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Clarksville, TN In January 2020, Dr. Ozzie Di Paolo Harrison, Austin Peay State University (APSU) professor of Spanish, had a busy summer of travel planned. He was set to take a group of students to Argentina for a study abroad trip hed led for years, and later he intended to teach for the Mximo Nivel Institute in Costa Rica.

Austin Peay State University professors (Top L to R) Dr. Sergei Markov, Di Paolo Harrison and Dr. John Steinberg. (APSU)

It was a great time to be involved in international education, with Austin Peay State University offering dozens of opportunities for students to travel and learn in different cultures around the globe. In 2018, more than 175 Austin Peay State University students took advantage of these opportunities.

Then the COVID-19 Coronavirus pandemic hit. On March 6th, Austin Peay State University issued a moratorium on international travel. Austin Peay State Universitys Study Abroad programs came to an abrupt halt, ending Di Paolo Harrisons summer plans, and six months later, the future of these trips remains uncertain.

It was a real disappointment that this pandemic erased the possibility to take my students to Argentina, Di Paolo Harrison said. You can imagine how sad it was to see all of that collapse in no time. Along with Professors Jenna Campbell Field and Brandon Di Paolo Harrison, we are working on the budget for the upcoming year. Hopefully, we will be able to take our students to South America next summer.

The group is hosting Zoom meetings to promote study abroad programs in accounting, English and Spanish, and they already have students who have rolled their applications from summer 2020 to summer 2021. But Di Paolo Harrison is also hoping to revive interest in study abroad and remind the community of its value with the release of the second issue of Austin Peay State Universitys study abroad journal Explore Your World.

I enjoy being part of this magazine because it clearly documents the experiences of the study abroad participants, and it allows them to express themselves creatively about their encounters away from home, he said.

In 2017, Dr. Sergei Markov, Austin Peay State University professor of biology, asked Di Paolo Harrison and Dr. John Steinberg, APSU professor of history, to join him on a University Student Academic Success Initiative grant to develop an academic and literary journal.

The first issue, released in 2018, featured essays, poems, paintings and short fiction inspired by students experiences. The powerful creative work demonstrated the transformative power of these trips.

I think that studying abroad,without a doubt,will open new horizons for students, burst the studentself-confidenceand create new life opportunities for them, Markov said. Some of my former study abroad students volunteered for the Peace Corps in Mali (West Africa), worked for the refugee agency in Egypt, studied medicine in Saint Martin Caribbean School of Medicine and learned veterinary medicine in Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine in Saint Kitts and Nevis in the Caribbean too.

The three professors wanted the journal to focus on the student experience, so they appointed an editorial staff of study abroad participants to oversee all aspects of its creation. This issues student editorial team included Amy Hotchkin, Jamie Hotchkin, Kasey Burns and Samantha Melber.

Studying Abroad in Argentina was a vital part of my college experience, Amy Hotchkin said. After my first trip, I changed my major to Spanish. It made such an impact that I went a second time! I have now graduated from Austin Peay and teach high school Spanish at Clarksville Academy. I believe that the COVID-19 pandemic has shown that we must encourage students to participate in Study Abroad programs, as soon as it is safe to do so, to promote growth and greater cultural understanding.

Kevin Bouma, an APSU student serving on the editorial board for the upcoming third issue, said traveling abroad helped him cope with his anxiety.

Forcing myself outside my comfort bubble has allowed me to become calmer and more open-minded, he said. On another note, traveling to another country is another type of education. Students spend years studying books, lectures and notes, but nothing compares to the opportunity to learn from others within their area of living. When I traveled to Belize, I not only learned about all the sea life, but I had the opportunity to literally jump in and experience it for myself.

Markov originally planned to spend some of his upcoming winter break in Belize, leading the Austin Peay State Universitys marine biology trip to that country, but the pandemic canceled that trip as well.

I am just now realizing how much I am going to miss these study abroad trips with students, he said. There are really two opportunities for me to interact closely with my students: study abroad trips and research. Both of these activities are life-changing.

Steinberg, director of Austin Peay State Universitys Poland Study Abroad program, offered this thought: Everyone should participate in Study Abroad! Going to any place in the world under the guidance and supervision of an APSU professor provides students with the opportunity to not only see, observe and experience other cultures and civilization, it also teaches them about diversity, ethnicity and tolerance. Such encounters will better prepare them to understand the world and make educated decisions about their future and their place in the 21stcentury world.

Steinberg intends to take another group to Poland next summer if the pandemic will allow the restoration of international travel.

To submit work, receive a copy of the current issue or for information on studying abroad, contact the APSU professors at *protected email*, *protected email* or *protected email*.

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Austin Peay State University student journal to remind post-COVID world of the need for studying abroad - Clarksville Online

Americas Seed Fund focuses on next-generation research, development

UGA entrepreneurs working on advanced technologies soon will have an opportunity to connect directly with the countrys largest source of early-stage funding.

The University of Georgias Innovation Gateway is hosting the U.S. Small Business Administrations Regional Small Business Innovation Research Weekvirtuallybeginning Sept. 14. It will provide a rare opportunity for innovators, researchers, entrepreneurs, technology companies and small businesses in the Southeast to connect directly with managers of the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) programs.

Also known as Americas Seed Fund, the SBIR/STTR programs provide more than $3.7 billion in funding annually to small businesses focused on next-generation research and development.

Last year, UGA startup companies received more than $7.3 million in SBIR/STTR funding.

SBIR Virtual Weeks play an important role building greater networks to support the creation of small businesses across the country. The focus is on high-impact research and drawing attention to underserved regions, rural innovative communities, and underrepresented minority researchers and innovators who experience greater barriers to funding access.

These virtual activities coordinated by SBA can be leveraged by technology-based entrepreneurs and businesses in Athens and across the region to access highly competitive R&D funding, said Ian Biggs, director of startups in Innovation Gateway.

The two-day virtual event features programming designed to advance the commercialization of new technologies. On Sept. 14, SBIR/STTR program managers will take part in targeted panels, discuss technology areas and share firsthand insights into how federal agencies make funding decisions. On Sept. 17, the managers will conduct one-on-one virtual meetings with entrepreneurs and small businesses in Georgia wishing to move their technologies into the marketplace.

Innovation Gateway will host a pre-event virtual workshop on Sept. 11 to help attendees prepare for their meetings with program managers, who administer over 5,500 new SBIR/STTR awards annually. Registration for that workshop is now open.

Every year, we meet entrepreneurs from around the country looking to turn their big idea into another great American innovation story. We are committed to supporting Americas small businesses owners, wherever they are, said John Williams, director of innovation and technology for SBAs Office of Investment and Innovation. This virtual tour reflects our continued commitment to ensuring that these innovators are aware of SBAs resources to help them reach that goal.

A $20 deposit for registration is required and will be refunded after the event. To register, please visit: https://research.uga.edu/gateway/researchers/startups/sbir

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UGA to host virtual Innovation Research Week - University of Georgia

The University of California, Davis, set a new record for external research funding in fiscal year 2019-20, receiving $941.2 million in awards, a $94.5 million increase from the previous record set in 2018.

The awards reflect a broad range of critical work, from therapies for pancreatic cancer and disability research to new online learning platforms and tackling issues related to climate change, such as wildfire smoke and the spillover of zoonotic diseases.

This new record validates how UC Davis is sought more than ever to find solutions for the worlds most critical issues, Chancellor Gary S. May said. During these historic times, our collaborative research community is eager to make breakthroughs in health, environmental sustainability, education and so much more.

The largest increases in funding compared to the previous year were in the College of Engineering (up $60 million), Betty Irene Moore School of Nursing (up $40 million) and College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences (up $29 million). (Reports are based on the principal investigators school or college.)

UC Davis researchers also applied their unique areas of expertise to tackling the COVID-19 pandemic. More than two dozen grants totaling $2.4 million were awarded during fiscal year 2019-20, which ended June 30.

COVID-19 grants have funded multiple clinical trials and the development of novel vaccine strategies, as well as launching new studies on poverty and social distancing, the impact of online learning, community spread and mitigation measures, and predicting potential mutations of the virus, among others.

Our researchers eagerness and ability to quickly respond to the pandemic is a testament to their passion and mission-driven focus to provide critical insight and solutions that help our global community, said Prasant Mohapatra, vice chancellor for research. Right from the onset of the pandemic, we witnessed an inspiring level of collaboration across different areas of expertise, including between the School of Medicine and researchers on the campus in Davis.

In general, the level of research funding associated with cross-disciplinary research units, where experts from different fields of study collaborate on projects, has been one of the fastest growing segments over the last five years climbing 162 percent. One of these units, the California National Primate Research Center, received a $3.8 million award to develop a model to study early Alzheimers disease. Another, the Air Quality Research Center, received $3.75 million for the assessment and mitigation of wildfire-induced air pollution.

The federal government remains the top funder for research at UC Davis, making up half the total awards with a slight increase to $477 million in total grants. Funding from the National Institutes of Health was the highest funder at $251.5 million, with awards from the National Science Foundation totaling $44.7 million and awards from the U.S. Department of Agriculture totaling$39.7 million.

State funding rose slightly to $132 million, with $53.7 million in research funding from the Department of Transportation, $34.5 million from the Department of Food and Agriculture and $22.1 million from the Resources Agency.

UC Davis also saw significant increases from other funders, including a $37.5 million increase in foundation funding for a total of $47.5 million; a $25.7 million increase in other government funding totaling $45.6 million; and an $11 million increase in business funding, which totaled $85.4 million in awards for fiscal year 2019-20.

Where funds are awarded up-front to cover several years, the money is counted in the first year the award was received. Incrementally funded awards are counted as authorized in each year.

Research enabled by this funding not only helps to better understand and solve issues facing our society, but also leads to new innovations, products and startup companies each supporting economic growth. Over the last fiscal year, 15 emerging startups licensed foundational technology developed at UC Davis. Researchers also submitted 141 invention disclosures and were awarded 89 domestic and foreign patents that same year.

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UC Davis Sets Record With $941 Million in Research Funding - UC Davis

As Labor Day weekend nears, Colorado State University is urging the university community to keep social gatherings small.

Its all part of an ongoing campaign to encourage the community to practice public health behaviors amidst COVID-19. Launched in August, the campaign features print and digital messaging across all university campuses with an illustrated CAM the Ram demonstrating the behaviors.

The latest thrust of the campaign shows CAM interacting with a small group of people. The campaigns first installment focused on how face coverings can help slow the spread of COVID-19, pulling data from a July survey that found 91% of students are motivated to practice health behaviors.

Jenn JR Rieskamp, community liaison specialist between Off-Campus Life at CSU and Neighborhood Services at the City of Fort Collins, has first-hand experience seeing students practicing health behaviors. Looking back at the past six months, Rieskamp said off-campus students have generally done a good job of keeping gatherings small.

Ive gone on ride-alongs with Fort Collins police officers, Rieskamp said, and Ive seen students doing the right things.

Cody Frye, executive director of Campus Recreation, has seen similar instances on campus.

While Frye hasnt been on campus in the evenings as much as in previous years, he said he hasnt seen the large groups of students playing sports on the intramural fields, just a couple of small groups playing catch. Typically in the first week of classes, wed see the fields full of drop-in sport groups, he said.

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CSU community encouraged to keep gatherings small - Source

Much is known about compassion fatigue and its emotional toll on veterinary professionals. Less understood is how fatigue caused by insufficient sleep harms veterinarians, veterinary technicians, and veterinary assistants. Veterinary staff members may be tired after a demanding shift in the clinic, especially now with the added rigors of managing the coronavirus pandemic. And yet there appears to be little acknowledgement within the profession that such conditions are as much a danger to workplace safety as any infectious disease.

Sleep is a function of age, according to the National Institutes of Health, so while teens need at least nine hours of sleep each night, adults require between seven and eight hours. Fatigue occurs when a person doesnt sleep enough hours appropriate to their age group.

Signs of fatigue are hard to ignore. Lethargy. Irritability. Difficulty focusing. Chronic fatigue is a far more serious condition, described by the Mayo Clinic as unrelenting exhaustion that rest doesnt remedy, and may be a symptom of an underlying medical condition, including cancer or anemia.

Even the regular, run-of-the-mill fatigue attributable to working long hours and inadequate sleep is a health threat. A study cited by the nonprofit National Safety Council, which advocates for occupational safety, found that workers who reported less than five hours of sleep were three times as likely to be injured on the job as workers who reported seven or more hours of sleep.

Jenny Burke, NSC senior director of impairment practice, likened sleep deficiency to alcohol consumption. The effects of losing just two hours from an eight-hour sleep schedule are similar to drinking three beers. Most of us would not drink three beers and drive home, right? But were essentially doing that same thing when we take two hours away from a normal night of sleep, Burke said.

When NSC surveyed more than 500 human resource officers about recognizing signs of fatigue in staff members, approximately 50% reported employees had fallen asleep at work, 57% said employees missed work because they were tired, and a third reported workplace injuries and near misses caused by fatigued employees. These are just the incidents employers are noticing, said Burke, adding that fatigue costs the U.S. economy $400 billion annually.

So essential is sleep to physical and mental well-being that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention classifies insomnia and other sleep disorders as a public health epidemic. We know theres a significant amount of the population that suffers from sleep apnea and doesnt even know it, Burke explained. Only 11% of actual sleep disorders are diagnosed and treated, so that leaves 89%roughly 70 million peoplewho have a sleep disorder and dont know it.

Little is known about fatigue and its impacts within the veterinary profession, which in recent years has turned its attention to improving the mental health and well-being of its members. Its worth noting that fatigue is linked to depression, diminished psychological and emotional health, and burnout. Human medicines experience in this area may be instructive to veterinarians, veterinary technicians, and veterinary assistants.

For starters, human health care professionals have been arguing over the effects of fatigue on physician performance and decision-making for more than three decades. In 1984, 18-year-old Libby Zion died in a New York state hospital as a consequence of mistakes made by overworked physicians. Five years later, the state passed legislation mandating that residents could not work in excess of 80 hours a week or for more than 24 consecutive hours. In 2003, the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education adopted similar standards for U.S. medical schools.

I dont think clinics know what to do when they hire ER veterinarians, so they give them these crazy schedules, like overnights Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. Lets see how long you can do that.

Dr. Armelle de LaForcade, executive secretary, American Academy of Veterinary Emergency and Critical Care

The debate reignited in 2017 when the ACGME lifted the 16-hour cap for first-year residents, allowing them to work a 28-hour shift.

This past April, as the COVID-19 virus swept across the nation, the CDC stated fatigued and overworked health care workers can jeopardize their own health and safety, such as increasing their susceptibility to infectious diseases, needle sticks, work-related muscle injuries, and burnout, as well as committing patient care errors.

Then in May, the American Academy of Sleep Medicine warned that physician burnout is a serious and growing threat to the medical profession. While the prevalence is unknown, the academy cited recent estimates of physician burnout approaching 50% or more, with midcareer physicians at highest risk. Sleep deprivation due to shift-work schedules, high workload, long hours, sleep interruptions, and insufficient recovery sleep have been implicated in the genesis and perpetuation of burnout, the AASM stated.

It is the position of the American Academy of Sleep Medicine that a critical need exists to evaluate the roles of sleep disruption, sleep deprivation, and circadian misalignment in physician well-being and burnout. Such evaluation may pave the way for the development of effective countermeasures that promote healthy sleep, with the goal of reducing burnout and its negative impacts such as a shrinking physician workforce, poor physician health and functional outcomes, lower quality of care, and compromised patient safety.

Long hours and little downtime are also a challenge for fourth-year veterinary students in the clinical training phase of their education. In 2019, the Student AVMA updated its duty-hour guidelines with proposals that students work no more than 80 hours a week, work no more than 24 consecutive hours in continuous on-site duty, and be provided with breaks when they are on call. SAVMA does not have the authority to enforce these guidelines but encourages all AVMA Council on Educationaccredited institutions to consider following them.

Emergency and critical care is one sector of veterinary medicine where the effects of fatigue are the most acute. Despite high demand for veterinarians and veterinary technicians to staff emergency rooms and intensive care units, veterinary practices are struggling to retain staff members and fill these high-paying positions, said Dr. Armelle de LaForcade, executive secretary for the American Academy of Veterinary Emergency and Critical Care.

Reasons for the shortage vary, explained Dr. de LaForcade, a faculty member at the Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine at Tufts University, and include job-related stress, dealing with difficult clients, and a lack of professional development in veterinary emergency and critical care that doesnt require a residency.

Then you add to all of that having to work five overnights in a row. It takes you a day and a half to recover, but by then, youre back at work.

Staffing adjustments that account for these stressors are not commonplace in veterinary medicine, Dr. de LaForcade noted. Yet such a model is needed, one that allows staff members time to recover from overnight work. I dont think clinics know what to do when they hire ER veterinarians, so they give them these crazy schedules, like overnights Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, she said. Lets see how long you can do that. But clinics have nothing else to go by and believe that if you chose emergency medicine, then you must enjoy working nights.

Dr. de LaForcade wonders about the health costs of working second or third shift in the veterinary emergency sector. We dont know, she said. There are models in other professions that show the level of fatigue you get from working off-cycle from the rest of the world. Theres studies that show you are more prone to illness and other health issues.

Ideally, Dr. de LaForcade said, the ACVECC and Veterinary Emergency and Critical Care Society would partner with the AVMA or other veterinary organization on a study to identify a staffing plan that encourages longevity in veterinary emergency and critical care.

Most of us would not drink three beers and drive home, right? But were essentially doing that same thing when we take two hours away from a normal night of sleep.

Jenny Burke, senior director of impairment practice, National Safety Council

We need to look at practices that are retaining people and figure out what theyre doing differently, she said. I suspect theyre doing something like three days on, four days off, which is crazy compared to other veterinary fields, but the ER has so many stressors that that might be what you need.

Like their colleagues in emergency and critical care, large animal veterinarians are well acquainted with fatigue. The on-call shifts, hours on the road, and handling patients weighing hundreds of pounds can easily wear a person down.

Fatigue is a very real issue for equine practitioners because our clients appreciation is often measured by our availability to them, said Dr. Cara Rosenbaum, who works at a four-doctor referral hospital and ambulatory center in Wauconda, Illinois.

You may only be working 8 to 5, but then youre on the phone till 8 oclock at night answering client questions, she said.

Dr. Rosenbaum prepared herself as best she could for the demands of a career as an equine practitioner. As a student at Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine, she was mindful of the importance of personal care and helped start a student wellness initiative at the veterinary college. After graduating in 2017, she interned at an equine hospital for a year before hiring on as an associate at the Wauconda practice the following year.

She quickly discovered there was more to learn, such as setting boundaries with clients and not being at their beck and call. Dr. Rosenbaum, who is a member of the American Association of Equine Practitioners Wellness Committee, says shes also respecting her sleep more.

I can tell the difference between being burned out and when Im fatigued, Dr. Rosenbaum said. When Im a little bit burnt out, if I get away from work and get on my kayak for two hours or get the dog to the dog park, I feel better. But when Im fatigued, I can do all the things I enjoy, and I still wake up the next morning not wanting to go back to work.

I think we forget that there is a physical part to being a large animal practitioner that contributes to fatigue, she continued. Ive had one shoulder surgery already, and if it starts hurting after having to haul a hundred pounds of equipment out of the truck each time for six appointments, it just exhausts you in a whole different way.

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Waking up to fatigue in the veterinary clinic - American Veterinary Medical Association

The AVMA Board of Directors at its July 29 virtual meeting committed to retaining an outside diversity, equity, and inclusion consultant to help identify areas of greatest need, set priorities, and use resources most effectively. The Board of Directors also approved in concept the establishment of a profession- and industrywide commission to examine DEI issues affecting veterinary medicine.

Two days later, the AVMA House of Delegates approved a recommendation to the Board in support of the Boards commitments to make veterinary medicine more diverse, equitable, and inclusive. The move, during the regular annual session of the HOD held virtually July 30-31, caps off months of increasing interest and discussion in the veterinary profession on how to address systemic racism in light of the killings of George Floyd and other Black individuals earlier this year and the resulting protests and movement for social justice.

The recommendation asks the Board to implement the following actions:

The resolution passed with 92.3% support.

Earlier, the Board had approved hiring a DEI consultant. The goal was to define the consultants scope of work and identify candidates by Sept. 15. The Board also approved exploring the establishment of a professionwide commission to examine DEI issues affecting the profession. A consensus on the concept is expected by Oct. 1.

The outside expert will advise the AVMA on several suggested initiatives and projects, including many raised by the DEI affinity groups, led by the Multicultural VMA. These include areas of self-assessment, accessibility for all AVMA members to join and grow within AVMA leadership, accountability and transparency, gathering and analyzing member data, expanding membership and organizational commitments, and considering additional financial and structural commitments to improve DEI in veterinary medicine.

Dr. Janet Donlin, AVMA CEO, addressed the HOD at the beginning of the session.

This is your association, and we are committed to making sure everyone feels welcome, included, and an important part of this great profession, she said. Recent events have given us an opportunity to pause and reflect, to listen and to learn, and to consider what more we can do. We are committed to ensuring our profession is infused with an inclusive and diverse culture so everyone feels welcome, respected, and valued so we can best serve members, teams, communities, and clients.

Dr. Rena Carlson, outgoing AVMA Board chair, addressed the encounter on the Capitol steps between U.S. Reps. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., and Ted Yoho, R-Fla., a veterinarian, during which Rep. Yoho reportedly directed a sexist remark toward Rep. Ocasio-Cortez.

Weve heard from many AVMA members, both women and men alike, about this matter. We hear you, and we are listening.

On Friday, July 24, the AVMA posted a statement on Facebook clearly reaffirming our values and what we stand for: that such behavior, whenever it happens, is inappropriate and unacceptable. We stressed our expectation that our memberswhatever their current role may beshould demonstrate professionalism to others at all times and uphold the dignity and respect of the veterinary profession. I understand that some are not satisfied with our statement because it doesnt directly condemn Rep. Yoho. However, we need to be clear on this as well: None of us were on those steps when this encounter occurred.

So were faced with two members of Congress offering very different characterizations of what happened on the Capitol steps. In the interest of fairness and without that firm knowledge of how the interaction transpired, we find it challenging to make a specific statement about Rep. Yohos behavior or words.

Dr. Carlson continued: For many of us, this type of language is far from new. We vividly remember our own personal experiences, from small sexist comments to those that hurt us to abuses that left us harmed and forever changed. When these encounters are reported, that memory and pain returns. The language reported in the news does not reflect what we stand for. Abusive language and misogynistic behavior have no place in veterinary medicine or society as a whole. The AVMA will continue to stand by our values and reiterate that derogatory and abusive language, when it happens, undermines our progress toward gender equity.

We must move forward together. Our profession is strong because its unified. What we can do together as a unified veterinary community is to learn from this and reflect on ways we should conduct ourselves and show respect to one another. And I firmly believe this lesson applies to all of usmyself, all of you, Representative Yoho, and everyone else who represents this great profession.

Also at the HOD meeting, Dr. Douglas Kratt, incoming AVMA president, made remarks on and introduced a video put together by 10 affinity organizations with a focus on diversity, equity, and inclusion: the Association of Asian Veterinary Medical Professionals, BlackDVM Network, Latinx VMA, Multicultural VMA, National Association for Black Veterinarians, Native American Veterinary Association, Pride Veterinary Medical Community, Pride Student VMC, Veterinarians as One for an Inclusive Community for Empowerment, and Womens Veterinary Leadership Development Initiative.

The video included testimonials from some of the hundreds who had submitted experiences of discrimination in the profession. Examples include a white professor at a veterinary college showing pictures of himself posing as a Mexican and another in blackface during a lecture. The person who recounted the latter incident reported it, but nothing happened. Another example was witnessing a veterinarian in the clinic telling a difficult pet, Dont make me George Floyd you.

Dr. Carol G. Ryan, Missouri delegate, said, I think a lot of times when we hear problems like this, if were not involved, we think they go away, but the other option is to face it head on, and thats what we need to do. If I dont hear things like that, I dont know theyre going on.

Dr. Christina V. Tran, president of the Multicultural VMA, told JAVMA News, The results from the AVMA HOD July 2020 session represent a significant shift in AVMAs previous prioritization of issues involving diversity, equity, and inclusion. We hope that forward progress will continue in a timely fashion and that these sustained efforts will be appropriately supported by the AVMA and made transparent to its membership and all stakeholders. There is more work to be done, and we anticipate broad participation and active collaboration between the AVMA and the veterinary community.

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Diversity, equity, inclusion efforts approved by Board, House - American Veterinary Medical Association

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Dr. Ken Haynes is retiring as a veterinarian from the Dana Park Veterinary Hospital.(Photo: Mike Chapman/Record Searchlight)

Redding veterinarian Ken Haynes sawa variety of patients in his almost half-century-long career.

In addition to cats and dogs, the formerowner ofDana Park Veterinary Hospital treated birds, rabbits, ferrets, chinchillas, snakes, a beaver, bear cubs, mountain lion cubs and a Canadian lynx.

But mostly cats and dogs.

After 44 years in practice 33 of which were in Redding, Haynes, 68, retired from veterinary medicine on Wednesday.

He spent a lot of thattime emotionally supporting thebipeds who brought his patients to hisclinic, too. Pet ownersare very emotionally attached to their pets,"he said. "You help fix the pets, and you help fix the people. You get a two-fer.

Haynes recalled a particular case thatstymied him: TheTarantula from Torrance.I had no idea what to do for a sick tarantula. Im pretty sure I didnt have any tarantula classes in school.

The pet owner told Haynes the spiderwas listless and wasnt eating. Haynestook his word for it, called an entomologist for advice and treated the arachnid.

Otherwise his days at the office werepretty routine, he said.Ive got a few dog bite stories, but theyre better (told) in person. The stories come with hand signals.

Photos courtesy of the Facebook group Carr Fire Pet Rescue and Reunion. Redding Record Searchlight

Haynes sold his practice in December 2018. Since then, he opted to work part time at Dana Park.The workload wasnt much lighter than when he workedfull time,he said. It kind of squeezed five days of work into three days, but it gave me four days to recover.

In June 2019, he and his wifeChris Haynessold their house in Millville. Theymoved up to Dunsmuir with their dog and two cats.

I still love the job, but Im 68 years old, and my wife and I would like to take off and travel, and see what the other side looks like, he said. We just think its time (to retire).

The couple intended to vacation in Europe this summer, but canceled their plans due to risk of exposure during the coronavirus pandemic.

Instead, they will go to Colorado to do some fishing, Ken Haynes said. Well go back to some old places we used to go as a family, when I was a kid. Then Ill come back and get my second knee fixed. And then I dont know what Im going to do.

He will miss his former employees, he said. They made our hospital what it is today.

Haynes believes his patients and their people are in good hands. Were blessed with some very talented and competent veterinarians in this area, he said. Ive really enjoyed the relationship with my colleagues here in Redding.

Haynes said he wants to stay involved in veterinary medicine, eventually working part time again. But right now, Ill just relax and enjoy for a few months.

Ken and Chris Haynes moved from Manhattan Beach to Millville in 1987 with their two kids: Trevor (4) and Meaghan (2.5). Michael, now a third-year veterinary student in Sydney, Australia, was born in Redding in 1989.

While Haynes worked as a vetin Manhattan Beach, Redding was where he first owned his own practice. He bought Hilltop Veterinary Hospital in 1987 from retiring vet Charlie Clinkenbeard.

It wasnt long before hispractice outgrew the facility, he said. We built Dana Park Veterinary Hospital in 2002. We wanted a facility that was modern and designed to be comfortably for the employees and pets.

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When not in the office, Haynes made house calls to North State non-profits.

Up until 2015, he volunteered for Turtle Bay Exploration Park and its previous manifestation, the Carter House Museum.

One of his Turtle Bay patients was the parks rattlesnake, he said. They stay pretty healthythank goodness.

Haynes also treatedTimber the beaver, a park resident since2014. Hesbeen in for sutures twice. I think he gets himself cut on sticks.

Healso volunteered vet services and home care for Shasta Wildlife Rescue and Rehabilitation (SWRR) animals until about 2015. Among his SWRR patients were mountain lion cubs anda Canadian lynx.

The lynxwas found in Castle Crags State Park, wandering around a campground, he said. It was somebodys pet. The canines had been removed. She was declawed.

One patient who went home with Haynes: A12-pound bear cub, brought to a French Gulch residents home by their dog. "(It) couldnt stay at the clinic overnight," Haynes said. "It still needed to be bottle-fed."

More animal stories:

The Haynes' childrenhelped care for his SWRR patients includingorphaned squirrels, raccoons and other animals, Chris Haynes said. He (Ken) brought home a baby rat once. It kind of freaked me out, but the kids loved him. It was a wonderful life for the kids.

When the Carr and Camp firesdestroyed parts of Shasta and Butte counties in 2018, displacingtens of thousands of people and their pets,Haynes and his colleagues opened Dana Park's doors. They took inas manypets as they could, he said, until the facility was "overly-full with animals."

Two yearslater, Haynes hopes people will treat each other with the same compassion they showed each other during the fires. I would just like people to see the good in everyone and be kind, he said. Have grace.

Those who want to send Haynes a well wish can post on https://bit.ly/2Yilmxq, Chris Haynes said.

Jessica Skropanic is features reporter for the Record Searchlight/USA Today Network. She covers lifestyle andentertainment stories, andweekly arts featured.a.t.e. Followher on Twitter @RS_JSkropanicand on Facebook. Join Jessica in theGet Out! Nor Calrecreation Facebook group. To support and sustain this work, please subscribe today. Thank you.

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From cats and dogs to lions and bears, this Redding veterinarian did a lot in 44 years - Record Searchlight

The perimeters of the Amazon and Congo Basin forests are highly vulnerable to new and emerging infectious diseases. A new research center, the EpiCenter for Emerging Infectious Disease Intelligence, will focus on these two regions to advance understanding of how viruses emerge and spill over from wildlife to humans. The research aims to improve global preparedness and response for when such events occur.

This work is supported by the National Institutes of Healths National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, or NIAID, which awarded the University of California, Davis, School of Veterinary Medicine $8 million over five years to lead center activities.

The center will be funded under NIAID grant U01AI151814. The award is one of 10 research centers and a coordinating center made by NIAID to establish a network of Centers for Research in Emerging Infectious Diseases, or CREID, around the globe where emerging and re-emerging infectious disease outbreaks are likely to occur.

Multidisciplinary teams of investigators in the program will conduct pathogen/host surveillance, study pathogen transmission, pathogenesis and immunologic responses in the host, and will develop reagents and diagnostic assays for improved detection for important emerging pathogens and their vectors.

Our center brings together leading experts in emerging infectious disease surveillance with a One Health approach, said lead principal investigator Christine Kreuder Johnson, director of the EpiCenter for Disease Dynamics at the UC Davis One Health Institute. When the world emerges from the COVID-19 pandemic, we need to be sure to not let our guard down. We need to expand international collaborations in infectious disease research that integrate human, animal and environmental health.

Johnson said the center aims to help prevent the spread of emerging diseases by advancing our understanding of how environmental change brings about infectious diseases.

We hope this effort will facilitate new and exciting research in infectious disease with partners around the world," she added.

The center will initiate work to investigate emerging threats with implementing partners in Peru and Uganda. Research in these highly biodiverse regions offers the ability to examine the initial and subsequent stages of viral emergence, starting with animal-to-human spillover in forested areas, and progressing to human-to-human spread in areas along the forest periphery to more urbanized areas where epidemics can take off.

Team members consist of epidemiologists, virologists, entomologists and wildlife veterinarians who have pioneered techniques for surveillance at the animal-human interface. They have investigated Zika and dengue outbreaks in Latin America, Africa and Asia; ebolavirus outbreaks in Africa; and coronaviruses in Asia and Africa.

Surveillance and virus characterization will focus on emerging and re-emerging viral threats in the region, as well as on new viruses that could emerge to cause another pandemic.

The team will draw on their broad experience of collaborating with local and international partners to strengthen infectious disease surveillance and enable rapid responses to outbreaks.

You need look no further than COVID-19 to see why we should care about viral emergence that doesnt necessarily begin on U.S. soil, said co-principal investigator Lark Coffey, an associate professor in the Department of Pathology, Microbiology and Immunology at the UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine. We know COVID-19 came from a nonhuman species in China and circumnavigated the globe in less than four months. With this project, one major contribution will be improving surveillance capacities in places that could benefit from enhanced detection in the environment and diagnoses in people.

The program will ramp up surveillance for emerging viral threats in these high priority regions, including pathogen X, to help prepare for future epidemics and potential pandemics. The team will focus on collecting and analyzing samples from bats, primates, mosquitoes, rodents and other animals that commonly share viral pathogens with humans. Team members will also work with local clinics and communities to optimize surveillance of human populations at high risk of zoonotic spillover.

This project will look specifically at zoonotic RNA viruses that are a major threat to people. That includes filoviruses like Ebola and Marburg, which can cause severe hemorrhagic disease, and arboviruses, like Zika and dengue that are spread by mosquito vectors.

Weve learned from COVID-19 that we need to be in the best position to prevent and halt pandemics, and Im proud that UC Davis continues to lead in this work, said Michael Lairmore, dean of the School of Veterinary Medicine. Our prior experience and One Health approach will ensure that we maximize the impact of the EpiCenter for Emerging Infectious Disease Intelligence.

The team includes well-established scientific partnerships fostered over more than a decade through the USAID PREDICT program, led by the UC Davis One Health Institute, along with the Uganda Viral Research Institute in Uganda and Pontificia Universidad Catlica in Peru. Activities will build on research implemented by co-principal investigator Tierra Smiley Evans on emerging pathogens in collaboration with the Gorilla Doctors program in Uganda, and longstanding research of mosquito-borne viruses in Peru, with co-principal investigators Chris Barker and Amy Morrison in the School of Veterinary Medicine at UC Davis, and Mariana Leguia at Pontificia Universidad Catlica del Per.

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Amazon and Congo Basin Focus of New Emerging Infectious Disease Research Center - UC Davis

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The thought of our dogs dying is something that we pet parents have a lot of difficulty with. But the reality is that, unlike your children or anyone else youve helped raise and take care of, your dog will probably not outlive you.

Even more sobering, you may end up facing a difficult decision about when to end the life of this precious friend and family member. Some dogs do pass peacefully on their own, but in many cases, the will to survive keeps a dog going long past the point of experiencing good quality of life.

While recent advances in veterinary medicine are nothing short of amazing, remember that just because you can prolong your pets life doesnt mean its in your dogs best interest to do so.

Most of the factors around aging and death are beyond our control, but the one thing you are able to do for your dog is alleviate undue pain and suffering. Arguably, no other decision you make about your dog will be as difficult as the one to euthanize, but in so many cases, its the only humane option.

If theres ever a time to put your dogs welfare ahead of your own needs, this is it. While the idea of living without your beloved pet can be devastating, the thought of them suffering should feel even worse.

So in considering what to do, ask yourself the following questions:

(Picture Credit: Getty Images)

You may find that everyone feels free to tell you what to do, but the responsibility for this choice is yours. This can be more difficult if you have a significant other whos also attached to your dog, and you disagree about the next steps. However, it can still weigh heavily on a single person.

People often say, Youll know when its time. In many cases thats true, but not always. But remember that no matter what people tell you, choosing euthanasia is not playing God any more than providing medical treatment to save a life is.

Your veterinarian is trained to save lives. Thats what they do, and thats why you go to them. But all they can do is delay, not prevent. No vet should make you feel guilty for choosing not to pursue treatment, even if you can afford it.

If your vet is advising euthanasia and youre reluctant, closely examine your own motives and see if theyre for your benefit or the dogs.Most people believe its better to euthanize your dog a day too early rather than a day too late.

Euthanasia ensures that youll be able to be with your dog at the moment they pass, so theyre not alone. While you dont have to be present, keep in mind that dogs often look to their most beloved humans when theyre fearful, and it may be quite traumatic for your furry friend if youre not with them.

That said, it may be best for kids or those who cannot remain calm to not stick around, or else they may make a stressful situation even worse for a frightened dog and other humans who are present.

Before your dog gets to the point where euthanasia is a consideration, and youre still fairly calm, write a list of what gives them a good quality of life. Decide how many of those points they can be without in old age and still enjoy their life.

For example:

Thats seven points. How many points do you think your dog needs to enjoy life, even if theyre not in pain?

If you believe they can maintain quality of life with four of those seven, then you know it may be time to consider euthanasia if they lose the ability to keep three of those points.

Promise yourself that youll consider other factors, such as pain, the kind of senility that causes fear, and a lack of bodily function and control that may cancel out any items on the list.

Next, decide how much money you can afford to spend on veterinary care. Make a decision, write it down, and stick to your plan when your emotions are off the chart.

If your dog is suffering, then theyve already lost most of the joy that comes from being a dog. The emotions surrounding this decision are mixed and complicated. To do whats best for our dogs, we need to realistically assess the criteria without allowing emotion to overwhelm the decision-making process.

Have you ever decided when to end your dogs suffering? How did you make your decision? Let us know in the comments below.

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How To Know When Its Time To Say Goodbye To Your Dog - DogTime

AT A GLANCE

From putting out the fires to caring for injured people and animals, to providing emergency housing for colleagues and their families UC Davis is responding to the horrific spate of wildfires in a big way.

As of this morning (Aug. 25), UC Davis had provided shelter for 15 households, a total of more than 40 people, faculty, staff and students and family members, most of them having had to evacuate, others who lost their homes.

The campus Fire Department as of Monday morning (Aug. 24) had contributed nearly 700 person-hours to firefighting efforts in Southern California and locally, for example, on the LNU Lightning Complex, where a UC Davis engine crew assisted on structure protection and backfiring operations around Vacaville and Winters last week.

Cal Fire reported this morning that the LNU complex had covered 352,913 acres across five counties Lake, Napa, Solano, Sonoma and Yolo and was 27 percent contained.

With fires of that size and hot spots all over the state, the UC Davis Fire Department has been going nonstop.

No sooner had a four-person crew on Brush Truck 34 returned to campus from the LNU complex Sunday night (Aug. 23), after having first worked on fires in the Angeles National Forest, than the truck was back on the road the next morning, returning to the LNU with a fresh crew, assigned to 24-hour shifts in Winters.

Monday, the UC Davis Medical Center was treating four people in intensive care for burns suffered in the Northern California wildfires and still keeping up with the coronavirus pandemic.

Read how UC Davis is responding to poor air quality, a result of the smoke from wildfires.

The School of Veterinary Medicine was taking care of four-legged patients: more than 1,000 in the field and more than two dozen in the Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital. Officials said they are purposely trying to do most of their first aid in the field, because they are forced by the pandemic to limit hospital capacity.

Today, the Veterinary Emergency Response Team deployed a four-person team one faculty veterinarian and two resident veterinarians, and one student on a search and rescue operation in the Vacaville foothills. The team also performed wellness examinations on animals sheltered in place, treating 170 sheep, 100 cows and 40 pigs.

Read more about the veterinary schools response to the wildfires.

UC Davis put out the welcome mat Friday, offering short-term emergency housing for campus affiliates including faculty, staff and registered students and their families who had been impacted by evacuations or lost their homes due to the wildfires.

Student Housing and Dining Services, Real Estate Services and Human Resources Shared Service Organization, or SSO, are all involved in the project. SSO staff answered calls 12 hours day, Friday through Monday, and is now back to regular business hours (8 a.m.-5 p.m.), with UC Davis affiliates needing assistance still invited to call: 530-754-4772.

For campus affiliates who need somewhere to stay until evacuation orders are lifted and they can return home, the university is offering stays of up to five days. For campus affiliates who have lost their homes, the university can help explore options for longer-term housing solutions.

Stebbins Cold Canyon Reserve, a popular place to hike, is closed until further notice, to allow time for damage assessment and repairs.

UC Davis sustained losses, too, as the LNU Lightning Complex struck four of the universitys natural reserves: Quail Ridge, Stebbins Cold Canyon, Cahill Riparian Preserve and McLaughlin Natural Reserve, all in the vicinity of Lake Berryessa west of Davis.

With access limited, officials had not yet been able to assess the full extent of the damage to facilities and research projects. Shane Waddell, though, has seen some of what happened at Quail Ridge, where he is the reserve director. Fire claimed his home and eight tent cabins.

More posts and photos from last week.

His family evacuated last Tuesday night (Aug. 19), while he stayed behind to monitor the fire. As the flames drew closer, he decided to leave but not until he had told his neighbors on the Quail Ridge peninsula it was time to depart for their own safety.

Peggy Fiedler, executive director of the UC Natural Reserve System, said UC reserve managers and stewards up and down the state had been absolutely heroic in their efforts to save life and property.

Read more about what happened at the UC Davis reserves and four other UC reserves.

Follow Dateline UC Davis on Twitter.

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Wildfires: The University Responds - UC Davis

The Allen D. Leman Swine Conference is an annual educational event for the global swine industry. It is internationally acclaimed for bringing science-driven solutions to the complex challenges facing the industry. Each year hundreds of participants from over 20 countries, including swine veterinarians and other professionals working in swine production and animal health management,attend the Leman Swine Conference. This year the conference is moving on-line and will take place Sept. 19-22.

The conference will include more keynote speakers than in previous years. The conference themes include markets, the impact of COVID and lessons learned, how to prepare for emerging diseases, and how to enhance your operation's value-added strategy.

"This year more than ever we felt strongly that we needed to have the Leman Conference. In May, we made the decision to move to an on-line format given the uncertainties we were anticipating due to COVID-19. If the Leman Conference was just presentations by experts, it would be relatively easy to create. The Leman Conference has always been much more, it is a gathering of a broad slice of the industry, from inputs to production to processing, with presentations that provoke further discussions, in hallways during the meeting and at gatherings beyond the meeting. It attempts to be always cognizant of the current circumstances of the industry, presenting diverse responses to challenges including novel diseases, labor shortages and now the disruptions in marketing challenges due to the various effects of Covid-19," saidprofessor Montse Torremorell, DVM, PhD, chair of the Leman Conference planning team in the University of Minnesota College of Veterinary Medicine's Department of Veterinary Population Medicine.

"Our aim is to create that online platform, welcoming not only our customary guests but a wider community of both presenters and participants who will have the opportunity to join us from their preferred location around the world. We hope that the flexibility of the platform we have chosen will allow an even broader participation in the conference and we hope that the community created by this conference will continue to meet the broadening of the swine industry. For once, we will have many talks translated to Spanish and Portuguese," Torremorell added.

From the 70+ talks and events we have prepared for you, here are the highlights:

Main program (Sept 21-22)

Keynotes:

Myrl Mortenson, David Wade, and Tara Donovan, Hanor

Michelle Kromm, Vice President of Animal Health and Welfare of Jennie-O and veterinarian for Hormel Foods

Gordon Spronk, Pipestone System and Clayton Johnson, Carthage Veterinary Services

Sessions:

Pre-conference program (Sept 19-20)

And dont miss the fun social events, engaging sessions and surprises!

For more information and registration, visit: https://ccaps.umn.edu/allen-d-leman-swine-conference

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Leman Conference goes virtual with extensive speaker lineup - Feedstuffs

DEAR DR. FOX: We have a 3-year-old female German shepherd/whippet mix who rushes to my husbands side every time he sneezes! She appears to be concerned about him when he sneezes. M.S., South Bend, Indiana

DEAR M.S.: Thanks for sharing how your dog responds to a sneeze. She may interpret the sound as a sign of distress many dogs are highly empathic.

Animals can get confused around humans making different sounds, some of which mimic the paralanguage of animal sounds indicating various emotional states and intentions. I know of dogs who bark when their human companion coughs or sneezes, possibly thinking the human is barking at something and giving a warning.

Many dogs give a deep sigh or two when they lie down to rest, much like we do; when I lie down and sigh next to our dog, she will often sigh in response. A baby crying in the crib often upsets dogs and cats living in the same home.

One sound in particular that can upset animals is the screaming of excited children, which I never allowed my children to engage in, especially around animals. Such high-pitched sounds can upset animals, since they are analogous to primal alarm signals. These sounds could make them more defensive and likely to snap, scratch or flee if the screamers get close.

There are reports of cats and dogs who have been stressed during this pandemic with children being at home all day. Many animals seek refuge away from these insensitive noisemakers, whose parents are either oblivious or think loud children are cute and spirited.

On a more humorous note, I am allergic to our local newspaper, and have several sneezes soon after I open the pages. The only one to complain is my wife. Our cat and dog ignore me!

Why many dogs are fearful

A recent essay was published in Scientific Reports by University of Helsinki researcher Dr. Jenni Puurunen and her colleagues, entitled Inadequate socialization, inactivity and urban living environment are associated with social fearfulness in pet dogs.

Data were collected on almost 6,000 companion dogs, varying in age from 2 months to 17 years, using a behavioral survey completed by their humans to assess how they responded to unfamiliar dogs and humans. It was found that fearful dogs had been socialized less during puppyhood, were small in body size, tended to be female and/or neutered and participated less frequently in training and other activities. They also found a novel association between the living environment of the dog and social fearfulness: Dogs living in a more urban environment were more likely afraid of dogs and strangers. There also were differences among breeds.

Another zoonotic disease to watch for

Vesicular stomatitis virus primarily affects horses, donkeys and mules, but cattle, hogs and people are also susceptible. The disease can spread like wildfire if flies that spread it arent controlled and animals that have it arent isolated.

An outbreak of vesicular stomatitis virus that reached Kansas in mid-June has now spread to 10 counties, according to the Kansas Department of Agriculture, and Missouri recorded its first case of the year this week. Cases have also been documented in Arizona, Nebraska, New Mexico, Oklahoma and Texas. Kansas Animal Health Commissioner Justin Smith urged horse owners to prioritize insect control to limit the further spread of disease. (Full story at agriculture.ks.gov)

Cat in U.K. recovers from coronavirus infection

The U.K.s Animal and Plant Health Agency confirmed a SARS-CoV-2 infection in a cat believed to have contracted the infection from its owners, who had confirmed cases of COVID-19, and both the cat and its owners have recovered. The cats preliminary diagnosis was feline herpes virus, but the cat was tested for infection with the novel coronavirus as part of a study. The data overall continue to suggest that cats may become infected by their owners if their owners have COVID-19, but there is no suggestion that they may transmit it to owners, said veterinarian James Wood, head of the University of Cambridges veterinary medicine department. (Full story at CNN.com)

Dogs trained to sniff coronavirus hit 94% success rate

It took about a week to train eight scent-detection dogs to differentiate saliva and mucus samples from people with and without COVID-19, say scientists at Germanys University of Veterinary Medicine Hanover. The dogs achieved about a 94% success rate when both types of samples were used in the pilot study. (Full story at dw.com)

Send all mail to animaldocfox@gmail.com or to Dr. Michael Fox in care of Andrews McMeel Syndication, 1130 Walnut St., Kansas City, MO 64106. The volume of mail received prohibits personal replies, but questions and comments of general interest will be discussed in future columns. Visit Dr. Foxs website at DrFoxOneHealth.com.

We are making critical coverage of the coronavirus available for free. Please consider subscribing so we can continue to bring you the latest news and information on this developing story.

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Sneezes send dog to the owner's rescue | Community | times-news.com - Cumberland Times-News

Now in its 17th season, Nat Geo Wilds The Incredible Dr. Pol only seems to get more popular with every season.

And its star, Dr. Jan Pol, 77, doesnt show any signs of slowing down, either, in all the farm visits and clients he sees on a daily basis.

The popular veterinarian will see anyone who comes through his clinics doors. And many of those clients agree in advance to appear on his reality show.

There are situations, however, where the animal doctor has had to refuse to allow certain clients to be on the program. Heres why.

RELATED:The Incredible Dr. Pol: Catch Up With Dr. Emily and Whats New for the Popular Veterinarian

The reality show started its current season in July 2020, and wraps up in September. The season after this one, the 18th season, will likely begin in the new year.

Speaking with Animal Radio in April 2020, Dr. Pol opened up about his experience as a country veterinarian.

Considering whether he preferred working with larger animals or smaller ones,the vet expressedthat I guess because I was born and raised on a dairy farm, I do like the bovine/equine part of it. But I do like the small animals because it allows us to do so much more.

The small animals they have more diseases, he explained. The horse can be a pet, but we have a lot of Amish here, and for them, the horse is a tool. And for the farmer the cow is a source of income.

RELATED:The Incredible Dr. Pol: When Dr. Pol Retires, Who Will Run His Veterinary Clinic?

A former crew member on the show opened up about the challenges of filming on the reality show. Particularly, he touched on filming around large farm animals.

Its nearly impossible to work, he wrote on a previous website of Dr. Pols. My hands are slippery wet and there is a constant stream of sunscreen-filled sweat running into my eyes. I can see sweat pouring from the faces of Dr. Brenda and the farmer . . .

One of the most incredible things about Dr. Brenda and Dr. Pol is their tenacity to perform veterinary medicine in any condition imaginable, he continued. They are relentless in their efforts, be it 105 degrees in the shade or -10 degrees in the snow. . . Their passion for animals and medicine is evident in every case they see. Its an honor and a privilege to work with these doctors on a daily basis.

While many of the doctors clients give their consent to have their case appear on the program, sometimes the vet has to decline their appearances. It turns out that not that many clients actually make it to the small screen, mostly because so many of the cases are repetitive and routine.

Probably one in 10 at the most, Dr. Pol in 2018 told Reality Blurred.

If a client wants to be filmed, Dr. Pol explained that their file is tagged so he knows when he walks in to the clients room, the film crew is going to be there. Then they put the extra lights on in the exam room, and we just walk in and do our work. The cameras always in the way because the rooms are not that big.

Other times, the doctor has to refuse to have the clients case broadcast, mostly to spare their feelings in difficult situations.

This happens mostly, Dr. Pol said, when people are not taking care of the animal, and we see that way too much. We dont want to say,Okay, look at this. We dont want anybody to look bad, to be honest with you. And sometimes, yes, you see it a little bit. But we dont dwell on it; we dont make it so obvious that it makes the owner feel bad or anything.

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'The Incredible Dr. Pol' Reveals Why He Won't Allow Some Clients To Appear on the Show - 'We See That Way Too Much' - Showbiz Cheat Sheet

A world-renown veterinarian living in Truckee leaded guilty today to one count of tax evasion.

Jack Ray Snyder, 63, was indicted in 2018 after it was alleged he failed to report significant income and filed false tax returns between 2012 and 2014. Besides the income discrepancy, Snyder was charged with deducting non-deductible personal expenses and overreporting his property taxes.

During these years Snyder was the Doctor of Veterinary Medicine at UC Davis's Center for Equine Health and was known around the world as a prominent equine surgeon. In 2014 the university sued the former professor for making more than $1 million in outside income while working for the school. The university claimed the money should have gone to them, and that Snyder went to great lengths to hide it.

In 2008, Snyder was the veterinarian for the Beijing Olympics.

According to the plea agreement, Snyder failed to report significant income for tax years 2011, 2012, 2013 and 2014. Each year, Snyder underreported his income to his tax preparer and took deductions for expenses that were not deductible business expenses. For the 2011 tax year, Snyder earned outside income as an equine veterinarian in addition to his salary as a professor at the University of California, Davis. He endorsed outside client payment checks to directly pay credit card bills. He failed to report $212,953 in income for the 2011 tax year. According to the plea agreement, the additional tax due for 2011, 2012, 2013, and 2014 tax years was $134,497.

This case is the product of an investigation by the Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Roger Yang is prosecuting the case.

Snyder is scheduled to be sentenced by U.S. District Judge William B. Shubb on Nov. 16. Snyder faces a maximum statutory penalty of five years in prison and a $100,000 fine. The actual sentence, however, will be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of any applicable statutory factors and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of variables.

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Veterinarian residing in Truckee pleads guilty to tax evasion - South Tahoe Now

An effective gene therapy for Krabbe disease treatment done in dogs might lead to a potential approach for the same disease in human children, a new study suggests.

A research team, led by the University of Pennsylvania, details an effective gene therapy procedure used in dogs to lasting effects, highlighting the potential for a similar approach to children. The methods and results of their studies are published in the latest Journal of Clinical Investigation (JCI).

(Photo: Steve Parsons - Pool/Getty Images)FRIMLEY, ENGLAND - MAY 22: Image released on May 27, A newborn baby in the maternity ward at Frimley Park Hospital in Surrey on May 22, 2020, in Frimley, United Kingdom.

Also known as infantile Krabbe disease or globoid cell leukodystrophy, Krabbe disease is a rare and often fatal condition that affects about one in 100,000 infants. Most children who are Krabbe disease carriers face death before they are two years old.

While the disease presents itself differently among asymptomatic infants, some of the most common Krabbe disease symptoms include irritability, limb stiffness, seizures, feeding, vomiting, and feeding difficulties. In its early stages, doctors often mistake Krabbe disease symptoms as those of cerebral palsy.

Krabbe disease falls under lysosomal storage diseasesan umbrella of about 50 rare and hereditary conditions caused by defects in lysosomal functions. Lysosomes are small containers of enzymes in cells. One gene, GALC, is responsible for encoding an enzyme that digests lipids in the body. For Krabbe disease carriers, a mutation in the GALC causes the buildup of lipids, leading to deformed development of the myelin sheath, which coats neurons, impairing nerve cell signaling.

RELATED: DNA Nanorobots Target HER2-Positive Breast Cancer Cells

"This disease has no good therapy," said senior author Charles Vite from the University of Pennsylvania's School of Veterinary Medicine. He further explained that they have been examining the disease in dogs since the 1990s, noting that the shift to a novel gene therapy gave them the chance to treat the diseaseto a big effect on the nervous system.

An existing Krabbe disease treatment involves a bone marrow transplant within the first month after birth has been found to prevent symptoms in about 30 percent of infants. But the procedure is not without risks, with Vite stressing the need for a new treatment in a press release from the University of Pennsylvania.

Canines that are Krabbe disease carriers are from Penn Vet's Referral Center for Animal Models of Human Genetic Disease, allowing the investigation of new therapies. To start dampening the symptoms of the condition, researchers identified the introduction of a healthy GALC gene to the canine brain as an important part of the procedure.

To achieve the requirement, they used a particular vector, the AAV9 vector, to deliver the healthy GALC gene. The vector in the study was previously used in experimental gene therapies for neurological diseases, noting that it seems to be the best candidate for approval from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

Another consideration in the study is the location for gene delivery. Researchers decided to send the gene by injecting it through the spinal fluid located at the back of the head. Vite notes that the spinal fluid offers the optimal delivery route of the gene to the brain.

RELATED: Is Coronavirus Attacking the Central Nervous System?

Canine participants that received that high-dose therapy displayed health myelination in the brain cells. Furthermore, gene therapy also had a positive effect on myelin development, even for parts of the peripheral nervous system.

"That was a huge surprise for us... that injecting a gene therapy in the spinal fluid can positively affect both the central and the peripheral nervous system was really exciting," Vite commented.

Check out more news and information onMedicine and Healthon Science Times.

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Gene Therapy in Dogs Shows Progress for Krabbe Disease Treatment - Science Times

Its very quiet right now at Sweet Farm in Half Moon Bay. No chickens clucking, no cows mooing, no goats bleating. In fact, no animals currently live on the 12-acre farm.

On Thursday night, about 35 farm staff and volunteers hauled 175 animals out of the nonprofit sanctuary as the CZU Lightning Complex fires grew.

Sweet Farm owners Nate Salpeter and Anna Sweet had taken in 35 evacuated animals from a sanctuary farther south on Wednesday night. But within 24 hours, the evacuation zone was extended to just the other side of their farms ridgeline. So they jumped into action.

Theres a vast network of sanctuaries and also various animal rescue groups that all come together in moments of crisis, Salpeter said. People really step up when its needed. ... It was a very professional and very coordinated effort.

With the help of the San Mateo County Large Animal Evacuation Group, the animals were shuttled off to sanctuaries a safe distance from the blazes that have engulfed 78,000 acres in San Mateo and Santa Cruz counties. It was the first wildfire evacuation for Sweet Farm, which opened in 2015.

Theirs is just one of many stories of animal evacuation efforts during the recent rash of lightning-caused wildfires that erupted early last week throughout the Bay Area and beyond. From Daly City to UC Davis to Santa Cruz, a network of agencies, animal owners and volunteers is building on practice from previous fire disasters to coordinate care and shelter.

This recent group of fire complexes across 12 counties endangered many farm and ranchlands, forcing owners to act quickly to move animals of all sizes off their properties.

The San Mateo County Large Animal Evacuation Group specializes in these distinctive challenges that are growing more common as wildfire seasons worsen. Organization President Kris Thoren said the early arrival of wildfires this year underscores the need for large-animal owners to have a plan in place before crisis hits.

Large animals need preparation, Thoren said. Its not like throwing a dog in the back of the car. You need to think ahead, be prepared with your emergency plan and practice that emergency plan.

Salpeter was relieved to have help from volunteers who understood how to handle different types of animals, including their 37-year-old stallion.

These animals come from animal abuse situations and are recovering from different types of traumas, he said. Just last year (the stallion) had ocular cancer and had to have one of his eyes removed. In an evacuation situation, there's a lot of noise and things going on. Not being able to see out of the side of his face becomes even more stressful.

The San Mateo group has been a major piece of the evacuation puzzle. Dozens of its volunteers mobilized to assist with coordination and care at the Cow Palace in Daly City, which is housing nearly 300 large animals evacuated from across San Mateo County, most from the south coast.

In five days, the facility has taken in 75 sheep, 68 cattle, 54 goats, 53 chickens, 36 horses, four peacocks, three llamas, one pig and one donkey.

The San Mateo Office of Emergency Services put the Cow Palace on standby Tuesday afternoon, and county officials activated the facility as an emergency evacuation center less than 24 hours later, said Cow Palace CEO Lori Marshall. As part of the state fairground network, the event center was prepared for the logistical challenge of housing a large number of animals on the fly, she said.

We were already making calls to get stalls and setting up the livestock pens to prepare for the animals, Marshall said.

A group of 75 sheep and three truckloads of cattle were just some of the large animals evacuated to the Cow Palace on Sunday evening. Animals that arrive together are kept in the same pen to give them a sense of normalcy among the upheaval. Every day, more animals arrive, Marshall said.

They are evaluated by a veterinarian, and notes are posted outside the pen or stable to ensure that volunteers know the correct food and medicine that each animal requires.

Pumpkin, a 21-year-old golden palomino horse, and an 18-year-old donkey named Trouble were among the first evacuees to show up. Pumpkin and Trouble are being kept together in the stables set up in the Cow Palace parking lot. Pumpkin receives her evening medicine in a slice of apple and twice-daily feedings of her preferred grass hay, in accordance with her owner Steve Grahams wishes.

We are relieved, Graham said by phone Monday. We were very worried, but its good to know that they are safe and in good hands.

In Yolo County, the renowned UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine also ramped up efforts to help care for animals injured in the LNU Lighting Complex fires. Most are coming from Napa and Solano counties.

Every disaster is different in terms of the types of animals and injuries that we see, said Dr. Bret McNabb, the clinics director. The nature of where the fires have been so far has affected horses and livestock in the area, and its certainly skewing more toward large animal injuries than small at this point.

Since Friday, the clinic has treated four horses, nine alpacas and llamas, two sheep, six goats, and two cats, mostly for burns and smoke inhalation, or secondary complications from wildfires and evacuations. Teams are also deployed in the field at local evacuation centers and with animal control officials behind fire lines to find animals in need of medical attention.

McNabb said while the clinic has been through this before with other wildfires, COVID-19 has provided another level of complexity to keep everyone safe while still trying to provide response, he said. Before, they could squeeze 20 people in the medical area without a second thought. Now they need to be aware of physically distancing.

But one positive from the pandemic is that the staff is already better versed in telemedicine, so the hospital can be reserved for the most critical cases.

We are able to use FaceTime, Zoom and other platforms to communicate with vets at the evacuation centers, McNabb said. This streamlined medical care were able to provide reduces the stress of hauling and transportation.

Santa Cruz animal shelter moves into next phase

Meanwhile, down on the coast, the Santa Cruz County Animal Shelter moved a majority of its animals out of the shelter on Wednesday night in preparation for evacuations, with 200 pets now in foster care, said general manager Melanie Sobel. Since Thursday morning, a steady flow of dogs and cats has arrived, as well as birds, snakes, geckos, monitor lizards, a frog, a tarantula and two horses. About 400 animals occupy the shelter now.

Sobel said intake has slowed down, and now people are coming in to pick up or drop off donations since many fleeing their homes didnt have time to grab basic supplies. Now the shelter is refocusing efforts.

The next phase were working on is addressing the hundreds of calls for residual pets left by people, such as chickens and outdoor cats, that are not as easy to round up in a panic, Sobel said. Once those areas are clear, were sending teams up there to either help the animals shelter-in-place by providing food and water, or taking them into the shelter.

Some of the worst wildfires in state history have occurred in Northern California in just the past few years. For better or worse, communities are improving response and acting quickly.

The silver lining to come out of past tragedies is everyone is more and more prepared than the last one, McNabb said. The activation of personnel and of resources came together rapidly. Theres been a good job at the local response with local livestock owners, horsemen and volunteers supporting and assisting in working together.

Now, communities are holding their breath, hoping that possible thunderstorms and windy conditions dont worsen the wildfires. If things dont take a turn in the next few days, Salpeter hopes Sweet Farm will have its animals back this weekend, bringing life to the sanctuary once again.

Were staying positive, he said. We have our fingers crossed that the community comes out stronger than before. Even if something did happen, we will get through it.

Kellie Hwang and Nora Mishanec are San Francisco Chronicle staff writers. Email: kellie.hwang@sfchronicle.com, nora.mishanec@hearst.comTwitter: @KellieHwang., @NMishanec

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Animals large and small saved by a rescue network forged by years of Bay Area wildfires - San Francisco Chronicle

Representatives of 10 affinity organizations with a focus on diversity, equity, and inclusionled by the Multicultural VMAmet virtually with members of the AVMA Board of Directors and senior AVMA leadership on July 25. The meeting provided a forum for everyone to get to know each other and discuss a letter(PDF) that the organizations sent to AVMA leadership on July 19 outlining actions they would like to see.

The organizations are the Association of Asian Veterinary Medical Professionals, BlackDVM Network, Latinx VMA, Multicultural VMA, National Association for Black Veterinarians, Native American Veterinary Association, Pride Veterinary Medical Community, Pride Student VMC, Veterinarians as One for an Inclusive Community for Empowerment, and Womens Veterinary Leadership Development Initiative. The meeting also provided an opportunity for the AVMA to talk about its diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives.

Everyone agreed that this is the time for action, according to a July 31 joint report on the meeting. The tragic deaths of George Floyd and Breonna Taylor, among others, have changed our world, and have created an increased sense of urgency.

Affinity group members gave an overview of recommended action items and identified the following priorities:

During the meeting, the affinity groups noted they had created a video that featured some of the nearly 400 stories they had collected of veterinary professionals sacrifices and struggles with regard to diversity, equity, and inclusion. Later, Dr. Douglas Kratt, now AVMA president, introduced the video when it was presentedat the AVMA House of Delegates regular annual session, held virtually July 30-31. Dr. Kratt emphasized that the AVMA is eager to listen, learn, and engage further with DEI organizations.

Discussion at the meeting between the AVMA and DEI organizations then moved to how many of the action items listed by the organizations align with the AVMAs DEI initiative currently in progress, according to the meeting report. AVMA representatives outlined the AVMAs work to date and described the following three main DEI strategies:

Several AVMA projects are underway that fit under these strategies, such as the Associations plan to retain outside DEI expertise to help identify areas of greatest need, set priorities, and use resources most effectively in this area.

In addition, the AVMA has ongoing mandatory DEI training for AVMA employees. The Association will consider expanding its training requirements to volunteers, although with a slightly different focus, the meeting report stated.

Another project is the Brave Space Certificate program, set to launch in the fourth quarter of 2020 on AVMA Axon, the AVMAs digital education platform. Pride VMC is the founding education partner for the certificate program. The program promotes work environments in which all individuals are treated fairly and respectfully, have equal access to opportunities and resources, and can contribute fully to the organizations success. The AVMA has dedicated considerable resources to this program, which was initiated in 2019 and will launch in Q4 2020, according to the meeting report.

Finally, the AVMA has been in initial talks with the Association of American Veterinary Medical Colleges and Veterinary Medical Association Executives, among others, to explore the establishment of a professionwide commission to examine DEI issues affecting the profession. A consensus on the entitys concept is expected by Oct. 1. The AVMA and DEI-focused organizations planned to meet again virtually in August.

We recognize that AVMA cannot do this job alone, the July 31 meeting report stated. These issues have a long and complex history, extend beyond the AVMA, and of course affect the entire profession and all of organized veterinary medicine. Thats why it is so critical to work together.

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AVMA, affinity organizations working to advance diversity, equity, inclusion - American Veterinary Medical Association

The human health care system has struggled financially through the coronavirus pandemic, losing billions from the cancellations of lucrative elective operations as patients were first told to stay away from hospitals and then were leery of setting foot in one.

The canine and feline health system, though, is booming.

Its crazy, in a good way, said Dr. Margot Vahrenwald, a veterinarian who co-owns Park Hill Veterinary Medical Center in Denver. Were probably seeing 25 percent more new pets than what we would normally. It feels busier, and were seeing increased revenue.

While hospitals were furloughing workers, Dr. Vahrenwald added five employees, and still has job listings for more. Her clinic has had to buy two phone lines to handle a deluge of calls from pet owners.

The phone lines were so busy that, if we were occupying them making calls out to clients, we would end up with 60 voice mail messages in a half-hour, she said.

Animal hospitals appear to have pulled off something human hospitals have struggled to do: make patients feel comfortable seeking routine care.

Most veterinarians are now requiring curbside service owners drop their pet at the door, and wait outside during the appointment lessening the risk of catching coronavirus.

Their animal patients tend to be less susceptible to coronavirus, although not completely immune. Some pets have become infected, and last month the first dog in the United States to test positive for the virus died.

Pet owners have, collectively, decided there is enough value in maintaining the health of their cats and dogs to brave the outside world at least a little more. Much of the increase in veterinary care seems to be for wellness visits and vaccinations. By contrast, primary care spending for humans is estimated to have dropped by $15 billion over the course of the pandemic.

The veterinary industry provides something else important that the human health system doesnt: transparent prices. Veterinarians can typically provide reliable price estimates, in part because they have standard charges that dont vary by type of insurance.

Patients may be reluctant to return to the human health system in part because theyve lost coverage, or have less income, and are worried about the possibility of a surprise bill.

Demand for veterinary services is typically cyclical: Pet owners spend more on medical care for dogs and cats when the economy is strong and they have more disposable income.

This economic downturn is different. Volume and revenue are up at animal hospitals and primary care offices. VetSuccess, which tracks financial data from 2,800 clinics, estimates that revenue last month was up 18 percent over last July.

Trupanion, a pet health insurer, announced in an earnings call this week that its second-quarter revenue was up 28 percent over last year. It has 14 percent more cat and dog members than it did at the start of the year (at a moment when 5.4 million American humans are estimated to have lost coverage). Some of those newly insured pets have names that fit the moment: Corona, Rona and Covid.

We were impacted by the 2008 recession, said Dr. Heather Loenser, senior veterinary officer for the American Animal Hospital Association. In March, if youd asked veterinarians where we thought wed be in the summer, we would not have thought wed have this surplus of pets and revenue.

Veterinarians attribute the increase in demand to one key factor that makes this recession different from others: It has forced millions more Americans to work from home.

Some are taking the opportunity to bring home new pets, with some shelters reportedly emptied out thanks to high demand. The national data, however, is a bit mixed: Shelter Animals Count, which tracks adoption data from nearly 1,500 animal shelters and rescue organizations, estimates that there have been fewer pet adoptions this year, largely because of fewer strays coming into their care.

Multiple veterinarians say they are seeing more puppies than normal, to the point they can no longer take on new clients.

Were having to limit who we are taking on as new clients because weve become overrun with requests, said Dr. Dirk Yelinek, president of the California Veterinary Medical Association, who practices at Redondo Shores Veterinary Center. Initially we tried to offer slots a week or two weeks out. Now theyre already full.

Americans who already had pets seem to have become more watchful of their animal companions during the long pandemic days at home together. Sometimes they notice important changes in the health of their cats and dogs. One emergency veterinarian reported a rise in cases of urinary obstructions among cats, which may be a sign of feline stress (possibly a result of humans hanging around more than the cat would like).

Other times veterinarians may see a case of, as Dr. Loenser describes it, staring at your pet syndrome: subtle differences that dont require medical care but catch the attention of a quarantined pet owner.

Its been really surprising, like what the heck? Why are we all so swamped? said Dr. Monica Mansfield, a veterinarian in Medway, Mass. In general, Im wondering if this might be related to an uptick in anxiety and people wanting to take care of health issues they can control.

The wave of demand comes even as the work of providing veterinary care is taking longer, straining clinics resources. Veterinarians say curbside visits require more time, as they play phone tag with owners and have to develop new intake processes.

We found it impossible to keep up with curbside care with our normal time slots, Dr. Mansfield said. If it was usually a 15-minute appointment, were now blocking out 30 minutes. Thats one reason our bookings are now bumped out a couple of weeks.

Some veterinarians say they are also seeing slightly sicker dogs, which may be a result of owners putting off care at the beginning of the pandemic. A few serious conditions may also be on the rise: BluePearl, which operates 90 pet hospitals across the country, has seen a 70 percent increase in hospitalizations for parvovirus, a potentially deadly ailment that most commonly strikes unvaccinated puppies.

We think owners earlier in the pandemic maybe didnt want to go out and see a veterinarian or maybe couldnt afford to, said Dr. James Barr, BluePearls chief medical officer. We think that probably resulted in fewer dogs getting vaccinated.

Dr. Barr said his hospitals were now seeing volume that was double digits higher than normal times.

Veterinarians operating at or over capacity have put a strain on the animal emergency rooms, which typically are open 24 hours and now appear to be handling the overflow from overwhelmed clinics.

When I take a call in our emergency room, owners are saying were often the third veterinary practice theyve called trying to get an appointment, said Dr. Armelle de Laforcade, an associate professor of clinical sciences at Tufts Universitys Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine.

Dr. de Laforcade practices emergency and critical care medicine at the universitys animal hospitals, which used to be able to see all patients turning up for appointments. Since the start of the pandemic, the hospitals have sometimes had to go on diversion, telling owners that theyre too full to accept more patients and directing them to clinics nearby.

Several times a week were having to say: Our case load is extremely high and we need to divert for a little while, Dr. de Laforcade said. Its more common than we would like.

Like other clinics, Tufts has had to hire new employees just to pick up the phone. Its part of adjusting to the new normal of operating in a pandemic and, as a veterinary teaching hospital, training the next generation of veterinarians at the same time.

Weve invested in cameras where you can watch operations when youre not in the room, Dr. de Laforcade said. Weve had to find a way to creatively deliver clinical education remotely.

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A Rare Economic Bright Spot in the U.S. Health System: The Vets Office - The New York Times

An employee takes a cats temperature at a cat caf in Bangkok.

By David GrimmAug. 14, 2020 , 4:00 PM

Sciences COVID-19 reporting is supported by the Pulitzer Center and the Heising-Simons Foundation.

Last month, the first U.S. dog to definitively test positive for COVID-19 died in New York City. The caninea German shepherd named Buddylikely had lymphoma, but the case served as a reminder that pets, too, are at risk.

Now, COVID-19 cases are surging in some areas of the United States, including in places that had largely escaped the virus in the spring, and some countries around the world are grappling with renewed outbreaks. People are also wondering and worrying about their pets.

Scientists are, too. It remains unclear, for example, how often cats and dogs become infected with the virus, what their symptoms are, and how likely they are to pass it along to other animals, including us. Yet veterinarians are hard on the case, and a handful of studies are starting to provide some answers. Experts have some concrete advice based on what we know so far.

Federal health agencies and veterinary experts have said since the beginning of the pandemic that pets are unlikely to pose a significant risk to people. Hard evidence from controlled studies for this assertion was lackingand still isbut everything scientists have seen so far suggests cats and dogs are highly unlikely to pass SARS-CoV-2 to humans. Theres a lot greater risk of going to the grocery store than hanging out with your own animal, says Scott Weese, a veterinarian at the University of Guelphs Ontario Veterinary College who specializes in emerging infectious diseases and who has dissected nearly every study on COVID-19 and pets on his blog.

Indeed, pets are much more likely to get the virus from humans than the other way around. Almost all pets that have tested positive have been in contact with infected humans, says Jane Sykes, chief veterinary medical officer at the University of California, Davis, and a founder of the International Society for Companion Animal Infectious Diseases, which is providing COVID-19 information to both pet owners and veterinarians. A genetic study of the viral sequences in the first two dogs known to have COVID-19 indicates they caught it from their owners. Even tigers and lions infected at New York Citys Bronx Zoo in April appear to have contracted the virus from humans.

But some researchers caution that this finding may be due in part to limited testing: Most of the pets that have been evaluated got the tests because they lived with humans who had already tested positive. Its a stacked deck, says Shelley Rankin, a microbiologist at the University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine, whose lab is part of the U.S. Food and Drug Administrations Veterinary Laboratory Investigation and Response Network.

Still, most researchers think pets pose little risk to peopleand to other pets as well. A few studies have shown that cats can transmit SARS-CoV-2 to other cats, but all were conducted in an artificial laboratory setting. And, like many COVID-19 studies in humans, most studies are preprints that have yet to be published in peer-reviewed journals. Whats more, Sykes notes there have been multiple reports of households where one pet tested positive and others didnt. Everything weve learned so far suggests that its unlikely that pets are a significant source of transmission, she says.

Because pet testing remains rare, its unclear how many cats and dogs have been infected with SARS-CoV-2. A serological preprint published last month indicated that 3% to 4% of cats and dogs in Italy had been exposed to the virus at the height of the pandemic therecomparable to the rate among people.

A girl and her dog don masks in Regensburg, Germany.

But even if the numbers are really that high, there hasnt been a concomitant uptick in symptoms. The Seattle-based Trupanion, which provides health insurance for more than half a million dogs and cats in North America and Australia, says it has not seen an increase in respiratory claimsor any other type of health claimsince the pandemic began. No big trends are jumping out, says Mary Rothlisberger, the companys vice president of analytics, even when she looked at pandemic hot spots. Two recent studies have also shown that cats, at least, areunlikely toexhibit symptoms. My gut sense is that [the disease is] much more minor than were seeing in people, Sykes says.

That could meanpets are silent transmitters of the virus, as some scientists have suggested, but so far theres no direct evidence for this.

Several pet tests are available, but they arent widely used because the priority has been on human testing. Agencies like the United States Department of Agriculture havecautioned against routine testingof cats and dogs.

Even if your pet does test positive, Weese says, What are you going to do with the results? If your dog or cat has COVID-19, its probably because you do too, he says. It doesnt change anything for the pet or the family. And because there arent any drugs for the disease, he says, We wouldnt prescribe anything for the pet.

Whether it comes to taking your dog to a dog park or petting an outdoor cat, thestandard advice still holds: Wear a mask, wash your hands, and social distance. If you are not taking precautions you are putting both yourself and your animal at risk, Rankin says. But, she says, If you are a responsible pet owner, then it is probably safe to say that your animals risk [of infection] is lower than yours.

Weese agrees that people should be more concerned about other humans than about pets. The risk from people present at dog parks or vet clinics is much higher than the risk from dogs at those locations, he says.

Researchers are just beginning to understand how companion animals play into the pandemic. The pet studies so far are all part of a puzzle were still trying to put together, Sykes says.

And theyre preliminary. Almost every preprint I have seen is flawed in some way, says Rankin, who dings small sample sizes, incomplete data, and a lack of vigorous testing. That doesnt necessarily invalidate the results, but she and others would like to see more robust studies.

Sykes and Weese, for example, want more research done in the home. That could give scientists a better sense of how likely pets are to transmit the virus to other pets, how long pets remain contagious, and whatif anyclinical signs of COVID-19 show up.

Rankin is part of a project to do what she calls full-on epidemiology of the complete medical backgrounds, including any COVID-19 cases, of 2000 pets that have been seen at her vet school for various reasons, or just for routine checkups. The hope is that such an approach will weed out some of the biases of previous studiessuch as those that only looked at pets in COVID-19positive homesand get a better sense of the true risk factors for the disease.

Sykes and Weese are involved in similar endeavors. Weese also hopes to investigate whether pets, especially feral and outdoor cats, pose a risk to wildlife. If we want to eradicate this virus, he says, we need to know everywhere it might be.

Other researchers are exploring whether drugs that treat other coronaviruses in catscould also combat COVID-19in both pets and people. Answering these questions isnt just important for companion animal health, Sykes says. It could help us, too.

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What does the COVID-19 summer surge mean for your cats and dogs? - Science Magazine

Friday, August 14, 2020

A longstanding Purdue University College of Veterinary Medicine tradition of recognizing distinguished alumni and outstanding faculty during the annual Purdue Veterinary Conference will continue in a virtual format this year. The entire conference September 22-25 will be conducted virtually, enabling attendees to join in on conference sessions and special activities from their home or office. The annual Awards Celebration will include the presentation of two Distinguished Alumni Awards and the Raymond E. Plue Outstanding Teacher Award on Wednesday, September 23, at 5:00 p.m. (EDT).

The two Distinguished Alumni Award winners are Dr. Tom Troxel, of the DVM Class of 1981, and Dr. Debbie White, of the DVM Class of 1994. Dr. Tom, as he is called by his clients in Northwestern Indiana, has become highly respected for his work as a veterinarian, dairy farmer, teacher, and lay minister. His reputation reaches far around the world with partnerships in Eastern Europe and Haiti related to dairy production and education. Students have traveled from around the world to receive hands-on instruction from Dr. Tom, who also has mentored Purdue veterinary students during their externships. Known as a compassionate and knowledgeable clinician, Dr. Tom is perhaps most recognized for his genuine interest in supporting herd health as well as profitability for farmers.

Dr. Debbie White is well known to fans of her talk-show Animal Radio as a knowledgeable and vibrant veterinarian. She has contributed admirably to the veterinary profession throughout her career. Currently serving as vice president of the Western Veterinary Conference (now known as the Viticus Group), Dr. White has held multiple board positions with professional organizations. A skilled clinician who owns several animal hospitals throughout the Las Vegas, Nev. area, she is a positive role model and ambassador for Purdue.

Another prestigious award to be presented at the Awards Celebration is the Raymond E. Plue Outstanding Teacher Award, which this year will go to Dr. Stephanie Thomovsky, clinical associate professor of veterinary neurology in the Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences. To be considered for this honor, a faculty member must be nominated by veterinary alumni in the four most recent graduating classes. Award recipients are chosen for their teaching ability as well as their role in fostering interest in research. Hailing from Buffalo, N.Y., Dr. Thomovsky earned her DVM degree at Iowa State University and completed a neurology/neurosurgery internship before joining Purdue Veterinary Medicines residency program. She then served on the faculty at Washington State University before returning to Purdue to accept a faculty position in neurology and establish the Physical Rehabilitation service in the Purdue University Veterinary Hospital. Her nominator praised Dr. Thomovsky for her ability to simplify complex learning materials and inspire students.

Click here to register for the virtual Purdue Veterinary Conference, and plan to join in the Awards Celebration online Wednesday, September 23 at 5:00 p.m., to help honor Drs. Troxel, White, and Thomovsky, as well as several other faculty members who also will receive awards.

Writer(s): Susan Xioufaridou and Kevin Doerr | pvmnews@purdue.edu

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Virtual Celebration to Honor Distinguished Alumni and Outstanding Teacher Award Recipients - Purdue Veterinary News