Why the Basics Still Apply to Canine Skin AllergiesMay 4, 2015Originally published in the April 2014 issue of Veterinary Practice News Prevention, diagnosis and good management are still the most important elements of treating a dog with allergic skin disease, experts say, despite the presence of a potentially game-changing medication. “Apoquel has helped a lot of dogs, but you still need to implement good parasite control, including flea prevention, and you still need to ID the potentially underlying adverse reactions,” said Jeanne B. Budgin, DVM, Dipl. ACVD, president of the American Academy of Veterinary Dermatology. “In my opinion, Apoquel is not a replacement for diagnostics directed at identifying the cause of allergic skin disease,” Dr. Budgin said. Apoquel soared in popularity upon its release in January 2014. Many practitioners experienced a shortage of the drug when manufacturer Zoetis of Florham Park, N.J., ran low on supplies and faced production issues. Shortage Dr. Budgin, who works at Animal Specialty Center in Yonkers, N.Y., said she hasn’t experienced the shortage. She said she’s been able to keep patients that were started on Apoquel on the treatment. For others, the shortage has been an issue. One such affected practitioner is Christine Zewe, DVM, a resident in dermatology at Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine …
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Why Ticks Are Looming Large for Dogs and CatsApril 29, 2015Originally published in the March 2015 issue of Veterinary Practice News Ticks have been steadily spreading across the United States in recent years, their incidence growing rapidly right along with the white-tail deer population. It’s still a bit early to say for sure, but it doesn’t look like that spread will be slowing this year. A parasite forecast published each spring by the Companion Animal Parasite Council gives veterinarians and pet owners a good idea of what they can expect in the way of tick, intestinal parasite and heartworm prevalence. “We expect to see—unless intervention is increased—continued spread of the tick-transmitted diseases and some continued small climb in heartworms,” said Dwight Bowman, MS, Ph.D., a Cornell University veterinary parasitology professor and CAPC board member. Tick-transmitted agents that test (Lyme, Anaplasma, Ehrlichia) are increasing in the percentage of animals positive within an area—and the current ranges are expanding too, he said. It’s always hard to tell what a year will hold in terms of parasites. Extreme cold and dry weather have a significant negative effect on flea and tick populations, and while much of the northern half of the U.S. has experienced cold and snowy weather, it has not been …
Henry Schein Unleashes Puppy Gift BoxesApril 17, 2015Veterinary products distributor Henry Schein Animal Health will ship something different to practitioners. The Dublin, Ohio, wholesaler announced a long-term partnership Thursday with Canine Companions for Independence, a nonprofit group that pairs nearly 300 trained assistance dogs a year with disabled people. Boxes filled with grooming items, treats and other pet products will be sent to veterinary clinics for delivery to clients who raise puppies on behalf of Canine Companions for Independence. The Puppy Raiser Care Package, which also includes product coupons, is intended to reduce the costs that volunteers incur before the animals become full-fledged working dogs. Veterinarians will receive a plaque acknowledging their participation in the program, which is scheduled to start later this year. “The puppy raiser devotes so much time, energy and personal financial resources for the benefit of people needing assistance, so we think it is only fitting to support that generosity with this gift,” said Stanley M. Bergman, chairman and CEO of parent company Henry Schein Inc. “The veterinarian, as the health care partner of the puppy raiser, also contributes to the betterment of society by providing the care needed to ensure the puppy grows into a working assistance dog.” About 1,400 volunteer puppy …
U.K. Vet Techs Ready for 2016 Microchip LawApril 16, 2015English veterinary technicians are sufficiently trained to implant microchips in dogs and will not require additional skills when microchips are mandated in 2016, the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons reported today. Technicians in Wales and Scotland are likely to receive a similar waiver, the organization stated, but dog breeders across the United Kingdom who lack proper training will have to complete a course if they want to implant microchips themselves. Mandatory microchipping was introduced in Northern Ireland in 2012 in an effort to return more stray dogs to their owners. The governments of England, Wales and Scotland passed similar legislation that set a microchip deadline of April 6, 2016, for all dogs at least 8 weeks old. Owners of dogs without a microchip could be fined. The British Veterinary Association is publicizing the requirement and prepared information posters that practice owners may place in their clinics. “We need to work hard to make owners aware of the new law throughout this year, with animals microchipped as far in advance of the deadline as possible,” said BVA President John Blackwell, BVSc, MRCVS. The U.K. Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) excused veterinarians from microchip training but considered requiring …
NexGard Approved to Fight Brown Dog TicksApril 16, 2015Brown dog ticks, beware. Merial Ltd. has won permission from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to add a label claim stating that the canine medication NexGard (afoxolaner) protects against a fourth tick species. The monthly preventive’s newest target is the brown dog tick (Rhipicephalus sanguineus), which is found throughout the lower 48 states and is linked to diseases such as Rocky Mountain spotted fever, anaplasmosis and ehrlichiosis. The Duluth, Ga., veterinary drug manufacturer in 2014 was allowed to promote NexGard’s effectiveness against black-legged (Ixodes scapularis) and lone star (Amblyomma americanum) ticks in addition to the initial claim for the American dog tick (Dermacentor variabilis). The prescription-only chewable tablet also is indicated to kill fleas. “When used as directed, NexGard has been shown to kill ticks all month long,” said Merial’s director of veterinary medical affairs, Doug Carithers, DVM. “Plus, it has the added benefit of killing fleas.” NexGard is not the only canine drug formulated to kill four common tick species. Merck Animal Health last year released a similar medication, Bravecto (fluralaner). Nexgard recently was named a 2015 Best New Product in the household category as part of a consumer survey conducted by Better Homes …
Canine Infectious Respiratory Disease or Canine Influenza hits MidwestApril 8, 2015You’ve seen the news: Canine Infectious Respiratory Disease (CIRD) has hit Illinois, Wisconsin and Indiana, with 5 dogs reported dead and thousands more infected. The Chicago Veterinary Medical Association (CVMA) is recommending that dog owners take immediate, precautionary measures to prevent exposure to the virus. Dr. Donna Alexander, director of Cook County Department of Animal and Rabies Control has been reviewing data on the flu and stated, “The summary of those hospitals that reported through the CVMA to our offices and those who reported directly to this office indicates that 73% of those responding note an increase in CIRD. For those that supplied exact number of animals, we can report that there have been 1,013 cases of CIRD since January and 5 mortalities. The age of the animals presenting vary but show more severe forms in dogs under 1 year of age and greater than 7 years of age. Few veterinarians are submitting diagnostic specimens for evaluation. Of those submitted for PCR or other testing, the majority came back negative, some are still pending. Of those reporting positive, 93% are positive for canine influenza.” The American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) describes canine influenza as “a highly …
Find Out Why Once Every Three Years is the Trend in VaccinationsApril 2, 2015Originally published in the March 2015 issue of Veterinary Practice News After speaking with hundreds of practicing veterinarians over the past two years about vaccines and vaccination protocols, Richard Ford, DVM, has found that practitioners are slowly trending away from all vaccines to all pets every year. “I believe it is fair to say that some trends are emerging,” said Dr. Ford, a co-author on both the American Animal Hospital Association canine vaccination task force and the American Association of Feline Practitioners feline vaccination advisory panel. He has noted a growing the tendency to incorporate triennial boosters for core vaccines in dogs (distemper, parvovirus, adenovirus-2) and cats (panleukopenia, herpesvirus, calicivirus). “In speaking with vaccine sales representatives from around the country, I would estimate about half of the practices today routinely incorporate the three-year recommendation for core vaccines,” Ford said. Ford sees this largely as a good thing. “The science is abundantly clear on this point,” Ford said. “While some vaccines must be administered annually to sustain a reasonable level of protective immunity, others – namely the core vaccines – provide years of protective immunity in the majority of dogs/cats that are vaccinated. There is simply no medical …
Reminder: Keep Chocolate Away From DogsMarch 27, 2015The British Veterinary Association today warned about chocolate poisoning in pets, noting that 54 percent of U.K. veterinarians treated such cases over the Easter holiday last year. Chocolate consumption is more likely in dogs because of their tendency to eat just about anything. Chocolate contains theobromine, a chemical found in cocoa beans that dogs and other animals have a difficult time excreting, BVA stated. Just one ounce of milk chocolate per pound of body weight is enough to kill a dog, according to The Merck Veterinary Manual. Dark chocolate and cocoa powder are even most toxic, BVA stated. “It’s worth remembering that dogs in particular have a keen sense of smell and will easily win at any Easter egg hunt,” said BVA President John Blackwell, BVSc, MRCVS. “So wherever chocolate is being stored over Easter—inside or outside—make sure it is pet proof and stored out of reach of inquisitive and determined noses and paws to avoid an emergency trip to the vet at Easter.” The survey of 1,208 veterinarians discovered that 46 percent had no chocolate-related cases last Easter but that 18 percent had one patient, 26 percent had two or three, and 10 percent had at least four. …
Canine Cancer Lab TVAX Gets $2 MillionMarch 26, 2015Investors have put a lot of faith and money in TVAX Animal Health, a year-old company that is working on a T-cell-based cancer treatment for dogs. The Lenexa, Kan., subsidiary of TVAX Biomedical Inc. announced today that it closed on an additional $2 million in funding, adding to a stockpile that last summer totaled $12 million. “There are more than 3 million dogs treated for cancer each year, yet the available treatment options are limited,” CEO Tammie Wahaus said. “TVAX Animal Health strives to bring effective cancer treatment options to the U.S. veterinary market, and this round of financing will help us achieve this.” The cash infusion will fund a clinical trial of TVAX’s proprietary immunotherapy, which is designed to use a patient’s immune system to generate cancer-killing T-cells. The developer is focused on canine cancer but sees a potential market for the technology with cats and horses. The immunotherapy has the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s authorization. Among TVAX’s early investors were the Mid-America Angels network and the Kansas Biosciences Authority, both of which contributed to the new round of funding along with other parties. “We look forward to working with the TVAX management team to assist in …
Heart Drug Effective in Canine MMVDMarch 25, 2015An international clinical trial involving the drug pimobendan showed such positive results in canine heart patients that the researchers ended their work early, Texas A&M University reported Tuesday. The full study, which is sponsored by Boehringer Ingelheim Vetmedica, the maker of Vetmedin (pimobendan) chewable tablets, is expected to be published later. The research team, which included Texas A&M associate professor Sonya Gordon, DVM, Dipl. ACVIM, conducted what the university called the largest clinical study ever involving dogs suffering from myxomatous mitral valve disease (MMVD). A group of 360 canine patients was randomly split between those given pimobendan or a placebo in a double-blind study. Sixteen of the dogs were managed at Texas A&M, while the others were seen at 35 other trial centers in the United States and abroad. Pimobendan was found to delay the onset of clinical signs of congestive heart failure in dogs with increased heart size secondary to preclinical MMVD. “A midstudy analysis in mid-February 2015 indicated that pimobendan is clearly beneficial and did not raise any concern over the administration of pimobendan,” Texas A&M stated. “Based on these results the interim analysis committee recommended that the study be stopped and the lead investigators … …
