Experts Urge Keeping Housecats Inside, Sterilizing Feral CatsFebruary 8, 2013 The reaction arose from a study conducted by the Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s Division of Migratory Birds. Published Jan. 29 in the journal Nature Communications, the report crunched numbers from 90 previous studies to conclude that while backyard cats kill their fair share of wildlife, an estimated 80 million farm cats, strays and feral felines are responsible for 69 percent of bird mortality and 89 percent of mammal mortality. “This study…demonstrates that the issue of cat predation on birds and mammals is an even bigger environmental and ecological threat that we thought,” said George Fenwick, Ph.D., president of the American Bird Conservancy in Washington, D.C. The Humane Society Veterinary Medical Association noted that the issue “can’t be solved overnight” and must be addressed in “a meaningful way.” “It is clear that effective solutions to the problems of free-roaming cat overpopulation and wildlife predation will have to include newer and more innovative approaches,” said Barry Kellogg, VMD, the Washington, D.C.-based group’s senior veterinary medical adviser. Dr. Kellogg pointed to community-based TNR programs as “the most viable, long-term approach available at this time …
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Lumina Media Takes Over Magazines, Books, Websites Of BowTie Inc.February 5, 2013The acquisition, effective Feb. 1, includes certain assets of BowTie Inc., including trade magazines like Veterinary Practice News and Pet Product News International; consumer magazines such as Reptiles, Horse Illustrated and Urban Farm; websites including VeterinaryPracticeNews.com, AnimalNetwork.com and DogChannel.com; and bestselling books about animals, including “Dog Heroes of September 11th” and “The Original Dog Bible.” “We are thrilled to bring these storied brands under our umbrella,” said Harris, who has been appointed interim CEO of Lumina Media. “Combining the talented, passionate teams that have built such a robust content engine with the technology and expertise of our existing joint ventures creates the perfect platform on which to create an infinite variety of special-interest content for delivery in all formats.” Lumina Media is the latest in a series of professional partnerships between Fry and Harris and their respective companies. Harris is the co-founder and co-owner of National Publisher Services (NPS), the leading provider of publishing management services. …
Labrador Retriever Still Most Popular Dog, AKC ReportsFebruary 4, 2013 “Bigger breeds are making their move,” AKC spokesperson Lisa Peterson said. The Labrador retriever retained its position as top dog for the 22nd consecutive year, tying with the poodle for the most popular breed of all time. The popularity of “portable pooches” appears to be waning, Peterson reported. The top five did not include a toy breed for the first time since 2003, which also was the last time Yorkshire terriers were not in the top five. In 2012, Yorkshire terriers swapped places with bulldogs, falling to sixth. Chihuahuas, pugs and Pomeranians all dropped some notches on the popularity roster. Here are the AKC’s top 10 U.S. breeds for 2012: 1. Labrador retriever 2. German shepherd 3. Golden retriever 4. Beagle 5. Bulldog 6. Yorkshire terrier 7. Boxer 8. Poodle 9. Rottweiler 10. Dachshund The least popular breed in 2012—drum roll, please—was the English foxhound, which finished at No. 175. In related news, New York City-based AKC expanded its roster of recognized breeds to …
Cats Kill Billions Of Birds, Small Mammals Each Year, Study ConcludesJanuary 31, 2013 With razor-sharp claws and a penchant for chew toys, backyard and feral cats are serial killers of small mammals and birds, according to a study published Tuesday in the journal Nature Communications. The study’s figures were apocalyptic: 2.4 billion birds and 12.3 billion small mammals such as mice, voles, squirrels and rabbits are killed every year by U.S. cats, the researchers reported. Those are just median figures. The study’s bell curves top out at 5 billion and more than 25 billion, respectively, for birds and mammals. “This study…demonstrates that the issue of cat predation on birds and mammals is an even bigger environmental and ecological threat that we thought,” said Dr. George Fenwick, president of the American Bird Conservancy in Washington, D.C. Peter Marra and Scott Loss of the Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute and Tom Will of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s Division of Migratory Birds crunched numbers from 90 previous studies on cat predation to come up with their findings. While backyard cats kill their fair share, an estimated 80 million farm cats, strays and feral felines are responsible for 69 percent …
Hartz Withdraws Chicken Chews, Oinkies Pig Skin Twists With ChickenJanuary 28, 2013 “Even though two-thirds of the products we tested did not contain antibiotic residues, we would rather be overly cautious by voluntarily withdrawing these products from the market,” Secaucus, N.J.-based Hartz Mountain Corp. stated. Antibiotic residue led two other manufacturers to take similar steps in recent weeks. St. Louis-based Nestle Purina PetCare Co. voluntarily withdrew all Waggin’ Train and Canyon Creek Ranch chicken jerky dog treats sold in the United States, while Milo’s Kitchen, a brand of San Francisco-based Del Monte Corp., voluntarily recalled Chicken Jerky and Chicken Grillers Home-style treats. The antibiotics discovered in the Hartz treats are approved for use in poultry in China and European Union nations but not in the United States, Hartz noted. No evidence has been found that the treats raise health concerns or sicken pets, the company added. “Upon learning about the nationwide voluntary withdrawal of several other brands of chicken jerky products through media reports, Hartz acted immediately to begin additional testing to determine if the same unapproved antibiotic residues …
Researchers Report On Caloric, Bacterial Content Of Bully SticksJanuary 28, 2013Tufts and University of Guelph researchers reported today that many veterinarians and pet owners could not identify the source of bully sticks and did not realize that the popular dog treats quickly add calories to an animal’s diet. The study, published in the January issue of the Canadian Veterinary Journal, also noted that some of the bully sticks tested were contaminated by bacteria. Bully, or pizzle, sticks are made from the uncooked, dried penis of a bull or steer. Tasty bully sticks can add calories and carry bacteria. The researchers, representing the Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine at Tufts University and the University of Guelph, examined 26 bully sticks purchased from retailers in the United States and Canada and made by different manufacturers. Random testing of the bully sticks found that they contained from nine to 22 calories per inch, or 88 calories in the average 6-inch stick. Eighty-eight calories is equal to 9 percent of the daily calorie requirements for a 50-pound dog and 30 percent for a 10-pound dog, the researchers stated. “While calorie information isn’t …
Canine Vaccines: The Best Current ThinkingJanuary 24, 2013 Before the American Animal Hospital Association published the first canine vaccine guidelines in 2003, veterinarians had only manufacturers’ recommendations for guidance. This posed a problem when veterinarians grew increasingly concerned with over-vaccination and a link between certain vaccines and sarcoma development in cats became apparent. Experts and academics have collaborated on the topic three times since the release of the initial canine vaccine guidelines, helping veterinarians create a rational vaccine program to include in their patient wellness protocols. “Years ago, the profession was heavily marketed through the need for annual vaccinations,” says Robert Franklin, DVM, Dipl. ACVIM, of Oregon Veterinary Specialty Hospital in Beaverton, Ore. “Now we educate owners about the total wellness needs of their pets. Vaccines are an important preventive in a wellness program, but are just part of it.” Without discussing specific brands, the AAHA guidelines cite the duration of immunity (DOI) of core vaccines. The task force deems these vaccines as highly effective, having a potency of five years to lifetime. However, the task force has agreed that core vaccines should be given every three years. Members of the American Animal Hospital Association Canine Vaccination Task Force • Link V. Welborn, DVM, …
Market For Pet Fish, Birds, Small Animals On Rebound, Report FindsJanuary 17, 2013The Packaged Facts report, released this month, found that 84.3 million fish make up nearly 73 percent of the pet population when dogs and cats are excluded. Fish-owning households totaled 7.2 million in 2012, up about 100,000 from the previous year. The report noted that owners of fish, birds, reptiles and small animals tended to be younger, less educated and less affluent than pet owners in general. They also relied more on social media. Bird owners, for example, were 24 percent more likely than the average pet owner to trust product information discovered on a social sharing website. Avian households totaled 4.6 million in 2012, down from 5.8 million in 2008, when the economic recession took hold. The good news for retailers, Packaged Facts added, is that the number has spiked by 24 percent since 2010, when just 3.7 million households had birds. Pet professionals would be wise to engage the owners of fish, birds, reptiles and small animals, co-authors Robert Brown and Ruth Washton wrote. “These pet owners represent big business for the pet industry,” the writers emphasized. “They groom and board their birds, buy toys for their iguanas, purchase …
Idexx Allows Major Distributor To Carry Competing ProductsJanuary 14, 2013 Idexx Laboratories Inc. has settled a federal complaint that the veterinary diagnostics giant engaged in unfair competition by barring three leading distributors from selling competitors’ products. The Westbrook, Maine, manufacturer signed a 10-year consent agreement with the Federal Trade Commission under which Idexx this month freed one of the three, MWI Veterinary Supply Co., to distribute rivals’ point-of-care diagnostics products. Two other large distributors—Butler Shein Animal Health of Dublin, Ohio, and Patterson Veterinary Supply of Devens, Mass.—will be allowed to maintain simultaneous exclusive contracts with Idexx provided MWI is not part of the arrangement. Idexx, which also makes digital X-ray equipment and practice management software, admitted no wrongdoing. “We continue to believe that our distribution practices do not violate the antitrust laws, as these same practices have been upheld by two federal courts of appeal,” said Bill Ayers, Idexx’s chairman and CEO. “However, the consent agreement provides a framework that allows us to put an end to the expense and distraction of the FTC investigation and to avoid long and costly litigation with the FTC, while preserving and even strengthening the longstanding relationships …
Waggin’ Train, Canyon Creek Ranch Treats Withdrawn After Antibiotic DiscoveryJanuary 10, 2013 More Dog Treats Pulled due to Discovery of AntibioticsWaggin' Train, Nestle Purina, dog treat, antibiotic, China, Canyon Creek, jerky, chicken, FDANestle Purina PetCare Co. on Wednesday voluntarily withdrew all Waggin’ Train and Canyon Creek Ranch dog treats sold in the United States after trace amounts of antibiotic residue were found in samples.Waggin’ Train, Canyon Creek Ranch and Del Monte’s Milo’s Kitchen treats were flagged by the New York State Department of Agriculture.newsline, pet-health-news, recallWaggin’ Train, Canyon Creek Ranch Treats Withdrawn After Antibiotic DiscoveryPosted: Jan. 10, 2013, 2:55 p.m. ESTSt. Louis-based Nestle Purina PetCare Co. on Wednesday voluntarily withdrew all Waggin’ Train and Canyon Creek Ranch dog treats sold in the United States after trace amounts of antibiotic residue were found in samples. Waggin' Train chicken jerky treats are made without artificial colors, byproducts, fillers, grains or artificial preservatives, the company states. Canyon Creek Ranch Chicken Tenders are slow-cooked and 97 percent fat-free. The action came on the same day Milo’s Kitchen, a brand of San Francisco-based Del Monte Corp., voluntarily recalled Chicken Jerky and Chicken Grillers Home-style dog …
