Veterinary Voices

Naming veterinary schools for donors is trending up

The University of California, Davis, School of Veterinary Medicine generated buzz at the end of January with an announcement that it’s received a $120 million donation and, in recognition of the donors, is renaming itself the Joan and Sanford I. Weill School of Veterinary Medicine.

The gift is the largest received by a veterinary school, not only in the United States but worldwide. UC Davis’ program is not the first to incorporate a benefactor’s name, however. Six other veterinary schools in the U.S. have adopted a person’s name into their own. Four namings happened in the past 3½ years. It appears to be a bit of a trend.

This story was published on February 5, 2026.

Experts draw from experience to gird for screwworm in US

Dr. Bill Folger has made an annual trip to Honduras every year since 1998, traveling to remote villages to provide preventive care to small and large animals. Never in more than a quarter century of visits had the Texas veterinarian ever seen a case of New World screwworm — until last June.

This story was published on Feb. 10, 2026.

USDA postpones horse protection rule changes for third time

The federal agency charged with enforcing horse protection regulations announced on Jan. 28 that it will delay the effective date of a rule intended to fortify prohibitions on soring, the practice of using chemicals or mechanical devices on show horses to induce pain to elicit an exaggerated gait that wins competitions.

This story was published on Feb. 6, 2026.

 

Surge in rabies reports prompts public health concerns

For more than 60 years, Chicago logged zero cases of rabid dogs. Then, in December, a young dog that had been acting anxious and aggressive was euthanized under suspicion of rabies. Four days later, the Illinois Department of Public Health publicly confirmed the diagnosis.

The dog, which was less than a year old, had been vaccinated against rabies in June. It began showing clinical signs of the disease six months later — an especially long incubation period that has veterinarians and public health experts wondering when and how the pet was infected.

This story was published on Jan. 29, 2026.

Dog noses point toward earlier detection of a stealthy cancer

To any dog lover who's encountered hemangiosarcoma — and there are many — the short span from diagnosis to death is painfully familiar. The disease develops quickly and under the radar, yielding no obvious clinical signs until it reaches a catastrophic point.

This story was published on Jan. 21, 2026.

Netherlands targets incentive-based pay for veterinarians

Authorities in the Netherlands are moving to ban incentive-based pay for veterinarians, adding to mounting attempts by governments worldwide to address pet owners' concerns about the rising cost of veterinary care.

The recommendation from the Netherlands Authority for Consumers and Markets (ACM) would prohibit linking veterinarians' pay directly to the amount of revenue or profit they generate. It is among a package of proposals from the regulator that includes establishing uniform standards for particular treatments and requiring veterinarians to disclose itemized prices to clients upfront.

This story was published on Jan. 15, 2026.

California ban on elective cat declawing goes into effect

Elective declawing of cats in California became a crime in January. The law, approved by the governor last October, authorizes the state veterinary medical board to revoke or suspend the license of or impose a fine on a veterinarian who performs the procedure for nonmedical reasons.

This story was published on Jan. 13, 2026.

Endorsed by a veterinarian? Think again

A curious, 2,500-word tale on Facebook first came to Dr. Anne Sinclair's attention when a long-time client emailed her a link.

The epic post is attributed to a Dr. Jessica Brown, DVM. It begins with Brown handing a $12,847 veterinary bill to a woman whose cat, Max, is supposedly at death's door.

This story was published on Jan. 8, 2026.

Rising antimicrobial drug sales stoke resistance concerns

Sales volumes in the United States of antimicrobial drugs for food animals rose markedly in 2024, seemingly eroding efforts to combat pathogen resistance to the drugs. Sales also rose, more modestly, in the European Union, while sales in Canada and the United Kingdom fell to record lows.

This story was published on Jan. 5, 2026.

US veterinary licensing exam challenged as biased

The administrator of the North American Veterinary Licensing Examination will initiate an independent audit in the wake of allegations that the test required for veterinarians to practice in the United States and Canada is biased.

This story was published on December 26, 2025.