ArVMA Winter 2020 Newsletter

Winter 2020 Newsletter

Join us for the 113th Annual Arkansas Veterinary Medical Association Winter Meeting! The deadline for early registration is January 24, 2020.

President's Letter

by Natalie Cooper, DVM

Dearest Colleagues,

I have been most honored to serve as your ARVMA President this year. I am blessed to be able to practice in a busy 4 doctor mixed-animal practice in Searcy, on the land that my family has farmed and owned for over 80 years. I am a graduate of LSU School of Veterinary Medicine (Class of 2007), and still a huge fan of those Tigers! In my free time I love to hike the beautiful trails of the Natural State with my mastiff sidekick, as well as ride horses.

I was lucky enough to be able to serve with Drs. Laura Lynch and Karen Sherman (past ARVMA Presidents) on the ARVMA board prior to being elected to the Presidency, so I knew going forward that I would have huge shoes to fill. We are lucky as a state association to have so many talented colleagues who are willing to serve, and I have been blessed to get to know a great many of them personally and professionally.

A Simple Change – A World of Difference for Cat Health and Longevity

Submitted by:
Philip A. Bushby, DVM, MS, DACVS

The Arkansas VMA has joined the AVMA in endorsing the consensus document put forth by the Veterinary Task Force on Feline Sterilization for Age of Spay and Neuter Surgery, which recommends cats not intended for breeding be sterilized by five months of age. This joined endorsements from other veterinary medical and cat breeding associations including the American Association of Feline Practitioners, Association of Shelter Veterinarians, American Animal Hospital Association, Winn Foundation, Catalyst Council, Cat Fancier’s Association and The International Cat Association. And now, many state VMAs are beginning to endorse the recommendation as well. Feline Fix by Five (FFF) is a campaign promoted by the Marian’s Dream Foundation to share this recommendation that has garnered such broad support. FFF was born out of awareness that cats can be reproductively active by 4 to 5 months of age, yet most veterinarians recommend spay/neuter of cats at 6 months of age or older.

Opportunities to Chew On

Have Job Openings to fill? Items or property to sell?
Submit it on our website and we will feature it!

Relief Emergency Veterinarian in North Little Rock, AR

After Hour Animal Hospital’s Team is looking to add a Relief ER Veterinarian to our growing practice! Loyal, passionate about emergency medicine, good with people and plays well with others. Ability to help grow our ER department. Strong communicator, team-player mentality and values collaboration.

Full or Part-Time Veterinarian in Fayetteville, AR

Small animal clinic established in 1991 searching for a Full or Part Time Veterinarian to join our team of strong support staff, solid management and Veterinarian owned practice. We offer in-house laboratory, ultrasound and digital radiographs. Duties will include small animal medicine and surgery. There are NO shifts on holidays or after hours.

See All Postings

Banfield releases suicide-prevention training as a free resource

For most veterinary professionals, we know caring for pets is more than a job – it’s a calling.

Because of the passion we have for helping pets and the lengths we go to do so, veterinary professionals are faced with rewarding opportunities but also unique challenges, including heartbreaking life-or-death decisions involving beloved companions.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC, 2015) one in six veterinarians considers suicide. Further, the CDC found rates of suicide are 2.1 times higher than the general population among male veterinarians and 3.5 times higher for female veterinarians.

On January 6, 2020, Banfield Pet Hospital made its suicide-prevention training – “ASK – Assess, Support, Know” – available as a free resource to the veterinary profession. The first of its kind, Banfield designed “ASK” specifically for veterinary professionals to help them recognize and address emotional distress and suicidal thoughts.

You can access “ASK” at ASKAssessSupportKnow.com. The training includes real-life scenarios, talking points, myth-busting and other resources to help guide veterinary professionals in navigating tough situations.

Have Questions?

You can always call us or fill out the form on our website if you have comments or questions.