FDA issues alert for isoxazoline class of flea, tick productsSeptember 21, 2018The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is alerting veterinarians and pet owners of the potential for neurologic adverse events in dogs and cats when treated with isoxazoline class flea and tick products, including Bravecto, Nexgard, and Simparica. Data received by the agency as part of its routine post-marketing activities indicates that some animals receiving Bravecto, Nexgard, or Simparica have experienced adverse events such as muscle tremors, ataxia, and seizures, said the FDA in a statement. Credelio, another isoxazoline class product, recently received FDA approval. These products are approved for the treatment and prevention of flea infestations, and the treatment and control of tick infestations. The FDA said it is working with manufacturers of isoxazoline products to include new label information to highlight neurologic events, as they were seen consistently across the isoxazoline class of products. These products continue to be safe and effective for the majority of animals, said the FDA, adding that it carefully reviewed studies and other data on Bravecto, Credelio, Nexgard, and Simparica prior to approval. The agency is asking the manufacturers to change product labeling in order to provide veterinarians and pet owners with the information they need to make treatment decisions …
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Patterson to provide assistance to veterinarians post-FlorenceSeptember 21, 2018Patterson Companies has pledged its support to its veterinary customers in the wake of Hurricane Florence. "In anticipation of this potentially devastating storm, we want our customers to know that we are here to support them," said Mark Walchirk, president and CEO of Patterson Companies. "Together with local and national disaster relief, we are prepared and committed to supporting our employees, customers, and communities who may experience a damage or loss as a result of Hurricane Florence." The company offers several resources to clients, including fulfillment of any needed emergency or replenishment supplies, assistance managing and replacing damaged inventory, financing options for practice renovations/rebuilds and equipment replacement, and other immediate and long-term assistance. Contact the Patterson Veterinary Hotline at 800-287-0422.
AVMA announces annual animal welfare contest datesSeptember 21, 2018The Intercollegiate Animal Welfare Assessment Contest (AWJAC) will be held at Colorado State University from Nov. 16-18. The contest is open to veterinary students, undergraduates, and graduate students, with a limited number of American Veterinary Medical Association members able to attend as noncompetitive participants. Participants will learn to assess the welfare of animals in a variety of settings using science-based methods and reasoning, and are given the opportunity to weigh evidence and present sound evaluations. This year, contestants will be expected to assess the welfare of a variety of species, including dairy goats, egg-laying ducks, green iguanas, and polo ponies. Up to eight AVMA members will be selected to participate. To apply, download the member application form from awjac.org, and submit by Sept. 28.
Midmark launches Total Solutions 2018 promotionSeptember 21, 2018Midmark Corp. animal health solutions provider is now offering its Total Solutions 2018 promotion, during which veterinarians can receive cash incentives, discounts, free onsite training, and free Midmark installation with the purchase of select veterinary equipment through Dec. 31, 2018. During the promotion, rebates and incentives valued at up to $2,000 are available with the purchase of eligible products through an authorized Midmark Animal Health dealer. Rebates and incentives include: Midmark1000 Dental Delivery Systems with $350 rebate Digital Dental X-ray Sensor with free On-site X-ray Positioning Training, a $1,150 value* CR Digital Dental Radiography Reader with free On-site X-ray Positioning Training, a $1,150 value* Complete Digital Dental X-ray System featuring CR Reader or Sensor with free On-site X-ray Positioning Training plus free Midmark Installation, a total value up to $2,000* VMS Anesthesia Machines with $200 rebate VMS Plus Anesthesia Machines with $200 rebate 255 Single LED Procedure Light with $100 rebate 255 Dual LED Procedure Light with $300 rebate Midmark Multiparameter Monitor with $200 rebate Special Pricing on Stainless Steel V-Top Surgery Tables with Adjustable Electric Column As a bonus offer, purchases of a Midmark 1000 combined with any Digital Dental X-Ray product are eligible for the …
WVA, Ceva announce new WVA Animal Welfare awardSeptember 20, 2018Following the World Veterinary Association (WVA) Animal Welfare Awards in 2017 and 2018, Ceva Santé Animale and WVA in collaboration with the International Veterinary Students Association will this year add a new category recognizing a veterinary student for his/her involvement and engagement in animal welfare. The WVA Animal Welfare Award 2019 will be presented to six selected veterinarians from the WVA's six geographical regions and to one veterinary student from around the world. The award ceremony will take place during the 35th World Veterinary Association Congress on April 28, 2019, in San Jose, Costa Rica. The aim of the WVA Animal Welfare Awards is to recognize and reward veterinarians who in their daily lives contribute to the protection and welfare of animals and have provided outstanding and exemplary welfare-related services to animals, animal owners, fellow veterinarians, and the public. "World Veterinary Association and Ceva Santé Animale recognize veterinarians and veterinary students for their exemplary work in protecting and promoting Animal Welfare," said the WVA in a statement. In addition, WVA and Ceva are hoping to expand the awards categories further to include veterinary schools in future editions, recognizing them for animal …
KSU veterinary researchers, Anivive license FIP antiviral drugSeptember 20, 2018A collaboration at Kansas State University and Anivive Lifesciences is promoting the commercial development of GC376, an antiviral compound for feline infectious peritonitis (FIP), which previously has had no effective treatment or cure. Yunjeong Kim, DVM, PhD, ACVM, and Kyeong-Ok "KC" Chang, DVM, MS, PhD, virologists at KSU's College of Veterinary Medicine, and William Groutas, a medicinal chemist at Wichita State University, have been collaborating since 2006 to develop antiviral drugs for human and animal viruses. The licensing agreement was coordinated by the KSU Institute for Commercialization with Anivive Lifesciences, a California company whose proprietary software accelerates the discovery and development process of new pet medicines. "We have been working on antiviral drugs that inhibit a specific virus protease of some important human and animal viruses, and we were able to make very potent inhibitors of FIP," Dr. Kim said. "Through collaborative work with Niels Pedersen at the University of California, Davis—including a field trial on feline patients—we became increasingly hopeful that antiviral treatment may one day substantially benefit cats with FIP. Licensing our compound to Anivive Lifesciences is a huge step forward in transitioning our research to commercialization to make this treatment available to the …
Assistive devices give pets with disabilities a new "leash" on lifeSeptember 20, 2018The resources and support available are a much-needed big step forward from the days when a veterinarian had few options to offer a pet owner with a disabled pet. These days, when a pet owner with a disabled companion animal asks her veterinarian, “Will my pet still have a good quality of life?” the answer can be, in many cases, a resounding “Yes.”
Purina Institute seeks to advance nutritional scienceSeptember 20, 2018Nestlé Purina PetCare Co. intends for its newly launched Purina Institute to be "the global voice of Purina's science representing its more than 500 scientists, veterinarians, and pet care experts who are on a mission to advance nutritional science to help pets live longer, healthier lives," said the company in a statement. The institute seeks to elevate the topic of pet nutrition with veterinarians to drive conversations with pet owners about the role of nutrition in overall pet health. Current research shows that 83 percent of pet owners say they completely trust veterinarians to provide helpful information on pet food, but only 22 percent of veterinarians report initiating nutrition conversations with their clients. The Purina Institute will: Share Purina's nutritional discoveries (e.g., brain and digestive health, molecular nutrition), while leveraging expertise from Purina and Nestlé affiliates making discoveries in human nutrition Facilitate knowledge sharing and innovation by showcasing objective, fact-based information sourced from the wider scientific community on current trending topics across pet and human nutrition Collaborate with the global veterinary community and scientific thought leaders by hosting scientific events, roundtables, panel discussions, and webinars at the Institute's Conference and Education Facility in St. Louis Support …
Auburn CVM, fine arts museum enhance student radiology trainingSeptember 19, 2018The Auburn University College of Veterinary Medicine and the Jule Collins Smith Museum of Fine Art have teamed up to teach veterinary students how to sharpen their radiology-reading skills. Students volunteered at the museum, examined works of art on display, and were asked to objectively describe the visual details they saw in each one and use the details to interpret the artwork. They then, along with Rachel Moon, DVM, DACVR, assistant clinical professor of radiology in the Department of Clinical Sciences at Auburn University's College of Veterinary Medicine, and Scott Bishop, curator of academic and public programs at the museum, entered the classroom to discuss their findings and interpretations. At the end of the session, students applied their newly developed skill set to examine radiographs and other diagnostic images. "Interpretation is based on our actual experience. There can be a lot of different interpretations based on a central theme," said Dr. Moon. "This is a pilot program for the college, but one that other medical training programs have adopted and one I felt was applicable to the clinical education of our student veterinarians." According to Dr. Moon, radiology is an integrated process between the art and the science of discovery …
How infographics boost veterinary practices' public relations and marketingSeptember 19, 2018Although infographics have been around for a while, many people aren't clear on what they are and how to use them. An infographic is a graphic display of data, information, facts, opinions, etc., intended to organize information in a visual, easy-to-digest manner to quickly and clearly help viewers understand the message. Often, infographics include photos, illustrations, statistics, and facts. Infographics actually have been around for centuries. No doubt you've seen them throughout your lifetime, you probably just didn't realize you were looking at one. One important infographic you likely encountered during your school years is the Periodic Table of Elements. Today, many businesses use infographics to share important information. They are ideal for the veterinary industry. Several of my Chicago-area clients used an infographic to help spread the word about the highly-contagious H3N2 Canine Influenza Virus when it first hit the United States in 2015. It was used by multiple veterinary clinics, local shelters, and news media, and was shared in print and via social media. It reached an estimated 100,000 people. This infographic was so popular that one of my colleagues discovered it at a local dog park. Someone, unknown to us, had likely come across the infographic …
