Continuing Education Calendar
Upcoming CE Events
All CVMA CE offerings are live and interactive, and count towards your required participatory instruction. Pre-recorded online CE only counts towards self-study even if it offers the ability to ask questions afterwards. For more information on CE requirements, visit the Learning tab at cvma.net.
CVMA Spring Seminar – From Valley to Virtual Live Interactive Online CE for Veterinarians, 12 CEUs
March 5–7, 2021
The online CVMA Spring Seminar o ers up to 12 CEUs and includes sessions on dentistry and internal medicine. See page 20 for more information.
Sponsored by
Save the Date
PacVet Live
A Sea of Virtual CE, Coming June 2021
For more information, see page 47 and watch for details in emails, on PacVet.net, and in future issues of the California Veterinarian
ONLINE SEMINARS
Earn CE with CVMA Online Seminars
Below are our upcoming online seminar topics. Please refer to page 12 for details.
A Fresh Look at the Management of Osteoarthritis in Dogs, 1.5 CEUs
January 12 and January 19, 2021
Sponsored by
Sexual Harassment Prevention Training
PacVet
Veterinarian California
The Publication of the California Veterinary Medical Association
Publisher Dan Baxter
Managing Editor Kristen Calderon
Editor Trisha Consunji
Publication Designer Howard Steffens
Classified Advertising Laura Phillips
Board of Governors
President Dr. Dirk Yelinek
President Elect Dr. Elisabeth Klapstein
Member-at-Large Dr. Keith Rode
Members Dr. Peter Bowie
Dr. Patrick Connolly
Dr. Larry Correia
Dr. Jennifer Hawkins
Dr. Michael Karle
Dr. Adam Lauppe
Dr. Julia Lewis
Dr. Bruce Lindsey
Dr. Teresa Morishita
Dr. Marshall Scott
Dr. Dianne Sequoia
Dr. Peter Vogel
Student Representatives
University of California, Davis Megan Dietz
Western University
Christopher Morrill
Treasurer Dr. George Bishop
Chair, House of Delegates Dr. Brent Wooden
CVMA Staff
Executive Director
Dan Baxter
Assistant Executive Director Della Yee
Director of Communications Kristen Calderon
Director of Finance Kathy Van Booven
Director of Regulatory Affairs Dr. Grant Miller
Design and Marketing Manager Howard Steffens
Membership and Student Services Laura Phillips
Manager
Publications Manager Trisha Consunji
Accountant Bernice Evans
Executive Assistant Georgia Ashley
Communications Coordinator
Finance Coordinator
February 10 and February 16, 2021. Registration opens soon!
Registration for all CVMA events can be made online by logging onto cvma.net or by calling 800.655.2862.
For the timeliest CE information, visit Learning at cvma.net.
California Veterinarian (ISSN 00081612) is published bi-monthly by the California Veterinary Medical Association, e-mail: sta @cvma.net. California Veterinarian is an o cial publication of the California Veterinary Medical Association. Annual subscription rates to non-members: $50 U.S., $60 Canada/Mexico, $70 overseas. Price per single copy: $10 current year, $12 back issues. Periodicals postage paid at Sacramento, CA and at additional mailing o ces. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to California Veterinarian, 1400 River Park Dr., Suite 100, Sacramento, CA 95815-4505. Phone: 800.655.2862
The CVMA and California Veterinarian assume no responsibility for material contained in articles and advertisements published, nor does publication necessarily constitute endorsement by them. ©2020 CVMA
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Tell us what you think!
Want to comment on what the CVMA is doing or writing about? Send an email to comments@cvma.net or call 800.655.2862. Your thoughts and opinions matter to us. The CVMA is YOUR association! The CVMA is 7,800 voices strong. Let us hear your voice!
It’s not easy to follow in the footsteps of a great leader…but, here I am!
As you know, the CVMA’s longtime executive director, Valerie Fenstermaker, has retired. Val was equal parts inspiring and steady, graceful and tireless, and her dedication to the CVMA and the veterinary profession was beyond compare. I was personally privileged to witness Val’s passion and diligence over the course of my 20 years as the CVMA’s outside legal counsel.
After graduating law school and passing the bar in 1999, I began to work with Val in her then-capacity as assistant executive director in 2000. My first experience with Val and the CVMA consisted of writing research memos on legal issues of concern. Over the years, that work would expand to include writing articles for the California Veterinarian speaking at the Pacific Veterinary Conference, creating and implementing the CVMA Legal Service Program, legislative and regulatory work, and the legal representation of the CVMA on matters large and small. When Val became the CVMA’s executive director in 2004, I was thrilled that she was taking the helm as the CVMA’s first-ever female executive director, and equally thrilled that I would get to work with her in that capacity.
I was not disappointed. In the 16 years that followed, my respect for Val only grew. Her intimate familiarity with the issues facing California veterinarians was impressive. Val truly has an encyclopedic knowledge of the workings of the CVMA and the issues of concern facing California veterinary practitioners. She is also generous with that knowledge. During the recent two-month period in which I was able to work side-by-side with her in a transitional capacity, Val had a conscientious, purposeful plan to convey her knowledge to me in the most e ective way possible. On the occasions when I wanted her to give me a fish, she insisted on teaching me to fish. That approach has readied me for the challenge that is to come, and I will forever be grateful for Val’s kindness and conscientiousness in handing me the baton. I know Val will be as successful in retirement as she has been in her career. Congratulations, Val!
As for me? I know some of you well from my years working with the CVMA, I’ve met some of you since coming on board in September, and I look forward to getting to know as many of you as possible in the coming years. In addition to my work as the CVMA’s legal counsel, I am a lifelong pet owner and utilizer of veterinary services, and I believe in this profession with the fiber of my being. Indeed, no other profession is so correlative with a kind heart as veterinary medicine. Veterinarians and veterinary sta are almost definitionally good, and the opportunity to lead an organization that represents their interests is tremendously exciting for me.
2020 has been quite a year, presenting trials and tribulations that were unanticipated 12 months ago. Disease; natural disaster; racial, cultural, and political tension…it has been a year of relative “unwellness.” It is partly for that reason that we are taking the opportunity to ring in the holidays with the first installment of “Renew,” our multi-part series of articles on wellness in the veterinary profession. Dr. Carrie Jurney’s “Wellness in a Pandemic” piece from our last edition of California Veterinarian was so favorably received that we could think of no better way to launch our new series than by returning to Dr. Jurney for “Stop Holding Your Breath,” an article addressing the critical subject of stress management. In the editions that follow in 2021, we will hear from a number of professionals on various wellness-related issues, ranging from the importance of physical exercise and nutrition to how to deal with cyberbullying. We hope that these articles will help you to renew your mind, body, and spirit in 2021 and beyond.
Here’s to a brighter future for us, our country, and our planet. Happy holidays, everyone!
Dan Baxter, Executive DirectorSetting Boundaries
Laura Weintraub, DVM ByAs we settle into our jobs, frustration and discontentment have started to rear their ugly heads with classmates with whom I have spoken. These phenomena have taken on myriad shapes from simple post-work venting sessions, to veterinarians leaving their jobs. A common underlying theme is issues with boundaries. Veterinarians, including myself, seem to really struggle with creating and maintaining them. From what I have gathered, this issue begins right out of the starting gate. I notice myself trying to overcompensate for being a novice. This results in me wanting to be everything to everyone. As my dear classmate told me, we are
not babysitters—we are veterinarians! As brazen as it sounds, we cannot care more than the owners do.
I have had owners on the complete opposite end of the spectrum. For example, I have had people that ask for my personal phone number just in case they need to check in over the weekend. Here is a major veterinarian life hack I got from one of my mentors— block your cell phone number so nobody, including clients, accidentally acquires it. I have also had clients that will call to chat with me about their animal several times in an eight-hour workday. Not only is that time consuming, it is exhausting. When clients want to discuss other items that require longer explanations, even though it is incredibly uncomfortable, I have learned to be fi rm and to stick to the scheduled items for visits.
The most di cult boundary setting I have experienced is within the workplace. It can be especially frustrating to bring in new information or suggest new modalities only to have your suggestions receive a less-than-enthusiastic reception. If this happens to such an extent as to establish a clear disconnect between your own values/proclivities and those of your employer, then you can and should consider moving elsewhere. This happened with several of my classmates, and I wholeheartedly commend them for having had the fortitude and self-awareness to break away. In spite of the uncertainty (and possible bad feelings) that such a decision can produce, those persons still did what was right for them based on their needs, expectations, and values. Not only is that completely fair and reasonable, it is incredibly powerful. This is something that we need to see more of in society, especially among women.
While I continue to struggle to set boundaries, I have already noticed a di erence. One small example is with my days o . I completely separate myself from work. No phone calls, no email, and no research. I use that time to shamelessly watch TV, nap, and catch up with friends. Maybe after years of practice I will even be able to take multiple days o without thinking about work! Overall, my days are becoming more manageable. The result is that I can more e ectively help people, and myself.
Happy Holidays from the CVMA!
The CVMA is thankful for the opportunity to have served and supported our members and represented the interests of veterinary professionals and animal patients through the challenges of 2020. We wish you a new year of health and happiness.
New Member Benefit: Relief Veterinarian Directory
In response to concerns expressed in a recent member survey regarding COVID-19, the CVMA has introduced a new member benefit that helps CVMA member veterinarians looking for relief help to locate relief veterinarians throughout the state. See page 23 for more information.
Deadline for CVMA Award Nominations is January 10, 2021
In a year filled with trying times, there have been individuals who have stepped up and made a di erence in the veterinary community. Do you know an individual or organization who has contributed to the veterinary profession in a special way? If you do, why not nominate them for a CVMA Award? The awards are o ered in several categories and include DVMs, RVTs, organizations, and others. For more information, see page 8.
Updated Prescription Pad Requirements
Starting January 1, 2021, updates to prescription pad requirements used to write and fill prescriptions for controlled substances will take e ect. Please visit the CVMA website and click on the News and Now box on the home page for more information.
Upcoming Meetings
Call for Nominations for the 2021 CVMA Awards!
This has proven to be an extraordinary 2020. The veterinary profession is extremely resilient and has had to make many adjustments to continue to provide essential services. Acknowledge the e orts of your hardworking colleagues by nominating them for a CVMA Award!
Nomination Deadline: January 10, 2021
Do you know a special colleague?
Every day there are examples of individuals who go above and beyond to strengthen the profession. This includes people who take the time to devote many hours to a cause, to mentor others, or to participate in organized veterinary medicine to help keep the profession strong, wellinformed, and well-represented. The CVMA would like to honor these individuals’ dedication by acknowledging them with a CVMA award. The awards are o ered in several categories, and are intended to recognize veterinarians, registered veterinary technicians, organizations, and others who contribute to bettering the veterinary community.
CVMA Award Categories
Lifetime Achievement
Distinguished Life Membership
Outstanding RVT of the Year in Private Practice
Linda Markland RVT of the Year in Non-Private Practice
RVT’s Outstanding California DVM of the Year
Meritorious Service Award
California Animal Hall of Fame
Outstanding Service Award
Weigh Your Options with an Accurate Valuation
Send in a nomination today
Visit cvma.net and click on the Membership tab, then Awards and Nominations for additional descriptions, nominating criteria, and convenient forms. You may also contact Georgia Ashley at the CVMA by calling 800.655.2862 or via email at gashley@cvma.net for more information.
Why choose Gatto McFerson to conduct your practice valuation?
• We have valued over 315 veterinary practices and clinics
• We have the tax expertise you need when buying or selling
• We are Accredited in Business Valuations, a certification that only CPAs can hold
• We are an independent adviser with no financial stake in the transaction
We are experts in all aspects of:
• Buying and selling a veterinary practice or clinic
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• Increasing the value of your practice
To maximize value and minimize taxes, contact: Lou Gatto, CPA lou@gattomcferson.com
Tom McFerson, CPA, ABV tom@gattomcferson.com
I AM THE CVMA
Miguel Constantino, DVM• Associate veterinarian at Pet Hospital of North Park, San Diego
• Practice type: Small animal
• Veterinary Sciences Research Institute, University of Baja – Mexico
Members are the heart of the CVMA
Why are you a CVMA member?
I want to learn about the changes that might a ect our veterinary profession and contribute to defend it, if needed.
What was your rst job?
My first real job was at a small family-owned take and bake pizza place.
What is your best advice for practicing during COVID-19?
Protect your sta and co-workers, thus, you’ll be protecting your clients, too.
Any words of wisdom for new veterinary professionals?
Despite anything and above everything, you will love being a veterinarian.
What is your pet peeve?
Someone saying, “You just want my money.”
If I were an animal, I would be a koala. Sleeping 20–22 hours a day doesn’t sound bad to me!
My superpower is self-awareness.
2020 LEGISLATION UPDATE
Although California legislators carried a reduced number of bills due to the impact of COVID-19, the CVMA legislative team was still actively involved in several important pieces of legislation in 2020.
AB 2855 (Low, et al) Committee on B&P: Veterinary Medical Board.
CVMA POSITION: Watch and then support
The Assembly and Senate Business and Professions Committees periodically hold joint sunset oversight hearings to review boards under the Department of Consumer A airs (DCA). The sunset review process provides an opportunity for the DCA, the Legislature, the boards, stakeholders, and other interested parties to discuss the performance of the boards, and make recommendations for improvements.
The CVMA submitted a letter to the Sunset Review Committee with comments on issues addressed by the Veterinary Medical Board (VMB) such as corporate practice, drug compounding, animal cannabis, scope of practice, and others.
AB 2855 did not move forward due to the Legislature’s inability to conduct joint sunset review hearings because of COVID-19. A new bill was introduced, SB 1474, which extends the sunset review process for the VMB and other scheduled boards to March 2021—all dependent on COVID. The VMB will be extended by statute for one year until January 1, 2022. SB 1474 was signed by the Governor and the VMB sunset review hearing is expected to take place in the coming legislative session.
SB 1347 (Galgiani) Veterinary medicine: license exceptions: limited veterinary services premises registration.
CVMA POSITION: Oppose and then neutral
SB 1347 would have exempted certain animal shelters that practice veterinary medicine from the requirement to have a premises permit with the VMB and would have circumvented the requirement for a veterinarian licensee manager. It would have allowed shelter employees and volunteers to provide certain types of treatment to animals without any veterinary presence or oversight.
The CVMA opposed this bill due to the lack of minimum standards, VMB oversight, and veterinarian supervision and believes that both animals and consumers would be adversely a ected if it were to pass. The CVMA o ered extensive amendments that would allow shelters to perform limited specified veterinary tasks, to register with the VMB naming the shelter director as the licensee manager, and to have a veterinarian of record with limited liability overseeing the veterinary program. The committee adopted the CVMA’s amendments and moved the bill forward to the Assembly Appropriations Committee, at which time the CVMA changed its position to neutral. When the bill reached the Appropriations Committee, the author and sponsors felt these amendments were not acceptable.
SB 1347 was pulled from the Assembly Appropriations Committee calendar by Senator Galgiani and her sponsors on August 18, rendering the bill dead for the year.
SB 627 (Galgiani) Cannabis and cannabis products: medicinal use on an animal: veterinary medicine.
CVMA POSITION: Support
This two-year bill (carried over by the author from 2019) would have permitted veterinarians to recommend medicinal cannabis and cannabis products for an animal patient “for any condition for which cannabis or cannabis products provide relief” and within the veterinarian-client-patient relationship. The CVMA worked extensively with the author last year to amend this bill to address the needs of the veterinary profession and animals. With those amendments, the bill passed out of the policy committee but did not move forward due to the projected cost of implementation.
SB 627 was held in the Assembly Appropriations Committee, rendering it dead for the year.
SB 800 (Dodd) Horse racing: veterinary medical records: race horse fatalities: equine medication.
CVMA POSITION: Watch, work with author
In its original version, this bill would have required a veterinarian to produce an entire medical record to any person directly involved in the care of a horse “that has participated in or is intended to participate in a licensed horse race.” The CVMA had concerns with the bill’s language because it implied that for the life of the horse, a veterinarian must produce records for anyone involved in its care, and to any government agency that requested them.
The CVMA worked with the author and policy committee consultants to clarify that the requirement applies only to horses during the racing portion of their lives and that records would have to be provided only to those requesting parties responsible for the direct medical care of the horse, as well as requesting governmental entities.
SB 800 was signed by the Governor and will be enacted on January 1, 2021.
Animal Blood Bank Bills
CVMA POSITION: Oppose, unless amended
AB 1953 (Bloom) and SB 1115 (Wilk) were both introduced this year to address animal blood banking. The bills would have collectively phased out the two closed-colony blood banks in California and replaced them with establishments that collect blood from community-sourced animals. While the CVMA supports the community blood bank model, closing the blood banks raises many concerns about the safety and supply of animal blood and blood products in California. The CVMA opposed both bills unless amended.
AB 1953 was withdrawn by its author and SB 1115 was held in the Assembly Agriculture Committee.
A COMPLETE LIST OF LEGISLATION FOLLOWED BY THE CVMA MAY BE VIEWED ON THE NEXT PAGE, AND MORE INFORMATION ABOUT 2020 LEGISLATION IS AVAILABLE AT CVMA.NET IN THE GOVERNMENT SECTION.
CVMA Legal Services Benefit
This benefit entitles CVMA member veterinarians up to one-half hour of telephone and research work per month with an attorney from Wilke Fleury LLP.
Services offered:
• Business tax issues
• Business owner succession planning
• Cal/OSHA issues
• Contract issues
• Employment law
• Licensure issues
• Practice ownership and organizational structure
• Regulatory and administrative law
• Veterinary Medical Board enforcement issues
Services not included:
• Criminal law
• Domestic relations
1. Call Wilke Fleury at 916.441.2430
2. Enter extension number 3336 for Steve Marmaduke or 3416 for Samson Elsbernd, or simply leave a voicemail in the general mailbox and your call will be routed accordingly.
3. Provide your CVMA member ID
For specific information on bills or to track CVMA-monitored bills through the legislative process, visit the CVMA online Legislative Action Center, which now has a new look and format. The Voter Voice platform makes searching for relevant legislation easier and more user-friendly. Check out the improved format by logging into cvma.net and clicking on the Government tab.
This program generously sponsored by
2020 LEGISLATION BILL CHART
BILL # AUTHOR SUBJECT STATUS CVMA POSITION
AJR 26 Luz Rivas Wild and Free Roaming Horses and Burros
AB 1850 Gonzalez Worker classification: employees and independent contractors.
AB 1953 Bloom Veterinary medicine: blood banks for animals.
Stopped in Assembly Watch
Stopped in committee Watch
Withdrawn by author Oppose - unless amended
AB 1974 Gray Horse racing: welfare and safety of racehorses and jockeys. Signed by Governor Watch - close
AB 2043 Rivas Unlawful business practices: employer liability: contracted supervisor. Signed by Governor Watch
AB 2059 Kamlager Toxicological testing on dogs.
AB 2077 Ting Hypodermic needles and syringes.
AB 2117 O’Donnell Pet store operators: crimes.
Dropped by author Watch
Signed by Governor Watch
Stopped in committee Watch
AB 2152 Gloria Public health: prohibition on the retail sale of dogs, cats, and rabbits. Signed by Governor Watch
AB 2177 Kalra Horse racing: equine medication, welfare, and safety.
Stopped in committee Oppose
AB 2185 Patterson Professions and vocations: applicants licensed in other states: reciprocity. Stopped in committee Watch
AB 2213 Limon O ce of Emergency Services: model guidelines.
AB 2411 Nazarian Healing Arts licensees: remuneration: Drug or device companies: disclosure.
Signed by Governor Watch
Stopped in committee Watch
AB 2568 Maienschein Disaster preparedness: local government: animal wildlife evacuation plan. Stopped in committee Watch
AB 2614 Smith Emergency services: counties: large animals.
AB 2615 Chau Horse racing: equine postmortem examinations: fatal racehorse injuries.
Stopped in committee Watch
Stopped in committee Watch
AB 2645 Nazarian Abused animals: advocates. Discontinued by author Oppose
AB 2691 Bauer-Kahan Dog training services and facilities: requirements.
AB 2704 Ting Healing arts: licenses: data collection.
AB 2827 Aguiar-Curry Food, beverage, and cosmetic adulterant: industrial hemp products.
AB 2855 Low, et al Committee on B&P. Veterinary Medical Board (Sunset)
Stopped in committee Watch
Stopped in committee Watch
Stopped in committee Watch
Stopped in committee Watch
AB 2857 Low, et al Committee on B&P. California State Board of Pharmacy: appointment: removal. Stopped in committee Watch
AB 2888 Friedman Guide, signal, and service dogs: emotional support dogs.
Stopped in committee Watch
AB 2938 Arambula Horse racing: satellite wagering: use of license fees: earthquake and animal welfare. Stopped in committee Watch
AB 3035 Patterson Animal Welfare. Stopped in committee Watch
AB 3045 Gray DCA: boards: veterans: military spouses: licenses.
Stopped in committee Watch
AB 3201 Santiago Large veterinary premises corporations: consumer disclosures: additional premises. Withdrawn by author Oppose
AB 3298 Brough Frauds of medical credentials: penalty.
SB 573 Chang Dogs and cats: microchip implants.
Stopped in committee Watch
Signed by Governor Watch
SB 627 Galgiani Cannabis and cannabis products: medicinal use on an animal: veterinary medicine. Stopped in committee Support
SB 800 Dodd Horse racing: veterinary medical records: race horse fatalities: medication. Signed by Governor Watch - work with author
SB 878 Jones Department of Consumer A airs: license: application: processing time frames. Signed by Governor Watch
SB 1097 Durazo Medical services: credit or loan.
SB 1115 Wilk Commercial blood banks for animals: animal blood donors.
Stopped in committee Oppose
Stopped in committee Oppose - unless amended
SB 1239 Glazer Animals: California Animal Response Emergency System program: Animal Care. Stopped in committee Watch
SB 1347 Galgiani Veterinary medicine: license exceptions: limited veterinary services premises. Discontinued by author Neutral
SB 1405 Galgiani Marine mammals: protection of cetaceans: unlawful activities.
SB 1432 Glazer Clinical laboratories.
SB 1474 Sen B&P Business and Professions: VMB Sunset Review extension.
Stopped in committee Watch
Stopped in committee Watch
Signed by Governor Support
CVMA Members Sought for 2021 AVMA Positions
The CVMA is seeking candidates to apply for AVMA council and committee positions, which start in 2021 and involve a three-year commitment. These positions are voluntary. CVMA and AVMA membership is required for all candidates nominated by the CVMA Board of Governors. The Board will nominate candidates at their January 2021 meeting.
Council and committee nomination materials, including descriptions and a complete list of vacancies, are available at avma.org. Click on the Membership tab and then Volunteer Opportunities. The nomination deadline for most positions is April 1, 2021.
Positions are available on the following councils:
• Council on Biologic and Therapeutic Agents
• Council on Public Health
• Council on Research
• Council on Veterinary Service
Positions are available on the following committees:
• Animal Welfare Committee
• Aquatic Veterinary Medicine Committee
• Clinical Practitioners Advisory Committee
• Committee on Antimicrobials
• Committee on Disaster and Emergency Issues
• Committee on Environmental Issues
• Committee on International Veterinary A airs
• Committee on Veterinary Technician Education and Activities Selection Committee
• Convention Education Program Committee
• Council on Education Selection Committee
• Early Career Development Committee
• Food Safety Advisory Committee
• Legislative Advisory Committee
• Political Action Committee Board
• State Advocacy Committee
• Steering Committee on Human Animal Interactions
• Veterinary Economics Strategy Committee
• Veterinary Leadership Conference Planning Committee
For more information, contact AVMA liaisons Dr. Bill Grant at vets4pets@aol.com or Dr. Diane Craig at drdrc@aol.com, or call the CVMA o ce at 800.655.2862.
START THE NEW YEAR OFF RIGHT!
Subscribe to the CVMA Guide to Cal/OSHA Compliance
This online guide is only available to CVMA members and is specially created for California veterinary practices. It provides a customized written safety and health plan for your practice, helpful forms and checklists, training resources, and more to assist in meeting mandated requirements. Your annual subscription includes yearly reminders, important quarterly notifications and updates, 24/7 online access to the guide, and regulatory and tech support.
EFFICIENT – The guide includes everything you need to maintain Cal/OSHA compliance all in one place, including:
• A customized written safety and health plan with policy statements
• Training information for designated safety coordinator(s)
• Workplace inspection checklists and report forms
• Required posting information
• Employee training resources
• Recordkeeping assistance
ESSENTIAL – Cal/OSHA requires a current written plan and active ongoing health and safety program in every workplace. A Cal/OSHA inspector will ask to see your plan. Don’t leave yourself open to significant fines. If you are a current guide subscriber, be sure to renew your yearly subscription to retain access to the guide, which includes storage of your recorded plan.
Three Easy Ways to Order
1. Purchase online at cvma-inline.net/regulatory-guide.
2. Email staff@cvma.net.
3. Contact the CVMA at 800.655.2862.
This CVMA member benefit is made possible by a grant from
EASY – An interactive step-by-step process that creates a written plan customized for your veterinary practice and guidance on implementing your Cal/OSHA program.The benefits are EASY, EFFICIENT, AND ESSENTIAL for every California veterinary practice.
CVMA Online Seminars
CE You Need, When You Want It, and Where You Want It!
CVMA Online Seminars are a convenient way to get your CE where you want it and when you want it. Most interactive webinars are o ered on two di erent dates and times to fi t your busy schedule and can be viewed wherever you have a high-speed internet connection.
Register for these online seminars by visiting the Learning tab at cvma.net.
A Fresh Look at the Management of Osteoarthritis in Dogs | Denis Marcellin-Little, DEDV,
January 12, 2021 12:30 PM–1:45 PM (1.5 CEUs)
January 19, 2021 5:30 PM–6:45 PM (1.5 CEUs)
DACVS, DACVSMR
Osteoarthritis (OA) commonly a ects dogs, most often because of a handful of orthopedic diseases. Unfortunately, there is little standardization in the detection, staging, and management of OA. This discussion will focus on the sources of OA in dogs, the impact of OA on limbs and mobility in dogs, the management options that positively impact dogs with OA, and the principles and logistics of long-term OA management programs. The functional stages of OA and management steps to consider at each of these stages will also be addressed. At the end of this discussion, veterinarians will be comfortable with screening dogs for OA, staging OA in a ected dogs, discussing the impact of classic forms of OA management, and developing a management program adapted to the dog and its owner.
Sponsored by
Sexual Harassment Prevention Training | Stephen Marmaduke, Esq. | Wilke Fleury LLP
Employers with five or more employees must provide sexual harassment and abusive conduct prevention training for all employees by January 1, 2021, and every two years thereafter. New supervisory employees must still be trained within six months of assuming their supervisory position and new non-supervisory employees must be trained within six months of hire. Additionally, temporary, seasonal, and other employees hired to work less than six months require this training within 30 calendar days after the hire date or within 100 hours worked, whichever comes first.
This webinar will meet the requirement for one hour of training for non-supervisor employees and two hours of training for supervisors.
For more information and to register for these online seminars, visit the Learning tab at cvma.net or call 800.655.2862.
An Ounce of Prevention: Documenting Employee Performance
Stephen Marmaduke, Esq. ByAmutual goal of employers and employees should be a good place to work. Clear expectations and communications can facilitate this goal while protecting employers from liability, providing employees assurances that they are working e ectively, and permitting employees to correct perceived shortcomings before they become significant problems. This article focuses on documenting job performance issues from the employer’s perspective with an emphasis on discipline and termination. A sequel appearing in the next edition of California Veterinarian will examine workplace communication and documentation from the employee’s viewpoint.
Although unpleasant, there are times when employment relationships need to end. An employer is often at risk, however, when it takes action to terminate or discipline an employee even if the reasons for termination seems justified. To reduce the risk of liability, employers should clearly communicate their employmentrelated expectations and policies, and document issues arising during the employment relationship. This article highlights the importance of maintaining proper documentation for the duration of an employment relationship.
Good documentation requires planning. The documentation process starts well before a problem exists and should reflect that an employee has been treated fairly from the time employment commenced to the time of discipline or discharge. Simply put, good documentation starts at the time—if not before—an employee is hired.
For the benefit of employers and employees, written job descriptions and performance standards which accurately reflect the expectations of employers are very important. These may be contained in an employee handbook or may be separate documents. There should be evidence that these documents were given to the employee. As expectations and responsibilities change, the written descriptions should change as well so that employees have a clear sense of those expectations and responsibilities, and a fair opportunity to satisfy them. If an employee fails to meet clearly-presented employment obligations or benchmarks, that failure can justify disciplinary action and, ultimately, termination.
Fundamental to e ective discipline is a policy which sets forth the discipline and termination process. This policy should make it clear that conduct and job performance below expectations will be documented. It should also provide that employees will have the opportunity to present their side of the story when appropriate. The discipline process should have a balance of structure, so that it can be fairly applied, and flexibility, so it can be adjusted on a case-by-case basis. So-called “progressive discipline” policies were once favored, but are now discouraged as they could be viewed as providing a “right” that the progressive process be followed when it is not always appropriate to do so.
The importance of regular performance reviews and documentation of the reviews cannot be overemphasized. The documentation should make it clear that failures to meet job requirements and areas for improvement have been clearly and fairly explained. There may be circumstances when a single act justifies discipline or termination even though poor performance and job issues are not documented. Theft, substance abuse, physical altercations, and/or forms of harassment and discrimination could support immediate termination. In most instances, however, prior to determining the appropriate discipline, the employer should balance the egregiousness of the misconduct or job failure and the clarity of the supporting evidence against the employment history as well as the longevity of the employee being disciplined.
The basis for discipline or termination is often the result of continued job performance issues or misconduct. As these situations arise, the employer should meet with the employee; explain to the employee why their performance or misconduct fails to meet expectations and standards; give the employee an opportunity to explain their perspectives and raise grievances; and advise the employee that there could be discipline or termination if corrective action is not taken. The content of the meeting should be summarized in writing (the “write-up”), with the summary placed in the employee’s personnel file and given to the employee, who should be asked to sign and return a copy acknowledging receipt. If the employee refuses to sign the copy, a note should be included in the personnel file that the write-up was presented to the employee and that the employee refused to sign and return it.
Regardless of whether disciplinary action is contemplated as a result of multiple or single occurrences, the following factors are among those that should be considered:
Does credible evidence support the disciplinary action being taken?
Is there a need for further factual investigation?
Is there a clear violation of the policies and standards observed at the workplace?
Has the employee been given clear notice of those policies and standards (by handbook, meetings, prior reviews, etc.)?
Has the employee been given notice of the consequences of continued misconduct?
Are the steps taken and the contemplated discipline consistent with policies and the treatment of other employees?
What is the status of the documentation of the employee’s misconduct?
Has the employee been given the opportunity to tell their side of the story?
What are the alternatives to discipline?
Is the employee litigious?
Is the employee a member of a protected class, such as age, ethnicity, sexual orientation, etc.?
Does the employee have any claims of disability that were not reasonably accommodated?
Prior to taking any action, consideration must be given to possible claims the employee may have. Are they in a position to assert that the discipline is being taken in retaliation to claims that the employee is making?
Discipline is not a “cookbook” process. Each situation must be evaluated independently prior to taking action. Clear policies, job descriptions, documented reviews and write-ups, however, can limit the employer’s potential liability related to disciplinary action. Ultimately, if the personnel file demonstrates that
(1) the employer had clear employment policies and job expectations; (2) the employee was warned that they were failing to meet these expectations; (3) the employee was given an opportunity to improve; and
(4) the employee failed to improve, then discipline—up to and including termination—will likely be appropriate and defensible.
Do Your Employees Use Their Personal Vehicles for Business?
by Mark Maeyama, CIC; Executive Vice-President, Veterinary Insurance Services Company ByVeterinary practice owners often have employees operate their personal vehicles for business purposes. This can happen on a regular or occasional basis. During the course of the day, there are many vehicle-related circumstances that present potential liability exposures for the practice owner, especially in the following situations:
When administrative employees use their own vehicle to go the bank or post office.
When employees pick up supplies or run errands for the veterinary practice.
When employees volunteer to pick up or transport a client’s animal to or from the veterinary practice.
When an associate veterinarian makes a house call.
In these and other scenarios, employees’ use of their personal vehicle for business purposes creates a potential for liability that employers must consider. If an employee has an accident while operating their personal vehicle for business purposes, you and your veterinary practice may be held accountable and sued for damages.
While an employee’s personal automobile insurance will likely provide primary coverage for any accident that arises, the damages could exceed the employee’s policy limit, or the employee may have failed to maintain automobile insurance. Thus, to protect yourself and your practice from legal exposure, your business
insurance portfolio should include non-owned and hired automobile liability insurance.
Non-owned automobile liability insurance protects your veterinary practice in the event your practice is sued as a result of an auto accident caused by an employee driving his or her personal vehicle for business purposes. It does not extend coverage or protection to the employee or to damage to the employee’s vehicle.
Hired automobile liability insurance protects your veterinary practice in the event your practice is sued as a result of an auto accident when you or an employee operates a vehicle on company business that is leased, rented, or borrowed (for a short period of time, usually 30 days or less). It does not cover physical damage to the hired automobile. If you rent automobiles for business on a regular basis, talk to your insurance agent about adding “hired auto physical damage coverage” to your policy.
The bottom line is that any time an employee uses their personal vehicle for business, the employer is exposed to possible claims and damages for which they may be legally liable. In order to protect yourself, you should consult with your insurance agent to determine appropriate risk management techniques and insurance protection. Please contact a VISC representative for more information by calling 888.762.3143 or via email at info@visc-ins.com.
Holiday Safety for Veterinary Practices
To say 2020 has been a different year is a major understatement, especially for Californians. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic and recordbreaking wildfires, we have seen significant holidays and annual milestones come and go this year without much fanfare or celebration. And now, the 2020 holiday season is rapidly approaching.
If there are plans to decorate your practice, beware of hazards that could materialize during the retrieval of supplies and decorations, set-up and take-down, and working in the altered environment. Injury risks include lifting strains, trips and falls, electrical shock, and potential fires. Careful planning can mitigate these risks.
It is important to be mindful of potential safety hazards. Here are some best practices to consider in your planning:
Fire Safety
Do not hang decorations from overhead fire sprinklers as they can prevent the sprinklers from operating properly. Also, OSHA regulations require that stacked materials should never be closer than 18 inches below fire sprinklers.
Make sure all electrical items are certified by a nationally recognized independent testing lab.
Inspect all lights, decorations, and extension cords for damage before using. If possible, choose LED products instead of incandescent lights. Battery-powered LED lights are the safest.
Use indoor lights inside the practice and only approved outdoor-rated lights outside the practice.
Choose an artificial tree that is labeled as fire resistant.
If candles are desired, choose an electronic version instead of a real candle.
Make sure all lights and electric decorations are turned off when leaving the building or use a timer to automatically turn off lights.
Make sure cords are placed high enough so patients do not mistake them for chew toys. Cords should be inspected daily for damage.
Trip, Fall, and Lifting Strain Hazards
Always use an appropriately-sized ladder or stepladder to hang decorations, and never stand on a chair. Keep three points of contact at all times while using a ladder and reposition the ladder rather than trying to reach too far.
Do not place extension cords in high-traffic areas of your practice, or under rugs, carpets, or furniture. Never attempt to extend the length of an extension cord by connecting it to another extension cord.
Use proper lifting techniques when moving boxes of supplies by testing the weight, cornering the load, bending at the knees, and lifting with the legs. If a load seems too heavy, always get help and avoid overloading.
Food Safety
In addition to being respectful of physical distancing protocols and accepted universal precautions, keep in mind food safety tips from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (usda.gov/ media/blog/2014/12/04/how-not-give-youroffice-food-poisoning-holiday-party).
Always wash your hands before and after handling food, and serve prepared dishes on clean plates—never on dishes that previously held raw meat. If you are preparing a dish ahead of time that contains meat, ensure the meat’s internal temperature reaches the proper USDA recommended temperature. Keep hot foods hot and cold foods cold.
Keep track of time. Do not leave perishable foods (such as meat, poultry, eggs, and casseroles) out without refrigeration for more than two hours. Cold foods should be 40° F or colder. Keep food cold by placing dishes in bowls of ice or by serving in small batches and replenishing from the refrigerator as needed.
By simply incorporating proper workplace holiday safety precautions into the planning process and following a few simple safety tips, it is easy to enjoy events at work without injuries, illnesses, or damage to property.
Join us for the CVMA Spring Seminar
FromValley toVirtual
March 5–7, 2021
Every year, the CVMA Spring Seminar in Yosemite is one of our most popular events. Many veterinarians are faithful attendees, returning every year to this iconic national park not only for the unparalleled views but also for the top-notch speakers and timely information. The COVID pandemic may have made meeting in person in Yosemite impossible for this March, but we will not let that deter us. We are fortunate that our speakers have graciously committed to making their presentations about dentistry and internal medicine live and fully interactive. In addition, we promise to deliver a taste of the Yosemite experience and some exciting ra es. Prepare for some online fun and CE!
Up to 12 CEUs for veterinarians
Sponsored by
Dentistry
FRIDAY, MARCH 5 • 9:00 AM–1:00 PM
• Surgical Tooth Extraction: The Tough Carnassial and Canine Teeth
• Surgical Tooth Extraction: Deciduous and “Sneaky” Tough Teeth
• Tooth Extraction Complications: Avoid and Conquer
• Oronasal Fistula: Holes That Must Be Fixed
SATURDAY, MARCH 6 • 9:00 AM–11:00 AM
• Tooth Resorption in Cats: Don’t Think You Know, Know You Know
• Oral Neoplasia: Operating on Tumors You Can Handle
Internal Medicine
SATURDAY, MARCH 6 • 11:00 AM–1:00 PM
• Canine and Feline Diabetic Monitoring Strategies
• Troubleshooting the Di cult Diabetic
• Bad Blood: Canine Regenerative Immune-Mediated Anemias
SUNDAY, MARCH 7 • 9:00 AM–1:00 PM
• ITP for You and Me: A Rational Approach to the Thrombocytopenic Patient
• Skeletons in Our Closets:Understanding and Reducing Error in Medical Decision Making
• Palliative Care for the SAIM Patient
For more information and to register for this and other CVMA CE events, visit the Learning tab at cvma.net or call 800.655.2862.
Mark Smith, VMD, DACVS, AVDC, Fellow AVDC & ACVS Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery Jessica Pritchard, MS, DVM, DACVIM (SAIM)CVMA Member: m Yes m No
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Registration includes: Twelve maximum CEUs for veterinarians, a syllabus, and a certificate of attendance.
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By registering for the CVMA Spring Seminar, I agree to the terms and conditions set forth below. Registration Deadline: March 3, 2021
General Information
Mail registration form with payment to: CVMA, 1400 River Park Drive, Suite 100. Sacramento, CA 95815, or you can register online at cvma.net, by fax at 916.646.9156 or call 800.655.2862.
Terms and Conditions:
• Webinar login is for use by the registered attendee only and login/passcode provided by CVMA should not be shared with others; doing so may hinder your own access, as webinar is by pre-registration only.
• Course materials provided by CVMA is for use by the registered attendee only and may not be reproduced or shared with others.
• The virtual platform CVMA uses allows audio, documents, materials, chat and Q&A exchanged or viewed during the session to be recorded. By joining a session, you automatically consent to such recordings.
• CVMA and its service provider of audio and online conferencing services are not responsible for unauthorized access to information by hackers or others that obtain access through illegal measures.
• Seminar login information will be emailed to all attendees on March 3, 2021.
Cancellation/Refund Policy
All cancellation requests must be made in writing and submitted either by fax, email, or regular mail no later than February 5, 2021 to receive a full refund, less 10 percent administration fee. No refunds for cancellations or registrations received after this date.
Attn: Meetings & Events Department
California Veterinary Medical Association
1400 River Park Drive, Suite 100
Sacramento, CA 95815
By fax: 916.646.9156
By email: staff@cvma.net
Full terms and conditions available on CVMA.net.
If you have any changes or additions to this form after submission, please call us at 800.655.2862.
CVMA 2021 Spring Seminar From Valley to Virtual*Registrations sent by mail must be received by February 24, 2021
Treasurer's Report
George Bishop, DVM ByThe CVMA Finance Committee recommends a balanced budget to the Board of Governors (Board) each year. The Board reviews and approves the budget which adheres to the CVMA’s objective to maintain fiscal responsibility. Budgeted revenue and expense for the 2020–21 fiscal year is $4,009,816 and is closely monitored throughout the year.
The CVMA’s total membership as of June 30, 2020 was 7875 members. At the fiscal year-end, 45 percent of the CVMA’s revenue was derived from membership dues, 18 percent from the Pacific Veterinary Conference and other continuing education seminars, and 37 percent from other income sources. Non-dues revenue supplements the many programs and projects that the CVMA o ers its membership.
The CVMA’s continuing education programs faced quite a challenge at the beginning of the global pandemic in March 2020. The Pacific Veterinary Conference, slated for San Francisco, was quickly revamped to a virtual event. Although there was a loss of revenue due to the inability to have an in-person event, we still made a profit. Moving forward, the CVMA has maintained virtual seminars through the end of 2020, all showing a net profit. The CVMA’s classified advertising is also an excellent revenue source and a valuable member benefit.
CVMA investments are overseen by the Investment Committee and approved by the Board. The CVMA’s investment firm administers the asset allocation and makes suggestions based on periodic reviews of the asset performance and goals set forth by the CVMA Investment Policy. During the CVMA’s 2019–20 fiscal year, the Board approved the addition of $400,000 to the investment portfolio.
At the October 2020 Board meeting, the Board approved the transfer of $133,664 into reserves, increasing the total reserves to 68 percent of the current budget. This amount exceeds the Board’s goal of maintaining 50 percent of the current annual budget in reserves, which is a minimum recommended reserve for professional membership associations.
I will be meeting with the CVMA sta to review the proposed 2021–22 budget. The Finance Committee meets in March to review the proposed budget in detail and recommend a final 2021–22 budget to the Board at their April meeting. The Board will review the proposed budget, make revisions if needed, and approve the final budget for the next fiscal year.
Relief Veterinarian Directory
One of the many benefits of being part of the CVMA community is the connectivity between colleagues. Having access to others who are experiencing similar professional challenges is a great way to collaborate and network.
The CVMA conducted a recent member survey addressing the issues members have been facing since the COVID-19 shelter-in-place restrictions were introduced. A large number of respondents indicated that a main cause for concern was the increase in their caseloads, combined with sta ng di culties.
In response to this growing challenge, the CVMA rolled out a new member benefit in November that helps CVMA member veterinarians looking for relief help to locate relief veterinarians throughout the state. Members will now be able to access relief veterinarians by logging into their account at cvma.net and clicking on the member directory. There, they can search for small animal relief, large animal relief, and equine relief veterinarians under the Practice Type drop-down menu and specify a radius search area in relation to their zip code.
If you are a CVMA member relief veterinarian who would like to be included in the list but have not yet updated your information in our database, please do so now by taking the following steps:
Log into your account at cvma.net. If you cannot remember your login information, call 800.655.2862 or email sta @cvma.net.
Click on My Personal Information.
Under Person Detail, click Edit next to Personal Information.
Scroll down to Practice Type and in the drop down menu select Equine Relief, Large Animal Relief, or Small Animal Relief. If you do not select one of these, you will not be included in the listing. Verify your contact information is correct.
If you have any questions about the directory or this new member benefit, please call the CVMA’s Jennifer Smith at 800.655.2862 or email jsmith@cvma.net.
Wellness for Veterinary Professionals
This profession can be tremendously rewarding but it can also be incredibly taxing, both mentally and physically. This series—Renew—will explore wellness for veterinary professionals from a variety of angles...physical, mental, and emotional. We hope these articles provide both insight and inspiration for a lifetime of wellness and renewal.
Stop Holding Your Breath
by Carrie Jurney, DVM, DACVIM (Neurology), CCFP ByMost of us in veterinary medicine are pretty good at rolling with the punches. I have worked in this field for 20 years, and I struggle to think of a day where everything was “ideal”. There is always a piece of equipment broken, a sta member absent, a computer system that was down. Truth be told, I love problem solving and the “get it done” attitude in veterinary medicine. It has always provided me with ample opportunity to flex my adaptability and that skill has served me well.
For several years, I was one of the only locum neurologists in the country. I would fly around state to state, and fill in for other neurologists. Always a new sta , always a new computer system, a slightly di erent set of surgery equipment. Many days I wasn’t even really sure where the bathroom was in the clinic I was working in and I was pretty comfortable with that. My brain enjoyed the fresh challenges.
However, even as a highly adaptable person, the last year has exceeded my comfort level. I have not adapted as rapidly, or as completely, as I usually would. Resources taxed to the max, and uncertainty in every decision put me in a space where I felt like I was just holding my breath. The lack of even a clear endpoint to this emergency left me gritting my teeth and just putting one foot in front of the other. I was surviving the challenges, rather than adapting to them.
Dr. Han Seyle, a renowned researcher in stress, described that our reaction to prolonged stress has three stages: alarm, resistance, and exhaustion. Alarm is that first huge adrenaline and cortisol surge we get. Remember the first day of lockdown? I remember talking to my friend Dr. Bruce Francke shortly thereafter. Bruce is a practice owner and during this stage, he described their conference room as “the war room” where he and his practice manager would have daily meetings to talk about how to implement safety policies. This phase can be exciting. As an adrenaline junkie, I will admit I sort of love it. However, the shock eventually wears o , the adrenaline bleeds away leaving only cortisol, and that is when resistance begins.
In resistance, your body is trying to adapt to a sustained level of cortisol. But much like that balding, pot-bellied Cushingoid patient you saw last week, you don’t deal well with a constant high level of stress hormones. I was in this phase for about four months. Curbside was no longer logistically di cult. The uptick in emotional outbursts from my clients was no longer new. I have a pile of masks that color coordinate with my scrubs by the front door. I was surviving, but I would not call it thriving.
As the stress continues without adaptation, we enter into exhaustion. Exhaustion is where we burn out and can’t deal with things we normally could handle. We are simply not designed to sustain a high level of alarm and stress.
2020 has been a signature year in its constant barrage of stressors, so it is really no wonder that so many veterinary professionals I talk to are simply exhausted.
Exhaustion crept up on me in September. I am vigilant about burnout, so when I noted some of its signature signs (exhaustion, cynicism, and ine ciency), it shook me out of the routine of getting through the day. I recognized that my current mode was not sustainable and I needed a reset. I had been skipping taking time o , a vital part of my self-care, because honestly where would I go? Plane trips, hotels—all of the things I would normally do on a vacation—aren’t really practical right now. But the truth remained, I needed a reset. After a bit of creative planning, I found a pandemic-friendly vacation: an Airbnb within driving distance of my house.
After a few blissful days away, I finally stopped holding that breath. With fresh eyes and a rested brain, the creative thinking and planning parts of my brain have sprung
back to life. And rather than just putting one foot in front of the other, I finally feel like I am taking productive steps towards not just surviving, but thriving in this new environment. I am starting to truly adapt. I feel like myself again, or at least I am starting to.
If you are feeling that exhaustion, I encourage you to take a step back in whatever way you can and let yourself recover. How to accomplish that reset is di erent for everyone, but the need for it is universal. To truly adapt, we must respect that our body and our brain need a break from the stress. You cannot hold your breath forever.
Proudly brought to you by a sponsorship from Boehringer Ingelheim Animal Health.
Carrie Jurney, DVM, DACVIM (Neurology),CCFP
Dr. Jurney graduated from University of Georgia College of Veterinary Medicine in 2005, and completed a neurology residency from the University of Pennsylvania in 2009. She is the owner/ operator of Jurney Veterinary Neurology in the San Francisco Bay Area. Dr. Jurney became passionate about veterinary wellness and in 2014, joined Not One More Vet (NOMV) and is its board’s vice president. She has completed suicide and crisis intervention training and has a Certified Compassion Fatigue Professional certificate.
“We must respect that our body and our brain need a break from the stress. You cannot hold your breath forever.”
CDFA California Animal Response Emergency System (CARES) Program Update
By Nick Johnson, Livestock Inspector; Mandy Johnson, Sr. Emergency Services Coordinator; and George Atwell, Associate Government Program AnalystThe California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) CARES program is the state-level organization that provides guidance and operational support to counties managing animal care and shelter needs during disasters and emergencies. To organize animal care resources, the CARES sta coordinates with county animal services and volunteer organizations to deploy animal care personnel required for local response. As part of the incident management team in the county emergency operations center, CDFA personnel are also deployed to help manage the response to animals in disasters. The CARES program deploys resources in accordance with the standardized emergency management system (SEMS) and the incident command system.
Under SEMS, resources for emergencies begin with local deployments. As resources become exhausted, the county can seek additional assistance from the region, then the state, and finally from federal agencies. The CARES program was activated in August 2020 to support Solano and Monterey Counties and again in September 2020 during the North Complex Fire in support of Butte County, after local and regional resources were exhausted. In each of these situations, upon receipt of the county’s identified and requested needs through the state operations center, CARES program sta located and coordinated deployment of animal control o cers and animal care specialists from various agencies and organizations throughout California to assist in the management and operation of the emergency animal shelters and
evacuation e orts. Additionally, CDFA personnel were deployed to the Butte County Animal Emergency Operations Center to support the incident management team with planning and resource management.
Following the tragic Camp Fire of 2018, the CDFA has been building internal CARES program capabilities to enhance the ability to assist in responding to disasters and emergencies that impact animals. To this end, the CDFA has hired dedicated sta for the CARES program and updated and created several resources including a comprehensive list of response organizations, and maintaining the CARES website (Cal-CARES.com). Once activated, CARES program personnel:
• Contact animal response organizations to request aid on behalf of the requesting county.
• Provide an explanation of the mission and requested resource (animal care specialists, animal evacuation, animal control o cers, veterinary care, etc.).
• Liaise between the county and the responding entities.
How to Get Involved
The best way for an individual to help during an emergency is to get involved with a county-recognized volunteer organization in advance of an emergency. Joining a non-profit volunteer organization such as the California Veterinary Medical Reserve Corps or any one of California’s regional community animal response teams is a great way to get plugged in. If you lead an animalsin-disaster volunteer organization, consider establishing Memoranda of Understanding with local animal control o ces/services to provide response support during emergencies.
As the complexity and frequency of California emergencies continue to increase, there will always be a need for caring, qualified, and trained personnel to help care for the animals a ected by disasters.
For more information, please visit the CARES website at Cal-CARES.com or contact the Animal Health Branch at 916.900.5002.
BECOME A CVMA CERTIFIED VETERINARY ASSISTANT
The CVMA CVA program will increase your proficiency when working with veterinarians and RVTs as part of the patient care team. The program combines 600 hours of on-the-job training with online educational materials. Acquire skills in:
Caring for animals
Client communication
Practice safety
Medical terminology
Breed identification
Giving medications
Proper lifting and restraining techniques
How to safely handle chemicals
For more information, call Laura Phillips at the CVMA at 800.655.2862 or go to the CVA page at cvma.net.
New Employment Laws for 2021
The following employment laws are e ective in California beginning January 1, 2021, unless otherwise specified as an urgency statute.
AB 1577 (Burke) CARES Tax Relief Act: Allows businesses to exclude the amount of Paycheck Protection Program loans provided under the CARES Act from state income taxes and forgives the recipient’s loan debt when the funds are used for mortgage, rent, utilities, and payroll costs.
AB 1947 (Kalra/Gonzalez) Extension of Time to File Labor Commissioner Complaints: Increases the time from six months to one year for employees to file complaints with the Labor Commissioner for claims that they were discriminated against or discharged for specified reasons. This bill also allows an employee who prevails on a claim for certain types of retaliation to now recover attorneys’ fees.
AB 2017 (Mullin) Employee Sick Leave and Kin Care: Existing law allows employees to use at least half of their annual accrual of employerprovided sick leave for “kin care” (family) reasons. This bill amends the law to provide that it is up to the employee’s “sole discretion” to designate leave for this purpose.
AB 2143 (Stone) Settlement Agreements/Employment Disputes: Permits employers to not rehire an employee who has engaged in criminal conduct.
AB 685 (Reyes) COVID Reporting: Requires employers who receive notice of potential COVID-19 exposure to their workforce to provide specified disclosures to employees within one business day. Written disclosures must include the same information reported in Cal/OSHA Log 300 A forms, the time period in which employees may have been exposed, and a summary of COVID-related benefits to which an employee may be entitled. Employers are also required to report “outbreaks,” as defined, to public health authorities.
SB 1159 (Hill) COVID Workersʼ Comp Coverage: This bill took e ect on September 17, 2020 as an urgency statute. It creates a “disputable presumption” relative to workers’ compensation benefits for employees who have tested positive for, or are otherwise diagnosed with, COVID-19. Under this new law, which applies to employers of five or more individuals, an employee who receives a positive test
or diagnosis for COVID-19 “within 14 days after a day that the employee performed labor or services at the employer’s place of business at the employer’s direction” is presumed to have contracted COVID-19 in the course of employment.
The new law establishes two time periods to which the above presumption will apply. First, under Labor Code section 3212.86, the presumption will apply to any case arising within 14 days of the last date of work that falls between March 19 and July 5, 2020, inclusive. Second, under Labor Code section 3212.88, the presumption will apply more broadly to cases arising (from July 6, 2020 forward) within 14 days of the last day of work that falls “during a period of an outbreak at the employee’s specific place of employment.” (The criteria for an “outbreak,” in turn, are set forth at subdivision (m)(4) of Section 3212.88.) In both instances, the presumption is “disputable and may be controverted by other evidence.” In the context of this new law, veterinary medical employees are not considered health care workers and therefore are entitled to the same presumption as employees working in just about every other industry.
The takeaway is that employees with COVID-19 will be able to obtain disability benefits for their illness, even if they are not able to establish proof that their illness was contracted through work. The new law also establishes new and di erent investigative processes for COVID-19 workers’ compensation claims.
even
SB 1383 (Jackson) Expanded Unpaid Family and Medical Leave: Expands the California Family Rights Act (CFRA) relative to the provision of unpaid family leave. Under the current version of the CFRA, employers of 50 or more employees are required, among other things, to provide up to 12 workweeks of unpaid leave for qualifying employees who wish to bond with a new child or, in specified circumstances, care for themselves, a child, a parent, or a spouse. Failure to grant a request for such leave is considered an unlawful employment practice and may be the subject of a private cause of action by the employee.
SB 1383 expands the above requirement to all employers of five or more employees, significantly increasing the potential burden on small employers, including veterinary practices. In that regard, although the leave contemplated by SB 1383 is unpaid, employers must hold an employee’s job position for 12 workweeks if the employee qualifies for CFRA leave.
Veterinary Medical Record Laws in California
By Grant Miller, DVM, CVMA Director of Regulatory AffairsMedical record issues are commonly encountered by the Veterinary Medical Board (VMB) during inspections and investigations, and the consequences of not complying with medical record laws can be significant. Understanding California’s laws regarding medical record content, keeping, and transfer is essential.
What has to be in a veterinary medical record?
California Code of Regulations, title 16, section 2032.3(a) requires that the veterinarian prepare a legible written or computer-generated record concerning the animal patient(s) that contains the following information:
1. Name or initials of the person responsible for entries
2. Name, address, and phone number of the client
3. Name or identity of the animal, herd, or flock
4. Age, sex, breed, species, and color of the animal (except for herds or flocks)
5. Dates (beginning and ending) of custody of the animal, if applicable
6. A history or pertinent information as it pertains to each animal, herd, or flock’s medical status
7. Data, including that obtained by instrumentation, from the physical examination
8. Treatment and intended treatment plan including medications, dosages, route of administration, and frequency of use
9. Records for surgical procedures shall include a description of the procedure, the name of the surgeon, the type of sedative/anesthetic agents used, their route of administration, and their strength, if available in more than one strength
10. Diagnosis or assessment prior to performing a treatment or procedure
11. If relevant, a prognosis of the animal’s condition
12. All medications and treatments prescribed and dispensed, including strength, dosage, route of administration, quantity, and frequency of use
13. Daily progress, if relevant, and disposition of the case
What must be provided to a client who requests their animal’s medical record?
According to California Code of Regulations, title 16, section 2032.3(b), veterinarians must provide clients with a summary of their animal’s record upon request. However, no new information is written or generated in a summary. Section 2032.3(b) requires that the summary contain specific excerpted parts of the complete medical record noted above. They are:
1. The name and address of the client and animal
2. The age, sex, breed, species, and color of the animal
3. A history or pertinent information as it pertains to each animal’s medical status
4. Data, including that obtained by instrumentation, from the physical examination
5. Treatment and intended treatment plan, including medications, dosage, and frequency of use
6. All medications and treatments prescribed and dispensed, including strength, dosage, route of administration, quantity, and frequency of use
7. Daily progress, if relevant, and disposition of the case
The VMB has determined that a copy of the medical record is also acceptable, as long as it contains all of the components above. However, you are not legally required to transmit the record itself; the abovedescribed summary is su cient.
How long do I have to provide a summary of the patient medical record to a client?
California Code of Regulations, title 16, section 2032.3(b) states that the record must be provided five days or sooner following the client’s request, depending if the animal patient is in critical condition.
Can I charge a fee for a medical record summary?
The Veterinary Medical Board has determined that practices may charge a reasonable fee for record summary preparation, including sta time, reproduction costs, and postage.
If a client requests a copy of their animal’s medical record, can it be withheld for any reason? No.
How long do medical records have to be kept?
Records must be maintained for a minimum of three years after the date of the animal patient’s last visit, regardless of whether the patient is deceased.
Can records be released to another veterinary practice if that practice requests them?
A record may not be released to another veterinary practice without client consent. The CVMA recommends that practices either obtain written or witnessed verbal authorization from the client prior to releasing records to a third party. Witnessed verbal authorization means that two sta members witness the authorization and sign and date the record with a statement documenting client consent.
Can client or patient information be released without client consent?
California Business and Professions Code section 4857 prohibits veterinarians from sharing any record information with a third party without client consent,
except in specified legal situations such as responding to a valid subpoena or court order.
Are radiographs and other digital images part of the medical record?
Yes. Radiographs and digital images are the property of the veterinary facility that originally produced or ordered them. They may be released to another veterinary practice upon client consent. Radiographs and digital images originating at an emergency hospital shall become the property of the next attending veterinary facility that receives them.
This article is for informational and general educational purposes only. It is not intended to take the place of legal advice nor should it be considered as a legal interpretation. Although significant e ort has been made to ensure the accuracy and completeness of the information at the time of publication, the CVMA shall not be responsible for any errors or omissions, or any agency’s interpretation, application, or enforcement of the information presented herein.
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Veterinary Medical Board Update
The California Veterinary Medical Board (VMB) and its Multidisciplinary Advisory Committee (MDC) convened by virtual meeting on October 21–23, 2020. In attendance on behalf of the CVMA were outgoing Executive Director Valerie Fenstermaker, incoming Executive Director Dan Baxter, Director of Regulatory Affairs Dr. Grant Miller, and VMB liaison Dr. Ken Pawlowski. The following is a summary of the MDC and VMB’s discussions and actions.
Multidisciplinary Advisory Committee
The MDC received input from stakeholders on the topic of telemedicine. Some advocates for expanding the use of telemedicine requested that California’s veterinarian-client-patient relationship (VCPR) regulations be rewritten to remove the conditionspecific requirement for establishing the VCPR so that veterinarians may use telemedicine to diagnose and treat new conditions in an animal patient, provided that the veterinarian has physically examined the animal patient at some point in the past. A request was also made to extend the time to refill prescriptions from 12 months (the currently-operative limitation) to 18 months. The MDC discussed this topic extensively and will revisit it during the next meeting.
The MDC also discussed a tiered premises permit registration fee under which veterinary practices with a greater number of veterinarians would pay a higher registration fee than those with fewer. This concept is being explored in an effort to reduce registered veterinary technician (RVT) registration fees. The MDC is gathering data on veterinary premises in California and it will continue discussion of this topic at its next meeting.
Additionally discussed was the fact that there is currently no path for RVTs from other countries to obtain certification in California. A subcommittee is exploring avenues by which this may be achieved, and will report back to the MDC at a future date.
Veterinary Medical Board
The VMB reviewed a report by the Department of Consumer Affairs Office of Professional Examination Services recommending that the California state licensing examination be eliminated because the
North American Veterinary Licensing Exam is sufficient for purposes of veterinarian licensure. The VMB passed a motion to pursue legislation to eliminate the California state licensing exam and to appoint a subcommittee to research the Veterinary Medicine Practice Act to identify sections that would require amendment.
The VMB voted to advance the following regulatory packages in the rulemaking process:
California Code of Regulations, title 16 (CCR 16) , section 2032.15 , which lists the circumstances under which a veterinarian can manage patient care without establishing a VCPR. This proposed regulation was approved with clarifying modifications.
CCR 16, section 2032.25 , which defines the circumstances under which a veterinarian may authorize a prescription refill without establishing a VCPR. This proposed regulation was approved with clarifying modifications.
CCR 16, section 2069 , which expands registered veterinary technician authorized emergency practices.
CCR 16, sections 2090-2095 , which define the minimum standards under which veterinarians may compound medications. These regulations were approved with extensive modifications based on public comments received.
Public comments on the proposed animal physical rehabilitation regulation were presented along with responses from VMB legal counsel. The VMB voted to make amendments to the proposed regulations to clarify language removing a duplicative reference to a “range setting” and add an exemption for wildlife rehabilitation for animals in the California Department of Fish and Wildlife network.
The VMB elected Dr. Mark Nunez to serve as the next president of the VMB. His term will begin in January 2021. Kathy Bowler was re-elected to serve as the VMB vice president for the 2021 term.
The next VMB and MDC meetings are scheduled for January 27–29, 2021 and will be held virtually.
Care and Maintenance of the Intravenous Catheter
Harold Davis, BA, RVT, VTS (ECC) (Anesthesia & Analgesia) ByRegistered veterinary technicians (RVTs) play a critical role in the placement, care, and maintenance of intravenous catheters (IVC). RVTs should be knowledgeable and skilled in the various techniques needed to place IVCs. In addition, RVTs should be aware of the complications/risk factors that can occur (Figure 1) and how to recognize and manage the complications (Figure 2). Finally, they should be able to perform catheter care. This article will focus on catheter maintenance.
Catheter Maintenance
Intravenous catheter care should be performed every 48 hours or on an as-needed basis if the site becomes soiled. The catheter dressing should be removed, and the site inspected. The site should be examined for clinical signs of
phlebitis, infection, and thrombosis, and, if any is present, the catheter should be removed. The catheter should be aspirated and flushed to determine the patency of the catheter. In some instances, a fibrin tag forms on the tip of the catheter. It acts as a one-way valve allowing flushing but not aspiration.
While the catheter is flushed with saline or heparinized saline, the insertion site should be observed for fluid leakage, swelling, or pain during injection. If observed, the catheter should be removed.
If any portion of the catheter is exposed, this should be recorded in the medical record and the catheter should not be reinserted. If the catheter site looks good, the site should
• Hemorrhage – Result of vascular injury or coagulopathy
• Phlebitis – Result of mechanical damage to the vessel by movement of the catheter, administration of hyperosmotic (> 600mOsm) fluids or medications, or infection
• Infection – Microorganisms enter the tissues and the venous system
• Subcutaneous Fluid Infiltration – Occurs if the catheter was never in the vein in the first place, was displaced out of the vein by excessive skin movement, or by upstream vein occlusion such as thrombosis
• Thrombosis – Blood clot formation resulting from endothelial trauma or an inflammatory reaction to the catheter material
• Catheter Embolism – Occurs when a fragment of the catheter breaks o and enters the circulation
• Venous Air Embolism – A potentially fatal complication resulting from the presence of air, a connection (catheter) between the vein and the source of air, and a pressure gradient that facilitates the movement of air into the vein (more of a concern with jugular)
• Phlebitis – Characterized by swelling, tenderness on palpation, and erythema of the skin over the vessel
• Infection – Heralded by phlebitis and cellulitis (manifesting as a purulent discharge from the insertion site)
• Subcutaneous Fluid Infiltration – Swelling of the tissues surrounding the vein and proximal to the catheter insertion site
• Catheter embolism – A portion of the catheter has broken o or been cut and potentially entered the circulatory system
be cleaned with chlorhexidine solution. When the catheter site is dry, a sterile 2” × 2” gauze pad should be placed over it and the bandage reapplied. A suggested catheter wrap consists of a combination of porous tape, sterile 2” x 2” gauze pad, and gauze bandage roll. It is no longer recommended that antibiotic ointment be applied at catheter insertion sites (Centers for Disease Control, 2011).
Peripheral venous catheters should be replaced when clinically indicated, and routine replacement every 72 to 96 hours is not necessary (Webster et al., 2013). It has been the author’s experience that as long as routine catheter care is performed and the catheter is removed when problems are first noticed, one can often exceed the 72-hour rule. A study looking at peripheral and jugular venous catheter contamination in dogs and cats supports this experience (Mathews, Brooks & Valliant, 1996, pp. 6:33). The few veterinary studies available have shown that the replacement of central venous catheters every 72 hours does not decrease the risk of catheter related infections (Mathews, Brooks & Valliant, 1996, pp. 6:33; Reminga, Silverstein, Drobatz & Clarke, 2018, pp. 28(3):232-243; Lippert, Fulton & Parr, 1993, pp. 7:5464). In addition, The Centers for Disease Control guidelines for the prevention of intravascular catheter-related infection state that catheter replacement at scheduled time intervals as a method to reduce catheter-related blood stream infection has not lowered rates (Centers for Disease Control, 2011). They
recommend to not routinely replace central venous catheters to prevent catheter-related infections (Centers for Disease Control, 2011). IV catheters should be evaluated daily as to the need. Once it is determined the catheter is no longer needed it should be removed.
Intravenous catheters should be observed several times a day. If the catheter bandage is wet, the cause should be identified and the bandage changed. Swelling distal to the catheter may be indicative of an excessively tight bandage or tape. Swelling proximal to the catheter may be due to subcutaneous infiltration (blown vein).
IVC Flushing
When IVCs are not in continuous use, they should be flushed every four to six hours. The question becomes, should heparinized saline or normal saline be used? Human literature suggests that normal saline (nonheparinized) may be as e ective as heparinized saline in the maintenance of catheter patency. There is limited veterinary research in this area. Two papers compared heparinized saline and normal saline for the maintenance of patency in both peripheral and central venous catheters in dogs (Ueda, Odunayo & Mann, 2013, pp. 23:517522; Vose et al.). In both studies, 10 IU/mL of heparinized saline and normal saline was flushed at six-hour intervals in a treatment and a control group, respectively. Both studies found that flushes of normal saline were as e ective as 10 IU/
mL heparinized saline flushes in maintaining patency of peripheral and central venous catheters in healthy dogs. In the peripheral catheter study, it was suggested that if the intended use of the catheter was for performing serial blood draws, heparinized flushes may be warranted. The author has used 4 U/mL of heparinized saline (1000 U/250 ml normal saline) to flush unused catheters q4h. Bags of heparinized saline should be discarded every 12 to 24 hours to minimize the risk of contamination.
Catheter Obstruction
Central venous catheters may become nonfunctional due to mechanical obstruction such as kinking or malposition, precipitation of drugs, or physical damage to the catheter. It is common for the catheter to become nonfunctional due to thrombosis. The thrombotic occlusion is due to a buildup of fibrin. The fibrin buildup can form in the catheter lumen as well as at the tip of the catheter, as a sheath around the catheter or along the vessel wall. Anticoagulants and thrombolytics have been used with varying degrees of success.
References
A meta-analysis of central venous catheter thrombolysis in human pediatric patients concluded that it is e ective and potentially safe (Carvalho da Costa et al., 2019, pp. 144). Alteplase (tissue plasminogen activator) is most commonly used and the dose varies with body weight and catheter size. The calculated dose is left in the catheter for 30 to 120 minutes before attempting to aspirate the catheter.
Summary
Intravenous venous catheterization and maintenance is a straightforward procedure but at times can be challenging. RVTs should be aware of the potential catheter-related complications and risk factors, recognize complications, and take appropriate action. Risk factors for several potential complications can be managed by using aseptic technique, minimizing trauma during insertion, and properly securing the catheter. Catheter care should be performed at regular intervals and the catheter site evaluated. Removal of the intravenous catheter should be considered daily. The catheter should be removed when no longer clinically indicated.
Carvalho da Costa AC, Vieira NNP, Vasques CI, et. al. “Interventions for occluded central venous catheters: A meta-analysis.” Pediatrics 144(6):e20183789, 2019.
Centers for Disease Control website. Guidelines for the prevention of intravascular related infections. Available at: www.cdc.gov/hicpac/pdf/guidelines/bsi-guidelines-2011.pdf. Accessed February 1, 2020.
Lippert AC, Fulton RB Jr, Parr AM. “A retrospective study of use of total parenteral nutrition in dogs and cats.” J Vet Intern Med 1993; 7:52–64.
Mathews KA, Brooks MJ, Valliant AE. “A prospective study of intravenous catheter contamination.” J Vet Emerg Crit Care 6:33, 1996.
Reminga CL, Silverstein DC, Drobatz KJ, Clarke DL. “Evaluation of the placement and maintenance of central venous jugular catheters in critically ill dogs and cats.” J Vet Emerg Crit Care 2018; 28(3): 232–243.
Ueda Y, Odunayo A, Mann FA. “Comparison of heparinized saline and 0.9% sodium chloride for maintaining peripheral intravenous catheter patency in dogs.” Journal of Veterinary Emergency and Critical Care 23:517–522, 2013.
Vose J, Odunayo A, Price JM, et al. “Comparison of heparinized saline and 0.9% sodium chloride for maintaining central venous catheter patency in healthy dogs” PeerJ 7:e7072 https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.7072. Accessed on 2/23/20.
Webster J, Osborne S, Rickard CM, et al: Clinically indicated replacement versus routine replacement of peripheral venous catheters, Cochrane Database Syst Rev (4):CD007798, 2013.
Harold Davis, BA, RVT, VTS (ECC) (Anesthesia & Analgesia)
Mr. Davis is a veterinary practice educational consultant and the former manager of the Emergency and Critical Care Service at the UC Davis William R. Pritchard Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital. He is the past president of the Veterinary Emergency and Critical Care Society. Mr. Davis is the first non-veterinarian elected to this position of this 5,000-plus member organization. In addition, he is a member-at-large of the Board of Directors for the National Association of Veterinary Technicians in America. Mr. Davis has published several book chapters, journal articles, and is currently working on the second edition of his co-edited book titled, AdvancedMonitoringandProceduresforSmallAnimalEmergencyandCriticalCare.
Veterinary Students Gain Early Real World Experience
SWEP
Summer Work Experience Program
Each year, the CVMA coordinates the Summer Work Experience Program (SWEP) for students at the UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine and Western University of Health Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine. SWEP is a program whereby second and third-year students connect with veterinary practices for summer employment. This program allows students to gain valuable real-world experience while reducing their student debt at the same time. It also allows participating veterinary practices to assist in the education of future colleagues and connect with potential candidates for hire.
It’s Not Too Early to Think of Next Summer
Though it may seem a little early to be making plans for next summer, students are already researching externships and summer work opportunities.
Students
Gain valuable work experience in a private practice setting.
Contribute to a practice’s e orts to improve animal health.
Earn while you learn and decrease your student debt.
Veterinary Practices
Develop relationships with potential future associates.
Provide a student with valuable real-world experience.
Take an active part in reducing student debt load.
Add an enthusiastic employee to your sta .
How does the program work?
Veterinarians throughout California will be sent an email about SWEP later this month with a link to a sign-up form.
Interested practices should review, complete, and return the form to the CVMA by January 31, 2021.
Eligible student members will be informed in mid-February when the employment opportunities have been compiled and posted. The information provided will also be available in the student area at cvma.net. Students may contact veterinary practices directly to apply for a position.
Get a jumpstart on your summer plans and commit to being a part of the 2021 SWEP program.
If you have any questions or did not receive the email about SWEP, please email the CVMA’s Student Programs Manager, Laura Phillips, at lphillips@cvma.net or call 800.655.2862.
Due to COVID-19 restrictions, changes to this program may be necessary. Please check cvma.net regularly for updates.
Meet Your Student Representatives!
Here are your House of Delegates student representatives for 2020–2021. Feel free to contact them if you have questions or would like more information about the CVMA.
UC Davis Student Delegation
Megan Dietz (also CVMA Board of Governors student representative)
Mary Hallsten
Alison Pankowski
Mary Zuromskis
Elizabeth Grant (alternate)
Aradhna Grover (alternate)
WesternU Student Delegation
Katelyn DeVore
Christopher Morrill (also CVMA Board of Governors student representative)
Darlene Tu
Autumn Denison (alternate)
Logan McAllister (alternate)
Sarah Snow (alternate)
Support the CVMF and Make a Difference This Holiday Season
Making a donation to the California Veterinary Medical Foundation (CVMF) during this holiday season is a great way to support its programs and scholarship opportunities. The CVMF is the non-profit, charitable arm of the CVMA, established to sponsor and nurture kindness, education, and well-being for animals, people, and their environment. The CVMF is completely funded by donations and is a great way to support the veterinary profession. Your donation will allow the CVMF to continue the following efforts:
Disaster Preparedness and Response
California is susceptible to fires and natural disasters, and 2020 saw an unprecedented volume of such disasters, made all the more acute by the onset of COVID-19. The CVMF supports the California Veterinary Medical Reserve Corps (CAVMRC), which provides veterinary care for animals during declared emergencies. The CVMF also provides grants to reimburse private practitioners for out-of-pocket expenses incurred in providing subsidized or no-cost veterinary care to the public during a disaster.
Scholarships to UC Davis and WesternU Students
Each year, the CVMF awards the CVMF Scholarship Award to third or fourth-year veterinary students from UC Davis and WesternU who show outstanding service in veterinary medicine at a city or county animal shelter, or during a recognized California disaster response effort. The CVMF also administers the Ron Faoro, DVM, Student Scholarship and the Veterinary Insurance Services Company Scholarship Fund.
Donations to the CVMA’s California Animal Hall of Fame Winners
The CVMA California Animal Hall of Fame Award celebrates the companion and working animals of California and the veterinarians who care for them. This year’s inductee was Australian shepherd MacGyver, a search and rescue dog who—along with his owner Rick Stein—has helped Santa Barbara County’s Search & Rescue team locate missing and injured loved ones.
Donate during this holiday season and receive your year-end tax deduction. You may contribute at cvmf.net or by calling Bernice Evans at 800.655.2862.
Welcome to Our New Members!
Veterinarian
Dr. Luann Aki
Dr. Leticia Alvarado
Dr. Megan Armor
Dr. Edwin Arriola Morales
Dr. Samardeep Bassi
Dr. Ryan Beverly
Dr. Naveen Bobbili
Dr. Rebecca Bogdanich
Dr. Leroi Boldon
Dr. Janice Bremner
Dr. Erin Carey
Dr. Baljit Chahal
Dr. Wei-Chih Chang
Dr. Daniel Chapman
Dr. Bhanu Chaudhri
Dr. Sibyl DeAnda
Dr. Alana Deegan
Dr. Jonathan Dickson
Dr. Jessica Dugan
Dr. Connor Enz
Dr. Summer Godfrey
Dr. Viranjini Gopisetty
Dr. Sehaj Grewal
Dr. Douglas Hardy
Dr. Gregory Hardy
Dr. Carolynn Harvey
Dr. Roger Helmers
Dr. Cynthia Hockman
Dr. Lauren Horton
Dr. Alice Hsieh
Dr. Eleanor Johnson
Dr. Dawn Kingsbury
Dr. Ste ani Klittich
Dr. Elizabeth Koskenmaki
Dr. Nadine Lamberski
Dr. Bong Hoon Lee
Dr. Karen Lee
Dr. Janet Levitt
Dr. Gabriela Levy Halfin
Dr. Elizabeth Ley
Dr. John Lupo
Dr. Sophia Mallon
Dr. Michael Manno
Dr. Nicole McGee
Dr. Ti any Mitchener
Dr. Je rey Moss
Dr. Leslie Neely
Dr. Meghan Ortiz
Dr. Berit Owen
Dr. Jean Pan
Dr. Kara Plotz
Dr. Christina Quel
Dr. Dani Rabwin
Dr. Katie Rainey
Dr. Emilie Ravn
Dr. Ricarda Roberto
Dr. Wayne Rosenkrantz
Dr. Richard Schwach
Dr. Jennifer Self
Dr. Christopher Sissle
Dr. Anna Smith
Dr. Kara Smith
Dr. Celeste Spini
Dr. Ravi Srungaram
Dr. Fiona Strange
Dr. Valerie Talleyrand
Dr. Amy Thomas
Dr. Jan Valinoti
Dr. Barinderjit Virk
Dr. Katie Volat
Dr. Jennifer Voltz
Dr. Angelica Waters
Dr. Catherine Welch
Dr. Olivia Winson
Dr. Elizabeth Wood
Veterinarian 1st Year
Graduate
Dr. Ashley Benson
Dr. Avery Berkowitz
Dr. Laura Bunke
Dr. Camille Co ey
Dr. Christina Dover
Dr. Annamarie Eick
Dr. Kristen Frank
Dr. Rebecca Gooder
Dr. Hannah Greene
Dr. Kara Hiebert
Dr. Alan Kim
Dr. Wing Sze Leung
Dr. Ti any Mavromatis
Dr. Elisa Miller
Dr. Jenny Nguyen
Dr. Chloe Park
Dr. Lauren Prince
Dr. Tia Simon
Dr. Kimberly Simpson
Dr. Devon Ueda
Dr. Crystal Valino
Dr. Ryan Wood
Veterinarian 2nd Year
Graduate
Dr. Emi Daniel
Dr. Allyson Davis
Dr. Lauren Kallaway
Dr. Brittany LaBelle
Dr. Andria Lessler
Dr. Vincent Palmeri
Dr. Kaitlyn Rigby
Dr. Helena Tran
Dr. Minghao Wong
Veterinarian 3rd Year
Graduate
Dr. Elizabeth Alexander
Dr. Nicholas Buscaglia
Dr. Ching Jen
Dr. Amanda Morvai
Dr. Rachel Picarro
Dr. Catherine Reeder
Dr. Ceina Runley
Veterinarian 4th Year
Graduate
Dr. Andrea Bledsoe
Dr. Carlie Hall
Dr. Mats Koelemij
Dr. Lauren Spencer
Veterinarian Public Service
Dr. Sonia Hazarika
Veterinarian Faculty
Dr. Kathryn Good Koehler
Dr. Kristin Jankowski
Veterinarian – Out of State
Dr. Sabrina Barry
Registered Veterinary Technician
Emeri Acosta, RVT
Ashley Aguayo, RVT
Jennifer Aguilar, RVT
Elizabeth Anderson, RVT
Alejandra Arellano, RVT
Ivonne Arredondo Muniz, RVT
Elianna Barajas, RVT
Ophelie Birrer, RVT
Jennifer Bisbee, RVT
Renee Bocarde, RVT
Jasmine Boquette, RVT
Deborah Bowman, RVT
Bita Breazeale, RVT
Samantha Brecht, RVT
Denise Briscoe, RVT
Jessica Browning, RVT
Sharne Cambridge, RVT
Shawnee Carpenter, RVT
Victoria Cassey, RVT
Vanessa Cassidy, RVT
Annette Chavarria-Marron, RVT
Taniko Chono-Gray, RVT
Kylie Cochran, RVT
Ashley Cox, RVT
Rachel Davis, RVT
Melinda Diego, RVT
Desiree Dworzecki, RVT
Sarah Edwards, RVT
Jasleen Fajardo, RVT
Kari Farley, RVT
Amelia Figueroa, RVT
Karen Fluegge, RVT
Felicia Garcia, RVT
Melissa Garone, RVT
Heather George, RVT
Alliene Giron, RVT
Olivia Gonzalez, RVT
Robin Goulart, RVT
Ashley Green, RVT
Renee Gutierrez, RVT
Amelia Hacker, RVT
Lucy Hagedon, RVT
Rebecca Hand, RVT
Cassandra Hand-Read, RVT
Caroline Hardman, RVT
Lynda Harness, RVT
Jessica Ho man, RVT
Lisa Hopewell, RVT
Lauren Hunt, RVT
Elizabeth Johnson, RVT
Allison Kirby, RVT
Allison Lacy, RVT
Renee Lancaster, RVT
Alice Laureta, RVT
Marissa Lavigne, RVT
David Liss, RVT
Grace Loflin, RVT
Christina Lombardo, RVT
Chrystal Lucas, RVT
Rhonda Mankin, RVT
Tavish Mathiasen, RVT
Olivia Mazza, RVT
Kylene McKissock, RVT
Theresa McKittrick, RVT
Linda Mendez, RVT
Ziwen Meng, RVT
Cheri Micheletti, RVT
Patricia Millfelt, RVT
Danielle Mores, RVT
Michelle Morse, RVT
Judy Mukai, RVT
Marilee Muzatko, RVT
Julia Myers, RVT
Shelly Nalley-Johnson, RVT
Brenda Navarro, RVT
Rhiannon Norman, RVT
Aimee Ortigoza, RVT
Debbie Packham, RVT
Kristi Perales, RVT
Stacey Perlman, RVT
Mary Phariss, RVT
Laura Pomaville, RVT
Susan Postert, RVT
Sumitra Price, RVT
Marie-France Purvis, RVT
Katlin Quindt, RVT
Erica Ramirez, RVT
Marlen Ramirez, RVT
Mariela Rodriguez, RVT
Grace Roman, RVT
Melissa Rondez, RVT
Melinda Rourke, RVT
Carolyn Ru , RVT
Christine Sakata, RVT
Kristine Schlehr, RVT
Sarah Schwarz, RVT
Danya Schwarz-AustrheimSmith, RVT
Catherine Sermeno, RVT
Heidi Sierras, RVT
Bridget Silva, RVT
Ashley Silveira, RVT
Danielle Simpson, RVT
Jeromy Smith, RVT
Hannah Staiger, RVT
Christie Stephenson, RVT
Lindsy Taboga, RVT
Virginia Tapia, RVT
Sarah Teague, RVT
April Theodore, RVT
Kelly Thompson-Serdy, RVT
Kyle Tre , RVT
Stephanie Van Peer, RVT
CVMA Remembers
Robin Vargas, RVT
Angela Villanueva, RVT
Stephanie Vinecke, RVT
Brittany Vinson, RVT
Renee Wallis, RVT
Cary Weisz, RVT
Elizabeth White, RVT
Kimberly Whooley, RVT
Angela Wiles, RVT
Patricia Williams, RVT
Kellie Wilson, RVT
Leah Wood, RVT
Nina Yabut, RVT
Cara Yanussi, RVT
Kristin Zietz, RVT
CVMA Certified Veterinary Assistant
Sydney Cook, CVMA CVA
Doneisha King, CVMA CVA
Jessica Laufer, CVMA CVA
Marissa Matteucci, CVMA CVA
Sienna Smith, CVMA CVA
Veterinary Hospital Staff
Judith Asseo
Jeannie Eigle
Emily Ingram
Felicia Myers
Non Resident Veterinary Student
Hannah Stone
The CVMA extends our sincere sympathy to the friends and family of those remembered. Dr. Harold Kopit, a CVMA Life member, passed away on August 16, 2020. He received his DVM from Oklahoma State University in 1955 and practiced small animal medicine before his retirement. He was very active with the Southern California VMA and was a past member of the CVMA Board of Governors.
A Look Back at How WesternU Helped Long Beach City College Curb Its Rabbit Problem
Long Beach City College (LBCC) had been known in Southern California as “Bunny College” for some 20 years. A few jackrabbits wandered onto campus from nearby Long Beach Airport, then owners started abandoning their unwanted pets at the college. After two decades, LBCC had become home to more than 300 rabbits and, as many know, rabbits reproduce like…rabbits.
A call went out to WesternU’s College of Veterinary Medicine to help put an end to the issue without putting an end to the individual rabbits. That was a decade ago, and the campus today remains bunny free.
“I’ve been at the college for nearly three years and haven’t seen or heard of rabbits coming back in any way,” said Joshua Castellanos, LBCC’s Executive Director, Public A airs and Marketing. “So, I’d say (it’s) still successful.”
That success was hard won. Dr. Diane McClure, helped coordinate a massive trap/neuter/release e ort that involved scores of veterinarian and student volunteers over the spring of 2010. At that time, few shelters were housing unwanted rabbits. “You couldn’t take them to a shelter because either they wouldn’t take them or would kill them. So you’d take them to Bunny College,” she said.
LBCC wanted to shed its honorary title as Bunny College, as well as the bunnies. As the Long Beach Post News put it: “The rabbits are a mixed bag— charming to many, but detrimental in many ways. They chew through the irrigation system and have developed their own world under… many buildings.”
Athletics coach Donna Prindle noticed that the rabbits were damaging the softball diamond and injuring athletes, who twisted ankles on holes burrowed into the ground. She contacted Bunny Bunch Rabbit Rescue in Montclair, Best Friends Animal Society, and eventually the request for assistance made its way to WesternU’s Veterinary Ambulatory Community Service Program (VACS).
Some LBCC administrators favored less humane means to rid the college of the rabbit problem, but Ms. Prindle had other ideas. The successful long-time coach appealed to the administration’s better judgment, helped find space on campus for the trap/neuter/release program to be housed, and even found additional volunteers via the LBCC softball team.
Administrators, volunteers, and animal lovers came together in the form of LBCC’s Rabbit Population Management Task Force to launch the project.
“I honestly didn’t think this had a chance, but I thought we’d at least get a lot of students an opportunity for hands-on experience, and we’d give a lot of veterinarians experience in how to do spay and neuter on rabbits,” Dr. McClure said. “And that would be awesome.”
In the end, that specialized experience was just one of the benefits. Over the course of two long weekends, rabbits were trapped, brought in for surgery, given post-op care, and released back onto campus. Sick rabbits were able to be quarantined for up to three weeks. Dozens of WesternU students took part in the e ort along with volunteer faculty and area veterinarians.
In the end, the program became an adoption e ort and the rabbits became pets once again.
Rabbits as pets are not for everyone. Dr. McClure emphasized that potential owners gain a strong understanding of rabbits before taking one on as a pet. They rank as the third most relinquished pet in California shelters.
But rabbits are no longer being dropped o at LBCC. “We resolved the entire population,” said Dr. McClure.
Decades of Research Pay Big Dividends
After decades of research led by the UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine and 10 years of clinical field trials, cattle ranchers in California, Nevada, and Oregon finally have a vaccine to combat the deadly and expensive disease commonly known as foothill abortion.
The disease is transmitted by bites from the pajaroello tick—found only in the intermountain West and common in foothill rangelands. It became known as foothill abortion after ranchers in the 1930s and 1940s noticed that the pregnant heifers they sent to pasture in the foothills aborted after returning to valley pastures. Infected pregnant cows show no obvious symptoms but the bacteria can infect their fetuses in the first half of gestation before they fully develop immune systems. Cows will carry the infected fetus to term, but the calves are born either dead or are weak and fail to thrive.
Western cattle producers were desperate for some relief to stop their losses resulting from the disease that annually caused the death of an estimated 45,000 to 90,000 calves. While financial losses are di cult to calculate, even a conservative estimate exceeds $10 million annually in California, Oregon, and Nevada alone. In part, the UC Davis School of Medicine was founded in 1948 to help study this illness.
UC Davis veterinary immunologist Dr. Je rey Stott led the e ort in collaboration with the California Cattlemen’s Association, the USDA Center for Veterinary Biologics, the Animal Health Branch of the California Department of Food and Agriculture, the Nevada Department of Agriculture, and the University of Nevada, Reno. Once a potential vaccine was developed, it needed to go through extensive field testing. A decade of clinical trials were conducted to establish the safety and e cacy of the product.
“The vaccine has proven safe and phenomenally e ective,” Stott said. “The fervor for its widespread availability is palpable among cattle producers.”
Last month, Hygieia Biological Laboratories of Woodland, California, announced that after much anticipation, a conditional license had been issued for their epizootic bovine abortion vaccine by the USDA Center for Veterinary Biologics. The vaccine will now be available through local livestock veterinarians in convenient 30dose vials and can be given to animals of at least six months of age, at least 60 days prior to the initiation of breeding.
“The licensing and availability of this vaccine is monumental for the beef cattle industry,” said Mark Lacey, president of the California Cattlemen’s Association in a press release by Hygieia Laboratories. “For generations, producers have had to manage incredible losses from foothill abortion. From the university’s research, to the generous donations of cattlemen and the Livestock Memorial Research Fund, to the production and commercialization of the vaccine, it has been a long haul. I couldn’t be happier to say that we are finally here.”
Place your ad in the Career Center at cvma.net. There are two options for classified advertising:
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POSITIONS OFFERED
NORTHERN CALIFORNIA Veterinarians
Four Paws Veterinary Center is looking to add an associate veterinarian to our busy three-doctor practice. We are a family-run and family-oriented full service companion animal center located in Dublin, California. We are committed to providing all beloved companion animals the highest quality, up-to-date veterinary care. Our location is ideal for the candidate who desires to see a wide variety of medical, dental and surgical cases. We operate Monday – Friday, day shifts. We o er a competitive base salary, medical and dental insurance, uniform allowance and continuing education allowance. Email fourpawsjen@gmail.com.
Looking for a compassionate, friendly, and enthusiastic small animal veterinarian to work at a busy 2-doctor practice in beautiful South Lake Tahoe. Live and work in paradise! Soft tissue/orthopedic surgery, medicine, ultrasound, digital radiology, dentistry, and more. No required after-hours
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emergency. Commitment to our clients and patients an absolute must. Retirement benefits, no holidays, flexible hours, base pay with production available. Valid CA veterinary license. At least 6 months practice experience preferred but not required. Email npowell@bluelakevet.com.
We are a privately owned, busy, companion animal veterinary hospital looking for an upbeat and talented Associate Veterinarian to join our team. Our rural location o ers a variety of cases therefore we provide full service and some orthopedics. After hours and weekend emergencies are currently referred to specialty hospitals in Reno. The area is very popular for outdoor activities such as fishing, equestrian, mountain biking and motocross. lassenveterinaryservices.com
Email lassenvet@gmail.com.
Looking for associate veterinarian for mid-size, very busy, East Bay practice. Two days a week and alternate Saturdays. Excellent support sta and equipment. Medical benefits including dental and vision. Email lorivet@mac.com.
CENTRAL CALIFORNIA Veterinarians
Veterinarian P/T, F/T: Join compassionate team on the Central Coast! Affordable coastal community, clean air, no traffic. Digital x-ray, dental x-ray, in-house lab. Flexible schedule, no after-hours, paid vacation & CE, VMA dues, health ins., retirement, and experienced relaxed team. New grads welcome! Email orcuttvet@aol.com.
We are looking for dedicated veterinarians to join our team of Veterinary Hospitals in the Central Valley of CA. Our hospitals provide exceptional care to our patients and clients through affordable surgeries, vaccinations, wellness exams, and preventative care. We have top of the line equipment and incredible support staff. Typical hours are M-F 9am-5pm. We offer a base salary of $125,000.00. We also offer Retirement, Health Insurance, CE, Uniform, and Vacation. Please email resume to CommunityVeterinarians@gmail.com.
SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA Veterinarians
Full Time Associate Veterinarian position in stunning Palm Desert, CA. We are o ering a generous relocation package, an amazing desert location and a much-desired work / life balance. We are a growing hospital based in beautiful Palm Desert, CA o ering candidates medical, dental and vision health plans, CE Allowance and paid time o . Palm Desert Pet Hospital is a state-of-the-art veterinary facility including digital x-ray, digital dental x-ray and a complete inhouse lab. We are proud to have a high technician to doctor ratio and are known for the great care we take with clients and employees alike. We believe in empowering our team to be the best advocate for their patients. The Position: We’re looking for an Associate Veterinarian. The pay range we are o ering is $125,000+ / annually. We also o er: 401K options; professional liability coverage; generous pet discounts; $10,000 relocation package. Our ideal candidate will be highly motivated, energetic and compassionate. Someone who is a team player and always keeps the best interest of our patients in mind, by providing outstanding veterinary care. Our hospital culture thrives on teamwork and compassion for our patients and clients. The Location: Palm Beach Pet Hospital is based in Palm Beach, California. Palm Beach is a gorgeous resort town that boasts great private and public schools plus amazing finds like the Living Desert Zoo and Gardens. Surrounding towns similar to Palm Desert include luxurious Coachella. Palm Desert is well known for its golfing, shopping, country clubs, and gorgeous
mountain views. Why Should You Apply? Top industry pay; Great benefits; Reasonable hours. If you are looking to make a di erence in the lives of pets, while helping to grow Palm Desert Pet Hospital contact us today. Email Paul@northeastvets.com.
We are a small animal hospital located in Imperial, California in an area with a need for more veterinarians. We mostly see dogs and cats, but we also see birds and a small number of exotic animals. We do many spay and neuter procedures, which would give you plenty of opportunity to improve your surgical skills, and practice your veterinary knowledge while working with an experienced veterinarian and sta . New grads are welcome to apply. Health insurance stipend, CE stipend, and paid time o available. If interested direct any inquires to Craig Satow DVM, at desertdvm@aol.com.
We are a busy and successful small animal clinic with 2 full time veterinarians and looking into hiring another motivated full time veterinarian. Our clinic is located in mid Los Angeles (close to beach, Beverly Hills and Century City area) and is open 6 days a week, fully equipped with digital x-rays and digital dental x-rays, complete in house blood/urine analyzer and 100% paperless. Sign on bonus, health insurance, paid vacation and paid CE dues. Mentorship will be fully provided if indicated. Email info@beverlyrobertsonvet.com.
CALIFORNIA Veterinarians
We are looking for dedicated veterinarians to provide shelter medicine as well as care for our plethora of rescue accounts. We provide exceptional care to all pets through wellness exams, preventative care, and management of medical and surgical cases. The main responsibilities will be high volume spays and neuters for companion animals. There will be occasional cases of sick or injured pets requiring treatment and/or hospitalization. Experience with high volume surgical care is a must. Ideal candidates should have at least 1 year of experience. Salary is negotiable due to full or part time. We also o er Retirement, Health Insurance, CE, Uniform, and Vacation. Please email resume to CommunityVeterinarians@ gmail.com.
VetRelief.com welcomes DOCTORS and HOSPITALS to teamup and conveniently match your employment expectations. HOSPITALS: create an account, then post your jobs which include job’s dates, shifts, and your project’s description. Relief veterinarians will bid on your jobs. DOCTORS and HOSPITALS: together, you may negotiate conveniently
Ellie Wattles, DVM, President, Broker
Beka Herrera, Vice President, Broker
Connie Burke, CPA, CVA, CM&AA
V E NTURA COUNTY: The town itself is about 20 miles from Ventura or Santa Clarita& just 1-hour drive toLA or Santa Barbara. This unique, authentic, and friendly town is experiencing significant housing development growth, with affordable housing. Small town community with demand for veterinary service. Free-standing facility consists of 1,461 sq. ft with 2 exam rooms. Equipment includes new leased digital X-Ray and IDEXX lab. 2019 Gross ~$723,000 produced with relief DVMs only, limited services and no weekend hours. Multiple opportunities for growth with owner operator. Motivated Seller. PRACTICE PRICE: $365,000 REAL ESTATE PRICE ONLY: $399, 000
INLAND EMPIRE- Rare Opportunity: Located in the heart of southwest Riverside County and ~1.5 hours from L.A. & San Diego. This upscale community offers a rural feel w/ incredible amenities available. Amazing location to reside and work. PX is located in a popular shopping center w/ ample parking. ~2,800 sq. ft. hospital includes 3 exam rooms, & multiple runs/runs. Well-equipped PX w/ digital X-Ray & IDEXX lab. Under-utilized PX w/ limited DVM hours& services. Room for expansion & growth. 2019 Gross ~$1.3 Million. PX PRICE: $1 1 Million RE PRICE ONLY: $400,000
SANTA CRUZ COUNTY- New Listing: Situated in the heart of the Monterey Bay area, 84 miles south of San Francisco, less than 10 miles from the ocean, this friendly community offers an ideal environment for working and living. Although agriculture forms the economic base, technology, electronic companies, electrical products, construction materials and heavy construction companies support the economic structure. Spacious, freestanding ~3,744 square foot leased facility situated near a major thoroughfare. Long established, full-service, small animal hospital includes 3 exam rooms, 30 cages, 8 runs with DR- XRAY & IDEXX lab equipment. 2019 Gross just over $1.1 Million. P PRACTICE PRICE: $820, 000
SANTA CRUZ COUNTY, Scotts Valley: Located about 6 miles north of the City of Santa Cruz & 26 miles southwest of San Jose. Well established PX situated within a strip center. Leasehold facility is ~ 1,800 sq. ft w/ 2 exam rooms & 15+ cages. Full service, computerized 1- DVM px. Equipment includes CR X-Ray & IDEXX lab. 2019 Gross ~$783,000. Very motivated seller due to health issues. . PRACTICE PRICE ONLY: $390,000
MENDOCINO COUNTY: Just 2 hours north of the San Francisco Bay Area & west of Sacramento. This area boasts spectacular scenery & distinctive wineries. Hundreds of miles of hiking trails, verdant hills & secluded lakes residents can easily find solitude & beauty. 1 part-time DVM PX. ~1,500 sq ft leasehold facility located in a small strip-center. 2019 Gross~ $396,000 produced with very limited hours. P PX PRICE ONLY: $120, 000
ORANGE COUNTY, COASTAL- Priced to sell qui c k l y : This charming community offers ideal weather, a diversified economy & excellent educational system. The city is located near three airports: (SNA), (LGB), & (LAX). PX is located in a newly renovated urban shopping center. Efficient leased facility ~ 1,200 sq. ft. w/ 2 exam rooms, 3 runs & several cages. 2019 Gross ~$554K produced w/eextremely limited, part time DVM hours. Significant growth potential with new energetic owner-operator. Currently, the PX values at greater than 1 year’s gross. P PX PRICE ONLY: $470,900
CONTRA COSTA COUNTY- New Listing: Easy access to San Francisco and Sacramento, this convenient, central location, along with a temperate climate. Leased facility, ~2,000 sq. ft located in a shopping center with ample parking. Facility offers 2 exam rooms and 20 cages. Computerized practice includes DR X-RAY, Abaxis lab equipment. Many opportunities for growth with new energetic owner. P PRACTICE PRICE ONLY: $399,000
GREATER SACRAMENTO- Motivated Seller: This historic town is located just 30 minutes north of Sacramento within Placer County, paradise for outdoor enthusiasts. Efficient ~1,900 sq. ft. free-standing facility. Computerized practice includes digital X-Ray and IDEXX lab 2019 Gross ~$798,000. Currently operated as a 1 DVM practice with great staff. Major practice price reduction. NEWPX PRICE: $400, 000 REAL ESTATE PRICE: $420,000
SAN DIEGO COUNTY, NORTH: Near perfect climate. Leisurely drive to beach cities and downtown San Diego. Endless outdoor activities, easy access to retail & commercial areas. ~1,895 sq. ft. leased facility. Full-service hospital w/ experienced staff. 2019 Gross ~$740,000 produced with limited DVM hours & services. Excellent opportunity for first time buyer or satellite practice. P PRICED FOR A QUICK SALE PRACTICE PRICE ONLY: $365,000
Interest rates have dropped to historic levels. Contact us to learn how we can help achieve your goals of buying or selling!
545 Sespe Avenue Fillmore, CA 93015 Phone: 805.524.3195 Fax: 805.524.3192
E-mail: PacProInc@aol.com Website: www.pacificproinc.com
and securely via VetRelief’s web site to ensure a good match. There is no commitment until Doctor and Hospital agree. Learn more at https://vetrelief.com, smarthire@ vetrelief.com, call or text 949.899.(VETS)8387.
HOSPITALS – SALES/LEASE/BUY
Million dollar Practice for Sale. This Hospital is a Standalone, 3600 sqft building. The practice has been in the area since 1962. Excellent, Loyal, clientele. Practice is doing current Million Dollar plus gross with a single practitioner working 40 hours per week with no emergencies. The hospital is currently closed on the weekends. We have all the latest equipment; fully computerized, GE ultrasound, digital radiology processing, in house lab equipment. We have always stressed full diagnostics to all patients that require it. Owner wants to retire. Serous inquiries only. Contact: Frank M. Virga, DVM, CVA at: 661.399.6406.
Central Coast Animal Clinic - FOR SALE or LEASE - Great Opportunity for Independent Veterinarian. This newly renovated facility is laid out on a 12’x12’ grid. The
courtyard is enclosed by a Kairu (covered walk) and native plants line the perimeter. Like local wilderness parks, educational placards and murals are spaced to make “social distancing” natural, appropriate. A HC-accessible hybrid of hygiene and high-design, this 4,000 square foot facility has 56 trees, 32 operable windows and 15 hand-wash stations for fresh air, sunlight and proper sanitation. There are two buildings, two parcels, a 175’long wildlife habitat, two courtyards for special events and three separate units. The clean, patient-ready, 2,550 square foot Clinic has 5 exam rooms, 3 treatment rooms, 3 restrooms, 2 offices, a laboratory, a spacious reception, 2 waiting rooms, entry, file room, janitorial closets and storage. The open, sunlit, 850 square foot Studio has vaulted ceilings, wood floors, gallery lighting, and its own restroom, storage and reception. The independent 600 square foot Administrative Building has offices, kitchen, two restrooms and storage. This 15,000 square foot property, located in growing Guadalupe, California’s historic core includes plans. Additional photos may be seen at cclpgroup.com. Please call 805.343.0011 for an appointment to see the facility.
6. Annual subscription price: $50
7. O ce of publication: California Veterinary Medical Association (CVMA), 1400 River Park Drive, Suite 100, Sacramento, CA 95815-4505
8. General business o ce of publisher: CVMA, 1400 River Park Drive, Suite 100, Sacramento, CA 95815-4505
9. Full name and address of publisher: Valerie Fenstermaker, CVMA, 1400 River Park Drive, Suite 100, Sacramento, CA 95815-4505.
Full name and address of editor: Trisha Consunji, CVMA, 1400 River Park Drive, Suite 100, Sacramento, CA 95815-4505.
Full name and address of managing editor: Kristen Calderon, CVMA, 1400 River Park Drive, Suite 100, Sacramento, CA 95815-4505.
10. Owner: California Veterinary Medical Association, 1400 River Park Drive, Suite 100, Sacramento, CA 95815-4505. Stockholders owning or holding 1 percent or more of the total amount of stock: none.
11. Known bondholders, mortgagees, and other security holders owning or holding 1 percent or more of total amount of bonds, mortgages, or other securities: none.
12. The purpose, function, and nonpro t status of this organization and the exempt status for Federal income tax purposes: has not changed during the preceding 12 months.
A Sea of Virtual CE Coming June 2021
The tides have turned. Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, we are unable to meet in person for the Pacific Veterinary Conference in Long Beach as planned. But you can still catch a wave of CE at PacVet Live – our fully interactive online conference. Since we can’t make it to the beach, we are excited to bring the beach to you along with the world-class speakers and topics that you’ve come to expect from PacVet!
Watch for dates and details via email, at PacVet.net, and in the January–February issue of the California Veterinarian.