Debra Horwitz, DVM: Sharing The Passion Of Behavior MedicineAugust 15, 2012 Debra Horwitz, DVM, Dipl. ACVB, not only has a passion for helping clients with their pets’ behavioral issues, she has a drive for educating other veterinarians to do the same. Dr. Horwitz has had a referral practice for behavioral problems in companion animals since 1982 and moved her practice, Veterinary Behavior Consultations, to St. Louis in 1986. Throughout the years, she has actively worked toward educating both pet owners and veterinarians on behavior topics. On the vet side, for instance, Horwitz speaks at national and international veterinary meetings, serves on several advisory boards for corporations and publications related to animal behavior and is a behavioral consultant on the Veterinary Information Network. Her work in educating pet owners has also spanned various avenues, including Nestlé Purina’s “Ask the Vet” as a Kitten Chow Mentor, local lectures through the Humane Society of Missouri and writing articles for consumer publications. Horwitz says she has always liked animals and knew early on that veterinary medicine would be a good fit. “I’m that cliché,” she says. “I wanted to be a vet from the time I was pretty young.” Horwitz received her DVM from Michigan State University College of …
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American Humane Survey Determines Why Some Don’t Own PetsAugust 14, 2012The cost of pet ownership, a lack of time to care for a cat or dog, and grief over an animal’s death are among the main reasons people don’t have pets, according to the first phase of an American Humane Association survey. The association’s Animal Welfare Research Institute in Washington, D.C., which is conducting the ongoing “Keeping Pets (Dogs and Cats) in Homes Retention Study,” also found a strong dislike for cats among more than one-third of people who do not own pets. “There are still significant hurdles to overcome in helping to keep more of these healthy, adoptable animals out of the nation’s shelters,” said Patricia Olson, DVM, chief veterinary adviser at the institute. “Using the data gathered and the work to be done in future phases of this study, we hope over time to decrease pet homelessness and relinquishment.” The 1,500 people who completed an online survey were broken into those who had “never owned a dog or cat as an adult,” those who had “previously owned a cat but not within the past 12 months” and those who had “previously owned a dog but not within the past 12 …
Walmart Launches Store-Brand Premium Dog FoodAugust 14, 2012 Walmart, the Bentonville, Ark.-based discount giant, jumped into the premium pet food market today with its own brand, Pure Balance. Available exclusively in more than 2,900 Walmart stores, the retailer’s first ultrapremium dry dog food contains a blend of omega-3 and -6 fatty acids and is free of soy, wheat, corn, artificial colors, preservatives and chicken byproducts. “Our customers told us they wanted to be able to feed their dogs a dry food made with pure ingredients without having to make a special trip to the pet store,” said Jody Pinson, vice president of pets at Walmart. “We listened and are excited to offer Pure Balance...at a price our customers can afford.” The new offering wasn’t cause for alarm with B.C. Henschen, co-owner of Platinum Paws, a holistic pet store and grooming salon in Carmel, Ind. A Walmart store is two miles away. “In our store, education remains the most important thing to assist in selling pet food,” he said. “If a formula looks great, with no fillers, byproducts and such, but has a price that is far lower than the average food …
Winn Feline Solicits Study ProposalsAugust 13, 2012 Grant applications may be submitted through Dec. 10, 2012, and the winners will be announced in March 2013, the Wyckoff, N.J.-based foundation reported today. Grants awarded in 2011 may be considered for a second round of funding. Last year, Winn funded 10 grants totaling $174,018. The organization has paid for research into feline infectious peritonitis and hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, for example, but proposed studies can apply to all cats or individual breeds as well as nutrition and behavior. Studies should have discrete and achievable goals within the $25,000 funding limit and can be submitted by faculty veterinarians, postdoctoral fellows, practicing veterinarians or veterinary students, Winn reported. Further instructions are on the Winn website. <HOME>
Anthrax Surfaces In Colorado After 31-Year HiatusAugust 10, 2012 Nearly 60 cattle are dead in Colorado after an outbreak of anthrax, but officials are confident the disease has been contained. The outbreak occurred at a ranch in Logan County and marked the first confirmed incidence of the disease in Colorado in 31 years. Anthrax outbreaks are not uncommon in the Western states and the risk of infection is minimal outside the affected ranch, said Colorado state veterinarian Keith Roehr, DVM. Scientists from the Colorado State Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory in Fort Collins confirmed the disease in the carcass of one of the deceased animals. Officials said they are certain “beyond a reasonable doubt,” based on the clinical signs, that the other cattle died from anthrax as well. Officials quarantined the ranch, and cattle at nearby ranches are scheduled for vaccinations, and some may take prophylactic antibiotics as a precaution. Because no cattle left the Logan County ranch in the months before detection of the clinical signs of anthrax, infected cattle likely did not enter the food chain, according to the Colorado Department of Agriculture. Drought conditions may have created a favorable environment for bacterial growth, …
Global Pet Food Sales To Approach $75 Billion By 2017August 10, 2012 The global market for pet food will grow by 4.2 percent annually over the next six years, increasing from $58.6 billion in 2011 to $74.8 billion by 2017, according to a report published by Transparency Market Research of Albany, N.Y. The report projects the U.S. market for pet food sales to increase by 3.2 percent this year and at an annual rate of 3.5 percent over the next six years, from $21.7 billion in 2011 to $26.6 billion in 2017. While the United States represents the largest market, the Asia Pacific market will grow at the fastest pace over the next six years, according to the report. The European market is the second largest for pet food and is expected to grow at an annual rate of 4.4 percent from 2011 to 2017. Factors driving the global market include higher disposable incomes, changing lifestyles, and a trend of more nuclear families and other people having pets in their homes, according to the report. Dry food accounts for the largest type of pet food consumed globally, followed by snacks and treats, and then wet and canned food, the report noted.
FDA Approves Trio Of New Canine DrugsAugust 8, 2012 The U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved three new animal drugs for dogs, including a formulation of Novartis Animal Health’s Interceptor heartworm preventive, a transdermal fentanyl solution for control of postoperative pain and an antibiotic for treatment of secondary superficial bacterial pyoderma, the agency reported today. Novartis received FDA approval for Interceptor Spectrum Chewable Tablets, which adds praziquantel to the milbemycin oxime found in original Interceptor Flavor Tabs. Praziquantel is an anthelmintic and is found in Virbac Animal Health’s Iverhart Max Chewable Tablets. Both Interceptor and Interceptor Spectrum are indicated for prevention of heartworm disease, but while original Interceptor is indicated for control of adult Ancylostoma caninum (hookworm) and removal and control of Toxocara canis and Toxascaris leonine (roundworms) and Trichuris vulpis (whipworm) infections, Interceptor Spectrum is indicated for treatment and control of adult A. caninum, T. canis, T. leonine, T. vuplpis, and Taenia pisiformis, Echinococcus multilocularis and E. granulosus (tapeworm). Also, while original Interceptor is indicated for dogs and puppies at least 4 weeks old and 2 pounds, Interceptor Spectrum is indicated for dogs and puppies at least 6 weeks old and 2 pounds. The FDA also approved Nexcyon Pharmaceuticals …
Raw Food Frowned Upon, Vet Spending UpAugust 7, 2012Raw Food Frowned Upon, Vet Spending UpRaw Food Frowned Upon, Vet Spending UpPosted: Aug. 7, 2012, 5:30 p.m. EDTvet, veterinarian, vet news, veterinarians, raw food, pet, pets, pet food, raw pet food, vet spendingThe American Veterinary Medical Association issued a policy regarding raw diets for pets, revealed the results of its pet owner demographic survey, elected new leadership and unveiled the 2012 class of future leaders.The House of Delegates approved a policy through which the association discourages feeding raw or undercooked animal-source protein to cats or dogs unless the feed has been subjected to a process that eliminates pathogens. Jason Johnson, left, and Blair Hollowell, second from left, members of the incoming class of AVMA Future Leaders, accept a plaque bearing the names of the inaugural group. Presenting the plaque were initial members Libby Todd, right, and Shannon Mesenhowski, second from right. The American Veterinary Medical Association hosted its annual convention in San Diego over the weekend and kept the 8,675 registered attendees busy as the organization issued a policy regarding raw diets for pets, revealed the results of its pet owner demographic survey, elected new leadership and unveiled the 2012 class of future …
Lasers Offer A Therapeutic Plan For PainAugust 6, 2012 Anecdotal evidence citing successful outcomes with therapeutic lasers are becoming more frequent and have spurred research at the University of Tennessee, College of Veterinary Medicine. While only a handful of studies have been conducted exploring the use of laser therapy for veterinary medicine, the Tennessee veterinary college, pending grant approval, will investigate the penetration depth of class IV lasers in living animal tissue, according to Darryl Millis, DVM, associate professor of orthopedic surgery and directory of surgical services. “We will be exploring three approaches to treating canine arthritis,” Dr. Millis says. “Low level laser treatment, transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation and acupuncture will be investigated. Veterinarians need objective data.” Some veterinarians cite the lack of scientific evidence supporting therapeutic laser efficacy as a deterrent in integrating the therapy into their practices, while those who have used the equipment report great success. “I was skeptical when I first started using the class IV laser, because it’s difficult to realize the benefit of light,” says Tim Montague, DVM, of Eads Animal Hospital in Eads, Tenn. “Now, I’ve been using the laser for two years and I continue to be amazed in ways the laser helps to reduce pain, decrease inflammation, improve …
Reality Check: Cheating On Veterinary License Test Should Not Be ToleratedAugust 3, 2012 No one wants to go on record. That’s how shameful this practice is. It happens when recent grads apply for new licensure in a state and, before taking the examination that grants them entry to apply for a position or accept one, they’re offered the questions not only at the time of the test but in advance, too. As you’ll doubtless recognize, this is what we call cheating. At least, that’s what we called it in vet school. When I first came in contact with this uncouth reality I was a two-years-out-of-Penn practitioner with an MBA and two years of ER work under my belt. I’d recently moved to Miami from Philadelphia and was required to take the pesky examination that Florida requires for licensure. Though variably onerous depending on the state, a state licensure examination is a standard requirement for any modern veterinary graduate who has cleared the national board hurdle. (I offer this explanation in case your memory is not so fresh on the subject.) An Arcane Matter In Florida’s case, the state license examination is an obnoxiously ineffective barrier by any measure. Not only is its gist relegated to …
