Weekly companion animal news: January 18, 2021

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FDA conditionally approves new canine drugs for lymphoma and epilepsy

The FDA conditionally approved Laverdia-CA1 (verdinexor tablets) to treat dogs with lymphoma. According to the agency, Laverdia-CA1 works to prevent certain proteins from leaving the nucleus of cancer cells, allowing these proteins to control the growth and prevent the spread of cancerous cells in dogs. It’s the first conditionally approved oral treatment for dogs with lymphoma. The FDA also granted the first conditional approval under its expanded authority to KBroVet-CA1 (potassium bromide chewable tablets) to control seizures in dogs with idiopathic epilepsy. Idiopathic epilepsy  is a type of seizure disorder without a known cause. KBroVet-CA1 works by stabilizing neurons in the central nervous system to reduce the likelihood of having a seizure.

Don’t put face masks on pets, experts say

Veterinary leaders are cautioning pet owners against putting face masks on their pets, Markets Insider reports. This comes after a New York-based company—Pet Masks—selling masks for pets reported a 500% increase during the pandemic. The AVMA and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, as well as a U.K. veterinary charity, advised against the masks, saying they can cause distress for pets and make it difficult for them to breathe.

FDA expands Sportmix dog food recall after 70 dogs reportedly died

The FDA announced an expanded recall and is alerting pet owners and veterinary professionals about high levels of aflatoxin in some pet foods after 70 dogs reportedly died and more than 80 others were sickened, CNN reports. The recall involves Sportmix products from Midwestern Pet Foods. The products were voluntarily recalled by the company December 30, but Midwestern Pet Foods has expanded the recall to include additional products that contain corn and were made in their Oklahoma manufacturing plant, according to the FDA. The affected products have an expiration date on or before July 9, 2022, and have “05” in the date or lot code.

Calls to Scotland SPCA to give up animals have doubled after pet adoption spike

The Scottish SPCA said the number of calls from people wanting to give up animals more than doubled after a boost in adoptions at the start of the pandemic, the Glasgow Times reports. The group said 476 people called between September 1, 2020, and January 5 looking to give up their animal, compared to 205 calls in the same period last year. “It is heartbreaking to see a healthy animal which loves their family given up because the owners have lost interest or not considered how their circumstances may change,” said chief superintendent Mike Flynn. “We would urge people to consider a reputable behaviorist or training before they give up their pet.” The charity had predicted this would happen after adoptions rose at the start of the pandemic.

Pathway to open new specialty and emergency hospital in Austin

Pathway Vet Alliance announced it will open a specialty and emergency hospital for pets in Austin this month. Pet Specialists of Austin will be Pathway’s first specialty and emergency veterinary hospital the company has built from the ground up, according to the announcement. The 10,400-square-foot facility will be open 24 hours a day for emergencies and is located a block away from Pathway’s first veterinary hospital, Austin Vet Care at Central Park. Pet Specialists of Austin’s internal medicine service is scheduled to begin in fall of 2021, and radiology, neurology and critical care are all planned for the future as well.

AVMA works on certificate for veterinary first responders

The American Veterinary Medical Foundation board of directors voted in November to provide $80,000 in funding to create an AVMA certificate program for veterinary first responders. Members of the AVMA Committee on Disaster and Emergency Issues will first identify core competencies reflecting the basics that every veterinary responder should know. That work is expected to be finalized this spring, after which organizations, including the AVMA and veterinary colleges, can develop new or modify existing courses and submit them to the committee for an assessment on whether they satisfy one or more of the core competencies required for certificate completion. Initial classes could be available on AVMA Axon as soon as fall 2021, and the program could be fully operational by spring 2022. Once veterinarians or veterinary students complete courses that meet all core competencies, they’ll be issued the Basic Veterinary Responder Certificate. More information is available from the AVMA.

Boehringer Ingelheim Animal Health announces U.S. leadership transition

Boehringer Ingelheim Animal Health announced the appointment of Randolph Legg as its U.S. president. He succeeds Everett Hoekstra, who retired in December. Legg will remain head of the company’s U.S. commercial business while serving as president. He held various commercial leadership roles in Boehringer Ingelheim’s human pharmaceutical division before moving to the animal health division in 2019 to lead the U.S. pets commercial team. He’s based at the company’s U.S. animal health headquarters in Duluth, Georgia.