Weekly companion animal news: August 22, 2022

First monkeypox case reported in pet dog, but experts stress risk is low

The first case of a pet dog contracting monkeypox has been recorded in France, IFLScience reports. The virus was most likely transmitted to the dog from its owners, who were infected. The report in The Lancet indicates the two human patients—while careful to isolate their dog from other pets and humans as soon as their own symptoms came on—continued allowing the pet to sleep in their bed. Two weeks later, the 4-year-old greyhound developed lesions on its belly and anus, and a PCR test confirmed the presence of monkeypox. DNA analysis confirmed the illness in one of the humans was almost certainly related to the one in their dog. “Given the dog’s skin and mucosal lesions as well as the positive monkeypox virus PCR results from anal and oral swabs, we hypothesize a real canine disease, not a simple carriage of the virus by close contact with humans or airborne transmission,” the report said. AVMA President Lori Teller told USA Today that, despite this news, the risk of pets catching monkeypox “is extremely low.” Teller added that no cases have been reported in cats, guinea pigs or hamsters, though research has shown rabbits and mice can get the virus.

Ethos Discovery receives $10 million donation from NVA to advance veterinary medicine research

National Veterinary Associates has made a $10 million donation to Ethos Discovery, a nonprofit veterinary medicine incubator. NVA’s contribution will serve as a foundation for the organization’s endowment fund and provide ongoing funding for research projects. According to the announcement, Ethos has several studies focused on improving treatment for canine cancer and other conditions.

Text reminders and flexible payment options are key to avoid missed appointments, survey finds

Lack of appointment reminders and flexible payment options were major factors behind missed appointments in a new survey by the business software company Weave. Twenty percent of respondents in the survey—which reached veterinary clients, medical patients and spa visitors—said they weren’t sent a reminder about their scheduled appointment and forgot or couldn’t attend. Sending text reminders could be a useful way to ensure clients show up, according to Weave. Clients may also be financially strapped in the current economy, making payment difficult. Given options like buy now–pay later are permitted in many other settings, clients—particularly younger ones—want the same choice from veterinary clinics and other service providers, Weave’s survey found.

HABRI and Royal Canin launch educational campaign on feline urinary health

The Human Animal Bond Research Institute and Royal Canin have teamed up on a campaign to educate cat owners about feline urinary health. Studies show 60% of owners say they only take their cat to the veterinarian when they notice something is wrong, but cats are notorious for hiding pain, making it difficult for owners to recognize a health issue. For example, more than 90% of cats with feline lower urinary tract signs have blood in their urine, indicating a medical condition, but less than half of owners recognize the signs, according to HABRI. Instead, these signs may be misinterpreted as a behavioral issue. HABRI and Royal Canin have created educational content including an article, infographic and web page meant to provide owners with resources on cat care and the human-cat bond.

UC Davis launches clinical trials of two treatments for deadly feline disease

Scientists at the University of California, Davis have launched clinical trials aiming to improve treatments for feline infectious peritonitis, or FIP. Cats with the disease, caused by a coronavirus, experience systemic inflammation as it spreads through their body. Up to 95% of cats diagnosed with FIP die without treatment, according to UC Davis, but there are no successful treatments currently approved in the United States. One trial will examine whether cats improve when treated with one of two closely related antiviral drugs, including remdesivir, which is used to treat COVID-19. The other trial will examine whether antiviral drugs combined with a new stem cell therapy improve response to treatment for FIP.

Idaho veterinarian named AVMA president-elect

Idaho veterinarian Rena Carlson has been named the AVMA’s president-elect for 2022-2023, undertaking duties that include maintaining positive relationships with state animal associations, allied groups and international groups. She won the race for the role at the recent AVMA conference. Carlson served on the AVMA board of directors as chair from 2019 to 2020. Previously, she owned Idaho-based Alpine Animal Hospital and has been providing relief care in southern Idaho since selling the clinic in 2018. She’ll move into the AVMA president position next year, replacing the current president, Dr. Lori Teller. The Idaho State Journal reports.

Senate passes bill to improve animal welfare during disasters

The U.S. Senate passed a bill that aims to protect pets and other animals during and after disasters. The Planning for Animal Wellness (PAW) Act would direct the administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency to establish an advisory group with outside experts to align FEMA guidance so it matches current best practices in animal care for disaster preparedness, response and recovery. The advisory group would review current best practices and federal guidance on sheltering and evacuation planning for household pets, service and assistance animals, and other animals as appropriate. If the administrator, in consultation with the working group, finds current federal guidance doesn’t meet best practices, FEMA will be required to publish updated guidance.

New virus detected in China indicates diseases are spilling from animals to humans more than we know, scientists say

Scientists say additional monitoring is needed of a new virus that infected three dozen farmers and other residents in eastern China over a three-year period. They think the virus, called Langya henipavirus, may have spread to people directly or indirectly from shrews. It didn’t cause any reported deaths but was detected in 35 unrelated fever patients in hospitals in Shandong and Henan provinces between 2018 and 2021. The finding seems to support scientists’ warnings that animal viruses are regularly spilling undetected into people around the world, CNN reports. “We are hugely underestimating the number of these zoonotic cases in the world, and this (Langya virus) is just the tip of the iceberg,” said emerging virus expert Leo Poon, a University of Hong Kong professor.