UK Regulators Drop Plans For New Medicine CategoryJune 13, 2011 The Veterinary Medicines Directorate (VMD) chose to abandon plans for a new veterinary medicine category called prescription-only medicine extended administration (POM EA), which had been viewed by many as controversial. This decision came after heavy lobbying by the British Veterinary Association (BVA) and other veterinary bodies. The proposed category has been discussed in the Veterinary Products Committee since 2009. The original purpose was to provide a new category under which a veterinarian would make a clinical assessment and if necessary issue a Veterinary Permission of Extended Administration allowing the animal owner to obtain the prescribed POM EA medicine for up to 36 months from the date of authorization. The BVA, along with its specialist divisions, opposed POM EA saying there wasn’t justification for a new category. Veterinarians are already able to write prescriptions for extended use. BVA states that anything beyond a yearly assessment would be unacceptable on health and welfare grounds. The BVA submitted written comments and attended a stakeholder meeting with the VMD to discuss concerns. Despite the VMD suggesting revisions to the original proposal, the BVA and other stakeholders maintained that the new category was unnecessary. The decision to discontinue the proposal was …
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Vets First Choice And The Apothecary Shops Forge PartnershipJune 13, 2011 The Apothecary Shops, a national specialty and compounding pharmacy, and Vets First Choice announced a partnership today to deliver compounded medications to veterinary clients. The Apothecary Shops, accredited by the Pharmacy Compounding Accreditation Board (PCAB), will provide the compounding services. Vets First Choice is a national home delivery provider of Food and Drug Administration and Environmental Protection Agency-approved pharmaceuticals and therapeutic diets. “This partnership provides peace of mind for veterinarians and their clients in knowing these important medications are prepared under stringent guidelines and strict regulations,” says Benjamin Shaw, CEO of Vets First Choice. A recent document about pharmaceutical compounding prepared by the Animal Health Institute, American Veterinary Medical Association and the American Veterinary Distribution Association, recommended that consumers ask their pharmacists if the pharmacy is accredited with PCAB. “The collaboration between The Apothecary Shops and Vets First Choice sets a very high bar for quality and creates a unique and compelling added value service in the market,” says Brett Cordes, DVM and director of veterinary medicine for The Apothecary Shops. “We have been consistent and vocal advocates for third-party verification of quality and the Veterinary- Patient-Pharmacist relationship. Our partnership with Vets First Choice takes …
VetSource Receives Vet-VIPPS CertificationJune 13, 2011 VetSource, a provider of veterinary sponsored home delivery services, announced the company earned Veterinary-Verified Internet Pharmacy Practice Sites (Vet-VIPPS) certification from the National Association of Boards of Pharmacy. The company was recognized for its e-scripting tools and compliance building programs. VetSource’s status as Vet-VIPPS certified identifies the company as a fully licensed pharmacy in compliance with all applicable state boards of pharmacy statutes. Vetsource met all Vet-VIPPS criteria in an onsite inspection of the pharmacy and a review of its policies and procedures regarding patient confidentiality, prescription authentication, security and processing, quality control and pharmacist consultations. “Earning Vet-VIPPS certification demonstrates our commitment and dedication to providing the highest quality pharmacy experience for the veterinary hospitals and pet owners we serve” says Kurt Green, CEO at VetSource. “Vet-VIPPS certification reinforces the fact that VetSource continues to be a trustworthy and reliable pharmacy that holds safety and quality to the highest standards.” VetSource services are marketed throughout the U.S. via its partnership with Webster Veterinary, a Patterson Company. Visit NABP's website or dial (847) 698-6227 to contact the organization. <Home>
Dog Food Diets Demystified WebinarJune 13, 2011 Sign up now. Time is running out. As a concerned professional in the veterinary field, do you feel overwhelmed with all the onslaught of information about dog food ingredients? This is NOT another “how to read a pet food label” webinar. Join VeterinaryPracticeNews.com and our sister site DogChannel.com for an exclusive webinar on demystifying dog food diets presented by Nature's Variety on Thursday, June 16th at 11 a.m. PST. Register here » The Nature’s Variety Webinar “Dog Food Diets Demystified” will help you demystify nutrition objectives, the nutrients provided by ingredients, their different sources and how to keep a pet’s body in top condition through natural nutrition. One lucky attendee will be chosen to win 12 certificates for any Nature’s Variety product. That’s good for one small bag a month for a whole year! <HOME>
Three In Five Americans Own Pets, Harris Poll FindsJune 10, 2011 More than three in five Americans (62 percent) own at least one pet, according to The Harris Poll, an online survey of 2,184 adults conducted by Harris Interactive between May 9 and May 16, 2011. The 62 percent figure matches the overall pet ownership statistic from the American Pet Products Association’s APPA National Pet Owners Survey 2011-2012. Of the pet-owning respondents, 69 percent owned dogs, 51 percent owned cats, 11 percent reported owning fish, 7 percent reported owning one of more birds and 8 percent reported owning some other type of pet, Harris reported. Of dog owners, 62 percent reported owning one dog, 25 percent reported owning two, 8 percent reported owning three, and 4 percent reported owning more than 4. Of cat owners, 47 percent reported owning one cat, 30 percent owned two, 11 percent owned three, and 11 percent owned more than four. Of bird owners, 61 percent reported owning one bird, 18 percent reported owing two, 8 percent reported owning three, 2 percent reported owning four and 10 percent reported owning more than six. Not surprisingly, 32 percent of fish owners reported owning six or more fish, with 23 percent reporting …
NIMBioS Taking Applications For Investigative WorkshopJune 10, 2011 The National Institute for Mathematical and Biological Synthesis (NIMBioS) is calling for applications for its investigative workshop titled Modeling Free-Roaming Cats (FRC) and Rabies. The workshop is set for Nov. 9 through 11 at NIMBioS at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. NIMBioS brings together researchers internationally to collaborate across disciplinary boundaries to investigate solutions to basic and applied problems in life sciences. The institute’s workshop objectives include acquiring a better understanding of population dynamics and ways in which FRC transmit infectious disease. There are more than 81 million pet cats in the U.S. The number of FRC is unknown, but estimated to be 32 to 53 million. Concerns about the health of cats, zoonotic disease transmission, transmission of diseases to other non-human species, predation on wildlife species and nuisance complaints are an ongoing issue. The institute says it initially hopes to identify data sources and critical data gaps relating to FRC population dynamics and rabies transmission. Then review and consider the strengths and weaknesses of the different types of modeling approaches using the expertise of participants. Participation is limited. Those selected to attend will be notified within two weeks of the application deadline of July …
Supplements For Chronic ConditionsJune 9, 2011 Many people believe that supplements can help manage health issues and chronic conditions in their horses, leading to a more productive and better quality of life. Clinical and field experience has demonstrated that many health problems and disease conditions can be either prevented or effectively treated with proper nutrition and the use of specialty health products and supplements, says Roger V. Kendall, Ph.D., vice president of research and development at Vetri-Science Laboratories in Essex Junction, Vt. “[For example,] the use of antioxidants to reduce the damaging effects of free radicals in equines has found applications to deal with many metabolic issues,” he says. Though nutrients and other natural ingredients such as glucosamine and perna canaliculus (New Zealand green shell mussel) may work more slowly than selected drugs such as nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, Kendall says, in the long run they may enhance metabolic processes and help restore function and balance to the body. “Selected supplements and animal health products can contribute important metabolites for cellular regeneration, improve the flow of energy, enhance immune function, detoxify cellular toxins and improve enzyme activity,” he says. “Such supplements can contribute to the animal during times of stress and aid …
UC Davis Offers Umbilical Cord Banking ServiceJune 9, 2011 Follow Veterinary Practice News on Twitter at @vetpetnews. The University of California, Davis, School of Veterinary Medicine reported in early March that horse owners can now collect umbilical cord tissue immediately after a foal is born and save it as a future source of therapeutic stem cells through the school’s Regenerative Medicine Laboratory. The laboratory provides kits that allow the horse’s owner or veterinarian to collect the umbilical cord tissue and send it to the UC Davis laboratory, where it will be minimally processed. One dose of stem cells will be sent back to the horse owner’s veterinarian and another sample will be frozen and stored for as long as four years, according to the school. If the horse should later need stem cell therapy to treat an injury or the effects of disease, the tissue sample can be retrieved from the frozen archive and treated to encourage growth of the stem cells. The method is modeled after procedures currently used in human medicine to collect and bank babies’ cord blood for potential use in cell-based therapies, the school noted. “The advantage is that, unlike collecting stem cells derived from bone …
Cornell Develops Pocket-Sized Equine Ultrasound Healing DeviceJune 9, 2011 The UltrOZ Elite Therapy System, a pocket-sized equine ultrasound device is available for purchase in the veterinary and trainer market. The device aids in healing injured legs of horses and is the first wearable, therapeutic equine ultrasound system, according to its maker. The battery-operated product is roughly the size of an iPod Nano, and fits within neoprene leg wraps. It's designed so that horses can exercise or feed in the pasture unencumbered while receiving up to six hours ultrasound therapy. ZetrOZ, a business spinoff from the Cornell University’s Department of Biomedical Engineering, is selling the device online through FarmVet, a distributor of equine products. The company says the device’s ultrasound properties accelerate and compresses the inflammatory phase of healing, increases local circulation, boosts cellular permeability, improves collagen synthesis, decreases edema and causes the release of cytokines and natural analgesics for pain control. “UltrOZ’s system provides a consistent, controlled, easy to use method of providing long-term ultrasound therapy,” says George Lewis, medical ultrasound researcher, Cornell University and ZetrOZ owner. Funding for this research was provided in part by the National Science Foundation. Visit ZetrOZ's website or FarmVet's website for …
Penn Vet Adds Staff To New Bolton CenterJune 9, 2011 Follow Veterinary Practice News on Twitter at @vetpetnews. Tamara Dobbie, DVM, has joined the Section of Reproduction at New Bolton Center as a staff veterinarian. New Bolton Center is University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine’s large animal campus in Kennett Square, Pa. “I will be providing emergency coverage and assuming some of the clinical workload for the other clinicians,” Dr. Dobbie said. “I’ll also have the opportunity to assist with clinical laboratories and teaching the veterinary students.” Dobbie completed her residency in large animal reproduction at New Bolton Center in 2000 and remained as a lecturer for two more years. She then worked in private practice. Dobbie will lead the clinical service program for reproductive emergencies at George D. Widener Hospital at New Bolton Center. She will also teach a food animal reproduction clinical rotation to fourth-year veterinary students. In related news, Angela Dion has taken over as assistant biosecurity officer at New Bolton Center. Dion formerly worked in the sports medicine department. In her new position, she will assist Helen Aceto, VMD, Ph.D., assistant professor of epidemiology and director of biosecurity at New Bolton Center, and assume responsibilities …
