Feline appetite stimulant aids in CKD-caused weight lossOctober 22, 2020The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved a capromorelin oral solution for appetite stimulation in cats.
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A clinical approach to bacteriuria in dogs and catsSeptember 29, 2020Over the past few years, it has been evidenced the urinary tract is not a sterile environment and is instead inhabited by a unique microbiota.
Feline CKD diagnostic tool wins award for AI innovationFebruary 21, 2020Antech Diagnostics’ proprietary predictive diagnostic tool has been named the best new companion animal product for 2019 by Animal Pharm.
IDEXX kidney test added to IRIS guidelinesOctober 3, 2019Animal health-care workers will soon be equipped with reliable, quantitative guidelines to help with the assessment of kidney function, thanks to IDEXX.
Is cranberry effective for treating UTIs?April 29, 2019Like most herbal remedies, cranberry has traditionally been employed for a wide variety of unrelated problems, ranging from diseases of the liver and stomach to blood disorders and even cancer.1 These days, however, it is pretty firmly established in the minds of pet owners—and many veterinary professionals—as useful for urinary tract infections (UTIs). It may be surprising, then, to learn there is little convincing evidence to support the effectiveness of cranberry in preventing or treating UTI. The question of whether cranberries, in some form, have value in treating or preventing UTIs is a pretty old one. In addition to historical claims among herbal medicine practitioners, there are scientific references on the subject going back to the 1960s.2 An early theoretical rationale for using cranberry to treat UTIs was it inhibited bacterial growth by acidifying the urine.3,4 However, later research has not substantiated this theory, and this rationale is no longer commonly used to explain the purported benefits of cranberry in preventing or treating a UTI.1,5 The more popular theory today is compounds in cranberry juice, particularly a group called proanthocyanidins, interfere with the attachment of some bacteria to the bladder mucosa, reducing colonization and the establishment of infection.6,7 This …
Stoner news: Struvite diets for cats and dogsMarch 28, 2019While struvite uroliths may in some cases require surgical intervention, the recommended standard of care by the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine (ACVIM) is medical dissolution with a therapeutic diet formulated to alter urine acidity and encourage water consumption. Dietary dissolution of struvite stones is both effective and inexpensive. Therapeutic diets limit calculogenic compounds (e.g. phosphorus and magnesium) and acidify urine. That makes the urine a less welcoming environment for stone formation and dissolves stones that are present. Concerns medical dissolution places pets at risk of urethral obstruction are not borne out by the literature, according to the ACVIM consensus statement, published in the Journal of Veterinary Internal Medicine (JVIM) in 2016. Dietary management itself has changed as well. The shift from struvite-only dissolution or prevention diets to combination struvite dissolution/prevention and calcium oxalate prevention diets is the biggest change in management of these uroliths, says Cailin Heinze, VMD, Dipl. ACVN, assistant professor of nutrition at Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine at Tufts University. Causes differ Struvite uroliths occur in both dogs and cats, but have different causes. In dogs, struvite stones—the most common type seen—develop almost exclusively as a result of urinary tract infections (UTIs) caused by …
Asymptomatic bacteriuria—To treat or not to treat?March 28, 2019Veterinarians and pet owners are highly motivated to find discrete, fixable problems when pets are unwell. Owners want the reassurance and sense of control that comes with knowing what the problem is and taking action. Veterinarians want to help our patients, while also satisfying clients. Their expectation is that we offer some clear preventive or therapeutic intervention justifying their time and the expense of coming to see us, as well as reassure them about their pets' condition. Finally, our medical training often emphasizes diagnosis and treatment as the core responsibility for a doctor; the importance of knowing when not to take action is frequently underemphasized.1,2 Such inherent bias toward finding and treating problems creates discomfort and resistance when scientific evidence suggests we should avoid some tests or treatments. Though there is widespread awareness of the risks of overdiagnosis and overtreatment in human medicine, these are relatively new and controversial concepts in the veterinary field.3,4 My own efforts in this column and elsewhere to suggest we might sometimes do better not to run a test (e.g. pre-anesthetic bloodwork)5 or prescribe a treatment (e.g. lysine)6 have generated the kind of pushback often greeting such suggestions. Nevertheless, we have a responsibility to …
"Nutrition Essentials" e-book available for free downloadDecember 6, 2018Nutrition Essentials is a four-part e-book exploring the role of nutrition in keeping dogs and cats healthy in the areas of chronic kidney disease, dermatology, obesity, and oncology.
Hill's to host free livestream pet nutrition symposiumApril 23, 2018The Hill's Global Symposium 2018 will be available free of charge to veterinarians, veterinary nurses, and veterinary students around the world via a 24-hour educational livestream. The symposium, which takes place on April 27-28 in Lisbon, will be available for on-demand content between June 1, 2018, and May 31, 2019. Delegates attending in person also will be able to review lectures they attended and share them with colleagues. Adventures of Aging: Early Chronic Kidney Disease & Growing Older, the symposium theme, focuses on the role of nutrition in helping animals age healthfully. During the event, veterinary experts from around the world will discuss the implications of recent research into aged dogs and cats by Hill's, early chronic kidney disease, and the key role of nutrition in increasing both quality and length of life. Speakers also will discuss strategies to address potentially misleading and inaccurate information pet owners might find through internet research or other sources. In addition, they will present advice on optimizing practice performance through the use of social media and e-commerce. For each delegate who registers for the Hill's Global Symposium, either live in Lisbon or via the 24-hour livestream, Hill's will make a €1 …
Hill's Global Symposium 2018 highlights nutrition, healthy agingMarch 30, 2018The role of nutrition in healthy aging is the focus of Hill's Global Symposium 2018, scheduled for April 27 and 28 in Lisbon. The symposium will have an expected attendance of 200 veterinarians from more than 30 countries, but a 24-hour educational livestream will make the event free of charge to veterinary professionals and students around the world. The symposium's theme, Adventures of Aging: Early Chronic Kidney Disease & Growing Older, addresses the reality of veterinarians treating an increasing number of elderly dogs and cats. Helping these animals age healthily is a rapidly growing area of practice and one in which nutrition plays a key role, according to Iveta Becvarova, DVM, DACVN, director of global academic and professional affairs at Hill's Pet Nutrition, and organizer of this year's event. Veterinary experts participating in the symposium from around the world will discuss the implications of recent research into older dogs and cats by Hill's, early chronic kidney disease, and the key role of nutrition in increasing both quality and length of life. Speakers also will advise members of the veterinary healthcare team on strategies to debunk potentially misleading and inaccurate information, and give practical advice on optimizing practice performance …
