Boehringer Ingelheim funds three equine research awardsNovember 22, 2017Boehringer Ingelheim has selected three research proposals to fund as part of its 2017 Advancement in Equine Research Award program. The company has given more than $470,000 to advancing the knowledge of equine infectious disease since 2011. "For the past six years, BI has supported equine research into identifying new disease treatment and prevention methods," said Steve Grubbs, DVM, Ph.D., DACVIM, equine technical manager at Boehringer Ingelheim. "Through this program we are committed to helping advance the understanding, diagnosis, and prevention of infectious equine diseases." The 2017 Equine Research Award recipients are: Nicola Pusterla, DVM, Ph.D., DACVIM, and Sharon Spier, DVM, PhD., DACVIM, University of California, Davis School of Veterinary Medicine. "Investigation of the role of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory and anti-histaminic drugs on the humoral response to a commercial Corynebacterium pseudotuberculosis vaccine given to naïve healthy horses." Nicola Pusterla, DVM, Ph.D., DACVIM, UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine. "Investigation of the Florida sublineage clade affiliation of equine influenza virus strains using novel multiplex real-time quantitative PCR in nasal secretions submitted to a diagnostic laboratory (2012-2017)." Rebecca P. Wilkes, DVM, Ph.D., DACVM, University of Georgia College of Veterinary Medicine. "Targeted next-generation sequencing panel for detection of equine pathogens." …
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Juniper Systems releases equine ultrasound reproduction solutionNovember 20, 2017Juniper Systems Inc. has announced the release of EmberEquine, a new equine ultrasound reproduction solution developed to optimize workflow. The Mesa 2 Rugged Tablet, running EmberEquine software, pairs with Draminski's 4VetJ Ultrasound to provide practitioners with everything needed to simplify mare exams and recordkeeping, according to the company. The 4VetJ allows veterinarians to record measurements directly on the ultrasound for improved accuracy and efficiency. Measured images are then sent to the Mesa 2 Rugged tablet via Wi-Fi, attached to the mare record form, and safely stored on the Mesa 2 Rugged Tablet and Microsoft Cloud for easy access. The unit offers touchscreen interface, wireless design, and all-day battery life. In addition, the EmberEquine software provides veterinarians with a powerful yet user-friendly interface for quick data entry on the Mesa 2 Rugged Tablet during each reproduction exam, the company states.
Heska introduces new veterinary analyzerNovember 20, 2017Heska Corp., a provider of veterinary diagnostic and specialty products, has announced the release of its new Element COAG Veterinary Analyzer. The compact bench-top analyzer delivers coagulation and blood typing parameters to complement the company's chemistry, hematology, immunodiagnostics blood gas, and electrolyte analyzers. Within minutes and with only 100uL of sample, Element COAG delivers accurate PT/aPTT (coagulation), canine fibrinogen, equine fibrinogen, canine DEA 1.1 blood typing, and feline A/B blood typing. The analyzer is available for purchase or under Heska's six-year Reset program.
Translational research boosted by multidisciplinary study grantsNovember 20, 2017The Clinical and Translational Science Award One Health Alliance (COHA), a national network of veterinary and medical research institutions, will continue its translational research thanks to a series of grants awarded to its member institutions. COHA aims to advance the understanding of such shared diseases as cancer, heart disease, arthritis, and obesity by leveraging the expertise of veterinarians, physicians, research scientists, and professionals in related fields. The multidisciplinary approach provides novel information and new strategies to improve the health and well-being of humans, animals, and the environment. COHA institutions are supported by Clinical Translational Science Awards through the National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences at the National Institutes of Health. The latest COHA funding will advance efforts that include developing a unified veterinary record data management system across member institutions, planning and coordinating One Health events to increase networking and communication across disciplines, expanding opportunities for clinical and translational research training for students, and advancing efforts to enhance veterinary biospecimen use. The full list of funded projects and lead institutions: Translational Research Summit 2.0. Planning and coordination of a symposium on inherited cardiomyopathies across species for human and veterinary medical professionals, as well as other research scientists (University of …
Morris Animal Foundation funds studies targeting critical cat illnessesNovember 17, 2017Studies of three deadly infections in cats are among the research projects awarded more than $400,000 in grants from Morris Animal Foundation. The studies will help veterinary scientists advance the health of cats, particularly those in shelter environments where infectious diseases take a greater toll. "Cats are one of the most beloved pets in the United States, with an estimated 85 million gracing our homes and our lives," said John Reddington, DVM, Ph.D., Morris Animal Foundation president and CEO. "Their owners want to do everything they can to care for their feline companions, and that includes the very best veterinary care. And that's where Morris Animal Foundation comes in. The studies we fund address critical health issues that cats are facing, saving lives and giving our feline friends longer, healthier lives." Through this year's grants, the foundation is supporting five researchers and one fellow at five universities, including Colorado State University, Michigan State University, and the University of Sydney, Australia. The foundation's Small Animal Scientific Advisory Board reviewed all submitted grant applications and selected, based on scientific merit and impact, the studies with the greatest potential to save lives, preserve health, and advance veterinary care. Feline studies funded …
UC Davis launches survey on the use of cannabis products for petsNovember 17, 2017The University of California, Davis School of Veterinary Medicine has launched a survey to learn more about the use of cannabis products on pets. "With the increasing use of medical cannabis and the start of recreational use [in California] in January, the interest in using it for pets has really grown," said Jamie Peyton, DVM, chief of small animal integrative medicine at UC Davis and the primary researcher behind the study. "The goal of the survey is to start the conversation about the use of hemp and cannabis products for pets." More pet owners are asking veterinarians about cannabis use for their companion animals, but vets currently are not allowed to prescribe or recommend cannabis products for pets, Dr. Peyton said. The anonymous online survey asks basic information about the pet and about its medical history, and includes questions about the type of marijuana products the pet owner administers, the reason for using the product, and how often it is administered. The final question asks if the respondent would involve their pet in a study of marijuana products for pets. The goal of the survey is to inform future research. "There's no published, peer-reviewed study on …
Pets Best announces the 2017 My Vet's the Best contest winnerNovember 17, 2017Pets Best Insurance Services LLC, a pet insurance agency based in Boise, Idaho, has announced veterinarian Ivan Pryor, DVM, as the recent winner of its My Vet's the Best contest. "For seven years we've held this nationwide contest to honor and recognize the exceptional service of veterinarians," said Jack Stephens, DVM, founder of Pets Best. "Dr. Pryor has made a positive impact on his local community by providing kind, compassionate, and exceptional care to his clients and their pets." The 2017 contest brought in more than 3,000 votes cast by pet owners through the Pets Best Facebook page. Dr. Pryor, who practices at Dillsburg Veterinarian Center in Dillsburg, Pa., won the contest after receiving 2,157 total online votes. As the winner of the My Vet's the Best contest, Dr. Pryor receives $1,000 from Pets Best to help and treat animals in need in his community. Dr. Pryor will donate his winnings to the Unleashed Foundation, where the money will be used to help pets who need medical care but whose owners have financial struggles. "I am very honored that one of my clients would take the time to write a letter …
Focused Ultrasound Foundation launches veterinary programNovember 16, 2017 The Focused Ultrasound Foundation in Charlottesville, Va., has launched a veterinary program to study focused ultrasound therapies for the treatment of animals. The initiative enables veterinary researchers to test state-of-the-art therapies in their patients, while collecting data necessary to accelerate the adoption of the technology for human applications, according to the foundation. "Veterinary medicine can lag behind human medicine, leaving veterinarians frustrated with the lack of options for their patients," said Kelsie Timbie, Ph.D., program director. "Our goal with this program is to create a win-win scenario for all involved. Veterinarians will have new, innovative therapies to offer clients, and insights gained in dogs and cats will help inform clinical trial design in humans." The goal of the research program is to offer a variety of benefits over traditional therapies in animals, including faster recovery times, a reduced risk of infection, and no aggravating stitches to chew. Focused ultrasound is an effective way to treat inaccessible areas, as well as incompletely treated or recurrent tumors, according to the foundation. The first study in this program will take place in early 2018 at the Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine (VMCVM) at Virginia Tech …
Merck increases Veterinary Student Scholarship Program fundingNovember 16, 2017 Merck Animal Health (MAH) has announced an increase of $115,000 in funding for its Veterinary Student Scholarship Program. The program will provide $300,000 in scholarships to outstanding second- and third-year veterinary students in the 2017-18 academic year. This increased funding will support an additional 22 scholarships for students focusing on companion animals in the U.S., Canada, and the Caribbean. The MAH Veterinary Student Scholarship was established in 2013 in partnership with the American Veterinary Medical Foundation (AVMF). Scholarship recipients are selected annually based on academic excellence, financial need, leadership, and area of interest within the profession. MAH provided $185,000 to the scholarship program in the 2016-17 academic year. "These students are our future visionaries and will become the leaders of the veterinary profession," said Norman Stewart, DVM, livestock technical services manager for MAH. "Through this program, we are reinforcing our long-standing commitment to education, personal development, and the science of healthier animals. It also allows us to help support the cost of veterinary education, as well as recognize and celebrate the next generation of leaders." The AVMF, the charitable arm of the American Veterinary Medical Association, has supported …
PetPace smartcollar aids first human-canine 12,500-mile All-In Trek teamNovember 16, 2017Breanna Cornell and her 4-year-old husky-rottweiler mix, Sophie, are scheduled to set out on completing the nation's longest and most rigorous mega-hike expedition on Sept. 4, 2018, with help from PetPace, a provider of health monitoring technology for pets. Cornell and Sophie will attempt to be the first female and human-canine team to complete the All-In Trek. The mega-hike requires a continuous, self-supported hike through the top four hiking trails in the nation. The duo will start their journey on the North County Trail, followed by the Appalachian Trail, the Pacific Coast trail, and the Continental Divide, traveling by air to each start point. Besides facing a mix of rough terrain, adverse weather conditions, and the unexpected, and the pair also will battle the physical drain of hiking roughly 35 miles per day. In order to better safeguard Sophie's health, Cornell will receive a special travel pack for Sophie from the company. The travel pack will provide full connectivity between Cornell's PetPace smartphone app and Sophie's PetPace health monitoring smartcollar. This will allow Cornell to closely monitor her pet's caloric expenditure, activity levels, and vital signs. Sophie's smartcollar also can send …
