WSAVA launches new website to broaden global veterinary communityFebruary 21, 2018 The World Small Animal Veterinary Association (WSAVA) has launched a new website. Optimized for viewing on all internet-connected devices, the site includes recordings of lectures at previous World Congresses, an interactive map to enable members to find out quickly about the association's activity or continuing education by region, improved site navigation and search functions, and updated information on the full range of the organization's activities. Later this year, the website will feature Global Village, a forum for WSAVA member veterinarians to participate in discussion boards, view CE lectures, access quizzes, vote on WSAVA business, and connect with fellow WSAVA members from around the world. Reflecting the diversity of the WSAVA's membership, the new site will feature more content in Spanish, Russian, and simplified Chinese. "You only have to attend WSAVA World Congress to see the bond among our members and the extent to which they are keen to build relationships with each other, learn more about veterinary practice in other parts of the world and share experience and opportunity globally," said Siraya Chunekamrai, DVM, Ph.D., WSAVA vice president. "Our new website offers them a wealth of resources and information on the WSAVA, on our various committees …
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Inaugural Feather in Her Cap awards go to 4 industry leadersFebruary 20, 2018Four women in the animal health industry have been recognized with inaugural Feather In Her Cap awards, recognizing their achievements and contributions and for mentoring and developing future women leaders. The award, established in 2017 as part of the nonprofit Feather In Her Cap Association Inc., honors women who have made outstanding contributions in animal health through scientific, industrial, or commercial excellence and by demonstrating commitment to mentoring women in the animal health industry. The four awardees, who each received a gold feather brooch and a feathered hat, are: Kimberly Allen, president of commercial operations for Henry Schein Animal Health, has served in various leadership positions within in the veterinary distribution industry for 36 years. She was the first woman to serve on and the first to chair the American Veterinary Distributors Association Board, serving several terms as president. Catherine Knupp, DVM, MS, executive vice president and president of research and development for Zoetis. She is a champion of the Zoetis Midwest Women's Mentoring Network, serving as a speaker at educational events and as a mentor. Marie-Paul Lachaud, DVM, head of European program management at Aratana Therapeutics Inc. The founder of the first animal health clinical research organization in …
NC State establishes first veterinary Clinical Ethics CommitteeFebruary 20, 2018Clinicians and researchers from North Carolina State University and Duke University have developed a first-of-its-kind veterinary medical ethics committee to aid care providers in navigating complex situations and difficult questions about care goals and quality of life. "Even though everyone involved in an animal's case is trying to act in the animal's best interest, determining the best course moving forward can lead to conflicts and that can be distressing for the people involved," said Jeannine Moga, a veterinary social worker at NC State. "I wanted to find an ethics-based way to help our hospital staff address differences and form consensus in these cases." Moga contacted Philip Rosoff, MD, MA, for guidance and advice on how to proceed. Rosoff, pediatric oncologist and director of the clinical ethics program at Duke University Hospital, is corresponding author of a new paper describing the committee's formation. "The establishment and growth of veterinary specialty hospitals for very sick animals is a relatively recent phenomenon," Dr. Rosoff said. "It's not surprising that veterinary hospitals also now see the need for ethics committees to mediate and adjudicate disputes about care." Together, Rosoff, Moga, and Bruce Keene, DVM, MSc, DACVIM, Jane Lewis Seaks Distinguished Professor of Companion …
MU study discovers therapeutic riding programs help PTSD veteransFebruary 20, 2018A University of Missouri study has determined that veterans diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder experienced a significant decrease in PTSD scores just weeks after therapeutic horseback riding (THR). Results show that therapeutic horseback riding may be a clinically effective intervention for alleviating PTSD symptoms in military veterans. "Estimates are that more than 23 million military veterans experience PTSD symptoms each year," said Rebecca Johnson, Ph.D., RN, FAAN, FNAP, professor in the MU College of Veterinary Medicine and the Millsap Professor of Gerontological Nursing in the Sinclair School of Nursing. "While counseling and behavior therapies often are prescribed, sometimes clinicians will encourage complementary therapies, such as therapeutic horseback riding. We wanted to test whether THR could be a useful complementary therapy in the treatment of PTSD." The interaction between horses and riders has been demonstrated to increase riders' confidence, self-esteem, sensory sensitivity, and social motivation while decreasing stress. For the study, 29 military veterans were assessed for eligibility from a nearby Veterans Administration hospital. Those diagnosed with PTSD or PTSD with traumatic brain injury were invited to participate in a therapeutic horseback riding program once a week for six weeks. PTSD symptoms then were measured both at three …
Veterinary foundations announce pharmacology research grant recipientsFebruary 19, 2018The American Veterinary Medical Foundation (AVMF) and the Veterinary Pharmacology Research Foundation (VPRF) have selected two researchers as recipients of the organizations' pharmacology research grants. Derek Foster, DVM, Ph.D., DACVIM, assistant professor of ruminant health and production in the Department of Population Health and Pathobiology at North Carolina State University College of Veterinary Medicine, is the recipient of the AVMF/VPRF Veterinary Pharmacology Research Grant of nearly $30,000. Dr. Foster is conducting research on the continuous sampling of the bovine udder by ultrafiltration to assess the pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of intramammary ceftiofur. Duncan X. Lascelles, BSc, BVSC, Ph.D., MRCVS, CertVA, DSAS(ST), DECVS, DACVS, professor of small animal surgery and pain management and director of the comparative pain research and education program at the NC State College of Veterinary Medicine, received the organizations' nearly $15,000 Veterinary Pharmacokinetic Research Grant. Dr. Lascelles' research focuses on the pharmacokinetics of gabapentin in cats by three routes of administration. Funding for the AVMF and VPRF research grants supports research into new or currently approved medications for combating diseases and conditions of companion and food animals as well as projects that ensure the safety of food products from treated livestock. Clinicians …
AVMA, AAVMC summit to address veterinary well-being cultureFebruary 19, 2018This spring, the American Veterinary Medical Association, the Association of American Veterinary Medical Colleges, and Zoetis will present the Veterinary Wellbeing Summit 2018, Apr. 15-17 in Chicago to bring about well-being changes in the pforession. At this year's meeting, leaders within the veterinary medical community and other health professionals will gather to focus on strategies and resources for establishing a culture of well-being throughout the profession, according to the AAVMC. "The health and wellness challenges we face in veterinary medicine are real, they are serious, and they require a united and decisive response," said Andrew T. Maccabe, DVM, JD, MPH, AAVMC CEO. "We're gratified to see so many people and organizations working together to address this threat to our profession and the people and animals it serves." For more information or to register, click here.
Veterinarians are mentally well but experience poor well-beingFebruary 17, 2018Veterinarians as a group don't experience psychological distress at significantly higher rates than the general population, according to a new mental health and well-being study by Brakke Consulting and Merck Animal Health. The Merck Animal Health Wellbeing Study, designed to definitively quantify the prevalence of mental illness and stress in the veterinary profession, compared findings to previous studies and to the U.S. population in general. The survey, which polled 3,540 American Veterinary Medical Association members (from a random sample of 20,000), is the first to measure well-being of such a large veterinary sample using the Kessler Psychological Distress Scale, which is widely used in assessing psychological distress among general and clinical populations. "This survey is unique in that, for the first time, a nationally representative sample of veterinarians in the U.S. were asked about their well-being, which is a broader measure of happiness and life satisfaction than mental health alone," said study investigator Linda Lord, Ph.D., DVM, academic and allied industry liaison lead for Merck Animal Health. One big takeaway is that 5 percent, or 1 in 20, of veterinarians struggle with serious psychological distress (roughly that of the employed general population). "The …
Pentobarbital discovery prompts J.M. Smucker dog food recallFebruary 16, 2018J.M. Smucker Co. is recalling some of its dog food products after traces of pentobarbital, a euthanasia drug, were discovered in samples from a range of the company's brands. The company announced that it would withdraw shipments of wet canned dog food from Gravy Train, Kibbles 'n Bits, Ol' Roy, and Skippy. The drug was discovered through an independent investigation by ABC7, which partnered with Ellipse Analytics, a lab specializing in food testing, to test the products. Sixty-two samples of wet dog food, from more than 24 brands, were tested over a period of several months. Only one brand, Gravy Train, repeatedly tested positive for trace amounts of pentobarbital, according to the investigation. Of the 15 cans of Gravy Train tested, 60 percent were positive for the euthanasia drug. Gravy Train is made by Big Heart Pet Foods, which is owned by Smucker. Other Big Heart Pet Foods brands include Meow Mix, Milk Bone, Kibbles 'n Bits, 9 Lives, Natural Balance, Pup-Peroni, Nature's Recipe, Canine Carry Outs and Jerky Treats. "Veterinarians and animal nutrition specialists, as well as the FDA, have confirmed that extremely low levels of pentobarbital, like the levels reported to …
Cummings vet med center earns large AAHA referral accreditationFebruary 15, 2018The Henry and Lois Foster Hospital for Small Animals at Cummings Veterinary Medical Center at Tufts University recently earned referral accreditation from the American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA) in 15 areas of specialty veterinary medicine. Foster Hospital is one of only a few facilities in the country to receive AAHA referral accreditation for such a large number of specialties, according to Tufts. The accreditation followed a rigorous review of the hospital's practice protocols, medical equipment, facility, and client service. Foster Hospital is one of seven academic teaching hospitals and clinics that comprise Cummings Veterinary Medical Center, located at Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine at Tufts University. The hospital, which treated nearly 35,000 patients in 2017, provides care for dogs, cats, and exotic pets, offering consultation, referral, and 24-hour emergency veterinary services. Board-certified veterinarians across a range of specialties diagnose and treat complex conditions using advanced veterinary tools and procedures. As part of the accreditation, Foster Hospital was evaluated for the following specialties: Anesthesia Avian Behavior Emergency & Critical Care Exotic Companion Mammal Internal Medicine – Cardiology Internal Medicine – Neurology Internal Medicine – Oncology Internal Medicine – Small Animal Nutrition Ophthalmology Radiology Radiology – Radiation Oncology Surgery Zoology Unlike human …
Veterinary Emerging Topics Report for 2018 focuses on AMRFebruary 15, 2018Banfield Pet Hospital and the North American Veterinary Community (NAVC) have published the second annual Veterinary Emerging Topics (VET) Report. This year's report focuses on feline antimicrobial usage and the mounting public health issue of antimicrobial resistance (AMR), expanding the 2017 conversation that discussed canine patients. "Our second annual VET Report enables Banfield to continue its commitment to advancing pet health," said Daniel Aja, DVM, chief medical officer, Banfield Pet Hospital. " … Our … goal is to give veterinarians around the world information they need to provide the best care possible to feline patients, while also educating pet owners and the general public on the issue of AMR in companion animals." A lack of awareness around existing guidelines for antimicrobial usage in veterinary medicine has contributed to discordance between usage patterns and ideal treatments, according to the report. The 2018 publication highlights these guidelines and places a special focus on prescription patterns in common feline infections, considering the unique challenges cat owners face treating their feline companions, such as hiding behavior and defense mechanisms, the report stated. Research examined the treatment of upper respiratory infections and urinary tract infections in feline patients. Key findings include: 40 percent of …
