Lysine for FHV? Researchers Say Don’t BotherJanuary 13, 2016Originally published in the January 2016 issue of Veterinary Practice News. Two virologists are urging veterinarians to immediately stop lysine supplementation in cats suffering from feline herpesvirus-1 because they say the therapy is ineffective. Their conclusion, published Nov. 16 in the online journal BMC Veterinary Research, drew a measured response from two experts in the field who said anecdotal reports of successful lysine use leave open the possibility that the therapy does work. Husband-and-wife virologists Sebastiaan Bol, MS, Ph.D., and Evelien M. Bunnik, MS, Ph.D., reached the conclusion after conducting a systematic review—essentially a study of previous lysine studies. Bol, who like his wife is employed at the University of California, Riverside, began the review after their 8-year-old cat, Aguereberry, was diagnosed with FHV-1, a highly contagious infection of the upper respiratory system. Their veterinarian recommended lysine nutritional supplements to treat and manage the disease. “With my background in biology and nutrition, I was very suspicious, and I started clicking—doing some searches online—and I was not very convinced,” Bol said. “So I started looking into more and more of the publications, and it was really shocking to see that there’s absolutely no evidence [that lysine is effective in cats].” Bol …
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Cats and Toothache Vet CostsDecember 4, 2015Dental diseases are extremely common in cats. The American Veterinary Dental Society reports that approximately 70 percent of cats are affected by a dental disease by the time they’re 3 years old, and the likelihood increases as they age. Excessive tartar and plaque or tooth decay can cause painful dental problems in cats. These problems can also lead to other medical conditions in the heart, liver and kidneys, many of which can be fatal. Veterinary experts agree that regular oral care is essential to helping your cat live a long, healthy life. According to the Dr. Carol McConnell, vice president and chief veterinary medical officer for VPI, in Veterinary Pet Insurance article “Cats and Dogs Need Dentists, Too:” “Most people brush regularly and take care of their teeth because they know dental conditions can be painful and costly … Ideally, this mindset should translate to how people care for their pets’ teeth.” Treating dental disease in cats can also be costly. In 2011, VPI policyholders filed more than $8.5 million …
Biogal Offers Rapid Distemper, Lepto TestsNovember 18, 2015An Israeli company this week released time-saving tests for the diagnosis of feline distemper and bovine leptospirosis. Biogal Galed Labs reported that the in-clinic PCRun Veterinary Molecular Detection Kits deliver results within 75 minutes, an improvement over waits of up to a week when polymerase chain reaction (PCR) tests are done in outside laboratories. The new tests confirm feline panleukopenia virus, also known as feline distemper, and bovine leptospirosis, a bacterial infection that causes miscarriages and other serious health problems in cattle. The feline test also may be used to check for canine parvovirus. The distemper test uses blood or feces samples, while the bovine test requires blood or urine. Both tests are available for research purposes only in the United States pending U.S. Department of Agriculture approval, said Lenny Small, Biogal’s vice president of marketing. Biogal previously released PCRun test kits for canine Leptospira (leptospirosis), Ehrlichia canis (canine Ehrlichiosis), Anaplasma platys (anaplasmosis), parvovirus, Leishmania and feline Mycoplasma haemofelis (feline infectious anemia). Biogal’s U.S. distributor is Phoenix-based Spectrum Labs Inc.
Basic Prices for Pet VaccinesNovember 4, 2015One of the last things most people think about when they bring home a new pet is the cost of vaccinations, but any long-time pet owner knows that yearly boosters can add up, especially if you have more than one animal. When you get the bill after a routine visit to the veterinarian, it’s easy to wonder where exactly the total came from. There are a lot of factors that go into determining that final bill, and several things to consider as you decide where to take your pet for his or her yearly shots. Vaccines for Dogs and Cats First, what is a vaccine? According to the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals: “Vaccines help prepare the body's immune system to fight the invasion of disease-causing organisms. Vaccines contain antigens, which look like the disease-causing organism to the immune system but don't actually cause disease. When the vaccine is introduced to the body, the immune system is mildly stimulated. If a dog is ever exposed to the real disease, his immune system is now prepared to …
Going Broke, UC Davis Fracture Program Needs HelpOctober 30, 2015UC Davis veterinary students learning to save the lives of pets are now trying to breathe life into a service that has assisted hundreds of homeless animals. The Shelter/Rescue Fracture Surgery Program Fund, which was founded in 2008 and relies on donations, is running out of money, second-year student Ayswarya Sundaram said. “The program has been funded for around $30,000 a year, but more recently the costs are closer to $80,000,” Sundaram said. Collaborating with shelter and rescue organizations, the service accepts young dogs and cats in need of fracture repairs. University of California, Davis, veterinarians donate their time in the operating rooms at the Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital, but equipment, drugs and post-surgery care must be paid for. The costs average $800 per patient, Sundaram said. The surgeries also serve as instructional sessions for veterinary students. “[The] fracture program is amazing because it helps us learn about orthopedic surgeries while at the same time helping shelter animals,” one student said. “If this program discontinues, due to lack of funds, it would be a great loss to us and the animals.” More than 450 fractures in shelter and rescue animals have been repaired over the years. Without medical intervention, …
Jaguar Optimistic About Diarrhea DrugOctober 30, 2015Jaguar Animal Health, which last year launched its initial gastrointestinal product, over-the-counter Neonorm Calf, expects to enter the prescription drug market in the first half of 2016. The San Francisco company has submitted data to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration in support of Canalevia, which would be used to treat chemotherapy-induced diarrhea in dogs. Jaguar is requesting MUMS (minor use in a major species) status. Also in the prescription pipeline is a formulation of Canalevia to treat acute diarrhea in dogs. A pivotal efficacy trial could begin by year’s end, and Jaguar hopes to file a New Animal Drug Application (NADA) in 2016. Both Canalevia versions contain the active ingredient crofelemer, a botanical extract of the Croton lechleri tree. Jaguar is investigating Canalevia formulations for cats and horses. The manufacture of enteric-coated crofelemer tablets would be done by Patheon Inc. of Durham, N.C., under a contract signed in mid-October. Patheon makes a similar product for human HIV patients suffering from noninfectious diarrhea. In other news announced this month, Jaguar: Signed a four-year supply agreement with India-based Glenmark Pharmaceuticals Ltd. for the production of crofelemer. Completed an additional field study of Neonorm Calf, an enteric-coated tablet administered …
N.Y. Hospital Opens Pet Cancer InstituteOctober 30, 2015New York’s Animal Medical Center, billed as the world’s largest small animal practice, this month added another claim to fame: a top-of-the-line oncology center. The 2,470-square-foot Cancer Institute fills the remodeled uppermost floor of the eight-story hospital on East 62nd Street in Manhattan. The uniting of the hospital’s oncology services was made possible through a $5 million gift from Animal Medical Center trustee Elaine Langone and her husband, Kenneth. “The core mission of the institute is to provide the highest quality of life for animals with cancer as well as to maximize the amount of time owners can spend with their beloved pets,” Elaine Langone said. “Having lost quite a few dogs to cancer, Ken and I believed the new Cancer Institute … was an initiative worth supporting.” Four board-certified oncologists staff the institute along with 18 other hospital employees. One of the doctors, Rachel St-Vincent, DVM, MVSc, Dipl. ACVR, is the state’s only onsite, full-time radiation oncologist, a hospital spokeswoman said. Animal Medical Center, which opened in 1910, employs about 100 veterinarians and sees 44,000 patients a year. The nonprofit hospital has long participated in pet cancer research. Collaboration between Animal Medical Center, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center and drug …
Vet Techs Say Sedation Is UnderutilizedOctober 27, 2015Being bitten, scratched or kicked by a patient is an accepted part of life at a veterinary hospital. But members of the National Association of Veterinary Technicians in America (NAVTA) believe the risk of injury would be reduced if more animals were sedated. A survey published in the October/November issue of The NAVTA Journal found that a veterinary technician is called upon to physically restrain a patient an average of 11 times a week and that sedation was used in less than half of the cases where it would have been appropriate. The American Animal Hospital Association’s “Anesthesia Guidelines for Dogs and Cats” states that sedation may be suitable during short, minimally invasive procedures such as diagnostics, joint injections, suture removal and wound management. More complex cases and treatments lasting more than 30 minutes may require anesthesia. The 1,262 NAVTA members who responded to the survey reported that sedation was used most often during exploration or repair of wounds or cuts, during euthanasia and when an animal had a troublesome temperament. Other top cases that called for sedation were during radiology procedures, fracture stabilization and the removal of foreign objects. “Interestingly, you reported that procedure type has more influence on …
What You Need to Know About Cardiomyopathy in CatsOctober 12, 2015Originally published in the October 2015 issue of Veterinary Practice News. Enjoyed this article? Then subscribe today! One type of heart disease appears to be responsible for the lion’s share of cases seen in cats. “The vast majority of the cardiac disease we see in cats is due to some form of cardiomyopathy — primary heart muscle disease,” said Mark D. Kittleson, DVM, Ph.D., Dipl. ACVIM (cardiology), a professor emeritus at the UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine. “Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy probably accounts for 60-70 percent of that.” Dr. Kittleson, who also works for the Veterinary Information Network, said HCM can be passed down from some cats to their offspring. “It’s known to be heritable in Maine coons and ragdolls, where causal mutations have been identified,” Kittleson said. “Many other breeds get HCM, but most of the HCM seen is in crossbred cats.” HCM is not present at birth. It develops over time and can show up as early as 6 months of age. However, it is often identified for the first time in a geriatric cat. Kittleson explained that the disease causes a thick left …
Onsior Now Comes in Injection FormOctober 9, 2015Elanco Animal Health has released an injectable formulation of Onsior for pain management in cats. Onsior (robenacoxib) tablets were launched in 2012 under Novartis Animal Health, which Elanco acquired earlier this year. The two formulations may be used interchangeably, Elanco reported this week. Onsior injection is indicated for 24-hour control of postoperative pain and inflammation associated with orthopedic surgery, ovariohysterectomy and castration. The drug may be used in cats at least 4 months old and weighing at least 5.5 pounds. Onsior injection “provides veterinarians with the flexibility to choose the administration formulation and corresponding labeled dose that best fit within their surgical protocols,” the Greenfield, Ind., company stated.
