News

Research from Purdue University’s College of Veterinary Medicine shows that some breeds of dogs have hidden coat colors – and in some cases, other traits – that have been there all along. The researchers hope that their findings change some perspectives when it comes to what is to be expected with certain purebred dogs.

Nationwide, tick-borne diseases have risen exponentially from approximately 30,000 cases in 2003 to an estimated 450,000 last year. If passed into law, the Kay Hagan Tick Act would improve research, prevention, diagnostics, and treatment for tick-borne diseases.

Pets now live in 67 million U.S. households, and multicultural pet owners are a key reason why, according to a report by Packaged Facts. Hispanics, Asians, and African Americans are an influential and growing segment among owners of dogs, cats, and other pets.

The Senate unanimously passed the Preventing Animal Cruelty and Torture Act two weeks after the House passed it on a voice vote. If signed into law, it would make the torture of animals a federal felony punishable by fines and up to seven years in prison. The bill now goes to President Donald Trump.

Veterinary practices show stronger performance across major industry KPIs after implementing Fear Free techniques, according to a two-year-long study outlined in a special report entitled “The Positive Impact of Fear Free Certification.”

The AAFP aims to provide accurate information about feline zoonotic diseases to owners, physicians, and veterinarians with these guidelines.

Orlando-based advertising agency Bigeye released its 2019 Pet Industry Study, which reveals how “pet parenting” is reshaping the landscape for the consumer packaged goods and retail industries.

Sadly, more than 400 of our Facebook fans said they suspected a pet owner of animal abuse. Congress hopes to change that with new legislation that makes animal cruelty a federal felony.

We asked our Facebook fans: Have you been asked by pet owners about cannabinoid treatments for their pets? At issue is whether veterinary professionals can recommend and dispense these products and treatments for their patients.

Sending ailing dogs home with oral opioids may not be an effective way to manage their pain, experts report in a free, online continuing education program recently developed for veterinarians. In light of growing evidence that such drugs don’t work well in dogs – added to the fact that humans sometimes abuse opioids prescribed for pets – the common practice of prescribing oral opioids for dogs in pain should be reexamined, the experts say.

Canine OsteoArthritis Staging Tool (COAST) is a tool for staging the impact of osteoarthritis on dogs. Since COAST depends on owner assessments, in addition to veterinarian clinical assessments, Elanco says COAST can help educate owners about osteoarthritis.

Banfield plans to roll out technician appointments at about 300 of the company’s 1,050 hospitals in the United States and Puerto Rico. Banfield expects to complete 30,000 credentialed veterinary technician appointments by the end of the year.

National Veterinary Technician Week — celebrated this year Oct. 13-19 — provides an opportunity to recognize the contributions of veterinary technicians. To celebrate, the National Association of Veterinary Technicians in America is offering an online toolkit.

Search for America’s top veterinary professionals featured hundreds of nominees and tens of thousands of votes from the American public; Top American Hero Veterinarian and Hero Veterinary Nurse will be part of national TV broadcast on Hallmark Channel on October 21st.

Antech Diagnostics, part of Mars Petcare, released a new diagnostic tool called RenalTech that was developed using artificial intelligence to analyze pet medical record data to predict whether a cat will develop chronic kidney disease (CKD) up to two years before traditional clinical diagnosis.

From presentations on heartworm prevalence and pathology to sharing the latest research on heartworm diagnostics, prevention and treatment protocols, the 2019 American Heartworm Society (AHS) Triennial Symposium covered an unprecedented range of topics in its mission to better understand heartworm disease and reduce its impact.

When we asked our Facebook fans whether they were planning to advance or change their career, the results — 65% said “yes” and 35% said “no” — weren’t surprising. But the question touched a nerve — of the 764 voters, 158 let us know what's wrong with the profession.

We asked our readers and Facebook fans: “New York has banned declawing procedures for cats. What do you think about this?” More than 2,000 respondents weighed in on the issue.

The first World Animal Day, held in 1925, was attended by 5,000 people. Today, it is a global movement celebrated by animal-rights activists in more than 70 countries.

Recognizing the signs of mental and emotional health problems in yourself and co-workers, as well learning how to alleviate them, could greatly aid in increased wellbeing and productivity.

Fall is almost upon us and with it comes numerous awareness weeks and months in the veterinary world, including National Veterinary Technician Week.

When cyanobacteria oxygenated Earth’s atmosphere over 2 billion years ago they helped create an environment that enabled the evolution of animal life. Today, they produce toxins that are lethal to dogs.

There has been a lot of confusion, misinformation and conversation in the past year about the risk of heart disease in dogs due to being fed grain-free diets. What do we know — and not know? Nearly 600 Facebook fans responded to our poll.

Every year in the U.S., more than 45,000 people take their own lives. There are an estimated six or more “suicide survivors” — people who’ve lost someone they care about deeply and are left with their grief and struggle to understand why it happened — for every one of these deaths, according to Harvard Women’s ...

Sadly, some animals have a rougher start in life than others. That’s the case for the Oregon kitten who has been named Lucky McFoamy. According to the Washington County Sheriff’s Office, Lucky was encased in spray foam and left to die in a trash can. Happily, this story has a happy ending.

Does your veterinary practice promote resources, hope and recovery for employees who are at risk for suicide? Our poll indicates that we could — and should — be doing more.

According to our Facebook poll for National Take Your Cat to the Vet Day, 91% of veterinary nurses thought cat owners were less likely to bring their cats into the vet for preventive care.

Foster and rescue homes can be used for quarantine of cats exposed to the feline panleukopenia virus, say veterinarians, but when facilities or staff are insufficient and off-site options are not possible, euthanasia of infected animals may ultimately save lives by preventing continued spread.

“If you have a $25 parking ticket, you can bring up to $25 worth of cat food or litter to the Clerk's Office, and you can get your parking ticket to go away with the exchange of the donation,” the police department in Muncie, Indiana, told drivers with multiple parking tickets. The initiative was a huge success.

August is Itchy Pet Awareness Month. Zoetis has launched a website to raise awareness about pet skin health needs and created a toolkit for veterinary professionals to use as a conversation-starter with pet owners.

“The monitoring of body weight is an important indicator of health in both humans and animals,” says one of the study authors. “It’s a data point that is commonly collected at each medical appointment, is simple to monitor at home, and is an easy point of entry into data-driven animal wellness.”

Aug. 15th — Check the Chip Day — is a great time to encourage pet owners to check and update their pets’ microchip registration information. Microchips are effective for identifying lost pets and reuniting them with their families, but it won't work unless the microchip registration is correct. – or if the chip has never been registered at all.

“Our goal is to leverage the skills of veterinary specialists and bring them into research teams, helping physicians and PhD researchers see that many of the diseases they study also occur in animals, and what veterinarians know about these diseases in animals can help advance treatment in people,” says Lauren Trepanier, professor and assistant dean for clinical and translational research at UW-Madison.

An Alabama prison K9 that fell seriously ill after coming into contact with synthetic marijuana during a contraband raid at a state prison died two days later after developing pneumonia. Jake will be buried with full honors this week.

Milo, an 8-month-old Coonhound from Luther, Oklahoma, was born with upside down front paws. Thanks to the veterinary team at Oklahoma State University’s Center for Veterinary Health Sciences, he can now lead a normal and active life.

Yes, we can. According to the National Coalition for the Homeless, 3.5 million Americans are homeless. Five to 10 percent of homeless people have dogs and/or cats. Here’s how we can help.

If there’s something weird and it don’t look good, who you gonna call? The tickbusters. I am among the veterinary journalists who have gathered in Manhattan, Kansas, to attend KSU’s Tick Camp, a veterinary media event sponsored by Boehringer Ingelheim.

The Veterinary Nurse Initiative (VNI) has gained quite a bit of momentum since being formed by the National Association of Veterinary Technicians in America (NAVTA) in 2016. It’s no secret that many veterinary nurses feel they are underutilized, underpaid, burned out, and underappreciated. There is also great frustration by the lack of professional standardization and regulation.

Acute and chronic pain in cats can be hard to identify by both owners and the veterinary team. Read the article for some tips on recognizing feline pain.

Want to ensure you can buy a feline-friendly home? Check out this list of the top cities for cat-friendly housing from Trupanion and Redfin.

LSU veterinarians built a special wheelchair for Pedro, an adult male box turtle missing both back legs. “He is a pretty happy camper after all he went through," says his owner.

First responders are vital in natural disasters, even for beloved pets and animals. Read about how Louisiana Tech University’s School of Agricultural Sciences and Forestry Animal Disaster Program is raising awareness and preparedness around this important issue.

The 2019 International Conference on Animal Health Nutraceuticals is quickly approaching. Register now to learn about nutritional supplementation for companion animals and how emerging research in nutritional science will impact animal health and wellness in the years to come.

A small grassroots movement of veterinary staff personnel, including associate veterinarians, formed the National Veterinarian Professionals Union (NVPU) in 2018. The NVPU seeks to draw attention to the plight of overworked, underpaid veterinary staff.

The veterinary community can encourage clients to adopt cats from shelters and also educate them about the importance of regular veterinary care for their feline pets.

The AVMA Board of Directors will seek to develop a plan to improve veterinary technician utilization. The group will take into account the importance of financial and career sustainability, effective task delegation, and the well-being of both veterinary technicians and practices.

A kitten that was found encased in hardened spray foam is expected to make a full recovery after being rescued from a garbage can by an Oregon sanitation worker, authorities said.

A new grant will allow students from Colorado State University and the University of Alaska Fairbanks to assist with veterinary care in remote Southwest Alaska communities.

We asked our Facebook users, ”Do you feel the training opportunities offered at your veterinary practice or hospital are adequate?“ 76% answered ”no“ and just 24% said ”yes.“

Soldiers with the Fort Carson Veterinary Center put their suturing skills to good use as they patched up stuffed animals in need of a little tender loving care.

The Vaccination Against Canine Cancer Study will evaluate a vaccine strategy for the prevention of cancer in dogs. Much like an influenza vaccine bolsters the body’s readiness to fight the flu, this preventative vaccine follows the same principle, “to have the immune system primed such that if a cancer cell develops, it will attack,” says David Vail, a professor and board-certified oncologist at the University of Wisconsin–Madison School of Veterinary Medicine.

While fresh and homemade diets have become increasingly popular among pet owners, veterinarians warn that they could leave your pet lacking essential nutrients.

The AVECCTN has announced the sudden death of its president, Louise O’Dwyer. Louise was the first veterinary nurse from the UK to be elected president of AVECCTN.

Taking advantage of the NAVC's Human-Animal Bond Certification program, Zoetis has become the first Human-Animal Bond Certified Company.

Researchers found that house cats that roam outdoors were more likely to pick up diseases than indoor cats.

The AmerisourceBergen Foundation has donated $150,000 to Southeastern Guide Dogs which will increase placements of guide and companion dogs with visually impaired teenagers, children, and families of fallen service members, as well as benefit child advocate professionals in courtrooms.

Alongside the 2020 U.S. Census, Wisdom Health will be conducting its own Pet Census in order to learn more about the nation’s dog and cat population.

Good news for cat lovers: The USDA is no longer using kittens in parasite research. The USDA had a research project where kittens were purposely infected with the Toxoplasma gondii parasite. The organism causes toxoplasmosis, which officials call a leading cause of death from food-borne illness.

The American Heartworm Society has recently updated their heartworm prevention guidelines to include heartworm prevention, testing and treatment, and heartworm epidemiology and biology.

Dogs that receive omega-3 fatty acid supplements or have hypothyroidism may be less likely to develop T-zone lymphoma (TZL), according to researchers at Colorado State University, who studied associations of environment and health history of the disease among golden retrievers.

A growing, aging pet population and more advanced pet treatment care options are the major factors driving increased spending on pets. In turn, this increase in pet care spending is the primary source of employment growth of veterinary occupations, projected to nearly triple the average growth through 2026.

The CAPC’s monthly reports summarize the metro areas across the United States that experienced the greatest percentage increase in positive heartworm disease tests during the month. In February, Salt Lake City, Utah, was number one on the list.

This year’s recipients of the the Dr. Earl H. Rippie Veterinary Nurse Leadership Scholarship were presented at VMX 2019 in Orlando.

The Veterinary Internal Parasite Flash Card App is designed to help strengthen the veterinary team’s skills in the microscopic identification of fecal parasites in veterinary clinic settings.

The CAPC monthly report alerts veterinary professionals and pet owners about the top 10 U.S. cities with the highest percentage increase in positive heartworm tests.

Scientists find key genes for mucosal melanoma in humans, dogs and horses, which could help target new cancer therapies.

Veterinary professionals have higher exposure to chemotherapy drugs than counterparts in human medicine because they are not taking proper precautions, say researchers at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The CDC wants to change that.

University of Florida veterinarians performed a keratectomy to correct a rare eye abnormality in an endangered okapi calf.

When Gov. Jerry Brown signed AB 485 into law, California became the first state to ban commercially bred dogs, cats and rabbits. The law has stirred controversy.

A bill authored by Indiana state senator Jean Leising to change the job title for veterinary technicians passed the Senate Committee on Agriculture by a bipartisan vote of 8 to 1.

The Boehringer Ingelheim Animal Health campaign, announced at the 2019 VMX conference in Orlando, Fla., aims to increase the number of dogs receiving heartworm prevention in 2019.

DENVER/January 24, 2019 – Worth more than a few happy barks and meows, Morris Animal Foundation announced it awarded nearly $1 million in grants for nine canine and feline research projects. The studies will help veterinary scientists improve the health and quality of life of cats and dogs suffering from deadly and debilitating diseases including ...

Meet the three extraordinary veterinary nurses who were awarded Dr. Earl H. Rippie Veterinary Nurse Leadership Scholarships at VMX 2019.

Nominations are now being accepted for the 6th annual American Humane Hero Veterinarian and Hero Veterinary Nurse Awards, presented by Zoetis Petcare.

Could the results of a unique new study that looked at mast cell tumors — which cause a common skin cancer in dogs — lead to drugs that could someday cure the disease?

The Veterinary Nurse Initiative (VNI), which seeks to unite the veterinary technician profession under a single veterinary nurse title, standardize credentialing requirements and define scope of practice, continues to make progress despite some challenges, including resistance from the human health nursing profession, say those who are leading the call for change. In June 2017, the ...

Hydrotherapy is beneficial for dogs suffering from arthritic pain or recovering from surgery. That’s because water therapy allows a dog to exercise comfortably while minimizing discomfort. One Los Angeles facility, Two Hands Four Paws, has just expanded its water therapy options for patients by adding a third water treadmill and installing a full-size pool. Two ...

In September 2018, the FDA’s Center for Veterinary Medicine (CVM) became aware that veterinarians that had relied on these products for pain control in their patients were no longer able to obtain them through their standard distribution channels, due to a recent shortage of injectable opioids and to Pfizer’s decision to restrict distribution of such ...

Morris Animal Foundation-funded researchers have developed a new treatment for dogs with a rare, but life-threatening, arrhythmia caused by atrioventricular accessory pathways (APs). The minimally invasive technique, which uses radio frequencies, is modified from a human cardiology procedure and has a more than 95 percent success rate in treating dogs with this type of arrhythmia. ...

Veterinarians in the U.S. are at an increased risk of suicide, a trend that has spanned more than three decades, according to a new CDC study, highlighting the need for veterinary professionals to recognize signs that a colleague may be at risk for suicide and to learn how to help them.

Press Release from Urban Resource Institute and Nestle Purina PetCare (This story was updated on Jan. 4, 2019) A group of nonprofit and for-profit organizations lauded the passage of the Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018 (the Farm Bill) after advocating for legislation to better protect domestic violence survivors by establishing the critical importance of protecting ...

The American Pet Products Association (APPA) released its latest figures on pet spending, with overall spending in the pet industry at $69.51 billion in 2017, an all-time high, the association reported. This is up 4 percent from the $66.75 billion realized in 2016. About a quarter of the total spent—$17 billion—went to veterinary care. APPA’s ...

How did veterinary surgeons manage to regrow a dog’s leg bones using bone morphogenetic protein (BMP)? It began with a jump off the couch for a 2-year-old Yorkshire terrier named Ethel. Ethel broke both the ulna and radius in her right leg, and two previous surgeries had failed to properly heal them. MaryAnn Lawson, Ethel’s owner, ...

The veterinary nurse profession is a compassionate, ever evolving, and expanding one of hard-working, intelligent, and thoughtful individuals who care deeply for pets and the people who love them.

The Academy of Veterinary Technicians in Diagnostic Imaging was recognized by NAVTA as the 16th veterinary technician specialty. The new academy will now be on its path to certifying Veterinary Technician Specialists in Diagnostic Imaging as experts in their specialty field.

Earlier this month, Zoetis announced the winners of the 2018 American Humane Hero Veterinarian and Veterinary Nurse Awards. The awards, sponsored by Zoetis®, recognized Dr. David Chico, VMD, MPH of Albany, New York, and Tammy Boland of Oceanport, New Jersey, as the Hero Veterinarian and Veterinary Nurse, respectively. Commenting on the awards, J. Michael McFarland, ...

The World Small Animal Veterinary Association has added animal welfare to its library of Global Guidelines.

Via Boehringer Ingelheim Press Release DULUTH, Ga. (August 21, 2018) – Merial, now part of Boehringer Ingelheim, received approval from the U.S Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to expand the label claims for NexGard (afoxolaner). The flea and tick control product is now approved to prevent Borrelia burgdorferi infections as a direct result of NexGard ...

Thanks to an effective three-fold partnership between the Pittsburgh Zoo and the Pittsburgh Veterinary Specialty and Emergency Center (PVSEC) and PetCure Oncology, a Sea Lion has a new lease on life. Zookeepers discovered a few months ago that Zoey, a a 23-year old California sea lion, had been afflicted with an aggressive type of cancer ...

Via Today’s Veterinary Business: Four veterinary associations have issued a joint statement that calls for standardizing and improving the licensing of veterinarians and veterinary technicians. “Together, these efforts will help protect the public from individuals who may fail to follow veterinary regulations or ethics in a way that endangers public health or animal patients,” according ...

Banfield Pet Hospital's new veterinary program helps ensure anesthesia care is safe, effective, and efficient.

Via NAVTA Press Release: The National Association of Veterinary Technicians in America (NAVTA) announces the sixteenth veterinary technician specialty academy to the veterinary technology profession. The AVTDI is comprised of veterinary technicians dedicated to performing a higher level of veterinary Diagnostic Imaging modalities such as: digital radiographs, fluoroscopic special procedures, CT scan, MRI, ultrasound, and ...

26 states are looking for answers in the wake of a salmonella outbreak linked to raw turkey. The CDC has reported that 90 people in total have been afflicted by the disease. According to USA Today, “The CDC said the strain is linked to raw turkey products from multiple sources, including dog food containing raw ...

In early August, Compassion-First Pet Hospitals announced the launch of an educational development program called the Compassion-First Technician and Assistant Development Program. To bolster the effectiveness of the program, Compassion-First partnered with two AVMA Accredited Veterinary Technician programs, Penn Foster College and Cedar Valley College. These programs will provide educational options and tuition assistance for ...

Today’s Veterinary Nurse is thrilled to partner with Zoetis™ to bring you the 2020 Case Report Challenge! Participants will have the opportunity to win a trip to VMX 2021, including registration, hotel and airfare!

The nomination period for the fifth annual American Humane Hero Veterinary Nurse Awards officially closed earlier this month. The awards honor the heroes who dedicate their lives to making a difference in animals’ lives through delivery of outstanding veterinary care. More than 200 nominations were submitted by the public, and the panel of judges voted ...

According to a survey conducted by Banfield Pet Hospital® in 2018, 91% of pet owners are not prepared for the next natural disaster. This alarming statistic served as the catalyst for Banfield’s creation of a disaster preparedness campaign to help pet owners prepare for “the unexpected, yet inevitable.” According to a company press release, beginning ...

NAVC and UBM will deliver an expanded conference experience in San Diego that includes veterinary professionals, pet retailers and pet owners Orlando, FL, February 3 — The North American Veterinary Community (NAVC) is excited to announce a strategic alliance with UBM Animal Care that will create a new conference experience in December 2018-Vet+Pet West, a paradigm-shifting ...

Earlier this month, Banfield Pet Hospital introduced the newest edition of its anesthetic and pain management guidelines and protocols: Anesthesia and Analgesia for the Veterinary Practitioner: Canine and Feline. This edition is a continuation of 15 years of work, during which time Banfield has made its Anesthesia for the Pet Practitioner publication available online to ...

In a legislative report, Tennessee State Representative Pat Marsh shared his thoughts on a recent piece of legislation concerning the change of the veterinary technician title to veterinary nurse. His commentary is as follows: “We had a very interesting piece of legislation in our Ag Committee meeting that would change the name of the veterinary ...

The NAVC and the Human Animal Bond Research Institute (HABRI) at VMX 2018 (Orlando, FL) announced the launch of an online certificate program in the human-animal bond, piquing the interest of practicing veterinarians, veterinary nurses, and practice managers. The new program will offer veterinary professionals the unique opportunity to learn more about “research backing the ...

There are nearly 10 billion food and companion animals in the United States. The protection and improvement of these animals’ health makes up the job description of over 1 million individuals. Further, this industry generates billions of dollars in revenue and taxes. The benefits of the animal health industry extend beyond dollars and cents. Playing ...

PTSD-afflicted veterans searching for a solution find solace through the human-animal bond. This inspirational video is a telling example of the many advantages attributed to the human-animal bond. Pet owners often go the extra mile to ensure their four-legged friends are given the means to experience the life they deserve. However, the relationship between pet ...

Today’s Veterinary Business reports: Ohio is vying to become the first state to make “veterinary nurse” the official title of veterinary technicians. The House Agriculture and Rural Development Committee on April 11 voted 14-1 in favor of a bill that has the wide support of the U.S. veterinary profession. The legislation now goes to the ...

During the NAVC and Texas A&M University’s Veterinary Innovation Summit, the company announced the launch of Pet Insight Project, which it describes as “A pioneering mission to collect and interpret the health stories of hundreds of thousands of dogs to improve the lives of pets everywhere.” The project will span three years, with researchers collecting ...

Earlier this month, the NAVC announced the hiring of Kara M. Burns, MS, MEd, LVT, VTS (Nutrition), VTS-H (Internal Medicine, Dentistry) as the Editor in Chief of Today’s Veterinary Nurse. Burns currently serves as President of the National Association of Veterinary Technicians in America (NAVTA), an organization that is leading the charge on the Veterinary ...

A letter from the editor, Lynne Johnson-Harris

The Veterinary Nurse Initiative is building momentum to create one title with set standards across the United States in 2018.

ST. LOUIS, MO— Veterinarians now have an alternative when managing canine urinary patients that prefer a dry diet. Purina® Pro Plan® Veterinary Diets is introducing dry UR Urinary® Ox/St™ Canine Formula as an additional dietary option for managing struvite or calcium oxalate bladder stones in dogs. Role of diet in urolith management “Urinary issues are ...