Rabies: Still Deadly, But Antidote More PleasantMay 21, 2012 EDITORS' NOTE: This is a supplement to Veterinary Practice News magazine's June 2012 cover story, America & Rabies. Untreated, rabies virus in humans is most certainly a death sentence. The good news is the virus spreads slowly through the body and modern treatment is very effective with few unpleasant side effects, said Kristy K. Bradley, DVM, MPH, Oklahoma's state epidemiologist. “What I see a lot of times is that people think (rabies testing) is an emergency situation, and it’s not,” she said. “It travels slowly, and gives us the luxury of time so we don’t have to make hasty medical decisions.” Since rabies is strictly neurotropic, it spreads only through the nerves—not blood or lymph, said Bradley, who is president of the American Association of State Public Health Veterinarians. “That’s why there is no test you can do on a live animal. The only reliable test, still today, is euthanasia and testing of brain tissue,” she explained. While the rabies incubation period is three to six weeks, an animal is contagious only if the virus has reached its brain and is transmitted through saliva. “If you have a …
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Diamond Plant Inspection Reveals Unsanitary PracticesMay 18, 2012 An inspection of Diamond Pet Foods' Gaston, S.C., plant where an outbreak of salmonella illnesses may have originated revealed conditions and practices that could have led to contamination of the final product, according to a U.S. Food and Drug Administration report. The FDA conducted the inspection in April and made a series of observations regarding conditions at the plant. Among the observations, the FDA noted that the plant had not taken all reasonable precautions to ensure that production procedures do not contribute to contamination and that the equipment used to convey the food does not protect against contamination. The Gaston plant does not conduct microbiological analysis on incoming animal fat, which can introduce pathogens into the production cycle and cause contamination of the finished product, according to the report. Inspectors also witnessed a Diamond employee touching in-line fat filter and oil with his or her bare hands. Paddles along the plant’s conveyor systems had gouges and cuts, causing feed residues to cling to the equipment and creating potential areas for microorganisms to multiply, according to the report. The FDA also noted the plant’s use of cardboard, duct tape and other non-cleanable surfaces on equipment …
Shelter Cats Go Social Via Kong CampaignMay 16, 2012Shelter Cats Go Social via Kong Campaignshelter cats, Kong, dog toys, cats, cat adoptions, pet adoptions, animal sheltersPet toy manufacturer Kong Co. launched a charitable campaign called "Pets Need to Play," through which the Golden, Colo.-based company will install live, interactive online toys for cats at several shelters across the country and donate Classic Kong toys for dogs, as well, the company reported today.Pet toy manufacturer Kong Co. launched a charitable campaign called "Pets Need to Play," through which the Golden, Colo.-based company will install live, interactive online toys for cats at several shelters across the country and donate Classic Kong toys for dogs, as well.newslineShelter Cats Go Social via Kong CampaignPosted: May 16, 2012, 4:20 p.m. EDT Pet toy manufacturer Kong Co. launched a charitable campaign called "Pets Need to Play," through which the Golden, Colo.-based company will install live, interactive online toys for cats at several shelters across the country and donate Classic Kong toys for dogs, as well, the company reported today. The cat toys, called Kong iPet Companions, will be installed in feline enclosures at animal shelters throughout the U.S. for six weeks at a time. Through the shelters' websites, web surfers can remotely control robotic …
Salmonella Outbreaks Linked To Undersized TurtlesMay 15, 2012Salmonella Outbreaks Linked to Undersized Turtlessalmonella, salmonella turtles, turtlesSmall red-eared slider turtles purchased from street vendors are likely responsible for five multistate outbreaks of salmonella infection affecting 124 people in 27 states, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported.Small red-eared slider turtles purchased from street vendors are likely responsible for five multistate outbreaks of salmonella infection affecting 124 people in 27 states, according to CDC.newslineSalmonella Outbreaks Linked to Undersized TurtlesPosted: May 15, 2012, 5:50 p.m. EDT Small red-eared slider turtles purchased from street vendors are likely responsible for five multistate outbreaks of salmonella infection affecting 124 people in 27 states, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported. The turtles responsible for the infections predominantly have shell lengths of less than 4 inches and were likely purchased from street vendors, the CDC said. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration banned the sale of turtles with shell length of less than 4 inches in 1975. Nineteen people have been hospitalized, but there have been no reported deaths from the outbreaks. More than two-thirds of those infected are 10-years old or younger. The affected states include Alaska (2 cases), Alabama (1), Arizona (3), California (21), Colorado (5), Delaware (3), …
Report: Pet Ownership Up, Spending DownMay 14, 2012Report: Pet Ownership Up, Spending Downpet, pet owners, dog, cat, pet products, pet spending, pet surveyPet ownership is on the rise, but owners are spending less on account of the struggling economy, according to a trio of studies published by Marketresearch.com.Three factors are propelling the pet ownership market, according to the report, including "pet parenting," an increase in pet ownership among minority households and the prevalence of pet ownership among affluent Americans.newslineReport: Pet Ownership Up, Spending DownPosted: May 14, 2012, 5:05 p.m. EDT Pet ownership is on the rise, but owners are spending less on account of the struggling economy, according to a trio of studies published by Marketresearch.com. Three factors are propelling the pet ownership market, according to the report, including "pet parenting," an increase in pet ownership among minority households and the prevalence of pet ownership among affluent Americans. Ninety-two percent of dog owners and 90 percent of cat owners consider their pets to be part of their families, according to the survey of 2000 pet owners conducted online in February and March. This "pet parenting" phenomenon can lead to owners having more willingness to spend on their pets, according to Marketresearch.com. However, prevailing economic conditions continue to …
Heska Earnings Drop On Flat Q1 RevenuesMay 11, 2012 Revenue and income declined at Heska Corp. in the first quarter of its 2012 fiscal year compared to the year-ago period, the Loveland, Colo.-based company reported today. Revenues from Heska’s “Core Companion Animal Health” category grew 1.2 percent, but total first quarter revenues retreated 1.5 percent to $19.2 million on a 15.3 percent drop in revenues in Heska’s “Other Vaccines, Pharmaceuticals and Products” category. “This was a strong start for 2012,” said Robert Grieve, CEO and chairman at Heska. “We grew our Core Companion Animal Health revenue despite an anticipated $2.1 million decline in revenue from our heartworm preventive sold to a unit of Merck. We also delivered a notable increase in gross margins.” An increase in operating expenses coupled with relatively flat revenues led to a 56.8 percent drop in net income in the first quarter compared to the year-ago period. “We continued to invest in new products, as well as in the expansion and improvement of our sales organization,” said Grieve. “We believe the results of these efforts will support our expected revenue growth during this year.” Heska shipped its first stocking order of PetTrust Plus heartworm preventive sold exclusively through retail …
Veterinarians Earn Top HonorsMay 9, 2012Ohio State University professor Dr. Rikihisa received an election to the National Academy of Sciences. The American Veterinary Medical Association has selected Thomas Catanzaro, DVM, MHA, to receive the Bustad Companion Animal Veterinarian of the Year Award, and the National Academy of Sciences elected Ohio State University Professor Yasuko Rikihisa, Ph.D., to join its ranks. The Bustad award, named for former dean of the Washington State University College of Veterinary Medicine Leo K. Bustad, DVM, Ph.D., recognizes the work of veterinarians in preserving and protecting human-animal relationships. It is co-sponsored by AVMA, Pet Partners and Hill’s Pet Nutrition Inc. Dr. Catanzaro is the CEO of Veterinary Consulting International and a lifetime fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives. The National Academy of Sciences is an honorific society of distinguished scholars engaged in scientific and engineering research dedicated to furthering science and technology for the public good. New member Dr. Rikihisa is a professor in OSU’s Department of Veterinary Biosciences, specializing in tick-borne diseases that infect food and fiber-producing animals, companion animals and humans. The university named Dr. Rikihisa its Innovator of the Year in 2011.
Potash America Forms Animal Supplement DivisionMay 8, 2012Potash America Forms Animal Supplement Divisionanimal supplement, Potash America, Trace Elements ClayReno, Nev.-based Potash America Inc., a publicly traded exploration stage mining company, has formed a new division, to be called Trace Elements Clay, to focus on the use of its calcium-montmorillonite as an animal supplement.Potash America Inc., a publicly traded exploration stage mining company, has formed a new division, to be called Trace Elements Clay, to focus on the use of its calcium-montmorillonite as an animal supplement.newslinePotash America Forms Animal Supplement DivisionPosted: May 8, 2012, 1:45 p.m. EDT Reno, Nev.-based Potash America Inc., a publicly traded exploration stage mining company, has formed a new division, to be called Trace Elements Clay, to focus on the use of its calcium-montmorillonite as an animal supplement. The company also acquired several domain names for the new division, including TraceElementsClay.com, TEC-Canine.com, TEC-Feline.com, TEC-Equine.com, TEC-Bovine.com and TEC-Poultry.com. Large hill of montmorillonite on yellow cap claim. Specifically, the company plans "to focus on the probiotic nature of the clay as well as the toxin flushing benefit that the negatively ion-charged montmorillonite provides," the company reported today. "We have reviewed the historical data available regarding montmorillonite and these benefits to the …
Tucson Vet Center Co-owner Named Woman Of The YearMay 8, 2012Jan Woods, hospital administrator and co-owner of the Veterinary Specialty Center of Tucson, received the 2012 Business Woman of the Year award from the Tucson Chapter of the National Association of Women Business Owners, the association reported yesterday. “Jan Woods has consistently demonstrated her strong commitment to supporting women entrepreneurs and community organizations,” said Deborah Alter, president of NAWBO Tucson. “I hear raves about her customer service from pet owners she serves. She get the job done with class and efficiency. We salute her for her leadership and contributions that enhance Tucson’s business climate.” Woods received the award at the Better Business Bureau Torch Awards in April. She was a finalist for the 2010 Business Woman of the Year award and the 2010 and 2011 Athena Leadership award to recognize female business leaders.
Human Salmonella Outbreak Tied To Diamond Dog FoodsMay 4, 2012 Public health officials launched an investigation into a link between a recent outbreak of human salmonella infections and the recently recalled dog food brands produced by Diamond Pet Foods at its Gaston, S.C., manufacturing facility, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration reported today. Since October, fourteen individuals in nine states have been diagnosed with Salmonella infantis—the same strain of salmonella discovered in three Diamond dog food brands produced in Gaston: Diamond Naturals Lamb Meal & Rice, Chicken Soup for the Pet Lover’s Soul Adult Light Formula and Diamond Puppy Formula. Salmonella infantis is rare, according to the CDC, with less than three cases typically reported each month. Public health investigators linked the 14 illnesses to the recalled dog food by comparing the DNA “fingerprints” of the salmonella found in the food to those found in the individuals by using a technology called pulsed field gel electrophoresis. In follow-up interviews, four individuals diagnosed with Salmonella infantis said they had direct contact with Diamond dog food that may have been produced in Gaston. Among …
