Clinical Practice
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Regulators' clarification of California veterinary drug counseling law falls short
2/22/2019
Posting by veterinary medical board leaves most questions unanswered
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Diet-related heart problem reported in 325 dogs
2/19/2019
FDA update summarizes investigative findings to date
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Hillβs aims to repair reputation amid vitamin D-related recall
2/15/2019
Veterinarians struggle with situation; class action lawsuits filed
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Mending broken hearts in dogs
2/14/2019
Canine mitral valve repair surgery comes to U.S.
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Study finds pet 'stress scan' gives unreliable results
1/31/2019
Glacier Peak Holistics provided readouts on stuffed-toy fur
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Calif. veterinarians await answers on drug-counseling law
1/28/2019
State Veterinary Medical Board has yet to provide guidance on new mandate
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Data harvest by Schein, Vets First Choice draws fire
1/24/2019
Veterinarians upset by user agreements, errant emails, as merger looms
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175-year-old veterinary clinic in Detroit going strong
1/14/2019
Oldest known animal hospital in U.S. dates to horse-and-buggy era
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California veterinarians must counsel clients on pet drugs
1/3/2019
New state law mandates guidance on prescribed medications
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Single supplier suspected in major pet food recall
12/20/2018
Did formulation mishap lead to vitamin D spike?
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Ex-Banfield execs spin off from 'impersonal behemoth'
12/13/2018
Leaders say new veterinary company is 'completely different'; reviews mixed
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Pace of UK veterinary consolidation stutters
11/29/2018
Pets at Home hospital closures anticipated
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UK investigates unusual feline TB cases
11/21/2018
Infected cats had no access to the outdoors
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A controversial model of pet insurance lives on in Britain
11/14/2018
Three years in, insurer's 'preferred' network of specialists has grown
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Trupanion relationships with veterinarians under scrutiny
11/1/2018
Washington insurance regulators examine rewards program
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Veterinary technicians get boost from major employer
10/26/2018
Banfield, world's largest clinic chain, commits to elevating licensed support staff
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Alert on pet flea control draws questions, few answers
10/5/2018
FDA says drugs containing isoxazolines linked to neurologic side effects
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Virulent disease in rabbits surfaces in Ohio
9/28/2018
Case is first in U.S. caused by rabbit hemorrhagic disease virus 2; source unknown
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Source of respiratory illness outbreak in dogs uncertain
9/17/2018
Reports of mutated parainfluenza virus are questioned
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The dwindling supply of academic radiologists
9/6/2018
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Unconventional dog foods suspected in heart disease
9/4/2018
Investigators scrutinize grain-free kibble with exotic proteins
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California OKs bill to let veterinarians discuss cannabis
8/30/2018
First-of-its-kind legislation on path to governor's desk
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Practice records hold big promise for veterinary research
8/24/2018
Public efforts to harness clinic data lag behind private initiatives
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With merger, Schein, Vets First Choice to amass clinic data
8/22/2018
Veterinarians worry uncontrolled data flow could undermine profession
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Pfizer suspends sales of injectable opioids for veterinary use
7/31/2018
Leading supplier cites multiple manufacturing reasons
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USP tackles βhot messβ β veterinary compounding
7/19/2018
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Cannabis status 'constantly, rapidly changing'
7/12/2018
Prospects improve for legal veterinary involvement
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Support staff unionize at two veterinary hospitals
6/21/2018
Pro-union votes are a first for Mars-owned VCA and BluePearl
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Mars buys another European veterinary-practice group
6/12/2018
Conglomerate to acquire AniCura as well as Linnaeus Group
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Mars Inc. buys British veterinary-hospital chain
6/8/2018
Linnaeus Group adds 87 sites to Mars' spreading ownership
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California bill on animal physical rehabilitation dies
5/25/2018
Effort fails to sidestep veterinary medical board objections
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British veterinary practices undergo rapid consolidation
5/1/2018
Trend similar to that in US
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Henry Schein, Vets First Choice to form new company
4/23/2018
Ongoing consolidations remake veterinary landscape
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Never too late
4/20/2018
Beginning a veterinary career after 50
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Product rebates to veterinarians spur tax questions
4/9/2018
For honesty's sake, report the money, accountant advises
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Cannabis for veterinary patients gets research attention, funding
3/29/2018
Stigma begins to lift but legal questions persist
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Veterinarians might be liable if vouching for traveling support animals
2/27/2018
United Airlines' new policy ambiguous about responsibility for disturbances
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UK veterinarians cautious on plan for new school
2/16/2018
Low wages, long hours in profession a concern
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Attempt fails to change Washington law on nonprofit veterinary clinics
2/12/2018
Bill would have let humane societies, animal-control agencies broaden services
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Second veterinary business allies with Petco to run in-store clinics
1/18/2018
The Pet Vet plans operations in Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas
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Petco stores now house veterinary clinics
1/10/2018
Texas, California and Colorado are first
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Alan Abrams: 'All I wanted to do was give back'
12/21/2017
Embattled CEO defends foundation as complaints mount
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Hurricane Maria's effects minimal on veterinary drug supply
12/18/2017
But sterile IV bags reportedly on back order
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FDA backs off veterinary drug compounding approach
11/7/2017
Limbo on intractable issue continues
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Alan Abrams, figure with checkered past, heads dubious veterinary charity
11/2/2017
Complaints pile up about Dr. Steve Abrams Memorial Foundation — Petsavers Inc.
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Key veterinary euthanasia drugs in short supply
10/20/2017
FDA takes steps to ease the problem
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Mars antitrust remedy 'not even a drop in the bucket'?
9/26/2017
Deal puts 2,000 practices under one owner
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Labor union for veterinary workforce makes national push
9/21/2017
Associates, technicians, support staff would be represented
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Publisher Time Inc. enters veterinary-discount realm
9/11/2017
Club gives pet owners 25 percent off medical services
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Physical therapy for pets poses conundrum
9/5/2017
Regulators struggle to weigh skills of veterinarians, physical therapists
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Should botanical medicine be a formal veterinary specialty?
8/25/2017
As Sept. 1 deadline for comments nears, practitioners debate
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Canine cough outbreaks reported in multiple regions
8/18/2017
Unidentified cause propels laboratories into research mode
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Fast-spreading cough strikes dogs in Montana
8/1/2017
Some infections lead to pneumonia, death
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Veterinary herbal medicine supporters seek recognition
7/18/2017
ABVS invites feedback; comment period ends Sept. 1
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Burglar to veterinarians: Donβt display lavish stock of flea-tick products
7/13/2017
Prisoner shares his views in letter
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Low thiamine suspected in cat illnesses linked to BFF food
6/9/2017
Veterinarian relates how cases arose in Australia and persist despite recall
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The dark side of modern X-ray equipment
6/8/2017
Veterinarians find digital radiography expensive, maddening
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Veterinarians seek adventure, perspective working abroad
5/23/2017
U.S. practitioners find many options among English-speaking countries
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βSmartβ collars for animals proliferate
5/5/2017
Claims of health benefits as yet unproven
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Confusion ensues during veterinary-compounding discussion
5/2/2017
California regulators grapple with applying new rules
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Suspect admits to burglarizing veterinary clinics
4/18/2017
Lured by value of flea-and-tick products
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Veterinarians doubt validity of ImmuneIQ allergy test
4/5/2017
Hair and saliva analysis fooled by fake fur
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California lawmaker proposes tax break on veterinary bills
3/23/2017
AB 942 goes to hearing Monday
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Marketer of generic heartworm drug for dogs promises stable supply
3/15/2017
Brand-name Immiticide was plagued by shortages; will Diroban be different?
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Veterinarians identify thiamine-deficient cats, prompting pet food recall
3/6/2017
Signs include cluster seizures, twitching, imbalance, down-bent neck
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Britain: 94 percent of dogs now microchippedβ¨
2/8/2017
Long education period, financial aid credited for high compliance with mandate
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Pet cremation: questions and answers for veterinarians
1/4/2017
Don't underestimate importance of death-care
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Ban on powdered gloves coming Jan. 18
1/3/2017
FDA cites numerous health dangers
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Aggressive pets adopted out in quest to save animalsβ lives
11/17/2016
Has no-kill philosophy gone too far?
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When safety, learning conflict in veterinary school
11/16/2016
On aggressive patients, school policies differ widely
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How veterinarians handle aggressive patients
11/15/2016
Bites can be life-altering
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Pot for pets poses quandary for veterinarians
11/4/2016
Clients ask but animal doctors can’t prescribe
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Ex-Banfield leaders buy practices as βLegacyVetβ
10/18/2016
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Veterinary clinic opens at a Florida Wal-Mart
10/17/2016
Practice owners are first to lease space from retail giant
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Hemopet β1,000 percent going to stay in businessβ
9/21/2016
Failure of tax-exemption quest doesn’t doom canine blood bank
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Massachusetts hustles to adopt new rabies approach
8/17/2016
Veterinarians welcome relaxed, science-based rules
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Canine blood bank seeks sales-tax relief
8/12/2016
Proposed California law would exempt only nonprofits
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Pet pharmacy Rx transfers: supporting the competition?
7/14/2016
Veterinarian pushes Vets First Choice for greater transparency
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Reports of jerky-treat illnesses down but not out
5/16/2016
FDA counts more than 6,200 dogs, 26 cats, three people affected to date
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House subcommittee to consider pet-prescription rules
4/28/2016
Proposed ‘Fairness to Pet Owners Act’ a subtext of hearing Friday
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Zeuterin marketer falters two years after U.S. debut
4/22/2016
Sales of injectable sterilant for dogs come up short
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Wrist pain: occupational hazard for veterinarians?
4/6/2016
Practitioners susceptible to hurting thumb tendon sheath
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Electronic stethoscopes aid veterinarians with hearing loss
3/22/2016
Iconic medical tool goes digital
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Drug options for low thyroid in dogs to shrink sharply
3/10/2016
FDA targets long-used but unapproved medications
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Report rekindles debate on rural veterinary workforce
12/21/2015
Methodology questioned in provocative study on Appalachia
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Veterinarians stress about ketamine's future
11/19/2015
WHO assesses bid to schedule anesthetic drug
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When is veterinary telemedicine permitted?
11/9/2015
Sussing out legality as websites and apps proliferate
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Oregon to lift veterinary clinic ownership limit
10/13/2015
New law adds facility registration, routine inspections
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California bans OTC antibiotics in food animals
10/12/2015
Also requires periodic training for veterinarians on ‘judicious use’ policy
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Veterinary community rallies to combat burglaries
9/25/2015
Thieves target flea, tick, heartworm products
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Coming soon: credit-card security changes
9/18/2015
Merchants using outdated equipment may be on hook in fraud cases
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Veterinary generics squeezed by blocking agreements
9/8/2015
Zoetis, Merial bar big distributors from selling competing generic drugs
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Dog toxicant xylitol appearing in peanut butters
9/3/2015
Manufacturers asked to warn of sweetener's risk to pets
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Popular as ever, veterinary compounding poised for change
8/6/2015
Following long limbo, FDA proposes new approach
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New entrants to pet microchip market draw critics
7/29/2015
Are chips with ‘900’ codes unreliable or unfairly targeted?
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Entrepreneur finds pet microchip problem unsolvable
7/16/2015
Owner apathy, tangled industry leads Check the Chip to give up
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Unreliable Apoquel supply irks veterinarians
6/25/2015
Zoetis panned for empty promises, shoddy communication
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Veterinary clinic recovering from deadly fire
6/19/2015
Rebuilding can take years
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Study: Pets overdue for rabies shot still protected
6/12/2015
Rabies compendium update to reflect discovery
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FTC: Pet-medications market could be more competitive
5/27/2015
Consumers would benefit from broader prescription portability, report says
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Veterinarians field temporary Immiticide shortage
5/20/2015
Increased usage led to backorder, Merial says
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Sea lions need greater medical attention this season
4/22/2015
Veterinary care in demand for stranded, starving young
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Facial-recognition apps scout lost pets
4/15/2015
Tool supplements tags, chips
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Accidental pet exposures to hormones: purveyors respond
4/2/2015
Reactions range from nonchalance to concern
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American-made jerky tied to illness in dogs
3/30/2015
Cases of acquired Fanconi arise despite treat-market shift
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Deadline nears to join pet jerky class action
3/24/2015
Owners have until April 1 to submit claims
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Fur loss in dogs linked to ownersβ hormone use
3/17/2015
Veterinarian suspects unwitting exposure persists
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Veterinarians field ownersβ fears about Beneful
3/9/2015
Potential class action lawsuits solicit media attention
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MRI explodes at Oradell Animal Hospital
3/6/2015
Contract worker reportedly critically injured; hospital evacuated
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Recognizing sexual abuse in animals
3/5/2015
FBI to categorize animal cruelty in national crime database
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Veterinary internships lack uniform quality
2/24/2015
Concerned about exploitation, AAHA offers new accreditation option
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Reports of jerky pet treat illness ebb in U.S.
2/19/2015
International puzzle persists
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MWI sale reflects trend in pet-related industries
1/27/2015
Veterinarians wonder how service, prices will fare
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Interceptor parasite preventive returning to market
1/20/2015
New owner Elanco cites popular demand
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Ownership of Sentinel antiparasitic line poised to change
10/31/2014
Virbac seeks Novartis veterinary drugs in transaction with Eli Lilly
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Court fight effectively discredits Yelp, veterinarian says
9/30/2014
Rehearing request pending in class-action appeal
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Controlled-drugs disposal options expanded
9/23/2014
New federal rules take effect Oct. 9
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What to do when veterinary patientβs owner needs care
9/12/2014
Researchers offer advice for ticklish condition
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Comprehensive pet microchip registry data elusive
9/8/2014
One search engine defunct; another incomplete
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Veterinarians, schools emphasize yearly pet checkups
8/15/2014
Survey finds more pet owners concerned about cost of care
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Veterinarians unveil new technique for jaw reconstruction
8/8/2014
Idea grows from collaboration between UC Davis medical scientists and engineers
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Most veterinarians reduce prices so animals can get care, survey finds
7/16/2014
Few practices track discounts systematically
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VCA Inc.: Gentle giant or takeover threat?
7/11/2014
Views of chain veterinary hospital owner span the spectrum
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Scope of practice at center of Supreme Court case
6/24/2014
Authority of professional licensing boards in question
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Pet treats: Does 'Made in USA' mean safe?
6/10/2014
Illness linked to Chinese-made jerky spurs label changes
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Profusion of pet food choices cooks up confusion
6/2/2014
A veterinarian offers some thoughts
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Canadian anti-spam law affects email across borders
5/23/2014
Veterinarians advised to seek client consent on electronic communications
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Insect repellent, antiviral drug detected in jerky pet treats
5/16/2014
Whether illnesses stem from the contaminants is unknown
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Veterinary private-practice sector makes modest rebound
5/13/2014
Revenues rise, mostly through price increases
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VCA Antech prevails in breach-of-contract suits
5/1/2014
Laboratory services provider continues suing veterinarians
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Map tracks veterinary infectious disease cases in real time
4/18/2014
Veterinarians encouraged to report illness in dogs, cats, horses
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Lawmaker behind proposed Fairness to Pet Owners Act aims to inform consumers
3/14/2014
Congressman heading toward retirement reintroduces bill
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A colleagueβs suicide opens our Pandoraβs box
3/10/2014
Tragedy spotlights vulnerabilities in veterinary profession
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Help exists for those struggling to pay veterinary bills
3/4/2014
Charitable groups offer to defray expenses
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Equine hospital by New York racetrack revived
2/27/2014
Cornell University signs lease-buy agreement
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Veterinarians receiving loan repayment awards say program makes a difference
2/13/2014
But states have difficulty evaluating its effect on shortage areas
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Veteransβ service dogs receive full medical insurance
1/30/2014
Insurance company promises immediate payment to veterinarians
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Printing 3-D models eases complicated veterinary surgeries
12/20/2013
Auburn University radiologist promotes new tool
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Unusual dog leads veterinarian on unusual path
11/26/2013
How a sick shar-pei puppy steered clinician to research
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Does illegal OTC drug use by pet owners contribute to heartworm resistance?
11/18/2013
Differing rules for pet, livestock antiparasitic products questioned
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When peopleβs delusions affect pets
11/6/2013
Imaginary infestations may not be rare
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FDA calls on veterinarians to help solve jerky mystery
10/22/2013
Agency cites continued lack of awareness among public
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Veterinarians find their personal contact information listed online
10/17/2013
Directory-maker acknowledges misstep
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Study: Dog treats likely culprit in Australian outbreak
10/15/2013
Many patients recovered simply by stopping treats
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Online veterinary pharmacy automates drug recommendations
10/2/2013
Legal marketing tactic or unlicensed medical practice?
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Veterinarians skeptical canine circovirus alone is sickening dogs
9/10/2013
Practitioners with suspect cases urged to contact state officials
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Pharmacist admonished in veterinary case
9/5/2013
He needlessly alarmed pet owner about prescription, regulators found
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Heartworm drug resistance: It's real
8/19/2013
All preventive drugs on market implicated, scientists say
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Navigating bewildering array of pet antiparasitics
8/15/2013
Experts advise against one-size-fits-all approach
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Veterinarians concerned about FDAβs hydroxyethyl starch warning
7/17/2013
U.S. regulators impose limits on HES; proposed European ban in flux
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Returning to clinical work after leave takes practice
7/15/2013
Planning makes a critical difference
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Veterinary clinics scrutinize CareCredit in wake of investigation
7/12/2013
Merchant expense, new rules, reputation questioned
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Ultrasound salesman given one yearβs probation
6/11/2013
Restitution paid; 12-year prison sentence suspended
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Pet spay-neuter studies spotlight health risks, benefits
5/23/2013
Timing of surgeries may be critical
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Veterinarians see eye-to-eye to help kitten with birth defect
5/16/2013
Colleagues bridge distance to provide restorative eyelid surgery
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Vetsulin back with label changes
5/3/2013
Surprising new instructions: ‘shake’ drug to mix
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Zoonotic disease dangers present legal risks to veterinarians
5/2/2013
Communication key to mitigating liability, experts say
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Panel airs FDA restrictions on livestock antibiotics use
4/25/2013
Achieving greater veterinary oversight not simple
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Once mum, gum maker to disclose xylitol content
4/16/2013
Company responds to dog poisoning complaint
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Rise of veterinary chain ownership begets Canadian group purchasing
4/10/2013
Uniform pricing tradition gives way
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Lab that found antibiotics in jerky continues search
4/3/2013
Testing treats singly was possible key to discovery
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Banfield expansion brings new stand-alone clinics
3/28/2013
Eight in Portland, Ore.; other cities possible
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Ease of Web publishing raises potential for copyright breach
3/11/2013
Ignorance doesn't diminish liability
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Group purchasing activity on upswing in veterinary medicine
2/28/2013
Organizations proffer bulk discounts to independent practices
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Changing insulin brands may disrupt diabetics
2/5/2013
Problems in veterinary patients highlight heedless switching
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Could pet deworming regimen fuel parasite resistance?
1/29/2013
Veterinarians ponder implications for heartworm and gut worm infections
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VIN solicits jerky-associated illness reports
1/15/2013
Research veterinarians seek solution to mystery
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Veterinary prescription problems aired with regulators
1/12/2013
Pharmacy boards urge veterinarians to file complaints
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When microchips muddle pet ownership status
12/13/2012
Laws outdated; veterinarians caught in middle
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Is the doctor in?
12/5/2012
Veterinarians grapple with demand for extended hours
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βSentienceβ statement rouses debate among veterinarians
12/3/2012
AAHA adopts controversial classification of animals
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Will relaxed marijuana laws produce more stoned dogs?
11/29/2012
Pets eating pot nothing new but reports are up
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Veterinary hospice movement growing
10/31/2012
End-of-life care addresses emotional bonds
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Injectable sterilant for dogs returning to market
10/19/2012
New owner must overcome drug’s rocky history
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βThe Incredible Dr. Polβ asserts innocence despite board discipline
10/8/2012
Star of reality TV show placed on probation
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Pet treat investigation expands beyond chicken jerky
8/17/2012
FDA cites rise in complaints about duck, sweet potato products
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Climbing back on the proverbial horse
8/15/2012
After attack or injury, return to veterinary work may be daunting
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Can MDs and DVMs bridge the cultural divide?
7/24/2012
Physician champions concept of 'zoobiquity'
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Helping Pets Fund closes
7/19/2012
AAHA cites decline in donations
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Veterinarians advise avoiding chicken jerky dog treats
5/25/2012
Attention to 6-year-old mystery intensifies
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Veterinarian opens up about going undercover
5/22/2012
Flea-product diversion adventure twisted, turned
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Golden-ticket scheme delivers prized information
5/15/2012
Veterinarian’s diverted flea product shows up nationwide
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Veterinarian investigates illicit diversion of flea products
5/8/2012
Gray-market sales veiled by deception, intrigue
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Veterinarians ponder ideal number of daily appointments
5/7/2012
Personality, staff, community expectations shape preferences
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Merial: PureVax for ferrets coming back this week
4/30/2012
Backorder of distemper vaccine stirred worries
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California veterinarians ready to testify against lay dentistry
4/16/2012
Scope-of-practice battle wages over teeth cleaning
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βWhy are vets so expensive?β
4/13/2012
Practitioner tackles sensitive question
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Veterinary clinic owner pays heavy price for military service
3/5/2012
Financial recovery elusive following deployment
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Veterinarians serve family-health role in suspected zoonoses
2/10/2012
To test or not to test; that is the question
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Awareness of xylitol toxicity in dogs still lacking
1/31/2012
Reported cases of poisoning on the rise
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Veterinarians confront Internet pharmacy PetMed Express
1/16/2012
Company acknowledges: ‘Some mistakes were made’
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Spike in dog-flu reports attracts media attention
12/22/2011
Actual incidence is undefined
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Veterinary accreditation papers missing? Call USDA
11/17/2011
Agency says applicants should have documentation by now
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Hiring new graduates a profitable pleasure, veterinarians attest
11/14/2011
View counters a stereotype
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Loan broker accused of bilking veterinarians now sells wellness plans
11/10/2011
Ron Paterson draws more complaints
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Merial knows, diverting veterinarians assert
11/4/2011
Maker of Frontline denies the company condones, encourages diversion
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βFreeβ Hillβs cat food samples not exactly free
10/24/2011
Veterinary clinics report accepting samples triggers orders for more
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Independent voice of digital radiology silenced?
10/13/2011
DVMInsight's sale to Idexx viewed by some as contradiction
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Veterinarian campaigns for awareness of mammary gland cancer
9/30/2011
October is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month
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Waste disposal, veterinary style
9/16/2011
Two new web resources address safe handling practices
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VCA's buy of Vetstreet raises worries about control of clinic data
9/1/2011
New owner says it will not inspect clinic information
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Complaints mount against gray-market broker WTF Wholesale
8/29/2011
Problems open view into world of flea product diversion
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Entest to use veterinary practices as revenue driver, research venue
8/23/2011
Concerns about setup point to potential conflicts of interest
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States consider controlling rabies vaccination intervals
8/12/2011
Veterinarians question interference with medical discretion
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Immiticide supplies run dry
8/9/2011
New guidance from the American Heartworm Society expected
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Jerky treats for dogs still suspected in illness
7/8/2011
Veterinarians advise caution in choosing snacks
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Con artist or lending lifeline? VetFinance Group under scrutiny
6/23/2011
Veterinarians allegedly bilked by broker Ron Paterson
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Veterinary technicians: Opportunities, but at what cost?
6/9/2011
Support staff cite low wages, spotty professional respect
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Researcher promotes awareness of accidental hormone exposure in pets
6/8/2011
VIN tallies more than 100 case reports since 2003
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Russian veterinarian becomes impromptu seal expert
5/31/2011
Stranded pups show up three years in a row
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Mandatory canine health checks to impact Wisconsin veterinarians
5/5/2011
New rule aimed at 'breeder farm' puppies takes effect June 1
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Online veterinary pharmacies exploit cross-border regulatory gaps
4/25/2011
Canine heartworm prevention drugs sold without required prescription
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Veterinarians explore promoting wellness
3/23/2011
Proponents say preventive medicine not just about vaccinations
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Fearing overseas radiation, Americans seek potassium iodide for pets
3/18/2011
Veterinary experts say medication isn’t warranted
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Rabies shots: Pets protected but what about people?
3/17/2011
Many veterinary personnel not current on their own vaccinations
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Thrift commerce meets veterinary medicine in GroupDVM
2/10/2011
Company uses 'power in numbers' to leverage deals for veterinarians
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What makes an ideal relief veterinarian?
2/10/2011
Answers as numerous as practice styles; flexibility is key
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Vetsulinβs removal from market could be temporary
2/8/2011
Intervet ceases production due to bacterial contamination concerns
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Study: Veterinarians can reverse decline in visits
1/27/2011
Report identifies contributing factors and ways to counter the trend
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Physicians and veterinarians to share perspectives
1/7/2011
“Zoobiquity” conference aims to bridge medical divide
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Veterinarian saves cat; stranger saves cat's owner
12/30/2010
Tale of generous acts heartens spirits
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Veterinarians scramble for mainstay chemotherapy drug
12/20/2010
Doxorubicin hydrochloride in short supply
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California veterinarians target unlicensed care
12/14/2010
Conflict between profession, lay practitioners intensifies
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Veterinarian's recipe for stone soup serves up aid, cooperation
11/30/2010
Pay-it-forward idea fosters collegiality within profession
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Raw food diets for pets chock-full of controversy, complexity
11/22/2010
Veterinarians' views run gamut as movement gains steam
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Canine Health Institute closing its doors
11/18/2010
Veterinary center for pain, rehab, imaging, neurosurgery was unique
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Clinic owner struggles with ultrasound-equipment vendor
11/17/2010
Amerisource Medical blames veterinarian’s location for shipment delay
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Dying stray hits generosity jackpot
11/15/2010
Adopter made instant commitment to save injured dog
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DEA wants propofol elevated to scheduled status
11/10/2010
Change likely to impact veterinary practices
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Frontline, ProMeris not going OTC, manufacturers say
11/8/2010
Veterinary market research survey gives confusing message
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Navigating credit card security requirements
10/21/2010
Compliance isn't cheap or easy
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Accidental hormone exposures prompt proposed drug label changes
10/11/2010
Seller of topical hormone Evamist awaiting FDA review
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Recall issued of certain Blue Buffalo dog foods
10/8/2010
Excess vitamin D in food linked to illness in pets
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Health credit programs: safety net or predatory lending?
10/4/2010
NY state investigation puts veterinarians on the defensive
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VIN unveils recall center for veterinarians, consumers
9/27/2010
Site intended to act as information resource
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Calif. spay/neuter program breeds skepticism among veterinarians
9/23/2010
State attempts to tackle pet overpopulation by selling specialty license plates
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Germ that causes cat scratch disease not necessarily mild
9/20/2010
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Attention to 6-year-old mystery intensifies
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May 25, 2012
By: Edie Lau
For The VIN News Service
 Photo by Diane Dehart
Lacie, a Labrador retriever mix, was healthy until she developed a fatal kidney disease that her veterinarian suspects was caused by eating chicken jerky treats. Ever since Dr. Robin Hubbard had to euthanize Lacie, a vibrant Labrador retriever mix who developed kidney failure in April after eating chicken jerky, spreading the word about possible risks of the dog treats has become something of a crusade for the veterinarian.
Hubbard talks about it with her clients at Rustburg Veterinary Clinic in Virginia. She submitted a report to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). She contacted a VIN News Service reporter, wrote a letter to the editor of her local newspaper and plans to reach out to the companies that make chicken jerky for dogs.
“These treats are everywhere,” Hubbard said. “They are in the grocery store, Sam’s Club, PetSmart, so people think, ‘They’re OK. They must be. They’re all over the place.’ ”
In fact, whether chicken jerky treats for dogs are OK is a long-running mystery. The FDA began in 2006 to receive complaints that chicken jerky treats made in China apparently were making dogs sick. Six years later, the agency has been unable to identify a contaminant and cannot say definitively whether the treats are safe or causing illness and death.

Meanwhile, the number of complaints is skyrocketing, surpassing 600 in the first 5-1/2 months of this year alone. The agency has received about 1,300 complaints total since 2006, according to Laura Alvey, a spokeswoman for the FDA Center for Veterinary Medicine.
Reported signs of illness, which tend to occur within hours or days of feeding the products, include decreased appetite; lethargy; vomiting; diarrhea, sometimes with blood; increased water consumption; and increased urination.
It’s unclear whether the problem is worsening or merely better recognized. Alvey noted that reports tend to surge following media attention or other publicity. The greatest spike to date came in March, with more than 400 complaints logged in the wake of news reports on MSNBC.com and other media outlets, Alvey said.
A smaller number of cases have occurred in Canada, as well. The Canadian Veterinary Medical Association has received reports of 35 cases since June 5, 2011, according to the association’s communications manager Tanya Frye.
Australia experienced an outbreak in 2007 and 2008 and has seen “a few sporadic cases” since then, according to Dr. Linda Fleeman, a veterinarian there who tried during the outbreak to identify the cause.
In the United States, the clamor for answers has intensified. In February, two Ohio lawmakers — U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown and Congressman Dennis Kucinich — sent letters to the FDA pressing their concerns, including questioning whether the public was sufficiently informed and requesting details of the agency's investigation.
In a letter to Brown dated March 9, FDA Assistant Commissioner for Budget Patrick O. McGarey responded that the agency tested more than 170 samples of chicken jerky products between 2007 and 2011, and had complete results for another 80 samples tested during the first weeks of 2012.
McGarey said the samples tested negative for drugs, poisons and toxins, including several mycotoxins. A subset of samples tested additionally for heavy metals, melamine, formaldehyde, tetracycline breakdown products and/or maleic acid also were negative, he said.
He added: “Propylene glycol was found at low levels in about half of the samples where laboratories tested for this substance, but the levels were considered to be nontoxic. Propylene glycol is an allowed feed ingredient in pet foods.”
In sum, he said: “To date, scientists have not been able to determine a definitive cause for the reported illnesses.”
Brown called the response inadequate and sent a second letter. In a reply dated April 5, McGarey stated that the agency had posted a questions-and-answers document on its website to provide more information to pet owners.
In addition, McGarey said, the agency was continuing an intensified investigation, including stepping up surveillance of shipments of chicken jerky treats from China and scheduling inspections of five Chinese production facilities known to produce chicken jerky imported to the United States. He said the inspections began on March 28.
Findings have not been released. Alvey, in response to questions from the VIN News Service about the inspections, said: “We are limited in the information we can make public, as the investigation is active and ongoing.”
Manufacturers whose chicken jerky has been implicated in illness in
American dogs are under pressure to pull their products but have
resisted thus far. An online petition seeking a ban on all chicken jerky treats made in China has drawn more than 14,000 signatures.
Nestle Purina PetCare makes two brands among several that reportedly have been implicated by name in the complaints: Waggin’ Train and Canyon Creek
Ranch. In a Q&A on its Waggin’ Train website, the company says it has not issued a voluntary recall because:
“Waggin' Train products are safe to feed as directed, and millions of
dogs continue to enjoy them as a wholesome treat. The FDA has clearly
stated that after extensive testing, scientists have been unable to
determine a definitive cause for the reported illnesses. According to
the FDA, samples collected from all over the United States have been
tested for a wide variety of substances and no contaminant has been
found. In addition, FDA continues to emphasize that many of the reported
illnesses may be the result of causes other than eating chicken jerky.”
In April, Nestle Purina sent a letter
to about 20,000 veterinarians nationwide asking them to share
“accurate, fact-based information” to counter what it called “inaccurate
and misleading information about chicken jerky treats for dogs ...
circulating in the social media, online and in traditional media
reports.”
Among the facts it offered: “Waggin’ Train chicken jerky treats are safe
to feed as directed. To date, there has not been a recall of Waggin’
Train products, and consumers may continue to feed with confidence.”
Dr. Sherrie Hartke, owner of Willis Animal Hospital in Texas, said the letter struck her as “well-written corporate spin.”
Hartke has seen two cases of illness associated with chicken jerky. Her
thought is: “Why feed these treats when so many others are
available and not associated with health problems?”
Many veterinarians express the same sentiment.
 Frustrated that potentially harmful chicken jerky treats remain on the market, Dr. Tony Buffington, the veterinary nutritionist at the Ohio State University Veterinary Medical Center, created this poster to display in the hospital for companion animals.
Dr. Tony Buffington, the Ohio State University Veterinary Medical Center’s veterinary nutritionist, created a poster to display in the hospital for companion animals to warn clients of the potential risk of feeding their pets chicken jerky. The poster reads in part:
“Until a cause or explanation can be found, we urge our clients not to purchase or feed chicken jerky products to your pets. There are many other ways to express your love for your pet; play, petting, teaching tricks ... contain all the love without the calories or the risks associated with these snacks.”
Buffington explained by email that when he was asked to speak to local press on the subject, he reviewed the issue to refresh his knowledge and was surprised to find the treats still available for sale. “While it seems incredible to me that anyone would continue to sell them with so many other snacks on the market, I thought that the least I could do was to warn our clients,” he said.
Hubbard, the veterinarian in Virginia, was struck deeply by the experience of trying to save the life of a dog that had been perfectly fine before eating the treats.
Remembering Lacie, a 5-year-old snowy white Lab mix who wagged her tail happily even when visiting the clinic for treatment, Hubbard said, “She was just a spectacular dog. ... I had to look at this lovely dog and euthanize her because of kidney failure. So it’s very personal.”
Lacie’s owner, Diane “Dee” Dehart, picked up the Waggin’ Train brand of chicken jerky at a grocery store in April. She’d never tried that treat before and knew nothing of the ongoing concerns about chicken jerky dog snacks made in China. She just thought her three pets might like it.
They did, Lacie most of all. Dehart remembered giving her “at least four to five good-sized pieces” at a time. The other two dogs, both male Lab mixes, also got some, but “I had a tendency to give her a little more,” Dehart said. “She was my little girl.”
About three days after buying the treat, Dehart, perusing news online during a lunch break, came across an article about the potential dangers of chicken jerky. That looks like the same stuff I have! she thought in alarm. At home, she confirmed it was the same product and immediately threw it away.
A few weeks later, Dehart noticed Lacie had lost weight. Wondering but not immediately worried, she waited a bit, watching Lacie closely. The dog was not obviously ill, but then Dehart noticed she ate grass and drank water more than usual. That’s when Dehart realized Lacie wasn’t well.
“I was afraid it was diabetes,” she recalled, adding wistfully: “I wish it had been. I’d have given her a shot every day.”
By the time Dr. Hubbard saw her on April 30, Lacie was in severe kidney failure. She was anuric — unable to urinate — her blood pressure was high, she had gastrointestinal ulcers and no appetite. Under her fluffy fur, she was bony, having dropped 10 of her usual 50 pounds. And Lacie had glucosuria — sugar in her urine, one of the hallmarks of Fanconi-like syndrome, the renal disease common to many of the cases involving consumption of chicken jerky.
Hubbard initially thought Lacie might have gotten into a chemical poison of some sort; antifreeze or transmission fluid, perhaps, but Dehart said she was very careful to keep all the dogs in a fenced yard with no access to toxicants. The veterinarian went down the list of possibilities. What about chicken jerky? she asked.
Yes, Dehart replied. Yes, she had chicken jerky.
Hubbard kept Lacie overnight, providing intensive fluid therapy and medications to help her urinate, protect her stomach and bring down her blood pressure. The following evening, Dehart took Lacie home, bringing her back in the morning for further treatment. But Lacie did not recover.
When Dehart realized the end was near, she took time off work to stay home with her pet. “She was just throwing up and throwing up,” Dehart said. “She hadn’t eaten anything. She just finally quit getting up.”
An animal lover who’s kept cats, dogs, mice and turtles over the course of her life, Dehart said most of her pets died of old age — never anything like this.
She’s struck by the irony of owners possibly causing their dogs harm by giving treats out of love. “You feel like you’ve done it to them,” she said.
Since Lacie’s death, Dehart has been looking at store shelves of chicken jerky with anger and frustration. “The Wal-Mart here, they’ve got a big display,” she said. “I want to knock them all off on the floor.”
She hasn’t done that, of course, but she did talk to the manager of the grocery store where she bought the treats. He was sympathetic and urged her to call the company’s customer service line to share her feelings. Because the store belongs to a national chain, he told her he was unable to make a unilateral decision to pull the treats. But Dehart said he told her, “If I see anybody going to buy them, I will say something.”
Hubbard said she, too, plans to urge the stores to stop selling chicken jerky. But her first priority was completing a report to the FDA on Lacie’s case, even as she wondered how much the report would count. She has helpful laboratory analyses but lacks other details.
“You’re supposed to be able to give them dates of when they ate the product. The (owner) is distraught, she doesn’t remember (exactly) when she gave it ...” Hubbard explained.
“Another thing is, the FDA says, ‘Well, you don’t have the product any more so this isn’t going to be a good case to report.’ The best ones they like for epidemiology, you’ve got the bag and the lot number and all the information on the bag, you have some of the product (they) can test, you’ve got an animal that’s now sick, and the lab work in is place,” Hubbard continued.
“It doesn’t happen like that in the real world,” she lamented. “It just doesn’t.”
FDA provides instructions online in how to report a problem with pet food. Agency spokeswoman Alvey acknowledged the information they seek is extensive. "In a perfect world, we'd love to get all of the (information requested) when a report is submitted but we know this isn't always possible," she said.
While the FDA investigation continues, at least one scientific paper has been published documenting the development of acquired Fanconi syndrome in four dogs exposed to chicken jerky treats in the United States. Appearing in the November/December 2011 edition of the Journal of the American Animal Hospital Association, the case report describes classic Fanconi syndrome in dogs as an inherited disease found in basenjis. (Fanconi syndrome occurs in people, as well.)
“Acquired Fanconi syndrome has been documented sparingly, with reports of only a few patients at a time,” the authors state.
The paper reports that documented causes of acquired Fanconi syndrome in dogs are leptospirosis infections; association with certain medications such as antibiotics and chemotherapy; copper storage hepatopathy, a liver condition; and exposure to chemical food additives.
Acquired Fanconi syndrome in humans has been traced to exposure to a variety of environmental toxicants, including cadmium, lead and mercury, and to certain medications; to the diseases amyloidosis and multiple myeloma; and to renal transplantations, the paper states.
The four case studies presented in the paper involve small-breed dogs that ate chicken jerky daily as a significant part of their diets. Their clinical signs included lethargy, vomiting, anorexia, diarrhea and altered thirst and urination. Through supportive care, including intravenous fluids, antibiotics, gastroprotectants and oral nutritional supplements, all survived. Three recovered completely, but one developed chronic kidney disease.
The dogs all were seen by Veterinary Specialists of South Florida, in Cooper City, Fla., where the paper’s lead author, Dr. Ashley Nichole Hooper, was a resident at the time. In an interview, Hooper recalled the practice seeing a rash of such cases in fall 2007 — approximately seven during an 8-week period. And she knew from reading message boards of the American Veterinary Medical Association that other practitioners were seeing similar cases.
Today, Hooper is surprised the cause of the syndrome remains a puzzle. So many reports, messages and bulletins circulated in veterinary circles at the time that she felt someone surely would crack the mystery soon.
“It’s hard for me to think it was already five years ago now,” she said.
Confounding the conundrum further is the fact that treats other than chicken jerky have been associated with symptoms of Fanconi syndrome. On a message board of the Veterinary Information Network (VIN), an online community for the profession, several practitioners recently posted about cases involving dogs that ate sweet potato and yam treats made in China. Colleagues urged them to report the cases to the FDA.
Many veterinarians suggest it would be wise to avoid all treats made in China until the mystery is solved.
Consumers have been highly wary of pet foods and ingredients produced in China ever since unscrupulous manufacturers in that country were discovered in 2007 to have deliberately spiked certain ingredients with melamine — an industrial chemical not approved for use in food — in an attempt to boost apparent protein levels.
The melamine contamination scandal sickened and killed tens of thousands of cats and dogs and led to the largest pet food recall in North American history.
The chicken-jerky issue has resulted in few recalls to date. In 2007, as complaints to the FDA about chicken jerky began to mount, Eight In One Inc. recalled its Dingo Chick’n Jerky, citing potential Salmonella contamination. However, Salmonella has not been identified as a culprit in other brands that have been the subject of complaints.
In 2008 in Australia and New Zealand, KraMar Pet Company Pty. Ltd. recalled its China-made Supa Naturals Chicken Breast Strips after learning that at least 15 dogs
developed acquired renal tubulopathy, or
Fanconi-like syndrome, a company spokeswoman said at the time.
The following year, Virbac pulled from the Australian market its VeggieDent doggie dental chews for the same reason. Quite unlike chicken jerky, VeggieDents contain no meat. Virbac said they were made in Vietnam of ingredients sourced in Vietnam.
The recall did not affect VeggieDents sold in Europe, Japan and the United States, where the chews had generated no complaints of illness. Virbac’s recall notice pointed out that those sold in Australia were irradiated as required by the Australian government but were not irradiated for other markets.
The Australian government in 2009 banned irradiation of cat food in response to studies linking ingestion of irradiated food to development of neurological problems in cats, including limb paralysis. Similar problems have not been identified in dogs, but the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals in Australia advocates prohibiting irradiation of all pet foods because cats often have access to dog food and because “there may be as yet unidentified health effects on dogs following ingestion of irradiated dog food.”
At least two brands of chicken jerky implicated in illness in the United States — Waggin’ Train and Canyon Creek Ranch — are subject to irradiation, according to information on the brands’ websites. Jill Winte, a spokeswoman for Waggin' Train, said in an interview that the FDA-sanctioned practice is intended to make the products safer by killing pathogens.
Asked whether the FDA has examined the role of irradiation in its chicken jerky investigation, agency spokeswoman Alvey confirmed that it is doing so. “We are considering irradiation as one potential factor in the jerky problem,” she said.
Irradiated foods in the United States generally bear a symbol called a radura or are otherwise labeled as irradiated.
VIN News Service commentaries are opinion pieces presenting insights, personal experiences and/or perspectives on topical issues by members of the veterinary community. To submit a commentary for consideration, email news@vin.com.
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