Diamond Recalls Some Premium Edge Cat Food In Eastern U.S.October 8, 2009 In an action limited to the Eastern United States, Diamond Pet Foods of Meta, Mo., recalled its Premium Edge Finicky Adult Cat and its Premium Edge Hairball formulas with date codes: RAF0501A22X (18-lb.), RAF0501A2X ((6-lb.), RAH0501A22X (18-lb.) and RAH0501A2X (6-lb.) The recall was prompted by calls from cat owners and veterinarians in the Rochester, N.Y., area. Retailers in the area have been asked to remove affected products from the shelves and contact any customers that had purchased affected product. Diamond is further requesting that any cat owners that purchased the above products return them to their retailer. The affected cats displayed neurological symptoms. Product testing showed no contaminants in the cat food but that the foods were deficient in thiamine. Diamond reports that tests performed on other Premium Edge cat foods using the same lot of vitamin premix as used in the recalled foods did not show a thiamine deficiency. Neurological signs have not been seen in other Diamond Pet Food products, the company reported. <HOME>
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What Suture Size Should I Use?October 6, 2009 A Veterinary Practice News reader asked an excellent but tough question: “What suture size should I use?” It is very difficult to answer this question, as there are multiple variables. Choices are debatable and subjective. Among many other factors, suture sizes will obviously vary with the size of the patient, hence the ranges suggested. That said, here are some general guidelines for various procedures: Procedure Suture Size Suture Type Enterotomy/Enterectomy 4/0 or 3/0 Monofilament, absorbable Oral surgery such as tooth extraction 5/0 to 3/0 Absorbable. Braided is less irritating to the patient Vessel ligation 4/0 to 0 Monofilament, absorbable Cystotomy 4/0 or 3/0 Monofilament, absorbable Splenectomy (ligatures) 4/0 or 3/0 Monofilament, absorbable
Cornell Reproductive Biologist Wins NIH Pioneer AwardOctober 6, 2009 Alexander Travis, VMD, Ph.D., an associate professor of reproductive biology at the Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine, recently received the Pioneer Award from the National Institutes of Health. He is the first veterinarian to receive the award, according to Cornell. The award, which was handed out to 17 other individuals, is an aspect of the NIH Roadmap for Medical Research, a high-risk research initiative of Research Teams of the Future. As outlined by the NIH, the term “pioneering” is used to describe highly innovative approaches that have the potential to produce an unusually high impact on a broad area of biomedical or behavioral research, and the term “award” is used to mean a grant for conducting research, rather than a reward for past achievements. Dr. Travis’ research investigates the design and function of mammalian sperm, particularly the organization of their energy-producing pathways. With his five-year, $2.5 million grant, Travis plans to harness this design to develop very small energy sources for implantable medical devices that could carry out a variety of diagnostic and therapeutic functions, according to the NIH. “We’re borrowing the sperm’s strategy for locomotion,” Travis said. The idea was conceived after he …
North River Enterprises Expands In More Ways Than OneOctober 2, 2009 North River Enterprises LLC, a pet industry consulting firm, has opened a new office in Cumming, Ga., to accommodate an increase in business. The new 1,200-square-foot office is situated in an established office park, according to president and owner Melissa Brookshire, DVM. Previously, the company had operated out of a home office in the same town. In addition to the move, Brookshire recently hired a new full-time employee to serve as key accounts manager, help expand the company’s services and manage the new office. New hire Nicole Hylan brings more than 10 years of marketing, account management and customer service experience to the company. “I have found that over the past, probably six to 12 months, my business has grown to the point where I was able to add someone on-site,” Brookshire said. “Because of that, I was ready to open an office space and continue to grow the business.” Brookshire founded North River Enterprises in 2007. The company offers consulting services to the animal health and pet food industries “I believe that North River Enterprises is currently filling a void in the pet industry, particularly for smaller companies that do not keep their …
AVMF And Pfizer Animal Health Introduce Scholarship ProgramOctober 1, 2009 The American Veterinary Medical Foundation and Pfizer Animal Health of New York have introduced an annual scholarship program that will award up to $2 million through 2012. The Pfizer Animal Health Veterinary Student Scholarship Program, to be administered by the AVMF and funded by Pfizer Animal Health, aims to help U.S. veterinary students cope with rising school debt while reinforcing the importance of building a diverse profession and addressing a shortage of food animal veterinarians. The program will award $2,500 scholarships to more than 225 veterinary students per year in U.S. veterinary schools accredited by the American Veterinary Medical Association. Although the program is open to all second and third year veterinary students, AVMF estimates that at least 40 percent of the awardees will be students likely to enter food animal medicine or rural practice. About 30 percent of scholarship recipients will be from diverse backgrounds, according to age, gender, physical disability and ethnicity, among other characteristics. Applications for the spring 2010 scholarships are due by Nov. 13. Click here for details. <HOME>
Bimeda Named Distributor Of Equell And EquimaxSeptember 30, 2009 Bimeda of Oakbrook Terrace, Ill., has been named the exclusive U.S. and Canadian distributor of Equell (ivermectin) Paste and Equimax (ivermectin praziquantel) Paste, effective Oct. 1. The products, manufactured by Virbac Corp. of Fort Worth, Texas, were previously distributed by New York-based Pfizer Animal Health. Additional terms of the agreement had not been disclosed at press time. Bimeda, which also has a facility in Cambridge, Ontario, reported that the Equell and Equimax products complement its growing line of equine products already marketed in Canada, including Bimectin (ivermectin) Paste 1.87% and Exodus (pyrantel pamoate) Paste anthelmintics. Other Bimeda equine products include Flunazine (flunixin meglumine) Injectable Solution, Xylamax (xylazine) Injection, Electrolyte Infusion, Aminolean, Lactated Ringer’s Injection and Procillin/Pen G (penicillin G procaine) Suspension. <HOME>
Western University Researchers Receive Grant To Improve Endangered Species Breeding ProgramsSeptember 29, 2009 A team from Western University of Health Sciences’ College of Veterinary Medicine recently received a grant of $100,000 to improve the breeding programs of captive endangered species. The grant was administered by the Institute of Museum and Library Services. Specifically, Margaret Barr, DVM, Ph.D., Kristopher Irizarry, Ph.D., and Janis Joslin, DVM, faculty members and co-principal investigators, will develop a strategy for using genetic analysis to maximize the breeding of snow leopards to enhance species diversity and robustness. Results from the research are expected to be applicable to other endangered species as well. The researchers chose snow leopards because they are on the brink of extinction—about 550 are maintained in captivity worldwide—and they are susceptible to a number of infectious diseases. Snow leopards have been managed by an international studbook since 1976. The studbook is used to maximize genetic diversity of the population, similar to dog breeders who look to pick the most unrelated pair of dogs to breed, according to Western University. The project aims to give zoos another tool to identify the best breeding pairs to sustain the captive breeding populations. The research team will collect DNA samples of snow leopards …
Cancer Drug For Companion Animals In The WorksSeptember 28, 2009 MBF Therapeutics Inc. (MBFT) and Lankenau Institute for Medical Research (LIMR) have partnered to develop a drug treatment for common and aggressive cancers in dogs and cats. MBFT will have exclusive access to preclinical data from research being conducted by Thomas O’Brien, Ph.D., a professor at LIMR and Thomas Jefferson University’s Department of Dermatology and Cutaneous Biology. Dr. O’Brien is a member of MBFT’s Clinical Advisory Board. The drug, called MBFT-101, is described as a combination of two drug molecules that act in concert to kill cancer cells by starving them of nutrients essential for cell growth and survival, with no effect on normal cells. The companies reported that the therapy is intended to be administered orally, at home, for four to six weeks. A pilot clinical study using MBFT-101 is under way at the University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine’s Veterinary Clinical Investigation Center. The study, made possible through a grant from Ben Franklin Partners Technology Concept Network to both MBFT and O’Brien, is evaluating the drug in cats with oral squamous cell carcinoma. MBFT will initiate a pilot clinical study using dogs later this year. …
U.S. Senators Introduce Legislation To Help Vet Workforce NeedsSeptember 28, 2009 U.S. Senators Debbie Stabenow (D-MI) and John Thune (R-SD) on Sept. 24 introduced legislation to help confront the veterinary service shortages. It was then referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry. Senate Bill 1709, the Veterinary Services Investment Act, is a companion bill to H.R. 3519, which was introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives in July. Specifically, the act would establish a new grant program to assist states in addressing their unique veterinary workforce needs. Grants awarded under the program could be used for activities such as recruiting veterinarians to work in underserved areas, strengthening food safety and conducting surveillance of animal disease. At press time, 89 veterinary and agricultural groups had joined the American Veterinary Medical Association in support of the legislation. “Senators Stabenow and Thune and their colleagues are voicing support for maintaining public health, food safety and animal health by bolstering the veterinary workforce,” said Ron DeHaven, DVM, chief executive officer of the AVMA. “The Veterinary Services Investment Act will significantly help bring much needed veterinarian services to areas of our country in need.” Veterinary clinics in rural areas and state, national, allied or regional veterinary organizations, specialty …
Oct. 11-17 Marks National Vet Tech WeekSeptember 28, 2009 The theme for this year’s National Veterinary Technician Week is “Linking the Veterinary Healthcare Team,” scheduled to take place Oct. 11-17. The week-long celebration will be sponsored by Hill’s Pet Nutrition of Topeka, Kan. The National Association of Veterinary Technicians in America Inc., which began the annual celebration in June 1993, said the theme is appropriate since veterinary technicians work closely with veterinarians, veterinary assistants, practice managers, patients and their owners to provide the essential link with all involved in the care process. The observance allows veterinary technicians to focus favorable attention on their profession through a variety of activities, according to NAVTA. These activities serve to educate the public about the medical team, reinforce the value and professionalism of veterinary technicians to veterinarians and the public, provide an opportunity for veterinary technicians to salute one another for excellent performance in their work and to acknowledge veterinarians for hiring veterinary technicians. A true celebration of National Veterinary Technician Week, according to NAVTA, relies on participation of state associations, student chapters and NAVTA members. As such, the nonprofit organization has compiled professional development and fundraising/awareness ideas. Professional Development: Host an open house …
