Animal Welfare Groups In Texas To Rescue Pets Stranded By IkeApril 17, 2009 Local and national animal welfare groups are working together in Texas to rescue cats and dogs stranded by Hurricane Ike. Since last week, disaster teams have been in Nacogdoches, Texas, to help keep animals safe from the hurricane’s path, including the Humane Society of the United States, North Shore Animal League America, International Fund for Animal Welfare and American Humane Association. American Humane has deployed its Red Star Animal Emergency Services team and equipment to Texas to assist with search-and-rescue and sheltering operations for pets affected by Ike. The organization deployed Saturday to Beaumont at the request of the Texas State Animal Response Team and the Texas Animal Health Commission. IFAW, which played a vital role in safeguarding the lives of more than 1,300 animals in Louisiana affected by Hurricane Gustav, has been designated as the water rescue operations team in the Lake Charles region, at the Louisiana/Texas border, where the water surge was expected to reach 8 feet, according to spokesman Mike Booth. He said IFAW is equipped with an animal rescue trailer funded by Petfinder.com Foundation. Petfinder.com, an online database of adoptable pets, also launched its “Power of Paws” program Monday to help …
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Companies Pledge $4.5 Million To Support AVMA Programs, ServicesApril 17, 2009The American Veterinary Medical Assn. recently entered into a $4.5 million partnership with Fort Dodge Animal Health, Hill's Pet Nutrition and Merial, each pledging $380,000 annually over the next four years to support AVMA programs and services. The commitments are part of AVMA's new Platinum Partner Program, or P3, which will be unveiled July 19 during the 145th AVMA Annual Convention in New Orleans, according to the Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association. The partnership intends to provide members with new and improved initiatives and opportunities to enhance membership benefits, the journal reported. "Because of their support, we are able to provide top-notch continuing education, enhance our overall convention experience and promote the goals of the association," Ron DeHaven, DVM, AVMA executive vice president and chief executive officer, told JAVMA. "We truly appreciate their ongoing investment in the future of our profession." The companies, in return, will receive a range of benefits. For example, the companies will be recognized as "elite partners" with the AVMA through promotional efforts in the JAVMA, on the AVMA website and at AVMA's annual convention; and receive space in the JAVMA for advertising and for spotlight advertorials highlighting the …
More Dog Treats Added To Peanut Butter Recall ListApril 17, 2009 American Nutrition Inc. of Ogden, Utah, has issued a voluntary recall for certain baked dog treats containing peanut paste supplied by Peanut Corp. of America. PCA’s Blakely, Ga., facility is the subject of an ongoing U.S. Food and Drug Administration investigation into potential Salmonella contamination of peanut paste and other peanut products. The following items manufactured by American Nutrition are subject to this recall: • American Nutrition Vita Bone Flavors Large Dog Treats (48 oz. box) UPC 0 12623 73480 4, Best Before: all dates prior to 1/18/10 • American Nutrition Vita Bone Flavors Medium Dog Treats (24 oz. box) UPC 0 12623 73241 1, Best Before: all dates prior to 1/18/10 • American Nutrition Vita Bone Flavors Small Dog Treats (24 oz. box) UPC 0 12623 73240 4, Best Before: all dates prior to 1/18/10 • American Nutrition Vita Snacks Peanut Butter (3 oz. plastic bag) UPC 0 12623 81315 8, Best Before: all dates prior to 1/18/10 • Farm Style Small Assorted Dog Biscuits (5 lb. plastic bag) UPC 0 78601 90205 4, Best Before: all dates prior to 1/18/10 • Hill Country Fare …
Study Finds Female Vets Run Risk Of Miscarriage From Anesthetic Gases, PesticidesApril 17, 2009 Female veterinarians run twice the normal risk of miscarriage as a result of exposure to anesthetic gases and pesticides, according to a new study published in Occupational and Environmental Medicine, a British medical journal. The study is based on a survey of women taking part in the Health Risks of Australian Veterinarians Project, conducted by the School of Population Health, The University of Western Australia. The aim of the study was to determine whether veterinarians are at increased risk of cancer, injury, zoonoses or adverse reproductive outcomes and to identify risk factors for these conditions in veterinarians. The project, funded by the Cancer Foundation of Australia and the National Health Medical Research Council, was conducted as a questionnaire-based survey of all graduates from Australian veterinary schools during 1960-2000. Of the 5,748 graduates contacted, 2,800 responded, including 1,197 women. In all, there were a total of 1,355 pregnancies, 940 of which occurred while working in clinical practice, making them eligible for the final analysis. Female veterinarians performing surgery who were exposed to anesthetic gases, which were not filtered out of the atmosphere, for an hour or more a week, were almost 2.5 times more likely to miscarry. …
University Of Florida Joins Fort Dodge And Neogen Corp. In Equine Health ForumsApril 17, 2009 In the aftermath of an outbreak of equine botulism in Florida, the University of Florida’s College of Veterinary Medicine, Neogen Corp. and Fort Dodge Animal Health will hold a series of equine disease forums. The forums will cover equine botulism and other preventable equine diseases, notably equine herpesvirus, eastern equine encephalomyelitis and West Nile virus. Speakers will include Dr. Amanda House of the University of Florida; Dr. Bonnie Barr of Rood and Riddle Equine Hospital in Lexington; and Dr. Kim Kauffman of Fort Dodge. Neogen is sponsoring Dr. Barr. “Forums such as these are terrific ways for veterinarians and horse owners to connect on the topic of equine disease prevention,” said Dr. Jennifer Newman, Neogen’s technical services veterinarian. “Educating horse owners and caregivers on disease pathology as well as preventive measures has a positive trickle-down effect on the overall health and well-being of the equine population. The veterinarian and horse owner working together can prevent undesirable outcomes.” The forums, scheduled from 7 to 10 p.m. and including a light meal, will be held in extension offices in Jacksonville (March 2), West Palm Beach (March 3), …
How Far Should We Go To Save Our Pets?April 17, 2009 The media recently found a new bone to chew when it comes to reporting on the veterinary service industry. It involves hunting down the crazy ways in which we veterinarians manage to make our living, reporting the heck out of one or two impressive cases where it seems people will do almost anything for their pets, then juxtaposing these with what the expenses would amount to if, say, they were instead employed to feed a village of starving Ugandans. After a July story in the Boston Globe, I call it the “How Far Should We Go to Save Our Pets?” pig’s foot—as in, there’s not a lot of meat there but it goes a long way to satisfying people’s appetite for sensational news on stupid human tricks. This story played up the bizarre antics of one MIT professor’s quest to treat his pet goose Boswell’s leg cancer. Though the author ultimately exonerated the man on the grounds that he loves his goose as much as anyone does their dog or cat and, furthermore, went to great lengths to prove that Boswell was, indeed, personable enough to merit radiation therapy for his cancer, the …
Foundations Against CancerApril 17, 2009 Formed through a joint venture of Pets Best Insurance and Oncura Partners, the non-profit Pet Cancer Foundation maintains a Web site that provides pet owners with information about pet cancer treatment options and veterinarians with a link to a free initial oncology consultation with Oncura’s board-certified veterinary oncologists. The initial consultation provides the referring veterinarian with an initial diagnosis and recommended treatment plan. For Oncura, it provides an opportunity to introduce its services to general practitioners. Pets Best, on the other hand, expects to benefit from goodwill generated by underwriting the site. It also expects that pet owners educated about treatment options for pet cancer may be more receptive to pet insurance. The site launched in February. Pet Cancer Foundation's Web site also links to the Morris Animal Foundation’s Web site. Morris Animal Foundation is running a separate Canine Cancer Campaign, in which it hopes to raise $30 million to fund research into the prevention and treatment of canine cancer. To date, major pledges to the campaign have come from Pfizer Animal Health ($1.1 million), Pets Best ($1 million), the Golden Retriever Foundation ($500,000), …
Sharn Names Metzger Animal Hospital Winner Of ‘Difference Maker Contest’April 17, 2009 Sharn Veterinary Inc. of Tampa, Fla., recently named Metzger Animal Hospital in State College, Penn., as the grand prize winner of its “Difference Maker Contest.” Sharn asked veterinarians and staff to tell a story demonstrating how using the Cardell Veterinary Blood Pressure Monitor made a significant or deciding difference in a life or death case. Staff member Jessica Wilson submitted three cases (surgery, emergency splenectomy and a routine dental) where monitoring blood pressure allowed the veterinarian to make changes that helped stabilize patients showing failing vital signs. The hospital will receive a Cardell MAX-12HD Multiparameter Monitor valued at $8,495. Kimberly Crest Veterinary Hospital in Davenport, Iowa, was named the runner up and will receive the Cardell 9500 HDCO Multiparameter Monitor valued at $5,995. There were also eight third place winners who received $100: All Kinds Veterinary Hospital in Callaway, Md. Sacramento Zoo, Sacramento, Calif. Animal Life Veterinary Center in Naples, Fla. For the Love of Cats (dba Compassionate Care Veterinary Center) in Randolph, Mass. Chase Farm Veterinary Hospital in Dartmouth, Mass. Valley Veterinary Hospital Ltd. in New Brunswick, Canada ANC Veterinary Dental Referral Center in New Rochelle, N.Y. Circle …
LSU Awards 3 Advanced DegreesApril 17, 2009 Three students enrolled in the Graduate Academic Studies Program at Louisiana State University's School of Veterinary Medicine received advanced degrees Friday. Peter Haynes, DVM, dean of the vet school, presided over the ceremony. Stephen Gaunt, DVM, Ph.D., professor of veterinary clinical pathology, served as the representative of the LSU Graduate Council and conferred the degrees. The recipients were: • Salim Alawneh of Irbid, Jordan, who received his Ph.D. from the Department of Pathobiological Sciences. His dissertation was titled “The Zinc Induction of Heme Oxygenase-1 Gene Promoter in Mouse Hepa Cells.” Alawneh’s major professor was James Miller, DVM, Ph.D., professor of epidemiology and community health. • Arun Venkatesh Iyer of Kalyan, India, who received his Ph.D. from the Department of Pathobiological Sciences. His dissertation was titled “Phylogentics and New Approaches to Vaccine Development for West Nile Virus.” Iyer’s major professor was Konstantin Kousoulas, Ph.D., professor of veterinary virology and director of the Division of Biotechnology and Molecular Medicine. • Sara Lyle, DVM, of Baton Rouge, La., who received her Ph.D. from the Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences. Her dissertation was titled “The Relationship Between Pro-inflammatory Cytokines, Prostaglandins and Fetal Hypothalmic-Pituitary-Adrenal Axis Activation in Mares With …
Winn Feline Foundation Awards 10 Research GrantsApril 17, 2009 The Winn Feline Foundation recently awarded 10 research grants totaling $135,860 to help fund feline health studies. The organization, which received 36 proposals from researchers around the world for 2008 funding, was pleased with the number of proposals, which showed a research interest in cats. Several of the funded studies focus on feline coronavirus. Gary Whittaker, Ph.D., of Cornell University, received $15,000 to study the molecular basis of feline coronavirus pathogenesis and the development of feline infectious peritonitis , or FIP. Dr. Whittaker is seeking a better understanding of why the virus, which typically resides in the gut of the cat, sometimes mutates to infect the cat’s immune system. H.F. Egberink, DVM, Ph.D., and P.J.M. Rottier, Ph.D., of Utrecht University in the Netherlands, will receive $15,000 for their efforts to identify the cellular receptor for feline coranaviruses, which cause FIP. Drs. Egberink and Rottier believe that the lack of knowledge about these receptor cells has created a bottleneck for research into the disease, thereby hindering efforts to develop vaccines and treatments for it. Saverio Paltrinieri, DVM, Ph.D., Dipl. ECVCP, of the University of Milan in Italy, received $14,780 to fund his work into blood …
