Video Outlines Mental Health Crisis Among Veterinary Professionals

A sobering new video produced by Dr. Carrie Turnbull of the Staunton River Veterinary Clinic in Virginia might come as a surprise to many pet owners.

The suicide rate among veterinarians is significantly higher than the rate for the general population.  One study conducted by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found that female veterinarians are 3.5 times and male veterinarians 2.1 times as likely to die from suicide than the general population.

Dr. Turnbull notes in her video that many veterinarians tend to be high-achiever, type A personality types, and they are strongly affected by the stressors inherent in their jobs, such as unsuccessful treatments and patient deaths.

She also notes that vets can experience financial stress and many carry a significant amount of debt for years after veterinary school.

Do you have friends or family in the veterinary profession?  Dr. Turnbull recommends checking in with them to see how they are doing and if they are getting the help and support that they need.

You can watch Dr. Turnbull’s video below and learn more about this issue on the American Veterinary Medical Association’s website HERE.  There is also a Facebook group called Not One More Vet that provides help for vets in need of support.

 

It’s National Walk Your Dog Week!

October 1-7 is National Walk Your Dog Week, an event designed to raise awareness about the importance of regular exercise for your dog’s health.

According to the official website, many dogs (and their humans) do not get enough exercise, which can lead to health problems like obesity as well as behavioral problems that arise from boredom and separation anxiety.

You can take the pledge to walk your dog for at least 30 minutes every day for one week.  The folks at National Walk Your Dog Week want to hear from dog owners who have taken up this challenge.  Chances are both you and your dog will be feeling better!

 

Meet FACE Animaltarian Award Winner Sandie Lampe

We are looking forward to honoring our good friend–and dedicated San Diego animal advocate–Sandie Lampe at our upcoming Animaltarian Awards on September 29^th.

Sandie has dedicated much of her professional career in the media to raising awareness about pet well-being and animal welfare.

She is an award-winning pet writer for San Diego Home & Garden Lifestyles Magazine.  Sandie is also an on-air personality at San Diego’s KUSI News, where she hosts the station’s popular “Pet Patrol” segment.

We are lucky to have this leading pet lifestyle expert as a FACE friend and supporter.  Not only does Sandie help us spread the word about our life-saving mission to end pet economic euthanasia through her magazine and television work, she is also a FACE Foundation Advisory Committee member, lending us her considerable public relations expertise.

Thank you, Sandie, for all you do to help San Diego pets!

 

FACE “Animaltarian Awards” Honors La Jolla Veterinary Hospital

On September 29th, FACE will be hosting our Animaltarian Awards, honoring some of our local San Diego area animal heroes.  We’ll be profiling each award recipient in the coming weeks, starting with our friends at La Jolla Veterinary Hospital!

La Jolla Vet has been taking care of pets for nearly 70 years.  They consistently rank among the best veterinary practices in San Diego.

La Jolla Vet has also been a dedicated supporter of animal welfare in San Diego, including FACE’s mission to end economic euthanasia by providing financial assistance to pet owners seeking critical veterinary care.

Among the many ways La Jolla Veterinary Hospital supports FACE is their annual Paws & Pints charitable fundraiser held every summer.  This year alone $15,000 of donations raised at the event went to help fund FACE’s life-saving work!

The hospital also often sponsors FACE’s annual fundraising events, like our Bags & Baubles shopping event and Invitational Golf Tournament, allowing us to raise more funds and help even more pets.

Additionally, Hospital Director Stephanie Coolidge serves on FACE’s Advisory Committee, lending her expertise and knowledge about the veterinary industry to provide strategic advice and guide organizational decisions. Stephanie says about the hospital, “Animal welfare is our lifestyle. Not our job, our hobby, nor a fraction of what we do. It is who we are and FACE encompasses all that we believe in.”

Thank you La Jolla Veterinary Hospital for all that you do, we are grateful for your support!

 

CDC Investigates Salmonella in Pig Ear Dog Treats

The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, along with the US Food and Drug Administration, recently issued a health warning to pet owners who feed their dogs pig ear treats.

They are advising people not to buy pig ear treats for their pets, and not to feed your dog any you might already have in the home.

There have been many cases of multi-drug resistant Salmonella, a bacterial infection, associated with these treats.  The Salmonella can affect both dogs and people who handle the treats.

The latest numbers from the CDC show that 127 people in 33 states have become infected.  26 people have been hospitalized, and 24 of the infections have occurred in children under 5 years of age.

While some companies have recalled their pig ear dog treats, the CDC and FDA advise pet owners to avoid all pig ears while the Salmonella outbreak is being investigated.

Here is a brief summary of their advice to dog owners.  Be sure to check out the CDC website for the full story.

• Avoid buying pig ear treats.
• Throw away any pig ear treats you might already have (make sure your dog can’t get to them in the trash).
• Wash areas where pig ear treats were stored.
• Signs of Salmonella in people include diarrhea, fever, stomach cramps.
• Signs in dogs include tiredness, vomiting, fever, bloody diarrhea.
• Report any suspected Salmonella infections to the FDA here.