Marley, Enzo And Fern Enrich Our LivesApril 17, 2009 Have you seen the movie “Marley and Me” or read the book “The Art of Racing in the Rain” by Garth Stein? I had the pleasure of digesting both of these entertainments in the same week! They are best sellers and mainstream America is witnessing the human-animal bond on the Big Screen big-time. Each took its audience to find puppy love. Training (or the lack of it) was part of each story. Marley was incorrigible. Enzo, the canine narrator of “Racing in the Rain,” was the ultimate philosopher dog who educated himself by watching TV. Enzo felt genetically shortchanged without prehensile thumbs and a small, facile tongue, which would have made speech possible for him. In fact, Enzo felt that if dogs had thumbs and quality tongues, they would be fit to physically challenge the world better than humans. Many of Enzo’s observations reveal the author’s wit, humor, insight, brilliance, emotion and an uncanny understanding of dogs and life in general. Enzo knew that his gift of olfaction was superior to most medical diagnostic equipment because he could smell the cancer in his mistress long before anyone knew it was there. But he did not …
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Antioxidants Plus Chemo Yield SynergyApril 17, 2009 Do you look forward to that end-of-day glass of red wine, like I do? Do you seek out those medical articles that support the notion that a glass of red wine, in moderation, protects the heart, reduces obesity, prevents cancer and minimizes the effects of global warming? (OK, I found the latter one on a blog.) While there is great discussion about whether we should drink a glass of red wine versus a glass of grape juice, what is not debatable are the health benefits of their antioxidants. However, there is an explosion of products on the market that seek to improve the health and well being of people using nutritional supplements. More and more often, pet owners are seeking the same products to complement or serve as an alternative to traditional forms of cancer therapy. There is concern among oncologists that antioxidants may reduce oxidizing free radicals created by radiotherapy and some forms of chemotherapy, thereby decreasing the effectiveness of the therapy. Maximizing Cell Damage Dietary and endogenous antioxidants prevent cellular damage by reacting with and eliminating oxidizing free radicals. However, in cancer treatment, a mode of action of certain chemotherapeutic …
Recall Still Weighs On P&G FinancialsApril 17, 2009 Procter & Gamble Co. reported that its pet care sales volume for its third quarter ended March 31 were down from the year-ago period by “low-single digits due to continued impacts from the voluntary wet pet food recall.” Overall, the company’s snacks, coffee and pet care business unit saw volume sales climb 4 percent, largely due to new Pringles products and a Dunkin’ Donuts license agreement on the coffee side. Despite that, sales in its snacks, coffee and pet care business unit increased 11 percent to $1.2 billion for the quarter. Net earnings for the unit for the quarter were down 9 percent to $105 million, primarily due to a Hurricane Katrina insurance payment received in the year-ago period. Year-to-date, the unit has seen net earnings decline 2 percent to $345 million and sales increase 7 percent to $3.6 billion. Overall, P&G posted net income of $2.7 billion on sales of $20.5 billion for the quarter and net income of $9.1 billion on sales of $62.2 billion year-to-date. Procter & Gamble, whose brands include Iams and Eukanuba, also increased its quarterly dividend 14 percent to 40 cents per share, effective May 15. …
Eukanuba Adds Breed-Specific FoodsApril 17, 2009 Eukanuba, Procter & Gamble’s pet-care brand, has relaunched its premium dog food line. The company also launched a line of breed-specific formulas. The breed-specific formulas include Eukanuba Labrador Retriever Formula, which is designed for healthy joints, weight and overall health. The formula contains glucosamine and chondroitin sulfate and L-carnitine. The company said the food is also good for the flat-coated, curly coated and Chesapeake Bay retrievers. The Yorkshire Terrier Formula contains copper and zinc for skin and coat care. It is also meant for long-coated toy dogs such as the shih tzu, Maltese, toy poodle, Pekingese, Havanese and lhaso apso. The German Shepherd Formula contains FOS (fructooligosaccharides) to help support the breed’s digestive system, a blend of fiber, glucosamine and chondroitin sulfate. The company said the food is also ideal for the Belgian Malinois, Belgian sheepdog and Belgian Tervuren. The Boxer Formula contains beta carotene for the immune system. It also contains L-carnitine and antioxidants such as vitamin E. The company said the formula is also good for the Rottweiler and Doberman. The Eukanuba Dachsund Formula is designed to help support a Dachshund’s healthy back and contains glucosamine and chondroitin sulfate. The food …
San Francisco SPCA Begins Building New CenterApril 17, 2009 The San Francisco Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals celebrated the groundbreaking of its new Leanne B. Roberts Animal Care Center in October. Features of the 60,000 square-foot facility will include 17 consulting and examination rooms, an in-room computer system, two surgery rooms, a main treatment complex, an intensive care ward, a surgery suite for spay/neuter operations and multiple isolation wards. In addition, the $29.9 million center will be environmentally friendly and built with energy-efficient components. And for every tree that is used to create the facility, another tree will be planted. The bulk of the funding came from a $13 million gift from Leanne B. Roberts, a longtime member of the San Francisco SPCA Board of Directors. A capital campaign has been launched to help raise additional money to complete construction. The center is expected to be finished by early 2009. <HOME> Posted November 21, 2007, 9:12 a.m., EST
New Initiative Aims To Combat Vet Shortage In PennsylvaniaApril 17, 2009 The Pennsylvania Veterinary Medical Assn. has launched an initiative designed to increase the number of veterinary students who go into and stay in underserved areas of the veterinary profession. Project Pennsylvania would establish a targeted loan forgiveness program which helps take off a portion of debt for each year a newly graduated veterinarian remains in the underserved region or sector. The program would also target recruitment of students interested in these areas and on-the-job mentoring for new graduates. “Pennsylvania has a shortage of large-animal veterinarians in certain geographic regions, as well as a shortage of practitioners in less traditional areas such as biomedical research, public health, regulatory medicine and academia,” said Robert Fetterman, VMD, the association’s president and large animal practitioner. “Using loan forgiveness as an incentive to fill these voids is an investment in the state’s agricultural industry, as well as in food safety and even national security.” A Project Pennsylvania coalition will be established. It will educate the public and policymakers on the issue and will also develop industry partnerships and advocate for legislative initiatives. Organizations that are already lending support are the University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine, PennAg …
Hill's Pledges $1 Million To AVMAApril 17, 2009 Hill's Pet Nutrition has presented the American Veterinary Medical Association with a $1 million grant. Over the next five years, the money will be used to support continuing education at the AVMA's annual convention. Hill's, based in Topeka, Kan., is a platinum sponsor for the convention and will be designated as title sponsor for the opening general session. The company will also continue to fund the educational program for technicians, the Dr. Jack L. Mara Seminars in Veterinary Technology, and will assist in designing the convention's program. <HOME>
Pedigree Recall List UpdatedApril 17, 2009 Because of potential Salmonella contamination, Mars Petcare U.S. of Nashville, Tenn., is voluntarily recalling 100 20-pound bags of Pedigree Complete Nutrition Small Crunchy Bites sold in Albertsons stores in Southern California and Las Vegas. It is also voluntarily recalling a limited number of 52-pound bags of Pedigree Complete Nutrition Small Crunchy Bites sold in Costco stores in Northern California and Nevada. Costco has notified all of its customers in these areas directly. Last week, a component that should have been on hold because of positive testing results was inadvertently shipped to the company’s Tracy, Calif., facility and used in the production of a limited number of bags with best-by dates of 7/2009. Although the finished product tested negative for Salmonella and there have been no reports of illness or injury resulting from consumption or handling of the recalled product, the company said it is taking an “abundance of caution” in issuing the voluntary recall. Mars Petcare also said it is cooperating with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Pet owners are advised to dispose of the product in a safe manner, such as a securely covered trash receptacle, and return the empty bag to …
Senate Approves Veterinary Public Health Workforce Expansion ActApril 17, 2009 The U.S. Senate recently approved the Veterinary Public Health Workforce Expansion Act, legislation that has been a high priority for the Assn. of American Veterinary Medical Colleges for several years. The act, sponsored by Sen. Wayne Allard (R-CO), authorizes a competitive grants program to increase capacity in the nation’s veterinary medical colleges and alleviate the shortage of veterinarians. “The Veterinary Public Health Workforce Expansion Act will allow us to increase our educational capacity for veterinary students, respond to the national need for veterinarians in public health sectors and provide services to our rural communities,” said Timothy Boosinger, DVM, dean of the College of Veterinary Medicine at Auburn University and president of the AAVMC. The legislation now goes to the Education and Labor Committee in the U.S. House of Representatives.
Pets Best Announces Partnership With AVMA GHLIT, AetnaApril 17, 2009The American Veterinary Medical Assn. Group Health and Life Insurance Trust, AVMA GHLIT, and Pets Best Insurance of Boise, Id., today announced an exclusive relationship to educate veterinarians and consumers about pet insurance. As part of the new partnership, Aetna's general insurance subsidiary, AICC, will be the new underwriter for the Pets Best Insurance plan. The companies see the partnership as a way to benefit veterinary patients, clients and clinics and help direct the growth of the pet insurance industry in this country, while ensuring that veterinarians retain the freedom to practice as they see fit. "We know today that the veterinary profession must be a leading component of providing information and education to our clients about pet insurance," said Gary R. Holfinger, DVM, chairman of the board of trustees of AVMA GHLIT. "Working exclusively with Pets Best Insurance and Aetna, we feel certain to deliver a trusted pet insurance product for pet owners and our members." The announcement was made during a luncheon at AVMA's annual convention in New Orleans. "The leadership shown today to make pet insurance a central component of the veterinarian-client relationship is very gratifying," said Jack Stephens, DVM, president and founder of …
