North Carolina Universities Team Up To Combat CancerMay 15, 2009 The North Carolina State University’s College of Veterinary Medicine and the University of North Carolina’s Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center have partnered to help combat non-Hodgkin lymphoma in canine and human patients. The disease is biologically similar in canines and humans, but is much easier to narrow down problematic areas in a dog’s genome because the genetic variation among dogs of the same breed is so much lower than genetic variation in humans, according to the universities. “Non-Hodgkin lymphoma ranks fifth in cancer deaths among human patients, and the mortality rate for dogs is even higher,” said Steven Suter, VMD, Ph.D., Dipl. ACVIM, professor of clinical sciences, who will help lead the NC State component. “By combining the strengths of our programs, we expect to enhance our understanding of the disease and speed improved treatments for people and pets. This is another example of ‘One Health,’ the concept of comparative medicine that acknowledges human and animal health relies on a common pool of medical and scientific knowledge and is supported by overlapping technologies and discoveries.” Labs from both institutions will study tissue samples from human and canine patients. The team said …
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California Spay/Neuter Bill Sent To Suspense FileMay 13, 2009 Legislation in California that seeks to mandate spay and neuter surgery for most cats and dogs has been placed on the suspense file pending further review. Senate Bill 250, introduced in February by Sen. Dean Florez, requires that dogs be spayed or neutered unless their owner gets an unaltered dog license. It also requires that roaming cats be spayed and neutered. The Senate Appropriations Committee analysis on SB 250 states that the bill has costs associated with it in the short term. As a result, it was placed on a list with other bills which have a fiscal impact on state and local governments. All bills placed on the suspense file are scheduled to be taken up together at a later date. Staff and lawmakers review all bills that are projected to cost more than $150,000, and then decide which bills will be released to the committee and voted on. <HOME> Related article: California State Senator Introduces Spay/Neuter Bill
Imulan Names New Chief Scientific OfficerMay 12, 2009 Imulan BioTherapeutics LLC of St. Joseph, Mo., has named Daniel Gingerich, DVM, as its chief scientific officer. As such, he will oversee all research and development operations for the company’s T-Cell Receptor Peptides, Lymphocyte T-Cell Immune Modulator and the Immune Selective Anti-Inflammatory Derivatives. Dr. Gingerich will also coordinate the regulatory trials for atopic dermatitis, stomatitis, viral diseases and cardiovascular programs. Gingerich has held senior research positions with a variety of veterinary and human pharmaceutical and life science companies, such as Cincinnati-based Stolle Milk Biologics Inc. and Fort Dodge Laboratories, a division of Wyeth in Madison, N.J. “We are fortunate to have Dr. Gingerich join the team,” said Craig Woods, DVM, chief executive officer of Imulan. “He brings a world of experience in clinical trial design, regulatory affairs and immunology which will facilitate development of our new immune-based treatments and biologics.” In related news, Imulan reported positive echocardiographic findings from a recent pilot trial using its T-Cell Receptor peptides for canine dilated cardiomyopathy. “For the first time, we may have documented the clinical relevance of the link between immune modulation and therapeutic intervention in canine cardiomyopathy,” Gingerich said. “Our findings suggest an …
Winn Feline Foundation To Host Symposium On June 25May 11, 2009 The Winn Feline Foundation will hold its 31st Annual Symposium on Feline Health at the Renaissance Esmeralda Resort & Spa in Indian Wells, Calif., on June 25 from 4 p.m. – 6:30 p.m. The symposium is open to veterinarians, veterinary technicians and pet owners. Michael Lappin, DVM, Ph.D., Dipl. ACVIM, professor of Small Animal Medicine at Colorado State University, will discuss “Vaccination and Systemic Disease in Cats.” Dr. Lappin’s research shows that cats not only develop antibodies to the antigens in vaccines as intended, but they also develop antibodies to components of the feline kidney cell culture system used to produce vaccines. Lappin asks the question, is it possible that over-vaccination induces antibodies that are associated with immune-mediated kidney disease in cats? Jane Brunt, DVM, executive director of the CATalyst Council, will discuss “CATalyst: Improving the Status of Cats.” Specifically, Dr. Brunt will talk about how veterinarians can help raise the level of health and welfare of cats. The council is a national initiative to champion the cat in light of the statistics that show a decline in veterinary visits for cats. The symposium, supported by …
Banfield’s New Program Helps Pets Of Hospice PatientsMay 8, 2009 The Banfield Charitable Trust recently launched a new program to help provide care for the pets of hospice patients nationwide. “Pet Peace of Mind,” which will be supported, in part, by donations in Banfield Pet Hospitals during the month of May, aims to allow hospice patients to complete their end-of-life journey without worrying about the current or future needs of their pets. The program provides training and funding for hospices to start local programs that deliver volunteer pet care services for patients who are unable to care for their pets while in hospice. Components include financial assistance with routine veterinary care, pet transportation to veterinary appointments, pet boarding and walking, access to pet food and necessary medicine and a new home for the pet once the patient has passed. “Pet Peace of Mind” was inspired by a program created by Delana Taylor McNac and the team at Hospice of Green Country in Tulsa, Okla. “Many hospices want to start a pet care program, but in most cases, the independent funding they secure goes toward filling gaps in their operating budgets,” said Dianne McGill, executive director and chief executive …
LSU Welcomes 17 Vet Students To Summer Scholars ProgramMay 7, 2009 The Louisiana State University School of Veterinary Medicine has accepted 17 first- and second-year veterinary students to take part in it its Summer Scholars Program. The program is an introduction to biomedical research through research-driven activities, aimed at encouraging innovative studies in human and animal diseases. It is funded by the Merck-Merial Veterinary Scholar Program, a grant from the National Institutes of Health and research funds from the Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences. Each student will receive a $5,200 stipend. Merck-Merial will also sponsor the students’ participation at the 2009 Merck-Merial Symposium on Aug. 6-8 at North Carolina State University, where research will be presented by students from the participating veterinary schools. To participate in the program, the students developed their own research plan proposals with the guidance of a faculty member. A faculty committee selected the participants based on the proposals. The recipients of the Merck-Merial Summer Research Awards and their project titles are: • Andrea Dedeaux (Class of 2011) from Metairie, La. “Development of A Point of Care Screening Test for Canine Leptospirosis.” Her faculty mentor is Dr. Mark Acierno, assistant professor of companion animal medicine. …
Study: Obese Horses Less Likely To Recover From LaminitisMay 6, 2009 Overweight horses and ponies that develop laminitis tend to have more severe signs than those of optimal weight, according to a new study by the British Equine Veterinary Association, which documented about 107 cases over the period of four years. About 83 percent of the cases were overweight. “When laminitis does occur, overweight animals are more likely to die of the disease than their thinner counterparts,” said Celia Marr, BVMS, Ph.D., principal investigator and veterinary surgeon. “The animals with the best outcome tended to be those that had received acepromazine, a drug that improves the blood supply to the feet and relaxes the animal. Horse owners and vets are encouraged to ensure that horses and ponies are not allowed to become excessively fat as this can have a significant effect on their health, as we have seen in this study.” The study was sponsored by the British Veterinary Association Animal Welfare Foundation and Merial of Duluth, Ga. <HOME> Overweight horses and ponies that develop laminitis tend to have more severe signs than those of optimal weight, according to a new study by the British Equine Veterinary Association, which documented …
On Becoming A Food Animal Vet In Modern AmericaMay 6, 2009 Veterinary students are less willing to tackle the hardships of a career in veterinary medicine now that the economic forces on earning a buck off the backs of food animals are skewed against them. So says “Marketplace,” which rolls up all the economic news into an irresistible, abbreviated rush-hour show on National Public Radio. Hence, it doesn’t get much of a chance to provide the depth that many economic events and issues deserve. That’s why I wrote “Marketplace” a little note about its brief treatment of a rare veterinary segment. Dear Marketplace: Thank you for addressing the issues surrounding the dwindling supply of food animal veterinarians in this country. Americans deserve to understand the complexity involved in bringing animals to the dinner table. Showcasing my profession’s often overlooked role in the process is an excellent way to do that. However, as a veterinarian who once strongly considered entering the field of food animal medicine, I’m concerned that your focus on the economic factors may do a disservice to the larger issues at play. Indeed, veterinarians have many reasons for electing a career in agriculture medicine and it is my view that financial …
Heska’s Companion Animal Segment Sees Increase In Annual RevenueMay 6, 2009 Heska Corp.’s Companion Animal Division reported product revenue of $13.4 million in the fourth quarter ended Dec. 31, down 22 percent from the year-ago period. However, year to date, the division reported product revenue of $67 million, up 2 percent. Heska’s other segment, which consists of vaccines and pharmaceuticals, reported product revenue of $1.7 million in the fourth quarter, down 34 percent from the year-ago period. Year to date, the segment saw revenue of $13.3 million, down 11 percent from the year-ago period. Overall, the Loveland, Colo., company reported a fourth-quarter net loss of $1.9 million on revenue of $15.4 million, compared to a net income of $30.4 million on revenue of $20 million in the year-ago period. Year to date, Heska reported a net loss of $850,000 on revenue of $81.7 million, compared to a net income of $34.8 million on revenue of $82.3 million in the year-ago period. <HOME>
The Omentum Is Your FriendMay 6, 2009 The Omentum Is Your FriendThe Omentum Is Your Friend05-05-2009surgicalinsightsBy Phil Zeltzman, DVM, Dipl. ACVS We’ve all heard it: “The omentum is a surgeon’s best friend.” It is “the abdominal policeman” and “the forgotten organ.” So how can we use it to our advantage in surgery? In the Abdomen The omentum is mostly used in the abdominal cavity. After a gastrotomy, the omentum can be loosely sutured near the incision, effectively creating an omentopexy. . After an enterotomy or enterectomy, the intestine can be wrapped in omentum. Sutures are not even necessary. Omental wrapping, or augmentation, should be done after lavage has been performed. . Similarly, the bladder can be covered with omentum after a cystotomy. Used in this fashion, the omentum promotes vascularization. It brings fibroblasts to the surgical site and enhances healing. The omentum also can help reconstruct the abdominal wall. For example, it can be used between nylon mesh and the skin. The omentum may contain and fight septic peritonitis. It can be used to control mild hemorrhage from the liver or the spleen, as it has …
