Penn Vet Educator, Equine Surgeon Charles Raker Dies at 93February 25, 2014 Charles W. Raker, VMD, Dipl. ACVS, who co-founded the University of Pennsylvania’s New Bolton Center campus and was credited with training many of today’s equine surgeons, died Feb. 16. He was 93. Dr. Raker was a charter diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Surgeons, which he helped found in 1965 and served as president in the mid-1970s. “Dr. Raker was a quiet giant, a gentleman, modest and humble, a trusted man of integrity,” said Corinne Sweeney, DVM, New Bolton Center’s associate dean and executive director of its large animal hospital. “He was such an important figure in the history of veterinary surgery and of New Bolton Center.” Raised in Chester County, Pa., Raker spent eight years in private practice after graduating from Penn Vet’s School of Veterinary Medicine in 1942. He returned to Penn Vet in 1950 as an assistant professor of veterinary medicine in a move designed to enhance the school’s livestock and large animal curriculum. “I looked on teaching as a challenge and never looked back,” he later recalled. After helping establish New Bolton Center in 1952, Raker took a crash course in surgery at Cornell University with a focus …
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Med-Vet Issues Limited Recall of Insulin SyringesFebruary 21, 2014 Medical products distributor Med-Vet International is voluntarily recalling 140 boxes of mislabeled veterinary insulin syringes. The Oasis syringes were labeled with 40 units per 0.5cc when they should have been marked with only 20 units per 0.5cc, Med-Vet reported today. The mix-up could lead to lower than prescribed insulin doses, the Mettawa, Ill., company stated. Animals receiving subtherapeutic doses of insulin may show signs of hyperglycemia, including dehydration, an increase in thirst, urination, malaise or lethargy, and urinary tract infections. No injuries have been reported, Med-Vet added. The recall involves the Oasis 0.5cc U-40 insulin syringe with a 29-gauge, half-inch needle. The lot number is 20120610, and the item number is MV1/2CCINS-40 or 1/2CCINS-40. The syringes were distributed from January 2013 to February 2014 to veterinarians, consumers, animal hospitals, animal shelters and farmers, Med-Vet stated. The company is fielding questions by telephone at 800-544-7521 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. CST and by email at customerservice@shopmedvet.com. <HOME>
Alaska Vet Wins My Vet’s the Best ContestFebruary 21, 2014 An Alaska veterinarian who serves an area larger than the entire state of Minnesota was named the grand-prize winner of Pets Best Insurance Services’ annual My Vet’s the Best contest. Sarah Coburn, MS, DVM, practices at North Slope Borough Veterinary Clinic in Barrow, Alaska. The clinic is the sole source of veterinary care within an 89,000-square-mile area, Pets Best reported. Dr. Coburn was presented with a $1,000 check Tuesday during the Western Veterinary Conference in Las Vegas. She intends to spend the money on shelter and insulation for outdoor dogs. “I believe I won My Vet’s the Best because our situation and remoteness here is so different from what most other veterinarians face,” Coburn said. “It’s a challenge, but it’s interesting every day. Since it’s an area that can’t support a private vet, I’m glad to provide a service that otherwise wouldn’t be here. It’s a lot of variety, and it’s very rewarding.” She treats everything from dogs and cats to snowy owls and walruses, and she helps state health inspectors with examinations at local restaurants. She also will work at the Iditarod dog sled race, which kicks off March 1. Coburn was selected …
Ark Sciences Releases Canine Sterilization DrugFebruary 18, 2014 The only FDA-approved nonsurgical sterilization drug for male dogs began shipping to U.S. veterinarians Monday nearly a decade after an earlier version exited the market. The new drug, Zeuterin Injectable Solution, is a blend of zinc gluconate and the amino acid arginine. The manufacturer, Ark Sciences Inc. of Ventura, Calif., has trained and certified more than 400 veterinarians in the use of Zeuterin. The procedure does not involve traditional neutering—the surgical removal of a dog’s testicles. Instead, Zeuterin is injected without general anesthesia directly into each testicle using a fine, 30-gauge needle. Sperm production ends within one to three days, and the testes ultimately shrink, the manufacturer stated. The drug is indicated for male dogs ages 3 to 10 months and may be delivered under mild sedation. “It’s a simple, one-time procedure that takes only minutes,” said celebrity veterinarian Marty Becker, DVM, who attended the product launch Monday at the Western Veterinary Conference in Las Vegas. “It is such an improvement over traditional castration that shelter operators and veterinarians are embracing it.” Dr. Becker reported that Zeuterin is the first veterinary product he has endorsed. Also present at the unveiling were McAllen, Texas, …
Animal Allergy Firm Bio-Medical Merges With ALKFebruary 18, 2014 An allergen extract manufacturer known for its work in human medicine has entered the U.S. veterinary sector with the acquisition of Bio-Medical Services, a veterinary reference laboratory that pioneered in vitro serum IgE allergy testing for animals. ALK, based in Round Rock, Texas, expanded its product portfolio with the addition of Bio-Medical’s ACTT Allergy Management Program. The program includes serum immunoglobulin E (IgE) allergy testing, bulk allergen sales for veterinary dermatologists and allergen-specific immunotherapy treatment such as ACTT Allergy Drops, ALK reported. “Joining forces with ALK will allow us to provide complete allergy management resources to veterinary dermatologists and general practitioners alike,” said Pamela Blaine, Bio-Medical’s marketing director. “By leveraging the expertise of both companies, we will enhance and expand the ACTT Allergy Management Program to provide the most comprehensive resource for allergy testing and treatment in the industry.” Terms of the transaction, which was announced Wednesday, were not released. Bio-Medical, based in Austin, Texas, introduced in vitro serum IgE allergy testing to the veterinary industry in 1989, the company reported, and has helped treat allergic diseases in dogs, cats and horses. ALK has researched human allergies since 1923. The company also provides diagnostic …
On Duty for On CallFebruary 13, 2014 Tragedy struck early on the second day of the 2013 Breeders’ Cup races in Arcadia, Calif. Just before the final turn of the Juvenile Fillies on Nov. 2, the thoroughbred Secret Compass and her jockey, John Velazquez, went down in a heap. A partition quickly went up around the 2-year-old filly as track and medical personnel attended to her. Many of the 58,795 horse-racing fans filling Santa Anita Park sensed a horrible outcome, and they were right. It was left to Wayne McIlwraith, BVSc, Ph.D., Dipl. ACVS, to relay the official word to reporters from around the world. “Secret Compass sustained a lateral condylar fracture with dislocation,” his statement began. “[It was] an injury we can’t bring them back from because when they dislocate on the track, they lose their blood supply. “So she has been euthanized.” A member of the American Association of Equine Practitioners’ On Call service, the Southern California veterinarian was tasked with delivering the sad news in his part-time role as a media intermediary. Before Dr. McIlwraith’s news conference took place, Larry Bramlage, DVM, MS, Dipl. ACVS, provided the same information to viewers watching the races on NBC …
Cat’s Connections Lead to Lifesaving Kidney SurgeryFebruary 13, 2014 They say it’s who you know. Oki’s familial connections—the 8-year-old Burmese cat is owned by two veterinarians employed at the University of California, Davis—certainly didn’t hurt when her kidneys began to fail. Diagnosed with an obstruction in her right ureter—the result of a birth defect—Oki underwent subcutaneous ureteral bypass surgery at UC Davis’ William R. Pritchard Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital. The procedure is relatively new, having been performed in the past year at the Tufts University Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine in Massachusetts and at the University of Edinburgh in Scotland. The technique involves creating a new ureter out of tubing to connect the kidney to the bladder and bypass the original ureter. The surgery, performed by UC Davis’ soft tissue surgery service, undoubtedly saved the cat’s life, as medications provided only temporary relief and her condition continued to worsen. Oki’s surgery was a success and she has steadily improved. This new technique, which was featured in February as UC Davis’ Case of the Month, holds tremendous promise for cats with ureter issues, according to a School of Veterinary Medicine spokesman.
Certain Cats, Dogs Deemed Best Pets for Allergy SufferersFebruary 13, 2014 Sneezing, runny noses and itchy eyes are the bane of people allergic to their pets. Now, an air purifier manufacturer and an environmental consulting firm have released their list of the top allergen-friendly pets. Making the cut this week for the Allergen All-Star Pet Awards was: • Bedlington terrier • Javanese cat • Schnauzer • Devon Rex cat • Labradoodle • Yorkshire terrier • Irish water spaniel • Labrador retriever • Maltese • Italian greyhound • Iguana The effort was sponsored by Kaz Inc. of Southborough, Mass., which makes the Doctor’s Choice True HEPA Air Purifier under the Honeywell trademark. The Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America found that 15 to 30 percent of Americans are allergic to cats or dogs, said Ted Myatt, a senior scientist at Environmental Health …
Lucky WVC Attendees to Win Generic Drugs From PutneyFebruary 13, 2014 Putney Inc., a manufacturer of generic veterinary pharmaceuticals, will award nearly $2,000 worth of products during drawings taking place next week at the Western Veterinary Conference in Las Vegas. The daily giveaway will see veterinarians and an animal shelter of their choice each receiving a supply of FDA-approved Putney medications. A grand prize worth $1,000 will be awarded at the end of the trade show, which runs from Feb. 17 to 19. Generic drugs are important to the veterinary industry, said Jean Hoffman, president and CEO of the Portland, Maine, company. “Putney is committed to increasing veterinary choice,” Hoffman said. “Our R&D pipeline is focused on bringing high quality, generic-equivalent pet drugs through the FDA approval process so that veterinarians and pet owners can choose and afford the best drugs for the pet patient.” Similar drawings were conducted in January during the North American Veterinary Community conference in Orlando, Fla. One of those winners, Steven Beckett, DVM, of Baraboo Valley Veterinary Clinic in Baraboo, Wis., chose the Sauk County Humane Society to receive a supply of Putney drugs. “Shelters have very tight budgets and Putney’s donation will really help them treat more animals,” Dr. …
LSU Picks Cornell’s Baines as Vet School DeanFebruary 13, 2014 A longtime Cornell University professor was named dean of the Louisiana State University School of Veterinary Medicine on Tuesday, replacing the retiring Peter F. Haynes, DVM, MS, Dipl. ACVS. The new dean, Joel Baines, VMD, Ph.D., is Cornell’s James Law Professor of Virology and the associate dean for research and graduate education. His appointment is effective Sept. 1 and is subject to the approval of LSU’s Board of Supervisors. “Dr. Baines is well-respected in the field of veterinary medicine and brings a wealth of knowledge and research with him to LSU,” said Stuart Bell, the university’s executive vice chancellor and provost. Baines joined Cornell’s department of microbiology and immunology in 1993 after receiving his veterinary degree from the University of Pennsylvania and his Ph.D. from Cornell, where he studied the molecular virology of feline coronaviruses. He also did postdoctoral training at the University of Chicago, where he studied the molecular virology of herpes simplex virus replication. The LSU School of Veterinary Medicine, based in Baton Rouge, La., employs 100 faculty and 270 staff members. Some 375 veterinary students and 95 graduate students and house officers are enrolled in the school.
