Veterinary Medicine Update

• Tetracycline decreases sperm viability, study shows
  Researchers from the University of Nevada, Reno, found that the antibiotic tetracycline decreased sperm viability in male pseudoscorpions and their untreated male offspring. The research is part of an effort funded by the National Science Foundation to identify factors involved in reduced male fertility. ScienceDaily (4/27)     

• Antibiotic to treat plague is approved by FDA
  The FDA recently approved the use of Levaquin, or levofloxacin, for the treatment and prevention of plague, a deadly disease caused by yersinia pestis, which is transmitted by fleas and animals. Some 94% of monkeys infected with plague survived after treatment with the drug. USA TODAY/The Associated Press (4/29)     

• Company recalls chicken feed
  Minnesota-based Feed Solutions has voluntarily recalled 50-pound bags in one lot of its DuMOR poultry layer 16 percent crumbles because the feed was mislabeled. The incorrectly packaged feed, sold primarily to backyard farmers, poses a risk if fed to young chicks, and at least one complaint has been filed. WOOD-TV (Grand Rapids, Mich.)/The Associated Press (4/27)     

• Follow @AVMARecallWatch on Twitter to stay up to date on pet food recalls and alerts      

• Veterinarian has impact in Afghanistan
  Dr. George McCommon, the only veterinarian in the Georgia National Guard, just completed a year in Afghanistan as part of a team whose mission was to provide agricultural information. McCommon, who volunteered for the mission, and his team helped the Afghan people improve the quality of feed for livestock, as well as stop a brucellosis outbreak. The Macon Telegraph (Ga.) (4/28)     

• Other News

• Theory explaining how tigers' stripes develop is called into question
  LiveScience.com (4/27)     

• Traditional and chiropractic therapies improve dairy production for some
  Herald Times Reporter (Manitowoc, Wis.) (4/27)     

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Animal News

• Oncologists and technicians make a difference for pets with cancer
  Bob Riter, executive director of the Cancer Resource Center of the Finger Lakes, recently visited veterinary oncologists and technicians at Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine and was impressed by their compassion. Riter writes that the complexity of a veterinary oncologist's job includes understanding how cancer manifests in different species, helping clients make decisions for pets, and knowing when curative vs. palliative care is needed. The Ithaca Journal (N.Y.) (4/29)     

• View AVMA's brochure on cancer in animals      

• Brachycephalic breeds' snoring could require surgery
  When brachycephalic breeds have difficulty breathing, cosmetic surgery is therapeutic, and owners should not worry about the change in the dog's appearance, but instead focus on the improved health aspects of the procedure, writes veterinarian John De Jong. Born with long soft palates and pushed-in nares, brachycephalic breeds often suffer from respiratory problems; surgery to shorten the soft palate and increase the diameter of the nares can improve their quality of life. Boston Herald (4/29)     

• Coping with the death of a pet
  People can have some closure when a human relative dies through conversations with the loved one before they die, but that's often not the case with pets. Strategies to help owners cope with their pet's death, including maintaining a normal routine and considering the death's effect on other pets in the home, are discussed in this article. FoxNews.com (4/28)     

• View AVMA's When Your Animal Dies brochure      

• Use common sense when exercising with pets
  Just like humans, dogs that have been inside and less active most of the winter need time to get back into shape before hitting the pavement or the park for a good workout this spring, says veterinarian Tim Wright. Additionally, owners should take into account their pet's age, medical history, temperament and weather conditions before starting exercise. The News Journal (Wilmington, Del.) (4/27)     

• Population growth increases rabies exposure
  In areas with more concentrated human populations, people and animals are more likely to be exposed to rabies, and Georgia has seen an uptick in cases this year. "[Animals'] populations increase as the human population increases. They are very adaptable to humans," said veterinarian Valeri Love. The Times (Gainesville, Ga.) (4/28)     

• View AVMA's rabies brochure      

• Other News

• Be happy; your dog is
  The Washington Post (4/29)     

• Campus-romping bear is sedated and relocated
  Time.com (4/28)     

• 1,800 pythons have been captured in the Everglades since 2002
  The Washington Post (4/28)     

Around the Office

• EEOC issues update on criminal-background-check policy
  A new policy from the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission states that while employers might consider an applicant's criminal record in making a hiring decision, they cannot have a policy that completely rules out those who have been convicted of a crime. The EEOC says such an employer policy could have a disparate impact on racial and ethnic minorities and could violate employment discrimination laws. The New York Times (tiered subscription model) (4/25)     

Policy Watch

• Federal Trade Commission supports Ala. spay/neuter clinic bill
  The Federal Trade Commission sent a letter to the Alabama Senate in support of HB156, known as the spay/neuter clinic protection bill, which would allow non-veterinarians to own spay/neuter clinics and employ veterinarians. Opponents prefer the current standard, which does not permit low-cost spay/neuter clinics unless they are owned by a veterinarian. The Birmingham News (Ala.) (4/29)     

Hot Topics

Top five news stories selected by Animal Health SmartBrief readers in the past week.

• Bartonella is linked to rheumatoid illness in people (ScienceDaily)

• BSE is confirmed in Calif. dairy cow (USA TODAY)

• Police charge woman who allegedly attempted to neuter her own dog (KULR-TV (Billings, Mont.))

• Sled dogs' killer is charged following exhumations (The Province (Vancouver, British Columbia))

• Smartphone application provides pet poison information (AnnArbor.com (Mich.))

• Results based on number of times each story was clicked by readers.

Featured Content

Association News

• Podcast: Bobcat Fever
  Bobcat fever, or cytauxzoonosis, is a deadly tickborne disease that not only affects wild cats, but can threaten our housecats as well. As the tick responsible for transmitting bobcat fever has spread across the country in recent years, so has the disease. Fortunately, a recently developed method of treatment for bobcat fever has greatly increased survival rates for cats infected with the disease. In this podcast, Dr. Leah Cohn, professor of small animal internal medicine at the University of Missouri College of Veterinary Medicine, discusses bobcat fever and the new treatment protocol, which she helped develop. Listen to the podcast.     

SmartQuote

A sound mind in a sound body is a short but full description of a happy state in this world." --John Locke, British philosopher