CE explores expanded treatment options for improving mobility in geriatric petsSeptember 19, 2017Companion Animal Health has opened enrollment for an educational course that the company said is "designed specifically to give general veterinary practices access to the tools required to meet the need for expanded osteoarthritis treatment options in companion animals" and "will equip practices with the practical knowledge of the best multimodal approaches for successfully managing the geriatric, arthritic, and obese dog and/or cat." Attendees will earn 11 continuing education credits, with the option of adding a regenerative medicine wet-lab to advance their expertise (for an additional four CE credits). A panel of speakers will educate attendees on the following topics: Nutritional Management for the Geriatric Dog or Cat Photobiomodulation (Laser Therapy) for OA Nutriceutical Use for the Geriatric, Arthritic Pet Pharmacologic Management of OA Business & Marketing Strategies "We took a look at what courses were being offered in our profession currently, and there weren't really any that combined more than one or two OA treatment options," said Lisa Miller, DVM, CCRT, CVA. "This disease responds best to a multimodal approach, so we designed a course to accommodate that need." Veterinary professionals interested in attending this course can find more information on dates, …
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When should you refer a surgical patient?September 15, 2017From a legal standpoint, any licensed veterinarian can perform any surgery on any patient. But just because you can doesn’t mean that you should.
Veterinary oncology market profiled in new Brakke Consulting reportSeptember 15, 2017Brakke Consulting in Dallas has announced the release of a new study that profiles the veterinary oncology sector. "Oncology is one of the highest interest areas in veterinary medicine today," said Lynn Fondon DVM, a senior consultant at Brakke Consulting. "In the past decade, the U.S. has gone from zero cancer therapies approved for veterinary use to a more than a half-dozen, with dozens more in development." The study, Cancer in Dogs and Cats, provides information on the incidence of cancer in pets, examines how cancer is diagnosed and treated in veterinary medicine, and offers estimated costs for treatment. The report reviews the FDA-approved cancer treatments that are now on the market; new and developing veterinary cancer products, including therapies, diagnostics, and supportive care, are also presented. It estimates the current sales of veterinary-approved cancer therapies, as well as provides estimates of the total number of pets treated with chemotherapy or immunotherapy. "We surveyed both veterinarians and pet owners for this study, and we found that despite costs that can reach thousands of dollars, many dog and cat owners are willing to pursue treatment when their pets are diagnosed with cancer," said Dr. Fondon. The report, …
Pros, cons of surgical sterilization, neutering options for femalesSeptember 14, 2017Among the most common surgical procedures in small animal practice are those for sterilization and neutering. The goal of these procedures is both to prevent reproduction and to provide a net health benefit for the patient that may include avoiding the risks of reproduction, reducing the incidence of those disease that are more common in intact animals, and reducing behaviors associated with intact status that can lead to relinquishment.
Mars Inc. completes VCA Inc. acquisitionSeptember 12, 2017What started in January is a done deal, as Mars Inc. has announced that its acquisition of VCA Inc. is now complete. VCA will operate as a distinct and separate business within Mars Petcare, alongside Banfield Pet Hospital, BluePearl Veterinary Partners, and Pet Partners. Bob Antin, co-founder and CEO of VCA animal hospitals, will remain at the helm at its Los Angeles headquarters. "I welcome the 25,000-plus VCA team members to the Mars Petcare family of companies," said Poul Weihrauch, president of Mars Global Petcare. "VCA's partnerships with veterinarians and pet care providers, as well as their breadth and expertise in veterinary services, diagnostics and technology, will position all of us to deliver more comprehensive care and continue on our journey supporting our purpose: a better world for pets." Mars, which reports approximately $35 billion in sales per year and operates in more than 80 countries, produces Pedigree, Royal Canin, and Whiskas pet food brands, in addition to owning Banfield, BluePearl, and Pet Partners. VCA delivers pet health care services through more than 800 small animal veterinary hospitals in the U.S. and Canada; Antech Diagnostics, a nationwide clinical laboratory system that services all 50 states and Canada; animal diagnostic …
Avoiding fatalities during veterinary dental proceduresSeptember 11, 2017I recently received a call from a good friend who also is a referring veterinarian. Our conversation reminded me of an important topic I’ve been meaning to write about: identifying and containing life-threatening risks associated with dental procedures.
Veterinary clinics go mobileSeptember 7, 2017When pet owners aren’t keen to bring a sick pet into a clinic or particular animals just don’t do well in a setting away from their home, mobile veterinarians who make house calls that include the same services of a traditional clinic and can often discover issues bothering the pet that don’t come up in an exam room, step in to get the job done.
Diabetes PetCare Alliance program terms expandedSeptember 7, 2017For four years running, Merck Animal Health, Purina, and Zoetis have partnered via the Diabetes PetCare Alliance to help veterinary practices diagnose new canine and feline diabetes cases and jump-start disease management. Now, the collective has lifted the previous enrollment cap of 1,000 clinics, meaning there's no limit to the number of veterinary practices that can enroll in the annual educational program, and the program enrollment period has been extended from one month to two. Veterinarians participating in the program, which is timed to prepare veterinary practices for Pet Diabetes Month in November, diagnosed an estimated 300 pets with diabetes in 2016. Veterinarians who enroll gain access to tools and resources related to diabetes awareness and screening. In addition, clients whose pets are diagnosed during the program period receive a free disease management kit from participating clinics. The kits include the following: One AlphaTRAK 2 Blood Glucose Monitoring System from Zoetis One 6-pound bag of Purina Pro Plan Veterinary Diets DM Dietetic Management Feline Formula for cats or Purina Pro Plan Veterinary Diets EN Gastroenteric Fiber Balance Dry Formula for dogs One 10 mL vial of Vetsulin …
Working with euthanasia-reluctant clientsSeptember 6, 2017When an animal begins to fail due to age or disease and its quality of life diminishes, the inevitable and unpleasant discussion about euthanasia may become necessary.
Food as medicine messagingAugust 25, 2017Therapeutic diets, increasingly part of pets’ health care regimens, are good tools at veterinarians’ disposal when addressing specific ailments. A problem surrounding these diets, however, isn’t whether they work; it’s discussing their benefits with clients.
