Idexx Unveils Kidney Test BreakthroughJanuary 22, 2015A new test designed for the early detection of kidney disease in cats and dogs will be added to all routine reference laboratory chemistry profiles from Idexx Laboratories Inc. The announcement was made Monday at the annual North American Veterinary Community conference in Orlando, Fla. The test involves SDMA, or symmetric dimethylarginine, a renal biomarker that identifies the onset of kidney disease months or even years earlier than traditional diagnostic methods, Idexx reported. Early detection gives veterinarians and pet owners more treatment options, the Westbrook, Maine, company added. The test will become part of all routine reference profiles at no additional cost, Idexx stated. “We expect to begin trials with several hundred customers in North America by March and to roll out the test as part of the routine chemistry panel in the North American market this summer,” said Idexx CEO and President Jonathan W. Ayers. “A rollout in our global reference laboratory network will extend into 2016.” Oregon State University hinted at the development in November 2014, when it revealed the findings of an SDMA research project involving Idexx. The clinical study, published in The Veterinary Journal, showed that SDMA identified the onset of kidney disease an …
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Henry Schein to Purchase Scil Animal CareJanuary 22, 2015Henry Schein Animal Health will expand into Canada and Italy upon the acquisition of fellow veterinary products and services distributor Scil Animal Care Co. The takeover of Germany-based Scil will strengthen Henry Schein Animal Health in the specialty diagnostics market. Among Scil’s product lines are chemistry and hematology analyzers, digital radiography and dental equipment, ultrasound machines, laboratory software, surgical power tools and orthopedic implants. Scil, which employs 200 people and does about $70 million in annual sales, also provides product training and veterinary education. The company operates primarily in the United States, Canada, Germany, France, Italy, the Netherlands and Spain. Henry Schein Animal Health reported 2013 sales of $2.6 billion. The acquisition by parent company Henry Schein Inc. was announced Monday and is expected to close in the second quarter of 2015. The purchase price was not released. All Scil employees, including CEO Hartmut Jaissle, Dr.Med.Vet., will stay with Henry Schein Animal Health. Henry Schein Inc. CEO Stanley M. Bergman called Scil’s specialty diagnostics business “a critical element to help veterinarians provide high-quality care and increase practice revenues.” “The Scil Animal Care professionals will enhance our animal health business’ equipment sales and support capabilities,” Bergman said. “This will be …
New Program Helps Care for Pets after Owners PassJanuary 22, 2015The Oregon State University College of Veterinary Medicine has partnered with the Oregon Humane Society (OHS) to create Pet Promise, a program that will help care for pets after owners have passed away. When pet owners enroll their cat or dog, and contributes to Pet Promise, a legal contract will be set up where the college becomes an advocate for a pet after the owner dies. The college and OHS work together to find the pet a good home, and all costs are covered. The program aims to give pet owners peace of mind knowing their pet’s future is in the hearts and hands of the people who work at the college, according to the university. For details, visit the Oregon State website.
Ohio State Helps Police Dog with Orthopedic SurgeryJanuary 20, 2015Eddie, a 7-year-old K9 police dog, is recovering nicely after having surgery for hip dysplasia in early January, according to The Ohio State Veterinary Medical Center, which performed the procedure. The Malinois German shepherd belongs to Chicago Police Officer Chad Rezny, member of the Village of Alsip Police Department, a unit in a south-side suburb of Chicago. The two have been working side-by-side for seven years. After Eddie was diagnosed with hip dysplasia, the University of Illinois College of Veterinary Medicine referred Officer Rezny to Ohio State. Jonathan Dyce, MRCVS, Dipl. ACVS, an associate professor in the Department of Clinical Sciences, performed the total hip replacement surgery. The surgery will extend Eddie’s service life and “enable me to do my job better,” said Officer Rezny. Eddie serves as a dual-purpose dog and is known as an elite athlete with skills in narcotics detection, article search, building and area search, suspect apprehension and handler protection. Officer Rezny, who has been with the Alsip police force for 17 years, notes numerous occasions when Eddie has saved his life by being his first-line of defense during armed robberies and apprehensions. Officer Rezny said he is looking forward to having his partner back, which …
Study: Toxoplasmosis in Northeastern Ohio Deer Population Hits 60%January 17, 2015White-tailed deer in northeastern Ohio have a high rate of toxoplasmosis infection, according to a study led by third-year Ohio State University College of Veterinary Medicine student Gregory Ballash. The parasite, Toxoplasma gondii, is associated with free-roaming cats. “This study documents the widespread infection of deer populations in northeastern Ohio, most likely resulting from feral cats, and highlights the need for consumers of venison to make absolutely certain that any deer meat planned for consumption is thoroughly and properly cooked,” said Ballash, who received his Master’s of Public Health with a specialization in Veterinary Public Health in 2011 and is currently a student research assistant at the college. Two hundred free-roaming cats and 444 white-tailed deer in the Greater Cleveland area were tested for toxoplasmosis as part of the study. Results revealed that nearly 60 percent of the deer and more than 65 percent of the cats were infected with the parasite. Cats, both domestic and wild, play a critical role in the epidemiology of the parasite because they serve as the definitive hosts, fulfilling the requirements needed for the parasite to sexually reproduce and complete its life cycle, according to the study. Domestic cats are often infected at …
How WVC is Expanding the BrandJanuary 16, 2015Originally published in the January 2015 issue of Veterinary Practice News In a city where gamblers lose more than they win, David Little bets on sure things. The CEO of Western Veterinary Conference is certain that veterinarians and vet techs will continue to flock to Las Vegas from around the world for the organization’s annual convention and the 1,000 hours of continuing education offered over five days in February. He’s also wagering that the lectures and hands-on labs presented year-round at the nearby Oquendo Center are here to stay. But Little knows that Las Vegas isn’t always a convenient meeting spot for busy professionals, and to reach more of them he and the WVC staff have taken continuing education outside Nevada with the new On the Road series. “We realize that the landscape is changing in veterinary CE, so we want to provide different options,” Little said. “We want to take our programs out into the community … and make it easier and more cost-effective for veterinary professionals to interact with WVC.” On the Road kicked off in September in Oklahoma City with a one-day class on small animal dermatology. A month later in Indianapolis, 61 veterinary professionals attended a …
Aja Takes Over as Banfield Chief Medical OfficerJanuary 15, 2015The new year has delivered a new chief medical officer to the Banfield Pet Hospital chain. The Portland, Ore., company’s 2,900 veterinarians will look to Daniel Aja, DVM, for direction in the quality of medicine practiced at nearly 900 locations. Dr. Aja replaced Jeffrey Klausner, DVM, MS, Dipl. ACVIM, who retired at the end of 2014. Aja’s appointment was announced in April 2014. The former Hill’s Pet Nutrition executive served as Banfield’s senior vice president of medical operations in the interim. “We are confident he’ll continue Dr. Klausner’s work of instilling our core values, including quality preventive care, across our hospitals and the broader veterinary profession,” said Tony Ueber, president and CEO of Banfield. Aja worked for 21 years as the owner and director of Cherry Bend Animal Hospital in Traverse City, Mich. His career has included service on the American Veterinary Medical Association House of Delegates and on the Michigan Board of Veterinary Medicine. He is a former president of the American Animal Hospital Association. “Banfield has been at the forefront of preventive care within the veterinary profession for the past two decades,” said Aja, a graduate of Michigan State University. “I’m excited to work with and …
Drug Maker Putney Celebrates Regulatory SuccessesJanuary 15, 2015Fresh off government approval of four generic animal drugs, manufacturer Putney Inc. this week reported receiving the go-ahead for a fifth: Enrofloxacin Antibacterial Injectable Solution. The generic version of Bayer Animal Health’s Baytril Antibacterial Injectable Solution is indicated for the treatment of bacterial infections in dogs. The Putney drug won the approval of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s Center for Veterinary Medicine, giving the company its fifth FDA endorsement in five months. Putney President and CEO Jean Hoffman credited the Portland, Maine, company’s research and development team for the recent approvals. “Only six generic pet medicines were approved by the FDA in 2014, and four of them were Putney products,” Hoffman said. The latest achievement made Putney the only manufacturer with an FDA-approved generic of enrofloxacin for pets in both flavored tablet and injectable dosage forms. The company’s Enrofloxacin Flavored Tablets are formulated for dog and cats. A rollout date for Enrofloxacin Injectable Solution was not announced. Three of the four Putney drugs approved in 2014—Dexmedetomidine HCl, Meloxicam Solution for Injection and Carprofen Chewable Tablets—are in veterinary pharmacies. The fourth, Carprofen Sterile Injectable Solution, is expected to be released soon, the company stated. Putney’s last approved drug of 2014, Carprofen Chewable Tablets, …
Colorado’s Research Day to be Held Jan. 31January 15, 2015 (function(d, s, id) { var js, fjs = d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0]; if (d.getElementById(id)) return; js = d.createElement(s); js.id = id; js.src = "//connect.facebook.net/en_US/all.js#xfbml=1"; fjs.parentNode.insertBefore(js, fjs); }(document, 'script', 'facebook-jssdk')); Post by CSU College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences. Colorado State University College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences will host its 16th annual CVMBS Research Day at noon Jan. 31. The event, to be held at the Hilton Fort Collins, is free and open to all members of the CVMBS community. The annual symposium showcases cutting-edge student research and innovative research approaches. It’s an excellent opportunity for local researchers and scientists to connect, enhancing collaboration and communication between basic and clinical researchers, according to the college. The symposium will begin with presentations by Elizabeth Ryan, Ph.D., and Candace Mathiason, Ph.D., CVMBS & Zoetis Early Career Investigator awardees. Following that will be poster and oral presentations in basic and clinical sciences by graduate students, veterinary students, veterinary residents, postdoctoral fellows and interns. Find out more about this event at the CSUVMB website.
Study: Cancer Patients Benefit From Therapy DogsJanuary 14, 2015Therapy dogs lifted the spirits of adult cancer patients by improving their emotional well-being and quality of life, according to research co-sponsored by veterinary drug manufacturer Zoetis Inc. The clinical study, published this week in the Journal of Community and Supportive Oncology, involved patients receiving combined chemotherapy and radiation therapy for gastrointestinal, head or neck cancers. A questionnaire called the FACT-G (Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy—General) found that the patients’ emotional well-being jumped over the course of animal-assisted visits even as they underwent “marked and significant declines in both physical and functional well-being,” according to the researchers. Principal investigator Stewart B. Fleishman, M.D., of New York’s Mount Sinai Beth Israel hospital called the work “the first such definitive study in cancer.” “Having an animal-assisted visit significantly improved [the patients’] quality of life and humanized a high-tech treatment,” Fleishman said. “Patients said they would have stopped their treatments before completion except for the presence of the certified Good Dog Foundation therapy dog and volunteer handler.” Besides Zoetis, the New York-based Good Dog Foundation and the Pfizer Foundation contributed to the research. “There is mounting evidence in human and veterinary medicine that the emotional bond between people and companion animals can …
