Finding a future for osteosarcoma patients
Veterinary medicine takes on a deadly disease in dogs
By Katie Burns
(Photo courtesy of Bone Cancer Dogs Inc.)
Citation: Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association 251, 11; 10.2460/javma.251.11.1226
(Photo courtesy of Bone Cancer Dogs Inc.)
Citation: Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association 251, 11; 10.2460/javma.251.11.1226
(Photo courtesy of Bone Cancer Dogs Inc.)
Citation: Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association 251, 11; 10.2460/javma.251.11.1226
(Photo courtesy of Bone Cancer Dogs Inc.)
Citation: Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association 251, 11; 10.2460/javma.251.11.1226
Ana M. Cilursu, MD, lost three Rottweilers in a row to bone cancer. The first dog, Hessa, had chondrosarcoma. She was not a candidate for surgery, and the tumor was quite aggressive. The second and third dogs, Roddy and Maxine, had osteosarcoma. Both had amputations. Roddy started chemotherapy but developed lung metastases and a malignant pleural effusion several months into the treatment. Maxine did not have chemotherapy and developed spinal metastases three months after the amputation.
Roddy was the catalyst for Dr. Cilursu to start an online support group that led to formation of a small nonprofit, Bone Cancer Dogs Inc., focusing on osteosarcoma research and awareness.
Dr. Sue Ettinger, a veterinary oncologist, hugs a favorite patient, Seamus. The Greyhound was found to have osteosarcoma in 2013 at age 9 and was alive as of this writing in October. (Courtesy of Dr. Sue Ettinger)
Citation: Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association 251, 11; 10.2460/javma.251.11.1226
According to Dr. Sue Ettinger, a veterinary oncologist, osteosarcoma is the most common primary bone cancer in dogs and is both locally aggressive and highly metastatic. A 2017 report from the insurance company Nationwide states, “Osteosarcoma diagnoses are significantly more common among the largest dogs, a trend more pronounced in a number of extra-large breeds.”
The AVMA Animal Health Studies Database lists a number of osteosarcoma studies. In 2015, Morris Animal Foundation launched its multimillion-dollar Osteosarcoma Initiative to better understand and develop novel drugs for metastatic disease. One forthcoming treatment is a vaccine that could be available soon from Aratana Therapeutics (see story, page 1231).
Dr. Chand Khanna, a veterinary oncologist, studied osteosarcoma in dogs and children at the National Cancer Institute. He said there are probably 1,000 new cases per year in children in the United States and more than 10,000 cases—some would say 100,000—in dogs. Thus, osteosarcoma in dogs is of great interest in comparative medicine.
An overview
Dr. Ettinger is currently at the Veterinary Cancer Center in Norwalk, Connecticut. She presented the session “Osteosarcoma Survival Guide” at AVMA Convention 2017 this past July in Indianapolis.
She started by describing a favorite patient, Seamus the Greyhound. At age 9, osteosarcoma was diagnosed in the distal end of his left radius. He had an amputation and additional treatment, going on to become an ambassador in that center's reception room.
The two battlefronts in osteosarcoma are the tumor and then the systemic disease. Most dogs die of the cancer spreading to the lungs. About 90 percent die within a year with amputation alone as treatment.
About 75 percent of osteosarcoma is appendicular, and 25 percent is axial. According to Dr. Ettinger's convention notes, “It typically occurs in the metaphyseal region of long bones, towards the knee and away from the elbow.”
Sex hormones might have some protective benefit, Dr. Ettinger said. Risk factors include multiple minor trauma, radiation, metallic implants, and genetics.
What do veterinarians see with osteosarcoma? Pain, lameness, and swelling. Dr. Ettinger said, “If you have a large or giant-breed dog that is lame and has swelling over one of the locations towards the knee, away from the elbow, plus the hock, any of those locations, I think you should be doing X-rays that day.”
She sees a lot of dogs that have a prolonged time to diagnosis because they did a little better on pain medication. Radiographs of the suspicious site could show cancer destroying bone or making new bone.
The decision to amputate is one of the worst that owners must make, Dr. Ettinger said, but most dogs adapt well after amputation.
Dr. Ettinger said treatment generally involves amputation and chemotherapy, with the latter almost doubling survival times. On chemotherapy, fewer dogs experience adverse effects with carboplatin than with doxorubicin or cisplatin. Other options include limb-sparing surgery and radiation.
Seamus had a standard case of high-grade osteosarcoma at the beginning but not in the long term. He had his amputation in October 2013, followed by six doses of carboplatin.
Later, he developed a mass on the left lateral aspect of the thorax that turned out to be a soft-tissue sarcoma. The mass was removed in January 2013, and he started oral metronomic chemotherapy in March 2014. In September 2015, he had a lytic lesion involving the left fifth rib, a low-grade osteosarcoma. It was removed in October 2015, and he went back on chemotherapy.
He was still alive as of this writing in October 2017.
Across the country
The insurance company Nationwide released the report “Osteosarcoma: prevalence and influences” at AVMA Convention 2016 in San Antonio. The analysis of Nationwide's pet insurance claims revealed trends in the prevalence of osteosarcoma in dogs in the United States by size, breed, and other factors.
According to the executive summary: “The disease prevalence starts to climb in late middle age, peaking from age 8–11, after which prevalence declines in step with the typical lifespan for large and extra-large dogs. Gender does not appear a significant risk, although male dogs are slightly more affected than females.”
The six breeds at the highest risk for osteosarcoma were Irish Wolfhound, with a 7.31 percent prevalence of the disease; Greyhound, 5.56 percent; Akbash, 4.76 percent; St. Bernard, 4.12 percent; Leonberger, 4.04 percent; and Rottweiler, 3.77 percent. The prevalence among all dogs was 0.35 percent.
According to the report summary: “In analyzing the data set, Nationwide hopes to assist the veterinary community in educating pet owners about the prevalence of osteosarcoma, a disease with a generally poor prognosis. Sharing this information may lead pet owners to choose a different breed of dog. Additionally, a general knowledge of osteosarcoma prevalence allows those with the most affected breeds to be aware of the higher risks, so that affected dogs can be diagnosed as early as possible, when prognosis and treatment options are greatest.”
As of Oct. 26, the AVMA Animal Health Studies Database listed 33 studies in 23 states involving osteosarcoma. Some are actually the same study in multiple locations, and most are looking at treatments targeting immune responses or pain relief. The treatments include antibodies against nerve growth factor, stereotactic radiation therapy, vaccines, and chemotherapy.
A new report on osteosarcoma appears in this issue of the JAVMA (see page 1293). Researchers from Colorado State University and the University of Illinois collaborated on “Prognosis for dogs with stage III osteosarcoma following treatment with amputation and chemotherapy with and without metastasectomy.” According to the results, in dogs with osteosarcoma that underwent amputation and subsequently developed metastatic (stage III) disease, “Metastasectomy alone was associated with a longer median stage III survival time (232 days) than no metastasectomy (49 days).”
This radiograph shows common features of osteosarcoma in the distal aspect of the radius. (Courtesy of Dr. Jim Humphries)
Citation: Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association 251, 11; 10.2460/javma.251.11.1226
New treatments
Dr. John Reddington, chief executive officer and president of Morris Animal Foundation, said phases 1 and 2 of the foundation's Osteosarcoma Initiative are a study of the standard of care—amputation and carboplatin—and a study of the addition of rapamycin to the standard of care.
The forthcoming treatment from Aratana Therapeutics is a freeze-dried version of a vaccine studied by Dr. Nicola J. Mason at the University of Pennsylvania. While about 80 percent of dogs die within two years of an osteosarcoma diagnosis, the survival rate was 50 percent at three years in a pilot study of the vaccine in 18 dogs. As phase 3 of its osteosarcoma project, Morris is committing funding for a trial of the vaccine in 80 dogs.
“The foundation funds a broad array of osteosarcoma studies, but we're especially excited about our investment in novel therapeutics,” Dr. Reddington said. “We need to look beyond conventional therapies, which haven't changed in two decades.”
In addition to the Osteosarcoma Initiative, Morris continues to fund studies of other methodologies to treat osteosarcoma.
One study is looking at microRNAs, small pieces of RNA that don't encode proteins but manage expressions of other genes. According to a study description, researchers at The Ohio State University are identifying which microRNAs are expressed in osteosarcoma and which are associated with certain breeds and prognoses. They hope to identify new molecular targets for therapy.
A Morris-funded study at the University of Illinois is examining the use of nanoparticles to deliver chemotherapeutic agents directly to osteosarcoma cells in the bone. Other studies are looking at pain control.
Dr. Khanna, formerly of the National Cancer Institute, said osteosarcoma is the same disease in dogs and in humans. He has focused on studying why the cancer spreads from bone to lung.
“We do so effectively manage the primary tumor that it never really becomes an impact on quality of life or longevity,” he said, “But because we do so well on the primary tumor, what we're left with is the problem of the disease spreading to the lung.”
He helped investigate rapamycin as a treatment for metastasis, and the drug advanced from cell-based studies to mouse studies to the current dog studies supported by Morris Animal Foundation, with the potential to advance to human studies. He cautioned that a lot of work is needed to demonstrate the effectiveness of various osteosarcoma treatments that have been promising in small studies.
Dr. Khanna practices at The Oncology Service in the Washington, D.C., area, which saw two cases of osteosarcoma on the day he spoke with JAVMA News. He also is now chief science officer of Ethos Veterinary Health, a national network of specialty hospital groups.
Ethos is collaborating on early development of “liquid biopsy” as a way to use a blood sample to determine the burden of cancer in dogs with osteosarcoma or hemangiosarcoma by looking at DNA from cancer cells circulating in the bloodstream. Results of the liquid biopsy could track the effectiveness of treatment.
Support system
Dr. Cilursu, president of Bone Cancer Dogs, initially joined an existing Yahoo support group for owners of dogs with bone cancer. She formed a new Yahoo group in 2005 that is active to this day, with more than 3,000 members.
Members talked about a need for more research and about starting a website as an informational resource. Several years after formation of the new support group, members collected donations to start the website at www.bonecancerdogs.org
With the advent of the website, members of the support group began talking about creating a nonprofit focusing on osteosarcoma research and awareness. They created the organization in 2008 and have funded three clinical trials, partly by forgoing funding an update of the website. Members also have established a Facebook group, which has more than 1,000 members.
Dr. Cilursu said having a support group was absolutely invaluable for her, and she otherwise would not have survived emotionally after bone cancer was diagnosed in her second dog.
“People share their experiences—what worked for them, what didn't—and just a lot of personalized support for people that have a dog that they're dealing with that has bone cancer,” she said. “Or sometimes people join because they've lost a dog and they just don't know where to turn, and people just want to talk to other people that have gone through it.”
Sooner or later, every owner loses the dog, and then the support group is there. Some people still post who haven't had a dog with bone cancer for years.
The group has a sort of mantra that there is no wrong decision, that dog owners are doing the best they possibly can. For some people, the decision to amputate is especially difficult. Specialty care can be a matter of cost.
“The most important thing for any client that is dealing with a dog with bone cancer is to be given information,” Dr. Cilursu said. “Having options doesn't make it an easy decision, it just makes it an informed decision.”
People also struggle with when to euthanize a dog. Today he ate, yesterday he didn't. Dr. Cilursu said, “These are the down-to-earth, real-life struggles that people go through that we help them with.”
And the nonprofit supports research to help dogs down the road.
Vaccine holds promise for treating osteosarcoma in dogs
By Katie Burns
Dr. Nicola J. Mason, an associate professor of medicine at the University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine, is studying a Listeria-based vaccine to treat dogs with osteosarcoma. (Courtesy of the University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine)
Citation: Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association 251, 11; 10.2460/javma.251.11.1226
Veterinarians in the audience wanted to know when they could get their hands on the new treatment.
Dr. Sue Ettinger, a veterinary oncologist, had mentioned a promising vaccine for osteosarcoma in dogs when she presented “Osteosarcoma Survival Guide” at AVMA Convention 2017 this past July in Indianapolis.
A study by Dr. Nicola J. Mason in 18 dogs with osteosarcoma but free from gross metastatic disease found that the median survival time was 956 days with the vaccine, compared with 423 days in a historical control group. At press time, Aratana Therapeutics Inc. hoped to receive a conditional license for a freeze-dried version of the vaccine by year's end from the Department of Agriculture's Center for Veterinary Biologics.
Dr. Mason, an associate professor of medicine at the University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine, is expanding the pilot study to a study of 80 dogs at multiple sites, with funding committed by Morris Animal Foundation.
Osteosarcoma in dogs is similar to the disease in children in terms of initial signs, progression, and propensity for metastasis as well as possibly the presence on tumor cells of the HER2/neu receptor, which is present in certain other cancers. Yvonne Paterson, PhD, a microbiologist at the university's medical school, has developed an experimental vaccine using an attenuated Listeria strain to target HER2/neu, originally focusing on human patients with other HER2/neu-positive cancers such as breast cancer. The data in mice were very promising.
In the field of veterinary medicine, “We all recognize the need for better, safer, kinder, and more effective treatments for dogs with cancer,” Dr. Mason said. “And this need is clearly evident in osteosarcoma.”
Researchers have speculated that osteosarcomas in dogs are usually HER2/neu-positive, although this is still a matter of debate. Dr. Mason said about 70 to 80 percent of osteosarcoma tumors that have been examined in her laboratory have positive staining by immunohistochemistry using a polyclonal anti-HER2/neu antibody.
The pilot study of the vaccine involved dogs with appendicular osteosarcoma that was found by immunohistochemical methods to be HER2/neu-positive. Dogs in the experimental group underwent amputation, follow-up chemotherapy, and then vaccination. Dogs in the historical control group had only amputation and follow-up chemotherapy. Dogs in both groups had minimal residual disease following chemotherapy.
“We know that most of these dogs relapse with metastatic disease, so clearly cancer is left after chemotherapy,” Dr. Mason said. “And we were asking the question: Could this vaccine induce an immune response which would eliminate those remaining cancer cells?”
The vaccine was created by removing many of the virulence genes from the Listeria organisms and genetically modifying the bacteria to express HER2/neu. The immune system attacks the attenuated Listeria organisms and learns to kill other cells that express HER2/neu, including osteosarcoma cells, at least hypothetically. Although other healthy cells do express HER2/neu, the pilot study did not find any evidence of targeting of other tissues.
The first two dogs in the pilot study are alive as of this writing in October. Scooby Doo was found to have osteosarcoma on May 1, 2012, and Dolly on June 1, 2012. Other dogs are alive after four to 4 1/2 years. The survival rate was 67 percent at two years and 50 percent at three years. Some dogs did not respond and died of metastatic disease. So now one question is: Why do some respond and others don't—and is it possible to predict responders versus nonresponders?
Dr. Mason said: “These dogs live normal lives. They have an excellent quality of life. If you look at these dogs, other than the fact that they are missing a limb, you wouldn't know anything's wrong with them.” She has pictures of the dogs all around her office.
The pilot study was part of a program by biotechnology company Advaxis Inc. to develop a Listeria-based vaccine to target various HER2/neu-expressing cancers. Advaxis licensed the product to Aratana Therapeutics, which is developing and manufacturing the vaccine for dogs.
Dr. Ernst Heinen, a veterinarian who is chief development officer for Aratana, said the Advaxis product is frozen, not a good way to distribute a product on the veterinary side. Aratana created a freeze-dried product to distribute at refrigerated temperatures.
Receiving a conditional license from the USDA would give Aratana the opportunity to start commercialization of the vaccine for osteosarcoma in dogs but not under a brand name. The vaccine is administered as three doses two weeks apart with boosters every six months.
Starting out, the company will provide the product to certain clinics to run an additional safety study in the field, a necessary step to apply for full licensure. Aratana is working on being ready soon to start manufacturing and distribution.
“This technology is very exciting for everyone; it's something completely new,” Dr. Heinen said. He said veterinarians “are eagerly awaiting for the product to be released.”
Prairie dogs have a new plague vaccine
By R. Scott Nolen
Sylvatic plague is devastating to prairie dogs and the endangered black-footed ferret, a prairie dog–dependent species. (Courtesy of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service)
Citation: Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association 251, 11; 10.2460/javma.251.11.1226
Sylvatic plague is devastating to prairie dogs and the endangered black-footed ferret, a prairie dog–dependent species. (Courtesy of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service)
Citation: Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association 251, 11; 10.2460/javma.251.11.1226
A new oral vaccine bait can help protect prairie dogs against sylvatic plague and possibly assist in the recovery of black-footed ferrets, one of the most endangered mammals in North America.
Sylvatic plague, a bacterial disease caused by Yersinia pestis, affects numerous wild and domestic animal species as well as humans. Developed specifically for prairie dogs by scientists at the U.S. Geological Survey's National Wildlife Health Center and the University of Wisconsin-Madison, the peanut butter–flavored vaccine elicits a protective immune response that can help vaccinated prairie dogs fight off infection after later exposure to the disease.
“Plague is devastating to prairie dogs, a keystone species of grassland ecosystems,” said Tonie Rocke, PhD, a USGS scientist and the project lead. “Our goal in developing an oral plague vaccine is to provide another tool for land managers to reduce the effects of plague outbreaks on prairie dog colonies. This reduction could have positive impacts on conservation of the threatened Utah prairie dog and survival of the endangered black-footed ferret, a prairie dog–dependent species.”
The current method for controlling plague consists of dusting prairie dog colonies with insecticide to kill fleas that transmit the pathogen. Although effective in controlling the spread of plague, dusting is labor-intensive, and some flea species may develop resistance to the pesticide.
Between 2013 and 2015, a consortium of 14 federal, state, tribal, and nongovernmental agencies worked together to field-test the plague vaccine in all four prairie dog species present across Arizona, Colorado, Montana, South Dakota, Texas, Utah, and Wyoming. The agencies' findings, published as a USGS study in the journal EcoHealth this past June (http://jav.ma/Plague_1), showed prairie dog survival rates were higher on vaccine-treated plots during plague outbreaks than on plots that received placebo baits, suggesting that consumption of vaccine baits provided protection for prairie dogs.
Researchers anticipate that application of vaccine baits to larger prairie dog complexes on an annual basis will enhance protection against plague.
Colorado Parks and Wildlife conducted the initial field trials that demonstrated vaccine-laden baits could be used safely with no adverse effects for nontarget species, such as small mammals, and has been instrumental in furthering large-scale vaccine and bait production for use by wildlife managers. In a companion paper (http://jav.ma/plague_2) also published in EcoHealth, CPW demonstrated that treating prairie dog colonies annually with a flea-control dust or the oral vaccine can prevent population collapse resulting from plague.
“Wildlife managers have struggled to recover ferrets and manage prairie dog colonies due to the devastating effects of plague,” said Dan Tripp, a CPW scientist and a co-author of the USGS study. “It is our hope that use of the sylvatic plague vaccine in select areas, with the support of willing landowners, will help to limit the impact of plague to wildlife.”
Study identifies genetic mutation behind disk disease in dogs
Researchers at the University of California-Davis have identified a genetic mutation across dog breeds that is responsible for chondrodystrophy, the skeletal disorder leading to shorter legs and abnormal intervertebral disks.
The findings appeared in “FGF4 retrogene on CFA12 is responsible for chondrodystrophy and intervertebral disc disease in dogs” in the Oct. 24 issue of the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2017;114:11476–11481).
“Dogs with intervertebral disc disease (IVDD) are 50 times more likely to have this mutation; that's an incredibly strong correlation with disc disease,” said Dr. Danika Bannasch, a UC-Davis veterinary geneticist and the paper's senior author, in a university announcement about the study.
“Being able to identify the cause of this painful condition is the first step to alleviating pain and suffering for dogs at greatest risk.”
Identifying individual dogs with this genetic susceptibility could provide a valuable tool for owners, breeders, and veterinarians to mitigate the risk of intervertebral disk herniation and resulting spinal cord disease.
“What we need to know now is the prevalence of this retrogene in all of these breeds,” said Dr. Pete Dickinson, a UC-Davis veterinary neurologist and an author on the paper. “Without that, it's difficult to establish how to start breeding the condition out. We need as much information as possible to make a plan and help improve the well-being for dogs who suffer from this condition.”
The study is available at http://jav.ma/discdisease.
California bans retail sale of dogs, cats, rabbits
California is the first state to ban the retail sale of dogs and cats, along with rabbits, following in the footsteps of cities across the country that have banned the retail sale of dogs and cats while allowing pet stores to offer animals from shelters for adoption.
On Oct. 13, Gov. Jerry Brown signed into law AB 485, Pet Store Operators: Dogs, Cats, and Rabbits, taking effect Jan. 1, 2019. Previously, no state had banned the retail sale of dogs and cats, according to the AVMA Division of State Advocacy and Leadership.
According to the California legislative counsel's digest of AB 485, “This bill would prohibit a pet store operator from selling a live dog, cat, or rabbit in a pet store unless the dog, cat, or rabbit was obtained from a public animal control agency or shelter, society for the prevention of cruelty to animals shelter, humane society shelter, or nonprofit rescue or adoption organization that is in a cooperative agreement with at least one private or public shelter, as specified.”
In California, about three dozen municipalities have similar bills in place, according to Best Friends Animal Society. The society lists local bans on retail pet sales in 19 other states.
MacKenzie and Cary join AVMA staff
Scott MacKenzie and Dr. Mia Cary joined the AVMA in October as division director of Membership and Field Services and chief of professional development and strategic alliances, respectively.
MacKenzie is responsible for directing the overall planning, coordination, and supervision of the M&FS Division, along with maintaining and developing Association policies and programs for membership. Dr. Cary has taken the reins in a newly created position in which she is overseeing continuing education and leadership initiatives for the AVMA as well as corporate sponsorship and strategic alliances with key organizations.
“The AVMA represents more than 89,000 individuals, and the addition of Mr. MacKenzie in this role will further our ability to protect, promote, and advance the interests of our members,” said Dr. Janet Donlin, AVMA CEO. “Dr. Cary's energy, drive, and unique background are a perfect fit for the dynamic future we are building for our members.”
Scott MacKenzie
Citation: Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association 251, 11; 10.2460/javma.251.11.1226
Dr. Mia Cary
Citation: Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association 251, 11; 10.2460/javma.251.11.1226
MacKenzie is a certified association executive and most recently was senior director of member engagement and strategy with the American Health Information Management Association in Chicago. MacKenzie was also director of business insight and market analytics and director of market research for AHIMA.
“I'm excited to join the AVMA at such an exciting time for veterinary medicine and the organization,” MacKenzie said. “I feel fortunate to be part of such a talented team and am looking forward to building on the Membership and Field Services Division's past successes to continue to drive membership programming, engagement, and growth.”
Dr. Cary previously worked for the North American Veterinary Community as chief collaboration officer, chief innovation officer, executive director of the Veterinary Innovation Council, and vice president of industry relations. Prior to the NAVC, Dr. Cary held key management and senior positions with Boehringer Ingelheim and Novartis Animal Health.
“I have a passion for collaboration,” said Dr. Cary, a 1999 graduate of the University of Florida College of Veterinary Medicine.
“The AVMA is unique in its collaborative nature. Its history and commitment to every aspect of veterinary medicine is amazing, but it can also provide challenges to collaboration. I love that the AVMA embraces its professionally diverse membership and that they recognize that by listening to different perspectives they are strengthening the profession. I think I am up for the challenge.”
AVMA fellows placed in congressional offices
The AVMA announced Oct. 12 that the veterinarians selected for the 2017–18 AVMA Fellowship Program have secured yearlong placements as full-time staff in congressional offices. These fellows will use their veterinary expertise to provide science-based counsel to these offices:
• Dr. Radhika Gharpure will serve in the office of Sen. Sherrod Brown, D-Ohio. Dr. Gharpure's areas of responsibility will include public health and health care.
• Dr. Matt Holland will serve in the office of Rep. Cheri Bustos, D-Ill. Dr. Holland's areas of responsibility will include food safety and waste, agricultural research, animal welfare, and immigration.
• Dr. Mark Logan will serve in the office of Rep. Jeff Fortenberry, R-Neb. Dr. Logan's areas of responsibility will include wildlife conservation, agriculture, small business, and nutrition.
The fellows are not AVMA employees or lobbyists. The fellowship program is sponsored through the American Association for the Advancement of Science, which works to place qualified scientific experts in congressional offices, and the AVMA provides funding for the program. To date, more than 65 veterinarians have participated in the AVMA Fellowship Program.
WSAVA takes on brachycephaly, dentistry, dog and cat meat trade
The World Small Animal Veterinary Association has focused attention on the issues facing brachycephalic dogs, released global guidelines for veterinary dentistry, and strongly expressed opposition to trade in dog and cat meat.
The WSAVA held a panel discussion on brachycephalic dogs during the WSAVA Congress, Sept. 25–28 in Copenhagen, Denmark. Also during the congress, the association released its Global Dental Guidelines for small animals.
Ahead of the congress, the WSAVA released a position statement voicing concerns about the welfare of dogs and cats in meat trade and the public health risks of the trade.
Brachycephalic dogs
On Sept. 26, the WSAVA Congress featured a lecture stream on hereditary disease and the importance of responsible breeding. During a panel session, experts from around the world discussed not only the issues facing brachycephalic breeds but also the implications for veterinarians.
Panel members offered a number of recommendations to help veterinarians take steps to improve the health and welfare of brachycephalic dogs. The introduction to the recommendations states, “As advocates of, and experts in, animal health and welfare, veterinarians should speak up and show leadership in taking action against the breeding of dogs with excessive traits which can lead to health and welfare problems, such as brachycephalic obstructive airway syndrome (BOAS).”
The recommendations, available at http://jav.ma/WSAVAbrachy, are for veterinarians at both the practice level and the level of veterinary organizations.
Dental guidelines
On Sept. 24 at the congress, the WSAVA launched its Global Dental Guidelines to support veterinarians around the world in improving recognition of dental disease and in providing a higher standard of dental care to patients. The association hopes that the document will help bridge what it perceives as a substantial gap in veterinary education globally and encourage a greater emphasis on dentistry in the veterinary curriculum.
The guidelines include information on and images of oral anatomy and common diseases as well as recommendations for best practices in oral examinations and an easily implementable scoring system for dental health. The document also includes evidence-based guidance on periodontal treatment, radiology, and dental extractions, together with details of minimum equipment recommendations.
A key theme is the WSAVA's rejection of anesthesia-free dentistry, which the association describes as ineffective and a cause of unnecessary stress and suffering for patients.
The guidelines are available at www.wsava.org/guidelines/global-dental-guidelines.
Dog and cat meat
Released Sept. 13, the WSAVA position statement on trade in dog and cat meat recognizes cultural variance in this area but voices strong concerns about the welfare of dogs and cats at all stages of the meat trade. The statement also highlights evidence of public health risks of the trade in terms of compromising regional efforts to control rabies and increasing the risk of transmitting diseases such as rabies, cholera, and trichinellosis.
The statement concludes by calling for the rigorous enforcement of existing laws and supporting new controls and regulations where current legislation does not exist, aimed at banning trade in dog and cat meat.
The position statement is available at http://jav.ma/dogcatmeat.
Obituaries AVMA member AVMA honor roll member Nonmember
Brian M. Atwell
Dr. Atwell (Auburn ‘01), 44, Haiku, Hawaii, died Aug. 10, 2017. A mixed animal veterinarian, he owned Makawao Veterinary Clinic in Makawao, Hawaii. Earlier in his career, Dr. Atwell practiced in Tennessee, Wyoming, and North Carolina.
He is survived by his life partner, Lizzie Immarino; his parents; and a brother.
Charles L. Boyd
Dr. Boyd (Texas A&M ‘45), 95, College Station, Texas, died Oct. 4, 2017. He was professor emeritus at the Texas A&M University College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences since 1986. Following graduation, Dr. Boyd worked for the Houston Health Department for two years. He subsequently moved to Grandview, Texas, where he owned a general practice for several years. Dr. Boyd joined the veterinary faculty at Texas A&M in 1967. During his tenure, he served as chief of the veterinary college's large animal clinic, was chief of surgery, and headed the Department of Large Animal Medicine and Surgery for seven years. Dr. Boyd also conducted research with the College of Engineering in fracture repair implants and prostheses.
Active in organized veterinary medicine, he was a past president of the Texas and Brazos Valley VMAs. He was a past recipient of the TVMA Faculty Teaching Award and was honored by the Former Students Association of Texas A&M University with the Faculty Achievement Award.
Dr. Boyd is survived by his wife, Elizabeth; two daughters; three grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren. Memorials may be made to Texas A&M University College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences, College Station, TX 77843; American Cancer Society, P.O. Box 22478, Oklahoma City, OK 73123; or Covenant Presbyterian Church, 220 Rock Prairie Road, College Station, TX 77845.
Edward L. Chandler
Dr. Chandler (Georgia ‘62), 79, Easley, South Carolina, died July 27, 2017. He worked for the state of South Carolina in meat inspection prior to retirement. Following graduation and until 1968, Dr. Chandler served in the Air Force. During that time, he earned a master's in food science and technology from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (1966); served as a base veterinarian in Homestead, Florida; and was stationed in Taiwan, where he worked in meat inspection. Dr. Chandler attained the rank of captain. Subsequent to his military service, he owned a mixed animal practice in Manning, South Carolina, for several years. He later worked for the Department of Agriculture in Atlanta in poultry inspection before returning to South Carolina to work for the state.
Dr. Chandler's wife, Linda Delores; a daughter and a son; and four grandchildren survive him. Memorials may be made to Brushy Creek Seniors, 2010 Brushy Creek Road, Greer, SC 29650, or Open Arms Hospice, 1836 W. Georgia Road, Simpsonville, SC 29680.
Howard G. Fader
Dr. Fader (Georgia ‘62), 82, Boca Raton, Florida, died Sept. 20, 2017. He co-owned Glen Burnie Animal Hospital in Baltimore, where he practiced small animal medicine for nearly 40 years. Dr. Fader was a member of the Maryland VMA, serving on its ethics committee. He also served on the board of the Emergency Veterinary Clinic in Catonsville, Maryland. In retirement, Dr. Fader volunteered at the Boca Raton Regional Hospital.
He is survived by his wife, Ruth; a son and two daughters; and eight grandchildren. Memorials may be made to the Boca Raton Regional Hospital, 800 Meadows Road, Boca Raton, FL 33486.
Jay D. Hyman
Dr. Hyman (Cornell ‘57), 83, Delray Beach, Florida, died Aug. 1, 2017. He was a retired small animal practitioner, known for his expertise in zoo and aquatic animal medicine. Following graduation, Dr. Hyman established a practice in New York City. His practice moved to Suffern, New York, in the mid-1970s and to Nyack, New York, in the 1980s. In later years, Dr. Hyman served as a veterinary consultant. While in practice, he worked with the New York Aquarium and Bronx Zoo and helped assist with several marine animal strandings. Dr. Hyman was a member of the team that rescued Miracle, a juvenile orca off the coast of Victoria, British Columbia, and Physty, a sperm whale off the coast of Fire Island, New York.
A founding member of the International Association for Aquatic Animal Medicine, Dr. Hyman received its special annual award in 1978 for contributions to aquatic animal medicine. In 1982, he was inducted into the Explorers Club for his work with Physty. Dr. Hyman endowed the Jay Hyman Professorship of Wildlife Health & Health Policy at the Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine.
He was a veteran of the Air Force, attaining the rank of captain. Dr. Hyman is survived by his wife, Anita; a daughter; and a sister. Memorials may be made to Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine, Ithaca, NY 14853.
James A. Jermier
Dr. Jermier (Iowa State ‘52), 93, Dallas Center, Iowa, died July 27, 2017. He began his career working for the former Dappen and Barclay Veterinary Practice, a large animal practice in Brooklyn, Iowa. From 1957–1961, Dr. Jermier taught veterinary anatomy at Iowa State University. He then returned to Brooklyn as a partner in his former practice, where he worked until retirement in 1973. Dr. Jermier was a member of the Iowa VMA. He served in the Army during World War II, participating in the Battle of the Bulge, and was a member of the American Legion and Kiwanis.
Dr. Jermier is survived by his wife, Bonnie; two sons; two grandchildren; and eight great-grandchildren. Memorials may be made to Grace United Methodist Church, 603 Clay St., P.O. Box 27, Brooklyn, IA 52211.
William M. Lewis Sr.
Dr. Lewis (Texas A&M ‘52), 90, Decatur, Texas, died Aug. 23, 2017. He practiced mixed animal medicine at Decatur Veterinary Clinic for 35 years prior to retirement. During that time, Dr. Lewis also farmed and raised cattle and horses. Early in his career, he worked in Coushatta, Louisiana, for a year. Dr. Lewis was a member of the Texas VMA. He was a past chairman of the Wise County Appraisal District Board and served on the Decatur School Board for several years.
Dr. Lewis was a veteran of the Army Air Corps. His wife, Valeria; three sons and three stepchildren; 12 grandchildren; and 13 great-grandchildren survive him.
Michael W. Thomas
Dr. Thomas (Auburn ‘73), 69, Starkville, Mississippi, died Sept. 3, 2017. He was a teleradiologist with Antech Diagnostic Imaging Services since 2014. Following graduation and until 1976, Dr. Thomas served in the Army Veterinary Corps, attaining the rank of captain. He subsequently practiced mixed animal medicine in Tampa, Florida, for a few years.
After becoming a diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Radiology in 1986, Dr. Thomas embarked on an academic career in radiology. He taught at the Michigan State University College of Veterinary Medicine until 1991, was a faculty member at the Mississippi State University College of Veterinary Medicine from 1991–2001, taught at the University of Illinois College of Veterinary Medicine from 2001–2007, and then returned to MSU, where he served as a clinical professor of diagnostic imaging in the veterinary college until 2014.
Dr. Thomas was a member of Cayman Veterinary Associates and Turks and Caicos Veterinary Associates, volunteering veterinary services in the Caribbean. He was also a member of the Mississippi VMA. Dr. Thomas is survived by his sister. Memorials may be made to Homeward Bound Project (which transports adoptable dogs and cats from overcrowded shelters in the South to no-kill shelters in the Northeast), P.O. Box 2841, Mississippi State, MS 39762, www.homewardboundofms.org, or Oktibbeha County Humane Society, P.O. Box 297, Starkville, MS 39760, www.ochsms.org/donations/.
Lawrence B. Watson
Dr. Watson (Michigan State ‘43), 101, Lakeland, Florida, died Sept. 6, 2017. He owned a mixed animal practice in Colon, Michigan, for 51 years. Dr. Watson was a past president of the Michigan State University College of Veterinary Medicine's alumni association and the Colon Board of Education, and a life member of the Elks.
He is survived by his wife, Janet; a son and a daughter; six grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren.
Clifford S. Whitmore
Dr. Whitmore (Texas A&M ‘57), 83, Harrison, Arkansas, died July 5, 2017. He owned a mixed animal practice in Harrison for 30 years. Dr. Whitmore's two sons, a daughter, and six grandchildren survive him.
James M. Winmill
Dr. Winmill (Guelph ‘54), 90, Comfort, Texas, died July 23, 2017. A small animal veterinarian, he practiced at DuPage Animal Hospital in Villa Park, Illinois, prior to retirement. In retirement, Dr. Winmill was active with the Kiwanis Club.
He is survived by his wife, Evelyn; a daughter and two sons; two grandchildren; and a brother.
Harold D. Witcher Jr.
Dr. Witcher (Texas A&M ‘52), 93, Honey Grove, Texas, died June 12, 2017. He owned a practice in Honey Grove for more than 55 years. Dr. Witcher served in the Army during World War II and received several honors, including the American Theater Campaign Medal, European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal with three Bronze Stars, and a Bronze Star.
He is survived by his wife, Judy; two sons; four grandchildren; three great-grandchildren; and a sister. Memorials may be made to Vineyard Grove Cemetery, CR 2980, Honey Grove, TX 75446.
