Third Zoobiquity Conference Scheduled For Nov. 2September 16, 2013 The meeting, set for Nov. 2 in New York City, is a collaborative attempt to improve the health of both animal and human patients. "This is an exciting opportunity to bring people from different disciplines to better understand the role of important comparative areas, such as genetics, in deciphering disease processes,” said Elaine Ostrander, Ph.D., of the National Human Genome Research Institute. The conference gets its name from conference chairwoman and cardiologist Barbara Natterson-Horowitz, MD, and Kathryn Bowers, who co-authored the book "Zoobiquity,” which examines the connection between human and animal health. New York City’s Animal Medical Center is sponsoring the conference along with the Wildlife Conservation Society and the David Geffen School of Medicine at the University of California, Los Angeles. The conference’s morning session will be held at Rockefeller University, and the afternoon session will take place at the Bronx Zoo. Fourteen veterinarians are either conference leaders or faculty. Among them are Richard E. Goldstein, DVM, Dipl. ACVIM, chief medical officer at the Animal Medical Center; Paul P. Calle, VMD, Dipl. ACZM, chief veterinarian with the Wildlife …
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Bayer Invests In Animal Medicine Lab In New ZealandSeptember 16, 2013 Bayer HealthCare bolstered its Animal Health Division by spending $800,000 to upgrade a laboratory dedicated to the development of livestock and companion animal medicines. The research facility, on the campus of the Centre for Innovation and Development in Auckland, New Zealand, focuses on new formulations and other interests, including the treatment of mastitis in dairy cows. "This new laboratory represents Bayer’s continued commitment to developing new veterinary solutions,” said Douglas Hutchens, DVM, Ph.D., chief veterinary officer and head of global development for the Animal Health Division. The Germany-based company in 2011 acquired New Zealand’s largest privately owned animal health company, Bomac, which operated a laboratory that the new facility replaces. "By expanding the work of the Centre for Innovation and Development, we are investing in developments that will benefit veterinarians and farmers globally,” Dr. Hutchens said. The $800,000 was spent on equipment and to build out previously vacant space, keeping construction costs to a minimum. Bayer reported this month that it expects to identify new combinations of medicines for both the regional and global markets. …
Iowa State Offers Zoonotic Diseases Web CourseSeptember 11, 2013 Rabies, leptospirosis and toxoplasmosis are among the zoonotic diseases to be addressed in a new online course hosted by the Center for Food Security and Public Health at Iowa State University’s College of Veterinary Medicine. "Zoonoses: Protecting People and Their Pets” will examine the human-animal bond and cover companion animal zoonotic diseases and their prevention and treatment. "Companion animals play an important role in people’s lives,” said course instructor Glenda Dvorak, DVM, MPH, Dipl. ACVPM. "Partnerships between human, veterinary and public health professionals are needed to raise awareness, enhance detection and promote prevention of zoonotic diseases to protect the health of people and pets.” The topic areas include "Animal Bites, Scratches and Disease Transmission,” "Companion Animal Zoonoses and Children” and "Environmental Zoonoses: Shared Environments, Shared Risks.” The seven hours of lessons may be completed from Oct. 7 to Nov. 3. Participants may study at their own pace in pursuit of a certificate of completion. Anyone who registers before Oct. 3 will pay $50, which includes a textbook. The course is subsidized through a grant from the Center of Excellence …
USDA Cracks Down On Internet Pet SalesSeptember 11, 2013 The U.S. Department of Agriculture has narrowed the definition of a retail pet store in a move that brings more Internet animal sellers under federal oversight. The government on Tuesday issued a final rule that is expected to affect up to 4,640 dog breeders, 325 cat breeders and 75 rabbit breeders nationwide. The USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) proposed the rule in May 2012 in an effort to address what the agency calls "sight unseen” transactions in which a buyer never sees the animal or its living conditions before purchase. The rule forces many of those breeders to comply with Animal Welfare Act guidelines. "We know that if the federal standards are being met, the animals are getting humane care and treatment,” said Ed Avalos, undersecretary for marketing and regulatory programs. "By revising the definition of retail pet store to better suit today’s marketplace, we will now improve the welfare of more pet animals sold sight unseen.” The rule exempts a number of operations and people, including traditional pet stores, sellers of working dogs, most animal rescues …
Beat Goes On With Mobile Canine Heart ExamsSeptember 11, 2013 The Mobile Dog Heart Health Tour, sponsored by YourDogsHeart.com and Boehringer Ingelheim Vetmedica Inc., will make its next stop Sept. 14 in New Brighton, Minn., as part of the 2013 BART Duathlon. The annual project has checked more than 7,000 canine hearts in 25 cities and 15 states since the screenings began in 2009. Other upcoming stops include Boulder, Colo., on Sept. 19, Englewood, Colo., on Sept. 20, Colorado Springs, Colo., on Sept. 21, and Carmel, Calif., on Oct. 5. In addition to listening to each dog’s heart through a stethoscope, a veterinary cardiologist will be on hand to answer questions about canine heart health. "We look forward to educating local dog owners about heart disease in dogs and the treatment options,” said Andrew Beardow, BVMS, MRCVS, Dipl. ACVIM, a Boehringer Ingelheim veterinary cardiologist participating in the tour. The most common symptoms of canine heart disease include waning interest in walking or exercise, labored breathing, coughing, loss of appetite and weight loss. "By emphasizing the importance of annual veterinary examinations and early diagnosis of heart disease, we hope to help more dogs live longer and better lives,” Dr. Beardow said. If an …
Limited Recall Of Purina One Dog Food UnderwaySeptember 3, 2013 A small amount of Purina One dry dog food is being voluntarily recalled because of potential salmonella contamination. Affected are 3.5-pound bags of White Meat Chicken & Whole Barley Recipe Adult Dry Dog Food with a best-by date of October 2014 and the production code 31071083. Both identifiers may be found on the back or bottom of the bag. No other Purina or Purina One dog or cat products are involved in the recall. The food was made during a single production run and shipped to U.S. retailers, the company stated. The recall was initiated after a single bag was discovered to be tainted by salmonella. No salmonella-related illnesses have been reported in connection with the food, the manufacturer added. Symptoms of salmonella poisoning in animals include lethargy, diarrhea, fever and vomiting. People who handle contaminated pet products may show similar symptoms. St. Louis-based Nestlé Purina apologized "for any inconvenience” and advised pet owners who purchased the recalled food to call 800-473-8546 to obtain a refund.
Fewer Limits Placed On ProHeart 6 Heartworm DrugAugust 28, 2013Approved changes to the RiskMAP for ProHeart 6 (moxidectin) now allow dogs to receive their first injection of the heartworm preventive after age 7, the manufacturer, Zoetis Inc., reported today. ProHeart 6, effective for six months at a time, previously was permitted for first-time use in dogs ages 6 months to 6 years. Removing the restriction on older dogs followed a 4½-year safety review that found age was not a reliable indicator of when a dog may show side effects, said J. Michael McFarland, DVM, Dipl. ABVP, the group director of Companion Animal Veterinary Operations at Zoetis. "Veterinarians can now offer six months of uninterrupted heartworm protection to all healthy dogs ages 6 months and older, and provide greater peace of mind to their owners,” Dr. McFarland said. Working with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s Center for Veterinary Medicine, Florham Park, N.J.-based Zoetis succeeded in making two other changes: Injections may be done by a veterinary technician or assistant who completes a Web-based training program. A client consent signature is no longer required, a step McFarland termed "unnecessarily frightening for a pet owner.” "Although significant restrictions have been lifted, Zoetis remains committed …
Goldenfeast Issues Limited Recall Of 8 Bird FoodsAugust 28, 2013 Eight varieties of Goldenfeast exotic bird food have been voluntarily recalled because of potential salmonella contamination linked to parsley flakes, the Phoenixville, Pa., company reported. Potentially contaminated parsley was supplied to bird food maker Goldenfeast Inc. by Specialty Commodities Inc.newsline, pet-health-news, recall Eight varieties of Goldenfeast exotic bird food have been voluntarily recalled because of potential salmonella contamination linked to parsley flakes, the Phoenixville, Pa., company reported Monday. The parsley ingredient was supplied to Goldenfeast Inc. by Specialty Commodities Inc., which in February began a voluntary recall of flakes distributed to a number of pet food manufacturers. No human or pet illnesses have been reported in connection with the parsley flakes, Goldenfeast reported. Symptoms of salmonella poisoning in animals include lethargy, diarrhea, fever and vomiting. People who handle contaminated pet products may show similar symptoms. The recalled food includes all package sizes but only selected best-by dates. • Australian Blend: May 31, 2013, through Oct. 31, 2013. • Bean Supreme: July 31, 2013, through Dec. 31, 2013. • Caribbean Bounty: July 31, 2013 through Sept. 30, …
AAHA Mandates Anesthesia During Dental WorkAugust 27, 2013 AAHA-accredited veterinary hospitals must anesthetize and intubate all dental patients under a new standard of care that challenges the practice of anesthesia-free cleanings seen increasingly in the industry. The rule, part of the updated 2013 AAHA Dental Care Guidelines for Dogs and Cats, applies to cleanings and any other dental procedure. "The guidelines state that general anesthesia with intubation is necessary to properly assess and treat the companion animal dental patient,” said Kate Knutson, DVM, president of the American Animal Hospital Association. "Because AAHA practices are expected to practice the highest level of veterinary excellence, AAHA’s leadership felt it necessary to update this dental standard so that they reflect best practices outlined in the guidelines.” The standard, released publicly today after being disseminated to member hospitals, was approved in June by the AAHA board of directors. The policy has the support of the American Veterinary Dental College. "Dental experts agree with and endorse AAHA’s new mandatory standard regarding anesthesia and dentistry,” said AVDC president Jan Bellows, DVM, Dipl. AVDC, Dipl. ABVP. Any AAHA practice scheduled for an accreditation evaluation on or after Nov. 1 is …
AVMA Lobbyists Hard At Work On Pending LegislationAugust 22, 2013 Federal legislation that would strengthen laws against animal fighting and horse soring and allow veterinarians to legally administer controlled drugs while on the road are drawing maximum support from the American Veterinary Medical Association’s Governmental Relations Division. The Washington, D.C., office this month updated its 113th Congress Legislative Agenda, which identifies bills that deserve the greatest focus from lobbyists working on behalf of AVMA and about two dozen pieces of legislation that get less attention. The Governmental Relations Division pushes not only for the passage of selected bills but also the defeat of legislation deemed not in the best interests of veterinary medicine or the public. Two bills vigorously opposed are HR 1150, which would ban the use of antibiotics in food animals for nonmedical reasons, and HR 1094, which would prohibit the sale and transport of horses targeted for slaughter. Individual bills have the best chance of becoming law if they are attached to the massive Farm Bill, which Congress is under pressure to approve by Sept. 30, said Whitney Miller, DVM, MBA, an assistant director in the Governmental Relations Division. Failure to approve the Farm Bill, which Dr. Miller said contains "tons of programs …
