No Vacation This Year From Lyme, Heartworm DiseaseMarch 13, 2014 Besides heat waves and thunderstorms, other serious conditions will threaten the United States this year as temperatures rise, the Companion Animal Parasite Council warned today. The nonprofit Salem, Ore.-based group is forecasting the spread of tick-borne Lyme disease beyond its traditional borders and a heightened risk of heartworm disease across much of the nation. The council used computer models similar to those employed to predict hurricanes to issue several advisories to veterinarians and pet owners: • Lyme disease, historically a Northeastern threat, is spreading into the Midwest and southward through the mid-Atlantic states. • New England and the Pacific Northwest will play host to Lyme disease hot spots. • The region from Virginia to Texas, and even into California, will be at high risk of ehrlichiosis. • The risk of heartworm disease, which is transmitted by mosquitoes, may be particularly bad in Texas, the Southeast and along the Pacific coast from Northern California to Washington state. To keep pets safe, CAPC recommends: • Using medications that offer year-round protection against ticks, heartworm and other parasites. • Scheduling regular veterinary checkups. • …
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Activyl Manufacturer Knocks Effectiveness of Frontline PlusMarch 13, 2014A study comparing the efficacy of the spot-on topical flea treatments Activyl and Frontline Plus has left one pet pharmaceutical manufacturer declaring victory and a competitor challenging the research. Merck Animal Health on Feb. 26 released the results of an in-home study that found Activyl, in the company’s words, “was more effective than Frontline Plus in controlling flea populations on pets.” Frontline Plus is manufactured by Merial Ltd. of Duluth, Ga. “Activyl eliminated more than 99 percent of fleas on pets after two monthly applications versus a 54.8 percent reduction achieved by Frontline Plus,” Merck reported. “At the end of the two-month study, nearly five times more pets treated with Activyl were flea free, and Activyl users found significantly fewer fleas in their homes.” Merial countered that in-home product comparisons are unreliable because of multiple variables. “These variables include pre-existing flea biomass (eggs, larvae, pupae) in the home, differences in temperature and humidity between different homes, flea development ‘hot spots’ outdoors, and even flea-infested visitor pets,” the company noted in a prepared statement. “We know from many years of conducting our own flea and tick control research that studies such as this—conducted in pet owners’ homes—are not well suited for …
We Should Have Learned These Lessons BeforeMarch 6, 2014 Everyone learned that “What goes up must come down.” Anyone with money in the stock market in late 2008 saw accounts drop seemingly by half almost overnight. Real estate values went down and the banks became unstable. As a result of the economic meltdown, the Gross National Product fell and the unemployment rate rose. All in all, not a good time for most people from 2008 through 2010. The specific numbers are still being crunched, but the veterinary profession was not as affected as most other business sectors. Most veterinarians felt lucky they were not automobile dealers, real estate salespeople, bankers or stock brokers. Were veterinarians hurt? Absolutely, but not to the extent many others were hit. The specific effect depended on your practice location, practice type and your attitude about the recession. In most cases, veterinary practices were somewhat resistant to the recession, although not recession-proof. From various surveys done by AAHA, AVMA and NCVEI, reported gross revenues vary from being up 10-15 percent to being down 25-30 percent. As Dr. Karen Felsted, CEO of NCVEI, has said many times, “Flat is the new up.” Some practices on both coasts of the …
Elanco Animal Health to Buy German Poultry Vaccine MakerFebruary 25, 2014 Elanco, the animal health division of Eli Lilly and Co., reported today that it will acquire poultry vaccine manufacturer Lohmann Animal Health. Lohmann, based in Cuxhaven, Germany, also markets a range of feed additives. “The addition of Lohmann Animal Health provides a unique opportunity for Elanco to expand our presence in the global poultry market and to enter the global poultry vaccine market with a solid base, established products, and global commercial and manufacturing capabilities,” said Jeff Simmons, president of Elanco Animal Health. The agreement grants Greenfield, Ind.-based Elanco all the assets of Lohmann SE and its animal health subsidiary, including plants in Cuxhaven and Winslow, Maine. The transaction price was not disclosed. The deal is subject to regulatory approvals and is expected to close in the second quarter of 2014. Elanco reported that the acquisition complements the company’s “mission to help the global food chain deliver a safe, affordable, sufficient food supply.” “As the middle class grows in size and affluence throughout the world, the demand for eggs and poultry is growing rapidly,” said William Weldon, vice president of Elanco research and development. …
Penn Vet Educator, Equine Surgeon Charles Raker Dies at 93February 25, 2014 Charles W. Raker, VMD, Dipl. ACVS, who co-founded the University of Pennsylvania’s New Bolton Center campus and was credited with training many of today’s equine surgeons, died Feb. 16. He was 93. Dr. Raker was a charter diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Surgeons, which he helped found in 1965 and served as president in the mid-1970s. “Dr. Raker was a quiet giant, a gentleman, modest and humble, a trusted man of integrity,” said Corinne Sweeney, DVM, New Bolton Center’s associate dean and executive director of its large animal hospital. “He was such an important figure in the history of veterinary surgery and of New Bolton Center.” Raised in Chester County, Pa., Raker spent eight years in private practice after graduating from Penn Vet’s School of Veterinary Medicine in 1942. He returned to Penn Vet in 1950 as an assistant professor of veterinary medicine in a move designed to enhance the school’s livestock and large animal curriculum. “I looked on teaching as a challenge and never looked back,” he later recalled. After helping establish New Bolton Center in 1952, Raker took a crash course in surgery at Cornell University with a focus …
Med-Vet Issues Limited Recall of Insulin SyringesFebruary 21, 2014 Medical products distributor Med-Vet International is voluntarily recalling 140 boxes of mislabeled veterinary insulin syringes. The Oasis syringes were labeled with 40 units per 0.5cc when they should have been marked with only 20 units per 0.5cc, Med-Vet reported today. The mix-up could lead to lower than prescribed insulin doses, the Mettawa, Ill., company stated. Animals receiving subtherapeutic doses of insulin may show signs of hyperglycemia, including dehydration, an increase in thirst, urination, malaise or lethargy, and urinary tract infections. No injuries have been reported, Med-Vet added. The recall involves the Oasis 0.5cc U-40 insulin syringe with a 29-gauge, half-inch needle. The lot number is 20120610, and the item number is MV1/2CCINS-40 or 1/2CCINS-40. The syringes were distributed from January 2013 to February 2014 to veterinarians, consumers, animal hospitals, animal shelters and farmers, Med-Vet stated. The company is fielding questions by telephone at 800-544-7521 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. CST and by email at customerservice@shopmedvet.com. <HOME>
Alaska Vet Wins My Vet’s the Best ContestFebruary 21, 2014 An Alaska veterinarian who serves an area larger than the entire state of Minnesota was named the grand-prize winner of Pets Best Insurance Services’ annual My Vet’s the Best contest. Sarah Coburn, MS, DVM, practices at North Slope Borough Veterinary Clinic in Barrow, Alaska. The clinic is the sole source of veterinary care within an 89,000-square-mile area, Pets Best reported. Dr. Coburn was presented with a $1,000 check Tuesday during the Western Veterinary Conference in Las Vegas. She intends to spend the money on shelter and insulation for outdoor dogs. “I believe I won My Vet’s the Best because our situation and remoteness here is so different from what most other veterinarians face,” Coburn said. “It’s a challenge, but it’s interesting every day. Since it’s an area that can’t support a private vet, I’m glad to provide a service that otherwise wouldn’t be here. It’s a lot of variety, and it’s very rewarding.” She treats everything from dogs and cats to snowy owls and walruses, and she helps state health inspectors with examinations at local restaurants. She also will work at the Iditarod dog sled race, which kicks off March 1. Coburn was selected …
Ark Sciences Releases Canine Sterilization DrugFebruary 18, 2014 The only FDA-approved nonsurgical sterilization drug for male dogs began shipping to U.S. veterinarians Monday nearly a decade after an earlier version exited the market. The new drug, Zeuterin Injectable Solution, is a blend of zinc gluconate and the amino acid arginine. The manufacturer, Ark Sciences Inc. of Ventura, Calif., has trained and certified more than 400 veterinarians in the use of Zeuterin. The procedure does not involve traditional neutering—the surgical removal of a dog’s testicles. Instead, Zeuterin is injected without general anesthesia directly into each testicle using a fine, 30-gauge needle. Sperm production ends within one to three days, and the testes ultimately shrink, the manufacturer stated. The drug is indicated for male dogs ages 3 to 10 months and may be delivered under mild sedation. “It’s a simple, one-time procedure that takes only minutes,” said celebrity veterinarian Marty Becker, DVM, who attended the product launch Monday at the Western Veterinary Conference in Las Vegas. “It is such an improvement over traditional castration that shelter operators and veterinarians are embracing it.” Dr. Becker reported that Zeuterin is the first veterinary product he has endorsed. Also present at the unveiling were McAllen, Texas, …
Animal Allergy Firm Bio-Medical Merges With ALKFebruary 18, 2014 An allergen extract manufacturer known for its work in human medicine has entered the U.S. veterinary sector with the acquisition of Bio-Medical Services, a veterinary reference laboratory that pioneered in vitro serum IgE allergy testing for animals. ALK, based in Round Rock, Texas, expanded its product portfolio with the addition of Bio-Medical’s ACTT Allergy Management Program. The program includes serum immunoglobulin E (IgE) allergy testing, bulk allergen sales for veterinary dermatologists and allergen-specific immunotherapy treatment such as ACTT Allergy Drops, ALK reported. “Joining forces with ALK will allow us to provide complete allergy management resources to veterinary dermatologists and general practitioners alike,” said Pamela Blaine, Bio-Medical’s marketing director. “By leveraging the expertise of both companies, we will enhance and expand the ACTT Allergy Management Program to provide the most comprehensive resource for allergy testing and treatment in the industry.” Terms of the transaction, which was announced Wednesday, were not released. Bio-Medical, based in Austin, Texas, introduced in vitro serum IgE allergy testing to the veterinary industry in 1989, the company reported, and has helped treat allergic diseases in dogs, cats and horses. ALK has researched human allergies since 1923. The company also provides diagnostic …
On Duty for On CallFebruary 13, 2014 Tragedy struck early on the second day of the 2013 Breeders’ Cup races in Arcadia, Calif. Just before the final turn of the Juvenile Fillies on Nov. 2, the thoroughbred Secret Compass and her jockey, John Velazquez, went down in a heap. A partition quickly went up around the 2-year-old filly as track and medical personnel attended to her. Many of the 58,795 horse-racing fans filling Santa Anita Park sensed a horrible outcome, and they were right. It was left to Wayne McIlwraith, BVSc, Ph.D., Dipl. ACVS, to relay the official word to reporters from around the world. “Secret Compass sustained a lateral condylar fracture with dislocation,” his statement began. “[It was] an injury we can’t bring them back from because when they dislocate on the track, they lose their blood supply. “So she has been euthanized.” A member of the American Association of Equine Practitioners’ On Call service, the Southern California veterinarian was tasked with delivering the sad news in his part-time role as a media intermediary. Before Dr. McIlwraith’s news conference took place, Larry Bramlage, DVM, MS, Dipl. ACVS, provided the same information to viewers watching the races on NBC …
