USDA Approves Avian Influenza VaccineSeptember 21, 2015Chicken and turkey producers will finally possess a weapon in the fight against the deadly and highly contagious avian flu. Harrisvaccines of Ames, Iowa, reported today that the company received the first conditional license of a vaccine targeting highly pathogenic avian influenza. The virus has killed an estimated 50 million chickens and turkeys in the United States since the initial outbreak was reported this past spring. The drug, Avian Influenza Vaccine, RNA, is not ready for distribution. The U.S. Department of Agriculture, which granted the license, wants a stockpile of 500 million doses readied in time for the next outbreak, which could begin as wild birds migrate south for the winter. “Although we cannot sell the vaccine today, we are in a better position to apply this robust and rapidly produced vaccine, if and when the virus re-emerges once again,” said Joel Harris, vice president of Harrisvaccines. Another reason is that some countries are wary of buying the meat of vaccinated poultry. “There’s concern that if we start vaccinating against avian influenza [now] our trading partners will stop importing meat from the U.S.,” Harris said. Avian Influenza Vaccine, RNA is a single-dose injectable formulated for use in day-old chicks and adult hens. …
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Unsung Heroes No MoreSeptember 21, 2015A veterinarian immersed in cancer studies, a veterinary technician dedicated to helping military veterans and their pets, and a Chihuahua who spent 10 years in a breeding cage were honored Saturday at the American Humane Association's annual Hero awards. Annette Sysel, DVM, MS, the president of Bauer Research Foundation in Vero Beach, Fla., was named the 2015 American Hero Veterinarian. Julie Carlson, CVT, the founder of the Phoenix group Vets for Vets' Pets, is the 2015 American Hero Veterinary Technician. "Dr. Annette Sysel and Julie Carlson are truly outstanding examples of the many dedicated animal professionals doing heroic work every day," said J. Michael McFarland, DVM, Dipl. ABVP, group director of U.S. Companion Animal Marketing at Zoetis Inc. Zoetis, a Florham Park, N.J., maker of animal drugs and vaccines, was the presenting sponsor of the veterinarian and vet tech awards. Sysel and Carlson were selected from among five finalists in each category and were celebrated onstage during the Hero Dog Awards ceremony. The event, which took place in Beverly Hills, Calif., will be broadcast nationally Oct. 30 on the Hallmark Channel. Sysel holds an unpaid position with Bauer Research Foundation. "Dr. Sysel has made a significant impact in …
Veterinarians Thanked With Special Gift From PenguinSeptember 18, 2015Veterinary staff at the Foster Hospital For Small Animals at Tufts University recently had a penguin named Grey/Silver as a patient in their Harrington Oncology Ward. He was having radiation treatments and recently completed his last one. The hospital staff, including Michele Keyerleber, DVM, grew attached to the penguin from the Mystic Aquarium, developing a fondness for the little creature, their Facebook page states. As it turns out, Grey/Silver – and his caretakers at the Connecticut-based aquarium – grew fond of the veterinary staff as well. They “were so thankful for the specialized treatment that Grey/Silver received that they presented the staff with this one-of-a-kind painting created by Grey/Silver himself.” Have you ever received a gift from one of your patients? Share your story in the comments.
Veterinary Interns, Residents Not Getting RichSeptember 17, 2015Veterinarians who pursue post-graduate training aren’t making piles of cash. The Association of American Veterinary Medical Colleges this month reported that interns employed at U.S. veterinary schools were paid an average of $26,572 during the 2014-15 academic year and the average resident earned $32,707. The pay was far below what newly graduated veterinarians grossed in private practice in 2014: about $67,000 on average. Veterinary careers go off in different directions. “I think that students and new graduates have lots of decisions ahead of them, and naturally income will be an important factor in any employment choices,” said Lisa M. Greenhill, MPA, EdD, the associate executive director for institutional research and diversity at AAVMC. “I would say that all students should research the costs and benefits of seeking additional training as it pertains to salary differentials and personal goals.” AAVMC found 315 interns enrolled in traditionally one-year programs at U.S. veterinary schools in 2014-15. Several hundred other interns were working in private practice, but their salaries were not known. Nearly all veterinary residents were in school-based, multiyear specialty programs. AAVMC counted 978 residents in the 2014-15 academic year, and their reported earnings ranged from a high of $54,774 …
‘Bleeding’ Study Seeks 100 Performance HorsesSeptember 17, 2015VetStem Biopharma is looking for 100 performance horses with a history of lung bleeding to participate in a study of whether stem cell therapy may be effective in cases of exercise-induced pulmonary hemorrhage (EIPH). If proven, the treatment could replace the popular but controversial race-day drug Lasix (furosemide). The Poway, Calif., company reported that two patients—a thoroughbred racehorse and a Quarter horse barrel racer—showed no recurrence of EIPH after being treated with adipose-derived SVF and culture-expanded adipose stem cells. The early success led to the launch this week of a clinical research project that requires up to 100 horses, ranging from thoroughbreds and Standardbreds to barrel racers, three-day eventers and steeplechasers. VetStem Biopharma hopes to enroll the horses by year’s end and later submit the research data for publication. A larger study will be undertaken if the results are positive, said Ross Rich, DVM, the company’s director of clinical research. Veterinarians recommending horses for the study need to confirm EIPH through a post-race endoscopic examination or by bronchoalveolar lavage, Dr. Rich said. Lasix is controversial in the United States because of its potential as a performance-enhancing drug and as a masking agent for other drugs. The American Association of …
Virginia Tech Gets OK for Proposed Design of New Dairy, Animal Science FacilitiesSeptember 17, 2015Virginia Tech recently reported that its Board of Visitors has approved the proposed design for the second phase of the new Dairy Science Complex. Phase II builds upon the new state-of-the-art research facilities and provides additional space for research, teaching and Virginia Cooperative Extension initiatives in dairy and animal sciences. Scientists working at the new complex will collaborate with partners in the Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine, the Department of Dairy Science, the Department of Animal and Poultry Sciences, the Agricultural Technology Program and with colleagues from industry and universities across the United States. The $7.6 million facility will include an applied reproductive physiology facility, an intensive metabolic research facility at the Kentland Farm complex and a bovine extension, teaching and research facility on Plantation Road. Virginia tech The new dairy facilities will be a boon to collaboration and applied research and teaching structures will allow unparalleled experiential learning for students. “The new buildings are an indication of the university’s support of the land-grant mission and will ensure the continued success of our award-winning dairy science program,” said Mike Akers, Ph.D., the department head and …
For UF Vet Students, It’s Off to Work They GoSeptember 16, 2015University of Florida veterinary students eager to gain real-world experience are getting the opportunity through a new course that places them in off-campus hospitals. The College of Veterinary Medicine this semester launched a small animal clerkship involving 17 practices within driving distance of Gainesville, Fla. The two-credit elective exposes third- and fourth-year students to circumstances they may not find during a mandatory rotation in the UF Small Animal Hospital, said program coordinator and clinical assistant professor Wendy Mandese, DVM. “Not everyone has CT or MRI,” Dr. Mandese said. “Many students get into general practice and realize it’s not anything like what’s at the university.” The pace they see in private practice may be slower than in a teaching hospital, and the pet owners they come in contact with may not be as financially receptive to treatment proposals. “If my students come up with a treatment plan for an animal that costs $100, I try to say to them, ‘OK, that is a good plan, but what would you do if the owner says they don’t have that much money?’” Mandese said. “You always need to have a Plan B ready.” The two-week class calls on students to do more …
OSU Opens Gaylord Center for Excellence in Equine HealthSeptember 15, 2015The Oklahoma State University’s Center for Veterinary Health Sciences recently opened the Gaylord Center for Excellence in Equine Health. The center, which will offer horse owners more options, was made possible by a $1 million lead gift from the E.L. and Thelma Gaylord Foundation. “This new facility greatly enhances our ability to provide premier health care for horses of all ages and disciplines,” said Todd Holbrook, DVM, Dipl. ACVIM (large animal), Dipl. ACVSMR), equine section chief. “We are excited to offer these services to horse owners everywhere.” The new space has created an outpatient service area for equine athletes while a separate overhead door entrance allows sport horses to enter the temperature controlled Gaylord Equine Performance Suite directly from the outside rather than going through the hospital’s large animal clinic entrance. In addition, specialty equipment for regenerative medicine is now centrally located adjacent to the exam area. The Gaylord Equine Neonatal Care Wing has three …
Illinois Alters Protocol After Cow DeathsSeptember 14, 2015The University of Illinois College of Veterinary Medicine has changed procedures after one cow died and four were euthanized in a case the U.S. Department of Agriculture attributed to possible unsanitary conditions and inadequate post-surgical monitoring. The college-owned cows underwent invasive surgery during a student laboratory and later developed post-operative peritonitis, or inflammation or infection of the abdominal lining, USDA stated. A USDA inspector reported that the operations involving six student groups and six cows were conducted in “a prep area” rather than a surgical suite and that the cows were moved days later to the campus farm, where oversight was assigned to two animal caretakers. University administrator Lyndon J. Goodly, DVM, MS, Dipl. ACLAM, described the matter as “extremely important.” “We will address and correct any shortcomings,” Dr. Goodly, the associate vice chancellor for research, wrote in an Aug. 25 response to a USDA regional director. A USDA veterinary medical officer, Susan Kingston, DVM, raised questions about the deaths following her routine inspection. “At some point in a …
New Pro Plan Food Made for Ailing Cats, DogsSeptember 14, 2015Nestlé Purina PetCare Co. has released an energy-dense, high-protein food formulated for sick cats and dogs. The recipe, Purina Pro Plan Veterinary Diets CN Critical Nutrition Canine and Feline Formula, may be delivered by syringe, feeding tube or, if the animal can eat without assistance, in a bowl. Tube feeding requires the food to be diluted with water, forming a slurry. The new canned food—Purina’s first critical care therapeutic diet—is intended for cats and dogs that are critically ill, recovering from surgery or suffering from a loss of appetite. “Critical care diets are an important tool for every veterinary practice,” said Grace Long, DVM, director of veterinary technical marketing for Purina Pro Plan Veterinary Diets. “Sick and recovering animals often refuse to eat,” Dr. Long added. “With CN Critical Nutrition, dogs and cats can get the high-quality nutrition they need in a concentrated diet that’s easy to feed.” Fortified with antioxidants, CN Critical Nutrition’s ingredients include meat and poultry byproducts, beef, liver, minerals and vitamins. The recommended daily feeding amount for a hospitalized 10-pound cat is a single 5.5-ounce can. An additional quarter-can should be given for maintenance purposes. A 40-pound dog could get 3 cans a day …
