Animal Health Institute

Pet Cancer Awareness Month: Keep your furry friend healthy (via FoxNews.com)

admin — Tue, 14 May 2013 12:57:58 +0000

May is Pet Cancer Awareness Month, and the most important message one veterinarian oncologist wants the public to know is that cancer in animals is no longer a death sentence. According to the story, one in four dogs will get cancer while one in five cats will get cancer in their lifetime. Both owners and groomers can help keep an eye out for lumps and changes in pet behavior and alert the veterinarian.

Read more about what to look for at Fox News.

AHI Statement on FDA Response to Environmental Working Group Report

admin — Tue, 23 Apr 2013 15:35:58 +0000

In response to “FDA Cautions in Interpretation of Antimicrobial Resistance Data,” citing that the Environmental Working Group’s report of the 2011 Retail Meat Annual Report of the National Antimicrobial Resistance Monitoring System (NARMS), the Animal Health Institute issued the following statement:

Statement:

“The Animal Health Institute applauds the FDA for setting the record straight with regard to the EWG’s report conclusions and further underscoring the importance of providing consumers with factual and accurate information.

AHI has always supported a robust NARMS monitoring program as it serves as an early defense system on the potential for the emergence of antibiotic resistant bacteria. We agree with the FDA that any interpretation of the NARMS data must be based on sound science and accurate analysis from those organizations with a full understanding of microbiology, epidemiology and the genetics of antibiotics resistance with regard to foodborne pathogens.

Antimicrobial resistance is a challenging issue and one our industry takes seriously. We work to ensure that veterinarians and farmers use antibiotics responsibly to keep animals healthy while protecting public health.”

Media Contact:

Ron Phillips (202) 637-2440

FDA Announces Public Meetings with Food-Animal Producers and Veterinarians (via US FDA)

admin — Mon, 11 Mar 2013 14:35:51 +0000

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration announced a series of five meetings to provide the public with opportunities to discuss and provide feedback on the challenges faced by livestock producers and veterinarians as FDA phases in veterinary oversight of the therapeutic use of certain medically important antimicrobials. FDA is seeking input as it moves forward to further develop and implement its strategy to promote the judicious use in food-producing animals of antibiotics that are important in treating humans.

100 Years of the VSTA (via USDA)

admin — Mon, 04 Mar 2013 19:30:11 +0000

To commemorate the 100th anniversary of the Virus-Serum-Toxin Act (VSTA), the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Center for Veterinary Biologics (CVB) will present historical information on the veterinary biologics program, abstracts on various program components, and podcasts highlighting the impact of the VSTA on animal health. VSTA was designed to protect farmers and livestock raisers by regulating the quality of vaccines and point-of-care diagnostics for animals. The program will last for one year beginning March 4.

Overweight Cats Are An Epidemic (via ChicagoNow)

admin — Thu, 21 Feb 2013 14:25:00 +0000

Many Americans have developed spare tires around their middles, and so have many of their pets. According to the Banfield Pet Hospital 2012 State of Pet Health Report, there’s been a 90 percent rise in overweight and obese cats since 2007. Many owners do not recognize that their animals are overweight.

FDA Annual Report on Antimicrobials Sold or Distributed for Food-Producing Animals in 2011 (via FDA)

admin — Mon, 11 Feb 2013 15:16:42 +0000

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) Center for Veterinary Medicine (CVM) released its third annual report summarizing 2011 sales and distribution data of antimicrobial drugs approved for use in food-producing animals. While overall domestic sales increased by 2.27%, sales excluding ionophores slightly declined. Ionophores are not used in human medicine. FDA cautions that several variables make it difficult to compare antimicrobial sales and distribution data in food-producing animals with such data collected for antimicrobials intended for human use.

FDA Announces Reorganization for the Foods and Veterinary Medicine Program (via FDA)

admin — Mon, 04 Feb 2013 14:23:47 +0000

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration announced in the Federal Register a reorganization for the Foods and Veterinary Medicine (FVM) program that was implemented on October 1, 2012. Under the reorganization, the Office of Foods is now the Office of Foods and Veterinary Medicine, led by Michael Taylor, the Deputy Commissioner for Foods and Veterinary Medicine.

Under the reorganization, the Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition (CFSAN), led by Michael Landa, and the Center for Veterinary Medicine (CVM), led by Bernadette Dunham, continue to report to Deputy Commissioner Taylor and remain the major operating units with responsibility for leading operations and regulatory policy development in their respective areas.

To read more visit the FDA website.

Veterinary Biologics Training Program Scheduled for May, 2013 (via IIACB)

admin — Tue, 29 Jan 2013 15:49:36 +0000

Registration has opened for the 2013 Veterinary Biologics Training Program (VBTP) which begins May 14, 2013 in Ames, Iowa. Now in its 18th year, the Veterinary Biologics Training Program has been attended by nearly 1800 individuals, including more than 500 attendees from 84 countries.

The VBTP is held annually for professionals in veterinary vaccine and diagnostic test development and regulatory agencies. The course provides an overview of the scientific principles of immunology and vaccinology; and the USDA regulatory process for assuring the purity, safety, potency and efficacy of veterinary biologics.

The course is co-sponsored by the Institute for International Cooperation in Animal Biologics (IICAB); the USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service’s (APHIS) Center for Veterinary Biologics (CVB); and the Iowa State University (ISU) College of Veterinary Medicine.

For more information visit Institute for International Cooperation in Animal Biologics.

New illness, transmitted by same tick that carries Lyme, is discovered in Northeast (via Boston.com)

admin — Thu, 24 Jan 2013 14:40:46 +0000

A new tick-borne disease, still unnamed, has been discovered in 18 human cases in New York and New England, according to researchers from institutions including Yale University and New York Medical College. The pathogen, Borrelia miyamotoi, was first identified in ticks in Japan in 1995. Symptoms include headaches, muscle aches, fatigue and recurring bouts of fever, the latter a feature distinct from Lyme disease.

Common Ground Exists in Drug Resistance Debate: Response to PEW Op-Ed (via Food Safety News)

admin — Thu, 17 Jan 2013 16:00:11 +0000

Peter J. Pitts, former FDA Associate Commissioner, President of the Center for Medicine in the Public Interest and a member of the Animal Health Institute’s Board of Scientific Advisors, responds to the PEW Op-Ed in today’s Food Safety News:

“FDA’s action ensures that medicines will now be used in animal health much the same way as they are used by humans – administered only to address disease and under the direction of a licensed medical professional. This policy is the net result of what a number of public health advocacy groups, including Pew, called for in a 2009 letter to the White House. ”

To read the full piece, visit Food Safety News.