AVMA (American Veterinary Medical Association)

How can we increase awareness of the benefits of telehealth and encourage more veterinarians to use tools of telehealth in practice? This week is Telehealth Awareness Week, and an optimal time to learn more about Coalition for Connected Veterinary Care - an alliance of veterinary and animal health organizations united to empower veterinarians to explore and integrate tools of telehealth into their practices in ways that work for them. https://bit.ly/3OOAaLR

Pet health insurance can help pets get the health care they need. Having pet health insurance makes it more likely that owners will follow their veterinarian’s recommendations. During #NationalPetInsuranceAwarenessMonth, learn more about why AVMA endorses the concept of pet health insurance and encourages veterinary teams to proactively educate clients about it. https://bit.ly/3lSdvn5

Colorado Rep. Karen McCormick recently joined AVMA News to discuss the downsides of efforts to create a midlevel practitioner position in her state that would allow for a nonveterinarian to diagnose and recommend treatments, including doing surgery on pets. https://bit.ly/3Xpq5LB

September is National Preparedness Month and a perfect time to make a plan for your whole family - including your pets – should disaster strike. Visit avma.org/Disaster for helpful tips on how to plan for the unexpected. #NaturalPreparednessMonth

All the stars were out at the #PetNightOnCapitolHill! The AVMA seized the chance to meet with members of Congress and congressional staff to discuss the importance of pet ownership and how pet-friendly policies can help strengthen the human-animal bond. Of course, there was plenty of time to get photos with the dogs in attendance (and snuggle with them), too! Thank you to Human Animal Bond Research Institute (HABRI), the Pet Food Institute and the Pet Advocacy Network for hosting this awesome event!

September is #AnimalPainAwarenessMonth. Animals may be better at hiding illness or injury, but they experience pain just as we do. If you spot any of these common signs of pain from your pet, contact your veterinarian.

Here is a helpful tool that can be a starting point for change. The Professional Quality of Life assessment is a widely validated, self-administered assessment tool that can be used as a guide to assess your balance of positive and negative personal and work-related experiences. https://bit.ly/3heUFjO #SuicidePreventionAwarenessWeek

September is Responsible Dog Ownership Month. Because our pets can’t speak for themselves, we each take on a responsibility as owners to advocate for them and provide the support and resources they need to live healthy, happy lives. Providing that support begins even before we bring a pet home. Here's more on the pillars of responsible pet ownership: http://bit.ly/39tXOtJ

Today on the anniversary of 9/11, we remember those who were lost and their legacies that live on...including the canine heroes at Ground Zero, their handlers and veterinary teams.

In part 2 of a two-part series we're sharing on #WorldSuicidePreventionDay, AVMA's Director of Wellbeing is debunking three more common myths about suicide. The more proactive we are in discussing mental health and suicide prevention in safe and effective ways, the better we’ll be able to reduce stigma and promote help-seeking.