Arthritis in pets can be just as agonizing as it is in humans, and the disease and its effects are very similar in both pets and people, says Dr. Sharon Kerwin, professor at the Texas A&M College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences who specializes in orthopedic medicine.

Kerwin says animal arthritis attacks bones and joints much the same way as the disease does in humans, but with one noticeable exception - it can strike some animals, especially dogs, before they become a 1-year-old.

"Any animal can get arthritis, but dogs and cats especially seem to be prone to get the disease," Kerwin says. "It is not unusual for a dog to have a check-up in its first year, and the veterinarian can already detect signs of arthritis.  It means the owner will almost certainly have to make some adjustments in the way the animal is cared for and the amount of exercise and movement the dog gets."

Certain breeds are especially prone to get arthritis, and these include the Rottweiler, golden retrievers, and Labrador retrievers.

Kerwin says there are several signs pet owners may look for if they suspect their animal might have arthritis.

"First is an obvious decrease in activity," she explains. "The animal may not want to go as far as it used to on a walk.  It may not want to walk at all."

"In cats, it is sometimes a little harder to detect arthritis, but the animal may appear to be less active and may have trouble jumping on top of a chair or table."

Treatments can vary, depending on the severity of arthritis, Kerwin says.

Surgery, she explains, is sometimes recommended, especially if a hip or other joint is severely affected.

"Drugs are often prescribed, and 'joint diets' have also become available for dogs and cats in recent years," Kerwin explains. "Physical rehabilitation can be a very effective treatment in controlling signs associated with arthritis."

As with humans, weather changes - especially colder weather - can often be felt in bones and joints, and these changes can affect your pet, Kerwin adds.

"Probably the most frequent question veterinarians get asked about arthritis in pets is, 'Should I continue to exercise my pet?'  There's no easy answer," Kerwin believes.

"Low-impact exercise, like a walk, is better than no exercise at all," Kerwin adds,  "Swimming is an ideal exercise for dogs if they will do it, and even cats can swim in a water treadmill. That's why it's best to consult with a veterinarian to get the treatment plans best suited for your pet. Pet arthritis is not a death sentence for your animal, but owners need to be aware that the animal cannot do certain things."

ABOUT PET TALK

Pet Talk is a service of the College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences, Texas A&M University. Stories can be viewed on the Web at /pet-talk.

Suggestions for future topics may be directed to cvmtoday@cvm.tamu.edu.

This revitalization of the A&M LGVMA started with the recent AAVMC survey. After the survey results were released, student leadership in the Council for Diversity and Professionalism (CDP), a long-standing group within the college charged to help provide advice to the administration and also actively develop programs that promote a positive, welcoming environment within the college, realized a need to focus on promoting a positive environment for LGBT students. As such, they requested that AVMA Deputy Director, Dr. Michael Chaddock, visit our campus with his presentation on LGBT Issues in Veterinary Medicine. With a turnout of over 100 students, Dr. Chaddock brought up the issue that the A&M CVM needed to bring back the LGVMA. In addition, as a pledge to promote diversity within our college, the leadership of the College, Dean Eleanor Green and Associate Dean for Professional Programs Kenita Rogers made significant financial support available to help our organization get up to speed again.

Our sincere gratitude goes to Dr. Chaddock for his amazing inspiration and to our administration for providing such an awe-inspiring gift. Special thanks also go to our faculty advisors, professor Dr. Jörg Steiner and CVM Chief of Staff John Scroggs, whose encouragement has been invaluable as we continue to rebuild our organization.

We look forward to providing a network for LGBT students within the Texas A&M College of Veterinary Medicine. This is truly a great time to be an Aggie vet student as we continue to promote a friendly and diverse environment.

Contact Information:
Angela G. Clendenin
Director, Communications & Public Relations
Ofc - (979) 862-2675
Cell - (979) 739-5718

"But pet owners should be careful when using a dog solely for protection," says Dr. Alice Blue-McLendon, Clinical Assistant Professor at the Texas A&M College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences.

"When dogs are trained to protect the home, they are using their natural territorial instinct and can attack anyone unfamiliar to them, which may include a friendly visitor," says Blue-McLendon.

Dogs used for protection can also be unreliable depending on their own unique personality.

Some dogs are naturally aggressive and may attack any animals or humans that violate their territory. Guard dogs are often trained to be aggressive toward people and may view anyone outside the family as a potential threat. This may present a constant danger since owners can never be completely sure that their pet will not someday view a family member or friend as a threat.

Aggressive behavior in a pet dog may become an added liability for its owner, especially if the animal has bitten before.

"Many cities have laws regulating aggressive dogs and some require a special type of permit for those that have bitten other animals or people. In most cases, owners of protection dogs should look into increasing their liability insurance," said Blue-McLendon.

However, if you do need a specially trained guard dog, try to maintain control of the animal. Dogs in the wild remain submissive to the dog they view as the leader, referred to as the "alpha dog," and will protect it and the surrounding territory.

"Owners and family members should all assume the role of 'alpha dog' by taking control of their pet while they are still young," says Blue-McLendon. "Puppies often view humans as dominant because of their greater size and age.  Owners can further reinforce this image by controlling access to toys and food."

Rewarding animals for good behavior helps them to see the owner as the leader or alpha figure, which provides them with greater control of their pet and may prevent attacks. 

"Most guard dog owners do not realize that the presence of a dog is usually security enough and that specialized training may be excessive," said Blue-McLendon. "Dogs are sensitive to their surroundings and will usually alert their owners to a disturbance by barking, which may be enough to scare away potential intruders." 

Other security animals include some surprising ones - peacocks, geese and parrots, which can also offer some protection by using vocalized, "alarm calls" to announce someone's approach.

ABOUT PET TALK

Pet Talk is a service of the College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences, Texas A&M University. Stories can be viewed on the Web at /pet-talk.

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"Over the course of Operation New Horizons, we focused on our three key missions," said Dr. Wesley Bissett, VET director. "First and foremost, we train alongside Texas Task Force - 1 and provide key veterinary support to their search and rescue canines. We were able to not only practice responding to potential injuries with these dogs, but also provide them important physical exams and hydration during the course of the exercise. By assisting Texas Task Force - 1 in this way, their search and rescue canines are able to stay in the field longer and potentially save more lives." 

In addition, the VET responds to animals injured in disaster situations in conjunction with the Texas Animal Health Commission (TAHC). Members of the TAHC participated in the weekend exercise to practice planning and inter-agency communication. 

 "As part of the state response to animal issues, we work cooperatively with the animal response team from the TAHC," added Bissett. "They are a lead agency in animal emergency response, and it is absolutely critical that we work together during exercises such as this so that we are prepared to address animal welfare concerns together when deployed in the field." 

Animals have become true family members for many people, and the ability to not only reunite an injured animal with its owner, as well as providing a resource to first responders who previously were not able to help with injured animals is another focus of the VET team. 

"When disaster strikes, people can lose their homes and their valuables," said Bissett. "Often times a pet that survives is all they will have to connect them with their past. Being able to give them back that one thing, their pet, makes a huge psychological impact on both the pet owner and the rescuers." 

Disasters inevitably occur, and training exercises such as Operation New Horizons provide new opportunities to build cooperative relationships that enhance the ability to save lives of humans and animals alike.

Contact Information:
Angela G. Clendenin
Director, Communications & Public Relations
Ofc - (979) 862-2675
Cell - (979) 739-5718

Sultry spring and summer days may cause dogs and cats to suffer from mosquito bites that can lead to heartworm disease, says Dr. Sonya Gordon, associate professor in the Department of Small Animal Clinical Sciences at the Texas A&M College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences. 

Dogs are usually the preferred host for heartworms, but cats are also susceptible to the disease, even indoor cats, Gordon notes.  To protect your pet, preventative medicine should be used year round to avoid heartworm infection. 

Pets are often infected when mosquitoes carrying heartworms bite the animal and pass on heartworm larvae into the tissue.  The larvae mature as they travel through the tissue and eventually end up in blood vessels within the lungs, causing heartworm disease. 

"Heartworms should really be called lungworms because they live in the blood vessels of the lungs, not the heart," Gordon says.  

"However, if left untreated, heartworms can clog up the heart causing caval syndrome, which prevents blood from traveling through the right side of the heart and causes the belly to fill with fluid."    

Gordon says symptoms of heartworm disease are usually heavy breathing, coughing and exercise intolerance.  Pets with these symptoms should be taken to their local veterinarian for a blood test that can determine if the pet has heartworm disease.  

Treating heartworm disease is generally a risky procedure since a toxic substance must be used to kill the worms that live in the blood vessels within the lungs. The body must then clean up the dead worms. 

Treatment usually lasts two to three months, depending on the severity of the case, Gordon explains.  During treatment the pet must be completely rested.   

Costs associated with heartworms can be high. Treatment for heartworm disease can cost anywhere from $600 to $6,000 depending on the severity of the disease, while the preventative medicine costs only about $30-100 per year depending on the size of the pet, Gordon notes.  Preventative heartworm medicine is given once per month to prevent adult heartworms from forming. If your pet has missed consecutive months, it would be a good idea to visit your local veterinarian for a routine blood test. Even pets who receive preventative medicine should have a blood test once per year to be sure they do not get accidentally infected.   

"The best treatment for heartworms is preventative medicine," adds Gordon.  "Pet owners have a variety of treatment options to choose from including tablets, tasty chewable tablets, topical medicines and even injections that can be given by your veterinarian twice per year.  It is important to use the treatment that works best for you and your pet," Gordon says. 

In this case, an ounce of prevention is definitely worth a pound of cure. By preventing heartworms from forming, you are saving your pet's life and a lot of money.

ABOUT PET TALK

Pet Talk is a service of the College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences, Texas A&M University. Stories can be viewed on the Web at /pet-talk.

Suggestions for future topics may be directed to cvmtoday@cvm.tamu.edu.

Scientists at Texas A&M College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Science working in collaboration with researchers from the Swedish National Veterinary Institute and the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, examined the intermittent pattern in which pigs shed Salmonella bacteria in their feces, and discovered that Salmonella may lay dormant in the host at an undetectable level as a survival strategy that prolongs the host's infection. Furthermore, different Salmonella serotypes are shed and go dormant in different frequencies, making detection difficult at best. The results of this study were recently published in PLoS ONE.

This "off and on" pattern of pathogen excretion can lead to a host being misdiagnosed as clear of bacteria when indeed it is still infected. In the either stage, pigs typically do not show physical signs of being infected. In the "on stage", the host sheds the bacteria in fecal material, while in the "off stage", the pathogen is still present in the host, but is not shed. Therefore, the leading method of detecting infection, fecal shedding, becomes difficult.            "Because of the important role that pigs have played in Salmonellosis outbreaks in other pigs and humans, reliable detection measures and models are critical in developing efficient Salmonella control efforts," said Dr. Renata Ivanek-Miojevic, assistant professor of epidemiology at the Veterinary Integrative Biosciences Department.    While this early study has documented the ability of Salmonella bacteria to lay dormant thereby extending its presence in the infected host, future research will investigate if the same association between the cyclic behavior and the length of infection holds true in other host-pathogen models.

"With this study, we were able to observe the relationship between shedding pattern and length of infection in several serotypes of Salmonella in the swine host," notes Ivanek. "From here, we will need to use what we learned and the models that we were able to develop to see if the same behavior is observed in other host-pathogen systems." "If so, the relationship may be useful not only in improving detection methods but also in understanding evolutionary ecology of this and similar infectious diseases with "off and on" pattern of pathogen excretion, and consequently adopting better control measures."

This study, funded by the National Science Foundation, will become a model for future studies aimed at furthering the detection capabilities and effective control for Salmonella and similar infectious agents in their animal and human host populations.

Contact Information:
Angela G. Clendenin
Director, Communications & Public Relations
Ofc - (979) 862-2675
Cell - (979) 739-5718

Dread and hope flit through the air of the waiting room like storm clouds and clear blue competing for a place in the sky.

This is a place of last refuge, intractable hope and boundless love, the entrance to a battlefield between cutting-edge science and cancer.

It was here that Beverly Gorman and her husband arrived in January after an urgent 2,400-mile, 60-hour car trip from Olympia, Wash., a trek spurred by a grim diagnosis.

According to Dr. Sharon Kerwin, professor at the Texas A&M College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences, anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) tears or cranial cruciate ligament (CCL) injuries, as they are referred to in animals, occur almost as often as they do in humans.

"Cats and dogs have the same ligaments that we have in our knees," says Kerwin. "The cruciate ligament stabilizes your femur and your tibia so you don't get too much motion between those two bones." 

CCL tears in cats often occur the same way ACL tears occur in humans. Often, there is some traumatic injury that occurs as a result of jumping from high places, playing or getting the animal's leg caught in something. 

"It takes a fair bit of force to rupture a cruciate ligament, and it tends to occur more often in overweight cats," says Kerwin.  

However, in dogs, this injury is often the result of a chronic degeneration of the ligament and occurs much more frequently than it does in cats.

"In dogs, we think the injury may be related to weight and body structure, meaning that some large breeds such as Rottweilers, Labradors and Chow Chows, may be predisposed to CCL injuries," said Kerwin. "In some cases, we think it's either the shape of their tibia or the shape of their femur that predisposes them to this injury."

A ruptured ligament is usually characterized by limping or inactivity. In cats, they will not want to play the way they used to, and dogs will often appear lame and sit awkwardly with their leg sticking out, signaling a possible knee problem.

Kerwin says if your pet shows signs of an injured leg, schedule an appointment with your veterinarian who will conduct a lameness exam in order to diagnose the problem.

The injury is often treated in cats with medical management by placing overweight cats on a strict diet with exercise restriction for three to six weeks, followed by a check-up measuring progress. If the injury fails to heal, surgery is often recommended to explore and stabilize the joint.

But when dogs are afflicted with CCL injuries, many times the best option is surgery as quickly as possible. 

"Dogs often don't do well with medical management, the injury will often worsen over time as the arthritis in the knee builds," explains Kerwin. 

"Part of the problem is they tend to suffer cartilage tears that we don't often see in cats, so we recommend exploring the knee and cleaning it through an arthroscopy just like they would do in a human and then stabilizing it," says Kerwin. 

Dogs often require 8-12 weeks of recovery including strict rest and rehabilitation.

Once your pet has undergone the recommended period of exercise restriction, it is important to encourage it to exercise its leg with slow leash walks or through playtime activities.

"The biggest way to prevent CCL tears is to keep your pet at a proper weight," Kerwin says. 

It is very easy for animals to gain weight, especially if they spend most of their time indoors, because they do not get the same level of exercise. Your veterinarian can advise you on the proper weight for your dog or cat.

ABOUT PET TALK

Pet Talk is a service of the College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences, Texas A&M University. Stories can be viewed on the Web at /pet-talk.

Suggestions for future topics may be directed to cvmtoday@cvm.tamu.edu.

"Snuffles is a disease which affects the eyes and nose and sometimes the lungs, skin, or even the middle ear of rabbits," says Dr. Jill Heatley, associate professor at the Texas A&M College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences (CVM). "Also referred to as paranasal sinusitis, snuffles is most often caused by a certain bacteria known as Pasteurella multocids, but sometimes other bacteria can also be involved." 

Heatley adds, "Snuffles is a very common disease of rabbits and can be found in up to 10 percent of rabbits which appear normal. It is found in almost all rabbits that show clinical signs, such as a runny nose, skin infections, or a head tilt.  

Symptoms for snuffles vary among rabbits. According to Heatley, the most common signs to look for relating to snuffles are nasal discharge, head tilting, and skin sores.  

"Many times a veterinarian will make a presumptive diagnosis of snuffles based solely on a physical examination," explains Heatley. "However, radiographs (x-rays) and blood work are also often used to determine a diagnosis. This disease can progress to a serious infection like septicemia and pneumonia, which rabbits are very good at hiding." 

"The treatment plan for snuffles varies based on the clinical signs, but antibiotics are often prescribed because it is a bacterial disease," Heatley says. "However one must be very careful with antibiotic use in rabbits as improper types or routes of antibiotic administration can cause problems within the rabbit's stomach and intestines that could lead to death. Please make sure the veterinarian you visit is familiar with antibiotics that are safe for use in rabbits." 

Heatley also recommends using probiotics in rabbits, because they help replace the good normal bacteria in the rabbit's gut which it needs to live.  

If you are looking into purchasing a new rabbit for your household, it is best to talk with your breeder or pet store representative about a particular animal's health history and breeding conditions. Very few facilities can guarantee a completely disease free environment. If any rabbit in the facility shows even the slightest symptom of snuffles, such as wet facial fur or paws due to a runny nose, it would be better to look elsewhere for your new pet. 

Sub-clinical snuffles (infected rabbits that show no symptoms) can be diagnosed through a physical examination administered by your veterinarian. Physical examinations should be a routine part of your pre-purchase or initial 'well pet' health exam. 

To try to avoid snuffles in your current pet, keep its environment stress free.  

"Most, if not all, rabbits have this bacteria and can have a bout with snuffles if they become stressed," Heatley says. "So for your rabbit we recommend a healthy diet, stress free environment, and plenty of enrichment and exercise. Their diet should consist primarily of grass hay, such as oat or timothy, but not alfalfa which has too much protein and fat. A grass hay diet will ensure normal tooth wear and good gut health. Also, remember to regulate their temperature, because if they get too hot or too cold they will become stressed." 

Snuffles is extremely contagious among rabbits, and infected rabbits should never be allowed to come into contact with healthy rabbits. Any cage or bedding that has been in contact with infected rabbits should be thoroughly disinfected with a mild bleach solution before using for healthy rabbits. Humans that handle infected rabbits should wash their hands and clothes before handling healthy rabbits. 

"Pasteurella multocida, as with most bacteria, is contagious to man, but usually requires a skin break such as a bite or a wound to enter the system," says Heatley. "This bacterium can cause diseases to other animals such as chickens and pigs. So if your bunny has snuffles, it should not play with other animals until it is well or at least until it starts an antibiotic treatment program." 

"With adequate care and treatment most cases of snuffles can be resolved and have a good prognosis," Heatley adds. "However, some cases of snuffles can have multiple bacteria or may involve a tooth problem or bone infection in the rabbit's nose. These bunny patients may require months of treatment and require much patience on the part of the owner."

To ensure a healthy pet rabbit at home, begin with a healthy rabbit and then maintain that good health by avoiding any contact that could infect your rabbit. When in doubt, hop down to your veterinarian for a complete checkup. 

ABOUT PET TALK

Pet Talk is a service of the College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences, Texas A&M University. Stories can be viewed on the Web at /pet-talk.

Suggestions for future topics may be directed to cvmtoday@cvm.tamu.edu.

"Jack was referred in from his veterinarian in Belize for vague signs of lethargy, weakness, muscle pain, and some blood work changes," says Dr. Heather Kvitko-White, veterinary resident instructor at the CVM. "After running several tests, we eventually discovered that he had a bacterial infection of his vertebrae in his spine, heart, and joints." 

Kvitko recalls that Jack was in a lot of pain. He spent three weeks in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) at the VMTH. He then spent another month building up his strength in the hospital's rehabilitation service. Jack also benefitted from the multi-disciplinary teamwork that is a hallmark of the teaching hospital, as he saw almost every specialist in the hospital.  

Kvitko adds, "Because he was so sick for so long, he became very weak - due to muscle wasting, joint pain, and severe back pain - and was not able to stand up on his own. It took a lot of work managing his pain before our rehabilitative service could work with him. Eventually, with a lot of persistence from his owners, our ICU nurses, and our entire hospital staff (internal medicine, neurology, orthopedics, anesthesia/analgesia for pain consultation, and cardiology), were able to control his pain enough to start working with him on the water treadmill. He is now able to walk."  

Even though his disease is currently well under control, he will need to be on antibiotics for a while.  

"Jack was very sick and not every family would have been able to push through this," says Kvitko. "Fortunately, his owners had the will to go forward, and things have turned out very well." 

Mary resided in a local hotel for the full seven weeks of Jack's treatment, while Doug traveled back and forth from Belize to come to Mary and Jack's side. Together, they were able to be supportive of Jack during the whole process.  

"This entire journey has been such a rollercoaster for us," says Mary. "He was very sick, and now we are eternally grateful for Dr. Kvitko and the rest of the staff's hard work to save his life. He can now go back home to be with his brothers and sister and enjoy his favorite pastime - diving into the ocean for conch shells."  

The moment was bittersweet as Kvitko said goodbye to Mary and Jack when he was released from the VMTH on April 4. However, the clinicians and staff have something to look forward to when Jack returns in six months for his follow-up.  

Contact Information:
Angela G. Clendenin
Director, Communications & Public Relations
Ofc - (979) 862-2675
Cell - (979) 739-5718

*Top Photo: (From left to right) Abigail Rafferty, veterinary technician in the rehabilitative service, Mary Penland, and Dr. Kvitko gather around Jack.

*Middle Photo: Mary Penland looks on as Jack exercises in the aquatic treadmill.

*Bottom Photo: Mary Penland pulls Jack in his wagon as they exit the Small Animal Hospital.

"People sneeze and wheeze with allergies, while dogs tend to itch and scratch," says Dr. Adam Patterson, clinical assistant professor and a board certified dermatologist at the Texas A&M College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences. "The hallmark sign of allergic skin disease is itch that can be manifested as licking, chewing, rubbing, biting, scooting, head shaking, and/or scratching. Typically, the face, ears, paws, armpits, groin, and rump are the most affected sites." 

Patterson explains that animals with allergic skin disease are highly prone to recurring skin and/or ear infections involving bacteria and yeast. Infections can cause increased itch, redness, pimples, blackheads, scabs, dander, hair loss, skin thickening, and odor. Horses many times will break out in hives. 

"Animals tend to be allergic to many of the same things people are hypersensitive to such as pollen, mold, dust, house dust mite, and foodstuffs," Patterson explains. "An exception would be fleas - the most common thing dogs and cats are allergic to. Despite this, many people are in 'fleanial' and refuse to believe just a few flea bites can be triggering the itch response in their pet." Likewise, horse owners may not be aware how just a few insect bites could be responsible for or contributing to itchy skin disease. 

Allergic skin disease can be mistaken for many other forms of skin disease. A veterinary dermatologist is trained to work with primary care veterinarians to get down to the bottom of how to best diagnose and manage skin and ear disease, including allergies, in animals. See www.acvd.org for more information. 

It is important to understand that allergies can be managed, but not cured, just as with humans. The goal is to reduce the extent and severity of signs, not completely eliminate them. 

"Management regimens might include increased frequency of bathing (washing pollens of the skin surface), antimicrobials or antibiotics, flea prevention, fatty acids, antihistamines, change in diet, steroids, and immunotherapy, also known as desensitization or hyposensitization. The use of the latter can be determined through a good step-wise diagnostic approach along with allergy skin testing and administered by way of allergy shots or oral allergy drops," says Patterson.  

When it is time to take your pet in for allergy skin testing? 

"Typically, dogs should have allergy symptoms for at least 5-6 months out of the year before considering skin testing for environmental allergies, which include reactivity to pollen, molds, house dust mite, and house dust, in order for the diagnostic tests and treatment to be cost effective over the long haul," Patterson recommends.   

Patterson explains that rainfall cuts down on airborne pollen and may provide itch relief to pets, but at the same time rain may cause plants to produce more pollen over the next few weeks. Indeed, rain fall might worsen flea and mold allergies because moisture and humidity are favorable to fleas and mold. Of course, rain has no effect on food-related allergic skin diseases.  

"Given the mild winter and lack of national weather fronts during the 2011-2012 seasons, pollen is likely to be at an all-time high this year. Consequently, there likely will be many itchy pets this year," says Patterson.  

Allergies are certainly not an uncommon thing to see in pets. It is important to be aware of the symptoms and to notify a veterinarian when they persist. For more information please visit /large-animal-hospital/dermatology/allergies. 

ABOUT PET TALK

Pet Talk is a service of the College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences, Texas A&M University. Stories can be viewed on the Web at /pet-talk.

Suggestions for future topics may be directed to cvmtoday@cvm.tamu.edu.

*Photo- The cat was scratching because of allergies

Feather plucking is a common habit among parrot-type birds, says Dr. Alice Blue-McLendon, a veterinarian with the Winnie Carter Wildlife Center at the Texas A&M College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences.

While most adult birds lose their feathers naturally once or twice a year in a process called molting, it is not natural for a bird to pluck out its own feathers, says Blue-McLendon.  One of the clues that a bird is plucking its feathers is to look at the bird's head.   Since a parrot cannot pluck feathers from its own scalp, a feather-plucking bird will have a full head of feathers but be missing a lot of feathers on other parts of its body.

As simple as it may sound, the most common reason for a bird to pluck out its own feathers is boredom, says Blue-McLendon.  "When a bird isn't stimulated by its environment, it may begin plucking its feathers for entertainment or out of frustration," she says.

Because of birds' high intelligence level, environmental enrichment is extremely important for them, Blue-McLendon notes.  They need plenty of toys to play with, especially ones they can chew.

"The more time they spend chewing on toys and food, the less time they have to chew on their feathers," she adds.

Some birds enjoy playing with their own feathers after they have fallen out naturally through molting.  Although feathers are cheap and simple toys, they aren't appropriate ones.

Playing with loose feathers may spawn a nasty plucking habit.  "You don't want to encourage your bird to pluck its feathers out to have something to play with," Blue-McLendon  says.  "Remove the feathers from the cage as soon as they fall out."

Excessive grooming, or "preening" as it is known in the avian arena, is also not an appropriate pastime for birds. 

"You should curb this behavior early," says Blue-McLendon. "If you allow it to continue, some birds, especially cockatoos, can become overzealous in their preening."

Preening can be another common precursor to feather plucking.  Again, occupying its time with other activities can help rid your bird of its obsession with grooming, Blue-McLendon explains.        

She says it's important to try to break any bad habits as soon as you notice them.

"Temporarily changing your bird's environment is a good start," Blue-McLendon explains.  "Try adding new toys to its cage or simply rearranging its existing toys.  Also, consider moving its cage to another area of the house, possibly one with heavier traffic."

If your bird's meals consist of only seeds, try to incorporate new foods and flavors into its diet, says Blue-McLendon.  Add colorful fruits and vegetables, especially those that can double as chew toys like celery, carrots, and green beans. 

However, know that change is not always the best remedy.  Sometimes variation, especially sudden and dramatic variation, in a bird's environment can also lead to feather plucking, says Blue-McLendon. 

Stressful events, such as moving, a death in the family or a reduction in time spent with its owner, can more than ruffle your bird's feathers.  They can cause anxiety-based behaviors like screaming and, of course, feather plucking.  Be sure to make changes gradually and monitor your bird's progress.

Also, before you make any changes, be sure your bird doesn't have a medical reason for plucking its feathers such as mite infestation, a hormone imbalance or skin infection.  These problems would warrant a visit to your veterinarian. 

"Breaking a bad habit can be quite a feat," Blue-McLendon adds.  "But, if your mother could convince you to stop biting your nails, there's a good chance you can help your bird eliminate its feather fixation."

ABOUT PET TALK

Pet Talk is a service of the College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences, Texas A&M University. Stories can be viewed on the Web at /pet-talk.

Suggestions for future topics may be directed to cvmtoday@cvm.tamu.edu.

Hamer completed a PhD in 2010 from Michigan State University within the Department of Fisheries and Wildlife, and in the Ecology, Evolutionary Biology, and Behavior program. She also received an MS in Natural Resources and Environmental Science from University of Illinois. In recognition of the need for ecologists and medical researchers to work together to manage emerging disease threats, Hamer completed a DVM at Michigan State University in 2011.

Hamer is primarily interested in the ecology, evolution, and epidemiology of diseases that emerge at the interface of wildlife, domestic animals, and human populations.  In particular, she is interested in vector-borne zoonotic diseases, especially tick-borne diseases. In her new position, Hamer will mentor students in her own laboratory and will teach undergraduate, graduate, and veterinary students.

"I am particularly excited about integrating field and laboratory experiences with traditional classroom teaching to immerse students in the process of research," Hamer said. "I am eager for my students to learn alternative ways to use their medical training to address some of society's most pressing public health and conservation concerns."

Her research has earned top honors from professional organizations including the Wildlife Disease Association, The Wildlife Society, and American Mosquito Control Association.

During her off time, Hamer enjoys hiking and birdwatching with her husband, Gabriel, and son, Oskar.

"The first step in protecting your horses and other livestock from severe weather is to realize what the severe weather risks are in your area," says Dr. Brandon Dominguez, clinical assistant professor at the Texas A&M College of Veterinary Medicine (CVM) & Biomedical Sciences and member of the CVM Veterinary Emergency Team. "For many areas, springtime brings threats of severe thunderstorms, lightning, flash floods, and tornadoes." 

Often owners like to keep horses stalled in a barn to protect them from lightning during a storm, but giving them the ability to travel could keep them safer.  

"Generally, if horses are in a pasture with trees or near a lightning rod, the risk of the horse being struck is greatly diminished. A three-sided shelter can help to keep them warm and dry during a storm in addition to shielding them from lightning strikes," says Dominguez.  

Dominguez believes that when storms become more severe, to possibly include tornadoes or high gusts of winds, horses are even safer outside of their stalls.  

"It is wise to keep barnyards and pastures clear of debris before storms are due to strike. If a tornado were to hit a barn with horses secured in stalls, the likelihood and severity of being hit by debris would be considerably increased," says Dominguez.  

True, horses in pasture may not escape completely unscathed, but the cuts and contusions are usually less significant. 

With torrential rainfall, flooding, and particularly flash flooding, if horses are given the opportunity to move to higher ground away from danger, they will follow their natural instinct for survival. Flash flooding, if injury or obstacles prevent horses from escaping, can lead to a horse being swept downstream and potentially drowning.  

"Less harsh, but just as serious, are the consequences of standing in perpetually flooded pastures. The chronic exposure to moisture could lead to softening of the hoof and sole leaving a horse susceptible to stone bruises, sole abscesses, white line disease, and infection such as thrush," says Dominguez. 

Dominguez explains that rapid drying may cause hooves to crack and become brittle, but keeping feet cleaned and picked out and applying hoof conditioners will help minimize the harm from flood waters. Additionally, flooding may cause toxins to spread from storage areas to pastures where horses are gathered exposing them to contaminants that they would not ordinarily contact.  

"The most ideal confinement during severe weather would be a large pasture with a three-sided shelter to protect animals from the elements, but that also allows them to escape from danger. Not being in the lowest portion of the field, but in the vicinity of trees or a lightning rod is also advantageous," says Dominguez.

With the variety of horse-owners, horse-properties, and horses, planning before severe weather occurs should take into consideration the ability to keep everybody safe.

ABOUT PET TALK 

Pet Talk is a service of the College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences, Texas A&M University. Stories can be viewed on the Web at /pet-talk. 

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When Texas A&M regents professor Bob Strawser and his wife, Carol, found a dog on New Year's Day lying motionless in a median near the intersection of OSR and Texas 6, there was no discussion of whether to stop or not.

The Strawsers are veterans when it comes to animal rescue. On their ranch in Robertson County, they have 10 dogs, two goats, six cats and one horse -- all of which are rescued.

Buying safe toys for your pet is a must in order to keep them safe from harm. The problem is that most people are not aware of the potential hazards that pet toys may cause their animal.

Dr. Mark Stickney, clinical associate professor at the Texas A&M College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences recommends when looking for a toy for a dog, "Don't buy anything too soft where the dog could bite off pieces and swallow them." Stickney warns that the dog could choke on these pieces or even swallow them. If the dog was to swallow the pieces, surgery may be needed in order to remove them. Toys that may be too soft are toys made of soft plastic or rubber; these materials are easy for dogs to bite through.

Stickney also recommends that toys not be too hard. He strongly suggests that dogs not be given animal bones. Bones are too hard, leading the dog to chip or even break its teeth.

Stickney advocates the use of raw hide chews, he believes that dogs enjoy playing with them and that they are the safest material for the dog. Stickney also urges pet owners to buy toys that are appropriate for the size of their dog. If the dog is smaller, naturally the toy should be smaller; and the same holds true for larger dogs. A safe toy is one that the dog can easily hold in its mouth without its teeth puncturing the toy. Yet, the toy should not be small enough to fit down the dog's throat.

The best toys, in Stickney's opinion, are called 'Kongs.' They are tubes that are filled with treats in the center. They come in a variety of different sizes for different dogs, and are hard enough that the dog cannot chew through them. The tubes even have weight recommendations on their boxes, signifying the most appropriate tube for the weight of the dog.

Cats are a bit different with their toy preferences than dogs. They tend to like toys that move and are stimulating to the eye. Stickney says that, "Cats tend to like toys that are free." Such as playing with small aluminum and paper balls. "Any toy that a cat can place under its paws and the toy springs out, cats will often love."

Stickney cautions that cat owners should not give their cats toys that have long strings. The cat may swallow the string causing choking. Cat's preferences on toys tend to be more varied than dogs, but most prefer round toys that move.

The best places to purchase these toys are places with a wide selection of pet toys, such as Petco and PetSmart. These places usually have a large variety, and if a toy has proven to be harmful, they are good about taking it off the shelves.

ABOUT PET TALK

Pet Talk is a service of the College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences, Texas A&M University. Stories can be viewed on the Web at /pet-talk.

Suggestions for future topics may be directed to cvmtoday@cvm.tamu.edu.

Now is the time of year when many young adults are showing off such livestock as cattle, sheep, swine, and goats at fairs and competitions all over the country.  Dr. Floron Faries, professor and extension veterinarian, Texas AgriLife Extension Service, Texas A&M System, has some advice for youth to help ensure their livestock show season is a big hit.

"Plans begin about a year before the livestock show. In fact, the health program begins before you even get the animal," states Faries. 

Faries recommends purchasing healthy animals from places that have good management practices.

"As you travel and look for show livestock, ask the seller to immunize prior to purchase, allowing enough time for the immunity to become established," Faries adds.  "If vaccinations cannot be administered at the seller's place, begin vaccinations on day of arrival.  Do not wait."

The day the show animal arrives home, perform a visual exam and repeat the exam several times throughout the season.

"Watch the animal every day and observe its behavior and attitude," Faries stresses.  "Watch for healthy and unhealthy signs."

Faries adds, "The most common medical problems seen in show livestock are respiratory diseases or lung diseases.  They can be viral, bacterial, or both." 

Respiratory diseases are common, because during the show season animals are mingling with other animals at fairs or other central locations for weighing.  Therefore, every time your animal leaves home there is a risk of exposure and often an animal may return with a cough or fever. 

Follow a preventive program of administering vaccinations to avoid respiratory diseases. 

"Become educated as to what viruses and bacteria may cause respiratory problems and talk with your veterinarian," says Faries.

The types of vaccines administered for each species vary, so become familiar with what is needed for your animal.

Be sure to read the label and know what vaccines must be repeated.  "I find a common mistake is that the owner does not realize the shots need to be repeated because he or she didn't look at the label," says Faries. 

Unless otherwise directed by your veterinarian, always follow labeling instructions to help ensure that the vaccination is most effective.  The noninfectious vaccines, which are unable to multiply in the body, usually require two injections, Faries says.  The second injection is given 3-6 weeks after the first.

"The key to a healthy animal is starting early with disease prevention and not waiting until you arrive at the show to begin treatment," says Faries. "Practicing good health management such as close observations and proper vaccinations will help your chances in any competition."

ABOUT PET TALK

Pet Talk is a service of the College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences, Texas A&M University. Stories can be viewed on the Web at /pet-talk.

Suggestions for future topics may be directed to cvmtoday@cvm.tamu.edu.

The numbers of bison in the Yellowstone herd has fluctuated from less than 100 individuals to more than 3000, but even more amazing than the growing numbers are the genetic secrets these gentle giants continue to reveal about their past that will help to determine their future.

A recent study conducted by researchers at Texas A&M College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences (CVM) and their collaborators presented in the most recent issue of the Journal of Heredity has highlighted the use of modern biotechnology to better understand the natural forces that influence wildlife populations.

"In the course of conducting conservation genetics studies of the Yellowstone herd, we discovered that the herd is really separated into two distinct subpopulations," said James Derr, professor in the veterinary pathobiology department at the CVM. "These two subpopulations have shown genetic differentiation usually seen in populations that have been geographically separated for more than 40 years. In addition, we were also able to identify critical differences in migration patterns between the two subpopulations."

The improved ability to study the genetics of animals in the wild through advances in technology is crucial for wildlife conservation efforts for any species. The environment plays a significant role in the nutrition, reproduction habits, and genetic diversity within a species - all of which can determine the successful survival of that species.

"The technology available today allows us to discover previously unknown, but crucially important factors, such as cryptic population subdivision," said Natalie Halbert, collaborator on the study. "Knowledge this detailed provides the opportunity for us to better manage our natural resources and ensure effective stewardship of these resources for long term species conservation."

From the beginning of the study, the research team planned to document genetic diversity, migration histories and genetic integrity of the bison in this important national herd.

"Finding two genetically distinct Yellowstone bison subpopulations was unexpected," said Peter Gogan, United States Geological Survey. "But the findings are consistent with what we have learned about the location of the bison subpopulations during the rut and other components of bison demographics including differences in tooth wear, timing of calving, and even survival and reproductive rates. All of this information seems to indicate that these two bison subpopulations have existed for quite some time, possibly back to the reestablishment of this herd in the early 1900s."

This new information that there are two genetically distinct populations coexisting geographically in Yellowstone, provides an important tool in assisting future population management of this herd and for ensuring the continued success of the American Bison.

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Like people, dogs are susceptible to the negative effects of aging on the mind and body. Canine cognitive dysfunction or "doggie dementia" is a disorder similar to dementia in people.

"Signs for canine cognitive dysfunction include problems with learning, housetraining, awareness of surroundings, and problems with the wake/sleep cycle," said Dr. Joseph Mankin, clinical assistant professor at the Texas A&M College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences. "Dogs may also appear confused, have increased episodes of restlessness, and may have less interest in playing or appear irritable."

Mankin says that cognitive dysfunction cases increase with age. About a third of dogs show one or more signs at the age of 11 and most dogs show signs of the dysfunction at the age of 16.

At this time, there is no breed predisposition. The only common indicating factor for dogs is the age.

If you feel your dog is showing signs of mind degeneration, visit with your veterinarian to learn more about possible diagnosis and treatment plans.

"The syndrome is diagnosed based on the patient's clinical signs and activity/behavioral changes at home," said Mankin. "There is not a specific test to diagnose the problem, although changes on advanced imaging of the brain can give some indication."

"Treatment of cognitive dysfunction includes certain medications, environmental changes, and changes in diet," explained Mankin. "With this syndrome, there may be an association with the lack of dopamine and there are medications that can increase dopamine activity that can help with a patient's clinical signs."

Diets high in antioxidants can also be beneficial for your pet's treatment plan. Hills has a line of diet options.

Mankin recommends implementing increased activity among your dog to help slow the degenerative process.

"Environmental enrichment in the form of playing with toys, interacting with other dogs, and learning new tricks can be effective in lessening the signs of cognitive dysfunction," added Mankin.

There are also no proven preventative measures that an owner can take. The best recommendations are to keep your dog healthy by giving it a balanced diet and continuing its exercise. Canine cognitive dysfunction is a function of the brain aging, and unfortunately most of the time it is inevitable.

It is important to remember that not all dogs will display all the signs of this dysfunction. That is why it is important to take your dog to your veterinarian if it displays any behavioral changes. Your veterinarian can look for common disorders that might explain what is going on with your pet.

"If your pet is starting to become confused, having accidents in the house, or displaying any behavioral changes, an appointment with your regular veterinarian would be indicated," said Mankin. "There are several other disease processes that can start with similar clinical signs, so an exam and performing routine blood work is the first step in diagnosing the condition and ruling out other common causes."

If initial test results do not explain the cause for your pet's abnormal behavior, or if the results suggest additional information is required, the next step may be to see a specialist like Mankin. Your veterinarian can refer you to a veterinary neurologist whom can help determine what the problem is.

The natural aging process can be as painless as possible for your dog if you continue routine checkups with your veterinarian, and continue to be aware of your dog's habits.

ABOUT PET TALK

Pet Talk is a service of the College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences, Texas A&M University. Stories can be viewed on the Web at /pet-talk.

Suggestions for future topics may be directed to cvmtoday@cvm.tamu.edu.

Dr. John R. Herbold '69

Dr. JoGayle Howard '80*

*Awarded posthumously

Dr. J. Michael McFarland '85

Dr. Harold D. Putnam '60

Dr. Ronald O. Stried '71

Dr. Michael A. Walker '72

"It's not uncommon for most animals to have upset stomachs and vomit from time to time, but there's usually a simple reason," says Dr. Deb Zoran, associate professor at the Texas A&M College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences.

Vomiting may be caused by a hairball in the stomach or small intestine or by other foreign material, such as plants, rocks or bones.  Diet could also be a cause.

"If a dog or cat has had a change of diet or if it has eaten spoiled food, it can result in nausea or vomiting," adds Zoran.

"Just like when humans get food poisoning, the symptoms usually go away within 24 hours.  The digestive tract is cleared and whatever was causing the problem is gone.  However, if the animal has repeated vomiting, won't eat, or the symptoms continue for more than 24 hours, the animal needs to see a veterinarian immediately."

Zoran says frequent pet vomiting can be a difficult problem to pinpoint.

"The causes are numerous - food allergies, infection or inflammation in the intestinal tract, foreign objects that obstruct the bowel, ulcers, liver or kidney failure, diabetes, cancer - the list can go on and on," says Zoran. 

If the animal has been vomiting for more than 24 hours, the most serious problems are dehydration and electrolyte imbalances.  The animal has lost body fluids and they need to be replaced right away, then the source of the problem can be examined.

X-rays can often detect the source of the vomiting, and as with humans, barium liquid can be administered to the pet to outline the digestive tract.  Other tests that may be necessary include ultrasound, blood work, and an endoscopic examination to determine the problem.

"One key question is, does the cause of the vomiting come from inside the G.I. (gastrointestinal) tract or is it hidden elsewhere in the animal?" Zoran adds.  "If the problem is not in the G.I. tract, it can be harder to detect."

If the pet owner detects blood in any food the animal has vomited, that should be a warning sign that something is not right.

"If blood is present, it's a serious problem and possibly a life-threatening problem," says Zoran.

"Unfortunately, it may not look like blood because the stomach acids will digest any blood present and the blood may look something like coffee grounds.  The best answer is, if you don't think it looks like food, the animal needs medical attention as soon as possible," says Zoran.

Other signs that should alarm pet owners: if the animal vomits every time it eats, vomits multiple times per day, or if the animal won't eat at all and appears to be weak and depressed.

"All of these are warning signs that something serious is wrong and the pet needs medical help immediately," says Zoran.

Frequent or persistent vomiting in any animal is not normal. If the animal has been vomiting excessively, it's essential that it sees a veterinarian.

ABOUT PET TALK

Pet Talk is a service of the College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences, Texas A&M University. Stories can be viewed on the Web at /pet-talk.

Suggestions for future topics may be directed to cvmtoday@cvm.tamu.edu.

Using a T-cell therapy developed at MD Anderson Children's Cancer Hospital, veterinarians from Texas A&M saw a nearly four-fold improvement in tumor-free survival compared to dogs who received only chemotherapy. The median tumor-free survival for the Texas-based dogs increased by close to nine months, which is roughly equivalent to seven years in a human life span.

NHL is one of the most common cancers in dogs, according to Texas A&M veterinarians. Although standard chemotherapy can achieve remission, it is rarely a curative treatment, with the two-year survival rate remaining less than 20 percent. When investigators from MD Anderson and Texas A&M met, they explored the feasibility of administering T cells to improve survival.

"We followed the same rigid standards that we practice for human clinical trials at MD Anderson to ensure the safety of each dog," said Laurence Cooper, M.D., Ph.D., professor and section chief of cell therapy at the children's hospital and senior investigator on the study. "While these pets are benefiting from the T-cell infusions, this collaboration with Texas A&M is a driving force for undertaking similar clinical trials in humans."

Watch the NBC report online

To accomplish the T-cell therapy, researchers took a sample of peripheral blood from each dog entering the study. Then the T cells were separated and expanded in Cooper's laboratory over several weeks. As the T cells grew at MD Anderson, the canines received a chemotherapy regimen at Texas A&M similar to what humans with NHL receive, a combination of cyclophosphamide, vincristine, doxorubicin and prednisone. The T cells were then given back intravenously after the chemotherapy to improve the anti-tumor effects.

"The therapy was well tolerated in all dogs who received the infusions. We saw fewer side effects than with traditional chemotherapy, and the pet owners were please with how their dogs tolerated the protocol," said Heather Wilson-Robles, DVM, DACVIM(Oncology), assistant professor at Texas A&M. "The owners were also very pleased to be supporting research that may further enhance cancer therapy in humans and pets with cancer."

"Treating dogs with cancer provides us with a great comparative oncology model for humans," said Colleen O'Connor, Ph.D., post-doctoral fellow at MD Anderson and one of the primary investigators on the study. "We learned important details about the interaction between chemotherapy and tumor cells that can be harnessed to improve the body's immune response. This is something we hadn't appreciated thus far from our clinical research in humans."

From the trial, investigators found that:

• Chemotherapy, while damaging the canine tumor, also makes the tumor cells susceptible to recognition by the infused T cells
• Infusing back the patient's T cells after chemotherapy can work to improve the survival of canines with NHL, since these T cells were held outside the body preventing damage from the chemotherapy
• Biomarkers were identified that can potentially play a role in determining prognosis

Overall the study further affirmed the ability to use the body's own immune cells, such as T cells, to fight cancer. As a result, MD Anderson and Texas A&M collaborators are creating a program focusing on harvesting and expanding T cells at a large scale for broad clinical use.

Investigators at both institutions are working to open a new trial that will infuse genetically modified T cells that are tumor specific and potentially even more effective against the canine cancer cells.

Other contributors to the Scientific Reports study include Sabina Sheppard and Mark Johnson from Texas A&M and Cassie Hartline, Helen Huls, Shana Palla, Sourindra Maiti, Wencai Ma, Eric Davis, Suzanne Craig, Dean Lee and Richard Champlin from MD Anderson.

About MD Anderson

The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston ranks as one of the world's most respected centers focused on cancer patient care, research, education and prevention. MD Anderson is one of only 40 comprehensive cancer centers designated by the National Cancer Institute. For eight of the past 10 years, including 2011, MD Anderson has ranked No. 1 in cancer care in "Best Hospitals," a survey published annually in U.S. News & World Report.

About MD Anderson Children's Cancer Hospital

The University of Texas MD Anderson Children's Cancer Hospital has been serving children, adolescents and young adults for more than 65 years. In addition to the groundbreaking research and quality of treatment available to pediatric patients, the Children's Cancer Hospital provides comprehensive programs that help children lead more normal lives during and after treatment. For further information, visit the Children's Cancer Hospital Web site at www.mdanderson.org/children. Get MD Anderson News Via RSS Follow MD Anderson News on Twitter

About Texas A&M College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences

The Texas A&M College of Veterinary Medicine (CVM) is an institution that represents more than 95 years of growth from a small school of veterinary medicine in 1916 to its present role as a major veterinary educational, medical and research center. Through years of maturation and expansion, an institution emerged that has proudly produced some of the nation's best practicing veterinarians who work to improve animal, public, and environmental health. The Texas A&M CVM continues to lead the nation in improving the quality of life for animals through excellence in education, research, and service. Get Texas A&M College of Veterinary Medicine News Via RSS Follow Texas A&M College of Veterinary Medicine on Facebook

Contact Information:
Angela G. Clendenin
Director, Communications & Public Relations
Ofc - (979) 862-2675
Cell - (979) 739-5718

*Above Photo: Dr. Heather M. Wilson-Robles

COLLEGE STATION, Texas - The Texas A&M University System Board of Regents approved the addition of a $120 million classroom building and small animal hospital expansion project to the system's capital plan today in their meeting in Corpus Christi, Texas. The capital project represents a major expansion for the Texas A&M College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences (CVM).

The new building will house state-of-the-art classroom and teaching laboratory space that will enhance the learning environment for students. Combined with the expansion of the small animal hospital, the new facilities will provide opportunities for innovations in teaching and will nurture collaboration and creativity. In addition, they are expected to be a notable factor in recruiting the best faculty, staff, and students.

"Our goal is to build a premier teaching and research facility that complements our world-class faculty in the College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences and the far-ranging impact they have on both animal and human health," said Texas A&M President R. Bowen Loftin. "At this point, the building will be one of the largest construction projects in the history of the university, which speaks volumes about the importance veterinary medicine plays in our state's economy, as well as in our daily lives."

Site visits from the American Veterinary Medical Association Council on Education and Texas A&M administrators noted the need for improvements in the college's teaching facilities, especially to keep pace with the dynamic growth in the veterinary profession.

"The new facility represents a tremendous opportunity to bring the latest in teaching technology to the CVM and to Texas A&M University," said Dr. Eleanor Green, Carl B. King Dean of Veterinary Medicine. "We are very excited that the Board of Regents and the administration of Texas A&M University have decided to invest in the future of our college, our faculty, and our students. The impact of having state-of-the-art teaching and clinical facilities will be felt not only by those who receive their education here in the future, but also by those that we serve."

The $120 million needed for completion of both facilities will be funded solely from the Permanent University Fund (PUF), which was established in the Texas Constitution of 1876 as a public endowment contributing to the support of the institutions of the Texas A&M and University of Texas Systems.

Now that the new facilities have been added to the capital plan, the administrative team of the CVM will begin the planning and design process with a completion date to be predicted in the near future.

"In 2016, we will be celebrating our 100^th anniversary," said Green. "It would be outstanding if we were able to step into our new facilities as we step into a new century."

Western Veterinary Conference, Las Vegas, NV, February, 2012 - Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine and Texas A&M College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences have announced today a groundbreaking partnership with Pfizer Animal Health. This unique partnership between academia and industry will deliver the Universities' expertise in medicine and teaching, supported by Pfizer Animal Health's information delivery and customer service know-how. Together, the partnership will offer veterinarians convenient web-based educational products utilizing the latest advances in educational technologies. 

Practicing veterinarians need access to high quality educational opportunities throughout their career since the knowledge base that drives veterinary medicine continues to evolve after professionals have earned their degree. The partnership between Cornell, Texas A&M, and Pfizer Animal Health will seek to transform the learning process, providing practitioners with unique opportunities to stay current with the latest discoveries in veterinary medicine, hone in their clinical skills, incorporate current medical advances into decisions that affect patient care, and build more profitable practices. This collaboration will leverage technology to ensure convenient, round-the-clock access to these educational opportunities. 

This partnership will utilize advanced technology to make high quality, lifelong learning more accessible to veterinarians. The educational platform will allow practitioners and students to learn in an online environment that is interactive, experiential, and flexes to accommodate different styles of learning. 

 "It is not very often in one's academic lifetime that an opportunity arises which, if pursued, allows substantial change in our profession.  I believe this partnership is just one of those opportunities.  In the truest sense of collaboration, two colleges of veterinary medicine and Pfizer Animal Health are developing a unique public-private partnership that will revolutionize education and learning.  A distinguishing factor that will set this educational content apart is that the academic partners are providing not only subject matter expertise and peer review, but also pedagogical expertise, which will result in transformative learning experiences.  The excitement in the air on the Texas A&M campus is palpable and we are looking forward not only to working with Cornell University, but also to including content experts from other veterinary institutions."  Said Eleanor M. Green, DVM, DACVIM, DABVP, Carl B. King Dean of Veterinary Medicine, Texas A&M University College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences. 

"Ultimately, the goal is to support and bolster veterinarians in their pursuit of excellence and improve the quality of animal care," said Dr. Michael I. Kotlikoff, Austin O. Hooey Dean of Veterinary Medicine at Cornell University. "This state-of-the-art learning environment will encourage innovation and flexibility in the profession, while meeting the needs of all those involved by aligning the abilities of the veterinarian with their clients' and patients' needs and responding to an identified need among practice owners to maintain their skills, improve their approach to practice management, and continually develop their professional knowledge." 

 "At Pfizer Animal Health, we are proud to be part of this groundbreaking partnership with Cornell and Texas A&M, which will allow us to offer exciting opportunities for Veterinarians to access world-class learning that will be highly relevant and immediately applicable to their practices, produced by undisputed leaders in their scientific fields and delivered in an exciting technology platform. This is just another example of our ongoing commitment to education, innovation and professional readiness for Veterinarians and this partnership is just the vehicle to ensure sustained development and delivery of top quality, unbiased, science-based education", said Michael McFarland, DVM, DABVP, Group Director Companion Animal Veterinary Operations US Pfizer Animal Health. 

About Pfizer Animal Health

Pfizer Animal Health, a business unit of Pfizer Inc, is a world leader in the discovery, development and manufacture of innovative animal health vaccines, medicines, and diagnostics.  Pfizer Animal Health invests more in research and development that any other animal health company.  We work to assure a safe sustainable global food supply from healthy beef and dairy cattle, pigs, poultry, and fish while helping dogs, cats, and horses live healthier longer lives.  To learn more visit, www.PfizerAnimalHealth.com.  

About Texas A&M University College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences

The Texas A&M College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences was established nearly a century ago to serve the needs of the Texas livestock industry.  Today it serves the largest livestock industry in the U.S. in addition to protecting the health of all animals, people, and the environment in the second most populous state. It is an innovative leader in veterinary medical education recognized for graduating top quality, practice ready veterinarians from Texas A&M University, which is the seventh largest university in the nation and a top 20 Tier One research institution. 

About Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine

Cornell University's College of Veterinary Medicine is recognized internationally as a leader in public health, biomedical research, animal medicine, and veterinary medical education. Ranked the number one veterinary college in the nation by US News & World Report consistently since 2000, the College's strength is due to the strategic breadth and depth of its programs, to the expertise of its faculty, and to the achievements of its alumni. Cornell awarded the first veterinary degree in the United States to Daniel Salmon, best known for discovering Salmonella, and again made history in 1910 when it awarded the first American woman with a veterinary degree. 

Pfizer Inc.: Working together for a healthier world™

At Pfizer, we apply science and our global resources to improve health and well-being at every stage of life. We strive to set the standard for quality, safety and value in the discovery, development and manufacturing of medicines for people and animals. Our diversified global health care portfolio includes human and animal biologic and small molecule medicines and vaccines, as well as nutritional products and many of the world's best-known consumer products. Every day, Pfizer colleagues work across developed and emerging markets to advance wellness, prevention, treatments and cures that challenge the most feared diseases of our time. Consistent with our responsibility as the world's leading biopharmaceutical company, we also collaborate with health care providers, governments and local communities to support and expand access to reliable, affordable health care around the world. For more than 150 years, Pfizer has worked to make a difference for all who rely on us. To learn more about our commitments, please visit us at www.pfizer.com.

Media Contacts: 

For Texas A&M University College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences:

Angela Clendenin, Director of Public Relations, Voice: 979.862.2675

For Cornell University's College of Veterinary Medicine:

Stephanie A. Specchio, Voice: 607-253-3369, e-mail address: sas6@cornell.edu

For Pfizer Animal Health:

Rebecca Cisek, Senior Director US Communications, Voice: 973.660.5565, e-mail address: rebecca.cisek@pfizer.com