Veterinary World Comes to Consensus on EpilepsyOctober 26, 2015A team of veterinarians and neurology experts has agreed on a common definition of epilepsy in an effort to ensure the condition is correctly diagnosed in dogs and cats and that researchers are consistent in their thinking. The latest consensus statement is one of seven produced by the International Veterinary Epilepsy Task Force. The 26-member group was formed in 2014 and includes four U.S. veterinarians, among them Ned Patterson, DVM, Ph.D., an epilepsy researcher at the University of Minnesota College of Veterinary Medicine. “The group’s findings will create a common language among practitioners and provide best practices for veterinarians treating dogs and cats with epilepsy,” Dr. Patterson said. An estimated 780,000 dogs are diagnosed with epilepsy each year in the United States, but whether individual patients actually have the disease or suffer from another neurological condition is an open question. “Lack of consistency among epilepsy researchers concerning classifications, definitions and therapeutic outcome measures makes it difficult to draw comparisons and significantly limits the scientific impact of the studies,” said another task force member, Karen Munana, DVM, MS, Dipl. ACVIM. Dr. Munana, a professor of neurology and neurosurgery at the North Carolina State University College of Veterinary Medicine, focuses on canine …
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Report Predicts Continued Growth in Pet Drug SalesOctober 26, 2015U.S. sales of pet medications are forecast to reach $7.02 billion this year, a 6.9 percent jump from 2014, according to the market research firm Packaged Facts. The newly released report “Pet Medications in the U.S., 4th Edition” calculated that sales of prescription and over-the-counter drugs by veterinary hospitals and Internet and brick-and-mortar retailers should rise to nearly $9 billion by 2019. Excluded are sales of nutritional supplements as well as drugs for horses and food animals. The report’s author, George Puro, predicted that veterinarians will end this year with a 59 percent share of the pet medications market, up 1 percentage point from 2014. The third edition of the report, released in early 2014, projected $8 billion in sales this year, but the total was slashed because of what Puro termed a “somewhat more conservative sizing of the market.” “As we’ve done with our ‘Pet Market Outlook’ and several other Packaged Facts products in the last couple of years, we’ve revised our methodology based on additional information and resources we have about the market,” Puro explained. The new report projects that the $8 billion mark won’t be surpassed until 2018. Sales in 2019 should hit $8.87 billion. Puro linked …
NAVC Adds Association, Innovation ProgramsOctober 26, 2015Continuing to expand beyond its annual conference and year-round continuing education, the North American Veterinary Community has launched an Industry Services Division and the Veterinary Innovation Council. The Industry Services Division aims to assist veterinary associations with their management, planning and conferences. NAVC has been active in the arena, partnering with the National Association of Veterinary Technicians in America in 2013 on the group’s day-to-day operations and with organizations such as the Association of Reptilian and Amphibian Veterinarians and the American Academy of Veterinary Nutrition. The senior director of industry services, Adrian Hochstadt, JD, CAE, said one goal of the newly formed division is to help “veterinary industry associations make major strides in their programs for members.” “Each client will have the option of keeping its own brand and identity, while being able to take advantage of being part of the NAVC family,” he said. The division also can help with certification programs, information technology, tax preparation, and website and mobile app development. Hochstadt’s second job title is executive director of the Veterinary Innovation Council, which NAVC described as a nonprofit association tasked with “convening the brightest minds in the profession and industry” to tackle innovation opportunities. “Existing …
Report Calls for More Vets in AppalachiaOctober 23, 2015The Appalachian region, stretching from southern New York to northern Mississippi, could use hundreds of more veterinarians. A report issued by the Lincoln Memorial University College of Veterinary Medicine and the Center for Animal Health in Appalachia (CAHA) found 7,178 practicing veterinarians in West Virginia and portions of 11 other states that make up the region. However, the researchers discovered that 75 percent of Appalachia’s rural counties could support 1,907 additional veterinarians. The shortage causes an economic loss estimated at $621 million a year and 15,256 jobs—both veterinarians and support staff. Altogether, veterinary practices provide 57,424犀利士 jobs in the Appalachian region, boosting the economy by an estimated $2.3 billion a year. The 205,000-square-mile region is home to 13.8 million pets and 13.7 million large animals, the report stated. “Veterinarians are indeed important to the economy of Appalachia and rural America,” said Jason Johnson, DVM, MS, Dipl. ACT, the executive director of CAHA and medical director of Lincoln Memorial’s DeBusk Veterinary Teaching Center. “What we have discovered through this research is that much of Appalachia is underserved by veterinarians, and there is a significant loss of economy due to the lack of …
Veterinarians At CSU Teaching Hospital Remove Hairball From LionOctober 23, 2015Chances are you’ve come across a hairball or two when treating cats. It’s possible you’ve had to surgically remove a hairball from one of them. Par for the course, right? But when the cat is a 450-pound African lion and the hairball is 3.8 pounds, it’s probably a little different. The lion, named Arthur, resides at the Wild Animal Sanctuary in Keenesburg, Colorado, but had to be taken to Colorado State University’s veterinary teaching hospital on Tuesday to have a hairball removed from his stomach. #ColoradoState vets removed a 3.8 lb. hairball from the stomach of Arthur, a 450-pound African lion, yesterday pic.twitter.com/pR9GVI8775 — CSU Vet Hospital (@CSUVetHospital) October 21, 2015 “Lions normally expel hairballs, just like house cats, so this was a rare problem,” staff at the veterinary teaching hospital told ABC7. Arthur is recovering back at the sanctuary.
Ohio Vet School Honors Faculty MembersOctober 23, 2015The Ohio State University College of Veterinary Medicine recently honored two faculty members for teaching excellence. Teresa Burns, DVM, and Meghan Herron, DVM, were recipients of the 2015 John Lyman Jr. Award for Clinical Teaching Excellence and Dr. Charles W. Fox Family Teaching Excellence Award, respectively. Each award signifies the recipient’s remarkable ability to teach and commends the work they have done to go above-and-beyond, according to the university. The Ohio State University College of Veterinary Medicine Dr. Teresa Burns (center) receives the John Lyman Jr. Award for Clinical Teaching Excellence. She stands with two members of the Lyman family. Dr. Teresa Burns is a clinical assistant professor specializing in equine medicine and surgery. Burns received her award based on fourth-year student evaluations and the Division of Educational Resources. She also received a 2015 Alumni Award for Distinguished Teaching from the entire university earlier this year. Dr. Meghan Herron is a clinical assistant professor in behavioral medicine. Herron received her award based on course evaluation forms from all
Penn Vet to Host Symposium on Kidney, Urinary HealthOctober 22, 2015The University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine (Penn Vet) will host the Innovation in Kidney & Urinary Health Symposium on November 15. The event is sponsored by Penn Vet’s Ryan Hospital’s Comprehensive Kidney and Urinary Care service. Five board-certified specialists from Ryan Hospital will discuss a variety of topics concerning a comprehensive approach to kidney and urinary disorders and disease. Speakers include: Lillian R. Aronson, VMD, professor of surgery; founder and director, Penn Vet Renal Transplantation Program; “Surgical and Interventional Approach to Cancer of the Upper and Lower Urinary Tract” and “Surgical and Interventional Approach to Urinary Calculi.” Dana Clarke, VMD, assistant professor of Interventional Radiology and Critical Care; “Surgical and Interventional Approach to Cancer of the Upper and Lower Urinary Tract” and “Surgical and Interventional Approach to Urinary Calculi.” JD Foster, VMD, staff veterinarian—medicine; director, Penn Vet Extracorporeal Therapy Service; “Global Approach to Chronic Kidney Disease” and “Hemodialysis.” Giacomo Gianotti, DVM, DVSc, staff veterinarian, service head—anesthesia; “Anesthetic Management of the Patient with Renal Disease.” Erica Reineke, VMD, assistant professor of critical care; “Emergency Management of Uremic Crisis.” Seven continuing education …
Women’s Fashion Line Created By VeterinarianOctober 21, 2015Medicine is a stressful occupation. Add to that a father with cancer and that stress level multiplies. Since the veterinary clinic isn’t the place to disengage and free your mind of thoughts, Jennifer Stetcher, DVM turned to fashion. In what little free time she had, Dr. Stetcher sketched designs of women’s clothing. “I found out that my dad’s prostate cancer had spread to his spine, and it was a really hard thing to have to deal with,” she told DNAinfo. “I love what I do as a veterinarian, but it’s not as if I can completely forget everything when I’m [in the clinic] because I have to be very [in tune] with everything. So I started to design just as an outlet and it was exactly what I needed.” Stetcher is originally from Iowa and hadn’t sketched since she was a child. Instead, she realized her dream was to become a veterinarian and worked hard to achieve that goal. Now that she has, she’s turned to sketching as an outlet. That outlet, however, has turned into a little bit of a second job. Stetcher is launching her …
After Dog's Recovery, Tufts University Reminds Owners About the Need for Genetic TestingOctober 20, 2015Recently, Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine at Tufts University nursed a dog back to health after it nearly died. Bristol, a 4-year-old Australian Shepherd, was brought to the school’s Foster Hospital for Small Animals in early September, barely responsive and experiencing persistent seizures. Her owner suspected Bristol was suffering from severe ivermectin toxicity, a condition in which ivermectin, the active ingredient in some heartworm prevention medicines, crosses the blood-brain barrier and causes neurological damage. The case, the university says, highlights the value of a simple genetic test that can help owners determine if their pets are vulnerable to what in most cases is a safe, commonly used drug. Bristol required immediate and aggressive care, including the assistance of a mechanical ventilator. She also underwent a brain MRI to rule out other causes of her condition. “It took a great amount of intervention, without which this condition would have been fatal,” said Dr. Terri O’Toole, D.V.M., one of a team of critical care specialists overseeing Bristol’s care. Although …
Ontario Vet College Launches $9 Million CampaignOctober 20, 2015The University of Guelph’s Ontario Veterinary College recently launched a $9 million fundraising campaign for surgery and anesthesia facilities at OVC. The campaign was launched in mid October through the OVC Pet Trust, a charitable fund devoted to the health and wellbeing of companion animals. “The university and OVC have a long-standing commitment to improve animal health and welfare,” said U of G president Franco Vaccarino, Ph.D. “This ambitious campaign will help us develop medical advancements and train tomorrow’s animal care professionals to help ensure healthier and longer lives for pets.” The proposed facilities will contain surgical and diagnostic video and imaging devices, including operating microscopes, orthopedic and neurological equipment and a sophisticated anesthesia and pain management unit. A dedicated suite for minimally invasive procedures will be a first for a veterinary teaching hospital in Canada, according to the university. “Offering the best pet care means offering the best veterinary medical education,” said OVC Dean Jeff Wichtel, BVSc, Ph.D. A previous campaign raised more than $13 million for OVC’s Mona Campbell Center for Animal Cancer.
