Morris Animal Foundation K9 Cancer Walk Raised Over 70KMay 17, 2011 More than 500 northern Californians rallied May 7, for the third annual Morris Animal Foundation (MAF) K9 Cancer Walk in Elk Grove, Calif. The event raised more than $71,000 for the foundation’s Canine Cancer Campaign, which funds research to prevent and treat cancer in dogs, with a goal of curing the disease. MAF debuted a remembrance ceremony for all dogs that have died of cancer and celebrated dogs that have beaten cancer by gathering all dogs and their owners for a survivor ceremony. Fundraising teams were encouraged to show their team spirit by participating in the Top Dogs Contest, in which the winner raised the most money for cancer research, had the most members or showed the most spirit. This year’s sponsors and media partners include V101.1, Franklin Ranch Pet Hospital and Hotel, Loomis Basin Veterinary Clinic and VCA Animal Hospitals. MAF’s fundraising goal is $75,000, and the group has stated it will collect donations through June 3. To make a donation click here. Contest winners include: • Top Team: Team Homeward Bound, with more than $7,000 raised • Most Team Members: WAG, Inc., with nearly 60 members …
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Washington State Veterinarian Cautions Horse Owners About EHV-1 OutbreakMay 17, 2011 A Washington horse that attended the National Cutting Horse Association event in Ogden, Utah from April 30 to May 8, tested positive for Equine Herpes Virus 1 (EHV-1), a highly contagious animal disease. Several confirmed cases in horses with severe symptoms have been diagnosed in Utah, Colorado and elsewhere. Symptoms in horses include fever, sneezing, excessive salivation and other mild symptoms. Serious cases of the disease are rare, but can include staggering, hind-end paralysis and even death. The disease is not contagious to humans. “While I have not yet placed any restrictions on the movement of animals, I strongly suggest that horse owners isolate animals that attended the Western National Championships in Ogden, Utah,” says Leonard Eldridge, DVM, Washington state veterinarian. “For the protection of other horses, these owners are advised to keep their animals home for a couple of weeks.” The disease is spread from horse to horse through direct contact, on feed, tack and equipment or on the clothes and hands of horse owners. Considering the possibility of disease spread, owners are advised to carefully wash their hands and equipment to prevent the spread of the virus. The time of exposure to illness …
FDA Recommends Caution On ShampooMay 16, 2011 The Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) Center for Veterinary Medicine is alerting veterinarians and pet owners to use caution with the use of an unapproved animal drug product, Douxo Seborrhea Shampoo (0.1% phytosphingosine), distributed by Sogeval Laboratories, Inc. of Coppell, Texas. FDA recently received a report of the death of a woman associated with the use of the product on her dog, an event that occurred in March. The adverse event report describes a woman with severe, pre-existing asthma who had a sudden, severe asthma attack and died while bathing a dog using the product, Douxo Seborrhea Shampoo. A few days later, another asthmatic family member bathed the dog using the same product and experienced a mild asthma attack but recovered. FDA is advising consumers with asthma or other respiratory conditions to consult with their physician prior to use of this product. The FDA is investigating this issue and will provide additional information as appropriate. To report an adverse drug event to FDA, click here. <Home>
VSEC Opens Pennsylvania 24-hour Emergency HospitalMay 16, 2011 The Veterinary Specialty and Emergency Center (VSEC) of Bucks County, Penn. on Saturday hosted a grand opening celebration for a state-of-the-art, 21,000 square-foot hospital in Levittown. The event was open to the general public and included hospital tours, food and music. The ribbon cutting ceremony and a reception for referring veterinary hospitals followed. The new facility opens for patient care June 1. The hospital houses a linear accelerator to provide radiation therapy for cancer patients, a designated room to administer radioactive iodine treatment for hyperthyroid cats, a CT scanner, MRI scanner, intensive care unit, separate canine and feline wards and a presentation room for continuing education lectures. VSEC is a 24-hour emergency and specialty veterinary hospital offering board-certified specialists in cardiology, dermatology, emergency and critical care, diagnostic imaging, holistic medicine and acupuncture, internal medicine, medical and radiation oncology, neurology and surgery. This facility replaces VSEC’s current 5,000 square-foot hospital managed by three board-certified veterinary specialists: Robert Orsher, VMD, Diplo. ACVS; Laura Tseng, DVM, Diplo. ACVECC; and Alan Klag, DVM, Diplo. ACVIM. VSEC plans to open a satellite clinic in spring 2012 at a recently purchased property in Philadelphia. VSEC says the two new hospitals will …
Best Clinical Case Report Wins $1,000 PrizeMay 16, 2011 Harrison’s Pet Products is sponsoring the 2011 Clinical Case Report Contest that awards a licensed veterinarian submitting the best case report with a $1,000 prize in addition to a plaque. Entries are required to submit photographic documentation and a brief case description of an animal in which one of the Harrisons’ Pet Products was used alone or in conjunction with other therapies to successfully resolve a disorder. Cases will be judged on medical relevance, case completeness, photo quality before, during and after shots and overall presentation, according to the company. Entry details Close-up digital images must be taken at a resolution high enough for a 4 in. x 3 in. (10 cm x 7.5 cm) image to be printed at 300 dpi (1200 x 900 pixels, or at least 1 megapixel). Images must be saved as individual .jpg, .tif or .psd files. Harrisons’ Pet Products asks that veterinarians submit text as a Word file and describe the case and the images with the history, presumptive diagnosis and other therapies that were used in conjunction with the Harrisons’ Pet Product (including the generic name of drugs, dosages and treatment intervals). Images and text should …
Heartworm Diagnosed In Every State In ’10, Survey FindsMay 13, 2011 Released today, the 2010 heartworm incidence survey conducted by the American Heartworm Society (AHS) reveals that despite weather conditions considered unfavorable to mosquito proliferation, heartworm disease was diagnosed in every state in the U.S. and almost every county and parish. This survey focused on 2010 heartworm diagnoses, representing data from more than 5,000 veterinary clinics across the country reporting clinic testing and heartworm-positive dogs and cats. “The pattern of heartworm incidence overall was similar to that of previous years,” says Wallace Graham, DVM, AHS president. “We believe that because the summer of 2009 was cooler in some areas of the country and drier in others, mosquitoes and heartworms were somewhat more concentrated in areas with nearby standing bodies of water.” Study supervisors noted that survey clinics reporting low numbers of heartworm-positive animals often sat side by side with clinics with high positive reports. By contrast, Graham explained, the 2007 study reflected the homogenizing effects severe weather can have on mosquito populations. In 2007, the fallout from Hurricanes Katrina and Rita had far-reaching effects on mosquito vectors and heartworm transmission. “The key point to remember is that none of us can predict the weather …
RHD Detected In Canadian Pet RabbitMay 13, 2011 Canada’s National Center for Foreign Animal Diseases (NCFAD) has reported positive results for rabbit hemorrhagic disease (RHD) virus by conventional RT-PCR and the finding of a Calicivirus-like agent by electron microscopy. On March 30 a domestic neutered male rabbit presented at a local veterinary clinic with lethargy and a yellow matter was observed on its fur. It was diagnosed with liver failure and died during treatment. The body was forwarded to the Manitoba Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Initiatives (MAFRI) laboratory. Findings included jaundice, hepatic necrosis, some hemorrhages, moderate meningoencephalitis and mild nephritis. A liver sample was sent to the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) and NCFADto rule out RHD virus. The positive sample’s nucleotide sequence had the closest match in Genbank with an RHD virus isolate from China from 2006. On April 20 and 21, histopathology confirmed lesions consistent with RHD and positive staining for RHD virus antigens was shown by immunohistochemistry. Three test rabbits were inoculated with material from the MAFRI submission on April 26. All inoculated rabbits were strongly positive for RHD virus by conventional RT-PCR. Histopathology on tissue from the inoculated rabbits showed lesions consistent with RHD. Immunohistochemistry on …
Nu BowWow And Vetgate PartnershipMay 13, 2011 Nu BowWow is partnering with Vetgate Global, a supplier of websites, software and communication systems for veterinary practices. This partnership will introduce The Puppy Starter Kit to the Vetgate Global Veterinary practices. The companies’ stated goal is to enhance the human animal bond of new pet parents, under the theory that happy pet parents mean healthier pets and fewer returns to shelters and rescues. The puppy starter kit includes a collar, leash, water and food bowls, chew toy, stain remover, poop bag dispenser and bags, all natural dog treats and puppy announcement post cards. The Nu BowWow Survival Guide is a book with expert advice on such topics such as preparing for your Nu Puppy, how to choose a veterinarian and grooming. The Village is Nu BowWow’s private online community and support group with free training videos, monthly presentations by industry experts on how to crate train your puppy and puppy nutrition. <Home>
FEI Announces Detection Times For MetacamMay 13, 2011 The Fédération Equestre Internationale (FEI) announced detection times for Metacam, a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug developed and manufactured by Boehringer-Ingelheim, used to relieve pain and inflammation in horses. Findings of studies on the use of intravenously or orally administered Meloxicam show the urine and plasma detection time as 72 hours. Metacam is the first COX-2 inhibitor on the FEI list of detection times which contains common medications administered out of competition and is listed on the FEI’s Clean Sport website. An outcome of the 2010 FEI Congress on NSAID and Medication Usage in the equine athlete was that there should be more access to detection times for COX-2 inhibitors. “We are committed to providing the tools to assist our athletes to adhere to the FEI’s equine anti-doping rules and will add further medication detection times over the coming 12 months,” says Graeme Cooke, director of veterinary department at the FEI. Detection time means the time taken for an active substance administered to a horse by a specified route and dosage to fall below a level that FEI-approved laboratories would declare a sample positive. These times may vary depending on dose and number of injection sites used. …
Abaxis Awarded $650,000 From Kansas Bioscience AuthorityMay 12, 2011Abaxis Inc., a medical products company manufacturing point-of-care blood analysis systems, announced yesterday that it was awarded $650,000 from the Kansas Bioscience Authority to help set up the first laboratory testing facility for veterinarians nationwide in Olathe, Kansas. The authority's board of directors approved the three-year grant during meetings in Wichita, Kansas. In January, Abaxis formed an alliance with Kansas State University (KSU), K-State Veterinary Diagnostic Lab and the National Institute for Strategic Technology Acquisition and Commercialization, the commercial arm of K-State, to provide a full-service commercial laboratory for veterinarians across the US. “We are pleased with this award from the Kansas Bioscience Authority,” says Clint Severson, chairman and chief executive officer of Abaxis. “In conjunction with KSU, we are in development of a laboratory facility that will set the standard for accuracy, timeliness and customer support for the veterinary community nationwide. We believe this project will be mutually beneficial to the university as a leading academic institution and to Abaxis as a leading veterinary laboratory solutions provider.” The system consists of a compact, 5.1 kilogram (11.2 pounds), portable analyzer and a series of single-use plastic discs, called reagent discs that contain all the chemicals required to perform a panel …
