The American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) announced in an organizational release

 that the U.S. National List of Reportable Animal Diseases (NLRAD) is expected for publication sometime this year. The NLRAD was drafted in March 2020 by The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) with new rules and standards for reporting animal diseases.

The NLRAD regulations would add mandatory disease reporting across the U.S. with immediate notification to APHIS and state animal health officials.

In the release, APHIS spokesman Mike Stepien, stated, “The information gathered through NLRAD will provide a national baseline of animal disease across the U.S. and improve early disease detection and response, including emerging pathogens with zoonotic potential like SARS-CoV-2.”

APHIS officials plan to include 2 tiers of diseases. One tier is for notifiable diseases and conditions for which the agency will require immediate reports when veterinarians or other animal health professionals suspect or identify cases. The second tier is for monitored diseases that state agencies and animal health diagnostic laboratories will describe in monthly reports.

“If you suspect an emerging animal disease, you must report it as soon as you think an animal or groups of animals are infected,” the draft rule states. “This awareness may be through observation of case-compatible clinical signs, laboratory test–positive samples, or other knowledge of infection.”

While the contents of the proposed list are focused on farm animal diseases, it includes some diseases that affect companion animals, zoo animals, and wildlife, as well as endangered agricultural animals.

Some notifiable diseases listed by the NLRAD would include

Highly pathogenic avian influenza, an H5N1 strain which has killed tens of millions of poultry in an epizootic across much of North America this year

Chronic wasting disease, which is a neurodegenerative disease spreading among cervids across the U.S. and Canada

Rabbit hemorrhagic disease, which has killed unknown numbers of rabbits and hares in the Western U.S. in recent years

African swine fever, a highly contagious disease that can kill entire herds and emerged last year in the Dominican Republic and Haiti.

“The purpose of the NLRAD is to have consistent animal disease reporting across the United States and to help animal health officials protect the U.S. agriculture infrastructure,” the draft standards state.

Cima, G. New animal disease reporting rules may arrive this year. News release. American Veterinary Medical Association. July 5, 2022. Accessed July 6, 2022. https://www.avma.org/news/new-animal-disease-reporting-rules-may-arrive-year?utm_source=delivra&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=todays-headlines-news

Articles

The U.S. National List of Reportable Animal Diseases was drafted in 2020 and now is in final review for publication this year

Animal disease reporting rules expected for publication by end of 2022

Primal Pet Foods has voluntarily recalled a single lot (#W10068709) of Raw Frozen Primal Patties for Dogs Beef Formula (6-lb), with best by date of 05/22/23, because of possible contamination with 

 this recall is a result of routine sampling by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, which discovered a positive result for 

 in 1 sample from 1 lot of Raw Frozen Primal Patties for Dogs Beef Formula. In late April 2022, Primal Pet Foods distributed 66 cases (396 units) of this single lot of patties to Maryland, Georgia, Texas, and British Columbia. No other lot codes or products made by the company are affected by this announcement.

 rarely cause illness in dogs, it can occur with mild symptoms (eg, diarrhea and vomiting).

 Dogs without symptoms can even be carrier of the bacteria and spread it to humans. If a dog has eaten the recalled product, pet owners are urged to contact their veterinarian.

by handling contaminated food or touching surfaces that have been exposed to it. Symptoms can include fever, headache, muscle aches, stiff neck, nausea, abdominal pain, diarrhea, confusion, loss of balance, and convulsions.

 Young children, elderly people, pregnant women, and individuals with weakened immune systems are more vulnerable to infections caused by the bacteria. If you have experienced symptoms after handling the product, the company advises you to consult your healthcare provider.

 Primal Pet Foods has received no complaints or reports of illness to pets or humans associated with the recalled product.

Primal Pet Food uses a "test and hold" protocol to ensure that all products test negative for dangerous bacteria before being distributed for sale. Primal Pet Foods confirmed that all testing results on this single lot of recalled product were negative for 

Primal Pet Food has advised that if a pet owner has a product from this single lot, they should stop feeding it to their pet and discard it instantly.

Primal Pet Foods voluntary recalls a single lot of raw frozen patties beef formula due to potential contamination with Listeria monocytogenes. News release. Primal Pet Group. July 6, 2022. Accessed July 6, 2022. https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/primal-pet-foods-voluntary-recalls-a-single-lot-of-raw-frozen-patties-beef-formula-due-to-potential-contamination-with-listeria-monocytogenes-301581729.html

Products in single lot may be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes

Primal Pet Foods voluntarily recalls single lot of raw frozen patties beef formula

A new veterinary drug for sedation and pain relief in dogs is now available. The drug, an alpha-2 agonist medetomidine and vatinoxan combination (Zenalpha; Vetcare Oy and Dechra), is indicated for use as a sedative and analgesic in dogs to facilitate clinical examinations, clinical procedures, and minor surgical procedures, according to an announcement by Dechra.

The combination sedative was developed by Vetcare Oy in Finland and Dechra holds the marketing authorization in the United States. The drug 

, and was the first approval marked by the FDA for vatinoxan.

The combination of the alpha-2 agonist medetomidine and vatinoxan provides a unique balance of central and peripheral activity that minimizes cardiovascular adverse effects while maintaining the sedative and analgesic properties of medetomidine.

“Veterinarians routinely utilize sedatives in their daily practice to ensure the safety and comfort of their patients and the hospital team. Current canine sedatives carry some concern for cardiac function while the patient is sedated,” said Nancy Zimmerman, DVM, group business development director at Dechra, in an organizational press release.

“[The] combination of medetomidine and vatinoxan addresses one of those key concerns about patient safety during sedation by minimizing cardiovascular [adverse] effects,” she added.

According to Dechra, the alpha-2 agonist combination has a short duration of sedation—approximately 45 minutes in most dogs, with a mean duration of 38 minutes.

“The veterinary hospital team can spend less time waiting for the patient to become sedated and recover, and more importantly to the pet owner, the dog can return home sooner,” Zimmerman stated in the release.

Because of the quick recovery time and less cardiovascular depression, the use of reversal agents may not be needed, which Dechra officials indicated that it hoped can save time and decrease costs for clinics.

The new combination sedative is available in 10 mL multi-dose glass vials, through Dechra-approved distributors, according to the company.

Dechra introduces Zenalpha (medetomidine and vatinoxan hydrochlorides injection) as canine sedative that helps minimize cardiovascular side effects. News release. Dechra Veterinary Products. July 6, 2022.

FDA approves new combination injection for sedation and pain relief in dogs. Dvm360®. April 5, 2022. Accessed July 6, 2022. 

https://www.dvm360.com/view/fda-approves-new-combination-injection-for-sedation-and-pain-relief-in-dogs

Dechra’s alpha-2 combination drug is indicated to minimize stress surrounding canine sedation

New sedative for dogs is launched

Pet Food Express has launched its annual Fill the Food Bank campaign to help California pet parents with free, nutritious cat and dog food.

 Pet Food Express is offsetting the price of pet food hoping to prevent pet owners from relinquishing their companion animals to shelters because of financial difficulties and alleviating rescues and shelters from welcoming an abundance of new animals.

The Fill the Food Bank campaign will run through July 31, 2022, and Pet Food Express will collect monetary donations in its California locations and online at www.petfood.express/fillthefoodbank to directly benefit local pet food banks. All funds will go towards purchasing and distributing 5-lb bags of nutrient-rich, FirstMate cat and dog food. The company has established a 100,000 lb goal for the year and will match the first 10,000 pounds of food with its own donation.

"Californians have been hit hard with financial hardship due to first COVID and now inflation," said Megan Kniepkamp, community outreach manager at Pet Food Express, in the release. "The food from our Fill the Food Bank campaign will absolutely help many California pet families to stay together as they navigate a rough patch, and that's important for both the pet and the people."

Each $10 contribution buys a 5-pound bag of FirstMate food. All 24 food banks to receive food from the campaign are low-threshold or open-admission organizations with the sole focus on the welfare of California's pet population.

"Food banks are an essential part of the pet care system," Kniepkamp added. "They reduce the risk of a returned pet to an already over-taxed rescue and shelter system by offsetting the cost of necessary pet care. We want struggling pet owners to know that there is free help available to keep their pets nutritiously fed, cared for, and with them at their home."

Last year, the Fill the Food Bank campaign turned $230,000 in financial contributions into over 124,300 lbs (or 24,860 5-lb bags) of pet food to benefit 20 food banks in California.

Pet Food Express kicks off annual food drive to help California pet owners. News release. Pet Food Express. July 5, 2022. Accessed July 6, 2022. https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/pet-food-express-kicks-off-annual-food-drive-to-help-california-pet-owners-301580043.html

To offer supply 24 California food banks with free, nutritious cat and dog food 

Pet Food Express launches annual Fill the Food Bank campaign 

In honor of the 40th Veterinary Meeting & Expo (VMX), the North American Veterinary Community (NAVC) announced it will celebrate the occasion by offering attendees the rates that they charged at the original conference. Up until October 31, 2022, attendees will be charged $125. According to the release,

 after this cut off prices will increase but remain 40% lower than VMX’s typical early bird pricing.

"The last 40 years have ushered in some of the most exciting advances in veterinary medicine. Many of which have been introduced and taught at VMX. We are pleased to mark our 40th anniversary of hosting the veterinary industry's leading annual conference by making it financially easier for veterinary professionals to attend VMX, meet their education requirements, network with colleagues – and have a lot of fun in the process,” said Gene O'Neill, NAVC CEO in the release.

“Our mission is to help the entire veterinary community thrive and we are delighted to support them by offering all the value of VMX 2023 at the price of the inaugural VMX," he continued.

In the last 40 years, the NAVC has grown VMX into a large and global veterinary education conference that typically kicks off the conferences for the new year in January. For pricing after the deal ends, veterinarians will be charged $495, nurses/technicians and practice managers will be charged $295, and veterinary students receive complimentary attendance

"Veterinary medicine continues to evolve and transform how we care for animals,'' said Dana Varble, DVM, CAE, NAVC’s chief veterinary officer. "Each year I attend VMX, I learn something that helps me become a better veterinarian and provide the best care to my patients. The future holds even more possibilities, and I can't wait to see what life-changing innovations are to come."

This year, VMX will be held January 14-18, 2023 in person at the Orange County Convention Center and virtually as well. Registration is now open with the throwback registration price. For more information, visiting the NAVC website.

North American Veterinary Community (NAVC) to celebrate 40th VMX anniversary like it's 1983. News release. North American Veterinary Community. July 6, 2022. Accessed July 6, 2022. 

https://prnmedia.prnewswire.com/news-releases/north-american-veterinary-community-navc-to-celebrate-40th-vmx-anniversary-like-its-1983-301581544.html

The NAVC announced how it will be commemorating the anniversary of the first VMX conference 

VMX celebrates 40 years 

During this interview with dvm360®, Gianluca Bini, DVM, MRCVS, DACVAA, assistant professor of anesthesiology and pain management at The Ohio State University College of Veterinary Medicine, describes some techniques that he believes no longer yield the best results when injecting epidural anesthesia and what he recommends trying instead.

A partial transcript of the interview is below. View the video for more of the discussion.

: Something that's outdated a little bit is the use of "normal" syringes to test for the loss of resistance when you perform an epidural. That definitely doesn't give you the best feeling.

Videos

In this interview at the Directions in Veterinary Medicine conference in Indianapolis, Indiana, Gianluca Bini, DVM, MRCVS, DACVAA, discusses his tips when using epidural anesthesia

SAP Partners