FDA approves ProHeart 12July 8, 2019The U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA’s) Center for Veterinary Medicine (CVM) has approved ProHeart 12 (moxidectin) extended release injectable suspension for dogs one year and older.
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Alexandria, Va., tops list of heartworm cities for JuneJune 19, 2019Alexandria, Va., is the number one city for heartworms in June, the Companion Animal Parasite Council (CAPC) reports.
Dogs can alert human risk to Lyme diseaseMay 27, 2019Health-care providers can now use dogs as a way to measure human risk for Lyme disease, according to a study by Companion Animal Parasite Council (CAPC). "This research shows how man's best friend continues to safeguard humans as a sentinel to alert humans where they are at greatest risk for Lyme disease," says CAPC executive director, Christopher Carpenter, DVM. "The model established in this research breaks new ground to give residents, travelers, and health-care providers a county-level map to help them identify areas of risk across the country." Through the study, researchers quantified the relationship between canine seroprevalence for the disease-causing bacterium, Borrelia burgdorferi, and Lyme disease in humans. Seroprevalence is used to calculate the number of dogs testing positive among all tested dogs within a county. The study showed a correlation between human incidence and dog seroprevalence. According to researchers, they were able to study more than seven years of nationwide canine diagnostic data as a result of dogs being tested annually for exposure to Borrelia burgdorferi. The collected data represented more than 400 million data points, which is usually difficult to obtain when looking directly at ticks and the environment. "By combining sophisticated statistical modeling with this …
Covetrus integrates prescription management platform with eVetPracticeMay 23, 2019Covetrus is integrating its eVetPractice with its prescription management technology to provide veterinarians a more synchronized and streamlined user experience. "We're very pleased to offer practices using AVImark, ImproMed, and, now, eVetPractice, an unparalleled level of integration with our prescription management technology," says Chris Dollar, senior vice president of Covetrus' global software services. "Driving innovation, enhancing our practice management capabilities, and simplifying the experience for our customers is at the core of our mission." Even with flea, tick, and heartworm disease on the rise, compliance for veterinary prescriptions and preventative medications is low. Restructuring the workflow through Covetrus' practice management system can help remove administrative burden, drive greater client engagement, and improve health and financial outcomes. "One of our top priorities was to integrate our eVetPractice and prescription management capabilities to streamline and enhance performance for the practices," says Georgia Wraight, president of Covetrus' global prescription management. "By automating documentation and making prescription management easier for eVetPractice customers, we can now deliver a more seamless experience and empower veterinarians with tools to drive improved compliance." Other benefits of the real-time integration include synchronization between online prescription management and clinic software, coordinating and tracking the status of prescription authorizations and …
Merck Animal Health, NEADS launch educational service dog campaignMay 22, 2019A new educational campaign highlights the importance of keeping service dogs healthy from fleas and ticks. Through Bravecto Cares, Merck Animal Health will donate a portion of every Bravecto sale to National Education for Assistance Dog Services (NEADS) World Class Service Dogs from now until June 30. The funds raised will be used to support the training of NEADS Service Dogs. "Merck Animal Health knows how important it is to protect our pets, especially those that work for us," says Mark Pelham, DVM, companion animal professional services, Merck Animal Health. "More than just a nuisance, fleas and ticks can carry illness, such as Lyme disease, to our pets and our families. We are proud to collaborate with NEADS, an organization that shares our dedication to keeping pets healthy as part of their extensive service dog training program." According to NEADS, being in top health is a major factor for a world-class service dog. "The health of our dogs is as important as their task training—if they are not at optimal health, they will not be at ideal performance and can potentially put their handlers at risk," says Cathy Zemaitis, NEADS director of development. As part of the campaign, Merck is …
Salem, Ore., tops the list for heartworms in MayMay 17, 2019Salem, Ore., is the number one city for heartworms in May, according to Companion Animal Parasite Council's (CAPC's) top 10 list. The list reflects positive heartworm test results from the last 30 to 45 days. The following are the U.S. cities with the highest percentage increase in positive heartworm tests for May: 1) Salem, Ore. 2) Dover, Del. 3) Charleston, W. Va. 4) Norfolk, Va. 5) Amarillo, Tex. 6) Port St. Lucie, Fla. 7) Rochester, N.Y. 8) Visalia, Calif. 9) Vancouver, Wash. 10) Albuquerque, N. Mex. According to CAPC, pets on May's top 10 cities list could have been exposed locally or through travel. Factors such as transportation of shelter dogs, pet owner compliance in administering monthly heartworm preventatives, changing weather patterns, and mosquito microclimates may be the cause for the increase in positive tests. "Most people consider their pets as family members and wouldn't knowingly expose them to infection with a potentially fatal disease that ultimately compromises the length and quality of their lives. Yet millions who fail to protect their pets every month from heartworm infection are doing just that," says Craig Prior, DVM, past-president of CAPC's …
New CAPC study shows Lyme disease is spreadingMay 7, 2019Research from the Companion Animal Parasite Council (CAPC) indicates seroprevalence of Lyme disease in dogs is not only increasing in the Northeast, where it is considered endemic, but also spreading into areas that were previously thought to not be at risk for this serious, zoonotic tick-borne disease. ("Seroprevalence" in this case refers to the prevalence of dogs exposed to Borrelia burgdorferi, the pathogen responsible for causing Lyme disease in the U.S. based on serologic tests—hereafter referred to as "prevalence.") Study results were published in the December 2018 issue of Environmetrics, the official journal of The International Environmetrics Society (TIES). This milestone study, titled "A Large-scale Spatio-temporal Binomial Regression Model for Estimating Seroprevalence Trends," suggests canine prevalence rates for Lyme disease are rising and that those rates are increasing most in areas where the pathogen has recently encroached. Specifically, exposure in dogs to B. burgdorferi is rising in states not traditionally considered to be areas of high Lyme risk. Significant increases in the percentage of dogs testing positive for exposure have also been seen in areas that have not yet reported significant human incidence. These findings suggest canine Lyme prevalence could serve as an early warning system for changes in …
CAPC forecasts higher heartworm infections in South Central, Southeastern statesApril 26, 2019The Companion Animal Parasite Council (CAPC) predicts in its newly released parasite forecast that heartworm occurrence will be higher than average this year . "We started providing our annual forecasts over eight years ago because of the dynamic and ever changing nature of parasites," says CAPC executive director, Christopher Carpenter, DVM. "Over the years, we have seen these diseases continue to move. Our annual forecast will alert pet owners to the risks this year and remind them our pets need to be tested and protected year-round." The council's forecast predicts these areas are the riskiest for parasite-related diseases: South Central and Southeastern states are expected to see a higher than average infections with heartworm. The areas of greatest concern are those along the Mississippi River from Northern Louisiana into Illinois. Areas with historically lower incidence of heartworm such as Indiana, Illinois, and Iowa, should note the predicted higher prevalence. The Appalachian region, the Atlantic Coast, Wisconsin, and Minnesota are seeing a high threat again for Lyme disease. Northwestern Minnesota is forecasted to be active with the transmission of the agents of anaplasmosis. Southern Central states, particularly Oklahoma, Arkansas, and Missouri are expected to see higher numbers of ehrlichiosis. To …
Informed pet owners more likely to give heartworm preventativesApril 24, 2019Pet owners who have regular and open discussions with their veterinarian are more likely to consistently give their animals preventatives. Not only that, but according to a new study by Ceva, those clients have fewer issues with their cost and actual administration. "Our research showed the most consistent users follow their veterinarian's recommended steps for preventing the disease," says Ceva's senior director of veterinary services and pharmacovigilance, Charles Johnson, DVM. "They also value and rely on their veterinarian's recommendations more than inconsistent and non-users." The study's goal was to look at why consumers don't use preventatives consistently. The results point to lack of education as the main culprit. Respondents reported they are often left uninformed about the risks and health issues their pet could experience by contracting the disease, and they are confused about how preventatives work in general. The other findings of the study are: • only 25 percent of dogs receive heartworm preventives on a regular basis; • only 33 percent of users have purchased heartworm preventives during the past year; and • one in four dog owners think they are giving a heartworm preventive, but are really just providing flea and tick protection. …
Why heartworm prevention begins in your practiceApril 24, 2019According to the American Heartworm Society (AMS), it is estimated more than one million dogs have heartworm disease. Spread by mosquitoes, heartworms live in the heart and pulmonary arteries of infected dogs and cats. Left untreated, the disease can lead to heart failure, as well as damage to other organs. To mark Heartworm Awareness Month, we asked Claire Walther, DVM, veterinary specialty operations at Zoetis Petcare, for her take on what veterinarians can do to better convey the need for heartworm prevention to pet owners. 1) What is the single biggest misconception among veterinarians regarding heartworm disease? Biologically, it is how missing one dose of a preventative medication can lead to the development of heartworm disease. We say it to our clients daily, but many of us couldn't explain why if a client asked. In my own practice, I struggled with the answer. Here is a 30-second sound bite I've used with my clients to help simplify what is a complex discussion. "Young heartworms are carried by infected mosquitoes, and it only takes one bite to transmit them to your dog.1 Once in your dog, the young heartworms live just underneath the skin for about a month—this …
