AVMA Seeks Comments On Model Veterinary Practice ActNovember 9, 2010 The American Veterinary Medical Association reported today that it will begin accepting comments on the Model Veterinary Practice Act (MVPA) on its website (www.avma.org) in January. The 30-day public comment period will be open to veterinarians, veterinary team members, pet owners, farmers and anyone else who has an interest in animals and veterinary medicine. The MVPA, which was last reviewed in 2003, is used by state legislatures and state veterinary licensing and exam boards to help shape the rules and laws that govern the course of veterinary medicine, said John Scamahorn, DVM, chair of the AVMA Model Veterinary Practice Act Task Force. The MVPA includes sections on definitions, veterinary medical boards, licensing, client confidentiality, veterinary education, veterinary technicians and technologists, abandoned animals, cruelty to animals and other topics. The AVMA requests that the comments submitted be specific and include suggested language for the new MVPA. “Early notice of this comment period was essential in order to give veterinarians and their colleagues adequate time to review the current Model Veterinary Practice Act,” said Ron DeHaven, DVM, CEO of the AVMA. “By issuing this alert early, we’re hoping veterinarians will take time to review …
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Vet-Stem Inks License Deal With Aussie AffiliateNovember 8, 2010 Australian Veterinary Stem Cells Ltd. (AVSC) is now authorized to deliver Vet-Stem Inc.’s stem cell services in Australia, New Zealand and Singapore. This is Vet-Stem’s third license agreement with an affiliate. The other two agreements are with the Central Veterinary Research Laboratory in Dubai, which has rights for 13 Middle East countries, and Chemaphor, a company in Canada that has laboratories in Prince Edward Island. Vet-Stem holds the exclusive worldwide rights to the University of California and University of Pittsburgh (via Artecel Inc.) patent portfolios of more than 55 issued patents covering the use of stem cells derived from fat tissue. The stem cell services are offered to veterinarians for treatment of lameness in horses and for arthritis in dogs and cats. More than 6,500 animals have been treated to date, according to the Poway, Calif.-based company. “Intellectual property rights can be confusing in a rapidly developing market with evolving technology,” said Bob Harman, DVM, CEO of Vet-Stem. “We have licensed the strongest patents in the world to protect the market that we are creating in regenerative veterinary medicine and to ensure that the value of the company is optimized. Now with these three distribution …
Vets Undress For Holistic Medicine CalendarNovember 8, 2010 Fourteen veterinarians recently undressed for a calendar project to help celebrate the benefits of holistic and integrative veterinary medicine. The 2011 Dr. ShowMore calendar is done in the theme of the movie “Calendar Girls,” where the subjects pose in a series of tasteful, artistic photographs, said Margo Roman, DVM, who helped spearhead the project with the Center for Integrative Veterinary Care. “The pictures capture the human-animal bond, and the love these vets have for the profession,” said Dr. Roman, owner of MASH, Main St. Animal Services of Hopkinton in Hopkinton, Mass. Each month in the calendar depicts a different modality or procedure. For example, January represents the whole body exam; February depicts dentistry; March depicts homeopathy; and April, featuring Roman herself, represents acupuncture. The calendar also includes a list of resources, dates of veterinary conferences and other industry-related information. Proceeds will support veterinary student scholarships and the filming of Dr. DoMore, a series of DVD documentaries, and other media and educational services, aimed at bringing alternative and integrative modalities used in veterinary medical treatment to mainstream veterinary medical care. “We’re very excited about this calendar,” Roman said. “To be able to educate both …
Dr. Patricia Olson Resigns From Morris Animal FoundationNovember 5, 2010 Patricia Olson, DVM, Ph.D., has resigned as president and CEO of the Morris Animal Foundation. The move becomes effective Nov. 12. Dr. Olson had planned to retire in 2012 but decided to leave earlier for personal reasons, according to the nonprofit organization, which made the announcement today. Morris Animal Foundation will conduct a national search to fill the position of CEO. In the interim, Mark Carter, Ph.D., chair of Morris Animal Foundation’s Board of Trustees, will lead the foundation’s executive team: John Taylor, COO; Paul Raybould, executive vice president; and Wayne Jensen, DVM, Ph.D., chief scientific officer. “Animals around the world are living longer, healthier lives because of Dr. Olson’s leadership and vision,” Dr. Carter said. “We have been fortunate to have someone with her expertise, commitment and passion for animals at the helm for the past six years. The foundation’s trustees, scientific advisers and staff are all extremely grateful for Dr. Olson’s contributions.” Olson joined Morris Animal Foundation as its executive director in 2004. She was named president and CEO the following year. “It has truly been a pleasure to work with the Morris Animal Foundation team,” Olson said. “I am proud of …
Hooters Fundraising Event Focuses On Spay/NeuterNovember 5, 2010 The 2nd Annual Hooters for Neuters will take place Saturday, Nov. 6 at the Hooters of Gastonia in Gastonia, N.C. The event was launched last year as a way to raise money for the Gastonia Animal League and bring awareness about the importance of spaying/neutering and microchipping pets. Dogs and cats will also be up for adoption. From 2 p.m. – 6 p.m., Hooters of Gastonia will donate 50 percent of the sales on all food and merchandise toward the cause. Last year, about $2,000 was raised. Hooters hopes to raise $2,500 this year. Gaston Low-Cost Spay/Neuter Clinic, part of Gastonia Animal League, will also be onsite offering microchipping at a rate of $20 per animal. “The Gaston Low Cost Spay/Neuter Clinic is thrilled to once again partner with Hooters for our 2nd Annual Hooters for Neuters ‘Real Men Neuter Their Best Friends,’” said Terry Albright Kenny, director of the clinic. “We are a small nonprofit, and Hooters generosity and support has been amazing. We expect this year’s event to be bigger and better than last year and we hope everyone will come and enjoy all of the activities.” <Home>
Study: Vets Most Popular Source For Pet Health InformationNovember 5, 2010 At least two-thirds of pet owners in the United States and Europe turn to their veterinarian or veterinary assistant for information about their pet’s health, according to a study by Grey Healthcare Group, a communications company in New York. The online study interviewed 1,355 pet owners in the United States and the United Kingdom, France and Germany in September. Pet owner is defined as a dog or cat owner. The second most popular source for information is online (59 percent for the United States and Europe), followed by friends/family with pets (33 percent in the United States and 24 percent in Europe). “It is not surprising that the study results show pet owners turn to websites as the second most popular source for information, but this represents a tremendous opportunity for pet care companies, along with the veterinary health care community, to help shape an expert-guided dialogue,” said Lynn O’Connor Vos, CEO of Grey. “Engaging owners online represents a significant opportunity to connect on their terms and become a more trusted source that understands their needs and wants.” The study also revealed: • In both the United States and Europe, about 50 percent of …
Missouri's Prop B Passes By Narrow MarginNovember 3, 2010 Missouri voters approved a controversial measure yesterday that will establish new regulations for the state’s “large-scale” dog breeding operations. Proposition B, otherwise known as the Puppy Mill Cruelty Prevention Act, will amend the law to require any person who owns more than ten unaltered female dogs for the purpose of breeding to follow certain standards for feeding, veterinary care, housing, exercise and rest cycles between breeding. No person will be allowed to have custody of more than 50 dogs for the purpose of breeding. Under the proposed statute, a crime of puppy mill cruelty will be considered a misdemeanor. The question made it on the ballot as a result of a successful ballot initiative launched by the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS), American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA), Humane Society of Missouri, and Missouri Alliance for Animal Legislation. Voters approved the measure by a narrow margin of 51.6 percent to 48.4 percent. Prop B spurred much debate in the weeks leading up to Election Day. Supporters, such HSUS and ASPCA, touted the measure as a much-needed tool to help police Missouri’s large-scale commercial dog breeders and ensure dogs receive …
Election 2010 Results: Votes For VetsNovember 3, 2010 Election day is over, the polls are closed and the results are in, at least most of them. Steve Katz, DVM, was on his way to winning the 99th Assembly District in New York as of this morning. The votes were still too close to call a victory, according to local news reports. Within the House of Representatives, Democrat Kurt Schrader, DVM, won a second term with about 51 percent vote to represent Oregon’s 5th District. However, Republican Charles Thompson, DVM, was defeated by Dan Boren, who was re-elected with about 57 percent of the vote to represent Oklahoma’s 2nd District. At the state level, Bill Rabon, DVM, won the vote to represent North Carolina’s 8th District. Elizabeth Jones, DVM, lost out to Warren Daniel to represent the state’s 44th District. Frank Walker, DVM, lost the vote to represent District 23 of the North Dakota State Senate to Joan Heckaman, who has had the position since 2007. Stewart “Chip” Beckett, DVM, who was vying to represent the 4th Senatorial District of Connecticut, narrowly lost to Steven Cassano. According to local newspapers, Beckett was hoping for a recount. Les Gerson, DVM, who was running for …
Feline Health Research Gets $3.5 Million BoostNovember 1, 2010Morris Animal Foundation reported today that $3.5 million in funding will be used for feline health studies over the next three years. Almost 30 active studies are addressing behavior, cancer, gastrointestinal problems, heart disease, kidney disease, pain management and urinary problems. Five studies funded by the foundation’s Happy Healthy Cat Campaign (www.research4cats.org) will look at upper respiratory infection in shelter cats. The campaign is also supporting the development of a tool designed to help scientists identify genetic predispositions to diseases such as diabetes, cancer, arthritis, kidney disease and infectious diseases, among others. The genetic tool will be released in 2011, according to Morris Animal Foundation. Collectively, the foundation will manage about 300 animal health studies in 2011, with support of those studies totaling $17 million over the next three years. <Home>
AAEP Releases Clinical Guidelines On Racehorse CareOctober 29, 2010The American Association of Equine Practitioners today released the document “Clinical Guidelines for Veterinarians Practicing in a Pari-Mutuel Environment.” The guidelines, intended for veterinarians who treat racehorses, focus on the practice of administering medical treatment to a horse based on the entry date for its next race. All medical treatment of the racehorses should be based upon a veterinary diagnosis with appropriate time allowed for an evaluation following treatment to ensure the horse is recovered before it races again, according to AAEP. However, the association noted that the entry date should not be the primary factor when evaluating a horse’s need for medical care. “Our purpose is to reinforce sound medical principles within the unique environment of racing,” said Nat White, DVM, president of the AAEP. “As horse racing continues its pursuit of increased safety, we understand the need for us, as veterinarians, to examine our role in medication usage and medical treatment. These guidelines affirm the already excellent medical care provided by many veterinarians.” In addition to medication, the guidelines address the use of therapies such as shockwave therapy and hyperbaric oxygen therapy. The document also contains recommendations for maintaining medical records and changing the current racetrack veterinary business …
