Registration is open for the 2026 New York State Veterinary Conference October 9-11 offering NYS continuing education credit opportunities. The conference will once again be a hybrid event offering: on-site, online, and on-demand sessions. Whether you join us on-site at Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine or virtually, our sessions are all presented live. The New York State Veterinary Conference will offer over 120 hours of continuing education during the three-day event. Continuing Education classes include: Cardiology, Dentistry, Equine Welfare, Necropsy Rounds “Show and Tell,” Practice Management, Veterinary Technician, Wildlife and more! After the event, sessions will be available on-demand. Beyond lectures, participate in hands-on labs and small-group sessions in real classrooms with the latest educational technology.Sessions are diverse and focused onpractical learning you won’t find at most conferences. With a wide range of sessions, you can customize your experience to fit your goals, interests, and learning style. Because the in-person event is intentionally smaller, you’re treated like a colleague – not conference traffic. To register, go to www.nysvc.org.
Creative Teaching Awards celebrate experiential learning, community connections
Cornell University CVM
Beebe Lake at dawn. Central New York berry farms. A local middle school. An art museum in Queens. The Cornell Teaching Dairy Barn. These are just a few of the places this year’s Creative Teaching Awards faculty recipients have taken students for hands-on, local learning experiences well beyond the classroom walls. Now in their third year, the Creative Teaching Awards are sponsored by the Vice Provost for Academic Innovation and the Center for Teaching Innovation. Their goal is to recognize and share innovative teaching strategies that Cornell faculty have implemented into their courses.
Four sperm whale strandings point to potential human causes
Cornell Chronicle
Four sperm whales that stranded separately on southeastern U.S. coastlines between 2020-22 were emaciated and malnourished, with ingested fishing gear and marine debris found in two of them, according to a new study that compared the four cases. The investigations, intended to better understand the causes behind whale deaths and to inform future marine mammal management decisions, were reported in astudy published April 9 in the journal Diseases of Aquatic Organisms
USDA extends public comment period on dog welfare regulations
AVMA
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) is reviewing federal welfare standards for dogs that have largely gone unchanged in over three decades despite advances in animal welfare science, evolving industry practices, and expanded state-level regulations. APHIS wants to determine whether portions of the Animal Welfare Act (AWA) pertaining to the humane treatment of dogs kept by regulated entities should be updated. These entities include licensed commercial dog breeders and dealers, research facilities, exhibitors, and transporters.
New diagnostic tools for identifying early stages of canine dementia
AVMA
An international body of veterinary experts has proposed the first definition of canine cognitive dysfunction syndrome (CCDS), a progressive neurodegenerative condition with parallels to Alzheimer’s disease that affects more than half of dogs by age 15. The CCDS Working Group also developed a set of diagnostic tools to alert veterinarians and pet owners to the early stages of CCDS along with criteria for distinguishing pathological cognitive decline from normal aging. The CCDS Working Group’s report, published online inJAVMAin late December 2025, defines CCDS as “a chronic, progressive, age-associated neurodegenerative syndrome, characterized by cognitive and behavioral changes that affect daily life to varying degrees.”
VectorED Network vector-borne disease survey
VectorED
The VectorED Network (https://www.vectorednetwork.org), a CDC Training and Education Center focused on vectors and vector-borne disease education are performing a needs assessment survey to better understand how veterinary professionals engage with clients and communities on vector-borne disease education. As part of this needs assessment, you are being asked to complete a brief survey because of your experience in the field of veterinary care. We are focusing on veterinary professionals in the Mid-Atlantic and the Ohio River Valley region. Please take 10–15 minutes to complete the survey here: https://pennstate.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_1O0MN0X18YbJtIy. This effort will help us: Identify gaps in resources and training for veterinary professionals, Develop practical tools to support client communication on vector-borne diseases and Better understand the role of veterinary teams in protecting both animal and public health.
Study: Service dogs are interpreting the needs of the humans they assist
DVM360
A Finnish study examining interaction between humans and their assistance dogs has found that these working canines actively contribute to their owners’ care beyond helping with practical tasks. Investigators determined the care provided by assistance dogs was based on mutual trust and continuous interpretation, or ‘reading,’ between animal and human. The study—conducted by faculty of the University of Turku and the Aalto University, both in Finland—found that humans and dogs learn to interpret each other without speaking. Non-verbal cues such as subtle gestures, movements, and reactions are being observed and read by each other, according to investigators.
Mulberry-derived compound shows promise for managing insulin dysregulation in horses
The Horse
Insulin dysregulation (ID), which is a key feature of equine metabolic syndrome, remains one of the most challenging metabolic problems for veterinarians and horse owners to manage. Characterized by an increased insulin response to dietary sugars and starches, the condition can lead to persistently high insulin levels (hyperinsulinemia), exaggerated insulin responses after meals, and an increased risk of laminitis.
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