FDA Urges Caution In Choosing X-ray DevicesApril 25, 2012 It looks so good on the Internet auction website: For around $875, you can own a “green” hand-held portable wireless dental X-ray unit! Shipped from Hong Kong, “This is an innovative Chinese design named the ‘Green X-ray Machine,’” the ad reads. “Safety is guaranteed. While using a small amount of radiation there is no need for protection.” But in February, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration warned that the devices “may not be safe or effective and could potentially expose the user and the patient to unnecessary and potentially harmful X-rays.” The ad claims the machine is “FDA compliant.” Policing equipment shipped directly from another country via the Internet is a work in progress, said Daniel Van Gent, MP, MS, the X-ray program manager for the Washington State Department of Health. Because Washington state law requires newly purchased medical X-ray equipment to be inspected by his department before use, safety issues with the Green X-ray Machine ordered by a dentist were discovered and reported to the FDA. “There is absolutely no way to determine on eBay whether the unit is manufactured by an FDA-approved …
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FDA Urges Vets To Confirm Safety Of Hand-Held X-Ray DevicesApril 25, 2012 Certain hand-held dental X-ray units sold online by manufacturers outside of the United States could pose a radiation risk, according to the Food and Drug Administration. The agency warned dental and veterinary professionals to not purchase or use hand-held dental X-ray devices without first verifying that the devices have been reviewed and tested to meet FDA standards. All units that have been cleared by the FDA bear a permanent certification label/tag, a warning label and an identification label/tag. The Washington State Department of Health alerted the FDA after tests on a device purchased online revealed that it did not comply with X-ray performance standards. As a result, the FDA is investigating and notifying state regulatory authorities, dental professional organizations and other health organizations about the safety risks. No adverse events have been reported. To ensure a device has been reviewed and tested by the FDA, the agency advised users to: • Verify the device bears certification, warning and ID labels. • Ask their vendor whether the device has been reviewed and cleared by the FDA. • Access the FDA Medical Device Approvals and Clearances searchable database to verify that the X-ray unit has …
Feline Heartworm’s A Different AnimalApril 25, 2012 A recent study at Auburn University has shown us a new side of feline heartworms. Dillon and Blagburn, with the financial backing of Pfizer Animal Health of New York, performed an amazing study1. They infected three groups of cats with heartworm larvae. The first group was untreated to see what would happen from natural exposure. The second group was given ivermectin at the time in the life cycle that would kill the immature adults but not the adults. This group showed the pathology that occurs when the 2-inch-long immature adults die; the pathology that occurred was only due to immature adults, not to 6-inch-long adult worms. The third group was infected while receiving selamectin. This group was to demonstrate the efficacy of this drug in preventing heartworm infections; its high efficacy was clearly demonstrated. The following is a synopsis of what we now know about heartworm disease in cats. Life Cycle When a mosquito bites a cat, third-stage larvae (L3) are deposited on the cat’s skin. Within minutes they enter the subcutaneous tissue through the bite wound. The L3 molt within a couple of days to fourth-stage larvae (L4). L4 migrate …
American Regent Recalls Epinephrine AmpoulesApril 25, 2012American Regent of Shirley, N.Y., voluntarily recalled one lot of Epinephrine Injection, USP, 1:1000, 1 mL AmpulesNDC, today due to discoloration and small, visible particles found in some ampoules in the lot. The only lot affected by the recall is #1395 with an expiration date of July 2012. Epinephrine is used for emergency therapy of cardiac arrest and anaphylactic show and is a hemostatic by virtue of its vasoconstrictive effects, according to the Merck Veterinary Manual, Tenth Edition. Potential adverse events after intravenous administration of solutions containing particulates may include disruption of blood flow within small blood vessels in the lung, localized inflammation (swelling and redness) and granuloma formation. Muscle and adipose tissue damage may occur by the intramuscular or subcutaneous injection of solutions containing particulates. Adverse events with intra-spinal injection for this product containing particles are unknown, but may cause inflammation. Adverse events after topical ocular administration with epinephrine solutions containing particles are also unknown, but may result in ocular pain or irritation. Ampoules from the recalled lot should be immediately quarantined for return, according to American Regent, a subsidiary of Luitpold Pharmaceuticals Inc. The company will credit accounts for all returned product from the recalled lot.
Dermatology: Dealing With Itchy PatientsApril 25, 2012 Clinical practice guidelines from the International Task Force on Canine Atopic Dermatitis have gotten a lot of interest from primary care veterinarians. These guidelines, created by veterinary dermatologists, offer recommendations to help primary care practitioners identify and treat chronic atopic dermatitis (AD). Last June, the World Small Animal Veterinary Association endorsed the amended guidelines, which have since been translated from English into 18 additional languages. Thierry Olivry, DrVet, Ph.D., Dipl. ECVD, Dipl. ACVD, led the international task force. He is with the Department of Clinical Sciences and the Center for Comparative Medicine and Translational Research in the College of Veterinary Medicine at North Carolina State University in Raleigh. Dr. Olivry says the team concluded that treatment of canine atopic dermatitis must be individualized for each patient. “Treatment regimens depend on the canine patient, if acute flares or chronic skin lesions of AD are presented and whether signs are localized or generalized,” Olivry says. “Chronic canine AD is a challenge and known flare factors, including food, flea and environmental allergens, Staphylococcus bacteria and Malassezia yeast, should be investigated before moving forward with a treatment plan. “In addition, optimization of skin care, reduction of skin lesions …
Mad Cow Disease Reported In CaliforniaApril 24, 2012 The U.S. Department of Agriculture confirmed the United States’ fourth case of bovine spongiform encephalopathy, also known as Mad Cow disease, in a dairy cow from central California, the agency reported today. The cow was not presented for slaughter for human consumption and did not pose a risk to the food supply or human health, according to the USDA. As of this morning, the cow was being held at a rendering facility in California and will later be destroyed. The positive test will not affect the United States’ bovine spongiform encephalopathy status as determined by the World Organization for Animal Health (OIE), nor will the detection affect U.S. trade, the USDA said. The USDA’s National Veterinary Services Laboratories in Ames, Iowa, confirmed the animal was positive for bovine spongiform encephalopathy using immunohistochemistry and western blot tests. The tests revealed an atypical form of BSE, not generally associated with an animal consuming infected feed, according to the USDA. The agency will share its laboratory results with animal health reference laboratories in Canada and England, which have official OIE reference labs and more experience diagnosing atypical BSE. The USDA will also conduct an epidemiological investigation in conjunction …
FDA Lays Out Plan To Protect Food SupplyApril 23, 2012 The U.S. Food and Drug Administration today published the final draft of its “Food and Veterinary Medicine Program Strategic Plan 2012-2016” to guide the administration’s Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition and Center for Veterinary Medicine over the next five years. The plan aims to implement the legislative mandates laid out by Congress in the FDA Food Safety Modernization Act of 2011, which requires the FDA to create a new food safety system to protect public health. “This plan illustrates the breadth and complexity of the work we do and calls out the initiatives that the leadership team considers most important to our success,” said Michael Taylor, FDA deputy commissioner for foods. The plan includes both a “cross-cutting” goal of improving effectiveness and efficiency across all levels of the FVM program and seven more specific goals, each with several objectives to attain the goals and key initiatives to accomplish the objectives. Among the specific initiatives, the FDA will implement updated standards for the labeling of pet food, including nutrition and ingredient information, and implement standards for animal feed ingredients. The administration will …
Palliative And Hospice Care Come Of AgeApril 23, 2012 Palliative care and pet hospice are emerging as viable professional options that every practitioner can and should offer the owners of terminally ill pets. Veterinary practices will encounter more issues with terminal diseases, especially cancer, because pets are living longer as family members in very caring homes. High-tech facilities can maintain seriously injured or ill animals for long periods. Modern technology forces pet owners into the dilemma of pulling the plug or enduring costly and potentially futile life support. Instead of offering only this either/or model, veterinarians should give clients the option to take terminal pets home on palliative care to die in the comfort and support of the hospice setting, or as I refer to it, Pawspice. Minimalist Medicine Patriarchal veterinarians relate to their clients authoritatively. They generally tell pet owners what to think and what to do rather than help them decide. They direct, persuade or control clients to elect either aggressive care or euthanasia. This dictatorial approach sends the message, “I am practicing ‘My way or the highway’ medicine.” Many pet owners flee this style of practice, which patriarchal veterinarians might claim is down to earth and practical. On the other …
Reflections On The International Symposium On Veterinary Hospice CareApril 23, 2012 Reflections on the International Symposium on Veterinary Hospice CareReflections on the International Symposium on Veterinary Hospice CarebondbeyondPosted: April 28, 2008By Alice Villalobos, DVM The first pet hospice conference’s purpose was to merge the medical aspects of end-of-life care with the psychosocial and spiritual aspects. According to Kathryn D. Marocchino, Ph.D., president and founder of the Nikki Hospice Foundation, this collaborative meeting was the first of its kind and brought together a diverse group of health care workers. Marocchino organized the symposium at the University of California, Davis. Hospice professionals like Dr. Marrochino, hospice volunteers, nursing and medical staff, psychologists, grief counselors, social workers, bereavement facilitators, death educators, veterinary chaplains, pastoral counselors, animal-health care workers, shelter and SPCA staff, animal communicators, pet cemetery personnel, pet massage therapists and pet-sitters including interested lay people assembled to discuss the medical and emotional aspects of hospice care. This unusual group of human-animal bond oriented people sat side by side with general practitioners, specialists, holistic veterinarians, registered technicians, animal nurses, students, practice managers and philanthropists who maintain private or non-profit pet hospice facilities. Marrochino’s goal was to develop a comprehensive, broad-based approach to veterinary hospice care. This may not …
Bonus Content: Let’s Regard End Of Life As A Distinct StageApril 23, 2012 EDITORS' NOTE: This is special bonus content for Dr. Villalobos' article, Let's Regard End of Life as a Distinct Stage. To read the full story, click here. Here are three examples of the End of Life stage: 1) Hemangiosarcoma in dogs is often diagnosed at extremely advanced stages after acute collapse from a hemoabdomen crisis. Those with rampant metastases are advised that surgery is unhelpful. These TIPs are immediately in late EoL phase. Most terminally ill patients would be offered the gift of euthanasia at the emergency clinic. Some might be released with a belly wrap, steroids, Yunnan Paio and pain medication with a signed consent form, to go home for hospice care and farewell with home euthanasia. 2) Hemangiosarcoma dogs with hemoabdomen from ruptured splenic lesions that undergo splenectomy may go from crisis to good health following surgery. Overall survival times are 89 days and not much better with treatment. These TIPs are in the middle EoL phase. We are seeking these dogs for a clinical trial using T-Cyte. Contact me at dralicev@aol.com. 3) …
