Human Salmonella Outbreak Tied To Diamond Dog FoodsMay 4, 2012 Public health officials launched an investigation into a link between a recent outbreak of human salmonella infections and the recently recalled dog food brands produced by Diamond Pet Foods at its Gaston, S.C., manufacturing facility, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration reported today. Since October, fourteen individuals in nine states have been diagnosed with Salmonella infantis—the same strain of salmonella discovered in three Diamond dog food brands produced in Gaston: Diamond Naturals Lamb Meal & Rice, Chicken Soup for the Pet Lover’s Soul Adult Light Formula and Diamond Puppy Formula. Salmonella infantis is rare, according to the CDC, with less than three cases typically reported each month. Public health investigators linked the 14 illnesses to the recalled dog food by comparing the DNA “fingerprints” of the salmonella found in the food to those found in the individuals by using a technology called pulsed field gel electrophoresis. In follow-up interviews, four individuals diagnosed with Salmonella infantis said they had direct contact with Diamond dog food that may have been produced in Gaston. Among …
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Bookout Leaves NASC, Replacement NamedMay 3, 2012 After 10 years with the National Animal Supplement Council, president Bill Bookout is leaving for another position in the pet industry and will be replaced by Karen Howard, the council reported today. Bookout accepted a newly formed position with supplement manufacturer Kemin Industries of Des Moines, Iowa, as vice president of global sales for the company’s animal nutrition and health, vet division. He will remain as chairman of the board with the National Animal Supplement Council and will continue to spearhead federal and state regulatory activities for the NASC. Howard was previously executive director of the American Association of Naturopathic Physicians, where she created a presence for naturopathic doctors on Capitol Hill, the NASC said. “Karen possesses the necessary leadership skills to run and manage a nonprofit effectively and is very experienced in federal and state legislative issues,” Bookout said. “But beyond her many talents, Karen has the level of passion required to take NASC to the next level. I know she will connect with our members and continue to accomplish great things for our organization and the animals.” <HOME>
Feline Diabetes: Five Principles Breed SuccessMay 3, 2012 Diabetic cats and the challenges associated with their management intrigue me, which is why I have about 75 diabetic patients in my practice at any given time. Successful management of a diabetic cat requires a multifaceted approach that begins with five principles: • Tight control is not essential and probably not even desirable. Cats tolerate hyperglycemia without significant consequences better than humans or dogs do. • Hyperglycemia is always better than hypoglycemia. The latter can be fatal. • As long as the cat is not ketoacidotic, it is not critically ill. You do not have to get the cat regulated in the first week, or even in the first month, after diagnosis. • Consistency is extremely important in maintaining regulation. The more things you can keep the same—diet, exercise, stress—the easier it is to regulate the diabetic cat. • Monitoring clinical signs is vital in achieving and maintaining regulation. With few exceptions, if the clinical signs and the blood-glucose level conflict, believe the clinical signs. What Can Be Done Based on these five principles, here are four treatment steps: • Client education. You are the coach on the sidelines. Your job is to instruct the quarterback so …
The Changing World Of Veterinary Anesthesia Guidelines And MonitoringMay 2, 2012 UPDATE: AAHA released its anesthesia guidelines in early November. The American Animal Hospital Association is poised to release the first-of-its-kind small animal anesthesia guidelines. A task force comprising six board-certified veterinary anesthesiologists and a certified technician specializing in anesthesia created the approximately 10-page document in an 11-month timeframe. The AAHA guidelines is an all-inclusive, easily digestible document created for use by the entire veterinary team. With expanding anesthesia capabilities for the profession, Jason Merrihew, associate public relations manager at AAHA, says the association recognized the need to develop guidelines for veterinary professionals. He attributes the multitude of factors to consider when sedating or anesthetizing a healthy dog or cat, as well as the pet with one or more medical conditions a leading incentive. “AAHA’s guidelines include information on pre-anesthesia bloodwork, examination, equipment, staffing recommendations, monitoring from induction through recovery, pain management, drug choices, drug combinations, what drugs to use according to patients’ age, body type and temperament,” says Richard Bednarski, DVM, Dipl. ACVA, associate professor (anesthesia) at The Ohio State University in Columbus and chair for AAHA anesthesia guidelines. “These guidelines differ from the American College of Veterinary Anesthesiologists’ (ACVA) anesthesia monitoring guidelines because their …
Bioniche Nears Launch Of Canine Cancer BiologicsMay 2, 2012 Canadian biopharmaceutical company Bioniche Life Sciences Inc. has two canine cancer biologics in the pipeline and expects one to hit the market by July of this year, the Belleville, Ontario-based company reported. Both products are based on the company’s mycobacterial cell wall technology used in Bioniche’s Equimune I.V. immunotherapeutic agent for the treatment of viral equine respiratory tract infections in horses. The canine cancer biologic scheduled for a 2012 launch, Immunocidin, is pending regulatory approval in Canada and the United States as an immunotherapy for the intratumoral treatment of mixed mammary tumor and mammary adenocarcinoma in dogs. The other biologic, currently unnamed, is an intravenous therapy designed to restore white blood cell levels in dogs following chemotherapy treatment. Bioniche expects to complete testing of the product over the next six months, at which time it will seek regulatory approval in North America, followed by Australia and Europe. <HOME>
AAHA Releases Anesthesia GuidelinesMay 2, 2012The American Animal Hospital Association stressed the importance of comprehensive, individualized anesthetic plans to minimize perioperative morbidity and optimize perioperative conditions in its new guidelines for anesthetizing dogs and cats. AAHA convened a task force of experts for the express purpose of producing the guidelines, which include recommendations for preanesthetic patient evaluation and examination; selection of premedication, induction and maintenance drugs; monitoring, equipment, and recovery. The guidelines are not intended to establish a universal anesthetic plan or legal standard of care. The guidelines broach areas of controversy such as the administration of certain perianesthetic drugs. The authors say there is no evidence to show that acepromazine increases the risk of seizures in epileptic patients or patients with other seizure disorders. The authors also advise that the use of anticholinergic drug drugs, such as atropine and glycopyrrolate, should be based on individual patient risk factors and monitored parameters such as heart rate and blood pressure. Members of the task force that created the guidelines include: Richard Bednarski, M.S., DVM, D.A.C.V.A. (Chair); Kurt Grimm, DVM, M.S., Ph.D., D.A.C.V.A., D.A.C.V.C.P.; Ralph Harvey, DVM, M.S., D.A.C.V.A.; Victoria Lukasik, DVM, D.A.C.V.A.; Sean Penn, DVM, D.A.B.V.P. (Canine/Feline); Brett Sargent, DVM, D.A.B.V.P. (Canine/Feline); Kim Spelts, C.V.T., V.T.S., …
Report: Chronic Disease Grows With Pets' WaistsMay 1, 2012Report: Chronic Disease Grows with Pets' Waistschronic disease in pets, veterinarian, pet obesity, dogs arthritis, cats arthritis, dog kidney disease, cat kidney disease, pet health, Banfield pet health reportChronic disease is on the rise in pets, but owners are hesitant to visit the veterinarian to treat existing conditions, according to the State of Pet Health 2012 Report, published today by Banfield Pet Hospital.Chronic disease is on the rise in pets, but owners are hesitant to visit the veterinarian to treat existing conditions, according to Banfield's State of Pet Health 2012 Report.newslineReport: Chronic Disease Grows with Pets' WaistsPosted: May 1, 2012, 3:30 p.m. EDT Chronic disease is on the rise in pets, but owners are hesitant to visit the veterinarian to treat existing conditions, according to the State of Pet Health 2012 Report, published today by Banfield Pet Hospital. From 2007 to 2011, the incidence of obesity and overweight in dogs increased 37 percent and increased 90 percent in cats. Overall, 1 in 5 cats and dogs were classified as obese or overweight in 2011. Obesity or overweight was diagnosed in pets diagnosed with other chronic diseases, including: 40 percent of dogs and …
Managing Concurrent Kidney And Heart DiseaseMay 1, 2012 The first step in controlling a patient’s kidney or heart condition is a reliance on the owner’s detection of a clinical problem. Cardiology and kidney specialists suggest preparing clients whose pet has a high risk of disease before symptoms begin–even running blood work or genetic testing if it applies. Information that veterinarians provide to clients will help the owners recognize disease symptoms and increase compliance with veterinary directions when managing the disease. Two-thirds of dogs and more than half of cats suffering from cardiac disease have concurrent diseases. Because a large number of kidney and heart disease patients are of an advanced age, it’s not uncommon for a patient being treated for one disease to develop the other, a situation that takes a vigilant veterinarian and dedicated owner to manage. “Once we have a diagnosis and the client understands the disease and necessity to follow up, the biggest obstacle is the owner’s financial commitment,” says Megan King, VMD, Dipl. ACVIM (cardiology) of the Center for Animal Referral and Emergency Services in Langhorne, Pa. “For much of heart disease there may not be a substantial cost, but as the pet deals with more advanced disease and congestive …
BIVI To Award $75K For Pigeon Fever Research ProjectsApril 30, 2012 Boehringer Ingelheim Vetmedica Inc. is seeking research proposals focusing on Pigeon Fever for its 2012 Equine Research Awards, the St. Joseph, Mo.-based company reported today. BIVI will select three proposals and award $25,000 to each to fund research on Pigeon Fever, the infection caused by Corynebacterium pseudotuberculosis bacteria. Proposals must address one or more of the following subjects: • Pathophysiology of C. pseudotuberculosis and development of an equine challenge model; • Virulence factors and strain differences among isolates of C. pseudotuberculosis isolated from internal and external infections and different geographic locations. • Increased incidence and spread to different geographic locations and association with climate change; • Comparison of host immunity between infections resulting in internal infection and recurrent infection in recovered horses. • Seasonality of infection with C. pseudotuberculosis and studies of insect vectors. The contest is open to researchers from the United States and Canada. The deadline for submission is Sept. 1, 2012. An equine research review board will select winning proposals based on their potential impact on the equine industry, originality, scientific quality and probability of success in completing the yearlong studies. The awards will be announced during the 2012 America Association of …
Bond And Beyond Bonus Content: A Brief History Of The Veterinary Hospice MovementApril 30, 2012 EDITORS' NOTE: This is special bonus content for Alice Villalobos' May 2012 column, Keeping Hospice in Veterinary Hands. The veterinary literature advocating for pet hospice as a professional service has been evolving since the 1990s. Two main groups have organized the pet/animal/veterinary hospice movement. Historically, the first group is the Nikki Hospice Foundation, founded in 1996 by thanatologist Kathy Marrachino, Ph.D. Nikki organized the first and second veterinary hospice symposiums in 2008 with some veterinary faculty and in 2009 with almost no veterinary faculty. I was an invited speaker at the 2008 event and Dr. Dani McVety attended the 2009 event. Our thoughts are recorded below. As of Jan. 17, none of the veterinarians listed on the website as part of Nikki’s Board of Directors are still serving. An official statement of the University of California, Davis, Veterinary School says it has severed its relationship with the Nikki group and has nothing to do with the symposiums even though they will be on the Davis campus. This begs the question: Is there any veterinary oversight for organizing the third Veterinary Hospice Symposium scheduled for July? We …
