Animal Health SmartBrief

Veterinary Medicine Update  Experts tie lifestyle trends to food-animal veterinary shortage The percentage of veterinary students who plan to specialize in food-animal care is considerably lower compared with those intending to work with pets, a trend that experts say can be attributed to factors such as student demographics and lifestyle goals. The lifestyle and physical strain of working with food animals in a rural veterinary practice seems unlikely to draw students into the field, a Michigan State University professor said. The Argus-Press (Owosso, Mich.) (12/11)  Testing could help in fight against spread of equine diseases The recent report of a Wisconsin horse infected with equine piroplasmosis has prompted states such as Michigan to require horses to be tested for the disease before they are allowed entry. Policies that mandate testing for horses being transported across state lines are crucial to enhance surveillance and control of serious equine diseases, writes veterinarian Wes Elford. The Reporter (Fond Du Lac, Wis.)(12/12) Cornell veterinarian uses dog dummy to train students Dan Fletcher, a veterinary professor at Cornell University, has developed a dog-dummy system that simulates real-life crisis situations to allow students to hone their skills in life-saving techniques. Fletcher hopes to create similar programs that would help veterinarians as well as military and emergency personnel who rely on working dogs. Star-Gazette (Elmira, N.Y.)/Cornell University News Service (12/12)  Texas and Virginia report unusual rabies cases in horses A 3-year-old Morgan mare in Lubbock, Texas, has been found with a strain of rabies carried by skunks, reportedly the first documented horse rabies case in the city in 47 years; in Virginia, officials have confirmed a case of rabies in a miniature horse. Officials in both states advise residents to have their livestock and other animals that come in contact with people vaccinated against the disease. "I've never heard of a case in a miniature horse before, but that's because miniature horses are less common. Rabies, however, is not," said Virginia Health Department spokesman Robert Parker. Lubbock Avalanche-Journal (Texas) (12/11) ,Bluefield Daily Telegraph (W.Va.) (12/11)  New generation of rat poisons threatens owl populations Researchers studying owl populations in Vancouver, British Columbia, are finding more of the raptors dying slow, painful deaths as a result of eating rodents that have consumed a new generation of supertoxic rat poisons. Other studies show the poisons are killing several species, including mountain lions, coyotes, deer and bald eagles. The Seattle Times/InvestigateWest (Seattle) (12/11)  Other News Merck makes progress with planned veterinary joint venture Reuters (12/10)  HR Best Practices: Delivering Strategic Value to the Enterprise Establishing HR best practices that are supported with technology can help achieve greater efficiency. HR processes reduce the burden of handling administrative tasks and deliver strategic value to the organization by equipping managers with the right information. Learn how in this free white papersponsored by SAP.   Animal News  Florida pet owners are urged to be vigilant amid coyote sightings Residents in Cortez, Fla., say they are seeing an increased number of coyotes prowling in their backyards and eating their pets. Experts advise owners to take measures to protect their pets, including keeping their animals indoors and not feeding the wild animals. Sarasota Herald-Tribune (Fla.) (12/12)  Keep pets away from the holiday-candy dish The holidays can be a particularly tricky time for preventing pets from consuming chocolate, but the sweet treat for humans can have devastating effects on dogs and cats. Cocoa contains compounds that can be toxic to animals, and the darker the chocolate, the more dangerous, writes Gloucester, Mass., veterinarian Ray Cahill. He also cautions that even if pets don't get sick from the candy, foil and plastic wrappers pose an additional threat.Wicked Local/Gatehouse News Service (12/10)  Dropping water temps threaten Florida's fish and manatees An earlier-than-expected drop in water temperatures in the Gulf of Mexico and Central Florida's lakes and ponds has wildlife officials worried about casualties among sea creatures. Statewide, fish kills have already hit a record number this year, as have manatee deaths from the cold, officials say. The Tampa Tribune (Fla.) (12/10)  Other News Experts plan release of 20 sea turtles rescued on Mass. beaches back into the wild WCVB-TV (Boston) (12/12)  Kansas event focuses on protecting livestock in case of disasters CattleNetwork.com (12/10)    Around the Office  5 stay-on-track tips for the holiday season The holidays are often a time full of distractions, but they don't have to be lost time for your business, writes Lisa Barone. She recommends planning ahead and being realistic about your time and expectations for the amount of work you can get done as well as finding resources that help motivate and inspire you to keep working instead of giving in to the pumpkin pie.Small Business Trends (12/8)  Create a winning social-media strategy  Relying on luck and good intentions when developing your social-media approach can leave you with disparate, ineffective initiatives. Get the data you need to formulate a savvy social-media strategy that produces measurable results. GetThe State of Social Media for Business — 15% off for SmartBrief readers.   Policy Watch  Michigan order classifies feral pigs as an invasive species Michigan officials have issued an order classifying feral pigs as an invasive species, but delayed the effective date until early July to give the Legislature a chance to craft laws exempting the state's 65 game ranches that raise pigs for hunting. If lawmakers don't act by the deadline, it will be illegal to possess wild boar anywhere in the state. Detroit Free Press(12/10)  Lion death spurs call to ban exotic-pet ownership in Indiana The report of a rescued lion who recently died of kidney failure in Albion, Ind., has prompted some to call for a ban on the ownership of exotic pets in the state. "Bottom line is unless there's legislation in your county, city or state, we're gonna continually have to deal with this," said the director of the Black Pine Animal Sanctuary, where the lion was housed.WANE-TV (Fort Wayne, Ind.) (12/11)    AVMA in the News  Rural children may hold key to ending large-animal veterinary shortage A recent AVMA survey indicated that only 2% of veterinary students graduating this year plan to work with large animals, a trend that is also evident in parts of Nebraska. That problem can be addressed by encouraging more young people from Nebraska's rural areas to pursue large-animal medicine because they have a background in livestock care and are the most likely to return home to practice, state agriculture officials and veterinarians say.Kearney Hub (Neb.) (12/13)  Other News Texas city's shelter ends use of gas chambers for animal euthanasia The Dallas Morning News (12/11)  Breed-specific laws fall short of preventing dog bites Akron Beacon Journal (Ohio) (12/11)    Hot Topics  Top five news stories selected by Animal Health SmartBrief readers in the past week. US Airways flight is diverted after dog bite incident (ABC News) Scientists use stem cells to restore mobility in paralyzed monkey (Yahoo!) Veterinary medicine among the best careers of 2011 (U.S. News & World Report) What happens to animals when they hibernate? (The Washington Post) U.K. animal-health officials warn of potential disease risks of micropigs (The Independent (London)) Results based on number of times each story was clicked by readers.