Thirteen dogs win Walkin' Pets calendar contest supporting disabled petsSeptember 13, 2018The 2019 Walkin' Pets worldwide calendar contest has announced 13 winners from around the world. This year, the winning dogs hail from eight countries: Thailand, Brazil, Germany, England, United States, Mexico, Italy, and Wales. The champions were selected by popular vote on the Walkin' Pets Facebook page and were announced through a video by the company. The winning dogs range in age from 1 to 11 and are of all sizes and breeds, including a dachshund, a German shepherd, a Siberian husky, French bulldog, and more. Each year, the contest features pets using Walkin' Wheels wheelchairs to help raise awareness of options for disabled pets with mobility challenges. The 2019 calendar is available for pre-order at (888) 253-0777. All proceeds from calendar sales go to the Handicapped Pets Foundation.
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California to test pilot program for injured police dogsSeptember 13, 2018California Governor Jerry Brown signed Assembly Bill 1776 on Sept. 6, establishing a pilot program that would authorize medical technicians to provide emergency, ground-based transportation to a veterinary facility for police dogs injured in the line of duty. This bill would authorize the County of San Bernardino to work with the Inland Counties Emergency Medical Agency to conduct a pilot project starting Jan. 1, 2019, in which they collect specified data about the results and submit a report to the Legislature by Jan. 1, 2022. As an exception, there must be no person requiring medical attention or transportation at the scene when the request is made, and the ambulance must have a policy permitting the transportation of an injured police dog. The canine handler must accompany the dog and remain in full control during transport. Additionally, the canine handler remains responsible for any first aid given to the injured police dog during transport.
Boehringer Ingelheim gives support shots for World Rabies Day 2018September 13, 2018Merial, part of Boehringer Ingelheim (BI), announced it will donate 75,000 doses of rabies vaccine to the Global Alliance for Rabies Control (GARC) in recognition of World Rabies Day on Sept. 28. The donation is a result of the Shots for Good initiative, in which BI pledged to donate doses of rabies vaccine for every dose of Purevax, Recombitek, and Imrab vaccine purchased by participating veterinary practices from July 2 to Aug. 10, 2018. The donated vaccines will support a mass dog vaccination campaign in Madagascar to control the disease and limit the potential for reintroduction of rabies from neighboring countries. "The support of our participating veterinary practices made this donation possible," said Zach Mills, DVM, executive director of BI's U.S. Pet Veterinary Professional Services. "BI understands the importance of vaccination to the overall health of pets worldwide. With more than a decade of experience advocating for rabies prevention, the Global Alliance for Rabies Control has the infrastructure to put this donation to good use." GARC will manage the campaign in Madagascar with government veterinary services and international and local nongovernmental organizations. Established protocols will be used to plot and …
Top 12 toughest decisions surgeons makeSeptember 12, 2018Cynics believe that surgeons want to “cut” everything and everybody. However, did you know a surgeon’s inner monologue is a frequent struggle with hesitations and questions? Here are 12 questions surgeons sometimes ponder, either before stepping into the OR or in the middle of surgery.*
Trupanion pet insurance appoints new member to board of directorsSeptember 11, 2018Trupanion Inc. pet insurance company announced the appointment of Jackie Davidson to its board of directors, effective Sept. 5. "We are very pleased to welcome Jackie to our board," said Darryl Rawlings, CEO. "Jackie is a seasoned financial leader with a strong track record in guiding companies through periods of growth and innovation. We look forward to working closely with Jackie and our board as we continue to grow Trupanion and the broader medical insurance for pets category." Davidson currently serves on the board of BuildPulse, is a member of the board of trustees for the Washington CPA Foundation, serves on the advisory board of ClientLinkt, and is a member of the National Association of Corporate Directors, the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, and the Washington Society of CPAs. Most recently, she worked as the CFO at Market Leader.
University of Illinois uses humane facility for feline reproduction researchSeptember 7, 2018Researchers at the University of Illinois have created a unique study environment designed to bridge the gap between the lab and the real world in which resident cats can roam while participating in a study aimed to find alternatives to traditional spay and neuter services. With a large climbing tree in the center, the completely open pole barn contains two levels, furniture, toys, scented objects, and a quarter-acre outdoor enclosure. "Many facilities have come a long way in making research conditions more humane for the animals, but they still involve small enclosures without a lot of enrichment," said Amy Fischer, PhD, of the Department of Animal Sciences at the university and lead investigator of the study. "We wanted to make our cats' environment much more stimulating." The GonaCon study Though spay and neuter services can help reduce feral and free-roaming cats, they are invasive and expensive procedures that require a high level of veterinary training, said researchers. GonaCon, an injectable contraceptive vaccine that has been shown to be effective in several mammals, including deer, horses, and laboratory-raised cats, has been considered as an alternative, but field-testing such a product is complicated, they added. During the study, female cats were allowed …
20-plus clinics to participate in expanded osteosarcoma vaccine clinical trialSeptember 6, 2018Initial results of a pilot study for canine osteosarcoma vaccine are promising, prompting a larger study to test its safety and efficacy. Pharmaceutical company Aratana Therapeutics, which received conditional licensure for Live Listeria Vector (AT-014), has expanded its clinical trial to include more than two dozen veterinary oncology practice groups across the U.S. in order to receive full licensure. Conducted by the University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine, the pilot study tested the immunotherapy treatment in 18 dogs. Those that received the vaccine lived more than twice as long as the historical, matched control group, with median survival times of 956 days compared to 423 days. The expanded clinical trial is designed to collect additional safety data for the vaccine in dogs that have undergone amputation of the affected limb and have already completed chemotherapy. If the treatment is found to be as safe and effective as it appeared in the initial clinical trial, Aratana will be given full licensure, allowing it to make the drug commercially available. Live Listeria Vector (AT-014) is created by removing harmful genes from the Listeria bacteria and then attaching markers of osteosarcoma cells. It is designed to supplement standard osteosarcoma treatment of amputation …
VetMedTeam RACE-approved CE examines patient health trendsSeptember 6, 2018VetMedTeam, an online resource offering free continuing education to veterinarians, credentialed veterinary technicians, and practice team members, is hosting a RACE-approved, 1 interactive credit course on evolving patient health trends. "By the numbers: Examining top health risks for dogs and cats," led by Mary Rothlisberger, ACAS, MAAA, associate actuary at Trupanion pet insurance company, is scheduled to go live Sept. 19 at 2 p.m. Eastern. The webinar will highlight current medical condition trends for veterinary patients, including by age and size, as well as some popular purebred dog breeds, and shares how teams can incorporate this information into patient services, from diagnosis to client education. Further, Rothlisberger will share analytical data from Trupanion medical database records, including expected treatment costs. For those unable to attend the live webinar, VetMedTeam will notify members when a free self-study course becomes open for enrollment. All who enroll in the live webinar, regardless of live attendance, also will receive emailed information. Membership in VetMedTeam is free and open to all members of the veterinary practice team as well as veterinary and veterinary technology students. Click here to register for the webinar; click here to find answers to FAQs. Email …
Improving the veterinary experience for catsSeptember 6, 2018It's doubtful any kind of service business is capable of receiving a near-perfect satisfaction rate, including most veterinary practices—except for those that are certified as Cat Friendly Practices (CFP). In January, the American Association of Feline Practitioners (AAFP) announced the results of its 2017 Cat Friendly Practice Survey, which found a 99 percent satisfaction rate among participating veterinary clinics. The CFP program is a collaboration of feline experts who provide guidelines to ensure a more positive and less stressful veterinary experience for cats and their owners. According to Elizabeth Colleran, DVM, MS, DABVP, AAFP co-chair of CFP, it was a long time coming. "There was recognition that the experience of cats and their owners just hasn't been good enough, and there are ways we can do better," Dr. Colleran said. "Seeing more cats and providing better healthcare, and thus a better quality of life for those cats, is possible." "Using low-stress handling techniques on cats minimizes high stress in the veterinary team. It's a safer and more effective way to practice," said Jan Yaroslav, RVT, VTS (dentistry), of Mangrove Veterinary Hospital in Chico, Calif. Most importantly, when cats panic and their cortisol levels skyrocket, the quality of the exam isn't …
AAHA releases preventive care protocol publicationSeptember 6, 2018The American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA) has released a new publication, developed with the support of an educational grant from IDEXX—Promoting Preventive Care Protocols: Evidence, Enactment, and Economics. "A focus on preventive care can give pets a greater chance at longer and healthier lives. Pet owners are more receptive than ever to engaging in conversations on preventive care and innovation in diagnostics, diets, and treatments," said Janice Trumpeter, DVM, AAHA deputy CEO. Preventive care exams remain a veterinary professional's best chance to influence good outcomes throughout a pet's lifetime, according to AAHA. Through these hands-on moments with patients and regular consultations with pet owners, practitioners can provide advice, preventive care services, and additional recommendations tailored to individual pets, the association said. The new publication features results of various studies and concludes that regular health checks and screenings improve detection and allow for early therapeutic intervention. Notably, it includes findings from a landmark big-data analysis of preventive care profiles from IDEXX. Analysis from 268,817 patient samples across more than 5,000 North American veterinary practices revealed that veterinary professionals who screen pets regularly find significant results in all adult life stages that require further action. The publication also …
