Morris Animal Foundation's Golden Retriever Study Opens For EnrollmentSeptember 26, 2012 Enrollment has begun for the expansive Golden Retriever Lifetime Study, according to Morris Animal Foundation, which is hosting the research. The Denver-based foundation aims to enroll 3,000 golden retrievers over the next two years. To qualify, dogs must be in good health and under 2 years old. The study will track its subjects over their entire lives while their owners and veterinarians document health, nutritional and environmental information. Researchers will use the data to identify ways to better prevent cancer and other diseases in golden retrievers. Information gathered from the study could benefit all dog breeds, the foundation reported Tuesday. “This study requires a long-term commitment from dog owners and their veterinarians,” study director Michael Guy, DVM, MS, Ph.D., said. “We have the potential to learn valuable information that will not only improve canine health but will also significantly advance the entire field of veterinary medicine.” The foundation enrolled 50 dogs this spring as part of a soft launch and now is opening the study for full enrollment. The study is part of the foundation’s overarching Canine Lifetime Health Project, which aims to …
SPONSORED CONTENTThe Reality of Veterinary Surgery ErgonomicsOne of the greatest challenges of Work-Related Musculo-Skeletal Disorders (WRMSD) is that they can come on slowly. They can be easy to ignore initially. The American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) issued ergonomic guidelines to help veterinarians catch problems early. + Learn More
Boots & Barkley Bully Sticks Recalled Due To SalmonellaSeptember 24, 2012 Kasel Associated Industries recalled all lots of its Boots & Barkley 6-count, 5-inch American Beef Bully Sticks after several lots tested positive for salmonella, the Denver-based company reported today. The product was distributed through Target stores in the United States from April through September 2012. The sticks come in a clear plastic bag marked with bar code number 647263899189. Kasel opted to recall the products after routine sampling by the Colorado Department of Agriculture revealed that four lots were contaminated with salmonella. Kasel ceased production and distribution of the product while the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and the company investigate the source of the contamination. Pets suffering from a salmonella infection may become lethargic and have diarrhea or bloody diarrhea, fever and vomiting. Some pets may have only a decreased appetite, fever and abdominal pain. Infected by otherwise healthy pets can be carriers and may infect other animals or people. Owners of pets that ate the recalled products and are displaying symptoms of salmonella poisoning should contact their veterinarian, the company said. People infected with salmonella may experience nausea, vomiting, diarrhea or bloody diarrhea, abdominal cramping and fever. Salmonella also can cause more …
New TV Show ‘Animal Practice’ Aims To Keep It Real—With LaughsSeptember 24, 2012 The producers of NBC’s new fall comedy series “Animal Practice” hope real-life veterinarians will watch the show. First and foremost, what they want veterinarians to know is that they use “artistic license, because it is a half-hour comedy and we do have fun with it,” said executive producer Alessandro Tanaka. He was one of three producers who spoke with Veterinary Practice News about the show, which premieres at 8 p.m. EDT, Wednesday, Sept. 26, 2012. That artistic license is probably best exhibited in the character of Dr. Rizzo, a Capuchin monkey (played by Crystal, attired in a white doctor coat) who has the run of the veterinary office and often hangs out with the clinic’s head veterinarian, Dr. George Coleman, played by Justin Kirk. “Crystal is an extension of George Coleman in that he prefers animals to people. She’s a bit of Coleman’s alter ego in a sense—and his best friend, sort of his wing man and little sidekick,” executive producer Brian Gatewood said. The idea for the show came from a visit Gatewood made to his veterinarian’s office. “I was visiting the vet with my two cats and you sit in a waiting …
Can Dogs Suffer From Post Traumatic Stress Disorder?September 24, 2012 Post traumatic stress disorder, or PTSD, is not a fully recognized veterinary behavioral phenomenon but some believe it exists and is probably more common than we think. I have taught veterinary students about PTSD for many years, my initiation into this ongoing phobia being a particular case I saw many years ago. The dog in question was shot by a Boston police officer who thought the dog was going to attack him while he was pursuing a suspect. In fact, the dog was only charging along behind him, energized by the excitement and commotion. The .38-caliber bullet entered through the dog’s head, just missing vital structures and traveled along the dog’s neck, finally coming to rest in the chest wall. The dog sank to the ground in a pool of blood and his distraught owner was quickly on the scene trying to revive him. As it turns out, the dog was not dead but close to it and heading down a path of no return, but his owner quickly scooped him up and brought him to nearby Angell Memorial Animal Hospital where the ICU staff worked wonders, plugged the leak (so to speak) and brought …
Easy Ways To Improve Histopath Results, Part 3September 24, 2012 Following our recent installments in the June and September issues, we continue our conversation with pathologist Ken Mero, B.S., M.S., DVM, Ph.D., of VetPath Services in Stone Ridge, N.Y., to learn how to choose a histopathology lab and a pathologist. Why does a different pathologist read my biopsy each time? This is a feature of the large conglomerate laboratories with a very large professional staff. Cases may be distributed randomly to different pathologists who may be on duty on any particular day. This can be avoided by using a smaller, generally independent laboratory with a smaller number of pathologists. Whether using a large or small laboratory, cases are usually distributed to a pathologist of choice if requested on the lab’s test request form. However, it is more likely that your pathologist of choice will be available on a daily basis at a smaller lab. In that situation, you may become more familiar and comfortable with each one of the pathologists, so that if your favorite one is unavailable on a given day you will already be acquainted with the others. How does one choose a lab? There are many factors to consider, some logistical, financial, …
Quality Control Counts With In-clinic Veterinary Labs, Heska And Abaxis SaySeptember 24, 2012 All blood analysis equipment has a propensity for certain errors. It’s just that reference laboratories are usually better at catching them, said Leslie Sharkey, DVM, Ph.D., diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Pathology and president of the American Society of Veterinary Clinical Pathologists. “Quality assurance programs in reference labs usually include running high, low and normal control materials purchased from the manufacturer of the analyzer or another commercial source at regular intervals, often about once a day,” she said. “We graph the data over time to make sure that we are getting the expected results and to look for trends that might indicate the analyzer is developing a problem. “In addition, many reference labs participate in external quality assurance programs in which labs are sent ‘unknowns,’ which we test and then return the results to the program,” Sharkey continued. “The program lets us know how our results compare with other participating laboratories so we can gauge our performance.” Kendal Harr, DVM, MS, Dipl. ACVP, owner of a private pathology consulting firm, said quality control programs for in-clinic blood analysis equipment would frequently be considered substandard to measures taken by reference labs. A recent survey she …
Bayer Pairs With AAFP To Increase Feline Vet VisitsSeptember 21, 2012 Bayer HealthCare LLC’s Animal Health Division and the American Association of Feline Practitioners have formed a partnership to explore and address the reasons pet owners seek veterinary care less frequently for their cats than for their dogs, the organizations reported today. The partnership, which was announced at the AAFP 2012 medical conference in Seattle, is aiming to uncover and remove the obstacles to routine veterinary care for cats. “Like dogs, cats require regular veterinary healthcare and without it, there is a significant risk to their health,” said Donna Stephens Manley, DVM, president of AAFP and principal veterinarian at Manley Veterinary Services in Chapel Hill, N.C. “Through the combined efforts of AAFP and Bayer Healthcare, we want to improve the healthcare provided to cats and overcome the barriers that veterinarians have encountered regarding routine visits for cats. If cats are seen more regularly, better care can be provided, especially relating to preventative care.” The partnership was formed in response to findings from the Bayer Veterinary Care Usage Study, which showed one-third of cats owned by respondents had not seen a veterinarian during the previous year, the organizations reported. …
Veterinary Practice Managers Devote Most Time To Human Resources, Study SaysSeptember 20, 2012 Veterinary Practice Managers Devote Most Time to Human Resources, Study Saysveterinary practice, practiec manager, human resources, veterinary hospital managers associationPractice organization is not as important to veterinary hospital managers as previously thought, according to a survey conducted by the Veterinary Hospital Managers Association.In a recent survey, practice managers said practice organization is no longer as important when compared to duties in human resources, law and ethics and marketing.newslineVeterinary Practice Managers Devote Most Time to Human Resources, Study Says Practice organization is not as important to veterinary hospital managers as previously thought, according to a survey conducted by the Veterinary Hospital Managers Association. Through the survey, called a “comprehensive practice analysis,” the VHMA sought to gain insight into which tasks were considered most relevant to practice managers so the association could adjust the content in its Certified Veterinary Practice Manager examination to match the critical real-world activities of practice managers. Practice organization, which includes tasks such as researching new products, creating and updating risk management systems and managing inventory systems, previously comprised the largest portion of the exam. However, the 269 VHMA-member respondents indicated those tasks are no longer as important when compared to duties in …
Biotech Company Tests Anti-Plaque Water Additive For PetsSeptember 19, 2012 Canadian biotechnology firm Kane Biotech Inc. is conducting a veterinary clinical trial for a water additive formulated to remove plaque from companion animals’ teeth, the Winnipeg, Manitoba-based company announced today. The product, called StrixNB, uses food additives to inhibit biofilm formation and also kills bacteria embedded in preformed dental plaque, the company reported. It is intended to be added to a pet’s water on a daily basis, and could supplement or replace existing oral care treatments, said Gord Froehlich, CEO of Kane. Froehlich would not disclose the specific ingredients used in StrixNB, since the product has a global patent pending. The clinical trials are taking place exclusively in Canada, but if the product displays efficacy during the trials, the company will conduct a soft launch in both Canada and the United States later this year or early next year. StrixNB will be distributed exclusively through veterinary channels, Froehlich said. “There are a lot of oral care products for pets that don’t really show a scientific advantage,” Froehlich said. “We believe ours does, so our plan is to market through veterinarians.” The clinical trials will likely last until …
Pet Owners Attribute 361 Dog, Cat Deaths To Chinese Jerky TreatsSeptember 17, 2012 Pet owners have reported to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration 2,200 cases of pet illnesses, including 360 canine deaths and one feline death, from consumption of jerky treats imported from China. But the agency has not confirmed a link between the deaths and illnesses and the treats. Most of the complaints involve chicken jerky, including treats, tenders and strips, but others include duck, sweet potato and treats where chicken or duck jerky is wrapped around dried fruits, sweet potatoes or yams, the FDA reported. The issue dates to 2007, when the FDA began receiving reports of pets becoming ill after consuming the treats. The number of complaints dropped in 2009, but rose again two years later. The FDA posted a Frequently Asked Questions document earlier this year and added information, including the number of deaths reported, in a document published Friday. The FDA has been gathering and testing the treats since 2007 at FDA laboratories, the Veterinary Laboratory Response Network and other animal health diagnostic laboratories for chemical and microbiological contaminants, but none of the results have revealed an association between a causative agent and the reported …
