FDA approves NexGard expanded label claimsAugust 22, 2018Merial, part of Boehringer Ingelheim, received approval from the U.S Food and Drug Administration to expand the label claims for NexGard (afoxolaner). The flea and tick control product is now approved to prevent Borrelia burgdorferi infections as a direct result of it killing Ixodes scapularis vector ticks, commonly called black-legged, or deer, ticks. NexGard is the first and only flea and tick product to receive FDA approval for preventing infections that cause Lyme disease by killing the vector ticks, the company stated. The approval comes just as veterinarians and pet owners in many parts of the country are being warned about the potential of an increased number of Lyme disease cases in 2018. The FDA approval is based on two well-controlled laboratory studies that showed that NexGard effectively prevented the transmission of B. burgdorfei infections after dogs were infested with wild-caught I. scapularis ticks 28 days after treatment with NexGard, said the manufacturer. "Both studies measured the transmission of B. burgdorferi to dogs after exposure to infected ticks," said Zach Mills, DVM, head of US Pet Veterinary Professional Services. "All dogs treated with NexGard tested negative for B. burgdorferi infection, demonstrating that transmission was prevented as a direct result …
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STAAR 2019 canine rehab, wellness conference registration openAugust 21, 2018The Symposium on Therapeutic Advances in Animal Rehabilitation (STAAR) has announced that registration is open for the April 24-28 event held in Florham Park, N.J. This lab-focused working conference is ideal for veterinarians, surgeons, veterinary technicians, physical and occupational therapists, and specialists treating functional impairments and working to prevent injury and maximize performance in canines, the organizers stated. "STAAR's unique method of education incorporates lecture with interactive practical labs designed to imprint and reinforce skills that can be implemented immediately into practice," said the conference hosts in a statement. "Instructors include many of the pioneers in the field of animal rehabilitation, as well as internationally recognized educators in canine physical therapy and sports medicine." Attendees can explore new concepts, advanced techniques, and the latest treatments in rehabilitative medicine and physical therapy while practicing skills on their target audience. Dogs are plentiful—usually one dog per three to four attendees—which allows ample practical opportunity and experience. Also, STAAR allows attendees to register only for the course(s) and the workshop(s) they want, rather than registering for an entire conference. Some of the workshop labs being offered at STAAR 2019: Myofascial manual therapies for the axial skeleton and extremities; Laurie Edge-Hughes, BScPT, …
IDEXX-Direct rapid overnight service expands to rural US vet practicesAugust 21, 2018IDEXX Laboratories Inc., announced its U.S. reference laboratory division will expand its rapid overnight service, known as IDEXX-Direct service, to thousands of rural U.S. veterinary practices. A new, state-of-the-art reference laboratory in Louisville, Ky., offers veterinary hospitals the latest possible patient sample pick-up time with next-morning results, the company stated. The advanced laboratory and expanded IDEXX-Direct service are part of a national network of laboratories and logistics that serves more than 20,000 customers in the U.S. Set to open in September, the laboratory is intended to complement the company's other reference laboratory in Memphis, Tenn., which supports IDEXX-Direct service and is also located near a national carrier hub. "Before IDEXX made this major expansion with a new national carrier, we'd need to wait an additional 24 hours or more if we missed our pick-up window—but we don't always have time to wait for a result," said Ken Greene, DVM, owner of Philema Animal Clinic in Leesburg, Ga. "There are important tests we can only get with IDEXX, and this later pick-up option will help us to get results faster and ultimately provide better care." For more information on IDEXX Reference Laboratories, visit idexx.com.
Rocky Mountain spotted fever epidemic at US border, study saysAugust 21, 2018A study published by the School of Veterinary Medicine at Universidad Autonoma de Baja California and the University of California, Davis says ticks are causing a deadly Rocky Mountain spotted fever (RMSF) epidemic in Mexico, and health officials are concerned it could spread to the U.S. Dr. Luis Tinoco-Gracia, a research professor in the School of Veterinary Medicine at Universidad Autonoma de Baja California and director of the Laboratory of Veterinary Public Health Sciences, in Mexicali, Mexico, and colleagues from the University of California, Davis published the report in the September 2018 issue of Emerging Infectious Diseases, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's public health journal. The RMSF epidemic began in 2008 in Mexicali, adjacent to the U.S. border in Baja California. In 2014, a fatal human case was reported in Imperial County, Calif. In 2015, the Mexican Ministry of Health declared an epidemiologic emergency, which as of 2018 has affected approximately 4,000 people. Since that time, four people who have been carrying the disease and crossed the border to the U.S. have died. Overall, since 2000, the incidence of RMSF in the U.S. has increased markedly, the study authors said. "Overall, since 2000, in …
BabelBark gains $4.5 million Series A funding to spur growthAugust 20, 2018BabelBark Inc., a pet related software developer, has announced the completion of its Series A funding target, reaching a sum of $4.5 million. Launched in 2016, BabelBark connects pets with pet care businesses (i.e. veterinary practices, trainers, shelters, groomers, walkers, pet sitters, boarding kennels, and more) through a digital platform with a mobile application. It offers activity monitoring as well as connection to primary care and emergency veterinary services, medical records and medication reminders, regional/local pet service providers, and products designed to help pet parents monitor and manage their pet's unique needs. Since the beginning of 2018 the company has seen a 300 percent growth in the number of dogs connected to the multifaceted platform resulting in additional funding that surpassed the original target of $2.9 million. The surplus will be used toward the company's global expansion as well as more marketing resources and recruiting top talent. "We are excited for this strong financial support from both of our new and existing investors who share our vision to connect everyone in a pet's life," said Roy Stein, founder and CEO. "We are ahead of our targets in every parameter and this funding expansion will help us reach more than …
VIN Foundation enhances veterinary Cost of Education MapAugust 17, 2018The VIN Foundation, a nonprofit that provides tools and resources to support veterinary students and veterinarians throughout their careers, has updated its Cost of Education Map, which was developed to help preveterinary students make better informed decisions when applying to veterinary school. Veterinary school costs vary widely among schools and within schools depending on whether the applicant qualifies for a discounted seat based on residency. The foundation said its goal in generating this tool is to enable students to apply smarter, seeking the high-quality education they desire at the most reasonable cost. New to this latest version of the Cost of Education Map: Information for United Kingdom, Ireland, Australia, and New Zealand veterinary schools International residency options The ability to compare costs from any number of schools side by side Clear labeling of AVMA-accredited schools Improved layout with veterinary school costs summaries Updates to all school data "It is our job to provide preveterinary students with the most reliable information available so they are able to make the most informed decision when choosing a veterinary school," said Richard Headley, VIN Foundation board president. "The Cost of Education Map provides vital information critical in helping prevets determine …
Survey: Feline MCS assessments a missed opportunity for veterinarians?August 16, 2018A recent survey of 111 veterinarians conducted by Kindred Biosciences Inc. found that the majority were not performing feline muscle condition score (MCS) evaluations during physical exams. Body condition scores (BCS) and MCS evaluations are a key part of a complete nutritional assessment for cats, said Christina Fernandez, DVM, MRCVS, DACVECC, professional services veterinarian with Kindred Biosciences. In the survey, 59 percent of veterinarians said they captured BCS during physical exams, but only 14 percent said they perform MCS assessments. "MCS evaluations are a relatively new practice but are increasingly recognized as a best practice in feline care," Dr. Fernandez said. "BCS has been a standard practice for many practitioners, and there are multiple validated scoring systems. Most veterinarians perform a BCS during regular visits, but BCS only evaluates the animal's body fat. MCS evaluations are easy to incorporate into the physical exam and provide extremely valuable information for trending patient body composition status over time. It helps veterinarians watch for any muscle loss over time to ensure our feline patients maintain a healthy body composition — and maybe even offer early warning signs of disease." Muscle loss can be a result of age, illness, and/or injury; no matter …
Australian vet awarded 2018 WSAVA, Hill's Next Generation honorAugust 15, 2018Dr. Guyan Weerasinghe, an Australian veterinarian working in small animal practice and as a state government veterinary officer, has been honored by the World Small Animal Veterinary Association (WSAVA) and Hill's Pet Nutrition as the winner of the 2018 Next Generation Veterinary Award. The award acknowledges the work of a veterinarian who graduated within the past 10 years and who has contributed significantly to the betterment of companion animals, the veterinary profession, and society at large. He graduated from the University of Queensland in 2011, gaining experience in dairy practice in New Zealand and in shelter medicine in Sydney, Australia. In 2017, he achieved a master's in veterinary public health and became a diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Preventive Medicine. In his current role at Greencross Caloundra, a companion animal practice on Queensland's Sunshine Coast, he maintains a small animal caseload and works alongside local animal rescue groups. Through his work for the Queensland Government's Department of Agriculture and Fisheries, he is involved with animal disease surveillance and response and increasing the awareness of public health risks in veterinary practice, including small animal clinics. He also collaborates on a number of …
Compassion-First launches program for noncredentialed vet techs, assistantsAugust 15, 2018Compassion-First Pet Hospitals has launched an educational development program for its noncredentialed veterinary technicians and assistants—the Compassion-First Technician and Assistant Development Program. The program involves a partnership with two American Veterinary Medical Association-accredited veterinary technician programs, Penn Foster College and Cedar Valley College, to provide educational options and tuition assistance for career growth. The new partnership provides noncredentialed veterinary technicians the opportunity to earn their AS degree in veterinary technology and become eligible to take the Veterinary Technician National Exam to become credentialed in their state. The program also includes a veterinary assistant certificate program approved by the National Association of Veterinary Technicians in America, in which employees become eligible to take the national exam and earn credentials as an approved veterinary assistant. "We are extremely pleased to offer a ground-breaking employer supported development program for our veterinary nursing teams that allows them to make a choice for their educational program and career path," said Janet McConnell, CVT, director of veterinary nursing development for Compassion-First Pet Hospitals. "Both Penn Foster and Cedar Valley College are outstanding programs that have completely different formats, allowing students to choose what fits them best from a financial, lifestyle, and program …
KSU selects first NBAF Scientist Training Program fellowshipsAugust 9, 2018Five graduate students from the Kansas State University College of Veterinary Medicine have been awarded National Bio and Agro-defense Facility Scientist Training Program fellowships. The awardees will receive tuition, stipends, and funds for supplies and travel from a five-year, $1.6 million grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (USDA APHIS). The students were selected for their interest and expertise in emerging animal diseases, diseases that infect both animals and people, or foreign animal diseases that threaten global health and food security. Once they complete the fellowship program, they are committed to working at the Foreign Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory at the Plum Island Animal Disease Center in New York and, ultimately, the National Bio and Agro-defense Facility (NBAF), which is under construction adjacent to the university's Manhattan campus. The selected students already have received training in high-containment facilities that work with pathogens that will be studied at NBAF. The fellowship recipients, who will be mentored by professors with whom they have worked with for at least one to three years, are Kaitlynn Bradshaw, a master's student in veterinary biomedical science; Chester McDowell, a concurrent doctor of veterinary medicine …
