Veterinarians

Dr. Suzanne Saueressig was Missouri’s first practicing female veterinarian. Her work changed the landscape of veterinary medicine in the St. Louis region.

Despite the fact that more women are going into veterinary medicine than ever before, some female practitioners in rural areas still face discrimination and pay gaps — problems experts say the industry will need to overcome to fill a shortage of animal care in those communities.

Missouri lawmakers are considering a proposal that would nullify local ordinances — like those in St. Louis and St. Louis County — that ban the practice of declawing cats.

Veterinarian clinics in rural towns have been dramatically declining in numbers for decades. Rural veterinarians often get paid less than urban practitioners, take on more workload and carry thousands of dollars in debt from medical school.

With more people working from home, dogs and cats suddenly find their owners home most of the time. Dr. Debra Horwitz, a veterinary behaviorist, says it's normal for pets to develop new habits from the change in routine.

Like many urban and rural areas around the U.S., the St. Louis region has seen a shortage of veterinarians, and it's affecting clinic hours, staffing and…

The scarcity of rural vets, who are the first line of defense against diseases that can spread from animals to humans, means sick and infected animals could increasingly go untested.

This article first appeared in the St. Louis Beacon, Feb. 4, 2011 - Advances in medical care, the changing of dog status from yard guard to sofa-hugging…