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DVM360 MAGAZINE, Jul 1, 2008

News Racing's reformation? By James M. Lewis Washington — Meaningful reform of the Thoroughbred racing and breeding industry is on its way — and probably much sooner than many would have believed as little as six months ago. Colleges in crisis By Rachael Whitcomb National Report — The downturn in the economy is blamed for deficits, spending cuts and administrative reorganization at some of the nation's leading veterinary colleges. Follow the leader By Christina Macejko He will be away from home 330 days out of the year traveling to just about every state by the time it is done. AVMA delegates to mull 15 resolutions from salaries to drugs New Orleans — The American Veterinary Medical Association's House of Delegates will consider 15 resolutions — the most in recent memory — at the AVMA convention July 18-19. Wide-ranging topics include equal pay for veterinarians and the confinement of calves raised for veal. One proposal on amending policy on antimicrobials in livestock feeds arrived after the 60-day prior notice provision, and will be discussed only if that provision is waived by a two-thirds vote of the House. DVM News poll: How is the U.S. economy influencing your clients' willingness to seek veterinary care? How is the U.S. economy influencing your clients' willingness to seek veterinary care? AVMA responds to DVM's unflattering comments on profession By Christina Macejko Schaumburg, Ill. — While Minnesota veterinarian James L. Busby is certainly entitled to his opinion, that doesn't mean the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) has to like it. Judge Oks $24 million settlement of pet-food litigation Camden, N.J. — A federal judge approved a $24 million settlement hammered out a week earlier, aimed at compensating owners of thousands of pets that were sickened or killed by tainted pet foods last year. DVM Newsmagazine names new senior editor Cleveland — Christina Macejko joined DVM Newsmagazine as senior editor. She previously served as metro editor of the Chronicle-Telegram, a Cleveland area daily newspaper, and gained much experience as a reporter at various newspapers in the area, covering city politics, schools, businesses and crime. Colorado State graduates largest DVM class of 2008 By Rachael Whitcomb National Report — Nearly 2,500 newly named veterinarians marched into the work force last month. Deaths, injuries on the track These high-profile Thoroughbred racehorse injuries and deaths, seen nationally on live television, prompted the Jockey Club and the Kentucky Horse Racing Authority (KHRA) to form welfare and safety committees to look into racetrack safety issues, and led to a hearing last month before the U.S. Putting a bigger bite in dog law By Christina Macejko Harrisburg, Pa. — Sweeping legislation is aimed at cleaning up Pennsylvania puppy mills, but the Pennsylvania Veterinary Medical Association says the proposals still need some work. Pennsylvania DVM could face death penalty By Rachael Whitcomb Wilmington, Del. — A veterinarian, beaten and bruised by churchgoers who subdued him after police say he fired three rounds of ammunition into a crowd of more than 80 at a church fund-raiser May 25, could face the death penalty for allegedly shooting and killing a Delaware church leader. Shot and left to lie Gadsden, Ala. — A month after telling of being attacked and left to watch his clinic burn, Alabama DVM Jerry Handley was charged with second-degree arson, seven counts of animal cruelty and a misdemeanor charge of filing a false police report after confessing to police that he set the fire at his clinic and shot himself to make it look like an attack. Antimicrobials workshop scheduled Rockville, Md. — A workshop on developmental approaches to companion-animal antimicrobials is slated Oct. 23-24 at the U.S. Pharmacopeia. KSU's biocontainment training facility a first Manhattan, Kan.— Kansas State University's Biosecurity Research Institute is the nation's first designated biosafety level-3 biocontainment research and training facility that can accommodate high-consequence pathogen research on food animals and crops. DVM featured on designing spaces North Canton, Ohio — Jennifer Jellison, DVM, was featured on "Pet Spaces," an episode of the national TV show "Designing Spaces." Farm Bill small victory By Christina Macejko Washington — The $288 billion Food, Conservation and Energy Act of 2008 passed both the House and the Senate, even surviving a Presidential veto. Three specialty hospitals form partnership Tampa, Fla. — Three veterinary specialty hospitals from different parts of the country merged under a new partnership known as BluePearl Veterinary Partners, the principals of which say they will offer a new paradigm in veterinary medicine. FDA eyes 2009 for pet-food registry Washington — The Reportable Food Registry, which the federal Food and Drug Administration (FDA) was to implement by Sept. 27 as a means of providing earlier warning of possibly tainted human or animal food products, will be delayed under the agency's discretionary power until the spring of 2009, the FDA announced. Mexico tourists seek out veterinary pentobarbital By Christina Macejko Mexico — Armed with a book called "The Peaceful Pill," foreign tourists are heading to Mexico to purchase pentobarbital from veterinary-supply stores and backstreet pet shops near the U.S. border. OSU veterinary school dean steps down By Rachael Whitcomb Columbus, Ohio — Three years after taking the helm of the nation's largest land-grant veterinary college, the dean of The Ohio State University College of Veterinary Medicine is stepping down. More humane executions? Some look to veterinary model By Christina Macejko Berkeley, Calif. — While debate continues over whether lethal injection in people is cruel and unusual punishment, some are looking to the veterinary community and its method of euthanasia — typically a large dose of pentobarbital. Ad campaign promotes veterinary care in Nevada Reno, Nev. —Maddie's Fund® revved up a campaign in northern Nevada to promote regular veterinary visits for pets. The campaign, "Pets Love Vets," aims to help pets live longer, healthier lives by educating residents about pet care and connecting them with local veterinarians. AKC, Pfizer team up to battle pet obesity New York — The AKC Humane Fund and Pfizer Animal health organized a new informational Web site at www.stopcanineobesity.com. Hill's names winners of dental health contest Gilbert, Ariz. — Gilbert Veterinary Hospital won the 2008 National Pet Dental Health Month Awareness Contest from Hill's Pet Nutrition Inc. It will receive $1,000 toward hospital improvements and the winning entry will be posted on www.PetDental.com. Clarke receives welfare, ethics award at AAHA Tampa, Fla. — Roger Clarke, BVSc, was recognized for advancing animal welfare through extraordinary service and furthering humane principles, education and understanding. Commentary on limited licensure: Has its day finally arrived? By Michael A. McLaughlin, DVM Limited licensure is not exactly a revolutionary concept. Four veterinary leaders speak out UNITY NEEDED; GRASSROOTS EFFORT; FACE THE FUTURE; WELFARE OR WARFARE? Another day for Everest Oak Glen, Calif. — Bronchitis and pleurisy ended Dr. Michael Andrews' bid to summit Mt. Everest this spring. Management of acute feline temporomandibular luxation By Jan Bellows, DVM, Dipl. AVDC, Dipl. ABVP The lower jaw of the cat on your exam table is displaced to the left (Photo 1). Is the mandible or maxilla fractured? Or is the mandible luxated? If so, right or left? What is the best way to diagnose and treat this problem? Can you as a general practitioner handle it, or must the case be referred to a boarded orthopedic or dental specialist? Humor Cerebral laminitis can be infectious with certain breeds of owners By Michael A. Obenski, DVM Now, I've known Jim Panzee for years. You couldn't teach him to peel a banana. Never let them see your fear The stage was all mine. With trembling hands, I went to work. ... As sheer dumb luck would have it, the surgery went perfectly. Business Lessons from an unsellable practice By Gerald Snyder, VMD A hard-working solo veterinarian reaches 67 years of age and wants to sell his practice and retire after 25 years of building it up. It's a no-brainer — or is it? Calculating the annual cost of labor By Michael H. Riegger, DVM, Dipl. ABVP A wake-up call might be in order when we study the profit-and-loss ledger for the year. What might look like a 25 percent labor cost is really 33 percent. A huge difference. Understanding: A vital component of effective patient care By Carl A. Osborne, DVM, PhD, Dipl. ACVIM Maintaining friendly eye contact often promotes trust, and can add emphasis to what we say. Making your management mark By David M. Lane, DVM, MS Owners who seek to avoid conflict by meeting challenges head-on actually become part of the problem. Third-party payment system makes economic, legal sense By Christopher J. Allen, DVM, JD The demands upon us continue to increase with each advance in technological sophistication. Is it a repair, or a capital expense? By Mark E. Battersby In this age of disposables, many veterinary practices still pay substantial sums for repairs and maintenance. However, instead of allowing immediate tax deductions, the Internal Revenue Service increasingly is labeling repair and maintenance expenses as "capital improvements," making them recoverable only through depreciation spread over a number of years. Medicine WSU marrow-transplant program offers improved option against canine lymphoma By Rachael Whitcomb Pullman, Wash. — In an effort to make canine bone-marrow transplants more commonplace for dogs, Washington State University's (WSU) College of Veterinary Medicine is preparing to open its own transplant center at its veterinary teaching hospital. Diagnosis, treatment of transitional cell carcinoma (TCC) in dogs By Kim L. Cronin, DVM, Dipl. ACVIM Malignant tumors of the lower urinary tract include transitional cell carcinoma, squamous-cell carcinoma, adenocarcinoma, leiomyosarcoma, fibrosarcoma, hemangiosarcoma and rhabdomyosarcoma. Deworming: Next steps in disease prevention By Linda Marie Wetzel West LaFayette, Ind. — Following an aggressive deworming schedule for dogs and cats could have a significant impact on the zoonotic transmission of parasitic diseases, according to one expert. Update on babesiosis, leptospirosis in dogs By Johnny D. Hoskins, DVM, PhD, Dipl. ACVIM Q: Please provide a review on canine babesiosis and canine leptospirosis. Surgery STAT: Don't forget the Miller's knot By Robert J. Hardie, DVM, Dipl. ACVS, Dipl. ECVS Ligating the ovarian pedicles during an ovariohysterectomy in a large or obese dog can be a challenging task, especially if the ovarian pedicles are thick or surrounded by excessive adipose tissue that is not easily incorporated into simple encircling ligatures. Small Animal Postsurgical pain management: Take a pre-emptive approach By Robert M. Stein, DVM, Dipl. AAPM , Stephanie Ortel, BS, LVT, CCRP While this review will focus on postoperative pain management, it is important that we acknowledge the critical perioperative elements that lay the foundation for ideal patient pain management. Pain control needs to be in place before the surgeon's blade contacts skin in order to minimize central and peripheral sensitization. Without adequate pre-emptive analgesia, the nociceptive process ramps up unabated by general anesthesia. Receptor sensitivity increases and structural rewiring can occur. Equine New technology could help reduce bone fractures in horses By James M. Lewis West LaFayette, Ind. — Tiny bone cracks caused by rigorous training usually are undetectable in horses before the cracks turn into hairline stress fractures or more serious problems, like the catastrophic bone failures that led to the deaths of at least three high-profile Thoroughbreds since 2006 and many others less well-known. Equine corneal transplants' success rate growing By Ed Kane, PhD Treatment of equine eye diseases, especially through surgery, has made dramatic strides in the last 25 years. As late as the mid-1980s, many veterinarians expected to fail when treating horses' eyes in the mistaken belief that they heal poorly, one expert recalls. Red means stop By Kenneth L. Marcella, DVM In the Dr. Seuss classic Go Dogs Go, we learn a very important lesson that remains with us throughout our lives: Red means stop. AAEP sessions to cover foal care, practice management Austin, Texas — The American Association of Equine Practitioners (AAEP) will hold two summer continuing-education meetings — one medical and one practice-management seminar — July 27-29 at the Hilton Austin. Three Indiana horses test positive for EIA, prompting state alert Indianapolis — Three horses on a south-central Indiana farm recently tested positive for equine infectious leukemia (EIA), prompting the State Board of Animal Health to issue an alert.