Ruffling Feathers Over Pet InsuranceAugust 6, 2009 If you’re representative of the majority of small-animal veterinary professionals, here’s an issue that might ruffle your feathers, or at the very least, elicit your strong opinions. It’s pet health insurance. Though more than 30 years in the making, the industry is struggling to get off the ground, its success hampered by Consumer Reports articles of dubious validity and veterinary fear of HMO-style medicine. While some of you may feel warmly toward the concept of a financial product that solves client problems, saves pets AND boosts our bottom lines, only a small percentage of us actively recommends it. Even fewer of us participate in disseminating pet health insurance’s potential glories to the tune this still-immature industry would have us dance to. It’s been convincingly proposed that generalized consumer resentment of the U.S. health care system is largely to blame for this widespread hand-wringing. Will we: Be forced to engage in expensive and odious paperwork? Take on onerous reimbursement detail? Suffer the business end of technicalities too fine-printed to tease out? Manage client wrath when reimbursements fail to materialize? Scarier still, will our prices be driven down by systemic and insidious insurance company integration into our …
SPONSORED CONTENTThe Reality of Veterinary Surgery ErgonomicsOne of the greatest challenges of Work-Related Musculo-Skeletal Disorders (WRMSD) is that they can come on slowly. They can be easy to ignore initially. The American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) issued ergonomic guidelines to help veterinarians catch problems early. + Learn More
When Does Medicine Become Religion?August 6, 2009 Complementary and alternative medicine spans the gamut from the scientific and credible to the metaphysical and implausible. Certain methods more akin to faith healing than biomedicine have blurred the lines of demarcation that ordinarily separate medicine and religion or spirituality. Prayer, for one, claims a foothold in both camps, with the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine at the National Institutes of Health regarding prayer as an “active process of communicating with and appealing to a higher spiritual power, specifically for health reasons.”1 An article in The Times of London last year asked, “If Chinese complementary medicine can go mainstream, why not spiritual healing?”2 The reporter shadowed such a healer treating cancer patients at University College Hospital in central London. One oncologist attested: “I was a skeptic at first, but you can’t question the results. I’d be devastated if we lost those professionals now.” Patients experienced profound peace and relaxation as a result of her supposedly channeling healing energy. Therapists who perform spiritual healing posit that they are acting as conduits for energy arising from a higher source. They treat either with hands on or off the patient, and some do …
Tax Deductions For Pet-Care Expenses ProposedAugust 5, 2009 House Resolution 3501, commonly referred to as the Humanity and Pets Partnered Through the Years, or HAPPY Act, would amend the Internal Revenue Code to allow an individual to deduct up to $3,500 for “qualified pet care expenses.” “Qualified pet care expenses” is defined as “amounts paid in connection with providing care (including veterinary care) for a qualified pet other than any expense in connection with the acquisition of the qualified pet.” “Qualified pet” is defined as “a legally owned, domesticated, live animal.” It does not include animals used for research or owned or used in conjunction with a trade or business. The act would not apply for a person who deducted expenses under IRC sections 162 (ordinary and necessary expenses) and 213 (diagnostic and similar procedures, medical devices and other medical expenses not covered by insurance) during the preceding three taxable years. The measure, introduced on July 31, was drafted in conjunction with data from the American Pet Products Association’s National Pet Owners Survey. It has been referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means. The Pet Industry Joint Advisory Council (PIJAC) issued a Pet Alert on Aug. 5 …
New Legislation Aims To Help Vet Workforce NeedsAugust 5, 2009 New legislation designed to help states address their veterinary workforce needs was introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives on July 31. It was then referred to the Agriculture Committee. Specifically, the Veterinary Services Investment Act (H.R. 3519), sponsored by Adrian Smith (R-NE), would establish a new grant program under the jurisdiction of the United States Department of Agriculture to assist states in addressing their own unique veterinary workforce needs. The American Veterinary Medical Association, supporter of the bill, points out that what is needed in one state may differ greatly from what is most needed in another. Awards under the new grant program may be used to support various activities, including to recruit and retain practicing veterinarians and veterinary technicians to work in underserved areas, to bolster knowledge in food safety/protection and food animal medicine, to establish mobile and portable veterinary clinics and to establish or expand veterinary residency, internship and externship programs, among other activities. Those that are eligible to apply for a grant under the new program are for-profit and nonprofit veterinary clinics located in rural areas, state veterinary medical associations, national, allied or regional veterinary organizations and specialty boards recognized by the …
Record-Breaking Participation Expected For World Rabies DayAugust 3, 2009 World Rabies Day will once again take place on Sept. 28 in an effort to raise awareness and resources in support of human rabies prevention and animal rabies control. Eighty-five countries participated in last year’s observance, according to the Alliance for Rabies Control, a United Kingdom charity that helped spearhead the effort with the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The group expects to exceed that number this year. The campaign seeks to reinforce the message that rabies is a preventable disease, yet it kills 55,000 people each year, about one person every 10 minutes, according to the organization. Rabies can be transmitted to animals and humans. The disease is transmitted mainly by bite, but exposure may also occur through contamination of broken skin or mucous membranes with saliva from an infected animal. Once neurological symptoms of the disease develop, rabies is fatal to both animals and humans. However, rabies is preventable. “Vaccination prior to possible exposure is a crucial part of health management of domestic animals, and is the single most important factor in rabies prevention,” said Peter Costa, global communications coordinator for the Alliance for Rabies Control. Rabies …
Sanofi-Aventis To Pay $4 Billion For MerialJuly 31, 2009 Merck & Co. has agreed to sell its 50 percent interest in Merial to Sanofi-Aventis SA, which owns the other half of the animal health company, for $4 billion in cash. The sale is subject to clearance by European antitrust authorities. The companies made the announcement in a joint statement dated July 30. Merck anticipates completing the transaction before Merck's planned $41.1 billion merger with Schering-Plough Corp. The merger is expected to close in the fourth quarter. In addition, Merck, Sanofi-Aventis and Schering-Plough have signed a call option agreement. This means that after the close of the Merck/Schering-Plough merger, Sanofi-Aventis will have the option to combine the Intervet/Schering-Plough Animal Health business with Merial to form an animal health joint venture that would be owned equally by itself and the new Merck. Any formation of a new animal health joint venture with Sanofi-Aventis is subject to antitrust reviews in the U.S. and Europe. Sanofi-Aventis is based in Paris, Merck is in Whitehouse Station, N.J., and Schering-Plough is in Kenilworth, N.J. <HOME>
ImproMed Acquires Sunpoint SoftwareJuly 28, 2009 ImproMed Inc. of Oshkosh, Wis., has acquired Sunpoint Software Inc., a practice management software company in Windermere, Fla. With the acquisition, Sunpoint users will now be supported by ImproMed’s Transition Team and its more than 85 other employees. Users will also have the opportunity to use ImproMed’s practice management software, Infinity, and the chance to participate in ImproMed’s Online Data Storage Program, Application Support, Hardware Support, Operating System Support and 24/7 Support. In addition, ImproMed will provide the users with its ImproMed University, iCAN (Infinity Community Access Network), free webinars and attendance to company-sponsored webinar series, on-site education, continuing education CDs and continuing education labs. <HOME>
Banfield Stops Offering Tail Dock, Ear Crop ProceduresJuly 27, 2009 Banfield, The Pet Hospital, of Portland, Ore., reported July 27 that it will no longer perform ear cropping and tail docking surgeries on dogs for cosmetic reasons. The company, which has more than 730 veterinary hospitals in the United States, said the decision was made with the overall health and wellness of pets in mind. The change in medical protocol was approved by Banfield’s Medical Standards Board, an internal panel of veterinarians responsible for evaluating all medical standards and procedures. It’s a decision that Banfield says it has been considering for some time. “After thoughtful consideration and reviewing medical research, we have determined it is in the best interest of the pets we treat, as well as the overall practice, to discontinue performing these unnecessary cosmetic procedures,” said Karen Faunt, DVM, Dipl. ACVIM, vice president for medical quality advancement for Banfield. “It is our hope that this new medical protocol will help reduce, and eventually eliminate, these cosmetic procedures altogether.” Banfield maintains that there is little scientific evidence that such procedures benefit dogs, even though they were typically performed according to breed standards. “Banfield’s approach to veterinary medicine focuses on procedures …
How To Avoid Bandage ComplicationsJuly 24, 2009 Minor complications such as redness, edema and abrasions are common after placement of a bandage. But few studies are dedicated to severe complications such as ischemia, open wounds and necrosis. A British team1 reported serious complications in 11 patients (nine dogs and two cats) after a variety of bandages were applied. Nine patients required surgical debridement, five received a skin graft, three had one or several toes amputated, and one needed carpal arthrodesis. Even worse: two patients had a leg amputated and two others died. The main problem here is ischemia. Ischemic lesions are caused by a bandage that is too tight, a lack of cotton padding around pressure points and secondary tissue edema. To avoid such embarrassing complications, the recommendation is: • Use generous cotton padding. • Leave toes 3 and 4 visible so you and the owner can assess swelling. • Educate your client to take proper care of the bandage. Most serious implications occur within 24 to 48 hours after application. If the patient starts to chew or lick a bandage excessively, or is unexpectedly in pain, think “bandage complication.” The patient should be readmitted and the bandage changed. Long-term …
A Rash Of Reasons To Investigate Itching And TreatmentsJuly 24, 2009 Most dermatological issues that make their way to veterinary offices present when the pet’s incessant itching spurs the owner into action. According to veterinary dermatologists, about 25 percent of general practices’ cases are skin-based and 10 percent of those cases are allergy-related. Sunburn on the muzzle and around the eyes. Itchy dogs and cats referred to specialists’ care tend to be lifelong derm patients and are controlled rather than cured, but general practitioners’ clients pressed by the economy want the issue handled in a fast, financially feasible way without the added cost of prolonged specialty care. While some dermatology cases take diligence that comes with a price tag, manufacturers provide a plethora of treatments that can prevent skin maladies and treat existing ones cost effectively. Bull terrier with a sunburned face. “For the past three summers I’ve seen about two patients a day with cheyletiellosis, or walking dandruff,” says Alice M. Jeromin, DVM, Dipl. ACVD, of Veterinary Allergy & Dermatology Inc. in Richfield, Ohio. “We’ve seen more of these cases than fleas. We can treat this easily enough with Selamectin or Ivermectin, but most derm cases aren’t so clear cut. Environmental, …
