XLNT Veterinary Care Acquires Five Vet HospitalsApril 17, 2009 XLNT Veterinary Care Inc. has acquired five additional veterinary hospitals in California. Terms of the transactions were not disclosed. This makes nine hospitals that have been acquired since Echo Healthcare Acquisition Corp., a blank check company, entered into a definitive agreement in September to acquire privately-held XLNT. The transaction is expected to close later in 2007. XLNT has also agreed to acquire six additional veterinary hospitals which are expected to close in the first quarter of this year. XLNT, which operates under the name Pet DRx, currently owns and operates 20 veterinary hospitals in California. 01-08-2007
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Human Medications Most Commonly Ingested Household Poison, VPI RevealsApril 17, 2009 Veterinary Pet Insurance of Brea, Calif., recently reported that it received more claims for drug reactions from human medications than all other poisoning claims combined in 2007. Other top household toxins, ranked by the number of claims VPI received in 2007, are as follows: Drug Reactions (3,455 claims) – Many of these claims involved pets given drugs intended for human consumption, such as over-the-counter pain relievers. Pet owners often give pets over-the-counter or prescription drugs for their ailments, unaware that they can be harmful to the pet, according to VPI. Rodenticide (870 claims) – Even if these poisons (often in pellet form) are placed away from pets, rodents can carry them to pet-occupied areas.. Methylxanthine (755 claims) – This includes theobromine and caffeine, both of which are common ingredients in chocolate.. Plant Poisoning (466 claims) – Toxic plants include sago palms, tulips, oleander, hyacinths, poinsettias, azaleas, lilies and amaryllis. Onions, grapes and raisins are also categorized under the company’s plant toxicity code.. Household Chemicals (313 claims) – This includes bleach, liquid potpourri, deodorant and other toiletries.. Metaldyhyde (88 claims) – A component of snail bait.. Organophosphate (60 claims) …
Retired Veterinarian Killed In Shark AttackApril 17, 2009 David Martin, a retired veterinarian and triathlete from Solana Beach, Calif., died April 25 shortly after being attacked by a shark. He was 66. Dr. Martin, who had been training with the Triathlon Club of San Diego out of Solana Beach for the past three years, was swimming with nine others about 150 yards off shore when the attack occurred around 7 a.m. After hearing his cry for help, fellow swimmers pulled him from the surf and onto the beach. Martin’s injuries included several deep wounds to the legs. He was pronounced dead at the scene at 7:49 a.m. Judging by the wounds and type of attack, marine biologists believe that the shark was an adult great white about 12 to 16 feet long. “I believe that the shark most likely mistook the group of swimmers as a pod of seals,” Dr. Richard Rosenblatt of the Scripps Institute of Oceanography said in a Solana Beach City press statement. “Great White shark attacks are characterized by a sudden powerful rush of water, as the animal rises up from a significant depth to attack the victim from below. We can only assume that this was the …
Tribute To William Waddell, A Story Told Through PhotographsApril 17, 2009 William Waddell, the first black member of the American Veterinary Medical Assn. and one of the last remaining Buffalo Soldiers, died Jan. 30 in Hawaii at the age of 98. Along with the titles of an entrepreneur, leader, researcher, veterinary pioneer, mentor and friend, Waddell was also a writer, composing books such as "Some Bastardly People," "People are the Funniest Animals" and "A Challenge to Christianity." Notorious for his sense of humor and quick wit, Waddell often sent Christmas cards and newsletters to family and friends filled with jokes. "He was a flamboyant individual--and a joker," said Saul Wilson Jr., DVM, a professor of epidemiology at the Tuskegee veterinary school who met Waddell during his enrollment in Tuskegee's second veterinary class. Below is a collection of excerpts from his books and a collection of photographs provided by his daughter, Kathryn Waddell-Takara, PhD.
Vet Students Rewarded For Pet Insurance ‘Know-How’April 17, 2009 Veterinary Pet Insurance of Brea, Calif., and the Veterinary Business Management Assn. recently awarded 17 veterinary students with either a trip to the North American Veterinary Conference, held in January in Orlando, Fla., or a $1,000 cash award for demonstrating VPI Insurance " know-how. " The winners were judged on describing a clinical case and applying to it a benefits breakdown of a VPI Pet Insurance claim. The contest entries required an invoice, a case history, a defined diagnosis, treatment, claim form and a summary of pet insurance reimbursements. Winning submissions were selected based on overall effort, presentation and accuracy. VPI says that the contest—designed on the premise that a veterinarian will not recommend a product/service unless they completely understand it—provides hands-on experience with the benefits of its pet insurance. The Veterinary Business Management Assn. coordinated the contest on campuses that host the organization’s chapters. Participants included Auburn University; Cornell University; Louisiana State University; Michigan State University, Mississippi State University; Ohio State University; Oklahoma State University; Oregon State University; Tufts University; University of California, Davis; University of Illinois; University of Minnesota; University of Missouri; University of Pennsylvania; Virginal Maryland Regional College of Veterinary Medicine; Western …
Veterinary Behavior Group Discourages PunishmentApril 17, 2009 Veterinary Behavior Group Discourages Punishment newsline Citing the popularity of dominance-based dog training shows such as "The Dog Whisperer" and a resurgence of punishment-based training techniques, the American Veterinary Society of Animal Behavior has released its position on using punishment only with great care and under specific circumstances.Citing the popularity of dominance-based dog training shows such as "The Dog Whisperer" and a resurgence of punishment-based training techniques, the American Veterinary Society of Animal Behavior has released its position on using punishment only with great care and under specific circumstances.American Veterinary Society of Animal Behavior, AVSAB, Veterinary Behavior Citing the popularity of dominance-based dog training shows such as "The Dog Whisperer" and a resurgence of punishment-based training techniques, the American Veterinary Society of Animal Behavior has released its position on using punishment only with great care and under specific circumstances. The standard of care for veterinarians specializing in behavior and for veterinarians in general is that punishment (i.e., choke chains, pinch collars and electronic collars) is not to be used as a first-line or early-use treatment for behavior problems, according to the new "Position Statement and Guidelines on the Use of Punishment for Dealing with Behavior …
Peanut Butter Shank Bone RecalledApril 17, 2009 Salix, a Deerfield Park, Fla.-manufacturer of rawhide dog chews, has recalled another one of its Healthy Hide products, because the item contains peanut butter made by Peanut Corp. of America (PCA). The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has confirmed PCA as the source of a Salmonella typhimurium outbreak. Salix is recalling its one-count, 6-inch peanut butter-filled shank bone. The Healthy Hide shank bone is sold at Price Chopper, Fred’s and Target. The product’s UPC code is 0-91093-33479-0. It comes in a clear package with an attached header card and the name Healthy Hide on the front. Packages are marked with a lot code that falls between CP 20081508 and CP 20012209. Salix recently recalled its Healthy Hide Deli-wrap 3-count peanut butter-filled rawhide treats, which were also made with peanut butter from Peanut Corp. of America. The company stated it is not aware of any reported cases of illness related to this or any other products. According to the FDA, the risk of animals contracting salmonellosis is minimal. However there is risk to humans from handling these products. <HOME>
Potential Salmonella Contamination Spurs Recall Of Dry Pet Food ProductsApril 17, 2009Due to potential contamination with Salmonella Schwarzengrund, Mars Petcare U.S. has issued a voluntary recall of all products manufactured at its Everson, Penn., facility between Feb. 18 and July 29. The recall affects 31 states and includes brands such as Pedigree, Country Acres, Members Mark, Retriever, Red Flannel, Special Kitty, Doggy Bag, Natural, Ol' Roy, Paws & Claws, Wegman's, Pet Pride and PMI Nutrition. "Even though no direct link between products produced at the Everson manufacturing plant and human or pet illness has been made, we are taking this precautionary action to protect pets and their owners," said Catherine Woteki, global director of Scientific Affairs at Mars Inc. "We are continuing to work collaboratively with the FDA to determine the nature and source of Salmonella Schwarzengrund at the Everson facility, and are committed to making sure our consumers and customers have the information they need regarding our voluntary recall." The company said it stopped production at the Everson facility on July 29 when it was alerted of a possible link between dry pet food produced at the plant and two isolated cases of people infected with Salmonella Schwarzengrund. Mars Petcare points out that many of the brands involved in the …
Feline Nutrition: In Search Of Top PerformanceApril 17, 2009 Indeed, veterinary concerns related to struvite and calcium oxalate uroliths, and the difficulties in managing each, have been recognized by many veterinary diet manufacturers. Royal Canin Veterinary Diets in St. Charles, Mo., for example, has used the relative supersaturation (RSS) urinalysis technique, adapted from human medicine, as a means of measuring ion saturation in feline urine samples to predict the chance that struvite and calcium oxalate crystals will form. With such data in hand, the company formulates its Urinary S/O diets to promote a urinary environment unfavorable to the development of both types of crystals. “Using RSS is a lot more effective than just looking at pH,” says Brent Mayabb, DVM, technical services manager for Royal Canin. “Veterinarians have had a lot of success managing struvite according to dietary pH, but it isn’t the driving factor with calcium oxalate. So in practice, veterinarians may see cats that constantly go back and forth between stone types. Those cats can be hard to manage medically, especially if the cat is a picky eater.” These are the uroliths retrieved from the bladder of the cat pictured in the radiograph. They were removed non-surgically …
Dental Health Campaign Under WayApril 17, 2009 The 15th Annual Pets Need Dental Care, Too campaign launched Nov. 24. The aim of the campaign, which coincides with National Pet Dental Month in February, is to encourage veterinary health care teams to talk with clients about scheduling regular professional oral health exams for their pets and to establish a home dental care routine. Hill’s Pet Nutrition Inc. of Topeka, Kan., one of the campaign sponsors, will provide free kits to veterinary hospitals starting in early December. The kits contain pet owner invitation postcards, pet owner guides with report cards, information on Hill’s Prescription Diet t/d brand pet food, a mouse pad and a 2009 Pet Dental Awareness Contest entry form. All pet hospitals that conduct activities to promote pet dental health are eligible to enter the contest. Entries will be judged based on effective use of the kit materials, a case study of a pet helped during the campaign, integration of dental care by the pet hospital during and after the campaign, creative ideas and execution, and community outreach efforts. The first-place winner will get $2,000; second place, $1,000; and third place, $500. Seven other winners will receive membership …
