scalp0705 ver5.p65 - Toronto Academy of Veterinary Medicine

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TheScalpel
TorontoAcademy of Veterinary Medicine Newsletter
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Volume 23, #4 May 2007
Attention Clinic Owners!
Spring season is here. That
means hiring new grads. But
despite those extremely hefty
salaries you’re paying them to
start, many of them still think in
starving student mode: they
continue to look for freebies
everywhere.
Here’s one they can’t resist: new
grads can join TAVM for free.
That’s right. They don’t have to
pay to attend the three remaining
lectures for 2007. All you have to
do is register your grad with us.
That’s because we need to know
how many of these starving
grads will be showing up for the
dinner.
Call the TAVM office to register
your new grad today! All contact
information can be found on the
back page of this newsletter.
Ms. Kathrine Persall and Riker were on hand to demonstrate the
Chewber, a nylon-reinforced throw toy that resists being chewed apart.
Read more about them and the April 2007 All About Pets show
with our coverage on page 5.
May 2007 Page 1
PREVENTION
By Kerry Vinson, B.A.
Over the last five years I have assessed the last two dogs in Ontario that
have attacked and killed a human being.
These assessments were part of the
official investigations conducted by the
Ontario Coroner’s Office, and due to
the confidential nature of Coroner’s
Investigations I am not at liberty to
discuss the results of my reports to the
Chief Coroner regarding these incidents; even to the extent of specifying
the dates and locations involved.
However, this past January I was
asked to submit a list of general recommendations to the Coroner’s Office
aimed at preventing dog attacks. This
poses the inevitable question as to how
big (really) is the problem of dogs biting
people. Because dog bite statistics are
so poorly kept in this province, it’s hard
to get an accurate perception as to the
extent of this problem. The last statistic
that I’ve heard is through Health
Canada, which estimated 450,000
people are bitten by dogs nationally
each year. That would indicate a
relatively large percentage of these
bites would have taken place in Ontario,
based on population.
As statistics sometimes have a way of
misrepresenting reality, it’s important to
realize that in order for a dog bite to be
included in the above figure, the victim
usually has to seek medical treatment
and the attending physician then has to
fill out the appropriate form, something
that in my experience doesn’t always
happen. Indeed, I am of the opinion that
the majority of dog bites go unreported
in any official capacity. I have arrived
at this conclusion as the result of taking
thorough behavioural histories of around
a thousand dogs whose owners had
been referred to me due to aggression.
In the case of many of the older dogs, I
am sometimes astounded by the
number of times they have bitten people
during the course of their lives, and of
Page 2 May 2007
course most of these bites have gone
“unreported”.
Regardless, one thing has become
clear to me: in the majority of cases
where aggression is involved, there is a
pattern of behaviour that starts usually
when the dog is young, often with subtle
signs that are ignored or rationalized by
the owners. At some point it becomes
impossible to do this any longer, due to
an escalating level of aggression. At
this juncture the owners usually decide
to euthanize the dog or seek help with
the problem. As a result, an appalling
number of dogs (some estimates
actually run as high as 50% of all dogs)
are euthanized due to their behaviour
before they reach the age of two. The
previous figure refers to dogs in the
U.S. and I have no corresponding figure
for Canada, although I suspect a similar
trend here.
So, what can be done to both lessen
the number of dog bites in Ontario as
well as reduce the number of dogs
euthanized due to their behaviour? In
the case of the latter, early intervention
is the key. At the first signs of potential
aggression in a puppy or young dog, the
owners should be advised to seek
qualified help in addressing the problem.
My experience (and research) has
shown that the prognosis for treating
aggression successfully through behaviour modification is best if caught in the
early stages. Keys to success are
owners who have a commitment to
working with the dog, and utilizing
effective methodology based on learning theory.
Unfortunately, because the dog
behaviour business is totally unregulated
in Ontario, owners often get bad advice
from unqualified and inexperienced
individuals. As a result, the methods
used are sometimes un-scientific,
opinionated, counterproductive, and
even harmful. In my view, the veteri-
nary community needs to take a
proactive approach in the area of dog
behaviour and provide clients with
guidance in addressing the problem of
aggressive behaviour at the first sign of
it in their pet. Veterinarians are in a
unique position to do this, as they often
are able to keep track of a dog’s
behaviour through young adulthood
during regularly scheduled appointments
for vaccinations, etc. and can encourage clients to seek appropriate treatment to modify a serious problem
before it becomes impossible to rectify.
As far as actually preventing dog
bites, that can be easier said than done,
and I could probably write a book on
the subject if I had the time or inclination to do so. In lieu of that, I do have
permission from the Ontario Coroner’s
Office to publish the recommendations I
supplied to them this past January, and
those are included at the end of this
article. Please keep in mind that these
are basic recommendations aimed
towards the general public, and as such
are geared to a level of understanding
that is not academic in nature. The
Chief Coroner requested that they be
straightforward and to the point, so as
not to overwhelm people.
Kerry Vinson, founder of Animal
Behaviour Consultants, has a BA in
Psychology and has extensively
studied animal learning and behaviour modification. He has completed
courses in canine behaviour at
Cornell University and Kansas State
University and has been designated
an Expert Witness in the area of
canine aggression by the Province of
Ontario. . For more information on
the contents of this article he can be
contacted at (800) 754-3920 or
(905) 344-7973.
Preventing Dog Attacks
With the frequency of dog attacks seemingly on the
increase, there are some things that dog owners and the
general public need to know that can prevent or lessen the
severity of these incidents. As almost all dog bites are
preventable, this knowledge can be useful for everyone
involved with dogs, whether they own one themselves or
just encounter dogs on a regular basis in the course of their
daily lives. Although dogs are wonderful creatures that
provide companionship to many people, it’s important to
realize that some dogs can have tendencies towards
aggression that can make them potentially dangerous in
certain situations. Aggressive behaviour in dogs is usually
the result of a combination of genetics and prior learning,
so a good rule of thumb for people acquiring a dog to start
with is not to get a puppy from an improper breeding
situation. Here are some things that new dog owners
should consider:
• Don’t get a puppy with an unknown background, as
this increases the chances of it having poor behavioural
genetics that can result in aggression when it becomes
an adult.
• It’s extremely important to socialize a puppy during the
early period (between 6 – 16 weeks) of its life, so that
it will not be fearful of new people or other dogs later
on and will develop a stable disposition as it matures.
• Start teaching puppies and young dogs what is acceptable behaviour at an early age. This is best accomplished by not emphasizing physical punishment, but
more so by using positive reinforcement for desirable
behaviour.
• Unprovoked aggressive behaviour is never acceptable
in any dog. If you are not sure how to deal with this,
then ask your veterinarian for advice.
• Never leave children unsupervised with a dog, no
matter how trustworthy you think it may be. Virtually all
dogs can be provoked into biting, sometimes inadvertently.
• Dogs are pets that require a considerable amount of
commitment in terms of time, effort, and expense to
provide them with adequate supervision, exercise,
training, and veterinary care. Not being able to make
these commitments can result in behaviour problems in
your pet.
Some valuable information for the general public to be
aware of regarding dogs would include:
• Teaching children to be respectful of dogs they encounter in the street; e.g. do not approach or attempt to pet
unknown dogs.
• Never assume that a dog will react in a friendly manner
to your overtures. Always ask the dog’s owner for
permission to pet their dog. If the owner is not present,
then do not approach a strange dog.
• If you are approached by a dog that is acting in an
aggressive manner, do not stare directly at it, as this can
be perceived as threatening. Do not run away; instead,
try to stand still and remain calm. When dogs realize
that you are not a threat to them they will often cease
their aggressive behaviour.
• Never tease or agitate any dog, even if it is behind a
fence. This only increases the chances of encountering a
further problem in the future, or creating one for someone else.
• Don’t rely on the breed of a dog to dictate its behaviour. Any dog of any breed has the potential to become
aggressive in the wrong circumstances.
• Finally, the majority of dogs are not aggressive to
people; they did not earn the title of “man’s best friend”
without reason. It is not necessary to be afraid of them,
but it is necessary to treat all dogs (especially larger
ones) with respect.
The above information was compiled by Kerry Vinson
of Animal Behaviour Consultants. Please be aware
that canine aggression is a complex, multi-factorial
phenomenon, and all aspects of it cannot be covered
thoroughly in a limited summary.
May 2007 Page 3
All about pets April 2007
The 14th annual All About Pets show
was held April 6 to 8 at the International
Centre. It opened at 10 am Good
Friday, and the place was packed by the
time I arrived at quarter to 11. Neither
cold weather flurries nor religious
custom were keeping people away. This
year’s show was much larger than last
year’s; Room 3 was packed with
vendors and breeders, while Room 4A
held the demonstration ring for the
perennial flyball tournament event.
Breeders’ village also showed signs of
growth after several sparse years. This
year’s herd consisted of 28 dog
breeders and about the same number of
cat breeders. But it’s the number of
services for animals that continues to
make up the bulk of the show.
Hill’s, Purina and Royal Canin were
the big food sponsors. No surprise
there. And of course, the topic on
everyone’s lips was food, or rather its
quality. Food company reps were
willing, even eager, to discuss their
products and how safe they are. And
they are safe. It just goes to show you
that pet food companies should always
keep a dog or two around for quality
control.
Kudos to Hill’s for their efforts to
include good vet PR and client
education by sponsoring the Ask A Vet
booth. The highlight feature was Dr.
Gary Lansberg who spoke about
selecting the right dog for your family,
preventing obesity, and how to enrich
the lives of senior pets. Between these
lectures, the audience could ask
questions of the behaviorist. Hill’s also
ran two other booths where people with
questions could get answers from real
live veterinarians. These were two great
opportunities to inform the public with
good science for a change.
Other companies reached out in
different ways. Royal Canin sponsored
both the cat show and the ask-thetrainer corner. I caught a portion of one
lecture with its recommendations on
how to make your dog walk nicely on a
leash, followed by many questions from
the audience. Pulling dogs must be a
major problem; that lecture was being
repeated numerous times over the
weekend. Nutro Pet Food was
sponsoring the pet-grooming showcase.
While there, I watched a groomer
demonstrating how to groom a rough
collie.
Boutique pet food manufacturers were
using restraint. Now was not the time
for smugness, lest their own sins be
exposed. At time of writing, the pet
food recall had been big news for the
Article continues top of next page
GREY BRUCE
VETERINARY ASSOCIATION
13TH ANNUAL CONFERENCE
The Grey Bruce Veterinary Association is proud to host our Thirteenth Annual Conference on June 8, 9 and
10th at the Best Western’s Inn on the Bay in lovely Owen Sound. Our annual event mixes Continuing Education and social activities that all veterinary team members can enjoy.
The weekend begins Friday evening with a lively hospitality suite at the Inn situated right on the Bay. Stroll out
to enjoy the sunset over the water or you may want to take in some of the live entertainment offered by different venues in the town.
The theme of the Conference is “Relationship Based Veterinary Practice”. Our feature speakers are Drs. Chris
and Robb Heagle of Effictivet who spoke at the CVMA practice last year. They have a successful veterinary
practice in Stirling, Ontario and are very dynamic speakers. Robb is the hospital manager while Chris is the
practitioner. In Robb’s words “It involves the systems approach to veterinary practice but focuses on building
and nurturing client, team and vendor relationships as the cornerstone to building and growing a successful
practice.” As we try to do every year, it will offer topics of interest to all persons in the practice.
The afternoon ends with our popular “Happy Hour” followed by a banquet and an evening filled with entertaining comedy. Sunday morning we’ll hold our fun Golf Tournament then a wrap up barbeque and awards.
After a busy spring, treat yourself and your staff to a fun weekend in beautiful Owen Sound. The conference is
exceptional value: the conference fee for veterinarians is $175.00 and $100.00 for staff members and spouses.
E mail confirmation is fine, or you can contact me at 519-376-4938.
For conference info and registration please contact Dr. Nancy Brown, 519-371-6891 / loneelm@sympatico.ca
Page 4 May 2007
past three weeks, but I only saw one
pet food company use this as a selling
point. Above their booth, which shall be
nameless, was a banner claiming their
products were a “healthy and safe
alternative to processed pet food”. I
have to wonder about this claim, since
this company doesn’t sell raw food
diets, wouldn’t that make their pet food
processed as well?
If more people are becoming
concerned about animal welfare, why
does the number of dog and cat rescue
booths keep going up? We now have
rabbit rescue and ferret rescue. And
with all the problems people have in
dealing with unwanted large breeds,
here’s a trend I didn’t see coming:
unwanted small dogs. Fortunately we
have Tiny Paws Dog Rescue. They are
dedicated to helping small dogs in need,
regardless of the breed. I spoke with
founder Tracy May, and her husband,
Ian. They founded their rescue society
because most other rescue groups are
breed specific, and demand for foster
homes is so high, there’s nowhere to
surrender little dogs. Tracy and Ian
thought they could help these little dogs
find homes. Many times people have
asked me where they could rescue a
little dog, so I was glad to make this
connection. Reach Tracy and Ian at
www.tpdr.ca or 905-235-0945.
All the major cities in the surrounding
areas had their Animal Services booths
here: Toronto Animal Services,
Brampton, Mississauga, Ontario SPCA.
They’re pushing lots of pamphlets, and
stressing education about safety around
animals. Many of them have started to
partner with Doggone Safe, an
organization whose goal is to keep
children safe around dogs. Founded and
run by Ms. Joan Orr, Doggone Safe
offers pamphlets and games that
educate people on how to have a safe
and loving bond between children and
dogs. The focus is on dog bite
prevention. They also make a board
game, Doggone Crazy. This product,
endorsed by Dr. Stanley Coren, among
others, is a family fun action game that
is excellent for teaching children and
families how to be safe around dogs.
One of my associates has used it
extensively with her three children, and
Hill’s Pet Food sales rep Ms. Carrin Lewin helps “Nakita” the German
shepherd and owner Todd Lewis pick out another bandana. For a friend.
she also uses the game’s flash cards as
an educational tool when she visits
grade schools to speak on veterinarians
and pets.
The people at Doggone Safe, some of
whom are professional animal trainers,
were most enthusiastic about a new
product, the Chewber, being featured at
a booth on another aisle. I had actually
missed this booth on my first run
through the show, so I was glad to have
had Ms. Orr point it out to me. The
Chewber looks like a small frisbee, but
it feels soft. It’s billed as “more than a
chew toy” because you can use it for
playing with your dog, or having dogs
play with others. The secret of its
chew-resistance is a heat-welded nylon
webbing in its ring. Its durability is
guaranteed, as any dog-damaged
Chewber toy can be exchanged for a
new one. And it doubles as a food and
water dish. The creator, Ms. Kathrine
Persall, says that her objective is to have
more people having fun and playing
with their dogs. An interesting feature of
this toy is that it has marginal
aerodynamic properties. A Chewber
throws well, but instead of soaring like
a Frisbee, it drops to the ground and
rolls. This is actually much safer for the
Article continues on next page
Mr. John Chapman shows off
“Cass”, a beautiful Coton de Tuléar.
Note: the dog’s head is facing the
camera.
May 2007 Page 5
continued from previous page
dog. It reduces orthopedic injuries in
overweight or large dogs because the
dog retrieves the toy by running after
it on the ground rather than jumping
into the air to catch it. We’ve all seen
those neat photos of airborne dogs
catching a Frisbee. But we never see
what happens to them once they land!
Chewber products are available
through Vet Purchasing, or through
retail stores like Pet Valu. You can
check out its features at
www.chewber.com.
We stopped by the Dog Guides of
Canada booth to visit some junior
guides. This show must have been a
trial by fire for these dogs. It’s the
ideal place to practice your skills at
ignoring crowd distractions. The
Labradors and standard poodles we
saw will be going either for vision
guiding or other types of service.
If dogs and cats were not your
fancy, this show had a large bird area
featuring the parrot club of
southwestern Ontario, the budgie and
foreign bird society, and the York
Region parrot club.
All the major pet and animal related
magazines had a booth. You’d get the
impression people were starved for
information on animals. I guess they
are, but the implementation seems to
be an entirely different matter.
One of many fun moments I had
was checking out the cat judging of a
Savannah cat. This breed was created
by crossing a domestic cat with an
African Serval to create a large, very
attractive looking cat. It was definitely
a crowd pleaser. Judge Terry Farrell
presented one to the crowd, explained
its origins, and put the cat through its
paces for judging. Very entertaining!
This show had a renewed energy to
it. I’m glad it’s back to Easter
weekend. Another holiday, another pet
show. All About Pets promoters are
now even billing their gig as
“Toronto’s Easter family pet festival”.
That’s great because the show
bombed the weekend they didn’t run it
on Easter weekend. And that’s bad for
business, theirs and ours.
Page 6 May 2007
A deleted scene from the Cats Gone Wild video? No. All-breed feline judge
Mr. Terry Farrell wows the crowd with his examination of a Savannah cat, a
cross between a domestic cat and an African Serval.
Ms. Tracy May, Vice-President of Tiny Paws Dog Rescue Canada, shows
Murphy and Meg, both rescued dogs. Contact this Canadian registered
charity at www.tpdr.ca
Palmer, a black Labrador, will be a future Canine
Vision guide dog. Check out guide dog activities at
www.dogguides.com
Dr. Gary Lansberg gave an excellent multi-media
presentation on how to select the proper dog for your
family.
Mr. Trevor Baker was manning the Puppy Basics booth
and offering free copies of this informative little
magazine. Check it out at www.puppybasics.com
Ms. Teresa Lewin and Ms. Joan Orr of Doggone Safe
were promoting their educational board game as well
as clicker training for dogs and rabbits.
May 2007 Page 7
MORNINGSIDE
ANIMAL
CLINIC
MORNINGSIDE ANIMAL CLINIC
REFERRAL SERVICE REFERRALS IN
MEDICINE,
SURGERY &
OPHTHALMOLOGY
SURGERY
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
Orthopedic & Soft Tissue Surgery
TPLO & Cruciate Surgery
Cemented Total Hip Replacement
Arthroscopy
Neurosurgery (spinal)
Myelography
Cervical Distraction Stabilization
Carl D. Porter
DVM, MVSC, DipACVS
Joanne Cockshutt
DVM, MVSC, DipACVS
MEDICINE
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
Endoscopy
Laparoscopy
Rhinoscopy
Lithotripsy
Cystoscopy
Chemotherapy
Ultrasonography
Avery Gillick
Bsc, DVM, Msc, DipMed
Wendy Foster
Bsc, DVM, DVSc, DipACVIM
Katrina Smith
DVM, DVSc, DipACVIM
OPHTHALMOLOGY
!
!
!
!
CERF Examinations
Corneal Surgery
Slit-lamp Biomicroscopy
Ultrasonography, tonometry &
gonioscopy
Heather Gray
DVM, DipACVO
Morningside Animal Clinic
Referral Service
4560 Kingston Road
Scarborough, Ontario
M1E 2P2
www.morningsideanimalclinic.com
Phone (416) 284-9205
Fax
(416) 287-3642
Toll Free (888) 593-7068
Continuing Education
Subscription Series
Understanding the
Neurological Exam
Joane
Parent, DVM, MvetSc, ACVIM
Faculté de Médecine Vétérinaire of the Université de Montréal
Toward Lesion Localization: Understanding the neurological exam:
The objective of this neurology day is to review the neurological
examination focusing on the frequent neurological complaints:
seizure activity, abnormal behaviour, head tilt, ataxia. These
complaints will be used as starting point to show how the neurological examination targets the problem.
A. The Mental Status in the neurological examination
The mental status is extremely important in lesion localization, yet
it is often overlooked. Complaints of seizures, abnormal behaviours or lethargy will be used to review this part of the exam. The
presentation will focus on the tests of the examination that target
the cerebral hemispheres.
B. The Cranial Nerves in the neurological examination
Ten of the twelve pairs of cranial nerves connect to the brainstem.
A review of the neurological examination will be done with
emphasis on the three most commonly affected nerves (trigeminal,
facial and vestibular nerves). Complaints of head tilt and droopy
face will be used to review their neurological approach.
C. The Gait & Posture in the neurological examination
The focus of this presentation is the examination of the gait and
posture, with emphasis on proprioceptive (spinal cord) ataxia.
The pathways will be reviewed using cases of dogs with ataxia
from lesion at different levels of the vertebral column.
D. Postural Reactions & Spinal Reflexes in the neurological exam
These tests are the most difficult to perform and interpret correctly. The techniques must be learned, and the interpretation
done in the light of the entire neurological exam findings. Patients
with neuromuscular disease and neurological lameness will be
used to help the understanding.
This lecture has been brought to you by:
Joane Parent obtained her DMV degree from the Faculté de
Médecine Vétérinaire of the Université de Montréal in 1975,
completed an internship and residence in Internal Medicine at the
Western College of Veterinary Medicine (WCVM) University of
Saskatchewan (1975-1978) with a Master in Veterinary Sciences,
and then a neurology residence at the University of California at
Davis and the New York State College of Veterinary Medicine
from 1978 to 1980.
She is a Diplomate of the American College of Veterinary
Internal Medicine, specialty of neurology since 1983. She was on
faculty at the WCVM from 1980 to 1984, and at the Ontario
Veterinary College from 1984 to 2006. She has participated in the
undergraduate teaching of neurology at the Faculté de Médecine
Vétérinaire de l’Université de Montréal for numerous years. This
past August 2006, she returned to her alma mater as professor of
neurology.
She has authored and co-authored multiple publications in
refereed veterinary journals as well as textbook chapters. Dr.
Parent is the author of the Canine and Feline Neurological
Examination CD-ROM, and is the Neurology Section Editor for
the textbook, 5 Minute Veterinary Consult. She has won numerous awards for excellence in teaching. She is a sought after
speaker on the international continuing education circuit.
Joane’s main clinical interest is in epilepsy and feline neurology.
Tuesday, MAY 8, 2007
2:00 – 5:00 PM & 6:00 – 8:30 PM
Dave & Buster’s
120 Interchange Way
Thornhill, Ontario
Tel: 905.760.7600
May 2007 Page 9
VEC fullpg ad BW MAR6.eps
06/03/2007
9:00:05 AM
Continuing Education
Hospital Personnel Series
Small animal
oncology:
what every technician should know!
Victoria Heinbecker, VT
Small Animal Clinic, Ontario Veterinary College
Cancer is the leading cause of death in Small Animals but
it is also very new to some of us. Many aspects will be
covered in this lecture including treatment options, most
common types of cancers, safety issues and client communication.
As a technician, it is a huge part of our daily lives to help
provide the best possible care to our patients and their
owners. Every day we face many challenges, quality of life
issues being one of them; what to say and how to comfort
a owner is never a easy thing!
This lecture has been brought to you by:
Victoria Heinbecker graduated from St. Lawrence
College in 1994, and began her career in a Small
Animal Practice in Vancouver later that year.
After returning to Ontario in 1997, she started
working at the Ontario Veterinary College in the
Small Animal Wards, specializing in blood banking
and transfusions. In 2000, Victoria joined the Small
Animal Oncology service at OVC.
She is pleased with the career that she has developed and the challenges and rewards that face her
on a daily basis.
Jeffrey is the four-legged man in Victoria’s life
and she spoils him rotten.
Reminder to Vets
You can attend Hospital Personnel
Series lectures free of charge.
Your technicians may attend a
Subscription Series lecture for $75.
Wednesday, MAY 9, 2007
7:30 – 10:30 PM
Dave & Buster’s
120 Interchange Way
Thornhill, Ontario
Tel: 905.760.7600
May 2007 Page 11
TAVM members’ opinions on our new lecture venue:
Rave or Bust ‘em?
The Best Western hotel had been our
lecture venue for a long time. For
several reasons, it was time to move
on. We needed a place more attuned
to our needs. Dave and Buster’s was
selected after much careful research,
but we want to monitor our members’
opinions of how things are being run.
That’s where the surveys come in.
Tell us what you think: are their food
and service something to rave about,
or should they be busted for coming
up short in some area? Let us know.
To all those who did complete the
Subscription Series Surveys over the
past number of months, we thank
you. Your comments and concerns
are important to us. Now let’s address a few of the concerns that show
up consistently in the surveys.
Audio equipment
Audio feedback has been an issue
that we are working with Dave &
Busters to improve. New microphones and equipment have been
purchased. However, if throughout
the session the presenter moves
directly below any of the audio
speakers, it will result in feedback. All
presenters are made aware of this
prior to their lecture, unfortunately it is
sometimes forgotten.
Room Temperature
Providing a consistent room temperature that is agreeable to everyone in
attendance at any event is an ongoing
battle. We do our best to maintain a
Page 12 May 2007
comfortable room temperature.
However, due to the large size of the
room, when temperature adjustments
are made it does take a considerable
amount of time for the change to be
felt throughout the room. As a means
to improve your individual comfort
please try to dress in layers when
attending sessions. A light jacket or
sweater should be enough to ensure
you stay comfortable.
Food Options
One of the Academy’s primary
reasons for the recent change to a
new venue was to be able to continue
to provide top-notch continuing
education programs and speakers at
an economical fee to its members.
We were fortunate enough to find not
only a cost effective location, but a
location that also has the facilities to
provide hot menu choices — all with
no membership fee increases to
TAVM members.
Survey results indicate that TAVM
members are very pleased with the
vast improvements made to the
refreshment choices. The menu
choices have come a long way from
the previous simple cold sandwich
(nacho chips & salsa with veggies &
dip trays for Hospital Series!!) offering provided at the previous meeting
venue. Catering to innumerable
individual dietary preferences and
allergy restrictions is a daunting,
virtually impossible task. Every
attempt is made to ensure that there is
a ‘little bit of something for everyone”
made available.
Seating
Since moving to the new meeting
venue, we have tried a variety of
seating arrangements to determine
what works best and provides the
most comfort to TAVM members in
attendance. Feedback received on
recent surveys indicates that the
preference is to have the room set up
with tables available for everyone.
This is certainly a viable option
however it will only work with your
cooperation. Please don’t be afraid to
sit next to your neighbor, and please
do not use adjacent seating for your
personal items as this will not allow
for enough seating for all members in
attendance. Working together on this
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Some recent media items
concerning veterinarians,
clients, animals, and TAVM
Globe and Mail, December 8, 2006,
p.A15: “Ebola virus threatening
gorillas’survival”
If being hunted and losing habitat were
not perilous enough, gorillas now face
the Ebola virus. This virus has the
potential to wipe out the last wild and
free-ranging populations of gorillas. A
study of a 2002-2004 Ebola virus
outbreak that occurred in the Lossi
Nature Sanctuary (Republic of Congo)
reported a 90-95% mortality; about
5000 animals died in that outbreak.
Scientists estimate the Equatorial
African gorilla population to be a few
hundred thousand, spread through
several countries. They think that over
the last 10 to 12 years, about a quarter
of the world’s gorillas have been killed
by Ebola. Both gorillas and humans
suffer the same symptoms: high fevers
followed by bloody diarrhea, vomiting
and internal bleeding, and agonizing
death. Gorillas do not usually contract
the virus from humans, but gorillas can
infect people who handle or eat infected
ape carcasses. It is also thought that a
carrier of the virus, such as a bat,
exposes both humans and gorillas.
Researchers suspect that Ebola has
suddenly emerged because logging and
human encroachment are destabilizing
the environment of Equatorial Africa
and facilitating the spread of the virus.
National Post, December 8, 2006,
p.A11: “Hunter takes home polargrizzly bear hybrid”
A big game hunter from Idaho finally
got his prize home: a stuffed and
mounted “polar-grizz”. The hunter had
killed the supposed polar bear in April
while on a hunting expedition in the
Northwest Territories. He and his Inuit
guides found that in addition to the
bear’s thick, white fur coat, it had long
claws, a humped back and a dished face
like a grizzly bear. DNA tests confirmed
that the six-year old male had a polar
bear mother and a grizzly bear father.
These findings have created a sensation
among Inuit communities and biologists.
The government released the polar-grizz
to the hunter as he had a valid polar bear
hunting licence and the bear was half
polar.
National Post, December 8, 2006,
p.A10: “Animal Control imposters
try to nab dogs in B.C.”
Residents of Surrey, British Columbia
were being warned to keep an eye on
their dogs after the B.C. Society for the
Prevention of Cruelty to Animals
received complaints about animal
control officer impersonators. The
complainants reported that individuals
purporting to be from the B.C. “Animal
Rescue and Control” tried to seize their
dogs. The two suspects wore uniforms,
drove vans complete with City decals,
and showed documents apparently
printed on City of Surrey letterhead
paper. The fake documents said that the
officers were seizing the animal, the
owner was prohibited from having
contact with the dog, and that the SPCA
would possibly investigate further. The
potential victims grew suspicious when
the imposters cited abuse and neglect as
reasons for seizing the dogs
immediately. The pet owners called
authorities. The B.C. SPCA said they
are in charge of both animal protection
and the city of Surrey Animal Control.
There is no Animal Rescue and Control
group. Also, the SPCA never seizes a
dog on first contact. Animal welfare
orders are issued and then the SPCA
returns to see if care has improved. The
SPCA found no evidence of neglect
with either owner.
Toronto Star, December 11, 2006, p.E5:
“Vets work to save buck hit by car”
Toronto Humane Society came to the
rescue of a deer struck by a car on the
Bayview Extension, just north of
Rosedale Valley Road. The motorist
whose car struck the deer had left the
scene, but a second motorist stopped
and tied the deer to the guard rail to
make sure it stayed put. Another
passing motorist alerted THS. The
Animal Rescue Team rushed to the
roadside where a veterinarian sedated
and examined the deer before loading it
into the emergency van. The deer
suffered some broken teeth and an
injured shoulder, but no fractures. The
treated deer was taken to Aspen Valley
Wildlife Sanctuary in Rousseau, west of
Huntsville, where it is hoped he can be
released into the wild after his recovery.
Toronto, Star, December 16, 2006,
p.L1: “Time to say goodbye”
Several people discuss their experiences
with euthanising ailing pets. When the
signs of terminal illness began to appear,
some owners made the appointment
with their veterinarian weeks in
advance. Others were not paying
attention to the pet’s activities and
behaviours, and truly didn’t see a
problem. Still others were in denial
because the animals weren’t being
“vocal” about their illness. The level of
denial about symptoms was so great in
some cases that veterinary intervention
was necessary. The toughest cases of
all involve pets belonging to sick senior
citizens, says Dr. Hazel Eaglesome of
Blue Cross Animal Hospital on Danforth
Avenue. These pets are so dear and
important, and probably will not be
replaced. The decision to euthanize
these pets will end up leaving the senior
alone. The article also includes a sidebar
indicating the signs to watch for in very
Article continues on next page
May 2007 Page 13
Continued from previous page
sick animals: changed appetite, lost
weight, rashes and sores, or whether
the animal no longer stands up for
grooming sessions. Multiple-cat owners
need to be especially vigilant since it can
be difficult to spot an unused litter box
or untouched food and water.
Globe and Mail, December 27, 2006,
p.A5: “Dog attack puts toddler in
hospital”
In a Hamilton suburb, two Rottweilers
attacked a two-year-old boy on
Christmas Day, ripping off one of his
ears and opening a gash on his cheek.
The Chinese-Canadian family had just
moved to the area two days prior. The
toddler and an unidentified guardian, a
member of the family, were taking an
early evening walk in the Memorial
Elementary School playground near
their home. It is unclear why the 16month-old male and female dogs
attacked. Those who came to the boy’s
aid found it quite difficult to pry the
dogs loose. Police trapped the
Rottweilers in the schoolyard, where
animal control officers captured them.
The owners, who remain anonymous,
are known to local authorities because
their dogs had escaped from their
backyard pen at least twice before. The
owners had been ordered to repair a
hole in the wall of the dog pen after the
last incident. The hole had been
repaired, but this time the owners did
not even know their dogs were loose.
Bylaw charges may be pending. The
boy was brought to McMaster
Children’s Hospital where he is
expected to spend several days.
Globe and Mail, December 27, 2006,
p.A12: “Florida horse virus taking toll”
The equine herpes virus (EHV-1) has
killed five horses, including one Grand
Prix jumper, and has left eight Palm
Beach area barns under quarantine.
Officials have treated another 10 horses
for the airborne virus. This situation has
not motivated state and federal officials
to bar horse shipments in or out of
state. Nevertheless, Canadian owners
and trainers are waiting for veterinarians
to give an all clear signal before taking
their horses south. Canadian owners
Page 14 May 2007
rely heavily on Florida’s winter show
jumping competitions and races to train
their horses. Olympic Gold medallist
Jim Elder estimates that hundreds of
horses, along with 50-60 trainers travel
to Florida yearly to compete in the
weekly Grand Prix competitions.
Officials believe the virus spread
through a recently-arrived European
horse that was part of a group being
transported to Florida from New York
in November. The outbreak hits right at
the start of Palm Beach County’s show
jumping season, an event that brings
$400 million to the economy yearly.
Several events have already been
cancelled but it’s unclear whether that
10-week long Winter Equestrian Festival
in Wellington, Florida will be affected.
This festival is the world’s largest and
longest-running competition.
Toronto Star, December 28, 2006,
p.A2: “U.S. may consider polar
bears as threatened species”
Despite President Bush’s skepticism of
global warming, Bush Administration
officials have declared that the melting
arctic habitat means that polar bears
need new protections under the
Endangered Species Act. Being listed as
“threatened” under the act would force
government agencies to ensure that no
action jeopardizes the animal’s
existence. Officials then declared there
would be no new curbs on oil drilling in
Alaska or limits on greenhouse
emissions. International climate
scientists have predicted that unchecked
global warming will render polar bears
extinct by the end of the century. They
now number 20,000 to 25,000
worldwide, with about 4700 in Alaska
and the surrounding waters.
Globe and Mail, December 29, 2006,
p.A1: “Police intensify Rottweiler
investigation”
Hamilton police have launched a
criminal investigation into the Christmas
Day schoolyard mauling of a toddler by
two Rottweilers. In the event the dogs’
owners are prosecuted, the most likely
charge would be criminal negligence
causing bodily harm, which carries a
maximum penalty of 10 years’
imprisonment. Initial police response
was that the attack involved a municipal
bylaw infraction. But the receipt of new
information may prompt the Crown to
apply a charge of negligence because
the animals had gotten out before and
threatened people.
Toronto Star, December 30, 2006,
p.B3: “Humane society’s pet
giveaway a big success”
2006 was the first time the Toronto
Humane Society conducted a holiday
campaign to adopt out animals as gifts
from its River Street shelter. The
Society had never before allowed
animals to be given as gifts because so
many “surprise” pet gifts are returned
when their novelty wears off. THS
wants to reduce the chance of this
happening by having prospective
adopters come to the shelter beforehand
to meet their future companion and to
undergo the same rigorous adoption
procedure as is usually done. The
campaign began December 15 and has
resulted in the adoption of 387 cats, 41
dogs, 41 gerbils, rats and rabbits, three
birds and two iguanas.
Toronto Star, December 30, 2006,
p.L3: “Sneeze-free feline has hefty
price tag”
U.S. researchers say the Holy Grail of
the $35 billion pet industry is within
reach: a cat whose genetic makeup does
not produce allergens that trigger
symptoms in humans. California-based
Allerca claims to have kittens that lack
the FEL-D1 protein that triggers allergic
reactions. But many people are skeptical
of this claim because the company has
yet to publish results in a peer-reviewed
scientific journal. Cats are the most
common household pet in North
America. But they would be even more
common if some people weren’t allergic
to them.
Globe and Mail, January 2, 2007,
p.A2: “Pit bulls rescue owner from
home invaders”
A Canada in Brief item reports on Tony
Therrien, a 68-year-old London, Ontario
man. Two masked men attacked him as
he answered his apartment door around
1 a.m. One assailant knocked Mr.
Therrien to the ground, at which point
Mr. Therrien’s two pit bulls, Rusty and
Phoebe, came to the rescue. Their
attack on the men forced them to flee.
Mr. Therrien suffered only minor
injuries.
Toronto Star, January 4, 2007, p.J3:
“Oodles of poodles and other doodles”
This ¾ page article traces the origins of
the mixed breed poodle. Cocker-poodle
crosses, “cockapoos”, became common
in the 1960s because they were friendly,
adorable, low shedding, cheap, and
readily available compared with pure
cocker spaniels and poodles. The
success of the cockapoo led to the
development of other mixes with the
Maltese, Yorkshire terriers, and
miniature schnauzers. Registered
breeders dismissed these “bastard
crosses” as a fad that would soon end.
Then in the late 1970s, Wally Cochran
of Victoria, Australia crossed a standard
poodle with a Labrador retriever, hoping
to produce a guide dog for a blind
woman whose husband had allergies.
The result was a shaggy, intelligent, low
shedding crossbreed called the
labradoodle. It became an instant hit.
Current “poo” type dogs include the
goldendoodles, bichopoos, shihpoos,
pekapoos and jackapoos. Two recent
arrivals are the scoodle, a cross
between a scottish terrier and a poodle,
and a pug/poodle cross called the
puggly. Breeders who once scorned the
mixed breeds have now jumped into the
business to cash in on their popularity.
Some of the advantages of poodle cross
dogs include almost no shedding, less
doggy body odour, and a certain
desirable uniqueness due to their variety
of colours, coats and sizes. Most poodle
cross breeders also claim that the
crossbreeding results in puppies with a
lower incidence of genetic and breedrelated diseases and disorders, but this
is not always the case.
Toronto Star, January 6, 2007, p.A18:
“Drug helps fat Fidos fight flab”
The U.S. FDA has just approved
Pfizer’s new drug, Slentrol, which is
aimed at helping fat dogs shed extra
pounds. Canine obesity is defined as
dogs weighing 20% more than their
ideal weight. That definition takes in 5%
of the nearly 62 million dogs in the U.S.,
with an additional 20-30% considered
overweight. Slentrol appears to reduce
the amount of fat a dog can absorb, and
also triggers a feeling of satiety. Side
effects to this liquid prescription drug
include loose stools, diarrhea, vomiting,
lethargy and loss of appetite. The drug
is not for use in humans or in cats. The
drug is not a cure for obesity, but it
meant to be part of an overall weight
management program of diet and
exercise. The drug has been licensed for
use in the U.S. first because their
licensing board is quicker than the
Canadian one. Being overweight is not
typically a medical problem. Dogs today
tend to lead a sedentary life, people tend
to use treats as rewards, do not regulate
what animals are eating, and have an
incorrect perception of how much dogs
should be eating.
The National Post, February 12, 2007,
p.A3: “Killing the spirit of the West”
Since 2004, sixteen wild horses have
been shot in the region along the top of
Parker Ridge, about 40 kilometres west
of Sundre, and 130 kilometres
northwest of Calgary. Parker Ridge is
home to about 200 wild horses that are
considered part of the last truly wild
herds in Alberta. The 300-member Wild
Horses of Alberta Society (WHOAS) is
devoted to protecting these horses
which some believe are the descendants
of the original Spanish mustangs
brought by the conquistadors to North
America in the 1500s. WHOAS
president Bob Henderson says the group
has collected $10,000 in reward money.
The former Calgary policeman is
convinced the killings are the work of
one person because they take place in
the same area at roughly the same time
of year. Unlike the wild horses near
Grand Prairie and Kananaskis, WHOAS
regards the Sundre horses as wild, freeranging horses, and not feral. Sundre
horses are smaller and stockier than
domesticated pasture horses, with
slightly convex “Roman” noses to
improve their ability to graze. Their
hooves are wide, their manes are
shaggier, and their tails reach nearly to
the ground.
National Post, February 13, 2007,
p.A20: “Is it love or a trick?”
Book author and dog owner Jon Katz
muses on the reasons why we love
dogs so much. He cites the research
done by John Archer, a psychologist at
the University of Central Lancashire.
Studies do show pet owners living a bit
longer and having better blood pressure.
But from an evolutionary standpoint, we
really don’t need dogs and cats to
survive. Dr. Archer’s alternative
Darwinian theory is that pets manipulate
the same instincts and responses that
have evolved to facilitate human
relationships between parent and child.
In other words, pets, in evolutionary
terms, are the equivalent of social
parasites who inject themselves into the
social systems of other species and
thrive there. Dogs are masters at that.
Their ability to show a range of
emotions — love, anxiety, and
curiosity— tricks us into thinking they
possess the full range of human
feelings. Psychologist Brian Hare of
Harvard, who has also studied the
human animal bond, reports that dogs
are astonishingly skilled at reading
humans’ patterns of social behavior,
especially those behaviors related to
food and care. Since moles, raccoons
and squirrels don’t show recognizable
human emotions, or do not trigger
nurturing impulses, these theories
explain why we don’t take these animals
into our houses or get photos taken of
them with Santa.
National Post, February 15, 2007,
p.A17: “A disappearing breed”
At least 60% of Queensland and 94% of
New South Wales, the two largest
cattle-producing Australian states, have
been badly hit by a five-year drought.
When Australian cattle prices plunged
24% in 2006, farmers responded by
selling or slaughtering cattle and
valuable stud beasts they could not
longer afford to feed. Many of
Australia’s cattle are currently being
driven through the “Long Paddock
routes”, one of the few remaining public
pastures. These routes date back to the
1800s and weave through hundreds of
thousands of hectares along old
aboriginal trade paths. This is where the
public’s image of the archetype
Australian was born. Australian drovers
Article continues on next page
May 2007 Page 15
continued from previous page
are a significant part of the country’s
history and agriculture. Like the
American cowboys and the gauchos in
Argentina, drovers helped shape
Australians’ image of themselves. The
job of drovers is to herd animals from
depleted land to fresh pastures and to
market. While road and rail
transportation are faster, livestock
herded by drovers are easier to handle
and are less stressed. Working
conditions have improved in many
respects. Drovers now ride motorcycles
as well as horses, and tow trailers
behind pickup trucks instead of
camping on a blanket under the stars.
The pay is high; a drover in charge of a
2000-cattle herd can earn as much as
US$4,000 a week. But few people are
entering the trade these days, despite the
very high demand created by Australia’s
worst drought. Young people hired on
for the job complain of boredom and
loneliness. Another problem is that while
drovers are much needed during times
of drought, few job opportunities are
available in normal years.
Globe and Mail, February 15, 2007,
p.A9: “Zoo animals are showing
their age”
Zoo animals are getting old. Geriatric, in
fact. Improved medical care results in
more wild and endangered zoo animals
living longer. But they’re showing
medical problems that their wild
counterparts never faced, and for which
there is no vet textbook to assist in
treatment. In the wild, any injury or
medical condition that slowed an animal
down also made it easy prey to other
animals. The wild animals in captivity
who now grow much older than usual
must face the illnesses and conditions of
old age. The Magnetic Hill Zoo in New
Brunswick is coping with failed kidneys
in one of its most popular attractions,
Tomar a 19-year-old Siberian tiger.
Fortunately, he is responding well to a
new diet assisted by blood-pressure and
antacid pills. Just a bit farther down the
zoo path from Tomar’s pen is a 21year-old male lion named Marshall. He is
healthy, for now. The Calgary Zoo has
a 41-year-old male hippo named Foggy
who suffers from gum disease. His
Page 16 May 2007
keepers have devised a high-pressure
“water pick” for him to wash away the
bits of hay and other food between his
teeth. He seems to enjoy the procedure.
Missouri’s St. Louis Zoo is mourning
the recent death of Betsy, a 31-year-old
rhinoceros, while zoo vets are trying to
figure out how to cope with a 30-yearold lemur with a bad liver, a Cotswold
sheep with cataracts, and three arthritic
black bears. One of the challenges vets
face is figuring out just who is unwell,
since the animals instinctively hide their
disabilities. Vets also have to balance the
risks and benefits of beginning medical
treatment on wild animals. The stress of
being handled and medicated may be too
much for some animals.
Globe and Mail, February 20, 2007,
p.A19: “Experts to discuss how to
save devil”
The Tasmanian devil faces extinction
within a decade due to a lethally
contagious facial cancer that some have
likened to AIDS in humans for its ability
to destroy entire populations. Scientists
estimate the original population of
150,000 devils has been halved due to
this cancer. Devils with the disease have
never been observed to last longer than
six months. Up to 80% of devils in
some parts of Tasmania are affected by
the cancer. Discovered in 1996, the
cancer causes disfiguring tumors that
cover the devils’ faces and prevents
them from eating. Its origins are
unknown, but scientists believe it is
spread by the animals’ tendency to bite
and scratch during boisterous mating.
Australian wildlife experts who are
trying to save this shy, nocturnal animal
believe its best chance for survival is to
establish healthy populations of animals
on suitable isolated islands off the coast.
Tasmanian devils are found only in the
island state off the southern coast of
Australia. These scavengers are the
world’s largest carnivorous marsupials.
They’re the size of a small dog, with the
head and neck accounting for up to
40% of body weight.
National Post, February 22, 2007,
p.A17: “You dirty rat: Chinese
hoping to buy piglets sold common
rodents instead”
2007 is the Year of the Pig, during
which many Chinese people buy piglets
for good luck. The Hong Kong SPCA
reports that it has been contacted by
owners asking for tips on how to care
for “mini-piglets”. Their investigation
found no such piglets in pet stores. It is
believed the people with “mini-piglets”
had been sold a type of hairless rodent
that looks like a pig. The South China
Morning Post reported stores were
selling the mini-piglets for up to $2,270,
saying they had been bred tiny to fit in a
small apartment.
National Post, February 23, 2007,
p.A6: “Killer clubs swans to death
with branch”
The town of Owen Sound is shocked to
discover that someone has killed four
swans that lived in Harrison Park. Two
were clubbed with a tree branch, while
two others were poisoned. Police
conclude that the single set of footprints
at the birds’ enclosure points to the
work of one miscreant. Harrison Park
lies south of the town centre on the
banks of the Syndenham River. The
park has been the home to swans for
about 40 years.
National Post, February 26, 2007,
p.A9: “Police find 100 sheep
carcasses in backyard of downtown
rooming house”
Police responded to complaints of a
“stench” and attended at a house near
Jarvis and Pembroke streets. They
found more than 100 sheep carcasses in
the backyard. Police questioned one
person of interest, but he is not cooperating with their investigation. Police
believe the man may have been contracted to dispose of the dead sheep, but
instead decided to bring them home to
skin them for his own profit. Autopsies
will be performed on the carcasses. The
Ministry of Natural Resources is also
investigating.
Globe and Mail, February 27, 2007,
p.A3: “Genetic maps help unravel
black market in ivory”
Despite a 1989 ban in trading ivory,
more than 20,000 African elephants are
slaughtered each year for their tusks.
Researchers hope a new DNA technique
to use on contraband tusks will help
determine their place of origin and
identify poaching hot spots and illegal
trade routes. When the CITES ban on
international trade of ivory took effect in
1989, the black market ivory price was
$100 per kilogram. It is now $750. The
problem has actually worsened because
organized crime has gotten involved. It
was worldwide public outrage that led
to the ban in the first place. Money was
allocated for weapons and vehicles for
law enforcement officials, and this did
have a positive effect. But in 1993,
someone decided that the problem was
solved, so the money dried up. That
prompted the poachers to resume
business. Demand for ivory continues
to grow, especially in Japan and China
where having a personal seal carved
from ivory is a coveted status symbol.
National Post, March 1, 2007, p.A11:
“Animal drowned?”
A short item with photograph
documents a man on a snow-covered
edge of Lake Ontario. He is holding a
large animal trap in his hands, and is in
the process of tipping a dead raccoon
into the lake. The photograph is from
video footage captured by a Global
News remote camera. Witnesses had
said that earlier, they had seen the man
drown the animal inside the trap. As a
result of Global News giving the video
to the Toronto Humane Society,
Michael Opheim was charged with
causing unnecessary pain and suffering
to an animal.
Toronto Star, March 6, 2007, p.E2:
“Nancy’s helpers all pack a smile”
Nancy Hutchinson is an animal-assisted
therapist who keeps a herd of 38
alpacas on her 4-hectare Enniskillen
Article continues on next page
May 2007 Page 17
Article cont’d from previous page
farm. Over the past 15 years, she has had
much success with using therapy dogs on
her volunteer visits to Durham schools,
hospitals and retirement homes. Ms.
Hutchinson decided to try out an alpaca in
her animal-assisted therapy visits because
these animals provide wonderful and
unique sensory experiences—the touch,
the smell, the fur—to those unfortunate
patients who rarely receive new
stimulation. Therapy alpacas are
exceedingly rare because these animals
don’t usually like to be touched and fussed.
But two of Ms. Hutchinson’s herd do
enjoy touching and attention. One of these
is a black 4-year-old named Ozzy, who is
characterized as gentle and personable. He
demonstrates a rare ability to connect with
people and a willingness to be handled. The
response to Ozzy from usually shy and
reserved children has been nothing short of
miraculous. Ozzy is also popular with
seniors. Ms. Hutchinson and her animals
live on the Hutchinson Spinning Wheel
Alpacas Farm. The farm has both fleece
and breeding animals, and includes a store
that sells locally-crafted products made
with the alpaca hair.
Page 18 May 2007
National Post, March 5, 2007, p.A8:
“Activists filmed ignoring dying seal”
Animal rights activists are complaining that
Québec filmmaker Raoul Jomphe’s
documentary portrays them unfavorably.
At the time, Mr. Jomphe was filming a
documentary on the annual spring seal hunt
in Atlantic Canada. He wanted to compare
techniques used by seal hunters to kill their
prey with images of animals killed in
slaughterhouses. He also wanted to focus
on resources and advertising revenues of
animal-protection groups in their ongoing
campaigns. The animal rights activists are
complaining because some of his
documentary’s footage shows the animal
rights crew ignoring a dying seal for more
than an hour while they shot scenes for a
fundraising campaign. This incident has
made him question the tactics used by the
Humane Society of the United States. Mr.
Jomphe’s documentary, Seals, the movie,
shows the animal-rights activists pulling a
dying seal out of the water as it tried to
escape, leaving it on the ice, then
continuing to film their promotional video.
“[Animal Rights] Groups focus on the part
of the hunt, a weak percentage that is not
well executed…It’s an image that’s
exaggerated,” Mr. Jomphe is quoted as
saying.
Globe and Mail, March 5, 2007,
p.A1: “Bitten by a rabid bat as he
slept, Alberta man ignored
incident”
An Alberta man is now showing signs of
rabies seven months after he ignored a bite
on the shoulder as he slept in his rural
home east of Edmonton. He is now listed
in serious condition. Human cases of rabies
have been rare in Canada; 23 people have
died since record keeping began in 1925. It
is theoretically possible to pass the virus
between people. This is why officials in
Alberta are contacting people who may
have been in direct contact with the
patient’s saliva or bodily fluids.
National Post, March 8, 2007,
p.A12: “Man jailed one year for
snake scare”
In a Finch Avenue courtroom, Justice
Leslie Pringle sentenced Helder Claro to
one year in jail after he pled guilty to
mischief and nuisance charges. He was
also ordered to pay the property owners of
his rooming house a total of $16,825 in lost
rent. The judge ruled that Claro showed
little appreciation for the risk his actions
posed to other tenants at the apartment
near Lawrence Avenue and Weston Road.
The incident began when another tenant
found a “very large snake” in the kitchen of
the rooming house. The snake had slithered
away by the time emergency crews arrived
at the scene. All attempts to trap the snake
by police, firefighters, zoo officials, and a
professional snake catcher proved futile.
Snakes eat very infrequently; experts
believe it is still possible the snake could be
alive and living in the rooming house’s
basement below the frost line. Another
dangerous snake, a Gaboon Viper, was
also found in Claro’s room. And it was
later determined that Claro also kept a
female Egyptian cobra in a locker at his
place of employment. Zoo officials testified
at the trial that bites from any of these three
snakes could cause an agonizing death.
Toronto Star, March 9, 2007, p.A3:
“Kitten boom litters shelters”
The mild weather which encourages cats
to spend more time outdoors has resulted
in a population explosion that is stretching
the resources of GTA pounds and shelters.
Kathy Duncan, manager of Animal
Services for Oshawa, has noted this trend
over the past 2 or 3 years. When she
started 17 years ago, there was a clear
breeding pattern of litters in spring and late
summer/early fall. But kittens are now
arriving much earlier. A similar trend has
not occurred in dogs because owners
usually keep them under control. The feline
two-month gestation period can potentially
result in three litters a year. Operating the
humane societies and animal control
centres at over-capacity has serious long
term consequences. It not only puts a huge
strain on staff and resources, but eliminates
the downtime needed to adopt out animals
in preparation for the spring baby boom.
Toronto Star, March 10, 2007, p.A8:
“2 charged in swan deaths”
David Ironmonger and Nathan Beagan,
two 18-year-olds from Owen Sound, are
charged with mischief and cruelty to
animals for the beating deaths of two mute
swans in Owen Sound’s Harrison Park
bird sanctuary during the week of
February 19. The incident so outraged the
community and bird loved from across
Ontario that more than $6,300 in reward
money was raised for information about
the perpetrators.
Correction
Our April 2007 issue featured a
photograph and info caption of a
product we saw at the World Small
Animal Veterinary Association Conference held in Prague this past
October. The product, VetMedCare,
is a type of bodysuit for dogs and cats
that protects sensitive areas (wounds,
sutures, etc.)
Due to a communication problem,
we reported that this product is
available through Veterinary Purchasing. It is not. It is available directly
from the Austrian manufacturer whose
website has a listing for Canadian
prices. Veterinarians interested in
reading more about this product or
ordering one can go to
www.vetmedcare.at
We apologize for any confusion our
photo caption may have caused.
404 ad
May 2007 Page 19
Associate Required
For a team-based, busy companion animal practice with a great
support staff. Must be client-oriented, enthusiastic, compassionate, possess excellent diagnostic skills, the ability to share
case support & always provide the best possible care.
Clarkson Village Animal Hospital, Attn: Dr. D. Mudrick
www.clarksonvillagevet.com
Fax: (905) 855-7626
E-mail: clarksonvet@rogers.com
Visit us online at www.tavm.org
All the lectures, all the people, are right there at your fingertips.
Note: access to some areas might require the password supplied on your renewal receipt.
Animal Behavior
Consultants
Analysis & Resolution of
Behavior Problems
in Dogs & other Companion Animals
Specializing in Canine Aggression
Available for in-home consultation. Professional References.
Serving Toronto and surrounding areas.
For information, call:
(800) 754-3920 or (905) 344-7973
Kerry Vinson, B.A. (Psychology), Cert. in Canine Behavior Problems
Page 20 May 2007
TAVM website
username correction
Please note that the user name on the
invoice receipts going out to members is
incorrect. The form has been corrected, but
anyone who has been given a 2007 receipt
to date will have an incorrect user name.
The incorrect user name was TAVMember.
The correct user name is TAVMmember
(with 2 m’s: one upper case and one lower
case).
Deadline
The deadline for submissions
to the September issue of
The Scalpel is August 1.
Fax your material or ads to
Dr. Hannah at (416) 651-1412,
or e-mail to thescalpel@rogers.com.
When e-mailing, please insert the words
“THE SCALPEL” in the subject field.
The Scalpel
The Toronto Academy of Veterinary
Medicine, a non-profit organization, is an
advocate for veterinary practitioners in
the greater Toronto area. It provides
continuing education for its members,
and promotes the veterinary profession.
The Scalpel publishes seven times a year
to provide a forum for TAVM members.
Opinions expressed in The Scalpel
editorials and letters to the Editor do
not necessarily reflect those of the
TAVM Board.
For TAVM membership information and
changes of address, please contact
the TAVM office at the OVMA.
Phone: 800.670.1702 or 905.875.0756
Fax: 877.482.5941 or 905.875-0958
Email: info@tavm.org
Website: www.tavm.org
Please direct all newsletter
correspondence and inquiries to:
The Scalpel
c/o Dr. H. Hannah
St. Clair Veterinary Facilities
779 St. Clair Avenue West
Toronto, Ontario M6C 1B7
Phone: 416.654.0242
Fax: 416.651.1412
Email: thescalpel@rogers.com