FDA Joins Vet2011May 26, 2010 The U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s Center for Veterinary Medicine has joined national and international veterinary groups in calling 2011 the World Veterinary Year, also being referred to as Vet2011. 2011 marks the 250th anniversary of veterinary education. The world’s first veterinary school was founded in Lyon, France, in 1761 at the initiative of French veterinarian Claude Bourgelat. By setting up the world’s first veterinary training institution, Bourgelat, in turn, created the veterinary profession itself, according to the World Organization for Animal Health and the other founding members of Vet2011. The aim in celebrating Vet2011 is to improve public awareness and remind policymakers that modern veterinarians are not only animal doctors and animal welfare advocates, but also key public health stakeholders because of their role in promoting food security by supervising animal production hygiene, controlling zoonoses, monitoring food quality and safety, biomedical research and protecting the environment and biodiversity. The official opening ceremony of the World Veterinary Year will take place in Versailles, France, on Jan. 24, 2011. The American Veterinary Medical Association will host a symposium on the topic during its annual convention, to be held July 16-19, 2011 in St. Louis, Mo.
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FDA And NIH Launch Website For Reporting Food And Drug Safety IssuesMay 25, 2010 The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the National Institutes of Health launched a new website on May 24, 2010 that allows consumers to report safety problems related to pet foods and treats, among other features. The Safety Reporting Portal is designed to provide consumers, veterinarians, animal drug manufacturers and other parties in the food and drug industries with a mechanism to report pre- and post-market safety information to the federal government. “The portal will be a key detection tool in improving the country’s nationwide surveillance system and will strengthen our ability to protect the nation’s health,” FDA commissioner Margaret Hamburg said. “We will now be able to analyze human and animal safety related events more quickly and identify those measures needed to protect the public.” The new website includes sections for the following: Reportable Food Registry - A more user-friendly electronic portal for submitting food reports as required by law. It collects reports from the food industry and public health officials regarding problems with food, including animal feed, that presents a reasonable probability of causing serious adverse heath consequences or death to humans or animals; . Pet Consumables …
Cuba Reports Rabbit Hemorrhagic Disease OutbreaksMay 24, 2010 Cuba has reported to the World Organization for Animal Health (OIE) two outbreaks of rabbit hemorrhagic disease. Rabbit hemorrhagic disease (RHD) is an extremely contagious and fatal viral disease of domesticated and wild rabbits belonging to the Oryctolagus cuniculus species, according to OIE. Outbreaks have been reported at farms in Baragua and Venezuela. Both municipalities are located in Cuba’s Ciego de Avila province. In Baragua, Cuba’s ministry of agriculture reported 2345 rabbits as susceptible, 945 cases, 945 deaths and 1,400 rabbits as destroyed. In Venezuela, the ministry reported 140 rabbits as susceptible, 41 cases, 41 deaths and 99 destroyed. The first confirmation of the disease occurred on May 18. The outbreaks are still recorded as unresolved, according to OIE. Weekly follow-up reports will be submitted. The last outbreak of rabbit hemorrhagic disease reported in Cuba was in August 2005. According to OIE, the disease has always been confined to Cuba’s western provinces, but the recent occurrence has taken place in a province in the central-eastern region of the country. A disease emergency has been declared in the region and the neighboring areas. A disease alert has been declared for the entire country. The use …
Transforming Client AngerMay 21, 2010 It happens; clients get angry from time to time. Every position in the practice has had to deal with an angry client at some point. Clients get mad for a variety of reasons, but we can keep in mind some basic concepts no matter the reason. First, the angry client wants to be heard. Clients who are angry want the time and space to speak their mind. They need someone to give them that opportunity, or their anger will only increase. However, you do not necessarily want them to be heard by everyone in the lobby, so the first plan of action is to isolate the incident. This is typically done by escorting the client into an empty examination room or another place such as a comfort room or office. If there is no empty private space, then at least take the client to the quietest corner in an empty hallway or to the most remote end of the front counter, where you can give the client undivided attention and minimize the range. Then let them tell their side of the story. Come prepared both mentally and physically. Your attitude needs to be one of calm control …
Winn’s 32nd Symposium Slated For June 24May 21, 2010 Winn Feline Foundation Symposium is scheduled for June 24 in Minneapolis, Minn. The symposium, held annually for veterinary professionals and pet owners, will be held in conjunction with the Cat Fanciers’ Association meeting. Jody Lulich, DVM, Ph.D., Dipl. ACVIM, will present “Diagnosis, Treatment and Prevention of Feline Urinary Stones.” Dr. Lulich is the co-director of the Minnesota Urolith Center and holds the endowed Hills/Osborne Chair in Nephrology and Urology at the University of Minnesota. Lulich is known for the technique of voiding urohydropropulsion, a nonsurgical method to remove uroliths from the urinary bladder. Meghan Herron, DVM, Dipl. ACVB, will discuss “Feline Elimination Problems: Back to Basics for Prevention and Management.” Dr. Herron is head of the Behavioral Medicine Clinic at The Ohio State University Veterinary Hospital. She provides behavioral rehabilitation services to owners of companion animals with behavioral issues, including, but not limited to, human-directed aggression, inter-pet aggression, separation anxiety, inappropriate elimination, fears, phobias, compulsive behaviors and cognitive dysfunction. The conference offers two hours of continuing education credit. Click here to register. In related news, the Winn Feline Foundation is now accepting applications for 2010 grants. The grants are …
Banfield Names VP’s Of Professional Relations And Medical OperationsMay 20, 2010 Banfield, The Pet Hospital of Portland, Ore., has named Bob Lester, DVM, as its vice president for professional relations and Lee Nelson, DVM, as its vice president of medical operations. Dr. Lester will strengthen and build Banfield’s relationships with academia, the profession, industry and local and national veterinary organizations. Prior, Lester served as vice president of veterinary selection, where he led Banfield’s recruitment efforts and student job programs. “Dr. Lester is such a valuable resource to our practice; his guidance, leadership and dedication to Banfield have helped us recruit and retain excellent veterinarians throughout his 16-year tenure,” said Jeffrey Klausner, DVM, Dipl. ACVIM, senior vice president and chief medical officer for Banfield. “In his new role, Dr. Lester will help Banfield build awareness and understanding of our approach to preventive medicine and look for ways we can better collaborate with the industry and profession.” Dr. Nelson will provide leadership to regional medical directors, where she will aid in improving hospital operational efficiencies, doctor retention and client satisfaction. Prior, Nelson was a regional medical director, responsible for the medical quality and business performance of about 150 hospitals across nine states. “Dr. Nelson’s 10 years of exceptional …
Fellowships Aim To Boost Feline Health ResearchMay 19, 2010 The Morris Animal Foundation recently awarded two fellowships to promote feline health research. The Amanda Feline Fellowships were granted to Jessica Quimby, DVM, of Colorado State University, who will study chronic kidney disease therapy, and Smitha Pillai, BVSc, Ph.D., of The Ohio State University, who will study oral cancer treatment. Each will receive $100,000 for her two-year fellowship. The fellowships are fully funded by an anonymous cat enthusiast. “With this fellowship, I hope to discover why cats develop chronic kidney disease and to develop stem cell therapy for cats suffering from it,” said Dr. Quimby, a Ph.D. student who also works in the College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences at Colorado State. Dr. Pillai is working as a postdoctoral fellow in feline cancer pathogenesis and treatment. Specifically, she is examining a potential treatment for feline oral squamous cell carcinoma. Pillai hopes the drug combination she is studying will reduce tumor growth and bone invasion in cats suffering from this cancer. The fellowships are part of the foundation’s Happy Healthy Cat Campaign, which aims to raise pet owner awareness of feline health issues and to increase funding for feline health research and scientist training. …
Franck’s Suspends Veterinary Drug CompoundingMay 18, 2010 Franck’s Compounding Lab of Ocala, Fla., reported May 17, 2010 that it has voluntarily suspended all compounding drugs for veterinary use, pending the outcome of discussions with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. “Customized veterinary medicine — which we had prepared pursuant to a verified prescription - meet the critical needs of veterinarians and their patients,” the company said in a statement. “We are working with the FDA to resolve this issue as quickly as possible to determine whether it will permit us to resume compounding of these important veterinary medicines.” The FDA is currently seeking a permanent injunction against the company to prohibit Franck’s and its CEO Paul Franck from compounding animal drugs from bulk ingredients without FDA approval. The U.S. Department of Justice filed the civil suit on behalf of the FDA mid April alleging that the company has been introducing adulterated, misbranded and unsafe drugs into interstate commerce as part of the company’s veterinary pharmaceutical compounding business. Franck’s maintains that its business is both legal and medically vital. The company drew media attention when 21 polo horses died shortly before the U.S. Open Polo Championship in Palm Beach County, Fla., in April …
Parasite Education Tour Hits Southeastern U.S.May 18, 2010 The Companion Animal Parasite Council is hitting the road once again to educate veterinarians, staff members and pet owners on the importance of year-round parasite control in dogs and cats. This year’s Parasite Education Road Show Tour will focus on the southeastern United States, starting July 15 in Memphis, Tenn., and concluding July 31 in Atlanta, Ga., prior to the American Veterinary Medical Association’s conference. Veterinary meetings and pet owner events are scheduled in 15 cities. Last year’s tour of the western United States drew in almost 500 individuals. During the tour, CAPC will meet with veterinarians, technicians and human health professionals to present a continuing education program on vectors, vector-borne diseases and internal parasites. The technical program will be presented by CAPC board parasitologists Byron Blagburn, Ph.D., of Auburn University and Dwight Bowman, Ph.D., of Cornell University. CAPC will also conduct interviews with local media and hold events to educate pet owners on the importance of parasite control in protecting their pets and their families from zoonotic diseases associated with parasites. Mike Paul, DVM, executive director of CAPC, said that from coast-to-coast, the response from veterinarians and staff has been overwhelmingly positive. …
CATalyst Council Receives $25,000 Donation To Help Raise Image Of CatsMay 17, 2010 Veterinary Pet Insurance has donated $25,000 to the CATalyst Council, a nonprofit group founded to promote the health and welfare of cats. The CATalyst Council will use the funds to create and distribute educational materials to cat owners through veterinary clinics and shelters in conjunction with the American Humane Association’s Adopt-a-Cat-Month in June. Although cats are America’s No.1 companion animal, they often receive a far lower level of veterinary care than pet dogs, according to research conducted by the CATalyst Council. The group hopes to raise the level of care and welfare of cats supported by the highest quality veterinary care, preventative medicine and cat specific products. VPI’s data is consistent with the CATalyst Council’s research, according to the Brea, Calif.-based company. For example, despite the large population of cats in the United States, VPI reports that only about 13 percent of its pet insurance policies are for felines. As such, the pet insurance company recently began a nationwide rollout of its Feline SelectSM plan to help improve the opportunities for cats to be protected. The plan has benefits available for the 15 conditions most common to cats, according to VPI, including upset stomach, bladder infections, …
