Animal Health

06 April

Rabbit Hemorrhagic Disease serotype RHDV2 reported in British Columbia

wsvma   |   Animal Health

Rabbit hemorrhagic disease is a serious disease of rabbits that is easily spread, causes a high rate of infection and death, and the agent (calicivirus) is very stable in the environment. On March 8, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) reported the detection of rabbit hemorrhagic disease (RHD) virus serotype RHDV2 to the Office of International Epizootics.  Media articles had reported the death of rabbits on the Vancouver Island University, Nanaimo campus and in the Rotary Bowl area of Nanaimo, Vancouver...

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30 March

Melatonin use in show animals – potentially unsafe and possibly illegal

wsvma   |   Animal Health

Recent reports suggest that some producers have been using a substance to promote calming and hair growth in cattle and sheep -- that substance is melatonin. But there is reason to be cautious before giving this product to animals. Melatonin is a natural hormone produced by the brain for sleep and used to treat insomnia in humans. Sometimes, it is also used for reproductive synchronization. People showing animals have also been known to use melatonin to calm fractious animals or promote...

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23 March

Rabbit Hemorrhagic Disease Reported in British Columbia, Canada

wsvma   |   Animal Health

Rabbit hemorrhagic disease, or RHD, is serious disease of rabbits that is easily spread, causes a high rate of infection and death, and, as a calicivirus, is very stable in the environment. – and it’s been reported right across the border in British Columbia. On March 8, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) reported the detection of rabbit hemorrhagic disease virus serotype 2, or RHDV2. Rabbit deaths were on Vancouver Island on March 2. Canada is currently conducting tests to determine...

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16 March

What to know when rescuing a pet in Washington State

wsvma   |   Animal Health

Rescued dogs arrive in Washington in large numbers, many of them from out of the country and accompanied by falsified documentation. The Washington State Department of Agriculture has developed a factsheet to educate the public on small animal import requirements. The factsheet outlines the requirements for allowing imported animals in to the state, including a valid Certificate of Veterinary Inspection, proof of rabies vaccination, and proof of heartworm testing for dogs are over 6 months of age. The factsheet also outlines...

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09 March

Experts discuss opioid shortage

wsvma   |   Animal Health

Veterinary Practice News organized a roundtable discussion with five anesthesiologists and pain management experts to discuss the reasons behind the opioid shortage and best practices for identifying solutions to the problem. Read a transcript of the discussion here.   Posted March 9, 2018...

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02 March

Opioid shortage expected to continue into 2019

wsvma   |   Animal Health

Opioid shortages – particularly injectable fentanyl, morphine, and hydromorphone – continue to impact veterinarians’ ability to provide appropriate pain management for patients and are anticipated to last into 2019. The shortage stems largely from upgrades being made to a Pfizer Inc. manufacturing plant. While Pfizer manufactures most of these products, some other drug manufacturers may be considering whether and how they can produce more of these medications to meet patient needs. The AVMA has been communicating closely with both the U.S. Food...

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02 March

Client reminder program is available to veterinary practices at no cost

wsvma   |   Animal Health

Study results from the Partners for Healthy Pets’ (PHP) new inactive client reminder program has convincingly demonstrated the program’s ability to re-engage inactive clients with their veterinary practices. It was shown that within six months of implementing the program, participating veterinary practices: Generated an average of 128 patient visits, from formerly inactive clients. Had an overall 8.5% inactive-client response rate (the percentage of clients who responded to the email and brought their pets in for an appointment), which is considered...

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23 February

Take survey on veterinary care for the underserved

wsvma   |   Animal Health

The Access to Veterinary Care Coalition (AVCC) and the University of Tennessee Center for Applied Research and Evaluation, request that you participate in a national study about access to veterinary care affecting more than 25 million pets. Your participation in this survey will provide a veterinarian’s perspective and help with understanding how to best address this crisis. The AVCC is a diverse group, including: veterinarians, animal welfare and social services professionals, and educators, working to improve access to veterinary care for...

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16 February

Canine influenza H3N2 update

wsvma   |   Animal Health

The WSVMA has not received any recent reports of dogs testing positive for H3N2canine influenza. However, there has been an increasing number of cases in California, and a dog in Grants Pass, Oregon has tested positive. In light of west coast activity, veterinarians should be vigilant and talk with pet owners about canine influenza. Vaccination for H3N2 is available and should be considered depending on risk of exposure and level of concern expressed by the owner and veterinarian. Testing for respiratory...

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26 January

Don’t forget! Heartworm is a reportable disease

wsvma   |   Animal Health

Veterinarians are well aware that infectious diseases can hitch a ride with rescue animals and traveling pets. Heartworm is among the diseases our veterinarians are concerned about as we’ve encountered several rescue dogs with heartworm recently as they come to Washington. There are several reasons for the rise of heartworm seen in Washington: Animals relocating or traveling from places where the disease is endemic. Man-made mosquito habitats. New mosquito vectors. Wild reservoirs such as coyotes. The possibility of heartworm gaining a strong...

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