American Humane announces 2018 Hero Vet, Vet Nurse, Dog awardsOctober 2, 2018American Humane has announced the winners of the 2018 American Humane Hero Veterinarian, Veterinary Nurse, and Dog awards. 2018 American Humane Hero Veterinarian Award Throughout his career, David Chico, VMD, MPH, of Albany, N.Y., has been committed to the betterment of the health and well-being of animals, fostering the important human-animal bond. Ten years ago, Dr. Chico created a free quarterly pet wellness clinic in partnership with Pets Are Wonderful Support (PAWS) to provide veterinary care to low-income, HIV-positive pet owners. As part of his continued support, he answers emergency calls at all hours and makes house calls for those too ill to visit the clinic. He volunteers with Animals Lebanon in Beirut, providing lifesaving care to severely abused and neglected animals; works tirelessly on animal cruelty cases in the U.S. as well, assisting with several large dog-fighting and neglect cases; and improves the lives of all those he touches, human and animal alike. 2018 American Humane Hero Veterinary Nurse Award Tammy Boland of Oceanport, N.J., has gone above and beyond her call of duty to save hundreds of dogs over the last 11 years through her nonprofit Pick Your Paw Animal Rescue. Boland networks with some of the busiest …
SPONSORED CONTENTThe Reality of Veterinary Surgery ErgonomicsOne of the greatest challenges of Work-Related Musculo-Skeletal Disorders (WRMSD) is that they can come on slowly. They can be easy to ignore initially. The American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) issued ergonomic guidelines to help veterinarians catch problems early. + Learn More
They Ate What?! X-ray Contest 2018October 1, 2018Toys, tiles, and towels—and a large one at that! Animals eat all sorts of things, forcing their owners to make a mad dash to their veterinarian. Once again, our annual X-ray contest drew dozens of entries, each of them perplexing in their own way, and the next one more bizarre than the last. Choosing a winner was tough, but our panel of experts came through. The winner receives $500, courtesy of IDEXX Laboratories Inc., and a one-year subscription to its Web PACS, a picture archiving communications system valued at $2,400. Total retail value of the prize is $2,900. Check out the top rad, along with the honorable mentions.
WSAVA announces Purina Institute as first Diamond PartnerOctober 1, 2018The World Small Animal Veterinary Association (WSAVA) announced that the Purina Institute has become the organization's first Diamond Partner, lending support to some of the WSAVA's key clinical committees and initiatives. These include: The Global Nutrition Committee, which produces research and resources to help the veterinary healthcare team understand the importance of nutrition in companion animal health The Animal Wellness and Welfare Committee (AWWC), which promotes advances in companion animal wellness and welfare around the world (the committee published its Global Guidelines on Companion Animal Welfare at this year's WSAVA World Congress) The Hereditary Disease Committee, which raises awareness and understanding of hereditary disease and genetic predispositions in dogs and cats WSAVA One Health Committee, which works to highlight the importance of the small companion animal-human interface on the global One Health agenda The Purina Institute is also a Global Partner for WSAVA One Care, an initiative to motivate veterinary associations in countries where companion animal practice is still emerging to raise standards of care. Serving as the global voice of Purina's science and its more than 500 scientists and pet care experts, the Purina Institute aims to put nutrition at …
American Humane honors lifelong aquatic animal advocateOctober 1, 2018John Nightingale, PhD, animal advocate, conservationist, and educator, received American Humane's Humane Hero Award in Los Angeles on Sept. 28. at the Beverly Hilton in Los Angeles. Dr. Nightingale is president and CEO of Ocean Wise and its initiatives, including the Vancouver Aquarium, the first Canadian zoological institution to receive certification through the American Humane Conservation program; Ocean Wise Sustainable Seafood Program; Plastic Wise; the Coastal Ocean Research Institute; the Great Canadian Shoreline Cleanup; and partner/operator of Europe's largest Aquarium, Oceanogràfic in Valencia, Spain. As a professional biologist and public communicator with a background in marine biology, nonprofit management, education, and ocean conservation, Nightingale helps raise awareness about preserving the world's oceans, said American Humane. Through his work at the Vancouver Aquarium, now Ocean Wise, and prior to that at the New York Wildlife Conservation Society/New York Aquarium, the Seattle Aquarium, the Maui Ocean Centre, and Bios Inc., he spearheaded the development and delivery of some of the world's most effective aquatic ecosystem science, interpretation, and public engagement programs, according to American Humane. "It is my great pleasure and honour to receive the American Humane Hero Award," said Nightingale. "Having dedicated my life to conserving our natural world, I am …
AVMA economist shares findings on antibiotics, sustainabilityOctober 1, 2018Matthew J. Salois, chief economist for the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA), presented to the New York Academy of Sciences on the implications of raising animals without antibiotics. The presentation, "Sustainability and Antimicrobial Use in Animal Agriculture," calls for nuanced and evidence-based antibiotic policies that consider a holistic view of antibiotics' impacts on animal welfare, the environment, and economics. In recent years, some companies and consumers have embraced raising animals without antibiotics; today, nearly half of all broiler chickens are raised without antibiotics, according to the AVMA. During his presentation, Dr. Salois cautioned that reduced use of antibiotics in farm animals can have negative implications for animal welfare and the overall sustainability of animal agriculture, if not accompanied by appropriate changes in management practices. For example, the average mortality rate for broiler chickens raised without antibiotics can be 25 to 50 percent higher than for conventionally raised broiler chickens, he said. Additionally, birds raised without antibiotics are much more likely to suffer from painful medical conditions, such as being more than three times as likely to experience ammonia burns in their eyes, Salois added. The higher incidences of disease and mortality for birds raised without antibiotics, …
IsoPet canine soft-tissue sarcoma treatment delivers 'complete response'September 28, 2018Vivos Inc., a pharmaceutical company that develops minimally invasive treatments to combat cancer in humans and animals, reported that its signature product, IsoPet, was used to treat a hind-leg soft-tissue sarcoma in a Shetland sheepdog at the University of Missouri Veterinary Health Center in Columbia, Mo. The treatment of the sarcoma resulted in a "complete response," meaning tumor destruction and disappearance, together with a healthy recovery, according to veterinary oncologist Charles Maitz, DVM, PhD, DACVR-RO. Results will be presented in at the Veterinary Cancer Society's annual conference in Louisville, Ky., Oct. 17 - 20. Post-treatment imaging and dosimetry provided confirmatory data addressing questions previously raised by U.S. Food and Drug Administration review panel, including: Near-uniform placement by injection and interstitial perfusion within the tumor without vascular clearance to normal organs and tissues Very high therapeutic ratios (radiation dose to the tumor relative to normal organs) Effective, highly localized, high-dose radiotherapy, and complete absence of adverse side-effects in critical normal tissues The University of Missouri is now advertising availability of IsoPet treatment for dogs and other species, including treatment of equine sarcoids. "The successful treatment of the cat and dog subjects thus far increases the likelihood of …
Australian researchers discover way to halt T. gondii spreadSeptember 28, 2018According to research published in PLOS Biology, scientists in Australia have discovered a way to halt the invasion of the toxoplasmosis-causing parasite Toxoplasma gondii (T. gondii) into cells, depriving the parasite of a key factor necessary for its growth. The study found that there are two steps that allow T. gondii to take hold within the body: the parasite needs to enter a host cell; from there it replicates and spreads. "After Toxoplasma infects humans it needs to switch off the infection machinery and switch on replication," said Chris Tonkin, PhD., associate professor at the Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research in Melbourne, who led the study. "Without the ability to do this, Toxoplasma will die and be unable to cause disease. We discovered that the gene protein kinase A (PKA) is required for this switch. Without PKA, Toxoplasma can't hold steady." The findings are an important step in getting closer to developing a vaccine to protect pregnant women from the parasite, which carries risk of miscarriage or birth defects, and may also have a link to neurological disorders such as schizophrenia, according to the study. T. gondii is transmitted by cat feces and can be acquired from …
Tips for improving medication compliance among cat ownersSeptember 28, 2018When dispensing medication for in-home treatment of feline patients, owner compliance is a concern due to the unique challenges of administering medication to cats, according to Kindred Biosciences Inc. "Cats have natural behaviors that may make medication administration challenging, and this can be complicated in ill cats that are also anorexic, nauseated, or vomiting," said Christina Fernandez, DVM, MRCVS, DACVECC, professional services veterinarian with Kindred. "Palatability is also a huge factor, and most cats are finicky when it comes to food." To improve compliance, Dr. Fernandez shares five tips veterinarians can focus on: Communication Written information Frequency of veterinary visits Veterinarian continuity Selection of medications Communication is essential, said Fernandez. Veterinarians or veterinary nurses can demonstrate to cat owners how to administer a medication while still in the office. This helps avoid complications and promotes active discussion with the client. If possible, written instructions can be provided. "Follow-up calls from the veterinary clinic staff can help increase owner compliance," said Fernandez. "This can facilitate identification of issues to be addressed with the clinical state of the patient and concerns with the treatment plan while offering an opportunity to set up a follow-up appointment if one isn't already on the books." …
Elanco steps up fight against antimicrobial resistanceSeptember 28, 2018Elanco Animal Health has announced new commitments in the fight against antimicrobial resistance, focusing on three key areas of stewardship, including combating antimicrobial resistance through responsible antibiotic use, reducing the need for medically important antibiotics in livestock, and significantly investing in researching new alternatives. New commitments include: Investing at least half of Elanco's food animal research and development budget in projects dedicated to developing alternatives to shared-class antibiotics Increasing veterinary and professional oversight access in countries with limited resources through new partnerships Expanding data collection and analytics to inform animal health professionals on best practices Encouraging vaccination and nutrition programs that reduce the need for medically important antibiotics by preventing disease The Antimicrobial Resistance Challenge, led by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and U.S. Health and Human Services (HHS), is a yearlong effort to accelerate the fight against antimicrobial resistance with action across governments and industries. "It is of utmost importance we address the complex challenge of antimicrobial resistance and preserve the effectiveness of medicines for people and animals," said Jeff Simmons, president and CEO of Elanco. "Supporting the CDC and HHS effort is an important step in reaffirming our commitment to responsible …
OVC veterinarian removes tumor, replaces dog's skull using 3D printingSeptember 27, 2018A veterinarian from Ontario Veterinary College (OVC) has replaced part of a dog’s skull with a 3D-printed titanium plate after removing a tumour that was weighing down her head.
