MAF Highlights
Working to stop canine flu at shelter doors
By Allison Tonini
Imagine the flu season with no antibacterial hand soaps and no flu shots. And imagine that no matter where you go, you are surrounded by people who already have the flu. Unfortunately, this world is a reality for the estimated six to eight million dogs that enter shelters every year.
Since its discovery in 2004, canine influenza virus (CIV) has become widespread in shelters across the United States. It has been nearly impossible to develop effective control strategies because it was not known whether newly admitted dogs were introducing the disease into a shelter or whether a shelter... Read more.
Posted by MAF on January 19, 2012
Categories: Animal health, Canine health, Dog health
PermalinkCreating a Healthier Tomorrow for Animals in 2011
Morris Animal Foundation funded nearly 300 animal health studies in 2011. Each study outcome provides critical knowledge that will help advance veterinary medicine for the benefit of companion animals and wildlife worldwide. Our funding helped scientists:
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Understand strategies to better manage and prevent feline upper respiratory infections in shelters
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Demonstrate efficacy of the use of a long-acting antibiotic in many different species of... Read more.
Posted by MAF on January 12, 2012
Categories: Animal health, Animal studies, Animal welfare
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Birthday Wishes for Betty White
Betty White celebrates her 90th birthday on January 17. We at Morris Animal Foundation wish her the very best this year, and we thank her for more than 40 years as a trustee and active participant in helping us give animals worldwide longer, healthier lives. Learn more about Betty’s work with us.
Read more.
Posted by MAF on January 10, 2012
Categories: Betty White
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Seeing Clearly: Identifying New Causes and Treatments for Feline Conjunctivitis
By Alex Jimenez
It’s not uncommon for cats to develop cold-like symptoms such as sneezing, runny eyes and a cough, especially in shelters or other environments in which many cats are housed. These same signs can be caused by both bacteria and viruses, and appropriate treatment requires an accurate diagnosis of the cause.
In a Morris Animal Foundation–funded study at the Colorado State University Center for Companion Animal Studies, Dr. Michael R. Lappin sought to improve treatment of cats with conjunctivitis – inflammation of the tissues surrounding the eyes – by identifying the most common... Read more.
Posted by MAF on January 10, 2012
Categories: Animal health, Animal welfare, Cat health
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Wild Animals Get Stressed Out, Too
By Kelley Weir
We know that our pets can get stressed out, but what about wild animals? What would they have to worry about?
It turns out, the answer is us.
Human activities can negatively affect wildlife populations and, in some cases, may result in long-term stress and health problems in individual animals. Bears appear to be particularly affected. Aside from the normal stressors, like searching for prey, foraging for food or merely surviving the winter, human interference, like habitat encroachment, has been shown to cause long-term stress in bears.
With funding from Morris Animal Foundation, Dr.... Read more.
Posted by MAF on January 9, 2012
Categories: Animal health, Animal welfare, Wildlife health
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2011: A Banner Year for Helping Animals
By Kelley Weir
In 2011, Morris Animal Foundation saw many important outcomes from studies we’ve funded all over the world. At any given time, Morris Animal Foundation manages about 300 animal health studies at veterinary and research institutions all over the world. By supporting a continuous cycle of research, our foundation receives a steady flow of animal health accomplishments that we can share with you.
Easier chemotherapy for dogs
Despite improved treatments, cancer still takes the lives of too many dogs. Morris Animal Foundation is dedicated to continually improving cancer... Read more.
Posted by MAF on January 9, 2012
Categories: Animal health, Animal studies, Animal welfare
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December Veterinary Honor Roll
The following veterinarians where honored by their clients for outstanding service and dedication. To honor your veterinarians, click here.
Dr. Gren Bendixen, Companion Animal Health Center
Dr. Jeff Blea
Dr. Casey Cadile
Dr. Suzanne Caruso, Veterinary Associates
Dr. Kim Cole, Rose Hill Veterinary Practice
Dr. Andrew B. Cox, All Creatures Animal Hospital
Dr. Julie D'Alessandro
Dr.... Read more.
Posted by MAF on January 5, 2012
Categories: Animal health, Animal welfare, Veterinary news
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Monitoring stress in bears
Dr. David Janz
University of Saskatchewan, CanadaHuman activities can negatively affect wildlife populations, and in some cases may result in long-term stress and health problems in individual animals. This study resulted in the development of a technique to measure a primary stress hormone, cortisol, in hair collected from grizzly bears and polar bears. In combination with collaborative research into environmental changes and animal health, the research team validated hair cortisol testing as a sensitive, reliable and noninvasive measure of long-term stress in wildlife.
Read more.
Posted by MAF on December 29, 2011
Categories: Animal health, Animal studies, Wildlife health
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A Call to Save the Whooping Crane
A Call to Save the Whooping Crane
International effort to bring the five-foot-tall bird back from the brink of extinction
By Megan Gambino
Smithsonian magazine, November 2011Click here to read the article.
Read more.
Posted by MAF on December 22, 2011
Categories: Animal health, Animal studies, Wildlife health
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Drugs that could manage obesity
Dr. Ya-Xiong Tao
Auburn UniversityObesity in cats has reached epidemic proportions: An estimated 20 to 48 percent of owned cats are now overweight. Obese cats are more likely to develop health problems, such as diabetes, skin conditions, heart disease and severe lameness.
With a grant from Morris Animal Foundation, researchers at Auburn University investigated whether they could use drugs to act... Read more.
Posted by MAF on December 21, 2011
Categories: Cat health, Feline health
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Looking Back: The Best Shelter Cat Stories of 2011
To celebrate national Adopt-a-Shelter-Cat month in June of 2011, Morris Animal Foundation asked cat lovers to share their touching shelter cat stories on our Happy Healthy Cat Campaign Facebook page. The response was amazing, and we would like to thank everyone who participated.
After careful consideration, we have decided to combine the Happy Healthy Cat Campaign Facebook page with our main Morris Animal Foundation Facebook page. For those who shared stories with us, they have been archived here. Thank you all again and be sure toRead more.
Posted by MAF on December 16, 2011
Categories: Animal welfare, Cat health
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November Veterinary Honor Roll
The following veterinarians where honored by their clients for outstanding service and dedication. To honor your veterinarians, click here.
Dr. Aaron Wey, Upstate Veterinary Specialities
Dr. Andrea Dennis, Bloomfield Animal Hospital
Dr. Bradley Knee, New Baltimore Animal Hospital
Dr. Eva B. Ceranowicz, Bloomfield Animal Hospital
Dr. Jocelyn Mott, DVM, Pasedena Veterinary Specialists
Dr. Judy Feldsien, Katonah Bedford Veterinary Center
Dr. Karen E. Miller, DVM, Cat Hospital of Metairie
Dr. Monica Hazelwood, VCA... Read more.
Posted by MAF on December 15, 2011
Categories: Animal health, Veterinary news
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Potential prognostic lymphoma test
Dr. Matthew Breen
North Carolina State University
Dr. Sue Lana
Colorado State UniversityLymphoma accounts for nearly 25 percent of all cancers in dogs, and some breeds are particularly susceptible. Untreated dogs rarely survive beyond three months after diagnosis. Even with chemotherapy, overall response and survival times vary widely, indicating a need to develop more refined modes of classification.
Studies have shown that certain chromosome changes in humans with lymphoma have both diagnostic and prognostic significance. Investigators from North Carolina State University and Colorado... Read more.
Posted by MAF on December 14, 2011
Categories: Canine cancer , Dog cancer, Dog health
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Going corporate but maintaining personality
Denver clinic keeps its local flavor
Not much has changed at the former Firehouse Park Hill Animal Health Center since becoming a Vet Center of America (VCA) owned and operated practice. And that’s a good thing.
Many staff and clients were concerned that the Denver-based clinic would be drastically altered when VCA, which owns more than 520 animal hospitals across the nation, took it over in May 2010. But more than a year later, most have been pleasantly surprised with the outcome. Much of VCA’s success stems from their adopting an... Read more.
Posted by MAF on December 9, 2011
Categories: Animal health, Veterinary news, Veterinary research
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How aging prompts kidney disease
By Amy Ettinger
Millions of older cats are affected by chronic kidney disease. The disease is costly, affects quality of life and has few treatment options. In addition, the disease is often not diagnosed until the late stages, once 75 percent of kidney function is already lost.
Researchers at Colorado State University are investigating why kidney disease affects senior cats and are exploring the role of cell aging, known as cell senescence. With Morris Animal Foundation funding, the scientists are studying cells to determine whether cats with kidney disease have shortened telomeres, which... Read more.
Posted by MAF on December 8, 2011
Categories: Animal health, Cat diseases, Cat health
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Selected Publications Resulting from Morris Animal Foundation–funded Research
Selected Publications Resulting from Morris Animal Foundation–funded Research
Burns, T. A., T. Westerman, G. J. Nuovo, M. R. Watts, A. Pettigrew, C. Yin, and J. K. Belknap.“Role of Oxidative Tissue Injury in the Pathophysiology of Experimentally Induced Equine Laminitis: A Comparison of 2 Models.” Journal of Veterinary Internal Medicine 25 (2011): 540–548.
Tao, Y. X. “The Melanocortin-4 Receptor: Physiology, Pharmacology, and Pathophysiology.” Endocrine Reviews 31 (2010): 506–543.
Thompson, M. F., M. Totsika, M. A. Schembri, P. C. Mills, E. J. Seton, D.... Read more.
Posted by MAF on December 1, 2011
Categories: Animal studies, Animal welfare, Veterinary research
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Novel cancer treatment reduces side effects and cost
By Allison Tonini
Painful images of hair loss, long hospital visits, fatigue and sickness are immediately associated with the common cancer treatments, which is why some pet owners are reluctant to seek therapy for their animals. Although aggressive chemotherapy can cause serious health issues in humans, the same is generally not true for animals.
Scientific studies have shown that dogs and cats react differently to chemotherapy than their human counterparts do. In fact, most of our furry friends don’t experience significant negative side effects. Still, there’s always room... Read more.
Posted by MAF on November 28, 2011
Categories: Animal health, Animal studies, Canine cancer
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Helping pets age gracefully
By Heidi Jeter
scientists keep animals pain free and healthy into their golden years
Wagley, a lovable 14-year-old Beagle, has suffered from periodic bouts of back pain, a problem common in dogs with long backs, since she was about 3 years old. Fortunately, her owners, Ashley and Michael Seymour, were always able to control her pain with short-term medication. They also managed the condition through committing to routine veterinary care, keeping her weight low, limiting her stair climbing and never allowing her to jump off... Read more.
Posted by MAF on November 28, 2011
Categories: Animal health, Animal welfare
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Keeping aging dogs healthy in twilight years
By Allison Tonini
research corrects metabolic issues
Dogs, like people, begin to experience health problems as they age. Diagnosing these geriatric illnesses can be challenging. All too often, metabolic and endocrine system disorders are the silent factors leading to a senior dog’s sudden decline in health.
Although it is normal for aging dogs to experience fluctuations in their production of hormones and enzymes, extremely high or low levels of a hormone affect glandular function and can progress into full-blown metabolic or endocrine system... Read more.
Posted by MAF on November 28, 2011
Categories: Animal health, Dog health
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Sounding off about oral cancer
By Allison Tonini
research looks into treatments to help beat this painful disease
Oral cancer is a devastating disease of cats that becomes more common as a cat ages. Feline oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC), the most common oral tumor diagnosed in cats, is particularly serious because it is generally recognized too late for it to respond to treatment. The rapid progression of the tumor can be debilitating—preventing a cat from eating, chewing, swallowing, grooming and even breathing. Even with aggressive treatment, OSCC has a grave prognosis.
Read more.
Posted by MAF on November 28, 2011
Categories: Animal health, Cat health, Feline health
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