VCA Antech To Acquire Pet DRxJune 2, 2010VCA Antech to Acquire Pet DRxVCA Antech to Acquire Pet DRxnewslinePosted: Wednesday, June 2, 2010, 12:43 p.m., EDT VCA Antech Inc. of Los Angeles, Calif., has signed a definitive merger agreement with Pet DRx Corp. for $41.25 million in cash. Pet DRx operates 23 animal hospitals in California and has annual revenue of about $64 million. On completion of the merger, the combined companies will operate more than 520 animal hospitals in 40 states. "I am very pleased with the combination of the two companies," said Bob Antin, chairman and chief executive officer of VCA Antech. "Both companies have hospitals in the California market, with a presence in Los Angeles, the Bay Area, San Diego, Sacramento and Coachella Valley. The combination will allow the hospitals to share valuable medical and management capabilities with a continuing focus on delivering the highest quality of veterinary care. "We are excited about the opportunities to explore and expand our teaching programs and the outreach that the combination of these hospitals provides. We look forward to combining the hospital management teams to build a more effective presence in the California market." Under the agreement, the $41.25 million in cash will be applied first to pay …
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Thoracic Radiographs Effective Screening Test In Older Pets, K-State Researchers SayJune 1, 2010Thoracic Radiographs Effective Screening Test in Older Pets, K-State Researchers SayThoracic Radiographs Effective Screening Test in Older Pets, K-State Researchers SaynewslinePosted: Tuesday, June 1, 2010, 4:59 p.m., EDT Kansas State University researchers recently found that thoracic radiographs are an effective screening measure to detect nonclinical disease in geriatric dogs and cats. At K-State's Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital, senior animals can be enrolled in a program that includes screenings every six to 12 months. The exam includes a physical examination, blood work, urinalysis and fecal examination. A thoracic radiograph is included in the 12-month screening. Laura Armbrust, DVM, Dipl. ACVR, associate professor of radiology at K-State, and Dakota Chambers, a sophomore in biology, reviewed medical records from the teaching hospital of all dogs and cats that had undergone geriatric screening from May 2005 to September 2009. For the study, geriatric dogs were defined as 7 years old and older and geriatric cats as 11 years old and older. The researchers were most interested in looking for thoracic disease in animals that did not have signs of clinical disease. The researchers found that significant thoracic radiographic abnormalities were present in 17 percent of the cats in the study and 4 percent of …
Vesicular Stomatitis Virus Found In ArizonaMay 28, 2010 The World Organization for Animal Health reported May 28 that vesicular stomatitis virus was detected in three horses in Cochise County, Ariz. The organization received the information from John Clifford, DVM, deputy administrator for the U.S. Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS). APHIS and the Arizona Department of Agriculture are conducting an epidemiological investigation of the event. The premises where the virus was discovered has been quarantined. The owners were advised to separate animals bearing lesions from healthy animals, implement on-farm insect control programs and use protective measures when handling affected animals to avoid human exposure to the disease. Vesicular stomatitis virus, last detected in Arizona in spring 2005, commonly occurs during warm months in the Southwest, particularly along river ways and in valleys, according to the Arizona Department of Agriculture. Texas and New Mexico had a few cases last year. Horses, cattle and swine are most susceptible to vesicular stomatitis virus. Infected animals may have blister-like lesions in the mouth and on the dental pad, tongue, lips, nostrils, hooves and teats. The blisters swell and break, leaving raw tissue that may cause the animals to refuse to eat or drink and show signs …
APHIS Enforcement Of Dog Breeder Regulations CriticizedMay 27, 2010 The federal agency responsible for enforcing animal welfare laws was ineffective in achieving compliance with "problematic” dog dealers, according to a report released this week by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Office of Inspector General (OIG). The report followed an audit of the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service’s (APHIS) animal care unit, which is responsible for enforcing the Animal Welfare Act. In addition to citing the agency’s lack of effectiveness in enforcing the act, OIG took issue with how some violations were documented as well as how penalties were calculated and assessed. The report also highlighted how some large-scale breeders circumvent USDA oversight because they sell dogs over the Internet. The Pet Industry Joint Advisory Council (PIJAC) said it hopes the findings will lead to better enforcement of the Animal Welfare Act. Already, federal appointed and elected officials have offered administrative and legislative reforms. As part of its audit, OIG reviewed the animal care unit’s inspections of dog dealers with a history of violations. OIG also visited 81 dealer facilities in eight states. The report states that the animal care unit believed that education and cooperation would result in long-term dealer compliance and, accordingly, …
FDA Joins Vet2011May 26, 2010 The U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s Center for Veterinary Medicine has joined national and international veterinary groups in calling 2011 the World Veterinary Year, also being referred to as Vet2011. 2011 marks the 250th anniversary of veterinary education. The world’s first veterinary school was founded in Lyon, France, in 1761 at the initiative of French veterinarian Claude Bourgelat. By setting up the world’s first veterinary training institution, Bourgelat, in turn, created the veterinary profession itself, according to the World Organization for Animal Health and the other founding members of Vet2011. The aim in celebrating Vet2011 is to improve public awareness and remind policymakers that modern veterinarians are not only animal doctors and animal welfare advocates, but also key public health stakeholders because of their role in promoting food security by supervising animal production hygiene, controlling zoonoses, monitoring food quality and safety, biomedical research and protecting the environment and biodiversity. The official opening ceremony of the World Veterinary Year will take place in Versailles, France, on Jan. 24, 2011. The American Veterinary Medical Association will host a symposium on the topic during its annual convention, to be held July 16-19, 2011 in St. Louis, Mo.
FDA And NIH Launch Website For Reporting Food And Drug Safety IssuesMay 25, 2010 The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the National Institutes of Health launched a new website on May 24, 2010 that allows consumers to report safety problems related to pet foods and treats, among other features. The Safety Reporting Portal is designed to provide consumers, veterinarians, animal drug manufacturers and other parties in the food and drug industries with a mechanism to report pre- and post-market safety information to the federal government. “The portal will be a key detection tool in improving the country’s nationwide surveillance system and will strengthen our ability to protect the nation’s health,” FDA commissioner Margaret Hamburg said. “We will now be able to analyze human and animal safety related events more quickly and identify those measures needed to protect the public.” The new website includes sections for the following: Reportable Food Registry - A more user-friendly electronic portal for submitting food reports as required by law. It collects reports from the food industry and public health officials regarding problems with food, including animal feed, that presents a reasonable probability of causing serious adverse heath consequences or death to humans or animals; . Pet Consumables …
Cuba Reports Rabbit Hemorrhagic Disease OutbreaksMay 24, 2010 Cuba has reported to the World Organization for Animal Health (OIE) two outbreaks of rabbit hemorrhagic disease. Rabbit hemorrhagic disease (RHD) is an extremely contagious and fatal viral disease of domesticated and wild rabbits belonging to the Oryctolagus cuniculus species, according to OIE. Outbreaks have been reported at farms in Baragua and Venezuela. Both municipalities are located in Cuba’s Ciego de Avila province. In Baragua, Cuba’s ministry of agriculture reported 2345 rabbits as susceptible, 945 cases, 945 deaths and 1,400 rabbits as destroyed. In Venezuela, the ministry reported 140 rabbits as susceptible, 41 cases, 41 deaths and 99 destroyed. The first confirmation of the disease occurred on May 18. The outbreaks are still recorded as unresolved, according to OIE. Weekly follow-up reports will be submitted. The last outbreak of rabbit hemorrhagic disease reported in Cuba was in August 2005. According to OIE, the disease has always been confined to Cuba’s western provinces, but the recent occurrence has taken place in a province in the central-eastern region of the country. A disease emergency has been declared in the region and the neighboring areas. A disease alert has been declared for the entire country. The use …
Transforming Client AngerMay 21, 2010 It happens; clients get angry from time to time. Every position in the practice has had to deal with an angry client at some point. Clients get mad for a variety of reasons, but we can keep in mind some basic concepts no matter the reason. First, the angry client wants to be heard. Clients who are angry want the time and space to speak their mind. They need someone to give them that opportunity, or their anger will only increase. However, you do not necessarily want them to be heard by everyone in the lobby, so the first plan of action is to isolate the incident. This is typically done by escorting the client into an empty examination room or another place such as a comfort room or office. If there is no empty private space, then at least take the client to the quietest corner in an empty hallway or to the most remote end of the front counter, where you can give the client undivided attention and minimize the range. Then let them tell their side of the story. Come prepared both mentally and physically. Your attitude needs to be one of calm control …
Winn’s 32nd Symposium Slated For June 24May 21, 2010 Winn Feline Foundation Symposium is scheduled for June 24 in Minneapolis, Minn. The symposium, held annually for veterinary professionals and pet owners, will be held in conjunction with the Cat Fanciers’ Association meeting. Jody Lulich, DVM, Ph.D., Dipl. ACVIM, will present “Diagnosis, Treatment and Prevention of Feline Urinary Stones.” Dr. Lulich is the co-director of the Minnesota Urolith Center and holds the endowed Hills/Osborne Chair in Nephrology and Urology at the University of Minnesota. Lulich is known for the technique of voiding urohydropropulsion, a nonsurgical method to remove uroliths from the urinary bladder. Meghan Herron, DVM, Dipl. ACVB, will discuss “Feline Elimination Problems: Back to Basics for Prevention and Management.” Dr. Herron is head of the Behavioral Medicine Clinic at The Ohio State University Veterinary Hospital. She provides behavioral rehabilitation services to owners of companion animals with behavioral issues, including, but not limited to, human-directed aggression, inter-pet aggression, separation anxiety, inappropriate elimination, fears, phobias, compulsive behaviors and cognitive dysfunction. The conference offers two hours of continuing education credit. Click here to register. In related news, the Winn Feline Foundation is now accepting applications for 2010 grants. The grants are …
Banfield Names VP’s Of Professional Relations And Medical OperationsMay 20, 2010 Banfield, The Pet Hospital of Portland, Ore., has named Bob Lester, DVM, as its vice president for professional relations and Lee Nelson, DVM, as its vice president of medical operations. Dr. Lester will strengthen and build Banfield’s relationships with academia, the profession, industry and local and national veterinary organizations. Prior, Lester served as vice president of veterinary selection, where he led Banfield’s recruitment efforts and student job programs. “Dr. Lester is such a valuable resource to our practice; his guidance, leadership and dedication to Banfield have helped us recruit and retain excellent veterinarians throughout his 16-year tenure,” said Jeffrey Klausner, DVM, Dipl. ACVIM, senior vice president and chief medical officer for Banfield. “In his new role, Dr. Lester will help Banfield build awareness and understanding of our approach to preventive medicine and look for ways we can better collaborate with the industry and profession.” Dr. Nelson will provide leadership to regional medical directors, where she will aid in improving hospital operational efficiencies, doctor retention and client satisfaction. Prior, Nelson was a regional medical director, responsible for the medical quality and business performance of about 150 hospitals across nine states. “Dr. Nelson’s 10 years of exceptional …
