ABVS Considering Shelter Medicine Specialty
The AVMA (avma.org) American Board of Veterinary Specialties (ABVS) is considering adding a new specialty: Shelter Medicine Practice. The Association of Shelter Veterinarians (ASV, sheltervet.org) has created a formal petition for this specialty, and public comments are welcome through September 1, 2013. The petition and comments will then be evaluated by the ABVS at their fall meeting before a final decision is made with regard to recognizing this new veterinary specialty, which would fall under the auspices of the American Board of Veterinary Practitioners (ABVP, abvp.com). Comments can be submitted to dbanasiak@avma.org or David Banasiak, AVMA Education and Research Division, 1931 N Meacham Road, Suite 100, Schaumburg IL 60173-4360. The ASV has prepared a 1-page information summary, FAQs PDF, and other supporting materials, all of which are available on the ASV website along with the petition.
Pocket Digital Clinical Refractometer
Reichert Technologies (reichertai.com) has introduced the Vet360-Chek pocket digital clinical refractometer designed specifically for veterinarians and veterinary applications. This refractometer accurately and precisely measures the urine specific gravity (USG) and serum protein concentrations of different animal species through its chemistry scales. The instrument also provides separate canine and feline USG measurement scales. Cat urine chemistry differs from that of dogs and other larger animals, and cat urine readings on a dog or human USG scale will produce falsely elevated values, which can lead to a misdiagnosis. For further information, call 716-319-4777 or email Charlie.Smith@Ametek.com.
Half of U.S. Cats Need Regular Veterinary Care
The Feline Findings Study conducted by Bayer Animal Health (bayerdvm.com), in collaboration with the American Association of Feline Practitioners  (catvets.com), found that 52% of the nation’s cats had not been taken to the veterinarian for needed checkups within the last year. The study found the vast majority (81%) of cat owners believed that cats are very self-sufficient and independent and, therefore, require little attention. Many owners of indoor cats believed their pets were safe from disease and did not take into account conditions, such as diabetes or heart disease, which develop in any environment. Over half (58%) of owners report that their cats hate going to the veterinary clinic and, for 38%, just thinking about it was stressful. Find more information about the Bayer Veterinary Care Usage Study III: Feline Findings at bayerdvm.com.
Veterinary Organizations Partner for Pet Health
With reports of pet obesity, diabetes, and cancer on the rise, the American Veterinary Medical Association (avma.org), the American Animal Hospital Association (aaha.net), and more than 90 organizations across the veterinary professions have joined together to form Partners for Healthy Pets (PHP). The group previewed a public information campaign urging pet owners to schedule annual checkups for their cats and dogs at the 2013 Annual AVMA Convention in Chicago. The two-part campaign includes a tool kit to help the veterinary health care team better communicate the need for annual checkups with their clients and a fully integrated direct-to-consumer communications program designed to engage pet owners with their veterinarians. To join the campaign and access the toolbox, visit partnersforhealthypets.org.
Dental Care for Service Dogs
Greenies (greenies.com) has partnered with the American Veterinary Dental College (avdc.org) to help fund the cost of vital dental procedures for service dogs. A service dog’s mouth is one of its most important assets in performing essential daily tasks for its owner, and good dental health is vital. In June, AVDC board certified veterinary dentists provided complimentary oral health exams for registered service dogs to check for oral and dental diseases that could compromise the dogs’ health and prevent them from performing their essential duties effectively. Necessary dental procedures will be performed in August with the aid of a $20,000 grant from The Greenies Brand. For more information about the AVDC Service Dog Program, visit avdc.org.
Shelters Compete to Save Lives
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The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) announced that 18,336 pets were adopted or reunited with their owners during the first month of the 2013 ASPCA Rachael Ray $100K Challenge, a three-month contest where 49 animal shelters from across the country compete to increase adoptions in order to win a piece of more than $600,000 in prize grants, including a grand prize of $100,000. The contest challenges animal shelters to develop innovative ways to engage their communities so that more cats and dogs are adopted into loving homes. For more information, visit aspca.org/100K