FDA Initiates Animal Drug Grant ProgramMay 28, 2009 The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has initiated a grant program to support the development of new animal drugs intended for minor species or minor uses in major species. Major species include: • Dogs • Cats • Horses • Cattle • Pigs • Turkeys • Chickens All other animal species, except humans, are considered minor species. The grant program was established by the Minor Use and Minor Species Animal Health Act of 2004. A MUMS grant must be for the purpose of “defraying the costs of qualified safety and effectiveness testing expenses incurred in connection with the development of designated new animal drugs.” The FDA will offer $750,000 in grants for the fiscal year ending Sept. 30. Grants for total costs will be available for up to $50,000 per year for up to two years for routine studies; and up to $100,000 per year for up to two years for studies of unusual complexity, duration or size. A third year of funding may be available for long-term toxicology studies. Applications must be submitted electronically through Grants.gov by July 1. Click here for details.
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Study: Household Income Strong Predictor Whether Cats Are NeuteredMay 27, 2009 About 80 percent of cats living in U.S. households are neutered, according to a new study published in the Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Assn. The telephone survey of 1,205 adults, representing 850 cats, further revealed that annual family income was the strongest predictor of whether cats in the household were neutered, with middle- to higher-income households reporting rates of more than 90 percent. The peer-reviewed study is said to be the first nationally representative study to thoroughly examine the correlation between income and neuter status. The study was based on data collected by Harris Interactive for the nonprofit group Alley Cat Allies. “This study indicates that spaying and neutering is an accepted, established practice among the large majority of Americans with pet cats,” said Becky Robinson, president of Alley Cat Allies. “This is a very positive finding. As a result, our nation’s pet cats are living much healthier lives.” The proportion of cats that were neutered differed significantly across annual family income groups: 96.2 percent of cats in households with an income of $75,000 were neutered. 90.7 percent of cats in households with an income …
UC Davis Dean Joins MMI BoardMay 26, 2009 Bennie Osburn, dean of the University of California, Davis, School of Veterinary Medicine, has joined Medical Management International Inc.’s board of directors. MMI operates under the name Banfield, The Pet Hospital, which is based in Portland, Ore. The three-year appointment of Dr. Osburn, DVM, Ph.D., Dipl. ACVP, is effective immediately. “Every academic leader, doctor and professional who is appointed to our board brings a wealth of knowledge and experience. Dr. Osburn is no exception,” said Pamela Mars Wright, chairman of the board. “We continually work to build relationships that help establish and refine best practices and medical standards that we can share with the veterinary profession. Dr. Osburn’s contributions will certainly help the board work toward achieving these goals.” Osburn has been involved in key discoveries involving food animal viruses, developmental immunology, congenital infections and food safety. He has produced more than 280 peer-review publications. <HOME>
Nestle Purina Launches Weight-Loss ChallengeMay 22, 2009 Nestle Purina PetCare of St. Louis, Mo., is sponsoring the 2009 OM Weight-Loss Challenge, a program designed to facilitate responsible, lasting weight loss in dogs and cats. Before beginning the challenge, eligible pets will be given a health assessment by their veterinarian. Pets in the program may be placed on Purina Veterinary Diets OM Overweight Management Canine or Feline Formula, low-fat, low-calorie diets. Veterinarians will provide owners with pet weight-loss tips. Some clinics may offer tools such as a feeding cup to accurately measure portion sizes. Clients are encouraged to return to the clinic with their pets at 30-, 60- and 90-day intervals to measure their progress and assess their health. Veterinary clinics can qualify to win prizes if pets lose at least 5 percent of their starting body weight from June 1 to Nov. 30. Three clinics drawn at random will win Best Buy gift cards. Pet owners will receive a $10 rebate on a purchase of OM, or $12 on a purchase of OM and Lite Snackers. “The Purina Veterinary Diets OM Weight-Loss Challenge offers veterinary clinics tools to establish protocols and programs that make it easy …
Nutro Recalls Limited Range Of Dry Cat Food ProductsMay 21, 2009 Nutro Products of Franklin, Tenn., has issued a voluntary recall of select varieties of its Natural Choice Complete Care and Nutro Max dry cat foods with “Best If Used By Dates” between May 12, 2010, and Aug. 22, 2010. The recalled products contain incorrect levels of zinc and potassium, according to the company. Nutro pointed to a production error at a U.S.-based premix supplier as the cause of the zinc and potassium imbalance. According to Nutro, two mineral premixes, which are added to cat food as nutritional supplements, were affected by the production error. One premix contained excessive levels of zinc and under-supplemented potassium. The second premix under-supplemented potassium, the company reported. Nutro said the issue was identified during an audit of its documentation from the supplier. The cat food products are being recalled in the United States and ten other countries. Affected products were distributed to retail customers in all 50 states, as well as to customers in Canada, Mexico, Japan, Korea, Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, New Zealand and Israel. Nutro said it is working with all of its distributors and retail customers to ensure the recalled products are removed from shelves. …
Former AAHA President Worth Dies Of CancerMay 19, 2009 Anna Worth, VMD, died May 16 following a long battle with pancreatic cancer, the American Animal Hospital Association reported. She was 55. “It is with heavy hearts and deep sadness that we say goodbye to such a compassionate and talented individual,” said John Albers, DVM, AAHA executive director. “AAHA will forever be indebted to Anna’s unwavering devotion and leadership to the association and our profession.” Dr. Worth served as AAHA president in 2008-2009 and on its board of directors since 2002. She also served on the veterinarian student work group, mentoring guidelines work group and referral task force , and was instrumental in the creation of the AAHA Helping Pets Fund. She and husband Bob Bergman, VMD, married during veterinary school. After graduating from the University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine in 1978, they moved to Shaftsbury, Vt., to own and operate West Mountain Animal Hospital. Worth was also a past president of the Society for Veterinary Medical Ethics and Vermont Veterinary Medical Association and a past chair of the Vermont Animal Cruelty Task Force, the Vermont Animal Welfare Committee and the Euthanasia Board for Animals. She also served as the Vermont …
Massachusetts Bill Aims To Regulate Pet GroomersMay 18, 2009 Legislation seeking to regulate pet groomers has once again been introduced in Massachusetts. Senate Bill 186, introduced by Sen. Richard Tisei (R-Wakefield), calls for the licensing of pet groomers and would establish a state board to oversee the licensing process. The measure also sets forth a number of provisions for pet grooming facilities. The Pet Industry Joint Advisory Council (PIJAC) has issue an alert about the proposal, claiming it includes “questionable standards.” A public hearing on SB 186 is scheduled for May 19 before the Joint Committee on Consumer Protection & Professional Licensure. Senate Bill 186 defines a pet groomer as someone who is “licensed as a bather/brusher, all-breed basic groomer or all-breed master/teacher groomer engaged in the practice of pet grooming, who bathes, brushes, clips or styles a pet for financial remuneration.” The measure calls for the establishment of a Board of Registration of Pet Groomers, which would consist of four licensed pet groomers with at least five years experience and one representative from the public. The board would be responsible for: • Providing for and regulating the practice of pet grooming • Providing for and regulating the apprenticeship of pet groomers
North Carolina Universities Team Up To Combat CancerMay 15, 2009 The North Carolina State University’s College of Veterinary Medicine and the University of North Carolina’s Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center have partnered to help combat non-Hodgkin lymphoma in canine and human patients. The disease is biologically similar in canines and humans, but is much easier to narrow down problematic areas in a dog’s genome because the genetic variation among dogs of the same breed is so much lower than genetic variation in humans, according to the universities. “Non-Hodgkin lymphoma ranks fifth in cancer deaths among human patients, and the mortality rate for dogs is even higher,” said Steven Suter, VMD, Ph.D., Dipl. ACVIM, professor of clinical sciences, who will help lead the NC State component. “By combining the strengths of our programs, we expect to enhance our understanding of the disease and speed improved treatments for people and pets. This is another example of ‘One Health,’ the concept of comparative medicine that acknowledges human and animal health relies on a common pool of medical and scientific knowledge and is supported by overlapping technologies and discoveries.” Labs from both institutions will study tissue samples from human and canine patients. The team said …
California Spay/Neuter Bill Sent To Suspense FileMay 13, 2009 Legislation in California that seeks to mandate spay and neuter surgery for most cats and dogs has been placed on the suspense file pending further review. Senate Bill 250, introduced in February by Sen. Dean Florez, requires that dogs be spayed or neutered unless their owner gets an unaltered dog license. It also requires that roaming cats be spayed and neutered. The Senate Appropriations Committee analysis on SB 250 states that the bill has costs associated with it in the short term. As a result, it was placed on a list with other bills which have a fiscal impact on state and local governments. All bills placed on the suspense file are scheduled to be taken up together at a later date. Staff and lawmakers review all bills that are projected to cost more than $150,000, and then decide which bills will be released to the committee and voted on. <HOME> Related article: California State Senator Introduces Spay/Neuter Bill
Imulan Names New Chief Scientific OfficerMay 12, 2009 Imulan BioTherapeutics LLC of St. Joseph, Mo., has named Daniel Gingerich, DVM, as its chief scientific officer. As such, he will oversee all research and development operations for the company’s T-Cell Receptor Peptides, Lymphocyte T-Cell Immune Modulator and the Immune Selective Anti-Inflammatory Derivatives. Dr. Gingerich will also coordinate the regulatory trials for atopic dermatitis, stomatitis, viral diseases and cardiovascular programs. Gingerich has held senior research positions with a variety of veterinary and human pharmaceutical and life science companies, such as Cincinnati-based Stolle Milk Biologics Inc. and Fort Dodge Laboratories, a division of Wyeth in Madison, N.J. “We are fortunate to have Dr. Gingerich join the team,” said Craig Woods, DVM, chief executive officer of Imulan. “He brings a world of experience in clinical trial design, regulatory affairs and immunology which will facilitate development of our new immune-based treatments and biologics.” In related news, Imulan reported positive echocardiographic findings from a recent pilot trial using its T-Cell Receptor peptides for canine dilated cardiomyopathy. “For the first time, we may have documented the clinical relevance of the link between immune modulation and therapeutic intervention in canine cardiomyopathy,” Gingerich said. “Our findings suggest an …
