Study finds only low levels of methylmercury in dog foodApril 25, 2019A study by the University of California (UC), Davis on levels of methylmercury in samplings of commercial dog food has found low concentrations in the majority of the tested brands. Only three of the 24 types of dog food tested positive for low concentrations of total mercury, and only one contained detectable methylmercury. "The concentrations detected are unlikely to pose a risk to healthy adult dogs," says lead author, Rae Sires, a nutrition resident at UC, Davis's Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital. "These results should be reassuring to dog owners." Other studies have measured total mercury in dog food, but this is the first time testing for methylmercury has been done. As methylmercury is present in aquatic species, researchers evaluated dog food containing fish, as well as fish-free foods. They found two of the three positive samples among the non-fish diets, which suggests common sources of mercury in pet foods. "We need more data to determine where the total mercury detected in dog foods is coming from, but our study doesn't support avoiding fish or salmon-based diets," Sires says.
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KindredBio named AAHA Advantage's new vendorApril 25, 2019Kindred Biosciences has been named American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA) Advantage's newest vendor. As part of the deal, the biopharmaceutical company will provide marketing and education funds to enhance AAHA's existing educational programs and resources. "At KindredBio, we support veterinary science at every level, whether it's in the laboratory where we develop innovative technologies or in the exam room where veterinarians put science into action," says KindredBio president and chief operating officer, Denise Bevers. "As such, we are proud to join forces with the AAHA."
Informed pet owners more likely to give heartworm preventativesApril 24, 2019Pet owners who have regular and open discussions with their veterinarian are more likely to consistently give their animals preventatives. Not only that, but according to a new study by Ceva, those clients have fewer issues with their cost and actual administration. "Our research showed the most consistent users follow their veterinarian's recommended steps for preventing the disease," says Ceva's senior director of veterinary services and pharmacovigilance, Charles Johnson, DVM. "They also value and rely on their veterinarian's recommendations more than inconsistent and non-users." The study's goal was to look at why consumers don't use preventatives consistently. The results point to lack of education as the main culprit. Respondents reported they are often left uninformed about the risks and health issues their pet could experience by contracting the disease, and they are confused about how preventatives work in general. The other findings of the study are: • only 25 percent of dogs receive heartworm preventives on a regular basis; • only 33 percent of users have purchased heartworm preventives during the past year; and • one in four dog owners think they are giving a heartworm preventive, but are really just providing flea and tick protection. …
Why heartworm prevention begins in your practiceApril 24, 2019According to the American Heartworm Society (AMS), it is estimated more than one million dogs have heartworm disease. Spread by mosquitoes, heartworms live in the heart and pulmonary arteries of infected dogs and cats. Left untreated, the disease can lead to heart failure, as well as damage to other organs. To mark Heartworm Awareness Month, we asked Claire Walther, DVM, veterinary specialty operations at Zoetis Petcare, for her take on what veterinarians can do to better convey the need for heartworm prevention to pet owners. 1) What is the single biggest misconception among veterinarians regarding heartworm disease? Biologically, it is how missing one dose of a preventative medication can lead to the development of heartworm disease. We say it to our clients daily, but many of us couldn't explain why if a client asked. In my own practice, I struggled with the answer. Here is a 30-second sound bite I've used with my clients to help simplify what is a complex discussion. "Young heartworms are carried by infected mosquitoes, and it only takes one bite to transmit them to your dog.1 Once in your dog, the young heartworms live just underneath the skin for about a month—this …
IDEXX CEO launches wild cat conservation foundationApril 23, 2019IDEXX's chief executive officer, Jonathan Ayers, and his wife, Helaine, have created a foundation to support the funding of global wild cat species conservation initiatives and organizations. "We lionize cats such as jaguars, leopards, and cheetahs in popular culture, yet felid species in the wild are threatened with declining populations and, in time, extinction," Ayers says. "We need to do more to preserve their populations in their natural habitat." "Helaine and I believe in the importance of dedicated species conservation efforts, and we hope our foundation will help to support the vitality of wild cats, their natural habitats, and the professionals dedicated to them in a meaningful way for years to come." The Ayers Wild Cat Conservation Trust will focus on 33 species of small cats, as they currently only receive a small fraction of all wild cat conservation funding. A lot of these wild cats are endangered or vulnerable with declining populations, including the clouded leopard, the black-footed cat, the sand cat, and the fishing cat. Funds will be given to initiatives such as the Panthera Small Cats Program, which the Ayers family helped establish. The program is dedicated to the conservation of the world's 40 wild cat …
Three international programs awarded CIVME research grantsApril 23, 2019The Association of American Veterinary Medical Colleges' (AAVMC's) Council on International Veterinary Medical Education (CIVME) has awarded its 2019 research grants to three international programs. The grants are aimed at fostering the enrichment and advancement of international academic veterinary medicine. CIVME's goal is to advance AAVMC initiatives by promoting inter-regional collaboration. This year, 27 proposals representing collaborative efforts from more than 40 institutions around the world were received. The three funded programs and principle investigators are: • Optimizing work-based learning in veterinary undergraduate studies by identifying factors and issues contributing to the experiences of students, placement providers, and faculty by Ahasanul Hoque, DVM, MS, PhD, Chittagong Veterinary and Animal Sciences University, Bangladesh; • Establishing evidence-based wellness practices for veterinary medical students to decrease burnout, depression, anxiety, and improve quality of life: A response to increasing rates of veterinarian suicide by Munashe Chigerwe, BVSc, MPH, PhD, University of California, Davis; and • Art and Identity: Using creative methods to support professional identity formation: The students' perspective by Elizabeth Armitage-Chan Vet MB, PhD, Dip ACVAA, FHEA, Royal Veterinary College, London, U.K.
New bill would allow California veterinarians to recommend cannabisApril 22, 2019A new bill introduced to the California legislation could repeal an original ban on veterinarians recommending cannabis to their clients. The bill, SB 627, would allow licensed veterinarians to discuss the use of and recommend medicinal cannabis or related products on an animal patient for any condition for which these products provide relief. The bill would also prohibit a veterinarian who makes a recommendation under these provisions from being punished, or denied any right or privilege, for recommending these products. Currently, The Veterinary Medicine Practice Act authorizes the board to revoke or suspend the license of a person to practice veterinary medicine, or to assess a fine, for discussing medicinal cannabis with a client while the veterinarian is employed by or has an agreement with a Medicinal and Adult-Use Cannabis Regulation and Safety Act (MAUCRSA) licensee and is distributing advertising for cannabis in California. Further, the bill would permit pet owners to purchase medicinal cannabis or medicinal cannabis products on a veterinarian's recommendation.
Zoetis named one of America's best employers, says ForbesApril 18, 2019For the fourth year in a row, Zoetis has been named one of America's best midsize employers, according to Forbes Magazine. The list comprises 150 companies. It is based on an independent survey among a sample of 50,000 American employees working for companies with at least 1,000 people in their U.S. operations. The most important factor in the assessment was the willingness to recommend one's own employer. Employees were consulted anonymously through online access panels allowing them to express their opinions. "At Zoetis, we know our people shape our reputation as a great place to work and drive our success," says Roxanne Lagano, Zoetis executive vice president, chief human resources officer and communications. "We are proud of the culture we have at our company, and we are excited our colleagues and others recommend Zoetis as one of America's best employers."
Boston's Museum of Science receives AZA accreditationApril 18, 2019The Museum of Science, Boston, has once again been granted an Association of Zoos & Aquariums (AZA) accreditation. The certification comes after the museum underwent a thorough review by the AZA's independent accreditation commission to ensure it has and will continue to meet standards in animal care and welfare, veterinary programs, conservation, education, and safety. The accreditation process must be completed every five years for members to remain in good standing. The museum has been an accredited AZA member since 2002. "Less than 10 percent of animal facilities registered with the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) have achieved AZA accreditation, so the Museum of Science is truly a leader in the profession," says AZA president and CEO, Dan Ashe. "AZA accreditation signifies the Museum of Science's active role in protecting our world's wild animals and wild places while providing exemplary animal care and meaningful guest experiences." The accreditation process comprises of a detailed application and an on-site inspection by a team of trained zoo and aquarium professionals. The inspection team observes all aspects of the institution's operation, including animal care and welfare, keeper training, visitor safety, staff and animals, educational programs, conservation efforts, veterinary programs, financial stability, risk …
Nine tips for tidying up our practices this yearApril 17, 2019If it doesn't bring you joy… throw it out. It's an inexplicably alluring (if slightly depressing) code to live by. Championed by professional organizer Marie Kondo in her wildly successful book, The Life-Changing Method of Tidying Up, the eponymous KonMari approach to organization urges us all to examine the impulses tethering us to things that don't really matter. Among other human urges that define spring as a season (procreation comes to mind), the drive to reestablish control over our lives plays a prominent role in our culture. Maintaining our homes and workplaces clean, tidy, and ordered represents a psychological thawing of our winterized brains and a resurrection of our normal daily activities. We as veterinary professionals experience much the same as it applies to our workplaces. As the busier seasons approach, many of us take stock of what we have and seek to improve our environment. Tidying up à la KonMari, with an eye toward getting rid of what doesn't serve us, is how I'm managing my life this year. To that end, here are this year's things to tackle and tips for tidying, as I seek to tame the chaos that inevitably builds over the previous year. 1) …
