Oregon Confirms First Salmonella Case In DogApril 17, 2009 Oregon Public Health officials confirmed that the national outbreak of Salmonella linked to tainted peanut butter products also affects pets. After laboratory testing, Salmonella was identified in a dog from a Douglas County household, according to the state's department of human services. Dog biscuits in the household were also found to be contaminated with the bacteria. They contain peanut butter that comes from the Peanut Corporation of America, the Blakely, Ga., plant linked to five human deaths and nearly 600 illnesses. "The dog biscuits were on the list of products recalled several weeks ago," Dr. Emilio DeBess, Oregon State Public Health veterinarian, said in a statement. The positive test results came from a package of Happy Tails Multi-Flavor Dog Biscuits sold at an Albertsons in Roseburg. DeBess said this case should serve as a reminder that pet owners need to check not only their own food, but their pet food and treats as well. "If the products contain any peanut butter ingredients, you should check the FDA's website or contact the manufacturer or the store where they were purchased to see if they are on the recall list," he …
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Preferred Pet Care Makes Offer To Purchase 8 California PracticesApril 17, 2009 Preferred Pet Care Inc. on Dec. 22 offered Pet DRx Corp. $8 million to acquire eight veterinary practices in Coachella Valley, Calif. Pet DRx Corp., which was formed from the merger of XLNT Veterinary Care and ECHO Healthcare in January 2008, provides veterinary primary care and specialized services to companion animals through a network of fully-owned veterinary hospitals. The Brentwood, Tenn.-based company currently owns and operates 24 veterinary hospitals in California. Preferred Pet Care of San Clemente, Calif., was formed in mid 2007 and has since acquired and operated veterinary practices in the California market. <HOME>
Morris Fund To Study Behavior ProblemsApril 17, 2009 To help advance the science and knowledge of behavior in companion animals, Morris Animal Foundation has established the R.K. Anderson Animal Behavior Research Endowment Fund. The fund is named for Robert K. Anderson, DVM, Dipl. ACVB, a veterinarian who has dedicated his life to the development of the fields of animal behavior, human animal bond, veterinary epidemiology and preventive medicine. Each year millions of pets are relinquished to shelters because of preventable behavior-related problems, according to MAF. “Unwanted behavior is the No. 1 reason for fracture of the human animal bond and our relationships with our pets, resulting in millions of dogs and cats losing their homes each year,” Dr. Anderson said. “Sadly, many are euthanized. We can’t fix it without data. And we need to do the research to supply the data.” MAF said that the endowment will fund research targeting prevention and improvement of pet behavior problems, improving safety and the quality of life for humans as well. Anderson, who was a colleague of MAF’s founder Mark Morris Sr., DVM, and a professor and mentor of MAF’s current president and chief executive officer Patricia Olson, DVM, contributed the initial $100,000 to the …
Del Monte Sells Veterinary Diets To Royal CaninApril 17, 2009 Del Monte Foods Company of San Francisco, Calif., has sold all its rights in the IVD and Medi-Cal pet product brands as well as its rights in the Techni-Cal brand in the United States and Canada, to Royal Canin for $82.5 million. Under the agreement, which as of press time was pending regulatory approval, Del Monte and its subsidiaries will manufacture certain products and perform certain services for Royal Canin during a transition period. "These brands should be well-positioned for future growth with Royal Canin," said Richard G. Wolford, Del Monte chairman and chief executive officer. "They are not, however, a strategic fit with the plans we have defined and are implementing with our core pet portfolio. We expect that our core pet products business will play a key role in Del Monte's future growth and, to date, we are quite pleased with the progress we are realizing with this business." The brands sold to Royal Canin, which are veterinary diet pet foods, generated approximately $57 million in fiscal 2003 for Del Monte. Del Monte expects to apply approximately $60 to $65 million of net proceeds to pay down debt outstanding under its senior credit facilities. …
Dog Fighting Now A Felony In All 50 StatesApril 17, 2009 On March 4, Wyoming Gov .Dave Freudenthal signed legislation that increased the penalty for participating in dog fighting from a misdemeanor to a felony, making Wyoming the 50th state in the country to do so. Idaho passed similar legislation just a week earlier. “For many years, the American Veterinary Medical Association has recommended that animal fighting be considered a felony offense in this country, giving it the legal classification and punishment that a blood sport of this sort deserves,” said Adrian Hochstadt, assistant director of State Legislative and Regulatory Affairs at AVMA. “The AVMA condemns any and all events involving animals in which injury or death is intended, and we encourage veterinarians to collaborate with law enforcement with respect to recognition, enforcement and education about dog fighting. Together, we can help break down the criminal networks that perpetrate these violent crimes against animals.” Posted March 13, 2008, 1:45 p.m., EST <HOME>
Commission Releases Recommendations For Pet Food SafetyApril 17, 2009 The National Pet Food Commission, which was founded by the Pet Food Institute at the height of the recall that embroiled more than 100 brands of pet food last spring, recently outlined its recommendations, which will be presented to the Food and Drug Administration, the Association of American Feed Control Officials, veterinarians and the pet food industry as a whole. The commission “was comprised of recognized authorities in nutrition, toxicology, veterinary medicine and quality control,” according to the Washington, D.C.-based Pet Food Institute. The two groups are in the process of developing a plan to implement these recommendations, which can be found below. The recommendations are split into two categories: one specifically designed as an action plan for the Pet Food Institute and a second set aimed at pet food manufacturers. List of recommendations as they appear on the Pet Food Institute’s website: National Pet Food Commission Recommendations Recommendations to Pet Food Institute Develop a model product safety/quality assurance program, based upon industry best practices, that addresses ingredient sourcing (domestic and international) and receiving; product manufacturing and co-manufacturing; labeling; transportation; and distribution of commercial pet food.
Kentucky Proposes Live Fish Transportation PermitApril 17, 2009 In its efforts to prevent the introduction of viral hemorrhagic septicemia into state waters, the Kentucky Department of Fish & Wildlife Resources has proposed a permit system for transporting live fish, fish eggs, live bait and other aquatic organizations into, within or through the state, the Pet Industry Joint Advisory Council reported. The department will be holding a public hearing in Frankfort, Ky., on the proposed regulation on Oct. 21 and will accept written comments through Oct. 31, 2008. People wishing to attend the hearing must notify the department at least five days ahead of the hearing date, as the hearing might be canceled if no one is interested in attending. Click here for more information on the hearing and proposal. Although the proposed regulation exempts individuals transporting aquarium species, it does not specifically exempt businesses or organizations transporting such species. The regulation defines aquarium species as “species of fish that are legally sold in the pet and ornamental trade business and does not include fish used in aquaculture, the bait industry or fish sold for stocking in Kentucky.” VHS, a reportable disease, has a high mortality rate and …
Supplements Can Ease CDSApril 17, 2009 1. Head E. and Zicker S.C. “Nutraceuticals, aging, and cognitive dysfunction.” Vet Clin Small Anim. 2004; 34:217-228. 2. Dodd C.E., et al. “Can a fortified food affect the behavioral manifestations of age-related cognitive decline in dogs?” Veterinary Medicine. 2003; 98(5):396-408. 3. Robinson N.G. Based on the author’s and pain medicine colleagues’ experience in the Colorado State University Center for Comparative and Integrative Pain Medicine, 2006-present. 4. Landsberg G. “Therapeutic options for cognitive decline in senior pets.” J Am Anim Hosp Assn. 2006; 42:407-413. 5. U.S. Marketing Research Summary, “Omnibus Study on Aging Pets, November 2000”; Hill’s Pet Nutrition, Topeka, Kan. 6. Hill’s Pet Nutrition website. Article obtained on Nov. 24, 2008. Click here to access article. 7. Head E. and Zicker S.C. “Nutraceuticals, aging, and cognitive dysfunction.” Vet Clin Small Anim. 2004; 34:217-228. 8. Ruehl W.W., et al. “L-Deprenyl therapy for canine cognitive dysfunction. Kirk’s current veterinary therapy XIII: small animal practice.” Philadelphia: W.B. Saunders, 2000, p.53-57. 9. Rème C.A., et al. “Effect of S-adenosylmethionine tablets on the reduction of age-related mental decline in dogs: a double-blinded, placebo-controlled trial.” Veterinary Therapeutics. 2008; 9(2):69-82. 10. Osella M.C., et al. …
Successful Allergy Management Hinges On Awareness, Proper ProtocolsApril 17, 2009 For veterinarians and pet owners alike, few conditions in pets are as frustrating as allergies. But as awareness of the challenges associated with allergies continues to increase—as do the number of treatment options available—veterinarians are finding greater success in diagnosing and managing allergic pets. The list of allergies most commonly seen in dogs and cats has remained relatively constant over the years. “These allergies are to things they come in direct contact with, such as pollens, mites, fleas and molds,” says Dena Ware, a marketing manager for Heska Corp. “Additionally, they can have adverse reactions to foods they eat, which causes them to exhibit the same signs as contact allergens. “Until fairly recently, it was commonly believed that atopic disease is caused by allergens inhaled by the animal, but now it is understood that the allergens are absorbed into the animal’s skin,” Ware says. Some emerging allergic trends are evident. For example, Ware notes that the incidence of adverse reactions to foods has increased as the number of pet food choices has grown. Lowell Ackerman, DVM, Dipl. ACVD, a clinical professor in the dermatology and allergy service at Tufts University Cummings School of Veterinary …
Take Steps Toward Quality DentistryApril 17, 2009 A plethora of articles about feline dentistry have been written in the last 15 years. Unfortunately, the data have not been disseminated well to those in general, ER and strictly feline specialty practices throughout the United States. So this month's column will concentrate on basic products and equipment to perform excellent feline oral care. There is a major overlap, obviously, between feline and canine dentistry equipment. Equipment knowledge has been the No. 1 request from practitioners across the United States who write to me at DonDeForge@aol.com. The discussion initiated here will be continued on my website, www.TheVetDent.com, in the education center. There is no fee to become registered within this CE online, which is linked to the VPN columns. For the record, I am an independent clinical investigator and am not employed or contracted to any companies mentioned in this column. No practice can complete a detailed feline diagnostic exam without oral radiology. The general practice should put away the idea of using its whole body general X-ray unit for oral X-rays. Dental X-ray units are reasonably priced and should be in every veterinary hospital. Because …
