Feline Insulin Market Sees ChangesApril 17, 2009 Veterinarians can expect some changes in the feline insulin market as a new product is entering the market and another is leaving. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration recently approved Intervet Inc.’s Vetsulin (porcine insulin zinc suspension) for the reduction of hyperglycemia and hyperglycemia-associated clinical signs in cats with diabetes mellitus. The insulin was previously indicated only for treating diabetic dogs. Around the same time, Idexx Pharmaceuticals Inc. discontinued its PZI VET (protamine zinc insulin), an insulin for cats that is derived from bovine and porcine pancreatic glands. The company says it is discontinuing the product because the raw materials to produce it are no longer available. “All of the FDA-approved plants that produced the beef/pork insulin crystals have been closed,” says Randy Lynn, DVM, director of the Professional Services Group of Idexx Pharmaceuticals. When the plants were built decades ago, Dr. Lynn says, they primarily supplied beef and pork crystal for use in human beings. However, with the recent move toward recombinant human insulin, there is not enough volume to keep those plants open, he adds. The company’s previous public filings had indicated that this time would come, but the formal letter …
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For The Mobility-Impaired, Try A Wheelchair RentalApril 17, 2009 Why buy when you can rent? Barbara Parkes, co-founder of K9 Carts West in Langley, Wash., this year began allowing customers to rent pet wheelchairs instead of buying them. Many dogs need mobility assistance for only two or three weeks after an injury or surgery, she says, so a short-term rental is often the cheaper choice. K9 Carts West’s standard two-wheel cart for a 50-pound dog runs $185 for three weeks’ use, plus shipping and a $79 deposit. A four-wheel cart for the same canine costs $240, plus shipping and a $99 deposit. Two-wheel carts work for dogs that have good forelimb strength, and the four-wheelers are for animals that need complete body support. Rentals give owners more options for assisting their paralyzed or ambulatory pets, and the results Parkes sees make her smile. “The joy, the happiness, for the owners is fabulous,” she says. Parkes suggests that with increasing interest in animal rehab, such centers might follow her move and offer a rental carts. “Five carts will fit probably 90 percent of all breeds,” she says. Some dogs may not do well in a wheelchair. Parkes has found that the terrier …
Heartworms Easy To Overlook In CatsApril 17, 2009The American Heartworm Society has released its 2007 Guidelines for the Diagnosis, Prevention and Management of Heartworm Infection in Cats, paying specific attention to the newly defined heartworm associated respiratory disease, or HARD. "Each year cats die needlessly from complications related to this very preventable disease," said Tom Nelson, DVM, president of the society. "These new guidelines clearly indicate more than ever the need for veterinarians to encourage cat owners to comply with prevention for the health of their cats." Some cats never exhibit clinical signs, but even a small number of worms can be life-threatening, according to the society. When signs are evident, they usually develop either in the first stage when the heartworms enter a blood vessel and are carried to the pulmonary arteries, or in the second stage, when the heartworms die. Signs associated with the first stage are often misdiagnosed as asthma or allergic bronchitis, when they are actually due to HARD. The second stage often leads to fatal acute lung injury. Signs of HARD include difficulty breathing, convulsions, diarrhea and vomiting, blindness, rapid heart rate, fainting, sudden death, coughing, vomiting, lethargy, anorexia and weight loss. The updated guidelines also provide information on interpreting serology test …
Taking RootApril 17, 2009 AAHA Awards First Seal in Its Insurance Acceptance Program The American Anial Hospital Assn. has awarded its first “Seal of Acceptance” to Trupanion’s the Trupanion Plan. This past spring, AAHA launched a “seal of acceptance” program designed to encourage pet insurance companies to make high-deductible ($500 to $1,000) policies available. The seal would be awarded to a company’s policy, not the company itself. Jason Merrihew, marketing communications coordinator for AAHA, says feedback from the pet insurance industry has been positive. “The AAHA Seal of Acceptance mandates that a company using the seal must be licensed to sell the high-deductible policies in all of the states or provinces in which it is licensed,” Merrihew says. “For existing companies, the high-deductible policies must be approved for sale in at least 50 percent of the states in which the company is licensed, and the policies must have been filed in all other states where the company is licensed. Because of these stipulations, the association anticipates the first seal being awarded during the fall of 2008.” AAHA President Anna Worth, VMD, says one of the …
In With The NewApril 17, 2009 In the domain of the veterinary oncologist, the reality of gravely ill patients tends to trump any natural tendency toward optimism. So when someone like Gregory K. Ogilvie, DVM, Dipl. ACVIM (oncology), Dipl. ECVIM (oncology), peers into the immediate future of cancer treatment and says, “We’re looking at some tremendous breakthroughs,” it’s a moment to savor. “I’ve been in this for over 25 years,” he adds, “and it feels like we started with sticks and stones compared to the treatment options we have today.” Add the voice of Douglas Thamm, VMD, Dipl. ACVIM (oncology), to those express-ing hope that 2009 will be a watershed year in the cancer fight. “This is a really exciting time,” he says. “The long and short of it is we’ve just scratched the surface of how to use these new therapies.” Ditto Katherine Skorupski, DVM, Dipl. ACVIM (on-cology): “Absolutely I’m excited about these new treatments. … If they work as well as they should and could, we may be choosing them over chemotherapy or even surgery. “They have a huge potential to impact the way we practice veterinary oncology.” So what exactly is all the rosy hubbub …
Feline Diabetes: Diet, Insulin And ConfidenceApril 17, 2009In at least one regard, cats have been great at following the lead of humans, only to suffer unwanted consequences. As with humans, increasing numbers of cats are living with the effects of diabetes. In many cases, the root cause is all too familiar–advancing years and a sedentary lifestyle, which fosters weight gain and, eventually, obesity. For people and for cats, "This body condition predisposes to diabetes," says Margie Scherk, DVM, Dipl. ABVP (feline), founder of Cats Only Veterinary Clinic in Vancouver, British Columbia, and immediate past president of the American Assn. of Feline Practitioners. The good news? Feline diabetes can be highly manageable and need not shorten Kitty's life. Be consistent with treatment and diet, as well as attentive to the cat's blood glucose curves and frutosamine values, Dr. Scherk advises colleagues and clients alike. "We will get your kitty's condition stabilized over two to three months," she tells cat owners. "Be patient, because it does take some time." Scherk says her 2,500-client practice sees about three new diabetic cats a month, and it's common for clients to be fearful and a bit overwhelmed about what lies ahead. "They're concerned about the unknown costs associated with the ongoing condition," …
Seize The MomentApril 17, 2009 Advanced diagnostic procedures such as endoscopy and ultrasound are sometimes viewed as referral-only procedures. However, improvements in training and equipment have created a growing niche for these tools in general veterinary practice. With proper training and advice, practitioners may hone their skills to a level that allows the practical use of endoscopy for some cases and promotes good decisions regarding referral for other cases. Even if your practice goals don’t include the purchase of endoscopy equipment, you may benefit from becoming more familiar with this procedure. The initial cost outlay for veterinary endoscopy equipment varies. The purchase price for a general setup ranges from $5,000 to $20,000, whereas experienced endoscopists may seek equipment costing from $30,000 to $50,000 or more. Some vendors provide attractive equipment leases and lease-to-purchase options. Used and reconditioned equipment is often available at a lower cost. In addition to cost, however, veterinarians should factor in the service and support available from endoscopy vendors familiar with the veterinary market. These vendors can be an excellent resource for proper care and use of the products. Technicians trained in the cleaning and storage of endoscopy equipment can add years to the …
Get Ready For Your Close-ups! It’s X-ray Contest TimeApril 17, 2009 Veterinary Practice News’ third annual radiograph contest on the weird things vets find in animals will feature a new category especially for students. Eklin Medical Systems of Santa Clara, Calif., returns as sponsor of the popular “You Found What?” contest. Contestants will compete in two categories, professional and student. All entries must be submitted electronically to sperry@bowtieinc.com, with the e-mail subject field specifying CONTEST. Student entries must be made using digital radiography equipment. Entries must be received by Feb. 29. Winners will be announced in the June issue of Veterinary Practice News and will receive digital cameras. “We are excited to sponsor the third annual Eklin Challenge,” said Gary R. Cantu, Eklin’s president and chief executive officer. “We are especially pleased to be offering a student category. “With the growing presence of digital radiography in the majority of U.S. veterinary medical colleges, we are seeing a new wave of veterinarians entering the marketplace with digital training. They will change the way veterinary care is practiced. “I look forward to seeing the interesting cases they submit.” Statistics reported by pet-health insurance provider Veterinary Pet Insurance of Brea, Calif., …
Finding Common Ground In Pet RecoveryApril 17, 2009 More than 1 million pets are lost or stolen every year, and one in three pets will get lost during their lifetime, according to the California Veterinary Medical Assn. Without pet identification, 90 percent will not get home. The CVMA recommends that animals, in addition to wearing collars and tags, be microchipped. But for this to be effective, the pet must be registered in a recovery database. “In spite of great strides over the past two years, many pet owners are still not aware of the benefits of microchipping and enrolling their pet in a recovery database,” says Brent Saunders, senior vice president, Schering-Plough Corp. “This is why HomeAgain is investing so significantly to educate the consumer.” Although Schering-Plough is not new to the microchip industry—HomeAgain microchips have been on the market for more than 10 years—the company recently launched its HomeAgain Proactive Pet Recovery Network, hoping to improve the odds of owners finding their lost pets. “The proactive network supports pet owners in a number of ways, including sending alerts to local shelters and veterinarians and mobilizing volunteers to help search for a missing pet,” Saunders says. Rescuers in the vicinity of a …
Get Trained And Start Small, Rehab Practitioners AdviseApril 17, 2009 The line from the movie “Field of Dreams” that promises, “If you build it, they will come,” doesn’t always hold true in real life. James St. Clair, DVM, laughs when he repeats it. Four years ago, he spent $150,000 to open a canine rehabilitation center, outfitting a 2,500-square-foot building with cold laser and electrical stimulation machines, underwater and land treadmills, balance balls and, for good measure, a swimming pool. Nobody came. Today, he continues his private practice in one storefront in Meriden, Conn., while successfully operating TopDog Canine Rehabilitation Center and Fitness in another. He’s reconfigured it into a compact 600 square feet and, except for the pool, offers the original services using a certified canine rehabilitation practitioner and a massage therapist. He and other entrepreneurs are promoting franchises. He counsels veterinarians wanting to enhance their practices with rehab services and publishes TopDog Home Therapy Booklets for clients. The hard-won lesson: “If done right, done well and if you start slow and don’t go overboard initially, the money will follow,” Dr. St. Clair says. “Obviously, adding this kind of service is a huge benefit to a practice. The potential is enormous.” …
