CVMA VOICE 2015:2 by CVMAMedia

CV M A VO ICE

Today’s Voice, Tomorrow’s Vision

• PetCheck Continues to Break Records • CVMA Convention 2015 • CVMA’s Evolving Structure

2015, ISSUE #2 CVMA Voice 201 5 : 2 | PAG E 1

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CV M A VO ICE

TABLE OF CONTENTS Inside President’s Post . . . . . . . . . . . 4 Briefings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 Of Note . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6

6 Nearly 1,600 Pets Seen at PetCheck 2015!

Nearly 1,600 Pets Seen at PetCheck 2015! . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

CVMA Convention 2015: Look What’s New . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

CVMA: Evolving Needs, Evolving Structure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 Looking for a Job? Let CVMA’s Career Center Help! . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12 Hiring Made Easier with the CVMA Career Center . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13 Your Best Bet for Paying Associates . . . . . . 14

15 Rx Drug Abuse among the Veterinary Community

Rx Drug Abuse in the Veterinary Community . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15

Government Affairs . . . . . . . . 17 CVMA Shapes Success of 2015 Legislative Season . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

CSU Students Go to Washington! . . . . . . . . . 18

Science Update . . . . . . . . . . 20 Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza Outbreak 2015 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20

20 Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza Outbreak 2015

Vesicular Stomatitis Virus 2015 . . . . . . . . . . 21 Zoonosis News . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22

In Practice . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24

CVMA Events and Deadlines August 12 Peer Assistance: Rx Drug Abuse and Safe Prescribing Webinar August 20 15 Communication Skills for Veterinary Teams Webinar September 17 Create a Better Checkout Experience Webinar September 17–20 CVMA Convention 2015 Loveland September 19 CVMA Celebration Luncheon / Service Awards Loveland September 23 The Untold Truth of Social Media Practice Growth Webinar October 5–7 CVMA CE Southwest Durango October 14 Peer Assistance: Self Care Webinar October 15 How to Deal with Jerks Webinar October 23–24 CVMA BIG Ideas Forum | Fall 2015 Steamboat Springs

Foward Booking Appointments: Is Your Practice Benefitting? . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24 4 Tips for Veterinary Team Retention . . . . . 26 What Your Veterinary Staff Should Know About Stray Pets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27 CACVT Now Provides Online CVT Registry . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28

26 4 Tips for Veterinary Team Retention

CVMA News . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29 CVMA Media Training 2015 . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29 Spay/Neuter: Optimal Timing, Optimal Technique . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30 CVMA Awards Students through Fare for Fairs Program . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33 Welcome New CVMA Members! . . . . . . . . 34

Our Mission To enhance animal and human health and welfare, and advance the knowledge and wellbeing of Colorado veterinarians.

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Colorado Veterinary Medical Association

PRESIDENT’S POST

191 Yuma Street Denver, Colorado 80223 303.318.0447 or 800.228.5429 Fax 303.318.0450 info@colovma.org www.colovma.org MANAGING EDITOR Cami Cacciatore PUBLISHER Ralph Johnson The CVMA Voice is published quarterly to members and once a year to nonmembers free of charge. Information and advice presented in this publication do not necessarily represent the views of CVMA.

Deadlines for Submission All articles, contributions, and display ads must be received in the CVMA office by the dates reflected below. For more information or to obtain a rate schedule, contact the CVMA office at 303.318.0447 or info@cvma.org. Issue Issue Issue Issue

#1 — January 15 #2 — April 15 #3 — July 15 #4 — October 15

Erin Epperly, DVM President

In this issue, you will read more about how CVMA is listening to members and staying relevant as we move forward with our strategic plan and other decision making (see page 10). At the BIG Ideas Forum in March, we cancelled commission meetings to hold an impromptu discussion session on the strategic initiatives for 2015. We had great Q&A regarding the first three big changes in our plan—namely districts transitioning to chapters, tiered membership categories, and structural governance changes—and I want to share some thoughts about the debating that day. It was awesome! I was thrilled with the thoughtful input from CVMA members and the open dialogue. Following the session, we had the most lively Board of Directors meeting I have ever attended. Based on voting at that meeting, you will see changes to your dues billing for next year. Many districts elected to switch to chapters, so you will see a section to pay your local dues on your statement. Also, expect to be given different choices about what you pay and what you receive with your CVMA membership. Stay engaged and voice your opinion as we continue this strategic process. How else is CVMA listening to members? I will remind you of district visits last year (not to be confused with Dr. Crawford’s visits to you all this spring), when I came to chat with everyone during the summer of 2014. You may recall our discussions about “expedited evaluations” between the State Board and Peer Assistance Services (PAS). For those who don’t remember or missed district visits, I will give a brief reminder. At the time, the State Board of Veterinary Medicine expressed a concern for its ability to refer veterinarians into an evaluation by PAS. PAS is part of our state veterinary practice act, and is funded by our license dues. We as licensed veterinarians can always seek help for mental health or substance abuse problems from PAS. However, the state board also refers veterinarians to

PAS if there have been complaints brought to it that allege substance abuse in addition to standard of care concerns. You may recall that there is a window of time between state board meetings (two months), where a complaint could come in that involved substance abuse. If the veterinarian didn’t agree to an evaluation by PAS, the board would have to suspend that veterinarian’s license until the hearing, in order to protect public safety. That veterinarian would be unable to earn a living while waiting for the hearing, and would have a blemish on his or her license, even if it was a false allegation. I asked you all how you felt about fixing this loophole, by running a bill to allow the State Board to mandate a veterinarian be evaluated by PAS. Overwhelmingly, members supported trying to solve the problem, but not without some reservations. Based on your input, CVMA created HB15-1187, sponsored by Representative Steve Lebsock, which passed the House. After meetings with Senator Sonnenburg (one of our Senate sponsors), we made some amendments, including that there must be a written complaint for the State Board to order this kind of evaluation by PAS. Of course, if you have a colleague that you are concerned about having a potential mental health issue, you can go directly to PAS for assistance or Concerned Colorado V eterinarians. We have gone through several iterations with this bill, and we are pleased to report that on May 8, it was signed into law. We certainly heard your concerns about the possible VPA (Veterinary Professional Associate) degree program at CSU. Based on a charge from the Commission on Animal Issues to learn more about the possible program and explore how it would function, the executive committee submitted a detailed list of questions to Dr. Wayne Jensen at CSU. We have now received the answers to those questions and will be discussing them at our next meeting. We will continue to keep you up to speed on how this program is progressing. President’s Post continued on page 13

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BRIEFINGS

CVMA Executive Committee Dr. Erin Epperly

President Dr. Curtis Crawford President-elect

Ralph Johnson Executive Director Colorful Colorado

The annual tour of district visits is nearly complete, and as always it has been a treat to see and talk with members in every part of our great state. Thank you for welcoming Dr. Curtis Crawford, CVMA president-elect, and me to your communities, and for the ideas and comments you offered to keep CVMA attuned to your needs. Thanks also to Royal Canin for sponsoring the meals at all 16 district visits—a significant investment by this partner to help CVMA maintain grassroots connections and to sustain the spirit of community that we enjoy. With the spring moisture that nature provided, Colorado’s landscapes were spectacularly green and rivers were running robustly. The “tour” reminded me once again of how privileged I am to live in this beautiful part of the world and to serve members who are so deeply committed to their patients, their profession, and their communities. 109 (and counting) Years of Change

CVMA frequently receives a comment from people outside Colorado who observe that the association seems progressive. When I thank the person for the compliment on behalf of CVMA, I note that CVMA has a long history—109 years, in fact!—of thoughtful change that couples beneficially with the organization’s willingness to explore ideas and develop innovative solutions. CVMA strives to anticipate how the organization will be affected by changes in the profession and society at large, and in response formulates appropriate strategy and tactics. CVMA embodies the concept espoused by Jack Welch, the former CEO of General Electric, who says “Change before you have to.” Membership options On page 10 of this issue of the VOICE you’ll find a description of how some elements of CVMA’s structure are evolving in response

Dr. Sam Romano Secretary/Treasurer

to the changing needs and preferences of our members. Reflecting broad societal trends, members are expressing the desire for flexibility and customization in designing their membership experience. It’s apparent that the CVMA membership is comprised of cohorts whose needs, preferences, and even communication styles differ from one another—and we recognize that each member wants to choose the offerings and member benefits that best align with his or her specific vision of membership value. Accordingly, CVMA is developing the mechanisms that will allow each member to choose his or her membership “adventure” by selecting the desired bundle of services from one of three membership tiers: • Basic membership provides an entry into the CVMA community primarily through online services and connects the member to the benefits of CVMA’s efforts in shaping public policy. • Core membership delivers all the basic membership components plus d elivers the VOICE magazine via mail, adds complimentary education offerings, and provides special discounts on resources and tools. • Premium membership supplies all of the above benefits PLUS complimentary education offerings, practice health tools, and discounts for all staff on dues and convention registration. As a result of this change, CVMA will deliver on evolving membership expectations and grow the membership base by reducing barriers to entry. We will do our best to explain these membership options clearly in the membership packet you will receive in October, but please don’t hesitate to contact the CVMA office if you have questions. Chapter model Another key change being implemented is a transition in structure from districts to chapters. As explained in more detail on Briefings continued on page 39

Dr. Sara Ahola Secretary/Treasurer-elect Dr. Peter Hellyer Immediate Past President Dr. John Rule AVMA Delegate Dr. Melanie Marsden AVMA Alternate Delegate Mr. Ralph Johnson Executive Director*

District Representatives 1 – Dr. Kimberly Radway 2 – Dr. Rebecca Ruch-Gallie 3 – Dr. Merideth Early 4 – Dr. Adam Tempel 5 – Dr. Jenelle Vail 6 – Dr. Randy McCarty 7 – Dr. Cor VanderWel 8 – Dr. Dale Davis 9 – Dr. Kayla Henderson 10 – Dr. Marguerite Flett 12 – Dr. Randal Hays 13 – Dr. Connie Stapleton 14 – Dr. Matt Braunschmidt 15 – Dr. Mark Ryan 16 – Dr. Mark Cowan 17 – Dr. Leon Anderson

Student Chapter Representatives Fourth year – Mrs. Julia Herman Third year – Mr. Kevin Lavelle Second year – Ms. Madeline Anna First year – Mrs. Courtney Mael * Ex-officio, non-voting

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COVER STORY Nearly 1,600 Pets Seen at PetCheck 2015! Maren Williams, Communications and Outreach Specialist For the last five years, CVMA and 9News Denver have teamed up with member clinics for 9PetCheck. We are continually grateful for the support of 9News KUSA for their wonderful coverage of the PetCheck program, which was held on April 11 and 12 for the sixth year in a row. And this year, we were thrilled to say that we reached more community members than ever before with the addition of 5PetCheck! KOAA News 5 agreed to partner up with CVMA for the first time in 2015, with live news outreach to Baca, Bent, C rowley, Custer, El Paso, Fremont, Huerfano, Kiowa, Las Animas, Otero, Pueblo, and Teller counties. The addition of 5PetCheck to our existing 9PetCheck outreach made 2015 our biggest and most inclusive year yet. With 72 clinics across the state providing wellness exams and rabies vaccinations to 1,600 pets this year, CVMA members have a lot to be proud of! With PetCheck, financially disadvantaged owners were able to access and receive needed care for their cat or dog that they may not have otherwise been able to obtain. Thank you to all the generous clinics that donated their time, staff, and resources. This year, PetCheck broke records in veterinarian involvement, appointments offered, and media coverage.

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“The PetCheck program is in its sixth year, and we are building on great success as CVMA partners with the amazing team at KOAA News 5, as well as continuing our partnership with 9News KUSA, to provide preventive care exams and rabies vaccinations to pet owners in financial need,” said Dr. Erin Epperly, president of CVMA. “Last year, the PetCheck program saw over 1,000 community members, with each one leaving a lasting impression on everyone involved.” PetCheck experienced an increase in appointments provided from 2014, which garnered an increase in coverage about the event and the importance of preventive care from 9News, KOAA News 5, and print media outlets across the state, including the Denver Post, Steamboat Pilot and Today, and the Fort Morgan Times. Our social media efforts were ramped up this year as well, with clinics posting about PetCheck involvement and asking their community members to spread the word. Through media coverage about PetCheck, CVMA is able to educate a large audience about preventive care, and not just those receiving exams through the program. Drs. Jeff Fankhauser, Julie Smith, Melanie Marsden, Christie Bond, and Cynthia Florek served as spokespersons for the event. These CVMA member veterinarians utilized their on-air time to discuss

CV M A VO ICE

common health issues that often go undetected by pet owners, what veterinarians look for during an exam, and the importance of annual exams. Our phone bank was the busiest we’ve ever experienced this year, with demand for appointments at an all-time high. For those community members who were able to schedule an appointment, there was an overwhelmingly positive response about the care that their pets received. Clinics that participated reflected back on the weekend, happy that they could participate in this wonderful community event. “My favorite memory from the event is how kind people are when expressing their gratitude for our care as they leave our building” said one participating clinic. “It’s almost as if some of them don’t want to go because of the relationship we’ve built in the short 20 minutes that we’ve spent with them. They know we are here to support them and to be able to trust us in that short amount of time really makes you feel great and like you are doing your part.” Another said, “Children who came to appointments were able to ask questions about their pets, and participate in the exam by listening to their pet’s heartbeat. Hopefully, this year’s PetCheck program helped more than just the pets to be the best they can be!”

In addition to the veterinarians, veterinary technicians, and administrative staff that made PetCheck possible, CVMA would like to thank our generous sponsors: Merial, a global leader in veterinary rabies vaccines who provided rabies vaccine trays to each clinic, and Simple Signal, a communications company that provided all of our phone bank support both on and leading up to the event. In addition to our wonderful sponsors, CVMA also owes a heartfelt thank you to our 25 volunteers, who donated their time on April 6, and in less than three hours had filled nearly 1,600 appointments. This also could not have been a success without the wonderful assistance of the CVMA staff, who all helped make the program positive for everyone involved. We couldn’t have made the event successful without the help of our volunteers and team! Last but not least, a big thank you to the news team at 9News KUSA and at KOAA News 5 for being our media sponsors. Both 9News KUSA and KOAA News 5 did a fantastic job of highlighting the importance of wellness exams and rabies vaccinations for pets in need. At 9News KUSA, Ann King was an invaluable resource to our CVMA team, as well as KOAA News 5’s Sydney Rubin and Pat Cone, who began their first partnership with CVMA this year. We hope you enjoyed participating in PetCheck 2015, and here’s to another successful event next year!

CVMA Voice 201 5 : 2 | PAGE 7

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OF NOTE CVMA Convention 2015: Look What’s New!

• Nutrition with Dr. Craig Date offers interactive, hands-on sessions to evaluate pet foods and ingredients, read labels, calculate and create feed plans, and manage multiple nutritional issues; limited to 25 registrants only. • Ophthalmology with Dr. C ynthia Powell explores exam skills and hands-on basic ocular procedure techniques, including temporary eyelid tacking, ectopic cilia removal, wedge resection, and grid keratotomy; open to 14 veterinarian participants only. Kick-off Sessions

Start your convention experience early and join us Thursday for two new education sessions!

By now you will have received your CVMA Convention 2015 registration brochure in the mail. As always, we’re offering excellent education from national and international presenters with a worldclass line-up of topics and information on the latest developments in veterinary medicine. And of course, all the social activities and collegiality you’ve come to expect. While none of that has changed, we’ve shaken things up a bit this year to bring you a four-day experience like no other. Learning Lab Thursday

In an exciting new lineup, we’ve dedicated Thursday to Learning Labs to get you the hands-on experience you want! We have five to choose from: • Dental Radiology with Dr. Clarence Sitzman covers intraoral radiology for small animals and is open to veterinarians and veterinary technicians; 16 participants only. • Dental Extraction with Dr. Clarence Sitzman covers extraction techniques for canine and feline and is open to 16 veterinarian participants only. • Radiology Interpretation with Dr. John Mattoon is an interactive case discussion with a review of interpretation principles as participants read thoracic and abdominal cases on computer workstations. PAG E 8 | CV M A Vo i ce 2015 : 2

Critical Issues for Early Careerists Recent graduates are confronted by a challenging and complex array of critical issues. In addition to exercising their medical expertise, early careerists are also expected to demonstrate skills in leadership, communication, and business—and to add value to the practice while maintaining life balance and managing personal finances. If these issues are familiar and you are seeking knowledge and support to address them, this interactive, daylong workshop is for you. Designed for the early careerist (though veterinarians of all ages are welcome!) this workshop will explore millennials in the workplace, leading teams, creating value, maintaining life balance, and money management. Created by alumni from CVMA’s Power of Ten leadership academy, this workshop will engage you with peers while learning with content experts including Dr. Betsy Charles (Veterinary Leadership Experience), Laurie Kennedy (FourMost Consulting), Pamela O’Grady (CSU), Dr. Seth Vredenburg (Banfield Pet Hospital), Chad Jones, and Dr. Sam Romano. FREE to members regardless of convention registration; fee for nonmembers. Pharmacology Join Dr. Wilson Gwin for four hours on two compelling pharmacology topics: compounding and ramifications of chain and mail order pharmacies dispensing

veterinary products. Dr. Gwin will discuss what to look for in a compounding pharmacy, quality assurance in compounding, what is legal, what is not, when compounding is not appropriate, current headlines, and how compounding can assist the veterinarian in the practice. Explore the lack of veterinary pharmacy education, what is happening at the college level (both in colleges of pharmacy and veterinary medicine), how Boards of Pharmacy are handling issues, and what must be done in the future, and the veterinary pharmacy resident—what it is, why it is important, what it can do for veterinary medicine, and where it’s happening. Beyond Medicine

There’s more to veterinary medicine than just business, so we’re offering up great sessions that speak to more, including your personal wellbeing. Here are two new sessions you won’t want to miss. Power of Ten Ignite Sessions Power of Ten Leadership Academy participants pull from their experiences both in practice and in the P10 program to present 10 key concepts related to leadership and success in practice and in life. This presentation utilizes the Ignite format, allowing for a large number of presenters and ideas within a single hour lecture. Created in Seattle in 2006, the Ignite format is now used worldwide as a vehicle for fastpaced learning and presenting (20 slides in five minutes). Discussion topics include happiness, goal setting, selfconfidence, collaboration, getting involved, organizational strategies, and even the value of gratitude. Prescription Drug Misuse and Abuse in the Veterinary Community This year we are privileged to have three representatives from Peer Assistant Services discuss prescription drug misuse and abuse and its effect on the veterinary profession. Diversion of controlled substances can and does take place in the veterinary field. Additionally, substance users who are “doctor shopping” for controlled substances have found unique ways to obtain these medications from veterinarians. Continued on next page

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OF NOTE Continued from previous page This team of experts is prepared to empower you with the knowledge and tools to help you prevent prescription misuse and abuse from occurring in your practice. And Just for Fun . . .

All work and no play is NOT the CVMA Convention 2015 way! After all that learning, we have some great new ways for you to mix, mingle, unwind, and have some fun. Game On! Trivia Challenge Please join other CVMA members and CSU veterinary students on Thursday evening for our very own trivia night! Brought to you by Geeks Who Drink, these trivia events have proven popular informal member gatherings (“Impactions”) for our partner organization, DAVMS—and now CVMA is bringing this fun and challenging

multi-media trivia competition to convention! Come out to meet and reconnect with other CVMA members both present and future, and demonstrate your trivia prowess! You’ll have a great time as we select teams and enjoy light refreshments. CVMA / CSU Reception Join us Friday evening for some socializing, music, delicious food, and a beer tasting with New Belgium Brewery. Tapping in to the local flavor of New Belgium’s craft beer, there will be four tasting stations where brewery representatives will not only tantalize your taste buds but provide a bit of education to help you develop your palate. Who knew education could be so much fun?! Family Night BBQ and Shirley Clark Projects Auction Saturday night is Family Night! Vegans and carnivores alike will find something

to satisfy at the Family Night BBQ. Bring the whole family for this fun evening and enjoy a delicious feast at this CVMA convention highlight! After dinner, celebrate 67 years of auxiliary work by joining the excitement of the Shirley Clark Projects Auction, named in honor of its long-time coordinator. This will be the final auction, so please help us say goodbye to this long-time tradition and thank the Auxiliary for their hard work and dedication over the years. Featuring a great selection of both silent and live auction items from which to choose, this event raises the bar for record donations each year as it aids worthy beneficiaries of the Auxiliary to the CVMA. You won’t want to miss the farewell of this longstanding CVMA tradition! n

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CVMA Voice 201 5 : 2 | PAGE 9

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OF NOTE CVMA: Evolving Needs, Evolving Structure Ralph Johnson, CVMA Executive Director

If you missed BIG Ideas Forum | Spring 2015 in March, you missed much more than an issues forum on optimal timing and technique for spay/neuter. In a spontaneous, unprecedented move, the after-lunch Commission meetings were set aside and attendees gathered instead to hear about some very important developments within CVMA. Leadership provided a summary of the newly drafted CVMA strategic framework and strategic plan for 2015–2017, followed by a presentation on the association’s evolving needs and structure, including proposals for three new models for chapters, tiered membership options, and governance. CVMA Strategic Plan

In late October 2015, the CVMA executive committee, district representatives, Power of Ten leaders, past-presidents, and CVMA staff held a strategic planning session to ask some big questions about CVMA and how to keep it relevant, evolving, and productive. It was a chance to revisit why CVMA exists and to envision our future in the next three, five, and even ten years and to refocus our programs and to listen to member feedback to improve the organization. The planning session took an in-depth look at CVMA’s mission, vision, and impact statements: who we are, who we want to be, and the difference we aim to make. We also examined our organizational structure and guiding pillars: advocacy and outreach, leadership, education, support, and association health. Distilled down, CVMA is doing a lot of great things for its members—but what would make it even better? And how can we provide options to our members, in their learning, in their dues structure, and in the overall structure of CVMA? While we identified several critical strategic issues to address as we move forward, we chose a few specific goals for 2015: • Creating and funding a CVMA political action committee (PAC) • Examining how CVMA offers continuing education • Providing members a more flexible dues and membership structure Another important aspect: the CVMA mission statement, which CVMA leaders look to for guidance as they make policy and set priorities. The current mission statement is member centric, but also includes animals and human health and welfare, and is more about the “what” of we do. The new mission statement that came out of the planning sessions is shorter and much more focused on our core purpose: To enhance animal and human health and welfare, and advance the knowledge and wellbeing of Colorado veterinarians. All of this framework around our strategic planning and the outcomes from the October session was presented to the BIG Ideas attendees, as well as an approval draft version of our PAG E 10 | CV M A Vo ice 2015 : 2

“Strategic Framework and 2015–2017 Strategic Plan” that summarized and outlined our mission, long-term goals, and Key Result Areas (KRAs). With this background in place, the second presentation set forward the implications of our new strategy. New Models and Structures

In response to evolving member and association needs, a new strategy emerges, and CVMA is proposing significant changes in the form of a chapter model, a tiered membership model, and a new governance model. Chapter model Like many national associations that treat member states or regions as chapters, CVMA is proposing that our current districts become chapters of CVMA, which would then act as the corporate entity. Such a model has distinct and beneficial advantages and addresses emerging issues faced by districts such as: • Inadvertent competition that forces a choice between CVMA and district membership • Declining joint membership as budgets for dues are increasingly squeezed • Volunteer time is increasingly challenged • District compliance with requirements for individual corporate entities • Governance issues Under the new model, districts would become chapters of CVMA. Reciprocal membership in both CVMA and a district would be required, with chapter dues billed with CVMA dues, and CVMA would provide the administrative services for the chapters. So what are the advantages of the chapter model? • Unify the association and the profession • Boost market share • Increase operational efficiencies • Reduce or relieve redundant expenses and activities • Leverage program growth opportunities • Enable each entity to focus on its unique role • Reduce “administrivia” for volunteers A chapter model would strengthen the collective leverage and power of CVMA as we continue to fulfill our mission to enhance animal and human health and welfare and advance the knowledge and wellbeing of Colorado veterinarians. Tiered membership model In response to member feedback that maintaining membership in more than one association can be costly, and that members want customization, CVMA is developing a tiered membership model that will address several issues: • Flat membership in a growing market • Member needs that are not monolithic • Members value flexibility and want to “choose my own adventure” • Members want high value perception • Members want less confusing options Continued on next page

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OF NOTE Continued from previous page A tiered membership model would offer basic, core, and premium options that, in conjunction with monthly installment payment options, will grow market share by creating a low barrier to entry, simplify membership options and categories, and facilitate choice and personalization. The following outlines a SAMPLE version (nothing has been finalized) of what CVMA tiers might look like. SAMPLE Tiered Membership Model

Tier 1 Basic

Tier 2 Core

Tier 3 Premium

$249

$379

$599

Advovacy Peer Connections VOICE online

eVOICE

Online community

Online directory

Preferred pricing on education

Member decal

Use of logo

VOICE subscription

Online resources

BIG Ideas Forum complimentary registration(s)

Discounted

Complimentary

Performance Analytics Discounts on Veterinary Career Network $100 education discount on program of choice

Discount for all staff on convention registration

Discount on Core membership for additional veterinarians

structure to rapidly make decisions, create positions, and respond to emerging issues. This model: • Recognizes the reality of current functioning • Maintains a structure where chapter leaders have a voice in an advisory body • Resolves representation issues • Provides a nimble structure for decision making • Maintains the important fabric of a community of leaders Once the presentation on these new models concluded, the floor was opened up for questions, debate, feedback, and discussion. Members asked pointed questions and provided suggestions for consideration as the new structures move forward. In an informal, nonbinding vote (show of hands), the attendees overwhelmingly supported structure changes to create chapters, tiered membership options, and a new governance structure. More debate took place during the full board meeting and the board approved moving forward with the chapter and tiered membership models. Discussion will continue on government changes. So stay tuned… It’s going to be an exciting new evolution for CVMA, one that strives to bring even more value, benefit, and options to our members! As always we appreciate your feedback. If you have questions or comments on these proposed structural changes, please call CVMA at 303.318.0447 or email info@colovma.org. n

While the tiered membership options are still being finalized, it is clear that this model has many advantages and will allow members to customize their experience based on their needs and personal and professional goals and interests. Governance model And, finally, discussion turned to the need for an evolved, responsive governance model. With a move to a chapter model, chapters will need a leadership team or representative to provide input to CVMA. The current board model has limitations; for example, it is difficult to be an effective fiduciary for CVMA when the full board meets only twice a year. A new governance model could provide for a Chapter Steering Committee, CVMA Leadership Council, and CVMA Board of Directors. The model renames the Executive Committee to the Board of Directors, which would receive guidance from the CVMA Leadership Council but function with wide authority because today’s fast-paced environment requires a nimble CVMA Voice 2015 : 2 | PAGE 1 1

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OF NOTE Looking for a Job? Let CVMA’s Career Center Help! Today’s veterinary professionals are inundated with information, resources, educational opportunities, events, and publications specific to their industry—and that’s not including what they receive from their association. CVMA knows that member loyalty can be difficult to win and maintain. It’s become commonplace to hear association members speak of increasing or sustaining the “relevance” of the association to its members and broader professional community. Everyone agrees with the idea, but finding tangible ways to be “relevant” is no small challenge. One way that CVMA is increasing its relevance to both members and prospects is through an association-specific online job board. At this point, you might be tempted to stop reading this article . . . Can the impact of an association job board be significant enough to merit the attention of some of the largest and reputable veterinary profession employers? Yes It Can. It’s not a revolutionary idea for an association to promote industry job listings in publications or on its website so interested members can contact those employers. What is revolutionary is the tremendous appeal of an association job board to employers. Members of an association have a distinct advantage over the typical job seeker professional. In fact, an association membership is often viewed as a seal of approval. It’s the access to the professional resources, networking events, educational materials, credentialing, and certifications that push association members ahead of the competition and define them as not just a job seeker, but a career professional. This year alone, the CVMA Career Center has attracted the attention of some of the nation’s top organizations in the veterinary industry. In addition to the standard resume posting and job search capabilities, the CVMA Career Center is proud to offer a platform where candidates can proactively manage all aspects of their career. The exclusive career management solutions help candidates elevate their professional performance to a level that is above and beyond that of a typical job seeker, while the professional profile gives members the ability to create a personal brand right at their fingertips by showcasing skills, experience, and achievements beyond the resume. There is a reason that more and more employers are turning to associations to fulfill their hiring needs. They want access to candidates that are truly invested in their career with above-average skills and capabilities—and that’s what an association job board provides. With so many employers looking to niche job boards, association members now have more control over their career destiny than ever before. As long as members continue to stay ahead of the game by consistently updating their unique skills and professional victories, they have a unique opportunity to build a powerful online presence and land the job they want today. Visit colovma.org today, and click on “Job Seekers” under the Careers/Classifieds tab at the top of the page. In addition to searching for jobs, the CMVA Career Center lets you apply PAG E 12 | CV M A Vo ice 2015 : 2

for over a thousand jobs, get new jobs sent to your inbox with a Job Alert, post your resume to all companies (even confidentially), and attract top industry employers with your CVMA membership. And be sure to also visit the Career Resources tab, which offers the following: • Career Learning Center, a learning management system to help you further your training with customized learning content • Reference Checking, to ensure that your references are saying what you think they are • Resume Writing with a professional writer to create a resume and cover letter that will help you land an interview • Career Coaching to get individual help from an experienced coaching staff You will also find helpful job seeker tips, and information on: • How to Write a Cover Letter • Budgeting for Salary Negotiations • The Elevator or 30 Second Speech • How to Write a Resume • How to Search for a Job • Job Seeker Etiquette So if you’re not taking advantage of this great CVMA member benefit, visit colovma.org today and jumpstart your job search! n

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OF NOTE Hiring Made Easier with the CVMA Career Center It is often a challenge to find a recruitment method that can help you find good candidates with relatively minimal effort and expense, regardless of the economy. That’s why CVMA partners with the Veterinary Career Network, to offer a professionspecific job board, exclusive resources, and special pricing to our members through our CVMA Career Center at colovma.org. Why an association job board?

Part of the job of an association is to facilitate environments where people of like—or unlike—minds can gather, interact, and connect. An association career center is one of those environments. Employers have utilized major commercial job boards like Monster or CareerBuilder for years, so a level of expectation has already been established for specific qualities that an online job service should offer: automation, ease of use, effectiveness, efficiency, speed, and service, as well as specific features and functionality. Most association job boards have all of these attributes, but they also possess something that other job boards don’t: a cost-effective method of attracting a well-defined, sector-specific audience. It’s a fact—workers engaged with their industry’s associations tend to be more involved and heavily invested in their careers— and an association job board attracts those types of professionals! These job board candidates have access to continuing education, networking events, professional resources, credentialing, and certifications—factors that can easily push association members ahead of the typical job candidate. Job boards like the CVMA Career Center have gained credibility among employers because their resume database is already filled with the skills and qualifications that employers want the most. The CVMA Career Center is quickly becoming known as the place to make employment connections, and those looking to fill positions and meet staffing needs realize that there is no better place to find qualified veterinary professionals than the association that has represented them in Colorado since 1888. The primary reason that association job boards stand out from other online job boards is this: the association. Unlike exclusively online entities, most associations like CVMA have been around for decades and the members represent an audience of individuals that have demonstrated a commitment to the industry and their professional growth. Associations are known for their industry-specific programs and resources and they have the eyes and ears of exactly the kind of individuals that employers in the industry want to hire. More and more employers are choosing to hire CVMA members because of the professionalism, credibility, education, and training they have found in the candidates from the CVMA Career Center. Posting to an association job board is a great way for veterinary profession employers to streamline their recruiting process and effectively target highly qualified, industryspecific candidates that are much more likely to match their requirements.

Visit colovma.org today, and click on “Employers/Post a Job” under the Careers/Classifieds tab at the top of the page. In addition to posting jobs, the CMVA Career Center also lets you search resumes or set up a resume alert to be emailed to you, manage applications, and get valuable reporting information. As part of the Veterinary Career Network, the CVMA Career Center lets you post positions not only locally, but regionally and nationally if desired, and offers access to the entire VCN resume bank. n

President’s Post continued from page 4 CVMA has also been part of some very exciting discussions with CSU and the National Western Center complex. You may have heard about the possible Denver project to renovate the National Western Center. CSU was approached about being a part of the project, and has reached out to additional stakeholders, CVMA and PetAid Colorado included. Though it is a long way off in the future, there may be an opportunity for both organizations to move into the new center. We could have office space, convention space, and a wonderful PetAid facility that could serve more of the underserved pets of Denver and Colorado. We will look forward to member feedback as things develop. Thanks again for your input and commitment to CVMA—we couldn’t do what we do without your participation! n

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OF NOTE Your Best Bet for Paying Associates Darren Osborne, MA OVMA Director of Economic Research

If veterinary medicine were a casino, in employment terms the practice owner would be “the house” and the associate veterinarian would be “the player.” In this environment, when both parties are generally risk-adverse individuals, the option of commission-based pay can be the best bet for both the house and the player. The process of hiring a veterinarian is a bet. The practice owner is placing a bet that the new associate will bring in enough revenue to cover his or her wage and the costs associated with running the veterinary hospital. The associate knows the amount of money at stake, but is betting that the new job will have enough non-pecuniary benefits—quality of clients, co-workers, boss, environment, commute, and stress—to justify the commitment. At the end of any given period, both the owner and the associate weigh the gains and losses in their respective bets and decide to continue or terminate the employment. Weighing the risks, the owner has the most to lose. They are placing a bet that may lose money for a short time but will eventually pay off. If the associate does not earn enough to cover the costs associated with employment, it comes out of the owner’s pocket. Worst case scenario, the associate not only costs the practice money, but damages the long-term reputation of the practice. The associate has less to lose because s/he gets paid (for a while) regardless of the revenue generated. If the associate decides the non-pecuniary benefits are not enough to justify the employment, s/he can quit and find employment elsewhere. Given the current economic climate of falling client numbers and stagnant veterinary revenues, the risk of hiring an associate veterinarian has to be near an all-time high. When you layer that risk with the notion that most veterinarians are risk averse individuals anyway, we are left with a casino where everyone is standing around the gaming table and no one is placing or accepting bets. Enter a new game—commission-based pay. Commission-based pay provides an opportunity for the practice owner to transfer some of the risk to the associate veterinarian. When the associate is paid based on commission, the owner is off the hook for any losses. If the associated does not perform, s/he does not get paid. If the associate turns out to be better than average, the practice owner pays him or her what is due for superior performance. With commission-based pay, the associate is taking on more risk but that additional risk provides an opportunity to earn significantly more income. If the commission-based associate lands a job with higher than average client numbers, higher than average fees, and a crack team of technical staff, s/he can earn as much as a practice owner. However, if that same associate lands a practice with slow client traffic, low fees, and little assistance, s/he can struggle to eat. For the latter reason, a guaranteed salary tied to the commission based-pay is the best option. Decades ago, Mark Opperman, a practice management consultant, coined the term “ProSal” to explain a combination of production-based pay and salary-based pay. With ProSal, the associate’s pay is PAG E 14 | CV M A Vo ice 2015 : 2

based on production but is guaranteed a salary every month even if the revenue target isn’t made. A ProSal agreement might look something like this: An associate gets paid 25% of the professional revenue but is guaranteed to earn a salary of $80,000 per year. If the associate generates more than $320,000 in professional revenue, s/he will earn more than $80,000 (25% of $320,000), and if s/he generates less than $320,000, s/he will get the minimum salary of $80,000. This guarantee of the salary ameliorates some of the risk for the associate and protects from earning less than a specific amount. ProSal works for a practice owner because the owner can transfer a lot of the risk to the associate. For example, if a practice owner is presented with an associate who expects a salary of $125,000, the practice owner can either pay the higher salary and take on the risk or offer a ProSal arrangement that pays the average salary ($80,000) and 25% of professional revenue. If the associate earns $400,000 in professional revenue, s/he will earn the target income. With ProSal, if the associate is unable to live up to the expectations, for whatever reason, the practice owner is not on the hook for the extra income—the associate is. In the examples above, I have used the term professional revenue, which includes all revenues except pet food sales. Pet food sales are generally not included because the markup is too low to provide a commission-based income. Some hospitals offer 10% of food sales when it is on the invoice for a visit with the veterinarian. When a client comes in to purchase food between visits with the veterinarian, the income goes to the hospital and the associate veterinarian generally does not receive any compensation. The same policy applies to drugs and medication sales. If it is sold during the consultation, then the revenue would be applied to the associate; if the client picks up a refill, the revenue would be applied to the hospital. In an era where future revenues are unpredictable for even the most savvy practice owner and associates have a desire to earn above-average incomes, ProSal can be the best bet. n CVMA has partnered with the OntarioVeterinary Medical Association— which has, for more than 20 years, undertaken cutting-edge management studies of veterinary practices in Canada—to provide CVMA Performance Analytics that are part of our economic and personal wellbeing initiative for Colorado veterinarians. Darren Osborne is the OVMA Director of Economic Research. CVMA Practice Analytics Did you know the Practice Diagnostic Report can show you how your associate salaries compare to the average? As a CVMA member, you get special pricing on the Practice Diagnostic Report, a personalized comparative report providing useful and unique management statistics about your business in five key areas of practice management, with information that can be used to set targets that improve scheduling and client flow; set appropriate staffing levels; help control costs and set budget targets; and decrease expenses. Visit colovma.org today and click on “Wellbeing Initiative” under the “Programs” tab at the top of the page.

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OF NOTE Rx Drug Abuse in the Veterinary Community Laurie Lovedale, MPH, CPS II, Prescription Drug Abuse Prevention Program Manager, Peer Assistance Services, Inc. Katherine Garcia, MA, LAC, Veterinarian Peer Health Assistance Program Lead, Peer Assistance Services, Inc.

According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), nearly four dozen people die each day from prescription drug overdoses. Given the magnitude of the problem, the CDC recently added opioid overdose prevention to its list of top five public health challenges. Prescription drug misuse is as prevalent in Colorado as it is nationally, with 35 prescription drug deaths occurring every month. In 2013, 295 people died from opioid analgesic poisoning in Colorado. That is 134 more than those killed in drunk-driving related accidents. During the same year, 35% of drug poisoning deaths and 21% of hospitalizations were due to prescription opioid analgesics.1 Prescription drug misuse, or non-medical use, is defined as the use of a medication without a prescription, in a way other than as prescribed, or for the experience or feelings elicited. This includes utilizing a legitimate prescription to self-medicate another issue. Why is this relevant for veterinarians? The rate of substance use disorders among veterinarians as a professional group is comparable to other high stress occupations and slightly higher than the general population. Solo practice, access to controlled substances, compassion fatigue, and witnessing pain, death. and grief more than the average person are specific stressors that can put veterinarians at risk of developing a substance use disorder. Furthermore, there is evidence that psychosocial stress at work may be a risk factor for the consumption of prescription drugs. It can be incredibly hard to determine whether a co-worker is misusing medications or other substances. The Washington Physicians Health Program recommends being alert to the “Six I’s” when considering that a veterinarian may be at risk of impairment:2 • Irritability – Exhibiting mood swings and gradual personality changes. A colleague may become a different person and overreact to the smallest perceived insult. • Irresponsibility – A co-worker begins taking shortcuts or shifts work to others to minimize time in the practice. A new pattern may develop of unwitnessed medication spillage or breakage; justifying a need to take out more.

• Inaccessibility and Isolation – A co-worker may minimize physical contact with others to conceal their illness. They may be late, skip meetings, or take extended lunch or bathroom breaks. • Inability – This can manifest through a new pattern of inadequate care such as disordered or delayed charting, dosage miscalculations, bizarre medication orders, or deviation from standard procedures. • Incidentals – Individuals concealing their illness will go to great lengths to cover up questionable behavior, chronic use, or withdrawal symptoms. It may be found that medication counts are incorrect when controlled substances are assessed. Substance use disorders often develop gradually and can be difficult to identify. Substance use can result in varying levels of impairment, so the frequency of these behaviors and visible signs may be intermittent. It is always important to be vigilant with controlled veterinary medications. Below are some additional warning signs that may indicate a problem:3 • Missing pages from the controlled substance manifest • A claim that a bottle of a controlled substance has been lost, destroyed, or thrown away by mistake, especially if this occurs with some frequency • A doctor or technician insisting that they always log in certain pharmaceutical deliveries when it’s not one of their usual tasks • Refusal by management to initiate or upgrade a controlled substance log • Missing prescription pads • Associates or partners holding veterinary medication distributor accounts with delivery addresses other than the veterinary practice location If you’re concerned about a co-worker’s safety after observing any of the described signs, there is help available. The Veterinarian Peer Health Assistance Program (VPHAP) provides confidential consultation and support for individuals identifying impaired practice of a co-worker and provides referrals to treatment and resources for those struggling with prescription drug abuse. For more information or to access VPHAP services, please visit PeerAssistanceServices.org or call 1.800.369.0039. n We invite your comments and suggestions for future article content: info@peerassist.org Notes 1. Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment, Health Statistics Section (2013) 2. Meredith, C. & Shaw, A. (2015). The Chemically Impaired Colleague. Veterinary Team Brief. Retrieved from http://www.veterinaryteambrief.com/article/chemically-impaired-colleague? 3. Allen, C. (2013). Be Vigilant with Controlled Veterinary Drugs. DVM360. Retrieved from http://veterinarynews.dvm360.com/ be-vigilant-with-controlled-veterinary-drugs

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WVC IS ON THE ROAD Coming to Salt Lake City, UT WVC now offers a new way to obtain your required CE hours with the same high-quality courses offered at the Annual Conference and Oquendo Center, in a city near you. On The Road is a comprehensive, full day of education held in your backyard. Enjoy complimentary breakfast and lunch during each course. Join your colleagues at this premier event, WVC On The Road, and register today! Visit wvc.org for more information.

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Learn more at wvc.org/ontheroad This program has been submitted (but not yet approved) for hours of continuing education credit in jurisdictions which recognize AAVSB RACE approval; however participants should be aware that some boards have limintations on the number of hours accepted in certain categories and/or restrictions on certain methods of delivery of continuing education. Call Janis Knoetzel at 866.800.7326 for further information.

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GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS CVMA Shapes Success of 2015 Legislative Season Advocating for our members’ interests is a top priority at CVMA, and this legislative session—which has now officially ended for 2015—kept your elected leaders, staff, and professional lobbyist very busy. Here’s a brief recap of what engaged us, and the final outcomes for several bills. HB15-1187 | Veterinarian Peer Health Asst Mental Health Exam Members who attended the 2014 district visits will recall the discussion led by Dr. Erin Epperly about providing a tool for the State Board of Veterinary Medicine to use in ordering a licensee to be evaluated (for a mental health or substance use issue) without first having to take a disciplinary action. Under current law, the only way for the board to order such an evaluation is to initiate a public disciplinary action against the licensee. More properly sequenced, the board first would order an evaluation to obtain advice from appropriate professionals at Peer Assistance Services. This would allow the board to determine whether an alleged impairment has no basis (in which case the licensee is cleared and the complaint dismissed, without disciplinary action having been taken) or has a basis (in which case the licensee could be promptly connected to appropriate resources through Peer Assistance Services while the board deliberates the need for discipline). This additional tool of mandated evaluation would allow the board to obtain professional opinion BEFORE deciding to discipline a licensee. This change would provide a more effective tool for the board, ensure due process for the licensee, and ensure that an unfounded allegation doesn’t become a blemish on the licensee’s record and reputation. It is for these reasons that CVMA worked with legislators to create HB15-1187. With the House sponsorship of Representative Steve Lebsock, the bill worked its way through hearings and floor action in the House—and successfully emerged, though not without some controversy. What we believed to be a simple addition to the statute required a substantial volume of time to explain to legislators the technicalities of disciplinary processes. CVMA president Dr. Erin Epperly as well as CVMA members Dr. Bill Fredregill and Dr. Aubrey Lavizzo did an impressive job of testifying in the House, with a repeat performance in the Senate. The bill was signed by Governor Hickenlooper on May 8, 2015. HB15-1062 | Increase Penalties for Animal Fighting On March 18, CVMA Executive Director Ralph Johnson stood with a number of advocates for animals as Governor Hickenlooper signed HB15-1062 into law. Under current law, animal fighting is a class 5 felony with an additional potential fine of up to $1,000 or, for a person who commits a second or subsequent offense, up to $5,000. The bill signed by the governor makes these additional fines mandatory in the amount of at least $1,000 or, for a person who commits a second or subsequent offense, at least $5,000. The bill was sponsored by Representatives Melton and Lebsock in the House, and Senators Balmer and Sonnenberg in the Senate—applause is in order for their leadership on this bill.

SB15-042 | Animal Cruelty Reporting This bill was advanced by Senator Sonnenberg to require specific persons to report abandonment, mistreatment, or neglect of an animal to the owner or law enforcement within 48 hours, and would create a class 3 misdemeanor for failure to report or knowingly filing a false report. The bill had both strong support and strong opposition, with some claiming it would benefit animals and others claiming it would actually stifle reporting. Amendments were proposed in the bill’s first committee hearing before the Senate Judiciary Committee, but amid concerns about constitutionality the bill was postponed indefinitely. CVMA Position: Neutral SB15-013 | Extend Deadline for Dog Protection Act This bill by Senator Balmer passed both houses and was signed by the governor on April 3. The bill extended to June 30, 2015 the deadline for law enforcement officers to take the training developed by the Dog Protection Task Force (which was co-chaired by CVMA’s Dr. Randa MacMillan). CVMA Position: Support SB15-031 | Reciprocity to Practice Occupation or Profession This bill, concerning reciprocity to practice a profession in Colorado during a person’s first year of residency, was postponed indefinitely. CVMA Position: Oppose n

New Avian & Exotic Specialist! We are proud to announce the addition of Krista Keller, DVM, DACZM to our staff! Board Certified in Zoological Companion Animals, Dr. Keller sees all reptiles, birds, amphibians and exotic small mammals, including surgery and critical care. Contact us today for a consult, a referral, or to schedule continuing education. We offer Urgent Care hours for your exotic patients.

uhillsvet.com • 4175 East Warren Avenue, Denver • 303-757-5638 CVMA Voice 201 5 : 2 | PAGE 1 7

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GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS CSU Students Go to Washington! M. Kate Smith, DVM student (2017) Kelly Arthur, DVM student (2018)

The experience was illuminating. Neither CSU student had been part of a lobbying group before; neither had ever spoken to legislators on behalf of themselves or a larger group. The FlyIn also highlighted additional opportunities to work with the AVMA, with opportunities like a one-year AVMA-sponsored fellowship as a congressional staffer. The Fly-in advocated the diversity of our profession, allowed students to make a direct contribution to the health and wellbeing of colleagues, and reminded the legislature of the positive impact that veterinarians have on society. And perhaps most importantly, Kelly and Kate learned that members of Congress can bring their dogs to work. Both students are grateful for the support of CVMA and the opportunity to represent their university and their state’s VMA at a national level. n

L to R: Kate Smith, Kelly Arthur, Olivia Shoup, Rep. Jared Polis and his dog Gia, and Dr. Caroline Cantner. In early March, nearly 70 veterinary students from across the country descended upon Washington, DC, to learn more about the legislative arm of the AVMA. During the two-day program, students met with members of Congress and their staffers on behalf of the veterinary profession. Among these students were Colorado State University veterinary students Kelly Arthur and Kate Smith (members of the Classes of 2018 and 2017, respectively). Both were selected by CSU’s AVMA student chapter for the annual Student Legislative Fly-In program. The Fly-In was a whirlwind, with the first day subsumed by lectures, panels, and presentations by the AVMA’s Government Relations Division, which advocates for the profession through work with the Legislative Branch of the U.S. government. The students were given a rapid-fire rundown on how to effectively lobby for a bill in preparation for meetings with representatives and senators to advocate on behalf of the Veterinary Medicine Loan Repayment Enhancement Act (S440) and the reauthorization of the Higher Education Act. The next morning, Kate and Kelly met on Capitol Hill with two other Colorado residents and Fly-In participants, Dr. Caroline Cantner, VMD and new Western Region AVMA Director for Student Initiatives, and Oklahoma State University veterinary student, Olivia Shoup. The four of us met chronologically with staffers for Sen. Cory Gardner (R), Sen. Michael Bennet (D), Rep. Jared Polis (D), and Rep. Diane Degette (D) to present personal stories and a background on the legislation. The Colorado contingent later learned that after their visit, Sen. Gardner decided to co-sponsor the bill (Sen. Bennet was already a co-sponsor). As Colorado residents, veterinary professionals, and U.S. citizens, the group was surprised at how accessible our government can be and at how much of an impact individuals can make by showing up and being a part of the process. PAG E 18 | CV M A Vo ice 2015 : 2

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SCIENCE UPDATE Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza Outbreak 2015 Jennifer J. Fowler, DVM Livestock Health & Animal Care Veterinarian Colorado Department of Agriculture

The United States is grappling with an unremitting highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) outbreak, in which commercial poultry operations have borne the brunt of the disease. The first detection of HPAI in this outbreak was reported by Washington State on December 19, 2014. Since that first report, the ongoing outbreak has resulted in the destruction of more than 20 million birds, marking it as the largest avian influenza outbreak in United States history. HPAI has been identified in wild birds, commercial poultry flocks, and a few backyard flocks in at least 18 states, located within migratory bird paths designated as the Pacific, Central, and Mississippi flyways. The virus can travel in wild birds without making them appear sick, and wild birds are implicated in the spread of disease. As of May 11, 2015, no cases of HPAI have been reported in Colorado. The United States has the strongest avian influenza surveillance program in the world. Across the country, federal, state, and university partners, as well as industry, have responded quickly and decisively to this outbreak following five basic steps: 1. Quarantine – restrict movement of poultry and poultry moving equipment into and out of the control area around an infected premises 2. Eradicate – humanely euthanize the affected flock (flock sizes range from just a few to more than 1 million birds) 3. Monitor region – test both wild and domestic birds in a broad area around the quarantine area 4. Disinfect – kill the virus in the affected flock locations 5. Test – confirm that the poultry farm is virus free In the state of Colorado, state, federal, university, and industry partners continue collaboration to ensure an accurate, timely, and thorough response in the event that HPAI appears in the state. State officials, with input from federal and university colleagues, have been reviewing, revising, and practicing emergency response plans. Regular communication with states affected with HPAI has informed the practical refinement of response plans, and communication with industry has kept state officials apprised of specific industry needs and concerns. Federal officials based in Colorado have garnered considerable experience responding to HPAI disease incidents while deployed throughout the country as part of the nationwide disease response effort. Colorado State University Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory (CSU VDL) maintains a robust avian influenza surveillance and testing program for the state of Colorado. CSU VDL fields daily questions about sick and dead birds, offers testing for avian influenza free of charge, and provides field support to both small and large producers experiencing avian disease. PAG E 20 | CV M A Vo ice 2015 : 2

These surveillance and testing efforts have revealed no HPAI in Colorado as of mid-May. The USDA is considering using vaccination to control the outbreak, but vaccines have not been commonly used to control avian influenza virus outbreaks due to trade implications and because no vaccine covers all strains of the virus. Disease prevention continues to be the best way to prevent HPAI. Veterinarians can assist clients in protecting their flocks by helping them institute biosecurity measures: • People should avoid contact with sick or dead poultry or wildlife • If contact occurs, hands should be washed with soap and water, and clothing changed, before having any contact with healthy domestic poultry and birds • Tools and equipment should be kept clean • Poultry owners should not have contact with other flocks or flock premises • Additional information on biosecurity is available from USDA at http://healthybirds.aphis.usda.gov Additionally, veterinarians can encourage all bird owners, whether commercial producers or backyard enthusiasts, to prevent contact between their birds and wild birds; educate clients regarding signs of bird illness, particularly HPAI; and inform clients of how and when to report sick birds or unusual bird deaths. Calls regarding sick birds or bird deaths can be directed to the private veterinarian or the CSU Avian Health Call Line at 970.297.4008. Dead birds can be submitted to CDA VDL for avian influenza testing free of charge by calling 970.297.1281. Finally, sick birds or unusual bird deaths should be reported State Veterinarian at 303.869.9130, or the USDA at 303.231.5385. Epidemiologists from the USDA and University of Minnesota are conducting multiple studies to determine the nature of the unprecedented spread of the disease in this current outbreak. The studies should help answer some of the difficult questions presented by this outbreak, such as how the virus is being spread; why the virus is has been so devastating to commercial poultry but limited in backyard flocks; and how to mitigate future outbreaks. The disease danger in this outbreak does not extend to the human population. No cases of avian influenza have been reported in humans in the United States, and avian influenza cannot be transmitted through safely handled and properly cooked eggs and poultry. The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) considers the risk to people and our food supply from the HPAI infections in wild birds, backyard flocks, and commercial poultry, to be low. n

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Vesicular Stomatitis Virus 2015 Jennifer J. Fowler, DVM Livestock Health & Animal Care Veterinarian Colorado Department of Agriculture Background and Current Situation

In the 2014 Colorado vesicular stomatitis (VS) outbreak, there were 556 livestock investigations for vesicular stomatitis, resulting in 370 quarantines. The last quarantine was released in February of 2015. The 2015 United States index case of vesicular stomatitis appeared in New Mexico in April. On April 29, the National Veterinary Services Laboratories (NVSL) in Ames, Iowa, confirmed a finding of vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV) infection in a horse in New Mexico. Additional cases of vesicular stomatitis have been confirmed in Arizona and Utah. As of May 11, no cases of vesicular stomatitis have been identified in Colorado. An updated VSV Situation Report from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) is available through the USDAAnimal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) website at www.aphis.usda.gov/animalhealth or through the Colorado Department of Agriculture website at www.colorado.gov/pacific /aganimals. The primary spread of VSV is thought to occur through insects that migrate along river valleys. Colorado livestock owners are warned to take added precautions due to the proximity of the virus. “Vesicular stomatitis can be painful for the animals and costly to their owners due to testing, possible treatment costs, and travel restrictions,” said State Veterinarian, Dr. Keith Roehr. “While this virus does not typically cause death, the animal can suffer from painful sores, so it is important to monitor herds for symptoms.”

While rare, human cases of vesicular stomatitis can occur, usually among those who handle infected animals. VSV in humans can cause flu-like symptoms and only rarely includes lesions or blisters. Vesicular Stomatitis Signs and Transmission Vesicular stomatitis susceptible species include horses, mules, cattle, bison, sheep, goats, pigs, and camelids. The clinical signs of the disease include vesicles, erosions and sloughing of the mucosa or skin on the muzzle, tongue, teats and above the hooves of susceptible livestock. Vesicles are usually only seen early in the course of the disease. The transmission of VSV is not completely understood but components include insect vectors, mechanical transmission, and livestock movement.

ensure that all import requirements are met. Contact information for all state veterinarians’ offices is available at www .colorado.gov/aganimals under “Import Requirements.” • Colorado fairs, livestock exhibitions, and rodeos may institute new entry requirements if needed. Certificates of veterinary inspection (CVIs) issued within 2–5 days prior to an event can beneficial to reduce risks of exposure to VSV. Be sure to stay informed of any new livestock event requirements. • During an event, important vesicular stomatitis disease prevention procedures include minimizing the sharing of water and feed/equipment, applying insect repellent daily (especially to the animal’s ears), and closely observing animals for signs of vesicular stomatitis. Important Points for Veterinarians • Any vesicular disease of livestock is reportable to the State Veterinarian’s Office in Colorado. To report, call 303.869.9130. If after-hours, call the same number to obtain the phone number of the staff veterinarian on call. • Vesicular stomatitis is no longer considered a Foreign Animal Disease (FAD), thus management and testing requirements have changed from 2014. Interim guidance for the investigation of vesicular stomatitis has been released by USDA. Differences from prior years: {{The quarantine period for premises with suspect or confirmed vesicular stomatitis cases will be reduced to 14 days from the onset of lesions in the last animal affected on the premises, or may be determined by the State Veterinarian according to risk of potential disease spread. {{After confirmation of the first vesicular stomatitis case in the state, equids with suspected lesions on subsequent premises are not required to be tested {{In many cases, accredited veterinarians may collect samples and monitor premises. Call 303.869.9130 or email the State Veterinarian’s office (animalhealth@state.co.us) for specific information on the best samples to submit {{In many cases, the Colorado State University Veterinary Diagnostic Lab will be able to test clinical equids, in addition to the National Veterinary Services Laboratory (NVSL) in Ames, IA. {{A Foreign Animal Disease Diagnostician (FADD) will still be dispatched on all suspect cases involving cattle. Response to suspect cases of vesicular stomatitis in cattle and other non-equine livestock will likely be accomplished by state or federal animal health officials. n

Tips for Event Organizers and Livestock Owners • Strict fly control is an important factor to inhibit the transmission of VSV. • Avoid transferring feeding equipment, cleaning tools, or healthcare equipment from other herds. • Colorado veterinarians and livestock owners should contact the state of destination when moving livestock interstate to CVMA Voice 2015 : 2 | PAG E 2 1

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SCIENCE UPDATE Please visit the CDPHE rabies webpage for current information about rabies in Colorado, including educational materials for your clients, the latest statistics, and maps: www.colorado.gov /cdphe/rabies.

Zoonoses News Jennifer House, State Public Health Veterinarian Colorado Department of Public Health & Environment (CDPHE)

Plague and Tularemia Risk in Colorado Annual Colorado Zoonoses Report

CDPHE has compiled a summary report of human cases of zoonotic disease in Colorado. The report includes case counts from 2009–2014. The full report can be viewed at https://www.colorado.gov/pacific/cdphe/animal-related-diseases.

2009

2010

2011

2012

2013

5-Year Average

2014

Anthrax

Brucellosis

0.8

Chikungunya

Dengue

Hantavirus

3.2

Malaria

Plague

0.2

Psittacosis

Q-Fever, Acute

5.4

Q-Fever, Chronic

1.6

Rabies, Human

Rabies, Animal

103

136

104

183

187

142.6

130

Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever

3.6

Tick-borne Relapsing Fever

4.2

Tularemia

2.0

104

134

321

129

118

Report Year

West Nile Virus

Rabies Update 2015

From January 1 through April 10, 2015, Colorado State University and CDPHE laboratories confirmed rabies infection in 16 animals, including one domestic cat. During the first quarter, all positive skunks were collected from areas that have had positive skunk rabies in the past. The cat was acquired as a stray with unknown history. The rabies virus in the cat could not be varianttyped and it is undetermined what the exposure source was. The south central skunk variant of rabies remains very active in the eastern part of our state. Pets should be current on their rabies vaccination and any exposures to rabid animals should be addressed according to the protocols established by local public health agencies. PAG E 22 | CV M A Vo ice 2015 : 2

The 2014 year was notable for the number of cases of plague and tularemia found in both humans and domestic pets. Veterinarians should consider these rare diseases in free-roaming animals that present with an unexplained high fever. Guidance on management, diagnosis and treatment of these conditions is available at https:// www.colorado.gov/pacific/cdphe/animal-related-diseases. n

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IN PRACTICE Forward Booking Appointments: Is Your Practice Benefitting? Wendy Hauser, DVM Peak Veterinary Consulting

During the annual AAHA conference in March, the annual AAHA/IDEXX Laboratories State of the Industry1 report was presented. In addition to an in-depth evaluation of data and veterinary hospital survey results, this year’s report included an analysis of 1,001 clients to further determine factors that owners rank as critical in strengthening their bonds with their veterinary hospitals. One major factor identified to help drive client attraction and retention was forward booking appointments. “Forward booking” refers to the practice of scheduling the patient’s next appointment before the client leaves the hospital. Forward booking is a relatively common practice for medical re-evaluations with approximately 76% of hospitals reporting this practice, yet recent data suggests that only 11% of veterinary hospitals are utilizing this approach for semi-annual and annual preventive care examinations.2 What are the barriers to forward booking appointments? 1. Perception In my previous role as a technical services veterinarian, I visited an average of 20 hospitals per week. This provided a tremendous opportunity to discuss veterinary business operations and management with a wide variety of practitioners and managers. When the subject of forward booking appointments came up, the reaction was often negative, with the owner or team member stating their clients “don’t want to do this.” According to the results of the pet owner survey as presented in the State of the Industry report, “6 of 10 pet owners said they would forward book their next appointment before leaving the practice. In fact, nearly half of all pet owners said they prefer to as long as a reminder is given.” 2. Process The implementation of forward booking appointments can be overwhelming. Follow the steps below to successfully incorporate this practice into your hospital’s daily operations. A. Obtain animal healthcare team buy-in: • Explain to the team that clients want tools to simplify preventive care. Forward booking is one such tool. • Discuss the findings of the State of the Industry report. Despite our perceptions, the majority of clients are used to this method in their everyday lives (e.g., human dental appointments) and like it. • Discuss the benefits to the team in forward booking appointments, including better, more timely care for pets; less overdue reminder phone calls to make (consistently a least favorite staff activity!); smoothly running appointment schedule, as preventive care appointments are scheduled in advance. B. Ask your team what concerns they have with forward booking appointments. In order to have success with this system, PAG E 24 | CV M A Vo ice 2015 : 2

the staff must be allowed to have their worries heard and solutions brainstormed by the team. C. The hospital must have an appointment schedule that is consistently available one year in advance. 1) Designate a team member to be responsible for inputting the normal hospital operations schedule for the next 13 months. • If your hospital does not use a computer-based appointment scheduler, purchase the paper scheduling system for the following year. 2) Select a day of the month that that team member will be responsible for updating the schedule, so that it is always complete for a year in advance. • The schedule is updated one month at a time within a designated timeframe. 3) Objections that might be encountered: • We don’t know what the doctors’ schedules will be. The hospital schedule in regard to appointments is relatively stable. The doctors are scheduled normally and adjustments are made to the timetable as needed. • It takes a lot of time to input the hospital schedule. There is an initial time commitment. Once the schedule is in place for 13 months, it requires minimal time to update it one month at a time. D. Communicating the new policy with clients. 1) Decide who will explain the new procedure to the clients: • Will this be the responsibility of the technician, customer service representative (CSR), or doctor? Clear communication is critical to this program’s success. • My hospital successfully implemented this process in 2012. What worked well was when the doctors initiated a brief conversation with the clients explaining that we were beginning to schedule preventive care placeholder appointments in advance. The doctors went on to explain that the CSR would schedule that appointment before they left. It was extremely uncommon that any client objected. 2) Decide what will be said when forward booking the appointment: • When clients understand the “why” behind the recommendation, there is better adherence: Continued on next page

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IN PRACTICE Continued from previous page “Mrs. Smith, we are committed to keeping Fluffy healthy and happy. Because animals age faster than people, regularly scheduled examinations are important to detect diseases early. Dr. Hauser would like to see Fluffy in six months, which is the first week in February. How does Tuesday, February 2 work? 3) Explain to the client that they will receive a reminder two weeks in advance of their appointment. If the appointment is not at a convenient time, it could be rescheduled during the reminder call. • It is important to ask clients how they prefer to receive their reminders: phone, text, email, or postcard—and honor their preferences. • Design a process for reminding owners. Who is responsible for confirming the appointments? This is one of the most important parts of forward booking, because if clients are not reminded they may not show up for the appointment. It is also an important part of client relationships to make these phone calls. Clients don’t enjoy missing appointments; the embarrassment they might feel could be detrimental to the client bonding. 4) Differentiate forward booked appointments. • Use color coding to designate forward booked appointments. It is necessary that forward booked appointments are easily recognizable so that the advance reminder notification occurs two weeks before the scheduled appointment. • By color coding forward booked appointments, the hospital management can track the number of no

shows. This is an important metric; above 10% missed appointments would indicate that the reminder process needs to be modified. • Establish team goals for forward booked appointments, both made and the percentage kept. Celebrate successes as a team! When animal healthcare teams embrace the concept of forward booking, everyone wins. Our patients receive more consistent and timely healthcare, clients are appreciative of the ease of scheduling, and teams benefit from smoother day to day operations with more client visits. n Notes 1. https://www.aaha.org/graphics/original/professional/resources/ library/aaha_state_of_the_industry_2015_fact_sheet.pdf 2. Forward Booking Appointments, Partners for Healthy Pets. http:// www.partnersforhealthypets.org/Tool_Track.aspx?id=370

Wendy Hauser, DVM, a small animal practitioner for 26 years, has been an associate and practice owner, and has enjoyed a successful practice sale. In January 2015, Dr. Hauser left her position as a Technical ServicesVeterinarian to establish PeakVeterinary Consulting (www.peakveterinaryconsulting. com). She is highly engaged in AAHA in both new initiatives and leadership and was responsible for helping design and facilitate CVMA’s Power of Ten Leadership Academy.The recently published co-author of TheVeterinarian’s Guide to Healthy Pet Plans, she enjoys consulting with hospitals and presenting workshops on hospital culture, leadership, client relations, and operations.

EXAMPLE: Procedures Guidelines Forward Booking Appointments Team member responsible: Sally 1) Initial Action Step: On August 25, 2015 Sally will input the hospital’s appointment schedule for the next 13 months, so that appointments could be booked from September 1, 2015 through October 31, 2016. 2) Repeating Action Step: On or around the 25th of each month, beginning on September 25, 2015, Sally will add input an additional month’s schedule, so that on September 25 she will be updating the schedule to include November 2016. • Why? o By entering the schedule initially to include 13 months of appointments, clients can appropriately be forward booked for appointments occurring in 12 months. o By designating a specific time of the month for Sally to update the schedule, the process of maintaining adequate appointments for forward booking is ensured. 3) Sally will program color codes for all forward booked appointments in the computer. 3) Doctors explain to clients when they would like to see the pet next and that the appointment will be scheduled by the CSR (customer service representative) before they leave. 4) CSR schedules forward booked appointment. 5) Two weeks before the forward booked appointment, the CSR reminds clients of their appointment, including what services are due. If the client does not confirm the appointment, two additional attempts to contact the client are made. 6) The hospital manager tracks the number of forward booked appointments that are kept compared to noshows. If there is >10% no-shows, modification of the reminder process is needed.

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IN PRACTICE 4 Tips for Veterinary Team Retention Rebecca Rose, CVT, President CATALYST Veterinary Practice Consultants

Veterinary team retention is good for the veterinary hospital, client satisfaction, and patient care. That seems to be a winning combination. We know turnover within the veterinary community is higher than other industries, but for today, let’s focus on keeping the team members you currently have! Here are four tips that keep your team engaged, growing, and satisfied. 1. Establish Career Goals Your team members may not see their time with you as a way to grow their career. To them, there is a glass ceiling and it is relatively low. To be honest, there are a myriad of ways your team can grow within your hospital, increasing team retention. I spoke with a veterinary team this spring and they were charged to learn of all the ways they could advance their skills and be a greater asset to the veterinary hospital. Just as one example, let’s say you have a veterinary assistant who does an exceptional job in the exam rooms and with out patient care. Help her identify ways she can take on more responsibilities in that area, such as overseeing the creation and stocking of puppy, kitten, and adolescent kits. Or establish a goal to send home literature on heartworm prevention or parasite control with each dog owner. Maybe she has a knack for creative endeavors and she can design a monthly bulletin board in the reception area. These are goals that can be identified and tracked for a year. The following year, build on the successes and generate the next level of duties and tasks. The point is, work directly with each team member in identifying what they are passionate about and elaborate on that passion. Career goals can be linked with performance reviews and include routine “check-ins” to monitor for success. Team members that have career goals and feel supported in their development are more satisfied, leading to higher veterinary team retention. 2. Implement Training Programs Often times, new hires (including new veterinarians) are “thrown to the wolves” without formal training or support, creating a sense of abandonment and a lack of direction. You may have team members who have been on your staff for a number of years and are natural teachers. Embrace those valuable skill sets, define a training program, and set everyone up for success! Once new hires are trained, consider the many ways your team can create internal training classes of their own. How about asking your seasoned veterinary technicians to offer a 30-minute presentation at each of the monthly team meetings? They choose the topic, write the handout, build the slides, and enlighten the other team members on the subject. Certainly a win/win situation! To take the concept of in-house training to

PAG E 26 | CV M A Vo ice 2015 : 1

the next level, consider bringing in a veterinary technician specialist to offer advanced learning and training opportunities. 3. Encourage and Support Membership in Organized Medicine Veterinarians, technicians, and managers may have formal gatherings in their area in relationship to their roles within the veterinary profession. In my experience serving on state and national boards, networking and having casual conversations with colleagues is informative and worthwhile. Each state has a veterinary organization, many states have a technician association, and there are more and more manager groups popping up all over the United States. Team members that become active, engaged members within their professional organizations tend to take on more leadership roles within the veterinary hospital. That’s something to encourage and support—and yet another win/win situation! 4. Design Your Culture Through Core Values Helping your team identify their core values, as a team exercise, is definitely a worthwhile exercise. Your team may already embrace your mission, but have you identified team values? Together, review the mission and vision statements (are they still relevant and embraced by the team on a daily basis?). Then, discuss the idea of team values. Your team’s culture may be designed by default, but when you clearly state your values, the culture may transition into a more cohesive, thoughtful, respectful, and professional atmosphere. We know people living and working in the United States are rather transient and families often will move for a number of reasons. Consider your turnover rate within your veterinary hospital. If team members are bailing ship because of lack of c areer advancement, training, professional development, and core values, now is the time to rectify that and retain your employees. Rebecca Rose, CVT, is the president and founder of CATALYSTVeterinary Practice Consultants, which offers veterinary professionals a complimentary one-hour consultation to discuss how to build a cohesive team with higher retention.Visit catalystvetpc.com to learn more. n

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IN PRACTICE What Your Veterinary Staff Should Know About Stray Pets Jenee Shipman, Manager of Animal Care, City of Aurora Apryl Steele, DVM, VP of Strategic Initiatives Dumb Friends League

It is not unusual for a Good Samaritan to find a stray cat or dog and bring it to a veterinary practice. Do you have a policy that provides the best opportunity for a lost pet to be reunited with its owner? The Metro Denver Animal Welfare Association (formerly the Metro Denver Shelter Alliance) offers the following recommendations. First, make sure the finder tells you the location where the pet was found, as this information will play an important role in attempting to reunite the pet with its owner. An exact address is preferable, or at a minimum, get the names of the nearest cross streets. Veterinary practices are encouraged to determine if the pet has a microchip ID implant or identification tags, and if so, to reach out to the owner. If there is no identification or if the pet’s

registered owner is unreachable, then transferring the pet to the city or county shelter closest to where the pet was found will increase the likelihood that the pet will be returned to its owner. Keeping a lost pet with an unknown owner at a veterinary practice significantly decreases the chances that the pet will be reunited with its owner. If, for any reason, you decide to keep the pet at your practice, please contact the municipal shelter in your area and file a “found pet” report. If the finder is willing to take the pet to the municipal shelter closest to where it was found, then please encourage this transfer. If not, obtain the finder’s contact information (in case the shelter has questions about the pet), and call the appropriate shelter for a transfer. Remember, you should contact the shelter in the area where the pet was found, not necessarily the one nearest to your location. It is important for you to know the intake policies at shelters in your community. Along the Front Range, most municipal and county shelters take all pets, while in many rural communities, only dogs are accepted. For a list of municipal shelters in the Denver metro area, visit ddfl.org and click on “Resource Library” and then “Community Resources.” n

New resources for every member of your practice team. Visit press.aaha.org

UpcomingTitles_HalfH2015_CVMA.indd 1

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2 01 5, I ssue # 2 STAPLETON VETERINARY SPACE AVAILABLE! 5080 N. CENTRAL PARK BOULEVARD DENVER, CO, 80238

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CACVT Now Provides Online CVT Registry The Colorado Association of Certified Veterinary Technicians (CACVT) is pleased to share with CVMA members that it has added a public online Certification Registry to CACVT.org.

Through this public online Certification Registry, employers can verify Certified Veterinary Technicians (CVT) status of any individual, 24/7, through a quick name search. CACVT highly recommends verifying credentialing status for both potential and current employees, and is pleased to offer this quick, easy, online verification tool. Please note that all CVTs in Colorado must renew their certification, having met all requirements for re-certification, by June 30 of each even year. The registry is updated every Friday to include newly credentialed CVTs. If you do not find an individual listed on the Certification Registry, that individual is not certified. Visit cacvt.org to access the Certification Registry, and be sure to save this link to your favorites in your browser for easy access. Please feel free to contact information@cacvt.org or 303.318.0652 with any questions. n

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CV M A VO ICE

CVMA NEWS CVMA Media Training 2015 Maren Williams, Communications and Outreach Specialist

On March 19, Dr. Jim Humphries of the Veterinary News Network once again shared his insight with a group of veterinarians, veterinary staff, and animal welfare professionals at CVMA Media Training, offered free to CVMA members. Whether the attendees wanted to start a proactive relationship with their local media, or simply be prepared for another big issue such as the recent case of rabies in a domestic cat in Colorado Springs, attendees felt that a day with Dr. Humphries vastly improved their ability to communicate to the media about the veterinary profession. CVMA members were invited to start the day with a continental breakfast and a chance to network and catch up with colleagues, followed by a warm opening welcome from CVMA’s executive director, Ralph Johnson, who reiterated the importance of media communication within the veterinary profession, and then gave attendees the opportunity to introduce themselves and discuss what their learning objectives were. The reasons given for attending Media Training 2015 ranged from the desire to improve social media communications, to accurately represent a topic on local news media, to the ability to be more confident when talking about hot-button issues within the profession. Dr. Humphries began his presentation by going over various types of communication techniques and underlining the importance of preparation. He then went over several important media topics: An Overview of Traditional Media and How Social Media Has Changed It Forever; Social Media Best Practices: How Social Media Can and Should Interplay with All Traditional Media Efforts; and Reputation Management: Protecting Your Online Integrity. In the training, attendees learned that social media involves more than just setting up an account—as Dr. Humphries explained, social media is about engaging with people (connecting with highly connected people) and encouraging them to share your information with others. Part of social media success is knowing where your audience is and focus your efforts on a few select networks. Dr. Humphries also stated that online reputation management is vital for associations and practices. He explained that it’s possible to control and even limit the damage from negative reviews,

Dr. Carol McDaneld in a mock media interview with presenter Dr. Jim Humphries. and that it’s important to have a plan for listening on social media and then claiming ownership of your business on the various review sites. Regularly updating your website, blog, and other social sites can help lessen the impact of a negative review. After a catered lunch break, Dr. Humphries went over the second portion of the training: Urgent Media and Crisis Management and Interview Techniques. Dr. Humphries began by stating that while not everyone may face a crisis in the media, it is always good to know the basic steps to take when inquiring reporters with cameras are knocking on your door after a crisis has occurred. Participants were then asked to form small groups to practice their interview skills. After discussing tactics and goals in small groups, each group chose a spokesperson to practice mock interviews with Dr. Humphries. These interviews were a wonderful way to practice what could happen in a real media experience, and participants were really able to hone their skills. “Be direct, concise, and practical,” said Dr. Humphries. “This too takes practice. If you are abstract, as many experts are, the audience will not understand you. If your audience begins to feel like they are not getting it, they will tune you out. Take the time to practice out loud.” As the attendees practiced interviewing, they were also developing key message points to take with them for the future. As Dr. Humphries explained in the training, “giving a good interview is simple, but not necessarily easy or natural. Here’s the mantra: Prepare and Practice, Keep it Simple, and Never Wing It!” Thank you to Dr. Humphries for his generosity, humor, and dedication in giving a clear, concise, and important voice to veterinary medicine and animal health and welfare. To view a video of Media Training 2015, visit the CVMA website and click on “Media Training” under the Programs tab at the top of the page. If you are interested in serving as a media contact for CVMA, please contact Maren Williams, Communications and Outreach Specialist, at 303.539.7267 or marenwilliams@colovma.org. n

Attendees participate in mock media interviews to practice their new skills. CVMA Voice 201 5: 2 | PAGE 2 9

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CVMA NEWS Spay/Neuter: Optimal Timing, Optimal Technique On March 28, over 120 CVMA members and other veterinary professionals came together in Denver for BIG Ideas Forum | Spring 2015 to discuss issues around early spay/neuter and optimal timing and techniques. While precise numbers are difficult to obtain, best estimates indicate that 6 to 8 million cats and dogs enter shelters each year in the United States. It is further estimated that 3 to 4 million animals in shelters are euthanized each year. This crisis of pet overpopulation has underscored the approach in the United States that pet sterilization has important benefits for the animal, its owner, and society—and pediatric spay/neuter is supported by policy of veterinary and animal protection organizations. But recent discussions and research reports have intensified the debate about when and how a pet should be sterilized for optimal outcomes. Our Issue forum speakers—Philip A. Bushby, DVM, MS, DACVS and Benjamin L. Hart, DVN, PhD, DACVB—represented two very different experiences and approaches to the issue of spay/neuter.

Benjamin L. Hart, DVM, PhD, DACVB Dr. Hart is Distinguished Professor Emeritus in the Department of Anatomy, Physiology, and Cell Biology at the UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine, where he developed the first comprehensive teaching program in companion animal behavior and was chief of Behavior Service in the veterinary hospital. He is also one of the authors of a recently published study in the online peer-reviewed journal Public Library of Science One, “Long-Term Health Effects of Neutering Dogs: Comparison of Labrador Retrievers with Golden Retrievers,” prompted by their recent study on the effects of neutering (including spaying) in Golden Retrievers in markedly increasing the incidence of two joint disorders and three cancers. The article has captured wide attention among veterinarians and the public, meriting articles on a number of pet and veterinary medicine websites. According to Dr. Hart, research papers over the past decade or so have documented the increased risks of spaying females or neutering males on certain cancers and joint disorders in dogs. But these studies have had little impact on the practice of PAG E 3 0 | CV M A Vo ice 2015 : 2

spaying female dogs and castrating males (both referred to as neutering hereafter) which is currently estimated to occur in the U.S. in 83 percent of dogs. And, increasingly, neutering is being performed prior to six months of age. The reason for this widespread practice is presumably pet population control, and the general belief is that cancers of the mammary glands and prostate are prevented, and aggressive behavior of males is less likely than in those neutered later. The preponderance of neutering in the U.S. differs from the European countries, where neutering is commonly avoided, and is not advocated by veterinarians. Dr. Hart surmises that the reason the earlier findings on the possible adverse health effects of neutering had not influenced the practice of early neutering of dogs was that there was no reference to breed, gender, or age at neutering. Therefore, with the financial support of the Canine Health Foundation of AKC and the UC Center for Companion Animal Health, Dr. Hart and his colleagues embarked on a long-term project to examine, on a breed-by-breed basis, the health-related effects of neutering at various ages. They used the UC Davis Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital computerized case record database, which handles about 48,000 cases per year. The first breed-specific analysis of disease effects of neutering was on the Golden Retriever. Surprisingly, this very popular breed may be the most vulnerable for the adverse effects of neutering. Three cancers (hemangiosarcoma, lymphoma, and mast cell tumor) and three joint disorders (hip dysplasia, elbow dysplasia, and cranial cruciate ligament tear or rupture) were analyzed. For the joint disorders, the risks of males and/or females acquiring one or more joint disorders when neutered at less than six months was significantly increased over the 5 percent level of intact dogs by four fold. For cancers, the vulnerable sex was females, where the risk of acquiring one or more of the cancers mentioned above was increased by at least three times over the low incidence of 3 percent of intact females. A second study compared the Labrador Retriever with the Golden Retriever, where one of the notable outcomes of this comparison between these two closely related breeds was that, while the underlying risk of an intact female acquiring one of the cancers mentioned above was about 3 percent for both breeds, neutering the female Labrador at any time did not increase the risk of a cancer. For joint disorders, neutering before six months increased the risk of one or more disorders in both sexes by about two-fold over the 5 percent level of intact dogs. Dr. Hart shared additional new findings on the German Shepherd, Boxer, Rottweiler, Standard Poodle, and three small breeds, the Chihuahua, Yorkie, and Shih Tzu, which also clearly show major breed-specific differences in vulnerability to neutering. One concern about delaying neutering is a possible enhancement of mammary cancer in females. In the breeds discussed above, there is no major increase in this cancer in females left intact. Another concern with early neutering is the potential increase in the likelihood of urinary incontinence in females. In some breeds there is an increase up to about 10 percent of females acquiring this problem with neutering before one year when intact females do not have this problem (followed through Continued on next page

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CVMA NEWS Continued from previous page 8 years of age). Some breeds are affected and some not. Previous information on the effects of neutering on aggression in male dogs reveals that an aggressive problem emerging in an intact male as an adult has the same probability of being resolved as the probability of the behavior being prevented by neutering before puberty. This information relating to neutering males can be presented when offering options to clients and comparing the risks of early and delayed neutering. An obvious issue in the area of offering options to clients with regard to neutering is the potential conflict with the prevailing pet overpopulation perspective and intake into animal shelter and control facilities. Looking at some information that was available, Dr. Hart found no support for the perspective that neutering pet dogs had a significant impact on the number of pets relinquished to shelters or euthanized. Published data from the New York Animal Control and the NY ASPCA records implies that there was a 72 percent drop in dogs received from 1974 to 1994, prior to the requirement for spay/neuter before release. The number of dogs received since 1994 has continued to modestly decline, but even the NY ASPCA acknowledges that the decline cannot be attributed to the spay/neuter program. The following is taken from the ASPCA position statement on mandatory spay/neuter. “. . . the ASPCA is not aware of any credible evidence demonstrating a statistically significant enhancement in the reduction of shelter intake or euthanasia as a result of the implementation of a mandatory spay/neuter law. Caution must therefore be applied when interpreting existing claims regarding the effects of local mandatory spay/neuter (MSN) laws.” Obviously the hard work of shelter staff in encouraging people to care for their dogs, seek alternatives to relinquishment, and adopting pets is having a major impact. Given that mandatory spay/neuter appears to have little measurable impact on the intake of dogs to shelters, a flexible policy on spay/neuter by shelters, giving responsible adopters of larger dogs an option of delaying neutering or offering an alternative surgery (vasectomy, hysterectomy) to avoid markedly increasing the risk of devastating joint disorders seems worth considering. An expanded area for veterinarians in guiding the health and wellness of dogs of their clients is changing the practice of simply signing up the new puppy for the routine spay/neuter to offering guidance on an individual basis as to a reasonable, or recommended, age for the spay or neuter. If the issue arises about unwanted breeding, one could offer a straight-forward vasectomy for males. For females, the issue is more complex, but one could offer an ovary-sparing spay operation. Dr. Hart concluded by saying that “our research center will continue to provide to veterinarians, breeders, and dog caregivers the information needed on a variety of breeds as to the best timing for neutering to reduce the risks of devastating joint disorders and cancers.” Philip A. Bushby, DVM, MS, DACVS Dr. Bushby is a Board Certified Veterinary Surgeon and currently holds the Marcia Lane Endowed Chair of Humane Ethics

and Animal Welfare at Mississippi State University. His primary focus is spay/neuter, taking junior and senior veterinary students to animal shelters in north Mississippi to provide basic wellness care and spay/neuter services for animals eligible for adoption, which significantly increases the adoption rates at the participating shelters and provides the students with an exceptional surgery experience and sensitizes them to the plight of animals in shelters. His primary goal is to make sure that the next generation of veterinarians understands the problem of overpopulation of unwanted dogs and cats and recognizes their role in assisting in addressing the problem. Dr. Bushby opened his presentation by saying that the optimal time for spay/neuter depends on species, breed, intended use, financial considerations, and life situation. But it is “life situation” that has the biggest impact. For an individually owned animal living in a home, decisions are based primarily on factors that impact that animal’s individual health, and secondarily on population control. But for the shelter animal facing possible euthanasia if not adopted, decisions are based primarily on population control. Through his student shelter program that serves 18 shelters and humane groups across northern Mississippi (making 6 to 8 trips a week, 48 weeks per year) and has performed over 50,000 spay/neuter surgeries since 2007, he notes that those shelters have a 62% euthanasia rate—but an 83% adoption rate of the animals they spay and neuter. He also shared the following statistics, stating that the excess overpopulation comes from these animals that owners can’t afford care for: • 13% of pets living below the poverty level are sterilized • 80% of pets living above the poverty level are sterilized • 24 million pets are estimated to fall below the poverty level • Less than 24% of pets below the poverty level ever receive veterinary care He then turned his attention to several studies, including the ones presented by Dr. Hart. While he did not outright disagree with all of Dr. Hart’s conclusions, he did point out that the study could have been improved if it had included a greater numbers of animals, didn’t preselect outcomes, picked animals at random across multiple breeds, included intact animals in the study, included detailed data and full statistical analysis in the article so people can make independent judgments, and acknowledged that the study simply looks at one breed and any conclusions cannot be extrapolated to other breeds or dogs in general. Based on other studies, he drew the conclusion that: • Sterilized dogs and cats live longer • Sterilized dogs have a higher incidence of certain cancers • Sterilized dogs have a lower incidence of mammary tumors • Intact dogs are more likely to die of infections and trauma • The conclusions related to sterilized dogs having greater orthopedic problems is very breed specific Dr. Bushby shared some population dynamics, citing a 2010 study of pets in Massachusetts that found that female dogs and cats that are sterilized after having at least one litter accounted for ~85% of all births, whereas cats and dogs that remain fertile Big Ideas continued on page 32 CVMA Voice 201 5 : 2 | PAG E 31

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CVMA NEWS Big Ideas continued from page 31 their entire life accounted for ~15% of litters. Therefore, from the standpoint of population control, timing is everything, and pets should be sterilized before having any litters. A 2009 pet owner survey found that 65% of pets were neutered; of the 35% that were intact, 75% of their owners intended to have them neutered at some point. However, a majority thought they had to wait until six months; 17% had no idea when to sterilize; 29% thought it was inappropriate to do so before the first heat; and 8% thought it was inappropriate to do so prior to the first litter. And while the most common reason that people spay/neuter their pets is to prevent unwanted litters, many still wait until after the first litter. Dr. Bushby then focused the discussion on early age spay/ neuter, which has been endorsed by AHA, AVMA, HSUS, AAHA, AKC, Cat Fanciers Association, and AAFP. He stated that pediatrics recover more quickly and require less surgery time, with lower anesthesia risk before 24 weeks of age. He emphasized gentle tissue handling, appropriate suturing, and proper handling of suspensory ligament. The smaller the patient, the greater the risk of hypoglycemia and hypothermia, so taking necessary precautions is important. Because pediatric patients have low glycogen stores, to combat hypoglycemia, he recommends no or minimal fasting (no longer than 2 hours), not removing kittens or puppies from nursing mother, giving supplemental glucose immediately post-op, and feeding as soon after surgery as possible. To avoid hypothermia, which can cause a host of problems including delayed recovery, post-op shivering that increases oxygen demand, increased blood viscosity and cardiac complications, bradycardia, arrhythmias, he recommends reducing contact with cold surfaces, limiting body cavity exposure by using small incisions, providing supplemental heat, minimal but adequate clipping of hair, avoiding getting hair wet, and avoiding using isopropyl alcohol. A 2000 survey of spay/neuter veterinarians on pediatric spay/ neuter of 85 veterinarians who had performed over 235,000 early spay/neuter surgeries collectively agreed that pediatric spays and castrations were easier and faster (less fat, less bleeding); less stressful on patient; and less stress on the veterinarian (once they were used to it). Dr. Bushby shared videos (link is available at colovma.org) on several techniques: cord tie, figure eight know, pedicle tie, Miller’s knot, and tattoo. Once an easy, efficient method of spay/ neuter has been mastered, there are several reasons to do early age spay/neuter: there is no substantial medical reason to wait, it will eliminate unintended litters, it’s easier, and it’s faster. Dr. Bushby believes it should be a national goal that every shelter adopts out ONLY sterilized dogs and cats, including puppies and kittens as young as six to eight weeks old. Dr. Bushby cited some other studies about disease and risk associated with neutering. Sterilization increases the risk of several conditions that have low incidence (none of the conditions listed here have an incidence of more than 1 percent) such as prostatic cancer, transitional cell carcinoma, osteosarcoma, diabetes mellitus, and hypothyroidism. Sterilization decreases or eliminates PAG E 3 2 | CV M A Vo ice 2015 : 2

the risk of several conditions that have high incidence, significantly increasing life expectancy in dogs and cats, including mammary and testicular cancer, pyometra, and benign prostatic hypertrophy. Finally, he said in closing, when we are dealing with shelter animals, we must consider them as a population, and when dealing with individually owned animals, we must consider the specific health benefit to the individual animal. “There is still much we don’t know about the positive and negative effects of spay/neuter, so we must remain open to new information as research continues, and always be willing to look critically at new information to determine if conclusions are valid based on the research data.“ Q&A Session

After the break, attendees returned for a Q&A session with Drs. Bushby and Hart. Both acknowledged that this discussion is occurring in two different domains—the practicing veterinarian who wishes to advise an individual client for an individual patient, and the shelter veterinarian making decisions for the shelter population. Both are legitimate worlds, and decisions have to be made for whichever domain a veterinarian is working in. Was a DNA test used to correlate whether the animal in Dr. Hart’s studies were predisposed to mammary cancers? Hart: We take the clinician’s word and record to evaluate, but didn’t have DNA data. Both speakers mentioned two different categories (private practice and shelters). We deal a lot with animals and people in between—families below the poverty line. Thoughts on them? Bushby: Statistics show if they’re below the poverty line, they’re significantly less likely to receive veterinary care or have their animal spayed or neutered. I tend to look at this group as similar to the shelter group, where early age s/n or financial assistance can prevent shelter euthanasia. The ideal world would be where, for every animal, there’s a crystal ball that tells us whether this animal will develop hip dysplasia or mammary neoplasia or whatever—but none of us has that crystal ball. In that population, I’m concerned about overall population dynamics and treat those animals similar to the shelter population. Closure techniques on these different spay/neuters? Bushby: I like to do minimally invasive surgery using a spay hook. If I can close the abdominal wound with 1-2 cruciate sutures, I will; if more are needed, I do a continuous. A typical puppy or kitten s/n would have one subcutaneous suture; do a three-layer closure with two knots—but this only works with short incisions. For neuters, with one exception, all of our dog castrations (puppy or adult) are done through scrotal incisions. For one group (of three groups) we just leave the incision and let it drain, for another group we do one subcutaneous suture in and leave the ends open to drain. Continued on next page

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CVMA NEWS Continued from previous page Veterinarians need to consult with owners about s/n for their animal, but there are also consultations needed with owners that adopted a pet already sterilized, most likely through a pediatric procedure. Is there literature to support that consultation? Hart: Counsel the owner to be vigilant, keep the weight down, be aware of potential consequences, especially in certain breeds. Busby: Best single resource we have so far is the article by RootKustritz published in JAVMA (see handout for reference). Where things start to fall apart is the typical shelter dog is not typically a purebred. I’ve been thinking we need a breed that is the “American Bitsa”—mixed breeds that are a bit of this and a bit of that. For Dr. Hart, in regard to the joint disease studies, any control for body condition score or weight gain for early neutered animals? Hart: We keep track of body condition score. BCS is always higher in the neutered population that intact population at a comparable age. When we find a significant effect of s/n on a joint problem, we look at the database to account for BCS. For Dr. Bushby, in regard to tattooing, what’s the advantage of a separate incision for the ink? Bushby: Some of us have an aversion to putting ink in the original spay incision, but there’s no data showing adverse effects. It’s totally the surgeon’s decision. Most of you are probably aware of the s/n guidelines published in 2008 by ASV, and now are looking at making a specific recommendation for location of the spay incision—but what’s not standardized at present is where you put the tattoo. Humane Alliance puts the tattoo for males and females in the same place. Regarding control measures in the studies, was there any data in regard to the lineage of those animals, where some could have had genetic predispositions to certain issues or diseases? Hart: No way to go back to the owner to get pedigree. Had to assume that as a group the animals will be roughly the same. Perspective on training veterinarians (students or graduates) on high-speed, high-quality S/N, which seems to be a trend in veterinary practice. Bushby. More and more veterinary colleges have come to agree this approach is effective. The typical student that comes to us for an externship in the senior year has done one to five surgeries. Our students get on average 66 surgeries in a twoweek period; this concentrated experience produces graduates with high-speed, high-quality s/n experience. And 50% of the veterinary colleges are now getting funding from PetSmart Charities [Dr. Bushby serves on the board] to support s/n surgeries so long as it includes pediatric procedures. I think there will be a day when all the veterinary schools provide this training; for now, the most common training site is the Humane Alliance in North Carolina.

Is there any potential bias in the data due to dogs that were breeding dogs and may have been selected for breeding because they were more sound? Hart: There’s no indication that we’re seeing an overrepresentation of animals intended for breeding. Bushby: Questions related to lineage can be overcome as we get more numbers in the pool. OHE vs OE? Bushby: My major decision point is which I can do faster. A lot of the literature talks about how an OE can be done through a small incision and take last time—but I disagree with that. From the standpoint of timing of surgery, we do OHE with three ligatures and OE with four. So I’ve not found any advantage to OE, it will actually take longer (though I do OE for an animal presented in heat). Hart: There is an ovary-sparing procedure now being down that is seeing some demand growth. Veterinarians haven’t even looked at vasectomies. What complications might I expect if I start doing pedicle ties? Bushby: Most common thing is fear of cutting the suspensory ligament. In thinking of the algorithm for an individual client, seems like we’re leaving a big segment out that affects the big picture for an animal—which is the condition of the reproductive organs. This should be a big piece of what we look it. Hart: Pyometra in intact animals is about 3–4%. Risk of prostate cancer goes up in neutered males. We are trying to bring all such factors into consideration in our studies. Bushby: Significantly increasing the incidence of something that is rare is perhaps not all that important; something that is rare but doubled may still be rare. Given the preference of European colleagues to not spay/neuter, is collaboration emerging to compare US and European populations? Hart: Not yet, but it’s a logical thing to do. n

SAVE THE DATE! Join CVMA for the BIG Ideas Forum | Fall 2015 in beautiful Steamboat Springs, October 23–24. Stay tuned for details!

CVMA Voice 201 5 : 2 | PAGE 33

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CVMA NEWS CVMA Awards Students through Fare for Fairs Program The CVMA Auxiliary has long supported students through its Fare for Fairs program, annually awarding recipients at the Colorado Science and Engineering Fair, which promotes opportunities for student-developed, research-based projects that reflect an interest in science and technology. The Auxiliary wishes to congratulate all of the Southeast Region Grade 6–12 students that participated in the 60th Annual Colorado Science and Engineering Fair (CSEF) held at Colorado State University in Fort Collins April 9–11. The CVMA Auxiliary again awarded the Junior Division and the Senior Division winners $100 each. This year’s CVMA judges were Dr. Sue Patton, Dr. Don Owen, Echo Owen, and Jo Ostwald. Judging of the science projects took place on April 9 in the recently remodeled Lory Student Center at Colorado State University. There were a total of 25 projects in the Animal Science Junior and Senior Divisions. After a rewarding afternoon questioning the young scientists about their projects, a top Junior Division and Senior Division winner were selected. Each winner receives $100 ($50 from CVMA and $50 from the Auxiliary). Since this is the last year for the Auxiliary to function, it is hoped that the CVMA will continue to participate in this worthy yearly event.

increasing air circulation throughout the cabin of the trailer. Wright proceeded to test this method on eight of his horses, getting similar results. In the end, Wright indeed found that the more air circulated throughout the trailer, the lower the heartrate his horses had after he ended the journey. Senior Division

Wiley High School student, Haleigh Prosser, Prosser, created a project entitled “Cowcium: Effects of Calcium Citrate in Cattle Fed Wet Distillers’ Grains Rations.”

Junior Division

Walsh High School student, Jacob Wright, 14, placed first in the Junior Division with his project “Wind in My Mane” that he initiated to help his horses maintain a steady, stress-free heartrate, even while travelling in a horse trailer. Wright determined that his horses would perform better if they were less effected by the stress of travel, and discovered that increased air circulation would benefit them. In order to discover the most effective technique, Wright test drove his horses in their trailer at 25 mph for seven miles with the windows closed. His horse’s heartrates was measured before and directly after the trip. Then, Wright drove his horses the same speed and distance, with the windows open,

Prosser researched that distillers grains, a byproduct of ethanol production, are often used instead of corn grain feed for cows. However, distillers grains are also high in sulfur, which negatively affects weight gain in cows. Prosser decided to test her theory that cows would benefit from eating distillers grains more if calcium citrate was added to their feed. In order to discover the most effective technique, Prosser began with a test group made up of eight cows with like genetics, split into two groups of four. Four of the cows were given an ounce of calcium citrate mixed in with their distillers grains. The other four cattle were fed a normal ration of distillers grains, without calcium citrate. The cows were all weighed and recorded at the start of the experiment, averaged to be 812.5 lbs. each. When 40 days had passed, Prosser found that the group of cows fed calcium citrate mixed with their feed ration weighed collectively more (averaged 960.5 lbs. each) than the control group (averaged 932.5 lbs. each). Prosser was delighted with the results having supported her hypothesis. CVMA and CVMA Auxiliary are excited to congratulate these young researchers on their winning projects! n CVMA Voice 201 5: 2 | PAGE 35

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CVMA NEWS Welcome New CVMA Members! Please help us welcome our newest CVMA members to the association. District 2

Elena Teresa Contreras DVM CSU-CVMBS-James L. Voss Veterinary Teaching Hospital Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine ~ 2013 Michael Harley Costello DVM Heska Corporation Iowa State University ~ 2003 Catherine Cross DVM Friendship Hospital for Animals Texas A&M University ~ 1986 District 3

Glenn S Cook DVM Animal Clinic LLC Colorado State University ~ 1978

District 7

District 12

Michelle Smith Coufal DVM Dublin Animal Hospital Colorado State University ~ 1999

Heather Noelle Perkins DVM La Plata County Humane Society Virginia-Maryland Regional ~ 2001

Cynthia Dianne Florek DVM Claws ’n’ Paws Mobile Veterinary Services, LLC Colorado State University ~ 1996

District 13

Melissa Guillory DVM Cattails Feline Health Center, PC

Carrie Taylor DVM San Miguel Veterinary Clinic Washington State University ~ 2003 District 15

Cathlin Marisa Craver DVM Cornell University

Gabriella Lester DVM Dublin Animal Hospital Purdue University ~ 2009

Yanina Mickelsen BVMS Banfield Pet Hospital Grand Junction

Russell English Welfare DVM North Powers Animal Hospital Texas A&M University ~ 1995 District 10

Morgan Elizabeth McCarty DVM Colorado River Veterinary Services, LLC Colorado State University ~ 2007

District 5

Rosalind Sue Ross DVM Kathryn B. Hazzard VMD University of Pennsylvania ~ 1996

Award Winning Architecture

District 6

Marie Yvette Berndt DVM, MS Northside Emergency / Boulder Emergency Pet Clinics Colorado State University ~ 1999 Cathleen Marie Medbury DVM Relief Veterinarian Oregon State University ~ 2011 David L. Palmini DVM Conifer Veterinary Hospital Univeristy of Wisconsin ~ 2000 Stacy Nicole Soulsby DVM Diagnostic Imaging PC Virginia-Maryland Regional ~ 2005 Miriam Beth Talaat DVM, DACVS VCA Alameda East Veterinary Hospital North Carolina State University ~ 2002 Katrina Lynn Waisanen MS, DVM VCA Aspenwood Animal Hospital Virginia-Maryland Regional ~ 2012

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AUXILIARY to the CVMA 67 YEARS ... 34 AUCTIONS ... $330,000 ... COUNTLESS HEARTS AND HANDS A Longstanding Tradition... For nearly seven decades, the CVMA Auxiliary has been making a difference. While it may have started out small— Shirley Clark and three other ladies meeting for lunch under the clock tower—it grew into something so much bigger! The very first auction was held in 1982, although Shirley Clark had been setting up her little card table with saleable items long before that. That auction brought in $564 that was used to fund selected projects. The Auxiliary was able to provide its first hearing dog in 1983 and the first Catch-a-Calf in 1987. In 1987, Dr. Steve Cummings was asked to be the auctioneer—and then auction numbers really took off! In 1992, the Auxiliary started donating to Canine Companions for Independence and has since also donated to Freedom Service Dogs, equine therapy programs, and Pet Aid Disaster Services. To date, the Shirley Clark Projects Auctions have brought in around $330,000 for all its various projects to help secure the human-animal bond and promote the veterinary profession.

Saying Thank You and Saying Goodbye... The Auxiliary to the CVMA will celebrate its 67th and final year with its 34th and final Shirley Clark Projects Auction on Saturday, September 19, at CVMA Convention 2015 in Loveland. We sincerely hope that you will join us for this very special event. We want to thank the Auxiliary to the CVMA for all its hard work, dedication, and devotion to CVMA and its worthy causes over the last 67 years, and bid this longstanding tradition a festive and fitting fond—and final—farewell. So bring the whole family and let’s throw a party to remember! A Special Note... The family of the late Dr. John Cheney has donated ten framed prints and photographs and seven sculptures to the Auxiliary to be auctioned off this year. Dr. Cheney was a generous supporter of the Auxiliary’s auction and projects over the years, and this gift from his family will continue that giving spirit.

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BRIEFINGS Briefings continued from page 5 page 10, this transition is being undertaken to enhance unity amongst Colorado veterinarians. The current structure of geographic districts as independent—and sometimes competing—entities no longer serves the greater interest of one profession working together through one integrated organization. This issue has crystallized in discussions over the past year between CVMA and the Denver Area Veterinary Medical Society (DAVMS), where veterinarians with increasingly limited budgets for professional dues and continuing education were in effect being asked to choose either CVMA or DAVMS as their professional association “home.” The truth is that neither CVMA nor DAVMS on its own can deliver a complete array of benefits. The veterinarian’s world is complete only with both organizations, because each makes unique contributions. CVMA is well positioned to do many things—such as shape public policy that affects animals and veterinarians in Colorado, or undertaking statewide public outreach programs such as PetCheck—because it is a statewide organization with reach, resources, and leverage. DAVMS (and each district, for that matter) is well positioned to do those things—such as building collegiality, or undertaking service activities, or providing informal learning opportunities—that connect members

and build community on the local level. CVMA and its local units need to be collaborating for the benefit of all, connected through one efficient structure. The move to chapters can fulfill this need, and foster a deeper spirit of unity throughout Colorado’s veterinary community for the benefit of all. Already, 12 of 16 CVMA districts have elected to move in this direction. An evolving legacy Developing these new membership tiers and the chapter structure is both exciting and terrifying. We’re being responsive to member-expressed needs and preferences, yet we’re introducing change into a familiar system. We’re working hard in the office to rework our software system and business processes to support these changes, and to create the materials that will clearly explain the new options and benefits in a compelling way. It can be challenging to implement new concepts, but as Benjamin Franklin so sagely stated “When you’re finished changing, you’re finished.” A final quote, from General Eric Shinseki, sums it up: “If you don’t like change, you will like irrelevance even less.” CVMA’s legacy continues to evolve, and as a result assures the organization’s relevance into the future. Hats off to CVMA for embarking on these changes in a positive and proactive manner. n

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Office: (970) 461-0808 www.LongsPeakFinancial.com

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We Have Sold More Veterinary Practices Than Anyone. Buying or selling a practice? Simmons is the trusted advisor veterinarians turn to regardless of what side of the fence theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re on.

Most veterinarians only buy or sell a practice once. We have specialized in veterinary practice sales for over 38 years.

Mancos Colorado: Mancos Valley Veterinary Hospital is a small animal only practice located a half hour outside Durango. The practice is approaching a 1+ doctor size and remains open only weekdays. Mancos has a small town atmosphere and they love their animals there. The sale includes the real estate. The seller is planning to retire and very motivated to sell. (CO-0314-SM) Englewood Colorado: This is a small animal integrated medicine practice with Real Estate. The practice continues to get busier with the demand for integrated medicine services as an alternative for many pet owners. A lot of work was recently done on the facility and there is an opportunity for expansion. The seller will offer a good transition and training in some of the holistic options if desired. There are few opportunities for practice ownership in the Denver Metro area. (CO-0613-JE) Visit Our Website for Updates and New Listings - Simmonsinc.com