Volunteer Animal Transport To Foster Or Forever HomesApril 17, 2009 “Fifteen Legs” is a book by Bonnie Silva that reveals a network of human-animal bond proponents across North America. Most of us don’t have a clue about the amazing volunteer cyber-networking that goes into transports of doomed animals toward hope. Silva’s book contains excellent research and writing that illuminates a vital but mostly underground conduit of animal welfare and pet placement. Volunteers who work in cyberspace to coordinate routes and drivers who transport homeless animals are unsung heroes. This book salutes the volunteer drivers, including truck drivers and pilots, who transport furry passengers in their sedans, vans, SUVs, trucks and planes. When the mileage of all the legs is combined, an animal may be transported hundreds or thousands of miles. The purpose for the hundreds of e-mails that connect one shuttle after another is to give doomed, unwanted, homeless animals a second chance to survive and live in foster homes or to get to their adoptive forever homes. Silva originally wanted to create a documentary film on volunteer animal transport, but she was declined funding. One filmmaker said, “It’s just not of sufficient social significance.” Writing the book was her second choice. But since she was …
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100 Horses Die Of Unknown Illness; Bad Hay SuspectedApril 17, 2009About 100 horses at EquiTransfer, an embryo transfer facility in Marion County, Fla., have died just in the past week due to an unknown illness that caused the horses to exhibit neurological problems and then collapse, according to The Gainesville Sun. Although not confirmed, the owners, Jose Davila and Francis Ramirez, both veterinarians, believe the cause was contaminated hay. The suspect hay arrived Sept. 26 and 27 and by Sept. 28, the first few horses became sick, the newspaper reported. The couple did not say who they bought the hay from, but that EquiTransfer is the supplier’s only customer. Samples from the dead horses, as well as from the hay, have been sent to toxicology labs. <HOME>
LSU Names Phi Zeta Research Emphasis Day Award WinnersApril 17, 2009 The Louisiana State University School of Veterinary Medicine recently named the Phi Zeta Research Emphasis Day award winners at its annual Phi Zeta Research Emphasis Day event on Sept. 24. The day, which is sponsored by national veterinary honor society Phi Zeta, was established to promote research in schools of veterinary medicine, to recognize research conducted by veterinary students, residents, graduate students and faculty and to encourage veterinary students to pursue careers in research. Student entries were based on individual current biomedical research. Winners in the student competition, including Master’s, undergraduate and veterinary students, interns and residents included: • 1st place: Soma Chowdhury, Master’s degree student in the Department of Pathobiological Sciences, for “Rickettsial infection and role of innate immune response of in skin tissues of mice during tick bite.” • 2nd place: Dr. Brooke Grasperge, laboratory animal resident, for “Microbiological monitoring of sealed versus unsealed barn floors using RODAC bacterial culture plates,” and to Laura D’Amico, third-year veterinary student, for “Evaluation of relationships between acetabulum/femoral head volume ratios and both hip joint laxity and osteoarthritis in lax canine hips from youth to maturity.” • 3rd place: Diana Babin, a third-year veterinary …
Practice-Management Software UpdateApril 17, 2009 Practice-management software vendors are continually upgrading and refining their systems’ functions and features. Here are some of the latest releases and upgrades. In March, ImproMed Inc. released Infinity v4.3. In addition to other enhanced features and interfaces, the release includes X-Charge integrated credit card processing and VSurv, a Web-based client satisfaction survey service provided by Animal Care Technologies. . In July 2007, Idexx Computer Systems released its latest information management system technology for veterinary practices, Idexx Cornerstone 7.1. Powered by Idexx’s SmartLink technology, Cornerstone 7.1 offers simple and seamless electronic connections with other Idexx products and services. The new version gives practitioners and practice staff an advanced ability to track patient status with a new electronic whiteboard. It also features a new user-friendly interface and advanced bar-coding functionality. . Within the past year, the AVImark practice-management system by McAllister Software Systems has added an electronic whiteboard tool, an electronic dental charting function, pet report card capabilities, integration with in-house lab equipment, enhanced functionality of importing reference lab reports, integrated credit card processing and DICOM imaging capability. . Butler Animal Health Supply will debut new practice-management software packages in July. The …
Maryland Publicizes Vet Disciplinary ActionsApril 17, 2009 The Maryland Department of Agriculture’s State Board of Veterinary Medical Examiners is making the public aware of the agency’s routine regulatory activities. It recently sent out a media report naming six veterinary practice violations. In one case, the board found that a veterinarian in Montgomery County had violated the Veterinary Practice Act by failing to provide basic care to the pets under his care, providing false information to pet owners and failing to take appropriate and timely steps to return pets despite frequent owner attempts to retrieve their pet. The violator’s license was suspended for six months and he was prohibited indefinitely from boarding and hospitalizing animals and placed on three years of probation. “We want the public to be aware that state agencies want to protect consumers,” said Laura Downes, the board’s executive director. “Some people may feel that veterinarians look after their own, but we want people to know that yes, the board will take action [if a complaint is brought to its attention].” In 2007, the board investigated 77 complaints, filed 20 formal disciplinary actions and issued 26 letters of advice or admonishment. Although the number of complaints are less than the …
Petsmart Recalls Dog Biscuits With Peanut PasteApril 17, 2009Phoenix-based pet store chain Petsmart is voluntarily recalling seven of its Grreat Choice Dog Biscuit products that contain peanut paste made by Peanut Corp. of America (PCA). PCA is the focus of a U.S. Food and Drug Administration investigation into potential salmonella contamination of peanut butter and paste made at its Blakely, Ga., facility. Although Petsmart is not aware of any cases of illness related to these products, it has removed them from its store shelves and website and is conducting the recall as a precautionary measure The recalled products include only the following types of Grreat Choice Dog Biscuits sold between Aug. 21, 2008, and Jan. 19, 2009: Small Assorted 32 oz., UPC 73725702900 Small/Medium Assorted 4 lb., UPC 73725700601 Small/Medium Assorted 8 lb., UPC 73725700605 Small/Medium Assorted 10 lb., UPC 73725702755 Large Assorted 8 lb., UPC 73725700638 Extra Large Assorted 8 lb., UPC 73725700779 Peanut Butter 4 lb., UPC 73725700766 Cu犀利士 stomers who purchased the recalled dog biscuit products should discontinue use immediately and may return the product to any Petsmart store for a complete refund or exchange. Customers can visit www.petsmartfacts.com …
Dr. Tracy Hanner Wins Bell AwardApril 17, 2009 The Association of American Veterinary Medical Colleges on March 13 presented Tracy Hanner, DVM, with the Iverson Bell Recognition Award for his leadership and contributions in promoting opportunities for underrepresented minorities in veterinary medical education. William Allen Hill, DVM, who submitted the nomination, described Dr. Hanner as “a tireless soldier (who) has labored intensely since 1986 to promote and extend diversity within the veterinary medical community.” Dr. Hill, a clinical assistant professor at the University of Tennessee's College of Veterinary Medicine, attributed his entrance into veterinary medicine to the enthusiasm and mentorship of Hanner. Hanner was the first black graduate of North Carolina State University's College of Veterinary Medicine in 1986. He is an adjunct assistant professor, the coordinator of lab animal science and a clinical associate veterinarian at North Carolina Agriculture & Technology State University. <HOME>
Morris Animal Foundation Awards Vet Students Funds For Research ProjectsApril 17, 2009 The Morris Animal Foundation recently named eight veterinary student winners in its annual research competition. They were among the more than 20 veterinary students who submitted posters on companion animal and wildlife studies as part of the foundation's Veterinary Student Scholars Program. The program aims to give students the opportunity to work on MAF-funded projects while they are in veterinary school and, in turn, encourage them to consider a career in research. “[The program] recognizes the critical need to train new scientists,” said Patricia Olson, DVM, Ph.D., president and chief executive officer of Morris Animal Foundation. “By giving students the opportunity to work on MAF-funded projects while they are in veterinary school, we hope to encourage them to consider a career in research.” Winners were: • Ballard Award for Companion Animals, $5,000 Aric Frantz at the University of Minnesota examined the use of stem cell therapy to repair a dog’s heart after a heart attack. • Ballard Award for Wildlife, $5,000 Scarlett Magda at the University of Guelph analyzed saddle-related injuries in elephants used for tourism in Thailand and developed recommendations to reduce injury. • 2nd Place for Companion Animals, $2,500 …
Radiosurgical Applications For Oral Surgery And OphthalmologyApril 17, 2009 Tom Tully, DVM, Dipl. ABVP (avian), ECAMS, a professor of zoological medicine at Louisiana State University, says his Ellman Surgitron 4.0 MHz dual-frequency radiosurgery unit is indispensable in his practice of avian and exotics medicine. “I can use the unit throughout a surgery,” he says. “I can make the initial incision using a needle electrode and, while using the same hand piece and pressing a different button, switch from a cutting to one of cut and coagulation. And when you’re working on patients as small as 20 grams, hemostasis is very important. “Depending on the size of the patient, I have different electrodes available,” he adds. “I like to switch out electrode tips to meet specific surgical needs.” One limitation to radiosurgical equipment arises when operating in a fluid environment. “Any time there is a pooling of blood, you will not get the optimum performance from the electrode,” Dr. Tully says. “The blood must be removed, and then the electrode can be applied for hemostasis.” In regard to hemostasis, Tully says that one of the greatest equipment enhancements to the 4.0 MHz radiosurgical unit has been the ability to transition between the hand piece …
Common Cause Of Chronic UTI Has A Surgical SolutionApril 17, 2009 The solution to some chronic urinary tract infections is not always antibiotics. When female dogs present excessive or redundant skin folds dorsally and laterally to the vulva, a cascade of events often follows. Common complaints from the owner include excessive licking of the vulvar area, scooting, malodor, hematuria and sometimes urinary incontinence. How can a simple skin fold cause urinary incontinence? The redundant skin fold acts like a dam and enables urine retention. Moisture, body heat, darkness and accumulation of skin debris create an ideal environment within the skin folds for bacteria to proliferate and cause local infection. The two main challenges are assessing precisely how much skin to remove, and closing the surgical site in a cosmetic manner. After vulvoplasty, the vulva becomes visible.(Courtesy of Dr. Zelztman) Friction between the two skin surfaces causes microtrauma, which adds to self-trauma via licking and scooting. This leads to skin fold dermatitis or pyoderma. In turn, secondary vestibulitis, vaginitis or ascending UTIs have been reported. At worst, urinary incontinence can occur. The poster child for this condition is an overweight female dog with a hypoplastic or recessed vulva. The mean weight was 71 pounds …
