Veterinary Voices

Co-creator outlines case for new WSAVA neutering guide

Amid ongoing debate over how, when and even whether dogs and cats should be desexed, sweeping new reproduction control guidelines have been released. And, not surprisingly, they're raising some hackles.

Co-creator outlines case for new WSAVA neutering guide was published on Aug. 1, 2024. 

 

In big turnaround, US eases dog travel rule

United States authorities have dramatically eased proposed dog travel rules designed to prevent the spread of rabies after they were criticized by veterinarians, pet owners, local lawmakers and foreign governments.

In big turnaround, US eases dog travel rule was published on July 22, 2024.

 

Veterinarians weigh benefits, risks of new osteoarthritis drugs

Veterinarians increasingly are weighing the largely positive results they're seeing from new osteoarthritis drugs for dogs and cats with the risk of side effects like neurological disease, following submissions to regulators of thousands of adverse incident reports associated with the popular products.

Veterinarians weigh benefits, risks of new osteoarthritis drugs was published on June 13, 2024.

Canada criticizes US dog travel rule, wins some concessions

Canada has secured a partial relaxation from the United States of a controversial new dog-importation rule that many veterinarians fear could leave hordes of pets stranded at the border.

Canada criticizes US dog travel rule, wins some concessions was published on July 17, 2024. 

 

Research paper retraction stirs copper safety debate

The retraction of a paper from a prestigious veterinary journal for the first time in its 147-year history is stoking discussion about the reliability of research conducted by large corporations — and whether some dog food contains unsafe levels of copper.

Research paper retraction stirs copper safety debate was published on July 1, 2024. 

 

In wake of Brazil's floods, veterinarians put much on the line

"A true endless nightmare." "Immense and exhausting." "Like being in a war." These are among the ways Brazilian veterinarians described going through some of the worst floods in the country's history.

In wake of Brazil's floods, veterinarians put much on the line was published July 18, 2024.

Veterinarians at UK practice vote to strike over pay

Staff at a large veterinary practice in the United Kingdom have voted to walk off the job next week, in what their union says will be the first labor action of its kind for the country's veterinary profession.

Veterinarians at UK practice vote to strike over pay was published on July 9, 2024. 

 

Utah veterinary school plan hits a time crunch

If Utah State University's planned veterinary school were already established, aspiring students could have begun applying months ago to be considered for enrollment in fall 2025.

But USU's veterinary school is not yet in place, and while school officials hope to enroll their first class at that time, they anticipate accepting applications no earlier than spring 2025. That's nearly one year after most veterinary schools and fewer than two months before most applicants commit to a program.

Utah veterinary school plan hits a time crunch was published on July 3, 2024. 

Researchers tap AI to read pain in animals

A senior cat that had been gentle most of its life developed a curious tendency to claw at the legs of its 9-year-old human housemate whenever the child walked by. Mystified by the cat's aggressive turn, its owners consulted their regular veterinarian. The doctor, too, was perplexed.

It took a referral to a veterinary behaviorist, Dr. Christine Calder, to get to the bottom of the problem: The cat was acting strangely because it was in pain.

Researchers tap AI to read pain in animals was published on June 25, 2024. 

Bringing any dog into US gets more complex on Aug. 1

A strict new rabies-prevention rule affecting dogs entering the U.S. has veterinarians confused and concerned.

Bringing any dog into US gets more complex on Aug. 1 was published on June 19, 2024.