Morris Animal Foundation receives $2.3M legacy giftAugust 30, 2018Morris Animal Foundation (MAF) has received a $2.3 million legacy gift from the estate of Karl D. Smith, a Denver businessman. Smith, who passed away in 2009 at the age of 83, first learned about MAF through a past employee and was supportive of its mission to advance the health of animals. "We are deeply appreciative to Mr. Smith for his visionary generosity almost 10 years ago in making a planned gift to benefit animals everywhere, and we are grateful to his estate trustee and estate attorney who have stewarded Mr. Smith's legacy so carefully," said Tiffany Grunert, acting CEO and president of MAF. MAF is a nonprofit, global organization focused on improving the health of animals, including dogs, cats, horses, and wildlife. Founded by a veterinarian in 1948, its mission is to bridge science and resources to advance the health of animals. "The significance of this gift to Morris Animal Foundation cannot be overstated," said Grunert. "Legacy giving is vitally important to our mission as we work to increase the number of studies we fund to address critical animal health problems around the world."
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Veterinary groups support protecting, strengthening licensure requirementsAugust 30, 2018The American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA), the American Association of Veterinary State Boards (AAVSB), the Association of American Veterinary Medical Colleges (AAVMC) and the National Association of Veterinary Technicians in America (NAVTA) have released a joint statement in support of standardizing and improving licensure requirements and standards for veterinarians and veterinary technicians. Licensure ensures veterinary professionals meet a necessary level of competence through recognized educational programs and successful completion of an examination, said the organizations in a statement. Additionally, licensure ensures that veterinarians are properly trained to comply with state regulations on controlled substances such as opioids. "Veterinarians take care of our pets, protect our food supply, defend against bioterrorism and prevent diseases that threaten public health," said John de Jong, DVM, AVMA president. "It's important we ensure that each member of the veterinary profession, including veterinary technicians, is armed with the necessary knowledge to do these jobs effectively. Strong licensing standards help us do that." "Professional licensure goes to the heart of protecting the health and wellbeing of people and animals," said Andrew T. Maccabe, DVM, MPH, JD, AAVMC CEO. "It also affects the future development …
Torigen Pharma wins 2018 KC Animal Health Corridor Innovation AwardAugust 30, 2018Torigen Pharmaceuticals Inc., a Farmington, Conn., company that provides personalized cancer immunotherapies to the veterinary market, has won the Innovation Award at the KC Animal Health Corridor Investment Forum in Kansas City, Mo. Torigen presented its autologous immunotherapeutic cancer vaccine, VVax-001, for dogs during the forum. The company was honored with the award and a check for $10,000. Torigen was among 12 emerging animal health companies from three countries who competed for investments in a "Shark Tank" format with more than 400 venture capital funds, investment firms, and potential partners at the 10th annual KC Animal Health Investment Forum on Aug. 21. Each company was given 10 minutes to present their ideas followed by a five-minute Q&A. Presenting companies were seeking anywhere from $500,000 to $20 million in funding and had revenue projections of $20 million within five to seven years. A national committee of agricultural and animal health experts selected the finalists. The Investment Forum in Kansas City is one of the world's only opportunities for early-and mid-stage animal health entrepreneurs to present their business plans and provide an inside look at the newest technology and innovations to potential investors. "The Global Animal Health Investment Forum is the …
Bovine spongiform encephalopathy-positive beef cow discovered in FloridaAugust 30, 2018The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has reported an atypical case of bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE), or "mad cow disease," a neurologic disease of cattle, in a six-year-old mixed-breed beef cow in Florida. This animal never entered slaughter channels and at no time presented a risk to the food supply or to human health in the U.S., stressed the USDA. According to the USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service's (APHIS) National Veterinary Services Laboratories (NVSL), the cow was confirmed positive for atypical H-type BSE. The animal was initially tested at the Colorado State University Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory (a National Animal Health Laboratory Network laboratory) as part of routine surveillance of cattle that are deemed unsuitable for slaughter. APHIS and Florida veterinary officials are gathering more information on the case. Two forms of bovine spongiform encephalopathy BSE is not contagious and exists in classical and atypical types, according to the USDA. Classical BSE is the form that occurred primarily in the U.K., beginning in the late 1980s, and it has been linked to variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease in humans, the organization stated. The primary source of infection for classical BSE is feed contaminated with the infectious prion agent, such as …
Boehringer Ingelheim receives new label claim for repro productAugust 29, 2018Boehringer Ingelheim announced that Cystorelin is now labeled for use in combination with Synchsure to synchronize estrous cycles to allow for fixed-time artificial insemination in lactating dairy cows and beef cows. When used together, the products can provide producers with shortened time to first service, increased estrus-detection efficiency, and improved first-service conception rate in their cattle. "Cystorelin and Synchsure deliver dependability and flexibility that can improve overall herd reproductive performance," Stephen Foulke, DVM, professional services veterinarian with Boehringer Ingelheim. "We're proud to help producers take the guesswork out of their breeding programs and to help their herd conceive and calve on schedule, saving them time and money." While many factors have a large impact on reproductive successes such as nutrition, cow comfort, heat abatement, dry cow management and more, Dr. Foulke said the best reproduction program is one that can get done consistently and correctly. "I recommend working closely with your herd veterinarian to determine your specific reproduction goals to implement the best synchronization program for your needs," he said. Visit SyncTheHerd.com to learn more about Cystorelin and Synchsure.
FDA, Health Canada issue pet product alert for King Bio due to microbial contaminationAugust 29, 2018The Food and Drug Administration and Health Canada are warning pet owners not to use products, including those labeled as homeopathic drug products, made by King Bio Inc. in Asheville, N.C., and labeled as Dr. King's, due to high levels of microbial contamination identified at the manufacturing site. King Bio has expanded a voluntary recall to include all water-based drug products marketed for animals. The FDA and Health Canada recommend consumers stop using and dispose of these products immediately. King Bio manufactures pet products for urinary incontinence and digestion relief. The full list of products is listed on the King Bio website. Pets who use these products could have an increased risk of serious infection that could require veterinary attention due to high levels of microbial contamination, according to the FDA. Pet owners who have purchased these products should contact their veterinarian if they have concerns or observe signs of an infection after use of these products. According to King Bio, after a recent FDA inspection, several microbial contaminants were found in its products, including Burkholderia multivorans, which is a strain of bacteria called Burkholderia cepacia complex that can cause illness …
Midmark Corp. unveils new corporate brand identityAugust 29, 2018Midmark Corp., a provider of veterinary, medical, and dental equipment, launched a new corporate brand identity that "captures the company's commitment to a better care experience and the growing value Midmark offers customers as they focus on improving clinical outcomes," said the company in a statement. The rebranding, which features a new website, logo, tagline (Designing better care), and more, "mirror[s] the transformation of Midmark from an equipment manufacturer into a clinical environmental design company," the company stated. "Care providers are always looking for new approaches, innovative technologies and proven solutions that can help enhance the patient and caregiver experience and improve the quality of care provided," said John Baumann, president and CEO. "Improving the experience between the patient and caregiver is at the heart of everything we do. Whether we are talking about a doctor's office, dental practice, or veterinary clinic, better care starts with a better-designed care environment, which leads to better outcomes." The Dayton, Ohio-based company, founded in 1915, has production and administrative offices in Versailles, Ohio; six other locations in the U.S.; and subsidiaries in India, Italy, and the U.K.
OSU enrolling dogs with mammary cancer for clinical trialAugust 29, 2018Oregon State University's Lois Bates Acheson Veterinary Teaching Hospital is now enrolling dogs with mammary cancer in a new clinical trial. Dog owners considering standard tumor removal surgery may be able to choose a new surgical procedure involving an intravenous injection of a cancer cell-illuminating nanoparticle compound that highlights exactly which tissue needs to be removed. After the mammary tumor is removed, the surrounding tissue is irradiated with an infrared laser that causes the nanoparticle compound to heat up, killing any remaining cancer cells. The compound, developed by researchers in the Oregon State University College of Pharmacy, has been found to effectively cure cancer in mice. The new procedure eventually may be most beneficial for treating tumors in challenging anatomic areas, such as the brain and spine, according to Milan Milovancev, DVM, DACVS-SA, an OSU associate professor of small animal surgery participating in the study. The Oregon State University Carlson College of Veterinary Medicine is a member of a national consortium of veterinary oncology centers, managed by the National Institutes of Health, with a focus on translational veterinary medicine. Owners who believe their pets may be good trial candidates can ask their veterinarian …
Eli Global acquires veterinary derm company Stratford PharmaceuticalsAugust 28, 2018Eli Global LLC, based in Durham, N.C., has acquired Stratford Pharmaceuticals LLC, DBA Stratford Animal Health. Financial terms of the transaction were not disclosed. Stratford, which currently provides a wide arrangement of dermatology products to more than 10,000 veterinary hospitals in the U.S. and eight other countries, will continue to operate independently under the leadership of Brian Nugent, founder and CEO, from its Oldsmar, Fla., corporate headquarters. Greg Lindberg is chairman and CEO of Eli. "Partnering with Eli Global was a natural fit as it allows Stratford to keep our corporate identity, provide stability and continuity for our amazing employees while continuing to provide excellent products and services to our large base of veterinary hospitals in the U.S. and abroad," said Nugent. "In addition, Eli Global's resources include more than 100 businesses with 7,500-plus employees and over $20 Billion in proforma assets, which will allow Stratford to continue its double-digit organic growth while at the same time being extremely aggressive in the pursuit of animal health acquisitions."
24 VCA Animal Hospitals donate $12K to NEADS nonprofitAugust 28, 2018VCA Animal Hospitals and its nonprofit partner organization VCA Charities have donated more than $12,000 to NEADS Inc. (formerly known as the National Education for Assistance Dog Services and Dogs for Deaf and Disabled Americans), the internationally accredited nonprofit organization that raises and trains service dogs for people with disabilities. From the beginning of April to June 2, 24 animal hospitals in Massachusetts and New Hampshire collected donations by encouraging clients to round up their transactions to the nearest dollar or to donate online. "We want to thank all of those clients, donors, and staff for helping to make this years' 'Pennies for Pets' a success," said Lauren McVey, regional operations director for VCA Animal Hospitals. "These funds are helping our valued animal-welfare partner groups improve lives in our community." NEADS service dogs offers service dogs for adults and children with a physical disability, service dogs for veterans, and hearing dogs and service dogs for children with autism or other developmental disabilities. The organization's assistance dogs are partnered with professionals in classroom, hospital, ministry, and courthouse settings. Learn more at neads.org. Reported by Sentinel & Enterprise.
