Planning For RetirementApril 17, 2009 In the November issue of Veterinary Practice News, Mark Crootof, DMV, discusses how practice owners can plan for retirement. In this Web exclusive, he finishes up with the question of what to do with yourself once it's all said and done. The last question to ask while planning for retirement seems obvious, but it's one which most veterinarians rarely consider: What are you going to do after you retire? Retirement may not be the extended holiday you anticipate. You’ve spent your life working hard and mostly enjoying it, so it’s unreasonable to think that abruptly you’re going to be happy sitting around for the next 30 years. Sure, a week with your feet up is great, but soon you might find you’re itching for something to do. Because most vets work incessantly in their professional careers, the majority have not cultivated the hobbies that might otherwise fill the empty hours. To avoid post-retirement depression, you should start thinking now of how you would like to spend your time. That trip to the French Riviera is appealing, but what are you going to do when you return? Maybe volunteer for a library, work …
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Vaccination Facts Vs. FictionApril 17, 2009 The latest iterations of both the canine and feline vaccine guidelines have been available since the end of 2006. Clearly these guidelines have affected how veterinarians select and use vaccines, but questions and controversies remain. The guidelines are available at www.aahanet.org and www.aafponline.org. Why Vaccine Guidelines? One of the most significant reasons for publishing vaccine guidelines is the fact that an unprecedented number of vaccines are available to veterinarians today. There are approximately 23 vaccine antigen types for the dog and 18 types for the cat. Combined, there are over 180 proprietary (trade name) vaccines used in companion animal practices throughout the U.S. But it’s not just the number of vaccines that drives the need for vaccine guidelines. With so many vaccines to choose from, veterinarians continue to express concern over the frequency of vaccination, the duration of immunity of the various vaccines in use, the important changes in vaccine technology (recombinant and DNA), vaccine safety, medical, legal, and ethical responsibilities associated with implementing a rational vaccination program, and much more. Core Vaccines Neither the American Animal Hospital Assn. Canine Vaccine Guidelines nor the American Assn. of …
Prosthetics Advance With OsseointegrationApril 17, 2009 Animal limbs damaged beyond repair are typically amputated, but specialists say the recent success of osseointegration may change the veterinary standard of care. Veterinary oncologists and surgeons performing frequent amputations due to disease or accident are especially interested in finding alternatives to removing an entire limb when only a portion is adversely affected. “Osseointegration is the connection of living tissue and bone with an artificial implant and has seen success through numerous surgeries,” says Denis Marcellin-Little, DEVD, associate professor of orthopedics at North Carolina State University. “The procedure is similar to that used in dentistry with artificial teeth and allows the patient to retain the integrity of the limb.” Infection and implant longevity have stymied vertical evolution of the procedure until now. Dr. Marcellin-Little recently performed osseointegration on a German shepherd missing a portion of its rear leg, while Erick Egger, DVM, associate professor of small-animal orthopedic surgery at Colorado State University, used osseointegration to replace the foot of a Saluki. Both animals are bearing weight on their new limbs. These procedures serve as markers for the future of animal prosthetics. The implant allows the prosthetic limb to attach without chafing or irritation, and gives …
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 …
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 …
