Weekly companion animal news: December 11, 2023

Experts urge caution as reports of mysterious canine respiratory infection grow

Experts in canine infectious respiratory disease are urging caution as a mysterious canine respiratory disease continues to make headlines in the United States. As incidences of the virus are increasingly reported across the country, it is becoming widely discussed among veterinary professionals and their clients. The pathogen or virus causing the disease is unknown. In Oregon, more than 200 reports of CIRD cases have been received by the Oregon Department of Agriculture since August 2023. The department is reportedly working to identify the cause of these cases in collaboration with local veterinary professionals at Oregon State University, the Oregon Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory and the USDA’s National Veterinary Services Laboratory. Canines that are at risk have interactions with other dogs through boarding, daycares, parks and groomers. Animal shelter animals appear to be less affected, dvm360 reports.

Why some veterinarians say fears of respiratory canine illness may be overblown

Reports of a mystery respiratory illness afflicting dogs have put many dog owners on edge in recent weeks. Veterinarians say they’re unable to identify what’s making the dogs ill, and the go-to treatments for canine respiratory illness appear to be ineffective. But veterinarians who study infectious diseases say this may not be an outbreak of a singular illness. There’s scant evidence connecting these cases with any common pathogen. “It’s entirely possible that there are just a ton of different bugs and viruses causing disease in different parts of the country,” said Dr. Jane Sykes, a professor at UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine who focuses on infectious disease. Because the United States doesn’t have a robust surveillance system for infectious disease in dogs, it’s hard to track these cases and discern whether anecdotes and scraps of data add up to widespread and concerning patterns, NPR reports.

How AI is changing veterinary medicine

Imagine a world where spays and neuters are performed by robots, pet owners can engage with virtual employees 24 hours a day, and medical records are generated automatically, leaving veterinarians with more time to spend with patients and clients. All this and more could be possible someday for a veterinary profession incorporating artificial intelligence. But while AI can improve office efficiency and client engagement, concerns such as data privacy and data accuracy will need to be addressed. “I don’t want AI euthanizing my pet,” Dr. Chris McComb, an associate professor of mechanical engineering at Carnegie Mellon University, told fellow NAVC publication Today’s Veterinary Business. “But I do want AI taking care of pre-screening clients or scheduling appointments or keeping medical records so that the veterinarian has more time to spend with me and my pet.”

Jaguar Health receives renewal of conditional approval for Canalevia-CA1 to treat chemotherapy-induced diarrhea in dogs

Jaguar Health announced the FDA has approved renewal of Canalevia-CA1 (crofelemer delayed-release tablets). Canalevia-CA1 is Jaguar’s conditionally approved prescription drug product for the treatment of chemotherapy-induced diarrhea in dogs. The renewal for conditional approval is in effect until December 21, 2024. Conditional approval is granted for a year, and drugmakers can request renewals for up to four years after the initial approval. Once the company obtains necessary data, it can apply for full approval.

Survey shows demand among veterinarians for canine osteoarthritis management protocol: American Regent Animal Health

A survey by the American Animal Hospital Association, conducted in partnership with American Regent Animal Health and veterinary orthopedist Denis Marcellin-Little, shows significant demand among participating veterinarians for a structured protocol to manage canine osteoarthritis, especially when it comes to early detection in younger dogs. About 95% of the 800 veterinarians surveyed agreed that a canine osteoarthritis protocol would be beneficial. The survey also sheds light on practitioners’ self-assessment of their own knowledge, according to the announcement from American Regent, which makes the canine osteoarthritis drug Adequan. They only gave themselves an average rating of 7/10 on understanding the onset of canine osteoarthritis. The results are “a clear demand for more structure in managing osteoarthritis,” Marcellin-Little said.

FDA advises against use of China-made plastic syringes

The FDA recently issued a safety communication informing consumers of potential device failures with plastic syringes manufactured in China. “We are concerned that certain syringes manufactured in China may not provide consistent and adequate quality or performance,” the agency said in a statement. Without naming specific companies, the FDA said it had received information about quality issues associated with several Chinese manufacturers of plastic syringes including leaks, breakage and other problems. The agency recommended that consumers, health care providers and facilities not use syringes manufactured in the country if possible, MD+DI reports.

TerraCycle launches recycling program for veterinarians to dispose clinic waste

TerraCycle launched VetCycle, a program designed to provide veterinarians with recycling options for hard-to-recycle waste commonly found in clinics, animal shelters and labs, Recycling Product News reports. The program offers recycling services for items like personal protective equipment, plastic food packaging, pet products, general cleaning supplies and more. According to the Pet Sustainability Coalition, a nonprofit organization working with companies in the pet industry to employ sustainable practices, an estimated 300 million pounds of pet food and treat bags are generated in the United States every year. Over 99% of those bags aren’t recycled. Veterinarians who take advantage of the new program order VetCycle boxes that are shipped directly to their locations and can be placed in designated high-traffic areas throughout the office to collect the various categories of waste. Once full, the veterinary staff sends their box to TerraCycle for recycling via the pre-affixed UPS shipping label.

Boston considers banning guinea pig sales in pet stores

The Massachusetts SPCA and other animal welfare groups have asked Boston’s city council to add guinea pigs to an ordinance from 2016 that prevents selling dogs, cats or rabbits in pet stores unless those stores partner with a shelter or rescue. Since the ordinance was passed, the MSPCA said, Massachusetts animal shelters have been overwhelmed with guinea pigs. Advocates say adding guinea pigs to the ordinance would help address overpopulation problems and the surrender of strays, allowing a more streamlined process to get them into homes. NBC Boston reports.