Wisconsin Vet Student Wins 2016 AAAP Poultry ScholarshipMarch 31, 2016The American Association of Avian Pathologists (AAAP) Foundation recently awarded Maria K. Arendt, a DVM/Ph.D. student in the University of Wisconsin School of Veterinary Medicine’s Comparative Biomedical Science graduate program, a $1,000 poultry scholarship. Arendt plans to work as a poultry veterinarian after graduation, according to the school. She hopes to participate in research and contribute to the development of novel therapeutics for improvement of poultry health, growth and production, the school further noted. The scholarship, which was established in 2011, provides funding for students pursuing an education and career in poultry medicine. Arendt’s mentor for her doctoral degree is Mark Cook, Ph.D., a professor of animal science in the UW College of Agricultural and Life Sciences.
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A 'Chastity Belt' for Dogs?March 31, 2016It might sound like a 15th century solution to a 21st century problem, but amid the clamor for pet owners to get their dogs spayed or neutered and prevent unwanted litters comes a device that’s basically a chastity belt for female dogs. Dexter Blanch, owner of Shreveport, La.-based Highly Favored Creations, invented the Pet Anti-Breeding System, or PABS, as a fabric patch that covers a female dog’s nether region and is affixed using a series of straps. If pet owners knew of the problems linked to early spaying, Blanch said, they might be inclined to welcome PABS as a stopgap until their dogs are older. He cited studies that point to the possibility of shorter life spans, joint disorders and increased cancer risk in female dogs spayed before 18 months old. The dog-owning public has been slow to embrace PABS, which Blanch launched in 2013 as a way to protect one of his favorite female hunting dogs, who he might want to breed one day, from randy males. “Perhaps … the proponents of traditional early spay and neuter practices don’t trust American …
Dog Found Shot, Paralyzed Makes Remarkable Recovery Thanks to Vet PhysiotherapistMarch 30, 2016Back in October, a dog named Saint was found shot and tied to a tree, left for dead. He was in bad shape and paralyzed in the hind legs. According to a Go Fund Me page, “It was later discovered that he had several pellets lodged in his spine that caused ruptured discs and neurological damage. Due to the efforts of animal control and the Sherriff's department of Parker County, Saint was rescued. Arlington, Texas residents Alan and Stacie Brown saw the story and stepped in to foster Saint and provide a loving home for him. Since then, Saint has been receiving free physical therapy from the Veterinary Referral and Emergency Hospital of Arlington and has progressed tremendously.” That’s thanks to the efforts of Steve Hooker, physiotherapist and lead technician for the Veterinary Referral and Emergency Hospital. According to his bio, Hooker is a Certified Canine Physical Rehabilitation therapist (CCRP) from the University of Tennessee, and his special interests include rehabilitation and physiotherapy, neurodiagnostics and Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy. When he heard of Saint’s case, he immediately wanted to work with him. He got his wish too, …
Study: Horse's Behavior Can't be Determined by the Color of its CoatMarch 30, 2016Does a particular color of a horse’s coat make it more prone to being “crazy?” That’s what researchers sought to find out, and discovered the coat has nothing to do with a horse’s personality. Researchers, in their paper titled “The relationship between coat colour phenotype and equine behaviour: A pilot study,” published in published in Applied Animal Behaviour Science, asked horse owners to fill out a questionnaire that covered several sections, including: Horse handling experience Basic horse information Equipment used when handling or riding the horse Behavioral responses in general and specific circumstances The responses helped researchers determine that the color of a horse’s coat had little to do with their behavior. Instead the breed, sex and age of a horse "significantly influence many of its behavior," according to the researchers. This new data may (or may not) change how people feel about chestnut horses. Female chestnut horses are often described as "crazy," but while researchers found chestnut horses there are behavioral differences between chestnuts and bay horses, “Chestnut horses are not more likely than bay horses to display adverse behaviors. So …
Zoetis, OVC Partnership to Study Mental Health Issues Affecting VeterinariansMarch 29, 2016Zoetis Inc. and Ontario Veterinary College at the University of Guelph are partnering up for a new research study. Zoetis has committed almost $100,000 over the next three years to help OVC researchers understand factors affecting the mental well-being of veterinarians. The goal of the study is to develop training and other support programs for both undergraduate veterinary students and graduated veterinarians. “Like many professions, veterinary work often comes with long hours, financial pressures, employee management and other stresses that can affect the mental and physical health of veterinarians,” said Jeffrey Wichtel, BVSc, Ph.D., dean of OVC. “This gift from Zoetis will help us identify ways that veterinarians can become more resilient in the face of these challenges.” OVC studies veterinarian wellness issues and research through the Advancing Wellness and Resilience in Research and Education (AWAR2E) Group. The AWAR2E Group includes: Colleen Best, DVM, post-doctoral fellow; Andria Jones-Bitton, DVM, Ph.D., associate professor in the Department of Population Medicine; Joanne Hewson, DVM, Ph.D., Dipl. ACVIM, associate professor in the Department of Clinical Studies; Deep Khosa, BSc, BVMS, MANZCVS, Ph.D., assistant professor in the Department of Population Medicine; and Peter Conlon, DVM, BSc, MSc, …
OVC Study Finds Homeless Youth With Pets Less Likely to Be Depressed, But Face Other ChallengesMarch 29, 2016Homeless youth can benefit from owning pets, but that comes with a few challenges. That’s according to a new study from the University of Guelph in Canada, published in March in the journal Anthrozoӧs. Led by researchers from the Ontario Veterinary College (OVC), the study found that homeless youth with pets are less likely to engage in potentially harmful behavior, more likely to open up to veterinarians about their personal challenges and generally less depressed. On the flip side, because of their pets, homeless people might find it difficult to obtain social services. Its findings mirror what researchers had been hearing anecdotally, said Jason Coe, DVM, an associate professor at the college. “Those homeless youth with pets don’t want to risk incarceration or anything that would prevent them from being with their pets, so they are less likely to abuse alcohol or use hard drugs,” Coe said in a press release. “We also found those without pets are three times more likely to be depressed, though we have not yet determined if this is directly relatable to having a pet.” One of the major problems is that many shelters do not …
Vet Techs! Don't Forget to Take the NAVTA Demographics Survey!March 29, 2016Time is almost running out to take the National Association of Veterinary Technicians in America (NAVTA)’s 2016 Demographics survey! The survey ends April 1, 2016. So what is the NAVTA survey? It’s a survey that’s run every four years by the NAVTA to determine the state of the veterinary technician profession. It has 75 questions for all credentialed and non-credentialed technicians to take and covers topics such as job stressors, job satisfaction, pay range, employee benefits, etc. This is information is used by practice managers, veterinary manufactures, veterinary distributors, and practice consultants to help drive the technician profession. It’s part of the NAVTA’s goal of allowing veterinary technicians to give input on national issues involving the veterinary profession. According to the NAVTA, the survey takes about 30 minutes to take. Find out more about the NAVTA at their website. Take the survey here.
Wisconsin SVM Researcher Joins Bouchet Honor SocietyMarch 29, 2016Yashdeep Phanse, a postdoctoral research associate at the University of Wisconsin School of Veterinary Medicine, was recently inducted into the Edward Alexander Bouchet Graduate Honor Society. The society acknowledges scholarly achievement and promotes diversity in doctoral education. Phanse’s research focuses on novel nanoparticle approaches to design therapeutics for protecting shrimp, a major food source in developing countries, against pathogens. He is also developing next-generation tools to curb mosquito-borne diseases through vector control, according to the university, which made the announcement in late March. The Bouchet Honor Society was designated in honor of Edward Alexander Bouchet, Ph.D., the first African American to earn a doctorate degree from an American university. Society members are chosen for their academic and personal excellence and their exemplification of the five Bouchet qualities: advocacy, leadership, scholarship, character and service, university noted.
Veterinarian's New Book Explores Life as a Rural VetMarch 28, 2016William H. Green, D.V.M., has 27 years of stories and memories from his time as the owner of a rural veterinary hospital. Now he's sharing them all in his new book, "Doc, Did I Wake You?" The book, according to its synopsis, shows readers what it's like to be a rural veterinarian. "In his book, Dr. Green tells stories about animals, their owners, and other unique characters that he encountered in his years of veterinary practice. You almost feel that you were present when the events took place. Animal lovers will enjoy the heartwarming stories, the humorous stories, and the almost unbelievable true stories about animals and their caretakers. Dr. Green talks about treating cats, dogs, and cows during the daytime and then skunks, horses, or elephants at night. Each day brought something different-most of which was unplanned. Needless to say, days and nights were long, and sleep came at a premium. When he did get a chance to rest he dreaded that middle of the night phone call that began with, 'Doc, did I wake you up?'" Why did he decide to write the book? “I had accumulated the stories in …
Cat Gets Accidentally Shipped 260 Miles Via PostMarch 28, 2016Cats love boxes, no one will dispute that. But for Cupcake, a Siamese cat who lives in the Falmouth in Cornwall, England, that love of boxes got her accidentally shipped more than 260 miles away to the town of West Sussex. Cupcake’s owner, Julie Baggott, was sending out a package of DVDs, and didn’t realize that her cat had crawled into the box. That’s how Cupcake ended up with Ziffit Towers, the package receiver, a whole 8 days later. Towers immediately rushed Cupcake to the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (RSPCA). The RSPCA then took Cupcake to nearest Grove Lodge Veterinary Group, who they treated her for dehydration. Cupcake responded well to treatment, despite being “quite scared, quite nervous,” as Ben Colwell of Grove Lodge Vets told the BBC, which the ABC reported. “[Cupcake] seems quite relaxed and unconcerned and is sitting in her kennel in our cat ward waiting for her family,” the Grove Lodge Veterinary Group wrote in their blog. They pointed out that Cupcake was microchipped and that was how they were able to find her owners. “On arrival, we …
