Illinois Holds Hearing On Tail Docking, Ear Cropping RestrictionsApril 17, 2009 The Illinois Senate Agriculture & Conservation Committee held a hearing on March 10 concerning SB 139, which limits the practices of tail docking and ear cropping in the state. Results of the hearing were not available at press time. The bill amends the Humane Care for Animals Act and considers ear cropping and tail docking “animal torture” unless the procedures are performed by an Illinois licensed veterinarian for a medical reason. Torture, as defined in the bill, means the infliction of or subjection to extreme physical pain, motivated by an intent to increase or prolong the pain, suffering or agony of the animal. A person convicted of violation would be guilty of a Class 3 felony. The American Kennel Club posted a news alert March 10 encouraging dog owners and breeders to contact their state legislators to oppose the measure. The AKC said it “recognizes that ear cropping, tail docking and dewclaw removal, as described in certain breed standards, are acceptable practices integral to defining and preserving breed character and/or enhancing good health. Appropriate veterinary care should be provided.” <HOME>
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Ducks Could Pose Avian Flu ThreatApril 17, 2009 Domestic ducks may be a silent reservoir for H5N1 avian influenza virus and be playing a greater role in the spread of the disease than previously thought, three international health organizations reported today. A laboratory sudy of domestic ducks infected with several strains of H5N1 virus isolated in 2004, compared with infections caused by viruses from 2003, showed that domestic ducks were shedding the virus for longer periods and without showing signs of illness, the Food and Animal Organization of the United Nations, the World Health Organization and the World Organization for Animal Health (OIE) reported in a joint statement. The study found the quantities of virus shed by healthy-looking ducks appoached thoses shed by visibly diseased chickens. The finding follows previous evidence that the virus has become more virulent in chickens and mice and is now infecting mammals, notably domestic cats and tigers, that had not been previously considered susceptible, the organizations reported. The agencies called for research to determine how widespread avian flu is in ducks and to determine the effectiveness of existing vaccines on duck populations. The agencies also said health officials in affected countries, primarily Asia, should consider exposure to ducks …
VCA Antech Sees Same-Store Revenue Grow 1.4%April 17, 2009 VCA Antech Inc.’s animal hospital division recently reported revenue of $253.25 million for its third quarter ended Sept. 30, compared to revenue of $229.41 million in the year-ago period. This represents a 10.4 percent increase, driven primarily by acquisitions, including seven animal hospitals with combined annual revenue of almost $12 million. Same-store revenue grew 1.4 percent in the third quarter. Year to date, the division reported revenue of $730.35 million, compared to revenue of $635.05 million in the year-ago period. Year to date, the company acquired 43 animal hospitals with combined annual revenue of more than $87 million. The laboratory division reported revenue of $77.07 million for its third quarter, compared to $74.27 million in the year-ago period. Year to date, the division reported revenue of $235.63 million, compared to revenue of $227.07 million in the year-ago period. The medical technology division reported revenue of $12.55 million for its third quarter, compared to revenue of $11.09 million in the year-ago period. Year to date, the division reported revenue of $38.23 million, compared to revenue of $32.9 million in the year-ago period. Overall, Los Angeles-based VCA Antech reported net income of $35.77 …
New Program Provides Immunization Support GuaranteeApril 17, 2009 Pfizer Animal Health has implemented an Immunization Support Guarantee program that gives veterinarians financial protection in the event of an immunization failure. The program covers diagnostic and treatment costs up to $5,000 if a dog or cat vaccinated with a Pfizer antigen contracts the corresponding disease. It includes coverage for up to four years on core antigens and up to one year on most non-core antigens. “While no manufacturer can guarantee exactly how a pet will respond to a vaccine, our company can guarantee how we will support you, your clients and your patients, should the need arise,” said Amy Trettien, DVM, manager, veterinary operations, Pfizer Animal Health. The immunization support guarantee includes the following pathogens for up to four years: • Canine distemper virus • Canine parvovirus • Canine adenovirus 1 & 2 (infectious canine hepatitis) • Canine parainfluenza virus • Feline parvovirus (feline panleukopenia) • Feline herpesvirus-1 • Feline calicivirus The pathogens that are covered for up to one year include: • Leptospira (L. icterohemorrhagiae, L. canicola, L. grippotyphosa, L. pomona) • Bordetella bronchiseptica • Canine coronavirus • Chlamydia psittaci (chlamydophila felis) • Feline leukemia virus Pfizer said it is not proposing …
Vets Mull Microchip Privacy IssuesApril 17, 2009 Legislative body of veterinarians to consider resolution at national conference.The American Veterinary Medical Association’s House of Delegates, the professional organization’s legislative body, will decide on Saturday whether the group should formally oppose the use of microchip registration databases for marketing purposes while endorsing their use strictly for reuniting animals and their owners. Veterinarians favoring such a statement are concerned that if companies mined the databases for marketing purposes, pet owners would be less likely to register microchips and decrease their effectiveness in reunited pets and their owners. The veterinarians expect registrations would decline even if pet owners were given the opportunity to opt in (or out) of possible marketing efforts. Another concern is that microchip database information could give an unfair advantage to companies with access to those databases. On the other hand, database-based marketing and advertising campaigns could help offset costs of maintaining such databases, potentially reducing fees for pet owners. At issue is not the use of microchips for identification purposes, but strictly the use of databases for other purposes. If adopted, the resolution would be symbolic only. The House of Delegates meets annually in conjunction with the AVMA’s annual convention. …
Pet Spending Topped $43 Billion In 2008April 17, 2009 Despite the recession and cuts in discretionary spending, the pet industry is robust and resilient, according to the American Pet Products Association. APPA’s latest pet industry spending figures show that total pet spending reached $43.2 billion in 2008, with no declines in any category from 2007. APPA forecasts that it won’t stop there either, estimating that total pet spending for 2009 will reach $45.4 billion. APPA released the data Feb. 13 at Global Pet Expo in Orlando, Fla. Leading the way in the health care-related pet spending categories is veterinary care. Total spending in this segment in 2008 was $11.1 billion. Medical advances have made for a much broader and more elaborate menu of services, such as cat scans, root canals, cancer surgery, antibiotics and grief counseling. This leads to an anticipated 9.9 percent growth in this category to $12.2 billion in 2009. With the added costs of pet health care comes an increase in pet insurance, currently estimated at $271 million and projected to grow to $500 million by 2012. Pet services is the next fastest growing category. This includes grooming, boarding, training and pet …
Virginia Tech Schedules Equine Health Lecture SeriesApril 17, 2009Virginia Tech's Marion DuPont Scott Equine Medical Center will hold its "Tuesday Talks" on Nov. 27, Jan. 15, Feb. 19 and March 11. The lecture series is open to veterinarians, horse owners and other horse professionals. The schedule is as follows: Nov. 27 – "Detecting and Treating Lameness," by Nat White, DVM, Dipl. ACVS, Jean Ellen Shehan professor and director, Marion DuPont Scott Equine Medical Center, Leesburg, Va. Jan. 15 – "Red Eye in the Morning, Horse Owner's Warning: Equine Eye Care," by David Hodgson, BVSc, Ph.D., Dipl. ACVIM, department head Large Animal Clinical Sciences, Virginia-Maryland Regional College of Veterinary Medicine, Blacksburg, Va. Feb. 19 – "Stem Cell Therapy for Musculoskeletal Injury," by Jennifer Barrett, DVM, Ph.D., assistant professor of Equine Surgery, Marion DuPont Scott Equine Medical Center, Leesburg, Va. March 11 – "The New Equine Medicine," by Doug Byars, DVM, Dipl. ACVIM, ACVECC, Byars Equine Advisory, Georgetown, Ky. The lectures are free and will be held at 7 p.m. in the equine medical center's library. Seating is limited and pre-registration is required. For details, call 703-771-6843 or click here. <HOME>
New Campaign Focuses On Equine Dental HealthApril 17, 2009The American Assn. of Equine Practitioners has launched its "Chew on This" campaign to educate horse owners about the importance of annual dental examinations. To help veterinarians incorporate the campaign in their practice, AAEP has developed several campaign materials, which can be downloaded at www.aaep.org/dentistry_campaign.htm. Materials include a complimentary package of the Bayer client education brochure on dental care and a countertop brochure display for the practice; a client education article—"Learn to Recognize Your Horse's Dental Problems"—for reprint in a newsletter or website; a campaign logo; a campaign advertisement; and a dental care PowerPoint presentation, which provides an overview of the horse's mouth, preventative dental care and how to address dental problems. During April, the AAEP's "Ask the Vet" feature on www.aaep.org will focus on equine dentistry. Lynn Caldwell, DVM, and Elizabeth Schilling, DVM, of the Equine Dentistry Committee will answer questions from horse owners about dental health. The campaign will run through this year. <HOME>
Full Moon May Bring In More ER VisitsApril 17, 2009 There may be a possible link between an increase in emergency room visits for dogs and cats during days when the moon is at or near its fullest, according to researchers at Colorado State University’s College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences. The data, compiled from 10 years of almost 12,000 case histories of dogs and cats treated at the university’s Veterinary Medical Center, indicates that the risk of emergencies on fuller moon days was 23 percent greater in cats and 28 percent greater in dogs when compared with other days. The types of emergencies ranged from cardiac arrest to epileptic seizures and trauma, and the increase was most pronounced during the moon’s three fullest stages—waxing gibbous, full and waning gibbous. This is the first time the lunar cycle’s relationship to emergency veterinary medicine has been studied, said Raegan Wells, DVM, an emergency and critical care medicine resident in the Department of Clinical Sciences at the university. “While the results of our retrospective study indicate that there is an increased likelihood of emergency room visits on the days surrounding a full moon, it is difficult to interpret the clinical significance of these findings,” Dr. Wells …
Breadfarm Inc. Recalls Peanut Butter Dog TreatsApril 17, 2009The possibility of health risks has prompted another dog treat recall, this time by Breadfarm Inc., of Bow, Wash. The company is recalling Valencia Peanut Butter, Peanut Butter-Chocolate Chip Cookies, Sirius Dog Treats and Wonder Bars purchased between January 2007 and October of 2008. These treats have the potential to be contaminated with Salmonella, the company said in a statement released early this week. The products were made using peanuts recalled by Peanut Corporation of America (PCA), the company linked to a nationwide recall of more than 2,000 peanut butter products because of Salmonella contamination. Salmonella bacteria can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in pets, children, frail or elderly people, as well as others with weak immune systems. A healthy person infected with Salmonella often experiences fever, diarrhea (which may be bloody), nausea, vomiting and abdominal pain. In rare cases, infection can result in the organism getting into the bloodstream and causing more severe illnesses such as arterial infections and arthritis. The Valencia Peanut Butter, Peanut Butter-Chocolate Chip Cookies, Sirius Dog Treats and Wonder Bars were sold in Washington State at the Bellingham, Mount Vernon, and Everett farmers markets and at the …
