to Jerry Klein, DVM, chief veterinary officer for the American Kennel Club.
