Hello again February is right around the corner and the term of my presidency is coming to an end. I am looking forward to seeing most of you at the Arkansas Veterinary Medical Association Winter Meeting. Dr. Scott Smith has set up a great slot of speakers for the meeting and Maggie said that exhibitor spots are filling up. The Arkansas Veterinary Technician Association is having their meeting at the same time and in the same venue so this is a great time for staff education as well.
Nationally we are still fighting against HR1406 Fairness to pet owner’s act this has not gone away yet. This bill would require Veterinarians write a prescription for every drug given or prescribed and also provide the owner with options for filling the medications. Of course all of this must be documented on the medical record. Please check it out the AVMA has recommended that we contact our congressman.
On the State level Arkansas Department of Emergency Management (ADEM) has started the process in developing a Disaster Canine Search and Rescue (SAR) team, Arkansas Task Force 1. These teams are composed of specially trained dogs and their handlers. The team may respond to crime scenes, accidents, missing people and disasters. As part of this effort, the AR Task Force 1 team is looking for veterinarians throughout the state that may be interested in volunteering their services to help these dogs if they are injured or become ill during a search. There are some unique situations these dogs find themselves in that may need immediate veterinary care.
This has been a relatively active year for rabies, especially in the western part of the state. So far in 2011, the Arkansas Health Department has had 47 rabid skunks, 6 rabid bats and 1 rabid cat for a total of 54. Sebastian County alone had 26 rabid skunks, partly due to an epidemic there but also partly due to an increase in submission following publicity about the epidemic. We continue to struggle with citizens not having their pets vaccinated against rabies. Of the 82 dogs and cats that have been exposed to known rabid animals this year, only 25.6% have been current on their vaccinations. Of interest also are the two rabid bats found in Monroe Co. This is the first time we have documented a rabid animal there in more than 21 years. We recently had a rabid cat submitted from Pike Co. that became quite aggressive and viciously attacked the owner. Naturally this is an outside cat that had never been vaccinated against rabies.
If you are interested in becoming a volunteer veterinarian for the Arkansas Taskforce 1 or would like information about Rabies cases please contact State Public Health Veterinarian, Susan Weinstein, DVM, MPH, (501) 280-4136 or Susan.Weinstein@Arkansas.gov
Sincerely,
Damian Stroderd, DVM