New Jersey officials discover H. longicornis uptickMay 4, 2018 The New Jersey Department of Agriculture has confirmed the presence of the longhorned tick, Haemaphysalis longicornis, in Union County after an infestation was first found last August on a Hunterdon County sheep. H. longicornis is native to China, the Korean Peninsula, and Japan, and also has populations in Australia, New Zealand, and Russia, as well as on multiple Pacific islands. In South Korea, it has been linked to the spread of severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome (SFTS) virus, described in a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention report as "a newly emerging infectious disease." SFTS symptoms include fever, thrombocytopenia, leukocytopenia, and elevated serum enzyme levels, according to the CDC. The tick has been associated with rare human disease, such as spotted fever rickettsiosis, according to Andrea M. Egizi, an author of a study on the New Jersey longhorned tick infestation, published in Rutgers Center for Vector Biology. Thus far, no New Jersey longhorned ticks have been found to be carrying disease, according to the New Jersey Division of Fish and Wildlife. H. longicornis has the potential to infest dogs, cats, livestock, and more. It can …
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Cat-killing Texas veterinarian loses appealMay 4, 2018Kristen Lindsey, the Texas veterinarian whose license was suspended for one year after shooting a cat through the head with an arrow and posting about it on social media, has lost her appeal to overturn her sentence. In an April 2015 Facebook post accompanying an image of a cat impaled by her arrow, Lindsey wrote, "My first bow kill, lol. The only good feral tomcat is one with an arrow through it's [sic] head. Vet of the year award … gladly accepted." After much furor from animal rights activists and the veterinary community, the Texas Board of Veterinary Medicine sought to revoke Lindsey's license. Instead, the Texas State Office of Administrative Hearings recommended a one-year full suspension and four years' probation. The one-year suspension ended in October 2017, and Lindsey is permitted to practice veterinary medicine on a probationary basis. Lindsey attempted to get her sentence overturned in district court and the Texas Third Court of Appeals. Another appeal to challenge the rules dictating her disciplinary action was pending. She lost both cases on Friday, April 27, and is ordered to pay all costs related to the trial court and the court of appeals. Lindsey had argued to the court …
Brakke webinar to address significant industry-wide animal care changesMay 3, 2018Brakke Consulting, a Dallas firm that serves the global animal health and nutrition industries, is offering a webinar about the changing nature of the veterinary industry on May 22 at 10 a.m. Central time. Hosted by consultants Robert Jones, Ph.D., and John Volk, the two-hour presentation titled "Animal Health Industry: Revolution or Evolution?" will address significant industry-wide animal care changes and situate this evolution in a larger perspective. Topics covered in the webinar will include: Industry metrics and growth Drivers of change Performance of leading companies Transition in veterinary distribution Veterinary practice metrics and consolidation Innovation in diagnostics Future outlooks Following the presentation, Jones and Volk will answer questions and invite attendees to participate in a discussion. Additionally, those registered will receive a copy of the presentation. Registration closes May 18. For more information, click here.
Pathway Vet Alliance aligns with 14 new practicesMay 3, 2018Veterinary management group Pathway Vet Alliance announced new partnerships with 14 veterinary hospitals across the U.S., including three in Colorado, two in Arkansas, two in New Mexico, and one each in Arizona, California, and Washington. The newly acquired practices will retain their veterinary teams, but will receive support, educational opportunities, and additional resources from Pathway. "In just the first quarter of this year, our company has accomplished several major milestones, including bringing on new partners and fully adopting our new brand identity," said Stephen Hadley, DVM, CEO of Pathway. "We are thrilled at what we have accomplished so far and excited to build on this success." The current expansion is reflective of Pathway's steady growth, achieved primarily through acquisition. In 2017, the company added nearly 100 hospitals for a total of more than 125 locations throughout the U.S. Additionally, Pathway added more than 800 employees, growing to more than 2,500 employees in total. To accommodate its new partnerships and additional acquisitions anticipated later this year, the group is expanding staff at its headquarters in Austin, Texas, as well as other locations across the U.S.
BodeVet adds three clinical trial sites for StablePlate RXMay 3, 2018Maryland-based BodeVet, a developer of transfusion treatment options for the veterinary industry, has added three new locations for the clinical trial of StablePlate RX, a product used to treat acute uncontrolled hemorrhage in bleeding canine patients. Marketed as the world's first injectable, free-dried platelet-derived product, StablePlate RX is now being tested at Ethos Veterinary Health-owned Veterinary Specialty Hospital of San Diego and Wheat Ridge Animal Hospital in Denver, as well as the Randall B. Terry Jr. Companion Animal Veterinary Medical Center at North Carolina State University in Raleigh. "We now have 40 dogs enrolled in 11 clinical sites across the country to evaluate StablePlate RX Canine for control of life threatening hemorrhage in thrombocytopenic patients," said Anne Hale, DVM, CTO at BodeVet. BodeVet's existing trial sites include: Blue Pearl Specialty & Emergency Veterinary Hospital in Clearwater, Fla. Blue Pearl Specialty & Emergency Veterinary Hospital in Tampa, Fla. Blue Pearl Specialty & Emergency Veterinary Hospital in Queens, N.Y. Blue Pearl Specialty & Emergency Veterinary Hospital in Paramus, N.J. Blue Pearl Specialty & Emergency Veterinary Hospital in Spring, Texas Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine Companion Animal Hospital in Ithaca, N.Y. University of Georgia College …
Walkin' Pets offers certification for veterinarians, pet care professionalsMay 2, 2018Walkin' Pets, maker of the Walkin' Wheels dog wheelchair, is offering a free online Walkin' Wheels Certification Program to veterinary and pet care professionals. The six-part webinar series educates participants about all aspects of the fully adjustable mobility device, from in-office use to helping pet owners assess dog wheelchair options when pets become injured or disabled. The program instructs participants about the various rehabilitative and assistive uses of the wheelchair, assembly and fitting tips, therapeutic in-hospital and rehabilitation use, and renting and referral programs for pet care professionals. Participants who complete the certification program receive a Walkin' Wheels Certified certificate and are designated as "Walkin' Wheels Certified" on the company's veterinarian and pet care professional interactive map, which customers use to find local professionals knowledgeable about the wheelchair. To find more information or register for the program, click here.
Patterson pledges support of Veterinary Nurse InitiativeMay 2, 2018Patterson Veterinary has announced its support of the Veterinary Nurse Initiative, an effort proposed by the National Association of Veterinary Technicians in America (NAVTA) to unite those working in the veterinary technician profession under a single title, with single credentialing requirements and a single scope of practice. The initiative will pursue legislative amendments in all 50 states to establish the credential of registered veterinary nurse (RVN), substituting registered veterinary technician (RVT), licensed veterinary technician (LVT), certified veterinary technician or licensed veterinary medical technician. NAVTA asserts standardization of the credential will align public perceptions of the role technicians play in veterinary clinics, effectively elevating practice standards and leading to better patient care. Heather Prendergast, RVT, CVPM, SPHR, Patterson Veterinary's education development specialist, agrees with NAVTA's stance. An active supporter of the initiative, Prendergast is a member of the Veterinary Nurse Initiative workgroup and acting co-chair of the National Credential Task Force. She argues the term "veterinary nurse" will better reflect RVTs and LVTs position as caregivers for patients as well as scientific technicians. "There has long been a need for common credentialing in this area," said Prendergast. "The responsibilities and job tasks of a …
Improve Int'l continuing education course focuses on TPLOMay 1, 2018Global continuing education provider Improve International recently hosted its first U.S. course at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine in Florida, with 13 veterinarians in attendance. Led by Brian Beale, DVM, DACVS, and Stanley Kim, BVSc, MS, both diplomates of the American College of Veterinary Surgeons, the course, which focused on the use of the tibial-plateau-leveling osteotomy (TPLO) for cruciate repair, was comprised of both in-class lectures and hands-on, practical sessions. "We were delighted to welcome delegates to our first U.S. course and to have received enthusiastic feedback," said John Douglass, assistant managing director, Improve. "It was an important milestone for us as we celebrate our arrival in the U.S. and our 20th year in business. We look forward to bringing more of our premium CE to U.S. veterinarians in the coming years." Founded in 1998 by a team of veterinarians in the U.K., Improve announced its U.S. launch late last year, offering a range of short RACE-approved courses for veterinary professionals. The company, who has instructed more than 20,000 veterinarians across 20 countries, will soon offer more in-depth, annual courses in the U.S., which will help practitioners …
Henry Schein opens 2018 VetSummit registrationMay 1, 2018Henry Schein Inc. has opened registration for its 2018 VetSummit, a three-day conference designed to help veterinarians run better businesses. The conference, scheduled Oct. 10-12 in Dallas and open to veterinarians, veterinary technicians, and practice staff, is an initiative of Henry Schein Veterinary Solutions (HSVS) veterinary technology and practice management software provider and Henry Schein Animal Health U.S. companion animal health distribution company. Formerly known as the Veterinary Technology Summit, this year's event will include such topics as how to handle staffing and human resources-related issues, tactics for delivering excellent customer service, navigating regulatory compliance, and how financial valuation can impact a practice owner's short- and long-term goals. The event also will include topics related to technology, maximization of practice management software solutions, and other services. "We at Henry Schein are committed to helping veterinary professionals understand how to build stronger practices so they can focus on providing care to their patients," said Chris Dollar, global president, HSVS. "With VetSummit's expanded focus, attendees can rely on us to deliver a rich learning experience that will help them run more successful businesses that generate greater revenue, deliver better customer service, create a more productive working environment, give …
Colombian veterinarian who smuggled heroin in puppies arrestedMay 1, 2018Andres Lopez Elorza, the Venezuelan veterinarian who eluded authorities for 10 years and was arrested in 2015 for allegedly attempting to smuggle heroin from Colombia into the U.S. by "sewing" the drugs into puppies, was been extradited to New York from Spain. Elorza, 38, had worked at a clinic in Medellin, Colombia, where in 2005, authorities found 6.6 pounds of heroin implanted into six Labrador and Rottweiler puppies. The animals were rescued, but three died from infections from the implant surgery. In 2013, he was found in Spain and arrested, but was released due to complications of the extradition process and re-arrested by Spanish police in 2015 in the town of Santa Comba in La Coruna. Update: Elorza, part of a larger drug smuggling operation in Columbia, appeared in Brooklyn federal court last week. He pleaded not guilty and was ordered held without bail.
