The week of March 15-21 saw America wake up in flashing red lights to the potential scale of the COVID-19 crisis, and take unprecedented steps to cope, contain and, hopefully, turn the tide. Veterinary medicine engaged in policy and operational debates, and decisions, at all levels. The profession and industry focused on ensuring that governmental designations of “essential services or business” include veterinary clinics, and to preserving supply chains for personal protective equipment (PPE).

The current coronavirus outbreak is changing daily life for billions of people around the world. In addition to crashing economic markets, disrupting supplies and goods, and impeding access to basic services and entertainment, the coronavirus pandemic is forcing us to rethink how we work, what we eat, how and we interact socially. I believe the current coronavirus pandemic will serve as a catalyst for both human and veterinary telemedicine, a progression I’ve long supported. I’d like to share with you the factors influencing this movement, why every veterinary clinic should consider implementing some form of telemedicine, and what the immediate future holds for veterinary telemedicine.

The novel coronavirus infection, Covid-19, is raising epidemic alarms, creating economic uncertainty, and generating questions about employer and employee responsibilities and obligations. Having owned veterinary practices during both the SARS and H1N1 swine flu pandemics, I’ve experienced first-hand these legal, ethical, and health challenges firsthand. While the current coronavirus pandemic is potentially much more severe and wide-reaching than earlier disease outbreaks, I thought it would be helpful to share some of the research and resources we used to navigate these turbulent times.

A recent report from Hong Kong revealed a dog living with a novel coronavirus infection (Covid-19) patient had tested “weakly positive” for SARS-CoV-19, sending pet parents panicking for pet-sized facemasks. Since that news broke, veterinarians around the world have been inundated with calls, texts, and social media questions about whether or not dogs or cats can get coronavirus or spread it to humans. The science is pretty clear: It’s highly unlikely that your pet can get COVID-19 or spread it to people. While I remain completely comfortable cuddling with my pets, there remains some concern and cause for general precautions.

If you’re like me, you fell in love with Jack London’s “The Call of the Wild” as a child. If you haven’t read this classic along with “White Fang” do yourself a favor and read the books, then see the movies. Disney recently released the latest trailer for “The Call of the Wild” starring everyone’s favorite Han Solo, Harrison Ford. What makes this adaptation interesting to me is that Disney chose to make Ford’s canine costar, Buck, a 140-pound Saint Bernard Collie mix, completely computer generated. This follows a trend of augmenting and now replacing live animals with some very realistic CGI. As a veterinarian and a sucker for a good animal flick, I thought I’d share with you some of the reasons why this is happening and what the potential long term impact for animals may be.

Is this another sign that the end is near? Pet Influencers now make more for one Instagram post than some veterinary technicians make in a year! This is going to get depressing. 

As we begin to write a new chapter in our lives, many of us will be reflecting on how we can make the next year - and the next decade - our best yet. I’ve been practicing goal-planning, especially each New Year’s Day, for my entire adult life. One of my earliest Youtube videos, way back on January 4, 2009, was about goal setting and creating a plan to improve fitness and health. In addition to improving your diet, exercising more frequently and efficiently, and getting more restorative sleep, your mental and spiritual wellbeing should be addressed. Numerous studies prove that daily gratitude practices can enhance your relationships, improve your empathy and decrease aggression, boost self-esteem, and increase mental strength. All of these fortify your mental wellbeing, allowing you to better deal with stress and overcome adversity in veterinary practice (and life). I’ve practiced a variety of gratitude techniques over the past 30 years, but the one I keep returning to is the one I stumbled upon during college before we had terms such as “gratitude practice.” Back then it was simply called “start your day with positive thoughts.” Today I call it “Titling toward Optimism,” and I’ve talked about it many times on our weekly podcast, The Veterinary Viewfinder. As you start the new year, I encourage you to try this simple and highly effective gratitude practice yourself.

As 2019 comes to a close, here are some of the top Off Label Pet and Veterinary Trends and Topics we’ll be talking about in 2020. So grab a pint of kale, snuggle up with your 10 kilogram canine and a bowl of oats, have your banker on speed dial and conference in your virtual vet. It’s time for takeoff! Plant-based pet foods, grain-free dog food blowback and the DCM (dilated cardiomyopathy) controversy, veterinary practice consolidation and corporatization, super-combo parasiticides, veterinary teletriage and telemedicine, and more!

At this year's American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) annual conference, the Board of Directors and Future Leaders Group unanimously approved our Global Pet Obesity Position Statement declaring: 1) uniform definition of canine and feline obesity, 2) universal Body Condition Score (BCS) system, and 3) obesity as a disease.

Amazon acquired the innovative pharmacy company PillPack today for an estimated $1 billion. How will this impact veterinarians, veterinary drug distributors, online pharmacies, and pets?