Vetcetera: interesting and odd news and notes
  • No flukes? No problem
    Mechanical tail and physical therapy do wonders for a Florida aquarium's star marine attraction.
  • Your team's take on you
    Chances are your team is pleased with your managerial style.
  • Hairy women a sign of a tough economy
    The beauty industry—once considered recession proof like the veterinary industry— is taking a hard hit.
  • Veterinarian trains puppies with the help of teens
    This veterinarian gathers teens to train puppies at the shelter.
  • Poster shows health of lean-fed dogs
    Nestle Purina PetCare is sharing the results of a canine life span study on a poster you can get free of charge.
  • Swiss law orders pet buddy system
    A new law in Switzerland taking effect Sept. 1 widens animal rights laws in revolutionary ways. Consider the law's fine print:
  • More than 80 percent of employees take mental health days
    Top five reasons for needing a breather from work.
  • AAEP promotes annual dental exams for horses
    The American Association of Equine Practitioners launched an equine dental awareness campaign in April to run throughout 2008.
  • I wannabe a vet!
    There's a dog on a surgical table and another on an exam room table—just like at your hospital. The difference is the dogs aren't real and the doctors are kids.
  • Men, women run family businesses differently
    Do you see yourself—or your boss—in these findings about male and female owners of family businesses?
  • A Katrina tale
    Animal rescue in the roiling storm.
  • Vick's victims star on the small screen
    NFL quarterback Michael Vick's dogfighting ring is broken up and his former pit bulls and other dogs are living better lives.
  • Cats combat cardiac arrest?
    Cat canoodlers are rewarded with healthier hearts, at least that's the way it appears.
  • Um, there's something on your nose
    Professors at Texas State University talked to people with and without body art to get the lowdown on the hire-ability of the tattooed and pierced.
  • Projectile's new lead singer passes away
    Dr. Tom Arand won a contest to head Projectile at last year's CVC Central.
  • Annoyances on the job
    The top 10 things
  • Does your team want you gone?
    If you feel cartoon daggers hitting you in the back of your head at work when you walk by your grumpiest employees, you may not be hallucinating.
  • A head made for poking
    It starts with the head. The simulated head of a Labrador, that is.
  • New ways to find cats homes
    Rescue groups and shelters sell potential owners on mouse-killing and feline social skills.
  • Radar love
    A dog is found, neutered, lost, found, and found again.
  • What would you do with $1 million? How about $100 million?
    If you came unexpectedly into a huge chunk of cash and you're like most Americans, you'd pay off your household expenses or give the money to others. The difference between the two choices is how much money you actually had to fritter away.
  • Webwatch
    Web sites following pet estate planning, veterinarian shortages, and more.
  • Be prepared to help clients
    In the wake of the devastating California wildfires that displaced more than 250,000 people and many more animals, pet owners should be more aware than ever that they need a plan for their animals during an emergency. You can help by getting your clients the information they need.
  • Kid nippers have no priors
    Most dogs that bite kids haven't chomped on children before, according to research.
  • The color of health
    A gene that determines a dog's coat color may help scientists learn why people are thin or fat, or cope differently with stress.
  • Popular pet names
    Max is the most popular name for cats and dogs. What about the other 18?
  • Manual for mutt manners
    There's an entire chapter on veterinary hospital etiquette in The Miss Fido Manners Complete Book of Dog Etiquette by Charlotte Reed.
  • Are you a self-disclosing doctor?
    Are your personal stories getting in the way of good medicine?
  • Behind on sleep? Pay it forward
    You really can make up lost sleep, according to research published in a recent issue of Harvard Women's Health Watch.
  • Black Labs vs. pirates
    Two dogs make quick work of DVD-copying bootleggers.
  • Photogenic felines
    Photos of a new feline breed and a cat with braces.
  • A dog's $12 million trust fund
    Leona Helmsley, the billionaire hotel and real estate mogul who served prison time for tax evasion and other crimes, recently left $50 million to loved ones—$12 million of which went to her 8-year-old Maltese, Trouble.
  • Doggy see, doggy think
    New research shows that dogs may selectively imitate the actions of other dogs, not just take the easiest, most instinctive path every time.
  • I left my leash in San Francisco
    Dogs, cats, and wildlife should have warm, fuzzy feelings for the home of the Golden Gate Bridge.
  • You know what happens when you assume ...
    When two people are knowledgeable in the same field, misunderstandings arise if one assumes the other already knows something, according to a University of Chicago study.
  • Cornell to honor memory of feline veterinarian
    The 19th annual Feline Symposium July 27 to 29 at Cornell's College of Veterinary Medicine will honor James Richards, DVM, who recently passed away.
  • Hibernate for health
    Groundhogs, hedgehogs, bears, and other hibernating animals manipulate their body processes to survive the long winter—or the long summer, in the case of the fat-tailed lemur.
  • How to live 100 years? Your pet knows
    What is it in a rottweiler's DNA, development, or environment that holds the secret to cancer-free living and longevity? Doctors want to know.
  • Bunnies and ferrets and parrots, oh my!
    The top 11 most popular pet birds and exotic animals among the clients of a major pet insurance company.
  • No horsing around with infectious disease
    New guidelines give equine practitioners information on containing outbreaks.
  • Drug team members with praise
    The brain chemical that motivated cave-dwellers to hunt will get your staff excited about performing well.
  • If I were a rich man ... or not
    If you don't have a strong desire to be wealthy, you're in good company in the United States.
  • Kibbles 'n' Suds
    Why shouldn't your pooch get a little hooch?
  • A working vacation—it's more fun than it sounds
    A Web site lets you try out your dream career on your next vacation.
  • Calling all chiropractors—you're finally in!
    Animal chiropractors are on their way up if their inclusion under a new heading in the AT&T Yellow Pages is any indication.
  • $4 veterinary drugs at Wal-Mart
    The giant retailer is honoring veterinary prescriptions and offering customers in 49 states a 30-day supply of more than 300 generic drugs for just $4.
  • Dogs Democrat, owners Republican
    A Washington, D.C.-based pollster surveyed 600 dog owners—and their dogs—on their choice for president in 2008.
  • And to Max, I leave ... everything
    A new law in Ohio took effect recently that lets owners set up trust funds for their pets, meaning their furry friends will be taken care of in the event of owners' illness, incapacitation, or death.
  • FEMA finally to help animals in disasters
    When it's raining cats and dogs, cats, dogs and other animals will be included in disaster planning, thanks to a new law.
  • "Don't ask, don't tell" has to stop
    More owners are taking advantage of herbs, nutritional supplements, chiropractic medicine, and acupuncture for their pets, but few are telling their veterinarians.
  • Pass along brochures to pet owners
    While the government is sorting out pet-friendly disaster plans, you can help clients start planning today.
  • A little wishy-washy works
    Complicated feelings about situations can make for more creativity in the workplace, according to a new study.
  • Head of the class
    Determining the intelligence of a breed of dog isn't as easy as administering an IQ test, but there are some breeds that easily move to the head of the class, including herders and working dogs. Because they were bred to work with humans, they are responsive and in tune with their human counterparts.
  • A behind-the-scenes look at consultants' fees
    New data shows how much management consultants are costing veterinarians.
  • Ending euthanasia
    In an effort to prevent the euthanasia of millions of companion animals every year, the American Humane Association has launched a campaign, "Getting to Zero: Ending Euthanasia of Healthy & Treatable Animals."
  • Are you your own worst enemy?
    It's widely known that women make less money than men do for performing the same job, and now a new study confirms previous findings: Female veterinarians tend to charge needier clients less than they charge the well-to-do ones.
  • Straight from the horse's mouth
    Scientists are analyzing horse vocalizations to determine how stress is communicated when horses whinny.
  • Cats that don't cause sniffles
    For $3,950 per kitten, people with feline allergies can own one of the world's first scientifically proven hypoallergenic cats.
  • Expanding education knows no borders
    The AVMA has done away with geographical boundaries for accredited technician programs between the United States and Canada.
  • Banfield rolls out meals
    Banfield, the Pet Hospital, is partnering with Meals on Wheels Association of America with the goal of collecting more than 1 million pounds of pet food in Banfield hospitals across the United States.
  • Top 10 veterinary claims
    Cat owners filed the most medical claims for urinary tract infections in 2005, according to Veterinary Pet Insurance (VPI), making it the second year in a row the ailment tops felines' list.
  • Outlook for sheltered cats deteriorating
    Animal shelters in Ohio have reported that since 1996, the number of cats taken in increased by 20 percent, while the number of dogs received decreased by about 16 percent.
  • Group proposes specialty for family practice
    In response to the strengthening human-animal bond and changes in the way veterinarians practice primary care, a new association aims to establish a specialty for general medicine.
  • A pet's life: Priceless
    Do you know how much your clients are willing to spend to save their pet's life? Seventy percent of the more than 5,200 respondents to a recent poll of pet owners and policy holders conducted by Veterinary Pet Insurance (VPI) say they would pay any amount of money to save their pet's life.
  • Woman's best friend
    Rover might not be able to cook dinner or fold the laundry, but how many husbands do those chores anyway? Seventy-eight percent of respondents to an online poll say they'd rather have a pet than a husband.
  • Every dog has its day
    Chiclet the dog, with a little help from her human, Jan Rasmusen (someone had to do the typing), won the 2006 Ben Franklin Award for Best Health Book this summer.
  • Wallet-size now available
    Fluffy would probably rather hide under the bed than go to the mall, but now her face can be there every time you swipe your credit card.
  • 9-11 rescue dogs cancer-free
    Twelve search-and-rescue dogs that had their noses buried deep in the rubble at Ground Zero are cancer-free despite exposure to hazardous carcinogens and fine particles of soot.
  • School of fish
    With demand for veterinary care of farm fish and pet fish on the rise, the nation's first fish certification program is now available online.
  • The best job in America
    Where does the job of veterinarian rank among a list of top 50 jobs when comparing stress levels, schedule flexibility, and working environments? The job squeaks in at No. 49, nestled between sales engineer (No. 48) and school administrator (No. 50).
  • A step toward uniform codes
    Work on developing a uniformly accepted set of diagnostic codes for companion animal practices is nearing completion. According to the AAHA Diagnostic Codes Task Force, beta testing of 2,000 diagnostic and 2,000 clinical symptom codes began this spring.
  • Sniffles are nothing to sneeze at
    Pets suffer from allergies, too. And according to the 2005 claims data from Veterinary Pet Insurance, they suffer from many of the same allergies as humans.
  • On the lookout for disease threats
    In the fight against emerging disease threats to humans, a national surveillance network uses the medical records of pets to pinpoint geographic areas where treatment methods may need to be implemented.
  • Is your soap harboring germs?
    You may want to think again before reaching for that slimy bar of soap.
  • Top 10 breeds of 2005
    The United Kennel Club (UKC) released its list of the Top 10 Breeds of 2005. The ranking, based on UKC registration figures, show breeds from the hound group rounding out six of the top 10 spots.
  • Take a bite out of bites
    According to the National Center for Injury Prevention and Control, 800,000 Americans seek medical attention for dog bites each year; half of the victims are children.
  • Cross-training: burden or benefit?
    In a recent survey, 54 percent of team members felt cross-training was beneficial.
  • Feline vaccination report coming
    A report from the American Association of Feline Practitioners on feline vaccination is due out this summer. The key premise is it's better to vaccinate more cats in the population, not just the same cats over and over.
  • Creature comforts
    A study conducted by the Saint Louis University School of Medicine found that nursing-home residents prefer one-on-one time with man's best friend.
  • The power of poop
    America's dogs and cats produce nearly 10 million tons of waste a year. In San Francisco, animal feces makes up nearly 4 percent of the city's waste?almost as much as disposable diapers. Yet one animal's waste is another animal's treasure.
  • Relief for Katrina's equine victims
    In February, several equine organizations joined forces to donate 6,500 hay bales to nearly 800 horses in Vermillion Parish, La., one of the areas most devastated by Hurricane Katrina.
  • Small business don't tap federal programs
    A recent survey shows that a majority of small business owners don't know which agencies can help their business. In fact, 93 percent of those surveyed have not worked with the federal government to receive assistance.
  • Animal disease research facility in the works
    The Department of Homeland Security is planning a new National Bio and Agro-Defense Facility to replace the aging Plum Island Animal Disease Center in Long Island, N.Y.
  • The price tag for a pet
    Veterinary consultant Jim Wilson, DVM, JD, produced a spreadsheet that potential owners can use to calculate the lifetime costs of their new pets. The goal is to ensure they're prepared for the expenses of adequate care.
  • What's in a name?
    Feel like you saw 10 Simbas and six Daisys this week? You probably did.
  • Lyme prevention month
    As you're making plans for your practice for the month of April, keep in mind that The Lyme Disease Foundation and Merial are launching Prevent Lyme in Dogs Month.
  • Join the club
    Looking for a way for you and your clients to get involved in your community? The LapDog Club unites small-dog lovers for friendship, community enrichment, and charity.
  • Tech-savvy follow-ups
    Are you tracking your callbacks using 21st century tools? Sixty-three percent of practices tap a computer system to create reports that list clients and patients in need of appointments or callbacks.
  • Animal ID organization
    The United States Animal Identification Organization has formed to manage the industry-led animal-identification movement database prescribed by the National Animal Identification System (NAIS), according to a release by the National Cattlemen's Beef Association.
  • Fiscal forecast optimistic
    More than three in five city officials say their cities were better able to meet financial needs in 2005 than in previous years, according to a survey by the National League of Cities.
  • Tools for your team
    AAHA now offers membership for free to all veterinary technician students attending AVMA-accredited programs in the United States, Canada, and West Indies.
  • Pet-food recall
    Diamond Pet Food has recalled several products that may be contaminated by alfatoxin, a poisonous byproduct of a fungus that grows on corn and other crops. More than 100 dogs died after consuming the poisoned food, and many more are recovering.
  • Home sales expected to drop
    Projected increases in mortgage rates will likely lead to a drop in home sales in 2006, the Mortgage Bankers Association predicts.
  • Cancer diagnoses
    A survey of cancer-related claims submitted to Veterinary Pet
  • Dental month
    More than 80 percent of dogs and cats over the age of 4 show signs of oral disease, according to the American Veterinary Dental Society.
  • Help for vets in debt
    Veterinarians who are willing to work in underserved areas can get some help repaying their student loans from the federal government.
  • Pets find homes with team members
    Employees of veterinary clinics are more likely than the average pet-owning American to own more than one pet. In fact, almost half say they own five or more, while that's true for only 19 percent of pet owners overall. Here's more:
  • Heartworm problems linger after hurricanes
    After estimating that 80 percent of pets rescued from the Gulf Coast are infected with heartworm, several groups have established the Hurricane Heartworm Treatment Program.
  • Keeping private data under wraps
    Confidential practice information may not be as well-protected as you think. Up to 80 percent of corporate employees will disclose sensitive company or customer information to people they don't know over the phone, and up to 33 percent will disclose the sensitive information via e-mail, according to RavenEye, an information-security consulting business.
  • Program supports dairy-animal IDs
    Several dairy-cattle organizations have banded together to form IDairy, a program dedicated to dairy-animal identification.