a newsmagazine v and c - k2 animal health … janfeb 13_final.pdfyour dog a bone and the barf...

Economic challenges: use them to grow!

By Heather Lowe Heather Lowe Veterinary Consulting Inc. Quadrant Veterinary Management Group Inc.

Veterinary medicine had a good run from 1990 to 2009. During this period we saw the most rapid development

of the human-animal bond, as we celebrated pets as an increasingly important sector of the family unit. Our pets moved to sleeping in our beds, to becoming part of our vacation plans, and being included in our wills. We saw the boom of veterinary-based nutrition and preventive health care products as pet owners reached out to provide their four-legged friends with an increasing opportunity to live an optimal quality of life with improved longevity. During this same period, there was access to much better medical and surgical advancements and options. All of this occurred during a time when the economy was relatively strong, and there was enough disposable income to enable pet owners to spend increasing amounts on their pets.

Hypothermia continues on page 6

“The big chill”: hypothermia in small animal patients

Hypothermia occurs commonly in dogs and cats that undergo anesthesia, and can range from mild to severe (see Figure 1). In humans, hypothermia is linked to increased perioperative mortality. Recent data shows compelling evidence that small dogs and cats are at higher risk of an anesthetic related death and this may be related to hypothermia. It is important to identify at-risk patients, understand why animals become cold, the adverse effects of low body temperatures, and current treatment options for prevention and treatment of perioperative hypothermia.Alternative and raw

food diets: caution advisedNEW ORLEANS, LA – The feeding of raw meat to dogs and cats is a topic in veterinary medicine that elicits strong opinions. Both proponents and opponents are firmly entrenched in their views, said Kara M. Burns, MS, MEd, LVT, speaking at the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine Forum. Unfortunately, much of the information on both sides is based on anecdotes, theoretical concerns, and personal opinion.

Raw meat dietsDr. Ian Billinghurst popularized feeding raw meat to pets with the publication of his two books Give Your Dog A Bone and The BARF Diet. The latter book introduced the term “BARF”: “Biologically Appropriate Raw Food” or “Bone And Raw Food”, which has become widespread terminology. These books, lacking in scientific evidence, are based on the belief that commercial pet food is contributing to serious health problems in pets.

Proponents claim that dogs fed cooked and processed food and no bones will develop a weakened immune system and poor dental health. Some have reported that raw diets are useful for preventing or

Raw food diets continues on page 8

A NewsmAgAziNe for VeteriNAriANs ANd their ColleAgues

InsideJANuAry/februAry 2013

Vol.8, No.1

Return undeliverable Canadian addresses to3662 Sawmill Valley DriveMississauga, Ontario L5L 2P6Publications Mail Agreement #41262570

3412

16

18

20

22

23

2425 2626

Economic challenges continues on page 11

Phot

o co

urte

sy o

f Aar

on A

ndre

ws

Dr. Rebecca Korven with Sumo and Sheba, Celtic Creatures Veterinary Clinic, Sydney, NS

Canadian Vet Advisory Board

VetLaw

Newly found tapeworm potentially infective for people and dogs in central BC

Georgia Wildlife Health Program – making it happen!

The control of disease transmission in animal shelters

Side effects of systemic cancer therapies

An overview of veterinary medical ethics

Environmental stress and animal welfare concern for beef cattle

Best Practices

Industry News

CVMA News Continuing Veterinary Education Calendar

By Jennifer Bornkamp, DVM and Sheilah Robertson, BVMS (Hons), PhD, DECVAA, DACVA, Dip ECAWBM (WSEL)

® and ™ are trademarks owned by Ansell Limited or one of its affiliates. © 2012 Ansell Healthcare Products LLC. All rights reserved.

For more information, visit gammex.ansell.com

Non-Latex Sensitive

introducing the new feel of advanced

allergy protection featuring sensoprene™

formulation

f10705CLIENT: P&G ACC. MGR: Bree PROD. MGR: Sharlene

FOLDER NAME: ...IVF Can Vet_Sept Oct_IFC Ad:f03_10705_IVF Can Vet_Sept Oct_IFC Ad.indd

FILE NAME: f03_10705_IVF Can Vet_Sept Oct_IFC Ad.indd

START DATE: 8-13-2012 9:35 AM ART DIRECTOR:Anson ARTIST: Ryan

REV. DATE: 8-13-2012 4:23 PM ARTIST: Ryan

PREP TO DISK #: 1 DATE: 8-13-2012 4:23 PM PREP ARTIST: Ryan

Cyan Magenta Yellow Black

PROOF #: 3

C&F #: None

THIS ARTWORK HASBEEN CREATED AT 100%

OF ACTUAL SIZE.TRIM: 10.5” x 14”LIVE: 9.75” x 13”

BLEED: 10.75” x 14.25”

THIS LASER PROOF HAS BEEN SCALED TO 95.71%

TO FIT IN THE PAGE.

Hi-Res PDF

Obesity demands more.

www.PGPetwellness.com

1-800-535-VETS (8387)

Weight Loss/Mobility PlusA versatile alternative to single-focused weight loss diets.

Obesity affects the entire pet. That’s why our

diets utilize a total body approach. One that

nutritionally addresses…

• Effective weight loss

• Body composition

• Joint health

• Management of infl ammation

• Overall health

© 2012 P&G

S:9.75”S:13”

T:10.5”T:14”

B:10.75”B:14.25”

3January/February 2013 Canadian Vet

Canadian Vet Advisory Board

Canadian VetA NewsmAgAziNe for VeteriNAriANs ANd their ColleAgues

Publisher Karen Tousignant [email protected] Managing Editor Shelagh Ross [email protected] Art Director Jason Praskey [email protected] Advertising [email protected] Subscriptions & Circulation [email protected]

Published six times annually by K2 Animal Health Publishing, 3662 Sawmill Valley Drive, Mississauga , Ont L5L 2P6 Telephone: 905-607-7338 Toll-free: 1-888-607-7338 Fax: 905-607-0181

Each clinical article in Canadian Vet is reviewed for accuracy by the veterinarian who presented at the meeting.Copyright 2013. All rights reserved. Printed in Canada.

www.k2publishing.ca

Canadian Vet is honoured to have the following veterinarians as members of our Veterinary Advisory Board. In addition to providing knowledge and expertise on animal health issues, our veterinary advisory board members will help us keep the publication useful and relevant to veterinarians in Canada.

David Francoz DVM, DACVIM

St. Hyacinthe, QC

Søren R. BoysenDVM, DACVECC

Calgary, AB

Susan LittleDVM, DABVP (feline)

Ottawa, ON

Elizabeth Bellavance DVM, CMA, MBACamlachie, ON

Joseph C. Wolfer DVM, DACVOToronto, ON

Danny JoffeDVM, DABVP (canine/feline)

Calgary, AB

Trisha Dowling DVM, MSc, DACVIM & DACVCP

Saskatoon, SK

Duane LandalsDVM, BSc.AgEdmonton, AB

Ernie ProwseDVM, BSc, BA

Truro, NS

Scott WeeseDVM, DVSc, DACVIM

Guelph, ON

John TaitBSc, DVM, MBA, CFP

Guelph, ON

Fraser HaleDVM, FAVD, DAVDC

Guelph, ON

f10705CLIENT: P&G ACC. MGR: Bree PROD. MGR: Sharlene

FOLDER NAME: ...IVF Can Vet_Sept Oct_IFC Ad:f03_10705_IVF Can Vet_Sept Oct_IFC Ad.indd

FILE NAME: f03_10705_IVF Can Vet_Sept Oct_IFC Ad.indd

START DATE: 8-13-2012 9:35 AM ART DIRECTOR:Anson ARTIST: Ryan

REV. DATE: 8-13-2012 4:23 PM ARTIST: Ryan

PREP TO DISK #: 1 DATE: 8-13-2012 4:23 PM PREP ARTIST: Ryan

Cyan Magenta Yellow Black

PROOF #: 3

C&F #: None

THIS ARTWORK HASBEEN CREATED AT 100%

OF ACTUAL SIZE.TRIM: 10.5” x 14”LIVE: 9.75” x 13”

BLEED: 10.75” x 14.25”

THIS LASER PROOF HAS BEEN SCALED TO 95.71%

TO FIT IN THE PAGE.

Hi-Res PDF

Obesity demands more.

www.PGPetwellness.com

1-800-535-VETS (8387)

Weight Loss/Mobility PlusA versatile alternative to single-focused weight loss diets.

Obesity affects the entire pet. That’s why our

diets utilize a total body approach. One that

nutritionally addresses…

• Effective weight loss

• Body composition

• Joint health

• Management of infl ammation

• Overall health

© 2012 P&G

S:9.75”

S:13”

T:10.5”

T:14”

B:10.75”

B:14.25”

4 January/February 2013Canadian Vet

All veterinary clinicians are aware of their absolute legal and ethical obligations to maintain all information relating to client and patient matters on a confidential basis; neither the veterinarian nor laystaff in the clinic may disclose information to any person except in a limited number of recognized circumstances. While this is an accepted professional obligation, confidentiality seems to be commonly breached giving rise to client concerns and, sometimes, formal disciplinary proceedings. The increased use of social media has also given rise to new concerns that require the attention of practice owners and managers. In addition, competitive forces between clinics have given rise to novel client development strategies, which, if disclosed by your staff, could compromise your objectives; hence, some consideration should be given to ensuring that your staff be bound by written confidentiality agreements.

The obligationThe confidentiality obligation is simply stated: the veterinarian is not permitted to share any information with respect to his or her patients or their owners with any person except with the consent of the client. Too often though, this requirement is breached as a result of a cavalier approach to its enforcement within the clinic. For instance, information can be accidentally disclosed by the receptionist who carries on a telephone conversation with a client which can be overhead by other clients in the waiting room. Another example is the display of “thank you” cards in a public reception area where, very often, the card discloses the name of the owner, the name of the pet, the nature of the health condition of the animal, and includes even a photograph of the pet. While one might argue that these breaches are not significant, one never knows what information might prove to significantly compromise a particular person. Consider the case of a former spouse attending a clinic and overhearing information relating to the conduct of a divorced partner, resulting in court applications for custody of the pet by the departing spouse.

The exceptionsIn each province the relevant veterinary legislation provides for certain exceptions to the confidentiality rule:1. If one has the consent of the client for the release of information,

then the practitioner is at liberty to share the information. To this end, the appropriate protocol to employ prior to posting a thank you note is merely to contact the client and ask if it would be all right to place the card on the reception bulletin board.

2. If the case is one of a legislated reportable disease, then the information can be disclosed.

3. If the information is necessary for the benefit of the health of a person or another animal, such as rabies, then the information can be released.

4. The information can be released if there is an applicable court order such as a search warrant or subpoena.

5. In some provinces, the information can be released if it relates to suspected animal abuse in order to assist in the investigation of criminal conduct.

The social media connectionEach practice owner or manager must give some consideration to the establishment and implementation of policies relating to social media by staff. Very often staff members will post information on social media sites, including photographs, about cases which were dealt with in the clinic – sometimes the posts are heartfelt or humourous – which are complete breaches of confidence unless the consent of the client has been obtained. Once again, speaking to the client and noting his or her consent in the medical record would be an appropriate protocol. All social media posts should be subject to approval by a designated management person in the clinic.

Clinic trade secretsA number of clinics, for various reasons, have devoted a fair amount of time and financial resources to the establishment of unique client development plans that are deserving of protection. Even clinic pricing policies are sensitive and should not be disclosed in most cases. As such, it would seem appropriate that the use of written confidentiality agreements with staff members be part of the personnel management protocols in any hospital. The same would be true in cases of veterinary succession planning where disclosure of clinic financial statements, employment agreements, and material contracts is often necessary for a prospective purchaser to make a decision about proceeding with the acquisition of the clinic; in such circumstances, the vendor will require the purchaser to keep such information secret and only disclose it to a select number of professional advisors.

Mr. Jack is Counsel at the law firm of Borden Ladner Gervais, LLP (“BLG”) with a mandate to serve the needs of the veterinary community and enhance it on a national basis. Mr. Jack chairs a focus group relating to veterinary legal matters within the firm’s Healthcare Group. He can be reached by email at [email protected] or by telephone at 1-800-563-2595.

VetLaw

Sponsored by Medi-Cal/Royal Canin Veterinary Diet

Can you keep a secret? Re-visiting clinic confidentiality DIABETICDIABETIC (morsels in gravy) has been specifically formulated to assist with the nutritional management of diabetes mellitus.

High Protein

Low Starch

Moderate Energy

S/O Index

High Palatability

Introducing Feline

© Royal Canin SAS 2012. All Rights Reserved. (Photo Credit: G. Pelser)

DIABETICDIABETIC (morsels in gravy) has been specifically formulated to assist with the nutritional management of diabetes mellitus.

High Protein

Low Starch

Moderate Energy

S/O Index

High Palatability

Introducing Feline

© Royal Canin SAS 2012. All Rights Reserved. (Photo Credit: G. Pelser)


Thermoregulation The body is divided into two compartments: the core, containing the most metabolically active organs, and the periphery, which acts as a buffer between the external environment and the core. Thermoreceptors in the skin, hypothalamus, and other areas provide feedback to the posterior hypothalamus, which regulates body temperature. In a conscious animal, temperature is tightly controlled to within ± 0.25°C (the inter-threshold range). This is accomplished via behavioural responses, changes in body metabolism and blood flow to the skin, shivering, or panting.

Heat loss occurs by four main mechanisms: • Conduction is the transfer of heat from a warmer object to a cooler one via

direct contact (e.g. an animal lying on a cold table)• Convection occurs when warm air next to a body is displaced by cool air

(e.g. placing an animal near an air vent)• Radiation occurs due to infrared emission from an object to cooler

surroundings (e.g. an animal sitting in a cold room)• Evaporative heat loss occurs when a liquid changes to a vapour (e.g. the

use of alcohol to clean a surgical site)

Figure 1: Suggested grading of severity of hypothermia (°C) for cats and dogs undergoing general anesthesia

In anesthetized patients, the inter-threshold range increases to ± 2.5°C and mechanisms to stem heat loss do not come into play until there is a significant drop in body temperature. Anesthesia-induced hypothermia (AIH) can be divided into three phases: in phase one heat is redistributed from the core to the periphery. Loss of autonomic control under anesthesia combined with direct actions of anesthetic agents such as propofol and inhalant anesthetics results in vasodilation. Body temperature can drop quickly, with the greatest rate of loss occurring in the first 20 minutes; in one study cats’ temperatures fell on average 1.2°C during the first hour of anesthesia.1

The second phase of AIH is a continued but slower loss of heat to the environment and additional evaporative losses from exposed serosal surfaces. Heat production is also reduced due to lower metabolic rates under anesthesia.

The third phase of AIH is the plateau phase and typically occurs after three hours of anesthesia. The plateau occurs due to two mechanisms: the animal’s heat production begins to exceed heat losses, and the inter-threshold range is reached triggering autonomic responses such as vasoconstriction.

Which patients are at risk? All patients undergoing general anesthesia are at risk for developing hypothermia. In a large perioperative mortality study (CEPSAF), cats weighing less than 2 kg, dogs under 5 kg, older animals and animals undergoing procedures over 1.5-2 hours, were at increased risk.2 All of these factors could be linked to hypothermia. In a review of 275 feline anesthesia cases, Redondo and colleagues reported no mortalities in normothermic cats whereas the mortality index (%) was 6.89 in severely hypothermic cats.

Temperature monitoringBody temperature is not closely monitored or recorded in many patients; in the CEPSAF study it was only recorded intra-operatively in 1-2% of cats and post-operatively in 11-15%.3 Methods for temperature monitoring include rectal, auricular, and esophageal thermometers. Esophageal temperature probes can be used in anesthetized patients to provide an estimate of core temperature and are placed in the distal third of the esophagus. Newer techniques include ingestible temperature sensors that record core temperature data wirelessly.

Physiological effects of hypothermiaHypothermia causes changes in metabolism, coagulation, cardiovascular function, increased wound infection rates, and contributes to patient discomfort. Recovery is delayed in hypothermic patients due to decreased metabolism and elimination of anesthetic agents. Full return of spontaneous respiration is also delayed by hypothermia.

Blood loss increases in hypothermic patients; blood viscosity is increased and coagulopathies occur by inhibition of platelet function, platelet sequestration, and diminished enzymatic activity in the clotting cascade. In dogs, clot formation takes longer in hypothermic blood but is equivalent in strength to clots formed in normothermic blood.4

The correlation between wound infection and hypothermia is well documented in humans. Several factors contribute to this, including impairment of the immune response, cutaneous vasoconstriction, and local tissue hypoxia. Leukocyte phagocytosis, antibody production, and cytokine production also decrease as body temperature drops. In dogs and cats, wound infection is linked to the duration of anesthesia and again hypothermia may play a contributing role.5,6

Severe hypothermia causes bradycardia, decreased cardiac output, and hypotension. Catecholamine levels are increased as is cardiac irritability. Bradyarrhythmias, such as atrioventricular block, are common and ventricular fibrillation and asystole can occur. Usually intervention with atropine and glycopyrrolate is sufficient to treat bradycardia but in hypothermic patients the heart is less responsive to these drugs.

During recovery shivering increases metabolic oxygen consumption and can lead to hypoxemia and metabolic acidosis. Intraocular and intracranial pressures are increased and discomfort results from muscle rigidity and movement of wound edges at surgical sites.

Prevention and treatmentBecause of the many negative effects of hypothermia, steps should be taken to both recognize and prevent it. Preventative methods include pre-warming, passive warming, and active warming.

Pre-warming involves a forced air-warming device being placed on the patient for 20 to 30 minutes before general anesthesia. The goal of this technique is to increase the peripheral temperature thereby minimizing redistribution hypothermia (Phase 1).

Passive warming methods include the use of blankets, bubble wrap, reflective blankets, or socks on patients to minimize heat loss to the environment. Warmer ambient temperatures in the patient preparation areas, operating rooms, and recovery areas also decrease patient-environment temperature gradients. Although warm intravenous, peritoneal, or pleural lavage fluids should be used, they play a minor role.

Active warming methods include circulating warm water blankets, forced air warmers, or heating mats made from conductive fabric. Circulating warm water blankets are most effective when placed over the extremities. The benefits of forced air warmers have been documented in small patients. Warmed rice or fluid filled bags are popular but must be used with caution as thermal burns can occur. Additionally these bags cool quickly and will then draw heat from the patient. Thermal burns can also occur with use of electric blankets, infrared lamps, and forced warm air hoses used without blankets.

Additional areas where small changes can help mitigate heat losses include the use of warm preparation solutions for cleansing the surgical site, and avoiding alcohol, which results in evaporative heat loss. References 1. Redondo JI, et al. Veterinary Record 2012;170:206-209.2. Brodbelt DC, et al. Veterinary Anaesthesia and Analgesia 2008; 35:365-373.3. Brodbelt DC, et al. Br J of Anaesthesia 2007;99: 617-623.4. Taggert R, et al. J Vet Emerg Crit Care Soc 2012;22: 219-2245. Beal MW, et al. Veterinary Surgery 2000;29:123-127.6. Eugster S, et al. Veterinary Surgery 2004;33:542-550.

This article is based on a presentation given at the American Animal Hospital Association meeting in Denver, CO in March 2012.

Just one premium C.E.T.® Dental Chew per day can help reduce gingivitis, plaque, calculus accumulation and halitosis — with excellent palatability.

A recent clinical study published in the Journal of Veterinary Dentistry shows C.E.T. VEGGIEDENT™ Chews are e ective in toy breed dogs and are easy to give.

One chew a day was shown to: • Reduce calculus by 70% • Reduce plaque by 37% • Reduce halitosis

Daily administration of a vegetable dental chew may play a signifi cant role in the improvement of oral health over the long-term.1

For more information, visit www.virbac.ca/dental

1. “E ectiveness of a Vegetable Dental Chew on Periodontal Disease Parameters in Toy Breed Dogs.” Journal of Veterinary Dentistry, 28 (4); 230-235, 2011.

© 2012 Virbac AH, Inc. All Rights Reserved.C.E.T. and VEGGIEDENT are trademarks or registered trademarks of Virbac Corporation

or one of its affiliated companies in the U.S. and Canada.

CHEWONTHIS

C.E.

T.® HOME DENTAL CAR

E

AL

C

THE FIRST CHOICE OF VETERINARIANS

PetTabs_ChewAd_CanVet_121012.indd 1 12/10/12 11:37 AM

Hypothermia continued from page 1

NormothermiaMild hypothermiaModerate hypothermiaSevere hypothermia

Temperature range (°C)38.50 - 39.5036.50 - 38.4934.00 - 36.49< 34.00

Just one premium C.E.T.® Dental Chew per day can help reduce gingivitis, plaque, calculus accumulation and halitosis — with excellent palatability.

A recent clinical study published in the Journal of Veterinary Dentistry shows C.E.T. VEGGIEDENT™ Chews are e ective in toy breed dogs and are easy to give.

One chew a day was shown to: • Reduce calculus by 70% • Reduce plaque by 37% • Reduce halitosis

Daily administration of a vegetable dental chew may play a signifi cant role in the improvement of oral health over the long-term.1

For more information, visit www.virbac.ca/dental

1. “E ectiveness of a Vegetable Dental Chew on Periodontal Disease Parameters in Toy Breed Dogs.” Journal of Veterinary Dentistry, 28 (4); 230-235, 2011.

© 2012 Virbac AH, Inc. All Rights Reserved.C.E.T. and VEGGIEDENT are trademarks or registered trademarks of Virbac Corporation

or one of its affiliated companies in the U.S. and Canada.

CHEWONTHIS

C.E.

T.® HOME DENTAL CAR

E

AL

C

THE FIRST CHOICE OF VETERINARIANS

PetTabs_ChewAd_CanVet_121012.indd 1 12/10/12 11:37 AM


Holes in their parasite treatment?All endectocides aren’t equal. advantage multi® delivers the most complete treatment and control of internal and external parasites.

This means more life stages of intestinal parasites including those that present a zoonotic risk, single-dose efficacy against the canine MP3 heartworm strain, plus mange and mites. And with advantage multi®, fleas don’t have to bite to die, because it works on contact to kill fleas fast.

Don’t leave holes in their treatment. Talk to your Bayer representative today.

® Bayer, Bayer Cross and advantage multi are registered trademarks of Bayer AG, used under license by Bayer Inc. Snap 4Dx Plus is a registered trademark of IDEXX Laboratories, Inc. and/or its affiliates in the United States and/or other countries.

Bayer and IDEXX Laboratories, Inc. have teamed up to offer more value to Canadian veterinarians this spring. advantage multi® and the SNAP® 4Dx® Plus test are a great compliment to your vector-borne disease prevention, parasite treatment and screening protocols. To find out how you can take advantage of this winning combination, talk to your Bayer or IDEXX representative today. Bayer at 1-416-240-4931 IDEXX Inside Sales Representative at 1-800-355-2896

ADM-076 advantage multi creative - IDEXX version CanVet 10.5”x14” Dec 15

ADM-076_ENG_Dec15_IDEXX_CanVet_10_5x14_MK.indd 1 12-12-04 2:30 PM

controlling a wide range of conditions, including chronic digestive, allergic and metabolic disease; bladder stones; feline lower urinary tract disease; intermittent vomiting or diarrhea; seborrhea sicca; and recurrent ear infections. Ms. Burns said that specific claims have also been made about ‘problems’ disappearing, such as those involving the mouth and skin, ears, anal sacs, arthritis, incontinence, diabetes and reproductive problems, and improvement of behavioural problems. Claims have also been made about the presumed negative effects of cooking, including destruction of vitamins, enzymes, ‘anti-aging factors’, reducing protein value and availability, and production of ‘foreign foods’.

Nutritional adequacy, foreign body (i.e. bone) ingestion, and infectious diseases are all cited as concerns regarding feeding raw foods. As with any raw meat, there is the potential for contamination. Salmonella has gathered the greatest attention as a possible risk; however Campylobacter, Clostridium difficile, C. perfringens, C. botulinum, E. coli, Yersinia enterocolitica, Listeria monocytogenes and Staphylococcus aureus are also concerns. There also may be the potential for foodborne disease in pets eating raw meat and also in humans who are in contact with raw meat or the pet. Additionally pets fed raw meat are capable of contaminating the environment.

Evidence-based clinical nutrition: studies

Nutritional inadequaciesA survey of 200 homemade diets for both dogs and cats recommended by veterinarians for diagnosis and/or management of adverse food reactions found the majority to be nutritionally inadequate.1 Another study compared 85 published home-cooked recipes for dogs and cats to American Association of Feed Control Officials (AAFCO) standards and found 86% inadequate in at least one nutrient, 55% deficient in protein, and perhaps most importantly, 77% of those diets deficient in taurine.2

Contamination of raw foodsOne study reported the isolation of a variety of serovars of Salmonella spp. from 45% of raw meat samples.3 A more sensitive DNA probe detected Salmonella in 66% of samples. Salmonella spp. were found in 56% of samples of meat fed to Greyhounds in another study.4 A study of commercial frozen raw meat diets in Ontario reported isolation of coliforms from all diets, Salmonella spp. and Clostridium perfringens from 20% each, C. difficile from 4%, but no E. coli O157 or Campylobacter spp.5 A larger Canadian study reported isolation of Salmonella spp. from 22% of commercial frozen diets, spore forming bacteria from 100%, and C. difficile from 8%. In this study, chicken diets were four times more likely to contain Salmonella spp. than other types.6

Fecal shedding of pathogensOne study reported that feeding raw meat or raw bones to dogs was associated with shedding of resistant E. coli.7 A recent study evaluated Salmonella colonization of dogs fed commercial raw dog food that was identified as naturally contaminated with Salmonella spp. Forty-four percent of dogs fed a single meal of contaminated raw meat shed Salmonella compared to 0% dogs fed Salmonella-free raw meat. No abnormal clinical signs developed in dogs that were shedding Salmonella, but they shed Salmonella for up to 11 days.8 Preliminary results of a prospective study of pathogen acquisition and shedding by dogs involved in therapeutic visitation programs identified a high incidence of Salmonella shedding in raw meat-fed dogs, and a cluster of infected dogs that were fed meat from the same butcher. This group is of additional concern because of contact with hospitalized humans, who must be considered at higher risk of infection.2

Clinical infection In one report, Salmonella spp. were isolated from feces and food samples of Greyhounds with diarrhea, leading the authors to conclude that the diet is the primary vehicle for Salmonella infection in this breed.6 Fatal Salmonella Newport gastroenteritis and septicemia was reported in two cats fed a home-prepared raw-meat diet. An indistinguishable isolate was found in the diet, which strongly suggested it was the source.9

Environmental contaminationA recent study reported that Salmonella could be isolated from food bowls inoculated with a residue of Salmonella-containing raw meat for the entire two-week study period. Further, this study reported that common cleaning and disinfection practices were inadequate for complete elimination of Salmonella from bowls.10

Human infectionOne study reported an outbreak of salmonellosis in people associated with dried-beef containing pet treats, indicating the potential for human disease from Salmonella-contaminated pet products.11

RecommendationsMs. Burns stressed that while there is no objective information indicating a health benefit of feeding raw diets, there is evidence to support concerns about raw diets with respect to nutritional adequacy, pathogen contamination, fecal shedding, and environmental contamination. She added that healthcare team members that recommend and/or sell raw meat diets should consider their legal liability if disease occurs and proper counselling of risks and infection control measures has not been performed and documented.

For those who wish to feed raw foods, careful consideration should be given to the individual circumstances. Raw food may be contraindicated in households where the implications of infection are particularly serious and situations, for example in humans, infants, the elderly, immunocompromised individuals, and where animals in the household may be at higher risk (i.e. breeding operations, immunocompromised pets). The healthcare team should contact a board certified veterinary nutritionist to help with the formulation of the raw food, to ensure the formulation is complete and balanced for the age and lifestyle of the patient.

References1. Roudebush P, Cowell CS. Vet Dermatol 1992; 3: 23-28.2. Lauten S, et al. ABSTRACT ACVIM Forum Baltimore, MD 2005.3. Chengappa MM, et al. J Vet Diagn Invest 1993 Jul; 5(3):372-7.4. Stone GG, et al. J Vet Diagn Invest 1993 Jul; 5(3):378-85.5. Mann JE, et al. J Food Prot 2004 Jul; 67(7):1389-1393.6. Finley R. MSc Thesis, University of Guelph, 2005.7. Murphy CM. MSc Thesis, University of Guelph, 2004.8. Finley R, et al. Can Vet J 2007 Jan; 8(1):69-75.9. Stiver SL, et al. J Am Anim Hosp Assoc 2003 Nov-Dec; 39(6):538-42.10. Weese JS, et al. Can Vet J 2006 Sep; 47(9):887-9.11. Pitout JD, et al. J Clin Microbiol 2003 Oct;41(10):4578-82. CV

Raw food diets continued from page 1

Canadian Vet – available onlineWould you or other members of your practice team like to receive digital issues of Canadian Vet newsmagazine? If so, we’ll send a PDF file of each bi-monthly issue directly to your email inbox! It’s that easy. Go to our website www.k2publishing.ca to sign up for your digital subscription.

Ms. Burns also stressed that veterinarians and veterinary technicians need to carefully explain household infection control practices to clients. This includes:• Reminding owners that hands should be thoroughly cleaned after

handling raw meat• Storing raw meat so it will not come into contact with other food items,

and disinfecting all items that contact the food after use• Ensuring that cutting boards used for raw meat are not be used for anything else• Not allowing raw meat to thaw at room temperature or sit in bowls• Cleaning and disinfecting food and water bowls thoroughly, shortly

after feeding• Keeping high-risk individuals from contacting food bowls• Promptly cleaning up feces around the home, followed by thorough

hand washing

Holes in their parasite treatment?All endectocides aren’t equal. advantage multi® delivers the most complete treatment and control of internal and external parasites.

This means more life stages of intestinal parasites including those that present a zoonotic risk, single-dose efficacy against the canine MP3 heartworm strain, plus mange and mites. And with advantage multi®, fleas don’t have to bite to die, because it works on contact to kill fleas fast.

Don’t leave holes in their treatment. Talk to your Bayer representative today.

® Bayer, Bayer Cross and advantage multi are registered trademarks of Bayer AG, used under license by Bayer Inc. Snap 4Dx Plus is a registered trademark of IDEXX Laboratories, Inc. and/or its affiliates in the United States and/or other countries.

Bayer and IDEXX Laboratories, Inc. have teamed up to offer more value to Canadian veterinarians this spring. advantage multi® and the SNAP® 4Dx® Plus test are a great compliment to your vector-borne disease prevention, parasite treatment and screening protocols. To find out how you can take advantage of this winning combination, talk to your Bayer or IDEXX representative today. Bayer at 1-416-240-4931 IDEXX Inside Sales Representative at 1-800-355-2896

ADM-076 advantage multi creative - IDEXX version CanVet 10.5”x14” Dec 15

ADM-076_ENG_Dec15_IDEXX_CanVet_10_5x14_MK.indd 1 12-12-04 2:30 PM

Expect something different.

88% of dogs and cats lost weight in two months at home1

Available in canine and feline formulas1Data on fi le. Hill’s Pet Nutrition, Inc.©2012 Hill’s Pet Nutrition Canada, Inc. ®/™ Trademarks owned by Hill’s Pet Nutrition, Inc.

Finally, weight management that works in the real worldIn a veterinarian-supervised feeding study with this breakthrough nutrition, 88% of 314 client-owned pets experienced a healthy average weight loss of 0.7% of their body weight per week. At home.

Prove it with your patients. Learn more at HillsVet.ca/Metabolic.

DAY

1

and the rest of his life

and the

DAY

60


During this same period of time, veterinary fees also increased at 2-3 times the cost of living on an annual basis. The end result? A 19-year run of improved revenue and profitability, and a relatively positive work environment. Based on the high demand and rewarding financial results, there was little need for veterinary practices to invest in marketing efforts, team performance and efficiency, and client communication strategies.

Important market forces were also at play during this time period. Highlights of these are:• Since 2001 the number of small animal (SA) DVMs has increased 29% in

Ontario, 24% in Quebec, and 23% in New Brunswick• Since 1991 Western Canada has had a 124% increase in SA DVMs• Veterinary graduates have jumped from 292/year in 2007 to 351/year in 2012• Ontario has seen a 217% increase in SA practices since 1993, Western

Canada a 68% increase since 1991, and Quebec and New Brunswick have had an 11% and 13% increase respectively since 2001

• Most importantly, incremental demand for SA care has not grown at the same rate in any of the provinces. The target is to have 1,000 pet owning households per full-time equivalent veterinarian (FTE DVM). In the same time period as above, the incremental pet owning households have only increased at a rate of 560/FTE DVM in Ontario, Quebec 593, NB 228, and Western Canada 698.

The bottom line is that the supply of SA care is growing faster than the demand. In addition:• There are increasing numbers of households moving into the 55+ years

of age category, where both pet ownership and spending on pets declines• Debt : income ratios have risen steadily, resulting in less disposable income

for households• More emergency/referral/specialty hospitals opened, permitting more one

and two veterinarian hospitals to exist with “9-5 hours”, reducing general practice veterinarian availability, and the interest/need for overnight care and the handling of more complex medical cases. This impacts the ability to build relationships and client loyalty

Veterinary practices have also seen products become an increasingly important proportion of gross revenue (more than 25% for the average practice). And with 70-80% of appointments being centred on “wellness or preventive” medicine, it creates the impression for clients that to some degree these services are “elective”, or at least they can be postponed.

All of this seemed to come to a “tipping point” in 2010. The veterinary market saw growth marginalized or decreased. As the economic slowdown took hold, clients became more resistant to spending discretionary income on pets. Products were perceived as or became less exclusive, and other channels such as pet stores started competing for services such as weight loss programs. And in many jurisdictions, price advertising created less loyalty among clients to specific practices.

There is no question that we are in challenging economic times. Use them to develop, change, improve, and grow!

This article is based on presentations given at the Canadian Animal Health Institute meeting (June, 2012), and The International Veterinary Communication Institute Communication Boot Camp for Veterinary Practice Teams (November, 2012).

Economic challenges continued from page 1

3. Ensure you are connecting with clients frequently and regularly, using the phone, text, and email. Revamp your delivery of messages so they are meaningful and impactful. Be careful with scripts, which can result in “rote and robotic” delivery and missed opportunities to customize/individualize the interaction. Make sure your web site is effective and your marketing and social media efforts are in line with what clients will experience when they walk through your hospital door.

4. Improve your entire team’s knowledge and application of core communication skills. Team members need training, coaching, assessment, and accountability regarding their non-verbal cues, open-ended inquiry, reflective listening, and empathy. Communication skills will help practice teams cope with increasing questions and challenges from clients about procedures, conflicting “experts and opinions” on common topics, pricing differences, etc.

5. Pick your top 3 product sales categories, and run a brainstorming session on how you are going to link services to those products. Are there supportive marketing materials, follow-up actions/services, improvements related to the purchase process that can occur to enhance the overall experience for the pet owner purchasing these products?

6. Be careful about office exam fees. Make sure they are competitive for your area so you aren’t creating a significant barrier for clients.

7. Apply variable mark-up strategies strategically. Be aware of “shoppable services”, knowing where you sit compared to competitive practices, why you are there, and be prepared to explain your fees. Carefully consider mark-ups on high “repeat purchase” items vs. “one-timers”. For example, you may want to sell diets and chronic medications at lower mark-ups, knowing the number of purchases will contribute to “door swings” and relationship building. In addition, think in absolute dollars. A product sold once in 3 years with a 100% mark-up that returns $45 to the practice is in a different category than a product sold every second month, at a 40% mark-up, that returns $8 to the practice. That equates to $48/year x 3 years = $144, plus 18 visits to the practice! Eighteen opportunities to add value, build the relationship, and bond the client to the practice.

8. Re-write healthcare plan estimates so the customer understands the link between the cost and the benefit of a product or treatment.

9. Seek to understand your clients’ wants and needs. Ask questions about their views and feelings about your services via client surveys and one-to-one conversations,. Ask them how you could improve your communications with them, and their experience at your hospital.

10.Improve your business skills. Learn what key performance indicators you should be monitoring and understand important benchmarks. Build a strategic plan that articulates where you are going, how you’re going to get there, and how you’re going to measure results. Prioritize carefully, ensuring that you are applying time, energy, and resources on the things that are going to help your business grow.

In many respects the “perfect storm” has resulted in declining revenues and profits. How can practices use these economic challenges to grow?

1. Be strategic about your business hours. People can see medical doctors, physiotherapists, dentists, chiropractors, and other professionals on evenings and weekends. This does not mean you need veterinarians available from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Friday; however, some evening and weekend availability is essential, particularly in commuter communities.

2. Ensure that services and procedures involve some direct contact between client and veterinarian. If you are leveraging team members to do things like admissions and discharges, it is helpful to have the veterinarian make a brief appearance to reiterate the staff’s suggestions so that the client feels confident he/she is getting good value for their money.

Expect something different.

88% of dogs and cats lost weight in two months at home1

Available in canine and feline formulas1Data on fi le. Hill’s Pet Nutrition, Inc.©2012 Hill’s Pet Nutrition Canada, Inc. ®/™ Trademarks owned by Hill’s Pet Nutrition, Inc.

Finally, weight management that works in the real worldIn a veterinarian-supervised feeding study with this breakthrough nutrition, 88% of 314 client-owned pets experienced a healthy average weight loss of 0.7% of their body weight per week. At home.

Prove it with your patients. Learn more at HillsVet.ca/Metabolic.

DAY

1

and the rest of his life

and the

DAY

60


By Emily Jenkins and Karen Gesy (University of Saskatchewan), Andrew Peregrine (University of Guelph), and Helen Schwantje (BC Ministry of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations)

Researchers from the Universities of Guelph and Saskatchewan, working with British Columbia (BC) veterinarians, wildlife biologists, and trappers, recently found Echinococcus multilocularis, a zoonotic tapeworm, in one dog and 10 (of 27) coyotes trapped within 40 km of Quesnel, BC. BC was previously considered free of this parasite. Molecular analyses showed that the strain of E. multilocularis present in BC was most similar to strains established in Europe, suggesting that this parasite may have been introduced into BC from Europe with imported pet dogs or red foxes in the past.

The life cycle of E. multilocularis normally involves wild canids and rodents. The adult tapeworms live in the intestines of the carnivore and produce eggs that are shed in the feces (Figure 1). Rodents then accidentally ingest the eggs, which develop into a multi-lobed larval form (alveolar hydatid cyst) in the liver and abdomen of the rodent. The life cycle is completed when a carnivore eats the rodent containing the cyst stage of the parasite. Thus, dogs (and less commonly cats) can become infected with the adult tapeworm when they eat infected rodents. Rarely, as in the case of the dog in the Quesnel region, dogs can also become infected with the larval stage (Figure 2) when they eat eggs shed in the feces of wild carnivores, pets, or even their own feces.

Echinococcus multilocularis has significance for both human and animal health, as the parasite is the cause of alveolar hydatid disease in people, dogs, and other abnormal hosts. People become infected with the larval stage when they accidentally consume eggs in soil, food, or water contaminated with feces of wild carnivores or pets, or less commonly through close association with infected animals. In people, symptoms, which are similar to those of invasive liver cancer, may take many years to develop. Successful treatment relies on aggressive early intervention including surgical removal of the cyst material and long-term chemotherapy. Good practices include dog population control, community efforts to control free-roaming dogs, “poop scooping”, and thorough hand washing following handling of dogs, trapped or hunted foxes and coyotes, and their feces. At the consumer/food handler level, thorough washing of fruits and vegetables harvested in regions where this parasite is present, and effective filtering of untreated surface water prior to consumption, are recommended.

This parasite is increasing in importance worldwide as a result of increased global travel and trade, as well as changes in climate, landscape, and wildlife-human interactions. European strains of E. multilocularis are of particular concern as they may be more transmissible to people than native North American strains. According to the European Food Safety Authority, in 2010, 67 human cases of alveolar hydatid disease were reported in the European Union. By 2012 the range of the parasite had expanded to at least 21 countries in Europe from just four countries in the 1980s. In Switzerland alone, the number of human infections has more than doubled in the past 12 years. In contrast, outside of western Alaska, only two human cases have ever been acquired in Canada and the lower 48 US states.

FAQ1. How long do the tapeworm eggs last outside of a host? The eggs are immediately infective upon shedding in feces and under moist

conditions can survive for over a year. Eggs are not killed by most chemical disinfectants or freezing at normal temperatures; however, they are killed by 5-7 days of exposure to temperatures colder than -80oC and hot, dry conditions.

2. How should we properly dispose of carcasses that are suspected to carry this tapeworm?

Carcasses are best disposed of via incineration or immediate, deep burial protected from scavengers.

3. Which areas in Canada are affected? Echinococcus multilocularis has been found in coyotes and foxes trapped

within 40 km of Quesnel, BC. This parasite is also known to be present in southern Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba, as well as in the western Canadian Arctic.

4. How likely is it to spread to other animal species and other areas? It is possible that dogs, coyotes, and foxes could spread E. multilocularis

to surrounding areas where suitable rodent hosts are present. In the US, the parasite has been spreading north and east into the Great Lakes region.

5. What about pets? Both dogs and cats can harbour adult tapeworms of E. multilocularis in their

intestinal tracts and pass eggs in their feces. Outside Alaska, dogs with patent infections of E. multilocularis have not been described in North America. Only four infected cats have been described in North America.

6. Does it cause problems for pets? Normally, the adult tapeworms in the intestine cause no signs of illness in

pets. Rarely, E. multilocularis can cause alveolar hydatid cysts in dogs, which mimic invasive liver cancer. Aggressive surgical removal and long-term treatment with albendazole are suggested, although prognosis is poor. Since dogs with alveolar hydatid cysts can also be infected with adult tapeworms, fecal samples should be examined for eggs to determine if owners are at risk of exposure.

7. Is there effective de-worming medication available for pets? Dogs and cats with access to rodents in regions where E. multilocularis

is present should be dewormed monthly with praziquantel products licensed for treatment of E. multilocularis. Labelled products in Canada include Milbemax (cats) or Droncit (dogs). Heartworm preventative drugs will NOT kill tapeworms.

8. Should imported dogs and cats be treated preventively? If possible, treat all dogs and cats imported into Canada from endemic

parts of the world (e.g. Europe) with praziquantel, at the time of arrival. Such a program is currently enforced by various countries that are free of E. multilocularis (e.g. United Kingdom, Ireland, Malta).

9. How easily can it spread from animals to people? In Canada, human cases of alveolar hydatid disease are extremely rare.

However, it is possible that the European-type strain in the Quesnel region might be more likely to infect people and other unusual hosts than the strains of E. multilocularis that have been present in Canada for a long time.

10. What do we do if we suspect that we came in contact with this parasite? An alveolar hydatid cyst may not produce symptoms for years. If you are

concerned, see your healthcare provider, who can perform various tests.

Acknowledgements to Eleni Galanis (BC Centre for Disease Control) for helpful comments.

Newly found tapeworm potentially infective for people and dogs in central BC

Figure 1: a) Adult tapeworms of E. multilocularis present in the intestine of a carnivore. Adults are small (1-5 mm long) and look like rice grains, as compared to the long ribbons of Taenia spp. tapeworms. b) Taeniid type egg shed by both Echinococcus and Taenia spp. tapeworms. Only molecular (DNA) based techniques can tell these apart.

Your clients need protection from worms all year round. Deworming4 times a year with Milbemax® Flavor Tabs® helps to minimize overallparasite burdens in cats.†

Prescribe Milbemax, a small tasty tablet that offers broad spectrumprotection against 5 intestinal parasites.*

† http://www.wormsandgermsblog.com/uploads/file/CPEP%20guidelines%20ENGLISH.pdf

* Dipylidium caninum, Taenia spp., Echinococcus multilocularis, Ancylostoma tubaeforme, Toxocara cati.

® Milbemax is a registered trademark of Novartis AG – Novartis Animal Health Canada Inc., licensed user.

® Flavor Tabs is a registered trademark of Novartis AG – Novartis Animal Health Canada Inc., licensed user.

© 2011 Novartis Animal Health Canada Inc.

Ad #MLV03/11-104E

Your clients need protection from worms all year round. Deworming4 times a year with Milbemax® Flavor Tabs® helps to minimize overallparasite burdens in cats.†

Prescribe Milbemax, a small tasty tablet that offers broad spectrumprotection against 5 intestinal parasites.*

† http://www.wormsandgermsblog.com/uploads/file/CPEP%20guidelines%20ENGLISH.pdf

* Dipylidium caninum, Taenia spp., Echinococcus multilocularis, Ancylostoma tubaeforme, Toxocara cati.

® Milbemax is a registered trademark of Novartis AG – Novartis Animal Health Canada Inc., licensed user.

® Flavor Tabs is a registered trademark of Novartis AG – Novartis Animal Health Canada Inc., licensed user.

© 2011 Novartis Animal Health Canada Inc.

Ad #MLV03/11-104E

For 15 years, Metacam® has been Canada’s #1 pain reliever for acute and chronic osteoarthritis pain in dogs. We’re a loyal partner in animal health and proud to helpthe greatest members of the animal kingdom: dogs!*

*The opinions expressed above do not necessarily reflect Boehringer Ingelheim (Canada) Ltd.’s view of dogs and cats. Choice of the greatest members of the animal kingdom rests solely with the pet owner.

DOGS RULE CATS RULE

THE ONE AND ONLY THE ONE AND ONLY

Metacam® is tried, tested and proven to safely and e�ectively relieve post-operative pain and acute osteoarthritis flare-ups in cats. With 15 years as Canada’s #1 pet pain reliever, we’re proud to help the greatest members of the animal kingdom: cats!*

*The opinions expressed above do not necessarily reflect Boehringer Ingelheim (Canada) Ltd.’s view of dogs and cats. Choice of the greatest members of the animal kingdom rests solely with the pet owner.

®Metacam is a trademark of Boehringer Ingelheim Vetmedica GmbH.

C

M

Y

CM

MY

CY

CMY

K

BOE_Metacam_SpreadAd.pdf 1 12/7/12 2:51 PM


More than 85% of dogs and cats over the age of 1 year

have signs of periodontal disease.* Periodontal disease hurts!Talk to your veterinary team about dental health.

*Verhaert, Wetter (2004), Kyllar, Witter (2005)

Does Your Pet Have Periodontal Disease?

By Terry M. Norton, DVM, DACZM Director and Veterinarian, Georgia Sea Turtle Center, Jekyll Island, GA

The Georgia Wildlife Health Program was developed to assist conservation organizations on various aspects of wildlife health and disease and to provide veterinary services to wildlife biologists and graduate students. The focus of the program has been on health-related

issues pertaining to wild reptiles and birds. Target species have included marine turtles, diamondback terrapins, eastern indigo snakes, alligator snapping turtles, Barbour’s map turtles, gopher tortoises, and water birds such as American oystercatchers and brown pelicans.

In 2000, the program partnered with the Wildlife Conservation Society’s (WCS) Field Veterinary Program on a global sea turtle health assessment project. The work in Georgia included establishing baseline health parameters for several of the life stages of the loggerhead sea turtle. In addition to evaluating healthy turtles, we were called upon to do the initial evaluation of stranded sea turtles found on the Georgia coast. Through this work, it became apparent that a sea turtle rehabilitation center was needed in coastal Georgia.

In 2003 our group approached the Jekyll Island Authority (JIA) and the Jekyll Island Foundation (JIF) to propose starting a sea turtle rehabilitation and education center on Jekyll Island. Up until this time, the rehabilitation facility had been proposed to be on St. Catherine Island (SCI), a remote barrier island only accessible by boat. With the full support of these organizations and the collaborative efforts of the Georgia Department of Natural Resources, SCI Foundation, WCS, the Georgia Aquarium, and many other individuals and groups, the idea became a reality.

The Georgia Sea Turtle Center (GSTC), a department of the JIA, officially opened its doors on June 16, 2007. One of its unique features is that it integrates rehabilitation services for injured sea turtles and other wildlife, veterinary, ecological, and conservation research, professional student training, and interactive education for the public. The GSTC has an educational presentation area, retail space, a rehabilitative pavilion where injured turtles are nursed back to health, and a state-of-the-art hospital with rooms dedicated to surgery, digital radiology, and treatment and diagnostic procedures. The Center has a staff of thirteen full-time, several seasonal hourly staff, and ten full time and eight part time Americorp members. Additionally, rotating veterinary externs, graduate students, and more than 150 volunteers frequent the Center on a regular basis.

RehabilitationBefore the advent of the Georgia Sea Turtle Center, there were no facilities in Georgia to treat injured and ill sea turtles. The closest facilities were in Florida and South Carolina, and they were often filled to capacity. Some of the more common problems include boat strike and other traumatic injuries, fishing line and hook entanglements and ingestion, fibropapillomatosis, flotation abnormities, and cold stunning. In 2010 alone, over 100 sea turtles were rehabilitated at the GSTC. The staff has been involved in the development of a number of innovative medical and surgical techniques, including using and evaluating honey products and Wound VAC therapy for traumatic injuries.

EducationThe GSTC’s mission is to increase awareness of habitat and wildlife conservation challenges, promote responsibility for ecosystem health, and empower individuals to act locally, regionally, and globally to protect the environment. Sea turtles are used as a flagship to represent the entire marine ecosystem. Creating interactive and engaging educational programs has been the key in spreading this message. For example, a window from the exhibit gallery looking into the turtle hospital allows visitors to observe treatments, diagnostic procedures and surgeries first hand. An elevated walkway overlooking the patients in their tanks provides further opportunities to engage visitors with the sea turtles. Various educational programs are offered for sea turtle enthusiasts of all ages including “Scute’s Ocean Adventure” puppet show and “Meet the patients” where trained staff explain each patient’s unique story.

ResearchResearch is the third pillar of the Center’s mission, which consists of a unique mix of veterinary medical and ecological research. A few of the many examples include:• Saturation Tagging and Nest Surveys which includes the nighttime patrol

for nesting female sea turtles• A Human Impact Study assesses and quantifies the effects of human

presence and lights in relation to sea turtle nesting • Loggerhead nutritional health related research is establishing normal values

for vitamins, minerals, and lipids in free-ranging loggerhead sea turtles• A pain management study is evaluating the pharmacokinetics of tramadol

in loggerhead sea turtles• American alligator population monitoring, spatial ecology utilizing

radiotelemetry, and education programs regarding humans feeding them are being conducted

• The diamondback terrapin conservation program focuses on efforts to reduce mortality from automobiles on the Jekyll Island Causeway

• The Georgia SEANET Program is a multi-institutional effort focused on marine bird health and disease surveillance

Professional trainingThe GSTC veterinary externship program has grown to the point where we have one or more veterinary students working with us throughout the year.

In 2009, the GSTC was awarded a Corporation for National and Community Service/Georgia Com-mission for Service and Volunteerism AmeriCorps grant to expand our internship program. This grant has enabled us to have 11 members present for a full year and 6 to 8 members present for six months to work in the areas of husbandry, education, research, and volunteer coordination. During the first year of the program (2009-2010) it was selected as one of 52 programs throughout the nation that was listed in the America’s Service Commissions and Innovations in Civic Participation publication Transforming Communities through Service: A Collection of the Most Innovative AmeriCorps State Programs in the United States.

International programsOur International programs are focused on training biologists and veterinarians, educating children

Georgia Wildlife Health Program – making it happen!

Georgia wildlife continues on page 19

More than 85% of dogs and cats over the age of 1 year

have signs of periodontal disease.* Periodontal disease hurts!Talk to your veterinary team about dental health.

*Verhaert, Wetter (2004), Kyllar, Witter (2005)

Does Your Pet Have Periodontal Disease?


BANFF, AB – Alleviating and preventing animal suffering should be one of the most important goals of every shelter, and each shelter must determine the best health care protocol that is appropriate for them. At this year’s CanWest Veterinary Conference, Lila Miller, DVM, said that this involves setting realistic goals for disease management that suit the shelter’s mission and goals, budget and resources, and the needs of the animals and the community.

The basic principles of shelter medicine are to keep healthy animals from getting sick, and to provide a sanctuary where the animal’s physical and behavioural wellbeing is a priority. Ensuring a good quality of life involves wellness care, stress reduction, environmental enrichment (e.g. toys, perches, beds, hiding places), exercise and socialization, and the alleviation of distress and suffering.

Dr. Miller said that a well-designed shelter healthcare program requires a team approach that involves everyone at the shelter, including all staff and volunteers. Effective disease control requires the implementation of control methods and management techniques that take advantage of the strengths of the animal or host, the weakness of the pathogen, and modifiable environmental factors.

Management of population density should be one of the main goals of any health program. This means less direct contact between animals so disease spreads less rapidly, less fighting, reduced staff and animal stress, and as a result, improved quality of life. Every shelter needs a plan, stressed Dr. Miller. This means keeping data on the intake and disposition of animals, and making plans for seasonal variations (e.g. kitten season), and determining how many animals the shelter can safely and humanely manage by counting cages and evaluating the use of space and staff. Ideally speaking, once capacity has been reached, the number of animals entering the shelter should match (or not exceed) the number leaving. The shelter’s capacity for care, she added, is not just based on the number of cages and animals, but the number of trained staff available to provide appropriate care.

The well-designed shelterEnvironmental conditionsFresh air, at a temperature of 15-26ºC is ideal. Isolation areas should be physically separated if they are used to treat or hold animals with infectious diseases. The foot traffic pattern used by the staff and public should move from healthy to diseased areas. Cage placement is also a factor; for example, a cat’s sneeze can propel a disease droplet across a span of four feet, and some dogs will bark a lot if facing other dogs. As well, shelters must consider housing for short and long-term stays, special need animals, exercise needs, etc.

Psychological considerationsStress is a major contributing factor for disease in shelters because it lowers an animal’s resistance. Avoiding overcrowding should be the top management consideration. Carefully selecting compatible animals for colony housing; keeping littermates and housemates together; housing bullies and aggressive animals individually; providing shelves and hiding places for all cats; segregating dogs from cats, and predators from prey species are all important considerations. Other important factors that contribute to a low stress environment include minimizing loud noises; turning off the lights at night; providing natural light and enrichment toys; and providing bedding, perches, hiding places, and platforms where appropriate.

NutritionDr. Miller stressed the importance of feeding shelter animals the highest quality diet affordable, with fresh water available at all times. Feeding times can be used for enrichment and training, and treats should be used judiciously to avoid obesity, especially in cats.

Behavioural considerationsGood health and wellbeing depend on meeting both the mental and behavioural needs, as well as the physical needs of animals. In fact, emotional suffering can cause more physical pain than illness or injury, and should be addressed promptly. Signs of distress include changes in vocalization and ambulation; anorexia; stereotypical behaviours like spinning or pacing; withdrawal; feigned sleep; and depression. Simple interventions include providing appropriate social interactions, comfortable bedding and a comfortable, safe, secure kennel.

Disease controlOne of the most common means of spreading disease in shelters is through fomites or inanimate objects. The most common fomites are hands, clothing, equipment, and transport cages. Volunteers, staff, and the public can also be responsible for spreading disease.

The control of disease transmission in animal shelters

Animal or host factorsBreedAgeImmune statusNutritional stateOverall health of animal

Pathogen factorsIncubation period/carrierVirulenceShedding periodEase of inactivationSpecies affectedVaccine availability andeffectiveness

Disinfectants availability

Environmental factorsOvercrowdingAir qualityFacility designNoiseStressSanitation Staffing

Reducing the spread of disease• Wear gloves and wash hands properly after cleaning and handling

animals and equipment• Clean juvenile and healthy animal wards before sick animal wards• Assign each cat a transport cage for the duration of its stay• Disinfect equipment after use, and do not move cleaning equipment

from room to room• Do not let animals share toys• Vacuum and keep ventilation vents clean• Use disposable aprons, paper towels, and other disposable rags as

often as possible• Utilize spray or squirt bottles• Avoid high pressure hosing to remove fecal material because it can

spread the germs

Vaccination strategy• Always use vaccinations during a disease outbreak of distemper or

parvovirusο The recombinant canine distemper vaccine has been shown to

provide protection against challenge in seronegative animals within 4 hours!

ο The feline parvo vaccine is also highly effective: a 1979 study showed full immunity is reached 72 hours after subcutaneous injection

Sanitation tips for disease outbreaks• Disinfect entire premises (animal contact areas) with bleach diluted

1:32, Accel or Trifectant• For ringworm, dilute bleach 1:10 and discard carpets and objects you

can’t disinfect• Follow manufacturer’s directions to avoid disinfectant toxicity – ulcers,

respiratory problems, fever• Consider leaving exposed areas empty for a few days if pathogen

is long-lived or resistant to disinfection, and continue to clean and disinfect repeatedly to remove and kill pathogens

• Avoid high pressure hosing• Culture surfaces to evaluate success

Did you know:

There are 701 types of pure breed dogs.

A goldfish is the only animal that can see

infrared and ultraviolet light.


A physical examination should occur on entry to the shelter. Animals with infectious disease and those requiring immediate medical care should be identified. All staff should be able to recognize signs of potentially infectious disease, including loss of appetite and lethargy; sneezing and/or coughing; vomiting and/or diarrhea; fever; dehydration; discharge from the eyes and/or mouth; and depression.

Animals that show signs of infection should be quarantined for a period of time that meets or exceeds the incubation period of the disease. They should be moved to isolation as soon as infectious disease symptoms appear. The isolation area should be cleaned and disinfected by separate staff, and preferably located at a distance away from adoptable, healthy, and juvenile animals. The timing of isolation must take into consideration the shedding period of the pathogen, not just when a clinical cure has been achieved (for example, 10-14 days after parvo infection detected) until they are cured or deemed safe to adopt or to rejoin the general population.

SummaryDr. Miller concluded by saying that shelters must consider the needs of the entire population as well as the individual animal when making treatment decisions, but quality of life of the individual animal is key. There is no single health care protocol that is appropriate for every shelter. Realistic goals should be set for disease management that suit the shelter’s mission and goals, budget and resources, and the needs of the animals and the community. It is important to remember, she added, that shelters are not hospitals and cannot provide the same level of care. The alleviation and prevention of animal suffering should be the most important goal of every shelter. CV

What do you get When you mix

Virkon® tablets and Water?

Just add Water to release the poWer of the most adVanced

and Widely-researched disinfectant in the World!

extra-strengthrelief for your disinfection headaches!

the only disinfectant you need

No-hassle, quick-dissolve tablets – easy to use and store

Exceptional safety profile for humans, animals and the environment

Fast, broad-spectrum activity against most types of bacteria, fungi and viruses, including:

Canine parvovirus Feline panleukopenia virus

Canine adenovirus Feline calcivirus

proven protection for pets… and vets!

1 800 363-1700 • www.vetoquinol.ca

® Registered trademark of Antec International, a Dupont Company

and adults, and providing scientific expertise. We have developed extensive collaborative programs with Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine and the St. Kitts Sea Turtle Monitoring Network in St. Kitts, West Indies. This program focuses on nesting leatherback and hawksbill population monitoring, health and nutritional assessments, and developing programs for local children and adults as well as providing alternative jobs in sea turtle conservation for fishermen. We are developing programs that focus on training sea turtle biologists and veterinarians on various aspects of sea turtle conservation. Staff have travelled to Costa Rica to provide expertise and training and biologists from

Costa Rica have trained with us at the GSTC. We have hosted turtle conservation biologists from Pakistan and India as part of the Asian Scholarship Program for in-situ Chelonian Conservation.

What began as a labor of love on a remote island has developed into an example of what can be done with the ingenuity, hard work, and dedication of many hundreds of people. I really believe that if you put your heart and soul into something, you can make it happen. The GSTC is just one example.

For more information, please visit www.georgiaseaturtlecenter.org.

Georgia wildlife continued from page 16

Did you know:

There are 701 types of pure breed dogs.

A goldfish is the only animal that can see

infrared and ultraviolet light.


SAN ANTONIO, TX – When using combinations of chemotherapy drugs or cancer treatments, an attempt is made to minimize the overlap of toxicities via drug choice and treatment timing. Side effects associated with chemotherapy treatment can vary from mild to severe, and while they can be distressing for the patient and client, and sometimes the clinician, most are treatable, explained Erika L. Krick, VMD, DACVIM (Oncology), speaking at the Veterinary Emergency and Critical Care Society Conference.

Chemotherapy Most chemotherapy-related side effects are due to cytotoxic effects on proliferating normal cells, such as GI mucosal and hematopoietic precursor cells; however, the clinical severity of this toxicity varies according to the drug used and individual patient sensitivity.

AnaphylaxisThe chemotherapy drug most commonly associated with anaphylaxis is L-asparaginase. Anaphylaxis can occur up to 24 hours post drug administration and is often associated with vomiting, pruritis, hives, erythema, edema of the muzzle and face, hypotension, and tachycardia. Arrhythmias and respiratory distress can also occur, as well as gastrointestinal irritation/ulceration. Treatment involves timely administration of antihistamines (H1 and H2 blockers), glucocorticoids, and intravenous fluids. Anti-emetics can be used for patients that are vomiting, and if no response is seen to the above treatments, epinephrine can be administered. Most patients have a good response to supportive

treatment and recover uneventfully. If a patient develops hypersensitivity to L-asparaginase, subsequent dosages should not be given.

Systemic mast cell degranulation, which mimics anaphylaxis, can occur during doxorubicin administration, so patients are monitored for discomfort during intravenous infusion of this drug. If pruritis, head shaking, and erythema signs are noted, the infusion is stopped. If the signs resolve, the patient can be treated with antihistamines and glucocorticoids, and the infusion can be resumed at a slow rate. Depending on the severity of the reaction, subsequent doses of doxorubicin can be administered; however, pre-medication with an antihistamine and glucocorticoid is recommended, and the drug should be infused at a slow rate.

ExtravasationExtravasation is a rare but potentially serious complication of chemotherapy administration. Doxorubicin, vincristine, vinblastine, mechlorethamine, and dactinomycin are among the most commonly used vesicant/tissue irritant chemotherapy drugs in dogs and cats. If an extravasation is suspected during drug infusion, steps are taken to prevent and/or minimize tissue damage, depending on the drug used. Close monitoring of the patient at home and through recheck examinations is recommended, as most extravasation wounds will declare themselves within three to 10 days, and secondary trauma from licking/chewing at the site will worsen the wound, predispose to infection, and enlarge the affected area. Doxorubicin extravasation is associated with severe tissue damage and necrosis, and limb amputation may be required. Depending on the extravasated drug and the degree of tissue damage, further treatment with that drug may be discontinued.

Vomiting/DiarrheaMost chemotherapy-related vomiting and diarrhea is due to GI mucosal damage, and this generally manifests 24 to 72 hours post chemotherapy administration. The platinum chemotherapy drugs (cisplatin and carboplatin) also induce emesis by central stimulation of the chemoreceptor trigger zone. Vomiting in patients that receive these drugs may begin during drug administration or within a few hours afterwards. Supportive care with anti-emetics and fluid therapy is recommended as needed. Pre-medication with anti-emetics is recommended prior to cisplatin administration, and some clients may elect prophylactic anti-emetic therapy prior to carboplatin administration as well. Further doses are changed based on the severity of GI toxicity, since the toxicity can greatly impact the patient’s quality of life. Among cats with lymphoma treated with COP and CHOP chemotherapy protocols, vincristine and doxorubicin are the drugs most commonly associated with GI side effects.

Vincristine-associated ileus can also cause vomiting and anorexia in a patient undergoing chemotherapy as soon as days after the first dose of the drug. Such ileus can be challenging to treat, and intervention with enteral-assisted feeding or total parenteral nutrition may be necessary in some patients. Vinblastine can be substituted for future planned doses of vincristine in these patients, as it has less GI toxicity (but is more myelosuppressive) compared to vincristine in humans.

MyelosuppressionNeutropenia is the most common clinically significant bloodwork abnormality found in patients receiving chemotherapy, but other changes can occur. Thrombocytopenia has been associated with doxorubicin and the platinum agents and tends to occur at a similar time to the neutrophil nadir.

SepsisDogs with lymphoma are at higher risk for sepsis compared to dogs with solid tumours, and among dogs with lymphoma, their risk for sepsis is higher during induction chemotherapy. Dr. Krick said that based on findings of recent randomized studies, her institution routinely uses prophylactic TMS or enrofloxacin for dogs that receive vincristine or doxorubicin. Patients with chemotherapy-associated sepsis are generally treated similarly to other

Side effects of systemic cancer therapies

4746-14th St NE Calgary AB T2E 6L7Toll Free 1 800 461 8615 - 403 291 3640Fax Toll Free 1 888 292 4548 - 403 250 2703

Available forpurchase at iBooksor follow the link atwww.focusandfl ourish.com

Now available for your iPad, iPod or iPhone!A detailed, complete, practical e-book on the lateral fabellar suture repair technique for cranial cruciate ligament tears.

www.focusandfl ourish.com

By Dr. Anne SylvestreDiplomate of the Americanand European Colleges of Veterinary Surgeons

Filled with VIDEOS and INTERACTIVE PICTURES

FocusAndFlourish HalfPage Cvet Ad.indd 1 14/08/12 11:36 AM


patients with sepsis, with the difference being that the cause of sepsis is known so sometimes fewer diagnostic tests are needed.

Sterile hemorrhagic cystitis (SHC)SHC is associated with cyclophosphamide administration and has most commonly been reported in dogs but can occur in cats. It is caused by direct irritation of the bladder mucosa by an inactive metabolite of this alklylating agent called acrolein. The risk of SHC is higher with IV versus oral administration of cyclophosphamide, and administration of furosemide with IV cyclophosphamide may lower the risk. Once clinical signs of SHC occur, further administration of the offending agent is not recommended. If a patient that has been receiving cyclophosphamide presents with lower urinary tract signs, a urinalysis, culture and sensitivity, and abdominal radiographs or ultrasound are recommended to rule out other causes of cystitis. If these results are negative, then SHC is considered the diagnosis of exclusion.

CardiotoxicityDoxorubicin is associated with both acute and chronic cardiotoxicity. Ventricular arrhythmias can occur during doxorubicin administration, and the cumulative cardiotoxicity is dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM). Screening echocardiograms may be recommended prior to doxorubicin administration in dogs that have pre-existing impaired cardiac function or breeds that are predisposed to DCM. Doxorubicin-induced DCM is progressive and ir-reversible, though medical management is similar to DCM from other causes. Clinical indications of DCM include ventricular arrhythmias and decreased systolic function.

NephrotoxicityExamples of nephrotoxic chemotherapy drugs in dogs and cats include cisplatin, doxorubin (in cats), carboplatin, lomustine, and methotrexate.

Cisplatin is the most nephrotoxic of these drugs, and significant fluid diuresis is necessary prior to and after administration of this drug.

Doxorubicin and liposome-encapsulated doxorubicin (DoxilTM) have both been shown to demonstrate cumulative nephrotoxicity in cats, with DoxilTM being more nephrotoxic. Reports of nephrotoxicity from carboplatin, lomustine, and methotrexate are uncommon, but caution should be used when administering these drugs to patients with pre-existing renal dysfunction.

Receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitorsTwo receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitors (RTKIs) were recently approved by the FDA for the treatment of canine mast cell tumours. Palladia (toceranib phosphate) was the first, followed by Kinavet (masitinib). Both of these drugs inhibit the c-KIT receptor (a tyrosine kinase receptor), which is mutated in approximately 30% of canine mast cell tumours. The mutation results in constitutive action of the receptor, which promotes mast cell tumour proliferation. Both of these drugs also inhibit other RTKs, which are expressed on normal cells. In addition, c-KIT is also expressed on normal cells.

Because these drugs are not specific for receptors on neoplastic mast cells, systemic side effects can occur. In general, most of these side effects include GI toxicity and myelosuppression. Several other types of side effects have been reported, including hematochezia and melena, as well as musculoskeletal pain of unknown origin, renal disease manifested as proteinuria, nephrotic syndrome, and glomerulonephritis or renal failure. CV

Available forpurchase at iBooksor follow the link atwww.focusandfl ourish.com

Now available for your iPad, iPod or iPhone!A detailed, complete, practical e-book on the lateral fabellar suture repair technique for cranial cruciate ligament tears.

www.focusandfl ourish.com

By Dr. Anne SylvestreDiplomate of the Americanand European Colleges of Veterinary Surgeons

Filled with VIDEOS and INTERACTIVE PICTURES

FocusAndFlourish HalfPage Cvet Ad.indd 1 14/08/12 11:36 AM


By Bernard E. Rollin, Ph.D.

The major issues confronting veterinary medicine in North America are ethical issues. This is ironic, since organized veterinary medicine and veterinary educational institutions devote virtually no attention to teaching or discussion of ethics. Nor are future veterinarians being prepared to deal with ethics rationally. Only a small number of schools even offer courses in ethics.

Examples of ethical issues veterinarians must deal with are obvious. It is evident to any observer of our society that animal welfare is a major societal concern (in Britain, it is issue number eight of the top 10). Yet the American Veterinary Medical Association sees ethics as irrelevant to the concept of animal welfare, rather than pivotal. Animal welfare, it is said, is simply a matter of “sound science.” This mistake is a fortiori true of farm animal welfare, which is a key issue both in North America and in Europe – vide sow stalls, battery cages, and mutilations.

Other issues are rife, one of which veterinary medicine has brought upon itself. For years, the veterinary establishment touted the “infinite value of the human/animal bond” as a way of marketing expensive veterinary services. Inevitably, society began to ask “If my pet is infinitely valuable, why do I get $50 if a veterinarian kills the animal by virtue of malpractice?” Related to this is the effort to raise the legal status of animals from property and turn “owners” into “guardians.” Alternative medicine raises a whole host of ethical issues, as does assessing quality of animal life, and new graduates owing a great deal of money for their education, while commanding negligible salaries.

To resolve ethical issues, one must be able to recognize them. And this requires a grasp of basic ethical concepts. It is important to distinguish

between ethics1 and ethics2. Ethics1 are one’s beliefs about good and bad, right and wrong, fair and unfair, and other moral concepts. Ethics2 is the philosophical study of ethics1, dealing with such questions as why we need ethics at all; how we justify ethics1 claims; how we decide whether one society’s ethics is better than another’s; are there absolute ethical notions, or is all ethics socially relative, or relative to individual beliefs, etc.

Under ethics1 fall personal ethics, social ethics, and professional ethics. Personal ethics are ethical matters that society leaves to your own ethical beliefs. This would include such matters as what one eats (e.g. a meat or vegan diet); what one reads; and what one believes or does not believe religiously. Matters that society considers too important to social life to leave to individual opinions become encoded in social ethics or societal consensus ethics, and such matters are generally embodied in the legal system and are enforced by society. These include robbery, murder, assault, embezzlement, sexual harassment, and similar matters impinging on others. Finally, there is professional ethics. Professions are subgroups of society such as medicine, law, veterinary medicine, accounting, which perform special tasks in society and have special privileges. Since society lacks complete understanding of what professions do, it charges professions with regulating themselves the way society would regulate them, if they understood them well enough to do so. If professions fail to self regulate, society imposes strict rules upon them, and they lose their autonomy.

Veterinarians have obligations to clients, their peers and the profession, to society in general, to themselves, and to animals. Ethical questions can arise in any and all of these categories, and in innumerable combinations. Ethical principles are rules that we, as moral agents, apply to ethical problems to resolve them. For example, suppose a client has significantly overpaid you. Not returning the excess would be tantamount to stealing. Most of us, in both our personal and societal ethics, have learned the principle “do not steal”. We apply that principle to the overpay situation, and thereby resolve the issue. In more complex cases, society may not have encapsulated relevant rules into law, and one’s personal ethic must be used, as when responding to a client’s attempt at seduction. Sometimes, one holds principles which give contradictory results in a given case. For example, most of us hold the following two principles: do not lie and do not hurt people’s feelings. If my wife asks me what I think of her new hairdo, and I hate it but don’t wish to hurt her feelings, I must decide between two competing principles. We do this by referring to a higher order principle or ethical theory. For example, I may believe that ultimate good is what produces the most pleasure and least pain for others. This is called the Utilitarian Ethical Theory; by applying that theory, I choose a “little white lie.” There are many ethical theories, some result-oriented, and others focusing on some other aspect of action or intention. In our society, the regnant theory is mixed. We make most of our social decisions by reference to what produces “the greatest good for the greatest number,” but temper that theory by appealing to individual rights, for example, freedom of speech when letting a person speak freely might offend others. In this case, fundamental aspects of human nature, such as speech and religion, outweigh “greatest good for the greatest number.”

The most difficult aspect of veterinary ethics concerns our moral obligations to animals. Historically, societal ethics was virtually silent on animal treatment, with the exception of avoiding deliberate, intentional, sadistic, deviant, purposeless infliction of cruelty on animals. Until very recently, the only behaviour towards animals covered in the legal system was sadistic cruelty, on the traditional grounds that those who are cruel to animals will “graduate” to being cruel to people. But we have come to realize that the vast majority of animal suffering actually comes from socially accepted animal uses, such as biomedical research and testing on animals, or from the desire to make a profit, such as is the case with intensive agriculture, otherwise known as “factory farming.” With this realization has come the demand for augmenting the societal ethic. Thus, in 2004, no fewer than 2100 pieces of legislation pertaining to animal welfare were proposed across the United States in areas ranging from research and agriculture to zoos and circuses.

An overview of veterinary medical ethics

Veterinary medical ethics continues on page 244746-14th St NE Calgary AB T2E 6L7Toll Free 1 800 461 8615 - 403 291 3640Fax Toll Free 1 888 292 4548 - 403 250 2703


By Dr. Terry L. Mader

Ruminants have the ability to comfortably withstand ambient temperatures between -10 and -20ºC due to their ability to generate substantial amounts of heat through fermentation of feedstuffs. In particular, feedlot cattle fed high-energy grain-based diets generate large amounts of metabolic heat, which is usually transferred from the body to the environment

using normal physiological processes. Although this is a large asset in the winter, it can be a detriment in the summer. Failure to transfer this heat in the summer results in an accumulation of heat within the body and predisposes the animal to heat stress.

Under summer conditions, cattle deaths associated with heat waves are often a greater concern than performance losses. The primary objective of any environmental mitigation strategy is to aid the animal in the winter to keep body temperature elevated throughout the day, and in the summer to reduce peak body temperature during the day, and/or help the animal drive body temperature down at night (see Figure 1).

Under severe winter conditions, productivity is compromised as a result of increased maintenance energy requirements associated with exposure to cold, wet, and/or windy conditions. For most cattle, efficiency of feed conversions and maintenance energy requirements are approximately 15% and 25% greater, respectively, in the winter than in the summer. If hair coats are wet and muddy, energy requirements for maintenance can easily double, particularly if the animal is not protected from the wind. In central Saskatchewan, mud and related effects can increase the feedlot cost of gain 25% under normal conditions and up to 100% in years in which winter and early spring precipitation are twice as much as normal. In central Ontario, feedlot cattle gains in some years would be extremely low or even negative if bedding and/or housing were not utilized to minimize mud effects and protect animals from adverse weather.

Figure 1. Effects of season on tympanic temperature over a 24-h period in feedlot heifers.*Means within an hour differ by season (P < 0.05; SE = 0.10). Each point represents the mean of 12 pens of cattle. (Mader and Kreikemeier, Journal of Animal Science, 2006; 84:1030-1037).

During the summer, evaporation of moisture from the skin surface or respiratory tract is the primary mechanism used by the animal to lose excess body heat in a hot environment. Under these conditions, water space availability and water intake per head becomes very important. During heat episodes, as much as three times the normal water space (7.5 vs 2.5 cm of linear space per animal) may be needed to allow for sufficient room for all animals to access and benefit from available water. In general, water consumption per unit of feed intake in the summer is twice as great as in the winter. Shade has also been found to be beneficial for feedlot cattle exposed to hot climatic conditions. In general, the response to shade is greatest at the onset of heat stress even though shade use increases with time cattle are on feed. Shade improves performance in the summer particularly when cattle are fed in facilities that restrict airflow and for cattle that have not become, or had the opportunity to become, acclimated to hot conditions. Under normal Canadian summer conditions, heat stress is minimal, however, during moderately hot years (approximately one in three), shade or other mitigation strategies can be effective in enhancing animal comfort, with eastern Canadian cattle feeding areas more at risk than western Canadian cattle feeding areas.

Environmental stress is dependent not only on temperature, but also on magnitude of solar radiation, humidity, and wind speed. Adjustments for these factors need to be considered when predicting the impact of environmental stress. The effects of environmental stress are dependent on not only the magnitude and duration, but also on the rate at which environmental conditions change.

From a consumer standpoint, animal comfort must have a greater priority than in the past. The large number of cattle deaths during adverse weather events is unnecessary. From an animal welfare standpoint, the use of shade or other mitigation strategies in the summer would be recommended for most cattle that are confined and being fed high-energy finishing diets. In the winter, wind protection and/or bedding would be encouraged for cattle fed in wet conditions or in feedlots with wet surfaces. In dry environments in the winter, and in dry-cool environments in the summer, limited environmental stress mitigation is needed. However, with the current feed and cattle price structure, the economic benefits of utilizing shade, bedding, windbreaks, etc. for cattle exposed to adverse climatic conditions are greater today than in the past. In addition to the performance response, environmental stress mitigation has significant animal comfort and consumer perception implications.

This article is based on a presentation given by Dr. Mader at the 3rd International Symposium on Beef Cattle Welfare, in Saskatoon, SK.

Environmental stress and animal welfare concern for beef cattle39.8

39.6

39.4

39.2

39

38.8

38.6

38.4

38.2

380800 1000 1200 1400 1600 1800

Time of day (hhmm)

Winter

*

*

*

*

**

*

Summer

Tym

pani

c te

mpe

ratu

re, °

C

2000 2200 2400 0200 0400 0600

To enhance animal comfort in feedlot pens and other areas in the winter, the following guidelines can be utilized:

1. Facilities should be designed to properly drain water away from areas where cattle normally accumulate;

2. Pushing snow out of pens (preferable after every storm) or at least to the low end of the facilities will minimize the effects of gradual melting and aid in drying-out resting areas;

3. Smoothing out or knocking down rough, frozen surfaces which may impede access to feed and water;

4. Doubling per animal space allocation – the added space minimizes mud accumulation and allows for greater access to dry areas for animals to lie down; and

5. If cattle are prone to getting wet then use bedding and/or structures that provide wind protection, to minimize moisture effects. With today’s feed costs, the daily feed cost to maintain an animal that is partially wet, under winter conditions, is two to three times the cost of the bedding needed to keep the animal dry. Bedding is a cheap alternative, especially if hay, corn, or other feed prices are relatively high when compared to bedding cost. Furthermore, once the animal is dry, bedding usage will decrease, whereas if bedding is not utilized the moisture-laden facilities will usually remain wet and the animal stays wet.


When clients look for a veterinarian chances are they start their search on the Internet using a mobile device such as a smart phone or a tablet.

Technology has greatly changed the way we advertise and businesses have several choices when choosing a media channel in which to advertise. Making the right choices can be difficult. There are a tremendous number of options available from both traditional print advertising and more sophisticated, complex, Internet options. Focusing on the most effective advertising is a step in the right direction. But which options are the most effective?

Television remains the number one choice of media consumed in 2012 according to eMarketer. The Internet was the next most commonly consumed media, followed by radio, mobile Internet, newspapers, and magazines. However, media consumption does not necessarily correlate directly with a product or service purchase.

Television commercials appear to influence a person’s desire to try or to find out more about a product while the Internet is more likely to lead to an actual product or service purchase. More specifically, a search engine query using Google, Yahoo, Bing, etc. is more likely to lead to a purchase. For example, a recent global study found that 89% of survey participants use an Internet search engine to make purchasing decisions.1

In practical terms, this means it is very important for your business to be found easily on the Internet via a search engine. Search Engine Optimization (SEO) allows this to happen. SEO is a process to increase the visibility (ranking) of a business when conducting an online search using various popular search engines. Understanding search engine technology can be a daunting and time consuming task. Rarely are such skills available in-house and outsourcing to an advertising business with expertise in SEO is often the best option.

Should you have a Facebook page or a website or both? What about Twitter? All of these communication channels play a role in a multi-channel advertising strategy. Trying to develop and manage all of the channels can be overwhelming and is not always feasible when human and financial resources are limited.

Recent research suggests the focus should be on your website before embarking on a Facebook or Twitter presence. Neilson’s State of the Media Consumer Usage Report indicated consumers’ preferred source for information about a product or service are, in order:

Print media is still important. The 2011 Intermedia Shopping Study by TSN ranked print yellow pages second (behind Internet search) in media advertising resulting in an actual purchase. Market Authority, Inc., a media research company, conducted over 150,000 interviews over the past few years and found that 67% of urban consumers utilized a print yellow page directory at least occasionally when searching for a local business. Almost 90% of rural consumers utilized a print yellow page directory occasionally when searching for a local business. In general, yellow page directory usage has trended downward; however, those who do use the directory are highly motivated to follow through with an actual purchase.

Direct mail was next in media advertising resulting in a purchase followed by newspapers, television, Internet yellow pages, coupons, outdoor advertisements including billboard), magazines, and radio.

More and more people are accessing the Internet using mobile devices such as smart phones or tablets. Globally, sales of smart phones and tablets outnumbered sales of desktops and notebooks starting in 2011. It is estimated that by 2015, sales of smartphones and tablets will be more than four times sales of PCs.2 Mobile device sales will drive mobile advertising sales well into the future.

Media trends have changed rapidly in recent years. It is recommended that businesses adopt a multi-channel advertising campaign including both print and Internet. Search Engine Optimization is key to finding your business online. Business websites are still relied on as a primary source of information for clients, and they will use this information to make a purchasing decision about your products and services. Your online presence should be easily viewed on a mobile device. Make it easy for clients to find you.

References1. 2012 Digital Influence Index – an annual global study by Fleishman-Hillard and Harris Interactive, http://fleishmanhillard.com/?slide=DigitalInfluenceIndex, accessed on December 20, 2012.2. www.kpcb.com/file/kpcb-2012-internet-trends-update accessed on December 20, 2012 (Katy Huberty, Ehud Gelblum, Morgan Stanley Research. Data and Estimates as of 9/12.)

Elizabeth Bellavance, DVM, MBA, CMA, CEPA, is a member of the Board of Directors of VetPartners™, a member of the Veterinary Valuation Resource Council (VVRC), and a member of the Canadian Institute of Business Valuators. Dr. Bellavance can be contacted at [email protected].

Best Practices

Which advertising media will help clients find you?

Elizabeth Bellavance, DVM, MBA, CMA

If society wishes to protect animal interests in cases where they are overridden by human convenience or profit, it will protect those fundamental interests in the law, in much the same way as the Bill of Rights protects fundamental human interests from being trampled upon for the sake of the general welfare. Animals, as property, cannot have rights. But their fundamental interests can nonetheless be protected, despite their property status, by creating strong limitations on property use. When my colleagues and I created U.S. federal animal protection laws regarding the use of animals in research, we did not deny that researchers own the animals. But, we created significant constraints on the use of animal

property. Most important, perhaps, was the notion that if researchers cause pain and distress to animals in the course of research, they are morally, and more importantly, legally, obliged to control such pain and distress. This is what I have called in other publications animal rights as a mainstream phenomenon. The incorporation of animal ethics into societal consensus ethics can only assist the veterinarian, as he or she now enjoys the backing of society in general.

This article was based on Dr. Rollin’s seminar presented at the Edmonton Association of Small Animal Veterinarians.

Veterinary medical ethics continued from page 22

1. Consumer ratings2. Consumer reviews3. Company website4. Call centre5. Email 6. Video clip

7. Live chat8. Company Facebook9. Mobile app10. Online ad11. Company Twitter


DVD series created by world-renowned bird veterinarians A lot of people have birds for pets, but relatively few understand basic care. Consequently, on a daily basis, veterinarians working with birds see problems resulting from either minimal or incorrect information concerning their husbandry. To address this problem, acclaimed bird veterinarians and lecturers doctors M. Scott Echols and Brian L. Speer have created The Expert Companion Bird Care DVD Series, the first audio visual resource created by specialists that covers topics all bird owners should know.

Designed to provide concise and accurate information to bird owners, the DVDs offer video collected worldwide by avian veterinarians, teachers, aviculturists, enthusiasts, and pet store owners that illustrate the points outlined in each section.

Volume 1 in the series covers a wide range of topics, from identifying commonly kept parrot species to housing and nutrition to household dangers and toxins to telltale signs of illness in birds to how to select a veterinarian.

Volume 2 covers the history of keeping birds, selecting birds that fit the lifestyles of their owners, and aviculture, or the raising, keeping, and care of birds.

Volume 3 covers obtaining birds from specialty to large corporate pet stores, grooming (such as wing and nail trims), and DNA sexing.

Each DVD is packed with vital information and offers a reliable resource on avian care that veterinarians, pet stores, aviculturists, and websites can offer to their bird-owning clients.

For more information visit www.avianstudios.com or contact Scott Echols at [email protected].

Topvac®, the first vaccine for preventing mastitis caused by E.coli, S. aureus, and CNS in dairy cattle, is now available in CanadaThis past November, HIPRA launched Topvac in Canada, with informative sessions held in Lévis (Québec), Kitchener (Ontario), and Edmonton (Alberta). Topvac activates immunity of cows and heifers thereby preventing intramammarian infections and reducing the severity of clinical and subclinical mastitis caused by E. coli and other coliforms, S. aureus and coagulase-negative staphylococci (CNS).

With the Topvac launch, HIPRA continues with its international expansion process by registering innovative products in strategic markets, consolidating its contribution to the animal health sector via its continued effort, and investment in research into products for the prevention and prophylaxis of various animal diseases.

Topvac is only available through a veterinarian.

For more information, please contact Kane Veterinary Supplies Ltd. in Edmonton (780-453-1516) or Cambridge (519-740-0733).

Minnesota Urolith Center reaches 750,000th mile “stone”The Minnesota Urolith Center (MUC) at the University of Minnesota celebrates the receipt of its 750,000 urolith, a struvite-calcium phosphate carbonate stone from a female Pomeranian dog living in Glen Burnie, Md. Founded in 1981, the MUC maintains the largest database of animal uroliths, analyzing nearly 80,000 samples annually. This diagnostic service, offered at no cost to veterinarians, is made possible largely by a philanthropic educational grant from Hill’s Pet Nutrition. The long-standing financial commitment from Hill’s also supports the MUC’s scientific and epidemiological research needed to understand trends, risk factors, and treatments for urinary tract disease.

This synergistic partnership between industry and academia provides an example of what can be done for veterinary healthcare team members in practice who need assistance with their canine and feline urinary tract disease case management.

In addition to quantitative urolith analysis using infrared spectroscopy

and optical crystallography, the MUC also holds a database of more than 750,000 veterinary samples and epidemiologic data identifying risk factors for urolithiasis.

The mission of the MUC is to enhance the quality and quantity of life of companion animals. The Center is committed to the development of noninvasive methods that will consistently and safely prevent and cure diseases of the urinary system. In addition, the Center is staffed with board certified veterinarians and specially trained professionals qualified in the analysis and interpretation of biogenic minerals from veterinary patients.

For more information about the Minnesota Urolith Center visit UrolithCenter.org.

Poultry project changing lives in TanzaniaHelp a chicken farmer, help a country. That’s the idea behind a development project that has already taken several Guelph veterinary students to rural Tanzania, including this past summer. Now organizers hope to ramp up efforts to improve livelihoods among even more subsistence farmers in the East African country.

Under the project run by Veterinarians Without Borders/Vétérinaires sans frontières-Canada (VWB), U of Guelph veterinary students have worked with chicken farmers scattered around Rungwe district in southwestern Tanzania. “We want to connect more of these villages together,” says Adam Little, who is helping to co-ordinate student visits overseas while completing the final year of his DVM.

Farmers there lack capacity and resources, he says, but “a properly managed poultry industry in these communities is achievable and valuable because it provides a consistent source of revenue. In addition, the outcomes of human, animal and environmental health are increasingly linked, and the veterinary profession is optimally poised to address these concerns.”

Industry News


January 7-MarCh 31u. Guelph - OnlineManagement of the Equine [email protected]

Equine [email protected]

Equine Functional [email protected]

Equine [email protected]

Marketing & Communications in the Equine [email protected]

The Equine [email protected]

January 17-19SaSkatOOn, SkWestern Canadian Association ofBovine Practitioners Conferencewww.wcabp.com

January 19-23OrlandO, FlNorth America Veterinary [email protected]

January 24-26tOrOntO, OnOntario Veterinary MedicalAssociation [email protected]

February 12COnCOrd, OnA Variety of Topical [email protected]

February 16-17tOrOntO, OnAssociation of Veterinary Acupuncturists of [email protected]

February 16-17tOrOntO, OnAdvanced Acupuncture Intensive [email protected]

February 17-21laS VeGaS, nVWestern Veterinary [email protected]

February 28edMOntOn, abCat Scratching [email protected]

MarCh 3edMOntOn, abVeterinary [email protected]

MarCh 5COnCOrd, OnCanine and Feline [email protected]

MarCh 14edMOntOn, abGrand Communication [email protected]

MarCh 14-17phOenix, aZAmerican Animal HospitalAssociation Conferencewww.aahanet.org

MarCh 23edMOntOn, abEASAV AGM and [email protected]

MarCh 30-31SaSkatOOn, SkIntensive Basic Wildlife Rehabilitation [email protected]

april 9COnCOrd, OnGI – Pancreatic [email protected]

april 17-20lOuiSVille, kyNorth American Veterinary Dermatology Forumwww.navdf.org

april 19-21haliFax, nSAtlantic Provinces [email protected]

May 4MiSSiSSauGa, OnRehabilitation of the Neurologic and Hospitalized [email protected]

May 5edMOntOn, abLameness Diagnosis in Small [email protected]

Continuing Veterinary Education Calendar

By Tanya FryeCVMA Communications Manager

Council approved the following Animal Welfare position statements:• Revised Castration of Horses, Donkeys, and Mules • Capture of Wild Animals for the Pet Trade • The Committee has begun a review and revision of the 2007 CVMA

Code of Practice for Canadian Kennel Operations. Among the issues that will be considered in the review are tethering of dogs, time spent out of confinement, and kennel requirements for home breeding operations versus commercial kennel operations.

• The Committee has begun the development of a Humane Slaughter position statement, and it is currently gathering background information and scientific references, as well as consulting with experts in the field of humane slaughter practices. Once the draft Position is developed, it will be sent to CVMA members for consultation to help finalize the position.

News from the National Issues Committee• CVMA Presentations on Responsible Use of Antimicrobials in Animals

The CVMA presented at two sessions at the CanWest Conference held in October 2012 in Banff, Alberta. The theme of the conference was “Responsible Use of Medicines in Animals.” Dr. Nigel Gumley gave a presentation on “Antimicrobial decision-making for companion animal practitioners – the CVMA approach.” Dr. Warren Skippon, Manager of the CVMA Animal Welfare and National Issues Committees, gave a presentation on “The role of CVMA in livestock antimicrobial stewardship – what have we been doing / what needs to be done.”

• Council approved the revision of the Complementary and Alternative Veterinary Medicine Position Statement

Updated list: recognized radio frequency identification products (2012-11-1)A review process has been established by the National Companion Animal Coalition (NCAC) to assess the conformity of radio frequency identification (RFID) products and processes with the revised Canadian standard for electronic (microchip) identification of companion animals. Only those RFID products that have been submitted for review and have been deemed in conformity with the Canadian standard will be recognized as suitable for companion animal identification. Find the updated list on the CVMA website under the Publications section – Other resources.

CVMA Council meet in OttawaThe CVMA Council met in November 2012, in Ottawa, to make policy decisions with a focus on the CVMA’s 2013 Program Plan and Budget. Council welcomed the following new members on board, Ms. Emily Vellekoop (representing all student veterinarians of Canada), Dr. Berney Pukay, representing all CVMA members in Ontario, Ms. Michelle Moroz, representing CAAHTT in an ex-officio, non-voting capacity.

Canadian Veterinary Reserve (CVR)On October 11, 2012, the CVMA entered into a three-year CVR funding agreement with the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA). The government contribution to this CVMA program is exclusively for foreign animal disease emergency preparedness. Given the absence of funding for civil emergency preparedness, the CVMA is looking at alternatives for maintaining the civil emergency preparedness of Reservists, such as existing online courses versus in-person training and participation in national and provincial exercises. The CVR currently consists of 474 members, of whom 245 have been trained.

New microchip requirement for first-time FEI registered horses begins January 1, 2013Owners are being informed that beginning January 1, 2013, all horses entering the Fédération Équestre Internationale (FEI) system for the first time must be microchipped as per FEI regulations. This includes FEI Passports, FEI Recognition Cards and FEI Registrations. We urge you to check with your veterinarian on how to get a microchip for your horse. ISO 11784 and ISO 11785 compliant microchips are commonly available. Visit the Equine Canada website to read the full news release.

Draft equine Code of Practice released for public commentEquine Canada and the National Farm Animal Care Council (NFACC) have announced the launch of the public comment period on the draft Code of Practice for the Care and Handling of Equines. The draft Code can be viewed and submissions made until February 14, 2013. All stakeholders are encouraged to provide input to ensure that this Code reflects a common understanding of equine care expectations and recommended practices in Canada. Visit nfacc.ca/codes-of-practice/equine to view and submit. Visit the Equine Canada website to read the full news release.

Canadian Veterinary Medical Association News

®Vetmedin is a trademark of Boehringer Ingelheim Vetmedica GmbH.

Enabling heartsRestoring moments

Every dog deserves... to walk, to play, to dream.

to play

to walk

to dream.

Vetmedin® gives them the

they need.

strength of heart

®Vetmedin is a trademark of Boehringer Ingelheim Vetmedica GmbH.

Enabling heartsRestoring moments

Every dog deserves... to walk, to play, to dream.

to play

to walk

to dream.

Vetmedin® gives them the

they need.

strength of heart

Introducing the only canine cough vaccine you can give orally.

Easy to administer for mucosal absorption that’s proven in a challenge study1.

Bronchi-Shield ORAL.

CONTACT YOUR BOEHRINGER INGELHEIMSALES REPRESENTATIVE OR CALL ANYTIME

AT 1-877-565-5501

©2012 Boehringer Ingelheim Vetmedica, GmbH. Bronchi-Shield is a registered trademark of Boehringer Ingelheim Vetmedica, Inc.

All rights reserved.1 Hess, et al. Intern J Appl Res Vet Med., Vol. 9, No. 3, 2011, pages 300-305.

a newsmagazine v and c - k2 animal health … janfeb 13_final.pdfyour dog a bone and the barf...

Documents