Why Heartworm Preventive Sales Should Not Go Over The CounterApril 26, 2010 The current monthly oral and topical heartworm preventives, as well as ProHeart6, the injectable six-month formulation for dogs, are all members of the same pharmaceutical class: the macrocyclic lactones. These are compounds or chemical derivatives of compounds produced by various soil-dwelling species of actinomycete bacteria within the genus Streptomyces. Ever since the introduction to small animal veterinary medicine of the first member of the class, ivermectin (as Heartgard), these compounds have become the …
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Herd Health & Welfare: A ResponseApril 19, 2010Editor: We would like to respond to Dr. Laura Zehnder Jones’ comments on the article “Food Animal Vets Dispute Abuse Charges” [February 2010]. One overarching concern seems to be about the farm size, business orientation and business relationships of many of today’s operations. We do not believe it is disingenuous to note that the majority of farms are family owned. Trends in business in recent decades have been toward larger entities regardless …
Is Palliative Surgery Ethical?April 1, 201004/12/2010 - Reflections of a Modern Dinosaur 03/29/2010 - I Don't Want to Put Him Through This 03/15/2010 - Who cares about the diagnosis? You've heard of palliative chemotherapy. Sure, there are cases where we hope for a cure or a remission (think lymphoma). But in many cases, chemo is offered to increase survival despite a grim prognosis. And you've heard of palliative radiotherapy. For example, four fractions could be given to a dog with osteosarcoma when amputation …
Reflections Of A Modern DinosaurApril 1, 2010I was very disappointed by the disappearance of the print edition of the Journal of the American Animal Hospital Association. Remember? That was in December 2003! Since then, several other journals have disappeared from mail boxes. The good news? Fewer unread journals gathering dust in our offices. And fewer killed trees. The bad news? Probably less circulation, obviously less sharing within clinics, possibly less readership. I suspect that many people read a journal whenever they …
Behavior Expertise Can Generate RevenueMarch 1, 2010 It’s not uncommon for clients to ask a veterinarian about their dogs’ behavior. While most veterinarians refer their clients to trainers, a new AAVSB-approved continuing education program developed by a canine behavior specialist and author of “Good Dog!” means veterinarians, technicians and assistants can address the behavior themselves, possibly increasing overhead at the same time. “The ASPCA reports that 42 percent of dogs acquired in the U.S. annually are surrendered in the first …
I Don't Want To Put Him Through ThisMarch 1, 201003/15/2010 - Who cares about the diagnosis? 03/01/2010 - Feed Them and They Will Come 02/12/2010 - Dealing With (Mis)guidance The most common line to decline surgery in my practice is "Yeah, well … I don't want to put him through this." To be fair, it probably means different things to different people. The vast majority of the time, I suspect that it means, "There is no way I'm spending that kind of money on this mutt." Sometimes, …
Feed Them And They Will ComeMarch 1, 201002/12/2010 - Dealing With (Mis)guidance 02/01/2010 - Anesthesia: It Ain't Over Till It's Over 01/18/2010 - Who should euthanize Leia? Let me share a little secret with you. "Feed them and they will come" is what speakers and sponsors say about you, dear reader. Please don't tell anyone. It's a secret. A referring vet once told me, half-jokingly: "It's really strange. Young surgeons who have more energy and time, but less experience, are the one …
Veterinary Cardiologists Pump Out Progressive Treatments For Common DiseasesFebruary 7, 2010 Veterinary cardiology research projects are gaining interest and funding from human medical associations and animal alike. Morris Animal Foundation lists 17 cardiac grants it has awarded for canine and feline cardiac research in the last two years alone. All colleges of veterinary medicine dedicate time and resources to carrying out the research, allowing the specialty of cardiac medicine to reach new heights. Mitral valve disease and dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) are the most …
Anesthesia: It Ain't Over Till It's OverFebruary 1, 201001/18/2010 - Who should euthanize Leia? 01/04/2010 - Changing the world, one patient at a time 12/21/2009 - Would you have euthanized this patient? David Brodbelt, a British board-certified anesthesiologist, undertook a massive thesis known in the anesthesia world as CEPSAF.1 In the rest of the world, it is called the Confidential Enquiry into Perioperative Small Animal Fatalities. After the thesis was published, some more data has been published in various journals2. Our colleague looked …
Dealing With (Mis)guidanceFebruary 1, 2010"I can't believe what Dr. A told my client," a colleague told me recently about an obstipated cat. "He told her that cats do miserably after colectomy." The owner went online, read a very different story, and went to Dr. B, who referred her to us for surgery. This is a very delicate situation. Communication with referring vets is a like a religion. Should I call Dr. A to discuss the real prognosis of colectomy? …
