Grants Given to Fight Canine Epilepsy, HypothyroidismOctober 20, 2014University researchers in the United States, Australia and the Netherlands have been awarded nearly $269,000 to study epilepsy and hypothyroidism in dogs. Two of the grant winners—Ned Patterson, DVM, Ph.D., of the University of Minnesota and Sam Long, MVM, Ph.D., Dipl. ECVN, of the University of Melbourne—will work to understand the underlying mechanisms that predispose dogs to epilepsy and search for new drugs. Drs. Patterson and Long received $104,781 and $116,000, respectively. The money was awarded by the AKC Canine Health Foundation, a Raleigh, N.C., organization that manages research donations from individuals, dog clubs, foundations and corporations. The other grant, valued at $48,195, went to Jan A. Mol, Ph.D., of the University of Utrecht. Mol will investigate three methods that may provide a more accurate diagnosis for hypothyroidism, the foundation reported. The research findings could assist both dogs and people. About 7 in every 1,000 Americans have epilepsy and about 4.6 percent of Americans have hypothyroidism. “By helping our dogs, we potentially unlock better treatments for ourselves as well,” said the foundation’s chief scientific officer, Shila Nordone, MS, Ph.D. The two diseases are among the Canine Health Foundation’s research priorities. Current drug therapies are of little use to about …
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Accreditation Panel Says Oregon Zoo UnderstaffedOctober 17, 2014The Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) is urging the Oregon Zoo to beef up its veterinary staffing to better serve the park’s 2,000 animals. An AZA team surveyed the Portland, Ore., zoo in July in advance of an accreditation inspection scheduled for the summer of 2015. Besides looking at the zoo’s veterinary operations, AZA examined the park’s emergency response protocols, organizational structure and relationship with Metro Regional Government, the owner and operator. The Oregon Zoo employs two veterinarians, two veterinary technicians and a part-time hospital keeper—numbers that AZA called too low. “Four days per week there is only one veterinarian and one veterinary technician onsite,” AZA noted. “Vet techs also serve as part-time keepers for hospitalized animals after the animal keeper leaves for the day.” Another issue, AZA reported, is that “people are ‘stretched thin,’ which can lead to reactive versus proactive responses to procedures, preventative health and communications.” The 64-acre zoo opened a new hospital, the Veterinary Medical Center, in early 2012 and is building or planning the construction of elephant, polar bear and primate exhibits and an African savanna. The zoo is close to hiring a hospital administrator, spokesman Hova Najarian said. AZA stated that …
For Kangaroo Health, WesternU Springs Into ActionOctober 17, 2014It’s not every day that a kangaroo shows up at a Southern California veterinary clinic. Western University of Health Sciences admitted two marsupials Oct. 8 upon the request of alumnus Brad Ahrens, DVM, who works part time for an animal talent agency. The two red kangaroos, named Lenny and Captain, required neuter surgery for safety reasons. Male red kangaroos can reach 200 pounds in the wild. “You need to neuter them while they’re still young,” Dr. Ahrens said. “Otherwise they grow up to be really big and can become aggressive.” Lenny and Captain, ages 2 and 3, came from Birds & Animals Unlimited, an Acton, Calif., company that supplies animals for film and television work and for shows at Universal Studios Hollywood. The company lacks a surgery suite, so Ahrens used his connections to get Lenny and Captain into the WesternU Pet Wellness Center in Pomona. The surgeries were conducted by Professor Maria Fahie, DVM, MS, Dipl. ACVS, with help from Ahrens and associate professor David Clark, DVM. Veterinary students used to handling dogs and cats were introduced to a totally different animal. “Getting faculty and students engaged in learning on species they wouldn’t normally see while providing …
Antibiotic Use in Animals on Decline in EuropeOctober 16, 2014An international push to reduce antibiotic resistance in people by limiting the use of antimicrobials in animals is showing promise. The European Medicines Agency reported Wednesday that animal antibiotic sales across Europe declined by 15 percent from 2010 to 2012. The drop-off in 18 nations ranged from 0.4 to 49 percent. “These latest figures, which suggest a positive trend in terms of the responsible use of antibiotics in animals in Europe, are highly welcome,” said David Mackay, BVetMed, Ph.D., MRCVS, who directs the agency’s Division on Veterinary Medicines. “However, the report also shows that there is scope for further decrease.” Antibiotic resistance is potentially life threatening in people. In the United States, the President’s Council of Advisors on Science and Technology issued a report in September recommending the improved surveillance of antibiotic-resistant bacteria, the smarter use of existing antibiotics and the development of new drugs. “The evolution of antibiotic resistance is now occurring at an alarming rate and is outpacing the development of new countermeasures capable of thwarting infections in humans,” the task force stated. “This situation threatens patient care, economic growth, public health, agriculture, economic security and national security.” The American Veterinary Medical Association has taken action …
Blue Buffalo Says Supplier Mislabeled Pet Food IngredientOctober 16, 2014Blue Buffalo Co. acknowledged this week after months of denials that some of its pet food may have contained poultry byproduct meal because of a labeling mix-up involving a supplier. The admission was the latest chapter in a pending legal case between two of the world’s largest pet food manufacturers. In a lawsuit filed in May, Nestlé Purina PetCare Co. accused Blue Buffalo of false advertising, an allegation that set off a countersuit and back-and-forth claims. Blue Buffalo chairman Bill Bishop told cat and dog owners in a statement posted on the company website Tuesday that animal feed supplier Wilbur-Ellis Co. mislabeled and shipped poultry byproduct meal to an undisclosed number of customers. Blue Buffalo stopped short of confirming that any of its food contained poultry byproduct meal, which is made from ground-up bird parts such as necks, feet and intestines. The Wilton, Conn., company advertises that its products are free of poultry byproduct meal, chicken byproduct meal, artificial colors and flavors, preservatives, and corn, wheat and soy. “We may have received some of these mislabeled shipments, and there likely are numerous other pet food companies who also received these mislabeled ingredients,” Bishop said. Purina asserted in an amended complaint …
Mississippi Vet School Expands Partnership with Jackson ZooOctober 16, 2014The Mississippi State University College of Veterinary Medicine has expanded its partnership with the Jackson Zoo in an effort to allow more research opportunities for both institutions. The announcement was made on the city of Jackson’s website in early October. The vet college currently provides veterinary students with the opportunity to work a couple of days at the zoo. Students work under Michael Holifield, DVM, an MSU-CVM alum, to learn about the day-to-day management of zoo animal health. The existing program has been so successful that both groups wanted to collaborate on a wider scale. Under this new memorandum of understanding, students and faculty will have opportunities to publish research papers on topics such as endangered species at the zoo, biosecurity and animal husbandry. “We have enjoyed a long and very good relationship with the zoo,” said Kent Hoblet, DVM, Dipl. ACVPM, dean of MSU-CVM. “Our students have learned a lot from Dr. Holifield and growing this program means even more opportunities. Now, our students won’t have to go far at all to get involved in research of zoological epidemiology, and understand infectious disease in captive and free-ranging wildlife. This will certainly serve them well as they step out …
Banfield Book Teaches Responsible Pet OwnershipOctober 15, 2014Start ’em young. Banfield Pet Hospital today released a children’s book designed to entertain young pet owners and explain the importance of regular preventive veterinary care. “My Very, Very Busy Day!” was written and illustrated by Portland, Ore., artist Ray Nelson with the assistance of Banfield veterinarians Ari Zabell, DVM, and Jessica Trice, DVM. “No matter how young a child is, they play a significant role in the family and in the life of a family pet,” Dr. Zabell said. “It’s important they build good habits at an early age when it comes to providing the best care possible for a pet.” The book will be sold at 880 Banfield hospitals nationwide for a suggested donation of $10 to the Banfield Charitable Trust. The proceeds will be spent on preventive care for needy pets. A reading and book signing hosted by 11-year-old actress Quvenzhané Wallis was held today at the Children’s Museum of Manhattan in New York. Quvenzhané wrote the book’s forward. “I’ve always loved animals and dream of becoming a veterinarian when I grow up,” she said. “My Very, Very Busy Day!” tells the tale of Captain Noodles the dog and Kitty the cat, whose typical …
Officials Downplay Ebola Risk in PetsOctober 15, 2014As an outbreak of Ebola virus catches the world’s attention, U.S. and international veterinary organizations and public health officials are attempting to calm worried pet owners with reminders that cats, dogs and other domesticated animals have not been shown to transmit the disease. The World Small Animal Veterinary Association (WSAVA) also questioned the decision by health authorities in Spain to euthanize a dog whose owner, a nurse, contracted Ebola. “A precedent for automatic euthanasia is both unnecessary and a significant breach of animal welfare,” said Shane Ryan, BVSc, MVS, MRCVS, the chairman of WSAVA’s Animal Wellness and Welfare Committee. Ryan called for the quarantine of animals exposed to Ebola. A Cavalier King Charles Spaniel is in isolation in Texas after his owner, a Dallas nurse, was infected with Ebola and hospitalized. “Dogs may harbor the virus, particularly in endemic areas where they may have access to infected animal carcasses,’’ Ryan said. But domestic pets, potentially exposed in developed countries, represent a very different scenario. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) noted that in West Africa, where more than 4,000 people have died from Ebola, “there have been no reports of dogs and cats becoming sick with Ebola …
Bayer Adds Vet-only Dermoscent Skin ProductsOctober 14, 2014Bayer HealthCare Animal Health has expanded its DVM line of veterinary-exclusive products with the U.S. launch of Dermoscent. The skin care products for cats and dogs will be sold only through licensed veterinarians and consist of: Essential 6, a spot-on formulated with essential oils to support healthy skin and minimize itching associated with some dermatological conditions. Essential Mousse, a rinse-free combination of fatty acids that is spread through a pet’s fur and toweled or brushed off to support the skin. Bio Balm, for managing rough, hyperkeratotic conditions such as thickened or cracked footpads and noninfected calluses. ATOP 7 Spray, for the management of dry, itchy skin. PYOclean Wipes, for removing dirt and debris from a pet’s skin and coat and to help manage localized skin infections. Bayer reported Monday that it obtained the exclusive U.S. marketing rights to Dermoscent from the French manufacturer LDCA. “Each product is intended to help provide flexibility and convenience,” said Ken Kwochka, DVM, Dipl. ACVD, Bayer North America’s manager of veterinary services, health and wellness. “Dermoscent products are well-suited options to support both shampoo therapy or to use when shampooing is impractical.”
Nestlé Unveils Improved Australia Pet Food FactoryOctober 14, 2014An eastern Australia pet food plant that makes dry kibble for cats and dogs has expanded into wet food with a $56.5 million upgrade under owner Nestlé Purina PetCare Co. The expanded facility, which opened today in Blayney—150 miles west of Sydney—includes new equipment, a 58,000-square-foot warehouse, and an improved research and development center. The 25-year-old factory produces dry food such as Supercoat, Beneful, Lucky Dog, Pro Plan and Friskies for domestic and export markets. The new facility will add wet food for sale in pouches throughout Australia, Japan, China and other countries. The plant has undergone $87 million worth of improvements since 2011 to turn it into a state-of-the-art facility employing 300 people, the company reported. “This technology has the capability and flexibility to create demand for a premium product, with the taste profile pets prefer [and] with the simplicity of packaging and serving their owners prefer,” Nestlé Purina PetCare President Rafael Lopez said. The upgraded plant’s annual production is estimated at more than 100,000 tons. More than 80 percent of the raw materials, including meat, grains and packaging, come from Australia, the company added.
