POLICY
Denver voters overturn 31 year-old pitbull ban in favor of ‘breed-restricted permitting process’
Denver residents voted to repeal the “restricted breed ban” on November 3, 2020. They voted, instead, for a new permit process, to be administered by Denver Animal Protection. Denver residents will now need to obtain a Breed-Restricted Permit. “This means that Denver residents may not own or keep any pit bull within the City and […]
Breaking: FDA issues first statement on diet-associated canine heart disease since June 2019
The F.D.A.’s Center for Veterinary Medicine has just issued its first official statement on diet-associated dilated cardiomyopathy (or DCM) in dogs since June 2019. As TCR reported last week, compelling new data about certain types of diets linked to heart disease in dogs was presented by FDA researchers in late September at a conference for pet […]
F.D.A. to issue new announcement on links between certain diets and heart disease in dogs after expressing concern for pet food industry “bottom line” and vowing to tamp down on public statements
There’s another story, which may be more significant — which is the fact that the important new data was not announced or reported on F.D.A.’s website until after TCR started making inquiries about the conference materials discovered by Holly. Among those materials were “Opening Remarks” delivered by F.D.A. CVM chief, Dr. Steven Solomon, in which he seems to express concern for how his agency’s research might affect the “bottom line” of some pet food companies.
F.D.A. buries major 2020 update on diet-associated DCM
*More reporting coming soon* The Canine Review has learned that the FDA has released its first major update on diet-associated DCM (dilated cardiomyopathy, a progressive heart disease) in dogs and cats since its June 2019 bombshell announcement in which the regulator took the unprecedented step of singling out the 16 brands of dog food most frequently linked to DCM cases. The FDA’s 2020 update was first reported by third year veterinary student Caitlin Holly, who broke the story Sunday evening on her blog, Doc Of All Trades.
Major U.S. Pet Food Seller Expands Recall Due To Excessive Levels of Mold
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration Center for Veterinary Medicine announced today that Alabama-based Sunshine Mills, Inc. — whose products are sold nationwide by big box retailers such as Walmart, Target, Petco; online retailers such as Chewy.com and Amazon — has expanded its September dog food recalls due to excessive levels of alfatoxin (toxic mold). Ingestion of alfatoxin-contaminated foods at excessive quantities by dogs can cause severe liver damage.
A California vet has his license revoked, along with his premises license to operate. The practice is still open, and he’s still working there. What can you or the vet board do?
Asked about the enforcement process and how the Board implements its orders, Cave explained, “Because California is a huge state, the [VMB] can’t be everywhere at all times.” Cave added that if a person is aware of a veterinarian who is operating on a revoked license, that person should file a complaint as a way of alerting the [Vet Board] to the possible violation. “And, then, what the Board has at their disposal is either to send out an inspector or, at the Department of Consumer Affairs, we have our own law enforcement unit. They’re called the Division of Investigation (DOI). They’re actually peace officers, but they’re under DCA.” Cave says these officers are able to set up undercover sting operations depending on the severity. “If the board is tipped off, then they definitely move on those quickly.”
Wisconsin Vet Says Officials Forced Shut Down After Employee Tested Positive For Covid. Health Department Tells A Different Story.
In America’s heartland, a new and unlikely participant has joined the debates that have defined so much of the COVID-19 pandemic: Wisconsin veterinarian and practice owner Kristie Ponce of Wisconsin Rapids, where the local economy is being ravaged by the pandemic. Dr. Ponce and her practice started attracting media attention earlier in July when, according to Ponce, she and her staff were ordered by local health department authorities to quarantine at home after one employee tested positive for COVID-19.
Your dog’s health insurance can be better than yours, if you pick the right insurance.
Where Nationwide, ASPCA, and Trupanion succeed–and fail.
