Survey: Majority of pet owners unprepared for upcoming disasterMay 11, 2018Banfield Pet Hospital revealed in a recent survey that 91 percent of pet owners are unprepared for the next natural disaster. In advance of hurricane season and in honor of the Federal Emergency Management Agency's National Animal Disaster Preparedness Day on May 12, the Banfield Foundation has kicked off a disaster preparedness campaign to help pet owners prepare for the unexpected. From May 10 through September 30, for every donation of $45 or more made at BanfieldFoundation.org/kit, the Banfield Foundation will thank donors with a pre-assembled pet disaster preparedness kit—and donate a kit to vulnerable pet owners in select high-risk states, up to 1,000 kits. The kits feature a waterproof bag that includes a blanket, treats, stress-relief products, water and food calculation charts, tips and checklists to help keep pets cared for in the event of a natural disaster, and more. All donations will support the Banfield Foundation's Disaster Relief Grant program, which aids nonprofit animal organizations and local communities impacted by natural disasters. Texas A&M joins the cause In 2017, the Banfield Foundation provided a disaster relief grant to Texas A&M University's Veterinary Emergency Team (TAMUVET)—the nation's largest and most-deployed veterinary emergency response unit—to …
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Portland, Ore., veterinarian wins My Vet's the BestMay 11, 2018Joshua Elliot, DVM, a board certified Small Animal Veterinary Internal Medicine Specialist at Sunstone Veterinary Specialists in Portland, Ore., is the grand-prize winner of Pets Best Insurance Services' 2017 My Vet's the Best contest. The win came after Elliot was selected as a finalist by pet owners on Pets Best's Facebook page and an internal review of a panel of veterinary professionals. As part of his prize, Elliot received $1,000 from Pets Best to help and treat animals in need in his community. He has used a portion of his winnings to help a homeless family's dog fight cancer and intends to use the remaining money to give back in a similar circumstance, he said. "It really meant a lot to me to be nominated," he said. "It's always nice to get positive feedback and be appreciated. I love being able to help furry family members and it's always nice to hear back when things go well." Pets Best has recognized outstanding veterinarians through its My Vet's the Best Contest since 2010. "This is our seventh year hosting the nationwide contest honoring and recognizing the exceptional service of veterinarians," said Chris Middleton, president of the Boise, Idaho-based company. "Dr. …
Report: NAPHIA finds pet insurance continues to riseMay 11, 2018 North America's pet health insurance sector saw continued growth in 2017, with the total number of pets insured in the U.S. and Canada hitting more than 2 million, according to a report released by the North American Pet Health Insurance Association (NAPHIA). The numbers demonstrate a 16.8 percent increase in insured pets when compared to statistics from 2016. "While we have seen steady growth since 2013, this double-digit increase is well ahead of the just over 11 percent growth in 2016," said Tim Graff, chair of NAPHIA's benchmarking working group. According to the report, there are 1.83 million dogs and cats insured across the U.S., representing 17.5 percent growth when compared to 2016, and 244,000 in Canada, showing 11.1 percent growth. Of those insured, 98 percent were covered through either an accident & illness plan or an insurance plan with embedded wellness; only 2 percent were covered through accident only plans. In regard to premiums, pets covered through accident and illness plans averaged an annual premium of $516 USD per pet in the U.S. and $603 CAD in Canada; those covered through accident-only plans averaged annual premiums of $181 USD in the U.S. and $217 CAD in Canada. …
AVMA gives sports medicine, exotic mammal specialties full recognitionMay 11, 2018The American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) reported that it has granted full recognition to the American College of Veterinary Sports Medicine and Rehabilitation (ACVSMR) and the Exotic Companion Mammal specialties under the American Board of Veterinary Practitioners (AVBP). The AVMA board of directors approved the recognition of each on recommendations from the AVMA American Board of Veterinary Specialties. The ACVSMR and the Exotic Companion Mammal specialty had been granted provisional recognition by the AVMA in 2010 and 2008, respectively. "Veterinary sports medicine and rehabilitation meets the unique needs of athletic and working animals to optimize performance, to treat injuries and diseases, and to provide rehabilitation for all patients after injury or illness, with neurological, cardiovascular, or respiratory impairments or with chronic musculoskeletal disease and pain," said Andris J. Kaneps, DVM, Ph.D., DACVS, DACVSMR, ACVSMR representative to the American Board of Veterinary Specialties. "The need for a veterinary sports medicine and rehabilitation specialty has arisen as a result of the explosive growth of animal participation in sports and service activities, recognition of the benefits derived by all animals from rehabilitation, and the intimate relationships between the fields of veterinary sports medicine and …
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 …
Texas Tech CVM secures $69M investment from Amarillo City CouncilMay 9, 2018The Texas Tech University School of Veterinary Medicine (TTUSVM) in Amarillo, Texas, got one step closer to reality yesterday when the Amarillo City Council approved funding up to $69 million to ensure the school's construction. The deal is an amendment to an agreement between the Texas Tech University System and the Amarillo Economic Development Corp. TTUSVM will be the only veterinary school in the country co-located with a pharmacy and medical school on the same campus, expanding opportunities for translational medicine and research. The Texas Tech vet school aims to address the shortage of veterinarians serving rural communities in a cost-effective manner by eliminating the need for a teaching hospital and partnering with local and regional veterinarians, according to a statement. The project is supported by the Texas Cattle Feeders Association, the Texas and Southwest Cattle Raisers Association, and the Texas Farm Bureau, among others. "Throughout the history of the Texas Tech University System, the Amarillo community has helped set the standard for support and cultivation of higher education opportunities," said Robert Duncan, chancellor. "We are grateful for Amarillo's partnership and shared vision for transforming the landscape of veterinary education to ensure the prosperity of our vital agricultural industries. Amarillo's commitment to bring the school of veterinary medicine to …
Spayathon for Puerto Rico kicks off in JuneMay 9, 2018The Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) along with a coalition of 22 organizations from around the world will begin the first round of the Spayathon for Puerto Rico, June 3-9. The initiative, which is offered at no cost to pet owners, aims to spay and neuter at least 20,000 dogs and cats in the territory by May 2019. "This is the first time such a broad collection of national and international groups has come together to intensively reduce the population of animals across an island," said Tara Loller, senior director, strategic campaigns and initiatives, HSUS. "We could not make this historic event happen without the generous participation of each and every coalition member." The initiative will be funded with support from nonprofit organizations, including Maddie's Fund, PetSmart Charities, Petco Foundation, GreaterGood.org, and the 20/22 Act Society. Additional resources will come from groups including Banfield Foundation, Best Friends Animal Society, and Rescue Bank, which will provide supplies, such as vaccines, pet food, and crates. Veterinary teams from Emancipet, ViDAS, Veterinarians for Puerto Rico, Maddie's Shelter Medicine Program at Cornell University, and Helping Paws Across Borders will provide high-volume spay/neuter services in locations across the island. Ground support will be …
MAF study finds tramadol ineffective against osteoarthritis in dogsMay 9, 2018 A report funded by the Morris Animal Foundation (MAF) out of the University of Georgia has found tramadol to be ineffective in alleviating signs of pain associated with osteoarthritis in dogs. "The data shows conclusively that tramadol is not an effective drug in treating the pain associated with arthritis in the dog, despite its common recommendation," said Steven Budsberg, DVM, BS, MS, DACVS, professor of surgery/director of clinical research at the University of Georgia College of Veterinary Medicine. "This use of tramadol is a classic example of failing to acknowledge and control for bias when evaluating a potential treatment." The reported data was collected by Dr. Budsberg and his research team via a randomized, blinded, placebo, and positive-controlled crossover study. The group compared tramadol against both placebo and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, with dogs afflicted with osteoarthritis of the elbow or knee assigned to receive each of three treatments in a random order and each treatment arm lasting for 10 days. Improvement was measured using a variety of tests to evaluate the patient's gait and pain. The results showed no improvement when tramadol was administered compared to either baseline or placebo. "This study reinforces the need to carefully and …
Kindred Biosciences' Mirataz commercially available in U.S.May 9, 2018Update: this product is now commercially available in the U.S. Kindred Biosciences Inc. has received approval from the U.S. Food & Drug Administration for Mirataz (mirtazapine transdermal ointment) for the management of weight loss in cats. Mirtazapine, which blocks specific serotonin and histamine receptors that play a role in appetite and nausea, demonstrated a 3.9 percent increase in body weight in cats with unintended weight loss in as little as 14 days, according to San Francisco-based Kindred. To help improve owner and patient compliance, Mirataz will be available in a topical formulation applied to the inner pinna of a cat's ear. Research shows daily topical application for 14 days resulted in measurable plasma concentrations of mirtazapine in cats, the manufacturer stated. Mirataz offers the confidence of a product approved by the U.S. Food & Drug Administration Center for Veterinary Medicine, convenience of transdermal application, Good Manufacturing Practice (cGMP) production quality, known stability, manufacturer technical support, and a practical way to manage feline weight loss without administration of oral medication, according to Valentine S. Williams, DVM, DACVS, director of veterinary affairs at Kindred Biosciences.
Should televeterinary medical practitioners be globally certified?May 8, 2018At the second annual Veterinary Innovation Summit (VIS), which concluded recently on the campus of Texas A&M College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences (TAMUCVM), several of the veterinary startup exhibitors included a televeterinary component in their offerings, and it also was a common lecture and breakout topic. Currently, most state practice acts require a hands-on physical exam to create a veterinary-client-patient relationship (VCPR) before a veterinarian can provide any service that might involve animal diagnosis, prognosis or prescription. One of the breakout sessions featured Rolan Tripp, DVM, who spoke on the subject, "Should telemedicine practitioners be globally certified?" Following is an interview with Dr. Tripp about his presentation. How long have you been interested in telemedicine? I published my first futurist article in 1984, "Veterinary Telecommunications," and incorporated a business of the same name in 1986, so I have been interested in this field for quite some time. In that first article I predicted that high-speed broadband internet would be ubiquitous and global televeterinary medicine would be common by the year 2000. Why suggest a global standard now? Control at the state level made sense when every animal patient lived within a reasonable …
