Sterilization Effects Worse for Golden Retrievers Than LabsJuly 15, 2014 Golden retrievers are more likely than Labrador retrievers to be diagnosed with joint disorders or cancer after the animals have been spayed or neutered, according to the results of a study published Monday in the online journal PLOS ONE. Intact members of both breeds enjoy lower rates of joint disorders and cancer, researchers at the University of California, Davis, School of Veterinary Medicine added. The researchers did not take a stand on spaying and neutering, which is done to an estimated 83 percent of all U.S. dogs to control the pet population and prevent unwanted behaviors. Instead, they stated that the study served to measure the long-term health effects of sterilization and to educate breeders and dog owners who are deciding when, and if, to spay or neuter their animals. When a golden or Labrador retriever is sterilized can play a role in the onset of joint disorders and cancer, the researchers stated. A connection was found between early sterilization—before the animal is 6 months old—and the appearance of joint disorders. About 5 percent of intact golden and Labrador retrievers of both genders suffer from a joint disorder, the researchers determined. The rate in dogs …
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Residents Receive Award for Work in Canine CardiologyJuly 11, 2014 Randolph Winter, DVM, a veterinary resident at the Texas A&M College of Veterinary Medicine & Biological Sciences, and Lance Visser, DVM, a veterinary resident at The Ohio State University College of Veterinary Medicine, recently each received the 2014 American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine (ACVIM) Resident Research Award for their respective work in canine cardiology. Dr. Winter’s project is “Biologic Variability of N-Terminal Pro-Brain Natriuretic Peptide and Cardiac Troponin I in Health Dogs and Dogs with Myxomatous Mitral Valve Disease.” He is working with his mentor, Ashley Saunders, DVM, to enhance treatment of mitral valve disease through the identification of biological markers of disease. Dr. Visser’s project is “Echocardiographic Assessment of Right Ventricular Systolic Function Following a Single Dose of Pimobendan Versus Atenolol in Conscious Healthy Dogs: A Prospective, Blinded, Randomized, Crossover Study.” He aims to define the best-performing echocardiographic variables that track changes in right ventricular function in response to pharmacologic manipulation. His data will stimulate further studies that will allow veterinary cardiologists to define new ways of evaluating and prognosticating for dogs with heart and lung diseases that affect heart function. Both projects are funded by the American Kennel Club Canine Health …
Bill Permitting Off-Clinic Drug Dispensing Passes HouseJuly 9, 2014 Federal legislation that would legalize the transporting and dispensing of controlled drugs away from a veterinarian’s office moved a step closer to being enacted when the House of Representatives approved the measure by voice vote Tuesday. The Veterinary Medicine Mobility Act would authorize practitioners, particularly mobile and livestock veterinarians, to carry drugs away from their registered location and across state lines. Veterinarians commonly dispense drugs away from a clinic, but the Drug Enforcement Administration in recent years took what the American Veterinary Medical Association called a "narrow interpretation” of the Controlled Substances Act and forbid the practice. The DEA sent letters to violators, but no veterinarians have been charged, AVMA reported. The Veterinary Medicine Mobility Act now moves back to the Senate, which approved a version in January. The legislation was sponsored by the only two veterinarians serving in Congress: U.S. Reps. Kurt Schrader, DVM, an Oregon Democrat, and Ted Yoho, DVM, a Florida Republican. "Today is a victory for veterinarians across this country, but more importantly, it’s a victory for the health and well-being of the animals they are entrusted to care for,” Dr. Schrader said. "Ridiculous bureaucratic interference from the DEA would …
4 K-State Students Earn Scholarships in Army Veterinary CorpsJuly 9, 2014 Four Kansas State University veterinary students were recently selected to earn scholarships in the U.S. Army Veterinary Corps under the F. Edward Hebert Armed Forces Health Professions Scholarship Program. The health professions scholarship pays 100 percent of the tuition for a graduate-level health care degree at any accredited medical, dental, veterinary, psychology or optometry program in the United States or Puerto Rico. The recipients are: Taylor Boles, third-year student; Lisa Crevoiserat, third-year student; Kaitlin Foley, second-year student; and Kathleen Stewart, second-year student. “K-State led the way in the number of veterinary scholarship recipients this year,” said Staff Sgt. Erika L. Rough, the center commander in the Army Medical Recruiting Center. “K-State has phenomenal students and the Army is lucky to gain them amongst our ranks.” “We are extremely proud of our students who are willing to commit to serve our country through military service following graduation,” said Ronnie Elmore, associate dean for academic programs, admissions and diversity programs in Kansas State University’s College of Veterinary Medicine. “The Health Professions Scholarship Program enables our student recipients to concentrate on their veterinary educations and graduate without incurring significant educational debts. This program allows our graduates to not …
Want To Be A Better Surgeon? Play Video Games!July 9, 2014 Follow Veterinary Practice News on Twitter at @VetPetNews Video games have become more advanced since the days of Pong and Atari. They’re more interactive, allowing gamers to control the outcome of the game through their movements. Nintendo’s Wii forces players to stand up, move their arms and legs in such a way that the character on the screen does the same. But can video games really improve a doctor’s skills? Heather Towle-Millard, DVM, MS, Dipl. ACVS believes that it does. In a study in human medicine, laparoscopic box trainers were used to test dexterity and psychomotor skills. The study revealed that participants “who played video games more than three hours per week had 37 percent fewer errors, were 27 percent faster and scored 42 percent better in the box trainer exercises than students who had no video game experience,” according to JConline. This led to the conclusion that perhaps playing video games improved the students’ laparoscopic surgery skills. After learning of the study from colleague Lynetta Freeman, DVM, MS, Dipl. ACVS, Dr. Towle-Millard wondered if conducting the study with veterinary students would produce the same results. …
LSU Hosts Large Animal Health Seminar August 2July 8, 2014 The Louisiana State University School of Veterinary Medicine’s Partnering for Large Animal Health Education Series will take place Aug. 2 from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. The continuing education program, aimed for veterinarians, will feature presentations on equine and farm animal health. Topics will include surgery, farm animal medicine, equine flu, acupuncture, equine medicine, equine endocrinology and reproduction. Four hours of continuing education can be earned for the course. Thanks to a donation from Boehringer-Ingelheim, there is no registration fee to attend. Proceedings, refreshments and lunch will also be provided. Registration is still required. For details, visit the website here. In addition to the seminars, faculty will give tours of the new Louisiana Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory and the Veterinary Teaching Hospital.
No More Stuck Eggs For This Goose, UC Davis SaysJune 30, 2014 Follow Veterinary Practice News on Twitter at @vetpetnews Veterinarians from the University of California, Davis recently treated a goose that had eggs she was unable to pass. The goose, named Prophet, has been living at Farm Sanctuary in Orland, Calif., for the past 16 years. On a visit to Farm Sanctuary, faculty and resident veterinarians with U.C. Davis’ Companion Exotic Animal Medicine & Surgery Service could feel firm structures in Prophet’s coelomic cavity. The concern was possible egg binding, meaning Prophet was unable to pass eggs she had formed. Farm Sanctuary allowed the veterinarians to bring Prophet back to the Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital for further diagnostic evaluation. Radiographs clearly showed the structures were eggs that she was unable to pass, but exactly where those eggs were in her body was the big question, according to U.C. Davis. UC DAVIS The radiograph that clearly showed Prophet had eggs she was unable to pass. Specialists from the Diagnostic Imaging Service consulted with Prophet’s veterinarians over ultrasound images to see if they could determine if the eggs were in her oviduct or were free in …
UGA Reports Successful Feline Kidney TransplantJune 30, 2014 Follow Veterinary Practice News on Twitter at @vetpetnews A Siamese cat named Arthur is doing well after receiving a new kidney, according to veterinarians who led the procedure at the University of Georgia (UGA) Veterinary Teaching Hospital. The kidney transplant, performed on May 15, involved using stem cells harvested from the patient to optimize the cat’s acceptance of the new kidney. The surgery is the hospital’s second successful feline kidney transplant using feline adult stem cells. “To the best of our knowledge, UGA is the only veterinary facility in the world to use adult stem cells in feline kidney transplantation,” said Chad Schmiedt, DVM, a board-certified small animal surgeon who heads UGA’s feline kidney transplant program. The male cat is nearly four years old and was diagnosed with chronic renal failure about a year ago. Two other veterinary teaching hospitals had previously declined to perform Arthur’s surgery due to possible complications, according to UGA, including concerns that tests showed Arthur’s body did not absorb as much cyclosporine as desired. When Dr. Schmiedt met Arthur’s owners, he suggested using feline adult stem cells, also known as mesenchymal stem …
Pets of Low Income, Homeless Owners to Receive More Veterinary CareJune 25, 2014 Follow Veterinary Practice News on Twitter at @vetpetnews. The Pixie Project will be able to provide low income and homeless families additional veterinary care for their pets, thanks to a grant of $7,500 from Banfield Charitable Trust. Already an advocate for finding permanent homes for shelter animals and for providing free and low-cost procedures for pets of owners with financial struggles, the grant will allow The Pixie Project to provide veterinary services regularly. These services, which are conducted through the nonprofit’s Veterinary Assistance Program, include tumor removal, spaying and neutering, amputations, teeth extractions and stitches. The Portland, Oregon-based Pixie Project will use the grant money for veterinary technicians, occasional veterinarians if a volunteer veterinarian is unavailable and surgical supplies. “We are incredibly grateful to Banfield Charitable Trust to partner with us on this project,” Pixie Project executive director Amy Sacks said, according to The Oregonian. “Veterinary care is expensive, and very often people are asked to surrender their animal if they want it to receive care. We believe that helping …
