Need to make tough decisions about your pet? A veterinary social worker can help.

Source: The Washington Post

(September 16, 2019) Veterinary social workers interact with veterinarians and pet owners in clinics, animal hospitals and other settings in four areas: the link between human and animal violence; grief and loss; animal-assisted interaction; and compassion fatigue management.  There is no official count on the number of veterinary social workers.  The University of Tennessee at Knoxville-which established the country's first program in 2002 and offers three certificates-has an Internet mailing list of about 1,000 individuals, though some may not be veterinary social workers...Read more»

 

University Replaces Animals with Models for Veterinarian Courses

Source: The Korea Bizwire

(September 4, 2019) Increasing public awareness on animal welfare is leading an university to replace animal cadavers with artificial models for anatomy classes. Konkuk University’s College of Veterinary Medicine announced on Tuesday that it will introduce artificial animal models for anatomy classes starting in the fall semester. The models include those manufactured by Syndaver, a leading manufacturer of animal models, that come with elaborate anatomical structure as well as the texture of organs and blood circulation of dogs and cats...Read more»

 

 

Why Euthanasia Rates at Animal Shelters Have Plummeted

Source: The New York Times (tiered subscription)

(September 3, 2019) When a lost, stray or abandoned pet entered an American city’s animal shelter 10 years ago, there was a good chance it would not leave. But in a quiet transformation, pet euthanasia rates have plummeted in big cities in recent years, falling more than 75 percent since 2009. A rescue, an adoption or a return to an owner or community is now a far likelier outcome, a shift that experts say has happened nationwide...Read more»

 

 

Owners of brachycephalic dogs are in denial, study suggests

Source: dvm360

(August 30, 2019) In recent years many in the veterinary community have decried the increasing popularity of brachycephalic breeds, which are adored for the “cute” traits that actually make these dogs extremely unhealthy. The truth is that the snub noses, “smiling” mouths and bulging eyes of these breeds make them look friendly and happy, when in fact these dogs are often straining to breathe. In a recent study in PLoS One, researchers tried to quantify exactly how owners of these dogs may be deluding themselves about their pets’ health...Read more»

 

Caged raccoons drooled in 100-degree heat.  But federal enforcement has faded.

Source: The Washington Post

(August 22, 2019) For two days running in the summer of 2017, the temperature inside a metal barn in Iowa hovered above 96 degrees. Nearly 300 raccoons, bred and sold as pets and for research, simmered in stacked cages. Several lay with legs splayed, panting and drooling, a U.S. Department of Agriculture inspector wrote. On the third day, the thermometer hit 100, and 26 raccoons were “in severe heat distress” and “suffering,” the inspector reported. Then a USDA team of veterinarians and specialists took a rare step: They confiscated 10 of the animals and made plans to come back for the others...Read more»

 

Veterinary care for all

Source: JAVMA

(August 14, 2019) Veterinary care access was the central topic during the first Access to Veterinary Care Symposium, hosted by the Program for Pet Health Equity, June 28-29 in Knoxville, Tennessee. Over 100 attendees from across the U.S. and Canada came together to discuss and debate how to care for the large number of animals owned by families that cannot afford veterinary care. The event focused on recommendations outlined in "Access to Veterinary Care: Barriers, Current Practices, and Public Policy," a report released by the PPHE in December 2018. Much of the discussion centered around the use of a subsidized veterinary care program called AlignCare that would provide incremental veterinary care, facilitate community-based funding, and engage social service agencies and social workers...Read more»

 

When working with animals can hurt your mental health

Source: ScienceDaily

(August 9, 2019) While it might sound like fun to work around pets every day, veterinarians and people who volunteer at animal shelters face particular stressors that can place them at risk for depression, anxiety and even suicide, according to research presented at the annual convention of the American Psychological Association. "People who work or volunteer with animals are often drawn to it because they see it as a personal calling," said Angela K. Fournier, PhD, of Bemidji State University, who presented at the meeting. "However, they are faced with animal suffering and death on a routine basis, which can lead to burnout, compassion fatigue and mental health issues..."Read more»

 

'Horrible Hundred' identifies problem puppy mills, calls on USDA to enforce penalties

Source: dvm360

(August 1, 2019) The Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) recently published a list of one hundred problem puppy mills and dog sellers. Dubbed ‘The Horrible Hundred,’ this report is published annually to warn consumers about common problems associated with puppy mills and to urge government oversight agencies, such as the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) and some local departments of agriculture, to live up to their enforcement obligations. The USDA is responsible for inspecting dog breeding kennels in every state if they have five or more breeding females and sell sight-unseen, such as through pet stores or online...Read more»

 
<< first < Prev 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 Next > last >>

Page 12 of 34