Photo courtesy Iowa State Fair.

Volunteers are needed to help at the Animal Learning Center at the Iowa State Fair Aug 7-17, 2014. Volunteers work a 4 hour shift (9am -1pm, 1pm-5pm or 5pm-9pm) and receive 1 free admission, 1 free parking pass, a free vet scrub and 2 free meals (either at the Pork Producers tent or Cattlemen's Quarters). To register for a time slot call Dr. Gene Hoy at (641)-660-2185 or email Doc_Hoy@yahoo.com.

The IVMA Nomination Committee has nominated Dr. Mitch Hiscocks of Carroll for the position of Vice President of the IVMA. Dr. Hiscocks is a 1989 graduate of Iowa State University College of Veterinary Medicine. He practices at Carroll Veterinary Clinic, concentrating on feedlot cattle, equine, swine and small animals.

Ballots will be distributed by email, fax or hard copy the first week of August. If you do not receive any correspondence from the IVMA please contact the IVMA office at 800-369-9564 or via email at ivma@iowavma.org. Ballots are due back to the IVMA office by August 20.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is implementing a plan to help phase out the use of medically important antimicrobials in food animals for food production purposes, such as to enhance growth or improve feed efficiency. The plan would also phase in veterinary oversight of the remaining appropriate therapeutic uses of such drugs. The changes to the VFD are related to the FDA's Final Guidance 213, which establishes a three-year timeframe for phasing out growth-promotion uses of antibiotics important in human medicine and the phasing in of veterinary oversight.

Certain antimicrobials have historically been used in the feed or drinking water of cattle, poultry, hogs, and other food animals for production purposes such as using less food to gain weight. Some of these antimicrobials are important drugs used to treat human infection, prompting concerns about the contribution of this practice to increasing the ability of bacteria and other microbes to resist the effects of a drug. Once antimicrobial resistance occurs, a drug may no longer be as effective in treating various illnesses or infections.

For more information, visit the FDA website's article FDA Takes Significant Steps to Address Antimicrobial Resistance .

A bill has been introduced by Sens. Charles Schumer (D-NY) and Richard Blumethal (D-Conn) that claims it will allow consumers a choice on where they purchase their pets' medications. The Fairness to Pet Owners Act (H.R. 4023) would require a veterinarian to provide a client with a written prescription for domesticated household animals, whether or not requested by the client. The veterinarian would be prohibited from charging for writing the prescription or asking a client to sign a liability waiver related to writing the prescription.

Why oppose this bill?        

• Clients have had and continue to have the ability to fill a prescription at a pharmacy of their choice. Though not required by federal law, the AVMA's Principles of Veterinary Medical Ethics and its guide on Client Requests for Prescriptions encourage veterinarians to write a prescription in lieu of dispensing a medication when asked by a client, and many states, including Iowa follow these guidelines.
• This bill could also cause undue regulatory and administrative burdens on small business veterinary practices that could potentially raise the costs for pet care.