Merial To Import Limited Quantities Of Immiticide From EuropeSeptember 30, 2011 The U.S. Food and Drug Administration will allow Merial of Duluth, Ga., to import limited quantities of Immiticide (melarsomine dihydrochloride) from its European supplier. Immiticide is the only FDA-approved drug to kill adult Dirofilaria immitis, the worm that causes heartworm disease in canines. Merial experienced a technical issue at the plant where the FDA-approved version of the drug is manufactured, and its inventory ran out in August. Merial said it expects to receive its first shipment of Immiticide from Europe in October and additional shipments on an intermittent basis thereafter. The imported drug is not FDA approved, but is the approved source of the product for international markets. The imported product can be identified by lot numbers that begin with the letters “MR.” Merial requested that veterinarians record the lot numbers of any imported product they use. The company also requested that veterinarians conserve the limited supply by using it only for dogs in most urgent need of treatment. The European Immiticide will only be available directly from Merial through a restricted distribution program by calling 1-888-637-4251, option 1. Merial said it has kept records of previous requests and will contact those clinics to complete …
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Vaccine Could Help Control Feral Cat Population, Study FindsSeptember 29, 2011 A study performed by University of Florida researchers could aid in the management of feral cat populations. The researchers found that a single dose of the immunocontraceptive vaccine GonaCon controls fertility over multiple years in adult female cats. “We’re hoping this research will lead to a nonlethal method of control for feral cat populations that is less expensive, labor-intensive, and invasive than current methods, such as surgical sterilization,” said Julie Levy, DVM, Ph.D., lead researcher and director of the Maddie’s Shelter Medicine Program at UF. Non-profit veterinary research organization Morris Animal Foundation funded the five-year study, which was published online in August in the scientific journal Theriogenology. The UF researchers administered single dose vaccinations to 15 female cats and placebos to another five cats. The cats were then allowed access to a breeding male cat. All five placebo females became pregnant within seven to 28 days. Among the cats treated with GonaCon, 93 percent remained infertile for the first year, 73 percent remained infertile in year two, 53 percent in year three, 40 percent in year four, and 27 percent in year five. Levy said researchers expected the decrease in the vaccine’s efficacy as …
PFI Elects New Chairman, OfficersSeptember 28, 2011PFI Elects New Chairman, OfficersPFI Elects New Chairman, PFI elects Officers, Pet Food Institute officers, Pet Food Institute Dan RajczakThe Pet Food Institute Board of Directors elected Dan Rajczak, senior vice president of pet care at Procter & Gamble, chairman.The Pet Food Institute Board of Directors elected Dan Rajczak, senior vice president of pet care at Procter & Gamble, chairman.newslinePFI Elects New Chairman, OfficersPosted: Sept. 28, 2011, 7:10 p.m. EDT The Pet Food Institute Board of Directors elected Dan Rajczak, senior vice president of pet care at Procter & Gamble, chairman. PFI is a Washington, D.C.-based trade association representing pet food manufacturers. P&G exec Dan Rajczak is PFI's new chairman. "I am honored to serve as chairman of PFI at a time of enormous change," said Rajczak, who previously served as vice chairman. "Over the next year, our industry, along with the human food sector, will learn the specifics of expanded regulatory requirements under the new food safety law and will work toward implementing those changes." Rajczak succeeds Bob Kelly, president of Bil-Jac Foods, as chairman. The board also elected Mike Wright, president and CEO of Pro-Pet, to serve as vice chairman; Bud Wright, president and CEO …
Feline Stem Cell Therapy Shows PromiseSeptember 28, 2011 Rosemarie Williams, DVM, owner of The Sound Cat Veterinary Hospital in Wilmington, N.C., introduced stem cell therapy to her feline-only practice in April and says preliminary results look promising. Dr. Williams is studying the effects of adipose-derived stem cell therapy on chronic inflammatory bowel disease and chronic inflammatory kidney disease in cats. Before Williams’ clinical trial, stem cell therapy had been primarily used in canine and equine osteoarthritis, hip dysplasia, ligament and cartilage injuries. “About 3 to 5 percent of cats age 5 and older suffer from IBD and at least 30 percent of senior cats have some level of kidney disease,” Williams says. “I’m hopeful this therapy can minimize clinical symptoms and even eliminate disease in some cases. There’s much about the therapy’s effect on cats that is still unknown. I’ve treated six cats with IBD and symptoms have regressed. I hope to treat at least 50 within a year-long timeframe. “All the cats that underwent treatment are gaining weight, indicating that their intestinal tracts are absorbing nutrients more efficiently,” she added. Williams injects stem cells harvested from the cats’ adipose tissue intravenously. In dogs, the tissue is usually administered directly into muscles …
Recapping A Bit Of AVMA St. LouisSeptember 28, 2011 The American Veterinary Medical Association Convention in St. Louis provided a forum for numerous aspects of our profession. Philippe Cousteau presented a vital keynote address with awe-inspiring videos advocating global clean water and a sustainable earth. AVMA marked World Veterinary Year with a display created by Dr. Fred Born of the American Veterinary Medical History Society honoring the 250th anniversary of the first veterinary school in Lyon, France. Dr. J.F. Chary, the president of Vet2011, opened a full day symposium with Drs. Pappaioanou, Gorczyca, B.A. Miller, Vallat, Deem, Jessup, Vroegindewey, and Mazet, covering history, public health, wildlife and disaster response for improving global One Health. The Leo Bustad Companion Animal Award went to Dr. Nancy Kay, Dipl. ACVIM, for her book, “Speaking for Spot,” and her devotion to helping pet owners learn more about the health, care and well-being of their companion animals. The prestigious award is sponsored by The Delta Society, AVMA and Hill’s Pet Nutrition. At next year’s AVMA convention in San Diego, Dr. Kay will present the Bustad Memorial Keynote Lecture to kick off the human-animal bond sessions organized by Dr. Robin Downing, president of the American Association of …
Purdue Vet School Launches Pet Aid Program For Low-Income ResidentsSeptember 28, 2011The Purdue University School of Veterinary Medicine will launch a Good Samaritan Endowment Program to provide veterinary care to low-income residents in the Indianapolis area. The program is funded by a $100,000 anonymous donation made by an Indianapolis woman and a matching $100,000 donation given by Elanco Companion Animal Health of Greenfield, Ind. Purdue School of Veterinary Medicine dean Willie Reed. The program will provide basic wellness and routine treatment, such as vaccinations and heartworm prevention, for animals whose owners reside in and around Marion County, Ind., and who cannot afford veterinary care. Fourth-year veterinary and veterinary technician students will have an opportunity to learn through hands-on experience. “With the difficult economy, more and more families are being financially stressed, and there is great need for the Good Samaritan project,” Purdue School of Veterinary Medicine dean Willie Reed. “It also will be an opportunity to introduce young people from families involved in the program to careers in veterinary medicine. These children may not otherwise learn about the possibility of a veterinary medical career.” In addition to the Purdue School of Veterinary Medicine and its Veterinary Teaching Hospital, three Marion County veterinarians will help administer the program. The veterinarians, …
VHMA Annual Conference Set For OctoberSeptember 27, 2011 The Veterinary Hospital Managers Association will host its 2011 Annual Conference Oct. 13-16 at the Hyatt Regency Hill Country Resort and Spa in San Antonio. The conference’s theme is “Reaching New Heights: Educating. Achieving. Connecting,” and the event will include 18 continuing education credit hours for attendees or 19 hours for Certified Veterinary Practice Managers. In honor of the VHMA’s 30th anniversary, the association will host a VHMA Jeopardy! competition on Oct. 14 as part of the conference. Contestants will be quizzed on their knowledge of well-known, obscure and fun facts about the association’s history and milestones. The event will take place in front of a live audience and prizes will be awarded. Sessions at this year’s conference will be on topics including: • Identifying skills that can be used to empower the team and better lead the practice; • Best practices in software usage; • Strengthening communication with clients; • Uncovering the components that distinguish a well-managed practice from others; and • Strategies for becoming more media savvy to better position your practice. Additional breakout sessions by track will address needs of managers ranging from new to seasoned. More information on the conference …
AVMA Calls For Support To Quash Vet Prescription ActSeptember 26, 2011 The American Veterinary Medical Association rebutted Walmart's recent message in support of H.R. 1406, the Fairness to Pet Owners Act, in a statement issued to AVMA members today. The bill was introduced on April 6, 2011, in the House of Representatives by Rep. Jim Matheson, D-Utah, and Terry Lee, R-Neb., and was referred to the Subcommittee on Health, where it has remained. The act would require a veterinarian to do the following when prescribing a drug for animals: • Provide the pet owner a copy of the veterinary prescription; • Provide the pet owner with a written disclosure that the pet owner may fill the prescription through the prescriber (if available) or through another pharmacy determined by the pet owner; and • Provide or verify the prescription by electronic or other means consistent with applicable state law, if requested by any person designated to act on behalf of the pet owner. The act would prohibit veterinarians from setting the following conditions for providing a copy of the prescription or verifying a prescription: • Requiring the purchase of the drug from the prescriber or from another person; • Requiring payment in addition to, or as a part of, …
AAHA Updates Canine Vaccination GuidelinesSeptember 26, 2011The American Animal Hospital Association released its 2011 Canine Vaccination Guidelines on Friday. The guidelines were originally created in 2003 and had not been updated since 2006. They offer a review of canine vaccines licensed in the U.S. and Canada, updated recommendations for core versus non-core vaccines, and revised recommendations for shelter-housed dogs. The task force responsible for developing the guidelines included experts in immunology, infectious diseases, internal medicine, law and clinical practice. Among the improvements for 2011 is a new Frequently Asked Questions section to address common questions posed to the task force by practicing veterinarians. The section is divided into four categories, including administration of vaccines, vaccine products, vaccine adverse events, and legal issues pertaining to vaccinations. Many of the questions included were derived from FAQ’s developed by the World Small Animal Veterinary Association’s Vaccine Guidelines Group. Other changes to the 2011 edition include updated recommendations on serologic testing, expanded discussion on vaccine adverse events, review of the legal implications associated with administering vaccines in clinical practice, and full consideration of both U.S. and Canadian canine vaccination regulations. “Having served on every AAHA Canine Vaccination Guidelines Task Force to date (2003, 2006, 2011), I am confident in saying …
Laaman To Host Free Revenue Boot CampSeptember 23, 2011 Laura Laaman and Associates of Wilton, Conn., will host a free Revenue Boot Camp for Veterinarians and Practice Managers on Oct. 17, 2011, from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. CT at the Hilton Garden Inn in Houston. Laaman and Associates has hosted revenue boot camps for pet lodging facilities as part of its Outstanding Pet Care Consulting Program, but this is the first veterinary-specific program the company has offered. Speaker, author, sales trainer and consultant Laura Laaman will lead the boot camp. The program will provide techniques for veterinarians and practice managers to promote pet wellness by increasing compliance. Laaman and Associates said these strategies will contribute to healthier pets, happier pet parents and increased practice revenue. The presentation will cover a variety of topics, including turning a phone into a revenue-generating machine, converting inquiries into appointments instead of sending them to the competition and differentiating a practice. Registration for the boot camp can be found here or by calling 203-379-1271. <Home>
