Did you know 2011 is the 250th anniversary of the veterinary profession? It’s true. In 1761, King Louis XV, exasperated by the damage done by cattle disease, directed that a veterinary school be created in the southern part of France, in the city of Lyon. The rest, as they say, is history.
We not only recognize the historic anniversary, but we also note that as part of World Veterinary Year (proclaimed in January at Versailles), North Carolina Governor Beverly Perdue proclaimed 2011 Veterinary Science Year. Spotlighting the contributions of veterinarians to animal health is a major focus of Dr. Becker’s and Gina’s Big Bus Tour this spring. Along with telling people about the new book (do you have yours yet?), Dr. Becker will be repeating a four-word mantra: Healthy pets visit vets. Not a new idea, but one that bears repeating.
Update on Japan: Veterinary Practice News is staying on top of rescue efforts for animals in Japan.
The Boston-based World Society for the Protection of Animals pledged $150,000 to assist Japan’s Animal Disaster Response Team (ADRT), a group of Japanese animal groups, in providing relief to animals affected by the disasters, and the Washington, D.C.-based American Humane Association (AHA) has provided an “initial” $10,000 in cash and a shipment of animal sheltering supplies to the Japan Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals and the Japan Animal Welfare Society, which is also part of the ADRT. Those agencies, along with the Japan Pet Care Association and the Japan Veterinary Medical Association, have formed the Headquarters for the Relief of Animals in Emergencies, AHA reported. Meanwhile, rescuers from the International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW), based in Yarmouth Port, Mass., have mobilized to Japan to conduct an assessment and assist with animal rescue efforts, the IFAW reported.
The needs in Japan continue to be daunting, but the response is ongoing. In our little corner of the world, we’ve been encouraging donations to World Vets first and foremost. Check out this volunteer organization here. Our Dr. Becker just cut World Vets a check for a cool $1,000 … and while few of us can do that, any amount is welcome, and it all adds up.
Hands on the patient: It is a well-known truth in health care that it’s often hard to accurately diagnose a patient without actually putting your hands on them. Our own Dr. Nancy Kay has an outstanding post in her blog Speaking for Spot, detailing what should be a matter of course in your veterinarian’s examination.
A big shout out to Dr. Robin: Dr. Robin Downing is the subject of a glowing profile in the March issue of Northern Colorado Medical & Wellness. It’s well worth reading the entire article, but one section that’s especially enlightening is the discussion of Dr. Robin’s incredible sensitivity to pain management:
She recalls a family who came to her because their normally gentle black Labrador unexpectedly bit their son when he had wrapped his arms around the dog and given him a hug. They were ready to put the dog down but hesitated, asking Dr. Downing to examine the canine. She discovered the dog was suffering from a great deal of lower back pain (an eight out of a pain scale of 10). “With just firm pressure, the dog was ready to bite the veterinarian,” she recalls. “For the child to have hugged the dog must have been excruciating.” By recognizing that the animal was in pain, and treating that pain, the ending is a happy one. The son’s interaction with the pet was carefully monitored until the dog’s pain was greatly reduced. “Eventually the dog began to ask to play and interact with the son,” says Dr. Downing. The bond was restored.
Brava, Dr. Robin!
Feline abortion, point-counterpoint: It’s rare that two bloggers I respect take diametrically opposed positions on the same stance. However, this week Nathan Winograd makes a case against feline abortions — better known as spaying pregnant cats. The other side of the coin is a much older post (four years, to be precise), but still eloquent. Pet Connection’s BFF Dr. Patty Khuly explained why, in her opinion, the procedure can be the best decision.
The new boss in Austin isn’t the same as the old boss: The bar in Austin, Texas, has been set pretty high now that the Texas capital has wholeheartedly embraced the No Kill philosophy. The new director of the city’s Town Lake Animal Shelter is Abigail Smith. On the heels of her success in Ithaca, N.Y., Smith sat down with the Austin Chronicle, less than two days after arriving on the job. When asked if No Kill was even possible in Austin without mandatory spay-neuter in effect, her answer couldn’t have been clearer:
Putting a primary focus on spay/neuter as an incredibly important component of the no-kill equation, and putting resources behind public outreach and providing low-cost services, doing public education, these are critical. But I think when you mandate things and make it punitive, it doesn’t provide better results than when you provide opportunities for people to comply with what you want them to do. So I don’t think it needs to be a law. I think it needs to be an initiative effort and a primary focus of decreasing intake, but I don’t think it needs to be mandated.
We’ll check back on Austin’s new sheriff, and see how she’s doing. Meanwhile, HB 3450, the proposed Texas Companion Animal Protection Act, was introduced in the Texas Legislature. The Houston Animal Shelters Examiner details why it would be a game-changer.
Best writing of the week: Before you read the next link, please take a second and grab yourself some tissues. You’ll need them for this commentary on love and loss from Doree Shafrir in the New York Times. Thanks to my friend Melissa Tate for the tip.
I always like to hear from readers, especially if you have tips, and links for interesting stories. Give me a shout in the comments, or better yet, send me an e-mail.
Photo credit: Dr. Marty Becker performing surgery at Lakewood Animal Hospital in Coeur D’Alene, ID. Abigail Smith, City of Austin, TX.
It doesn’t matter how many books I’ve written before, or how many times I’ve appeared on “Good Morning America” during my 13+ years as the show’s resident veterinarian. There’s no denying that I’m pretty much bouncing with excitement about tomorrow’s segment marking the official release of “Your Dog: The Owner’s Manual.”
And Teresa, sitting next to me, swore if I didn’t find some outlet for my nervous excitement she was pushing me out of the cab, so I figured this was my best option.
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