Newfoundland, Canada. (Photo: Bennekom/Adobe Stock)

Canada is inhabited by approximately 80,000 species ranging from mammals, birds, and fish, to amphibians, reptiles, insects, and plants.

However, with thousands of species in Canada facing the risk of extinction, its biodiversity is at risk.

 In a step towards addressing the biodiversity loss crisis, Steven Guilbeault, PC MP, minister of Environment and Climate Change of Canada, and Elvis Loveless, Canadian minister of Fisheries, Forestry and Agriculture, announced the creation of a new priority place for endangered species in the Canadian province of Newfoundland and Labrador.

Priority places are regions characterized by rich biodiversity and recognized as distinct areas with a shared ecological focus. As areas that harbor notable concentrations of species at risk, these places present opportunities for advancing conservation initiatives.

The newly established priority place—the Limestone Landscapes of the Great Northern Peninsula Priority Place–includes ecosystems found on the Great Northern Peninsula of Newfoundland. These include limestone barrens and outcrops, limestone coasts and islands; and limestone highlands, forests, and wetlands. These landscapes are home to around 40 federally and provincially listed species at risk. The area also plays a crucial role as a stopover location for many migratory birds facing conservation challenges.

"The Limestone Barrens are a unique habitat that support many highly specialized and rare plant species that live nowhere else in the world. The Limestone Landscapes of the Great Northern Peninsula Priority Place will build on the important work set out in the provincial Limestone Barrens Species at Risk Recovery Plan, which maps the road to recovery for several at-risk species and the conservation of many more rare species," explained Loveless in a news release.

The Limestone Barrens is the 12th priority place established in Canada, and the first location in the Newfoundland and Labrador province. Moreover, the new priority place in this province will help advance goals and strategies set forth in the Limestone Barrens Species at Risk Recovery Plan, which was unveiled in July 2022.

To provide support and funding for on-the-ground recovery actions, capacity building, and adaptive management in the Limestone Landscapes of the Great Northern Peninsula Priority Place, the Canadian government is collaborating with various partners, including the government of Newfoundland and Labrador, local First Nations, and environmental organizations. Additionally, the Government of Canada has allocated $2,294,978 over 3 fiscal years to support partners of the Limestone Landscapes of the Great Northern Peninsula Priority Place. The government of Newfoundland and Labrador has also committed $1,256,550 to the initiative.

"Collaboration is key to protecting biodiversity and species at risk. Priority places for species at risk allow us to work with provincial and territorial governments, Indigenous peoples, and other Canadians to protect important habitats and unique ecosystems, such as the Limestone Barrens found on the Great Northern Peninsula of Newfoundland and Labrador. said Guilbeault in the release.

 “Together, we can implement effective conservation projects that help halt and reverse biodiversity loss."

In its 2021 Making Peace with Nature report, the United Nations (UN) Environment Programme highlighted biodiversity loss among the most urgent global emergencies. “Species are currently going extinct tens to hundreds of times faster than the natural background rate. One million of the world’s estimated 8 million species of plants and animals are threatened with extinction. The population sizes of wild vertebrates have dropped by an average of 68 per cent in the last 50 years, and the abundance of many wild insect species has fallen by more than half,” wrote the UN in the report.

More than 300 species are endemic to Canada. Population decline among Canadian species like bison, Atlantic cod, and the monarch butterfly have put these species at risk. Moreover, the passenger pigeon, previously North America's most prevalent bird, is now extinct.

According to the Making Peace with Nature report, the decline in biodiversity is projected to accelerate in the upcoming decades unless steps to stop and reverse human activities that transform and degrade ecosystems and to mitigate climate change are taken.

Biodiversity in Canada: Commitments and trends. Office of the Auditor General of Canada. October 2022. Accessed July 8, 2024. 

https://www.oag-bvg.gc.ca/internet/English/oth_202210_e_44128.html#

Governments of Canada and Newfoundland and Labrador announce new priority place to conserve species at risk. News release. Environment and Climate Change Canada. July 8, 2024. Accessed July 8, 2024. 

https://prnmedia.prnewswire.com/news-releases/governments-of-canada-and-newfoundland-and-labrador-announce-new-priority-place-to-conserve-species-at-risk-807362181.html

Articles

A stopover location for many migratory birds at risk, the priority place in the Great Northern Peninsula plays a crucial role for many species

Canada creates new priority place for protecting species at risk

 readers! We hope that with the past holiday, everyone was able to take at least some time in the craziness of the weekend to spend some time with family and friends to relax and recuperate. 

Now that we are making our way through July, we are officially less than 2 months away from our next Fetch Conference in Kansas City, Missouri! Join us in the Jazz City for a weekend of education, networking, and fun. This is not a conference to miss so be sure to sign up 

In the meantime, here is what you can find this week on dvm360.com:

The Veterinary Hospital Managers Association (VHMA) announced the winner of its 2024 Practice Manger of the Year competition. Each year, one veterinary professional is honored for their knowledge, experience, and expertise to help improve business operations and transform their practice to create a better workplace.

 product page will be available this week! This month’s Product+Service360 features an AI-powered x-ray device, a working dog diet, and a behavior-analyzing camera.

 recognizes Fire Safety Day with an interview from Mariah Young, DVM, and what inspired her to pursue careers in veterinary medicine and firefighting, what her typical week looks like, how she copes with the emotional toll of both careers, and more with host Adam Christman, DVM, MBA.

Paw Prosper, a pet health company aimed at finding solutions to wellness challenges, shared this week that it launched 2 new scholarships, one for veterinary students and one for professionals seeking to further their education.

 at the 2024 ACVIM Convention in Minneapolis, Minnesota, Nicola A. Lakeman, MSc, BSc, (Hons), RVN, CertVNECC, CertSAN, VTS (Nutrition), explains how the microbiome in cat’s changes as they get older.

Here is a sneak peek at this week’s headlines 

Sneak peek: VHMA announces 2024 Practice Manager of the Year, and other veterinary news

Paw Prosper, a pet health company aimed at finding solutions to wellness challenges, has announced a new scholarship for veterinary students, the Paw Prosper Student of Veterinary Medicine Scholarship, and another scholarship for professionals seeking to further their education with the Paw Prosper Continuing Education Scholarship. Paw Prosper will offer financial assistance and motivation to both current and aspiring professionals in the industry through this new program.

"Through our ongoing work with amazing professionals in the animal health and welfare industry, we have developed a deep appreciation and respect for their dedication to improving the lives of animals," said Ryan DeCaire, CEO of Paw Prosper, in a news release.

 "We want to support the next generation of professionals who want to improve and innovate as a way to further our mission to help animals stay healthy for longer."

The Paw Prosper Student of Veterinary Medicine Scholarship is available to both undergraduate and graduate students studying veterinary medicine. The Paw Prosper Continuing Education Scholarship is designed for professionals seeking to further their education and expertise in advanced animal health and welfare studies. Both scholarships are open to residents of the United States and Canada and applicants must submit an application along with a 1000-word essay. The application period runs from July 8th, 2024, to August 31st, 2024. Two recipients will be chosen and notified September 24, 2024 with each receiving a $1000 award.

Veterinary students interested in the student scholarship must be enrolled in an accredited university or college in the US or Canada, with a minimum GPA of 2.50. The essay submission for this scholarship must answer the question: “What defining moment helped steer you toward a career in veterinary medicine?”

Veterinary professionals interested in the continuing education scholarship must already be a credentialed veterinarian, technician, or other credentialed professional and be enrolled in an accredited continuing education course. The essay submission for this scholarship must answer the question: “What motivated you to pursue this continuing education, and how do you envision this opportunity impacting your ultimate goal in the animal health and wellness industry?”

"There is so much innovation and new information within the animal wellness industry that continuing education is required to stay on top of the latest techniques and research. Professionals must complete a certain amount of continuing education per year; however, this can be financially challenging," said Kara Amstutz, CEO of the Canine Rehabilitation Institute.

 "This scholarship will help those dedicated to providing the best care possible for their patients by taking some of the financial burden off their plate."

More information on these 2 scholarships can be found on the Paw Prosper website.

Paw Prosper launches new scholarships to support students of veterinary medicine and continuing education. News release. Paw Prosper. July 8, 2024. Accessed July 8, 2024. 

https://prnmedia.prnewswire.com/news-releases/paw-prosper-launches-new-scholarships-to-support-students-of-veterinary-medicine-and-continuing-education-302190836.html

Scholarships. Paw Prosper. Accessed July 8, 2024. 

https://pawprosper.com/pages/scholarships

Paw Prosper announced 2 new scholarships for veterinary students and professionals

Veterinary scholarships that enhance the future of the profession

“Every lame animal that comes to your practice is not treated the exact same way; every animal hit by a car is not treated the same. I am going to try and convince you that spaying and neutering are no different in that respect: you should be taking each case and evaluating it separately. 

There is simply no cookie cutter answer to spaying and neutering dogs.” So began Bruce W Christensen, DVM, MS, DACT, founder of the Kokopelli Assisted Reproductive Services in Sacramento, California, in his session, “To spay or not to spay? And how? And when?” at the 2024 American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) Convention in Austin, Texas.

Christensen broke down the reasons for canine sterilization into 3 main categories: To prevent the contribution to the stray pet population; to halt undesirable behaviors; and to decrease the chance of contracting disease.

For the first case, overpopulation, although Christensen acknowledges the problem exists, he said, “keep in mind, there is also a variety of places people get their dogs from (ie, animal shelters, friend, breeder, etc.). “That should be considered when you are looking at the spaying or neutering,” Christensen said. If, for example, the dog comes from a reputable breeder, that’s different than if the dog is coming from a shelter, which usually requires the dog is spayed or neutered before leaving the shelter. When coming from a breeder, said Christensen, almost always there is a discussion about spaying or neutering this animal. For breeders who, for example, sell a puppy that they consider great for future breeding, they might want to retain some coownership or breeding rights, with sterilization happening later in life for that dog. For other breeders, it might be in the contract that the adoptive family will spay or neuter this puppy at a certain point. “You, as the veterinarian, should be aware that these conversations are happening, and if you are not on board with these decisions, then you should ask yourself why,” Christensen said.

Secondly, Christensen addressed unwanted behaviors. He noted that actions such as [male] aggression, mounting, and urine marking, veterinarians are taught, will be reduced or eliminated with neutering. But Christensen invited his audience to “step back and look at the practice that you have, and ask yourself, ‘are the aggressive animals predominantly intact males, or are there plenty of spayed and neutered dogs that also have aggressive issues?’ The idea that neutering is going to fix this is not true.” Christensen pointed to his own practice, where most of his dogs are intact a good portion of their lives, with owners who are “highly hands-on with their animals,” so consequently, the majority of these dogs are well-behaved, italicizing that behavior is largely a result of “how the dog is handled and trained, from neonate to adulthood.”

Next, Christensen tackled the subject of disease prevention, running through several studies that looked at various diseases impacted by sterilization. Common medical conditions that are 

by sterilization of dogs include hemangiosarcoma (females), osteosarcoma (males, if done before age 1 year), lymphoma (females), and cranial cruciate disorders. On the other hand, if a female dog is spayed, there is a “zero chance” of contracting pyometra, and her chances are greatly lessened that she will develop mammary tumors. Additionally, if a male dog is neutered, there is a 0% chance he will get benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). However, Christensen added, “BPH is medically treatable, inexpensive, and without side effects, and “in my opinion to keep a dog from getting BPH is not a good reason, in and of itself, to neuter him. What these studies lacked, noted Christensen, “Was information on breed, gender, and age of neutering; assumed impact on behavior; and overall hormonal effects.”

Having these conversations with dog owners before deciding to spay or neuter a dog, emphasized Christensen, “Are crucial, for the betterment of the health of the dog.”

Christensen BW. To spay or not to spay? And how? And when? Presented at: American Veterinary Medical Association Convention; Austin, TX: June 21-25, 2024.

At the AVMA Convention in Austin, Texas, a veterinarian discusses when—and if—a dog should be sterilized

Spaying and neutering dogs: myth vs reality

Veterinary parasitology is an indispensable field within veterinary medicine. Parasites such as fleas, ticks, heartworms, and mosquitoes pose significant health challenges to animal patients. Knowledge of these parasites and their interaction with the host, as well as treatment protocols, diagnostic techniques, and preventive measures is essential for ensuring the well-being of animal companions.

Below are 3 must-read articles to expand veterinary professionals’ understanding of parasites:

Continuous parasite prevention remains crucial for pet owners to prioritize, yet some clients lack sufficient knowledge about the common parasites that threaten pets. Read about Thrive Pet Healthcare’s myth debunks about fleas, ticks, mosquitoes, and other potential threats.

Guidelines for canine heartworm disease are updated

The American Heartworm Society issued revised guidelines for managing parasitic infections in dogs, covering prevention, diagnosis, patient evaluation, and heartworm treatment practices. The new guidelines also include a spectrum-of-care section with information on treatment efficacy and complication rates, intended for situations when practitioners cannot follow the ideal treatment protocol for heartworm-positive patients, and need access to information on treatment efficacy and complication rates.

Ava Landry, PharmD candidate, discussed some of the diseases ticks can transmit, such as lyme disease and chronic wasting disease. She also explained how 

 pathogens can alter the behavior of tick vectors to improve their own survival and reproductive success.

These articles discuss parasite myths, share revised canine heartworm disease guidelines, and explore the diseases ticks can transmit

3 must-reads for expanding parasitology knowledge

With the continuing rise of demand for telemedicine services,

 ensuring pets have access to virtual healthcare is crucial. Following suit to the increase in telehealth services across the nation, a new Florida bill expanding access to virtual pet healthcare recently went into effect.

The Providing Equity in Telehealth Services (PETS) Act (House Bill 849) authorizes veterinarians in Florida to practice veterinary telehealth.

 The bill, modeled after the state’s human telehealth provider legislation, received unanimous support and was sponsored by Senator Jennifer Bradley (R-Fleming Island) and Representatives Same Killebrew (R-Winter Haven) and James Buchanan (R-North Port).

 The new legislation enables veterinarians to establish a veterinary-client-patient-relationship (VCPR) online, allowing them to provide diagnoses, treatment plans, and prescriptions virtually.

“This legislation gives veterinarians the professional flexibility to offer telehealth services and opens more doors to the veterinary healthcare system for pet owners who face difficulties accessing veterinary care for their pets, including senior citizens, working families, disabled individuals, and Floridians who live in rural areas and other veterinary deserts,” said Sen. Bradley in an American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) news release.

“Telehealth can be a lifeline for pets during weekends and evenings when most clinics are closed and provides more options for owners of large, fearful, and senior pets to see veterinarians from the comfort of home, bringing essential care to more pets when and where they need it,” she continued.

Before the bill was signed, an obsolete Florida statute from the pre-COVID-19 era prohibited veterinarians from practicing veterinary medicine or prescribing medication without conducting a recent in-person examination of the patient.

 This law was a difficult obstacle for many pet owners, animal shelters, and veterinarians, especially amid an ongoing nationwide shortage of veterinary professionals, according to the ASPCA.

Vetster: A virtual practice platform for veterinarians

Acting on the new bill, Vetster, a veterinary telehealth and pet care marketplace, announced that veterinary professionals in Florida can now create their virtual practice using Vetster. This medical platform includes an integrated booking and payment system and stored medical records.

According to Vetster, the Veterinary Care Accessibility Score, an index that assesses how easily veterinary care can be accessed in counties throughout the contiguous Unites States, revealed that 20 counties in Florida have an accessibility score of 10 or less.

 With scores ranging from 0 to 100, a score of 10 means that veterinary care is “nearly inaccessible” in that county.

"Telemedicine is a vital solution to helping pets in Florida receive the care they need. It fundamentally changes and improves the health outcomes for our pets," Cerys Goodall, chief operating officer at Vetster said in an organizational release.

 "Vetster’s purpose-driven medical platform connects veterinarians and pet owners, offering full health histories and comprehensive care plans. Our platform makes pet care between clinic visits more affordable, accessible, and convenient.”

Three ways Covid-19 has changed the veterinary profession. HealthforAnimals. Accessed July 2, 2024. https://healthforanimals.org/resources/newsletter/articles/three-ways-covid-19-has-changed-the-veterinary-profession/#:~:text=Accelerated%20uptake%20of%20telemedicine%20tools&text=The%20number%20of%20veterinarians%20offering,services%2C%20according%20to%20pet%20owners.

ASPCA commends Florida legislature for passing the PETS Act to expand access to veterinary telehealth. News release. American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. March 6, 2024. Accessed July 2, 2024. 

https://www.aspca.org/about-us/press-releases/aspca-commends-florida-legislature-passing-pets-act-expand-access-veterinary

Vetster ready to serve 12.5 million pet owners in Florida with veterinary telemedicine. News release. Vetster. July 1, 2024. Accessed July 2, 2024. 

https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240701795136/en/Vetster-Ready-to-Serve-12.5-million-pet-owners-in-Florida-with-Veterinary-Telemedicine

Florida: Expand access to critical vet care! American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. June 21, 2024. Accessed July 2, 2024. 

https://secure.aspca.org/action/fl-telemed?ms=wb_con_press-release-fl-telemed-20240306&initialms=wb_con_press-release-fl-telemed-20240306

The Veterinary Care Accessibility Score. The Veterinary Care Accessibility Project. Accessed July 2, 2024. 

The PETS Act will allow veterinarians in Florida to offer telemedicine services