VPI: Top 10 Medical Conditions Requiring SurgeryOctober 21, 2010 Benign skin mass was the top medical condition requiring surgery for dogs last year and tooth extraction was the top for cats, according to Veterinary Pet Insurance of Brea, Calif., which analyzed its database of more than 485,000 insured pets. Canine conditions following benign skin mass: skin abscess, inflammation or pressure ulcer; tooth extraction; torn anterior cruciate ligament or cartilage; malignant skin mass; cancer of the spleen, cancer of the eyelid; bladder stones; cancer of the liver; and auricular hematoma. Feline conditions following tooth extraction: skin abscess, inflammation or pressure ulcer; benign skin mass; bladder stones; cancer of the abdominal wall; malignant skin mass; multiple bite wounds; cancer of the liver; cancer of the mouth; and cancer of the nasal cavity. “Veterinary medicine has made considerable advancements in recent years, providing pet owners surgical options that weren’t available to them even five years ago,” said Carol McConnell, DVM, vice president and chief veterinary medical officer for VPI. “While this is certainly good news, pet owners are often unaware of the cost of these surgeries. “Surgical claims are typically some of the most expensive received at VPI, with the average claim routinely costing thousands of dollars. It’s …
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Herbs Might Muddy Chemo OutcomesOctober 21, 2010 Can herbs improve chemotherapy outcomes? Likely, some can. Can they also interfere with chemo and interact unpredictably? Yes. Is there enough evidence to determine in advance which herbs will help and which ones harm?1-2 Not often, but the list of known effects is growing, raising the index of suspicion when clinicians encounter unexpected blood dyscrasias and organ injury. Chinese herbs in particular have drawn scientists’ attention regarding their impact, for better or worse, on cancer patients’ overall health. Even oncologists in China are encouraging colleagues to maintain a watchful eye for surprise sequelae from traditional Chinese medicine (TCM). One paper admonished: “[P]rofessional complacency about TCM use is becoming less acceptable as the knowledge base of TCM-induced toxicities and interactions expands. Being rich sources of bioactive xenobiotics, TCMs are frequent causes of puzzling complications, including hepatotoxicity, nephrotoxicity, and hematologic disorders.”3 While some traditional Chinese herbal medicines (TCHMs) are chemo- and radio-sensitizing and cause conventional treatment to work more strongly, others directly antagonize medication through one or more mechanisms. Toxicity from Chinese herbs co-administered with chemotherapy may lead to diagnostic dilemmas when clinicians misattribute problems to the drug rather than the TCHM product, thereby …
¿Cómo Se Dice ‘Dilated Cardiomyopathy’?October 21, 2010 Miami, where I live, can be an odd place to be a service professional. Whether you’re a physician, accountant, bank teller or hotel clerk, you’d best speak some Spanish. (While you’re at it, Portuguese and Creole would be a boon to your career, too.) Like other U.S. cities, Miami is getting more Hispanic every day. The whole state, in fact, continues to attract Hispanics in droves. In Oregon, Arizona, Texas and New Mexico, Spanish-speaking veterinarians are also in high demand. Oregon’s 11 percent (and booming) Hispanic population means there aren’t enough Spanish-speaking veterinarians to meet the needs of its newish-to-English citizens. The only difference here in South Florida is that the Spanish speakers are as likely to come from Spain, Venezuela and Colombia as from Mexico or Central America. That guy in the Maserati next to your Toyota is just as likely to come from Ecuador as from New York. Times have changed … and are still a changin’, especially now that monied exiles from South America’s newly socialist nations are vacating their homelands in droves, pets in tow. And Miami is only one of thousands of destinations they’ll eventually settle in. It’s not hard …
Corridor Sponsors Animal Health Investment ForumOctober 20, 2010 Nineteen companies seeking capital presented their cases at the second KC Animal Health Investment Forum 2010, held Aug. 31 in Kansas City, Mo. Presented by the KC Animal Health Corridor, the investment forum capped off two days of activities that included a research symposium on biosecurity, a technology transfer event in which reps from Kansas State, Missouri, Iowa State, Oklahoma State and Nebraska universities sought commercialization partners, and the “Late Night in the KC Corridor” gala event, featuring Finton Molloy, former executive with Teva Animal Health and Boehringer Ingelheim Vetmedica, in the role of a late night talk show host. Molloy’s guests included new Corridor chairman George Heidgerken, president and CEO of Boehringer Ingelheim Vetmedica Inc.; Neil Thompson, president and CEO of Hill’s Pet Nutrition, presenting former Hill’s chairman and CEO Bob Wheeler with the Corridor’s Iron Paw Award for career achievements; and Jack Hanna, director emeritus of the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium. Paul Hays, CEO of Synbiotics Corp., served as Molloy’s co-host and sidekick. Heidgerken said he planned to continue the original vision of the corridor and attract more animal health companies to the region and support key initiatives that are larger than any one …
Texas A&M Opens Renovated Kitchen At Small Animal HospitalOctober 20, 2010 The Small Animal Hospital at the Texas A&M College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences this week opened its renovated veterinary kitchen, courtesy of Nestlé Purina PetCare. The company’s program, Nestlé Purina Center for Nutrition Excellence, donated $70,000 to make the small animal kitchen in the hospital more accessible for veterinary students and veterinarians. The room provides easy access to all of the dry goods, canned goods and special dietary items, according to the college. The kitchen holds Purina products as well as other food brands, and expiration dates are coded on every food item. “Prior to the renovation we had some of the dry foods in accessible containers, but a lot of the dry food was wasted by opening bags that could not be closed or stored properly afterward,” said Deb Zoran, DVM, Ph.D., Dipl. ACVIM, associate professor at the college. “We also didn’t have an effective way of storing canned foods to make them accessible. Now, it is much cleaner and a much more effective use of the space. There will be much less food wasted and we are very grateful for that.” Nicholas Vaughan, DVM, Nestlé Purina regional sales representative, said the …
Vets To Dispense Online Veterinary Advice For FeesOctober 20, 2010 Jed Schaible, VMD, and Laci Schaible, DVM, of Bethlehem, Pa., have launched VetLive.com, a new wesite designed to give pet owners round-the-clock veterinary advice. The husband and wife team said the website ushers in a new standard in pet care by giving pet owners the opportunity to ask questions, get a second opinion or chat live from “the comfort of their own home at an affordable price.” Prices range from $12.95 to $34.95 and can be paid through Google Checkout or PayPal. “We felt it was time for pet owners to take control of their pet’s health and healthcare spending,” Dr. Jed Schaible said. Pet owners using the service will not have to make and wait for appointments or transport and possible stress their pets, he said. Owners can also upload pictures of their pet’s problem as well as medical documents to be reviewed by the veterinarian, according to Dr. Laci Schaible. Veterinarians interested in becoming a paid “VetLive Expert” can apply at the website. Veterinarians must have an active license and be in good standing with no pending actions. Applicants must also pass a medical proficiency exam via e-mail. …
Agent Of ChangeOctober 18, 2010Health scare gives Brett Cordes new direction as a veterinarian By the time Brett Cordes, DVM, was in his mid-30s, he had worked in veterinary practices for the better part of two decades. He started in high school, worked his way through college and veterinary school, then spent 10 years as a practicing vet. The way he handled potentially hazardous materials, particularly chemotherapy drugs, was often cavalier during these years, he admits. He wore little or no protective gear when handling chemotherapy agents and often dumped pills into his ungloved hand when dispensing them. He poured oncology drugs down the sink, even after noting how some left an angry red stain that lingered for days. Then in 2006, a specialist diagnosed an almond-sized lump on his neck as a rare form of thyroid cancer. One of the first questions the doctor asked: Was Dr. Cordes ever exposed to chemotherapy? Suddenly everything changed for Cordes, from the way he practiced veterinary medicine to the way he thought about workplace safety. “Most veterinarians really do everything. We’re our own oncologist, radiologist, pharmacist, dentist,” says Cordes, now 39, who is careful to note that although he and his physicians strongly suspect his exposure …
Hill’s Launches Weight Reduction Program For DogsOctober 18, 2010 Hill’s Pet Nutrition Inc. of Topeka, Kan., today launched a weight loss program aimed at improving pet owner feeding compliance. The Hill’s Prescription Diet Therapeutic Weight Reduction Program, available only through veterinary clinics, is recommended for dogs requiring clinical nutrition such as overweight, obese or obese-prone dogs. The program was designed with four principles in mind, according to Hill’s. They are: • Convenience and efficacy – Each starter kit contains pre-measured Hill’s Prescription Diet r/d Canine Weight Loss-Low Calorie Dry brand pet food and low-calorie biscuit packets customized to help dogs reach their target weight. The kits are available in a small breed size (target weight of 10 pounds – 35 pounds) with an up to five-week supply and a medium/large breed size (target weight of 36 pounds – 105 pounds) with an up to four-week supply. Home delivery for clients can be coordinated through a Hill’s representative. Replacement cartons to refill both the meals and biscuits are also available. • Support – Pet owners are given a Therapeutic Weight Reduction Guide which includes the health care team feeding recommendation, instructions and tips. Pet owner online support is also available at PetFit.com. Veterinary staff can access support …
Feline Focus: Treating Cats HolisticallyOctober 18, 2010 When it comes to holistic medicine for cats, some extra concerns arise. The following list addresses these issues alphabetically, categorized by modalities. Acupuncture People seem surprised to learn that cats can respond as favorably as dogs to acupuncture, until they witness a cat purring contentedly while being treated. Three conditions lead to peaceful and safe feline acupuncture sessions: • Flexibility in point selection gives the veterinary acupuncturist options for neuroanatomic stimulation that allow a cat to remain relaxed while still achieving positive results. • Having an attentive assistant helps ensure the patient will not ingest an acupuncture needle. • For the unusual cat who refuses acupuncture, low-level laser therapy can provide a degree of neuromodulation that can resemble, though not replace, the benefits of acupuncture. Neuroanatomically designed studies on cats illustrate the effects and mechanisms of action for acupuncture for pain1, esophageal motility disorders2-3, neuroprotection after spinal cord injury4-5, hemodynamic regulation6 and resuscitation.7 Aromatherapy and Essential Oils Aromatherapy, the inhalation of highly concentrated plant-based oils, can cause euphoria or sedation in cats. Some respond even more strongly to the airborne volatile compounds from valerian root than they do to …
BDI Pharma Launches Animal Health DivisionOctober 14, 2010 BDI Pharma Inc., a national distributor of biotech therapies, has launched an animal health division to focus on the biopharmaceutical needs of veterinary professionals. The launch of the new division, 4legPharma, has been in the making for some time, according to Angela Phillips, director of animal health. BDI Pharma has been serving the veterinary community since 1995 and has experienced significant growth within this sector for extralabel use, she said. “As the animal health division of BDI Pharma, 4legPharma is backed by over 15 years of experience in handling urgent need, critical care pharmaceutical products,” Phillips said. “We are uniquely positioned to offer veterinary specialists the best of both animal drugs as well as human therapies for extralabel use to treat pets suffering from the same chronic, life-threatening conditions that affect humans.” 4legPharma gives the appropriate sales channel for veterinarians, she added. Current product categories offered by 4legPharma: antibiotics, chemotherapy, generic specialty drugs, human intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) and albumin and veterinary pharmaceuticals. 4legPharma plans to expand the product line down the road. Although BDI Pharma just announced the new division earlier this week, the company has had a tremendous response, Phillips said. The division’s …
