Contagious Equine Metritis Confirmed In CaliforniaApril 17, 2009 The California Department of Food and Agriculture recently confirmed that a 12-year-old mare tested positive for contagious equine metritis. The mare, which remains under quarantine while being treated for the reproductive disease, was bred via artificial insemination using shipped semen collected from a CEM-positive stallion, according to the department. The mare is part of an investigation involving 45 states that aims to identify horses with CEM. Eleven stallions and three mares have been confirmed infected. They include three stallions in Indiana, four in Kentucky, one in Texas and three in Wisconsin, as well as the California mare and single mares in Wisconsin and Illinois. Nationwide, about 580 horses have been considered exposed to infected horses. All horses that may have been exposed to the disease are cultured and treated to prevent the infection from spreading. The source of the outbreak has not been determined. <HOME>
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Pet Food Recall Impacts Idexx’s RevenueApril 17, 2009 Idexx Laboratories Inc.’s companion animal division reported that its revenue for the first quarter ended March 31 and increased 24 percent to $173.4 million from $139.4 million in the year-ago period. The recent pet food recalls have had a positive effect on Idexx’s reference laboratories and instrument consumables businesses, according to Jonathan Ayers, chairman and chief executive officer. “Particularly strong revenue growth in [these businesses] resulted in part from the well-publicized pet food recalls during the quarter, which we believe caused an unusually high number of pet visits to the veterinary clinic for exams that included diagnostic testing,” he said. Overall, the company reported net income of $21 million on revenue of $211.2 million for its first quarter, compared to net income of $18.3 million on revenue of $168.2 million in the year-ago period. Idexx also provided revised guidance for the full year of 2007. Idexx expects revenue to be $890 million to $897 million, updated from $875 million to $887 million. <HOME>
ImproMed To Host Website Open HouseApril 17, 2009 ImproMed Inc. of Oshkosh, Wis., will have a website open house 10 a.m. – 6 p.m. CST April 3. The live webinars are geared for referral/specialty practices, mobile veterinarians and general practice professionals. The company will give a demonstration of the Infinity practice management software, a presentation on the Web-based reminder card website www.RmCards.com and a business webinar. Attendees will also have the chance to participate in live chat sessions with ImproMed’s system personnel and other employees. Each registered guest has a chance to win prizes such as an Apple iPod Touch, ImproMed and RmCards.com gift cards, Visa gift cards, restaurant gift cards and ImproMed apparel, among others. Click here for details. <HOME>
Light Therapy On ShiloApril 17, 2009 Shilo suffers from osteoarthritis in several joints--in particular the left stifle and the right tarsus (hock). As a result, her gait is not normal, and this has caused compensatory pain her back. In this photo, Shilo is having the painful areas of her back treated with low-level laser therapy. We are delivering 4J/cm2 of energy using a Respond (TM) Class IIIb laser. The laser probe output is 500 mW with a 904 nm wavelength and we are using a pulse frequency of 585 pps (Hz). <HOME>
MariCal Names New CEOApril 17, 2009 MariCal, an animal health and nutrition biotechnology company based in Portland, Maine, has named Bruce Andrews as its new chief executive officer. Andrews is a former president and CEO of Alpharma Inc.’s Animal Health Division, a global manufacturer and marketer of pharmaceutical and feed additive products for livestock, poultry and fish. “I look forward to assisting MariCal in the pursuit of successful performance enhancement, prophylactic and therapeutic technology applications based on the company’s novel CaSR [Calcium Sensing Receptor] platform technology,” Andrews said. “MariCal has the potential to develop a number of products for both food producing and companion animal species worldwide.” Steven Morrell, a senior partner of Teknoinvest, a Norway-based venture capital company and shareholder in MariCal, is stepping down from his CEO post to dedicate more time to MariCal’s subsidiary businesses in commercial aquaculture production. <HOME>
20 Ways To Prevent Infection Without AntibioticsApril 17, 2009Many of us overuse antibiotics postoperatively, which can lead to side effects, such as vomiting and diarrhea, and antibiotic resistance in our patients. There are, however, many other ways to reduce the infection rate in surgical patients. In human surgery, such practices have enabled a 25 percent reduction in nosocomial infections, also called hospital-acquired infections. The standard for most elective procedures is to give an intravenous antibiotic such as cefazolin 30 minutes before the skin incision, and every 90 minutes under anesthesia. Specific procedures (e.g. colorectal surgery) may require specific antibiotics. Beyond antibiotics, there are a number of ways to prevent infections. Oxygenation Good oxygenation of the patient allows killing of bacteria via oxidative processes. Preoxygenation and short-term postoperative oxygenation can therefore be beneficial to fight surgical site infection. There are other obvious benefits, especially for patients with cardiac or respiratory diseases and brachycephalic patients who will also benefit from postoperative oxygenation. Enhancing oxygenation also requires good perfusion, which entails giving IV fluids. In most healthy stable patients, lactated Ringer’s solution is administered at 10 ml/kg/hr. We have all experienced the seemingly stable patient undergoing a the most “routine” procedure, such as a spay or a neuter, suddenly having anesthetic …
Many Pet Hospitals Escape SoCal FiresApril 17, 2009 Although 11 large wildfires are still burning across Southern California, the Santa Ana wind event is over, making it easier for firefighters to contain them, according to the National Interagency Coordination Center, a group that coordinates the mobilization of resources for wild land fire and other incidents throughout the U.S. Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger reported Wednesday that the fires have destroyed about 1,600 structures—including more than 1,400 homes—but it appears that many veterinary hospitals escaped destruction. Rancho Santa Fe Veterinary Hospital in Rancho Santa Fe, Calif., faced the massive Witch Creek fire head on. "There was a very real threat of our hospital burning down," says hospital director Dave Oei. "The fire line was drawn right at our intersection and our hospital survived." Oei woke early Monday morning to smells of smoke in the air. "I went online to discover a mandatory evacuation order for our community," Oei says. "At the clinic we triaged the hospital for what we needed to save. I backed-up our critical [computer] systems, we cancelled appointments, forward calls to my cell, and the nurses created a mash unit in large plastic bins in case we needed …
Colorado State Launches Canine Massage CourseApril 17, 2009 The Colorado State University’s College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences has launched a new continuing education course in canine massage. Medical Massage for Animals, designed for veterinarians, veterinary technicians, massage therapists and canine rehabilitators, emphasizes the scientific basis of massage and its foundational elements of anatomy and physiology. “Massage can help canine patients and athletes recover from illness, injury, spinal pain and stress,” said Narda Robinson, DVM, DO, a professor in the Department of Clinical Sciences and director of Colorado State’s Center for Comparative and Integrative Pain Medicine, who will co-teach the course. “Participants will have a unique opportunity to learn the proper integration of massage in the veterinary clinic for either sick or well patients, and will gain those skills based on solid, scientific information.” The hands-on program will cover musculoskeletal anatomy, muscle physiology, canine first aid, canine behavior and issues related to the human animal bond and working with grieving clients. The course begins Oct. 17 and is available on a first-come, first-served basis. It will include written examinations, a practical examination and 20 hours of closely reviewed independent study. Eighty hours of continuing education are also available. Additional …
Virginia Vet Named Grand Prize Winner Of Vectra 3D GiveawayApril 17, 2009Summit VetPharm of Fort Lee, N.J., announced the final two winners of "The Great Vectra 3D" $125,000 Giveaway. The contest was held from Jan. 3 to March 31 as part of the company's introductory sales incentive program for Vectra 3D, a broad-spectrum topical designed to protect dogs against fleas, ticks and mosquitoes. Winners were randomly chosen. Elizabeth Leonard, DVM, of Seaford Veterinary Medical Center in Yorktown, Va., was named as the grand prize winner of $50,000 in medical equipment for her veterinary clinic. Dr. Leonard said possible purchases may include a videoscope, heated surgery table, capnograph, teaching microscope and respiratory monitor/apnea alert. The third winner is Sean Raleigh, DVM, of Sun Prairie Veterinary Clinic in Sun Prairie, Wis., who will receive $25,000 in medical equipment. Dr. Raleigh said he intends to digitalize the clinic's X-ray equipment and update its videoscope system so that they can incorporate endoscopic techniques for exploratory, surgical and biopsy procedures. The first two winners, announced earlier this year, were Shawn Hook, DVM, of Arbor Ridge Clinic in Madison, Wis., and Paul Hartman, DVM, of Upper Union Street Veterinary Hospital in Schenectady, N.Y. They each received $25,000 in medical equipment for their veterinary clinic. All four winners …
Noni Juice - Why All The Hype?April 17, 2009 Finding out the truth about noni juice, in contrast to the widely available claims and sales pitches, is elusive and challenging. One reason is that many noni researchers who submit papers in support and/or defense of the product disclose financial affiliations with noni products.1,2,3,4,5 A quote by Keith I. Block, M.D., editor-in-chief of "Integrative Cancer Therapies," sums up the problem well: "A significant trend in contemporary herbal medicine has been the movement of traditional medicines of indigenous peoples directly into international commerce, often with little scientific exploration before widespread marketing."6 This lack of evidence leaves unanswered questions about the actual health value of noni, the advantages of one product over another, as well as the dangers noni ingestion may pose to consumers. Concerns about safety even led the European Union to ban the marketing of noni because of unknown safety in the late 1990s.7 Representatives from Tahitian Noni International Inc., the largest noni juice company and research center, insist that "not all noni liquid dietary supplements are created equal," and that their product is safe.8 Product Consistency They are certainly correct on the first count, and the benefits and risks involved with one …
