The American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) evaluated the educational equivalency of veterinary schools graduating from non-AVMA Council on Education–accredited institutions through the Educational Commission for Foreign Veterinary Graduates’ (ECVFG's) 4-step process. The process verifies the candidate’s education, clinical science knowledge, English proficiency, and hands-on skills.

However, the AVMA is now working to modernize the ECFVG certification program by introducing updates that are designed to improve candidate experience and maintain the credibility and rigor of the credential. For example, a new online candidate is launching this fall, providing applicants with streamlined access to program requirements, improved communication tools, and real-time status updates.

"The AVMA’s commitment to ongoing quality assurance following peer-reviewed assessment best practices and modern psychometric principles has been the cornerstone of the ECFVG certification program since its inception," said Jim Weisman, DVM, AVMA's chief of academic affairs, research, and accreditation.

"The current enhancement work has been in progress for several years. We are excited about the future of the ECFVG program, as it is an essential program for our profession."

According to the AVMA, the association also increased the number of program staff members and started a comprehensive review of its Clinical Proficiency Examination (CPE), which is the final portion of the program. At this time, the CPE is a 3-day, hands-on clinical skills examination administered at a veterinary college or other authorized testing institution.

The updates being made to the ECVFG are in response to "AVMA leadership’s desire to continuously improve the program to certification best practices," as well as feedback from candidates and staff members.

The most visible change to candidates will be the updated ECFVG candidate portal, which will provide users with individualized dashboards. Through the update, candidates who are eligible to take the CPE will be able to join a waitlist for upcoming test dates.

"This new feature will provide candidates with a clearer sense of when they may be scheduled for the CPE, easing the uncertainty and anxiety that previously surrounded the registration process," said Marci Kirk, DVM, AVMA ECFVG program manager.

A review of the CPE is still in early stages and will explore the potential for technology-based performance examinations in the certification process. The commission will rely on the expertise of psychometricians who will be working with subject matter experts who can offer their insight into the required knowledge that needs to be assessed.

"The veterinary profession is constantly evolving, and it is important that the assessments we use remain contemporary. The goal of this review is to better understand what can be assessed through technology and what must remain as an in-person, hands-on, clinically based assessment," Weisman said.

Weisman stated that although modernization is central to updating the ECFVG program, the program’s rigor and credibility remain nonnegotiable. The AVMA has also expanded its staff capacity to provide support for the ECFVG modernization.

"Candidate feedback is essential to any comprehensive review and action plan," Weisman said.

 "At the same time, we are committed to aligning with the expectations of the practicing veterinary community and ensuring our standards are consistent with what is expected of day-1-ready graduates from AVMA Council on Education–accredited veterinary schools."

To register for the certification program, applicants must be graduates from an AVMA ECFVG–listed school with a degree to practice veterinary medicine without any restrictions in their country. Each applicant must also complete an online application and submit payment of $1400 USD, which includes the program application fee and quality assurance program fee.

Nolen RS. ECFVG updates continue as new online platform launches. American Veterinary Medical Association. September 29, 2025. Accessed October 8, 2025. 

https://www.avma.org/news/ecfvg-updates-continue-new-online-platform-launches

Steps of the ECFVG certification program. American Veterinary Medical Association. Accessed October 8, 2025. https://www.avma.org/education/ecfvg/ecfvg-policies-and-procedures/steps-ecfvg-certification-program

Articles

The new platform is among updates the commission is continuing to make amid a review of its certification program.

ECFVG launches new platform 

Trupanion, a medical insurance provider for cats and dogs, has entered into a multiyear agreement with Seattle Reign FC to become the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) club’s new front-of-kit partner, with the company’s logo prominently displayed on players’ uniforms. Together, the 2 organizations share strong local roots, a belief in equity, and a passion for the power of pets and sport to unite communities, according to a news release.

“At our core, Trupanion exists to help pet parents budget for the unexpected cost of veterinary care,” Margi Tooth

 CEO and president of Trupanion, said in a news release.

 “Our goal is to enable true access to care—equity for pets and the people who love them. The power of sports and pets lies in their ability to bring people together [and] to create shared moments of joy and memories to last a lifetime. Whether it’s the shared thrill of the game or the unconditional love of a pet, both uplift our spirits and strengthen our sense of connection. We’re excited to partner with the Reign to celebrate that bond. Partnering with the Reign not only helps us spread the word about the importance of protecting your pet but [also] the importance of making opportunities available to all.”

The collaboration represents a historic milestone for Reign FC and the NWSL, reflecting the continued growth of the league and the rising interest in women’s professional sports, according to the release.

 “We’re proud to partner with Trupanion, a Seattle-based and women-led company that shares our values and vision,” Maya Mendoza-Exstrom,

chief business officer of the Seattle Reign FC, said.

 “This partnership reflects the strength of our community—innovative, inclusive, and rooted in equity—and we’re excited to build something that goes beyond the jersey to inspire fans, uplift women, and celebrate the special bond we all share with our pets.”

Trupanion represents the strength of women-led leadership and the innovation of the Pacific Northwest, according to the company. Its presence on the Reign FC kit is an opportunity to highlight the region’s ability to champion bold ideas and elevate women at the highest levels of both sport and business. The partnership also aims to spotlight the love of pets as family and the importance of planning ahead so they can always receive the care they need.

Trupanion’s mission to ensure pets get the care they need resonates deeply with a team—of which many players are pet owners—and a fan base that embraces pets as family.

“My pets are a huge part of my life, and they’ve always been a source of happiness for me. Having a partner like Trupanion join forces with our club is truly special, and it means so much to us as players to see organizations in our city believe in what we’re building in women’s soccer,” Claudia Dickey, goalkeeper for the Seattle Reign FC, said.

Lauren Barnes, the team’s captain, said she knows firsthand the comfort and emotional support of pets, which she has “always” had in her life. “That’s why this partnership with Trupanion feels so special. It’s exciting to see another Seattle-based,values-driven company invest in our sport, and we’re proud to carry their name on our kits,” Barnes said.

Courtney Carter, chief revenue officer for the Seattle Reign FC, called the partnership “a landmark moment” for the organization. “At its core, it’s about more than a logo on a jersey. It’s about shared values and the belief that when a partnership is mutually beneficial, we can accomplish extraordinary things. Trupanion’s roots in Seattle and global impact make them the ideal partner to join us on this journey, amplifying what it means to support one another on and off the field,” Carter said in the release.

From 2021 to 2024, the Reign FC donated its front-of-kit position to Black Future Co-op Fund (BFCF), a Washington-based nonprofit organization with a mission to improve the health and well-being of Black Washingtonians through Black-led philanthropy. BFCF continues to be one of the Reign FC's intentional RISE for Community partners, joining the club in advancing equity for all in play and life. In recognizing its continued support for the organization, the Reign FC will donate $10,000 to BFCF, which will be matched by Trupanion.

The new Trupanion-branded kits will make their on-field debut on Friday, October 10, 2025, when the Reign FC returns to Lumen Field to host the Bay FC. To celebrate the debut, fans can bring their 2025 Reflection or Rise kits to the match on Friday to have Trupanion’s iconic logo added at no cost.

Seattle Reign FC announces multi-year front-of-kit partnership with Trupanion. News release. Trupanion and Seattle Reign FC. October 7, 2025.

Quote sheet: Seattle Reign FC announces multi-year front-of-kit partnership with Trupanion. Seattle Reign FC. October 7, 2025.

Trupanion and the Seattle Reign FC are aligned on their shared goal of a mutually beneficial partnership. 

Pet insurance provider scores a major league partnership

Fifteen minutes of targeted movement can help veterinary professionals manage stress, prevent injury, and maintain performance in a demanding profession.

Movement as medicine

The Resilient Vet: A new podcast for a better life in vet med

. The physical demands—bending, twisting, reaching down—coupled with the stress of the profession, can take a toll on the body. Through personal anecdotes and practical tips, hosts Aaron Shaw, OTR/L, CHT, CSCS, and Jennifer Edwards, DVM, ACC, CPC, ELI-MP, talk about how just 15 minutes each day can make work easier in this episode of 

 For me, movement is medicine. I’ve been a couples dancer as my primary hobby for my entire adult life, so I danced a lot. And the dancing that I  would do [was] very physical. [There was] a lot of West Coast Swing [and] Two-Step, so there was a lot of controlled twisting and controlled stopping, which helped to build muscles that, honestly, I didn’t even know I had.

I’ve also been a very longtime practitioner of yoga. I would make jokes sometimes in the exam room because as I would be trying to look at the underside of the German shepherd—that would have nothing to do with being stood up on his hind legs so I could see the hot spot—I would literally be in a squat position with my entire torso bent forward and my head turned as I was parting the fur to look at a lesion or something on the underside of a dog.

So, the practice of yoga was huge for me in maintaining my core strength, my flexibility, and my ability to get in and out of some of these awkward positions that we find ourselves in.

I’m not a person who can tie myself into a pretzel. You don’t have to be flexible in that regard, but it’s having your body used to having that range of motion....

I think that what’s key—what you were doing with your yoga practice and with swinging and dancing.... You’re not waiting to be in the [operating room]. You're not waiting for what I consider “game day” in the clinic.

You don’t wait for that most challenging thing when you absolutely have to perform it. The key is making sure that you can perform it by practicing it [and] by maintaining health outside of the clinic on your own time.

So when the time comes that you have to get into those occasional contorted positions, if your body is at least somewhat acclimated [and] somewhat trained to be able to do that, your chances of success [increase]. Success [meaning] not getting injured [while] doing it [and] being able to tolerate those physical demands so you can actually provide the care that you know how to do.

Your brain can have all the smarts in the world—you [can] know exactly what to do—but if you can’t contort your body or hold your body in a certain position, you’re not going to be able to execute what you’re capable of. So, it’s also an issue of really reaching your...career potential.

 And what happens—and I've seen it over and over—is that our bodies are not conditioned to do these tasks. I've seen it in veterinary technicians and veterinarians alike; the body is not in a capacity to be able to do the task, but we do them anyway.

I find that people are not always lifting correctly. Even now, since I've started working out with a personal trainer, as much as I thought...I was lifting properly, I really wasn't. There are ways of doing things and prepping the body so that the things we're going to do anyway are easier and safer.

The other thing I used to do a lot was walk. I've never been a runner—never liked running. I went through [a] phase [of] cycling, but I would always walk.

[There were] so many nights—I can't even tell you, and I'm sure a lot of doctors out there can resonate—[where] I just wanted to flop myself on my couch. I was exhausted when I came home, and I would feel that and put my dog on a leash and go [a] mile around the block. It didn't take super long. Sometimes it was hot, sometimes it was cold, but I went.

And interestingly, almost without question, that increased my energy. It did not drain my energy more, but that movement—getting all that energy out that’d just been building up all day, the cardio effect, all of that—was very healthy. Of course, we're going to talk about this in another episode, but the mindset benefits that go along with that are huge, as well.

Videos

On October 3, 2025, Best Buy Bones, of Mount Morris, Michigan, announced the recall of 4 lots of Nature’s Own Pet Chews Bully Bites 1-lb bag of treats because of potential 

 contamination. The risk was discovered when samples of the treats were collected on September 11, 2025, and tested by the agency, which came back positive for 

 The company has ceased production and distribution of the product during the FDA and the company’s investigation into what caused the problem.

According to the FDA, Nature’s Own Pet Chews Bully Bites in 16-oz bags with a shared expiration date of September 2027 are the lots being recalled due to the potential contamination. In total, 34 bags of Nature’s Own Pet Chews Bully Bites were distributed in Minnesota and sold in retail stores in Wisconsin after September 23.

For any clients who have bought the potentially contaminated lots, the FDA urges them not to sell or donate the product, but to return it to the place of purchase or destroy it in a way that children, pets, and wildlife cannot access it. It is also encouraged that clients wash food bowls, cups, and storage containers that could have held the recalled treats, and to make sure they wash and sanitize their hands after handling the recalled food or anything that came into contact with it. Anyone looking for more information can call the FDA at (810)-687-2106 from Monday to Thursday between 8 AM and 5 PM EST.

Both healthy people and pets can be infected with 

. Any clients or veterinary professionals who are infected will present with diarrhea or bloody diarrhea, abdominal cramping, fever, nausea, and vomiting. In rare cases, 

can cause more serious ailments, such as arthritis, arterial infections, endocarditis, eye irritation, muscle pain, and urinary tract symptoms. Anyone displaying these symptoms after having contact with the infected products should contact their health care providers.

infections can make them lethargic and have diarrhea or bloody diarrhea, fever, and vomiting. In some cases, pets will have decreased appetite, fever, and abdominal pain. Pets that are infected but are otherwise healthy can be carriers and infect both other animals and humans. Any clients that have consumed the recalled products and have these symptoms should see their veterinarian.
Recovery for pets with 

 poisoning depends mostly on the severity of the infection. Mild cases can respond to supportive care within a few days, but more advanced infections and blood poisoning may require multiple weeks of intensive therapy, such as antibiotics, feeding tubes, and fluids.

To date, no illnesses in dogs have been reported due to the recalled treats.

Best Buy Bones, Inc recalls Nature’s Own Pet Chews Bully Bites because of possible Salmonella health risk. News release. FDA. October 3, 2025. Accessed October 7, 2025. 

https://www.fda.gov/safety/recalls-market-withdrawals-safety-alerts/best-buy-bones-inc-recalls-natures-own-pet-chews-bully-bites-because-possible-salmonella-health-risk

Lovejoy J. Salmonella in dogs. Pet MD by Chewy. June 9, 2023. Accessed October 7, 2025. 

https://www.petmd.com/dog/conditions/digestive/salmonella-dogs

The Nature’s Own Pet Chews Bully Bites were recalled due to possible Salmonella contamination.

Best Buy Bones recalls product due to health risks

The first phase of research into breath-based diagnostics for detecting heartworm disease in dogs has been completed by Global Innovative Platforms Inc. The initial study by the animal health diagnostics developer focused on validating data for a point-of-care, noninvasive test designed for earlier detection of heartworm infection than the current industry standard.

“Early detection is the key to protecting dogs from the serious effects of heartworm,” Andrew Brown, CEO of Global Innovative Platforms, said in a news release.

 “Our goal is to create a simple and noninvasive breath test that veterinary teams can use to potentially identify infections earlier than available heartworm diagnostic tests. If successful, earlier detection could [provide] veterinarians and owners the opportunity to intervene sooner, potentially helping dogs live healthier, longer lives.”

According to the American Heartworm Society (AHS), it takes at least 6 months after infection for a dog to test positive, and there may be no symptoms showing.

 The breath test in development aims to detect infection in less than 6 months.

Lindsay Starkey, DVM, PhD, DACVM (Parasitology), an associate professor of parasitology at Oklahoma State University in Stillwater, Oklahoma, and research team leader at Global Innovative Platforms, noted that investigators are always seeking new ways to improve animal health. "Working on this project is exciting, and the initial data [are] encouraging. We look forward to continuing the research and exploring how breath analysis may contribute to earlier, more effective detection,” Starkey said in the release.

Starkey, who also serves as editor for the AHS, worked with Sarah Zohdy, PhD, BS, an associate professor of disease ecology at Auburn University in Alabama, and the late Byron Blagburn, PhD, MS, who was a Distinguished University Professor Emeritus at Auburn University and died in 2024.

 Pioneer scientists Zohdy and Blagburn began their heartworm and breath research in 2017.

 Additional on-site testing was overseen by parasitologist Elyssa Campbell, PhD, director of the Filariasis Research Reagent Resource Center at the University of Georgia College of Veterinary Medicine in Athens.

Understanding and combating heartworm preventive resistance

Investigators collected and analyzed more than 100 breath samples under Campbell’s supervision during the yearlong study period. “I’m grateful to be working with such a talented team and committed to continuing this work. The data we have gathered show a lot of promise and reinforce our belief that breath analysis could be a significant step forward in veterinary diagnostics,” Campbell said in the release.

The AHS currently recommends that dogs be tested annually for heartworm, even when they’re being treated with preventive medication. Patients who are just starting on a preventive regimen should be administered a heartworm test initially, then again after 6 months, before moving to annual testing. Puppies younger than 7 months can be started on a heartworm preventive without being tested.

Global Innovative Platforms announces completion of first phase of breath test study for early heartworm detection. News release. Global Innovative Platforms. October 7, 2025. Accessed October 7, 2025. https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2025/10/07/3162720/0/en/Global-Innovative-Platforms-Announces-Completion-of-First-Phase-of-Breath-Test-Study-for-Early-Heartworm-Detection.html

Heartworm in dogs: when should my dog be tested? American Heartworm Society. Accessed October 7, 2025. https://www.heartwormsociety.org/heartworms-in-dogs?highlight=WyJmb3IiXQ==

Official obituary of Byron Lynn Blagburn. Jeffcoat Trant Funeral Home. Accessed October 7, 2025. 

https://www.jeffcoattrant.com/obituary/ByronLynn-Blagburn

Starkey L, McCafferty C. Understanding and combating heartworm preventive resistance. 

. March 24, 2025. Accessed October 7, 2025. https://www.dvm360.com/view/understanding-and-combating-heartworm-preventive-resistance

What if a breath is all it took to detect a parasite? Global Innovative Platforms recently completed a study of a potential solution. 

A diagnostic tool in development could lead to earlier heartworm detection

On this episode of The Vet Blast Podcast presented by dvm360, and sponsored by Elanco Animal Health, Adam Christman, DVM, MBA, and Joya Griffin, DVM, DACVD, talk about how important it is for general practitioners to control pruritus quickly to retain client relationships, treatment approaches based on the severity and seasonality, and more.   

Managing atopic dermatitis in canine patients 

This episode is sponsored by Elanco Animal Health 

During a live  recording of The Vet Blast Podcast presented by dvm360 at dvm360's Fetch Kansas City conference Joya Griffin, DVM, DACVD, joined our host Adam Christman, DVM, MBA, talk more about atopic dermatitis in canine patients.  Through the episode, Griffin and Christman talk about treatment options and approaches veterinary professionals can use to treat these patients, how crucial diagnostic workshops are, and the crucial role general practitioners can play in retaining relationships with clients of itchy pets.

Below is a partial transcript, edited lightly for clarity.

: Let's talk a little bit more about Zenrelia. So it's been on the market for nearly a year. September 2024, approval. What's your experience been with it?

: For me, more is more, of course. As a dermatologist, I see the worst cases, but it has a nice place in adding an additional option for these cases, because we know that there are patients that don't respond to one particular therapy, and we need more options. 

Atopy is not a, you know, cookie-cutter type of disease, and so having another option for my patients is amazing, and I've seen some really good success in controlling these refractory dogs that haven't responded to anything else.

Excellent. And let's talk a little bit about patient selections. What types of patients would be good candidates for Zenrelia or to administer it?

Well, Zenrelia, or ilunocitinib, is labeled for use in adult dogs 12 months or older that are presenting for pruritis related to allergic dermatitis, which can be contact allergy, food, hypersensitivity, atopic dermatitis, of course, and even flea allergies. So any of those pruritic diseases that present, even on an acute basis, you can use Zenrelia and to provide relief and itch and inflammation control.


And in the time that it's been out on the market, just overall... as a dermatologist, are you getting that relief as a dermatologist, finally [seeming] like, oh my gosh, its patients [are] responding well to it?

Podcasts

Explore the latest insights on canine atopic dermatitis treatment with Joya Griffin, DVM, DACVD, and Adam Christman, DVM, MBA.