California Spay/Neuter Bill DefeatedSeptember 2, 2010 California Senate Bill 250, which would have required spay or neuter surgery for most of the state’s dogs and cats, failed passage in the State Assembly this week on a vote of 28-40. SB250 had moved to a third reading in mid-August after being shelved as inactive for almost a year. The aim of the bill, sponsored by Senate Majority Leader Dean Florez, was to help curb pet overpopulation. SB250 would have called on cat owners to spay or neuter their cats at 6 months of age if the cats were allowed to roam at large. The bill also would have required the sterilization of all dogs at 6 months old unless the owner got an unaltered-dog license. In addition, SB250 would have required anyone who sells or adopts out an intact dog, regardless of the dog’s age, to provide the licensing agency with the name and address of the new owner within 10 days. The bill had a list of other requirements as well. The Pet Industry Joint Advisory Council and the American Kennel Club, both long-time opponents of the bill, sent out media alerts Wednesday lauding the outcome. “PIJAC has consistently opposed state-enacted …
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Cellular Care Begins With AutophagySeptember 2, 2010 Autophagy was the subject of a State of the Art presentation given by James Bradner, M.D., Ph.D., at the 2010 American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine Forum in Anaheim. Literally, “autophagy” means “self-cleaning.” Bodies can’t live without their autophagy systems in place. Autophagy encompasses the automatic disposal systems of the cell. Interestingly, when autophagy adapts to starvation, certain mechanisms are activated that also have anti-aging and anti-cancer effects. We learned that our cells void metabolic waste and the kidneys extract it from serum and eliminate the waste through the urine. However, there was no clear understanding of autophagy or how the cellular cleansing phenomenon operates on a molecular level until recently. Read on and be amazed at the basic miraculous efficiency with which our bodies function every second of every day. Where It Begins The flesh of our cells is called cytoplasm. It contains all the microproteins and chemicals and structures needed to operate. Waste products are created in the cytoplasm and that waste must be digested and transported outside the cell. How does this happen? Scientists have observed that cell debris—proteins and organelles—gets encapsulated by tiny rearrangements of membranes and moved …
Cost Vs. Value On Client FrontSeptember 2, 2010 Your first appointment of the morning is an obese female beagle you spied three-legging it into the exam room. The likely diagnosis, you ruefully muse, is a cruciate injury, which at this time of day means more caffeine is in order. After a dose of Cuban coffee, you’re onto the physical, the pre-rad discussion, sedation radiographs and the pièce de resistance: a lengthy post-rad discussion of options. It’s on this last stretch that I always seem to get hung up. It’s inevitably a tough slog. That’s either because: • The client is having a tough time accepting the diagnosis. (“It’s just a limp!”). • The expense of the board-certified option you recommended has occasioned a swoon. • The discussion has stalled on the subject of obesity denial. (Sixty-five pounds on a beagle is no mean feat.) “Surgical intervention is the well-accepted gold standard for the treatment of canine cruciate ligament ruptures,” you tell the client. “Sure, that’s $2,400 for a dog her size, but your alternatives are Y and Z. And while Y might be better than doing nothing, you definitely don’t want Z.” Second ‘Opinion’ Fast-forward to that evening, when your client is scheduled …
Unconventional WisdomSeptember 2, 2010 Robyn Magee’s golden retriever, Grady, was sickly almost from the moment she brought him home as a puppy. He suffered from constant bloody diarrhea, recurring urinary tract infections, frequent ear infections. Conventional medications sometimes alleviated his problems temporarily, but the symptoms always returned. Finally, an associate of her veterinarian suggested that, rather than subject Grady to unrelenting pain, Magee consider putting him down. Instead, she sought the counsel of Shelley Epstein, VMD, CVH. Initially, Magee sought nutritional advice only, but Dr. Epstein also suggested homeopathic treatment. Somewhat dubiously—“I just didn’t know anything about it”—Magee agreed. The first remedy, phosphorus, began to stop the bleeding that accompanied the diarrhea, Magee says. The second, aloe socotrina, alleviated the diarrhea. More than two years later, Grady is in robust health. For Epstein, it’s the kind of case that reaffirms her decision to integrate a homeopathic approach into her conventional practice 15 years ago. “I don’t get excited about a rare diagnosis anymore,” she says. “Rather, I get excited about curing animals, even from common diagnoses like atopy or epilepsy.” Traditional Start Epstein, 51, started her career in a conventional way. Two days …
Oil Spill Extends To Family PetsSeptember 2, 2010 The Gulf of Mexico disaster that began in April when the BP Deepwater Horizon platform exploded, spilling an estimated 5 million barrels of oil, is reaching much farther than expected. While the toll on wildlife was immediately apparent, the tragedy is now affecting family pets. The number of pets being surrendered by families forced into extreme financial hardship is skyrocketing. Shelters report on average up to four times as many animals being given up for adoption compared to a year ago, according to the American Veterinary Medical Foundation. Ana Zorrilla, CEO of the Louisiana SPCA, says coastal shelters are seeing many more pets. For example, St. Bernard Animal Shelter reported 177 owner-relinquished animals in June, compared to 27 in the year-ago period. Plaquemines Parish took in 131, compared to 112. The statistics are what, in part, spurred AVMF to partner with Hill’s Pet Nutrition and Merial to launch the Gulf Coast Pet Relief Program—AVMF.org/gulf coastpetrelief—to help veterinarians support struggling pet owners affected by the oil spill. “We are all aware of the wide devastation,” said Neil Thompson, CEO of Hill’s. The program will provide $145,000 in cash and food products to help reimburse …
World Rabies Day Expanding To 120 CountriesSeptember 2, 2010 World Rabies Day, now in its fourth year, will take place Sept. 28 in an effort to raise awareness and resources in support of human rabies prevention and animal rabies control. The campaign seeks to reinforce the message that rabies is a preventable disease yet kills 55,000 people a year, or about one person every 10 minutes, according to the Alliance for Rabies Control. The United Kingdom charity helped spearhead the effort with the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Worldwide participation is expected to exceed previous figures, said Peter Costa, global communications coordinator of the Alliance for Rabies Control. Last year, at least 300 events were held in 105 countries, educating about 20 million people. This year, about 120 countries will host events, educating about 25 million to 30 million people, according to Costa. “World Rabies Day has truly grown by leaps and bounds,” Costa said. “We began with a first-year goal in 2007 of involving 55,000 people and resulted in mobilizing 400,000 people in 75 countries. World Rabies Day has since become a call to action and a catalyst for rabies prevention activities. The campaign has galvanized support across the spectrum of …
P&G Issues Limited Cat Food Recall In ColoradoSeptember 1, 2010 UPDATE P&G now reports that the recalled Iams Proactive Health Indoor Weight & Hairball Care dry cat food was sold in several states as well as Colorado. To read an updated version of this story, click here The recalled product comes in blue 6.8-pound bags and features a code date of 02304173 (B1-B6) and the UPC number 1901403921. No other Iams pet food products are affected.Because of salmonella concerns, Procter & Gamble is voluntarily recalling a limited number of bags of its Iams Proactive Health Indoor Weight & Hairball Care dry cat food, which, according to the company, may have been sold in a couple of stores in Loveland, Colo. P&G reported that it has worked with retailers to remove the product from stores in Loveland. The company said it believes three bags may have been purchased recently by consumers in the area. No illnesses have been reported. Pets with salmonella infections may be lethargic and have diarrhea or bloody diarrhea, fever, and vomiting. Some pets may have decreased appetite, fever and abdominal pain. Infected but otherwise healthy pets can be carriers and …
Recalled Iams Cat Food Sold In Other StatesSeptember 1, 2010 Procter & Gamble Co., which pulled Iams Proactive Health Indoor Weight & Hairball Care dry cat food from store shelves in Colorado this week because of salmonella concerns, reported today that the affected product was sold in other states as well. The recall is limited to 6.8-pound bags with the code date 02304173 (B1-B6) and the UPC number 1901403921. No other Iams pet food products are affected, according to the company. P&G issued a limited recall Sunday. At that time, the company said it believed that three bags had been purchased in Loveland, Colo. Today, P&G said the affected product was sold through a single retailer in Colorado, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Texas, Wisconsin and Wyoming. The retailer's name was not released. P&G estimates that fewer than 60 bags may have been purchased by consumers. No illnesses have been reported. Pets with salmonella infections may be lethargic and have diarrhea or bloody diarrhea, fever and vomiting. Some pets may have decreased appetite, fever and abdominal pain. Cat owners are urged to contact their veterinarian if their pet consumed the recalled product and exhibits the symptoms. …
American Humane Names New PresidentAugust 31, 2010The American Humane Association has named Robin Ganzert, Ph.D., president and chief executive officer, effective Oct. 1. Ganzert currently serves as deputy director of philanthropic services at the Pew Charitable Trusts in Washington, D.C. "Robin brings an unparalleled combination of energy, professional reputation and nonprofit management ability toward achieving our mission to ensure that all children and animals are free from abuse, cruelty and neglect," said David Gies, American Humane Association chairman. "Her relationships and credentials in driving high-impact philanthropy give American Humane Association a new foundation from which to build on 133 years of achievements. We enthusiastically welcome Robin's leadership." Ganzert will replace George Casey, interim president and CEO. Casey has guided the organization since the departure of CEO Marie Belew Wheatley in January.
Seasons Natural To Introduce Climate-Specific Dog FoodAugust 30, 2010 The pet food is created via a patented manufacturing process that is designed to address changes in pets’ nutritional needs brought on by a change in season.Seasons Pet Food Co. of Mira Loma, Calif., announced plans in late August to launch what is being billed as the world’s first climate-specific dog food. Cool Weather Blend provides an increased level of proteins and fat that dogs need in the cooler months, the company said, as well as L-carnitine to help dogs utilize fats more efficiently and promote lean muscle mass, according to the company. For the warmer months, the Warm Weather Blend provides a managed level of protein and fat, as well as additional electrolytes to foster healthy heart function, muscle function and hydration. “Consumers now more than ever want the best, most nutritious food for their pets,” said Tom Kapocius, Seasons Natural’s vice president of sales and marketing. “They know their animals deserve the very best foods for their nutritional needs to help sustain a long and healthy life. With our climate specific formulations, we are confident Seasons Natural delivers exactly what pets need and will enjoy.” The premise behind creating seasonal pet food is …
