News Room
This news room is dedicated to news for the public. News affecting veterinarians can be found on the members only portion of the site. 

ASPCA Offers Urgent Reminder To Pet Owmers:  Rat And Mouse Baits Are Also Poisonous To Dogs And Cats

Over 8,500 Calls Regarding Exposure to Rodenticides; 20 Percent Increase from Previous Year [more]

Pet Owners Beware: Paintball Is No Game For Dogs
-- Number of Canine Exposures to Pellets Increasing Annually --
(Urbana, IL)– In today’s active society, outdoor games are becoming increasingly popular. One common group activity similar to "King of the Mountain" or "Capture the Flag" is paintball, a sport where participants shoot opposing team members with pellets of paint in an effort to eliminate them and win the game. However, most pet owners may not be aware that these paint-filled pellets can be potentially harmful to their canine companions. [more]

Sweetener xylitol can be toxic to dogs 
- The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals' Animal Poison Control Center is warning veterinarians, their staff, and pet owners that the xylitol—a sweetener found in some sugar-free chewing gums, candies, and other products can cause serious—possibly life-threatening problems for dogs. [more]

Proposed Animal Welfare Legislation Could Save Millions for State.
At least 100,000 dogs and cats are euthanized each year in Oklahoma. If that number were cut in half, the state could save an estimated $2.5 million, according to the Oklahoma Veterinary Medical Association. [more]

Increased Prevalence of Canine Brucellosis in Oklahoma
(1998-2003)
Brucella canis causes disease in the canine that is characterized by infection of the reproductive tract.  Canine brucellosis is a chronic infection that displays very few clinical symptoms other than abortion in the female and orchitis in the male.  However, the typical presentation of brucellosis is often not the main problem in perpetuation of the disease in kennels.  Transmission is mostly venereal and might result in undetectable embryonic deaths, abortions around 50 days gestation, prolonged vaginal discharge or rarely live B. canis infected puppies.  Infection in the male is associated with epididymitis, dermatitis of the scrotum, testicular atrophy or infertility.  Male dogs infected with B. canis for greater than 3 months usually develop antibodies that react with spermatozoa thereby causing infertility along with disease transmission.  Persistent bacteremia is common with B. canis and the bacteria often cause chronic infection of the lymphatics.  The intracellular bacteria can also be associated with intervertebral disc disease (ataxia, weakness) or anterior uveitis (cloudy cornea). [more]

EPA orders retailers to stop sales of counterfeit flea and tick products for pets
The Environmental Protection Agency is acting to disrupt an effort to distribute counterfeit products for controlling fleas and ticks on dogs and cats. The agency has ordered pesticide distributors and retailers in a number of states to stop selling counterfeit products that contain false EPA registration numbers and labeling for Advantage and Frontline brands of pesticides. [more]

ASPCA Issues Alert To Pet Owners During National Poison Prevention Week
Many common human medications can be hazardous to pets.
(NEW YORK) March 15, 2004 -- The ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center is sending a nationwide alert to pet owners during National Poison Prevention Week (March 21 – 27) about common human medications that can be dangerous and even deadly to pets. Thousands of cats and dogs needlessly suffer and many die each year by accidental ingestion of human medications. In 2003, the Center managed over 28,000 cases involving human medications, and were second only to pesticides as the most commonly reported cause of poisonings in animals. By category, the most commonly reported medications included non-steroidal anti-inflammatory painkillers, antidepressants, cold/flu medicines and diet pills. [more]