Category: Important News

SB 874 Legislative Update

Hawaii enacted HI S.B. 874, effective 5/29/2026, which requires a veterinarian, upon request of a client, to provide a written prescription for any medication prescribed for the client’s animal patient without requiring the medication to be dispensed directly by the veterinarian. It also requires a veterinarian to inform their client of the client’s right to request a written prescription from the veterinarian and the option to have it filled at a pharmacy of the client’s choice; this may be done via direct communication, electronic communication, or clearly posted physical signage.

It prohibits a veterinarian from issuing a written prescription without establishing a veterinarian-client-patient relationship, which requires a veterinarian to conduct a timely examination of the animal or to make medically appropriate visits to the premises where the animal is kept.

It allows any pharmacy, duly licensed in the state, to dispense the medication prescribed by a licensed veterinarian, provided that all state and federal certification requirements for handling and dispensing veterinary pharmaceuticals are met, and does not hold the veterinarian liable for any outside pharmacy errors or adverse effects or lack of efficacy due to sourcing drugs from an outside pharmacy.

Full text of SB 874

New World Screwworm Updates

Effective August 3, 2026: Mexico will require USDA-accredited veterinarians to issue New World screwworm inspection documents for pet dogs and pet birds traveling to Mexico. Pet cats will continue to travel to Mexico with no documents needed prior to travel.

Pet Dogs

Pet dogs will be required to travel with a NWS Inspection Certificate for Pet Dogs Moving (Exporting) from the United States to Mexico that is issued and signed by a USDA-Accredited Veterinarian within 5 days of arrival in Mexico. This form does NOT require APHIS endorsement.

Pet Birds

Pet birds may travel to Mexico beginning August 3, 2026 and will be required to travel with a NWS Inspection Addendum for Pet Birds Moving (Exporting) from the United States to Mexico that is issued and signed by a USDA-accredited veterinarian within 5 days of arrival in Mexico. This addendum does NOT require APHIS endorsement; however, it will be required IN ADDITION TO the “Veterinary Health Certificate for Export of Pet Birds from the United States of America to Mexico”, which must be issued by a USDA-accredited veterinarian AND endorsed by APHIS prior to travel.

Pet Cats

Pet cats will continue to travel to Mexico with no documents needed prior to travel.

Please refer to the relevant sections of the APHIS Pet Travel to Mexico webpage for more details.

APHIS’ NWS notice regarding NWS restrictions to Mexico has been updated accordingly:

Due to the detection of New World screwworm (NWS, Cochliomyia hominivorax) in the United States, Mexico continues to prohibit exports of the following species from all U.S. states: 

  • Cattle (slaughter and reproduction)
  • Wild ruminants (non-bovine)
  • Equine (slaughter, breeding/work, and sport/exhibition/transit)
  • Sheep and goats (slaughter and reproduction)
  • Swine (reproduction)
  • Ferrets (commercial and pets)
  • Songbirds/ornamental birds/raptors (commercial and pets)
  • All zoological species as listed under the “Zoological Animals” and “Other Animals” section of the IREGs Mexico page

ADDITIONAL GUIDANCE
As of November 22, 2024, Mexico is considered to be affected with screwworm. All dogs (including U.S.-origin dogs returning to the United States after traveling to Mexico) must meet APHIS requirements for screwworm freedom certification upon entry (re-entry) into the United States. Additional information can be found on the APHIS Dog Import Website.

ASPCA has developed guidance for Animal Transport here.

Pet Expo May 2-3, 2026

Dear Colleagues, Staff, and Friends,
It’s that time again when the HVMA celebrates National Pet Week (May 3-9) with the sponsorship of the Hawaii Pet Expo on May 2 and 3, 2026. The association has hosted this FREE community event for the last 34 years. This event continues to draw large crowds ( over 10,000 in the weekend) and is one of the few events that welcome the attendance of pets.

This year the HVMA booth will contain exhibits on topics such as pet myths, heat stroke, and other veterinary issues. We will once again have our snack bar and “Ask-A-Vet” area. This year we will need 5 volunteers (vets and/or staff) to effectively man the booth. We also need volunteers to man our Make-N-Take It booth, Foodbank/Info booth, Pet Snack Bar, Photo and Fundraiser booths, show marshals, and greeters.

The Hawaii Pet Expo would not have been such a success all these years, without the volunteerism of veterinarians, staff, family, and friends. Volunteers work a 2 hour shift and receive an Expo t-shirt. Lunch will be included for those who participate in the 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. shift. We can never have too many volunteers! Please sign-up and also help to promote the event by posting the Expo fliers and discussing the event with your clients. Your association delegates will also call you to remind you.

SIGN UP HERE

Sincerely,
Lissa Kam, DVM
Chairperson
Hawaii Pet Expo

JOB DESCRIPTIONS

HVMA BOOTH

  • Ask-A-Vet
  • Answer questions and encourage public to enjoy the educational displays in the booth

    GREETERS
  • Pass out programs, poop bags
  • Aid in helping attendees with strollers, wheelchairs, etc. through turnstiles
  • Smile

    FOODBANK & INFO BOOTH
  • Be able to answer questions, direct venders and public to booth area
  • Lost and found center
  • Be able to find security, expo organizers
  • Collection and packing of food donations
  • Collection of monetary donations
  • Coordinate volunteers (show where shirts are and their work areas)

    MAKE & TAKE CRAFT BOOTH
  • Help kids and adult with crafts
  • Encourage participation

    SHOW MARSHALS
  • Walk around exhibition hall and outside to clean-up spills and accidents (take poop to outside dumpster)
  • Mop areas where there has been accidents
  • Make sure exhibition hall doors are closed
  • Remind pet owners to keep dogs leashed or secured and have cats, birds and pocket pets in carriers for the safety of all pets involved
  • Assist exhibitors with removal of trash and put in outside dumpster
  • All cleaning supplies provided (poop bags, disinfectants, mops)

    SNACK BAR
  • Help pet owners create snacks for pets

    PHOTO BOOTH
  • Help public take their photos with props

    FUNDRAISER BOOTH
  • Sell fundraiser merchandise
  • Help purchasers decorate tote bags

SIGN UP HERE

2026 Legislative Update

The 2026 legislative session has begun! Here are a few pieces of legislation we are tracking as we advocate on behalf of veterinarians in Hawaii:

  • SB 874 – Requires written prescriptions on request. HVMA submitted testimony to ensure the law would not cause undue burden upon veterinarians.
  • SB 2158 – Establish Vet Workforce Development Special Fund and Loan Repayment/Scholarship Program. HVMA supports.
  • SB 2086 – Requires any health care professional being sued to inform the licensing board within 30 days of filing and allows for non-economic damages. HVMA opposes.

Want to track bills of interest? Sign up for hearing notifications so you can submit testimony. Make your voice heard by your legislators!

2/2/2026 Update: SB 2158 has a scheduled hearing on Friday 2/6/2026. Submit online testimony to support this bill that will allow state funding to go toward supporting vet school graduates returning to Hawaii to work in the state.

4/3/2026 Update:
SB 874 – Requires written prescriptions on request. Still moving through, currently includes language supported by HVMA to avoid undue burdens on veterinarians

SB 2158 – Establish Vet Workforce Development Special Fund and Loan Repayment/Scholarship Program. Did not advance this session

SB 2086 – Requires any health care professional being sued to inform the licensing board within 30 days of filing and allows for non-economic damages. Did not advance this session

AVMA News – January 2026

Greetings from your AVMA delegates! We recently returned from the January House of Delegates meeting in Chicago, where we reviewed and approved several small updates to the AVMA Bylaws.

We also spent time discussing two resolutions. The first focused on the importance of early socialization and training in animals. While there was broad support for the intent, it was noted that the language was written broadly enough to include wildlife, zoo animals, and other species for which human socialization may not be appropriate. Because of this, the resolution was referred back to the AVMA Board of Directors for refinement, and we expect a revised version—with clearer species-specific guidance—to return to the House in the future.

The second resolution addressed castration in camelid species, an area where the AVMA had not previously had a formal policy. Although policies already exist for other small ruminants and pigs, this prompted an important discussion about anesthesia and pain management. Your Hawaii delegates proposed strengthening the language to strongly recommend anesthesia and pain management for camelid castration. While this amendment did not pass—largely due to concerns about keeping wording consistent across species—we continue to stand behind the recommendation. Camelids are typically castrated later in life, often between 18 and 24 months of age, which raises additional animal welfare considerations. Our plan is to return this summer with a proposal to strengthen the language across all applicable species, improving consistency while still allowing veterinarians appropriate clinical discretion.

We also had two topics for the Veterinary Information Forum. One focused on educational standards for veterinary technicians; no formal action was taken at this time. The second addressed the role of allied organizations within the House of Delegates. In addition to state delegations, the House includes representatives from allied veterinary organizations that bring valuable expertise from specialized areas of practice. These voices are especially important when we’re discussing niche topics, like the aforementioned camelid medicine. There is some concern that changes in membership numbers could affect continued representation for certain groups, so a task force has been created to explore ways to ensure these perspectives remain part of the conversation. The National Association of Federal Veterinarians has been particularly engaged in this discussion, as federal veterinary positions may be impacted by ongoing workforce reductions.

Our next House of Delegates meeting will take place July 9–10, 2026, in Anaheim, California, alongside the AVMA Annual Convention. We’re hoping to bring forward our proposed resolutions at that time. Before then, we’ll be reaching out through a future newsletter to gather your input—so please keep an eye out. If you have experience or insights you’d like to share, we would truly welcome your involvement.

As always, thank you for allowing us to represent Hawaii and keep you connected to what’s happening at the national level.

Carolyn Naun, DVM
AVMA Hawaii Delegate
cnaun@armsofaloha.com

Jenee Odani, DVM, DACVP
AVMA Hawaii Alternate Delegate

HDAB Update

Did you know HDOA is now HDAB?
The Hawaii Department of Agriculture is now the Hawaii Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity. Find them at https://dab.hawaii.gov/. 

Here are some updates from HVMA Oahu representative and Veterinary Medical Officer Raquel Wong: 

Animal Diseases

  • Avian Influenza – HDAB has introduced a dashboard to follow HPAI testing performed by the Division. Dashboard can be found here.
  • Equine Herpes Virus – Multistate outbreak associated with a rodeo event held in Texas in November 2025. Importation of horses impacted with additional conditions for veterinarians to attest horse did not originate from quarantined area. Reference here.

– Diagnosis of EHV is reportable to the Animal Industry Division

– Encourage horse owners/caretakers to practice good hygiene practices,
especially if attending events

Animal Movement

California has change import requirements for dogs entering CA for resale or change of ownership. There are new timeline and document review requirements for this category of movement. Link to CDFA here.

HPAI Detected on Oahu

Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza H5N1 has been detected again on Oahu as the migratory season starts in Hawaii. The October 2025 sample was taken from an ill migratory pintail duck found on the UH Manoa campus which died shortly after intake by the Hawaii Wildlife Center.

H5N1 influenza A is highly infectious among wild birds and poultry, and has been responsible for widespread culling of poultry flocks worldwide. As it has become endemic in the continental United States, HPAI infections have also been reported in other animals including livestock and cats. Human infection risk remains low and human cases have been primarily linked to direct animal exposure. 

Please remain cautious when dealing with wildlife, particularly any sick or dead birds. Remind your clients to not feed wildlife or attract wild birds near pets or backyard flocks, and to avoid touching any sick or dead birds. PPE such as facemasks and gloves should be worn if necessary to handle sick or dead birds.

Hawaii Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity may be contacted for consultation on any suspected cases: 808-483-7100, Monday to Friday from 7:45 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., or 808-837-8092 during non-business hours and holidays, Email: dabic@hawaii.gov.

As seabird fallout season also arrives (Nov-Dec), the public can still help with lost seabirds: https://dlnr.hawaii.gov/wildlife/seabird-fallout-season/#response

HPAI Resources:

https://www.avma.org/resources-tools/animal-health-and-welfare/animal-health/avian-influenza

Avian Influenza
DOH, DAB, DLNR Investigate Possible Avian Flu Case in Waterfowl

https://www.cdc.gov/bird-flu/situation-summary/index.html

https://www.aphis.usda.gov/h5n1-hpai

HDOA HPAI Guidance for Veterinary Clinics

Submitted by Raquel Wong, DVM, Hawaii Dept of Ag Animal Industry Division

Avian clients should not be turned away simply because HPAI is in the environment. Clinics and mobile veterinarians are encouraged to continue treating birds with extra attention focused on biosecurity and the signs of HPAI should they need to report suspected cases to animal health officials.

What are the signs of HPAI?

  • Decreased water consumption
  • Extreme depression
  • Very quiet
  • Difficulty breathing
  • Decrease in feed or water intake
  • Swelling or purple discoloration of head, eyelids, comb, wattle, and hocks
  • Decrease in egg production
  • Sudden unexplained death

What if a client calls with sick birds?

Veterinary clinics should develop a set of questions for their clients to determine the HPAI risk of the pet bird and then develop their own procedures appropriate to the risk. Some starter questions to consider:

  • Is the avian species a wild bird?
    • Veterinarians should not let wild waterfowl, gulls or other susceptible HPAI wild species into their facility.
  • Are all birds sick or just one? What is the overall health of the flock?
    • If one bird is sick or dead and all the others appear healthy it may not be HPAI. However, if a flock is experiencing daily mortality or there are a number of dead birds it should be reported to the Animal Industry Division, Hawaii Department of Agriculture at 808-483-7100 (Monday – Friday 7:45 AM – 4:30 PM).  After hours or weekends to 808-837-8092.  Or email HDOAIC@hawaii.gov.
  • Does the bird have access to the outside in a free ranging type of situation (vs. being in a contained/controlled housing away from environmental elements)
    • If yes, how long does the bird spend time outside? Is the time spent outside supervised?
  • Does the client live by a body of water or agricultural field?
  • Does the client feed wild birds or wild animals?
  • Does the client engage in sport hunting of wild birds?
  • Does the client work or volunteer with any avian species?

Answering yes to any of these questions should prompt additional precautionary procedures to be utilized and have AI on your list of differential diagnoses.

How should clinics handle routine avian appointments?

Avian patient physical contact should be limited, and staff should always wear the appropriate PPE and wash their hands before and after handling birds. Additional biosecurity guidance includes:

  • Make an exam room at the clinic for avian appointments only.
  • See avian appointments at the end of the day.
  • Limit staff contact with avian species, especially those that have pet birds at home.
  • Emergency surgeries only for avian species.
  • Hospitalized avian species should be kept away from routine avian appointments.
  • All medical equipment and laundry used for avian appointments should be washed and disinfected appropriately.
  • Disinfect exam rooms following label directions on preparation and contact time to ensure it kills potential HPAI virus. Look for a disinfectant with an EPA registered product with label claim for Avian Influenza
  • Proper PPE should be used including gowns, foot coverings, masks, gloves, and eye protection.
  • Educate staff and clients about how HPAI is spread and how to reduce the spread of the disease.

How should mobile veterinarians handle client visits?

  • Wear clean clothing and boots.
  • If possible, limit ambulatory visits to facilities with poultry to one site per day.
  • Wash your vehicle immediately prior to and when leaving a site with poultry.
  • Use disposable coveralls, boots, and gloves, +/- masks. If possible and agreeable to the client, leave them at the client’s site.

Considerations for clinic staff biosecurity

  • Does the facility have a written biosecurity plan and procedures?
  • Do employees and volunteers receive biosecurity training?
  • Do employees and volunteers change into dedicated work clothing onsite? Is work-provided clothing laundered onsite, or is it taken home with employees?
  • What personal protective equipment (such as boots, gloves, coveralls, and masks) do you provide?
  • Are staff allowed to keep poultry or pet birds at home? Do staff engage in sport hunting of wild birds?
  • If the attending veterinarian is an offsite contractor, do they treat birds at other locations? What precautions do they take when visiting your facility?
  • Are there protocols (such as showering, changing clothes, or avoiding bird contact for 72 hours) for people who visit captive wild bird facilities or poultry premises?

What if you suspect a bird in your care has HPAI?

  • Call the Animal Industry Division, Hawaii Department of Agriculture at 808-483-7100 (Monday – Friday 7:45 AM – 4:30 PM).  After hours or weekends to 808-837-8092.  Or email HDOAIC@hawaii.gov.

Resources to share with your clients