Research Predicts Continued Animal-Health Market GrowthApril 17, 2009newsline September 29-October 3, 2003 Fireflies might prove a fatal snack to exotic reptiles, according to a health alert released by the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals' Animal Poison Control Center (APCC). Veterinarians should alert pet owners and advise them to take steps to prevent both the intentional or accidental ingestion of these common insects, the center reported. Based on a handful of reports from reptile owners, symptoms of poisoning quickly follow a lizard's ingestion of fireflies. These symptoms include head shaking, oral gaping, unsuccessful attempts at regurgitation and a darkening in color. The symptoms usually appear within 30 minutes of ingestion, and death might follow within the hour. Death is thought to be a result of heart malfunction. "A single firefly would have a very high probability of resulting in death," says Dr. Steve Hansen, board-certified veterinary toxicologist and director of the APCC. The warning is being issued to amphibian and bird owners as well. In addition to the lizard cases, fatal poisonings in tree frogs have been documented. In another instance, a bird that ingested a firefly …
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Prepare For Pet First-Aid AwarenessApril 17, 2009cover storiesPet First-AidPet First-AidWith April designated as National Pet First-Aid Awareness Month, it's an opportune time to put client educational plans into action.With April designated as National Pet First-Aid Awareness Month, it's an opportune time to put client educational plans into action.Prepare for Pet First-Aid Awareness Dr. Amy Shroff shows pet owners in a first-aid class how to check a dog's mucous membrane color. By Marissa HeflinVeterinary Practice News A veterinarian's role is not just about helping injured and sick animals. It is about client education, says Amy Shroff, VMD, emergency and critical care chief of staff at Veterinary Emergency & Specialty Center of New England in Waltham, Mass. With April designated as National Pet First-Aid Awareness Month, it's an opportune time to put client educational plans into action.The better veterinarians train pet owners on how to prepare for emergencies and how to act when one occurs, the better chance the pet has to survive, says Dr. Shroff, who holds pet first-aid classes at her clinic. She says that the classes have been increasing in popularity, going from quarterly to almost monthly, drawing sometimes as many as 50 people. The classes teach pet owners how to …
Editors Announce 2006 Winner Of The 'You Found What?' ContestApril 17, 2009cover storiesX-ray Contest Winners 2006X-ray Contest Winners 2006It is official, snakes have dominated the Eklin Challenge for the past two years. It is official, snakes have dominated the Eklin Challenge for the past two years. Editors Announce 2006 Winner Of the 'You Found What?' Contest Snake, Snake, MouseLaura Chenault, DVM, and Scott Johnson, DVM, of the Animal Emergency Clinic of Northwest Austin in Austin, Texas, submitted the grand prize winning X-ray of a boa constrictor that ate a pit viper that ate a mouse. It is official, snakes have dominated the Eklin Challenge for the past two years. This year's grand prize winner is the snake that ate a snake that ate a mouse submitted by Laura Chenault, DVM, and Scott Johnson, DVM, of the Animal Emergency Clinic of Northwest Austin in Austin, Texas. Their patient was a 5-year-old female boa constrictor named Princess who shared the house (but not a cage) with a pit viper. Princess' owners took her to the emergency clinic after they found her loose in the house curled up inside the pit viper's cage. The viper was nowhere to be found. The winning X-ray clearly shows that Princess had eaten the …
Third Inconclusive BSE Test ReportedApril 17, 2009newsline November 18, 2004Another inconclusive result for bovine spongiform encephalopathy in a cow was reported from a rapid screening test this morning, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service. "The inconclusive result does not mean we have found another case of BSE in this country," said Andrea Morgan, APHIS associate deputy administrator. "Inconclusive results are a normal component of screening tests, which are designed to be extremely sensitive so they will detect any sample that could possibly be positive." Tissue samples have been sent to the USDA's Veterinary Services Laboratories, and results are expected back within four to seven days. This is the third inconclusive result reported this year. The previous two, reported in July, were confirmed negative for BSE. Since the first two tests, however, the USDA has changed its reporting procedures for inconclusive tests. That this result has been announced means the sample tested inconclusive twice. The first two reports had been tested once prior to the announcement of the results, reported Morgan during a question-and-answer session this morning. 11-18-2004Third Inconclusive BSE Test ReportedThird Inconclusive BSE Test ReportedThird Inconclusive BSE Test ReportedThird Inconclusive BSE Test ReportedThird Inconclusive BSE Test ReportedAnother …
Sensible Supplements For ImmunonutritionApril 17, 2009oncologyoutlook By Alice Villalobos, DVM For Veterinary Practice News Highly metastatic cancers can kill their victims despite a timely and complete excision of the primary tumor. This aggressive biologic behavior results from the early dissemination of scout cells into the lymphatic and circulatory system before detection of the primary tumor. Mom Dog was given a poor prognosis following splenectomy and liver lobectomy for a bleeding hemangiosarcoma. Her owners were using a combination of supplements that added up to 51 items. Photo Courtesy of Dr. Villalobos These abnormal aggressive scout cells acquire an immortal nature, survive the body's immunosurveillance and are able to develop into new clones of cells that accumulate into metastatic tumors. The new metastatic clones are often more resistant than the primary tumor because of the hardiness of their progenitor scout cells. It would be ideal if there were a safe way to fortify high-risk breeds, aging pets and post-operative cancer patients against cancer. It seems obvious to me and to others in research and clinical medicine that people and animals can, and do, benefit from immunonutrition and/or chemoprevention. I started using anticancer supplements for my patients …
Veterinary Practice News Cover Stories ArchivesApril 17, 2009cover storiesrrhfsfgrdfdfsrfgfdagesesedagrersdd 1-22-2007Veterinary Practice News Cover Stories ArchivesVeterinary Practice News Cover Stories ArchivesVeterinary Practice News Cover Stories ArchivesFind past featured veterinary practice cover stories in the archives.Find past featured veterinary practice cover stories in the archives.Find past featured veterinary practice cover stories in the archives.
ProMeris Flap Is Over 1 Case, Fort Dodge ReportsApril 17, 2009 Fort Dodge Animal Health of Overland Park, Kan., reports that, despite widespread e-mails claiming that its topical flea and tick product ProMeris caused adverse reactions in seven dogs, the report is isolated to one case. The company statement was posted at www.promeris.com. “Based on the high number of e-mail forwards and Internet postings, it may appear there are multiple adverse events being reported,” the statement reads. “However, based on our research, it appears that all of this online activity stems from a single case.” Fort Dodge was contacted April 11 by a veterinarian reporting an adverse reaction involving six Siberian huskies and one mixed-breed, all of which live in the same household. The report states that the dogs exhibited vomiting, lethargy, pruritis and behavior change several hours after administration . Fort Dodge says it is working with the veterinarian to collect all relevant information. Since the product’s introduction to the market late last year, the company says, the most common adverse event reported is lethargy, which can occur if a dog ingests the product. “We suspect that the dogs ingested the product by licking each other after application,” says Tom …
Florida Vet Center Opens Outpatient Imaging CenterApril 17, 2009 University of Florida Veterinary Medical Center will open a new outpatient imaging center on today. GatorVetImaging will give private and specialty practice veterinarians access to the center’s magnetic resonance imaging and computer tomography without the need to refer cases through the center’s traditional clinical services. “GatorVetImaging brings the best medical technology of the VMC directly to practitioners,” said Matthew Winter, DVM, head of the center’s radiology service. “We envision this as a way to assist the veterinary community in handling their more challenging and involved cases within the context of their established client/patient relationships.” To schedule an appointment, call 352-273-8585 or email gvi@vetmed.ufl.edu. <HOME>
Wedgewood To Exchange Expired MedsApril 17, 2009 Veterinarians can return custom-compounded medications for exchange at no cost through Wedgewood Pharmacy’s new Refresh exchange program. Through the program, the company will exchange unopened, expired compounded veterinary medications that are in its regular formulary, including those prepared by other compounding pharmacies. Exceptions include controlled substances and oncology-related medications. “In July, we surveyed our veterinarian prescribers; 77 percent of them said that containing costs is a very important issue for them,” said George Malmberg, R.Ph., president and chief executive officer of Wedgewood Pharmacy, based in Swedesboro, N.J. “When we asked how we could help them with this issue, they said, ‘Do something about the short shelf-life of compounded medications.’ We listened and developed the Refresh exchange program in response.” Click here for details. <HOME>
Tampa Tops Cat-Friendly Cities ListApril 17, 2009Jane Brunt, DVM, executive director of the CATalyst Council, and council chairman Dan Kramer announce the Top 10 cat-friendly cities. Tampa, Fla., is the nation’s most cat-friendly city, the CATalyst Council reported March 27 at the American Animal Hospital Assn. conference in Phoenix. The council based its Top 10 list on criteria such as the size of a city’s cat population, the percentage of microchipped cats, the number of American Assn. of Feline Practitioners members in the city and the number of Cat Fancy magazine subscribers. Extra points were awarded for cat-friendly local ordinances and if the city’s mayor owned a cat. Top 10 Cat-Friendly Cities 1. Tampa, Fla. 2. Phoenix 3. San Francisco 4. Portland, Ore. 5. Denver 6. Boston 7. Seattle 8. San Diego 9. Atlanta 10. Minneapolis “Cats really are America’s No. 1 companion,” said Dan Kramer, senior marketing manager for Pfizer Animal Health of New York and chairman of the CATalyst Council. “Our goal is to recognize and celebrate why cats are such popular companions. We applaud the efforts of these major metropolitan areas for providing a wealth of resources for cats and their owners.” Kramer joined Jane Brunt, DVM, the …
