Just Say ‘No’ To Big-Ag Antibiotics?May 5, 2010 How many times do we small animal types hand out a vial full of antibiotics, urging our clients to administer every last pill on schedule, only to have them decline: “No need. We have a bunch left over from last time. Remember Fluffy’s UTI last year?” Our clients’ chronic failure to comply with our antibiotic drug recommendations means we’re contributing to the development of antimicrobial resistance. In which case it won’t be our patients’ health alone that suffers, but eventually ours, too. We stress over this as we try to devise and recommend new delivery methods, hedging against poor client compliance with long-acting injectables, expanding our indications for pre-drug selection culture and sensitivity and generally employing more conservative antibiotic protocols. The standard of care in veterinary medicine is rapidly evolving to address how our antimicrobials are acting––or rather, failing to. No longer does that spay go home on a week’s worth of cephalexin just because. Nor do we base our antibiotic decisions on the nicely laminated, paint-by-numbers wall charts our drug reps recommend. This evolution in daily practice comes courtesy of the science underlying microbial mutation: Chronic or episodic exposure of bacteria to …
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Homotoxicology: Rise To Rationality?May 5, 2010 Homeopathic “medicine” suffers second-class status in relation to its scientific counterpart, allopathic medicine. This is largely because homeopaths have chosen to immerse themselves in irrational ideas about the healing power of infinitesimal dilutions. Continuing education courses still teach participants how to prescribe homeopathic remedies despite the lack of validation and a solid factual foundation. Homeopaths have failed to provide solid proof of effectiveness even after two centuries of practice. In light of this, more medical practitioners are coming to realize that classical homeopathy may actually equate to a highly ritualized means of recommending costly placebos. In Great Britain, for example, government agencies that formerly backed homeopathy are contemplating elimination of National Health Service coverage for homeopathic care precisely on account of this concern. Given the pressure on homeopaths to produce clear evidence of benefit, one might think that a recently published clinical trial might silence the skeptics. This study, by University of Helsinki veterinary medical faculty, showed that a “homeopathic” combination called “Zeel” successfully treated chronic pain in osteoarthritic dogs.1 The study was randomized, double-controlled and double-blinded. The investigators received multiple sources of funding in addition to that from the makers of Zeel (Heel …
50 Years Of Collegiality On And Off SlopesMay 5, 2010 Do you have a group of friends in the profession who mentor you and whom you enjoy being with? Ever since joining one special professional group, I have not missed one winter meeting. In fact, I have scheduled my life to spend time with this group as much as possible, with perfect attendance at the winter meetings for the past 38 years. Fifty years ago, Robert M. Miller, our profession’s famous veterinary cartoonist RMM and the author of “Mind Over Miller,” organized an association for veterinarians who love to ski and learn. The first four winter meetings were held at Mammoth Lakes, Calif. The founders were Dr. Miller and the late Drs. Mil Custer, John Puckett and Robert Stansbury. The group grew every year and evolved into the Sierra Veterinary Medical Association. The SVMA has forged a colorful history of collegiality, friendship, recreation, travel and professional enrichment. Dr. Miller retired more than 20 years ago from his Conejo Valley Veterinary Hospital in Thousand Oaks, Calif. Since then, Bob and his wife, Debby, have traveled the globe, working hard with the mission to liberate horses from slavery through “Natural Horsemanship.” Go to his website, RobertMMiller.com, for details. …
Pfizer Hands Out First Awards Of New $2M Scholarship ProgramMay 5, 2010 Pfizer Animal Health of New York has awarded 222 second- and third-year U.S. veterinary students with a total of $555,000 in scholarships. The awards are part of the company’s new $2 million scholarship program, designed “to support the future of the veterinary profession.” The program, which will distribute the $2 million over its first three years, is administered in partnership with the American Veterinary Medical Foundation. Although open to all students, 18 percent represent students from diverse backgrounds and two-thirds are studying to practice food animal veterinary medicine. Pfizer Animal Health noted that the scholarship program is part of its broader commitment to support the future of the veterinary industry, including scholarships, training and education and research and development. “Rising debt, insufficient diversity and fewer practicing or skilled food animal veterinarians in rural America are serious challenges to the veterinary profession,” said Michael McFarland, DVM, group director, Veterinary Medical Services & Corporate Citizenship, for Pfizer Animal Health. “As a market leader, we have a responsibility and an obligation to help support the future of the veterinary profession.” Click here for a list of winners and program details.
We’ve Come A Long Way In 40 YearsMay 4, 2010 Back in the late 1960s, I applied for a job at three veterinary clinics, wanting to be a veterinarian. I got head shakes that said “no” and looks of pity. Once I was in veterinary school, it was obvious that women were not entirely welcome by some staff and classmates. I was the only student who was overtly upset when our pharmacology professor demonstrated seizure activity by administering a drug to a dog. After class, I approached our professor. “This is 1968,” I told him. “We have TV and film. I’d rather watch seizure activity on the screen so that only one dog would have to be subjected to this. Here we are in vet school to save animals and we feel horrible to see this type of unnecessary live demonstration.” The professor replied that he hated that particular class and that it was getting more difficult for him every year. He said he would film the next case so future classes would not feel so badly. Was I one of the first animal welfarists back then? Now, women are the majority in every U.S. veterinary school and ethical concern for animal welfare is standard procedure. …
Leading Lady: Jennifer Muller, VMDMay 4, 2010 Jennifer Muller, VMD, didn’t take the conventional path into veterinary medicine. Armed with a bachelor’s degree from Brown University, she went to work in the mid-’90s in Washington, D.C., first as a White House intern and later as a policy adviser to Vice President Al Gore. When the 2000 elections swept the Bush administration into power, she changed course, moving to California to start a career in scriptwriting. Hollywood’s loss turned out to be the veterinary profession’s gain. Dr. Muller’s unconventional career path was excellent preparation for the role she ended up taking on: Helping to create policies that have drastically improved the regulation of, and living conditions at, Pennsylvania’s commercial dog breeders.“That worked out so well, I ended up going to vet school,” she says dryly. She has served on Pennsylvania’s Dog Law Advisory Board since 2006 and has chaired the state’s nine-member Canine Health Board since 2008. The regulations she has had a hand in are a model for other states trying to improve conditions in their kennel industries, Muller says. Vet of the Year The veterinary profession has taken notice, too. Muller, 36, was named Summit VetPharm’s Veterinarian of the Year, receiving the …
U.K. Suicide Study Prompts Calls To ActMay 4, 2010 Researchers in the United Kingdom reported in March that the suicide rate of veterinarians there is four times that of the general public and double that of other health professionals. While similar research doesn’t exist for the U.S., authorities believe there is a parallel. An Issue Close to Home Jerome Williams, DVM, chairman of the Alabama Wellness Committee and owner of Red Mountain Animal Clinic in Birmingham, Ala., has been in practice since 1969. He says his recovery from an opiate addiction has been extremely difficult and remains a challenge. He believes that professional mental health assistance is essential for a meaningful recovery. Alabama’s wellness program, overseen by the state medical board, assists veterinarians and veterinary technicians in need. An addiction/occupational medicine specialist directs the wellness program. Dr. Williams says a study looked at what became of physicians disciplined for psychiatric problems rather than supported and treated. That group had a very high suicide rate—more than 20 percent killed themselves over 10 years. “Later studies have shown that physicians with psychiatric problems, when supported and referred …
Women In Veterinary MedicineMay 4, 2010 The concept is mystifying to some. How and why has the veterinary profession shifted so dramatically from a male-dominated field to one where women are edging ahead? Consider these facts: This year, women hold 78 percent of veterinary school seats, according to the Association of American Veterinary Medical Colleges. . As of 2009, the American Veterinary Medical Association reported, female veterinarians outnumbered their male counterparts for the first time: 44,802 to 43,196. Bonnie V. Beaver, DVM, Dipl. ACVD, a professor at Texas A&M University and a past AVMA president, credits Title IX, which in 1972 abolished gender discrimination in federally funded education. “The thought was that women would get married, start families and drop out of the program,” Dr. Beaver says of the mindset before 1972. “The profession needed veterinarians and it was thought that it wasn’t worth the risk to have a woman take a seat that could be occupied by a man. This was the thought in many industries.” Since then, university administrators have tried to encourage a more diverse applicant pool, which in turn makes for a profession that more closely matches the community …
Nominations For Distinguished Vet Immunologist UnderwayMay 4, 2010 The American Association of Veterinary Immunologists is soliciting nominations for its AAVI Distinguished Veterinary Immunologist award. The award, open to members and non members of AAVI, is intended to honor an immunologist for outstanding contribution to veterinary immunology. Nominations are due May 25. The association describes recipients as individuals whose contribution to veterinary immunology is widely acknowledged as significant and important to the understanding of the immunology of domestic and/or wild animals. Any individual other than a current member of the Nominations Committee, who is nominated by an AAVI member in good standing, is eligible to be considered for the award. Letters of nomination should be emailed to David Hurley, chair of the AAVI Nominations Committee, at djhurley@uga.edu. The nominee’s C.V. must be included. <HOME>
Henry Schein’s Vet Business Sees Marked IncreaseMay 4, 2010 Henry Schein Inc.’s North American veterinary division May 4 reported revenue of $206.6 million for its first quarter ended March 27, up 271.5 percent from the year-ago period. The figure includes sales of Butler Schein Animal Health since Jan. 1. “Butler Schein Animal Health is the largest distributor to veterinary practices in North America, and we are pleased that the integration of that business is progressing according to plan,” said Stanley Bergman, chairman and chief executive officer of Henry Schein. International sales of $609.5 million increased 16.4 percent, consisting of 7.5 percent growth in local currencies and 8.9 percent growth related to foreign currency exchange. “International growth reflects strong performance in the dental and veterinary businesses, as well as particular strength in France, Australia, Germany, Spain and Switzerland,” Bergman said. “With continuing sales growth in our international business combined with the effects of a restructuring completed in the first quarter of 2010, we look forward to further increasing our international operating margins.” Overall, Henry Schein reported net income of $67.3 million on revenue of $1.8 billion for its first quarter, compared to net income of $59.3 million on revenue of $1.5 billion in the year-ago …
