NCVEI Trims Board After AAHA QuitsJanuary 6, 2011 The National Commission on Veterinary Economic Issues will move to a nine-member board of directors from its previous 12, said Karen Felsted, DVM, the group’s CEO. The decision was made after the American Animal Hospital Association discontinued its membership and financial sponsorship of NCVEI in late 2010. NCVEI was formed in 2000 by AAHA, the American Veterinary Medical Association and the Association of American Veterinary Medical Colleges “to ensure the economic future of veterinary medicine.” The board had four members from each of the three founding organizations. Instead of filling four seats, the NCVEI decided to downsize the board, Dr. Felsted said. “Trends show that larger boards are being reduced to fewer members,” she said. The plan is to have three members each from the AVMA and AAVMC as well as three outside members representing the veterinary community. “The change will bring in expertise that isn’t already on our board as well as help represent the veterinary industry on a broader level,” she said. Asked whether the NCVEI was surprised by AAHA’s decision to withdraw support, Felsted said yes. “The four AAHA board members had been very supportive of NCVEI’s future …
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Medication Shortages Threaten Patient CareJanuary 5, 2011 Veterinarians find themselves in an awkward position when they can’t obtain a drug a patient needs. But that’s the reality today for some practitioners, who have noticed an apparent uptick in the number of drugs reported as unavailable. Pet owners have noticed, too, and have posted complaints at VeterinaryPractice News.com, particularly in regard to Oncept, a canine melanoma vaccine made by Merial Ltd. of Duluth, Ga. “I had several canine cancer patients scheduled to Oncept receive Oncept and I couldn’t provide their therapy because I didn’t have access to the drug,” says Zachary Wright, DVM, Dipl. ACVIM (oncology), of VCA Veterinary Care Animal Hospital and Referral Center in Albuquerque, N.M. “I was told a shipment of the drug was held up by the Food and Drug Administration. I can’t say if this delay affected my patients’ therapy end results. It was very uncomfortable telling clients I couldn’t help their pet right in the middle of treatment.” Learn More For an up-to-date list of recalled drugs and products with delayed manufacturing, check the U.S. Food and Drug Administration website. • Here were some drugs on back order at press …
What To Expect In 2011 And BeyondJanuary 5, 2011 Back when automobiles began to replace the horse and buggy, veterinarians wondered how they would stay employed. If they could have peered into the future, to 2011, their worries would have subsided when they saw stem cells re-growing cartilage in osteoarthritic joints, tissue growing around prostheses and an array of other eye-opening breakthroughs. “Advances in veterinary medicine amaze me,” says Mike Cavanaugh, DVM, Dipl. ABVP, the executive director of the American Animal Hospital Association. Dr. Cavanaugh predicts a continuing growth in tele-medicine, saying primary care practitioners have access to specialists more readily now than ever before. “An example where telemedicine is very useful is in the area of digital imaging,” Cavanaugh says. “A board-certified vet can look at images almost instantly. It used to be that veterinary colleges were the only places veterinarians could send images to or refer clients to. Now we’re all working together as a health care team.” Experts consulted by Veterinary Practice News weighed in on other areas in which they see significant advancements coming. Nutrition Nutrition is being looked at more frequently not only to combat disease processes that have begun but to prevent them from happening altogether. …
Early Surgery Is Only Option For Some ConditionsJanuary 5, 2011 In a sudden burst of reckless Khulyesque boldness, yours truly has decided to tackle the touchy topic of pets who suffer from three chronic and frustrating diseases: megacolon, otitis and laryngeal paralysis. These diseases seemingly don’t have much in common except that we frequently see patients who have endured months to years of obstipation, chronic ear pain or suffocation without much help from medical treatment. Let’s review the facts. Idiopathic megacolon in a 10-year-old cat. Megacolon Feline idiopathic megacolon is a progressive condition that invariably leads to irreversible distension of the colon. Two-thirds of the time, we don’t know the cause of megacolon in cats, so it can be called an idiopathic functional obstruction. In some cases, the megacolon is secondary to pelvic fractures or, especially in dogs, to a tumor, i.e. a mechanical obstruction. Feces in a megacolon are rock hard and cannot conceivably go through a poor cat’s anus. Recall that one of the colon’s main functions is to reabsorb water. We can give all the cisapride, lactulose, high fiber supplements and special diets in the world, but that poop is just not coming out. It’s mechanical. Interestingly, the chapter on …
Pfizer Animal Health Acquires SynbioticsJanuary 4, 2011 Pfizer Animal Health of New York has acquired Synbiotics Corp., a Kansas City, Mo.-based developer and manufacturer of immunodiagnostic tests for companion and food production animals. The acquisition marks Pfizer Animal Health’s entry into the veterinary diagnostics sector. “By integrating animal health diagnostics with our innovative portfolio of vaccines and medicines, we can do more to help veterinarians deliver optimal care for livestock and companion animals and provide the right medicine to the right animal at the right time,” said Juan Ramon Alaix, president of Pfizer Animal Health. The move will also allow the company to expand into products for diagnostic reference laboratories and reproductive services for canine breeders, Alaix added. Synbiotics estimates that its common shareholders will be entitled to receive up to about $0.306 per share in cash in connection with acquisition, of which about $0.019 per share will be held in escrow as a fund against which Pfizer may make claims for losses arising from any breaches of Synbiotics’ representations, warranties, covenants and agreements and similar customary matters, according to Paul Hays, CEO of Synbiotics. Veterinary immunodiagnostics, a methodology using antigen-antibody reaction to detect viruses or bacteria in animals, is a …
IVet Adds Specific Brand To Its Product OfferingsJanuary 4, 2011 iVet LLC of Kansas City, Mo., has agreed to manufacture and distribute Dechra Pharmaceuticals PLC’s Specific brand therapeutic diets for dogs and cats in North America. The brand has been distributed throughout Europe exclusively to veterinarians for more than 30 years where it has done very well, according to iVet Marketing Manager Dave Geier, adding that iVet has the experience and sales force to help the brand do well in North America. “We also do our own manufacturing,” Geier said. “We can make any food with any formula.” iVet also manufacturers a line of veterinary exclusive dog and cat foods for health maintenance under the iVet Professional Formulas Healthy Gourmet brand and Healthy Rewards. “We are extremely pleased with this partnership with Dechra and the addition of proven therapeutic products to our line of Health Maintenance foods,” said Eric Matson, iVet business manager. “As with our current line, we can now become an even more valuable resource for veterinarians with a cost effective solution to help manage a variety of medical conditions.” The Specific brand of therapeutic diets will be available to veterinarians in early March. <Home>
Elanco Launches Flea Control Product Just For CatsJanuary 4, 2011 Elanco Companion Animal Health has launched Assurity, a topical flea treatment developed specifically for cats. Most other feline flea treatments share canine formulations, according to the Indianapolis-based company. The active ingredient is spinetoram, registered by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency in 2007 for use on a variety of fruits and tree nuts. In regards to agricultural use, spinetoram has a lower environmental impact than many current insecticides because both its use rate and toxicity to non-target species are low, according to Elanco. Assurity is said to be the first flea control product using this active ingredient. Elanco reported that Assurity kills 98 percent to 100 percent of fleas within 12 hours, killing fleas before they can lay eggs. It is 100 percent effective for a full month, according to the company. The product, only available through licensed veterinarians, comes in a six-dose package and a single-dose package. One dose treats all sizes of cats and kittens, eight weeks of age and older, according to Elanco. “To reinforce dispensing within the context of a valid veterinarian/client/patient relationship, all boxes and cartons of Assurity contain a unique product tracking code,” said Steve Connell, DVM, director of …
AnimalNetwork's Top 10 Must-Read Stories For 2010January 3, 2011Dog Breeds That Don't Shed Consider dog breeds that shed less and avoid hair-covered furniture. Build An Outdoor Aviary Build a beautiful outdoor bird aviary for your pet birds, finches or canaries. Raw Food Diet for Dogs The benefits and drawbacks of feeding your dog a raw diet. 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games Check here for the latest news as we count down to opening day. American Dressage Star Courtney King-Dye Injured in Riding Accident The 2008 Olympic rider is in the hospital after suffering serious head trauma. Why does my cat throw up after eating? CatChannel veterinary expert, Arnold Plotnick, DVM, explains the possible causes for frequent vomiting in cats. Are all orange tabby cats male and are all calico cats female? CatChannel veterinary expert, Arnold Plotnick, DVM, explains how cats get their gender and colors. Bearded Dragon Basking Open Mouth Why do bearded dragons bask with their mouth open? Common Problems in Goldfish Questions regarding common problems in goldfish.
VeterinaryPracticeNews.com's Top 10 Must-Read Stories For 2010January 3, 2011 VeterinaryPracticeNews.com's Top 10 Must-Read Stories for 2010VeterinaryPracticeNews.com's Top 10 Must-Read Stories for 2010VeterinaryPracticeNews.com's Top 10 Must-Read Stories for 2010VeterinaryPracticeNews.com's Top 10 Must-Read Stories for 2010VeterinaryPracticeNews.com's Top 10 Must-Read Stories for 2010 newsline. Quality of Life Scale Nasal Cancers Rare but Deadly Nasal passage cancer generally develops very insidiously in older pets. It is rare in cats and not common in dogs. It composes about 1 percent of feline tumors and up to 2.5 percent of canine tumors. Long-nosed breeds (dolichocephalic) and senior dogs are at higher risk. ACTH Stimulation Testing: A Low-Dose Protocol ACTH stimulation testing is a common procedure in small-animal practice used for diagnosing both hypoadrenocorticism and hyperadrenocorticism. One Clinician’s Experience With a New Treatment For Feline Stomatitis Feline stomatitis, the most painful oral disease in the feline, has many faces and names. Find out about AnimalNetwork's Top 10 Must-Read Stories for 2010. Canine Melanoma Vaccine Gets Conditional OK The U.S. Department of Agriculture has conditionally licensed a vaccine to treat canine oral melanoma—the first approved therapeutic vaccine for the treatment of cancer in …
Henry Schein Enters Australasia Vet MarketJanuary 3, 2011 Henry Schein of Melville, N.Y., has completed the acquisition of Provet Holdings Ltd., a full-service veterinary distributor and service provider. The acquisition marks Henry Schein’s entry into the Australasia veterinary market. The Brisbane, Queensland-based company, which reported revenue of about $278 million for fiscal year ended June 30, 2010, operates four core businesses: veterinary product wholesaling; sales, support and development of practice management software; consulting, education and training services; and online business activities. Provet Holdings owns and operates 10 warehouses across Australia and three in New Zealand. About 1,900 independent veterinary practices in Australasia are served by the company. “Henry Schein’s global veterinary business now has annual revenue of nearly $2 billion and we serve approximately 47,000 veterinary practices worldwide,” said Stanley Bergman, chairman and CEO of Henry Schein, who first announced the acquisition agreement in mid October. “The rapid growth of Henry Schein’s worldwide animal health presence reflects our long-term commitment to our veterinary customers and our firm belief in the significant potential of the global health market.” Bergman also welcomed Provet CEO Dr. Nigel Nichols and his colleagues to Henry Schein. <HOME>
