Animal Health

18 June

Conserving pentobarbital in times of shortage

wsvma   |   Animal Health, Medicine

As a means to address the current shortage of pentobarbital euthanasia solutions and extend available supplies, veterinarians might consider combining the use of pentobarbital-containing euthanasia solutions with deep general anesthesia to perform in-clinic and in-home euthanasia. Due to limited availability of the active pharmaceutical agent, there is a shortage of Schedule II and Schedule III pentobarbital euthanasia solutions (e.g., Beuthanasia-D®; Euthasol®; Fatal-Plus ®). Each ml of Schedule II and Schedule III pentobarbital euthanasia solutions contains 390 mg of pentobarbital. The labeled product dosing is 1...

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18 June

Vesicular Disease in Livestock

wsvma   |   Animal Health

Vesicular diseases are clinically indistinguishable. All vesicular diseases can produce vesicles progressing to erosions in the mouth, nares, muzzle, teats, and feet of livestock. Affected animals are usually febrile, anorexic, and depressed. Although vesicular diseases produce similar clinical lesions, the species they affect and the severity of lesions differ. Foot and mouth disease Foot and mouth disease (FMD) is endemic in Asia, Africa, the Middle East, and parts of South America. The U.S. has been FMD-free since 1929. Species affected include cattle,...

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27 May

Antimicrobial resistance and stewardship initiative: Enrollment open for small animal clinics and hospitals

wsvma   |   Animal Health

The University of Minnesota (UMN) is recruiting U.S. small animal general and referral practices to participate in a 2021 national point-prevalence survey (PPS) to gather data on antibiotic use in dogs and cats. Data from a single day of clinical practice will be collected from all participating clinics for national-level aggregation and analysis. This approach is modeled after CDC’s methodology to estimate national antibiotic use and healthcare-associated infections in hospitals and nursing homes (e.g., Pub Med ID 32519751, 30380384). The time commitment for...

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14 May

WSU’s new WADDL facility advances animal and human health

wsvma   |   Animal Health, One Health, Professional News

Washington State University celebrated the opening of the new Washington Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory (WADDL) Thursday, May 13, marking the next era in diagnostic testing and disease surveillance. The new facility was virtually dedicated via the College of Veterinary Medicine YouTube channel, and featured WSU president Kirk Schulz, College of Veterinary Medicine Dean Dori Borjesson, WADDL Executive Director Tim Baszler, Rep. JT Wilcox, and Washington State Department of Agriculture Director Derek Sandison. A virtual tour of the facility was also included as...

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23 April

Canine companions still needed for Dog Aging Project research

wsvma   |   Animal Health

Washington State University’s College of Veterinary Medicine is looking for local and regional canine participants to be part of the Dog Aging Project, a five-year, $23 million undertaking to better understand canine aging. WSU is one of seven colleges of veterinary medicine around the country to participate in this study along with Texas A&M, University of Georgia, Iowa State University, Colorado State University, Oregon State University, and North Carolina State University. The study is funded by the National Institute on Aging, a...

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19 March

New treatment helps paralyzed dog walk again

wsvma   |   Animal Health

The doorbell rings, shattering a moment of rare silence in a home enlivened by two young boys and a pair of hunting dogs. Mater, a German wire-haired pointer, startles from his slumber on the sofa and with a sleepy bark, alerts his family to the potential — but highly unlikely — threat. He gingerly hops down to the floor and limps toward the front door like an arthritic 15-year-old dog who long ago put his best hunting days behind him. Mater, though,...

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11 February

State Veterinarian alerts poultry flock owners to potential avian influenza threat

wsvma   |   Animal Health

The Washington State Department of Agriculture (WSDA) will offer a free webinar to help poultry owners protect their birds from avian influenza as cases continue to increase worldwide. The World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) reports ongoing outbreaks of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI), or bird flu, in 26 countries across Asia, Europe, and the Middle East. HPAI can spread rapidly and kill entire flocks. The USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service recently reported the current rates of HPAI in Asia...

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11 December

Suspect a Canine Respiratory Disease Outbreak? Use this tracking tool

wsvma   |   Animal Health

Reports of suspected canine infectious respiratory disease pop up on occasion, including in British Columbia, northwest Washington and the Olympia area in recent weeks, and it’s often difficult to determine if outbreaks are really happening. In response to recent reported cases in Ontario and Alberta, Dr. Scott Weese has developed a tracking tool. “Getting good information is a challenge,” he says. To try and get information about what’s going on, Weese has launched a brief survey that owners and veterinarians with...

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20 November

Recent Upticks in Equine Influenza and Pigeon Fever

wsvma   |   Animal Health

Noticeable upticks in the number of cases of Equine Influenza Virus and Pigeon Fever have been reported by private veterinarians to the Washington State Veterinarian’s Office in the past two months. You can find the full list of diseases that veterinarians are required to report by visiting the Washington State Department of Agriculture’s website and searching for ‘reportable diseases.’ Here are overviews of both diseases and steps that can be taken for prevention. Equine Influenza Virus (EIV)  There have been 23 cases...

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06 November

Uptick in Equine Influenza and Pigeon Fever Cases in October

wsvma   |   Animal Health

Noticeable upticks in the number of cases of equine influenza (Pierce, Thurston, King, Lewis, and Skagit Counties) and pigeon fever (Thurston, Kitsap, King, Spokane and Clark Counties) were reported to the state veterinarian’s office in the past month. Here are brief overviews of both diseases for those who need a memory jog. Equine influenza is caused by influenza type A virus subtypes. It is highly contagious between horses, primarily through direct contact and inhalation of aerosolized virus. The virus can survive...

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