Speaking In Veterinarian To Lawyers Of The FutureApril 17, 2009I recently played schoolteacher at my local law school. Like most U.S. law schools, this one has been entreated to adopt animal law offerings in advance of the burgeoning number of animal law cases. With topics as diverse as death benefits for pets, common cruelty cases, puppy mill claims and veterinary malpractice scenarios, animal law is making significant inroads, at least in the classroom. Lawyers-to-be have pushed for animal law curricula at their schools, and students have packed the classrooms. Though not all have gone on to make a difference in animals’ lives through law, the population of lawyers waiting to tackle significant animal cases is undeniably growing. According to a February Associated Press story, “Incidents of [animal] abuse and a shifting national consciousness have made this one of the fastest-growing fields in the legal profession. In 1993, just seven states had felony animal cruelty laws; today, all but four do.” That’s why law schools are looking for veterinarians willing to lend a vet’s-eye view to those who would either see us squashed like a bug in a malpractice lawsuit, fight on our side against those who commit crimes against animals, or push for higher standards for treatment of animals …
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California Governor Proposes Taxing Veterinary ServicesApril 17, 2009 California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger announced a plan Thursday that would raise the state's sales tax rate and apply it to veterinary services, among other services, to help fix the state’s $11.2 billion budget shortfall. “We have drastic problems that require drastic and immediate action—we must stop the bleeding right now,” Schwarzenegger said in a statement. The state's sales tax rate is 7.25 percent. Many counties add to that basic rate. Under the proposal, Los Angeles County's sales tax rate would be 10.25 percent. Hawaii, New Mexico and South Dakota are the only states that currently tax veterinary medical services, including routine exams and vaccinations, according to the American Veterinary Medical Assn.’s state tax summary report. While California does not tax ancillary veterinary services, such as grooming and boarding, or prescription medications, it does tax non-prescription products, as do 33 other states. Only eight states charge no taxes of any kind on animal products or services. “The regulations and exemptions on sales tax vary greatly from state to state,” said David Kirkpatrick, AVMA media relations manager. Members at the California Veterinary Medical Assn. are not thrilled with Schwarzenegger’s plan. “We strongly believe that …
Virbac To Hold Dermatology Program In MayApril 17, 2009Virbac Animal Health has partnered with Veterinary Team Education Courses to present an 11-unit continuing education class on dermatology May 1-3 in San Francisco. The program, "Building the Dermatology Team," focuses on the veterinary team's understanding of the various disease mechanisms, clinical dermatological diagnostics and new treatment options. "In addition to the lecture and discussion part of the conference, participants will be grouped into virtual teaching hospitals," said Dena Ware, Virbac marketing manager. "Each team will work through a dermatology case, focusing on how to develop tools, algorithms and hospital protocols. They will also work through obtaining a medical history, key steps in an initial assessment, approaching clinical diagnostics, understanding and implementing a treatment protocol. The team will also gain valuable insight into how to educate pet owners in dealing with the symptomatic pet." Speakers will include: Douglas DeBoer, DVM, Dipl. ACVD, a professor of dermatology at the University of Wisconsin, Madison's School of Veterinary Medicine. Andrew Rosenfeld, DVM, Dipl. ABVP, founder and president of VTEC. Helen Power, DVM, Dipl. ACVD, of San Francisco Veterinary Specialists. Click here for registration details. <HOME>
Neogen Reports Record Third QuarterApril 17, 2009 Neogen Corp.’s Animal Safety Division reported March 19 that its third-quarter revenue increased by 20 percent, to $13.7 million, from $11.3 million in the year-ago period. Disinfectant and cleaning products from the DuPont acquisition accounted for the gain, according to the company. Year to date, the division reported a revenue increase of 29 percent over the prior year, from $33.2 million to $42.7 million. Sales of veterinary instruments increased by 12 percent over the prior year. The company said the increase is being driven by continuing market share gains in the retail market, along with significant sales gains in disposable needles and syringes. Neogen’s Food Safety Division reported revenue of $14.2 million for the third quarter ended Feb. 28, compared to $13.8 million in the year-ago period. Year to date, the division reported revenue of $45.1 million, up from $42.1 million. Overall, the Lansing, Mich.-based company reported third-quarter net income of $2.8 million on revenue of $27.8 million, compared to $2.7 million and $25.2 million in the year-ago period. Year to date, Neogen reported net income of $10.5 million on revenue of $87.8 million, compared to $8.9 million and …
Salmon Poisoning Disease Found In Southern CaliforniaApril 17, 2009 A recent case of salmon poisoning disease (SPD) in two dogs in Southern California is prompting veterinarians to warn pet owners about the potential risks involved in allowing dogs to be exposed to raw salmonid fish. The potentially fatal disease is usually found in the Pacific Northwest and can affect dogs, wolves, ferrets and foxes that ingest uncooked salmon, trout, steelhead and similar freshwater fish. Symptoms include vomiting, loss of appetite, fever, diarrhea, weakness, swollen lymph nodes and dehydration, signs that can often be confused with other gastrointestinal diseases. “Most people in this area [Orange County] are unfamiliar with the symptoms of this disease, which appear within five to seven days after eating infected raw fish,” says Mike Moore, DVM, Dipl. ACVIM, at VCA All-Care Animal Referral Center in Fountain Valley, who treated the patients. “Left undiagnosed, SPD can be fatal within several weeks. SPD is treatable if diagnosed quickly.” Dr. Moore, who had practiced in Washington for several years and was familiar with the disease, says he suspected SPD when the pet owners told him that their 10-month-old Yorkie and her 2-year-old mother had ingested raw fish from the Santa Ana River Lakes. …
Researchers Identify Virus Linked To PDDApril 17, 2009Researchers at the University of California, San Francisco, say they have identified the virus linked to proventricular dilatation disease, or PDD, a fatal nervous system disorder in domesticated and wild birds in the psittacine family. The researchers also developed a diagnostic test for the virus, avian bornavirus (ABV) . Other members of the bornavirus family encephalitis in horses and livestock. "This discovery has potentially solved a mystery that has been plaguing the avian veterinary community since the 1970s," said Joseph DeRisi, Ph.D., who led the team with Don Ganem, MD, both professors and Howard Hughes Medical Investigators at UCSF. "These results clearly reveal the existence of an avian reservoir of remarkably diverse bornaviruses that are dramatically different from anything seen in other animals." Drs. DeRisi and Ganem said that the discovery could have profound consequences on both domesticated parrots and in the conservation of endangered species. For instance, the Spix's Macaw is currently one of the most endangered birds in the world and is threatened by PDD, numbering at about 100 worldwide, according to the researchers. It had been theorized that a viral pathogen was the source of the disease, but until now, no one had been able to identify …
Hacker Accesses Personal Info On More Than 1,000 Davis ApplicantsApril 17, 2009 Personal information, such as names, birth dates and Social Security numbers, of about 1,120 applicants to the University of California, Davis, School of Veterinary Medicine for the 2007-2008 school year are in the hands of a hacker. One hundred thirty-one of these applicants are accepted students. The university determined that its computer-security safeguards had been breached on June 15. It became apparent when applicants who had recently been admitted to the School of Veterinary Medicine attempted to set up campus computer accounts and were notified that accounts had already been established in their names. Further investigation showed that the records of 375 veterinary medical school applicants for the 2004-2005 school year (seven of them admitted students) also might have been illegally accessed. “We are working with law enforcement officials to determine how the campus computer-security system was penetrated and to track those who are responsible,” said Bennie Osburn, DVM, dean of the School of Veterinary Medicine. “We deeply regret this breach of security and are notifying the affected individuals to help them identify and protect against any unlawful use of their personal information.” Dr. Osburn also said that U.C. Davis will make available a one-year …
New Pet Food Commission Aims To Strengthen Safety StandardsApril 17, 2009 In light of the recent pet food recalls, the Pet Food Institute has formed the National Pet Food Commission to further strengthen industry procedures and safeguards. Its goals are to investigate the cause of Menu Foods Inc.’s pet food recall involving almost 100 brands and to recommend steps the industry and government should take to further build on safety and quality standards already in place. At the end of its work, the National Pet Food Commission will issue a report outlining its findings. The National Pet Food Commission, which is composed of veterinarians, toxicologists, state and federal regulators and nutritionists, will be chaired by Angele Thompson, Ph.D., a member of the American Academy of Veterinary Nutrition. Commissioners include E. Murl Bailey Jr., DVM, Ph.D., of Texas A&M University and Fran Kallfelz, DVM, Ph.D., of Cornell University. For more information and a complete list of commissioners, visit www.petfoodreport.com. <HOME>
World Veterinary Day Emphasizes Unity Among Health ProfessionsApril 17, 2009 World Veterinary Day, which falls on April 28, expresses a unity among all health care providers, according to Roger Mahr, DVM, president of the American Veterinary Medical Assn. He said that World Veterinary Day provides a great platform to talk about the “one world, one health, one medicine” initiative, which calls for all health sciences professionals, the health sciences colleges and schools—including veterinary schools and human medical colleges—health sciences associations, government agencies and related industries to coordinate efforts on a global basis to combat disease and promote health. “When you consider the fact that in the last year at least 21 billion animals were produced for food and fiber throughout the world, and that in the United States 38,000 animals cross the U.S. border every day and 75 percent of all emerging diseases in the last 20 years are zoonotic, these facts indicate that animal health is truly at a crossroad,” Dr. Mahr said. “The convergence of animal health, human health and ecosystem health dictates that a one world, one health, one medicine concept be embraced.” Leon Russell, DVM, president of the World Veterinary Assn. is encouraging practitioners to host an open house, visit school programs …
Fire Pushes Pittsburgh Vet To Complete Spay In StreetApril 17, 2009 Dr. Mark Jasmine, owner of Jasmine Veterinary Hospital in Springdale Borough, Penn., had to finish a dog spay in a parking lot after a fire erupted at his clinic last Thursday, the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reported. Jasmine, whose family lived on the second floor of the building, had already completed a cat spay and was in the middle of spaying a dog when his three sons, ages 8, 4 and 3, alerted him to the fire. After evacuating the building with his sons, the cat and dog, Jasmine finished the spay on a makeshift operating table in the parking lot of an auto repair shop next door, the newspaper reported. No one—or animal—was reportedly injured. The cause of the fire is under investigation. Jasmine had operated the clinic for about 20 years. <HOME>
