California Bill Would Make Adoption Fees Tax-DeductibleApril 17, 2009 A new bill to allow individuals and families to deduct the cost of adopting pets from local government facilities and charitable organizations has been set to be heard before the California Assembly Revenue and Tax Committee on Monday, April 20. California Assembly Bill 233, as introduced, would allow for taxable years beginning on or after Jan. 1, 2010, and before Jan. 1, 2015, a deduction under that law for the adoption fees paid during the taxable year by taxpayers for pet adoption from a qualified animal-rescue organization. A “qualified animal-rescue organization” means any city, county, or city and county animal-control agency or shelter, or an animal-adoption organization that is exempt from taxation under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, the bill states. This measure seeks to curb the amount spent annually by local governments in dealing with abandoned cats and dogs, which is estimated at $100 million. The deduction allowed may not exceed $300, the bill states. AB 233, introduced by assemblyman Cameron Smyth, R-Santa Clarita, would take effect immediately as a tax levy. <HOME>
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AVMA House Of Delegates To Mull ResolutionsApril 17, 2009 The American Veterinary Medical Assn.'s House of Delegates will deliberate 16 resolutions July 19 as it concludes its now biannual session in New Orleans. The group decided not to consider a 17th resolution submitted by the New Jersey Veterinary Medical Assn. that would have had the AVMA encourage the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to withdraw approvals of "all non-therapeutic uses of antimicrobials in food animals for growth promotion and feed efficiency" due to concerns of resistance. The resolution was submitted after the 60-day prior notice requirement, so it was subject to a two-thirds floor approval to consider at this session. Slightly more than 50 percent of delegates favored consideration of the resolution, short of the needed two-thirds. An 18th resolution, submitted by four food-animal practice associations to counter the New Jersey resolution, was subsequently withdrawn. Among the resolutions to be considered on Saturday are measures to eliminate the position of vice president of the AVMA, to increase the AVMA's involvement with veterinary students, to develop a model certificate of veterinary inspection for domestic travel of companion animals, to encourage the FDA's Center for Veterinary Medicine to "strictly enforce its rules prohibiting drug compounding that …
Fort Dodge Recalls Proheart 6April 17, 2009 Fort Dodge Animal Health of Overland Park, Kan., will voluntarily comply with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration Center for Veterinary Medicine’s request to temporarily cease production and recall ProHeart 6 from the market until the FDA’s questions regarding safety are resolved. The FDA is advising veterinarians to avoid administering this product to dogs until further notice. The FDA is also convening an independent scientific advisory committee to evaluate available data, a move Fort Dodge is supporting. “While Fort Dodge Animal Health is cooperating with FDA’s request for a recall, we have concerns about how the agency interpreted these complex data,” the company said via a formal statement distributed late Friday afternoon. “As such, the company fully supports the initiation of this review process and will work closely with FDA to provide any necessary information for the panel to make a fair and accurate assessment of these data. We look forward to working with the panel and remain confident in the safety and efficacy of ProHeart 6.” Fort Dodge reported that the data indicates that the incidence of disease and death seen with the use of ProHeart 6 is at or below what would be …
Dealing With Issues Of Children At The PracticeApril 17, 2009 The American Assn. of Human-Animal Bond Veterinarians presented a daylong symposium, "Conundrums with Kids, K-9's and Kats at the Klinic," at January's North American Veterinary Conference in Orlando, Fla. I served as facilitator for the panel discussion at the end of the day. Here are some highlights. Relationships Merry Crimi, DVM, former American Animal Hospital Assn. president and current Delta Society board member, identified many issues that veterinarians encounter with children at the veterinary practice. Dr. Crimi cited these issues: handling childrens' normal curiosities; safety issues in the clinic; handling children's behavioral problems; pet selection for success and handling poor choices for pets; discussing a pet's illness with children; separation of children from their pets for hospitalization; families surrendering a problem pet (due to allergies, behavior, moving, etc.); death of a pet; euthanasia; and pet replacement. She emphasized that the skills used to handle these conundrums affect the health of every practice, in terms of client and staff retention, stress management, career satisfaction, client compliance and the bottom line. Interaction Karen L. Overall, VMD, Ph.D., Dipl. ACVB, from the University of Pennsylvania's Center for Neurobiology and Behavior, presented the second session. …
AHS Survey Defines Heartworm Research PrioritiesApril 2, 2009The American Heartworm Society released the results of its first stakeholder survey, designed to identify the top priorities for researchers to take on. Some 495 veterinarians, scientists, industry representatives, shelter directors and animal rescue organizations ranked the importance of topics, including: The biology of Dirofilaria immitis and its vectors. The impact of climate change on transmission. Reservoirs of infection. Epidemiology of infections in different species. Issues regarding pet owner compliance. The highest-ranking priorities in veterinary practice included treatment of feline infection, feline diagnostics, treatment of canine infection and owner compliance with preventive administration. For scientists, the highest priorities included canine preventives, treatment of feline infection and feline diagnostics. Treatment of canine infection was one of the highest priorities among those who had experience in animal shelters, followed by owner compliance with preventive administration and canine preventives. Those with experience in academics or education ranked canine epidemiology as one of the highest priorities, followed by vectors of transmission and reservoirs of infection. From an industry perspective, the highest priorities were canine preventives, owner compliance with preventive administration and feline preventives. "Even though heartworm disease is an ancient threat to our companion animals, there are still critical issues that …
AKC Awards Imulan Atopic Dermatitis GrantApril 1, 2009Imulan BioTherapeutics LLC of Prescott, Ariz., received a grant from the American Kennel Club Canine Health Foundation to develop a diagnostic method for canine atopic dermatitis. The grant is based on Imulan's T-Cell Receptor peptide technology platform, the same platform being used to develop a therapeutic vaccine for canine atopic dermatitis. "We are grateful to the American Kennel Club for its research support for diseases like atopic dermatitis," said Daniel Gingerich, DVM, chief scientific officer of Imulan. "This project will examine immunological markers in blood to try and better identify patients with atopic dermatitis. If successful, Imulan's atopic dermatitis diagnostic could be available from Imulan's reference laboratory early next year." Canine atopic dermatitis affects up to 5 percent of the dog population, according to Imulan. Clinical signs include itching and an increase in topical skin infections such as staphylococcal pyoderma. <HOME>
ACVS Certifies 65 Veterinary Surgery SpecialistsMarch 17, 2009The American College of Veterinary Surgeons has board-certified 65 veterinary surgery specialists. "Successfully completing the certifying examination of the American College of Veterinary Surgeons is a personal and professional accomplishment by these former residents," said Larry Bramlage, chairman of the ACVS Board of Regents. "We, as an organization, and I personally wish to congratulate these new diplomates on the culmination of their training, the mastery of the certifying examination. I wish them all a rewarding and fruitful career as a specialist in veterinary surgery." Some 1,403 veterinary surgeons are board-certified. Almost 65 percent of ACVS diplomates are small-animal surgeons and the rest are large-animal surgeons. The 65 veterinary surgery specialists are: Name Location Nicole S. Amato, DVM Roslindale, Mass. Jonathan D. Anderson, BVM&S Davis, Calif. Jonathan R. Anderson, DVM Pittsburgh, Pa. Gregory A. Arnold, DVM Plano, Texas Nicholas J. Bacon, VetMB, MRCVS Gainesville, Fla. Jason Balara, DVM Charlotte, N.C. William J. Banz, DVM San Leandro, Calif. Britany Benson-Timberlake, DVM Delavan, Wis. Mary Sarah Bergh, DVM Madison, Wis. John M. Bevan, DVM Austin, Texas Catherine Briere, DVM Duxbury, Mass. Charles W. Bruce, DVM Manotick, Ontario Evita Busschers, DVM, MVR Kennett Square, Pa. …
Alaska Canine Cookies Pulls TreatsMarch 12, 2009The nationwide peanut butter recall has prompted another maker of dog treats to pull its product from shelves. Alaska Canine Cookies of Anchorage, Alaska said it is recalling Peanut Butter, Power Bone and Carrot Cake flavors of Canine Cookies. These products were made with peanuts recalled by Peanut Corporation of America (PCA), and have the potential to be tainted with Salmonella, the company said March 10. Salmonella can affect pets and there is risk to humans from handling contaminated pet food. The company informed customers about the recall on its website, including information on the symptoms of Salmonella, which include some or all of the following: nausea, vomiting, diarrhea or bloody diarrhea, abdominal cramping and fever. Rarely, Salmonella can result in more serious ailments, including arterial infections, endocarditis, arthritis, muscle pain, eye irritation and urinary tract symptoms. People can get Salmonella if they do not thoroughly wash their hands following contact with tainted pet food or any surfaces exposed to the product. Pets with Salmonella may be lethargic and have diarrhea or bloody diarrhea, fever, and vomiting. Some will have only decreased appetite, fever and abdominal pain. Infected but otherwise healthy pets can be …
Animal Network Sites Launch Video ContestMarch 9, 2009Lumina Media, parent of VeterinaryPracticeNews.com, has launched a monthly interactive public service announcement video contest designed to highlight pet-care topics and promote responsible pet ownership. "This is a fun and creative way for devoted pet owners to help educate others on serious pet -care issues," said Melissa Kauffman, editorial director for Lumina Media. "Our website users are amazing and we strongly believe that all of us working together will make a better world for our pets." Lumina Media will provide scripts on pet care topics, including nutrition, summer safety and disaster preparedness, on several of its AnimalNetwork.com species-specific websites: www.dogchannel.com, www.catchannel.com, www.birdchannel.com, www.reptilechannel.com, www.horsechannel.com and www.smallanimalchannel.com. Visitors will use the scripts to create PSA videos on the monthly topic. For example, the initial contest will highlight Pet Appreciation Week, June 7-13. The deadline for uploading videos to the respective sites will be May 15. One winner from all the sites will be selected each month and named the Editor's Choice PSA. The submitter will receive 1,000 points for the respective online club (dog, cat, bird, etc.) to apply toward redeemable gifts and merchandise. Winners …
American Health Kennels Inc. Issues RecallFebruary 23, 2009American Health Kennels Inc., a manufacturer of pet treats based in Pompano Beach, Fla., issued a voluntary recall of its baked dog treats as a result of the expanded recall by the Peanut Corporation of America's (PCA) Blakely, Georgia plant. The manufacturer said no reports of illness have been received. "We are effecting this recall in the interest of public safety even though we know our product is safe," American Health Kennels said in a statement. PCA's Blakely facility is the subject of an ongoing U.S. Food and Drug Administration probe into potential Salmonella contamination of peanut paste and other peanut products. The recall includes the following items made by American Health Kennels: American Health Kennels Inc., Cookie Bars: Creamy Peanut Butter UPC 725999522004; PB & Carob Chips UPC 725999523001; Lucious Carob UPC 725999521007; 4 pack Cookiebar Assortment UPC 725999538005; Best Before: 11/09 . American Health Kennels Inc., Peanut Butter Crunch 12oz UPC 725999001103; 16oz UPC 725999161104; Best Before: 11/09 . American Health Kennels Inc. Bark Bars Peanut Butter: 1.5oz Jumbo UPC 725999000168; 2.25 Pillow Pack UPC 725999333105; 2.5lb canister UPC 725999005064; 5lb bulk UPC 725999001257; 6oz …
