Dogs In China Reportedly Test Positive For H1N1November 30, 2009 Two dogs in Beijing have tested positive for the 2009 H1N1 influenza, according to the American Veterinary Medical Association, which cited the Xinhua News Agency on Nov. 28. To date, there have not been any confirmed cases of dogs infected with the virus. The Chinese press reported that the virus found in the dogs was a 99 percent match for the flu currently infecting humans. The breed of the dogs has not been released. The 2009 H1N1 influenza virus has also been detected in cats, ferrets, pigs, birds and humans. The AVMA urges pet owners to monitor their pets’ health very closely, no matter what type of animal, and visit a veterinarian if there are any signs of illness. The AVMA is tracking all instances of H1N1 in animals and posting updates on its website. The Oregon Veterinary Medical Association is also posting updated information on H1N1 as it becomes available. Click here for veterinarians looking for information on how and when to submit samples to Oregon State University’s Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory. Related news: Oregon Cat with H1N1 Dies …
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Butler Schein Animal Health To Form Under New AgreementNovember 30, 2009 Henry Schein Inc.’s U.S. animal health business and Butler Animal Health Supply have agreed to form Butler Schein Animal Health. The new company, to be headquartered in Dublin, Ohio, will be 50.1 percent owned by Henry Schein and 49.9 percent owned by Butler Animal Health Supply, including Oak Hill Partners and The Ashkin Family Group. Kevin Vasquez, Butler Animal Health Supply chairman, president and chief executive officer, will lead the new company as chief executive officer. “The creation of Butler Schein Animal Health is great news for veterinarians nationwide,” Vasquez said. “We intend to offer our current and future customers the broadest selection of veterinary products and value-added services in the industry. In addition to the efficiency and convenience of ordering from one primary supplier for nearly all veterinary practice needs, our customers also can rely on us to continue providing the highest level of service.” Vasquez’s team will include senior animal health executives from Butler Animal Health Supply and Henry Schein Animal Health. Senior sales and marketing leaders at Henry Schein will continue in senior roles at Butler Schein Animal Health. About 900 Butler Schein Animal Health team members, including about 300 field …
Quality Of Life ScaleNovember 30, 2009 Click here to download Dr. Villalobos' Quality of Life Scale Quality of Life Scale1 The HHHHHMM Scale Pet caregivers can use this Quality of Life Scale to determine the success of pawspice care. Score patients using a scale of 1 to 10. Score Criterion H: 0 - 10 HURT - Adequate pain control, including breathing ability, is first and foremost on the scale. Is the pet's pain successfully managed? Is oxygen necessary? H: 0 - 10 HUNGER - Is the pet eating enough? Does hand feeding help? Does the patient require a feeding tube? H: 0 - 10 HYDRATION - Is the patient dehydrated? For patients not drinking enough, use subcutaneous fluids once or twice daily to supplement fluid intake. H: 0 - 10 HYGIENE - The patient should be brushed and cleaned, particularly after elmination. Avoid pressure sores and keep all wounds clean. H: 0 - 10 HAPPINESS - Does the pet express joy and interest? Is the pet responsive to things around him or …
Heska Enters Into Supply Agreement With Roche DiagnosticsNovember 25, 2009 Heska Corp. of Loveland, Colo., has entered into an agreement with Roche Diagnostics Corp. for the supply of blood gas products and affiliated consumables for the veterinary market. “Heska and Roche share the same passion for innovating in the field of advanced point-of-care diagnostics,” said Michael McGinley, president and chief operating officer of Heska. “Because Roche is a global leader in diagnostics for the human market, we cannot imagine a better partner to further our commitment to advanced solutions to the veterinary community.” Roche Diagnostics is headquartered in Basel, Switzerland. Genetech, United States, is a wholly owned member of the Roche Group. <HOME>
Conference To Focus On Pet Industry Growth TrendsNovember 25, 2009 Pet Industry Advisory LLC, a conference organizer in Waltham, Mass., plans to hold its Pet Industry Transformation conference Feb. 11-12 in Las Vegas, Nev. Designed for senior executives at manufacturers, and marketing companies interested in the pet market, the conference will feature 20 speakers covering eight growth strategies and trends in what organizers are terming a “strategic high-level summit.” “From our vast experience in other industries, we’ve come to know that these executive summits foster high level information exchanges not available anywhere else,” said Roz Applebaum, vice president of new product development at Pet Industry Advisory (PIA). Applebaum expects the conference to attract between 50 and 75 industry executives from specialty, food and over-the-counter pharmaceutical/supplement companies. She expects that roughly 10 percent of attendees will represent companies planning to enter the pet industry. The conference had nine registrants before Thanksgiving, with relatively little outreach, she said. The conference’s goal is to provide information on market trends to senior executives and to provide opportunities for networking. Applebaum expects to hold additional conferences, perhaps one as soon as June. PIA also expects to provide senior executives information through its website and webinars. Both she and PIA …
Report On Non-Native Giant Snakes Criticized As ‘Unscientific’November 24, 2009 A U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) report, touted by some as justification for a ban on pythons, is being criticized as “unscientific” by a group of scientists. In a letter sent to U.S. legislators on Nov. 24, the group claims the report, which assesses the ecological risks associated with nine non-native large snakes, is not based on best science practices and has not undergone external peer-review. The report, released Oct. 13, identified Burmese pythons, northern and southern African pythons, boa constrictors and yellow anaconda as having a high risk for invasiveness in the United States. The other four snakes studied — reticulated python, Deschauensee’s anaconda, green anaconda and Beni anaconda — were assessed as posing a medium-risk. The report was recently discussed during a hearing for H.R. 2811 before a subcommittee of the U.S. House Committee on the Judiciary. H.R. 2811 seeks to include Burmese and African rock pythons to the list of injurious species, thus prohibiting the import, export and interstate movement of the snakes. The bill’s proponents, including the Humane Society of the United States, provided written testimony recommending that the bill be amended to include all nine snakes included in the USGS report. …
Alternative Medicine Under PressureNovember 24, 2009 1. Angell M and Kassirer JP. Alternative medicine – the risks of untested and unregulated remedies. NEJM. 1998;339:839-841. 2. Weissmann G. The Atlanta Falcon and Tono-Bungay: Dietary supplements as subprime drugs. [Editorial] The FASEB Journal. 2009;23:1279-1282. 3. Kurtzweil P. How to spot health fraud. U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Obtained here on 09-16-09. 4. American Holistic Veterinary Medical Association 2009 Blog. Obtained here on 09-13-09. 5. A quote coined by Feyerabend. Cited in Happle R. The essence of alternative medicine. A dermatologist’s view from Germany. Archives of Dermatology. 1998;134:1455-1460. 6. Ohio State University Veterinary Continuing Education Program. Introduction to Animal Reiki for Veterinary Professionals course. 2 CE hours. Brochure downloaded here on 09-12-09. 7. Ohio State University Veterinary Continuing Education Program. Introduction to Animal Reiki for Veterinary Professionals course. 2 CE hours. Brochure downloaded here on 09-12-09. 8. Tufts University E-News. East-West synergy. Obtained here on 09-12-09. 9. Williams D and Locke L. Letter to the Colorado Horse Council on the End of the 2007 Legislative Session Report. Obtained here on 09-12-09. 10. Johnson C. Keeping a critical …
FDA Proposes New Requirements For Animal Food LabelsNovember 23, 2009 The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has proposed a rule that would require manufacturers to list the common or usual names of FDA-certified color additives on animal food labels. The agency is accepting public comment on the proposal until Feb. 22, 2010. As published in the Nov. 23 issue of the Federal Register, the proposed rule would amend the FDA’s animal food regulations to add a new paragraph detailing how the common names of FDA-certified color additives used in animal foods, including animal feed and pet food, should be declared in the ingredient list. The proposed rule also suggests appropriate terminology for declaring certification-exempt color additives on the animal food labels. According to the FDA, the proposed rule is in response to the Nutrition Labeling and Education Act of 1990. The act amended the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act to require, among other things, the common or usual names of all FDA-certified color additives to be listed on food labels. Although the 1990 amendments apply both to human and animal foods, the regulations pertaining to animal foods have yet to be issued. Click here to view the proposed rule in its entirety …
Immunovaccine Signs License Agreement With Pfizer Animal HealthNovember 23, 2009 Immunovaccine Inc. of Halifax, Nova Scotia, recently licensed its patented vaccine delivery technology to Pfizer Animal Health. The New York-based company plans to develop enhanced cattle vaccines incorporating the technology. Specific terms of the exclusive, worldwide license agreement were not disclosed. However, Immunovaccine reported that it will receive upfront signing fees in addition to subsequent milestone payments and royalties on any Immunovaccine-delivered vaccines developed by Pfizer Animal Health. The strength of Immunovaccine’s platform lies in its ability to reduce the number of required doses and to significantly enhance antibody onset and duration, according to the company. “We see global demand growing among beef and dairy producers for new vaccines that can be safely and easily administered,” said Juan Ramon Alaix, president of Pfizer Animal Health. “Pfizer looks forward to developing cattle vaccines incorporating Immunovaccine technology that will contribute to meeting this demand.” Pfizer Animal Health reported that it is also licensing other Immunovaccine technology for the development of particular livestock vaccines. <HOME>
Pet Insurance: Benefit Schedules As Managed CareNovember 23, 2009 Jack L. Stephens, DVM, the father of pet health insurance in the U.S., wrote an article about the 80/20 percent reimbursement model of pet insurance on June 25, 2009. On August 20, 2009, Tom Kendall, DVM, replied, warning of pitfalls in that model making the case for a benefit schedule. In this piece, Dr. Stephens responds and poses a challenge. Tom, Pet insurance can and must be easy and straightforward to understand. Pet owners need to know how much they will be reimbursed for their pet’s care, otherwise how can pet owners plan financially? With the benefit schedule you describe, clients receive 50-55 percent reimbursement of veterinary care according to the VPI report to the Vet Partners Association. I believe this is a form of managed care, when fees are set with no regard to practice cost, quality of care, differences in economic areas and, of course, the severity or complications of treatments. For example, as you know, not all pets with pancreatitis respond the same, so how can there be only one benefit amount? When reimbursements are much …
