Purina Launches Made-to-Order Dog FoodOctober 31, 2014Nestlé Purina PetCare Co. has put a twist on homemade pet food by allowing dog owners to formulate a recipe online for shipment to their door. The St. Louis-based manufacturer this week entered one of the smallest segments of the $28 billion U.S. pet food market: customized diets. The American Pet Products Association’s most recent survey found that just 3 percent of dog owners purchased specialty food, such as raw or frozen diets, in 2012. The new line, Just Right by Purina, is neither raw nor frozen. Instead, pet owners go to JustRightPetfood.com, answer questions about the animal’s age, breed, weight and other characteristics, choose whether to include soy and grain, and pick a protein source: chicken, lamb or salmon. What emerges through a proprietary algorithm is a customized kibble diet, complete with the dog’s photo and a recipe name printed on the bag. “Every dog is unique and that’s why we believe the best solutions are personalized,” said Brian Lester, the brand’s director of marketing. “By combining a dog owner’s firsthand knowledge of their pet with Purina’s expertise, we can work together to help keep dogs happy and healthy throughout their lives.” Just Right by Purina …
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Study on Human Nails May Shed Light on Disease in the Hooves of AnimalsOctober 30, 2014A new study focusing on the physics of human nail conditions may bring focus on disease in the hooves of farm animals and horses. Researchers from The University of Nottingham School of Veterinary Medicine and Science devised equations to identify the physical laws that govern nail growth, and used them to shed light on the causes of some of the most common nail problems, such as ingrown toenails, spoon-shaped nails and pincer nails. Regular poor trimming can tip the fine balance of nails, causing residual stress to occur across the entire nail, the study revealed. This residual stress can promote a change in shape or curvature of the nail over time which, in turn, can lead to serious nail conditions, the study further noted. “Similar equations can be determined for conditions of the hoof and claw and applied to farm animals such as sheep, cattle or horses and ponies,” said Dr. Cyril Rauch, a physicist and applied mathematician. “At a time when securing food across the world is important, a better understanding of the physics of hoof/claw has never been so essential to maintain the health of livestock and to sustain agriculture and food production.” Specifically, physics reveals why/how nails/hooves …
Ross University Gains International PartnerOctober 30, 2014In an effort to strengthen international ties, Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine (RUSVM) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Ngee Ann Polytechnic in Singapore. The partnership was established to develop mutually beneficial collaborations in education and research, as well as provide a pathway for Singapore students to obtain a veterinary degree. As part of the partnership, the schools will create an international research internship program which will allow a select group of Ngee Ann Polytechnic students to spend 15 weeks at RUSVM’s campus in St. Kitts. The students will complete a research project within one of RUSVM’s four research centers. The internships will fulfill a core requirement of Ngee Ann Polytechnic students’ training program. They will also provide students with practical experience in a veterinary research environment, according to Ross University, including in topics such as food safety, fish diseases, sea-turtle conservation and the One Health Initiative. “Whether our students choose the veterinary technician career path or decide to further their education through a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree or postgraduate research degree, the international research experience they gain at RUSVM will better prepare them for the world of global veterinary medicine,” said Hedy Goh, Ph.D., director of …
Purdue to Launch Residency Program in Vet PharmacyOctober 28, 2014Purdue University reported in late October its plans to offer a residency program in veterinary clinical pharmacy practice. The program, set to begin July 2015, aims to provide pharmacists special training in animal health. Purdue’s College of Veterinary Medicine and College of Pharmacy are co-sponsoring the program. Demand for pharmacists with training in veterinary care and therapeutics has grown alongside increases in the treatments and medicines available for pets, said Brian Shepler, director of advanced pharmacy practice experiences and assistant dean for experiential education in Purdue’s College of Pharmacy. “Pharmacists and veterinarians share the same goal for their patients: to offer the best and most successful treatments to them,” said Shepler, who helped develop the new residency. “Whether filling a prescription for Frank or Fido, a pharmacist’s role is to ensure that a medication and its dosage are safe and appropriate for a patient, to check for any potentially harmful interactions and to offer advice on ways to minimize discomfort from side effects. This residency provides training to pharmacists so that they can help ensure an animal’s safety and provide optimum care.” In addition to a growing need for those trained to dispense medications to animals, there is an increasing …
Farm Accident Couldn’t Keep Indiana Dog DownOctober 24, 2014A run-in with farm equipment nearly cost Charlie her life, but her survival brought national recognition. The Labrador retriever this month won the sixth annual VPI Hambone Award, which Veterinary Pet Insurance Co. hands out for the most unusual insurance claim of the year. After falling under equipment being towed on the family farm, the Indianapolis canine appeared to have suffered no more than cuts to her tail. The next day, when Charlie couldn’t stand, owner Jessica Parsons figured the injuries were much worse. “I was so worried about Charlie, I knew she was in pain,” Parsons said. A veterinarian referred Charlie to the Purdue University Veterinary Teaching Hospital in West Lafayette, Ind., where specialists diagnosed a fractured spine and internal bleeding from a damaged kidney. What followed were surgeries to stabilize her spine and remove the kidney. The medical care and expenses ran into five figures, but Parsons was reimbursed more than $10,400 through her insurance policy with Brea, Calif.-based VPI. Charlie, whose rehabilitation included learning to walk again, was presented with a bronze trophy and a gift bag filled with toys, treats and pet supplies. “I’m incredibly proud of how hard Charlie has fought to recover,” …
Zoetis Scholarship Deadline Is Nov. 30October 23, 2014Second- and third-year veterinary students have until Nov. 30 to apply at VetVance.com for $2,000 scholarships from drug maker Zoetis Inc. The selection criteria include academic performance, financial need, diversity, leadership and career path. Winners will be chosen from all potential work sectors, including large and small animal medicine, research, government service, public health and organized veterinary medicine. The Association of American Veterinary Medical Colleges will submit applications to the students’ schools for review. The Zoetis Veterinary Student Scholarship Program issued $2,000 awards to 452 students this year, up from 222 in 2010, the program’s first year. “By investing in the next generation of veterinarians, we can address some of the challenges facing the industry, including the issues of student debt and the need for greater diversity in professional tracks among students,” said Christine Jenkins, DVM, Dipl. ACVIM, the chief veterinary medical officer at Zoetis U.S. Applicants must register for an account at VetVance, a website designed to help new veterinarians establish their careers.
Auburn University’s Raptor Center Holds Public Bird ReleaseOctober 23, 2014The Southeastern Raptor Center at Auburn University’s College of Veterinary Medicine held a public release of three rehabilitated birds on Oct. 11. The birds—two Red-tailed hawks and a Barred owl—were set free at the Opelika Wood Duck Heritage Preserve and Siddique Nature Park. The 73-acre wetland is home to a large population of birds, including hawks, warblers, owls, songbirds and ducks. This is the first time that the Southeastern Raptor Center has released birds in the preserve and nature park. The hawks and owl were chosen for release after they passed several flight evaluations, according to Elizabeth Crandall, assistant director of the Southeastern Raptor Center. “We put a lot of time and other resources into rehabilitating close to 400 birds a year,” she said. “Unfortunately, we are not able to rehabilitate much less release the majority of these. So when we do have a success story, it is always rewarding to return these wild birds back to their natural habitat.” Birds that are unable to return to the wild remain at the center and are used to educate students and the general public about raptors, or transferred to another educational facility.
Texas Suspends Vet’s License for 5 YearsOctober 22, 2014Texas veterinarian Millard L. Tierce III, DVM, has lost his license for five years over allegations that included failing to euthanize four patients as promised and keeping a dog alive for use as a blood donor. The Texas Board of Veterinary Medical Examiners approved a settlement with Dr. Tierce during a meeting Tuesday in Austin. Tierce, who attended the meeting but did not testify, agreed to the license suspension Oct. 1 and waived a formal disciplinary hearing. The board found that Tierce violated seven state rules covering everything from standards of care and clinic sanitation to patient recordkeeping and the security of controlled substances. Tierce, 71, will be allowed to continue owning and managing his hospital, Camp Bowie Animal Clinic in Fort Worth, while other practitioners tend to patients. Marian Harris, who erroneously thought her dog Sid had been euthanized at Camp Bowie, pleaded with the board to revoke Tierce’s license rather than suspend it. “What is going to be the deterrent to prevent future atrocities like the ones to which he has already confessed to from happening in the future?” she asked. “A suspension still allows Dr. Tierce to daily visit his clinic under the guise of administrative duties.” …
Henry Schein Adds Abaxis Veterinary LineOctober 21, 2014Henry Schein Animal Health has joined Patterson Veterinary Supply as the newest U.S. distributors of Abaxis Inc. veterinary products. The growth in the Abaxis network came two months after competitor Idexx Laboratories Inc. announced that it would bring all domestic sales in-house as of Jan. 1, 2015, taking business from Henry Schein, Patterson and other distributors. The addition of Henry Schein Animal Health, announced today, takes effect immediately. The Dublin, Ohio, division of Henry Schein Inc. will sell the full line of Abaxis veterinary products, including portable blood analysis systems, rapid tests and other diagnostic equipment. “Our customers consistently rely on us for a comprehensive line of products and services, including a full range of veterinary diagnostics products such as instruments, consumables and rapid assays,” said Lonnie Shoff, the CEO of Henry Schein’s Global Animal Health and Strategic Partnership Group. Adding Henry Schein to a distributor roster that includes suppliers such as Patterson, Animal Health International and MWI Veterinary Supply “makes solid, strategic sense for both companies,” Abaxis CEO and President Clint Severson said. Abaxis, based in Union City, Calif., announced the Patterson deal Oct. 1. “We are confident that this agreement will further the goals of both …
Study: Mountain Lions in Southern California Lack Genetic DiversityOctober 21, 2014Mountain lions in Southern California are facing a severe loss of genetic diversity, according to a new study by the University of California, Davis, and The Nature Conservancy. Research points to human development and freeways as the culprit. The study was published Oct. 8 in the journal PLOS ONE. Scientists collected and analyzed DNA samples from 354 mountain lions statewide, including 97 from Southern California. Mountain lions in the Santa Ana Mountains displayed lower genetic diversity than those from nearly every other region in the state. The Santa Ana Mountain range, located south of Los Angeles and north of San Diego, is surrounded by urbanization and a growing population of about 20 million people, according to U.C. Davis. A small habitat linkage to the southeast connects the mountain lions to the Peninsular Range, but it is bisected by Interstate 15—a busy 10-lane highway—and associated human development, the school noted. The study highlights the urgency to maintain and enhance the little connectivity remaining for coastal mountain lions, especially across I-15. The mountain lions have also recently gone through a “population bottleneck,” according to the study. This means that the mountain lion population size has decreased sharply to a fraction of its …
