Companion Animal Health targets mast cell tumors with nanomedicineOctober 4, 2018Companion Animal Health (CAH) in Newark, Del., has secured an exclusive partnership with Nanospectra Biosciences Inc., a medical device company focused on the use of nanomedicine in selective thermal ablation of solid tumors. In 2017, CAH initiated clinical trials in the treatment of canine mast cell tumors using a combined laser and nanoshell therapy procedure that has the ability to destroy solid tumors without damaging adjacent healthy tissue. "Initial results are very encouraging and we anticipate publishing trial outcomes in the near future," said Brian Pryor, PhD, CEO, LiteCure LLC. "We believe this approach will deliver superior efficacy compared to commonly used cancer treatments and will extend pets' quality of life and longevity without harmful side effects." Visit companionanimalhealth.com for more information.
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UC Davis study applies human cancer differentiation analysis to dogsOctober 4, 2018The University of California, Davis, School of Veterinary Medicine (UCDSVM) is conducting a clinical trial to study the potential application for canine cancer screening using cancer differentiation analysis (CDA) liquid biopsy technology from Anpac Bio-Medical Science Co. Studying at least 186 dogs in a blinded clinical trial, Anpac Bio and UCDSVM are investigating CDA's ability to identify cancer in blood samples from dogs confirmed with sarcomas or carcinomas versus healthy control blood samples from dogs of similar age and breed. Following the initial screening, UCDVSM will then test if CDA levels also correlate to treatment response (i.e. if the dogs' cells are responding to cancer treatment such as surgery or radiation) and monitor remission/potential recurrence. "Dogs are just like people; the sooner we identify disease, the better chance we have in treating and curing it," said John Reddington, DVM, PhD, Anpac Bio's chief advisor for veterinary and comparative research. "Unfortunately, dogs can't tell us when they don't feel well, so, we often catch diseases like cancer late stage. [Anpac Bio's] cancer differentiation analysis liquid biopsy technology has proven to be very useful in detecting over 20 human cancer types with just a single …
Penn Vet doctors receive NIH grant to target canine autoimmune diseaseOctober 4, 2018Nicola J. Mason, BVetMed, PhD, and Aimee S. Payne, MD, PhD, have received the National Institutes of Health (NIH) Director's Transformative Research Award, part of the institute's High-Risk, High-Reward Research program, for their work in targeting autoimmune disease in dogs. Under the grant, Drs. Mason and Payne are looking to evaluate a genetically engineered cell-based therapy to treat dogs with naturally occurring autoimmune skin disease known as pemphigus. Dogs are one of the few other species to develop pemphigus, a condition that mirrors pemphigus in human patients. Evaluation of this approach to treat pet dogs with the disease may ultimately lead to breakthrough therapies for humans. According to the Autoimmune Disease Research Center at Johns Hopkins, at least 10 million Americans suffer from the more than 80 illnesses caused by autoimmunity. "The successful treatment of autoimmunity in the family dog using this unique approach would not only be a breakthrough in veterinary medicine, but could also change the way autoimmune disease is treated in humans," said Mason, associate professor of medicine and pathobiology at the School of Veterinary Medicine at Penn Vet. "We believe that this work may facilitate the translation of cellular immunotherapies for a broad range of canine …
Study: "Dog cognition does not look exceptional," researchers findOctober 3, 2018 Dogs may be smart cookies—just not quite the braniacs that many believe they are, according to research published in Learning & Behavior. In a study that examined more than 300 papers on the intelligence of dogs and other animals, researchers reviewed evidence that compared dogs' smarts with other domestic animals, other social hunters, and other carnivorans, such as wolves, bears, lions, and hyenas. What scientists from the U.K.'s University of Exeter and Canterbury Christ Church University discovered were that dogs' cognitive abilities were at least matched by several species in each of these groups as well as several cases where dogs' mental abilities suffered from "over interpretation." "During our work it seemed to us that many studies in dog cognition research set out to 'prove' how clever dogs are," said Stephen Lea, PhD, the study's principal author, from the University of Exeter. Lea went on to say that dogs' correct responses or actions are often compared to those of chimpanzees, but researchers found "in each and every case … other valid comparison species that do at least as well as dogs do in those tasks." The review focused on sensory cognition, physical cognition, spatial cognition, social cognition, and …
Royal Canin releases Pill Assist to help administer medication to dogs October 2, 2018Royal Canin has launched veterinary-exclusive Pill Assist soft chews to simplify administering medication to dogs. According to a study by the company, Pill Assist enabled successful pill administration in 97 percent of cases. "We understand the stress pet owners face when trying to provide necessary medication for their pets," said Catherine Lenox, DVM, CVA, DACVN, scientific affairs manager for Royal Canin. "A dog's medication cannot help if it is not taken. Royal Canin developed Pill Assist to ease the burden on pet owners and enable dogs to better consume the medication they need." The product's soft texture can be molded around any pill shape, is available in sizes for small and medium-to-large dogs, has moderate calorie content, and includes vitamins and prebiotics. The product can be found at select veterinary clinics.
IsoPet canine soft-tissue sarcoma treatment delivers 'complete response'September 28, 2018Vivos Inc., a pharmaceutical company that develops minimally invasive treatments to combat cancer in humans and animals, reported that its signature product, IsoPet, was used to treat a hind-leg soft-tissue sarcoma in a Shetland sheepdog at the University of Missouri Veterinary Health Center in Columbia, Mo. The treatment of the sarcoma resulted in a "complete response," meaning tumor destruction and disappearance, together with a healthy recovery, according to veterinary oncologist Charles Maitz, DVM, PhD, DACVR-RO. Results will be presented in at the Veterinary Cancer Society's annual conference in Louisville, Ky., Oct. 17 - 20. Post-treatment imaging and dosimetry provided confirmatory data addressing questions previously raised by U.S. Food and Drug Administration review panel, including: Near-uniform placement by injection and interstitial perfusion within the tumor without vascular clearance to normal organs and tissues Very high therapeutic ratios (radiation dose to the tumor relative to normal organs) Effective, highly localized, high-dose radiotherapy, and complete absence of adverse side-effects in critical normal tissues The University of Missouri is now advertising availability of IsoPet treatment for dogs and other species, including treatment of equine sarcoids. "The successful treatment of the cat and dog subjects thus far increases the likelihood of …
Large dogs are king according to international surveySeptember 27, 2018 According to a new international survey, dog owners say they are more satisfied owning large dogs than small dogs. The study, conducted online by RightPet starting in 2010 to 2018, surveyed dog breed reviews from 12,167 pet owners from 106 countries. Seventy-five percent of the reviews were of purebred dogs; 25 percent were of mixed breeds. The study found that both women and men are happier owning large dogs than small dogs and that men and younger people are significantly more satisfied with medium, large, and giant breeds, and less satisfied with toy and small dogs. Older people (around age 70) were found to be equally satisfied with dogs of any size, though dog owners with experience owning multiple dogs of different sizes report the greatest satisfaction with large dogs. The RightPet study found a direct correlation between dog size satisfaction and the fact that dog owners rate bigger dogs as more emotionally stable, child-safe, trainable, and less barky than small dogs. "What our study has found is that large dogs score higher in traits that are really important to most dog owners," said Brett Hodges, owner/editor at RightPet. "People don't prefer large dogs per se—they like them …
Morris Animal Foundation funds 13 wildlife studies with $850KSeptember 25, 2018Morris Animal Foundation (MAF) will extend $850,000 to fund 13 wildlife research studies. Through the new grants, the foundation is supporting scientists from Tufts University, Cornell University, and the Smithsonian Institution. The foundation's Wildlife Animal Scientific Advisory Board reviewed all submitted grant applications and selected, based on scientific merit and impact, the studies with the greatest potential to save lives, preserve health, and advance veterinary care. Wildlife studies funded for 2018 include: Understanding the Impact of Lead Poisoning in Bald Eagles Researchers will analyze multiple data sources to learn if lead continues to impact the long-term health and recovery of bald eagles. This new information will be used to help inform policy and public communication about lead exposure in bald eagles and other wildlife. Tackling Another Contagious Cancer in Tasmanian Devils Researchers will investigate a second, recently discovered, contagious cancer in Tasmanian devils, devil facial tumor 2 (DFT2). Understanding how the disease is evolving and spreading will provide important clues on how to manage this disease and other contagious cancers affecting both Tasmanian devils and dogs. Saving Endangered Frogs from Deadly Fungal Disease Researchers will look at ways to boost the immunity of …
FDA issues alert for isoxazoline class of flea, tick productsSeptember 21, 2018The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is alerting veterinarians and pet owners of the potential for neurologic adverse events in dogs and cats when treated with isoxazoline class flea and tick products, including Bravecto, Nexgard, and Simparica. Data received by the agency as part of its routine post-marketing activities indicates that some animals receiving Bravecto, Nexgard, or Simparica have experienced adverse events such as muscle tremors, ataxia, and seizures, said the FDA in a statement. Credelio, another isoxazoline class product, recently received FDA approval. These products are approved for the treatment and prevention of flea infestations, and the treatment and control of tick infestations. The FDA said it is working with manufacturers of isoxazoline products to include new label information to highlight neurologic events, as they were seen consistently across the isoxazoline class of products. These products continue to be safe and effective for the majority of animals, said the FDA, adding that it carefully reviewed studies and other data on Bravecto, Credelio, Nexgard, and Simparica prior to approval. The agency is asking the manufacturers to change product labeling in order to provide veterinarians and pet owners with the information they need to make treatment decisions …
Performance Dog recalls all frozen raw pet foodSeptember 19, 2018Bravo Packing Inc. of Carneys Point, N.J., has issued a voluntary recall of all Performance Dog products, a frozen raw pet food, due to potential Salmonella contamination. The company's recall comes after a sample of Performance Dog, collected during an FDA inspection, tested positive for Salmonella. No human or animal illnesses have been reported to date. Performance Dog generally works with the distributor Tefco, located in Brooklyn, which fills orders to brick-and-mortar retail stores or to consumers directly. Performance Dog comes frozen in 2-lb. and 5-lb. plastic sleeves. The recalled product has manufacture date code 071418. The manufacture date codes are printed on the boxes that contain the plastic sleeves, but not on the individual plastic sleeves. Therefore, if the cardboard box has been discarded, there are no unique identification numbers on the individual sleeves that allow customers to determine that they possess the recalled products. If you purchased this product since July 14 and cannot determine whether it is affected by the recall, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration recommends that you exercise caution and throw the product away. Consumers with questions should contact Bravo Packing Inc. at 856-299-1044, Monday - Friday 6 a.m. -2 p.m., and Saturday 4 …
