12-Point Checklist For Financial PlanningMay 23, 2008Do you have a lawyer? Do you have a will? Do you have an executor? Do you have a guardian for your children? Do you have a revocable living trust? Do you have a durable power of attorney covering healthcare? Do you have a durable power of attorney covering financial matters? Does your family know who your lawyer is? Does your family know where your important papers …
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Advances In Cat Litter Help Clients Recognize Urinary Tract DiseaseMay 22, 2008According to Veterinary Pet Insurance in Brea, Calif., the No. 1 claim filed in 2005 and 2006 for cats was for urinary tract infections. Diabetes, kidney failure and ear infections follow. With millions of American cats at risk for this common ailment, manufacturers began creating litters designed to detect signs of urinary problems. In fact, some cat owners may have even wondered why it didn't happen sooner. "It's hard to do," says John York, president …
Universities On The Cardio Cutting EdgeMay 22, 2008Tests confirmed the lethargic 8-month-old golden retriever had subaortic stenosis. Only a few years ago, treatment consisted of medical management or surgery to remove scarring in the narrowed aortic valve. More recently, specialists have used balloon valvuloplasty to break up the obstructions. All three treatments show varying degrees of effectiveness. Last year at the College of Veterinary Medicine at the University of Florida, doctors used a new device, a balloon fitted with blades. The case …
An Account Of Veterinary Continuing Education In AntarcticaApril 3, 2008Thanks to the North American Veterinary Conference's RACE-approved continuing education conference, I stood on my seventh continent--Antarctica. Our trip started in Ushuia, the southernmost city in the world. Thirty veterinarians and 170 other cruise passengers took a two-day boat ride on the Explorer II through the Drake Passage. This passage is where the Atlantic and Pacific oceans meet and has some of the roughest water on the planet. Luckily it was more like "Drake Lake" …
Veterinarian Looks To Nematodes For IBD TreatmentMarch 31, 2008Inflammatory bowel disease, or IBD, affects more than 1 million people nationally. Now a Michigan veterinarian has introduced a parasite to help end the plague. Linda Mansfield, VMD, Ph.D., a parasitologist in the College of Veterinary Medicine at Michigan State University, is leading a team of researchers in a study of immune responses to parasites, specifically using the pig whipworm Trichuris suis in an effort to help ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease patients. Dr. Mansfield …
Vet Blood Banking Endures Growing PainsFebruary 25, 2008 The veterinary blood banking industry is not without its growing pains. A lengthy legal battle between Animal Blood Bank Inc. and Sun States Animal Blood Bank serves as one example of industry conflict. The dispute, which revolved around trademark rights to the phrase “animal blood bank,” came to an end in December after more than two years in court, says Larry DeLuca, EdD, MD, president and director of Sun States. In the …
A Comparison Of Veterinary Practices In The United States And HollandJuly 18, 2007In the August 2007 issue, Dennis M. McCurnin, DVM, wrote on an article titled, “A Comparison of Veterinary Practices in the United States and Holland.” The article discussed single practitioners, diagnostic fees, cat services and client education. Here is the continuation of the article that appeared in print: Several issues could be considered by both U.S. and Dutch veterinarians to increase and improve efficiency. First, we all must learn to do more multitasking; that is …
Analgesic Considerations For Oral SurgeryApril 24, 2007Analgesics are an essential component to treating a variety of painful oral conditions in dogs and cats. Chronic pain and acute pain associated with oral surgery comprise the majority of pain states where analgesics are considered. Individual patient circumstances vary considerably and knowledge of individual agents and their mechanisms help us choose the correct analgesics for each patient. Surgical Pain National Pet Dental Health Month in February is a reminder of the importance of providing …
