APHIS Accepting Comments On Dog Importation Rule ChangeSeptember 2, 2011 The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) proposed a rule Wednesday that would require any dogs imported into the United States be accompanied by rabies and health certifications along with an APHIS-issued permit. A 2008 amendment to the Animal Welfare Act required that all imported dogs to be in good health and at least 6 months old and to have received all necessary vaccinations. The amendment did not specify how the regulations would be administered, and the task fell to APHIS. The rabies and health certifications would have to include the signature and license number of the issuing veterinarian as well as the name and address of the person intending to import the dog. Limited exceptions would be made for dogs entering the United States for veterinary treatment or research purposes or into Hawaii. From 2005 to 2010, an average of 17,000 dogs a year were imported into the United States, accounting for less than 1 percent of the nation's total dog population, according to APHIS. Comments on the rule change can be submitted until Oct. 31, 2011, at www.regulations.gov.
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APHIS Reopens Comment Period For CEM Rule ChangeSeptember 1, 2011 The Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) delayed enforcement of an interim rule relating to the importation of horses from companies affected with contagious equine metritis (CEM) and re-opened the issue for public comment. The interim rule, originally put into effect in March, requires additional certification requirement for imported horses 731 days of age or younger and adds new testing protocols for test mares and imported stallions and mares more than 731 days of age. APHIS is considering two changes to the requirements for the testing protocols. First, rather than requiring three sets of cultures to be collected from imported stallions, the proposed change would require only one culture to be collected. Second, instead of requiring all three cultures from imported and test mares to be taken from either the distal cervix or the endometrium, only the third culture taken would have such a requirement. APHIS will accept public comments on the proposed change through September 7. Comments can be submitted digitally at http://www.regulations.gov/#!documentDetail;D=APHIS-2008-0112-0020 or via mail at Docket No. APHIS-2008-0112, Regulatory Analysis and Development, PPD, APHIS, Station 3A-03.8, 4700 River Road Unit 118, Riverdale, MD 20737-1238
Study: Early Separation From Litter Increases Chances Of Behavioral ProblemsAugust 24, 2011 Puppies separated from their litters early on are significantly more likely to develop potentially problematic behaviors as adults than puppies that stay with the litter for at least two months, according to a study released today by Veterinary Record. The study, conducted by Italian veterinarians, examined the prevalence of certain behaviors in 140 dogs, half of which were separated from their litter at 30 to 40 days and half of which had been taken from the litter at 60 days. The dogs’ owners, who were clients of several veterinary practices in Naples, Italy, were all asked to complete a telephone survey about their pets, which were, at the time, between 18 months to seven years old. Half of the dogs had come from a pet shop, one in three had come from a friend or relative and the remainder had come from a breeder. The survey included questions about the dogs’ origin, breed and a range of potentially problematic behaviors. Such behaviors included destructiveness, excessive barking, possessiveness around food and/or toys, attention seeking, aggressiveness, play biting, fearfulness on walks and reactivity to noises. Attention seeking and reactivity to noises were the most commonly reported behaviors, …
Merck Appoints New President Of Merck Animal HealthAugust 24, 2011 DeLuca, 48, will take the reins on Sept. 15 from former president of Merck Animal Health Raul Kohan, who decided to retire from the company. Kohan will remain with Merck Animal Health through the end of the year to assist with the transition process. “This is a wonderful time to join Merck, with its commitment to growing its animal health business,” DeLuca said. “I look forward to working with the talented managers and employees in ensuring that the division is a best-in-class global animal health leader." DeLuca previously served as chief financial officer of BD Biosciences and prior to that was president of Wyeth’s Fort Dodge Animal Health division. In his new role, DeLuca “will leverage the division’s strong product portfolio and customer focus to capitalize on new growth opportunities, including expanding the business in emerging markets,” the company reported. “We believe [Merck Animal Health] is well positioned in a number of fast-growing segments within the global animal health market,” said Merck president and CEO Kenneth Frazier. <Home>
Lewis Sees Exciting Times For Pfizer Animal Health, Despite UncertaintyAugust 23, 2011 Ever since Pfizer Inc. hired J.P. Morgan in July to evaluate strategic options for its animal health business, the unit has faced increased scrutiny and speculation. The parent company is considering divesting the unit to focus more on its core human health care business and please shareholders. Animal health contributed about $3.6 billion to Pfizer’s $68 billion in total revenues in 2010. In an interview with Veterinary Practice News, Clint Lewis, president of U.S. operations for Pfizer Animal Health, said the company is excited about the future, whatever that may be. He also discusses a range of other topics, including Pfizer’s forays into diagnostics and generics and the economic challenges facing the veterinary profession today. VPN: With the announcement from Pfizer Inc. that it has retained J.P. Morgan to explore strategic alternatives for the Pfizer Animal Health unit, how is it to manage Pfizer Animal Health with employees and customers perhaps wondering about the future? Lewis: It has been a mantra for us both inside the organization and outside as we engage with customers, partners and other stakeholders, that these are very exciting times. These are exciting times for Pfizer and Pfizer Animal Health specifically, even …
MedRx Veterinary Division Acquired, Renamed OtoVet-USAAugust 23, 2011 Venture capital firm DermaZoo of Boca Raton, Fla., acquired the veterinary division of MedRx, which will be rebranded as a new company called OtoVet-USA, the company reported today. OtoVet-USA will continue the MedRx veterinary division’s specialization in video-otoscopy technology for animals. The new company will display its products under the OtoVet-USA brand next week at the Central Veterinary Conference (CVC) in Kansas City. OtoVet-USA CEO Steven Melman, VMD, spearheaded the acquisition and said the new company will focus on a “service first” approach for customers through continuing education, webinars and seminars. Veterinarians including Lou Gotthelf, DVM, and Jessica Melman, VMD, will provide technical support to OtoVet customers. Dr. Gotthelf, long associated with MedRx, will continue to conduct seminars and wet labs and consult for the company, Dr. Melman said. Current MedRx veterinary customers will be offered new service contracts and all current equipment warranties will be honored, according to Dr. Melman. OtoVet-USA will also offer support through its website. “It’s a natural extension, since we worked closely [with MedRx] for years, to buy their assets and present them in a new and improved way to the veterinary community,” said Melman, who …
VEE Found In MexicoAugust 23, 2011 Mexico reported in late August two cases of Venezuelan equine encephalomyelitis to the World Animal Health Organization (OIE). The National Service of AgriFood Health, Safety and Quality of Mexico reported the outbreak to the OIE on Friday, August 19. One of cases led to an animal death. The Mexico-United States Commission for the Prevention of Foot-and-Mouth Disease and other Foreign Animal Diseases confirmed the two positive tests earlier in August. The outbreak marked the first report of Venezuelan equine encephalomyelitis in Mexico to the OIE since 1996. The outbreak occurred in a fattening pen in Tierra Blanca, Vera Cruz, Mexico, and no additional sick animals have been found in the nearby area. However, an epidemiological investigation is on-going. According to the OIE, animals will be vaccinated in response to the outbreak. Vaccinations were used last year as a preventative measure due to flooding in the area.
Oral Rabies Vaccination Program Underway In PennsylvaniaAugust 19, 2011 An oral rabies vaccination program, which helps control the spread of rabies in wild animals, is now in effect for eight Pennsylvania counties. Parts of Allegheny, Beaver, Crawford, Erie, Greene, Lawrence, Mercer and Washington counties will receive rabies vaccination baits coated with a fishmeal attractant in 1-inch square cubes. “Controlling the spread of rabies in wild animals is essential to ensuring human and domestic animal health,” said George Greig, agriculture secretary. “The oral rabies vaccination program has been the key component in preventing the westward spread of raccoon rabies. I appreciate the cooperation of residents in the affected counties in helping us to mitigate the threat of rabies.” Wildlife rabies accounts for more than 90 percent of U.S. rabies cases, with raccoons making up more than half of this total. The primary purpose of the baiting is to vaccinate raccoons, although other animals that ingest the bait will be vaccinated against the virus. This vaccine has been shown to be safe in more than 60 different species of animals, including dogs and cats. Six agencies are partnering with the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Wildlife Services for this program, including the state departments of Agriculture …
Thunderstorm Phobia In Dogs—An UpdateAugust 18, 2011 Phobias are excessive and irrational responses to stimuli that are dysfunctional and disruptive to normal functioning. Thunderstorm phobia is no exception. It is possible that genetic factors underlie a dog’s susceptibility to thunderstorm phobia as herding breeds are over-represented in canine storm phobia demographics. Certainly genetics contributes to human susceptibility to phobias, as studies show that identical phobias (e.g. fear of heights) develop in identical twins raised completely apart. That said, nurture plays an important role, too, in the sense that negative experiences can clearly trigger the development of phobias. Specifically, direct learning (personal experience) and observational learning (witnessing another fearful dog or person) may be involved and the negative experience so generated is enhanced when paired with (heralded by) a formerly neutral stimulus (e.g. flashing light/lightning). The clinical expression of thunderstorm phobia involves responses that are physical, emotional and physiological. Physical responses include attempts at escape (flight), finding a safe place, shadowing the owner or hiding. Affected dogs may also pace, pant and whine or bark. Emotional responses include the immeasurable in a dog—the subjective experience of terror. Physiological responses include activation of the autonomic and endocrine systems with resultant tachycardia, pupillary dilation, salivation, sweating …
Drug Labeling BluesAugust 17, 2011 How far should we go to ensure our patients are being dosed correctly? Last year I experienced an unfortunate run-in with the kind of drug labeling direction pitfall that can happen to anyone: A client misread a label and overdosed her dog. It was all quite innocent, really. I prescribed a common antibiotic drug for pets who suffer diarrhea complicated by bacterial overgrowths and possibly by unseen parasites too (you know the one). But my client misread the labeling instructions and double-dosed her dog. Yeah ... it happens. Now, this wouldn’t be a big deal in most cases. Problem was, Missy died. And the veterinarian who examined her right after she died (a down-the-street colleague––not the ER, it should be duly noted) claimed she had been overdosed with the medication. Which, of course, was interpreted by her owner to mean I had killed Missy. Which might’ve been the case if 1) I’d actually recommended the dose Missy’s owner had been giving (in fact, I had not) and 2) Missy’d actually succumbed to anything more than what a 19-year-old dog with end-stage renal failure might reasonably be expected to die of. Namely, renal failure. But …
