Wisconsin Vet School Raises Money to Purchase Armor for Police DogAugust 25, 2015Jagger, a Madison, Wis., police dog, is now fighting crime with the added protection of a bullet-proof vest thanks to donations from faculty, staff and students at the University of Wisconsin School of Veterinary Medicine (SVM). Jagger is a two-year-old German shepherd serving as a K9 with the Madison Police Department (MPD). He is also a University of Wisconsin Veterinary Care client. Each month, the vet school holds a fund drive for a local charity, most of them benefitting animals, according to the university. The drive, coordinated by SVM Facilities Manager Karen Mier, brought in more than enough to cover the cost of the vest. The funds were donated to Wisconsin Vest-a-Dog, a nonprofit dedicated to providing protective vests for every police dog in the state. The group purchased the vest for Jagger and put the remainder toward body armor for another MPD K9, Slim. These are the third and fourth sets of canine body armor that SVM students and employees have helped purchase. Mier previously coordinated the collection of funds to vest police dogs with the Adam’s County Sheriff’s Department and the UW–Madison Campus Police.
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Many Canadian Piglets Low on IronAugust 24, 2015Young pigs may need a second round of iron supplementation to stave off anemia and disease, according to a study conducted at Ontario Veterinary College. Doctoral student Amanda Kubik weighed nearly 1,200 piglets being raised on commercial farms across Ontario and collected blood samples, the University of Guelph reported Aug. 17. All the pigs had received a standard 200-milligram iron supplement in the first few days after birth. Kubik randomly chose one small, medium and large pig from each litter just before weaning and returned three weeks later for more testing. By that point the pigs were getting their iron from feed. “There were statistically significant results,” Kubik said. “The between herd prevalence of iron deficiency in the sampled pigs prior to weaning was 28 percent and the prevalence of anemia was 6 percent. When the same pigs were sampled three weeks later, the between herd prevalence had increased to 43 percent for iron deficiency and 18 percent for anemia.” Advancements in nutrition, genetics and on-farm management mean piglets are born into larger litters and grow at a faster rate than in previous decades, the university noted. As a result, standard supplement protocols may not meet their needs. …
On-Job Injuries Take Toll on British VetsAugust 24, 2015Cat and dog doctors are hurting, too. The British Veterinary Association has found that patients sank their teeth or claws into the vast majority of exotic and small animal practitioners over the previous 12 months. The survey of hundreds of BVA members discovered that 78 percent had been bitten and 9 in 10 had been scratched. An earlier report on large animal veterinarians revealed that 85 percent had been on the receiving end of a kick and that 6 percent suffered a kick-related head injury. The message for both groups is to be careful and work closely with animal owners on safety matters. “Vets accept the daily risk of injury at work, but these figures highlight just how common injuries are for vets who care for pets,” said BVA President John Blackwell, BVSc, MRCVS. “Rather than simply accepting this as an occupational hazard, veterinary teams should ensure they are taking all appropriate measures to mitigate the risks of working with animals whenever possible.” The organization suggested that more dogs be muzzled when brought into an examination room—an idea that doesn’t sit well with some pet owners. “People are sometimes reluctant to let us muzzle their dogs, even if …
Zoetis Expands Nebraska Drug FactoryAugust 24, 2015A Zoetis Inc. plant that makes Rimadyl (carprofen) for dogs along with a variety of other animal drugs and vaccines has undergone a 19,000-square-foot expansion. A ribbon-cutting ceremony was held Aug. 20 at the Lincoln, Neb., factory, which employs 500 people and has room for an additional 30 at peak production times. “Zoetis is excited to expand its footprint in Lincoln and provide veterinarians, livestock producers, pet owners and the animals in their care with a reliable, consistent supply of quality animal health products,” said Zoetis site leader Betty Mason. “The entire community can be proud of our expanded manufacturing operations, which enable us to produce 1,200 finished goods for more than 100 markets around the world.” Zoetis, based in Florham Park, N.J., makes a number of flagship products in Lincoln. Among them are the pain medication Rimadyl, the livestock vaccines Bovi-Shield Gold and Respi-Sure One, and a swine vaccine formulated to fight porcine epidemic diarrhea virus. The expansion will allow for full production of the beef cattle weight-gain drug Synovex and the manufacture of the new Canine Atopic Dermatitis Immunotherapeutic, which is scheduled to roll out later this year.
Greenies Rolls Out Vet-Only ChewAugust 20, 2015Chew on this, practitioners: A veterinary-exclusive dental treat from Greenies. The Nutro Co. today launched a reformulation of the popular Greenies chew. While the longstanding retail treat is marketed for canine dental health—a later version added joint health—the newest product comes with other claims. Greenies veterinary-formula chews not only work to reduce dental plaque and tartar, according to the Industry, Calif., manufacturer, they also are infused with ingredients supporting cognitive, immune, metabolic and skin health. “We are equipping veterinarians with a superior product that their clients can only get from them,” said Brad Quest, DVM, a veterinarian working for the Greenies brand. “In addition to the treat texture that optimizes dental efficacy, these chews have whole-body health benefits based on nutrient levels recommended by the Waltham Centre for Pet Nutrition.” The new Greenies start with gelatin, wheat protein isolate, glycerin and pea protein. Additional ingredients, the company reported, include omega-3 fatty acids for cognitive health, antioxidants such as Vitamin E and taurine for immune health, and minerals such as magnesium, zinc and iron for metabolic health. The fatty acids and chelated minerals are designed to support a healthy skin and coat. Veterinary-exclusive Greenies come in Teenie, petite, …
Longtime Missouri Clinic Keeps Up With TimesAugust 20, 2015Eagle Animal Hospital has come a long way in 68 years, transitioning from a dairy barn to a more modern building to a newly renovated clinic featuring solar panels and luxury boarding rooms. The small animal hospital, established by Dr. Tom Eagle in 1947 in the Kansas City, Mo., suburb of Riverside, today employs five veterinarians, a practice manager, a kennel manager and a team of veterinary technicians, assistants and customer service personnel. Current owner Jim Sparks, DVM, goes way back. He started as a 15-year-old kennel attendant in 1979 under Dr. Tom Noyes and moved on to college and a veterinary degree from the University of Missouri. Dr. Sparks returned to Eagle Animal Hospital after graduation, and when the opportunity arose to buy the practice, he did so in 1996. The renovated clinic, which will officially be unveiled during a public open house Aug. 30, is “the culmination of my whole life’s work,” he said. “We have such a special workplace here at Eagle, with staff made up of family and friends that truly care about our patients and work hard to make all everyone feel at home,” Sparks said. “We wanted the building and services to reflect the environment …
Penn Vet to Begin Internship Program at Local ShelterAugust 20, 2015The University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine is partnering with Francisvale Home for Smaller Animals of Radnor, Pa., with the hope to maximize the welfare and adoptability of pets in need of homes. Behavior problems are the leading cause of pet relinquishment, according to Penn Vet. The partnership aims to reduce that. As such, Penn Vet’s M. Leanne Lilly, DVM, will begin a special internship at the shelter, assessing and treating animal residents with behavioral problems and establishing a training program for shelter staff and volunteers. Together, Penn Vet and the Francisvale team will monitor the progress and long-term outcomes of the program. In addition, Penn Vet will provide support to adopters by offering post-adoption behavioral counseling. “This partnership presents an extraordinary opportunity to further enrich the lives of the dogs and cats that presently reside at Francisvale and of those who may find themselves at our doors,” said Dorothy Claeys, executive director of the Francisvale Home for Smaller Animals. “The collaboration will also provide an incredible educational opportunity for our staff and volunteers who will be working with and learning from the Penn Vet team. We …
British Vets Reveal Career FearsAugust 19, 2015Regrets? They’ve had a few. A survey conducted on behalf of the British Veterinary Association and the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons discovered that 1 in 10 young veterinarians contemplate leaving the profession and that optimism about the industry’s future declines even before graduation. The findings—based on online questioning of nearly 900 students and 1,973 veterinarians in the first eight years of practice—were not all negative. Half of the graduates said their careers had met or exceeded expectations. Nevertheless, the results of the Vet Futures survey should be a wakeup call, said BVA President John Blackwell, BVSc, MRCVS. “The drop-off in career satisfaction for vets during this crucial first eight years in practice is something we can’t afford to ignore,” Dr. Blackwell said. “It points to frustration over career development opportunities and dissatisfaction with support available in practice. “For the veterinary profession to remain sustainable, and an attractive career choice for the best and brightest, we need to address these issues with some urgency.” The changes may have to start in veterinary school, the survey found. Only 17 percent of veterinarians working for five to eight years thought their degree had prepared them well. Young practitioners suggested a …
Banfield Report Finds Vet-Client DisconnectAugust 19, 2015Do veterinarians and pet owners speak a different language? That appears to be so, according to a study by Banfield Pet Hospital. For starters, the Portland, Ore., company discovered that the two groups deviate in the definition of preventive care. With veterinarians, preventive care means checkups, vaccines, spay/neuter surgeries and parasite control. With pet owners, it’s diet, exercise, care and emotional well-being. And while veterinarians want to be the go-to source of preventive care, pet owners often turn to groomers, boarders, trainers and breeders as trusted sources. “It’s no secret that although the veterinary profession is making great strides in prioritizing preventive pet health care, we still have a long way to go to ensure all pets get the care they deserve,” said Vincent Bradley, Banfield’s president and CEO. Bradley released the company’s fifth annual State of Pet Health Report last week during the Banfield Pet Healthcare Industry Summit. Previous reports harvested patient data for information about pet life spans, disease prevalence and other issues. The latest report was based on what the company called “online anthropological research.” “We reviewed more than 2 million online conversations posted to blogs, forums and other social communities for more than …
Email Campaign Succeeds in Luring Former ClientsAugust 18, 2015Thousands of dollars in additional revenue may be just a mouse click away. The veterinary industry group Partners for Healthy Pets and the marketing company Vetstreet are promoting a free email service in which they do much of the work. Here’s how it is done: A veterinary practice provides the email addresses of clients who have not walked through the door over the past 14 months. Partners for Healthy Pets and Vetstreet send a personalized email encouraging a pet owner to schedule a checkup. A $25 discount may be offered if an appointment is made within a month. Does the tactic work? Yes. Speaking last week at the Banfield Pet Healthcare Industry Summit in Portland, Ore., Partners for Healthy Pets chairman Ron DeHaven, DVM, MBA, outlined the results of a 90-day pilot campaign. Just over 400 practices submitted email lists. Nearly 300,000 former patients were targeted. From that effort, 23,615 patients visited—a success rate of 7.9 percent. Dr. DeHaven, who also serves as CEO of the American Veterinary Medical Association, calculated that the campaign generated overall revenue of $5.6 million, based on an average bill of $239. The number breaks down to an average of $14,040 per hospital. “The …
