20-plus clinics to participate in expanded osteosarcoma vaccine clinical trialSeptember 6, 2018Initial results of a pilot study for canine osteosarcoma vaccine are promising, prompting a larger study to test its safety and efficacy. Pharmaceutical company Aratana Therapeutics, which received conditional licensure for Live Listeria Vector (AT-014), has expanded its clinical trial to include more than two dozen veterinary oncology practice groups across the U.S. in order to receive full licensure. Conducted by the University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine, the pilot study tested the immunotherapy treatment in 18 dogs. Those that received the vaccine lived more than twice as long as the historical, matched control group, with median survival times of 956 days compared to 423 days. The expanded clinical trial is designed to collect additional safety data for the vaccine in dogs that have undergone amputation of the affected limb and have already completed chemotherapy. If the treatment is found to be as safe and effective as it appeared in the initial clinical trial, Aratana will be given full licensure, allowing it to make the drug commercially available. Live Listeria Vector (AT-014) is created by removing harmful genes from the Listeria bacteria and then attaching markers of osteosarcoma cells. It is designed to supplement standard osteosarcoma treatment of amputation …
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VetMedTeam RACE-approved CE examines patient health trendsSeptember 6, 2018VetMedTeam, an online resource offering free continuing education to veterinarians, credentialed veterinary technicians, and practice team members, is hosting a RACE-approved, 1 interactive credit course on evolving patient health trends. "By the numbers: Examining top health risks for dogs and cats," led by Mary Rothlisberger, ACAS, MAAA, associate actuary at Trupanion pet insurance company, is scheduled to go live Sept. 19 at 2 p.m. Eastern. The webinar will highlight current medical condition trends for veterinary patients, including by age and size, as well as some popular purebred dog breeds, and shares how teams can incorporate this information into patient services, from diagnosis to client education. Further, Rothlisberger will share analytical data from Trupanion medical database records, including expected treatment costs. For those unable to attend the live webinar, VetMedTeam will notify members when a free self-study course becomes open for enrollment. All who enroll in the live webinar, regardless of live attendance, also will receive emailed information. Membership in VetMedTeam is free and open to all members of the veterinary practice team as well as veterinary and veterinary technology students. Click here to register for the webinar; click here to find answers to FAQs. Email …
Improving the veterinary experience for catsSeptember 6, 2018It's doubtful any kind of service business is capable of receiving a near-perfect satisfaction rate, including most veterinary practices—except for those that are certified as Cat Friendly Practices (CFP). In January, the American Association of Feline Practitioners (AAFP) announced the results of its 2017 Cat Friendly Practice Survey, which found a 99 percent satisfaction rate among participating veterinary clinics. The CFP program is a collaboration of feline experts who provide guidelines to ensure a more positive and less stressful veterinary experience for cats and their owners. According to Elizabeth Colleran, DVM, MS, DABVP, AAFP co-chair of CFP, it was a long time coming. "There was recognition that the experience of cats and their owners just hasn't been good enough, and there are ways we can do better," Dr. Colleran said. "Seeing more cats and providing better healthcare, and thus a better quality of life for those cats, is possible." "Using low-stress handling techniques on cats minimizes high stress in the veterinary team. It's a safer and more effective way to practice," said Jan Yaroslav, RVT, VTS (dentistry), of Mangrove Veterinary Hospital in Chico, Calif. Most importantly, when cats panic and their cortisol levels skyrocket, the quality of the exam isn't …
AAHA releases preventive care protocol publicationSeptember 6, 2018The American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA) has released a new publication, developed with the support of an educational grant from IDEXX—Promoting Preventive Care Protocols: Evidence, Enactment, and Economics. "A focus on preventive care can give pets a greater chance at longer and healthier lives. Pet owners are more receptive than ever to engaging in conversations on preventive care and innovation in diagnostics, diets, and treatments," said Janice Trumpeter, DVM, AAHA deputy CEO. Preventive care exams remain a veterinary professional's best chance to influence good outcomes throughout a pet's lifetime, according to AAHA. Through these hands-on moments with patients and regular consultations with pet owners, practitioners can provide advice, preventive care services, and additional recommendations tailored to individual pets, the association said. The new publication features results of various studies and concludes that regular health checks and screenings improve detection and allow for early therapeutic intervention. Notably, it includes findings from a landmark big-data analysis of preventive care profiles from IDEXX. Analysis from 268,817 patient samples across more than 5,000 North American veterinary practices revealed that veterinary professionals who screen pets regularly find significant results in all adult life stages that require further action. The publication also …
Alzheimer's drug used in cognitive dysfunction syndrome clinical trialSeptember 5, 2018Ropesalazine, a drug candidate for Alzheimer's disease (AD), has shown efficacy in a pilot clinical trial conducted for dogs with cognitive dysfunction syndrome (CDS), according to the drug's manufacturer, South Korea-based GNT Pharma. There currently is no cure for CDS, a progressive neurodegenerative disorder of senior dogs characterized by altered interaction with family, disorientation, sleep/wake cycle changes, increased house soiling, and activity change. It is accompanied by nerve cell death, amyloid plaques, and neurofibrillary tangles similar to AD, leading GNT Pharma scientists to design the pilot study to investigate whether Ropesalazine would alleviate signs of CDS, as well. "The companion dogs failed to recognize their owners before the treatment," said Jae Bong Moon, DVM, head of Irion Animal Hospital in Seoul, who led the study. "It was so amazing to see the dogs that wagged their tails for their owners and cuddled up to them within eight weeks of Ropesalazine treatment. [It] appeared to cure CDS." The study was conducted on six companion dogs age 10 or older who revealed severe cognitive dysfunction according to canine cognitive dysfunction and canine dementia rating scales. Within eight weeks following daily oral administration of Ropesalazine, all six dogs returned …
Keep the pain at bayAugust 31, 2018Providing appropriate pain medications and keeping animals warm and comfortable during and after surgery are important, but ensuring they come into the clinic relaxed is a new and critical component of presurgical prep. Even for minor procedures, it’s vital to survival and normal healing and recovery.
Claw counselingAugust 31, 2018Declawing is banned in more than 20 countries worldwide. As bans start to take effect in municipalities and regions throughout North America, veterinarians will need to shift their focus to living with clawed cats and without partial digital amputation (PDA). Developing a thorough understanding of feline scratching behavior is the first step.
IVAPM kicks off Animal Pain Awareness Month campaignAugust 31, 2018The International Veterinary Academy of Pain Management (IVAPM) is sponsoring a campaign for September's Animal Pain Awareness Month that works to call greater attention to acute and chronic pain in companion animals. Animal Pain Awareness Month is a time when clinics, veterinarians, technicians, veterinary industry publications, and veterinary educators work to raise public awareness about veterinary patient pain and pain management. This year's theme, Pets Feel Pain Too, was chosen to illustrate that humans and animals alike process and feel pain similarly—if something is thought to cause pain in humans, it also may produce pain in our animal counterparts. "Pets deserve a good quality of life and the aim is to provide that to animals suffering from chronic and acute pain when and where possible. Combining traditional and medicinal modalities of pain management with complementary treatments such as acupuncture, rehabilitation and physical therapy, can have a substantial impact on improving an animal's quality of life," Tasha McNerney, BS, CVT, CVPP, VTS (anesthesia). September is Animal Pain Awareness Month and human medicine's Pain Awareness Month. To help spread the word about Animal Pain Awareness Month, visit the organization's Facebook page, where posters for clinics …
Pet King Brands donates $240K in ear infection products to dogs in need August 30, 2018Pet King Brands Inc. has donated 12,000 bottles of Zymox Plus Advanced Otic-HC Enzymatic Ear Care Solution to assist animals suffering from ear infections and increase adoptions of rescued dogs. Ear infections, among the top health issues seen among dogs in animal shelters, rescues, humane societies, and animal sanctuaries across the U.S., can cause a myriad of symptoms, including pain, discharge, irritability, and even hearing loss if left untreated. "We receive stories all the time regarding the impact Zymox has had on pet ear health. We are also aware that shelters are overcrowded and under-funded with a large pet population suffering from painful ear infections," said Pamela K. Bosco, Pet King president. "We realized we could help on a large scale. We want pets to become more adoptable, sooner. Plus, Zymox is very easy to use, which reduces the demands on the shelter staff." Pet King Brands said it will continue helping to promote pet adoptions, reduce the number of homeless pets, and support pets in shelters through additional future donations.
Morris Animal Foundation receives $2.3M legacy giftAugust 30, 2018Morris Animal Foundation (MAF) has received a $2.3 million legacy gift from the estate of Karl D. Smith, a Denver businessman. Smith, who passed away in 2009 at the age of 83, first learned about MAF through a past employee and was supportive of its mission to advance the health of animals. "We are deeply appreciative to Mr. Smith for his visionary generosity almost 10 years ago in making a planned gift to benefit animals everywhere, and we are grateful to his estate trustee and estate attorney who have stewarded Mr. Smith's legacy so carefully," said Tiffany Grunert, acting CEO and president of MAF. MAF is a nonprofit, global organization focused on improving the health of animals, including dogs, cats, horses, and wildlife. Founded by a veterinarian in 1948, its mission is to bridge science and resources to advance the health of animals. "The significance of this gift to Morris Animal Foundation cannot be overstated," said Grunert. "Legacy giving is vitally important to our mission as we work to increase the number of studies we fund to address critical animal health problems around the world."
