Garfield Joins Fight Against Feline Kidney DiseaseMay 19, 2011 A campaign was launched today to educate cat owners about the risk of chronic kidney disease their aging pets may face. An animated video featuring the cartoon character Garfield and an educational website were developed to help pet owners understand the importance of caring for cats as they reach the typical middle age of 7. The website features a range of cat care tools including Renalzin, a dietary supplement by Bayer Healthcare AG, and free downloadable advice. The video is licensed by Paws Inc. and features Garfield in the midst of a midlife crisis. Kidney disease is common but often an unseen health problem for cats, especially those 7 or older. One in three has the disease by age 10. “Middle-aged cats may be suffering from gradual, irreversible kidney damage even if they don’t show any signs of the disease,” says Sarah Caney, BVSc, Ph.D., Dipl. SAM (Feline), the CEO of Cat Professional Ltd. “If your cat is 7 years of age or over, ask your veterinarian about screening for kidney disease. The tests are simple, and the earlier kidney disease is detected, the better supporting treatments such as Renalzin [may] help to limit the …
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More Pig Ears Recalled Due To Salmonella ConcernsMay 18, 2011 Another pet product company is recalling its pig ear treats for dogs after a supplier, Keys Manufacturing Co. Inc., detected salmonella in one batch. Blackman Industries Inc. of Kansas City is recalling its PrimeTime brand two-count and five-count premium pig ears and KC Beefhide brand 20-count premium pig ears because they have the potential to be contaminated with salmonella. The PrimeTime products come in clear plastic packages with yellow printed headers and are marked with the UPC codes 7-48976-18316-6 (two-count), 7-48976-09040-2 (five-count) and 7-48976-19040-9 (five-count). The KC Beefhide product is packaged in a red mesh nylon bag with a green and white header and the UPC code 7-48976-09065-5. These products were distributed in Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska and South Dakota from Jan. 4 to April 29 and sold in many of these grocery stores: Price Chopper, Hy-Vee, Hen House Market, Bag N Save, Dahl’s, Baldwin City Market, SunFresh, Apple Market, Brookside Market, Franklin Food Store, No Frills, Alps, Big V, Country Mart, Thriftway, County Fair, Super Saver and Russ’s and Feldman’s Farm and Home. The pig ear supplier, Keys Manufacturing, issued a recall this month after a dog in Missouri was reported sick. …
AAEP Plans Joint Meeting On Colic, BusinessMay 17, 2011The American Association of Equine Practitioners (AAEP) plans to hold joint continuing education meetings on colic and business tactics in July. One registration fee allows participants to attend sessions for both meetings, which will take place July 24-26, in Indianapolis, Ind. Practitioners can choose from 36 available Registry of Approved Continuing Education (RACE) -approved continuing education (CE) credit hours. CE offering a focus on colic for ambulatory practitioners assists with field management of colic, a leading cause of premature equine death. Participants will refresh their knowledge of the physiological causes of colic and explore the latest methods of diagnosing a case before it becomes life-threatening. The class will also include a complete overview of the equine gastrointestinal system. Practitioners will examine special-interest cases, including the management of colic in the pre-partum mare and foal. The program also covers client communication and case-specific presentations. The business education course, “Transitions in Practice, Practices in Transition,” will business tactics “that work in a competitive economy,” according to the AAEP. Participants of all levels of experience will learn strategies for proven success, including branding, marketing efforts, social media, benchmarking and employee relations. During this workshop-style meeting, participants will discuss concerns and topics relevant to …
AHD Launches The DVMdiets NetworkMay 17, 2011Animal Health Digital (AHD), an animal health marketing and technology company, today announced the launch of the DVMdiets Network created for veterinary professionals. The network will provide nutritional education for veterinary practices along with an online home delivery platform for their clients, including more than 70 brands of specialty and prescription diets. “Our research indicates that while nutrition is discussed on more than 80 percent of veterinary clinic visits, less than half of veterinarians feel that their staff is adequately trained on companion animal diets,” says Daryl Schraad, president of AHD. “The growing number of specialty diets has made it challenging for veterinarians to stay properly informed, let alone stock all of the products that their clients need. DVMdiets helps ensure the veterinarian remains the go-to source for nutritional information, while allowing them to earn revenue and increase diet compliance.” The new network features weekly live and on-demand seminars for member practices, which are sponsored and conducted by diet manufacturers and companion animal nutrition experts. The programs are designed to educate the veterinary practice staff and will focus on emerging trends, standardized nutritional guidelines and new products and categories, according to AHD. “Our online home delivery platform features specialty and …
Salmonella Concerns Prompt Another Pig Ear RecallMay 17, 2011 Boss Pet Products Inc. of Maple Heights, Ohio is recalling its Diggers Natural Treat Pig Ear pet treats because the products may be contaminated with salmonella. One of Boss Pet’s suppliers, Keys Manufacturing Co. Inc., has notified the company that a batch of its pig ear treats tested positive for salmonella. Boss said Keys, which issued a voluntary recall of its Pig Ears for Pet Treats earlier this month, identified several shipments of potentially affected product that were shipped out under the Diggers brand in November 2010 through April 2011. The recalled Diggers Natural Chews Pig Ears are as follows: Bulk pig ears in boxes of 100 (UPC #0-72929-00038-6) Bulk pig ears shrink-wrapped in boxes of 50 (UPC #0-72929-99120-2) 2-pack bags shipped in cases of 12 bags (UPC #0-72929-99504-0) 4-pack bags shipped in cases of 12 bags (UPC #0-72929-00227-4) 8-pack bags shipped in cases of 12 bags (UPC #0-72929-99584-2) They were distributed via truck to distributors in the following states: Alabama, California, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri Montana, New York, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, and Washington. A report of an ill dog in Missouri prompted the recall. Pets with …
Morris Animal Foundation K9 Cancer Walk Raised Over 70KMay 17, 2011 More than 500 northern Californians rallied May 7, for the third annual Morris Animal Foundation (MAF) K9 Cancer Walk in Elk Grove, Calif. The event raised more than $71,000 for the foundation’s Canine Cancer Campaign, which funds research to prevent and treat cancer in dogs, with a goal of curing the disease. MAF debuted a remembrance ceremony for all dogs that have died of cancer and celebrated dogs that have beaten cancer by gathering all dogs and their owners for a survivor ceremony. Fundraising teams were encouraged to show their team spirit by participating in the Top Dogs Contest, in which the winner raised the most money for cancer research, had the most members or showed the most spirit. This year’s sponsors and media partners include V101.1, Franklin Ranch Pet Hospital and Hotel, Loomis Basin Veterinary Clinic and VCA Animal Hospitals. MAF’s fundraising goal is $75,000, and the group has stated it will collect donations through June 3. To make a donation click here. Contest winners include: • Top Team: Team Homeward Bound, with more than $7,000 raised • Most Team Members: WAG, Inc., with nearly 60 members …
Washington State Veterinarian Cautions Horse Owners About EHV-1 OutbreakMay 17, 2011 A Washington horse that attended the National Cutting Horse Association event in Ogden, Utah from April 30 to May 8, tested positive for Equine Herpes Virus 1 (EHV-1), a highly contagious animal disease. Several confirmed cases in horses with severe symptoms have been diagnosed in Utah, Colorado and elsewhere. Symptoms in horses include fever, sneezing, excessive salivation and other mild symptoms. Serious cases of the disease are rare, but can include staggering, hind-end paralysis and even death. The disease is not contagious to humans. “While I have not yet placed any restrictions on the movement of animals, I strongly suggest that horse owners isolate animals that attended the Western National Championships in Ogden, Utah,” says Leonard Eldridge, DVM, Washington state veterinarian. “For the protection of other horses, these owners are advised to keep their animals home for a couple of weeks.” The disease is spread from horse to horse through direct contact, on feed, tack and equipment or on the clothes and hands of horse owners. Considering the possibility of disease spread, owners are advised to carefully wash their hands and equipment to prevent the spread of the virus. The time of exposure to illness …
FDA Recommends Caution On ShampooMay 16, 2011 The Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) Center for Veterinary Medicine is alerting veterinarians and pet owners to use caution with the use of an unapproved animal drug product, Douxo Seborrhea Shampoo (0.1% phytosphingosine), distributed by Sogeval Laboratories, Inc. of Coppell, Texas. FDA recently received a report of the death of a woman associated with the use of the product on her dog, an event that occurred in March. The adverse event report describes a woman with severe, pre-existing asthma who had a sudden, severe asthma attack and died while bathing a dog using the product, Douxo Seborrhea Shampoo. A few days later, another asthmatic family member bathed the dog using the same product and experienced a mild asthma attack but recovered. FDA is advising consumers with asthma or other respiratory conditions to consult with their physician prior to use of this product. The FDA is investigating this issue and will provide additional information as appropriate. To report an adverse drug event to FDA, click here. <Home>
VSEC Opens Pennsylvania 24-hour Emergency HospitalMay 16, 2011 The Veterinary Specialty and Emergency Center (VSEC) of Bucks County, Penn. on Saturday hosted a grand opening celebration for a state-of-the-art, 21,000 square-foot hospital in Levittown. The event was open to the general public and included hospital tours, food and music. The ribbon cutting ceremony and a reception for referring veterinary hospitals followed. The new facility opens for patient care June 1. The hospital houses a linear accelerator to provide radiation therapy for cancer patients, a designated room to administer radioactive iodine treatment for hyperthyroid cats, a CT scanner, MRI scanner, intensive care unit, separate canine and feline wards and a presentation room for continuing education lectures. VSEC is a 24-hour emergency and specialty veterinary hospital offering board-certified specialists in cardiology, dermatology, emergency and critical care, diagnostic imaging, holistic medicine and acupuncture, internal medicine, medical and radiation oncology, neurology and surgery. This facility replaces VSEC’s current 5,000 square-foot hospital managed by three board-certified veterinary specialists: Robert Orsher, VMD, Diplo. ACVS; Laura Tseng, DVM, Diplo. ACVECC; and Alan Klag, DVM, Diplo. ACVIM. VSEC plans to open a satellite clinic in spring 2012 at a recently purchased property in Philadelphia. VSEC says the two new hospitals will …
Best Clinical Case Report Wins $1,000 PrizeMay 16, 2011 Harrison’s Pet Products is sponsoring the 2011 Clinical Case Report Contest that awards a licensed veterinarian submitting the best case report with a $1,000 prize in addition to a plaque. Entries are required to submit photographic documentation and a brief case description of an animal in which one of the Harrisons’ Pet Products was used alone or in conjunction with other therapies to successfully resolve a disorder. Cases will be judged on medical relevance, case completeness, photo quality before, during and after shots and overall presentation, according to the company. Entry details Close-up digital images must be taken at a resolution high enough for a 4 in. x 3 in. (10 cm x 7.5 cm) image to be printed at 300 dpi (1200 x 900 pixels, or at least 1 megapixel). Images must be saved as individual .jpg, .tif or .psd files. Harrisons’ Pet Products asks that veterinarians submit text as a Word file and describe the case and the images with the history, presumptive diagnosis and other therapies that were used in conjunction with the Harrisons’ Pet Product (including the generic name of drugs, dosages and treatment intervals). Images and text should …
