Human-Animal Bond Group Forms Initial Steering CommitteeJuly 20, 2011 The Human Animal Bond Research Initiative Foundation (HABRI), a recently incorporated nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting the positive role animals play in the health and well being of people and communities, announced today the members of its initial steering committee, as well as three association supporters. The initial HABRI steering committee members are the American Humane Association; American Veterinary Medical Association; Central Garden and Pet Co.; Hartz; Hill’s Pet Nutrition; Morris Animal Foundation; Natural Balance; Petsmart; Radio Systems Corp.; Segrest Farms, funded by Allen Levey; Sergeants; and Wellpet. In addition, the Pet Industry Distributors Association, The Pet Care Trust and the Pet Industry Joint Advisory Council have joined HABRI at the association supporter level. “We are pleased that these companies, organizations and industry leaders recognize the importance of HABRI’s efforts and have joined us to support research, education, advocacy and a national commitment to the positive impact of the human-animal bond,” said Bob Vetere, president the American Pet Products Association, which along with Petco and Pfizer Animal Health is a founding sponsor of HABRI. “Together with their support we are poised to help others come to understand what we already know, that the human-animal bond has …
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Merck Animal Health Expands Netherlands Vaccine PlantJuly 20, 2011 Merck Animal Health is expanding a vaccine manufacturing facility at its Biosciences Center, Boxmeer campus in the Netherlands. The $18 million expansion doubles the company’s tissue culture department capacity where antigens for viral and parasitological vaccines are manufactured. The existing facility manufactures more than 100 different vaccines and is expected to be operational with the expansion by 2013. The manufacturing increased ability will allow for larger general production and large-scale emergency production of veterinary vaccines within a short time period such as during outbreaks of emerging diseases. “Animal health is an important part of Merck’s business going forward and the company is committed to the strategic development of the animal health business,” said Dr. John T. McCubbins, senior vice president for animal health manufacturing at Merck Animal Health. The tissue culture department specializes in biotechnological production processes that require high flexibility, using roller bottles, cell factories and other cell and virus culture and purification systems. In 2010, the department produced 12 different antigens, totaling almost 300 million vaccine doses for cattle, horses, dogs, cats, fish and swine. “The investment in the extension of the tissue culture department here in Boxmeer is of significant importance as …
BioVeteria Licenses Regenerative Technology For Cartilage And BoneJuly 20, 2011 BioVeteria Life Sciences LLC, an Arizona-based bioscience company, has licensed an orally active cartilage and bone repair technology called ANABU from the Canadian Arthritis Network (CAN). The technology showed the ability to stimulate cartilage cell proliferation, enhance bone repair and preserve cartilage and bone architecture in severe models of arthritis, according to its maker. Common disorders found in veterinary medicine such as osteochondrosis dessicans, fracture repair, bone cysts and navicular disease may be treated using this new technology. “We are very excited to be working with CAN on this new technology,” said Craig Woods DVM, MS, MBA, general manager for BioVeteria. “The technology represents a significant advancement in veterinary orthopedics and proposes to improve our understanding on new techniques for cartilage and bone regeneration. In addition, our comparative work in dogs and horses will benefit our understanding for human medicine.” The technology is an optimized glucosamine derivative and was developed by Tassos Anastassiades, MD, PhD, professor of medicine and biochemistry and head of the division of rheumatology at Queen's University in Kingston, Ontario. The lead compound was evaluated in vitro and in vivo. “CAN is very pleased to be working with BioVeteria,” said Johnathan Riley, …
BVA Responds To Union Recruitment CampaignJuly 19, 2011 Unite the Union, a British and Irish trade union, launched a recruitment campaign for those working in veterinary practices and set up a professional advisory committee within its health sector. The British Veterinary Association (BVA) today made a statement regarding their sentiment toward the campaign. “Those working in veterinary practice have always been able to join Unite or any other trade union and it is unclear whether vets are actually being offered anything new in this recruitment campaign," said Dr. Harvey Locke, president of the BVA. “The BVA provides the majority of services traditionally offered by a union and we are constantly working to improve our services to support the veterinary team.” Dr. Locke said in the past two years the BVA has developed mediation and legal representation services to help members through difficult issues in the workplace. The BVA’s 24/7 legal helpline receives approximately 600 calls a year on employment and personal issues. The BVA is a stakeholder of the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons, Department for Environmental Food and Rural Affairs, Welsh, Scottish and Northern Ireland administrations and represents members on issues such as pet travel, bovine tuberculosis and medicine regulations.
U Of F Offers Urinary Treatment OptionsJuly 19, 2011 University of Florida (UF) veterinarians expanded treatment capabilities for animals that suffer from urinary obstructions ranging from cancer to kidney stones. UF veterinarians are treating cancer of the urethra in dogs through a combination of high-dose targeted radiation and chemotherapy. Last year veterinary oncologists devised a treatment for cancers in the bladder neck, an area of thick muscle where the bladder joins the urethra. “Most veterinarians aren’t aware that we can treat tumors in the bladder neck by surgically removing the area containing the cancer and then moving the ureters into a healthy part of the bladder,” said Nick Bacon, a clinical assistant professor of surgical oncology at the UF Small Animal Hospital. “Frequently, veterinarians will tell their clients that with cancer of the bladder neck that there is nothing that can be done, so we feel it’s important to get the word out that at UF we have the ability to help them.” UF veterinarians say they removed a cancerous tumor in the bladder neck in a mixed-breed dog named Tucker following up with chemotherapy treatments. “He was doing well, until around six months after surgery, when we began to see small tumor growth …
Physical Rehab, Integrative Medicine As Growth OpportunitiesJuly 18, 2011 These are difficult times for many small businesses, and veterinary practices are no exception. Prior to the recession, industry reports indicated a declining trend in several metrics, including patient visits, transactions and new clients. Confirmation of this decline came earlier this year with the release of the Bayer Veterinary Care Usage Study. This study compiled industry data, extensively surveyed pet owners and presented it in a format that left little room for interpretation. The study also confirmed that declining veterinary metrics are not a result of a shrinking potential market base. From 1996-2006 the number of pets owned in the U.S. grew at a steady rate of approximately 10 million per year, but the number of veterinary visits, which had matched or exceeded this rate of growth until 2001, fell flat and began a slow decline. To reverse this trend, our profession needs to evaluate our ability to convert pet owners into active, educated clients. If there is a bright side, it is that the average per-transaction dollar amount has continued to grow, in most cases as a result of incremental fee increases. Yet even these increases have been unable to make up for the declining …
Partnership For Preventive Pet Healthcare EstablishedJuly 18, 2011 A new Partnership for Preventive Pet Healthcare was announced today at the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) Convention in St. Louis. The partnership was created to address an increase in the prevalence of preventable pet health conditions. The stated goal of the partnership is to provide guidance and ensure that veterinary visits lead to early detection and prevention to extend pets’ quality of life. Despite a growing pet population, fewer pets are seen for routine veterinary exams, according to the AVMA. Experts agree that the exam decrease is linked to an increase in preventable and treatable illnesses in pets and say veterinarians could do more to communicate benefits of preventive healthcare. "It is important that we recognize that, as a profession, we have to be better at educating pet owners regarding the importance of preventive care and of the unique role that veterinarians play in enhancing the relationship between pet owners and their best friends," said Michael Moyer, VMD, president of AAHA. Initial plans of the partnership include creating tools for veterinarians to communicate the value of preventive care to pet owners. Educational and awareness initiatives directed toward pet owners are also planned with launch …
FDA To Evaluate Salmonella RiskJuly 18, 2011 The Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) Center for Veterinary Medicine (CVM) is looking for participants in a cooperative agreement to enhance the center’s ability to evaluate Salmonella-contaminated feed risk on human and animal health. CVM is seeking applications that will provide information on the prevalence of Salmonella in fecal samples from symptomatic and asymptomatic dogs and cats brought to veterinary clinics to gain further insight into the frequency of Salmonella infected animals following feed contamination. The cooperative agreements will be with CVM’s Veterinary Laboratory Response Network (Vet-LRN), a program that coordinates facilities, equipment and professional expertise of U.S. and Canadian government and veterinary diagnostic laboratories. Eligibility requirements to apply for a Vet-LRN agreement are demonstrating an adequate veterinary case load at the institution, technical expertise and ability to conduct the appropriate volume of cultures. Applicants will be evaluated as to their accreditation status and geographical location to provide program balance and a diverse patient population. The deadline for submission of applications is Aug. 15. Cooperative agreements will be available for up to $60,000 in total costs for a year, with the possibility of a second year of funding. <Home>
Doctors And Veterinarians Warn About Dangers Of LeishmaniasisJuly 15, 2011 About 300 veterinarians from around the globe met in June at the International Symposium of experts on Human and Canine Leishmaniasis in Madrid. Veterinarians discussed keys to eradicating Leishmaniasis and how the disease affects the population in Spain and in other countries. Leishmaniasis is a parasitic disease spread by the bite of the sandfly. Cutaneous leishmaniasis affects the skin and sometimes the mucus membranes. Symptoms include skin sores, which may become a skin ulcer that heals slowly, ulcers and wearing away in the mouth, tongue, gums, lips and inner nose, stuffy nose, runny nose and nosebleeds and difficulty breathing and swallowing. A systemic visceral infection can cause abdominal discomfort, cough, vomiting and diarrhea in children, a fever that lasts for weeks and may come and go in cycles, night sweats, scaly, gray, dark, ashen skin, thinning hair and weight loss. Dr. Guadalupe Miró, professor at the department of parasitology and parasitic diseases at the Complutense University in Madrid, and Dr. Rogelio López-Vélez, head of the Tropical Medicine Unit of the Infectious Diseases Service at the Ramón and Cajal Hospital in Madrid, took part in the symposium and explained the keys to the clinical treatment of the …
AVMA Releases Video On DeclawingJuly 15, 2011The American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) released an educational video for cat owners on declawing and its alternatives. The video offers guidance for pet owners considering declawing their cats. “Scratching is a normal cat behavior used to mark territory, condition claws and stretch,” said Bruce Nixon, DVM, incoming chair of the AVMA Animal Welfare Committee. “Unwanted clawing can be reduced by providing cats with suitable scratching surfaces, regularly trimming their nails and using synthetic nail caps. While our priority is to avoid declawing through the use of these alternatives, there are situations in which declawing may be necessary. If that's the case, aggressive pain management is absolutely necessary.” AVMA policy says veterinarians must educate cat owners regarding the decision to declaw their cat. The AVMA recommends that declawing be considered only after attempts have been made to prevent the cat from destructive clawing or when clawing presents the risk of an injury or disease. The video can be downloaded here. The video demonstrates a laser declaw procedure and provides owners with information about cats’ normal scratching behaviors, other types of declaw procedures and the importance of pain management. <Home>
