Study Shows that Canine AD Shares Significant Features of Human ADApril 27, 2016Atopic dermatitis (AD), a chronic inflammatory skin condition and the most common form of eczema, is estimated to afflict as much as 10 percent of the U.S. population, and is much more common now than it was 50 years ago. Veterinary clinical estimates also show that approximately 10 percent of dogs have atopic dermatitis. How AD arises isn’t yet fully understood, but a new study from researchers from the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania and Penn’s School of Veterinary Medicine, have uncovered important insights about the association of AD in dogs compared to humans. The study appears online in the Journal of Investigative Dermatology. To a greater extent than mouse models, canine AD shares important features of the human version. For example, in both humans and dogs AD has been linked to abnormal blooms of Staphyloccocusbacteria on the skin – mostly Staphyloccocus aureus in humans, and Staphyloccocus pseudintermedius in dogs. In the study, the research team, comprised of veterinary dermatologists, microbiologists, pathologists and primary scientists, tracked the bacterial populations, or “microbiomes,” on dogs’ skin, …
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Henry Schein Joins World Veterinary Association in Celebrating 'World Veterinary Day'April 27, 2016Henry Schein, Inc., has joined the World Veterinary Association (WVA) to celebrate World Veterinary Day, which recognizes the critical role veterinarians play in protecting animal and human health. World Veterinary Day is celebrated annually on the last Saturday of April. This year on April 30, the WVA will celebrate World Veterinary Day through the promotion of the One Health Concept. According to the WVA, the One Health Concept recognizes that the health and wellbeing of animals, humans, and the ecosystem are interconnected, and depend on effective and sustained collaboration between varied professions and disciplines—both animal and human-focused—in the public and private sectors. "On World Veterinary Day, we honor these dedicated professionals for all that they do in service to the world's animals, and increasingly, its human population as well," said Dr. René Carlson, president of the WVA. "In an ever-shrinking world, the importance and impact of veterinarians will only grow as high-density populations, climate change, and an increasing proximity and affection between people and animals present unique and increasingly important health challenges. The WVA is committed to working with partners around the world to improve the health and …
PetPace Plays Role in Research Into EpilepsyApril 26, 2016PetPace, the maker of a collar-based vital-signs monitor, has launched an epilepsy study in partnership with universities and veterinary hospitals in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom and Israel. The researchers hope to use collected data such as pulse and respiratory rate, temperature, activity patterns, body posture and heart rate variability to predict and detect seizures in dogs. The lead investigator is Bob Murtaugh, DVM, MS, Dipl. ACVIM, Dipl. ACVECC, the chief medical officer at hospital management company Pathway Partners. “Understanding the true prevalence of seizure activity is invaluable in our attempts to effectively manage epilepsy in dogs,” Dr. Murtaugh said. “The introduction of the PetPace technology will allow us, for the first time in veterinary medicine, to attempt just that: know exactly when, in real time, and for how long each patient has a seizure.” PetPace is headquartered in Burlington, Mass. Originally published in the May 2016 issue of Veterinary Practice News. Did you enjoy this article? Then subscribe today!
Virginia Tech Vet Students Bathe Dogs in Biannual EventApril 26, 2016Veterinary students from the Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine spent this last weekend working in the biannual Community Dog Bath. For $10, dog owners could have their dogs washed, and for an additional $5, they could have their dogs’ nails trimmed and ears cleaned. “It’s just a fun day,” Will Culver, a first-year veterinary student and one of the event organizers, told The Roanoke Times. “The class spends time doing community service washing dogs, and then we try to give community members something out of it, too, by just taking care of things.” More than 100 students helped washed a whole range of dog breeds, from beagles to Labradors to huskies. The event is one dog owners look forward to, the Roanoke Times reports. Proceeds from the event went to the DVM Class of 2019 and the Student Chapter of the American Veterinary Medical Association.
Study: Diabetic Children with Pets Manage Blood Sugar Levels BetterApril 26, 2016In a sample of young people with type I diabetes, those who actively helped care for family pets were 2.5 times more likely to have well-controlled blood sugar levels, according to a study published April 2016 in the open-access journal PLOS ONE. The paper is called “Association between Responsible Pet Ownership and Glycemic Control in Youths with Type 1 Diabetes.” Attributes that aid in the effective self-management of type I diabetes, such as family cohesion and self-regulatory behavior, are similar to those required for responsible care of household pets. To investigate a possible positive association between pet care and self-care in chronic illness, the authors of the present case-controlled study surveyed 23 young people with type I diabetes on responsible pet ownership and analyzed the results with respect to successful self-management of their illness. The researchers found that diabetic children who actively care for at least one household pet were 2.5 times more likely to maintain healthy blood sugar levels than children who did not care for a pet. The authors were careful to distinguish actual care responsibilities from the level of attachment to …
Cornell Remembers Dr. John M. KingApril 26, 2016Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine recently announced the passing of John M. King, DVM, a professor emeritus of pathology. He was 89. “Dr. King was a legend in Anatomic Pathology,” said Elizabeth Buckles, DVM, clinical associate professor of pathology. “A large number of current pathologists were either trained by him or were trained by his trainees, and there are legions of vet students who were inspired by him.” King came to Cornell in 1955 and worked at the vet college for 50 years, during which time he authored three textbooks and published numerous papers. King spent his sabbaticals in foreign countries that invited him to teach and do applied research. Over the years he earned a reputation for ground-breaking insights into disease, the college noted. “John was the unrivalled master of observation and perhaps the finest pure pathologist our field has ever known,” said longtime friend Bruce Williams, DVM. Dr. King, according to the college, was famous for his necropsy “Show and Tell” events. He challenged students and faculty to identify diseases by looking at affected tissue. “Even at 5:00 on a Friday afternoon, the risers were …
11th Edition of The Merck Veterinary Manual Coming This SummerApril 25, 2016Merck and Co., Inc. will publish the 11th Edition of The Merck Veterinary Manual this summer. Nearly 400 veterinary experts contributed to the completely revised and updated reference, which covers all domesticated species and diseases in veterinary medicine worldwide and numerous emerging topics since the last edition was published in 2010. The 11th Edition features hundreds of color images, a new section on public health and zoonoses, expanded coverage of fish and aquaculture and new chapters on backyard poultry, toxicological workplace hazards and smoke inhalation. The redesigned book uses a 2-column format and color throughout for easy-to-read text and tables. Find out more at The Merck Veterinary Manual website.
Merck Veterinary Manual to Provide Content for VetMedTeam CoursesApril 25, 2016The Merck Veterinary Manual is making its content available for use in continuing education opportunities offered by VetMedTeam. “This partnership is consistent with our goal of sharing authoritative information on diseases and conditions likely to be seen by veterinary professionals,” said Susan E. Aiello, DVM, ELS, the editor-in-chief of Merck Veterinary Manual. The comprehensive reference covers the diagnosis, treatment, control and prevention of disorders and diseases in companion, production, exotic and laboratory animals. First Course to Focus on Mange The first in a series of online courses based on subject matter in the manual will focus on mange, a skin disease caused by parasitic mites, in cats and dogs. After completing the course, titled “It Mite Be Mange,” participants should be able to recognize the signs of mange and understand diagnostic testing protocols and treatment options. The free course carries 1 credit for non-interactive Registry of Approved Continuing Education (RACE) for both veterinary technicians and veterinarians. Enrollment is on demand, with instant online access. Upon passing the examination and submitting the survey, the user is emailed a completion certificate from VetMedTeam. Learn more about the "It Mite Be Mange" course here. See the complete …
How This Human Cardiologist is Bridging the M.D.-Vet GapApril 22, 2016Have you heard of TED talks? The 15-minute presentations enable a variety of fascinating people to share information on a variety of captivating topics—from science to technology to entertainment to business. What would happen if you typed “veterinarian” in the search box at www.TED.com? You’d be sorely disappointed to see only a few entries. One leads to a presentation by Barbara Natterson-Horowitz, M.D., MA, a board- certified cardiologist in human medicine and a professor at the University of California, Los Angeles. She advocates better cooperation and interaction between physicians and veterinarians. You can watch her talk below: Her TED talk, which has been viewed well over a million times, was so interesting that I decided to interview her and dig deeper. Q. How did you connect with veterinarians? I had been practicing cardiology at UCLA for almost 20 years when I got a call from the veterinarians at the L.A. Zoo asking if I’d help image some of their animal patients. I said, “Of course.” It was there, listening to the veterinarian on rounds, that I had my first much-needed wakeup call. I became fascinated by the overlap between …
Illinois Vet Student Wins NIH AwardApril 22, 2016Robin Holland, a student in the Veterinary Medical Scholars Program at the University of Illinois College of Veterinary Medicine, has received a National Institutes of Health (NIH) Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Award. The award—given to individuals pursuing dual-doctoral degrees, both a Ph.D. and a DVM, MD or other medical doctoral degree—was created to increase the pool of highly trained clinician-scientists in the biomedical research workforce. Holland entered the joint-degree program specifically because she saw the advantages of balancing the narrow focus of research for a Ph.D. with the breadth of knowledge and perspective involved in attaining a veterinary degree, according to the college, which made the announcement in mid-April. “I chose the rigor of the DVM-Ph.D. program at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign to achieve my goal of being trained as a veterinarian-scientist to ultimately lead an infectious disease research laboratory,” Holland said. Holland is currently finishing the fourth year of study for her Ph.D. in pathobiology. She has already completed her first year of the veterinary curriculum. The remaining three years will be finished after she finishes her Ph.D. Holland attributes her win …
