San Francisco SPCA Begins Building New CenterApril 17, 2009 The San Francisco Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals celebrated the groundbreaking of its new Leanne B. Roberts Animal Care Center in October. Features of the 60,000 square-foot facility will include 17 consulting and examination rooms, an in-room computer system, two surgery rooms, a main treatment complex, an intensive care ward, a surgery suite for spay/neuter operations and multiple isolation wards. In addition, the $29.9 million center will be environmentally friendly and built with energy-efficient components. And for every tree that is used to create the facility, another tree will be planted. The bulk of the funding came from a $13 million gift from Leanne B. Roberts, a longtime member of the San Francisco SPCA Board of Directors. A capital campaign has been launched to help raise additional money to complete construction. The center is expected to be finished by early 2009. <HOME> Posted November 21, 2007, 9:12 a.m., EST
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New Initiative Aims To Combat Vet Shortage In PennsylvaniaApril 17, 2009 The Pennsylvania Veterinary Medical Assn. has launched an initiative designed to increase the number of veterinary students who go into and stay in underserved areas of the veterinary profession. Project Pennsylvania would establish a targeted loan forgiveness program which helps take off a portion of debt for each year a newly graduated veterinarian remains in the underserved region or sector. The program would also target recruitment of students interested in these areas and on-the-job mentoring for new graduates. “Pennsylvania has a shortage of large-animal veterinarians in certain geographic regions, as well as a shortage of practitioners in less traditional areas such as biomedical research, public health, regulatory medicine and academia,” said Robert Fetterman, VMD, the association’s president and large animal practitioner. “Using loan forgiveness as an incentive to fill these voids is an investment in the state’s agricultural industry, as well as in food safety and even national security.” A Project Pennsylvania coalition will be established. It will educate the public and policymakers on the issue and will also develop industry partnerships and advocate for legislative initiatives. Organizations that are already lending support are the University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine, PennAg …
Hill's Pledges $1 Million To AVMAApril 17, 2009 Hill's Pet Nutrition has presented the American Veterinary Medical Association with a $1 million grant. Over the next five years, the money will be used to support continuing education at the AVMA's annual convention. Hill's, based in Topeka, Kan., is a platinum sponsor for the convention and will be designated as title sponsor for the opening general session. The company will also continue to fund the educational program for technicians, the Dr. Jack L. Mara Seminars in Veterinary Technology, and will assist in designing the convention's program. <HOME>
Pedigree Recall List UpdatedApril 17, 2009 Because of potential Salmonella contamination, Mars Petcare U.S. of Nashville, Tenn., is voluntarily recalling 100 20-pound bags of Pedigree Complete Nutrition Small Crunchy Bites sold in Albertsons stores in Southern California and Las Vegas. It is also voluntarily recalling a limited number of 52-pound bags of Pedigree Complete Nutrition Small Crunchy Bites sold in Costco stores in Northern California and Nevada. Costco has notified all of its customers in these areas directly. Last week, a component that should have been on hold because of positive testing results was inadvertently shipped to the company’s Tracy, Calif., facility and used in the production of a limited number of bags with best-by dates of 7/2009. Although the finished product tested negative for Salmonella and there have been no reports of illness or injury resulting from consumption or handling of the recalled product, the company said it is taking an “abundance of caution” in issuing the voluntary recall. Mars Petcare also said it is cooperating with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Pet owners are advised to dispose of the product in a safe manner, such as a securely covered trash receptacle, and return the empty bag to …
Senate Approves Veterinary Public Health Workforce Expansion ActApril 17, 2009 The U.S. Senate recently approved the Veterinary Public Health Workforce Expansion Act, legislation that has been a high priority for the Assn. of American Veterinary Medical Colleges for several years. The act, sponsored by Sen. Wayne Allard (R-CO), authorizes a competitive grants program to increase capacity in the nation’s veterinary medical colleges and alleviate the shortage of veterinarians. “The Veterinary Public Health Workforce Expansion Act will allow us to increase our educational capacity for veterinary students, respond to the national need for veterinarians in public health sectors and provide services to our rural communities,” said Timothy Boosinger, DVM, dean of the College of Veterinary Medicine at Auburn University and president of the AAVMC. The legislation now goes to the Education and Labor Committee in the U.S. House of Representatives.
Pets Best Announces Partnership With AVMA GHLIT, AetnaApril 17, 2009The American Veterinary Medical Assn. Group Health and Life Insurance Trust, AVMA GHLIT, and Pets Best Insurance of Boise, Id., today announced an exclusive relationship to educate veterinarians and consumers about pet insurance. As part of the new partnership, Aetna's general insurance subsidiary, AICC, will be the new underwriter for the Pets Best Insurance plan. The companies see the partnership as a way to benefit veterinary patients, clients and clinics and help direct the growth of the pet insurance industry in this country, while ensuring that veterinarians retain the freedom to practice as they see fit. "We know today that the veterinary profession must be a leading component of providing information and education to our clients about pet insurance," said Gary R. Holfinger, DVM, chairman of the board of trustees of AVMA GHLIT. "Working exclusively with Pets Best Insurance and Aetna, we feel certain to deliver a trusted pet insurance product for pet owners and our members." The announcement was made during a luncheon at AVMA's annual convention in New Orleans. "The leadership shown today to make pet insurance a central component of the veterinarian-client relationship is very gratifying," said Jack Stephens, DVM, president and founder of …
Hearing Date Set For Two California Pet BillsApril 17, 2009 Early next month, a state Senate committee will consider a spay/neuter bill as well as additional regulations for pet stores. California’s Senate Business, Professions & Economic Development Committee will hear testimony regarding the California Pet Store Act (AB 1347) and the California Healthy Pets Act (AB 1634) on July 9 at 1:30 p.m. in room 3191 at the state Capitol. The pet store act passed the state Assembly with a 75 to 1 vote in late May. It would establish specific care standards that retailers, not breeders, would have to adhere to or face penalties. The Pet Industry Joint Council (PIJAC) supports the bill and plans to submit testimony in favor of it at the July hearing. The California Healthy Pets Act, however, is facing more opposition. Introduced by Assemblyman Lloyd Levine (D-Van Nuys), the bill narrowly passed through the Assembly in early June. It has the support of many of the state’s animal rescues and shelters as well as the California Veterinary Medical Assn., but PIJAC, the American Kennel Club (AKC), several dog clubs and the North American Police Work Dog Assn. have all voiced opposition. The proposal would mandate all of …
Root Canal TherapyApril 17, 2009 Twenty years ago, veterinarians dismissed root canal therapy as impractical and unnecessary in veterinary oral care. The old dental axiom "If it's broken, take it out" prevailed. Fortunately, all intradisciplines of modern veterinary dentistry have grown over the last two decades. Many veterinary dentists have continued their education with advanced training in endodontics and now offer excellent root canal treatment. The root canal is used to treat pathology of the tooth's endodontic system. Pulp dies from severe inflammation or disease and diseases of the pulp tissue can lead to sensitivity and pain that can be reversed with endodontic treatment. Since there is no subjective pain in animal patients, the veterinarians must use oral radiology to evaluate the endodontic system. The overt sign of advanced endodontic pathology is a radiolucent halo around the apex of the diseased tooth. Unfortunately, not all teeth that need endodontic treatment show advanced apical osteolysis (i.e. bone resorption around the apex of the tooth root). In acute apical periodontitis with acute apical inflammation, a painful condition occurs before alveolar bone is resorbed. In acute osteomyelitis secondary to an endodontic infection, bacteria can multiply in the marrow spaces of bone leading …
Morris Animal Foundation Launches Happy Healthy Cat CampaignApril 17, 2009On behalf of the more than 82 million cats in America, the Morris Animal Foundation embarked on a mission to provide felines with their share of health care and research. The Healthy Happy Cat Campaign, launched 11/17/08, aims to raise pet-owner awareness of feline health issues and increase funding for research and scientist training. "Our goal is that the Happy Healthy Cat Campaign will give veterinarians the tools they need to dramatically improve the health and well-being of all cats," said Patricia Olson, DVM, Ph.D., foundation president and chief executive officer. "As the most popular pet in the country, it's time for cats to receive their fair share of health care, but we need the support and donations of America's cat lovers. There is a tremendous amount of cat health research that must be done." As part of the campaign, MAF has created a dedicated online resource, www.research4cats.org, with information on feline diseases and symptoms. Additional features include interactive blog entries and quizzes, research success stories and resources for cat owners. The foundation has funded projects in areas including diabetes, kidney and heart disease, cancer, urinary disorders, hyperthyroidism and infectious diseases. A Happy Healthy Cat …
Mars Expands Voluntary Pet Food RecallApril 17, 2009 Mars Petcare U.S. on Nov. 25 extended a voluntary recall of dry cat food and dog food produced at the company’s Allentown, Pa., plant and marked with “Best By” dates of Aug. 11, 2009, to Oct. 3, 2009. The reason cited for the recall was potential Salmonella contamination. The voluntary recall affects products sold at BJ’s Wholesale Club, ShopRite Supermarkets, and Wal-Mart stores in Connecticut, Delaware, Massachusetts, Maryland, Maine, North Carolina, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Virginia, Vermont and West Virginia. As a precautionary measure, the company issued a voluntary recall on Oct. 27 of all sizes of Special Kitty Gourmet Blend dry cat food produced at the Allentown plant on Aug. 11. The company said it recently was alerted by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration that an additional sample of Special Kitty produced Sept. 25 at the Allentown facility tested positive for Salmonella. Based on this information, the company expanded the voluntary recall. No cases of Salmonella-related human or pet illness have been reported. “Only those products which were produced at the Allentown, Pa., facility between those dates are impacted. Consumers can continue to have …
