Study explores predicting canine disease risk through genetic testingJune 21, 2018 Genetic testing can be used to predict if a dog is at risk for developing certain diseases, enabling preventative care for better health, reports a new study by Wisdom Health and Genoscoper Laboratories. Published in PLOS Genetics, the study, "Frequency and distribution of 152 genetic disease variants in over 100,000 mixed breed and purebred dogs," also shows fewer mixed-breed dogs than purebreds are affected by the most common disease-causing mutations tested in the study. "There has been a long-standing perception that mixed-breed dogs are less disease prone than purebred dogs," said Cindy Cole DVM, Ph.D., DACVCP, general manager at Wisdom Health. "This DNA-testing-based evidence shows that while mixed-breed dogs are in fact less likely than purebreds to develop the recessive disorders evaluated in the study, they may still be carriers." The study examined the DNA of more than 100,000 dogs (18,000 purebreds representing 330 breeds, types, and varieties, and 83,000 mixed-breed dogs) for the presence of 152 genetic disease mutations, including: Progressive retinal atrophy (multiple forms) Hyperuricosuria Collie eye anomaly Multidrug sensitivity (MDR1) von Willebrand's disease (multiple forms) Based on the 152 diseases tested: Approximately two out of 100 mixed-breed dogs are at risk of becoming affected; 40 …
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Why annual screening for exposure to infected ticks is vitalJune 20, 2018It's important to remember that a single tick can transmit multiple infectious agents that may cause or contribute to serious illness, including kidney disease. And because dogs don't always show clinical signs, it can be challenging to understand the true harm of any given infection to a pet's health. This makes regularly screening of pets—including asymptomatic or seemingly healthy ones—to identify exposure to infected ticks all the more important. Here's a quick look at why regular, comprehensive screening is critical, and what veterinarians can do to help keep dogs healthy. All dogs need to be screened annually for exposure to infected ticks It's quite possible a patient could be fighting an infection without showing any signs of disease. That is why limiting screening to symptomatic pets and those known to have had a tick on them is too restrictive—it will miss infections. All dogs need to be tested, and pet owners need to be reminded that negative results are the goal in order to verify that preventive measures against ticks are working. A new study reinforces the importance of detecting exposure The study, found at idexx.com/ckdstudy, showed two key findings: 1) dogs with Ehrlichia antibodies …
UC Davis Veterinary Hospital launches free public educational seriesJune 20, 2018The University of California, Davis Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital (VMTH) has launched a public educational series of lectures on animal health topics. The series—An Evening with Vet Med—will feature on-campus seminars once a month that are free and open to the public. The lecture series is geared toward both large and small animal owners interested in learning the latest in caring for their four-legged family members. The first three lectures in the series are: Farrier Services: Hoof Care Myths and Truths June 26, 7-8 p.m. Presented by UC Davis farrier Shane Westman The event is free, but you must register. Basic First Aid and Preventative Care for Horses July 24, 7-8 p.m. Presented by UC Davis equine resident Emily Schaefer, DVM The event is free, but you must register. Pet Dental Health Aug. 21, 7-8 p.m. Presented by UC Davis dental hygienist Kimi Kan-Rohrer The event is free, but you must register. "We are so excited to bring this lecture series to animal owners in the community," said Jane Sykes, BVSc (Hons), PhD., DACVIM, VMTH chief veterinary medical officer. "At UC Davis, the health and wellness of our clients' …
KSU conducts first US livestock study with Japanese encephalitis virusJune 20, 2018North American domestic pigs could be susceptible to Japanese encephalitis virus infections, according to a study by Kansas State University (KSU) College of Veterinary Medicine researchers. The study, believed to be the first of its kind in the U.S., was published recently in Scientific Reports. "Collectively, our study demonstrates for the first time that North American domestic pigs can contribute to the Japanese encephalitis virus transmission cycle as amplifying hosts," said So Lee Park, a third-year veterinary student and concurrent doctoral student in pathobiology who was first author of the study. Japanese encephalitis virus is a mosquito-transmitted flavivirus that has human and veterinary health significance. The virus is the leading cause of vaccine-preventable encephalitis in Asia and the western Pacific, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The virus can be maintained in a cycle between mosquitoes and vertebrates, mainly pigs and wading birds. While most human infections are mild, a small percentage of people develop encephalitis. About 1 in 4 cases of Japanese encephalitis are fatal, the CDC stated. The virus in swine can cause encephalitis in piglets and reproductive diseases in mature adult pigs. The KSU study suggests …
GlobalVetLINK joins Amazon Web Services for cloud solutionsJune 19, 2018GlobalVetLINK (GVL) announced it has migrated its online animal health documentation platform to Amazon Web Services (AWS), a third-party cloud solution, to assist in customer data security and system functionality. GlobalVetLINK, founded in 2001, provides web-based animal health solutions for food and companion animal health practitioners. GVL's online certification solutions enable users to quickly and accurately create professional health records, including veterinary feed directives, certificates of veterinary inspection, veterinary prescriptions, diagnostic results and history, equine infectious anemia test certificates and more. Amazon AWS cloud computing service offers businesses the virtualized computing power, storage, and other platform services needed to more efficiently host their websites and internet-based functionality. The transition from a traditional data center to AWS allows GVL to better support current users, certificate creation, advances in technology, and feature enhancements. With the transition, the company said it expects to see greater customer satisfaction through various platform improvements: Increased data and system security Faster technology advancements, increased development capacity and more seamless deployment of new features Expanded server capacity and improved performance Reduced system downtime
Auburn Vet Camp introduces students to veterinary medicineJune 19, 2018The Auburn University College of Veterinary Medicine is offering hands-on summer camps to middle and high school students to give them an idea of what a career in veterinary medicine entails. Conducted by students, faculty, and staff of the college, Vet Camp takes students into classrooms, laboratories, and clinical facilities to give them a glimpse of veterinary studies and the animal health industry as a whole. Kimberley Moyers and Trey McElroy, both third-year veterinary students at Auburn, are Vet Camp's student directors, overseeing more than 20 second- and third-year veterinary students who work with campers. "Vet Camp is a week of hands-on education where we show the students as many aspects of veterinary medicine as possible," said McElroy. "We incorporate learning with many fun-filled activities. We want to immerse them in the medical side, along with showing the many other aspects of the veterinary field." A total of 100 students will attend the camps, which are coordinated in partnership with Auburn's Office of Professional Continuing Education. Two camps for high school students will take place in June—one for grades nine to 11 and the second for high school seniors—while the third, a junior veterinary camp for …
Iowa State to offer Ph.D. in population sciences in animal healthJune 18, 2018The Iowa State University Board of Regents has approved a new doctorate of philosophy in population sciences in animal health in the department of veterinary diagnostic and production animal medicine within Iowa State's College of Veterinary Medicine. The new program will promote research, disseminate knowledge, and create future leaders in the area of population sciences, according to a university announcement. The program is multidisciplinary and aims to equip future leaders (veterinarians and nonveterinarians) with the knowledge and skills to protect and promote the welfare and health of animals in populations. "Program graduates will be prepared to respond to health and welfare issues in animal populations through research, education, clinical medicine, extension and outreach," said Daniel Linhares, DVM, MBA, Ph.D., assistant professor of veterinary diagnostic and production animal medicine. "The new program will train generations of high-degree professionals capable of keeping Iowa's $18 billion animal agriculture industry sustainable and strong over time. "This program will generate science and professionals to help secure and improve the health and welfare of livestock and poultry industries in Iowa and around the globe," he added. The Iowa State degree will be one of only five similar programs offered in North America. The 20-hour degree will …
WSAVA World Congress 2018 early bird deadline approachingJune 15, 2018Veterinarians planning on attending World Small Animal Veterinary Association (WSAVA) World Congress 2018 need to act fast: The deadline for early bird registration rates is June 25. WSAVA World Congress, a gathering of more than 2,000 companion animal veterinarians, will take place Sept. 25-28 in Singapore. Highlights of this year's congress include: The launch of the association's new Global Guidelines for Companion Animal Welfare A series of outreach programs to enable veterinarians who wish to volunteer their services to gain new experiences and support animal welfare in countries in which companion animal practice is still developing A Donation Drive run by local host, the Singapore Veterinary Association, to help veterinary students and developing associations in South East Asia by asking sponsors and delegates to donate equipment The next steps in the association's campaign to secure equal access to veterinary therapeutics for veterinarians around the world Precongress workshops on aquatic medicine and practical dentistry and a packed scientific program in which global veterinary and business experts will explore cutting-edge thinking in all aspects of companion animal veterinary care. State-of-the art lectures from some of the association's 2018 award winners are also included on the …
UF vet performs femoral head ostectomy on mini horseJune 15, 2018One year after a femoral head ostectomy at the University of Florida Large Animal Hospital was performed on a miniature horse, Rico is thriving and back to his normal routine. "Rico was found down and nonweight bearing lame last spring in a field," said Taralyn McCarrel, DVM, an assistant professor of equine surgery at UF's College of Veterinary Medicine. "His veterinarian diagnosed a dislocated right hip and contacted us to see what we would do and what it might cost." Although it was unclear what had caused Rico's injury, trauma of some kind was suspected, Dr. McCarrel said. Rico's veterinarian, Jennifer Miller, DVM, said his injury was not one she'd seen often, and "certainly not in a full-sized horse." "The only horse that might have a surgical option would be a mini, so he had an opportunity that another horse might not have had, as surgery would just be too difficult," Dr. Miller said. A larger horse's weight would make even obtaining a diagnosis problematic, but she was able to get "pretty good" images of Rico's leg, she said, aiding in his diagnosis. Fortuitous funds At the time Miller responded to Rico's owner's call, she had a UF veterinary …
APPA president and CEO Vetere to retireJune 14, 2018Bob Vetere, president and CEO of the American Pet Products Association (APPA) will retire following Global Pet Expo 2019 in March. Steve King, president of the Pet Industry Distributors Association (PIDA), has been chosen by the APPA board to be Vetere's successor. King will join APPA in January 2019; both will work together to ensure a smooth transition. Vetere has headed APPA since 2002. Under his leadership, APPA's membership has grown from 668 to 1,270 current members, according to the association. He has led several pet industry-wide initiatives and is credited with establishing the Human Animal Bond Research Institute, the Pets Add Life Campaign, and the Pet Leadership Council. He was honored at Global Pet Expo 2016 with the Rolf C. Hagen Hall of Fame Award for his achievements in the pet industry and also received the Pet Industry Joint Advisory Council Chairman's Award of Excellence. "On behalf of the board of directors, I want to thank Bob for his dedicated and exceptional leadership of APPA for 16 years," said APPA chairman Kevin Fick. "Bob's passion for this industry …
