Comforting Cancer Patients With CAMApril 17, 2009 Short of finding a cure for their animal with cancer, oncology clients want ways to reduce their animal’s suffering. While some elect euthanasia, many would consider otherwise if provided effective options. Maximizing comfort and minimizing pain usually requires multimodal analgesia due to the unique challenges that cancer pain poses.1 Typically, this involves a combination of conventional and complementary and alternative medical intervention.2 The American Cancer Society and the National Comprehensive Cancer Network cancer pain practice guidelines ask that clinicians recommend nonpharmacologic measures if pain remains uncontrolled despite pharmacologic management and re-evaluation.3 Pain Complexities What makes cancer pain complex? One reason concerns the physiology of tumor pain itself. Chemical interactions between cancer cells and sensory neurons appear to contribute to tumor pain. Researchers recently showed that increased numbers of voltage-gated calcium channels mediate mechanical hyperalgesia in a fibrosarcoma cancer model.4 Other issues also make cancer pain unique.Dogs post-amputation require special attention to the myofascial and spinal restrictions they will develop along their back, neck and remaining limbs. Patients receiving radiation therapy need pain relief for the glandular disruptions in head and neck cancers and severe tissue reactions in general. Chemotherapy can pose a variety of …
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Can Animals With Diabetes 'Go All-Natural'?April 17, 2009 Nearly half of human diabetic adults surveyed in the U.S. in 2002 used some form of complementary and alternative medicine.1 These approaches included herbs, chiropractic, yoga, acupuncture, homeopathy, biofeedback, chelation, energy healing, Reiki therapy, massage, hypnosis and more. A Canadian study indicated that people spent as much money on supplements as they did on prescription medications.2 Thus, veterinarians managing patients with diabetes now have one more key component to include in their client education meetings. Specifically, veterinarians need to find out whether the animal is receiving any herbal mixtures, as these could conceivably alter blood glucose levels and offset insulin requirements. At a seemingly unstoppable rate, herbals and nutraceuticals are growing in their numbers and claims including products promoted for diabetics. It is no wonder, then, that clients are beginning to ask about non-drug insulin alternatives. The prospect of giving their animal once- or twice-daily injections can be overwhelming, either emotionally or from a time-management perspective. However, no insulin alternatives deliver benefits proven to be as effective or reliable as insulin, and clients integrating these options should monitor their animal's blood sugar levels closely.3 Otherwise, uncertain outcomes could expose an animal to uncontrolled …
AVMA Urges Care In Proposition 2 ImplementationApril 17, 2009 With the passage of California's Proposition 2, the American Veterinary Medical Assn. is urging care—and the advice of veterinarians and animal welfare scientists—in the proposition’s implementation. The Standards for Confining Farm Animals requires that calves raised for veal, egg-laying hens and pregnant pigs be confined only in ways that allow these animals to lie down, stand up, fully extend their limbs and turn around freely. Supporters, including the Humane Society of the United States, the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals and the Humane Society Veterinary Medical Assn., maintain that the proposition is “a modest measure that stops cruel and inhumane treatment of animals.” But the AVMA, which opposed the initiative, said that while admirable in its goal to improve the welfare of production farm animals, it would likely compromise several other factors necessary to ensure the overall welfare of the animals, especially with regard to protection from disease and injury. “We agree that more attention needs to be paid to the behavioral well being of production animals,” Gail Golab, DVM, head of the AVMA’s Animal Welfare Division, said today in a statement. …
Editors Announce 2006 Eklin Challenge WinnerApril 17, 2009 It is official, snakes have dominated the Eklin Challenge for the past two years. This year’s grand prize winner is the snake that ate a snake that ate a mouse submitted by Laura Chenault, DVM, and Scott Johnson, DVM, of the Animal Emergency Clinic of Northwest Austin in Austin, Texas. Their patient was a 5-year-old female boa constrictor named Princess who shared the house (but not a cage) with a pit viper. Princess’ owners took her to the emergency clinic after they found her loose in the house curled up inside the pit viper’s cage. The viper was nowhere to be found. The winning X-ray clearly shows that Princess had eaten the pit viper who had recently eaten a mouse meal. Drs. Chenault and Johnson will share the grand prize, a Canon Digital Rebel XT single-lens reflex camera courtesy of Eklin Medical Systems of Santa Clara, Calif. This year, Veterinary Practice News and Eklin recruited some of the best veterinary radiologists in the country to judge the “You Found What?” annual radiograph contest. Judges included Rachel Schochet, DVM, of Southern California Veterinary Imaging in Culver City, Calif., Brian Poteet, DVM, Dipl. ACVR, of Gulf Coast …
Hill’s Gives $5 Million To Ontario Vet College For Educational CenterApril 17, 2009Hill's Pet Nutrition Inc. of Topeka, Kan., has made a $5 million, 10-year commitment to the University of Guelph to support a new educational center at the Ontario Veterinary College. The Hill's Pet Nutrition Primary Healthcare Center will focus on teaching and research in primary companion animal health care and service delivery. Students will also learn to educate owners about the health, nutrition and well-being of their pets. "As a veterinary college, we want to emphasize the importance of primary health care in enhancing the significant relationship between pets and their owners," said Elizabeth Stone, the college's dean. "Hill's commitment will help us create a health care model that includes nutrition, rehabilitation, behavior, public health and other areas of practice." The center, which is part of the overall redevelopment of the college and its teaching hospital, is also supported by the Ontario government. The Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities invested $9.5 million in the facility and college redevelopment in February. <HOME>
Study Finds High Prevalence Of Retrovirus Infection Among Cats With Oral DiseaseApril 17, 2009 The prevalence of feline immunodeficiency virus and feline leukemia virus is significantly higher in feline oral disease patients than it is in the general cat population, according to the findings of a new study. Sponsored by Idexx Laboratories Inc. of Westbrook, Maine, the study screened 8,982 orally diseased cats between January and April of 2006. Of these cats, 1,276 were retrovirus-positive, a 14.2 percent prevalence. According to the researchers, cats with gingivitis and stomatitis exhibited 14.3 percent and 23.9 percent prevalence of retroviral infection, respectively. Other recent studies have found the nationwide prevalence of FeLV and FIV in the general cat population to be about 3.3 percent and 3.4 percent, respectively, the researchers report. “The clinical significance of these results has far-reaching implications,” says Jan Bellows, DVM, Dipl. AVDC, Dipl. ABVP, one of the study’s authors. “It is generally believed that feline gingivitis is related to an immune response to plaque and bacteria, while gingivostomatitis is probably a multifactoral disease in which most patients have elevated calicivirus titers. “Illness in retrovirus-infected cats is often secondary disease acquired because of immunosuppression and not a direct effect of the retrovirus infection,” Dr. Bellows adds. “Both FeLV and …
Vet Clinics Adjunct Market For Wall AquariumsApril 17, 2009 Aquavista Enterprise Inc. of Menlo Park, Calif., and national veterinary distributor Webster Veterinary Supply have begun marketing Aquavista’s wall and desktop aquariums to veterinary clinics and animal hospitals. The aquariums are also marketed to dental and medical offices by Webster’s parent, Patterson Co. In addition to online sales and these channels, Aquavista is also looking to market to other business channels, including retailers (both pet specialty and others) and restaurant equipment suppliers, according to Scott Yen at Aquavista. Yen attended January’s North American Veterinary Conference to help Webster market the aquariums. The aquariums fit in Webster’s broader practice décor offerings, which include waiting room furniture, magazine racks and non-living wall art. In addition to waiting rooms, some practices are placing the aquariums in examination and consulting rooms, especially rooms used for bereavement counseling, according to a Webster representative. Aquariums’ ability to soothe are highly valued in stressful veterinary practices and some have suggested that aquariums can help cats recover more quickly by keeping them alert. Webster reps report that some clinics with existing aquariums are swapping the full-size models for the wall aquariums to save on maintenance costs. Existing clinic …
Rosenberg Named Associate ProfessorApril 17, 2009 Mona Rosenberg, DVM, Dipl. ACVIM, has been named clinical associate professor of veterinary medicine at Western University of Health Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine. Dr. Rosenberg is chief executive officer and chief of staff of Veterinary Cancer Group, with offices in Tustin and Culver City, Calif. The Veterinary Cancer Group serves as a rotation site for the college’s fourth year students who have an interest in oncology. In related news, Autumn Dutelle, DVM, has completed her residency at Veterinary Cancer Group’s Tustin office. She is the second resident to complete the program. <HOME>
Racing To Save Pets At WVCApril 17, 2009 The human-animal bond went way beyond our expectations this year at the Western Veterinary Conference in Las Vegas. Many thanks to WVC’s tireless staff, President Dr. Jim Furman, Chief Medical Officer Dr. Steve Crane; and Executive Director Dr. Guy Pidgeon. WVC celebrated its 80th anniversary this year. The very first meeting was held in Utah in 1928 as the Western States Sanitation Conference. Then it morphed into Western States Veterinary Conference and moved to Las Vegas. Since 1985 it has been known as WVC. At more than 6,300, veterinarian attendance once again exceeded the North American Veterinary Conference, making WVC the largest veterinary professional meeting in the world with an amazing international attendance. During the conference, WVC introduced the Oquendo Center for Clinical Education. This 66,000-square-foot facility is the new headquarters for WVC, home of the College of Southern Nevada Veterinary Technician Program, and dedicated to “hands on” continuing education through courses and seminar packages all year long. This WVC was a meeting shall never forget. It began with the usual CE and networking with friends at meals. My Monday was devoted to CE, looking up favorite vendors in the extensive exhibit hall, and book signings …
Revenue Up 14% At Webster VeterinaryApril 17, 2009Patterson Companies Inc. of St. Paul, Minn., on Thursday reported a 14 percent jump in second-quarter revenue at its Webster Veterinary unit. For the quarter ended Oct. 25, revenue was $123.6 million compared to $108.9 million in the year-ago period. Year to date, the division reported revenue of $246.9 million, up from $219.3 million. "Our Webster Veterinary and Patterson Medical units were affected by the difficult economic environment to a lesser degree than Patterson Dental," said James Wiltz, president and chief executive officer. "Webster received a strong sales contribution from its acquisition of Columbus Serum, and the integration of this large and well-established distributor is proceeding on schedule. "This acquisition is an important strategic investment, since it expands Webster's geographic coverage, improves its economies of scale and allows Webster to accelerate deployment of its value-added model." Overall, Patterson reported net income of $46.9 million on revenue of $759.5 million for the second quarter, compared to $53.7 million and $742.0 million, respectively, in the year-ago period. Year to date, the company reported net income of $92.9 million on revenue of $1.5 billion, compared to net income of $101.3 million on revenue of $1.4 billion in the year-ago …
