StemCell Therapy

SNOQUALMIE, Wash., Nov. 12, 2019 /PRNewswire/ --The Washington State Veterinary Medical Association (WSVMA) held the Pacific Northwest Veterinary Conference in Tacoma, Wash., Sept. 27 Sept. 29. Veterinarians, veterinary staff, and citizens were honored at WSVMA's award ceremonies on Friday, Sept. 27.

Dr. Christine Wilford, veterinarian at Island Cats Veterinary Hospital in Mercer Island, Wash., received the 2019 Veterinarian of the Year Award. The award is presented in recognition of an outstanding career in veterinary medicine and contributions made to their practice, stakeholders, and other service directly benefiting their community. Dr. Wilford is a consummate, caring, and dedicated professional who created the national model to address the free-roaming cat reproduction and resulting kitten mortality through her founding of the Feral Cat Spay/Neuter Project, based in Lynnwood, Wash. She also served the Western Washington veterinary community through service in the Puget Sound Veterinary Medical Association as president and chair of their long-time, high-quality continuing education program.

Dr. Bryan K. Slinker, interim Provost of Washington State University (WSU) and former Dean of WSU's College of Veterinary Medicine, received the 2019 Distinguished Achievement award. The award was presented to recognize Dr. Slinker's dedication and outstanding contributions to the veterinary profession and Washington veterinarians through multiple accomplishments, including the work of the Paul G. Allen School to eliminate rabies by 2030, growing the College through new departments and capital projects, enhancing training for veterinary students by developing partnerships with humane societies, and establishing a One Health partnership with Univ. of Washington to provide side-by-side healthcare for people with pets who are experiencing homelessness.

The Clinical Simulation Center Team at Washington State University College of Veterinary Medicine was awarded the 2019 Faculty Member of the Year Award. The Center is led by Dr. Julie Cary and team members Dr. Robert Keegan and Lethea Russell, LVT. The Clinical Simulation Center includes experiential, simulation training in clinical communication, basic surgical skills, anesthesia and critical care activities, and ultrasound and endoscopy diagnostic skills.

Jess Hanson, licensed veterinary technician at Olympia Veterinary Specialists The Cancer Center, received the 2019 Distinguished Veterinary Staff Award. Mr. Hanson is recognized for his outstanding animal handling skills, exceptional technical skills, compassionate and educational interactions with animal families and staff, and his unparalleled high level of staff leadership.

Veterinarians, technicians and staff from the organization Feral Cats Spay/Neuter Project (FCS/NP), Lynnwood, Wash., were presented the 2019 WSVMA Humane Animal Welfare Award in recognition of their exemplary service to the organization and the community. FCS/NPwas the first free standing clinic that is dedicated to providing free spay/neuter surgery for free-roaming cats in a safe, high quality, humane environment.

Jay Jones, long-tenured professional at Hill's Pet Nutrition in Kent, Wash., received the 2019 Allied Industry Partner Award in recognition of his quiet, yet dedicated and faithful service to Washington veterinarians and their patients.

The WSVMA is a statewide, not-for-profit, professional organization for the benefit of veterinary medicine. The WSVMA has over 1,800 members, representing veterinarians, veterinary students and a broad spectrum of veterinary practice. The Association's mission is to "advance the cause of veterinary medicine to better the lives of those touched by it." Visit the WSVMA Web site, http://www.wsvma.org, to learn more about the association, veterinary medicine, and animal care.

Link:
Washington State's Veterinary Association Announces Annual Award Winners - NBC Right Now

Tell a swine or poultry producer that their animals are sick and the first question they ask is, How?

Thanks to researchers at the University of Pennsylvanias School of Veterinary Medicine (Penn Vet), producers can now get an answer to that pressing question fast or even stop disease from encroaching past their property lines altogether.

Run by Penn Vets Dr Meghann Pierdon, the programme relies on geospatial information systems (GIS) to pinpoint current and emerging disease hotspots, share information about outbreaks with producers, and strategise community approaches to control potentially devastating diseases. Pierdon uses the GIS data to update a secure website with a map that illustrates, in near-real time regions, where pigs or birds have tested for disease and identify areas that may be at risk. The database is updated quarterly to be sure everything is accurate and communication is open to producers.

In 2012, nearly a quarter of the swine monitored by Penn Vets swine disease mapping programme, called the Pennsylvania Regional Control Program (PRCP), were on farms testing positive for disease. Since participating in the PRCP, which is operated by Pierdon and funded by the Pennsylvania Pork Producers Council, that number has declined to 15 percent; 17 percent if Ohio and Indiana are included.

As a result of its success, industry participation in the PRCP has doubled to include more than 100 farmer, hauler, feed and genetics companies and veterinarian members across the Commonwealth.

The idea is to provide usable data so farmers can take the information and make informed production decisions.

For example, we can set up protected zones where we only want negative pigs, says Pierdon. Producers can then make appropriate decisions based on that information, such as, being careful if buying feeders from infected areas or preventing a feed truck that was on a farm with active disease from going directly to their farm to help cut the disease spread."

Several years ago, the first swine disease Pierdon tracked was porcine respiratory and reproductive syndrome (PRRS). Today, an emerging pathogen, porcine epidemic diarrhoea virus (PED), has caught her attention.

Most of the GIS data is drawn from Pennsylvania farms but, since neither commerce nor disease heed state lines, she also gathers information from Maryland, Delaware, and New Jersey.

On the pig side, a vet or producer fills in a template with basic data like the farms address, where the pigs came from and where they will go next.

The PRCP has been instrumental in helping the industry understand the scope and impact of this new PED disease and in implementing the best biosecurity measures to stop the spread of the deadly virus, she said.

While it is endemic, PRRS is preventable, Pierdon says. The idea is to decrease the number of farms that are impacted by an outbreak. Then a producer can clean it up and not have to worry that it will come back, she adds.

Most recently, Pierdons GIS mapping has played an integral part in safeguarding Pennsylvania poultry farms from the recent outbreak of Coryza in the Commonwealth. Similar to a head cold in humans, coryza is a bacterial contagious disease of poultry that presents with secretion of mucus deposits in the mouth and throat. The implications for production on farms whose birds have contracted the disease, however, are serious.

It cropped up in December 2018 and progressed in number of cases until late Spring, says Pierdon. While it slowed this summer, she is noticing and mapping an uptick in the number of cases now.

In addition to providing on-farm outreach and support, Penn Vet also works with federal and state agencies. While government tracks foreign disease threats like foot-and-mouth, Pierdons focus is on monitoring diseases that loom as a threat to farmers but are not reportable to the government. It really is all about improving and implementing biosecurity, she says, adding that the data she gathers helps agencies understand how industry is structured.

There have also been what Pierdon calls nibbles of interest in applying her GIS programme to help safeguard other agricultural industries, mainly aquaculture and honeybees.

No matter where the system is deployed, the main objective is to decrease the amount of disease spread and give producers control over safeguarding their farms or operations.

Were not just looking to respond to the disease in the moment, but ultimately, provide biosecurity solutions that can protect our animals, our people, and our environment from the next big, bad bug.

Excerpt from:
How does geospatial mapping protect Pennsylvania's pigs from disease outbreaks? - The Pig Site

An educational webinar for veterinarians about CBD products and use of cannabidiol (CBD) products for pets with various medical conditions was presented by Dr. Zac Pilossoph, chief medical officer for Cansultants, Inc.

Sponsored by the National Cannabis Industry Association (NCIA) on its YouTube channel, Dr. Pilossoph also discussed the status of medical cannabis recommendations for veterinarians in the U.S. The presentation was titled, The Cannabis Pet Industry: Whats to Know and Whats for Show.

The presentation started off with a primer on the endocannabinoid system, which Pilossoph said, should be thought of as a homeostatic regulator system found in humans and chordates, or animals with a spineincluding animals such as horses, birds, and reptiles that often are overlooked when CBD treatment for pets is considered.

Dr. Pilossoph commented that one of the reasons he took up education around cannabis-based medicines and their use in veterinary treatment was because he felt frustration from not having learned about the endocannabinoid system earlier, and the lack of instruction available to medical students and doctors.

I felt frustrated, how Id never learned this in school, he explained.

Going on to cite published studies about the effects of CBD (and cannabis-based medicines), Pilossoph said there have been several studies, going back to the 1980s, that show cannabis had beneficial effects for several conditions including glaucoma, inflammation, and nausea, as well as having proven anti-bacterial properties.

In veterinary medicine, studies of cannabis- or hemp-based treatments are hard to find, but a wealth of anecdotal evidence has presented, as pet owners attest to the results they have seen when self-treating pets with CBD.

Pilossoph noted that such a trend among pet owners, by itself, should encourage more clinical studies to be conducted to identify the beneficial components in CBD (and other plant compounds). He added that a there have been studies conducted on dogs that indicated CBD could provide anti-inflammatory benefits for osteoarthritis and seizures.

Other plant compounds that work in synergy with cannabinoids create the entourage effect, Pilossoph said further. Terpenes and flavonoids, he said, seem to enhance the effects of cannabinoids in cannabis- and hemp-based medications.

The entourage effect exists, he said, which would suggest that full-spectrum formulations might provide greater therapeutic benefits.

Pilossoph hoped that product manufacturers would harness the power of raw hemp, as a resource for full spectrum CBD extract that would also contain only trace amounts of THC, or tetrahydrocannabinol, the psychoactive compound in cannabis. Hemp contains less than 0.3 percent levels of THC.

He made the point that while products might vary between human and veterinary, the endocannabinoid system functions similarly for all species. Products labeled pet CBD, he explained, contained the same CBD extract as what is used in human products. Variations in formulations, he said, typically had more to do with ingredients added to make treats and tinctures palatable to animals.

He specifically mentioned veterinary CBD tincture PetCBD as the only formulation that he knew of that had been developed by a veterinarian, Dr. Tim Shu. Dr. Shu, who is no longer actively practicing, is the founder and chief executive officer at PetCBD.

However, Pilossoph stressed that he could not recommend specific products and that his information should be considered strictly educational.

The American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) has issued a three-page statement outlining its position on veterinarians recommendations for CBD use with pets. Pilossoph summed it up by saying that the association suggested avoiding making recommendations for CBD use until the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) establishes product quality control regulations.

Pilossoph offered a basic, stepwise outline to help chose CBD products for pets:

Dr. Pilossoph also warned pet owners to avoid giving pets edible treats (with or without CBD) produced for humans mostly due to ingredients in human products that might be harmful for animals, like chocolate or artificial sweetener Xylitol. He singled out Xylitol as being potentially fatal for pets.

Continued here:
Veterinary Webinar Provides Education about CBD Products for Pets - CBD Today

The World Organization for Animal Healthrecently announcedthat 25% of the worlds pigs are expected to die from African swine fever (ASF), a highly contagious disease that causes hemorrhages in pigs. ASF has not yet made its way to the United States.

Dr. John Deen, a professor in theCollege of Veterinary Medicineat the University of Minnesota reports, that African Swine Fever has caused a major realignment of animal agriculture. It has spread throughout China and neighboring countries, resulting in less pigs and pork. More than 60% of the worlds pigs were in these countries, with pork being the preferred meat for consumption. Estimates of a 50% reduction in pigs in Southeast Asia are due to pigs killed by the disease, as well as farmers liquidating their herds out of fear of infection.

According to Deen, rebuilding the swine herd will not only take time but a transformation in the ways that pigs are reared.

The University of Minnesota's College of Veterinary Medicine is helping the Chinese industry identify methods to protect and expand their herds.

Read the rest here:
Why we need to be prepared for African Swine Fever - Jill Lopez

Meiqing Shi motioned toward the window of his first floor office, pointing to the trees and plants outside of the University of Marylands veterinary medicine center. Fungi, he said, is all around out there.

In the dirt here, in the park, the veterinary medicine professor said. [Its] everywhere.

For many, fungus isnt dangerous the immune system can kill it or it might just sleep in the lungs. But for those with a compromised immune system, such as the elderly or people with HIV, fungus introduced to the body can cause an infection and potentially be fatal.

Shi is part of a team at this university that discovered a mechanism in the liver that can inhibit the spread of fungi in the bloodstream. They uncovered that cells in the liver, called Kupffer Cells, can engulf the fungal cells and filter it from the bloodstream.

The liver is already known to be an organ that supports digestion and metabolism, said Donglei Sun, the first author on the paper, which was published last month. But scientists in his field are also beginning to recognize the organs importance to the immune system.

Past research suggested the liver can filter bacteria and viruses, Sun said. But the teams recent discovery proves that the liver can also engulf fungi.

Whether its coming from the lung and disseminating into the blood or if its systemic and just already in the blood, the ability for the liver to kind of clear everything is just really important, said Ashley Strickland, a doctoral student and member of the research team.

[Read more: UMD researchers identify liver cells that could be key for fighting fungal infections]

Sun said that the use of intravital microscopy was key to identifying this liver capability. Rather than using a static slide, this tool allows scientists to see the cells in motion, using a window implanted in the live animal to image it in real time.

We are using a unique technique, and we are able to show exactly how the cells are moving, how the cells are interacting with the pathogen, Sun said.

The researchers were able to watch cell activity in a live mouse that they put to sleep. A supplementary video attached to the research paper showed that the Kupffer Cells captured most fungal cells.

Similar experiments might be conducted in-vitro in a culture dish or test tube which can be somewhat artificial, Strickland said. Intravital microscopy, though, offers something more realistic, she said.

You dont really get to see the dynamic and the kinetics and how it really is, Strickland said. You can theorize and you can interpret but you dont actually know.

[Read more: Takoma Park gas station becomes the first in the country to go all-electric]

Strickland observes the effects of fungal infections in mice. When theyre infected, their brains become dome-like because of all of the inflammation, she said

Cryptococcus neoformans, one of the fungi the team researched, targets the brain, she said. And once it makes its way there, it can spread quickly.

That inflammation is just not good for the brain as an organ, she said. If its not treated, its I think 100 percent fatal.

Now that the team has discovered the livers ability to fight fungal infections, Shi said the next step is figuring out how to harness that power to help protect people who are at risk and have weakened immune systems.

We know that theres a mechanism there, Shi said. How can we take advantage [and] use the mechanism for defense?

View original post here:
UMD researchers identify liver cells that could be key for fighting fungal infections - The Diamondback

The $410 million global Veterinary Software Market is set to emerge rapidly, building synergies between IT, internal medicine and animal welfare, notes Ayesha Salma in the new report, research analyst at OGAnalysis.

Management suite of animal hospitals and veterinary clinics are increasingly seeking different Veterinary Software products to ease the task of maintaining electronic medical records, treatment procedures, appointments and other hospital administration protocols.

Huge research and development investments across veterinary software markets including development of innovative solutions and IT services will shape the medium term outlook of veterinary software market. For instance, IDEXX Laboratories, an American veterinary diagnostics company invests around $120 million on R&D activities.

Request Sample @ https://www.oganalysis.com/sample/216518

Growing incidence rates of diseases among livestock, growth in pet animal owners and welfare societies will be the key contributors to global Veterinary Software Market size over the forecast period to 2025.

On the other hand, high costs involved in deployment of veterinary software and shortage of skilled veterinary personnel act as veterinary software market restraints.

User-friendly veterinary software products witness huge attention from vendors and consumers

A significant volume of veterinary software consumers and vendors are depicting interest in user-friendly software products. Practice management software modules with cloud-based delivery mode hold major market value amid benefits of single platform to access medical information by researchers, practitioners and patients. Major companies involved in cloud based solutions are IDEXX Laboratories, VETport, ezyVet Limited and Carestream.

Further, marketing strategies practiced by cloud-based PMS vendors like VETport such as free trials & zero cost installation are penetrating markets with relative ease.

Browse Veterinary Software Market Research Report @ https://www.oganalysis.com/industry-reports/216518/veterinary-software-market

Ongoing Strategic partnerships and collaborations with research organizations and universities

Veterinary software companies are primarily focusing on developing joint ventures and collaborations with research universities for diversifying their product portfolio.

In July 2019, Simulations Plus, Inc. has entered into a new 5 years Research Collaboration Agreement with the USFDA Center for Veterinary Medicine.

In May 2018, Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine signs partnership agreement with ezyVet to use the cloud-hosted veterinary PMS solution.

Top 10 companies contributing towards market growth include Animal Intelligence Software, Brittons Wise Computers, ClienTrax, Carestream, FirmCloud Corporation, Henry Schein, IDEXX Laboratories, Patterson Companies, Timeless Veterinary Systems, and Vetter Software.

Rapid adaptation of veterinary software digital equipment is observed across hospitals, clinics and laboratories

End-users holding the major market share including hospitals, clinics and laboratories are increasingly adapting diverse ranges of digital software equipments to enhance diagnosis and support animal health programmes. For instance, Idexx Laboratories provides Catalyst blood chemistry equipment, VetLyte Electrolyte Analyzer, ProCyte CBC, UA Analyzer, SNAPShot, and SNAPPro to hospitals in North Dakota and the US.

Request for Special Discount on Veterinary Software Market report @ https://www.oganalysis.com/discount/216518

Government animal welfare policymakers support veterinary software market growth

Government animal welfare authorities are supporting the veterinarians and companies through incentives and stringent guidelines for promotion of veterinary software globally, which is anticipated to contribute significantly to the market growth.

World Society for the Protection of Animals (WSPA) works with the veterinary community to support animal health by providing funds for the development of high quality veterinary software equipments.

On regional scale, Americas and EU stand as market frontiers

The surging pet care market value and rising per capita animal healthcare expenditure across Americas and EU influences the veterinary software market growth. For instance, In US, the pet owners spend an average of about $140 per month on their pets with US pet insurance industry worth estimated to be nearly $2 billion by 2022.

As of 2018, an estimated 80 million European households owned a pet with anticipated market value for pet care products reaching 5.3 billion Euros, with United Kingdom as the peer market holders.

Further, presence of large number of trainers and practitioners across these regions contribute to long term market opportunity. According to the American Veterinary Medical Association, about 113,394 veterinarians are present in North America.

Related Reports

Veterinary Vaccines Market: https://www.oganalysis.com/industry-reports/217757/veterinary-vaccines-market

Veterinary Surgical Instruments Market: https://www.oganalysis.com/industry-reports/216519/veterinary-surgical-instruments-market

Animal Health Market: https://www.oganalysis.com/industry-reports/217681/animal-health-market

Small Animal Imaging Market: https://www.oganalysis.com/industry-reports/216476/small-animal-imaging-market

About OG Analysis:

OG Analysis has been a trusted research partner for 10+ years delivering most reliable analysis, information and innovative solutions. OG Analysis is one of the leading players in market research industry serving 980+ companies across multiple industry verticals. Our core client centric approach comprehends client requirements and provides actionable insights that enable users to take informed decisions.

Contact Us:

Anil Kumar

Phone: +91-7337 01 3757

Email: [emailprotected]

Website: https://www.oganalysis.com

Follow Us on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/og-analysis/

See more here:
Veterinary Software Market Size is projected to reach $728 million by 2025 | OGAnalysis - The Denton Chronicle

I'm not really a gambler, but I would be willing to wager you would be hard pressed these days to attend a swine industry meeting and not hear the words African swine fever. It's definitely top of mind for the global pork industry as it rightly should be. Scientists are now estimating that a quarter of the world's pigs could be wiped out from the highly contagious hemorrhagic viral disease.

However, when one of our industry's leading researchers on ASF transmission in feed took a break from discussing the virus at South Dakota State University's Swine Day to focus on another one that is concerning her, my ears perked up.

Pseudorabies is another virus Megan Niederwerder is allowed to work with at Kansas State University's biosafety level 3 facility and the assistant professor of diagnostic medicine and pathobiology in the College of Veterinary Medicine, says it's a variant strain of Chinese pseudorabies, HeN1, that has her worried.

"Historically, China has had classic pseudorabies which is what previously circulated in the United States until it was eradicated from U.S. commercial swine in 2004. But since 2011, a variant strain of pseudorabies emerged in China which seems to have higher morbidity, higher mortality," Niederwerder says. "They also detected it in herds that were vaccinated with the Bartha-K61 strain, which had historically protected pigs against pseudorabies."

In 2013, one of the first publications came out documenting this new variant strain of Chinese pseudorabies and soon after it emerged in about nine provinces in China. A more-recent publication shows that the variant strains can now be found in more than 20 provinces.

"The variant strain of pseudorabies virus seems to be spreading throughout China and the Bartha vaccine strain does not seem to be as protective against this variant strain of Chinese pseudorabies," Niederwerder says.

Niederwerder says there are risks that this new pseudorabies may be introduced into other parts of the world where nave pigs would be highly susceptible to disease and that there are concerns that pseudorabies has the potential to be considered a zoonotic pathogen.

"Pseudorabies is a herpesvirus. It can affect dogs and cats, many different mammalian species, but historically humans have been considered resistant to infection with sporadic cases reported," Niederwerder says.

Niederwerder says the emerging infectious disease should be on the global swine industry's radar and that the risks for virus introduction should be investigated for prevention strategies.

In addition to ASFV, HeN1 and classical swine fever are two viruses Niederwerder is currently studying at K-State on their ability to survive in feed ingredients subjected to environmental conditions simulating transoceanic shipment. She hopes to have that research published before the end of the year.

Go here to read the rest:
Have you heard of variant Chinese pseudorabies? - National Hog Farmer

Representatives from UC Davis, city council, county board of supervisors hosted a yearly meeting on campus, special focus on student housing efforts

An annual public meeting between county, city and university representatives was hosted at the UC Davis Genome Center Auditorium on Oct. 17, during which officials discussed the measures currently underway to address a shortage of available housing in Davis. University officials delivered a follow-up presentation during the next city council meeting on Oct. 22.

The university was represented by Chancellor Gary May, Vice Chancellor for Finance, Operations and Administration Kelly Ratliff and Associate Chancellor Karl Engelbach, according to the meeting notes. Mayor Brett Lee and Mayor Pro Tempore Gloria Partida, as well as council members Lucas Frerichs, Dan Carson and Will Arnold, represented the city government, while supervisors Dan Saylor and Jim Provenza represented the county.

At the meeting, May delivered a presentation that both highlighted the universitys recent successes and cited efforts currently underway to build new student housing. May cited UC Davis recent rankings among other public universities in the U.S. including placing fifth in the country by the Wall Street Journal/Times Higher Education ranking, fourth by Money Magazine and 11th by US News. He noted that UC Davis continues to rank first in the world for Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine and that UC Davis Medical Center was ranked the number one hospital in Sacramento.

After touching on some of the administrations efforts to address mental health and food insecurity among students, May moved on to the subject of housing. According to Mays presentation, the university has set the goal of 6,000 new beds by 2025. In early November, the university released a report detailing the progress of each of its new housing developments toward meeting this goal.

Lee, representing the city, presented a table of data on the status of several pending, under-construction and completed housing developments in the city. The table included several student-oriented housing developments that had completed the planning review stage and were pending construction, including Nishi, Lincoln 40 and Davis Live. The pending developments would add 3,348 new beds to student housing. The chart also noted the recently completed Sterling 5th St Apt., slated to provide 540 beds by completion.

Lee also noted other major developments within the city that targeted individuals, families and members of the workforce. In total, completed and pending developments listed on Lees chart would add 4,567 new beds of available housing in the city upon completion. Lee said he expects all of the pending construction to be completed between two to five years from now, according to the Davis Enterprise.

A lot more housing will be hitting the market soon, Lee said, according to the Enterprise.

Supervisor Don Saylors presentation focused mainly on the countys participation in specific services offered on the UC campus, including CalFresh and mental health resources under the Mental Health Services Act.

He did note several projects that may improve the commute of off-campus students, including an improvement project on I-80 that seeks to reduce traffic congestion through Davis and the launch of the Causeway Connect bus project. This will institute fully electric buses traveling between the UC Davis campus and the Sacramento medical center, with additional limited stops in Davis and Sacramento. The projected is targeted to launch in April 2020.

During the Oct. 22 city council meeting, administrators from Davis delivered a follow-up report on the colleges finances, which paid special attention to how UC Davis plans to address some of the housing pressures posed during the on-campus meeting.

Megan Glide Villasenor, assistant director at UC Davis Shared Services Center, pointed to a goal set by UC President Janet Napolitanos 2016 Student Housing Initiative which sought to add 14,000 new available beds in student housing across the UC system. Villasenor said that the UC system had exceeded that goal, with a projected 15,161 new beds added system-wide by Fall 2020. UC Davis will have instituted 2,190 of that number, according to Villasenor.

Davis has actually been an integral part of reaching the target we set for the fall of 2020, Villasenor said.

After the administrators presentation, Lee stressed the importance of continued collaboration between the university and city officials to address housing issues in the city.

The goal here is to mitigate some of the impacts that the student population has, but we need to be smart about it and work in partnership, Lee said.

Written by: Tim Lalonde city@theaggie.org

Link:
Housing shortage addressed in public meetings with university, city, county officials - The Aggie

Melisa Soysal /THE REVIEW Madeline Davidson expounds on her love of South Campus, despite its obscurity in the minds of the rest of the student body.

BY MADELINE DAVIDSON

It is no secret that the University of Delaware is home to miles of brick-lined paths, state-of-the art architecture, and a vast array of Division I athletic complexes. What often goes unnoticed, however, is the shy little piece of the world housed on the southern edge of campus, nestled between our bustling main campus and our historic football stadium. I have a feeling that somebody reading this now questions, Wait, we have a south campus? I get that a lot.

I was at an involvement fair this semester, representing the co-ed professional agricultural fraternity, Alpha Zeta. First, you may ask, why co-ed? It seemed like an easy decision for me to join a group of students with common interests, hence the interest in Greek Life, but this fraternity was unique in that it has a special affinity for agriculture. And while my pre-veterinary medicine major consists predominantly of females, a co-ed fraternity is representative of the dynamic present in the real-world, a world where individuals can learn to co-exist regardless of gender differences, or any differences for that matter.

Anyway, at this particular involvement fair, I was confronted with the large percentage of the student population who had never heard of the College of Agriculture and Natural Resources.

After being at the fair for not too long, I was asked, Whats an Ag? A common misunderstanding is that ag can define a person as being farmer-esque, or however else youd like to put it. While that is an identity wholeheartedly embraced by our college, it is also true that ag could refer to one of our diverse collection of majors that one might even consider cool. These are including but not limited to food science, pre-veterinary medicine and animal biosciences, food and agribusiness marketing and management, and statistics. As an aside, no one quite knows how statistics evaded the math department, but we welcomed it with open arms.

The reality for the College of Agriculture and Natural Resources, currently embracing its 150th Anniversary, is that it is one of the lesser-known beauties of the school. Students in the College of Ag, as it is colloquially called, enjoy the largest classroom on campus, 350 acres to be exact. South Campus is home to a dairy farm and many other amenities including a milking parlor, numerous greenhouses, and an equine barn down on Webb Farm.

Fortunately, you do not need to have aspirations of being a farmer to visit South Campus and embrace its extremely natural beauty. In fact, less than 2% of students in the College of Agriculture and Natural Resources come from any type of farm background. This was especially appealing to me as I was visiting schools, growing up in ultimate suburbia.

There is one day each year where South Campus overflows with students and members of the Newark community; where you can try honey made from UDs own apiary, fearlessly (that might be debatable) hold a drone bee, pet a friendly Holstein calf, and try authentic pulled pork sandwiches from a local farm, all in one day. Not to mention the opportunity to try fresh ice cream from UDairy, undoubtedly a student favorite. Ag Day is the special event held each spring that truly captures the essence of campus originality, right here in our own backyard.

I have thoroughly enjoyed my time here as a student of the College of Agriculture and Natural Resources. Through my experiences, I have realized how fortunate I am to be able to attend the University of Delaware. I have finally learned what that homey feeling is that tour guides always speak about while trying to sell their school.

So maybe one day before finals, just as I will, take the UD shuttle down to the College of Ag. Take a deep breath and learn to love the natural scents of the world around us, learn to look at everything and take it in for half a second longer, and just embrace everything there is to love about being a college student on one of the most unique and beautiful campuses in the world.

Top 5 things to do while on South Campus: Try a variety of flavors at UDairy Take a selfie with a cow Take a stroll through the Lepidoptera Trail Enjoy the changing colors of leaves in the fall Learn what really makes South Campus so special in the hearts of so many

Madeline Davidson is a senior studying pre-veterinary medicine and animal biosciences at the university. Her opinions are her own and do not reflect the majority opinion of The Reviews staff. She may be reached at davim@udel.edu.

Excerpt from:
Opinion: Whats an Ag? The Review - University of Delaware Review

Scientists are working to eliminate a type of heart disease in dogs using gene therapy.

They're zoning in on a heart condition called mitral valve disease thats common in 6% of dogs.

Scientists are using Cavalier King Charles spaniels for the research.

They tend to develop it at a younger age.

Scientists at Tufts University have already tested gene therapy in mice.

A virus is injected into them to deliver DNA to cells which causes them to create a protein.

What it essentially does is stops the heart valve from getting thicker, stopping the valve from leaking.

Researchers are now moving on to testing this in dogs.

But they think the treatment could go beyond just canines.

Many of the dog diseases are naturally occurring and really great models for human disease, says Dr. Vicky Yang, a veterinary cardiologist and research assistant professor at Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine at Tufts University. And I can see this, if it becomes successful in dogs, potentially going into thinking about treatment for humans for mitral valve disease.

The biotech company behind the treatment agrees. It says it could also expand beyond heart problems.

I think a larger question, though, is if we are able to prove this thesis of treating aging, making the animal generally healthier, could also treat heart failure, what other diseases could we treat in dogs? says Daniel Oliver, the CEO of Rejuvenate Bio. And could we progress this treatment onto past dogs and other animals and possibly humans?

The gene therapy would only be used for dogs just starting to experience heart problems.

Researchers still need to make sure the gene therapy is safe for all breeds before they make it available to the public.

See the original post:
Scientists are using gene therapy to treat a heart disease in dogs. Could humans be next? - KRTV Great Falls News

It has been described as the Hollywood of horses, and its certainly a winner in the glamor stakes. But Qatars Al Shaqab is more of a seven-star equine resort than a make-believe movie set.

The multi-million-dollar center on the outskirts of the capital Doha is Qatars luxury launchpad into equine excellence, from elite show jumpers to Arabian show horses and endurance racers. It is also helping to spawn the highly successful thoroughbred horse racing operation now predominantly based in France under the same name.

The stunning complex has been built in the shape of a horseshoe around an old Ottoman stable and fort. It serves to promote both Qatars rich heritage with Arabian horses, and set the highest standards in horse welfare, breeding, equine education and research, according to its website.

The facilities include a breeding center and stabling for more than 400 horses, a state-of-the-art equine hospital, indoor and outdoor performance arenas as well as an air-conditioned hydrotherapy and exercise unit complete with walking carousel, a circular swimming pool akin to a lazy river and a therapeutic spray bath like an equine Jacuzzi. Huge heat lamps dry the horses after their dips.

The horses are exercised every day at 6 a.m. and again after 4 p.m. when temperatures begin to drop. It is a life lived in luxury where the horses are trained with technological expertise akin to that used for Premier League footballers or high-profile Olympic athletes.

One of the riders here calls it the Hollywood of the equine world, says Abdul Rashid Mordiffi, who runs the commercial side of the operation. I dont believe there is another facility like it anywhere else in the world.

READ: Dubai ruler spends more than $4M on single horse

READ: The remarkable story of the groom to a wonder horse

Arriving at the 10 million square-foot venue mid-morning, the place is virtually deserted, the baking sun and 100-degree heat forcing horses and the 200-plus workforce indoors.

At its heart are the sleek white curves of the performance center, with outdoor and undercover arenas for when it gets too hot.

[Its] the largest anywhere in the world at 6,000-square meters (64,500 square feet), according to Mordiffi, the grandson of a farrier, who hails from Singapore originally.

The arena, which hosts the Qatar leg of the prestigious Longines Global Champions Tour show jumping circuit, has a private suite reserved for the royal family, fitting as it was former Emir Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa al Thani, who launched Al Shaqab on the site of a former battleground in 1992.

Long before natural gas or oil came to prominence in Qatar and made Al Thanis ancestors wealthy following their move from the inhospitable desert, the area was best known for its prized Arabian horses, which played a key role in daily life.

For Al Thani, the aim of Al Shaqab was simple: Progress and development of modern-day Qatar will reflect, in particular, efforts to maintain the heritage of our forefathers through the noble Arabian horse.

READ: Meet the trainer to royalty and billionaires

READ: This horse escaped a wildfire and became a superstar

Designed by Hong Kong-based Leigh & Orange architects, the project was completed in 2014, although further schemes are planned as it pushes towards its boundary which includes on one side a golf course and on the other one of the stadiums for the 2022 FIFA World Cup.

Because of the heat, organized tours of the vast complex are conducted in golf buggies or luxury cars.

To the east is the equine exercise center where two Arabians are brought out. Mordiffi describes the Arabians as having a narrow snout, large nostrils, concave face, ears like an elf, and when they run the tail goes up which doesnt happen with other horses.

For the most part, they generally hail from just one horse Ansata Halim Shah, his offspring now spawning into a fourth generation.

One is put slowly through the carousel before being placed on a treadmill with a steep gradient to replicate the cross-country terrain it will cover in endurance races of up to 120 miles.

Another horse is led quite happily into the pool where it begins to swim. In training, they can do anything up to 10 laps at a time before a visit to the equine Jacuzzi, all the exercise aimed at reducing potential injury.

The stables housing the Emirs horses are the quintessence of luxury. The Arabians, disinterested in visitors with food having just been served, each have a spacious stable.

Even the amount of water they drink is registered on a LCD display on the front of the stall front.

READ: Sheikh Fahad and the phone call that saved racing

READ: The worlds richest horse race: the top seven prize pots in racing

Al Shaqabs breeding operation accounts for 100 to 150 foals born on site annually, all of which are treated at its veterinary medical center. The hope is for the hub to be the epicenter of equine care for the entire region, pending the lifting of the sanctions by Qatars neighbors.

Doctor Camilla Anne Jamieson has been working at Al Shaqab since June last year having previously worked in Texas. She is one of three specialists; there are also three surgeons.

The facilities are cutting edge. There are MRI and CT scanners, X-rays, two operating theaters, stables akin to hospital beds, and an ever-expanding research wing to the facility. It is the Aladdins Cave of veterinary equine medicine.

This is on a par with the very best equine hospitals in the world, she said. And this is just the beginning. Its actually pretty incredible.

At the time of visiting the veterinary unit, whose staff hails from 35 different countries, a nurse is checking one pregnant mare, while another horse is attached to a drip after surgery for colic.

There is also a massive education center at the heart of the operation and a facility where equine therapy is offered for autistic children.

There is a collaborative feel with horses coming from all over Qatar. Horses are regularly gifted to other breeders from Al Shaqab, the aim simple to spread the breed of Arabian horses.

The impact has already been felt since its opening with Qatar and Al Shaqab an increasing global player in the equine world.

Click here to read full story

Link:
Inside the 'Hollywood' of horses, Al Shaqab is the essence of equine luxury - KMJ Now

COLLEGE STATION Water belly, urinary blockage, stonesuroliths have many names, but their presence in livestock animals is a serious condition.

Dr. Evelyn Mackay, a clinical assistant professor at the Texas A&M College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences, speaks of the dangers of uroliths and how livestock owners can recognize the causes and effects of these obstructions in their animals.

A urolith is a stone that forms in the urinary tract of small and large animals, Mackay said. There are a few different types of stones that can form, and theyre usually dependent on the diet and the location of the animal. The most common types of stones we see in Texas are calcium carbonate and struvite stones.

Made of accumulated minerals, these stones typically form in the bladder of the affected animal, but can also originate in the kidney and then move down into the bladder. If the stones remain in the bladder, they are largely unproblematic. However, they can become harmful if they migrate from the bladder into the urethra, where they cause a blockage.

We see the biggest problems when the stones move into the urethra in male animals, which either completely or partially prevents them from being able to urinate, Mackay said.

Male animals are more likely to suffer the harmful effects of uroliths because their urethras are smaller in diameter. Mackay says that uroliths are also more common in some livestock animals, such a sheep and goats, but she also treats cows and pigs for these stones.

There are a variety of treatment options available, from the less invasive to the more invasive. Once the animal cannot urinate, it can be challenging to treat, Mackay said. Early treatment is really important because they can rupture their bladder.

Symptoms of stones include difficulty urinating, a distended abdomen, and distressed behavior. Symptoms can vary widely depending on the circumstances of each case, so owners suspecting that their animal might be suffering from a urolith should seek veterinary care promptly.

Dietary management is also important, Mackay said. Feed a forage-based diet, mostly grass and hay. Water intake is really important and doing whatever you can to ensure that your animals are drinking and not getting dehydrated. It is also best to feed them the minimum amount of grain, as high-grain diets increase the likelihood of stone formation.

She also stresses the importance of waiting as long as possible before neutering males, as this allows more time for their urethra to widen. While prevention and understanding the risk factors for uroliths is important, Mackay says that the most impactful thing an owner can do is seek treatment quickly.

If owners think that their animals have any signs of a urolith, they should definitely get a veterinarian to look at it immediately because early treatment is really important, Mackay said. The longer you wait, the harder it is to get a good outcome.

By The Texas A&M University College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences

Excerpt from:
Pet Talk: The stone-cold facts of uroliths in livestock animals - Marshall News Messenger

President Trump is expected to sign the Preventing Animal Cruelty and Torture, or PACT, Act after it passed unanimously through the Senate. If signed, the bill would make animal cruelty a federal felony. H.R.724 was introduced by Rep. Ted Deutch, D-Fla., in January of 2019.

The bill, according to Danielle Beck, National Cattlemens Beef Associations senior director of governmental affairs, has 301 co-sponsors, including 216 Democrats and 85 Republicans. A companion bill (S. 479) was introduced by Sen. Pat Toomey, R-Pa., last February, and has 41 co-sponsors in total (33 Democrats, six Republicans and two Independents). H.R. 724 passed the House on Oct. 22, 2019, by a voice vote and passed in the Senate without amendment by unanimous consent earlier last week.

The bill revises and expands criminal provisions with respect to animal crushing, defined as conduct in which one or more living non-human mammals, birds, reptiles, or amphibians is purposely crushed, burned, drowned, suffocated, impaled, or otherwise subjected to serious bodily injury. Current federal law prohibits fighting and criminalizes animal cruelty only if the wrongdoers create and sell videos of the act, under the 2010 Animal Crush Video Prohibition Act. Under the PACT Act, those convicted could face seven years in prison and fines on federal felony charges.

The legislation contains exceptions for customary and normal veterinary, agricultural husbandry, or other animal management practice; the slaughter of animals for food; hunting, trapping, fishing, a sporting activity not otherwise prohibited by Federal law, predator control, or pest control; medical or scientific research; conduct necessary to protect the life or property of a person; or performed as part of euthanizing an animal.

Now is the time to engage animal health officials and professionals for a true determination of animal welfare issues on livestock production units.

In an article released by Protect the Harvest, there are already laws against animal cruelty in all 50 states. Additionally, subjective language like common practices can be left open to interpretation.

According to the release, practices employed by veterinarians and producers that are standard and necessary could be misunderstood by someone inexperienced in production agriculture or veterinary medicine. Under the vague language of the bill, Protect the Harvest said some common practices could be misinterpreted based on the bills language.

Terry Fankhauser, executive vice president of the Colorado Cattlemens Association, said he hopes the act will create a hard stop on additional state and national legislation that is inconsistent and ill-conceived, while the PACT Act will allow for swift and strong prosecution of those who are willfully abusing animals.

Now is the time to engage animal health officials and professionals for a true determination of animal welfare issues on livestock production units, he said. It is our hope the act will employ the resources necessary to implement this at state level.

Gabel is an assistant editor and reporter for The Fence Post. She can be reached at rgabel@thefencepost.com or (970) 392-4410.

Link:
Trump expected to sign PACT Act - Fence Post

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (AP) -- A teacher who rescued a caged puppy from drowning in a cold central Illinois lake over the weekend says the dog had been clearly abused.

Bryant Fritz, who teaches middle school science at Next Generation School in Champaign, was preparing to fish Saturday when he found a black and white puppy submerged in rising water and trapped inside of a dog crate in Kaufman Lake.

Fritz told The News-Gazette on Sunday that he waded into waist-high, freezing water in the Champaign lake before reaching the cage.

It was pretty clear the dog had been in the cold water for several hours. I immediately pulled her out of the water and dragged the crate to the shore, he said.

He then realized the dog had other medical issues.

When I got her up to the shore, there was blood all over the place, Fritz said. She was missing a bunch of fur on the back side, and the bottom of her paws were missing skin. She probably weighed 15 to 20 pounds; she was definitely a puppy. She was shaking so bad. Her eyes were shut. She was so miserable.

He took the dog to his truck, turned up the heat as high as he could and headed to the University of Illinois Veterinary Hospital, where he had called ahead to staff to let them know he was coming. On the way, he stopped at his house to wrap the puppy in a blanket to get her as warm as possible.

University of Illinois College of Veterinary Medicine spokeswoman Chris Beuoy noted the puppy has been responding favorably to treatment for hypothermia. The hospitals staff also cleaned the wounds and put her on antibiotics and pain medicine.

We werent sure if the dog would need additional care for her wounds, but she received more treatment for her wounds on Sunday, Beuoy said.

After Champaign County Animal Control takes custody of the pooch, Fritz hopes that he will be allowed to adopt her and give her a loving home.

As I filled out the paperwork when I brought her to the hospital, I realized I wanted this dog to be a part of my life, the teacher said.

See the original post:
Teacher saves caged puppy from drowning in Illinois lake - WIFR

In fact, cannabis therapy actually does appear positive for animals, according to Dr. Sarah Silcox, an Ajax, ON-based veterinarian and president of the Canadian Association of Veterinary Cannabinoid Medicine (CAVCM).

The problem is, prescribing cannabis for pets isnt legal in Canada (yet).

While many veterinarians are supportive of using cannabis as part of the total treatment plan, many people dont realize that legally, veterinarians cannot authorize (prescribe) medical cannabis. And this puts them in a very difficult spot, says Silcox.

Surprised? Well, dogs just arent the litigious type: legal pressure by human patients put the original medical cannabis regulations into effect. Then, when the Cannabis Act came along, Silcox explains existing medical regulations were simply rolled into the new cannabis regulations, without consideration of our animal friends. To date, there is no legal framework for animal care providers until the Cannabis Act is reviewed again in 2022.

While vets cannot prescribe cannabis, many are open to advising on treatment options you could independently provide for your pet. Just dont play Doc McStuffins on your own: Silcox warns administering cannabis without some guidance can pose serious adverse effects and potential drug interactionseven pure CBD.

Here, she plays out a few scenarios:

Not really. The biggest concern surrounds the risk of your pet licking the cream off, she explains. Not only will fur likely get in the way (wasting your product), when your pet licks or grooms the area they risk ingesting something meant to be used externally. Its not just the THC, other cannabinoids or terpenes she worries about, but potential effects from other compounds found inside the topical. If you have a topical that you think could help your pet feel better, bring it in to your vet for advice.

Again, its about the side effects and possible drug interactions that pose a risk. However, this is not to say you cant discuss CBD with your vet. While Silcox says there arent published studies on CBD for treating cats specifically, she says they do appear to tolerate CBD well. Talking to your vet will ensure the product youre using is safe and that the dose is appropriate. Your veterinarian may also want to do some testing to ensure there are no underlying physical causes to your pets behaviour changes, she adds.

Maybe. Seizures, along with chronic pain, age-related changes, sleep disturbances, and cancer are the most common reasons people request cannabis therapy for their pets, according to Silcox. Again, while they cant yet prescribe, veterinarians can discuss cannabis therapy as an option and help monitor the outcome.

In this emerging area of medicine, documentation is important for many reasons. We want to track any unexpected effects, document your pets response to treatment, and learn from each case in the hopes that it will help other patients that follow.

She says cannabis remains a viable option for treating pets, especially when other available treatments are not effective. This is why the CAVCM and the Canadian Veterinary Medical Association (CVMA) have been advocating to change current regulations.

Whether its a ripped dewclaw, sore joints, or something more serious, work with your vet to find the right cannabis therapy for your furry loved one. And if its important enough, Silcox encourages you to let your MP know you support changes to the Cannabis Act allowing veterinarians to authorize medical cannabis.

Colleen Fisher Tully is a freelance writer and editor with recent work in Clean Eating, Today's Parent, The Walrus and Local Love. She posts random thoughts on Twitter @colleenftully

Go here to read the rest:
Cannabis topicals and your pet - Leafly

Courtesy Brad Ryan Brad Ryan and his grandmother Joy have spent the last four years traveling more than 40,000 miles and visiting 49 national parks in 41 states including the Gateway Arch, Hot Springs, Big Bend and Death Valley.

For the last four years, Brad Ryan and his grandmother Joy Ryan have been on the road trip of a lifetime, attempting to visit all 61 national parks and inadvertently giving all of us a true tour of the U.S. in all of its natural beauty.

So far, the pair have traveled 40,000 miles through 41 of the lower 48 states and taken in the scenery at 49 national parks.

On Friday, they were wrapping up a trip to Gateway Arch National Park in St. Louis -- their 49th and final park in the lower 48 states.

Before Gateway, there was the Grand Canyon, Yellowstone, Joshua Tree, Glacier National Park and even Redwood National Park.

"It is breathtaking," Joy Ryan, 89, told ABC News recently from the Santa Elena Canyon in Texas' Big Bend National Park. "All of these people are really enjoying it."

(MORE: Grandson on a mission to take his small-town grandma to every national park)

"We'll have to come back here and explore it some time," Brad Ryan said.

The duo started in 2015 and were at Great Smoky Mountains National Park in Tennessee when Joy Ryan, then 85, spent the first night in a tent.

Brad Ryan, 38, said she'd spent the majority of her life in the tiny town of Duncan Falls, Ohio.

"She had never camped a night in her life," he told ABC News previously. "When we arrived at 1 a.m. in the rain...she held the umbrella over my head while I put the tent together."

At the time, Brad was a fourth-year veterinary student at the Ohio State University College of Veterinary Medicine, but he said he needed a break.

(MORE: 83-year-old grandmother wins hearts as the flower girl at her granddaughters wedding)

"I remembered a prior conversation with my Grandma Joy when we [were] discussing my 2009 Appalachian Trail hike from Georgia to Maine, and she expressed regret that she had never seen the mountains and explored the great outdoors throughout her life. So, I invited her to join me on my weekend escape to the Smokies," he told ABC News in a previous interview.

Big Bend National Park was the 47th U.S. national park for the duo.

"We can't believe that we're closing in on that 61 national park goal and we're having a wonderful time here in Texas," Brad Ryan told ABC News. "This is definitely one of the prettiest parks that we've seen so far. Big Bend National Park has Badlands. It has canyons. It has the mighty Rio Grande River, and so much wildlife and beautiful fauna and flora that we really feel like we might have to come back for a second go."

(MORE: Bride and groom have their 4 grandmothers serve as flower girls at their wedding)

"We've met some wonderful people," Joy Ryan added. "Everywhere you look you see something beautiful. ... This is a great place."

On Friday, Joy Ryan said she was ready to take a much-needed break before the next adventure.

"I am ready," she said, "to go home, kick back my heels and sit down and rest a minute."

See the original post:
'Grandma Joy,' grandson share photos of US as they try visiting all national parks - msnNOW

Texas A&Ms College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences and VolitionRx Limited (Volition) have partnered to develop and test early cancer screenings for animals, namely dogs.

As part of the partnership, A&M veterinary oncologists are testing Volitions Nu.Q, a set of tests for biomarkers in the blood. Volition is an international company that has experience with cancer screenings on humans. The company has recently sought to expand into other fields and markets, looking towards the U.S. market through the veterinary field.

A&M revealed the partnership on Oct. 25, with Dr. Eleanor M. Green, the Carl B. King Dean of Veterinary Medicine, hosting the signing at A&M. According to the colleges website, Green has actively sought out collaborations and innovations in the veterinary field.

According to the Volition website, cancer is associated with abnormal levels of uniquely structured nucleosomes found within the blood. Patients that may have malignant tumours could be identified using the Nu.Q tests. However, doctors would have to confirm the analysis with follow-up procedures.

Associate professor and Dr. Fred A. Palmer and Vola N. Palmer Chair in Comparative Oncology Dr. Heather Wilson-Robles is set to lead the research. Wilson-Robles said that the partnership would look into transferring a process used for humans unto animals.

One of the great things is that Volition sort of pioneered the way in Europe for liquid biopsy techniques for human cancer, Wilson-Robles said. Were in the process of trying to apply those same liquid biopsy techniques to veterinary medicine, which would allow us to run diagnostics that traditionally have been pretty invasive and required heavy sedation or anesthesia and [are] costly and make them a simple blood test.

Wilson-Robles said she hopes to distinguish inflammation from cancer through testing and clear any confusion between the two. She said the hope is cancer is different enough from any other disease that the Nu.Q can have a high percentage rate of correct diagnostics in veterinary cases.

Specific nucleosomes can be associated with [a] specific disease, Wilson-Robles said. Inflammation and cancer generally have higher levels of nucleosomes than others. What wed like to do is develop some basic general assets that try to tell you cancer versus inflammation or other diseases and then provide additional panels which may be able to give more information.

A&M also receives an equity stake in Volition Veterinary Diagnostics Development LLC as part of the arrangement. The stake in the Volition subsidiary company, a company that is owned by a parent company, is 12.5 percent according to the Volition website.

Jeremy Kenny, program manager for veterinary innovation and entrepreneurship with the College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences, said the Volition veterinary subsidiary company would like to enter the market soon. The hope is that the subsidiary company will have a product ready.

Theyre creating a veterinary subsidiary company, Kenny said. The next step is the new veterinary company [will be] creating the product. I believe maybe for early next year, they [will] start selling tests.

See the rest here:
A&M partners with VolitionRx for research into cancer screenings for dogs - Texas A&M The Battalion

Associate Professor/Assistant Professor (Animal Physiology) in the Department of Infectious Diseases and Public Health, Jockey Club College of Veterinary Medicine and Life Sciences[Ref. C/527/09]

City University of Hong Kong is a dynamic, fast-growing university that is pursuing excellence in research and professional education.As a publicly-funded institution, the University is committed to nurturing and developing students talents and creating applicable knowledge to support social and economic advancement. The University has nine Colleges/Schools. As part of its pursuit of excellence, the University aims to recruitoutstanding scholarsfrom all over the world in various disciplines, includingbusiness, creative media, data science, energy and environment, engineering, humanities and social sciences, law, science, veterinary medicine and life sciences.

The new Jockey Club College of Veterinary Medicine and Life Sciences at City University of Hong Kong in collaboration with Cornell Universitys College of Veterinary Medicine is assembling an outstanding group of international academics to undertake teaching and research in the Department of Infectious Diseases and Public Health. The Department is rapidly developing as an international research-oriented centre to support veterinary training and research in Hong Kong and the region. It is well positioned to provide a strong link between the preclinical veterinary sciences and applied (clinical) veterinary medicine. In another dimension it focuses on One Health, an area spanning the health of animals, humans and the environment. The Department plays a key role in teaching students for the Bachelor of Veterinary Medicine programme and the MSc in Aquatic Production and Veterinary Health, as well as in other related activities such as enabling postgraduate research opportunities. Departmental faculty members undertake teaching, research and diagnostic service across their areas of specialty.

Applications are invited for the above post:

Duties

Plan and establish world-class teaching and research facilities, teach and manage undergraduate and postgraduate courses, develop new research directions and maintain robust research programmes, and carry out administrative work and any other duties to facilitate the development of the Department and the College as a whole.

The appointee is also expected to contribute to the development and implementation of the professional veterinary curriculum in the area of Animal Physiology modelled on the integrated Function and Dysfunction construct as delivered by Cornell Universitys College of Veterinary Medicine.

Requirements

A PhD in relevant disciplines (Animal Physiology/Animal Science/Animal Nutrition/Digestive Physiology/Veterinary Medicine/Zoology/Biology) or equivalent. Candidates with background in the fields of Digestive Physiology and Nutrition are particularly encouraged to apply.

A veterinary degree registrable in Hong Kong preferred, but not essential. Applicants must have demonstrable evidence of research success (including publishing influential works and obtaining external research funding).

Salary and Conditions of Service

Remuneration package will be driven by market competitiveness and individual performance. Excellent fringe benefits include gratuity, leave, medical and dental schemes, and relocation assistance (where applicable). Initial appointment will be made on a fixed-term contract.

Information and Application

Further information on the posts and the University is available athttp://www.cityu.edu.hk, or from the Department of Infectious Diseases and Public Health, City University of Hong Kong, Tat Chee Avenue, Kowloon Tong, Hong Kong (email :chhung@cityu.edu.hk).

To apply, please submit an online application athttp://jobs.cityu.edu.hk, and include a current curriculum vitae, a cover letter, research and teaching statements based on the position.Applications will receive full consideration until the position is filled.Only shortlisted applicants will be contacted; and those shortlisted for the post of Assistant Professor will be requested to arrange for at least 3 reference reports sent directly by the referees to the Department, specifying the position applied for. The University's privacy policy is available on the homepage.

City University of Hong Kong is an equal opportunity employer and we are committed to the principle of diversity. Personal data provided by applicants will be used for recruitment and other employment-related purposes.

Worldwide recognition ranking 52nd, and 4th among top 50 universities under age 50 (QS survey 2020); 1st in Engineering/Technology/Computer Sciences in Hong Kong (ARWU survey 2016); and 2nd Business School in Asia-Pacific region (UT Dallas survey 2017)

Follow this link:
Associate Professor/Assistant Professor (Animal Physiology) job with CITY UNIVERSITY OF HONG KONG | 185658 - Times Higher Education (THE)

Dear Cathy,

This letter is in response to the reader with the Manx cat with the litter box problems (Reader says kitty pee pads a lifesaver, Oct. 4).

Her letter reminded me of a woman I worked with in Houston who adopted a shelter kitten with an extremely small stub of a tail, small even for a Manx. The cat had trouble controlling her urinary flow, both timing and location.

A vet examined her and said that cats with vestigial tails frequently have bladder control problems. I took this kitten to a friend who lived out in the country, and she found a good home there.

So, I am wondering if the reader with the Manx cat has taken her cat to the vet for an exam. This bladder control problem might help explain why she goes on the floor rather than in the litter box.

It might also explain why she was found wandering the neighborhood even though she had a bell and collar on. Its possible the previous owner just turned her outside because they didnt want to deal with her urinary problems anymore.

Dallas Henderson

Dear Dallas,

I asked Bonnie Beaver, professor at Texas A&M Veterinary Medicine, for the answer.

There are many reasons a cat does not use a litter box. The short tail of the Manx can be associated with this problem, she said.

If really short, there are abnormalities of the spinal column that affect nerves going to the urinary bladder and sometimes the rectum. They are much like people with spina bifida, in this regard. Affected Manx cats usually have little control and so dribble urine. It could appear that they dont use the litter box, but it is because their bladder really doesnt fill up. The urine that is not in the box would tend to be small amounts in several locations, not larger amounts in one location.

If the cat was using one or two locations away from the litter box instead, it was likely associated with the more typical causes of house soiling.

So youre correct. It could be part of the problem. Thanks for writing.

Dear Cathy,

About a month ago, I noticed a cat living under the garden shed. She was a trap/neuter/release cat with a clipped ear.

She was friendly, so we took her in and set her up in a room until she got used to the other cats. My son put poop from the other cat boxes in her box. She sniffed and figured out that is where she is supposed to go. Smart cat.

She is now known as Lucy instead of Clippy the Second.

Norm

Dear Norm,

Proof that a clipped ear (TNR) cat is sometimes a very friendly cat. Thanks for giving her a home.

Send your pet questions, tips and stories to cathy@petpundit.com. You can read her Animals Matter blog at http://blog.mysanantonio.com/animals and follow her at @cathymrosenthal.

The rest is here:
Cats with stubbed tails more prone to litter box issues - San Antonio Express-News

Dashing through the snow at 25 miles an hour,Heather Huson97 got her first thrill as a musher at age 7. From then on, she was hooked on dog sledding, and raced competitively for almost 30 years throughout North America.

By the end of her racing days, she had competed twice in sled dog racings equivalent to the Olympics the International Federation of Sleddog Sports World Championships. And she ended her racing career with a bang, winning an extremely competitive six-dog class race at the 2004 Tok Race of Champions in Tok, Alaska.

Heather Huson shares time with a sled dog at the Baker Institute.

Now an assistant professor of animal science, Huson is co-leader of a $4.2 million project studying close to 100 Alaskan sled dogs between the ages of 8 and 13, former athletes past their glory days. The study, which began in 2018, is a quest for one of the holy grails of medicine: how to slow aging.

This project allows me to work with sled dogs again, but now Im studying their aging and health, said Huson, a molecular geneticist in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences.

Huson and co-leaderDr. John Loftus, assistant professor of small animal medicine in the College of Veterinary Medicine, are trying todetermine whether a drug that inhibits an enzyme called reverse transcriptase can mitigate aging and extend life in older dogs. Private donations fund the project through the Vaika Foundation, a nonprofit group of scientists and veterinarianson a mission to extend the health and life span of domestic animals.

The project will serve as a proof of principle for whether reverse transcriptase inhibitors could be an elixir. If confirmed, new finely tuned drugs could be developed for both dogs and humans.

While we love dogs, and we care about extending the life span of dogs for its own right, this is also a really good model for people, hopefully, in the future, Loftus said.

Genetics of aging

Other researchers, including project collaborators at the Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center in Buffalo, New York, have found evidence in mice that reverse transcriptase inhibitors suppress tumors and extend life span.

The next step was to go to a model organism thats more closely related to humans in similar environments, and more similar to the types of diseases that people get, Huson said.

While we love dogs, and we care about extending the life span of dogs for its own right, this is also a really good model for people, hopefully, in the future.

John Loftus

In mammals, viruses that infected distant ancestors left behind some of their DNA, which are called genetic elements.

As we age, were finding these normally dormant DNA elements get turned on and then behave like viruses in the body, said Loftus, a veterinarian and researcherwho leads the immune system analysis on this project.When DNA elements get turned on, they can encode [for] a number of proteins, and reverse transcriptase is one of them.

In turn, reverse transcriptase plays a role in duplicating more of these genetic elements, which become randomly inserted in the genome and can lead to mutations and cancer.

And since these elements act like viruses in cells, they also trigger an immune response, which creates inflammation.

The federally approved drug being tested in the sled dog project is commonly prescribed to people for viral infections.

Our approach is going to be to give the dogs a reverse transcriptase inhibitor to turn the transcriptase off, Loftus said, and hopefully reduce inflammation, reduce the incidence of cancer and other diseases related to mutations and DNA damage, and ideally increase life span.

Heather Huson watches as a sled dog runs during play time in a fenced field at the Baker Institute for Animal Research at Cornell.

Why Alaskan sled dogs?

Dogs offer many advantages over mice as research subjects. They share with humans similar lifestyles and aging-related diseases like cancer and cognitive dysfunction, and serve as a model for studying Alzheimers disease.

Originally, the researchers proposed to study pet dogs. But maintaining a uniform diet for all participants and trusting owners to administer the drug consistently proved too unreliable.

We had the idea instead to create a colony of dogs we had control over, Huson said. They realized athletic dogs were housed in groups, in kennels, and as they age, owners kept their best dogs and often sold the rest to hobbyists or as pets.

So that gave us an avenue for how we could get these dogs, Huson said.

For her doctorate, Huson studied the genetics and selective breeding in Alaskan sled dogs at the University of Alaska, Fairbanks. She discovered that sled dogs are a genetically distinct breed. They have undergone intense selection for such traits as athleticism, but at the same time are subject to an open breeding scheme,with a diverse gene pool that makes for fewer genetic issues and diseases than pure breeds.

John Loftus greets a sled dog at the Baker Institute for Animal Research.

Yet they create a unique population that is still homogenous that we can study and say, this response to the drug is potentially related to the drug and not because its a poodle versus a beagle, Huson said.

In late May 2018, Huson and Loftus began acquiring dogs, which they kenneled at the Baker Institute for Animal Research at Cornell. Huson traveled twice to Alaska, and she and others, including students, picked up dogs from Canada, Michigan, Minnesota, Oregon, Washington and other states.

Locating dogs and bringing them to the Baker Institute required countless cross-country trips on planes and by vehicle. By September 2018, they had 102 dogs for the study. In March 2019, the researchers collected the firstbaseline data.

Testing aging over time

To test the drugs effectiveness, Huson and Loftus have been quantifying aging in the dogs every six months through three avenues immune function, behavior and physical condition. All the tests are noninvasive or minimally invasive.

They are testing two types of immune responses: adaptive responses that react quickly to infections; and innate responses where the immune system recognizes and delivers specific antibodies to fight a pathogen that previously entered the body. They are also checking blood for increases in markers for inflammation.

Four cognitive dysfunction behavioral tests involve an empty behavioral testing room with a video camera to record lone dogs as they encounter such things as a stranger sitting still in a chair, a familiar or novel toy, or a mirror.

Heather Huson racing in an Alaska Dog Mushers Association Challenge Series race in 2005 at the Jeff Studdard Sled Dog Race Track in Fairbanks, Alaska.

For physical tests, dogs are fitted with a racing harness and are trained to run on a treadmill with heart rate and electrocardiogram monitors. The treadmill has special sensors under the belt to record the pressure of each footfall, to detect limping that could come with arthritis. Another test times dogs as they pull one-and-a-half times their weight a distance of 40 yards using a pull harness.

It will take years to gather enough data for the researchers to make a definitive statement about the drugs effects. But funds have already been allotted to provide the dogs with a high quality of life until they die of natural causes.

Twice a day the dogs go outside for play time. As soon as the kennel doors open, the dogs, tongues flapping, scurry excitedly down a long hallway toward the light of an open door that leads to three separate fenced fields where they play, run, sniff the grass and greet the student volunteers outside.

It reminds Huson of her childhood, when her family owned as many as 50 sled dogs.

I used to train dogs to run all the time, Huson said. Now were training them to run in a slightly different scenario. Its fun and rewarding. And, its therapy for us.

See the rest here:
Sled dogs lead the way in quest to slow aging - Cornell Chronicle