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Zoetis launches non-sedative calming gel

Sileo, designed for pet owners to administer before or at the time of a fear or anxiety-eliciting noise stimulus, is the first FDA-approved treatment specifically for noise aversion.

For many dog owners, summertime isn't all about fun in the sun. Fireworks, storms, parties and even construction work—all of which can negatively affect dogs with noise phobia—means that warmer weather can make for a frequently scared, anxious pet. Noise phobia is a dog's sudden and profound, sometimes extreme response to noise, manifested as intense, active avoidance; escape; or anxiety behaviors.

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Petco Grooming Promotion Hits Snarl

Retailer modifies advertising after veterinarians object

A marketing campaign that implied Petco grooming services include health checks was quickly recast after the national retailer heard concerns from the American Veterinary Medical Association. The AVMA contacted Petco following complaints from members and state veterinary medical associations that Petco commercials on television andonline about its “7-point Pet Care Check” verged into the territory of unlicensed practice. The “care check” entails a “visual and physical screening” of the pet’s eyes, ears, teeth, nose, under-side, skin, coat, nails and paw pads, according to a description on the Petco website.

Also on the website, a groomer identified as “Glenn, stylist/mentor since 2013,” previously was quoted as saying, “With my background in animal science, I’m able to give my clients much more than a bath and a haircut. I can delve into the health and the nutrition of the pet, and make sure they leave happy and healthy.” By Monday, the quotation was replaced with, “It’s nice to get new dogs in and see my regular clients at the same time and know that we are providing a service that people really appreciate on a daily basis.”


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Boehringer Ingelheim, Merial announce plans to merge

BI to trade consumer healthcare business for Sanofi’s animal health division, aka Merial.
Sanofi and Boehringer Ingelheim announced today that they’ve signed contracts that allow them to move forward with an exchange of Sanofi’s animal health business (Merial) and Boehringer Ingelheim’s Consumer Healthcare business. The transaction is expected to close by the end of 2016, pending approval by regulatory authorities. The integration of the companies into their new respective parent companies would start after closing, according to a release from the two companies.

Andreas Barner, chairman of the board for Boehringer Ingelheim, says the transaction “demonstrates the consistent orientation of our business towards innovation-driven sectors. As a research based pharmaceutical company, we will substantially enhance our position in the future market for animal health and will prospectively be one of the largest global players in this segment.”

Likewise, Sanofi CEO Olivier Brandicourt, MD, says the move positions his company to become a leader in consumer healthcare.

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Petco Adjusts Advertisement

AVMA persuades pet retailer to adjust messaging after veterinarians show concern.

After a recent advertising campaign by Petco revealed the retailer's 7-Point Pet Care Check conducted by in-store groomers, many veterinarians expressed concern, according to a post from the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA). 

Concerns from AVMA members regarding the ads—specifically that anything out of the ordinary discovered during a pet’s grooming visit should be assessed by a veterinarian and treated as necessary—came forward soon after the advertisements debuted online and on television, according to the AVMA. 

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USDA Announces $4.4 Million in Available Funding for Veterinary Loan Repayment

 USDA Announces $4.4 Million in Available Funding for Veterinary Loan Repayment

WASHINGTON, April 5, 2016 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) today announced $4.4 million in available funding to help repay veterinary school loans in return for veterinarians serving in areas lacking sufficient veterinary resources. The funding is available through the Veterinary Medicine Loan Repayment Program (VMLRP), administered by USDA’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA).

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UGA & Atlanta Humane Society partner

Atlanta Humane Society, UGA College of Veterinary Medicine announce partnership

The Atlanta Humane Society and the University of Georgia College of Veterinary Medicine are partnering to provide veterinary students experiential learning opportunities in a shelter medicine setting.

The agreement allows fourth-year UGA veterinary students an elective shelter medicine rotation at the AHS, during which the students may perform spays, neuters, other basic surgeries, and dental procedures, all under the supervision of the AHS veterinarian. The partnership, which represents the first formal agreement between the UGA CVM and the AHS, provides students with learning opportunities in a busy shelter environment. Shelter medicine was recently recognized as a veterinary specialty by the American Veterinary Medical Association.

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Zoetis Receives FDA Approval for Monthly Flea-tick Chewable

New drug in isoxazoline class lasts 35 days without drop in efficacy, company reports.

Zoetis announced Feb. 25 that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved Simparica (sarolaner) Chewables to kill adult fleas and prevent flea infestations, as well as treat and control tick infestations due to the Lone Star tick, the Gulf Coast tick, the American dog tick and the brown dog tick. Simparica is approved for use in dogs 6 months of age or older weighing 2.8 pounds or more. In a single-dose chewable tablet, once-monthly Simparica’s peak performance lasts for 35 days without losing efficacy at the end of the month, according to product testing.

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Quarantine Update for the UGA Large Animal Teaching Hospital

Quarantine Update for the UGA Large Animal Teaching Hospital

 The large animal side of the University of Georgia Veterinary Teaching Hospital is still under quarantine for the equine herpesvirus. Based on recommended protocols, the earliest the Large Animal Hospital would be able to reopen is Feb. 19. However, they will continue to accept ruminants (cows, sheep and goats) and pigs on an emergency only basis. At this time, none of the horses that are under quarantine at the Hospital are showing signs or have tested positive for equine herpesvirus. The only horse that has tested positive for EHV-1 at the Hospital is the original affected horse that came into the Hospital on the evening of Jan. 31 and was humanely euthanized on Feb. 1 due to progressive neurological disease. EHV-1 is a type of equine herpesvirus infection that is highly contagious to other horses and can cause abortion, respiratory disease and neurologic disease. The virus is species specific, so it does not affect humans, dogs, cats, etc.; however, alpacas and llamas can be affected. Hospital personnel are continuing to work closely with the State Veterinarian’s Office and other experts on equine herpesvirus and are following recommended quarantine protocols. For more information, please visit http://vet.uga.edu/news/view/temporary-closing-of-uga-large-animal-veterinary-teaching-hospital. The State Veterinarian’s Office also released a statement last week: http://agr.georgia.gov/equine-herpesvirus-myeloencephalopathy.aspx

Baxter Initiates Voluntary Recall of Two Lots of IV Solutions due to Potential Presence of Particulate Matter

Firm Press Release

Deerfield, Ill. - Baxter International Inc. announced today it is voluntarily recalling two lots of intravenous (IV) solutions to the hospital/end user level due to the potential presence of particulate matter. The particulate matter in each case was determined to be an insect and was identified as a result of a customer complaint. The matter was identified prior to patient administration and there have been no adverse events associated with this issue reported to Baxter to date.

Injecting a product containing particulate matter, in the absence of in-line filtration, may result in blockage of blood vessels, which can result in stroke, heart attack or damage to other organs such as the kidney or liver. There is also the possibility of allergic reactions, local irritation and inflammation in tissues and organs.

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WHO recommends no changes to ketamine classification

The World Health Organization (WHO) has rejected the reclassification of ketamine for the fourth time since 2006. According to a release by the organization, the WHO Expert Committee on Drug Dependence concluded after its most recent review that ketamine abuse does not pose a global public health threat and that increased control over the drug could limit access to the “only anesthetic and painkiller available in large areas of the developing world.” Veterinarians can also rest easy knowing access to ketamine will not be changed.

Ketamine was placed on the WHO Essential Medicines List in 1985 and was described in a letter to the Expert Committee on Drug Dependence by the World Society of Intravenous Anesthesia in 2014 as the most widely used agent for sedation in world.

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Texas Tech plans veterinary medicine school in Amarillo; A&M leader critical

Texas Tech University System officials announced Friday plans to develop a veterinary school and veterinary medicine doctoral program, possibly in Amarillo, that Tech officials say is in response to student demand and industry needs.

It’s a proposal that triggered a quick and critical response late Friday from Texas A&M — the only veterinary school in the state — but that Tech officials said would help meet the state’s growing needs.

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America Selects Most Unusual Pet Insurance Claim of the Year

Skewed by a Skewer and Saved a Year Later, Curtis Wins 7th Annual Hambone Award Presented by Nationwide

America Selects Most Unusual Pet Insurance Claim of the Year

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Brea, Calif. (Oct. 7, 2015) Curtis, a Boxer from Princeton, W. Va., has won the 2015 Hambone Award honoring the most unusual pet insurance claim of the year. Curtis earned the nomination after he swallowed a wooden barbeque skewer, which disappeared in his body and nearly ended his life more than a year later. The 7th annual Hambone Award is presented by Nationwide, the nation’s first and largest provider of pet health insurance. After selecting 12 nominees for the most unusual claim of the year, Nationwide opened voting to the public at www.HamboneAward.com to decide the winner, where Curtis received the most votes.

Curtis was treated by the veterinary team at Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine where they performed a lifesaving surgery to remove the skewer and the large mass it had caused. For their outstanding work, the Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine will receive a $10,000 Nationwide-funded award through the Veterinary Care Foundation (VCF) to treat pets whose owners could otherwise not afford treatment. One hundred percent of all donations to the VCF are used to treat pets, with no contributions used for administration, fundraising or overhead.

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MRI explosion injures worker, causes extensive damage at veterinary hospital

When an MRI unit exploded at Oradell Animal Hospital in Paramus, New Jersey, last week, it took the staff less than five minutes to evacuate its patients, clients and team to safety. Three representatives from the MRI company, who were dismantling the unit, were injured—one critically.

Jeremy Hogan, 37, was transported to a local hospital with lacerations and crushing-related injuries to his body. Although still critical, his condition has been updated to stable and he is expected to recover. His two coworkers were also hospitalized but have been released.

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