Pfizer To Buy Certain Animal Health Products From Schering-PloughApril 17, 2009Schering-Plough Corp. of Kenilworth, N.J., received the European Commission's approval Wednesday to sell certain animal health assets to New York-based Pfizer Corp. The assets comprise products for companion and farm animals, including various vaccines, specialty pharmaceuticals and parasiticides. Schering-Plough is pursuing the sale of these assets following commitments it made to the European Commission late last year in its acquisition of Netherlands-based Organon Biosciences, a subsidiary of Akzo Nobel NV, which includes Intervet International. Schering-Plough had agreed that it would sell more than 20 formulations and trademarks to eliminate antitrust issues. The European Commission said Wednesday that the transaction between Schering-Plough and Pfizer will not raise competition concerns because "the new entity [Pfizer] would continue to face several significant competitors in all relevant markets for animal vaccines and pharmaceuticals and that farmers and veterinarians across the European Economic Area would continue to have access to alternative suppliers post-merger." <HOME>
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Southern California Equine Evacuees In Need Of SuppliesApril 17, 2009Since mandatory evacuations began in San Diego County, Calif., because of a series of out-of-control wildfires, about 2,500 horses and hundreds more dogs, cats, birds and other small animals have found shelter at the Del Mar Fairgrounds in Del Mar, Calif., says Kina Paegert, representative for the fairgrounds. Paegert says that the small animals are well taken care of seem to have plenty of supplies, but they are in dire need of supplies for the horses, including hay, large five-gallon jugs of water, halters and leads. The situation is much more controlled than the wildfires of 2003, also known as the Cedar Fires, because horse owners were prepared early for evacuations and took precautions. "In 2003, we had people with lost horses and horses with lost owners," she says. "This time all of the owners seem to be here with their animals." Del Mar Fairgrounds is at capacity and hasn't accepted any more people or animals since yesterday. Paegert says they've sent some horses to the HITS Desert Horse Park in Thermal, Calif., just east of Palm Springs. However, Donna Vale, a representative for the Thermal horse park, says that no equine evacuees have arrived at …
Pet DRx Founder Steps DownApril 17, 2009 Robert Wallace, chief executive officer, director and founder of Pet DRx, has stepped down in order to pursue other entrepreneuria日本藤素 l interests. He has agreed to serve as a consultant to the company for 90 days to ensure a smooth transition. “Bob Wallace founded Pet DRx on the unique ‘hub-and-spoke’ framework for veterinary care,” said Pet DRx Chairman Gene Burleson, who will serve as interim CEO. “He put in place a plan that has given Pet DRx the capabilities to compete and win in the veterinary services arena. We thank Bob for his contributions to Pet DRx and we wish him well in his future endeavors.” In related news, David Reed, DVM, a member of the Board of Directors, has been appointed as senior vice president of operations. The company also recently appointed Gary Brukardt to the Board of Directors and hired Harry Zimmerman as chief of business development. Brukardt has more than 30 years of varied healthcare experience and currently serves as chairman and CEO of healthcare company Specialty Care Services Group. Zimmerman served as executive vice president and general counsel of …
Veterinary Hospice Care Symposium To DebutApril 17, 2009 Veterinary Hospice Care Symposium to Debut Veterinary Hospice Care Symposium to Debut newsline The Nikki Hospice Foundation for Pets and the Assisi International Animal Institute have joined forces to launch the first International Symposium on Veterinary Hospice Care.The Nikki Hospice Foundation for Pets and the Assisi International Animal Institute have joined forces to launch the first International Symposium on Veterinary Hospice Care.Nikki Hospice Foundation for Pets, Assisi International Animal Institute, veterinary hospice care, hospice care First International Symposium on Veterinary Hospice Care is scheduled for March 28-30 at the University of California, Davis, School of Veterinary Medicine. The Nikki Hospice Foundation for Pets and the Assisi International Animal Institute have joined forces to launch the first International Symposium on Veterinary Hospice Care. It will be held at the University of California, Davis, School of Veterinary Medicine on March 28-30. The symposium will explore veterinary hospice care, based on human hospice models. Highlights include the relevance of human hospice to veterinary hospice care, the mobile hospice veterinarian, pharmacological protocols in veterinary hospice care, setting up a veterinary hospice facility, the value of holistic medicine in veterinary hospice care, the role of pet nutrition in veterinary …
TCM And The Chinese New YearApril 17, 2009 1. Levitt S and Tang J. Taoist Astrology. A Handbook of the Authentic Chinese Tradition. Rochester, VT: Destiny Books. Pp. 69-70. 2. MacPherson H and Kaptchuk TJ. Acupuncture in Practice: Case History Insights from the West. Elsevier Health Sciences, 1997. P. 434. 3. Liu S, Yi L-S, and Liang Y-Z. Traditional Chinese medicine and separation science. J Sep Sci. 2008; 31:2113-2137. 4. Cho WC-S. Application of proteomics in Chinese medicine research. Am J Chin Med. 2007;35(6):911-922. 5. Zheng J-F, Qu Z-M, Luo C-Y, et al. The electrogastrogram in cows and goats with Pi-Xuzheng (Spleen Deficiency Pattern). American Journal of Traditional Chinese Veterinary Medicine. 2008; Volume 2. Obtained online at http://ajtcvm.org/?p=66 on December 14, 2008. 6. Li WF, Jiang JG, and Chen J.Chinese medicine and its modernization demands. Arch Med Res. 2008; 39(2):246-251. 7. Ko RJ. A US perspective on the adverse reactions from Traditional Chinese Medicines. J Chin Med Assoc. 2004;67:109-116. 8. Buckley L. Conference on Traditional Chinese Medicine marks shift towards global market, raises concerns about social and ecological impact. Worldwatch Institute website. Obtained at http://www.worldwatch.org/node/47 on December 14, 2008. 9. Zhang …
Eklin Names New PresidentApril 17, 2009 Eklin Medical Systems of Santa Clara, Calif., has promoted James Drury to president. Drury, who previously served as chief financial officer for Eklin, succeeds Gary Cantu. “The company has experienced significant growth since it was founded in 2002,” said Cantu, chief executive officer and chairman of the board for the company. “With a 44 percent revenue increase in 2007 alone, we needed to bring a highly skilled executive onboard who could provide the breadth of expertise that Jim offers to help continue this growth and allow me to focus on longer term strategic activities such as new technology identification, mergers, acquisitions and partnerships. We are pleased to have his leadership capabilities as part of the executive team.” <HOME>
Purina Pledges $400,000 To Delta SocietyApril 17, 2009Nestlé Purina PetCare this week pledged more than $400,000 over the next two years to Delta Society, an organization that trains therapy animals and their handlers. The pledge is the not-for-profit organization's largest grant ever. "The significance of this major contribution by Purina cannot be overstated," said Lawrence Norvell, chief executive officer of Delta Society. "This partnership will have a profound impact throughout our society on the understanding and embracing of the important health benefits animals bring to our lives." As part of its broader mission of advancing the role that animals play in people's daily lives, the group's Pet Partners program trains volunteers and their pets to visit hospitals, nursing homes, schools and rehabilitation centers. Purina's donation will help the group expand the program, which currently involves more than 10,000 volunteer teams, Purina reported. "We are thrilled to be able to help the Delta Society as it continues to demonstrate just how much animals can do for us," said Brenda Bax, brand director at Nestlé Purina PetCare. "Through its Pet Partners program, Delta Society shows that dogs and cats are unique creatures that can help benefit the health and well being of humans." <HOME>
DeHaven To Focus On AVMA PrioritiesApril 17, 2009 Ron DeHaven, DVM, administrator of the USDA’s Animal Plant Health Inspection Service, was recently named the new executive vice president of the American Veterinary Medical Assn. Veterinary Practice News talked to Dr. DeHaven in June about his priorities. Here are excerpts of that conversation. Q: What will your priorities be as executive vice president? A: One of the things that attracted me to the position is the strategic planning that the AVMA has done. They’re recognizing issues that are up and coming, and in fact some of them are upon us. They want to direct the association’s energies in the areas of food supply veterinary medicine, the intersection between animal health and public health and animal welfare, and certainly from where I sit, I’m seeing an increased emphasis on the welfare of production farm animals. [AVMA’s priorities] are very much consistent with what I see are the major issues facing the veterinary profession, so those are areas where I will be focusing a lot of my time and attention. Q: You have more than 20 years’ experience with USDA’s Animal Plant Health Inspection Service. How will that help and influence you in your new role? …
BrightHeart Enters Vet Industry With Acquisition, Hires BergmanApril 17, 2009 BrightHeart Veterinary Centers of Greenwich, Conn., has acquired Katonah Bedford Veterinary Center in Bedford Hills, N.Y., saying that the acquisition represents its initial entry into the veterinary industry and that it seeks to create a national network of veterinary hospitals focused on providing advanced diagnostic and treatment procedures for pets. Katonah Bedford Veterinary Center, which was founded in 2001 by Alan Green, DVM, combines a general veterinary practice with a full range of specialty services and a 24-hour emergency hospital. It currently has a staff of 21 veterinarians, including nine board-certified specialists, and sees more than 25,000 patients each year. BrightHeart has named Dr. Green as director of practice management for all hospitals in the BrightHeart network. With that move, Katonah Bedford Veterinary Center has named David Sachs, DVM, as hospital director. He was formerly assistant director of the hospital. In addition, BrightHeart has named Philip Bergman, DVM, Ph.D., Dipl. ACVIM, as chief medical officer. He will be responsible for all aspects of veterinary medicine within the BrightHeart organization, with oversight of each facility’s medical practices and performance. Dr. Bergman, who holds an adjunct faculty membership with the human cancer center at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer …
September Proposed As ‘National Link Awareness Month’April 17, 2009 A connection between pet abuse and human violence was identified in the United States as early as 1894 by the American Humane Association, an organization with the goal of protecting children and animals from mistreatment. American Humane now calls this connection The Link, and the group is pushing to get September recognized as National Link Awareness Month. U.S. Rep. Susan Davis, D-Calif., recently introduced House Resolution 1046 to designate September as National Link Awareness Month to address The Link’s impact on abuse victims. The bill’s main points are to recognize that the link between animal cruelty and domestic violence is a national concern; and laws that recognize such link are critical in protecting countless domestic violence survivors and their pets. “This resolution would highlight the need for more attention and resources to be focused on how violence toward animals is indicative of other violent tendencies,” Davis said in a statement. “By investigating The Link further, information could be gathered that will help mitigate social violence.” The resolution is currently pending before the House Agriculture and Judiciary Committees with 19 co-sponsors, and American Humane is working with Davis to move the …
