Dr. Catherine Nunnery Joins Penn Vet’s New Bolton CenterSeptember 3, 2014 Follow Veterinary Practice News on Twitter at @vetpetnews. Catherine Nunnery, DVM, has joined Penn Vet’s New Bolton Center as Large Animal Ophthalmologist. She will begin seeing cases on September 3. Dr. Nunnery will lead the experts in New Bolton Center’s Ophthalmology Service in providing complete ocular examinations, diagnostics and treatment, and performing surgeries for lid lacerations, deep corneal ulcers or perforations, periocular tumors and cataracts. Nunnery’s areas of research include equine ophthalmology, equine glaucoma, new surgical techniques for equine corneal disease, and pharmacology and ocular drug delivery. Prior to joining New Bolton Center, Nunnery served as president and ophthalmologist of Equine Veterinary Vision Inc., an ambulatory large animal ophthalmology practice in Maryland and Virginia. She was also a staff ophthalmologist at VCA Veterinary Referral Associates in Gaithersburg, Md. “I am excited to join the University of Pennsylvania’s New Bolton Center to continue the legacy began by Dr. Mary Utter of providing excellent large animal ophthalmic care and education,” Nunnery said. Nunnery will be joining New Bolton Center’s Nikki Scherrer, DVM, resident in ophthalmology, and Kathryn Wotman, DVM, a board-certified ophthalmologist.
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Zoetis Releases PEDv Vaccine to Veterinary MarketSeptember 3, 2014 A second vaccine formulated to fight porcine epidemic diarrhea virus (PEDv), a disease that has killed millions of U.S. piglets, has been awarded a conditional license from the U.S. Department of Agriculture. The manufacturer, Zoetis Inc., reported today that the two-dose inactivated vaccine was licensed for use in healthy pregnant pigs and will be sold to veterinarians and pig farmers beginning this month. The vaccine generates antibodies that female pigs transmit to their newborns, the Florham Park, N.J., drug maker stated. First diagnosed in the United States in April 2013, PEDv has spread to 30 states and has killed more than 7 million piglets. Spread through feces, the disease causes severe diarrhea and vomiting, and it carries a mortality rate of up to 100 percent of infected young pigs. “Rapidly emerging infectious diseases such as PEDv not only threaten animal health but also the livelihoods of farmers,” said Catherine Knupp, DVM, MS, executive vice president and president of Zoetis Research and Development. Harrisvaccines’ PEDv vaccine beat Zoetis’ formulation by more than a year. A vaccine called iPED was introduced in August 2013 under a USDA emergency program, and Harrisvaccines’ renamed Porcine Epidemic Diarrhea …
Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine Welcomes Class of 2018September 3, 2014 The Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine welcomed the Class of 2018 with a “white coat” ceremony on Aug. 21. The event, which follows four days of orientation activities, marks an important transition in their lives since students are considered part of the profession in veterinary medicine, according to Cyril Clarke, BVSc, Ph.D., dean of the veterinary college. “This important event marks and celebrates the induction of trainee veterinarians into a very distinguished profession, a profession that was founded on service to society and advancement of medical knowledge,” Dr. Clarke said. The white coat is a symbol of the science-based nature of the profession as well as a reminder that students have been given the rare opportunity to become veterinarians, Clarke noted. About 250 family, friends, faculty and staff members, and guests attended the ceremony where the students received a white laboratory coat and a stethoscope. Representatives from the Virginia and Maryland Veterinary Medical Associations were also in attendance. More than 1,400 prospective students applied for 120 available seats, representing the third-largest applicant pool in North America, according to figures from the Association of American Veterinary Medical Colleges. Many of the students also …
NCSU to Host 23nd Annual Dog Olympics Sept. 13August 30, 2014 The Companion Animal Wellness Club at North Carolina State University’s College of Veterinary Medicine will host the 23nd Annual Dog Olympics from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sept. 13. The event will include canine demonstrations, a free microchip clinic and a special “custom cart” Paralympics Parade for dogs with spinal cord injuries, among other activities. The Dog Olympics is a charitable event that celebrates the human-animal bond and raises money for local animal rescue groups, according to the university. The event will be held on the “Hearth” of the NC State Centennial Biomedical Campus located at 1060 William Moore Drive in Raleigh near the intersection of Hillsborough Street and Blue Ridge Highway. Supporters include: K9 Solutions, Doggy Design, Purina, Hill’s, Dr. Dana Lewis—Lap of Love, Veterinary Surgical Referral Practice, Royal Canin and Sleeping Dogs Pottery. For details, visit the website.
Michigan State University Co-Hosts 10th Annual Marek’s Disease SymposiumAugust 28, 2014 More than 150 veterinarians, researchers, students, technicians and industry professionals from 21 countries attended the 10th International Symposium on Marek’s Disease and Avian Herpesvirus in late July. The symposium was co-hosted by Michigan State University and the Avian Disease and Oncology Laboratory. Marek’s disease was once the most economically devastating disease in the poultry industry, according to the university. In its acute form, it can wipe out up to 80 percent of a flock of chickens. Research, the development of effective vaccines and breeding lines of chickens resistant to the disease have been an enormous success, the university further noted. But new and more virulent strains continue to emerge. “Marek’s disease is one of the best success stories in all of animal agriculture,” said Richard Witter, DVM, director of the Avian Disease and Oncology Laboratory from 1976 to 1998. “If vaccines were to fail, the existence of the poultry industry as we know it would be in jeopardy.” The symposium hosted 12 keynote and invited speakers, including participants of the panel “Perspectives on Marek’s disease breakthroughs since the 1960s.” The panel was filmed, along with individual interviews, and will be …
2014 X-Ray Contest WinnersAugust 27, 2014The 2015 "They Ate What?!" Radiograph Contest Now Accepting Entries! Animal hospitals in Texas, Florida and Oregon won Veterinary Practice News’ ninth annual radiograph contest, “They Ate WHAT?” Pet insurer Trupanion of Seattle, Wash., sponsored the contest and will provide cash awards to support the uncompensated care these hospitals provide pets. The first-place winner, Paws & Claws Animal Hospital of Plano, Texas, received $1,500, Gulf Breeze Animal Hospital in Gulf Breeze, Fla., won the $1,000 second prize, and DoveLewis Animal Hospital in Portland, Ore., will receive the $500 third prize. The Veterinary Practice News editorial team and several advisory board members judged the entries. The Winners First Place: Kermit the Frog Shawn Messonnier, DVM Paws & Claws Animal Hospital Plano, Texas Kermit had the munchies. His owner noticed the exotic frog eating the rock substrate in his cage, and radiographs confirmed the owner’s observation. More than 30 small ornamental rocks were removed in surgery and the frog recovered without complications. The owner wisely decided to remove the remaining rocks from the frog’s habitat. Second Place: A Shish Kabob Skewer Goes Missing Tim Gossman, DVM Gulf Breeze Animal Hospital Gulf Breeze, Fla. Marley, a neutered male
Too Many Veterinarians, or a Bubble Market?August 26, 2014 Is our profession heading into a bubble market? The Society for Veterinary Medical Ethics hosted a panel discussion titled “Oversupply: Issues and Ethics” during the annual convention of the American Association of Veterinary Medicine in July in Denver. Panelists were Dennis McCurnin, DVM, Dipl. ACVS; James F. Wilson, DVM, J.D., of Priority Veterinary Management Consultants; Mark Cushing, J.D., a founding member of Animal Policy Group; Dennis Lawler, DVM; and Paul Pion, DVM, Dipl. ACVIM, president and co-founder of Veterinary Information Network. I was the organizer and facilitator during the morning forum, which needed an overflow room to handle interested attendees. Drs. McCurnin and Wilson described how we got into this situation and presented information and statistics that show the potential bubble. The AVMA Workforce Study, released April 22, 2013, reported a 12.5 percent excess capacity in the profession that could continue through 2025. We have been told for the past 25 years that we need to have veterinarians go into non-traditional employment fields. We now have veterinarians in many new and expanding areas (i.e. public health, epidemiology, shelter medicine, food safety, etc.) but still have the issue of low salaries, as …
Former Head of ASPCA Takes Over at PIJACAugust 26, 2014 For more veterinary practice news, follow us on Twitter at @vetpetnews A former ASPCA executive has been hired as president and CEO of the Pet Industry Joint Advisory Council in a move the organization acknowledged is controversial because of his past statements condemning animal breeding and sales. Edwin J. Sayres served for 10 years as president and CEO of the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, and became a consultant after resigning in 2013. He replaces Kenneth Oh, PIJAC’s chairman, who filled in as president after Mike Canning was fired in January without explanation. PIJAC is a nonprofit industry group that promotes responsible pet ownership and animal welfare and lobbies against initiatives that seek to curtail the sale and availability of pets. Humane Watch, which acts as a watchdog over another animal welfare group, the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS), called Sayres’ hiring a “strange move.” “In a nutshell, the trouble with ASPCA and HSUS is that they admit that pet stores sell from some good breeders but that we should boycott them anyway,” Humane Watch wrote in a blog post. Humane Watch published …
K-State Offers New Course on Regulation of Animal Drugs, VaccinesAugust 26, 2014 #92187835 / gettyimages.com Kansas State University has added a new course focusing on the regulation of animal drugs and vaccines. “Regulatory Aspects of Drug and Vaccine Development in the Animal Health Industry” begins this fall and is available through distance learning or on the K-State Olathe campus. The course, as described by the university, will explore the topic of regulations associated with animal health product development and manufacturing. Topics for discussion will include an overview of the regulatory affairs process in the United States and other countries, drug and vaccine classifications and the approval process, drug and vaccine efficacy and safety testing, human and environmental safety issues and future challenges and current industry needs, among other topics. The course is designed for the non-expert to understand go-to-market guidelines associated with animal health product development and manufacturing. Guest lecturers will include senior executives in leading animal health companies who routinely deal with regulatory product development guidelines. For details, visit the K-state Olathe website.
Banfield Predicts Business as Usual if PetSmart Is SoldAugust 25, 2014 PetSmart, the nation’s largest pet products retailer and the home to most Banfield veterinary hospitals, may be on the sales block. The Phoenix-based retailer reported Aug. 19 that it would consider a sale in light of claims by minority investor Jana Partners that PetSmart has “clearly underperformed for shareholders” and should “conduct a full review of all strategic alternatives including a sale.” A longstanding corporate partnership allows nearly all 800 Banfield hospitals to operate inside a PetSmart store. Veterinary clients would not see any meaningful change if a sale occurs, according to Portland, Ore.-based Banfield Pet Hospital. “Banfield has an agreement that governs our relationship with PetSmart, and it will remain in effect regardless of any change in PetSmart ownership,” the hospital chain noted in a prepared statement. Jana Partners, a New York hedge fund, in early August called on PetSmart to pursue a sale, saying the retailer has endured “years of underperformance” and that “multiple interested potential acquirers” exist. Critics of PetSmart have little reason to grumble, chairman Gregory P. Josefowicz said. “PetSmart has delivered superb returns for our investors over a long period of time, with our …
