Day: January 31, 2007

Improving the chances of finding your lost pet

  SCHAUMBURG, Ill. — Losing a pet is traumatic for the animal and its owner. A lost dog or cat faces a world full of uncertainty and danger, one of possible injury, starvation or death. Pet owners, many of whom have never lost a pet before, may wonder if they will ever be reunited. Two studies published in the Jan. 15, 2007, issue of the Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association (JAVMA) contain valuable information for mounting a successful search for a dog or cat that has wandered from home. The original studies, the first of

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Political Advocacy 101

For more info click here State legislatures are fast becoming battlegrounds over the practice of veterinary medicine. Legislation addressing a range of veterinary-related issues, from animal confinement to complementary and alternative medicine, is becoming increasingly common. Last year alone, more than 225 animal welfare bills were considered in legislatures across the country. Gone are the days when veterinary medicine was left only to veterinarians. As the status of animals is examined more closely, a growing number of people are speaking out about how they think animals, which they consider valued members of society, should be cared for.

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FDA finds food from animal clones to be safe, invites comments

The Food and Drug Administration has found that meat or milk from clones of adult cattle, swine, and goats—and offspring of these clones—is as safe to eat as food from conventionally bred animals. The agency recently requested public comment on three documents regarding the safety of animal cloning—a draft risk assessment, a proposed risk management plan, and a draft guidance for industry. Dr. Stephen F. Sundlof, director of the FDA Center for Veterinary Medicine, said the agency analyzed hundreds of publications and other studies on the health and food composition of clones and clones’ offspring.

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Two new, one updated backgrounder released by AVMA

For more info click here  Backgrounders on African swine fever and classical swine fever are now available by visiting the AVMA Web site, www.avma.org, and clicking on Backgrounders under the Reference bar. The World Organization for Animal Health (OIE) classifies ASF and CSF as notifiable diseases because of their potential for rapid spread and substantial impact on the international trade of animals and animal products. In accord with the Public Health Security and Bioterrorism Preparedness Response Act of 2002, the Department of Agriculture has recognized ASF and CSF as diseases that could pose severe threats to animal

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