Keystone Veterinarian Volume 2

advancing animal welfare and human healthwhile ensuring the vitality of the profession

veterinariankeystone

OFFICIAL PUBLICATION OF THE PENNSYLVANIA VETERINARY MEDICAL ASSOCIATION

VOLUME II, 2013www.pavma.org

pvmap e n n s y l v a n i a v e t e r i n a r y m e d i c a l a s s o c i a t i o n

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pennsylvania veterinary medical association

8574 paxton street

hummelstown, pa 17036

phone: 888.550.7862

fax: 717.220.1461

email: [email protected]

website: www.pavma.org

2013 EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

Kenton Rexford, VMDPresident

Sherrill Davison, VMD, MS, MBA, DACPVPresident-Elect

James Holt, VMDVice President

Ronald M. Kraft, DVMSecretary-Treasurer

Robert P. Lavan, DVM, MS, MPVM, DACVPMImmediate Past President

Mary A. Bryant, VMDAVMA Delegate

Charlene Miller WandzilakExecutive Director

advancing animal welfare and human healthwhile ensuring the vitality of the profession


in this issue3 GoldenRetrieverLifetimeStudy:JoinResearchHistoryintheMaking

7 AVMAUpdatesEuthanasiaGuidelines

9 2013AVMAVeterinaryWorkforceReportConfirmsExcessCapacityinUSVeterinary Profession

15 BuildtheImportanceofPreventiveHealthcareWithPartnersForHealthyPetsPowerTools

26 What'stheValueofYourPVMAMembership?

27 FreeOnlineTrainingforNationalAnimalHealthEmergencyResponseCorps

29 PVMAFactSheet:HotWeatherTipstoKeepPetsHealthyandCool

30 AnsweringClientQuestionsAbouttheDangersofZoonoticDiseases

34 PracticeSpotlight:UnionvilleEquineAssociates

what’s featured12 TheMoraloftheStory…Don'tKissYourChick

14 Doctor,HaveYouCheckedthePulseofYourWebsiteLately?

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6 Observations by Heather Berst, VMD “MakingWomenIntoLeaders”

8 ThePresident’sTwoCents by Kenton Rexford, VMD "WhoistheStateBoardofVeterinaryMedicine”

10 FromWhereISit by Charlene Wandzilak “ExcitingPVMAOpportunitiesontheHorizonforPennsylvaniaVeterinaryPractices”

16 PracticePearls by Wendy S. Myers "ExplainingFinancesWithConfidence”

18 InsidePADLS by Donna Kelly, DVM, MASCP, DACPV "SummertimeProblemsforPondFish”

22 PVFCornerstone "4thAnnualBarkinthePark5kRunand1MileDogWalk”

28 VeterinaryTechnologyCorner by Vicki Byard, CVT, VTS (Dentistry) "TechnicianDespair:TheMostPrevalentDiseaseinVeterinaryMedicine”

35 MemberNews "PVMARememberstoDr.HarryRozmiarek"

38 What’sHappening “EventsandEducation”

40 TheGrandFinale “CatBathingasaMartialArt”

AdvertisingIndex27 AlliedVeterinaryCremation

11 AtlanticCoastVeterinaryConference

9 AVMA-PLIT

38 Burzenski&Company,PC

17 CommunicationSolutionsForVeterinarians

7 DoveLewis

IRC Highmark

37 NateLynch&Associates,LLC

4 On-HoldSpecialists

19 PartnersForHealthyPets

39 PetMemorialServices

25 PNCBank

5 PulseVetTechnologies

20 pvmaAssureInsuranceAgency,Inc.

21 SimmonsVeterinaryPracticeSalesandAppraisals

33 StandardProcessVeterinaryFormulas

IFC ThompsonWoodRealty

RC TotalPracticeSolutionsGroup

32 TransFirst

15 VetCor

11 Zoetis

36 Classifieds

QuarterlyColumns

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WWW.PAVMA.ORG 3keystone veterinarian VOLUME II 2013

Golden Retriever Lifetime Study: Join Research History in the Making By Michael Guy, DVM, MS, PhD

InSeptember2012,MorrisAnimalFoun-dationlaunchedthelargestprospective

researchstudyeverconductedinveterinarymedicine.TheGoldenRetrieverLifetimeStudyisrecruiting3,000purebredGoldenRetrievers,theirownersandtheirveterinar-iansintoalifelongobservationalstudytoevaluatetheinfluenceofgenetics,dietandenvironmentontheincidenceofcancerandotherdiseases.

Wearepleasedthatsomanyveterinarianshavealreadyjoinedthestudyinbothroles—asveterinariansandasdogowners.MichaelLappin,DVM,ownerofTheAnimalHouseinBuzzardsBay,Massachusetts,hasfourpatientsinthestudyandalsoenrolledhisowndogIsaac.

“Ithasbeenheartbreakinginmy40yearsasapracticingveterinariantoseeyoung,seem-inglyhealthyGoldenRetrieversstruckdowninwhatshouldbetheprimeoftheirlives,”hesays.“IhavebeendrivenbytheneedtodoasmuchasIcantohelpthiswonderfulbreedenjoyalonger,healthierlife.”

BuildLong-TermRelationshipsWithYourClientsInadditiontohelpingtoimprovecaninehealth,theGoldenRetrieverLifetimeStudyprovidesanopportunityforveterinarianstobuildlong-termrelationshipswithdedicatedclients.TheMorrisAnimalFoundationstudy

teamhasobservedthatownerswhoenrolltheirdogsinthisstudyareextremelycom-mittedtocaninehealth.Manyhave,unfortu-nately,alreadylostadogtocancerandare,therefore,evenmorededicatedtoadvancingveterinarymedicinetobenefittheircurrentandfuturepets.

“IenrolledmyGoldenRetrieverJourneyinthestudybecauseIhavealwayswantedbet-terhealthformydogs,”saysNancyBishop,aveterinarytechnicianwhoisalsoparticipat-inginthestudy.“Ican’tthankMorrisAnimalFoundationenoughfortakingonthispioneer-ingstudytohelpmybelovedbreedandotherdogs.”

Everyyear,forthelifetimeoftheirenrolleddog,ownerswillcompleteadetailedonlinequestionnaireabouttheirdog’sdiet,travel,reproductivehistory,livingenvironment,exercise,andbehavior.Ownersmustalsotaketheirdogstotheirveterinarianannuallyforaphysicalexaminationandcollectionofblood,urine,feces,hairandnailclippings.

Theveterinarianenterstheexamresultsintoanonlinedatabaseandshipssamplestoabiorepositoryforlong-termstorage,wheretheywillbemadeavailabletofutureresearchersforadditionalstudies.SamplesarealsosubmittedtoAntechDiagnosticsforaserumchemistrypanel,atotalT4testandcompletebloodcellcountaswellasurinaly-sis,fecalanalysisandaheartwormantigen

Top Veterinary ParticipantsThank you to the veterinarians and their teams who have multiple patients participating.

FIVE PATIENTSDr. Scott Carpenter, Arvada West Veterinary Clinic, Arvada, CO

FOUR PATIENTS Dr. Michael Lappin, The Animal House, Buzzards Bay, MADr. Deborah Pickett, Bernville Veterinary Clinic, Bernville, PA

THREE PATIENTSDr. Douglas Davies, Broadview Animal Clinic, Denver, CODr. Tracey Jensen, Wellington Veterinary Clinic, Wellington, CODr. Renee Leton, El Camino Animal Hospital, El Camino, CADr. Margaret Levy, North Kingstown Animal Hospital, North Kingstown, RIDr. Kari Swenson, Gallatin Veterinary Hospital, Bozeman, MT

continued on page 39

test.AntechDiagnosticssendstestresultstotheveterinarianatnocost.

Clientsarealsoexpectedtobringtheirdogtotheirveterinarianforallotherhealtheventsthattakeplacewhilethedogisinthestudy,andtheveterinarianmustprovideMorrisAni-malFoundationwithabriefonlinesummaryofthefindingsfromtheseadditionalvisits.Ifadogdevelopscancerduringthestudy,theveterinarianwillcollectsamplesforevalua-tionandsubmissiontothebiorepository.

SouthernStatesLeadEnrollment Theaimisforparticipatingdogstobeevenlydistributedamongthefourgendergroups—intactfemales,spayedfemales,intactmalesandneuteredmales—andacrossfivegeographicregionsofthecontinentalUnitedStates:Northeast,South,Midwest,MountainandPacific.

AsofMay1,378dogswereenrolledintheGoldenRetrieverLifetimeStudy,andmorethan1,200additionaldogswerecompletingtheapplicationprocess.TheSouthernstatesareleadingenrollmentwith24percentofdogs.

DogsEligibleForEnrollment• Mustbeahealthy,purebredGolden

Retriever• Haveaverifiablethree-generation

pedigree

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2013 Board of Trustees(A= Alternate Trustee, T=Trustee)

District IAdam Hoover, VMD, TrusteeBeth Piersol, DVM, Alternate

District IILloyd Reitz, Jr., DVM, Trustee

Stacia McMahon Gilbert, DVM, Alternate

District IIIMary-Lynn McBride, DVM, TrusteeDawn Fiedorczyk, VMD, Alternate

District IVMichael Q. Bailey, DVM, DACVR, Trustee

John Showalter, DVM, TrusteeAmanda Glass, DVM, Alternate

Sean Smarick, VMD, DACVECC, Alternate

District VDan Zawisza, VMD, Trustee

Alternate—Vacant

District VIAndrea Honigmann, DVM, Trustee

John Simms, VMD, TrusteeNathan Kapp, VMD, Alternate

Jeff Steed, DVM, Alternate

District VIIHeather Berst, VMD, Trustee

Christina Dougherty, VMD, TrusteeCasey Lynch Kurtz, VMD, Trustee

Theodore Robinson, VMD, TrusteeKimberley Hershhorn Galligher, VMD, Alternate

Kim Kovath, VMD, AlternateSteven Prier, VMD, Alternate

Tom Garg, VMD, Alternate

District VIIISusan Ackermann, DVM, Trustee

Ferdinand Visintainer, VMD, TrusteeMeg Alonso, VMD, Alternate Carlos Hodges, DVM, MS, PC

AVMA Alternate DelegateMike Topper, DVM, PhD, DACVP

Academic Veterinarian At-LargeColin Harvey, BVSc, ACVS

Veterinary Student At-LargeVacant

Production Animal Practice Veterinarian At-Large

Darcie Stolz, VMD

Equine Veterinarian At-LargeVacant

Public and Corporate Practice Veterinarian At-Large

Jules Benson, BVSc, MRCVS

Veterinary Technician At-LargeJOY ELLWANGER, CVT, BS, AAS

Editor: Heather Berst, VMDStaff Editor & Graphic Designer: Lori RaverStaff Editor: Charlene Wandzilak

Editorial CorrespondenceLetters to the Editor should be sent to PVMA, Attn: Lori Raver, 8574 Paxton Street, Hummelstown, PA 17036, fax 717.220.1461, or by email at [email protected].

Advertisingkeystone veterinarian is published quarterly by the Pennsylvania Veterinary Medical Association. Inquiries about display advertising should be directed to Lori Raver at the address and phone number listed above. Advertising information is also available on our website, www.pavma.org. Contracts and insertion orders should be sent to the address listed above by the appropriate submission deadline.

Submission DeadlinesAll articles, classifieds, and display advertisements must be received by the deadlines listed to be considered for inclusion in the respective issue:

Volume III, 2013—September 1, 2013 Volume IV, 2013—October 1, 2013

Subscriptionskeystone veterinarian is mailed to all PVMA members at no charge as a member benefit. Subscriptions are available to non-members for $30 a year or $10 for a single issue.

Notice to ReadersNeither this publication nor PVMA assume responsibility for material contained in articles and advertisements published, nor does publication necessarily constitute endorsement or approval of the advertiser, product, service, or author viewpoint by the keystone veterinarian, its editors and publishers, or the Pennsylvania Veterinary Medical Association. In addition, neither this publication nor PVMA guarantee the accuracy, reliability, or completeness of any facts, views, opinions, recommendations, information or statements contained within this publication.

Reproduction in whole or in part is prohibited without the permission of the Pennsylvania Veterinary Medical Association.

Copyright 2013: Pennsylvania Veterinary Medical Association.

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WWW.PAVMA.ORGVOLUME II 2013 keystone veterinarian6

observations

Making Women Into LeadersByHeatherBerst,VMD,Editor

HaveyoureadtheNewYorkTimesBestsellerLean InbyFacebookCOOSherylSandberg?Thebookdiscussesthelackofwomenasleadersinbusinessandsolutionstothisdeficiency.Ithasreceivedalotofpressand

broughtupmanydifferingopinionsamongbothwomenandmen,soIdecidedtoreadit.IfinisheditintwodaysandI'mhopingmanyveterinariansdecidetoreadit.Ifoundthebookverysolution-orientedandthatMs.Sand-berghaddoneherresearchandremainedfact-based.Youmaybewonderinghowthisrelatestothekeystone veterinarian.Inaprofessionwhere78%ofcurrentveterinarystudentsarewomen,it'sextremelyrelevant.In2009,theAVMAreportedthatforthefirsttime,womenveterinariansexceedmaleveterinariansbyamarginof44,802–43,196.Thefutureofveterinarymedicinewillneedwomenleaders.

Therehavebeennumerousarticlespublishedoverthepastfivetotenyearsaboutwhythereisatrendtowardsmorefemaleveterinariansandwhatthismaymeanfortheprofession.Commontheoriesincludemorewomenaregettinghigherdegreesthanmen,andthatmenarepursingalternativecareerswithhighersalaries.Thefutureoftheprofessionmayincludemorepart-timeveterinarians,flexibleworkschedules,andanincreaseincorporately-ownedveterinaryhospitals.Wecandiscussalltheseitemsforyearstocome.Thefactremains,alargeportionofourprofessionismadeupbywomen,andthenumberswillcontinuetogrowoverthenext10-20years.

IwassurprisedwhenIlookedatthe2013AVMAExecutiveBoardmembers.Itincludes18people,twoofwhicharewomen.Inmycurrentrole,Igettovisitalargenumberofsmallanimalveterinaryhospitals,andalargeproportionofpracticeownersaremen.Iwonderifthiswillchangegoingforward?Typically,practiceowners,veterinaryschoolprofessors,andAVMAExecutiveBoardmembersareinthelatterpartoftheircareerandarepartofthegenerationthathadmoremaleveterinarians.Isitjustthesameasinotherprofessionsthattherearenotasmanywomenleaders?Ireallyhopeitistheformer.

Lean In hadafewkeyconceptsweallshouldthinkaboutinordertomakesuretherearemorewomenleadersintheprofession.Keythoughtsinclude:findingasupportivepartner,believinginyourself,sittingatthetable,don’tleavebeforeyouleave,andmyfavorite—whatwouldyoudoifyouweren'tafraid?

InPennsylvania,wehavegreatwomenrolemodels.WehavePVMA'sExecutiveDirectorCharleneWandzilakandtheUniversityofPennsylvania,SchoolofVeterinaryMedicine'sDeanHendricks.Therearealsogreatresourcesforwomenveterinarianswhowanttobeleaderstotakeadvantage.Thereseveraltrainingcoursesavailabletobeeffectiveleaders.ThereisthePennExecutiveVeterinaryLeadershipProgram,AVMAVeterinaryLeadershipConference,andVeterinaryLeadershipExperience.

Ihavechosenan"alternative”careerasaveterinarian,workingasaPracticeDevelopmentVeterinarianforHill’sPetNutrition.IhavebeenfortunatethatHill’sprovidesveterinarianswithtrainingthatmakesusbetterleaders.AfterreadingLean In,Iampreparedtositatthetableandleanintomycareerasaveterinarian.Ihopethatmanywomenveterinarianswhoaregraduatingnowwilldecidetodothesame.l

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AVMA Updates Euthanasia GuidelinesNewGuidelinesOfferExpandedAdviceForVeterinariansonPreferredMethods

ProvidedcourtesyoftheAmericanVeterinaryMedicalAssociation(AVMA),Schaumburg,Illinois

T heAmericanVeterinaryMedicalAssociation(AVMA)publishedthe 2013editionoftheAVMAGuidelinesfortheEuthanasiaofAni-

mals.Ledbya13-memberpanel,morethan60experts—includingveterinarians,animalscientists,behaviorists,physiologists,psycholo-gistsandanethicist—deliberatedmorethanthreeyearstocreatethe2013guidelines.

SincethefirstPanelonEuthanasiawasconvened50yearsago,theAVMAGuidelineshavehelpedveterinariansprotectthewelfareofani-malsbysettingcriteriaforeuthanasiaandspecifyingappropriatemeth-odsandagents.Astheguidelineshavebecomeincreasinglyinfluential(andinsomecasesrecognizedasalegalstandard),theirspecificityandscopehaveincreased.

Specifically,the2013guidelinesacknowledgeeuthanasiaasaprocessthatinvolvesmorethanjustwhathappenstoananimalatthetimeofitsdeath.Inadditiontoprovidingmoreinformationabouttechniquesusedforeuthanasiaacrossabroaderrangeofspecies,thiseditionin-cludesattentiontoethicaldecision-making,providesdetailedinforma-tionaboutanimals’physiologicandbehavioralresponsestoeuthana-sia,considerseuthanasia’seffectsonthoseperformingandobservingit,andtakesintoaccountthepracticalityandenvironmentalimpactsofvariouseuthanasiaapproaches.

“Aswelearnmoreaboutanimals—theirphysiologyandpsychol-ogy—it’simportanttoupdateandsometimeschangeourapproachestoeuthanasiatoensurewecontinuetoprotecttheirwelfareasbestaspossible,”explainedDr.StevenLeary,chairoftheAVMAPanelonEuthanasia.“Thiswasthemostprofessionallydiversepanelontheeuthanasiaofanimalseverassembled.Asaresult,thelatestupdateofoureuthanasiaguidelinesoffersmuchmoredepthandbreadthofexpertiseintheaffectedspeciesandtheenvironmentsinwhicheuthanasiaisperformed.PanelmemberstaketheirresponsibilityextremelyseriouslybecausewerecognizetheAVMAGuidelinesareusedbyeveryonefromveterinariansinprivatepractice,tocaretakersonfarmsandresearchersinbiomedicalfacilities,tolawenforcement,togovernmentalregulators.”

ThefirsteditionoftheAVMA’shighlyrespected,authoritativeeutha-nasiaguidelineswasissuedin1963.Witheachupdate,theguidelineshavereflectedknowledgegainedthroughadvancementsinresearchandpracticalexperience.Newinthe2013editionare:

•Euthanasiamethodsforinvertebratesandotherlower-orderspecies;•Adviceonhumanehandlingofanimalsbeforeandduring

euthanasia;•Informationoncollectionofanimalsforscientificinvestigations,han-

dlinginjuredwildanimals,andremovalofanimalscausingpropertydamageorthreateninghumansafety;

•Additionalinformationaboutconfirmationofdeathanddisposalofanimalremains;and

•Flowcharts,illustrations,tablesandappendicesthatclarifyrecom-mendations.l

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the president’s two cents

Who is the State Board of Veterinary MedicineByKentonRexford,VMD,President

thepresident’stwocents

ManyveterinariansseemtobeuncertainaboutthePennsylvaniaStateBoardofVeterinaryMedicine.Forstarters,let’slookattheirmissionstatement:

"TheStateBoardofVeterinaryMedicineregulatesthelicensureandpracticeofveterinarymedicineintheCommonwealthofPennsylvania.Amongitsotherfunctions,theboardlicensesveterinar-ians;certifiesveterinarytechniciansandapprovesschoolsandcollegesofveterinarymedicineandveterinarytechnologyprograms.Theboardprotectsthepublicfrombeingmisledbyincompetent,unscrupulousandunauthorizedpersonsandfromunprofessionalorillegalpracticesbypersonslicensedtopracticeveterinarymedicine."

Itisimportanttounderstandthattheboardisneitheryourfriendnoryourenemy.Itisthedutyoftheboardtoinvestigatecomplaints;todetermineifthecomplaintisvalid;andtodetermineifanydisciplinaryactionisrequired.

Almosteverycomplaintreceivedbytheboardissentbyadisgruntledclient.Manyofthecomplaintsseemtohavetheirgenesisasaresultofmiscommunicationandpoorrecordkeeping.Themostcommonreasonsveteri-nariansareinvestigatedbythestateboardare:1. Criminalproceedingsagainstaveterinarian,e.g.DUI,misuseofdrugs,etc.,2. Failuretomaintainlicensure,3. FailuretoattendappropriateCE,4. Deathofapatientallegedlyduetomalpractice,5. Allegedmisdiagnosis,and6. AllegedDishonesty

Obviously,thebestwaytoavoidbeinginvestigatedbytheboardisnottohaveacomplaintfiledagainstyou.So,howdoyoudothat?Herearesomerecommendations:1. Obeyallstateandfederallaws,2. Keepyourlicensurecurrent,3. Completeatleast16hoursofapprovedCEannually,andkeepyourCEcertificates,4. Alwayspracticethehigheststandardofcare,5. Alwaysbehonestwithyourclients,6. Recommendreferraltoaspecialistwhenappropriate,7. Keepthoroughwrittenrecords,including,

a. Conversationswithclientsb. Testsorproceduresthatwereofferedc. Testsorproceduresthatweredeclinedd. Testsorproceduresthatwereperformede. Testresultsf. Patientmonitoringg. Referralrecommendations

8. Remembertomaintainopenandcompassionatecommunicationwithclients.

Ifacomplaintisfiledagainstyou,hereiswhattoexpect:1. Aninvestigator(notaveterinarian)willcontactyou,2. Theinvestigatorwillvisitandinspectyourhospital,3. Theinvestigatorwillallowyoutoreadthecomplaint,4. Theinvestigatorwillnotallowyoutophotocopythecomplaint,5. Youwillberequiredtoprovidecopiesofallmedicalrecords,6. Youwillberequiredtowritealetterthatsummarizesthecaseandaddressesthecomplaint(s),7. Iftheboardelectstopursuethecase*,youwillhaveahearing.Alawyerisrecommended,8. Youwillreceiveaverdictfromtheboard.

* Afterreviewingyourletterandyourrecords,theboardmayelectnottopursuefurtheraction.Inthiscaseyou willbeinformedoftheboard’sdecision.Itmaytakeseveralmonthsforyoutoreceivenotification.

Ihopethisishelpfuland,perhaps,alleviatessomeconfusionorstress.IfyouhavequestionsandwouldliketocontacttheStateBoardofVeterinaryMedicine,[email protected]

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A majorstudybytheAmericanVeterinaryMedicalAssociation (AVMA)andconductedbyIHSHealthcare&Pharmainpartner-

shipwiththeCenterforHealthWorkforceStudiesattheStateUniver-sityofNewYorkestimatesanexcesscapacityofveterinaryservicesintheUnitedStates.Specifically,thereportindicatesthatthesupplyofveterinariansintheUnitedStatesin2012was90,200,andthatsupplyexceededthedemandforveterinaryservicesbyabout11,250full-timeequivalentveterinarians.

Theexcesscapacityestimatedinthereportdoesnotmeanthat11,250veterinarianswereunemployedduringthestudyperiod,butthat12.5percentofveterinarians’capacitytoprovideserviceswasgoingun-used.Ifcurrentconditionscontinue,thestudyprojectsthatthisislikelytopersistintotheforeseeablefuture.

Aveterinaryworkforcesurveyusedasapartofthestudyaskedre-spondentveterinariansworkinginclinicalpracticetocharacterizetheirlocalveterinarymarketandtheirpractices’capacityandproductivity.Fifty-threepercentofthosesurveyedsaidthattheybelievedtheywereworkingatlessthanfullcapacity.OnequestiontheAVMAhopestoanswergoingforwardiswhysomeclinicalpracticesareworkingatfullcapacityandothersarenot.

2013 AVMA Veterinary Workforce Report Confirms Excess Capacity in US Veterinary ProfessionProvidedcourtesyoftheAmericanVeterinaryMedicalAssociation,Schaumburg,Illionis

TheworkforcestudywasconductedusingexpertanalysisandthebestavailableexistingdatacollectedbytheAVMA,federalagenciesandotherorganizations,aswellastheaforementionedveterinaryworkforcesurvey.However,duringthestudy,majorgapsindatawereidentified.

Asaresultofthenationalstudy,theAVMAalsoannouncedthatithasdevelopedanewcomputersoftwaremodelthatwillhelppaintaclearerpictureofthecurrentandfutureveterinaryworkforce.

TheVeterinaryWorkforceSimulationModel,anAVMA-owned,propri-etarysoftware,willplayakeyroleinhelpingtheAVMAanditsrecentlyestablishedVeterinaryEconomicsDivisionproduceongoingupdatesthatwillenabletheassociation,veterinarians,veterinaryeducators,andotherkeystakeholderstobetterunderstandissuespertainingtothesupplyanddemandforveterinariansandveterinaryservices,aswellasoverallveterinaryeconomics.Theimprovedabilitytocollect,measure,track,andanalyzethisdatawillhelpfilllong-existinggapsinimportantinformationthataffectedthisstudyandothersinthepast.ThepresidentoftheAVMAwarned,however,thattheeffortstoseekmoreinsightsintotheissuessurroundingtheprofessionshouldnotdiminishtheimportanceofthisstudyanditsimplications.


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from where I sit

Exciting PVMA Opportunities on the Horizon for Pennsylvania Veterinary PracticesByCharleneWandzilak,ExecutiveDirector

Inmylastarticle,ItalkedaboutthemanychallengesthatfacetheprofessionandhowPVMAisaddressingthosechallenges.Fromprofitabilitytonon-profitorganizations’competitionwiththeveterinarycommunityto

non-veterinariansinfringingonthescopeofpractice,weareworkingonyourbehalftohelpyouwiththedaytodaystrugglesofveterinarymedicinein2013.

IamhappytoreportthattheTaskforcesonNon-ProfitOrganizations/VeterinaryPracticeRelationsandScopeofPracticewillbemeetingonThursday,September12inHarrisburg.Ifyouareinterestedintheseefforts,Iinviteyoutoemailmeatcwandzilak@pavma.organdparticipate.AlsomeetingthatdaywillbeaYoungVeterinariansAdvisoryCouncilthatwehavecreatedtohelpusidentifywayswecanhelpveterinariansastheytransitionfromschoolandbegintheircareers.Ifyouareaveterinarianwhograduatedinthelastsevenyears,Iencourageyoutoparticipateor,ifyoucan’t,giveusyourinputonhowwecanhelpyou.IamexcitedaboutthisnewcouncilandthewaysthatthisgroupofindividualswillhelpusshapePVMAtoensureweareherefortheveterinaryprofes-sioninthefuture.

Inadditiontothoseefforts,PVMAisgettingreadytolaunchanumberofnewopportunitiesforveterinaryprac-ticesacrossthestatethatwillhelpyouwithprofitability.TheMemberServicesCommitteeandBoardofTrusteeshaveapprovedtwonewmemberbenefitsthatwillhelppracticeswiththeirdaytodayoperations.

Asyoumostlikelyknow,wepartneredwithCommunityVeterinaryPartners(CVP)thissummertoconductasurveyonbusinessbehaviorstoprovideregionaldataonsomeoftheissuesrelatedtomanagingapractice.Theresultsofthesurveywillbepublishedinthekeystone veterinarian inVolume3andtheinformationusedtoidentifywayswecanhelpyouwithsomeofyourneedsintheseareas.OurongoingpartnershipwithCommunityVeterinaryPart-ners(CVP)ismovingintoanewdimensionaswepartnertogethertoofferadiscountedrateforpracticeswhowanttojointheirMemberNetwork.TheMemberNetworkservicesinclude:

• Digitalmarketingandclientcommunications• Newclientgenerationthroughsocialmediamarketing,•Websiteandsearchenginemanagement,• Accesstogrouppurchasingdiscountsthatsignificantlysubsidizesmembershipcosts.(Estimatedannualsavingsofmorethan$1,000,dependingonpracticesize)

•Practicedevelopmentworkshopsandpeergroups,and• Preferredaccesstotheindustry’sleadingpracticemanagementconsultantsandserviceproviders.

Theseservices,whichenableevensmallpracticestoeffectivelymarketthemselvestothepublicandreceivegroupbuyingadvantages,willbeofferedtoPVMApracticeownersatasavingsof$500-$1,700offthepricesofferedtootherpracticeownerswhoarenotPVMAmembers.Thatmorethanpaysforyourannualdues!MoreinformationwillfollowinearlyfallafterthelaunchofthisnewbenefitattheKeystoneVeterinaryConference.Watchformoredetailsinthecomingweeks!

Inaddition,anothertremendouslyvaluableservicehasbeenapprovedthatweareexcitedtoofferbecauseitwillhelppracticesworksmarter,generatemoreincome,andhelpimproveclientloyalty.Comingthisfall,wewillbeofferingpracticestheabilitysettargetsforappropriatestaffinglevels,scheduling,andappropriatefees,andidentifyclientsatisfactionlevelsandhowtoimprove.Specifically,wewillbeofferingthefollowingservices:

• Practice Fee Guide:thisisapprovedforuseintheUnitedStatesandprovidessuggestedfeesthatmakesensetoclientsandoptimizepracticeincome.Auniquefeeguideisdevelopedforeachparticipatingpracticeand


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The moral of the story …

Don’t Kiss Your ChickProvidedcourtesyofthePennsylvaniaDepartmentofAgriculture,thePennsylvaniaDepartment ofHealth,andtheUnitedStatesDepartmentofAgriculture,Harrisburg,Pennsylvania

C hickenswearingclothes,sleepingonthe couch,andgettingkissed.

Itseemstobeagrowingnicheforanimalsthatusedtoberaisedonlyfortheeggsormeattheyproduce.Alongwithruralfamilies,subur-banitesandevencitydwellersarebuyingbabypoultryatfeedstoresororderingthemfromhatcheriesfortheexperienceofraisingtheirownfood.Andmanypeoplecan’tresistacutebabychickorducklingaroundEaster,buyingthemforyoungchildrentocuddle.

Babypoultrycanbepurchasedonlinefrommail-orderhatcheriesandshippeddirectlytoaprivateresidence.Theycanalsobefoundatmanyfeedstores,wherecustomersandchildrencanseethemdisplayedinsmallpensoreveninlivestockwatertroughs.Theseadorablefuzzycreaturesarehardtoresist,andinsomestores,childrencanreachintotheenclosuresandhandlethem.

Unfortunately,reportsofhumanSalmonella caseslinkedtobabypoultryhaveincreasedoverthepastyearandthishighlightstheon-goingriskforhumansalmonellosislinkedtobackyardflocksandpetpoultry.Salmonellosiscanoftenresultinamilddiarrhealdisease,butinsomepeoplecanbelife-threatening.TheCenterforDiseaseControl(CDC)discov-eredseveraloutbreaksofhumanSalmonella infectionslinkedtocontactwithlivechicks

andducklingsin2012.Asinglemail-orderhatcherywaslinkedtomanyofthecases,andseveraldifferentSalmonellasubtypeswereidentifiedasaresultoftheinvestiga-tion.Additionalcasesarebeinginvestigatedthisyear.

Preventionofhumansalmonellosisassociatedwithbabypoultryrequirescooperationamongtheveterinarycommunity,publichealthagen-cies,feedstores,hatcheries,andconsum-ers.TheCDChasmadeavailableapostertoincreaseawarenessoftheriskofSalmonella whereverbabypoultryaresold.Theposterhighlightsinformationsuchastheimportanceofproperhandwashingafterhandlingpoultry.Thisposter,whichisfeaturedonpage13,canbeprintedanddistributedbyveterinaryof-ficestoclientsinterestedinraisingpoultry,orbemadeavailableatfeedstoreswherechicksandducklingsaresold.Theinformationcanalsobesentoutfrommailorderhatcherieswillingtoparticipate.TheCDCalsoprovidespostersonpreventionofsalmonellosisfromhandlingofreptilesandfromhandlingofpetfoodwhichmaybecontaminated.

Hopefullythiseducationalinitiativeonsimplestepstoreducetheriskofsalmonellosisfrombabypoultrywillresultinareductionofthenumberofcasesinthefuture.Moreinforma-tioncanbefoundontheCDCwebsiteathttp://www.cdc.gov/salmonella/.l

W iththeeverincreasing populationofbackyardor

hobbypoultryflocks,veterinariansinalltypesofpracticesarefieldingquestionsaboutpoultryandseeingthemaspatients.ThepersonneloftheUniversityofPennsylvania,LaboratoryofAvianMedicineandPathology,NewBoltonCenterarereadyandwillingtoadviseveterinariansconcerningdifferentialdiagnosesandappropriatediagnostictestingrelatedtothesepoul-trycases.Birdownerstendtolookforinformationontheinternet,butsomeismisinformationandcanbedetrimen-taltothehealthofthebirds.

Overthepastseveralyears,thenumberofcasesofbirdspresentedtothediagnosticlabforpostmortemexaminationhasincreaseddramatically.ThemostcommonproblemshavebeenMarek’sdisease,Mycoplasmagalli-septicum,infectiousbronchitis,E.coli-relatedsalpingitis,andgrassimpaction.

WeareseekingalistofveterinariansthroughoutPennsylvaniawhowillseebirdsfromthesebackyard/hobbyflocksintheirpractices.PleasesendtheinformationtoDr.SherrillDavisonat [email protected] or call 610.444.4282.l

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Doctor,Have You Checked Your Website’s Pulse Lately?ProvidedcourtesyofPartnersForHealthyPets

F orthemostpart,theYellowPages(asa sourceforfindingaveterinarian)areon

lifesupport.Internetsearchenginesarenowresponsibleforthemajorityofsearchesforvirtuallyallserviceproviders.EvenpeoplewhousetheYellowPagesoftenfollowupbyreviewingapractice’swebsitebeforecallingforanappointment.

So,assumingyouhaveawebsite,youprob-ablyfeelthisarticleisnotforyou.Ifso,youmaybewrong.Arandomreviewofmanyvet-erinarywebsitesfoundthatatleast85%ofallcompanionanimalpracticewebsiteshaveroomforsignificantimprovementintermsofbeingattractivetopetowners.

That’snottosaythat85%arenotattractive.Indeed,manyareveryprofessionaland“at-tractive.”Theproblemisthatmostareattrac-tivetootherveterinarians,notpetowners!

Herearesomesimplestepsandquestionsyoucananswertoseeifyourwebsiteisinneedofhelp.

First,isyourwebsitecomingupnearthetopofInternetsearches?Here’sasimpletest:

UsingGoogle(oryourfavoritesearchengine)typein“veterinarians[insertthenameofyourtown].”Hit“search”andseewhathappens.Isyourpracticeoneofthefirst3-5practicesthatarelistedinthesearchresults?Ifnot,yourconditionis“serious.”Ifyourpractice’snamedoesn’tcomeonthefirstpage,yourconditionrequires“intensivecare.”Youdon’thaveawebsite?Condition:“critical.”

Next,lookatyourwebsiteandanswerthesesimplequestions:1.Whatappearsintheupperleft-handcorner

ofthehomepage?Isitaspecificcalltoac-tion,suchas“callusforanappointmentat[followedbyyourphonenumber]”?

2.Isapictureofyourbuildingaprominentfeatureonthehomepage?

3.Isthe“AboutUs”tabclearlyand prominentlydisplayed?(Ifthereisno“AboutUs”tabonyoursite,answer“no” tothisquestion.)

4.Doesthe“AboutUs”tableadtoaphotogalleryofyourdoctorsandkeystaff?

5.Doeseachpictureofthedoctorsandstaffincludetheteammemberwithapet?

6.DoesmostofthecontentassociatedwitheachDoctoronthe“AboutUs”pagetalkprimarilyaboutschoolofgraduation,specialmedical/surgicalinterests,involvementinassociations,awardsreceivedandthelike?

7.Ifyouhaveaphotogalleryonyourwebsite,arethereanypicturesofroomsorareasofthepracticeinwhichtheroomsareempty?(Thatis,pictureswithoutpeopleandani-mals?)Ifyoudonothaveaphotogallery,answer“no”tothisquestion.

8.DoyouhaveaFacebookand/orTwitterlogoonyoursite?

Scoring• Theanswerstoquestions1,3,4,5,and8shouldbeYes

• Theanswerstoquestions2,6,and7shouldbeNo

Ifyouscoredperfectly,congratulations!Yourwebsiteisprobablyingoodshapeandyoucanshiftyourprioritytootherpotentialareasofneedforyourpractice.Frankly,anythinglessthana100%correctscoremeansthatthereareopportunitiesforyoutomakeimprovements.

TheGoodNewsThePartnersforHealthyPetswebsite (www.partnersforhealthypets.org)hasanentirecategoryofhelpfultoolsonInternetMarketingandSocialMedia.Thesefreetoolscomeintheformoffunvideomodules,whichinturnareaccompaniedbydownloadablestep-by-stepinstructionsthateventechno-logicallychallengedpracticescanunderstandandfollow.

Thesetoolswillhelpyoucraftamessageforyourwebsitethatwillattractclientsandresultinthemcallingyouforanappointment.Theywilltellyouwhatittakestocreateatrulyclientattractingwebsiteandhelpensurethatyourpracticerisestothetopofsearchengineresults.Thetoolswillguideyouthestepstogetyouengagedinsocialmedia,includingFacebookandTwitter.

Finally,sitessuchasYelparegivingyourclientsanopportunitytocommentonyour


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practice–bothinpositiveandpotentiallyharmfulways.Thetoolswillhelpyouunderstandhowyoucanmonitortheonlinecommentsbeingmadeaboutyouandyourpractice,andgiveyouhelpfulideasonhowtorespondtocommentsmadebyothers.

Don’tPutthisOff!Everydaythatyourwebsiteisnotoptimizedforclientattractioncosts

younewclients.Takethefirststeptoday–visittheInternetMarketing&SocialMediasectionofthePartnersforHealthyPetsResourcesToolbox.l

Partners for Healthy Pets is dedicated to en-suring that pets receive the preventive health-care they deserve through regular visits to a veterinarian and is committed to working with you to enhance the health of your patients and your practice. Learn more about Partners for Healthy Pets and explore the Resources Toolbox at www.partnersforhealthypets.org.

Build the Importance of Preventive Healthcare With Partners For Healthy Pets Power ToolsProvidedcourtesyofPartnersForHealthyPets

Peoplehaveaspecialrelationshipwiththeirpets,andmostrecog-nizethatvisitingaveterinarianenhancesthatrelationship.Butyou

seeiteverydayinpractice–petownerswhohavebeenbombardedwithincorrectandincompleteinformationandareconfusedaboutwhat’sbestfortheirpets.Somuchsothattheymaynotfollowyourclinicaladvice,andmaynotbringtheirpetstocriticalpreventivecareappointmentsatall.

Asaprofession,wehaveagreatopportunitytohelppetsandpetown-ersenjoyalongerandhealthierlifetogether.

Veterinaryprofessionalsworkhardtoprovidethebestpossiblecaretopetssothattheyandtheirownerscanenjoylongandhealthylivestogether.PartnersforHealthyPetswasfoundedtohelpyoumakethepreventivehealthcareyouprovideevenmorepowerful.We’vedevel-opedtoolsandresources–availableatnocharge-thatcanhelpyoubuildbetterrelationshipswithownersandhelpthemunderstandthevalueofpreventivehealthcaresothatmorepatientscanbenefitfromwhatyoudobest.

IndividualpracticeinvolvementiskeyThePartnersforHealthyPetsPracticeResourcesToolboxwascon-ceivedtoprovidetheprofessionwithasoundmixofinformationandmaterialsthatcollectivelyelevatethelevelofpreventivecareofferedacrossthecountry.Eachofthetoolsandresourcesprovidedynamicwaystoreinforceapractice-widefocusonpreventivepethealthcare.Usedcollectively,theycanhelphealthcareteamsenhancecommunica-tionswithpetownersaboutthevalueofandneedforroutinecareandtakepreventivepethealthcaretoanoptimumlevelwithinyourownindividualpractice.

Makethedecisiontobeavoiceforvitality…oftheveterinaryprofes-sion,ofyourpractice,andofournation’spets!

It’seasierthanyoumightthink.

•AdoptandwidelycommunicatePreventiveHealthcareGuidelinestopetownersthroughyournewsletters,website,andwithineachpreventivecarevisit.

•Focusoncommunicatingthevalueandbenefitofpreventivepethealthcaretopetownersatallpointsofcontact,fromreceptionisttotechniciantoveterinarian.

•UsethetoolsandresourcesavailablefromPartnersforHealthyPetstohelpfindcommunicationgaps,trainstaff,andgathernewideasthatwillcomplimentcurrentprogramsandplans.

PartnersforHealthyPetsisdedicatedtoensuringthatpetsreceivedthepreventivehealthcaretheydeservethroughregularvisitstoaveterinarianandiscommittedtoworkingwithyoutoenhancethehealthofyourpatientsandyourpractice.LearnmoreaboutPartnersforHealthyPetsandexploretheResourcesToolboxatwww.partners-forhealthypets.org.l

Website'sPulsecontinuedfrompage14

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WhenTyson,a14-week-oldpitbullpuppywasplayingwithanotherdog,hefelloff

thecouchandfracturedhisleg.ThepetownerhadfundsavailableonhisMasterCardforthe$1,000surgerybutdidn’twanttomaxouthiscard.MaureenLovett,frontdesksupervisoratRutlandVeterinaryClinicandSurgicalCenterinRutland,Vermont,explainedfinancingthroughCareCredit.Theclientput$500onhisMaster-

Cardandfinancedtheremainingbalance.

“About25percentofourclientsneedalittleextrahelpbeyondtheircreditcards,”Lovettsays.Havingaccesstofinancingwasawin-winoutcomefortheclientandclinic.In2012,RutlandVeterinaryClinic’sclientsfinanced$208,550throughCareCredit.TheAAHA-accreditedgeneralpracticewithfourveterinariansalsooffersemergencycareandorthopedicsurgery.

Whenyoucommunicatewithconfidenceaboutfinances,moreclientswillacceptthelevelofcarethattheirpetsneed.HerearefavoritetipswhenIcoachteamsoncommunicatingaboutfinances:

Choose the right words.Say“treatmentplan”insteadof“estimate.”Treatmentplanemphasizesneededmedicalcare,whileestimateissimplyaboutmoney.Alsoupdateformsinyourpractice-managementsoftwaresotheyechotheterm“treatmentplan.”If“estimate”appearsonpaperwork,youmayslipbackintooldphrases.

Pick the right location to discuss finances.Duringanonsiteconsult,IobservedaveterinariandiagnoseGrade3dentaldiseaseinacatandtelltheclientareceptionistwouldgiveheranestimateatthefrontdesk.Thereceptionistcollectedpaymentfortoday’sservicesandthenhandedtheclientanestimatewithoutexplanation.Theclientdidn’tschedulehercat’sprocedure.Poordentalcomplianceof15percentcouldbearesultofwherefinancialconversationswerebeingheld.

Alwayspresenttreatmentplansintheprivacyofexamroomswhereclientscanaskquestionsandapplyforfinancingifneeded.AtAnimalHospitalSpecialtyCenterinHighlandsRanch,Colo.,twoprivatecheck-outdesksarenexttothelobbywhereeachexamhallwaybegins.EachcheckoutdeskhasacomputerwithInternetaccessandphoneincaseclientsneedtoapplyforfinancing.“Keeptheconversationpositiveandprivate,”advisesJillEdwards,clientservicesandmarketingmanageratthe10-doctorAAHA-accreditedreferralpracticeofferingsurgery,internalmedicine,oncology,specialtydentistry,emergencyandcriticalcare.“Iletclientsknowthatwedofinancingallofthetime.”

Explaining Finances With ConfidenceByWendyS.Myers,Owner,CommunicationSolutionsForVeterinarians,HighlandsRanch,Colorado

Topphoto:AHSCcheckoutdesk:FinancialconversationsoccurattwoprivatecheckoutdesksatAnimalHospitalSpecialtyCenter.JillEdwards,clientservicesandmarketingmanager,explainsCareCredittoclients.Secondphoto:Bodylanguage:AtAnimalHospitalSpecialtyCenter,KathyPershing,CVT,(right)usesasmilebooktoexplainadentalproceduretoVickiHeimerforher6-year-oldBostonterrier,Macy.Dr.EdEisner,DiplomateAVDC,performsspecialtydentistryatthe10-doctorAAHA-accreditedreferralpractice.Thirdphoto:Financingatcheckout:Alwayskeepfinancialconversationsprivate.JillEdwards,clientservicesandmarketingmanager,explainspaymentchoicestoclientsatAnimalHospitalSpecialtyCenter’scheckoutdesk.Bottomphoto:Paymentmethods:JillEdwardsprocessesaclient’scheckwithCertegyCheckServices,acheckauthorizationandguaranteeservice.TerminalsforCareCreditandcreditcardsalsoarelocatedatthecheckoutdeskatAnimalHospitalSpecialtyCenter.


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ExplainingFinancescontinuedfrompage16


Delegate financial conversations to staff. Vet-erinariansmakemedicalrecommendationsbasedonpatients’needs—notcost.It’sbesttohaveemployeespresenttreatmentplanstoclients,removingdoctorsfrommoneycon-versations.Doctorsandtechniciansmayneedtocollaborateoncreatingthetreatmentplan,butteammembersdeliverfinancialdetailstoclients.Presentthetreatmentplanas“Thisiswhatyourpetneeds,”insteadof“Whichservicesdoyouwant?”

Use positive body language.Bodylanguageaccountsfor55%offace-to-facecommuncia-tion.1Don’tstandbehindtheexamtableandtalkacrossit.Clientsmightperceivethisface-to-facepostureasconfrontational.Instead,standattheendoftheexamtable,forminganL-shapebetweenyouandtheclient.Evenbetter:Standonthesamesideoftheexamtable,shoulder-to-shoulderwiththeclient.Thisbodylanguageiscollaborativeratherthanconfrontational.Thetechnicianwouldthensay,“Letmeexplainthetreatmentplanthatyourpetneeds.”

Coverthepricewithyourthumboraneducationalbrochure.Theclientneedstounderstandservicesbeforeseeingtheprice.Explaineachitem,pointingtotheleftcolumnthatlistsmedicalservices.Lastly,slideawaythebrochureorliftyourthumbtorevealtheprice.Presentservicefirst,pricelast.

“Whenexplainingfinancing,Ismile,maintaingoodeyecontact,leanforward,andcommu-nicatemycompassionbytouchingtheclient’sarmorhand,”Edwardssays.

Teach with visual aids. AtAnimalHospitalSpecialtyCenter,staffpointtodigitalphotoframesastheyexplainprocedures.Ifyouhavecomputersinexamrooms,createslideshowsorPowerPointpresentations.Whencomputershibernate,aslideshowcanpromoteservices.Anotheroptionistocreatephotobooksusingwebsitessuchaswww.costco.com,www.shutterfly.comandwww.apple.com.

Matchtheorderofphotostoyourtreatmentplansoyoucanadvancepicturesorpagesasyoudescribeeachservice.Forexample,showaphotoofatechnicianrunningin-housebloodworkwhileexplainingpreanesthetictesting.Sharepicturesofapulseoximeter

andEKGwhendescribingmonitoring.Imageshelpclientsbetterunderstandprocedures,andeducatedclientsaremorelikelytoacceptdoctors’recommendations.

Providetreatmentplansforsurgery,dentistryandhospitalizedcases.Atreatmentplanac-complishesthreegoals:1)Explainsneededmedicalcare,2)Estimatesthecostofcare,and3)Givesyoupermissiontotreat.Alwaysgetsignatures—evenfromfavoriteclients.Say,“Togetyourpermissiontoadmityourpettothehospital,Ineedyoursignatureonthetreat-mentplan.Wewillkeepacopyinyourpet’smedicalrecord,andI’llalsogiveyouacopytotakehomesoyouhaveinformationontheservicesandfeeswediscussedtoday.”

Treatmentplansshouldstatefinancialpoli-ciessuchas“Paymentisduewhenservicesareprovided.Depositsmayberequiredforemergencies,infectiousdiseasecasesandnewclients.Foryourconvenience,weacceptcash,checksandmajorcreditcards.WeofferCareCredit,apaymentplanforqualifyingclients.”

Accept everything. Themorechoices,themorelikelyyou’llgetpaidrightnow.Aclient

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inside padls

Summertime Problems for Pond FishByDonnaKellyDVM,MASCP,DACPV,NewBoltonCenter,UniversityofPennsylvania,SchoolofVeterinaryMedicine,KennettSquare,Pennsylvania

Summertimecanbringsevereproblemsforpondfish.Themajorityofthesearewater

qualityissues.Theycanbesevereenoughtocausedramaticlossestostockorcancausestressthatleadstosecondarybacterial,fun-gal,andparasiteinfections.

MostofthesummertimeaquaticreferralstoPADLSareduetooxygendepletion.Thiscancausecatastrophiclossesinthepond,some-timesupto100%.Thereareseveraldifferentcauses.Over-crowdingandlowwaterlevelsaretheprimarycauses.Summertimeheatcauseswatertoloseitsabilitytoholdoxygen.Ninetydegreewaterinapondwilldropthe

dissolvedoxygentoabout7ppm,whichcankillsomeornamentalfishbreeds,especiallywhencombinedwithotherdissolvedoxygenloweringproblems.Pondsthatarelocatedhighabovesealevelcanbehitharderbecausetheynormallyhavelowerdissolvedoxygencontent.Mostfrequently,theselossesoccurinlargefishandhappenovernight.Powderandliquidalgaetreatmentscandepleteoxygenandcancauseovernightdieoffs.Largersetupsshouldhaveaback-upplanforaerationshouldtherebepoweroutagesbroughtonbysummerstorms.

Droughtbringswaterloss.Noadditionofwaterandincreasedevaporationleadtodecreasedpondwatervolumeandfishandplantcrowding.Thewaterqualitychangesasaresult,usuallyconcentratingammonia,nitriteandcarbondiox-idelevels.Ifthesearenotatlevelshighenoughtokillthefishoutright,theycausestress.Sec-ondaryinfectionssetinandcanleadtodeath.

Theadditionofnewfishcanleadtoover-crowdingandproblemswithbiomass/carryingcapacityofthepond.Fishofthecurrentpopu-lationneedtobeassessedfornewgrowthsizebeforeadditionalfishareaddedtothepond.Fishcanoutgrowapond’scapacity.Ifthecur-

rentfishhavegrowninsize,theremaynotbeadequatespace(watervolume)inthepondtosupportadditionalnewfish.Thesameistrueforplants.Additionofnewplantscanover-crowdthepondandloweritsoxygencarryingcapacity.Plantscanaddoxygenduringtheday,however,atnighttheyuseoxygen.

Overfeedingfishduringtimesofheatcancauseexcessiveorganicmaterialresultinginincreasedplantgrowth,increasedfishgrowth,andade-creaseintheamountoxygenpresent.Overfeed-ingornamentalfish,withoutharvestingorthin-ning,canleadtoexcessivefishgrowth.There

arenonaturalpredatorsinthisinstancetohelpthenaturalbalanceofthepond,soovercrowd-ingandexpandedbiomasscreateproblems.Fishaggressionandinjurycanoccur.Stressandsecondaryinfectionsarecommon.

Rapid,heavyrainscanquicklychangethewater’scondition,makingtheenvironmentunpleasant.Dependingontheamountofrain,pHchangesandtemperaturechangescanoccur.Heavyrainscandisturbthebottomsedimentstirringupheavyparticulatemat-terinthewaterthatmakesfishrespirationdifficult.Displacementofsecondarybacterialpathogenstooverwhelmingburdenscanbedetrimentaltofish.Rainwaterrun-offcanintroducechemicals,suchaspesticides,her-bicides,andpetroleums,intothepondwhichcanbetoxictothefish.Run-offcanbringinexcessivedirt,causingincreasedorganicmaterialandparticulatematter.

Hotsummerheatwavescausethewatertem-peraturerise.Thiscanbeextremelybadwithsmall,shallowpondsandornamentalcontainerponds.Temperaturescangethighenoughtokillfish.Factorinlackofaerationanditisaperfectsituationforcausingfishmortality.

Eventstowatchforthathinttoimpendingproblemsare:asuddenstopinfishthatfeed,fishbreathingatthesurfaceofthewaterespeciallyintheearlymorning,arapidcolorchangeinthepondwatertobrown/black/gray,asuddenputridodortothewater,ex-tendedhotandovercastweather,die-offsofalgae,andperiodsafterheavyrains.Addition-alsignsforsecondarydiseaseswouldincludeabnormalfishbehaviorandskinlesions.

PreventionoftheseitemsincludesusingagoodwaterchemicalassaykittotestthepH,nitrates/nitratesandsulfates,properfunction-ingaerators,waterreplacement,andavoid-anceofusingchemicalsintheareaaroundthepond.Abackupplanforpoweroutagesisbeneficialdependingonthesizeandtypeoffishrearingoperation.Washedinorganicde-bris(leavesandsticks)shouldberemovedassoonaspossible.Waterrun-offrouteshouldbediverted.AnyquestionsorsubmissionscanbedirectedtoPADLS-NBC610.444.4282.l

Donna Kelly is a staff veterinarian with the Univer-sity of Pennsylvania, School of Veterinary Medicine, New Bolton Center in the Laboratory of Avian Medicine and Pathology. She is board certified in poultry medicine and pathology with the American College of Poultry Veterinarians and microbiology with the American Society of Clinical Pathologists. She is the aquaculture specialist for the Pennsylva-nia Animal Diagnostic Laboratory System.

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Youcan’thelpbutsmilewithpvmaAssure’sdentalplan!WeofferastatewidedentalprogramthroughUnitedConcordiawhichoffersexcellentcoverageataffordablerates.

Forunder$400ayearorapproximatelya$1.00aday,youcanenjoycomprehensiveindividualdentalcoveragewhich includessomeofthesebenefits:• 100%coverageforalldiagnosticandpreventiveservicesincludingcleanings,X-rays,andexams• 100%coverageforbasicserviceslikefillings,simpleextractions,endodontics,andoralsurgery• 70%coverageformajorsurgicalandnon-surgicalservices• 50%coverageforinlays,crowns,prosthetics,andrepairs• 50%coveragefororthodontics

Inaddition,thereisnomedicalunderwritingorwaitingperiodforbenefitstobecomeeffective.

Tocheckoutmoreinformationonspecificcoveragesandrates,scantheQRcodewithyourmobile deviceorgotowww.pvmaassure.comandclickon“Products”andselect“DentalInsurance.”

Totalkwithoneofourrepresentativesaboutgettingstartedonaquoteortoansweranyquestions,pleasecontact [email protected],call1.888.612.7659,orvisitwww.pvmaassure.comandclickon“RequestforMoreInformation.”

Affordable Rates and Great Coverage!

pvmaAssure’s dental plan gives you something to smile about

pvmaAssureInsuranceAgency,Inc.istheofficialin-house,full-serviceinsuranceagencycreatedbythe

PennsylvaniaVeterinaryMedicalAssociation(PVMA)toserveitsmembers.pvmaAssureisanintegral

partofPVMA’scontinuingpromisetodeliverthehighestlevelofserviceandloyaltytoourmembers

andtheveterinaryprofession.pvmaAssure

our promise your health

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comeswithaprojectionofhowitcanimprovethepractice’sincomeandstimulatethedemandforservices.

• Practice Diagnostic Reports:thisreportwillhelppracticeownersanalyzerevenueandexpenditurenumbers.Itwillalsoidentifyhowmuchyoucouldearnifyouadjustyourfeesorreduceyourexpens-es.Theaveragesavingsorincreasedearningsactuallyachievedbyotherpracticesutilizingthesereportshavebeen$30,000-$100,000+range.

• Client Satisfaction Surveys: Theseareutilizedwithinasinglepracticetodeterminewhattheirclients’experiencesarelike.Thishelpsnipproblemsinthebudsothatyoucanproactivelymakechangesthatmakeclientshappyandasaresult,loyaltoyourpractice.Thefinalreportcanalsobeusedasabaselineforthepracticetodetermineiftheservicelevelimprovesfromyeartoyear.Inthiseconomy,itisessentialforclientsfeelthattheyaregettingvaluefortheirmoney.Priceonlybecomesanissueintheabsenceofperceivedvalue.

Asanassociateveterinarian,youmaysay"howdoesthishelpme?"Ifpracticesaresuccessful,everyonewins.Ownersareinabetterpositiontomakeimprovements,paybettersalaries,andteammoraleimproves.

AnotherexcitingchangethatIamveryencouragedbyistheinclusionofallmembersoftheveterinaryteaminourassociation.In2014,ifapprovedbyourmembersinafewweeksatourAnnualBusinessMeet-ing,wewillbebringingtheentireveterinaryteamunderthePVMAumbrellawhenwecreatenewmembershipcategoriesforveterinarytechniciansandveterinaryassistants.Wealreadyhaveacategoryforpracticemanagersand,obviously,wewerefoundedwithveterinariansatthecoreofeverythingwedo.Thischangewillenableustooffersomethingtoeveryoneintheveterinaryteam.TheentirepracticeteamwillbeabletobePVMAmembersandenjoythemanybenefitsandser-vicestargetedtoeachgroupandtotheteamaswhole.FromtargetedcontinuingeducationtomakingCVTs,veterinaryassistants,andpracticemanagersevenbiggerassetstopracticetodiscountprogramswhichsaveeveryonemoney,thisinclusiveapproachtomembershipwillhelpboththeveterinarycommunityandtheassociationbecomestronger.

Thesearejustafewofthenewinitiativesunderwaythatwillbecomingsoon.Wearealsoevaluatingpracticemembershipmodels,otherben-efitsandservicesthatcanhelppracticessavemoney,andevaluatingotherpartnershipstohelpushelpyoubetter.Keepyoureyesopenformoredetailsontheseexcitingopportunities.Inthemeantime,pleasefeelfreetoshareyourideas,suggestions,andinputwithmebyemail-ingmeatcwandzilak@pavma.orgorcallingmeat1.888.550.7862.

Enjoytheselastdaysofsummer.Ilookforwardtospeakingwithyouallinthefallandthenewthingstocome!l

ExcitingPVMAOpportunitiescontinuedfrompage10

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5k Run & 1 Mile Dog Walk4th Annual Bark in the ParkBark in the Park

7:00am—Registration;8:30am—5kRun.9:00am—DogWalk

9:30am—CostumeContest

Sunday, October 27, 2013, City Island (Riverview Pavilion), Harrisburg, PA

BarkinthePark,theannual5kRunand1MileDogWalkofthePennsylvaniaVeterinaryFoundation(PVF),raisesmoneyforTheLastChanceFund(TLC),afundwhichraisesmoneythroughdonationstohelpensureasourceoffundingfortheveterinarycareofabused,neglected,orinjuredunownedcompanionanimalsthatmightotherwisebeeuthanizedorsurrenderedtoananimalshelterthatisalreadyoverburdened.BarkintheParkisafunwaytogetthewordoutaboutTLCandtogaincommunityawarenessaboutsuchanimportantcause.TolearnmoreaboutTLCandPVF,visitwww.pavetfoundation.org.TobecomeaparticipatingpracticeinTLC,[email protected].

• $25perperson(includest-shirt)• $10perchild(11&under)

Pre-register by October 15, 2013Registeronlineatwww.pavetfoundation.orgorbymailusingtheformonbackwithyourpayment.AfterOctober15,pleaseregisteronracedayfor$30(adults),$15(children);t-shirtsarenotguaranteedbutmaybeavailableonafirst-come,first-servedbasis.

Follow these Easy Steps:1. Registeratwww.pavetfoundation.org.It’sfast,easyandefficient.

Youarealsowelcometoregisterbymailusingtheformonbackorinpersononraceday.

2. Setagoalandstartcollectingpledgesinhonorofyourdog,cat,orotherfavoritepet.EverydollaryouraisegoesdirectlytosupportTheLastChanceFund.

3. Celebratewithusoneventday!Walkorrunwithyourdog.Wearaphotoofyourcatorotherfavoritepet.Enjoyafun-filledmorninghonoringalltheanimalsinourlives.

5K Run—8:30amFetchyoursneakers,dog,anddogleashorcomealoneandrun!Ifyouandyourdogarebothabletocomfortablygothedistance,dogsarewelcometojointheirownersonthe5krun.PleaseseeEvent Guidelinesforspecificrules.

Pre-Registration

Registration Options—Something for All Motivation LevelsOne Mile Dog Walk—9:00amRegistrantsmaychoosetoparticipateintheonemilewalkandmaybringtheirdogalongforthefun.

• Waterwillbeprovidedforbothyouandyourdogalongthecourse• Walkorrunwithonlyonedogperperson• Runonlyifyourdog(andyou)cancomfortablygothedistance• Usea6-footorshorter,non-retractableleash

Event Guidelines• MakesureyourdoghascurrentIDandrabiesvaccinationtags• Bringbagsandcleanupafteryourdog• Bringdogsthatare6monthsorolderonly.Unaltereddogsmayattend iftheyhavepreviouslybeeningroupsettingswithotherdogs.

PrizesPrizeswillbeawardedtotopoverallfastestmaleandfemalerunnersandthetopthreemale andfemalerunnersinthefollowingagegroups:

• 11andunder • 12-19 • 20-39 • 40-59 • 60+

13_Volume_2.indd 22 8/7/2013 2:06:24 PM


7:00am—Registration;8:30am—5kRun.9:00am—DogWalk

9:30am—CostumeContest

Sunday, October 27, 2013, City Island (Riverview Pavilion), Harrisburg, PA

Dress Up For Our Halloween Costume Contest!Haveevenmorefunonracedaywhenyouand/oryourdogdressupincostumeandpartici-pateinourcostumecontest!Prizesinseveralcategorieswillbeawardedtoindividuals,dogs,individualswithdogs,andgroups.Prizeswillbeprovidedforallcontestwinners!CostumeContestdetailswillbepostedonPVF’swebsite,www.pavetfoundation.org,bySeptember1.

Help PVF by Getting PledgesPledges may be made online at www.pavetfoundation.org or by using the form on page 24..

Collect Pledges for Great PrizesWanttohelpmore?ParticipantscanhelpraiseevenmoremoneyforTheLastChanceFund(TLCFund)bygettingpledgesfromtheirfriends,family,andco-workers.Makesureyournameisonallpledgeformsandcheckstoensureyouaregivencreditforpledges!Themorepledges,themoreprizesyoucanreceiveandmorehelpforhomelessanimalsinneedofveterinarycare!Pledgescanbemadeonlineorapledgeformcanbedownloadedatwww.pavetfoundation.org.

Pledge Level Prizes• $150—BarkintheParkwaterbottle• $250—BarkintheParkbaseballhat• $500—BarkintheParkfleecevest(besuretosupplyyourshirtsize)• $1,000—AppleiPodTouch8GB• $3,000—WiiConsolewithWiiFit• TopFundraiser(exceeding$3,000)—Everythingaboveplusyouwill

berecognizedasTopDogattheBarkinthePark2012andbefea-turedin2013’spromotionalmaterials!

PearlwasayoungShihTzuwhowasbroughttoTrooperVeterinaryHospitalwitha proptosedeye(eyeoutofthesocket)thatwashorriblyinfected.Itwasimperativethatshehaveaneyeenucleation(surgicalremovaloftheeye)asquicklyaspossible.Herinfectionwassevereandtheeyecouldnotbesaved.Herfamilylovedherbutcouldnotprovideforhermedicalneedsorherfutureveterinarycare.Inadditiontothesurgeries,painmedications,andfollow-upcare,sheneededvaccines,heartwormtesting,parasitetreatments,andstillneededtobespayed.Pearl'sfamilymadethedifficultdecisionto relinquishherinhopesthatshecouldreceivesurgery,recovertogoodhealth,andhaveanewlovingfamilywhocouldprovideforherneedsinthefuture.ThankstotheTLCFund,Pearlhasahappyending!

Meet Pearl

13_Volume_2.indd 23 8/7/2013 2:06:26 PM


Usethisformorvisitwww.pavetfoundation.orgtouseouronlinefundraisingtool.

4th Annual Bark in the Park Pledge FormBark in the Park

ALL PLEDGES SHOULD BE COLLECTED AND PROVIDED ON THE DAY OF THE EVENT OR ONLINE BY OCTOBER 15, 2013.

SPONSOR’S NAME STREET ADDRESS CITY/STATE/ZIP PLEDGE AMT

Example:PetLover 123BeagleLane Harrisburg,PA17111 $50.00

13_Volume_2.indd 24 8/7/2013 2:06:27 PM

13_Volume_2.indd 25 8/7/2013 2:06:29 PM

what's the

VALUEof Your PVMA Membership ?

other benefits• keystone veterinarian(officialpublicationofPVMA)—$30• 20%discountondisplayadsinkeystone veterinar-

ian—$45-385• Freeclassifiedadsinkeystone veterinarian—$35-300• FreeVetBytesweeklye-newsletter—$500• FreeAroundtheCapitolweeklye-newsletter—$200• Discountedlegalservices/consultation—upto$500 (10%discountupto$5000inservicesannually)

• Freenewgraduateemploymentcontractreview(within firstthreeyearsofgraduation)—$300

• Freeclassifiedadsforreliefveterinariansonwebsite—$35-300

• DiscountedclassifiedadsonVeterinaryCareerNetwork— $25-200

• ReducedCostBookProgramwithPriorityPress— $14-55(includes:Contracts,Benefits,andPractice:Manage-mentfortheVeterinaryProfession,LegalConsentsforVet-erinaryPractice,LawandEthicsoftheVeterinaryProfession,andJobDescriptionsandTrainingSchedulesfortheVeterinaryTeam)

Ifyouhavequestionsregardinganyofthebenefitsor

serviceslistedorhaveanideaforanewbenefit,contact

[email protected].

• Discountedwebsiteadvertising—$300• InsurancesavingsthroughpvmaAssure,PVMA'sinsuranceagency—$50-$500+(includeslong-termcare,disability,life,andhealth,dentalandvision)

• EnergyPlusBuyingGroupaverageannualenergybillsavingsforhomeowners—$225

• DiscountedHersheyparktickets(averagesavingsforfamilyoffour)—$40

• Discountedcustomimprintingforcardsandstationery(10%discount)—$25-100+

• 24/7/365exclusiveadvocatetorepresentyouandyourinterestswiththelegislatureandregulatoryagenciesandwithyouinmindineverythingwedo!—PRICELESS

Total Potential Other Discount Savings: $3,735

$$$

additional savings for practice owners!• EnergyPlusBuyingGroupaverageannualenergysavingsforprac-

tices—$500

• Discountedon-holdmessagingsystems—$25-125

• Discountedbankcardprocessingservices—$200-1,000+

• InsurancesavingsthroughpvmaAssure,PVMA'sinsurance full-service,in-houseagency—$500-$1,000+(includesemployeebenefitpackagesandbusinesspropertyandcasualty)

Additional total savings for practice owners: $3,525

(basedonnon-membervs.memberveterinarianfullconferenceregistrationrate)• WinterConference—$50• SpringClinic—$50• KeystoneVeterinaryConference—$80• 3RiversVeterinarySymposium—$65• PracticeManagementWebinarsandotherCE opportunities—$30-500

Total Potential Annual Educational Discount Savings: $545

educational discounts

13_Volume_2.indd 26 8/7/2013 2:06:30 PM


Sometimes even the best clients need reminded. Visit www.pavma.org/factSheets.aspx

to download our client fact sheets.

PVMA FACT SHEETS

Free Online Training for National Animal Health Emergency Response Corps

W henananimalhealthemergencyoccurs,animmediate responseisnecessarytoprotectbothanimalsandpeople.The

UnitedStatesDEpartmentofAgriculture's(USDA)AnimalandPlantHealthInspectionService(APHIS)willlooktomanysourcestoobtaintheveterinarypersonnelneededtohelpmeetthecriticialstaffingout-breaksandotherdisasterswhichaffectlivestock,poultry,companionanimals,andwildlife.Morevolunteersareurgentlyneededtoassureadecisiveresponsetoanypotentialanimalhealthcrises.

CurrentUSDANAHERCstaffing:Veterinarians 955AnimalHealthTechnicians 3,102TotalMembers 4,057

FreeNAHERCVeterinarianandTechnicianTrainingOnline

NoNAHERCnumberisrequiredandnocontinuingeducationhoursareawardedforthistraining.Thetrainingisavailabletoyouincludes:IncidentCommanSystemsBiosecurityCleaningandDisinfectionExoticAvianDiseasesHealthandSafetyPPEFADPReP/NAHEMSAI-EMDVesicularDiseases

Toaccessthisfreeonlinetraining,visithttp://naherc.sws.iastate.edu/.

* NAHERCtrainingdoesnotcountasAPHISApprovedSupplementalTrainingtowardsrenewalintheNationalVeterinaryAccreditationProgram.l

13_Volume_2.indd 27 8/7/2013 2:06:31 PM


Technician Despair

The Most Prevalent Disease in Veterinary Medicine ByVickieByard,CVT,VTS(Dentistry),President,PetEDVeterinaryEducationandTrainingResources,Warminster,PA; www.PetEDVeterinaryTraining.com

V eryrecently,Iwaschargedwiththetask

ofspeakingtoagroupoftechnicianstooutlineways

thatthey,astechnicians,couldsupporttheirdentistrypatientsduringanesthesia.Wediscussedthingslikebalancedanestheticprotocols,protocolstailoredtothespecificpatient,anestheticmonitoring,properendo-trachealtubecuffinflation,pop-offocclusionsafetyvalves,calculatingyouremergencydrugsaheadoftime,regionalnerveblocks,etc...Half-waythroughthislecture,IclearlyfeltthatIwaslosingthem.Allofasudden,therewasnolight,nosparkintheireyes.WhenIaskedwhatthisdiscomfortwasabout,oneattendeesaid,“Thelecturewasgood,butitjustmademereallysad.”Acrossthecountry,Ihavemetthistechnicianoverandover.Theysharewithmethattheygotocontinu-ingeducationbuttheyareneverallowednorempoweredtoeffectchangeswithinthepractice.Whattheyareallexperiencingisalearnedhelplessness.

AresearcherbythenameofSeligman(1975)wasstudyingescapelearningandfoundthatdogs,forcedtostayinaboxwheretheywererepeatedlyshocked,soongaveupandstoppedtryingtoescape.Notsurprising!

Moreover,65%ofthedogsdidn'ttrytoes-capethenextdaywhentheboxwasmodifiedsotheycouldeasilyleave.Theyjustlaydownandwhined.Theyhadlearnedhelplessness.

Withthewords;“itjustmademereallysad”,freshonmymind,IthoughtIwouldremindusofsomethingveryimportant.Whetherwechosetobeveterinariansorveterinarytechnicians,wechoseveterinarymedicineasourvocation.NoticethatIintentionallyusethewordvocation.Tosome,thatwordmayconjureacareerwithreligiousovertones.Instead,let’sconsidertheoriginoftheword;Latinvocation-,vocatiosummons,romvocaretocall,fromvox:voice.

Mostofuschoseveterinarymedicineasourvocation.Technicianschosetopursuethisfielddespitethewarningsoflowincomeandinmanycases;lessthanstellarbenefits,challengingworkingenvironments,crazyhoursandpersonalrisk.Thosethatpursuedtheirdoctorateinveterinarymedicinedidsodespitemanyofthesametherealities,plusahugepersonaldebtduetotheeducationre-quired.Weallchosetowalkthispathdespitethesesacrifices.Wedidsobecausethevoiceinsideofuscalledlouderthanthosewarningus.Thatmeansweareallchasingadream.Thatdreamwastohelpthosethatcannot

helpthemselves,ouranimalfriends.

Irecentlyreadthat“thepracticeteamisthegreatestassetthepracticehas.Eachpersonmatters,regardlessoftitleorrole.Itisthroughtherecognitionandunderstandingofeachpositionintheteam,aswellasrespectandadmirationfortheparteachpositionplaysinthedeliveryofmedicalcare,thattheteamcan

begintomakeadifferenceinthelivesoftheirpatientsandinliveseachother.”Iwouldbesoboldastogoonestepfurtherandsaythatthemostundervaluedassetisthesparkintheheartsofthetechnicians.Withcarefultendering,thatsparkwilligniteafirethatcanfueleachpracticetounexpectedgrowth.

So,Iwouldaskthepracticemanagersandownersreadingthis;doyouthinkyouareutilizingyourtechnicianstotheirfullestcapacity?Ifnot,why?Iwillbetitisbasedinfear.Thetruthisthatveterinarytechniciansareanoftenuntappedresourcewithinyourpractices.Whenyouempoweratechniciantoperformthedutiesthattheyaretrainedandquitecapableofproviding,youincreasetheirjobsatisfaction,youmaintainanenvironmentofchangeandgrowth,youincreasetheirconfidence,anditspeaksvolumesaboutyourbeliefintheirtalents.

Howdoesonemaketheleaptoallowtheirtechnicianstoblossomfullyintotheirrightfulroleswithinthepractice?Ittakestraining,mentorshipandappropriatefeedback.Train-ingisalwaysavailableinoneformoranother.Mentorshipisusuallythegreatestchallenge.Wecaneasilyslipintotherutof;itisjusteasierifIdoitmyself.But,therealityis,thisleavestheteamunbalancedandstagnant.Theveterinarianisassumingboththeirownresponsibilitiesandthoseofthetechni-cian.Thenhalftheteamisoverstressedandburnedout,andtheotherhalfisfrustratedanddemotivated.

I,forone,havebeenblessedtoworkforapracticeownerthathashadunwaveringbeliefinme.WhenIthinkbacktoanexperi-encewhenhedemonstratedthat,ittakesmeback30someyears.HewasonrotationsatPennasastudent,andIwasonmyextern-shipthroughHarcumCollege.HehadtogetabonemarrowsamplefromtheiliaccrestofanOldEnglishSheepDog.HewanderedintothewardsandaskedifIcouldhelphim.I

When you empower a technician to perform the duties that they are trained and quite capable of providing, you increase their job satisfaction, you maintain an environment of change and growth, you increase their confidence, and it speaks volumes about your belief in their talents.


veterinarytechnologycorner

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pvmafactsheet

Hot Weather Tips to Keep Pets Healthy & Cool

Do not leave your pet alone in your car Vehiclesheatquicklyinthesun,andanimalsleftinthemcansuccumbtoheatstrokeinaveryshorttime.Heatstrokeislifethreateningforbothdogsandcats.Signstowatchforare:heavy,loudbreathing,astaggeringgait,andabrightredtongueorgumtissue.Ifheatstrokeissuspected,gettheanimaltoacoolplace,putcoldcompressesonhisbelly,orwethimdown.Thisisamedicalemergency—takehimtoyourveterinarianasquicklyaspossible.

Limit exerciseTopreventhimorherfromoverheating,don’tletyourdogexerciseinhotweather.Ifyouwanttorunwithyourdog,doitinthecoolhoursoftheearlymorningorlateevening.

Keep coolDogsandcatsneedacool,shadyplacetosleepduringhotweather,aswellasplentyofclean,freshwater,accessibleatalltimes.Feedyourdogorcatinthecoolerhoursoftheday.Olderanimalshaveahardtimeinhotweather,sobeextrasensitivetotheirneedsduringthehot-testhoursoftheday.

Vaccinate! Besurethatyourpet’svaccinationsareuptodate.Parvovirus,anillnessthatflourishesinhotweather,canbefataltodogsthathavenotreceivedtheirvaccinations.Also,besureyourpet’srabiesvaccinationsarecurrent.Duringthesummermonths,petsoftenspendmoretimeoutdoors,andthechancesofencounterswithwildlife(possiblerabiescarriers)increase.

INFORMATIONPROVIDEDCOURTESYOFTHEMATTHEWJ.RYANHOSPITALOFTHEUNIVERSITYOFPENNSYLVANIA,SCHOOLOFVETERINARYMEDICINE

Beware of heartworms It’sheartwormmedicationtime.Ifyourdoghasn’tbeentestedforheartwormthisyear,seeyourveterinarian.Heartwormistransmittedbymosquitoes,butitcanbepreventedbyadministeringamonthlypreventivebetweenJuneandNovember.

Grooming Keepyourpetwell-groomed.Dailybrushingorcombingletsyoucheckforfleasandticks.Fleascancauseallergicreactionsand““hotspots”indogs.Hotspotsarelarge,wetlesionsthatappearsuddenlyinareaswherethedoghasscratched.Seeyourveterinarianforfleaandtickpreventivesorifa“hotspot”appears.

Keep ‘em leashed! Leashessavedogs’lives!Keepyourdogonaleashwhenyouarewalk-inghimsohecan’trunintotrafficorchasecatsandsquirrelsorotherwildlife.

Fireworks PlaywithyourpetinsteadofstrokinghimtofendoffJuly4thfireworkfears.Playingagamewithyourpetwhenheshowsearlysignsofanxi-ety,likepacingortrembling,candistracthimfromthestressorand,inthelongterm,teachhimtoassociatethatsamestressorwithpositivethingssuchasplayandtreats.Pettinghimislikelytomakenodiffer-ence—and,infact,itmayreinforcethatattention-seekingthatcomeswithnervousness.

Keep a lid on the picnic food Keepdogsawayfrompicnicgarbage.Ingestingcorncobsandchickenandotherbonescanbelife-threatening.Also,accordingtotheASPCAanimalpoisoncontrolcenter,thepeels,fruit,andseedsofcitrusplantssuchaslemons,oranges,limes,andgrapefruitscontainvaryingamountsofcitricacid,limonin,andvolatileoilsthatcancausegas-trointestinalirritationandresultinvomitinganddiarrhea.Thestems,leaves,andseedsofapples,cherries,peaches,andapricotscontaincyanogenicglycosidesthatcancausevomitingandlossofappetitewheneateninlargeamounts.Inseverecases,weakness,difficultybreathing,hyperventilation,shock,andevendeathcanoccur.

Guard the pool Ifyouhaveaswimmingpool,donotleaveyourdogunattendedinthepoolarea.Notalldogscanswim—theycandrowniftheyfallintothewater.

Keep windows secure Useaheavyscreenonwindowsorkeepthemclosedifyouhavecats.Duringthesummer,thenumberofcatssufferingfrom“highrise”syndrome,orfallingfromwindows,increasesdramatically.Contrarytomyth,catsdonotlandontheirfeetwhenfallingfromheights.Themostsevereinjuriesoccurwhencatsfallfromsecondorthirdfloorwindows.


advancinganimalwelfareandhumanhealthwhileensuringthevitalityoftheprofession

13_Volume_2.indd 29 8/7/2013 2:06:32 PM


Answering Client Questions About the Dangers of Zoonotic DiseasesProvidedcourtesyoftheAmericanVeterinaryMedicalAssociation(AVMA),Schaumburg,Illinois

It'scommonknowledgethatwildanimalscanspreaddiseaseslikerabies,butmanyclientsareunawarethatzoonoticdiseasescanbe

spreadtotheirfamilybypets.ThefollowingQ&Acanbeusedtoan-swerclientquestionsaboutzoonoticdiseasesandhowtohelppreventthemintheirhouseholds.

Q: What is the risk that I or my children will become infected?A:Theriskislow,ifyouusecommonsenseandgoodhygieneandkeepyourpethealthy.

Q: Are certain people more likely to catch these diseases and become sick?A:Yes.Peoplewhoseimmunesystemsaren'tworkingnormallyareathigherriskofcatchingthesediseasesandbecomingsickbecausetheirimmunesystemscan'tfightoffinfectionsaswellashealthypeople.Veryyoungorveryoldpeople,peoplewithdiseasessuchascancerorHIVinfection,andpeoplewhoarereceivingmedicaltherapyormedications(suchaschemotherapyorsteroids)thatcanaffecttheirimmunesystemsshouldbeespeciallycarefularoundanimals.

Q: Are certain animals more likely to carry these diseases?A:Yes,butanyanimal(orpet)cancarrydiseaseiftheybecomeinfected.Forexample,birds(includingchicks)andcertainspeciesofreptilesandrodentsmaybemorelikelytocarrySalmonella,atypeofbacteriathatcancauseintestinalproblemsandotherinfections.Sal-monellacanalsobecarriedbyotheranimals(includingdogs,cats,andhorses)andpeople.Hamsterscancarryavirusthatcancausenervoussystemdisease.Catscaninfectpeoplewithanorganismthatcausestoxoplasmosis,adiseasethatcancauseproblemsforpregnantwomenorpeoplewithpoorlyfunctioningimmunesystems.Dogroundwormscaninfectpeopleandcauseskinproblems,blindness,ororgandam-age.Healthypetsofanyspeciesarelesslikelytobeinfectedandpasstheinfectiontoyou.

Q: Should I even get a pet, if there's any risk it could give me a disease?A:Petsprovidemanybenefitsforpeople,includingcompanionshipandprotection,andpetownershipisaveryrewardingexperience.Manypetownersconsidertheirpetstobemembersoftheirfamilies.

Thedecisiontogetapetisapersonaldecision,andshouldbebasedonanumberoffactors,includingyourfamily'slifestyle,livingarrange-ments,andothers.Althoughthepossibilityofdiseaseisanimportantfactortothinkabout,theriskislowandoftenconsideredtobeout-weighedbythebenefitsofpetownership.Additionally,therearemanysimplethingsyoucandotominimizeyourrisk.

Q: How can I prevent my pet from making me sick?A:Therearemanysimplestepsyoucantaketopreventyourpetandyourfamilyfromgettingsick.

• Firstofall,healthypetsaremuchlesslikelytocarrydiseasesthat caninfectyou.Takingyourpettotheveterinarianforregular check-ups,vaccinations,anddewormingisasimplewaytokeep themhealthy.Keepingyourpetsfreeoffleasandticksisalso important.Ifyouarebuyingapet,don'tpurchaseapetthatlooks illorunhealthy.• Don'thandleyourpet'sstoolorurine.Weardisposablegloves(or glovesthatcaneasilybedisinfected)whencleaningthecat'slitter box,anduseascooperorsomethingtocoveryourhandwhen pickingupafteryourdog.• Cleanupafteryourpet.Keepyourcat'slitterboxclean,andkeep youryardfreeofdogwaste.• Afterhandlingyourpet,oritsfoodorbedding,orcleaningup afteryourpet(evenifyouwerewearinggloves),thoroughlywash yourhands.Thisisespeciallyimportantbeforeyoueatanything. Makesurechildrenknowtowashtheirhandsaftercontactwith anyanimal,orwashyourchildren'shandsforthemiftheyarenot abletodoit.• Don'tletyourpets(orchildren,forthatmatter)comeincontact withstrayorwildanimals.Theseanimalsaremuchmorelikelyto havediseasesthatcaninfectyourpetandpossiblyinfectyou.• Don'tletyourpetslickyouinthemouth,andteachchildrennotto puttheirmouthsonanimalsorputanypartoftheanimal'sbody intheirmouth.• Keepyourfamilyhealthy.Ifthepeopleinthefamilyarehealthy, theyarelesslikelytobeinfected,evenifthepetbecomes infected,becausetheirimmunesystemsarehealthy.

13_Volume_2.indd 30 8/7/2013 2:06:32 PM


Q: I just read a news article that says families with children under 5 years of age shouldn't own pets like hamsters, lizards, turtles, hedge-hogs, etc. We already have one of these as a pet. Should we get rid of it?A:Althoughthatdecisionisuptoyou,ween-courageyoutodiscussitwithyourveterinar-ian.Often,therearesimplethingsyoucando,suchasfollowingtheguidelineslistedabove,thatwillkeepyourfamilysafeandallowyoutokeepyourpet.Ifyoudecidethatyoucannotkeepyourpet,pleasefindyourpetasuitablehome.Turningapetlooseoutsideisnotgoodfortheanimalortheenvironment.Eventhoughmanyspecieskeptaspetswereoriginallywildanimals,theynolongerhavetheinstinctsthatallowthemtosurviveinthewild.Yourveterinarian'soffice,localanimalshelter,petrescue,orotherorganizationcanhelpyoufindanewhomeforyourpet.

Q: I'm thinking of getting a pet, but I have young children. What's the best pet to get? Should I get a pet at all?A:Gettingapetisnotadecisionthatshouldbemadelightly.Itisabigresponsibility.Itisveryimportanttogetapetthatbestfitsyourfamily'slifestyleandneeds.Insomecases,thebestdecisionistopostponegettingapetuntilthechildrenareolder.However,manyfamilieshaveyoungchildrenandpetsandhavenothadanydifficulties.Veterinariansareverygoodsourceofinformationonpetselec-tion.Inaddition,theAVMAhasanumberofbrochuresaboutpetselection:theycanbeviewedathttps://ebusiness.avma.org/EBusi-ness50/ProductCatalog/productcategory.aspx?ID=132.

Q: What are "nontraditional" pets?A:Manypeopleconsiderdomesticcatsanddogstobetraditionalpets;anyotherspecieskeptasapetisconsiderednontraditional.Examplesincludeamphibians(frogs,toads,etc.),fish,reptiles(turtles,lizards,snakes,etc.),birds,ferrets,rabbits,rodents(rats,mice,gerbils,hamsters,guineapigs,chinchil-la,hedgehogs,etc.).

Q: Do "nontraditional" pets make good pets?A:Theycertainlycanmakegood,evengreat,petsforresponsiblepetowners.Someoftheseanimalsrequirespecialcareorhousing,soit'simportanttothoroughlyresearchanyanimalyouconsidergettingforapet—thisincludescatsanddogs,too.Somepeoplehaveallergiestocatsand/ordogs,andnon-traditionalpetsofferthesepeopleoptionsforhavingapetthatdoesn'ttriggertheiraller-gies.Inaddition,manyofthesenontraditionalpetscanformstrongbondswiththeirowners,andowninganontraditionalpetcanbeveryrewarding.

Q: What animals do not make good pets?A:Wildanimalsarenotgoodpets;theycanbedangerousandaremorelikelytocarrydiseases.Skunks,rac-coons,foxes,squirrels,coyotes,wildbirdsandotherwildanimalsshouldbeleftinthewild;iftheyarein-jured,theyshouldbecaredforbylicensedwildliferehabilitators.Zooanimals(includ-inglionsandtigers)arenotgoodpets,either;theseanimalsrequirespecialcareanddiets,andcanbedangerous.Nonhumanprimates(monkeys,chimpanzees,etc.)arenotgoodpetsbecausetheycanbedangerousandaremorelikelytocarrydiseasesthatcaninfectyouandyourfamily.

Q: I have questions about a specific type of pet. Where should I go?A:Yourveterinarianisthebestsourceofinformationaboutpets.

Q: What about the animal kept in my child's classroom? Should I tell my child not to handle it? Should I tell the school to get rid of the animal?A:Classroompetsprovideveryvaluablelearn-ingexperiencesforchildren,andkeepingthepethealthyisjustasimportantforclassroompetsasitisforfamilypets.Childrenshouldbetaughthowtohandlethepet(s)andtaughtproperhygiene(suchaswashingtheirhandsafterhandlingthepet).Ifyouhaveconcernsabouttheclassroomanimals,youshoulddis-cussthemwiththeschoolandaveterinarian.

Q: Should I keep my child away from petting zoos or any other activities that involve ani-mals until they are older?A:Thisdecisionisuptoyouandyourfamilytodecide.Pleasekeepinmindthatanimalsoffervaluableeducationalopportunities.Animalsoffercompanionshipandteachchildrenresponsibilityandrespectforalllivingthings,andstimulatetheircuriosityandinterestinlearning.Ifyouchoosetoallowyouryoungchildrentoparticipateintheseactivities,adultsupervisionisnecessarytoensurethatthechildrenareexposedtotheanimalsinasafemannerandgoodhygienepracticesarefollowed.l

OTHER RESOURCES

Visiting Animal ExhibitsTheCentersforDiseaseControlandPrevention(CDC)haveguidelinesforfamiliesvisitinganimalexhibits.Theseguidelines,includingdirectionsforwashinghands,canbeviewedat

http://www.cdc.gov/Features/ AnimalExhibits/.

Healthy Pets, Healthy People

http://www.cdc.gov/HEALTHYPETS/

World Health Organizationhttp://www.who.int/zoonoses/en/

13_Volume_2.indd 31 8/7/2013 2:06:34 PM


membernews

Welcome New Members

pVMAwelcomesthefollowingnewmembersandthanksthemforjoiningPVMA!(April12–

July31,2013)

Active-RecentGraduateNicoleCarolla,DVM,TurtleCreek,PAMichelleSobieray,VMD,Hazleton,PALaurenO'Connell,DVM,PleasantGap,PAChristopherCorrado,DVM,Saylorsburg,PABrittanyZeitlin,DVM,Holland,PARobertoGonzalez,DVM,Lansdowne,PAJaimeMorey,BVM,Mohnton,PAAnnaLeppien,DVM,York,PANicoleSczypiorski,DVM,Philadelphia,PAAaronRaski,DVMLauraPollock,DVM,PortMatilda,PAAndrewHeller,DVM,Philadelphia,PAAmyGealy,DVM,Warren,PAEllenHaynes,DVM,Penndel,PAJordanAssenmacher,DVM,Pittsburgh,PAChelseaCameron,DVM,NewCumberland,PA

ActiveTraceyBrown,DVM,Tionesta,PASalvadorGalindo,DVM,CenterValley,PA

WilliamLaSota,VMD,Heidelberg,PAMichelleKrosnar,Harrisburg,PACraigClifford,DVM,Malvern,PAMeganGarrison,BVSc,Cheswick,PAJeanieDonahue,CVT,WilkesBarre,PACarolynSutor,VMD,Gladwyne,PAFernandoMotta,DVM,Grantville,PAKathrynPapp,DVM,Harrisburg,PAMeredithMaczuzak,DVM,Philadelphia,PADonnaRiddle,VMD,BlueBell,PAKateVickery,VMD,Malvern,PA

AssociateCarol-AnneMcPeek,DVM,Ewing,NJPhilippeCoudrai,VMD,Sicklerville,NJ

IndustryPartnerAlaineKalder,VIPPetCare,Windsor,CAChris,Konell,KonellInsurance,Inc., Phoenixville,PAPhyllisShaw,CVT,Zoetis,UpperDarby,PA

PracticeManagerLisaMalkin,Mechanicsburg,PAKatinaPalm,Stewartstown,PA

EileenFerragame,Mohnton,PAMaryMcCarty,StateCollege,PA

PracticeManagerWilliamEhrig,Dunkirk,MDRachaelGross,Elizabethtown,PA

We want to know!Doyouhaveamarriage,abirth,orothereventinyourlifeorpracticeyouwanttoshare?Tellus!WelovetosharemembernewswithinthePVMAfamily.EmailLoriRaver at [email protected].

13_Volume_2.indd 32 8/7/2013 2:06:35 PM


maypayaportionincashandsplitthebalancebetweenVisaandAmericanExpress.AnotherpetownermaychoosefinancingthroughCareCredit.WhileAmericanExpress,Discoverandthird-partyfinancingcompaniesmaychargeslightlyhighermerchantrates,wouldyouratherhave95%oftheincomeorzerodollars?Tolimitriskswhenacceptingchecks,useacheckauthorizationandguaranteeservicesuchasCert-egyCheckServices(www.askcertegy.com).

Present financing.WhenLucie,a6-year-oldchocolateLabradorretriev-erhadalife-threateningbloatat3a.m.,thepetownerbroughthertoAnimalHospitalSpecialtyCenter.Dr.RobVonau,aboard-certifiedsurgeon,performedemergencysurgery.“Clientsarethrilledwhentheylearnweofferaccesstofinancing,”Edwardssays.BesideshelpingLu-cie’sfamilygetlife-savingsurgery,third-partyfinancingalsoenhancesthefiscalhealthofpractices.ClientsatAnimalHospitalSpecialtyCenterfinanced$477,544throughCareCreditlastyear.

Don’treservefinancingforemergencies.Havingaccesstopaymentop-tionssignificantlyimprovedpetowners’abilityandwillingnesstopayforveterinaryservices,accordingtoaCareCreditstudy.2ClientswhousedCareCreditspent93%moreperyearand47%moreperpetattheirveterinarypracticesthanclientswithoutCareCredit.2

Multi-petfamiliesmayneedtofinancepreventivecare.Adogownerspends$248peryearonroutineveterinarycare,whileacatownerspends$219.3Inafamilywithtwodogsandtwocats,annualvet-erinaryspendingwouldaverage$934.Let’ssaybothcatsalsoneeddentalcleanings.AccordingtotheAAHAVeterinaryFeeReference,7thedition,theaveragedentalcaseis$427.Nowspendingforpreventivecareanddentistrytotals$1,788.Thefamilycouldchoosesix-month,no-interestCareCreditpaymentsof$298each,oroptforextendedpaymentswithinterest.

Remember,thefirstnoisnotthefinalno.Ifaclientcan’taffordcare,presentfinancingaswellastheoptionofco-applicants.Say,“Iunder-standyou’reconcernedaboutthecostofSophie’sdentalprocedure,whichis$600.WeofferCareCredit,apaymentplanforqualifyingcli-ents,whichhassixmonthsofdeferredinterest.Would$100permonthbetterfityourfamily’sbudget?”

WhenLovett’s10-year-oldGermanshepherdwasdiagnosedwithdegenerativemyelopathyandcancer,shewasabletoaffordspecialtycarethankstofinancing.“RainagotalotofsupportivecarethankstoCareCredit,anditalsohelpedkeepmybillsundercontrol,”shesays.

ExplainingFinancescontinuedfrompage17

NowLovettsharesherpersonalexperiencewhenclientsfacefinancialdecisions.

When bills reach $500, check out in exam rooms.Imagineaclientcheckingoutatthefrontdeskwitha$1,500orthopedicsurgerybillandanewclientwaitinginthelobbyoverhearstheconversation.Thenewcomermightassumeyou’reexpensiveanddecidenottoreturnforfuturecare.

Anotherclient’screditcardgetsdeclinedatthefrontdeskandpeoplewaitinginthelobbyeavesdrop.Theembarrassedclientcouldfallvictimtoneighborhoodgossip.

Justasyoucheckoutclientsinexamroomsforeuthanasia,dothesamewhenabillis$500orgreater.Explainservicesfirstandpricelast.Concludewith,“Foryourconvenience,we’lltakecareofpaymentintheexamroomtoday.Weacceptcash,checks,majorcreditcards,andCareCredit.Whichpaymentmethodwillyouusetoday?”Whenthecli-enthandsyouhiscreditcard,walktothefrontdesktoswipethecardandreturnwiththereceipttobesigned.YoualsocouldusecomputersinexamroomswithcardswipesormobiledevicessuchasSquareUp(www.squareup.com).

Trainyourteamtohaveconfidentfinancialconversations.WendyPrin-gle,practicemanageratRutlandVeterinaryClinic&SurgicalCenter,en-rolledemployeesinmyPhoneSkillsCoach(www.csvets.com/training.htm)andawebinaron“ExplainingFinancesWithConfidence”(www.csvets.com/webinars.htm).“Wetrainforcommunicationskillsduringstaffmeetings,”saysPringle.“Wehaveclearguidelinesforemployeesonourfinancialpoliciessoclientsgetthesameanswersnomatterwhotheytalkwith.”

Role-playingandscriptsbuildskills.“Leadbyexample,”advisesLovett.“Employeesfeelmoreconfidentwhentheyseeanotheremployeedoitprofessionallyandsuccessfully.”l

References:1. PsychologistAlbertMehrabian.Wikipediawebsite.http://en.wikipedia.org/

wiki/Albert_Mehrabian.AccessedFebruary4,2013.2. BrakkeConsulting.TheImpactofCareCreditPaymentOptionsonVeterinary

Hospitals.July2011.Accessatwww.carecredit.com on11-04-12.3. Felsted,K.Dowellnessplansmakefinancialsense?PartnersinWellness

supplementtoDVMNewsmagazine,April2012.

WendyS.MyersownsCommunicationSolutionsforVeterinariansandisapartnerinAnimalHospitalSpecialtyCenter,a10-doctorAAHA-accreditedreferralpracticeinHighlandsRanch,Colorado.Shehelpsteamsimprovecomplianceandclientservicethroughconsulting,seminars,[email protected] or www.csvets.com.

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membernews

Practice Spotlight: Unionville Equine Associates

UnionvilleEquineAssociates,P.C.orUEAhasprovidedservicetotheequinecommunityforover30years.Thepracticewasfoundedin1978byJohnW.Lee,Jr.,DVMasanequine-smallanimal

practice.OriginallylocatedinChaddsFord,Pennsylvaniathepracticequicklygrewandin1984thesmallanimalportionwassold,Dr.StevenBerkowitzjoinedDr.LeeandtheequinesectionofthepracticetomovedtoWestGrove.PatriciaE.Blakeslee,VMDjoinedthemshortlyafterin1989.Thenin1994,thethreepartnerspurchasedUEA’scurrentlocationinOxford,PA.Theonetimefamilydairyfarmwasconvertedintomuchneededofficespaceandanoutpatientfacility.Thepracticecontinuedtogrowoverthenextfewyearsaddingseveraladditionalpartners,SusanA.Crane,VMD,ChristineM.Foster,DVM,andMarkT.Donaldson,VMDDACVIM.

Aftermanyyearsofdiscussion,UEAbegantheofficialplanningofanewstateoftheartequineclinicandsurgicalfacilityin2007.Thefirststepinconstructionwasthecarefuldismantlingoftheolddairybarnsothebeamscouldberecycledandusedintheconstructionofthenewbuilding.ThegroundbreakingceremonywasheldintheFallof2011andtheofficialgrandopeningofUEAwasheldonAugust17,2012.Thenewfacilityfeaturesabusinessoffice,anoutpatientsectionorexamhallthatincludesspacious,privateexamroomsandasurgicalsuite.Thesurgicalsuitecontainsamonorailsystemtomoveahorsethroughinduction,surgeryandrecovery.Inaddition,severalbiosecuritymeasuresweretakensuchasseparateHepaairflowfiltrationsystemandsealedrubbermatfloors.Alsoincludedarespaciousstallsforpostsurgicalcasesincludingamareandfoalstall.Areproduc-tioncenterwasalsoconstructedwhichincludesfourstallseachhavingtheirownprivateturnout.Additionaloutdoorfacilitieswereaddedwhichincludeanoutdoorridingarenawithall-weatherfootingandaroundpen,whichcanbeutilizedduringpre-purchaseandperformanceevaluations.

UEA’sstaffhasgrownovertheyearstonowincludetenveterinarians,includingtheirownequinesurgeonRicardoLoinaz,VMD,fourveterinarytechniciansandsixofficeprofessionals.ToreadmoreaboutUnionvilleEquinegotoueavet.com.l

UEA

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membernews

PVMA Remembers Dr. Harry RozmiarekDr.HarryRozmiarekpassedawayunexpectedlyonSaturday,June15,2013.HegraduatedtheUniver-

sityofMinnesotawithhisveterinarydegreein1962andfromTheOhioStateUniversitywithhisPhDin1976.Inthemilitaryfor20years,hewasfirststationedinFortMeyer,VA,wherehetendedtoJohnF.Kennedy'sfamilydogandIrishdeer.HealsoworkedinThailandwhereheconductedinfectiousdiseasere-searchwiththeSoutheastAsiaTreatyOrganization(SEATO).HewaslaterthedirectoroftheUSArmyMedi-calResearchInstituteofInfectiousDiseases(USAMRIIDinFrederick,MD,beforeretiringfromtheArmywiththerankofColonel.

AftertheArmy,Dr.Rozmiarekspentthenexttwodecadesinacademiaasaprofessoroflaboratoryanimalmedicine.In1983hewenttoTheOhioStateUniversitywhereheservedasProfessorofLaboratoryAnimalMedicineandDirectorofUniversityLaboratoryAnimalResourcesthrough1986.In1987hejoinedtheUniversityofPennsylvaniaasUniversityVeterinarianandProfessorandDirectorofUniversityLaboratoryAnimalResources.HeretiredfromtheUniversityofPennsylvaniain2004.HewastheDirectorofLabora-toryAnimalMedicineandFacilitiesattheFoxChaseCancerCenterinPhiladelphia,Pennsylvaniafrom2004untilhisdeath.

Dr.Rozmiarekwastherecipientofnumerousawardsduringhiscareer,includingthePVMALifetimeAchievementAwardin2009.HeissurvivedbyhiswifeJane,childrenEdward,Daniel,Carol,andAndrew,aswellasfivegrandchildrenandfourbrothers.DonationsinhismemorymaybemadetotheharryRozmiarekAnimalScienceScholarshipFundandmailedtoSalemFiveBank,495CabotStreet,Beverly,MA01915.PVMAextendsitsdeepestsympathiesto Dr.Rozmiarek'sfamilyandfriends.l

D r.LauraSmileyRogatzpassedawayonMay15,

2013,fromkidneycancer.SheandBillco-ownedGwyn-eddVeterinaryHospitalinLansdale,Pennsylvania.Lau-ra’slifewascenteredonfam-ily,friends,andanimals.ShegrewupinRiverdale,NewYork(sheremainedaloyalYankeesfan),surroundedbycats,dogs,andothersmallanimals.HerloveofanimalsledhertoMontana,whereshegraduatedfromMontanaStateUniversityandownedahorsenamed“Snipe”.ShereceivedaMasterofSciencedegreeinEthology(animalbehavior)attheUniversityofConnecticutandthenstudiedMolecularandDevelopmentalGeneticsatFoxChaseCancerCenterinPhiladelphia.ShegraduatedfromtheCornellSchoolofVeterinaryMedicinein1987,receivingthehighlycoveted“GentleDoctorAward“.Aftergraduating,LauradidaninternshipandresidencyattheAnimalMedicalCenterinNYC,culminatinginherattainingDiplomatestatusintheSpecialtyofInternalMedicine(ACVIM),withparticularinter-estincomplexinternalmedicinecasesandcriticalcaremedicine.WhereverLaurawas,shehadtheuncommonabilitytodevelopextraordinarilydeepandloyalfriendships.SheissurvivedbyherhusbandDr.WilliamP.Rogatz,hersonAiden,hermotherLois,andhersisterAndrea.DonationsinhermemorymaybemadetoStrayCatBlues,Inc.,POBox8,Colmar,PA18915,orWorldWildlifeFund,125024thStreet,NW,Washington,DC20037.PVMAextendsitsdeepestsympathiestoDr.SmileyRogatz'sfamilyandfriends.l

PVMA Says Goodbye to Dr. Laura Smiley Rogatz

PVMA Welcomes Henry Berger

CongratulationstonewparentsPVMAmemberDr.StephanieBergerandhusband,Brad,andgrandparentsPVMAPast PresidentDr.LarryGersonandwife,Barb,astheywelcomeHenry.HenryarrivedonSaturday,July13weighing8pounds,12ounces.Henryjoinsoldersister,Ellie.

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Classified AdsVeterinariansSEEKING EMPLOYMENT—Seniorcitizenveterinarian,stillhardworkingandconscientiousisseekingpart-timeemploymentinsouthcentralPennsylvania.Dr.DeborahStone.717.334.9549.

DO YOU LIKEweekendsoffandnooncalltime?Busy4-doctorsmallanimalpracticeseekingafull/part-time,friendly,energetic,well-roundedveterinarianwhowantstopracticequalitymedicineandsurgery.Potentialtoearn$100,000plusperyear,401k,healthinsuranceandmanyotherbenefits.Newgraduateswelcome.Ultrasoundexperienceaplus.CallDr.BethCrombieat570.523.3640oremaillvh@dejazzd.com.

FULL-TIME ASSOCIATE veterinarian—buy-inpotential.3-doctor,full-servicesmallanimalhospitalinscenicBerksCounty.Practiceshigh-qualitystandardofcare.Exceptionaldoctor/supportstaffratio.Excellentbenefitandcompensationpackage.Visitwww.antietamvet.com.Emailresumetoavah@dejazzd.comorfaxto610.779.6079.

ASSOCIATE VETERINARIANwantedforfast-paced,fullservicecompanionanimalpracticerecognizedforexceptionalcompassionatemedicalandsurgicalanimalcare(JamesHerriottphilanthropicphilosophy).DuckHollowAnimalHospital,establishedin1981,alsoprovidesservicestonumeroushumanesocietiesandsheltersincludingseveralfacilitiesintheCaribbeanaswellascareforlocalserviceandpolicedogs.LocatedinUniontown,PA,onehourfromPittsburgh,weareclosetoOhiopyleStatePark,SevenSprings,andNemacolinWoodlandsResortprovidingawidevarietyofrecreationalactivities.Recentgraduatesconsidered.Buy-inpotential.Salarybasedonexperience.Fax724.437.7850;[email protected].

PEACEFUL PET Passage,apetend-of-lifeserviceinsouthcentralPennsylvania,isseekingcaringveterinarianstojoinusinourmissionofbringingprofessionalismanddignitytotheend-of-lifepassingofcompanionanimalsinthecomfortableenvironmentoftheirhomes.Pleaseviewourwebsiteatwww.peacefulpetpassage.comandifinterestedinlearningaboutopportunities,[email protected] orphone717.691.9214.

VIP PETCAREisseekinglicensedveterinarianstoworkasindependentcontractorstoprovideaffordable,high-qualitycaretoimprovethelivesofpetsandthepeoplewholovethem!Wearehiringveterinariansforournon-emergencyclinicsinPennsylvania.Dutiesincludeprovidingvaccinations,microchips,blooddrawsanddeworming.Ourhighly-trainedstaffisresponsibleforthegeneralclinicoperationsandrecordkeeping,allowingtheveterinariantofocusonthepatient.Thisisagreatopportunityforaveterinariantogainfieldexperience,increaseclientcommunicationandeducationskillsandearnlucrativesupplemental

income.PleasecontactAlaineKalderatalaine@vippetcare.comformoreinformation.

PracticeConsultantPRACTICE SALESandappraisals—Whypay8-10%incommissionstohelpyousellyourpractice?Ourcompanyhastheknowledgeandexperiencetoproducesignificantsavingsforyou.Calltoinquireaboutourrates.Noobligation.Practicevaluationsstartingat$2500.ArkBusinessConsulting.AlanGlassman,VMD;DavidCherst,CPA,MBA.610.283.3476.

Relief VeterinariansRELIEF VETERINARIANneededforbusy,state-of-the-art,6-doctorsmallanimalgeneralpracticeinBucksCounty,PA.Practicehasdigitalradiographs,ultrasound,fullin-houselaboratory,electronicmedicalrecords,andexperiencesupportstaff.PractitionermustbeaskilledsmallanimalclinicianwithexcellentcommunicationskillsandbelicensedinthestateofPennsylvaniaandcarryAVMA-PLITinsurance.PleasecontactDr.Woodatdr.wood@newtownvet.netformoreinformation.

ENERGETIC VETERINARIANrelocatedtothearealookingforpart-timeorreliefworkinsmallanimalpracticesinLancaster,Berks,andLebanonareas,aswellasportionsofDauphin,York,Schuylkill,andLehighcounties.Comfortableprovidingbothroutineandemergencycaretosmallanimals,includingbirdsandpocketpets.PleasecontactDavidJ.Henzler,DVM,PhD,at717.341.4357,[email protected].

SMALL ANIMAL reliefveterinarianneededforoursmallanimalpracticelocatedinbeautifulSouthCentralPA.WearecurrentlyaoneDoctorpracticewhoisseekingaReliefVetforabout6monthsbeginninginSeptember2013.Ifinterestedpleasecontactusat717-573-4569oremailyourCVtoneedmorevet@frontiernet.net.

S. RAE BRAUDAWAY, DVM.OSU2007,internshiptrained(UniversityofMinnesota),4+yearsinsmallanimalreferralemergencypractice.Availableforreliefandpart-timeworkinsmallanimalclinicswithin100milesoftheWilkes-Barre/Plainsarea.Competentmedicalandsurgicalskills,practicesprogressivehigh-qualitymedicine.517.599.1221,[email protected].

RAJU KACHAM BVSc,veterinarianwith5yearsofexperienceinsmallanimalmedicineandsurgery.LicensedandavailableforreliefveterinarianservicesinbothPennsylvaniaandNewJerseystates.Pleasecontactmeat484.560.7714(cell)[email protected].

SAFI CHAND, DVM.Compassionate,productivesmallanimalveterinarian,stronginterpersonal,medicalandsurgicalskills,>5yearexperienceinreferral/ER,exotics,availableweekends,weekdaysandnights.413.636.9209;[email protected].

EXPERIENCED, SURGICALLY-COMPETENT veterinarianavailableforreliefemployment.York,

Adams,Lancaster,Dauphin,Cumberland,andFranklinCounties.AllanHill,VMD,717.723.6559.

BONNIE J. MILLER DVM.Veterinarianwith25+yearsexperienceinsmallanimal,pocketpets,avian,reptileandexotics.LicensedinMDandPA.APHIScertifiedandhaveacurrentDEAcertification.Proficientinsurgeryaswell.York,Lancaster,Gettysburg,Harrisburg,andsurroundingareasinPA.NorthernBaltimoreCountyandsomepartsofHartfordandFrederickCounties.717.739.8400.

DONALD W. STREMME, VMD.Experiencedveterinarian(35+years)availableforsmallanimalandexotic(birds,pocketpets,reptiles)reliefworkinPhiladelphiaareaandSouthJersey.Willconsiderotherareaswherelicensed,too.Licensed(includingDEAandUSDA-APHS)inPA,NJ,NY,FLandCA.Emailto [email protected].

KATHRYN WEST, DVM,UF‘94.Smallanimalandexotic/non-traditionalpetwork,[email protected].

EXPERIENCED VETERINARIAN,1987Penngradseekspart-timeemploymentwithin30-45minutesofthePottstown/Quakertownarea.Specialinterestsinsurgery,diagnosticimaging,exotics.Professional,reliable,neatappearance.CallJacquelineBurke,VMDat610.754.1155oremail [email protected].

LOOKING FOR relief:VeterinarianneededforTuesdayandorThursdayevenings.Approximatehoursare4hourweeklywithopportunityforfurtherrelief(vacations)Contact:ProvidenceVeterinaryHospital,Chester,PA.215.620.2407.

MJ POTTER, UP 97.Experienceinsmallanimalinternalmedicine,criticalcare,oncology,andgeneralsurgery.AvailableforlongorshorttermreliefinDelaware,Chester,Lancaster,[email protected].

WILLIAM KEER, DVM,Wisconsin‘99Providingveterinaryreliefservicesandimprovingcolleagues’qualityoflifeineasternPennsylvania.Pleasecontact me via email at [email protected].

THE VISITING VET!ExperiencedreliefveterinarianavailableforqualitycoverageinChesterCounty,NorthernDelaware,southernLancasterCountyandsouthernNewJersey.Smallanimalandpocketpets.Softtissuesurgeryandemergencycoverage.LicensedthreestatesandDEAcurrentcertificate.Onedayorregularshort-termpart-time.Referencesavailable.Contact:SandraFargher,VMD'91,[email protected].

HOW DOyouspellrelief?JerryGodfry,DVM!Ihavebeenaveterinarianfor38yearsandhaveownedmyownpracticeinChesterCountyforthepast30years.IhavesoldmypracticerecentlyandIamcurrentlyavailabletoworkasareliefveterinarianinPhiladelphiaandthesurroundingareas.Iamanexperienced,reliabledoctorthatwouldfityourneeds.Myexperiencerangesfromcatsanddogstobirdsandreptiles.IamlicensedandaccreditedinPAaswellas

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federally-accredited.Iworkwellwithnewstaffandamabletoworkabusyschedule.AvailablefordayandeveningshiftsinadditiontoSaturdaysandsomeholidays.Willtravel45-1hourifneeded.Pleasecontactifinterested.610.506.6494.

EquipmentForSaleBOWIE ULTRA 6.Verygoodcondition.FitsshortbedSilverado.$5500.Formoreinformation,[email protected].

VINTAGE OPERATING TABLE for sale. Square pedestal base with tilting, swivel and height adjusting stainless steel “V” table. The wheeled pedestal is the classic turquoise green color. The table measures approx. 58” in length and 25” high. Must be picked up, located in central PA. For more information, please call 804.895.1632.

EquipmentForSaleCENTRAL BUCKS COUNTY: new 56-stall equine training/rehab facility on 58 unpreserved acres with indoor and outdoor riding arenas, ADA compliant main barn with $300K sprinkler system and 7 drive-in, roll-up doors for easy access. Features include multiple paddocks, 1 acre pond, 1.5 mile training track along perimeter, wash bays, tack rooms, offices, additional outdoor stalls and pastures. Other uses could include rescue operation, camp, boarding. Land is sub-dividable or can be preserved. Website: http://4506newhope.epropertysites.com/indexGo2.htm. For more details contact Linda Emerson, Coldwell Banker Hearthside, Realtors, 186 Main Street, Hellertown, PA 18055. Office: 610-838-0440; Cell: 610.291.3841; or [email protected].

ClassifiedAdscontinuedfrompage36

PracticesForSaleNORTH OF PITTSBURGH—greatlocation!Healthy,soloestablishedpracticewithnoafterhourscalls.Well-maintainedrealestatealsoforsale.Formoreinfo,contact www.simmonsinc.comor888.881.7084(listingnumberPA211C).

SMALL ANIMALpracticeinnorthcentralPennsylvaniaforsale.Ruralyetgrowingarea.Uncludeshospitalfacilityandlargeboardingfacility.Excellentopportunityforoneortwodoctorpractice.Ownerwishestoretire.Pleasecontactthroughemail at [email protected].

PRACTICES FOR SALE nationwide: CovingtonCounty,AL:SA,3,000sfon+1acre;CollierCounty,FL:SA,2-examroomsw/roomtogrow;ManateeCounty,FL:Well-established,SoloSAw/RE;PalmBeachCounty,FL:SA,2,500sf,3-examrooms;DawsonCounty,GA:SA,3,200sf,2-examroomsw/RE;WarrickCounty,IN:SA,2,200sf,2-examroomsw/RE;OnondagaCounty,NY:ProfitableER3-examrooms;PiedmontArea,NC:SA,4,000sf,4-examroomsw/RE;WinstonSalem,NC:Start-Up.5,500sfw/RE;ElPasoCounty,TX:SA,2,500sf,3-examroomsw/RE;CabellCounty,WV:ProfitableSA.3-examroomsw/RE;OurservicesincludeBuyerRepresentation,SellerRepresentationandValuations.PSBROKER,INC.1.800.636.4740.PSBROKER.COM.

LOWER ALLENVeterinaryClinicforsale.Allsmallanimal.Ownerretiring.LocatedinLowerAllenShoppingCenter,CampHill,PA.PleasecallEdgarLoy,VMD,at717.975.9711.l

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ownedcompanionanimals.Fulldetailsandonlineregistrationwillbeavailableat www.pavetfoundation.org/BITP.aspx.

november2013November 2-3, 20136th 3 Rivers Veterinary Symposium OmniWilliamPennHotel,Pittsburgh,PA12HOURSOFCONTINUINGEDUCATIONCREDIT

3RiversVeterinarySymposiumwillreturntoPittsburghinNovem-ber.Theprogramwillincludethefollowingtracks:companionanimaldentistry,criticalcare,orthopedic,surgery,internalmedicine,bovine,equine,veterinarytechnician,andpracticemanagement.Fulldetailsandonlineregistrationwillbeavailableatwww.pavma.org.

february2014Saturday, February 8, 201410th Annual Winter ConferenceACEConferenceCenter,LafayetteHill,Pennsylvania

9HOURSOFCONTINUINGEDUCATIONWILLBEOFFERED

The10thAnnualWinterConferencewillreturntothePhiladelphiaareain2014.Multipletrackswillbeoffered,includingcompanionanimal,equine,practicemanagement,bovine,veterinarytechnician,andmore!Fulldetailsandonlineregistrationwillbeavailableatwww.pavma.org.l

septmeber2013September 18, 2013PVMA District 2 Dinner Meeting PineBarnInn,Danville,PA1.5HOURSOFCONTINUINGEDUCATIONCREDITChristopherWeisner,DVM,willspeakon"AnotherItchyDog:NewUnderstandingofthePathophysiologyofAllergicSkinDisease".Recentinformationregardingthepathophysiologyofallergicskindiseasewillbediscussedandcaseexampleofcaninepruriticskindiseasesandtheirdif-ferentialdiagnosiswillbepresented.Thereisnocosttoattendbutyoumustpre-register.District2includesPotter,Clinton,Lycoming,Columbia,Northumberland,Union,Cameron,Tioga,Montour,andSnyderCoun-ties.Onlineregistrationisavailableatwww.pavma.org.

october2013October 27, 20134th Annual Bark in the Park 5k Run & 1 Mile Dog Walk CityIsland,Harrisburg,PAFetchyoursneakers,dog,anddogleashorcomealoneandrun!Ifyouandyourdogarebothabletocomfortablygothedistance,dogsarewelcometojointheirownersonthe5krun.GetpledgespriortoracedaytobenefitTheLastChanceFund(TLC)ofthePennsylvaniaVeterinaryFounda-tion.TheTLCFundprovidesfundsforthecareofabusedorneglectedun-

Events & Educationwhat’shappening

Bark in the Park

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• Beyoungerthan2yearsofage• ResideinthecontiguousUnitedStates

RuthM.Roberts,DVM,owneroftheSunDogCatMoonVeterinaryClinicinJohnsIsland,SouthCarolina,sayssheisparticipatingwithherclientbecausesheadmireswhatMorrisAnimalFoundationisdoing.

“Wecanfinallycompareapplestoapplesandhaveanopportunitytostackupwhatwe

GoldenRetrieverStudycontinuedfrompage3

followedhimtothetreatmentroomwherethedogstood.HeaskedifIhadeverprovidedlocalanesthesiaforabonemarrowaspiration.IsaidthatIhadnot.Hethenproceededtoexplaintheprocesstome:thematerials,thedrug,appropriateneedleselection,etc.Thenhewalkedmethroughtheprocedure.HestoodthereandguidedmewhileIdidit.Hethenperformedtheaspiration,tellingmewhattoexpectandthenshowedmehowtomaketheslideoncethesamplewasob-tained.Itisimportanttonotethatthatverymemorybringsbackthosefeelingsoftheracingheartandnervousnessofthechallengetotheresultantexhilarationofsuccess.IthasalsobeenaroadmapIfollowtothisdayasaninstructorandtrainer.

Thatexperienceprobablytook10minuteslongerbecausehewasteaching.But,Iwalkedawayfromthatexperiencefeelingchallenged,trusted,andself-confident.Thatguidanceandmentorshiphavebeenprovidedformethroughoutmycareerbythatman,Dr.MarkFox,and,ithasnotbeenonlygiventome.Hehassupportedbothveterinariansandtechniciansaliketostretchandgrow.Dr.Foxlaiddownafounda-tionoftrustandresponsibilitythathasenabledthepracticetogrowandchange,andithasalwaysreflectedbackasahigherstandardofcareforourpatients.

Thegoodnewsaboutthismostprevalentdiseaseinveterinarymedi-cineisthatitiscurable.Aswithalldiseases,wefirstneedtoidentifyit.Lookintotheeyesofyourtechniciansandseeiftheyareexcitedtobeatwork.Doesheorshelookliketheyarelivingtheirdream?Oncediagnosed,thetreatmentrequiresadeepbreathoftrustandtheawarenessthatsomeoneoncetrustedyouwhenyouwerenewtoany

TechnicianDespaircontinuedfrompage28

skill,whetheritwasateacher,anemployerorevenanunsuspectingclient.l

believemayinfluenceeachdog’schancesofde-velopingadisease,ornotdevelopingadisease,andseeifthosetheoriesholdup,”shesays.

YouCanHelpinManyWaysMorrisAnimalFoundationstillneedsthehelpofdedicatedveterinarianstoreachthere-cruitmentgoalof3,000dogs.Youcanregisteryourselfasaveterinarianwillingtopartici-pate,andyoucanalsoincreaseawarenesswiththefollowingsteps:

“Asaveterinarian,Iwouldhopepolicymakersacrosstheprofession,in-cludingthoseresponsibleforexistingveterinarycollegesandthoseplan-ningfutureeducationalprograms,closelystudythereportandcarefullyconsideritsimplications,”saidAVMAPresidentDr.DouglasG.Aspros.

“Whenwesaythere’s12.5percentexcesscapacityinthesystem,wecantakethatasareliablefinding.Whatwedon’tknowiswhatthatpracticallymeansinvarioussectorsoftheprofession,”saidAspros,addingthattheassociationisfullycommittedtoconductingfurtherresearchontheprofessionandveterinaryeconomics.

TheAVMAemphasizedthatthereportanditsfindingsareastartingpointandnottheendofitseffortstoensureadequateaccesstoveterinaryser-vicesandtheeconomicviabilityoftheveterinarymedicalprofession.

VeterinaryWorkforcecontinuedfrompage9

1. ReviewyourclientdatabaseforownersofGoldenRetrieversyoungerthan2yearsofage

2. Contactthoseownersandencouragethemtoapplytothestudy

3.Helpusspreadtheword–tellyourclientsandcolleaguesaboutthestudyandpro-videbrochuresinyourwaitingroom

Bepartofresearchhistory.Joinusatwww.CanineLifetimeHealth.orgoremailusat4Dogs@CanineLifetimeHealth.orgifyouhavequestions.l

“TheAVMAconductsstudiesandgathersinformationtoinformstakehold-ersintheveterinarymedicalprofessionandveterinarymedicaleducation,”saidDr.LinkWelborn,chairoftheAVMA’sWorkforceAdvisoryGroup.“Thecollectionofmoreaccurateinformationleadstoamoreinformedprofes-sionmakingthebestpossibledecisionsnecessarytoservetheprofes-sion,animalsandsociety.AstheAVMAcontinuesitseffortstoinformtheprofessiononthedevelopmentofarobustworkforce,itwillalsoseektheactiveparticipationofkeyveterinarystakeholders.Acontinuedeffortwillbecriticaltobetterunderstandthecomplexdynamicsandtrendsassoci-atedwiththeveterinaryworkforceandveterinaryeconomics.”

The2013U.S.VeterinaryWorkforceStudy,aswellasacompanionreportissuedbytheAVMAWorkforceAdvisoryGroup,titled“Implica-tionsofthe2013VeterinaryWorkforceStudyandRecommendationsforFutureActions,”areavailableontheAVMA’swebsite.l

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thegrandfinale

Laughter Is the Best Medicine

finalwordsofwisdom

SAY CHEESE!

Somepeoplesaycatsneverhavetobebathed.Theysaycatslickthem-selvesclean.Theysaycatshaveaspecialenzymeofsomesortintheir

salivathatworkslikenewandimprovedWisk—dislodgingthedirtwhereithidesandwhiskingitaway.I'vespentmostofmylifebelievingthisfolk-lore.Likemostblindbelievers,I'vebeenabletodiscountallthefactstothecontrary;ie:thekittyodorsthatlurkinthecornersofthegarageanddirtsmudgesthatclingtothethrowrugbythefireplace.

Thetimecomes,however,whenapersonmustfacereality;whenhemustlooksquarelyinthefaceofmassivepublicsentimenttothecontraryandannounce:"Thiscatsmellslikeaport-a-pottyonahotdayinJuarez."

Whenthatdayarrivesatyourhouse,asithasinmine,Ihavesomeadviceyoumightconsiderasyouplaceyourfelinefriendunderyouarmandheadforthebathtub:• Knowthatalthoughthecathastheadvantagesofquicknessandutter

disregardforhumanlife,youhavetheadvantageofstrength.Capital-izeonthatadvantagebyselectingthebattlefield.Don'ttrytobathehiminanopenareawherehecanforceyoutochasehim.Pickaverysmallbathroom.Ifyourbathroomismorethanfourfeetsquare,Irecommendthatyougetinthetubwiththecatandclosethesliding-glassdoorsasifyouwereabouttotakeashower.(Asimpleshowercurtainwillnotdo.Aberserkcatcanshredathree-plyrubbershowercurtainquickerthanapoliticiancanshiftpositions.)

• Knowthatacathasclawsandwillnothesitatetoremovealltheskinfromyourbody.Youradvantagehereisthatyouaresmartandknowhowtodresstoprotectyourself.Irecommendcanvasoverallstuckedintohigh-topconstructionboots,apairofsteel-meshgloves,anarmyhelmet,ahockeyfacemaskandalong-sleeveflakjacket.

• Prepareeverythinginadvance.Thereisnotimetogooutforatowelwhenyouhaveacatdiggingaholeinyourflakjacket.Drawthewater.Makesurethebottleofkittyshampooisinsidetheglassenclosure.Makesurethetowelcanbereached,evenifyouarely-ingonyourbackinthewater.

• Usetheelementofsurprise.Pickupyourcatnonchalantly,asiftosimplycarryhimtohissupperdish.Catswillnotusuallynoticeyourstrangeattire.Theyhavelittleornointerestinfashionasarule.Ifhedoesnoticeyourgarb,calmlyexplainthatyouaretakingpartinaproducttestingexperimentforJCPenney.

• Onceyou'reinsidethebathroom,speedisessentialtoyoursurvival.Inasingle,liquidmotion,shutthebathroomdoor,stepintothetubenclosure,slidetheglassdoorshut,dipthecatinthewaterandsquirthimwithshampoo.Youhavebegunsomeofthewildest45secondsofyourlife.Catshavenohandles.

• Addthefactthathenowhassoapyfur,andtheproblemisradicallycompounded.Donotexpecttoholdontohimformorethattwosecondsatatime.Whenyouhavehim,however,youmustremembertogivehimanothersquirtofshampooandrublikecrazy.He'llthenspringfreeandfallbackintothewater,therebyrinsinghimselfoff.(Thenationalrecordisthreelatherings,sodon'texpecttoomuch.)

• Next,thecatmustbedried.Novicecatbathersalwaysassumethispartwillbethemostdifficult,forhumansgenerallyarewornoutatthispointandthecatisjustgettingreallydetermined.Infact,thedryingissimplecomparedtowhatyouhavejustbeenthrough.That'sbecausebynowthecatissemi-permanentlyaffixedtoyourrightleg.Yousimplypopthedrainplugwithyourfoot,reachforyourtowelandwait.(Occasionally,however,thecatwillendupclingingtothetopofyourarmyhelmet.Ifthishappens,thebestthingyoucandoistoshakehimlooseandtoencouragehimtowardyourleg.)Afterallthewaterisdrainedfromthetub,itisasimplemattertojustreachdownanddrythecat.

• Inafewdaysthecatwillrelaxenoughtoberemovedfromyourleg.Hewillusuallyhavenothingtosayforaboutthreeweeksandwillspendalotoftimesittingwithhisbacktoyou.Hemightevenbecomepsycho-ceramicanddevelopthefixedstareofaplasterfigurine.

• Youwillbetemptedtoassumeheisangry.Thisisn'tusuallythecase.Asarule,heissimplyplottingwaystogetthroughyourde-fensesandinjureyouforlifethenexttimeyoudecidetogivehimabath.But,atleastnowhesmellsalotbetter.l

"Oneofthekeystohappinessisabadmemory.

—Rita Mae Brown

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Keystone Veterinarian Volume 2

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Transcript of Keystone Veterinarian Volume 2