NAVC Conference News
TVP Acute Abdomen Symposium
Today’s Veterinary Practice (TVP) is presenting its second annual symposium on Sunday, February 5, at the NAVC Conference 2017. Diagnosis and Management of the Acute Abdomen has been organized by TVP Editor in Chief, Dr. Simon Platt, and NAVC Executive VP of Veterinary Education, Dr. Matt Winter. This topic will be explored through interactive lectures, case-based Q&A sessions, and roundtable discussion.
Learn more about the NAVC Conference by visiting navc.com/conference.
New Opportunities Announced by AFSCAN
The African Small Companion Animal Network (AFSCAN) has finalized plans for the 2018 AFSCAN/NAVC and BSAVA International Scholar Programs (applications accepted in January 2017) and the 2017 AFSCAN Research and Studentship Awards (applications available at afscan.org/science). With the support of its sponsors, AFSCAN is funding up to 2 clinical research projects and up to 5 “studentships.” AFSCAN also announced 2 new initiatives for 2017:
- A pilot project in Kenya in which veterinarians will use a tablet-based app to collect demographic and health-related data from dogs visiting veterinary practices. The information will provide a valuable baseline perspective on canine health in Kenya.
- A “twinning program” sponsored by Zoetis that will offer African veterinarians the opportunity to partner with veterinary hospitals in the U.S. in long-term mentoring relationships.
For more information, visit afscan.net.
February Is National Pet Dental Health Month!
Visit VetFolio (vetfolio.com), the partnership between the NAVC and AAHA, that provides online continuous education. Search “dental” and enjoy the extensive collection of RACE-approved CE materials, care guides, client handouts, and articles by dentistry experts.
Check out TVP’s Practical Dentistry articles at tvpjournal.com.
ACVIM Foundation Awards Oncology Grant
The American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine (ACVIM) Foundation has awarded funds to Annette Smith, DVM, DACVIM (Oncology & SAIM) and her colleagues at Auburn University College of Veterinary Medicine to perform research on canine breast cancer. This research will explore whether microRNA can be used to detect cancer cells and predict how well patients will respond to treatment.
For more information about the ACVIM Foundation, visit acvimfoundation.org.
NAVC Launches New Online Bookstore
The NAVC has launched an online bookstore that features high-quality reference books categorized by Veterinary Medicine, Veterinary Technician/Nurse, and Veterinary Assistant. Each book listing includes a synopsis as well as the complete table of contents to help readers decide which book meets their specific needs. In addition, the bookstore will include NAVC Conference Proceedings, free subscriptions to Today’s Veterinary Practice and Today’s Veterinary Technician, and the NAVC’s inaugural book, Small Animal Radiography: Essential Positioning Guide.
For more information, visit bookstore.navc.com.
Canine Osteoarthritis Study using remote monitoring seeks participants
i4C Innovations, Inc has announced its sponsorship of a study with Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine to monitor pain and activity in canine patients with osteoarthritis using the remote Voyce Pro Wellness Monitoring Program. Through this monitoring, the clinicians are attempting to discern whether a difference exists in a dog’s pain response before and after the patient is given an oral pain medication. Enrollment for the study is open to dogs 2 years of age or older that weigh more than 30 pounds. They must be diagnosed with osteoarthritis and cannot currently be receiving NSAIDs, morphine-derived medications, or steroids.
For further details, visit vet.cornell.edu/ClinicalTrials/Trials/osteoarthritis.cfm.
Health Care Professionals Call for One Health Approach to Pet and Human Obesity
A vision of a world where regular activity, a balanced diet, and healthy weight are part of every family’s life was presented at the recent Preventing Obesity in People and Their Pets: A One Health Approach. This conference was hosted by the One Health Committee of the World Small Animal Veterinary Association (WSAVA), in collaboration with the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and brought together speakers from human and veterinary medicine to discuss the problem of obesity in humans and companion animals. At the conclusion of the conference, speakers and delegates drafted a consensus statement on the One Health approach to obesity.
Watch videos from the conference on the One Health Committee Facebook page: facebook.com/onehealthonemedicine/
Veterinarians Earn Community Service & Next Generation Awards
Henry Schein, Inc has announced that Dr. Adriana Noacco is the recipient of the fourth annual Henry Schein Cares International Veterinary Community Service Award in recognition of her service to people and pets in Argentina. Dr. Julie Stafford has been named by WSAVA and Hill’s Pet Nutrition as the 2016 Next Generation Veterinary Award winner. Today’s Veterinary Practice congratulates both recipients on these top honors.
First USDA-Approved Immunomodulator for Canine Osteoarthritis
T-Cyte Therapeutics, Inc has announced the launch of Lymphocyte T-Cell Immunomodulator (LTCI) as the first USDA-approved treatment option for canine osteoarthritis (OA), a debilitating condition affecting 16 to 20 million dogs in the United States. The only naturally-occurring treatment aid for OA, LTCI is administered via a subcutaneous injection and is effective in increasing the number and function of precursors of a regulatory T cell population, thereby dampening the immune-mediated process associated with OA.
To learn more, please visit tcyte.com.
Launch of New Cancer Treatment
Torigen Pharmaceuticals, Inc, a biotherapeutic company focused on treating cancer in animals, has announced the commercialization and market launch of their product, VetiVax, which uses the patient’s own tumor cells to create a personalized treatment. VetiVax educates the patient’s immune system to recognize the tumor as foreign and attack the cancer. Developed at the University of Notre Dame, with over 10 years of supporting research, VetiVax is a whole cell tissue immunotherapy that allows for a variety of tumor antigens to be presented to the immune system, and the treatment can be used for multiple tumor types.
For more information, visit vetivax.com.
Postsurgical Pain Therapeutic Now Available
Aratana has announced that Nocita (bupivacaine liposome injectable suspension) has been made commercially available to veterinarians in the United States, which is the company’s first launch of an FDA-approved therapeutic. Nocita is a long-acting, local anesthetic that lasts up to 72 hours post surgery by releasing bupivacaine over time from multi-vesicular liposomes deposited in the tissue. The therapeutic is administered as a single dose by tissue infiltration during closure of cranial cruciate ligament surgery in dogs. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s Center for Veterinary Medicine (CVM) approved Nocita in August of 2016.
Visit nocita.aratana.com to learn more.