Idexx Revenue Growth Leads To Increased Q3 EarningsOctober 21, 2011 Idexx Laboratories Inc. grew year-over-year revenue and earnings in the third quarter on increased sales in its reference laboratory diagnostic and consulting services and instrument and consumables businesses, the company reported today. The Westbrook, Maine-based company reported an 8 percent increase in organic revenue for the third quarter compared to the same period in 2010. Idexx defines organic revenue growth as revenue growth excluding the impact of changes in foreign currency exchange rates, which contributed 4 percent to revenue growth, and revenue from acquisitions subsequent to June 30, 2010, which contributed less than 1 percent to revenue growth in the third quarter of 2011. Year-over-year placements of the company’s Catalyst Dx chemistry analyzer increased by 40 percent in the third quarter, which “bodes well for future consumable sales growth,” said Jonathan Ayers, Idexx CEO and chairman. Idexx’s global reference laboratory and consulting services business grew organic revenue by 10 percent in the third quarter compared to the year-ago period, Ayers added. The company won several government tenders in Germany in connection with a country-wide eradication program for a virus impacting beef and dairy production yields. These tenders led to a 10 percent increase in organic growth …
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Criminal Charges Filed Against Tennessee VetOctober 21, 2011 William Baber, DVM, of Gallatin, Tenn., faces 12 misdemeanor charges by the Sumner County Sheriff’s Department after a secretly recorded video and an investigation unveiled unlawful activity. The criminal charges come on the heels of the Tennessee Board of Veterinary Medical Examiners’ decision in December to suspend his license to practice until April 24. The charges and board action grew out of violations of the Tennessee Veterinary Practice Act and state laws. A secretly recorded video showed him inhumanely restraining and euthanizing animals by intracardiac injection at a county shelter. Dr. Baber must appear at the Tennessee Veterinary Board’s April meeting and demonstrate that he has completed a board-approved euthanasia certification course, completed five hours of board-approved continuing education in professional ethics and he must show that he attended psychological counseling/therapy. “There is a lot of animosity toward Dr. Baber, not only locally, but nationally as well,” said Major Don Linzy, chief of detectives for the Sheriff’s Department. “He has been practicing locally for a long time and has even assisted law enforcement agencies in previous animal cruelty cases, so this activity comes as a surprise to many people. But video footage doesn’t lie.” …
Treatments Advance For Corneal Disease, InjuriesOctober 19, 2011 Cutting-edge treatments and new methods to treat equine corneal diseases and injuries, equine recurrent uveitis and fungal keratitis are on the horizon. Some are even available now or will be available in the future for general practitioner use. New Ways to Heal Corneal disease and injury are common in horses, and injuries can be complicated and difficult to heal. Researchers are working on utilizing different biomaterials to help the eye heal itself. The equine amnion, which has been used successfully in other parts of the body, has been proven to help heal corneal injuries and diseases. The amnion is obtained during Cesarean sections and normal deliveries, then cleaned and processed with antibiotics. Ophthalmologists cover the cornea with the amnion, which acts as a self-sacrificing dressing. “The amnion has different antibiotic and anti-scarring compounds—although research is ongoing to discover what those are in horses,” says Dennis E. Brooks, DVM, PhD, Dipl. ACVO, professor of ophthalmology at University of Florida College of Veterinary Medicine. “It’s adjunctive therapy; you still need the eye drops,” Brooks continues. “But the amnion reduces enzyme activity and scarring, which is the major problem with horses. We’ve applied amnion after corneal …
Euthanasia Of Cats And Dogs At Shelters Decreased In September, Report SaysOctober 18, 2011 Euthanasia of cats and dogs at animal welfare organizations declined 12 percent and 3 percent, respectively, in September compared to the same month last year, according to the September PetPoint Report issued today by Pethealth Inc. Pethealth gathered data from animal welfare organizations that use the of Canadian company’s PetPoint application. September marked the thirteenth consecutive month of year-on-year decline in feline euthanasia. Euthanasia and stray intakes of dogs have also declined in each of the past 13 months on a year-on-year basis, excepting May 2011. Stray intakes of cats and dogs declined year-on-year by 8 percent and 1 percent, respectively, in September. “Among the overarching trends we’ve seen in animal welfare over the past year are declining euthanasia and declining intakes, particularly with respect to strays which have traditionally and still do account for the largest percentage of incoming dogs and cats,” said Steve Zeidman, managing director of PetPoint Solutions at Pethealth Inc. of Oakville, Ontario. “This is extremely encouraging data indicating that the tireless work of animal welfare professionals to promote responsible pet ownership is paying off.” The September report aggregated data from 921 animal welfare organizations that used the cloud-based PetPoint software …
Rocky Mountain Veterinary Cardiology Adds Denver PracticeOctober 17, 2011Rocky Mountain Veterinary Cardiology Adds Denver PracticeRocky Mountain Veterinary Cardiology Adds Denver Practice, Veterinary Referral Center DenverRocky Mountain Veterinary Cardiology P.C. of Boulder, Colo., acquired the veterinary cardiology practice at the Veterinary Referral Center of Colorado in Denver, the group reported today.Rocky Mountain Veterinary Cardiology P.C. of Boulder, Colo., acquired the veterinary cardiology practice at the Veterinary Referral Center of Colorado in Denver, the group reported today.newslineRocky Mountain Veterinary Cardiology Adds Denver PracticePosted: Oct. 17, 2011, 2:45 p.m. EDT Rocky Mountain Veterinary Cardiology P.C. of Boulder, Colo., acquired the veterinary cardiology practice at the Veterinary Referral Center of Colorado in Denver, the group reported today. Rocky Mountain Veterinary Cardiology has acquired Veterinary Heart and Lung Specialists in Denver. Rocky Mountain purchased the practice in August and retained its cardiology team. Previously, Carroll Loyer, DVM, DACVIM (Cardiology), operated the Denver cardiology practice for 15 years under the name Veterinary Heart and Lung Specialists. Rocky Mountain now operates two locations including the Aspenglow Veterinary Specialty and Emergency Center in Boulder and the new Denver location. The company also operates a mobile cardiac service that serves veterinary clinics in outlying Colorado communities. Rocky Mountain now staffs five ACVIM board-certified cardiologists, …
Idexx Launches New Canine Distemper TestOctober 11, 2011 Idexx Reference Laboratories introduced a new canine distemper virus test today that can differentiate infected dogs from those vaccinated for the disease. The Canine Distemper Virus (CDV) Quant RealPCR Test measures the quantitative load of virus in a canine to determine whether the animal has been recently vaccinated for CDV or is infected with the virus. This determination is important, Idexx said, because dogs usually develop clinical signs of CDV within days of adoption from kennels or shelters where they typically would have been vaccinated. Christian Leutenegger, DrVetMed, Ph.D., F.V.H., regional head of molecular diagnostics for Idexx, said the test uses real-time polymerase chain reaction technology and seven quality controls. “Innovative real-time PCR technology indicates not only the presence but also the quantity of the virus,” said Leutenegger, who developed the test in collaboration with veterinarians from the University of Florida. Idexx, based in Westbrook, Maine, said the new test has been incorporated into the company’s existing canine respiratory disease panels at no additional cost, and results are available within one to three days. A stand-alone test for quantitative distemper virus information from swabs collected from respiratory mucosa is also available. <Home>
NIAA To Host Symposium On Antibiotic Use In Food AnimalsOctober 11, 2011 The National Institute for Animal Agriculture will host a symposium Oct. 26 and 27, 2011, in Chicago called “Antibiotic Use in Food Animals: A Dialogue for a Common Purpose.” The public symposium will provide a broad view of antibiotic use in food animals from a variety of presenters in the private and public sectors. Leonard Bull, Ph.D., P.A.S., chairman of the symposium planning committee said the symposium will focus on four key areas, including: • The use of antibiotics in food animal production; • Human health implications relative to antibiotic use; • Understanding and communicating the risks associated with methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) in livestock; • Identifying additional research needs regarding how and to what extent antimicrobial resistance develops in humans and animals. “Symposium presenters are going to take an in-depth, science-based look at the benefits of antibiotics to animals and to humans and zero in specifically on when antibiotics need to be used, what we all currently know and don’t know and what each of us needs to know,” Dr. Bull said. “I want to stress that the symposium will be a dialogue, not a debate.” Scott Hurd, DVM, Ph.D., associate professor in the Veterinary …
California Governor Vetoes Mandatory Microchipping BillOctober 10, 2011 California Gov. Jerry Brown vetoed a bill on Friday that would have mandated the microchipping of cats and dogs in the state. The bill, S.B. 702, would have prohibited “any public animal control agency or shelter, society for the prevention of cruelty to animals shelter, humane society shelter, or rescue group from releasing to an owner seeking to reclaim his or her dog or cat, or selling or giving away to a new owner, a dog or cat that has not been microchipped,” according to the legislative counsel’s digest. In his veto message, Brown said, “Under current law, local agencies and shelters can – and should – require animals to be microchipped before being released. There is no need for state law to mandate the procedure, which would then require the state to pay for it.” The bill was introduced in February by Sen. Ted Lieu (D-Torrance). It passed by a margin of 32-6 in the Senate in May, and 50-23 in the Assembly in August. The governor’s veto can be overturned by a two-thirds vote in both houses. <Home>
ACVIM Names Certified Association Executive As CEOOctober 7, 2011The American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine (ACVIM) Board of Regents selected Roberta Herman, CAE, as its CEO, the board reported today. Herman most recently served as the executive vice president of the Colorado Restaurant Association. She holds an MBA from the University of Denver and CAE designation from the American Society of Association Executives. She was recently elected to the Board of Directors for the Colorado Society of Association Executives. “Roberta’s extensive experience made her an ideal candidate to lead the ACVIM in the ever-changing and challenging environment of veterinary medicine,” said ACVIM president Leah Cohn, DVM, Ph.D., DACVIM (Small Animal Internal Medicine). The board conducted a nationwide search and selection process to fill the position over the past three months. “Roberta is a wonderful hire as ACVIM’s CEO because she has a proven track record of value-based leadership in mission-driven membership organizations,” Cohn said. “She has the skills, experience, passion and commitment to advance ACVIM. We have found a wonderful advocate for our organization in Roberta.” <Home>
New York Clinic Opens $3.5 Million Radiology/Endoscopy Surgical SuiteOctober 6, 2011 The Animal Medical Center of New York City plans to unveil its new $3.5 million hybrid interventional radiology and endoscopy surgical unit this evening. The Katharine and William Rayner Interventional Radiology and Endoscopy Suite is the first hybrid operating suite for animals in the world, according to the center. The center’s interventional experts, Chick Weisse, VMD, and Allyson Berent, DVM, DACVIM (SAIM), started treating patients at the facility about three weeks ago. Examples of disorders being treated interventionally at the AMC are: • Kidney, ureteral, and bladder stones • Tracheal collapse • Various tumors • Canine incontinence • Liver shunts • Blood clots • Nasopharyngeal stenosis “The [suite] is another example of the cutting-edge technologies offered by the AMC in our continuous effort to provide exceptional, more-advanced veterinary care and to significantly enhance the AMC’s teaching and research programs,” said AMC CEO Kathryn Coyne. The unit also includes in-room cameras with the capability to project live to 50 hospitals across the country. The project was made possible through the Katharine Rayner Fund for the animal Medical Center at the Community Foundation for Greater Atlanta as advised by the Rayners. <Home>
