AAFP releases new educational toolkit on high blood pressure in cats
The American Association of Feline Practitioners released a new Hypertension Educational Toolkit in late February, designed to help veterinarians diagnose and treat systemic arterial hypertension in cats.
The digital toolkit emphasizes the importance of routinely checking blood pressure in cats to track trends and detect high blood pressure early. Older cats – 10 years of age and older – are at greater risk for high blood pressure and need more frequent monitoring.
The sections of the toolkit cover the regulation of blood pressure in cats, classification of hypertension in cats, clinical symptoms, treatment, measurement of blood pressure in cats, answers to frequently asked questions, and customer resources. The toolkit also includes a cat blood pressure assessment form that can be used to record results and other necessary information. Customer resources include answers to frequently asked questions from cat owners and a handout on the topic of high blood pressure in cats.
The AKC Canine Health Foundation awards more than $ 535,000 in research grants
The American Kennel Club’s Canine Health Foundation announced on Feb.22 that it had made more than $ 535,000 in new grants for dog health research.
Four new oncology grants are helping to investigate how canine cancers such as lymphosarcoma, hemangiosarcoma, melanoma, and mammary gland tumors evade the immune system and chemotherapy drugs. A grant is the first time the Canine Health Foundation has funded a study using the CRISPR gene editing tool. A fifth oncology grant is funding a clinical trial of combination chemotherapy for mast cell tumors – common malignant skin tumors in dogs. Canine oncology research typically makes up about a quarter of the Foundation’s research portfolio and continues to be a top priority for researchers, dog owners and veterinarians.
At the beginning of 2021, acorn grants were also awarded for diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, the musculoskeletal system and hormones. Acorn grants fund smaller projects and pilot studies that are important to demonstrate feasibility and provide preliminary data for additional studies and future investments.
The Illinois scholarship focused on promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion
The University of Illinois College of Veterinary Medicine announced a new scholarship on February 26th to promote diversity within the veterinary profession. The Hadley Family Diversification in Veterinary Education Scholarship is awarded to students from populations underrepresented in veterinary medicine and those who are committed to promoting diversity, equity and inclusion.
The $ 500,000 scholarship is sponsored by Dr. Stephen Hadley (Illinois ’87), CEO of the Pathway Vet Alliance veterinary management group. his wife Denyse; and their six children, “to put care into action and remove the systemic barriers that have prevented access to the veterinary profession for decades,” a university press release said. “It is our shared responsibility as leaders to make a difference that leads to more justice and diversity within the profession.”
Veterinary colleges seek to enroll a student body that is more reflective of society as a whole. According to the Association of American Veterinary Medical Colleges, the proportion of U.S. veterinary students with an underrepresented background has increased from under 5% in 1980 to over 20% in 2020.
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