Dog and cat behavior myths debunkedFebruary 9, 2018Veterinary behavior is a relatively new specialty in our profession. Unfortunately, as such, plenty of old wives tales persist. As veterinarians and veterinary nurses, we critically evaluate and use evidenced-based medicine for our patients on a daily basis, and this should apply to behavior and training, as well.
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Focused Ultrasound Foundation launches veterinary programNovember 16, 2017 The Focused Ultrasound Foundation in Charlottesville, Va., has launched a veterinary program to study focused ultrasound therapies for the treatment of animals. The initiative enables veterinary researchers to test state-of-the-art therapies in their patients, while collecting data necessary to accelerate the adoption of the technology for human applications, according to the foundation. "Veterinary medicine can lag behind human medicine, leaving veterinarians frustrated with the lack of options for their patients," said Kelsie Timbie, Ph.D., program director. "Our goal with this program is to create a win-win scenario for all involved. Veterinarians will have new, innovative therapies to offer clients, and insights gained in dogs and cats will help inform clinical trial design in humans." The goal of the research program is to offer a variety of benefits over traditional therapies in animals, including faster recovery times, a reduced risk of infection, and no aggravating stitches to chew. Focused ultrasound is an effective way to treat inaccessible areas, as well as incompletely treated or recurrent tumors, according to the foundation. The first study in this program will take place in early 2018 at the Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine (VMCVM) at Virginia Tech …
UA researchers get $4.8 million to develop valley fever vaccineSeptember 6, 2017The University of Arizona's (UA) efforts to prevent valley fever in dogs received a boost in the way of a $4.8 million, four-year grant from the National Institutes of Health, providing the funding necessary to get the disease's delta-CPS1 vaccine to market, according to John Galgiani, MD, director of the UA Valley Fever Center for Excellence and principal investigator of the NIH grant. The vaccine, which could hit the market as soon as five years from now, will be developed for dogs first, but the end goal is to use it in humans, as well, according to Dr. Galgiani. There is currently no prevention or cure for valley fever, which is potentially deadly in both humans and dogs. Every year, an estimated 30,000 people and 60,000 dogs in Arizona get sick from valley fever, also known as coccidioidomycosis, according to UA. The cocci fungus that causes the disease is found mainly in dusty areas of Arizona and California, and it contributed to the deaths of 54 people in Arizona last year, state officials said. Treatment for valley fever is expensive: $4 to $6 per-day meds, blood tests, and additional …
Tufts researchers find first genomic biomarkers in extracellular vesiclesJuly 27, 2017Important biomarkers have been found in extracellular vesicles in dogs with myxomatous mitral valve disease (MMVD) and congestive heart failure, according to researchers at Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine at Tufts University in Grafton, Mass.
Canine degenerative myelopathy test moves toward trialJuly 27, 2017Similarities between dogs and people are well studied, so it’s unsurprising that researchers discovered a test used to diagnose amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) in people is applicable to identifying degenerative myelopathy (DM) in dogs.
Dog noses as a diagnostic copilot?July 14, 2017It's no secret that dogs, through the wonders of their noses, can identify several types of cancers, including prostrate, breast, colon, lung, thyroid and ovarian cancers, and melanoma.
Nationwide study shows short-nosed dogs are less healthyMarch 14, 2017It is no secret that brachycephalic dogs have a host of specific health issues, but a new study shows that they also are more susceptible to a range of ailments common to all dogs.
Drug to treat canine lymphoma gets FDA approvalJanuary 3, 2017VetDC, Inc., a veterinary cancer therapeutics company, today announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s Center for Veterinary Medicine has granted a conditional approval of Tanovea™-CA1 (rabacfosadine for injection) for the treatment of lymphoma in dogs.
Pennsylvania researchers unveil similarities in canine, human blinding diseaseSeptember 8, 2016A group of researchers from various departments within the University of Pennsylvania recently reported that the disease course of Leber congenital amaurosis (LCA) in canines and humans share remarkable similarities.
Michigan State to study canine thyroid diseaseSeptember 6, 2016Two professors from Michigan State University recently received funding from the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals to study thyroid disease in dogs. Specifically, the study will focus on dogs with elevated thyroglobulin autoantibodies (TgAA) as a marker for early stage autoimmune thyroiditis (AIT).
