StemCell Therapy

Workers in the United States from health care to transportation continue to provide critical services during the pandemic, from delivering packages to driving across the country to distribute supplies to local businesses preparing for emergencies. The NBC News Social Newsgathering team interviewed essential workers in America about their roles and how they're filling an essential need and meeting demand as cases of the coronavirus increase across the U.S.

Ben Hertle has been working as a delivery driver for the United Parcel Service in Maple Grove, Minnesota, for the past decade and is doing so now as packages are needed during this critical time.

Im watching person after person after person lose their job, and I have a job and Im grateful for that, but at the same time, theres so much pain around me that Im seeing as a driver, Hertle told NBC News.

Hertle, 34, lost his job delivering groceries during the U.S. financial crisis in 2008 and carries a feeling of gratitude for his current position.

He remembers applying for a seasonal job opening on the UPS website in 2010 and then becoming a full-time delivery driver.

I feel that Im bringing something thats more than just a box. Its bringing healing and hope, he said from his delivery truck.

Hertle said he and his colleagues maintain limited contact to comply with social distancing guidelines, and he is using hand sanitizer and washing his hands as much as he can.

Im carrying medical supplies, Im carrying very important critical medicine to people, and thats the difference for me, he said.

An essential need is also being filled by over the road truck drivers like Douglas Mcconnaughhay in Arkansas.

My uncle was a truck driver, and ever since I was a tot and I sat up on his truck, it was just something about it, it just got in my blood, Mcconnaughhay told NBC News.

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Mcconnaughhay, 54, has been a truck driver for about 25 years and drives across the country delivering a variety of supplies like paper for cardboard boxes and recycling to farmers supplies and lawnmowers.

He drives 70 hours a week Monday through Frida in a Peterbilt truck and only has about 34 hours to spend with his family in Cabot.

He said one of his biggest challenges is finding a place to buy food while on the road with many restaurants and eateries closed during the pandemic.

He also worries about the fear of exposing his family to the virus when he returns home each week.

My main issue is I cant bring the virus back home to my wife because of her health issues. I just want to be able to be safe and make sure that my home stays healthy and safe, Mcconnaughhay said.

To the truck driver, just stay strong and keep on keep on. Theres some that have it a lot worse than me, he said.

Matt Kinley is the interim fire chief for the Seminole County Fire Department in Florida, where hes served for 19 years.

Kinley wants to ensure that his staff stay safe and healthy while collectively working to stop the spread of the virus. We dont want to be in the same position where everybody is sick overwhelming the system, he said.

Kinley said he and his colleagues are spending long hours managing and guiding paramedics and firefighters and command staff on preparation and ensuring that theyre protected in the process.

He said his fire department acts as an all-hazards fire department helping anyone from a sick patient to responding to a radioactive spill.

So much extends to our families," Kinley said. "Were all just blessed that were out here providing a community service, trying to keep the rock stable at home."

The chief has split up command staff into two separate buildings, a public safety building and a training center and identified primary and backup people.

At home, Kinley said his wife is taking care of their two children, 4 and 7, and home-schooling them while taking care of her parents and in-laws.

I couldnt do what I do without them, he said.

Dr. Alastair Cribb is a veterinarian and dean of a Massachusetts veterinary school and is ensuring that animal patients continue to get treatment during this pandemic.

Its very important that veterinary medicine is still available for people that need to care for their animals while keeping everyone as safe as possible, Cribb told NBC News.

For precautionary measures, Cribb said that his clinics are not allowing owners of animals to enter with their pets but instead to allow their staff to pick them up outside.

He said that the Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine loaned out ventilators and donated personal protective equipment to support Tufts Medical Center in Boston to fill a scarcity of resources for health care workers. He said that other U.S. veterinary hospitals have done the same.

We have other ventilators that we could use short term with our patients, Cribb said.

Rima Abdelkader is a senior reporter for Social Newsgathering at NBC News in New York.

Shako Liu contributed.

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During pandemic, essential workers brave through fears and fill critical needs - NBC News

In light of the COVID-19 pandemic and the associated restrictions on public activity, many people are looking for ways to safely go about their daily lives indoors and online. Luckily, telemedicine supports this goal, and allows individuals to ensure their health and the health of their pets digitally.

Dr. Lori Teller, a clinical associate professor at the Texas A&M College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences, speaks to pet owners about the basics of veterinary telemedicine and how this tool can be especially useful in the midst of a pandemic.

Telemedicine is the exchange of medical information from one location to another using electronic communications to diagnose, treat or improve a patients health status, Teller said. In most cases, all that an animal owner needs to connect is a smartphone with a working camera, microphone and chat feature.

A computer or tablet may also be used, provided that it is capable of two-way communication and has internet access. In many cases, a telemedicine appointment will be a real-time, live video and audio exchange.

A veterinarian can evaluate many things via telemedicine, Teller said. The first thing will be to obtain a patients history and determine what the current problem is. If the problem is something that can be visualized, such as a skin lesion or limping, then pictures or videos will be helpful. Behavioral and nutritional problems can often be handled via telemedicine as well.

Telemedicine appointments are most effective when there is an established veterinarian-client-patient relationship (VCPR), as the veterinarian may be able to more accurately make a diagnosis and create a treatment plan. If there is no established VCPR, a veterinarian will still be able to provide general advice.

Rules on what the outcome of a telemedicine appointment can be, including the prescription of medications, vary by state.

It is important to note that telemedicine does not replace a physical exam, so there will be times when the veterinarian will tell the client that the patient needs to be seen, Teller said. Telemedicine can play a huge role, especially in times of disaster, such as a pandemic or hurricane, in helping a client determine if a trip to the veterinarian is needed and, if so, when is it needed.

If a pet has a life-threatening emergency, difficulty breathing, pale or bluish gums, has ingested a toxic substance or something large enough to cause an obstruction, is unable to urinate or to stand, has increased seizures, is non-responsive, is experiencing difficulty during labor, has vomiting and diarrhea and lethargy, or is experiencing other serious veterinary conditions, they should be brought to a veterinary clinic.

Teller recommends calling ahead of time to let the clinic know youre coming and what the problem appears to be.

Telemedicine is an extremely valuable tool to help provide care for a patient, she said. It is not a substitute for in-person veterinary care that requires a physical exam or diagnostic tests, such as blood work or imaging, but is a way to manage patients in-between visits to the hospital.

During times of disruption, such as the current pandemic, telemedicine can be an excellent way to ensure that your furry friend continues to get the care they need while also following social distancing requirements and staying safely indoors.

Telemedicine is especially valuable during a pandemic because it can be used to help the veterinarian and the client determine if and when the patient needs to be seen in the hospital or if the problem can be managed at home, at least for the short term, Teller said. It also helps conserve PPE (personal protective equipment) and other resources for emergencies and for human health care facilities.

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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Veterinary Telemedicine in the age of COVID-19 - News - Alice Echo News-Journal

Look for a warm start to the week as highs approach 90 by Wednesday. A cold front will move into the region by the end of the week.

THE FORECAST:

Today and Tonight: Look for some high clouds to thicken over a mostly sunny sky to start the new week. Southerly winds will take hold over the area, increasing the potential for spotty to isolated showers to develop by the evening. The influx of warmth and moisture from the Gulf of Mexico will guide afternoon high temperatures into the mid 80s. Overnight brings the best shot at a shower, though coverage will be low. Thermometers will stop in the upper 60s.

Up Next: Continued onshore flow will aid the development of spotty showers on Tuesday as well. High temperatures will continue to increase through the 80s and approach the 90s on Wednesday. A frontal system will then move into the region on Thursday and Friday. This willbring the potential for showers and thunderstorms, and some cells could be strong. Thermometers will take a turn for the cooler behind that system, and unlike the past couple of frontal passages, this cool air mass will have some staying power.

The Mississippi River: At Baton Rouge, major flood stage continues with a level of 42 as of Monday morning. Around April 11, the river is projected to crest near 43. 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. This comes after a year where the gauge at Baton Rouge spent a record smashing run of 212 consecutive days above flood stage between January and August. Peaking at 44.1 on March 19, 2019 the river set its 7th highest recorded crest at Baton Rouge. The level is also high in New Orleans and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has opened the Bonnet Carre Spillway. From May to July 2019, the Spillway was open for a record 79 consecutive days during its second opening of the year. If the Spillway is opened in 2020, it will mark the fourth time in five years and the 15th time since being built in 1931.

THE EXPLANATION:

A ridge of high pressure over the Gulf of Mexico will maintain above average temperatures through the middle of the week. While, mainly dry conditions are anticipated, advancing Gulf moisture amidst onshore winds will allow isolated showers to develop. The chances may be enhanced somewhat by some weak upper level impulses riding over the ridge with the best, albeit low, chance for isolated showers overnight Monday and through Tuesday. Wednesday will be the warmest day of the week with high temperatures approaching 90 degrees. Then, a frontal system will move into the region late Thursday. With several days of warmth and moisture priming the atmosphere, showers and thunderstorms should readily develop. This period will need to be monitored for some stronger activity. The first front will knock temperatures down a bit, as it crawls into the Gulf of Mexico. It is expected to stall close enough to the region that clouds and isolated showers will stick around into the weekend. A second front will then move in during the middle of the weekend. While confidence is low at this time, the current forecast is for this front to flush out the lingering clouds and showers and provide a prolonged period of cooler and drier than average conditions into early next week.

--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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Thermometers climb through Wednesday - WBRZ

AMES, Iowa (PRWEB) April 06, 2020

Food animal veterinarians (FAVs) are vital for the health and well-being of our nations food supply, but the profession faces challenges that are not well understood, which ultimately impacts the workforces ability to recruit and retain professionals.

FAVs are key to providing the world with a safe and secure food supply, says Dr. Christine Navarre, DVM, MS, DACVIM, of Louisiana State University. They work directly with producers to ensure the health and welfare of food producing animals as well as working in food safety and other public health areas.

Navarre recently chaired a task force addressing the issue in a new paper published by the Council for Agricultural Science and Technology (CAST). She, along with other veterinary scientists and experts, focused on two themes affecting the profession: economic and social factors.

The authors describe economic challenges as changes in the agricultural industry that affect supply and demand. The latter are often informed by available databases, for example, the American Veterinary Medical Associations membership database, which represents 82 percent of U.S. veterinarians. However, it is difficult to determine how many individuals in the database work with food-producing animals due to missing or outdated self-reported information.

Other inconsistencies also cause issues in workforce studies that are often used to inform the amount of FAV professionals in the workforce and how many are needed. A lack of detailed employment data, differences in methodology and an ever-changing animal agricultural landscape make predicting how many FAVs are needed difficult," Navarre says.

Social factors also influence students and professional veterinarians choices for where and what they practice. Among the top social challenges include the students income-to-debt ratio, which is considerably high for FAVs. Many veterinarians also cite the lack of support in rural agricultural communities among the barriers that curb them from this type of work. For example, veterinarians with spouses tend to search for communities that are capable of providing a career for their significant other.

While there are challenges to building a strong FAV workforce, the CAST papers authors outline strategies that may increase recruitment and retention for the profession.

Despite the difficulties, FAVs and the producers they serve are innovative and adaptable, and will find ways to keep providing for the health and welfare of food animals and producing safe and affordable food, Navarre says.

The paper, Impact of Recruitment and Retention of Food Animal Veterinarians on the U.S. Food Supply, is available to download for free on the CAST website. A free webinar will take place at noon CST on April 7. More information about the webinar can be found here: https://conta.cc/3bljbxl.

Task Force Authors:

About CAST The Council for Agricultural Science and Technology is an international consortium of scientific and professional societies, companies, and nonprofit organizations. Through its network of experts, CAST assembles, interprets, and communicates credible, balanced, science-based information to policymakers, the media, the private sector, and the public.http://www.cast-science.org

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Determining How Many Veterinarians are in the Workforce is Trickier Than You Think - PR Web

Dr. Emily Thomas may be gone from The Incredible Dr. Pol, but shes not forgotten.

The hardworking veterinarian showed what she was made of on the reality show, putting in long hours even while far along in one of her pregnancies.

If youre wondering how many kids the Georgia native has, heres what we know.

It was hard to see Dr. Emily leave the Nat Geo Wild program. She had been a fan favorite since 2015, repositioning cows stomachs, palpating them, removing grubs from nasty infections it was all in a days work for Dr. Emily.

After she left The Incredible Dr. Pol, she was replaced by two new veterinarians, Dr. Ray Harp and Dr. Lisa Jones.

A big fan of Dr. Pols, Dr. Harp as a young man watched the reality show and was inspired to become an animal doctor seeing the tireless Dr. Pol working his rounds on various farms and at his practice.

In 2010, the 37-year-old Dr. Harp was managing a day care for dogs in Philadelphia and made the decision to return to school to become a vet technician.

It was while he was working at an animal clinic in Kansas City that he began to get the itch to become a veterinarian and gave serious thought to medical school. Encouraged by his wife, he enrolled at Kansas City University and earned his doctor of veterinary medicine degree in 2019.

He and his family ended up in Michigan, although he admits hes more of a fan of sunnier climates.

Its really beautiful, he said of Michigan. Im just worried that its going to be really snowy soon.

Dr. Emily, while she was working at Dr. Pols clinic, had her husband, Tony, working alongside her in the clinic, helping out all the veterinarians, guests, and their clients.

Currently, at the practice Dr. Emily is now working with in Virginia, her husband is working with her there as well.

Tony, writing on Dr. Emilys personal blog, said of their move, . . . when it was time to leave Michigan, we had an idea of what we wanted.

Virginia became an obvious place for us. Within Virginia, the Shenandoah Valley was appealing. The Shenandoah National Park is basically in our front yard, and there is a nice river for canoeing and kayaking.

Dr. Emily and Tony have three children: India born in 2013, Oscar born in 2015, and Calvin born in 2018.

Based on her blog, its safe to say that part of the reason so many viewers were drawn to her was for her sometimes shocking honesty. But its nothing any other mother hasnt thought at least once.

She said recently on Twitter, ALL night I was unable to sleep despite meds just imagining all of my children dying from the #Covid_19. Then, groggy early morning, I hear that all three kids are downstairs. My very first thought Ugh! I guess I better get up and go take care of those monsters.

Read more: The Incredible Dr. Pol: The Real Reason Dr. Emily Left

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'The Incredible Dr. Pol': Does Dr. Emily Have Children? - Showbiz Cheat Sheet

A new therapy could combat persistent joint infections in horses, potentially saving them from years of pain, based on Morris Animal Foundation-funded research at North Carolina State University.

The North Carolina State researchers developed a platelet-rich plasma (PRP) lysate that, when teamed with antibiotics, can eradicate bacterial biofilms common in joint infections, the Morris Animal Foundation said in an announcement. The therapy could also be applied to other species, including humans and dogs.

The team published their findings in the Journal of Orthopaedic Research.

"This could really provide a more effective way of clearing a joint infection quickly so that the horse does not suffer long-term consequences of joint damage," said Dr. Lauren Schnabel, associate professor of equine orthopedic surgery at North Carolina State University, a primary investigator of the study. "For any horse's well-being, it's important to make them as comfortable as possible, as quickly as possible to avoid laminitis and other complications."

Horses are more prone to joint infections than other animals due to their predominantly outdoor, active lifestyles coupled with a lack of tissue protection over the joints of their lower limbs, the announcement explained. Any wound near a joint, regardless of its size, requires immediate veterinary attention. Left untreated, they can be life-threatening.

Current joint infection treatment usually involves surgical flushing of the joint and giving antibiotics. Despite aggressive care, about 6-10% of horses die as a result of the infection or associated complications. For horses that survive, more than 50% will suffer from chronic arthritis for the rest of their lives, the foundation said.

A common complication that impedes successful treatment is the tendency for some bacteria to form biofilms in the joint. A biofilm is a sticky, slimy shield that forms around bacteria in synovial fluid. They become so large that immune cells can't attack them properly. Biofilms also render the bacteria metabolically inactive, which makes them more resistant to antibiotics.

To create their PRP lysate, the research team took blood from the small herd of horses at the North Carolina State College of Veterinary Medicine and isolated the platelets, which are known to aid in healing. Then, the researchers packed 50 times the number of platelets that would be found in an equal amount of blood into their product. For comparison, typical PRP, for orthopedic and sports medicine purposes, is created by concentrating platelets usually up to three times what is found in a comparable amount of blood, the announcement said.

The team felt that this super-concentrated product would be better at stopping infections than conventional PRP.

The team lysed the platelets to release antimicrobial peptides -- proteins that attack bacteria. The researchers separated out the antimicrobial peptides, and then, after testing those against common bacteria, all the horses' peptides were pooled together for one lysate product. The team collected synovial fluid from the horses' knees with harmless taps. The fluid was seeded with bacteria in the laboratory and allowed to grow biofilms. Finally, researchers tested three methods to attack the biofilms: antibiotics alone, lysate alone and a combination of antibiotics and lysate.

According to the Morris Animal Foundation, the researchers found that antibiotics alone were completely ineffective, and the lysate alone significantly decreased the bacterial load. However, the antibiotic and lysate combination completely eradicated the biofilms and bacteria.

Schnabel said her team has used this experimental therapy on horses with great results. Because the process to create the lysate is both complicated and expensive, her team is trying to find a way to produce it more efficiently. They also are trying to identify the exact peptides responsible for the antibacterial properties, so they can be synthesized and production scaled up to reach the greatest number of horses, the foundation said.

"This is really a critical piece of evidence to show this is a therapy with enormous potential to make traditional antimicrobials more effective," said Dr. Janet Patterson-Kane, Morris Animal Foundation chief scientific officer. "Clearing bacteria more quickly and effectively from infected joints is a much-needed piece of the solution for this complex disease."

If successful, this approach also has translational potential to help other species, including people. For example, biofilm formation and infection are a significant problem for people with metal implants, such as those used in joint replacement surgeries. Dr. Jessica Gilbertie, first author on this publication and former Morris Animal Foundation fellowship trainee under the mentorship of Schnabel, is working on making PRP lysate from other species, including dogs, because they also can suffer from biofilm formations related to surgical procedures.

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New therapy could combat persistent joint infections in horses - Feedstuffs

Harshraj Singh

Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, March 30

After the supply of fodder for cattle has been normalised, dairy owners in city are now waiting for medicines for the treatment of sick cattle and are concerned as medicines are not available.

Since curfew has been imposed, veterinary medicine shops are closed and there is no service available to deliver medicine at dairy complexes, said the dairy owners on Tajpur Road.

Earlier, Mayor Balkar Singh Sandhu met fodder suppliers of Baranala and requested them to ensure the supply of fodder for cattle in the district. Now, dairy owners want from the concerned authorities to allow delivery of veterinary medicines at doorsteps.

The president of Tajpur Road Dairy Complex Association, DS Oberoi, said: The supply of dry fodder for cattle has been resumed. We want that medicines and feed for the cattle should also be delivered at dairy complexes. There are some veterinary medicine shops at Tajpur Road, but are closed owing to the curfew. The government should either open veterinary medicine shops or provide the shop owners with curfew passes to start delivery of required medicines at dairy complexes. If the required feed is not available, production of milk may also get affected.

Though dry fodder is being made available but the suppliers say they are unable to weigh the fodder as the stores where weighing scales are available, are closed. We request the authorities to resolve our issues so that supply of milk can be ensured, said a dairy owner.

Mayor Balkar Singh Sandhu said: After we met some farmers, they have started the supply of fodder to dairy complexes. We will take the required measures so that the delivery of veterinary medicines can also be ensured at the earliest.

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Dairies demand doorstep delivery of vet medicines - The Tribune

The Conference of Research Workers in Animal Diseases held its 100th annual meeting Nov. 2-5 in Chicago. The city of Chicago marked the occasion with a proclamation honoring CRWAD and its years of work.

Since the first CRWAD meeting convened in 1920as a closed gathering of 11 individuals, mostly directors of experiment stations and deans of U.S. veterinary schoolsthe conference has evolved into the premier international event on animal health and disease research.

More than 700 scientists attended the 100th annual CRWAD meeting, which featured 17 featured speakers and 270 oral and 220 poster presentations.

Leadership

The 2019 CRWAD officers were Qijing Zhang, PhD, Iowa State University, president; Dr. Amelia Woolums, Mississippi State University, vice president; Dr. Christopher Chase, South Dakota State University, immediate past president; Dr. Paul Morley, West Texas A&M University, executive director; and council membersDr. M.M. Chengappa, Kansas State University; Charles Czuprynski, PhD, University of Wisconsin-Madison; Dr. Annette OConnor, Michigan State University; and Dr. Philip Griebel, University of Saskatchewan.

AAVI awards

The American Association of Veterinary Immunologists recognized Dr. Bettina Wagner, Cornell University, as the 2019 AAVI Distinguished Veterinary Immunologist.

Recipients of the AAVI student awards for best oral presentations were as follows: Alexandra Gillespie, University of Massachusetts; Carsten Walker, Michigan State University; Jayne Wiarda, Iowa State University; Elizabeth Larson, Cornell University; and Amanda Amaral, North Carolina State University. Best poster presentation was awarded to Shauav Bhattarai, South Dakota State University.

ACVM awards

The American College of Veterinary Microbiologists named Dr. T.J. Nagaraja, Kansas State University, as the 2019 Distinguished Veterinary Microbiologist.

ACVM student award winners were as follows: Don Kahn Award for best overall presentationDebra Goulart, Iowa State University; best oral presentationsSara Raabis, University of Wisconsin-Madison, and Syeda Hadi, Michigan State University; best poster presentationF. Yuan, Kansas State University.

AVEPM awards

The Association for Veterinary Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine presented the Mark Gearhart Memorial Graduate Student Award for best overall graduate student research to Dr. Gizem Levent, Texas A&M University.

Sam Rowe, University of Minnesota; James Ogunrina, Texas A&M University; and Casey Cazer, Cornell University, received awards for best oral presentations. Sneha Jha, Purdue University, won best poster presentation.

Animal Health Institute and Joseph J. Garbarino Foundation

Best oral presentation was by Ting-Yu Cheng, Iowa State University, and best poster presentations were by Emily John, University of Prince Edward Island, and Babiana Benavides, University of Narino.

American Association of Veterinary Parasitology awards

The best oral presentation was presented by Megan Wright, University of Tennessee.

NC1202 awards

The NC1202 North Central Multistate Committee for Research on Enteric Diseases of Swine and Cattle made the following student awards: Lynn Joens Award, first place, oralRaquel Burin, Washington State University; second place, oralFrances Shepherd, University of Minnesota.

The David H. Francis award for best poster presentation was given to Brandon Ruddell, Iowa State University.

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CRWAD marks 100th annual meeting | American Veterinary Medical Association - American Veterinary Medical Association

The new coronavirus, SARS-CoV-2, has many people staying at home except for essential activities like seeking medical care, exercising, walking their dog, or shopping for groceries.

You can reduce your risk of exposure to COVID-19 whenever you leave your house by taking precautions such as practicing social distancing and washing your hands thoroughly and often.

Shopping for groceries, though, carries extra risk.

Not only are you near other people, but many of the products youre buying have probably been handled by others and possibly sneezed or coughed on.

This doesnt mean you should give up on trips to the supermarket. Thats not really a viable option for most of us.

But you can take a little extra care when handling your groceries to avoid spreading the virus to other people and surfaces in your house.

Charlotte Baker, DrPH, MPH, an assistant professor of epidemiology at Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine in Blacksburg, Virginia, said your biggest risk at the supermarket is coming into close contact with another person whos sick.

Thats why its important to stay at least 6 feet from other people at all times.

Do not be afraid to ask others to step back if they are too close to you in line, said Baker. Or wait a few moments to grab something if others are already by the item you want.

Its not clear, though, how much of a role produce and food packaging plays in transmitting the virus that causes COVID-19.

Still, the World Health Organization says that in addition to close person-to-person contact, people can pick up the virus by touching contaminated surfaces and then touching their eyes, nose, or mouth.

Some surfaces may pose a bigger risk than others.

A recent study in the New England Journal of Medicine found that the virus was detectable on plastic and stainless steel for up to 72 hours, and on cardboard for up to 24 hours.

Baker said when youre at the supermarket, you should assume all surfaces everywhere have been touched by someone who is sick.

This includes produce and packaged foods.

Touch just the items you intend to buy, wipe down the cart or basket handles with disinfectant wipes, and wash your hands or use hand sanitizer when youre done, she said.

Baker added that many people are also reducing their potential exposure by using curbside pick-up or at-home delivery. Even local food producers are offering these services.

Some farmers markets are allowing customers to preorder foods so they are already packaged when you come pick them up, she said, reducing the amount of time that you need to be near other people and reducing the amount of items that you can touch.

Whichever way you get your groceries, youll want to handle them carefully when you get them home. This will reduce the chance of spreading the virus to other people or surfaces in your house.

Elizabeth L. Andress, PhD, a professor of foods and nutrition at the University of Georgia, said at the very least you should wash your hands after unpacking and putting away your groceries.

If youre concerned about potential contamination on your groceries, you can take additional steps to protect yourself.

Some people may choose to wipe or wash cans and boxes of food before storing them to reduce possible virus content, said Andress. You can also throw out disposable packaging.

When youre done, she suggests that you wash any tables, countertops, or other surfaces that were touched by your groceries or grocery bags.

And wash your hands again.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) offers advice for cleaning and disinfecting your home during the pandemic, including which cleaners work best against SARS-CoV-2.

If youre using cloth bags, wash them with laundry soap in a washing machine and dry them thoroughly before reusing them.

If you or someone in your household is at higher risk for severe illness from COVID-19, you might want to adopt the modified sterile technique recommended by Dr. Jeffrey VanWingen, a family physician practicing in Grand Rapids, Michigan, in this YouTube video.

VanWingen said that one option is to leave your groceries in your garage or porch for at least 72 hours to allow the virus to become inactive.

This isnt possible for many people. For them, he suggests the sterile technique. You can also do this after letting your groceries sit outside for 72 hours.

A key part of VanWingens method is setting up a cleaning station to avoid contaminating your food or other surfaces in your house.

After that, it involves wiping down all packaging with a disinfectant before putting your groceries away. You can also discard packaging and transfer the food to a clean bag or container.

For fruits and vegetables, VanWingen suggests scrubbing them for at least 20 seconds with soap and water.

Andress cautions that the Food and Drug Administration doesnt recommend using soap when cleaning produce because of the risk of ingestion.

So if you choose to use soap and water on your fruits and vegetables, rinse them completely with clean water before storing.

Taking these precautions with your groceries can help you lower your chance of being exposed to the virus.

If you do get sick, youll need to take extra care in order to protect your family.

If someone in your household is confirmed positive with COVID-19, showing symptoms of the disease, or awaiting the results of a test, they should take extra cleaning and disinfection steps around the home, said Andress.

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How to Decontaminate Groceries During the COVID-19 Outbreak - Healthline

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention officials see no evidence that the coronavirus that causes COVID-19 in people sickens pets or can spread to people through pets.

But the agency is advising, out of an abundance of caution, that people who become sick with the coronavirus should limit contact with their companion animals, just as they should limit contact with people. World Health Organization officials also indicated they saw no evidence pets have become ill with or could spread the virus.

Meanwhile, the AVMA and government agencies continue to monitor the availability of medical supplies and animal drugs as well as other potential impacts to the profession as the virus continued to spread in the U.S. in the first few months of the year. A number of universities and organizations cancelled classes and events to allow for social distancing.

When possible, have another member of your household care for your animals while you are sick, according to a CDC FAQ document updated in February to add information on animals. If you are sick with COVID-19, avoid contact with your pet, including petting, snuggling, being kissed or licked, and sharing food. If you must care for your pet or be around animals while you are sick, wash your hands before and after you interact with pets and wear a facemask.

Though the virus seems to have emerged from an animal source, CDC officials also saw no evidence that animals or animal products arriving from China or elsewhere pose a risk of spreading the COVID-19 virus in the U.S. More information is available at jav.ma/cdc_covid.

Late in February, authorities in Hong Kong reported that they quarantined a pet dog after its owner was hospitalized because of COVID-19, and nasal and oral cavity samples tested weak positive for the COVID-19 virus. Four subsequent nasal samples continued to test weak positive, but test results for nasal samples collected on March 12 and 13 came back negative. The regions Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department said the results suggested a low-level infection likely acquired from a person, and they said World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) officials agreed with their findings.

The dog has not shown any signs of disease related to COVID-19, Hong Kong authorities said. The companion animal was returned to the owner after completion of quarantine and consecutive negative test results. The dog, identified by the South China Morning Post as a 17-year-old Pomeranian, died on March 16, the department said in an email, citing the animals owner. The AFCD gave no further details.

OIE officials separately characterized the positive nasal sample results as presence of genetic material from the COVID-19 virus and said the organization lacks evidence dogs become sick from the virus or play a role in disease spread.

On March 19, Hong Kong authorities said they quarantined two more dogsa German Shepherd Dog and a mixed-breed dog whose owner had COVID-19after a polymerase chain reactionbased assay detected COVID-19 virus in a sample from the German Shepherd Dog but not the other dog. Neither dog showed clinical signs of disease.

Idexx Laboratories Inc. announced March 13 that it has seen no positive results to date of SARS-CoV-2 in pets. Idexx evaluated thousands of canine and feline specimens during validation of a new veterinary test system for the COVID-19 virus, according to a company press release. The specimens were obtained from those submitted to Idexx reference laboratories for PCR assay testing.

The company says if health authorities determine it is clinically relevant to test pets, it will make the test system available, but neither the CDC nor the AVMA is recommending that pets be tested at this time. Dogs or cats with respiratory signs should be evaluated by a veterinarian for more-common respiratory pathogens before looking to evaluate them for COVID-19, according to an AVMA FAQ for veterinarians and veterinary clinics.

On March 19, Antech Diagnostics announced that it also has not detected any evidence of SARS-CoV-2 in samples from dogs and cats.

Since February, AVMA leaders have been working with the CDC, the Food and Drug Administration, the U.S. Department of Agriculture, and other experts and international disease authorities to gather the latest information on the coronavirus for veterinarians, clients, and patients, available at avma.org/coronavirus. Aside from keeping veterinary team members healthy, ensuring as much access to care for ill patients as possible, and other concerns, AVMA leaders are worried about potential drug shortages as COVID-19 disrupts supply chains, especially because six of the 32 companies that produce animal-use drugs in China or that use active ingredients from China to produce drugs for the U.S. market indicated to the FDA they have seen disruptions that could lead to shortages.

No animal drug shortages were reported as of mid-March.

The website notes that FDA officials were working with the companies to find ways to mitigate shortages, and the AVMA was collecting information on drug needs and veterinarians concerns. The AVMA is asking that veterinarians send information on supply chain issues to coronavirusavma [dot] org, with details on the products and their manufacturers or distributors.

FDA officials also forecast short supplies of personal protective equipment such as surgical masks, gowns, and suits, as well as isolation gowns.

Guidance from the FDA on surgical mask and gown conservation strategies is available at jav.ma/masks.

As cases of COVID-19 ramped up over the beginning of March, academic institutions reacted by taking greater precautions to slow the spread of the COVID-19 illness.

The 50th Annual Student AVMA Symposium, slated for March 14-16 at Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine in Ithaca, New York, was canceled after organizers conferred and the university called off all nonessential events or work-related gatherings scheduled between March 9 and April 15 that involved more than 100 people.

Student organizers were working with college leadership to identify ways to provide recorded lectures for registrants to view, according to a post on the events website.

The Veterinary Innovation Summit, which was to be held April 3-5 at Texas A&M University College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences, was also canceled because of caution over COVID-19. All registration fees were to be refunded and cancellation fees waived.

Many universities with veterinary colleges announced in mid-March that they were suspending face-to-face instruction and testing for various lengths of time during the spring semester to allow for social distancing. Instead, universities encouraged educators to move their courses online and to prepare to continue that way as long as in-person instruction seemed inadvisable, potentially through the end of the semester.

Many clinical rotations were being cancelled and veterinary teaching hospitals were curtailing operations to enable social distancing, according to a March 15 announcement from the Association of American Veterinary Medical Colleges. Schools are working with students who are in clinical rotations and externships on an individual basis to re-assign them or make alternative arrangements as needed, the announcement said.

The AAVMC also noted that its impacted member institutions were working with the AVMA Council on Education to ensure they maintain the highest quality of education during this time.

The COE requires schools to report any disruption to the educational program lasting two or more weeks and to describe their plans to remediate the disruption. The COE is reviewing these plans to ensure they are in compliance with the standards of accreditation, the announcement said.

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No evidence pets can become ill with COVID-19 virus as it surges in US - American Veterinary Medical Association

VALLEY COTTAGE, N.Y. Veterinary orthotics and prosthetic devices are increasing used for injured animals. Orthotics are a medical device which is attached to the body of an injured animal to provide support, align, position, immobilize, prevent or correct deformity, assisting weak muscles, or improving functions. Prosthetics are defined as medical devices which are used to compensate for a missing or amputated leg segment. Owing to the current advancements in the veterinary orthotics-prosthetics market, it is no longer necessary to amputate an entire leg when the only lower body is injured; partial amputation is sufficient in many cases.

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Veterinary Orthotics-Prosthetics Market: Segmentation

Veterinary Orthotics-Prosthetics marketcan be segmented on the basis of various product types available for the rehabilitation of injured animals:

Preview Analysis ofVeterinary Orthotics-Prosthetics Market: Global Industry Analysis 2012 2016 and Opportunity Assessment; 2017 2027:https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/veterinary-orthotics-prosthetics-market

On the basis of diagnosis of the end users, we can segment the veterinary orthotics-prosthetics market into:

Veterinary Orthotics-Prosthetics Market: Dynamics

The veterinary orthotics-prosthetics market is a growing market owing to the rising awareness regarding the treatment options available to rehabilitate the animals. Canine rehabilitation has made advancements in the modern veterinary medicine with the advent of various research institutions. The market for veterinary orthotics-prosthetics is driven by improving the quality of life, functional independence, preventing euthanasia among others. However, low support from the government and non-profit organizations has restricted the growth of the market. Veterinary orthotics-prosthetics market witnesses innovations in prosthetic device technology, customization in prosthetic devices, and consolidation of the global veterinary orthotics-prosthetics market.

Veterinary Orthotics-Prosthetics Market: Region-wise Outlook

Based on geography, the Veterinary Orthotics-Prosthetics Market can be segmented into five major regions: North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, Latin America and Middle East & Africa. At present, North America holds a leading position in the Veterinary Orthotics-Prosthetics Market followed by Europe. The major driving factors which have driven the growth of the Veterinary Orthotics-Prosthetics Market in these regions are the fast paced services and fulfillment of custom requirements for the manufacturing of orthotics-prosthetics products. Following North America, European countries are also anticipated to show steady growth in the Veterinary Orthotics-Prosthetics Market. In the next few years, Asia-Pacific would show remarkable growth in the Veterinary Orthotics-Prosthetics Market as it is developing at a very rapid pace and has shown the emergence of many regional players. The factors which would fuel the growth of Veterinary Orthotics-Prosthetics Market in Asia-Pacific are increasing awareness regarding animal care and rehabilitation services and rapid development of the healthcare infrastructure across the Asian countries. Veterinary Orthotics-Prosthetics Market would evolve at a rapid rate across the regions. However, North America would maintain its position in the overall Veterinary Orthotics-Prosthetics Market.

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Veterinary Orthotics-Prosthetics Market: Key Players

It is expected that with due course of time, there will be an influx of well-established players in the Veterinary Orthotics-Prosthetics Market. Some of the major service providers operating in the Veterinary Orthotics-Prosthetics Market is OrthoPets LLC., Animal Ortho Care, AAA Orthotics and Prosthetics, Anchor Orthotics & Prosthetics, Animal Care Castle Rock OrthoPets Castle Rock, Appletree Orthotic Services Ltd, Animal Orthocare, Avondale Veterinary Healthcare Complex OrthoPets Iowa, Buddy Braces, Dogs in Motion Canine Rehabilitation OrthoPets Australia, Equisport Medicine OrthoPets Washington, HandicappedPets.com, Hanger Clinic, Holisticvet OrthoPets South Africa, J.G. McGinness Prosthetics & Orthotics, K-9 Orthotics & Prosthetics, A Loyal Companion OrthoPets Arizona, M.H. Mandelbaum Orthotic & Prosthetic Services, My Pets Brace, Ortho Design, OrthoPets Europe, OrthoVet, LLC, PALS Pet Artificial Limbs & Supports, Pawsitive Steps Rehabilitation Clinic OrthoPets Michigan, PawsAbility, Paws on the Go OrthoPets Southern California, Paws to Embrace, Petsthetics, LLC, Wheat Ridge Veterinary SpecialistsPosh Ortho Dog Inc., Santoro & Sons, Sierra Orthopedic Lab, Veterinary Inclusive Prosthetics/Orthotics (VIP) and Veterinary Orthopedic and Sports Medicine Group (VOSM). Veterinary Orthotics-Prosthetics Market has a presence of many regional players manufacturing customized which have a huge market share in emerging countries.

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Veterinary Orthotics Prosthetics Market Prophesied to Grow at a Faster Pace by 2027 - PharmiWeb.com

A domestic cat in Belgium has been infected with COVID-19, the disease caused by the new coronavirus that's spreading across the globe, the government's FPS Public Health, Food Chain Safety and Environment announced March 27, according to news reports.

This is the first human-to-cat transmission of the novel coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2). About a week after its owner got sick with COVID-19, after returning from a trip to Northern Italy, the cat developed coronavirus symptoms: diarrhea, vomiting and respiratory issues, Steven Van Gucht, virologist and federal spokesperson for the coronavirus epidemic in Belgium, told Live Science.

The owner sent samples of vomit and feces to Dr. Daniel Desmecht's lab at the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine of Lige. Genetic tests showed high levels of SARS-CoV-2 in those samples, he said. "The cat recovered after 9 days," Van Gucht said.

Related: 13 Coronavirus myths busted by science

Cats and humans appear to have a similar "doorknob" on the surfaces of respiratory cells that lets the SARS-CoV-2 virus get inside, according to Van Gucht.

In humans, scientists have figured out that the SARS-CoV-2 virus attaches to a receptor protein called ACE2 that's on the outside of respiratory cells. Once inside of these cells, the virus hijacks certain machinery so it can replicate.

"The feline ACE2 protein resembles the human ACE2 homologue, which is most likely the cellular receptor which is being used by Sars-CoV-2 for cell entry," Van Gucht said.

During the 2003 SARS outbreak, cats were infected with a coronavirus as well, Van Gucht said.

The only other pets thought to have "caught" the novel coronavirus from owners were two dogs in Hong Kong. The first dog, a 17-year-old Pomeranian, tested a weak positive for the virus at the end of February, Live Science reported. The dog died in mid-March, though the exact cause of death is not known, as the owner didn't allow an autopsy.A second dog, a German shepherd, tested positive but showed no symptoms of the disease, Bloomberg reported.

During the outbreak of another coronavirus, severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS), dogs and cats contracted low levels of that virus, animal health expert Vanessa Barrs from City University told the South China Morning Post.

There have been no reports of pets passing the virus to their human owners, and Van Gucht stressed that even human-to-pet transmission is not a significant path of viral spread.

"We think the cat is a side victim of the ongoing epidemic in humans and does not play a significant role in the propagation of the virus," he said.

To prove definitively that the cat was infected with SARS-CoV-2, scientists will need a blood test to look for antibodies specific to this virus, Van Gucht said. Those tests will happen once the cat is no longer under quarantine.

Originally published on Live Science.

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Cat infected with COVID-19 from owner in Belgium - Livescience.com

New Jersey, United States:The Veterinary Medicine Market is carefully researched in the report while largely concentrating on top players and their business tactics, geographical expansion, market segments, competitive landscape, manufacturing, and pricing and cost structures. Each section of the research study is specially prepared to explore key aspects of the Veterinary Medicine market. For instance, the market dynamics section digs deep into the drivers, restraints, trends, and opportunities of the Veterinary Medicine Market. With qualitative and quantitative analysis, we help you with thorough and comprehensive research on the Veterinary Medicine market. We have also focused on SWOT, PESTLE, and Porters Five Forces analyses of the Veterinary Medicine market.

Leading players of the Veterinary Medicine market are analyzed taking into account their market share, recent developments, new product launches, partnerships, mergers or acquisitions, and markets served. We also provide an exhaustive analysis of their product portfolios to explore the products and applications they concentrate on when operating in the Veterinary Medicine market. Furthermore, the report offers two separate market forecasts one for the production side and another for the consumption side of the Veterinary Medicine market. It also provides useful recommendations for new as well as established players of the Veterinary Medicine market.

Veterinary Medicine Market by Regional Segments:

The chapter on regional segmentation describes the regional aspects of the Veterinary Medicine market. This chapter explains the regulatory framework that is expected to affect the entire market. It illuminates the political scenario of the market and anticipates its impact on the market for Veterinary Medicine.

Analysts who have authored the report have segmented the market for Veterinary Medicine by product, application and region. All segments are the subject of extensive research, with a focus on CAGR, market size, growth potential, market share and other important factors. The segment study provided in the report will help players focus on the lucrative areas of the Veterinary Medicine market. The regional analysis will help the actors to strengthen their position in the most important regional markets. It shows unused growth opportunities in regional markets and how they can be used in the forecast period.

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Highlights of TOC:

Overview: In addition to an overview of the Veterinary Medicine market, this section provides an overview of the report to give an idea of the type and content of the study.

Market dynamics: Here the authors of the report discussed in detail the main drivers, restrictions, challenges, trends and opportunities in the market for Veterinary Medicine.

Product Segments: This part of the report shows the growth of the market for various types of products sold by the largest companies.

Application segments: The analysts who have authored the report have thoroughly evaluated the market potential of the key applications and identified the future opportunities they should create in the Veterinary Medicine.

Geographic Segments: Each regional market is carefully examined to understand its current and future growth scenarios.

Company Profiles: The top players in the Veterinary Medicine market are detailed in the report based on their market share, served market, products, applications, regional growth and other factors.

The report also includes specific sections on production and consumption analysis, key results, key suggestions and recommendations, and other issues. Overall, it offers a complete analysis and research study of the Veterinary Medicine market to help players ensure strong growth in the coming years.

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Tags: Veterinary Medicine Market Size, Veterinary Medicine Market Trends, Veterinary Medicine Market Forecast, Veterinary Medicine Market Growth, Veterinary Medicine Market Analysis

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Veterinary Medicine Market 2020 | Growing Rapidly with Significant CAGR, Leading Players, Innovative Trends and Expected Revenue by 2026 - Skyline...

DEAR ABBY: My husband barely speaks to me. We both work full time and are facing the empty nest very soon. At home, I have to initiate even the smallest of small talk. He'll never say "Good morning" or ask "How was your day?" Although I work hard to keep the house the way he likes it, he speaks up only to criticize the few times I don't meet his standards. There's never a word of acknowledgment when I have accomplished other elements of housekeeping.

When I laugh at the Sunday comics, he doesn't even ask what's funny. As a result, I have become defensive. Then he accuses me of being "dismissive of his feelings." He says I don't communicate with him, but when I do, he barely responds, so over the years I have basically shut down. We have been to counseling, and maybe it's time to go again. Do you have any perspective to offer?

UNACKNOWLEDGED IN THE SOUTH

DEAR UNACKNOWLEDGED: It is definitely the right move to return to counseling. But when you do, this time speak up for yourself loud and clear. If you do, it may change the dynamics of your relationship because when he accuses you of not communicating, he is blaming the victim. Once you have said your piece, let the marriage and family therapist mediate what is certain to be a long-overdue discussion.

DEAR ABBY: I am a 25-year-old man currently dating a 39-year-old woman. We have been dating for 2 1/2 months. We have talked about our age difference a couple of times, but apart from that issue, every other aspect of our relationship is going well, including communication, intimacy and maturity.

We are not super interested in having children, and we both have expressed interest in adopting a child if we were to have one somewhere down the line. Despite this, I have heard from family (my parents, mostly) and close friends that I'm making a terrible mistake by dating a woman so much older.

They say it is not practical to marry a woman so much older because it will present major health and aging challenges as time goes by. This is the argument that most influences my feelings. Should I break up with her and tell her that the age difference is the reason? I feel I should decide soon so as not to waste her time.

NOT JUST A NUMBER IN SAN FRANCISCO

DEAR NOT JUST A NUMBER: You have been seeing this woman for only 2 1/2 months. The relationship is still new. That you are discussing marriage and children seems to me to be premature. My advice is to slow down. Let time dictate whether this romance develops further.

Discuss the flak you are getting from your parents with your lady friend. But the 14-year age difference does not necessarily mean that she'll have health challenges that you won't. Decide together whether the age difference is a deal-breaker.

DEAR ABBY: This may seem like a strange question, but my husband says our 6-year-old cat, "Taffy," is really 42 years old. He says one cat year equals seven people years. Taffy is like a baby to me. What gives?

NEVER HEARD THAT IN NEVADA

DEAR NEVER HEARD: Your husband is right. As you may have already noticed, humans have longer lives than dogs and cats, but pets mature faster. According to veterinary medicine, the first two years of a cat's life equal 25 human years. After that, every cat year equals four human years. This would make Taffy the ripe old age of 41 or 42. If this is shocking to you, remember that 42 is the new 22.

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Marriage crumbling as couple's communication becomes bitter - News from southeastern Connecticut - theday.com

Ally the dachshund has chronic pancreatitis thatrequires daily care.

Its special veterinarian-assisted care that her owner is worried might not be available when she needs it most due to the ongoing COVID-19 outbreak.

Shes on strict food and thats the only thing shes allowed. Shes allowed no treats, no human food, no nothingand insulin twice a day, said Marisa Panter. She cant have a different kind of food, the food is bought from a vet office. She cant have a different kind of insulin, and the insulin is bought from a vet office.

Panter and 7-year-old Ally live outside of Kelowna, along with her three-year-old daughter, 13-year-old step-son, her husband, her in-laws, and six pregnant dachshunds that Panter is breeding.

Ally loves all dogs and humans she meets. Shes visited hospitals and retirement homes, bringing joy to residents and patients, and is inseparable from Panters daughter.

Shes probably done 500,000 km in a vehicle, if we go anywhere and were not going to be home for insulin, we have to take her with us, she said

Like most veterinarian clinics, Panters vet clinic has closed its doors to all non-essential visits and has resorted to parking lot pickups for food and medication.

She shares a common concern with many pet owners during this time will she be able to get the adequate care she needs when so many services are being cut back?

If her pancreatitis acts up, she needs to be in a (clinic) for three days on IV, she said. If theres no vets, I watch her die.

Dr. Chris Armstrong, a veterinarian and member of the Canadian Veterinary Medical Associations (CVMA) Council, said the one of the main things pet owners should keep in mind is that vet clinics have been declared essential in many provinces and theres no sign of them shutting down in British Columbia.

READ MORE: B.C. vet stresses need for pet hygiene despite COVID-19 risk being low

READ MORE: More information needed after dogs weak positive COVID-19 test result: expert

It may not be business as usual, but I think certainly pet owners and animal owners should not be afraid that their animals wont be taken care of, she said. Particularly in emergency or urgent situations.

Virtual care options are also starting to become available GoFetch Health recently launched a Canada-wide service that can help pet owners connect with vets to ask questions and get advice on if their animal needs further care.

The CVMA put out a statement on March 24 advising vets on best practices for telemedicine. However, Armstrong said there is a big worry in her industry: running out of medical supplies.

Veterinarians, like human medicine, were running out of masks, were running out of surgical gloves, were running out of personal protection equipment, she said.

Armstrong said that puts limits on things like non-essential surgeries, like a neutering or spaying.

I think thats really one of the biggest limiting factors is: can we access sufficient masks and gloves and gowns to be able to continue service?

When it comes to another common worry, running out of medicine, Armstrong said that hasnt been a problem so far. She urges pet owners to resist hoarding because that would start to affect supply.

For most of the medications, I think certainly the supply chain is still there, she said. Hoarding at least for pet owners goes just as true for medications and products.

Armstrong said people have also been worried about their pets contracting COVID, which she said is very unlikely. Theres also been no proof that humans can contract COVID from their pets.

There has only been two COVID positive dogs, theres been a tremendous number of dogs been tested through IDEX, which is one of our labs, she said. And out of all the testing, its only the two Hong Kong dogs.

However, Armstrong said its worth remembering that pets can carry COVID, much like any other surface.

Dogs, like your pen or a table, could act as what we call a fomite, she said. So, in other words, a COVID positive person kissed their dog on the head, just like if they kissed their pen, could they put the virus on those two objects? And the answer is, yes.

New information comes forward all the time, said Armstrong, and the best thing pet owners can do is stay up to date from reliable sources.

I think that the message to go across is that, if we are patient, if we kind of know that this is a fluid situation, take direction from responsible and reliable sources, she said.

Stay calm and be nice.

cloe.logan@pqbnews.com

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B.C. veterinarians want to smooth the fur of COVID-19-worried pet owners - Coast Mountain News

Horse racing at Golden Gate Fields, Albany, California. Photo: Noah Salzman CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

A major US study will explore the effects of a combination of two drugs that may be contributing to catastrophic injuries and cardiac issues in racehorses.

Researchers at the University of Pennsylvanias New Bolton Center, part of the School of Veterinary Medicine, will carry out a multidisciplinary study exploring combined usage of furosemide, commonly known as Lasix, and bisphosphonates in horses.

It will be the first comprehensive analysis of the two drugs that, when used concurrently could be capable of diminishing bone integrity and compromising cardiac function in racehorses. These effects have the potential to contribute to catastrophic injuries on the racetrack.

The beauty of this study is that it will use a multi-disciplinary approach to assess the interaction between these two drugs that we know are administered to racehorses, says Dr Mary Robinson, assistant professor of veterinary pharmacology and director of the Equine Pharmacology Laboratory at the New Bolton Center.

By coupling our state-of-the-art imaging technologies with the scope of expertise among the other investigators on this project, we will be able to produce solid, unbiased data that will address some of the unknowns surrounding the use of these medications.

Nearly 85 percent of racehorses in the United States receive Lasix as a preventive therapy for a condition called exercise-induced pulmonary hemorrhage (EPIH), or bleeding into the lungs.

Also used in human medicine to treat heart conditions, the drug is known to cause a short-term loss of calcium and increase the risk of fractures in human patients.

But because horses can quickly recover from a calcium deficit, Lasix alone is unlikely to be the root cause for catastrophic, racing-related breakdowns which, according to The Jockey Club Equine Injury Database, occur at a rate of about 1.6 per 1000 starts.

A team comprised of 13 researchers from the vet school will explore the largely unknown effects of a class of drugs called bisphosphonates, particularly when being used with Lasix.

Intended to preserve the integrity of bone, bisphosphonates are commonly used in elderly patients to treat osteoporosis. When administered to young, growing animals, however, the drug may have adverse effects by preventing bone from properly adapting to the forces applied during training such as those experienced when a horse is at a gallop.

Because bisphosphonates can linger in the bone for at least one year after the administration of a single dose, there is a heightened chance for interaction with Lasix in horses who are undergoing training.

Bisphosphonates have also been associated with increased risks of heart conditions in humans, including atrial fibrillation, ventricular arrhythmias, and alterations in heart rate variability.

The research team will cross-examine other facets related to the use of these substances in racehorses, including pioneering new understandings of advanced imaging systems such as New Bolton Centers standing robotic computed tomography (CT) and, in collaboration with Dr Mathieu Spriet, from the University of California, Davis, a new standing positron emission tomography (PET) system.

The system, which is identical to the one already in place at Santa Anita Park, will make the New Bolton Center the second veterinary hospital in the world to implement the use of an equine PET scanner.

This amazing imaging technology is going to be really instrumental in helping us assess the effects or lack thereof of these drugs on the bone, Robinson says.

It is the most sensitive technique that we have, from an imaging perspective, to look in detail at a horses legs and see whats going on metabolically.

The New Bolton Centers Kathryn Wulster says the technology will enable researchers to definitively note any changes in bone turnover in areas as precise as two square millimeters.

But the real beauty of using both the PET scan and our robotic CT system in tandem is that we can confidently identify any present morphologic or shape abnormalities within the bone that we know could predispose a horse to fracture, Wulster says.

Together, theyre going to give us a remarkable amount of information about what is or isnt going on in these horses.

The research team will also be accumulating findings into an innovative, data-driven platform that will be invaluable to objectively assess national trends in racehorse related injuries.

Researchers at the vet school will also explore Extracellular Vesicle Cores (EVs) in blood or other samples to detect illicit use of bisphosphonates, which are presently undetectable in the blood of a horse after 30 days.

EVs are membrane-enclosed nanoparticles released from all cell types and play an integral role in intercellular communication. Because they possess tissue-specific characteristics representative of the cells in which they came from, they hold the potential to provide non-invasive, rapid diagnostic solutions to test for the presence of illegitimate drug use.

Dr Andrew Hoffman, dean of Veterinary Medicine and principal investigator of the EV Core Facility, describes the field of EV research as a vastly promising and explosive area of study.

By harnessing the unique communicative power of EVs, we hope to redefine how we can utilize blood samples in order to proactively safeguard the health and well-being of these tremendous athletes, he says.

Beyond detecting illegitimate substance use, these biomarkers also offer the means of identifying otherwise indiscernible, but significant, changes in the horses biological health that could serve as warning signs of an increased risk for catastrophic injury.

Robinson adds: Our hope is to eventually harness the information carried in these vesicles to develop a hand-held, stall-side diagnostic tool that could be used on race day to make sure horses are healthy enough to compete safely, as well as by trainers in the field to continuously evaluate any changes in their horses well-being, and when additional veterinary care may be needed.

The study is expected to take two years to complete.

It will, says Robinson, provide the most comprehensive data available to assess if the use of these substances may or may not be contributing to catastrophic injuries on the track.

At the end of the day, were dedicated to ensuring we are doing everything in our power to provide owners, breeders, and trainers with sound, unbiased insights to keep their horses safe.

Robinson is an assistant professor of veterinary pharmacology and director of the Equine Pharmacology Laboratory at the University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine.

Additional investigators on the study include Dr Kyla Ortved, Dr Cristobal Navas de Solis, Dr Claire Underwood, Dr Virginia Reef, Dr Darko Stefanovski, Dr Rachel Derita, Dr Joanne Haughan, Dr Youwen You, Dr Jinwen Chen and Dr Zibin Jiang, all with the universitys veterinary school.

This study is supported in part by Roy and Gretchen Jackson, George and Julia Strawbridge, and the Pennsylvania State Horse Racing Commission.

In other news, the board the Racing Medication and Testing Consortium (RMTC) has approved the funding of an unrelated study on bisphosphonates through its Tactical Research Grant Program. The research will be conducted at Cornell University under the direction of Dr Heidi Reesink.

This study is an important first step in answering questions about the prevalence and effect of bisphosphonates in the training and racing population, so that we can refine our strategies in protecting racehorse bone health, RMTC executive director Dr Mary Scollay says.

The RMTC consists of 23 racing industry stakeholders and organizations that represent Thoroughbred, Standardbred, American Quarter Horse and Arabian racing.

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Study to explore whether a drug combination is harming horse bone health - Horsetalk

SYDNEY, N.S.

Veterinary care is now being deemed an essential service in Nova Scotia during the COVID-19 pandemic

Chief medical officer of health, Dr. Robert Strang, has asked for the province's Health Protection Act to be amended to include veterinarians.

Veterinarians have been asking the province to ensure their clinics can stay open during the COVID-19 outbreak to deal with sick and injured animals.

When Nova Scotia declared a state of emergency in an effort to reduce the spread of the virus, veterinary medicine wasnt listed as an essential service.

Even before Premier Stephen McNeil announced the state of emergency, the Nova Scotia Veterinary Medical Association had directed the approximately 100 animal hospitals and clinics it represents including 13 in Cape Breton to take measures to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

The association says veterinarians in the province are trained in epidemiology and herd health, so they have been quick to implement protocols to reduce the spread of infection.

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Health Protection Act in Nova Scotia to be amended to include veterinary services - Cape Breton Post

IRON RANGE Veterinary offices across the state are forced to make temporary changes to their operations to help keep their staff and their clients safe during the coronavirus crisis.

Dr. David Kalinowski, a veterinarian for 31 years and owner of Mesabi Animal Hospital in Hibbing, told the Tribune Press on Monday that following a recommendation from the Minnesota Board of Veterinary Medicine his office and other veterinary clinics and hospitals are admitting animals from outside their offices to limit human interaction between clients and their staff.

The staff at Mesabi Animal Hospital in addition to Kalinowski, includes Dr. Molly Feiro, along with four veterinary technicians, two technician assistants and two receptionists.

Clients are being asked to call the veterinary office from their vehicles when they arrive for their pets appointment as the lobby and exam area are temporarily closed to pet owners. The veterinary staff for now is also doing intakes and exchanging information about the animals condition over the phone.

Clients are asked to place their animal in a pet carrier to make it easier for the veterinary staff to get the animal from the parking lot to inside the office. Once they are done treating the animal, it then will be returned to the owner outside while practicing social distancing.

I have to say people have been very understanding and its gone well, Kalinowski said.

Elective procedures for veterinary offices are also suspended at this time, per orders from the governors office. In the meantime, the Minnesota Board of Veterinary medicine has made an extension on vaccinations, so a one-year vaccination is now good for 18 months.

Kalinowski said animals that are ill and emergency cases are still being seen.

Emergency surgeries such as tumor removals or to treat lacerations are also allowed to continue.

Flea and tick preventatives are recommended to start in mid-April, so theres still a little time before those products are needed as well.

Dr. Harvey Aluni, of Northland Animal Hospital in Virginia, also shared his thoughts about the importance of keeping his staff and clients safe to help prevent the spread of the coronavirus (COVID-19).

There are 14 of us working inside Northland Animal Hospital and if anyone gets sick and tests for Covid 19, we may have to close completely for a while, Aluni wrote in an email to the Tribune Press. We are trying to keep our clients safe.

A veterinarian with nearly 50 years of experience, Aluni founded Northland Animal Hospital in 1973. When he opened his practice, his staff consisted of his mother, who was the receptionist and one assistant. The present staff consists of four veterinarians: Dr. Brian Aluni, who is Harvey Alunis son, along with Dr. Abby Pontinen and Dr. Valerie Wright.

Northland Animal Hospital is also temporarily limited to providing care for sick animals, along with treating emergencies and conducting emergency surgeries and euthanasias.

The inside office and exam room are off limits to clients, to avoid close contact between humans.

Clients are asked to call from the parking lot when theyve arrived for their pets appointment. Questions and concerns about the pets condition will be addressed over the phone.

A member of the veterinary staff will then bring the pet inside the office to be cared for and return it to the owner outside once its ready to go home.

Harvey Aluni said clients may also stand outside the door of the building, provided they stay at least six feet away, keeping with social distancing.

Northland Animal Hospital will continue to comply with the most recent directives from the governor and the board, while noting the situation is changing day by day.

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Veterinary offices take measures to protect staff and public - Hibbing Daily Tribune

Event

123rd annual meeting, Oct. 24-30, Providence, Rhode Island

The meeting, held jointly with the American Association of Veterinary Laboratory Diagnosticians (see story), drew nearly 1,300 attendees. Dr. Juan Lubroth, chief veterinary officer for the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization, presented the keynote address Understanding and Overcoming the Challenges for the Control of African Swine Fever: A Global Threat in Your Backyard.

USAHA Medal of DistinctionDr. Belinda Thompson (Cornell 81), Ithaca, New York. Dr. Thompson has served as an assistant clinical professor in the Department of Population Medicine and Diagnostic Sciences at Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine since 2002. Prior to that, Dr. Thompson was in large animal practice in Pine City, New York. She was recognized for her broad impact on the association, local producers, and veterinarians and at a national level.

USAHA Federal Partnership AwardDr. Barbara Porter-Spalding (Michigan State 91), Raleigh, North Carolina. Dr. Porter-Spalding is a senior staff officer with the U.S. Department of Agriculture Animal and Plant Health Inspection Services Veterinary Services. She was honored for her collaborative efforts in training and exercise programs as lead on the VS Training and Exercise Plan and for her efforts toward improving emergency preparedness.

APHIS Administrators AwardDr. Beate Crossley, Davis, California. A 1994 veterinary graduate of Free University of Berlin in Germany, Dr. Crossley is an associate professor and virologist at the University of California-Davis California Animal Health and Food Safety Laboratory.

National Assembly AwardDr. Susan Keller (Kansas State 85), Mandan, North Dakota. Dr. Keller is the North Dakota state veterinarian. She was recognized for her leadership and tireless commitment to animal health.

Thirty-one resolutions were approved and can be viewed at usaha.org/usaha-resolutions.

Dr. Martin Zaluski, Helena, Montana, president; Dr. Charles Hatcher, Nashville, Tennessee, president-elect; Dr. Dustin Oedekoven, Pierre, South Dakota, first vice president; Steve Rommereim, Alcester, South Dakota, second vice president; Dr. Manoel Tamassia, Trenton, New Jersey, third vice president; Dr. Annette Jones, Sacramento, California, treasurer; and Dr. Kristin Haas, Montpelier, Vermont, immediate past president

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United States Animal Health Association | American Veterinary Medical Association - American Veterinary Medical Association

Veterinary medicine is an applied science. We take available research information and use it to make the best possible decisions in real world settings. This can be very challenging. But the entire process by which we try to expand the knowledge base in our field is fascinating in its own respect.

We rely heavily on statistics. On a basic level, I think this is very intuitive. What is a veterinarian, or a physician, or an educator, or an engineer, or a builder, or a farmer, but a keen observer in their field? Each respective profession can observe that treating a condition a certain way is more likely to achieve the desired result. Recording observations over a long period of time allows us to make accurate predictions, for example, that 90% of cows with gangrenous mastitis will die, and create benchmarks, for example, that incidence of displaced abomasum in fresh cows should be less than 5%.

Sometimes, though, there are more complicated questions for instance, we may observe the incidence of fresh cow DA, but now we want to know why cows get DAs so that we can do something about it. These more complicated questions also require more sophisticated methods of analysis.

A few years ago, we did a study in our practice. I would like to use it as an example to demonstrate the nature of science.

I was talking to my partner, Dr. Bill Croushore, one day and asking him what criteria he uses to determine whether or not a cow with a displaced abomasum was a good candidate for surgery. There are many identified risk factors for poor outcomes following surgery mastitis and lameness at time of surgery, for example, are poor prognostic indicators. That doesnt mean the surgery wont go well. It may mean that those cows are likely to be culled because of concurrent issues.

Science does not answer all the questions at once. As a matter of fact, in order to create a valid study, the investigators need to be very clear and specific about the question they are setting out to answer.

We wondered whether or not there might be a reliable way to quickly determine how a cow with a displacement would fare following surgery. Dr. Bill designed and authored a study about the use of a simple cow-side blood test as a prognostic indicator for outcome of LDA surgery.

There are some weak similarities between diabetic ketoacidosis in humans and ketosis because of negative energy balance experienced by lactating dairy cows. A human meter for a type of ketone known as beta-hydroxybutyrate is available commercially, and research has also validated the use of this meter for ketosis in cattle. This was the simple blood test we chose to use. It requires a few drops of blood, costs about $6, and gives a result in about 10 seconds. We felt that spending $6 for prognostic indication before investing several hundred dollars was worthwhile.

The first step in creating your study is to clearly define what you are trying to answer. In our case, we wanted to know whether or not we could use a BHB level to evaluate our surgical candidates. Simple question, right?

Now it starts getting more complicated. Next, we formulate what we call the null hypothesis. This is usually the opposite of what we think or are trying to prove, and it will probably never be stated in the final research paper. Our null hypothesis would have been something like, There is no relationship between the measured BHB value and the outcome, measured by 30-day survivability, following LDA surgery.

The goal of our study, then, is to allow us to reject this null hypothesis and prove that there is, in fact, a relationship between BHB and surgical outcome. Remember how I said we rely on statistics?

Statistical analysis of the data can be done in many ways, but in our case, it will give a value known as p. This is a probability. Science does not deal in absolutes. The p value is the probability that we can correctly reject the null hypothesis. By convention, we are willing to accept a 5% chance of error in rejecting the null hypothesis. This corresponds to a p value of 0.05 or less (5% expressed as a decimal).

In other words, if our study is designed correctly and if we use the correct statistical analysis, and p<0.05, we can reject the null hypothesis and state that BHB is, in fact, related to surgical outcome. This is referred to as statistical significance. If the p value is <0.01 or even 0.001, the relationship is even stronger.

A familiar example of this type of significance can be found on the milk you buy in the store. A few years ago, some co-ops and dairies decided they would require their producers to produce milk without the use of rBST. They advertised the milk as such.

The advertising was seen as harmful to the sale of milk that was produced using rBST and so following research on the topic, the non-rBST milk was required by law to put a statement on their labeling saying that research had shown no significant difference in milk from rBST and non-rBST treated cows. That does not mean that somebody eye-balled them and they seemed pretty similar. It means specifically that in all the parameters they tested, they were unable to reject the null hypothesis that the milks were no different.

Moving through our study, we had to establish a surgical protocol. We collected blood samples, recorded physical exam data on our patients, and decided what follow-up treatments they would receive. To be included in the study, the cows had to meet the criteria, and they had to be treated according to the protocol to eliminate confounding of data because of inconsistencies.

After 30 days, we called to follow up and see how the cows were doing and if they were still in the herd.

One of the challenges we face is sample size, which is denoted by the letter n. Statistical significance is affected by how many test subjects you use. For example, if you ran a study and looked at only two cows, your results would not mean much. By looking at larger groups of animals, you can minimize the variation because of an individual animal and get a truer reflection of the population. Our goal was to get about 150 animals (n=150). It took a while.

In the end, we went through all the work and found that there is, indeed, a useful relationship between BHB and surgical outcome, but the p value does not indicate what that relationship is. One of my favorite things about our study and its design was something we never expected.

The basic statistics allowed us to confirm the relationship we were looking for. We had a lot of help from several professional biostatisticians who co-authored our study. Remember all the data I said we collected? They were able to use that data to characterize the relationship.

In short, we were banking on a higher BHB value being an indication of fat storage in the liver and a poor prognostic indicator, and assuming that lower BHB values were better surgical candidates. The data showed otherwise.

Lower BHB values indicated a poorer prognosis and we speculate that this is because of more long-standing conditions, such as DAs that had not been found as quickly, and cows that were no longer able to mount the appropriate ketone response.

The statisticians were able to suggest a useful cut point for BHB (i.e., if the BHB is above a certain level, the data suggest this cow is a reasonable surgical candidate, and vice versa).

Such is the nature of science. Because the study was properly formulated and analyzed, we were able to confirm with statistical certainty what we suspected, but also tipped off to where our expectation was not correct.

In preparing the final version that was published in Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association, Dr. Bill did a literature search and framed our study in light of the available scientific information to date.

Since its publication, our study has been cited a number of times in other research papers. By asking the right questions and performing thorough and meticulous investigation, our profession is able to build on itself, moving forward in small increments.

On the contrary, overreaching where information is scarce and leaping forward based on anecdotal information and consensus can be very problematic but thats a topic for next month.

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Veterinary medicine and the nature of science | Columns - Daily American Online