Recent News
18 Nov USDA NVSL Requests Johne’s-Infected Animals and Samples
Source: Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection, Division of Animal Health The Wisconsin Johne’s Disease Control Program has received a request from the USDA National Veterinary Services Laboratory (NVSL) for feces and blood from Johne’s infected animals and a second request from USDA Agriculture Research Service National Centers (ARSNC) for Animal Health for 5-6 cows showing clinical signs of Johne’s disease. Please see specific requests and contacts for each request below. 1. Request for Johne’s-positive feces USDA NVSL needs fecal material from up to 10 Johne’s infected cows to restock the...
11 Nov Applicability of the SUPPORT Act to Veterinarians
Source: American Veterinary Medical Association The DEA recently announced the launch of the Suspicious Orders Report System (SORS) Online, a new centralized database, https://deadiversion.usdoj.gov/sors/index.html, where DEA registrants, including veterinarians, must report suspicious orders of controlled substances. The DEA has sent communication about the program to all practitioner registrants. The good news is that the impact upon veterinary practices should be negligible and compliance should be relatively straightforward. As this is a new program is it very likely that DEA guidance will change over time and we will keep you informed as...
30 Oct Wisconsin Trio to Lead Prominent Veterinary Medical Associations in 2020
By Tracie Luedtke, WVMA Marketing & Communications Specialist Wisconsin veterinary medicine will be well represented in 2020 as three Wisconsin Veterinary Medical Association (WVMA) members take on the presidential roles of the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA), the Student American Veterinary Medical Association (SAVMA) and the Association of American Veterinary Medical Colleges (AAVMC). Dr. Douglas Kratt of Onalaska, Wisconsin, is currently serving as president-elect of the AVMA. A University of Wisconsin (UW) School of Veterinary Medicine graduate, Dr. Kratt owns and practices at Central Animal Hospital in La Crosse, where his interests include surgery, oncology and nutrition. A past WVMA president and AVMA House of...
29 Oct Dr. Ann Sherwood Zieser Assumes Role of WVMA President
Ann Sherwood Zieser, DVM, assumed the role of WVMA president during the WVMA’s annual meeting October 24. A 1990 graduate of the University of Wisconsin School of Veterinary Medicine, Dr. Sherwood Zieser is an associate veterinarian at Middleton Veterinary Hospital, a position she’s held for the past 29 years. She has been involved in organized veterinary medicine on the local, state and national levels. Her WVMA involvement includes serving on the Awards and Recognition Committee and Convention Committee. She has also held the positions of AVMA HOD alternate delegate and HOD delegate. “I am really looking forward to meeting and working with veterinarians around...
29 Oct Wisconsin’s First Case of EIA in 15 Years
By Dr. Julie Ann McGwin, Equine Program Veterinarian, Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection In August 2019, Wisconsin confirmed a case of Equine Infectious Anemia (EIA) in a Taylor County mare. The mare was asymptomatic and identified on routine testing for interstate movement. She had tested negative twice in 2018. Although EIA cases occur periodically in the U.S., this was the first confirmed Wisconsin case in almost 15 years. The Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection’s (DATCP) Division of Animal Health staff conducted an epidemiologic investigation and tested additional equines in the area....
29 Oct Vaccination May Help Protect Bats from Deadly Disease
Submitted By Meghan Lepisto, Publications and Media Relations Manager, UW School of Veterinary Medicine Source: U.S. Geological Survey A new study shows that vaccination may reduce the impact of white-nose syndrome in bats, marking a milestone in the international fight against this destructive wildlife disease. “This is a significant step forward in developing control mechanisms to combat the devastating spread of white-nose syndrome in our important bat populations,” said U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) Director Jim Reilly. “Being able to deliver an oral vaccine during hibernation could be a game changer in our ability to combat one of the deadliest wildlife...
30 Sep Dr. Andrew Johnson Inducted Into Cattle Production Veterinarian Hall of Fame
Dr. Andrew Johnson of Green Bay, Wisconsin, was inducted into the Cattle Production Veterinarian Hall of Fame during the American Association of Bovine Practitioners (AABP) annual conference in St. Louis, Missouri. Known as “The Udder Doctor,” Dr. Johnson is the herd health and wellness veterinarian for Grande Cheese Company and does private consulting on milk quality worldwide. He has written many articles on dairy-related topics for trade journals, veterinary magazines, dairy magazines and newsletters. A graduate of the University of Minnesota College of Veterinary Medicine, Dr. Johnson operated his consulting business, Total Herd Management Services, for more than 35 years, consulting...
30 Sep Hybrid Program Allows Vet Tech Students to Work and Study Simultaneously
By Andrea Foley, DVM, Veterinary Technician Program Director and Attending Veterinarian, Madison Area Technical College; and Sabrina Freter, CVT, BAS, Veterinary Technician Instructor, Madison Area Technical College Like many other states, Wisconsin is experiencing a shortage of Certified Veterinary Technicians. Data from Wisconsin TechConnect, a website that matches technical college students with employers, reported more than 135 full-time and over 50 part-time openings between September 2018 and June 2019. To address the problem, Madison Area Technical College (Madison College) developed a part-time, year-round, flexible option for veterinary assistants currently working 20 hours or more per week in a veterinary clinic....
30 Sep Kindred Companions Memorial Fund Supports the WVMF and Comforts Grieving Families
By Jodi Legge, Wisconsin Veterinary Medical Foundation Executive Director To date, donations to the Kindred Companions Memorial Fund total more than $5,300 for the Wisconsin Veterinary Medical Foundation (WVMF)! Through Kindred Companions, veterinary clinics and hospitals can donate to the WVMF in memory of a beloved pet who has passed on. With this nominal donation (minimum of $10 per pet), hospitals and clinics can provide some small comfort to the families who have lost their cherished animal, while also supporting the fundraising initiatives of the Foundation. Upon receiving the donation, the WVMF will send a heartfelt, personalized card conveying sympathy for...