Purina Launches Made-to-Order Dog FoodOctober 31, 2014Nestlé Purina PetCare Co. has put a twist on homemade pet food by allowing dog owners to formulate a recipe online for shipment to their door. The St. Louis-based manufacturer this week entered one of the smallest segments of the $28 billion U.S. pet food market: customized diets. The American Pet Products Association’s most recent survey found that just 3 percent of dog owners purchased specialty food, such as raw or frozen diets, in 2012. The new line, Just Right by Purina, is neither raw nor frozen. Instead, pet owners go to JustRightPetfood.com, answer questions about the animal’s age, breed, weight and other characteristics, choose whether to include soy and grain, and pick a protein source: chicken, lamb or salmon. What emerges through a proprietary algorithm is a customized kibble diet, complete with the dog’s photo and a recipe name printed on the bag. “Every dog is unique and that’s why we believe the best solutions are personalized,” said Brian Lester, the brand’s director of marketing. “By combining a dog owner’s firsthand knowledge of their pet with Purina’s expertise, we can work together to help keep dogs happy and healthy throughout their lives.” Just Right by Purina …
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Farm Accident Couldn’t Keep Indiana Dog DownOctober 24, 2014A run-in with farm equipment nearly cost Charlie her life, but her survival brought national recognition. The Labrador retriever this month won the sixth annual VPI Hambone Award, which Veterinary Pet Insurance Co. hands out for the most unusual insurance claim of the year. After falling under equipment being towed on the family farm, the Indianapolis canine appeared to have suffered no more than cuts to her tail. The next day, when Charlie couldn’t stand, owner Jessica Parsons figured the injuries were much worse. “I was so worried about Charlie, I knew she was in pain,” Parsons said. A veterinarian referred Charlie to the Purdue University Veterinary Teaching Hospital in West Lafayette, Ind., where specialists diagnosed a fractured spine and internal bleeding from a damaged kidney. What followed were surgeries to stabilize her spine and remove the kidney. The medical care and expenses ran into five figures, but Parsons was reimbursed more than $10,400 through her insurance policy with Brea, Calif.-based VPI. Charlie, whose rehabilitation included learning to walk again, was presented with a bronze trophy and a gift bag filled with toys, treats and pet supplies. “I’m incredibly proud of how hard Charlie has fought to recover,” …
Why Teeth Removal is Best When Your Patient Has Feline StomatitisOctober 24, 2014Originally published in the September 2014 issue of Veterinary Practice News Feline stomatitis is an exquisitely painful condition, and it can be a frustrating condition for pet owners and feline caregivers. When I see a stomatitis patient for the first time, I try to set pet owners’ expectations early: stomatitis is a disease that we sometimes control rather than cure. However, with aggressive treatment, cures can be achieved. Gingivitis or Stomatitis? Sometimes it is difficult to discern whether a cat has stomatitis or merely gingivitis. Clinical signs will often be a good indicator, even before you take a look in the mouth. Gingivitis is generally well tolerated by cats. However, cats with stomatitis will show signs of hyporexia progressing to anorexia, preference for canned vs. dry food, crying when yawning or eating, ptyalism and occasionally bloody oral discharge. When trying to distinguish gingivitis from stomatitis, the key is the mucogingival line. Routine gingivitis never extends beyond the gingiva, whereas stomatitis always extends beyond the mucogingival line into the alveolar and buccal mucosa. Inflammation extending beyond the gingiva to the alveolar mucosa is referred to as rostral stomatitis or alveolar mucositis. Cats with stomatitis also often show inflammation lateral to the …
Feline Stomatitis: Medical Therapy for Refractory CasesOctober 22, 2014Originally published in the October 2014 issue of Veterinary Practice News In a previous article, we discussed extractions as the gold standard treatment of feline stomatitis. Even after undergoing extractions, approximately 20 percent of patients will continue to experience clinically relevant signs of oral inflammation. We call these “refractory” cases. The goal of treatment is to reduce or eliminate oral discomfort to a degree where appetite is consistently good and patient body weight is maintained. Attack Plaque Recall that feline stomatitis is often an immune-mediated disease, due to an aberrant response of the immune system toward component(s) of dental plaque, likely bacterial antigens.1 If the patient still has teeth and the owner does not want them extracted, frequent professional dental cleanings (supra- and subgingival) will help to decrease plaque accumulation and inflammation. Daily tooth brushing would help decrease plaque accumulation, but brushing is difficult in stomatitis cats—an understatement!—due to oral pain. Application of plaque retardant substances during professional dental cleanings might be considered to slow the rate of plaque accumulation. Perioperative Medications for Oral Surgery Cases Multimodal pain medication regimens are necessary when embarking on surgical extractions. Premedication with an injectable opioid is a good place to start. Once the …
Grants Given to Fight Canine Epilepsy, HypothyroidismOctober 20, 2014University researchers in the United States, Australia and the Netherlands have been awarded nearly $269,000 to study epilepsy and hypothyroidism in dogs. Two of the grant winners—Ned Patterson, DVM, Ph.D., of the University of Minnesota and Sam Long, MVM, Ph.D., Dipl. ECVN, of the University of Melbourne—will work to understand the underlying mechanisms that predispose dogs to epilepsy and search for new drugs. Drs. Patterson and Long received $104,781 and $116,000, respectively. The money was awarded by the AKC Canine Health Foundation, a Raleigh, N.C., organization that manages research donations from individuals, dog clubs, foundations and corporations. The other grant, valued at $48,195, went to Jan A. Mol, Ph.D., of the University of Utrecht. Mol will investigate three methods that may provide a more accurate diagnosis for hypothyroidism, the foundation reported. The research findings could assist both dogs and people. About 7 in every 1,000 Americans have epilepsy and about 4.6 percent of Americans have hypothyroidism. “By helping our dogs, we potentially unlock better treatments for ourselves as well,” said the foundation’s chief scientific officer, Shila Nordone, MS, Ph.D. The two diseases are among the Canine Health Foundation’s research priorities. Current drug therapies are of little use to about …
American Humane Association Honors 2- and 4-Legged HeroesSeptember 29, 2014An Arizona veterinarian who serves low-income clients and a Texas veterinary technician who co-founded Pug Rescue of Austin were honored Sunday during the expanded Hero Dog Awards in Beverly Hills, Calif. The first-ever Hero Veterinarian and Hero Veterinary Technician awards were presented to Eva DeCozio, DVM, of VCA Apache Junction in Higley, Ariz., and to Signe Corbin, who in addition to her charity work is employed at Westlake Animal Hospital in Austin, Texas. Drug maker Zoetis Inc. of Florham Park, N.J., sponsored the two new awards. Public online voting selected Dr. DeCozio and Corbin from among five finalists in each category. DeCozio is the medical director at VCA Apache Junction and co-founder of the nonprofit group Panacea Animal Wellness Sanctuary. “Never one to turn away a someone if they are unable to pay for their pet’s care, Dr. DeCozio was nominated because of her propensity for helping as many creatures as she can,” according to her profile prepared by the American Humane Association, which organizes the Hero Dog Awards. “The co-founder of the Panacea Animal Wellness Sanctuary, she has brought in hundreds of animals who might have been euthanized in other shelters, treats them and helps adopt them out to new …
NexGard Success Triggers Factory ExpansionSeptember 23, 2014 Merial Ltd. broke ground Monday on the $25 million expansion of a manufacturing plant in Paulinia, Brazil, to support additional production of the new flea and tick medication NexGard. Launched early this year, NexGard (afoxolaner) Chewables rang up $40 million in U.S. sales in the second quarter. That figure represented 9 percent of Merial’s international companion animal business. Merial CEO Carsten Hellmann called the expansion of the Paulinia facility—one of 18 plants worldwide—“an important part of our global business and manufacturing strategy.” “With [NexGard] registrations filed globally, we are significantly expanding our current manufacturing capacity to prepare for demand and growth,” Hellmann said. NexGard is a vegetable-based, meatless chew approved for use in dogs at least 8 weeks old and weighing four pounds or more. The monthly prescription medication is indicated to kill fleas and a variety of ticks. The medication also is sold in Europe and Japan. The expansion is expected to ultimately supply more than 100 countries. The construction should be finished in early 2015, Merial reported. The work includes 21,000 square feet of additional production rooms and new equipment. The Paulinia plant should create 85 jobs, …
Legal Fight Escalates Between Purina, Blue BuffaloSeptember 22, 2014 Pet food giant Nestlé Purina filed additional legal claims last week against Blue Buffalo Co., accusing the competitor of overstating the quality of its LifeSource Bits, cat litter and Jolly Joints dog treats. Blue Buffalo called the allegations a “smear campaign” and challenged the qualifications of an independent scientific expert who examined other Blue Buffalo products. The legal brawl stems from a false-advertising lawsuit filed May 6 by Nestlé Purina Petcare Co., which asserted that a preliminary laboratory report had uncovered poultry byproduct meal and grain in some Blue Buffalo recipes. Blue Buffalo, which filed a countersuit May 14, declares in its advertising and legal responses that the company’s dog and cat foods are free of chicken and poultry byproduct meals, corn, wheat and soy. The Wilton, Conn., company defended its LifeSource Bits, cat litter and dog treats. “Nestlé Purina is attempting to muddy the waters … by adding a list of new unfounded allegations to continue its malicious attack,” said Blue Buffalo founder and chairman Bill Bishop. “With numerous quotes in its press release from its chief marketing officer, Nestlé Purina makes it clear that this entire lawsuit is simply a marketing campaign disguised …
Colorado State Vets Help Ailing Military DogSeptember 22, 2014 A 9-year-old mixed-breed dog that sniffed out bombs during military tours in Iraq and Afghanistan is recovering after heart surgery performed Sept. 16 at the Colorado State University Veterinary Teaching Hospital. Kay, a now-retired war dog, was discovered to have an inoperable heart tumor after he settled down with his U.S. Army handler, Brandon Donahue, in Brighton, Colo. “We could definitely tell he was lethargic and tired, and he wasn’t feeling right,” Donahue said. The former soldier and his wife, Brandi, stopped at Colorado State after sitting through other veterinary consultations that included suggestions of euthanasia. Brandon Donahue knew he had to do more for Kay, who was credited with saving countless American lives overseas. “He put his life in danger, sometimes more than I did,” he said of their military service. “It means the world that we were able to return the favor and help him out.” Publicity about Kay’s condition led to $9,825 in contributions for the dog’s surgery and recovery. Though his cancer is inoperable, a surgical team led by Catriona MacPhail, DVM, Ph.D., Dipl. ACVS, created a 1- by 1-inch hole in the bottom of the heart …
Jaguar Animal Health Has Taste for New DrugsSeptember 18, 2014 A treatment for obesity-related metabolic dysfunction in dogs is the latest proposed product from a fledgling San Francisco drug developer. Jaguar Animal Health Inc., which focuses on gastrointestinal concerns in pets and production animals, reported Wednesday that the company has submitted its eighth Investigational New Animal Drug (INAD) application with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s Center for Veterinary Medicine. The newest candidate would address obesity-related metabolic dysfunction, which in dogs can mean altered lipid profiles, insulin resistance and mild hypertension. “Insulin resistance and metabolic syndrome occurs not just in humans, but also in dogs,” said Serge Martinod, DVM, Ph.D., the company’s chief veterinary officer. “However, while physicians worldwide have a vast array of drugs that have been approved to treat this condition in humans, veterinarians have no approved products available to treat these issues in dogs.” Jaguar stated that the active ingredient in the metabolic drug “is isolated and purified from a plant indigenous to the southwestern United States.” “In traditional medicine, the plant was brewed as a tea and used for the treatment of diabetes and other various illnesses,” the company added. Three other candidates in the Jaguar pipeline …
