Therapeutic Diets: Improving Pets’ Quality Of LifeMarch 6, 2012 Even before people labeled themselves pet owners, they provided scraps of food for dogs and cats. But it wasn’t until pet food manufacturing for U.S. dogs started in 1890 and for cats in the 1930s that the initiative for improving animal health through nutrition began. Pet food has since evolved in ways that amaze even veterinarians. Therapeutic diets today are created specifically to prevent or delay onset of many medical conditions and help control existing diseases. “Most medical conditions benefit from the right nutritional support,” says Grace Long, director of veterinary technical marketing at Nestle Purina PetCare. “Therapeutic diets complement other therapies, provide excellent nutrition and at the same time address the special nutritional needs of the pet.” Manufacturers of therapeutic lines conduct research on the efficacy of their products, and provide information for veterinary and pet owner education. “Pet food companies devote significant resources researching and developing therapeutic products,” says Kurt Gallagher, director of communications and export development at the Pet Food Institute in Washington, DC. “Given the positive impact that therapeutic products can have on pets, companies engage in significant outreach to the veterinary community so veterinarians are aware of products that …
SPONSORED CONTENTSupport patients' cognitive function and mobility.Cognitive and mobility decline are common issues facing aging pets, and new Hill's Prescription Diet Brain Care + j/d can help. + Learn More
Connecticut May Relax Pet Import Rules For SheltersMarch 6, 2012 Connecticut may repeal parts of a state law that was enacted last year to address unregulated importation of dogs and cats into the state and related health and public safety concerns, according to the Washington, D.C.-based Pet Industry Joint Advisory Council. Senate Bill 253, which is scheduled to be heard by the Joint Committee on Environment on Wednesday, March 7, 2012, would impact the state law that ensures dogs and cats brought into the state by rescues, humane organizations and other unlicensed entities to be sold or adopted receive a veterinary examination within 48 hours of import, PIJAC said. While SB 253 retains the requirement for dogs and cats to be examined by a veterinarian, it eliminates the 48-hour window, PIJAC said. By state law, commercial kennels, pet shops, grooming facilities and training facilities must be licensed by the agriculture commissioner. Also, licensed entities must have an animal’s health certificate prior to import. Another provision of SB 253 allows the unlicensed organizations to avoid the requirement of a veterinary examination altogether by claiming the animal had already been adopted prior to entering the state, PIJAC said. PIJAC supports the law, which was introduced as …
Veterinary Spending Projected To Slow In 2012March 2, 2012Veterinary Spending Projected to Slow in 2012veterinary, spending, 2012, appa, report, petThe veterinary segment is expected to follow an industry-wide pattern of flatter growth in 2012, according to the American Pet Products Association.The veterinary segment is expected to follow an industry-wide pattern of flatter growth in 2012, according to the American Pet Products Association.NewslineVeterinary Spending Projected to Slow in 2012Posted: March 1, 2012, 4:15 p.m. EST Spending on Veterinary Care The veterinary segment is expected to follow an industry-wide pattern of flatter growth in 2012, according to the American Pet Products Association. Spending in the veterinary care category grew by 2.9 percent from 2010 to 2011, and the APPA anticipates a 1.3 percent rate of growth through 2012. The pet industry as a whole grew by 5.3 percent from 2010 to 2011, surpassing $50 billion in overall spending, and is projected to grow by 3.8 percent through 2012. Spending on pet insurance, included in the veterinary care category, grew by 9.2 percent to $450 million from 2010 to 2011, and is expected to increase to $500 million in 2012. The pet services segment, including grooming, boarding, pet hotels, pet sitting, day care and other services, was …
Brain Benefits Of CAVM For EpilepsyMarch 1, 2012 These are the footnotes for Dr. Robinson's March 2012 column, Brain Benefits of CAVM for Epilepsy. 1. McElroy-Cox C. Alternative approaches to epilepsy treatment. Current Neurology and Neuroscience Reports. 2009;9(4):313-318. 2. Taylor J. Holistic treatments for epilepsy in dogs. The Bark. 2006;Issue 36. Accessed at http://www.thebark.com/print/134?page=show on 01-05-12. 3. McElroy-Cox C. Alternative approaches to epilepsy treatment. Current Neurology and Neuroscience Reports. 2009;9(4):313-318. 4. Weissl J, Hulsmeyer V, Brauer C, et al. Disease progression and treatment response of idiopathic epilepsy in Australian Shepherd dogs. J Vet Intern Med. 2011; Dec 19. doi: 10.1111/j.1939-1676.2011.00853.x. [Epub ahead of print] 5. Ekenstedt KJ, Patterson EE, Minor KM, et al. Candidate genes for idiopathic epilepsy in four dog breeds. BMC Genetics. 2011;12:38. 6. Weissl J, Hulsmeyer V, Brauer C, et al. Disease progression and treatment response of idiopathic epilepsy in Australian Shepherd dogs. J Vet Intern Med. 2011; Dec 19. doi: 10.1111/j.1939-1676.2011.00853.x. [Epub ahead of print] 7. Ekenstedt KJ, Patterson EE, Minor KM, et al. Candidate genes for idiopathic epilepsy in four dog breeds. BMC Genetics. 2011;12:38. 8. McElroy-Cox C. Alternative approaches to epilepsy treatment. Current Neurology …
MWI To Carry Filter-Based Canine Platelet Therapy KitFebruary 29, 2012 Veterinary distributor MWI Veterinary Supply Co. will market the C-PET canine platelet enhancement therapy kit after signing an exclusive distribution agreement with C-PET developer Pall Corp., the companies announced today. The kit, designed to treat dogs suffering from osteoarthritis and tendon and ligament injuries, will be sold under MWI’s Securos brand. The disposable system uses filter-based technology to concentrate platelets and their associated growth factors from a patient’s blood. The portable kit does not require a power supply or use of a centrifuge and allows veterinarians to adjust the volume of blood used in the procedure to the size of the patient they are treating, according to Port Washington, N.Y.-based Pall Corp. The company previously developed an equine platelet therapy kit called E-PET. “Pall’s novel point-of-care cell harvesting and delivery method has been used to successfully treat tendinosis in horses,” said Jeffrey Schaffer, DVM, director of Pall Animal Health. “In adapting this technology for dogs, we worked closely with MWI to identify veterinarians interested in evaluating the product by treating osteoarthritic dogs and using a questionnaire to assess improvement in lameness. “Over 100 dogs were treated and the improvement in lameness was judged to …
Beagles Rise To Third Most Popular Breed In 2011February 28, 2012 The beagle and the golden retriever surpassed the Yorkshire terrier among popular breeds in the United States in 2011 compared with the previous year, but the Labrador retriever remained America’s favorite, the American Kennel Club reported today. The beagle was the third most popular dog breed, according to the AKC's annual registration statistics, followed by the golden retriever. The Yorkshire terrier, previously No. 3, was fifth most popular in 2011. “While the Labrador retriever has proven once again to be a family favorite, this year clearly belongs to the beagle,” AKC spokesperson Lisa Peterson said. “The beagle’s merry personality combined with his love of outdoor activities make him such a wonderful family pet that I wouldn’t be surprised to see this spunky breed sniff his way to the top of the list next year.” The shih tzu dropped out of the top 10, falling to No. 11 in 2011, with the Rottweiler replacing it at No. 10. The Rottweiler’s popularity boost is part of a decade-long trend among large dog owners, according to the AKC. Since 2001, the Bernese mountain dog moved from the 54th most popular breed to No. 34, and other large breeds followed …
Sergeant's Rolls Out Fipronil-based OTC Flea And Tick MedsFebruary 27, 2012Sergeant's Rolls Out Fipronil-based OTC Flea and Tick MedsSergeant's flea, Sergeant's tick, fleas, tick, pet, cat fleas, dog fleas, cat ticks, dog ticksSergeant's Pet Care Products Inc. will launch new topical, over-the-counter flea and tick treatments for cats and dogs this spring that combine fipronil with a second active ingredient, the company reported today.Sergeant's Pet Care Products Inc. will launch new topical, over-the-counter flea and tick treatments for cats and dogs this spring that combine fipronil with a second active ingredient.newslineSergeant's Rolls Out Fipronil-based OTC Flea and Tick MedsPosted: Feb. 27, 2012, 6:40 p.m. EST Sergeant's Pet Care Products Inc. will launch new topical, over-the-counter flea and tick treatments for cats and dogs this spring that combine fipronil with a second active ingredient, the company reported today. The new treatments will be sold as Sentry Fiproguard Max in pet specialty stores and Pronyl OTC Max in grocery and mass retail stores. The treatments contain fipronil, which is the active ingredient in Frontline, in addition to cyphenothirin in the dog formula and etofenprox in the cat formula. The new formulas killed fleas and ticks faster than Frontline Plus in independent clinical trials, according to Sergeant's. The patent-pending formula will be available …
Texas To Modify Livestock Entry And Cattle 'Change Of Ownership' RulesFebruary 24, 2012Texas to Modify Livestock Entry and Cattle 'Change of Ownership' RulesTexas animal health comission, Texas cattle, cattle, livestock, BrucellosisThe Texas Animal Health Commission is accepting public comments on rules proposals that would make the state's entry requirements more consistent with national standards, remove the Brucellosis test requirement for change of ownership of adult sexually intact cattle, and add a requirement that cattle be permanently and officially identified when there is a change of ownership.Texas is accepting public comments on rules proposals that would make the state's entry requirements more consistent with national standards, remove the Brucellosis test requirement for change of ownership of adult sexually intact cattle, and add a requirement that cattle be permanently and officially identified when there is a change of ownership.newslineTexas to Modify Livestock Entry and Cattle 'Change of Ownership' RulesPosted: Feb. 24, 2012, 8:25 p.m. EST The Texas Animal Health Commission is accepting public comments on rules proposals that would make the state's entry requirements more consistent with national standards, remove the Brucellosis test requirement for change of ownership of adult sexually intact cattle, and add a requirement that cattle be permanently and officially identified when there is a change of ownership. The commission is …
Pilot Program Increased Cat Visits And Revenues, Catalyst Council ReportsFebruary 23, 2012The Catalyst Council’s pilot Cat Friendly Practice Makeover program boosted veterinary visits and cat revenues for participating practices, the Annapolis, Md.-based organization reported Monday at the Western Veterinary Conference in Las Vegas. The 17-practice pilot program included staff training and support, client education and the adoption of consistent feline standards of care to increase “cat friendliness” at the practice. Those practices that participated in the program, which ran from March through September 2011, averaged 2.62 percent more cat invoices year over year, 1.34 percent more cat revenue and 3.44 percent more revenue per cat client. “These results prove that there are reasonable and reliable ways to increase cat veterinary visits,” said Jane Brunt, DVM, executive director of the Catalyst Council. “By making visits to the veterinarian friendlier and less threatening, veterinarians can increase the number of cats they see and help improve their health and well-being.” During that time, a control group of 447 practices experienced a 2.09 percent decline in cat invoices (net difference of 4.71 percent from the pilot practices), a 0.56 percent decline in cat revenues and a 1.12 percent increase in revenue per cat client. Before
OSU Dean Named AAVMC Public Policy Award WinnerFebruary 17, 2012 The Association of American Veterinary Medical Colleges awarded the 2012 AAVMC Senator John Melcher, DVM Leadership in Public Policy Award to Lonnie King, DVM, M.S., M.P.A., Dipl. ACVPM, dean of the Ohio State University College of Veterinary Medicine. Dr. King will receive the award March 10, 2012, at the AAVMC’s Annual Conference in Alexandria, Va. “Dr. King is an expert in One Health and the emergence of new diseases, who has successfully advocated for important legislation and demonstrated leadership throughout his career in government and academia,” said Bennie Osburn, DVM, Ph.D., Dipl. ACVP. King is a professor in the OSU Department of Veterinary Preventive Medicine and holds the Ruth Stanton Endowed Chair in Veterinary Medicine, and previously served as dean of the College of Veterinary Medicine at Michigan State University. He has also served as an administrator and veterinarian for USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, as the first director at each of the Office of Strategy and Innovation at the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and …
