Penn Vet Study Seeks Dogs with Chronic Gastrointestinal ProblemsMarch 14, 2015The University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine (Penn Vet) is recruiting dogs for a clinical trial evaluating the role of the intestinal microbiome in dogs with chronic gastrointestinal problems (eg. diarrhea and/or vomiting). The aim of the study is to determine the composition of the microbiome of the gastrointestinal tract before, during and after treatment. Understanding how these bacteria change in dogs being treated for canine chronic enteropathy (CCE) may lead to better diagnostics and treatments for chronic gastrointestinal diseases in pets, according to Mark Rondeau, DVM, staff veterinarian in internal medicine, and Daniel Beiting, Ph.D., research assistant professor. CCE is a common syndrome in dogs, resulting in diarrhea, vomiting and/or weight loss. The duration and severity of these symptoms vary, as does response to treatment, suggesting that there are multiple factors that contribute to this disease, according to Penn Vet. Common causes include food sensitivity and inflammatory bowel disease. The microbiome has been shown to play an important role in inflammatory bowel disease in humans, Penn Vet further noted. The researchers plan to enroll 50 dogs for the study. At press time, three dogs had been enrolled. The study is expected to conclude in February 2016 with …
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AAHA, AAFP Revise Pain Management AdviceMarch 12, 2015Relieving pain in cats and dogs should not automatically start with drugs, two veterinary organizations are reminding practitioners in an update to an eight-year-old document. The American Animal Hospital Association and the American Association of Feline Practitioners teamed up to produce the 2015 AAHA/AAFP Pain Management Guidelines for Dogs and Cats. The 18-page strategy was published in the March/April edition of the AAHA journal and is available online at http://bit.ly/1EDFcoa. The 2015 guidelines stress the need for an integrated approach to managing pain. In a section titled “It’s Not Just About Drugs,” the authors pointed out that pharmaceuticals may not be the best choice. “Examples of nonpharmacologic treatments supported by strong evidence include, but are not limited to, cold compression, weight optimization and therapeutic exercise,” the guidelines state. “Other treatment options gaining increasing acceptance include acupuncture, physical rehabilitation, myofascial trigger point therapy, therapeutic laser and other modalities.” Mark Epstein, DVM, Dipl. ABVP, CVPP, who practices at TotalBond Veterinary Hospital in Gastonia, N.C., served as co-chairman of the 2015 guidelines committee. “The management of pain is a crucial component in every veterinary practice,” Dr. Epstein said. “Practices should be committed to educating the entire health care …
AAHA Honors Practices of the YearMarch 12, 2015Ohio and Florida veterinary clinics were named AAHA-Accredited Practices of the Year today at the opening of the American Animal Hospital Association’s annual conference. North Royalton Animal Hospital in North Royalton, Ohio, won in the general practice category. Coral Springs Animal Hospital-Referral in Coral Springs, Fla., was chosen in the referral practice category. Three finalists for the general practice award also were honored: San Juan Veterinary Hospital in Farmington, N.M.; True Veterinary Care in Verona, Wis.; and Cleveland Park East Animal Hospital in Simpsonville, S.C. AAHA accreditation is voluntary and is held by about 12 percent of North American veterinary practices, according to the Lakewood, Colo., organization’s website. The AAHA Standards of Accreditation list more than 900 standards in areas ranging from pain management and surgery to recordkeeping and continuing education. The award winners were chosen based on their accreditation score, mission, practice design, practice team and other criteria. “AAHA believes that the success of a veterinary practice depends on the entire team working together to provide excellent care for pets and their people,” said AAHA’s CEO, Michael Cavanaugh, DVM, Dipl. ABVP. “All of these accredited practices are staffed by high-performing veterinary teams who demonstrate a passionate commitment to veterinary excellence.” …
Trupanion Donates Nearly $210,000 to Nonprofits in 2014March 12, 2015Trupanion today reported that through its TruGiving platform the company raised $209,885 for nonprofit animal welfare organizations across North America in 2014. The company is now calling on its supporters to help them decide the nonprofits to donate to next. Over the next two months voting will be open to the public to select the next animal welfare nonprofits Trupanion will support. The three nonprofits that receive the most votes will be added to its TruGiving program to receive donations from the company. The TruGiving platform—comprised of Trupanion’s Shelter Support Program, Volunteer Program, and Member Donation Program— facilitates charitable contributions from the corporate level and from their pet-passionate community of employees, members and veterinarians to promote the well-being of cats and dogs and foster responsible pet ownership. “Trupanion continues to blaze a trail in the pet medical insurance industry by setting high standards for animal welfare ethics and strong values,” said Darryl Rawlings, CEO of Trupanion. “Our passion for pets is the foundation of our company – our mission is to help the pets we all love receive the best care, even those who aren’t insured.”
U.K. Vets May Call Themselves ‘Doctor’March 12, 2015Veterinarians practicing in the United Kingdom are now doctors, but only if they want to be one. The Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (RCVS) last week approved use of the courtesy title “doctor” in a move that brought the organization and its members in line with the international tradition. The regulatory agency updated its Code of Professional Conduct for Veterinary Surgeons to provide guidelines for when “Doctor” or “Dr.” may be used. Veterinarians who opt for “doctor” must not confuse the public into thinking they are doctors of human medicine or holders of a Ph.D., according to the code. The decision followed a survey of veterinary staff members, veterinary students, the public and more than 5,000 veterinarians. Four-fifths of the 11,202 respondents supported the title change. British Veterinary Association President John Blackwell, BVSc, MRCVS, welcomed the decision. “It is particularly heartening that one in five of the respondents to the consultation were animal-owning members of the public,” Dr. Blackwell said. “This is a testament to the high regard that clients hold their vets in. We know this respect has to be earned and that we cannot be complacent about this.” Reaction to the news on RCVS’s Facebook page was …
Ohio Vet College Seeks New DeanMarch 12, 2015The Ohio State University College of Veterinary Medicine has put out an invitation to qualified individuals to apply for the position of dean. Lonnie King, DVM, Dipl. ACVPM, the college’s present dean, is set to retire Aug. 31. Dr. King’s original appointment as dean was for five years, from 2009 to -2014, but he agreed to stay an extra year to assist with President Michael Drake’s orientation to the university, according to a college spokeswoman. Ohio State welcomed Drake as its 15th president in January 2014. Although retiring, King will continue to participate in several national committees, such as leading the National Task Force on Antibiotic Resistance in Production Agriculture and participating in Institute of Medicine initiatives. The dean, as described by the university, is the chief academic and administrative officer of the college and is responsible for leading the education, research, service and outreach agenda, while also supporting fundraising efforts and building strategic internal and external relationships in order to support the mission. Qualifications and experience, as outlined by the college, should include the following: DVM, as well as an advanced degree and/or board certification and a distinguished record in research or scholarship that would qualify for rank …
CEO Departs as PetSmart Officially SoldMarch 11, 2015The PetSmart retail chain has new owners and a new CEO. The equity firm BC Partners and a coalition of other financial backers today completed their $8.7 billion acquisition of Phoenix-based PetSmart. Stockholders received $83 a share, a 39 percent spike from July 2014, when investors began calling for a takeover because of what at least one critic called “years of underperformance.” PetSmart shareholders approved the deal Friday. Employing 53,000 people, PetSmart operates more than 1,400 stores in the United States, Canada and Puerto Rico. Many of the locations house a Banfield Pet Hospital veterinary clinic in an arrangement that is expected to remain in place. PetSmart’s new owners did not announce any changes other than the departure of President and CEO David K. Lenhardt. His replacement is Michael J. Massey, the former CEO of Collective Brands Inc., which owns the Payless ShoeSource chain. “My 15-year journey with PetSmart is filled with wonderful memories of our passionate associates who represent the best and brightest in retail,” Lenhardt said in a statement released by PetSmart. “I am confident that PetSmart will continue to lead the industry by creating more moments for people to be inspired by pets.” PetSmart in early March …
Future Looks Bright in Pet IndustryMarch 11, 2015In what appears to be encouraging news for veterinarians, the American Pet Products Association (APPA) has documented a sharp rise in the number of younger pet owners. The Greenwich, Conn., organization’s 2015-2016 National Pet Owners Survey found that the majority of the 8 million new pet owners are members of generations X or Y—groups that began reaching adulthood in the past 30 years. Overall, the number of pet-owning households in the United States is estimated at 79.7 million, a 50 percent rise over the past two decades. The total actually fell slightly over the past two years because of a decline in pet ownership by the older baby-boomer generation. APPA President and CEO Bob Vetere previewed the soon-to-be-published survey last week during Global Pet Expo in Orlando, Fla. The latest data should hearten pet retailers, he said. “This is really exciting, as the industry as a whole has been trying to engage Gen Y in pet ownership the way generations before them did,” Vetere said. “These numbers demonstrate huge potential for the industry to grow with up-and-coming, new pet owners.” APPA estimated that nationwide spending on veterinary care should hit $15.73 billion in 2015, a 4.6 percent increase over 2014 …
Tufts Hospital Upgrade Fully FundedMarch 11, 2015The Tufts University Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine has reached its goal of raising $8 million to pay for renovations to the Henry and Lois Foster Hospital for Small Animals. A $2.5 million challenge grant from the Amelia Peabody Charitable Fund was quickly answered by a $2.5 million gift from longtime hospital supporters Travis and Anne Engen. The balance, collected from other donors, will cover the first phase of Tufts’ master plan, which forecasts spending at least $65 million to remake the veterinary school. “The Engen family and trustees of the Amelia Peabody Charitable Fund understand what the hospital renovation will mean for us and truly value the school’s mission of clinical service, teaching and research,” said Deborah T. Kochevar, DVM, Ph.D., the school’s dean. A spring groundbreaking is planned for the remodeling of Foster Hospital, Tufts reported Tuesday. The upgrades will include additional examination rooms as well as larger treatment rooms for ophthalmology, cardiology, neurology and dermatology services. “The renovation is not about bricks and mortar. It’s about what happens inside: medical innovation and education, enhancing our care and maintaining high standards of quality for our patients and their owners,” said Virginia Rentko, VMD, Dipl. ACVIM, …
Merial Wins Feline Immunotherapy LicenseMarch 10, 2015A protein-based immunotherapy for cats recovering from fibrosarcoma surgery received a conditional license from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, developer Merial Ltd. reported today. The first-of-its-kind treatment, called Feline Interleukin-2 Immunomodulator, is indicated to delay the post-surgical recurrence of fibrosarcomas in adult cats with Stage 1 disease, the company stated. “When administered in proximity of a tumor, Interleukin-2 stimulates immune responses involved in the rejection of tumors in cancer patients,” Merial noted. “In a European field study, safety and reasonable expectation of efficacy of Feline Interleukin-2 Immunomodulator was demonstrated by administration of the immunotherapy and observation of the time for recurrence after surgery and radiotherapy.” The immunomodulator was granted a U.S. Veterinary Biological Product conditional license. Additional potency and efficacy tests are underway, according to Duluth, Ga.-based Merial. Robert Menardi, DVM, Merial’s director of Veterinary Technical Solutions, called the immunotherapy “an option that serves an unmet need for a very serious health condition in cats.” Fibrosarcomas are aggressive malignant tumors that often return in cats after surgery and radiation. “Having this conditional license will enable us to work closely with veterinary oncologists to further monitor the efficacy of Feline Interleukin-2 Immunomodulator and better understand treatment needs,” Dr. …
