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 …
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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.
Economy 2014: Observers Are Cautiously OptimisticFebruary 10, 2014 Professionals in the veterinary sector paused when asked what single word describes the economic outlook for veterinarians in the new year. It may have been a tough question after a year of slow economic recovery, growing uncertainty about how federal healthcare reform will affect veterinary operations and a national economy that has taken its time recovering from the recession. It wasn’t surprising that two lending professionals who focus on the veterinary sector both chose the word “opportunity.” But they also expressed uncertainty about the coming year. “Changing” was chosen by a practice management consultant who was most concerned about how the Affordable Care Act, or Obamacare, will affect veterinary practices. Michael Dicks, Ph.D., director of the American Veterinary Medical Association’s economics division, chose the word “sensitive.” “The economy is growing, but it’s extremely sensitive to any new piece of information,” Dr. Dicks said. “In general, I don’t think there are any movements to break out. The economy wants to grow. There’s every sign it will grow, but every time that happens it will snap back.” The debate among economists is whether the nation will see roughly a 2 percent growth in gross …
Several Pro-Pet Dog, Cat Foods Recalled Due to Salmonella ThreatFebruary 7, 2014 Pro-Pet LLC is voluntarily recalling a limited amount of Hubbard Life and QC Plus dog food and Hubbard Life and Joy Combo cat food because of possible salmonella contamination. The recalled dry food was produced over a two-day period and distributed in 29 states. No animals have been sickened by the food, the manufacturer reported Wednesday. Symptoms of salmonella poisoning in pets include lethargy, diarrhea, fever and vomiting. People who handle contaminated pet products may exhibit similar symptoms. Pro-Pet, based in St. Marys, Ohio, urged pet owners who purchased any of the recalled food to discontinue its use and call 888-765-4190 for further instructions. Customer service representatives will answer calls from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. CST Monday through Friday. The food was distributed in these states: Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, North Carolina, North Dakota, Nebraska, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, Washington, Wisconsin and West Virginia. Product Best By Lot Code UPC Number 40 lb Hubbard Life Happy Hound Dog Food 05 06 …
New Milk-Bone Treat Earns VOHC Stamp Of ApprovalFebruary 4, 2014Milk-Bone dog biscuits have been promoted for years as a treat that “freshens breath” and “cleans teeth.” Now, the manufacturer, Del Monte Foods, has won the endorsement of the Veterinary Oral Health Council for the company’s new Milk-Bone Brushing Chews, which when fed daily are touted as effective as brushing a dog’s teeth twice a week. The treats are scheduled for national distribution in March after their unveiling in January at the North American Veterinary Community conference in Orlando, Fla. The Veterinary Oral Health Council (VOHC) awarded its Seal of Acceptance for Milk-Bone Brushing Chews’ ability to control tartar. More than 80 percent of dogs develop periodontal disease by age 3, according to the American Veterinary Dental Society. “In addition to professional teeth cleanings, it is important in our [veterinary] profession to recommend at-home plaque- and tartar-control products to our clients that are recognized for meeting clinical standards and evaluated by an organization such as the VOHC,” said Jan Bellows, DVM, Dipl. AVDC, Dipl. ABVP. Dr. Bellows, who attended the unveiling, is president of the American Veterinary Dental College. More than 30 pet products have earned the VOHC Seal of Acceptance since 1998. Among them are Greenies dental chews from …
Labrador Retriever, Other Large Dogs Top Popularity ListFebruary 3, 2014The mild-mannered, family-friendly Labrador retriever is once again the most popular dog breed in the United States, the American Kennel Club reported Friday. Labs earned the top spot for the 23rd consecutive year, though the French bulldog could challenge for the lead at some point if its rise continues. The AKC found that the popularity of French bulldogs has jumped over the past decade, with a 323 percent increase in registrations since 2003. The breed is No. 11 on the list of the 2013 Most Popular Dogs in the U.S. Larger dogs dominated the list, with the Labrador retriever at No. 1, the German shepherd in the second spot and the golden retriever finishing third. "Owning bigger breeds—an economic indicator of sorts—have been on the rise during the past five years,” AKC spokeswoman Lisa Peterson said. "As the economy has improved, people are turning back to the big dogs they love, which cost more to feed and care for than the smaller breeds that saw a rise in popularity in 2007 and 2008.” The AKC, which maintains the world’s largest registry of purebred dogs, also found that some rare breeds whose registrations had declined …
Microchips Open Murky Legal Waters, But AVMA Still Urges The PracticeFebruary 3, 2014 Editor’s note: This article originally appeared in the March 2014 issue of Dog Fancy magazine, a sister publication of Veterinary Practice News. Most owners presume that if they have their pet tagged with microchip identification and she becomes lost, someone who finds the pet will scan the chip and notify the owner. Often, fortunately, the scenario does play out this way. Shelters, animal-control organizations and veterinarians usually scan for microchips on recovered dogs. "While microchipping is, indeed, a new and helpful way to reclaim a lost pet, there are some occasional murky legal waters stemming from certain circumstances and facts,” explains Heidi Meinzer, an animal law attorney in Alexandria, Va. For example, when microchips are placed in the dog upon the client’s request, rarely is any "proof” of ownership required. "A lost, non-microchipped dog owned by family X may be found by family Y, who after diligently trying to find the owner decides to keep the dog and microchip her,” Meinzer explains. "If family X locates the dog, perhaps even showing up with registration papers, the door opens for a property dispute between the families.”In some cases, ownership may not be so clear-cut. Generally, in common …
