Easy Ways To Improve Histopath Results, Part 3September 24, 2012 Following our recent installments in the June and September issues, we continue our conversation with pathologist Ken Mero, B.S., M.S., DVM, Ph.D., of VetPath Services in Stone Ridge, N.Y., to learn how to choose a histopathology lab and a pathologist. Why does a different pathologist read my biopsy each time? This is a feature of the large conglomerate laboratories with a very large professional staff. Cases may be distributed randomly to different pathologists who may be on duty on any particular day. This can be avoided by using a smaller, generally independent laboratory with a smaller number of pathologists. Whether using a large or small laboratory, cases are usually distributed to a pathologist of choice if requested on the lab’s test request form. However, it is more likely that your pathologist of choice will be available on a daily basis at a smaller lab. In that situation, you may become more familiar and comfortable with each one of the pathologists, so that if your favorite one is unavailable on a given day you will already be acquainted with the others. How does one choose a lab? There are many factors to consider, some logistical, financial, …
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Quality Control Counts With In-clinic Veterinary Labs, Heska And Abaxis SaySeptember 24, 2012 All blood analysis equipment has a propensity for certain errors. It’s just that reference laboratories are usually better at catching them, said Leslie Sharkey, DVM, Ph.D., diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Pathology and president of the American Society of Veterinary Clinical Pathologists. “Quality assurance programs in reference labs usually include running high, low and normal control materials purchased from the manufacturer of the analyzer or another commercial source at regular intervals, often about once a day,” she said. “We graph the data over time to make sure that we are getting the expected results and to look for trends that might indicate the analyzer is developing a problem. “In addition, many reference labs participate in external quality assurance programs in which labs are sent ‘unknowns,’ which we test and then return the results to the program,” Sharkey continued. “The program lets us know how our results compare with other participating laboratories so we can gauge our performance.” Kendal Harr, DVM, MS, Dipl. ACVP, owner of a private pathology consulting firm, said quality control programs for in-clinic blood analysis equipment would frequently be considered substandard to measures taken by reference labs. A recent survey she …
Bayer Pairs With AAFP To Increase Feline Vet VisitsSeptember 21, 2012 Bayer HealthCare LLC’s Animal Health Division and the American Association of Feline Practitioners have formed a partnership to explore and address the reasons pet owners seek veterinary care less frequently for their cats than for their dogs, the organizations reported today. The partnership, which was announced at the AAFP 2012 medical conference in Seattle, is aiming to uncover and remove the obstacles to routine veterinary care for cats. “Like dogs, cats require regular veterinary healthcare and without it, there is a significant risk to their health,” said Donna Stephens Manley, DVM, president of AAFP and principal veterinarian at Manley Veterinary Services in Chapel Hill, N.C. “Through the combined efforts of AAFP and Bayer Healthcare, we want to improve the healthcare provided to cats and overcome the barriers that veterinarians have encountered regarding routine visits for cats. If cats are seen more regularly, better care can be provided, especially relating to preventative care.” The partnership was formed in response to findings from the Bayer Veterinary Care Usage Study, which showed one-third of cats owned by respondents had not seen a veterinarian during the previous year, the organizations reported. …
Veterinary Practice Managers Devote Most Time To Human Resources, Study SaysSeptember 20, 2012 Veterinary Practice Managers Devote Most Time to Human Resources, Study Saysveterinary practice, practiec manager, human resources, veterinary hospital managers associationPractice organization is not as important to veterinary hospital managers as previously thought, according to a survey conducted by the Veterinary Hospital Managers Association.In a recent survey, practice managers said practice organization is no longer as important when compared to duties in human resources, law and ethics and marketing.newslineVeterinary Practice Managers Devote Most Time to Human Resources, Study Says Practice organization is not as important to veterinary hospital managers as previously thought, according to a survey conducted by the Veterinary Hospital Managers Association. Through the survey, called a “comprehensive practice analysis,” the VHMA sought to gain insight into which tasks were considered most relevant to practice managers so the association could adjust the content in its Certified Veterinary Practice Manager examination to match the critical real-world activities of practice managers. Practice organization, which includes tasks such as researching new products, creating and updating risk management systems and managing inventory systems, previously comprised the largest portion of the exam. However, the 269 VHMA-member respondents indicated those tasks are no longer as important when compared to duties in …
Biotech Company Tests Anti-Plaque Water Additive For PetsSeptember 19, 2012 Canadian biotechnology firm Kane Biotech Inc. is conducting a veterinary clinical trial for a water additive formulated to remove plaque from companion animals’ teeth, the Winnipeg, Manitoba-based company announced today. The product, called StrixNB, uses food additives to inhibit biofilm formation and also kills bacteria embedded in preformed dental plaque, the company reported. It is intended to be added to a pet’s water on a daily basis, and could supplement or replace existing oral care treatments, said Gord Froehlich, CEO of Kane. Froehlich would not disclose the specific ingredients used in StrixNB, since the product has a global patent pending. The clinical trials are taking place exclusively in Canada, but if the product displays efficacy during the trials, the company will conduct a soft launch in both Canada and the United States later this year or early next year. StrixNB will be distributed exclusively through veterinary channels, Froehlich said. “There are a lot of oral care products for pets that don’t really show a scientific advantage,” Froehlich said. “We believe ours does, so our plan is to market through veterinarians.” The clinical trials will likely last until …
Pet Owners Attribute 361 Dog, Cat Deaths To Chinese Jerky TreatsSeptember 17, 2012 Pet owners have reported to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration 2,200 cases of pet illnesses, including 360 canine deaths and one feline death, from consumption of jerky treats imported from China. But the agency has not confirmed a link between the deaths and illnesses and the treats. Most of the complaints involve chicken jerky, including treats, tenders and strips, but others include duck, sweet potato and treats where chicken or duck jerky is wrapped around dried fruits, sweet potatoes or yams, the FDA reported. The issue dates to 2007, when the FDA began receiving reports of pets becoming ill after consuming the treats. The number of complaints dropped in 2009, but rose again two years later. The FDA posted a Frequently Asked Questions document earlier this year and added information, including the number of deaths reported, in a document published Friday. The FDA has been gathering and testing the treats since 2007 at FDA laboratories, the Veterinary Laboratory Response Network and other animal health diagnostic laboratories for chemical and microbiological contaminants, but none of the results have revealed an association between a causative agent and the reported …
Excuse My French: A Fake Story Of My LifeSeptember 17, 2012Here is the fake story of my life. Please don't analyze or overanalyze this blog; this little exercise is merely designed to show you that you know much more French words than you think. When I met Marie, definitely a brunette, not a blonde, she was an au pair, and she lived at a chateau owned by a baron. Not a nouveau riche: it was an old family of bourgeois, with a long history of princes. The chateau was filled with original paintings from Matisse, Monet and Manet. Marie worked at a boutique during the day, and she was a ballet dancer at night, so she knew everything there is to know about chassé, développé and pirouette. Her brother was the attaché to the consulate. When he saw me coming out of my Citroen, he said "en garde, do you think you have carte blanche with my sister?" I thought he was clairvoyant. He thought I was debonair or nonchalant. I know French boxing, so I punched him in the nose and said "touché." He looked grotesque. During our first rendezvous, Marie was very unique, not femme fatale or déjà vu. She was a Parisian par excellence, the crème de …
Bayer To Buy Teva Animal Health For $145 MillionSeptember 14, 2012 Bayer HealthCare LLC of Shawnee, Kan., plans to acquire the animal health business of Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd. of Jerusalem, for up to $145 million, the companies reported Thursday. The companies signed an agreement through which Bayer will acquire Teva’s animal health business for an upfront payment of $60 million plus $85 million in milestone payments linked to manufacturing and sales targets. Bayer will acquire Teva’s portfolio of animal health products, including the DVM Pharmaceuticals brand of veterinary dermatology products, a line of companion animal nutraceuticals and several food animal products, including anti-infectives, parasiticides, anti-inflammatories and reproductive hormones. Bayer will also obtain Teva’s manufacturing site in St. Joseph, Mo., which employees about 300 people. “Bayer’s acquisition of Teva Animal Health will further strengthen and broaden our U.S. range of animal care solutions so that, together with our customers, we can continue to protect, cure and care for animals across America,” said Ian Spinks, president and general manager of Bayer Healthcare Animal Health North America. “The businesses are a great strategic fit, and Teva’s animal health portfolio adds new depth for us across both the companion and food animal areas.” …
Some Recalled Breeder's Choice Food May Have Been SoldSeptember 14, 2012Some Recalled Breeder's Choice Dog Food May Have Been Solddog food, dog food recall, AvoDerm recall, Breeder's Choice pet foodBreeder's Choice Pet Foods of Irwindale, Calif., backtracked Friday, admitting that an undetermined amount of recalled AvoDerm Natural Lamb Meal & Brown Rice Adult Dog Formula in 26-pound bags may have been sold to pet owners.The company earlier this week reported that virtually all of the recalled food had been seized before delivery. newsline, recallSome Recalled Breeder's Choice Food May Have Been SoldPosted: Sept. 14, 2012, 6:15 p.m. EDT Breeder's Choice Pet Foods of Irwindale, Calif., backtracked Friday, admitting that an undetermined amount of recalled AvoDerm Natural Lamb Meal & Brown Rice Adult Dog Formula in 26-pound bags may have been sold to pet owners. An undetermined amount of recalled AvoDerm Natural Lamb Meal & Brown Rice dog food may have been sold to pet owners. The company earlier this week reported that virtually all of the recalled food had been seized before delivery. A "couple of cases" may have gotten to stores but were returned, the company stated at the time. "As we dug deeper and deeper, we found some packages …
Perrigo To Buy Sergeant’s For $285 MillionSeptember 14, 2012 Sergeant’s Pet Care Products Inc. of Omaha, Neb., is being sold to Perrigo Company in an all-cash transaction valued at $285 million, the companies reported Thursday. Allegan, Mich.-based Perrigo develops, manufactures and distributes over-the-counter and generic prescription drugs, infant formulas, nutritional products, dietary supplements and pharmaceutical ingredients for the human market. “This acquisition allows us to penetrate the pet care category by offering numerous flea and tick, health and well-being, and consumable products to pet owners at affordable prices,” Perrigo chairman and CEO Joseph Papa said. “Sergeant’s has a proven record of innovation, high-quality manufacturing with great customer service. We welcome Sergeant’s 200-plus employees and over 1,000 SKUs to the Perrigo family.” Privately held Sergeant’s produces such products as Fiproguard Max and Pronyl OTC Max Flea and Tick Control, Vetscription Cat Hairball Remedy, the Geisler line of food and treats for birds and small animals, and the Atlantis line of fish food. Sergeant’s anticipates more than $140 million in sales this fiscal year. The sale of Sergeant’s includes virtually all its assets, Perrigo reported. The acquisition is expected to close in the second quarter of 2013. Sergeant’s was founded in 1868 in Richmond, …
