Zoetis seeks to simplify genetic data management for Jersey, brown Swiss cattleSeptember 5, 2017 Zoetis' new SearchPoint data management tool aims to help U.S. dairy producers maximize genetic testing results for Jersey and brown Swiss cattle by sorting genetic results, evaluating genetic trends, and benchmarking genetic merit, according to the company. "It's critical for producers to get selection and breeding decisions right the first time," said Jason Osterstock, senior director, Global Genetics Strategic Marketing for Zoetis. "SearchPoint helps producers select the animals with the greatest genetic potential in their herds and breed them to produce even more valuable offspring." Similar to how U.S. dairy producers use Enlight to manage herd genetics for Holstein cattle, SearchPoint is designed for U.S. dairy customers who use the Zoetis portfolio of genetic tests for dairy cattle, including Clarifide for Jersey and brown Swiss breeders. Users can quickly access their genetic test results and easily convert them into custom reports, tables and graphs that are shareable with partners and herd advisers, the company stated. "This is a powerful, customizable online data management tool that takes analysis of genetic data to the next level," said Ben Vlug, director, Global Quality and Product Delivery at Zoetis. "SearchPoint helps producers visualize genetic variation information and identify outliers, enabling productivity and …
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AAHA releases 2017 Canine Vaccination GuidelinesSeptember 5, 2017The American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA) has released its newly revised Canine Vaccination Guidelines. Experts and veterinary practitioners believe vaccination protocols should be individualized based on the patient's risk factors, life stage, and lifestyle, according to the Lakewood, Colo.-based organization. Published in the September/October edition of the Journal of the American Animal Hospital Association—and for the first time as an online educational resource for the veterinary medical profession—these revised guidelines offer important updates to the 2011 AAHA Canine Vaccination Guidelines that will help practicing veterinarians meet patient and client needs in a complex infectious disease environment, according to AAHA. The new guidelines include the Lifestyle-Based Vaccine Calculator, an interactive tool to support a veterinary team's vaccination recommendations based on risk factors and lifestyle, quick-reference tables for client-owned and shelter-housed dogs, antibody testing algorithms, recommendations for overdue patients, rabies law and exemption resources, vaccine storage and handling information, immunotherapeutic product summaries, and an expansion of the Frequently Asked Questions section. The guidelines also provide expert insight on several controversial issues, including frequency, dosing, scheduling, and duration of immunity for core and noncore vaccines; titer result interpretation; and adverse reaction identification and reporting, AAHA stated. The …
AVMA seeks board of directors candidatesSeptember 5, 2017The American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) is seeking candidates for its board of directors from Arizona, Colorado, Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Dakota, and Utah. Nominations are open for candidates for election to the board representing District 7 and District 9, whose current directors' terms will expire in 2018. District 7, currently represented by Dr. John Howe, includes Iowa, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, and South Dakota. District 9, currently represented by the board chairman, Dr. Michael Whitehair, includes Arizona, Colorado, Kansas, New Mexico, Oklahoma, and Utah. District directors serve six-year terms. Terms for the new directors sought for Districts 7 and 9 will begin during July 2018 and end in 2024. Candidacy requirements Candidates must live in the district they seek to represent and must have been active members of the AVMA for at least five consecutive years immediately prior to the election. Interested parties can either be nominated by the principal veterinary organization of a state within their district, or they can file nominating petitions signed by 50 AVMA voting members residing within the district. The AVMA's Elections web page offers a guide to the process …
Likarda receives $4M to expand companion animal diabetes researchSeptember 4, 2017Likarda, a regenerative medicine company for companion animals, has received $4 million in Series A funding from Werth Family Investment Associates to back the company's proprietary Kanslet insulin-producing cell clusters, which can be infused into animals with diabetes, allowing veterinarians to offer a minimally invasive and cost-effective answer to pet owners, according to the company. Microencapsulated islets (the insulin-producing cells of the body) are transplanted via injection into the belly of a diabetic dog, removing the need for twice-daily insulin injections, the company stated. The additional funding allows Likarda to scale the project to thousands of animals, and the clinical research program is expected to launch by the end of 2017. "Partnership with Werth Family Investment Associates brings both funds to advance our product line and extensive experience in successful pharmaceutical licensing of new products for both human and animal health," said Lisa Stehno-Bittel, Ph.D., Likarda president and co-founder. "[It's] exciting and transformational for both animal health in the region and the global prospect of cell-based therapies for diabetic pets."
AAVMC opens nomination period for awardsSeptember 4, 2017The Association ofAmerican Veterinary Medical Colleges (AAVMC) announced it has opened the nomination period for four individual awards. AAVMC Excellence in Research Award AAVMC Distinguished Veterinary Teacher Award, Presented by Zoetis AAVMC Senator John Melcher, DVM Leadership in Public Policy Award AAVMC Billy E. Hooper Award for Distinguished Service For more information, visit the awards page. Award criteria and submission information is available on the individual award pages. Additionally, the nomination period for the AAVMC Public Policy Faculty Fellows Program is now open. For program information, click here. The nomination deadline for all awards listed above and the Faculty Fellows program is Friday, Oct. 13.
FTC orders Mars to divest 12 vet clinics before VCA buySeptember 4, 2017To avoid violating antitrust laws, Mars Inc., under a mandate from the Federal Trade Commission, will divest 12 veterinary clinics across the U.S. that provide specialty and emergency services no later than 10 business days after the company's $9.1 billion acquisition of VCA Inc. According to the FTC, Mars is required to divest each of the 12 clincis to one of three divestiture buyers: National Veterinary Associates, Pathway Partners Vet Management Co., and PetVet Care Centers. If the acquisition takes place as proposed, it may lessen competition for certain specialty and emergency veterinary services in 10 U.S. areas by eliminating direct competition between Mars specialists in the area and those of VCA, according to the FTC's complaint. Commission documents also claim that without a remedy, the acquisition would likely lead to higher prices for pet owners and lower quality in the specialty and emergency veterinary services they receive. One clinic in the Kansas City, New York, and Phoenix areas will be divested to National Veterinary Associates; one clinic in Chicago, Corpus Christi and San Antonio; and two clinics in Seattle will be divested to Pathway. Two clinics in the Portland area …
Pet, vet industries provide emergency relief after Hurricane HarveyAugust 31, 2017In response to Hurricane Harvey, PetSmart Charities has dedicated at least $1 million in emergency relief funding to help animal welfare agencies working to rescue, relocate, feed, and care for pets left homeless due to flooding.
AVMA donates $100,000 to Hurricane Harvey relief effortsAugust 31, 2017The American Veterinary Medical Association has donated $100,000 toward Hurricane Harvey relief efforts via the association’s charitable arm, the American Veterinary Medical Foundation (AVMF).
AAEP Foundation accepting donations for horses affected by HarveyAugust 31, 2017The American Association of Equine Practitioners (AAEP) Foundation’s Equine Disaster Relief Fund is accepting aid to help horses in states affected by Hurricane Harvey.
Henry Schein Animal Health launches web-based pet vaccine resourceAugust 31, 2017Henry Schein Animal Health has announced the launch of its Companion Animal Vaccine Resource Center, a web-based hub that provides veterinarians with the latest data on infectious diseases in cats and dogs, and critical information about the role regular vaccinations of pets play in protecting animal and human health.
