Vetmedin: New 'Wonder Drug'?
By George A. Kramer, DVM, DACVIM (Cardiology),
Chief of Staff, Atlantic Coast Veterinary Specialists
Since the recent licensing and widespread availability of Vetmedin (pimobendan) in the U.S., many claims concerning the drug have been made and it is frequently described as a "wonder drug" on various Internet sites.
As a cardiologist and someone who has used the drug extensively for five years, I'd like to pass along information concerning the drug to our referring veterinarians.
When used appropriately, the drug can be of benefit in treating dogs in heart failure. But it is not a wonder drug and there are concerns that should be taken into account when using the drug.
The manufacturer's [Boehringer Ingelheim] own FDA licensing studies show that the drug is no better than enalapril in treating heart failure due to chronic valvular disease or dilated cardiomyopathy. As with any drug, the prescriber should be well aware of the drug's mechanism of action, indications for use, benefits, side effects, and potential negative interactions with other drugs.
Pimobendan is .
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AVMA Opens Online Resource To General Public
Launched earlier last month as a members-only benefit, the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) has opened access to its AVMA Collections to the general public, expanding the public's ability to tap into cutting-edge and up-to-date veterinary medical information. AVMA Collections was created to offer AVMA member veterinarians compilations of articles organized by topic/subject from the "Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association" (JAVMA) and other AVMA journals.
Survey: Non-profits Encroach On New York Vet Practice
New York veterinarians are concerned about non-profit animal shelters practicing medicine, according to early results from a New York State Veterinary Medical Society (NYSVMS) survey. Non-profit shelters traditionally hire private veterinarians to perform in-house care for homeless animals, including sterilization. But many humane societies and other non-profit agencies now provide veterinary services to privately owned animals, NYSVMS officials report. Veterinarians complain that non-profits operate like private practices, forcing them to compete with donation- and tax-subsidized operations, NYSVMS officials say. The group considers this a violation of state regulations mandating that veterinary care only be provided by a licensed DVM or at a veterinarian-owned business.
GHLIT Explores Health-Insurance Options For Pets
Pet health insurance is on the Group Health and Life Insurance Trust's (GHLIT) agenda, with goals to guide veterinarians on current public offerings and tentative plans to provide its own program one day. Whether GHLIT will join the 15-20 pet health-insurance providers operating in the United States is unclear. Last month, the American Veterinary Medical Association's (AVMA) executive board gave GHLIT authority to continue exploring its options and endorsed the Trust's guidelines to promote pet health insurance that best serves veterinarians and patients. The group hopes to jumpstart its education efforts at the AVMA's July convention in New Orleans. "But, right now, we don't have plans to roll out any new program," Libby Wallace, GHLIT's CEO, says.
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QUIZ : What’s Your Diagnosis?
Signalment: 12-year-old male, neutered, mix breed.
Clinical Complaint & History: Two-month history of progressive stranguria, mild intermittent hematuria. The dog was diagnosed at the RDVM hospital via a mobile ultrasound and cytology with prostatic and urethral carcinoma. The case presented on emergency to Atlantic Coast Veterinary Specialists with complete urinary obstruction.
THE CHALLENGE: What would be your treatment plan?
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Funny Bone
Two patients limp into two different medical clinics with the same complaint -- both have trouble walking and appear to require a hip replacement.
The first patient is examined within the hour, is x-rayed the same day, and has a time booked for surgery the following week.
The second sees his family doctor after waiting three weeks for an appointment, then waits eight weeks to see a specialist, then gets an x-ray which isn't reviewed for another week, and finally has his surgery scheduled for a month from then.
Why the different treatments for the two patients?
The first is a golden retriever ... the second is a senior citizen!
Next time, take me to a vet!
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Events Calendar
June 4-8
American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine 2008 Forum (ACVIM)
San Antonio, Texas
Dr. Kramer on "Evaluation Of Bronchial Collapse In Dogs With Chronic Valvular Heart Disease"
Thursday, June 12
Long Island Veterinary Medical Association (LIVMA)
Monthly Meeting
7:30-10:30 PM @ Holiday Inn Plainview
"Feline Heartworm & Intestinal Parasites"
http://livma.org/
Click here for other state, national, and global veterinary events in June.
July 19-22
145th Annual AVMA Convention
New Orleans, Louisiana
Click here for other state, national, and global veterinary events in July.
Click here for other state, national, and global veterinary events in August.
Thursday, September 11
Long Island Veterinary Medical Association (LIVMA)
Monthly Meeting
http://livma.org/
September 18-21
Intl. Veterinary Emergency & Critical Care Symposium 2008 (IVECCS)
Phoenix, Arizona
Dr. Kramer on:
9/18, 8 AM "Cardiac Imaging In The ICU"
9/18, 9:15 AM "New Cardiac Drugs"
9/18, 11 AM "Arterial Thromboembolism In Cats"
9/20, 1:30 PM "Diagnosis & Treatment Of Arrhythmias In The ICU"
Click here for other state, national, and global veterinary events in September.
About Atlantic Coast
Veterinary Specialists
At Atlantic Coast Veterinary Specialists, our commitment is to provide you -- the referring veterinarian -- and your clients, the best and the latest in modern veterinary medicine.
Whether it is through our mobile ultrasound service or through our referral and emergency services available, Atlantic Coast Veterinary Specialists is here to work with you as a partner on those difficult and challenging cases. We look forward to hearing from you.
Please feel free to call any member
of our Board Certified staff for help and assistance.
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