Nominations open for Hill’s veterinary award

The World Small Animal Veterinary Association (WSAVA) and Hill's Pet Nutrition have launched the search for the 2016 Next Generation Award winner. The Award recognizes a recently qualified veterinarian who has contributed significantly to the betterment of companion animals, the veterinary profession and society at large. Now in its second year, the Next Generation Award will be presented at the WSAVA annual World Congress on September 27-30, 2016, in Cartagena, Colombia.
Candidates for the WSAVA/Hill's Next Generation Award can come from any country and must meet the following criteria:

• Graduated within the past 10 years
• Active in continuing education
• Have a strong record in community service
• Working to bridge the gap between their generation and others’

The WSAVA's 96 member and affiliate associations represent more than 158,000 individual veterinarians from around the globe. They work together to advance the health and welfare of companion animals.
The first recipient of the WSAVA/Hill's Next Generation Award in 2015 was Dr. Pantakarn Onnak, from Chonburi, Thailand. Onnak carries out a great deal of voluntary work, including running a program to neuter stray dogs and cats abandoned in Buddhist temples in Thailand, and educating young people about preventative health in companion animals and the importance of neutering.
"I have worked as a volunteer for 10 years and do it because I want to make people and animals’ lives better,” Onnak said. “I was honored to receive the Next Generation Award at the 2015 WSAVA World Congress in Bangkok, and it has inspired me to continue my work helping communities and animals in Thailand.
"I believe the Next Generation Award is important to our profession because it can be difficult to encourage younger vets to volunteer, as they have so many other challenges in their lives when they first qualify. If we lead by example, we are able to promote the role of the veterinarian within our community, and we may inspire our colleagues to get involved."
Hill’s funded Onnak’s attendance to the 2015 WSAVA World Conference so she could accept her award. She also received a donation toward her voluntary work, an engraved plaque and a WSAVA certificate.
Dr. Jolle Kirpensteijn, chief professional relations officer at Hill's Pet Nutrition, said: "We believe it is particularly important to engage with millennial veterinarians – those in the early stage of their professional careers, as well as future vets still in training. They are the future of our profession and, through making this unique award and the message it gives, we aim to inspire them to contribute to the betterment of companion animals, the veterinary profession and their communities around the world."
Dr. Siraya Chunekamrai, honorary secretary of the WSAVA, said: "The WSAVA Awards are our way of celebrating outstanding work by our global colleagues as they continue to advance the care of companion animals. We are grateful to Hill's for its continuing support of the WSAVA and look forward to reviewing this year's entries for the Next Generation Award."
Candidates can nominate themselves by sending an email to wsavasecretariat@gmail.com by Jan. 1, 2016.

Hill’s Pet Nutrition announced as founding sponsor of VetFolio

Hill's Pet Nutrition has become the exclusive animal nutrition founding sponsor of VetFolio, an online continuing education platform for veterinary professionals offered by the American Animal Hospital Association and the North American Veterinary Community.
As part of this commitment, Hill's is sponsoring select nutrition courses, articles and related content. Hill's will also sponsor a new VetFolio program for veterinary students, veterinary technician students and recent graduates. This program will include online resource centers and educational modules.
"Veterinary healthcare team members, students and recent graduates are busy people," said Ellen Lowery of Hill's Pet Nutrition's US professional and veterinary affairs department. "We're happy to support this platform because VetFolio provides access to quality CE opportunities and resources on their schedule." 

Petfood brand owner Dr. Tim Hunt brings vet care to rural Alaska, USA

Dr. Tim Hunt of Dr. Tim's petfood brand is heading to Alaska, USA, in June to bring medical care to pets of impoverished residents of rural villages. 
Hunt will offer pet spays, neuters and vaccinations at "an affordable rate" during the 11-day trip.
"We were able to get a USDA grant plus a little help from the Native Rural Cooperative to start a volunteer vet program," Hunt said. "Many of these communities have no vet care. Rarely does anyone service these interior villages. There's a definite need for vet care in these poor communities. People rely on someone coming through to help. One person used to do this, but no one does any more."
Hunt is hoping to spay and neuter 20 to 30 animals daily. He says many of the families who will bring their pets in have not been able to have the cats and dogs seen by a veterinarian before.
"I think this is going to be an eye-opening experience," Hunt said. "It's a big deal to get into these situations and realize how good we have it here."

Veterinary Medicine Caucus formed in US House

Veterinarians and congressmen, Kurt Schrader and Ted Yoho, have formed the Veterinary Medicine Caucus in the US House of Representatives in an effort to raise awareness about the importance of veterinary medicine to animal health and welfare, food safety, public health, research and the overall economy. 
The Veterinary Medicine Caucus, which other House members are encouraged to join, will also draft legislation and conduct briefings and hearings.
“Together, I hope we can use our unique experience and perspective in the field of veterinary medicine to educate and engage our fellow members of Congress,” Schrader said.
Schrader also recently introduced HR1225, the Veterinary Medicine Loan Repayment Program Enhancement Act. If approved, the legislation would provide a federal income tax exemption for financial awards granted under the program. The program would allow eligible veterinarians to receive up to US$25,000 per year toward qualified educational loans, if they agree to serve three years in a designated veterinarian-shortage area.

International Canine Health Awards presented at Crufts dog show

The International Canine Health Awards, European veterinary awards, were recently presented to three people during a ceremony at the 2013 Crufts dog show in Birmingham, UK.
The awards recognize and reward innovative researchers, veterinary scientists and students who are impacting the health and well-being of dogs, helping to transform the understanding of human diseases, too.
The winners, Dr. Elaine Ostrander, Dr. Gustavo Aguirre and student, Emily Milodowski, were nominated by their peers. They were awarded a combined £60,000 (US$89,344.39) for their work in dog health and developments in veterinary science, donated by Metro Bank founder and chairman and his wife, Vernon and Shirley Hill.
Dr. Elaine Ostrander was chosen as the winner of the Lifetime Achievement Award, for her work contributing not only to developments in canine health, but also transforming the understanding of several human diseases. Her work has stretched over two decades, during which she has led advances in the understanding of mammalian genomics as well as the genetic basis of cancer susceptibility.
Dr. Gustavo Aguirre was awarded the International Prize in Canine Health for his work in the recognition and characterization of eye diseases in dogs, applying both clinical and genetic solutions. His work alongside Dr. Ostrander has allowed him to undertake groundbreaking research into canine eye diseases and to date has identified more than 14 different retinal disease genes that cause inherited blindness in more than 59 breeds of dogs.
Bristol University student Emily Milodowski won the Student Inspiration Award. She was chosen for her research on the prevalence and distribution of a bacteria called Campylobacter in the canine intestine, which again may eventually help human health. Her next research project will look into wound healing in dogs.

Animal health professionals attend PET-VET Asia Expo 2012

Veterinary practitioners in Asia-Pacific region recently attended PET-VET Asia Expo 2012, which coincided with conferences of Asia Pacific Veterinary Conference, Asian Federation of Laboratory Animal Science, and Asian Society of Zoo and Wildlife Medicine. The three conferences and one exhibition under the name, "Asia Pacific Animal Health Summit & Expo," were held together, October 10-12.
More than 1,500 attendees were able to hear a variety of speakers on research, including anethesia cardiopulmonary medicine, dermatology, gastroenterology, infectious disease and more. Attendance was comprised of a wide range of animal health professionals, veterinarians, animal science professionals and commercial businesses.
The Asia Pacific Animal Health Summit & Expo will be held again in 2014 at BITEC in Bangkok, Thailand.

Petfood maker Purina releases new application for veterinarians

Petfood maker Purina released a new Purina Guide for Veterinarians application for iPhone and iPad. 
The application provides technical information on both well-pet and therapeutic Purina products that allows veterinarians to determine the right nutritional pet food formulas for their patients. With this free application, veterinarians can browse canine and feline diet options by indication or formula, search by keyword, review analytical charts, access a clinical glossary of ingredients and more. 
The Purina Guide for Veterinarians application can be found in the medical category of the iPhone and iPad App Store, by entering code 0411 when prompted.

Study finds decline in vet visits among pet owners in recession

A survey of 1,200 dog and cat owners by the Pert Group and Brakke Consulting found veterinarians continue to be key in influencing pet product purchases and are the primary retail channel for items like medications and prescription pet food diets, yet pet owners are visiting the veterinarian less thanks to the recession.
The survey, conducted in November 2011, found that 77 percent of respondents reported taking their pet to the veterinarian, down 20 percent from 88 percent in 2007, the first year the survey was conducted.
“Dogs and cats are feeling the bite of the recession as pet owners put a leash on pet care expenses,” said Susan Spaulding, executive vice president and principal at the Pert Group. “The recession has not only decreased what consumers spend on their own health, but what they spend at the veterinarian.”
Spending by cat owners who had not taken their pet to the veterinarian within the last year was also down, with these cat owners saying they spent 28 percent less on heartworm prevention, 23 percent less on dental products, and 20 percent less on flea and tick control compared to 2007.
“Pet owners confirmed that veterinarians and their staffs are key sources of education and highly influential in product choice. Veterinarians could capitalize on their client relationships to compete more effectively with the growing internet and pet super store channels,” said John Volk, senior consultant at Brakke Consulting. “Online ads and in-store displays can’t compete with one-on-one interaction and expertise.”

Survey of vets finds 54 percent of American pets are overweight

A new survey of veterinarians, conducted by the Association for Pet Obesity Prevention, found that 54 percent of pets in America are overweight or obese. 
The survey found that 53 percent of adult dogs and 55 percent of adult cats are considered to be overweight or obese by veterinarians - a total of 88.4 million pets. "The most distressing finding in this year's study was the fact that more pet owners are unaware their pet is overweight," said Association for Pet Obesity Prevention founder, Dr. Ernie Ward. "In simplest terms, we've made fat pets the new normal." Veterinarians surveyed said that 15 percent of cat owners and 22 percent of dog owners said their pets were "normal weight," even when their pet was put on the scale. Yet, the survey also found that 93 percent of pet owners say they are aware that pet obesity is a problem. A major factor contributing to the obesity of pets is pet owners feeding commercial petfood and treats, which is often very high in calories, Ward says. According to the survey, a typical dog treat fed to a 20-pound dog is the same as a human eating two, double-stuffed fudge cookies, while feeding a pig ear to a 40-pound dog contains the same amount of calories as a human drinking six, 12-ounce cans of soda. Ward recommends that pet owners feed single-ingredient treats or fresh vegetables that are safe for animals.

Hill's Pet Nutrition gives away Smart Car to veterinary technician

Hill’s Pet Nutrition’s Drive Nutrition Sweepstakes selected Kelly Kline of Neffsville Veterinary Clinic in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, USA, as one of three national winners of a new Smart Car.

Kelly Kline was randomly selected as the winner of a new Smart Car from Hill's Pet Nutrition's Drive Nutrition Sweepstakes.

 

Three cars will be given away in the United States and one in Canada as part of the sweepstakes. The Drive Nutrition Sweepstakes called for veterinary technicians to enter and complete Hill's activities, such as attending a Hill's Martinis and Manicures event, calling Hill's Veterinary Consultation Service, posting photos of themselves with pets or clients to the company's gallery, or answering educational nutrition trivia questions. Kline was randomly selected out of 587,000 entries in the US. The other US and Canadian winners will be announced soon.

What's the best way to educate vets about pet nutrition?

I received an email recently from a veterinarian who commented that when he attended vet school 20 years ago, he took one nutrition course -- that was it. He said he hoped that situation had changed.
I think we all know it has not. Most US veterinarians would admit that their formal education on companion animal nutrition consisted of one basic course that, in some cases, had to be taught by a professor from another program (usually the animal science department or something similar) because no veterinary faculty had the knowledge or expertise to teach it.
 Any information on nutrition received after veterinary school usually comes via a handful of pet food manufacturers that sell through the veterinary channel. And not to disparage them, their products or their information, but let's face it: That information is by its very nature prone to be limited and biased.
Several pet food professionals in Europe have told me the situation is the same in most countries there, at least the ones with well-established pet food markets.
I don't have statistics on this -- except from Italy, where the Associazione Nazionale Medici Veterinari Italiana (national veterinary association) recently did an online survey showing 85% of vets there get requests from clients for advice on petfood -- but we all know the first source many pet owners turn to for information on pet nutrition is their veterinarian.
Considering this, the lack of nutrition knowledge and education among these professionals is one key reason, I believe, that so much misinformation about pet nutrition and petfoods abounds online and among other consumer media. Today's pet owners are highly involved, aware and hungry for knowledge. If they can't get it from their first source (their veterinarian), they'll turn wherever they can, including and especially the Internet.
The veterinarian I heard from issued a challenge: "Surely, there is a way for ... your industry in general to do a better job educating veterinarians, so they can help you educate the public."
Do you agree this is a role for our industry?

Animal health company launches DVMdiets Network for veterinarians

AHD, an animal health marketing and technology company, launched the DVMdiets Network, created for veterinary professionals
AHD says its DVMdiets Network provides comprehensive nutritional education for veterinary practices, along with an online home delivery platform for clients that offers more than 70 brands of specialty and prescription diets.
The DVMdiets Network features weekly live and on-demand seminars for member practices, which are sponsored and conducted by diet manufacturers and companion animal nutrition experts. The programs are designed to educate the entire staff of the veterinary practice, focusing on emerging trends, standardized nutritional guidelines, and new products and categories. The DVMdiets Network is offered as a free member benefit for members of the online veterinarian purchasing organization, GroupDVM, AHD says. 
"Our research indicates that while nutrition is discussed on more than 80% of veterinary clinic visits, less than half of veterinarians feel that their staff is adequately trained on companion animal diets," said Daryl Schraad, president of AHD. "The growing number of specialty diets has made it challenging for veterinarians to stay properly informed, let alone stock all of the products that their clients need. DVMdiets helps ensure the veterinarian remains the 'go-to' source for nutritional information, while allowing them to earn revenue and increase diet compliance through our DVMdiets home delivery program."

Alltech's 27th International Symposium approved for continuing education credits

Both the American Registry of Professional Animal Scientists and the American Association of Veterinary State Boards have approved Alltech’s 27th International Animal Health and Nutrition Symposium for Continuing Education Credits.
ARPAS has determined a maximum of 12 hours will be earned for attending Alltech’s symposium, entitled "The Game Changers: Creative Concepts for Agribusiness to Respond to Relentless Commoditization and to Innovate for a Greener Future." ARPAS members will self-determine how many CEUs are earned at the symposium based on the actual number of presentation hours attended, and may report their CEUs on the ARPAS website at www.arpas.org or by downloading and submitting the CEU reporting form.
The AAVSB's Registry of Approved Continuing Education committee has approved the symposium as meeting the standards adopted by the AAVSB. The maximum CEU for veterinarians under the AAVSB RACE program will be 12 units. Delegates must register their CEUs by submitting a certificate of attendance, which will be available at the symposium information booth.
The symposium will be held at the Lexington Convention Center in Lexington, Kentucky, USA, from May 22 through 25, 2011.

World Small Animal Veterinary Association develops global nutrition guidelines

The World Small Animal Veterinary Association developed global nutrition guidelines to raise awareness of nutrition as the fifth vital assessment (5VA) in a standard physical exam for pets.

If published, 5VA would require a nutritional assessment and specific dietary recommendation be made for every patient on all visits. The other four vitals required to be assessed at each visit are temperature, pulse, respiration and pain.
To reach the goal of worldwide implementation of 5VA, WSAVA Guidelines Development Committee met for a second time at the North American Veterinary Conference in Orlando, Fla. The group formulated a plan to build an alliance of global veterinary organizations to help healthcare teams and pet owners begin implementing the guidelines on an international basis. The Committee's next steps include working to publish the guidelines and encouraging other stakeholders to get involved. WSAVA says its hope is that global veterinary organizations will join with the group to encourage veterinary healthcare teams and institutions to make nutrition a routine part of their recommendation procedures.
“Our team met for two full days during NAVC, and we are all very enthusiastic about the plans ahead for the WSAVA guidelines. We took the existing AAHA guidelines to use as a model, and will be working toward the mutual goal of making pet nutrition recommendations relevant worldwide,” said Lisa M. Freeman, D.V.M., Ph.D., DACVN, professor of clinical nutrition at Tufts Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine. “These guidelines are an important resource that global veterinary practices, petfood companies and all others invested in optimal small animal health can benefit from.”

Xylitol poses expanding risk to dogs as more products take out sugar

The popular sugar substitute xylitol has always posed a deadly threat to dogs, but that threat is expanding as xylitol finds its way into vitamins and commonly prescribed drugs that used to be safe for canines—and now aren't.
According to veterinarian Patty Khuly, DVM, this expansion poses a risk that veterinarians, their pharmacists and their clients must all be aware of. "I used to recommend Flintstones vitamins for my patients," she said in Fully Vetted, a blog for those with an interest in pets. "Now I have to caution my clients to stick to pet-only brands and to be very diligent about reading labels. But it took months before I became aware of the change in this brand's ingredients."
Preparations of common human pediatric drugs prescribed by veterinarians for their own animal patients are now worth an extra look, said Dr. Khuly, as xylitol could be substituted into any of them without veterinarians being aware of the ingredient change. Pediatric elixers, in particular, are being reformulated for greater palatability, using xylitol.

PetSafe set to fund behaviorist position

PetSafe, a manufacturer of pet safety and behavior products, will fund one of the few veterinary school behaviorist positions in the USA.
The newest Chair in Veterinary Behavior will work at the College of Veterinary Medicine at the University of Tennessee.
The position was formed to research and gain understanding of animal behaviors that may jeopardize a pet remaining in a home environment. The ultimate goal of an animal behaviorist is to help protect the bond between a human and companion animal.

Promotion encourages owners to get pets to vet

Beginning in October, National Pet Wellness Month, participating US veterinary clinics will launch a new educational campaign: A Happy, Healthy Pet Starts With a Plan. The campaign, promoting regular veterinary care, is sponsored by the American Veterinary Medical Association, Fort Dodge Animal Health and VPI Pet Insurance.
The three-step plan encourages twice-a-year wellness exams, disease prevention and pet health insurance products.

Veterinarian directory launched by FidoDogTreat.com

FidoDogTreats.com has launched its veterinarian directory, a free tool for pet owners and veterinarians. The directory is aimed at helping pet owners find a qualified veterinarian.
All US veterinarians with valid licenses can list their practices in the directory. FidoDogTreats.com users can create accounts, post reviews and rate veterinarians.
FidoDogTreats.com is an e-commerce company specializing in natural dog treats.