Top 10 Dog Breeds Affected By Periodontal Disease
Portland, Oregon

To coincide with February's Pet Dental Month, new findings have been released which reveal the extent of dental problems in the dog population.

Banfield's Applied Research and Knowledge (BARK) team has released new findings to help Pet owners maintain and improve the health of their dogs' teeth. Banfield's BARK team conducts ongoing research in the field of veterinary medicine based upon the data from the nearly 115,000 office visits to Banfield hospitals every week. The findings show that periodontal disease is the most common disorder affecting cats and dogs worldwide, and informal estimates put it's prevalence as high as 85%.

Classified by the degree of deviation from healthy teeth and gums, the severity of dental disease is labeled by six stages, which is also supported by BARK findings. These stages range from mild plaque and gingivitis, to gingival recession and degradation of the periodontal ligament, to significant inflammation and loss of teeth. According to their latest findings, certain breeds are more predisposed to periodontal disease than others. The 10 breeds most predisposed to periodontal disease are as follows:

• Toy Poodle
• Yorkshire Terrier
• Maltese
• Pomeranian
• Shetland Sheepdog
• Cavalier King Charles Spaniel
• Papillion
• Standard Poodle
• Dachshund
• Havanese

"All breeds need regular professional cleanings, but with regard to the top breeds at risk, professional dental cleanings and compliance with at-home care of the health of teeth and gums is especially crucial," said Jeffrey Klausner, DVM, MS, DACVIM, senior vice president and chief medical officer for Banfield. "Although dental disease can occur rapidly at any age, risk factors for developing periodontal disease in dogs can include increasing age, small breed size and neutering. Periodontal disease has also been associated with changes in a pets' kidneys, liver and cardiac functions - in short, unhealthy teeth can lead to an unhealthy pet in ways pet owners can't imagine."

Banfield recommend that proper at-home preventive dental care should include feeding your pet a firm, kibbled food specially formulated to reduce tartar accumulation, use of specially-formulated hygiene chews and dental specific water additives.

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Original Source: http://www.petpeoplesplace.com/resources/news/dogs/top-10-dog-breeds-affected-by-periodontal-disease.htm

Canine Melanoma Vaccine Gets Full Approval
Duluth, Georgia

The first and only USDA-approved therapeutic vaccine for treatment of cancer in dogs has been announced.

Merial has received full license approval from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) for it's ONCEPT™ Canine Melanoma Vaccine. ONCEPT™ is descibed by Merial as a "breakthrough vaccine indicated in aiding in extending survival of dogs with stage II or stage III oral canine melanoma".

Oral canine melanoma is a common yet deadly form of cancer. Dogs with stage II or stage III malignant melanoma typically survive for less than 5 or 6 months after diagnosis when treated with surgery along. When also treated with ONCEPT™, dogs survived for so long that 50% of dogs in the study were either still alive when the study was concluded, or died of other causes. Oral melanoma, which can be seen in any breed, is the most common malignant tumor of the dog's mouth, and can also be seen in the nail and footpad. This type of cancer is extremely aggressive and frequently spreads throughout the body. To date, the most common form of treatment has been radiation and surgery.

"Canine melanoma spreads readily, and, unfortunately, existing treatments have not succeeded in controlling the disease," said Dr. Bob Menardi, a veterinarian and spokesperson for Merial. "ONCEPT™ is a new adjunct treatment option for dogs that have been diagnosed with this often fatal disease."

The USDA issued a conditional U.S. Veterinary Biological Product License for ONCEPT™ in 2007. During the period of conditional licensure, ONCEPT™ was available to veterinary oncologists as Merial conducted additional research to further support the safety and efficacy of the vaccine. The results of that research led to the full licensure of ONCEPT™. The vaccine will be administered via a Canine Transdermal Device, which delivers the vaccine without the use of a needle.

"The Canine Transdermal Device makes administration of the vaccine easy and quick for oncologists and their patients, leaving one less worry for dog owners dealing with their pet's cancer treatment" said Dr. Richard Stout, executive vice president and chief medical officer of Bioject. "We are proud to work with Merial in bringing this breakthrough product to market."

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Original Source: http://www.petpeoplesplace.com/resources/news/dogs/canine-melanoma-vaccine-gets-full-approval.htm