2013 Triennial Heartworm Symposium Findings
In September, the American Heartworm Society’s 14th Trienniel Heartworm Symposium took place in New Orleans, presenting the world’s latest and best information on the many facets of heartworm disease. This cutting-edge knowledge will drive future action by AHS and its board as the Society focuses on practitioner and client outreach and education, funding heartworm research, and building partnerships with other veterinary organizations. Below are the leading topics that were presented:
- Heartworm diagnosis and epidemiology
- Lack of efficacy (LOE) and resistance
- Wolbachia and doxycycline
- Feline heartworm disease
- Managing heartworm disease in animal shelters.
For more information, visit the American Heartworm Society at heartwormsociety.org.
C.E.T. VeggieDent Tartar Control Chews Receive VOHC Acceptance
V
irbac Corporation has announced that their VeggieDent Chews were awarded the Seal of Acceptance in September 2013 after the Veterinary Oral Health Council (VOHC) reviewed trial data. The seal was awarded based on the product’s ability to protect against tartar (calculus) build up on canine teeth. VeggieDent Chews are highly palatable, vegetable-based chews that are free of animal protein and wheat gluten. Given once daily, they have been proven to reduce plaque, calculus, and halitosis. For more information, visit virbacvet.com or contact Michael Walsh at 682-647-3546.
Therapy Dog Receives 2013 American Humane Association Hero Dog Award
Zoetis Inc, a former business unit of Pfizer Inc, sponsored the annual American Humane Association (AHA) “American Hero Dog” awards. Elle, a pit bull from North Carolina, took home top honors in the therapy dog category from among the eight finalists. The finalists were recognized on a Hallmark Channel broadcast October 30, 2013. Elle’s accomplishments include “teaching” children about dog safety and being the star of a new therapy dog reading program, “Tail Wagging Tales,” which helps children enjoy books and improve their reading skills. She reaches all ages through regular visits to an elementary school, a middle school, and a retirementhome. Elle’s charity partner, Hand in Paw, will receive a $6500 donation tofurther its work. The public cast more than a million votes to determine theeight finalists from a group of 141 dogs nominated for being “ordinary dogs doing extraordinary things.” For more information, visit zoetis.com/animal-connections-tour.
Dr. and Mrs. Mike McFarland congratulate Leah Brewer (center) and her dog, Elle, on winning the American Humane Association’s American Hero Dog Award. Elle received top honors in the Zoetis-sponsored Therapy Dog category.
New Book on Dog Behaviors
The American College of Veterinary Behaviorists, a professional organization of veterinarians who have achieved board-certification in the specialty of veterinary behavior, has produced its first book titled Decoding Your Dog: The Ultimate Experts Explain Common Dog Behaviors and Reveal How to Prevent or Change Unwanted Ones. The book is edited by Debra Horwitz, DVM, DACVB, and John Ciribassi, DVM, DAVCB, with Steve Dale as contributing editor. The insights and advice offered will help individual pet owners, animal professionals, and facilities that care for animals better manage behavior problems and improve animal well-being. This book is available for pre-order online at dacvb.org in both hardcover and Kindle editions.
New Advanced Wound Management Product
PuriCore has launched a new animal health wound irrigant, NovaZo, which mimics the body’s own immune response to support natural healing. NovaZo is based on the same technology as PuriCore’s human wound care product, Vashe, which has been FDA-approved and used at hospitals and clinics across the U.S. for more than 6 years. NovaZo is safe and effective and does not contribute to the growing issue of antibiotic resistance. It is used in the management of post-surgical incisions; moist dressings; hot spots, bites, and rashes; burn, graft, and flap dressings; and for debridement irrigation and odor control. The product is available for companion animals and horses; safe for use around an animal’s mouth, nose, eyes, and ears; non-cytotoxic, non-stinging, and steroid-free. More information on NovaZo is available at novazo.com.
Clinical Breakthrough to Diagnose Thyroid Disorders in Dogs
Dr. W. Jean Dodds, a leading international thyroid expert, and her clinical research team at Hemolife, Hemopet’s diagnostic division, have discovered an important novel diagnostic tool to evaluate thyroid disorders in dogs called the T4:FT4 ratio. The T4:FT4 ratio more accurately diagnoses thyroid dysfunction and related diseases in dogs by determining the ratio between the level of total T4 and its free, unbound fraction. This diagnostic tool provides enhanced specificity for canine thyroid disorders and, most important, allows clinicians to determine whether values of the different thyroid analytes being measured indicate a thyroid disorder and/or another underlying disease. For more information, visit hemopet.org and nutriscan.org or contact 714-891-2022.
Launch of Full Hereditary and Congenital Coverage
Pets Best Insurance has announced that its BestBenefit accident and illness plans have been expanded to include full coverage for hereditary and congenital conditions. Pets Best is currently rolling out the expanded plans across the nation, with full hereditary and congenital coverage now available in 29 states. In addition, Pets Best recently introduced low-cost cancer coverage and feline illness plans, providing pet owners with a wider and more specialized selection of insurance coverage. The Pets Best BestBenefit plans offer comprehensive coverage for accidents and illnesses, with no upper age limits, low deductibles, and reimbursement rates from 70% to 100%. Coverage may vary depending on the pet owner’s plan selection and state of residence. For more information about the coverage offered by Pets Best Insurance, visit petsbest.com.