Texas Now Free of VS, But Colorado Isn’tOctober 20, 2014An outbreak of vesicular stomatitis appears to have run its course in Texas, but dozens of locations in Colorado remain under quarantine. The Texas Animal Health Commission last week reported no active cases of vesicular stomatitis (VS), a viral disease that forms blisters on the mouth, tongue, muzzle, teats or hooves of horses and cattle, making eating and drinking painful or difficult. Pigs, sheep, goats and llamas may be stricken as well. The first Texas case of the year was identified in late May in Kinney County. In the end, 62 premises in 13 counties were quarantined, bringing restrictions on the movement of infected or exposed animals. The release of the last two quarantined premises—in Bastrop and Travis counties—marked what Texas authorities hope is the end of VS. Until May, the state had gone five years without a confirmed VS case. “I would like to thank all cattle and equine owners and Texas veterinarians for the constant support and generous help with harnessing the spread of VS,” said Dee Ellis, DVM, the state veterinarian and executive director of the Texas Animal Health Commission. “All livestock that were tested positive for VS this year have been released because of …
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Kansas State Boldly Goes in New DirectionOctober 20, 2014Imagine a single test that checks for 8,000 different microbes. It’s not a far-fetched idea. The test is being used at the Kansas State University College of Veterinary Medicine, where Professor Raymond Rowland, MS, Ph.D., is experimenting with what he calls “Star Trek technology.” The Microbial Detection Array, an invention of Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory in Livermore, Calif., is designed to check samples of blood, dirt, tissue, and nasal or saliva swabs for viruses, bacteria and fungi. The test could be used in animal health, public health, vaccine safety, food safety and biodefense. Rowland, a researcher of porcine diseases, is teaming up with veterinary students to improve the test and other infectious disease diagnostic tools. “The idea is to take some of this Star Trek technology and bring it to diagnostic laboratories and the clinical practice level,” said Rowland, a professor of diagnostic medicine and pathobiology. “We want to figure out how to apply this test and make it useful for the veterinarian, the livestock producer or the clinician.” Assisting Rowland are second-year veterinary students Rebecca Ober and Jamie Thompson, who also are studying for a Ph.D. in biomedical science. Ober and Thompson spent the summer at Lawrence Livermore to improve …
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 …
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 …
