Showing posts with label Medical. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Medical. Show all posts
Saturday, May 26, 2012
Keep Fluffy Away From That Medical Cannabis
Here's an excellent article from Boulder, CO (of course) about the hazards of marijuana in dogs and cats. This had sort of dropped off my radar, since I just do cats and they aren't often poisoned because of their discriminating taste buds, but young cats especially might be tempted to ingest the edible form.
I've only seen one patient in my career that got into trouble with cannabis - a young dog, probably over 25 years ago, was presented for lethargy and stumbling around. The owner was reluctant to talk about what had happened but eventually confessed to having left something tasty out where the dog found it. I assured him I wasn't going to call the police, and the dog didn't require hospital care.
These days, with so many people using medical cannabis the risk to pets is going to be higher. Be safe with your meds and keep them out of the reach of pets at all times, just like you would for children.
Wednesday, March 21, 2012
VERY big news day in the area of feline kidney disease!
Scientists in China have found a feline morbillivirus (that's the family of viruses that includes canine distemper and human measles) that appears to be connected to a significant percentage of kidney failure cases in cats. Because vaccines can be made easily for morbilliviruses, and they work REALLY well, this could be a huge breakthrough in the actual PREVENTION of this common cat disease.
For so many years we have had to shrug and admit we just don't know when people ask what causes so much kidney failure in cats. Some cases are due to a congenital genetic disorder, but most were always just a mystery.
I am really excited by this news and hope it turns out to be reproducible research, and most importantly that a vaccine is swiftly developed. I have lost too many patients and cats of my own to kidney failure.
For so many years we have had to shrug and admit we just don't know when people ask what causes so much kidney failure in cats. Some cases are due to a congenital genetic disorder, but most were always just a mystery.
I am really excited by this news and hope it turns out to be reproducible research, and most importantly that a vaccine is swiftly developed. I have lost too many patients and cats of my own to kidney failure.
Thursday, February 2, 2012
Kidney Disease in Cats
A couple of clients recently requested that I post about kidney disease in cats. It's been a while since I have done so.
I previously wrote THIS about renal disease management but it was really just a few words about somebody else's handout that I linked to.
There were two specific questions I wanted to answer for starters.
#1 - Why are the kidneys so trouble-prone in cats? We don't know. Cats, being desert animals, have a huge reserve of kidney function built in, which is important because, unlike the liver which can regrow functional tissue, when kidney tissue dies it is not replaced. In nature, kidneys only need to last long enough to ensure propagation of the species, which as you know can be accomplished several times by cats before they are two years old. So when we see kidney disease in older cats it may just be that it's a part wearing out, like tires on a car.
But we also know certain things can contribute to premature loss of kidney tissue and a decline in function. Untreated bacterial infections (most commonly dental disease) can cause bacteria to enter the bloodstream where they are filtered out by the kidneys and set up housekeeping. Some cats have a genetic kidney defect known as polycystic kidney disease (PKD) that leads to renal failure in middle age - Persians and Himalayans are especially prone to this. Some cats develop renal lymphoma, a type of cancer formerly associated with feline leukemia virus infection but now most commonly seen in cats whose owners smoke. There is also a theory that certain vaccines which use a cell line derived from feline kidneys might be leading to an immune system attack on kidney tissue (we do not use those particular brands of vaccine).
#2 - How much urine do healthy cats normally produce and how can an owner quantify their own cat's urine output in the real world? Normal urine output in the cat is under 50 ml/kg/day. That's about (ok doing math in my head now) 8 oz for an 11 lb cat, more-or-less. Of course with cat's using a litter box it can be hard to tell how much a cat is urinating (volume) and how often, which is one major reason I strongly suggest using scoopable litter.
Urine balls can be easily quantified, and over time you can get a sense of how many times a day your cat urinates and how big the balls tend to be. What's important is that you make not of changes and bring them to your veterinarian's attention. My own cats normally urinate 2-3 times a day, and the bigger cat has bigger urine balls than the smaller one so I can often tell whose is whose.
If you notice that your cat is producing larger urine balls, and more of them, the two things that come to mind that we have to rule out are kidney disease and diabetes. If the urine balls are smaller and more numerous we need to rule out Feline Lower Urinary Tract Disease, which sometimes means an infection is present (but not always).
Here at Cat's Meow Veterinary Clinic we do not measure urine output directly - cats don't tend to go along with such plans. We measure urine specific gravity (concentration) - cats that produce dilute urine are automatically going to produce a higher volume of urine, but the number we track is USG. The exception is in terminal end-stage renal failure where only scant amounts of very dilute urine are produced, right before none at all is produced - cats are typically euthanized before things reach this point.
I hope this sheds some light on the subject. Kidney disease is one of the most common things I manage in my older patients.
I previously wrote THIS about renal disease management but it was really just a few words about somebody else's handout that I linked to.
There were two specific questions I wanted to answer for starters.
#1 - Why are the kidneys so trouble-prone in cats? We don't know. Cats, being desert animals, have a huge reserve of kidney function built in, which is important because, unlike the liver which can regrow functional tissue, when kidney tissue dies it is not replaced. In nature, kidneys only need to last long enough to ensure propagation of the species, which as you know can be accomplished several times by cats before they are two years old. So when we see kidney disease in older cats it may just be that it's a part wearing out, like tires on a car.
But we also know certain things can contribute to premature loss of kidney tissue and a decline in function. Untreated bacterial infections (most commonly dental disease) can cause bacteria to enter the bloodstream where they are filtered out by the kidneys and set up housekeeping. Some cats have a genetic kidney defect known as polycystic kidney disease (PKD) that leads to renal failure in middle age - Persians and Himalayans are especially prone to this. Some cats develop renal lymphoma, a type of cancer formerly associated with feline leukemia virus infection but now most commonly seen in cats whose owners smoke. There is also a theory that certain vaccines which use a cell line derived from feline kidneys might be leading to an immune system attack on kidney tissue (we do not use those particular brands of vaccine).
#2 - How much urine do healthy cats normally produce and how can an owner quantify their own cat's urine output in the real world? Normal urine output in the cat is under 50 ml/kg/day. That's about (ok doing math in my head now) 8 oz for an 11 lb cat, more-or-less. Of course with cat's using a litter box it can be hard to tell how much a cat is urinating (volume) and how often, which is one major reason I strongly suggest using scoopable litter.
Urine balls can be easily quantified, and over time you can get a sense of how many times a day your cat urinates and how big the balls tend to be. What's important is that you make not of changes and bring them to your veterinarian's attention. My own cats normally urinate 2-3 times a day, and the bigger cat has bigger urine balls than the smaller one so I can often tell whose is whose.
If you notice that your cat is producing larger urine balls, and more of them, the two things that come to mind that we have to rule out are kidney disease and diabetes. If the urine balls are smaller and more numerous we need to rule out Feline Lower Urinary Tract Disease, which sometimes means an infection is present (but not always).
Here at Cat's Meow Veterinary Clinic we do not measure urine output directly - cats don't tend to go along with such plans. We measure urine specific gravity (concentration) - cats that produce dilute urine are automatically going to produce a higher volume of urine, but the number we track is USG. The exception is in terminal end-stage renal failure where only scant amounts of very dilute urine are produced, right before none at all is produced - cats are typically euthanized before things reach this point.
I hope this sheds some light on the subject. Kidney disease is one of the most common things I manage in my older patients.
Sunday, January 1, 2012
Upper Respiratory Infections - Human and Feline
As I sit at home this holiday weekend, trying with marginal success to fight off this nasty cold/bronchitis/laryngitis, I thought I would address some of the issues my clients express concern about with human and feline "colds".
Firstly, I did NOT catch this bug from any of my patients. Humans cannot catch feline upper respiratory viruses - most of those are due to FELINE herpesvirus, and most of the rest are due to FELINE calicivirus. I almost certainly caught my illness from the sick toddler I sat next to on the flight from LAX to Minneapolis, or perhaps in one of the three airports I was in that day, or even at the very busy shopping mall the next day.
Secondly, I am always a little concerned about spreading this sort of thing to my patients or my own cats because it IS possible for a few of the hundreds of human cold viruses to be spread to cats. This is known as a reverse zoonosis or an (and I like this word better, it's so scientific-sounding) anthroponosis. Fortunately, if a cat should be unlucky enough to catch it from me, it would tend to be fairly mild and self-limiting, and would not be able to spread on to other cats or back into humans - it would come to a dead end in that particular cat.
Thirdly, if this had been influenza instead of a cold (it's far too mild to be flu), I would have some serious concerns about spread to cats, but only if I had failed to get immunized against H1N1 influenza. That is the strain that was in the news so much a couple of years ago - I was vaccinated against it then, and I noted that it is also a component of this years routine annual flu shot. H1N1 has in the past spread to an unfortunate few cats and had a mortality rate of about 50%, so I consider it imperative that I protect myself as a way of protecting my patients and my own pets, along with humans.
Lastly, let's go back to that nasty feline herpesvirus. This is the bug that causes the majority of feline upper respiratory disease AND nontraumatic eye disease. It is probably the most common pathogen in cats, and one we have vaccinated cats against for decades. Being a herpesvirus, cats can only catch it once - then they have it, for life. So one would think that vaccinations at that point would have no value. But it turns out that cats with strong immunity to the virus from annual vaccinations do a better job of fighting the darned thing when they have those seemingly inevitable "recrudescences". Back before the recession, when most of my patients were current on their annual FVRCP-C vaccination, I rarely saw cats with upper respiratory or herpes-related eye problems that warranted any treatment whatsoever. But now that so many cats are overdue on vaccinations and their immunity is waning, medical intervention and good home nursing care are much more necessary.
So I guess the gist of this post is (big surprise here): get your annual flu shot, and get your cat vaccinated annually, too. The alternative is much bigger vet bills, and often a much sicker cat.
Here is my current likely nemesis - a picornavirus (actually, a whole cluster of the little devils - if you look close you can even see their horns and cloven feet):
Firstly, I did NOT catch this bug from any of my patients. Humans cannot catch feline upper respiratory viruses - most of those are due to FELINE herpesvirus, and most of the rest are due to FELINE calicivirus. I almost certainly caught my illness from the sick toddler I sat next to on the flight from LAX to Minneapolis, or perhaps in one of the three airports I was in that day, or even at the very busy shopping mall the next day.
Secondly, I am always a little concerned about spreading this sort of thing to my patients or my own cats because it IS possible for a few of the hundreds of human cold viruses to be spread to cats. This is known as a reverse zoonosis or an (and I like this word better, it's so scientific-sounding) anthroponosis. Fortunately, if a cat should be unlucky enough to catch it from me, it would tend to be fairly mild and self-limiting, and would not be able to spread on to other cats or back into humans - it would come to a dead end in that particular cat.
Thirdly, if this had been influenza instead of a cold (it's far too mild to be flu), I would have some serious concerns about spread to cats, but only if I had failed to get immunized against H1N1 influenza. That is the strain that was in the news so much a couple of years ago - I was vaccinated against it then, and I noted that it is also a component of this years routine annual flu shot. H1N1 has in the past spread to an unfortunate few cats and had a mortality rate of about 50%, so I consider it imperative that I protect myself as a way of protecting my patients and my own pets, along with humans.
Lastly, let's go back to that nasty feline herpesvirus. This is the bug that causes the majority of feline upper respiratory disease AND nontraumatic eye disease. It is probably the most common pathogen in cats, and one we have vaccinated cats against for decades. Being a herpesvirus, cats can only catch it once - then they have it, for life. So one would think that vaccinations at that point would have no value. But it turns out that cats with strong immunity to the virus from annual vaccinations do a better job of fighting the darned thing when they have those seemingly inevitable "recrudescences". Back before the recession, when most of my patients were current on their annual FVRCP-C vaccination, I rarely saw cats with upper respiratory or herpes-related eye problems that warranted any treatment whatsoever. But now that so many cats are overdue on vaccinations and their immunity is waning, medical intervention and good home nursing care are much more necessary.
So I guess the gist of this post is (big surprise here): get your annual flu shot, and get your cat vaccinated annually, too. The alternative is much bigger vet bills, and often a much sicker cat.
Here is my current likely nemesis - a picornavirus (actually, a whole cluster of the little devils - if you look close you can even see their horns and cloven feet):
Thursday, December 1, 2011
Potassium
As I was putting together a supply order this morning, Alison and I both remarked at how many potassium supplements we seem to go through. We sell that stuff like candy most of the time - so many patients are on it, and I have a cat at home that gets it, too (Boochi).
So I thought it would be worth a quick discussion here - a sort of review of when and why and how.
Older cats often develop low serum potassium levels - in most cases this is linked to a decline in kidney function, but not always. And it can precede detection of kidney problems in lab testing by a few years, so I often look at it as an early warning sign. And as if that's not bad enough, low potassium in and of itself can cause kidney function problems. So the two are very closely linked. Low potassium levels can be extremely dangerous because it is vital in electrical conductivity of heart muscle and if it gets too low the heart can literally STOP.
When your cat has low potassium, most of the time it needs to be on long-term (generally permanent) supplements to avoid serious medical consequences such as muscle wasting and pain, anemia, and kidney failure. We have three main ways of providing that extra dose of this vital mineral: gel, granules, and tablets.
The potassium gel is administered orally by dosing syringe - we will show you how to do this and how much to give when we prescribe it. If you are unsure how to do it after instruction, you can bring your cat in for a demo.
Potassium granules for mixing into canned food are available and this is often the best solution. The taste is disguised by both the flavor added to the granules in the factory and the flavor of the canned food. A measuring scoop comes with the product.
Potassium tablets are another alternative. You need to be able to administer pills to your cat successfully and consistently. We recommend a water chaser after pilling and can provide a syringe for this if you want to do it.
Follow-up lab testing is essential to determine the right dose of potassium for your cat. You will need to continue giving the supplement as directed and come back for testing in a timely manner or treatment may fail to help your cat. We virtually never tell a client to merely give the first bottle of supplements and simply stop and go on your merry way!
Take-home message for cats with hypokalemia: consistent administration of supplements and timely follow-up lab testing, probably for the life of the cat to avoid dangerous complications.
So I thought it would be worth a quick discussion here - a sort of review of when and why and how.
Older cats often develop low serum potassium levels - in most cases this is linked to a decline in kidney function, but not always. And it can precede detection of kidney problems in lab testing by a few years, so I often look at it as an early warning sign. And as if that's not bad enough, low potassium in and of itself can cause kidney function problems. So the two are very closely linked. Low potassium levels can be extremely dangerous because it is vital in electrical conductivity of heart muscle and if it gets too low the heart can literally STOP.
When your cat has low potassium, most of the time it needs to be on long-term (generally permanent) supplements to avoid serious medical consequences such as muscle wasting and pain, anemia, and kidney failure. We have three main ways of providing that extra dose of this vital mineral: gel, granules, and tablets.
The potassium gel is administered orally by dosing syringe - we will show you how to do this and how much to give when we prescribe it. If you are unsure how to do it after instruction, you can bring your cat in for a demo.
Potassium granules for mixing into canned food are available and this is often the best solution. The taste is disguised by both the flavor added to the granules in the factory and the flavor of the canned food. A measuring scoop comes with the product.
Potassium tablets are another alternative. You need to be able to administer pills to your cat successfully and consistently. We recommend a water chaser after pilling and can provide a syringe for this if you want to do it.
Follow-up lab testing is essential to determine the right dose of potassium for your cat. You will need to continue giving the supplement as directed and come back for testing in a timely manner or treatment may fail to help your cat. We virtually never tell a client to merely give the first bottle of supplements and simply stop and go on your merry way!
Take-home message for cats with hypokalemia: consistent administration of supplements and timely follow-up lab testing, probably for the life of the cat to avoid dangerous complications.
Saturday, November 19, 2011
New Product for Managing Feline Hyperthyroidism
Exciting news! Hills Pet Nutrition has just introduced a new Prescription Diet product specifically for managing feline hyperthyroidism.
Y/D is available in both canned and dry. Along with limiting the amount of iodine so as to reduce thyroid hormone production, the food is formulated to ease the work load on the kidneys. As many of you are aware, treatment of overactive thyroid gland in the cat can in some cases lead to diminished kidney function - a classic Catch 22 because untreated hyperthyroidism is itself fatal.
It is hoped that this new dietary means of managing thyroid disease will make use of methimazole less necessary as a temporary measure in cats that go on to receive I131 therapy (curative) and as long-term management for thyroid cats with kidney disease and those who cannot tolerate methimazole's potential side effects.
If your hyperthyroid cat is on methimazole, please ask us about Y/D the next time you are in, or feel free to call.
Y/D is available in both canned and dry. Along with limiting the amount of iodine so as to reduce thyroid hormone production, the food is formulated to ease the work load on the kidneys. As many of you are aware, treatment of overactive thyroid gland in the cat can in some cases lead to diminished kidney function - a classic Catch 22 because untreated hyperthyroidism is itself fatal.
It is hoped that this new dietary means of managing thyroid disease will make use of methimazole less necessary as a temporary measure in cats that go on to receive I131 therapy (curative) and as long-term management for thyroid cats with kidney disease and those who cannot tolerate methimazole's potential side effects.
If your hyperthyroid cat is on methimazole, please ask us about Y/D the next time you are in, or feel free to call.
Saturday, October 15, 2011
A Particularly Important Reason to Never Feed Your Cat Raw Meat
If NDM-1-containing Salmonella ever gets established in poultry farms in the US, it's game-set-match in the battle against this particular food-borne bacterial infection. If you don't care about your own life, I can't make you. But I care about mine and that of my staff and patients and clients. I have seen presumed Salmonella infection in several cats that were fed raw poultry, and it can make kitties (and humans who associate with them) extremely ill. If we have no antibiotics to fight it, cats will have to be euthanized and humans will simply die if they catch it.
NO RAW MEATS. USE GOOD FOOD HANDLING SAFETY TECHNIQUES IN YOUR KITCHEN. BE INFORMED - READ ABOUT NDM-1 IN SALMONELLA HERE.
NO RAW MEATS. USE GOOD FOOD HANDLING SAFETY TECHNIQUES IN YOUR KITCHEN. BE INFORMED - READ ABOUT NDM-1 IN SALMONELLA HERE.
Tuesday, May 31, 2011
Gosh, No One Could Have Forseen THIS!
Those of you who have been bringing your kitties to me at Cat's Meow Veterinary Clinic have probably heard a rant or two of mine when it comes to feline nutrition. Well, here we go again.
A company producing RAW meat cat food (that should be an oxymoron, but it isn't) has had to recall product due to Salmonella contamination.
No, really. Imagine THAT. And it's got raw chicken. I'm simply stunned.
Not.
I guess this is as good a time as any to link back to my original raw meat rant.
The company even admits that raw chicken has a high rate of contamination with Salmonella:
".....Raw meat, especially poultry, harbors pathogens (bacteria). That is why it is essential for you to wash your hands after handling raw meat and to clean surfaces and utensils that have been in contact with raw meat. Approximately 7 percent to 15 percent of all poultry is estimated to be contaminated with Salmonella by the time it reaches the age of slaughter. Therefore, contamination takes place long before the poultry parts ever make it to raw diet manufacturers for processing. The USDA recognizes Salmonella as a fact of life and has even set "tolerance levels" for Salmonella - so poultry producers are allowed to have a certain amount of Salmonella present in their birds....."
Knowing this little factoid should give them substantial pause about the entire raw poultry concept, but they appear to live by magical, wishful thinking.
Oh, and I am not naming the company here because that just gives them free advertising. Click on the link to get the details.
A company producing RAW meat cat food (that should be an oxymoron, but it isn't) has had to recall product due to Salmonella contamination.
No, really. Imagine THAT. And it's got raw chicken. I'm simply stunned.
Not.
I guess this is as good a time as any to link back to my original raw meat rant.
The company even admits that raw chicken has a high rate of contamination with Salmonella:
".....Raw meat, especially poultry, harbors pathogens (bacteria). That is why it is essential for you to wash your hands after handling raw meat and to clean surfaces and utensils that have been in contact with raw meat. Approximately 7 percent to 15 percent of all poultry is estimated to be contaminated with Salmonella by the time it reaches the age of slaughter. Therefore, contamination takes place long before the poultry parts ever make it to raw diet manufacturers for processing. The USDA recognizes Salmonella as a fact of life and has even set "tolerance levels" for Salmonella - so poultry producers are allowed to have a certain amount of Salmonella present in their birds....."
Knowing this little factoid should give them substantial pause about the entire raw poultry concept, but they appear to live by magical, wishful thinking.
Oh, and I am not naming the company here because that just gives them free advertising. Click on the link to get the details.
Thursday, May 19, 2011
Video of Cat Giving Birth
Not many people living in Los Angeles these days have seen a cat actually giving birth. But thanks to the wonders of the intertubes, we have THIS VIDEO of a cat "queening".
While it's a wonderfully educational video, I do have one concern. Queening cats do far better if they are left alone in a dark, quiet place without humans or other animals around to disturb them. It is uncommon, but they have been known to kill and eat their kittens when overstressed by their presence.
The average litter size is 3 or 4, but I have personally seen a litter of 7 and I think more is not unheard of.
We still recommend spaying female cats at age 6 months to prevent pregnancy and greatly lower the risk of mammary cancer. In this economy, too few kittens are being adopted into good homes, so watch the video and have your own cat spayed before she can have any.
While it's a wonderfully educational video, I do have one concern. Queening cats do far better if they are left alone in a dark, quiet place without humans or other animals around to disturb them. It is uncommon, but they have been known to kill and eat their kittens when overstressed by their presence.
The average litter size is 3 or 4, but I have personally seen a litter of 7 and I think more is not unheard of.
We still recommend spaying female cats at age 6 months to prevent pregnancy and greatly lower the risk of mammary cancer. In this economy, too few kittens are being adopted into good homes, so watch the video and have your own cat spayed before she can have any.
Monday, May 9, 2011
Health Certificates
If you are planning airline travel for your kitty within the United States, or travel by any means to another country, your cat will need a health certificate. Issuance of health certificates is regulated by state and federal government, and laws regarding import of animals are a matter for the country you are importing to. Veterinarians may only issue health certificates if they are federally accredited (I am and have been since 1983). Airlines typically require health certificates even if the animal is flying within a single state.
In order for us to issue either an interstate or international health certificate, we will need to examine your cat during an office visit, and you will need to make an appointment for this. WE CANNOT LEGALLY ISSUE A HEALTH CERTIFICATE WITHOUT PERFORMING A PHYSICAL EXAM AT THE TIME IT IS ISSUED. This point is not negotiable. Advance planning is the order of the day - you should look into legal requirements as soon as you know you are traveling - please do not wait until the day before you plan to fly to Australia or Hawaii to start the ball rolling.
Interstate travel:
Call your airline or check their website to find out what their travel requirements for pets are. How much does it cost to fly your pet? What restrictions are there on pets traveling in the cabin (carrier size is an issue here)? What sort of paperwork is required for your pet to fly (airlines differ greatly here - some no longer require health certificates at all - some are very strict in their requirement that you provide one).
Do your due diligence and check your state websites, too! Hawaii is the only state with major restrictions on animal importation due to its rabies-free status. The four-month process with allows you to import a cat to Hawaii without a lengthy quarantine is not often fully complied with, so some owners, after doing what they think is the right thing, STILL wind up having to quarantine Fluffy for 4 months at the end. Don't let this happen to you - it's a horribly expensive mistake and very distressing for pet and owner.
International travel:
This is where we see lots of problems leading up to transport. Failure to adequately plan for transportation and allow enough time to comply with all regulations imposed by the importing country is a constant and ongoing issue. Fortunately, due to the wonders of the internet, owners are much better able these days to navigate the minefield that shipping a cat to someplace like Japan or Australia or England can be. Every country has a website that spells out the process in plain English.
Most countries don't require anything other than an exam, health certificate, and current vaccinations (particularly rabies). In these cases it's a simple process involving only one vet visit, generally within a week or two of travel. If you need to submit the health certificate to the USDA in Sacramento for their stamp of approval, you need to allow time for that, too.
If you are traveling to a rabies-free country, be prepared for a long, drawn-out process of exams, vaccinations, blood tests, microchipping, more exams, more vaccinations, etc. And you have to get it JUST RIGHT, or it's the same as not complying at all. So again, do your due diligence and know exactly what you are getting into. Never take a cat to a foreign country on a whim or if it's not absolutely necessary.
Here are links to the pet importation web pages of some of the most common (or challenging) travel destinations:
Hawaii pet importation brochure - this thing's more like a book!
Hawaii Department of Agriculture
Bringing Cats and Dogs to Australia
Traveling With Pets to the UK
Taking Pets to Japan - translation is a little bit problematic with this website, in my opinion. PDF of current requirements is HERE.
Canada
Mexico
And here's the USDA page on pet travel with important links.
In order for us to issue either an interstate or international health certificate, we will need to examine your cat during an office visit, and you will need to make an appointment for this. WE CANNOT LEGALLY ISSUE A HEALTH CERTIFICATE WITHOUT PERFORMING A PHYSICAL EXAM AT THE TIME IT IS ISSUED. This point is not negotiable. Advance planning is the order of the day - you should look into legal requirements as soon as you know you are traveling - please do not wait until the day before you plan to fly to Australia or Hawaii to start the ball rolling.
Interstate travel:
Call your airline or check their website to find out what their travel requirements for pets are. How much does it cost to fly your pet? What restrictions are there on pets traveling in the cabin (carrier size is an issue here)? What sort of paperwork is required for your pet to fly (airlines differ greatly here - some no longer require health certificates at all - some are very strict in their requirement that you provide one).
Do your due diligence and check your state websites, too! Hawaii is the only state with major restrictions on animal importation due to its rabies-free status. The four-month process with allows you to import a cat to Hawaii without a lengthy quarantine is not often fully complied with, so some owners, after doing what they think is the right thing, STILL wind up having to quarantine Fluffy for 4 months at the end. Don't let this happen to you - it's a horribly expensive mistake and very distressing for pet and owner.
International travel:
This is where we see lots of problems leading up to transport. Failure to adequately plan for transportation and allow enough time to comply with all regulations imposed by the importing country is a constant and ongoing issue. Fortunately, due to the wonders of the internet, owners are much better able these days to navigate the minefield that shipping a cat to someplace like Japan or Australia or England can be. Every country has a website that spells out the process in plain English.
Most countries don't require anything other than an exam, health certificate, and current vaccinations (particularly rabies). In these cases it's a simple process involving only one vet visit, generally within a week or two of travel. If you need to submit the health certificate to the USDA in Sacramento for their stamp of approval, you need to allow time for that, too.
If you are traveling to a rabies-free country, be prepared for a long, drawn-out process of exams, vaccinations, blood tests, microchipping, more exams, more vaccinations, etc. And you have to get it JUST RIGHT, or it's the same as not complying at all. So again, do your due diligence and know exactly what you are getting into. Never take a cat to a foreign country on a whim or if it's not absolutely necessary.
Here are links to the pet importation web pages of some of the most common (or challenging) travel destinations:
Hawaii pet importation brochure - this thing's more like a book!
Hawaii Department of Agriculture
Bringing Cats and Dogs to Australia
Traveling With Pets to the UK
Taking Pets to Japan - translation is a little bit problematic with this website, in my opinion. PDF of current requirements is HERE.
Canada
Mexico
And here's the USDA page on pet travel with important links.
Saturday, March 26, 2011
Feline Heart Disease
For many years we thought primary heart disease was extremely uncommon in cats. After researchers figured out the critical role that insufficient taurine in cat foods was playing in the development of dilated cardiomyopathy and cat food manufacturers corrected the problem, we thought we were home free.
Other than the occasional hyperthyroid cat with secondary heart disease, we didn't think heart problems were an issue for cats. But it turns out that another heart disease, hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, may be surprisingly common in cats. And it's my considered opinion that this disease, which has a genetic (inherited) component, may be behind many of the sudden deaths (particularly in male cats) that I have seen over the years. I even lost one of my own cats, our diabetic mascot Tiggy, to sudden death that was almost certainly cadriac in origin.
Fortunately, there is a lot we can do these days for cats with heart disease, even in the early stages before the cat becomes ill. And detection of asymptomatic heart disease is getting much easier with the new blood test for proBNP, a blood marker for hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.
IDEXX, our outside laboratory service provider, has a great new website full of information about feline heart disease. ALL cat owners should read it and get a little bit familiar with this disease. And don't be afraid! We have lots of patients with heart disease (on paper) who are on medication to control symptoms and possible stop progress or even reverse heart changes, and most of them live normal lives and go on to die of unrelated disease. My own Eddie was on heart medication the last three years of his life and it seemed to reverse the problem to where he had no external evidence (no murmur anymore, heart rate down to normal), and when he died of cancer at age 12 his heart was the least of his problems.
Other than the occasional hyperthyroid cat with secondary heart disease, we didn't think heart problems were an issue for cats. But it turns out that another heart disease, hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, may be surprisingly common in cats. And it's my considered opinion that this disease, which has a genetic (inherited) component, may be behind many of the sudden deaths (particularly in male cats) that I have seen over the years. I even lost one of my own cats, our diabetic mascot Tiggy, to sudden death that was almost certainly cadriac in origin.
Fortunately, there is a lot we can do these days for cats with heart disease, even in the early stages before the cat becomes ill. And detection of asymptomatic heart disease is getting much easier with the new blood test for proBNP, a blood marker for hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.
IDEXX, our outside laboratory service provider, has a great new website full of information about feline heart disease. ALL cat owners should read it and get a little bit familiar with this disease. And don't be afraid! We have lots of patients with heart disease (on paper) who are on medication to control symptoms and possible stop progress or even reverse heart changes, and most of them live normal lives and go on to die of unrelated disease. My own Eddie was on heart medication the last three years of his life and it seemed to reverse the problem to where he had no external evidence (no murmur anymore, heart rate down to normal), and when he died of cancer at age 12 his heart was the least of his problems.
Wednesday, March 23, 2011
Radiation Fallout Risk for Pets?
While it doesn't cover infectious disease, this piece by Scott Weese on Worms & Germs does an excellent job of explaining the (lack of) risk to our pets from radiation due to the nuclear plant mishaps in Japan.
I was thinking this exact thing before reading his post: ".....Compared to humans, pets are probably at much lower risk of adverse effects from radiation exposure, because pets have much shorter lifespans, but the effects of radiation exposure tend to cause disease over very long periods of time....."
Of course, if significant plutonium is released from Fukushima Daiishi Reactor #3 with its MOX fuel, all bets are off. Plutonium radiation is essentially forever due to its half-life of tens or hundreds of thousands of years.
I was thinking this exact thing before reading his post: ".....Compared to humans, pets are probably at much lower risk of adverse effects from radiation exposure, because pets have much shorter lifespans, but the effects of radiation exposure tend to cause disease over very long periods of time....."
Of course, if significant plutonium is released from Fukushima Daiishi Reactor #3 with its MOX fuel, all bets are off. Plutonium radiation is essentially forever due to its half-life of tens or hundreds of thousands of years.
Monday, March 21, 2011
Medications Top List of Most Common Cat poisons
According to the Pet Poison Helpline, a 24/7 animal poison control center, the most common causes of poisoning in cats are:
1) Human and veterinary medicines (40%)
The problem is often with misuse/failure to follow instructions/not reading labels, in my experience. And then there was the cat I saw years ago whose owner almost killed it with cyanide poisoning from laetrile. Coma resulted in the cat's blindness, deafness, and inability to relate to its environment or even eat/drink, so we had to euthanize. All because the cat's owner wouldn't let me amputate the leg to cure its cancer, and decided that mumbo jumbo was better.
2) Poisonous plants (14%)
Lilies, of course, come to mind this time of year - ALL lilies are deadly poison to cats and can destroy their kidneys even in small doses - don't decorate with Easter lilies or any other kind.
3) Insecticides (9%)
I have seen numerous poisonings due to use (correct or incorrect, BTW) of OTC flea control products - some are intended for use in cats but are simply obsolete due to safety/effectiveness issues, and some are intended for use in dogs but for whatever reason pet owners think they can disregard this and use on cats. I have NEVER seen toxicity of any kind with proper use of Advantage, Frontline, or Revolution.
4) Household cleaners (6%)
Most household cleaning compounds are unnecessary in my opinion. I make my own cleaning concoctions such as laundry pre-spot, all-purpose cleaner, soap for handwashing delicates, and all manner of baking soda/lemon juice/vinegar combos for kitchen use, and only rarely use bleach or ammonia. I don't want these things in my home where they can spill or leak and get on kitty paws, and toxic residues can be left on surfaces. Someday I should do a blog post with my recipes for cat-safe cleaners!
5) Other poisons (31%)
One memorable poisoning I saw several years ago was the poor cat who tried to drink the liquid simmering potpourri liquid stuff, which is chemically like concentrated detergent. Poor thing had caustic burns in her mouth, which did heal, but it was a painful and expensive lesson for the owner.
1) Human and veterinary medicines (40%)
The problem is often with misuse/failure to follow instructions/not reading labels, in my experience. And then there was the cat I saw years ago whose owner almost killed it with cyanide poisoning from laetrile. Coma resulted in the cat's blindness, deafness, and inability to relate to its environment or even eat/drink, so we had to euthanize. All because the cat's owner wouldn't let me amputate the leg to cure its cancer, and decided that mumbo jumbo was better.
2) Poisonous plants (14%)
Lilies, of course, come to mind this time of year - ALL lilies are deadly poison to cats and can destroy their kidneys even in small doses - don't decorate with Easter lilies or any other kind.
3) Insecticides (9%)
I have seen numerous poisonings due to use (correct or incorrect, BTW) of OTC flea control products - some are intended for use in cats but are simply obsolete due to safety/effectiveness issues, and some are intended for use in dogs but for whatever reason pet owners think they can disregard this and use on cats. I have NEVER seen toxicity of any kind with proper use of Advantage, Frontline, or Revolution.
4) Household cleaners (6%)
Most household cleaning compounds are unnecessary in my opinion. I make my own cleaning concoctions such as laundry pre-spot, all-purpose cleaner, soap for handwashing delicates, and all manner of baking soda/lemon juice/vinegar combos for kitchen use, and only rarely use bleach or ammonia. I don't want these things in my home where they can spill or leak and get on kitty paws, and toxic residues can be left on surfaces. Someday I should do a blog post with my recipes for cat-safe cleaners!
5) Other poisons (31%)
One memorable poisoning I saw several years ago was the poor cat who tried to drink the liquid simmering potpourri liquid stuff, which is chemically like concentrated detergent. Poor thing had caustic burns in her mouth, which did heal, but it was a painful and expensive lesson for the owner.
Monday, December 27, 2010
Oopsie!
When Hormone Creams Expose Others to Risks
Dr. Richard Fried, owner of the Lincoln Square Veterinary Hospital in Manhattan, said he recently saw two cats that seemed to go back into heat after spaying by a different vet. Tests in one cat showed high blood levels of estrogen, but before he could spay it again, the cats’ breeder suggested that the culprit might be the owner’s hormone treatment.
“We are always warning pet owners to be careful about their medications,” Dr. Fried said. “But this is a much more insidious kind of problem that most people don’t think about.”
"Dr. Stuenkel says women should be counseled about safe use of the drugs.
"After using a topical hormone cream, they should thoroughly wash their hands before handling food, children or pets. Products should dry completely before the user comes into contact with people or animals, and women may want to consider changing the area where they apply the cream or covering it with long sleeves or slacks."
I haven't seen any suspected cases of this. Yet.
Dr. Richard Fried, owner of the Lincoln Square Veterinary Hospital in Manhattan, said he recently saw two cats that seemed to go back into heat after spaying by a different vet. Tests in one cat showed high blood levels of estrogen, but before he could spay it again, the cats’ breeder suggested that the culprit might be the owner’s hormone treatment.
“We are always warning pet owners to be careful about their medications,” Dr. Fried said. “But this is a much more insidious kind of problem that most people don’t think about.”
"Dr. Stuenkel says women should be counseled about safe use of the drugs.
"After using a topical hormone cream, they should thoroughly wash their hands before handling food, children or pets. Products should dry completely before the user comes into contact with people or animals, and women may want to consider changing the area where they apply the cream or covering it with long sleeves or slacks."
I haven't seen any suspected cases of this. Yet.
Thursday, December 23, 2010
Why the Deaf Have Enhanced Vision
"Deaf people with enhanced vision can thank otherwise idle brain cells for their heightened sense, a new study in cats suggests.
"That's because the brain recruits cells normally devoted to hearing to help them see better, the research revealed.
"The brain is very efficient and it's not going to let this huge territory that is the auditory cortex and all the processing that it has go to waste," said study leader Stephen Lomber of Canada's University of Western Ontario. The auditory cortex is the part of the brain that controls hearing.
"So it makes sense that other senses will come in and colonize."
Here's the BEST part: "....the research could lead to improved cochlear implants that target specific regions of the auditory cortex, such as the part involved in understanding speech...."
Read the entire fascinating National Geographic article here.
"That's because the brain recruits cells normally devoted to hearing to help them see better, the research revealed.
"The brain is very efficient and it's not going to let this huge territory that is the auditory cortex and all the processing that it has go to waste," said study leader Stephen Lomber of Canada's University of Western Ontario. The auditory cortex is the part of the brain that controls hearing.
"So it makes sense that other senses will come in and colonize."
Here's the BEST part: "....the research could lead to improved cochlear implants that target specific regions of the auditory cortex, such as the part involved in understanding speech...."
Read the entire fascinating National Geographic article here.
Wednesday, December 22, 2010
Abnormal urination could be sign of medical or behavorial issue for cat
Here's an excellent article about the significance of abnormal urination in cats and why it should never be simply written off as "the way cats are". The author is a veterinarian, which is what I like to see in articles about feline health (as opposed to being authored by lay journalists who may not be able to address medical issues coherently or may just get their facts wrong).
"Abnormal urination is a common problem in felines. Symptoms center on urinating in inappropriate places, but problems can also include spraying, increased frequency of urination, straining to urinate, inability to urinate, and the presence of blood, bacteria, pus or crystals in the urine. If the underlying cause is not addressed, the patient can become very ill.
"The key to resolving this matter is to determine if this is a medical or behavioral issue. Both categories occur frequently, but the treatment differs.
"Your veterinarian will want to know:
» When this problem started,
» Frequency and type of symptoms.
» Water consumption.
» Appetite, energy and weight.
» How many cats are present in or around the household.
» Information about the litter and litter box.
» Stressful household changes.
"Lab work will minimally include a blood panel and urinalysis. Other diagnostics may include a urine culture, X-ray or ultrasound.
"Medical causes for abnormal urination can include diabetes, kidney disease, cystitis, a urinary tract infection, a kidney infection, urinal crystal formation, urinary stone formation, kidney stones and cancer."
I'm going to add an important request: when bringing your cat in for evaluation of urinary problems (or ANY illness for that matter), if it has been seen by another veterinarian for that problem within the past couple of years, please bring with you a complete compy of the prior medical record so we can offer a VALID second opinion rather than guessing at what has been done/seen previously.
"Abnormal urination is a common problem in felines. Symptoms center on urinating in inappropriate places, but problems can also include spraying, increased frequency of urination, straining to urinate, inability to urinate, and the presence of blood, bacteria, pus or crystals in the urine. If the underlying cause is not addressed, the patient can become very ill.
"The key to resolving this matter is to determine if this is a medical or behavioral issue. Both categories occur frequently, but the treatment differs.
"Your veterinarian will want to know:
» When this problem started,
» Frequency and type of symptoms.
» Water consumption.
» Appetite, energy and weight.
» How many cats are present in or around the household.
» Information about the litter and litter box.
» Stressful household changes.
"Lab work will minimally include a blood panel and urinalysis. Other diagnostics may include a urine culture, X-ray or ultrasound.
"Medical causes for abnormal urination can include diabetes, kidney disease, cystitis, a urinary tract infection, a kidney infection, urinal crystal formation, urinary stone formation, kidney stones and cancer."
I'm going to add an important request: when bringing your cat in for evaluation of urinary problems (or ANY illness for that matter), if it has been seen by another veterinarian for that problem within the past couple of years, please bring with you a complete compy of the prior medical record so we can offer a VALID second opinion rather than guessing at what has been done/seen previously.
Thursday, September 30, 2010
FDA warns pet owners about buying online pet meds
Source: Paw Print Post
Excerpt:
"Buyer beware, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration warns Tuesday with this video and announcement, especially when it comes to ads that say you don't need a veterinarian's prescription. You could kill a dog, for instance, that has heartworms by giving it heartworm meds and kill cats and small dogs by giving them certian tick and flea meds.
"We've had other posts about what safety labels to look for when buying online drugs. Some online dealers are reputable, but Patty Khuly, a veterinarian who writes a column for USA TODAY, suggests it's really most safe to get drugs from your vet.
"Maybe when you go looking for a vet you could inquire about prices of medications. I'm lucky. Turns out my vet has the best prices for meds.
"FDA reported Tuesday it has found companies that sell unapproved pet drugs and counterfeit pet products, make fraudulent claims, dispense prescription drugs without requiring a prescription, and sell expired drugs. A copy of the information you can print out can be found on their website."
~~~~~~~~~
I have cautioned clients for years about buying supposed bargain pet medications online because we have known for eyars about the risk of buying counterfeit products. But there are a lot of other reasons to avoid these shysters.
We currently only recommend one online source for medications and use them for a lot of our compounded specialty medications: VetCentric.
Here's a direct link to the FDA's PDF on buying pet medications online.
Excerpt:
"Buyer beware, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration warns Tuesday with this video and announcement, especially when it comes to ads that say you don't need a veterinarian's prescription. You could kill a dog, for instance, that has heartworms by giving it heartworm meds and kill cats and small dogs by giving them certian tick and flea meds.
"We've had other posts about what safety labels to look for when buying online drugs. Some online dealers are reputable, but Patty Khuly, a veterinarian who writes a column for USA TODAY, suggests it's really most safe to get drugs from your vet.
"Maybe when you go looking for a vet you could inquire about prices of medications. I'm lucky. Turns out my vet has the best prices for meds.
"FDA reported Tuesday it has found companies that sell unapproved pet drugs and counterfeit pet products, make fraudulent claims, dispense prescription drugs without requiring a prescription, and sell expired drugs. A copy of the information you can print out can be found on their website."
~~~~~~~~~
I have cautioned clients for years about buying supposed bargain pet medications online because we have known for eyars about the risk of buying counterfeit products. But there are a lot of other reasons to avoid these shysters.
We currently only recommend one online source for medications and use them for a lot of our compounded specialty medications: VetCentric.
Here's a direct link to the FDA's PDF on buying pet medications online.
Monday, September 27, 2010
Tuesday is World Rabies Day
Public health veterinarians and the veterinary community at large are observing the 4th annual World Rabies Day tomorrow, September 28. This terrible and universally fatal disease still kills an average of 55,000 people around the world every year. Fortunately, human rabies cases in the US are minimal, but that is in large part because of aggressive animal vaccinations and leash laws, and ongoing educational efforts to keep the public and the medical community informed.
AVMA has an excellent new podcast of an interview of Dr. Lynne White-Shim, assistant director of the AVMA’s Scientific Activities Division about rabies in the world today. The Global Alliance for Rabies Control has this excellent series of videos about rabies which you can use to teach your families and children about the problem and how to minimize risk.
We strongly encourage that all cats, regardless of personal circumstances, receive annual rabies vaccinations. There is really only one valid reason not to, and that is if the cat is actively fighting an acute bacterial or viral infection and has had a fever within a week or so. Los Angeles County is reporting an increase in bat rabies cases this year, and I have seen a number of cats over the years in this area that have found and played with bats, potentially exposing them to rabies. We DO have it here, and it IS a real threat.
AVMA has an excellent new podcast of an interview of Dr. Lynne White-Shim, assistant director of the AVMA’s Scientific Activities Division about rabies in the world today. The Global Alliance for Rabies Control has this excellent series of videos about rabies which you can use to teach your families and children about the problem and how to minimize risk.
We strongly encourage that all cats, regardless of personal circumstances, receive annual rabies vaccinations. There is really only one valid reason not to, and that is if the cat is actively fighting an acute bacterial or viral infection and has had a fever within a week or so. Los Angeles County is reporting an increase in bat rabies cases this year, and I have seen a number of cats over the years in this area that have found and played with bats, potentially exposing them to rabies. We DO have it here, and it IS a real threat.
Wednesday, September 1, 2010
Lions and Tigers and Bears! OMUMS!
FDA has an excellent information sheet about the issue of minor use of pharmaceuticals in major species (cats are considered a major species) and also minor species (rabbits and rats included here).
I think fair use allows me to post entire government documents here if they are for public release, so here it is:
~~~~~~~~~
Cow, chicken, cat, catfish – one of these animals is not like the others. Read more to find out
which one and why it’s different.
What is OMUMS?
OMUMS is shorthand for “Office of Minor Use and Minor Species Animal Drug Development.”
OMUMS is the smallest Office in the Food and Drug Administration’s Center for Veterinary
Medicine (CVM). It was established by the MUMS Act.
What is the MUMS Act?
The MUMS Act is shorthand for “Minor Use and Minor Species Animal Health Act.” The MUMS
Act was signed into law by President George W. Bush in 2004.
What is the purpose of OMUMS and the MUMS Act?
The purpose of OMUMS and the MUMS Act is to help make drugs available for minor species
and for minor uses in a major species (“MUMS drugs”).
What are major species?
There are seven major species: horses, cattle, pigs, dogs, cats, chickens, and turkeys.
What are minor species?
Minor species are all animals that are not major species. Zoo animals, such as lions and tigers;
“pocket pets,” such as guinea pigs, gerbils, hamsters, and ferrets; laboratory rodents; fish; and
pet birds, such as parrots and parakeets, are examples of minor species. Some minor species
are important to agriculture, including sheep, goats, catfish, llamas, bison, honey bees, and game
birds such as pheasants.
Have you figured out which animal at the top isn’t like the others? If you said “Catfish,” you’re
right! A catfish is a minor species, while a cow, chicken, and cat are all major species.
Animal Health Literacy
http://www.fda.gov/AnimalVeterinary 11/18/2009 2
What is a minor use in a major species?
A minor use in a major species is the use of a drug in a major species for a condition that occurs
infrequently and in only a small number of animals each year, or occurs in limited geographic areas
and in only a small number of animals each year. For example, the use of a drug to treat cancer
in cats may be a minor use in a major species if only a small number of cats get that type of
cancer each year.
What is a small number of animals for each major species?
OMUMS determined that “a small number” is less than:
50,000 Horses
70,000 Dogs
120,000 Cats
310,000 Cattle
1,450,000 Pigs
14,000,000 Turkeys
72,000,000 Chickens
Why is there a lack of available MUMS drugs on the market?
Two main reasons explain the lack of available MUMS drugs on the market. First, it is very expensive
for a drug company to get a drug developed, approved by the FDA, and on the market for
sale. Second, the market for a MUMS drug is too small to generate an adequate financial return
for the company. The combination of the expensive drug approval process and the small market
makes most drug companies hesitant to spend substantial resources to develop a MUMS drug
when there is so little return on their investment.
Why is the MUMS Act important?
The MUMS Act is important because it provides for innovative ways to bring MUMS drugs to market
faster and helps drug companies overcome the financial roadblocks in developing drugs for the
small MUMS market.
What are the key provisions of the MUMS Act?
The MUMS Act amended the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act by providing for three key
provisions – conditional approval, designation, and indexing.
What is conditional approval?
Conditional approval allows a drug company to legally market a MUMS drug before collecting all
necessary effectiveness data, but after proving the drug is safe and there is a reasonable expectation
of effectiveness. Conditional approval does not reduce the requirements for approval. It simply
allows the drug company to market the drug while completing the effectiveness requirement.
This early marketing is good for two reasons: first, the drug is available to the MUMS market; and
second, the company can recoup some of the investment costs while pursuing a full approval.
http://www.fda.gov/AnimalVeterinary 11/18/2009 3
At the time of conditional approval, the drug must meet all the requirements for approval except
for effectiveness. The drug company can market the conditionally approved drug for up to five
years, with annual renewals, while collecting the remaining effectiveness data. Once this remaining
effectiveness data is collected, the drug company submits a request for full approval to
the Office of New Animal Drug Evaluation.
Extra-label (“off label”) use of a conditionally approved drug is not allowed. There is also no
marketing exclusivity for a conditionally approved drug (unless the drug is also designated). This
means that if another drug company gets its MUMS drug fully approved for the same use first,
the conditionally approved drug is pulled off the market.
What is designation?
Designation provides drug companies with financial incentives, such as grants and exclusive
marketing rights, to pursue an approval or conditional approval for a MUMS drug. A drug company
submits a request to OMUMS for a drug to be designated for a specific use. After the designation
request is granted, no other identical designation may be granted. However, more than
one designation can be granted for the same drug, as long as the designations are for different
uses.
Once a drug company gets a drug designated, the
company or other organizations or individuals
working with the company are eligible for grants
through the federal government. This grant
money is used to reduce the costs of conducting
safety and effectiveness studies.
Designation requires that the drug company actively
work toward approval and provide annual
reports to OMUMS to show progress toward approval.
A drug company that receives approval or
conditional approval for a designated drug receives
seven years of exclusive marketing rights, beginning on the day of the approval or conditional
approval. This means the company will have no competition from other companies in the
marketplace for seven years.
Designation is a status that qualifies a drug company to receive financial incentives. It does not
mean that the drug is approved. It is illegal for a company to sell, promote, or advertize the designated
drug until it is approved or conditionally approved.
Designation can be terminated if another drug company gets the same drug approved or conditionally
approved for the same use before the designated drug. It can also be terminated for
other reasons, including lack of progress toward approval.
What is indexing?
Indexing allows the legal marketing of unapproved animal drugs for use in certain minor species
as long as the drugs are on the Index of Legally Marketed Unapproved New Animal Drugs for
Minor Species. Simply referred to as “the Index,” it is a list of drugs that used an alternative
pathway to get on the market.
In some cases, a drug intended for a minor species cannot reasonably go through the standard
drug approval process. For example, an animal may be too rare or valuable, such as the endangered
California condor, or the animals may be too varied, such as ornamental fish, to be used
in traditional safety and effectiveness studies to support approval. In these instances, indexing
What does “extra-label” mean?
When an approved drug is used in a manner
other than what is stated on the approved labeling,
it is an extra-label use. This is commonly
referred to as an “off-label” use because the
drug is used in a manner that is “off the label”. It
is illegal to use a conditionally approved drug or
an indexed drug in an extra-label manner. Conditionally
approved drugs and indexed drugs
must be used exactly as stated on the labeling.
http://www.fda.gov/AnimalVeterinary 11/18/2009 4
provides an alternative pathway to get a drug on the market that is faster than going through the
standard drug approval process.
Indexing is only available for drugs intended for a non-food producing minor species or for an early
life stage of a food producing minor species. Spat, or immature oysters, are an example of an
early life stage of a food producing minor species. Because people do not generally eat oyster
spat, a drug intended to treat a disease in spat can be indexed, but a drug to treat a disease in
adult oysters, which people commonly eat, cannot be indexed.
Drugs intended for transgenic animals cannot be indexed. Extra-label use of an indexed drug is
not allowed, and there is no marketing exclusivity for indexed drugs.
An indexed drug cannot compete with an approved drug, meaning that a drug cannot be listed on
the Index if the same drug is already approved. However, indexed drugs can compete with each
other, meaning that two drug companies can have the same drug listed on the Index for the same
use.
A drug company has to go through a three-step process to get a drug listed on the Index. First,
the company submits a request to OMUMS to determine the eligibility of the product for indexing.
To be eligible, a drug must not pose any safety concerns to the end user (the person giving the
drug to the animal) or to the environment. The company must also explain the manufacturing
process for making the drug. Second, the company chooses qualified experts outside of the FDA
to serve on a panel. OMUMS must agree with the experts chosen by the company. It is the
panel’s job to review information on the safety of the drug to the animal and the drug’s effectiveness
when it is used according to the proposed label. Third, the outside expert panel submits a
report of their findings to OMUMS. All members of the expert panel must agree that the drug is
safe and effective when it is used according to the proposed label. If OMUMS agrees with the
panel’s report, the drug is added to the Index.
Unlike the long removal process for an approved drug, an indexed drug can be quickly removed
from the Index and pulled off the market if problems arise. And unlike conditional approval and
designation, indexing does not require the drug company to be actively working toward approval.
Is the MUMS Act working?
Yes! One drug for use in catfish has been conditionally approved, and OMUMS has granted over
80 designations. Two drugs are already on the Index, with more in the process of being indexed.
CVM is working hard to make sure safe and effective drugs are available for minor species and for
minor uses in a major species.
How can I get more information?
Contact the FDA’s Center for Veterinary Medicine at 240-276-9300 or CVMHomeP@cvm.fda.gov
~~~~~~~~~~~
If the format is hinky, don't blame me. I'm just the cut-and-paste lady.
I think fair use allows me to post entire government documents here if they are for public release, so here it is:
~~~~~~~~~
Cow, chicken, cat, catfish – one of these animals is not like the others. Read more to find out
which one and why it’s different.
What is OMUMS?
OMUMS is shorthand for “Office of Minor Use and Minor Species Animal Drug Development.”
OMUMS is the smallest Office in the Food and Drug Administration’s Center for Veterinary
Medicine (CVM). It was established by the MUMS Act.
What is the MUMS Act?
The MUMS Act is shorthand for “Minor Use and Minor Species Animal Health Act.” The MUMS
Act was signed into law by President George W. Bush in 2004.
What is the purpose of OMUMS and the MUMS Act?
The purpose of OMUMS and the MUMS Act is to help make drugs available for minor species
and for minor uses in a major species (“MUMS drugs”).
What are major species?
There are seven major species: horses, cattle, pigs, dogs, cats, chickens, and turkeys.
What are minor species?
Minor species are all animals that are not major species. Zoo animals, such as lions and tigers;
“pocket pets,” such as guinea pigs, gerbils, hamsters, and ferrets; laboratory rodents; fish; and
pet birds, such as parrots and parakeets, are examples of minor species. Some minor species
are important to agriculture, including sheep, goats, catfish, llamas, bison, honey bees, and game
birds such as pheasants.
Have you figured out which animal at the top isn’t like the others? If you said “Catfish,” you’re
right! A catfish is a minor species, while a cow, chicken, and cat are all major species.
Animal Health Literacy
http://www.fda.gov/AnimalVeterinary 11/18/2009 2
What is a minor use in a major species?
A minor use in a major species is the use of a drug in a major species for a condition that occurs
infrequently and in only a small number of animals each year, or occurs in limited geographic areas
and in only a small number of animals each year. For example, the use of a drug to treat cancer
in cats may be a minor use in a major species if only a small number of cats get that type of
cancer each year.
What is a small number of animals for each major species?
OMUMS determined that “a small number” is less than:
50,000 Horses
70,000 Dogs
120,000 Cats
310,000 Cattle
1,450,000 Pigs
14,000,000 Turkeys
72,000,000 Chickens
Why is there a lack of available MUMS drugs on the market?
Two main reasons explain the lack of available MUMS drugs on the market. First, it is very expensive
for a drug company to get a drug developed, approved by the FDA, and on the market for
sale. Second, the market for a MUMS drug is too small to generate an adequate financial return
for the company. The combination of the expensive drug approval process and the small market
makes most drug companies hesitant to spend substantial resources to develop a MUMS drug
when there is so little return on their investment.
Why is the MUMS Act important?
The MUMS Act is important because it provides for innovative ways to bring MUMS drugs to market
faster and helps drug companies overcome the financial roadblocks in developing drugs for the
small MUMS market.
What are the key provisions of the MUMS Act?
The MUMS Act amended the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act by providing for three key
provisions – conditional approval, designation, and indexing.
What is conditional approval?
Conditional approval allows a drug company to legally market a MUMS drug before collecting all
necessary effectiveness data, but after proving the drug is safe and there is a reasonable expectation
of effectiveness. Conditional approval does not reduce the requirements for approval. It simply
allows the drug company to market the drug while completing the effectiveness requirement.
This early marketing is good for two reasons: first, the drug is available to the MUMS market; and
second, the company can recoup some of the investment costs while pursuing a full approval.
http://www.fda.gov/AnimalVeterinary 11/18/2009 3
At the time of conditional approval, the drug must meet all the requirements for approval except
for effectiveness. The drug company can market the conditionally approved drug for up to five
years, with annual renewals, while collecting the remaining effectiveness data. Once this remaining
effectiveness data is collected, the drug company submits a request for full approval to
the Office of New Animal Drug Evaluation.
Extra-label (“off label”) use of a conditionally approved drug is not allowed. There is also no
marketing exclusivity for a conditionally approved drug (unless the drug is also designated). This
means that if another drug company gets its MUMS drug fully approved for the same use first,
the conditionally approved drug is pulled off the market.
What is designation?
Designation provides drug companies with financial incentives, such as grants and exclusive
marketing rights, to pursue an approval or conditional approval for a MUMS drug. A drug company
submits a request to OMUMS for a drug to be designated for a specific use. After the designation
request is granted, no other identical designation may be granted. However, more than
one designation can be granted for the same drug, as long as the designations are for different
uses.
Once a drug company gets a drug designated, the
company or other organizations or individuals
working with the company are eligible for grants
through the federal government. This grant
money is used to reduce the costs of conducting
safety and effectiveness studies.
Designation requires that the drug company actively
work toward approval and provide annual
reports to OMUMS to show progress toward approval.
A drug company that receives approval or
conditional approval for a designated drug receives
seven years of exclusive marketing rights, beginning on the day of the approval or conditional
approval. This means the company will have no competition from other companies in the
marketplace for seven years.
Designation is a status that qualifies a drug company to receive financial incentives. It does not
mean that the drug is approved. It is illegal for a company to sell, promote, or advertize the designated
drug until it is approved or conditionally approved.
Designation can be terminated if another drug company gets the same drug approved or conditionally
approved for the same use before the designated drug. It can also be terminated for
other reasons, including lack of progress toward approval.
What is indexing?
Indexing allows the legal marketing of unapproved animal drugs for use in certain minor species
as long as the drugs are on the Index of Legally Marketed Unapproved New Animal Drugs for
Minor Species. Simply referred to as “the Index,” it is a list of drugs that used an alternative
pathway to get on the market.
In some cases, a drug intended for a minor species cannot reasonably go through the standard
drug approval process. For example, an animal may be too rare or valuable, such as the endangered
California condor, or the animals may be too varied, such as ornamental fish, to be used
in traditional safety and effectiveness studies to support approval. In these instances, indexing
What does “extra-label” mean?
When an approved drug is used in a manner
other than what is stated on the approved labeling,
it is an extra-label use. This is commonly
referred to as an “off-label” use because the
drug is used in a manner that is “off the label”. It
is illegal to use a conditionally approved drug or
an indexed drug in an extra-label manner. Conditionally
approved drugs and indexed drugs
must be used exactly as stated on the labeling.
http://www.fda.gov/AnimalVeterinary 11/18/2009 4
provides an alternative pathway to get a drug on the market that is faster than going through the
standard drug approval process.
Indexing is only available for drugs intended for a non-food producing minor species or for an early
life stage of a food producing minor species. Spat, or immature oysters, are an example of an
early life stage of a food producing minor species. Because people do not generally eat oyster
spat, a drug intended to treat a disease in spat can be indexed, but a drug to treat a disease in
adult oysters, which people commonly eat, cannot be indexed.
Drugs intended for transgenic animals cannot be indexed. Extra-label use of an indexed drug is
not allowed, and there is no marketing exclusivity for indexed drugs.
An indexed drug cannot compete with an approved drug, meaning that a drug cannot be listed on
the Index if the same drug is already approved. However, indexed drugs can compete with each
other, meaning that two drug companies can have the same drug listed on the Index for the same
use.
A drug company has to go through a three-step process to get a drug listed on the Index. First,
the company submits a request to OMUMS to determine the eligibility of the product for indexing.
To be eligible, a drug must not pose any safety concerns to the end user (the person giving the
drug to the animal) or to the environment. The company must also explain the manufacturing
process for making the drug. Second, the company chooses qualified experts outside of the FDA
to serve on a panel. OMUMS must agree with the experts chosen by the company. It is the
panel’s job to review information on the safety of the drug to the animal and the drug’s effectiveness
when it is used according to the proposed label. Third, the outside expert panel submits a
report of their findings to OMUMS. All members of the expert panel must agree that the drug is
safe and effective when it is used according to the proposed label. If OMUMS agrees with the
panel’s report, the drug is added to the Index.
Unlike the long removal process for an approved drug, an indexed drug can be quickly removed
from the Index and pulled off the market if problems arise. And unlike conditional approval and
designation, indexing does not require the drug company to be actively working toward approval.
Is the MUMS Act working?
Yes! One drug for use in catfish has been conditionally approved, and OMUMS has granted over
80 designations. Two drugs are already on the Index, with more in the process of being indexed.
CVM is working hard to make sure safe and effective drugs are available for minor species and for
minor uses in a major species.
How can I get more information?
Contact the FDA’s Center for Veterinary Medicine at 240-276-9300 or CVMHomeP@cvm.fda.gov
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If the format is hinky, don't blame me. I'm just the cut-and-paste lady.
Friday, July 30, 2010
Things That Can Make Your Cat Lose Weight
1) Collar way too tight
2) Large squamous cell carcinoma under tongue
3) Ants invading the cat food bowl
4) 1 1/2" skull tumor keeping it from being able to open its mouth
5) Stomach completely packed full of cat fur
6) Unregulated diabetes
7) 16 rotten, loose teeth
8) Uncontrolled hyperthyroidism
9) Complete bone marrow shutdown of unknown cause
10)Rubber band around base of tail causing the whole thing to die
There are more, of course. These are just some of the causes for weight loss I have seen in my years in practice.
2) Large squamous cell carcinoma under tongue
3) Ants invading the cat food bowl
4) 1 1/2" skull tumor keeping it from being able to open its mouth
5) Stomach completely packed full of cat fur
6) Unregulated diabetes
7) 16 rotten, loose teeth
8) Uncontrolled hyperthyroidism
9) Complete bone marrow shutdown of unknown cause
10)Rubber band around base of tail causing the whole thing to die
There are more, of course. These are just some of the causes for weight loss I have seen in my years in practice.
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