Managing OA with anti-NGF therapyNovember 22, 2019It is clear to any practicing veterinarian there is a very limited toolbox when it comes to effective treatments for osteoarthritis (OA) pain in dogs and cats. The need, however, is quite apparent.
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Veterinary homeopathy: Why are we still talking about this?November 22, 2019Controversial from its beginnings, homeopathy has long been employed by only a few health-care professionals, and surveys show only a tiny minority of citizens in most developed countries have used homeopathic treatment.
Orofacial manifestations of BDLDNovember 12, 2019BDLD: four letters often listed at the top of the sheet of an emergency room visit as the presenting problem.
FDA approves generic canine anti-anxiety medicationOctober 30, 2019Veterinarians in need of a generic drug for their anxious canine patients are in luck.
Stereotactic radiation may offer better outcomes in nine cancersOctober 24, 2019New data suggests a specific advanced radiation treatment protocol is leading to better survival outcomes than other therapy options for at least nine tumor types. That's according to PetCure Oncology, which presented its findings at the recent Veterinary Cancer Society Annual Conference (VCS) in Houston, Tex. The pet cancer care provider says nine of the 11 tumor types it studied showed increased median survival time relative to the current body of peer-reviewed published literature for pets treated with stereotactic radiation/stereotactic radiation therapy (SRS/SRT), an advanced form of radiation therapy used in human medicine. The list of tumor types includes brain, nasal, osteosarcoma (bone tumors), mast cell, and melanoma. "We have now treated more than 3,000 pets on-protocol with radiation therapy, including more than 2,200 with stereotactic radiation," says PetCure's chief medical officer, Neal Mauldin, DVM, DACVIM (internal medicine and oncology), DACVR (radiation oncology). "The good news is that many of them are still alive and thriving, so the data is still maturing. But objective analysis of the preliminary data at this point suggests stereotactic radiation can be considered a standard of care for the treatment of many tumor types, much like it already is in human cancer treatment. This …
LIU to offer DVM program starting next fallOctober 22, 2019Students in the Northeast now have a fourth option to study veterinary medicine. Long Island University's (LIU's) College of Veterinary Medicine says it has received a "Letter of Reasonable Assurance" from the American Veterinary Medical Association's Council on Education (AVMA-COE). Starting next fall, the school will begin accepting applications for its DVM program. At full enrollment, the veterinary school will serve 400 students, with 100 in each graduating class. LIU joins the University of Pennsylvania, Cornell University, and Tufts University in offering veterinary programs in the Northeast. "We are extremely proud LIU's new College of Veterinary Medicine has met the high standards of the American Veterinary Medical Association's Council on Education," said the university's president, Kimberly R. Cline, EdD. "The launch of our veterinary school further elevates LIU, as we clearly continue on our path to status as a nationally recognized teaching and research institution." LIU says the college will offer hands-on learning experiences through a distributed education model that features supervised clinical experiences throughout the four years of veterinary education. The college has secured partnerships with more than 50 affiliates, including primary care and specialty clinics, zoos, research laboratories and shelters. This allows students to gain real-world experience in …
Global associations commit to improving access to veterinary medicinesOctober 21, 2019Securing equal access to vital veterinary medicines for companion animal veterinarians around the world is at the center of a new campaign spearheaded by World Small Animal Veterinary Association (WSAVA). Restricted access to veterinary medicines is a long-standing problem and limits the efforts of many veterinarians to provide optimal care to their patients in regions such as Eastern Europe, Africa, and Asia, the association says. The problem extends to even essential medicines, such as those required to properly manage pain. The result is immense and unnecessary suffering. "Difficulty in accessing therapeutics to treat patients is a critical issue for companion animal veterinarians in many parts of the world," says WSAVA past-president, Walt Ingwersen, DVM, DVSc, DACVIM. "It causes huge frustration and means that many, if not most, companion animals globally do not receive optimum care. It's a situation that requires urgent change. Working in partnership with our colleagues across the veterinary sector, we are focused on bringing this about. "While a number of issues impact the supply of veterinary medicines, duplication of the regulatory medicines approval process in various regions of the world is one of the biggest, and the focus of our joint position statement on regulatory convergence. The …
Pet King Brands receives TICA endorsementOctober 18, 2019Pet King Brands' ZYMOX Dermatology and Oratene Brushless Oral Care are the cat's meow, according to The International Cat Association (TICA). The group has just bestowed its highest level of endorsement, the Seal of Excellence, on two of the company's product lines. The news comes as Pet King Brands celebrates its 22nd year in business. "Pet King Brands is proud to earn TICA's and cat fanciers' trust of our ZYMOX and Oratene solutions for felines struggling with problematic ears, skin, or mouths," says company founder and president, Pamela K. Bosco. "TICA's endorsement will help cat fanciers around the world become more aware of these gentle, soothing products that first do no harm, and help all animals live healthier, happier lives." Founded in 1998, Pet King Brands uses a patented LP3 enzyme system in all its solutions, ranging from ear products to skin topicals to shampoo and conditioning rinse, and brushless oral care products.
Understanding anesthesia in canine dentistryOctober 17, 2019They also represent a source of fear and concern for pet owners—witness the burgeoning anesthesia-free dental cleaning services that have become popular.
AAFP releases updated zoonoses guidelinesOctober 16, 2019The American Association of Feline Practitioners (AAFP) is hoping to combat misinformation that exists about cats and disease transmission through its updated Feline Zoonoses Guidelines. Appearing in the November issue of the Journal of Feline Medicine and Surgery (JFMS), the guidelines aim to provide accurate information about feline zoonotic diseases to owners, physicians, and veterinarians to allow logical decisions to be made concerning cat ownership. "These guidelines provide recommendations concerning the prevention of feline zoonoses, as well as the latest research and information on these diseases," says Heather O'Steen, CEO of the AAFP. "Cats are wonderful pets, and with education, we can improve the health and welfare of cats as well as decrease any potential risks to their humans. This updated resource is another significant milestone in that direction." The new guidelines focus on: the enteric zoonoses; scratch, bite, or exudate exposure zoonoses; ocular and respiratory zoonoses; urogenital tract zoonoses; vector-borne zoonoses; and lessening the risk of zoonotic transfer of disease from cats. It also includes a client brochure titled, "What Can I Catch from my Cat," to educate veterinary teams and cat owners about how zoonotic organisms are spread. Further, it provides examples …
