Merck, AVMF announce 2018 Veterinary Student Innovation AwardsJune 25, 2018Merck Animal Health and the American Veterinary Medical Foundation (AVMF) have announced the winners of the 2018 Veterinary Student Innovation Awards, a new award program designed to recognize graduating seniors at each veterinary school accredited through the American Veterinary Medical Association in the U.S. and Canada. Awards were given to students in good academic standing and who have demonstrated innovation, entrepreneurship, and creativity in developing a project or product that inspires others within the veterinary profession. "At Merck Animal Health, we believe in the science of healthier animals," said Scott Bormann, Merck's North America vice president. "Part of what drives that science is the identification of new challenges and the development of initiatives to address them in our ever-changing industry. We're excited to partner with the AVMF to support these inspiring students." "We are pleased to recognize and support these outstanding veterinary students," said Jan K. Strother, DVM, chair, AVMF board of directors. "Not only have these students displayed entrepreneurial spirit, initiative and creativity, but they are also making a positive difference in their communities and in our veterinary profession." Award recipients include: Carolyn Benedetto, Louisiana State University Amanda Carlson, Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine Meredith Chamberlain, University of Prince Edward Island Caitlin Conner, Texas …
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What veterinary students want mostJune 25, 2018When considering improvements in veterinary students' education, veterinary colleges invariably focus on the subject matter of the veterinary medical curriculum. Everyone possesses some expertise in it and therefore believes he or she knows (arguably) what it should contain. However, to be an effective teacher, other attributes are necessary. Colleges should be giving more attention to the human dimensions of education. Recently, I participated in a study that allowed me to meet a number of current veterinary students and recent graduates and discuss their college experiences. This was not a statistically validated population survey; it was simply a collection of opinions. The results were interesting. Perceptions of the material content of the DVM curriculum and the professional and academic qualifications of the teaching faculty were pleasingly positive. However, respondents expressed concerns about rigid lecture formats, information overload, and the impersonal atmosphere of the classroom. What students wanted was a less homogeneous education that respected and accommodated them as individuals with unique backgrounds, needs, and prior learning experiences. Too often, students are persuaded that medical science is a set of hard facts, every detail of which must be memorized and recalled. However, scientific facts are seldom perfect or permanent; many in …
Texas A&M and Cornell team up for AMR researchJune 25, 2018 Texas A&M and Cornell universities are working together to advance the research of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in veterinary medical education and streamline communications for underrepresented students in the field, reports Texas A&M University College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences (CVM). Funded by a $300,000 federal grant from the United States Department of Agriculture's National Institute of Food and Agriculture, researchers from both institutions will work in tandem to develop and study the impact of a collection of competency-based educational resources on AMR in order to aid veterinary education programs across the U.S. "Antimicrobial resistance poses an increasingly serious threat to global health, and veterinarians must be properly equipped to assume leadership roles in addressing this challenge," said Kevin Cummings, DVM, Ph.D., principal investigator for Cornell University. "Crucial to the success of the AMR mitigation effort is the need to educate a wide variety of stakeholders about proper antimicrobial stewardship in production agriculture." The monies will go toward research focused on the development of multidisciplinary lessons on AMR, as well as the creation of an online platform to share resources with veterinary colleges across the country and increase community for underrepresented student populations regarding career opportunities in …
Banfield named among 50 top community-minded US companiesJune 21, 2018Banfield Pet Hospital has been named an honoree of The Civic 50 by Points of Light, the world's largest organization dedicated to volunteer service. As a recipient for the second year in a row, the award recognizes Banfield, including the work of the Banfield Foundation, as one of the most community-minded companies in the United States. The Civic 50 provides a national standard for superior corporate citizenship and showcases how companies can use their time, skills, and other resources to improve the communities in which they do business. "Points of Light believes that people drive change in addressing society's growing and most profound challenges," said Natalye Paquin, president and CEO, Points of Light. "The business community plays an important role in creating and delivering innovative solutions that drive social good in the communities where they live and work." The Civic 50 honorees are public and private companies with U.S. operations and revenues of $1 billion or more and are selected based on four dimensions of their U.S. community engagement program, including investment, integration, institutionalization, and impact. "Banfield and the Banfield Foundation are committed to making a positive difference in the lives of pets and their owners," said Brian Garish, president of …
MyCatDNA analysis aims to breed healthier catsJune 21, 2018MyCatDNA test, a new feline DNA test from Wisdom Health, a division of Mars Petcare, is designed to help veterinarians and breeders maintain the health and wellness of cats from a genetic level. MyCatDNA test, also known as the Optimal Selection Feline test in North America, provides insight into an individual cat's unique genetic makeup, allowing breeders to make more informed breeding decisions and subsequently lessen the chance of passing down inherent diseases to future generations. "New insights based on genetics, such as mutations linked to health conditions and traits, can transform the lives of cats and their offspring," said Leslie Lyons Ph.D., a professor at the College of Veterinary Medicine at the University of Missouri–Columbia. "Having these discoveries and many other tools readily available to cat owners and breeders on a global scale can only improve the health care of cats and our breeding decisions." The MyCatDNA test develops a comprehensive view of a cat's unique genome, including inherited characteristics. The analysis is able to identify more than 40 genetic mutations that cause inherited feline diseases, as well as traits such as blood type, coat color/length, and body type. Owners can then access online health profiles for their …
OSU kicks off expansion to boost veterinary hospitalJune 21, 2018Oregon State University's (OSU) Carlson College of Veterinary Medicine hosted a groundbreaking ceremony on June 20 to kick off a 21,729-square-foot expansion of Magruder Hall that will improve instructional space and increase services at the small animal hospital. Over the next two years, the college will add a 100-seat lecture hall and two wings to the small animal hospital. One new hospital wing will house oncology, cardiology, and internal medicine; another will house a linear accelerator for a new radiation oncology service. The small animal hospital has treated more than 20,000 animals, primarily cats and dogs, since its opening in 2006. Over the past five years, the hospital's caseload has increased an average of 9.1 percent annually. Adding a linear accelerator for radiation oncology to the hospital's existing chemotherapy services means OSU will be able to provide comprehensive cancer care to patients in one location for the first time. Many owners must currently travel out of state for access to advanced cancer care for their animals. The added lecture hall also helps meet needs of the growing veterinary medicine program, which recently increased enrollment from 56 to 72 students per year. The expansion is supported in part by a …
Study explores predicting canine disease risk through genetic testingJune 21, 2018 Genetic testing can be used to predict if a dog is at risk for developing certain diseases, enabling preventative care for better health, reports a new study by Wisdom Health and Genoscoper Laboratories. Published in PLOS Genetics, the study, "Frequency and distribution of 152 genetic disease variants in over 100,000 mixed breed and purebred dogs," also shows fewer mixed-breed dogs than purebreds are affected by the most common disease-causing mutations tested in the study. "There has been a long-standing perception that mixed-breed dogs are less disease prone than purebred dogs," said Cindy Cole DVM, Ph.D., DACVCP, general manager at Wisdom Health. "This DNA-testing-based evidence shows that while mixed-breed dogs are in fact less likely than purebreds to develop the recessive disorders evaluated in the study, they may still be carriers." The study examined the DNA of more than 100,000 dogs (18,000 purebreds representing 330 breeds, types, and varieties, and 83,000 mixed-breed dogs) for the presence of 152 genetic disease mutations, including: Progressive retinal atrophy (multiple forms) Hyperuricosuria Collie eye anomaly Multidrug sensitivity (MDR1) von Willebrand's disease (multiple forms) Based on the 152 diseases tested: Approximately two out of 100 mixed-breed dogs are at risk of becoming affected; 40 …
Why annual screening for exposure to infected ticks is vitalJune 20, 2018It's important to remember that a single tick can transmit multiple infectious agents that may cause or contribute to serious illness, including kidney disease. And because dogs don't always show clinical signs, it can be challenging to understand the true harm of any given infection to a pet's health. This makes regularly screening of pets—including asymptomatic or seemingly healthy ones—to identify exposure to infected ticks all the more important. Here's a quick look at why regular, comprehensive screening is critical, and what veterinarians can do to help keep dogs healthy. All dogs need to be screened annually for exposure to infected ticks It's quite possible a patient could be fighting an infection without showing any signs of disease. That is why limiting screening to symptomatic pets and those known to have had a tick on them is too restrictive—it will miss infections. All dogs need to be tested, and pet owners need to be reminded that negative results are the goal in order to verify that preventive measures against ticks are working. A new study reinforces the importance of detecting exposure The study, found at idexx.com/ckdstudy, showed two key findings: 1) dogs with Ehrlichia antibodies …
UC Davis Veterinary Hospital launches free public educational seriesJune 20, 2018The University of California, Davis Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital (VMTH) has launched a public educational series of lectures on animal health topics. The series—An Evening with Vet Med—will feature on-campus seminars once a month that are free and open to the public. The lecture series is geared toward both large and small animal owners interested in learning the latest in caring for their four-legged family members. The first three lectures in the series are: Farrier Services: Hoof Care Myths and Truths June 26, 7-8 p.m. Presented by UC Davis farrier Shane Westman The event is free, but you must register. Basic First Aid and Preventative Care for Horses July 24, 7-8 p.m. Presented by UC Davis equine resident Emily Schaefer, DVM The event is free, but you must register. Pet Dental Health Aug. 21, 7-8 p.m. Presented by UC Davis dental hygienist Kimi Kan-Rohrer The event is free, but you must register. "We are so excited to bring this lecture series to animal owners in the community," said Jane Sykes, BVSc (Hons), PhD., DACVIM, VMTH chief veterinary medical officer. "At UC Davis, the health and wellness of our clients' …
KSU conducts first US livestock study with Japanese encephalitis virusJune 20, 2018North American domestic pigs could be susceptible to Japanese encephalitis virus infections, according to a study by Kansas State University (KSU) College of Veterinary Medicine researchers. The study, believed to be the first of its kind in the U.S., was published recently in Scientific Reports. "Collectively, our study demonstrates for the first time that North American domestic pigs can contribute to the Japanese encephalitis virus transmission cycle as amplifying hosts," said So Lee Park, a third-year veterinary student and concurrent doctoral student in pathobiology who was first author of the study. Japanese encephalitis virus is a mosquito-transmitted flavivirus that has human and veterinary health significance. The virus is the leading cause of vaccine-preventable encephalitis in Asia and the western Pacific, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The virus can be maintained in a cycle between mosquitoes and vertebrates, mainly pigs and wading birds. While most human infections are mild, a small percentage of people develop encephalitis. About 1 in 4 cases of Japanese encephalitis are fatal, the CDC stated. The virus in swine can cause encephalitis in piglets and reproductive diseases in mature adult pigs. The KSU study suggests …
