N.Y. Clinic Gets Facelift Courtesy of NovartisJuly 22, 2014 Cats visiting Village Vet of Lewiston can rest easy now and forget about the dogs traipsing through the waiting room. The western New York hospital has opened two feline-only examination rooms after winning Novartis Animal Health’s Onsior Clinic Makeover contest. The $20,000 in upgrades also includes the purchase of spay and neuter equipment used in partnership with Community Cats Alive, a group that operates a sterilization and vaccination program for feral cats. Some 964 clinics entered the contest sponsored by Novartis’ Onsior brand. Onsior (robenacoxib) tablets are indicated for the control of postoperative pain and inflammation in cats. “Creating a feline-friendly clinic goes beyond the functional clinic elements and includes feline-friendly products, practices and protocols,” said Juan Angel, associate brand manager with Novartis Animal Health US Inc. of Greensboro, N.C. Village Vet, operated by sole practitioner Kristen Ruest, DVM, also received new roll-up window blinds and two fish aquariums—one in the waiting room and another cut into an exam room and hallway. The feline-only rooms feature wall décor, climbing trees and examination baskets, which cats are placed in to help steady their nerves. BDA Architecture, an Albuquerque, N.M., firm that specializes in veterinary …
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Drug Makers, Compounders at Odds Over FDA OversightJuly 17, 2014 The Animal Health Institute, a trade group representing pharmaceutical manufacturers, is demanding that the Food and Drug Administration crack down on the illegal compounding of veterinary drugs, saying the practice puts animals at risk and jeopardizes the development of new medications. The appeal was made during a media conference call Wednesday and at a recent meeting in Washington, D.C., involving stakeholders and organizations such as the American Veterinary Medical Association, the American Association of Equine Practitioners and the American Animal Hospital Association. The Animal Health Institute is not asking for the elimination of all drug compounding. The group supports a pharmacist’s manipulation of FDA-approved drugs to meet individual patients’ needs and the occasional compounding of bulk, active ingredients under FDA’s discretionary powers. “The third type of compounded drugs … is dangerous and illegal,” said Richard Carnevale, VMD, the Animal Health Institute’s vice president for regulatory, scientific and international affairs. “These are dangerous drugs crafted by pharmacies acting as manufacturers and often promoted to veterinarians as a way to increase profits. “They are not looking to help Mrs. Jones’ cat,” Dr. Carnevale said of such companies. “They even offer disclaimers that they are not responsible for …
Sterilization Effects Worse for Golden Retrievers Than LabsJuly 15, 2014 Golden retrievers are more likely than Labrador retrievers to be diagnosed with joint disorders or cancer after the animals have been spayed or neutered, according to the results of a study published Monday in the online journal PLOS ONE. Intact members of both breeds enjoy lower rates of joint disorders and cancer, researchers at the University of California, Davis, School of Veterinary Medicine added. The researchers did not take a stand on spaying and neutering, which is done to an estimated 83 percent of all U.S. dogs to control the pet population and prevent unwanted behaviors. Instead, they stated that the study served to measure the long-term health effects of sterilization and to educate breeders and dog owners who are deciding when, and if, to spay or neuter their animals. When a golden or Labrador retriever is sterilized can play a role in the onset of joint disorders and cancer, the researchers stated. A connection was found between early sterilization—before the animal is 6 months old—and the appearance of joint disorders. About 5 percent of intact golden and Labrador retrievers of both genders suffer from a joint disorder, the researchers determined. The rate in dogs …
How To Extract Teeth In CatsJune 20, 2014 I recently had an opportunity to help a referring veterinarian with her surgical extraction technique. Extracting teeth in cats was causing her much grief, so we discussed tips to transform the act of extracting firmly rooted feline teeth from a dreaded task to a satisfying part of veterinary practice. First, let’s discuss the decision-making approach based on dental radiographs and clinical exams in the context of one of the most common dental problems in cats that create challenging extractions: tooth resorption. Dental Rads First! Feline extractions should not be attempted without preoperative dental radiographs. Tooth resorption may occur in varied manifestations, and the approach to treatment depends on the radiographic appearance of the affected tooth. Tooth resorption in cats is commonly external tooth resorption starting on the root surface, resulting in focal tooth resorption where the crown meets the root, often referred to as Type 1 resorption. Teeth affected by Type 1 resorption require extraction, and these extractions can be challenging because in some areas, the tooth may be “spot welded” to the surrounding alveolar bone. Type 2 external resorption is seen on radiographs as root replacement resorption, in which the radiographic density of …
"I Hate Cats," Veterinarian ConfessesJune 10, 2014 Follow Veterinary Practice News on Twitter at @vetpetnews. Years ago, a medium who went by the name of Madam Moutjoy entered the office of a young veterinarian called Malcolm Welshman. She advised him that her cat, Antac, who she had brought in for grooming, was angry with him and had revealed to her that he thought Welshman was "a very bad vet,” according to The Daily Mail. The spirits of Welshman’s other feline patients were sharing their dislike for him with Antac, according to Madam Moutjoy. Welshman became uncomfortable, but continued grooming Antac. He may have been new to the profession, but he had never harmed a cat. There was something to the medium's words, however, and Antac had seemingly picked up on it. The sour-faced cat was somehow aware of Welshman’s dark secret. Even though he was a veterinarian, Welshman did not love all animals, namely cats. In fact, as he revealed to The Daily Mail, he "absolutely detest[s] the creatures.” It is a fear and loathing that Welshman believes may have stemmed from a childhood incident with his own pet cat, Sooty. His mother, who was busy trying to prepare for …
10 Ways To Improve Post-Op CareMay 30, 2014Just because a patient is out of the operating room doesn’t mean we’re out of the woods. In fact, most deaths occur after, not during surgery: 50 percent of canine and 60 percent of feline deaths occur in the postop period. It is important to avoid becoming complacent, despite the busyness of the day. Here are 10 steps to improve the care given to your postop patients. 1. Extubation The proper time to extubate is often based on a widespread misconception, sometimes called the “two swallow” rule. This is a very unfortunate urban legend that can lead patients to serious trouble. “Two swallows” may not mean that the patient is alert enough to continue swallowing and breathing efficiently on its own. The more appropriate time to extubate is when a patient is alert, preferably has lifted its head up at least once, and begins to chew. The next challenge it to pull the tube before the patient chews it in half. Ideally, each patient recovering from anesthesia and/or surgery should be under direct supervision of a technician until extubation. We still need to remain alert afterward: Being extubated doesn’t mean that recovery is over. It is just one step of …
Interpret The Signs Of FLUTD In Feline PatientsMay 6, 2014 Are your feline patients trying to tell you something? When they visit the clinic with their owners, who bring them in with complaints about their pets' irritable moods and poor litter box habits, the cats may be presenting with a one of several medical conditions associated with feline lower urinary tract disease, or FLUTD, says Jacqueline Neilson, DVM, Dipl. ACVB, of Animal Behavior Clinic LLC in Portland, Ore. "FLUTD is a catch-all term to describe any disorder affecting the urinary bladder or urethra," she explains. "It's quite common. In fact, for years some kind of lower urinary tract disease sign has been the most common medical reason policy holders of pet insurance take their cat to the vet." Dru Forrester, DVM, MS, Dipl. ACVIM, associate director, scientific affairs and technical information services for Hill?s Pet Nutrition in Topeka, Kan., adds that for veterinarians, the signs associated with FLUTD can be linked to a number of underlying issues—and that makes pinpointing the cause and treating it a challenge. "No matter the cause, they often have the same signs, and that's the frustrating part about [FLUTD]," Dr. Forrester says. "Any disease that affects the lower …
Additive Manufacturing—or 3D Printing—helps Create new Knee Joint for a CatMarch 13, 2014 For quite some time, Mr. Cyrano L. Catte II, an orange and white cat, had the perfect life. He had a nice home in Upperville, Va., more than adequate food and owners who loved him very much. Then, in 2012 at age of 9, he got bone cancer in his left hind leg. Cyrano’s owners spared no expense or effort. They took him to the University of Colorado, where he became the first cat to receive stereotactic radiation (focused beams aimed at the tumor) therapy. Two sets of radiation cured his cancer—full remission—but one of the side effects was bone deterioration of his distal femur and some on the upper end of the tibia, as well. The normal procedure for such a condition would be to amputate the leg. In Cyrano’s case, that was not recommended: He weighed 26 pounds and movement on three legs would be difficult. One potential alternative would be total knee arthroplasty (TKA), complete replacement of the cat’s knee (stifle) with an artificial one. To explore this option—a first in the U.S. for cats—Cyrano’s intrepid owners took him to the veterinary facility at North Carolina State University in Raleigh. Once …
Certain Cats, Dogs Deemed Best Pets for Allergy SufferersFebruary 13, 2014 Sneezing, runny noses and itchy eyes are the bane of people allergic to their pets. Now, an air purifier manufacturer and an environmental consulting firm have released their list of the top allergen-friendly pets. Making the cut this week for the Allergen All-Star Pet Awards was: • Bedlington terrier • Javanese cat • Schnauzer • Devon Rex cat • Labradoodle • Yorkshire terrier • Irish water spaniel • Labrador retriever • Maltese • Italian greyhound • Iguana The effort was sponsored by Kaz Inc. of Southborough, Mass., which makes the Doctor’s Choice True HEPA Air Purifier under the Honeywell trademark. The Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America found that 15 to 30 percent of Americans are allergic to cats or dogs, said Ted Myatt, a senior scientist at Environmental Health …
Nine Steps For Pain-Free Nine LivesJanuary 30, 2014 Do you think cats feel pain? Does everyone on your team think that? What do your clients think about pain in cats, and what do you say to them to make them think that? Because owned cats outnumber dogs in the U.S. and Canada, that makes them the most popular pet in North America. Still, they receive far less veterinary care than their canine "cousins”–according to recent studies, about 50 percent less. In recent years, a lot of good things have happened to improve cat health–research, guidelines, continuing education, feline practice board certification, feline health initiatives, new medications and products, and even a collaborative feline health and welfare organization, CATalyst Council. So what advances have you made in your practice to identify and treat cats in pain? If you think you can do better, here are nine steps to take to show that you are committed to caring for cats. With compassion, collaboration and consideration of creature comfort, you’ll be seeing them throughout their nine lives. 1. Team agreement: Cats DO experience pain, just like dogs and people. This can start as a simple written, electronic …
