Hydrocephalic fur seal undergoes brain surgery at TuftsDecember 28, 2017A neurosurgical team at Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine at Tufts University has successfully performed a first-of-its-kind brain surgery on a female adult Northern fur seal in an attempt to address her worsening neurologic condition. Ziggy Star is recovering well at her permanent home at Mystic Aquarium in Mystic, Conn. Ziggy was first seen at the Henry and Lois Foster Hospital for Small Animals at Cummings Veterinary Medical Center at Tufts University in September for a progressive condition that was causing severe neurologic episodes, difficulty moving, reduced training response, and cluster seizures. An MRI revealed an accumulation of cerebral spinal fluid in the brain—hydrocephalus. Mystic Aquarium took in Ziggy approximately four years ago after she was found stranded on the California coast and deemed non-releasable by the federal government. At the time, she had an MRI that showed some neurologic abnormalities. She received treatment, but her symptoms continued to progress at a concerning rate, with the seizures emerging more recently. "The MRI taken recently by our team showed that the brain was disappearing due to the excess fluid, and it was significantly worse than the last study four years ago," said Ane Uriarte, DVM, Diplomate of the European College of …
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HoofSearch offers vets, farriers latest hoof science literature, researchDecember 22, 2017HoofSearch, a new project from Hoofcare Publishing, in Gloucester, Mass., is a monthly guide document indexing new peer-reviewed research, academic papers, conference proceedings, and patents covering hoof science, equine lameness, biomechanics, imaging, and related topics like equine metabolic syndrome, footing studies, and racing, breed, and sport-specific lameness research all in one interactive document, available 24/7 across all of a subscriber's web-connected devices. Approximately 100 linked listings from 20 or more countries each month connect registered users to all points of the equine veterinary medicine/science publishing compass. Subscribers can browse the list passively for general awareness or actively click through to journal pages for more options. The index contains peer-reviewed journal articles, conference proceeding abstracts, master's and doctorate theses, and international patent announcements. Rood and Riddle Equine Hospital's Podiatry Clinic in Lexington, Ky., was an early adopter. "We all have HoofSearch available on our phones and laptops, said Scott Morrison, DVM, at Rood and Riddle. "We use it to keep up to date on all the developments in our field; it really is a great resource for all of us." Massachusetts publisher Fran Jurga developed HoofSearch after listening to veterinarians' frustrations with online search systems and farriers' complaints about not …
AAVMC announces 2018 award honoreesDecember 22, 2017The Association of American Veterinary Medical Colleges (AAVMC) has announced the recipients of four awards that recognize professional excellence, achievement, and service in academic veterinary medicine. The awards will be officially presented during the AAVMC's 2018 Annual Conference and Assembly, which will be held March 2-4, 2018 at the Grand Hyatt Washington in Washington, D.C. Jennifer Hodgson, BVSc, Ph.D., MRCVS, DACVM, from the Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine received the 2017 AAVMC Distinguished Teacher Award. The award recognizes excellence in professional veterinary medical education and is presented to an educator whose sustained record of teaching excellence and ability, dedication, character, and leadership has contributed significantly to the advancement of the profession. In her role as associate dean for professional programs, Dr. Hodgson is responsible for all academic and student affairs relating to Virginia-Maryland's Doctor of Veterinary Medicine program, and teaches bacteriology and mycology in the DVM curriculum. Colin Parrish, Ph.D., the John M. Olin Professor of Virology at the Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine, received the 2018 AAVMC Excellence in Research Award. The honor designates Dr. Parrish as the outstanding veterinary medical researcher of the year and recognizes his demonstrated excellence in original research, leadership in …
Zomedica, Celsee Inc. partner to deliver cancer liquid biopsy platformDecember 21, 2017Zomedica Pharmaceuticals Corp. has entered into a license and supply agreement with Celsee Inc., an innovator of progressive rare cell capture, characterization, and retrieval products in the emerging field of liquid biopsy. Under the terms of the agreement, Zomedica will have animal health exclusive global rights to develop and market Celsee's liquid biopsy platform for use by veterinarians as a cancer diagnostic. A liquid biopsy is a blood test with the potential to detect the presence of circulating tumor cells in the blood. Circulating tumor cells (CTC) are shed from a primary tumor into neighboring blood vessels and are transported throughout the body's circulatory system. The detection of CTCs in the blood could indicate a cancer diagnosis without the need for an invasive tissue biopsy, according to Zomedica. "Liquid biopsy is cutting-edge technology in human medicine right now and we're excited about the opportunity to develop and market this platform for use in veterinary medicine," stated Gerald Solensky, Jr., CEO at Zomedica. "We selected the Celsee platform because of the ease of use, workflow simplicity, and flexibility to use our novel canine biomarkers. If we successfully develop Celsee's technology, we believe we will be able to …
Giving the topic of sound veterinary nutrition the respect it deservesDecember 20, 2017Do enough professionals among the veterinary profession treat companion animal nutrition with the significance it deserves? What's driving the US pet obesity epidemic? Are practitioners doing enough to address it? Veterinary Practice News asked Martha G. Cline, DVM, DACVN, president, American Academy of Veterinary Nutrition, and a clinical veterinary nutritionist at AAHA-accredited Red Bank Veterinary Hospital in Tinton Falls, N.J., these questions and more about the topic of diet and nutrition. Here's what she had to share. Why did you decide to specialize in veterinary nutrition? During the summer between my first and second year of veterinary school, I worked with the nutrition department at the University of Tennessee College of Veterinary Medicine (UTCVM) through a summer research program. The focus of this research was canine obesity. This experience was the foundation of my interest, which solidified during my clinical year when I spent additional time rotating through the nutrition services at UTCVM, Oradell Animal Hospital in Paramus, N.J., and Angell Animal Medical Center in Boston. I had excellent mentorship at all of these facilities that helped guide me on my way (shout out to Drs. Angela Witzel, Joe Bartges, Claudia Kirk, Laura …
UC Davis announces 32nd annual Heumphreus Lecture headlinersDecember 19, 2017The 32nd Annual Charles Heumphreus Memorial Lecture will take place Feb. 3 at the UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine (SVM). This year's event features farrier Daisy Bicking, APF-I, CFGP, CE/CI, founder of Daisy Haven Farm: School of Integrative Hoofcare, and Nicholas Frank, DVM, Ph.D., DACVIM, professor of large animal internal medicine, the chair of the Clinical Sciences Department, and associate dean of Academic Affairs at the Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine at Tufts University. Farriers and equine veterinarians are invited to attend the lecture, which honors Charles Heumphreus, the school's farrier from 1967 to 1985. The program was initiated to foster the veterinarian-farrier relationship in order to develop a better understanding of equine foot disorders. Registration and a complete schedule for the event can be found on the UC Davis website. The Heumphreus Lecture serves as an opportunity for farriers and veterinarians to share insights and collaborate on industry best practices. A veritable "who's who" of farriers and veterinarians have served as past guest lecturers. This year's program will focus on laminitis and endocrine disorders. Lecture details During the morning session, Bicking will present …
Henry Schein acquires eVetPracticeDecember 19, 2017Henry Schein Inc. has acquired eVetPractice, a provider of cloud-based practice management solutions to veterinary clinics. The company will join Henry Schein Veterinary Solutions. "As the veterinary practice management software market expands into cloud-based solutions, we at Henry Schein understand that partnering with eVetPractice enhances our ability to power successful practices by providing our customers with the latest in value-added services and technology solutions," said Stanley M. Bergman, chairman of the board and CEO of Henry Schein. "Our distribution footprint and comprehensive technology offerings, which now include the cloud, ensure that veterinary professionals can continue to rely on us as a trusted advisor, as we endeavor to help them operate more efficient and successful practices while delivering quality care." Based in Athens, Ga., and founded in 2011, eVetPractice serves approximately 900 customers. The company was founded by Eddie Heinz, who will join the HSVS executive team and continue to lead the eVetPractice solution and customer support teams. Henry Schein Veterinary Solutions has North American offices in Oshkosh, Wis., Piedmont, Mo., and Trevose, Pa. Henry Schein Animal Health is based in Dublin, Ohio.
USDA grants Zoetis' Vanguard Rapid Resp one-year DOIDecember 19, 2017The USDA has granted Zoetis' Vanguard Rapid Resp intranasal vaccine line one-year duration of immunity (DOI) claims for Bordetella bronchiseptica, canine adenovirus type 2 (CAV-2), and canine parainfluenza virus (CPiV). Vanguard Rapid Resp is the first and only intranasal vaccine line in the US that has been demonstrated to provide one year of protection against three important canine infectious respiratory diseases (CIRD), according to the company. "The demonstration of a one-year duration of immunity for all three antigens in Vanguard Rapid Resp represents an important step in the protection of dogs from CIRD. This new DOI confirms the efficacy of a single product that provides both rapid and durable protection against these important antigens in the CIRD complex," said Stephan Carey, DVM, Ph.D., DACVIM, assistant professor of Small Animal Clinical Sciences at Michigan State University College of Veterinary Medicine, consultant for Zoetis. "This extended DOI is essential in reducing morbidity and mortality from infectious respiratory disease among dogs in social or commingled environments such as boarding facilities and shelters." Vanguard Rapid Resp is available in three antigenic combinations (Bb + CPiV + CAV-2; Bb + CPiV; Bb only), and all of these choices can be administered with a syringe …
AVMA names keynote speaker for 2018 conventionDecember 18, 2017Shiza Shahid is to deliver the keynote address during the American Veterinary Medical Association annual convention to be held this year in Denver, July 13-17. Shahid, who grew up in Pakistan as a staunch advocate for social change and women's rights, went on to serve as founding CEO of the Malala Fund with Nobel Prize winner Malala Yousafzai, and is currently the host of USA Today's new show, ASPIREist. Named a Time Magazine 30 Under 30 World Changer and a Forbes 30 Under 30 Social Entrepreneur, Shiza is a prominent speaker on millennial and women's entrepreneurship. Through her seed fund, NOW Ventures, she supports mission-driven startups that strive to create positive global impact. The keynote address is free and open to all convention attendees and registered guests. Visit avmaconvention.org for more information.
AVMA Economic Summit highlights veterinary income, job marketDecember 15, 2017At the fifth American Veterinary Medical Association Economic Summit, held Oct. 23-24 in Rosemont, Ill., the latest AVMA pet demographic survey highlighted interesting findings regarding ownership and veterinary income. According to the report, which will be released in 2018, the number of dog-owning households is the highest since the AVMA began measuring pet ownership, the number of cat owners has dropped drastically, horse and pet bird ownership are declining, and backyard poultry ownership is increasing. In the scheme of ups and downs, Frederic Ouedraogo, Ph.D., assistant director of the AVMA Veterinary Economics Division, said that real veterinary income has been declining for more than seven years. Further, veterinarians are likely to experience peak income of about $125,000 annually by age 59, and those who become practice owners soon after graduation earn more than those who become owners later in their career. "If you're not an owner after 10 years postgraduation, continue being a nonowner," he said. "Owners make money in the first years after graduation … nonowners have low income initially, but after 30 years, their income is equal to owners'." Charlotte Hansen, a statistical analyst in the AVMA Veterinary Economics Division, compared the value of …
