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What's New At Atlantic Coast Vet:
Invitation To Holiday Party
In appreciation of our association during 2009, Dr. George Kramer and the staff of Atlantic Coast Veterinary Specialists and Affiliates cordially invite all veterinarians and their staff to join in the celebration of the holidays and a very special date in our history -- the 20th anniversary of the Ultravet Diagnostics mobile ultrasound group.
Bring your staff and your holiday spirit for an evening of fun with good friends, dinner, drinks, music, dancing, and holiday cheer!
Festivities will take place on Friday, December 18 from 7:30-11:30 PM at Dave & Buster's "Show Room" party room, 261 Airport Plaza Boulevard, Farmingdale, N.Y. Take the LIE to Exit 49 South (Route 110) to Airport Plaza.
Please RSVP by December 8 at 1-631-285-7780.
We are looking forward to seeing you at the party and to working with you in the coming year.
Now Enrolling Patients For Clinical Trial:
Urethroplasty Treatment For Urinary Incontinence
Atlantic Coast Veterinary Specialists is currently enrolling patients for an expanded clinical trial of urethroplasty treatment for urinary incontinence due to intrinsic sphincter deficiency that have been treated with DES or PPA and continue to have clinical signs.
For more details, please refer to our October 2009 newsletter or contact either George A. Kramer DVM, DACVIM or Gianira Candelario Acevedo DVM, Internal Medicine Resident at 1-631-285-7781. |
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Pet Cat Dies From Presumed H1N1 Flu Virus Infection
The Oregon state public health veterinarian has reported that a pet cat has died from presumed 2009 H1N1 influenza virus infection.
The cat was one of four in the household and became ill approximately one week after a child in the household had a flu-like illness. It developed labored breathing and was presented to a veterinarian on Nov. 4. The cat was not coughing or sneezing but had pneumonia.
The cat's condition deteriorated over the next three days, and it died on Nov. 7. Samples were obtained and tested (PCR) positive for the 2009 H1N1 influenza virus. Additional samples were
sent to the National Veterinary Services Laboratories (NVSL) for confirmation and are still pending. At this time this is a presumed, not confirmed, case of 2009 H1N1 influenza infection.
The three other cats in the household also became ill with different degrees of sneezing and coughing, but recovered from their illnesses. Samples collected from these cats were negative for the 2009 H1N1 flu virus.
Earlier, a cat in Park City, Utah become the second cat confirmed to be infected with the 2009 H1N1 virus. The cat's owner had previously been ill with the flu before the cat became ill.
The cat was having trouble breathing and was taken to a veterinarian on November 3.
The American Veterinary Medical Association said it is monitoring cases of H1N1 in animals and is posting updates on its Web site.
New Microchip Search Tool Debuts
The American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA) has launched a long-anticipated Web-based search engine for pet microchip identification numbers.
The search tool has access to four databases with which pet owners in the United States may register their pets' microchip identification numbers. However, companies that control three other databases
are not currently participating.
An AAHA spokesman said the organization is still in discussions with those companies and opted to make the tool available now rather than wait for full participation.
Registries taking part in the new search engine are AKC CAR, HomeAgain, Petlink by Datamars, and ResQ by Bayer. The databases not covered
by the search tool are AVID, Banfield and 24PetWatch.
AAHA's search engine is the second such tool to tackle the problem of matching pet microchip identification numbers to their respective registries. Due to the competitive nature of the business, no
central database for registry information exists. That means that a pet with a microchip might fail to be reunited with its owner if the person who finds the pet cannot determine with which database the
pet is registered. It is the registry that holds information about the pet's owner, not the chip itself.
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Funny Bones
Pets That'll Make You Smile:
Kitty On The Keys!
This kitty thinks he's Cat King Cole! At least he knows that practice makes purr-fect!. [Be sure to turn up your speaker!]
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Events Calendar (Dec.-Feb.)
Dec. 6-8
Dr. Kramer attending
ICI Meeting 2009 (Innovations in Cardiovascular Interventions)
Tel Aviv, Israel
Thursday, Dec. 10
LIVMA monthly meeting
Thursday, Dec. 18
Atlantic Coast Veterinary Specialists
Holiday Party
[Click for more details.]
Click here for other state, national, and global veterinary events in December.
Jan. 11 & 12
Advanced Veterinary Clinical Training Seminar in Tianjin, China
Dr. Kramer's schedule:
Jan. 11 -- 9 AM-12 PM
Dr. Kramer presenting
"Clinical Cardiology Overview (Pathophysiology, Diagnosis, & Treatment)"
Jan. 12 -- 2-5 PM
Dr. Kramer presenting
"Cardiac Ultrasound & Radiology Review"
Thursday, Jan. 14
LIVMA monthly meeting
Jan. 16-20
North American Veterinary Conference
Orlando World Center Marriott Resort & Convention Center
Orlando, Florida
Sunday, Jan. 24
Tufts University/Cummings SVM Technicians Symposium
North Grafton, Massachusetts
Click here for other state, national, and global veterinary events in January.
Thursday, Feb. 11
LIVMA monthly meeting
Feb. 14-18
2010 Western Veterinary Conference
Mandalay Bay Hotel
Las Vegas, Nevada
Click here for other state, national, and global veterinary events in February.
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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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New Program Developed In The Fight Against Feline Aids
IMULAN BioTherapeutics, LLC has developed its "LTCI NOW" program in an effort to educate cat owners about a new, fast way to get LTCI for feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) and feline leukemia
virus (FeLV).
Like Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV), FIV and FeLV are retroviral infections that can cause immunosuppression.
The LTCI NOW program will not only inform pet owners about the first and only USDA-conditionally approved treatment for FIV and FeLV, but also
provide a simple and fast way to either obtain the product through their current veterinarian or through a network of current LTCI-using veterinarians across the country (Imulan's "Treatment Network").
LTCI, or Lymphocyte T-Cell Immunomodulator, is only available through veterinarians, and is said to be a major step forward in combating these highly serious and potentially fatal feline illnesses,
which can lead to severe immune suppression (like HIV), anemia, and increased risk of other infections. In addition to fostering awareness about the feline illnesses and treatment with LTCI, IMULAN's veterinarians will also offer free case consultations with the pet owner's
veterinarian.
FDA Issues Alert About Veterinary Insulin Medication
The Food and Drug Administration's (FDA) Center for Veterinary Medicine and Intervet/Schering-Plough Animal Health are alerting veterinarians and pet owners that Vetsulin, a porcine insulin zinc suspension used to treat diabetes in animals, may have varying amounts of crystalline zinc insulin in the formulation.
Because this Intervet/Schering-Plough Animal Health product is out of specification, it could cause a delay in insulin action and an overall longer duration of insulin activity. Products having significant problems with stability can affect the management of chronic diseases. Unstable insulin products can result in unpredictable fluctuations in the glucose levels of diabetic patients. Intervet/Schering-Plough Animal Health is unable to assure FDA that each batch of their product is stable.
FDA and Intervet/Schering-Plough Animal Health request that veterinarians closely monitor their patients receiving Vetsulin for any changes in onset or duration of activity, or for any signs of hyperglycemia or hypoglycemia. The classic signs of hyperglycemia include increased thirst, increased urination, weight loss and lethargy. The classic signs of hypoglycemia would include disorientation, unsteadiness, weakness, lethargy, and seizures.
While Intervet/Schering-Plough is working with FDA on resolving this issue, supplies may be limited. Therefore, veterinarians should consider transitioning their diabetic patients to other insulin products. In addition, FDA encourages veterinarians to report any adverse events with the Intervet/Schering-Plough Animal Health product to the company through the Technical Services Department at 1-800-224-5318.
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QUIZ : What’s Your Diagnosis?
Pink Floyd, a 10-year-old, male, castrated, domestic short hair was referred to Atlantic Coast Veterinary Specialists for further evaluation of an irregular heart rhythm. He had a history of dyspnea, anorexia, and lethargy.
T: 99.1°F
P: 190 bpm
R: 60 bpm
Physical examination abnormalities included an irregularly irregular heart rhythm, tachycardia, and tachypnea.
Complete blood count abnormalities included a nonregenerative anemia (HCT 25.1%, Retic. 33.8 K/µL), and a mild thrombocytopenia (PLT 164 K/µL); (175-600 K/µL). Serum chemistry abnormalities included a mild hypokalemia (3.2 mmol/L); (3.5-5.8 mmol/L), and a mild hyperglobulinemia (5.8 g/dl); (2.8-5.1 g/dl).
THE CHALLENGE: Answer these three questions:
- What is your interpretation of the ECG provided above?
- What would be the next step in your diagnostic plan?
- What would be your treatment plan?
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