Salmonella found in dog food products sold in NebraskaJanuary 17, 2019The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is alerting pet owners that A+ Answers Straight Beef Formula for Dogs, lot 2018 20/08 20, has tested positive for the bacteria.
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Compounded drugs—A literature updateJanuary 2, 2019In exciting times of new approved drug formulations for animal species, veterinarians face a myriad of challenges when balancing optimal treatment protocols and overall cost burden. Compounded drugs may offer an enticing alternative to an approved animal drug in terms of palatability and cost to the owner; however, the legal status of compounded drugs is often difficult to evaluate.
New AAHA infection control guidelines now availableNovember 12, 2018New guidelines by the American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA) on infection control offer practical standard operating procedures (SOPs) to guide veterinary teams in creating a clean and safe environment to prevent the spread of disease.
New Jersey hospital warns pet owners following Leptospirosis outbreakOctober 29, 2018New Jersey’s NorthStar VETS emergency and specialty hospital has issued a warning for local pet owners following an increase in the number of Leptospirosis cases treated at the hospital and other clinics in the New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania areas.
Remind horse owners to safeguard against rabiesJune 7, 2018According to veterinary research published in the Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association, the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, and the American Horse Council, horses are nearly four times more likely to contract rabies than dogs. Across the U.S., the majority of horses are not vaccinated for rabies and often run a higher risk of exposure than dogs, according to U.S. Department of Agriculture. "Everybody is at risk for developing rabies," said Bonnie R. Rush, DVM, MS, DACVIM, Interim Dean at Kansas State University's College of Veterinary Medicine. "[Horses are] at higher risk for being exposed probably at pasture, but being in a stall does not preclude exposure. The consequences of interacting with a horse that has rabies are significant." Horses can be exposed to rabies most commonly through bats, raccoons, foxes, and skunks. Two examples of public equine rabies cases include the 2008 Missouri State Fair; and the 2006 Tennessee Walking Horse National Celebration, which required the notification of more than 150,000 people for potential rabies exposure. Rabies is the deadliest among the five core equine diseases, which also include Eastern and Western equine encephalomyelitis, tetanus, and West Nile. Horses are continually exposed …
CDC report finds vector-borne diseases on the riseMay 10, 2018According to new data released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), there has been significant increase in instances of vector-borne diseases across the U.S., with reported cases of diseases transmitted through the bites of blood-feeding ticks, mosquitos, and fleas nearly tripling nation-wide over a 13-year span. Ronald Rosenberg, Sc.D., from CDC's National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases in Fort Collins, Colo., and colleagues analyzed data reported to the National Notifiable Diseases Surveillance System pertaining to 16 vector-borne diseases from 2004 to 2016. The findings were tabulated by disease, vector type, location, and year. During this period, a total of 642,602 cases of diseases caused by bacteria, viruses, or parasites transmitted through the bites of mosquitoes, ticks, or fleas were reported to CDC. The report indicates cases of tick-borne bacterial and protozoan diseases more than doubled during this period, jumping from approximately 22,000 in 2004 to more than 48,000 reported cases in 2016, with Lyme disease accounting for 82 percent of cumulative reported tick-borne disease. Additionally, the combined incidence of reported anaplasmosis and ehrlichiosis, which are tick-borne bacterial diseases, rose almost every year, as did spotted fever. Babesiosis, a tick-borne parasitic infection …
K-State research center cumulative gift reaches $1MApril 24, 2018The Kansas State University Center of Excellence for Vector-Borne Diseases, an interdisciplinary research center in the College of Veterinary Medicine, has received a $1 million cumulative gift ($250,000 for each of the last four years) from Abaxis to further its mission of combating vector-borne diseases with a focus on pathogenesis, surveillance, and disease prevention. The Center of Excellence for Vector-Borne Diseases is at the forefront of research on issues influenced by urban areas that continue their encroachment into animal habitats and can become unsuspecting starting points for vector-borne diseases, according to Ken Aron, chief technology officer at Abaxis. "We've identified several projects, including vaccine development to control canine infections with Ehrlichia species, Anaplasma species infections in dogs, and Rickettsia, the Rocky Mountain spotted fever disease agent, also in dogs," said Roman Ganta, Ph.D., professor of diagnostic medicine and pathobiology, and center director. Additionally, Ganta identified a project for developing axenic, or cell-free, media growth of Ehrlichia and Anaplasma species pathogens. The Abaxis gift also provided matching support for a K-State National Bio and Agro-defense Facility transition fund grant focused on vaccine development and a pathogenesis study to prevent heartwater, which is caused by Ehrlichia ruminantium. …
Animal welfare agency tackles rabies in MyanmarApril 20, 2018 Within four weeks of launching its "Don't Wait, Vaccinate" campaign in Myanmar, global animal welfare agency Four Paws International has administered rabies vaccinations to more than 30,000 dogs and cats in 220 villages surrounding Naypyidaw, the country's capital city. The area, which is three times the size of Singapore, is now considered rabies free. The mission is reflective of the World Health Organization's (WHO) goal to eradicate rabies in humans by 2030. According to WHO and the Myanmar Livestock Breeding and Veterinary Department, nearly 62,000 people in Myanmar were bitten by dogs in 2017, with 40 percent of those bitten under the age of 15. Approximately 1,000 of those bites resulted in deaths due to rabies infections. In response to the frequency of the disease, residents and authorities have started mass-killing many of the estimated four million stray and community-owned dogs across the country, especially throughout summer months. "The misconception that dogs are particularly aggressive when it is hot is unfortunately widespread in Myanmar," said Marina Ivanova, DVM, with Four Paws. "Therefore, our task is not only to vaccinate the animals, but also to educate people about …
Salmonella outbreak linked to pet guinea pigsMarch 26, 2018 The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has reported nine cases of Salmonella infection connected to pet guinea pigs across eight states. The illnesses, which resulted in one hospitalization, ranged from July 2015 to Dec. 2017. "This outbreak is a reminder that pet rodents such as guinea pigs, regardless of where they are purchased or adopted, can carry Salmonella bacteria even when they look healthy and clean," states the advisory. States cited in the advisory include Colorado, with two reported cases, as well as Indiana, Iowa, Massachusetts, Michigan, New York, Virginia, and Vermont, with one case each. The outbreak strain of the bacteria was identified in a sample collected from the guinea pig belonging to the patient in Vermont. Illness resulting from exposure to Salmonella usually lasts four to seven days. Those affected usually recover without treatment, but extreme cases of diarrhea and vomiting can lead to hospitalization. Infection is considered most dangerous for children younger than 5, older adults, and people with weakened immune systems. The CDC recommends veterinarians remind clients with pet rodents to enforce good hygiene practices, especially in regard to young children. To read the full report, click
Vital Essentials freeze-dried food recalled due to possible Salmonella contaminationMarch 2, 2018Carnivore Meat Co. is voluntarily recalling Vital Essentials Freeze-Dried Beef Nibblets Entrée for Dogs for possible Salmonella contamination. The affected product was distributed in the continental USA through independent retailers and via online retailers Chewys.com and Amazon.com through direct delivery. Affected products can be identified by comparing the following lot numbers: Vital Essentials Freeze-Dried Beef Nibblets Entrée for Dogs 1-pound bag Lot #13753 No products other than the specific product identified above are subject to this voluntary recall.
