Texas A&M Veterinary Emergency Team Responds To WildfiresSeptember 8, 2011 The Veterinary Emergency Team (VET) at the Texas A&M College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences on Wednesday assisted in the response to the wildfires sweeping across Bastrop County, Texas. Texas Task Force-1, an urban search and rescue response team, called on VET to provide veterinary support for the force’s search and rescue dogs. Lisa Howe, DVM, Ph.D., and Philippa Sprake, BVetMed, responded along with veterinary technicians Dana Whitaker, Karin Ponder and Lessa Block and senior veterinary students John Williams and Jaci Carriker. Meanwhile, four other VET members joined the Texas Animal Health Commission to assess animal needs in affected areas. Wesley Bissett, DVM, Ph.D., Norberto Espitia, Ph.D., Glennon Mays, DMV, and fourth-year veterinary student Josh Shields worked with local veterinarians, the Texas Department of Emergency Management and the Texas Animal Health Commission to identify needs and develop a coordinated response, Dr. Bissett said. The VET team redeployed today in increased numbers, according to Angela Clendenin, director of communications and public relations at the Texas A&M veterinary college. She did not know how many additional members were called into action. VET, which formed in 2010, is designed to respond to official state requests for …
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Nestlé Purina Launches GI Diagnostic AppSeptember 8, 2011 Nestlé Purina Petcare of St. Louis has launched an app designed to aid veterinary staff in diagnosing gastrointestinal issues in cats and dogs. The Purina Veterinary Diets GI Diagnostic App, available in the Apple App Store, works like a digital version of the company’s GI Quick Guide, allowing iPhone and iPad users to streamline the diagnosis of GI issues, according to Kristine Costello, manager of veterinary digital communications for Nestlé Purina Petcare. The program uses algorithms to aid in localizing GI conditions and considers history, physical exams and test results in helping to make a diagnosis. It also traces normal and abnormal signs, rules out issues and suggests steps to resolve the issue. The app covers symptoms such as anorexia, constipation, diarrhea, flatulence, regurgitation, vomiting and weight loss. The GI Diagnostic App will be available for Android devices this fall, the company said.
AAHA And Heska Team Up To Launch Online CE SeriesSeptember 6, 2011The American Animal Hospital Organization and Heska Corp. of Loveland, Colo., will launch an online continuing education series in October. The “Solve It!" program will challenge members of veterinary practice teams to solve real-life cases under an added element of mystery. Points will be awarded to teams for participation and accuracy. The team earning the most points at the end of the year will receive new diagnostic laboratory analyzers from Heska. The presentation will be made at the 2012 AAHA Conference, which is scheduled for March 15-18 in Denver. The first part of the series, “The Case of the Limping Poodle,” will be unveiled in October. Other cases will follow each month, culminating in a series overview at the AAHA Conference. Participants can earn up to 13 CE hours through the series and attendance at the conference, according to Tom Workman, Heska's national training manager. To register, visit the AAHA website at www.aahanet.org.
FDA Warns Of Fracture Risk With Vet Jet Vaccination SystemSeptember 6, 2011 The Food and Drug Administration issued a warning today about a possible fracture risk associated with the use of the Vet Jet transdermal vaccination device. The Vet Jet is sold by Duluth, Ga.-based Merial as the exclusive delivery system for the company’s Purevax Recombinant Feline Leukemia Vaccine and is manufactured by Bioject Inc. of Tualatin, Ore. The FDA was made aware of three “adverse event reports” involving the use of the Vet Jet on kittens, the administration said. In each of two of those cases, the user may have failed to properly lock the device’s nozzle into place before using it, causing the nozzle to dislodge and fracture the femur of the kitten being vaccinated. Update: Merial spokeswoman Natasha Mahanes said the company is investigating the cases, revising the device's instructions and sending letters to all Vet Jet users advising them to follow the proper nozzle locking procedure. <HOME>
APHIS Accepting Comments On Dog Importation Rule ChangeSeptember 2, 2011 The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) proposed a rule Wednesday that would require any dogs imported into the United States be accompanied by rabies and health certifications along with an APHIS-issued permit. A 2008 amendment to the Animal Welfare Act required that all imported dogs to be in good health and at least 6 months old and to have received all necessary vaccinations. The amendment did not specify how the regulations would be administered, and the task fell to APHIS. The rabies and health certifications would have to include the signature and license number of the issuing veterinarian as well as the name and address of the person intending to import the dog. Limited exceptions would be made for dogs entering the United States for veterinary treatment or research purposes or into Hawaii. From 2005 to 2010, an average of 17,000 dogs a year were imported into the United States, accounting for less than 1 percent of the nation's total dog population, according to APHIS. Comments on the rule change can be submitted until Oct. 31, 2011, at www.regulations.gov.
APHIS Reopens Comment Period For CEM Rule ChangeSeptember 1, 2011 The Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) delayed enforcement of an interim rule relating to the importation of horses from companies affected with contagious equine metritis (CEM) and re-opened the issue for public comment. The interim rule, originally put into effect in March, requires additional certification requirement for imported horses 731 days of age or younger and adds new testing protocols for test mares and imported stallions and mares more than 731 days of age. APHIS is considering two changes to the requirements for the testing protocols. First, rather than requiring three sets of cultures to be collected from imported stallions, the proposed change would require only one culture to be collected. Second, instead of requiring all three cultures from imported and test mares to be taken from either the distal cervix or the endometrium, only the third culture taken would have such a requirement. APHIS will accept public comments on the proposed change through September 7. Comments can be submitted digitally at http://www.regulations.gov/#!documentDetail;D=APHIS-2008-0112-0020 or via mail at Docket No. APHIS-2008-0112, Regulatory Analysis and Development, PPD, APHIS, Station 3A-03.8, 4700 River Road Unit 118, Riverdale, MD 20737-1238
Study: Early Separation From Litter Increases Chances Of Behavioral ProblemsAugust 24, 2011 Puppies separated from their litters early on are significantly more likely to develop potentially problematic behaviors as adults than puppies that stay with the litter for at least two months, according to a study released today by Veterinary Record. The study, conducted by Italian veterinarians, examined the prevalence of certain behaviors in 140 dogs, half of which were separated from their litter at 30 to 40 days and half of which had been taken from the litter at 60 days. The dogs’ owners, who were clients of several veterinary practices in Naples, Italy, were all asked to complete a telephone survey about their pets, which were, at the time, between 18 months to seven years old. Half of the dogs had come from a pet shop, one in three had come from a friend or relative and the remainder had come from a breeder. The survey included questions about the dogs’ origin, breed and a range of potentially problematic behaviors. Such behaviors included destructiveness, excessive barking, possessiveness around food and/or toys, attention seeking, aggressiveness, play biting, fearfulness on walks and reactivity to noises. Attention seeking and reactivity to noises were the most commonly reported behaviors, …
Merck Appoints New President Of Merck Animal HealthAugust 24, 2011 DeLuca, 48, will take the reins on Sept. 15 from former president of Merck Animal Health Raul Kohan, who decided to retire from the company. Kohan will remain with Merck Animal Health through the end of the year to assist with the transition process. “This is a wonderful time to join Merck, with its commitment to growing its animal health business,” DeLuca said. “I look forward to working with the talented managers and employees in ensuring that the division is a best-in-class global animal health leader." DeLuca previously served as chief financial officer of BD Biosciences and prior to that was president of Wyeth’s Fort Dodge Animal Health division. In his new role, DeLuca “will leverage the division’s strong product portfolio and customer focus to capitalize on new growth opportunities, including expanding the business in emerging markets,” the company reported. “We believe [Merck Animal Health] is well positioned in a number of fast-growing segments within the global animal health market,” said Merck president and CEO Kenneth Frazier. <Home>
Lewis Sees Exciting Times For Pfizer Animal Health, Despite UncertaintyAugust 23, 2011 Ever since Pfizer Inc. hired J.P. Morgan in July to evaluate strategic options for its animal health business, the unit has faced increased scrutiny and speculation. The parent company is considering divesting the unit to focus more on its core human health care business and please shareholders. Animal health contributed about $3.6 billion to Pfizer’s $68 billion in total revenues in 2010. In an interview with Veterinary Practice News, Clint Lewis, president of U.S. operations for Pfizer Animal Health, said the company is excited about the future, whatever that may be. He also discusses a range of other topics, including Pfizer’s forays into diagnostics and generics and the economic challenges facing the veterinary profession today. VPN: With the announcement from Pfizer Inc. that it has retained J.P. Morgan to explore strategic alternatives for the Pfizer Animal Health unit, how is it to manage Pfizer Animal Health with employees and customers perhaps wondering about the future? Lewis: It has been a mantra for us both inside the organization and outside as we engage with customers, partners and other stakeholders, that these are very exciting times. These are exciting times for Pfizer and Pfizer Animal Health specifically, even …
MedRx Veterinary Division Acquired, Renamed OtoVet-USAAugust 23, 2011 Venture capital firm DermaZoo of Boca Raton, Fla., acquired the veterinary division of MedRx, which will be rebranded as a new company called OtoVet-USA, the company reported today. OtoVet-USA will continue the MedRx veterinary division’s specialization in video-otoscopy technology for animals. The new company will display its products under the OtoVet-USA brand next week at the Central Veterinary Conference (CVC) in Kansas City. OtoVet-USA CEO Steven Melman, VMD, spearheaded the acquisition and said the new company will focus on a “service first” approach for customers through continuing education, webinars and seminars. Veterinarians including Lou Gotthelf, DVM, and Jessica Melman, VMD, will provide technical support to OtoVet customers. Dr. Gotthelf, long associated with MedRx, will continue to conduct seminars and wet labs and consult for the company, Dr. Melman said. Current MedRx veterinary customers will be offered new service contracts and all current equipment warranties will be honored, according to Dr. Melman. OtoVet-USA will also offer support through its website. “It’s a natural extension, since we worked closely [with MedRx] for years, to buy their assets and present them in a new and improved way to the veterinary community,” said Melman, who …
