Assessing claims of vaccine-induced ITP, IMHAAugust 29, 2018The use of any medical interventions involves balancing risks and benefits. A treatment that has zero risks almost certainly does nothing meaningful. In the case of vaccination, the benefits are well established and often taken for granted. Many serious, even life-threatening, diseases can be prevented through vaccination. In humans, childhood vaccination is recognized as the No. 1 public health achievement of the 20th century,1 and the benefits continue to grow in the 21st.2 Although less data is available in veterinary medicine, there is no question that vaccines have been enormously effective in reducing illness and death in veterinary species as well.3-4
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Boehringer Ingelheim receives new label claim for repro productAugust 29, 2018Boehringer Ingelheim announced that Cystorelin is now labeled for use in combination with Synchsure to synchronize estrous cycles to allow for fixed-time artificial insemination in lactating dairy cows and beef cows. When used together, the products can provide producers with shortened time to first service, increased estrus-detection efficiency, and improved first-service conception rate in their cattle. "Cystorelin and Synchsure deliver dependability and flexibility that can improve overall herd reproductive performance," Stephen Foulke, DVM, professional services veterinarian with Boehringer Ingelheim. "We're proud to help producers take the guesswork out of their breeding programs and to help their herd conceive and calve on schedule, saving them time and money." While many factors have a large impact on reproductive successes such as nutrition, cow comfort, heat abatement, dry cow management and more, Dr. Foulke said the best reproduction program is one that can get done consistently and correctly. "I recommend working closely with your herd veterinarian to determine your specific reproduction goals to implement the best synchronization program for your needs," he said. Visit SyncTheHerd.com to learn more about Cystorelin and Synchsure.
FDA, Health Canada issue pet product alert for King Bio due to microbial contaminationAugust 29, 2018The Food and Drug Administration and Health Canada are warning pet owners not to use products, including those labeled as homeopathic drug products, made by King Bio Inc. in Asheville, N.C., and labeled as Dr. King's, due to high levels of microbial contamination identified at the manufacturing site. King Bio has expanded a voluntary recall to include all water-based drug products marketed for animals. The FDA and Health Canada recommend consumers stop using and dispose of these products immediately. King Bio manufactures pet products for urinary incontinence and digestion relief. The full list of products is listed on the King Bio website. Pets who use these products could have an increased risk of serious infection that could require veterinary attention due to high levels of microbial contamination, according to the FDA. Pet owners who have purchased these products should contact their veterinarian if they have concerns or observe signs of an infection after use of these products. According to King Bio, after a recent FDA inspection, several microbial contaminants were found in its products, including Burkholderia multivorans, which is a strain of bacteria called Burkholderia cepacia complex that can cause illness …
Midmark Corp. unveils new corporate brand identityAugust 29, 2018Midmark Corp., a provider of veterinary, medical, and dental equipment, launched a new corporate brand identity that "captures the company's commitment to a better care experience and the growing value Midmark offers customers as they focus on improving clinical outcomes," said the company in a statement. The rebranding, which features a new website, logo, tagline (Designing better care), and more, "mirror[s] the transformation of Midmark from an equipment manufacturer into a clinical environmental design company," the company stated. "Care providers are always looking for new approaches, innovative technologies and proven solutions that can help enhance the patient and caregiver experience and improve the quality of care provided," said John Baumann, president and CEO. "Improving the experience between the patient and caregiver is at the heart of everything we do. Whether we are talking about a doctor's office, dental practice, or veterinary clinic, better care starts with a better-designed care environment, which leads to better outcomes." The Dayton, Ohio-based company, founded in 1915, has production and administrative offices in Versailles, Ohio; six other locations in the U.S.; and subsidiaries in India, Italy, and the U.K.
OSU enrolling dogs with mammary cancer for clinical trialAugust 29, 2018Oregon State University's Lois Bates Acheson Veterinary Teaching Hospital is now enrolling dogs with mammary cancer in a new clinical trial. Dog owners considering standard tumor removal surgery may be able to choose a new surgical procedure involving an intravenous injection of a cancer cell-illuminating nanoparticle compound that highlights exactly which tissue needs to be removed. After the mammary tumor is removed, the surrounding tissue is irradiated with an infrared laser that causes the nanoparticle compound to heat up, killing any remaining cancer cells. The compound, developed by researchers in the Oregon State University College of Pharmacy, has been found to effectively cure cancer in mice. The new procedure eventually may be most beneficial for treating tumors in challenging anatomic areas, such as the brain and spine, according to Milan Milovancev, DVM, DACVS-SA, an OSU associate professor of small animal surgery participating in the study. The Oregon State University Carlson College of Veterinary Medicine is a member of a national consortium of veterinary oncology centers, managed by the National Institutes of Health, with a focus on translational veterinary medicine. Owners who believe their pets may be good trial candidates can ask their veterinarian …
How do you beat hypothermia?August 28, 2018Three questions for veterinarians on how to you beat hypothermia in animals generically, under anesthesia and surgically.
Personal financial health: Index investing 101 for veterinary professionalsAugust 28, 2018Index investing can be a great tool for veterinarians to utilize. Index investing refers to buying an "index," such as the broad stock market, using a single investment. For example, buying the "market" is a popular way in which index investing can be achieved. By purchasing shares of a market-based index fund, just like purchasing a stock, you get access to the entire S&P 500 (the largest 500 companies listed in the U.S.). This can act as a great diversifier for someone who does not want to pick individual stocks but would rather have returns that closely mirror the market as a whole. Index funds can come in a variety of flavors that track different indexes. Investors cannot invest directly into indexes themselves, so index funds, which are offered in the forms of mutual funds or exchange traded funds, are particularly useful for a busy veterinarian who wants to invest in the markets, but doesn't want to get into the granularity of researching particular stocks. An additional benefit of index investing is that companies that offer these products have done so at very low-fee levels—theoretically making the returns of the actual index and the fund similar. A popular approach …
Eli Global acquires veterinary derm company Stratford PharmaceuticalsAugust 28, 2018Eli Global LLC, based in Durham, N.C., has acquired Stratford Pharmaceuticals LLC, DBA Stratford Animal Health. Financial terms of the transaction were not disclosed. Stratford, which currently provides a wide arrangement of dermatology products to more than 10,000 veterinary hospitals in the U.S. and eight other countries, will continue to operate independently under the leadership of Brian Nugent, founder and CEO, from its Oldsmar, Fla., corporate headquarters. Greg Lindberg is chairman and CEO of Eli. "Partnering with Eli Global was a natural fit as it allows Stratford to keep our corporate identity, provide stability and continuity for our amazing employees while continuing to provide excellent products and services to our large base of veterinary hospitals in the U.S. and abroad," said Nugent. "In addition, Eli Global's resources include more than 100 businesses with 7,500-plus employees and over $20 Billion in proforma assets, which will allow Stratford to continue its double-digit organic growth while at the same time being extremely aggressive in the pursuit of animal health acquisitions."
24 VCA Animal Hospitals donate $12K to NEADS nonprofitAugust 28, 2018VCA Animal Hospitals and its nonprofit partner organization VCA Charities have donated more than $12,000 to NEADS Inc. (formerly known as the National Education for Assistance Dog Services and Dogs for Deaf and Disabled Americans), the internationally accredited nonprofit organization that raises and trains service dogs for people with disabilities. From the beginning of April to June 2, 24 animal hospitals in Massachusetts and New Hampshire collected donations by encouraging clients to round up their transactions to the nearest dollar or to donate online. "We want to thank all of those clients, donors, and staff for helping to make this years' 'Pennies for Pets' a success," said Lauren McVey, regional operations director for VCA Animal Hospitals. "These funds are helping our valued animal-welfare partner groups improve lives in our community." NEADS service dogs offers service dogs for adults and children with a physical disability, service dogs for veterans, and hearing dogs and service dogs for children with autism or other developmental disabilities. The organization's assistance dogs are partnered with professionals in classroom, hospital, ministry, and courthouse settings. Learn more at neads.org. Reported by Sentinel & Enterprise.
Meet KC Animal Health Corridor Investment Forum 2018's 12 competitorsAugust 27, 2018Twelve emerging animal health companies from three countries vied last week for investment opportunities in a "Shark Tank" format with more than 200 animal health companies and 40 financial funds at the 10th annual KC Animal Health Investment Forum. "The Global Animal Health Investment Forum is the premier stage for emerging companies to showcase innovations and technologies that have the potential to revolutionize the animal health industry," said Kimberly Young, president of the Kansas City Animal Health Corridor. Each company is given 10 minutes to present their ideas in front of seven judges, including executives from Nestlé Purina PetCare, Bayer Animal Health, Ceva U.S. Holdings, and Petsmart, followed by a five-minute Q&A session. Presenting companies are seeking anywhere from $500,000 to $20 million in funding and have revenue projections of $20 million within five to seven years. "The Investment Forum is really unique," said Roy Stein, founder and CEO of BabelBark. "It gave us exposure to a mix of people with different backgrounds that were open minded and ready to listen to the newest technology. During Global Animal Health Week we connected with significant investors, potential partners and clients that provided us with enough traction to secure funding and …
