Veterinary Medical Board

Vital, licensed members of the veterinary health care team You may be familiar with doctors of veterinary medicine (DVM)—most commonly called veterinarians—but have you heard about registered veterinary technicians (RVT)? Numbering approximately 10,000 in California, RVTs are vital members of the veterinary health care team who are trained and licensed…

Preparation makes a positive difference What’s hot? Dog parks! Since the world’s first dog park—Berkeley’s Ohlone Dog Park—opened in 1979, these specialized recreation areas have multiplied to approximately 1,200 in the United States alone. But taking your pup to one sometimes isn’t all fun and games: Here are some dog-park…

Choose wisely: Contact a licensed veterinary professional Florida recently made national headlines with a hotly debated decision to restrict or ban more than a dozen non-native reptiles like Burmese pythons and green iguanas, many of which are popular pets but also are now running, slithering, and rapidly reproducing around the…

Don’t ignore reminders; contact a licensed veterinary professional Looking in your mailbox, you see a cheerful postcard from your veterinarian’s office: “Make an appointment for your pet’s rabies vaccination today!” It’s easy to toss the card aside to the recycling, but this simple reminder is easier to appreciate—and act upon—when…

Happy New Year from the California Department of Consumer Affairs (DCA)! If you rang in 2021 with a New Year’s resolution, we hope you’re sticking to it. But if you need a little inspiration, here are five resolutions DCA and its licensees can help you with: See a doctor regularly.…

Give technique a try and contact a licensed professional for pet health and well-being needs While the limpid love of puppy-dog eyes is given a lot of play—and research—a new study says the eyes have it when communicating with your feline friend. As just published in Nature/Scientific Reports, the first-of-its-kind…

Feline skeleton shows proof of medical—and loving—care Are you a cat person? Do you tussle with calico Charlie and his catnip toys, hustle home to hear Luna’s happy purr, or comfort shy Shadow on a dark and stormy night? Well, you’re not alone: According to the American Veterinary Medical Association,…

Adoptions up in response to lockdowns “We cleared the shelter!” That was the joyous message shared by Riverside County Animal Services this spring when all of its animals were adopted. And that happy news has been repeated time and again at shelters throughout the state and nation as people log…

DCA Director Waives Requirements for Veterinary Telemedicine and Prescription Refills The Department of Consumer Affairs (DCA) issued new waivers regarding the veterinarian-client-patient relationship to give pet owners more options when seeking treatment for their pets during the COVID-19 pandemic. The waivers authorize veterinarians to diagnose and treat new or different…

Skin requires daily protection from the ultraviolet rays of the sun. Protection is necessary year-round as the sun’s rays pose a continuous risk. There are many products available that offer varying levels of SPF sun-protection for every part of the body–from head to toes. But, did you ever take into…