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News you need to know  Top
New life at animal shelters
Animal shelters are no longer the final stop for sick or injured strays that have a difficult time finding an adoptive home. As detailed in a recent article in the Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association, more shelters are hiring veterinarians in the field of shelter medicine to give sick and injured animals a fighting chance – and to protect public health at the same time. For more information on shelter medicine, contact Julie Dinnage, DVM, from the Association of Shelter Veterinarians, at (617) 522-7400 or by e-mail at jdddvm@sheltervet.org.
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Getting a jump on arthritis
Researchers at the University of Missouri-Columbia's Comparative Orthopaedic Laboratory say their identification of telltale, genetic signs in dogs indicating the early onset of arthritis may one day lead to reversing the disease in humans. The researchers, including Dr. James Cook, a professor of veterinary medicine, say studying the genes found in dogs that are present when cartilage degradation has already started may pave the way for predicting the extent and severity of how the arthritis will develop in humans. For more information, contact Randy Mertens, college publications coordinator, at (573) 884-2215 or by e-mail at mertensr@missouri.edu.
A new one-two punch against cancer
Auburn University veterinary researchers, including Dr. Bruce Smith of the College of Veterinary Medicine's Scott-Ritchey Research Center, are studying targeted gene therapy for lymphoma, a project that could significantly change treatment regimens for dogs and humans alike. The treatment consists of administering a genetically altered, non-replicating virus to lymphoma-infected dogs, followed by a drug that seeks out and kills the virus-infected cancer cells. Successful research at Auburn will pave the way for possible human clinical trials at the University of Alabama-Birmingham. Contact Dr. Gary Beard at Auburn University at (324) 844-3699 or by e-mail at beardgb@vetmed.auburn.edu.
A better way to keep pace
An improved way of placing pacemakers in dogs could one day mean better treatment for humans, thanks to research being conducted by Dr. Amara Estrada at the University of Florida's Veterinary Medical Center. Dr. Estrada says the University of Florida's study will be "slightly ahead" of what's currently being performed clinically in human cardiology and may provide crucial information for human patients requiring pacing therapy. For more information, contact Sarah Carey at (352) 392-4700 or by e-mail at careys@mail.vetmed.ufl.edu.
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A sampling of interesting upcoming events and pet-related campaigns ...
North American Veterinary Conference, Jan. 13, 2007 – Jan. 17, 2007: The NAVC Conference, held every January in Orlando, Fla., has grown to accommodate more than 16,000 attendees from over 60 countries. Go to www.tnavc.org for more information.
Western Veterinary Conference, Feb. 18, 2007 – Feb. 22, 2007: More than 14,000 people attended last year's Conference. This year's event is in Las Vegas, Nev. Go to www.wvc.org for more information.
National Pet Dental Health Month, Feb. 1, 2007 – Feb. 28, 2007: February is National Pet Dental Health Month, a time for pet owners and veterinarians to focus on the importance of regular pet dental care and how good dental care contributes to overall good health. Go to www.petdental.com for more information.
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