Clinical Trial Focuses on Breast Cancer in CatsNovember 4, 2014A clinical trial using novel vaccines could lead to better treatments for breast cancer treatment in both animals and humans, according to researchers at the University of Guelph Ontario Veterinary College (OVC) and McMaster University’s Immunology Research Center. The universities recently teamed up to treat breast cancer in cats using new vaccines designed to boost the immune system and kill tumor cells without harming healthy tissue. OVC announced the clinical trial on its website in late October. Researchers are studying cats because breast cancer occurs naturally in the species. Breast cancer in cats is also similar to that in humans, said Professor Paul Woods, one of the lead investigators. Woods is also a veterinary cancer specialist at OVC and co-director of University of Guelph’s Institute for Comparative Cancer Investigation (ICCI). “Breast cancer in cats tends to by highly aggressive and doesn’t respond well to chemotherapy,” Woods said. “By the time a mammary tumor is detected and diagnosed, the disease has often spread to other parts of the body. So while there’s a lot we can do for cats with standard treatment—which is surgery to remove the tumor—the patient will typically relapse in six to eight months. Our goal with these …
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Membership Drive a Big Success for Vet Tech GroupOctober 31, 2014Hoping to reel in 200 new members in October, the National Association for Veterinary Technicians in America (NAVTA) may have hooked thousands. The hugely successful membership drive was bankrolled by Merial Ltd., which donated $10,000 toward the effort and followed up with an additional $11,000 as the applications flooded in. “Within the first 48 hours, we far exceeded our established goal,” said Julie Legred, CVT, the executive director of NAVTA. “We are thrilled with the outcome we’ve seen so far and look forward to continued success from the digital membership offering.” 犀利士 NAVTA had about 12,000 members before October. “We received over 5,000 memberships during National Veterinary Technician Week and with the Merial offer,” Legred said. “We are still sorting through those received as to the number of those that are new and the number that are renewals. “It is very common for us to receive memberships at this time of year, but not at the pace they came in during that week, and the Merial offer certainly drove them in,” she added. “It will be very interesting to see how many of those that came in are new members.” Merial paid for …
Sentinel Heartworm Drugs Moving to VirbacOctober 31, 2014Eli Lilly and Co. has found a buyer for the U.S. rights to Sentinel Flavor Tabs and Sentinel Spectrum as part of its acquisition of Novartis Animal Health. The Novartis trademarks, patents and customer lists for the two canine antiparasitics will be transferred to Virbac Animal Health of Fort Worth, Texas, upon Federal Trade Commission approval and the completion of the takeover. Eli Lilly agreed to divest U.S. Sentinel assets when purchasing Novartis Animal Health. The financial terms for the Sentinel purchase were not disclosed. U.S. sales of Sentinel Flavor Tabs and Sentinel Spectrum, which protect dogs from heartworms and fleas, are expected to reach up to $100 million in 2014. Virbac already sells a heartworm preventive, Iverhart, and offers dozens of other products in the parasitic, behavioral, dental, dermatologic, urologic and nutritional categories. “Adding these strong brands and commercial franchise to the current Virbac portfolio of products offered to veterinary clinics and pet owners in the United States will substantially strengthen Virbac’s presence and penetration in the U.S. companion animal veterinary market and leverage its growth potential,” the company reported in a statement issued Monday. Parent company Novartis AG agreed in April to sell Novartis Animal …
Purina Launches Made-to-Order Dog FoodOctober 31, 2014Nestlé Purina PetCare Co. has put a twist on homemade pet food by allowing dog owners to formulate a recipe online for shipment to their door. The St. Louis-based manufacturer this week entered one of the smallest segments of the $28 billion U.S. pet food market: customized diets. The American Pet Products Association’s most recent survey found that just 3 percent of dog owners purchased specialty food, such as raw or frozen diets, in 2012. The new line, Just Right by Purina, is neither raw nor frozen. Instead, pet owners go to JustRightPetfood.com, answer questions about the animal’s age, breed, weight and other characteristics, choose whether to include soy and grain, and pick a protein source: chicken, lamb or salmon. What emerges through a proprietary algorithm is a customized kibble diet, complete with the dog’s photo and a recipe name printed on the bag. “Every dog is unique and that’s why we believe the best solutions are personalized,” said Brian Lester, the brand’s director of marketing. “By combining a dog owner’s firsthand knowledge of their pet with Purina’s expertise, we can work together to help keep dogs happy and healthy throughout their lives.” Just Right by Purina …
Study on Human Nails May Shed Light on Disease in the Hooves of AnimalsOctober 30, 2014A new study focusing on the physics of human nail conditions may bring focus on disease in the hooves of farm animals and horses. Researchers from The University of Nottingham School of Veterinary Medicine and Science devised equations to identify the physical laws that govern nail growth, and used them to shed light on the causes of some of the most common nail problems, such as ingrown toenails, spoon-shaped nails and pincer nails. Regular poor trimming can tip the fine balance of nails, causing residual stress to occur across the entire nail, the study revealed. This residual stress can promote a change in shape or curvature of the nail over time which, in turn, can lead to serious nail conditions, the study further noted. “Similar equations can be determined for conditions of the hoof and claw and applied to farm animals such as sheep, cattle or horses and ponies,” said Dr. Cyril Rauch, a physicist and applied mathematician. “At a time when securing food across the world is important, a better understanding of the physics of hoof/claw has never been so essential to maintain the health of livestock and to sustain agriculture and food production.” Specifically, physics reveals why/how nails/hooves …
Ross University Gains International PartnerOctober 30, 2014In an effort to strengthen international ties, Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine (RUSVM) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Ngee Ann Polytechnic in Singapore. The partnership was established to develop mutually beneficial collaborations in education and research, as well as provide a pathway for Singapore students to obtain a veterinary degree. As part of the partnership, the schools will create an international research internship program which will allow a select group of Ngee Ann Polytechnic students to spend 15 weeks at RUSVM’s campus in St. Kitts. The students will complete a research project within one of RUSVM’s four research centers. The internships will fulfill a core requirement of Ngee Ann Polytechnic students’ training program. They will also provide students with practical experience in a veterinary research environment, according to Ross University, including in topics such as food safety, fish diseases, sea-turtle conservation and the One Health Initiative. “Whether our students choose the veterinary technician career path or decide to further their education through a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree or postgraduate research degree, the international research experience they gain at RUSVM will better prepare them for the world of global veterinary medicine,” said Hedy Goh, Ph.D., director of …
Purdue to Launch Residency Program in Vet PharmacyOctober 28, 2014Purdue University reported in late October its plans to offer a residency program in veterinary clinical pharmacy practice. The program, set to begin July 2015, aims to provide pharmacists special training in animal health. Purdue’s College of Veterinary Medicine and College of Pharmacy are co-sponsoring the program. Demand for pharmacists with training in veterinary care and therapeutics has grown alongside increases in the treatments and medicines available for pets, said Brian Shepler, director of advanced pharmacy practice experiences and assistant dean for experiential education in Purdue’s College of Pharmacy. “Pharmacists and veterinarians share the same goal for their patients: to offer the best and most successful treatments to them,” said Shepler, who helped develop the new residency. “Whether filling a prescription for Frank or Fido, a pharmacist’s role is to ensure that a medication and its dosage are safe and appropriate for a patient, to check for any potentially harmful interactions and to offer advice on ways to minimize discomfort from side effects. This residency provides training to pharmacists so that they can help ensure an animal’s safety and provide optimum care.” In addition to a growing need for those trained to dispense medications to animals, there is an increasing …
Farm Accident Couldn’t Keep Indiana Dog DownOctober 24, 2014A run-in with farm equipment nearly cost Charlie her life, but her survival brought national recognition. The Labrador retriever this month won the sixth annual VPI Hambone Award, which Veterinary Pet Insurance Co. hands out for the most unusual insurance claim of the year. After falling under equipment being towed on the family farm, the Indianapolis canine appeared to have suffered no more than cuts to her tail. The next day, when Charlie couldn’t stand, owner Jessica Parsons figured the injuries were much worse. “I was so worried about Charlie, I knew she was in pain,” Parsons said. A veterinarian referred Charlie to the Purdue University Veterinary Teaching Hospital in West Lafayette, Ind., where specialists diagnosed a fractured spine and internal bleeding from a damaged kidney. What followed were surgeries to stabilize her spine and remove the kidney. The medical care and expenses ran into five figures, but Parsons was reimbursed more than $10,400 through her insurance policy with Brea, Calif.-based VPI. Charlie, whose rehabilitation included learning to walk again, was presented with a bronze trophy and a gift bag filled with toys, treats and pet supplies. “I’m incredibly proud of how hard Charlie has fought to recover,” …
Zoetis Scholarship Deadline Is Nov. 30October 23, 2014Second- and third-year veterinary students have until Nov. 30 to apply at VetVance.com for $2,000 scholarships from drug maker Zoetis Inc. The selection criteria include academic performance, financial need, diversity, leadership and career path. Winners will be chosen from all potential work sectors, including large and small animal medicine, research, government service, public health and organized veterinary medicine. The Association of American Veterinary Medical Colleges will submit applications to the students’ schools for review. The Zoetis Veterinary Student Scholarship Program issued $2,000 awards to 452 students this year, up from 222 in 2010, the program’s first year. “By investing in the next generation of veterinarians, we can address some of the challenges facing the industry, including the issues of student debt and the need for greater diversity in professional tracks among students,” said Christine Jenkins, DVM, Dipl. ACVIM, the chief veterinary medical officer at Zoetis U.S. Applicants must register for an account at VetVance, a website designed to help new veterinarians establish their careers.
Auburn University’s Raptor Center Holds Public Bird ReleaseOctober 23, 2014The Southeastern Raptor Center at Auburn University’s College of Veterinary Medicine held a public release of three rehabilitated birds on Oct. 11. The birds—two Red-tailed hawks and a Barred owl—were set free at the Opelika Wood Duck Heritage Preserve and Siddique Nature Park. The 73-acre wetland is home to a large population of birds, including hawks, warblers, owls, songbirds and ducks. This is the first time that the Southeastern Raptor Center has released birds in the preserve and nature park. The hawks and owl were chosen for release after they passed several flight evaluations, according to Elizabeth Crandall, assistant director of the Southeastern Raptor Center. “We put a lot of time and other resources into rehabilitating close to 400 birds a year,” she said. “Unfortunately, we are not able to rehabilitate much less release the majority of these. So when we do have a success story, it is always rewarding to return these wild birds back to their natural habitat.” Birds that are unable to return to the wild remain at the center and are used to educate students and the general public about raptors, or transferred to another educational facility.
