Trust Us, Young Vets Have Lots To OfferJuly 8, 2010 I get more than my share of mail from Veterinary Practice News readers who disparage my ability to serve as a competent observer of practice life, often on the basis of my “associate” status. It’s been suggested that because I serve at the pleasure of my bosses in a mere associate’s capacity, my approach to certain subjects offers no more than an underling’s understanding of the intricacies and stressors inherent to practice ownership. It’s also been claimed on more than one occasion that this column rightfully belongs to a veterinarian with a higher perch and a practiced point of view, not to someone whose associate-ship likely means her business acumen is confined to her academic experience. As if that wasn’t enough of a dig, other comments—even on VeterinaryPracticeNews.com—have suggested that any given practice owner might love nothing better than to know I worked for the competition. Presumably that’s because I’m an uppity associate who challenges their status quo. After all, even my most demanding employers never complained about my production numbers or client-building skills––that is until I worked for the competition. And while I’ll never begrudge anyone their right to play the loudmouth with other people’s …
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Bonding With Patients, VeterinariansJuly 8, 2010 Ten years ago, the American Association of Human-Animal Bond Veterinarians (AAH-ABV) introduced or refreshed the concept of pet hospice to the veterinary profession. Dr. Caroline Schaffer of Tuskegee veterinary college was president of the AAH-ABV at the time. She wanted to provide a platform for pet hospice. She asked me to present an oncologist’s version of pet hospice at AVMA 2000. Dr. Short asked me to give the profession my energy and perspective on end-of-life care. The first thing that came to mind was to give it a new name. Instead of hospice, I came up with “Pawspice” (rhymes with hospice) because there is a big difference between human and pet hospice. Pet owners and their attending veterinarians are the decision makers at every step of the way, especially when it is the right time to end the hospice and use humane euthanasia. Sadly, at the time of this writing, my husband and I are participating in hospice care for our dear friend Tony Soich. Tony is dying of tongue cancer associated with chewing tobacco and smoking cigarettes since he was a teenager. He has been battling tongue cancer and unable to eat for over a …
Digital Angel Eliminates ‘Corporate Structure’ To Focus On Animal ID BusinessJuly 7, 2010 Digital Angel reported today that it is eliminating its “corporate structure,” and the associated costs of a separate headquarters, and several management positions. The changes are expected to result in cost savings of about $2 million per year, according to the company. Digital Angel said that the move is part of its turnaround plan. Over the past two years, Digital Angel has been divesting businesses deemed to be non-core in order to focus on the company’s animal identification business, Destron Fearing. “Our focus on Destron Fearing eliminates the need for the corporate structure that was put in place by the previous management team,” said Joe Grillo, chief executive officer. “By integrating Destron Fearing’s operational management with Digital Angel’s management of public company functions and responsibilities, we are eliminating positions that can be more efficiently outsourced or performed at Destron Fearing’s headquarters in South Saint Paul, Minn. “Under the new structure, we are more streamlined and have significantly lower overhead costs. These savings should allow us to further strengthen our balance sheet and redirect resources to the Destron Fearing Animal Identification business, where we see significant growth opportunities and a bright future.” Jason Prescott, treasurer of …
United Pet Group Expands Recall To Include Cat And Dog ProductsJuly 7, 2010 Due to salmonella concerns, United Pet Group of Cincinnati has expanded its recent recall of its Pro-Pet Adult Daily Vitamin tablets for dogs to include additional branded and private label pet care products. The expanded recall, issued July 2, includes more Pro-Pet products as well as various Excel-branded and private label pet supplements and clean-up products for cats and dogs. Laboratory testing has revealed that some lots of these products may be contaminated with salmonella, according to the company. The company said it is recalling additional products out of “an abundance of caution.” The affected products are in tablet and powdered form and were sold nationally at various retailers, including Petco and Doctors Foster and Smith, United Pet Group reported. The affected products carry expiration dates from “01/2013” through “06/2013.” Products with expirations dates before “01/2013” or after “06/2013” are not included in the recall. The company had issued a voluntary recall in late June of all unexpired lots of its Pro-Pet Adult Daily Vitamin tablets for dogs. At that time, the company reported that one lot of the vitamin product was contaminated with salmonella. Pets with salmonella infections may be lethargic …
Doing A World Of Good: Glenn Gaines, DVMJuly 6, 2010 The building is nothing much to look at. A simple wood structure, it has a dirt floor, a tin roof and walls that don’t quite keep out the dust in the spring, when the winds blow the hardest. Glenn Gaines, DVM, describes it like a proud father, and no wonder. When it was completed under his watch last summer, the bare-bones building became the first large-animal diagnostic clinic in the entire nation of Mongolia. Equipped with technology like an endoscope, ultrasound and digital imaging system, the clinic is an important step toward the ultimate goal of making modern veterinary care accessible all over the remote, livestock-dependent Central Asian nation. “There are clinics throughout the country, but really they are not much more than pharmacies that the veterinarians work out of. For the most part they don’t have equipment, and if they do they may not have been trained on how to use it,” Dr. Gaines says. “That was a big part of our mission, giving the local veterinarians the knowledge and the expertise so they could go out and help [their clients].” Dr. Gaines trains vets to use AllPro Imaging’s ScanX system. Gaines …
Merrick Recalls One Lot Of Beef Filet Squares Dog TreatsJuly 6, 2010 Merrick Pet Care Inc. of Amarillo, Texas, has issued another recall of its Beef Filet Squares for Dogs pet treats due to possible salmonella contamination. On July 2, the company recalled 86 cases of its 10-ounce packages of Beef Filet Squares for Dogs, item number 60016, lot number 10084TL7, with a “Best By” date of March 24, 2012. The treats have the potential to be contaminated with Salmonella, according to the company. Merrick recalled 10-ounce packages of its Beef Filet Squares with a different lot number for the same reason in January. In this new case, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) had collected a sample of the Beef Filet Squares, lot number 10084TL7, from a retail store. The sample tested positive for salmonella, the company reported. The newly recalled product was shipped to distributors and retailers throughout the United States. Those companies have been notified and have activated their recall procedures, according to Merrick. Pets with salmonella infections may be lethargic and have diarrhea or bloody diarrhea, fever, and vomiting. Some pets may have decreased appetite, fever and abdominal pain. Infected but otherwise healthy pets can be carriers and infect other animals or …
BlogPaws Social Media Conference Adds Track For VeterinariansJuly 2, 2010 BlogPaws, online resource aimed at helping pet enthusiasts build their online presence and enhance their social networks, will hold its second pet blogging and social media conference, BlogPaws 2010 West, Sept. 9-11 in Denver, Colo. BlogPaws 2010 West will also include the new Vet Track, designed specifically for veterinarians. The full day event will take place Sept. 11. The conference was originally geared for pet enthusiasts, but when veterinarians and veterinary technicians expressed a desire for veterinary-specific information, BlogPaws decided to create Vet Track, according to co-founder Caroline Golon. The aim of Vet Track is to serve as a resource for veterinarians to learn more about getting their practice on the Web and how social media is used to positively affect their practice. Session topics include: • “Why a Practice Should Have a Website and be Involved in Social Media,” by Geoff Tucker, DVM, an equine practitioner. • “The Internet and the Vet: How Expectations are Changing Between Veterinarians and Their Clients,” by Nancy Kay, DVM, Dipl. ACVIM, author of Speaking for Spot. • “Legal Concerns for Veterinarians on the Web,” by Douglas Jack, a lawyer and head of VetLaw in Canada. There will …
AAHA Releases Nutritional Guidelines For Dogs, CatsJuly 1, 2010The American Animal Hospital Association today released its Nutritional Assessment Guidelines for Dogs and Cats. The guidelines were developed on the basis that good nutrition enhances pets’ quality and quantity of life and is integral to optimal animal care. “Incorporating nutritional assessment into the routine examination protocol for every patient is important for maintaining optimal health, as well as their response to disease and injury,” said Michael Cavanaugh, DVM, Dipl. ABVP, executive director of AAHA. “The goal of the new guidelines is to provide a framework for the veterinary practice team to help make nutritional assessments and recommendations for their patients.” The guidelines were, in part, prompted by results that AAHA found through its compliance study, which was published last year. The study found that 7 percent of pets that could benefit from a therapeutic food were actually on such a regimen. “The compliance discrepancy along with the many factors considered in assessing the nutritional needs of a healthy dog or cat, as well as the pet with one or more medical conditions, led to the development of the AAHA Nutritional Assessment Guidelines for Dogs and Cats,” the organization said. The guidelines break down nutritional assessment into “screening” and “extended” …
Feline’s Pride Recalls Chicken Formula Cat FoodJuly 1, 2010 Feline Pride’s of Buffalo, N.Y., has issued a voluntary nationwide recall of its natural chicken formula raw food for cats and kittens because of concerns of salmonella contamination, according to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. The recalled product, produced June 10, was packaged in 2½-pound uncoded plastic containers and sold frozen to consumers. Once thawed, the pet food has a shelf life of about one week. The company said the recall affects orders placed and shipped June 10 through June 17. Feline’s Pride and the FDA are working to determine the source of the problem. Neither Feline’s Pride nor the FDA has received reports of salmonella infection relating to the recalled product, according to the company. Pets suffering salmonella infections may be lethargic and have diarrhea or bloody diarrhea, fever and vomiting. Some pets may have decreased appetite, fever and abdominal pain. Infected but otherwise healthy pets can be carriers and infect other animals or humans, according to the company. Cat owners are urged to contact their veterinarian if their pet consumed the recalled product and is exhibiting these symptoms. Humans can become infected, especially if they have not thoroughly washed their …
Class IV Laser Therapy Symposium ScheduledJuly 1, 2010 Veterinarians and veterinary technicians are invited to attend a symposium on Class IV laser therapy Aug. 13 at Colorado State University. The full-day symposium is being offered by the CSU Center for Comparative and Integrative Veterinary Medicine, the Colorado Veterinary Medical Association and the American Institute of Medical Laser Applications. LiteCure LLC of Newark, Del., is sponsoring the program. The symposium will highlight the science behind Class IV laser therapy in companion animal and equine veterinary practice. The course will include an in-depth discussion of the biochemical cascade of events caused by laser at the tissue level and how this translates into the effective analgesia, resolution of inflammation and accelerated tissue healing. Lectures will cover dosing guidelines and calculations, treatment methodology and reasonable therapeutic expectations for a variety of conditions. Lecture titles include: • "Clinical Evidence on Laser Therapy: Benefits, Controversies and Questions,” by Narda Robinson, DVM, DO, Dipl. ABMA, FAAMA, who oversees complementary veterinary education at CSU. • "Medical Lasers, the Basics of Lasers and Tissue Interaction,” by Brian Pryor, Ph.D., founder and CEO of LiteCure. • "The Evolution of Laser Therapy, Current Applications and Its Future Promise,” by Juanita Anders, Ph.D., …
