First Canine Flu Vaccine Gets Conditional LicenseJune 23, 2009 Intervet/Schering-Plough Animal Health’s Canine Influenza Vaccine, H3N8, has been granted a conditional product license, allowing its use by veterinarians in the United States. This is the first vaccine against canine influenza virus, the Kenilworth, N.J.-based company reports. The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service granted the permit in late May. During the conditional license period, Intervet/Schering-Plough Animal Health will continue to submit data obtained in support of the product’s performance, which will be evaluated by government regulators to determine whether a regular product license may be issued. The vaccine, made from inactivated virus, has been demonstrated to reduce the incidence and severity of lung lesions, as well as the duration of coughing and viral shedding. It is intended as an aid in the control of disease associated with canine influenza virus infection, a type A, subtype H3N8. The vaccine is administered by subcutaneous injection in two doses, two to four weeks apart. It may be given to dogs 6 weeks of age or older and can be given annually as a component of existing respiratory disease vaccine protocols to ensure more comprehensive protection, according to the company. …
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Winn Feline Foundation And HomeAgain Encourage Cat MicrochippingJune 23, 2009 The Winn Feline Foundation and Intervet/Schering-Plough Animal Health’s HomeAgain Pet Recovery Service have partnered to help lost cats reunite with owners. From now until August, the company will donate $1 toward feline health research for every new cat microchipped and enrolled in HomeAgain. According to the American Association of Feline Practitioners, less than 5 percent of lost cats are reunited with their owners once they are taken into a shelter, largely because there’s no way to determine who they belong to. “No question, microchipping saves lives, ensuring far more lost casts are reunited with their families,” said Susan Little, DVM, Dipl. ABVP, president of the Winn Feline Foundation. “Most cats don’t wear collars, and even for those who do, collars and ID tags may fall off or be removed. Microchipping and enrollment into a national database is the only permanent form of identification.” This is the second consecutive year the foundation and HomeAgain have partnered. Last year, 51,984 cats were microchipped. “I’m absolutely convinced many lives were saved as a result of being microchipped, not to mention the cats that benefited from HomeAgain’s generous donation …
Making Sense Of Hip Dysplasia TreatmentsJune 22, 2009 Canine hip dysplasia is commonly diagnosed, but which surgical treatment to offer can be confusing. Suspicion about hip dysplasia often arises from the history. It classically includes bunny hopping as well as difficulty rising after rest, going upstairs or jumping up. Decreased activity, intermittent lameness and a reluctance to run are other common complaints. Examination of a dysplastic dog may include pain on hip extension along with a decreased range of motion, atrophy of thigh muscles and weight shifting to the front legs. Hip pain is basically due to joint laxity in young dogs and to degenerative changes in older dogs. Confirmation of hip dysplasia requires quality hip radiographs, which should be done under heavy sedation or general anesthesia to achieve proper positioning. X-rays taken on an awake patient may lead to an erroneous diagnosis. An 18-month-old male Borzoi suffering from moderate hip dysplasia. He is a good candidate for a triple pelvic osteotomy. We will not discuss which X-ray technique (PennHip vs. OFA vs. other methods) is better. It is not the purpose of this column. It is, however, important to remember that there is no correlation between the severity of …
Respect And Accept: A Look At Grief With The Veterinary ClientJune 22, 2009 Death and dying are uncomfortable subjects. For some, it stirs up painful memories of past losses. For others, it is a reminder of our mortality or the mortality of those we love. As we tend to the animals in our care, we will lose patients to death despite our best efforts. Often at these times, we are exposed to the emotions of the families who have loved them. For some, there are dramatic outbursts; for others, emotions will be put on hold for private moments. As different as people are, so are their reactions. No right or wrong. We must respect and accept the fact that we all grieve and express grief in our own way and in our own time, and we must be there to support our clients through this time. Often, we’re uncomfortable with client reactions. No one likes seeing someone sad and crying, and we fumble, sometimes, in an attempt to make them feel better. Recognize, first of all, that it’s not possible to make them feel better at that time. With that in mind, there are some things you can do and some things that shouldn't be done during those times of …
FDA Seeks Comment On Reportable Food Registry DocumentJune 19, 2009 The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is seeking input on a document created to assist the food industry in complying with new requirements that pertain to the reporting of adulterated food. The Reportable Food Registry (RFR) requires a responsible party to file a report through an FDA Internet portal when there is reason to believe that an adulterated food will cause serious adverse health consequences or death to humans and animals. The FDA’s “draft guidance,” provides questions and answers pertaining to the registry. The RFR applies to all FDA-regulated categories of food, including pet food. Only infant formula and dietary supplements are exempt from RFR requirements. “Responsible party” is defined as the person who submits the registration information to FDA for a food facility that manufacturers, processes, packs or holds food for human or animal consumption in the United States. Federal, state and local government officials would also be able to use the portal to report information that may come to them about such foods. The establishment of the registry is mandated in the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Amendments Act of 2007. The Congressional intent for the RFR, …
California Legislators To Consider Bill On Limiting Ownership Of Intact Dogs And CatsJune 18, 2009 California legislators are poised to hear a measure that seeks to limit the number of intact dogs and cats a person may own. The state Assembly recently approved the bill, and the Senate Committee on Public Safety is scheduled to hear the proposal on June 23. Assembly Bill 241 would prohibit any person from having more than a combined total of 50 unsterilized dogs and cats that are kept for breeding or raised for sale as pets. Those in possession of more than that would have to spay or neuter the excess animals or sell, transfer or relinquish the animals within 30 days. If necessary, any euthanasia procedures would have to be performed by a licensed veterinarian or other qualified person as pursuant to regulations adopted by the Veterinary Medical Board. AB 241 authorizes a peace officer, humane officer or animal control officer to take possession of any animal that is kept in violation. Violators would be guilty of a misdemeanor. The Pet Industry Joint Advisory Council (PIJAC) has issued an alert stating that AB 241 would impose an “irrational ban on the possession of dogs and cats irrespective of the quality of care provided to …
ChemNutra Pleads Guilty To Two Of 27 Charges In Melamine CaseJune 17, 2009 ChemNutra Inc., a Las Vegas-based ingredients broker, pleaded guilty on June 16 to federal charges of distributing tainted wheat gluten that led to the mass pet food recalls of 2007. ChemNutra and its owners, Sally Qing Miller and her husband, Stephen Miller, each pleaded guilty to one count of selling adulterated food and one count of selling misbranded food. They were originally charged with 13 misdemeanor counts of introduction of adulterated food into interstate commerce, 13 misdemeanor counts of introduction of misbranded food into interstate commerce and one felony count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud. Sentencing hearings for ChemNutra and the Millers have not yet been scheduled. Under federal statutes, the Millers are each subject to a sentence of up to two years in federal prison without parole, plus a fine of up to $200,000 and restitution. ChemNutra is subject to a fine of up to $400,000 and restitution. Attorneys representing the defendants said in a joint statement that the Millers, ChemNutra and the government have agreed that probation and a fine were an appropriate sentence for the strict liability misdemeanors. “The Millers and ChemNutra look forward to putting both this case and …
AAHA Helping Pets Fund Resumes Grants After $25,000 DonationJune 16, 2009The American Animal Hospital Association Foundation’s Helping Pets Fund recently received a $25,000 donation from Veterinary Pet Insurance, allowing the fou犀利士 ndation to resume grant funding immediately. The AAHA Foundation temporarily suspended grants in April because the increased number of pets helped this fiscal year had depleted funds. “We are very excited and appreciative for this wonderful gift,” said John Albers, DVM, executive director of AAHA. “By supporting the AAHA Helping Pets Fund, VPI is helping change, and many times save the lives of companion animals that otherwise wouldn’t receive help.” The Helping Pets Fund helps those in need access veterinary care for their sick or injured pets. The foundation awards grants supporting veterinary care for pets that have been abandoned or whose owners are experiencing financial hardship. Since its inception in 2005, the AAHA Helping Pets Fund has awarded more than $800,000 in grants to help more than 3,000 pets. Veterinary Pet Insurance is based in Brea, Calif. <HOME>
CAPC Takes Education Road Show Out WestJune 15, 2009 The second annual Companion Animal Parasite Council Education Road Show is set to take place June 27 to July 11, making eight stops in four states: Colorado, California, Oregon and Washington. The nonprofit group is touring the West in a 33-foot RV and will provide free public events. Parasitologists and veterinarians will educate pet owners and families about zoonotic diseases and how to prevent them. Parasites are a growing problem in the West, according to the CAPC. “There are parasites and zoonotic disease, sometimes a higher-than-expected incidence, in every Western city on our Road Show schedule,” said Michael Paul, DVM, executive director of the CAPC. “Parasites can be found in all 50 states, every day of the year, regardless of the weather.” Heartworm and other common parasitic diseases were virtually non-existent in the West 50 years ago, according to the CAPC. However, the changing landscape and influx of people from different parts of the country help these diseases spread more rapidly. Many people relocating to the West bring dogs and cats that have parasites, the CAPC said. The CAPC recommends that pet owners use preventive medicine year-round to control internal and …
Vesicular Stomatitis Confirmed In TexasJune 12, 2009 An electron micrograph depicts VSV, the virus responsible for vesicular stomatitis (VS) in horses, cattle and pigs. Courtesy of US Department of Health and Human Services. The Texas Animal Health Commission reported June 12 that vesicular stomatitis, a sporadically occurring virus that is endemic to the United States, has been detected in a horse in Starr County, Texas. This is the nation’s first case of VS for 2009. The last outbreak was in 2006 where 17 horses and a dozen cattle on 13 premises within Wyoming were confirmed to have the virus. Signs of the disease include blisters, lesions and sloughing of the skin on the muzzles, tongue, teats and above the hooves of susceptible livestock, including horses, cattle, sheep, pigs, deer and some other species of animals. Sand flies and black flies are thought to play a role in the virus transmission. “To prevent the spread or introduction of infection, many states and countries will place additional entry requirements or restrictions on the movement of animals from affected states, or portions of the state,” said Bob Hillman, DVM, Texas’ state veterinarian and head of the TAHC. “Call the …
