Boehringer Ingelheim launches initiative to fight heartworm disease in dogsMarch 6, 2019Boehringer Ingelheim is debuting Heartworm 2020, an initiative dedicated to increasing the number of dogs who receive heartworm disease prevention in 2019. The initiative comes in response to a report from the American Heartworm Society (AHS) that found a 21 percent increase in positive heartworm tests per clinic. "We knew we could help increase the number of dogs receiving the heartworm disease prevention," says Sarah Cloud, Heartgard brand director. "Heartworm 2020 addresses this issue at the grassroots level by asking everyone in the veterinary clinic to participate. If every clinic does their part to get 20 new dogs on prevention, that means 583,240 more dogs will be protected from this potentially deadly disease in 2019 than were protected in 2018." To help clinics accomplish the Heartworm 2020 goal, Heartgard Plus will give heartworm disease education tools and incentives to pet owners. Heartgard Plus will also provide clinics with tracking tools and educational resources for staff. "Helping clinics educate pet owners on the on-going risks of heartworm disease is the first step in increasing the number of dogs on prevention," says head of U.S. Pet Veterinary Professional Services, Zach Mills, DVM. "Heartworm 2020 will help educate pet owners on heartworm …
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Pennsylvania clinic to host second K9 Veterans Day eventMarch 6, 2019Leader Heights Animal Hospital is hosting its second annual K9 Veterans Day event to recognize, honor, and celebrate service animals from organizations in York County, Pa., and nearby areas. Held on March 16, this rain-or-shine event takes place from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. with the ceremony beginning at 1:30 p.m. The celebration is open to the public; however, the organizers are asking that pets stay at home to not distract the service animals. The event includes: • Hero awards for local service animals • Memorializing fallen service animals in the clinic's K9 Memorial garden • K9 demonstrations • Free fingerprinting for children • Dog pampering (with free laser therapy) and nail trims for all service animals • Raising money for the West York K9 department and York County Sheriff's Office K9 department • Free food For more information, see Leader Heights Animal Hospital's Facebook page or email cbear@nvanet.com.
Royal Canin inspires future veterinarians with contestMarch 6, 2019Royal Canin has teamed up with Vet Set Go to give aspiring teen and tween veterinarians the chance to win one of three sought-after spots at Auburn University's junior vet camp. "Like many of my colleagues, my love for animals and desire to help them was awakened at a young age," says Laura Pletz, DVM, scientific services manager at Royal Canin. "In early elementary school, I remember being so appreciative of the veterinarian who cared for my puppy when he broke his leg. I dreamed of being able to provide that same level of care for all animals, which is the moment I knew I wanted to be a veterinarian. I never strayed from that passion and would have loved to have had the opportunity to participate in a program such as junior vet camp." The camp runs from July 14 to 19 and is offered to students entering sixth through eighth grade. Three contest winners will receive all-inclusive entry including free tuition, meals, and housing. Attendees will learn about veterinary treatment in classrooms, laboratories, and outdoor facilities. The students will be taught about public health, food, animals, wildlife, anatomy, x-rays, and first aid. Mentoring about veterinary science careers will …
Fear Free issues request for research proposalsMarch 5, 2019Fear Free is now accepting proposals to help researchers focus on reducing fear, anxiety, and stress related to veterinary visits or/and enriching the lives of pets at home. To qualify, proposals must be original, evidence-based research that will increase and enhance the understanding of the science and knowledge on which Fear Free training and education is based. Fear Free is offering a grant amount of up to $2,500 to individuals, groups, or teaching institutions looking for assistance to help fund their study. Submissions can meet one of two categories: 1) Research in dogs and/or cats exploring the prevention, reduction, or assessment of fear, anxiety, stress, and pain associated with veterinary visits, including travel, facilities, procedures, hospitalization, or the return home. 2) Research in dogs and/or cats studying the effects of techniques, approaches, and strategies to decrease fear, anxiety, and stress in the home including environmental enrichment, meeting behavioral needs, therapeutic interventions, and measures and tools for evaluating stress and distress. Research projects should have Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee or Welfare approval. Submissions are accepted throughout the year, but are now being reviewed. Proposals can be submitted to: fearfreepets.com/fear-free-research
Leveraging your team to its maxMarch 4, 2019If you always do what you have always done, you always get where you have always gone. This is a slight variation of Einstein's definition of insanity. Let's explore how this unfolds within the realm of veterinary team utilization. Your veterinary team is made up of people with various passions and talents. Each team member brings great depth and breadth to the services provided to the client and patient. Clearly defining their roles, expertise, and scope of practice improves the delivery of veterinary care. You may recall the 1999 Mega Study1 commissioned by the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA), Association of American Veterinary Medical Colleges (AAVMC), and American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA) entitled "The Current and Future Market for Veterinarians and Veterinary Medical Services in the United States." The study defined six critical issues to be addressed for veterinary medicine to succeed moving into the next millennium: 1) Veterinarian's income 2) Economic impact of large numbers of women in the profession 3) Global demand for all categories of veterinary services 4) Inefficiency of the delivery system 5) Supply of veterinarians 6) Skills, knowledge, aptitude, and attitude of veterinarians and veterinary students Let's briefly address the other categories before delving …
UF College of Veterinary Medicine spends $6 million to expand its facilitiesMarch 4, 2019University of Florida (UF) College of Veterinary Medicine is expanding its facilities with a new $6-million addition, which will help to better train its students and offer primary care and dentistry services. Built a decade ago, the current building offers 100,000 sf with the new space adding about 12,000 sf. It will provide more space for primary care and dentistry services, and will also contain offices for administrative personnel. The ground floor of the original facility now has more room for emergency and critical care services. Before construction of the new building, primary care and dentistry service clients shared an entrance and lobby with emergency clients. The university says when pet patients are stabilized, they can be seamlessly transferred to primary care in the new building.
Is banning "artificial" ingredients based on fear or science?March 1, 2019Since the late 1980s, individuals and organizations have been trying to warn the public about a deadly chemical known as dihydrogen monoxide (DHMO). Though widely used in the home and in commercial settings, including the health-care industry, this substance has been shown to cause severe lung damage and even death when inhaled in small quantities. Hundreds of thousands of people die annually from this cause.1 DHMO also can produce electrolyte disturbances and potentially fatal neurologic symptoms when taken orally, and it can cause severe burns and even explosions when heated.2 A number of surveys have found high levels of support for banning DHMO, and elected officials in several countries have explored taking such action, although DHMO remains ubiquitous.3,4 Given the obvious dangers of this chemical, why do public health agencies not take action to restrict it? It is possible that funding and political influence from industry impede regulatory action. However, it is more likely that governments have chosen not to ban DHMO because it is essential for life. Most people are surprised to learn this until they recognize the nontechnical name for this chemical—water. Is "chemical" a dirty word? The campaign against DHMO has been used as a humorous …
Martha Stewart to enter animal CBD market with new partnershipFebruary 28, 2019A good thing could be in the works for pet well-being thanks to a collaboration between lifestyle guru and animal lover Martha Stewart and Canopy Growth Corp. The Canadian cannabis and hemp company announced today that Stewart has joined Canopy in an advisory role to assist with developing and positioning a broad new line of product offerings. "I am delighted to establish this partnership with Canopy Growth and share with them the knowledge I have gained after years of experience in the subject of living," Stewart said. "I'm especially looking forward to our first collaboration together, which will offer sensible products for people's beloved pets." Stewart is a vocal advocate for animals, championing the health and wellness of pets and farm animals alike. According to Canopy, several clinical trials are underway to explore the effectiveness of CBD and other cannabinoids as they relate to improving the lives of both humans and animals. The company says it will be guided by Stewart's knowledge of consumer products and merchandising. "As soon as you hear the name Martha, you know exactly who we're talking about," said Canopy Growth chair and co-CEO, Bruce Linton. "Martha is one of a kind and I am …
Trupanion donates $12,000 following veterinary conferencesFebruary 28, 2019Trupanion has donated $12,000 to three animal charities in lieu of handing out booth trinkets at recent industry events. Over the last two months, the pet insurer has donated $5 to the following nonprofits on behalf of every person that visited its booth: Greyhound Pets of America received $4,715 after the VMX conference; The Farley Foundation—which assists those struggling financially to pay for veterinary care for their pets—was given a donation of $1,505 at the end of the Ontario Veterinary Medical Association's (OVMA's) conference in Toronto, Canada; and Nevada's SPCA received $5,860 at the close of WVC.
ISU to begin canine anticancer immunotherapeutic agent clinical trialsFebruary 28, 2019Iowa State University (ISU) College of Veterinary Medicine is starting a clinical study for a new canine anticancer immunotherapeutic. Produced by NovaVive, the anticancer treatment, Immunocidin, has received regulatory approval in the U.S. and Canada to treat mammary tumors. The study will observe dogs with stage I or stage II splenic hemangiosarcoma (HSA) who have undergone a splenectomy to determine the effectiveness of Immunocidin in combination with doxorubicin chemotherapy. Sixty-six dogs will participate in the trial and survival times will be monitored. "Treatment options and survival outcomes for canine HSA have remained essentially stagnant for the past two decades," said Chad Johannes, DVM, DACVIM (SAIM, oncology). "Additional therapeutic options for HSA are needed and we look forward to learning more about how immune stimulation via Immunocidin may play a role in improving outcomes for dogs." Ten oncology clinics will participate in the trial. To find one, visit bit.ly/2D56wBv and enter AAHSD004874 in the keyword search.
