CO2 Lasers: The Four Keys To SuccessJune 8, 2011 The use of lasers in veterinary practice continues to expand greatly. Thousands of veterinarians are now using CO2 laser energy in their practices in some capacity. The implementation of laser wavelengths varies from topical, non-invasive laser irradiation of damaged tissue (high- and low-power therapy lasers) to incisive vaporization of selected tissues (CO2 and diode lasers). Multiple factors are involved that will ultimately produce a superior surgical outcome and by understanding the variety of factors and components that go into an informed use of laser energy, any type of CO2 laser can be an effective surgical tool. There are four keys to successful use of any laser. Clinicians can maximize laser success by using these four simple keys. Key I. Laser Wavelengths Essential knowledge: Understand the wavelength you are using or don’t use the wavelength. The majority of clinicians in the United States use CO2 wavelength laser energy produced in the 10,600nm infrared range. The CO2 laser wavelength’s major advantage is that it is absorbed almost completely by the intracellular water present in each cell, causing rapid vaporization of the water and thus the cell. This allows for a consistent and extremely repeatable …
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NYC Veterinary Specialists Providing Services In White Plains, N.Y.June 7, 2011 NYC Veterinary Specialists, a BluePearl Veterinary Partners Hospital, has begun to receive internal medicine referral cases in White Plains, N.Y. within the Veterinary Emergency Group hospital. Keith Sobel, DVM, Dipl. ACVIM, will see patients at the White Plains location by referral from a primary care veterinarian for internal medicine illnesses. Dr. Sobel is experienced with procedures including abdominal ultrasound, endoscopy and bone marrow aspiration. “We are excited to have Dr. Sobel join our team and proud to be a part of the Westchester veterinary community,” says Neil Shaw, DVM, Dipl. ACVIM, chief medical officer and one of the founders of BluePearl Veterinary Partners. Sobel has a special interest in Cushing’s disease and participated in the Food and Drug Administration study for approval of trilostane for use in Cushing’s disease patients. “We are pleased to be collaborating with NYC Veterinary Specialists to bring internal medicine specialty services to our local veterinary community,” says Douglas Aspros, DVM, president of Veterinary Emergency Group. BluePearl has 21 veterinary hospitals in nine states. The partnership employs roughly 250 veterinarians and 700 technicians and support staff who provide specialty and emergency care. NYC Veterinary Specialists also operates hospitals in Manhattan, …
EPA Moves To Ban ‘Most Toxic’ Rodent Poisons To Protect Pets, ChildrenJune 7, 2011 The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced plans in June to ban the sale of “the most toxic” rat and mouse poisons, as well as most loose bait and pellet products to residential customers. The goal is to better protect children, pets and wildlife. “These changes are essential to reduce the thousands of accidental exposures of children that occur every year from rat and mouse control products and also to protect household pets,” said Steve Owens, assistant administrator for EPA’s Office of Chemical Safety and Pollution Prevention. EPA is prohibiting rat and mouse poisons that come in pellet formulations, opting instead for block or paste bait, and requiring those products to be enclosed in bait stations that don’t allow children and pets to reach the poison. In addition, EPA intends to ban the sale and distribution of rodenticide products containing brodifacoum, bromadiolone, difethialone and difenacoum directly to residential consumers because of their toxicity and the secondary poisoning hazards to wildlife. A ban on the non-compliant rodent control products will go into effect once EPA has concluded a cancellation process, which the agency expects will be later this year. Rodenticides containing brodifacoum, bromadiolone, difethialone and …
Dairy Cattle Expert Tapped To Head UC Davis Tulare CenterJune 7, 2011 Terry Lehenbauer, DVM, MPVM, PhD, Dipl. ACVPM – epidemiology, was named director of the UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine’s Veterinary Medicine Teaching and Research Center in Tulare. Dr. Lehenbauer, an expert in dairy cattle health, welfare and economics, joined the center in 2008 as associate director for food systems. Under his new title, he oversees academic and clinical training programs for veterinary and pre veterinary students. He also manages the three-year dairy production medicine residency for veterinarians, works with the community to develop research and training programs and supervises clinical services for more than 100,000 animals at local commercial dairies and calf ranches. The Tulare center opened in 1983 to serve regional dairies, provide training for veterinary students and develop scientific studies on cattle health and food safety. The Tulare branch of the California Animal Health and Food Safety Laboratory System and a district office of the California Department of Food and Agriculture is also part of the center. Lehenbauer’s research interests include animal health economics, assessment of dairy cattle health and welfare, epidemiology of cattle production systems and evaluation of diagnostic tests. He represents the American Association of Bovine Practitioners on the American Veterinary …
Nutramax Study Says Cosequin Safe For Diabetic CatsJune 6, 2011 Nutramax Laboratories, Inc. revealed results from a study that suggest Cosequin for Cats, a joint health supplement, will not affect the management of diabetes. According to Nutramax, the study provides evidence of Cosequin’s safety in diabetic cats, many of whom could benefit from joint health support due to being overweight or geriatric. Cosequin for Cats contains the active ingredients glucosamine and chondroitin sulfate. The study showed no major changes in the blood value fructosamine when the product was administered at label-recommended levels. Fructosamine levels reflect the average glucose levels during the previous two to three weeks. Despite safety indications, the company recommends pet owners check with their veterinarian before changing diet or management of a diabetic cat. Nutramax noted that Cosequin’s glucosamine and chondroitin sulfate are also available with the ingredient avocado/soybean unsaponifiables (ASU) in Dasuquin providing advanced joint health support. <Home>
VPI Donates $10,000 To Search And Rescue DogsJune 6, 2011 Veterinary Pet Insurance Co. announced it has donated $10,000 to the American Veterinary Medical Foundation (AVMF) to help fund veterinary care for search and rescue dogs serving in areas damaged by tornadoes. The funds will contribute to any necessary medical care. Injuries such as lacerations and damage from dermal and inhaled toxins are commonly suffered by dogs in the line of duty, according to VPI. There are only 200 federally certified search and rescue dogs in the country, making their abilities valuable and unique, however when an accident or injury occurs the medical fees can exceed the veterinary care stipend handlers receive, VPI states. AVMF was established as the charitable arm of the American Veterinary Medical Association in 1963. In the last decade, the foundation has awarded grants totaling more than $9 million to help veterinarians help pets. Visit AVMF's website for more information. <Home>
Philadelphia Beaver Confirmed To Have RabiesJune 3, 2011 A beaver that attacked three people in Philadelphia tested positive for the rabies virus. Test results were provided to the Game Commission today by the Department of Health’s Bureau of Laboratories in Exton, Chester County. Walter Cottrell, MS, DVM, Pennsylvania Game Commission wildlife veterinarian, made the announcement. The beaver carcass was taken to the University of Pennsylvania’s New Bolton Center and prepared for transfer for rabies testing at the Department of Health facility. A necropsy will be conducted at New Bolton to determine if there were other potential causes for aggression, such as injury or another type of disease. As a precaution, Game Commission officials encourage residents to avoid the Pennypack Creek waterfront area. On June 1, a husband and wife were fishing when a beaver bit the woman’s leg. As her husband attempted to assist her, the beaver turned and bit him in both his arms and chest. On June 2, in the area of Roosevelt Boulevard, a child was bitten by a beaver. A search for other affected beavers is expected to be conducted by the Game Commission and United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services. Since 2000, between 350 and …
IverCare Dewormer Launches Loyalty Program And WebsiteJune 3, 2011 Farnam’s IverCare (ivermectin) Paste has introduced a consumer loyalty program that enables customers to earn free doses of dewormer. A free dose is earned by collecting four UPC codes from IverCare boxes. The loyalty rewards will periodically change and can be redeemed by printing a mail-in certificate from the company’s new website. No extra shipping or handling fees are charged for the free product. Mail-in certificates for free IverCare dewormer are also available through retailers. The new website includes facts about parasite lifecycles and prevention. The site also details how untreated infestations can affect horses, and products that may be used to successfully treat equine worm infestations are listed. IverCare (ivermectin) Paste 1.87 percent is a broadspectrum dewormer that treats horses up to 1,500 pounds, the company says. The product is available in the Sure-Grip syringe. <Home>
Changing The Face Of Veterinary OncologyJune 3, 2011 In late 2007, just as the Great Recession began to roll across the country, Mona Rosenberg, DVM, Dipl. ACVIM (Oncology), started seeing a difference in business at her Veterinary Cancer Group in Southern California, which comprises four clinics. Fewer people were coming through the door. And of those who did, fewer were opting to follow standard of care. Instead, more were choosing minimalist, less-expensive treatments. To Dr. Rosenberg, who founded her clinic as a one-person shop in 1992 and grew it into what may be the largest veterinary oncology practice in the U.S., this posed two major challenges: how to keep the business healthy and how to keep giving cancer-stricken animals and their owners the care they sought and deserved. A New Approach The answer, she soon realized, was to operate the clinics as she always had—just a little more creatively. For clients limited by money but wanting the best care for their pets, she and her staff suggested new ideas. Was there a clinical trial where they could get treatment essentially for free? Was there an outside financing plan to explore? Could they devise a less-expensive treatment plan that could deliver results similar to …
Sage Veterinary Specialty Centers Launches In The San Francisco Bay AreaJune 2, 2011 Sage Centers for Veterinary Specialty and Emergency Care in San Francisco Bay launched its consolidated veterinary service offerings and its new website. Through the new services, San Francisco Bay veterinarians and pet owners have access to specialists in orthopedic and soft tissue surgery, oncology, internal medicine, neurology, cardiology, physical rehabilitation and emergency care in the same organizational structure and brand. The emergency and specialty care facilities formerly operated as three separate entities: Veterinary Surgical Associates (VSA), Veterinary Medical Specialists (VMS) and Tri-Valley Animal Emergency Center (TVAEC). “Our goal by consolidating under the Sage structure is to provide the San Francisco Bay Area referring veterinarians and pet owners with new levels of convenience and peace of mind, while retaining the values, standard of care and commitment to service they have come to expect from all our practices,” says Julie D. Smith, DVM, Dipl. ACVS, one of the managing partners of Sage. “Our new name highlights the collaborative nature of our facilities, speaks to the level of expertise of our veterinary specialists and symbolizes the compassion and commitment to healing and to the environment that we offer.” Sage Centers for Veterinary Specialty and Emergency Care retains the same …
