Western University Hospital to Drop Banfield AffiliationJune 12, 2014The Banfield name is coming off the teaching hospital at Western University of Health Sciences in Ponoma, Calif. A 10-year partnership between the Banfield Pet Hospital chain and Western’s College of Veterinary Medicine is scheduled to end Nov. 30, when the university will assume what it called “full autonomy” over the facility. The hospital name will change from the Banfield Veterinary Clinical Center to the WesternU Pet Wellness Center. “The relationship between WesternU and Banfield has been mutually beneficial, and we want to thank all of those who have supported us over the past 10 years,” said the college’s dean, Philip Nelson, DVM, Ph.D. “We look forward to the exciting opportunities that present themselves in establishing our own practice philosophy, and we will do everything we can to make sure that this transition does not negatively affect customer service or the health of our patients.” Banfield and Western will maintain a relationship, which includes student rotations, said the Portland, Ore., company’s chief medical officer, Jeffrey Klausner, DVM, MS, Dipl. ACVIM. “Although there will no longer be a formal agreement in place, Banfield and Western are still committed partners in education,” Dr. Klausner said. “Banfield will continue its support of student …
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Novartis Introduces Antibiotic to Fight Swine Respiratory DiseaseJune 12, 2014Follow Veterinary Practice News on Twitter at @vetpetnews Novartis Animal Health has released a broad-spectrum antibiotic formulated to treat swine respiratory disease, which carries a high mortality rate in pigs of all ages. Florvio (florfenicol) 2.3% Concentrate Solution is administered through drinking water and is intended for treating respiratory disease in nursery pigs from 8 to 13 weeks old as well as grower and finisher pigs. Swine respiratory disease is a leading cause of mortality, accounting for 44 percent of nursery pig loss and 61 percent of grower/finisher pig loss, Novartis reported. Clinical studies and field trials found that florfenicol quickly reduces clinical signs of swine respiratory disease, the company added. “Florvio combines several of the key attributes veterinarians most commonly look for in an antibiotic for treating pigs diagnosed with respiratory disease,” said Mike Daly, the Novartis farm animal brand manager. “It’s broad spectrum, fast-acting, and the active ingredient in Florvio is used only in veterinary medicine.” The concentrated liquid is indicated for the treatment of respiratory disease associated with Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae, Pasteurella multocida, Streptococcus suis and Salmonella choleraesuis. “Strep suis is a significant pathogen in nursing and wean pigs, causing pneumonia, lameness and convulsions,” said …
Survey: Ross University Grads Happy to Be VeterinariansJune 12, 2014 Follow Veterinary Practice News on Twitter at @vetpetnews Ninety percent of Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine (RUSVM) graduates are satisfied with their career choice to become veterinarians, according to the school’s recently released 2013 Alumni Survey Report. RUSVM conducts the alumni survey annually to understand the employment status one year post graduation, as well as gain a sense of preparation levels by its graduates. The 2013 survey was sent to 274 graduates. A total of 87 graduates (32 percent) responded. Source: Ross University Sixty-two percent of all employed Ross University graduates had salaries of more than $60,000 a year. Graduates didn’t seem to have a hard time finding a job as 86 percent found one within six months after graduation. Five percent found a job between six and 10 months of graduation. The remaining graduates either did not report (8 percent) or were unemployed (1 percent). In regard to salary, 62 percent of respondents indicated they made more than $60,000, 21 percent reported a salary of $40,000 to $59,000 and 15 percent earned less than $40,000. The majority (10 out of 13) of the graduates earning …
Veterinary Technician’s Life Changed by DonationJune 11, 2014 Follow Veterinary Practice News on Twitter at @vetpetnews The DuPage Community Foundation Companions’ Fund recently gifted Joliet Junior College with a $20,000 grant. The grant money was designated for scholarships for the college’s veterinary technology program. One of the recipients, Jade Cheney, says that the scholarship was life-changing. "This award allowed me to significantly cut my hours at work because I didn’t have to worry about tuition costs,” Cheney said, according to The Chicago Tribune. "The award enabled me to focus much more on my studies, especially during my last two semesters when studying was intense. I was fortunate to get this award when I needed it most." The extra time to study paid off, with Cheney receiving an associate’s degree in applied science, graduating with high honors and even delivering the commencement address. As a graduate, Cheney is eligible to take the Veterinary Technician National Exam (VTNE), which she will do in July. Her career seems to be right on path, and she feels the DuPage Animal Hospital in Villa Park, Illinois -- where she has worked for the past eight years -- is the perfect place to be. Nicole …
Ohio State Nears Start of Hospital Renovation ProjectJune 10, 2014Ohio State University expects to break ground in September on the first phase of the $30 million expansion and upgrade of the Veterinary Medical Center. The university board of trustees approved the first phase June 6, clearing the way for $13.8 million in work that will include renovation of the intensive care unit at the Hospital for Companion Animals and construction of conference space and faculty and staff offices in a freestanding building connected to the hospital. The overall project will include the construction or renovation of 57,000 square feet at the hospital. Planned are clinical, teaching and surgery space, a new lobby and reception area, and improvements to patient rooms, animal holding areas and admission and discharge locations, the university reported. Ohio State University An exterior view of the planned Veterinary Medical Center at Ohio State University. “We look forward to having a facility that reflects the excellence of our clinical and academic programs, and the expert compassionate care that we provide to our patients and clients,” said Rustin Moore, DVM, Ph.D., Dipl. ACVS, the College of Veterinary Medicine’s associate executive dean and the executive director of the Veterinary Medical Center. Fundraising is …
RCVS Moves to Clarify Veterinarian-Client RelationshipJune 6, 2014 British veterinarians could elect not to treat a pet away from their hospital, even if an owner insists on a visit, under revised guidelines being considered by the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons. The updated guidelines would encourage in-clinic visits, clarify when a veterinarian may want to travel to a sick or injured animal, and ensure that clients are better informed about after-hours emergency care and costs. Responsibility for a pet’s welfare ultimately rests with the owner, the organization’s 42-member council decided. The council endorsed the updates Thursday after a three-day hearing and following surveys of veterinarians and animal owners. The draft changes to the Code of Professional Conduct were forwarded to the Standards Committee for refinement and final approval. The current code advises veterinarians to consider all requests for at-home visits and states that practitioners are “not expected to risk life or limb.” The revised language would empower veterinarians to decline a travel request when they deem an out-of-office visit unnecessary or unsafe. The British Veterinary Association contributed to the debate and supports the changes. “The willingness of veterinary surgeons to provide 24/7 emergency care is one of the main reasons that the …
AVMA Forms Committee to Look at Compounded DrugsJune 5, 2014 Follow Veterinary Practice News at @vetpetnews Animal drug compounding has drawn renewed attention from federal officials and now from the American Veterinary Medical Association, which this week announced the formation of a task force made up of eight veterinarians. The group, formally called the Task Force on Veterinary Compounding Legislation, is experienced in compounding policies and regulations and understands the need for compounded veterinary drugs, AVMA reported Wednesday. The eight veterinarians, AVMA stated, “will lead a national dialogue among veterinarians, pharmacists, drug manufacturers and the Food and Drug Administration to determine how they can work together to ensure veterinary compounding is done safely and effectively.” “Discussions will include clarification of the need for legal compounding from bulk substances, anticipatory compounding, and administering and dispensing compounds maintained in the office,” the Schaumburg, Ill.-based AVMA added. Veterinary compounding has drawn infrequent but unflattering headlines in recent years. An overdose of sodium selenite, prepared by Franck’s Compounding Pharmacy of Ocala, Fla., killed 21 polo ponies in 2009. Just last month, Wickliffe Veterinary Pharmacy of Lexington, Ky., acknowledged that it had produced a compounded drug that contained excessive levels of pyrimethamine. Four horses died. …
Australian Drug Maker Jurox to Open U.S. OfficeJune 5, 2014 Jurox, an Australian company that makes drugs and other products formulated for cats, dogs, sheep, horses and cattle, will expand to the United States with the opening of a headquarters in Kansas City, Mo. The expansion into the nation’s Animal Health Corridor, an area focused on animal-related research and manufacturing, was an easy decision, said John O’Brien, managing director for Jurox. "Kansas City is the obvious best location to launch Jurox’s U.S. operations,” O’Brien said. “The region offers a broad portfolio of animal health companies, a first-rate talent pool, and a superior transportation network that connects us to clientele around the country and globe. Kansas City’s reputation and resources in animal sciences provides advantages you can’t find elsewhere.” Jurox, a family-owned company based in Rutherford, New South Wales, Australia, produces more than 120 animal health products. They range from Popantel deworming tablets for cats or dogs to Dermaclens Cream for treating wounds in cattle, horses, dogs and cats. The move is expected to create 44 jobs–13 in Kansas City and 31 throughout the United States. A date for the opening of the Kansas City office was not announced. The decision was good news …
Hill's Recalls 62 Bags Of Small & Toy Breed Dog FoodJune 5, 2014 Follow Veterinary Practice News on Twitter at @vetpetnews Several dozen bags of Science Diet Adult Small & Toy Breed dry dog food distributed through a handful of veterinary clinics and pet stores have been recalled because of potential salmonella contamination. The voluntary recall involves 62 bags and 17 locations in California, Hawaii and Nevada, according to the manufacturer, Hill?s Pet Nutrition Inc. of Topeka, Kan. The 15.5-pound bags show the SKU number 9097 on the bottom, side panels and back side. The recalled bags also bear the "Best Before" date and production code 08 2015 M094 at the top of the bag. No dogs were reported sickened by the food, Hill's reported. Symptoms of salmonella poisoning in pets include lethargy, diarrhea, fever and vomiting. People who handle contaminated pet products may exhibit similar symptoms. The food was made during a single production run and was not intended for distribution, Hill?s stated. The bags were discovered missing during "routine inventory reconciliation,? the company added. The company is fielding questions about the recall at 800-445-5777 from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Central time Monday through Friday. Want more news? Check out …
Penn Vet Wins AAVMC Communications AwardJune 4, 2014 Follow Veterinary Practice News on Twitter at @vetpetnews Successfully spreading the word about the goings-on at the University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine paid off with an increase in hospital visits and donations. The national and international exposure also brought recognition from the Association of American Veterinary Medical Colleges, which today honored Penn Vet with the organization's first Communications Excellence Award. A team of judges that included communication professionals selected Penn Vet's communication program for its work in advancing academic veterinary medicine and the profession, inspiring a higher level of performance, fostering collaboration among member institutions, and sharing content with AAVMC. Leading the effort was Penn Vet?s director of communications, Ashley Berke. She and her team got Penn Vet into thousands of media stories in 2013 through outlets such as ABC, NPR, Fox, The New York Times and The Wall Street Journal. They developed a regular CNN feature on the impact of animal health on human health. Their redesign of the school website increased visitor retention by 13 percent and new visits by 12 percent. On the social media front, Penn Vet's Facebook …
