StemCell Therapy

As concerns over antibiotic resistance grow, equine veterinarians look for ways to treat wounds without reaching for these powerful drugs. At the 2019 British Equine Veterinary Association Congress, held Sept. 11-14 in Birmingham, U.K., Dean Hendrickson, DVM, Dipl. ACVS, described ways to do just this, ranging from debridement to stem cell therapy.Debridement

The best way to deal with bacteria is to get rid of them, said Hendrickson, a professor in the Clinical Sciences Department at Colorado State Universitys Veterinary Teaching Hospital, in Fort Collins.

We have a tendency in veterinary medicine to want to kill the bacteria in situ, but Im going to encourage you to remove them and throw them away and dont let the patient have to deal with them at all, he advised the audience.

Veterinarians can remove bacteria through debridement (removing the affected tissue), of which there are several types:

Autolytic debridement. This process uses the bodys own enzymes and moisture to liquefy and remove necrotic (dead) tissue. Hendrickson said its the most selective way to remove bacteria and dead cells while leaving healthy cells.

All youre doing is leaving the healthy wound exudate (liquid the body produces in response to tissue damage) in contact with the wound bed to accomplish this, he said. The normal white blood cells and proteolytic enzymes that occur in wound exudate are your best friends with regard to removing small doses of bacteria and small amounts of necrotic tissue.

To achieve autolytic debridement, you must keep the wound environment moist (but not soupy), which you can do using dressings. If the wound has a lot of necrotic tissue, however, then youll need to use a more aggressive form of debridement, said Hendrickson.

Biological debridement. This method involves using an organism, such as maggots, to remove dead tissue.

It still amazes me how effective maggot debridement is and how rarely we actually use it, said Hendrickson. When a horse comes into the clinic with maggots in its wound, he said people tend to get squeamish and try to remove them, but these guys are doing their jobtheyre getting rid of the necrotic tissue (and pathogenic bacteria). Theres a lot of value to that, and its very rapid and selective.

Enzymatic (chemical) debridement. With this method, veterinarians apply manufactured proteolytic enzymes to the wound to break down devitalized tissue.

This is another great way (to debride wounds), but we dont tend to use it very frequently in veterinary medicine because of the cost of the enzymes, said Hendrickson. Studies have found it to be very effective at reducing bacteria but not as good as autolytic debridement. So the body in and of itself is the best way to go if you have low levels of bacteria.

Mechanical debridement. This technique involves using force to remove tissue. Examples include wet-to-dry dressings and wound irrigation. Its something we do really well in veterinary medicine, almost to a fault, he explained. We scrub, we lavage, and we cause a significant amount of trauma to the wound bed.

On the plus side, mechanical debridement is inexpensive and effective. The downside? It can cause shear stresses to the underlying granulation (scar) tissue, which can lead to further problems down the road, Hendrickson said.

He recommended using the minimal amount of force and pressure necessary.

Sharp debridement. This method involves using tools such as scalpels or curettes to physically remove tissue. Its the most aggressive form of debridement and the most effective way to remove large amounts of bacteria and necrotic tissue, said Hendrickson.

Theres a lot of value to wound debridementthat should be your first step toward reducing bacteria numbers and necrotic tissue, he said. We should not be bathing them with local or systemic antimicrobials. Remove the infected tissue thats there.

Veterinarians can use a variety of debridement dressings to help remove bacteria and dead tissue. Ones Hendrickson said are useful include:

Hypertonic saline. This solution comprises 20% saline, which you can buy commercially or make yourself using salt and water.

The idea is the hypertonic environment created by this saline will kill the bacteria because theyre unable to deal with that environment, and it will also remove the necrotic tissue, Hendrickson said.

While these are highly effective, he said theyre less selective than autolytic, biologic, or enzymatic dressings. He also cautioned against overusing them, because they have the potential to be toxic.

Honey. This substance is both hypertonic and antimicrobial. It can help heal burns, for instance, faster and with fewer adverse effects than other dressings, said Hendrickson.

Researchers have performed a variety of studies confirming the efficacy of honeys such as manuka honey. Further, said Hendrickson, theres some recent evidence out there that shows that local raw honey is more effective at killing local bacteria than medical grade honey.

Polyhexanides (e.g., polyhexamethylene biguanide, or PHMB). Certain sterile antimicrobial dressings are very effective at killing bacteria, even multidrug-resistant varieties. Theyre not antiseptics and should not be confused with them, said Hendrickson.

He then provided the audience with smart antibiotic use tips for when they do need these drugs to combat infection, starting with a sensitivity culture to identify the specific bacteria.

Whether its systemic or local antibiotic therapy, do a culture to know whats happening, then always use the simplest, lowest level of antibiotic possible, he said. While your first dressing might require using an antibiotic you cant pick because you dont know whats there, at least try to get a culture so you can make the decision later on.

Only use antibiotics for short periodstwo weeks or less, he said.

As for topical antibiotics, he recommended using silver dressings or, preferably, triple antibiotic, which hasnt seen much resistance over the decades its been in use.

Hendrickson also reviewed promising studies looking at mesenchymal (embryonic connective tissue) stem cell use in wound treatment: The one place there is evidence for stem cells is in the reduction of bacteria numbers in wounds.

There are lots of ways to reduce bioburden (number of bacteria) in wounds, said Hendrickson. I think wound debridement is the best way to accomplish that. Get rid of the necrotic tissue, and dont use antiseptics in your wounds, because they just create more necrosis, thereby encouraging the number of bacteria forming.

And if you do have to resort to antibiotic administration, choose your antimicrobials well, and use them sparingly, he said.

Read more:
Managing Horse Wounds Without Antibiotics - TheHorse.com

AMES, Iowa In the real world, win-win scenarios are rare and often too good to be true. But the Iowa State University College of Veterinary Medicine has pulled off an even more elusive win-win-win by providing health care to thousands of shelter animals on their way to being adopted.

ISU veterinary students win by getting experience treating live animals, and animal shelters win by saving money through the free program. The biggest winners in the equation, however, are the shelter animals, who receive a clean bill of health and usually end up being adopted into loving homes.

The ISU College of Veterinary Medicine offers a surgery, anesthesia and community outreach course as a semester-long program for third-year veterinary students, with an option for extending the course for an additional semester. Students in the course gain hands-on experience admitting patients, screening them for a wide range of health problems and performing common procedures on the animals, such as spays and neuters.

Were helping the shelters move animals through their program so their length of stay is decreased, said Dr. Joyce Carnevale, a clinical assistant professor of veterinary clinical sciences who coordinates the community outreach portion of the program. A dog or cat that receives care in our program can get adopted more readily.

More than 300 animals, mostly cats and dogs, receive care over the course of a semester. Since the program began in 2016, more than 2,000 animals from more than 20 shelters, welfare organizations and animal rescues have gone through the program. The animals come not only from Iowa but Texas, Illinois, Missouri and beyond. And nearly all of the animals that receive care through the program wind up getting adopted, said Dr. Tamara Swor, a clinical assistant professor of veterinary clinical sciences who leads the surgery and anesthesia portions of the program.

From left, third-year veterinary medicine students Sami Naberhaus, Katie Griger and Monique Reid tend to George, a boxer-heeler mix, in the recovery room following surgery. Photo by Christopher Gannon. Larger image.

On a recent afternoon in early October, a frenzy of activity unfolded in three different rooms inside the ISU College of Veterinary Medicine. In an exam room, veterinary students checked in and performed routine health screenings on several dogs. These routine procedures include blood draws and heartworm checks on dogs older than six months. Its the first step in a process that takes five or six days during which every animal that enters the program undergoes a comprehensive health assessment, Carnevale said. The program treats all common problems presented in shelter pets, including eye, ear and skin problems and gastrointestinal parasites, she said.

A few rooms over, eight surgical teams prepared dogs to be neutered. Each team consisted of three students: a lead surgeon, an assistant surgeon and an anesthesiologist. The surgical teams rotate roles throughout the semester, ensuring each student gets a well-rounded experience. The students performed pre-operation checks on the dogs and anesthetized them, giving the animals comforting pats, rubs and ear scratches to put them at ease as much as possible.

Once a surgical team successfully anesthetized their dog, they wheeled the animal next door into an operating room with more than a dozen surgical stations. Each station comes equipped with individual monitors that offer constant updates on the patients vitals, as well as individual anesthesia machines. The surgeons scrubbed in to ensure everything remained sterile and then began their procedures.

Over the next hour or so, the student surgical teams completed their procedures to the steady beeps of the monitors. ISU veterinary faculty roamed the operation room, fielding occasional questions from students and monitoring the procedures.

Clinical assistant professor Joyce Carnevale holds Ernie, a shelter dog, while other dogs are prepared for surgery by third-year veterinary students at the ISU College of Veterinary Medicine. Photo by Christopher Gannon. Larger image.

DaKota Tilleraas, a third-year veterinary student from Hastings, Minnesota, said the program helps students develop skills theyll need as practicing vets. The physical exams, spays and neuters that make up a large portion of the semesters clinical work are the bread and butter of practicing veterinarians, Tilleraas said, and getting experience on live animals benefits the students immensely.

Earlier this semester, as Tilleraas prepared to perform her first spay as a surgeon on a cat, she learned one of her classmates had adopted the animal. That first procedure causes many students anxiety, and Tilleraas said she felt even more tension knowing her classmate would take the cat home.

So that was a little more pressure for me getting to do my first spay and then knowing shes already adopted by one of my classmates, Tilleraas said.

But the procedure went smoothly and her classmate was pleased with the results, Tilleras said.

Aislinn Ophoff, a third-year veterinary student from Terre Haute, Indiana, said her first spay on a cat went smoothly as well. So did her work as an anesthetist for a neuter, also on a cat. She said the course gives students a chance to work with cats and dogs of varying breeds, sizes and temperaments, mirroring the experiences of practicing veterinarians.

This is really helpful in giving us just the hands-on skills, clinical experience that you dont get when youre sitting in a classroom from nine to five, Ophoff said.

Ophoff also said she appreciated being able to perform the procedures under the watchful eye of faculty, who offer feedback and constructive criticism that helps the students improve.

The animal shelters benefit from the program as well, said Julie Taylor, shelter manager of the PAWS Humane Society in Charles City, which has sent animals to Iowa State for years. Taylor said the animals shes seen go through the ISU program have all received high-quality care. And the comprehensive nature of the program, from preventive health screenings to blood tests to spays and neuters all free of charge saves money for shelters and gives prospective pet owners peace of mind.

Its great to have all those details on an animal taken care of, and then at no cost. Thats huge, Taylor said.

More here:
Shelter animals receive care at ISU College of Veterinary Medicine on their way to adoption News Service Iowa State University - Iowa State...

The Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation recently donated $15 million for expanding the current University of Wisconsin School of Veterinary Medicine.

The expansion comes after six years of planning, according to Mark Markel, the Dean of the School of Veterinary Medicine.

SVM was built 35 years ago. About four years ago, the class size of the veterinary school increased from 80 to 96. When the next years incoming class is admitted, SVM will be fully expanded in terms of student capacity, leading to severe space constraints, Markel said.

Previously, the UW Veterinary Care clinics saw about 12,000 patients a year. Now, they see 28,000, leading to severe overcrowding, Markel said.

Rachel McNally, UW veterinary medical student, said the facility doesnt have the capacity to treat as many patients as they would like to.

UW claims Apple violated patent, US Supreme Court declines to hear caseThe U.S. Supreme Court declined to hear a patent case filed by the University of Wisconsin against Apple on Monday. Read

Its great that we have this expansion so we can reach more of our clientele and provide them with better care, McNally said.

Markel said the current space places constraints on teaching and learning spaces, and the new building will allow improvement on those items, particularly the hospital but also conference rooms.

Diana Lewis, UW veterinary medical student, said current students wont get to experience the immediate benefits of the expansion, but is excited for future students who will benefit.

I am really excited [because] we are super cramped for space here, Lewis said.

About five years ago, SVM conducted a feasibility study to determine the need for a new building across the street, Markel said.

SVM worked with legislators, campus leadership, University system leadership and Gov. Tony Evers in regards to this project. July 3, SVM was granted $90 million and needed to raise another $38 million. Previously, the school raised between $25 and $26 million, and the addition of the WARF gift of $15 million puts the SVM over the $38 million they had to raise, Markel said.

The equipment the building is going to require is expected to be an additional $10 million, according to a UW News article.

According to Markel, the project received $90 million in state funding, SVM raised about $25 million and WARF donated $15 million, with the project budget about $128 million.

Construction is set to begin in Spring 2021 and is projected to be completed in two years. Renovations of the current building will be completed by 2024, according to UW News.

The Small Animal Clinic will be expanded on the first floor and will be double the size it currently is. The Morrie Waud Large Animal Hospital will be remodeled, including a new cover arena and large animal isolation facility. The second floor will be a laboratory, conference rooms, graduate student offices and faculty offices. Markel said the third floor will be an infectious disease research space.

Make your own path: Panel of food-based executives offer advice to beginning entrepreneursAs part of the Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundations Entrepreneurons series, WARF hosted three food-based entrepreneurs in a panel to discuss Read

The parking ramp on Observatory is under construction because the workers cant build unless space is available for parking. Veterinary students, like Lewis, claim parking space constraints often provide various difficulties other than not having a place to park a car.

Its a stressor for people. Sometimes people bring in dogs or bigger animals that cant walk. We do have carts that can get them into the building but there is a little bit of a strain there, Lewis said.

SVM experienced severe equipment shortages over the years. The original building did not have MRI units and CT scanners in the clinics. The clinic was able to fit a CT scanner but it cannot be easily accessed. The MRI unit is in a trailer outside, Markel said.

To get our animals scanned and on the MRI unit we have to anesthetize them in this building take them through about a hundred yards of corridors outside, so in the winter thats through snow, Markel said.

During the remodel, the MRI unit will be brought inside. The clinic pathology department will move into the new building, freeing up space in the current building. That space will likely accommodate the cancer center due to the large number of patients seen each year, Markel said.

Exam rooms have sign up sheets because there are not enough exam rooms available for the amount of appointments. There are only three computers in the neurology ward which makes looking up records or information about clients and patients in a timely manner difficult, said McNally and Lewis.

The surgery suite also has space constraints. When teaching about radiographs or diagnostics, faculty and students are huddled around one computer said Lewis and McNally.

Its hard to learn under current space conditions, McNally said.

Clients and patients have also been affected by these space constraints.

Sometimes you have to wait multiple months to get the initial patient appointment because they can only see so many patients in a day, Lewis said. I am amazed that we can fit as many appointments in a day that we can.

There is a push to teach students and faculty how to make the clinic a comfortable space for pets and clients, they said, which can often be difficult with the high volume of patients and minimal space.

McNally said there should be an area in the new building to for pets to relax and quieter places for them to recover after procedures.

Its really hard to be a fear free space when there is so much noise and so much going on because were such a busy facility, McNally said.

The WARF gift will buy new equipment, but students like McNally are excited about the little things such as chairs, computers and phones that will improve the quality of patient care.

The current building does not have many windows or courtyard spaces, McNally said, and this can affect the mental health of the clients and patients. The new building will have plenty of these additions.

Little things can make our ability to provide care that much easier and that much higher quality that it can make such a huge difference, McNally said.

Continue reading here:
WARF donates $15 million to expand UW School of Veterinary Medicine - The Badger Herald

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Veterinarians may soon be equipped with a tool that would assist in the early detection of canine cancer.

Veterinary oncologists at the Texas A&M College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences (CVM) are set to begin testing Nu.Q by VolitionRx, a suite of routine blood tests for the unique nucleosomes that serve as biomarkers in cancer.

The goal of this project with Volition is to provide all veterinarians with simple, affordable, routine blood tests that can help identify disease early and improve the lives of both animals and the people who love them, says Eleanor M. Green, DVM, Dipl. ACVIM, Dipl. ABVP, the Carl B. King dean of veterinary medicine.

The research will be led by Heather Wilson-Robles, DVM, DACVIM, associate professor and Fred and Vola N. Palmer chair in comparative oncology at the CVM.

I am excited to be working with Volition on this project, Dr. Wilson-Robles says. The Nu.Q platform has the potential to change the landscape of veterinary cancer diagnostics and provide much needed affordable and reliable screening tests that, to date, simply dont exist in the veterinary world.

Early diagnosis has the potential to not only prolong the life of patients, but also to improve their quality of life, Texas A&M says, adding that 25 percent of the more than 55 million dogs in the U.S. are expected to develop cancer at some stage of their life.

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Canine cancer screening test in the works - VeterinaryPracticeNews.com

Kate Zukowski, a certified veterinary technician at Tufts at Tech Community Veterinary Clinic, has a passion for your pets pearly whites.

Veterinary technicians are the nurses of veterinary care, and many go through rigorous specialty training to better serve clients. Zukowski recently became certified for dentistrya professional calling that began many years ago.

Before arriving at Tufts five years ago, Zukowski spent fifteen years at a busy, multi-doctor veterinary practice in Shrewsbury, where she had the opportunity to work in pretty much every department. I was very interested in anesthesia and surgery, and then dentistry, she said. I kind of just ran with the dentistry part. (Read Five Ways to Keep Your Pet's Teeth Healthy with advice from Zukowski.)

Noticing a need for higher-quality dental care, she spent hundreds of hours trainingporing over complex cases and attending conferencesto become a veterinary technician specialist in dentistry.

Having Kate here as a technician with the high specialty interest in dentistry makes the entire dental service here at Tufts at Tech better and easier on the doctors, says veterinarian Gregory Wolfus, V98, who oversees the clinic, which is based at Worcester Technical High School and run by Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine at Tufts University. Once we figured out the gift that Kate brought with her, it very quickly pigeonholed her in a position that 80 percent of her time is doing dental work. Shes the first and only boarded dental technician in New England at this point.

So far, Zukowski has assisted on some interesting cases, including a root canal for a police dog and oral surgery on a red fox. The nearby Southwick Zoo once called on her and Wolfus to do dental work on a ring-tailed lemur and a patas monkeyand did you know dogs can wear braces?

However, most clients at Tufts at Tech have more common issues, such as periodontal disease and fractured teeth, as well as tooth resorption in cats. More than 80 percent of dog and cats over age three will be affected by periodontal disease, she said.

At Tufts at Tech, we see a lot of periodontal disease thats been neglected for a decade, Zukowski said. We see a lot of dogs and cats with horribly infected painful mouths and at the end, we've removed all of that and they are happy and pain-free. Every single one of those cases is important to me because we've made such a huge impact on the quality of life for those patients.

Tufts at Tech, which serves low-income pet owners, currently averages about 500 clients a month, with 15 to 20 dental procedures a month. For now, shes focused on the critical work of educating veterinary students at Cummings School to follow in her pioneering footsteps.

She and Wolfus collaborated on a week-long intensive dental training course in February for 100 veterinary students at Cummings. They taught students how to take dental x-rays, perform extractions, treat diseaseall procedures that the students may perform during their primary-care rotation at Tufts at Tech. The Dental Week course was the first of its kind at Cummings School, and such a success that theyre already planning another session.

If you have individuals who are willing to pour their heart and soul in bettering themselves so that they can information share and help, teach, and support others, aren't those the most important commodity of people? Wolfus said. Kate is not just information-sharing, she's a critical part of the veterinarian-teaching university.

Angela Nelson can be reached at angela.nelson@tufts.edu.

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This Veterinary Technician Is Obsessed with Teeth - Tufts Now

Carpinteria Veterinary Hospital on Walnut Avenue welcomed a new veterinarian this month, Dr. Amy Belanger. Belanger holds a doctorate from Texas A&M College of Veterinary Medicine and a bachelors in biology from the University of Arkansas at Fort Smith. In addition to caring for dogs and cats, Belanger also has a special interest in birds, rodents and reptiles.

Belanger was drawn to exotics as a child. I have always loved our small feathered, furred and scaled friends and had many exotic pets growing up, said Belanger. Peoples special bond and commitment to their pets, no matter their size or species, has always inspired me. They present unique challenges and often require creative thinking to solve problems. I believe any animal is entitled to good veterinary care no matter its species.

Born and raised in Austin, Texas, Belanger grew up surrounded by all kinds of animals, from hermit crabs and tortoises to cockatiels and horses. I spent as much time in the sun as possible enjoying the parks, rivers and springs around Austin, she said. Belanger was also a competitive tennis player and traveled the U.S. for tournaments.

Belangers mother is a veterinarian in Austin and for many years worked for the Austin Zoo. During that time, Belanger had the opportunity to help her mother with exams on lions, kinkajous, birds of prey and other exotic species.

I grew up having a strong appreciation for the highs and lows of the job, said Belanger, and the commitment required in order to excel. I knew I wanted to be a veterinarian for as long as I can remember. My mothers love of her work inspired me to pursue my own passion to help people and their pets. I cannot imagine myself in any other field.

For Belanger, there are many reasons to love being a veterinarian, but what she loves most is making meaningful lifelong connections with people and their pets I take great joy in guiding people through the struggles, delights and victories of animal ownership.

In Carpinteria, Belanger has found a community of people dedicated to caring for their animals. I could not be happier with the community I now serve, she said.

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New Carpinteria veterinarian has special interest in birds, rodents and reptiles - Coastal View News

On a small, unassuming German island called Riems lies one of the oldest virus research institutes in the world. And also one of the most dangerous.

The Friedrich Loeffler Institute is closed to the public. To access the island, approved visitors must first cross a small stretch of the Baltic Sea via a dam, which can be closed immediately in case of an outbreak. To enter the facility, they must take a shower and put on protective clothing. Inside, scientists study some of the world's most deadly viruses, including bird flu, Ebola and mad cow disease.

One of their many focuses is zoonoses, which are diseases that can be spread from animals to humans, or vice versa. But the facility was originally founded in 1910 to study foot-and-mouth disease. Over the following decades, the Friedrich Loeffler Institute was used for various purposes, including the development of chemical weapons during World War II, vaccine research during the Cold War, and the study of animal welfare and husbandry. It eventually earned the nickname the "island of plagues."

In 2010, the Friedrich Loeffler Institute completed construction on a series of new laboratories that are classified as biosafety level 4, one of the most dangerous distinctions. Today, there are only a handful of level-4 facilities worldwide.

Map of level-4 facilities

The institute is also one of only two facilities worldwide with the ability to conduct large-scale animal studies, such as with swine and cattle. Robin Holland, a student in the Veterinary Medical Scholars Program at the University of Illinois College of Veterinary Medicine, described her experience studying pathology at the Friedrich Loeffler Institute like this:

"I learned how these diseases are managed, controlled, and diagnosed in real-world scenarios, their prevalence globally, and their potential for economic impact if outbreaks were to occur in a nave population."

University of Greifswald

Holland also described the containment procedures at the institute.

"Alongside engineers and biorisk officers, I saw the massive infrastructure of the FLI, including HEPA filtration of exhaust air, room decontamination by dry fogging, waste water treatment, and carcass rendering to animal byproducts. I learned how the level 2 through 4 facilities are managed, protocols for containment in the event of an emergency, and how facilities are designed and personnel are trained in order to ensure thatespecially considering work with highly contagious pathogens such as FMDVall pathogens are contained within the facility."

Zoonoses pose a major threat to humans. From malaria to rabies, they account for about 60 percent of all infectious diseases contracted by humans, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that "3 out of every 4 new or emerging infectious diseases in people are spread from animals." But as scientists continue to study how to treat, prevent and contain these infectious diseases, it's also worth noting the threats they pose to animals.

"The animal toll has been much greater," neurobiologist and public health physician Professor Charles Watson from Curtin University told Abc.net. "When the Nipah virus broke out in Malaysia in the late 1990s there were relatively few human deaths but five million pigs had to be slaughtered in order to wipe it out."

One reason zoonoses are so deadly for animals is that some mysteriously don't hurt humans, even when we contract them.

"It is really unpredictable, however many viruses are successful because they do not kill their human hosts and therefore get better transmission from person to person."

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Scientists are producing deadly zoonoses on this tiny German island - Big Think

Kristen Capen, who graduated from the University of Minnesotas College of Veterinary Medicine in the spring, has seen the rough side of the profession. Euthanizing a beloved family pet is hard, she said, even if the animal is elderly or sick.

I feel bad for the family, especially if it's an older dog, if there are kids, if the dad is there, said Capen, who now works at an emergency animal hospital in Arizona. If everyone in the room is crying, sometimes I also cry, out of basically empathy for what they're going through.

Capen said the worst part of her job is when she has to euthanize an animal because the owner can't afford the care or isn't willing to take it on.

It's awful. There's no real way to describe it, she said. It's not murder. But it feels bad, and sometimes it feels wrong, even though it's the only option.

Experts say those stresses help explain why veterinarians have disproportionately high suicide rates. Female vets are three-and-a-half times as likely to die of suicide than the general population, and men are more than twice as likely, according to a study published this year by Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association. The study also noted the total number of suicides among female veterinarians has been going up.

There are other complicating factors about the job. Being a veterinarian is one of those careers people dream of their whole lives; it can be disappointing to reach the goal and have it not look the way you imagined. Tuition at vet school is expensive, which means that people often graduate with loads of student debt. And vet salaries often dont keep pace with it.

Besides the headache of dealing with distraught or angry clients, the business model can be difficult to handle, too. While a physician in private practice usually has somebody to handle billing, scheduling, and other tasks, vet practices are often so small that the doctor is managing all of it. And while even general practitioners can refer their patients to specialists, veterinarians are often left doing the job of radiologist, orthopedist, dentist, and every other specialist for their patients.

Acutely aware of these challenges and the increased risk of suicide vet schools are trying to help.

Athena Diesch-Chham has been a clinical veterinary social worker at the vet school at the University of Minnesota for the last seven years. She works with students on both the daily stresses of being in veterinary school and in preparing coping skills for the job. (Diesch-Chham worked with Kristen Capen until Capen graduated last year.)

Some students are really struggling with I hate to say small but smaller stuff of I'm having a really hard day and I just need to get my emotions out, get re-regulated and then get back into class, Diesch-Chham said.

But especially by their fourth year, vet school students are starting to get a real taste of the stresses of the job. That can mean dealing with things like a euthanasia procedure the vet doesnt think needs to be done.

What I have really started to tell our students is, If you don't agree with it, don't do it, because what that does to your psyche and what that does to you emotionally, we're talking years of therapy, she said.

Veterinarian Suzanne Tomasi, an epidemiologist for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, did one of the recent studies that looks at veterinarian suicides. She's also looked at ways to prevent suicide. Some of it is pretty obvious work-life balance stuff, she said, like trying to schedule shorter work shifts.

Other suggestions are more industry-specific ways of making it harder for people with suicidal thoughts to actually hurt themselves. Because of their jobs, veterinarians have access to the chemicals used to put animals down, and studies have found they often use the drugs on themselves.

The other recommendation we've made is looking at checks and balances to help manage euthanasia solutions, Tomasi said.

Other people are working on this, too. There's an organization of veterinarians that runs a support group on Facebook. It just announced a partnership with a company to provide veterinarians with online counseling.

This reporting is part of Call to Mind, our MPR initiative to foster new conversations about mental health.

If you are having thoughts of suicide, call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255 or go to SpeakingofSuicide.com for more resources.

Read more:
Veterinarians are dying of suicide at high rates, and the U of M is addressing it - West Central Tribune

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The Compliance Office will send a letter of acknowledgment to the person who filed the complaint (Complainant), and a letter requesting a response (with a copy of the complaint) to the licensee against whom the complaint was filed.

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The complaint and response (if any) are submitted to the Screening Panel members.The Screening Panel meeting isnota hearing, but rather a committee meeting to review and discuss the complaint and response to determine if disciplinary action is warranted.

DISMISSAL

If the Screening Panel dismisses a complaint, the complaint can be dismissedwithorwithout prejudice(see definitions below).

Dismissal With Prejudice-The complaint is dismissed and cannot be considered by the Screening Panel in the future.

Dismissal Without Prejudice-The complaint is dismissed but may be considered by the Screening Panel in the future if there are ever allegations of a similar nature.

INVESTIGATION

Only a member of the Screening Panel can request an investigation of a complaint. If an investigation is requested by the Screening Panel, the case is assigned to an investigator who may request an interview with the Licensee, the Complainant, and/or other individuals. Upon completion of the investigation, a written report is submitted to the Screening Panel, which will then determine if there isReasonable Causeto proceed with disciplinary action.

Reasonable Cause-A finding by the Screening Panel that evidence exists that a violation of statutes and rules has occurred which warrants proceeding with disciplinary action.

IfReasonable Causeis found, the Department Counsel issues aNotice of Proposed Board Action(Notice) to the Licensee. Once a Notice is issued, it is public information. A proposedStipulationmay be included with the Notice.

Notice-A legal document from the Departments Legal Counsel which sets forth the Departments factual assertions, the statutes or rules relied upon, and advising the licensee of the right to a hearing.

Stipulation- A tentative agreement for settlement of the case. A Stipulation is not finalized until approved by the Adjudication Panel.

The Licensee may either sign theStipulationor contest the proposed action by requesting an administrativeHearing(a legal process before a Hearing Examiner). If the Licensee wishes to request a hearing, written request must be received within twenty (20) days from receipt of the Notice. Failure to either sign a Stipulation or request a hearing within twenty (20) days may result in the issuing of a Final Order of Default against the licensee.

Default- the licensees acceptance of the disciplinary action demonstrated by failing to participate in the process

ADJUDICATION PANEL

Adjudication Panel-A committee comprised of members of the Board who areNOTon the Screening Panel. The Adjudication Panel determines the final outcome of a case.

The Adjudication Panel reviews the record to determine appropriate sanctions. A Final Order is issued by the Adjudication Panel, completing the complaint process.

COMPLAINT PROCESS FLOW

Current license status and information regarding disciplinary action(s) againsta licensee can be accessed online at:https://ebiz.mt.gov/pol/

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Board of Veterinary Medicine

By Linda Cole

Modern day veterinarians have an essential role in the health and welfare of our pets, as well as livestock and wildlife. Vets are well-versed in the science of animal health, and they promote public health by identifying and combating infectious zoonotic diseases that can be passed from animals to humans. Advances in medical science have provided veterinary professionals with sophisticated equipment, tests, procedures and medicines to treat our pets. However, the history of veterinary science dates back much further than you may realize.

The first known people to dabble in the field of veterinary medicine began around 9000 BC in Middle East countries including Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Iran, Turkey and Iraq. Sheepherders had a crude understanding of medical skills which were used to treat their dogs and other animals. From 4000 to 3000 BC, Egyptians took earlier medical skills and made further advancements. Historical records and Egyptian hieroglyphs record how they used herbs to treat and promote good health in domesticated animals.

Vedic literature, which was written around 1500 BC, refers to four sacred texts from India written in the Sanskrit language that forms the basis of the Hindu religion. The Kahun Papyrus from Egypt dates back to 1900 BC. Both texts are likely the first written accounts of veterinary medicine. One of the sacred texts documents Indias first Buddhist king, Asoka, who ensured there were two kinds of medicine: one for humans and one for animals. If he discovered there was no medicine available for one or the other, he ordered healing herbs to be bought and planted where they were needed.

The Kahun Papyrus is the oldest known papyrus medical text. Its divided into 34 sections that deal with specific topics. One of the topics is animal gynecology. Tomb drawings predating the Kahun Papyrus by a couple thousand years document early Egyptian understanding of gynecology. Trained specialists were skilled obstetricians and given the name of overseer of cattle. They were charged with examining cattle, attending to pregnancies, and the birthing of calves to ensure their health and survival.

Archaeologists found fragments of a papyrus that was a medical textbook from somewhere around 1850 BC, indicating that Egyptians were familiar with the anatomy of animals, could recognize early warning signs of certain diseases in dogs, birds, fish and cattle, and used specific treatments to deal with them. The Romans, Greeks, Babylonians, Hindus, Arabs and Hebrews also practiced animal medicine. A man named Urlugaledinna, who lived in Mesopotamia in 3000 BC, was considered an expert in his ability to heal animals. Around 500 BC, a Greek scientist named Alcmaeon dissected animals to study them.

Early attempts to regulate and organize the treatment of animals were mainly focused on horses because of their economic importance to society. During the Middle Ages, farriers combined their trade of horseshoeing with general horse doctoring. When the Lord Mayor of London, which is different from the Mayor of London, learned about the poor care horses in London were receiving in 1356, he persuaded all farriers within a seven mile radius of the city to form a fellowship to improve and regulate how they treated horses. The fellowship led to the creation in 1674 of the Worshipful Company of Farriers.

The first veterinary school was founded in Lyon, France in 1761 by Claude Bourgelat, and thats when the profession of veterinary medicine officially began. The school focused on studying the anatomy and diseases of sheep, horses and cattle in an effort to combat cattle deaths from a plague in France. Cattle plagues were common throughout history, but attempts to learn how to fight microorganisms had to wait until the invention of the microscope sometime in the 1590s. The first vaccinations for cattle were developed in 1712 and used to eradicate a plague in Europe.

Over the next ten years, veterinary schools were established in Germany, Sweden and Denmark. In 1791, the London Veterinary College was established and developed veterinary science at a professional level dedicated to animal medicine. The wellbeing and health of horses was their initial focus for years, because of the use of horses in the Army. Eventually they turned their attention to cattle and other livestock, and finally added dogs and other animals.

The first veterinary school established in the United States was the Veterinary College of Philadelphia in 1852, which operated until 1866. In 1883, the School of Veterinary Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania was established and is the oldest accredited veterinary school still in operation. The American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) was established in 1863, and the Bureau of Animal Industry under the USDA was set up in 1884 and in operation until 1900. Its purpose was to protect the public from infectious diseases through contaminated meat, eradicate diseases in animals and improve the quality of livestock.

Top photo by Bainbridge Bethesda/FlickrBottom photo by Anne Worner/Flickr

Read more articles by Linda Cole

Read the original here:
A Quick History of Veterinary Medicine | CANIDAE

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College of Veterinary Medicine | Washington State University

From the moment you walk through our covered porch entrance we do everything to make sure you and your pet feel at ease. Your pet gives you wholehearted and unconditional love so when they need medical care we want you to know you came to the right place. We only see one patient at a time so our doctors and staff can give you and your pet their undivided attention. We strive to make personalized care our forte!

Our practice was established in 1992 as a large animal service to local dairies and horse stables in Oneida County, New York. In the year 2000, after an extensive remodel to the building we are in, we moved to our current facility and expanded our care to include dogs and cats.

Enjoy browsing through our site. In it you will find useful information about our staff and the services we provide. In addition, there are articles about equine and pet care you can peruse. We have also provided several links to other sites that promote optimum pet and horse health. Feel free to contact us with any questions you might have about the services we offer or pet health information you might need.

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Adirondack Veterinary Service

.col > .col-inner { padding: 0px 0px 0px 0px; } Entrust Your Pet to a Skilled Veterinarian in Mesa, AZ.

Your pet is part of your family. Whether you own a dog or a cat you want your pet to live free of disease and injury. When your pet needs preventative care or emergency services, you need to bring your beloved companion somewhere it can receive the treatment it needs.

Whether your pet needs preventative veterinary medicine or an after-hours exam by an emergency vet in Mesa, AZ, contact 1st Pet Veterinary Centers.

In 1989, 1st Pet began with the desire to bring first-class veterinary care to the Mesa area. As we grew, so did our ability to serve your pets. Like us, animals can receive a variety of primary care services, including vaccines, dental care, and cleaning. Other primary care services we offer include these:

In addition to these general pet care services, 1st Pet offers emergency aid for your injured or sick animals. Available 24-hours a day, 365 days a year, our team can handle all your pets veterinary needs. We work around the clock because emergencies do not usually happen at convenient times.Our veterinary specialists have training in critical care, internal medicine, and veterinary surgery. Our staff will also give your pets the same care they would give to their own pets.

When you need an animal hospital in Mesa, AZ, call us at (480) 924-1123 or visit us at 5404 E. Southern Ave. We offer compassionate veterinary services to help your pet return to full health.

5404 E. Southern Ave.Mesa, AZ 85206tel:(480) 924-1123

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Animal Hospital Serving Mesa, AZ - 1st Pet Veterinary Centers

Houston Lake Animal Hospital, Warner Robins, GA

We invite you to contact us today to discuss your pets care. Call us at 478-971-4700.

Exercise has many advantages for our pets. Click here to learn about some of them!

Click here for helpful information about preventing parasites in your pet.

Houston Lake Animal Hospital is proud to serve Warner Robins, GA and the surrounding areas. We are dedicated to providing the highest level of veterinary medicine along with friendly, compassionate service.

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We welcome all new clients to our veterinary facility. We invite you to contact us today. If you have any questions or concerns, please don't hesitate to call us at 478-971-4700.

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We value our patients and clients, and we appreciate the role we get to play in your pet's health care. Check this page for different specials that will help you save on services and products.

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Houston Lake Animal Hospital, Warner Robins, GA

You can view a list of potential veterinary career paths here.

Whether they're pets, livestock or working animals, animals matter to individuals and society. Every community needs veterinary professionals to provide animal health care, but veterinarians also do many other kinds of jobs. They make sure the nation's food supply is safe. They work to control the spread of diseases. They conduct research that helps both animals and humans. Veterinarians are at the forefront of protecting the public's health and welfare.

Besides medical skills, veterinarians often take a holistic approach to human well-being and animal welfare that, combined with communications and problem-solving skills, makes veterinarians uniquely qualified to fulfill a variety of roles. Many veterinarians, of course, provide care for companion animals through private medical practices, but veterinarians are also involved in promoting the health and welfare of farm animals, exotic animals, working animals (like those in the equine industry), and those that need a healthy environment in which to thrive, whether that environment is a rain forest, a desert or even the ocean.

Outside of companion animal practice, the largest employer of veterinarians in the United States is the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Food Safety and Inspection Service, but veterinarians are found throughout government in roles where they contribute to public health, the environment, and even homeland security, as well as working in research and public policy.

Many veterinarians are engaged in work at the intersection of both human and animal health. For example, veterinarians play an important role in food safety, where epidemiological research is crucial to forecasting the threat of food-borne diseases and outbreaks. They work to keep cattle and other food animals healthy by developing and testing various farm control methods that help to detect, limit, and prevent the spread of food that might be contaminated by salmonella, E coli or other pathogens. And theyre often on the front lines of surveillance where their extensive medical training can help them to detect and treat the outbreak of diseases that have the potential to make the jump from animals to humans.

Unmet needs for veterinary expertise exist in some sectors of veterinary medicine, such as public health, biomedical research, and food safety. To help address the lack of veterinarians in biomedical research, the AAVMC is a co-sponsor of the Merial Veterinary Scholars Program. The program's mission is to expose veterinary medical students in their first or second year of veterinary school to biomedical research and career opportunities in research. The program culminates in the Merial NIH National Veterinary Scholars Symposium, where veterinary students participating in the program gather from all over the United States and Canada to present their research findings and share experiences from their various programs.

Learn more about how to embark on a path that will lead to a veterinary medical career on our Students, Applicants and Advisors portal.

Read more here:
Careers in Veterinary Medicine - aavmc.org

Which college should I enroll in?

A student in any undergraduate college at Cornell may enroll in the courses required for entry into veterinary college. Cornell undergraduate applicants to veterinary school are enrolled primarily in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences with a few in the College of Arts and Sciences, the College of Engineering, and the College of Human Ecology. The appropriate choice depends largely on your other academic and career interests. Students should consult the University's publications for information about the seven colleges at Cornell, reviewing their requirements, majors, and course descriptions.

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What should I major in?

Veterinary schools do not require or recommend any particular undergraduate major course of study or designated preveterinary program. Cornell does not have a preveterinary major and there is no evidence that admissions committees of veterinary colleges give special consideration to any particular undergraduate education beyond satisfactory completion of the required undergraduate courses; for this reason you are encouraged to pursue your own intellectual interest in an academic major.

For example, a student might major in animal science, biological sciences, natural resources or development sociology in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences. Or you might major in biological sciences, English, anthropology in the College of Arts and Sciences or nutrition in the College of Human Ecology. You complete the preprofessional core of courses while at the same time receiving a broad education, and exploring other interests and careers. In this way, you leave open the option of pursuing an alternative career. You are also more likely to succeed at and benefit from subjects that interest and stimulate you, and you leave open the option of pursuing an alternative career.

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What courses should I take?

Veterinary schools, while not requiring or recommending any particular major course of study, do require that particular undergraduate courses be completed. Listed below are the minimum course requirements for admission to the College of Veterinary Medicine at Cornell University. Veterinary Medical School Admission Requirements (VMSAR) contains details for other schools.

English Composition

6 semester credit hours

Biology or Zoology (with laboratory)

6 semester credit hours

Introductory Chemistry (with laboratory)

6 semester credit hours

Organic Chemistry (with laboratory)

6 semester credit hours

Biochemistry

4 semester credit hours

Physics (with laboratory)

6 semester credit hours

General Microbiology (with laboratory)

3 semester credit hours

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Education for becoming a veterinarian: a wider view

In discussing science courses required for entry to veterinary school, it is important to realize that these are only a part of the total educational picture that veterinary schools consider. It is generally agreed that an applicant must be able to perform well in science, to think like a scientist, and even to enjoy science in order to be a competent veterinarian. Being an educated person with an understanding of human nature and human achievement is equally important to veterinarians, both professionally and personally.

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What kinds of animal care related experience do I need?

Veterinary medicine is an animal oriented profession. Therefore, your experiences working with different kinds of animals in different settings and your understanding of the veterinary profession are important consideration in the selection process. Such experience could involve breeding, rearing, feeding and showing various kinds of animals including companion animals, livestock, laboratory animals, zoo animals or wildlife. You should be prepared to present evidence of hands-on experience with animals and sufficient contact with the veterinary profession so that the admissions committee can determine that you have some understanding of the duties and responsibilities of a practitioner and the scope of veterinary medicine.

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What are the acceptance statistics for veterinary schools?

For the classes entering the College of Veterinary Medicine at Cornell University (CVMCU) for the past five years, generally over 20 members of the class were from Cornell. Approximately 100 Cornellians apply to CVMCU each year. No figures are currently available for Cornell students accepted at veterinary schools other than Cornell. Nationally, in 2008 there were over 6,000 applicants to U.S. vet school and over to 2,700 enrolled.

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What is the current employment outlook for vets?

Seventy-five percent of all veterinarians are in private practice, however, veterinarians are employed by government, business, universities, and the military in a wide variety of research, regulatory, and clinical roles. In 2006 the average starting salary for recent graduates was around $56,000 for small animal to $61,000 for large animal practice. The median annual earnings of veterinarians was $72,000 in 2006. Federally employed veterinarians averaged $84,335 in 2007.

Most enrolled need to borrow to cover veterinary college expenses. In order to be able to get loans, be sure to maintain a good credit rating throughout your college years. In 2006 the mean national indebtedness of veterinary graduates was $90,654.

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What is Cornell Accelerated BS/DVM Program?

The double registration program between Cornell University and the College of Veterinary Medicine at Cornell University is approved for students in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences. It enables a qualified student to save one year in pursuit of the Bachelor and D.V.M. degrees. The program is intended for students who have been admitted to the College of Veterinary Medicine after completing three years of undergraduate work and who have made sufficient progress on the Bachelor's Degree requirements. Certain courses taken in the College of Veterinary Medicine can be used to complete those requirements. Questions about the program may be directed to Jennifer Mailey, Director of Admissions, College of Veterinary Medicine at Vet_admissions@cornell.edu

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What help does Cornell provide for health careers students?

What other resources are available?

A sample of books available in the Career Library, 103 Barnes Hall.

American Animal Hospital Association Accredited Practice Directory American Zoo and Aquarium Membership Directory Career Choices for Veterinarians: Beyond Private Practice, Carin Smith, DVM Careers with Animals, Ellen Shenk Extraordinary Jobs with Animals, Alecia Devantier & Carol Turkington Get Into Veterinary School - Insights by an Admission Expert, Joseph Piekunka Opportunites in Zoo Careers, Sydney J. Butter

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Continue reading here:
Cornell Career Services: Veterinary Medicine FAQ

The Veterinary Referral Center of Northern Virginia has provided unmatched, compassionate emergency, internal medicine, and surgery care for dogs and cats and their owners throughout Northern Virginia for more than 30 years. We understand and appreciate the needs of our clientsboth owners and referring veterinariansand do our very best to meet these needs.

We provide exceptional emergency services 24/7 365 days a year, including holidays, and unsurpassed referred internal medicine, surgery, behavior medicine, and ophthalmology services at fees that are often significantly less than other regional referral centers. Our veterinarians are award-winning experts in their fields. Providing our patients and clients with an unparalleled care experience is our top priority.

Our Behavior Medicine Division, added in 2016, is led by Dr. Amy Pike, one of fewer than 70 board-certified veterinary behaviorists in North America. Dr. Amy Butler and Dr. Jocelyn Patterson, two highly regarded critical care specialists, are now members of our team. On July 23, 2018 we added an Ophthalmology Division led by Dr. Michelle Samuel, leading board-certified ophthalmologist.

We are locally owned and operated and give back to our community. Trust our highly trained veterinarians and staff members to care for your beloved four-legged family members.

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Veterinarian in Manassas, Virginia | The Veterinary ...

Veterinary medicine in the United States is the performance of veterinary medicine in the United States, normally performed by licensed professionals, and subject to provisions of statute law which vary by state. Veterinary medicine is normally led by veterinary physicians, normally termed veterinarians or vets.

Veterinarians are often assisted by paraveterinary workers including veterinary technicians and veterinary assistants, and in some cases, these para-professionals may perform work on their own.

Dependent on the jurisdiction, other professionals may be permitted to perform some animal treatment, through either specific exemptions in the law or through a lack of prohibitive legislation. This can include manipulation techniques such as physiotherapy, chiropractic and osteopathy, or animal-specific professions such as horse and cattle hoof trimmers, equine dental technicians, and technicians who specialize in cattle artificial insemination.

The Veterinarian's Oath was adopted by the American Veterinary Medical Association's House of Delegates July 1969, and amended by the AVMA Executive Board, November 1999 and December 2010.

Being admitted to the profession of veterinary medicine, I solemnly swear to use my scientific knowledge and skills for the benefit of society through the protection of animal health and welfare, the prevention and relief of animal suffering, the conservation of animal resources, the promotion of public health, and the advancement of medical knowledge.

I will practice my profession conscientiously, with dignity, and in keeping with the principles of veterinary medical ethics. I accept as a lifelong obligation the continual improvement of my professional knowledge and competence.

In order to practice, veterinarians must obtain a degree in veterinary medicine, followed by gaining a license to practice. Previously, veterinary degrees were available as a bachelor's degree, but now all courses result in the award of a doctorate and are therefore awarded a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) if the degree is awarded in English, or a Veterinariae Medicinae Doctoris ("Doctor of Veterinary Medicine") (VMD) if the degree is awarded in Latin.

There is a high level of competition for admission to veterinary schools; there are currently only twenty eight veterinary schools in the United States which meet the accreditation standards set by the Council on Education of the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA), and five in Canada. Entrance requirements vary among veterinary schools, and various pre-professional degree programs have been developed to assist undergraduates in meeting these requirements. Such pre-vet programs are thus similar in concept to pre-med programs, and are often housed in Agricultural Biology,[1] Animal Science,[2] or Biological Science[3] programs.

Following qualification from the doctoral degree, the prospective veterinarian must receive a passing grade on the North America Veterinary Licensing Exam.[4] This exam is completed over the course of eight hours, and consists of 360 multiple-choice questions. This exam covers all aspects of veterinary medicine, as well as visual material designed to test diagnostic skills.

The median salary for starting veterinarians in 2016 was $74,690 in the United States according to U.S. Money News, while the lowest paid graduates earned approximately $53,000 annually. Montana had the lowest state average, while Michigan, Illinois and Hawaii had the highest.

The average income for a private practice associate in the United States was $158,000 in 2016. According to DVM360 most practice owner's paid themselves based on production, including a 3-4% management fee plus a 4.5% "return on investment" fee dependent on the value of their business. We know from industry standards that the average owner of a veterinary practice earns approximately $282,000 per year base salary. These increased values exceed those of public practice including uniformed services and government. In Australia, the profession wide average income was $67,000 in 2011 and this has declined compared to other professions for the past 30 years whilst graduate unemployment has doubled between 2006 and 2011.[5]

As opposed to human medicine, general practice veterinarians greatly outnumber veterinary specialists. Most veterinary specialists work at the veterinary schools, or at a referral center in large cities. As opposed to human medicine, where each organ system has its own medical and surgical specialties, veterinarians often combine both the surgical and medical aspect of an organ system into one field. The specialties in veterinary medicine often encompass several medical and surgical specialties that are found in human medicine.

Veterinary specialties are accredited in North America by the AVMA through the American Board of Veterinary Specialties.[6] While some veterinarians may have areas of interest outside of recognized specialties, they are not legally specialists.

According to a veterinary survey top paying specialties include veterinary anesthesiology ($389,105 median salary in 2008), veterinary ophthalmology ($215,120 median salary in 2009), veterinary nutrition ($202,368 average salary in 2008), and veterinary general surgery ($183,902 average salary in 2008).[7]

Veterinary technicians are the primary paraveterinary workers in the US and assist the veterinarian in the role of a nurse (and in most other anglophone countries, the equivalent role is called a veterinary nurse), providing trained support. The requirements for technicians vary by state, but in most cases, technicians are graduates of two or four year college-level programs and are legally qualified to assist veterinarians in many medical procedures.

Some states choose to license technicians, so that only people with appropriate qualifications are able to fulfill the role, but this is not the case in all jurisdictions.

Veterinary technology as an organized and credentialed career option is relatively young, only existing since the mid 20th century, although it began in 1908 when the Canine Nurses Institute was established in England, and as such is still struggling for recognition in many parts of the world. The first training program for technicians in the United States was established by the Air Force in 1951. The first civilian program was established ten years later in 1961 at the State University of New York (SUNY) Agricultural and Technical College at Delhi. In 1965 Walter Collins, a veterinarian, received federal funding to develop model curricula for training technicians. He produced several guides over the next seven years, and for this work he is considered the "father of veterinary technology" in the United States.[8]

Technical skills include: venipuncture; collecting urine; performing skin scrapings; taking and processing radiographs; and performing routine lab procedures and tests in: hematology, blood chemistry, microbiology, urinalysis, and microscopy. They assist the veterinarian with physical examinations that help determine the nature of the illness or injury. Veterinary technicians also induce and maintain anesthesia, and administer medications, fluids and blood products as prescribed by the veterinarian. Tasks in patient care include: recording temperature, pulse and respiration, dressing wounds, applying splints and other protective devices, and dental procedures. They perform catheterizations urinary, arterial, and venous; ear flushes; intravenous feedings and tube feedings. Equipment use includes operating various types of patient monitors and imaging devices to include electrocardiographic, radiographic and ultrasonographic equipment. Larger referral practices and teaching hospitals may also find veterinary technicians operating computed tomography equipment, magnetic resonance imagers, gamma cameras and other advanced medical devices. Veterinary technicians commonly assist veterinarians in surgery by providing correct equipment and instruments and by assuring that monitoring and support equipment are in good working condition. They may also maintain treatment records and inventory of all pharmaceuticals, equipment and supplies, and help with other administrative tasks within a veterinary practice such as client education. Unlike their more specialized counterparts among medical paraprofessionals, the veterinary technician is usually the only paraprofessional found in a veterinary practice and is thus often called upon to be a jack-of-all-trades.

To become a credentialed veterinary technician, one must complete a two-year or three-year AVMA credentialled degree, most of which result in the awarding of an associate of applied science degree in veterinary technology (those completing a four-year AVMA accredited school gain a bachelor's degree are considered veterinary technologists though the distinction is rarely made with the term technician being used generally.[9]

The education a credentialed technician receives is in-depth and crucial for medical understanding and to give proper health care. The American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) is responsible for accrediting schools with either Associate's degrees or Bachelor's degrees, though in some states or provinces this is not necessary. The AVMA also accredits schools that offer distance education. As a requirement of AVMA-accreditation, all distance learning programs require a significant amount of practical clinical experience before the student will be allowed to graduate.

Beyond credentialing as a veterinary technician specialty certification is also available to technicians with advanced skills. To date there are specialty recognitions in: emergency & critical care, anesthesiology, dentistry, small animal internal medicine, large animal internal medicine, cardiology, oncology, neurology, zoological medicine, equine veterinary nursing, surgery, behavior, nutrition, clinical practice (canine/feline, exotic companion animal, and production animal sub-specialties), and clinical pathology. Veterinary Technician Specialists carry the additional post-nominal letters "VTS" with their particular specialties indicated in parentheses. As veterinary technology evolves, more specialty academy recognitions are anticipated.

Non-credentialed personnel who perform similar tasks to veterinary technicians are usually referred to as veterinary assistants though the term technician is often applied generously. In many states, a veterinary assistant cannot legally perform as many procedures as a technician. Veterinary assistants often have no formal education related to veterinary medicine or veterinary technology, however, NAVTA recently approved the designation of Approved Veterinary Assistant (AVA) for those successfully completing approved educational programs. In larger facilities with tiered hierarchies veterinary assistants typically assist veterinary technicians in their duties.

Most states in the US allow for malpractice lawsuit in case of death or injury to an animal from professional negligence. Usually the penalty is not greater than the value of the animal. For that reason, malpractice insurance for veterinarians usually is well under $500 a year, compared to an average of over $15000 a year for a human doctor.[10] Some states allow for punitive penalty, loss of companionship, and suffering into the award, likely increasing the cost of veterinary malpractice insurance and the cost of veterinary care. Most veterinarian carry much higher cost business insurance, worker's compensation, and facility insurance to protect their clients and workers from injuries inflicted by animals.

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Veterinary medicine in the United States - Wikipedia

Dr. Holly Hansen is a born and raised Jersey girl. She completed her undergraduate studies at Felician College in Lodi, NJ graduating with a Bachelors degree in Biology. She earned her DVM degree in 2005 from Tufts University-School of Veterinary Medicine in North Grafton, MA. Soon after graduating from Tufts, she went on to further develop her veterinary skills by completing a one year small animal medicine and surgery internship at Arboretum View Animal Hospital right outside of Chicago.

Prior to becoming a veterinarian though, she worked at the Office of the Chief Medical Examiners Office in Newark, NJ covering multiple counties as a medical crime scene investigator for quite a few years.

Her interests in veterinary medicine include feline medicine, geriatric medicine, and internal medicine. She shares her home with a clowder of felines. She speaks cat, but absolutely loves all kinds of animals.

In her spare time, she enjoys the beach, going to the movies, concerts, music, anything Barry Manilow, and horror conventions.

See the rest here:
Holly Hansen, DVM - secaucusvet.com

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Veterinarians tend to the healthcare needs of animals, including pets, livestock, and zoo and laboratory animals. Commonly called vets, most work in private clinics, treating companion animals, such as dogs and cats. They diagnose illnesses and perform medical procedures.

A small number of people who work in this field are equine veterinarians who treat horses, and food animal vets who work with farm animals who are raised to become food sources.

Some vets specialize in food safety and inspection. They check livestock for illnesses that animals can transmit to humans. Others are research veterinarians who study human and animal health conditions.

To learn about typical job duties in this field, we perused job listings onIndeed.com.

They listed the following tasks:

To become a veterinarianyou will have to earn a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (D.V.M. or V.M.D.) degree from an accredited college of veterinary medicine. Although many schools admit applicants who don't have a bachelor's degree, earning one will increase your odds of gaining admission. There is keen competition for entry into this four-year program.

You will need a state-issued professionallicenseto practice. Every state requires candidates for licensure to pass the North American Veterinary Licensing Exam (NAVLE) administered by the International Council for Veterinary Assessment.

Many states also give their own exams.

Although it is not mandatory, many veterinarians choose to become certified in a specialty, for example, surgery or internal medicine. Requirements vary for eachbut may include getting experience in that area, passing an examination, spending additional time in school, or completing a three- to four-year residency program.

In addition to formal training, to be successful as a veterinarian, you need specific qualities you won't learn in school. Number one on this list is compassion, both toward the animals you will be treating and their owners. You will also need outstandingcritical thinking skills to aid in choosing appropriate treatment methods. Excellent interpersonal skills are also a mustsince you will spend time communicating with animal owners, staff members, and colleagues.

Manual dexterity and strong problem-solving skills are essential as well.

We again took a look at Indeed.com to find out what qualities employers are looking for in job candidates. This is what we learned:

Yourinterests,personality type, andwork-related valuesmust be a good match for any career you are considering. If you have the following traits, you could excel as a veterinarian:

Varies by specialty:

$208,560(general practitioners); $251,890+(surgeons)

Nurse Practitioner

Sources: Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor,Occupational Outlook Handbook; Employment and Training Administration, U.S. Department of Labor,O*NETOnline(visited October 12, 2018).

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What You Need to Know About Being a Veterinarian