Global veterinary organizations issue joint statement against antimicrobial resistanceDecember 7, 2018Veterinary organizations in Europe and Canada have issued a joint statement with the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) to ensure oversight of antimicrobial use, mitigation of antimicrobial resistance, and the continuing availability of critical animal and human medications.
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FDA accepting grant applications for new drugs to treat minor speciesNovember 27, 2018The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is accepting applications for grants to support the development of new animal drugs intended to treat uncommon diseases in major or minor species (MUMS).
Petco offers e-commerce option for pet prescription medicationNovember 23, 2018Petco is now offering consumers access to prescription and over-the-counter (OTC) medications for their pets online, with delivery directly to their front door.
Caught in the crossfireNovember 19, 2018Opioids are the first line of treatment for animals with acutely painful conditions and surgeries. They are important in providing pain management with minimal and manageable cardiovascular and respiratory side effects. Veterinarians rely heavily on opioids for pain control and reduction of inhalation anesthetic dosages in veterinary anesthesia, incorporating drugs such as morphine, hydromorphone, buprenorphine, and fentanyl in sedation, anesthesia, and pain control in the perioperative period.Â
Royal Canin releases Pill Assist to help administer medication to dogs October 2, 2018Royal Canin has launched veterinary-exclusive Pill Assist soft chews to simplify administering medication to dogs. According to a study by the company, Pill Assist enabled successful pill administration in 97 percent of cases. "We understand the stress pet owners face when trying to provide necessary medication for their pets," said Catherine Lenox, DVM, CVA, DACVN, scientific affairs manager for Royal Canin. "A dog's medication cannot help if it is not taken. Royal Canin developed Pill Assist to ease the burden on pet owners and enable dogs to better consume the medication they need." The product's soft texture can be molded around any pill shape, is available in sizes for small and medium-to-large dogs, has moderate calorie content, and includes vitamins and prebiotics. The product can be found at select veterinary clinics.
Elanco steps up fight against antimicrobial resistanceSeptember 28, 2018Elanco Animal Health has announced new commitments in the fight against antimicrobial resistance, focusing on three key areas of stewardship, including combating antimicrobial resistance through responsible antibiotic use, reducing the need for medically important antibiotics in livestock, and significantly investing in researching new alternatives. New commitments include: Investing at least half of Elanco's food animal research and development budget in projects dedicated to developing alternatives to shared-class antibiotics Increasing veterinary and professional oversight access in countries with limited resources through new partnerships Expanding data collection and analytics to inform animal health professionals on best practices Encouraging vaccination and nutrition programs that reduce the need for medically important antibiotics by preventing disease The Antimicrobial Resistance Challenge, led by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and U.S. Health and Human Services (HHS), is a yearlong effort to accelerate the fight against antimicrobial resistance with action across governments and industries. "It is of utmost importance we address the complex challenge of antimicrobial resistance and preserve the effectiveness of medicines for people and animals," said Jeff Simmons, president and CEO of Elanco. "Supporting the CDC and HHS effort is an important step in reaffirming our commitment to responsible …
FDA five-year plan to combat rising threat of antibiotic overuseAugust 3, 2018In its ongoing effort to combat antimicrobial resistance, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced it will implement a five-year blueprint outlining the administration's strategy to "advance antimicrobial stewardship in veterinary settings." As part of the FDA's regulatory mission, its Center for Veterinary Medicine (CVM) is responsible for ensuring the safety and effectiveness of animal drugs, including antimicrobials. Progress has been made, but additional work is needed to address the complex challenge of antimicrobial resistance, the organization said in a statement. "At FDA, we believe that the concept of antimicrobial stewardship encompasses several important principles of judicious use," said FDA Commissioner Scott Gottlieb, MD. "These are critical to slowing the rate at which bacteria develop resistance to antimicrobial drugs. In simple terms, we believe medically important antimicrobial drugs should only be used when necessary to treat, control or prevent disease. In addition, when such use is necessary, these antimicrobials should be used in an optimal manner. They should only be used under the oversight of a licensed veterinarian." The administration's plan, which will cover fiscal years 2019 - 2023, will focus three goals: Aligning antimicrobial drug product use with the principles of antimicrobial stewardship Supporting …
ISU to lead national antimicrobial research, education centerJuly 26, 2018Iowa State University has been charged with establishing and hosting a new national Institute for Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) Research and Education. The Association of Public and Land-grant Universities (APLU) and the Association of American Veterinary Medical Colleges (AAVMC) chose ISU to lead the institute, which will utilize a One Health approach to comprehensively tackle the AMR problem. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, antibiotic-resistant bacteria cause at least 2 million illnesses and 23,000 deaths in the U.S. every year, costing approximately $20 billion a year in direct health care costs and up to $35 billion in lost productivity. The new institute is the result of a joint task force on antibiotic resistance in production agriculture created by AAVMC and APLU in 2014, which released a report offering research and education recommendations designed to address the AMR problem. "The misuse of antibiotics is a major reason why antimicrobial resistance is a rapidly growing threat to human, animal, and environmental health," said Ian Maw, vice president, Food, Agriculture & Natural Resources, APLU. "While the problem is well understood, the path to advancing solutions has been blurry. It's clear we need a coordinating body to organize …
Client checklist: Tips for traveling with petsJuly 20, 2018Whether traveling by plane, train, or automobile, there are many factors to consider when vacationing with a pet.
Is tramadol an effective analgesic for dogs and cats?June 26, 2018Awareness of the importance of analgesia for veterinary patients has increased significantly over the past two decades. It is widely considered important, for medical and ethical reasons, to provide effective pain relief for dogs and cats, whether their pain is due to surgery, injury, or chronic medical conditions.
