For veterinarians, especially recent graduates, seeing patients alone out in the field, when sole-charge in the veterinary clinic, or during an after-hours emergency - getting some quick telephone advice and mentoring support from a veterinary colleague can be a valuable moral boost and provide ease of mind when dealing with a tricky case.

Moss Siddle, BVSc, owner of Dandenong Ranges Veterinary Centre, recognized there was a need for this type of mentoring support for veterinarians, so he created the VetMentor 24/7 service, whereby any veterinarian, anywhere in Australia can obtain clinical advice and guidance or just have a general chat with another experienced veterinarian.

Moss Siddle, BVSc, owner of Dandenong Ranges Veterinary Centre

“No pre-registration is required and veterinarians, whether experienced of inexperienced, can access the service by simply calling 1300 838 999. They might be out in the field with a horse with colic or working in-clinic with a critical care patient, or at home, and just need some reassurance,” explained Siddle to 

The VetMentor 24/7 service is free of charge for the first 4 calls per month for veterinary clinics that use VetCheck 24/7, a triage service that Siddle founded, that veterinary practices can utilize to screen or filter calls from clients after hours, or any time, so that the on-call veterinarian only gets called for true emergencies.

“Other veterinarians are also very welcome to utilize the VetMentor 24/7 service, and invoice is issued which they can pay later, or they can have the mentoring session billed to the veterinary clinic where they are employed,” said Siddle.

The idea for offering the VetMentor 24/7 service came about after Siddle and his team received a request from one of their veterinary clinics utilizing VetCheck 24/7, to offer support to a recent veterinary graduate if needed while the practice principal was away on holidays.

“Sometimes recent graduates do not want to wake up or bother their boss for advice in the early hours of the morning, so they can call the VetMentor 24/7 veterinarians instead to receive on the spot support and advice. Every veterinarian could do with ‘phoning a friend’ at times and this is the service that provides that in a non-judgmental and supportive manner,” shared Siddle.

“Sometimes the stress and constant barrage of cases can have a negative impact on the self-esteem of veterinarians. Our VetMentor 24/7 veterinarians are all experienced practitioners that know this first hand and have often had similar experiences in their own career, so they can provide positive, impartial support with empathy.”

Siddle explained that VetMentor 24/7 is also not just limited to clinical support.

“Whilst our experienced veterinarians are not trained counsellors, they can refer callers to counseling and psychological support services if that is appropriate. Whilst the Australian Veterinary Association does offer a new and recent graduate mentoring service, the VetMentor 24/7 service offers instant clinical support to any veterinarian, even more experienced veterinarians who just want that quick reassurance and guidance,” said Siddle.

The Australian Veterinary Innovation Council (AVIC) has officially launched, dedicated to fostering a more efficient, sustainable, and forward-looking future for the veterinary profession in Australia.

AVIC brings together innovators from across the animal health ecosystem, including Simone Maher, BVSc (Hons 1), GCEdStudies, FHEA, MANZCVS (Animal Welfare), from PetSure Australia, Megan Auld MProfComm BSc, BA, from VetScript Australia, Bronwyn Orr BVSc, MSc (IAWEL), MANZCVS (Animal Welfare), PhD, GAICD, from Pawl, Claire Jenkins, BVSc (Hons), MANZCVS (Small Animal Medicine), from VetChat and Shai Jordan from Bova Australia.

“The veterinary sector is at a tipping point. We have access to incredible new technology, including proven advances from international and human health settings. But vets are often forced to operate within a maze of outdated and ambiguous rules. This not only causes frustration and adds to the mental load, but creates barriers to accessing veterinary care,” said Maher exclusively to

“That is why we launched the [AVIC]. We're not just here to talk about the future; we are here to help build it.”

The goal of AVIC is to champion smart, scalable innovation and advocate for change that supports the sustainability of the veterinary profession.

“By bringing together veterinary innovation leaders, we can advocate more effectively for evidence-based solutions that work for Australian vets and consumers. Ultimately, we aim to foster better access to care for animals and a robust, future-ready profession,” said Maher.

Review of veterinary nursing qualifications

Work is underway to update veterinary nursing qualifications in Australia to better reflect workforce needs and the skills required across a wide range of species and the diversity of veterinary practice. Consultation is now open for the veterinary nursing review led by Skills Insight, with the draft qualifications and units of competency available for public feedback until March 10, 2026. https://skillsinsight.com.au/project/veterinary-nursing-review/

Articles

pdates on the 24/7 telephone mentoring service available to Australian veterinarians; and the launch of the Australian Veterinary Innovation Council.

Veterinary scene down under: 24/7 telephone mentoring now available, and other news

Officials with the FDA have granted Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) for a parasiticide to help prevent New World screwworm (NWS) infestation in cattle. Ivermectin injectable solution (Ivomec 1%; Boehringer Ingelheim Animal Health) is an over-the-counter drug that was previously approved by the FDA to treat and control more than 30 parasite species and stages in cattle, as well as uses for swine, reindeer and American bison.

NWS is a “devastating pest” that infests warm-blooded animals, according to the USDA. This parasitic fly lays larvae that burrow into the flesh of living animals that include livestock, pets, wildlife, birds and, in rare cases, humans. These maggots cause severe wounds and complications that can lead to death.

Adult screwworms are the approximate size of a common housefly. They are identifiable by orange eyes, a metallic or green body, and 3 dark stripes on their backs, according to the USDA.

article, author Christopher Lee, DVM, MPH, DACVPM, said NWS can also be identified by the “prominent hooks on its anterior end— imagine a vampire maggot.” He noted that although many maggots have hooks, they are large on NWS.

Mammals and birds with NWS larvae infestation may show signs that include irritated behavior, head shaking, and a smell of decay.

 Signs of infestation, evidence of a fly strike and the presence of maggots in wounds should be reported by animal health professionals to state animal health officials and APHIS Area Veterinarians in Charge. Animals owners should also report these findings to their veterinarian.

“Having worked in regions where New World screwworm is endemic, I’ve seen firsthand that effective readiness depends on access to preventive tools and strong producer education,” Gustavo Sabatini, PhD, MBA, MS, global technical manager for ruminant parasiticides for Boehringer Ingelheim, said.

 “Screwworm strikes cattle when they are most vulnerable, including at birth, and demands more labor‑intensive management on the ground. That’s why prevention is essential – not only to protect animal health, but also to safeguard the food supply and the livelihoods of cattle producers.”

Based on available scientific evidence, FDA officials found ivermectin may be effective for preventing NWS larvae infestations in cattle when the drug is administered with 24 hours of birth, at the time of castration or when a wound appears. The known and potential benefits outweigh the drug’s known and potential risks, according to the agency.

The drug should not be used for female dairy cattle producing milk for human consumption nor calves that will be processed for veal, according to the FDA. The slaughter withdrawal period is 35 days for cattle.

“Emergency Use Authorization for Ivomec (ivermectin) 1% Injection provides cattle producers and veterinarians with an important preventive tool against New World screwworm. We appreciate the proactive approach of the FDA and USDA in response to this emerging animal health threat and remain dedicated to supporting veterinarians, producers, and government as we work together to protect cattle herds,”  Steve Boren, Vice President, US livestock for Boehringer Ingelheim, said.

In September 2025, the FDA issued a conditional approval for a drug indicated to prevent and treat NWS larval infestations in cattle. Doramectin injection solution (Dectomax-CA1 Injectable; Zoetis) is also indicated for the prevention of NWS reinfestation for 21 days in cattle.

“New World screwworm has the potential to bring unprecedented economic and animal health harm to livestock producers,” Mike Lormore, DVM, MS, MBA, head of cattle and pork technical services at Zoetis, said.

 “Our top priority is to support keeping animals healthy and provide timely, efficacious solutions to our customers and partners.”

Additionally, the FDA has issued EUAs for other drugs for prevention of NWS infestation in companion animals. These include lotilaner (Credelio; Elanco) for treating NWS infestation in dogs

, and lotilaner chewable tablets (Credelio Cat; Elanco) for treating feline infestation of NWS larvae

Furthermore, lotilaner, moxidectin, praziquantel and pyrantel chewable tablets (Credelio Quattro; Elanco) received the FDA’s 

conditional approval for treating NWS larvae infestation in dogs

 “Credelio Quattro is indicated for use in dogs and puppies 8 weeks of age and older, 3.3 pounds or greater,” Casey Locklear, DVM, US medical strategic lead for Elanco Animal Health, said in an earlier 

To address the threat of NWS infestation in the US, Texas Governor Greg Abbott issued a statewide disaster declaration in January 2026, following cases reported in northern Mexico. "Although the New World screwworm fly is not yet present in Texas or the US, its northward spread from Mexico toward the US southern border poses a serious threat to Texas' livestock industry and wildlife," Abbott said in a news release. "With this statewide disaster declaration, the Texas NWS Response Team can fully utilize all state government prevention and response resources to prevent the re-emergence of this destructive parasite. Texas is prepared to fully eradicate this pest if need be."

The US is also addressing the threat of NWS infestation by opening a sterile fly dispersal facility in Mexico. Announced in November 2025, the facility allows the USDA to disperse sterile flies aerially across northeastern Mexico, thus preventing infestation in the US.

Two methods are used to disperse sterile insects: aerial dispersal and ground release chambers. “Aerial operations are preferred because they allow for dispersal at a steady rate through a large area, and because sterile insects may be dispersed in areas that are unreachable from the ground,” USDA officials said in a news release.

The USDA is also responding to the threat of NWS infestation with the construction of a domestic sterile fly facility at Moore Air Base in Edinburg, Texas. This facility is projected to open and begin sterile fly production in 2026.

FDA issues Emergency Use Authorization for over-the-counter injectable to prevent New World screwworm in cattle. News release. FDA. February 5, 2026. Accessed February 5, 2026. 

https://www.fda.gov/animal-veterinary/cvm-updates/fda-issues-emergency-use-authorization-over-counter-injectable-drug-prevent-new-world-screwworm?utm_medium=email&utm_source=govdelivery

Ivomec (ivermectin). Boehringer Ingelheim. Accessed February 5, 2026. 

https://bi-animalhealth.com/cattle/products/ivomec

United States and Mexico reach agreement to resume eradication efforts on New World Screwworm. News release. USDA. April 30, 2025.

New World screwworm. US Department of Agriculture. April 3, 2025. Accessed February 5, 2026. https:// 

www.aphis.usda.gov/livestock-poultry-disease/cattle/ticks/screwworm

Lee C. Screwworms: when the larvae don’t care about boundaries. April 11, 2025. Accessed February 5, 2026. 

https://www.dvm360.com/view/screwworms-when-the-larvae-don-t-care-about-boundaries

Boehringer Ingelheim secures Emergency Use Authorization for Ivomec (ivermectin) 1% Injection to help protect cattle against New World screwworm. News release. Boehringer Ingelheim. February 5, 2026.

Crossley KC. USDA opens sterile fly dispersal facility in Mexico. 

. November 14, 2025. Accessed February 5, 2026. 

https://www.dvm360.com/view/usda-opens-sterile-fly-dispersal-facility-in-mexico

Bautista-Alejandre A. Antiparasitic receives FDA emergency authorization to treat New World screwworm in cats. 

. November 21, 2025. Accessed February 5, 2026. 

https://www.dvm360.com/view/antiparasitic-receives-fda-emergency-authorization-to-treat-new-world-screwworm-in-cats

Bautista-Alejandre A. FDA grants emergency use authorization for lotilaner to treat New World screwworm in dogs. 

. October 24, 2025. Accessed February 5, 2026. 

https://www.dvm360.com/view/fda-grants-emergency-use-authorization-for-lotilaner-to-treat-new-world-screwworm-in-dogs

Crossley KC. FDA conditionally approves combination parasiticide for New World screwworm. 

. December 18, 2025. Accessed February 5, 2026. 

https://www.dvm360.com/view/fda-conditionally-approves-combination-parasiticide-for-new-world-screwworm

Locklear C, Crossley KC. Novel therapy protects against 6 parasites. 

. February 25, 2025. Accessed February 5, 2025. 

https://www.dvm360.com/view/novel-therapy-protects-against-6-parasites

Governor Abbott issues disaster declaration to prevent New World screwworm fly infestation. Office of the Texas Governor. January 29, 2026. Accessed February 5, 2026. 

https://gov.texas.gov/news/post/governor-abbott-issues-disaster-declaration-to-prevent-new-world-screwworm-fly-infestation

In September 2025, the FDA issued a conditional approval for a another drug indicated to prevent and treat NWS larval infestations in cattle.

NWS preventive drug for cattle receives the FDA’s emergency use authorization

Dr. Boaz Man explains how laser surgery can shorten anesthesia time, minimize bleeding and swelling, and deliver precise tissue ablation — benefits recognized by his 2026 Kumar Patel Prize in Laser Surgery.

Why lasers are the right tool for BOAS and other soft-tissue cases

Boaz Man, DVM,  a South Florida–based veterinarian and leader in clinical laser education, discusses practical advantages of laser surgery for common soft-tissue problems and challenging anatomical sites. His use of high-power lasers for precise ablation and minimally invasive soft-tissue work has been recognized with the 2026 Kumar Patel Prize in Laser Surgery, awarded for outstanding contributions to BOAS laser surgery education.

The following is a transcript of the above video:

: There are things a laser can do that are difficult to duplicate with other instruments. For example, few instruments can vaporize tissue. If a dog has many small adenomas or benign cysts, lasers can shorten anesthesia time because you avoid large incisions and numerous sutures. Some conditions are especially well suited to laser therapy. Superficial skin lesions, such as Bowen’s disease, can be ablated with what looks like an eraser tip to remove unhealthy epidermal tissue precisely. That precision lets you remove surface cells without sutures, which reduces the risk of suture reactions, particularly in delicate, highly vascular areas of the throat. In confined spaces like the nostril, where bleeding obscures the field and access is limited, lasers improve visibility and allow removal of tissue that would be hard to reach with conventional instruments. The consistent benefits across procedures are less bleeding, less swelling, and less pain. If we can offer those advantages to patients, it makes sense to consider laser therapy.

American Laser Study Club. American Laser Study Club Announces 2026 Kumar Patel Prize in Laser Surgery Recipients: Ann Bynum, DDS, and Boaz Man, DVM. American Laser Study Club. Published January 5, 2026. Accessed February 5, 2026. 

https://www.americanlaserstudyclub.org/members/2026-kumar-patel-prize-in-laser-surgery-recipients-ann-bynum-and-boaz-man/

Videos

Boaz Man, DVM, explains how laser surgery can shorten anesthesia time, minimize bleeding and swelling, and deliver precise tissue ablation.

For many veterinarians, career reflection intensifies at natural inflection points after several years in general practice, following time in emergency medicine, or during periods of sustained burnout. As the profession continues to grapple with workload strain, emotional fatigue, and workforce shortages, an increasing number of clinicians are asking a deeper question: 

What kind of veterinary medicine do I want to be practicing a year from now?

One path gaining visibility is end-of-life care (EOLC), a field encompassing hospice and palliative medicine (i.e., comfort care), in-home euthanasia, quality-of-life assessment, and family support. Once viewed as a narrow or late-career option, EOLC is increasingly recognized as a distinct, purpose-driven practice model that offers meaningful clinical work alongside a different pace and structure than traditional general practice (GP) or emergency room (ER) settings.

Why veterinarians are rethinking career longevity

Veterinary professionals are familiar with high emotional demand. However, the compounding effects of appointment density, time pressure, staffing challenges, and moral distress have led many clinicians to reconsider what sustainability looks like in practice. While compensation and scheduling matter, many veterinarians report that their dissatisfaction stems from something less tangible: a loss of connection–with clients, with patients, and with their own sense of purpose.

This sense of moral distress, particularly when clinicians feel unable to practice in alignment with their values, has been increasingly recognized as a key contributor to burnout and career dissatisfaction within the profession.

 Recent research highlights how repeated exposure to ethically challenging situations, time pressure, and constrained decision-making can erode professional well-being over time, even among highly resilient veterinarians.

End-of-life care addresses this gap differently than most clinical roles. Rather than prioritizing volume or throughput, EOLC practices are intentionally structured to allow time: time for conversation, for informed decision-making, and for honoring the human-animal bond at its most vulnerable point.

Modern EOLC practice extends far beyond euthanasia alone. Depending on the organization and role, veterinarians may be involved in:

Quality-of-life assessments and decision support.

In-home euthanasia and aftercare coordination.

Client education and anticipatory guidance.

Collaboration with referring general and specialty practices.

Support for families navigating grief and loss.

This breadth allows clinicians to engage both their medical expertise and communication skills, often in deeper ways than are possible in fast-paced clinical environments.

A different pace and a different kind of connection

One of the most frequently cited benefits of transitioning into EOLC is the slower, more intentional pace of care. Appointments are longer, caseloads are smaller, and clinical success is not defined by diagnostics completed or treatments pursued, but by clarity, comfort, and compassion, both for the patients and the families who love them.

This structure fosters strong client relationships. Veterinarians practicing EOLC often describe a renewed sense of fulfillment that comes from being fully present with families, listening without interruption, and guiding them through emotionally complex decisions without urgency or pressure.

Work-life balance and professional sustainability

While no veterinary role is without emotional weight, EOLC practice is often associated with improved work-life balance. Many roles offer more predictable scheduling, fewer emergencies, and, to some degree, reduced physical demands compared with ER or high-volume GP settings. For some clinicians, this translates into the ability to remain in clinical practice longer and with greater personal well-being.

Importantly, EOLC is not an “easier” path, nor is it the right fit for every veterinarian. The work requires emotional presence, comfort with difficult conversations, and the ability to sit with grief without attempting to fix it.

Veterinarians who find fulfillment in end-of-life care often share certain traits:

High levels of empathy and emotional intelligence.

Strong communication and listening skills.

Comfort navigating ambiguity and complex family dynamics.

A desire for depth over volume in clinical interactions.

These clinicians are frequently those who felt drawn to veterinary medicine for relational reasons but struggled to sustain that connection in traditional practice models.

For veterinarians curious about EOLC, exploration does not require an immediate career leap. Shadowing experienced EOLC clinicians, pursuing continuing education in hospice or palliative care, and having candid conversations with professionals already working in the field can provide valuable insight.

Leaders within EOLC organizations, many of whom have supported dozens of veterinarians transitioning from GP and ER backgrounds, often emphasize the importance of reflection: understanding not only what is causing dissatisfaction in a current role, but what kind of work environment allows a clinician to feel effective, aligned, and whole.

As 2026 continues, veterinary professionals across the spectrum are reassessing what they want their careers to look like in the years ahead. For some, end-of-life care offers a path that blends clinical skill, human connection, and sustainability in a way that feels both challenging and deeply meaningful.

Whether or not EOLC becomes the destination, the growing interest in this field reflects a broader shift within the profession toward practice models that prioritize presence, compassion, and longevity. For many veterinarians, that reflection alone may be the first step toward a more fulfilling future.

Kogan LR, Currin-McCulloch J, Littrell K, Brown E. Veterinary end-of-life mobile practitioners: Motivators, challenges, job fulfillment and burnout. 

. 2025;13(1):0018. doi:10.1079/hai.2025.0018

Check out how end-of-life pet care and palliative care offers a sustainable veterinary medicine career.

Where will 2026 take you? Exploring end-of-life care as a career path

Bonnie D. Wright, DVM, DACVAA, CVMA, CVPP, CCRT, CCRP, discusses how acupuncture can help improve quality of life for older patients, in a dvm360 interview.

Aging with acupuncture

Bonnie D. Wright, DVM, DACVAA, CVMA, CVPP, CCRT, CCRP, is a veterinary anesthesiologist and pain specialist and an educator with Evidence-Based Veterinary Acupuncture courses, based in Colorado and Hawaii. Wright recently led 4 continuing education (CE) sessions at the 2026 Veterinary Meeting & Expo (VMX) in Orlando, Florida, hosted by the North American Veterinary Community. In a 

interview recorded during VMX, Wright discussed her CE session about using acupuncture with aging patients. In this video, she addresses the unique challenges for these patients and how acupuncture can help improve their quality of life.

The following is a transcript of the video above:

: How can acupuncture help aging patients with their unique challenges?

With aging, one of the conversations we have these days is looking at health span rather than just lifespan. So it’s the idea of ‘how quality is that life,’ not necessarily making it longer, but making it more quality. And in veterinary medicine, that can really relate to making it longer, because then you're less prone to look at humane euthanasia, right?

So acupuncture is really, across the board, a very good treatment for most forms of chronic pain, and with aging, lots of forms of chronic pain can form so almost any sort of organic disease. On top of the ones we know are painful, like osteoarthritis and dental disease and spinal cord disease, but most of the other chronic disease conditions actually do have pain and discomfort, including those of the internal organs. So even just the pain management side of acupuncture in the elderly is huge, but acupuncture also really works through the lymphatic system and the interstitial fluids and fluid regulation, and that's tied into the immune system. And we now realize that a lot of aging is related to this imbalance in the immune system. They'll call it inflammaging, or immunosenescence, and it's this immune system that's out of balance, and acupuncture is, in addition to pain, really very good at helping to balance the immune system.

Those 2 big overarching things that happen in aging are really important, specific things that acupuncture does, and then the other one is just the cognitive decline. In human populations, and they've modeled it in rodent models, acupuncture really seems to help reduce some of that cognitive decline and help individuals be more alert…And so that that ability to maybe reset some of the neural networks in a way that they're more active. My elderly patient clients will be like, ‘Oh my gosh, we went home and they just ran around and played like they were young again.’ And so that's a huge piece too, that cognitive piece.

Q&A on utilizing acupuncture in veterinary medicine

For more industry news and coverage of VMX, visit 

Bonnie D. Wright, DVM, DACVAA, CVMA, CVPP, CCRT, CCRP, discusses the unique challenges of older patients and how acupuncture can help improve their quality of life.

Christina Gentry, DVM, DACVM, discusses common skin cases that should be addressed as emergencies, during a dvm360 interview.

Understanding dermatologic emergencies

What are some common conditions that can present as dermatologic emergencies? Christina Gentry, DVM, DACVM, assistant clinical professor at Texas A&M University’s College of Veterinary Medicine and Biological Sciences in College Station, is discussed certain types of cases that require immediate intervention, in a 

 interview recorded at the 2026 Veterinary Meeting & Expo (VMX) in Orlando, Florida. Gentry presented a series of lectures at VMX— hosted by the North American Veterinary Community—on dermatological topics that included education on dental radiographs, concurrent endocrine and dermatology conditions and when general practitioners should consider partnering with dermatologist as well as common dermatologic emergencies.

Considering endocrine disease with a skin condition

The following is transcript of the interview portion shown in the video:

What types of cases should be considered dermatologic emergencies?

 Dermatologic emergencies, overall, it almost sounds like a joke because dermatologists in general are the nonemergency people, but there are a few typically immune mediated diseases that can present as emergencies. The most severe ones are actually going to be drug reactions. So when animals take medications, they can have all sorts of reactions. They may feel lethargic; they may have vomiting or diarrhea and things like that. With medication discontinuation, everything is fine again, but the reactions that we're talking about specifically are things like toxic epidermal necrolysis, and it's sister disease, Stevens-Johnson Syndrome, where when they take a medication, their body somehow gets a signal that instead of processing the drug correctly, they should mount an immunologic response in the skin, where the body sends out signals that all the keratinocytes in your skin—so all your tops of the skin—should die all at once. And when that happens, that can lead to widespread necrosis, not only the haired skin, but the nonhaired skin, like your oral cavity and the paw pads and the pinna as well. And so those can be very serious and life threatening, because losing large sections of your epidermis can really throw off your homeostasis.

Christina Gentry, DVM, DACVM, discusses common skin cases that should be addressed as emergencies, during a dvm360 interview at VMX 2026.