Seeing Is Believing With Stem Cell TherapyJanuary 5, 2012 Veterinarians have seen so many technologies come and go over the years that they can’t help but ask, “Is this really the next level of treatment, or just another fad?” Today, stem cell therapy is much in vogue for the treatment of osteoarthritis and soft-tissue injuries. But will it become a conventional treatment, or is it a momentary phenomenon? Does stem cell therapy really work with pets, and do the benefits last? The science isn’t all that old. Veterinarians started hearing about stem cell therapy for horses in 2003 and as early as 2005 in small animals. While the potential was intriguing to veterinarians, the cell processing had to be outsourced. That meant two appointments for each patient. The tissue sample had to be sent to an outside laboratory, processed and returned. The cost to the client involved an outside processing fee of up to $1,500. Some veterinarians had a hard time selling the novel technology to animal owners. Then the technology began moving in-house, and success stories soon followed. One involved Thomas Newland, DVM, owner and medical director of Adobe Animal Hospital in Scottsdale, Ariz. His patient, Molly, a 3-year-old spayed female Lab/chow …
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Is It Time To Invest In Class IV Laser Therapy?January 5, 2012 Since the first Class IV laser therapy booth appeared at the 2006 North American Veterinary Conference in Orlando, the modality has become arguably the fastest growing one in the veterinary profession. Why is everyone talking about laser therapy? Is it all hype? Why have more than 3,000 practices invested in it? To understand Class IV laser therapy’s rapid growth, one needs to recall practice trends of six years ago. Multi-million dollar marketing campaigns targeting pet owners transferred purchases of medications, food and products from veterinary practices to online and big-box pet stores. Similar direct-to-consumer campaigns focused on pharmaceutical solutions to pain management problems. These trends caught the attention of educated pet owners, which affected clinic revenue. The profession recognized this threat and developed renewed appreciation for sustainable practice-based service revenue, which could only be lost through competition from other practices. Clinical Considerations Class IV laser therapy does not treat conditions. Rather, it stimulates the body’s inherent healing mechanisms via a process called photobiomodulation or biostimulation. Pet owners searching for pain management solutions for older pets had begun to seek non-pharmaceutical, non-surgical solutions. Class IV therapy lasers provided the solution with a simple …
The Skinny On Herbs For The SkinJanuary 4, 2012 By Narda Robinson, DO, DVM A dizzying display of botanical products confronts shoppers scanning pet store aisles and natural pet magazines to find safe and effective alternatives for their dogs’ itchy, painful skin.1 The under-enforcement of federal regulations has given a green light to unfettered expansion of unproven cures. Consumers try their best to navigate the maze of claims and testimonials, left in the dark as to whether a product will help or harm their animals. The sheer number of botanical creams, ointments and lotions crammed on supplement shelves can cause canine caregivers to scratch their heads in confusion. Isn’t anyone minding the store when it comes to stocking herbal potions? Why do animal skin-care products still contain chaparral and comfrey when their well-publicized pyrrolizidine alkaloids are likely to end up ingested by an auto- or allo-groomer?2 How do companies reconcile the ethical issues involved in selling goldenseal and other endangered plants suffering from overharvesting and habitat elimination? Where is the appropriate labeling on potentially toxic essential oils?3 Even products for humans can be unsafe, as illustrated by …
Legal Exposure Might Not Be Worth The SavingsNovember 3, 2011 Some veterinarians believe they are helping clients reduce costs by ordering compounded drugs instead of medications approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. But there’s a reason compounded drugs are cheaper than FDA-approved medications, pharmaceutical companies say. Compounding pharmacies’ quality-control procedures are rarely as stringent or comprehensive as the good manufacturing practices required by the FDA for approved products. Therefore, the safety and efficacy of compounded drugs are not guaranteed. In a case of therapeutic failure of a compounded product when an FDA-approved medication is available, the amount the veterinarian saves the client might turn a competitive advantage into a serious disadvantage. That prescription could leave the veterinarian exposed to legal liabilities because the FDA does not test or approve compounded drugs. Liability Dangers “Many times veterinarians don’t understand that they are the first in line in liability in the event that a compounded product goes bad,” says Denise E. Farris, Esq., owner of Farris Law Firm LLC in Kansas City, Mo. “If there is an adverse reaction, he or she is liable to the client for veterinary malpractice. The liability coverage may not cover that activity because most policies do not cover …
In Wake Of EHV-1 Outbreak, Some Say Better Biosecurity Measures Are NeededSeptember 19, 2011 The equine herpesvirus (EHV-1) outbreak traced to an April National Cutting Horse Association event in Ogden, Utah, is over, according to a June 23 U.S. Department of Agriculture Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) situation report. Ninety cases of EHV-1, or equine herpesvirus myeloencephalopathy (EHM), were confirmed in nine states. Of the 90 cases, 54 were present at the Utah event. Thirteen horses linked to the incident died or were euthanized. “Financial losses from this outbreak go deep into six figures, maybe more,” said D. Paul Lunn, BvSc, MS, PhD, MRCVS, Dipl. ACVIM, a professor and head of the department of Clinical Sciences at the Voss Veterinary Teaching Hospital in the College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences at Colorado State University in Fort Collins, Colo. “That takes into considering event cancellations, the economic effect felt by communities in which the events would have taken place and treating sick animals. The USDA is conducting additional research on the outbreak which will offer a new analysis of the effect the outbreak had on the industry.” Dr. Lunn said the NCHA behaved responsibly by acting quickly and effectively when the virus spread at its event. …
Physical Rehab, Integrative Medicine As Growth OpportunitiesJuly 18, 2011 These are difficult times for many small businesses, and veterinary practices are no exception. Prior to the recession, industry reports indicated a declining trend in several metrics, including patient visits, transactions and new clients. Confirmation of this decline came earlier this year with the release of the Bayer Veterinary Care Usage Study. This study compiled industry data, extensively surveyed pet owners and presented it in a format that left little room for interpretation. The study also confirmed that declining veterinary metrics are not a result of a shrinking potential market base. From 1996-2006 the number of pets owned in the U.S. grew at a steady rate of approximately 10 million per year, but the number of veterinary visits, which had matched or exceeded this rate of growth until 2001, fell flat and began a slow decline. To reverse this trend, our profession needs to evaluate our ability to convert pet owners into active, educated clients. If there is a bright side, it is that the average per-transaction dollar amount has continued to grow, in most cases as a result of incremental fee increases. Yet even these increases have been unable to make up for the declining …
Supplements For Chronic ConditionsJune 9, 2011 Many people believe that supplements can help manage health issues and chronic conditions in their horses, leading to a more productive and better quality of life. Clinical and field experience has demonstrated that many health problems and disease conditions can be either prevented or effectively treated with proper nutrition and the use of specialty health products and supplements, says Roger V. Kendall, Ph.D., vice president of research and development at Vetri-Science Laboratories in Essex Junction, Vt. “[For example,] the use of antioxidants to reduce the damaging effects of free radicals in equines has found applications to deal with many metabolic issues,” he says. Though nutrients and other natural ingredients such as glucosamine and perna canaliculus (New Zealand green shell mussel) may work more slowly than selected drugs such as nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, Kendall says, in the long run they may enhance metabolic processes and help restore function and balance to the body. “Selected supplements and animal health products can contribute important metabolites for cellular regeneration, improve the flow of energy, enhance immune function, detoxify cellular toxins and improve enzyme activity,” he says. “Such supplements can contribute to the animal during times of stress and aid …
Supplements For Health And Well-BeingJune 9, 2011 While often used in horses suffering from chronic problems, supplements also can assist in the general health and well-being of the equine patient, many veterinarians believe. Still, a veterinarian needs to emphasize to the client that supplements must be used wisely and chosen carefully to reap the benefits, nutritionists say. Filling Nutritional Gaps General health and well-being begins with good nutrition, which goes a long way toward boosting the immune system and providing physiological functions that allow the body’s organ systems to work properly. But a diet deficient in a nutrient—or with an excess of certain nutrients—can affect a horse’s health, says Dr. Gary D. Potter, Ph.D., PAS, Dipl. ACAN. “There are hundreds of examples,” he notes. “Too little calcium leads to osteoporosis. Too much phosphorous leads to osteoporosis. Too little protein results in low milk production in mares. Too much protein results in excess metabolic heat in athletic horses. Too little zinc compromises the immune system. Too much zinc causes secondary copper deficiency. “And diets consisting of only hay and cereal grains are not balanced nutritionally for some horses, such as mares in late gestation, lactating mares, immature growing horses and juvenile athletic horses. …
12 Herbs For Problems Commonly Seen In The PracticeMarch 28, 2011One reason for using herbs in veterinary practice is to help with conditions for which conventional medicines offer insufficient control, or high incidence of side effects. This is especially true for chronic inflammatory conditions and conditions involving aged animals. A number of herbs can help, both for specifically targeting a disease or organ, and because they are high in antioxidants, which reduce inflammation.1 A number of herbs have promise for dermatological problems.2 For instance, aloe vera has been found to help psoriasis and wound healing when applied topically.3 A review article found it efficacious for both first- and second-degree burns in humans.4 In a randomized, controlled study comparing it to silver sulfadiazene, patients healed significantly faster when treated with aloe vera than with sulfadiazene.5 When taken internally, some evidence suggests that it can lower blood glucose and blood lipid levels, so it may also have a place treating diabetes.6 Calendula (Calendula officinalis) helps in both the prevention7 and the treatment of radiation burns when applied locally. Although one would think aloe vera could also help, a study comparing the two found no effect with aloe vera, but marked effect with calendula.8 Topical …
Make Sound Commitment To SonographyJanuary 18, 2011 Ultrasound services aren’t necessarily reserved for high-volume practices, experts say. Although many veterinarians determine that their client bases might not validate the expense, some sonographers work independently and will travel to a veterinarian’s office. Depending on the quality, a new ultrasound machine can cost from $10,000 to $100,000, but the price tag isn’t the only potential obstacle. A veterinarian sometimes invests in the equipment but is unprepared for the learning curve. Some say that even seasoned practitioners need a year to feel comfortable interpreting ultrasound images. “A lot of practices buy ultrasound equipment with the intent of using it more,” says Gretchen Rowe, DVM, of Animal Diagnostic Imaging LLC and president of the International Veterinary Ultrasound Society. “In reality, it takes a pretty dedicated person within a practice to use ultrasound to its fullest potential as a diagnostic tool. It takes thousands of cases to be really good at it, but it depends on what your goal is and how you intend to use it.” Bear, 14-year-old MN Siamese cat with a spontaneous diaphragmatic hernia. The anechoic gall bladder (left) and spleen (near field top) residing with the heart (bottom right) within the thorax. …
