Veterinary Voices

First long-acting flea, tick control for dogs rolls out in US

The launch in the United States of the first long-acting treatment to prevent fleas and ticks in dogs is stirring a mix of excitement and caution among veterinarians, as they weigh the benefit of uninterrupted 12-month coverage with concerns about neurological side effects that can be caused by the product's active ingredient.

The product's cost compared with shorter-acting treatments also has veterinarians wondering if some pet owners will be uncomfortable paying more up front for extended coverage, particularly for larger dogs that require a greater, and therefore more expensive, dose.

This story was published on Aug. 7, 2025.

Veterinarian reflects on colorblindness and career

When Dr. Randall Ruble attended veterinary school in the 1970s, being colorblind wasn't at the forefront of his mind. He pursued his studies with the merest of help and adapted as needed to visual challenges in his clinical practice.

Only now, late in his career, is the small animal practitioner in Central California beginning to appreciate how color vision deficiency — not seeing colors in the same way others do — influenced his life.

This story was published on July 24, 2025.

Internet vendor of opioids, euthanasia drug draws warning

At the top of a website called Peaceful Meds, images of injectable forms of ketamine, Demerol and GHB play in a slide show. A shopper may browse offerings in a variety of categories, labeled benzos, dissociatives, psychedelics, stimulants, opioids and more.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration issued a warning letter dated May 5 to the website, alleging it is dealing in unapproved and misbranded drugs and offering prescription drugs for sale without a prescription.

This story was published on Aug. 4, 2025.

Georgia pet owners lose access to pet poison hotlines

The nation's only 24-hour animal poison control hotlines stopped providing guidance to callers from Georgia in July following the passage of a law on remote care that they believe prohibits them from dispensing treatment advice to nonveterinarians in the state.

This story was published on July 30, 2025.

The Vets cancels all appointments amid apparent closure

The Vets, a mobile veterinary service provider, apparently has stopped operating, having canceled all appointments.

Founded in 2021 by venture capitalists to provide at-home veterinary care, the company lists on its website 28 locations in the United States where it provided services, including major cities such as Boston, Chicago, Dallas, Denver, Philadelphia, San Francisco and Seattle.

This story was published on July 23, 2025.

Debate heats up over Librela safety profile

Discussion in the veterinary community about the safety profile of a popular new osteoarthritis drug for dogs is continuing with vigor, stoked by three research papers — two backed by the drug's manufacturer, Zoetis — that give contrasting impressions of the risk of side effects.

Zoetis maintains that the vast majority of patients receiving the injectable treatment, branded Librela, have positive experiences and that associated adverse events are rare.

This story was published on July 17, 2025.

Ohio lawmakers loosen veterinary telemedicine rule

A new law in Ohio allows veterinarians to treat patients using real-time, virtual methods without first conducting an in-person exam, as was previously required.

Ohio is the eighth state to expand the use of telemedicine to treat veterinary patients.

This story was published on July 15, 2025.

Limited licenses offer path to foreign-trained veterinarians

Recruiting veterinarians to New Hampshire is tough. It's why state lawmakers last year created a conditional license for foreign-trained veterinarians.

The Granite State is not alone. Creating provisional licenses for foreign-trained veterinarians to address perceived workforce shortages has become something of a trend in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic, with eight jurisdictions across the United States and Canada adopting them since 2021.

This story was published on July 9, 2025.

Cat poisoning in UK highlights danger of fake flea controls

Authorities in the United Kingdom are alerting pet owners about counterfeit topical flea and tick treatments that have poisoned at least one cat.

A bogus treatment given to that animal, bought online through the popular e-commerce site eBay and bearing the Frontline brand, was found to contain pirimiphos-methyl, a powerful insecticide that is toxic to cats.

This story was published on July 1, 2025.

How states regard gabapentin in veterinary use

At the Humane Society of Utah, as at many shelters and veterinary clinics, gabapentin is frequently given as an anti-anxiety medication.

As Alexis Pagoulatos, executive director of the nonprofit organization, explained, "Many animals arrive at shelters injured, fearful or emotionally shut down from trauma, and gabapentin plays a key role in keeping them calm and relieving pain."

This story was published on June 26, 2025. A correction was published on July 25, 2025.