FDA Launches System To Track Pet Food-Related IllnessesAugust 2, 2011 The U.S. Food and Drug Administration and Partnership for Food Protection launched yesterday a Web-based system to track pet illnesses associated with pet food. The Pet Event Tracking Network (PETNet) will allow FDA and federal and state agencies to voluntarily share in real-time information about pet food-related incidents, such as illness associated with the consumption of pet food or pet food product defects. The system was developed by FDA and the Partnership for Food Protection, which includes state and local public health officials and representatives from several federal agencies, in the wake of the mass pet food recalls in 2007. One difficulty faced during that incident, according to FDA, was the timely sharing of information between the agency and the states and among the states themselves. PETNet is designed to allow for better communications between the various government officials. PETNet will be accessible to federal, state and territorial government officials responsible for the regulation of pet food products and the investigation of disease outbreaks in companion animals. It is currently made up of over 200 representatives from four federal agencies, all 50 states, Puerto Rico and the District of Columbia. Members will enter “events” into …
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Bayer Licenses Equine Products From SentrXAugust 2, 2011 Bayer HealthCare LLC's Animal Health Division announced it has licensed and now distributes SentrX Animal Care’s equitrX wound healing spray gel and equitrX corneal repair gel drops for horses. These products are currently available to veterinarians through Bayer Animal Health. The agreement allows Bayer Animal Health to offer equine veterinarians wound management products, the company states. “The equitrX products are prescription products sold only to licensed veterinarians,” said Scott King, DVM, and equine products manager for Bayer. “It is crucial to have an equine veterinarian involved in the management of some of these equine wounds and corneal ulcers.” Richard Koehn, Ph.D, president and CEO of SentrX Animal Care Inc. said these products cross-link modified hyaluronic acid molecules, a process that results in enhanced wound healing. “Horse owners want wounds to heal as nicely as possible," Dr. King said. “We liked these products because they provide a molecular matrix to enhance wound healing by facilitating cellular migration.” <Home>
Bayer Accepting Legend Of The Year NominationsAugust 1, 2011 Bayer Animal Health today began taking nominations for the company’s Legend of the Year Award. Veterinary professionals are asked to nominate peers committed to equine health. The winner will be announced during the American Association of Equine Practitioners’ 56th Annual Convention in November. The prize is a $5,000 donation to an equine charity or cause of the winner's choice. The Bayer Animal Health Legend of the Year Award includes an additional sweepstakes for horse owners who nominate a veterinary professional. The sweepstakes winner will receive an expense-paid trip with Equitrekking, a PBS equine show, a Charles Owen helmet, as well as a trip to Mackinac Island, Mich., dinner with the Equitrekking crew and a ride-along with show host Darley Newman. Visit MyLegendaryVet.com for more information. <HOME>
Cattle Supplements Recalled Due To High Urea LevelsAugust 1, 2011 Ridley Block Operations Inc. has issued a voluntary recall of one lot of Purina-Lix 38 Hi-E and RangeLand 38 Hi-E free-choice supplements for beef cattle because the products may contain excessive levels of urea. The recall is limited to the following lot and item numbers: Item No. Description Lot Number 0061468 Purina Lix 38 Hi-E Tubs 225# DB00302716 1800033-633 RangeLand 38 Hi-E Tubs 225# DB00302716 The recalled products were sold in the Ft. Worth and Lubbock, Texas, and Oklahoma City, Okla., areas through retail feed stores. The Purina-Lix 38 Hi-E product comes in 225-pound red plastic tubs and the RangeLand 38 Hi-E comes in 225-pound tan plastic tubs. The lot number DB 00302716 will be found on the label in the guaranteed analysis panel, which is located on the side of the container. Some of the tubs associated with this lot number contained softened product and levels of urea, a non-protein nitrogen feed ingredient, that exceeded formulated nutrient levels, according to Ridley Block Operations. The company reported that beef cattle with limited forage may be at risk for overconsumption of this free-choice supplement and potentially exposed to urea toxicity. Signs of urea toxicity …
Balter Receives Winnie AwardAugust 1, 2011 Winn Feline Foundation and the American Veterinary Medical Foundation presented the annual Winnie Award and $2,500 to Jessica Balter, DVM, for her promoting of feline health studies. Dr. Balter is a Cornell University graduate and former president of the student chapter of the American Association of Feline Practitioners. Balter coordinated numerous events to educate veterinary students and the community about important aspects of feline medicine. She has been active in trap-neuter-return programs and feral colony care, demonstrating a devotion to the needs of cats in the shelter setting and rescue operations. “I hope to build a strong foundation of medical knowledge which I can use to guide me through the unique aspects of shelter medicine while simultaneously advancing the treatment of shelter animals,” Balter said. She said she gained a deep appreciation of the behavioral needs of cats and a keen appreciation of the need for specialists dedicated to feline medicine after living with rescued felines. Balter will complete a year-long, small animal rotating internship at Brightheart Veterinary Referral and Emergency Center, a specialty hospital on Long Island, N.Y.
CSU Creates Fund To Rebuild Equine FacilityJuly 30, 2011 Colorado State University has established a fund to rebuild its Equine Reproduction Laboratory (ERL), which was destroyed in a fire July 26. An investigation into the cause of the fire is under way. The university is inventorying biological materials and relocating laboratory personnel to temporary workspaces. The destruction at the laboratory is extensive and much, if not all, of the high-tech equipment is a complete loss, according to Colin Clay, PhD, professor and head of the department of Biomedical Sciences Animal Reproduction and Biotechnology Laboratory. “With your help, we will rebuild, only better with more space for programmatic growth and development, and improved facilities for groundbreaking research and clinical service,” Clay said. “The fire did not destroy that which is most valuable to our program. We have not lost our intellectual investments; our gifted scientists, teachers and clinicians; our extraordinarily dedicated and talented staff; or our passion for what we do.” CSU credits quick action from the Poudre Valley Fire Authority, the Fort Collins Police Department and the CSU Police Department contained the fire to a single structure. “The impact of the fire on this flagship program is profound, but the response from the …
Possible Salmonella Contamination Prompts Limited Recall Of Purina ONEJuly 30, 2011 Nestle Purina PetCare Company (NPPC) has issued a recall on a limited number of 3.5- and 7-pound bags of its Purina ONE Vibrant Maturity 7+ Dry Cat Food due to possible Salmonella contamination. The food comes from a single production run and was shipped to customers in 12 states in December 2010, according to Purina. "This is being done because some bags of the product have been found to be contaminated with Salmonella" a release issued by Purina states. The product was distributed to customers in California, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, North Dakota, Nebraska, Ohio and Wisconsin, who may have further distributed the product to other states. The company became aware of the contamination as a result of samples that had been collected in several retail stores. No additional Purina cat or dog products are involved in the voluntary recall, and no other Purina ONE brand products are involved, according to the company. Pets with Salmonella infections may exhibit decreased appetite, fever and abdominal pain. If left untreated, pets may be lethargic and have diarrhea or bloody diarrhea, fever and vomiting. Infected but otherwise healthy pets can be …
Equine Metritis Recurs In U.S.July 29, 2011 Following a positive test of a Maricopa County horse for Taylorella equigenitalis, a comprehensive epidemiological investigation has been initiated by the Arizona Department of Agriculture and United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) officials. Laboratory tests showed the Arizona horse has a subclinical infection of Taylorella equigenitalis, a Gram-negative bacterium of the genus Taylorella, and the causative agent of Contagious Equine Metritis (CEM) in horses. There currently is no known relationship between the positive stallion and any horses associated with the previous U.S. cases of CEM. The horse is being quarantine although vaccination in prohibited during an active infection. Treatment of the infected animal will follow protocols in accordance with Federal, International and expert guidance and requirements. Weekly follow-up reports will be issued by Dr. John Clifford, deputy administrator, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, USDA. <Home>
CATalyst: Initiative To Increase Feline Visits To Vets Seeing SuccessJuly 28, 2011 Success is being seen on the tails of the Cat Friendly Practice Makeover initiative, which works with volunteer clinics to increase the number of cat visits by providing education, specialized training and reconfiguration to make the clinic more cat friendly, the CATalyst Council announced. The initiative was announced earlier this year. The CATalyst Council discussed the initiative’s success at the American Veterinary Medical Association conference in St. Louis last week. “We are confident that this pilot will show that there are relatively easy steps that veterinary practices can take to increase the number and frequency of feline visits,” said Jane Brunt, DVM, executive director of the CATalyst Council. “We’re excited about the positive initial results that we’re seeing and exploring opportunities to make a difference in the lives of cats everywhere.” Click here to see a video related to this subject. The initiative received 1,800 pet owner responses via survey to gauge beliefs and attitudes toward veterinary care. Respondents shared their opinions about veterinary care, which were similar to some of the Bayer-Brakke study findings. The results confirmed that cats are not receiving the same level of care as dogs. …
MU Study Poised To Help Veterans And Shelter DogsJuly 28, 2011 The University of Missouri (MU) College of Veterinary Medicine’s Research Center for Human-Animal Interaction (ReCHAI) is conducting a study to help U.S. military veterans handle combat-related issues. In the study, veterans work with a canine training buddy to cope with issues such as substance abuse or post-traumatic stress disorder while helping shelter dogs become more adoptable. “Health professionals are seeing increasing reports of combat-related stress in returning veterans,” said Rebecca Johnson, director of ReCHAI and associate professor for the MU Sinclair School of Nursing and College of Veterinary Medicine. “This study benefits both ends of the leash, because we know that interaction with animals relieves stress and lessens symptoms of depression and anxiety. Not only will veterans help dogs exercise and receive necessary training, but the dogs will potentially provide stress relief for the veterans.” MU’s ReCHAI is supported by grants from Mars Petcare, Waltham, Pedigree Foundation, Banfield Charitable Trust and the MU Research Board, to conduct a study of the benefit of veterans training shelter dogs. The study began in early 2011 and will conclude in 2013. Veterans learn to train dogs, and then they mentor families who adopt shelter dogs. Select …
