WVC announces 2019 annual conference datesApril 24, 2018In response to feedback from Western Veterinary Conference (WVC) Annual Conference attendees, the organization is moving its conference back to February and has shortened the duration by one day. Dates for the 2019 WVC Annual Conference will be Feb. 17-20 at Mandalay Bay Convention Center in Las Vegas. "[Our] goal is to always respond to the needs of the profession and our participants," said David Little, WVC CEO. "Additionally, we constantly strive to provide the best value and experience possible for those attending our events. Moving the WVC Annual Conference back to February means more reasonable hotel room rates and increased availability and less competition with other major conferences." In addition, WVC also will shorten the duration of the conference by one day. The event still will launch on Sunday morning but will finish at the end of the day on Wednesday. According to the organization, it will adjust educational programming times to ensure all conference participants will continue to have a full menu of high-quality and diverse learning opportunities and will have the ability to obtain all required annual CE hours at one event. "We understand and are sensitive to the pressures on veterinary professionals, time being one …
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K-State research center cumulative gift reaches $1MApril 24, 2018The Kansas State University Center of Excellence for Vector-Borne Diseases, an interdisciplinary research center in the College of Veterinary Medicine, has received a $1 million cumulative gift ($250,000 for each of the last four years) from Abaxis to further its mission of combating vector-borne diseases with a focus on pathogenesis, surveillance, and disease prevention. The Center of Excellence for Vector-Borne Diseases is at the forefront of research on issues influenced by urban areas that continue their encroachment into animal habitats and can become unsuspecting starting points for vector-borne diseases, according to Ken Aron, chief technology officer at Abaxis. "We've identified several projects, including vaccine development to control canine infections with Ehrlichia species, Anaplasma species infections in dogs, and Rickettsia, the Rocky Mountain spotted fever disease agent, also in dogs," said Roman Ganta, Ph.D., professor of diagnostic medicine and pathobiology, and center director. Additionally, Ganta identified a project for developing axenic, or cell-free, media growth of Ehrlichia and Anaplasma species pathogens. The Abaxis gift also provided matching support for a K-State National Bio and Agro-defense Facility transition fund grant focused on vaccine development and a pathogenesis study to prevent heartwater, which is caused by Ehrlichia ruminantium. …
Zoetis launches #MyVetIsCore sweepstakes April 24, 2018 The Zoetis #MyVetIsCore Sweepstakes invites horse owners to express their appreciation for their veterinarian. Until May 22, 2018, horse owners can visit MyVetIsCore.com to enter for a chance to win weekly prizes as well as a grand prize. Eligible participants can upload a photo of their horse and veterinarian, and share why their veterinarian is "core" to their horse's health and wellness. Once a photo is uploaded, horse owners may share the graphic via their Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter account. "We launched the #MyVetIsCore Sweepstakes as a platform of encouragement—to showcase the many ways veterinarians improve the health of horses and the lives of horse owners," said Adrienne McAleer, equine marketing innovation manager for the company. "Equine wellness requires a dedicated team, from efficacious products to the trusted bond between horse owners and their veterinarians, to help protect horses." "It's vital that horse owners work closely with their veterinarian to help protect their horse from grave disease risks," said Kevin Hankins, DVM, senior equine technical services veterinarian for Zoetis. "Providing this level of protection begins with annual vaccination against the five core diseases. More than diseases, they can be a death sentence, and this is a threat we do …
Survey finds opportunity growing for professional pet sittersApril 24, 2018Pet Sitters International (PSI) released its 2018 State of the Industry Survey, revealing that its member pet-sitting businesses performed more than 22 million pet-sitting assignments and generated more than $440 million in pet-sitting revenues last year. The association's survey—conducted every two years—gathers data about gross business revenues, types of services most offered, average charges for services, and more. According to the organization, its member businesses averaged 137 clients and 3,816 pet-sitting assignments in 2017. The national average gross revenue for these businesses was $75,658, showing an increase over the 2016 survey results, which indicated an average of 109 clients, 2,645 pet-sitting assignments, and $60,625 gross revenue in 2015. PSI conducted its survey exclusively online from Jan. 23, 2018, to Feb. 26, 2018. Approximately 28 percent of the nearly 6,000 member businesses contacted completed the survey. Visit petsit.com.
Hill's to host free livestream pet nutrition symposiumApril 23, 2018The Hill's Global Symposium 2018 will be available free of charge to veterinarians, veterinary nurses, and veterinary students around the world via a 24-hour educational livestream. The symposium, which takes place on April 27-28 in Lisbon, will be available for on-demand content between June 1, 2018, and May 31, 2019. Delegates attending in person also will be able to review lectures they attended and share them with colleagues. Adventures of Aging: Early Chronic Kidney Disease & Growing Older, the symposium theme, focuses on the role of nutrition in helping animals age healthfully. During the event, veterinary experts from around the world will discuss the implications of recent research into aged dogs and cats by Hill's, early chronic kidney disease, and the key role of nutrition in increasing both quality and length of life. Speakers also will discuss strategies to address potentially misleading and inaccurate information pet owners might find through internet research or other sources. In addition, they will present advice on optimizing practice performance through the use of social media and e-commerce. For each delegate who registers for the Hill's Global Symposium, either live in Lisbon or via the 24-hour livestream, Hill's will make a €1 …
MAF awards Penn $775K to test osteosarcoma immunotherapy vaccine in dogsApril 20, 2018Morris Animal Foundation (MAF) has awarded a $775,000 grant to the University of Pennsylvania to test a vaccine that could improve longevity and quality of life for dogs with osteosarcoma. The research team will conduct clinical trials to evaluate a novel immunotherapy treatment that combines a molecule expressed by cancer cells with a modified live form of Listeria monocytogenes. A pilot study demonstrated this combination elicited a powerful, targeted immune response directed against osteosarcoma cells in patients suffering from this type of cancer. "This could be an incredible breakthrough in the fight against osteosarcoma, a highly aggressive and deadly cancer," said Kelly Diehl, DVM, DACVIM (SAIM), senior scientific programs and communications adviser at MAF. "For the last 50 years, Morris Animal Foundation has been funding cancer studies, and this is one of the largest, single grants we have ever awarded. The results of the pilot study were so compelling, that we knew we had to support this research team and their progression to a clinical trial." The vaccine, created by removing harmful genes from the Listeria bacteria and then attaching markers of osteosarcoma cells, supplements standard osteosarcoma treatment of amputation and chemotherapy by attacking cancer cells that …
As U.S. pet obesity balloons, vets, owners talk diet, nutritionApril 20, 2018The dog and cat pet obesity epidemic in the U.S. continues to grow, according to the Association for Pet Obesity Prevention (APOP). In the organization's 2017 annual clinical survey, 56 percent of dogs and 60 percent of cats were classified as overweight or obese by their veterinarian. In 2016, APOP found 54 percent of dogs and 59 percent of cats were overweight or obese. In the survey, pet owners and veterinary professionals were questioned about diet and nutrition, sources of pet food advice, the benefits of corn, dry versus canned, whether pet food has improved, the best sources of pet dietary recommendations, and more. Among the findings: 58 percent of pet owners and 54 percent of veterinary professionals reported having tried to help their own pet lose weight via low-calorie and weight loss diets combined with increased exercise. 25 percent of pet owners and 43 percent of veterinary professionals said they were "too busy" to exercise their dog; 21 percent of pet owners and 19 percent of veterinary professionals cited behavior issues as a barrier. Inadequate access to exercise areas and physical limitations of the owner and pet rounded out the reported challenges. 48 percent of …
AVMA membership surpasses 91KApril 19, 2018 Membership for the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) hit a record-high this year, with more than 91,000 veterinarians cited as association members—equating to three out of every four U.S. veterinarians. The achievement was announced at AVMA's board of directors meeting, held in Schaumburg, Ill., Apr. 5-6. The board also announced the results of its recent performance survey, which demonstrated an increase in member satisfaction, with more members recommending the association to veterinary colleagues. Additional meeting highlights are outlined below. New AVMA website The board approved funding for a digital agency to assist AVMA with a full redesign of the association website. The project has commenced, with the updated website scheduled to launch in 2019. Veterinary Information Forum follow-up In January, the AVMA House of Delegates hosted a Veterinary Information Forum and asked association staff to collect information from state veterinary medical associations about the provision of veterinary care to underserved populations. The association expects to compile these findings and share them with its members by January 2019. Depopulation guidelines The AVMA Guidelines for the Depopulation of Animals: 2018 Edition will be the third product in the association's Humane Endings …
CAPC forecasts problematic heartworm, Lyme in 2018April 19, 2018 The Companion Animal Parasite Council, or CAPC, has released its annual 2018 parasite forecasts, and the news isn't good. The agency reported there will be an increase in prevalence of heartworm and Lyme disease, and heartworm is predicted to continue its aggressive spread across the U.S., with the growth of Lyme disease focused east of the Rockies. The spread of heartworm is attributed to the hot and wet weather over a two-year span, shifting weather patterns that allow for ideal mosquito breeding conditions, and the relocation of unknown heartworm-positive dogs across the country, according to CAPC. CAPC also predicts the spread of Lyme disease into nonendemic areas, including the Dakotas, Iowa, Missouri, southern Illinois, Ohio, Kentucky, Tennessee, and North Carolina. "Our annual forecasts provide critical and important information to help veterinarians and pet owners understand parasites are a true risk to both pets and people," said Dwight Bowman, MS, Ph.D., CAPC board member and professor of parasitology at Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine. "This year, there are significant shifts in prevalence, making our maps a critical educational tool for veterinary hospitals, and allowing veterinarians and pet owners to see that parasites are ever changing …
Kansas' Manhattan area tech college receives $500K grantApril 19, 2018 The National Science Foundation awarded a three-year grant amounting to more than $500,000 to the Manhattan Area Technical College (MATC) in Kansas. The funds will help the school develop a critical environment engineering technology program, which will train students to become engineering technicians to assist in veterinary medicine. "One of the key elements is providing a skilled workforce to support the research scientists, veterinary scientists, and lab managers so the facilities operate safely and effectively," said James Genandt, MATC president. "MATC is excited to lead the way with technician training for biotechnology, biosafety risk reduction, and critical environment technology. The new program expands Kansas City's Animal Health Corridor, a cluster of animal-science businesses and educational programs available in the region, including Kansas State College of Veterinary Medicine and the Biosecurity Research Institute. Additionally, soon the corridor will include the college's National Bio- and Agro-defense Facility—a $1.25 billion animal disease laboratory, constructed by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. "It is clear that the Animal Health Corridor is a key component of the regional economy and provides this area with a global connection offering the winning combination of research, product development, markets, and …
