Veterinary study shows promise for noninvasive echotherapy treatmentJune 5, 2018 A canine cancer patient was found to be cancer free following a noninvasive focused ultrasound treatment, reports Theraclion, a company specializing in medical equipment for echotherapy. The procedure was administered as part of a veterinary study at the Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine (VMCVM), financed by the Focused Ultrasound Foundation, which is investigating the treatment of dogs with sarcomas and mast cell tumors with Theraclion's Echopulse technology. "These canine tumors tend to occur on the limbs and may recur if they are not entirely removed. As a result, often amputation is required," said Jeffrey Ruth, DVM, DAVBP, DACVR, clinical assistant professor of radiology at VWCVM. "It is our hope that focused ultrasound will add to current treatment options by providing a way to noninvasively ablate the mass and also trigger an anti-tumor immune response." The study is one of several launched by the Focused Ultrasound Foundation in its veterinary program to develop focused ultrasound therapies for the treatment of companion animals. While the technology was originally designed to treat tumors in humans, its robotic design allowed for it to be easily adapted for veterinary uses, according to Theraclion. "As veterinary treatments are …
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TraumaFX releases advanced canine medical simulatorJune 5, 2018K9 Diesel, a new canine medical simulator, has been released for commercial availability by TraumaFX, a division of Kforce Government Solutions and global provider of human and canine medical training simulators. Developed jointly with the U.S. Department of Defense (DOD), K9 Diesel offers 28 different features and medical intervention sites. The simulator builds on the TraumaFX K9 Hero model released in 2016, which offered a rugged design and life-like skeleton. K9 Diesel's added features include: Adjustable, realistic breathing Added audio cues (including four different sounds an injured dog might make) Interchangeable limbs Packable axillary wounds Decompression for gastric dilatation volvulus (GDV) Realistic venous and arterial bleeding for hemorrhage control training. Additionally, users are able to easily preprogram training scenarios, which can be named and saved for future use, allowing instructors to focus on the techniques of the learner while the simulator functions on its own throughout the exercise and captures the results for later review. "With K9 Diesel, operational K9 care is realized for the first time via simulation," said Carolyn Hollander, vice president of TraumaFX. "Working closely with DOD operational K9 teams, we have been able to replicate many more real-world medical situations." The simulator …
Bulldog dies after botched neuter at fake vet clinicJune 1, 2018Two Florida residents are facing charges of animal cruelty and practicing veterinary medicine without a license after a neutering procedure performed at their "veterinary clinic" resulted in a dog's death. On April 23, Omarnestor Delrio took his 12-year-old American bulldog, Royalty, to what he thought was a veterinary clinic in Hialea, Fla., but was just an apartment that occupants Jose Alvarez-Marrero, 58, and Sophia Gonzalez, 40, had set up as a makeshift veterinary clinic. According to police reports, Delrio had brought Royalty to the pair before for veterinary treatment; however, neither Alvarez-Marrero nor Gonzalez is a licensed veterinarian. Anesthesia was administered on a couch, the dog was moved to a folding table, and Alvarez-Marrero began the procedure. After suturing, when Royalty began to swell around the removed testicle area, Alvarez-Marrero reopened the incision and gave the dog more anesthesia after he exhibited signs of discomfort, according to reports. Delrio returned to the apartment with Royalty twice after the procedure: two days later after complaining to Alvarez-Marrero his dog wasn't eating or drinking, and then again when additional treatment failed to work. Delrio took Royalty to a Knowles Animal Clinic in Miami, but it was too late. Royalty died one week …
Enter Veterinary Practice News' 2018 They Ate What?! X-ray ContestJune 1, 2018Pets eat the most puzzling things that land them in the vet's office: shoes, coins, socks, teddy bears, watches, rubber ducks, rocks, lightbulbs, kitchen utensils, pendants, golf balls, and more. If the rads weren't there to prove this stuff actually happens, the tales would be hard to believe. That's why Veterinary Practice News is asking the veterinary community to submit radiographs to the 2018 They Ate What?! X-ray contest that show how truth is often stranger than fiction when it comes to the contents of some pets' stomachs. The winner, selected by a panel of veterinarians and Veterinary Practice News editors, will receive $500 and a one-year subscription to Web PACS, a Picture Archiving Communications System valued at $2,400, from contest prize sponsor, IDEXX Laboratories Inc. How to enter: Go to VeterinaryPracticeNews.com/xraycontest and log in or register to enter. Upload high-resolution images—large files reproduce best—and fill in your name, clinic name and address, telephone number, and a short explanation of the case, including the outcome. If available, include images of the patient and the recovered item(s). The submission deadline is July 23. The winner and honorable mentions will be unveiled in the …
WSAVA global veterinary therapeutics access campaign gains supportersJune 1, 2018As the World Small Animal Veterinary Association (WSAVA) continues its campaign to secure equal access to veterinary therapeutics around the world, more global animal health organizations lend their support. The World Veterinary Association, the Federation of Veterinarians of Europe, and the Federation of Companion Animal Francophone Veterinary Associations are the latest groups to join the cause with 10 WSAVA member associations already involved. In a 2016-2017 member survey, 75 percent of respondents confirmed that challenges to accessing veterinary medical products hampered their ability to meet the needs of their patients, and 20 percent assessed the impact of this issue as resulting in a severe restriction on their ability to provide a high level of care. "We face a Herculean task in trying access everything from basic medical consumables, such as syringes and needles, right up to veterinary drugs," said Olatunji Nasir, DVM, MVsc (Surgery), MCVSN, medical director and CEO of the Truthmiles Animal Hospital in southwest Nigeria, one of the countries affected. "Registration fees are very high because they are the equivalent of what is charged for human drugs despite the fact that the volume used is much lower. The process of registering a new drug …
Report: 4 factors transforming veterinary industryJune 1, 2018Growing competition for flea and tick medication sales online, the aging demographics of the veterinary profession, the heavy debt load of recent veterinary school graduates, and the money being offered by consolidators are transforming the veterinary industry, according to market research firm Packaged Facts' Pet Industry Outlook: Veterinary Services and Pet Product Retailing. Consolidation and ecommerce trends that in large part are fueling the shifts tie in to significant changes in the pet industry overall, including consumer preferences for pet product shopping. "It's all about customer loyalty," said David Sprinkle, research director for Rockville, Md.-based Packaged Facts. "As choices increase and customers can get their veterinary services and pet products in many places, customer loyalty spanning in-store and online will be key to retaining business and driving growth across the pet market." Consolidation brings greater purchasing power and cost savings to chain veterinary practices, including those under the expanding veterinary umbrella of Mars Inc., and those associated with pet superstores, the report states. The main challenge for independent practices is to establish how their personalized service differentiates them from the growing field of chain veterinarians. However, pet ownership attitudes, expectations, and spending patterns, along with the …
Blue Buffalo sets $3M fundraising goal to fight pet cancerMay 31, 2018Six million dogs and nearly the same number of cats are affected by cancer each year. Despite the huge impact of the disease, consumer surveys indicate that eight in 10 pet owners know little to nothing about pet cancer symptoms. To help combat the issue, Blue Buffalo Foundation announced plans to raise more than $3 million this year to help find a cure for feline and canine cancer. The foundation's annual consumer education program and Pet Cancer Awareness fundraising campaign, which have recognized May as Pet Cancer Awareness Month since 2004, provides financial support for families affected by pet cancer and funding for research at veterinary colleges and nonprofit organizations across the country. In October last year, the foundation awarded the Animal Cancer Foundation a $1 million research grant to launch the Canine Cancer Genome Project, which maps the tumor genomes of the most common cancers in dogs. "Everyone has been touched by human or pet cancer at some point," said Gerald Post, DVM, MEM, DACVIM (Oncology) and chief medical officer at The Veterinary Cancer Center in Norwalk, Conn. "For our loved ones, the pace of cancer research and the development of innovative treatment is too slow." For more …
Report: More pet skin allergies caused by fleas than foodMay 31, 2018According to Banfield Pet Hospital's recently released 2018 State of Pet Health Report, which explores the science behind skin allergies in pets and sheds light on flea, environmental, and food allergies, the latter isn't to blame for itchy skin as often as some might believe. According to Banfield's report, food allergies affect just 0.2 percent of dogs and 0.1 percent of cats, meaning other causes should be explored if food allergies are suspected. Further, flea allergies have risen over the past 10 years, including a 12 percent increase in dogs and a 67 percent increase in cats, and environmental allergies also are on an upward trend, with a more than 30 percent increase in dogs and 11 percent increase in cats over the last decade, the report stated. According to Banfield data, cats are twice as likely as dogs to be found with fleas; however, fleas exist in all types of weather, on outdoor and indoor pets and in all 50 states all year long. While environmental allergens for pets vary by region and climate, many are found in a typical pet owner's home, including pollen, dander, molds, and cleaning solutions. Additionally, Wisdom …
Petplan warns of potential summer hazards for petsMay 31, 2018With summer fast approaching, Petplan pet insurance recommends veterinarians advise their clients about potential dangers that may threaten the safety of their pets throughout the warmer months. The company released a list of 10 hazards for owners to keep in mind when traveling, exercising, and socializing with their pets in the hot weather. "Having your furry family members tag along on summer vacation is becoming more popular with pet owners, but it also adds an extra level of responsibility," says Jennifer Maniet, DVM. "Just be sure to prioritize your pets' needs when making your plans. Make sure they will have access to plenty of clean water, shady places to cool down, and above all else, constant supervision. Summer goes by quickly and the last thing you want is to spend time and money treating potentially avoidable medical emergencies." Here are some common summertime risks, courtesy of Petplan, as well as the potential resulting costs, according to the company's claims data from 2017. 1. Keep an eye on your pet while at the beach. Eating sand could lead to intestinal blockage, and drinking ocean water might cause dehydration, disorientation, and seizures related to salt toxicity. Related …
University of Sydney researchers discover domestic cat hepadnavirusMay 31, 2018Scientists in Australia have identified a new feline disease, tentatively named domestic cat hepadnavirus, which is similar to that of hepatitis B in humans. The discovery, which has been published in the journal Viruses, could impact human medical research, as well as the health of cats, according to the University of Sydney research team. Researchers at the university made the breakthrough during their search for cancer-causing viruses in the tissue of an immunocompromised cat. The disease was identified after Jasper, a cat belonging to researcher Julia Beatty, Ph.D., professor of feline medicine at the university, died from heart disease and was found to be carrying a virus previously unidentified in cats. The Morris Animal Foundation-funded research team, including Dr. Beatty, was able to map a complete genome of the new virus and then tested banked samples from cats, including Jasper. In addition to his heart disease, Jasper also had feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV). Researchers found the new domestic cat hepadnavirus present in 10 percent of cats tested with FIV and 3.2 percent of non-FIV infected cats, mirroring the higher frequency of hepatitis B found in humans with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). Beatty affirmed …
