VSEC To Open New FacilityApril 25, 2011 Veterinary Specialty and Emergency Center (VSEC) of Bucks County, Pa., will host a grand opening celebration for its new 21,000-square-foot hospital on Saturday, May 14. The hospital will be open for patient care on June 1. The May event is open to the public from 1 p.m. – 4 p.m. with hospital tours, food and music. The ribbon cutting will take place at 5 p.m. with a reception for VSEC referring veterinary hospitals to follow. The hospital will house several new amenities, including a linear accelerator to provide radiation therapy for cancer patients and a special room to administer radioactive iodine treatment for hyperthyroid cats, along with a CT scanner, MRI scanner, dedicated ICU, separate canine and feline wards and a presentation room for continuing education lectures. VSEC plans to open a satellite clinic in spring 2012 in Philadelphia. <Home>
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Tea Time For Fido And Fluffy?April 22, 2011Tea Time for Fido and Fluffy?Tea Time for Fido and Fluffy?Tea Time for Fido and Fluffy?Tea Time for Fido and Fluffy?footnotesTea Time for Fido and Fluffy?Posted: April 22, 2011, 7 p.m., EDTNarda Robinson, DO, DVM FOOTNOTES 1. Bryan J. Psychological effects of dietary components of tea: caffeine and l-theanine. Nutrition Reviews. 2007;66(2):82-90.2. Alcazar A, Ballesteros O, Jurado JM, et al. Differentiation of green, white, black, oolong, and Pu-erh teas according to their free amino acids content. J Agric Food Chem. 2007;55:5960-5965.3. Alcazar A, Ballesteros O, Jurado JM, et al. Differentiation of green, white, black, oolong, and Pu-erh teas according to their free amino acids content. J Agric Food Chem. 2007;55:5960-5965.4. Rogers PJ, Smith JE, Heatherley SV, et al. Time for tea: mood, blood pressure and cognitive performance effects of caffeine and theanine administered alone and together. Psychopharmacology. 2008;195:569-577.5. Young AB and Chu D. Distribution of GABAA and GABAB receptors in …
Celebrating Earth Day With ‘Acts Of Green’April 22, 2011 Today is the 41st anniversary of Earth Day, an observance that is credited with launching the modern environmental movement, according to Earth Day Network. The nonprofit has been campaigning for a “Billion Acts of Green” since Earth Day last year. Acts of Green may include making a commitment to plant trees; clean up beaches and parks; set up community meetings on energy efficiency, sustainability and green economy issues; participate in large-scale light bulb changes; and take on workplace renewable energy retrofits; among other efforts. As of today, 102,022,550 Acts of Green have been logged at billionactsofgreen.org. The goal is to reach one billion Acts of Green before the U.N. Conference on Sustainable Development in Rio in 2012. Veterinarians interested in learning how to make their practices more green can find a list of resources on the American Veterinary Medical Association’s website. For example, the AVMA offers these options for integrating eco-friendly features into veterinary practices: • Reduce waste production and improve waste management. • Increase energy efficiency. • Improve water efficiency. • Reduce chemical product use and minimize toxins. The website also gives details on …
8 Cat Studies Get Funding From Winn Feline FoundationApril 21, 2011The Winn Feline Foundation has selected eight projects as part of its 2011 Feline Health Grant Awards for a total of more than $140,300 in funding. The projects were chosen out of 42 proposals. The winning projects will focus on topics such as feline infectious peritonitis, mortality in kittens, oral squamous cell carcinoma and chronic kidney disease, among others. The projects are: A Reproducible Protocol to Isolate a Characterized Population of Adult Feline Progenitor Cells,” by James Wignall, BSc, MRCVS, and Mandi Lopez, DVM, Ph.D., of the Louisiana State University School of Veterinary Medicine. As part of the study, the researchers will determine the best method to isolate feline ASCs and the potential for cell banking for treatment of ill and injured patients. The results will significantly advance adult stromal cell applications to treat felines, according to the researchers. The project received $9,995. Evolution of Feline Infectious Peritonitis Virus within FIP Cats and Tissue-specific Adaptation of the Virus to Activating Proteases,” by Gary Whittaker, Ph.D., professor at Cornell University. The researcher will perform laboratory-based experiments on post-mortem samples to define the sequences of the different viruses in the different tissues. The work will characterize the changes that occur …
AVMA Creates Committee To Work With FDA On Antimicrobial UseApril 21, 2011 The American Veterinary Medical Association has created a five-member committee that will provide input to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration on policies and regulations governing veterinarians’ involvement in the use of antimicrobials in food animals. The Steering Committee for FDA Policy on Veterinary Oversight of Antimicrobials will work with the FDA Center for Veterinary Medicine to help develop “practical means” to increase veterinary oversight of antimicrobial use. “Antimicrobial resistance—and the debate on their judicious use—is an important issue facing veterinary medicine today,” said John Brooks, DVM, chair of the AVMA Executive Board. “This committee was assembled to help the FDA examine both the need for increased veterinary oversight in order to minimize any potential increase in human antibiotic resistance while still ensuring that these important medicines continue to remain available to veterinarians when needed.” The committee members are: Thomas Hairgrove, DVM, Dipl. ABVP, program coordinator for Livestock and Food Animal Systems at the Texas Agrilife Extension Service, Texas A&M System; Charles Hofacre, DVM, MAM, Ph.D., professor at the University of Georgia College of Veterinary Medicine, Department of Population Health; Paul Ruen, DVM, partner at a private practice specializing in swine medicine and …
Doing The Right Thing For AnimalsApril 21, 2011 The little red heeler had a bowel obstruction and had crawled off into a ditch to die. By the time her owners found her and took her to Robin Downing, DVM, they feared that the veterinarian could do little but put her down. This was in the late ’80s, in rural Wyoming, a time and place where neither surgical specialists nor pain medication were much in vogue in veterinary medicine. At the time, “Anesthesia was considered mostly for the purpose of restraining animals, and pain management was not emphasized,” says Dr. Downing, CVA, CCRP, CPE, Dipl. AAPM. “In fact, in veterinary school, we were taught to fear morphine, because we were taught that it could cause respiratory depression and death. We weren’t taught the nuances of using (morphine).” But Downing knew she could save the dog, if she could control her pain. Even as a young vet, she says, she had observed a hard truth: “Unmedicated pain kills.” She consulted a client who was a medical doctor and general surgeon. He coached her through performing anesthesia and bowel surgery, and then how to manage pain through recovery. Two weeks later, the heeler was back to …
Early Surgery Is Good Patient CareApril 21, 2011 Following a previous column in the September 2010 issue of Veterinary Practice News (“Early Surgery Is Only Option for Some Conditions”), we tackle two more conditions that should be treated surgically earlier rather than later. Let’s review medial patellar luxations and perineal urethrostomies. They may not seem related in any way, except that we often see patients who have endured months to years of lameness or repeated episodes of urinary blockage. Medial Patellar Luxation This radiograph shows an MPL in an 18-month-old husky. Medial patellar luxation (MPL) may seem like a minor malfunction. Pet owners routinely tell us that when their dogs are limping, they “rub the leg” and make it all better. So it’s no big deal, right? Actually, it is important to understand that MPL is not merely a mechanical problem. It is a lifelong, slowly deteriorating disease that invariably leads to various degrees of degenerative joint disease (DJD). Surgery involves three parts in most cases. The first step is a trochleoplasty to deepen the trochlea, which is often too shallow to keep the patella in place. Using a bone rasp to merely “deepen the groove” …
Abuse Of Calves Is ‘Unacceptable,’ AVMA SaysApril 20, 2011The American Veterinary Medical Association issued a call today for stricter adherence to humane animal handling standards. The call is in response to a “deeply disturbing” new undercover video showing calves being abused at a Texas cattle farm. The footage, shot by the animal rights group Mercy for Animals, depicts calves being beaten with pickaxes and hammers. The AVMA labeled the abuse as “barbaric, inhumane and unacceptable.” “What is depicted in this video is totally inexcusable and way outside of existing standards for the humane care and handling of livestock,” said Ron DeHaven, DVM, CEO of the AVMA. “If this is an accurate portrayal of what took place at the farm, we would encourage regulatory authorities to impose the most severe penalties allowed by law.” Gail Golab, DVM, director of the AVMA’s Animal Welfare Division, emphasized the association’s zero-tolerance approach toward animal cruelty. “Those handling animals are obligated to do so properly,” Dr. Golab said. “The AVMA and its members have worked diligently to get good animal care practices implemented and will continue to do so. “In particular, the AVMA has clear guidance for conducting euthanasia. Unfortunately, that guidance is only as good as the facility’s commitment to implement it—we’ve …
Target Sells Pet-Specific Medications In Pilot ProgramApril 20, 2011A Target stores trial program filling veterinary prescriptions for animal-specific medications is being well received by customers, the Minneapolis-based retailer reported. Human medicines used for animals have long been available at pharmacies, but until now, animal-specific medications have not been. Target pharmacies already fill veterinary prescriptions for human medications meant for pets at all its locations. Target consumers can even shop the $4 generic program for both people and pet medication. Target attributes the positive response to its PetRx pilot program to convenience, affordability and guest service, company spokeswoman Erin Madsen told Veterinary Practice News. The pilot program launched last fall in 35 Target pharmacy locations in Minnesota, Georgia, North Carolina and Tennessee. Madsen said it aims to provide convenience and value for Target guests who own pets. Pilot locations can fill veterinary prescriptions for animal-specific medications such as HeartGard, Atopica, Clavamox and Deramaxx, Madsen said. Madsen declined to provide details on the future of the program, saying Target has "no additional growth plans to share at this time." News of the pilot program seems to have flown largely under the veterinary community's radar. Three of four of the state veterinary medical associations in the states with the pilot program …
Study Links ProMeris To Pemphigus Foliaceus; Pfizer Stopping Its ProductionApril 20, 2011 A recent groundbreaking study of clinical, histological and immunological data of 22 cases of Pemphigus foliaceus, or PF, shows evidence that it can occur as an adverse drug reaction to the canine flea and tick preventive ProMeris. PF is the most common spontaneously occurring autoimmune skin disease of dogs and typically displays as lesions on the face, nasal planum and ears. The reaction is rare but serious, says the study’s lead author, Thierry Olivry, DrVet, PhD, Dipl. ACVD, of North Carolina State University. Ultimately, ProMeris Duo (Metaflumizone–amitraz ), which is also used for treating demodicosis, will be discontinued. The product, marketed by Pfizer Animal Health, will be available while supplies last or until mid-September. ProMeris Duo is called ProMeris for Dogs in the US. It is a novel topical ectoparasiticide. “ProMeris was one of the many products that Pfizer brought into its portfolio when we acquired Wyeth/Fort Dodge Animal Health,” says Jim Brick, director and team leader of U.S. marketing for Pfizer Inc. “We have completed a thorough review and evaluation of the strategic fit into the Pfizer Animal Health portfolio, and have made the decision to discontinue the manufacture and sale of Promeris flea …
