College of Veterinarians of British Columbia bans onychectomyJune 14, 2018The College of Veterinarians of British Columbia (CVBC) has banned the practice of partial digital amputation, also known as onychectomy or declawing, of domestic cats, effective immediately. The province is the second in Canada to ban declawing, following the procedure's condemnation from the Canadian Veterinary Medical Association (CVMA). "Elective and nontherapeutic declawing is ethically problematic and not an appropriate means of dealing with feline behavior issues," reads CVBC's statement. The college acknowledges there are medical conditions that may necessitate partial or full digital amputation as an appropriate medical therapy, such as biopsy for diagnosis, severe trauma, or medical conditions affecting the health of the nail (i.e. onychodystrophy, paronychia, neoplasia of the nail bed/phalanges), but adds there is no medical condition or environmental circumstance of the cat's owner that would justify declawing. Declawing has already been banned in the United Kingdom, Europe, Australia, and several cities in California. Earlier this year, Nova Scotia became the first Canadian province to ban the procedure, with the Nova Scotia Veterinary Medical Association amending its code of ethics to declare the practice, when performed electively, "ethically unacceptable." While CVMA does not regulate veterinarians in Canada and cannot enforce a nationwide ban, the association announced …
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Canadian researchers team up to fight canine osteosarcomaJune 14, 2018A group of researchers called the Dog Osteosarcoma Group–Biomarkers of Neoplasia (DOGBONe) at the University of Guelph in Ontario, Canada, have joined forces to determine more accurate ways of measuring bone cancer, with the main objective of identifying biomarkers to assess patients with canine osteosarcoma. The presentation of osteosarcoma in dogs is remarkably similar to that of humans, according to the Ontario Veterinary College (OVC); so much so that computers are unable to distinguish between tumor samples from each species based on gene expression patterns. These similarities make canine osteosarcoma research all the more valuable, as any progress in developing better treatments for one species means progress for the other as well. "The dogs are a model for the worst of the human disease," said Geoffrey A. Wood, DVM, Ph.D., DVSc (pathology), of the OVC's Department of Pathobiology. "Right now, the information we find out in human osteosarcoma serves as a model for the dogs. There's an opportunity to go both ways between the species, for the benefit of both." The team consists of the university's top osteosarcoma researchers from across four departments at OVC, including co-leaders Dr. Wood and Alicia Viloria-Petit, Ph.D., MSc, BSc, of the Department of …
AAVMC launches holistic admissions pilotJune 14, 2018Three institutions have been selected to participate in an Association of American Veterinary Medical Colleges (AAVMC) pilot program designed to help veterinary schools develop holistic admissions programs. The three colleges, which were largely selected due to demonstrated interest in and commitment to diversity and change, are the University of Florida College of Veterinary Medicine, the University of Missouri College of Veterinary Medicine, and North Carolina State University College of Veterinary Medicine. Holistic admissions is a rapidly developing program in health professions, which is designed to encourage greater diversity and inclusion among student cohorts. These processes evaluate academic performance and aptitude, but also consider qualitative factors known to contribute to a candidate's ultimate success as a student and career professional. Such factors may include more intangible attributes, such as: Intrinsic motivation Leadership Resilience Communications skills Empathy Tenacity (e.g. in the face of poor grades, adversity) Demonstrated success in a working environment High ethical standards "We will be supporting these colleges as they pursue admissions reviews that are flexible, consider the applicants' capabilities, provide balanced consideration to academic performance, life experience and attributes, and assess how the applicants will contribute to the learning environment and the veterinary profession," …
Dave's Pet Food product recalledJune 14, 2018 Dave's Pet Food of Agawam, Mass., is recalling a single lot of Dave's Dog Food 95 percent premium beef cans because the products potentially contain elevated levels of beef thyroid hormone, according to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. The product was distributed along the East Coast and sold in pet stores and ecommerce sites. The recalled product consists of a single batch (548 cases) of 13 oz., 95 percent premium beef dog food with a UPC # of 85038-11167 and a date code of 08/2020. The recall was initiated after the FDA informed Dave's that one lot of product was analyzed and found to have elevated levels of thyroid hormone. FDA analyzed the product after receiving a complaint that four dogs consuming it were found to have low Free T4 (fT4) and thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH). Consumers who have questions or would like to receive a refund or coupon for replacement product can call 888-763-2738 Monday through Friday, between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. EST. No other Dave's Dog Food products, or any other product manufactured by Dave's Pet Food, are impacted.
New reference text explores rodent anatomyJune 14, 2018A new reference text by medical illustrator and gross anatomy expert Gheorghe M. Constantinescu, DVM, Ph.D., compares rodent anatomy, providing veterinarians, laboratory technicians, and others working in life sciences with anatomical features/landmarks needed when conducting physical examinations, collecting biological samples, making injections of therapeutic and experimental materials, using imaging modalities, and performing surgeries on mice and rats. Co-published and endorsed by the American Association for Laboratory Animal Science, Comparative Anatomy of the Mouse and the Rat: A Color Atlas and Text offers concise and practical comparative rodent anatomy. The user-friendly atlas includes full-color images, with each set of illustrations showing the same view depiction in the mouse and the rat for easy comparison by students, investigators, and technicians who work with animals. To purchase a copy, click here. Dr. Constantinescu previously authored and illustrated several texts on the subject of animal anatomy, including Clinical Dissection Guide for Large Animals, Guide to Regional Ruminant Anatomy Based on the Dissection of the Goat, and Clinical Anatomy for Small Animal Practitioners.
MVS Pet Care grows national networkJune 14, 2018After launching franchise opportunities at VMX: Veterinary Meeting & Expo earlier this year, house call veterinary care group Mobile Veterinary Services (MVS) Pet Care is expanding its footprint throughout the northeast and southeast regions of the United States, announcing six signed franchise agreements in Atlanta, Philadelphia, and Pittsburgh. The new developments will be led by franchisees Ian Haywood and Emanuel Graves, who will operate two house call mobile units in each of the three cities by July 2018. Both Haywood and Graves are seeking licensed veterinarians, who will be trained in the franchise system's house call services by Boston-based MVS partner Jeremy Gransky, DVM, who has practiced house call veterinary medicine in the area for 13 years. "Pets and their families in Boston have overwhelmingly embraced the house call concept operated by Dr. Gransky over the years," said Todd Giatrelis, CEO of MVS. "Now, pets and their families throughout Atlanta, Philadelphia, and Pittsburgh will have access to the highest quality veterinary care, right in the comfort of their own homes. MVS offers general wellness care, vaccinations, illness, and injury care, as well as hospice care and in-home euthanasia. For franchising information,
Petplan releases Pet Insurance 101 guideJune 14, 2018Petplan pet insurance data shows that one in three pets will need emergency veterinary care each year, and with average costs in the thousands of dollars (see "Petplan's top 10 most common claims and costs" below), pet insurance can be more beneficial than a savings account, which may not have enough money to cover the most common ailments. Some pet owners may be aware of pet insurance, but they may not understand how it can help keep pets healthy and budgets intact. Written specifically to help pet owners understand the growing pet insurance industry, Petplan's Pet Insurance 101 guide is available now at insurance.gopetplan.com/pet-insurance-101. The free guide walks pet owners through a pet insurance personality quiz and a checklist to determine what kind of pet coverage best suits their pets' needs. Facts, figures, and FAQs provide benchmarks to help consumers make the best choice for their unique situation. "About 95 percent of pet parents consider their pets to be part of the family,"* said Keith Guse, Petplan's director of content. "Even though two million cats and dogs are protected by pet insurance in North America, it's estimated that 99 percent of pets are still uninsured.** We created …
OVMA, VHMA to host Great Ideas ConferenceJune 13, 2018The Ontario Veterinary Medical Association in association with the Veterinary Hospital Managers Association will host the Great Ideas Conference in Collingwood, Ont., June 20-22. The event includes "how-to" sessions on a range of practice and life management topics, including human resources management, communication, marketing, and more. Mary Gardner, DVM, co-founder of Lap of Love Veterinary Hospice, is among this year's speakers. In her lecture series, Dr. Gardner will explore the unique care of aging and geriatric patients, and discuss the role veterinarians play in preparing a client for the loss of their pet. The first installment of a three-part series by Dr. Gardner was recently featured in Veterinary Practice News ("Caring for the Geriatric Pet" can be found online here.) Other speakers include Jason Coe, DVM, Ph.D., who will discuss issues surrounding communication in the clinic, and offer strategies for how to navigate difficult conversations with clients and communicate effectively with staff, as well as Kimberly Pope-Robinson, DVM, who will host a series related to personal health and wellness, including advice on how to avoid career burnout and maintain a proper work-life balance. New this year, the …
Help your clients prepare for hurricane seasonJune 13, 2018To honor Pet Preparedness Month, veterinarians at PetSmart released a list of tips to help owners ensure the safety and security of their animals in the event of a natural disaster. "The best way to keep pets safe during an emergency is to prepare a disaster plan, especially with hurricane season around the corner," said Nick Saint-Erne, DVM, PetSmart's resident veterinarian. "It is common to overlook pets when preparing for an emergency, but taking a few simple steps to include your pets' needs in your family preparedness plan will help ensure they are comfortable and safe in the event of an emergency." Dr. Saint-Erne suggests owners take the following pet preparedness safety measures to help their animals stay safe and calm in the event of an emergency. Ensure pets are safely contained When severe weather warnings go into effect, crate or kennel your animal. Consider purchasing a pet carrier in the event of evacuation. Additionally, have lidded plastic buckets or bins on-hand if you own fish, turtles, or similar animals. Look for pet-friendly housing options for your animal in case you need to evacuate your home Be sure to your pet up-to-date on its …
ACVIM, VetBloom partner to build elearning platformJune 13, 2018The American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine (ACVIM) is partnering with VetBloom, the digital learning ecosystem from Ethos Veterinary Health, to create a virtual learning environment for ACVIM and its members. Also, VetBloom will develop an integrated online portal for tracking and reporting of data related to the Maintenance of Credential (MOC) program for ACVIM Diplomates, as well as for tracking of resident specialty training and credentials. Key aspects of the partnership include: A fully branded ACVIM learning site with custom resources for members Paperless, online, automated MOC and resident specialty tracking An ACVIM eCommerce portal for nonmembers Ongoing digital access to ACVIM events Access to curated education from VetBloom and other members of the VetBloom learning community "Both ACVIM and VetBloom bring rich and complementary knowledge and experience to the relationship, and this presents us with a synergistic opportunity to develop a learning ecosystem that creates tremendous benefit for a number of audiences," said Patrick Welch, DVM, MBA, DACVO, chief knowledge officer of Ethos Veterinary Health. "VetBloom is a trusted resource in the veterinary field," said Veronica Muñoz, ACVIM CEO. "We look forward to combining VetBloom's expertise in developing veterinary education …
