Another Investigation Takes Vet Industry to TaskDecember 29, 2014Two leading U.S. veterinary organizations are criticizing a published report that questions the financial ties between food animal veterinarians and the drug industry and casts doubt on whether practitioners can be counted on to oversee the judicious use of antibiotics in animals such as chickens and cattle. The investigation by the news service Reuters came on the heels of a similar report in The Indianapolis Star, which examined potential conflicts of interest between pharmaceutical companies and small animal veterinarians. Both accounts noted that while financial connections between drug makers and doctors of human medicine are open to public scrutiny, the veterinary industry is free to arrange and keep secret its relationships. “That means veterinarians can be wined and dined and given scholarships, awards, stipends, gifts and trips by pharmaceutical benefactors without the knowledge of the [U.S. Food and Drug Administration] or the public,” according to the Reuters series, titled “Farmaceuticals.” The American Association of Bovine Practitioners objected to the tone of the Reuters report and pointed out inaccuracies. One article in particular, headlined “Veterinarians Face Conflicting Allegiances to Animals, Farmers and Drug Companies,” was meant to “disparage the ethics, scientific training and food animal veterinarians’ relationship with …
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Georgia Vet College to Host Shelter SymposiumDecember 29, 2014 Happy summer from the College of Veterinary Medicine! Good luck to all prospective applicants that will be starting the admissions process in the coming weeks. #ugacvm #facesofvetmed A photo posted by Faces of Vet Med (@facesofvetmed) on Jun 6, 2014 at 12:12pm PDT The University of Georgia College of Veterinary Medicine will host the 7th Annual Shelter Medicine Symposium on Jan. 11 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. The event will focus on the best management and medicine practices for local and regional shelters. The symposium is geared for veterinary professionals and others who work in animal control facilities and humane societies, or with animal rescue groups in Georgia, North Carolina and South Carolina. Admission is free but registration must be made by Jan. 1: tinyurl.com/sheltermedregistration. Veterinarians and veterinary technicians will be able to register after the event for CE credit.
Iowa Vet College Names Rademacher as Swine Extension VetDecember 25, 2014Chris Rademacher, DVM, has joined the faculty at the Iowa State University College of Veterinary Medicine as the swine extension veterinarian. Dr. Rademacher is internationally renowned for his experience and expertise in evidence-based swine production medicine, according to the college. “We are extremely pleased to have one of the most progressive young swine veterinarians in the United States joining our faculty,” said Pat Halbur, DVM, Ph.D., chair of veterinary diagnostic and production animal medicine department. “Dr. Rademacher’s international experience in swine production medicine and applied clinical research will make him a highly sought out and valued resource for swine veterinarians and pork producers.” In his role, Rademacher will continue his focus and interest in using research methodologies to answer specific health and production questions and disseminate that information broadly to swine veterinarians and pork producers to continuously improve pork production in the United States. “I am looking forward to serving swine producers and veterinarians and assisting them in improving the health, welfare and productivity of the animals they care for.”
Hurry! Veterinarians Get Brief Tax BreakDecember 23, 2014A gift with an extremely short lifespan was given to veterinary practices and other small businesses when President Obama signed tax-break legislation approved by Congress. The gift is Section 179, a part of the tax code that enables small businesses to immediately write off up to $500,000 in capital asset purchases on their taxes instead of using depreciation over time. The legislation increased the limit from $25,000. The bill was signed into law Dec. 19 along with a package of $42 billion in tax incentives. The approved deductions include those for medical equipment, office furniture, computers and fixtures. Section179.org, an online resource covering that section of the tax code, explained that the measure covers only the 2014 tax year. “Therefore it is a good business decision for many to finance equipment immediately to make the December 31, 2014, cutoff for the write-off provisions,” the website advised. The legislation is a one-year, retroactive extension of the Section 179 tax breaks. That’s great for anyone who made big purchases this year, but time is running out for anyone else, said Tom A. McFerson, CPA, of Gatto McFerson CPAs, an accounting and consulting firm that focuses on veterinary practices. Making the purchase is …
Sleepypod Offers to Replace Crash-Damaged Travel GearDecember 23, 2014Sleepypod, whose dog travel harnesses have won top marks, is offering a free replacement or discounted pricing when a pet carrier or safety harness is damaged in a traffic accident. The program extends to competitors’ equipment as well. The burden of proof falls on pet owners, who must provide a police report and photos and answer a questionnaire. Damaged Sleepypod products are eligible for no-charge replacement—other than shipping costs—while owners of other brands may receive 30 percent off the Pasadena, Calif., company’s selection of mobile pet beds, carriers and harnesses. “Sleepypod wants to ensure pet safety after an auto accident,” said co-founder and lead product designer Michael Leung. “The integrity of a pet safety restraint may be compromised during an auto accident, so it is critical to inspect a pet carrier or harness for damage before being reused.” Damage may include anything from broken stitches and zippers to torn webbing. “If the accident is severe enough, webbing could be stretched, and therefore weaken the material,” Leung said. More information about the replacement program, which was announced Dec. 18, is available at www.sleepypod.com/accident-replacement-program. The nonprofit Center for Pet Safety, which conducts crash-testing, has deemed Sleepypod’s Clickit Sport …
Heartworm Group Plans $200,000 in New ResearchDecember 23, 2014The American Heartworm Society, which works to spread awareness about heartworm disease in pets, has set aside $200,000 to fund its first independent research. The Wilmington, Del., organization will continue to work with Morris Animal Foundation and other partners on heartworm studies. The society’s board of directors in October approved three projects with the National Center for Veterinary Parasitology but decided that more needs to be learned about issues such as macrocyclic lactone resistance to heartworm preventives and the role of the immune system in heartworm prevention. “While we will maintain our strong focus on heartworm education through scientific symposia, heartworm guidelines, online initiatives and client education tools, we have concluded that research also is needed to further our profession’s understanding of this serious disease,” said President Stephen Jones, DVM. The organization is accepting research proposals and has posted more information at www.heartwormsociety.org/about/our-research. The awards will range in value from $10,000 to $50,000. The three research grants coordinated with the National Center for Veterinary Parasitology totaled $58,000 and went to Timothy Geary, Ph.D., of McGill University in Montreal; Charles D. Mackenzie, BVSc, Ph.D., Dipl. ACVIM, of Michigan State University; and Michael T. Suderman, M.Sc., of Cell …
Abbott Releases 24-Hour Feline Pain DrugDecember 23, 2014Cats recovering from surgery may rest peacefully overnight with the use of a new 24-hour pain control drug from Abbott Animal Health. The Abbott Park, Ill., veterinary drug maker today announced the launch of Simbadol (buprenorphine injection) across the United States, five months after the medication received Food and Drug Administration approval. Simbadol is indicated for postoperative pain control in cats and is formulated to minimize the need for overnight dosing. The drug is the first and only FDA-approved opioid analgesic for cats to provide 24-hour pain control in a single dose, according to Abbott. The Washington State University College of Veterinary Medicine is among the first users of Simbadol. Tammy Grubb, DVM, Ph.D., an assistant professor of anesthesia and analgesia, called the drug “an important advancement for cats and for veterinarians.” “We can be comfortable that our patients have adequate analgesia, even through the night,” Dr. Grubb said. Available in 10mL multidose vials, Simbadol is distributed by MWI Veterinary Supply, Henry Schein Animal Health and Midwest Veterinary Supply.
Deathstalker Scorpion Breathes Life into Washington State Canine Clinical TrialDecember 23, 2014Despite what its name may imply, the deathstalker scorpion could actually help veterinarians treat dogs with cancer. A recent clinical trial at Washington State University (WSU) shows that a re-engineered molecule found in the venom of the deathstalker scorpion latches onto malignant tumors, making the diseased tissue glow brightly and distinctly against normal tissues. Consequently, surgeons are better able to detect—and remove—cancerous cells while leaving healthy ones behind, according to the university. The product that lights up cancer cells is referred to as “tumor paint,” developed and patented by Jim Olson, MD, Ph.D., a pediatric neuro-oncologist and researcher at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center and Seattle Children’s Hospital. Tumor paint is licensed by Blaze Bioscience Inc., a Seattle-based private biotechnology firm that Dr. Olson help found in 2010. Olson said he developed tumor paint not only to help people but also the pets they love. “Many animal tumors resemble those that arise in humans so it only makes sense for the two groups to reap the benefits that tumor paint can provide during cancer surgery,” he said. “As WSU uses the technology to help dogs, the dogs provide information that’s applicable to human cancers.” Although the canine clinical trial …
Jaguar Seeks Limited Approval of Canine Diarrhea DrugDecember 22, 2014The startup drug company Jaguar Animal Health today reported the filing of its first New Animal Drug Application (NADA) with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. If approved, the drug Canalevia would be used to treat dogs stricken with watery diarrhea during chemotherapy. Jaguar described Canalevia as a first-in-class anti-secretory agent intended for use in multiple animal species. The NADA filing requests Minor Use/Minor Species (MUMS) status for dogs as the drug undergoes further study. The limited designation would allow Jaguar to distribute Canalevia “before collecting all necessary effectiveness data, but after proving the drug is safe and showing that there is a reasonable expectation of effectiveness,” the San Francisco company stated. The decision to pursue MUMS status followed a meeting Oct. 22 between Jaguar and FDA representatives, according to the company. “[The] approach … will allow us to bring this new tool for management of certain chemotherapy side effects to dogs in need as soon as possible,” Jaguar reported. Canalevia contains crofelemer, an antidiarrheal found in the Croton lechleri tree and used to treat HIV-associated diarrhea in people. Jaguar in September launched its first non-prescription product, Neonorm Calf, for the treatment of watery diarrhea, or scours, in …
FDA Approves Equine Lameness DrugDecember 22, 2014Ceva Animal Health has brought to the United States a drug that earned wide support around the world for the treatment of navicular syndrome in horses. Tildren (tiludronate disodium) went on sale on U.S. soil this month after winning approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. More than 250,000 doses of the intravenous solution have been administered worldwide over the past 12 years, Ceva announced today. Ceva earlier this year launched a U.S. equine division, promising drugs such as Tildren, the estrus suppressant Altresyn (altrenogest) and the stress reducer ConfidenceEQ. Some U.S. equine veterinarians knew about Tildren but couldn’t obtain it without a special import agreement, Ceva noted. “The approval of Tildren by the FDA provides veterinarians and horse owners an excellent new tool for managing navicular syndrome,” said Steve Hoffman, vice president of Ceva’s equine business unit. Navicular syndrome is the most common cause of chronic forelimb lameness in horses, the company noted. Tildren is formulated to regulate osteoclasts in areas of excessive activity. “In navicular syndrome, excessive mechanical stress results in bone resorption outpacing bone formation,” Ceva added. “Tildren works at areas of active bone resorption, restoring balance to the process of bone remodeling.” Kyle Creech, DVM, Ceva’s equine …
