Purdue University research aims to customize cancer treatmentsApril 26, 2018Researchers at Purdue University exploring Doppler light scattering, a new method for testing how patients will respond to various drugs, say it could help customize chemotherapy treatments for patients diagnosed with cancer, paving the way for more effective, personalized treatments. Similar to meteorological Doppler weather radar, which sends electromagnetic waves into clouds to determine the overall motion of raindrops, Doppler light scattering creates a 3-D map of activity occurring within living tissue samples, allowing researchers to see how cancerous cells respond to different chemotherapy drugs and treatment methods. "We're looking at the motion inside living tissue rather than rain droplets, and we're using infrared light instead of radar," said David Nolte, Ph.D, professor of physics and astronomy at Purdue. "It's like watching the weather inside living tissue as the tissue is affected by cancer drugs." Working in collaboration with John Turek, Ph.D, professor of basic medical sciences at Purdue's College of Veterinary Medicine, and Mike Childress, DVM, associate professor of veterinary medicine, Nolte's team performed the study on 19 dogs previously diagnosed with B-cell lymphoma, which is molecularly and clinically similar to lymphoma in humans. To test the Doppler light scattering method, biopsied tissue samples were placed in a multi-wall …
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Research supports use of FES to ease back pain in horsesApril 26, 2018A study presented by Sheila Schils, Ph.D. at the 2017 American Association of Equine Practitioners Convention discussed the use of functional electrical stimulation (FES), a type of electrotherapy that stimulates motor nerves responsible for muscle function, to reduce back pain in horses with asymmetric multifidi muscles. The principal of EquiNew, a company that specializes in therapeutic modalities for use in the equine industry, Schils' presented the results of a study conducted by Diane Isbell, DVM, a private practitioner from Livermore, Calif., Suzan Oakley, DVM, DACVSMR, of Oakley Equine Sports Medicine in Florida, and Ugo Carraro, MD, of the University of Padova in Italy. The team worked with a group of 24 horses: 12 that received FES treatments and 12 that did not. All 12 of the horses that received the treatments were retired—two due to back problems and the remaining 10 for reasons unrelated to the back. None of the 24 horses in the study had been ridden for two months leading up to the study. Researchers administered 35-minute FES treatments to the 12 retired horses three times per week for eight weeks. Schils said researchers placed a back pad with six …
Maddie's Fund awards $100K in grantsApril 25, 2018National animal welfare foundation Maddie's Fund announced the 10 recipients of this year's Maddie Hero Awards, recognizing organizations across the U.S. that have furthered the foundation's "no-kill nation" mission and contributed to the overall welfare of companion dogs through innovative ideas, progressive thinking, and preventative action. Introduced in 2016, the honor awards each recipient a $10,000 grant. The 2018 Maddie Heroes and their teams: Alan Borgal, Animal Rescue League of Boston Jon Cicirelli, San Jose Animal Care and Services, Calif. Ryan Clinton, Attorney, Austin, Tex. Denise Deisler, Jacksonville Humane Society, Fla. Sheriff Wayne Ivey, Brevard County Sheriff's Office South Animal Care Center, Fla. Teresa Johnson, Kansas City Pet Project, Mo. Aimee Sadler, Dogs Playing for Life, Col. Risa Weinstock, Animal Care Centers of New York City Lori Weise, Downtown Dog Rescue, Calif. Makena Yarborough, Lynchburg Humane Society, Va. Established by Dave and Cheryl Duffield in 1994, Maddie's Fund is a family foundation with an overall objective of eliminating unnecessary euthanasia in animal shelters and ensuring all healthy and treatable shelter dogs and cats are guaranteed a home. Since its inception, the foundation has awarded more than $208.9 million in grants toward increased community lifesaving, shelter medicine education, and pet …
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 …
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 …
Henry Schein to spin off animal health businessApril 23, 2018Henry Schein Inc. announced today that it will spin off its $3.5 billion animal health supplies business, Henry Schein Animal Health (HSAH), and combine it with Vets First Choice. The new publicly traded company, Vets First Corp., will be headquartered in Portland, Maine, where Vets First Choice is located currently. The deal combines Henry Schein's veterinary supplies, software for practices and distribution network with Vets First Choice's prescription management platform. Ben Shaw, founder and CEO of Vets First Choice, will become chairman of the board and CEO of the new company. Stanley Bergman, chairman of the board and CEO of Henry Schein, will be a Vets First Choice board member and continue in his role as CEO and chairman of Henry Schein. Karen Prange, executive vice president of Henry Schein Inc. and CEO of the global animal health, medical and dental surgical group, will leave the company. Henry Schein will nominate six directors to the Vets First Corp. board; Vets First Choice will nominate five. Vets First Choice, founded in 2010, has approximately 750 U.S. team members and more than 5,100 veterinary practices use its prescription management platform. HSAH has …
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 …
