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Results from the third weekend of door-to-door sampling by Oregon State University suggest that one person in 1,000 in the Corvallis community had the novel coronavirus that causes COVID-19 on May 9-10.

The study, Team-based Rapid Assessment of Community-Level Coronavirus Epidemics, known as TRACE-COVID-19 for short, began the weekend of April 25-26 and continued the subsequent two weekends.

The fourth and final weekend of sampling, originally scheduled for May 16-17, will take place in June to help determine if the easing of stay-at-home orders leads to a jump in the prevalence of the virus in the Corvallis community, TRACE leaders say.

On the third weekend of sampling, 30 two-person field teams visited 346 homes spread among 30 census blocks in Corvallis. Seventy-eight percent of the households where someone answered the door had at least one person agree to participate, resulting in the sampling of 649 people.

The first three weeks of OSUs sampling for the virus in Corvallis presents a consistent pattern of low prevalence in the community, said Ben Dalziel, an assistant professor in OSUs College of Science and the project leader. Over three consecutive weeks, the prevalence has ranged from approximately 1 to 2 in 1,000. These results suggest that the sacrifices made by the community to follow stay-at-home policies have indeed flattened the curve as we hoped. The number of confirmed cases reported by the Benton County Health Department portrays a similar picture.

Corvallis population is 58,641, comprising more than half of the 93,053 people who live in Benton County.

TRACE uses a statistical model based on the number of samples, the number of positive tests and prior information on the prevalence of the virus to estimate the proportion of the community that is infected during the period when the samples were collected.

For example, during the third week of sampling there were no positive tests among TRACE participants, but prior information on prevalence in the community nonetheless led to TRACE models to estimate a prevalence of approximately one per 1,000 in the community as a whole.

In announcing weekly prevalence results, the TRACE team follows reporting policies used by the Oregon Health Authority and local health departments by not announcing numbers of positive cases between one and nine. Doing so may contribute to identifying an actual community member who tested positive, Dalziel said.

TRACE will expand to Bend on May 30-31 with funding from PacificSource Health Plans, which will also help pay for the final weekend of sampling in Corvallis next month. Also in Bend on May 30-31, a research project led by the OSU College of Engineering, Coronavirus Sewer Surveillance, will collect sewage samples that will be analyzed for the prevalence of genetic material from the virus.

While one case in 1,000 in the Corvallis sampling may seem like a low number, it is important to remember that prevalence is not the same as risk, said Jeff Bethel, an associate professor in OSUs College of Public Health and Human Sciences and part of the TRACE leadership team.

Even a low prevalence is still a threat to public health until there is a vaccine or until a large number of people in the community have immunity to this virus, Bethel said. It is important that everyone continues to follow the advice of public health officials regarding face masks, hand-washing and other sanitizing methods, and social distancing. All evidence suggests that SARS-CoV-2, the virus causing COVID-19, is highly contagious. The larger the gathering, the greater the likelihood that you will encounter an infected individual, regardless of whether they show symptoms.

The TRACE study is a collaboration of five OSU colleges Science, Agricultural Sciences, the Carlson College of Veterinary Medicine, Engineering, and Public Health and Human Sciences in partnership with the Benton County Health Department.

The study is being initially funded by OSU and a grant from the David and Lucile Packard Foundation, and has been aided by work from the OSU Foundation and the OSU Alumni Association. The diagnostic testing component of TRACE operates through a partnership between the Oregon Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory, which is located at OSU, and Willamette Valley Toxicology.

These three weeks of data provide a very useful baseline from which we can monitor in close to real time how the prevalence of the virus changes as Corvallis begins to reopen, Dalziel said.

At each home visited by TRACE field workers, members of the household are invited to participate in the study. Those who choose to take part are asked to provide information such as their name and date of birth; to fill out a simple consent form; and to answer a few confidential, health-related questions.

Participants are given a nasal-swab test kit that they administer to themselves inside their home and their minor children if they want them to take part. The field staff wait outside, and the participants leave the completed test kits outside their front door. Field staff maintain a safe distance at all times and do not enter anyones home. The safety of participants and TRACE field staff is a key part of the studys research design, Bethel said.

The tests used in TRACE-COVID-19 collect material from the entrance of the nose and are more comfortable and less invasive than the tests that collect secretions from the throat and the back of the nose.

The field workers leave participants with information about the project and how they will receive their results available in seven to 10 days as well as health guidance from the Benton County Health Department and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Participants in the study are sent their results and those of their minor children by secure email with receipt by standard mail delivery as a backup. Everyones personal information is safeguarded.

Everyone is hoping to avoid a spike in number of infections as we reopen we think TRACE data can help, Dalziel said. Changes in prevalence of the virus in the community will be an early warning indicator to inform decisions about pace of reopening.

For more information about TRACE, visit the TRACE-COVID-19 website. The site includes a list of frequently asked questions.

COVID-19, first reported to the World Health Organization on Dec. 31, 2019, has been confirmed in more than 5.3 million people worldwide and has killed more than 344,000 people. In the United States, there have been more than 1.6 million reported cases including more than 3,900 in Oregon and more than 97,000 deaths nationwide. Benton County has had 53 confirmed cases and five deaths.

About Oregon State University: As one of only two universities in the nation designated as a land, sea, space and sun grant, Oregon State serves Oregon and the world by working on todays most pressing issues. Our more than 32,000 students come from across the globe, and our programs operate in every Oregon county. Oregon State receives more research funding than all of the states comprehensive public universities combined. At our campuses in Corvallis and Bend, marine research center in Newport and award-winning Ecampus, we excel at shaping todays students into tomorrows leaders.

More here:
Press Release: TRACE Week Three Results Suggest One Person Per 1000 In Corvallis Infected With SARS-CoV-2 - The Lund Report

LUBBOCK, Texas (NEWS RELEASE) The following is a news release from Texas Tech University:

Some aspects of the science and art of practicing veterinary medicine are constant, whereas other parts change rapidly. Not surprisingly, information is key to success, and in todays world, this issue is not really the ability to access information. What is needed is the ability to timely identify relevant information and distinguish useful pieces from the growing noise of information overload.

For theTexas Tech University School of Veterinary Medicine in Amarillo, the opportunity to address this need by building a focused information system from the ground up is a unique opportunity. Each course and lecture possess its own unique requirement for instructional and informational resources, from textbooks and clinical studies to data sets, recorded laboratory sessions and expert videos.

Some of those courses may require students to access information remotely or in the field. Content to help students develop the skills to rapidly access and distinguish information has been weaved throughout the curriculum.

Finding someone who can bring that all together for the School of Veterinary Medicine has been a focus with the first class planned to start in just over a year. Also important for the school is someone who will take shared ownership of its mission of serving the needs of rural and regional communities, provide access to affordable education, and foster its core values.

Howard Rodriguez-Mori is that person.

Rodriguez-Mori joins the faculty of the new Texas Tech School of Veterinary Medicine in Amarillo as an associate professor of Library and Information Services. He began his duties on May 1.

It is exciting to join the School of Veterinary Medicine at Texas Tech and to be part of the team that will develop the program, Rodriguez-Mori said. This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, and that is why I am so excited about the role I will play at the School of Veterinary Medicine. I genuinely believe it is essential for our clinical students to feel and know that the school is backing them up regardless of their clinical practice locations, and I take to heart making sure they get the support they need.

Rodriguez-Mori arrives at Texas Tech after serving dual roles in the Florida State University System. He served as the Open Educational Resources Coordinator and Associate Librarian at Florida International University and as an assistant professor of Library and Information Studies at Florida State University.

His library education includes courses in medical librarianship, evidence-based practice and multicultural communication and service. The past two years, he has conducted research into the roles and influence of libraries, government agencies and religious and non-profit influence on Hurricane Maria survivors taking refuge in Central Florida. This has led to a comprehensive systematic review of hurricane-related post-traumatic stress syndrome research.

Information overload is something we all talk about, saidGuy Loneragan, dean of the School of Veterinary Medicine. Weeding through the never-ending onslaught to quickly and accurately target information we can use to make a difference for our clients and their animals is a critical skill we need to and can develop in our students. Dr. Mori is the right person to do that. He will make an impact in the lives of our students and also for our faculty and staff. Our school is so much better for Dr. Mori being part of it.

Rodriguez-Mori earned both his masters degree in Library and Information Science (2001) and doctorate in Information Use Studies (2009) from Florida State, and in 2019 he completed a masters degree in Marketing and Management Communication.

He has been awarded the SABIO Post-Graduate Diversity Residency Program from the University of Arizona, the Diversity Faculty Fellowship from the University of Denver and the Project Athena Doctoral Fellowship from Florida State University.

Dr. Rodriguez-Mori will be creating the resources our faculty, staff and students need to be successful in using and navigating the all-encompassing area of informational services, saidJohn Dascanio, senior associate dean for academic and student affairs. This is a crucial position for the school to ensure the connectivity of our participants to the information they may need to make informed decisions in many areas, including animal health, research and education. He will have a long and lasting impact on our program.

Rodriguez-Mori joins Loneragan, Dascanio, associate dean for clinical programsBritt Conklin, professor of surgeryDavid Dutton, assistant professor of general veterinary practiceBethany Schilling, professor of medicineLszl Hunyadi, professor of surgeryNancy Zimmermanand visiting professorJerry Blackon the faculty for the School of Veterinary Medicine. Additional faculty members will be added over the remainder of the spring, then over the summer and fall.

About the School of Veterinary MedicineThanks to the generosity of Amarillo and communities across Texas, and the commitment of legislators from around the state, the Texas Tech University School of Veterinary Medicine in Amarillo, established in 2018, is working to enroll its first class in the fall of 2021, pending approval by the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) Council on Education.

The School of Veterinary Medicine will recruit and select students with a passion to practice and succeed in rural and regional communities. Its curriculum is focused on the competencies and skills necessary for success in practices that support these communities. Texas Techs innovative and cost-efficient model partners with the wider community of veterinary practices across the state to provide clinical, real-world experiential learning.

In June,Gov. Greg Abbott signed into law the biennial state budget, which appropriated $17.35 million for the School of Veterinary Medicine in Amarillothat will go toward operational needs in order to get the school up and running. The appropriation included language directing Texas Tech to move forward in establishing the school.

(News release from Texas Tech University)

Read more from the original source:
Veteran library and information sciences expert to lead TTU School of Veterinary Medicines library services - KLBK | KAMC | EverythingLubbock.com

The way our pets receive veterinary care changed dramatically two months ago.

One day we were in the exam room with them. The next, we were driving to the clinic when we had an appointment, calling from our cars to announce our arrival, and staying in our cars while masked vet techs came and took pets inside for exams.

Telehealth is likely to be with us for a while.

High-tech accommodations that veterinarians and pet owners have made to deal with COVID-19 will likely remain in the future. Phone calls, video and social media may all play a role in the way pets receive care and the way we witness it.

For instance, if you cant go in with your pet, can you still see the exam and communicate with the veterinarian?

Absolutely, says Dr. Peter Weinstein, executive director of the Southern California Veterinary Medical Association. Once the pet is in the exam room, he says, its easy to initiate a Zoom, Skype or FaceTime call with the client so they can see whats going on.

Dr. Julie Reck foresees utilizing video and social media more frequently to let owners see whats going on if a pet has to go to the back for a procedure or is recovering from surgery.

We do a lot on our social media for our veterinary page, she says. We get video content of our patients all the time, whether thats while were in the exam room or if theyre in the back treatment area. If were going to change that dynamic and separate the pet parent and the pet, we need to up the ante with that a little bit.

Anxious about letting your pet go into the veterinary clinic without you? Its not surprising that your pet might be weirded out by the masked, gloved and gowned technician and veterinarian.

And separating pets and their people isnt ideal, but veterinary staff members are easing pet anxiety by using low-stress handling techniques, food rewards, stress relievers such as pheromone diffusers or soft music, and nonskid surfaces on exam tables to help them remain calm and comfortable.

In the not so distant future, remote health care may become more common for what were once routine in-clinic visits. Beyond a pandemic situation, it can benefit people who are sick or who dont have access to transportation. Its useful in remote areas where specialist care isnt available and in cases where pets simply cant tolerate a visit to the vet.

Maybe your dog has a lump on his chin. You could take a photo of the lump and e-mail or text it to your veterinarian for advice on whether it can wait or if your pet needs to be treated immediately.

Whenever the pandemic is over, lingering fear will likely affect the way veterinary medicine is delivered. We may see hybrid models combining traditional delivery of veterinary medicine with new drive-up, drop-off or telehealth services.

Weinstein counsels patience to pet owners and veterinarians who are navigating new territory and are concerned about their health as well as that of their families and pets.

If we can all respect one anothers needs, well all come out of this just fine, he says.

Read the original:
Texting your vet? The future of pet care could be virtual visits - Minneapolis Star Tribune

Travis Sulfridge, DVM is a 2011 graduate of Whitley County High School. After earning an undergraduate degree from the University of the Cumberlands he went on to Auburn University in Alabama, where he graduated in May of 2019 from the College of Veterinary Medicine.

In the past year, he has practiced at the Williamsburg Veterinary Clinic alongside Dr. Michael Culver. Sulfridge is a general practitioner, treating both large and small animals, and in addition to the work he does in the clinic, he will also make farm calls when possible.

I grew up on a small cattle farm, Sulfridge said. I have always loved animals, and I wanted to do something that would allow me to give back to my community while also working with animals at the same time.

Sulfridge said that he has been happy to be working in his hometown this past year, free of the stress that goes along with being in school full time, and able to spend more time with his wife and young daughter. As for how things have been since the COVID-19 pandemic earlier this year, he explained, We were seeing emergency-only cases for a period of time, and everything has been curbside service. Our clients have been great, though, and most have been really understanding as we try to keep up with all of the social distancing guidelines. We have been opening back up some of our other services lately, doing vaccinations and surgeries again now.

Sulfridge said the phones have been ringing off the hook since restrictions have been lifted on some of the services that had to be suspended recently.

As for now, we are still taking it slow, Sulfridge said. Everything will still be curbside, but we will try to increase the amount of patients that we see. We want to be able to see everyone that we absolutely can.

Pet owners have been curious about how COVID-19 could affect their four-legged friends since the beginning of this pandemic, but there have been conflicting reports about it, depending on who you listen to. When asked to clarify, Sulfridge said, So far, there have been two cases of cats with COVID, both in New York. To-date there have been no transmissions of the disease from pets to humans, but there is still a chance of a pet catching it from their owner.

When asked how to reduce the risk of this happening, Sulfridge said, For now, dont kiss them and dont share any kind of utensils. Try to keep them away from people or other pets that live outside of the house. The American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) has plenty more good information on the topic at http://www.avma.org.

For more on the Williamburg Veterinary Clinic, look them up on Facebook or call 606-549-5444.

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W'burg vet Travis Sulfridge talks COVID-19 and its potential effects on pets, pet owners The News Journal - The News Journal

Dr. Robin Downing

Pain expert Robin Downing, equine practitioner Harry Werner and Michigan State University Professor Janice Siegford are the recipients of American Veterinary Medical Association awards.

The honors, announced May 6, are as follows:

A graduate of the University of Illinois College of Veterinary Medicine, Dr. Downing was recognized for her work in protecting and promoting the human-animal bond.

She is the owner and medical director at both the Downing Center for Animal Pain Management and the Windsor Veterinary Clinic in Windsor, Colorado. She holds a masters degree in bioethics, is a diplomate of the American Academy of Pain Management and the American College of Veterinary Sports Medicine and Rehabilitation, and is a certified veterinary pain practitioner and a certified canine rehabilitation practitioner.

Dr. Downing has devoted her career to improving the health of animals and strengthening and prolonging the bond between people and animals, said AVMA President John Howe, DVM. Bestowing her with this award is a fitting tribute to Dr. Bustad, an outstanding educator, scientist, humanitarian and pioneer in the field of human-animal interactions.

The late Dr. Bustad was a Delta Society president and a dean at the Washington State University College of Veterinary Medicine.

Elected to the International Equine Veterinarians Hall of Fame in 2013, Dr. Werner is the longtime owner of an equine practice in North Granby, Connecticut.

A graduate of the University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine, he represented the American Association of Equine Practitioners on the AVMAs Animal Welfare Committee and represented the AVMA and AAEP on the Unwanted Horse Coalition. He received the AAEPs

Distinguished Life Member Award in 2017.

Dr. Werners dedication, excellent communication skills, and the innate ability to maneuver around and through emotional and oftentimes misunderstood welfare conditions are his greatest strength, said Tom Lenz, DVM, MS, DACT, the recipient of the 2010 Animal Welfare Award. But it is his passion and sincere belief in the well-being of all animals that truly drove him to be the success that he is.

Dr. Siegford, a professor of animal science and welfare, helped development the AVMA Animal Welfare Assessment Contest and has served on its coordinating committee since 2007.

The Humane Award is given annually to a non-veterinarian who advances the welfare of animals through leadership, public service, education, advocacy, or research or product development.

Dr. Siegford has been a champion of animal welfare for many years and has done so much to integrate animal welfare into veterinary education, Dr. Howe said.

The three awards are handed out annually. The 2019 winners were Karen Vernau, DVM, MS, DACVIM (Bustad Companion Animal Veterinarian of the Year), Joanne Paul-Murphy, DVM, Ph.D., DACZM (Animal Welfare Award) and Sonia Hernandez (Humane Award).

Did you know a subscription to Todays Veterinary Business is free to qualified veterinary professionals? All you have to do is sign up here (and renew each year). You also can sign up to receive the Todays Veterinary Business weekly e-newsletter.

Link:
AVMA honors 2 veterinarians and professor - Today's Veterinary Business Magazine

When Gov. Kate Brown announced in late April that healthcare providers would soon be allowed to perform nonurgent medical procedures on Oregonians, there was an unexpected segment of the states population poised to benefit:

Pets.

In addition to hospitals, surgical centers and dental offices, veterinary clinics also were given the green light to resume all medical procedures on May 1, setting the stage for pet owners to move forward with spays, neuters, dental surgeries and everything in between. The move not only opened the door for clinics to ease the pain of suffering animals, but also delivered a dose of hope to the dozens of clinics in the Portland area struggling to stay afloat during the coronavirus crisis.

We were set up so I can do my job and survive by just doing exams, said Dr. Alexandra McLaughry, who owns and operates BarburVet in Southwest Portland. But for a lot of clinics, performing surgeries and other procedures is vital. Thats how we make our bread and butter and pay the bills.

Portland is widely considered one of the most pet-friendly cities in the United States, boasting the most dog parks (33) per capita of any large city in the nation and a smorgasbord of indoor and outdoor recreation opportunities for four-legged friends. It used to be almost as likely to sit next to a dog at a brewery or bar as it was a human. But while COVID-19 has brought much of society to a virtual standstill, it has not decreased the need for animal care.

In fact, some clinics say demand has only intensified the last two months as pet adoptions have increased and pet owners suddenly confined inside with their dogs and cats amid stay-at-home orders have started noticing more issues with their furry friends.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, there is no evidence that animals play a significant role in spreading COVID-19, so treating patients is not a concern for veterinarians. But everything else surrounding the treatment is, and clinics have had to overhaul virtually everything they do to help clients and take care of patients.

Overall, this has been a very strange time, said Michele Zawadzki, a doctor of veterinary medicine at Mt. Tabor Veterinary Care. At first, it was pretty stressful for everyone and we werent sure how much work wed be able to do or even if we would be laid off. But now, six weeks into this, I think people are starting to feel like its just the new normal.

And the new normal is unlike anything the veterinary world has experienced before.

Nowadays, pet owners rarely step foot inside a veterinary clinic to accompany pets for evaluations. Instead, they pull up to clinics in cars and phone the front desk to initiate appointments. Nurses, covered in masks and gloves, walk outside to retrieve pets from parking lots, then take them inside for an examination while owners remain in their cars and await further instruction.

At some clinics, like Mt. Tabor, veterinarians and nurses assess patients and call owners on cell phones to discuss medical options. At other clinics, like BarburVet, veterinarians set up virtual evaluations during which they allow patients to watch and communicate through smartphones as medical professionals care for their pets. They dissect problems and discuss treatment options live, as if everyone were in the exam room talking face-to-face.

Zawadzki said she and her peers had found our groove with the new process, but it took three times as long to see and treat patients a 15-minute visit now lasts 45 minutes. She also has noticed a spike in anxious pets and owners as the emotional and interpersonal experience of veterinary care has grown cold through technology.

People are so grateful that were open and Im grateful to be able to come to work and help sick animals, Zawadzki said. But, also, I really miss seeing clients. You form really strong relationships with people and we do a lot to help them make difficult decisions with their pets. This is hugely important to people and these are very caring situations. Things are just different these days.

Added McLaughry: Its like working in a whole new job and were all kind of learning on the fly. It can be quite emotional when youre telling clients hard news and thats even more challenging when you have to do so on a screen.

McLaughrys new job has included almost no surgeries. Shes performed just three over the last six weeks, when clinics have been limited to emergency procedures exclusively under governor orders designed, in large part, to conserve supplies of PPEs. Likewise, Zawadzki, who normally performs surgeries three days a week, has had just five surgeries over two days the last six weeks.

But that all changed on May 1, of course, when Brown lifted her ban on nonemergency procedures for humans and animals, alike. McLaughry has a neuter scheduled for Thursday and Zawadzki said Mt. Tabor would resume all medical procedures later this month. The clinics have dozens of pets lined up on waitlists, seeking a variety of care.

Veterinarians can begin treating patients with nonurgent procedures so long as their clinics have an adequate two-week supply of PPE on hand and follow strict infection control guidelines. Furthermore, in addition to practicing social-distancing and continuing to practice telemedicine, clinics are required to take a measured approach to resuming procedures. The process will be reassessed every two weeks.

McLaughry said her clinic was busier now than it has been at any point since she opened it six years ago, in part because many nearby clinics in Southwest Portland have temporarily shuttered and sent business her way. She doesnt expect the frenzy to end anytime soon.

I feel blessed that were allowed to be open and practice, McLaughry said. For some people, especially elderly people who live on their own, their pet is very important to them. And that was true way before any of this. Im grateful that I can be open and provide services for pets.

There was a point when DoveLewis wasnt sure it would remain open. The Northwests only nonprofit, 24-hour emergency animal hospital and intensive care unit is a vitally important facility for pets and owners, treating more than 25,000 animals a year. But, like other businesses and nonprofits during COVID-19, it had to rethink everything it does.

The hospital employees 170 people and ensuring their safety, as well as that of their clients, was paramount. When stay-at-home orders arrived in March, Ron Morgan, the DoveLewis President and CEO, said there was a faction of people lobbying for the hospital to temporarily shutter for the sake of safety.

But thats just not who we are, Morgan said. Its human nature to be worried and concerned about personal safety. I dont blame anyone for that. But we wanted to stay open and meet the demands of our clients.

So, instead of closing, Morgan started hosting virtual town halls with employees and he and his team worked more than 25 days in a row to craft a new standard operating procedure, navigating the ever-changing threat of the virus and the CDCs evolving safety playbook along the way. Like neighborhood clinics, DoveLewis asks pet owners to wait outside and consult with veterinarians over the phone during visits. But because many patients arrive with an emergency, and a high percentage of clients walk or use public transportation to travel to the hospital, the facility also permits a handful to wait inside.

Theyve even hired a 24-hour security guard team to patrol the property at a cost of $20,000 a month to provide an extra layer of safety to their around-the-clock service.

Morgan said the hospital had seen a small dip in visitors, but because it is the only facility of its kind in the area, things remain busy. Nearly 1,900 patients visited in April, roughly 100 fewer than in April 2019. It didnt help that the hospital had to pass on about 30 surgeries because its surgical teams, after a 90-minute deliberation, deemed the procedures elective.

Theres definitely going to be an economic impact from all of this, Morgan said. I dont think the worst has hit us.

But even so, amid all the mayhem of the last two months, Morgan has been emboldened by the nimbleness and camaraderie of the veterinary community.

I know that everybody has felt the economic pain of not being able to do elective procedures and endured a great amount of stress trying to keep business open, he said. I hear from so many people who say, I think I can get by with this for a month or two. Anything longer than that, Im not so sure. But we all understand that we need to take care of our staff and keep people healthy so we can take care of patients. The vibe has been filled with disappointment because of how this affects us personally, but also an understating of the bigger picture and that we all need to do our part.

Zawadzkis clinic sits on Southeast Belmont, across the street from a food cart pod and a coffee shop. Occasionally, during the day, she gazes outside the window and sees a stream of people stopping by the businesses and even hanging out.

She cant help but feel concern that some arent taking the treat of COVID-19 seriously and realizing the gravity of the situation. But the indifference of others has not and will not deter her from helping patients, despite the risk.

We have seen more new puppies and kitties and more new adoptions during all of this, Zawadzki said. People are like, I have time to train a puppy now. And they are going to need to be spayed and neutered. There are lots of animals that still need our help.

Joe Freeman | jfreeman@oregonian.com | 503-294-5183 | @BlazerFreeman | Subscribe to Oregonian/OregonLive newsletters and podcasts for the latest news and top stories

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Oregon veterinary clinics resume non-emergency procedures, but pet care is a long way from business-as-usual - OregonLive

A Texas A&M expert says it is very rare for pets to get the COVID-19 virus, and there is no evidence they can pass the disease to humans.

COLLEGE STATION As our knowledge of the SARS-CoV-2 virus and resulting COVID-19 disease evolves, the news and guidelines we must follow are changing as well. The dynamic nature of this situation may be difficult for some, who may find keeping up to date with current best practices and precautions to be a time-consuming endeavor.

Dr. Kate Creevy, an associate professor at the Texas A&M College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences, says that while several news stories have recently detailed pet cats, dogs, and even zoo tigers testing positive for SARS-CoV-2, pet owners should be assured that these are rare and seem to be one-way occurrences.

We have no evidence that sick pets can transmit coronavirus to otherwise healthy, uninfected owners, Creevy said.

Creevy said that most viruses prefer to infect one species above others; under our current understanding, SARS-CoV-2 prefers infecting humans and is less effective at infecting cats or dogs.

The very most important way this virus spreads is from person to person, she said.

Most dogs and cats that have tested positive for the virus in their bodies had known contact with infected humans. For some stray cats that have tested positive, it is not possible to determine what contact they may have had with infected people.

And although these animals tested positive for the SARS-CoV-2 virus, it is not clear whether the virus made them ill.

Given how common cat and dog ownership is and how uncommon detection of SARS-CoV-2 in these animals has been, Creevy says it is highly unlikely that dog or cat transmission of the virus will become a major factor in the pandemic.

Researchers around the world are paying very close attention to whether or not pets can transmit the virus to humans, and have found no supporting evidence," Creevy said. "This is an emerging virus, which means that we dont yet know everything about it. But we will continue to provide updates to the public any time our understanding changes.

Pet owners should practice good hygiene around their pets and other humans, maintain social distancing, and avoid exercising their animal in crowded areas or busy dog parks. Keep in mind that pets fur, like any other surface, may carry the virus if touched by an infected individual.

Creevy recommends that pet owners follow the following precautions:

Wash your hands frequently with soap and water or an alcohol-based hand sanitizer after playing with or petting a dog or cat, especially after contact with pet saliva or feces.

Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth. Hands touch many surfaces and can pick up viruses. Once contaminated, hands can transfer the virus to your eyes, nose, or mouth. From there, the virus can enter your body and can make you sick.

Practice good respiratory hygiene, which means covering your mouth and nose with your bent elbow or a tissue when you cough or sneeze. Then dispose of the used tissue immediately.

Stay home if you feel unwell. If you have a fever, dry cough, or difficulty breathing, seek medical attention and call your provider in advance so they can be prepared for your arrival. Follow the directions of your physician or local health authority.

If you are sick, avoid close contact with other members of your household, including your pets. Have another member of the household care for your animals. If you must look after your pet while you are sick, maintain good hygiene practices and cover your face if possible.

The current crisis is stressful for many, but pet owners can mitigate their worries by following the recommended guidelines and practices. As a community, we can beat COVID-19 by staying clean, staying home, and staying well.

Pet Talk is a service of the College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences, Texas A&M University. Stories can be found on the Pet Talk website. Suggestions for future topics may be directed to editor@cvm.tamu.edu.

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Pets and COVID-19 - News - Alice Echo News-Journal

For as long as she can remember, Goochland Animal Clinic founder Dr. Margaret Washburn wanted to be a veterinarian.

She knew it as a child growing up on her parents farm in Charles City County, where her earliest memories involved chickens, horses and cows, and she knew it as a teenager spending her summer hours as a veterinary assistant at a clinic in Ashland.

I often think back on how lucky I was that my parents always told my siblings and I that we could be whatever we wanted to be, Washburn says, and for her that would ultimately mean enrolling at Virginia Tech and eventually the nearby Virginia-Maryland Regional College of Veterinary Medicine, graduating in 1979.

What would follow would be decades of hard work and long hours in a profession known to be both physically and emotionally demanding. Yet even now, just a few weeks after retiring from the practice she built alongside her husband Richard in Maidens, she says she would not have changed a thing.

Simply put, I love veterinary medicine, Washburn said, explaining that getting to work with animals is just part of what drew her to the field. Washburn said she also loves the relationships she has been able to have with clients, and I always told young people who were considering going into veterinary medicine that that was an important part of it. You really have to love people.

Washburn founded Goochland Animal Clinic in 1991, after several years of honing her skills in other practices. She had learned early on that, while she enjoyed being able to work with both small and large animals, it seemed like a wiser choice to narrow the focus somewhat. She had also realized that she felt ready to strike out on her own, so when she found a house for sale on Maidens Road that could, with a little elbow grease, be converted into an animal clinic, she Richard decided to take the leap.

Over the next three decades she would build her practice slowly, relying largely on word of mouth at first to bring new clients to her door. As her list of clients grew so did her young family, and Washburn remembers what a joy it was that she could have her children nearby as she worked.

Though Washburn has always loved the work, running the practice also required an immense amount of work and time. Not long ago, knowing that she was perhaps ready to begin stepping back from the day-to-day rigor of being a full time veterinarian, she and her husband made the decision to sell the practice to veterinarian Dr. Brandi Layton and her husband Buck, who joined her at Goochland Animal Clinic in 2011.

It is clear from listening to her former clients that Washburn leaves behind a legacy of love and compassion.

To some, it was the encouragement Washburn gave to young clients who expressed an interest in becoming veterinarians themselves. To others, it was the way Washburn cared for their cherished family pets in the last days of their lives.

I will forever be grateful to Dr. Washburn and the care shes given our beloved pets, said Angela Allen, a client of Washburns for over 20 years.

Allen recalls experiences ranging from the best of times new puppy or kitten checkups to the worst of times: mercifully euthanizing an animal to relieve its suffering when the time came. Her dedication, compassion and love for pets and their families will truly be missed.

For her part, Washburn says she could not have asked for a better community in which to work, or a more fulfilling career.

Its just joyful every day to be able to work with these animals, she said. Ive been so fortunate to be able to have these wonderful relationships, both with pets and with people.

Original post:
Local vet leaves legacy of love for pets and people - Richmond.com

WEST LAFAYETTE Purdue University is continuing to lend expertise and resources to help fight the COVID-19 pandemic through increasing Indianas testing capacity for the virus thanks to a partnership with the Indiana State Department of Health and Indiana hospitals.

The Indiana Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory (ADDL) located in Purdues College of Veterinary Medicine is working with Fort Wayne-based Parkview Health to start conducting COVID-19 tests for human patients. Testing began after the lab received Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments certification to conduct human diagnostic testing, with Parkview agreeing to provide clinical oversight.

Testing will be expanded in collaboration with other hospitals, with all samples sent directly from partner hospitals to the ADDL. To avoid a testing backlog, hospitals interested in working with the ADDL are required to complete the Partnership Inquiry form.

The goal is to turn around results the same day that samples are received in the lab.

The lab was certified in a matter of days after Purdue leaders suggested using the ADDL to conduct tests and address the states limited testing capacity and need for resources. State Health Commissioner Kris Box, M.D., FACOG, said in a recent daily briefing with Gov. Eric Holcomb that resources are still limited for COVID-19 testing in Indiana as the number of cases continues to rise.

The College of Veterinary Medicine has a long history of providing services to protect animal and human health, said Willie Reed, dean of the College of Veterinary Medicine. Providing COVID-19 testing is yet another way to support the citizens of Indiana during this unprecedented public health crisis. The project was shepherded by David Broecker of the Purdue Research Foundation and involves several partners including the foundation, the Indiana State Department of Health, Parkview Hospital, the Purdue community.

Broecker is the chief innovation and collaboration officer for the Purdue Research Foundation.

Dr. Kenitra Hendrix, director of the Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory, says the ADDL had a unique opportunity to assist with COVID-19 testing in Indiana because of the labs expertise in providing infectious disease testing and immunity surveillance for animals across the state.

The ADDL is uniquely positioned to contribute skills and expertise in the detection of pathogens to the fight against COVID-19, while maintaining our diagnostic support of animal health and the safety of the food supply, Hendrix said.

Hendrix says the samples are being tested using a PCR (Polymerase Chain Reaction) testing method that the ADDL uses regularly for animal specimens. The ADDL team, working with state health authorities, adjusted its intake and sample processing procedures to gain the necessary certification to use the PCR testing capability on human specimens.

Our team has worked diligently to prepare to perform this testing, Hendrix said. It is rewarding to be able to take on this role in support of the citizens of our state.

The project is a cross-disciplinary, collaborative effort with the Indiana State Department of Health, the Purdue Research Foundation and the Purdue community.

Indiana continues to increase our capabilities and preparedness for rapidly testing patients to support our front-line health care workers, Box said. We are grateful to Purdue and the ADDL for helping to make testing more available for Hoosiers who are helping others during this pandemic.

Parkview Health provided clinical expertise on obtaining a CLIA license and setting up the lab for human testing.

It still takes several days to get results that are sent out to central labs across the country, said Dr. Michael J. Mirro, chief academic research officer at Parkview Health. Even the new tests are limited by supply constraints. What Purdue has done is fantastic and shows the ingenuity associated with creative problem solving. Paired with the significant amount of time invested by the Parkview lab team, we believe this will have a positive impact on the states testing capacity.

The ADDL is a Biosafety Level 2 (BSL-2) facility accredited by the American Association of Veterinary Laboratory Diagnosticians (AAVLD). BSL-2 laboratories are used to study moderate-risk infectious agents or toxins.

Hendrix says that additional partnerships with other hospitals across the state are possible. More information and a form for potential partners are available at https://purdue.vet/covid19testing.

See the rest here:
Purdue starts limited COVID-19 testing in diagnostic lab with Fort Wayne's Parkview Health - FW Business

(WBNG) -- If you're feeling those isolation blues, finding a new companion could help with loneliness. However, before adopting a pet, the Broome County Humane Society says you need to be prepared.

"Animals cost us something every year outside of just food and the supplies they need. Every year they need vaccines, you have to be prepared for the unexpected, whether you're getting a dog from a shelter or from a breeder, sometimes they have health conditions that you can't anticipate," said Broome County Humane Society Executive Director Karen Matson.

Marvin Diaz, a Vestal resident, adopted a new puppy, Theo, in late March during the pandemic. He says his family planned to have a puppy, but the pandemic still brought a few challenges.

"Going to a vet, that was the only thing. We called the next day after we got them, and they said as of that Friday, veterinary medicine had become a non-essential type of business unless it was for emergency situations," said Diaz.

Diaz says a new puppy need a lot of time and attention that will last beyond any time spent in quarantine.

"I know the next month or so we might be at home, but a dog is going to be around for more than a month or two. This is a long-term commitment and I think that's an important thing to realize," said Diaz.

After the pandemic, the humane society says they're finding ways to help so animals don't have to be returned.

"We have ample food and supplies to help people in need right now, so hopefully the number of animals being turned over for those type of reasons can stay low because we do have some resources to help out," said Matson.

If you're looking to adopt, you can visit the Broome County Humane Society's website.

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Thinking of adopting a pet during quarantine? Here's what you need to know - WBNG-TV

Sun and lower humidity are expected to start the week. The next storm system will move through the area Wednesday night. For the second straight weekend, a very strong tornado occurred just north and east of the local viewing area. An EF-4 tornado struck Walthall County last Sunday. Another powerful twister moved through Lamar County last night. We will await the damage survey from the National Weather Service for a rating. In the local area, there were some spotty hail and wind damage reports.

THE FORECAST:

Today and Tonight: Clouds will at least be a part of skies through Monday morning. More sunshine will become available by afternoon. Temperatures will warm into the upper 70s with light, north winds. With an overnight reading in the low 60s, some passing clouds are expected. Models hint at a passing shower near dawn, but activity should be brief and isolated, if at all.

Up Next: An area of surface high pressure will bring lower dewpoints and pleasantconditions through Tuesday. Temperatures will stay above average through the week, and hover in the low-to-mid80s with lows near 60. The next low pressure system is set to develop and pass to our north late Wednesday and Thursday, which will bring a return to showers and storms along the Gulf Coast. While considerably less robust than the last two storm systems, one or two storms could maintain some strength through the local area Wednesday night. The Storm Prediction Center has parts of Pointe Coupee Parish and southwest Mississippi in a 2/5 slight risk for severe weather. Anotherweak system is poised to move through on Saturday afternoon with just isolated activity.

The Mississippi River: At Baton Rouge, major flood stage continues with a level of 43.7 as of Monday morning. The river is expected to fall very slowly through the next two weeks. The high water is primarily an issue for river traffic and river islands, although some inundation will continue for a few spots north and south of Baton Rouge that are not protected by levees. Unprotected low-lying areas will be flooded and agricultural operations will be impacted on the west side of the river. The grounds of the older part of Louisiana State University's campus become soggy. This includes the area around the Veterinary Medicine building, the Veterinary Medicine Annex, the stadium and ball fields. The city of Baton Rouge and the main LSU campus are protected by levees at this level. The level is also high in New Orleans and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has opened the Bonnet Carre Spillway.

THE EXPLANATION:

Northwesterly winds in the upper levels of the atmosphere will maintain drier air and quieter weather over the next two days. A weak disturbance over northwestern Texas on Monday morning could potentially cause an isolated shower around daybreak Tuesday but this chance is fleeting. The next, more substantial storm system will zip across the southern tier on Wednesday. This upper level trough will pull moisture northward through the day. By evening, a surface low pressure reflection will move across Arkansas and north Mississippi with a trailing cold front. This system will take a slightly more northern track, meaning the wind fields will not be quite as favorable for severe weather as the last system. Also, the nighttime passage will leave a little less warmth and instability as well. Still, enough ingredients are showing up on forecast model guidance that one or two strong thunderstorms will be possible, especially north and west of Baton Rouge. Given the non-zero possibility of a strong storm, the Storm Prediction Center has placed areas from McComb to St. Francisville and points north in a slight risk for severe weather. This system will exit on Thursday morning with quiet weather to follow until another weak disturbance arrives on Saturday. At this time, that one looks low impact.

--Josh

The WBRZ Weather Team is here for you, on every platform. Your weather updates can be found on News 2, wbrz.com, and the WBRZ WX App. on Apple and Android devices. Follow WBRZ Weather on Facebook and Twitter for even more weather updates while you are on the go.

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Quiet beginning to the week - WBRZ

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Veterinary Medicine Market: Competitive Landscape

The last chapter of the Veterinary Medicine market research report focuses exclusively on the competitive landscape. It examines the main market players. In addition to a brief overview of the business, analysts provide information on their assessment and development. The list of important products in preparation is also mentioned. The competitive landscape is analyzed by understanding the companies strategies and the initiatives they have taken in recent years to overcome intense competition.

Veterinary Medicine Market: Drivers and Restraints

The report explains the drivers of the future of the Veterinary Medicine market. It assesses the different forces which should have a positive impact on the whole market. Analysts have looked at investments in research and development for products and technologies, which should give players a significant boost. In addition, the researchers undertook an analysis of the evolution of consumer behavior which should have an impact on the cycles of supply and demand in the Veterinary Medicine market. In this research report, changes in per capita income, improvement in the economic situation and emerging trends were examined.

The research report also explains the potential restrictions on the Veterinary Medicine market. The aspects assessed are likely to hamper market growth in the near future. In addition to this assessment, it offers a list of opportunities that could prove lucrative for the entire market. Analysts offer solutions to turn threats and restrictions into successful opportunities in the years to come.

Veterinary Medicine Market: Regional Segmentation

In the following chapters, analysts have examined the regional segments of the Veterinary Medicine market. This gives readers a deeper insight into the global market and allows for a closer look at the elements that could determine its evolution. Countless regional aspects, such as the effects of culture, environment and government policies, which affect regional markets are highlighted.

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What will the report contain?

Market Dynamics: The report contains important information on influencing factors, market drivers, challenges, opportunities and market trends as part of the market dynamics.

Global Market Forecast: Readers receive production and sales forecasts for the Veterinary Medicine market, production and consumption forecasts for regional markets, production, sales and price forecasts for the Veterinary Medicine market by type and consumption forecasts for the Veterinary Medicine market per application.

Regional Market Analysis: It can be divided into two different sections: one for the analysis of regional production and one for the analysis of regional consumption. Here, analysts share gross margin, prices, sales, production, CAGR, and other factors that indicate the growth of all regional markets examined in the report.

Market Competition: In this section, the report provides information on the situation and trends of competition, including mergers and acquisitions and expansion, the market shares of the three or five main players and the concentration of the market. Readers could also get the production, revenue, and average price shares of manufacturers.

Key Players: The report provides company profiles for a decent number of leading players in the Veterinary Medicine market. It shows your current and future market growth taking into account price, gross margin, income, production, service areas, production locations and other factors.

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Veterinary Medicine Market 2020 Break Down by Top Companies, Applications, Challenges, Opportunities and Forecast 2026 Cole Reports - Cole of Duty

Purdue University is continuing to lend expertise and resources to help fight the COVID-19 pandemic by increasing Indianas testing capacity through the capabilities of the Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory at the Purdue University College of Veterinary Medicine. Thanks to a collaborative effort involving Purdue, the Purdue Research Foundation, the Indiana State Department of Health and Indiana hospitals, the ADDL is utilizing its skills and expertise in the detection of pathogens to conduct COVID-19 tests on specimens from partner hospitals with the goal of providing results the same day the samples are received.

The ADDL began COVID-19 testing after obtaining the Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments (CLIA) certification required for laboratories performing testing on human samples. This effort does not diminish the ADDLs diagnostic support for animal health and the safety of the food supply, which remains its first priority. Because of limited capacity to perform COVID-19 testing, the ADDL will only accept specimens from pre-approved partner hospitals.

*The ADDL has limited available capacity. Interested Hospitals should complete the Partnership Inquiry form if they wish to be contacted should testing capacity increase.

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COVID-19 Testing by the ADDL at Purdue University - Purdue Veterinary News

Veterinarian Aree Laikul from Kasetsart University's faculty of Veterinary Medicine, vaccinates a horse amid an outbreak of the deadly African Horse Sickness (AHS) in the country, at Farm Mor Por stable in Khao Yai National Park, Nakhon Ratchasima, Thailand April 20, 2020. REUTERS/Jorge Silva

Nakhon Ratchasima (Reuters) - Thailand began vaccinating some 4,000 horses on Monday in a bid to contain the spread of the deadly African Horse Sickness (AHS), a disease that only affects horses and other equine animals.

More than 200 horses in seven provinces have died since the outbreak was first reported earlier this year, the first time the highly infectious AHS virus, transmitted by insects, has appeared in Southeast Asia.

Horse owners in northeastern Nakhon Ratchasima province have installed mosquito nets on stables and conduct regular temperature and health checks, while putting sick horses under quarantine.

The government has also banned the import and export of horses, zebras and related animals.

Veterinarians say if the disease cannot be contained by the mass vaccination, it could wipe out all 11,800 horses in Thailand, where they are kept mostly for racing and leisure riding for tourists and private owners.

Without any prevention, 10 out of 10 horses will contract the virus... nine out of 10 sick horses will die from it, Aree Laikul a veterinarian from Kasetsart Universitys faculty of Veterinary Medicine who is helping the vaccination drive.

There have been no reported cases of AHS in humans, and it is not related to the coronavirus pandemic.

AHS is endemic in the central tropical regions of Africa, from where it spreads regularly to Southern Africa and occasionally to North Africa, according to information from the World Organization for Animal Health.

Editing by Kay Johnson & Simon Cameron-Moore

Continue reading here:
Thailand begins mass vaccination of horses to curb African Horse Sickness spread - Reuters

In just a few months, the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has put billions of humans at risk. But as researchers work around the clock to understand SARS-CoV-2, the virus behind the disease, some have begun to worry that countless others may be at stake: animals who could catch the germ from their distant Homo sapiens cousins.

Recent reports of SARS-CoV-2 infecting creatures such as monkeys, dogs, ferrets, domestic cats and even a tiger have raised the possibility that the pathogen could plague other speciesincluding, perhaps, ones already imperiled by other, non-infectious threats.

Though researchers suspect the virus originated in a wild creature such as a bat, they stress that humans remain the virus most vulnerable victims, as well as the hosts most likely to spread the disease from place to place. There is also no evidence that animals are passing the pathogen to people, says Jane Sykes, a veterinarian and animal virus researcher at the University of California, Davis. However, studying the creatures this stealthy virus has affected so far could help scientists understand what makes some speciesbut not otherssusceptible.

Coronaviruses are notoriously indiscriminate infectors. The number of different coronaviruses that exist in the wild number in at least the hundreds, with most likely inhabiting the bodies of bats. On the whole, members of this large family of viruses seem very capable of frequent hops into new species, including humans, making recent detections of SARS-CoV-2 in non-human animals somewhat unsurprising, says Linda Saif, a virologist and animal coronavirus expert at Ohio State University. Already, a commonality in these cases has emerged: the molecular compatibility of the virus with its host.

To infect a cell, a virus must first break in. This encounter typically requires the pathogen to fit itself into a specific molecule, called a receptor, on the surface of its target cell. Its a bit like a key opening a lock. Not all viral keys will work on a given cells lock, but the better the fit, the more easily the virus can gain access.

Unfortunately for humans and our animal relatives, SARS-CoV-2s key, called spike protein, is a multifunctional tool. It homes in on a cellular lock called ACE2a blood pressure-regulating protein thought to be universal among vertebrates, the group that includes mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians and fish, says Jim Wellehan, a zoologist and microbiology at the University of Floridas College of Veterinary Medicine.

Millions of years of evolution have subtly tweaked the shape of ACE2 in each of these lineages. But in domestic cats and several primates, the regions of ACE2 that bind to SARS-CoV-2s spike protein look nearly or completely identical to the vulnerable human version.

Such molecular similarities may help explain why a cat in Belgium and another in Hong Kong, each under the care of owners who fell ill with COVID-19, reportedly tested positive for the virus in March. During the SARS outbreak that began in 2002, SARS-CoV-1a similar coronavirus that also uses ACE2 to enter cells (albeit less effectively than SARS-CoV-2)also hopped from sick humans into domestic felines.

Sykes says these isolated incidents shouldnt be cause for alarm. Although a recent study in the journal Science corroborated that cats can contract SARS-CoV-2 when experimentally dosed with large amounts of virus, pets probably arent getting seriously sick very often in the real world, she says. (If they were, wed probably know by now.)

The felines most at risk, Sykes says, are probably those in the company of sick owners, who may be exposing their pets to high quantities of viral particles. Even then, infection isnt a guarantee. Another recent study, which has yet to be published in a peer-reviewed journal, found no evidence of the virus in a group of cats and dogs that had spent several weeks cooped up with several SARS-CoV-2-infected humans. Large surveys in places like Hong Kong, the United States and South Korea have borne out similar results: thousands of pet cats, as well as horses and dogs, tested negative for the new coronavirus. (But another studyalso not peer-revieweddid find antibodies against the virus in some feral felines from Wuhan, China, hinting that the animals may have encountered the pathogen before.)

Theres also no evidence that infected cats can shuttle the virus into humans, Sykes says. And while the researchers behind the new Science study noted that cat-to-cat transmission was possible in confined laboratory spaces, these artificial settings are poor proxies for the natural world, she says. Just because an animal can harbor a virus in its body doesnt mean it will be good at spreading the pathogen.

Findings in domestic cats dont always translate into other species, even closely related ones. Earlier this month, a Malayan tiger named Nadia at the Bronx Zoo made headlines when she tested positive for SARS-CoV-2. Though the cause remains unclear, zoo personnel suspect an infected keeper unwittingly passed the pathogen to the tiger during routine care, triggering a dry cough and diminished appetite in the big cat. (A handful of other tigers, as well as a trio of lions, seemed slightly ill as well, but werent tested.) A vulnerable ACE2 molecule might explain Nadias spate of mild symptoms. But more than 10 million years of evolution separate domestic cats from their wild tiger kinand the two species arent always susceptible to the same diseases.

A recent mouse study reinforces the importance of ACE2 in the spread of the new virus. These rodents version of ACE2 is pretty dissimilar to ours, making them resistant to the new coronavirus; only when genetically engineered to express human ACE2 do mice fall ill. Yet other animals with less human-like variations of ACE2, including dogs and ferrets, can be vulnerable to the new coronavirus without any genetic rejiggering. ACE2 is not the whole story, Saif says.

Another influential factor in cross-species transmission is probably proximity. Even if a creatures molecular makeup isnt perfectly compatible with the pathogen, frequent exposures to humans harboring the coronavirus could eventually sicken a small percentage of the population.

This scenario may be what has played out in dogs, who seem to be poor hosts for the new coronavirus, according to the recent Science study. Some 470 million canines are kept as pets, and almost none appear to have caught SARS-CoV-2 naturally: So far, only two pupsa Pomeranian and a German shepherd, both in Hong Konghave tested positive for the pathogen.

Ferrets present a curious case as well. While their ACE2 receptors dont seem to be a perfect fit for the new coronavirus, the germ can take hold in their lungs. Researchers have known for decades that the airways of these weasel-like mammals make them susceptible to several infectious respiratory illnesses that affect humans, including the flu and the original SARS, Saif says. SARS-CoV-2, another lung-loving microbe, is no exception. Stricken with the germ, ferrets come down with fevers and coughs, helping spread the pathogen when in close contact.

Still, anatomical similarities cant fully explain why viruses find success in certain mammals. Guinea pig airways, for example, also bear some resemblance to ours, but these rodents dont always experience disease like we do. That leaves the full story of ferrets odd viral vulnerabilities somewhat mysterious, Saif says. Perhaps the ferret immune system is easily duped by the virus and struggles to purge the pathogens early on during infection.

With these preliminary findings in hand, pet owners worldwide are understandably worried about their furry family members. Sykes encourages them not to fear contagion and instead foster solidarity with our animal kin.

Its important we emphasize that human-to-human transmission is whats driving this pandemic, she says. People need to be enjoying the human-animal bond, rather than thinking about abandoning their pets.

Still, Sykes and other experts advise caution around pets, especially for owners who have reason to suspect theyve been infected with the new coronavirus. The CDC recommends treating cats and dogs as you would any other family member: self-isolating for the duration of an illness to avoid the spread of disease. Pet owners should also try to ensure their furred companions comply with physical distancing measures as much as possible, Saif adds, which means keeping them indoors and limiting contact with people and animals outside their own households.

A handful of studies have begun to survey other species for susceptibility to the new coronavirus. So far, the virus appears capable of infecting batsthe suspected original animal source of the pathogenas well as golden Syrian hamsters, but struggles to replicate in the bodies of chickens, pigs and ducks.

With more than 6,000 species of mammals inhabiting the globe, these lists are by no means comprehensive. But researchers are unlikely to get answers about other animals until they test them directly, says Smita Iyer, a virologist and immunologist at the University of California, Davis. With new viruses like these, you just dont know what you dont know.

Nevertheless, researchers have begun to take precautions against the possibility that the virus will move not from animals into humans, but the other way around. The major vector [of disease] is us, says Wellehan, who interacts with several mammalian species including bats in his work. I dont see them as a threat. I see them as potential victims.

Should humans accidentally carry SARS-CoV-2 back into the wild, the effects could be catastrophic, especially if a threatened or endangered species contracted severe disease. Concerns about our vulnerable great ape cousins, who harbor coronavirus-friendly versions of ACE2 on their cells, have already prompted conservation sites and parks to shutter.

Zoos that house wild cousins of species already shown to be vulnerable are also adopting new safety measures. At the Smithsonians National Zoo, keepers are donning extra protective equipment and practicing extensive physical distancing around primates, felids (the group that includes wild cats such as tigers, lions and cheetahs) and mustelids (relatives of ferrets, such as otters). Also being monitored are animals such as civets, the small, cat-like mammals that played a crucial role in the SARS outbreak nearly two decades ago.

Guarding these species from infection isnt an easy process, says Don Neiffer, the National Zoos chief veterinarian. Amidst a pandemic, resources are limited, he says, and some of the changes have been especially difficult for active species that spend a lot of their time engaging in play with keepers. However, Neiffer stresses, these measures are in place to maximize protection for as many species as possible for the duration of the outbreak.

By keeping wild animals safe, were also protecting ourselves. Even if most other animals dont experience severe forms of COVID-19, Saif says, they could quietly harbor the pathogen in their bodies. The virus might then be poised to reenter the human population in the future, sparking another devastating outbreak.

The breadth of the SARS-CoV-2s evolutionary reach should be an eye-opener, Iyer says. Cross-species transmissions happen in all directions: animal to animal; animal to human; and human to animal. These jumps brought us the pandemic in the first place, she says, and should be a cautionary tale for people as they continue to encroach on and destroy the worlds wild spaces.

We might want to start with the basics and respect the territory of our neighbors out in nature, Iyer says. Theres a reason theyre called wild animals.

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Why the New Coronavirus Affects Some Animals, but Not Others - Smithsonian

LUBBOCK, Texas (NEWS RELEASE) The following is a news release from Texas Tech University:

The faculty for the Texas Tech UniversitySchool of Veterinary Medicine in Amarillocontinues to take shape with the addition of Nancy Zimmerman as a professor of small animal surgery.

A native of Pennsylvania, Zimmerman comes to Texas Tech from Arena, Wisconsin. For the last 15 years she has helped teach veterinary students from the University of Wisconsin and other teaching hospitals in the U.S. and Canada. In addition, she has provided continuing education to domestic and international veterinarians.

When I learned about the opportunity to build a teaching program at Texas Tech that would focus on training students, that was very interesting to me, Zimmerman said. We have an opportunity to utilize the most current methods and technology to help students learn and grow through the training process of becoming a veterinarian. Im really keen on being a part of that and trying to impart some of the clinical experience Ive gained working in many different capacities as a veterinarian over the past 20 years

Zimmerman earned her Doctor of Veterinary Medicine from the University of Wisconsin Madison in 1998. She completed a Small Animal Surgery residency at Virginia Tech and earned her Master of Science degree in 2003. Zimmerman earned board certification and was named a Diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Surgeons (ACVS) in 2004.

After completing her surgery residency, Zimmerman worked as an associate in a private referral hospital in Dallas. In 2006, she relocated to Wisconsin and established a small animal locum surgery practice, Gentle Hands Veterinary Specialists. Zimmerman worked as a small animal surgeon at private referral practices and university teaching hospitals in the U.S. and Canada, providing care for patients and helping students, residents and interns learn clinical applications of veterinary surgery.

When Zimmerman was not working away from home, she helped manage the lamb and beef farm that she owned in Wisconsin. She hosted workshops and seminars on the farm several times each year to help veterinary students and regional livestock producers learn about small ruminant husbandry.

As a professor of small animal surgery for Texas Tech School of Veterinary Medicine, Zimmerman will share her rich experience and surgical skills and knowledge with a broader audience.

It is important to focus on the patient and the client, Zimmerman said. My goal is to work with Texas Tech University practice partners, who will serve as clinical training centers for veterinary students, to develop programs that graduate veterinarians who will not only be competent and have the knowledge but also confident to do what they need to do to provide the best, most complete service to their patients and clients, with compassion.

Guy Loneragan, dean of the School of Veterinary Medicine, said it is Zimmermans caring nature that makes her a great fit.

She cares about practicing high-quality, compassionate veterinary medicine, Loneragan said. She also has experience mentoring students in real-world settings, and she cares about helping them become the best they can be. Our students are going to benefit so much from her instruction and, in turn, the clients of our future graduates will benefit. We are so fortunate Dr. Zimmerman chose to join the Texas Tech family.

A strength Zimmerman feels she will bring veterinary students is the ability to be versatile, noting there is more than one way to accomplish a goal. The aim in veterinary practice is to determine the end goal of treatment and how best to achieve that goal. An important aspect of being a veterinarian is to be able to adapt, she says. Veterinarians need to be able to see the big picture and think through problems to find solutions based on an understanding and application of concepts and principles rather than memorized protocols.

Dr Zimmerman has a great reputation for providing continuing education and teaching surgical skills, said John Dascanio, senior associate dean of the School of Veterinary Medicine. She is passionate about bringing those talents to Texas Tech to raise the bar to help veterinary graduates be practice-ready on day one. Dr. Zimmerman will help our students walk out our doors as confident, competent young surgeons.

Zimmerman joins Loneragan, Dascanio, associate dean for clinical programs Britt Conklin, large animal surgery professor David Dutton, assistant professor Bethany Schilling and large-animal medicine professor Lszl Hunyadi on the faculty for the School of Veterinary Medicine. Additional faculty members will be added over the summer and fall.

Having a broad scope of diverse experiences in veterinary medicine makes you a great practitioner, but more importantly, it makes you a better teacher, Conklin said. Dr. Zimmerman has had an enormous breadth of experiences that will allow her to deliver an unmatched educational experience to our student body and, additionally, will provide our practice partners with a wealthy resource.

About the School of Veterinary Medicine

Thanks to the generosity of Amarillo and communities across Texas, and the commitment of legislators from around the state, the Texas Tech University School of Veterinary Medicine in Amarillo, established in 2018, is working to enroll its first class in the fall of 2021, pending approval by the AVMA Council on Education.

The School of Veterinary Medicine will recruit and select students with a passion to practice and succeed in small, agricultural and regional communities and utilize a curriculum focused on the competencies and skills necessary to be successful in practices that support these communities. Texas Techs innovative and cost-efficient model partners with the wider community of veterinary practices across the state to provide clinical, real-world experiential learning.

In June, Gov. Greg Abbott signed into law the biennial state budget, which appropriated $17.35 million for the School of Veterinary Medicine in Amarillo that will go toward operational needs in order to get the school up and running. The appropriation included language directing Texas Tech to move forward in establishing the school.

Donors and civic leaders have pledged more than $90 million toward infrastructure, construction and scholarships for the School of Veterinary Medicine on the site of Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center in Amarillo.

(News release from Texas Tech University)

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Like many clinicians, I find it daunting to stay current with the many evolving topics in veterinary medicine. Photobiomodulation (also referred to as low-level laser therapy [LLLT] or cold laser) represents a particularly challenging modality to approach for several reasons. For one, colleagues who know more about LLLT than I do have a wide range of often strong opinions regarding its effectiveness. Also, the biophysics involved are less familiar to me than are other aspects of veterinary medicine. Nevertheless, the use of LLLT is quickly becoming widespread for a wide range of applications, and I thought I should learn a bit more about it.

For those who can relate, what follows is my novice attempt to reach an evidence-based and open-minded opinion about the efficacy of LLLT in small animal patients.

As I started my inquiry, I found that an American Society of Laser Medicine and Surgery exists, with an official journal: Lasers in Surgery and Medicine. This journal ranks in the top 25% for journal impact factor (which reflects frequency of citation) for both dermatology and surgery.

After reading articles in this journal and related others, two things stood out to me:

From what I did read, the benefits of LLLT in people and laboratory models are numerous: cosmetic skin applications, wound healing, edema reduction, return to function from sports injuries, improving vaginal health, dental healing, head trauma recovery and many more. The efficacy of LLLT did seem hard to discount after this reading. Of the studies that reported discouraging results, most generally concluded with confidence that optimization of protocols would improve outcomes.

Because I lacked a clear, evidence-based conclusion from my broad review, I turned specifically to the veterinary literature. Searching for small animal investigations from major journals, I found nine recent publications. All happened to study dogs, and applications of LLLT were identified in dermatology, tibial plateau leveling osteotomy (TPLO) and intervertebral disk disease (IVDD).

Most of the veterinary research on LLLT relates to applications for the skin. Two recent articles evaluated the use of laser for wound healing in healthy skin. In the first study, the investigators created and then closed 20 incisions in intact male beagles.1 No differences were found between LLLT or sham treatment for epithelization, contraction or histopathology. The same study also looked at the effect of LLLT on 20 incisions that were left open to heal, and again found no effect.

In a second study,2 LLLT was used in 10 female dogs during bilateral flank spay procedures. The investigators found relatively less necrosis and fewer perivascular lymphocytes in the incisions in the LLLT group at day 7, but more perivascular lymphocytes in the LLLT group at day 14. No differences were found between groups visually during healing or with any other histologic variable. Taken together, these two studies of healing of healthy skin with LLLT are discouraging.

Two studies investigated LLLT use in abnormal skin. In a 2014 study published in Veterinary Dermatology, Olivieri et al.3 reported a dramatic improvement in canine noninflammatory alopecia using LLLT, in that much more fur grew with LLLT than in a control group. In the same journal and year, Stich and colleagues4 found no effect of LLLT on pedal pruritis due to atopy.

Three reports on the use of LLLT in promoting healing after TPLO surgery have been published since 2017. The largest study, reported in Veterinary Surgery in 2018,5 examined 95 dogs and found LLLT-associated improvement with regard to owner assessment of gait. No improvement was seen with regard to pain management or radiographic healing. Results of a 2017 study6 showed that LLLT was associated with improved surgical limb function eight weeks postoperatively in 27 dogs undergoing TPLO, as evidenced by more force applied to a plate. The smallest study,7 involving 12 dogs, found more lameness and more pain during the first postoperative month in the LLLT group. The investigators found no differences at 8 weeks, or at any time point, radiographically or cytologically. So, the two larger studies were encouraging, and the smallest one was discouraging.

Two reports on dogs undergoing hemilaminectomy examined postoperative use of LLLT. A 2012 study involving 36 dogs demonstrated dramatic shortening of time to return to ambulation with LLLT (median of 3.5 days vs. 14 days for controls).8 A study from 2017 compared 11 dogs treated with LLLT postoperatively with 10 dogs treated with sham LLLT.9 No differences were found between the LLLT and sham groups at several recovery benchmarks, including initial limb movement, ability to stand with some support, ability to walk at least three steps, and ability to walk at 10 days.

Making a broad conclusion about the effectiveness of LLLT based on the above nine canine studies is fraught on several levels, including that the studies involve different disease states and different protocols. Considering that substantial caveat, however, I can draw one conclusion: Five of these nine studies (55%) revealed at least one metric showing a benefit of LLLT compared with control.

Of note, the above text was reviewed at a well-regarded specialty facility that commonly uses LLLT. Feedback included the facts that several of the referenced discouraging studies were flawed by not reporting all critical parameters, and that such discouraging results could be attributed to underdosing, which is often a problem in the use of LLLT.

While this article was undergoing review, Veterinary Dermatology published an article on the use of LLLT in 36 dogs with interdigital pyoderma.10 The investigators found that LLLT shortened resolution of lesion time from 10.4 to 4.3 weeks.

Now at the end of my initial attempt to form an opinion on LLLT efficacy in small animal patients, I would emphasize my humility in the face of others expertise. That noted, following are my conclusions from exploring the recent articles about LLLT in major small animal publications:

I look forward to further research as it becomes available, of course, but I now feel comfortable referring cases for LLLT as long as the status of current research is made clear to clients.

Dr. Levinson became board certified in veterinary emergency and critical care in 2010. He practices at Brenford Animal Hospitals in Dover, DE, where his interests include echocardiography and fostering a Fear Free environment.

References

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Efficacy of laser therapy in veterinary medicine: thoughts from a novice - dvm360

Animals in veterinary education were one of the key topics during several sessions at the Association of American Veterinary Medical Colleges 2020 Annual Conference and Iverson Bell Symposium, March 8-10 in Washington, D.C. The Use of Animals in Education symposium focused on how animals are used in veterinary colleges curricula.

We had a good open discussion, said Dr. Dean Hendrickson, Colorado State University, in an interview afterward with JAVMA News. The big thing is the excitement. Where do we want to go, and what do we want to do?

The event included several key goals for educators. Among them was starting a conversation on how each veterinary college is currently using animals in its curriculum and what the use of animals may look like in the future.

Read the AAVMC policy on Use of Animals in Education andthe AVMA policy on Use of Animals in Research, Testing, and Education.

Dr. Phillip Nelson, the dean of the Western University of Health Sciences College of Veterinary Medicine, said it is necessary for leadership in veterinary academia to think about how the profession uses animals.

The founding faculty at the Western University veterinary college did just that. The Willed Deceased Animals for Veterinary Education program at the veterinary college encourages pet owners from 90 sites in Southern California to donate their pets remains to the veterinary college for anatomy and clinical skills education. The veterinary college uses models of animals and student-owned animals for routine procedures.

The Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine at Tufts University also has a willed-body program.

However, despite the success of the programs at these two universities, most veterinary colleges in the U.S. face challenges implementing similar programs because of the location of their campuses.

Unfortunately, there are a number of metro areas that would support a program, but veterinary schools are located in rural areas, and that creates separate challenges, Dr. Nelson said.

Western University is located in Pomona, California, about 30 minutes outside of Los Angeles, and Tufts University in Grafton, Massachusetts, is about 45 minutes west of Boston.

Although many veterinary colleges have had issues implementing willed-body programs, most have found it easy to include models of animals in the curriculum.

Dr. Julie Hunt, director of small animal clinical skills at the Lincoln Memorial University College of Veterinary Medicine, designed and developed the clinical skills curriculum at LMU.

Theres no question in my mind, Dr. Hunt said. You can absolutely teach and improve surgical skills using models. Early on, a huge amount of techniques can be used on models, and models can be used for practicing clinical skills repeatedly.

The models do not replace live surgery. But Dr. Hunt said she believes that animal models can be used instead of nonsurvival surgeries, which can cause stress and well-being issues for students.

The LMU curriculum includes a combination of live animals, cadavers, and models to teach students and for students to practice clinical skills.

Models may be a key tool for students, but cadavers are still important for early anatomy classes.

Dr. Jeremy Delcambre, assistant professor in the Department of Biomedical Sciences at Colorado State University College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, said he wanted symposium attendees to question themselves.

Do you know where you cadavers are coming from? Have you done an audit on use and sustainability? Dr. Delcambre said.

There is a shortage of dog and cat cadavers and currently only one commercial supplier. So it may be time to adapt, he added.

Educators and veterinary leadership involved in the symposium plan to hold another event to continue the conversation but have not yet set a date.

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What is the role of animals in veterinary education? - American Veterinary Medical Association

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Coronaviruses, so named for their knobby surface projections that create a crown-like appearance,1-3 were first identified in the 1930s but are thought to have originated more than 10,000 years ago.4,5 They and their associated illnesses have been observed in cattle, horses, cats, dogs, swine, rabbits, rodents and bats, among others.6,7

In humans, seven coronavirus strains have been identified, as have their bat and rodent reservoirs, and their intermediate hosts, including cattle, camels and civets.8-16 Most of these strains cause nothing more than the common cold in people, but threesevere acute respiratory syndrome (SARS),17 Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS)18 and SARS-CoV-2have proven more daunting.

As the professionals with the most thorough understanding of One Health, veterinarians around the world have been working hard on COVID-19 diagnostic, prevention and treatment measures. Heres a look at some of the work being done.

At Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine, a group of researchers have shunted their work to focus on SARS-CoV-2. Virology professor and coronavirus expert Gary Whittaker, PhD, who has done extensive research on MERS, is investigating the SARS-CoV- 2 spike protein and its mechanisms for fusing with the host cell.19 He hopes to apply his findings to drug and vaccine development. The team also includes investigators who are working on diagnostic tests for SARS-CoV-2.

Researchers at Louisiana State University School of Veterinary Medicine are working to develop a COVID-19 vaccine, slated to begin animal trials soon. The group, which includes investigators who study bovine coronaviruses, is collaborating with researchers at Tulane University, one of the first facilities to obtain samples of SARS-CoV-2 from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The coronavirus that afflicts cats and causes deadly feline infectious peritonitis (FIP) has long been a subject of research at the University of California, Davis, School of Veterinary Medicine. Investigators at the school have used an antiviral drug shown to block virus replication in monkeys and mice as a springboard for developing a protocol to treat FIP in cats experimentally infected with feline enteric coronavirus.20

"Its the virus-infected cells that are producing all of these nasty cytokines that are causing this inflammation, explains Niels Pedersen, DVM, PhD, who has been studying feline coronavirus for the past five decades, so if you can stop the replication cold in its tracks, you're going to immediately stop the cytokines from being produced."

Treatment has been largely successful in feline studies, which gives Pedersen hope for the nearly identical remdesivir, now in clinical trials for the treatment of SARS-CoV-2. If it can be done in cats, why can't it be done in humans?" he says.

The concept of drug repurposing might also be applied to the parasiticide ivermectin, an FDA-approved anti-parasitic agent for animals and humans that, in recent years, has been shown to have antiviral activity in vitro by interfering with virus replication.21-25 In vitro studies have demonstrated that ivermectin interferes with replication of many viruses, including human immunodeficiency virus 1,22 West Nile virus,23 dengue virus,22,24 Venezuelan encephalitis virus,25 simian virus,22,26 pseudorabies27 and influenza.21

A recent study,28 published in the journal Antiviral Research, demonstrates that ivermectin impedes SARS-CoV-2 in vitro.* Previous reports on similar coronaviruses describe the role of specific proteins in viral transport into the host nucleus, suggesting that ivermectins nuclear transport inhibitory activity may be effective against SARS-CoV-2.

Cells infected with SARS-CoV-2 were treated two hours post infection with a single dose of ivermectin at serial dilutions. At 24 hours, the addition of 5 M ivermectin produced a 99.8% reduction in cell-associated viral RNA, which increased to 99.98% at 48 hours; this equated to an approximately 5,000-fold reduction of viral RNA compared with control samples. No cell toxicity was observed at this concentration.

The studys Australian investigators, from Monash University and the Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity, hypothesize that ivermectin inhibits the IMP/1-mediated nuclear import of viral proteins, but they hope to confirm this mechanism in the case of SARS-CoV-2. The identification of the specific SARS-CoV-2 and/or host component(s) impacted is an important focus their future work.

This research sets the stage for development of an effective antiviral drug that, if given to patients early in infection, could reduce SARS-CoV-2 viral load, block disease progression and limit person-to-person transmission.

The answers to the COVID-19 pandemic will be shaped like medications and vaccines. And surely, they will be colored by extensive data established by the veterinary community.

*Editors note: The FDA has issued a public warning stating that people should not self-medicate with ivermectin in an effort to treat or prevent COVID-19. The warning reads, in part: FDA is concerned about the health of consumers who may self-medicate by taking ivermectin products intended for animals, thinking they can be a substitute for ivermectin intended for humans. People should never take animal drugs, as the FDA has only evaluated their safety and effectiveness in the particular animal species for which they are labeled. These animal drugs can cause serious harm in people. People should not take any form of ivermectin unless it has been prescribed to them by a licensed health care provider and is obtained through a legitimate source. For the full FDA letter, click here.

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Veterinary medicine at the forefront in the fight against COVID-19 - dvm360

The anxiety of trying to stay safe through the COVID-19 pandemic is not reserved only for the humans enduring stay-at-home orders and social isolation.

Pets might be anxious, too at the same time most are probably glad their owners are home all day, every day. Even good change can be hard for domestic animals to adjust to, says M. Leanne Lilly, assistant professor-clinical of veterinary clinical sciences at The Ohio State University.

Lilly, who specializes in veterinary behavioral medicine, was among a panel of College of Veterinary Medicine experts who addressed questions submitted by pet owners during an April 9 webinar.

Treat your pets like family. Remember this is a hard change for them, too, so make sure their behavioral needs are met, she said. There are more chances for inappropriate interactions from a pet perspective. Dont overdo it.

Be gentle with yourselves as youre being gentle with your pets.

Many questions from viewers revolved around a recent study in China that revealed cats and ferrets appear to be susceptible to getting sick after being inoculated with the novel coronavirus. The findings also suggested that cats could infect each other. The study found that dogs, pigs, chickens and ducks are able to resist the viruss efforts to make copies of itself and cause infection.

Jeanette OQuin, assistant professor-clinical of veterinary preventive medicine, said that the results of that single study need to be considered along with the rarity of natural cases in animals. Pet owners probably neednt worry much about risk of coronavirus infection to cats and dogs in their homes, she said.

Researchers introduced a very high dose of the virus to animals in the study. And the cats that were infected recovered without incident after having mild symptoms: respiratory problems, fever and lethargy, which are symptoms linked to many common pet illnesses.

What that study tells us is whats possible, but it doesnt really tell us whats probable, said OQuin, a specialist in infectious disease control. This is a distinctly human virus that passes readily from person to person.

The risk to animals is very low, and the risk from animals to people is even lower.

Essentially, the experts said that what it takes for humans to stay safe right now is also good for pets: Shelter in place together, avoid pet play dates and when walking dogs, keep them on a leash and maintain a safe distance between yourself and your pet and other owners and their dogs.

Owners who have tested positive for COVID-19 and dont have assistance with pet care should avoid cuddles and kisses and are advised to wear a cloth mask and wash their hands before and after contact with their pets.

Private practices and hospitals are taking special precautions to protect animal and human health if a pet requires veterinary care during the pandemic, said Roger Fingland, executive associate dean and chief medical officer of the college.

The first thing pet owners should do, even in an emergency, is make a phone call to their veterinarian, Fingland said. Some veterinarians with existing relationships with their clients may be able to give advice via telemedicine.

If a pet requires in-person care or hospitalization, pet owners should expect curbside drop-offs and pickups of their animals and frequent phone, email or text contact about a care plan. Visitation generally isnt allowed except in end-of-life cases.

Veterinarians are seeing mostly urgent and emergent cases, Fingland said. Very few elective procedures are being done. Thats to save PPE (personal protective equipment) for human use.

Ideally, pet owners should be able to pull together a quarantine kit of food and medication if two weeks of isolation are required. Recommended supplies, as well as information updates as conditions change during the pandemic, are available on the colleges website.

College of Veterinary Medicine Dean Rustin Moore noted that about three-fourths of American households have pets and that during difficult times, the love and companionship of a pet can make a real difference in human health.

Interacting with a pet has been shown through scientific evidence to have positive benefits on the physical and mental well-being of people, Moore said. Petting, snuggling, cuddling and looking into the eyes of a pet has been shown to lead to physiological changes in the human body.

Ninety percent of us who have pets consider them as part of our family. They should be treated as such during COVID-19.

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