Nutro Recalls Limited Range Of Dry Cat Food ProductsMay 21, 2009 Nutro Products of Franklin, Tenn., has issued a voluntary recall of select varieties of its Natural Choice Complete Care and Nutro Max dry cat foods with “Best If Used By Dates” between May 12, 2010, and Aug. 22, 2010. The recalled products contain incorrect levels of zinc and potassium, according to the company. Nutro pointed to a production error at a U.S.-based premix supplier as the cause of the zinc and potassium imbalance. According to Nutro, two mineral premixes, which are added to cat food as nutritional supplements, were affected by the production error. One premix contained excessive levels of zinc and under-supplemented potassium. The second premix under-supplemented potassium, the company reported. Nutro said the issue was identified during an audit of its documentation from the supplier. The cat food products are being recalled in the United States and ten other countries. Affected products were distributed to retail customers in all 50 states, as well as to customers in Canada, Mexico, Japan, Korea, Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, New Zealand and Israel. Nutro said it is working with all of its distributors and retail customers to ensure the recalled products are removed from shelves. …
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Former AAHA President Worth Dies Of CancerMay 19, 2009 Anna Worth, VMD, died May 16 following a long battle with pancreatic cancer, the American Animal Hospital Association reported. She was 55. “It is with heavy hearts and deep sadness that we say goodbye to such a compassionate and talented individual,” said John Albers, DVM, AAHA executive director. “AAHA will forever be indebted to Anna’s unwavering devotion and leadership to the association and our profession.” Dr. Worth served as AAHA president in 2008-2009 and on its board of directors since 2002. She also served on the veterinarian student work group, mentoring guidelines work group and referral task force , and was instrumental in the creation of the AAHA Helping Pets Fund. She and husband Bob Bergman, VMD, married during veterinary school. After graduating from the University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine in 1978, they moved to Shaftsbury, Vt., to own and operate West Mountain Animal Hospital. Worth was also a past president of the Society for Veterinary Medical Ethics and Vermont Veterinary Medical Association and a past chair of the Vermont Animal Cruelty Task Force, the Vermont Animal Welfare Committee and the Euthanasia Board for Animals. She also served as the Vermont …
Massachusetts Bill Aims To Regulate Pet GroomersMay 18, 2009 Legislation seeking to regulate pet groomers has once again been introduced in Massachusetts. Senate Bill 186, introduced by Sen. Richard Tisei (R-Wakefield), calls for the licensing of pet groomers and would establish a state board to oversee the licensing process. The measure also sets forth a number of provisions for pet grooming facilities. The Pet Industry Joint Advisory Council (PIJAC) has issue an alert about the proposal, claiming it includes “questionable standards.” A public hearing on SB 186 is scheduled for May 19 before the Joint Committee on Consumer Protection & Professional Licensure. Senate Bill 186 defines a pet groomer as someone who is “licensed as a bather/brusher, all-breed basic groomer or all-breed master/teacher groomer engaged in the practice of pet grooming, who bathes, brushes, clips or styles a pet for financial remuneration.” The measure calls for the establishment of a Board of Registration of Pet Groomers, which would consist of four licensed pet groomers with at least five years experience and one representative from the public. The board would be responsible for: • Providing for and regulating the practice of pet grooming • Providing for and regulating the apprenticeship of pet groomers
North Carolina Universities Team Up To Combat CancerMay 15, 2009 The North Carolina State University’s College of Veterinary Medicine and the University of North Carolina’s Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center have partnered to help combat non-Hodgkin lymphoma in canine and human patients. The disease is biologically similar in canines and humans, but is much easier to narrow down problematic areas in a dog’s genome because the genetic variation among dogs of the same breed is so much lower than genetic variation in humans, according to the universities. “Non-Hodgkin lymphoma ranks fifth in cancer deaths among human patients, and the mortality rate for dogs is even higher,” said Steven Suter, VMD, Ph.D., Dipl. ACVIM, professor of clinical sciences, who will help lead the NC State component. “By combining the strengths of our programs, we expect to enhance our understanding of the disease and speed improved treatments for people and pets. This is another example of ‘One Health,’ the concept of comparative medicine that acknowledges human and animal health relies on a common pool of medical and scientific knowledge and is supported by overlapping technologies and discoveries.” Labs from both institutions will study tissue samples from human and canine patients. The team said …
California Spay/Neuter Bill Sent To Suspense FileMay 13, 2009 Legislation in California that seeks to mandate spay and neuter surgery for most cats and dogs has been placed on the suspense file pending further review. Senate Bill 250, introduced in February by Sen. Dean Florez, requires that dogs be spayed or neutered unless their owner gets an unaltered dog license. It also requires that roaming cats be spayed and neutered. The Senate Appropriations Committee analysis on SB 250 states that the bill has costs associated with it in the short term. As a result, it was placed on a list with other bills which have a fiscal impact on state and local governments. All bills placed on the suspense file are scheduled to be taken up together at a later date. Staff and lawmakers review all bills that are projected to cost more than $150,000, and then decide which bills will be released to the committee and voted on. <HOME> Related article: California State Senator Introduces Spay/Neuter Bill
Imulan Names New Chief Scientific OfficerMay 12, 2009 Imulan BioTherapeutics LLC of St. Joseph, Mo., has named Daniel Gingerich, DVM, as its chief scientific officer. As such, he will oversee all research and development operations for the company’s T-Cell Receptor Peptides, Lymphocyte T-Cell Immune Modulator and the Immune Selective Anti-Inflammatory Derivatives. Dr. Gingerich will also coordinate the regulatory trials for atopic dermatitis, stomatitis, viral diseases and cardiovascular programs. Gingerich has held senior research positions with a variety of veterinary and human pharmaceutical and life science companies, such as Cincinnati-based Stolle Milk Biologics Inc. and Fort Dodge Laboratories, a division of Wyeth in Madison, N.J. “We are fortunate to have Dr. Gingerich join the team,” said Craig Woods, DVM, chief executive officer of Imulan. “He brings a world of experience in clinical trial design, regulatory affairs and immunology which will facilitate development of our new immune-based treatments and biologics.” In related news, Imulan reported positive echocardiographic findings from a recent pilot trial using its T-Cell Receptor peptides for canine dilated cardiomyopathy. “For the first time, we may have documented the clinical relevance of the link between immune modulation and therapeutic intervention in canine cardiomyopathy,” Gingerich said. “Our findings suggest an …
Winn Feline Foundation To Host Symposium On June 25May 11, 2009 The Winn Feline Foundation will hold its 31st Annual Symposium on Feline Health at the Renaissance Esmeralda Resort & Spa in Indian Wells, Calif., on June 25 from 4 p.m. – 6:30 p.m. The symposium is open to veterinarians, veterinary technicians and pet owners. Michael Lappin, DVM, Ph.D., Dipl. ACVIM, professor of Small Animal Medicine at Colorado State University, will discuss “Vaccination and Systemic Disease in Cats.” Dr. Lappin’s research shows that cats not only develop antibodies to the antigens in vaccines as intended, but they also develop antibodies to components of the feline kidney cell culture system used to produce vaccines. Lappin asks the question, is it possible that over-vaccination induces antibodies that are associated with immune-mediated kidney disease in cats? Jane Brunt, DVM, executive director of the CATalyst Council, will discuss “CATalyst: Improving the Status of Cats.” Specifically, Dr. Brunt will talk about how veterinarians can help raise the level of health and welfare of cats. The council is a national initiative to champion the cat in light of the statistics that show a decline in veterinary visits for cats. The symposium, supported by …
Banfield’s New Program Helps Pets Of Hospice PatientsMay 8, 2009 The Banfield Charitable Trust recently launched a new program to help provide care for the pets of hospice patients nationwide. “Pet Peace of Mind,” which will be supported, in part, by donations in Banfield Pet Hospitals during the month of May, aims to allow hospice patients to complete their end-of-life journey without worrying about the current or future needs of their pets. The program provides training and funding for hospices to start local programs that deliver volunteer pet care services for patients who are unable to care for their pets while in hospice. Components include financial assistance with routine veterinary care, pet transportation to veterinary appointments, pet boarding and walking, access to pet food and necessary medicine and a new home for the pet once the patient has passed. “Pet Peace of Mind” was inspired by a program created by Delana Taylor McNac and the team at Hospice of Green Country in Tulsa, Okla. “Many hospices want to start a pet care program, but in most cases, the independent funding they secure goes toward filling gaps in their operating budgets,” said Dianne McGill, executive director and chief executive …
LSU Welcomes 17 Vet Students To Summer Scholars ProgramMay 7, 2009 The Louisiana State University School of Veterinary Medicine has accepted 17 first- and second-year veterinary students to take part in it its Summer Scholars Program. The program is an introduction to biomedical research through research-driven activities, aimed at encouraging innovative studies in human and animal diseases. It is funded by the Merck-Merial Veterinary Scholar Program, a grant from the National Institutes of Health and research funds from the Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences. Each student will receive a $5,200 stipend. Merck-Merial will also sponsor the students’ participation at the 2009 Merck-Merial Symposium on Aug. 6-8 at North Carolina State University, where research will be presented by students from the participating veterinary schools. To participate in the program, the students developed their own research plan proposals with the guidance of a faculty member. A faculty committee selected the participants based on the proposals. The recipients of the Merck-Merial Summer Research Awards and their project titles are: • Andrea Dedeaux (Class of 2011) from Metairie, La. “Development of A Point of Care Screening Test for Canine Leptospirosis.” Her faculty mentor is Dr. Mark Acierno, assistant professor of companion animal medicine. …
Study: Obese Horses Less Likely To Recover From LaminitisMay 6, 2009 Overweight horses and ponies that develop laminitis tend to have more severe signs than those of optimal weight, according to a new study by the British Equine Veterinary Association, which documented about 107 cases over the period of four years. About 83 percent of the cases were overweight. “When laminitis does occur, overweight animals are more likely to die of the disease than their thinner counterparts,” said Celia Marr, BVMS, Ph.D., principal investigator and veterinary surgeon. “The animals with the best outcome tended to be those that had received acepromazine, a drug that improves the blood supply to the feet and relaxes the animal. Horse owners and vets are encouraged to ensure that horses and ponies are not allowed to become excessively fat as this can have a significant effect on their health, as we have seen in this study.” The study was sponsored by the British Veterinary Association Animal Welfare Foundation and Merial of Duluth, Ga. <HOME> Overweight horses and ponies that develop laminitis tend to have more severe signs than those of optimal weight, according to a new study by the British Equine Veterinary Association, which documented …
