Why A Relationship With A Pet Shop Is Like A Pact With The DevilApril 17, 2009I live in an area less heralded for its animal welfare record than for its legions of pretty people who (inexplicably) made the word "chic" synonymous with something as dubiously glamorous as a teacup Chihuahua. In fact, last year the Humane Society of the United States ranked south Florida's animal welfare record almost rock bottom on a list of 25 major metropolitan areas. Dragging us way down was Miami's apparent penchant for purebred pets purchased through puppy peddlers. It's no secret there's no love lost between the HSUS and the live-pet retail industry, just as it's no shock to learn that its anti-pet-shop bias stems from poor regulation of this industry's living inventory when it comes to health care—our purview. After all, everyone knows where most of these pets come from (sort of rhymes with "run-of-the-mill"). And it doesn't take a rocket scientist to decipher the code for "high-quality breeder" when applied to the vast range of designer pedigree pooch producers flooding the retail pet market with their wares. In my experience the so-touted "high-quality breeder" that pet shops claim as their source is about as rare as a bulldog without brachycephalic syndrome. Puppy mills and their backyard breeding cousins …
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Tackling Equine FluApril 17, 2009Influenza is not seasonal in horses in the same way winter seems to be "flu season" for humans. But there are similarities and differences in the human and equine flu viruses: Both are highly contagious. Clinical signs are similar: coughing, nasal shedding, fever, lethargy and loss of appetite. The risk increases with exposure to other animals or people. Vaccinations for horses as well as humans are an important part of preventing disease. Rest is an important component of recovery for both species. "The incidence of horses being affected varies from year to year," says D. Craig Barnett, DVM, senior equine technical services specialist for Intervet Inc/Schering-Plough Animal Health of Paola, Kan. "Suffice it to say that equine influenza is the leading cause of infectious upper respiratory disease in the horse. "Like in humans, the potential for exposure, or risk, to our horses increases as the horse population grows," he says. Also increasing exposure: more frequent and extensive traveling in today's equine world. If a horse's immunity is built up, he will usually get over the flu quicker, says Robert Holland, DVM, senior technical services veterinarian for Pfizer Health's equine business unit. "Every day a horse has a fever will take …
Banfield Mobile Unit To Aid In Southern California FiresApril 17, 2009 Banfield’s mobile emergency pet hospital is getting ready to assist with pet emergencies related to the fires taking place in Southern California. An exact location where the mobile unit will be set up has not yet been released. The 32-foot-long hospital trailer will be staffed by two veterinarians and three veterinary technicians and will contain a surgical suite, treatment area and 10 kennels. As of Wednesday, all of Banfield’s hospital team in the greater San Diego area had been accounted for. Although some Banfield pet hospitals are closed temporarily due to weather conditions, including smoke and ash, the hospitals are currently safe from immediate paths of the fires, according to a Banfield spokesman. Should Banfield hospitals have to close, answering machines will indicate area emergency pet hospitals where clients can seek immediate assistance. All Banfield California team members have received preparedness and evacuation procedures in the event that evacuation should become necessary. Banfield of San Diego is currently housing several cats from the Helen Woodward Animal Center, a nonprofit organization that provides care and adoption for animals as well as educational programs for people. In related news, PetSmart …
Human-Animal Bond Alive And Well At AVMA New OrleansApril 17, 2009 The American Assn. of Human-Animal Bond Veterinarians (AAH-ABV) hosted the informative human-animal bond sessions at the American Veterinary Medical Assn. conference in New Orleans in July. Dr. Sam Costello, the 2007 Bustad Companion Animal Veterinarian Award recipient, gave the annual Leo Bustad Memorial Lecture. Dr. Costello’s topic, “The Healing Power of Therapy Animals,” was a wonderful presentation showing how community service with therapy animals has enriched his career. Dr. Martha Littlefield, president of the AAH-ABV, organized the sessions for the meeting. Her topic, “Public Awareness Programs for the Human-Animal Bond” promoted the value of education and information to help people take advantage of existing programs when they need help. Dr. Littlefield, Louisiana state veterinarian, was very involved in the Katrina Hurricane aftermath. She is particularly optimistic for the future of disaster preparedness for animal health and safety. She hopes that lessons learned at Katrina will help offset the suffering that occurred during the fumbled Katrina rescue efforts. Hilton Cole, who has a career in shelter care, addressed a touchy topic involving the media, “Being Ready for Media: Breed-Specific Bond Problems in a Community – Pit Bulls.” Some of the questions he addressed were: What do you …
Complications? What Complications?April 17, 2009 Complications after a spay are more common than one might think. Slatter’s Textbook of Small Animal Surgery reports the following complication rates in the “Ovary and Uterus” chapter: • 18 percent overall complications in one study. • 33 percent suture reactions in another one. Some complications include: • Hemorrhage (the most common cause of death). • Ovarian remnant syndrome. • Uterine stump pyometra, inflammation and granuloma. • Fistulous tracts, typically due to braided, non-absorbable suture material used as ligatures. • Ligation of a ureter. • Urinary incontinence in 11 percent to 20 percent of cases. • Weight gain of 26 percent to 38 percent. Additionally, problems related to any abdominal surgery include anesthesia complications, delayed wound healing or dehiscence, incisional infection, self-trauma to the incision and retained gauze square. Related Article: Should You OE or Should You OHE? <HOME>
Menu Foods, P&G Recall Some Wet Pet FoodsApril 17, 2009 Menu Foods of Emporia, Kan., issued a North America recall for its “cuts and gravy” dog and cat food manufactured between December 3, 2006 to March 6, 2007 in response to a “small number” of U.S. consumer reports of pets vomiting and suffering kidney failure after eating the items. Ten deaths have been recorded, the company said in a statement. Menu Foods manufacturers pet food under a variety of brands and at press time did not have a list of those affected, but a complete list will be provided on the company website March 17 at 6 am EST at www.menufoods.com/recall. In response to Menu's recall, P&G Pet Care in Dayton, Ohio, which contracts with Menu to produce certain foods, recalled potentially affected products in the United States and Canada. Specific products include 3-oz., 5.5-oz, 6-oz., and 13.2-oz cans and 5.3-oz. foil pouches of Iams and Eukanuba cat and dog foods made by Menu. P&G's recall includes discontinuation of all retail sales of affected products and product retrieval from consumers. Affected products are market with a date code of 6339 through 7073 and a plant code of 4197, P&G reported. On …
Insurer Lists Top Reasons Pets Go To The VetApril 17, 2009 ar infections were the top reason dogs were taken to the veterinarian in 2007, according to Veterinary Pet Insurance of Brea, Calif. The company analyzed its medical claims to determine the most commonly claimed conditions for dogs and cats. The top reason cats were taken to the veterinarian was because of urinary tract infections. For both dogs and cats, the top 10 conditions accounted for about 25 percent of all medical claims received in 2007 by VPI. Top Reasons Dogs Went to the Vet • Ear infections • Skin allergies • Pyoderma/ hot spots • Gastritis/ vomiting • Enteritis/ diarrhea • Urinary tract infections • Benign skin tumors • Eye inflammation • Osteoarthritis • Hypothyroidism Top Reasons Cats Went to the Vet • Urinary tract infections • Gastritis/ vomiting • Chronic renal failure • Enteritis/ diarrhea • Diabetes mellitus • Skin allergies • Colitis/ constipation • Ear infections • Respiratory infections • Hyperthyroidism The biggest change on either list was feline enteritis, which jumped from No. 16 in 2006 to No. 4 in 2007. Also, almost a third of all the common conditions could be related to or exacerbated by diet, diet changes or dietary …
ImproMed Chooses Partners To Enhance Documentation, IntegrationApril 17, 2009 ImproMed Inc.’s Infinity v4.3 is now compatible with Smiths Medical PM Inc.’s SurgiVet Veterinary Data Logger, an accessory to the vital signs monitor SurgiVet Advisor. The Data Logger accumulates trend data from the monitor onto a removable flash media card in the form of Microsoft Excel files. When using it with Infinity’s software, clinics can attach a paperless file to the patient record. ImproMed has also partnered with Sound Technologies Inc. to provide integration with Digital Imaging and Communications in Medicine. ImproMed’s Infinity will be able to generate Modality Worklist entries from a patient’s medical record that can fill image requests directly to the digital imaging equipment and apply charges to the client’s invoice. After the image capture is completed, the final digital images can be accessed directly from the patient’s medical record. ImproMed is in Oshkosh, Wis.; Smiths Medical is in Waukesha, Wis.; and Sound Technologies is in Carlsbad, Calif. <HOME>
Blood Typing And Cross-matchingApril 17, 2009 Successful transfusion medicine in the veterinary industry relies heavily on blood typing and crossmatching—and recognizing the difference between the two. Blood typing focuses on the antigens on the surface of the red cell. Crossmatching focuses on antibodies in the plasma. In a crossmatch, donor red cells are mixed with the plasma of the recipient. If antibodies exist in the recipient plasma to antigens on the red cells of the donor, transfusion reactions can occur. Ann Schneider, DVM, director of Eastern Veterinary Blood Bank in Severna Park, Md., says that veterinarians today are more willing to blood-type and crossmatch their patients than they have been in the past. “This is a great benefit to the patients, the veterinarians and the blood banks, as it not only reduces the possibility of a transfusion reaction, but it also helps us allocate limited resources to benefit the largest number of patients.” Anne Hale, DVM, owner and director of Midwest Animal Blood Services Inc. in Stockbridge, Mich., says that improvements in point-of-care blood typing technologies continue to enhance veterinary practitioners’ ability to blood-type recipients and provide type-matched transfusions for their patients. “Crossmatching test kits are available to allow point-of-care …
Equine Nutrition Conference Scheduled For MayApril 17, 2009The Southeast Equine Conference, focusing on "Horse Nutrition for the Future," is set to take place May 8-9 at the Agricenter in Memphis. The conference, which will also be available online with an interactive Webcast, is open to veterinarians, horse owners and the general public. "Participants will hear the latest scientific information from some of the nation's leading equine professionals," said Preston Buff, Ph.D., who is board certified in equine nutrition and with Mississippi State University's Extension Service. "We will address nutrition issues related to reproduction, foals, performance horses, easy-keepers and older horses. Other topics include dental advancements, selenium nutrition and feed management for diseases and disorders." The conference will open with a free reception and trade show from 5-7 p.m. May 8. Registration fees before May 1 for the second day of the event are $50 to attend in Memphis or $35 online. Sponsors include MSU's Extension Services and the University of Tennessee. Click here for details. <HOME>
