Grants Given to Fight Canine Epilepsy, HypothyroidismOctober 20, 2014University researchers in the United States, Australia and the Netherlands have been awarded nearly $269,000 to study epilepsy and hypothyroidism in dogs. Two of the grant winners—Ned Patterson, DVM, Ph.D., of the University of Minnesota and Sam Long, MVM, Ph.D., Dipl. ECVN, of the University of Melbourne—will work to understand the underlying mechanisms that predispose dogs to epilepsy and search for new drugs. Drs. Patterson and Long received $104,781 and $116,000, respectively. The money was awarded by the AKC Canine Health Foundation, a Raleigh, N.C., organization that manages research donations from individuals, dog clubs, foundations and corporations. The other grant, valued at $48,195, went to Jan A. Mol, Ph.D., of the University of Utrecht. Mol will investigate three methods that may provide a more accurate diagnosis for hypothyroidism, the foundation reported. The research findings could assist both dogs and people. About 7 in every 1,000 Americans have epilepsy and about 4.6 percent of Americans have hypothyroidism. “By helping our dogs, we potentially unlock better treatments for ourselves as well,” said the foundation’s chief scientific officer, Shila Nordone, MS, Ph.D. The two diseases are among the Canine Health Foundation’s research priorities. Current drug therapies are of little use to about …
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American Humane Association Honors 2- and 4-Legged HeroesSeptember 29, 2014An Arizona veterinarian who serves low-income clients and a Texas veterinary technician who co-founded Pug Rescue of Austin were honored Sunday during the expanded Hero Dog Awards in Beverly Hills, Calif. The first-ever Hero Veterinarian and Hero Veterinary Technician awards were presented to Eva DeCozio, DVM, of VCA Apache Junction in Higley, Ariz., and to Signe Corbin, who in addition to her charity work is employed at Westlake Animal Hospital in Austin, Texas. Drug maker Zoetis Inc. of Florham Park, N.J., sponsored the two new awards. Public online voting selected Dr. DeCozio and Corbin from among five finalists in each category. DeCozio is the medical director at VCA Apache Junction and co-founder of the nonprofit group Panacea Animal Wellness Sanctuary. “Never one to turn away a someone if they are unable to pay for their pet’s care, Dr. DeCozio was nominated because of her propensity for helping as many creatures as she can,” according to her profile prepared by the American Humane Association, which organizes the Hero Dog Awards. “The co-founder of the Panacea Animal Wellness Sanctuary, she has brought in hundreds of animals who might have been euthanized in other shelters, treats them and helps adopt them out to new …
NexGard Success Triggers Factory ExpansionSeptember 23, 2014 Merial Ltd. broke ground Monday on the $25 million expansion of a manufacturing plant in Paulinia, Brazil, to support additional production of the new flea and tick medication NexGard. Launched early this year, NexGard (afoxolaner) Chewables rang up $40 million in U.S. sales in the second quarter. That figure represented 9 percent of Merial’s international companion animal business. Merial CEO Carsten Hellmann called the expansion of the Paulinia facility—one of 18 plants worldwide—“an important part of our global business and manufacturing strategy.” “With [NexGard] registrations filed globally, we are significantly expanding our current manufacturing capacity to prepare for demand and growth,” Hellmann said. NexGard is a vegetable-based, meatless chew approved for use in dogs at least 8 weeks old and weighing four pounds or more. The monthly prescription medication is indicated to kill fleas and a variety of ticks. The medication also is sold in Europe and Japan. The expansion is expected to ultimately supply more than 100 countries. The construction should be finished in early 2015, Merial reported. The work includes 21,000 square feet of additional production rooms and new equipment. The Paulinia plant should create 85 jobs, …
Legal Fight Escalates Between Purina, Blue BuffaloSeptember 22, 2014 Pet food giant Nestlé Purina filed additional legal claims last week against Blue Buffalo Co., accusing the competitor of overstating the quality of its LifeSource Bits, cat litter and Jolly Joints dog treats. Blue Buffalo called the allegations a “smear campaign” and challenged the qualifications of an independent scientific expert who examined other Blue Buffalo products. The legal brawl stems from a false-advertising lawsuit filed May 6 by Nestlé Purina Petcare Co., which asserted that a preliminary laboratory report had uncovered poultry byproduct meal and grain in some Blue Buffalo recipes. Blue Buffalo, which filed a countersuit May 14, declares in its advertising and legal responses that the company’s dog and cat foods are free of chicken and poultry byproduct meals, corn, wheat and soy. The Wilton, Conn., company defended its LifeSource Bits, cat litter and dog treats. “Nestlé Purina is attempting to muddy the waters … by adding a list of new unfounded allegations to continue its malicious attack,” said Blue Buffalo founder and chairman Bill Bishop. “With numerous quotes in its press release from its chief marketing officer, Nestlé Purina makes it clear that this entire lawsuit is simply a marketing campaign disguised …
Colorado State Vets Help Ailing Military DogSeptember 22, 2014 A 9-year-old mixed-breed dog that sniffed out bombs during military tours in Iraq and Afghanistan is recovering after heart surgery performed Sept. 16 at the Colorado State University Veterinary Teaching Hospital. Kay, a now-retired war dog, was discovered to have an inoperable heart tumor after he settled down with his U.S. Army handler, Brandon Donahue, in Brighton, Colo. “We could definitely tell he was lethargic and tired, and he wasn’t feeling right,” Donahue said. The former soldier and his wife, Brandi, stopped at Colorado State after sitting through other veterinary consultations that included suggestions of euthanasia. Brandon Donahue knew he had to do more for Kay, who was credited with saving countless American lives overseas. “He put his life in danger, sometimes more than I did,” he said of their military service. “It means the world that we were able to return the favor and help him out.” Publicity about Kay’s condition led to $9,825 in contributions for the dog’s surgery and recovery. Though his cancer is inoperable, a surgical team led by Catriona MacPhail, DVM, Ph.D., Dipl. ACVS, created a 1- by 1-inch hole in the bottom of the heart …
Jaguar Animal Health Has Taste for New DrugsSeptember 18, 2014 A treatment for obesity-related metabolic dysfunction in dogs is the latest proposed product from a fledgling San Francisco drug developer. Jaguar Animal Health Inc., which focuses on gastrointestinal concerns in pets and production animals, reported Wednesday that the company has submitted its eighth Investigational New Animal Drug (INAD) application with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s Center for Veterinary Medicine. The newest candidate would address obesity-related metabolic dysfunction, which in dogs can mean altered lipid profiles, insulin resistance and mild hypertension. “Insulin resistance and metabolic syndrome occurs not just in humans, but also in dogs,” said Serge Martinod, DVM, Ph.D., the company’s chief veterinary officer. “However, while physicians worldwide have a vast array of drugs that have been approved to treat this condition in humans, veterinarians have no approved products available to treat these issues in dogs.” Jaguar stated that the active ingredient in the metabolic drug “is isolated and purified from a plant indigenous to the southwestern United States.” “In traditional medicine, the plant was brewed as a tea and used for the treatment of diabetes and other various illnesses,” the company added. Three other candidates in the Jaguar pipeline …
Space Available in Golden Retriever StudySeptember 17, 2014 Two years down, 10 to go. Morris Animal Foundation’s Golden Retriever Lifetime Study this month entered the third year of a project designed to document the long-term health of one of the United States’ most popular dog breeds. More than 1,900 golden retrievers are enrolled in the study, which uses owner questionnaires, veterinary exams, blood tests and genetic sequencing to provide researchers with an in-depth look at the breed and help them better understand cancer and other canine diseases. Morris Animal Foundation, a nonprofit organization headquartered in Denver, hopes to ultimately enroll 3,000 dogs. Owners of golden retrievers younger than 2 years old and living in the contiguous United States may apply at caninelifetimehealth.org. David Haworth, DVM, Ph.D., the foundation’s president and CEO, volunteered his golden retriever, Bridger. The 1,900 families who enrolled their dogs “hate disease in their beloved companions so much that they are willing to participate fully in this study,” Dr. Haworth said. “It is not easy, but it is so important,” he said. Information gleaned from the study will grow over the years as the dogs age, become sick and die. “When …
Study Offers Surprising Look at True Health of CatsAugust 24, 2014 Many cats that look and act healthy hide a secret. A study of outwardly healthy cats discovered laboratory abnormalities in one out of every four tested. Furthermore, pet owners who answered a 48-question survey noted warning signs in nearly 70 percent of the 1,197 cats checked. The results point to the value of annual veterinary wellness visits and in-depth questioning of pet owners, reported veterinary drug maker Zoetis Inc., which conducted the research. “This study demonstrated that a health risk assessment … can help veterinarians identify issues that might otherwise go undiagnosed and untreated until serious symptoms become apparent,” said J. Michael McFarland, DVM, Dipl. ABVP, the group director of Companion Animal Veterinary Operations for Zoetis. The study used data collected from 264 veterinary practices over 5½ years and included a cat owner questionnaire. Among the cat owners who took part in the health risk assessment: • 9 percent indicated that their cat had difficulty breathing, showing symptoms such as wheezing, sneezing or coughing. • 11 percent thought their cats exhibited stiffness, lameness or pain associated with movement. • 22 percent thought their cats were overweight or obese. …
Sleepypod Dog Harness Earns Top Rating From Safety GroupAugust 21, 2014 The Sleepypod Clickit Sport dog travel harness was awarded the Center for Pet Safety’s highest possible crash-test score, the manufacturer reported Thursday. The five-star rating covers small, medium and large Clickit Sport harnesses. The maximum score was the first under the Center for Pet Safety’s new Harness Certification Program. “Few manufacturers demonstrate the commitment to product safety testing that we have seen from Sleepypod,” said Lindsey A. Wolko, founder of the nonprofit Center for Pet Safety. “Theirs is a landmark achievement for pets and the people who love them.” The new Clickit Sport travel harness will be available for sale beginning in mid-October at suggested retail prices of $64.99 to $74.99, a Sleepypod spokeswoman said. The company’s co-founder and lead product designer, Michael Leung, called the five-star rating “a meaningful validation of Sleepypod’s steadfast commitment to pet travel safety innovation.” The Harness Certification Program is the first formal crash-test rating system for pet travel harnesses, the Center for Pet Safety stated. Harnesses volunteered for testing may be awarded five stars, four stars or a rating of “not recommended.” The Reston, Va., research center in October 2013 judged another Sleepypod travel harness, the …
Kindred Unsuccessful With First Canine DrugAugust 21, 2014 Kindred Biosciences Inc. has been dealt a setback with the discovery that the startup drug company’s vanguard product, CereKin, failed a pivotal field study. The Burlingame, Calif., company had hoped to achieve U.S. Food and Drug Administration approval of CereKin (diacerein) for the control of osteoarthritic pain and inflammation in dogs sometime in 2015. Kindred reported Wednesday that CereKin “did not meet its primary endpoint.” The randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study evaluated the safety and efficacy of two doses of CereKin (5 mg/kg and 20 mg/kg). “The data are in the process of being fully analyzed but, based on the analyses so far, the results appear to be due primarily to a higher-than-expected placebo response rate and statistical variability,” Kindred stated. “Also, in the high-dose group, the response rate among completers was in line with results seen in human studies, but the dropout rate was higher than expected and statistical significance was not achieved for the primary endpoint.” Kindred spent about $4 million on the development of CereKin—a sum in line with what the drug maker anticipates spending on each project. Still in the pivotal study stage are AtoKin (fexofenadine), which is designed …
