Merck announces inaugural Dog Flu Prevention WeekApril 18, 2018Merck Animal Health announced it has created Dog Flu Prevention Week, to be held during the third week of April annually (this year April 16-22), as a reminder to pet owners to protect their social dogs, either for the first time or for revaccination. Thousands of cases of dog flu have been confirmed across the country in the past year, and Dog Flu Prevention Week is being launched to recognize the anniversary of the discovery of the newest strain—H3N2—the party responsible for most cases. Dog Flu Prevention Week will kick off the discussion around vaccine-preventable diseases in conjunction with World Animal Vaccination Day, which is April 20. "All dogs that are social and interact with other dogs are at risk for dog flu, but the good news is that dog flu is vaccine preventable," said Kathryn Primm, DVM, co-author of the Pet Parent's Guide to Infectious Disease of Dogs. "Dogs can be protected against both strains of dog flu with a single vaccine, which is given as two doses, two to four weeks apart." Social dogs that are frequently in contact with other dogs at places like dog parks, dog day care and grooming facilities, and boarding kennels are at an increased …
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Fear Free founder helps owners identify, address FAS in new bookApril 18, 2018Even though a good dog owner is attentive to their companion's physical needs—feeding, bathing, and playtime—they sometimes overlook a dog's emotional needs because it can be hard to identify the triggers of a dog's fear, anxiety, and stress (FAS), according to Marty Becker, DVM, founder of the Fear Free Pets program, who has released a new book aimed at teaching the program's principles to owners. In From Fearful to Fear Free: A Positive Program to Free Your Dog from Anxiety, Fears, and Phobias, Dr. Becker; Lisa Radosta, DVM, DACVB; Wailani Sung, Ph.D., DVM, DACVB; and Mikkel Becker explain how FAS is the underlying cause of many concerning behaviors such as excessive barking, aggression, destructive behaviors, and house-soiling. Further, the book discusses how FAS is the source for deterioration of the human-animal bond, and can make a trip to the veterinarian, pet groomer, or boarding facility miserable for pet and owner alike. If misinterpreted, overlooked, or left untreated, these negative experiences can lead to devastating consequences and permanent damage. Dr. Becker and his colleagues address FAS and share their own experiences, and include techniques and resources to implement Dr. Becker's Fear-Free program (fearfreepets.com and
Researchers review mesenchymal stem cell therapy potentialApril 18, 2018 In a review published in the Journal of Feline Medicine and Surgery, Jessica M. Quimby, DVM, Ph.D., DACVIM, Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences at The Ohio State University, and Dori L. Borjesson, DVM, MPVM, Ph.D., Veterinary Institute for Regenerative Cures at the University of California, Davis, consider both the current and potential clinical applications of mesenchymal stem cell therapy in cats. The use of bone marrow-derived stem cells is established for the treatment of human cancer patients and, as such, veterinary applications for bone marrow- and adipose-derived stem cells are being evaluated. In their review, Drs. Quimby and Borjesson consider the emergence of this trend, as well as the current understanding of the biology/immunology of mesenchymal stem cells. Additionally, the authors analyze previous use of mesenchymal stem cells in the treatment of a number of inflammatory, degenerative, and immune-mediated diseases of cats. Traditionally, managing such conditions relies on a lifelong use of medication, with the potential for associated side effects. Often, cats do not respond to standard treatment strategies and, thus, the medication may not protect against the progression of the underlying disease. So far, applications of mesenchymal stem cell therapy in cats have produced encouraging results, including …
AAVSB announces new website, updated logoApril 17, 2018The American Association of Veterinary State Boards (AAVSB) has unveiled new branding, including a complete redesign of its website, and a refresh of the organization's logo. The new, mobile-friendly website provides an improved user experience and focuses on "presenting the right information to the right user at the right time," according to the organization. "We're thrilled to finally get to share our new website with our member boards, their licensees, students, exam candidates, and members of the public to whom the AAVSB is an indispensable resource," said Jim Penrod, executive director. "Our website and logo have evolved, but our mission to support and advance the regulatory process for veterinary medicine is the same. We've simply increased our ability to reach and interact with our key audiences thereby providing greater support to our member boards." The association partnered with Level Five Solutions Inc., a user-experience firm based in Overland Park, Kan.; Adventure Tech, a web and software development company also based in Overland Park; and Lost & Found Designs, an online-based creative design company. Visit the newly redesigned website at aavsb.org.
Celebrity pig Esther helps campaign for large animal CT scannerApril 17, 2018Canadian social media starlet Esther the Wonder Pig has ignited a campaign to raise money for a large animal CT scanner for the University of Guelph's Ontario Veterinary College (OVC). The first of its kind Canada, the Pegaso CT scanner will provide diagnostic imaging for pigs, standing horses, and other large animals. Last fall, Esther, the 650-pound pig from Campbellville, Ontario, Canada, started experiencing health complications that caused her to seizure and hyperventilate. Veterinarians at OVC recommended a CT scan to better diagnose her condition, but told owners Steve Jenkins and Derek Walter a scanner able to accommodate an animal of her size was not available in Canada. Further, transporting Esther to the U.S. would involve a three-week quarantine upon her return. Fortunately, the pig recovered on her own and was able to forgo the scan, but Jenkins and Walter decided to ignite a fundraiser to save other large animal owners future distress. "We wanted to give large animals the same opportunities that we give to our typical companion animals," said Jenkins. "As soon as we realized there was nothing there for Esther, we started working to get a large-scale scanner in place. …
DEA provides opioid shortage updateApril 16, 2018The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) released a statement last week on the ongoing opioid shortages affecting both human and veterinary medicine, resulting from issues at a drug manufacturing plant. "In order to prevent any pharmaceutical drug shortage that negatively impacts patients, DEA is working closely with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, drug manufacturers, wholesale distributors, and hospital associations to ensure that patients have access to necessary hospital-administered pain medications," said the DEA in its statement. "These include certain injectable products that contain morphine, hydromorphone, meperidine, and fentanyl." "In recent months, the largest U.S. manufacturer of these injectable products has slowed production at one of their manufacturing facilities in order to perform necessary and required upgrades. As a result, this company voluntarily surrendered a portion of their quota allotment and DEA reallocated these amounts to three DEA-registered manufacturers of FDA approved injectable products in accordance with DEA regulations. "DEA is communicating actively and directly with all entities impacted and is committed to making further adjustments to individual procurement quotas as necessary and will also consider other measures that may be necessary to address potential shortages for these products." The shortage is expected to last into …
Heartgard producer announces heartworm awareness campaignApril 16, 2018 Merial, now a part of Boehringer Ingelheim (BI), announced a multifaceted campaign to assist veterinarians and clinic teams in promoting the consistent use of heartworm preventive medications for their patients. The announcement follows a recent survey conducted by the company, which showed a decreased use of year-round heartworm preventive measures and a corresponding increase in instances of the disease. "After years of steady progress in reducing the numbers of heartworm-positive cases in pets, a concerning backward slide has occurred over the past few years," said Stephen Jones, DVM, past president of the American Heartworm Society. "It is commendable that the Heartgard Plus team has recognized the urgency of the situation and is moving quickly and aggressively to address this challenge." Through the initiative, Merial's team will engage with both veterinarians and pet owners to listen to the challenges they face in starting and keeping their patients/pets on heartworm preventive medications for year-round protection. From this data, best practices for encouraging consistent usage will be determined and shared with the animal care community. The first component of the campaign, Take the Paw Pledge, launches this month, with veterinarians across the country asking their clients to commit …
PetSmart petition gets 52K+ signatures following another grooming deathApril 16, 2018 The death of an 8-year-old corgi at a PetSmart grooming facility has led to an online petition against the retail giant. The petition, which demands PetSmart shut down its grooming centers until an investigation has been completed and storewide changes have been implemented, has amassed more than 52,000 signatures. The dog's owner, Chuck Crawford, said he dropped his two Corgis, Abby and Harley, at a PetSmart grooming facility in Toms River, N.J., only to receive a phone call an hour later, informing him Abby had died and telling him where he could pick up her body. The corgi is the fourth dog to die at a PetSmart grooming facility in five months. Last December, Danielle DiNapoli's English bulldog, Scruffles, died at a PetSmart grooming center in Flemington, N.J. The death also ignited an online petition against the company, demanding PetSmart investigate and release a public report on the incident. The appeal received more than 92,000 signatures. "After Scruffles the bulldog died, the outrage caused PetSmart to launch a comprehensive review to change the way they do grooming," said Kelsey Bourgeois, the author of Abby's petition. "But obviously pets are still getting hurt …
AAVMC strengthens internship guidelinesApril 16, 2018 The Association of American Veterinary Medical Colleges (AAVMC) has developed a comprehensive set of guidelines designed to ensure the academic integrity of veterinary internship programs. The review follows recent criticisms, which deemed clinical placements as a means of providing hospitals with inexpensive labor, offering little educational value for students. Working off guidelines published in 2011 by the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA), the AAVMC also looked at preexisting guides outlined by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) when establishing the best practices for veterinary medical clinical internship programs. As such, AAVMC's Internship Guidelines include recommendations on work hours and climate consistent with health and wellness concerns referenced by the ACGME. The updated guidelines reinforce a core statement carried over from the AVMA's document, stating the primary purpose of an internship is to provide an educational program for the intern; not a service benefit to the hospital/clinic. "These guidelines will help to improve the learning experience, advance the quality of clinical internship programs, and ultimately train better veterinary practitioners," said Andrew T. Maccabe, DVM, MPH, JD, AAVMC CEO. "We are grateful to the working group members for their …
PetIQ faces unlawful merger suit filed by pet med distributorsApril 13, 2018 A lawsuit has been filed against PetIQ Inc., citing an alleged unlawful merger and other antitrust violations. The action was filed Apr. 4 in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California by Washington, D.C.-based antitrust law firm MoginRubin LLP on behalf of pet medication distributors Med Vets Inc. and Bay Medical Solutions Inc. The lawsuit claims PetIQ's acquisition of veterinary clinic operator VIP Petcare Holdings Inc., which took place in January, will harm competition in the wholesale markets for prescription and restricted pet parasiticides by allowing the manufacturer to monopolize on the distribution of wellness products like Frontline Plus and HeartGard to nonveterinary retailers, such as Walmart and PetSmart. The action seeks to permanently enjoin the alleged unlawful acquisition as a violation of Section 7 of the Clayton Act, which bars anticompetitive practices, seeking damages for price discrimination and attempted monopolization that is in violation of both the Clayton Act and the related Sherman Act. To view a copy of the complaint, click here.
