Virginia Tech Holds Inaugural Veterinary Medicine Science CampAugust 28, 2015The Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine at Virginia Tech recently held its inaugural Veterinary Medicine Science Camp. The week-long camp was part of a pilot program to create opportunities for students from underrepresented populations interested in a veterinary career. Eight undergraduate students from Richmond’s Virginia Union University and Norfolk’s Old Dominion University were chosen for the camp based on socioeconomic status, race and ethnicity and life experiences, according to Virginia Tech. The camp is one of three initiatives the veterinary college developed this year as part of InclusiveVT, Virginia Tech’s new approach to inclusion and diversity adopted by President Timothy D. Sands. Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine at Virginia Tech Participants in the Veterinary Medicine Science Camp learn how veterinarians prepare for surgery in the surgical suite at the Veterinary Medicine Instruction Addition. The camp included tours, lectures and hands-on experiences, including learning how to suture and place a catheter on models, scrubbing in and dressing for surgery, learning the anatomy of the heart, helping tube feed an injured snake, viewing the milking process at Virginia …
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University of Guelph Professor Receives Terry Fox GrantAugust 27, 2015A University of Guelph professor has received a $450,000 grant from the Terry Fox Research Institute to help dogs and humans with bone cancer. Specifically, Byram Bridle, Ph.D.,a viral immunologist in the Department of Pathobiology, will test an innovative vaccine in a canine osteosarcoma clinical trial. The trial will take place in the Ontario Veterinary College’s Mona Campbell Center for Animal Cancer. The Terry Fox Research Institute is the research arm of the Terry Fox Foundation. Osteosarcoma is the type of bone cancer that cut short Fox’s cross-Canada Marathon of Hope in 1980, the university noted. This year marks the 35th anniversary of that run, and it’s the first time the Terry Fox Foundation has supported research at a veterinary school, said Malcolm Campbell, Ph.D., University of Guelph’s vice-president (research). “This is a great honor for the University of Guelph and our Ontario Veterinary College,” Campbell said. “This exciting partnership will allow our cancer researchers to push the boundaries of knowledge. University of Guelph researchers will collaborate on novel therapies for treating osteosarcoma in dogs — work that will …
Favorite Vet Contest Called Off Due to BullyingAugust 26, 2015The American Veterinary Medical Foundation’s third annual America’s Favorite Veterinarian contest was suddenly canceled today because of harassment of the finalists. The Schaumburg, Ill., nonprofit organization blamed the shutdown on activists opposed to the declawing of cats. Online public voting was scheduled to end Sept. 1, but “a vicious cyberbullying attack which disrupted and contaminated the final election process” led to the early end, the organizers reported. All 20 veterinarians will receive certificates of recognition. “We deeply regret that our contestants had to endure this abuse and intend to take proactive steps in the future to prevent this type of interference from impacting our activities,” said AVMF’s chairman, John Brooks, DVM. The bullying was done through “the circulation of fraudulent negative advertisements, negative reviews and threatening phone calls,” AVMF stated. “One contestant, for example, was called ‘a whore, a butcher, a mutilator, a hack, an animal hater, a disgrace to the profession,’” the organization added. One of the finalists, Lisa Aumiller, DVM, of HousePaws Mobile Veterinary Service in Mount Laurel, N.J., said her experience “wasn’t horrible” and was limited to a phone call and social media posts. “We were one …
DNA Test Digs Deeper Into Dogs’ BackgroundAugust 25, 2015Royal Canin USA Inc. has released an upgraded version of the Genetic Health Analysis, a diagnostic tool that can identify a dog’s ancestry going back three generations, spot genetic mutations and warn of a predisposition to certain health conditions. The veterinary-exclusive test features a tenfold increase in the number of genetic markers tested and disease markers reported—at least 3,000 and 140, respectively, the company reported today. Veterinarians may use the results to detect the breeds in a dog’s bloodline, predict the animal’s ideal weight, adjust feeding guidelines, screen for potential diseases or conditions, and develop a health and wellness plan. MDR1 genetic mutation testing is included. “The presence of a mutation in the MDR1 gene, for example, can make a dog much more sensitive to many commonly used medications, but veterinarians have no way of knowing unless they run a test,” said Cindy Cole, DVM, Ph.D., the director of research and development at sister company Mars Veterinary. “The updated analysis can also screen for degenerative myelopathy, a devastating condition that generally develops later in life,” Dr. Cole added. “Knowing that your patient is at risk allows you to proactively plan a lifetime of care for that dog.” The analysis, …
MetaStim Adjuvant Added to Swine VaccineAugust 25, 2015Zoetis Inc. has released a reformulated porcine circovirus (PCV) vaccine that includes the MetaStim adjuvant. MetaStim, a common vaccine emulsion, slows the release of antigens, giving a pig’s immune system more time to respond to the virus, the company reported today. “MetaStim has been used in swine, bovine and equine vaccines for years, including most recently, Fostera PCV MH,” said Darrell Neuberger, DVM, of Zoetis’ Pork Technical Services. The new Fostera PCV MetaStim swine vaccine is indicated to protect against diseases caused by porcine circovirus Type 2 (PCV2). The vaccine carries 23-week duration of immunity, the Florham Park, N.J., company stated. Fostera PCV MetaStim, which replaces Fostera PCV, is available in 50- and 250-dose vials.
Wisconsin Vet School Raises Money to Purchase Armor for Police DogAugust 25, 2015Jagger, a Madison, Wis., police dog, is now fighting crime with the added protection of a bullet-proof vest thanks to donations from faculty, staff and students at the University of Wisconsin School of Veterinary Medicine (SVM). Jagger is a two-year-old German shepherd serving as a K9 with the Madison Police Department (MPD). He is also a University of Wisconsin Veterinary Care client. Each month, the vet school holds a fund drive for a local charity, most of them benefitting animals, according to the university. The drive, coordinated by SVM Facilities Manager Karen Mier, brought in more than enough to cover the cost of the vest. The funds were donated to Wisconsin Vest-a-Dog, a nonprofit dedicated to providing protective vests for every police dog in the state. The group purchased the vest for Jagger and put the remainder toward body armor for another MPD K9, Slim. These are the third and fourth sets of canine body armor that SVM students and employees have helped purchase. Mier previously coordinated the collection of funds to vest police dogs with the Adam’s County Sheriff’s Department and the UW–Madison Campus Police.
Many Canadian Piglets Low on IronAugust 24, 2015Young pigs may need a second round of iron supplementation to stave off anemia and disease, according to a study conducted at Ontario Veterinary College. Doctoral student Amanda Kubik weighed nearly 1,200 piglets being raised on commercial farms across Ontario and collected blood samples, the University of Guelph reported Aug. 17. All the pigs had received a standard 200-milligram iron supplement in the first few days after birth. Kubik randomly chose one small, medium and large pig from each litter just before weaning and returned three weeks later for more testing. By that point the pigs were getting their iron from feed. “There were statistically significant results,” Kubik said. “The between herd prevalence of iron deficiency in the sampled pigs prior to weaning was 28 percent and the prevalence of anemia was 6 percent. When the same pigs were sampled three weeks later, the between herd prevalence had increased to 43 percent for iron deficiency and 18 percent for anemia.” Advancements in nutrition, genetics and on-farm management mean piglets are born into larger litters and grow at a faster rate than in previous decades, the university noted. As a result, standard supplement protocols may not meet their needs. …
On-Job Injuries Take Toll on British VetsAugust 24, 2015Cat and dog doctors are hurting, too. The British Veterinary Association has found that patients sank their teeth or claws into the vast majority of exotic and small animal practitioners over the previous 12 months. The survey of hundreds of BVA members discovered that 78 percent had been bitten and 9 in 10 had been scratched. An earlier report on large animal veterinarians revealed that 85 percent had been on the receiving end of a kick and that 6 percent suffered a kick-related head injury. The message for both groups is to be careful and work closely with animal owners on safety matters. “Vets accept the daily risk of injury at work, but these figures highlight just how common injuries are for vets who care for pets,” said BVA President John Blackwell, BVSc, MRCVS. “Rather than simply accepting this as an occupational hazard, veterinary teams should ensure they are taking all appropriate measures to mitigate the risks of working with animals whenever possible.” The organization suggested that more dogs be muzzled when brought into an examination room—an idea that doesn’t sit well with some pet owners. “People are sometimes reluctant to let us muzzle their dogs, even if …
Zoetis Expands Nebraska Drug FactoryAugust 24, 2015A Zoetis Inc. plant that makes Rimadyl (carprofen) for dogs along with a variety of other animal drugs and vaccines has undergone a 19,000-square-foot expansion. A ribbon-cutting ceremony was held Aug. 20 at the Lincoln, Neb., factory, which employs 500 people and has room for an additional 30 at peak production times. “Zoetis is excited to expand its footprint in Lincoln and provide veterinarians, livestock producers, pet owners and the animals in their care with a reliable, consistent supply of quality animal health products,” said Zoetis site leader Betty Mason. “The entire community can be proud of our expanded manufacturing operations, which enable us to produce 1,200 finished goods for more than 100 markets around the world.” Zoetis, based in Florham Park, N.J., makes a number of flagship products in Lincoln. Among them are the pain medication Rimadyl, the livestock vaccines Bovi-Shield Gold and Respi-Sure One, and a swine vaccine formulated to fight porcine epidemic diarrhea virus. The expansion will allow for full production of the beef cattle weight-gain drug Synovex and the manufacture of the new Canine Atopic Dermatitis Immunotherapeutic, which is scheduled to roll out later this year.
Greenies Rolls Out Vet-Only ChewAugust 20, 2015Chew on this, practitioners: A veterinary-exclusive dental treat from Greenies. The Nutro Co. today launched a reformulation of the popular Greenies chew. While the longstanding retail treat is marketed for canine dental health—a later version added joint health—the newest product comes with other claims. Greenies veterinary-formula chews not only work to reduce dental plaque and tartar, according to the Industry, Calif., manufacturer, they also are infused with ingredients supporting cognitive, immune, metabolic and skin health. “We are equipping veterinarians with a superior product that their clients can only get from them,” said Brad Quest, DVM, a veterinarian working for the Greenies brand. “In addition to the treat texture that optimizes dental efficacy, these chews have whole-body health benefits based on nutrient levels recommended by the Waltham Centre for Pet Nutrition.” The new Greenies start with gelatin, wheat protein isolate, glycerin and pea protein. Additional ingredients, the company reported, include omega-3 fatty acids for cognitive health, antioxidants such as Vitamin E and taurine for immune health, and minerals such as magnesium, zinc and iron for metabolic health. The fatty acids and chelated minerals are designed to support a healthy skin and coat. Veterinary-exclusive Greenies come in Teenie, petite, …
