MedRx Veterinary Division Acquired, Renamed OtoVet-USAAugust 23, 2011 Venture capital firm DermaZoo of Boca Raton, Fla., acquired the veterinary division of MedRx, which will be rebranded as a new company called OtoVet-USA, the company reported today. OtoVet-USA will continue the MedRx veterinary division’s specialization in video-otoscopy technology for animals. The new company will display its products under the OtoVet-USA brand next week at the Central Veterinary Conference (CVC) in Kansas City. OtoVet-USA CEO Steven Melman, VMD, spearheaded the acquisition and said the new company will focus on a “service first” approach for customers through continuing education, webinars and seminars. Veterinarians including Lou Gotthelf, DVM, and Jessica Melman, VMD, will provide technical support to OtoVet customers. Dr. Gotthelf, long associated with MedRx, will continue to conduct seminars and wet labs and consult for the company, Dr. Melman said. Current MedRx veterinary customers will be offered new service contracts and all current equipment warranties will be honored, according to Dr. Melman. OtoVet-USA will also offer support through its website. “It’s a natural extension, since we worked closely [with MedRx] for years, to buy their assets and present them in a new and improved way to the veterinary community,” said Melman, who …
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VEE Found In MexicoAugust 23, 2011 Mexico reported in late August two cases of Venezuelan equine encephalomyelitis to the World Animal Health Organization (OIE). The National Service of AgriFood Health, Safety and Quality of Mexico reported the outbreak to the OIE on Friday, August 19. One of cases led to an animal death. The Mexico-United States Commission for the Prevention of Foot-and-Mouth Disease and other Foreign Animal Diseases confirmed the two positive tests earlier in August. The outbreak marked the first report of Venezuelan equine encephalomyelitis in Mexico to the OIE since 1996. The outbreak occurred in a fattening pen in Tierra Blanca, Vera Cruz, Mexico, and no additional sick animals have been found in the nearby area. However, an epidemiological investigation is on-going. According to the OIE, animals will be vaccinated in response to the outbreak. Vaccinations were used last year as a preventative measure due to flooding in the area.
Oral Rabies Vaccination Program Underway In PennsylvaniaAugust 19, 2011 An oral rabies vaccination program, which helps control the spread of rabies in wild animals, is now in effect for eight Pennsylvania counties. Parts of Allegheny, Beaver, Crawford, Erie, Greene, Lawrence, Mercer and Washington counties will receive rabies vaccination baits coated with a fishmeal attractant in 1-inch square cubes. “Controlling the spread of rabies in wild animals is essential to ensuring human and domestic animal health,” said George Greig, agriculture secretary. “The oral rabies vaccination program has been the key component in preventing the westward spread of raccoon rabies. I appreciate the cooperation of residents in the affected counties in helping us to mitigate the threat of rabies.” Wildlife rabies accounts for more than 90 percent of U.S. rabies cases, with raccoons making up more than half of this total. The primary purpose of the baiting is to vaccinate raccoons, although other animals that ingest the bait will be vaccinated against the virus. This vaccine has been shown to be safe in more than 60 different species of animals, including dogs and cats. Six agencies are partnering with the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Wildlife Services for this program, including the state departments of Agriculture …
Thunderstorm Phobia In Dogs—An UpdateAugust 18, 2011 Phobias are excessive and irrational responses to stimuli that are dysfunctional and disruptive to normal functioning. Thunderstorm phobia is no exception. It is possible that genetic factors underlie a dog’s susceptibility to thunderstorm phobia as herding breeds are over-represented in canine storm phobia demographics. Certainly genetics contributes to human susceptibility to phobias, as studies show that identical phobias (e.g. fear of heights) develop in identical twins raised completely apart. That said, nurture plays an important role, too, in the sense that negative experiences can clearly trigger the development of phobias. Specifically, direct learning (personal experience) and observational learning (witnessing another fearful dog or person) may be involved and the negative experience so generated is enhanced when paired with (heralded by) a formerly neutral stimulus (e.g. flashing light/lightning). The clinical expression of thunderstorm phobia involves responses that are physical, emotional and physiological. Physical responses include attempts at escape (flight), finding a safe place, shadowing the owner or hiding. Affected dogs may also pace, pant and whine or bark. Emotional responses include the immeasurable in a dog—the subjective experience of terror. Physiological responses include activation of the autonomic and endocrine systems with resultant tachycardia, pupillary dilation, salivation, sweating …
Drug Labeling BluesAugust 17, 2011 How far should we go to ensure our patients are being dosed correctly? Last year I experienced an unfortunate run-in with the kind of drug labeling direction pitfall that can happen to anyone: A client misread a label and overdosed her dog. It was all quite innocent, really. I prescribed a common antibiotic drug for pets who suffer diarrhea complicated by bacterial overgrowths and possibly by unseen parasites too (you know the one). But my client misread the labeling instructions and double-dosed her dog. Yeah ... it happens. Now, this wouldn’t be a big deal in most cases. Problem was, Missy died. And the veterinarian who examined her right after she died (a down-the-street colleague––not the ER, it should be duly noted) claimed she had been overdosed with the medication. Which, of course, was interpreted by her owner to mean I had killed Missy. Which might’ve been the case if 1) I’d actually recommended the dose Missy’s owner had been giving (in fact, I had not) and 2) Missy’d actually succumbed to anything more than what a 19-year-old dog with end-stage renal failure might reasonably be expected to die of. Namely, renal failure. But …
Charleston Veterinary Referral Center Opens Cancer CenterAugust 17, 2011 The Charleston Veterinary Referral Center (CVRC) in Charleston, S.C., opened a cancer center for pets throughout the region. The cancer center at CVRC can treat all species and is available to consult about cancer treatment with local veterinary practices. “The cancer center at CVRC is here to not only treat pets but educate pet owners,” said Alan Green, DVM, chief of staff, CVRC. “There’s a lot of misinformation out there about cancer and many people still think it’s a death sentence for their pets. The truth is, we can save and improve pets’ lives.” Kerry Rissetto, DVM, Dipl. ACVIM (oncology) will head the cancer center. Dr. Rissetto said she hopes to change people’s thinking of veterinary oncology because so many pet owners have a negative view of the issues due to human cancer. “We treat for quality of life here at CVRC,” Rissetto said. “Because of the progressive science and technology that we have available to us, in the majority of cases, cancer is a disease that can be lived with and managed much like diabetes or high blood pressure.” To help lessen the impact of cancer treatment Rissetto said one of the …
Canine Rabies Case In Reported In ParisAugust 17, 2011 A positive canine rabies case in Paris, France has been found in a puppy that orginated in Morocco, announced Dr. Jean Luc Angot, chief inspector of veterinary public health and chief veterinary officer for the Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Fisheries. A 2.5-month-old puppy adopted from Morocco July 11 was brought to France Aug. 1 without compliance with rabies health requirements, and the first signs of rabies occurred Aug. 1 or 2 and consisted of a change in behavior, Angot said. Due to a suspicion of rabies on Aug. 6, the animal was isolated and died Aug. 7. The Institute Pasteur in Paris, a National laboratory, made the rabies-positive report Aug. 11. The last French rabies case was diagnosed May 10, 2009. The animals in contact with the rabid puppy during the salivary excretion period include three cats, which will be euthanized. A vaccinated dog that lived in the same home is in isolation. Humans in contact with the dog during the salivary excretion of rabies virus are under the care of health services. Anti-rabies treatment has been administered as appropriate. Angot said he plans to submit a weekly follow-up report. …
Agribusiness Giant Cargill To Acquire Provimi For $2.16 BillionAugust 15, 2011“The combination of Cargill and Provimi would create a new, world-class animal nutrition offering with the expertise to offer customers a full range of enhanced products and services,” said Cargill vice chairman Paul Conway. “This acquisition would mark a significant step in Cargill’s animal nutrition growth strategy and underlines our commitment to continued long-term investment to meet the needs of our customers around the world.” Provimi, which has operations in 26 countries, produces premixes, additives and complete feeds. It recently sold its pet food business to Advent International for about $270 million. Cargill offers branded animal food for livestock producers and pet owners. It also provides feed ingredients to feed manufacturers. Company officials said the two businesses will complement each other well. “Bringing together the talents and expertise of both companies is expected to open up new innovation and market development opportunities,” said Todd Hall, Cargill’s corporate vice president. “Provimi’s excellence in cutting edge technology and applications, alongside Cargill’s global supply chain and market insights should enable us to develop and deliver a range of innovative, high quality products and services to customers.” Cargill is buying Provimi from private equity firm Permira, which acquired the company in 2007. Provimi chairman …
FDA Approves Atopica For CatsAugust 15, 2011 (cyclosporine oral solution, USP) modified, a treatment for chronic allergic dermatitis, has been approved by the FDA as the first OK'd for treating allergic dermatitis in cats. Allergic dermatitis causes itching, chewing, licking, skin lesions and hair loss. The drug’s manufacturer, Novartis Animal Health US Inc., previously acquired approval for a similar product used to treat atopic dermatitis in dogs. “Atopica for cats has the potential to change how our profession treats the itchy cat,” said Keith Hnilica, DVM, MS, MBA, Diplo. ACVD, who consults with Novartis and others on dermatological issues and authored Small Animal Dermatology: A Color Atlas and Therapeutic Guide 3rd edition. “For the first time, we have a safe, highly effective, approved treatment for cats with allergic dermatitis.” The company says Atopica relieves itching and scratching, with improvement seen in the first four weeks. After six weeks of treatment, 78 percent of cats were considered comfortable with satisfactory levels of grooming. The product, which will be available in late 2011, is also proven to reduce skin lesions. Novartis reports that approximately one-third of cats took the medicine in their food and two-thirds were dosed directly into the mouth in studies. The …
Oldest U.S. Mandrill Has Kidney SurgeryAugust 15, 2011 Veterinarians have successfully performed surgery on the oldest mandrill in the U.S. The surgery was performed by veterinarians at the Phoenix Zoo and Dr. Brian deGuzman, associate chief of cardiovascular surgery at St. Joseph's Heart and Lung Institute. Wucaria, a 34-year-old female mandrill, a species of monkey, had an abscess on her kidney. Phoenix Zoo veterinarians Gary West, DVM - EVP and Julie Swenson, DVM asked the zoo’s animal health advisory committee for help. The committee of veterinary and human specialists determined that Dr. deGuzman, an advisory volunteer, would assist with the removal of the monkey’s right kidney. “Dr. deGuzman is able to bring his specialized skills to the operating table, offering us opportunities to provide exceptional care to our Zoo’s animals,” Dr. West said. Three zoo veterinarians, a veterinary anesthesiologist, a veterinary surgeon, deGuzman and Jenifer Traylor, RN, participated in the June 2 surgery to remove Wucaria’s kidney. Wucaria is now comfortable and back on exhibit with her troupe. “A procedure like this requires an incredible amount of teamwork,” deGuzman said. “The Phoenix Zoo veterinarians are an extraordinary team and have been really accepting of the advice that I can provide on …
