Advancements & research

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  • October 9, 2012

    Study: Some wildcats could develop Alzheimer's

    Japanese researchers have found similarities to Alzheimer’s-afflicted human brains while studying the brains of deceased wildcats.
  • October 1, 2012

    Osteoarthritis biomarkers mean early diagnosis for dogs, humans

    Using just a single drop of joint fluid, Dr. James Cook’s laboratory can tell you if that joint is predisposed to arthritis, or if the joint already has arthritis but is not yet showing signs and symptoms. They can also tell you the severity of the arthritis, how likely it is to progress, and how quickly it will progress. This ultra-specific level of insight started with a group of researchers examining dogs and humans with a goal of learning how to predict osteoarthritis before symptoms even crop up. What they discovered was a solution for early osteoarthritis diagnosis that is already approved for use in dogs and appears to be on track for human use in less than a half-decade. Cook discussed the progress of biomarker research being conducted at his laboratory that could offer people and dogs a sizable advantage in the fight against osteoarthritis.
  • September 24, 2012

    VCA aims to put clinical trials on fast track

    As veterinary medicine advancements continue to accelerate, the clinical trial process has been forced to try to keep pace. However, organizations looking to conduct relatively speedy clinical trials often get stuck playing the “hurry up and wait” game while searching for trial sites. The larger the study, the more time it generally takes to locate multiple sites and negotiate terms with each one. To Dr. Philip Bergman, VCA director of clinical studies, there was one fairly obvious solution sitting right in front of him: leverage the extensive hospital network that VCA has spent years building. This idea led to Bergman’s recent announcement at the Kansas City Area Life Sciences Institute Research Symposium that VCA’s new clinical studies program will enable pharmaceutical companies to conduct their trials within the VCA private practice network.
  • September 24, 2012

    Comparative medicine lab rejuvenates arthritis-inflicted joints

    Watching a dog complete the seemingly rapid transition from puppy with boundless energy to adult hobbled by arthritis is a tough experience, just as it is when the dog’s owner experiences the gradual onset of knee pain and one day thinks, “Guess I can’t do the things I used to do when I was younger.” The desire to spare both pets and owners from gradual decline due to osteoarthritis led James Cook, DVM, PhD, to start the Comparative Orthopaedic Lab at the University of Missouri-Columbia. The lab emphasizes the crossover between human and veterinary medicine, working to find orthopedic solutions that help people and animals. One of the most talked-about research projects in progress at the lab is joint replacement using living tissue instead of metal and plastic. Cook says the lab’s research could pave the way for durable, all-natural implants that turn back the clock on the body’s joints.
  • September 18, 2012

    Study: Injection-site sarcoma risk may be less for some recombinant vaccines

    A recent study published in the Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association (JAVMA) compared associations between vaccine types and other injectable drugs with development of injection-site sarcomas in cats.   After examining all data collected during the study, the researchers concluded that there is a connection between the administering of certain vaccines (recombinant vs. inactivated rabies) and other injectable materials (e.g., long-acting corticosteroids) with sarcoma development.
  • September 11, 2012

    Pet obesity clinic sets sights on slimming overweight animals

    What does it take to start a successful pet obesity clinic? The staff of the Tufts Obesity Clinic for Animals will be able to tell you soon enough, considering they just opened the nation’s first such clinic to be run by a full-time, board-certified veterinary nutritionist. The Massachusetts-based clinic, opened in August 2012, will confront the pet obesity epidemic with a targeted approach involving clinical research, education, and patient-specific weight loss programs. Dr. Deborah Linder, DVM, DACVN, admitted that because she and her staff are venturing into uncharted territory, they will have to maintain a flexible strategy while the clinic forges its identity. “I think we still don’t know what’s going to work best, so we need to have an adaptive plan,” Linder said. “We need to be flexible and ready to change if we find one plan works better than another, or if different strategies work better with owners than others.”
  • September 4, 2012

    Landmark canine cancer study enrolling veterinarians

    The Golden Retriever Lifetime Study officially began enrolling veterinarians and dog owners on August 30, marking the launch of a canine health study of unprecedented size and scope. Over a period of 10-14 years, veterinarians and pet owners participating in the prospective cohort study undertaken by Morris Animal Foundation will continuously monitor the health of 3,000 golden retrievers. This ongoing collection of data will give researchers deeper insight into how genetics, environment, and diet affect the onset and progression of cancer and other canine diseases. According to Canine Lifetime Health Project Study Director Michael Guy, DVM, MS, PhD, veterinarians who have discussed the study with him have expressed enthusiasm about the amount of useful information that will be accumulated.
  • September 4, 2012

    FTC workshop to focus on pet medication

    Veterinarians, pet owners, and other interested parties will be able to express their views on pet medicine during the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) pet medications workshop on Oct. 12, 2012.
  • September 4, 2012

    National survey set to gather pet obesity data

    Overweight and obese pets will be the focus of the sixth annual National Pet Obesity Awareness Day Survey scheduled for Oct. 10, 2012.
  • August 28, 2012

    First feline diagnosed with food obsession

    Cats who act aggressively before and during feeding time might not just be hungry; they could be exhibiting signs of food obsession.