Toxic Ingredient Might Have Been Added As Protein Source, FDA SaysApril 17, 2009newslineToxic Ingredient Might Have Been Added as Protein SourceToxic Ingredient Might Have Been Added as Protein SourceThe toxic ingredient suspected of contaminating millions of containers of pet food might have been put there intentionally, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration said today.The toxic ingredient suspected of contaminating millions of containers of pet food might have been put there intentionally, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration said today. The toxic ingredient suspected of contaminating millions of containers of pet food might have been put there intentionally, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration said today. Melamine found in wheat gluten and rice protein concentrate imported from China could have been used to "artificially increase protein content," said Stephen Sundlof, DVM, director of the FDA's Center for Veterinary Medicine. It's just a theory at this point, but the FDA is investigating all options, he said. At this point, however, China has not allowed FDA inspectors into the plants suspected of supplying the contaminated products. When the pet food recall was initiated in March, the FDA's investigation focused on wheat gluten imported from China that was tainted with melamine, but earlier this week the government agency found melamine in a rice protein concentrate …
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SmartPak Joins Dog FoodApril 17, 2009newslineSmartPak Joins Dog Food SmartPak Joins Dog Food SmartPak Joins Dog Food Adding to the ever-expanding pet food recall, SmartPak of Plymouth, Mass., recalled one of its dog food products, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration announced today. The company said it was recalling a single production run of LiveSmart Weight Management Chicken and Brown Rice dog food because it contained rice protein concentrate supplied by Wilbur-Ellis. Earlier in the week, the FDA said it found melamine, a chemical implicated in the death of 16 cats and dogs and potentially many more, in rice protein concentrate imported from China by San Francisco-based Wilbur-Ellis. SmartPak, which sells directly to consumers through its website, said it had notified every pet owner by both phone and e-mail of its recall. Less than 1,200 pounds of the food had left its facility, SmartPak said.The company does not use rice protein concentrate in any of its other LiveSmart formulas, it said. Of the five pet food manufacturers that received rice protein concentrate from Wilbur-Ellis, only one remains unidentified. Natural Balance, Royal Canin and Blue Buffalo all recalled pet food products related to the Chinese rice protein earlier this week. Today the …
Studies Show Need For Increased Awareness Of Parasite PreventionApril 17, 2009newslineParasite Prevention AwarenessParasite Prevention AwarenessSurveys confirm that heartworm and intestinal parasites remain prevalent across the U.S. Surveys confirm that heartworm and intestinal parasites remain prevalent across the U.S. Studies Show Need for Increased Awareness of Parasite Prevention Three surveys conducted over the past year confirm that heartworm and intestinal parasites remain prevalent across the U.S., highlighting the need for improved pet owner awareness of prevention alternatives, according to Novartis Animal Health U.S. Inc. of Greensboro, N.C. Novartis Animal Health is encouraging veterinarians and their staff to educate clients on the health risks that parasites pose to pets and families, and to promote compliance with year-round parasite preventives. Novartis Animal Health said that the three surveys—two conducted by the company and one by the Louisiana State University School of Veterinary Medicine—show that parasite prevalence is high and compliance with preventives is low. Novartis Animal Health's survey of more than 1,000 veterinary clinics in 11 Western U.S. states found that heartworm is in fact an issue in that area of the country. Forty-nine percent of the responding clinics reported heartworm positive cases, totaling more than 2,300 incidents of heartworm in pets in 2005. LSU's School of Veterinary Medicine's study on dogs rescued …
Shearer Named Hartz Veterinarian Of The YearApril 17, 2009newsline Monday, February 16, 2004 Hartz Mountain Corp. named Tami Shearer, DVM, of Columbus, Ohio, winner of its 2003 Veterinarian of the Year award. The award was one of several presented at Dog World magazine's 49th Show Dogs of the Year Awards ceremony, presented by Nature's Recipe the night before the Westminster Kennel Club dog show. Dog World and Veterinary Practice News are both published by BowTie, Inc. "What we at Hartz wanted to do is find unique veterinarians who celebrate the human-animal bond," said Hartz's Chief Scientific Officer Albert Ahn, DVM. "We're fortunate to have selected Dr. Shearer. She is truly, the complete, compassionate veterinarian as evidence by her academia, her publishing and by her own outreach programs in her community." Shearer, who received her veterinary degree in 1985 from the Ohio State University College of Veterinary Medicine, is the owner of the Shearer Pet Hospital and founder of the Pet Hospice and Education Center— one of only 100 pet hospices in the country. "There are so many veterinarians who work small miracles every day and I feel so honored that I was chosen," Shearer said. Nominated by one of her clients, Shearer …
Research Predicts Continued Animal-Health Market GrowthApril 17, 2009newsline September 29-October 3, 2003 Fireflies might prove a fatal snack to exotic reptiles, according to a health alert released by the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals' Animal Poison Control Center (APCC). Veterinarians should alert pet owners and advise them to take steps to prevent both the intentional or accidental ingestion of these common insects, the center reported. Based on a handful of reports from reptile owners, symptoms of poisoning quickly follow a lizard's ingestion of fireflies. These symptoms include head shaking, oral gaping, unsuccessful attempts at regurgitation and a darkening in color. The symptoms usually appear within 30 minutes of ingestion, and death might follow within the hour. Death is thought to be a result of heart malfunction. "A single firefly would have a very high probability of resulting in death," says Dr. Steve Hansen, board-certified veterinary toxicologist and director of the APCC. The warning is being issued to amphibian and bird owners as well. In addition to the lizard cases, fatal poisonings in tree frogs have been documented. In another instance, a bird that ingested a firefly …
Third Inconclusive BSE Test ReportedApril 17, 2009newsline November 18, 2004Another inconclusive result for bovine spongiform encephalopathy in a cow was reported from a rapid screening test this morning, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service. "The inconclusive result does not mean we have found another case of BSE in this country," said Andrea Morgan, APHIS associate deputy administrator. "Inconclusive results are a normal component of screening tests, which are designed to be extremely sensitive so they will detect any sample that could possibly be positive." Tissue samples have been sent to the USDA's Veterinary Services Laboratories, and results are expected back within four to seven days. This is the third inconclusive result reported this year. The previous two, reported in July, were confirmed negative for BSE. Since the first two tests, however, the USDA has changed its reporting procedures for inconclusive tests. That this result has been announced means the sample tested inconclusive twice. The first two reports had been tested once prior to the announcement of the results, reported Morgan during a question-and-answer session this morning. 11-18-2004Third Inconclusive BSE Test ReportedThird Inconclusive BSE Test ReportedThird Inconclusive BSE Test ReportedThird Inconclusive BSE Test ReportedThird Inconclusive BSE Test ReportedAnother …
Sensible Supplements For ImmunonutritionApril 17, 2009oncologyoutlook By Alice Villalobos, DVM For Veterinary Practice News Highly metastatic cancers can kill their victims despite a timely and complete excision of the primary tumor. This aggressive biologic behavior results from the early dissemination of scout cells into the lymphatic and circulatory system before detection of the primary tumor. Mom Dog was given a poor prognosis following splenectomy and liver lobectomy for a bleeding hemangiosarcoma. Her owners were using a combination of supplements that added up to 51 items. Photo Courtesy of Dr. Villalobos These abnormal aggressive scout cells acquire an immortal nature, survive the body's immunosurveillance and are able to develop into new clones of cells that accumulate into metastatic tumors. The new metastatic clones are often more resistant than the primary tumor because of the hardiness of their progenitor scout cells. It would be ideal if there were a safe way to fortify high-risk breeds, aging pets and post-operative cancer patients against cancer. It seems obvious to me and to others in research and clinical medicine that people and animals can, and do, benefit from immunonutrition and/or chemoprevention. I started using anticancer supplements for my patients …
ProMeris Flap Is Over 1 Case, Fort Dodge ReportsApril 17, 2009 Fort Dodge Animal Health of Overland Park, Kan., reports that, despite widespread e-mails claiming that its topical flea and tick product ProMeris caused adverse reactions in seven dogs, the report is isolated to one case. The company statement was posted at www.promeris.com. “Based on the high number of e-mail forwards and Internet postings, it may appear there are multiple adverse events being reported,” the statement reads. “However, based on our research, it appears that all of this online activity stems from a single case.” Fort Dodge was contacted April 11 by a veterinarian reporting an adverse reaction involving six Siberian huskies and one mixed-breed, all of which live in the same household. The report states that the dogs exhibited vomiting, lethargy, pruritis and behavior change several hours after administration . Fort Dodge says it is working with the veterinarian to collect all relevant information. Since the product’s introduction to the market late last year, the company says, the most common adverse event reported is lethargy, which can occur if a dog ingests the product. “We suspect that the dogs ingested the product by licking each other after application,” says Tom …
Florida Vet Center Opens Outpatient Imaging CenterApril 17, 2009 University of Florida Veterinary Medical Center will open a new outpatient imaging center on today. GatorVetImaging will give private and specialty practice veterinarians access to the center’s magnetic resonance imaging and computer tomography without the need to refer cases through the center’s traditional clinical services. “GatorVetImaging brings the best medical technology of the VMC directly to practitioners,” said Matthew Winter, DVM, head of the center’s radiology service. “We envision this as a way to assist the veterinary community in handling their more challenging and involved cases within the context of their established client/patient relationships.” To schedule an appointment, call 352-273-8585 or email gvi@vetmed.ufl.edu. <HOME>
Wedgewood To Exchange Expired MedsApril 17, 2009 Veterinarians can return custom-compounded medications for exchange at no cost through Wedgewood Pharmacy’s new Refresh exchange program. Through the program, the company will exchange unopened, expired compounded veterinary medications that are in its regular formulary, including those prepared by other compounding pharmacies. Exceptions include controlled substances and oncology-related medications. “In July, we surveyed our veterinarian prescribers; 77 percent of them said that containing costs is a very important issue for them,” said George Malmberg, R.Ph., president and chief executive officer of Wedgewood Pharmacy, based in Swedesboro, N.J. “When we asked how we could help them with this issue, they said, ‘Do something about the short shelf-life of compounded medications.’ We listened and developed the Refresh exchange program in response.” Click here for details. <HOME>
