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ElleVet Sciences – a science-focused pet CBD+CBDA company – is kicking off their third year of The ElleVet Project. According to a company release, the nonprofit project from the company aims to improve the health and well-being of homeless dogs across America and will begin June 2, 2022.

The ElleVet Project will provide free veterinary care, food, and supplies to the pets without homes and street pets in vulnerable communities throughout the United States.

This year, the project is expanding the relief tour to include California, New York, Illinois, Massachusetts, Washington, Montana, and Florida. The complete schedule of dates and locations is available on the nonprofit’s website.

ElleVet Sciences first developed this program in 2020, when its co-founders, Amanda Howland and Christian Kjaer, recognized the hardships COVID-19 brought to homeless animals—knowing they had even fewer resources than usual and pets were in a very vulnerable position.

“By expanding this year’s relief efforts to five new cities, including Seattle, Portland, Boston, Chicago, and New York City, we will be able to reach more people and their much-loved pets,” said Howland. “Our efforts these past few years have taught us first-hand how helping a pet can change their owner’s life for the better both emotionally and physically.”

Collaborating with city officials and municipalities, the project hosts a rotating team of veterinarians that provide free veterinary care to vulnerable animals. By partnering with sponsors that donate medical supplies, food, and local professional assistance, The ElleVet Project offers services that range from vaccines, flea and tick preventatives, deworming, general checkups, and even emergency surgeries.

 Traveling directly to these communities in need allows the mobile tour to treat pets that may have little to no access to transportation to receive veterinary care.

“It takes an enormous amount of planning, financial support, veterinary professionals, and businesses to pull off such relief efforts and we are excited to see the impact we will make this year in helping thousands of pets," said Kjaer.

Donations towards vaccines, medical supplies, food, and emergency surgeries can also be accepted on the website. Every donation goes towards funding the charity’s mission of reaching as many vulnerable and voiceless animals as possible.

The ElleVet Project announces 2022 relief mission to provide free veterinary care, food, supplies to pets of the homeless and street pets throughout California, New York, Illinois, Massachusetts, Washington, Montana, and Florida beginning June 2, 2022. News release. ElleVet Sciences. May 24, 2022.

Articles

For its third year, the ElleVet Project expands its outreach to more cities across the United States 

The ElleVet Project announces 2022 relief mission

Happy Friday! In observation of Memorial Day approaching, we want to express our condolences and admiration to all the brave men and women in our armed forces who have lost their lives fighting for the United States. While we enjoy a long weekend, make sure to take time and remember these individuals. 

 of The Vet Blast Podcast, Student American Veterinary Medical Association president Zachery Tooley discussed how his military career helped him find his way to veterinary medicine, plus what kind of military work veterinarians can do.

 with dvm360, Fred Wininger, VMD, MS, DACVIM (Neurology), shared how performing neurological exams can be compared to following a cooking recipe.

Our May dvm360® product report is now online! 

 our regular rundown of notable and new products in veterinary medicine.

Earlier this week, the American Veterinary Medical Association 

 Steve Dale, CABC, the inaugural winner of the AVMA Excellence in Media Award, which subsequently is named the AVMA Steve Dale Excellence in Media Award.

To help protect K9 police dogs from fentanyl overdoses, Good Air Team, LLC, 

 its development of a K9 Mask dog air filter.

Have you registered for our Directions In Veterinary Medicine conference from June 24-25 in Indianapolis? There is still time to sign up! Register 

News wrap-up: This week’s headlines, plus check out the dvm360 product report

The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) sent warning letters to 4 businesses selling unapproved animal drugs containing cannabidiol (CBD) that are intended for use in food animals. According to a statement released by the FDA, the companies include Haniel Concepts dba Free State Oils, Hope Botanicals, Plantacea LLC dba Kahm CBD and Kingdom Harvest.

To date, the FDA has not approved products containing CBD for humans or animals, except for one prescription drug product to treat rare, severe forms of epilepsy in children.

 All other CBD products intended for use as a drug are considered unapproved drugs and are illegal to sell under the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic (FD&C) Act.

The aforementioned companies made health claims, enumerated in the warning letters, such as helping “farm animals with stress, anxiety, pain, inflammation, injuries…” and providing “support to help manage normal stress, promote a calming effect, maintain a healthy gut, maintain a normal and balanced behavior, maintain healthy joints, maintain a normal inflammatory response….” The FDA said these statements establish the product as drugs, and therefore in violation of the FD&C Act.

“While the FDA does not know the current extent of CBD use in food-producing animals, the agency is taking steps regarding these unapproved and potentially unsafe products now to help protect animals and the safety of the food supply,” read an FDA press release.

The FDA said the concern regarding these CBD products is twofold: First, there is a lack of data on the safety, efficacy, and proper dosage with respect to the health of the animal consuming the CBD products. Second, there is a lack of data about the safety of the human food products (meat, milk and eggs) derived from the animals that have consumed said CBD products.

“In addition, the manufacturing processes of unapproved CBD drug products have not been reviewed by the FDA as part of the human or animal drug approval processes,” said the FDA in a press release. “The FDA has received reports of some CBD products containing contaminants such as pesticides and heavy metals, thus introducing additional concerns for the use of CBD products.”

All of the letters were co-signed by FDA’s Center for Food Safety and Nutrition and the Center for Drug Evaluation and Research.

FDA warns four companies for illegally selling CBD products intended for use in food-producing animals. News release. US Food and Drug Administration. May 26, 2022. Accessed May 26, 2022. 

https://www.fda.gov/animal-veterinary/cvm-updates/fda-warns-four-companies-illegally-selling-cbd-products-intended-use-food-producing-animals

FDA approves first drug comprised of an active ingredient derived from marijuana to treat rare, severe forms of epilepsy. News release. US Food and Drug Administration. June 25, 2018. Accessed May 26, 2022. 

https://www.fda.gov/news-events/press-announcements/fda-approves-first-drug-comprised-active-ingredient-derived-marijuana-treat-rare-severe-forms

Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FD&C Act). US Food and Drug Administration. Accessed May 26, 2022. 

https://www.fda.gov/regulatory-information/laws-enforced-fda/federal-food-drug-and-cosmetic-act-fdc-act

The FDA says the CBD products violate the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act.

FDA warns 4 companies for illegally selling CBD products intended for use in food-producing animals

Pups sporting Giving Paws' vegan leather leashes (Photo courtesy of Giving Paws).

Giving Paws—a new LA-based pet supply company—is offering affordable, functional, and durable canine and feline products. Each purchase will support local shelters and rescues, aiming to improve conditions and quality of life while pets wait to find their forever homes.

"Our products fill the practical needs of pet owners and are based on the knowledge of pet-care professionals," expressed Gina Castagnozzi, Giving Paws founder, in a company release.

"Our mission is to offer top-quality items that improve life for pets and their owners, while giving back to their local animal communities."

Compostable, plant-based, plastic-free dog waste bag dispensers

Design blankets made of soft Sherpa and polyester printed fleece

Additional items to be available in late summer/early fall 2022 include

: padded reflective nylon collars, quick-release martingale dog collars, padded reflective nylon dog leashes with traffic handles, colorful cat collars, leashes, harness sets, dog bandanas, and more.

Giving Paws’ products were designed by Castagnozzi, who has worked with dogs professionally for over 10 years where she was introduced to rescue organizations. While volunteering with shelters and rescues, she witnessed the overcrowding and underfunding these organizations face and was inspired to launch Giving Paws.

These products are available on the company's website and select independent pet stores throughout Los Angeles.

Giving Paws launches high quality pet products dedicated to supporting homeless pets. News release. Giving Paws. May 26, 2022. Accessed May 26, 2022. https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/giving-paws-launches-high-quality-pet-products-dedicated-to-supporting-homeless-pets-301556071.html

Company announces 20% of proceeds from its products will go to animal rescues, beginning with Los Angeles organizations 

Giving Paws unveils pet products striving to support homeless pets

On this episode of The Vet Blast Podcast, Staci Scolavino, VMD, and Adam Christman, DVM, MBA, discuss the impact on appetite and metabolism after a spay or neuter procedure and explain how these often lead to significant weight gain in patients. Scolavino shares why today’s diet and nutrition solutions aren’t working, what the latest research is saying, and offers a proactive approach to enhance care and support your practice.

Below is a partial transcript. Listen to the full podcast for more.

: You want to be having the weight management conversation early and often when you have those puppies and kittens coming in for their early vaccine appointments. Set the stage there. Talk to them about how we're going to keep that dog or cat an ideal body weight throughout their life. Tell them that after spay and neuter they will have some metabolic physiologic changes that are going to occur.

Podcasts

How spay and neuter procedures affect appetite and metabolism and how to address those changes through diet and nutrition

New body, new diet with Staci Scolavino

In this dvm360® interview, Elizabeth Colleran, DVM, DABVP (Feline Practice), describes how Feline Infectious Peritonitis (FIP) develops in cats. Plus, she shares how this disease has been fatal in cats until recently with the emergence COVID-19 drugs used to treat humans posing as a viable solution. 

View the video below for the entire discussion. The following is a partial transcript.

Elizabeth Colleran, DVM, DABVP (Feline Practice)

: FIP [Feline Infectious Peritonitis] is a coronavirus that mutates from a harmless coronavirus into one that up until recently has been fatal. It causes terrible illness in cats, and has been a problem . . . and universally fatal until recently.

Videos

During this interview at the Fetch dvm360® conference in Charlotte, North Carolina, Elizabeth Colleran, DVM, DABVP (Feline Practice), explains what FIP is, plus why it is no longer deadly for cats. 

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