Zoetis awards $200K in grants for heartworm researchJune 12, 2018Zoetis has awarded three teams of scientists with $200,000 in research grants to support projects that will help advance understanding of the fundamentals of heartworm and explore novel interventions to help prevent it. "Heartworm disease is a debilitating and potentially fatal condition, particularly in dogs and cats," said Debra Woods, Ph.D., research director and head of parasitology global therapeutics research at Zoetis. "New therapies are likely to be required as heartworm resistance to current therapies develops over time." Grant recipients are: Sean Forrester, Ph.D., associate professor of biology at the University of Ontario Institute of Technology Guilherme G. Verocai, DVM, MSc, Ph.D., DACVM, director of the Parasitology Diagnostic Laboratory at the University of Georgia College of Veterinary Medicine Mostafa Zamanian, Ph.D., and Lyric Bartholomay, Ph.D., of the Department of Pathobiological Sciences at the University of Wisconsin-Madison School of Veterinary Medicine "We were impressed with the caliber of the innovative research proposals we received and selected three that will augment our internal research and development and could lead to new scientific insights in parasitic disease, in particular, heartworm disease," said Dr. Woods. The research grants were awarded by a committee comprised of leaders from across divisions and disciplines, with external …
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Remind horse owners to safeguard against rabiesJune 7, 2018According to veterinary research published in the Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association, the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, and the American Horse Council, horses are nearly four times more likely to contract rabies than dogs. Across the U.S., the majority of horses are not vaccinated for rabies and often run a higher risk of exposure than dogs, according to U.S. Department of Agriculture. "Everybody is at risk for developing rabies," said Bonnie R. Rush, DVM, MS, DACVIM, Interim Dean at Kansas State University's College of Veterinary Medicine. "[Horses are] at higher risk for being exposed probably at pasture, but being in a stall does not preclude exposure. The consequences of interacting with a horse that has rabies are significant." Horses can be exposed to rabies most commonly through bats, raccoons, foxes, and skunks. Two examples of public equine rabies cases include the 2008 Missouri State Fair; and the 2006 Tennessee Walking Horse National Celebration, which required the notification of more than 150,000 people for potential rabies exposure. Rabies is the deadliest among the five core equine diseases, which also include Eastern and Western equine encephalomyelitis, tetanus, and West Nile. Horses are continually exposed …
Help clients who travel hire the best professional pet sitterJune 6, 2018As more than 88 million Americans prepare for family vacations this summer, educational association Pet Sitters International (PSI) reminds pet owners to use caution when deciding who will watch their animals, recommending they forgo hiring hesitant friends and neighbors to fill this role and instead seek professional pet sitters, trained to handle potential emergencies. "When it comes to finding pet care, don't prioritize convenience over quality," said Beth Stultz, PSI vice-president. "Just because you can quickly find and book the services of a pet lover with a profile on a pet-sitting or dog-walking app doesn't mean you are choosing a qualified pet-care provider. Pet owners should take a closer look to ensure they are hiring not just a pet lover, but a pet lover who is also a true pet-care professional." Professional pet sitters come to clients' homes, which limits interruption to pets' routines and eliminates the stress and danger of exposing them to new, unfamiliar environments. Additionally, many professionals provide services for owners traveling with animals, offering pet-care services at hotels for clients who need to leave their animals and participate in non-pet friendly events or activities. PSI advises pet owners to schedule a consultation …
Enter Veterinary Practice News' 2018 They Ate What?! X-ray ContestJune 1, 2018Pets eat the most puzzling things that land them in the vet's office: shoes, coins, socks, teddy bears, watches, rubber ducks, rocks, lightbulbs, kitchen utensils, pendants, golf balls, and more. If the rads weren't there to prove this stuff actually happens, the tales would be hard to believe. That's why Veterinary Practice News is asking the veterinary community to submit radiographs to the 2018 They Ate What?! X-ray contest that show how truth is often stranger than fiction when it comes to the contents of some pets' stomachs. The winner, selected by a panel of veterinarians and Veterinary Practice News editors, will receive $500 and a one-year subscription to Web PACS, a Picture Archiving Communications System valued at $2,400, from contest prize sponsor, IDEXX Laboratories Inc. How to enter: Go to VeterinaryPracticeNews.com/xraycontest and log in or register to enter. Upload high-resolution images—large files reproduce best—and fill in your name, clinic name and address, telephone number, and a short explanation of the case, including the outcome. If available, include images of the patient and the recovered item(s). The submission deadline is July 23. The winner and honorable mentions will be unveiled in the …
WSAVA global veterinary therapeutics access campaign gains supportersJune 1, 2018As the World Small Animal Veterinary Association (WSAVA) continues its campaign to secure equal access to veterinary therapeutics around the world, more global animal health organizations lend their support. The World Veterinary Association, the Federation of Veterinarians of Europe, and the Federation of Companion Animal Francophone Veterinary Associations are the latest groups to join the cause with 10 WSAVA member associations already involved. In a 2016-2017 member survey, 75 percent of respondents confirmed that challenges to accessing veterinary medical products hampered their ability to meet the needs of their patients, and 20 percent assessed the impact of this issue as resulting in a severe restriction on their ability to provide a high level of care. "We face a Herculean task in trying access everything from basic medical consumables, such as syringes and needles, right up to veterinary drugs," said Olatunji Nasir, DVM, MVsc (Surgery), MCVSN, medical director and CEO of the Truthmiles Animal Hospital in southwest Nigeria, one of the countries affected. "Registration fees are very high because they are the equivalent of what is charged for human drugs despite the fact that the volume used is much lower. The process of registering a new drug …
Report: More pet skin allergies caused by fleas than foodMay 31, 2018According to Banfield Pet Hospital's recently released 2018 State of Pet Health Report, which explores the science behind skin allergies in pets and sheds light on flea, environmental, and food allergies, the latter isn't to blame for itchy skin as often as some might believe. According to Banfield's report, food allergies affect just 0.2 percent of dogs and 0.1 percent of cats, meaning other causes should be explored if food allergies are suspected. Further, flea allergies have risen over the past 10 years, including a 12 percent increase in dogs and a 67 percent increase in cats, and environmental allergies also are on an upward trend, with a more than 30 percent increase in dogs and 11 percent increase in cats over the last decade, the report stated. According to Banfield data, cats are twice as likely as dogs to be found with fleas; however, fleas exist in all types of weather, on outdoor and indoor pets and in all 50 states all year long. While environmental allergens for pets vary by region and climate, many are found in a typical pet owner's home, including pollen, dander, molds, and cleaning solutions. Additionally, Wisdom …
NY State to invest $12M in veterinary educationMay 24, 2018New York State will contribute $12 million to fund a new college of veterinary medicine at Long Island University (LIU) in Brookville as part of a $40-million project to establish the first school of its kind in the New York metropolitan area, said Gov. Andrew Cuomo. While there are 30 schools of veterinary medicine across the U.S., only three are located in the northeast and none are in the New York metropolitan area. LIU's College of Veterinary Medicine, which is expected to begin classes in September 2019, will effectively fill this academic gap. The college will enroll 100 students into the four-year doctorate program annually and create at least 100 staff positions. "Investing in the nation's newest veterinary college and the first in the New York metropolitan area is a transformative event for Long Island University, for the region, and for animal health, which will create great New York jobs and research opportunities," said Kimberly Cline, LIU president. "We are grateful to all of our partners in government, the animal health community, and business community, for their support." The funds are part of a $72 million investment to support three economic developments on Long Island. In …
Cornell CVM adopts ezyVet practice management softwareMay 22, 2018Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine has partnered with ezyVet to use the company's cloud-hosted veterinary practice management software (PMS). ezyVet's products will be used by more than 1,000 individuals, spanning faculty, veterinary staff, students, and post-terminal degree trainees, interns, residents, and post-docs across the seven hospitals comprising the Cornell University Hospital for Animals. ezyVet products include XERO cloud-based accounting, Smart Flow electronic treatment whiteboard, Cubex dispensary, rVetLink specialty referral portal, and Vet Rocket and Asteris digital imaging. The first ezyVet site is due to go live in June 2018. ezyVet and Cornell will use AI and machine learning to create and automate workflows and processes where faculty staff has full visibility of student work, said company founder and CEO Hadleigh Bognuda. This means that ezyVet becomes an important part of the teaching process, with teaching faculty being able to verify and grade real-world student work within the teaching hospital, he added. "Our passion has always been around developing our software in ways that assist vets to think and act clinically—to deliver a world class standard of care without losing money across any area of a veterinarian practice," he said. "Our partnership with Cornell will be …
Vetstream, MicroLearn offer expanded veterinary professional elearningMay 21, 2018Veterinary digital content company Vetstream, creator of Vetacademy elearning platform, has partnered with elearning specialist MicroLearn. Vetacademy provides veterinary professionals with more than 300 clinical courses from various training and continuing professional development providers. The MicroLearn partnership adds to that menu more than 120 business training modules on topics including customer service, management and leadership, and workplace well-being. In each module, learners watch a short video before participating in interactive content to support learning. They are also given tasks or questions to complete to trigger activities or to help them to practice new skills and learn from experience or reflection. "In today's highly competitive market, running a successful practice requires more than excellent clinical skills," said Sharon Tongue, Vetstream's business development manager. "It also requires a high level of business acumen and experience—yet this is an area is not a major focus during undergraduate training for vets and vet nurses because the curriculum is so full." In addition to Vetacademy, Vetstream also offers Vetlexicon, an online peer-reviewed veterinary reference tool, as well as Webpartner, which offers a suite of website design, online content, and digital marketing services to the veterinary sector. "The MicroLearn …
VIP Petcare expands veterinary clinics in 4 statesMay 18, 2018VIP Petcare, based in Windsor, Calif., has expanded the reach of its preventive veterinary clinics throughout Washington, Maine, Kansas, and Louisiana. New clinics are at local pet retail stores, feed stores, and other retail locations in communities throughout the regions, including Tractor Supply, Pet Suppies, and Petsense. The VIP Petcare clinics at Tractor Supply operate as PetVet Community Clinics. With the opening of these new locations, VIP Petcare has now increased its national clinic footprint to include 38 states. Clinics will be conducted inside of the host locations, and will include a variety of services such as vaccinations, diagnostic testing, microchipping with a free nationwide registration, and prescription parasite prevention medications. The clinics are scheduled for specific times at retail locations on both weekends and weeknights, and do not require appointments. Visit vippetcare.com for more information.
