Giving the topic of sound veterinary nutrition the respect it deservesDecember 20, 2017Do enough professionals among the veterinary profession treat companion animal nutrition with the significance it deserves? What's driving the US pet obesity epidemic? Are practitioners doing enough to address it? Veterinary Practice News asked Martha G. Cline, DVM, DACVN, president, American Academy of Veterinary Nutrition, and a clinical veterinary nutritionist at AAHA-accredited Red Bank Veterinary Hospital in Tinton Falls, N.J., these questions and more about the topic of diet and nutrition. Here's what she had to share. Why did you decide to specialize in veterinary nutrition? During the summer between my first and second year of veterinary school, I worked with the nutrition department at the University of Tennessee College of Veterinary Medicine (UTCVM) through a summer research program. The focus of this research was canine obesity. This experience was the foundation of my interest, which solidified during my clinical year when I spent additional time rotating through the nutrition services at UTCVM, Oradell Animal Hospital in Paramus, N.J., and Angell Animal Medical Center in Boston. I had excellent mentorship at all of these facilities that helped guide me on my way (shout out to Drs. Angela Witzel, Joe Bartges, Claudia Kirk, Laura …
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Dog and cat behavior myths debunkedDecember 15, 2017Veterinary behavior is a relatively new specialty in our profession. Unfortunately, as such, plenty of old wives tales persist. As veterinarians and veterinary nurses, we critically evaluate and use evidenced-based medicine for our patients on a daily basis, and this should apply to behavior and training, as well. Here are some of the most common misconceptions about our patient's behaviors that still are being propagated, despite scientific evidence to the contrary. Myth No. 1: Human dominance maintains proper structure and obedience Common things we hear: "Don't let your dog sleep on the bed or couch because you don't want them to think they're dominant." "You need to alpha roll your dog to show him who's boss." "Once I put him in his place, he behaved perfectly." "You need to always be the alpha." No species in the animal kingdom creates dominance hierarchies with another species. However, dogs do create dominance hierarchies among themselves. This fluid relationship is maintained primarily by the deferential dog and not the most assertive. Take, for example, two household dogs each given a rawhide. The two go to their respective corners. One dog finishes first, then approaches the other and takes the second chew for himself. …
What Veterinary Practice News readers loved in 2017December 15, 2017Another new year is upon us, but before we embrace 2018 and all it might have to offer veterinary professionals and the industry, let's recap Veterinary Practice News' 10 most-read features of 2017. 1. Canine influenza virus 2017: Beyond two show dogs 2. 10 secrets to keep your veterinary nurses happy 3. University of Minnesota develops cancer drug that helps dogs with hemangiosarcoma 4. Study: Cats eating dry food have increased risk for developing Type 2 diabetes 5. Zoetis earns license for Cytopoint skin therapy 6. Raising greyhound health awareness 7. American Association of Feline Practitioners revises declawing position 8. The 7 top challenges facing veterinary medicine in 2017 9. Petco officially enters the veterinary hospital ring with Thrive 10. The strangest things vet techs have heard clients say
Let there be lightDecember 13, 2017Veterinary professionals say laser therapy can provide clinically significant benefits and expand options for delivering compassionate care with fewer drugs and less surgery.
Zomedica announces therapeutic development milestonesDecember 13, 2017Zomedica Pharmaceuticals Corp. veterinary pharmaceutical and diagnostic company announced a development update on the company's four therapeutic candidates for use in companion animals, namely dogs and cats. ZM-012 and ZM-007: Metronidazole for acute diarrhea in dogs Development milestones for ZM-012 and ZM-007, complementary oral formulations of metronidazole targeting the treatment of acute diarrhea in dogs include: Finalized novel tablet formulation for ZM-012 to replace the large, bitter tasting human-approved generic tablet commonly prescribed by veterinarians for their canine patients. The beef-flavored oral tablets are intended for dogs greater than 9 pounds or 4 kilograms. Finalized the oral suspension formulation for ZM-007, which is intended for small breeds and puppies under 9 pounds or 4 kilograms. Completed pilot testing for both formulations at Michigan State University College of Veterinary Medicine to measure metronidazole's effectiveness to treat acute diarrhea in dogs. Scheduled December 2017 pre-submission meeting with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration Center for Veterinary Medicine (FDA-CVM) to present the regulatory strategy and development plan for ZM-012. A safety study will commence for ZM-012 in the first half of 2018 for completion in the second half of 2018. The company also expects to hold a pre-submission …
Surgical sterilization, neutering options for male cats, dogsNovember 21, 2017Strong support exists for the view that gonadectomy has a net health benefit for female dogs and cats, but it is less clear that neutering benefits individual males. The risks of some diseases occurring are reduced or eliminated by neutering (for example, testicular neoplasia, benign prostatic hypertrophy), but other disease appear to be more common in neutered males, though risk varies by breed and age at neutering (e.g., cranial cruciate ligament disease, feline interstitial cystitis).
Is keeping pets a luxury?November 20, 2017Ever marveled at how much more livable our lives are now that we’re lucky enough to have pets in them? Wonder how we could ever function without their soothing companionship and unconditional love?
Recent discoveries advance diagnostics, understanding of CKDNovember 17, 2017A significant number of animals develop some form of kidney disease during their lifetime (approximately 1 in 3 cats1 and 1 in 10 dogs2). Kidney disease can be challenging to diagnose and manage, but recent discoveries have led to more diagnostic tools and a greater understanding of this disease.
UC Davis launches survey on the use of cannabis products for petsNovember 17, 2017The University of California, Davis School of Veterinary Medicine has launched a survey to learn more about the use of cannabis products on pets. "With the increasing use of medical cannabis and the start of recreational use [in California] in January, the interest in using it for pets has really grown," said Jamie Peyton, DVM, chief of small animal integrative medicine at UC Davis and the primary researcher behind the study. "The goal of the survey is to start the conversation about the use of hemp and cannabis products for pets." More pet owners are asking veterinarians about cannabis use for their companion animals, but vets currently are not allowed to prescribe or recommend cannabis products for pets, Dr. Peyton said. The anonymous online survey asks basic information about the pet and about its medical history, and includes questions about the type of marijuana products the pet owner administers, the reason for using the product, and how often it is administered. The final question asks if the respondent would involve their pet in a study of marijuana products for pets. The goal of the survey is to inform future research. "There's no published, peer-reviewed study on …
When is it time?November 15, 2017During my 45 years of practicing veterinary medicine, I have had the privilege of practicing companion animal medicine at three select institutions, the pleasure and aggravation of starting and maintaining a bricks-and-mortar companion animal practice, the mind-opening experience of working as a locum tenens veterinarian and the ultimate satisfaction of being a companion animal house call veterinarian.
