New Robotic Lifting Device Works to Help Injured HorsesApril 12, 2016To help horses recover from limb fractures and other traumatic injuries, researchers and engineers from the University of Saskatchewan in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada, have created a robotic lift system for injured horses. According to a news release from the university, written by Alison Williams, a third-year veterinary student, “A team of researchers has partnered with RMD Engineering, a local Saskatoon engineering and manufacturing company, to design and build a one-of-a-kind robotic lift system. The lift will help rehabilitate horses suffering from acute injuries and other musculoskeletal problems by providing mobility, weight distribution and support.” Normally, a horse’s recovery from surgery is complicated: They have a strong flight response, and they’re heavy weight can cause issues too. And, as Williams points out: “Veterinarians regularly use slings to help support injured horses, but current designs significantly limit the animals’ normal activity and support all of their weight on the thorax and abdomen. This leads to further problems because of compression on the lungs and development of pressure sores. With the lift system … clinicians can reduce and redistribute the weight the horse is carrying dynamically. The system allows the animal to be mobile with …
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Wisconsin’s Veterinary Care Upgrades Nuclear ImagingApril 12, 2016The University of Wisconsin-Madison School of Veterinary Medicine’s UW Veterinary Care (UWVC) recently incorporated nuclear imaging upgrades in the effort to speed up visits and improve diagnoses for its animal patients. UWVC has been using an imaging method called nuclear scintigraphy, in which tracers are tagged to injected drugs that travel to specific sites in the body. By using a gamma camera to determine the location and quantity of the element in an organ, veterinarians can measure how well it is functioning or if an active process, like cancer growth or bone fracture repair, is affecting the area, according to the university. This improved gamma camera will allow images to be obtained more quickly and with greater detail, the university noted. “The new camera is 33 percent faster, and it’s more sensitive, so it provides more detail and helps us with diagnoses and allows us to get animals in and out faster,” said Kenneth Waller, DVM, clinical assistant professor of diagnostic imaging and assistant dean for clinical affairs at the UW School of Veterinary Medicine. “It’s definitely an overall improvement in our clinical offerings.” Recent upgrades also help reduce stress for …
Pro Plan Adds Dry Urinary Food for DogsApril 11, 2016Purina Pro Plan Veterinary Diets now offers a kibble recipe for dogs dealing with urinary issues. UR Urinary Ox/St Canine Formula joins a canned variety that was introduced in March 2015 for the management of struvite and calcium oxalate bladder stones. The additional formula is a needed option for veterinarians and dog owners, said Jason Gagné, DVM, Dipl. ACVN, director of veterinary technical marketing at Purina Pro Plan. “While many veterinarians recommend canned diets for urolithiasis patients, some dogs prefer a dry kibble or may even refuse to eat canned food,” Dr. Gagné said. The dry UR diet is formulated to control mineral levels and create “a urinary environment that is unfavorable to the development of both sterile struvite and calcium oxalate crystals,” manufacturer Nestlé Purina PetCare Co. stated. The veterinary-exclusive formula supports the elimination of sterile struvite uroliths and reduces the risk of recurring struvite or calcium oxalate uroliths, the company added. The dry food is made from corn, brewer’s rice and chicken byproduct meal, among other ingredients. The canned recipe starts with chicken, rice and meat byproducts.
Phibro Swine Drug Draws FDA ScrutinyApril 11, 2016Phibro Animal Health Corp. is defending the safety of its swine drug Mecadox (carbadox) after the U.S. Food and Drug Administration moved to rescind approval of the antimicrobial because of the potential risk to people who eat carbadox-treated pigs. Approved in the 1970s, Mecadox is indicated for the control of salmonella and swine dysentery and for weight gain and feed efficiency. The Mecadox label requires pigs to be off the drug for at least 42 days before slaughter. The FDA Center for Veterinary Medicine on Friday announced that a safety re-examination found the medication may leave trace amounts of a carcinogenic residue. “A preliminary risk characterization … indicated there could be potential risk to human health from ingesting pork, especially pork liver, derived from carbadox-treated pigs,” the agency stated. Phibro, based in Teaneck, N.J., noted that FDA’s action does not prohibit the sale or use of Mecadox. The company criticized the agency’s action as hasty given that Phibro is close to completing further studies of carbadox. “Our studies are due to be completed in the next 90 days, and we expect that the remaining evidence will support the continued safe use of Mecadox,” Phibro stated. “We are disappointed …
Exclusive: A Q&A with Internet Heartthrob, Dr. Evan AntinApril 7, 2016When Evan Antin, DVM, graduated from Colorado State University’s College Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences in 2013, he probably never expected to become famous for his good looks. It all started in late 2014 when People magazine named him “Sexiest Beast Charmer” in its annual “Sexiest Man Alive” issue. However, that press and the fame that followed were nothing compared to what happened this past January, when the website Bored Panda published an article titled “The Hottest Animal Doctor Ever That’ll Make You Want To Get Your Pet Checked.” The article featured photos of Dr. Antin from his Instagram page, and it quickly went viral. Soon, BuzzFeed, US Weekly, ABC and media outlets around the world were labeling him the Internet’s sexiest veterinarian. His social media fans grew to more than 266,000 Instagram followers and nearly 145,000 Facebook followers. Antin has taken the fame—and colleagues’ teasing—in stride. While he has his own YouTube channel—“Evan Antin Wild Vet”—he stays focused on veterinary medicine. He practices at Conejo Valley Veterinary Hospital in Thousand …
CSU’s Vet Teaching Hospital Sets Open House for April 16April 7, 2016Colorado State University’s James L. Voss Veterinary Teaching Hospital will hold its annual open house on Saturday, April 16. The event is free and open to the public. “Our open house is a big thank-you to the northern Colorado community, where our veterinary staff and students live and work,” said Tim Hackett, DVM, Dipl. ACVECC director of the CSU Veterinary Teaching Hospital. “It’s our way of showing appreciation for community support—while also giving visitors an inside look at the latest in advanced medical care for animals.” Colorado State veterinarians will give 15 presentations, with topics including lameness in horses, treating pet cancer and household items that can poison pets. Included in the offerings are four talks just for K-12 and undergraduate university students interested in pursuing careers in veterinary medicine; these will be provided by the top admissions officer for the CSU Doctor of Veterinary Medicine Program and by current veterinary students, who will offer a glimpse into their lives of scholarship and animal care, according to the university. Veterinary students will also offer educational activities and will lead tours around the hospital. Other events going on that day: demonstrations by the Fort Collins Police Department’s K-9 Unit, a …
UF to Host Diversity Matters SymposiumApril 7, 2016The University of Florida College of Veterinary Medicine has set its fifth biennial Southeast Regional Diversity Matters Symposium for April 22 to 24. The focus this year is on diversity in student recruitment in the veterinary medical profession. Attendees are expected to include faculty, staff and students from all of the Southeastern veterinary medical schools, according to the college. Keynote speakers for the event will include Carlos Campos, DVM, who was America’s Favorite Veterinarian in 2013, and Christine Stanley, Ph.D., vice president and associate provost for diversity at Texas A&M University. Sponsors of the event include the Association of American Veterinary Medical Colleges, Zoetis, Banfield Pet Hospital and the UF President’s Council on Diversity.
Dogs Found Shot With Arrows are Now Recovering Thanks to VetsApril 6, 2016A story that could have easily ended in tragedy for two dogs has a happy ending thanks to the efforts of a canine rescue organization and an emergency veterinary clinic. Two dogs were found injured and in pain and were taken to Tails of The Misunderstood Canine Rescue Society, in Calgary, Canada. They were then taken to the McKnight 24 Hour Veterinary Hospital in Calgary, which, to everyone's surprise, found arrows inside the dogs. "Not just any simple, little arrows — large, four-point arrows," said Kelly Cerato, president and founder of Tails of The Misunderstood Canine Rescue Society told CBC News. (function(d, s, id) { var js, fjs = d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0]; if (d.getElementById(id)) return; js = d.createElement(s); js.id = id; js.src = "//connect.facebook.net/en_US/sdk.js#xfbml=1&version=v2.3"; fjs.parentNode.insertBefore(js, fjs);}(document, 'script', 'facebook-jssdk')); Update 2: Kitchi-The arrow was lodged in his arm and fractured his bone. My- Our decision did not come easily. We... Posted by Tails of The Misunderstood Canine Rescue Society on Saturday, April 2, 2016 “You can tell by how they were shot that these dogs were meant to suffer as much as possible,” Cerato, told the Calgury Sun. “The shafts …
New Competition Gives Vet Students a Chance to Present Their Big IdeaApril 6, 2016 The Idea - Explainer from XPrep Learning Solutions on Vimeo. Are you a vet student with a big idea? Then you might want to enter it in the “The Idea” competition. “The Idea” is a veterinary student innovation competition. The Idea is hosted by VetPrep in collaboration with the Student American Veterinary Medical Association (SAVMA) and the Veterinary Business Management Association (VBMA). “We are doing this because we started our company when we were veterinary students and our business allows us to interact with veterinary students frequently,” says Dr. Ira Gordon, co-founder of VetPrep. “Students have so many great ideas but often times lack the confidence, resources and mentorship they need to turn their ideas into reality. This competition can help with all three. It is an opportunity for us to provide the type of assistance that we wish was available to us back when we were students.” The Idea was announced during the SAVMA Symposium in Ames, Iowa on March 19, 2016. “It was so inspiring to talk to students and see the enthusiasm for this event and to hear that …
Funds Available from USDA for Veterinary Loan RepaymentApril 6, 2016Like working with large animals and looking to repay your school loans? The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced $4.4 million in available funding to help repay veterinary school loans if veterinarians will serve in areas lacking sufficient veterinary resources. The funding is available through the Veterinary Medicine Loan Repayment Program (VMLRP), administered by USDA’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA). “Veterinarians are critical to America’s food safety and security, as well as to the health and well-being of both animals and humans,” said Dr. Sonny Ramaswamy, the NIFA administrator. “There are significant shortages of veterinarians in areas of this country, and a leading cause is the heavy cost of four years of professional veterinary medical training, which leaves current graduates of veterinary colleges with an average debt of more than $135,000.” The VMLRP will pay up to $25,000 each year towards qualified educational loans of eligible veterinarians. Recipients are required to commit to three years of veterinary service in a designated veterinary shortage situation. Loan repayment benefits are limited to payments of the principal and interest on government and commercial loans received while attending an American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA)-accredited college of veterinary …
