The Communiqué Summer 2015

Volume 28, Issue 2

Summer 2015 Summer 2015

A Publication of the Oklahoma Veterinary Medical Association

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Summer 2015

2015 Executive Board President Yalonda Burton, DVM President Elect Joel Manley, DVM Secretary/ Treasurer Rosemarie Strong, DVM

FREE BROCHURES Free Bite Prevention brochures are available at the OVMA office. These brochures can be used to supplement educational information at clinics, as well as help create a more engaging demonstration to elementary students.

Secretary/Treasurer Elect Emily Redden, DVM

If you’d like some of these brochures, please contact the OVMA office.

Immediate Past

Email: admin@okvma.org

President

Phone: (405) 478-1002

Facebook.com/ OklahomaVMA

@OklahomaVMA

Mark Shackleford, DVM District Director Representative

President’s Report

Sarah Kirkpatrick, DVM

Page 2

District Directors

Oklahoma City, OK 73113

Sarah Smith, DVM

University News

District Two:

Page 6

Roger Holly, DVM

405-478-1002 or admin@okvma.org Or go online at www.okvma.org To update your member profile.

Ed Gilsleider, DVM District Three:

Don’t forget to notify the OVMA office!

PO Box 14521

District One: Kevin Long, DVM

MOVING?

Gary Stone, DVM

Calendar of Events

Jim Bentley, DVM

Page 7

District Four: Cade Coppenbarger, DVM Sarah Kirkpatrick, DVM

Department of Ag.

District Five:

Page 11 WILL YOU BE SPEAKING AT A SCHOOL OR ORGANIZATION?

Kelly Barger, DVM Kelly Cooper, DVM Student Representatives: Kelsey Carlisle Alisa Rice AVMA Delegates Ken Bartels, DVM Charles Freeman, DVM Executive Director Jana Black Membership Coordinator Nylia Burch

Classifieds

LET US HELP

Page 19

The Public Education Committee has developed a free flash drive to assist Veterinarians with presentations at schools, and in the community. The flash drive contains ageappropriate presentations for grades K-12, FAQs, videos and a presentation called: “How Veterinarians Protect You”

Contact OVMA today to get yours!

P.O. Box 14521 OKC, OK 73113 (405) 478-1002 E-mail: admin@okvma.org

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Summer 2015

President’s Report Just before I took office, I attended the AVMA VLC. It was an outstanding conference and brought a lot to light for both Dr. Grogan and I as we plan for the year ahead.

The year started out with a bang as we hosted our 100 th Annual Convention. I felt all went well and we had a good response on our surveys. We received some good feedback. The location seems to have been a hit. We had some good speakers, some additional CE opportunities, a dry lab, a zoo tour and just an overall good time.

As the legislature was called to session, OVMA was approach by our lobbyists and legislative committee to produce a few position statements. OVMA developed a position statement regarding the PMP which was well received by the Yalonda Burton, DVM lobbyists and the committee. We also developed a position statement regarding feral hog control and movement based OVMA President on disease risks and public health risks. We feel like OVMA had a good position and that the opinion was respected by the legislature. There was also a bill to terminate Executive Directors of several organizations, including OSBVME, which the OMVA sent notice that we were opposed to such bill. If you are interested in these statements, please contact me and I will get them to you.

As March rolled around we prepared for the Animal Conference hosted by the Kirkpatrick Foundation. This was a 2 ½ day event that had attendees from animal welfare groups to stockmen and producers, as well as everything in the middle. The Kirkpatrick Foundation did a fabulous job of having a variety of speakers to hear all sides of the conversation. It was an honor to attend on behalf of OVMA and would recommend other veterinarians attend as well. They plan to host this event every 3 years.

We also were invited to Ag Day at the capital. Dr. Elizabeth Giedt and Dr. Calvin White were generous enough with their time to volunteer and work our booth, talk with the legislators and the public regarding veterinary medicine and OVMA. The first of May, I represented OVMA at the hooding ceremony of the Class of 2015 as we welcomed new graduates into our wonderful profession.

Reading the Veterinarian’s Oath is an honor that OVMA has presented to the students on graduation day for years and we hope to continue this tradition. Their graduation and our organization have very similar goals, including to advance the profession.

We are quickly approaching Summer Seminar and all that is involved with this opportunity for continuing education. Make plans to join us on June 12 and 13 for an excellent event hosted by OVMA and OSU CVHS.

If you ever have questions or concerns do not hesitate to contact me. This is your organization and we are glad to help.

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Summer 2015

The OVMA Awards Program is one of the most important membership services offered by our association. Your participation in the program by nominating your helps only strengthens it!

Nominate your peers in the categories of: Companion Animal Practitioner of the Year Equine Practitioner of the Year Food Animal Practitioner

To submit your nominations, head over to www.OKVMA.org!

Young Practitioner of the Year

Distinguished Service Faculty-to-Practitioner Industry Representative

& Present THE OSU/OVMA SUMMER SEMINAR 06/12/15 - 06/13/15 OSU CAMPUS

How Many Extraordinary Patients Do You Have?

Nominate your incredible patient for our Animal Hall Of Fame!

Sponsored By The Oklahoma Veterinarian Medical Association For more information visit our website www.okvma.org or contact us at (405) 478-1002

Stillwater, OK The OVMA/OSU Summer Seminar is featuring an excellent selection of topics and speakers this year. The seminar will be held June 12-13, 2015 at McElroy Hall, Oklahoma State University, Center for Veterinary Health Sciences in Stillwater, OK. Whether you are looking for only a few needed hours of CE for licensure requirements or whether you are looking for outstanding speakers and topics, this meeting will serve your needs. Introduction to Proper Sampling and Preparation of Cytology Specimens, 8:00 am June 13 is a pre-requisite for the Cytology wet lab. The lab is limited to 15 participants.

Register online at www.OKVMA.org

Sarge 2015 Inductee

When: Thursday, August 13, 2015 Where: Coffee Creek Golf Club 4000 N. Kelly Avenue Edmond, OK 73003 Registration: $150 per person For additional details or to register Please visit: www.OKMA.org Or call (405)478-1002 Proceeds will benefit the Pet Overpopulation fund

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Summer 2015

Welcome New Members!

Jessica Bush

District 5

2014

Texas A&M

Jeremy Cramer

District 5

2009

OSU

Kathryn Downie

District 1

2012

OSU

Eileen Hough

Out of Sate

1968

KSU

Matt McQuade District 3 East 1986

OSU

Above: Dr. Greg Campbell, DVM presents Kristen Ward with the 2015 OVMF Scholarship.

Special Thanks goes to Dr. Calvin White, DVM and Dr. Elizabeth Giedt for representing OVMA at this year’s AG Day at the State Capitol.

Congratulations Kristen!

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As part of your membership, you will receive our quarterly newsletter, the Communique, updating you with what your fellow veterinarians are doing around the state. You will have access to the DVM Listserve, a way to connect to veterinarians around the state to discuss issues, ideas or comments with your peers. As part of your membership, you will have access to free classified advertising on the OVMA website and in the newsletter. The OVMA also gives you access to a list of relief veterinarians, materials for you to use or borrow for public education and hosts events that allow you to partake in classes and lectures to receive CE hours.

Here are just a few of the things you have access to when you are a member of The Oklahoma Veterinary Medical Association!

Call, E-mail Us, Or Visit Us Today For Additional Information.

405-478-1002

admin@okvma.org

Veterninary Career Network

www.okvma.org

Credit Union Tinker Federal Credit Union www.tinkerfcu.org

Career.okvma.org

(AXA Advisors)

Credit Card Processing

Jack Sullivan

Infintech, Kevin Walter

(405) 285-4500

1-888-908-6952

Financial Planning

Insurance Texcap-Concord Mike Bass 866-715-0484

Message Provider OnHoldWorx Rick Jones 1-800-460-4653 405-843-4653

Client Financing Care Credit 1-800-300-3046 ext 4849 714-490-4849

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Summer 2015

We are all busy with end of the academic year activities: Honors and Awards Banquet to celebrate all the awards and scholarships that our students have received, Transition Ceremony to mark the change from didactic to clinical training, finally the Hooding Ceremony which partners with the class of 1965 celebrating their 50 th reunion. But all too soon the halls will be quiet, the classrooms empty, the parking lots less congested as the Class of 2015 will be heading out to start their professional careers and the first and second year students go away for the summer to prepare for their next academic challenge in the fall.

But the work does not stop during the summer. That is when the rest of us take the time to do the bigger projects that are necessary to keep the place running smoothly. Just a few of the activities we will be preparing for include the Academic Building’s dedication which we are hoping to hold September 12 to coincide with the first football game of the season.

While the college does not routinely hold a tailgate at the home games, we intend to hold one so all the folks who attend the Jean E. Sander, DVM dedication, as well as other alumni and friends of the college who will be going to the game, can have time to enjoy the excitement of the new season. We anticipate taking ownership of the building the first of July so we can move in soon after.

There are several naming opportunities still available to allow folks to be remembered for their connection to the college.

We also will be holding a smaller dedication ceremony in late June or early July for the Gaylord Center of Excellence in Equine Health. This should be open soon as the finishing touches are now being made. I believe this will allow us to provide even better care for our equine athletes.

We’ve made some significant changes in the faculty and administrative ranks. First, Dr. Jerry Ritchey will be taking over the role of Department Head for the Department of Veterinary Pathobiology. This will officially take place on July 1 allowing Dr. Jim Meinkoth, who may well have been the longest serving Interim, to spend more time doing the parts of his job that he loves…working with the students. We are also in negotiations with a new anatomist and a Department Head for Physiological Sciences.

Our own Dr. Susan Little presented a talk at the recent TEDx O-State, which revolved around “Ideas.” Dr. Little shared how parasite control has significantly influenced how we live with our pets. She insightfully explained that before veterinarians made such great advances in flea and tick control, keeping dogs and cats inside was not the norm. It was through the years of research conducted in veterinary medicine that allowed us to enjoy the strong Human-Animal bond we have today.

Finally, we will be losing some long time employees as we end the academic year. Dr. Mike Lorenz will be spending more time with his family enjoying the fruits of all those years he dedicated to this college. Also, Dr. Alistair Watson and Dr. Larry Stein, two of our three anatomists, will have retired this year as well. Dr. Robin Allison also decided to retire as did Dr. Sandra Morgan. We wish them all the best and trust they will remain connected to this great school.

News from the Veterinary Center Highlights from the Awards Banquet The OSU Center for Veterinary Health Sciences recently awarded more than $575,000 to veterinary students. Notable awards included: J. D. Folsom – Dean Clarence H. McElroy Award Hilary Ludwig – Dean Harry W. Orr Memorial Award Jacqueline Paritte – Krull Prize in Veterinary Parasitology Brandon Bassett – Gentle Doctor Award

Dr. Dugat Among 40 Under 40: Professors Who Inspire Danielle Dugat, DVM, DACVS, (OSU CVM ’07) was chosen as a “40 Under 40: Professors Who Inspire” by NerdScholar, a branch of NerdWallet.

An assistant professor of small animal surgery at OSU’s Veterinary Medical Hospital, Dugat teaches veterinary surgical knowledge and skills to veterinary students and surgeons-in-training. She also coordinates evening and weekend training opportunities. These 40 professors were chosen based on their ability to captivate and engage students in the classroom, their outstanding involvement on campus and in the community, and their overwhelming passion for their subject matter. Nominations were collected through student, alumni and faculty recommendations following an open call to several hundred colleges and universities across the country.

Dr. Robert Fulton Receives Outstanding Service Award Robert W. Fulton, DVM, PhD, received the 2015 Academy of Veterinary Consultants (AVC) Outstanding Service Award for contributions to the AVC and the beef industry. Merck Animal Health and the AVC sponsor the award, which was presented at the Spring AVC meeting. Merck Animal Health will make a $2,500 contribution to the AVC Foundation in the name of Dr. Fulton for student scholarships awarded by the AVC. Dr. Fulton is a Regents Professor and the McCasland Foundation Endowed Chair for Research in the Department of Veterinary Pathobiology.

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CALENDAR OF EVENTS June June 12-13 - OVMA / OSU Summer Seminar * McElroy Hall * Stillwater, OK – For more information or to register go to www.okvma.org June 24 - 26 - 1st International Symposium On Bison Health * The Radisson Hotel, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada To view the program, get additional details, or register, visit: www.bisonhealth.ca July July 31-August 1 - Equine Seminar - For more information go to www.okvma.org August August 13 - Golf Tournament * For more information or to register go to www.okvma.org September September 17-27 - Oklahoma State Fair * – To Sign up go to www.okvma.org

Summer 2015

Seeking Volunteers For Oklahoma City/ Tulsa State Fair Birthing Center and Surgical Suite A state of the art surgical suite for canine ovariohysterectomy demonstrations This exhibit allows the OVMA and OVMF to reach thousands of Oklahoma citizens and school children with accurate and positive information about veterinary medicine and animal care in a fun and engaging way. You’ll also have the opportunity to gain CE

credits!

If you’d like to volunteer please contact the OVMA office at (405) 478-1002 Fair Dates:

September 25-27 - SWVS * Ft Worth, TX * - For more information go to www.swvs.org

OK State Fair

October

September 17-27, 2015

October 1 – 10 - Tulsa State Fair - To Sign up go to www.okvma.org

Tulsa State Fair

October 17 - PAWSitive Steps 5K Walk, Run, Costume Contest - Wiley Post Park -

October 1-11, 2015

For more information or to register go to www.okvma.org November November 19-20 - OSU Fall Conference –

Mark Your Calendars!!!

For more information contact Dr. Elisabeth Giedt at (405) 744-7672

January 28-30, 2016 Doubletree Hotel and Cox Convention Center Tulsa, Oklahoma

OVMA Membership Benefit Model Animal Hospital Employee Handbook The OVMA is making available, exclusively to its members, a Model Employee Handbook/Policies and Procedures Manual. This document can be used as a guide for developing and refining your own employees’ policies and procedures manual.

If you do not have an employee policy and procedures manual for your hospital, this is an easy way to create a handbook for your individual practice situation.

The Model Handbook is available for handling and processing costs of $20 for CD which makes it simple to personalize your individual changes.

It is also available as hard copy. For more information, contact the OVMA office.

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The theme of the 2016 OVMA’s 101st Convention will be “101 Reasons to Love Your Veterinarian.” To celebrate the profession, we are self-publishing a book by the same name and plan to include your contributions in this fun, heart-warming and informative little book. Your submission should be a short one to two sentences that captures a reason why you should love your veterinarian. If included, you will be credited on the page with your name and town listed. You may also remain anonymous if you wish. Please submit as many great ideas as come to mind!

You may e-mail me directly at pat.grogan@vca.com or admin@okvma.org.

Let’s have fun with this!

Patrick Grogan, DVM

Summer 2015

The DVM PAC was created in recognition of the need to increase political activity and awareness among members of the veterinary medical professions. The DVM PAC, a non-partisan political action committee, provides financial support for state political candidates. DVM PAC exists through the voluntary contributions of OVMA members. Contributing to the DVM PAC reflects your commitment and dedication to political activity and education of key issues that affect the veterinary professions.

You, as OVMA members, are vital to our political activities and success. We cannot wait until a legislative bill activates us. We must develop and nurture our legislative contacts as often as we can.

Medical Director VCA Woodland East Animal Hospital 918-252-3595

Sale of Animal Friendly License plates is one method of accruing funds to combat Oklahoma’s Pet Overpopulation Crises. $20 from the sale of each license plate will go into the Pet Overpopulation Fund. Thousands of stray and unwanted pets are destroyed annually because there are not enough homes for them. Funds from this program are designed to assist low income families who cannot afford to have their pets spayed or neutered. It will ultimately reduce the number of stray and unwanted pets in Oklahoma Animal Friendly License plate application forms can be downloaded and printed from the OVMA web site.

For more information visit our website www.OKVMA.org

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Partners For Healthy Pets Every once in a while something momentous happens... and this is one of those times! We are taking aim at reducing preventable diseases among cats and dogs by urging pet owners to schedule veterinary checkups at least once per year.

Partners for Healthy Pets is a committee of the American Veterinary Medical Foundation created to ensure pets receive the preventive healthcare they deserve through regular veterinary visits. Led by the American Veterinary Medical Association and the American Animal Hospital Association, this is an unprecedented collaborative alliance of over 100 veterinary associations, colleges of veterinary medicine and animal health companies all committed to a vision of improved overall health for pets. Partners for Healthy Pets provides tools and resources that help communicate the value and benefit of preventive care, enhance the veterinary client relationship, improve the overall quality of preventive healthcare provided for patients and has recently launched an advertising campaign to promote the importance of annual veterinary checkups.

To gain free access to the cutting edge tools that can give you and your practice team everything you need to make a profound and long lasting impact in your practice and on your pet loving community, go to http www.partnersforhealthypets.org.

Partners for Healthy Pets and its members are deeply committed to pet health.

Practice Resources Toolbox : W hat’s in the T oolbox? The Par tner s for Healthy Pets' Pr actice Resour ces Toolbox contains a var iety of tools and resources that can be used throughout your practice to help your healthcare team deliver preventive healthcare in the most effective ways possible. The tools and resources provide you with dynamic ways to reinforce a practice-wide focus on preventive pet healthcare and to enhance your communications with clients about the value of, and need for, routine care visits. And it’s all free.

As an associate member and supporter of Partners for Healthy Pets (PHP), it’s exciting to announce that PHP’s Pet Wellness Pulse Facebook page has launched!!

PHP has made it even easier for veterinary practices to connect with clients. By liking Pet Wellness Pulse, practices have direct access to ready to use posts, articles, pictures and more—all to help make the bond even stronger between practice and patient! For those clinics that subscribe to PHP’s monthly practice newsletter, it will still be published every month. PHP is just offering you an additional way to get daily content for any practice’s needs.

More benefits for your healthcare team:

    

Pet Wellness Pulse pr ovides a var iety of daily posts that include fun infor mation for your clients Posts that your practice can customize Important medical information to encourage clients to visit your practice for preventive pet healthcare Easy tips on how to maximize your practice’s presence on Facebook

Use of the exclusive “Social Media 101” classes to gain new skills A collaborative community of veterinary practice team peers that offers conversations on “best practices” for preventive pet healthcare Join us and “like” Pet Wellness Pulse today!

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Summer 2015

State Veterinarian Report As I write this we just had a wonderful state-wide rain that didn’t break the drought but sure helped a lot. Coming from a farming/ranching family going back several generations, I’m always checking the weather and worrying about how it will affect our crops and livestock. Now that I’m State Veterinarian I still worry about those things, but I also see the impact of livestock diseases on animals, livestock producers, and the economy.

We’re very fortunate here in Oklahoma to have not had any outbreaks of severe diseases in the past few years.

Last year in Texas and Colorado Vesicular Stomatitis didn’t cause a lot of animal deaths, but it caused a lot of pain in huge numbers of cattle and horses, inconvenienced their owners and forced the cancellation of many events.

Texas is dealing with a large dairy with a high incidence of Tuberculosis. This is causing USDA and the Texas Animal Health Commission to expend many hours of work in repeatedly testing the dairy and the ancillary premises.

Texas is also dealing with issues with Fever Ticks that potentially can carry Bovine Babesiosis along their southern border and is expending a lot of time and money pushing the animals that carry the vector back.

Rod Hall, DVM

The worst problem is the Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza outbreak which started last December in the Pacific Northwest, but rapidly spread into the Mississippi and Central migratory waterfowl flyways. There were initially a few commercial and backyard flocks infected in Minnesota, Missouri, Arkansas, and Kansas. Shortly after that it hit Minnesota again and has spread to Wisconsin, Iowa, North Dakota, and South Dakota.

Minnesota is the largest turkey producing state in the U.S. and as of this writing they have had upwards of 80 separate premises infected. Millions of turkeys have died or had to be depopulated. You can imagine the stress this is putting on the owners, townspeople, responders, and the industry.

Many of our USDA colleagues are rotating in and out of the affected areas as parts of Incident Command Teams. ODAFF has deployed a team to Minnesota consisting of four people and necessary equipment to assist in the depopulation of the infected poultry flocks there.

Please continue to be diligent and report any unusual cases you see. With your help we hope to recognize Foreign Animal Disease cases in time to stamp them out before they spread. Call us if we can help, and if you are not receiving my email updates, send me your email address and encourage your friends and colleagues to send theirs.

Please check out our website at www.ag.ok.gov/ais and let us know how we can make it serve you better. You can contact us at: 405-522-0270.

OVMA Relief Veterinarian List Tulsa & Northeast

Oklahoma City Area Heather Cobb

OKL ‘85, SA

(405) 265-1866

Charles Clinkenbeard

KSU ‘64, Mixed

333-5848

Mary Kay Webster

OKL ‘02, SA

(405) 923-6806

Jonathan Stout

OKL, ‘02, SA

Tami Spivey

OKL ‘96, SA

(405) 642-3529

(918) 557-9687 or (918) 396-0216

Stacey Riffel

OKL ‘97, SA

(405) 330-8930

Carolynne Cash

OKL, ‘96, SA/Mixed

(918) 346-0823

Brandy C. Callison-Combs

OKL ‘08

(918) 504-6692

Camille Sieger

OKL, ‘09, SA

(405) 735-9697

Jacob Boyer

‘05, SA

(405) 255-8506

Phil McKinney

OKL, ‘74, SA

(918) 694-5566

Camille Sieger

OKL, ‘09, SA

(405) 735-9697

Elizabeth Calabria

TEX ‘88 SA/Mixed

(580) 326-4573

Kim Weiss

OKL, ‘99, SA/Exotic (405) 204-0612

Phil McKinney

OKL, ‘74, SA

(918) 694-5566

Amy Auwarter

GA, ‘04, SA

(706) 338-2154

Elizabeth Calabria

TEX ‘88 SA/Mixed

(580) 326-4573

Bonnie Boone

OKL ‘90 SA

(405) 823-3546

Shannon Johnson

OKL '98 SA

(405) 719-0301

Tracey Alden

OKL ‘99 SA

(405) 517-8399

Ron Mollet

OKL ‘74 SA

(405) 831-7492

Ronny Kiehn

OKL ‘70, SA

(580) 481-8590

Statewide Bill Barrett

AUB ‘69, SA/Mixed (903) 564-3136

Jimmy Fuchs

OKL, ‘77, SA / Mixed

580-225-7784

Nick Mosier

OKL, ‘09, SA

580-320-3081

Elizabeth Calabria

TEX ‘88 SA/Mixed

580-326-4573

Carolyn Fairless TEX ‘89 SA (918) 625-5200 If you would like to be added or removed from the relief list, please call the OVMA office 405-478-1002.

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Summer 2015

CHECK OUT THE NEW OKVMA.ORG!!!

Our new website has gone live and all of the resources you need are right at your fingertips!

And don’t forget to renew your OVMA membership, if you haven't already!

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Summer 2015

The Dangers of Substance Abuse Substance abuse refers to the overindulgence in and dependence on a stimulant, depressant, chemical substance, herb (plant) or fungus leading to effects that are detrimental to the individual's physical health or mental health, or the welfare of others. Alcohol is such a big part of American life today that we rarely stop to consider our pattern of drinking. We drink wine with dinner, or have a few drinks after work, or even a few beers while watching a ball game, but when a pattern of drinking begins to emerge, it can become a problem. Drug use in America is also more commonplace than it once was. In today's teenage population over 90 percent have used alcohol. Over 50 percent have used marijuana, 17 percent admit to trying cocaine and 12.5 percent have used some form of hallucinogen.

Many people feel that it is necessary to drink or experiment with drugs when at parties and social gatherings. Some people drink or abuse drugs as a way to cope with the daily stress and tension from school or work, or to cope with other problems such as marital distress or even physical illness. Alcohol and drugs may become a substitute for satisfying personal relationships, challenging work or self-fulfillment.

Some may use alcohol and drugs as a way to compensate for feelings of guilt, shyness or low self-esteem.

When drinking or drug use becomes a means for coping with life's problems it can turn into addiction. Unfortunately alcohol and some drugs have become more socially acceptable, and this makes it even easier for people to experiment at younger ages. In addition, alcohol and drugs are readily accessible to many of today's youth, which further increases the likelihood that they will use substances at some time.

Denial is the main symptom of drug users and alcoholics. They deny that they really have a problem. This makes it more difficult for them to be realistic about the extent of their substance use, and to recognize that it may be a problem. If you think that you may have an alcohol or drug problem there are many sources of assistance that are available to you.

For treatment or referral information:

 

Reach out to OHPP or a member of our Outreach for Wellness Committee. All calls are confidential. (Information below)



Speak with your family doctor about your current level of drug or alcohol abuse, and request a referral to a treatment center or counselor that can help.



Speak with your church priest or church minister. Discuss the different options that may be available through your church for your substance abuse problems.



Substance Dependency and Addiction is a progressive disease. These problems do not normally improve on their own. When a pattern of dependence begins to emerge you not only endanger your own life, but the lives of others may also be affected.

Call the local chapter of Alcoholics Anonymous, Narcotics Anonymous or Cocaine Anonymous. These numbers are all listed in the phone book.

Source: Florida Institute of Technology

Do you have a drinking or drug problem? Need someone to talk to?

The Oklahoma Health Professionals Program Since 1983, the Oklahoma Health Professionals Program (OHPP) has provided services to over 1,000 physicians, veterinarians and health care providers with alcohol and chemical dependence. OHPP is an outreach program designed to support and monitor medical and allied health professionals throughout Oklahoma who are experiencing difficulty with substance abuse. If you have questions, or are seeking help, please contact the OHPP today at (405) 601-2536. The OVMA is proud to partner with the OHPP. Calls are confidential.

Call a member of the Outreach for Wellness Committee Calls are strictly confidential.

Nancy Johnson

(405) 258-2806

Robert Poteet

(918) 749-6588

Ron Laughlin

(405) 340-1020

David Mitchell

(918) 599-8403

John Otto

(405) 329-6889

Roger Panciera

(405) 744-4520

Ed Wagner

(918) 835-2336

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Prescription Monitoring Program New Legislation Effective – November 1, 2015 Language in HB 1948: Prior to prescribing or authorizing for refill, if one hundred eighty days have lapsed prior to the previous access and check, of opiates, synthetic opiates, semisynthetic opiates, benzodiazepine or carisoprodol; to a patient of record, registrants or members of their medical or administrative staff shall be required until October 31, 2020, to access the information in the Prescription Monitoring Program (PMP) to assess medical necessity and possibility that the patient may be unlawfully obtaining prescription drugs in violation of the Uniform Controlled Dangerous Substances Act. The duty to access and check shall not alter or otherwise amend appropriate medical standards of care. The registrant or medical provide shall note in the patient file the PMP has been checked ay maintain a copy of the information. The State Board of Veterinary Medical Examiners shall have the sole responsibility for enforcement. Nothing shall be construed so as to permit the Director of the State Bureau of Narcotics and Dangerous Drugs Control to assess administrative fines.

The State Board of Veterinary Medical Examiners (OSBVME) is in the process of creating guidelines which will assist veterinarians; these guidelines will be available in the next few weeks. Look for them in Board presentations, the Board’s website and the fall Newsletter.

Cathy Kirkpatrick Director Oklahoma State Board of Veterinary Medical Examiners

Summer 2015

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Summer 2015

Your Cat Is Trying to Talk to You

By Melissa Dahl, New York Post Dogs we get, mostly because they are so easy to get. They have expressive faces and body language that we can read pretty accurately, according to researchers who study animal behavior. Cats, on the other hand, are known for their emotional opaqueness and standoffishness; even the cat-ladiest of cat ladies might think that their pets don’t seem altogether interested in communicating with them, as long as the food arrives on time.

But that’s probably not entirely accurate, say the researchers who study cat-human communication — and, yes, this is a real field of scientific study, albeit a small one. Deciphering meaning in the behaviors of pets — meaning that went much beyond feed me now, anyway — was once dismissed as mere anthropomorphism, but that’s no longer the consensus among this community of researchers.

Rather, there’s a growing belief that cats are as expressive as dogs, argues Sharon Crowell-Davis, a professor of veterinary behavior at the University of Georgia, who recently gave a presentation on the subject at a conferencefor cat behaviorists in Atlanta. It’s just that we misunderstand or don’t see what they’re trying to communicate.

Compared with dogs, Crowell-Davis said, there are likely many cat behaviors that owners are misinterpreting, at least partially because so much more research has been done on canine behavior. “I do think that, over time, we’ll see that cats aren’t that mysterious,” said Mikel Delgado, a Ph.D. candidate in animal behavior at the University of California, Berkeley (and the author of a recent study that suggested it’s totally fine to be a bit of an overbearing pet parent).

Researchers have already turned up some interesting stuff, though — here’s what the current findings can tell you about how to speak cat.

The one thing you probably think you understand about how cats communicate — purring means they’re happy! — isn’t exactly right. Cats do indeed purr when they’re happy, but that’s not the most accurate translation of the sound’s meaning, Cromwell-Davis explained. “You can have cats that are happy and content purring, but also a cat that’s injured or sick will purr,” she said.

Instead, purring means something more like, don’t go anywhere, please. It’s more likely a solicitation for care, in other words, than purely an expression of contentedness. “They haven’t got a good way of asking for help — it’s not in their language — so they do the next best thing, they do the purring thing,” said John Bradshaw, a University of Bristol anthrozoologist and the author of Cat Sense: How the New Feline Science Can Make You a Better Friend to Your Pet. “The meaning is not exactly right, but it’s the closest they can get to it.”

Your cat is happy to see you when you get home from work, maybe. Your cat rubs its little furry self against your legs when you walk in the door, and you think, It wants something. That … is probably true, but it’s not all the cat is trying to communicate, Cromwell-Davis said, judging from her observations of groups of feral cats living together. (She believes that, contrary to popular opinion, cats are not as solitary we tend to believe; she finds feral cats tend to stick together in groups or families.)

“When cats are coming back from hunting, what we commonly see in the feral situation is they may spend several minutes rubbing up and down, up and down, against each other,” she said. “They’ll also wrap their tails over each other’s backs — it’s like a human hug.” It’s a commonly performed behavior when cats are reuniting after a period of separation, she said, and the meaning likely applies to the way the animals interact with their humans, too. “When you’ve been at work or school all day, and your cat comes up and rubs back and forth against you, and he may wrap his tail across your calves — what your cat is doing is taking a friendly greeting behavior that normally functions within their species and moves it to relating with the human species,” said Cromwell-Davis. It’s the cat-language way of saying, You’re back! I missed you!

Cats have facial expressions. Most people don’t pay attention to their cats’ facial expressions because we don’t think of cats as having facial expressions. But CrowellDavis doesn’t believe that’s true, judging from her own work with cats that have behavior problems. If you do begin to pay attention to their faces, she said, “you’ll see when they’re stressed or when they’re pained the facial muscles are tensed, and when they’re happy or relaxed, their facial muscles are relaxed.” (continued on next page)

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More specifically, watch for a long, slow blink, said Gary Weitzman, a veterinarian and author of How to Speak Cat: A Guide to Decoding Cat Language. “The slow blink really is an acceptance gesture,” Weitzman said. “They do that when they’re absolutely comfortable with you, and they do it with other cats as well.” It’s not clear why cats do this when they’re feeling calm and comfortable, but Weitzman said, “it’s likely an autonomic response ... having to do with the cat having its cortisol [stress hormone] levels down.”

Cats and their humans develop a secret language of meows. Cats don’t really meow to communicate with other cats, Bradshaw said, which in itself is a pretty surprising little cat-fact. But in his observations of feral cats, he said, “you get a meow about once every hundred hours. They’re very silent.” And yet domesticated cats, as you know if you’ve got one, will often meow their little heads off, all day (and sometimes night!) long. “People think of it as an absolutely classic cat behavior … but it’s something they’ve learned to do to get our attention,” Bradshaw said. “It’s really something they’ve adopted as a way of communicating with humans.”

As such, there’s not exactly a universal cat language when it comes to meows. Rather, as Bradshaw writes in his book, “a secret code of meows … develops between each cat and its owner, unique to that cat alone and meaning little to outsiders.” This was demonstrated in a 2003 study by Cornell researchers, documented in Bradshaw’s book, in which they recorded meows from 12 cats in five everyday scenarios. They then played those recordings to pet owners, and found that only the owners could correctly decipher the scenario in which the meow was recorded. So cat owners can tell with some accuracy what message their cat is trying to get across via its meows, whether it’s feed me or I’m bored or whatever else, but “each meow is an arbitrary, learned, attention-seeking sound rather than some universal cat-human ‘language,’” Bradshaw writes.

Cats might take a little more work to understand than dogs, in other words, but the experts suggest that they’re just as communicative as their canine counterparts — just in their own cat-specific ways.

· · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · ·

Sir Isaac Newton invented the cat flap.

The ridged pattern on a cat's nose pad is as individual as a human finger print.

At their fastest, cats can run at 30mph.

A group of kittens is called a kindle.

A group of cats is called a clowder.

The cat is the only domesticated animal NOT mentioned in the bible.

A cat's pulse is between 130 - 240 beats per minute.

A cat's gestation is between 61 - 70 days.

Cats have 30 vertebrae. Humans have 25.

The normal body temperature is 102 degrees F. Like humans, kittens have "baby" teeth, which are replaced with their adult teeth from around 6 months of age.

Cats perspire through their paws.

Cats breathe at a rate of 20 - 30 breaths per minute.

Cat urine glows under "black light".

Cats have existed longer than humans.

Cats walk on their toes.

Cats can jump 5 times their height.

The domestic cat is the only species of cat that can hold it's tail vertically while walking.

Cats have the largest eyes in proportion to their body size of all mammals.

Cats usually have 12 whiskers on each side of its nose.

-Cat Facts Courtesy of Cat-World.com

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Summer 2015

Disasters can occur at anytime and anywhere. From 1999 to 2014 there have been 38 federally declared disasters in Oklahoma alone. It is important to make plans now to help save yourself and your pets. Included in this handout are tools to aid you in preparing for a disaster and evacuation.

Remember: Personal safety is always first!!

Preparing Just as you should have an emergency kit for your family, you should also make one for your pets. Here is a list of items to include in your kit.

Safety Kit •Pet carrier or cage for each pet •Leash, collar and harness for each pet •Identification on the pets (tag, microchip) •One week supply of food and water •Travel bowls for food and water •Vaccination and medical records •Medications with instructions •Emergency contact information (including your veterinarian) •Photographs and other proof of ownership •First aid kit •Familiar toy or blanket •Stakes and tie outs •Manual can opener •Spoon (canned food) •Paper towels •Disinfectant •Litter, litter pan, litter scoop •Trash bags •Batteries (flashlight, radio) •Flashlight •Radio (solar and battery operated) •Newspaper for bedding or litter

Bentley the pit-bull waits to be rescued in Moore, OK. (Photo: Prayers For Moore Oklahoma Facebook Page)

Important •Your kit should be assembled in an easy-to-carry, waterproof container.

•It should be stored in an easily accessible location away from areas with temperature extremes.

•Replace the food, water, and medications as often as needed to maintain their quality and freshness and in accordance with the expiration dates.

•Indicate medications that are stored elsewhere due to temperature requirements (refrigeration).

•Consult with your veterinarian for advice on making a first aid kit that is appropriate for your individual pets. It is important that you become familiar with the items in your kit and their uses. Your veterinarian may recommend an animal first aid book to include in your kit.

Planning Always take your pet with you when you evacuate. If it is not safe for you to stay in the area, it is not safe for your pet.

Plan ahead in the event that human shelters will not house your pets.

•Identify near-by facilities where you can board your pet.

•Contact hotels outside your immediate area to locate “pet-friendly” ones and keep a list of them in your emergency kit.

•Contact friends and relatives outside your area to see if they will shelter you and your pets.

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Summer 2015

If You Are Not At Home •Designate a neighbor to tend to your pets if you are not home. Be sure they are familiar with your pets and where your emergency kit is located.

Give them your veterinary information and file a permission slip with your veterinary office authorizing them to seek medical treatment for your pet if you are not there.

Identification •You will need proof of ownership to retrieve your pet from a shelter.

•Be sure all of your animals have a properly fitting collar with current personal tags and rabies tags.

•Collars can slip off so consider having your pet microchipped. Microchips are the best way to safely and effectively identify you pet.

•Keep photographs of you with your pet. Be sure any distinguishing markings your pet has are visible.

•Give a copy of these photographs to a friend or relative out of town in case your copies are lost.

During An Emergency •Evacuate as early as possible.

•Be aware of changing conditions.

•Take your emergency kit with you when you leave.

After The Disaster •Monitor your pets closely and keep them leashed. Familiar scents and landmarks may be altered and can cause confusion or abnormal behavior.

•Survey the area inside and outside your home to identify potential dangers (downed power lines, fallen trees, debris).

•Release pets indoors only. They could encounter dangerous hazards if allowed to go outside unsupervised.

•Reintroduce food in small servings and gradually work up to full portions if your pets have been without food for a prolonged period of time.

If You Have Lost Your Pet •Visit each shelter daily. You must check in person because you are the only person who can truly identify your pet. Bring the photos you have of you with your pet.

•Create flyers with your pet’s photo and description, pet’s name, and your contact information.

•Notify local veterinary offices, neighbors, local animal control offices and local animal shelters.

•When you do find your pet, have it examined immediately for injury or illness.

Information gathered and summarized by Courtney Mason for www.putnamnorthanimalhospital.com.

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Summer 2015

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Now AVImark™ users * can also take advantage of our smarter payment processing solutions.

Current OVMA members already know how easy it is to work with us. We want you to know too. Since our program launched, we have reduced payment processing costs for members by more than $100,000. Find out how to join in on the savings and how Infintech can make your credit card processing even easier. Contact Kevin Walter today at 888-908-6952 or kevin.walter@infintechllc.com. *Certain Restrictions Apply

Laws for Cats have been around for thousands of years. A long the way a few strange and funny cat laws have been created. Some of them are just plain weird.

1. It is illegal to let your cat run loose in Denver, CO unless it has a taillight.

2. Fights between cats and dogs are prohibited in Barber, NC. 3. It is illegal for anyone to give lit cigars to cats or any other domesticated animals in Zion, IL. 4. Cats may not yowl after 9 pm in Columbus, GA. 5. Cats living in Cresskill, NJ must wear three bells to warn birds of their whereabouts 6. In Ventura County, CA, cats are not allowed to have sex without a permit.

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CLASSIFIEDS Small animal/avian practice looking for full-time veterinarian.

OVMA Members Call (405) 478-1002

Possibility to buy out owner for right candidate. We are located in Oklahoma City. In 2013 we experito get your free listing ! enced 35% growth and 24% last year. We have a fully equipped hospital .We have over two acres fenced for Tip: a new doggy day care facility. Our clients love us deeply and our clinic operates a bit like family. OklaOVMA Members can put their homa City is known for Bricktown, Thunder Basketball, affordable living conditions, and is a great place Job listings and veterinary related to live. The ideal person for our clinic would be confi- items for sale on the list serve. To dent in their ability and comfortable with clients. place your ad on the list serve Being good with people is extremely important. If simply send an email to: you are open to learning more, give us a call. We would love to speak with you to determine if there is ovmamembers@list.okvma.org a possible fit.

Please inquire at 405-691-1919 or email: ghuck47@ hotmail.com

Seeking RVT Walnut Creek Animal Hospital located in Purcell is looking for a 3rd RVT to join our team. Position is full-time with benefits. Please email resume to: info@walnutcreekanimalhospital.com Or Contact Micki Cottrell at 405-527-8734 or 405-207-8741

Ready to Sell? Looking to Buy? Need an Appraisal?

PS Broker has been helping Veterinarians Nationwide for more than 30 years – let our experience work for you!

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Visit our website at PSBROKER.COM; Contact us for a Free Consultation at (800) 636-4740 or email info@psbroker.com.

Summer 2015

Oklahoma Veterinary Medical Association Communiqué MANAGING EDITOR: Jana Black Editor: Landon Payne The OVMA Communiqué is the news-letter of the Oklahoma Veterinary Medical Association. The Editor reserves the right to edit copy according to space and contact guidelines and limit advertising space for single advertisers as appropriate. Opinions ex-pressed in these contents are strictly those of the author(s) and are not necessarily endorsed by OVMA.

Send news and advertising to: OVMA P. O. Box 14521 Oklahoma City, OK 73113 Phone: (405) 478-1002 Fax: (405) 478-7193 E-mail: admin@okvma.org

www.walnutcreekanimalhospital.com

Seeking Associate Veterinarian with interest in practice ownership Little Animal Hospital is located in Longview, TX two hours east of Dallas and one hour west of Shreveport, LA. Longview, TX is in the piney woods and is a wonderful place to raise a family and practice veterinary medicine. You will be working wit h a great team of veterinary professionals that practice quality small animal medicine and surgery with compassion, integrity and service. Getting to know our clients developing a strong sense of community is paramount to the way we work. With in-house labs, digital radiology, digital dental radiology and referral ultrasound, you’ll have an array of diagnostic tools at your fingertips. DVM required for this position with 2-3 years experience in small animal practice. Interest in feline medicine, dentistry, small animal internal medicine and surgery are a must. A benefits package including professional duties, CE allowance, mobile phone stipend, professional liability insurance, licensing and company retirement plan is included. If interested in ownership/ management, you can pursue the opportunity to purchase the practice.

E-mail resume to littleanimalhospital@gmail.com or contact Dr. Susan Little, DVM at (903) 759-8781

Advertising rates available upon request.

Deadlines for submitting materials: Spring Issue…………….February 1 Summer Issue……………….May 1 Fall Issue…………………..August 1 Winter Issue…………….November 1

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Oklahoma Veterinary Medical Association PO Box 14521 Oklahoma City, OK 73113

Summer 2015

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