Researchers Breed Pigs Resistant to PRRS VirusDecember 15, 2015A team of researchers at Kansas State University, the University of Missouri and global biotechnology company Genus plc say they have developed pigs that are resistant to the porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome (PRRS) virus. Researchers refer to the PRRS virus as the most devastating disease in the swine industry, one that has cost the U.S. pork industry more than $10 billion since it first appeared in the late 1980s. The discovery of PRRS-resistant pigs could significantly improve animal wellbeing and save hundreds of millions of dollars each year, said Raymond “Bob” Rowland, Ph.D., professor of diagnostic medicine and pathobiology in the College of Veterinary Medicine at Kansas State University, and one of the researchers involved in the discovery. “In the decades that we have had the PRRS virus, we have looked at vaccines, diagnostics and other strategies and we have never been able to eliminate the disease,” Dr. Rowland said. has been studying the PRRS virus for more than 20 years. “This is the first time that we have established the potential to eliminate this devastating disease.” Rowland partnered with several University …
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Nutri-Vet Sold to Manna Pro ProductsDecember 14, 2015Manna Pro Products LLC, a manufacturer of livestock feed and large-animal health care items, is moving into the cat and dog market. The Chesterfield, Mo., company reported Dec. 11 that it acquired Nutri-Vet LLC of Boise, Idaho, and in a second transaction, the Petnology Essentials line from 21st Century HealthCare Inc. of Tempe, Ariz. The terms were not disclosed. Nutri-Vet makes a variety of supplements—from Hip and Joint Advanced Strength Chewables for dogs to Multi-Vite Paw-Gel for cats—as well as medical products such as antimicrobial wound spray. The acquisition includes the Nutri-Vet and Optimal Pet brands and private-label manufacturing. Petnology Essentials’ product line ranges from a bladder care supplement for dogs to tear stain pads for cats. “Manna Pro’s acquisition of Nutri-Vet and Petnology are complementary extensions of our company that will benefit customers and the brands in our portfolio,” said Beth Rogers, vice president of marketing. Nutri-Vet co-founder Steve Twohig called Manna Pro “a successful company that has been a recognized leader in the care and nurturing of animals.” “Demand for high-quality companion animal products continues to grow, and consumers will benefit from Manna Pro’s experience, resources and innovation,” Twohig said. Nutri-Vet and Petnology Essentials will operate …
World’s First ‘Test Tube’ Dogs Born at CornellDecember 14, 2015Nearly 40 years after the birth of the first human “test tube” baby, a team of scientists has produced the first litter of puppies conceived by in vitro fertilization (IVF). The Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine reported that the achievement could lead to the preservation of endangered dog species and the elimination of certain canine diseases. The researchers had to overcome peculiar challenges in order to successfully transfer to a host female 19 thawed embryos, seven of which developed into puppies that were delivered by Caesarian section in July. The findings were published Dec. 9 in the online journal PLOS One. “Since the mid-1970s, people have been trying to do [IVF] in a dog and have been unsuccessful,” said co-author Alex Travis, VMD, Ph.D., an associate professor of reproductive biology at Cornell’s Baker Institute for Animal Health. The healthy puppies—four males and three females—have different parentage. Eggs came from three female donors while sperm was taken from two males, leading to five purebred beagles and two beagle-cocker spaniel mixes. IVF is different from cloning, which has been achieved in dogs, in that IVF creates a new genome through fertilization while the latter procedure involves the transfer of DNA …
Veterinary Students Pose for Charity CalendarDecember 11, 2015There are various ways to raise money for charity. One of the most effective is calendars, especially when they involve attractive people and animals (trust me on this; this week alone I’ve written about three such calendars). The latest is the annual Men of the Vet School calendar released by the Cornell University's College of Veterinary Medicine's Omega Tau Sigma veterinary fraternity. Meet the men behind the cover! ?? Who wouldn't want a gift like this?!? Order the 2016 calendar on etsy.com #catsofinstagram #menwithbeards #arms #scrubs #giftideas #holidayshopping A photo posted by Cornell's Men Of Vet School (@menofthevetschool) on Nov 23, 2015 at 3:58pm PST The calendar, which raises money for the Cornell University Hospital For Animals' Patient Assistance Fund, features male veterinary students (shirtless, of course) with cute animals, including chickens, cats, dogs and horses. As for the vet students, the fraternity’s chair, Samantha Lovering told Refinery29, “At the vet school, we work incredibly hard, and …
Veterinarian to Send Care Packages to Military Dogs for the HolidaysDecember 10, 2015During the holidays we remember our loved ones and are reminded of the men and women serving our country overseas. What we often don’t remember are the dogs who serve with our military members. Christopher Gaylord, DVM, MA, however, had not forgotten. Dr. Gaylord of the North Slope Veterinary Animal Hospital in New York is putting together care packages to send to the military dogs this holiday season. Staff at the veterinary hospital is collecting “dog treats, grooming tools, medical supplies and other donations” to put together the care packages, DNAinfo reports. The care packages will also include heartworm and flea and tick medication and thank you notes if donors wish to send one. “We don’t often think about these dogs overseas doing this insane job,” Gaylord told DNAinfo. “It’s pretty impressive — they're literally risking their lives out in the field and if we can do something to help them, I think we should… From my understanding military dogs have pretty good lives, but they have also a really dangerous, intense job to do. It's obviously different than going and hanging out in Prospect Park every morning.” North Slope Veterinary Animal Hospital and
Virginia Tech to Help Raise Service DogsDecember 10, 2015The Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine at Virginia Tech has teamed up with Saint Francis Service Dogs, a Roanoke-based nonprofit, to raise three puppies for future service dog training. The partnership not only supports puppies on their path to become professionally trained service dogs, but also offers veterinary students important lessons on the human-animal bond, according to the college. “While they are with us, the puppies have a structured program of care and learning foundational skills such as walking on a leash and interacting with people and other animals in safe situations,” said Bess Pierce, DVM, associate professor in the Department of Population Health Sciences and director of the Center for Animal Human Relationships. “During the day at the veterinary college, they follow a detailed program developed by Saint Francis, and in the evenings, they will go home with their puppy raisers.” The puppies will learn life skills through a program called Puppy University. This may include going to the library, traveling on a bus or visiting the mall — physical and social skills that they might need in their future life as a service dog, said Dr. …
Veterinarian Receives Key to City for Saving Man’s LifeDecember 9, 2015CPR on an animal is very different from CPR on a human, but sometimes when a veterinarian is out of the clinic, it’s a human who needs his help. When Jerry McMillan, DVM, was attending a meeting of the Gallatin Lions Club in Gallatin, Tenn., fellow member James Gillum left his table due to illness. “I don't remember much. I remember getting up from the table because I didn't want to disturb anyone. I was weak,” Gillum told The Tennessean. Shortly thereafter another Lions Club member, who also happened to be an administrative assistant at Dr. McMillan’s veterinary practice, approached him in seek of help for Gillum. “He made no noise whatsoever,” McMillan told The Tennessean. “He wasn't getting any oxygen. He couldn't breathe. He was about the color of (indigo-tinted jeans) on some parts of his body. It was scary.” McMillan performed CPR on Gillum before the ill man was taken to Sumner Regional Medical Center, where he was told there wasn’t any heart damage and the cause was due to blood pressure. For assisting in saving Gillum’s life, McMillan was presented a key to the city and a certificate of appreciation by Mayor Paige Brown …
Kansas State Develops Diagnostic Test to Identify Novel PestivirusDecember 8, 2015Researchers at Kansas State University’s Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory have developed diagnostic tests to identify a novel pestivirus that has been killing pigs in North Carolina. The researchers hope the diagnostic tests — quantitative reverse transcript PCR and immunohistochemistry assays — are a step toward understanding the disease. A veterinarian in North Carolina submitted a sample from a swine herd where uncontrollable shaking, or intention tremors, was observed. Nearly 700 pigs died as a result, according to the university. “The veterinarian described the tremors as similar to those seen with Parkinson’s disease in humans — but more severe,” said Benjamin Hause, Ph.D., a clinical assistant professor in the university’s College of Veterinary Medicine. “A recent report described pigs born with congenital tremors caused by a novel pestivirus similar to one we identified this past summer, but this current situation involved older pigs with disease onset from 5 to 14 weeks of age. This has a significant economic impact, especially in a situation like this where 700 animals had died.” The pestivirus family has historically been …
Texas Tech May Open Veterinary SchoolDecember 5, 2015Texas, the nation’s second largest and second most populous state, would get its second veterinary school if an idea unveiled decades ago comes to fruition. The Texas Tech University System on Friday announced that it will give serious consideration over the next year to starting a DVM program and will request approval from Texas lawmakers and the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board. Many students, including some of the 150 enrolled in Texas Tech’s pre-veterinary program, cannot get into a veterinary school because of the limited number of seats nationwide, the university noted. The Texas Tech DVM program would provide greater opportunities for those students and serve the state’s huge agriculture industry. “Addressing the veterinary education needs in Texas is crucial not only because of the region’s and state’s deep-rooted history with agriculture and ranching, but also because of its continued prosperity,” said Robert L. Duncan, chancellor of the 49,000-student Texas Tech University System. “Our vision … [would] transform the landscape of veterinary medicine education and provide innovative solutions for the industry’s future.” The Texas Tech University System oversees campuses across the state, including one in Amarillo, where the veterinary school could be established. “Amarillo is the heart of the …
Cat on Road to Recovery After Receiving Prosthetic Legs, Thanks to VeterinarianDecember 3, 2015Mary Sarah Bergh, DVM, first came across Vincent, a domestic shorthair, when he was just a kitten. He was brought to her by a student of the Iowa State University Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, where Dr. Bergh is an associate professor of orthopedic surgery. As a veterinary orthopedic surgeon, Bergh had worked with several injured species, and after attempting physical therapy with Vincent, she realized quickly that endoprosthetics was the best way to go to help the kitten. Vincent’s “hind legs were missing below the midway point of his tibias,” according to Iowa State University, though Bergh was unable to determine the cause of the young cat’s condition. She did, however, move forward with helping the cat. Working with Biomedtrix, a veterinary orthopedics company that provided the essential materials for Vincent’s implants, Bergh was able to insert the implants into Vincent’s femur bones. Bergh told Iowa State University that the “design of the implants allows for Vincent’s bone to grow onto the titanium shafts to support his weight... But the titanium shaft is exposed to the environment, which puts Vincent at risk for infection.” This risk means Vincent’s owner, Cindy Jones, must apply an antibiotic spray …
