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News you need to know  Top
There's no place like home
Veterinarian Lesley J. Smith, an anesthesiologist at the University of Wisconsin-Madison School of Veterinary Medicine, is studying a new, injectable drug formulation that might do more than eliminate pain following major surgery – it might also eliminate lengthy hospital stays for both animal and human patients. The injections may allow veterinarians – and potentially physicians – to give a shot that could provide weeks of pain relief for patients who would otherwise need to stay in the hospital for pain management during their post-op recovery. While not yet commercially available, a clinical trial in dogs undergoing amputation is currently funded by the Morris Animal Foundation. For more information, contact Tania Banak at 608-263-6717 or banakt@svm.vetmed.wisc.edu.
Getting a leg up
A new type of prosthesis that is making great strides in the dog world may one day improve the lives of people too. The device, known as the TATE Elbow, can be implanted less invasively than traditional prostheses and is designed in such a way that practically guarantees proper alignment of its components, thereby reducing wear and tear on the implant and bones. Veterinarians at Michigan State University's Veterinary Teaching Hospital say the work they are doing with the device is helping transform veterinary care and may lead to advancements in ankle replacements for people. For more information, contact David Kirkpatrick at 847-285-6782.
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Tracking a pathogen
Researchers at the North Carolina State University College of Veterinary Medicine may have found the cause of what they describe as a "silent and currently unrecognized epidemic among humans." Led by Dr. Edward Breitschwerdt, the team has discovered that bacteria carried by insects may be responsible for some chronic and debilitating neurological illnesses. People with substantial animal contact or exposure to ticks seem to be particularly susceptible to the infections, which can be transmitted directly by insect bites or indirectly through the saliva, scratch or bite of an infected animal. For more information, contact Dave Green at 919-513-6662 or david_green@ncsu.edu.
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North American Veterinary Conference, Jan. 17, 2008 – Jan. 21, 2008: More than 100 journalists joined thousands of veterinarians at last year's NAVC Conference, which is held annually in Orlando, Fla. For more information, go to www.tnavc.org.
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