How Far Should We Go To Save Our Pets?April 17, 2009 The media recently found a new bone to chew when it comes to reporting on the veterinary service industry. It involves hunting down the crazy ways in which we veterinarians manage to make our living, reporting the heck out of one or two impressive cases where it seems people will do almost anything for their pets, then juxtaposing these with what the expenses would amount to if, say, they were instead employed to feed a village of starving Ugandans. After a July story in the Boston Globe, I call it the “How Far Should We Go to Save Our Pets?” pig’s foot—as in, there’s not a lot of meat there but it goes a long way to satisfying people’s appetite for sensational news on stupid human tricks. This story played up the bizarre antics of one MIT professor’s quest to treat his pet goose Boswell’s leg cancer. Though the author ultimately exonerated the man on the grounds that he loves his goose as much as anyone does their dog or cat and, furthermore, went to great lengths to prove that Boswell was, indeed, personable enough to merit radiation therapy for his cancer, the …
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Foundations Against CancerApril 17, 2009 Formed through a joint venture of Pets Best Insurance and Oncura Partners, the non-profit Pet Cancer Foundation maintains a Web site that provides pet owners with information about pet cancer treatment options and veterinarians with a link to a free initial oncology consultation with Oncura’s board-certified veterinary oncologists. The initial consultation provides the referring veterinarian with an initial diagnosis and recommended treatment plan. For Oncura, it provides an opportunity to introduce its services to general practitioners. Pets Best, on the other hand, expects to benefit from goodwill generated by underwriting the site. It also expects that pet owners educated about treatment options for pet cancer may be more receptive to pet insurance. The site launched in February. Pet Cancer Foundation's Web site also links to the Morris Animal Foundation’s Web site. Morris Animal Foundation is running a separate Canine Cancer Campaign, in which it hopes to raise $30 million to fund research into the prevention and treatment of canine cancer. To date, major pledges to the campaign have come from Pfizer Animal Health ($1.1 million), Pets Best ($1 million), the Golden Retriever Foundation ($500,000), …
Sharn Names Metzger Animal Hospital Winner Of ‘Difference Maker Contest’April 17, 2009 Sharn Veterinary Inc. of Tampa, Fla., recently named Metzger Animal Hospital in State College, Penn., as the grand prize winner of its “Difference Maker Contest.” Sharn asked veterinarians and staff to tell a story demonstrating how using the Cardell Veterinary Blood Pressure Monitor made a significant or deciding difference in a life or death case. Staff member Jessica Wilson submitted three cases (surgery, emergency splenectomy and a routine dental) where monitoring blood pressure allowed the veterinarian to make changes that helped stabilize patients showing failing vital signs. The hospital will receive a Cardell MAX-12HD Multiparameter Monitor valued at $8,495. Kimberly Crest Veterinary Hospital in Davenport, Iowa, was named the runner up and will receive the Cardell 9500 HDCO Multiparameter Monitor valued at $5,995. There were also eight third place winners who received $100: All Kinds Veterinary Hospital in Callaway, Md. Sacramento Zoo, Sacramento, Calif. Animal Life Veterinary Center in Naples, Fla. For the Love of Cats (dba Compassionate Care Veterinary Center) in Randolph, Mass. Chase Farm Veterinary Hospital in Dartmouth, Mass. Valley Veterinary Hospital Ltd. in New Brunswick, Canada ANC Veterinary Dental Referral Center in New Rochelle, N.Y. Circle …
LSU Awards 3 Advanced DegreesApril 17, 2009 Three students enrolled in the Graduate Academic Studies Program at Louisiana State University's School of Veterinary Medicine received advanced degrees Friday. Peter Haynes, DVM, dean of the vet school, presided over the ceremony. Stephen Gaunt, DVM, Ph.D., professor of veterinary clinical pathology, served as the representative of the LSU Graduate Council and conferred the degrees. The recipients were: • Salim Alawneh of Irbid, Jordan, who received his Ph.D. from the Department of Pathobiological Sciences. His dissertation was titled “The Zinc Induction of Heme Oxygenase-1 Gene Promoter in Mouse Hepa Cells.” Alawneh’s major professor was James Miller, DVM, Ph.D., professor of epidemiology and community health. • Arun Venkatesh Iyer of Kalyan, India, who received his Ph.D. from the Department of Pathobiological Sciences. His dissertation was titled “Phylogentics and New Approaches to Vaccine Development for West Nile Virus.” Iyer’s major professor was Konstantin Kousoulas, Ph.D., professor of veterinary virology and director of the Division of Biotechnology and Molecular Medicine. • Sara Lyle, DVM, of Baton Rouge, La., who received her Ph.D. from the Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences. Her dissertation was titled “The Relationship Between Pro-inflammatory Cytokines, Prostaglandins and Fetal Hypothalmic-Pituitary-Adrenal Axis Activation in Mares With …
Winn Feline Foundation Awards 10 Research GrantsApril 17, 2009 The Winn Feline Foundation recently awarded 10 research grants totaling $135,860 to help fund feline health studies. The organization, which received 36 proposals from researchers around the world for 2008 funding, was pleased with the number of proposals, which showed a research interest in cats. Several of the funded studies focus on feline coronavirus. Gary Whittaker, Ph.D., of Cornell University, received $15,000 to study the molecular basis of feline coronavirus pathogenesis and the development of feline infectious peritonitis , or FIP. Dr. Whittaker is seeking a better understanding of why the virus, which typically resides in the gut of the cat, sometimes mutates to infect the cat’s immune system. H.F. Egberink, DVM, Ph.D., and P.J.M. Rottier, Ph.D., of Utrecht University in the Netherlands, will receive $15,000 for their efforts to identify the cellular receptor for feline coranaviruses, which cause FIP. Drs. Egberink and Rottier believe that the lack of knowledge about these receptor cells has created a bottleneck for research into the disease, thereby hindering efforts to develop vaccines and treatments for it. Saverio Paltrinieri, DVM, Ph.D., Dipl. ECVCP, of the University of Milan in Italy, received $14,780 to fund his work into blood …
Microchip Rules Added To Calif. Spay/Neuter BillApril 17, 2009 California Assembly Bill 1634, now called the California Responsible Pet Ownership Act, was amended in the state’s Senate today to mandate microchipping of certain problem pets and to give pet owners license fee discounts for microchipping and spaying or neutering their pets. The bill, which already proposed to increase fines for impounded intact animals, now mandates microchipping on the first or second impoundment by an animal control agency. Current law states that a pet owner of an animal that has not been spayed or neutered and is impounded by animal control will be fined $35 on the first occurrence, $50 on the second occurrence and $100 on the third occurrence. AB 1634 would increase the above fines for dog owners to $50 for the first occurrence, $100 and microchipping of the dog at the owner’s expense for the second occurrence and would require spaying or neutering of a dog at the third occurrence. Cat owners would need to pay $50 and microchip the pet at the owner’s expense for the first occurrence and would require spaying or neutering of the cat on the second occurrence. The amendment also eliminated violations of other animal control …
FDA Issues Cat Food WarningApril 17, 2009 The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has warned consumers not to purchase or use a national cat food product because it contains salmonella bacteria. However, the manufacturer says the product is safe for cats and has faulted FDA guidelines. The FDA on Feb. 13 said that it detected salmonella bacteria in Wild Kitty Cat Food during a routine inspection Dec. 27 in which it collected and analyzed a sample of frozen raw Wild Kitty Cat Food. Salmonella bacteria infection can cause high fever, severe headache, vomiting, nausea, abdominal pain and diarrhea in humans as well as cats. Long-term complications can include arthritis. The product, Wild Kitty Cat Food, is sold nationwide to retail stores and through distributors and Internet sales, nationwide. The FDA says after it discovered the salmonella, it contacted the food manufacturer, who refused to recall the product despite several requests that it do so. Stephanie Nadeau, the owner of Maine-based Wild Kitty Cat Food Co., confirmed the FDA’s recall requests, but told Veterinary Practice News that her company will not comply. She says is there is no need to do so. All FDA guidelines for the tainted product were followed, she said, …
AVMA’s Dr. Golab Becomes First U.S. Vet Credentialed In Animal WelfareApril 17, 2009 Gail Golab, DVM, Ph.D., head of the American Veterinary Medical Assn. Animal Welfare Division, recently became the first veterinarian in the United States to be credentialed in animal welfare. Dr. Golab earned the certification through the Australian College of Veterinary Scientists’ Animal Welfare Chapter, which involved more than two years of study and successful completion of written and oral exams. Australia is the only country that offers an animal welfare certification for veterinarians. “My work at the AVMA was a real asset to my studies, because as head of the Animal Welfare Division, I’m constantly exposed to and researching animal care practices affecting a variety of species across a range of uses,” Golab said. “I look forward to using the additional knowledge I have gained through this formal credentialing process to assist the AVMA in continuing to formulate rational and effective approaches to these complex issues.” Golab added that her studies have not only broadened her understanding of the scientific and ethical theory associated with animal welfare decisions, but have also created strong links with colleagues in the international veterinary and animal welfare communities.
Pet Food Company Recalls Dry Food ProductsApril 17, 2009 MARS Petcare issued a national recall of Pedigree Small Crunchy Bites and Pedigree Large Breed Complete Nutrition dry pet food products from sale on Friday due to potential contamination with Salmonella Schwarzengrund. The following products are affected by this recall: Pedigree Small Crunchy Bites Adult Nutrition 4 pounds UPC # 0-23100-05104 . Pedigree Small Crunchy Bites Adult Nutrition 8.8 pounds UPC # 0-23100-14719 . Pedigree Small Crunchy Bites Adult Nutrition 32 pounds UPC # 0-23100-31483 . Pedigree Large Breed Complete Nutrition 20 pounds UPC # 0-23100-29158 Affected products are identified by the letters PAE within “Best Before” ID Code on the product label [example = 808G1PAE01 12:00]. Animals infected with Salmonella Schwarzengrund may be lethargic and have diarrhea or bloody diarrhea, fever and vomiting. Some pets will only have decreased appetite, fever or abdominal pain. In an effort to prevent the transmission of Salmonella from pets to family members and care givers, the U.S Food and Drug Administration has posted food handling guidelines on its website. Click here for details, or call 866-298-8332.
Comments Sought For Proposed Reptile, Amphibian SpecialtyApril 17, 2009 The AVMA American Board of Veterinary Specialties is seeking comment from the public and the profession regarding the proposed reptile and amphibian practice specialty under the auspices of the American Board of Veterinary Practitioners. The Association of Reptile and Amphibian Veterinarians first petitioned the ABVP in 2006 to begin the process toward recognition. The ABVP submitted a formal petition for recognition of the specialty to the ABVS Committee on the Development of New Specialties in December. Comments must be received by Nov. 1. For details, contact Dr. Beth Sabin, AVMA education and research division, at esabin@avma.org or 800-248-2862 ext. 6675. <HOME>
