Pet Insurance Rising In Down EconomyApril 17, 2009 Just Politics Just as advocacy groups use presidential elections as platforms to issue general policy statements, several veterinary organizations delivered position statements this year advocating their vision for veterinary health insurance. . The North American Pet Health Insurance Assn., a year-old trade group, spelled out six standards to which its members must adhere. . The American Veterinary Medical Assn.-Group Health Life Insurance Trust issued a white paper that endorses the concept of pet health insurance. (GHLIT concurrently entered an exclusive agreement with Pets Best Insurance and Aetna to offer Pets Best insurance.) . The American Animal Hospital Assn. bestowed its first Seals of Acceptance for pet insurance to the policies of Trupanion and PurinaCare. The three documents share a great deal of common ground, all emphasizing a desire that insurance providers not use their clout to influence veterinary care, fees or choice. Much as the economic crisis loomed large in the election of Barack Obama as president, it also has sparked a heightened interest in pet healh insurance from pet owners and veterinarians. Concerns about the …
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How One Clinic Promotes Pet Dental Health MonthApril 17, 2009 Veterinary practices promoting the Pets Need Dental Care, Too campaign next month—National Pet Dental Health Month—can win $1,000. The winning clinic will also receive a free membership to the American Veterinary Dental Society and a one-year subscription to the Journal of Veterinary Dentistry. The campaign is designed to help pet owners better understand the importance of dental care for their pets. It illustrates a three-step program for dental care: Step 1: Take your pet to the veterinarian for a dental exam; A group of community children on tour at Shaker Veterinary Hospital. Step 2: Begin a dental care regimen at home; and Step 3: Schedule regular veterinary checkups. “Veterinary health-care team members should also help their clients understand that while February is the month designated to the promotion of pet dental health, ensuring proper oral care requires a year-long commitment,” said Janet Donlin, DVM, chief of veterinary business channel at Hill’s Pet Nutrition Inc. of Topeka, Kan., one of the sponsors. “By promoting routine maintenance they help clients prevent periodontal disease and help ensure a healthy life.” Pet-dental seminars and lectures were held for clients and the surrounding …
Fleas & Ticks — What’s New?April 17, 2009 Theories abound as to why clients report more flea and tick infestations despite the availability of the best preventive products the profession has ever seen. Weather patterns, heightened owner awareness and neighborhood wildlife are the most likely reasons clients are slinging questions at veterinarians about ongoing flea and tick infestations and product efficacy, experts say. Although a recent study fingers global warming as the reason ticks are causing more trouble for humans than in past years, the evident issue is clients’ expectations of flea and tick products. Veterinarians might not want to get tangled in the global warming debate, but it’s still necessary for them to educate clients on realistic expectations of the products they recommend. “An overall sense of complacency has seeped into the profession and we’ve gotten away from educating clients,” says Michael Dryden, DVM, Ph.D., professor of veterinary parasitology at Kansas State University. “We treat fleas and they go away, but these products don’t last forever. Treatment must be continued to get rid of the entire infestation. Fleas can lay 40 to 50 eggs a day, and they drop in the carpet and spread anywhere the pet goes. If owners could understand …
AHS Survey Defines Heartworm Research PrioritiesApril 2, 2009The American Heartworm Society released the results of its first stakeholder survey, designed to identify the top priorities for researchers to take on. Some 495 veterinarians, scientists, industry representatives, shelter directors and animal rescue organizations ranked the importance of topics, including: The biology of Dirofilaria immitis and its vectors. The impact of climate change on transmission. Reservoirs of infection. Epidemiology of infections in different species. Issues regarding pet owner compliance. The highest-ranking priorities in veterinary practice included treatment of feline infection, feline diagnostics, treatment of canine infection and owner compliance with preventive administration. For scientists, the highest priorities included canine preventives, treatment of feline infection and feline diagnostics. Treatment of canine infection was one of the highest priorities among those who had experience in animal shelters, followed by owner compliance with preventive administration and canine preventives. Those with experience in academics or education ranked canine epidemiology as one of the highest priorities, followed by vectors of transmission and reservoirs of infection. From an industry perspective, the highest priorities were canine preventives, owner compliance with preventive administration and feline preventives. "Even though heartworm disease is an ancient threat to our companion animals, there are still critical issues that …
AKC Awards Imulan Atopic Dermatitis GrantApril 1, 2009Imulan BioTherapeutics LLC of Prescott, Ariz., received a grant from the American Kennel Club Canine Health Foundation to develop a diagnostic method for canine atopic dermatitis. The grant is based on Imulan's T-Cell Receptor peptide technology platform, the same platform being used to develop a therapeutic vaccine for canine atopic dermatitis. "We are grateful to the American Kennel Club for its research support for diseases like atopic dermatitis," said Daniel Gingerich, DVM, chief scientific officer of Imulan. "This project will examine immunological markers in blood to try and better identify patients with atopic dermatitis. If successful, Imulan's atopic dermatitis diagnostic could be available from Imulan's reference laboratory early next year." Canine atopic dermatitis affects up to 5 percent of the dog population, according to Imulan. Clinical signs include itching and an increase in topical skin infections such as staphylococcal pyoderma. <HOME>
ACVS Certifies 65 Veterinary Surgery SpecialistsMarch 17, 2009The American College of Veterinary Surgeons has board-certified 65 veterinary surgery specialists. "Successfully completing the certifying examination of the American College of Veterinary Surgeons is a personal and professional accomplishment by these former residents," said Larry Bramlage, chairman of the ACVS Board of Regents. "We, as an organization, and I personally wish to congratulate these new diplomates on the culmination of their training, the mastery of the certifying examination. I wish them all a rewarding and fruitful career as a specialist in veterinary surgery." Some 1,403 veterinary surgeons are board-certified. Almost 65 percent of ACVS diplomates are small-animal surgeons and the rest are large-animal surgeons. The 65 veterinary surgery specialists are: Name Location Nicole S. Amato, DVM Roslindale, Mass. Jonathan D. Anderson, BVM&S Davis, Calif. Jonathan R. Anderson, DVM Pittsburgh, Pa. Gregory A. Arnold, DVM Plano, Texas Nicholas J. Bacon, VetMB, MRCVS Gainesville, Fla. Jason Balara, DVM Charlotte, N.C. William J. Banz, DVM San Leandro, Calif. Britany Benson-Timberlake, DVM Delavan, Wis. Mary Sarah Bergh, DVM Madison, Wis. John M. Bevan, DVM Austin, Texas Catherine Briere, DVM Duxbury, Mass. Charles W. Bruce, DVM Manotick, Ontario Evita Busschers, DVM, MVR Kennett Square, Pa. …
Alaska Canine Cookies Pulls TreatsMarch 12, 2009The nationwide peanut butter recall has prompted another maker of dog treats to pull its product from shelves. Alaska Canine Cookies of Anchorage, Alaska said it is recalling Peanut Butter, Power Bone and Carrot Cake flavors of Canine Cookies. These products were made with peanuts recalled by Peanut Corporation of America (PCA), and have the potential to be tainted with Salmonella, the company said March 10. Salmonella can affect pets and there is risk to humans from handling contaminated pet food. The company informed customers about the recall on its website, including information on the symptoms of Salmonella, which include some or all of the following: nausea, vomiting, diarrhea or bloody diarrhea, abdominal cramping and fever. Rarely, Salmonella can result in more serious ailments, including arterial infections, endocarditis, arthritis, muscle pain, eye irritation and urinary tract symptoms. People can get Salmonella if they do not thoroughly wash their hands following contact with tainted pet food or any surfaces exposed to the product. Pets with Salmonella may be lethargic and have diarrhea or bloody diarrhea, fever, and vomiting. Some will have only decreased appetite, fever and abdominal pain. Infected but otherwise healthy pets can be …
Animal Network Sites Launch Video ContestMarch 9, 2009Lumina Media, parent of VeterinaryPracticeNews.com, has launched a monthly interactive public service announcement video contest designed to highlight pet-care topics and promote responsible pet ownership. "This is a fun and creative way for devoted pet owners to help educate others on serious pet -care issues," said Melissa Kauffman, editorial director for Lumina Media. "Our website users are amazing and we strongly believe that all of us working together will make a better world for our pets." Lumina Media will provide scripts on pet care topics, including nutrition, summer safety and disaster preparedness, on several of its AnimalNetwork.com species-specific websites: www.dogchannel.com, www.catchannel.com, www.birdchannel.com, www.reptilechannel.com, www.horsechannel.com and www.smallanimalchannel.com. Visitors will use the scripts to create PSA videos on the monthly topic. For example, the initial contest will highlight Pet Appreciation Week, June 7-13. The deadline for uploading videos to the respective sites will be May 15. One winner from all the sites will be selected each month and named the Editor's Choice PSA. The submitter will receive 1,000 points for the respective online club (dog, cat, bird, etc.) to apply toward redeemable gifts and merchandise. Winners …
American Health Kennels Inc. Issues RecallFebruary 23, 2009American Health Kennels Inc., a manufacturer of pet treats based in Pompano Beach, Fla., issued a voluntary recall of its baked dog treats as a result of the expanded recall by the Peanut Corporation of America's (PCA) Blakely, Georgia plant. The manufacturer said no reports of illness have been received. "We are effecting this recall in the interest of public safety even though we know our product is safe," American Health Kennels said in a statement. PCA's Blakely facility is the subject of an ongoing U.S. Food and Drug Administration probe into potential Salmonella contamination of peanut paste and other peanut products. The recall includes the following items made by American Health Kennels: American Health Kennels Inc., Cookie Bars: Creamy Peanut Butter UPC 725999522004; PB & Carob Chips UPC 725999523001; Lucious Carob UPC 725999521007; 4 pack Cookiebar Assortment UPC 725999538005; Best Before: 11/09 . American Health Kennels Inc., Peanut Butter Crunch 12oz UPC 725999001103; 16oz UPC 725999161104; Best Before: 11/09 . American Health Kennels Inc. Bark Bars Peanut Butter: 1.5oz Jumbo UPC 725999000168; 2.25 Pillow Pack UPC 725999333105; 2.5lb canister UPC 725999005064; 5lb bulk UPC 725999001257; 6oz …
'Feel The Feedback' in energy workFebruary 8, 2009Along the continuum of veterinary medicine, perhaps no alternative treatments stand further from drugs and surgery than do those nested under the umbrella of “energy work.”
