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 …
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Ear Cropping Ban Spreads to Western CanadaOctober 28, 2015Veterinary regulators in British Columbia, Canada, this week banned practitioners from performing cosmetic ear cropping on dogs, a controversial surgical procedure that has been outlawed in some countries. The policy change brings the province in line with Manitoba, New Brunswick, Newfoundland, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island and Saskatchewan. "Ear cropping is an unnecessary procedure unless carried out in cases of injury or for reasons of health concerns," said Larry Odegard, the CEO and registrar at the College of Veterinarians of British Columbia, which oversees the province's more than 1,600 practitioners. Canada's most populous province, Ontario, allows ear cropping, which traditionally has been performed on purebreds such as boxers, Dobermans and great Danes. The College of Veterinarians of Ontario has not banned the procedure despite the 4,400-member Ontario Veterinary Medical Association's position that cosmetic surgery is unnecessary and that breed associations should change their standards, OVMA spokeswoman Melissa Carlaw said. British Columbia veterinarians who defy the ear cropping ban will face disciplinary action on charges of unethical practice of veterinary medicine, the college reported. "The province's Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act authorizes the BC SPCA to investigate and recommend charges against any person, veterinarian or otherwise, believed to be carrying out such procedures," …
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 …
After Dog's Recovery, Tufts University Reminds Owners About the Need for Genetic TestingOctober 20, 2015Recently, Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine at Tufts University nursed a dog back to health after it nearly died. Bristol, a 4-year-old Australian Shepherd, was brought to the school’s Foster Hospital for Small Animals in early September, barely responsive and experiencing persistent seizures. Her owner suspected Bristol was suffering from severe ivermectin toxicity, a condition in which ivermectin, the active ingredient in some heartworm prevention medicines, crosses the blood-brain barrier and causes neurological damage. The case, the university says, highlights the value of a simple genetic test that can help owners determine if their pets are vulnerable to what in most cases is a safe, commonly used drug. Bristol required immediate and aggressive care, including the assistance of a mechanical ventilator. She also underwent a brain MRI to rule out other causes of her condition. “It took a great amount of intervention, without which this condition would have been fatal,” said Dr. Terri O’Toole, D.V.M., one of a team of critical care specialists overseeing Bristol’s care. Although …
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 …
Popular Ways of Treating Congestive Heart Failure in DogsOctober 12, 2015Originally published in the October 2015 issue of Veterinary Practice News. Enjoyed this article? Then subscribe today! While current treatments for congestive heart failure (CHF) in dogs vary based on a practitioner’s personal experiences, there are some strong favorites in the field, cardiology specialists say. Most veterinary cardiologists use furosemide; an angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor like enalapril, benazepril or lisinopril; and pimobendan for management of the most common forms of congestive heart failure, said John Rush, DVM, MS, Dipl. ACVECC, Dipl. ACVIM. Dr. Rush is a professor at the Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine at Tufts University. For the most common form of heart disease, dilated cardiomyopathy — a degenerative mitral valve disease that causes mitral regurgitation — some veterinary cardiologists also routinely use an aldosterone receptor antagonist, such as spironolactone, Rush said. Others, he said, might add in the drug once signs of congestive heart failure, such as cough, rapid or labored breathing and evidence of pulmonary infiltrates on radiographs, become refractory to these three therapies, Rush said. “Once …
Skewer-Gobbling Boxer Wins Hambone AwardOctober 9, 2015Curtis made a wooden barbecue skewer disappear, but he couldn’t keep it hidden forever. The Princeton, W.Va., boxer on Wednesday was named the 2015 Hambone Award winner, an honor bestowed by Nationwide pet insurance on the animal with the most unusual insurance claim. Curtis’ story began when he snatched a chicken and beef shish kabob off a kitchen counter. “I saw him grab it and chased him outside,” owner Valerie Mould said. “When I caught up to him, I yelled for him to drop it and grabbed the end sticking out of his mouth, but the skewer snapped right as I got my hands on it and Curtis swallowed it in one bite.” Thinking the skewer would break down naturally, a veterinarian advised Moulds to monitor Curtis. When he started vomiting the next day, Curtis was rushed to the Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine in Blacksburg, Va., where ultrasound and endoscopic examinations revealed nothing, leaving the experts to assume the wooden skewer had dissolved. Curtis resumed acting like Curtis, but months later he stopped playing and his appetite declined. Visits to his local veterinarian …
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.
Purdue to Begin Testing Phase for Dog-Breeding StandardsOctober 8, 2015Purdue University reported that it will begin the pilot testing phase for its recently completed dog-breeding standards by the end of the year. The goal of the research is to provide breeders with uniform standards for care and wellbeing in all states to ensure the quality of life that dogs deserve, according to lead researcher Candace Croney, head of Purdue’s Center for Animal Welfare Science. The center is jointly supported by the Purdue Colleges of Veterinary Medicine and Agriculture. The wellbeing of the dogs will be evaluated before and after the breeders implement the standards. The draft standards take in all areas of health and wellbeing and address the needs of adult dogs, juvenile dogs and puppies, including dogs’ access to food, water and shelter; availability of veterinary and preventative health care; behavioral wellness; and genetic selection. The research also is addressing ethical issues such as the end of breeding careers and rehoming of animals. “All animal care policies must be grounded in science as well as ethics and social responsibility,” Croney said, who …
Aratana Suffers Setback on Canine Lymphoma ProductsSeptember 25, 2015Aratana Therapeutics Inc. has sharply reduced its hopes for two canine lymphoma therapies but predicted a bright future for four other emerging products. The news, presented today during a conference call with market analysts, sent the veterinary biopharmaceutical company’s stock tumbling by 39 percent at the end of trading. Aratana intends to stay in the lymphoma arena through the development of second-generation monoclonal antibodies, said President and CEO Steven St. Peter, M.D. “Given the mixed clinical and scientific results, Aratana does not believe AT-004 or AT-005 in their current first-generation format will capture the desired canine lymphoma opportunity,” he said. AT-004 and AT-005 are designed to treat B-cell and T-cell lymphoma, respectively. But disappointing outcomes in combination with chemotherapy, as well as only $387,000 in second-quarter sales of conditionally licensed AT-005 and nothing from fully licensed AT-004, persuaded Aratana to shrink expectations. St. Peter said the decision to pursue other lymphoma therapies was based on market opportunities, an increasing number of veterinary oncologists—as many as 400 today—and rising demand for pet health insurance. “We know from looking at the market that insurance tends to drive treatment options, and insurance is growing,” St. Peter said. “So we think it’s a growth …
