CVMA and California veterinarians clash over blood banksApril 4, 2019A showdown is brewing between the California Veterinary Medical Association (CVMA) and a group of veterinarians over whether closed-colony blood banks should continue to operate. Known as the California Pet Blood Bank Modernization Act, AB 366 bill is aimed at changing the existing law requiring animal blood banks collect blood exclusively from so-called "closed colonies." Critics say donor animals are confined to cages and kennels for months or years. Instead, the bill looks to allow blood banks to collect animal blood in a community-based, voluntary setting, similar to programs in place in other states. The bill is getting support from 72 veterinarians, including practitioners and medical directors at some of California's largest veterinary hospitals, and faculty and clinicians at the University of California, Davis. "The current situation in California is egregiously unbalanced," they say in a letter to California's assembly agriculture committee. "Hundreds of dogs—including many who have already endured months or years of suffering in the greyhound racing industry—are kept confined for months or years in situations that range from inadequate to appalling. Lack of sufficient oversight and inspection, coupled with a lack of transparency, has resulted in years of suffering by dogs in California's closed colonies. There …
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USDA no longer experimenting on cats and kittensApril 3, 2019The U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA's) Agricultural Research Service (ARS) says it will no longer carry out parasite experiments on cats and kittens, a practice that ultimately resulted in their being euthanized. The announcement comes weeks after U.S. congressmen Brian Mast and Jimmy Panetta introduced the Kittens in Traumatic Testing Ends Now Act of 2019. At the time, Mast said the USDA was breeding kittens for the sole purpose of feeding them raw meat laced with Toxoplasma gondii (T. gondii), a parasite considered to be a leading cause of death from foodborne illness in the U.S. ARS says cats were used in the research because they are the only host in which T. gondii can complete its life cycle and produce oocysts. The kittens were then killed even though they were healthy. In May 2018, the USDA reviewed its procedures after hearing feedback from its customers and stakeholders. ARS maintains cats have not been infected with toxoplasmosis pathogens or euthanized since September 2018. "Food safety research in ARS is of paramount importance for agriculture and the public we serve," said ARS administrator, Chavonda Jacobs-Young, PhD. "We are continually assessing our research and priorities and aligning our resources to the …
AVMA publishes guidelines for the depopulation of animalsApril 3, 2019 The American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) has released Guidelines for the Depopulation of Animals, a set of procedures and direction designed to help veterinarians make humane decisions in critical situations. "Humanely ending the lives of animals is one of the most difficult, but necessary, tasks for veterinarians to oversee," says chair of the AVMA panel on depopulation, Steven Leary, DVM, DACLAM. "During times of crisis or major catastrophe, depopulation of affected animals may sometimes be the most ethical and compassionate action." According to AVMA, depopulation balances the need to respond swiftly and avoid further devastation with the most humane method of death possible in response to pressing circumstances. The new guidelines are designed to ensure animal welfare is considered and achievable during an emergency, and provides procedures for the possibility of urgent situations. The depopulation guidelines are part three of AVMA's Humane Endings guidance. The others are the AVMA Guidelines for the Euthanasia of Animals and the AVMA Guidelines for the Humane Slaughter of Animals.
WellHaven Pet Health partners with Fear Free to train veterinary professionalsApril 2, 2019WellHaven Pet Health says it is partnering with Fear Free to provide training to its medical staff on emotional well-being, enrichment, and reducing fear, anxiety, and stress in pets. "Adopting Fear Free across our practices will result in better medicine, better business, increased safety, and improved practice culture," says WellHaven Pet Health chief medical officer, Bob Lester, DVM. The partnership will allow WellHaven Pet Health to achieve American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA) certification in all its clinics. "Their commitment to the emotional and physical well-being of pets demonstrates WellHaven Pet Health's leadership in the field of veterinary medicine," says Marty Becker, DVM, Fear Free CEO and founder and columnist for Veterinary Practice News. "Fear Free is proud to partner with them in creating better experiences for pets, people, and the profession."
AVMA health insurance in limbo following court rulingApril 2, 2019The American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) is not backing away on its promise to deliver health insurance plans to its members following a ruling by a federal district court judge. Last week, the judge sent a recent rule allowing association health plans back to the Department of Labor to revisit certain aspects of it the court found objectionable. "We are disappointed, obviously, but we knew this was a possibility, and we know this isn't the final word," says AVMA president, John de Jong, DVM. "Veterinarians across the country were very pleased the AVMA was poised to again sponsor health plans, and we're not giving up on that effort. We are evaluating all our options, and we will continue to advocate for the interests of veterinarians, including access to high-quality, affordable health plans through our association." Association-sponsored health insurance plans were part of membership in AVMA for 60 years until the Affordable Care Act (ACA) forced it to end in 2013. While aware of the potential legal challenges, AVMA decided to move forward in its efforts to once again offer its members a health insurance program beginning in several states in July.
FDA approves treatment for urinary incontinence in dogsApril 2, 2019PROIN ER, a tablet for the control of urinary incontinence in dogs, has been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The drug treats urethral sphincter hypotonus, which occurs due to a dog's age and weakening muscles in the urethra. PROIN Chewable Tablets have already been approved by the FDA; however, they are to be administered twice a day, whereas PROIN ER is a once-a-day extended-release formulation. The effectiveness of PROIN ER was observed in a clinical study comprising 119 dogs that had been previously diagnosed with urethral sphincter hypotonus and had been taking PROIN Chewable Tablets. The timeline of the clinical study went as follows: • For the first week, the owners documented whether the dog received the PROIN Chewable Tablet doses and noted the number of urinary accidents the dog had; • Dogs were then given PROIN ER for the first 28 days and the owners proceeded to take note of how many accidents occurred in a day; • In the fourth week, the number of urinary accidents was compared to the first week. It was found 75 of the 104 dogs who completed the study had no accidents on either tablet;
AHS releases new heartworm recommendationsApril 2, 2019The American Heartworm Society (AHS) has released its 2018 Canine Heartworm Guidelines. The guidelines recommend yearly screenings for dogs more than seven months of age, the use of heartworm preventive medications, and reduced exposure to mosquitoes. It also suggests veterinarians recommend the use of Environmental Protection Agency- (EPA-) approved mosquito repellents for heat-treating a pet patient's serum. It is especially important for pet owners in Texas to follow the guidelines as mosquitoes are extremely widespread, according to the Texas Veterinary Medical Association (TVMA). The most telltale signs a dog has been infected is a persistent cough, difficulty breathing, intolerance to exercise, decreased appetite, and weight loss, while cats will suffer from lethargy, vomiting, or asthma. It is very common for the first indication of heartworm to be a sudden collapse or death. Preventing the disease in dogs is easy, safe, and affordable, whereas treatment is not. There is currently no treatment for cats. Testing and treating for heartworm can be difficult, which is why prevention is key to protecting pets. See the website to view the updated guidelines.
Former president of AVMA and WVA dies at 64March 29, 2019The former president of the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) and the World Veterinary Association (WVA), René Carlson, DVM, has died. She was 64. A resident of Chetek, Wis., Dr. Carlson graduated from the University of Minnesota College of Veterinary Medicine in 1978 and practiced as a small-animal veterinarian for many years. She was involved in many leadership roles within the AVMA, including as a member of the House of Delegates (HOD), the council on education, as vice president, as director of international affairs, and as chair of the association's committee on international veterinary affairs. From 2011 to 2012, she served as AVMA president. In 2014, Carlson was elected president of the WVA. "René was an exceptional leader and voice for our profession," said AVMA president, John de Jong, DVM. "She had been incredibly strong these past few years as she battled her illness and fought with the optimism and dignity we will always remember her for. Personally, I will always remember her positive energy, her humility, and her love of her husband, the AVMA, and the profession." At the 2018 AVMA convention in Denver, the AVMA presented her with the Global Veterinary Service Award for promoting veterinary medicine worldwide. …
More than one third of pet owners open to vegan pet dietsMarch 29, 2019A study by Canada's Ontario Veterinary College (OVC) has found 35 percent of pet owners are interested in feeding their pets vegan diets. Conducted in collaboration with researchers in New Zealand, the international online survey of 3,673 dog and cat owners looked at what kind of food they fed themselves and their pets. Of the 35 percent of owners, 55 percent said they would require proof a vegan diet would meet their pets' nutritional needs, would want endorsement from their veterinarian, and would want the pet food to be easily available. "While only a small proportion of pet owners are currently feeding plant-based diets to their pets, it is safe to say interest in the diets is likely to grow," says lead author, Sarah Dodd, currently a PhD candidate at OVC's department of population medicine. "People have been hearing about how vegan diets are linked to lowered risks of cancer and other health benefits in humans." The survey also found the following: • A little under six percent of owners were vegan and more than 27 percent of them already fed their pets a vegan diet; and • Seventy-eight percent of vegan pet owners were interested in …
Students participate in a yearlong veterinary innovation competitionMarch 28, 2019Three teams of veterinary students were awarded a total of $17,500 from VetPrep's third annual live finale of The IDEA, a veterinary student innovation competition. The yearlong competition was hosted by VetPrep in partnership with Merck Animal Health and was also supported by the Veterinary Innovation Council (VIC) from Texas A&M and Hill's Science Diet. The IDEA was created to provide veterinary students the opportunity to bring their ideas to life. "We created The IDEA to support young veterinary entrepreneurs because we started our company when we were veterinary students and our business allows us to interact with veterinary students frequently," says VetPrep cofounder, Ira Gordon, DVM. "Students have so many great ideas, but oftentimes lack the confidence, resources, and mentorship they need to turn their ideas into reality. The IDEA can help with all three. It is an opportunity for us to provide the type of assistance we wish was available to us back when we were students." The competition comprised 43 students from North America, the U.K., and New Zealand. The chosen semifinalists then worked with Aaron Massecar, PhD, from the VIC to fully develop their ideas. After being narrowed down, the three remaining teams competed in the …
