My Big Fat Raw Food PeeveApril 17, 2009 If it’s so great or so awful, show me the research. There’s nothing like hearing of a client’s plan to take their pet to the raw side to stimulate vigorous discussion in the exam room. I’m referring to the raw food diet most commonly typified by the marketing-challenged acronym, “BARF.” The variously monikered, “bones and raw food” or “biologically appropriate raw food” diet is the bane of many a vet’s existence—including me. Nonetheless, I often take a fairly neutral stance on the subject, preferring to counsel clients through the process while littering the exam room air (not to mention my medical records) with disclaimers aplenty. Still, I love this topic. Nutrition is such an un-sexy subject for so many of us that it’s gratifying to find the one area within its purview that has the ability to raise our collective hackles (with the notable exception of the pet food recall, of course). I offer this disclaimer-ish preface to an article on feeding raw foods partly because I know I’ll be set upon by wolves within a few lines—no matter which way my opinion leans. Because, as many of you already know, raw food is …
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Vetoquinol Appoints Teresa Hanson To Direct MarketingApril 17, 2009 Vetoquinol USA of Fort Worth, Texas, has hired Teresa Hanson as U.S. director of marketing and product management. Hanson will lead all marketing and product management activities for Vetoquinol’s veterinary and retail segments, including Tomlyn Products. A key focus will be increasing brand awareness among pet owners and veterinary professionals. Before joining Vetoquinol, Hanson held several marketing and business development leadership roles at Electronic Data Systems. “At Vetoquinol USA, our goals are providing products that enable veterinarians to practice better medicine and better manage their practices, and offering pet owners a comprehensive line of wellness products for the life of their pets,” said Manny Martinez, the company’s managing director. “With the addition of Teresa Hanson to our leadership team, we are 犀利士 well positioned for success.” <HOME>
Clinical Trials To Begin On New Pain Relief FormulationApril 17, 2009 Lesley Smith, DVM, an anesthesiologist at the University of Wisconsin-Madison School of Veterinary Medicine, is gearing up to begin clinical trials on a new injectable pain-relieving drug formulation, said to be the first extended-release product that delivers opioids continuously and effectively. She said the initial studies, which involved determining the appropriate dosages in beagles, had excellent results. “We’re hoping our new pain relief injections will perform as well as or better than the current standard of care, which is usually a continuous drip of fentanyl analgesic via an intravenous catheter,” Dr. Smith said. So far, the liposome-encapsulated opioids, developed by Timothy Heath, Ph.D., at the UW-Madison School of Pharmacy and Lisa Krugner-Higby, DVM, of the Research Animal Resources Center, have provided steady, long-acting pain relief, coupled with ease of use. Depending on formulation strength, the injectable can provide pain relief for either five days (for acute pain) or 21 days (for chronic pain). “Because this is injectable, and intravenous catheters and constant observation are not necessary, the patient will not have to stay in a critical care unit,” Smith said. “Another advantage is that the pain …
Pharmaceutical NewsApril 17, 2009Intervet Develops Bluetongue Vaccine Intervet International bv has developed a vaccine against bluetongue serotype 8 for sheep and cattle. It is expected to be available in May. The United Kingdom Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs has already placed an order with Intervet to supply 22.5 million doses of the vaccine. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, bluetongue is an insect-borne viral disease primarily of sheep, occasionall goats and deer and, rarely, cattle. It is not contagious and is transmitted only by insect vectors. Just recently, the European Commission said it is will co-finance an emergency mass vaccination campaign against bluetongue. In principle, 100 percent of vaccine purchase costs and 50 percent of vaccine application costs will be covered by the Community budget, subject to certain ceilings for operational costs. Non-emergency vaccination campaigns in following years would be part of the Community co-financed eradication programs. Markos Kyprianou, commissioner for health, estimates that about 150 million to 200 million vaccine doses will be required. Intervet was bought by Schering-Plough Corp. of Kenilworth, N.J., last year. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Wedgewood, Flavorx Partner for Tasty Meds Wedgewood Pharmacy of Swedesboro, N.J., has teamed with …
Mixed Breeds Live Longer, Study SaysApril 17, 2009 Fireflies might prove a fatal snack to exotic reptiles, according to a health alert released by the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals' Animal Poison Control Center (APCC). Veterinarians should alert pet owners and advise them to take steps to prevent both the intentional or accidental ingestion of these common insects, the center reported. Based on a handful of reports from reptile owners, symptoms of poisoning quickly follow a lizard's ingestion of fireflies. These symptoms include head shaking, oral gaping, unsuccessful attempts at regurgitation and a darkening in color. The symptoms usually appear within 30 minutes of ingestion, and death might follow within the hour. Death is thought to be a result of heart malfunction. "A single firefly would have a very high probability of resulting in death," says Dr. Steve Hansen, board-certified veterinary toxicologist and director of the APCC. The warning is being issued to amphibian and bird owners as well. In addition to the lizard cases, fatal poisonings in tree frogs have been documented. In another instance, a bird that ingested a firefly regurgitated it but did not die, says Hansen. The health alert is based on about a half-dozen …
Calif. Vets Face Off On Farm Cruelty MeasureApril 17, 2009California veterinarians are in conflict with one another again. This time, it's over Proposition 2, also known as "The Prevention of Farm Animal Cruelty Act." Proponents are trying to regulate the housing and care of farm animals, especially egg-laying hens. Other efforts are ongoing to provide more humane husbandry for pigs, veal calves and livestock. Most of the general population does not even think about the issues involved in intense food animal production. However, when people are asked how they would vote, they want to be kind. Our profession is being taken to task over this issue because opponents feel that Prop. 2 will force egg production out of California, while proponents feel that eliminating battery cages for egg-laying hens is the right thing to do and that industry can make the adjustment over time. Prop. 2 is supported by the California Veterinary Medical Assn. (based upon the "8 Basic Freedoms" adopted by the CVMA during Dr. Jon Klingborg's presidency) and the Humane Society Veterinary Medical Assn. HSVMA is a well-funded national organization with thousands of members, including the members of the Association of Veterinarians for Animal Rights, who were merged into the group at …
Ketogenic Diet, Zonisamide Ease SeizuresApril 17, 2009Based on Abstracts presented at the 23rd annual ACVIM Forum in Baltimore (2005). Speculation exists that diet may have an effect on seizure activity. A prominent role has been played by so-called ketogenic diets. These diets are low in carbohydrates, moderate in protein and high in fat. This diet results in the production of ketones and mild to moderate acidosis. The diet is generally used in patients with seizures that are refractory to other medications, often in children. In children with either glucose transporter deficiency (GLUT-1) or pyruvate dehydrogenase deficiency, this diet is the primary form of therapy. The exact reason this diet has a beneficial effect is uncertain (Sinha SR. The ketogenic diet. The neurologist 11;161-170:2005). The acidosis or ketones may play a direct role. Alternatively, changes in polyunsaturated fatty acid profiles may be the cause of the benefit. This diet may also induce changes in the energy metabolism of the neuron. Regardless of the reason the diet works, it seems to have significant benefits in approximately two-thirds of patients using the diet. The diet can cause significant problems, however, especially GI tract upset, hyperlipidemia, renal calculi, stunted growth and pancreatitis. Ketogenic Diet …
Dechra To Exclusively Distribute Oxyglobin In U.S.April 17, 2009 Dechra Veterinary Products has been named the exclusive U.S. distributor for Biopure Corp.’s Oxyglobin solution [hemoglobin glutamer-200 (bovine)]. Dechra will market the product, indicated to treat anemia in dogs, in 60 mL single dose and 125 mL single dose infusion bags. “We look forward to mutual success with Dechra to have Oxyglobin reach its market potential,” said Barry Scott, vice president for Business Development of Biopure. “We selected Dechra because it has been successful at developing its presence in the U.S. veterinary market with FDA approved products for companion animals.” Biopure is based in Cambridge, Mass. Dechra Veterinary Products, a division of Dechra Pharmaceuticals PLC, is based in Overland Park, Kan. <HOME>
Vet Medicine Highlighted In Ag Day RecognitionApril 17, 2009 Every year, veterinarians, agriculture associations and universities celebrate National Agriculture Day organized by the Agriculture Council of America. This year, it falls on March 21. “On Ag Day, March 21, we are reminded to recognize and respect some of the most valuable workers in the country—the people who produce the food we eat,” said Roger Mahr, DVM, president of the American Veterinary Medical Assn. “Veterinarians are an essential part of that workforce. “At the AVMA, we are cognizant of the responsibility of the veterinary profession to society and their unceasing work to improve the health and welfare of food animals and food safety. This includes the legislative efforts of our Governmental Relations Division, based in Washington, D.C., where veterinarians are lobbying Congress to ensure that the entire food supply system is healthy, safe and humane from farm to fork.” The reauthorization of 2007 Farm Bill is among a number of important pieces of pending legislation in the U.S. Congress that will have dramatic impacts on veterinary medicine, Dr. Mahr said. "The current Farm Bill reauthorizes $760 million targeted for agriculture research, which will be essential if we are to ensure safe and secure food production," …
Bringing Pawspice To Your PracticeApril 17, 2009 This article answers requests about how to set up "pawspice" (hospice services) following the article, "Helping Clients With the Long Goodbye" (November 2006). It featured a thoughtful letter from Kimberly Fox sharing her feelings about Rennie, her Golden Retriever with terminal cancer. Rennie entered our pawspice program, which provides comfort care for both the family and the patient. Pawspice provides clients with end-of-life care and staff with a protocol that validates a mutual willingness to endure its special purpose. Pawspice is actually a philosophy which can be personalized to fit into your own practice. The human-animal bond is a celebrated, life-enriching relationship that an increasing number of pet caregivers want to nurture and cherish at home to the end. Our clients need and want us to facilitate and lengthen the process so they can spend as much quality time as possible with their beloved pets before the inevitable loss. A well-conceptualized, creative and palliative pawspice plan is often the very best medicine that our profession can offer a terminal patient. When pets approach their final days, their caregivers can be very emotional. They suffer from anticipatory grief, interruption of routine and financial outlay. …
