> Articles by: ChristpinaDue to the progressively and overly stringent compounding regulations by the California Board of Pharmacy (BOP), there are only a few veterinary compounding pharmacies remaining in the state to provide medications for millions of animals. Additionally, the remaining compounding pharmacies have become increasingly disincentivized to produce certain important veterinary medications because of prohibitive BOP regulations.
Drug misbranding is a violation identified by the California Veterinary Medical Board (CVMB) during complaint investigations and routine practice inspections. Many veterinarians may unknowingly be noncompliant, as this topic is minimally covered in primary and continuing veterinary education. But in fact, several federal and state laws address drug misbranding and are directly applicable to veterinary practice. This article outlines key regulations, common violations, and tips for compliance.
An employment contract is a written document that the employer and employee sign to define the terms of the employment relationship. It is important to understand the benefits and risks regarding the use of employment contracts, particularly given unique considerations in the State of California.
Going into veterinary school, I was excited to work with animals and their stewards—as are most of us who enter the veterinary profession. The thought of being a modern-day James Herriot who worked with “all creatures, great and small” was a driving force for my educational path and early career. My short, two-week rotation with the late Dr. Murray Fowler, head of the zoological medicine service at UC Davis opened my eyes to many zoological species. Everything was exciting and anything seemed possible!
Since 1994, the California Veterinary Medical Reserve Corps (CAVMRC) has provided critical emergency veterinary care to animals impacted by disasters across the state. What began as a small group of dedicated volunteer veterinary professionals has grown into the largest medical reserve corps in the nation, now boasting over 3,000 volunteer members.
As a practicing veterinarian in New York and Houston, two of the most diverse cities in the United States, I saw firsthand the disparities in veterinary patient care due to language barriers and cultural differences. Often, I was the only doctor—and the only person of color— in the practice. This disconnect with clients who were people of color directly changed patient care and the veterinary client- patient relationship.
California Health and Safety Code section 121690(b) requires dog owners to obtain a rabies vaccination for dogs between three and four months of age, and then in accordance with the vaccine label instructions thereafter, unless granted an exemption by local rabies health authorities.
In 2007, the United States successfully eliminated canine rabies transmission. Globally, however, dogs remain the principal source of human rabies infections, killing about 60,000 people annually. About 95% of human cases of rabies are transmitted by domestic dogs. Controlling dog rabies transmission through periodic mass vaccination reduces human exposure.
On January 9–11, 2025, CVMA leadership attended the American Veterinary Medical Association’s (AVMA) Veterinary Leadership Conference in Chicago. Representing the CVMA as California’s “emerging leader” was Dr. Elizabeth Grant, a small animal associate veterinarian at Community Veterinary Hospital in Garden Grove, California. Dr. Grant graduated from UC Davis with her DVM degree in 2023. Her parents, Drs. William Grant II and Dayna Wiedenkeller, are both past-presidents of the CVMA.
Working in a veterinary practice often involves handling a variety of animals, each with their own temperament, size, and potential for unpredictable behavior. Implementing best practices for safe handling minimizes stress for the animals and reduces the risk of injury for veterinary staff. Below are a few essential strategies to follow.
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