2nd case of hantavirus in New Mexico county this year

Veterinary Medicine Update    2nd case of hantavirus in New Mexico county this year A 51-year-old woman in McKinley County, N.M., has been found with hantavirus pulmonary syndrome, reportedly the second case of the virus in the area this year. The virus, which is marked by signs such as fever, headache and muscle pain, can be contracted by breathing particles of rodent saliva, urine or feces. KOB-TV (Albuquerque, N.M.)/The Associated Press(1/10) Other News Bulgaria veterinary service moves to contain foot-and-mouth outbreak Bloomberg (1/10)  2011 planning for social media made simpler 94.1% of businesses use social media to build brand awareness — does yours? Get insights into business trends and best practices for social media fromSmartBrief's State of Social Media for Business. Make your 2011 social-media strategy count with data from 6000+ business execs. Download the key takeaways now.   Animal News  Poll: Most U.S. pet owners think their animals have a sixth sense An Associated Press-Petside.com poll revealed that most U.S. owners believe their pets have a sixth sense, with about 66% saying their animals can detect bad weather. Seventy-two percent of canine owners say they have received weather warnings from their dogs, compared with 66% of feline owners. Yahoo!/The Associated Press (1/11)  Pet's illness can lead to proper diagnosis of owner's disease Pets can sometimes act as "health sentinels," providing valuable clues when the humans with whom they share an environment are plagued with mysterious medical conditions, says veterinarian Jennifer Adler. Illnesses such as Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever, a tickborne disease, can go undiagnosed in humans because it is so rare. Diagnosing the disease in a family pet can provide the clues physicians need to treat the person, Adler says. WTAJ-TV (Altoona, Pa.) (1/11) Debate over dog and cat remains in pet food rages on Some pet foods made in states where it's illegal to dump euthanized dogs and cats in landfills may contain small amounts of protein derived from those animals, according to sources in this article. Researchers at the FDA began studying the question after tests in the 1990s revealed traces of pentobarbital in pet foods and concluded that the drug likely came from euthanized cattle, horses and possibly pets. Since then, animal advocates have worked to eliminate the practice of rendering dog and cat carcasses for pet food. Reno Gazette-Journal (Nev.) (1/11)  Read a statement from the Pet Food Institute on this topic.   Do shelter cats make the best pets? Shelter cats and kittens in need of homes often make the best pets, for several reasons, says animal behaviorist Steve Aiken. Previously owned animals often come already socialized and better prepared to fit in with a family, shelter workers are in the best position to help make a good match and costs to adopt from a shelter are typically lower than the price to buy a cat. WTVF-TV (Nashville, Tenn.)/The Daily Cat (1/10) Kansas agency warns livestock owners about possible cold snap The Kansas Department of Emergency Management has issued an advisory that a cold snap is likely to hit the state over the next few days. The agency advises livestock owners to take steps to protect their animals, including providing them with adequate food and water.The Morning Sun (Pittsburg, Kan.) (1/9)  Tips for keeping pets in shape during the winter Giving up outdoor exercise during the worst of winter's cold doesn't mean abandoning Fido's fitness regimen. Making time each day for active indoor pursuits such as games of fetch and heading out to pet stores and other indoor venues that encourage the presence of pets can all help keep dogs in shape. The Patriot Ledger (Quincy, Mass.)/GateHouse News Service(1/10)  Other News Veterinarian offers cold-weather tips for pet owners Houston Chronicle (1/10)  Veterinarian shares options for medicating difficult cats Times Leader (Wilkes-Barre, Pa.) (1/11)    Around the Office  Bartering takes business back to its horse-trading roots Bartering is a great way for new businesses to keep costs down and bring in customers, writes Steve Strauss. Barter networks enable you to rack up credits for the things you need, or you can use the barter dollars for employee incentives. USA TODAY (1/7)   Policy Watch    Debarking ordinance passes first reading in R.I. city The City Council in Warwick, R.I., on Monday gave its first-round approval to an ordinance that would outlaw the debarking of area cats and dogs, except for medical necessities as determined by a veterinarian. The measure will go through a second vote Monday. WJAR-TV (Cranston, R.I.) (1/10)  INTRODUCING HP ePRINT— Print from anywhere from any mobile device.* The HP Officejet Pro 8500A Plus e-All-in-One now with $120 INSTANT REBATE. BUY NOW. *Requires an Internet connection to the printer. Feature works with any Internet- and Email-capable device. Print times may vary. Click here for details.   AVMA in the News  Experts find gaps in breed-specific laws In response to a New York Times blog post that hinted that breed-specific laws work, this article points to studies that contradict the claim. Economist John Dunham, who has examined the issue, found that dog-profiling laws prove costly to taxpayers, while the authors of a JAVMA study suggested that such measures are "based largely on fear."Change.org/Animals blog (1/10) Opinion: Horse-slaughter ban has unpleasant consequences The ban on the industry that produced horse meat for foreign consumption led to thousands of unwanted horses in the Western U.S. each year and to the slaughtering of horses across U.S. borders, according to this opinion piece. The AVMA, together with other veterinary groups, have foreseen these unpleasant consequences of a horse-slaughter ban years ago, but they were out-lobbied.DailyCaller.com (1/10)    Featured Content    Favorite Transitions from CES 2011 Guy Kawasaki  Bosses Behaving Badly Ann Handley  What Being a Good Friend Can Teach You About Social Media Lena West  5 Insights on Innovation Scott Belsky  5 Steps to Start a Business and Make it Work Richard Branson    Association News  Leadership development opportunity available for recent grads, emerging leaders  The AVMA is offering a yearlong Future Leaders Program to identify and develop volunteer leaders for the AVMA and other organized veterinary groups. Open to anyone who has graduated from veterinary school within the past 15 years, this pilot program will bolster leadership and problem-solving skills related to organized veterinary medicine. Nominations, including self-nominations, must be received by March 21. Details about the program, including participation requirements and nomination forms, are available from the program description and the nominating form.  Learn more about the AVMA -> AVMA.org  |  AVMA@Work  |  AVMAtv  |  A2Z  |  Keep Our Food Safe   SmartQuote  There is no sense in crying over spilt milk. Why bewail what is done and cannot be recalled?" --Sophocles, Greek playwright