West Nile DNA Vaccine Available For HorsesApril 17, 2009 Fort Dodge Animal Health of Overland Park, Kan., has launched a vaccine for horses to aid in the prevention of viremia caused by the West Nile virus. The company, which worked in collaboration with the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, says its West Nile-Innovator DNA is the first DNA vaccine fully licensed by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. The vaccine uses purified DNA plasmids to stimulate an immune response, unlike conventional vaccines that rely on the foreign proteins derived from disease-causing agents. It contains no live or killed viruses, no live vector or viral proteins, and there is no risk of reversion to virulence, according to Fort Dodge Animal Health. The vaccine provides a 12-month duration of immunity after two initial doses, and according to field safety studies of 645 male and female horses of various breeds and ages, it is greater than 99 percent reaction-free. Annual revaccination requires one dose. The product will be sold only to veterinarians, who are required to sign a user compliance agreement indicating they will use the vaccine within their practice if an established veterinarian-client-patient …
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PetMed Express Posts Sharp Profit Growth For 2008April 17, 2009 PetMed Express Inc. of Pompano Beach, Fla., reported its net income increased 39 percent and revenues increased 16 percent for its fiscal year ended March 31. “We are pleased to report high profitability for the year, which can be attributed to our strong reorder growth and our success in leveraging operating expenses,” said Mendo Akdag, PetMed’s chief executive officer and president. “Our focus in fiscal 2009 will be on capturing additional market share and improving reorders and our customer service levels.” Both reorder sales and Internet sales, which are less expensive for the company, outpaced its overall growth for the year. For 2008, the company saw reorder sales increase 22 percent to $134.3 million, about 71 percent of its $188.3 million in overall sales. Internet sales grew 21 percent to $122.5 million (about 65 percent of overall sales). During the year, PetMed acquired 710,000 new customers, up from 681,000 in fiscal 2007. “We have agreed to extend our current lease for our corporate headquarters until 2012 and have added another 15,000 square feet, primarily for the extension of our warehouse and pharmacy operations, in order to support our future growth,” Akdag said. For …
Diamond Recalls Dog Food Due To Cross-ContaminationApril 17, 2009 Diamond Pet Foods of Meta, Mo., recalled some of its 40-pound bags of Nutra Nuggets Lamb Meal and Rice Formula dry dog food because of cross-contamination with melamine-tainted rice-protein concentrate used to make other products at its Lathrop, Calif., facility. Only bags with production codes NLR0404A2SL and NLR0404B2SL with a “best before” date of Oct. 9, 2008, are being recalled. The contaminated product was distributed to retailers in Arizona, California, Nevada, Oregon, Washington and British Columbia, Canada. No other Nutra Nugget products are affected and no dog deaths have been reported at this time, Diamond said. Products can be returned to the store where they were purchased for a full refund. Diamond has also set up an information hotline for pet owners at (866) 214-6945. It is open Monday through Saturday from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. CDT. <HOME>
Dr. Dodman To Teach Canine Aggression Seminar In MaineApril 17, 2009 Happy T犀利士 ails Dog Studio of Portland, Maine, will be hosting a Canine Aggression Seminar—the first in an ongoing series of dog training events with animal behavior professionals—on March 29 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at its Bishop Street training facility. The seminar, open to veterinarians, veterinary technicians, trainers, shelter workers and dog owners, will be taught by Nicholas Dodman, BVMS, Dipl. ACVB, Dipl. ACVA, professor, section head and program director at the Animal Behavior Department of Clinical Sciences at Tufts’ Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine. Dr. Dodman will cover the various types of aggression and respective prevention and management, including fear-based conditions, compulsive behaviors, medical causes and behavioral medications. Continuing education units are available for veterinarians and veterinary technicians. The seminar is being sponsored by Portland-based Planet Dog. The company’s flagship initiative is the Planet Dog Foundation, which receives a percentage of every Planet Dog purchase, including toys, collars and treats. In turn, the money is donated back to nonprofit canine service programs nationwide. Happy Tails Dog Studio also includes daycare, boarding and a day spa. For registration fees and details, visit
Human-Animal Bond Proposals SoughtApril 17, 2009 The American Assn. of Human-Animal Bond Veterinarians and the Waltham Center for Pet Nutrition in the United Kingdom have issued a joint call for research proposals in the area of human-animal interactions. The groups suggest particular interest in the impact of pets on the physical well-being of children, the role of pets in the lives of elders and the impact of culture on the human-animal bond. A grant of up to $20,000 will be awarded. Entry deadline is Sept. 1. Research must be completed within two years of receiving the award. For more information, visit www.aahabv.org. <HOME>
Vivalis And Fort Dodge Reach Vaccine AgreementApril 17, 2009 Vivalis and Fort Dodge Animal Health have signed a commercial license to use the EB66 cell line, derived from duck embryonic stem cells, for the production of several veterinary vaccines. The cell line is a product of Vivalis, a French biopharmaceutical company that provides cell-based solutions to the pharmaceutical industry for the manufacture of vaccines and proteins, and develops drugs for the prevention and treatment of viral diseases. “Vivalis is pleased to enter in this new commercial agreement with one of the major players in this field,” said Frank Grimaud, chief executive officer of Vivalis. “This agreement confirms that our EB66 cell line is a very attractive alternative to embryonated eggs for the industrial production of viral vaccines both for human and animal health.” Steve Chu, DVM, Ph.D., executive vice president of animal health research and development at Fort Dodge Animal Health, said: “This collaboration demonstrates Fort Dodge’s continuous commitment to evaluate and utilize novel technology, which may offer several potential advantages over conventional methods for the development and manufacture of biologics for animal health.” Terms of the agreement were not disclosed. Fort Dodge Animal Health, a division …
Deciphering 13 Surgeon PhrasesApril 17, 2009Surgeons love quotes. In a few words, a good quote summarizes the wisdom accumulated by past generations. Sometimes borrowed from others, sometimes definitely unique, quotes are important to live by in the operating room as long as we all understand that they are tongue in cheek. 1. A chance to cut is a chance to cure Most of us live for surgery. It's pretty simple, really: If a patient has a tumor, cut it out. If a dog has a twisted stomach, untwist it (and pexy it!). If the patient is paralyzed, remove the herniated disc. Surgeons are more open-minded than many credit them for. For example, most surgeons now realize that a perianal fistula is not a surgical condition. Because of its immune-mediated etiology, it often is best treated with drugs such as cyclosporine. Some open wounds heal quickly and cosmetically with simple hydrotherapy. Other wounds respond very well to Epsom salt soaks. Surely, there are other examples of patients who may not benefit from surgery. Our musically inclined readers may be interested in this factoid: "A Chance to Cut Is a Chance to Cure" is an album by a San Francisco duo named Matmos. They apparently added their …
Gene Responsible For Bladder Stones In Dalmatians FoundApril 17, 2009 Researchers at the University of California, Davis School of Veterinary Medicine have identified a gene mutation that causes high levels of uric acid and bladder stones in Dalmatians. Elevated levels of uric acid is a trait found in all Dalmatians; other dog breeds do not usually produce uric acid, according to the university. These high levels can cause bladder stones which often have to be removed surgically. With this finding, dog breeders may be able to eliminate this trait. “This defect, which in dogs is peculiar to the entire Dalmatian breed, has been reported for nearly a century and was probably unintentionally introduced as breeders worked to select more distinctive spotting patterns,” said Danika Bannasch, DVM, Ph.D., lead author on the study. “It is now possible that this trait can be removed from the breed by crossing Dalmatians with the normal offspring of the original Dalmatian-pointer breeding that occurred in the early 1970s,” she said. The Veterinary Genetics Laboratory at the school will begin offering DNA testing for the mutation in dogs by Dec. 1. The discovery will also help scientists better understand the related problem in humans. Elevated …
Morris Leads Effort To Cure Canine CancerApril 17, 2009 Cancer is the No. 1 cause of natural death in canines, a fact that has prompted a $30 million effort to cure canine cancer within a dog’s lifetime—the next 10 to 20 years. The fundraising is being led by the Morris Animal Foundation, which is coordinating research opportunities with a network of global scientists including veterinarians, oncologists, epidemiologists, geneticists and molecular biologists. Scientists are ready and willing to work with each other, says Patricia Olson, DVM, chief executive officer and president of the foundation. Morris Animal Foundation hopes to raise the $30 million between now and April 2012. The monies will fund clinical trials, prevention studies related to genetics and the canine genome, funding of a tumor tissue bank and the establishment of an endowment to guarantee continued research efforts. A clinical trial is already under way involving the evaluation of a new treatment for osteosarcoma in dogs. Other focus studies are still being evaluated by researchers. The initiative is also attracting corporate support, including a $1.1 million donation from Pfizer Animal Health. The money will go toward the Canine Comparative Oncology and Genetics Consortium, which recently launched the Pfizer-CCOGC Biospecimen Repository. Morris and …
Mandatory Spay/Neuter Proposal Revived In ChicagoApril 17, 2009 The dog and cat population is making news in Chicago once again with the resurfacing of a mandatory spay/neuter proposal, which attempts to address the issues that stalled the original bill. In the new proposal, set to be voted on at a committee meeting Thursday, March 12, a $100 fine would be imposed on a third offense for not having a pet spayed or neutered by 6 months of age. The original fine was set at $500. Sponsors of the ordinance say the goal is to prevent attacks by packs of stray dogs and to reduce the dog population in the city’s shelters. Opponents, which include the Illinois State Veterinary Medical Association, maintain that spay/neuter surgery should not be a mandate, and prefer voluntary methods. The new measure, released by Alderman Edward Burke, also would also establish the following guidelines for breeders: • Prohibits the breeding of female dogs and cats more than once a year unless they get special permission. • Bans the sale of puppies and kittens before 8 weeks of age. • Requires breeders to provide veterinary and vaccination records to puppy and kitten purchasers. • Requires that the breeding-permit number be displayed …
