FVMA Advocate Issue 6, 2021 by FVMA

ADVOCATE Issue 6 | Final Issue for 2021

IMPORTANT UPDATE

Upcoming changes in the Advocate - Page 5

CONSCIOUS CONSUMPTION,

The Key to Positive Social Media - Page 10

SEIZURES IN DOGS AND CATS - a challenging disease process - Page 14

UPCOMING EVENTS 2022 mark your calendars - Page 17

FVMA LEGISLATIVE ADVOCACY

in partnership with Converge Government Affairs - Page 18

Signing off... What a difference a day makes… a month … a year! It seems like only yesterday that my journey as FVMA president for the second time started, and we all strapped in for a bumpy ride. The collective spirit and energies of my colleagues on the board and the FVMA staff have allowed this association to perform and achieve our goals in the roughest of storms. A summary review of the past year is in order, and I am pleased about our accomplishments on behalf of the veterinary profession and the veterinary professionals who we serve.

207 Monetary Drive 7 Orlando, Florida 32809 Phone – 407.851.3862 Toll-free – 800.992.3862 Fax – 407.240.3710 info@fvma.org www.fvma.org

OFFICERS

Dr. Marta P. Lista President Dr. Jacqueline S. Shellow President-elect Dr. Alex 'Steve' Steverson Treasurer Dr. Mary Smart Past President

DISTRICT REPRESENTATIVES Dr. Julie Moodoyan District 1–Big Bend

Dr. Thomas E. Hester District 2–Northeast Dr. Todd Fulton District 3–Central Dr. Donald S. Howell District 4–Tampa Bay Dr. Beth Keser District 5–Treasure Coast Dr. Robert L. Swinger District 6–South Florida Dr. Barbara Lewis District 7–Southwest Dr. John R. Wight District 8–Northwest Dr. Christine M. Storts District 9–Space Coast Dr. Ernest C. Godfrey AVMA Delegate Dr. Richard B. Williams AVMA Alternate Delegate Dr. Sally DeNotta FAEP Representative to the FVMA Executive Board

The FVMA MAP (Membership Assistance Program) went live and is now providing industry and national leading wellness support for our members and affiliate members! Adverse telemedicine legislation has gone down in flames TWICE! FVMA is grateful for the diligence of our legislative team, member advocates who answered our calls to action, coalition partners AVMA and Florida Cattlemen’s Association, and Converge Government Affairs. The Power of Ten is now “ten squared” as the second class commenced their leadership program last month during the annual conference! The Regionals Conference in the panhandle came to life and demonstrated the abilities of this organization to again provide for the needs of our members in all extremities of our state. Our staff through their creativity brought online CE to our members. The Annual Conference, FAEP’s PES, TGAVC, Regionals (#1) and our Food Animal conferences were put on with participants' safety in mind, but also mindful of our members' CE needs. The Ocala Equine conference for 2022 was rescheduled to this summer but will provide its usual exemplary quality of presentations. The office and all our team members hit new highs for effort, creativity, comradery and excellence in the face of a pandemic. Leadership shifts and individual self‐evaluations within the context of this year, where failure might have been the more logical option, demonstrated that the FVMA staff has the right people in the right places! For me this past year will be one to remember and treasure as I was able to serve this association again, and the colleagues that I love. Thank you for a memorable year. Sincerely,

Richard Sutliff, DVM

FVMA MISSION:

TO ADVANCE THE VETERINARY MEDICAL PROFESSION, PROMOTE ANIMAL HEALTH AND WELL-BEING, AND PROTECT PUBLIC HEALTH.

Opinions and statements expressed in the FVMA Advocate reflect the views of the contributors and do not represent the official policy of the Florida Veterinary Medical Association (FVMA), unless so stated. Placement of an advertisement does not represent the FVMA’s endorsement of the product or service.

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Thank you FOR BEING A VALUED MEMBER Your membership entitles you to a new benefit known as the Member Assistance Program (MAP). There is no enrollment or payment required to utilize this service. We have partnered with McLaughlin Young Group, an independent provider of MAP/EAP services. The MAP offers help for personal and/or professional concerns by providing free, confidential, short-term counseling and personal consultation. Additionally, the MAP provides work-life resources such as legal and financial consultations, online learning and more. McLaughlin Young also hosts a variety of helpful seminars. MAP HAS A NETWORK OF CONVENIENTLY LOCATED COUNSELORS. They can help you improve or resolve personal difficulties whether big or small, personal or work-related. Some examples of concerns that the MAP addresses include: • • • •

Family conflict and relationship issues Depression and anxiety Resiliency and coping skills Work-related issues

TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THIS WONDERFUL BENEFIT TODAY! DOWNLOAD THE MYGROUP APP TO GET STARTED.

• • • •

Grief and loss Alcohol or drug use Stress Legal and financial issues

CONFIDENTIALITY IS ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT FEATURES of the MAP. No one will know that you have used this resource, unless you offer that information or unless someone’s safety is threatened. THERE IS NO COST TO YOU FOR YOUR PHONE CALLS OR FACE-TO-FACE VISITS WITH THE MAP. The FVMA covers all expenses for this program. You are eligible to use the MAP immediately. To seek assistance through the MAP, simply call 704-529-1428 or 800-633-3353. Your call is important - see how the counseling process works. Visit mygroup.com | Click on My Portal Login | Work-Life | Username: fvma2021 | Password: guest The MAP staff at McLaughlin Young is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, ready to assist you. Appointments are available during daytime and evening hours. The MAP is not designed to evaluate fitness for duty or authorize leave of absences but will provide referrals as needed. www.fvma.org

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In Remembrance Dr. James Drawdy, DVM February 6, 1933 - March 5, 2022 Dr. James F. Drawdy, 89, passed away on March 5, 2022. He was born in Nashville, Georgia, on February 6, 1933, to Lena and Perry Drawdy. Dr. Drawdy graduated from the University of Georgia Veterinary School in 1958. After graduation, Dr. Drawdy entered the United States Army as a 1st Lieutenant. He served as a veterinarian for the US Army Medical

Research Program at Fort Detrick from July 1958-July 1960. He had great stories of working with and saving sick monkeys in the research program. After being discharged from the army in July of 1960, Dr. Drawdy moved to South Florida where he practiced at Miami Springs Animal Hospital for a year. In 1961, he opened Palm Springs Animal Hospital where he practiced until 2002. For 41 years, he served the Hialeah-Miami Lakes area mainly treating domestic animals. Dr. Drawdy is survived by his daughters, Sheila Drawdy; Sherry Hogg (husband Mike); Sandra Drawdy; and four grandchildren, J.R., Kaylee, Jason, and Thomas.

Dr. Isabel “Tibby” Hunt, DVM April 6, 1950 - February 11, 2022

Dr. Isabel "Tibby" Hunt, of South Wales, New York, passed away February 11. Dr. Hunt was a lifelong horsewoman who dedicated herself not only to the art of riding but to the care and welfare of horses. She began as a child, riding with her mother foxhunting with the Genesee Valley Hunt Club. Moving on from hunting to show jumping, Dr. Hunt trained with Chuck Graham in Buffalo, New York, before moving on to ride with several of the great horsemen of her time, including Geoff Teall and George Morris. As a Grand Prix rider, her top horses were Mr. Sandman and Cy Porter, who any of her friends would recognize from her many stories. As a testament to her talent, during her career, Dr. Hunt claimed a Thoroughbred off the racetrack, who had been ruled off the races for bad behavior. Never to be

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beaten by an unruly horse, Dr. Hunt renamed him "Prowler," and went on to compete with him at the Grand Prix level herself before Prowler took her friend, Mike Grinyer, to compete on the Canadian Equestrian Team at the international level. She was a legend and icon in the Western New York horse community as well as internationally, competing at the highest levels for years throughout the US and Canada. In addition to her riding career, she further devoted herself to horses by becoming a veterinarian at the University of Prince Edward Island, which allowed her to heal countless animals throughout her career. She was especially skilled in the areas of homeopathy, acupuncture and chiropractic, and was sought after to keep top horses in shape at the highest levels of the sport. Dr. Hunt was the beloved wife of Dr. Robert Hallick and proud daughter of the late H. Reed and Isabel Rand Hunt. She is predeceased by her sister, Cynthia Hunt Smith and survived by her many devoted friends and students.

IMPORTANT Advocate UPDATE: Our publications have served as an evolving documentation on the state of veterinary practice since their inception. Dedicated to chronicling a profession that is a constant for change, our publications have had to adapt to meet the needs of the times, whether that be in content, format or design. After updating FVMA Advocate's design to better match our rebranded association, we took our learnings over the year to restructure how we present the publication. Now on a quarterly release schedule, FVMA Advocate will publish four times a year with the quality content and diverse writers our members have come to know us for. The first print of FVMA Advocate's 2022 issue is scheduled for release in May, and will begin delivery on its new quarterly schedule with that initial publication.

IN THIS ISSUE 3 4 6 9 10

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New Member Benefits In Remembrance Member Spotlight Advertising News Conscious Consumption: The Key to Positive Social Media

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Seizures in Dogs and Cats Upcoming Events 2022 Legislative Advocacy Practice Pulse Classified Ads

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Member Spotlight DON MORGAN, DVM rgan and late FVMA

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Dr. Donald Morgan has been an active participant in organized veterinary medicine for over five decades. A pillar in the Florida veterinary community, Dr. Morgan has been a member of the Florida Association of Veterinary Medicine (FVMA) and American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) for over 50 years and the American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA) for over 40 years. Dr. Morgan has previously served as president of the FVMA and retired in March as treasurer. Over his tenure with the FVMA, he has seen great growth in the association – crediting the vision of the FVMA’s late executive director, Phil Hinkle, with many of the strides made.

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“I’m grateful for Phil’s friendship and guidance of the FVMA,” said Dr. Morgan. “His service and dedication to the Association was incredible, and we miss him dearly.”

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In addition to his service on the state and national level, he has served in every office in the Pinellas County Veterinary Medical Association (PCVMA) and coordinated its continuing education meetings. He serves as the editor of the monthly PCVMA Newsletter, and currently is the president of the Pinellas Animal Foundation. Dr. Morgan has also held offices in the Greater Largo Chamber of Commerce and served a term as chairman of that board. He was selected Citizen of the Year for Largo in 1977, was Largo Jaycees President, served on the Largo Medical Center Board of Trustees (a HCA Hospital) for six years and was that board's chairman for three years.

I’m grateful for Phil’s friendship and guidance of the FVMA. His service and dedication to the Association was incredible, and we miss him dearly. — Dr. Morgan For his service to veterinary medicine, the FVMA presented Dr. Morgan with the Veterinarian of the Year Award in 2007, the Lifetime Achievement Award in 2011, two Gold Star Awards, and a Distinguished Service Award in 2019.

Dr. Morgan (left) is awarded the Distinguished Service Award by Dr. Alex Steverson (right) at the FVMA Annual Conference in 2019. Image courtesy of FVMA.

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“I think organized veterinary medicine is more important today than ever before,” Dr. Morgan said. “Graduates are leaving college with an enormous debt load averaging 160 thousand to 300 thousand dollars, and having difficulty finding a job that will sustain that debt. With veterinary salaries being the lowest of all medical professionals, their debt to income ratio will remain high. Maybe with good mentorship, increased salary levels and more scholarship funding at the college level, we can help new graduates enter into this great profession more easily and be proud of their accomplishments.”

Dr. Morgan (center) is awarded the Lifetime Achievement Award by Dr. Jan Hasse (left) and Dr. Jerry Shank (right) at the FVMA Annual Conference in 2011. Image courtesy of FVMA.

LIKE SO MANY YOUNG PEOPLE WHO FELL IN LOVE WITH THE PROFESSION AS A CHILD, DR. MORGAN SAID HE WAS DESTINED TO BE A VETERINARIAN. Like so many young people who fell in love with the profession as a child, Dr. Morgan said he was destined to be a veterinarian.

Dr. Morgan, student veterinary assistant Sydney Polhemus and patient Leonard. Image courtesy of Dr. Morgan.

“The seeds of my future profession were planted back in the late eighteen hundreds, with the birth of my father who grew up to graduate from Auburn University in 1924 with a degree in agriculture and animal husbandry. My father worked with farmers during the Great Depression in animal husbandry and on veterinary issues. Growing up in rural Southern Alabama in the 1940’s on a farm ploughed with mules, with an agriculturalist dad who worked to assist farmers with their animals, was the perfect springboard to my becoming a veterinarian. I entered Auburn University in 1958, which by then had become a family tradition, as my older brother studied veterinary medicine and graduated from there in 1952.”

After serving a tour in the Air Force Veterinary Corps, Dr. Morgan settled in St. Petersburg. He credits Dr. Neil Shipman for getting him involved with the PCVMA and FVMA, mentoring him and taking him to his first FVMA conference in Clearwater in 1967. In 1971, Dr. Morgan joined with Dr. Gerald Lee at Bluffs Animal Hospital, Belleair Bluffs, where they formed a partnership that lasted for 33 years until Dr. Lee’s death. Both strong believers in the power of organized veterinary medicine and community, Dr. Morgan wants all veterinary professionals to be the change needed within themselves and their communities. “I would like to encourage all veterinarians Dr. Morgan, veterinary assistant Julia Rheinsmith and professional groomer today to get involved in their community; civic Linda Barrie. clubs, churches, chambers of commerce, PTAs, Image courtesy of Dr. Morgan. youth sports and local politics. These are all opportunities where you can meet, network, build your local practices and grow within the community. Today, I am seeing the grandchildren of clients that I saw in our office over 40 years ago. Take the opportunity to meet people, everybody wants to talk to you once they find out you are a veterinarian. What an opportunity you have in this profession.” Dr. Morgan is married to his wife, Dianne, and has lived in the Belleair/Largo area for nearly 50 years. They have a blended family of five children, eight grandchildren and one great grandchild. With retirement and downsizing, Dr. Morgan is as busy as ever with something new every day. His hobbies include spending time with his family, gardening, singing in church, watching Tampa Bay Rays Baseball, traveling, dining out and enjoying great wines.

I would like to encourage all veterinarians today to get involved in their community; civic clubs, churches, chambers of commerce, PTAs, youth sports and local politics... What an opportunity you have in this profession.”

— Dr. Morgan

Dr. Morgan, second from right, and his staff from Bluffs Animal Hospital, Belleair Bluffs, Florida. Image courtesy of Dr. Morgan.

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JOIN THE GROWING THIRD LARGEST STATE VETERINARY MEDICAL ASSOCIATION PUBLICATION

ADVERTISE WITH US The Florida Veterinary Medical Association (FVMA) provides a bountiful selection of advertising opportunities to help industry partners and employers connect with a large audience of veterinary professionals. With an audience of nearly 5,000 for each of our print publications, industry-leading open rates for our monthly e-newsletter and a new website, we have our largest suite ever of far-reaching advertising opportunities. Partner advertisements in FVMA Advocate, our quarterly small animal publication, help promote the mission of the FVMA, thereby contributing to the protection and enhancement of the veterinary profession. FVMA Advocate effectively reaches high-caliber veterinary professionals with the power to buy. We offer an environment for discovery, allowing you to impact prospects who are receptive to your advertising messages. The Practitioner is an equine-exclusive scientific journal published quarterly and distributed to a national circulation of 5,000 equine practitioners. We invite you to take advantage of this high-quality print medium as a means to reach a targeted market of equine practitioners about your company’s products and services. Our monthly e-newsletter delivers current veterinary news to FVMA members by email. With industry-leading open rates, our digital newsletter boasts an unparalleled opportunity to speak to a significant number of veterinary professionals directly. We also offer classified advertisements for placement on our website and in FVMA Advocate. FVMA classified ads provide opportunities for both employers and salespeople and prospective employees and buyers to connect, allowing practices and veterinary professionals to find the perfect opportunities and products. You can reach our classifieds at https://fvma.org/tools-resources/fvma-classified-ads/ If you are interested in learning more about our advertising opportunities, you can scan the QR code to download our media kit, or you can visit us online at https://fvma.org/tools-resources/fvma-classified-ads/ to get access to the same kit. You can also call 800.992.3862 or email communications@fvma.org for more information.

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CONSCIOUS CONSUMPTION

The Key to Positive Social Media - Beckie Mossor, BIS, RVT

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Throughout the pandemic, social media has been a connection to the outside world in a time of isolation. Three hundred sixteen million new users went online in 2020 (Kemp, 2021), and social media gained 490 million unique users, an average of 1.3 million new users a day (Kemp, 2021). In this virtual assembly of users, there is no shortage of social media groups, forums, pages and FYP (for your page) videos for veterinary professionals. There are places for those feeling overwhelmed, needing inspiration, sharing memes, seeking support, job hunting and learning resources aplenty. There are private pages, public pages, hidden groups, group chats, feeds and snaps. Some raise funds; some raise awareness; some raise eyebrows. They are all a blip in the social media universe. What passes through a screen in the blink of an eye can have lasting impacts, especially on the mental and emotional health of the consumer. An increasing number of studies focus on the adverse effects of social media, but a smaller body of study is researching social media’s positive mental health effects. With mindful consumption and distribution of content, social media can offer positive results for users.

be contagious through textual mimicry” (Kwon & Anatoliy, 2017). When Facebook reduced the positive expressions on a sample group of user’s feeds, there was a resulting decrease in positive posts and increased negative posts. When the opposite was applied, an opposite pattern occurred. Challenging previously held notions, “in-person interactions and nonverbal cues are not strictly necessary for emotional contagion” (Kramer, Guillory, & Hancock, 2014). Just as one protects their physical and emotional health through daily care, it is becoming equally important to consciously consume positivity and avoid harmful content contributing to an unhealthy mindset.

CONSCIOUS CONSUMPTION

Understanding that the tone of the content consumed can influence content output, one can take steps to strive for purposeful, conscious social media consumption. Simply put, garbage in, garbage out. That goes for body and mind. It may be challenging to recognize the contribution of social media to mental fatigue. Constant information and communication can be exhausting on the mind. Several aspects of social media contribute to the negative emotions or impacts felt during or after consumption. Personal, professional, and relationship comparisons as well as conflicts with personal and professional self on social media platforms and peer pressures can contribute to the less desirable effects of social media use (McGaffney, 2019). Conscious consumption of social media is about being present and mindful in your choices of what social media you consume and even how it is consumed. Practicing conscious consumption of social media can enhance the positive benefits of social media, feeling connected, social well-being, and decrease of time and geographic barriers (Bekalu, McCloud, & Viswanath, 2019). But in doing so, conscious consumption requires decreased use of social media for distraction purposes and to increase the presence of mind and consciousness during consumption (Tethr, 2020).

RISK AND REWARDS The diversity of social media-based groups and pages disseminates a wealth of knowledge, gives space for question-and-answer discussions, and offers the opportunity to learn from thousands of individuals in the profession in an easy-to-access, searchable space. In addition, there now exists the ability to rapidly crowd source everything from images to protocols and easy access to research files that compile evidence-based research easily accessible and less vast than the search engine-based scholarly article searches. With confidence and ease, we can improve our practices and improve patients’ lives and even our teams. But through the nature of balance, the good comes with the bad. Unfortunately, the positive side of the opportunity to connect and share social and professional similarities and belonging also gives rise to the negative aspects of social media. Everything from FOMO (fear of missing out) to online bullying and shaming has become a reality of social relationships and networking online. Studies have even shown that an “aggressive, emotional state can

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CLEAR THE CLUTTER Being present in social media will require a purposeful understanding of social media goals. It is vital to reflect on the goals of social media presence for each platform and plan to build the network around these goals and values. Learning, socializing,

networking or relationship-building are examples of potential value points. Dictating what content subject matter becomes part of the unique algorithm of an individual’s social media content feeds. Several factors can influence these algorithms.

MUTE OR UNFOLLOW FAMILY AND FRIENDS

AUDIT GROUPS AND PAGES

CHECK OPTIONS ASSOCIATED WITH UNWANTED CONTENT

CONSCIOUS CONSUMPTION INFOGRAPHIC

IF ONE DOES NOT HAVE ANYTHING NICE TO SHARE, CONSIDER NOT SHARING AT ALL

Audit groups and pages. Unfollow or delete content that does not align with personal goals and values.

2. Mute or unfollow family and friends. Sometimes harmful content may seem unavoidable from family and friends. Through mute or unfollow features, conflicts can be avoided by reducing the content appearing on personal feeds without disconnecting from the individual. 3. Check options associated with unwanted content. Most social media can reduce ads or content subject matter. Find options related to posts and select the options such as “I don’t want to see posts like this” to inform the platform of personal preferences. Over time, this can significantly reduce the unwanted content. 4. Take a social media break. Completely disengaging from social media may seem impossible, but a short break can help decrease mental fatigue-related content consumption. 5. Set limits. Most smartphones have a feature to set time limits on app use or monitor social media use. Use these features to help self-reflect and self-regulate.

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TAKE A SOCIAL MEDIA BREAK

SET TIME-LIMITS

6. If one does not have anything nice to share, consider not sharing at all. Consider the words and content before posting or sharing in personal spaces. While the state of emotion when posting is often fleeting, the internet footprint is not. Much like thinking twice before speaking, a content review can ensure posts and shares align with personal values and goals.

SUMMARY It is becoming increasingly important to mindfully consume social media that enriches our mental and emotional health and avoids the toxic seep of images, comments and conversations that slowly degrade our mental or emotional state and those around us. Incorporating our social media consumption health in the many other aspects of personal health is a growing component of whole health for the individual. Practicing personal and social awareness in social media use can increase satisfaction, social interactions and social wellness. Failing to do so can have the opposite, more negative effect of decreased mental and emotional health. The power of sharing education, research, support and camaraderie can persevere and outshine in the battle of content landing in #FYP.

REFERENCES Bekalu, M. P., McCloud, R. S., & Viswanath, K. P. (2019, November 19). Health, and Self-Rated Health: Disentangling Routine Use From Emotional Connection to Use. Retrieved from Sage Journals: https://journals.sagepub.com/ doi/full/10.1177/1090198119863768

BECKIE MOSSOR

BIS, RVT

Beckie is a registered veterinary technician living in Southport, NC. She has enjoyed a diverse career in small animal, large animal, and mixed practices, academia, management, and as a private consultant. Beckie is co-founder of Veterinary Advancements, a private consulting firm and is a professional medical responder with the ASPCA Disaster Recovery Team. Beckie is host of Clinician’s Brief the Podcast and co-hosts Veterinary Viewfinder and Making Sense of Pets podcasts.

Kemp, S. (2021, January 27). DIGITAL 2021: GLOBAL OVERVIEW REPORT. Retrieved from Data Reportal- Global Digital Insignts: https://datareportal.com/reports/ digital-2021-global-overview-report Kramer, A. D., Guillory, J. E., & Hancock, J. T. (2014, June 2). Experimental evidence of massive-scale emotional contagion through social networks. Retrieved from Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America: https://www.pnas.org/content/111/24/8788.abstract Kwon, H. K., & Anatoliy, G. (2017). Is Aggression Contagious Online? A Case of Swearing on Donald Trump’s Campaign Videos on YouTube. Hawaii International Conference on System Sciences | 2017 (pp. 2165- 2174). Proceedings of the 50th Hawaii International Conference on System Sciences | 2017.

In support of her profession, Beckie is proud to serve as executive director for the Human Animal Bond Association, member at large for the Society for Veterinary Medical Ethics, and former executive board member for both the national and state tech associations. Beckie is also one of the minds behind Vet Team Global Stream 2020.

McGaffney, T. (2019). 7 Articles about what causes social media fatigue. Retrieved from Strategic Social Media Lab: https://strategicsocialmedialab.com/7-articlesabout-what-causes-social-media-fatigue/ Tethr. (2020, November 2). Are You a Conscious Media Consumer.

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Seizures

IN DOGS AND CATS Blake Webb, DVM, DACVIM (Neurology)

Photo courtesy of Shutterstock

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Seizures can be a challenging disease process for the veterinary clinician in general and specialty practice. Seizures occur from spontaneous and hypersynchronous firing of the neurons in the brain. Seizures may be classified as reactive, meaning that they happen as a normal response to a disturbance of normal function such as a toxin or metabolic derangement. Patients that have repeated seizures that are unprovoked and not reactive are deemed to have epilepsy. The most common form of epilepsy in dogs is idiopathic or genetic epilepsy. However, structural epilepsy from tumors, inflammatory disease or congenital malformations of the nervous system can happen. This abnormal firing of the neurons can manifest in different ways and may be seen as focal seizure activity or generalized seizure activity. Focal seizure activity happens when a localized group of neurons fire in synchrony and often cause lateralized signs to one side of the body. Generalized seizures involve both cerebral hemispheres and will generally present as tonic-clonic seizure activity that affects the whole body. When presented with a patient that is suspected to have seizure activity, it is imperative to gather a detailed history of the patient and the events the owners have witnessed. Specific questions that should be asked of the owner include: • What did the event look like? • Was there paddling, urination, defecation? • Did the patient fall over and appear unconscious? • Were any changes noted in the patient before or after the event? • How many events were witnessed and at what frequency are they occurring if multiple have been witnessed? • Was there any known exposure to toxins or medications that could precipitate seizure activity? • Have any anti-seizure medications been trialed, and what effect did they have on the events? • Does the owner have any videos of the events? Gathering this history is helpful to distinguish if the events the owner is concerned about are truly seizure events or represent different disease processes. Vestibular episodes, syncopal episodes, dyskinesias (movement disorders) and idiopathic head tremors can all be challenging to discern from true seizure activity. With smart phones becoming a common item for most pet owners, recorded videos can make this decision process easier for clinicians. Once it has been concluded that a patient has likely had a seizure, the clinician should begin to build a list of differentials. When building the differential list, the potential causes of seizures and be split into two broad categories: causes inside the brain and causes outside the brain. Specific causes inside the brain include: idiopathic epilepsy, infectious and inflammatory disease, vascular incidents (such as strokes), cancerous processes and congenital malformations. Specific causes outside the brain include: metabolic derangements including hypoglycemia and liver failure, congenital malformations (portosystemic shunts), toxin exposure, and cancerous processes (insulinoma).

The diagnostic work up for patients suffering from seizures can vary patient to patient depending on finances, comorbidities and access to specialty care. Baseline diagnostics should include a complete blood count, serum chemistry with electrolytes and urinalysis. Additional blood work may consist of pre- and post-prandial bile acids and/or an ammonia level depending on the patient and clinicians’ suspicion of any underlying liver dysfunction. Older patients are often screened for neoplastic processes with three-view thoracic radiographs and abdominal ultrasound. For patients that have no abnormalities to clearly explain their seizures on these baseline diagnostics, an MRI and CSF (cerebrospinal fluid) tap can be performed. An MRI is the best imaging modality for the nervous system and will give more detail of the brain parenchyma than a CT scan. A CSF tap is crucial for helping diagnose inflammation within the nervous system and the accompanying pathology report can be helpful in determining the cause of the inflammation (auto-immune, infectious, cancerous, etc.). For patients that have evidence of inflammation on their CSF tap, infectious disease testing of the spinal fluid can be performed. Ultimately, an EEG (electroencephalogram), is the only way to definitively diagnose seizure activity. However, this testing modality is not widely available, can be difficult to interpret and requires an event to occur during the recording session. Given these limitations, performing an EEG is not always commonplace when diagnosing a seizure patient. After performing diagnostics, treatment of seizures can again vary significantly, based on the underlying etiology, comorbidities of the patient and the willingness of the owner to deal with medication side effects and follow up. If an underlying cause for the seizures can be found treatment should be started to address it (i.e., hypoglycemia, steroids for inflammatory disease, etc.). There are four common place medications that are used to control seizures in veterinary medicine. The “older” drugs include phenobarbital and potassium bromide. Two “newer” medications include levetiracetam and zonisamide. These four medications are discussed in detail below: Phenobarbital can carry a bad reputation amongst clients and clinicians given that it commonly can raise liver values in most patients and in rare cases can lead to liver damage or failure. However, phenobarbital is still considered a first-choice drug as a monotherapy for idiopathic epileptics and, if monitored appropriately, can be used safely to manage seizures in cats and dogs. The starting dose for phenobarbital is between 3-5 mg/kg PO BID for dogs and 2-3 mg/kg PO BID for cats. Oral, intravenous, and transdermal formulations are available for this medication. Patients who are started on phenobarbital should have their phenobarbital level, complete blood count and serum chemistry checked two-three weeks after starting the medication. Patients should have this same blood work checked every six months while on the medication. Common side effects of this medication include: polyphagia, polydipsia, polyuria, ataxia and lethargy. These side effects are generally worse when first starting the medication. Some rare side effects of this medication include: idiosyncratic liver reactions, dermatological disease and blood

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required (30 mg/kg PO TID for immediate release and 40 mg/ kg PO BID for extended release). Established drug levels are not established for this medication at this time but extrapolated levels from human literature have been used. Side effects with levetiracetam are uncommon in my clinical experience but sedation, lethargy and GI upset have been reported. Recent literature has linked increased behavioral problems in dogs that are started on levetiracetam, especially if the patient already exhibited behavioral issues.

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dyscrasias. This medication may not be best for patients who already have underlying liver disease or dysfunction. Potassium bromide is one of the oldest anti-seizure medications (first noted for its effects on seizures in the 1800s). Similar to phenobarbital, it is also a first-choice drug as a monotherapy for idiopathic epileptics. This medication is generally dosed at 30-40 mg/kg PO SID for dogs. This medication is known to cause allergic pneumonitis in cats and should not be used in this species. Potassium bromide can come in both pill and liquid form. Patients who are started on potassium bromide should have their bromide level checked two-three months from starting the medication, two-three months after adjusting the dose and every six months while on the medication. Common side effects of this medication include: polyphagia, polydipsia, polyuria, ataxia and lethargy. These side effects are generally worse when first starting the medication. Some rare side effects of this medication include: toxicity called bromism (sometimes even at low therapeutic doses) and GI upset (vomiting, diarrhea and pancreatitis). This medication is not metabolized by the liver and may be used in cases of liver disease or dysfunction. The bromide is excreted by the kidneys so renal function should be assessed prior to starting the medication. Patients on potassium bromide should be kept on consistent diets because fluctuations in salt content can dramatically alter the blood levels of the medication. Levetiracetam is one of the newer medications for seizure control in veterinary medicine. This medication has become popular amongst clinicians and clients given its wide safety range and overall low side effect profile. The immediate release forms of this medication are generally started at 20 mg/kg PO TID but can safely be increased for most patients. This dosing schedule can be challenging for some owners and the clinician should discuss this before starting the medication. Extended release versions of this medication are also available and make BID dosing possible for larger patients. The extended release version is generally dosed higher at 30 mg/kg PO BID. Care should be taken when prescribing levetiracetam to a patient who is concurrently on phenobarbital. Recent studies suggest that phenobarbital can increase clearance of levetiracetam and increased doses are

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Zonisamide is also a newer medication that is popular due to its low side effect profile. This medication is generally dosed from 5-8 mg/kg PO BID. Similar to levetiracetam, patients who are also on phenobarbital can clear zonisamide faster from their blood stream and an increased dose of 8-10 mg/kg PO BID is recommended. Drug monitoring has been recommended at two and three months after starting the medication and every six months after. Therapeutic ranges are reported between 10 and 40 mcg/mL. Side effects of Zonisamide include sedation, lethargy and inappetence. Severe idiopathic liver reactions and renal tubular acidosis are rare but reported.

BLAKE WEBB

DVM, DACVIM (Neurology) Dr. Daniel “Blake” Webb, DVM, DACVIM (Neurology), obtained two undergraduate degrees (animal science and zoology), both from Auburn University and obtained his DVM from Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine in 2015. Dr. Webb returned to Auburn University to complete his clinical year of training where he developed a passion for neurology. After completion of his clinical year, Dr. Webb pursued advanced training starting with his general rotating internship at Mississippi State University’s College of Veterinary Medicine before matching into his three-year neurology residency at the University of WisconsinMadison. During his residency Dr. Webb was awarded the Zoe and Lexi Wells Neurology Resident Award and presented his residency research project at the annual ACVIM conference. Upon completion of his residency, Dr. Webb pursued warmer weather and joined the Southeast Veterinary Neurology team in September of 2019. His professional interests include neurosurgery, managing inflammatory brain disease and pain management. When he is not at work, Dr. Webb enjoys spending time with his wife and daughter. Together they pursue being outdoors, traveling and SCUBA diving. They also spend lots of time with their dogs, Champ, Big and Zulu.

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FVMA LEGISLATIVE ADVOCACY in partnership with Converge Government Affairs LEGISLATIVE SESSION 2022

Final update

The Legislature concluded the 2022 Legislative Session on Friday, March 11 for substantive legislation, while the budget was voted on Monday, March 14. The end date for the legislative session was extended to March 14 to accommodate the constitutional 72 hour review period that began when budget deliberations were completed on Thursday, March 10. The 2022 session was dominated by themes related to COVID-19 funding, controversial social and cultural issues, cryptocurrency, election security, rooftop solar, and state and congressional redistricting, among other issues.

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With regard to issues of interest to the veterinary profession and the Association, we are pleased to report that the veterinary telehealth legislation died in the Senate. In addition, an attempt to place the rabies administration language from the telehealth bill on a different bill also failed.

SB 172 Courtroom Animal Advocates

Bills we monitored for you this session: ________________________________________

Sens. Pizzo and Book

SB 448 / HB 723 - Veterinary Telehealth

SB 172: Died in Judiciary

Sen. Brodeur, Rep. Buchanan

SB 448: Died in Regulated Industries HB 723: Died in the Senate • The bill allows the VCPR to be established via telehealth as long as the veterinarian is following the professional standards of care. • The bill would not allow controlled substances to be prescribed via telehealth unless the veterinarian has already performed an in-person exam, with an exemption for hospice care. • The Board has jurisdiction over veterinarians practicing telehealth in the state, regardless of where their offices are located. • Allows animal control employees to administer rabies vaccines to impounded animals under the indirect supervision of a veterinarian. ________________________________________

SB 226 - Care for Retired Law Enforcement Dogs Sen. Powell

SB 226: Passed the Legislature The bill establishes a program to pay for the veterinary care of retired service dogs. ________________________________________

HB 121 - Aggravated Animal Cruelty Reps. Barnaby and Sirois

The bill would allow the court to appoint an advocate for an animal in a case regarding the welfare, care or custody of an animal. The advocate shall monitor the case, have access to relevant files, and present information and recommendations to the court. ________________________________________

HB 253 - Retail Sale of Domestic Dogs and Cats

Rep. Killebrew

HB 253: Referred to Regulatory Reform Subcommittee; Civil Justice & Property Rights Subcommittee; Commerce Committee The bill creates a noncriminal violation for selling a domestic dog or cat in a pet store. The bill creates an exception to the prohibition for individuals who breed and sell animals directly to the public. ________________________________________

SB 416 / HB 833 - Animal Cremation Sen. Harrell, Rep. Silvers

SB 416: Died in Judiciary HB 833: Died in Regulatory Reform The bill requires a provider of animal cremation to provide a written description of their services and prohibits false or misleading descriptions of services. ________________________________________

SB 420 - Animal Abuse Sens. Pizzo and Book

HB 121: Died in Justice Appropriations The bill expands the crime of aggravated animal cruelty to include: • The unlawful killing of an animal in the custody of a family member. • Intentionally causing great bodily harm or death of an animal while in the commission of specified crimes. ________________________________________

SB 420: Died in Judiciary

SB 256 - Animal Cruelty

Rep. Grieco

Sen. Brodeur

The bill increases the penalties for animal abuse, sexual crimes involving animals, and fighting and baiting animals from misdemeanors to felonies. ________________________________________

HB 435 - Animal Abuse HB 435: Died on House Calendar

SB 256: Died in Judiciary The bill expands the grounds for a criminal penalty for depriving an animal of shelter or sustenance by removing ithhld w b e acro n su h m q unnecessarily. ________________________________________

The bill establishes a third-degree felony for allowing a minor to attend the fighting or baiting of animals. The bill also changes the definition of sexual contact with an animal to be more detailed and broad. ________________________________________

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SB 614 / HB 721 - Authorization of Restrictions Concerning Dangerous Dogs Sen. Garcia, Rep. Buchanan

SB 614: Died in House Messages HB 721: Died in State Affairs The bill would allow a Housing Authority created under the Public Housing law to adopt an ordinance to restrict the ownership of domestic animals who have attacked or bitten persons. ________________________________________

HB 1075 / SB 1508 - Tethering of Domestic Dogs and Cats Rep. Slosberg-King, Sen. Taddeo

HB 1705: Died in Civil Justice & Property Rights SB 1508: Died in Community Affairs The bill makes it illegal to tether an unattended domestic cat or dog. ________________________________________

HB 1279 / SB 1718 - Cosmetic Animal Testing Rep. Arrington, Sen. Book

SB 994 / HB 849 Pet Protection

HB 1279: Died in Regulatory Reform SB 1718: Died in Appropriations

SB 994: Died in Community Affairs HB 849: Died in Regulatory Reform

The bill bans cosmetic testing on animals with certain exceptions. ________________________________________

Sen. Diaz, Rep. Fernandez-Barquin

The bill requires pet stores to obtain a newly created license from DBPR to operate as retail pet stores. Retail pet stores would not be allowed to offer for sale or giveaway any household pet unless it was acquired from one of the following: • A qualified breeder • A breeder exempt from licensure by the U.S. Dept. of Agriculture • An animal rescue • An animal shelter • A pet broker The retail pet store cannot sell or give away a pet younger than eight weeks, one who has not been implanted with a microchip, or who does not have a valid veterinary certification. ________________________________________

HB 1061 / SB 1750 - Sale of Dogs and Cats Rep. Killebrew, Sen. Wright

HB 1061: Died in Regulatory Reform SB 1750: Died in Regulated Industries The bill states that consumers who finance the purchase of a pet are entitled to terminate the financial arrangement with no penalty to the consumer if the pet is found to have been unfit for sale by a veterinarian. ________________________________________

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HB 1341 / SB 1806 - Animal Abusers Rep. Arrington, Sen. Jones

HB 1341: Died in Criminal Justice & Public Safety SB 1806: Died in Judiciary The bill creates a statewide Animal Abuser Registry. This bill will place restrictions on a convicted animal abuser to own, adopt, live with or work with animals. ________________________________________

SB 1548 - Occupational Licensing Sen. Perry

SB 1548: Died in Regulated Industries The bill would prohibit a board from inquiring into the criminal history of an applicant until after the board determines whether the applicant is qualified for a license. The conviction of a crime may not be the grounds for the denial of a license. ________________________________________

SB 1838 / HB 1463 - Student Financial Aid Sen. Taddeo, Rep. Driskell

SB 1838: Died in Education HB 1463: Died in Post-Secondary Education & Lifelong Learning The bill states that for purposes of receiving state financial aid awards, a student may not be denied classification as a resident based on his or her immigration status. The bill establishes the Professional Student Loan Repayment Program within the Department of Education, which would be open to veterinarians. ________________________________________

SUPPORT THE FVMA PAC

Though the help of our membership is invaluable throughout the legislative session to help advocate, contributions to the FVMA Professional Advocacy Committee (PAC) are vitally significant to our ability to affect legislation.

Donate today by scanning the QR code below, call 800.992.3862 or go to www.fvma.org/advocacy/ to learn more!

DONATE TODAY DONATE TODAY DONATE TODAY

The PAC is a bipartisan, nonprofit, political committee formed to raise contributions from our members and friends. It provides needed financial support for the association's lobbying efforts. Every dollar contributed to the PAC is spent on legislative efforts in favor of veterinary professionals, small business owners and the animals entrusted in your care. Both our lobbyists and the local and state legislators we choose to support are aligned with our values. During every Florida legislative session, the FVMA works tirelessly to ensure veterinary interests are considered as thousands of bills are introduced. In fact, FVMA professional advocacy is one of the most important benefits our association provides. When you support the PAC you help provide the FVMA with the necessary funds to fight for the rights of veterinary professionals. Contribute to your PAC and help us maintain a presence with your legislators in Tallahassee.

Every donation, even just $1, contributes to improving the lives of those in our veterinary community. As a thank you for your contribution to the FVMA PAC, you will be recognized at special events, on the FVMA website and in FVMA publications.

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PRACTICE Pulse QUESTION: I was on my DBPR portal updating my license

renewal and I noticed there is now a link to document CE earned. It appears to track what you have taken, and credits earned. Do we need to report our CE to the state now? I do not remember needing to in the past, but this new place on the DBPR site infers I need to. I am up to date, but it indicates I have taken no CE. I’m just wondering if it needs to be officially (or unofficially) reported now. If so, I am not sure how to do it.

A: There is no requirement to report CE to the state.

The honor system is still in effect, and we advise members to record their CE obtained and to save certificates, in the event they are audited.

vaccinations, as directed by the licensed veterinarian; and (b) The obtaining of samples and the performance of those diagnostic tests, including radiographs, directed by the licensed veterinarian. (2) The administration of anesthesia and tranquilization by a veterinary aide, nurse, laboratory technician, intern, or other employee of a licensed veterinarian requires “immediate supervision” as that phrase is defined in Section 474.202(5), F.S. (3) The administration of any vaccination by a veterinary aide, nurse, technician, intern or other employee of a licensed veterinarian which is not specifically prohibited by Rule 61G1817.006, F.A.C., requires “immediate supervision” as that phrase is defined in Section 474.202(5), F.S.

QUESTION: Can a chiropractor who is certified in animal This scenario brings up two interesting questions. The chiropractic practice chiropractic on animals in the state of Florida?

A: In Florida, in the practice of veterinary medicine, a chiropractor

must have a relationship with a licensed veterinarian and work at the direction of the veterinarian in order to practice on animals.

QUESTION: A company based in California with operations

in Florida offers non-anesthetic dental care to be provided by technicians. Technicians do mobile calls to pet stores, etc. They want me to work as their ‘vet on premises’ and when I enquired if that would mean I’d take temperature, weight, heart rate etc., in preparation, I was told that was not required in Florida. Can you confirm this?

A: Dentistry is within the definition of the practice of veterinary medicine: (13) “Veterinary medicine” includes, with respect to animals, surgery, acupuncture, obstetrics, dentistry, physical therapy, radiology, theriogenology, and other branches or specialties of veterinary medicine.

But a veterinarian can delegate dental care to a technician. Because there is no administration of anesthesia or tranquilization, that “treatment” can be performed without the licensed veterinarian on the premises. See 61G18-17.005: 61G18-17.005 Tasks Requiring Immediate Supervision. (1) All tasks which may be delegated to a veterinary aide, nurse, laboratory technician, intern, or other employee of a licensed veterinarian shall be performed only under the “immediate supervision” of a licensed veterinarian as that phrase is defined in Section 474.202(5), F.S., with the exception of the following tasks which may be performed without the licensed veterinarian on the premises: (a) The administration of medication and treatment, excluding

FVMA Advocate

California company wants to use the Florida veterinarian as “vet on premises.” Whose premise? From what can be read in between the lines, there is no “premise.” The company technicians do mobile/house calls. The second question that comes up is that a veterinarian can delegate treatment/tasks etc. for a patient with a legitimate VCPR. If the veterinarian does not have records on the animal; or has not performed some sort of examination on the animal; then what is the vet doing? In human medicine, a dentist can delegate a cleaning to a hygienist for a patient of record that the dentist has examined. You can’t have a dentist authorizing cleanings to hygienists for patients the dentist has never seen. That seems to be what this company is trying to do. This California company appears to be engaged in veterinary medicine and is looking for a “figurehead” veterinarian they can claim is “their onpremises veterinarian.” This is very much like an Internet pharmacy having a veterinarian “authorize” prescriptions for animals the veterinarian has never seen or examined. The bottom line in such a scenario is that the veterinarian’s license is on the line.

QUESTION: Am I allowed to prescribe non-controlled drugs for my family member’s pet or for my own?

There is no problem with prescribing non-controlled drugs to your family’s pet or your own.

GOT A QUESTION? THE FVMA CAN HELP.

One of the benefits of an FVMA membership is our helpline (800.992.3862), which is available to members Monday through Friday from 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Our helpline also provides insight to the FVMA staff of the challenges and concerns of our members. In this feature, we will highlight topics from the questions we received in preceding weeks as a part of an effort to keep our members up to date on current concerns, as well as regulatory and legislative changes.

QUESTION: I recently prescribed Alprazolam for a patient

who is both an anxiety case and an epileptic (on Levetiracetam and Gabapentin). I had prescribed it for this same patient a few months before and it had been very helpful for the dog, both for his anxiety issues as well as an adjunct to his seizure management. The first time there were no issues. When I called in a refill for the drug recently, the pharmacist informed me that she could not refill after she found out the client with the same last name as mine was my daughter. She said that the law does not allow her to fill that prescription since it is controlled and is for a family member’s pet. She even told my technician that should I continue to attempt to fill it that she would have to report it as suspicious. Is this indeed the law as relates to the practice of veterinary medicine, or is she perhaps conflating the laws for human medicine with our profession? Certainly, I want to do only that which is legal and ethical with the board of veterinary medicine so I am hoping you can advise me on this issue. There is no right/wrong answer here. This is up to the pharmacist’s professional judgment. As a matter of risk management, we always advise veterinarians not to prescribe/dispense controlled substances to their own pets. The same is true for family members. Such prescriptions will always raise a red flag to a pharmacist.

QUESTION: I do a lot of work with a certain cat rescue

group. I see most of her cats for spays/neuters, vaccinations, fecals, deworming, FeLV/FIV testing, etc. She has sent an RX request to an online pharmacy for a 50-count bottle of Drontal to be filled in the name of one of her cats, (which I have seen). I know she can get a generic form of praziquantel over the counter. However, she wants the name brand. Can I approve this RX request based on the VCPR? Yes, to the question. The veterinarian has seen the cat previously and is acquainted with the keeping of the cat. This creates a valid VCPR.

QUESTION: I wanted to ask about personnel qualifications

needed to operate a radiation oncology facility in Florida. Where can I get information? For information on the requirements for operating radiation services in Florida, please contact: For questions on the radiation devices: Bureau of Radiation Control 4052 Bald Cypress Way Bin C21 Tallahassee, FL 32399-1741 RadiationControl@FLHealth.gov

850-245-4266 For questions on radiological personnel: Department of Health | Radiologic Technology Certification 4052 Bald Cypress Way Bin C-85 Tallahassee, FL 32399-328 mqa.rad-tech@flhealth.gov 850-245-4910

QUESTION: I have been approached by a local firefighter asking

for training or resources in order for them to be able to assist the county sheriff ’s department with their canines when injured in the line of duty. I found this recent statute, “Florida FL SB 388 Enacted 6/18/2021- Authorizes licensed life support services to transport injured police canines and authorizes a paramedic or an emergency medical technician to provide emergency medical care to injured police canines.” I want to make sure that this is the most up to date statute, but also to discuss what type of training this permits. Any assistance or redirection as to who may help me answer these questions so I can help the county would be greatly appreciated. The statute (codified as §401.254 and 474.203(10), F.S.) allows a paramedic or an emergency medical technician (EMT) to provide emergency medical care to a police dog injured in the line of duty; it exempts such paramedic or EMT from civil or criminal liability if acting in good faith; and also exempts that treatment from what would otherwise constitute the practice of veterinary medicine as defined in Chapter 474 (the Vet practice act). To the extent that a firefighter has either a paramedic or EMT license/certificate they would be exempt. The statute is the most up-to-date expression of legislative intent in this area of law. It does not set any limit on what the emergency treatment can be, nor does it control what a licensed veterinarian may choose to train such paramedics/EMTs in. The training should have a logical connection to treating an emergency condition. In other words, the training veterinarian should use professional judgment to teach treatment of the kinds of things a police dog may be injured by (gunshot, overdose, burns, trauma).

END NOTE: The ultimate responsibility

in the practice of veterinary medicine lies with the licensed veterinarian. Professional discretion must always be exercised. www.fvma.org

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CLASSIFIED ADVERTISEMENTS VETERINARIANS WANTED SA VETERINARIAN - $120,000 MINIMUM SALARY - $25,000 MOVING/SIGN-ON BONUS: Live where others vacation – Florida’s Suncoast. We are located near and between Clearwater Beach and Siesta Key; each was named the best beach in America. People are our most important asset: veterinarians, staff & clients celebrating their love of pets. We are searching diligently for the exceptional, energetic, compassionate, team-oriented associate with excellent communication skills to come grow with us! All experience levels considered. Established in 1947 and growing! Our 7,500 sq-ft facility houses our fast-paced hospital with a practice of excellence philosophy. Digital radiology, digital dental radiology, separate surgical and dental suites, ultrasound, radio surgery, therapy laser, chemistry, CBC, immunodiagnostics, coagulation, AI-assisted fecal and UA, pulse oximetery, ekg, CO2, blood pressure monitors, patient warming (acupuncture, herbal medicine welcome). Base plus production pay; health, dental, vision, and life insurance; retirement plan; CE stipend; PTO; holidays; and health savings account. Contact Jeff Logas, Bradenton Veterinary Hospital, 1324 17th Ave W, Bradenton, FL 34205 Jeffrey.Logas@BradentonVeterinary.com 941.746.2252 (#10809) TOMOKA PINES VETERINARY HOSPITAL IS SEEKING A FULL-TIME VETERINARIAN (DVM OR EQUIVALENT) TO JOIN OUR DEDICATED MEDICAL TEAM: Our privately owned hospital is a modern, progressive, wellness-focused veterinary hospital that was established in 1975. Since then, we have provided our patients with exceptional preventative, medical, surgical, and dental care. Our beautiful coastal community is home to beaches, state parks, natural springs and an abundance of outdoor activities including fishing, boating, kayaking, hiking, camping, and biking. Orlando airport, theme parks, cultural events, dining, and shopping are a short drive away. We are fully equipped with modern exam rooms, in house laboratory, digital radiography (including dental), Dental Air Prestige Station, pharmacy, Companion therapy laser, ultrasound, endoscopy and much more! We provide wellness/preventative care medicine, medical visits, surgery, dentistry, and limited emergency services (only during normal business hours!). We believe success lies in focusing on the satisfaction of our clients and patients, professional growth for our team, and continued improvement in our hospital operations. Our team is comprised of diverse backgrounds, qualities, personalities, and skill sets which contribute to the success of our practice Our ideal candidate will be a veterinarian who is: a strong communicator, excellent team player, desire to learn and grow while practicing excellent medicine. Bring your special interest or area of expertise with you. Recent graduates are welcome to apply. We have a family-friendly culture and work well together; collaborating and supporting each other. Working closely with a team allows us to share ideas and to push each other to reach our full potential. Must be licensed in Florida and have a DEA license. Our competitive compensation package includes: No after hour emergencies 4 day work week/no weekends Competitive salary with profit sharing benefit Paid Time Off

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CE benefits Health Insurance Allowance Retirement - 401K with contribution matching Liability Insurance/ licensing fees paid Signing bonus Email your Resume today to : KlongDVM@gmail.com (#22697) VETERINARIAN WANTED – ST. PETE BEACH, FL: Enthusiastic veterinarian needed in a busy 2 doctor small animal practice located on beautiful St. Pete Beach. St. Pete Beach was voted Trip Advisor’s number one beach in the U.S. and number five in the world. Walk across the street and watch the sunset over the Gulf of Mexico after work. Our clinic was founded in 1998 and remains the only veterinary clinic on St. Pete Beach. In addition to the beautiful weather, we enjoy excellent, loyal clientele and friendly, helpful staff. Experience is required. We offer digital x-rays, ultrasound, laser and cold laser in a beautiful, modern and spacious facility we built from the ground up. No emergency service. Competitive salary and benefits package with buy-in potential. For more information please contact Cheri Rose at (727) 458-3192 or by email at crose4@tampabay.rr.com. (#25877) VETERINARIAN WANTED – NICEVILLE, FL: Parkway Veterinary Hospital in Niceville, FL near the “World’s Most Beautiful Beaches,” is hiring an Associate Veterinarian! We are seeking a veterinarian with a passion for caring for animals and building relationships with clients! We are seeking a veterinarian with a passion for caring for animals and building relationships with clients! Parkway Veterinary Hospital is an established small animal hospital that has been a part of the community since 1984. We are a busy multidoctor practice with a focus on providing the highest quality of medicine and surgery to our patients. Our modern clinic has in-house labs, digital radiographs, dental radiographs, ultrasound, and endoscopy. We have an amazing team of skilled staff that support our doctors and keep the practice moving and flowing with efficiency. Commitment to teamwork, initiative, and living our "Why" are hallmarks of our culture! We have no call and no weekend hours! We also offer competitive compensation, comprehensive benefits package, CE, and sign on bonus! Contact us - Jessica.hollis@nva.com (#52694) VETERINARIAN WANTED – ORLANDO, FL: Dental Focus Veterinarian – We have a state-of-the-art dental hospital in Orlando, Florida looking to add to their team. Combine high-quality medicine, a stimulating career and great quality of life at Banfield Pet Hospital. Take advantage of unique growth opportunities, competitive pay, and a rich benefits package. Offering up to $100K in Sign On and/or Relocation for qualified candidates. Email Miranda.Adams-Ford@banfield.com for more information. (#51659) VETERINARY CLINIC FOR SALE – ORMOND BEACH, FL: Veterinarian retiring in Central Florida "Ormond Beach" small animal clinic in a great area. Establish over 40 years. Currently grossing over 600,000 working only 24 hours a week. Very profitable and great potential, low stress and great clients. Turnkey, nothing owed. Storefront with five to 10 year lease possibility Please contact Animaldrswife@gmail.com (#24783)

FROM BEGINNING TO END, YOU WERE HERE FOR THEM VETERINARIAN RESIDENT WANTED – CLEARWATER AND WESLEY CHAPEL, FL: The Pet Dentist at Tampa Bay—Clearwater and Wesley Chapel, FL: The Pet Dentist at Tampa Bay is seeking a full time resident for its AVDC approved residency program, beginning in 2022. With two locations in the Tampa Bay area, our practice offers mentorship from two boardcertified veterinary dentists. Our practice on the west coast of Florida continues to grow thanks to over 20 years of relationships with local general practitioners and specialists. Our offices have great support staff including certified veterinary technicians and receptionists. The caseload is diverse and includes all aspects of veterinary dentistry and oral surgery. Practice locations are recently renovated and offer state of the art equipment. Applicants are required to have completed a one-year internship or equivalent experience in private small animal practice. We offer a competitive salary and benefits package and a 5-day work week. A letter of intent, curriculum vitae, and three references should be sent via email to thepetdentist@gmail.com. For more information about the program, contact Dr. Chris Smithson or Dr. Michael Peak, phone: 813406-4800. (Issue 6, 21 / #592) HARBOR SPRINGS VET IS A NEW, PRIVATELY OWNED PRACTICE THAT IS SEEKING ANOTHER VETERINARIAN TO JOIN OUR AMAZING TEAM!: We are rated 5 stars on Google for a reason, Harbor Springs Vet is a great work environment: • No weekends • Home for dinner every night (last appointment is 4:30 PM) • Holidays off • A+ Clients (love approving our treatment plans) • Excellent support staff (no drama!) • Modern facilities (clinic built in 2019) • Friendly team environment • Mentoring for new and recent graduates (including general surgery and dental surgery) Competitive Compensation Package .Contact practice owner Dr. Billy Kowalski at WilliamJKowalskiDVM@gmail.com (Issue 6, 21 / #22697). VETERINARIAN RESIDENT WANTED – CLEARWATER AND WESLEY CHAPEL, FL: Harbor Springs Vet is a new, privately owned practice that is seeking another veterinarian to join our amazing team! We are rated 5 stars on Google for a reason, Harbor Springs Vet is a great work environment: • No weekends • Home for dinner every night (last appointment is 4:30 PM) • Holidays off • A+ Clients (love approving our treatment plans) • Excellent support staff (no drama!) • Modern facilities (clinic built in 2019) • Friendly team environment • Mentoring for new and recent graduates (including general surgery and dental surgery) Competitive Compensation Package Contact practice owner Dr. Billy Kowalski at WilliamJKowalskiDVM@gmail.com

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954.527.3111 www.animalcancercareclinic.com

Veterinary Practice Sales, Acquisitions & Valuations

PALM BEACH COUNTY: Small animal practice in prime location with ocean access and boat dock! Gross revenue is over $618K. 2,976 SF facility with real estate. (FL107) PALM BEACH COUNTY: Primarily house call, small animal practice! Gross revenue is over $819K. Average annual growth rate over 18%. 1,600 SF leasehold facility. (FL109) TAMPA BAY AREA: Small animal practice with gross revenue over $1.59M! Average annual growth rate over 9%. 1,942 SF facility with 2 exam rooms. Real estate is included. (FL111) WEST CENTRAL COAST: Small animal practice with gross revenue over $750K! Revenue up 14% through September 2021. 2,200 SF leasehold facility. Busy shopping center! (FL112) psbroker.com | 800.636.4740 | info@psbroker.com

Practices for Sale NEW LISTING! FL, Northwest Coast: 10 miles to Hernando Beach. 100% SA, solo DVM, $700K gross. 3,634SF facility on .48 acres w/ 3 exam rooms, on a major highway. Open 5 days a week with no after-hour emergencies. (FL20H) FL, Lee County: SA, 1.25 DVM Prx. $1M+ 2020 gross. 4,000 SF building on app. 1 acre w/ 3 exam rooms. RE included. (FL25F) GA, South Atlanta Area: Solo SA, App. 2,217SF efficient facility. Open 4.5 days a week + ½ day Saturday. Well Equipped. PRX & RE. (GA48C) NEW LISTING! – NC, Appalachian Mountains: Solo Doctor, 100% SA with increasing revenues. Convenient to Charlotte, Winston-Salem, and Greensboro. Prx & RE. (NC20Y) NEW LISTING! NC, Crystal Coast Area: Located near the Neuse River, only 30 miles from Atlantic Beach. SA, Solo DVM. $900K+ 2020 gross. +/- 2 acres included. (NC32N) NC, Piedmont/Triad/Growing Area: AAHA Certified, SA 1.25 Dr. Prx., +/-3000SF spacious facility. Only open 4.5 days a week. Well Equipped. PRX & RE $625K. (NC15B) 1610 Frederica Road, Saint Simons Island, GA 31522 Toll Free: (800) 333-1984 | www.simmonsinc.com Email: southeast@simmonsinc.com Licensed in Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina and South Carolina Real Estate Broker

Florida Veterinary Medical Association 7207 Monetary Drive Orlando, FL 32809

PRSRT STD U.S. Postage PAID Orlando, FL Permit #793

WHEN IT COMES TO SELLING YOUR PRACTICE, GETTING THE BEST PRICE IS JUST THE FIRST STEP. PROTECTING YOUR LEGACY SHOULD GUIDE THE JOURNEY. Your practice is worth more than just a building with equipment. Its value includes your dedicated team, carefully crafted culture, and personal commitment to pets and their families. That is why we approach selling your practice with the goal of ensuring you receive a maximum return and that your legacy continues. Whether you’re considering a private or corporate sale, partner with the experts to navigate the process.

42 Years | 3,200 Sales Transactions | 12,000 Practices Appraised

Call us today at 800.333.1984 for a complimentary and confidential conversation.

Learn more at simmonsinc.com

FVMA Advocate Issue 6, 2021

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New Member Benefits

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