Vet, Pet Store Owner Arrested for Fraudulent Pet Health CertificatesJune 10, 2015Christopher J. Carrier, D.V.M, along with his wife, Wendy Carrier, were arrested on third-degree felony charges last week following an investigation that the two were involved in issuing fraudulent health certificates for pets, Bay News 9 reports. Dr. Carrier owns Care Animal Clinic and Ms. Carrier owns the now closed down Petland, a local pet store. Both establishments are located in Lakeland, Florida. Before pets are sold in the state of Florida, the must receive an Official Certificate of Veterinary Inspection. Dr. Carrier allegedly altered the veterinary documentation for the pets sold at his wife’s store, WPTV reports. The altered certificates did not include information regarding each dog’s vaccinations, according to Bay News 9. “People thought they were buying healthy pets, when in reality, the Carriers were altering the dogs’ health certificates,” Commissioner of Agriculture Adam H. Putnam told Bay News 9. “Consumers had no way of knowing that the dogs had not had proper vaccinations and could become ill.” Pet owners who purchased dogs from the Petland pet store have complained of illness and even death of their pets. They shared their stories and concerns with ABC …
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Fire at Texas Vet Clinic Kills 38 PetsJune 10, 2015Thirty-eight animals died and an eastern Texas veterinary hospital was left in ruins when a late-night fire roared through the clinic. The cause of the fire appeared to be electrical in nature, investigators said. “It started out in front of our building, and it stayed there until it moved,” practice manager Sarah Jane Sharpless said. “But like any vet hospital, we have oxygen tanks, and when the oxygen blew, that was it.” The fire at Kimbrough Animal Hospital in Longview, Texas, was reported around 10:15 p.m. Tuesday, nearly five hours after closing time. Sharpless, who lives 40 minutes away, said the wife of clinic owner Kenneth Kimbrough, DVM, and a co-worker called her with the news. “I got here at 11:15 last night, and it was already [fully engulfed],” Sharpless said. All but three of the 38 dead animals—mostly dogs—were being boarded overnight. Two of the other victims were clinic cats and the third was recovering from surgery. Firefighters rescued six animals, but only two survived. Suffering from smoke inhalation, they were taken to East Texas Animal Hospital, where Kimbrough Animal Hospital’s other veterinarian, Lela Bogard, DVM, tended to them. Sharpless and other employees were in contact with the …
OSU to Release Owl Back to WildJune 9, 2015Oklahoma State University Center for Veterinary Health Sciences will release a young owl back into the wild on June 10. The great horned owl nestling was found mid May on the ground next to OSU’s Student Union. “Our Veterinary Medical Hospital and the OSU Police Department both received many calls from the public about this owl,” said Joao Brandao, LMV, assistant professor of Zoological Medicine. “The owl was brought to our service where we assessed it for injuries. No abnormality was detected via a physical exam and other diagnostic tests such as blood work and radiographs.” Brandao’s team took care of the owl and then transferred it to a flight cage where she could fly in a protected environment. Her improvement and development progressed as expected and she is now ready to be released back into the wild, according to the university. The public is welcomed to witness the release, which will take place at 4:45 p.m. near the veterinary center’s flight cages located at the intersection of West Virginia Avenue and Mar Vista Street. A short lecture on wildlife rehabilitation with an emphasis on owl conservation will begin prior to the release at 4:20 p.m. in Room 104 at …
372 Vets Dropped From U.K. RegistryJune 5, 2015Pay up if you want to be a veterinarian. The Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons this month removed 372 veterinarians from its registry for failing to pay the annual renewal fee. Only registered veterinarians are allowed to practice in the United Kingdom. The fee ranges from $450 for active U.K. veterinarians to $75 for anyone taking at least a temporary break from practice. Late renewals carry up to a $900 surcharge. The payment deadline was April 1, but the governing organization reported that full credit was given for renewals received by May 31. Forgetful veterinarians have only themselves to blame. “Up to five reminders had been sent to veterinary surgeons since February,” the organization stated. The renewal process also requires veterinarians to confirm their completion of at least 105 continuing education hours over a three-year period. The Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons urged hospital administrators to check www.rcvs.org.uk/checkregister to verify that their employees are permitted to practice.
University of Guelph Opens $25 Million Research CenterJune 4, 2015The Livestock Research and Innovation Center—Dairy Facility in Elora, Ontario, opened its doors in late May. The $25 million project, part of the University of Guelph’s Elora Research Station, replaces aging research facilities at the site. In addition to the university, the center involves the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs (OMAFRA); the Agricultural Research Institute of Ontario; and Dairy Farmers of Ontario. The university will operate the facility under its partnership with OMAFRA. Researchers will have the opportunity to study everything from genetics, nutrition and quality improvement to animal welfare, food safety and animal and human health, according to the university. “The new [center] is an excellent example of how industry, government and academia can work together to ensure Ontario’s livestock sector remains innovative, competitive and a leader in the agri-food sector,” said Jeff Leal, minister of agriculture, food and rural affairs. “Ontario’s dairy farmers and stakeholders, with the support of the Ontario government, are committed to leading research in animal husbandry, environmental sustainability and best management practices to ensure the highest quality dairy products for Ontarians.” Among the highlights of the new facility, as outlined by the university: A maternity wing and nursery with sophisticated lighting …
Drugs in Livestock Feed Put Under Vet SupervisionJune 2, 2015The U.S. Food and Drug Administration, looking to reduce the threat of antibiotic resistance in people and animals, today released the final rule governing the judicious use of antimicrobials in livestock feed and drinking water. The Veterinary Feed Directive (VFD) final rule empowers veterinarians to authorize antimicrobials when necessary for medical purposes only. Some drugs linked to antibiotic resistance have been used to improve the efficiency of livestock feed or fatten animals. “The actions the FDA has taken to date represent important steps toward a fundamental change in how antimicrobials can be legally used in food-producing animals,” said Michael R. Taylor, FDA’s deputy commissioner for foods. “The VFD final rule takes another important step by facilitating veterinary oversight in a way that allows for the flexibility needed to accommodate the diversity of circumstances that veterinarians encounter while ensuring such oversight is conducted in accordance with nationally consistent principles.” The American Veterinary Medical Association stated that it worked closely with the FDA to ensure the rule is “practical and in the best interests of animal health, public health and the veterinary profession.” “Particularly critical” to the final rule, according to AVMA, is the requirement for a veterinarian-client-patient relationship when …
Condor Named Miracle Receives Veterinary Care at Oakland ZooJune 2, 2015A California condor named Miracle has arrived at Oakland Zoo for veterinary care. The female is the first condor to be treated for lead poisoning in 2015 at Oakland Zoo. Upon capture by biologists, Miracle’s lead levels were too high to register on the in the field test kit, thus she was immediately brought to the zoo. Oakland Zoo’s Condor Care Team examined and X-rayed her, then began chelation treatment to remove the lead from her body. Miracle, a California condor, has arrived at the Oakland Zoo in California, to be treated for lead poisoning. When she was captured by biologists for her semi-annual checkup in Pinnacles National Park, she tested positive for lead poisoning … Her lead levels so high, they couldn’t even register on the field test kit. She was immediately sent in for transport, and the Oakland Zoo’s Condor Care Team examined and X-rayed her, then began chelation treatment to remove the lead from her body. “When a bird’s blood levels are high, it’s critical for us to take them in for veterinary care,” said Rachel Wolstenholme, the manager of the Pinnacles Condor Program. So how is Miracle doing? She’s living up to her namesake, it seems. …
OSU Names Stratton Staff Award RecipientJune 2, 2015Oklahoma State University’s Center for Veterinary Health Sciences has named Dennis Clary as its 2015 Stratton Staff Award recipient. Clary is a member of the facilities maintenance team. The award was established upon the retirement of Dr. Louie Stratton in 1989. Stratton, the former director of OSU’s Veterinary Medical Hospital, wanted the award to honor outstanding staff members for their dedicated service and many key contributions. Nominations are accepted from any employee of the center and selected by an ad hoc committee appointed by the dean. Clary, who has been with the center for five years, is known for his vast knowledge of the center’s facilities and his willingness to tackle any project. He regularly participates in continuing education courses to expand his knowledge base, according to the university. Clary is also quick to volunteer to come in early, stay late and work on weekends if needed to lessen the impact and downtime on the center’s critical building systems, the university further noted. OSU’s Center for Veterinary Health Services also took the time to recognize other faculty and staff who have devoted many years of service to the center. Longevity awards were given to the following employees: Dr. Sahlu Ayalew, …
CSU Vets Refine Art of Artificial TissueJune 1, 2015The skin they sell is fake, but the entrepreneurial achievements of Colorado State University equine surgeons Dean Hendrickson and Fausto Bellezzo are 100 percent real. Drs. Hendrickson and Bellezzo are the brains behind SurgiReal Products Inc., a manufacturer of suture pads used by students at more than 140 veterinary, medical and nursing schools nationwide. Gone are the days of practicing and fine-tuning surgical techniques on carpet scraps, orange peels, bananas and pigs’ feet. “The next generation of medical students will say, ‘We saw something where people used carpet pads—really?’ said Hendrickson, DVM, MS, Dipl. ACVS. “I had a donor say, ‘You’re turning the world upside down with this,’ and I said, ‘No, I’m just trying to train surgeons.’” SurgiReal’s extensive product line ranges from a $19.99 translucent suture pad to a $99.99 five-layer tissue pad that oozes fake blood. Also available are a $96.25 small intestine model and the $2,195 Equine Simulator 1.0, an artificial horse’s head designed for practicing everything from eye nerve blocks to jugular catheter insertions. All that and more from a Fort Collins, Colo., company that started sales in 2013 and is expecting $400,000 in revenue this year. Hendrickson, the former dean of CSU’s …
Purdue’s Trustees Give Green Light on $60 Million Ag, Life Sciences FacilityMay 30, 2015Purdue University’s Board of Trustees recently approved a new $60 million Agricultural and Life Sciences Facility. The 123,000 gross-square-foot facility complex will consolidate Department of Animal Sciences students, faculty and staff into a unified complex to better coordinate teaching, research and engagement activities, according to the university. It will also provide needed upgrades to teaching, research and meat lab facilities. “This new location will provide the facilities needed to maintain our continued recognition as a premier program and attract top students and faculty, as well as to support the animal industries in our state and around the world at the highest levels,” said Jay Akridge, Ph.D., Purdue’s Glenn W. Sample Dean of Agriculture. “In addition, the location near the Life and Health Sciences Park and adjacent to Discovery Park will allow us to enhance collaboration among our college and the colleges of Engineering, Health and Human Sciences and Veterinary Medicine.” Construction is slated to being in February 2016. Occupancy in the facility is aimed for July 2017. Financing will come from $35 million in student fee bond proceeds approved by the General Assembly, $15 million in gift funds and $10 million from the capital reserve for buildings. Purdue must provide …
