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Morris Animal Foundation (MAF) announced that Kathy Tietje, PhD, MBA, has accepted the role of the chief program officer. Tietje, MAF’s former vice president of science operations, was the interim leader for the scientific programs team and served on the Foundation’s executive team.

“This is a strategic shift for Morris Animal Foundation to continue our growth as the leading funder advancing animal health studies and initiatives,” said Tiffany Grunert, president and CEO of Morris Animal Foundation, in an organizational release.

 “Dr Tietje has extensive background in research operations, project management, grantmaking, and product development. After working with her over the last six months in the interim role, it’s clear she is the ideal candidate to lead granting and internal research functions."

Tietje joined MAF in 2019 as senior director of Golden Retriever Lifetime Study and in 2020 became vice president of scientific operations. According to the release,

 Tietje will now be responsible for the Scientific Grants Program, Golden Retriever Lifetime Stud, and oversight and scientific direction of the CitizenPet. She will also closely collaborate with the MAF’s development and marketing teams providing support for communication efforts with its marketing team.

“The Foundation has a rich history of funding scientific research to advance animal health, and I am honored to help safeguard that legacy as we move into the future,” said Tietje.

 “Animal health is tied inextricably to human health, and it’s exciting for me to serve an organization whose mission is focused on the animals that share our homes and our environment.”

Morris Animal Foundation announces new Chief Program Officer. News release. March 30, 2023. Accessed March 30, 2023.

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The foundation’s former vice president of science operations will take on this new role 

Morris Animal Foundation appoints new chief program officer 

 Image courtesy of The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) announced in a teleconference earlier this month that cat-transmitted sporotrichosis has emerged in Brazil as a zoonotic epidemic and major public health threat. The conference call also stated that there is a potential for this disease to make its way into the United States, putting cats, veterinarians, and pet parents all at risk.

“Cat-transmitted sporotrichosis is certainly a concern for the United States,” expressed Ian Hennessee, PhD, epidemic intelligence service officer in the Mycotic Diseases Branch of the CDC, in the monthly Zoonoses & One Health Updates Call.

 “Its establishment would be a threat to stray and domestic cat populations and also a risk to veterinarians and cat owners.”

According to a release by the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA),

 cats are known to carry high quantities of 

, which is easily spread to other cats to humans, and then possibly to dogs. Sporotrichosis is caused by a group of fungi from the 

genus that have worldwide, especially in tropical and subtropical regions. Cat-transmitted sporotrichosis was first identified in Brazil in the 1980s and has since made its way across Brazil, Chile, and Argentina.

The most common form of sporotrichosis is skin infections. According to the CDC,

 the sporotrichosis infection starts when fungus enters the skin through a cut or scrape. This will typically happen after encountering contaminated plant matter.

Infected cats will present with lesions on their face, often around their nose. The lesion develops from wounds from a fight with an infected cat and when the cat licks the infected wounds and then other parts of their body, the fungi are then transferred to the animal’s face and mouth.

 For humans, the most affected areas are the skin on the hands or arms.

Hennessee encourages veterinary professionals to notify local health departments about suspected cases or unusual sporotrichosis trends.

CDC issues warning about spread of cat-transmitted sporotrichosis. News release. American Veterinary Medical Association. March 29, 2023. Accessed March 30, 2023. 

https://www.avma.org/news/cdc-issues-warning-about-spread-cat-transmitted-sporotrichosis

Sporothrix brasiliensis. Cdc.gov. Published July 5, 2022. Accessed March 30, 2023. https://www.cdc.gov/fungal/diseases/sporotrichosis/brasiliensis.html

Cat-transmitted sporotrichosis is a major threat to Brazil with fears of spreading to the United States

CDC issues warning over cat-transmitted sporotrichosis

Apollo, a platform powered by artificial intelligence (AI), is now automating routine claim processes such as document handling, data extraction and claim adjudicationfor Embrace Pet Insurance. The first-to-market platform, which was built and designed completely in-house, is more than 75% faster than Embrace’s standard claims processing method, according to the company.

“Apollo will enable our team to be more productive and efficient, while maximizing the speed at which claims are reimbursed. AI is not replacing the expertise of our claims adjusters, but rather allows them to focus on more complex claims and projects where their experience is best utilized,” said Brian Macias, president of Embrace Pet Insurance, in an organizational release. Using the proprietary Lightning Claims protocol to predetermine covered claims, Apollo has already processed nearly 250,000 claims since June 2022. These claims represent more than 50% of all claims processed during that time period.

Since the tool’s introduction, Embrace has leveraged Apollo to improve customer service and provide even more efficient reimbursements while also freeing up critical time for Embrace claims adjusters to focus on high-value activities like providing personalized client communications, strengthening customer relationships and addressing complex claims. “Embrace’s Apollo processing system ensures we provide an exceptional customer experience through a unique combination of AI technology, human intelligence and top-tier customer support,” said Macias, in the release.

Although the platform is currently being used primarily by the claims team, Embrace is highly invested in expanding the use of AI across all aspects of the business where there is the opportunity for processes to be improved and benefit from automation. “This platform is a groundbreaking development within the pet insurance industry, and our team is paving the way of the future with this modernized approach,” added Macias.

Embrace Pet Insurance launches modern approach to claims processing with proprietary ai solution. News release. Embrace Pet Insurance. March 30, 2023. [email]

The platform created by Embrace Pet Insurance is 75% faster than the company’s standard method 

An AI solution is speeding up insurance claims processing 

 Conference in Charlotte, North Carolina, faculty member Sue Ettinger DVM, DACVIM (Oncology)—also known as Dr Sue Cancer Vet—highlighted 3 categories of inappetence and what they may indicate in pet patients. 

The following is a partial transcript of the video.

The [category of inappetence] that we're probably dealing with most in practice on a day-to-day basis is going to be secondary. And we're going to dive deep into the different causes in the talk. But you know, those are the things that I think about cancer, secondary to kidney disease, heart disease, and then a lot of the medications that we use in practice.

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In an interview at Fetch Charlotte, Dr Sue Ettinger shares the importance of categorizing appetite loss for proper treatment

3 categories of inappetence in dogs

The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has just approved Tauramox as the first generic moxidectin injectable solution indicated for "beef and nonlactating dairy cattle for the treatment and control of internal and external parasites in cattle."

 Tauramox is an antiparasitic drug that contains the same concentration of moxidectin in the same injectable dosage form as the approved brand name drug product, Cydectin, which was first approved on May 20, 2005. As with Cydectin, residues in food products derived from beef and nonlactating dairy cattle treated with Tauramox will not represent a public health concern when the product is used according to the label.

The FDA advises that the rate of administration for Tauramox Injectable is 1 mL for each 110 lb (50 kg) body weight to provide 0.2 mg moxidectin/2.2 lb (0.2 mg/kg) body weight. Tauramox will now be available over the counter and supplied in a 10 mg/ml concentration in 250 and 500 mL bottles.

The FDA strongly advises that when administering Tauramox, veterinary professionals be careful to estimate the animal’s body weight as closely as possible. This is important to avoid overdosing or underdosing the animal in order to ensure each animal receives a complete dose based on a current body weight. According to the FDA, underdosing may result in ineffective treatment and encourage the development of parasite resistance.

When administered at the correct dosage, Tauramox is effective at treating and controlling the following parasites in cattle:

For specific species, go to: https://animaldrugsatfda.fda.gov/adafda/app/search/public/document/downloadFoi/13677

FDA approves first generic moxidectin injectable solution for the treatment and control of parasites in cattle. News release. US Food and Drug Administration. March 30, 2023. https://www.fda.gov/animal-veterinary/cvm-updates/fda-approves-first-generic-moxidectin-injectable-solution-treatment-and-control-parasites-cattle?utm_medium=email&utm_source=govdelivery

Tauramox is the first generic moxidectin injectable solution to control internal and external parasites

FDA approves first generic moxidectin injectable solution for cattle parasite treatment

Chouchou, a male Persian kitten, was born with a severe cleft palate (unfused mouth roof), so it was known early on it would be challenging for him to survive. Fortunately, a local veterinarian phoned Hannah Shaw, “the Kitten Lady,” founder of the Orphan Kitten Club, who willingly agreed to take in Chouchou with the understanding of the complexities he would face as he reached the time to undergo corrective surgery. Chouchou (pronounced “shoe shoe”) was named after his small size (0.13 pounds), and the fact he was so small that he was brought to Shaw in a shoe box.

Chouchou at home taking in some fresh air from his outdoor catio following his cleft palate surgery at the UC Davis veterinary hospital (Photo courtesy of @kittenxlady Instagram).

“I like taking on cases that are big challenges or are unprecedented,” stated Shaw, in a UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine release.

 “In Chouchou’s scenario, we had a lot of cards stacked against us, but it was a ‘one day at a time’ thing.” For 6 months, Shaw tube fed Chouchou until he was big enough to visit UC Davis for a consultation with the Dentistry and Oral Surgery Service (DOSS).

In cases, such as Chouchou’s, where cleft palates are significantly extensive, they are difficult to repair because of the lack of available tissues to assist the repair and the high risk of failure. Despite the potential risks, the DOSS team consulted with Shaw, and attempted to repair her kitten’s cleft palate. “What I appreciate about UC Davis is its willingness to explore uncharted territory,” added Shaw, in the release. “And doing that with the best information and research possible. That willingness to not just say, ‘We haven’t done this before, so we can’t.’”

repairing a cleft palate typically is a 2-stage process. The first stage consists of surgical planning and then extraction of several teeth to increase the amount of soft tissue available for repair of the palate. DOSS’ preparations included the use of CT scan for better visualization of the defect and then using that technology’s images to 3D print a model of Chouchou’s skull, mandible, and teeth.

DOSS faculty members Boaz Arzi, DVM, DAVDC, DEVDC, FF-AVDC-OMFS, and Stephanie Goldschmidt, DVM, in addition to resident Elias Wolfs, DMV, successfully completed the first stage on Chouchou without complication, removing 8 teeth. While Chouchou healed from the extractions, the surgeons did a more in-depth study of the CT images and 3D printout and planned the second stage of the process, the corrective surgery.

Three months later, Chouchou returned to the UC Davis veterinary hospital and was prepared for surgery by the Anesthesia Service. The surgery included both hard and soft palate repairs, both of which were successful. Chouchou was hospitalized for 7 nights, including the first night in the Intensive Care Unit, until he got the OK to be discharged.

At a 1-month recheck, Chouchou’s palate defect was mostly healed. When he was under anesthesia at that time, the hospital’s Access To Care Program neutered, microchipped, and vaccinated him.

Now its 4 months post-surgery, and Shaw said that Chouchou continues to recover well and is eating mainly wet food, along with some initial feedings of kibble. “We had such a great experience working with Drs Arzi, Goldschmidt, and Wolfs and their entire team,” she expressed. “The Orphan Kitten Club is all about finding other innovative minds who have the compassion and propensity to explore these uncharted cases and treatment modalities to see what’s possible.”

Shaw continues to foster Chouchou as he recovers and faces other health complications.

Oral surgeons correct kitten’s severe left palate. News release. UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine. March 26, 2023. Accessed March 30, 2023. https://www.vetmed.ucdavis.edu/news/oral-surgeons-correct-kittens-severe-cleft-palate

Chouchou successfully recovers despite potential risks associated with surgery 

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