Cornell offers alternative procedure for treating equine atrial fibrillationNovember 28, 2017Cardiologists at the Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine are touting a new procedure to treat atrial fibrillation (AF): transvenous electrical cardioversion (TVEC). "I'm very excited to be able to offer this procedure," said Bruce Kornreich, DVM, Ph.D., DACVIM, associate director of the Feline Health Center and staff cardiologist. "AF is a very common condition in horses that we're often asked to diagnose and treat. This is another tool in our toolbox to convert these patients back to a normal heart rhythm." Cornell's Equine Hospital offered TVEC until about five years ago, when the hospital could no longer purchase catheters needed for the procedure, which involves electrodes in the heart to reset its rhythm via an electric shock. Recently, the catheters came back onto the market. At around the same time, Cornell veterinary students examined On-Star, a 19-year-old mare from the Cornell Equine Park teaching herd. "The students picked up the arrhythmia, and we diagnosed it as AF," said Gillian Perkins, DVM, DACVIM, medical director of the Equine/Nemo Farm Animal Hospitals, who coordinated the procedure. For horses that don't respond well to the traditional quinidine treatment or that have had AF for several years, TVEC might be …
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2017 They Ate What?! People's Choice winners namedNovember 22, 2017Earlier this year, Veterinary Practice News' panel of distinguished veterinary professionals had their chance to vote on the most odd and incomprehensive items removed from the stomachs of their clients' animal companions in the 2017 They Ate What?! X-ray contest. Now the people have spoken. As part of the annual contest, VPN invites its reader community to vote on what they think is the best rad among the year's submissions. "Turtle vs. Turtle" is the winning radiograph of the 2017 They Ate What?! People's Choice X-ray contest. "Turtle," which was a runner-up in the larger contest, was submitted by Don Harris, DVM, of Avian & Exotic AMC in Miami. Lola, a 7-kilogram tortoise, presented for inappetence and lethargy. Radiographs revealed that she had consumed a 1.5-centimeter turtle pendant of unknown origin. A flap plastronotomy was performed to remove the pendant, and Lola recovered completely. Floyd Rowe, office manager for VCA Pacific Avenue South Animal Hospital in Spanaway, Wash., is the winner of the 2017 People's Choice sweepstakes. Floyd will receive a $500 Visa gift card, courtesy of IDEXX Laboratories Inc.
Boehringer Ingelheim funds three equine research awardsNovember 22, 2017Boehringer Ingelheim has selected three research proposals to fund as part of its 2017 Advancement in Equine Research Award program. The company has given more than $470,000 to advancing the knowledge of equine infectious disease since 2011. "For the past six years, BI has supported equine research into identifying new disease treatment and prevention methods," said Steve Grubbs, DVM, Ph.D., DACVIM, equine technical manager at Boehringer Ingelheim. "Through this program we are committed to helping advance the understanding, diagnosis, and prevention of infectious equine diseases." The 2017 Equine Research Award recipients are: Nicola Pusterla, DVM, Ph.D., DACVIM, and Sharon Spier, DVM, PhD., DACVIM, University of California, Davis School of Veterinary Medicine. "Investigation of the role of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory and anti-histaminic drugs on the humoral response to a commercial Corynebacterium pseudotuberculosis vaccine given to naïve healthy horses." Nicola Pusterla, DVM, Ph.D., DACVIM, UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine. "Investigation of the Florida sublineage clade affiliation of equine influenza virus strains using novel multiplex real-time quantitative PCR in nasal secretions submitted to a diagnostic laboratory (2012-2017)." Rebecca P. Wilkes, DVM, Ph.D., DACVM, University of Georgia College of Veterinary Medicine. "Targeted next-generation sequencing panel for detection of equine pathogens." …
Juniper Systems releases equine ultrasound reproduction solutionNovember 20, 2017Juniper Systems Inc. has announced the release of EmberEquine, a new equine ultrasound reproduction solution developed to optimize workflow. The Mesa 2 Rugged Tablet, running EmberEquine software, pairs with Draminski's 4VetJ Ultrasound to provide practitioners with everything needed to simplify mare exams and recordkeeping, according to the company. The 4VetJ allows veterinarians to record measurements directly on the ultrasound for improved accuracy and efficiency. Measured images are then sent to the Mesa 2 Rugged tablet via Wi-Fi, attached to the mare record form, and safely stored on the Mesa 2 Rugged Tablet and Microsoft Cloud for easy access. The unit offers touchscreen interface, wireless design, and all-day battery life. In addition, the EmberEquine software provides veterinarians with a powerful yet user-friendly interface for quick data entry on the Mesa 2 Rugged Tablet during each reproduction exam, the company states.
Heska introduces new veterinary analyzerNovember 20, 2017Heska Corp., a provider of veterinary diagnostic and specialty products, has announced the release of its new Element COAG Veterinary Analyzer. The compact bench-top analyzer delivers coagulation and blood typing parameters to complement the company's chemistry, hematology, immunodiagnostics blood gas, and electrolyte analyzers. Within minutes and with only 100uL of sample, Element COAG delivers accurate PT/aPTT (coagulation), canine fibrinogen, equine fibrinogen, canine DEA 1.1 blood typing, and feline A/B blood typing. The analyzer is available for purchase or under Heska's six-year Reset program.
Translational research boosted by multidisciplinary study grantsNovember 20, 2017The Clinical and Translational Science Award One Health Alliance (COHA), a national network of veterinary and medical research institutions, will continue its translational research thanks to a series of grants awarded to its member institutions. COHA aims to advance the understanding of such shared diseases as cancer, heart disease, arthritis, and obesity by leveraging the expertise of veterinarians, physicians, research scientists, and professionals in related fields. The multidisciplinary approach provides novel information and new strategies to improve the health and well-being of humans, animals, and the environment. COHA institutions are supported by Clinical Translational Science Awards through the National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences at the National Institutes of Health. The latest COHA funding will advance efforts that include developing a unified veterinary record data management system across member institutions, planning and coordinating One Health events to increase networking and communication across disciplines, expanding opportunities for clinical and translational research training for students, and advancing efforts to enhance veterinary biospecimen use. The full list of funded projects and lead institutions: Translational Research Summit 2.0. Planning and coordination of a symposium on inherited cardiomyopathies across species for human and veterinary medical professionals, as well as other research scientists (University of …
Morris Animal Foundation funds studies targeting critical cat illnessesNovember 17, 2017Studies of three deadly infections in cats are among the research projects awarded more than $400,000 in grants from Morris Animal Foundation. The studies will help veterinary scientists advance the health of cats, particularly those in shelter environments where infectious diseases take a greater toll. "Cats are one of the most beloved pets in the United States, with an estimated 85 million gracing our homes and our lives," said John Reddington, DVM, Ph.D., Morris Animal Foundation president and CEO. "Their owners want to do everything they can to care for their feline companions, and that includes the very best veterinary care. And that's where Morris Animal Foundation comes in. The studies we fund address critical health issues that cats are facing, saving lives and giving our feline friends longer, healthier lives." Through this year's grants, the foundation is supporting five researchers and one fellow at five universities, including Colorado State University, Michigan State University, and the University of Sydney, Australia. The foundation's Small Animal Scientific Advisory Board reviewed all submitted grant applications and selected, based on scientific merit and impact, the studies with the greatest potential to save lives, preserve health, and advance veterinary care. Feline studies funded …
UC Davis launches survey on the use of cannabis products for petsNovember 17, 2017The University of California, Davis School of Veterinary Medicine has launched a survey to learn more about the use of cannabis products on pets. "With the increasing use of medical cannabis and the start of recreational use [in California] in January, the interest in using it for pets has really grown," said Jamie Peyton, DVM, chief of small animal integrative medicine at UC Davis and the primary researcher behind the study. "The goal of the survey is to start the conversation about the use of hemp and cannabis products for pets." More pet owners are asking veterinarians about cannabis use for their companion animals, but vets currently are not allowed to prescribe or recommend cannabis products for pets, Dr. Peyton said. The anonymous online survey asks basic information about the pet and about its medical history, and includes questions about the type of marijuana products the pet owner administers, the reason for using the product, and how often it is administered. The final question asks if the respondent would involve their pet in a study of marijuana products for pets. The goal of the survey is to inform future research. "There's no published, peer-reviewed study on …
Pets Best announces the 2017 My Vet's the Best contest winnerNovember 17, 2017Pets Best Insurance Services LLC, a pet insurance agency based in Boise, Idaho, has announced veterinarian Ivan Pryor, DVM, as the recent winner of its My Vet's the Best contest. "For seven years we've held this nationwide contest to honor and recognize the exceptional service of veterinarians," said Jack Stephens, DVM, founder of Pets Best. "Dr. Pryor has made a positive impact on his local community by providing kind, compassionate, and exceptional care to his clients and their pets." The 2017 contest brought in more than 3,000 votes cast by pet owners through the Pets Best Facebook page. Dr. Pryor, who practices at Dillsburg Veterinarian Center in Dillsburg, Pa., won the contest after receiving 2,157 total online votes. As the winner of the My Vet's the Best contest, Dr. Pryor receives $1,000 from Pets Best to help and treat animals in need in his community. Dr. Pryor will donate his winnings to the Unleashed Foundation, where the money will be used to help pets who need medical care but whose owners have financial struggles. "I am very honored that one of my clients would take the time to write a letter …
Focused Ultrasound Foundation launches veterinary programNovember 16, 2017 The Focused Ultrasound Foundation in Charlottesville, Va., has launched a veterinary program to study focused ultrasound therapies for the treatment of animals. The initiative enables veterinary researchers to test state-of-the-art therapies in their patients, while collecting data necessary to accelerate the adoption of the technology for human applications, according to the foundation. "Veterinary medicine can lag behind human medicine, leaving veterinarians frustrated with the lack of options for their patients," said Kelsie Timbie, Ph.D., program director. "Our goal with this program is to create a win-win scenario for all involved. Veterinarians will have new, innovative therapies to offer clients, and insights gained in dogs and cats will help inform clinical trial design in humans." The goal of the research program is to offer a variety of benefits over traditional therapies in animals, including faster recovery times, a reduced risk of infection, and no aggravating stitches to chew. Focused ultrasound is an effective way to treat inaccessible areas, as well as incompletely treated or recurrent tumors, according to the foundation. The first study in this program will take place in early 2018 at the Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine (VMCVM) at Virginia Tech …
