Keystone Veterinarian Volume 1

keystone

veterinarian

OFFICIAL PUBLICATION OF THE PENNSYLVANIA VETERINARY MEDICAL ASSOCIATION

VOLUME I, 2012

www.pavma.org

pvma

pennsylvania veterinary medical association

advancing animal welfare and human health while ensuring the vitality of the profession

12_Vol_1_cover.indd 1

3/20/2012 10:23:54 AM

Delivering service, loyalty, and commitment.

pvmaAssure Insurance Agency, Inc. PVMA's Own Full-Service Insurance Agency to Better Serve You PVMA is pleased to announce the launch of its own in-house,

AVAILABLE TO PVMA MEMBERS

full-service insurance agency, pvmaAssure Insurance Agency, Inc. pvmaAssure can help you protect everything that is

• Employee Benefit Programs

important to you with its full range of products.

— health, dental, vision, and group life and disability

Contact us today to see how we can serve you.

• Business Property and Casualty Insurance — professional liability, building property and contents, and worker's compensation

Our promise. Your health.

• Retirement Plans • Payroll Processing Scan this code to request information online immediately.

• Human Resource Programs • Long-Term Care • Individual Life and Disability • Personal Lines

contact

US 12_Vol_1_cover.indd 2

pvmaAssure

717.220.1502 PH; 717.220.1461 FX

8574 Paxton Street

info@pvmaAssure.com

Hummelstown, PA 17036

www.pvmaAssure.com

3/20/2012 10:23:55 AM

pvma

pennsylvania veterinary medical association

pennsylvania veterinary medical association

8574 paxton street hummelstown, pa 17036

advancing animal welfare and human health while ensuring the vitality of the profession

phone: 888.550.7862 fax: 717.220.1461 email: pvma@pavma.org website: www.pavma.org

what’s featured 12

Do Veterinarians Have a Role in the Raw Milk Debate?

16

Swine Flu Facts and Emergence of a New Human H3N2v Strain

20 13TH Annual Spring Clinic Returns to State College

in this issue 2012 EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE Robert P. Lavan, DVM, ACPVM President Kenton Rexford, VMD President-Elect Sherrill Davison, VMD, Vice President Ronald M. Kraft, DVM Secretary-Treasurer E. Mark Fox, VMD Immediate Past President

5

Two Empty Collars

7

Letter to the Editor

9

PVMA Hosts Senate Ag Committee Informational Meeting on Veterinary Issues

24

PVMA's Poster and Digital Photography Contests

26 7TH Annual Legislative Day and the 8TH Annual Friends of Veterinary Medicine Reception 27

Changes to the City of Philadelphia’s Code Impacts Veterinarians

29

What's the Value of Your PVMA Membership?

30

Graduates Provide Helpful Insight Into How PVMA Can Best Help Fourth Year Students

32

Veterinary Medicine Had a Large Presence at the 2012 Pennsylvania State Farm Show

33

A Message From Mark Zebrowski

37

Get More For Your PVMA Membership: Choose Energy Plus®

Mary A. Bryant, VMD AVMA Delegate Charlene Miller Wandzilak Executive Director

12_Volume_1.indd 1

3/20/2012 10:20:07 AM

Quarterly Columns 6 Observations

by Heather Berst, VMD

“Veterinarians Are an Important Part of Public Health”

8

The President’s Two Cents

“Are Things Changing in Pennsylvania?”

10

From Where I Sit

“Veterinary Medicine Loses a Champion as We Say Goodbye to Dr. Richard Detwiler”

by Robert Lavan, DVM, ACPVM

by Charlene Wandzilak

14

Practice Pearls

"Ready for 2012?”

by David McCormick, MS, and Sherry Everhart, BS, RVT

17 Promoting the Profession "Member Spotlight: Deepanker Tewari, VBSc, MVSc, PhD" 28

Foundation Cornerstone

30

Penn Vet Connection

34

Member News

36

What’s Happening

40

The Grand Finale

"I Think My Cat Is a Serial Killer”

“Meet the Pennsylvania Veterinary Scholarship Winners”

"PVMA Celebrates Upcoming Graduation with Penn's Class of 2012" "Welcome New Members" “Events and Education”

by Adam Hoover, VMD

Advertising Index 15 AVMA-PLIT 31

Burzenski & Company, PC

IRC, 3

Drexel University College of Medicine

37

Energy Plus

31

Nate Lynch & Associates, LLC

11

On-Hold Specialists

7

Pfizer Animal Health

25

PNC Bank

18 pvmaAssure Insurance Agency, Inc. 39

Simmons Veterinary Practice Sales & Appraisals

19

TransFirst Health Services, Inc.

34 VeterinaryLoans.com 38

12_Volume_1.indd 2

Classifieds

3/20/2012 10:20:09 AM

12_Volume_1.indd 3

3/20/2012 10:20:11 AM

keystone

veterinarian

2012 Board of Trustees (A= Alternate Trustee, T=Trustee)

District I Adam Hoover, VMD, Trustee Karen Martin, VMD, Alternate

District II Lloyd Reitz, Jr., DVM, Trustee Stacia McMahon Gilbert, DVM, Alternate

District III Robert Bishop, DVM, Trustee Mary-Lynn McBride, DVM, Alternate

District IV Henry Croft, Jr., VMD, Trustee John Showalter, DVM, Trustee Michael Q. Bailey, DVM, DACVR, Alternate

District V Bill Croushore, DVM, Trustee Dan Zawisza, VMD, Alternate

District VI Andrea Honigmann, DVM, Trustee John Simms, VMD, Trustee Trent Lartz, DVM, Alternate Jeff Steed, DVM, Alternate

District VII Christina Dougherty, VMD, Trustee Jim Holt, VMD, Trustee Casey Lynch Kurtz, VMD, Trustee Theodore Robinson, VMD, Trustee Kimberley Hershhorn Galligher, VMD, Alternate Kim Kovath, VMD, Alternate Steven Prier, VMD, Alternate Tom Garg, VMD, Alternate

Editor: Heather Berst, VMD Staff Editor & Graphic Designer: Lori Raver Staff Editor: Charlene Wandzilak Editorial Correspondence Letters to the Editor should be sent to PVMA, Attn: Lori Raver, 8574 Paxton Street, Hummelstown, PA 17036, fax 717.220.1461, or by email at lraver@pavma.org.

Advertising keystone veterinarian is published quarterly by the Pennsylvania Veterinary Medical Association. Inquiries about display advertising should be directed to Lori Raver at the address and phone number listed above. Advertising information is also available on our website, www.pavma.org. Contracts and insertion orders should be sent to the address listed above by the appropriate submission deadline.

Submission Deadlines All articles, classifieds, and display advertisements must be received by the deadlines listed to be considered for inclusion in the respective issue: Volume II, 2012—May 1, 2012 Volume III, 2012—August 1, 2012 Volume IV, 2012—October 1, 2012 Subscriptions keystone veterinarian is mailed to all PVMA members at no charge as a member benefit. Subscriptions are available to non-members for $30 a year or $10 for a single issue.

Notice to Readers Neither this publication nor PVMA assume responsibility for material contained in articles and advertisements published, nor does publication necessarily constitute endorsement or approval of the advertiser, product, service, or author viewpoint by the keystone veterinarian, its editors and publishers, or the Pennsylvania Veterinary Medical Association. In addition, neither this publication nor PVMA guarantee the accuracy, reliability, or completeness of any facts, views, opinions, recommendations, information or statements contained within this publication.

Reproduction in whole or in part is prohibited without the permission of the Pennsylvania Veterinary Medical Association.

Copyright 2012: Pennsylvania Veterinary Medical Association.

District VIII Mike Barnett, DVM, MBA, Trustee Ferdinand Visintainer, VMD, Trustee Susan Ackermann, DVM, Alternate

AVMA Alternate Delegate Mike Topper, DVM, PhD, DACVP

Academic Veterinarian At-Large Vacant

Veterinary Student At-Large Lauren A. Aldinger (V’12)

Production Animal Practice Veterinarian At-Large Darcie Stolz, VMD

Equine Veterinarian At-Large Vacant

Public and Corporate Practice Veterinarian At-Large Jules Benson, BVSc, MRCVS

Veterinary Technician At-Large Karla Carlisle, CVT, RLATG

12_Volume_1.indd 4

3/20/2012 10:20:11 AM

Two Empty Collars

By Adam Hoover, VMD, District I Trustee

BEING

a veterinarian is often a rollercoaster ride.

I think that we experience the entire range of all the human condition has to offer. Some days, we are rock stars: we can diagnose the cases from outside the rooms, clients love us, animals don’t try to hurt us, and the thank you cards roll in. Other days, we are less stellar: every case is baffling, the necrotic tumor incision is now dehiscing, everything that comes through the door needs a muzzle, and the clients are angry at us for missing the simple diagnosis that they were able to find by a quick search on the Internet.

We are also many things to many people.

Some view us as God: able to fix any problem despite the odds and incapable of failure. To some, we are counselors to help them through the painful decision of euthanasia and the vortex of emotions afterwards. To children, we are often a mysterious figure to look up to that lets them listen to their pet’s heart with a stethoscope. To others, we are the face that they associate with their animal’s death. To a few, the realists, we are simply humans doing the best that we can under the circumstances.

Being a veterinarian means experiencing all of the above, sometimes over the course of only a few hours. As I sit in front of my computer tonight typing this, I am reflecting back on my day today. I had two patients come in. One of them, “Chuck”, was diagnosed with diabetes a month ago. He was a happy dog of around ten. At sixty-three pounds, he was full of life, joy, and house-soiling. We diagnosed him with diabetes and began insulin. He came in for a few rechecks in the following month. The blood glucose was dropping steadily and the house-soiling was getting better.

cations into their dog, despite a valiant effort.

A rather pricey injectable antibiotic had been given three days prior. He came in extremely weak, slightly neurologic with hind limb ataxia and a head tilt, and very raspy breathing.

Bloodwork simply had elevated white blood cells and he was given an IV, more medications, and put into an oxygen cage.

Chuck wasn’t much better when he came in later in the morning. Chuck was recumbent, barely conscious, had been vomiting and not eating for the last three days, and the owners had not given the insulin for three days or called our hospital on emergency for advice. His bloodwork showed a high white blood cell count, azotemia, and a glucose level that was higher than our machine could read. We placed an IV, started him on regular insulin, gave antiemetics and antibiotics, and continually monitored his blood glucose. It never went below “HI”.

Both owners declined referrals to a referral practice for advanced diagnostics. Both owners were told of other diagnostics that could be performed to help us diagnose their problems. Both owners were told of the guarded to poor prognosis.

I think that in those moments, despite how others perceive us, this is when our humanity shines through. After we have consulted the other veterinarians in the practice, hit every reference book available, and spent an inordinate amount of time scouring Veterinary Information Network (VIN), all we have left to do at that point is to sit back and watch the race between our medicines and our patient’s condition. Once you have been doing this for a while, have some experience, and have a feel for how a case will turn out, it feels like you are simply left with sitting there and helplessly watching your patient die.

The other patient was “Griz”, a seventy-five pound chow mix near Chuck’s age that had to be separated from the owners to examine given his protective temperament and propensity for anger. Where Chuck had joy in his eyes, Griz had mistrust. He had started to cough a week and a half earlier. Chest radiographs revealed a horrendous case of pneumonia. We started him on two different antibiotics to cover our bases and something to help him breathe better.

I went in to check on both of my patients at nine o'clock tonight. Griz was still laboriously breathing. Chuck was on his side, rasping.

He looked awful. I called Chuck’s owners and asked for permission to euthanize him. They consented. By the time that I had drawn up the euthanasia solution and walked to his cage, Chuck had passed away. I called the owners back and told them this. As I finished placing Chuck into his body bag, I noticed the silence. Griz’s laborious breathing wasn’t present. As I looked into his cage, I already knew what I would find.

Both came in today. Griz came in first. After six days, the owners had conceded defeat and they were not able to get any oral medi-

Both of my patients died within five minutes of each other. As I was preoccupied with

WWW.PAVMA.ORG

12_Volume_1.indd 5

Being a veterinarian is often a rollercoaster ride. I think that we experience the entire range of all the human condition has to offer.

Chuck, Griz may have passed at the exact same moment. Their conditions were in no way related. Their attitudes could not have been farther from each other. As they lay in their cages, alone and away from their families, perhaps in their altered states, they bonded and made a pact that they would not be alone anymore. They silently communicated that they would take the next stage together. Fearful biter and happy companion left on their final adventure together.

When a case goes well, we often attribute it to our superior veterinary skills despite the fact that I believe many of our patients will get better in spite of us. My coping may not be healthy for me, but when things go wrong, I think of what I did wrong. I think of what I could do better next time. I think about diagnostic avenues I did not pursue and differentials that I brushed off. I like to think that this rigorous self-evaluation makes

keystone veterinarian

continued on page 35 VOLUME I 2012

5

3/20/2012 10:20:12 AM

observations

Veterinarians Are an Important Part of Public Health

By Heather Berst, VMD, Editor

I

got lost in the exhibit hall and missed the talk I wanted to hear!

That is a quote from a first time attendee to the North American Veterinary Conference (NAVC) this year. I was working at this conference and decided to explore this daunting exhibit hall to see if any booths had information about public health.

Knowing what an important part veterinarians play in public health, it did not take me long to find what I was looking for! I found a booth for the US Army Veterinary Corps, and I also noticed many armed forces members walking around the exhibit hall floor. Several veterinarians I know are involved with the U.S. Army. I know they do a lot of work with public health. I discovered that The Active Duty and Reserve Veterinary Corps Officers often deliver veterinary public health programs around the world such as vaccination programs in Ecuador, teaching Thai veterinary technicians, or supporting foot and mouth disease eradication efforts in Mongolia. Speaking with a friend who is an Army veterinarian, I found a lot of veterinarians continue to assist with public health issues worldwide upon retiring from the military. Several of her friends are currently working on projects in Africa.

What a better way to utilize our resources and to promote good will.

I found two additional groups with booths in the exhibit hall that related to veterinary public health. They were World Vets and Project Vets. Both of these groups provide rabies vaccination programs and spaying/ neutering in under privileged countries. These services, especially the rabies vaccine programs, contribute to the greater good.

After a long day in the exhibit hall, I went to the Penn Alumni reception. I know the veterinary schools in the US are in the forefront of contributing to the advancement of veterinary public health. These teaching institutions are invaluable resources for research about veterinary public health and key in producing new graduates with public health interests. Many veterinary schools supply the much needed disease surveillance in their states. Diseases such as avian influenza, bovine tuberculosis and brucellosis are monitored by the veterinary schools. Continued support of these institutions will help maintain the public’s safety.

Now that I am home from NAVC and writing this article, I realized that most of the booths in some way could relate to public health. For example, a booth with deworming products of will help with the spread of zoonotic disease. Many of the large animal booths had products to improve herd health. In a world that is becoming smaller at a rapid pace, veterinarians must be the leaders in the instances where animal and human disease intersect. l

6

VOLUME I 2012

12_Volume_1.indd 6

keystone veterinarian

WWW.PAVMA.ORG

3/20/2012 10:20:13 AM

Letter to the Editor:

Concern Expressed Over Recently Published Stem Cell Therapy Articles

I

would like to comment on two articles published recently in keystone veterinarian.

The first appeared in Volume III, 2011, entitled "Canine Stem Cell Therapy for Cisco," and the second appeared in Volume IV, 2011, entitled "Adipose Stem Cell Regenerative Therapy." In these articles, the authors profess that, after they are harvested and injected back into the patient, adipose derived stem cells differentiate into tendon, ligament, bone, cartilage, cardiac, nerve, muscle, blood vessels, fat, and liver tissue.

be repeated. I would caution practitioners not to suggest to clients that these stem cells differentiate and rebuild normal structure throughout the body. We injure ourselves and our profession when we make this type of an unsubstantiated claim.

as a profession—end up having to answer the question in the title of an editorial written by Drs. Jeffrey and Granger in Veterinary Surgery (41 (2012) 189-190) entitled, "Is 'Stem Cell Therapy' Becoming the 21ST Century Snake Oil?" l

I implore practitioners using this "new" technology to use it wisely. Otherwise, we will—

Steven Prier, MS, VMD Sugartown Veterinary Hospital

In one published controlled study by VetStem, there was evidence that post-treatment animals felt better. There was evidence that the material that was injected reduced inflammation and allowed for a greater range of motion in the affected joint. But there was no evidence that the adipose derived stem sells differentiated into other cell lines after they were placed into the joint. According to VetStem, these stem cells might differentiate into other cell lines, but they do not have any reliable evidence to show that this actually does happen. On their website, they suggest that stem cells have the following property: "Anti-inflammatory/immunomodulation. In general, in vitro studies demonstrate that MSCs limit inflammatory responses and promote anti-inflammatory pathways." I propose that this is the reason for the improvement in these patients and not the ability of the cells to differentiate.

The providers of this service tell us that as veterinarians, we are in the forefront of this science because we are utilizing this modality before it is being used routinely in humans.

Because this is an autologus material we are injecting back into our patients, , it does not require FDA approval. This lack of oversight should put into question the claims made by companies that are promoting this form of treatment.

The patients that are given these stem cells must be chosen carefully. There is evidence that if these stem cells are given to a patient with a neoplastic condition, then the stem cell treatment will accelerate the oncologic process.

My concern is that clients are being sold a treatment modality on a premise that has not yet been proven. The client is more likely to spend thousands of dollars if they hear a claim that their pet will be made new again.

I wonder how they will feel in 6-9 months when they are told the treatment needs to WWW.PAVMA.ORG

12_Volume_1.indd 7

keystone veterinarian

VOLUME I 2012

7

3/20/2012 10:20:15 AM

the two cents thepresident’s president’s two cents

Are Things Changing in Pennsylvania?

By Robert Lavan, DVM, MS, MPVM, DACVPM, President

A

re things changing in Pennsylvania?

Not too long ago, do you recall hearing dire predictions about a shortage of veterinarians? The US Bureau of Labor Statistics was one of these voices calling for an increase in the training of new veterinarians in the United States.

As I start my term as PVMA President, the message around the number of veterinarians practicing in the United States seems to have changed. There is some real fear that the pendulum has swung the other way.

In an editorial in the latest JAVMA (Jan 1, 2012), our own Dr. Sherb Ostrich worries “… that as the number of veterinarians entering the profession continues to increase, their economic value will start to decrease.” Other authors have been saying that we are on track to have a national excess of veterinarians. According to the 2010 AVMA statistics, we currently have over 90,000 veterinarians in the United States, with slightly more women than men.

Several factors have increased the number of veterinarians available to practice in the United States. I am sure you have heard that some veterinary schools have increased their class size. A 2010 survey by the American Association of Veterinary Medical Colleges found that 11 veterinary schools were planning seat increases sometime between 2010 and 2015. With the addition of the new veterinary school at Western University of Health Sciences, California becomes the second state with two schools to train veterinarians (the other is Alabama). The state of Alaska, which does not have a veterinary school, is also trying to increase the number of veterinarians trained for Alaska by 20 per year. I have to imagine that schools that have increased their graduating veterinary class size appreciate the increase in revenue, especially with reduced state funding of education. I also expect that they would be less likely to give up this revenue, in the face of dwindling reserves and a poor economy.

Another source of veterinarians that could practice in the U.S. comes from some of the accredited foreign veterinary schools. Currently, the AVMA provides accreditation for 28 U.S. veterinary schools and 17 foreign schools. Included in the count of foreign schools, the AVMA Council on Education announced the new accreditation of the veterinary schools at Ross University, St. George’s University, and Universidad Nacional Autonoma de Mexico (UNAM). Graduating from an AVMA accredited school means that a student does not have to take the ECFVG or PAVE examination, intended for graduates of foreign veterinary schools. Students graduating from a foreign veterinary school that is AVMA accredited are placed on an even footing with students from U.S. schools, in terms of the hurdles for licensure.

For foreign veterinary schools that do not benefit from AVMA accreditation, there has been substantial discussion in AVMA circles about foreign graduates having a choice of the ECFVG and PAVE examinations. I have read some discussion that the acceptance of the PAVE examination by certain states lowers the bar for foreign graduates, making it easier to practice in the United States. I have not seen comparative pass rates for the two exams but certainly, if you don’t like one, you can take the other.

For veterinarians practicing in Pennsylvania, we still want to find good associates, to be able to sell our practices, to fill our public health ranks, and to meet our responsibility to the public. To me, it does not feel like we have an abundance of veterinarians yet. The Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture has a map showing that five or six of the northern tier counties have no food animal veterinarians. In 2009, our past Secretary of Agriculture Dennis Wolff told me that he could not find a veterinarian to visit his farms. I wonder if the efforts to increase the number of veterinarians is actually addressing the shortages that we see in veterinarians in large animal medicine, food animal medicine, and public health.

Things seem to be changing in the veterinary world, and change generates a certain amount of discomfort.

Winston Churchill once said “There is nothing wrong with change, if it is in the right direction.” I think we need to pay attention. My question is, are things moving in the right direction? l

8

VOLUME I 2012

12_Volume_1.indd 8

keystone veterinarian

WWW.PAVMA.ORG

3/20/2012 10:20:16 AM

PVMA Hosts Senate Ag Committee Informational Meeting on Veterinary Issues

O

n March 6, 2012, PVMA was fortunate to host a Senate Agriculture and Rural Affairs Committee informational meeting on veterinary issues at the state capitol building. Majority Chair Senator Elder Vogel and Ag Committee Executive Director Mike Rader graciously invited PVMA to spend the morning educating the Committee members about critical issues of interest in veterinary medicine and the Commonwealth.

Senator Vogel welcomed everyone and stated veterinarians play an important role in agriculture, specifically in large animal agriculture. He emphasized that the Senate and Pennsylvania General Assembly review the assets available within the state to ensure the protection of animals, preserve food safety, and further strengthen the economy.

PVMA Vice-President Dr. Sherrill Davison provided opening remarks and outlined how PVMA can serve as a resource to legislators in the Pennsylvania General Assembly on issues related to food safety, public health, and animal health and welfare. She provided examples of the veterinarian’s role in ensuring food safety including her real life experience as the Resident Director of New Bolton Center’s Animal Diagnostic Laboratory, one of the three parts to Pennsylvania’s unique and critically important Pennsylvania Animal Diagnostic Laboratory System (PADLS). Dr. Davison, who is the Director, Laboratory of Avian Medicine and Pathology at the University of Pennsylvania, also highlighted elements of the Pennsylvania Egg Quality Assurance Program and how the program, which was developed in our state by producers and veterinarians, has become a national standard.

Following Dr. Davison’s introduction, PVMA Executive Director Charlene Wandzilak discussed what training is involved in becoming a veterinarian, provided statistics about the veterinary profession in Pennsylvania, the US veterinary schools, and trends in veterinary medicine such as increased prevalence of specialization, internships, and residencies, and the gender shift within the profession. She also highlighted the importance of the veterinary-client-patient relationship and the scope of practice for veterinary medicine, indicating that it is in the best interest of animals for the scope of practice to be preserved because of the expertise and extensive training which veterinarians offer to animal health and welfare.

Charlene’s overview was followed by Matthew Meals, Deputy Secretary for Animal Agriculture for the Department of Agriculture, who provided a presentation on the Pennsylvania Animal Diagnostic Laboratory System (PADLS). Deputy Secretary Meals outlined how PADLS is structured as a three part system: the Animal Disease Laboratory at Penn State University, the PADLS New Bolton Center at the University of Pennsylvania, and the Pennsylvania Veterinary Laboratory in Harrisburg. He indicated PADLS was established by the Animal Health and Diagnostic Act of 1988 to address a deficiency in veterinary laboratory services due to an inadequate facility at Summerdale and loss of accreditation. He noted comprehensive laboratory system reviews for reaccreditation are performed at five-year intervals with the next review scheduled for mid-2012. Deputy Secretary Meals highlighted the current budget situation, advising that there are still efforts to maintain laboratory funding at or near the previous year’s funding following the budget crisis and critical positions have been prioritized. He said fees are being maintained at cost-recovery levels to minimize the impact on producers, but the increased costs of supplies is a continued challenge.

He indicated the reduction in federal funding has caused an elimination in blanket purchase order agreements with USDA for CWD testing WWW.PAVMA.ORG

12_Volume_1.indd 9

in deer, elimination of federal support for Brucellosis testing in swine and cattle, elimination of support for the milk ring test for brucellosis surveillance in raw milk, and an anticipated reduction in the 2013-2014 avian influenza cooperative agreement. He also discussed that strategic planning in the past for the Animal Health and Diagnostic Commission (AHDC funds PADLS) and PADLS had yielded similar findings and non-resolution of issues, so a meeting of charter members of the Animal Health and Diagnostic Commission was held to gain input before work continues on development of a new plan. Minority Chair Senator Judith Schwank asked what role the commission will take in oversight and how the legislature can help to address it. Deputy Secretary Meals replied that as the commission looks into the issue further, the roles of the commission and the legislature will be further defined. Majority Chair Vogel asked at what funding point it would become impossible for PADLS to continue operating. Deputy Secretary Meals replied it is dependent on what outbreaks happen but noted surge capacity is a major issue. He stated there have also been issues of equipment replacements, and the department has not been able to fund capital improvements but continues to look at this issue.

Dr. Jim Holt, Trustee of the Pennsylvania Veterinary Medical Association and owner of Brandywine Veterinary Services, presented the Senate Ag Committee with an overview of the unwanted horse issue— nationally and in Pennsylvania—and his experience working with this problem at the New Holland Livestock Auction. He stated unwanted continued on page 27 keystone veterinarian

VOLUME I 2012

9

3/20/2012 10:20:16 AM

from where I sit

Veterinary Medicine Loses a Champion as We Say Goodbye to Dr. Richard Detwiler

By Charlene Wandzilak, Executive Director

I

recently attended the funeral service of PVMA member Dr. Richard Detwiler. Although he was 86 years old and had lived a long and fulfilling life by all the measures that truly count, his passing was still an incredible loss to the world and to Pennsylvania’s veterinary community.

As I sat in the church during his service, I was so impressed by the outpouring of love and respect from his family and friends. The impression he made on others through his passion for veterinary medicine,history, and his robust enjoyment of life and learning was obvious. Many of the things that I came to love and appreciate about him were also the things that seemed to have left an imprint on others—his warm smile, his hardy laugh, his sense of humor, and his love of all kinds of food, both common and strange. He lived life to the fullest, which is something we should all strive to accomplish.

As I prepared to write my column for this issue, I considered writing an article around PVMA’s three key promises to our members: loyalty, commitment and service. It seemed fitting to use those three promises as a springboard to talk about my dear friend’s life and how he embodied these tenets.

Loyalty, commitment and service are among the most important things to me as a person. They are also three ideals that we strive to live by within PVMA as leaders, as members of the management team, and as volunteers. Dr. Detwiler’s life was a testament to these values. He was a loyal PVMA member and was dedicated to a life of service to the profession. He became a member shortly after graduation from the University of Pennsylvania, School of Veterinary Medicine in 1948. At that time, he worked with his father, Russell, and Dr. Detwiler was the third member of his family to practice veterinary medicine since 1889. He then went on to the US Army Veterinary Corps from 1950-1952 where he attained the rank of Captain. Following his military service, he returned to Reading where he became the owner of Detwiler Animal Hospital.

Throughout his career, he believed in giving back to the profession and did so ably in many capacities. Dr. Detwiler served as a President of the Schulykill Valley Veterinary Medical Association and was PVMA’s Delegate to the AVMA from 1986-2003. He also served as one of the founding members of the Pennsylvania Veterinary Foundation (PVF), served as its Chair, was a passionate supporter of its scholarship fund, and was Chair of the Scholarship Committee. He could always be found at PVMA’s Annual Scientific Meeting (Keystone Veterinary Conference), helping with the PVF Silent Auction and warming the hearts of those around him with his infectious smile and boisterous laugh. As an active volunteer for PVMA and PVF, you could always count on him to be a gentleman—holding open doors, carrying boxes for staff, and generally being warm and giving of his time. Dr. Detwiler was also a founding member and curator of the American Veterinary Medical History Society (AVMHS). He and Dr. Max Herman cultivated the collections of AMVHS and spent countless hours tending to the society, its building, artifacts, and trying to raise awareness about the museum and the importance of preserving veterinary medicine’s history.

His life of loyalty, commitment, and service to veterinary medicine was recognized many times within our organizations when Dr. Detwiler was awarded with the PVF Cornerstone Service Award in 2011, PVMA’s Lifetime Achievement Award in 2002, and the Distinguished Veterinary Service Award in 1994. I was so glad that we honored him for his work with the Foundation last summer during the Keystone Veterinary Conference with one of the inaugural PVF Cornerstone Service Awards. It was wonderful to see both he and his wife, Grace, at the meeting as their travel had become more limited in recent years and his smiling face at our meetings became less and less visible. It was fitting he receive this award because of his incredible dedication to PVF. continued on page 11 10

VOLUME I 2012

12_Volume_1.indd 10

keystone veterinarian

WWW.PAVMA.ORG

3/20/2012 10:20:17 AM

On page 10: Dr. Detwiler and his wife, Grace, during the 5TH Keystone Veterinary Conference in 2011; this page, top left: Dr. Detwiler socializes at the PVMA booth with fellow PVMA member Dr. Harvey Bendix; bottom left: Dr. Detwiler receives his Distinguished Veterinary Service Award in 1994 from Dr. Cliff Cummings; above: Dr. Detwiler receives his PVF Cornerstone Service Award from PVMA Past President Dr. Larry Gerson in 2011.

From Where I Sit continued from page 10

In his community, he was a 50-year plus member of Chancellor Lodge 227 F&AMM, Excelsior Chapter 237 RAM, Reading Commandery 9 Knight Templar and a lifelong member and elder of Trinity Lutheran Church in Reading.

Dr. Detwiler was also the epitome of commitment in his personal life. He was a devoted husband and father. He and his wife, Grace, celebrated their 60TH anniversary last March. He had three daughters, Louise, Anita, and Judith, and nine grandchildren. Each of his family members who spoke about Dr. Detwiler at the service recounted the memories he'd made with them.

The impact he had on each of them evidenced that the traits I appreciated about him in our organization where true in all aspects of his life.

Another of his passions was his Swedish heritage. If you were fortunate enough to share a meal with him, there would always be a Swedish toast or “skoal” before the meal. I would like to close this tribute with a skoal in his honor.

Raise your glasses.

Here’s to a dedicated life of loyalty, commitment, and service. You will be missed. Skoal, Dr. Detwiler. l

Memorial Donations If you are interested in making a donation in Dr. Detwiler’s honor, donations can be sent to PVF, 8574 Paxton St, Hummelstown, PA 17036. Donations in Dr. Detwiler’s memory will be used for the 2012 scholarships awarded to veterinary students from Pennsylvania.

WWW.PAVMA.ORG

12_Volume_1.indd 11

keystone veterinarian

VOLUME I 2012

11

3/20/2012 10:20:21 AM

Do Veterinarians Have a Role in the

Raw Milk Debate?

By David R. Wolfgang, VMD, DABVP-Dairy, Extension Veterinarian and Field Investigator, Penn State University, State College, Pennsylvania

N

o doubt many veterinarians have been asked in the last few weeks what their opinion is about the safety or appropriateness of raw milk in someone’s diet. Many people have very strong opinions on this subject both pro and con. In this very short piece I cannot begin to address all the issues related to this topic. However, I will review what I believe is some consensus information and offer a few thoughts on what veterinarians may want to consider when working with producers who may be selling raw milk in Pennsylvania.

First selling raw milk in Pennsylvania is legal, as long as the producer receives the proper permits and successfully passes the inspection and additional pathogen testing required by the Department of Agriculture. Milk quality tests are required bi-monthly, and raw milk is tested twice per year for milk safety pathogens (Campylobacter, E coli O157, Listeria, and Salmonella). If a farm receives a positive test, it must produce two negative tests in a two week period before that farm can begin to sell raw milk again.

Pasteurization was started about 100 years ago as a way to minimize the spread of infectious disease that could be carried in milk and infect humans. A century ago over 25% of all food borne illnesses were related to dairy. Pathogens in milk were a significant cause of disease and mortality in children. The time and temperature sequences for milk were designed primarily to eliminate the two major pathogens of that era, Brucella and Tuberculosis. Pasteurization, along with improved re12

VOLUME I 2012

12_Volume_1.indd 12

keystone veterinarian

frigeration from the farm to the home, also served to greatly increase shelf life of dairy products. In the modern era, most milk is pasteurized and has a relatively long shelf life, usually 14 to 21 days.

In the 21ST century, approximately 97 to 99% of the population who drink milk consume pasteurized milk. It is estimated that 1-3% of dairy consumers drink raw milk or eat dairy products from raw milk. In both cases, milk is not a sterile product and illness can be associated with both pasteurized and non-pasteurized products. In the last 5-7 years—according to CDC statistics—approximately 70% of all dairy food outbreaks have been associated with raw milk products. That is, 1-3% of the milk consumers represent 70% of the cases. Most disease in people is Campylobacteriosis with GI signs as the most common symptom. A rare post infection sequel of Campylobacter infection is Guilllain Barre syndrome. A lower incidence of infections due to E coli O157, Salmonella, and Listeria are reported. However, these infections may be much more serious in nature. Veterinarians who work with producers whose consumers buy raw milk products should educate their producers to inform their clients of the clinical signs associated with raw milk pathogens. The fact that a farm family has never become ill from drinking raw milk on their own farm does not mean there are no pathogens in the milk. Milk from healthy and clean cows should be sterile from the udder, but in the farm environment there are ample opportunities to contaminate milk. Farm families are adapted to these bacteria classes and they often become part of their commensal GI flora. That same GI flora may not be present in consumers who purchase dairy products. It is extremely important that consumers who WWW.PAVMA.ORG

3/20/2012 10:20:21 AM

The fact that a farm family has never become ill from drinking raw milk on their own farm does NOT mean there are no pathogens in the milk. think they may be ill from consuming raw milk or dairy products seek medical attention immediately. Any age person has the potential to become ill if they ingest these food safety pathogens from any source. In general, individuals less than 18 years of age, the elderly, and those with compromised immune systems are at the greatest risk for serious disease complications.

Some people choose to consume raw milk for a couple of reasons. One reason is flavor, and another reason may be purported health benefits. Whole raw milk from a farm can have some flavor and texture characteristics that consumers appreciate. Typically raw milk from the farm is not homogenized and that may give the milk a slightly creamier consistency. High heat processing does cause a slight Milliard reaction of the milk sugars.

This can be detected in very high temperature ultra pasteurized milk, but some people believe there is a slight cooked flavor to milk even at routine pasteurization temperatures.

Second, many people claim raw milk has immune function, fully functional enzymes, curative characteristics, or enhanced nutritive properties vs. pasteurized milk. There have been no scientific studies that have documented that these differences are physiologically significant between these types of milk products. It is true that some modest changes in proteins, sugars, and enzymes can be detected in pasteurized milk vs. unheated milk. While a beneficial claim for probiotics has been made for raw milk, it is important to remember that truly hygienic collection of milk from healthy cows into a sterile container should result in milk with little or no bacteria. Bacteria are added to milk in the handling and storage. Pasteurization does greatly reduce any live bacteria found in milk at the farm level. These are not exactly the same live micro-organisms which may be added to dairy products during processing to produce a specific fermented product such as yogurt or cheese.

There are some basic procedures and protocols that the veterinarian can implement with his/her clients to improve the safety and quality of unprocessed dairy products.

First and foremost the veterinarian should work with the producer to be as proactive in diet formulation and avoiding GI disease in the herd as possible. Most of the food safety WWW.PAVMA.ORG

12_Volume_1.indd 13

pathogens are GI bacteria which may be in GI tract at subclinical levels, fluctuations in rumen function or GI motility can cause their numbers and shedding patterns to change almost overnight. Animals off feed or those whose rumen is not fully functioning are at higher risk for shedding bacteria of food safety concern. Salmonella is notorious for its ability to change its shedding pattern and reach high levels in the manure based on the health of the rumen. Careful attention to fiber length and level, carbohydrate balance, and minimizing wide fluctuations of ingredients in the diet are very important. Transition from the dry cow string to the milking herd is a common area where nutrition and stresses can cause metabolic or GI disease to spike upward. Fermented feeds that have high levels of soil contamination or are poorly fermented can contain Listeria which can persist in the GI tract and be passed in the manure or even on occasion directly in the milk. If these patterns are seen on a farm selling raw dairy products, the veterinarian should quickly assist his client in rectifying these problems and reduce any potential risk to his/her clients.

Finally it goes without saying that, overall, a high level of preventative health programs should be practiced. Udder health, hygiene, and overall milk quality must be maintained at the very highest standards if raw milk is to be sold from the farm with minimal risk. Producers should have in place protocols for the detection and treatment of clinical and subclinical mastitis cases as well as a diagnostic plan in plan to minimize new infections. Some producers may choose—for marketing reasons—not to use antibiotics in certain management systems. That does not mean that infections should not be treated or chronic or painful conditions ignored.

Non-approved products must be carefully evaluated as both the farmer and the prescribing veterinarians share responsibility in assuring residues do not enter the food system. Even on an organic farm, if the situation warrants the cow should be treated in the most appropriate medical manner. That could involve removing that animal from the milking herd if products such

as antibiotics are the best medical plan for an individual animal. Concern for the well-being of the animal, even if she has to eventually be removed from the herd, should be more important than keeping an unhealthy or painful animal in the herd. Lastly, animal well-being and comfort should be monitored and maintained such that cows are clean and healthy no matter the season or style of housing.

The following web sites have resources which may be helpful in guiding producer and consumer decisions regarding the sale of or consumption of raw dairy products on their farm or for their families. l

References http://www.msu.edu/user/mdr/vol116no2/ rawmilk.html http://www.realrawmilkfacts.com/rawmilk-hot-topics http://vbs.psu.edu/extension/focus-areas/ milk-quality/raw-milk-resources

keystone veterinarian

VOLUME I 2012

13

3/20/2012 10:20:22 AM

practice pearls

Ready for 2012?

By Sherry Everhart BS, RVT and David McCormick, MS, Simmons Mid-Atlantic, Boalsburg, Pennsylvania

T

he New Year is in full swing and it’s time to prepare for the season we all love—cough, cough—tax time! In addition to organizing and assessing your financial records to prep for the IRS, there are a number of other areas within your practice that would also benefit from an annual review. Here are a few important areas to help your practice run more efficiently and profitably.

Re-Evaluate Vendors Have the employee responsible for inventory management create a list of the items most frequently purchased last year. Submit this list to each of the major distributors and ask them to provide quotes. Also, consider if it makes sense to search out a new vendor and offer them the same list. Go with the vendor that offers the best prices overall.

Not only do the reduced costs benefit the practice’s bottom line, but so will the time savings for the employee if they can consolidate their purchase orders and streamline the number of phone calls and invoices that have to be dealt with throughout the year.

Review Your Merchant Accounts Are you overpaying for your credit card processing? Do you know what exactly what you’re being charged? As the frequency of credit card sales increases, it’s more important than ever to closely monitor your merchant fees. For many practices, this expense can consume up to 2% of revenues. Similar to your drug vendors, make sure you shop merchant account providers at least annually.

14

VOLUME I 2012

12_Volume_1.indd 14

keystone veterinarian

Equipment Many practice owners think about their equipment purchase(s) only at the end of the year to capitalize on the tax savings. It is less common to make the time to evaluate what care the equipment should receive throughout the year to help maximize its lifespan. Instead of the policy “fix it when it breaks,” the beginning of the year is a good time to schedule those periodic equipment checks and evaluate maintenance programs. If you know that some equipment may not last the year, start preparing now for its replacement.

Improve Recordkeeping Start by separating your business records into a more manageable arrangement. Nothing is more frustrating and time wasting than searching through a pile of papers or a messy file cabinet drawer for the one item you’re looking for. Here is a suggested organization structure to help get you started.

• Accounting Records—accounts payable, expense records, purchase orders, chart of accounts, financial statements, tax returns • Bank Records—reconciliations, statements, cancelled checks, electronic payment records • Corporate Records—Board minutes, bylaws, business licenses, stock registers and transactions • Employee Records—Benefit plans, employee files, employment taxes, payroll records, insurances • Equipment/Property Records—Construction records, leasehold improvements, large equipment purchases, insurances, appraisals • Loan Records—Leases, mortgages continued on page 15

WWW.PAVMA.ORG

3/20/2012 10:20:23 AM

Ready For 2012? continued from page 14

Once organized, enlist the help of your accountant to purge any unnecessary records that extend beyond their record keeping requirement.

Many bank and accounting records are required to be kept only 7 years while most corporate and property records need to be kept indefinitely.

While tempting, you should not recycle old personal and/or practice documents. They need to be properly destroyed. You can hire a paper shredding company to securely dispose of the old documents. Collect what needs to be shredded then the company arrives on site with their truck.

This could be a new, annual employee benefit. They each can have a grocery bag or two to fill with personal documents that need to be destroyed.

Employees Just as equipment needs periodic tune-ups, so do your employees. Develop your office continuing education plan for the year. Who is doing what and what new skills or information can benefit the practice? It’s important to realize that it’s common for many employees to be re-evaluating their career plans at this time of year, too. This makes the beginning of the year an ideal time to implement plans that better utilize your staff. Begin by closely evaluating if there are any duties that you are currently performing but could be delegated. How many housekeeping, bookkeeping or marketing tasks are you doing that are taking time either away from your clients or worse, your personal time? Look for continuing education opportunities that support this endeavor and complement the training needed for them to fully own any new tasks. Planning ahead for continuing education for your staff sends a welcome message that you value them and that you are willing to invest in their career at your practice.

WWW.PAVMA.ORG

12_Volume_1.indd 15

Insurance The beginning of the year is often the time that rate increases take effect. First, make sure that your current insurances adequately protect you. Have you acquired any additional equipment that will require a change in insurance? Then, consider any new insurance carriers that might be able to provide a competitive quote. Many insurance companies now offer savings when you carry multiple policies with the same insurance group. Finally, review your deductibles to make sure they are at an affordable level. It may be worthwhile to start a savings account earmarked specifically to pay deductibles so that you can take advantage of lower premiums.

Cost of Capital Interest rates for borrowing are at an all time low. You may be eligible to refinance or establish a credit line with improved rates. Make sure you are not overpaying simply because you didn’t take the time to call the bank for an update on their rates.

Estate Plan Review your estate action plan. You do have one, right? These are the plans you have for your practice to help your loved ones take care of the practice in the event of your untimely death. Review this plan once a year to make sure the contact information for key individuals is correct and still applicable. Take the time to review the beneficiaries on life insurance policies and retirement accounts. If you don’t have an estate plan, this is an excellent time to create one. To help get you started, email us for a free pdf. continued on page 35

keystone veterinarian

VOLUME I 2012

15

3/20/2012 10:20:24 AM

Swine Flu Facts and the Emergence of a New Human H3N2v Strain

By Deepanker Tewari, BVSc, MVSc, PhD, Manager for Microbiology Services, Pennsylvania Animal Diagnostic Laboratory System, Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania of the previous pandemics, in 1918 (Spanish flu with H1N1) and 1968 (Hong Kong flu with H3N2), were caused by viruses that were able to infect both humans and pigs simultaneously.

In 2011, the Center for Disease Control (CDC) reported recovery of yet another subtype from humans, a new H3N2 variant, that has 7 genes from triple reassorted swine H3N2 strain but also carries the 2009 pandemic H1N1 matrix (M) gene. The new H3N2 variant virus {officially now named as A(H3N2)v } unlike the 2009 pandemic strain, is said to have limited potential for human to human transmission. In humans, the virus has been reported from 12 cases, mostly children, including 3 from Pennsylvania. At least in 50% of the human cases exposure to pigs was not reported.

s

wine flu or swine

influenza virus (SIV) refers to influenza, a viral infection of pigs.

Currently, influenza subtypes H1N1, H1N2 and H3N2 co-circulate in the pigs throughout the world including the United States. These subtypes have arisen from reassortment of the influenza viral genome by exchange of genetic content. The circulating influenza subtypes among all species continue to evolve. Pigs, due to viral receptors in tracheal lining, are believed to play an important role in genetic intermixing among swine, avian and human flu viruses.

In 2009, a novel H1N1 virus of swine flu genetic lineage sickened many people around the globe. The World Health Organization labeled this infection as a category 6 pandemic. This meant the infection could spread successfully among humans in large geographic areas. Initially, the virus was erroneously called swine flu but was renamed as A(H1N1) pdm09 to avoid any confusion with viruses 16

VOLUME I 2012

12_Volume_1.indd 16

that circulate in pigs. The pandemic virus is a triple reassortant containing human, swine, and avian influenza genes. Besides causing human infections and illness, the virus also infected some other animal species including cats, a dog, badger, ferrets, turkeys and pigs.

In 2009, ten countries including the United States also reported infections in commercial swine herds with this new strain. Most of the infections reported in pigs were mild and none of the human infections could be linked to the pigs.

With recovery of these new reassortants, the question is “can the currently available flu vaccines protect humans and pigs against the new variants”? The in-use human seasonal vaccine is not known to protect humans against the new variant {A(H3N2)v} but they do protect against seasonal viral strains including the pandemic 09 strain and against generation of new reassortants. For pigs, newly available pig flu vaccines are said to confer protection against classical swine flu strains, reassortants and also the pandemic H1N1 strain. Based on risks and herd economics, veterinarians can help decide when and which pig vaccines to use. SIV disease in continued on page 17

It is not always very clear which species infects the other first; however, it does appear humans can infect pigs easily, resulting in a generation of viral ressortants. These new reassortants sometimes acquire increased potential in causing disease.

Invariably, whenever a new swine lineage flu virus is able to cause human infection after genetic reassortment, it raises considerable interest among the “microbe hunters” because two

keystone veterinarian

WWW.PAVMA.ORG

3/20/2012 10:20:26 AM

promoting the profession

member spotlight

DEEPANKER TEWARI Deepanker Tewari, BVSc, MVSc, PhD, Manager for Microbiology Services, Pennsylvania Animal Diagnostic Laboratory System—Harrisburg Laboratory, Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania Q: How did you get interested in veterinary medicine and in the niche in which you now work?

A: This was an easy choice for me. My father is a veterinarian and having seen him treat animals, teach veterinary medicine, work on animal health issues was a positive motivator for me to follow him in his footsteps. I was fortunate enough to get accepted to the Cambridge Veterinary School in the UK to pursue higher studies. This gave me a good exposure to the field of veterinary medicine along with building a good understanding of human and public health issues. A stint afterwards at the National Institutes of Health exposed me to these areas further and also to the cutting edge diagnostic medicine and vaccine strategies. I gained and use this knowledge in addressing the animal health issues on an every day basis.

Q: What do you see as the top public health risks?

A: It appears reassortant flu viruses, food borne illnesses, and antimicrobial resistance issues will continue to receive more attention.

Q: How can the average veterinarian do a better job of communicating public health risks to their clients?

A: By staying informed on current issues via briefs from AVMA and our state VMA, veterinarians can do a better job in communicating the relevant information about emerging issues. Signing up for the email updates is a good way to stay informed on pertinent issues.

I find a subscription to free Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report through CDC's website at www.cdc.gov is also useful.

Q: What was the most dangerous case that you’ve dealt with over the years?

A: My current work exposes me and my staff and me to infectious materials sent for testing that at times can be zoonotic in nature.

We deal with all kinds of animal concerns ranging from influenza, salmonella, encephalitis including rabies, anthrax, plague, prions, etc., at the laboratory. We are very careful in our operations and use sufficient protective barriers related to each agent so that we are never in the harm's way. Has any case ever worried me? There have been few. The first one I vividly remember. As a new resident intern, I was treating a Pomeriarian for inappetance issues, and the case turned out to be a dumb form of rabies, giving me few sleepless nights! Consulting the medical provider is the best approach whenever any such concerns arise.

Q: Are there simple ways that the public can prevent public health risks to their families on a daily basis?

A: In most situations, good old hand washing works best with soap or detergent and water. For farm families, a good biosecurity plan can protect both the farm animals and family members from WWW.PAVMA.ORG

12_Volume_1.indd 17

As a new resident intern, I was treating a Pomeriarian for inappetance issues, and the case turned out to be a dumb form of rabies, giving me few sleepless nights! health risks. Pet owners should make sure animals are routinely checked, dewormed and vaccinated well. Owners should also be cognizant that some infections can transfer both ways between pets and owners. Hunting is a big hobby in the Commonwealth.

The hunters should make sure that any unusual finding in the animals is properly reported to appropriate authorities to reduce risk of zoonotic or animal infections. Also, I think with the climate changes that we are experiencing, proper protection against ticks and mosquitoes will also be important this spring and summer to reduce infection risks from vector borne diseases. l

Swine Flu Facts continued from page 16

pigs can be recognized with discharge from snouts, fever, sneezing, a barking cough and breathing problems. Being an endemic disease, it is not unusual to encounter SIV infections in the laboratory submitted pig specimens. Dr Kyoung-Jin (KJ) Yoon from Iowa State University Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory, who sees many swine cases in his laboratory, recently shared his experience that his laboratory finds approximately 20-40% tested pigs to be positive for SIV infection with predominately H1 (67%) and H3 (26%) subtypes. Among the swine flu viruses detected last year, 12% were found to be pandemic strain within the H1 subtype and 26% were H3 reassortments carrying signature sequences from 2009 pandemic strain.

Pennsylvania Animal Diagnostic Laboratory System (PADLS) laboratories at Harrisburg and State College participate in the national USDA SIV surveillance program. For SIV testing, samples from pigs can be submitted to our laboratories for investigation. Acceptable specimens for testing are nasal swabs and lung tissue collected during acute illness. The specimens should be packaged and shipped on ice in viral transport medium. For further information regarding laboratory testing, please contact dtewari@pa.gov or visit www.padls.org.

Evolution of A(H3N2)v: Swine flu virus subtype H3N2 has reassorted (R) with avian and human flu viruses. 2009 H1N1 human strain A (H1N1) pdm09 is believed to have infected pigs and reassorted with H3N2 virus from swine resulting in A(H3N2)v strain that can infect humans. The A(H3N2)v virus has so far shown limited human to human transfer and are not transmitted efficiently. Few select flu strains of both avian and swine origin can rarely but occasionally result in human infections. l keystone veterinarian

VOLUME I 2012

17

3/20/2012 10:20:26 AM

Doesn’t everyone deserve veterinary care?

Ask your veterinarian how you can help ensure that Pennsylvania’s less fortunate animals receive the care they deserve.

Make a donation today at www.pavetfoundation.org.

How the TLC Fund Works

12_Volume_1.indd 18

•

TLC was established in 2009 to provide funding for the care of abused, neglected, or injured unowned companion animals

•

Participating practices may receive reimbursement to offset the costs of providing emergency care or necessary treatment to qualifying animals

•

Funds are primarily gathered from generous donations— TLC is a partnership between veterinarians, their clients, and animal lovers. You can make a donation online at www.pavetfoundation.org.

3/20/2012 10:20:28 AM

Buy Everyday Necessities Online and Support the Pennsylvania Veterinary Foundation Join once and you can automatically donate money to PVF each time you shop online iGive.com is FREE for you and free for the Foundation. You can shop for everyday items at hundreds of the web's best stores including Amazon.com, Lands' End, eBay, Staples, Victoria's Secret, Best Buy, and more. Up to 26% of each purchase will be donated to PVF. Join for free at www.iGive.com/PVF.

Credit Card Processing Updates From TransFirst Health Services As the preferred provider of processing services for PVMA, TransFirst Health Services brings you current news from the credit card world.

Upcoming End-of-Life and Non-Compliance dates for older POS terminals are a fact. During the next 18 months, many widely-used systems will become obsolete. Processors will begin charging fees for continued use of these old items or not allow them at all. If you do hear from your current processor that your terminal falls into this category, be aware that costs of a new, compliant terminal do not need to exceed $300 to $400 depending on the product selected.

Watch out for tricky, high-cost leases (usually non-cancellable), overpriced "special deal" equipment, and equipment marketed as new which is actually used! TransFirst is offering special upgrade opportunitites to our existing PVMA merchants, and we are pleased to extend consultation, special pricing, and general terminal assistance to all PVMA members!

Contact a PVMA-TransFirst program team member for you free review and cost comparison.

866.977.0929 or PVMA@TransFirst.com Let the preferred PVMA provider become your provider in 2012!

WWW.PAVMA.ORG

12_Volume_1.indd 19

keystone veterinarian

VOLUME I 2012

19

3/20/2012 10:20:32 AM

13TH annual

SPR NG clinic

May 23-24, 2012 Penn Stater Conference Center Hotel State College, Pennsylvania

Program Overview

The Pennsylvania Veterinary Medical Association is pleased to return to the Penn Stater Conference Center Hotel for its 12th Annual Spring Clinic. Spring Clinic offers a diverse array of educational topics presented by excellent, nationally-recognized speakers. The program will span two days and offer the entire veterinary team the opportunity to select from various program tracks.

Continuing Education Credit

This program offers veterinarians and veterinary technicians licensed in Pennsylvania 12 hours (6 hours per day) of approved CE credit by the Pennsylvania Veterinary Medical Association. The Pennsylvania State Board of Veterinary Medicine does not recognize practice management courses for CE eligibility.

Online Registration

SAVE TIME AND A STAMP! Please visit our website, www.

pavma.org, to register online and to check for updates and information relating to this and other educational opportunities.

Intended Audience

All members of the veterinary team are encouraged to attend.

• Veterinarians • Veterinary Technicians • Veterinary Assistants • Veterinary Office Staff • Practice Manager

Hotel Reservations

A block of rooms is being held at The Penn Stater Conference Center Hotel, located at the Penn State Research Park in State College, Pennsylvania. The hotel features continental cuisine at the Gardens Restaurant and casual dining, darts, and billiards in Legends Pub. The hotel offers full business services, a gift shop, and a complete fitness center that includes an indoor lap pool, whirlpool and sauna. Attendees have access to two 18-hole golf courses and all campus recreational and cultural facilities such as swimming, squash, tennis, boating, jogging, and fishing. The campus also offers five museums and two performing arts theaters. Additionally, parking is FREE! Lodging is available for the evenings of Tuesday, May 22; Wednesday, May 23; and Thursday, May 24 at the following rates: $118 per room, per night for single occupancy $128 per room, per night for double occupancy $138 per room, per night for triple occupancy $148 per room, per night for quadruple occupancy Please call 800.233.7505 or visit www.pshs.psu.edu and reference PVMA’s Reservation Identification Number: PAVE12A to make your discounted room reservations. Room reservations are guaranteed on a first-come, first-served basis until April 20, 2012, after which rooms may be reserved on a space and rate availability basis only.

Exhibitor Appreciation Reception WEDNESDAY, MAY 23, 2012 . 4:30–6:00pm

Please join us and visit with the many vendors planned to exhibit at this year’s Spring Clinic. These companies have and continue to support the Association, and we encourage you to show your appreciation. Complimentary food and beverages will be served.

What Does Your Registration Include?

• • • • • •

Top-notch continuing education (6 hours CE each day) Admission to exhibit hall Continental breakfast on Wednesday and Thursday Morning and afternoon breaks on Wednesday and Thursday Hot buffet lunch on Wednesday and Thursday Reception on Wednesday evening (hors d’eouvres and one complimentary drink provided) • Lecture notes provided online

20

VOLUME I 2012

12_Volume_1.indd 20

keystone veterinarian

WWW.PAVMA.ORG

3/20/2012 10:20:35 AM

REGISTER

1 OF 3 WAYS

1 2

3

www.pavma.org

conference connection

Fax: 717.220.1461 PVMA, 8574 Paxton Street, Hummelstown, PA 17036

Moderator Incentive We are in need of a moderator at each session during Spring Clinic. If you are willing to provide this service, we will pay you $50 for a half day (3 hours) or $100 for a full day (6 hours). Please check the box on the registration form to indicate your interest and we will contact you to confirm details.

Confirmation and Cancellation Policy Registration confirmation will be sent via email ONLY—please be sure to provide your email address when registering. All cancellations must be submitted in writing by May 13, 2012 to receive a refund; a $25 administrative fee will be deducted from all refunds. No refunds will be granted for cancellations received on or after May 16, 2012. Substitutions will be accepted at any time.

PVMA reserves the right to cancel or postpone any session. PVMA will refund registration fees, but is not responsible for any related costs, charges, or expenses. Please provide a daytime phone number so you can be contacted if a program is filled or cancelled.

Faculty Katherine Dobbs, RVT, CVPM, PHR

President, interFace Veterinary HR Systems, LLC, Appleton, Wisconsin SPONSORED BY

Laurie Dohmen, VMD

Owner, Companion Animal Practice, Smyrna, Delaware

M. Scott Echols, DVM, DABVP (Avian)

James O. Noxon, DVM, DACVIM

Professor and Staff Dermatologist, Associate Chair of Academic Affairs, Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa

Daryl V. Nydam, DVM, PhD

Assistant Professor, Department of Population Medicine and Diagnostic Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York

1

Thomas R. Overton, PhD

Associate Professor of Animal Science and Director, PRO-DAIRY, College of Veterinary Medicine, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York

Erica L. Reineke, VMD, DACVECC

Assistant Professor of Emergency and Critical Care Medicine, Department of Clinical Studies, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Ilana Reisner, DVM, PhD, DACVB

Owner, Reisner Veterinary Behavior and Consulting Services, Media, Pennsylvania

Nancy A. Sanders, DVM, DACVIM (SAIM), DACVECC Staff Veterinarian, VCA Veterinary Referral Associates, Gaithersburg, Maryland

William B. Thomas, DVM, MS, DACVM (Neurology)

Associate Professor, Neurology and Neurosurgery, Department of Small Animal Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, The University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Tennessee

Co-Founder, Mobile Avian Surgical Services, Oakley, California

Jeffrey O. Hall, DVM, PhD, DABVT

Professor and Head of Diagnostic Veterinary Toxicology, School of Veterinary Medicine, Utah State University, Logan, Utah SPONSORED BY

Charlotte A. Lacroix, DVM, JD

Owner and CEO, Veterinary Business Advisors, Inc., Whitehouse Station, New Jersey

Rhett Nichols, DVM, DACVIM

Internal Medicine and Endocrine Consultant, Antech Diagnostics and The Animal Endocrine Clinic, Smithtown, New York

WWW.PAVMA.ORG

12_Volume_1.indd 21

keystone veterinarian

VOLUME I 2012

21

3/20/2012 10:20:36 AM

SPRING clinic

Agenda

Wednesday, May 23, 2012 COMPANION ANIMAL Session 1

Update on the Diagnosis and Management of Hyperthyroidism in Cats NICHOLS

What’s the Hype About Hypertension?

SANDERS

Session 2

The Diagnostic Approach and Treatment of Subclinical and Overt Disorders of Polyuria and Polydipsia: Tricks of the Trade NICHOLS

Protein Losing Nephropathy SANDERS

Session 3

Update on the Diagnosis and Medical Management of Primary Hyperparathyroidism in the Dog and Idiopathic Hypercalcemia in the Cat NICHOLS

The Intricacies and Complications of Chronic Steroid Therapy SANDERS

Session 4

Insulin Choices for the Diabetic: Which Insulin Preparation Works Best?

NICHOLS

The ABCs of ABGs SANDERS

Session 5

Insulin Choices for the Diabetic: Which Insulin Preparation Works Best? (cont’d) and Management of Canine Cushing’s Syndrome: An Update NICHOLS

ERs in the Chronic and/or Terminally Ill Patient: To Treat or Not To Treat? Case Series (Part 1) SANDERS

Session 6

Management of Canine Cushing’s Syndrome: An Update (cont’d) NICHOLS

ERs in the Chronic and/or Terminally Ill Patient: To Treat or Not To Treat? Case Series (Part 2) SANDERS

WEDNESDAY PROGRAM SCHEDULE 7:00–8:00am 8:00–8:55am 9:10–10:05am 10:05–10:20am 10:20–11:15am 11:15am–12:00pm 12:00–1:00pm 1:00–1:55pm 2:00–2:55pm 2:55–3:35pm 3:35–4:30pm 4:30–6:00pm

Registration/Continental Breakfast Session 1 Session 2 Refreshment Break Session 3 Visit Exhibits Lunch Session 4 Session 5 Refreshment Break/Visit Exhibits Session 6 Exhibitor Appreciation Reception

THURSDAY PROGRAM SCHEDULE 7:00–8:00am 8:00–8:55am 9:10–10:05am 10:05–11:05am 11:05am–12:00pm 12:00–1:00pm 1:00–1:55pm 2:00–2:55pm 3:05–4:00pm

Registration/Continental Breakfast Session 1 Session 2 Refreshment Break/Visit Exhibits Session 3 Lunch Session 4 Session 5 Session 6

Attention Practice Manager Members!

Join Dr. Charlotte Lacroix on Wednesday, and Dr. Katherine Dobbs on Thursday for a semi-private luncheon.

This is your chance to network with other practice managers and join in converstaions with the speakers in a smaller setting. There is no extra charge for these extraordinary opportunities, but pre-registration is required to reserve your seat.

22

VOLUME I 2012

12_Volume_1.indd 22

keystone veterinarian

COMPANION ANIMAL

Thursday, May 24, 2012 COMPANION ANIMAL

COMPANION ANIMAL

Session 1

An Update on the Dermatology Database NOXON

Feline Urethral Obstruction: Emergency Treatment and Stabilization REINEKE

Session 2

Diagnostic Approach to Dermatology Cases NOXON

Feline Urethral Obstruction: Post-Obstructive Management and Complications REINEKE

Session 3

Diagnostic Approach to Dermatology Cases: Managing Secondary Infections NOXON

Diabetic Ketoacidosis REINEKE

Session 4

What About Cats?

NOXON

Trauma: Emergency Evaluation and Treatment (Part 1) REINEKE

Session 5

Dermatology Vignettes NOXON

Trauma: Emergency Evaluation and Treatment (Part 2) REINEKE

Session 6

Six Things About Otitis I Wish I Had Known In Practice NOXON

Head Trauma: It’s Not Just a Headache REINEKE

WWW.PAVMA.ORG

3/20/2012 10:20:37 AM

conference connection

REGISTRATION HOURS: 7:00AM–4:00PM COMPANION ANIMAL

PRACTICE MANAGEMENT

VETERINARY TECHNICIAN

LARGE ANIMAL

INTEGRATIVE MEDICINE

Diagnostic Evaluation of Epilepsy THOMAS

Getting Clients to Pay for Services Without Inappropriately Discounting Veterinary Services LACROIX

Building T.R.U.S.T.—A Communication Skills Workshop (Part 1) DOBBS

Biology of Transition Cows: Relationships With Disorders and Performance OVERTON

Using Food as Medicine DOHMEN

Commonly Used Anti-Seizure Drugs THOMAS

Malpractice Risks … What Are They? (Part 1) LACROIX

Building T.R.U.S.T.—A Communication Skills Workshop (Part 2) DOBBS

Consequences of Maladaptation of Energy Metabolism in Transition Cows NYDAM

Bach Flower Essences: Psychological Therapy DOHMEN

Newer Anti-Seizure Drugs THOMAS

Malpractice Risks …What Are They? (Part 2) LACROIX

Building T.R.U.S.T.—A Communication Skills Workshop (Part 3) DOBBS

Nutritional Strategies for Transition Cow Success OVERTON

A Sampling of Acupuncture DOHMEN

Chronic Encephalitis: Case Studies THOMAS

Vaccine Liability: Truth or Myth?

LACROIX

Technician Utilization: What You Don’t Know WILL Hurt You DOBBS

Intensive Cow and HerdLevel Monitoring Strategies NYDAM

“Simple” Herbal Extracts DOHMEN

Chronic Spinal Disorders: Case Studies THOMAS

Ethical Practice: It Ain’t Easy and It’s Getting Tougher (Part 1) LACROIX

Developing Your Portfolio: Making the Most of Your Current Position DOBBS

Key Non-Nutritional Factors Influencing Transition Outcomes OVERTON

Specific Herbal Formulas for Vague Conditions (Part 1) DOHMEN

Movement Disorders THOMAS

Ethical Practice: It Ain’t Easy and It’s Getting Tougher (Part 2) LACROIX

Moving Toward a Career in Management DOBBS

Transition Cow Disorders: Implications and Treatment Options NYDAM

Specific Herbal Formulas for Vague Conditions (Part 2) DOHMEN

REGISTRATION HOURS: 7:00AM–4:00PM COMPANION ANIMAL

PRACTICE MANAGEMENT

EXOTICS

LARGE ANIMAL

Safety First: Bite Prevention for Veterinary Clients and Staff REISNER

Creating Team Buy-In: The Organizational Chart DOBBS

Backyard Waterfowl Medicine ECHOLS

Epidemiology in Dairy Performance Management and Monitoring NYDAM

Feline Elimination Behavior Problems: Updates and Case Examples REISNER

Creating Team Buy-In: Defining the Job DOBBS

What are We Really Feeding Pet Birds ECHOLS

Critically Evaluating the Data in Production Animal Literature NYDAM

Dog Bites and Public Health: A Behavioral Perspective REISNER

Creating Team Buy-In: Evaluating Performance DOBBS

Navigating the Dietary Supplement Industry ECHOLS

Common Vitamin/Mineral Issues and Their Diagnoses in Cattle of Northeastern United States HALL

Improving Quality of Life for the Indoor Cat REISNER

Creating Team Buy-In: Marketing DOBBS

Use of Nutritional Supplements in Birds ECHOLS

Effects of Sulfur and Sulfates on Ruminant Health HALL

The Toy Box: A Review of Useful Behavioral Devices and Tools REISNER

Creating Team Buy-In: Proactive Client Service DOBBS

Reproductive Tract Disease and Surgery in Birds (Part 1) ECHOLS

Standing Bovine Liver Biopsy Wet Lab HALL (2 hours)

Keeping the Peace: Introducing Unfamiliar Cats to Each Other REISNER

Creating Team Buy-In: Finance DOBBS

Reproductive Tract Disease and Surgery in Birds (Part 2) ECHOLS

WWW.PAVMA.ORG

12_Volume_1.indd 23

Attendance is limited to the first 20 registrants.

SPONSORED BY

keystone veterinarian

VOLUME I 2012

23

3/20/2012 10:20:37 AM

Poster & Digital Photo Contests To celebrate National Pet Week: “People, Pets, and Veterinarians” National Pet Week is May 6-12, 2012

What are the contests?

The Pennsylvania Veterinary Medical Association (PVMA) holds its annual poster and digital photography contests to highlight the importance of veterinary medicine to Pennsylvania schoolchildren. The theme of the 2012 PVMA National Pet Week Poster Contest is Imagine the Pawsibilities: People, Pets, and Veterinarians. The theme of the 2012 Digital Photography Contest is A Photo Shot of Love. These themes were chosen by the PVMA Public Relations and Awards Committee to encourage children to think creatively about the relationship between veterinarians and their clients and patients.

Poster Contest Participation

1. Veterinary practices may host an in-house contest, judge the posters you receive, and send only the winners from each grade level on to PVMA. 2. Send all of the posters you receive to PVMA or allow the children to send them directly to PVMA. Posters do not need to come from a veterinary office to be considered for the contest.

PVMA will hold statewide judging of all the received posters in June 2012, and winners will be notified by mail. If you have questions about the contest, contact Lori Raver at 1.888.550.7862 or lraver@pavma.org for more information. To assist with the promotion of the contest in your local community, we ask that you contact your local media to help spread the word.

Poster Contest Rules

1. The poster contest is for school age children, kindergarten through 12th grade.

Children must be Pennsylvania residents.

2. The poster must be solely the work of the student.

3. The theme is “Imagine the Pawsibilities: People, Pets, and Veterinarians.”

4. Posters should be NO LARGER than 14”x17” and NOT MOUNTED. 5. Posters can use any medium except collages, photographs, or computer-generated items.

6. On the back of the entry, please clearly print the student’s name, address, phone number, school, and grade. Posters which do not include the student’s full address will not be considered.

7. Poster MUST BE RECEIVED in the PVMA office by May 31, 2012. Posters will be returned if possible, but this is not guaranteed. Individual veterinarians hosting in-house contests are encouraged to provide a modest prize for local winners. PVMA will provide a $50 cash award and plaque for each statewide first place winner. The winners of the statewide poster contest will also be invited to receive their award at an awards breakfast during the Keystone Veterinary Conference held August 16-19, 2012, in Hershey. Winning posters will be on display at the convention.

Deadline: MAY 31, 2012 Questions?

Digital Photography Contest The theme of this contest is A Photo Shot of Love.

Children are asked to submit a digital photo which demonstrates their interpretation of a photo shot of love.

Rules 1. The digital photography contest is for school age children, kindergarten through 12th grade. Children must be Pennsylvania residents.

2. The photo must be solely the work of the student.

3. The theme is “Imagine the Pawsibilities: A Photo Shot of Love.”

4. Photos should be NO LARGER than 2 megabytes.

5. Entries should be submitted by email to lraver@pavma.org. The email should contain the student’s name, address, phone number, school and grade.

6. Photos MUST BE RECEIVED via email by May 31, 2012.

New for 2012!

PVMA will host an online gallery of photo contest entries on its website, www.pavma.org, throughout the length of the contest. In addition to the photo, the student’s first name and last initial, grade, and town will be included.

It’s a great way to show your photographic talents to the public!

Contact Lori Raver at lraver@pavma.org or 888.550.7862

ALL ENTRIES MUST BE RECEIVED AT THE PVMA OFFICE BY MAY 31, 2012.

12_Volume_1.indd 24

3/20/2012 10:20:41 AM

12_Volume_1.indd 25

3/20/2012 10:20:45 AM

7TH Annual Legislative Day and the 8TH Annual Friends of Veterinary Medicine Reception Tuesday, May 8, 2012 Legislative Day—Crowne Plaza Harrisburg Hotel, and Friends of Veterinary Medicine Reception—The Pennsylvania Capitol

A

s a PVMA member, you are invited to participate in our Legisla tive Day on Tuesday, May 8, 2012, at the Crowne Plaza Harrisburg. We encourage you take advantage of this opportunity to learn first hand about the legislative and regulatory issues facing the veterinary profession and animal health and welfare today. Each attendee will also be given the chance to visit with their legislators and how PVMA advocates on a daily basis for Pennsylvania's veterinary profes-

Schedule of Events (lunch will be provided) 10:30–11:00am

Registration (Crowne Plaza Harrisburg Hotel)

11:00–11:05am Welcome and Opening Remarks—Robert Lavan, DVM, MS, MPVM, DACVPM, President 11:05–11:30am Why You Should Get to Know Your Legislator—The

Honorable Elder Vogel, Majority Chair, Senate

Agriculture and Rural Affairs Committee, Pennsylvania General Assembly 11:30am–12:15pm State Board of Veterinary Medicine–Current Hot Topics—Teresa Lazo, Esq., Counsel, State

Board of Veterinary Medicine, Bureau of Professional

and Occupational Affairs, Department of State 12:15–1:00pm What’s Going On in Harrisburg?—A Look at Current Legislation and Trends—Tom Garg, VMD, Chair,

Legislative and Regulatory Affairs Committee, and

Charlene Wandzilak, PVMA Executive Director

26

VOLUME I 2012

12_Volume_1.indd 26

keystone veterinarian

sion. Don’t worry—we will offer talking points on current legislative issues, give you the tools you need, and provide people to assist. After Legislative Day activities, PVMA and the University of Pennsylvania, School of Veterinary Medicine, will honor our friends in the legislature, state agencies, and organizations that have shown their support to the veterinary profession, animal health and welfare, and agriculture with a reception held in the East Wing of the Pennsylvania Capitol.

The entire day of events is free to PVMA members but pre-registration is required. If you would like to personally invite your state legislators to the Friends of Veterinary Medicine Reception, please indicate so when you register and we will send you an invitation to personally deliver.

1:00–1:45pm Communicating with Your Legislator and Advocacy

101: The Legislative Process—Stacy Gromlich,

Government Affairs Manager, Duane Morris Government Strategies 1:45–2:00pm Closing Remarks and Instructions for Capitol Visits—Dr. Robert Lavan 2:00–4:30pm

Capitol Hill Visits with Legislators and Legislative Staff

5:00–6:30pm Friends of Veterinary Medicine Reception co-hosted

by the University of Pennsylvania, School of

Veterinary Medicine (East Wing, The Pennsylvania Capitol)

Register online at www.pavma.org or scan this code with your smart phone now.

WWW.PAVMA.ORG

3/20/2012 10:20:46 AM

Changes to the City of Philadelphia’s Code Impacts Veterinarians

I

n late February, concerned members brought it to PVMA's attention that the Philadelphia City Council passed Bill Number 110210, which was subsequently signed into law by Mayor Michael A. Nutter. This bill amends Chapter 10-100 of The Philadelphia Code, commonly known as the “dog law.”

The amended language which has been in effect since January 1, 2012, adds the following requirements: •

Mandatory annual licensing of dogs and the creation of dog licensing agents to facilitate the issuance of such licenses, including mandatory participation of all veterinary practices within the city limits;

• Minimum standards for the care and control of dogs and cats, including their mainte- nance in kennels operating in the City;

Senate Ag Hearing continued from page 9

horses are caused by a change in status, such as a horse becoming too old, injured, or unmanageable. He indicated there are currently not enough resources to care for all of the unwanted horses, and 39 percent of the horse rescues are at maximum capacity.

He said it is very expensive to care for horses with an annual care cost of $1,800 to $2,500 not including veterinary care, and horses can live for 20 years or more. In 2007, he explained, slaughter facilities in the US were closed down because federal funding for the inspections was eliminated. That did not mean that horse slaughter had stopped, but these horses were sent to Canada or Mexico as a result of the changes. He noted there are currently an estimated 107,000 unwanted horses in the US. Dr. Holt stated there are three acceptable methods of euthanasia: chemical euthanasia, typically performed by a veterinarian at the owner’s request; a gunshot to the head; or a penetrating captive bolt which is similar to the gunshot method but does not allow for projectile of excrement. He indicated the cost of euthanasia can be prohibitive with an average estimated cost of euthanasia at $385 per horse. He added burial can also pose a problem because of the large size of the animal, and some horses end up in landfills which becomes an environmental concern.

He said humane slaughter represents one to two percent of the equine population euthanized each year, and most of the animals were sent overseas for human consumption.

He indicated this is an emotional issue, but WWW.PAVMA.ORG

12_Volume_1.indd 27

• Mandatory sterilization of dogs and cats before purchase or adoption; and • Confiscation and protection of dogs used in dog fighting.

PVMA hosted a roundtable discussion of this new law with a group of Philadelphia veterinarians on March 7. The group discussed concerns about the new law which requires veterinarians to not only sell dog licenses and serve as the city’s licensing agents when a dog is seen at the veterinarian’s office for other treatment, but to report clients who refuse to purchase a license. If a veterinary practice refuses to comply, the fine is a minimum of $150 and maximum of $300. The consensus of the group was that veterinarians agree with the overriding goals of the new law; however, they have serious

concerns about the enforceability of the law, the legality of forcing private businesses and individuals to serve as agents for the city, as well as the unintended consequence of potentially increasing public health risks if people refuse to bring their dogs to veterinarians. The group will be meeting to determine next steps in addressing the issue on March 27 via phone conference and what PVMA can do to facilitate a dialogue with the City of Philadelphia. If you are interested in learning more or providing input, contact Charlene Wandzilak at cwandzilak@pavma. org. For a copy of the new law, visit www. pavma.org and click on “City of Philadelphia New Law Impacts Veterinarians.” l

if the slaughter was done in the US, we would have much better oversight to ensure it is done humanely.

He stated the problem is that slaughter is banned in the US and the USDA has lost control of how those animals are handled at the plants.

Dr. Holt stated Pennsylvania From l–r: Dr. Dave Wolfgang, Charlene Wandzilak, Ag Committee Executive Mike Rader, ranks in the top Senator Elder Vogel, Dr. Sherrill Davison, Deputy Secretary of Animal Agriculture Matt five states with Meals, and State Veterinarian Dr. Craig Shultz. the largest number of horses, horses will go straight to slaughter without and PVMA and AVMA are concerned about a decent chance of finding a good home. He the welfare of these unwanted horses. Their noted slots money has increased purses at recommendation is to develop long-term horse races with much of that money going and short-term solutions to this problem that to pay breeders. He explained the additional are reliable and sustainable before any opmoney going towards breeders creates an tion, including humane slaughter, is considincentive to breed more which can actually add ered. He noted the Racehorse Development to the problem of unwanted horses.

Fund has helped the equine population, but none of that money goes toward the care of Following Dr. Holt’s presentation, Dr. Dave horses when they get too old to race.

Wolfgang, PVMA Past President and Extension Veterinarian at the Pennsylvania State Senator Kitchen asked if any fund goes toward University, talked about antibiotic issues, stopping some of these problems. Dr. Holt resistance in animals, and the impact it may replied there is money that goes into funding or may not have on the health of people. home placement-type programs, but—because of the way the rules are written—a lot of these continued on page 39

keystone veterinarian

VOLUME I 2012

27

3/20/2012 10:20:47 AM

veterinary foundation cornerstone

Meet the Pennsylvania Veterinary Scholarship Winners

D

id you know that the Pennsylvania Veterinary Foundation was originally organized to award scholarships to veterinary students? Even though the Foundation has expanded over the years to include additional programs like The Last Chance Fund (TLC) and Native American Veterinary Services (NAVS), our focus remains to award scholarships to deserving students to help ease their financial burden.

Here are the winners of the 2011 Pennsylvania Veterinary Foundation Scholarships.

During her time at Mississippi State, Amy has been served as VicePresident of the Christian Veterinary Fellowship club and has participated in the surgery club as well as the American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA).

Amy is looking forward to moving back to Pennsylvania following her graduation. Congratulations, Amy!

Andy Stas, V'14

Lauren Aldinger, V'12

University of Pennsylvania, School of Veterinary Medicine

University of Pennsylvania, School of Veterinary Medicine Lauren Aldinger, V'12, is from Palmyra, PA. She attended Penn State University and majored in animal bioscience.

While working on her thesis project, Lauren spent a lot of time in the College of Agricultural Sciences Building, and she credits the enthusiastic and helpful veterinarians on staff as having had a significant influence on her.

In her spare time, Lauren worked as a junior zookeeper at ZooAmerica North American Wildlife Park in Hershey, PA. Working alongside the veterinarians there, she helped with animal husbandry, spay/neuter procedures, vaccinations, and animal exams. After four summers in this position, Lauren took a position at Lititz Veterinary Clinic as an assistant/technician where she increased her nursing, exam, and surgery assistance skills.

In 2008, Lauren started veterinary school at the University of Pennsylvania, School of Veterinary Medicine. Since 2009, she has served as PVMA's student representative for the class of 2012 and since 2010 as the Veterinary Student At-Large Trustee on PVMA's Board of Trustees.

Lauren is also a regular participant in PVMA's Legislative Day and is the co-leader of Christian Veterinary Missions.

Undecided in her career path following graduation, Lauren is excited to help animals and further her leadership experience both here and abroad. Congratulations, Lauren!

Amy Almo, V'13

Mississippi State University, College of Veterinary Medicine Amy Almo, V'13, is from Woodlyn, PA. She attended Delaware Valley College in Doylestown where she majored in biology, and currently studies at Mississippi State University, College of Veterinary Medicine. Growing up, Amy's father was a pastor, so she has always been involved in church. She was particularly inspired by the missionaries who spoke of helping people in other countries, and she would enjoy doing the same following graduation.

28

VOLUME I 2012

12_Volume_1.indd 28

keystone veterinarian

Andy Stas, V'14, grew up in Latrobe, PA. The son of PVMA member Dr. Ron Stas, Andy grew up in his father's mixed animal practice and spent his spare time working for his father and learning about veterinary medicine.

He was also active in 4-H. Andy attended Allegheny University and, during his time there, was very active in outside sources of education. He completed an internship with Genex Cooperative, Inc., which specializes in dairy and beef cattle reproduction. Andy worked with clients to develop breeding program strategies while also working as an AI technician.

Now at the University of Pennsylvania, School of Veterinary Medicine, Andy is involved in many groups, including serving as the Food Animal Club President,serving as the Penn Delegate to the Student American Veterinary Medical Association (SAVMA), and he was elected to the position of Global Public Health Officer on the SAVMA Executive Board.

In 2010, Andy completed an internship in swine health for Boehringer Ingelheim and Iowa State University, working with Pennsylvania veterinarians on a PRRSv eradication and control program in Pennsylvania. He also designed a project which used genetic sequencing to map the flow of the virus throughout the state on a temporal and spatial basis. This project was accepted to the American Association of Swine Veterinarians Annual Student Presentations and took second place.

Andy looks forward to graduation and to becoming a leader in veterinary medicine. Congratulations, Andy! l

Want to Help?

The financial burden currently associated with veterinary school totals nearly $200,000 upon graduation. This daunting figure prevents many qualified students from even applying to school and can significantly impact the lives of those who do. The Pennsylvania Veterinary Foundaiton was created in the interest of providing scholarships to qualified students each year. Please consider making a donation to help the future of veterinary medicine. You can make a donation online at www.pavetfoundation.org. Questions? Contact PVF at 888.550.7862.

WWW.PAVMA.ORG

3/20/2012 10:20:48 AM

$ $ $ VALUE what's the

of Your PVMA Membership

educational discounts (based on non-member vs. member veterinarian full conference registration rate) • Winter Conference—$50 • Spring Clinic—$50

additional savings for practice owners!

• 3 Rivers Veterinary Symposium—$65

• Energy Plus Buying Group average annual energy savings for practices—$506

• EVE Webinars—$85-$510

• Discounted on-hold messaging systems—$25-125

Total Potential Annual Educational Discount Savings: $50–$750

• Discounted bank card processing services—$200-1,000+

• Keystone Veterinary Conference—$75

other benefits • keystone veterinarian (official publication of PVMA)—$30 • 20% discount on display ads in keystone veterinarian—$45-385 • Free classified ads in keystone veterinarian—$35-300

?

• Website hosting and design services—$100-1,000+ • Discounted FDA approved prescription/medication container service—$100-1,000+ • Insurance savings through pvmaAssure, PVMA's insurance full-service, in-house agency—$500-$1,000 + (includes employee benefit packages)

Additional total savings for practice owners: $1,431–$4,631

• Free VetBytes bi-monthly e-newsletter—$100 • Free Around the Capitol weekly e-newsletter—$200 • Discounted legal services/consultation—up to $500 (10% discount up to $5000 in services annually) • Free new graduate employment contract review (within first three years of graduation)—$300

• Insurance savings through pvmaAssure, PVMA's insurance agency—$50-$500+ (includes long-term care, disability, and term life)

• Free classified ads for relief veterinarians on website—$35-300

• Discounted auto and homeowners insurance (20%)—$50-200

• Discounted classified ads on Veterinary Career Network— $25-200

• Energy Plus Buying Group average annual energy bill savings for home-owners—$222

• Reduced Cost Book Program with Priority Press— $14-55 (includes: Contracts, Benefits, and Practice: Management for the Veterinary Profession, Legal Consents for Veterinary Practice, Law and Ethics of the Veterinary Profession, and Job Descriptions and Training Schedules for the Veterinary Team)

• Discounted Hersheypark tickets (average savings for family of four)—$48

keystone veterinarian is going

FULL COLOR in 2012. Why not use your 20% member discount on display ads to make your business shine?

WWW.PAVMA.ORG

12_Volume_1.indd 29

• Discounted custom imprinting for cards and stationery (10% discount)—$25-100+ • 24/7/365 exclusive advocate to represent you and your interests with the legislature and regulatory agencies and with you in mind in everything we do!—PRICELESS

Total Potential Other Discount Savings: $1,669– $2,490

If you have questions regarding any of the benefits or services listed or have an idea for a new benefit, contact Charlene Wandzilak at cwandzilak@pavma.org.

keystone veterinarian

VOLUME I 2012

29

3/20/2012 10:20:49 AM

penn vet connection

PVMA Celebrates Upcoming Graduation with Penn’s Class of 2012

O

n January 23, PVMA hosted a reception for the class of 2012 at the University of Pennsylvania, School of Veterinary Medicine to celebrate their upcoming graduation in May. Over 25 students attended the event which given the clinical rotation schedules of 4th year students was a successful turnout! PVMA Past President, AVMA Delegate, and Student Liaison Committee Chair Dr. Mary Bryant and President Dr. Bob Lavan provided remarks, welcomed them to the profession, and congratulated the class on their accomplishment.

Secretary-Treasurer Dr. Ron Kraft, District VIII Alternate Trustee Dr. Susan Ackermann, District VII Trustee Dr. Ted Robinson, Vice-President Dr. Sherrill Davison, and Executive Director Charlene Wandzilak represented PVMA at the evening’s festivities. Special thanks to all that attended and to Lauren Aldinger, PVMA’s V’12 Representative and Student-At-Large Trustee for her assistance with the event! l

At left: Yoon Chay (V'12), Dr. Ted Robinson, and Lauren Aldinger (V'12).

Graduates Provide Helpful Insight into How PVMA Can Best Help Future Fourth Year Students

O

n the eve of the Penn Annual Conference, Director of Education and Events Christine Britton and Executive Director Charlene Wandzilak held an impromptu focus group dinner with 4 students from the class of 2012 at the University of Pennsylvania, (two girl names), Nathanael Oster, and Chris Torre. The dinner brought lots of fun and insightful feedback about the newest of the veterinary profession’s graduates. The group discussed the growing trend of graduates going into internships and residencies instead of seeking employment in general practice. In addition, we discussed ways that PVMA could be an advocate for the senior class each year and impact their transition from school to work.

Suggestions ranged from speed interviewing, providing information on job opportunities available, and specialized seminars on topics such as resume building, interviewing, internship/residency pros and cons, debt consolidation and financial planning. Special thanks to Michelle, Karuna, Nathanael, and Chris for taking the time to get involved in helping PVMA make a difference! l

Above: From left to right, Michelle Wood, Executive Director Charlene Wandzilak, Karuna Patil, Nathanael Oster, and Chris Torre.

30

VOLUME I 2012

12_Volume_1.indd 30

keystone veterinarian

WWW.PAVMA.ORG

3/20/2012 10:20:50 AM

12_Volume_1.indd 31

3/20/2012 10:20:52 AM

Veterinary Medicine Had a Large Presence at the 2012 Pennsylvania State Farm Show

T

he 96TH Pennsylvania State Farm Show, which was held January 7-14, was a huge success. The show featured 6,000 animals and 13,000 exhibits, and it was estimated that approximately 400,000 attendees visited throughout the week!

The Pennsylvania Veterinary Medical Association (PVMA) once again shared a large booth with the Pennsylvania Veterinary Foundation (PVF) and the Pennsylvania Veterinary Technicians Association (PVTA).

There was great interaction with the public, especially children who took interest in our educational coloring and activity sheets, various animal bone displays, and an educational game provided courtesy of the Pennsylvania Society for Biomedical Research (PSBR).

In addition to our static exhibits, we were lucky enough to have friends Mark and Carole Zebrowski and their therapy dogs (Artemus, Oliver, Ignatius, Elliott, and Sebastian) visit us on four separate afternoons.

In addition to being generous with their time, the Zebrowskis were generous with their dogs who spent hours lavishing kisses and nuzzles to thousands of children and adults throughout the week. This also gave Mark and Carole a chance to explain the importance of therapy dogs and how they can help others. Sebastian in particular put his all into it, falling asleep one afternoon and snoring happily while children continued to pat his belly. (Artemus, Oliver, Elliott, and Ignatius were

the winners of PVMA's 2009 Wodan Animal Hero Award for their therapy work.)

New to the farm show this year was a collaborative agricultural effort organized by PennAg Industries called Today's Agriculture. This large, interactive display was housed in a 10,000 square foot barn that was constructed onsite next to the PVMA booth. Using the tagline of "Opening the Doors: Farming, Knowledge, Trust," Today's Agriculture continued on page 35

Thanks to Our Farm Show Volunteers!

Beth Shelby, CVT Dr. Dave Wolgang Dr. Don Herr Dr. Trish Thomson Paula Clifford, CVT Dr. John Simms Dr. Sherrill Davison Laura Turner Sarah Hall Dr. Denise Fillman Dr. Lloyd Reitz Dr. Ben Rhodes

Dr. Mark Walter Dr. Robert Graybill Dr. Ines Rodriguez Dr. Elizabeth Santini Dr. Nate Kapp Dr. Dan Zawisza Dr. Brian Reed Dr. Lisa Murphy Dr. Jim Holt Dr. Larry Samples Megen Cummings Maggie Wreiole

At left: PVMA Trustee Dr. John Simms, PVMA Past Presidents Dr. Lisa Murphy and Dr. Dave Wolfgang.

32

VOLUME I 2012

12_Volume_1.indd 32

keystone veterinarian

WWW.PAVMA.ORG

3/20/2012 10:20:55 AM

A Message From Mark Zebrowski Thank you for the opportunity for the dogs to appear in PVMA’s booth at this year’s Farm Show. All five—Elliott, Oliver, Artemus, Ignatius and Sebastian—appeared on the opening Saturday and Sunday, Elliott, Oliver and Artemus the following Thursday, and Elliott, Oliver, Artemus and Sebastian on the closing Saturday.

Without question, the boys thoroughly enjoyed their time there. It’s impossible to count the number of people that passed through the booth, but there was never one moment of "down time". It didn’t matter whether young or old, alone or with a group, it seemed that everybody stopped to say hello and meet the boys.

Though the farm show is not what you’d consider a typical or pure therapy dog environment, the dogs probably provided some type of therapy to each and every person who patted their heads or scratched their ears. Hugs and kisses were distributed freely and—on several occasions—there was a line waiting for a picture with the English black labradors!

In the process, the word was spread about the value of PVMA, the value of pet therapy dogs, and the strange phenomenon of black dog syndrome in which dogs are not adopted from rescues and shelters simply because they are black.

There are few more appropriate environments than a farm show to spread the good word about the value of dogs in our lives and the

WWW.PAVMA.ORG

12_Volume_1.indd 33

benefits we can derive from them. After all, the farm show has one of the simplest and most basic concepts behind it, to be involved with animals whether it be for livelihood, food, or pleasure.

Entering and exiting the Expo Building at the Farm Show Complex took at least an hour each way, and additional time was spent at others' booths climbing on the farm equipment and traversing the food areas. Needless to say, the dogs enjoyed multiple treats on behalf of many farm show attendees!

Included on this page are some photos from their experience which display the people’s joy from having the opportunity to interact with them.

The boys have many stories to tell, like having four generations from one family pet them at the same time, to a tight hug with a child confined to a wheelchair. There were smiles, laughs, and a few tears shared by all. At times, it became quite an emotional experience, but it was still well worth it!

Thank you again! Elliott, Oliver, Artemus, Ignatius and Sebastian send licks, hugs, and kisses and look forward to next year! l The Zebrowski dogs are part of Therapy Dogs International. If you would like more information or would like to make a donation, please visit www.tdi-dog.org.

keystone veterinarian

VOLUME I 2012

33

3/20/2012 10:20:59 AM

member news

Welcome New Members P

VMA welcomes the following new members.

(December 9, 2011–March 19, 2012)

Rachael Davis, DVM, Venango, PA

Elizabeth Mehaffey, VMD, Harleysville, PA

Sara Anderson, DVM, Western Pennsylvania Humane Society, Pittsburgh, PA

Kristen Krisulevicz, DVM, PVSEC, Pittsburgh, PA

Jonna Swanson, DVM , Pittsburgh, PA

Thomas Nebzydoski, VMD, Pleasant Mount, PA

Carl Veltri, DVM, Robesonia, PA

Matthew Mink, DVM, Boalsburg, PA

Jennifer Jones, VMD, Philadelphia, PA

Lauren Sechler, VMD, Wexford, PA

Sarah Deitschel, DVM, PVSEC, Pittsburgh, PA

Tanja Winkler, DVM, Blair Animal Hospital, Duncansville, PA

Morgan Siegrist, DVM, Stroudsburg, PA

Christine Rutter, DVM, PVSEC, Pittsburgh, PA

Patrick Dubbs, VMD, Jersey Shore, PA

Michael Finn, DVM, MS, Animal Eye Clinic of Pittsburgh—PVSEC, Pittsburgh, PA

Benjamin Rhodes, DVM, Shippensburg, PA

Michelle Schessler, VMD, Pittsburgh, PA

Alquin Heinnickel, DVM, Five Points Veterinary Service, Saltsburg, PA

Active Members Maura St John, DVM, East Suburban Animal Hospital, Export, PA Jana Doege, DVM, Pittsburgh East Animal Hospital, Monroeville, PA

Felicia Hayes, DVM, Bryn Mawr Veterinary Hospital, Bryn Mawr , PA

Anthony Shaw, DVM, Clinton, PA

Crystal Lauderdale, VMD, Philadelphia, PA

Kristina Simone, VMD, Newtown , PA

Andrea Freshwater, DVM, Fores, OH Alejandro Martinez, DVM, Fifth Avenue Veterinary Specilaist, New York, NY April Osterhoudt, DVM, Loyalsock Animal Hospital, Inc., Williamsport, PA

Government

Lori Smith, DVM, Towanda Creek Animal Hospital, Towanda, PA

Sherman Canapp, DVM, Veterinary Orthopedic & Sports Medicine Group, Annapolis Junction, MD

Erin Moore, DVM, PA Department of Agriculture, Gibsonia, PA

Laura Weis, DVM, Doylestown Veterinary Hsopital, Doylestown, PA

Erica Eads, Waynesboro Veterinary Clinic, Waynesboro, PA

Practice Manager

Ransome Weis, DVM, Doylestown Veterinary Hospital, Doylestown, PA

Christine Guenther, Veterinary Emergency Clinic, Pittsburgh, PA

Diane Yotter, North Saucon Animal Hospital, Bethlehem, PA

Intern/Resident

Connie Passmore, Centre Animal Hospital, Pleasant Gap, PA

Eva Sikorska, DVM, PVSEC, Pittsburgh, PA Alexandra Frank, DVM, Philadelphia , PA Saju Karuvayil Mathew, DVM, Enola, PA

Dustin Davis, DVM, Laurel Highlands Animal Health, Somerset , PA

Donna Steckley, CARES, Langhorne, PA

Alexis Mayer, DVM, Glenolden Animal Hospital, Glenolden, PA

Recent Graduate

Kristen Hoffman, Veterinary Specialty and Emergency, Blue Bell, PA

Lori Mildrew, DVM, Lewisburg, PA

John Doyle, Honesdale, PA

Christi Shultz, Alpine Animal Clinic, Danville, PA

Lindsey Rademacher, DVM, PVSEC, Pittsburgh, PA

Student

Stacy Gilles, VMD, Town and Country Animal Hospital, Warriors Mark, PA

Keren Rozensher, Fair Lawn, NJ

Jennifer Rinehimer, DVM, Animal Care Center, PC, Wapwallopen, PA

Donald Consla, Pomona, CA Fiona Lee, Edison, NJ Rachael Kreisler, Philadelphia, PA Daniel Hoffman, Northampton, PA

Lesley Warner, DVM, Laurel Hill Veterinary Service, Inc., Ulster, PA

Brenda Kibler, Ames, IA

Jennifer Fletcher, DVM, Animal Hospital of Dauphin County, Harrisburg, PA

Tiffani Crum, Lemont Furnace, PA

Diane Ford, VMD, Dr. Diane's Mobile Veterinary Service, Palmyra, PA

Shauna Bartholomew, Palmerton, PA

Jennifer Grimshawe, DVM, Animal Ark Pet Hospital, Erie, PA

Kristofer Dewberry, Ithaca, NY John Tuttle, Philadelphia, PA Brooke Reynolds, Blacksburg, VA Halley Deihl, York Haven, PA Laura Cincotti, Blacksburg, VA Haley Andersen, Philadelphia, PA l

Did something noteworthy happen to you or a PVMA member? Let us know! Email your news to Lori Raver at lraver@pavma.org.

34

VOLUME I 2012

12_Volume_1.indd 34

keystone veterinarian

WWW.PAVMA.ORG

3/20/2012 10:21:00 AM

You

r ' u o at y

h w ow

n k t ' don

g n i s s e mi

if we

ve a h t ' don

l!

ai m e r ou

y

If you didn't give us your email address as part of your member profile, you could be missing out on several member benefits! Our e-newsletters (Vet Bytes, Around the Capitol, Conference Connection, and PVF Cornerstone), town hall meeting notices, continuing education opportunities, event notices, and urgent announcements are all sent via email. In addition, in an effort to conserve resources, we don't print as many paper materials as in the past. If we don't have your email address, you'll be missing out!

You can give us your email address two ways: 1) Go to www.pavma.org, log in to your profile, and enter your preferred email address in the Personal Information section. (Need help logging in? Email admin@pavma.org) 2) Send an email to admin@pavma.org with the subject "please add my member email" and give us your name and email address.

Let us better serve you by getting you helpful information in a timely manner. Get in touch today!

Scan this code to go to the PVMA login page now.

Two Empty Collars

2012 Farm Show

continued from page 5

continued from page 32

me a good vet. I am very good at turning my various psychoses into positives. When even something small comes up, I kick myself. When I can think of nothing else I could have done, I feel awful for losing a patient despite the inevitable outcome.

was an interactive livestock and crop display aimed at teaching the public where their food comes from. Crops outside the barn included the life cycle of corn and soybeans, cover crops, and forested buffers. Inside the barn, livestock on-hand included dairy cows, beef cows, veal, pork (including piglets and sows), and poultry in modern housing systems.

I placed Griz into a body bag and called his owners. I did all of the necessary paperwork. As I walked up to the front of my hospital, I had a collar in either hand. It struck me what a symbolic moment that was. I thought that this image would make a good painting that symbolized what it was to be a veterinarian. It illustrated my humanity. I didn't have all the answers. I did not have a magical cure to overcome several days of progressive illness. I didn't have a hidden technique that could have saved their lives. I didn't have God-like powers. I didn't have the ability to do any more than I had already done. The only things that I had were two empty collars and the hope that tomorrow would be a better day. l

Ready For 2012? continued from page 15

Ready! Set! Go! The start of a new year is often the time most people are motivated to assess and start their plans for improvement. Studies have shown though that this energy burst only lasts until midFebruary. We think practice owners should allow themselves the time in January to recover from the holidays – then make the time to focus on where they want to improve in the upcoming year. Use this spring as the time when the real work begins!

Each animal or crop station had an expert in the field on-hand to answer questions, and veterinarians were present all week to answer advanced medical questions. The exhibit was an instant hit, attracting media coverage during a reception prior to the opening of the farm show and throughout the week. The Patriot-News even called it the "must-see" exhibit of the show!

PVMA is already looking forward to making next year's booth even more fun and educational for our visitors. Thank you to all our volunteers who volunteered their time and expertise! l

May you and your practice have a successful 2012! l David McCormick and Sherry Everhart are veterinary practice appraisers and practice management consultants at Simmons Mid-Atlantic. They can be reached at 888.881.7084 and by email at DMcCormick@TMcCG.com and SEverhart@TMcCG.com.

WWW.PAVMA.ORG

12_Volume_1.indd 35

keystone veterinarian

VOLUME I 2012

35

3/20/2012 10:21:03 AM

what’s happening

Events & Education april 2012 April 19, 2012 PVMA Practice Perspectives Webinar "Creating Team Buy-In" Katherine Dobbs, RVT, DVPM, LLC

The entire day is free to PVMA members, but pre-registration is required. Register online at www.pavma.org.

Don't miss out on the first of a series of webinars designed especially for veterinary practice managers.

Generously sponsored by VetStreet, this webinar will be available to practice managers AT NO CHARGE, regardless of PVMA membership status.

Ms. Katherine Dobbs will highlight what needs to happen in your practice in order to create team buy-in in the protocols and policies of the practice, and how the leadership needs to teach the staff why each member of the team is important.

A full description and online registration are available at http://www. cvent.com/d/6cq08v.

April 25, 2012 Spasso Italian Grill, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Co-Sponsored by Hill's Pet Nutrition The Pennsylvania Veterinary Medical Association (PVMA) is hosting a dinner meeting, co-sponsored by Hill’s Pet Nutrition for District VII on April 25, 2012. Interact with colleagues, receive an update on current initiatives within PVMA, and earn 1.0 hour of continuing education credit. There is no charge to attend; however, you must pre-register.

The presentation will review the usage of Hill’s prescription diet y/d to manage cats with hyperthyroid disease. It will review the clinical studies on y/d, how to utilize y/d, and answer common questions about y/d. A local veterinarian will review how he is using y/d as his practice.

District VII includes Bucks, Montgomery, Delaware, Chester, and Philadelphia Counties. Register online at www.pavma.org.

18TH Annual Lake Erie Walleye Fishing & Golfing Seminar Weekend Commodore Perry Inn & Suites, Port Clinton, Ohio Education with recreation. 14 hours of continuing education credit available that you can use in your practice as soon as Monday morning. Visit www.symbiosishc.org or contact Dr. Ron Fuller for more information at 740.344.3061.

May 23-24, 2012 Penn Stater Conference Center Hotel, State College, PA PVMA is heading back to State College for its annual Spring Clinic meeting. 12 hours of continuing education credit will be available in a range of tracks. Full details on program, hotel, and registration will be available early next spring at www.pavma.org.

august 2012 August 16-19, 2012 6TH Keystone Veterinary Conference Hershey Lodge, Hershey, PA The Keystone Veterinary Conference (KVC) will be back at the Sweetest Place on Earth for 25 hours of continuing education credit with a helping of family fun on the side. Full details and online registration will be available in 2012 at www.keystonevetconference.org.

november 2012

may 2012

November 3-4, 2012

May 8, 2012

5TH 3 Rivers Veterinary Symposium

7TH Annual Legislative Day and 8TH Annual Friends of Veterinary Medicine Reception

Omni William Penn Hotel, Pittsburgh, PA

Crowne Plaza Hotel and Pennsylvania Capitol Building, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania As a PVMA member, you are invited to participate in our Legislative Day on May 8 at the Crowne Plaza Harrisburg. We encourage you to take advantage of this opportunity to learn first hand about the legislative and regulatory issues facing the veterinary profession today.

Each attendee will be given a chance to meet with their legislators and will be provided with talking points and support.

VOLUME I 2012

12_Volume_1.indd 36

May 17-20, 2012

13TH Annual Spring Clinic

PVMA District VII Dinner Meeting

36

Following Legislative Day, PVMA and the University of Pennsylvania, School of Veterinary Medicine will co-sponsor the Friends of Veterinary Medicine Reception in the East Wing of the Capitol Building to honor our friends in the legislature, state agencies, and organziations that have showing their support to the profession.

keystone veterinarian

PVMA will be returning to Pittsburgh for the 5TH 3 Rivers Veterinary Symposium. 12 hours of continuing education credit will be available in a variety of tracks including companion animal, bovine, and more. Full details on program, hotel, and registration will be available next year at www.pavma.org. l

WWW.PAVMA.ORG

3/20/2012 10:21:04 AM

Get More for Your PVMA Membership Choose Energy Plus®

A

s a resident of the state of Pennsylvania, you have the right to choose who powers your home and business. To make this decision easier, the Pennsylvania Veterinary Medical Association has partnered with Energy Plus®, one of the fastest growing electricity supply companies, to offer members customizable electricity programs involving activation bonuses and annual cash back rebates!

Sign up today to start earning cash back!

Visit www.EnergyPlusRewards.com/PVMA528 or call 877-770-3323 and mention offer code “PVM-5028.”

Here is how the Energy Plus program works: • For each electric business meter you enroll, you’ll earn 5% cash back annually on supply charges and a $50 activation bonus.

• Home electric meters that you switch will earn 3% cash back and a $25 activation bonus.

Energy Plus is dedicated to rewarding PVMA members with this cash back offer just for flipping the switch. Best of all, once you enroll you can try Energy Plus risk-free! They offer a month-to-month rate plan with no sign-up fees, cancellation fees, or long-term commitments.

Once customers switch, their utility company will still deliver their electricity, but the supply portion of their bill can now be handled by an electricity supply company, like Energy Plus. Now is the time to take a look at your electricity bill and choose Energy Plus for this exclusive offer! To be eligible, you simply need an address within the Energy Plus service area, which currently covers areas serviced by Duquesne Light Company, Met-Ed, PECO, Penelec, PPL Electric Utilities and West Penn Power (formerly Allegheny).

WWW.PAVMA.ORG

12_Volume_1.indd 37

keystone veterinarian

VOLUME I 2012

37

3/20/2012 10:21:07 AM

Classified Ads Veterinarians ASSOCIATE VETERINARIAN needed F/T for a 4 doctor,small animal practice in South Central Pennsylvania. Excellent support staff. No after hour emergencies. Above average salary commensurate with experience. New graduates are welcome.

Send resume to Dr. Ann C. Pettigrew, Leader Heights Animal Hospital, 199 Leader Heights Road, York, PA 17402; PH 717.741.4618; FX 717.741.4518, or email rook185@comcast.net.

Veterinary Technicians VETERINARY TECHNICIAN—Mixed animal, 2-doctor practice in south central Pennsylvania has an immediate opening for a dependable, compassionate individual with a strong work ethic and excellent communication and patient care skills.

Certified and licensed applicants are preferred, but an experienced veterinary assistant would be considered. Please submit resume to: John Simms, VMD, MS, Burnt Mill Veterinary Center, PC, 15154 Burnt Mill Road, Shippensburg, PA 17257, simmsj@cvn.net.

FULL-TIME VETERINARY Technician—An experienced and dedicated full-time certified veterinary technician needed to join our great team. Visit www.leesportanimalhospital.com and Facebook. Interested? Fax cover letter and resume to 610.926.3860.

PART-TIME VETERINARY Technician— Hilltop Animal Hospital is in need of a part-time veterinary technician for a busy small animal practice. Located 25 minutes west of Pittsburgh, we offer a family atmosphere that is very client-oriented.Some weekend and evening hours required. Please send a resume via email to Carolyn Klar, Office Manager, at cjklar@yahoo.com.

Veterinary Consultant PRACTICE SALES and Appraisals—Why pay 8-10% in commissions to help you sell your practice? Our company has the knowledge and experience to produce significant savings for you. Call to inquire about our rates. No obligation. Ark Business Consulting. Alan Glassman, VMD; David Cherst, CPA, MBA. 610.283.3476.

position. I will happily work short or long-term relief; days, nights and weekends as needed.

References gladly provided upon request. Please email debdraper@hotmail.com or call 407.256.6834 if I may be of service.

BONNIE J. MILLER DVM. Veterinarian with 25+ years experience in small animal, pocket pets, avian, reptile and exotics. Licensed in MD and PA. APHIS certified and have a current DEA certification. Proficient in surgery as well.

York, Lancaster, Gettysburg, Harrisburg, and surrounding areas in PA. Northern Baltimore County and some parts of Hartford and Frederick Counties. 717.739.8400.

DONALD W. STREMME, VMD. Experienced veterinarian (35+ years) available for small animal and exotic (birds, pocket pets, reptiles) relief work in Philadelphia area and South Jersey. Will consider other areas where licensed, too. Licensed (including DEA and USDA-APHS) in PA, NJ, NY, FL and CA. Email to CCACDWS@aol.com.

KATHRYN WEST, DVM, UF ‘94. Small animal and exotic/non-traditional pet work, including sx.

Central and SE PA. kswdvm@comcast.net.

DR. KIMBERLEY HERSHHORN GALLIGHER, Willistown Veterinary Services, is available for relief services. Contact 610.721.6634 or kimvmd@ hotmail.com for more information.

EXPERIENCED VETERINARIAN, 1987 Penn grad seeks part-time employment within 30-45 minutes of the Pottstown/Quakertown area. Special interests in surgery, diagnostic imaging, exotics.

Professional, reliable, neat appearance. Call Jacqueline Burke, VMD at 610.754.1155 or email jacquib@dejazzd.com.

LOOKING FOR relief: Veterinarian needed for Tuesday and or Thursday evenings. Approximate hours are 4 hour weekly with opportunity for further relief (vacations) Contact: Providence Veterinary Hospital, Chester, PA. 215.620.2407.

Licensed three states and DEA current certificate.

One day or regular short-term part-time. References available. Contact: Sandra Fargher VMD '91, at 610.299.8593 or sandraatmillrd@aol.com.

HOW DO you spell relief? Jerry Godfry, DVM! I have been a veterinarian for 38 years and have owned my own practice in Chester County for the past 30 years. I have sold my practice recently and I am currently available to work as a relief veterinarian in Philadelphia and the surrounding areas. I am an experienced, reliable doctor that would fit your needs. My experience ranges from cats and dogs to birds and reptiles. I am licensed and accredited in PA as well as federally accredited. I work well with new staff and am able to work a busy schedule. Available for day and evening shifts in addition to Saturdays and some holidays. Will travel 45-1 hour if needed. Please contact if interested. 610.506.6494.

Brokers Whether you are ready to purchase a veterinary practice or sell one, there’s only one company to trust – PS Broker, Inc! 25+ years of experience in the Veterinary Practice Brokerage field. We offer Seller Representation, Buyer Representation, and Practice Valuations. Practices for Sale Nationwide!

PS Broker, Inc.; 1.800.636.4740; www.psbroker. com; info@psbroker.com.

Practices For Sale NW PA NEAR Ohio line. Small animal practice Grossing over $600,000 in very nice facilities.

Hospital is well equipped and quite profitable.

Practice and real estate offered @ $655,000.

Contact Dr. Kurt Liljeberg of Total Practice Solutions Group at 800.380.6872 or kurt@tpsgsales.com.

SMALL ANIMAL solo practice for sale in SW Pennsylvania. Owner retiring. Established 35 years. 10 minutes west of Airport and half hour to downtown Pittsburgh. Hours can be expanded.

Includes land, building, and equipment on busiest road in Beaver County. Serious inquiries to 724.375.6312.

MJ POTTER, UP 97. Experience in small animal internal medicine, critical care, oncology, and general surgery. Available for long or short term relief in Delaware, Chester, Lancaster, and surrounding counties. 610.357.5275 or drmjpotter@ hotmail.com.

WHEN BUYING or selling a veterinary practice, count on the experience of Total Practice Solutions Group. See our display ad this issue. Contact Dr. Kurt Liljeberg for a free consultation, 800.380.6872, or kurt@tpsgsales.com.

SAFI CHAND, DVM. Compassionate, productive small animal veterinarian, strong interpersonal, medical and surgical skills, >5 year experience in referral/ER,exotics, available weekends, weekdays and nights. 413.636.9209; safi_c2000@yahoo.ca.

WILLIAM KEER, DVM, Wisconsin ‘99 Providing veterinary relief services and improving colleagues’ quality of life in eastern Pennsylvania. Please contact me via email at bkeer@ptd.net or phone at 484.560.4338 for more information.

PRACTICE FOR SALE (PA42): Established one doctor, large animal, ambulatory practice located in beautiful southwest PA. Everything is ready for a new owner to take it over. The purchase price of $170,000 includes the operating inventory and a well-equipped vehicle. For more info, visit www.SimmonsInc.com or call 888.881.7084. l

DEBRA DRAPER, DVM. Experienced, competent, personable small animal veterinarian available with a broad spectrum of availability in the greater Philadelphia and outlying area. Ideally, I am looking for a permanent, long-term, full-time

THE VISITING VET! Experienced relief veterinarian available for quality coverage in Chester County, Northern Delaware, southern Lancaster County and southern New Jersey. Small animal and pocket pets. Soft tissue surgery and emergency coverage.

Relief Veterinarians

38

VOLUME I 2012

12_Volume_1.indd 38

keystone veterinarian

WWW.PAVMA.ORG

3/20/2012 10:21:08 AM

continued from page 27

resistance has become a major problem of animals and people around the globe.

He stated one basic issue for some people is they believe antibiotics used in animals cause health problems in humans, but people in agriculture state they have been using antibiotics in animals for nearly 50 years with little or no impact on resistance. He noted that farms are more efficient than before, and they do raise more food on fewer acres due to concentration and large scale efficiencies in a small space. He stated sub-therapeutic use of antibiotics are given to animals in times of stress, and there is strong data to show if sub-therapeutic antibiotics are used then healthy animals shed fewer food safety bacteria in the environment. He defined therapeutic use as antibiotics given during times of sickness but the development of antibiotic

Dr. Wolfgang stated most of the antibiotics used in livestock tend to be primary grade antibiotics and many groups have called for the reduction of antibiotic use in agriculture which has been looked at the national level.

He indicated “prudent use of antimicrobials can be described as an approach that takes into consideration the optimal selection of the antimicrobial, the dose and duration of treatment accompanied by reduced inappropriate and excessive use that will result in slowing the emergence of antimicrobial resistance.�

He said alternatives to antibiotics in food animal production include management practices that reduce the likelihood and effect of infectious diseases and also increase production efficiency. He concluded, based on his re-

Senate Ag Committee

WWW.PAVMA.ORG

12_Volume_1.indd 39

view of literature and many years of practical experience, that the scientific evidence does not support widespread, emerging resistance among pathogens isolated from animals in production agriculture but is also clear that use of antibiotics in food-producing animals does in a small way contribute to the overall increase in antimicrobial resistance.

Following Dr. Wolfgang’s presentation, Senator Vogel extended his thanks to PVMA for our partnership and for taking the time to educate the Committee on these important issues. If you would like any information on the presentations, please contact Charlene Wandzilak at cwandzilak@pavma.org. l

keystone veterinarian

VOLUME I 2012

39

3/20/2012 10:21:10 AM

the grand finale

SERIAL KILLER

Laughter Is the Best Medicine PUDGY NINJA

NITTANY

STRAY CAT

I Think My Cat Is a Serial Killer

By Adam Hoover, VMD

I

had a scary revelation around Halloween last year: I think my cat is a serial killer. Now, there haven’t been any disappearances (yet), and the police haven’t found any bodies, but I was pretty sure that my premonitions would come true. Even though the night of the witch was fast approaching, I didn’t think that I was just suffering from paranoia. It’s amazing how one simple observation, when referenced from a movie, will send your mind down scary paths to the truth.

Everyone has seen this scene in a movie: a young, attractive woman is in her bathroom.

She reaches up to open the bathroom vanity, removes an item, and then when she closes the vanity, the masked murderer is standing behind her, his evil presence revealed by his villainous reflection in the mirror. Even though it was physically impossible for him to travel that distance and appear unnoticed, there he is.

My fears about Nittany, my cat, began when I noticed that he had a similar ability. I would turn to get something, and when I turned back around, there sat my cat, peacefully looking at me. What struck me each time this happened was that there wasn’t enough time for him to physically cover that distance and appear out of thin air. I briefly considered him being a ninja, but it was Halloween and he is kind of pudgy, so that left only serial killer.

Once I noticed this ability to appear out of nowhere over impossible distances, my mind began to see all of his other behaviors in a new light. He was a stray that a client brought in and I gave him shelter.

Suddenly, it seemed less like I was helping a homeless cat and more like I was picking up a shaggy hitchhiker (and we all know how those stories turn out …).

When he's hungry in the morning, he sits by my face in my bed, ever so gently touching my bottom lip with his paw. It kind of tickles to be honest, but looking back, I see now that he was trying to smother me.

I don’t think I breathe well when sleeping, and Nittany was trying to cut off what little airflow I had left by holding my mouth shut. When I looked into his eyes in those moments, I realize now that what I was seeing was not light reflecting off of his tapetum lucidum, but evil!

He doesn't broadcast his malcontent with a blood-splattered hockey mask or a roaring chainsaw. Far too obvious. He hides his evil in the most sinister of ways: by looking cute. He is very soft, very quick to purr, comes when called, and has a pudgy little belly. Looking at him, a stranger might never know his true identity. As I type this document— no doubt my last—the monster slumbers on my lap, his bulk putting my right foot to sleep so that I have no hope of outrunning him.

For anyone reading this, and I pray that it gets out, please watch yourselves. I refuse to believe that Nittany is the only cat with homicidal tendencies. Keep a close eye on your own cat. If you have more than one, you have my sympathies as you are surely without hope of escape. If you are the crazy cat lady, stop reading immediately and write out your will.

I wish that I could do more to prepare you for what is coming. If nothing else, if I survive my cat and this message gets out, then I will consider myself the Paul Revere of the killer kitties. If I am wrong and the cats don't have a grand plan for mass homicide of their owners, then that leaves only the alternative: that my cat really is a pudgy ninja.

Which, I think, is kind of cool … l

final words of wisdom Many people think that if they were only in some other place, or had some other job, they would be happy. Well, that is doubtful. So get as much happiness out of what you are doing as you can and don't put off being happy until some future date.

40

VOLUME I 2012

12_Volume_1.indd 40

— DALE CARNEGIE keystone veterinarian

WWW.PAVMA.ORG

3/20/2012 10:21:11 AM

When clients ask the question “What more can

my child do to get into veterinary school?”

refer them to...

The Animal Science Programs at

Drexel University College of Medicine

Post-Baccalaureate Pre-Professional Education

Veterinary Medical Science Program (VMS) • An intensive one-year certificate program • Designed to help students enhance their GPA and applications to veterinary school • Students take first-year medical school courses and graduate-level animal science courses

Master of Laboratory Animal Science (MLAS) • Only requires a second year of coursework and performance of a summer practicum after completion of the VMS program • A master’s degree will greatly enhance a student’s veterinary school application • Provides an alternative career option in the rewarding field of laboratory animal facility management • Many students elect to enter the MLAS program directly

Call 215-762-4692 or email medicalsciences@drexelmed.edu for more information, or visit our website: www.drexelmed.edu/ims

Philadelphia Health & Education Corporation d/b/a Drexel University College of Medicine is a separate not-for-profit subsidiary of Drexel University.

care • community • research • teach 12_Vol_1_cover.indd 3

3/20/2012 10:23:55 AM

PRSRT STANDARD US POSTAGE PAID HARRISBURG, PA PERMIT NO. 533

PVMA 8574 Paxton Street Hummelstown, PA 17036

6 Keystone Veterinary Conference TH

August 16–19, 2012 Hershey Lodge, Hershey, Pennsylvania

Earn 26 hours of continuing education credit in the Sweetest Place on Earth.* • Companion Animal —Internal Medicine —Ophthalmology —Integrative Medicine —Endocrinology —Senior Care —Cardiology —Neurology —Toxicology —Soft Tissue Therapy —Emergency/Critical Care —Nutrition • Equine —Purchase Examinations and Lameness —Integrative Medicine • Exotics

Full information and online registration will be available at www.keystonevetconference.org.

hershey* pennsylvania

—Small Mammal • Practice Management

12_Vol_1_cover.indd 4

3/20/2012 10:23:57 AM