Social Media Safety for Veterinary Professionals: What Facebook Knows about Veterinary Professionals and Our Clients. Veterinarian Dr. Ernie Ward reviews the current Facebook/Cambridge Analytica controversy, how veterinarians and veterinary technicians (vet techs) can determine what personal information Facebook is selling advertisers, whether or not you should be Facebook friends with clients and coworkers, concerns about Facebook Secret Groups, the importance of creating website blogs and owning and controlling your online content, and simple steps everyone should take to protect their personal and business social media.

Veterinarian Dr. Ernie Ward discusses how to evaluate and edit your Facebook privacy settings for ads and applications. What personal information does Facebook collect, how can you select what personal data is shared with others, and what will result from the Cambridge Analytica controversy? Should veterinarians, veterinary clinics, and veterinary technicians continue to post on Facebook? These issues and more are covered in this edition of Off Label Veterinary News?

In veterinary news, Walmart announces it will open 20 VetIQ clinics in 20 U.S. stores over the next 90 days; USA Today reports that veterinarians are now the top female dominated profession in terms of growth from 2000 to 2016; American Pet Products Association (AAPA) releases its 2017 pet spending report, and it far exceeds expectations.

This week in veterinary news, United Airlines almost loses another dog, Mission Rabies publishes study evaluating impact rabies awareness classes have in Malawi, and the USDA withdraws organic animal welfare rule despite overwhelming support from consumer and organic farm groups.
 

The recent death of a dog traveling on United Airlines has prompted closer scrutiny on pet travel in the United States by veterinary professionals. Veterinarian Dr. Ernie Ward shares his thoughts on some potential changes that may occur as a result of the recent airline accidents and mishaps and how veterinarians can better help pets when traveling.  

Virginia Bill Aims to Prevent Veterinary Prescription Opioid Abuse, Functional Pet Treats Battle Brushing, WeatherTech Launches New Dog and Cat Bowls Promising Safety and Ergonomics

A popular Twitch gamer brags that she once killed a client's dog when working as a "vet tech," Canadian dog owner who had to sign over her dog because she couldn't afford $8,000 emergency surgery after a spay complication gets her dog back, Barbra Streisand opens up about having her dog cloned, New Mexico governor vetoes bipartisan spay-neuter assistance bill, Express Scripts set their sights on pet medications, Salmonella confirmed cause of kitten death prompts raw food recall, and more!

A Dutch study evaluates dog parenting styles compared to human parenting and finds some interesting results, Dr. Claire Simeone is chosen as the first veterinarian TED Fellow, and German researchers prove canine inflammatory bowel disease is distinctly different than human or mice IBD when it comes to macrophage populations - and this could have significant implications for future tests and treatments in this latest veterinary news episode.

Adopted Pet Pig  Eaten by New Owners in Canada, Blue Buffalo Bought for $8 Billion by General Mills in Another Pet Food Company Acquisition, Puppies Infected with Parvovirus Treated Using Fecal Transplantation Study Published by Brazilian Veterinary Researchers in Journal of Internal Veterinary Medicine, Dog Housebreaking "Smart Vest" Patent Granted in U.S, Veterinary Professionals Need to Clean Up Their Medication Disposal Practices According to New Study Published in JAVMA

Feline Panleukopenia Outbreak spreads in Australia, alarming veterinarians, a Pet Bitcoin is announced named Petcoin, Robotic Dog Won't Be Beaten by Measly Human Wielding a Hockey Stick!Mars Petcare quietly launches a Facebook Messenger Chatbot in UK, and a Death Star Pet Cave will be the envy of all sci-fi pet fans!