Year-round parasite prevention is important for pet parents to stay on top of, however some clients do not understand a lot about the common parasites that pose a risk to pets. To combat this and provide digestible client education, Thrive Pet Healthcare is debunking some of the myths surrounding fleas, ticks, mosquitos, and more.

"Fleas, ticks, and mosquitoes don't care if you walk on two legs or four, they'll happily bite anyone in the household," said Kelly Cairns, DVM, MS, DACVIM (SAIM), vice president of Medical Excellence and Education at Thrive Pet Healthcare, in a news release.

 "These pests can easily hitch a ride on people, other pets, or even enter through open doors and windows, putting your family at risk of bites and potentially serious illness."

Thrive suggested reminding clients that fleas and ticks can often jump from pets to humans and vice versa so it’s important to check your pet’s body and your own when outside, especially in high grass or wooded areas. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, about 467,000 Americans are diagnosed with Lyme disease each year and is present in all 50 states, with regions in the Northeast at higher risk.

 This number could potentially be higher with the amount of unreported or undiagnosed cases.

"If you have a dog or cat, chances are higher that you will encounter fleas and ticks than households without pets, making it incredibly important to have your pet on a year-round flea and tick treatment," said Cairns. "Veterinarian-prescribed preventatives are the best way to reduce the likelihood of your pet bringing fleas and ticks into the home and protect pets from harmful parasite-related illnesses."

Having an effective preventative against mosquitos carrying heartworm is also important as it is present in all 50 states, like fleas and ticks, with a higher volume of cases in the south and northeast. According to Thrive, there are 22 mosquito species in the United States that carry heartworm, active at different times of the year and over 200,000 pets in the US were diagnosed with heartworm disease in 2022.

"It only takes one bite from an infected mosquito for your dog or cat to get heartworm disease," said Cairns. "Once infected, treatment can be costly, with possible side effects and no guarantee of success. Ultimately, the risk of infection and high cost of treatment outweigh the cost of prevention."

Myth 1: Pets who stay indoors are not at risk.

 Parasites can easily enter homes through doors and windows or be carried in by latching onto people or pets.

Myth 2: There’s no need to worry about parasites during winter.

 Warm indoor temperatures can create breeding grounds for parasites. Ticks can also hide in leaf litter during the winter to stay warm. Traveling and unknowingly bringing back parasites with could potentially cause exposure to parasites during winter months.

Myth 3: Certain areas of the US are not at risk of parasites. 

While there are some areas of the US that are at a higher risk, owners from all states should maintain their pet’s prevention routine. Heartworm can be carried by mosquitoes in all 50 states. Any region that has soil, grass, vegetation, and some moisture can create livable environments for parasites.

Veterinarians dispel common myths about pets and pests. News release. Thrive Pet Healthcare. May 1, 2024. Accessed May 6, 2024. 

https://prnmedia.prnewswire.com/news-releases/veterinarians-dispel-common-myths-about-pets-and-pests-302132660.html

How many people get Lyme disease? Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. February 9, 2024. Accessed May 6, 2024. 

https://www.cdc.gov/lyme/stats/humancases.html#:~:text=There%20is%20no%20way%20of,and%20treated%20for%20Lyme%20disease

Articles

Thrive Pet Healthcare provides parasite prevention reminders to share with clients

Debunking common myths about parasites

Jaguar Health announced the establishment of a new Investigational New Animal Drug (INAD) file with the FDA’s Center for Veterinary Medicine for its product Canalevia-CA1 to treat general, non-infectious diarrhea in dogs.

 Canalevia-CA1 are a crofelemer delayed-release tablets that received conditional approval from the FDA in December 2021, the first treatment of its kind for chemotherapy-induced diarrhea (CID) in dogs.

"We're very pleased to have established this new INAD file," said Michael Guy, DVM, MS, PhD, Jaguar's vice president of preclinical and nonclinical studies, in an organizational release.

 "We've been pleased with the marketplace reception of crofelemer for treatment of CID in dogs and believe there is clearly an unmet need for a product to treat general, non-infectious diarrhea in dogs as well.

 Jaguar Health had issued the results from a multicenter, randomized, double-blind, controlled proof-of-concept study assessing the efficacy of crofelmer administered orally in alleviating clinical signs connected to secretory diarrhea in dogs. The findings concluded that crofelemer was superior compared to the placebo.

“We estimate that United States veterinarians see approximately 6 million annual cases of acute and chronic diarrhea in dogs, and we look forward to evaluating the possibility of expanding the indication of crofelemer to include treatment of all types of non-infectious diarrhea in dogs. The next step in our development process is to request a pre-submission conference with the CVM to discuss our proposed protocol for the clinical field study for this new indication," Guy continued.

For dogs, diarrhea is one of the most common causes for veterinary visits. However, there is currently no FDA-approved anti-secretory agents to treat canine diarrhea.

 Canalevia-CA1 is the first and currently only oral-plant based prescription to treat canine CID to receive conditional approval from the FDA.

 Crofelember, is an active pharmaceutical ingredient that is isolated and purified from the 

 tree that can be found in the Amazon Rainforest.

Currently, the most common adverse effects for Canalevia-CA1 include abdominal pain, decreased appetite and activity, dehydration, and vomiting. Check out this 

 Live!™ with Sue Ettinger, DVM, DACVIM (Oncology) to learn more about Canalevia-CA1.

Crofelemer, Jaguar Health’s prescription drug conditionally approved by the FDA for chemotherapy-induced diarrhea in dogs, is the subject of the company’s Investigational New Animal Drug Application for the indication of general diarrhea in dogs. News release. Jaguar Health. May 6, 2024. Accessed May 6, 2024. 

https://jaguarhealth.gcs-web.com/news-releases/news-release-details/crofelemer-jaguar-healths-prescription-drug-conditionally

McCafferty C. FDA renews conditional approval of medication for chemotherapy-induced diarrhea. 

. December 6, 2023. Accessed May 6, 2024. 

https://www.dvm360.com/view/fda-renews-conditional-approval-of-medication-for-chemotherapy-induced-diarrhea

Yankowicz S. Pet insurance company reports most common veterinary visits. 

https://www.dvm360.com/view/pet-insurance-company-reports-most-common-veterinary-visits

Jaguar Health established an Investigation New Animal Drug file for its product Canalevia-CA1

Conditionally approved treatment for chemo-induced diarrhea in dogs under investigation for general use

Parlay walking on a water treadmill at the Texas A&M University Small Animal Teaching Hospital while being treated for symptoms related to tetanus. (Image courtesy of Jason Nitsch ‘14/Texas A&M School of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences)

Parlay, a black Labrador retriever named after the gambling term referring to a series of bets, was diagnosed with tetanus, a disease of the nervous system that is caused by a toxin-producing bacteria, put his gambling name to the test as his veterinary team at the Texas A&M Small Animal Teaching Hospital (SATH) as they worked to save his life.

According to an organizational release, in his litter, Parlay was an energetic puppy with a loving and curious personality.

 Born into a show dog family, he was also the pick of the litter once he was born. Wendy Knox, Parlay’s owner, was introduced into the world of show dogs through her parents after they picked it up as a hobby once all their children went to college.

“He’s such a great puppy, and he’s always been like that,” said Wendy Knox, Parlay’s owner, in the release.

 “I stayed with him and the rest of his litter 24/7 for the first four weeks of their lives. That’s something I do with every litter. Because of that, I know all the puppies in a litter pretty well, but Parlay is special.”

However, her mother was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in 2012, leading Wendy to take over showing her parent’s dogs. After her mother passed away 19 months after her diagnosis, Knox, her father, and her husband continued to show the dog to maintain this connection with her mother.

In December 2023, Knox noticed Parlay had a small and swollen bump on the left side of his face after he spent the day outside playing with his cousin Kinselee. Knox explained that she had originally examined the bump and thought it was a bee sting. Since he was still acting healthy and happy, she decided to give him some Benadryl and keep an eye on him in the house for the rest of the day. The next day he started showing signs of stiffness, so Knox made an appointment with the local veterinarian the following Monday morning.

“Sunday evening, we decided he was probably experiencing a scorpion sting instead of a bee sting, but overall, he still seemed pretty healthy,” Knox said. “That was not the case on Monday morning. He was having trouble getting off his doggy bed and when he did, he was much stiffer. Worst of all, it seemed like he was having trouble breathing.”

Once at the clinic and the team heard he was having trouble breathing, the team took him in for an examination right away. Fifteen minutes after they got to the clinic, they diagnosed him with tetanus. According to the release, tetanus, also known as lockjaw, is caused by 

 which is found in soil, dust, manure, and everywhere else in the natural environment.

 Tetanus affects nerves, the spinal, cord, and the brain which can lead to hyperexcitability and muscle spasms and can present with stiffness in the limb or muscle closest to the wound, a stiff gait with tail held up or extended out.

 The virus can progress to the point where pets are unable to stand because the stiffness is preventing them from bending their legs.

For Parlay, the team explained to Knox that the severity of the effects of the toxin on Parlay’s nervous system makes the administration of antitoxin a massive part of the patient's survival. The team recognized that he would need advanced emergency care so the team instructed Knox to take Parlay to the Texas A&M School of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences. To help get her and Parlay there safely, the veterinary team treating him called other clinics in the area to find antitoxin they could administer to Parlay. The team was able to provide Know with an antitoxin they had on hand for equine patients, packaged up two bottles, and sent them on their way to Texas A&M, encouraging her to drive safely, but quickly.

Once they arrived at SATH, Cody Riffe, DVM, greeted them and assured them that they were going to do everything they could to save Parlay. While at SATH, Parlay began to experience severe symptoms leading to additional ailments, which is a challenge common to patients with tetanus.

“Parlay had difficulty eating and drinking due to the lockjaw; limb weakness as a result of the severe tightening of the muscles that made it so that he was unable to walk or support his weight; and aspiration pneumonia, likely a result of the toxin attacking the nerves in his throat and esophagus, which allowed saliva or food to enter his airway,” Riffe said.

 “Our team worked around the clock to make sure Parlay had the care he needed to combat all his ailments.

“He was here for almost 2 weeks and during that time, his muscles became locked in an extended position,” Riffe said. “Muscle strength will quickly decline without the constant activity of bearing weight and moving through space, so we referred him to the SATH’s Sports Medicine & Rehabilitation Service to help him strengthen his muscles and live a more comfortable, activity-filled life.”

Parlay still needed assistance walking and standing when he was discharged from SATH, but he had improved nonetheless. Knox and Parlay were discharged with a full body harness to help support his wait.

 Knox shared that the day after they got home, he was trying to walk again on his own with the harness and achieved that goal later on in the day.

Four months after his diagnosis, Parlay is easing back into his routine as a show dog in preparation for his first show season. Knox and her family have integrated some of his physical therapy into walks around the property, such as walking backward to rebuild muscle. Now that the weather is warmer, the family is planning to have him swim in the pool for hydrotherapy. With his health on the mend, Knox and the family are grateful for the care SATH provided to Parlay.

“Every single person I’ve encountered at the Small Animal Teaching Hospital — it doesn’t matter whether they’re in the pharmacy or billing or serving as a technician or clinician — everybody was so nice, professional, and considerate. I have nothing but good things to say, and that’s why I’d recommend anyone in a similar situation bring their animals to Texas A&M,” Knox concluded.

Knight R. Betting On Parlay: Puppy Overcomes Tetanus With Help From Texas A&M Veterinarians. Texas A&M School of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences. Published May 1, 2024. Accessed May 6, 2024. 

https://today.tamu.edu/2024/05/01/puppy-overcomes-tetanus-with-help-from-texas-am-veterinarians/

Williams K, Barnette C. Tetanus in Dogs. VCA Animal Hospitals. Published 2009. Accessed May 6, 2024. 

https://vcahospitals.com/know-your-pet/tetanus-in-dogs

The black Labrador retriever survived tetanus despite the odds being against him 

Odds in Parlay the puppy’s favor

The Nandi Theriogenology Scholarship is one of the most competitive scholarships for veterinary reproductive medicine. It is rewarded to final year veterinary students who have demonstrated exceptional potential for future clinical and scholarly excellence and leadership in theriogenology. The Theriogenology Foundation awards $10,000 to 4 recipients.

 This year, 2 of the winners come from Washington State University (WSU) College of Veterinary Medicine. Randa Boler and Tanya Weber being awarded this prestigious honor became the second year in a row that the Nandi Theriogenology Scholarship was awarded to WSU veterinary students.

Weber was nominated by M. Salman Waqas, DVM, MS, PhD, DACT, and received recommendation letters from Ramanathan Kasimanickam, DVM, DACT, and John Wenz, DVM, MS.

“It is such an honor to be awarded the Nandi Scholarship. Not only does this ease the financial burden of veterinary school, but it also represents all the mentors I have been fortunate to work with who have believed in me and supported my development as a future bovine veterinarian,” Weber said in a WSU news article.

 “They all supported my success with this scholarship, and they have also provided crucial mentorship in bovine theriogenology and herd production medicine, which I will benefit from for my entire career.”

According to WSU Kasimanickam nominated Boler, and the veterinary student credits Kasimanickam for having a major impact on her education.

“Dr Ram has been instrumental in developing my interest and skills related to bovine theriogenology. From his theriogenology elective to his 4-week advanced beef cattle theriogenology course, the opportunity to visit many operations and work large numbers of cattle is irreplaceable. He is the reason I was awarded the Nandi scholarship,” Boler said.

Boler and Weber were selected from a pool of 18 applicants representing veterinary schools across the United States, Canada, and the Caribbean. They will be recognized in July at the annual Therio Conference in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. The 2 students officially graduated with their Doctor of Veterinary Medicine on May 4, 2024.

With their new degrees, Boler and Weber are setting off to start their incredible dedication to the veterinary medicine field. Boler is returning to her home state in northwest Montana to join a mixed animal practice. He hopes to incorporate her true passion in ambulatory medicine, especially reproductive medicine in cattle, within her practice. Weber is embarking on a new journey with TELUS Agriculture as a professional services veterinarian. In this capacity, she will leverage her expertise in herd production medicine and theriogenology to drive ongoing progress and advancement within the beef industry.

Nandi Theriogenology Scholarship 2023. The Theriogenology Foundation. 2023. Accessed May 6, 2024. 

https://theriofoundation.org/general/custom.asp?page=NandiScholarsProgram

Babcock, J. WSU veterinary students recognized with international reproductive medicine scholarships. News release. Washington State University College of Veterinary Medicine. May 3, 2024. Accessed May 6, 2024. 

https://news.wsu.edu/news/2024/05/03/wsu-veterinary-students-recognized-with-international-reproductive-medicine-scholarships/

Randa Boler and Tanya Weber are recipients of the Nandi Theriogenology Scholarship

Washington State University students win veterinary reproductive medicine scholarship

 readers, we hope you all had an amazing start to May! Did you know we are still accepting nominations for our annual Hospital Design360 Competition? Each year, veterinary hospitals around the United States enter for a chance to win in one of our now 3 categories, 0-3500 square feet, 3500-8000 sq ft, and then over 8000 sq ft. To learn more and submit your entry today, check out the official contest 

Here is what you can find this week on dvm360.com:

Texas A&M Small Animal Teaching Hospital recently diagnosed Parlay, a black Labrador retriever puppy, with tetanus and the team worked for almost 2 weeks to help get Parlay back into good health.

Two students at Washing State University College of Veterinary Medicine received the Nandi Theriogenology Scholarship, which is awarded to who demonstrate superior potential for clinical and scholarly excellence and leadership in the field for the future.

, host Adam Christman, DVM, MBA, welcomes Tom Walsh, DVM, CCRP, MBA, owner of PrimePet Rehabilitation Therapy in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, to discuss the whole pet approach in veterinary care.

Thrive Pet Healthcare addressed common myths and provides more information regarding pets and parasite prevention to give clients a better understanding on how prevention protects both pets and clients.

Our "Clinic Center" round up will be available later this week! Be sure to check back later to see clinic openings for veterinary practices, centers, and businesses across the United States.

Here is a sneak peek at this week’s headlines 

Sneak peek: Black Labrador retriever puppy overcomes tetanus, and other veterinary news

Content submitted by TVC, a dvm360® Strategic Alliance Partner

Spend the Day with TVC and Earn 5 Hours of RACE-Approved CE 

What: 2024 TVC RISEvet™ Virtual CE Conference & Trade Show

Where: Virtual - https://www.accelevents.com/e/2024-tvc-risevet-virtual-1 

When: Sunday, May 19, 2024, from 9:00am - 5:00pm (CT)

Details: TVC RISEvet™ Virtual is offered to TVC Shareholders completely free of charge, thanks to our title sponsor, Merck Animal Health, and our session sponsors at Stratford Animal Care, Royal Canin, Hill’s Pet Nutrition, Vetoquinol USA, and Vetstoria.

New this year, non-TVC hospitals and their teams are also invited to participate in this valuable educational experience for a fee. Please enjoy 50% off your registration when you use the code TVC50OFF at checkout. Click 

YOU DO NOT NEED TO BE A REGISTERED TVC SHAREHOLDER TO ATTEND; however, any independently owned veterinary hospital is eligible to become a TVC Shareholder. 

Use the following link to sign up for a FREE 30-day trial of TVC and receive access to this event: https://theveterinarycooperative.coop/JoinUs/joinUs.php Use discount code TVC-UNIVERSITY to unlock the $1 sign-up fee after your 30-day trial expires.

TVC RISEvet™ Virtual is geared towards helping hospital owners, team leaders, and practice managers achieve success. The event is designed with a curriculum that provides valuable tools and tactics that you can use to maintain and expand your business. RISEvet™ Virtual's schedule offers a full day of education and networking opportunities from the comfort of your own home. Industry experts will share their unique insights and experiences with you, providing a wealth of knowledge to help you learn and grow. 

The event is RACE-approved and offers 5 hours of live, virtual CE.

This event provides a platform for like-minded veterinary professionals to come together for collaboration and support as they strive for success in their practices. Don't miss out on this opportunity! You'll leave feeling energized and equipped with newfound knowledge to implement into your practice. 

We’re delighted to extend this event to the entire veterinary community to foster a broader community of veterinary professionals, encouraging collaboration and providing essential insights for success. Secure your spot today!

It’s a Consensus: All Dogs are at Risk of Leptospirosis, sponsored by Merck Animal Health

50+ Dental Hacks to Skyrocket Your Dental Practice, sponsored by Stratford Animal Care

Hydrolyzed Diet: Theory, Practice, & Real-world Experience, sponsored by Royal Canin

De-Mystifying the Numbers - Understanding Financial Statements, sponsored by Merck

Nutritional Management of Canine Allergic Skin Disease, sponsored by Hill’s Pet Nutrition

Manage Dog Poisonings More Efficiently with ToxBuddy®, sponsored by Vetoquinol

Debunking the Myths of Online Booking, sponsored by Vetstoria

Originally started by four veterinarians, today The Veterinary Cooperative works to give a collective voice to more than 3,400 independent animal hospitals across the United States. As part of our cooperative mission, TVC advocates on behalf of our partnered hospitals and provides value-added savings programs, enhanced business education, and access to scalable hospital resources. TVC is controlled, owned, and driven by like-minded independent veterinarians who band together and believe in the shared success of the Co-op community. When veterinary hospitals join TVC, they become Shareholders along with thousands of others nationwide. Each TVC Shareholder plays a vital role in strengthening the voice of the independent veterinarian.

TVC will be a positive cooperative community of veterinarians and suppliers, who share a vision to provide the best animal care through independent veterinary practices, mutually benefiting all who do business with the Cooperative. TVC will be owned and guided by its independently owned veterinary members and will be managed by professional cooperative personnel. All profits will be returned to TVC member veterinarians in the form of rebate distributions