New Humane Organization Launches With ‘Give Local’ CampaignNovember 30, 2011 A new nonprofit called the Humane Society for Shelter Pets ran a full-page ad in USA Today, Los Angeles Times and Chicago Tribune today urging readers to donate to local animal shelters instead of the Humane Society of the United States. Along with its goal to encourage Americans to donate to local animal shelters, the HSSP also hosts a database of local shelters on its website and plans to create a network of veterinarians and sheltering professionals and provide them with tools to promote the HSSP’s “give local” message to their clients. The organization is funded by individuals, corporations and foundations that are supporters of the pet industry, according to HSSP co-director Jeff Douglas. The advertisement taken out by the HSSP today includes a quote from Wayne Pacelle, president and CEO of the Humane Society of the United States, which says “We never said we funded animal shelters.” The advertisement also says, “Please help shelter pets by donating locally, not to HSUS.” Pacelle wrote a blog post today on the HSUS website deriding the HSSP and claiming the organization is the …
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Saving SaraNovember 30, 2011Saving SaraSaving Sara, sea turtle rescue, sea turtle hospitalAt 11p.m. Aug. 3, I was called out on a most unusual emergency call on the island of Big Pine Key in the heart of the Conch Republic.At 11p.m. Aug. 3, I was called out on a most unusual emergency call on the island of Big Pine Key in the heart of the Conch Republic.newsline, avianexoticSaving SaraBy Douglas Mader, DVMFor Veterinary Practice NewsThis sea turtle is lucky to be alive.Posted: Nov. 29, 2011, 6:40 p.m. At 11p.m. Aug. 3, I was called out on a most unusual emergency call on the island of Big Pine Key in the heart of the Conch Republic. I have been the staff veterinarian for the Marathon Sea Turtle Hospital for 17 years. The hospital, a converted strip club, is funded by donations and is dedicated to treating all species of sea turtles. Over 100 sick and injured throwbacks to the dinosaurs come to the facility yearly. In addition, several hundred stranded or wayward turtle hatchlings often pay short visits to the hospital each summer. A brightly painted orange and white turtle ambulance is available 24/7 to respond to any and all sea turtle emergencies …
Having The Heart For Veterinary CardiologyNovember 30, 2011 Michele—pronounce that Ma-KAY-lee—Borgarelli, DVM, Ph.D., Dipl. ECVIM (cardiology), has been studying cardiovascular disease in dogs for more than 15 years. Most of his studies and research have been in Italy, his home country, but he now resides in the U.S. and is an associate professor of cardiology at Kansas State University’s College of Veterinary Medicine. “People should know that cardiovascular disease in small animals is very common but they are not terminal diseases,” Dr. Borgarelli said. “With the available treatment today we are able to manage patients and we can provide them a good quality of life for a long time.” Borgarelli has a string of research studies under his belt. For instance, during a period of five years, Borgarelli and his research team conducted two population studies involving more than 300 dogs. One, published in 2008, involved dogs that had mitral valve disease at different stages. Another study involved dogs with the mild form of the disease. Borgarelli expects this study to be published shortly. “Dr. Borgarelli has contributed substantially in the field of veterinary cardiology in many ways,” said Jens Haggstrom, DVM, Ph.D., Dipl. ECVIM (cardiology), professor of internal medicine at the Department of …
Feline Non-Recognition AggressionNovember 30, 2011 One term used to describe and assess feline personality is “equability,” referring to mood stability. Some cats scoring high on this scale are extremely stable and highly unlikely to fly off the handle. Others, at the opposite end of the scale, are mercurial and may become enraged almost literally at the drop of a hat. The latter type of cat is most likely to be the aggressor in what is descriptively termed “non-recognition aggression.” This type of aggression is something that all veterinarians should know about because it usually entails aggression of one cat to another after a visit to a veterinarian’s office. A typical scenario is as follows: Cats A & B, though not necessarily mutually bonded, cohabit peacefully until the fateful day. Cat A is taken to the veterinarian’s office for some procedure, often one entailing the use of heavy sedation or anesthesia. On being brought home and let out of his carrier, Cat A is immediately and savagely attacked by Cat B, almost as if Cat B does not recognize his long-term housemate. The attacks by the resident non-equable cat on the cat returning home from the veterinarian’s office can be quite savage …
Brave New World In Veterinary MedicineNovember 30, 2011 North Carolina State University is the only university in the country to offer autologous bone marrow transplants (BMT) for dogs with lymphoma—one of the most common canine cancers. Steven Suter, VMD, MS, Ph.D., Dipl. ACVIM (Oncology), an assistant professor of oncology at North Carolina State University, has been performing the transplants since October 2008. He says that a 40-50 percent cure rate is reported in humans with B-cell lymphoma using the same procedure, although the canine data is still tentative. “When do you say a dog is cured?” Dr. Suter asks. “For people it is five years out [after the transplant procedure]. For dogs I estimate we can say two years after treatment is a success. In the first group of 24 dogs with B-cell lymphoma that we treated, eight are long-term survivors.” Suter started providing this service with the hope that the procedure could be perfected and performed in the specialty clinical setting. Since the inception of the project, Suter has continued to modify the protocol. Apply: The rehydrated graft is applied into a surgery site. If a surgery site is not very vascular, pre-mixing with patient blood is advised. “We …
R&D Spending Will Spur Growth In Animal Health Biotech Industry, Report SaysNovember 29, 2011R&D Spending Will Spur Growth in Animal Health Biotech Industry, Report Says R&D Spending Will Spur Growth in Animal Health Biotech Industry, animal biotechnology growthThe animal health biotechnology industry is projected to grow into an $11 billion industry by 2016, according to a new report from market research publisher Ibisworld. The animal health biotechnology industry is projected to grow into an $11 billion industry by 2016, according to a new report from market research publisher Ibisworld. newslineR&D Spending Will Spur Growth in Animal Health Biotech Industry, Report Says Posted: Nov. 29, 2011, 6:20 p.m. EST The animal health biotechnology industry is projected to grow into an $11 billion industry by 2016, according to a new report from market research publisher Ibisworld. Revenue growth in the industry is forecast to rise at an annual rate of 7.9 percent over next five years, including a 9.0 percent increase in 2012. Favorable legislation and improved economic conditions will spur continued research and development activity, benefiting industry operators, according the report. Future development in genetic engineering is also expected to play a larger role in the industry, with developments likely to focus on improving food quality and disease resistance among livestock. Industry growth "will …
Pet Foods Tested For SalmonellaNovember 28, 2011 The federal government initiated a program to randomly sample pet foods, pet treats, and supplements for pets for Salmonella. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s Center for Veterinary Medicine issued a memorandum instructing its 19 regional districts to collect samples of pet foods, pet treats, and supplements for pets from manufacturers, distributors, wholesalers or retailers. The testing does not include canned pet food. The agency said it started the program in October because Salmonella-contaminated pet foods, pet treats and supplements for pets pose a significant health risk to humans. Its goal is to ensure that Salmonella-contaminated pet feeds are removed from interstate commerce. Each district was instructed to collect 14 samples between October and September. The FDA encouraged districts to collect samples over the entire fiscal year, or in the fourth quarter of the fiscal year if year-round collection is not feasible. The FDA said samples should consist of the following: * Six samples from non-canned pet foods. Examples include, but are not limited to, non-canned foods for puppies, dogs, kittens, cats, rabbits, reptiles (turtles, snakes, lizards and iguanas), rodents (gerbils, hamsters, guinea pigs, rats and mice), birds, aquarium fish, and raw meat …
The 4-Wheeled PractitionerNovember 28, 2011The 4-Wheeled PractitionerThe 4-Wheeled Practitioner, mobile veterinarians, mobile veterinarian vehicleLess overhead is inspiring more veterinarians to hit the road and make house calls.Veterinarians taking their specialty on the road have a plethora of options for selecting a vehicle. While some practices are located within the confines of a mobile unit, others utilize a vehicle in addition to a brick-and-mortar facility.cover storiesThe 4-Wheeled PractitionerLess overhead is inspiring more veterinarians to hit the road and make house calls.By Jessica TremayneContributing EditorPosted: Nov. 28, 2011, 4:30 p.m. EST Veterinarians taking their specialty on the road have a plethora of options for selecting a vehicle. While some practices are located within the confines of a mobile unit, others utilize a vehicle in addition to a brick-and-mortar facility. Koni Wade, national sales manager at LaBoit Mobile Specialty Vehicles in Gahanna, Ohio, says 95 percent of the company's clients are exclusively mobile. No stationary clinic means little overhead and minimal staff. A number of veterinarians are finding that they can work just as effectively in a mobile practice as they can in a brick-and-mortar one.Courtesy of Dodgen Mobile Technologies. Dena Baker, DVM, owner of Mobile PetVet in Naples, Fla., looked into leasing space …
Finalists Named In Heska Inspiration In Action ContestNovember 28, 2011 Heska Corp. selected five finalists for its 2011 Inspiration in Action contest, which aims to benefit the veterinary profession, the company reported today. Now it's up to the public to choose the winner. Heska, of Loveland, Colo., will award $25,000 to the grand prize winner and $5,000 to the second place winner. Entrants submitted ideas on how best to spend the prize money to further or support the veterinary profession. Heska CEO and Chairman Robert Grieve said the company promotes the contest as a means to encourage innovation. This year’s finalists include projects submitted by the Belize Wildlife and Referral Clinic, Locust Trace Veterinary Clinic, Project V.E.T.S., Project S.T.R.A.Y., and Veterinarians without Borders. The Belize Wildlife and Referral Clinic would use the prize money to establish a medical facility in Belize to provide essential, and currently unavailable, services to many of Belize’s veterinarians. The Locust Trace Veterinary Clinic would use the prize money to provide students with scholarships to pursue a career in veterinary medicine. Project V.E.T.S. would use the money to build awareness of its mission and needs for donations and volunteers. Project S.T.R.A.Y. would use the money to assign live-in dogs that need advanced …
Winn Feline Foundation Names New CEONovember 22, 2011 Winn Feline Foundation, a non-profit fundraiser for feline research studies, hired Maureen Walsh as CEO. In her new role for the Hillsborough, N.J., foundation, Walsh will focus on building brand awareness. She intends to expand the foundation’s outreach efforts to veterinary professionals, researchers and fanciers. “Cat lovers everywhere need to know about the important feline medical research that Winn supports every day and the difference donations make to the health and well-being of our feline friends,” Walsh said. Walsh previously served as chief marketing officer for the Institute of Management Accountants in Montvale, N.J. Winn Feline Foundation, established in 1968, supports studies that aim to improve cat health. The organization has funded more that $3 million in research at more than 30 partner institutions worldwide.
