CE explores expanded treatment options for improving mobility in geriatric petsSeptember 19, 2017Companion Animal Health has opened enrollment for an educational course that the company said is "designed specifically to give general veterinary practices access to the tools required to meet the need for expanded osteoarthritis treatment options in companion animals" and "will equip practices with the practical knowledge of the best multimodal approaches for successfully managing the geriatric, arthritic, and obese dog and/or cat." Attendees will earn 11 continuing education credits, with the option of adding a regenerative medicine wet-lab to advance their expertise (for an additional four CE credits). A panel of speakers will educate attendees on the following topics: Nutritional Management for the Geriatric Dog or Cat Photobiomodulation (Laser Therapy) for OA Nutriceutical Use for the Geriatric, Arthritic Pet Pharmacologic Management of OA Business & Marketing Strategies "We took a look at what courses were being offered in our profession currently, and there weren't really any that combined more than one or two OA treatment options," said Lisa Miller, DVM, CCRT, CVA. "This disease responds best to a multimodal approach, so we designed a course to accommodate that need." Veterinary professionals interested in attending this course can find more information on dates, …
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American Humane announces 2017 Hero Veterinarian, Veterinary Technician Award winnersSeptember 19, 2017During the seventh annual American Humane Hero Dog Awards, American Humane honored two individuals with the American Humane Hero Veterinarian and Hero Veterinary Technician awards, presented by Zoetis.
MAF explores study diversity, applications to animal healthSeptember 18, 2017According to a new research paper from the Morris Animal Foundation (MAF), determining what type of research study to do, and when, are key decisions scientists must make when embarking on a new project. In an editorial published Sept. 11, 2017, in the International Animal Health Journal, "Epidemiology and its Application to Animal Health," Missy Simpson, DVM, intramural research scientist and epidemiologist with MAF, provides guidance on study types for veterinary researchers and animal health scientists. The editorial is an overview of study types, and highlights MAF's Golden Retriever Lifetime Study as an example of a cohort study, and also discusses advances in store for observational studies. "Health research is diverse and varied and covers a spectrum from basic research—which describes the early discovery and development phase—to applied research," said Dr. Simpson. "Each phase of research is essential to move scientific discovery forward and advance health." In the paper, Simpson discusses interventional research consisting of clinical trials, and observational research, including descriptive studies, case-series studies, case-control studies, and ecologic, retrospective, and longitudinal studies. "An advantage of performing clinical trials in animals is that health outcomes tend to be achieved on …
Petplan, National Police Dog Foundation announce first grant award recipientsSeptember 18, 2017Petplan and the National Police Dog Foundation (NPDF) announced the winners of the inaugural K-9 Health Insurance Grant, a joint effort between the Newtown Square, Pa., pet insurer and the Foundation, awards one year of pet insurance to five currently active police dogs throughout the U.S. The winning grant recipients are: Reximus, a 3-year-old German shepherd dog with the Nome Police Department in Alaska. ' handler, started the K-9 program at the Nome Police Department after many years without a K-9 unit. Reximus specializes in narcotics detection and is the only four-legged officer in all of Western Alaska. "I've been paying for Reximus' veterinary care, including airfare for emergency transport, with the understanding it may not be reimbursed," Timm said on his grant application. With his new Petplan policy, 90 percent of Reximus' unexpected veterinary expenses will be covered. Rudy, a 2-year-old German shepherd dog/Belgian malinois mix with the Upland Police Department in California Rudy's K-9 team is funded primarily through donations from the public (the city covers vehicle upkeep and the handlers' salaries only). The Petplan/NPDF grant will allow the Upland PD to maximize existing funds and put future donations toward …
New AVMA emergency info helps safeguard large animalsSeptember 18, 2017September is National Disaster Preparedness Month, and the importance of animal disaster planning has been made clear by recent hurricanes and wildfires. Livestock evacuations have been all too common, both on large and small scales. A new American Veterinary Medical Association website resource provides critical information that veterinarians can share with owners of horses, poultry, cattle, and other livestock to help them plan in advance to safeguard animals in the event of emergency. The new page, Large Animals and Livestock in Disasters, includes: Steps to prepare for quick action in emergencies Evacuation supply lists for horses, poultry and other livestock Information on proper identification of animals Suggestions to pre-arrange possible evacuation sites The AVMA also offers a range of other emergency planning resources for veterinarians and their clients: Emergency Planning Resources for Veterinary Practices Wildfire Smoke and Animals Pets and Disasters Emergency Contact Cards for Animal Owners
Veterinary oncology market profiled in new Brakke Consulting reportSeptember 15, 2017Brakke Consulting in Dallas has announced the release of a new study that profiles the veterinary oncology sector. "Oncology is one of the highest interest areas in veterinary medicine today," said Lynn Fondon DVM, a senior consultant at Brakke Consulting. "In the past decade, the U.S. has gone from zero cancer therapies approved for veterinary use to a more than a half-dozen, with dozens more in development." The study, Cancer in Dogs and Cats, provides information on the incidence of cancer in pets, examines how cancer is diagnosed and treated in veterinary medicine, and offers estimated costs for treatment. The report reviews the FDA-approved cancer treatments that are now on the market; new and developing veterinary cancer products, including therapies, diagnostics, and supportive care, are also presented. It estimates the current sales of veterinary-approved cancer therapies, as well as provides estimates of the total number of pets treated with chemotherapy or immunotherapy. "We surveyed both veterinarians and pet owners for this study, and we found that despite costs that can reach thousands of dollars, many dog and cat owners are willing to pursue treatment when their pets are diagnosed with cancer," said Dr. Fondon. The report, …
KC Animal Health Investment Forum companies vie for fundingSeptember 14, 2017By Veterinary Practice News Editors The Kansas City Animal Health Corridor hosted emerging animal health companies from around the world in August at the ninth annual KC Animal Health Investment Forum, which joins animal health start-ups with more than 400 executives and investors. The forum allows early- and mid-stage animal health entrepreneurs to present their business plans to potential investors, giving venture capital funds, investment firms, and potential partners an inside look at the newest technology and innovations. "In many cases, small companies are where new innovation comes from and this is really a place where you see them showcased," said Karthik Ramachandran, vice president and co-founder of Likarda, a cell-based therapy company and forum emcee. "The forum is a unique chance to meet investors, network, and find mentors, advisors and potential partners. It gives entrepreneurs real resources they need to make their dreams reality." This year, 18 animal health companies from around the world were selected to showcase their ideas from a highly competitive group of applicants. Entrepreneurs had 15 minutes to present their ideas in a "Shark Tank" format. Presenting companies sought $500,000 to $20 million in funding and project revenue of $20 million within …
AKC Canine Health Foundation funds clinical trial to study cannabidiol in treating drug-resistant epilepsy in dogsSeptember 14, 2017By Veterinary Practice News Editors The AKC Canine Health Foundation (CHF), which has funded more than $2 million for canine epilepsy research, launched an initiative in 2017 to further understand the most common neurological disorder that affects pure- and mixed-breed dogs. Improved treatments are urgently needed, especially for dogs with drug-resistant epilepsy or where side effects of currently available drugs are not tolerated, according to the organization. To that, the CHF has announced the beginning a major clinical trial to study the use of cannabidiol to treat drug resistant epilepsy in dogs. Stephanie McGrath, MS, DVM, DACVIM (Neurology), at Colorado State University's College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, will lead "Efficacy of Cannabidiol (CBD) for the Treatment of Canine Epilepsy." According to Dr. McGrath, up to 30 percent of dogs receiving standard anti-epileptic therapy remain uncontrolled for their seizures, and the side effects of the antiepileptic drugs are often unacceptable. CBD, a nonpsychotropic component of the Cannabis sativa plant, has been shown to have anticonvulsant properties; this randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled, crossover clinical trial study will be utilized to prove its effectiveness, she stated. "The timeliness and importance of research into the role of cannabis in …
AHS urges best practices to prevent, minimize heartworm transmission in dogsSeptember 14, 2017By Veterinary Practice News Editors The American Heartworm Society (AHS) has announced a new set of veterinary best practices for minimizing heartworm transmission in dogs relocated due to recent natural disasters, a cross-country family move, or other circumstances. The guidelines include recommendations for heartworm testing, treatment, and prevention, and were developed in collaboration with the Association of Shelter Veterinarians (ASV). "Preventing transmission of D. immitis has always been a focus of the AHS Heartworm Guidelines," sais Chris Rehm, DVM, AHS president. "However, we believe we need to do more, given the potential for heartworm-positive dogs to serve as reservoirs for infection. For example, if a microfilaria-positive dog is rescued in one state and subsequently moved to a new home in another state where nearby pets are unprotected, mosquitoes feeding on the new dog can quickly become heartworm vectors. The results can be disastrous for unprotected pets in the vicinity." Measures can be taken to protect the health of both infected animals and their new neighbors, according to Dr. Rehm. While the ideal scenario is to treat infected dogs before transporting or traveling with them, situations often dictate that infected animals cannot undergo …
When disaster strikes Florida, UFVETS works to aid its animalsSeptember 12, 2017By Donald Vaughan Cookie was following her owner across their yard in Gilchrist County, Fla., outside Gainesville, when the ground suddenly opened up, plunging the 10-year-old pug to the bottom of a 30-foot sinkhole. Among the agencies called in to rescue Cookie was the University of Florida Veterinary Emergency Treatment Service (UFVETS), which provides veterinary emergency response throughout the state. Once the sinkhole had been shored up to prevent a cave-in, VETS team member Jennifer Groover, DVM, was lowered down via an A-frame. "The hole was so narrow that I couldn't bend over," Dr. Groover said, "but Cookie was so happy to have a way out that she climbed up my leg and into my arms, and then they lifted us out. Thankfully, she was unharmed by the fall." Technical rescues like this are all in a day's work for the agency, said John Haven, CPA, UFVETS team leader and the UF College of Veterinary Medicine executive director. The program also provides emergency services during natural disasters such as hurricanes (they're very busy now!), tornadoes, and wildfires, as well as for large-scale animal hoarding cases. Born from adversity UFVETS was established in 2004, which saw Florida threatened …
