The Maine Veterinarian

Maine Veterinary Medical Association
The Maine Veterinarian
New England Veterinary Conference
Summer
2015
Inside this issue:
September 24—27, 2015
John de Jong Chair of
AVMA Directors
2
Holiday Inn by the Bay, Portland
Presidents’ Messages
3
Nominations for 2015
Service Award
3
Remarks from your
Executive Director
4
Legislative Update
5
State Veterinarian
Report
6
New Tick ID Service
7
Former State Veterinarian Don Hoenig
8
Report on YCCC Vet
Tech Program
9
Fleas & Ticks - Michael Dryden
Cats, Crises & Chickens for Techs
Parasitology - Michael Dryden
Equine: Neonatal & Geriatric Care
Practice Management - Bash Halow
Equine Ophthalmology - Alison Clode
Small Mammals, Parrots & Poultry Don Harris
Abdominal Ultrasound Lecture & Lab
Small Animal Ophthalmology Alison Clode
Cardiac Ultrasound Lecture & Lab
Soft Tissue Ultrasound Lecture & Lab
Dermatology - Ed Rosser
Cruciate Repair Lecture & Lab
Practice Wellness
Tech Labs: Urinalysis & Differentials
Nutrition Topics for Technicians
Veterinary Compounding
USDA Modules
Special Pricing on Growing Your Client Service Skills with Wendy S. Myers
Send three or more people from your practice and receive a discount off their registration rates. Many of you have been looking for reception staff in the past couple of
months and this would be a great chance to help your staff succeed!
To register or for more information
www.nevma.org
AVMA House of Dele10
gates Report
Veterinary Prescriptions
11
2015 MVEF
Scholarship Awards
12
Pet Wellness Pulse
Facebook Page
14
Veterinary College
Accreditation
15
AVMA State Legislative Update
16
Partners for Healthy
Pets News
17
Classifieds
18
Summer 2015
Page 2
Boston Veterinarian John de Jong named
chairman of AVMA’s Board of Directors
Boston, Massachusetts
July 14, 2015 ---
the founder and former chief surgeon of the low-cost
spay/neuter clinic at the Merwin Memorial Clinic.
Dr. John H. de Jong of Weston, Mass. was named chairman of the Board of Directors for the 86,500 member
American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA). More
than 9,000 individuals from around the globe gathered at
the Boston Convention and Exhibition Center this week
for the 152nd Annual Meeting.
Elected to the AVMA’s Executive Board in 2010, Dr. de
Jong represented veterinarians of Connecticut, Maine,
Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New York, Rhode Island
and Vermont. Dr. de Jong previously served in the
AVMA's House of Delegates from 1999 to 2010, where he
chaired the AVMA's House Advisory Committee, the Governance Performance Review Committee and the Political
Action Committee Policy Board. In addition, he has
served as the AVMA-CAN State Legislative Coordinator
and on the Long Range Planning Committee.
Hot topics on the program included:
 global health summit – climate change and sustainable agriculture
 drought impact on livestock;
 veterinary care after a disaster;
 stem cell therapy in companion animals;
 ebola and Animals: What we learned; and
 risk factors for suicide among veterinarians and
practice-related stressors.
Dr. de Jong, a 1985 graduate of Tufts University School of
Veterinary Medicine owns the Boston Mobile Veterinary
Clinic and Newton Animal Hospital. He is the former
CEO and Director of the Boston Animal Hospital; and is
Dr. de Jong has been recognized and honored many
times by the communities he serves. The Massachusetts
Veterinary Medical Association awarded him the Distinguished Service Award in 2006. Both Boston Magazine
and the Improper Bostonian have called him Boston's
Best Veterinarian. In 1993, he was recognized as one of
Boston's Outstanding Young Leaders. He has served as
president of the Massachusetts and New England veterinary medical associations as well as the American Association of Housecall Veterinarians.
A Message from John de Jong
I have been honored and
proud to represent District 1
on the AVMA Board since
2010 and I am grateful to the
Maine VMA for their early
and steadfast support of my
candidacy and service on the
AVMA Board of Directors.
After serving as President of
the Massachusetts VMA and
NEVMA, I hope I have been
able to give back to the district in a positive way. Whether
it was bringing the NEVMA to Portland, visiting the
Maine VMA annually to bring AVMA news and install the
officers, or hosting New England dinners in Chicago and
around the country, it has all been worthwhile and enjoyable. I am especially thankful to the officers and AVMA
representatives from Maine and all of the states in District 1 for all that they have brought to our profession.
I also would like to thank Bill Bell for all that he has done
for our profession and the Maine and New England
VMAs. With great volunteer leaders and staff, our profession continues to stay united and strong. We have much
to be thankful for in veterinary medicine and I am so
blessed to work in a profession of people committed to
serving animals and protecting both animal and human
health.
Thanks Maine VMA!
The Maine Veterinarian
Page 3
Message from your Outgoing President
Dear MVMA Members:
Regretfully, I must inform you that I have resigned my
position as President. I have been in contact with Bill
Bell and Meghan Flanagan, and we have agreed that per
the bylaws it is appropriate for Meghan to proceed from
President-Elect to acting President.
I would like to thank all of you for your support and participation in our organization. I am saddened to leave,
but I am finding that my new role with Merck and my
very demanding travel schedule prevent me from giving
MVMA the attention it rightfully deserves.
I have nothing but gratitude to all of you for your support
during my brief tenure as President, and hope that you
will continue to be supportive of Dr. Flanagan and your
MVMA Executive Board as they move forward with the
initiatives which I am proud to have been part of.
Sarah Sweet, DVM
Message from your Incoming President
Members of the Maine Veterinary Medical Association,
It is my pleasure and honor to be serving as your president. Thank you for this opportunity. There are many
projects and changes coming down the pipeline in the
near future, and the executive board hopes that you will
find the changes useful, motivating, and exciting. We
have the important task of completing a Strategic Plan for
our organization to help guide our efforts for the next few
years. I would love to hear any and all input that the
membership would care to share. We will also be reviewing our current processes to improve efficiency, membership value, and to ensure we are employing "best practices" for our organization.
to retire by the end of 2016. I thank Bill for all he has
done and is continuing to do for MVMA, and will enjoy
working with him until his retirement.
I truly value your feedback, conversation and communication during this time of growth and development.
Please feel free to reach out to me with any comments,
concerns or ideas. You can contact me through the
MVMA office, 800-448-2772 or [email protected].
Thank you for your membership and your commitment.
Meghan Flanagan, DVM
Annabessacook Veterinary Hospital
Throughout the next 18 months, we will be asking for
feedback, input, and members with interest to assist by
participating in focus groups, mini-task force leaders,
project organizers and in other capacities. Please let us
know if you have special talents, areas of interest, or organizational energy and zest!
Part of our journey will involve a search for a new Executive Director, as Bill Bell has notified us of his intentions
Nominations for 2015 Veterinary Service Award
Know a Maine veterinarian who has made a significant contribution to the veterinary profession,
Maine's animal owners, the community, or all three?
Nominate them for the 2015 MVMA Veterinary Service Award, to be presented at our January 2016 Annual Meeting.
Letters or emails should be sent to the MVMA office and include their name and why they deserve this award.
Nominations of non-veterinarians are also welcome, and will be considered for separate recognition.
Summer 2015
Page 4
Random Remarks from Your Executive Director
Last year, I warned in
this column—after participating in the AVMA
Public Policy Forum—
that the “big box”
stores are poised to
start eating our lunch,
by offering “wellness
clinics” for pets.
Well, it’s happening.
One Sunday this spring
Walgreens advertised and conducted five “Shot Vet” clinics, from Bangor down to Bath, with a Maine-licensed
veterinarian (from Massachusetts) skipping from one site
to another after an hour at each location. Walgreens is
well aware of the exam and recordkeeping requirements
for treating animals. And we checked—their clinics were
neither especially low-priced nor well-attended.
But they’re here. One has reportedly also been held at the
Walgreens in Windham and another is being advertised
at Walgreens in Sanford. And if you think the only threat
is Walgreens, have a Google at Tractor Supply’s website,
under Vet Clinics.
The conclusion among the AVMA panelists who discussed this threat last year was: these guys have lawyers,
they are clever, and we probably can’t stop them. But
veterinarians can fight back by stressing superior care,
and the fact that you will be there when needed, and not
just for an occasional hour on a Sunday afternoon.
At the same time, your MVMA wants to know if the
Walgreens “clinics” are observing Maine law, particularly
the VCPR requirement in our Practice Act updates which
go into effect this fall. This new law requires that the veterinarian “is readily available for follow-up evaluation or
has arranged for veterinary emergency coverage and continuing care and treatment.” Has Walgreens’ traveling
veterinarian from Massachusetts done so?
I inquired with Adrian Hochstadt, AVMA’s Assistant Director for State Legislative Affairs, about taking this approach. He concurred, and wrote: “In a state that has a
VCPR rule that includes follow up, a reasonable argument can be made that there is no ‘relationship’ in the
absence of follow up availability”. After Adrian reviewed
our Practice Act amendments just passed into law, he
followed up with this comment: “Excellent; this language
will be useful.” Adrian will be in Portland this September
for the New England Veterinary Conference’s Leadership
Meeting, and we can discuss this further.
To counter Walgreens’ approach, we need to take specific
action. Maine’s Board of Veterinary Medicine has in the
past fined a veterinarian who conducted “big box” medicine without proper exam or record-keeping, but the
Board can act only upon receipt of a complaint. We will
need help from you, our members, in obtaining observed
information about illegal practices.
Your Executive Board is also concerned about the continued illegal practice of veterinary medicine by nonveterinarians, particularly in the equine field. The problem here is that the Board of Veterinary Medicine has no
jurisdiction over non-veterinarians, and the Attorney
General’s office assigns a low priority to prosecuting alleged violations in this area. Your MVMA Secretary, John
Flood, recently initiated a conversation with the AG’s
office on this subject, and I subsequently spoke one-onone with Attorney General Janet Mills on the topic.
Bottom line: For the AG to undertake a criminal prosecution, the alleged perpetrator must have first been made
aware that they are breaking the law. In addition, the AG
is much more likely to prosecute if serious damage, such
as death or significant harm to the animal, has occurred.
The AG’s office agreed to open a file on reported violations, and MVMA has started the file with a letter outlining an instance of a chiropractor treating animals
(without involvement of a veterinarian), evidenced by an
advertisement by the chiropractor. We were able to investigate based upon an initial report supplied by a past
MVMA President who encountered the advertisement.
MVMA welcomes similar reports from other members.
On an unrelated subject: the delivery of possibly rabid
animal carcasses to the Maine State Lab has been a problem until now. The issue has been discussed by the Rabies Working Group. Fortunately, an established medical
courier service, Uniship, has come forward to serve veterinary practices. Uniship has an extensive pickup and delivery business serving rural Maine as well as cities, and
reports good results with those veterinary practices now
using it. See their ad elsewhere in this newsletter.
Hope everyone is enjoying the summer.
Bill Bell, Executive Director
The Maine Veterinarian
Page 5
Report from Augusta
Legislative Updates:
To view the full text of any of the bills below, visit
http://legislature.maine.gov
LD 814: An Act to Update the Maine Veterinary
Practice Act:
As previously posted on our MVMA website, these updates, initiated by Dr. Susan Chadima and the MVMA
Executive Board four years ago after Dr. Chadima had
served on AVMA’s Model State Practice Act Task Force,
are now law. Our bill, revised to omit the drafting error
which forced withdrawal of our bill two years ago, was
passed unanimously by Committee and by both the
Maine House and Senate. After a veto by Governor
LePage, solely on the grounds that the primary sponsor
(Senator Jim Dill) is a Democrat, the veto was overridden
35-0 in the Senate and 141-8 in the House. The law becomes effective this fall, 90 days after legislative adjournment.
These updates in the Veterinary Practice Act mostly revise outdated language, particularly with regard to veterinary technicians. The one significant change is the addition to our Practice Act of a Veterinary-Client-Patient
Relationship requirement. Maine was one of the few
states without such a provision. Effective this fall, Maine
law now specifies that the veterinarian must be “readily
available for follow-up evaluation or has arranged for
veterinary emergency coverage and continuing care and
treatment”. The veterinarian must also maintain patient
records. Your MVMA Executive Board welcomes reports
of “storefront clinics” (such as recently brought to Maine
by Walgreens) which may not be compliant with this new
VPCR language.
LD 335: An Act to Prohibit the Sale of Dogs and
Cats in Pet Shops:
Neither MVMA nor Maine’s Animal Welfare Advisory
Committee (AWAC), which is chaired by MVMA’s Dr.
Anne Del Borgo, took a position on this well-intended but
flawed proposal. The bill was promoted as a measure
which would combat out-of-state “puppy mills” but met
vigorous opposition from the owners of Maine’s few pet
stores which sell dogs and cats. The bill was amended to
“grandfather” these existing stores and thereby gained
committee passage by a narrow vote. It then passed by
modest margins in both bodies of the Legislature, but
was vetoed by Governor LePage, who cited concern about
conflict with the Maine Constitution. His veto was sustained.
LD 981: An Act to Establish a Veterinary School:
The Legislature’s Education Committee discerned this
proposal, from former House Speaker John Martin, to be
so broad in concept that the bill was simply set aside, to
be considered in 2016.
LD 1023: An Act to Revise Maine's Animal Welfare Laws:
This bill, the product of hard work by Maine Animal Welfare Director Liam Hughes, was supported by MVMA
because it adds “animal rescue” to the definition of
“animal shelter”, thereby generating a licensure requirement and providing a framework which will better distinguish the many responsible rescue organizations from
those which are not. To the existing language (7 MRSA
Section 3919 subsections 4 & 5) which authorizes a veterinarian to euthanize a “severely ill or severely injured cat”
the bill adds “or small animal”. Finally, the bill increases
to $10 (currently $9) the license fee for unneutered dogs.
Ongoing Maine Funding for Help Fix ME SpayNeuter Program:
The Governor’s budget removed a major component of
this funding by eliminating the pet food registration surcharge—a very modest fee paid by pet food manufacturers. The Augusta lobbyist firm representing the Pet Food
Institute in Washington has for years sought to eliminate
this Maine initiative. MVMA and many individual veterinarians joined Spay Maine, which deserves huge credit,
in making sure that full funding for Help Fix Me was restored, as per the budget finally passed over the Governor’s veto.
Final Comment: This was a challenging legislative session. The Governor’s message accompanying his veto of our Practice Act revisions stated: “As promised, I am vetoing all bills sponsored
by Democrats.“ In this environment, it was most
rewarding that you, our MVMA members, responded by contacting your legislators when appropriate about the funding for Spay Maine and
in support of our Practice Act revisions.
Summer 2015
Page 6
On the Mind of Your State Veterinarian
Keeping Maine’s Poultry Safe from Avian Flu
Michele Walsh, ME DACF State Veterinarian
Maine’s state and extension veterinarians are closely
monitoring the avian influenza viruses that have been
detected in poultry flocks in a number of states, and offering disease prevention tips to poultry producers, including backyard chicken farmers.
The program is a joint effort between the Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation & Forestry and University of Maine Extension program through funding
from the U.S. Department of Agriculture to monitor infectious diseases, including avian influenza viruses, for
Maine’s veterinarians and poultry industry to respond
quickly to outbreaks that pose a threat to the industry or
public health. In addition to routinely testing many commercial and backyard birds every year, the program randomly tests birds at events such as county fairs, bird
shows and swaps.
Maine has been conducting avian influenza surveillance
in these bird populations for at least a decade, but the
discovery of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) in
the Pacific Northwest in December 2014 and the subsequent spread of the disease to many of the commercial
turkey and layer hen facilities in the U.S. has all animal
health officials in North America on high alert and in
preparation mode for response, if, like Maine, their regions have not seen evidence of infection to date. More
than 45 million chickens and turkeys have been euthanized in the Midwest to control the spread of avian
flu. Avian influenza viruses are carried globally in wild
migratory waterfowl and shorebirds. They can be transmitted to domestic birds and then between domestic
flocks, carried on shared equipment or clothing worn by
people moving from one flock to another, for instance.
The HPAI virus is of low risk to people, and there have
been no reported human infections resulting from the
current outbreak of HPAI in the United States, according
to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. While
the potential for infection in people exists in other avian
influenza viruses found elsewhere in the world, most of
the viruses don’t infect people, and most human infections have occurred after prolonged and direct contact
with infected birds, the CDC says.
The message from Maine’s animal health officials to all
poultry owners in the state emphasizes prevention, with a
focus on biosecurity measures that can be implemented
for every flock. These “Biosecurity Basics”, available for
download on the USDA APHIS Veterinary Services website include:
 Keep your distance Isolate your bir ds fr om visitors and other birds.
 Keep it clean Pr event ger m s fr om spr eading by
cleaning shoes, tools and equipment.
 Don't haul disease home Also clean vehicles
and cages.
 Don't borrow disease from your neighbor
Avoid sharing tools and equipment with neighbors.
 Know the warning signs of infectious bird diseases W atch for ear ly signs to pr event the
spread of disease.
 Report sick birds Repor t u nu su al signs of disease or unexpected deaths.
(continued next page)
The Maine Veterinarian
Page 7
On the Mind of Your State Veterinarian (cont.)
Whether you or your clients are commercial producers or
backyard poultry owners or something in between, it is
important to remember to prevent contact between your
birds and wild birds, particularly wild waterfowl. While
this disease hasn’t been detected in Maine or on the Eastern Flyway yet, we need to be proactive about taking precautions to control its spread. In addition, since the virus
thrives in moist, cool conditions, Maine’s state veterinarians are watching and preparing for the fall migration of
wild waterfowl, the next significant threat of introduction
of HPAI in the East.
You can help us in our efforts to get the word out by encouraging your clients to report sick birds. All poultry
owners, whether commercial producers or backyard enthusiasts, should report unusual sudden bird deaths or
birds that exhibit signs of sickness. Those who have sick
birds or birds that have died from unknown causes can
contact the Maine State Veterinarian at (207) 287-7615
or the USDA at (866) 5367593. Dead birds may be submitted to the UMAHL at the
University of Maine’s Orono
campus for free HPAI testing;
the lab can be reached at 207581-2788; call the lab for
important details prior to
submittal!
New Tick ID Service from the University of Maine
Cooperative Extension
University of Maine Cooperative Extension is
now offering a FREE tick identification service
for the people of Maine. The state’s tick population has been steadily increasing since the
late 1980s and the rapid emergence of tickborne diseases makes an effective identification program critical.
An informative website has been created to provide
information on the biology and management of the
state’s 14 different tick species. The site also includes
tick submission instructions, tick removal guidelines, a
vivid gallery of tick photos, and links to information on
the numerous tick-borne diseases that are found in
Maine.
For more information on ticks, please visit:
http://extension.umaine.edu/ipm/tickid/
Major improvements for this lab are being financed by
the bond which MVMA supported and voters approved
last fall. The plan is for the lab to eventually expand its
services from ID only to include testing for a panel of
tick-borne diseases (pending funding approval). For
humans, those services will be made available at a
greatly reduced cost from other labs offering similar
testing. The submitter must be a Maine resident and
it's not yet clear if ticks from a Maine resident's dog
would qualify for testing. Ticks found on companion
animals are currently eligible for ID.
Summer 2015
Page 8
Comments from Former State Vet Don Hoenig
Last month an undercover
video surfaced, taken over
several months by Mercy
for Animals at one of Foster
Farms’ broiler raising facilities in California. While
some questions were raised
about the quality of the
video and whether the videographer may have repetitively looped some of the
handling practices, the film did demonstrate rough handling at the farm and at the processing plant. Whenever
these videos surface (and they do with disturbing regularity), they always result in a flashback for me because one
of our large Maine poultry farms was the victim of an
undercover video taken by Mercy for Animals in 2009,
while I was the State Veterinarian. Our Animal Welfare
Program conducted an investigation and determined
that, in fact, some of the practices shown in the video
were still taking place on the farm on the day of our visit.
Cruelty charges, a fine and a conviction ensued.
One of the things that is somewhat surprising about the
Foster Farms video is that these farms are certified by
the American Humane Association (the organization
with which I’ve been working since early 2014). Does
humane certification ensure that farm personnel are
always carrying out humane husbandry practices on
farms? Obviously not. Should we be skeptical of organizations such as MFA that have an anti-animal agriculture agenda and whose stated goal is the elimination of
animal agriculture in the U.S? I am. However, what is
undeniable is that many times these undercover videos
have demonstrated unacceptable and often despicable
handling practices by farm workers, as we saw in Maine
in 2009.
Of course these inhumane practices are not the rule and
the overwhelming majority of U.S. farmers treat their
livestock and poultry humanely and with respect and
care, and these farmers are horrified and outraged every time one of these videos surfaces. The public assumes the worst, and hard-working, caring, responsible
farmers are often assumed to be guilty by association.
Some state Legislatures have reacted by introducing so
called “ag-gag” bills, whose purpose is to prohibit individuals from filming undercover videos or to make this
type of video illegal. Missouri, Montana, Utah and Iowa
have enacted such laws but they have been defeated in
other states.
In my interactions with farmers, I always recommend
that they try to make their farm “YouTube-proof.” That
is, assume that everyone has a cell phone camera and that
not everyone has the best of intentions. Therefore, assume that everything can or will appear on YouTube
someday. Temple Grandin says that we shouldn’t be
afraid to invite any member of the public to our farms
and let them see everything that we do.
I don’t think there is any easy answer. Better, more frequent training is needed, but farmers often have a very
difficult time recruiting and keeping good workers. You
can’t watch people every second of the day so some farms
have implemented video monitoring. As we’ve seen in
many other facets of our lives, however, you can’t legislate good behavior.
Don Hoenig, VMD
MIM Consulting
Summer 2015
Page 9
Report from YCCC Community College Veterinary
Technician Program
In early 2013 York County Community College began the
journey to build an accredited veterinary technology
program. As Program Director, I'm very excited about
how things are going thus far. Our students have truly
thrived in their first practicum experiences this summer
and the feedback I have received when visiting them in
those practices has been inspirational... the comments of
student supervisors have been wonderful and some
students have even been hired to work as they complete
the program. Our AVMA site visit is coming up this
March and we are feeling excited for the visit. The first
cohort, or student group, that came in to the program in
2013 is just over half way through the program now and
our first graduates will be in May of next year.
It is safe to say, however, that without the very active
support of my southern Maine colleagues and the
integrity with which YCCC has approached the
development of this program, we wouldn't have these
amazing results nor would I be having half as much fun.
When the program was initiated, there was a strict noanimals-on-campus policy. However, after our first
running of clinical courses that depended entirely upon
our clinical partners, our new college President, Barbara
Finkelstein, adjusted that policy to allow our students to
engage with on-campus learning activities with animals.
That change has been immensely supportive for both our
instructors and our students. The college system has
supported our equipment need requirements as outlined
by the AVMA and our local veterinary practitioners have
welcomed our students in for both job shadow
requirements and practicum experiences.
As part of my commitment to the Maine Veterinary
Medical Association to provide trained veterinary
technicians that not only know their skills but are also
proficient as professionals that make good team
members,
York
County
Community
College
administration has supported our Professionalism
requirements that must be met prior to students
engaging with Practicum courses. This requirement
involves surveys of program instructors that evaluate
student punctuality, responsibility and positive
engagement. If their scores are not above the accepted
level, they are asked to present before a panel of
administrators who then provide advisement to me as
Program Director in deciding whether to grant
permission to participate in Practicums. We believe that
this additional level of expectation will help us continue
to be committed to sending out students who share the
appreciation for both a high standard of care and
professionalism in the veterinary industry.
As we move forward we will continue to seek great
candidates for instructors so we do appreciate hearing
from any veterinarians or veterinary technicians who
have an interest in teaching. Additionally, we also
welcome new voices on our very active Board of Advisors
who have provided great direction and support in
curriculum development. Please feel free to contact me
with questions or if you have an interest in teaching,
joining our Board of Advisors or would like to make sure
you are on our list of sites for student practicum
experiences.
Again, thank you for your support.
Peg Wheeler, LVT
York County Community College
phone: 207-216-4375
email: [email protected]
Maine Rabies Report Praises Veterinarians
The minutes of the April Rabies Work Group contain a
tribute to the veterinary profession. An unfortunate incident occurred in which a large dog bit a person and was
shot and buried without opportunity for rabies testing.
The case study “highlights, most importantly, the willingness of some vets to respond to the need for services at no
cost.”
The Maine Veterinarian
Page 10
AVMA House of Delegates Report
The AVMA House of
Delegates met before
the Annual Convention in Boston to address a number of important issues. Dr. Tom Meyers was
named President-Elect; three new members of the House
Advisory Committee were also elected.
A resolution to set a policy regarding veterinary pharmacology education for pharmacists was referred back to the
Board of Directors. The revised Principles of Veterinary
Medical Ethics - a document that many state veterinary
practice acts refer to - was also sent back for further revision to the Judiciary Council. These two resolutions will
likely come before the House of Delegates again at the
winter meeting in January 2016.
Another resolution called for transparency in House of
Delegates (HoD) voting. Currently, all voting is by secret
ballot, so this represents a significant change in how the
HoD conducts business. After being amended such that
elections for leadership positions would continue to be
conducted by secret ballot, the resolution passed by an
86% majority.
The controversy involving the Council on Education's
accreditation activities produced four different resolutions. Two proposed replacing the CoE with either an
autonomous or independent agency, one proposed a one
year moratorium on accreditation actions, and a late resolution proposed a task force be formed to study the issue
further. There was spirited debate from both sides of the
issue, but in the end all four resolutions were voted down
for the following reasons:
1) Dismantling the CoE would render all currently accredited schools unaccredited - they would all need to be
reaccredited by whatever entity replaced the CoE.
2) This would put at risk federal student loans to students
enrolled in accredited veterinary schools, since the loans
are contingent upon the schools remaining accredited.
3) A document was provided by the Board of Directors
outlining the problems with the CoE, both real and perceived, with detailed information on how each of these
issues was being addressed and corrected.
The next annual convention will take place the first week
of August 2016, in San Antonio, Texas.
Respectfully submitted,
Dr. Anne Del Borgo, Maine VMA Delegate
[email protected]
Maine Veterinary
Company Raises $53
Million in Funding
Vets First Choice, the Portland-based company which
provides partner prescription services to veterinary practices, recently announced it has raised $53 million in
equity funding “to scale our network of veterinary practice partners and support the launch of new services.”
The firm’s CEO, Benjamin Shaw, is the son of Idexx Laboratories founder David Shaw.
The Mainebiz article with this announcement notes that
“Greater Portland has become a hub for veterinaryfocused companies including Vets First Choice, Idexx,
and Putney, Inc.”
Page 11
Summer 2015
Prescriptions: Provide to Client If Requested
After two years of study, the Federal Trade Commission
(FTC) has found…drumroll… that veterinarians will continue to face increasing competition from non-veterinary
retailers on pet medication sales. The FTC, according to
the report’s executive summary, “generally supports policies that would increase consumer awareness of portable
prescriptions and veterinary release of prescriptions to
consumers.” However, “more information is needed to
determine the full economic impact of greater prescription portability.”
The report does not show evidence that veterinarians are
withholding written prescriptions from their clients. At
their June meeting, MVMA’s Executive Board
voted to add the Maine Veterinary Medical Association to
the list of organizations endorsing the AVMA Principles
of Veterinary Medical Ethics with regard to a veterinarian’s obligation to honor a client’s request for a prescription in lieu of dispensing.
This subject of course reverts to the “Walmart Bill”
strongly opposed by Maine’s veterinarians and unanimously killed in committee in the Maine Legislature. This
approach at the federal level has been re-introduced
(S.1200) into the U.S. Congress, and is sponsored by Senator Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut. Thanks in large
part to AVMA’s strong grassroots opposition among veterinarians, the bill has to date gained only two cosponsors, Senators Richard Schumer of NY and Mike Lee
of Utah.
Filling Prescriptions for Vacationing Pets: It’s OK
With vacationers bringing their pets to Maine during this
season, a timely reminder:
According to a provision added to Maine’s Practice Act
about five years ago, “ A licensed veterinarian may sell
and dispense the written prescription of another licensed
veterinarian with respect to any prescription or administration of a drug, medicine or nutritional substance on,
for or to any animal in accordance with this chapter.” (Maine Revised Statutes 71-A Section 4876).
Summer 2015
Page 12
2015 MVEF Scholarship Awards
Our Maine Veterinary Education is pleased to
announce the awarding of a total of $49,000 in
scholarships for the coming academic year to the
following very deserving Maine students:
Deanna Daigle Anderson w ill r eceive her DVM
from Iowa State University’s College of Veterinary
Medicine in 2016. A graduate of Ellsworth HS, Deanna
interned with Dr. Simon Alexander while in the preveterinary studies program at the University of Maine.
She also worked, primarily with equines, at Foxcroft
Veterinary Services. Deanna is married to another
UMaine student, Eric Anderson of Smyrna, and plans to
return to Northern Maine to work with companion
animals and eventually own a small animal practice.
Emily Bartlett gr ew u p on the fam ily far m in New
Gloucester and worked at Gray-New Gloucester Animal
Hospital while attending the local high school. She then
attended the University of Maine, Presque Isle. She will
graduate next spring from Colorado State’s College of
Veterinary Medicine. She continues to work on the family
farm, which has 200 head of beef cattle and harvests over
30,000 bales of hay. She is also active in the United
States Pony Club. Her goal is to work professionally with
animals and helping future farmers.
Amanda Cheney attended Sear spor t High School
and the University of Maine; she will graduate from
Atlantic Veterinary College next spring. While at UMaine,
she worked at the J.F. Witter Dairy Farm; in addition,
she has shadowed at Belfast Veterinary Hospital and
Apple Creek Equine Medicine in Carmel. While at AVC,
she has worked for three years with a 100 cow dairy herd
and has volunteered at numerous small ruminant farms.
Upon graduation, she plans to return to Maine to practice
mixed large animal medicine.
Molly Eames is a veter inar y technician fr om
Brunswick and enrolled full time in the veterinary
program at UMaine Augusta-Bangor. She is
professionally certified as a marine aquarist, but after
consulting with her hometown veterinarian she decided
that she wanted to provide hands-on care to animals. She
currently works at the Coastal Humane Society in
Brunswick as an animal care technician for adoptable
dogs and looks forward, once licensed as a veterinary
technician, to be able to provide more medical care.
Kayla Porcelli w ill be gr adu ating fr o m Color ado
State’s College of Veterinary Medicine in 2016. An
alumnus of Portland High School and the University of
The Maine Veterinarian
Page 13
2015 MVEF Scholarship Awards
Maine, she is currently interning at Falmouth Veterinary
Hospital. She has previously shadowed large animal
veterinarians at Dover-Foxcroft Veterinary Clinic and the
Royal River Alpaca farm in Yarmouth. She has worked at
large alpaca farms in Colorado and is attending a camelid
externship at Oregon State this fall. A recipient of our
Foundation’s scholarship support in 2014 as well, Kayla
hopes to return to Maine to work as a livestock
veterinarian, especially small ruminants and camelids.
Michelle Wells, a gr adu ate of Ham pden Academ y
and Bowdoin College, will be receiving her DVM from
Atlantic Veterinary College in 2016. Her commitment,
determination, and debt are such that our Foundation
awarded her scholarship support last year as well. While
at Bowdoin, she volunteered at the Coastal Humane
Society and Androscoggin Animal Hospital. She is
focused on holistic medicine and pursuing formal
training at the Chi Institute in Florida. Upon graduation
from AVC, she plans to return to Little River Veterinary
Clinic in Perry, Maine, where she has been working.
Joanne
Woodbury, fr om
Har psw ell, has
simultaneously pursued both an undergraduate degree at
the University of Maine and the Vet Tech program at
UMaine Augusta-Bangor. She graduated from UMaine
this spring with a major in Animal and Veterinary
Science and is entering her final year in the technician
program. She began working as a volunteer at Coastal
Humane Society and since been employed at
Androscoggin Animal Hospital for almost seven years.
Upon graduation, she plans to continue there as a
licensed technician; her ultimate goal is working as an
LVT in a hospital specializing in equine medicine.
Ashley Zibura, a gr adu ate of Er skine Academ y in
South China, is entering her final year at The Ohio State
University’s College of Veterinary Medicine. Her
academic grades are truly outstanding, as is her student
loan debt. While an undergraduate at Brandeis
University she carried a dual major, in neuroscience and
biology, while also a member of crew and equestrian
teams. She intends to return to the Northeast and
hopefully to Maine to practice equine ophthalmology.
The Maine Veterinarian
Page 14
Pet Wellness Facebook
Page from PHP
If your practice has a Facebook page, the information below is for you.
_______________________________________
MVMA is an associate member and supporter of Partners
for Healthy Pets (PHP). It’s exciting to announce that
PHP’s Pet Wellness Pulse Facebook page has launched.
PHP has made it even easier for veterinary practices to
connect with clients. By liking Pet Wellness Pulse, practices have direct access to ready to use posts, articles,
pictures and more—all to help make the bond even
stronger between practice and patient! For those clinics
that subscribe to PHP’s monthly practice newsletter, it
will still be published every month. PHP is just offering
you an additional way to get daily content for any practice’s needs.
More benefits for your healthcare team:
 Pet Wellness Pulse provides a variety of daily posts
that include fun information for your clients
 Posts that your practice can customize
 Important medical information to encourage clients
to visit your practice for preventive pet healthcare
 Easy tips on how to maximize your practice’s presence on Facebook
 Use of the exclusive “Social Media 101” classes to
gain new skills
 A collaborative community of veterinary practice
team peers that offers conversations on “best practices” for preventive pet healthcare.
Join us and “like” Pet Wellness Pulse today!
Summer 2015
Page 15
Accreditation: AVMA Board Perspective
Critics of the Council on Education have been busy
commenting on blogs and in professional news outlets,
and now in three resolutions submitted to the House of
Delegates that recommend significant changes to the
current accreditation process. Although these individuals
have been very active and vocal, our evidence suggests
that the majority of the profession remains confident in
the current accreditation process and the COE's
commitment to continuous improvement, through
stakeholder engagement. While we certainly respect
everyone’s right to express an opinion, we do disagree
with some of the information that has been circulated
without what we believe to be valid evidence to support
such statements.
Stepping back from the current controversy, we are
compelled by the very long and successful history of the
COE and its contributions to maintain the high standards
of veterinary education in the United States. Indeed, we
have an accreditation system that others seek to emulate.
The United States and Canada continue to be world
leaders in veterinary medical education, due in large part
to the diligent efforts of the COE and its predecessors
sponsored by the AVMA. For the last 94 years, the
Council has consistently applied the standards of
accreditation to all schools that seek accreditation.
The COE follows its published policies and procedures
with great care throughout the accreditation process.
Council members spend hundreds of hours annually
gathering, validating, and studying information related to
the accreditation of veterinary colleges. The Council,
which by regulation includes a balance of private
practitioners and academic veterinarians, as well as three
public members, weighs all the evidence and thoughtfully
applies the standards of accreditation in accordance with
the provisions of the COE manual.
Summer 2015
Page 16
AVMA State Legislative Update
Newly adopted laws
As usual, the beginning of summer brings newly signed
state laws. This month’s batch of veterinary-related
enactments includes:
enter a motor vehicle to provide an animal with
food, water and emergency medical treatment, and
may impound the animal.
 Texas HB 1740 pr ovides that a veter inar ian
report on a monthly basis the total number of
animals that have entered the facility, their
disposition and costs incurred. The reports will be
made available to the public.
who is employed by a county or municipality and
administers or supervises the administration of a
rabies vaccine as part of a local control program is
not required to establish a veterinarian-clientpatient relationship before administering or
supervising the administration of that vaccine.
 Florida HB 1049 pr ovides that the Flor ida
 Washington SB 5501 pr ovides that law
 Alabama SB 51 r equ ir es anim al shelter s to
Pharmacy Act does not prohibit a licensed
veterinarian to administer a compounded drug to a
patient, or dispense a compounded drug to the
patient's owner or caretaker.
 Kansas SB 189 cr eates an institu tional
license to practice veterinary medicine for a person
employed by a school of veterinary medicine.
 Nebraska LB 360 m akes sever al changes to
the state’s Commercial Dog and Cat Operator
Inspection Act, including unannounced inspections
and appointment of special investigators.
 Nevada SB 288 r equ ir es ever y per son w ho
prescribes a controlled substance, including
veterinarians, to register biennially with the State
Board of Pharmacy.
 Nevada SB 261 r equ ir es r esear ch facilities
and product testing facilities engaged in scientific,
medical or educational research to offer dogs and
cats that are appropriate for adoption to an animal
shelter or rescue organization before euthanizing or
destroying the dog or cat. Under the new law, those
facilities will be limited to conduct research on a
dog or cat for only two years.
 New Hampshire SB 31 r em oves fr o m the
definition of a "dispenser," who must register with
the controlled drug prescription program, a
veterinarian who dispenses less than a 48-hour
supply of a schedule II-IV controlled substance to a
patient.
 Oregon SB 614 pr ovides that a peace officer
who has probable cause to believe an animal is
being subjected to certain criminal offenses may
enforcement officers are authorized to enter a
vehicle or other enclosed space to remove an animal
believed to be suffering from exposure to extreme
temperatures or lack of water or ventilation.
Regulatory watch
The Louisiana Board of Pharmacy issued a temporary
emergency rule authorizing pharmacies to compound
drugs for office use intended for administration by
veterinarians for emergency use without the necessity of
a
patient-specific
prescription.
Any
dispensed
compounded product must be generated by a pharmacy
after receipt of a patient-specific prescription.
FDA: Compounding guidance
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) published
its new expectations for the preparation of compounds
from bulk active ingredients. The FDA is accepting
comments on the draft through August 17, 2015. The
preparation of compounds from bulk continues to be
outside of the FDA rules, yet the two new publications lay
out activities against which FDA generally does not
intend to take enforcement action. The AVMA has
previously developed policies (see Compounding page)
that advocate for the needed allowances for compounding
in veterinary medicine. At the same time, the AVMA is
reviewing the new draft guidance to determine if these
publications are aligned with veterinarians’ needs and
AVMA’s policies. The two draft FDA publications are
Guidance For Industry #230 and a request for
nominations of bulk drugs from which outsourcing
facilities can create compounds. The AVMA has
requested an extension to comment on the nomination of
bulk drugs. (continued next page)
Page 17
Summer 2015
Partners for Healthy Pets
See, Hear and Wear the New
2015 PHP Advertisements
Partners for Healthy Pets continues
its powerful advertising campaign
directed to both veterinary practice
teams and pet owners on preventive
healthcare.
For 2015, Partners for Healthy Pets turns the spotlight to
“forward booking”—scheduling future appointments for
all patients before they head out the door:
No pet should leave the practice without the pet’s
owner knowing when he or she should return for
their next appointment (r egar dless of the r eason,
i.e. recheck for illness or injury or their next preventive
healthcare visit).
Follow up is the key to the health of patients. Research
has shown that practices that book their patients’ future
visits before they leave the office see more patients, more
often. These practices schedule the next appointment for
all patients before they leave regardless of the cause—a
pet’s next preventive exam and/or a medical recheck.
Forward booking appointments is a “best practice” for
practices, because seeing more patients results in more
pets receiving high quality care.
AVMA Update (cont.)
FDA: Veterinary Feed Directive
The FDA also issued a final rule for the Veterinary Feed
Directive, which will cement veterinary oversight of
medically important antibiotics used in feed for food
animals, ensuring the protection of animal health and
welfare as well as food safety and public health. The
AVMA’s early and ongoing collaboration with the FDA
helped ensure that the rule is practical and in the best
interests of animal health, public health and the
veterinary profession. Through the VFD, producers must
obtain veterinary approval prior to using medicated feeds
containing medically important antibiotics. The VFD
final rule states that veterinarians must follow state laws
related to the veterinarian-client-patient relationship
(VCPR), provided that they apply to the VFD. Otherwise,
veterinarians must meet the criteria for the federally
defined VCPR to issue an order for a VFD. The AVMA is
reviewing the entire contents of the final rule and will be
submitting official comments.
To remind the veterinary healthcare team and pet owners
to book all future appointments, buttons are available to
keep this important action top of mind!
Practice Enrollment Program: Have you signed
up yet?
Visit www.partnersforhealthypets.org to join the
program, which includes a free subscription to our
monthly e-newsletter with ready-to-use Facebook posts,
tweets and copy for practices’ websites or newsletters.
PHP Website: A powerful, useful place to go
Partners for Healthy Pets has an online toolbox of
resources that can help veterinary healthcare teams have
more successful conversations with clients about the
benefits of regularly scheduled preventive healthcare
visits. Visit www.partnersforhealthypets.org to access the
Practice Resources Toolbox. You will also be able to stay
up-to-date on conference activities, education and other
programs and support.
Page 18
Summer 2015
Classifieds
FOR SALE: Purpose-built, established Veterinary
Hospital facility on busy road off Maine turnpike
on the southern Maine coast. Appr oxim ately
5600 sq ft. clinical space. Second floor 2250+ sq. ft. unfinished good for office space, living quarters or lease
income. Busy small animal practice also available for
sale. Offered @ 1.44M. Contact 207.251.0538.
Central Maine: This well established small animal clinic operates in an attractive facility nestled near a university town. With an emergency clinic close by, you can be assured of the flexibility to enjoy
life “as it should be”, and practice veterinary medicine on
your own terms. The 2,500 foot facility is purposely designed for efficiency and appeal for a small animal practice. Included on the 22 acres parcel is a 3 bedroom
home/apartment the current owner occupies, and an
additional 1 bedroom apartment. Additional, recently
constructed outbuildings and a fully heated garage workshop compete the offering. A satellite practice set up by
the owner in a leased facility provides additional income
resulting in a total revenue for the most recent year
(2014) of $706,000. The owner has established other
interests and is motivated to move this practice and thus
it is “priced to move” at
$1,025,000. This price has been
preapproved for financing. Given a
look, we think you will like what you
see. Please contact us for additional
information. For additional information on this listing, contact Simmons
Northeast.
www.simmonsinc.com or 800-4744775. Listing Number: ME139-0623
For Sale Southern Maine Veterinary Hospital: Fou nded in
1974, this well established full service hospital has a full Idexx Blood
analyzing units, digital radiology,
including dental radiology, endoscopy, ECG, ultrasound equipment,
electro surgical equipment, anesthesia monitors and bone plating instruments, in addition to normal
surgical instruments. This practice is
located close to skiing, ocean and
lakes and Maine's great recreational
areas, as well as being close to many
of Portland's Veterinary specialists.
Contact Reggie Butts at ICS Butts
Financial Group Cell (207) 3293069 , [email protected].
FOR SALE: Small Animal Practice in Southern
Maine. W ells Dog an d Cat Hospital is for sale. A
busy solo practice that can easily expand to a two doctor
practice, the location is excellent with good visibility. A
small animal hospital with an attached boarding kennel,
the facility is currently leased. The buyer will have the
option to buy the real estate, continue the lease for 4 additional years or buy the practice and move to a new location. If a solo buyer is interested in the practice owner
would be willing to stay on as an associate. If given this
opportunity there are some creative financing options
that would decrease the price of the practice. Contact
Emery Santerre, DVM at 418 Sanford Road, Wells, Maine
04090, 207-646-8323, or [email protected].
Veterinary Practice For Sale Northern Maine!
This steadily growing small animal, multi-doc practice is
well-established as the primary small animal veterinary
service provider in a beautiful northern Maine town on
the Aroostook River. The practice offers a full complement of western traditional medicine and also is a leader
in the region in offering integrative, complementary alternative therapies. Housed in a nearly new, spacious,
The Maine Veterinarian
Page 19
Classifieds
purpose built and modern facility, it is no wonder the
practice is growing so well!
The revenues for
2014 increased by nearly seven percent over the year
prior, to over $1,130,000. The year before the practice
grew over six percent as well. All of the equipment you
could ever imagine needing is available to help provide a
broad array of services. The equipment includes digital
radiography, ultrasound, an underwater treadmill and
many other nearly new and modern tools of technology
and current applications of veterinary medicine. The
grounds include a four bedroom, 3,225 sq. ft. home that
is offset and private from the practice, as well as a garage
and an additional building that houses the crematorium. A perfect pasture for horses or your small farm is
part of this 3.75 acre parcel. The property has been recently appraised at $550,000. This is a great opportunity
to balance having a thriving business with the charming
quality of life in Northern Maine. The price for practice
and real estate is a reasonable $1,160,000, and you will
have absolutely no problem obtaining financing for this
purchase. If you want a great practice and a great environment to live and work, let’s have a talk about this opportunity! For additional information on this list-
ing, contact Simmons Northeast. www.simmonsinc.com
or 800-474-4775. Listing Number: ME138
Aroostook County: Dr. Patrick Coville is interested in beginning to explore the transition of his
practice to a new owner. After 30+ yr s of gainful
and enjoyable practice in Houlton, Dr. Coville seeks to
assure the continuation of the practice and services to our
clients and their pets. The practice has enjoyed a steady
demand for services that it has rarely been able to meet we occasionally turn away more new client requests per
week than we are able to take on. Expansion/Growth is
assured. If you want ownership, if you seek a secure and
solid income, if you desire a rural home/community, if
you like 4-season outdoor recreation - contact Dr. Coville
to discuss the options of a creative practice transfer that
doesn't involve a huge debt burden. For confidential handling - write to AVS "Attention Dr. Coville" 32 Access Rd
Houlton, ME 04730 or email at [email protected].
Practice For Sale: Profitable, well established, 1
DVM, small animal practice in the Western
mountain town of Rumford. Easily expandable
Page 20
Summer 2015
Classifieds
and reasonably priced. 2013 gross $533,000 with a 26
hour work week with no after hour emergencies. Owner
willing to open the financial books to see how one could
easily make a 6 figure salary while owning their own
practice. Owner financing a possibility. Email me at
[email protected] or call evenings at 207-3644727.
Nice AAHA small animal practice for sale in
northern Aroostook County. AAHA cer tified facility for 5+years. Spacious and well-equipped with 3
exam rooms (one cat only, one dog only with lift table,
one combo/overflow), full in-house lab, grooming room,
digital x-ray (full body and dental), surgical and therapy
lasers, fully computerized for “paper-light” practice and
currently grossing well with 35 hour work week and no
emergencies.
Excellent staff, stable clientele, good
schools and low crime. Great local recreation available
winter and summer. Practice, equipment, inventory and
real estate for sale at very reasonable price, possible owner financing. Selling for health & family reasons but can
stay through transition if desired. Photos available on
website www.fortkentanimalhospital.com (take the hospital tour), contact me at [email protected] to arrange
a visit/tour and detailed discussion anytime.
FOR SALE: York Country Small Animal Practice
This lovely 1-2 doctor practice is situated on a busy highway and has great visibility from the street. The facility is
modern and attractive. The practice is nicely equipped
and the parking is outstanding. The seller would consider
staying
on
as
needed.
(Listing
7056)
www.natelynch.com or 800-567-1265,
[email protected]
Maine: Exclusive cat practice. This long established
practice is devoted to cats. The new doctor could continue
the cat only practice or expand to other animals. The
seller is willing to do some owner financing. (Listing
6944) www.natelynch.com or 800-567-1264,
[email protected].
Spay-Neuter Mobile Clinic for lease. Com m u nity
Spay-Neuter Clinic has fully equipped mobile spayneuter clinic available for lease. Clinic is equipped with 3
anesthetic stations and 24 stainless cat kennels, and ancillary equipment. Electric hook up or generator options,
and propane heat for May-October use. Trailer can be
delivered to location of choice. Ideally suited for set up in
an area of Maine where affordable spay-neuter services
are not available. Please email Elizabeth Stone DVM for
more information at [email protected].
Norway Veterinary Hospital is seeking a licensed
Veterinarian to join ou r 5-doctor, AAHA accredited,
small animal practice. The right candidate will enjoy a
fast-paced work environment and be committed to practicing the highest standard of medicine. We offer competitive salary and benefits. Full-time and part-time candidates will be considered. Norway Veterinary Hospital
offers complete companion-animal medicine, surgery,
referral orthopedics, and complementary medicine. Nestled in the western foothills of Maine, we are one hour
north of Portland, and one-half hour south of Sunday
River. If this opportunity fits you, please send your resume to Jaime Bowden, Practice Manager at
[email protected] or Norway Veterinary
Hospital, PO Box 273, Norway, ME, 04268
We’re looking for a relief Emergency Doctor for
our facility in Newington/Portsmouth, NH. An
ACVECC diplomat or ACVECC qualified doctor would be
preferred but not absolute if you have surgical experience
and a minimum of 3yrs ER experience. Time frame is
The Maine Veterinarian
Page 21
Classifieds
very flexible from anytime start in August and into September and can be for 2 weeks to even 8 weeks. If interested, please email Dr. Garrod at [email protected]
Full-Time Associate Veterinarian / DVM Needed
Associate veterinarian needed for our busy small
animal practice in South Berwick, Maine. Salm on
Falls Animal Hospital is just over the New Hampshire
border in coastal New England, and we’re looking for a
veterinarian with a penchant for surgery and a minimum
of 1 year experience. Position offers salary of 80k plus
production, great flexibility, full benefit plans, paid vacation and more. For full details and more information,
please
feel
free
visit
our
website
at:
www.salmonfallsvet.com or submit your resume with
questions to [email protected]. All inquiries are confidential.
The New Hampshire Veterinary Specialists have
an opening! We need an Emergency Veterinarian
to join our fun and energetic emergency/referral hospital
in Portsmouth, NH. Join our VECC ER doctors and bene-
fit from our additional services such as Critical Care, Surgery, Internal Medicine, Radiology, Neurology, Cardiology and Ophthalmology. You can't beat our coastal NH
location and our staff is wonderful! This practice is open
24 hours 365 days a year, and we’re looking for one more
doctor to join our team. Please contact Lee Garrod,
DACVECC for more information or with your resume at
[email protected]. All inquiries are confidential.
Full or part time experienced (at least 1 year) veterinarian wanted at Tender Touch Veterinary
Hospital located in Scarborough, Maine. Com petitive wages and benefits. Schedules are flexible. No emergencies. Scheduling with no weekend days is possible.
Full time is 4 days 8-5:30. Get a glimpse of us at tendertouchvet.net. Please send resumes to
[email protected].
Responsible Pet Care Shelter & Adoption in
South Paris, Maine seeks veterinarian to lease
approximately 650 sf of surgical/office space at 9 Swallow Road. Space is suitable to serve medical needs of
shelter animals, as well as private veterinary practice
serving the public. Lease fee is $850.00 monthly and
includes use of surgical room equipment, electricity, heat,
ac, plowing, water, sewer and mowing. For more information contact 207 743-8679 or
[email protected].
The Madison Animal Hospital is seeking a parttime or potentially full time associate veterinarian to join o u r fr iendly and co m petent staff in
Madison, Maine. We are a full service small animal facility focused on providing high quality, comprehensive, and
compassionate veterinary care. Madison is a beautiful
small town nestled on the banks of the Kennebec River in
the scenic foothills of Maine’s western mountains. Our
3800 square foot facility constructed in 2006 boasts 2
spacious exam rooms (12’ x 10’), reception area, treatment ward, surgery suite, and laboratory/pharmacy all
with abundant natural lighting. We are well equipped
with the Idexx VetLab Station with Vettest and LaserCyte
analyzers, VetScan II chemistry analyzer, a Surgitron
radiosurgery unit, an A.D.S. 1000 automated anesthesia
machine, digital radiography, and AVIMark software
system with workstations in each exam room, laboratory,
and offices. Our associate’s package includes competitive
salary and benefits (dependent on part vs full-time status) including health insurance, paid vacation, professional dues, liability and license defense, continuing education, Simple IRA, and flexible work schedule. Some on
call/emergency service is required with this position and
would consist of 2 weeknights per week (5p-8a) and one
Page 22
Summer 2015
Classifieds
weekend per month (Fri. 5pm to Sun. 8am) and associate
must be no more than 30 minutes from hospital when on
call. We currently average six emergencies per month.
New graduates welcome to apply. Please contact Dr.
Richards at [email protected] and visit our website at www.madisonanimalhospital.us.
Aroostook Veterinary Services in Houlton, Maine
is seeking an energetic, skilled, and confident
Associate. W e have a gr eat long-term group of staff
in a fully equipped hospital with Digital X-ray, Ultrasound, and all the regular equipment. AVS enjoys the
luxury of an abundant and growing client base and more
patients than we can comfortably attend to. You can expect a creative work schedule with a very competitive
compensation package including bonus potential along
with all the routine benefits. Do you want 3 days a week
off along with generous vacation time on top of good
wages? If yes - call or write now. (207) 532-4081 or
[email protected]. (Dr. Coville is very inclined to
find the future owner of AVS, so this position has some
real incredible value for an interested party).
Clinical Pathology Instructor Needed: York Com-
munity College is looking for a Clinical Pathology
instructor for this fall in Wells. This is a course for
veterinary technology students where they will study laboratory techniques and procedures used in evaluating
veterinary clinical samples. This will include hematology,
urinalysis, parasitology, cytology, serology, microbiology,
blood coagulation, blood biochemistry, and immunologic
tests as well as any other topics related to essential American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) skills assigned to this course. The veterinary technician's role in
sample collection, sample storage and handling and performance of analytic procedures will be emphasized.
Skills are developed in the use of laboratory equipment,
laboratory safety and quality control. For more information, including application requirements, please visit
https://www.higheredjobs.com and search for York Community College.
Part Time Position Available Near Bangor. Part
time or relief veterinarian wanted for mixed animal practice to cover small animal appointments.
1-2 days weekly and vacation coverage needed. Experience preferred, but new graduates considered. Email
resumes to [email protected] or mail to RRVS,
The Maine Veterinarian
Page 23
Classifieds
PO Box 769, Winterport, ME 04496.
Animal Emergency Clinic of Mid-Maine in Lewiston is seeking a full time emergency veterinarian
to join our well established (since 2000) and
highly regarded practice in south-central Maine.
We are open nights and weekends, and staff shifts with 12 doctors and multiple technicians. As well as being a
good team player, must possess excellent diagnostic,
medical and surgical skills and be comfortable working
independently at times. Strong leadership ability preferred. Possible future buy-in for the right individual.
Salary commensurate with experience. Full benefits
package. Please send resume and cover letter to
[email protected]
(Dr.
Becky
Law)
or
[email protected] (Dr. Bill Bryant).
Turner Veterinary Service - Small animal veterinarian needed for 2-3 doctor practice in southcentral Maine. Facility is w ell-equipped (digital, paperless, in-house lab, etc.) and tech support is excellent.
We are a friendly, client-oriented practice with local
emergency clinic affiliation. Our emphasis is on quality
diagnostic work-ups and surgery. Current owner is ulti-
mately retiring so experience and ownership interest are
a plus. Please visit our website www.turnervetservice.com
and if interested in learning more, contact
[email protected].
Full time or part time Associate Veterinarian
needed on the beautiful southern coast of Maine.
We are less than a mile from the ocean, an hour from
Boston, and an hour from the White Mountains. We have
been an AAHA accredited small animal practice for over
20 years. We believe in a "Team-Based Veterinary Care
Delivery System" and pride ourselves on letting our technical staff do all they can and our doctors concentrate on
medicine. We are a full service facility open six days a
week. As well as being a animal hospital and boarding
kennel we have a small but well stocked retail supply
store, a grooming salon, and are the local shelter for the 3
surrounding towns, To hear more please email, check us
out at www.kitteryanimalhospital.com and visit us on
Facebook.
Beagles of New England States (B.O.N.E.S.) is
conducting a search for a Medical Director. This
is a critical position in our organization and requires an
Page 24
Summer 2015
Classifieds
individual with previous veterinary experience, good
computer and people skills who can make a reliable commitment of 10-20 hours per week, dependent upon the
case load. We have a skilled medical support team that
works in with the Director, who reports directly to the
BOD. The candidate must meet the job requirements as
described in the job description (supplied upon request )
and be willing to work effectively with B.O.N.E.S. Operations teams and veterinary health professionals. If you
have questions regarding this opportunity or would like
to apply for the position, please send your letter of intent
to [email protected].
We have an opening for a Veterinary Technician. We are a busy
four doctor practice in Lewiston,
Maine. Mu st be self m otivated, a
team player, have a caring, compassionate, and positive attitude. Candidates must have experience in anesthesia/monitoring, radiology, dental cleaning, IV catheter placement and possess
an excellent work ethic. Computer skills
are a necessity as we are a paperless
practice. Duties will include outpatient
as well as inpatient, occasional reception and phone skills needed. We have
digital radiology, digital dental x-ray,
ultrasound and Idexx in-house lab machines . Schedule will include Saturdays. We offer Medical Insurance, Dental, 401K, employee discount, vacation,
uniform allowance and continuing education. Pay commensurate with experience. Please forward resume and cover
letter to : [email protected].
Gray-New
Gloucester
Animal
Hospital is looking for a Receptionist/Veterinary Assistant to
join our team. This is a part time
position that would include all day Friday and Saturday, and also one or two
half days during the week. A caring and
compassionate attitude is required of
all of our team. This is an outstanding
opportunity to join a hospital that is fun
-loving, yet with a professional atmosphere. If you are interested in joining
our team please contact me, Rachel
Crookston, at [email protected].
Experienced Veterinary Technician / LVT wanted
in South Berwick, Maine. Salm o n Falls Anim al
Hospital in South Berwick, Maine is adding a Head Tech
to our team! We’re currently hiring an LVT with proven
experience to join our fun and energetic group. Experience with Avimark is a plus but not required. We offer
competitive pay with benefits and an opportunity for
growth. Our location offers a fantastic work environment
and a great team. If you are interested in this position,
please contact us to discuss your goals. If you're looking
for a new position, please contact our Practice Manager,
Jessica at: [email protected]
The Maine Veterinarian
Page 25
Classifieds
Dover Veterinary Hospital is a board certified
Internal Medicine Specialist owned facility that
currently has an opportunity for a Full-time Experienced Veterinary Technician. Ou r hospital
provides holistic medicine, and acupuncture in addition
to traditional general veterinary care for dogs, and cats.
Our facility is well equipped with digital and dental radiography, and a full range of laboratory diagnostic, surgical and dental equipment. This position requires experience in the standard veterinary technical skills such as
anesthetic induction and monitoring, assisting in surgery
and dental procedures, taking standard and dental radiographs, diagnostic sample collection, performing laboratory testing, catheter placement and drug calculations.
We are looking for mature, reliable candidates that enjoy
working with the public and are committed to providing
exceptional client and patient care. Compensation is
competitive and commensurate with skill level and experience. Benefits include health insurance, 401K, end of
year bonus and paid vacation. Please email resumes, with
cover letter and references, to Stephanie Houle, Practice
Manager at [email protected].
Veterinary Technician Needed to cover maternity
leave from the Hampden Veterinary Clinic fr om
approximately August through December. This relief
position could begin at any time and the hours are flexible. Please contact the Hampden Veterinary Clinic for
more information.
Phone: 945-4802 and Email:
[email protected].
Licensed Veterinary Technician needed for a
small animal clinic in Mid-Coast Maine. One doctor practice seeks qualified licensed Vet Tech to Join our
practice. Experience desired, but will train a new graduate. Must enjoy interacting with clients as well as patients. We strive to provide excellent care and have fun at
the same time. Weekends required. Please email resumes
to Atlantic Veterinary Care: [email protected].
Certified Technician Needed: Join Tender Touch
Veterinary Hospital located in Scarborough,
Maine. W e h ave com petitive w ages an d benefits.
Part time or full time welcome to apply. See us at tendertouchvet.net.
Please
send
resumes
to
[email protected].
Summer 2015
Page 26
Classifieds
Full-Time Veterinary Technicians Needed: A progressive, fast paced emergency practice w ou ld
like to offer an opportunity to enthusiastic, motivated,
licensed veterinary technicians. We have a team oriented
staff, presented with challenging and interesting cases on
a daily basis. We are currently hiring for full-time positions. Schedule flexibility is a must, and includes nights,
weekends, and holidays. We offer a competitive compensations package including, health, dental, uniform allowance, 401K, continued education, discounted veterinary
services, and more! At least one year of experience required. If you are interested in challenging your skills and
utilizing your emergency veterinary knowledge, contact
Jennifer Bricker, Eastern Maine Emergency Veterinary
Clinic, P.O. Box 3073, 15 Dirigo Drive Brewer, Maine
04412. Phone: 207-989-6267, Email [email protected].
Beagles of New England States (B.O.N.E.S.) w as
founded in June of 2003 with a mission to rescue, rehome, spay/neuter, and provide necessary medical care
to beagles in need in the New England area. We are currently searching for veterinarian technicians w ho
would like to make a difference in the lives of rescued
beagles utilizing your experience and skills. The Medical
Records Coordinator is a key position within our rescue.
Duties would include, but are not limited to receiving
medical history records from owner surrenders, veterinarians, shelters, Animal Control Officers and other professionals and requesting records from veterinarians and
other specialists as needed. For the complete job description, more information about this position, its time requirements, or to apply, please contact Marlene Bernhardt at [email protected].
Central Maine. Seeking experienced veterinary
technician/assistant with great skills, compassion, patience, common sense and maturity (in
attitude, not necessarily in years). Our technicians must
be able to educate and communicate very well with all
kinds of people, draw blood from dogs and cats, place IV
catheters, take radiographs, restrain patients, administer
medications and vaccines under supervision, run lab
work, prep, monitor and recover surgical patients, and
provide nursing care to hospitalized patients. A good
sense of humor, willingness to learn and a strong work
ethic would be valued. Licensing in Maine would be ideal,
but someone with experience and skills will be considered. Schedule is flexible - full or part time. Pay and benefits will depend on experience and skills, and schedule.
Interested in working in an environment where patient
Portland Veterinary Specialists
207-780-0271
Internal Medicine, Ultrasonography, Endoscopy, Oncology,
Surgery, Ophthalmology, Cardiology, Dermatology,
Acupuncture & Integrative Medicine, Radioactive Iodine
Therapy for Hyperthyroid Cats
207-650-0432
Animal Surgical Care
Orthopedic & Soft Tissue Surgery, Neurologic Surgery,
Arthroscopy, Total Hip Replacement, TPLO & TTA.
Animal Emergency Clinic
207-878-3121
All emergencies, 24/7/365. CT Scanner on site.
Working in partnership with primary veterinarians, our extensive team of board
certified veterinary specialists, emergency clinicians and experienced staff offer
compassionate and expert care for the most challenging conditions.
739 Warren Avenue, Portland, ME 04103
www.maineanimalcare.com
The Maine Veterinarian
Page 27
Classifieds
welfare is a priority and drama is not? Contact us to learn
more. Please email your cover letter and resume to
Lakeside Vet Clinic at [email protected]. All
inquiries will be kept in confidence.
Experienced/Licensed Tech: Ou r team is m ade
up of 5 wonderful Veterinarians and 15 amazing Technicians & Receptionists in a busy small animal Veterinary
practice located in the Topsham, Maine. We are passionate about providing the best surgical and routine medical
care and want a new team member who is also passionate, honest, works well independently and as part of the
team, detail oriented, can multi-task, and enjoys client
interaction and education. We are excited to find a new
team member who has experience in basics such as patient handling, restraint and nail trimming as well as experience in phlebotomy, IV placement, radiography, performing dentals, performing specimen analysis, and ideally would have experience in Surgery Patient prep, intubation and monitoring! Preference will be given to Licensed Veterinary Technicians or those with equivalent
experience. but if you’re the right fit, we will teach you! A
Providing Veterinarians the
Best in Animal Rehabilitation
Referral Services
State-of-the-art technology combined with therapeutic exercise
provided by a fully certified rehabilitation team allow pets to enjoy
their most active lives.





Underwater Treadmill
Cold Laser
Electronic Stimulation
Therapeutic Ultrasound
Maine’s Most Experienced &
Qualified Therapy Team
We respect referring veterinarians’ client and patient relationships
by only treating referred problems and diagnoses.
VRCCE….. The Way Rehabilitation Should Be
full time schedule with 1 hour lunch breaks and half days,
rotating weekends, earned time off, paid CE, Medical,
Simple Ira and personal pet perks! Please send a personalized cover letter and resume to [email protected] or
Androscoggin Animal Hospital, 457 Foreside Road,
Topsham, Maine 04086.
Pine Point Animal Hospital is seeking a peopleoriented, highly motivated Customer Care Associate to join ou r fr ien dly r eception team and
working environment. A qualified applicant should have
at least 1-2 years of experience in a veterinary facility. The
ideal candidate is compassionate, organized, positive and
able to work in a fast paced environment. This position is
part to full time including some weekends and an hourly
salary commensurate with experience. We look forward
to hearing from you! Resumes and cover letters can be
emailed to: [email protected].
FOR SALE: Contact Dr . B eu r y at 207-415-1439 or
email [email protected]
Suburban Surgical Ken-Kage SS kennels: 18X18 four; 24X24 - three; 36X30 - two.
Suburban Surgical flat operating top, on a h ydraulic base with tilt mechanism.
Suburban Surgical transport/prep cart w ith shelf
and 1 SS drawer.
D.R.E. Transport 3000 anesthesia machine w ith
Isoflurane vaporizer - a great, compact machine that can
be wall or table mounted.
Burton ceiling mount reflector light, halogen
bulb.
6 surgery packs suitable for spay surgery - each
pack has 4 towel clamps, 4 hemostats of assorted sizes,
Metzenbaum scissors, spay hook, Olsen Hegar needle
holder with tungsten carbide inserts, thumb forceps
(1X2) - 4.75 or 5.75". Mixed German and Pakistani, but
nothing is dull or sprung that I know of. No scalpel handles.
All reasonable offers considered. Single item s or
use the entire package to set up your new office. Best if
you pick up. We'll take things apart for you, all assembly
instructions included.
Ginger Browne Johnson DVM, CCRP
Debra St Laurent LVT, LMT, CCRP
Veterinary and Rehabilitation Center of Cape Elizabeth
207 Ocean House Road, Cape Elizabeth, ME 04107
207.799.6952 www.vrcce.com [email protected]
To place an ad, send the text in the
body of an email to
[email protected]
Maine Veterinary Medical
Association
97A Exchange Street, Suite 305
Portland, ME 04101
Phone: 800-448-2772
Fax: 888-612-0941
E-mail: [email protected]
www.mainevetmed.org
William Bell, Executive Director
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