Texas A&M Develops Vaccine for PDDAugust 13, 2015Researchers at the Texas A&M College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences have developed a vaccine against Proventricular Dilatation Disease (PDD). It is caused by a virus called avian bornavirus. Use of the vaccine against this virus prevented the development of disease in captive birds with no obvious adverse effects. “Proventricular Dilatation Disease is an especially nasty infection that kills large numbers of captive birds each year,” said Dr. Ian Tizard, the project leader and director of the Schubot Exotic Bird Health Center at Texas A&M. “Parrot owners are naturally very distressed when their beloved pet dies in such a manner. The new vaccine is expected to stop the development of this disease and prevent much suffering.” The next step in the development of this vaccine will be to seek USDA licensure and then to manufacture the vaccine commercially. This will require extensive field testing to ensure that the vaccine is safe and that it is effective in many species of pet birds. Thus it will take some time before the vaccine becomes available to parrot owners. Current plans …
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Texas A&M to Host Ruminant Ultrasound WorkshopAugust 13, 2015Texas A&M University College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences will host a ruminant ultrasound workshop on Aug. 29. The aim of the workshop is to introduce veterinarians to the different uses of ultrasound in practice for reproductive and non-reproductive purposes. Topics covered: The physics of ultrasound, Ways to maximize the use of ultrasound in practice by using it for more than reproductive purposes and Ultrasound of the reproductive tract. Participants will have the opportunity to rotate through all three labs covering bovine reproduction, small ruminant reproduction and the bovine thorax and abdomen. Several different ultrasound machines will be available for participants to use provided by Boland Vet Services. The workshop is limited to 30 participants. For details, visit the website.
New Avian Health Complex Opens August 13 at Texas A&MAugust 11, 2015A new avian health complex will be formally opened Thursday, August 13, 2015, at the Texas A&M University College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences (CVM), which hosts one of the top avian medicine programs in the nation. The ceremony will begin at 1 p.m. The new climate-controlled aviary will provide an environment for a variety of birds in various conditions, CVM officials note. Containing approximately 11,000 square feet of floor space, the state-of-the-art complex includes a functional hospital, receiving area with quarantine capabilities, three isolation rooms, a Biosafety Level 2 laboratory for infectious disease research and separate areas for infected and healthy birds, along with teaching, classroom and office space. The center conducts research into all aspects of diseases in wild and captive birds, as well as avian genetics, genomics, nutrition and behavior. The results of research at the center are already being applied to improve the health of birds kept by zoos, aviculturists and individual pet owners, as well as conserving threatened avian species in the wild, according to Texas A&M. Courtesy Texas A&M University College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences
University of Saskatchewan to Open Center Focusing on Cattle ProductionAugust 11, 2015The University of Saskatchewan in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada, recently reported that it has received funding to move forward on a $25 million Livestock and Forage Center of Excellence (LFCE). Components of the center are expected to be in operation by 2018. The center’s development is the result of nearly a decade of discussions, two years of intensive planning and several strategic partnerships between the provincial and federal governments, the university’s College of Agriculture and Bioresources, the Western College of Veterinary Medicine and numerous producer groups representing all aspects of the forage and cattle industries, according to the university. “We’re building on our research strengths — absolutely. But we’re going to catapult them to a whole other level,” said Mary Buhr, dean of the University of Saskatchewan College of Agriculture and Bioresources. The center aims to connect agricultural, environment and veterinary researchers with producers and industry. Students, researchers, clients, producers and trainees will benefit from the hands-on demonstration and training facilities in the LFCE, according to the university. LFCE will consist of facilities at two locations southeast of Saskatoon: the Beef Cattle Research and Teaching Unit (about 1,760 acres near Clavet) and the …
Virginia Tech’s Vet College Names Assistant Director of Admissions, Student ServicesAugust 8, 2015The Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine at Virginia Tech has named Carling Sitterley, DVM, as assistant director of admissions and student services. As such, Dr. Sitterley will support the college’s admissions and recruitment efforts, provide mentorship and advising to student organizations and coordinate other activities, such as a veterinary science summer camp for underrepresented students. “We are excited to have Dr. Carling Sitterley join our team,” said Jacque Pelzer, DVM, director of admissions and student services. “As a recent graduate of the college, Dr. Sitterley is committed to diversity and inclusion and brings a fresh perspective of the needs in the areas of student support and service.” Sitterley founded the college’s chapter of Veterinary Students as One in Culture and Ethnicity, a student-run organization that provides education and outreach around diversity issues in the veterinary community. Most recently, she worked as a project assistant for the college’s Center for Public and Corporate Veterinary Medicine, where she supported a brucellosis control program in the Caucasus, and for Virginia Tech’s Office of Multicultural Programs and Services, now the Intercultural Engagement Center, …
Dog with Disability to be X-Rayed by Placer SPCAAugust 7, 2015This week the Placer SPCA in northern California received a stray. The dog, named Melody Pond, has pretty blue eyes and a curious disposition. She also has three legs along with an appendage taking the place of her fourth leg. KCRA.com reports that the SPCA said the condition is not due to abuse, but to a birth defect. Veterinarians will conduct radiographs on Melody Pond today to determine surgical possibilities. Even with the disability, Melody Pond seems to be just as happy as any other puppy: (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')); This puppy is sure to melt your heart. The Placer SPCA will take X-rays of this adorable blue-eyed puppy who was born with a special set of legs.Story: http://kcra.tv/6183B1obXVideo: Placer SPCA Posted by KCRA 3 on Thursday, August 6, 2015 She will be put up for adoption if the surgery goes well. If a dog with her condition were to come into your office, what would your course of action be?
Veterinarian Saves Pet Owner’s Life After Dog is EuthanizedAugust 7, 2015Chances are you’ve had to give devastating news to a pet owner. That person may have reacted calmly or perhaps he or she broke down in tears. Maybe you’ve had clients get angry at you after you’ve given them bad news about their pet. But for Matthew Fry, BVSc, MRCVS, of Quarrington Veterinary Surgery in the United Kingdom, the bad news he gave resulted in a client having a massive heart attack. Lizzie Bevis, 30, was at the veterinarian’s with her mother and sister for a consultation regarding their Jack Russell, Daisy. During the consultation, Bevis “went an awful color,” her sister Christine told Sleaford Standard. Dr. Fry first thought Bevis had just fainted, but quickly realized she had actually had a heart attack. He put her on her back and began conducting CPR while his staff called an ambulance. Luckily, first responders arrived quickly. </center> “They couldn’t believe it when they arrived and had to shock her twice with a defibrillator to bring her back,” Fry told Sleaford Standard. Bevis was rushed to the hospital where she was put in a …
Penn Vet’s New Bolton Center Offers New MRI SystemAugust 6, 2015The University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine’s (Penn Vet) New Bolton Center is now offering a new MRI system designed specifically for obtaining high-quality images in horses. The new MRI replaces an older system that was installed in 2005. Penn Vet, which made the announcement in late July, describes the O-Scan as a high-resolution MRI system for diagnostic imaging that uses a low-field magnet. The MRI is capable of imaging extremities, from the foot to the hock or knee, according to Penn Vet. The system, manufactured by Esaote, can also be used for other large animals. “We have undergone in depth training, including validating specific protocols, and are ready to admit patients for MRI evaluation,” said Barbara Dallap Schaer, VMD, New Bolton Center medical director. “We are excited about this addition to our imaging services and look forward to working on challenging cases.” The MRI will be useful primarily for soft-tissue injuries associated with lameness, but will detect bone injury as well, Dr. Dallap Schaer said. It provides functional (inflammatory) information, in addition to anatomic data.
New Heska Analyzer Verifies Thyroid DisordersAugust 5, 2015Heska Corp. has released what the Loveland, Colo., company calls North America’s first in-clinic immunoassay for confirming hypothyroidism in dogs. The tabletop Element i Immunodiagnostic Analyzer also can screen for Cushing’s disease and Addison’s disease, among other animal health issues, within 10 minutes. The analyzer improves on Total T4 tests, said Steve Eyl, executive vice president of commercial operations. “Total T4 has long been used to screen for thyroid disorders,” Eyl said. “But Total T4 is only a partial and imprecise screen of a highly complex, yet common diagnosis that can and should be confirmed with a specific TSH [thyroid stimulating hormone] result. “TSH testing for specific thyroid function has never been available at the point of care, where veterinarians, patients and their owners need it most.” The ability to test for both Total T4 and TSH with the Element i saves veterinarians from having to seek TSH results from a reference laboratory, he added. Element i and test supplies will be available through Heska and Henry Schein Animal Health.
Tufts Veterinarians to Equip Chicken with 3D Printed LegAugust 5, 2015A surgery is taking place at the Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine at Tufts University today. It’s not a spay or neuter surgery, or even one on a dog or cat. This surgery is an amputation of a chicken’s leg. The chicken, named Cecily, is a rescue currently in the care of Andrea Martin, a chicken rescuer out of Clinton, Massachusetts. Martin could see that Cecily’s quality of life was poor, given that the bird had a deformed leg caused by a slipped tendon that never got fixed, CBS Boston reports. Martin and Cecily’s new owner decided that instead of euthanasia, amputation surgery and a prosthetic would be the better option. They are splitting the $2,500 veterinary bill, according to CBS Boston. The surgery today will be performed by avian orthopedic specialist, S. Emi Knafo, DVM. With Cecily under sedation, Dr. Knafo will amputate the chicken’s right leg and do a CT scan of her left leg, Reuters reports. The scan will be used to make a 3D-printed prosthetic leg for Cecily. According …
