Radagast Pet Food recalls raw diet cat foodJuly 12, 2018Radagast Pet Food of Portland, Ore., is recalling three lots of Rad Cat Raw Diet Free-Range Chicken Recipe that may be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes, according to an FDA report. In addition, the company is recalling one lot of Rad Cat Raw Diet Pasture-Raised Venison Recipe due to possible contamination with Shiga toxin-producing E. coli O121. No pet or human illnesses have been reported. The following three lots of Rad Cat Raw Diet Free-Range Chicken Recipe, shipped to distributors nationwide in May and June 2018, are being recalled: Lot Code 63057, Best By Date: 10/9/2019 Lot Code 63069, Best By Date: 10/23/2019* Lot Code 63076, Best By Date: 10/31/2019* (8-oz. UPC 8 51536 00103 6, 16-oz. UPC 8 51536 00104 3, 24-oz. UPC 8 51536 00105 0) *These two lots were shipped to one distributor in Vancouver, BC, Canada, in addition to U.S. distributors in May and June, 2018. The following single lot of Rad Cat Raw Diet Pasture-Raised Venison Recipe, shipped to distributors nationwide only in May and June, is being recalled: Lot Code 63063, Best By Date: 10/15/2019 (8-oz. UPC 8 51536 00121 0, 16-oz. UPC 8 51536 00122 7, 24-oz. UPC 8 51536 00123 4 and …
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AVMA seeks input on equine diagnostic imaging specialtyJuly 11, 2018An organizing committee has submitted a petition to the American Board of Veterinary Specialties requesting the recognition of equine diagnostic imaging as a specialty within the American College of Veterinary Radiologists (ACVR), asserting the current format is weighted toward small animal imaging and limits the training time for equine imaging. According to the petition, ACVR equine diagnostic imaging specialty (ACVR-EDI) would: Provide dedicated training for equine radiologists to enhance their service to equine practitioners and specialists Further raise the standard of care Promote research, teaching, and academic development The proposed three-year training would include all available diagnostic imaging modalities, and encompass orthopedic, soft tissue, abdominal, airway, and cardiac imaging. Certification in ACVR-EDI would be a possibility for currently boarded veterinary radiologists who pass the ACVR-EDI certifying examination, as well as for those who undergo the ACVR-EDI residency. Input must be received by Sept. 17. For more information, click here.
The Ohio State University surgical simulation lab opens in AugustJuly 11, 2018A surgical simulation laboratory is scheduled to open at The Ohio State University College of Veterinary Medicine next month. The $9.3-million facility will feature operating systems to simulate surgery or exams and other technology-facing amenities designed to better prepare veterinary students to practice medicine beyond university through hands-on experience. "The systems we are installing are very similar to models used in hospitals or medical schools for human health care," said Toni Hare, college spokesperson. In addition to simulation, the laboratory will include a 3D printing office, as well as animal-specific models used by clinicians and students as they practice surgeries. The new facility will also provide students with an opportunity for self-directed learning at their own pace, in a strategy designed to increase professional confidence. "This is one more way we produce graduates who are effective and ready to practice in the real world," said Hare. The 16,000-square-foot rooftop addition, which will sit on top of The Ohio State Veterinary Medical Center, will also add new office space for faculty and staff. The project received funding from the veterinary college, as well as through a $39-million donation from the Stanford Foundation in 2016.
American Association of Feline Practitioners releases new anesthesia guidelinesJuly 11, 2018The American Association of Feline Practitioners (AAFP) released the first feline-specific anesthesia guidelines to the veterinary community, which are published in the Journal of Feline Medicine and Surgery. General anesthesia is an essential component of feline practice, without which surgery and certain other treatment modalities and diagnostic procedures would be impossible, the AAFP stated. Due to their unique physiology and small size, cats undergoing anesthesia are at a relatively greater risk of complications and mortality than many other species; empirical evidence shows that cats undergoing anesthesia have a higher mortality rate compared with dogs.1,2 The new guidelines address specific causes of disparities and ways of avoiding perioperative complications associated with monitoring, airway management, fluid therapy, recovery, perianesthetic anxiety and stress, perianesthetic monitoring by physical and electronic means, the role of underlying diseases such as hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, the correct use of anesthesia equipment, and total injectable anesthesia. An associated client brochure provides cat caregivers with digestible information that enables them to understand anesthesia, what to expect, properly prepare their cat for a procedure, and care for them during recovery (catfriendly.com/anesthesia). "By proactively developing an individualized anesthetic plan that considers the uniqueness of each feline patient and recognizing …
AVMA announces 2018-2019 congressional fellowsJuly 10, 2018The American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) has selected two veterinarians to serve in the 2018-2019 AVMA Fellowship Program, providing Congress with counsel on important policy issues. Beginning in August, the two selected fellows will serve for one year in Washington, D.C., as full-time staff for a congressional office or congressional committee. During their tenure, the fellows will advise policymakers on a wide range of issues, such as food safety, public health, animal welfare, research, and small business policies. This September, the fellows will interview with congressional offices to receive their year-long placements. Once placed, they will support the activities of that office full-time. The fellows are not AVMA employees or lobbyists. The 2018-2019 fellows are: Meera Chandra, DVM, MPH: Dr. Chandra is a 2018 cum laude graduate of the University of Florida College of Veterinary Medicine and College of Public Health & Health Professions. During her time in veterinary school, she gained significant public health and veterinary experience—including positions at the World Organization for Animal Health in Paris, the Department of Homeland Security Office of Health Affairs, and the U.S. Department of Agriculture Food Safety and Inspection Service. She was also president of the University of Florida's Public Health …
UC Davis treats uncommon AVM in German shepherdJuly 10, 2018Crash, a six-year-old male German shepherd, was starting to tire more easily on his walks and seemed zoned out and listless, according to his owners, Sally Fuess and Steve Yant from Boulder Creek, Calif. He also displayed signs of what were perceived as severe headaches. He would "bury" his head and squint his eyes, suggesting that something was bothering him. Those headache signs started occurring more frequently and affected his overall well-being. "It was like watching someone have a massive migraine and be nonfunctioning," said Fuess. "The bigger the headaches, the more disorientated he would become. His hearing would get distorted, his perception … all his senses were affected." Fuess and Yant discussed this with an internal medicine specialist who was already treating Crash for some unrelated gastrointestinal issues. The veterinarian performed an MRI of Crash's head that revealed an intracranial arteriovenous malformation (AVM) located within the brain behind his eyes. A consultation with Bill Culp, VMD, DACVS, at the University of California, Davis veterinary hospital was arranged. Redirecting the blood flow "AVMs, in general, are very uncommon in veterinary patients," said Dr. Culp. "A brain AVM is extremely rare and not a situation that I have encountered before. Because …
Washington State University researchers find critical link for melanomaJuly 10, 2018A critical link in mapping recurrent mutations of melanoma has been discovered by researchers at Washington State University (WSU) School of Molecular Biosciences (SMB), a part of the university's College of Veterinary Medicine. The study, which was conducted in collaboration with researchers at Georgia State University, could lead to a better understanding of which mutations are important for causing skin cancer in humans and potentially identify new drug targets for treatment. In a paper published last week in "Nature Communications," the research team established that DNA binding by a specific set of transcription factors, called ETS, is inherently mutagenic in UV-exposed cells. With new genome mapping technology, these findings provide a crucial understanding of mutations that result at ETS binding sites located in specific genes that are known to be drivers in the onset of melanoma in humans. Using a WSU-established sequencing-based technology that allows the mapping of the locations of UV-induced DNA damage throughout the whole human genome, researchers generated a high-resolution UV damage map in human cells. By correlating the UV damage map with melanoma mutations, they discovered significantly elevated UV damage levels at ETS binding sites, which significantly increased mutation rates at the same sites in …
Bayer, Mitsui Chemicals Agro to develop novel parasiticides for petsJuly 9, 2018Bayer Animal Health GmbH and Mitsui Chemicals Agro Inc. (MCAG) have signed a global license agreement in which Bayer will develop novel companion animal parasiticide compounds based on MCAG's intellectual property. Further terms of the agreement were not disclosed. "At Bayer, we passionately care for the health and well-being of animals," said Dr. Dirk Ehle, head of Bayer Animal Health. "And we have long been committed to help pet owners protect their animals from parasites. Today we have taken an important next step to further deliver on this commitment to our customers." "This license agreement combines the strong science base within Bayer with innovative chemistry from MCAG," said Dr. Sabine Bongaerts, head of Bayer drug discovery. "It will enable us to further expand our strong portfolio of parasiticides in the companion animal sector and deliver new compelling products to our customers." "Under the concept of technology and innovation, MCAG has been providing its innovative products and services to the customers in agrochemicals and environmental health businesses for many years so far," said Satoshi Ozawa, president and CEO of MCAG. "Now, through close and successful collaboration with Bayer in the animal health sector, we …
PetFirst Pet Insurance launches revamped websiteJuly 6, 2018PetFirst Pet Insurance has launched a redesigned website, which the company says offers easier navigation and a more customer-focused interface. "We wanted to focus on the customer and making sure their experience as easy as possible, regardless if it was buying a policy, acting on an existing one, or using our customer service tools," said Katie Blakeley, CEO of PetFirst. The company's updated website includes a new policy quoting tool, as well as detailed customer reviews and links to resources for animal health recommendations, breed guides, and more. Pet insurance is a continuously growing industry. At year-end 2017, nearly 2.07 million pets were insured across North America, representing an increase of 16.8 percent from 2016, reports the North American Pet Insurance Association.
Four steps to improved veterinary client complianceJuly 6, 2018Approaching veterinary client compliance is a multipronged process that includes determining who your client is, assessing your team, assessing the practice, and more. As a veterinary practice management consultant, I regularly meet veterinary professionals who struggle with client compliance. Why won't they accept our recommendations? Why don't they get it? How can I make them understand? They just don't want to pay. These are all common problems I am asked to help solve. Determine who your client is Before you attempt to increase client compliance, you have to figure out who your clients are. What does your target audience look like? What demographic are you serving? How does that compare to the mission and goal of the practice? If there is a disconnect between the type of pet owner coming in to your practice and what your practice is trying to deliver, success is going to be harder to achieve. Assess your team The second part of increasing client compliance is having a team that is well trained in interpersonal skills, communication styles, and fostering relationships with clients, pets, and each other. Creating a supportive culture and fostering comradery are the first two steps to having team members who …
