14 Jun Responding to Bullying
The American Veterinary Medical Association and the vast majority of your clients sincerely appreciate your dedication and the quality of care you provide for your patients. That’s why it’s so incredibly difficult when your wellbeing and ability to deliver those services are negatively impacted by bullying, cyber and otherwise. Such has been the case at the Maine Veterinary Medical Center this week and last week. While the urgent care provided by our colleagues there appears to have resulted in yet another life saved, a news story, augmented by social media, has...
01 Apr Merck Animal Health’s Comprehensive Veterinary Wellbeing Study
Merck Animal Health released findings of its third comprehensive veterinary wellbeing study in partnership with the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) examining the wellbeing and mental health of U.S. veterinarians. Conducted in the fall of 2021, it is the first since the COVID-19 pandemic began with a goal to examine and bring critical awareness to the challenges impacting the veterinary profession, while highlighting the impact the pandemic has had on practitioners and staff. For the first time, the study includes responses from veterinary technicians and support staff and their perspectives...
14 Dec AVMA Advocate – December 2021
Ensuring veterinarians have access to compounded products The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is in the process of finalizing a guidance document on the use of bulk drug substances for compounding animal medications. As currently written, the draft guidance would not allow the use of compounds made from bulk drug substances to be kept in office stock for administration or dispensing by a veterinarian unless the compound is identified on a list maintained by the FDA. The AVMA has previously filed comments opposing the use of a list in this manner. As...
30 Aug FDA resources about people using animal formulations of ivermectin
The FDA’s Center for Veterinary Medicine has continued concerns that there are people using animal formulations of ivermectin to treat or prevent COVID-19 in humans. They have posted the following information: Letter to Veterinarians and Retailers Printable poster And in case you need them, here are links to existing resources: Consumer Update: Why You Should Not Use Ivermectin to Treat or Prevent COVID-19 (this one will be getting some updates soon) FAQ: COVID-19 and Ivermectin Intended for Animals CDC Health Advisory: Rapid Increase in Ivermectin Prescriptions and Reports of Severe Illness...
13 Aug Are we in a veterinary workforce crisis?
While the delta and lambda variants of SARS-CoV-2 continue to challenge us, we also see hints of post-pandemic normalcy with the return of some in-person meetings, reopened retail establishments, and get-togethers with extended family and friends. Despite these positive signs of recovery, many of us in the veterinary profession are still reeling, professionally and personally, from the pandemic’s effects on our practices, patients, and clients. Stress continues to run high, and our teams are feeling overworked and overwhelmed. Keep reading....
28 Jun MDVMA Legislative Committee Responds to Dissenting Opinion in Non-economic Damages Case
As reported in the June NewsBytes, Maryland’s highest court ruled in favor of pet owners after hearing the case to consider and address the scope of compensatory damages available in the case of the tortious injury or death of a pet. MDVMA was signatory to the amicus brief filed in the case. While the outcome was favorable for veterinarians, a dissenting opinion was published in The Washington Post following the ruling. Legislative Committee Chair, Dr. Matthew Weeman, with the assistance of MDVMA’s Lobbyist and the Animal Health Institute, followed up with...
09 Jun Pentobarbital Shortage – CAETA International News Release
Loveland, Colorado, June 1, 2021-In May 2021, the FDA announced a shortage of pentobarbital, the most commonly used drug for humane euthanasia of companion animals. This is due to the unavailability of the active pharmaceutical ingredient at the factory level. We at the Companion Animal Euthanasia Training Academy (CAETA), an international animal welfare training group, are working hard to alleviate the fear and stress felt across the world in our veterinary community as a result of this announcement. Our goal is to work collaboratively to prevent panic and hoarding of supplies...
01 Jun CDC Guidance Until Updated Veterinary Facilities Guidance is Available
The AVMA has been working with CDC on getting the guidance for veterinary facilities updated. The following from CDC is interim direction while work on the update is continuing. "Veterinary clinics should follow the masking guidance for the general public. While veterinarians are considered clinicians, the settings in which they work are not used to treat humans with suspected or confirmed COVID-19, and instances of animal-to-human transmission appear to be very rare. Veterinary clinics should consider local transmission and vaccination rates when creating clinic policies for PPE use and interactions with...
22 Apr Updated Recommendation Concerning Curbside Service
(April 22, 2021) - Back in September 2020, the State Board of Veterinary Medical Examiners recommended that curbside service was the safest way for most hospitals to operate. Though this was never a requirement, many hospitals implemented and continue to maintain curbside service because it was the Board’s best advice at the time. Governor Hogan recently announced increased capacity limits on outdoor and indoor dining, retail businesses, religious facilities, and personal services. Masking, physical distancing, and other safety protocols remain in place. (Read the Press Release.) (Read the Order). Because the risk...