ImproMed Human Resources Webinar Series To Begin July 15May 14, 2010 ImproMed Inc. of Oshkosh, Wis., will sponsor a four-part human resources webinar series beginning July 15. “Performance Management” will run consecutive Thursdays at 2:30 p.m. CST through Aug. 5. Participants will be eligible for four RACE-approved continuing education credits. Host Katherine Dobbs, RVT, CVPM, PHR from interface Veterinary HR Systems LLC, will focus on the following topics: The Performance Management Cycle—How to Get Your Team to Do Their Job; The First Building Blocks—Mission, Policy Manual and Job Descriptions; Taking it to the Next Level—Training People and Evaluating Performance; and Endings and Beginnings—Progressive Discipline, Effective Termination and Recruiting New Hires “In my series, I will be showing how to utilize your company’s mission to the fullest, and how to weave this vision into the building blocks of human resources and specifically performance management,” Dobbs said. “I will also detail the necessary components of a good job description delving into the issue that job descriptions are so much more than a list of duties, the importance of coaching, counseling and feedback, performance evaluations and the significance of documentation.” ImproMed clients can register here. Non-customers can register here. Read Katherine Dobbs weekly staff …
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AAHA Releases Guidelines For Canine/Feline Diabetes ManagementMay 13, 2010AAHA Releases Guidelines for Canine/Feline Diabetes ManagementAAHA Releases Guidelines for Canine/Feline Diabetes ManagementnewslinePosted: Thursday, May 13, 2010, 6:38 p.m., EDT The American Animal Hospital Association has released new guidelines for canine and feline diabetes management. The “AAHA Diabetes Management Guidelines for Dogs and Cats” provides current recommendations for the diagnosis, management and treatment of diabetes mellitus (DM). Specifically, the guidelines cover diagnostic criteria and initial assessment, initial treatment and monitoring, recommended diagnostic testing, diet therapy goals and management, ongoing home monitoring, troubleshooting and website links for staff and client education. DM is caused by loss or dysfunction of pancreatic beta cells in both dogs and cats. However, AAHA notes that important differences exist between the development of canine and feline DM. Understanding these differences will help predict management success, according to the association. Click here for the guidelines, which were made possible through an educational grant from Intervet/Schering-Plough Animal Health. <HOME>
Penn Vet To Show Off Large-Animal Critical Care CenterMay 13, 2010 The University of Pennsylvania’s School of Veterinary Medicine will host an open house June 5 for the James M. Moran Jr. Critical Care Center, the newest facility on the New Bolton Center Kennett Square campus. The 18,540-square-foot center will help care for critically ill patients admitted to George D. Widener Hospital, which sees about 6,000 patients annually. By offering a very high level of biosecurity for the most-at-risk population, all the patients in New Bolton Center hospital facilities end up benefiting, according to the university. “The way that animals are moved, the way veterinary hospital stalls are cleaned, the way staff moves from stall to stall, even the way air circulates all offer opportunities to limit the movement of infectious organisms about hospital wards,” said Helen Aceto, VMD, Ph.D., director of biosecurity at New Bolton Center. Preventing direct interaction between patients is key to the new facility, according to the university. For example, each stall is self-contained with Plexiglas viewing windows on the interior and individual access on the exterior. Patients, veterinarians, staff and bedding enter and leave the stall through the same door. Stalls are independently ventilated. Each wing also has a dedicated cleaning and …
Nutramax to Move Operations to South CarolinaMay 12, 2010Nutramax Laboratories Inc. and Nutramax Manufacturing Inc. have plans to locate new operations in Lancaster, S.C. The move will allow the nutraceutical developer to increase its production capacity for new and existing products in its veterinary and consumer divisions. Nutramax will invest about $12.5 million in acquiring, updating and expanding existing facilities. The move will also create more than 200 new jobs over the next five years, according to Gov. Mark Sanford, who made the announcement May 11, 2010, with the South Carolina Department of Commerce and the Lancaster County Economic Development Corp. Nutramax expects to begin operations this fall and hopes to start hiring within the next 90 days. “Our decision to relocate and expand our animal health, and eventually our consumer health businesses in South Carolina is the culmination of a three-year search,” said Todd Henderson, DVM, president of the companies. “The support of Governor Sanford, the South Carolina Department of Commerce, Lancaster County and City of Lancaster were critical to our decision. We look forward to final approval of applications and agreements so that we can proceed with this important project. “We feel that South Carolina and Lancaster County provide the perfect setting for our businesses to …
Abaxis, Heksa Among Companies Attending Financial ConferenceMay 11, 2010SunTrust Robinson Humphrey will hold its inaugural veterinary conference on May 12 in New York City. The one-day conference is designed to give institutional clients market perspective and insight from mid- and small-cap animal health care companies, including Abaxis Inc., Heska Corp., Idexx Laboratories, MWI Veterinary Supply Inc. and VCA Antech Inc. About 30 to 40 attendees are expected. The animal health care market has advantages such as limited regulatory and reimbursement risk, which often makes for attractive investments, according to SunTrust. SunTrust Robinson Humphrey is the full-service corporate and investment banking arm of SunTrust Banks Inc. The Atlanta company provides capital raising, strategic advisory, risk management and investment solutions. It also offers fixed-income and equity research, sales and trading for institutional investors. For details, visit www.suntrustrh.com/ConferencesEvents/conferencedetails.asp?cid=44.
Iowa State To Host Canine Breeder’s SymposiumMay 11, 2010 Iowa State to Host Canine Breeder’s SymposiumIowa State to Host Canine Breeder’s SymposiumnewslinePosted: Tuesday, May 11, 2010, 12:58 p.m., EDT The American Kennel Club and the Canine Health Foundation will be presenting a canine breeder’s symposium June 5-6 at Iowa State University. The symposium is ideal for both novice and experienced breeders, according to the two groups. Continuing education credits are available for veterinarians and veterinary technicians. Symposium topics will include advances in genetic health, genetics and pedigree analysis, canine structure, nutrition and reproduction, among others. The cost of attendance for both days is $150. The cost is $275 for those obtaining CE credits. Click here to register. For details, contact Erika Werne, director of education and communications with the Canine Health Foundation, at 888-682-9696 or via email at eaw@caninehealthfoundation.org. <HOME>
Despite Odd Requests, The Client Is Always RightMay 11, 2010BY PHIL ZELTZMAN, DVM, DIPL. ACVS 04/26/2010 - Is Palliative Surgery Ethical? 04/12/2010 - Reflections of a Modern Dinosaur 03/29/2010 - I Don't Want to Put Him Through This Ultrasound revealed a hepatic mass in Colson, an 11-year-old male golden retriever. Surgery was recommended to excise the mass. The owner is a physician's assistant who works with a human surgeon. He insisted that a GI endoscopy be performed first. Despite the oddity of the request, we accepted. The scope revealed ulcerative lesions in the pylorus, with a mass in the duodenum. Impression smears were suggestive of lymphoma. Surgery was canceled. Geisha, a 9-year-old female shepherd mix, presented with a mass in the right anal sac. Abdominal radiographs showed an obviously enlarged sublumbar lymph node. We discussed the pros and the cons of surgery. As surprising as it might seem, an enlarged sublumbar lymph node actually does not decrease life expectancy after excision of the anal sac mass. The owner, who had just started a new job and clearly could not afford treatment, requested an abdominal ultrasound. Despite the oddity of the request, we accepted. The ultrasound revealed a splenic mass. He then requested surgery. We removed the anal sac mass, the sublumbar lymph …
Vets Take Lead In Promoting Animal Disaster Preparedness DayMay 7, 2010 The Federal Emergency Management Agency’s Citizen Corps is asking veterinarians to educate clients about National Animal Disaster Preparedness Day, May 8. The government created the observance to raise awareness about the importance of planning for pets’ safety before disaster strikes. Disasters include hurricanes, tornados, wildfires, floods, earthquakes and oil spills, among others. Veterinarians can turn to the American Veterinary Medical Association for resources. The AVMA offers “Saving the Whole Family,” a client brochure on providing for pets during an emergency, and “Disaster Preparedness for Veterinary Practices,” a brochure specifically for veterinarians. These and other disaster planning resources are available at: AVMA.org/disaster/default.asp. The U.S. Department of Homeland Security also offers a brochure for veterinarians and pet owners. The brochure, developed in consultation with the AVMA, the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, the American Kennel Club and the Humane Society of the United States, outlines three key steps in pet disaster preparedness: 1. Prepare. Get a pet emergency supply kit, including food, water, medicines and medical records, first aid kit, collar with ID tag, leash or harness, crate or pet carrier and sanitation items. 2. Plan: What will you …
FDA Approves Vetsulin Critical-Need ProgramMay 6, 2010 Intervet/Schering-Plough Animal Health will begin offering a limited supply of Vetsulin (porcine insulin zinc suspension) through its Vetsulin Critical-Need Program, starting May 24. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved the program after hearing concerns from veterinarians regarding the supply of the product. In November, the FDA questioned the stability of Vetsulin and recommended that diabetic dogs and cats receiving Vetsulin be switched to other insulin products. “In response to the Vetsulin product alert issued in November 2009, Intervet/Schering-Plough Animal Health has been working with the FDA to address an issue identified with our Vetsulin product,” Christopher Pappas Jr., DVM, director of technical services, wrote in a letter to veterinarians this week. “Since that time, we have recommended that pets be transitioned to other insulin products as we anticipated a limitation on supply and eventual supply depletion. During the process of transitioning pets to other insulin products, we heard from a number of veterinarians and pet owners who expressed significant concerns that specific dogs and cats cannot be effectively managed on an insulin product other than Vetsulin. “After working with the FDA on this situation, Intervet can now offer a limited supply of Vetsulin to …
P&G To Buy Natura Pet ProductsMay 6, 2010 Procter & Gamble Co. of Cincinnati reported May 5 that it signed a deal to acquire privately held pet food company Natura Pet Products. Financial terms were not disclosed. P&G said the move will allow it to expand into the holistic and natural pet food segment, which according to the company complements its Iams and Eukanuba brands. Natura’s brands include Evo, Innova, Karma, California Natural, Healthwise and Mother Nature. They are sold in a limited number of pet specialty stores and through veterinarians, mainly in the U.S. and Canada. “These outstanding brands and the great employees of Natura Pet Products will complement our Eukanuba and Iams brands very well,” said Dan Rajczak, senior vice president of P&G’s global pet care and snacks business. “This acquisition gives us a strong position in the holistic and natural pet food segment. It will enable us to enhance the health and well-being of even more dogs and cats and represents an exciting new source of growth for our business.” Natura founder and owner John Rademakers said “the right company” can take Natura's brands to the next level. “P&G is that company,” he said. “We know that P&G will …
