Bet You Didn’t Know a Veterinarian Sang ‘Grandma Got Run Over By A Reindeer’December 15, 2015It’s the Christmas season, which means your veterinary office is likely full of Christmas decorations and the holiday music is playing softly in the background. If you have the season off, you might hear the Christmas tunes on your own radio, at stores while you shop or stuck in your head as you desperately try to think of something else. The ones stuck in your head are probably the most popular ones — “Jingle Bells,” “Frosty the Snowman,” and “Grandma Got Run Over by a Reindeer.” While you might not know how the songs originated or why they’re still stuck in your head, you can thank a veterinarian for bringing you that last one. Elmo Shropshire, DVM, first recorded the song in 1979 with his then-wife, Patsy. It was written by Dr. Shropshire’s friend, Randy Brooks, and Shropshire and his wife self-released 45 copies as a gag gift for their friends, SFGate reports. A disc jockey named Gene Nelson somehow got his hands on it and started playing it on KSFO. “One day I was driving to work and I turned the radio on and heard the DJ …
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Cancer Drug Kinavet No Longer Approved for UseDecember 15, 2015Kinavet-CA1, a daily drug indicated for the treatment of mast cell tumors in dogs, is off the market in the United States at least temporarily because its five-year conditional approval expired. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration reported today that sale of the oral tablets, produced by AB Science of Chatham, N.J., must cease immediately. The company’s president of U.S. operations, Albert Ahn, DVM, expressed hope that Kinavet (mastinib mesylate) will return in the near future. “The short answer is that we are working to make it the shortest timeline possible,” Dr. Ahn said. “We are working closely with the FDA. We are in regular contact with them.” AB Science submitted documentation in a timely manner, he said. “We have been, over the past five years, generating the data that are needed for earning full approval,” Ahn said. “The FDA has reviewed that information and apparently they feel that there may be some information that may not be complete.” He called Kinavet an effective cancer drug. “We are very, very proud of Kinavet,” he said. “It has helped thousands of dogs that have suffered from mast cell tumors, which is one of the most common canine cancers and unfortunately …
Veterinary Drug Makers Merial, Boehringer Plan MergerDecember 15, 2015Merial, which makes leading pet medications such as Frontline and Heartgard, may merge with competitor Boehringer Ingelheim in late 2016, creating the world’s second-largest animal health company. Merial’s owner, France-based Sanofi S.A., reported today that it wants to trade Merial in exchange for about $5.2 billion and most of Boehringer’s human health care business. The asset swap would push Boehringer, with combined sales of more than $4 billion a year, to No. 2 on the rankings of animal health companies, behind only Zoetis Inc. “Boehringer Ingelheim Animal Health is and will stay strongly committed to bringing novel, innovation-driven solutions to veterinarians and animal owners,” said Andreas Barner, Ph.D., M.D., chairman of Germany-based BI. “Our combined animal health business would be well positioned for growth and emergence as a leader globally.” Among BI’s top animal medications are the swine vaccine Ingelvac Circoflex, the pain-relief drug Metacam and the Ultra Duramune vaccine for dogs. The merger would be “highly complementary” and build “on Merial’s expertise in companion animals and poultry and BI’s expertise in swine,” the companies stated. BI’s U.S. division, Boehringer Ingelheim Vetmedica Inc., is located in St. Joseph, Mo. Merial’s headquarters are in Duluth, Ga., and Lyon, France. Lyon …
Researchers Breed Pigs Resistant to PRRS VirusDecember 15, 2015A team of researchers at Kansas State University, the University of Missouri and global biotechnology company Genus plc say they have developed pigs that are resistant to the porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome (PRRS) virus. Researchers refer to the PRRS virus as the most devastating disease in the swine industry, one that has cost the U.S. pork industry more than $10 billion since it first appeared in the late 1980s. The discovery of PRRS-resistant pigs could significantly improve animal wellbeing and save hundreds of millions of dollars each year, said Raymond “Bob” Rowland, Ph.D., professor of diagnostic medicine and pathobiology in the College of Veterinary Medicine at Kansas State University, and one of the researchers involved in the discovery. “In the decades that we have had the PRRS virus, we have looked at vaccines, diagnostics and other strategies and we have never been able to eliminate the disease,” Dr. Rowland said. has been studying the PRRS virus for more than 20 years. “This is the first time that we have established the potential to eliminate this devastating disease.” Rowland partnered with several University …
Nutri-Vet Sold to Manna Pro ProductsDecember 14, 2015Manna Pro Products LLC, a manufacturer of livestock feed and large-animal health care items, is moving into the cat and dog market. The Chesterfield, Mo., company reported Dec. 11 that it acquired Nutri-Vet LLC of Boise, Idaho, and in a second transaction, the Petnology Essentials line from 21st Century HealthCare Inc. of Tempe, Ariz. The terms were not disclosed. Nutri-Vet makes a variety of supplements—from Hip and Joint Advanced Strength Chewables for dogs to Multi-Vite Paw-Gel for cats—as well as medical products such as antimicrobial wound spray. The acquisition includes the Nutri-Vet and Optimal Pet brands and private-label manufacturing. Petnology Essentials’ product line ranges from a bladder care supplement for dogs to tear stain pads for cats. “Manna Pro’s acquisition of Nutri-Vet and Petnology are complementary extensions of our company that will benefit customers and the brands in our portfolio,” said Beth Rogers, vice president of marketing. Nutri-Vet co-founder Steve Twohig called Manna Pro “a successful company that has been a recognized leader in the care and nurturing of animals.” “Demand for high-quality companion animal products continues to grow, and consumers will benefit from Manna Pro’s experience, resources and innovation,” Twohig said. Nutri-Vet and Petnology Essentials will operate …
World’s First ‘Test Tube’ Dogs Born at CornellDecember 14, 2015Nearly 40 years after the birth of the first human “test tube” baby, a team of scientists has produced the first litter of puppies conceived by in vitro fertilization (IVF). The Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine reported that the achievement could lead to the preservation of endangered dog species and the elimination of certain canine diseases. The researchers had to overcome peculiar challenges in order to successfully transfer to a host female 19 thawed embryos, seven of which developed into puppies that were delivered by Caesarian section in July. The findings were published Dec. 9 in the online journal PLOS One. “Since the mid-1970s, people have been trying to do [IVF] in a dog and have been unsuccessful,” said co-author Alex Travis, VMD, Ph.D., an associate professor of reproductive biology at Cornell’s Baker Institute for Animal Health. The healthy puppies—four males and three females—have different parentage. Eggs came from three female donors while sperm was taken from two males, leading to five purebred beagles and two beagle-cocker spaniel mixes. IVF is different from cloning, which has been achieved in dogs, in that IVF creates a new genome through fertilization while the latter procedure involves the transfer of DNA …
Veterinary Students Pose for Charity CalendarDecember 11, 2015There are various ways to raise money for charity. One of the most effective is calendars, especially when they involve attractive people and animals (trust me on this; this week alone I’ve written about three such calendars). The latest is the annual Men of the Vet School calendar released by the Cornell University's College of Veterinary Medicine's Omega Tau Sigma veterinary fraternity. Meet the men behind the cover! ?? Who wouldn't want a gift like this?!? Order the 2016 calendar on etsy.com #catsofinstagram #menwithbeards #arms #scrubs #giftideas #holidayshopping A photo posted by Cornell's Men Of Vet School (@menofthevetschool) on Nov 23, 2015 at 3:58pm PST The calendar, which raises money for the Cornell University Hospital For Animals' Patient Assistance Fund, features male veterinary students (shirtless, of course) with cute animals, including chickens, cats, dogs and horses. As for the vet students, the fraternity’s chair, Samantha Lovering told Refinery29, “At the vet school, we work incredibly hard, and …
Veterinarian to Send Care Packages to Military Dogs for the HolidaysDecember 10, 2015During the holidays we remember our loved ones and are reminded of the men and women serving our country overseas. What we often don’t remember are the dogs who serve with our military members. Christopher Gaylord, DVM, MA, however, had not forgotten. Dr. Gaylord of the North Slope Veterinary Animal Hospital in New York is putting together care packages to send to the military dogs this holiday season. Staff at the veterinary hospital is collecting “dog treats, grooming tools, medical supplies and other donations” to put together the care packages, DNAinfo reports. The care packages will also include heartworm and flea and tick medication and thank you notes if donors wish to send one. “We don’t often think about these dogs overseas doing this insane job,” Gaylord told DNAinfo. “It’s pretty impressive — they're literally risking their lives out in the field and if we can do something to help them, I think we should… From my understanding military dogs have pretty good lives, but they have also a really dangerous, intense job to do. It's obviously different than going and hanging out in Prospect Park every morning.” North Slope Veterinary Animal Hospital and
Virginia Tech to Help Raise Service DogsDecember 10, 2015The Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine at Virginia Tech has teamed up with Saint Francis Service Dogs, a Roanoke-based nonprofit, to raise three puppies for future service dog training. The partnership not only supports puppies on their path to become professionally trained service dogs, but also offers veterinary students important lessons on the human-animal bond, according to the college. “While they are with us, the puppies have a structured program of care and learning foundational skills such as walking on a leash and interacting with people and other animals in safe situations,” said Bess Pierce, DVM, associate professor in the Department of Population Health Sciences and director of the Center for Animal Human Relationships. “During the day at the veterinary college, they follow a detailed program developed by Saint Francis, and in the evenings, they will go home with their puppy raisers.” The puppies will learn life skills through a program called Puppy University. This may include going to the library, traveling on a bus or visiting the mall — physical and social skills that they might need in their future life as a service dog, said Dr. …
Veterinarian Receives Key to City for Saving Man’s LifeDecember 9, 2015CPR on an animal is very different from CPR on a human, but sometimes when a veterinarian is out of the clinic, it’s a human who needs his help. When Jerry McMillan, DVM, was attending a meeting of the Gallatin Lions Club in Gallatin, Tenn., fellow member James Gillum left his table due to illness. “I don't remember much. I remember getting up from the table because I didn't want to disturb anyone. I was weak,” Gillum told The Tennessean. Shortly thereafter another Lions Club member, who also happened to be an administrative assistant at Dr. McMillan’s veterinary practice, approached him in seek of help for Gillum. “He made no noise whatsoever,” McMillan told The Tennessean. “He wasn't getting any oxygen. He couldn't breathe. He was about the color of (indigo-tinted jeans) on some parts of his body. It was scary.” McMillan performed CPR on Gillum before the ill man was taken to Sumner Regional Medical Center, where he was told there wasn’t any heart damage and the cause was due to blood pressure. For assisting in saving Gillum’s life, McMillan was presented a key to the city and a certificate of appreciation by Mayor Paige Brown …
