“The Radiation Protection Act authorizes DEP to monitor X-ray equipment operation and ensure that correct procedures are followed,” DEP South-central Regional Director Rachel Diamond said. “These regulations exist to protect the safety of Pennsylvania’s residents. Fortunately, there is no indication that these particular violations caused any harm to human or animal health.”

DEP fined Avian Feline Hospital $10,000 after two inspections revealed a multitude of violations. During a March 2011 inspection, DEP discovered the hospital was using tape to fix the controls that restrict the width of the X-ray beam on a portable unit, using the same settings on the X-ray machine for all small animals and had failed to register an X-ray machine. DEP issued a notice of violation that month. A second inspection last June showed the hospital had still not registered an X-ray machine, and the alignment and settings of the portable X-ray machine were still improperly set.

DEP also fined Bowser Dentistry $12,840 for failure to register X-ray machines that were used to evaluate dental patients from 1992 through 2010. DEP issued a notice of violation to the dentist in September 2011. By not registering the X-ray machines with DEP, the facility remained un-inspected during those eight years.

The hospital and dentist took action to correct the violations and both facilities are now in compliance with DEP regulations.

X-ray machines must be registered with DEP within 30 days of being acquired and the X-ray registration becomes valid upon the payment of a fee, which must be paid to the agency annually.

Article source: http://www.dognews.co/animal-hospitals-fined-for-x-ray-violations/

The 28 US schools and colleges of veterinary medicine (CVMs) are feeling the painful effects of $104 million worth of state appropriation cuts over the past two years. At the same time, CVMs have managed to stay on course through a combination of belt tightening and tuition increases that only partially make up for the cuts. These findings are the result of a recent economic study by the Association of American Veterinary Medical Colleges (AAVMC), which — along with the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) — is examining the economic issues that affect veterinary medical education and veterinary medicine as a whole.

In his recent State of the Union speech and subsequently, President Obama warned colleges that schools can’t just “jack up tuition every single year” and simply expect people to pay it, adding that, “If you can’t stop tuition from going up, the funding you get from taxpayers every year will go down.” Obama is targeting Perkins loans, work-study jobs, and Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grants.

In response, CVM deans say that they agree with the need to do something about escalating tuition in higher education, which burdens graduates across all professions with often-hefty payments at a time when they are trying to get their careers off the ground. Deans often have only limited, shared decision-making power over tuition rates. For example, in the public sphere, states approve the tuition increases that universities propose and governing boards implement. In simplest terms, students are paying more because the state is paying far less.

The AAVMC is working to publicize and increase loan forgiveness or loan restructuring payment options. Deans point out that they are working hard to reduce the overall cost to educate students through improved campus efficiencies and that, despite state cuts, their tuition increases are less than the national average. For example, according to the College Board, average undergraduate tuition at state colleges rose 8.3 percent this year, and, according to the Association of American Medical Colleges, resident medical school tuition rose 7.7 percent, while the average tuition at state CVMs rose 6.6 percent.

According to a recent AAVMC survey, the belt tightening comes at a cost. Of the 28 deans, 71.4 percent reported that state cuts are reducing their schools’ ability to hire and maintain faculty; 53.5 percent reported that the cuts are affecting their ability to maintain some academic course offerings for students; and 50 percent reported that cuts are interfering with efforts to provide extension and outreach services.

In 2011, the AAVMC released Roadmap for Veterinary Medical Education in the 21st Century: Responsive, Collaborative, Flexible, a report found at www.aavmc.org/roadmap that was compiled by the North American Veterinary Medical Education Consortium (NAVMEC).  As reported in that publication, many CVMs have laid off staff members, reduced the number of faculty members, and eliminated programs.

“What is most worrisome is that CVMs report that they have been unable to fill a significant number of faculty positions,” said Dr. Gerhardt Schurig, AAVMC president and dean of the Virginia-Maryland Regional College of Veterinary Medicine. “Some hopefully temporary cost-cutting measures that can help are to hire part-time or adjunct faculty or slightly increase the student-to-faculty ratio, but we don’t want to do that to such a degree that we dilute the quality of the veterinary medical education experience, and we particularly need to manage the size of clinical medical rotations in order to provide a hands-on, individualized educational experience.”

Many CVMs are part of schools established through passage of the 1862 Morrill Land-Grant Act, which stressed “agriculture and mechanic arts,” with most financial support coming from state departments of agriculture. “With time, and the shift of the North American population to urban settings, direct financial support to land-grant universities has declined sharply, in stark contrast to what has been provided to schools of human medicine, dentistry, and nursing,” says the NAVMEC report. The last major influx of federal funds to veterinary schools came in the late 1970s and early 1980s.

Today, agriculture and farm animal care is just one of the multiple roles veterinarians play, and a shift toward companion animal practice, the human-animal bond, and a “one health” approach has occurred. “One health” focuses on the intersection of human, animal, and eco-system health. “Veterinarians are the only professionals educated in a comparative, cross-species approach to diagnostics, epidemiology, and preventive medicine, which is important for a comprehensive, global, ‘one health’ direction. As this new direction grows, the demand for veterinarians will grow. It will only take a major outbreak of a disease common to humans and animals, bioterrorism attack, or a compromise of the food system infrastructure to dramatically spike an immediate need for additional veterinarians,” Schurig said.

From a financial perspective, “The focus of CVMs shifted and many traditional federal revenue streams dried up without any major new funding to support the important work that CVMs do,” Schurig said. “Now, on top of that, we’re coping with a drastic reduction in state financial support.”

 ”In light of recent trends, CVMs, the AAVMC, and the AVMA need to pursue the NAVMEC report’s recommended approaches now more than ever,” said Dr. Bennie Osburn, interim executive director of the AAVMC. The report recommends that colleges of veterinary medicine provide a cost-effective, quality education with a “one health” approach where CVMs share educational resources and partner with the AVMA and other stakeholders nationally, internationally, and locally, to develop economically viable approaches to veterinary medical education.

The Association of American Veterinary Medical Colleges (AAVMC) is a nonprofit membership organization working to protect and improve the health and welfare of animals, people, and the environment by advancing academic veterinary medicine. Its members include all 33 veterinary medical colleges in the United States and Canada, nine departments of veterinary science, eight departments of comparative medicine, three veterinary medical education institutions, nine international colleges of veterinary medicine, and five affiliate international colleges of veterinary medicine.

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Article source: http://www.petindustrymagazine.com/us-vet-colleges-feel-the-financial-pinch/

“The most distressing finding in this year’s study was the fact that more pet owners are unaware their pet is overweight,” comments APOP founder Dr. Ernie Ward. “Twenty-two percent of dog owners and 15 percent of cat owners characterized their pet as normal weight when it was actually overweight or obese. This is what I refer to as the ‘fat pet gap’ or the normalization of obesity by pet parents. In simplest terms, we’ve made fat pets the new normal.”

Perhaps even worse was the finding that the number of obese pets, those at least 30 percent above normal weight or a body condition score (BCS) of 5, continues to grow despite 93.4 percent of surveyed pet owners identifying pet obesity as a problem. The study found 24.9 percent of all cats were classified as obese and 21.4 percent of all dogs were obese in 2011. That’s up from 2010 when 21.6 percent of cats and 20.6 percent of dogs were found to be obese. “What this tells us is that more and more of our pets are entering into the highest danger zone for weight-related disorders,” says Ward.

Some of the common weight-related conditions in dogs and cats include osteoarthritis, type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, breathing problems, kidney disease, and shortened life expectancy. Orthopedic surgeon, APOP Board member and Director of Clinical Research at the University of Georgia College of Veterinary Medicine Dr. Steve Budsberg states, “The prevention of obesity needs to be at the forefront of all discussions people have about the health of their pet with their veterinarian. The body of evidence that shows the negative impact of obesity on all the body’s systems is overwhelming. As an orthopedic surgeon I see, on a daily basis, the effects of obesity on dogs and cats with osteoarthritis. It is very frustrating to see how much pain and discomfort excess weight has on my patients. Veterinarians and owners have the ability to stop obesity in our pets. No animal goes to the refrigerator or the pantry and helps themselves. We enable our pets to get fat!”

Ward agrees. “Pet obesity is plainly a people problem, not a pet problem. The most important decision pet owners make each day regarding their pet’s health is what they choose to feed it.”

Endocrinologist and fellow APOP Board member Dr. Mark Peterson agrees. “Obesity in dogs and cats is not just the accumulation of large amounts of adipose tissue, but it is associated with important metabolic and hormonal changes in the body. For example, heavy or obese cats are up to four times more likely to develop diabetes as a complication of their obesity. Losing weight can lead to reversal of the diabetic state in some of these obese cats.”

Treats continue to be a major contributor to weight gain in pets. An online poll conducted in October 2011 by APOP of 210 pet owners found 93 percent of all dog and cat owners gave treats. Ninety-five percent gave a commercial treat with 26 percent reporting they gave their pet treats three or more times a day. “Treats are the silent saboteur of slimming down,” remarks Ward. “Those tiny treats often are hiding a significant amount of calories.” Ward suggests offering single-ingredient rewards or fresh vegetables such as baby carrots, string beans, broccoli or other crunchy vegetables.

Veterinary nutritionist and internal medicine specialist Dr. Joe Bartges from the University of Tennessee College of Veterinary Medicine and APOP Board member notes that weight gain in pets can be prevented. “Prevention of obesity is much easier than treating it. The major obstacle is to convince pet owners what ‘overweight’ and ‘obese’ mean and what it looks like. Veterinary health teams must educate the owner and work with them to prevent and treat obesity in their four-legged family members.”

Article source: http://www.dognews.co/alarming-figures-show-pet-obesity-reaches-record-levels/

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Happy Dog, Germany’s leading and largest dried premium dog food manufacturer, in keeping with its philosophies, has recently introduced to the UK, as part of its on going programme of providing premium quality products to a discerning market, a new innovative product for dogs with sensitive digestive systems – AFRICA.

AFRICA is one of Happy Dog’s Halo Brands, inspired by the cuisine of different countries around the world, Happy Dog’s Supreme Sensible Nutrition range not only provides wholesome and tasty food for dogs but it also provides specific solutions for feeding demanding and sensitive dogs, Lovingly prepared and developed by vets in Happy Dog’s factory in Bavaria, this range is even tastier and more easily digestible than many other foods on the market.The food is suitable for fully-grown dogs of all breeds and contains ingredients that reflect regional cuisine.

Happy Dog’s AFRICA contains ostrich meat and is suitable for dogs with food intolerances. There is only one animal protein source in the food and it contains no cereals and only uses gluten-free potatoes so is ideal for dogs with cereal allergies and intolerances.

Ostrich meat is becoming increasingly important for feeding dogs with demanding nutritional requirements. The meat is characterised by its special dark red colour and easy digestibility. The food is available in a medium kibble size, in a range of bag sizes, 300g, 1 kg, 4 kg and 12.5 kg and in small kibble in the ‘My Little Range’ in bags of 700g and 2.5Kg.

Happy Dog is reknowned worldwide for its innovative approach to dog nutrition and continues to develop premium quality products to a discerning market and a further new ‘Halo brand product’ is planned to be launched at Crufts 2012. Further information on this new product will be released in the next few months – stay tuned!

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Article source: http://mydogmagazine.com/dog-news/happy-dogs-ostrich-meat-food-helps-dogs-with-delicate-stomachs-helps-to-aid-projects-in-rwanda/

Every rose has its thorn, so says the song – but thorns on roses or other flowers can be dangerous for dogs or other pets. Biting, stepping on or swallowing stems with thorns increases risk for a puncture, which can result in serious infections internally or externally.

Many people receive chocolate on Valentine’s Day, but chocolate can be toxic to dogs and cats. The darker the chocolate, the more toxic, but dark, milk, semi-sweet and baker’s chocolates all can cause adverse reactions. Darker chocolates contain caffeine-like stimulants that cause gastrointestinal, neurologic, and cardiac functions that can cause vomiting/diarrhea, hyperactivity, seizures and elevated heart rate. High fat in lighter chocolates can cause life-threatening inflammation of the pancreas, so make sure to keep the chocolate where pets can’t reach it.

Cocktails also pose a threat to pets. Because of their smaller size, even a small amount of alcohol stolen from a low-sitting glass or lapped off the floor after a spill can cause dramatic problems like vomiting/diarrhea, lack of coordination, central nervous system depression, tremors, difficulty breathing, and even coma.

In addition, be sure to blow out any unattended candles when you leave the room and put away wrapping paper and bows from gifts after opening. Valentine’s Day can be fun for everyone with just a little forethought. If you think your pet has been poisoned, contact the Pet Poison Helpline at 800.213.6680.

Article source: http://www.dognews.co/could-valentines-day-kill-your-dog/

You dreamed of bringing home Lassie, but you may have a dog that acts more like Cujo! Fortunately, continuing your training sessions will pay off, with a dog that is well behaved and joy to be around.

Never give up on your dog, no matter how exhausted you are. Without reinforcement, your dog will revert to his old behaviors. The learning process for dogs is a constant one; with reminders and reinforcements needed along the way.

During inappropriate chewing training, set your dog up for success. Even more so, an inappropriately-chewing dog needs to be protected. Items like hairbrushes can cause a dog to choke or could block their airway.

If you have a puppy that likes to chew on everything when you are away from home, the easiest solution is to consider an indoor or outdoor kennel to use in your absence. If this is not an option for you, the simplest way keep him from chewing is to close the doors to rooms that have appealing items and put other tempting items out of his reach.

Interesting dog health tip: Read up on food intolerance in dogs your dog’s behavior is directly influenced by their diet.

Accidents will happen sometimes when you house train your pet. Make sure to clean up accidents as soon as they happen. If the accident is left behind, the smell will make your pet think it’s okay to eliminate in that spot. It will be difficult to discourage his eliminating in that spot once a habit is formed. Many cleaning products are made just to eliminate this order, you can find them at any pet store.

If you are looking to train your dog to not use the bathroom inside, housebreaking pads are counter productive. Wee-wee pads are prone to leaks, which make your dog think that it is okay to eliminate in that area due to the smell. Housebreaking pads encourage dogs that indoor bathroom use is okay; similar objects the shape and size of the pads may be used by a mistaken puppy. Always teach your pet that he must go outside to use the bathroom.

The most important part of dog training is to ensure that dog know its name. If you want to have control of your dog, you have to teach him to respond to you. Call them to you at least ten times a day. Never call your dog over to you in order to punish it, either.

Get your dog the proper nutrition required for canine health. An unhealthy diet can have several negative effects on your dog. If your dog isn’t getting what it needs to stay healthy, it could really struggle to find the energy for training or may act out in other ways. By making small changes to your dog’s diet, you can alter their receptiveness to the training.

If your dog has problems with destructive chewing, he may be suffering from anxiety or boredom. Enclosing him in a crate will prevent accidents from occurring and leaving him a chew toy will discourage destruction of your property.

People are often amazed about how easy it can be to train your dog and how quick they see changes. If you are having behavior problems with your dog, read on for some solutions.

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Article source: http://www.petindustrymagazine.com/a-simple-easy-dog-training-plan-for-2012/

Pet-lovers know the importance of a healthy diet for their cats and dogs, but many can’t resist the occasional treat. Now animal charity the PDSA warns that pet obesity rates could reach 50% by 2013, which is shocking news for responsible pet owners.*

Obesity in cats and dogs is preventable with a good diet and regular exercise, but it can cause health problems. A good pet insurance will cover vet’s bills, but owners need to do their bit to make sure obesity-related health problems are kept to a minimum.

Once your pet crosses the line from cute and cuddly to obese, it can be at risk from serious health problems, including diabetes, heart disease, high blood pressure and cancer. Lack of mobility and carrying extra weight can lead to problems with walking and orthopaedic disease and difficulty breathing.

Older dogs and cats are at risk from obesity, mostly due to their sedentary lifestyle, and certain breeds are more prone than others.

The RSPCA suggests carrying out a few checks to make sure your pet isn’t heading for obesity:

- You should be able to see the outline of your pet’s ribs, and feel them, as they shouldn’t be covered by excess body fat.

- When you look at your pet from above, you should be able to see and feel your pet’s waistline.

- Your pet’s stomach should be tucked up, rather than hanging down, when you look at it from the side.

If you’re in any doubt about whether your pet’s weight is within the acceptable limits, your vet should be able to weigh them and advise you on how to start a weight-loss plan if necessary.

There are many steps you can take to prevent obesity in your cat or dog:

Give them regular exercise:
With dogs, this is as easy as going for more, longer walks. A cat may benefit from having a new toy to chase to get it moving around.

Don’t overfeed:
Cats and dogs can be crafty when it comes to “asking” for food, but controlled portions and regular mealtimes are good for them.

Limit the treats:
You might think you’re being kind giving your pet sweet treats, but they don’t need them in their diet. If you automatically throw your leftovers into the dog or cat bowl, think again as the calories can really add up.

* www.pdsa.org.uk/about-us/media-pr-centre/news/1240_pet-slimming-champs-reveal-their-vital-stats

Company Profile:

John Lewis Insurance offers a range of insurance services selected by the John Lewis Partnership. These include car, home, life, travel, wedding, event, cat and dog insurance products.

For more information about John Lewis Pet Insurance please visit the website here – www.johnlewis-insurance.com.

John Lewis Insurance is a trading name of John Lewis plc. John Lewis plc is an appointed representative of AXA Insurance UK plc which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Services Authority.

Terms, conditions, limitations, exclusions and eligibility criteria apply. A full copy of the policy wording and the insurance complaints procedure are available on request.

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Article source: http://www.petindustrymagazine.com/pet-insurance-and-obesity/

According to new research, the ongoing economic growth in India has been replicated in the pet sector.

The number of pet shops is increasing rapidly and driving growth of pet products in India. Veterinary clinics are also growing in number and more vets are becoming involved in retailing. Many grooming products have become available over the review period and are expected to do well, according to trade sources.

Typically imported, some examples of these include Isle of Dogs, Furminator, Karlie and Plush Puppy.

Indian pet owning consumers are also starting to become aware of pet dietary supplements.

India, often referred to as one of the leading global growth opportunities – part of the ‘BRIC’ group of countries (Brazil, Russia, India, China) has a rapidly emerging pet consumer society.

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Spectrum Brands Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: SPB), a global consumer products company with market-leading brands, announced today its United Pet Group (UPG) subsidiary has completed the acquisition of FURminator®, the leading worldwide provider of branded and patented deshedding products to the pet industry, from HKW Capital Partners III, L.P. and the other shareholders. A definitive agreement to acquire FURminator was announced on December 6.

“FURminator is an ideal fit with our stated strategy to seek synergistic, bolt-on acquisitions that expand our product line with strong, complementary brands in growing categories, increase and extend our market penetration, and provide for manufacturing and distribution synergies”

“FURminator is an outstanding addition to UPG and its broad companion animal product portfolio, giving us the global leadership position in the large and growing $200 million dog and cat grooming category,” said Dave Lumley, Chief Executive Officer of Spectrum Brands Holdings. “This accretive acquisition, which will enhance our margins, offers major revenue growth opportunities as well as manufacturing, supply chain and distribution synergies which we expect to quickly realize over the next 12 to 18 months.”

Founded in 2002 and with annual revenues of nearly $40 million, FURminator markets professional quality dog and cat products for the worldwide grooming tools and accessories category using two brands: FURminator® in the North American pet channel and internationally and FurGOpet® in the North American mass merchandise channel.

“FURminator is an ideal fit with our stated strategy to seek synergistic, bolt-on acquisitions that expand our product line with strong, complementary brands in growing categories, increase and extend our market penetration, and provide for manufacturing and distribution synergies,” Mr. Lumley said.

“FURminator will help advance our dual strategy,” he continued, “of accretive, bolt-on acquisitions and a resulting faster rate of debt reduction and deleveraging in fiscal 2012 and 2013 from the growth these acquisitions provide.”

Based in Cincinnati, Ohio and with fiscal 2011 net sales of $579 million, United Pet Group, Inc. is a subsidiary of Spectrum Brands Holdings, Inc., and is the leading manufacturer of consumer products for the pet supply markets globally. United Pet Group provides its customers with innovative products of outstanding quality for pet owners, including dogs, cat, birds, small animals, fish and reptiles. Its brands –Tetra®, Marineland®, Nature’s Miracle®, Dingo® — are well recognized by consumers for delivering exceptional value and trusted results. United Pet Group’s passion and longstanding commitment to quality and value has earned the confidence of its global retail partners, who count on United Pet Group to deliver innovative and highly profitable products, customized solutions and merchandising excellence.

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The UK’s lucky canines can expect to enjoy the festive season as much as their owners as an incredible 49% of owners will be preparing them their very own special doggie dinner on the big day.

According to the recent survey carried out on behalf of Direct Line Pet Insurance, of the 1,021 dog owners questioned, almost half (49%) are planning to make a special Christmas meal for their dogs and with 46% planning a special family walk with their dog, it will soon be walked off!

Adam Whiteley, head of pet insurance at Direct Line, offered this advice to dog owners: “Dog owners going to the trouble of cooking a special Christmas dinner for their best furry friend are clearly doing so out of love and festive spirit. It’s worth remembering that there are a few things dogs shouldn’t eat at all, even on special occasions, as doing so can make them very ill or even cause death in extreme cases. Chocolate, raisins, onions, and added salt should all be avoided, as should sharp or small bones. It’s a good idea to make sure that all food items and treats are stored well out of reach of pets, during the holidays and all year round.”

According to the survey, 89% of Britain’s dogs can expect a delivery from Santa left under the tree for them to spend the holidays enjoying.

40% Britain’s dogs will have an average of £10 on presents spent this year with a lucky 9% having gifts worth more than £100 awaiting them.

Toys are the most favoured present of choice, but pampering with collars, leads and clothes also top the list of most desired presents.

However, with 26% of Britain’s dogs enjoying chewing presents, it might be advisable to make sure Santa’s little four legged helpers have someone keeping an eye out for them.

K9 Magazine editor Ryan O’Meara offered this thoughts on the findings,“The fact that nearly half of all dog owners are preparing to fully include their canine pals in the Christmas festivities is indicative of just how much the relationship between pets and their owners has changed in modern times. Dogs are now considered fully fledged members of the family and this research highlights just how seriously owners take that relationship. Dogs bring us so much joy every day, it’s nice to hear that owners take great delight in including them at this special time.”

Article source: http://www.dognews.co/half-of-uk-dogs-will-receive-christmas-dinner/