BVA Elects New PresidentApril 17, 2009 The British Veterinary Assn. recently elected Nicky Paull of Lostwithiel, Cornwall, as president for 2008/2009. The ceremony took place during the Annual General Meeting in London on Sept. 28. “The challenges ahead appear daunting but I guess no one would take this job on and expect it to be easy,” Paull said during the inaugural president’s speech. “And that is how I see it—a job—not an honor—the honor will be at the end of my tenure if the profession can look back and see I have done a good job.” Paull said one of BVA’s biggest challenges is to engage fully with its members as well as with the whole profession, and therefore will be the theme of her presidency: communication and engagement with the profession in the whole of the United Kingdom. During this next coming year, BVA will look into increasing membership, “by providing services and support that members want and by providing the political lobbying that the profession needs.” The association will also tackle the current pets travel derogation, which needs lobbying both in the United Kingdom and Europe, and address hot topics such as the genetics of pedigree dog …
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Thyroid Diagnosis, Treatment Options EvolveApril 17, 2009 Options for diagnosing and treating the most common thyroid conditions in dogs and cats are far from stagnant. “I always tell our students that if we proportioned the hours of our teaching of endocrinology to be consistent with the likelihood of seeing a problem in practice, I estimate that we’d spend 70 to 80 percent of our time teaching about thyroid disease,” says Duncan Ferguson, VMD. Dr. Ferguson, Ph.D., Dipl. ACVIM and ACVCP, is a professor of pharmacology and head of the department of veterinary biosciences at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. In dogs and cats, two thyroid conditions are by far the most prevalent. “In dogs, the most common thyroid condition is hypothyroidism, with 50 percent lymphocytic thyroiditis and 50 percent idiopathic atrophy,” says Julie Flood, DVM, who works in the internal medicine department at Advanced Critical Care & Internal Medicine in Tustin and Culver City, Calif. “It is currently unknown if the idiopathic atrophy is the end result of lymphocytic thyroiditis. “In cats, the most common thyroid condition is hyperthyroidism—with more than 95 percent secondary to functional thyroid adenomas,” she adds. “Thyroid carcinomas are rare.” Both hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism …
ProHeart 6 To Relaunch Under Risk Minimization ProgramApril 17, 2009 Fort Dodge Animal Health will reintroduce its ProHeart 6 (moxidectin) Sustained Release Injectable for Dogs to the U.S. market under a post-marketing surveillance, restricted distribution and risk minimization program patterned after similar programs for human medications—a first for a veterinary medication. Under the program, veterinarians wishing to purchase ProHeart 6 must first participate in an online training program and communicate the product’s risks and benefits to pet owners, including providing them a Client Information Sheet and obtaining a signed informed-consent form, before administering the product. Fort Dodge will hold the first training program Thursday, June 12, at 1 p.m. EDT (register at www.vetsymposium.com/proheart6). The program will then be available continuously the following day. The product’s label has been revised to warn against administering the drug within one month of vaccinations and to use the product with caution in dogs with pre-existing allergic diseases, including food allergies, allergic hypersensitivity and flea allergy dermatitis. It also warns against administering the drug to dogs that are sick, debilitated, underweight or that have a history of weight loss. “This is the first veterinary drug to be marketed under a risk minimization and restricted distribution program,” …
"Pocket Pet" Specialty Provisionally RecognizedApril 17, 2009 The American Veterinary Medical Assn. has granted the exotic companion mammal specialty provisional recognition. The new specialty will focus on rabbits, ferrets, guinea pigs, mice and other small mammals commonly known as “pocket pets.” It also includes more unusual small pets such as hedgehogs and sugar gliders, but doesn’t include illegal pet species such as prairie dogs and Gambian giant pouched rats. The new specialty is needed because of the increasing knowledge about small animals, and there are now enough specialists and potential diplomates to administer and govern the new practice area, said Larry Dee, DVM, the AVMA American Board of Veterinary Specialties representative from the American Board of Veterinary Practitioners. Applicants for the new specialty will be required to have six years' experience in the specialty, letters of reference and relevant education. They must have published articles in the field and must pass a two-day examination. The American Board of Veterinary Practitioners will oversee the credentialing and testing of candidates. The first examination is expected to be held in November 2009, and the first group of diplomates is expected to be certified in December 2009. Click here for details.
Illinois Holds Hearing On Tail Docking, Ear Cropping RestrictionsApril 17, 2009 The Illinois Senate Agriculture & Conservation Committee held a hearing on March 10 concerning SB 139, which limits the practices of tail docking and ear cropping in the state. Results of the hearing were not available at press time. The bill amends the Humane Care for Animals Act and considers ear cropping and tail docking “animal torture” unless the procedures are performed by an Illinois licensed veterinarian for a medical reason. Torture, as defined in the bill, means the infliction of or subjection to extreme physical pain, motivated by an intent to increase or prolong the pain, suffering or agony of the animal. A person convicted of violation would be guilty of a Class 3 felony. The American Kennel Club posted a news alert March 10 encouraging dog owners and breeders to contact their state legislators to oppose the measure. The AKC said it “recognizes that ear cropping, tail docking and dewclaw removal, as described in certain breed standards, are acceptable practices integral to defining and preserving breed character and/or enhancing good health. Appropriate veterinary care should be provided.” <HOME>
Ducks Could Pose Avian Flu ThreatApril 17, 2009 Domestic ducks may be a silent reservoir for H5N1 avian influenza virus and be playing a greater role in the spread of the disease than previously thought, three international health organizations reported today. A laboratory sudy of domestic ducks infected with several strains of H5N1 virus isolated in 2004, compared with infections caused by viruses from 2003, showed that domestic ducks were shedding the virus for longer periods and without showing signs of illness, the Food and Animal Organization of the United Nations, the World Health Organization and the World Organization for Animal Health (OIE) reported in a joint statement. The study found the quantities of virus shed by healthy-looking ducks appoached thoses shed by visibly diseased chickens. The finding follows previous evidence that the virus has become more virulent in chickens and mice and is now infecting mammals, notably domestic cats and tigers, that had not been previously considered susceptible, the organizations reported. The agencies called for research to determine how widespread avian flu is in ducks and to determine the effectiveness of existing vaccines on duck populations. The agencies also said health officials in affected countries, primarily Asia, should consider exposure to ducks …
VCA Antech Sees Same-Store Revenue Grow 1.4%April 17, 2009 VCA Antech Inc.’s animal hospital division recently reported revenue of $253.25 million for its third quarter ended Sept. 30, compared to revenue of $229.41 million in the year-ago period. This represents a 10.4 percent increase, driven primarily by acquisitions, including seven animal hospitals with combined annual revenue of almost $12 million. Same-store revenue grew 1.4 percent in the third quarter. Year to date, the division reported revenue of $730.35 million, compared to revenue of $635.05 million in the year-ago period. Year to date, the company acquired 43 animal hospitals with combined annual revenue of more than $87 million. The laboratory division reported revenue of $77.07 million for its third quarter, compared to $74.27 million in the year-ago period. Year to date, the division reported revenue of $235.63 million, compared to revenue of $227.07 million in the year-ago period. The medical technology division reported revenue of $12.55 million for its third quarter, compared to revenue of $11.09 million in the year-ago period. Year to date, the division reported revenue of $38.23 million, compared to revenue of $32.9 million in the year-ago period. Overall, Los Angeles-based VCA Antech reported net income of $35.77 …
New Program Provides Immunization Support GuaranteeApril 17, 2009 Pfizer Animal Health has implemented an Immunization Support Guarantee program that gives veterinarians financial protection in the event of an immunization failure. The program covers diagnostic and treatment costs up to $5,000 if a dog or cat vaccinated with a Pfizer antigen contracts the corresponding disease. It includes coverage for up to four years on core antigens and up to one year on most non-core antigens. “While no manufacturer can guarantee exactly how a pet will respond to a vaccine, our company can guarantee how we will support you, your clients and your patients, should the need arise,” said Amy Trettien, DVM, manager, veterinary operations, Pfizer Animal Health. The immunization support guarantee includes the following pathogens for up to four years: • Canine distemper virus • Canine parvovirus • Canine adenovirus 1 & 2 (infectious canine hepatitis) • Canine parainfluenza virus • Feline parvovirus (feline panleukopenia) • Feline herpesvirus-1 • Feline calicivirus The pathogens that are covered for up to one year include: • Leptospira (L. icterohemorrhagiae, L. canicola, L. grippotyphosa, L. pomona) • Bordetella bronchiseptica • Canine coronavirus • Chlamydia psittaci (chlamydophila felis) • Feline leukemia virus Pfizer said it is not proposing …
Vets Mull Microchip Privacy IssuesApril 17, 2009 Legislative body of veterinarians to consider resolution at national conference.The American Veterinary Medical Association’s House of Delegates, the professional organization’s legislative body, will decide on Saturday whether the group should formally oppose the use of microchip registration databases for marketing purposes while endorsing their use strictly for reuniting animals and their owners. Veterinarians favoring such a statement are concerned that if companies mined the databases for marketing purposes, pet owners would be less likely to register microchips and decrease their effectiveness in reunited pets and their owners. The veterinarians expect registrations would decline even if pet owners were given the opportunity to opt in (or out) of possible marketing efforts. Another concern is that microchip database information could give an unfair advantage to companies with access to those databases. On the other hand, database-based marketing and advertising campaigns could help offset costs of maintaining such databases, potentially reducing fees for pet owners. At issue is not the use of microchips for identification purposes, but strictly the use of databases for other purposes. If adopted, the resolution would be symbolic only. The House of Delegates meets annually in conjunction with the AVMA’s annual convention. …
Pet Spending Topped $43 Billion In 2008April 17, 2009 Despite the recession and cuts in discretionary spending, the pet industry is robust and resilient, according to the American Pet Products Association. APPA’s latest pet industry spending figures show that total pet spending reached $43.2 billion in 2008, with no declines in any category from 2007. APPA forecasts that it won’t stop there either, estimating that total pet spending for 2009 will reach $45.4 billion. APPA released the data Feb. 13 at Global Pet Expo in Orlando, Fla. Leading the way in the health care-related pet spending categories is veterinary care. Total spending in this segment in 2008 was $11.1 billion. Medical advances have made for a much broader and more elaborate menu of services, such as cat scans, root canals, cancer surgery, antibiotics and grief counseling. This leads to an anticipated 9.9 percent growth in this category to $12.2 billion in 2009. With the added costs of pet health care comes an increase in pet insurance, currently estimated at $271 million and projected to grow to $500 million by 2012. Pet services is the next fastest growing category. This includes grooming, boarding, training and pet …
