VCA Specialty Referral Hospital Breaks Ground In IndianapolisOctober 5, 2010 VCA Animals Hospitals reported today that VCA Advanced Veterinary Care Center has broken ground in Fishers, Ind. The new 32,000-square-foot facility will bring together the services of both VCA Indiana Veterinary Specialists and Emergency Center and VCA Veterinary Specialty Center. “We are very excited about the start of construction for our brand new VCA Advanced Veterinary Care Center, a referral and emergency care hospital, which will enhance access to specialty veterinary care and services in our community,” said Stephen Hadley, DVM, group vice president for VCA Animal Hospitals, a division of VCA Antech of Los Angeles. “In our new center, we will bring together more specialists and the most technologically advanced services and equipment. We are eagerly watching the progress and anticipate the completion of our hospital in the fall of 2011." The center will include modern exam rooms, onsite general surgical suites, an in-house laboratory and 24-hour emergency care, among other features. Specialty services will include oncology, radiation oncology, internal medicine, cardiology, surgery, ophthalmology and physical therapy. Locally-based M.D. Architects P.C. developed the design of the facility and REI Construction of Indianapolis is handling construction services.
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Healing AfghanistanOctober 5, 2010 A modern dairy plant sits down the road from where U.S. Army Capt. Ryan K. Miller, DVM, is stationed. Built five years ago near Kabul, Afghanistan, the plant was to produce pasteurized milk and ice cream and create jobs for local Afghans. But after just three years, the plant shut down because the cooperative no longer could afford the diesel fuel needed to keep the factory running. The idled plant is a daily reminder of the challenges that face Dr. Miller and the multinational coalition as they rebuild and improve Afghanistan’s infrastructure and economy. And it signals a shift in focus, he says, from expensive, sophisticated agricultural projects to simpler, sustainable ones that better suit the needs, capabilities and culture of Afghan farmers. An Afghan man requesting treatment for his sick camel turns up after a training seminar in Helmand Province. “The [dairy plant] was great, but now we can see that it was too complicated and too expensive to operate and make a profit,” says Miller, who works with the army’s Cooperative Medical Assistance unit, which provides technical advice on livestock and agriculture across Afghanistan. “In the last couple of years we’ve …
Schwarzenegger Vetoes Landlord Declaw/Debark BillOctober 4, 2010 California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger rejected a bill late last week that would have prohibited landlords from requiring tenants or potential tenants to declaw or devocalize their animal as a condition of occupancy. “I support the goal of this bill, which would preclude landlords from making inappropriate medical decisions as a condition of occupancy,” Schwarzenegger said in his veto message. “However, I cannot sign a measure that contains findings and declarations by the Legislature that are unsupported by science. “In addition, this measure suggests that declawing should be prohibited for any ‘non-therapeutic’ reason, which would include the legitimate medical needs of a pet owner. Regrettably, this bill goes too far in attempting to deal with inappropriate demands by landlords. For these reasons, I am unable to sign this bill.” AB 2743, introduced by Assemblyman Pedro Nava in February, contended that declawing and devocalization have irreversible effects on the animals. It also stated that such procedures may have the unintended consequence of creating potential public health and safety concerns. For example, there may be a safety risk to police officers posed by a devocalized attack dog present on property that law enforcement officers have legal …
UC Davis Vet School Dean To RetireOctober 1, 2010 The University of California, Davis, School of Veterinary Medicine reported today that Bennie Osburn, DVM, Ph.D., will retire as dean in the summer of 2011, a position he has held for 14 years. A national search for his successor will begin within the next few months, according to Provost and Executive Vice Chancellor Enrique Lavernia. “Dean Osburn’s accomplishments and his vision for veterinary medicine and education reach far beyond U.C. Davis,” Lavernia said. “He is one of the longest-serving veterinary school deans in the nation and has been a tireless advocate for the profession and for veterinary education, as well as an outstanding colleague. “California and the nation have benefited from his steady leadership and his resolute commitment to effecting positive change for the school in everything from facilities to research support to curriculum.” Osburn addressed faculty, staff and students this week. “It has been my pleasure and privilege to serve as dean,” he said. “Leading this school has been one of the most rewarding challenges I have ever experienced, and together we have accomplished a great deal in a short amount of time.”
Do you own a spleen?October 1, 2010BY PHIL ZELTZMAN, DVM, DACVS, CERTIFIED FEAR FREE Dr. M. is a funny woman. When she interviews potential technicians, she knows not to ask illegal questions, such as marital status, ethnic origin and age. Yet without blinking an eye, she asks possible hires if they have a spleen. This was so intriguing to me that of course I had to investigate. Our colleague explained: "I read once in a human morbidity and mortality review that if you do not have your spleen and you are bitten by a dog, the bite has the potential to be fatal. There have been reports of deaths in spleen-less people because of the organ's role in our immunity. Since I've read this article, I thought I should make sure any potential technician does own a spleen." Indeed, an old JAVMA article* describes dysgonic fermenter-2 infections. Since then, the "fastidious, gram-negative, opportunistic" bacterium was renamed Capnocytophaga canimorsus. More recently, Scott Weese, DVM, DACVIM, has written about this topic in his excellent blog (wormsandgermsblog.com). His is an associate professor in the Department of Pathobiology at the University of Guelph, Ontario. Simply said, our internist has become an infectious disease specialist. Here how …
Vet Student Scholarship Applications Available Oct. 1September 30, 2010 Veterinary students are being invited to apply for the second annual Veterinary Student Scholarship Program, made possible by a partnership between the American Veterinary Medical Foundation and Pfizer Animal Health of New York. Applications will be accepted from Oct. 1 to Nov. 15. Pfizer Animal Health will provide up to $625,000 in student scholarships—about 250 scholarships of $2,500 each—to eligible second- and third-year veterinary medicine students studying at the U.S. and Caribbean-based AVMA-accredited colleges of veterinary medicine. In addition to traditional selection criteria such as academic excellence and financial need, the scholarships will focus on meeting ongoing needs of the veterinary profession: diversity, sustainability and the availability of veterinarians to serve in mixed or rural practices. Scholarships will be awarded to students in all areas, including food animal medicine, small animal clinical medicine, research, government services and organized medicine. Last year’s program awarded 222 veterinary students with a total of $555,000 in scholarships. To apply, visit www.avmf.org/pfizer.
U Of Florida Plans Grand Opening For Small Animal HospitalSeptember 28, 2010 The University of Florida will be hosting a weeklong series of events in October to celebrate the grand opening of its new Small Animal Hospital. The $58 million facility, which has been in construction for about two years, officially opens Nov. 1. “We are thrilled to see construction almost completed and everything falling into place after all the time, energy and passion that has gone into creating the new U.F. Small Animal Hospital,” said Glen Hoffsis, DVM, dean of the college. “We want everyone to know their efforts are appreciated and hope everyone will take advantage of the opportunity to tour the new hospital and see for themselves what the excitement is all about.” Events include: • Tuesday, Oct. 19: Sneak preview and building dedication for faculty, staff and students. (4 p.m. – 6 p.m.) • Wednesday, Oct. 20: More previews for faculty, staff and students. (4 p.m. – 6 p.m.) • Friday, Oct. 22: Invitation-only donor recognition event and official grand opening dedication. (6 p.m. – 9 p.m.) • Saturday, Oct. 23: An annual continuing education event hosted by the university for veterinary receptionists and technicians will be held in the morning, followed by a two-hour …
Schwarzenegger Vetoes Pet Insurance BillSeptember 27, 2010 California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger on Friday rejected a bill that would have required greater disclosure from pet insurers. Existing law already allows the Department of Insurance to regulate pet insurance if there is a demonstrated need, Schwarzenegger said in his veto message. “As such, this bill is not necessary,” he said. Assembly Bill 2411, introduced by Assembly Member Dave Jones in February, aimed to help consumers make informed choices about pet insurance by improving disclosures of the benefits and limitations included in insurance policies issued for veterinary services. Specifically, the bill would have required that insurers post coverage limits, benefit schedules, preexisting conditions and other limitations of pet insurance policies on the insurer’s website. The bill also would have allowed consumers to easily track complaints on the Department of Insurance’s website, according to Jones <Home>
Dr. Peter Eyre Receives Top Honors From University Of EdinburghSeptember 23, 2010 The University of Edinburgh Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies recently honored Peter Eyre, DVM, Ph.D., with a degree of Doctor of Veterinary Medicine and Surgery, honoris causa, for his contributions to veterinary medicine. Dr. Eyre, who served as the second dean of the college, is currently a professor and dean emeritus of the Virginia-Maryland Regional College of Veterinary Medicine. Eyre was also invited to sign the University of Edinburgh’s Sponsio Academica registry, joining a small number of individuals who received similar distinctions since the university’s founding more than 400 years ago. “It is humbling to be honored among such noted individuals, especially at my alma mater – 50 years after I received my first veterinary degree there,” Eyre said. Among Eyre’s accomplishments: leading a series of initiatives that consolidated the operating partnership between Virginia and Maryland, serving on the board of directors and as president of the Association of American Veterinary Medical Colleges, receiving the American Veterinary Medical Association President’s Award and acquiring and completing more than $1.2 million in sponsored grants and contracts as a biomedical researcher. <HOME>
Entest BioMedical Entering Veterinary MarketSeptember 22, 2010 Entest BioMedical Inc. plans to get its immunotherapeutic cancer vaccine for dogs, ImenVax, on the market within 12 months, the La Mesa, Calif., company said Tuesday during a blogcast. The vaccine would mark Entest BioMedical’s entry into the veterinary market. One out of three to four dogs will develop cancer and 50 percent of dogs older than 10 will get cancer, according to David Koos, Ph.D., chairman and CEO of Entest BioMedical. “This is a huge market,” he said. Entest BioMedical recently adopted a “veterinary first” approach with its research and products. This means the company’s primary focus will be on the veterinary market, not the human market as it was previously. The shift, according to Koos, will help Entest BioMedical get to market and generate revenue faster than if the company focused on human trials. Koos noted that getting animal products to market is easier than with human products because of different regulatory structures. Ultimately, data the company generates from its animal studies can support human trials, either from Entest BioMedical or through partnerships, Koos said. The company’s immediate focus is the veterinary oncology market with ImenVax I, II and III. As …
