Making Anesthesia SaferMarch 24, 2011 As the saying goes, “There are routine surgeries, but there is no routine anesthesia.” The risk of peri-anesthestic death in small-animal practices is 0.23 percent in cats and 0.15 percent in dogs, according to the CEPSAF study.1 Although these numbers are higher than in human medicine (0.02–0.05 percent), it’s a remarkable achievement, knowing that this is the average for all types of patients, healthy or sick. Lowering this percentage significantly may be difficult. But can we do better? The American College of Veterinary Anesthesiologists (ACVA) certainly believes so. The ACVA is the specialty board that sets standards for advanced professionalism in veterinary anesthesia. Our colleagues recently posted their revised “Recommendations for Monitoring Anesthetized Veterinary Patients”2 on ACVA.org. The previous guidelines were published in 1995.3 Dr. Cheryl Blaze, a native of Australia and a board-certified anesthesiologist at Tufts’ Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine in Massachusetts, explains: “Our goal is to move from decreased anesthetic mortality toward decreased anesthetic morbidity.” To reach this ambitious goal, the ACVA suggests guidelines to assess and improve circulation, oxygenation, ventilation and temperature. They also address record keeping, the recovery period, personnel and sedation. Circulation Six ways to …
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Private Equity Firm To Acquire Provimi’s Pet Food BusinessMarch 23, 2011 The Provimi Group, an animal nutrition company based in Rotterdam, Netherlands, reported today that it has agreed to sell its pet food division to private equity firm Advent International for about $266 million. The deal is part of Provimi’s strategy to concentrate more on its farm animal feed and nutrition business, according to the company. Provimi Pet Food is a producer of private label wet and dry pet food in Europe, supplying approximately 280 customers, including major grocery retailers, in the 27 markets in which it operates. The business, headquartered in Budapest, Hungary, has around 1,000 employees and eight production facilities across Europe. In 2010, the company reported total sales of about $334 million. Provimi’s CEO Tom van der Laan said Provimi Pet Food is well-positioned to capitalize on positive market trends and strengthen its market position in Europe—all of which could best be supported under different ownership. Advent International, which has offices in Europe, North America, Latin America and Asia, is expected to support Provimi Pet Food’s growth plans and explore potential opportunities in new markets and new product development. “Provimi Group has established PPF as a European market leader,” said Chris Mruck, managing …
Merck, Sanofi-Aventis Terminate Deal To Combine Animal Health BusinessesMarch 22, 2011 Merck of Whitehouse Station, N.J., and France-based Sanofi-Aventis reported today that they have mutually decided not to create a new joint venture with their animal health businesses due to the “increasing complexity of implementing the proposed transaction.” As such, Merck’s Intervet/Schering-Plough Animal Health and Sanofi-Aventis’ Merial will continue to operate independently. Merck and Sanofi-Aventis first announced their plans to combine the animal health businesses in March 2010. Since then, both companies have been working to create the proposed animal health joint venture, including submitting requests for the required antitrust reviews. The complexity of the transaction was attributed to the nature and extent of the anticipated divestitures and the length of time necessary for the worldwide regulatory review process, according to the two companies. Merck and Sanofi-Aventis further noted that ending their plan is in the best interest of their companies, respective shareholders and the employees of both companies. The joint venture was anticipated to create the world’s largest animal health business, with an estimated market share of about 28 percent, compared to Pfizer’s roughly 20 percent market share, according to March 2010 figures. Intervet/Schering-Plough ranked No. 2 and Merial No. 3 overall, with annual …
Webinar: Top 10 Poisons In Small Animals To Be Held April 12March 21, 2011 Pet Poison Helpline of Minneapolis and Veterinary Pet Insurance of Brea, Calif., will be sponsoring a free webinar for veterinarians and veterinary staff on the top common toxic substances in small animals on Tuesday, April 12, from noon to 1 p.m. CDT. Veterinary professionals are constantly bombarded by pets ingesting common poisons in the household, from over-the-counter products and prescription human medications to kitchen toxins and poisonous plants, according to Pet Poison Helpline, a 24/7 animal poison control service. The webinar will cover the 10 most common toxic substances that Pet Poison Helpline gets calls about and how to recognize and treat poisoned patients. Justine Lee, DVM, Dipl. ACVECC, association director of Pet Poison Helpline, will be the presenter. The course meets the requirements for one hour of continuing education credit, according to the sponsors. To sign up for the webinar, visit https://www3.gotomeeting.com/register/195970022. <Home>
How Safe Is Kelp For Thyroid Patients?March 21, 2011 Kelp, a large seaweed from the brown algae category (order Laminariales), provides the richest source of naturally occurring iodine.1 It is one of those products that seems innocuous but can in fact be dangerous due to its high and somewhat unpredictable iodine content.2 Ingested iodine affects thyroid function, whether it originates from food, dietary supplements, Chinese herbal mixtures or drugs. Medical sources of excessive iodine include pharmaceuticals (such as amiodarone), radiology contrast agents and topical antiseptics. Ads for kelp supplements for dogs boast its benefits for vitality, immunity and “proper function of the thyroid gland.”3 Kelp often appears as a heavily promoted dietary ingredient included in home-prepared raw diets. However, considering the inclination of many to believe that “more is better,” the sum total of iodine ingested day after day from both supplemental and dietary sources may prove detrimental to an animal’s thyroid status and health. ‘Inactive Ingredient’ Kelp might also show up as an “inactive ingredient” in products such as selenium supplements, although the amount of iodine from batch to batch can vary considerably.4 No matter the source, these Laminaria macro algae may interfere with thyroid replacement treatment, negatively affect patients …
Separation Anxiety? Try 4-Step ProgramMarch 21, 2011 A recent study suggests that dogs suffering from separation anxiety are the pessimists of the canine world who always expect the worst in any situation. In the case of separation anxiety, their worst fear is presumably that their owners have gone, never to return. Pessimists or not, these dogs tend to be more sensitive and anxious than their psychologically stable counterparts. Further evidence of these dogs’ anxious nature is provided by their clinginess, neediness and lack of independence. Also, they frequently exhibit other behaviors in the fear spectrum, such as noise phobia or storm phobia. Opinions vary on how dogs acquire this problem, but nature and nurture must be involved. Of these two factors, I believe nurture has the most profound impact. Nature Vs. Nurture Certain breeds, even certain breed groups, seem more inclined to develop excessive fearfulness. A genetically nervous strain of pointers and the predisposition of herding breeds to thunderstorm phobia attest to this influence. However, the importance of environmental factors, particularly in early life during the sensitive period of development (three to 12 weeks) and perhaps slightly beyond, almost certainly plays a key role. That most dogs with separation anxiety are mixed …
Cornell University Ranks ‘Best Graduate School’ In Veterinary MedicineMarch 21, 2011 Cornell University’s veterinary medicine graduate program came out on top in U.S. News and World Report’s 2012 rankings of “Best Graduate Schools.” The rankings, released today, highlight the top programs in business, law, medicine, education, engineering and health, which veterinary medicine falls under, among other specialties. University of California, Davis ranked No. 2 while Colorado State University and North Carolina State University tied at No. 3 in the veterinary medicine category. All the health rankings are based on the results of peer assessment surveys sent to deans, other administrators and/or faculty at accredited degree programs or schools in each discipline, according to U.S. News and World Report. Respondents rated the academic quality of programs on a five-point scale: outstanding (5), strong (4), good (3), adequate (2) or marginal (1). Cornell University scored 4.5, U.C. Davis scored 4.2 and Colorado and North Carolina State Universities both scored 4.1. Only fully accredited programs in good standing during the survey period are ranked, the magazine noted. For veterinary schools, accreditation is by the American Veterinary Medical Association. Twenty-eight veterinary schools were surveyed this year. The rankings are as follows: #1 Cornell University #2 University of …
‘Racial’ Profiling In Veterinary MedicineMarch 21, 2011 Breed biases can make their way into the exam room. I was recently reminded of an uncomfortable character flaw I possess: I harbor a mostly subconscious fear of German shepherd dogs. (Yes, really.) It’s a defect I’ve never been able to shake ... not since I was a little kid and got chased down by a white GSD while riding my bike on a street in suburban Miami. What I recall the most? The rainbow bruises ringing four decidedly canid puncture wounds on either side of my skinny 9-year-old thigh. That, and the brown bell-bottom cords I had so adored––ripped just high enough that they couldn’t be salvaged as cutoffs. What’s interesting about the memory is I can’t recall that the dog ever inhabited my nightmares. What kept me up most (save the tragedy over the cords) was the fear of getting those rabies shots once it came to light that “Gypsy” (I’m almost positive that was her name) hadn’t been vaccinated for rabies by a licensed professional. But the dog? Not so much. Not that I recall. Yet nearly every time I see a GSD—in or out of the hospital—I have …
Get Busy, Not Bored, During Slow TimesMarch 21, 2011 Each year, Fortune magazine publishes a list of the 50 most admired companies in the United States as voted on by business people. For example, the top five for 2011 are Apple, Google, Berkshire Hathaway, Southwest Airlines and Procter & Gamble. Not bad. Not a single veterinary clinic is on the list, but that’s not my point. A year ago, Geoff Colvin, the author of the article on the most admired companies of 2010, wrote: “This year’s leaders differ from the stragglers in at least one way. They actually believe what every company proclaims about people being their most valuable asset.” Also, they “were much less likely than the others to have laid any people off in the past two years (only 10 percent did so, vs. 23 percent for their less admired peers).” In other words, these companies view their employees not an expense but as valuable assets. A Virtuous Circle I wondered, does this apply to veterinary clinics? When times are bad, employers seem to look at three main options: fire people, reduce their hours or maintain the status quo. Is it easier to retain employees if you run …
6 Causes Cited For Decline In Veterinary VisitsMarch 21, 2011A major national study has found that the decline in the number of veterinary visits over the past decade is rooted in six major factors having a common theme: Relatively few pet owners fully appreciate the value of professional veterinary services. The Bayer Veterinary Care Usage Study was commissioned by Bayer Animal Health and conducted by Brakke Consulting and the National Commission on Veterinary Economic Issues. It identified the six causes as the economic impact of the recession; fragmentation of veterinary services; the Internet, primarily healthcare research; feline resistance; a perception among pet owners that regular medical checkups are unnecessary; and the cost of care. “Veterinarians must learn to manage pricing and communicate the value of regular care to avoid deterring pet owners from making annual visits a priority,” said Ron Brakke, president and founder of Brakke Consulting. “Veterinarians can take specific actions to grow client traffic and improve pet care. As a profession, veterinarians need a consistent message about the importance and frequency of veterinary care. It is likely that the trend can be reversed if the proper actions are taken.” The three organizations reported key findings of the study, as well as possible remedies, at the …
