Hartz On The Hunt For Animal Shelters In NeedDecember 16, 2009 The Hartz Mountain Corp., a Secaucus, N.J.-based manufacturer of pet care products, is calling on the public to nominate animal shelters in need of pet supply donations. The company, through its Hartz Shelter Donation Program, plans to give away $1 million-worth of its products to animal shelters in North America. Hartz launched its donation program this past summer with the aim of providing assistance to animal shelters in the U.S. and Canada during these tough economic times. According to the company, more than 800,000 American families lost their homes to foreclosure in 2009 and, in some cases, could no longer afford to keep their pets. As a result, shelters are overflowing with abandoned animals, but donations are down by as much as 30 percent, the company reported. At the time of the program’s launch, Hartz pledged to donate a total of $3 million-worth of its pet supplies. So far, Hartz has donated $2 million worth of pet supplies, such as treats, collars and grooming products, for an array of animals. Now the company is accepting nominations of shelters that would benefit from the remaining $1 million-worth of supplies available. Due to the way Hartz stores and …
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Workshop At NAVC Aims To Empower Vets In Their PracticeDecember 16, 2009 Summit VetPharm will be sponsoring a workshop on Jan. 17 at the North American Veterinary Conference in Orlando, Fla., about how inspired thinking and the dynamics of group interaction can help motivate staff. “The Power of You” workshop will feature insights, skill-building techniques and practical advice from three consulting speakers on key ways to build practice success, according to the Rutherford, N.J.-based company. The line up of speakers include Sheila Campbell, founder of Wild Blue Yonder and an instructor at John Hopkins University; Christine Merle, DVM, MBA, CVPM, executive director of VetPartners and a consultant with the Brakke Veterinary Practice Management Group; and Byron Farquer, DVM, who’s work focuses on ownership transition planning and practice valuation. The workshop is pending RACE-approved CE credit. Attendees can participate in drawings that will be held for prizes, including an iPod touch and a Kindle Wireless Reading Device. Everyone who attends will also be entered for a chance to win a $5,000 grand prize a day of on-site consultation with their choice of one of “The Power of You” speakers. Anyone who pre-registers by midnight Jan. 15 will receive an additional entry for the grand prize drawing. …
Virbac To Launch Pet Dental CampaignDecember 15, 2009 Virbac Animal Health of Fort Worth, Texas, reported Dec. 15 that it will launch its “Clean Every Tooth Pet Home Dental Care” campaign in January to help educate pet owners on the importance of making their pet’s dental health part of their daily routine. The campaign, which will provide veterinarians with client education materials supports the annual National Pet Dental Month in February. “Professional dental cleanings are vital,” said Denise Skurdalsvold, senior marketing manager for Virbac. “And we’ve now learned that home care, in-between cleanings, is also critical to protect a pet’s teeth and overall health. With C.E.T. [Clean Every Tooth], it’s our hope that prevention of dental disease will become as natural to pet owners as vaccinations and heartworm prevention.” The C.E.T. Pet Home Dental Care allows veterinarians to recommend the most appropriate home dental care program based on each patient’s stage of disease and the owner’s ability to comply with recommendations. For example, a home dental program may include C.E.T. Chews, Aquadent Drinking Water Additive and/or tooth brushing. The C.E.T. “3 Easy Options” to dental health touts: Good to Chew, Better to Rinse, Best to Brush. “By recommending daily …
Pfizer's H1N1 Vaccine For Swine Flu Receives Conditional ApprovalDecember 14, 2009Pfizer's H1N1 Vaccine for Swine Flu Receives Conditional ApprovalPfizer's H1N1 Vaccine for Swine Flu Receives Conditional ApprovalnewslinePosted: Monday, Dec. 14, 2009, 6:29 p.m., EST Pfizer Animal Health has received a conditional product license for its Swine Influenza Vaccine, designed to protect swine herds from the H1N1 strain of swine influenza virus. The vaccine has been approved by the U.S. Department of Agriculture for vaccination of healthy swine, including pregnant sows and gilts, three weeks of age or older. Earlier this year, the USDA provided a master seed of the H1N1 strain to multiple manufacturers in anticipation of potential transmission in swine herds. Pfizer Animal Health reported that it is the first U.S. biologics manufacturer to receive a USDA conditional license for this new vaccine. "This new vaccine was developed from the USDA master seed virus and helps protect pigs against current H1N1 strains circulating in humans and pigs," said Steve Sornsen, DVM, director of veterinary services for the New York-based company. "Serologic studies in pigs vaccinated with this vaccine showed an increase in antibody titers against the pandemic H1N1 strain." Local use of the new vaccine requires the approval of state veterinarians. Pfizer Animal Health reported that it's working …
Pet Carousel Recalls Pig Ears And Beef Hoof TreatsDecember 10, 2009 Pet Carousel Inc. of Sanger, Calif., issued on Dec. 9 a nationwide recall of its pig ears and beef hoof pet treats due to concerns of potential salmonella contamination. Pet Carousel manufactured the products under several brand names. The affected pig ear products were packaged under the brand names Doggie Delight, Pork Tasteez, and Pet Carousel. All sizes and all lots of these pig ear products, purchased on or after Aug. 16, are being recalled. Item numbers include: 18100-P Bulk . 18016-P 10-pk red mesh bag . 18120-P 20-pk red mesh bag The affected beef hooves were packaged under the brand names Choo Hooves, Dentley’s, Doggie Delight and Pet Carousel. Beef hoof products in all varieties, purchased on or after Sept. 16, are included in the recall. Item numbers include: 1506-K 5 lb. bulk . 1507-K 10 lb. bulk . 1520-K 20 lb. bulk .. 12125-T 10-pk vinyl bag . 12110-T 10-pk, vinyl bag . 12111-T 10-pk, vinyl bag . 12122-T 10 lb., bulk . 1503-K …
New Study Focuses On Why Many People Choose Not To Own A CatDecember 9, 2009 More than half of non-cat owners have an overall negative attitude toward cats, according to a new survey sponsored by Morris Animal Foundation, the American Pet Products Association and Maddie’s Fund. Top drivers for negative opinions were litter box smell, shedding, unprovoked biting and perceived inability for cats to get along with other pets. The online survey of 1,102 respondents, which was launched to gather information about perceptions of cats and likelihood of cat ownership among non-cat owners, also revealed that the three top-rated negative behaviors cited were “jumps on counters/tables,” “scratches furniture” and “spits up hairballs.” “Interestingly, the primary negative factors for not owning a cat can be readily addressed with appropriate behavioral training, scratching posts and specific diets,” said Patricia Olson, DVM, Ph.D., president and chief executive officer of Morris Animal Foundation. “If people had a better understanding of feline health and behavior, they might be more willing to adopt a cat.” Thirty-one percent of respondents indicated that they did not own a cat because someone in their household was allergic to cats. However, 10 percent of the non-cat owners said they would definitely or probably consider having a cat, and an additional …
Idexx Launches Canine And Feline H1N1 Influenza Virus TestDecember 9, 2009 Idexx Reference Laboratories of Westbrook, Maine, reported Dec. 8 that it has introduced a canine and feline H1N1 Influenza Virus RealPCR Test. The test, which is in response to concern about the spread of the virus, is designed to help veterinarians diagnose and manage patients with suspected respiratory infection. To date, H1N1 has been detected in cats, ferrets, pigs and birds, including turkeys. Two dogs in China also recently tested positive for the virus, according to the American Veterinary Medical Association, which cited the Xinhua News Agency on Nov. 28. Specifics of the China cases were not available at press time. “The clinical signs of the H1N1 virus are likely to resemble other canine and feline respiratory infections,” said Christian Leutenegger, DrVetMed, Ph.D., regional head of molecular diagnostics at Idexx Reference Laboratories. “Offering the H1N1 Influenza Virus RealPCR Test with the Feline Upper Respiratory Disease and Canine Respiratory Disease RealPCR panels will help practitioners identify and differentiate multiple causes of respiratory infection for improved diagnosis and patient management.” The same test is used to detect the virus in cats, dogs and other mammals, including ferrets, according to Dr. Leutenegger. The test uses real-time PCR technology, …
Pet Frogs Behind Nationwide Salmonella Outbreak, CDC SaysDecember 8, 2009 The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is collaborating with health officials across the U.S. to investigate a multistate outbreak of salmonella due to contact with water frogs, including African Dwarf Frogs. In an alert issued on Dec. 7, the CDC reported 48 illnesses in 25 states. Among the persons with reported dates available, illnesses began between June 24 and November 14. More than three-quarters of the patients are younger than 10 years old, and the median age is 4 years. No deaths have been reported, according to the CDC. Preliminary analysis suggests contact with frogs, including water frogs such as African Dwarf Frogs, is a likely source of the infections. Investigators found the salmonella strain in aquariums containing aquatic frogs in three homes of ill individuals, the CDC reported. The CDC recommends that pet store owners and others who sell or display amphibians and reptiles provide information to owners and potential purchasers about the risks of acquiring salmonellosis from these animals. Consumers are advised to wash their hands thoroughly with soap and water after touching any amphibian or a reptile and after handling their housing, food or anything that comes in contact with …
FDA Launches Pet Health And Safety WidgetDecember 8, 2009 The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) launched a pet health and safety widget on Dec. 8 as part of an ongoing effort to provide timely, user-friendly, public health information. Website administrators can embed widgets in Web pages or blogs to display featured content, in this case pet health and safety information provided by the FDA’s Center for Veterinary Medicine. It allows consumers to view the information without having to visit the FDA’s website. “We have a lot of information, a lot of important advice, and it’s very important for FDA to share that with the community that cares for pets,” said Joshua Sharfstein, M.D., FDA’s principal deputy commissioner. Specifically, the FDA’s pet health and safety widget will display such topics as how to report a problem with pet food, purchasing pet drugs online, and caring for pets in a disaster. The widget has two tabs, one titled “tips” and, the other, “updates.” The tips tab highlights pet health and safety articles. The updates tab will provide up-to-the-minute recall notices and veterinary drug news for consumers. Click here for the pet health and safety widget. <HOME>
Emerging Threat Of Canine InfluenzaDecember 7, 2009The growing range of influenza viruses has many people concerned about their risk of infection and the risk level of their pets. Private practitioners bear the brunt of inquiries and are being asked to make determinations of viral spread that stump virologists and epidemiologists. What is known about the canine influenza virus is that the country’s shelter populations and boarding facilities are at the highest risk. Experts say the virus could spread in a shelter environment as readily as other respiratory infections, including canine infectious tracheobronchitis, or kennel cough. But show dogs, race dogs, boarded dogs and even those that frequent dog parks are at heightened risk of exposure as well. “This is an emerging disease which is the impetus for all of the funding dollars going toward research,” says Wayne A. Jensen, DVM, Ph.D., MBA, chief scientific officer for Morris Animal Foundation. “There are all sorts of questions about this virus, and not a lot of knowledge. Our earlier concerns about the virus were that it would be deadly. Although it has largely been controlled, we need to quickly gather information as we don’t know the virus’ speed of mutation or full capabilities yet.” The U.S. strain of H3N8 …
