Laser Disc Surgery Shows Long-Term Success RateApril 17, 2009 Oklahoma State University Center for Veterinary Health Sciences has been using percutaneous laser disc ablation surgery, an interventional radiologic procedure, on canine patients for almost 15 years with proven success, according to Robert Bahr, DVM, Dipl. ACVR, associate professor of radiology. The procedure is designed to prevent the recurrence of disc herniation with subsequent spinal cord damage. The procedure was first investigated by Oklahoma State’s George Henry, DVM, and Kenneth Bartels, DVM. Initial studies focused on the effects of laser treatment on tissues similar to the intervertebral disc material. The scope of the research was to discover the effects of laser energy on intervertebral disc material and how denatured disc might be kept from extruding or herniating in the future, causing spinal cord injury. Since 1993, when the procedure was first used on clinically affected dogs, Oklahoma’s teaching hospital has treated more than 300 cases. The success rate, which is based on the rate of recurrence in the treated dogs, has been good. “Our success rate is 96.6 percent,” Dr. Bahr said. “That means that out of all the dogs treated since the project began in 1993 (some 325 dogs total), only nine dogs …
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BrightHeart Acquires Ohio PracticeApril 17, 2009BrightHeart Veterinary Centers recently acquired Veterinary Referral Clinic in Bedford Heights, Ohio. The clinic is now called Great Lakes Veterinary Specialists. "The name was chosen by the [clinic's] staff," said Alan Green, DVM, chief operating officer of BrightHeart. "It was an expression of the excitement they felt to have an opportunity to build a new practice, with a new image and a new commitment to excellence." Ronald Haffey is joining the practice as hospital administrator. Most recently he was the hospital administrator for the University of Missouri Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital. BrightHeart now has a combined staff of more than 400, including more than 100 veterinarians, in its network. <HOME>
Drug Shows Promise In Treating Equine Heart FibrillationsApril 17, 2009 The drug flecainide may change the way veterinarians treat atrial fibrillation in horses, according to veterinarians at the University of Wisconsin School of Veterinary Medicine in Madison. Large animal internal medicine veterinarians Ase Risberg and Sheila McQuirk administered the drug orally to resolve a chronic case of atrial fibrillation in a horse, the school reported. Flecainide has been administered intravenously to horses in Japan and England, but Dr. Risberg believes this is the first time it has been administered orally or used in horses in the United States. <HOME>
LSU Equine Health Studies Names New DirectorApril 17, 2009 The Louisiana State University School of Veterinary Medicine has named Frank Andrews, DVM, Dipl. ACVIM, the new director of the LSU Equine Health Studies Program. Previously, Dr. Andrews was professor and section chief of large animal medicine at the University of Tennessee College of Veterinary Medicine. Andrews recently received the Webster Pendergrass Outstanding Service Award from the University of Tennessee Institute of Agriculture. The nomination noted his service to equine research, his education of horse owners, practitioners and veterinary students and his leadership with the Institute of Agriculture. <HOME>
FDA To Revise Compounding GuidelinesApril 17, 2009 The Food and Drug Administration plans to revise its Compliance Policy Guide on veterinary pharmaceutical compounding and offer it up for public comment. The FDA reports the move comes in response to numerous letters of concern and complaints from veterinarians, pet owners, compounding pharmacists and associations. According to the FDA, many letters expressed concern over the lack of clarity on circumstances in which compounding, especially of bulk drugs, is permitted. Others disagreed with FDA’s legal authority in the current policy and complained about the lack of prior public comment, stated the FDA. The FDA reports the draft revision should be available for comment this fall, at which time notice will be published in the Federal Register and a draft will be viewable on the FDA’s Center for Veterinary Medicine Web site. The FDA’s current guidelines on veterinary pharmaceutical compounding were published in July 2003. <HOME>
Compounding Pharmacies Play Critical Role In Vet Practices, Study FindsApril 17, 2009 Having access to compounded medications is extremely important to 80 percent of veterinary practices, according to a new study conducted by Wedgewood Pharmacy, of Swedesboro, N.J. The survey also showed that 40 percent prescribe compounded medications every week and 31 percent do so every day. All of the practices surveyed prescribe custom-made medications at least several times a year. Some of the most important factors the respondents consider when choosing a compounding pharmacy are: Factor Percent Saying It’s Very Important Consistency of the product 94% Knowledgeable customer service people 85% Ability to prescribe by telephone 76% Available dosage forms and flavors 73% Prior experience with the pharmacy 72% Large selection of preparations 61% Access to pharmacists for consultations 58% The survey results are based on the responses of 295 Wedgewood Pharmacy customers. Sixty-nine percent of the respondents were veterinarians and the remaining were other professionals who facilitate veterinarians’ prescribing through compounded pharmacies. Sixty-two percent represented small- and companion-animal practices; 21 percent represented specialized equine practices, while the rest represented other types of practices including feline-only, zoos, rescue organizations and universities. <HOME>
Intervet Forms Companion Animal Business TeamApril 17, 2009 Intervet Inc., which recently received approval for its canine diabetes treatment Vetsulin, has formed a new Companion Animal Business Team to support its expansion in this market. "By having a focused team of professional sales, marketing and technical services representatives, Intervet is underscoring the importance of better serving U.S. companion animal veterinarians," said Dr. Sebastien Huron, director of the new team. "Intervet’s worldwide leadership and focused R&D initiatives provide a solid foundation for the delivery of new technologies designed to answer a variety of unmet medical needs of our pets." Intervet, a division of Intervet International, reports it plans to have a presence at all major veterinary conventions in 2005, starting with the North American Veterinary Conference in Orlando in January. <HOME>
Entries Being Accepted For “They Ate WHAT?” X-ray ContestApril 17, 2009 Veterinary Practice News magazine’s fourth annual “They ate WHAT?” radiograph contest is accepting entries. The popular competition highlights the surprising variety of non-edible objects that veterinarians discover in their patients. Radiographs must have been taken in 2007 or later and must be submitted electronically to VPNeditor@bowtieinc.com. They must be accompanied by a 100-word explanation of the case and the submitter’s name, clinic address and telephone number. Previous years’ entries have included cats, dogs, reptiles, birds and various large animals whose radiographs disclosed dietary indiscretions involving knives, paper-towel holders, sewing needles, jewelry, rubber ducks, rocks and Super Balls, among an amazing variety of objects. The first-place winner will receive a digital single-lens reflex camera. Two runners-up will get digital point-and-shoot cameras. Eklin Medical Systems Inc. of Santa Clara, Calif., is again sponsoring the contest. “Sponsoring the annual VPN contest is one of our yearly highlights,” said Gary R. Cantu, chairman and chief executive officer of Eklin. “With the proliferation of digital technology over the past few years, we expect to see many well-defined cases presenting an even greater variety of findings. Based on the last three winners, it will be interesting …
UPDATE: Contagious Equine Metritis Reported In KentuckyApril 17, 2009 A fourth stallion from Woodford, Ky., has tested positive for Taylorella equigenitalis. The venereal infection, also known as contagious equine metritis, was last reported in the U.S. in December 2006. The first stallion was reported by the World Organization for Animal Health on Dec. 17, which had been identified as having CEM during routine testing for export of semen. By Dec. 19, two more stallions had tested positive, prompting Kentucky Agriculture Commissioner Richie Farmer to ask U.S. Agriculture Secretary Ed Schafer to declare a state of agricultural emergency. Farmer also requested federal funds “as a proactive measure to ensure that sufficient resources are available to manage the disease outbreak.” Each of the four stallions (three Quarter Horses and one American Paint) stood the 2008 season at DeGraff Stables/Liberty Farm Equine Reproduction Center LLC in Woodford County. At press time, three of the four stallions continue to reside on the original premises with the fourth on another nearby facility, the Kentucky Department of Agriculture reported. Five additional stallions at the facility have cultured negative on initial tests. The source of the outbreak is still under investigation. The
Cancer Detection: Sometimes The Nose KnowsApril 17, 2009 Body odor is a billion-dollar industry. Perfumes, deodorants, cosmetics: We spend a tremendous amount of time and money eradicating body odor. OK, why in the world are we discussing BO in Oncology Outlook? Cancer stinks more than we do - really. And apparently it stinks so much that some dogs can be trained to smell it. Body odors are unique among individuals and the type of odor is influenced by a specific pattern of antigens arising from the major histocompatibility complex (MHC) genes. While many of us know about the role of MHC proteins in host immunity, there is a growing body of evidence suggesting that the pattern of MHC proteins may help us diagnose cancer. The MHC patterns of proteins are known to differ within the bodily fluids (urine, sweat, saliva) and offer a new opportunity for cancer screening. As a cancer grows, invades surrounding tissues or metastasizes, it creates an inflammatory environment. Cell walls are destroyed and numerous lymphocytes and macrophages are attracted to the region. Additional cytokines and lymphokines are released, affecting cellular metabolism in various locations, such as in the liver's production of cytochrome P-450 oxidase enzymes. Cell-membrane fragments are …
