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 …
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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 …
Dodman To Hold Behavior Workshops In Northern Calif.April 19, 2011 Nicholas Dodman, BVMS, Dipl. ACVB, will present “The Well Adjusted Cat Workshop” on May 20 and “The Well Adjusted Dog Workshop” on May 21-22 in Walnut Creek, Calif. Both programs are designed for veterinarians, veterinary technicians, behaviorists, animal trainers, owners and hobbyists. Tony La Russa’s Animal Rescue Foundation will be the host. The cat workshop will cover topics such as social behavior, fears and anxiety, litter box strategies, scratching, compulsive behaviors and medical problems that present as behavior problems. It will also outline seven steps to a well adjusted cat. The program has been approved for six continuing education units The dog workshop, which has been approved for 13 continuing education units, will cover topics such as dominance versus conflict aggression, separation anxiety, phobias and compulsive behaviors. It will also outline seven steps to a well adjusted dog. Both workshops will include case studies. Dr. Dodman is the founder and director of the Animal Behavior Clinic at Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine at Tufts University. He has also appeared as a guest on “20/20,” “Oprah,” “The Today Show,” “Good Morning America,” “Dateline,” the Discovery Channel and Animal Planet. Dodman is also …
U.S. Pet Industry Remains On Solid Ground, Report SaysApril 19, 2011 The U.S. pet market experienced sluggish growth in 2010 due to lingering effects of the recession, but sales are expected to increase at a faster rate in the coming years, according to a report released this week by market research publisher Packaged Facts. “U.S. Pet Market Outlook 2011-2012” looks at U.S. pet market retail sales and trends overall and in four core categories: veterinary services, pet food, non-food pet supplies and non-medical pet services. The report found that sales of all pet products and services rose 4.3 percent in 2010 to $55.07 billion. This 4.3 percent growth rate is modest compared to annual growth rates the industry has experienced over the last decade, according to Packaged Facts. For example, Packaged Facts reported in its 2010-2011 outlook that the U.S. pet market grew 5 percent in 2009 to reach $53 billion. Sales of veterinary services increased the most in 2010 to reach $19.69 billion. Non-medical pet services experienced the second largest growth increase (5 percent) to reach $6.11 billion, followed by pet food, which increased 2.8 percent to reach $18.35 billion and pet supplies, which increased 2 percent to reach $10.92 billion. Despite the relative sluggishness …
New Study Highlights Breed-Specific Causes Of Death In DogsApril 19, 2011 A new study is shedding more light on breed-specific causes of death in dogs. The findings can be used to create breed-specific health maintenance programs and is a starting point for future studies that will explore the genetic underpinnings of disease in dogs, according to the study’s researchers at University of Georgia. The researchers examined data from the veterinary medical database to determine the cause of death for almost 75,000 dogs representing 82 breeds over the 20-year period of 1984 through 2004. They classified the deaths by organ system and disease process and further analyzed the data by breed, age and average body mass. While some of the findings corroborate smaller, breed-specific studies, the UGA researchers said they also discovered new information. For example, toy breeds, such as Chihuahuas and Maltese, are known to have high rates of cardiovascular disease (19 percent and 21 percent of deaths within the breeds, respectively), but the researchers found that Fox Terriers also have high rates of cardiovascular disease accounting for 16 percent of deaths. Another example: Golden retrievers and boxers are known to have high rates of cancer (50 percent and 44 percent of deaths, respectively), but the …
A Career Devoted To PestsApril 18, 2011As a young, perhaps slightly naïve graduate student, Michael Dryden, DVM, MS, PhD, began his work in parasitology at Purdue University in 1986 expecting that he would immediately be plugged into an existing structure of sophisticated research. Instead, his professor, S. Gaafar, DVM, PhD, gave him a simple assignment: Go into the library and absorb all the existing literature on fleas. At the end of three months, they would talk. “Within three days, I knew we were in trouble,” says Dryden, now 51. “I realized we knew nothing. We just knew nothing about the biology of fleas in dogs and cats.” But what he did next would change all that. Dryden designed what he calls a very simple master’s program focused on fleas. He decided he had to start by understanding the basics—where they mated, where they laid eggs, how many eggs they laid at a time, and how much time they spent on host animals. That research, and the years of study that followed, have earned him a catchy nickname—Dr. Flea—and a string of honors, including being named by Ceva Animal Health this past February as the 2010 Veterinarian of the Year. But it has also provided the very …
