Merck nabs approval for new dog-flu vaccine; Apium preps Aussie stock offering; Cortec funds Community Veterinary Partners;

> Just days after Zoetis ($ZTS) won a conditional approval from the USDA to market a vaccine to protect dogs from the H3N2 strain of flu, Merck ($MRK) Animal Health secured the same approval for its version of the vaccine. Release

> Australia's Apium Animal Health, which offers veterinary services and health products, has filed to go public on the Australian Securities Exchange on Dec. 17. More

> The New York-based private equity firm Cortec announced that it has recapitalized Community Veterinary Partners, a network of clinics in the Northeastern U.S. Release

> South Africa's Department of Trade and Industry has agreed to a "poultry HPAI trade protocol" with the U.S. that ensures that if there is another outbreak of avian influenza, poultry exports to South Africa will continue from unaffected areas. Article

> CHS announced a voluntary recall of 50-pound packages of its Kountry Buffet for cattle, sheep, goats and horses due to excessive copper levels. Release