Weekly Companion Animal News: June 24, 2024

ISFM, AAFP update guidelines on long-term NSAID use in cats

The International Society of Feline Medicine and the American Association of Feline Practitioners have created the 2024 ISFM/AAFP Consensus Guidelines on the Long-Term Use of NSAIDs in cats to provide veterinary practitioners with decision-making tools for prescribing NSAIDs in situations of chronic pain to minimize adverse effects and optimize pain management for their feline patients. The guidelines provide information on mechanism of action of NSAIDs; indications for their long-term use in cats, including dental disease and neoplasia; assessing patient suitability and screening prior to prescription of NSAIDs; considerations for NSAID use in the presence of comorbidities; monitoring treatment efficacy; avoidance and management of adverse effects; considerations for anesthesia and surgery in cats receiving long-term NSAID therapy; and cat-friendly techniques to reduce chronic pain in the clinic and at home.

FDA sends warning letters regarding antiprotozoal drug

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration sent out warning letters to two pet product companies selling Toltrazuril, an antiprotozoal drug used to treat and prevent coccidiosis, equine protozoal myeloencephalitis (EPM) in animals, according to Powder & Bulk Solids. Toltrazuril Shop and Linessa Farms LLC both received letters dated May 16, 2024, stating they are in violation of the Federal Food Drug and Cosmetic Act for selling the drug. Toltrazuril Shop sells a Toltrazuril 5% Liquid Solution, which the website states, is a potent coccidiostat used to prevent and treat Coccidia & EPM in horses, dogs, alpacas, camels, cats, cattle, dogs, goats, pigs, reptiles, rabbits, bunnies and sheep. Linessa Farms, a small farm in rural Indiana, specializes in raising lamb and goat for commercial and show markets throughout the United States.

New rule for dogs entering the country

Public health authorities in the United States will institute a new rule to reduce the risk of rabies entering the country with dogs from any international location, according to VIN News Service. Dogs vaccinated in the U.S. must have rabies shots that were administered by a veterinarian who is accredited by the U.S. Department of Agriculture or a doctor in the same practice as an accredited veterinarian. At least 28 days must pass after vaccination before a rabies certificate can be issued by an accredited veterinarian. The certificate must be separately endorsed by the USDA at a cost of $38 per dog. The rule, from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, is scheduled to take effect Aug. 1.

Financially healthy practices

Inventory Ally will host a webinar catered to practice owners and managers, “Five Steps to a Financially Healthy Veterinary Practice,” on June 26. Panel member will discuss economic trends and their influence on practice valuations, key metrics hospitals need to monitor, and cost-saving techniques.

CHOU2 and Fear Free team up

Supplement manufacturer CHOU2 PHARMA (or CHOU2) is teaming up with Fear Free, a company offering science-based, behavior-led strategies to prevent and reduce fear, anxiety, and stress for pets. The organizations will educate and provide tools for pet parents, pet professionals, and veterinarians in support of calmer, safer environments for animals.

Osteoarthritis drugs are safe: Zoetis

Despite some negative press, Zoetis maintains that adverse event reports about osteoarthritis drugs Librela for dogs and Solensia for cats represent only a small fraction of the millions of doses that have been administered to date. Both were first introduced in 2021, in Europe, reports VIN News Service. Safety concerns were stoked in April by a Wall Street Journal article that highlighted the adverse incident reports and documented anecdotal accounts of pets suffering from serious health issues after taking the drugs, such as loss of mobility and kidney failure, that sometimes led them to be euthanized. Pet owners also have been airing safety concerns in forums dedicated to the drugs on social media platforms such as Facebook.

New SoundByte: Provecta PRO

Provecta PRO by Neogen kills fleas, which may be a source of flea allergy dermatitis, flea bite anemia and tapeworm. It also contains an insect growth regulator (IGR) to halt the flea life cycle by killing flea eggs and larvae. Find more in the SoundByte from Veterinary Advantage.