Forward Thinker: Edward J. Robb, DVM, MS, Dipl. ACVNMarch 4, 2010 Early in his career as a veterinarian, with a few years of clinical practice under his belt, Edward J. Robb had a job interview with a veterinary pharmaceutical company. When asked why he wanted to go into product development, he gave a standard interview response, something non-committal about how interesting the job sounded. “And (the interviewer) looked at me and said, ‘You’re wrong,’ ” says Robb, DVM, MS. What did the prospective employer say his answer should have been? Robb paraphrases: “This is one of the few aspects in veterinary medicine where you can tackle projects that are bigger than one person can ever effect.” That simple statement made sense to the young veterinarian. He soon launched a career in which he has overseen the development of dozens of animal-health products, including Naxcel. And today, as vice president of research and development for Boehringer Ingelheim Vetmedica Inc. in St. Joseph, Mo., Robb leads more than 200 team members, all working on new pharmaceutical and biological products under the motto “Value Through Innovation.” “New vaccines and pharmaceuticals can change how we practice, and when that happens it makes an old way of doing things obsolete, or …
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American Humane: Every Day Is Tag DayMarch 3, 2010Starting on April 3, the American Humane Association (AHA) kicks off its “Every Day Is Tag Day” annual event to encourage pet owners to tag and microchip their cats and dogs so that a lost pet has a better chance of being recovered, the AHA said. The organization dedicated to protecting children and animals cites the 9 million lost pets that arrive at U.S. shelters each year as the reason behind this awareness campaign. About 15 percent of dogs and 2 percent of cats without ID tag or microchip are recovered, the AHA said. Most lost pets without identification are not reunited with their families, said Dena Fitzgerald, American Humane’s spokeswoman. “At the very least, every cat and dog needs a collar and ID tag, but the best solution is to also microchip your pet for permanent identification,” she said. The AHA offers the following ways to give lost animals a better chance of returning home: Remember that indoor pets also need tags and microchips. Many strays in shelters are indoor pets that got lost. . Make sure pets wear a collar with a current ID tag, rabies tag and city license. Include a contact name, address …
No Such Thing As Negative ExploratoryMarch 2, 2010 You may have heard this saying: “If you don’t have negative exploratory laparotomies, you’re not doing enough of them.” The idea is to encourage practitioners to recommend abdominal surgery on patients who don’t have a definitive diagnosis quite yet. For example, a patient could have unexplained vomiting or a suspicion of foreign body ingestion. “Take this patient to surgery,” goes the advice, “because the risks of procrastinating outweigh the risks of missing a correctable condition.” In other words, a negative exploratory laparotomy is acceptable. Well, this columnist humbly disagrees. Systematic Approach We have already discussed the art of performing a thorough exploratory laparotomy [“Secrets of a Successful Exploratory Laparotomy,” February 2008]. Missing a foreign body, enlarged lymph nodes or distended gallbladder is avoided by following a systematic approach. Making an abdominal incision that is long enough is also critical. This will allow careful observation and palpation of the liver cranially, the bladder caudally, and all organs in between. Still, there should be no such thing as a negative exploratory. If you don’t find anything grossly abnormal or fixable or removable, then you should at least take some biopsies and …
MDs As Clients: Vet’s Worst NightmareMarch 2, 2010 If there’s one discrete class of client that gives veterinarians pause more than any other it’s the human physician. This may sound profoundly unfair, yet nine of 10 surveyed vets agree they’re among the most difficult pet owners to handle. As far back as veterinary school, our professors drilled us on issues we should beware should our animal patients come with an on-the-side, at-home clinician in tow. Making medical decisions for their pets in our stead was their specialty, we were told. Fifteen years of experience in this arena has not yet proved my profs wrong. Human docs are far more likely to bring on the stress than any other kind of client. But I’ll give them this: Those who don’t come with a cloud over their heads tend to join my A-plus crowd of clients. You just never know which it’ll be. So what’s up with that, you ask? Here’s the biggest issue: Physicians, often feeling themselves capable of treating diarrhea, pain, fevers or simple infections, have a reputation for giving inappropriate drugs or administering human-style treatments based on off-the-mark presumptive diagnoses. Most of the time these actions are benign or merely …
Veterinary Services Lead U.S. Pet Market; More Growth ExpectedMarch 2, 2010 The U.S. pet market grew to $53 billion in 2009 and overall sales are expected to continue to increase over the next few years, according to a report released March 2 by market research publisher Packaged Facts. “U.S. Pet Market Outlook 2010-2011: Tapping into Post-Recession Pet Parent Spending” projects U.S. pet market retail sales and trends overall 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 5 percent in 2009 to $53 billion, with sales of veterinary services increasing the most to $18.40 billion. Moreover, pent-up pet owner demand for products and services that both enhance pet health and pamper animal companions will begin to kick in during 2010, according to the report. “The pet market has fared well overall despite the recession, and Packaged Facts attributes this performance to a number of factors that will also be integral to its even better performance in 2010 and 2011,” said Don Montuori, publisher of Packaged Facts. “Chief among these factors is the human-animal bond, which is an excellent insulator against recessionary cutbacks, and the ‘pet parent’ sentiment has never been …
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 year of life because of behavior,” says the behaviorist, Donna Chandler. “If veterinarians take behavior training into their clinics, not only will the dog remain in the family, but the veterinarian will keep the client. “No one has to lose if there is someone on the staff who can help.” Jeanette Raikos, DVM, of VCA West 86th Street Animal Hospital in Indianapolis, Ind., notes that relinquishment is a big problem. “So we are pre-emptive,” she says. “If we have a first-time dog owner, we’ll help them start out right so they don’t have a problem down the line. We have Donna come in and conduct classes here, and then she follows up with the patients at home. “Having someone on staff …
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, it means that the owner is truly concerned about how invasive surgery is. A classic example is amputation. Pet owners invariably unconsciously anthropomorphize and just can't imagine themselves hopping on one leg. Of course, we know better. I have never seen a three-legged patient not walk. Even with DJD in the remaining limbs. I have had my own doubts and hesitations. Colleagues, surgeons and oncologists questioned over the years have all agreed. They have never seen a three-legged patient not walk. Surely, there must be exceptions. The same reasoning applies to mandibulectomies and maxillectomies. They typically sound horrifying to clients (and some referring vets). Yet surgeons are often amazed that their patient will most of the time eat the very next day after surgery. …
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 giving all the talks. Senior surgeons who have less energy and time, but more experience, are the ones who rarely give talks." Likewise, an executive at our local veterinary medical association recently noticed: "It's really strange. Young vets who have less knowledge and experience rarely join us for CE meetings. Senior vets who have more knowledge and experience are the ones who show up routinely." We began trying to understand what it would take for our young local colleagues to join us. This is what we have to offer: • Great speakers from various specialties and practices, sometimes from out of state, eager to share their knowledge. • Generous sponsors who provide great food and information about new products and services. • An open forum to discuss difficult …
Study Finds Alternative Antiviral For Bird Flu Prevention And TreatmentFebruary 26, 2010 New research out of the University of Wisconsin-Madison School of Veterinary Medicine reveals that a novel compound proves highly effective against the pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza virus. The study, led by virologist Yoshihiro Kawaoka, professor of pathobiological sciences, appeared in the Public Library of Science journal PLoS Pathogens on Feb. 26. It suggests that the compound CS-8958 is a promising alternative antiviral for prevention and treatment of bird flu. Antiviral drugs are a key countermeasure against human influenza viruses, according to the university. This includes the pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza virus, which causes bird flu. The emerging strains resistant to existing drugs, particularly oseltamivir (Tamiflu), make the development of alternate antivirals a public health issue, Kawaoka said. He and researchers from Japan, Vietnam and Indonesia tested a neuraminidase inhibitor R-125489 and its prodrug CS-8958, which had previously shown potent activity against seasonal influenza viruses in laboratory animals. Working with mice, the researchers learned that a single intranasal dose of CS-8958 given two hours after infection with H5N1 influenza virus resulted in a higher survival rate and lower virus levels than a standard five-day course of oseltamivir. CS-8958 was also effective against highly pathogenic and oseltamivir-resistant …
Researcher Combines Computers, Biology To Track FluFebruary 25, 2010 An assistant professor in systems biology at Mississippi State University’s College of Veterinary Medicine has combined computers and biology to track animal flu viruses. During graduate studies in China, Henry Wan, DVM, MS, Ph.D., became the first scientist to isolate the highly pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza virus, according to MSU. Shortly after, highly pathogenic H5N1 outbreaks occurred in poultry in Asia, Europe and Africa. More than 440 confirmed human cases across 15 countries were caused by the virus. About 60 percent of them were fatal. “My research centers on influenza A viruses," Dr. Wan said. "Where they come from, why they change and how they spread.” He developed computer programs that provide information on each one of the more than 20,000 viruses’ gene segments, according to MSU. The program displays each gene segment and a map showing the distances between the segments. The information is used to determine how the segments relate to each other and group to form different influenza viruses, which are always changing, Wan said. “The program aims to seek a better understanding of why they mutate and how they spread," he said. "Knowing this helps us more …
