InFURvention Contest Runs Until Aug. 17July 25, 2012 Banfield Pet Hospital and Animal Planet’s resident pet trainer, Victoria Stilwell, are asking U.S. cat owners to upload videos of their real-life struggles to get their cat into a carrier before a visit to the veterinarian. The “inFURvention” campaign began July 18, 2012, and runs through Aug. 17, 2012. The goal is to document pet owners’ difficulties in getting cats into carriers and off to the vet and increase awareness of the importance of regular veterinary visits. One winning inFURvention video will be chosen. The cat owner will receive a year’s worth of free preventive veterinary care and an at-home visit and training consultation from Stilwell. “Pet owners don’t have to be a professional in order to train their cats to get into a carrier,” Stillwell said. “All it takes is some practice and simple behavior, and catfights will soon be a thing of the past.” A 2011 Bayer Animal Health study noted that of the 86 million pet cats in the United States, one-third miss out on veterinarian visits because their owners want to avoid the travel hassle. Victoria Stilwell, Animal Planet's …
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Lafeber Recalls Bird Feed Due To MoistureJuly 25, 2012 Bird feed manufacturer Lafeber Co. recalled several lots of bird food due to pockets of high moisture that could lead to bacterial or fungal growth, the Cornell, Ill.-based company reported. One of the grains Lafeber uses in several products was not properly stored prior to the company taking possession of it, causing the moisture pockets to form. Over time, the higher moisture levels can lead to bacterial or fungal growth, the company said. The recalled products include: Product description Best Before Parrot Nutri-Berries 12 oz. tubs 121913B Parrot Nutri-Berries 3.25 lb. tubs, 20 lb. boxes 121813A, 121813B, 121913A, 122713A, 122713B and 010514 Parrot Popcorn Nutri-Berries 4 oz., 1 lb. bags 122013 and 122613 Cockatiel Sunny Orchard Nutri-Berries 10 oz. bags 122113 and 010214 Parrot Sunny Orchard Nutri-Berries 10 oz., 3 lb. bags 122513 and 122813 No adverse events have been reported to the company, but Lafeber recommended that customers stop feeding the product. The company has integrated new quality control measures to prevent the issue from occurring in the future, Lafeber said. <HOME>
Hambletonian CE Events Scheduled For AugustJuly 25, 2012 Event marketing agency First Choice Marketing of Morristown, N.J., plans to host the 13th Annual Hambletonian Continuing Education Seminar on Aug. 2, 2012, and the 7th Annual Continuing Education Wet Labs program on Aug. 3, 2012. The seminar and labs will be held in conjunction with the 87th Annual Hambletonian Festival of Racing in East Rutherford, N.J. Through a partnership with the American Association of Equine Veterinary Technicians, the seminar and wet labs will be offering CE credits to licensed veterinary technicians and assistants participating in one or both of the seminar and wet labs. The wet labs, to be held at the Meadowlands Racetrack, will include the following sessions: • A Review of Eye Examination Techniques in the Horse with Dennis Brooks, DVM, Ph.D., Dipl. ACVO; • Endoscopy of the Upper Airway and Guttural Pouches with Mark Crisman, DVM, M.S., Dipl. ACVIM; • Regenerative Therapies – Stem Cell Therapy: A New, Non-Invasive Method of Collection with Bimodal Treatment and Platelet Therapy: E-PET with Jeffrey Schaffer, DVM, and Shelly Zacharias, DVM; • Equine Musculoskeletal Radiography with Alex Valdes-Martinez, DVM, Dipl. ACVR; • Equine Musculoskeletal Ultrasound with Dr. Valdes-Martinez; • Photographing the Equine Iris for …
Greenies To Host Pet Oral Health EventJuly 25, 2012 The Nutro Co.'s Greenies brand plans to host its third annual Greenies Pet Oral Health Event at Petco stores on Saturday, Aug. 4, 2012, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and Sunday, Aug. 5, 2012, from noon to 4 p.m. At the event, Greenies will provide information to pet owners about how to keep pets’ mouths healthy and will hand out coupons for Greenies Brand Dental Chews and Treats. Greenies representatives will also be on hand at select Petco stores to answer pet owners’ questions. “Pet parents must realize that pets are not that different from humans in that they require daily oral care,” said Jan Bellows, DVM, Dipl. AVDC, Dipl. ABVP. “The [event] is a great opportunity for pet parents to become more informed on how to care for their pets’ mouths at home, and when and why they should seek the advice of their veterinarian.” The event is designed to help pet owners better understand the importance of a healthy mouth for dogs and cats. It will emphasize how veterinary care should play a proactive role in pet oral care and focus on preventive care at …
Land O’Lakes Further Expands Purina Feed, Mazuri And Lab Diet RecallsJuly 25, 2012 Land O’Lakes and its subsidiary PMI Nutrition International issued a fourth recall of products manufactured at Land O’Lakes’ Richmond, Ind.-based plant due to the potential for elevated vitamin D levels, the companies reported Friday. Earlier this month, PMI Nutrition recalled four lots of feed after receiving customer complaints of animal illness and death. A few days later, PMI expanded the recall to include three additional lots of feed, and about a week after that, PMI further expanded the recall to include several lots of Aquamax feed and dozens of additional lots of LabDiet and Mazuri feed. On the same day, Land O’Lakes Purina Feed recalled several lots of feed manufactured at the same Richmond plant where the PMI products were manufactured and Feed Solutions, a DBA of Land O’Lakes, also recalled several lots manufactured in Richmond that were distributed to Tractor Supply and Del’s Feed & Farm Supply stores. Lot numbers for Mazuri and LabDiet large-bag products are laser printed on the back of each bag, near the top. Lot numbers on Mazuri and …
Idexx Shuffles Management, Grows Q2 RevenueJuly 20, 2012Idexx Shuffles Management, Grows Q2 RevenueIdexx Shuffles Management, Grows Q2 RevenueVeterinary diagnostics firm Idexx Laboratories Inc. of Westbrook, Maine, grew revenues by 6 percent in the second quarter and restructured its leadership hierarchy.Idexx's revenue growth was driven by its companion animal segment, including increased sales of Catalyst Dx and ProCyte Dx instruments and related consumables, in addition to geographic expansion of the company's reference laboratory diagnostic and consulting business services.vet, vet news, veterinarian, veterinary news, vet breaking news, idexxnewslinePosted: July 20, 2012, 1:45 p.m. EDT Sales of Idexx's ProCyte Dx hemotology analyzer helped drive the company's revenue growth in the second quarter. Veterinary diagnostics firm Idexx Laboratories Inc. of Westbrook, Maine, grew revenues by 6 percent in the second quarter and restructured its leadership hierarchy, the company reported today. Idexx's revenue growth was driven by its companion animal segment, including increased sales of Catalyst Dx and ProCyte Dx instruments and related consumables, in addition to geographic expansion of the company's reference laboratory diagnostic and consulting business services. Idexx's livestock and poultry segment experienced a 4 percent decline in organic revenue due to lower sales of Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy tests resulting from changes in the European …
Idexx Rolls Out New Web ServicesJuly 17, 2012 Idexx Laboratories of Westbrook, Maine, launched a new cloud-based, diagnostic results reporting service called VetConnect Plus and a web-based client communication and education service called Pet Health Network Pro, the company reported today. The VetConnect Plus service assimilates a patient’s blood work history generated by Idexx point-of-care equipment and reference laboratories and displays the results on a single screen. The amalgamated data allows users to compare current results to historic trends and access interactive graphs. Users can also request additional reference laboratory tests through the service. The service is accessible via a desktop, laptop, tablet or smartphone, Idexx reported. It is also built into Idexx’s Cornerstone Practice Management System’s electronic medical record. The service is free for all Idexx customers in the U.S., and Idexx VetConnect online users can upgrade to VetConnect PLUS using their current user name and password. The Pet Health Network Pro service allows users to send personalized client communications, including reminders, by email postcard and text message. It also includes tools to create online pet health pages, customizable materials including automated newsletters and surveys, pet health campaigns and practice websites, and social media support for Facebook. The service also integrates with …
The Laws Of Likability And How They Affect Your CareerJuly 16, 2012 It’s a simple declarative sentence containing only seven words, but it reveals one of the most critically important secrets of business success: People like to do business with people they like. Obvious perhaps, but ignored too often in today’s high-pressure business environment. When it comes to a highly personal and sensitive service such as that provided by a veterinarian, likability can spell the difference between failure and success. So how does a veterinarian build up the kind of likability score that will help to build a successful career? In her book “The 11 Laws of Likability,” Michele Tillis Lederman, an adjunct professor at NYU’s Stern School of Business, provides step-by-step guidance for improving your likability quotient. Here’s a capsule review of her advice: The Law of Authenticity To be likable, you must learn to be your true self. “The real you is the best you,” says Lederman. Lederman is not alone when she suggests that trying to be someone other than who you really are is a major hurdle on the road to likability. “Authenticity is who you are-–your honest reactions, your natural energy,” she says. “Sharing what is real about you is the …
Land O’Lakes Issues Sweeping Feed RecallJuly 16, 2012 Three Land O’Lakes subsidiaries recalled feed products, including an expansion of the recent PMI Nutrition International recall, due to the potential for elevated vitamin D levels, the companies reported on Friday. Elevated vitamin D levels may cause death or otherwise be harmful to animals and fish if fed for extended periods, potentially resulting in lack of interest in eating, weight loss and possible joint stiffness, Land O’Lakes reported. PMI initially recalled some lots of its Mazuri and LabDiet feed products earlier this month after receiving customer complaints of animal illness and small bird and guinea pig deaths. PMI expanded the recall three days later, and has now expanded it again to include some AquaMax feed products and additional Mazuri and LabDiet products. Land O’Lakes has isolated the issue that led to the elevated vitamin D levels, but due to the regulatory process, is unable to release details about the problem, the company reported. All of the products involved in the recalls were manufactured at a feed plant in Richmond, Ind., between April 2, 2012, and May 8, 2012. The recalled PMI …
New Company Unveils Charitable Dog FoodJuly 13, 2012 A new Los Angeles-based company called FreeHand launched a line of dog foods, and for each bag of food purchased the company will donate an equivalent amount of food to a rescue organization or shelter, FreeHand reported today. The company’s line of foods are currently available in the Dallas-Fort Worth, Southern California and Indianapolis markets through independent retail stores, veterinarians and ancillary services such as dog groomers, daycare, sitters and walkers. The company’s products, Engage, Enrich, Empower and Energize dog foods, are produced by Texas Farm Products of Nacogdoches, Texas. Similar to how Toms Shoes donates a pair of shoes to a needy child for each pair purchased at retail, FreeHand donates a pound of dog food to a local rescue group or shelter of the reseller’s choice for each pound of FreeHand dog food purchased at retail. FreeHand screens the rescue groups and shelters before approving them, and consumers purchasing the products online can select from a list of pre-approved rescue groups and shelters for their donations. The company does not plan to spend excessively on traditional marketing, according to managing director Tom Bagamane, but instead is generating buzz through social media and a membership …
