Study: Seniors Can Benefit from Having a DogApril 21, 2016The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends that adults of all ages should engage in 150 or more minutes of moderate physical activity per week. Among adults 60 years of age or more, walking is the most common form of leisure-time physical activity because it is self-paced, low impact and does not require equipment. Researchers at the University of Missouri have determined that older adults who also are pet owners benefit from the bonds they form with their canine companions. Dog walking is associated with lower body mass index, fewer doctor visits, more frequent exercise and an increase in social benefits for seniors. “Our study explored the associations between dog ownership and pet bonding with walking behavior and health outcomes in older adults,” said Rebecca Johnson, a professor at the MU College of Veterinary Medicine, and the Millsap Professor of Gerontological Nursing in the Sinclair School of Nursing. “This study provides evidence for the association between dog walking and physical health using a large, nationally representative sample.” The study analyzed 2012 data from the Health and Retirement study sponsored by the National Institute on Aging and the Social Security Administration. …
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Banfield: Diabetes, Dental Disease on RiseApril 21, 2016The diabetes rate is soaring among canine patients seen at Banfield Pet Hospitals, while dental disease plagues more than two-thirds of all cats and dogs examined, the company revealed Wednesday in its 2016 State of Pet Health Report. The statistics, based on the medical data of 3 million Banfield patients, function as a reminder of the disorders afflicting many animals and as an advisory to cat and dog owners that they could do more to improve pet health. “It is our hope that the information in this report continues to serve as a catalyst for pet owners to partner with veterinary teams to help pets live better lives through preventive care,” said Banfield’s chief medical officer, Daniel Aja, DVM. The rate of canine diabetes—most often insulin-dependent Type 1—has jumped by 79.7 percent since 2006, to 23.6 cases out of every 10,000 patients in 2015. Over the same period, feline diabetes rose by 18.1 percent, to 67.6 cases in 10,000. Addressing the disease usually means more frequent veterinary visits as well as dietary changes—the latter adjustment because of the link between obesity and diabetes. The Banfield report found canine diabetes to be most prevalent in Iowa, Kentucky, Montana, Nevada and Wisconsin. Among …
Penn Vet’s New Bolton Center Gets New Equine AmbulanceApril 21, 2016The University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine’s (Penn Vet) New Bolton Center has acquired a new equine ambulance for use at local events. It replaces the center’s previous 20-plus-year-old equine ambulance that was retired at the end of the 2015 eventing season, according to Penn Vet. The ambulance purchase was made possible by Applestone Farm, EBY Horse Trailers and Willowdale Steeplechase. “The new ambulance is a much-needed upgrade,” said Barbara Dallap Schaer, VMD, New Bolton Center Medical Director. “We are grateful to our generous donors who make it possible for New Bolton Center to support our local equine community with a state-of-the-art trailer.” Penn Vet provides the trailer and driver free of charge to several local equine events throughout the year, including Willowdale Steeplechase, Radnor Hunt, Plantation Field Horse Trials and Winterthur Point-to-Point. Penn Vet’s ambulance transports horses from the events only to New Bolton Center, and is not offered as a general service, the university noted. Penn Vet highlights some of the ambulance’s features: A height of 8 feet with a custom back door to minimize …
NovaVive Goes All In on Veterinary TherapeuticsApril 21, 2016The young Canadian company NovaVive Inc. is hopeful that a biologic technology proven to stimulate an animal’s immune system may be approved at some point to treat hemangiosarcomas and chemotherapy-induced neutropenia in dogs. And if one of three planned studies shows promise, mycobacterium cell wall fraction (MCWF) also might be used to improve the quality of life of dying dogs. NovaVive, established in 2014 by Bioniche Life Sciences founder Graeme McRae, sells four MCWF-based therapeutic biologics. Purchased from the French company Vétoquinol, which acquired original developer Bioniche’s veterinary division, the current lineup includes: Equimune, for the treatment of equine respiratory disease complex. Amplimune, formerly called Immunoboost, for bovine infectious disease therapy. Immunocidin, for the treatment of mixed mammary tumor and mammary adenocarcinomas in dogs and sarcoid tumors in horses. Settle, for the treatment of equine endometritis. All four immunotherapies are sold in the United States. Australian veterinarians have access to Equimune and Settle, Immunocidin is available in Canada, and Equimune is distributed in New Zealand. NovaVive has engaged two U.S. veterinary oncologists to assist with studies of how MCWF might be used in three other ways. The “ringleaders of the pack,” as McRae called them, are Philip Bergman, …
Jack Shere, DVM, Named USDA’s Chief Veterinary OfficerApril 20, 2016http://www.veterinarypracticenews.com/Jack Shere, DVM, Ph.D., a long-time employee of USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS), was recently named USDA’s Chief Veterinary Officer leading APHIS’s Veterinary Services program. Dr. Shere joined APHIS in 1990 and has held a variety of field and leadership positions, serving as the area commander during the exotic Newcastle disease outbreak in 2003 and spending time in Iowa during the 2015 Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza outbreak where he represented USDA and Secretary Vilsack. Shere also spent several years in private veterinary practice prior to joining APHIS. Asked about his goals for veterinary services under his leadership, Shere explained that the program has faced with budget changes over the past several years, which has reduced our field force and the ability to respond as quickly as we would like. He said he's committed to moving the program forward and addressing those needs.
Merck Animal Health Acquires Rights to Whisper Veterinary Stethoscope SystemApril 20, 2016Merck Animal Health announced plans to acquire worldwide rights for the Whisper Veterinary Stethoscope System from Minnesota-based Geissler Companies. The Whisper Veterinary Stethoscope System is a Bovine Respiratory Disease (BRD) detection system, which is used to determine the severity of an animal’s lung condition so that the appropriate treatment regimen can be started to protect the health of the animal. Bovine Respiratory Disease is the most common disease affecting cattle in North America. This complex, multi-factorial infection affects the upper and lower respiratory tracts and can often be fatal, causing billions of dollars in economic losses for farmers. Identifying the cause of the disease and appropriate treatment pathways is vital to maintain an infected herd. “We are pleased to add the Whisper Veterinary Stethoscope System to our comprehensive portfolio of vaccines and pharmaceutical products for the cattle industry,” said Rick DeLuca, president of Merck Animal Health. “It is important to provide our customers with the most innovative solutions available today that will meet their needs to maintain healthy stock and advance animal well-being.” Randolph K. Geissler, CEO of Geissler Companies, said they …
Study: Always Use Pain Meds During DehorningApril 20, 2016A study has found that 90 percent of people within and outside the international dairy industry believe that pain relief should be used when debudding or dehorning calves, a practice that is not universally carried out. The research was done by a team at the University of British Columbia Animal Welfare Program in Canada and published in Animal Welfare, a peer-reviewed journal of the British charity Universities Federation for Animal Welfare. The team stated that it hopes the findings serve to promoting awareness of the subject among veterinarians and dairy producers. “Despite evidence that these procedures are painful, and the availability of effective means of pain relief, use of pain mitigation remains low in many parts of the world,” said study co-author Marina von Keyserlingk, MS, Ph.D., a professor of animal welfare at the University of British Columbia. “Although veterinarians are able to provide pain control … approval of additional analgesics for use in food animals is also needed.” She recommended that more effort be put into the breeding of polled, or hornless, dairy cattle. Debudding is performed on young calves—often with hot irons or caustic paste—to eradicate horn-producing cells. Dehorning involves the use of cutting or gouging tools. …
For Pets, No Relief From Parasites in 2016April 19, 2016The Companion Animal Parasite Council gazed into the future and doesn’t like what’s coming. The risk of heartworm infection? Above average nationwide. Lyme disease and other tick-related illnesses? Worse in places. The Salem, Ore., organization’s computer models for 2016, released today, predict growing threats to dogs or cats from a number of vector-borne diseases. “We use our annual forecast to help veterinarians and pet owners understand parasites are a true risk to both pets and people,” said CAPC’s president, Susan Little, DVM, Ph.D. CAPC tracks and maps cases of tick-borne disease, intestinal parasites and heartworm using test results collected by Idexx Laboratories Inc. and Antech Diagnostics. Results are continually updated on the website www.capcvet.org. Already in 2016, according to the latest figures, Lyme disease has been confirmed in 1-in-16 U.S. dogs, or nearly 35,000 pets out of more than a half-million tested. With heartworm, just over 1 percent of the 1.6 million dogs tested were positive. The percentage may be small, but it was still bad news for almost 23,000 canines. For the entire year, CAPC predicts: Growing risk of Lyme disease in Illinois, Iowa, Indiana and Kentucky as ticks expand their range. The New …
Ross University Gains Articulation Agreement in South AfricaApril 19, 2016Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine (RUSVM) has signed an articulation agreement with Stellenbosch University in South Africa. Through the agreement, students from Stellenbosch University Faculty of AgriScience who meet specified academic requirements may gain direct admission to RUSVM. These students will have their application fees waived, will be guaranteed interviews and will be considered for eligible international scholarships. “The new partnership with RUSVM provides a direct pathway for our students interested in pursuing a career in veterinary medicine,” said Professor Danie Brink, acting dean, Faculty of AgriSciences, Stellenbosch University. “For some this may be a lifelong dream and for others it will be an opportunity to serve our society through the health of animals.” This is RUSVM’s fourth international articulation partnership but its first one in South Africa. “As part of the RUSVM mission, we are committed to providing training in areas strategically important to global health, thus enabling our students to become contributors to both human and animal medicine,” said Carmen Fuentealba, DVM, Ph.D., executive associate dean for teaching and learning at RUSVM. “This is of strategic importance as we extend our reach to South Africa …
Volunteer Veterinary Dentists, Techs, Provide Dental Care to Big CatsApril 18, 2016If you have dreams of being a veterinary dentist for the big cats, keep an eye on the Exotic Feline Rescue Center in Center Point, Ind., and the Peter Emily International Veterinary Dental Foundation for opportunities. You could take part in volunteer events, such as one that was held this past weekend, where more than 15 volunteers headed over to the Exotic Feline Rescue Center to spend two days doing dentistry work for eight big cats. The volunteers consisted of veterinary dentists, technicians and other professionals from around the United States, according to Fox 59. The animals treated included a lion, a puma and several tigers. brightcove.createExperiences(); This was thanks to the Peter Emily International Veterinary Dental Foundation (PEIVDF). According to their ‘About Us’ page: “Our mission is to provide life improving advanced veterinary dental care and treatment to exotic animals located in US (and in the future, overseas) captive animal facilities and animal sanctuaries, which are under funded and/or understaffed from a veterinary perspective. Through these missions, we are also increasing …
