FDA Warns of Pet Exposure to Human Anti-inflammatoryApril 20, 2015The U.S. Food and Drug Administration alerted pet owners Friday to the dangers of flurbiprofen, a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) for humans that has been blamed for sickening or killing several cats. Flurbiprofen is used in some topical medications to treat muscle and joint pain in people, and it occasionally is prescribed for pets as an ophthalmic solution to treat inflammatory eye conditions. In the two cases cited by FDA, the cream or lotion containing flurbiprofen was not applied to the cats but instead was used on the owners’ neck or feet. How the cats were exposed to the drug was not known. The products also contained the muscle relaxer cyclobenzaprine and active ingredients such as baclofen, gabapentin, lidocaine or prilocaine. Pet Poison Helpline, a Bloomington, Minn., organization that advises pet owners and veterinarians about poisoning issues and treatments, called flurbiprofen a very potent NSAID that is not recommended for oral use in dogs or cats because of their extreme sensitivity. “Pet Poison Helpline receives thousands of calls each year about pets accidentally exposed to human NSAIDs, especially over-the-counter products such as ibuprofen or naproxen,” said Ahna Brutlag, DVM, MS, Dipl. ABT, Dipl. ABVT. Dr. Brutlag, Pet …
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Vet Fired After Bragging of Killing CatApril 17, 2015 Facebook This photo appeared on Dr. Kristen Lindsey’s Facebook page. Click on the photo above to see the original image. (WARNING: GRAPHIC CONTENT.) We'll be posting updates as they come in. Read the original story. Update 6 (4/18/2015, 7:45 a.m. PDT): The Texas Board of Veterinary Medical Examiners posted on their Facebook page that they are aware of the situation regarding Kristen Lindsey, DVM, and request people write to them via email. (function(d, s, id) { var js, fjs = d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0]; if (d.getElementById(id)) return; js = d.createElement(s); js.id = id; js.src = "//connect.facebook.net/en_US/sdk.js#xfbml=1&version=v2.3"; fjs.parentNode.insertBefore(js, fjs);}(document, 'script', 'facebook-jssdk')); The Texas Board of Veterinary Medical Examiners has been made aware of the situation with one of our licensees. We will... Posted by Texas Board of Veterinary Medical Examiners on Friday, April 17, 2015 Update 5 (4/17/2015, 6:45 p.m. PDT): KBTX.com has more reactions about the controversial killing. (Warning, video does contain GRAPHIC IMAGES.) Update 4 (4/17/2015, 6:15 p.m. PDT): There have been reports that the cat was being fostered by volunteer with True Blue Animal Rescue in Brenham, Texas. The organization has put up their own statement, …
Henry Schein Unleashes Puppy Gift BoxesApril 17, 2015Veterinary products distributor Henry Schein Animal Health will ship something different to practitioners. The Dublin, Ohio, wholesaler announced a long-term partnership Thursday with Canine Companions for Independence, a nonprofit group that pairs nearly 300 trained assistance dogs a year with disabled people. Boxes filled with grooming items, treats and other pet products will be sent to veterinary clinics for delivery to clients who raise puppies on behalf of Canine Companions for Independence. The Puppy Raiser Care Package, which also includes product coupons, is intended to reduce the costs that volunteers incur before the animals become full-fledged working dogs. Veterinarians will receive a plaque acknowledging their participation in the program, which is scheduled to start later this year. “The puppy raiser devotes so much time, energy and personal financial resources for the benefit of people needing assistance, so we think it is only fitting to support that generosity with this gift,” said Stanley M. Bergman, chairman and CEO of parent company Henry Schein Inc. “The veterinarian, as the health care partner of the puppy raiser, also contributes to the betterment of society by providing the care needed to ensure the puppy grows into a working assistance dog.” About 1,400 volunteer puppy …
U.K. Vet Techs Ready for 2016 Microchip LawApril 16, 2015English veterinary technicians are sufficiently trained to implant microchips in dogs and will not require additional skills when microchips are mandated in 2016, the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons reported today. Technicians in Wales and Scotland are likely to receive a similar waiver, the organization stated, but dog breeders across the United Kingdom who lack proper training will have to complete a course if they want to implant microchips themselves. Mandatory microchipping was introduced in Northern Ireland in 2012 in an effort to return more stray dogs to their owners. The governments of England, Wales and Scotland passed similar legislation that set a microchip deadline of April 6, 2016, for all dogs at least 8 weeks old. Owners of dogs without a microchip could be fined. The British Veterinary Association is publicizing the requirement and prepared information posters that practice owners may place in their clinics. “We need to work hard to make owners aware of the new law throughout this year, with animals microchipped as far in advance of the deadline as possible,” said BVA President John Blackwell, BVSc, MRCVS. The U.K. Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) excused veterinarians from microchip training but considered requiring …
Ruby Perry Promoted to Tuskegee DeanApril 16, 2015Tuskegee University alumni are in charge of three U.S. veterinary schools following the appointment of Ruby Perry as the dean of Tuskegee’s College of Veterinary Medicine, Nursing and Allied Health. Dr. Perry, DVM, MS, Dipl. ACVR, was the associate dean for academic affairs before she was named interim dean in June 2014. Perry, a 1977 Tuskegee veterinary school graduate, joined former classmates Willie Reed, DVM, Ph.D., Dipl. ACVP, Dipl. ACPV, and Phillip Nelson, DVM, Ph.D., as college deans. Drs. Reed and Nelson are at Purdue University and Western University of Health Sciences, respectively. Tuskegee President Brian L. Johnson, MS, Ph.D., said he expects Perry to take the veterinary school “to exciting new heights.” “She is truly the best person at one of the best times in Tuskegee’s long prestigious history,” Johnson said. Perry’s previous roles at the Alabama university starting in 2007 included interim chief of staff, assistant professor of veterinary radiology and acting chairwoman of the department of small animal medicine, surgery and radiology. She previously was the veterinary radiology section chief and an associate professor at the Michigan State University College of Veterinary Medicine.
NexGard Approved to Fight Brown Dog TicksApril 16, 2015Brown dog ticks, beware. Merial Ltd. has won permission from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to add a label claim stating that the canine medication NexGard (afoxolaner) protects against a fourth tick species. The monthly preventive’s newest target is the brown dog tick (Rhipicephalus sanguineus), which is found throughout the lower 48 states and is linked to diseases such as Rocky Mountain spotted fever, anaplasmosis and ehrlichiosis. The Duluth, Ga., veterinary drug manufacturer in 2014 was allowed to promote NexGard’s effectiveness against black-legged (Ixodes scapularis) and lone star (Amblyomma americanum) ticks in addition to the initial claim for the American dog tick (Dermacentor variabilis). The prescription-only chewable tablet also is indicated to kill fleas. “When used as directed, NexGard has been shown to kill ticks all month long,” said Merial’s director of veterinary medical affairs, Doug Carithers, DVM. “Plus, it has the added benefit of killing fleas.” NexGard is not the only canine drug formulated to kill four common tick species. Merck Animal Health last year released a similar medication, Bravecto (fluralaner). Nexgard recently was named a 2015 Best New Product in the household category as part of a consumer survey conducted by Better Homes …
Is Your Bookshelf Bare? Enter Our A Veterinary Book for Every Clinic SweepstakesApril 16, 2015Bookshelf a little bare? Veterinary Practice News is here to help, with our "A Veterinary Book for Every Clinic" (AVBEC) Sweepstakes. According to the publisher, this book is "'Pain Management for Veterinary Technicians and Nurses' guides readers through the important concepts of animal pain management, providing specific approaches to managing pain in a wide variety of veterinary conditions. Emphasizing the technician's role in advocating for the patient, the book equips technicians with the knowledge needed to manage pain in dogs, cats, horses, livestock, exotics, and zoo animals. Logically and comprehensively covering this difficult subject, Pain Management for Veterinary Technicians and Nurses provides both introductory material on the tenets of pain management and specific techniques to apply in the clinical setting. With information on recognizing and understanding pain, the physiology of pain, pharmacology, and analgesia in different settings, the book outlines how to practice good pain management as an integral part of nursing care. Pain Management for Veterinary Technicians and Nurses provides both basic and advanced information, allowing students, practicing veterinary technicians and nurses, and veterinary staff alike to take a more active role in pain management and develop a more thorough understanding of this complex subject." Fill out the form …
Study Finds No Evidence of Stress in NYC Carriage HorsesApril 16, 2015New York City carriage horses are not as stressed from trotting the city streets as some may think, according to a new study led by Western University of Health Sciences in Pomona, Calif. The horses studied were quartered at Clinton Park Stables from Aug. 3-5, 2014, to gauge what levels of stress the animals might have as a result of their work. “I wanted to identify the effect this situation has on these horses,” said Joseph Bertone, DVM, Dipl. ACVIM, professor of equine medicine at Western University College of Veterinary Medicine. “Ultimately, I’m concerned about equine welfare. On the other hand, I’m also concerned over claims that could dismantle, or likely end, the lives of these grand horses. The same claims could see the loss of an iconic New York City institution, the loss of the important human-animal bond the drivers have with these spectacular animals, as well as have a profound negative economic impact on the people whose lives this would touch.” NYC Mayor Bill de Blasio proposed a ban on horse-drawn carriages in December 2014. His proposed code amendment, which requires a majority vote of the New York City Council, would go into effect June 1, 2016. The …
VPI Reveals Top 10 Pet DisordersApril 15, 2015Dogs are like people. Or is it the other way around? Veterinary Pet Insurance Co. of Brea, Calif., reported today that skin allergies were the most common ailment that sent dogs to their veterinarian in 2014. On the human side, a Mayo Clinic study published in early 2013 identified skin disorders as the No. 1 issue that led people to schedule a doctor’s appointment. Joint disorders were the second more frequent complaint of human patients compared with a ranking of fifth among dogs. VPI’s chief veterinary medical officer, Carol McConnell, DVM, MBA, repeated the type of advice that people often receive about their own health. “The majority of conditions on our top 10 list can be successfully managed if treated promptly,” Dr. McConnell said. “Early detection can prevent many of these issues from becoming severe and making treatment more costly.” VPI found that canine skin allergies led to insurance claims averaging $189. The most common issue requiring veterinary assistance in cats was bladder or urinary tract disease, for which the average cost was $425. The pet health insurer analyzed its database of more than 525,000 insured pets to determine the top medical conditions in 2014 that resulted in …
2017 AVMA Convention Stays in IndianaApril 15, 2015The American Veterinary Medical Association will hold its 2017 convention in Indianapolis as planned after state legislators revised a controversial law that some said would have allowed businesses to discriminate against gays and lesbians. Days before changes to the Religious Freedom Restoration Act were signed into law April 2, AVMA issued a statement that the law posed “many unsettling questions” and left the organization “concerned that not all of our attendees will be welcomed in Indiana.” The possibility of moving the convention out of Indianapolis was raised, but the AVMA board of directors reaffirmed the schedule during a meeting last week. “Our board discussed the concerns that had been expressed and the changes made by the Indiana state legislature to address the concerns,” the organization stated Tuesday in its AVMA@Work blog. “The board received input from the Lesbian and Gay Veterinary Medical Association regarding their view on the legislative fix. The AVMA Convention Division staff have spoken with representatives of the Indiana Convention Center, who expressed their continued commitment to welcome all attendees with open arms. “The board reviewed the declaration of non-discrimination signed by Indianapolis Mayor Greg Ballard and the statement from the Indy Chamber, assuring continued …
